3rd triggity-tri update

 it's happening again :shock: . food aversions have returned and all i want for breakfast, lunch, and dinner is Subway!!!  so i had some last night for dinner.  yes, the entire thing in one sitting. don't worry, it fit my macros, lol.  i've been randomly putting my meals in MyFitnessPal just to make sure i'm somewhere in the ball park of my daily requirements.  anyway, thanks Sonny, you're awesome.

it's a turkey breast sammich on honey oat bread with all the veggies except onions and jalapeños with honey mustard.  hadn't had one since the 1st trimester and boy was it as tasty as i remember.

uncomfy , eh? understatement. i enjoy the constant reminder that Odego is awake, moving around and doing his thing in here. however, i feel every single twist, turn, kick, punch, head butt, and cartwheel. all of it.  just like Chiso, he gets wired up as soon as i get settled in the bed at night.  but thankfully it doesn't hinder my sleep one bit.

let's talk about these energy levels though!  this baby is siphoning mine off day by day and i knew that was coming...just not so dang soon.  so most mornings,

i wake up like that.

but this morning before teaching my 5:30am weights class i felt good. like really good again. maybe i should eat foot long Subway sammiches before bed more often.

10 weeks left yall!!! :shock: WAT. i'll explain more about that #pregnantNOTpowerless hashtag in a bit.

ironically, i'm most uncomfortable when i'm dormant or at home cleaning and picking up random stuff off the floor.  i do all this working out at the gym but when i see something on the floor at home that's not where it's supposed to be most times i just leave it there LOL. why is it so much more of a challenge then?!  idk.  i've been sleeping with one of those body pillows from Target for the past 4 months now and i highly recommend one.  you can splurge and get the real thing too.

still not caring for sweets, just all things dairy, mainly cheese.  but every now and then i'll make this guy instead of going to get fro-yo, soft serve at BK, or a McFlurry - a low-dairy chocolate milkshake at home.  i'm totally satisfied after slurping this guilt-free concoction down.  try it! throw this in your blender:

• 3/4 cup cookies and cream or vanilla maple Arctic Zero ice cream
• 1/4 cup + (2 tbsp or so if needed) unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• 2 tbsp Hershey's sugar-free chocolate syrup + more swirled in your glass ;)

before i made coconut whipped cream (which is dairy-free) for the first time a few days ago, i just used fat-free Reddi Whip and chocolate sprinkles for my topping.  legit yumminess for a total of:

that's it.

this little boy here. he has his 'Odego Time' every single day, multiple times a day.  he GETS it now.  his little brother is on the way and he can't wait to slide down the slide with him at the park.  his words, lol. i was worried about how he would be affected (and still somewhat am after he arrives) and i'm reading up on how to make this transition easiest for him.  heck, all of us.  any tips moms, please share!

[wpvideo M9FRyDbw]

you have a bigger influence on your kiddos than you think!  i just knew the park would be way more exciting than lil ol' me, but as soon as we got there he asked, 'mama can we make a video?  i want to exercise with you.' floored. so that's how our 30 week playground workout came about.

check out this adorable article via babycenter.com that shows you how big your fetus is using fruits and veggies, love it.  Odego is the size of a cabbage this week!

le

Blog Elevated Conference + peanut butta banana fudgy brownies

fit foodie le is headed to the Blog Elevated conference this month!!!!! i learned about this conference a few months ago and, well, everything about it grabbed my attention.  learning more about one of my favorite things to do in one of my favorite places in Houston?  um i HAVE to be there.  i must. and by the grace of God, I AM IN THAT THANG, free of charge.   i am just one big ol' sponge ready to soak up ALL kinds of blogging knowledge.  crazy excited to say the least... this is like an overnight adult field trip.  if you're going, well, i'll be seeing you there then won't i :)! i'm ready to take Fit Foodie Le to the next level baby.

everything you need to know about attending this fan-flippin-tastic  conference is right HEA.

oh you like brownies? me three. try theeeeeeese:

peanut butta banana fudgy brownies

the stuff:

• 2 medium bananas
• 1 tbsp melted coconut oil
• 3 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 cup almond meal
• 1 tsp baking powder
• dash of salt
• 2 tbsp Stevia for Baking blend
• 2 tbsp agave nectar
• 1/2 tsp almond extract
• 2 tbsp PB2 (in powder form)

do this:

combine everything in your food processor and blend until smooth.  this is optional, but you can fold in 1/4 a cup (or however many you like really) mini chocolate chips, or mix up some PB2 slightly gooey-er than usual (using unsweetened vanilla almond milk) and swirl it into the top of your brownie batter before baking.  see below:

your call though, as always.  350 degrees for 40 minutes in your baking pan that has been coated with no-stick cooking spray,  and all is right with the world.  under your roof anyway.

oooooh yeah. the topping on this one is mashed banana and chocolate PB2 swirled together and dotted with mini chocolate chips.

makes 12! for 1(excluding toppings):

Q: have you ever attended a conference concerning your area of interest? was it worth it? how did you benefit from it? you knew that was coming, come on.

