Friday Food Inspiration

Happy Rainy Friday!

We’ve needed this rain in Los Angeles and I’m personally so thankful for this cozy end to the week. Dreary days are a perfect excuse to stay in and cook something yummy. Something yummy and healthy that’ll warm you up on a stormy afternoon. Earlier this week I bought greens at the local Farmer’s Market and they are so perfectly delicious that I decided to center a dish on the two best bunches I found: celery and asparagus.

Check out my Celery, Asparagus, and Pea Soup recipe below!

What you need:

-1 tablespoon of olive oil

-1 large onion, diced

-3 celery stalks, thinly sliced (make sure to wash really well- organic greens fresh from the farmer's stand usually have some dirt on them)

-4 garlic cloves, minced through a garlic press, or finely chopped

-5 cups of water

-1 large bunch (usually around 1lb.) of asparagus, trimmed, and sliced into 1-inch pieces

-2 cups of green peas (I use frozen organic peas from Trader Joes.)

-1 teaspoon of salt (optional)

-1 tablespoon of lemon juice

Optional Garnish:

-1 or 2 tablespoons of finely chopped fresh dill

-1 or 2 asparagus stalks, sliced with a vegetable peeler to create ribbons

-1/4 cup of heavy cream for drizzling

What to do:

-In a large pot, head the olive oil over medium heat and add the chopped onion, celery, and garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until the celery and onion soften, about 6-7 minutes.

-Stir in 5 cups of water with the vegetables.

-Add the sliced asparagus and frozen peas to the pot, stir to mix it all together, and bring to a boil.

 -Lower heat and simmer, uncovered, until the asparagus is very tender, about 15 minutes. 

-Work in small batches and puree the soup in a Vitamix or a blender. 

(I use a measuring cup and transfer to my Vitamix in batches of 1-2 cups--- however much I can move over at a time without making a big mess!)

 

-Once you’ve blended everything together, strain the mixture through a sieve, or meshed juicing bag,  pressing down to remove as much liquid as possible. Pour the strained liquid back into the original pot. 

-Heat the strained soup until it just reaches a simmer, and then stir in the lemon juice. Stir in salt, to taste. (I like to add a little kick to mine so I also throw in a pinch of cayenne pepper.)

 

If you want to step up your presentation here’s what you need to do for the garnish: 

-Run a vegetable peeler over the asparagus stalks to make ribbons and garnish each bowl of soup with some asparagus ribbons along with the chopped dill. Once you’ve added those, you can drizzle the top of each serving with a little heavy cream.

Nutritional Info (with garnish):

Serving size: about 1 cup, 130 calories (50 from fat), 6g total fat, 3.5g saturated fat, 16g carbohydrates (5g dietary fiber, 6g sugar), 5g protein.

This’ll make enough to reheat leftovers for the next couple of days. You can even serve it cold and it’s just as tasty. I hope you enjoy as much as I do!

Trainer Tuesday! A Day in the Life of Leah Polcyn

I’d like to share a new Pilates Platinum blog series with you… Trainer Tuesday! Each Tuesday, you’ll get a glimpse of A Day in the Life of a Pilates Platinum instructor. You’ll get to know some of your favorite trainers a bit more as they fill you in on their Trainer Tips, share their own personal workout and eating schedules, as well as tell you what inspires them each and every day. 
Check out our first featured trainer, Leah, below! I hope she will inspire you and that you get a chance to take one of her classes at the Brentwood studio!

Introducing…

A Day in the Life of Leah Polcyn

Pilates and Spin Instructor (Brentwood Studio)

@CommonBurn

What are your favorite Pilates moves? 

French twist and back lunge. 

What is one of your favorite non-Pilates workouts? 

I love outdoor activities! Soccer, beach volleyball and ultimate frisbee. I also love Barry's Bootcamp and power yoga. 

What’s your exercise routine like for a typical week?

Monday: Soccer 

Tuesday: Spin

Wednesday: Ultimate frisbee, Pilates or yoga

Thursday: Spin

Friday: Pilates, yoga or bootcamp

Saturday: Something fun outside!

Sunday: Soccer 

What are some of your favorite healthy foods?

I love veggies mixed all together and sautéed. It's filling but feels good for the soul. I also love chia seeds mixed with almond milk, cinnamon and honey. It's a great breakfast or snack. 

Walk us through your workout and eating schedule for a typical day. 

When do you wake up? If I'm not teaching early I will usually get up around 7am 

What do you eat for breakfast?

If I'm on the run a banana is my go-to. If I have time I love veggies and eggs. 

What do you do in the first half of a typical day?

Usually spend some time in the morning with my dog, then I search for new music for my classes. Will try and get to yoga or Pilates if I don't have cardio that day. 

What do you eat for lunch?

It's always different. Love tender greens, sage and veggie grill. If I'm feeling naughty, Mexican food is my favorite!

