Chocolate PB Cups - #ToDieFor

This is a healthier version of a Reese's PB Cup and it tastes just as good! It will satisfy your sweet tooth, but it won't sabotage ALL your hard work!

Ingredients:
4 squares 90% Dark Chocolate
2 T PB2 Chocolate Powdered PB
1/8 cup unsweetenend vanilla almond milk or water

Instructions:
Melt 2 squares of dark chocolate and pour into 3 cupcake liners
Place in freezer for 15 minutes to harden
Mix together Chocolate PB2 and almond milk to make a paste
Once chocolate has hardened, remove from freezer and spread PB mixture onto chocolate
Melt 2 remaining dark chocolate squares and pour over tops to cover.
Place the treats back in the freezer for another 15 minutes to allow chocolate to harden
Remover from freezer and ENJOY!

Nutritional Info:
Serving Size: 1 Chocolate PB Cup
96.7 calories
7.8 g fat
34.2mg sodium
7.5 mg potassium
5.8 grams carbohydrates
2 g fiber
2 g sugar
2.7g protein

Spaghetti Squash

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 6

Ingredients:
1 spaghetti squash, halved lengthwise and seeded
2 T olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
Chicken meatballs (I used Trader Joe's fully-cooked Gourmet Chicken Meatballs with sun dried tomatoes, basil & provolone)
1 1/2 cups chopped tomatoes
3 T kalamata olives
2 T chopped fresh basil

Directions: 
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Cut spaghetti squash in half lengthwise. Use a spoon to scrape out seeds and pulp; discard. Place squash in glass baking dish, cut side down, and add 1/4 inch water. Bake 30-40 minutes, until soft, but not mushy. Remove squash from oven, and set aside to cool enough to be easily handled.
3. Meanwhile, heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Saute onion in oil until tender. Add meatballs. Add garlic, and sauté for 2-3 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, and cook only until tomatoes are warm.
4. Use a fork to scoop the stringy pulp from the squash and place in a medium bowl. Toss with the sauteed vegetables, olives, and basil. Serve warm.

Blueberry Vanilla Protein Pancakes

I'm starting the Ultimate Reset with a group of friends on Wednesday and was craving some pancakes this morning before we start the cleanse. Dominic likes the "box kind" of pancakes, but I'm always trying to sneak in healthier recipes. I found this recipe on instagram and we both LOVED them!

1/2 cup dry oatmeal 

1/3 cup egg whites

1 scoop of vanilla protein powder

1 T ground flaxseed

1/4 ripe banana

1 T greek yogurt

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp vanilla extract

Blend this up in a blender and throw it on a hot pan. Drop some blueberries on top when the cakes are cooking. These pancakes will not bubble like normal pancakes, so keep an eye on the bottoms. 

Yield: 2 pancakes - I doubled the recipe to make 4 pancakes. 

THE 10 BEACHBODY CHALLENGE™ COMMITMENTS

THE 10 BEACHBODY CHALLENGE™ COMMITMENTS
1. I WILL FOLLOW THE PROGRAM—I will do the entire program as suggested, including workouts, beginning and monthly photos and measurements, the fit test, and nutrition based on the program guide or the Online Menu Planner available with a Club membership.

2. I WILL DRINK SHAKEOLOGY® ONCE A DAY—Preferably for a healthy breakfast, but any of the five meals will do. This is a much-needed investment in my health, and I am committed to doing this for the entire 30 days.

3. I WILL POSITIVELY ENGAGE WITH THE SMALL GROUP—We all hold a valuable spot in this five-person team, and all of us need to do our part to help, encourage, challenge, and praise each other on Facebook and one on one via messages and phone.

4. I WILL LOG MY WORKOUTS IN THE BEACHBODY ONLINE SUPERGYM®—I can do this by going to www.TeamBeachbody.com, entering my email and my password, and clicking on “SuperGym” under the “Get Fit” menu on the left hand side of the page. Logging my workout increases my accountability, and I may be eligible to win the random $500 daily SuperGym prize. HOW COOL .

5. I WILL NOT OVERTRAIN—For the next 30 days I will focus all of my exercise efforts on this program and not overtrain my body by adding more workouts.

6. I WILL SHARE MY ACTIVITY—I will report DAILY to the Challenge Group page upon completion of my workout, and I will share how my eating was for that day.

7. I WILL SHARE MY PHYSICAL RESULTS—I will begin by sharing my results with this small group and others who may ask me. The more I share, the more I give inspiration and gather support.

8. I WILL SHARE MY EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL RESULTS—Along the way, I will experience “life changes” on more than just a physical level. It’s important that I share my emotional and social results within this small group. Chances are, others in the group are facing or have faced the same things.

9. TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER, I WILL FINISH—I am making a 30-day commitment, and I am holding a valuable spot on a team of only five people. It is my duty to myself and others to FINISH this 30 days!

10. I WILL PAY IT FORWARD—The change begins with me, and along the path there may be others who ask, who need, or who want to know about what I am doing. I am committed to paying it forward as the opportunity arises. I can pay it forward by referring them to the challenge organizer, or by joining the team of Coaches who organize challenges for others.

