Tag: health

health

Vegetarian Weekly Meal Prep

November 1, 2015

I am currently on the Massy Arias 30 day challenge. I really like the program and some of the meals. However, I do customize the meals to my specific dietary needs. This week, I wanted to share my vegetarian meal prep for this week. In less than 90 minutes and $80 dollars, I was able to make all my meals for the week. I purchased all items at Trader Joe’s with the exception of Beyond Meat. You can find Beyond Meat items at Whole Foods, Central Market or at your nearest grocery store by clicking here. Take a look below for details of my easy and affordable vegetarian meal prep. Breakfast & Lunch I workout in the morning so I normally eat breakfast in the car. I make homemade egg sandwich with Ezekiel English muffins, egg whites and sauteed onions and peppers. I get bored with eating the same things every day so I have two options for lunch. Using one bag of Beyond Meat crumbles/grounds, I season two different ways. Any additional meat I have left over my the salads, I also use as well. Meal option 1: Sweet potato smash, mixed vegetables and seasoned Beyond Meat with curry and chopped veggies. Meal option 2: Lettuce wraps using seasoned with ginger and coconut aminos and chopped veggies, cilantro quinoa and tomatoes. Similar recipes for lettuce wraps can be found here. Snacks Currently fresh berries are expensive, thus I purchased frozen organic berries instead. I use Fage 2% yogurt and added stevia and cinnamon for flavor. This week Massy has us making a green smoothie for our snack but unfortunately I can’t do it at work. As an alternative, I am making my “green” travel smoothie. I use Garden of Life Raw chocolate and Plant Fusion vanilla with almond milk or purified water in a blender bottle. Dinner I love mason jar salads. My mason jar salads include with variety of chopped vegetables, steamed beets, mixed greens and Beyond Meat beast burger or chicken strips. I used bbq seasoning for the beast burgers and trader joe’s chicken seasoning rub for the chicken strips. I also use the taller mason jars when I am on the go. Vegetarian Weekly Meal Prep Completed That’s it! I am loving this weekly meal prep as I am getting faster each week and more focused. Once I clean up my kitchen, I prep my workout and office clothes for the week too! It has helped keep me focused and saves me time. PS: The containers I am using for meal prep can be found at my amazon store or by clicking here.

Five Easy and Healthy Halloween Snacks

October 25, 2015

Halloween is a holiday that is all about ghost, goblins and mostly candy. While we all know candy isn’t healthy, I decided to share a few cute and easy healthy halloween snacks that you will love. Try swapping these healthy options and decrease the candy intake this year. Five Easy and Healthy Halloween Snacks Skeleton Veggie Tray From Kraft.com Ghost Eggs From The Gourmet Mama Frankenstein Kiwis Found on Two Healthy Kitchens Clementine Pumpkins Found on My Fussy Eater Boo-Nanas Found on A Healthy Slice of Life/ BuzzFeed