le

sunday family fun day

i have been teaching my 11am 24 Hour Fitness Total Conditioning class since the beginning of 2013.  i've had a crazy good time meeting so many new members and sweating our faces off together sunday after sunday for these past 9 months!   nevertheless, after having a sit-down with Sonny and fighting weeks (ok months) of conviction, i have finally decided to give it up.  even if a class inconvenienced me, leaving is always difficult.  i despise disappointing and letting people down, especially when they get a routine going and expect me to hold up my end of the bargain and be there.  i guess i despise it cause i know how it feels.    this isn't the first class i've had to leave in my 6 years of teaching, but yesterday gave me that overwhelmingly bittersweet feeling.  again.

i could barely let my supervisor know my decision let alone share my 'important announcement' with my class today.  yeah.... this is always my answer to that dreaded 'what's one thing you would change about yourself' question.

if we made it to church for early service, i felt good.  starting my sunday with Word and worship with my fam is well, the best way to start the day IMO.  however,  if we were out too late at a saturday night event (which happened all too often e.g. birthday parties, dinners,  gatherings, weddings, etc.) early service was out of the question, which meant church didn't happen at all.  i have missed church more times this year than i have in my entire life...and that is so unfair to my family.   individual worship is important to grow your relationship with God, definitely....  but church is a vital part of that growth for me and my spiritual life has suffered because of its absence.  when this happens, i have to evaluate whatever is going in my life at the time,  pinpoint those distraction(s),  and either move or remove them.  it took me 9 months to accept this, but i finally let it go.  why? because it's the best move for our family and the head of my household and heart agree.  masking those feelings of disappointment completely will come with time, but putting it that way makes me feel a whole lot better.

and i really miss going out to eat after church. lol. not just as an immediate fam, but meeting up with my parents, friends, and extended family, etc.  we have either turned down those invites or showed up super-duper late.  rushing off to the gym after service was the only thing on my mind...  if i hadn't gotten my routine together the night before, i found myself writing down moves during service instead of giving God my undivided attention.  ok i could go ON.

---------->let nothing hinder or get in the way of your worship & relationship with God or block the spiritual & emotional growth of your family.  nothing.<----------

now does this mean i won't workout on sundays anymore?  not at all! i appreciate having the option to go at a more convenient time though vs. mandatory for sure. no pressure.  those family gym dates will keep right on rolling.

 i'm so grateful for these two knuckleheads cause they are totally worth the sacrifice.  so each sunday when we do our family thing, i'll capture the moment, upload it to Instagram, and hashtag it #sundayfamilyfunday.    seeing other families spending quality time together really makes you appreciate and cherish what you have.  so if you're following me on IG, well, join in and share!  just don't forget to hashtag it #sundayfamilyfunday. eating, chilling, hanging out, exercising....WHATEVER it is you and your family do together, share it.   i have a feeling most pics will revolve around food - i know most of ours will :shock:

**********

if there's a HEB by you, fresh salmon is on sale for 6.97 a lb this week until tuesday!

 i got us a couple pounds this past weekend and i have been roasting it with hidden valley ranch dry ranch dressing mix.

Walden Farms dressings have been BOGO (buy one get one free) at Sprouts Farmers Market this week so i got the Asian and Balsamic flavors on my last trip there.

 you can use them as actual salad dressings, or as marinades for your proteins (fish, chicken, beef, shellfish).

that chicken up there turned out great (roasted it for 50 minutes on 350 degrees) and i threw it on a salad for lunch last week.

see! it's a berry almond Asian chicken salad.  romain lettuce mix, raw sugar snap peas, strawberries, cherry tomatoes, sliced almonds, roasted chicken breast (marinated and sprinkled with Mc Cormick Perfect Pinch Asian seasoning), all drizzled with a little more Asian dressing.  crunchy, crispy, fresh and healthy.

back to the salmon - i've been making these 'teriyaki' bowls by throwing everything into a container (carbs, veggies, protein, fat) and drizzling it all with one of the WF dressings.  flavorful, fresh, and addicting.  switch out any and everything for your favorites!  countless combos i tell you, COUNTLESS!!!!!!

  these fantastic sales are over this week (tuesday and wednesday), so take advantage.

we always have enough to be happy if we are enjoying what we do have and not worrying about what we don't have.

you'll always be waiting for or on SOMETHING.  take a look over your life and praise Him for all you have right, right now.  you are so BLESSED!

Q: what day of the week do you consider your family day?

le

dairy & nut-FREE chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream cupcakes

this just might be the coolest dessert i've ever made. literally.

