There's no need to eliminate chocolate—or any desserts—from your list of favorite food groups in order to get bikini-ready! Try this chocolate brownie/torte I got from self.com. I'm making it tonight to have while I watch the Bachelorette Premiere with girlfriends. We may even get crazy and add a half scoop of low fat ice cream and glass of red wine on the side! ENJOY! Serves 4 Ingredients - Vegetable oil cooking spray
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder, plus 1 tsp for dusting
- 1 cup prunes, pitted and chopped
- 1/2 cup hot coffee
- 1/3 cup whole-wheat flour
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup light-brown sugar
- 1/4 cup applesauce
- 1 egg white
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
- 1/2 cup nonfat sour cream
- 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
Preparation - Heat oven to 350˚. Coat a 9" square cake pan with cooking spray. Dust with 1 tsp cocoa. Set aside. Combine prunes and coffee in a bowl. Set aside to cool. Combine remaining 1/3 cup cocoa, flours, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large resealable plastic bag; shake. Add sugar, apple-sauce, egg white and 1 tsp of the vanilla to coffee-prune mixture. Empty bag into bowl; mix. Pour into prepared pan. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool completely before removing and slicing. Mix 1 tbsp water, remaining 1 tsp vanilla and gelatin in a small pan. Set aside until gelatin becomes clear, 10 to 15 minutes. Heat over low heat until gelatin melts. Mix gelatin, sour cream and confectioners' sugar in a bowl. Refrigerate until topping is firm, 10 to 15 minutes. Beat until smooth. Add a dollop to each slice.
The skinny 300 calories per serving, 1.4 g fat (0.6 g saturated), 72 g carbs, 6.8 g fiber, 6.3 g protein
I LOVE...and I mean, LOVE Will Smith...and this is why...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLN2k0b3g70&feature=related
My favorite part: "I'm not afraid to die on a treadmill. If we get on a treadmill together there are 2 things...You are getting off first...or I am gonna die. It's that simple."
You want 'em? You got 'em! PUSH-UPS BABY. Wide, narrow, and everything in between! On the floor, one hand on a ball or step, whatever! The best thing about push-ups is that you can do them at home! I don't do "girl push-ups" and I don't allow my clients to either. If you aren't strong enough to bust out 8-15 "real push-ups", just don't go down as far OR place your hands on a bench, stair or another elevated surface to allow yourself to do more reps. If you have lower back issues, elevate your booty into the air slightly. You've heard not to do that in gym class I'm sure, but it does the job and protects your back- no harm done! Start with 3 sets of 8. In a few weeks go to 3 sets of 10, so on and so forth. I generally do about 5 sets of 20 but started out years ago with only 3 sets of 10! Whatever you do, don't tuck that chin and make sure to exhale on your way up! Maybe I should post a YouTube video...
WOW. Yesterday I attended an awesome 7-hour Mike Dooley seminar with my mom titled “Playing the Matrix and Getting What You Really Want”. For those of you who don’t know, Mike Dooley is a writer, teacher of “The Secret”, motivational speaker, and so much more. His teachings and works are centered on the belief that thoughts become things. I’m a natural born follower of this principal and could provide you with plenty of astounding examples in my life of when my thoughts (both good and bad) have become reality. You would have to consciously experience it yourself, however, to really believe it. Some day, I may get a little personal and provide examples. For now, I will just encourage everyone to TRY to be deliberate in your thinking in regards to weights loss and health.
How can you do this?
1) STOP self-hating. Stop saying or thinking negative things about yourself.
2) START self-loving. Find things about yourself that you like and think about them often, appreciate them and be thankful for them.
3) VISUALIZE yourself the way you would like to look and feel (slim, healthy, strong, happy, gorgeous, etc.). This is the fun part because you can look however you want to look in your imagination! Get specific with your thoughts and envision yourself with the six-pack or the ripped arms or the slender thighs. Even buy that pair of jeans or bikini you want to wear some day and picture yourself in it looking HOT. This will keep you energized, positive, focused, and consistent.
4) TAKE BABY STEPS. You will easily get overwhelmed if you think about the 50 lbs you need to lose. If you take it 5 lbs or even 1 lb at a time, however, the task seems a lot less daunting AND you get to celebrate your successes more often!
5) IGNORE the negativity you will undoubtedly get from others. Unhappy people resist positive change in others and they can sabotage your success IF YOU LET THEM.
This takes practice and comes easier to some. It REALLY works though, and I’d love to hear your TBT (thoughts becomes things) stories so send ‘em my way!
Your attention, please…Your attention, please…This is the Universe.
Today I’ll be recording your every thought and emotion, no matter how “good” or “bad”, no matter how generous or stingy, and no matter how helpful or hurtful they may be. And everything I record…will be played back for you, as soon as possible, as some type of physical manifestation.
Thank you, that is all, The Universe
Written by Mike Dooley
Baked Veggie Pizza Squares
I took this to a cookout and was asked by friends to post the recipe. It’s a great snack or serve it with a side of fruit and call it a dinner. It’s not the” healthiest” recipe due to the pizza crust, cheeses, and ranch dressing but it’s loaded with veggies, so does provide some nutrition and is very filling. Everything is okay in moderation and 1-2 squares is definitely enough with this one!