3 Sports Bras for Large Breasts

October 5, 2015

If you haven’t noticed, I “suffer” from large breast syndrome. HA! It sucks but until/unless I have surgery to decrease them, I have had to live with them. Run with them. Swim with them. Bike with them. Sleep with them. You get the picture. I am a firm believer in wearing the right size bra and type when it comes to exercising. Let me also mention I am petite so it makes finding a bra even more difficult. This has resulted in me becoming a guru or expert in picking sports bras for women who have large breast. Hopefully, this blog post will help you on your fitness journey by offering a few sports bras to tame those bad boys. Recently, I attended the Title Nine Bra Fit Fest for the Media. (Don’t worry they are having a special one for the public on October 7 & 8 in Dallas, Texas. See below for more details.) Title Nine is dedicated to finding the right sports bras for us fitness chics. The best part was being with my fellow founding Dallas Fitness Ambassadors as we took the bras for a fitness spin. Title Nine has tested thousands of bras and found just the right ones to support our workouts and our curves, whether you’re a 32AA or a 40EEE. The company has hands on expert bra fit specialists –bravangelists– to get women in the right bras in local stores across the country. For those of you who don’t have a Title Nine in your area you can also check out their online Bra Genie. I like their 360 Guarantee. If for any reason or no reason, you are not happy with your T9 purchase, send it round-trip within a year for an exchange or full refund. No questions. No hassles. No kidding. How cool is that? BTW: If you are old school and want to ring them they also have bravangelist by phone at 800-342-4448. Welp! If I am going to talk about large breasts, I might as well show you mine and the bras I took for a spin. (Note this bra was awesome but the wrong size, which is why the bravangelists are soo helpful!) So here are my top three sports for large breasts. Top 3 Sports Bras for Large Breasts 7 Wonders Bra – This bra has managed to put all the 7 wonders of the sports bra world into one bra: racerback, molded cups for shape and modesty, front adjust straps, bonded seams on straps, neckline and armhole, back close for easy off and on, and seamless cups to avoid chafe. This Moving Comfort bra comes in almost 7 different colors and and will make your bras feel truly wonderful. 3 Reasons Bra – This is my favorite bra by Moving Comfort. While I have more than three reasons as to why you should buy it, I am going to give you three reasons at least. 1st: The adjustable straps and back closure make this the most customizable bra, which translates to a better fit for you. 2nd: The super support this bra offers will keep D and DD cups from bouncing, even in high-impact activity. 3rd: This bra will keep you cool and dry, with wicking fabrics throughout. I run and workout mostly in this bra. I bought two more in different colors at Title Nine that same night. #INLOVE FYI: This used to be called Fiona by Moving Comfort. Aero Sports Bra: This was a new bra for me and I fell in love with it this bra because it’s SO LIGHT! Be forewarned, the Aero sports bra will prop those coconuts up. The sizing is a bit odd so be sure to get a Title Nine bravangelists to ensure the right fit. The best features of the aero bra are the all-mesh back, ventilated sections of the bra and sizes going up to 40F makes this a must have bra for anyone with large breasts. Win a Free Bra! Special Invite & Giveaway I want to personally invite each and every one of you to get a personalized bra fit with a Title Nine Bravangelist at Title Nine Dallas’s Fit Fest on Wednesday, October 7 and Thursday, October 8. You can RSVP at bit.ly/T9Dallas_fitfest or contact the store at (214) 443-0201, and take part in this life changing experience, complete with fun “Bounce-athalon” activities and other surprises that you can only experience if you go! Also for those of you who can’t make it, the kind folks at Title Nine are offering my readers a free sports bra. All you have to do is follow the steps below. a Rafflecopter giveaway FTC: This blog post is not sponsored. Title Nine was kind to invite me out to their media/bloggers night for a review of the store. They are offering my readers/followers a free bra. All opinions are my own.

Uhoh. Apples Make Me Sick

September 17, 2015

Remember when the old saying “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” Unfortunately for me, an apple an day will keep me at the doctors ALL DAY. YUCK! Yes, a common staple in my diet were those delicious apples full of flavor, color and a variety of sizes. We now have had a hard break up. *Tears!! How do I know this? A few months ago, I completed a 28-day program through Awakened Nutrition called Beat Belly Bloat Program. During the program, I learned how my body reacted towards a lot of foods more specifically towards apples. Before the program, I knew non-organic apples tend to upset my stomach but through and after the Beat Belly Bloat program my body revealed the full truth of my relationships with apples. UHOH! Apples Make Me Sick While I can have fresh organic apple juice within a smoothie I can no longer eat a full raw organic apple. If I do eat one of those bad boys, I will pay for it dearly. Check out how I learned about my body, what it likes and my favorite alternatives to apples. Items mentioned in video: 28 Day Beat Belly Bloat Program EatOrganicDFW – local. organic. sustainable This video and blog post is not sponsored.

Vegetarian Tamale Dinner

August 19, 2015

I love Mexican food! Besides tacos and enchiladas, I adore tamales. Tamales are traditional Mexican and Native American foods that are made with ground corn called masa, chilies and meat wrapped in a corn husk. While some tamales can be very high in fat and sodium, they are known to be rich in vitamins, minerals and fiber. Since it’s hard to find decent non-meat tamales, I don’t enjoy them to often. However, to my surprise, Trader Joe’s now carries two non-meat tamales by The Texas Tamale Company. I decided to try the spinach tamales for dinner. The tamales take less than 10 minutes to steam, which was enough time for me to pair with a mixture of black rice and beans. Once finished, I added fresh pico de gallo. The result was a perfect vegetarian-friendly and Just Alex approved meal in minutes. Vegetarian Tamale Dinner in Minutes I used the following items Texas Tamales or DIY: Alternative Homemade Vegan Tamales Recipe Organic Black Beans Black or Forbidden Rice DIY Pico De Gallo I loved it so much that I ate it again the following day. Additionally, I added a side salad and mixed black quinoa with the left over black rice. This is officially a staple monthly meal! Try this meal when you are short on time or wanting to go meatless for a day. PS: Texas Tamales are Gluten-Free and ship across the country.