:shock:

 i owe it all to Kristin over at Yellow Bliss Road for these babies.  noooo idea (as usual) how i even found her blog (i just get click happy and end up finding awesome stuff every single day) and i had so much fun recreating this into a dairy-free (for the most part!) dessert for my lovely fit foodies.

chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream cupcakes (can be dairy-free, nut-free) 

the stuff:

• 1 can garbanzo beans (no salt added)
• 1/2 cup raw organic oat bran OR ground oats
• 2 tbsp unsweetened applesauce
• 1.5 tbsp melted coconut oil
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3/4 cup Coconut Crystals
• 6 tbsp Enjoy Life dairy & nut free semi sweet Chocolate Chips OR mini dark chocolate chips
• 1 pint So Delicious dairy-free, soy-free, no sugar added Vanilla Bean ice cream - or any ice cream you prefer really! i also used Almond Dream Toffee Almond Fudge. mmm hmmm.
• 35 - .5 oz paper cups

do this:

• set the ice cream and the chocolate chips aside
• throw everything else into your food processor and BLEND until smooth and uniform. no lumps. blenders don't work well for this cause the batter is super thick, fyi
• fold in your chocolate chips to the batter in a separate mixing bowl
• coat your MINI muffin pan with no stick cooking spray and portion out 35 cookie cups (about 1.5 tbsp of batter each)
• bake 10-12 minutes on 350 degrees or until golden brown, then let them cool completely. you can eat a few while they are hot though
• once completely cooled, take out your ice cream and let it soften for about 20 minutes at room temperature
• line the paper cups with cookies and spoon about 2 tbsp of ice cream on top, pressing it down into the cookie. top it off by making a smooth flat surface using the bottom of your spoon
• freeze for about an hour (that's the longest i could wait but shoot for 2)
• rip the paper cups off those suckers and top them however you like!  i used extra creamy whipped cream and more mini chocolate chips.

so,  only take them outta the freezer if you're gonna eat them right then since it's ice cream and all.

  stats below are for the cookie solo; 2 tbsp of the 100 calorie per serving vanilla bean ice cream mentioned above came out to 25 cals.   which means 1 cupcake = 78 cals total.  the stats change though depending on the type of ice cream you use of course.

you could also use Arctic Zero low-calorie ice creams as well, yep.

i took 87 pics per angle. 

and can you tell i found a new pic app? serious overkill.

this one's the toffee almond fudge ice cream. yeah....

wrapping this up now.

k this is it.

forreal.  fun, fun!

aaand a little fitness motivation before i let you go and a reminder to not eat all the cupcakes at once.

enjoy friends!

 Q: what is THE best ice cream flavor, hands down? there are so dang many these days, but Marble Slab's sweet cream is TOP NOTCH in my book! also, Dryers caramel cone crunch, Lord have mercy. haven't had either of them in years though. leave me a comment and let me know yours ;)

le

pancakes + homemade greek fro-yo + REST

oooh the time really got the best of me today.  i said i would rest the entire Saturday after teaching 6 classes this week, all of which included weights.   when i first started teaching, i wanted to teach the ALL OF HOUSTON, and i did. i think i was up to like 9 or 10 classes a week plus my  full time job.  oh and doing boot camps on the side for high school girls twice a week.  i actually kept up with it for longer than you might have expected, but then the health issues started kicking in (duh) as well as complete burn out from working out altogether!  you know the saying..too much of something isn't good, i know, i know.  that was obviously all pre-Chiso... speaking of Chiso, i really did keep my word to rest today so we walked over to the park for some play time.

from the swings,

to the slide,

back to the swings,

to the couch.  snacking on goldfish. watching cartoons.

i promised my pumpkin pancake recipe from this morning and here it is, you fit foodies, you!  i have so much more to catch you up on (v-day, etc) and i WILL! tomorrow.  i'll definitely be having these again before i head out to teach my class in tha morning and you should too.

pumpkin pie pancakes

the stuff:

• 1/4 cup oat bran
• 3/4 cup wheat bran
• 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (ya might need more)
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 heaping tbsp 0% plain greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup pure pumpkin
• 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 tsp all spice
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 5-7 drops of vanilla creme stevia
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 packet granulated stevia
• 2 egg whites

do this:

mix!  in a medium heated pan sprayed with no-stick cooking spray, pan fry them up like cakes.  once one side starts to bubble, flip it.   couldn't be any easier, right?  OH, the topping is 1 tbsp greek yogurt, 1 tbsp pure pumpkin, and 1 tbsp walden farms pancake syrup.  whip it up and make a pretty dollop on top of your stack.

for the whole shabang:

now, i MUST post this before i let ya go- a reader of mine and her husband are NOT fond of chocolate, so i vow to post more clean, healthy desserts of all varieties more often! there will be plen-tay in my e-book as well.  this dessert was an Instagram inspiration gone RIGHT.

blueberry greek fro-yo

the stuff:

1 packet granulated stevia

1 single size tub 0%-2% plain greek yogurt

couple drops of vanilla creme stevia (3-5-7)

1/4 cup blueberries (any kind!)

do this:

mix; you can throw this all in a blender for a smooth texture, or you can do it by hand.  since i like the fruit chunks i did it by hand as you can see.  put it in the freezer for about 30 min...you gotta watch it though cause i left mine in there too long and i had to wait until it defrosted some before i could inhale it. the longest 17 minutes, ever.  oh and i added pistachios, but it's your call on the nuts.

what day of the week is your rest day on and why?

have a beautiful evening!!!!

le