1 tube (13.8 ounces) refrigerated pizza crust
1 package of low-fat or fat free cream cheese
½ cup fat free ranch dressing
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon dried parsley flakes
¼ teaspoon salt
4 green onions, chopped
1 ½ cups coarsely chopped broccoli
1 ½ cups coarsely chopped cauliflower
1 medium carrot, finely chopped
1 celery rib, finely chopped
½ cup green pepper
1 ¼ cup reduced fat Jack cheese
1 ¼ cups shredded part-skim reduced fat mozzarella cheese
½ cup shredded reduced fat Parmesan cheese
1. Press Pizza dough into greased 15-in x 10-in x 1-in baking pan (I used a square stone). Bake at 400 degrees for 6 minutes. Cool for 5-10 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, in a small mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, salad dressing, garlic powder, parsley and salt until blended.
3. Spread over the crust. Top with onions, broccoli, cauliflower, carrot, celery, and green pepper. Sprinkle with cheeses. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted. Cut into squares.
12-16 servings
Changing what you have, comes from changing who you are. And changing who you are, comes from changing what you think. Because changing what you think ultimately changes your words, your actions, the kind of music you listen to, the movies you watch, the places you visit, the friends you hang out with, and yes, even how you look in jeans.
This goes along with my post from yesterday. HAPPY FRIDAY EVERYONE!
I love this quote from Oprah during her interview with Geneen Roth, author of Women Food and God.
"Anytime you better yourself, whether it’s losing weight or getting a job or improving yourself in any way, and the people around you in your life are not happy for that, it is their self loathing…It is their insecurity…It is their dislike and disrespect for themselves that they are reflecting out to you. It has nothing to do with you." - Oprah
I haven't read the book yet but I did like what the author, Geneen Roth, had to say about loving yourself and being kind to yourself. I totally agree that this is the key to successful weight loss. When you value yourself, you prioritize yourself. You believe you deserve to work out and eat well...not have to. It takes practice, no doubt, but try exchanging negative thoughts for positive ones. Celebrate your successes and those of your loved ones as well.
I value sitting down to a homecooked family meal whenever possible. It saves money, saves calories, and facilitates family bonding and relaxation. It's not easy,however, on nights like tonight when I teach boot camp intil 6:30. Here is the quick dinner I prepared mostly in advance during my son's nap!
-Skinless, boneless, marinated chicken breasts on the grill
-Mixed Salad (romaine lettuce, carrots, bell peppers, red onion, & cucumber with Fresh Market's Smith & Wollensky Tomato Basil Ranch Dressing)
-Ready to Serve 60 Second Brown Rice
MARINADE:
3 tbsp. low sodium soy sauce
1/2 c. water
1 tbsp. honey
1 green onion, chopped
1 tsp. lime juice
1 tbsp. white wine or sherry
Mix all marinade ingredients in ziplock bag. Add boneless chicken breasts, toss lightly, and refrigerate for 2-6 hours. Remove meat from marinade and cook on heated grill.
So, I know "chili weather" is pretty much over but I wanted to make it one last time while it's still chilly outside = ) Here is a healthy and EASY recipe for white chicken chili lovers and crockpot fanatics like me! I especially like it because it has zucchini and you can add a chopped red pepper or tomatoes for more veggies. ENJOY! CROCKPOT WHITE CHICKEN CHILIIngredients:4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 pound skinless boneless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
2 cans (15-ounce size) great Northern beans, rinsed and drained
2 medium zucchini, diced
2 onions, chopped
1 tablespoon ground cumin
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 cup frozen corn kernels
1/2 cup fat-free sour cream
1/2 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground pepper, to taste
Directions:Mix the broth, chicken, beans, zucchini, onions, cumin, garlic, and chili powder in a slow cooker. Cover and cook on High until the chicken is cooked through, about 3 1/2 hours. Stir in the corn and sour cream; cook until heated through, about 5 minutes longer. Season with the salt and pepper and serve. Per serving: 193 Cal, 3 g Fat, 1 g Sat Fat, 34 mg Chol, 264 mg Sod, 19 g Carb, 6 g Fib, 21 g Prot, 64 mg Calc. This recipe makes 8 servings
Happy Mother's Day to ALL the baby mamas out there! We have the most important job in the universe and deserve a day to be appreciated, recognized, and spoiled with flowers, massages, and quality time with our families. Whether it's going for a long run, getting a pedicure, going shopping, or indulging in a margarita, make sure you do something you enjoy today and appreciate YOURSELF. You ARE a HOT MAMA, afterall.
I got the pleasure of spending the weekend my mom in Ohio, alongside my son and my father. It's funny how age, maturity, and life experiences change relationships. I recall thinking my mom couldn't be any more stupid and everything she said and did was unimaginably embarrassing.
The minute I gave birth to my own child, I saw my mom for who she really was. An strong, intelligent, amazing woman who has managed to do it all and live such an honerable life. While I was growing up, she was the bread-winner of the family; the number one sales person in the nation for a company that sells educational equipment for children. While building her successful career, she managed to raise my brother and me (a demanding task all by itself) and care for 3 elderly, sick grandparents. In addition, she always had lots of friends, walked almost daily for exercise, cooked family meals nightly, and maintained a happy marriage to my dad. My mom has since changed careers and no longer cares for grandparents or her own children. She is now a hard-working social worker, a fabulous wife and grandmother, and my beloved best friend.
I'm so grateful for this new found respect and fondness for my mother. I know I am very lucky to have her. Go hug your mom today or call her and tell you that her that you love her. Don't email or text her. She wants to hear your voice. HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!
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