What do you do during a typical afternoon?

Usually I run errands, work at home for a bit and walk my dog. 

What do you eat for dinner?

Dinner has been hard to keep regular because we are remodeling our house and don't have a kitchen. My husband is a wonderful cook, and we are starting to learn how to cook more plant based food!

What do you do for a workout on a typical day?

Either cardio or strength. It's important for my emotional well-being to always get my heart pumping. Yoga Pilates and outdoor sports are my regulars. 

What do you do on a typical night? 

I love seeing my friends for a happy hour drink and snack. It's such a great way to unwind. I also love watching movies with my husband. We get obsessed when we find a new series to watch on netflix or hbo!

What time do you go to sleep?

I try and be in bed by 10 or 11pm

What’s your favorite part of your day?

I love seeing my clients break barriers and get stronger. It's an amazing process. 

What’s your biggest source of inspiration…what keeps you going everyday?

I am inspired by the idea of mental strength. Anything can be achieved when the mind says it can. 

What are your trainer tips or words of advice for people interested in Pilates and a healthy lifestyle?

The only way to get better at something is to keep doing it. Failure is humbling. Get up and move on!!

Check out more about Leah and her classes in this short video HERE!.

Healthy Foods to Banish Belly Fat and Speed Up Metabolism

You’ve heard it before: you are what you eat. So, I like to occasionally remind myself to eat clean to stay lean! Here are a few healthy foods (that are quite tasty too) that’ll help you banish belly fat and speed up your metabolism.

Bananas

Super easy, super cheap, super healthy. Eat a banana a day to help beat puffiness. One banana = 422 milligrams of potassium, which helps limit the amount of sodium in your body, and therefore fighting bloat.

Green Tea

I’ve written about my love of Green Tea several times but the health benefits are amazing and I just can’t stop sharing how good it is for you. Sipping three cups a day is shown to rev up your metabolism enough to burn 30 calories-- just by sipping!

Oranges

Orange-you-lucky if you like oranges! This fruit is so high in vitamin C, which helps curb fat absorption. Studies also show that the more vitamin C your body intakes, the less likely you are to have a bigger waistline.

Spinach

Another amazing de-bloater that’s easy to incorporate into your diet- throw some spinach (frozen or fresh) into a smoothie, steam on the stove, or sautéed with some olive oil and you can decrease your odds of gaining belly fat. This leafy green has a lot of calcium and vitamin C to help nourish, and de-bloat your system.

Whole Grains

Don’t be afraid of carbs! Complex carbs are a flat-ab friend. The amount of fiber in whole grains helps to keep insulin levels low, which studies show may actually shrink fat cells.

Yogurt

Yogurt doesn’t just have to be a breakfast food. I oftentimes have some non-fat yogurt with granola and fruit as a light lunch or a mid-day snack. It’s delicious, healthy, and it helps de-bloat your body. Yogurt with Live and Active cultures encourage the growth of good bacteria in your gut, and decreasing the bloat-causing kind of bacteria. 

Try adding some of these delicious and nutritious foods to your routine and you’ll reap the benefits of a flat-belly diet. Remember, you are what you eat!

Secret Morning Ritual

Here’s something you might not know about me: I have a secret morning ritual that helps me stay healthy and feel great every single day. It’s actually not that big of a secret at all, and you can all do it too!

I drink warm lemon water within 20 minutes of waking up.

I know that may not sound like a big deal, but to me, it’s the best way to start my day and the health benefits are amazing! Of course, I often follow my morning drink with an espresso, latte, or green tea, but I really love the way I feel when I begin the day with fresh citrus-y lemon water. Plus, lemons are natural energizers- they hydrate and oxygenate the body so you feel revitalized and refreshed.

Here are some more benefits of drinking lemon water:

-Boosts your immune system! Lemons are high in Vitamin C and potassium. Vitamin C fights colds, and potassium stimulates brain and nerve function.

-Balances your body’s pH! Even though lemons are acidic, inside of our body they’re incredibly alkaline.

-Flushes out body toxins and helps with digestion! It stimulates the gastrointestinal tract and is high in minerals and vitamins, which help rid the body of toxins.

-Rejuvenates skin and decreases wrinkles and blemishes! The vitamin C helps with blemishes- it really does amazing wonders for your skin. It also purges toxins from the blood which helps keep the skin clear.

-Excellent for weight loss! Lemons are high in pectic fiber, which assists in fighting hunger cravings. It’s also been proven that people who have a more alkaline diet lose weight faster.

-Reduces pain and inflammation in joints and knees! Lemon water dissolves uric acid, which relieves joint pain.

-Helps build strong bones in a child (for pregnant and lactating women) due to its high calcium content.

It’s simple- just boil some water, and cut a lemon in half. When the water’s ready, pour it into your favorite mug and squeeze in the juice of half a lemon. Try it for a week and share your results in the comments below!