Hello August!

Helloo August! Is it seriously August already!? How what why! I do have to say though and don’t hate on me for this – now that my birthday is over, I am PSYCHED that it’s time to fall shop for Harlow! If there’s anything better than scarves and boots, it’s scarves and boots for a small human – am I right?!

So it’s a new month and that means – new goals! I have a good feeling about August! Planning to push harder with my training and with my work. And I plan to STAY POSITIVE – through all of my successes and fails! Setting big goals for myself - and my team this month – let’s do this thing!

What are your goals this month? I urge you to set one BIG goal – because hey, dream big, it could totally happen – and a few small goals. That way, you know where you’re headed and all of your small, attainable goals will help get you there! What are your goals for the month!? I’m excited to hear from you! XO

Tough Love Monday

I’m putting my game face on while writing this post and I hope this message is received well! I love what I do. I am so passionate about health and fitness and I love sharing that with others – motivating them to make healthy changes and helping them to reach their health and fitness goals. The thing is, I can’t actually work out for you, prep your food, or eat clean for you. Don’t get me wrong, I would, I totally would. But I can’t.

I talk to so many people who have an end goal in mind, but don’t have the time, motivation, or drive to get there. Like all things in life, it takes WORK. You can’t expect change without MAKING changes and putting in the time. A lot of people don’t want hear this, but it’s so true. Also, setting unrealistic expectations and goals sets us up for disappointment – but we can touch on that with another blog post!

This tough love goes for myself, too. Sometimes I get so discouraged, but I have to step back and realize that I am the only one keeping myself from reaching my goals. I’ll fall off the clean-eating wagon and expect my body to continue to make changes – and it won’t. I have the choice to get down on myself and continue to eat unhealthy and be lazy with my workouts – or I can get off my butt and work for it. It’s a lot easier to workout and eat vegetables than it is to wake up every morning, unhappy with what I look and feel like.

It may take a few months, a year, a few years – but you’ve got to start somewhere.  You aren’t going to get where you want to be by remaining where you are. I’m NOT saying this to be mean or pushy, I’m saying this because you are capable of SO many things! Stop doubting yourself, stop worrying about the amount of time it will take to get there or what people will think of you. Get out of your comfort zone, push yourself, go for it – You wont regret it, I promise.

“If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it.”

Surviving the Holiday Weekend

The key to 'surviving' holiday weekends is setting yourself up for success! Here are a few tips to keep you on track so you aren’t tempted to totally ditch your eating plan.

1.  Water! Drink lots of water before meals and keep it on you while bouncing around to your   Fourth of July festivities. And choose water! Over sodas, sugary juices, etc. If you’re drinking, pace yourself by drinking a glass of water per every alcoholic drink.

2.  Fill up on veggies. Almost always there is a little veggie area at picnics (or you could always bring a healthy salad or veggie plate!). Hit up the veggies first and skip the veggie dip unless you know it is a healthy alternative*. Opt for hummus, a healthy dressing, or go for a lemon or lime wedge to dress it up!

3.  Choose good protein. Grilled chicken, grilled fish, chicken burger, turkey burger – yes yes yes!

4.  Watch out for carbs. Carbs are good and necessary – but we want them the best way we can get them. Try to choose a healthier bun option – whole grain/sprouted grain – if this isn’t possible, try a lettuce wrap or open-faced sandwich.

5.  Enjoy yourself! If you look forward to fireworks and a big ole’ ice cream cone this day every year, go for it! The key to success is not feeling deprived on your fitness journey.

Have an awesome and safe holiday weekend! Share your pictures with me!

*Fat-free, low-fat, and reduced-fat are not healthy alternatives. These foods typically use sugars and other chemicals to make up for the difference in taste, thus making them the unhealthy option.

Avocado Chickpea Sandwiches

So I changed up my recipe slightly (based on my audience !)– and have two variations – the Avocado Chickpea Salad Sandwich and the Spicy Chicken & Chickpea Salad Sandwich. I do this thing where I don’t measure anything at all – but I tried to put a measurement to each ingredient so HERE GOES! The recipe takes about fifteen minutes to throw together – easy peasy.

Avocado Chickpea Salad Sandwiches//yields approx. 4 sandwiches

-       2 medium avocados

-       ½ lime

-       2-3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

-       ½- ¼ teaspoon salt + pepper

-       1 ¾ cups cooked chickpeas, rinsed and drained

-       sprouts - optional

-       onion - optional

Spicy Chicken & Chickpea Salad Sandwich

-       1 can white chicken

-       1 ½ teaspoon Sriracha

-       1 teaspoon garlic hummus

-       onion - optional

Cut the avocado into cubes and place into food processor. Pulse a few times, scraping the sides. Squeeze the lime and add the salt + pepper + olive oil. Continue pulsing until it reaches a thick consistency – not chunky, but not totally pureed. Add onion and stir it up!

(Not the best food photog, bear with me here!)

Mash the chickpeas in a large mixing bowl. I used a whisk to mash them up – you want them to be about half-mashed. Mix the chickpeas and avocado mix – and you’re sandwich ready! These would be great on Ezekiel muffins or wrapped up in lettuce – I made them on flatbreads. I like the texture the sprouts add - but you can add whatever toppings you would like! And as for the Chicken variation - even easier - add all into a bowl and mix!