Weekend Recap | Eat For Your Hair & More

August 14, 2015

This week has been so busy for me. I am working on many new projects, speaking and also training for my upcoming races. Here is a recap of the events I attended this previous week. Eat For Your Hair – Dallas Photography credit I’sha Gains Photography HoneyBeNatural Mag Hosted the First #EatForYourHair culinary event at TDK Lounge. Myself, Brittney Giles owner of FitxBrit and Michelle Ezell owner of Edible by Ezell were all on hand to help attendees understand the importance of eating healthy and its connect with hair growth. Photography credit: I’sha Gains Photography The attendees learned how to make a healthy flatbread pizza, which I was able to introduce them to one of my favorite products Beyond Meat Crumbles. After the flatbread pizzas attendees made a no-bake cheesecake and pina colada smoothies. We had fantastic giveaways from a variety of sponsors such as My Butter Bar, Motions Hair, Beyond Meat, Eden Body Works, Nunaat Beauty, Kays Kettle Corn and many more. HoneyBeNatural’s website has the full list of pictures so feel free to check out more by going here. At the event, it was announced the next Eat For Your Hair will be heading to New Orleans March 2016! Honey Be Natural will be partnering with itsmeitsmo of the New Orleans Natural Hair Expo. Adidas Launch of Stella McCarthy Fall 2015 If you are following me on Instgram, you know I went to the Adidas launch of Stella McCarthy Fall 2015 line at SIX:02 in Galleria. It was a great event as I got my butt kick by trainer Nicole Winhoffer. She trains Madonna, Mya and many other top celebrities. COOL! I was blown away by this butt kicking workout, where we did a mixture of the #NWmethod and showed off our fierce dance moves at the end. After our session, we cooled off with a variety of juices from The Juice Bar and were gifted with a variety of items from the new Stella McCarthey line. I definitely needed a new gym bag. I truly am training in style for sure! This weekend I am headed to The Natural Cole How To Event so that I can learn some new styling techniques for my 4c hair!!! Can’t wait!

6 Fitness Tips for Stress Free Fall Training

August 6, 2015

Fall is around the corner; however, we still have many more weeks of hot and humid days ahead. Unfortunately, the weather can make things even more confusing if you’re starting a new training program. Don’t fret! I have you covered. I reached out to the folks over at Six:02 to help put together some essentials to help you train stress free. (Especially if you’re training for their upcoming 6k)! 6 Fitness Tips for Stress Free Fall Training Check out my easy six fitness tips will help you transition from summer to fall and keep you stress free for hitting the pavement. Purchase Transitional Fitness Clothes Purchase fitness clothes for a variety of temperatures. I highly recommend long tanks, as they are breathable, easy to layer and very stylish. Capri tights are always a go-to as they are perfect for any season and workout. Don’t Forget Sunscreen is Vital You can get sunburn in any season so don’t forget to apply sunscreen. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, sunscreen is one of the most vital items used in helping to reduce skin cancer and other skin diseases. Switch Out Shoes Since your feet are slightly bigger in the summer and smaller in the winter, now is the perfect time to have a foot analyst and purchase new running (or fitness) shoes. I recommend always having two sets of shoes as a runner so that you can rotate each week or as needed. Replace or Purchase Workout Essentials Now is the perfect time to replace any old electronics, hydration bottles, socks, towels and other fitness items you may use daily. With newer models releasing and tons of fall sales, stock-up and prepare for the upcoming training season. Hydrate. Hydrate. Eat. Hydrate. Don’t forget to hydrate and replenish the body with healthy seasonal foods after a workout to replenish your hair and body. My go-to post workout meal is a hearty salad and coconut water. Prep for On the Go Now that fall is around the corner, I am extremely busy with events, trips and meetings. I always keep a protein bar and fruit in my bag to ensures, I won’t reach for the tempting M&Ms while out. Quest, Lara, and Kind Bars are some of the most popular ones. DISCLOSURE: Six:02 sent me several items within this blog post; however, the company did not pay or sponsor my writings. The opinions and text are all mine.