The 5 Day Inferno

I have a hard time being motivated to workout, just like everyone else. I used to go to the gym and bounce around to a few of the machines and be bored within 30 minutes. Until I found a workout that I actually enjoy. It doesn’t feel like work anymore if you’re having fun! Turbo Fire is that workout for me! The music gets you pumped up and the choreography is so much fun! Recently, I introduced Turbo Fire to my co-workers and turned them into Turbo fanatics. Last week, 5 of us committed to the Turbo Fire 5 Day Inferno. It's designed to cleanse your body and change your daily eating habits. We followed the meal suggestions and did 1-2 Turbo Workouts per day. The recommended meals were better than I thought, even Dominic liked them! The workouts were really challenging, but worth the hard work!

I'm so proud of my Team! We each lost an average of 4.5 lbs in 5 days! Shout out to Tiffany B, Tiffany G, Liza, and Danielle! You're an inspiration to me and others to eat healthy and work hard. 

Here's my Before & After Photos:

Day 1                                                 Day 5

Cleanse Results

I've been a fan of Shakeology for about 6 months now and drink it every day for breakfast. It's even replaced my daily Starbucks fix. So, when I heard about the 3 day Shakeology cleanse, I wanted to give it a try.  I've always been a skeptic of cleanses because traditional cleanses contain very few calories and nutrients leaving you lethargic and famished. On the Shakeology Cleanse I'm eating frequently and consuming about 1200 calories per day. The point of this cleanse is not calorie restriction, but nutrition efficiency. The aim is to get the most nutrients possible into the fewest number of calories. The goal is to put all of these calories to use as a part of your exercise program, to rid your body of undigested foods and toxins, and to bring your hydration levels into homeostasis. The result you’re after is not weight loss—though it will likely occur—but for your body to be running more efficiently

So far, the cleanse is going well. I'm on Day 3 and feeling really good. Aside from having to pee every hour, I feel lighter, more energetic, and I'm starting to see my abs again. The shakes are really filling so I haven't been hungry at all, which I was worried about because I certainly did not want to starve myself! I've even been able to continue my normal workouts. I felt a little tired when I woke up this morning, but that could also be because I got sucked into watching the Bachelorette until 11:45pm last night! 

Here's the Weight Shakedown:
Before I started this cleanse, I weighed 132
End of Day 1: 130
End of Day 2: 128
Beginning of Day 3: 126.4

Sample Dinner

Time for a Cleanse

After a weekend of veggin' and feeling sluggish, I felt it was time to try a cleanse. I'm hoping to flush all the junk from my system and feel healthier. I've always been apprehensive about typical cleanses and fasts because they tend to strip the body of vital nutrients and completely sabotage your body's metabolism and energy causing fatigue. I chose Shakeology because it has over 70 vitamins and nutrients that will keep my energy charged and immune system strong, while providing a three day jump-start to looking and feeling better. Shakeology is a meal replacement shake that I drink for breakfast every day. But for this cleanse, I will drink it three times a day for three days. The Shakeology Cleanse is meant to jump start you in your fitness, break a plateau or shred pounds fast & effectively in a healthy way. The key is caloric efficiency; getting the most nutrients possible out of the fewest number of calories.

The Shakeology® 3-Day Cleanse

Here's the details on the 3-Day Shakeology Cleanse. The key is to follow the same regimen all three days.

Essentials:

 3 Shakeology shakes per day

 2 cups of green tea per day

 1 or 2 pieces of fruit per day (optional)

 1 salad for dinnercan include fish or poultry

 No dairy or extra sugars (this includes almond and soy milk)!

 Drink 2 to 4 liters of water every day

 Only use low-fat dressings, and go easy on the salt and/or pepper to taste

 2 snacks before/after any of the major meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner)

 Fruit is optional, and it is discouraged (however, some of you will need the calories while others may not)

 Power-workout participants (those who are already super conditioned) are recommended the higher numbers of calories

 For maximum results, do NOT use additives

 Dinner salad may include white grilled protein (poultry or fish only)

Daily Regimen: 1 cup of green tea to start the day

Breakfast: Blend 1 scoop Shakeology (140 calories)

1/2 cup of fruit (60 to 90 calories) optional

Ice to taste

8 to 10 oz. of water

Snack 1: (85 calories): 1 piece of fruit (apple, pear, orange, banana mango, etc.)

Lunch: 1 scoop Shakeology (140 calories) Ice to taste 8 to 10 oz. of water

1 cup of green tea or a detox tea

Snack 2: (you can have the second snack before or after dinner)

Blend 1 scoop Shakeology (140 calories) Ice to taste 8 to10 oz. of water

Dinner: Salad with grilled white fish or poultry (roughly 340 calories)

Greens 3 servings of vegetables, plus 4 oz. of grilled white meat (fish or poultry)

2 tablespoons of dressing (no more!)

Shakeology 3 Day Cleanse FAQ

How many calories per day?

800 to 1,100 calories per day

How often can I do the Shakeology 3-Day Cleanse?

• Ideally, you should do it once per quarter (every 3 months)
• As the seasons change
• When you start a new workout program
• When you feel you need help breaking through a plateau

Should/Can I still do my workouts during the Cleanse?

• Depends on the individual
• You’ll have less energy, so consider doing it during your recovery week
• Don’t do it in the middle of P90X or Insanity

Can I do a 1-day or a 2-day cleanse instead of a 3-day?

• Yes, some people will see results in one or two days!
• It is not recommended to do the cleanse for longer than 3 days.

Should/Can I take other Beachbody® supplements during the Cleanse?

• No Beachbody Recovery Drink as it as too much sugar.
• All other Beachbody supplements are not necessary but won’t hurt.