COMMIT!!!

With the holidays fast approaching it is important to make sure you keep your mind and body healthy.  Take a moment and think about how crazy the holidays can be, going to parties, huge dinner, visiting with family, vacations, etc.  Now that you have somewhat of an idea of what you are about to jump into the next couple months wouldn't it be a positive experience with a love for your health.

The holidays don't have to stress your body, mind or waist.  It can actually be beneficial with the proper planning and dedication.

The time is now to start that commitment to yourself.  What are you doing to do for the rest of the year?  

Are you going to commit yourself to go to:

pilates three times a week

drink a green smoothie everyday

eat more vegetables

meditate
drink more water
cook more at home

go on more walks/runs/spin classes

Create these habits now.  It takes 21 days to form a habit.  If you start now your habit will be in formation before thanksgiving.  Since the habit will be so important to you then there will be no reason for you to miss a beat during the holiday.

We all have time for health and fitness.  

You just have to make it a priority!

Apple Pumpkin Pie Smoothie

Start off your weekend tomorrow with a healthy fall inspired smoothie...your body will thank you and you can thank me later!

 (look at the size of this apple)

The original recipe that I made this morning is not vegan friendly but is vegetarian friendly and gluten free friendly.  I am going to list side options to make this smoothy completely vegan friendly and almost paleo friendly.

APPLE PUMPKIN PIE SMOOTHIE

(serves 2)

-1.5 cups unsweetened almond protein milk

-2 cups frozen spinach

-1/4 cup pumpkin puree (follow this recipe to make your own puree)

-2TBS plain goat yogurt (omit if vegan)

-1 medium frozen banana

-2tsp pumpkin pie spice-salt free

-1 small honey crisp apple

-1tsp vanilla extract-alcohol free

-1 scoop peanut butter protein powder (For vegans use vanilla sunwarrior or unflavored vega)

-pinch xanthum gum

-pinch guar gum

(these gums are used to make the protein smoothie extra thick, like spoon eating thick)

-optional garnish: 1 TBS cashew butter and/or 1 TBS coconut butter

Blend in Blender (the higher powder blenders work best, I have a ninja.  Anything ninja or more powerful, like vitamix, will be your best friend)

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Perfect Saturday Morning

smoothie, coffee, social media

Bought My Stock!

I wanted to do a follow up post to the CSA boxes I featured on here a couple weeks ago.  I have since purchased my own CSA box from Farm Fresh to you!  I decided on the all veggies options since I am always trying to get the vegetables onto my plate and into my stomach.  Fruit is never a problem...natures candy right?!  And who doesn't like candy :-)

This is what I found waiting at my front door Tuesday morning!  I absolutely love that I was able to put the box inside before leaving the house for the day.  They deliver EARLY or really LATE depending on how you look at the time...It is very settling knowing that I don't have to worry about the produce rotting from being outside all day.  As soon as I saw it I put it in my frig and left the house for the day.

Here is the list of goodies in this weeks box.

(I think after the 2 there is suppose to be the word avocado because I had two avocados randomly in my box that I do not see on the list!  Score for me.)

Last Night I roasted the spaghetti squash to make just that...grain free, low carb spaghetti noodles.  In the oven I put in a sweet pumpkin to roast to...might as well make most use out of the oven.  I followed my post on roasting pumpkin.

 

I am more than pleased with my box and look forward to my next box in a couple weeks.  Since I am the only one using my box I decided on the delivery every other week. 

Fitfluential

Now that you have taken SPX pilates classes at the studio and get a taste for what a healthy body is all about, ever think about taking it a step farther than just being a student in class?  There is such a great support and healthy attitude towards one another through our classes and in the fitness community in general.  Take your student status to the next level!

There are many ways you can spread the love, joy and positivity of spx pilates to others through a community and Fit Fluential is one way in which you can do just that.

"FitFluential is a growing family of fitness fanatics spreading a positive healthy message year-round. FitFluential is Fitness Found."

You can simply be you and be a part of fit fluential, you can be a part of the community as a blogger or even as an ambassador.  Or simply just add to the positivity and hashtag them with your twitter or instagram account...that simple!

Check out their website to see the options on how you can be a part of something great in the fitness world without having to be a Jillian Michael's! 

Buy stocks of Community Supported Agriculture

Do you own stocks in the stock market?  Does it make you feel good that you own a piece of something with the potential of making money off of it?

How about owning shares of a farm?  The shares would come in the form of a box delivered to your front door step full of seasonal vegetables and fruits from the farm.  The potential earnings from the shares is money saved in your pocket that didn't go towards overpriced modified fruits and vegetables from the market AND not to mention eating the shares is one of the greatest things you can do for your body!

Community Supported Agriculture are shares you want to purchase. 

"This arrangement creates several rewards for both the farmer and the consumer. In brief...
Advantages for farmers:

• Get to spend time marketing the food early in the year, before their 16 hour days in the field begin
• Receive payment early in the season, which helps with the farm's cash flow
• Have an opportunity to get to know the people who eat the food they grow

Advantages for consumers:

• Eat ultra-fresh food, with all the flavor and vitamin benefits
• Get exposed to new vegetables and new ways of cooking
• Usually get to visit the farm at least once a season
• Find that kids typically favor food from "their" farm – even veggies they've never been known to eat
• Develop a relationship with the farmer who grows their food and learn more about how food is grown"

(source)

A company I would like to feature that offers this type of service with an added organic appeal is Farm Fresh to You!

They offer a wide variety of different types of boxes, from large to small, veggies and fruits to only veggies or only fruits, to a new addition the juice box (veggies that are best for juicing).

Buy your stocks today and climb the stock market success ladder!

Roasting your own Sugar Pumpkin

Technically it is fall, it has been fall for a week now.  I don't think Los Angeles understands that concept so lets pretend we live in other parts of the country where the air is a little more crisp and autumn surrounds us.  Maybe we can spread around some autumn leaves to create our own fall :-)  Since it is fall, technically, it is the season for PUMPKIN!  Selves are stocked high with canned pumpkin...great alternative but not nearly as scrumptious as your own pumpkin puree.  The best part is the fact that roasting a pumpkin is pretty simple.

First find sugar pumpkins.  These pumpkins are smaller in size 2-5lbs...leave those large pumpkins for carving with the kids or even the adults ;-)

Once you have your sugar pumpkins bought, turn the oven to 350 degrees.

If you have a sharp butcher's nice that is the best but any knife will eventually do the trick, you might just need a little sea saw technique to get you through...

It is easiest to cut the steam off first and possibly even the bottom...I don't worry about the bottom, just the steam.

Once your pumpkin is cut in half, gut out the seeds and stringy things.  Yes stringy things (no real technical name here ha).  Keep the seeds to roast or discard.  If you have kids, this step might be fun for them to get slimy with.

Some people like to just lay them on top of parchment paper while others like to put a 1/2 inch of water at the bottom of the pan...whichever way you prefer, lay the pumpkin face down after you optionally brush them with oil.  I like to give them a little layer of coconut oil

Put them in the oven for 45-50 minutes.  The skin will darken and a fork should easily pierce through the skin when they are done.  Time will all depend on the size of your pumpkins.  Keep your eye on them!

After the roasting is done, let the pumpkins cool for about 10 or so minutes.  After they have cooled take a spoon to cut away the pumpkin from the skin.  This is very easy, if it isn't them they need to be cooked longer.

From here you can either leave as is and put them in your favorite pumpkin recipes or pop them into the blender to make into a puree.  Feel free to add a little pumpkin spice, salt or pepper, or maybe even nutmeg and ginger...the options are endless.

Happy ROASTING!