Benefits of Oil Pulling for Beginners

July 23, 2015

Oil pulling has been used for many years to strengthen teeth and gums, prevent decay, oral malodor, dryness of throat and cracked lips. A few months ago, I was offered GuruNanda Pulling Oil. After moving, this past week, I found the bottle (opps!) and decided to start back with the oil pulling routine. Within the first two weeks of oil pulling, I could tell a major difference! From the mucus forming in the back of my throat to the clean feeling after brushing my teeth, it’s safe to say this stuff does work. Instructions for Oil Pulling: Oil Pulling is very simple. Soon after waking, but before eating or brushing your teeth, swish a teaspoon of oil around your mouth for 15-20 minutes and spit it out to “pull” bacteria and other toxins from your body. Warning: Do Not Swallow! If you purchase the Gurunanda oil then you will receive a small plastic measuring cup. I recommended to the company to have a cup that list the actual size in teaspoons or recommended amount. Recommended Oils for Oil Pulling: Typically, sesame or coconut oil (Raw Virgin) are recommended for oil pulling. Some people also use sunflower or ghee (butter oil) but it varies. I have used sesame and coconut oil previously; however, it can be hard to find a good reputable brand. GuruNanda Pulling Oil is a blend of oils mixed together so you get all the benefits of each one without the oily taste. Taste: There isn’t really any flavor but you can taste a bit of mint flavor due to the peppermint oil, which is nice to me. I like it a bit better than the just the plain odd taste of sesame oil. Benefits of Oil Pulling for Teeth: I can honestly say my teeth seem to be cleaner when I brush them due to oil pulling. As stated before, there are tons of benefits like removing toxins and helping promote healthy oral hygiene. The Difference in GuruNanda Pulling Oil: This particular oil is a perfectly balanced combination of pure sesame , sunflower, coconut and peppermint oils. I can feel a difference in this particular blend verses using a regular singular oil. Here are a few benefits of the oil. 100% organic Alcohol-free No preservatives No artificial flavors No artificial colors Rich in Omega-3 fatty acids Naturally contains iron, calcium, magnesium, plus Vitamins A, B and E Cost: For a one month supply (using once a day), the cost will range from $15 to $20 dollars. While it’s roughly the same price point as a very good coconut or sesame oil for oil pulling, often for this price you can purchase the virgin raw coconut oil in a larger size. I recommend this particular product for most oil pulling beginners or those wanting to do an intensive month of oil pulling. You can find out more information on Oil Pulling by reading the Oil Pulling Therapy book or to purchase GuruNanda Oil Pulling Oil through their website. Disclosure: I received a bottle of GuruNanda. Because I liked the product, I decided to share this particular product. No compensation was offered. All opinions are 100% my own.

Tailgating Ideas| Fruit & Veggie Tray

February 13, 2015

Well its Football season time. I am pumped and ready to watch the games today. I love getting together and tailgating for football games. For cowboys games, I am in charge of the fruit, veggie, “vegetarian items” and drinks for the game. I decided to turn the boring veggie and fruit tray into a healthy yet sporty tray by using the cupcake pans. Take a look at my easy Tailgating recipe to put a spin on your boring fruit and veggie tray. Not Your Average Fruit And Veggie Tray First, I looked the Beyond Meat Meatballs per the directions. Once cooked, I put them in a bowl and submerge the meatballs in my selected bbq sauce. While the meatballs cool, I begin cutting the fruit and vegetables. After cutting the food, I place the cupcake liners in the baking pan. I selected liners that are my team’s colors (blue, silver and white) to add a pop of color and festivity. I place the items within the liners and that’s it. Finished in a matter of minutes. While technically this isn’t your “traditional” fruit and veggie tray since I added the meatballs. I loved the idea so much, I wanted to show you a variety of items that you could expand on with such as cubed cheese, dips (ranch, whip cream, hummus) or even mini cookies within each section of the cupcake baking pan. The possibilities are endless and the cleanup is a breeze. It’s the perfect for tailgating or for the kiddos. Give it a try and let me know how you like this idea. PS: GO COWBOYS!