Strawberry Picking is one of my fondest memories as a child.  It has now become even fonder as I share these moments with my daughter! 

Here is a quick, easy, healthy and refreshing salad to have on hand or take to the endless picnics of summer!

Ingredients:
2 large Cucumbers thinly sliced
2 cups of strawberries (I quartered them)
1 avocado cubed
2 Tbsp, Balsamic vinegar (I used f.Olivers strawberry flavored)
1 Tbsp. Avocado oil or olive oil

Directions:
Cut cucumbers, strawberries and avocado.  Place in bowl.  Whisk vinegar and oil.  Pour over mixture, mix and enjoy.

You could also add onion if you would like.  This time I wasn't feeling it, but it is good that way:)

ENJOY!

I don’t want to get “bulky”

The other day I was doing weights day with the 9am class and a new boot camper saw how much weight I was using for triceps.  She came up to me and said “I have a big fear of lifting heavy and that I will get bulky looking. You are lifting heavy but you don’t look bulky?”  I was reminded of what a BIG fear this is for women.  Many are afraid to really challenge them selves on weights day because it will make them bigger. 

So here are my thoughts and my story.

MY thoughts…

Some women look like man-beasts! That is super cool if that is what you are going for.  No one who has this look has done it by accident.  They don’t wake up one morning and go “wow, how did this happen to me?” There is a plan to get that way and it is not easy to do.  It takes time and dedication.  Most of that involves nutrition (eating a TON of protein and high calories) and more weight lifting than we do during boot camp workouts.

Some women do “bulk” up without getti...

Lynda's Transformation:

I was hankering for a milk shake and wanted to try a different smoothie with veggies in it and I AM SO GLAD I MADE THIS!  It tasted like a special treat to me and is loaded with nutrients.  I may have used my finger to scrape out the edges of the mason jar.  After drinking this I wasn't doubled over with stomach pain like a milk shake does to me ...insert happy dance!

CARROT CAKE SMOOTHIE
(makes 2 servings)
Ingredients:
1 cup of carrots ( I used baby carrots.  We use a Vitamix and it can handle them whole, some blenders you may want to grate the carrots first).
1 small banana, frozen
1 1/2 cups unsweetened Almond Milk
2 Tbsp. cashew butter
2 dates
2 Tbsp hemp hearts
1 tsp. Vanilla
1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

Blend until creamy and ENJOY.  The second serving lasted several days in the fridge sealed.

This comes in around 260 calories per serving with 9 grams of protein.  Next time I may try it with just one date because it was plenty sweet.

Alana's Story~

They stole it!

(Lori Photo Bombing my sign - She didn't steal it...I don't think?)

I guess I cannot blame them. I knew better but decided to take a chance.  You guys know how when something is easy to do you are more likely to do it?  And when something is harder to do it you are less likely to do it?  Well I made it too easy for them.  Here’s what happened and what we can learn about human nature to help us lose weight. (After all there is a weight loss and health lesson in everything!)

We are holding a weight loss contest that starts next week.  (details here if you want to join www.thinnertowinner.com, over $3,900 in prizes)  I had an extra yard sign in my car that I hadn’t put out yet.  So last night when I was unloading our Lowes supplies for some house projects I decided to put it out.  I wanted it to be visible well so I put it about a foot away from the sidewalk.  (you already know what happened don’t you?)  Often I put the sign a about 5-6 feet away from the sidewalk ...

Ya' all this is SO easy and a super FAST meal to make!  Perfect for a family who has many differently calorie needs at the same table.

 Instructions: 
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Spray or brush large 13x18 sheet pan with oil (or, use 2 smaller pans).

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1-2red bell pepper
1-2yellow bell pepper
1-2 large onion
1-2 tablespoons taco seasoning
2 tablespoons olive oil

(You could also add mushrooms, jalapeno's or any other spicy pepper you would like).

This just happened last month and I cannot stop bragging about her.  This is a huge deal!  It takes consistent effort and motivation to stick with it long enough for this kind of result!

How does something like this happen? 

How to get motivated…

I gave a seminar last month and I sometimes ask people what they want to get out of this talk.  One of the comments was: How to get motivated? There are many things in our life that we would like to improve on.  Most of these improvements require change and effort, and because of this they sit sometimes for years not done. 

So the question is how do we actually get started?

I am going to give you a couple ideas and finish with how I see people staying motivated long enough to reach their goals. 

I would love to tell you people start because they want to be skinny, healthy, strong, and fabulous. They do want that but the real starting motivation is to no longer be their heaviest weight, not die from the blood pressure or ot...

There are times when I find cutting and prepping vegetables very calming.  I was having one of those days.... I popped on an audio book and went to town peeling and prepping the big bag of carrots I had that needed to get used.  For those who do meal prep (which I highly recommend) get audible and listen while you work! :)

This requires a mandolin slicer, but you can buy pre-sliced carrots and then this recipe would be ready to bake super quick!

Roasted Carrots ..Or Carrot Chips
Ingredients:
2 lbs or carrots
3 tbsp. Coconut oil melted
1 tsp. sea salt
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. cinnamon

Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Place parchment paper or a silpat on 2 baking sheets.

Peel and Slice carrots (I love the heirloom carrots with the purple, yellow and orange).  If you are roasting your carrots you can slice them a little thicker (my mandolin has 3 thicknesses and I did middle).  If you are going for the chips do it on the thinnest setting.

Melt the coconut oil.  Add all the carrots, oil and spi...