WE WON! Jerry Built Homegrown Burgers + The Nike + app

when this happens i'm usually in the study doing some late night blogging.  if Sonny gets home later than the boy's bed time, i do the same thing, lol.  i love having them snuggled up next to me! co-sleeping has always been our thing. they'll be going off to college tomorrow so i'm soaking them all in every chance i get.

helloooooo Nike + friends!!!

seriously, thank you guys for adding me!  i made an IG post and told people to join me on the app but  have been confined to the dang treadmill and stair master since my last long run like a week and a half ago. i know, ugh!!!  i need this accountability and motivation though and seeing people rack up their miles makes me want to get back out there too. i will!  especially since my half marathon  is quickly approaching.

 keep it up, yall! after my 7 miles and the Texans football game....we headed to get our grub on.

---

how cool is this? i would LOVE to have something this eclectic and awesome for my kitchen!

this spatula art can be found on the wall by the front registers at Jerry Built Homegrown Burgers, West U location.  i won't be that person that says 'i never win ANYTHING!!!' (even though i totally said that on the periscope vid we did lol) and it's been a while but ya girl scored a JerryBuilt Homegrown Burgers gift card via their Facebook photo contest recently!

we were super excited to head there for some healthy eats after church sunday.

so we did! look at that spread!

i found JB back in August for Sonny's birthday weekend and we have been like 4 times since then and it's only October.  the kids LOVE the food and the gigantic chalk board in the front of the dining room is a great kid-friendly idea.  we frequent the West University location inside the 610 loop but there is also a location in the Woodlands, TX as well.  this time we had:

fresh fruit for Dego & i (along with some yogurt i brought from home that he is addicted to)

a nitrate-free, grass-fed beef hotdog on a multigrain bun, and.................

one of the best foods ever on earth!!!!! some creamy, mac n cheese.

instead of the Jerry's Cobb, i went with the Houston salad! spring mix, kale, baby spinach, romaine, jicama, roasted sweet corn & black beans pico, queso fresco, avocado, cilantro, and house-made croutons w/ house-made cilantro lime vinaigrette.  YAS. i got a salad to save some macros for that mac and cheese of course.

Chiso got a nitrate-free hotdog as well with a side of fries.

you'll have to scroll back up to the aerial pic to see Sonny's burger it was gone before i got a chance to get a solo shot of it, haha.  he got the Saint Arnold again and the photo i took from his birthday weekend of that same burger won us the gift card! sweet.

Chiso can't go without leaving his mark on the board.

i just want to thank JBHB for being SO generous to our family; we have enjoyed every meal we've eaten there!  i always recommend this family-friendly, healthy joint to everyone we know.  highly recommended and fitfoodiele approved.

Q: what family friendly eateries in your city do you love and recommend? 

Salata Bar = Girls Night 'Out'

our saturday morning workout started with bear crawls!

IMG_20150829_094513

20150829_131137-01

ONE on ONE prenatal training sessions are available! email me for details at le@fitfoodiele.com.  if you'd like to have the fittest pregnancy possible (or know a mama that needs one) it's my pleasure and purpose to show you how.

i don't think i say how much i love my job enough.  Salata, The Next Generation Salad Bar, contacted me about giving their new catering options a try and you know i jumped right in, head first! i called my sis-in-law, Michelle, right away; she was all for getting together for a "girl's night 'out'" kinda thing! a brand spanking new Salata was built next to my gym a few months ago and i stop by there every so often to get my fix.  if you are a lover of gigantic salads with a TON of variety, you need Salata in your life.  trust me on this one! i stopped by the City Centre Houston location to pick up my goods and decided to eat my post workout lunch there.  if you're a Salata first timer, follow me:

20150829_132021-01 (1)

20150829_131314-01

'thank you for finishing your call before ordering.' you tell'em, Salata.  vegetarians, vegans, and gluten-free peeps unite!  i started with a salad and i wanted to go big. really big. post workout 'hangry' BIG.

i love that the calorie count is listed for every.single.item, right there in front of you.

20150829_131356-02

i jokingly told the sweet girl who took my order that i wanted a lil' bit of everything and she responded, 'ok!' with a smile and got her scoop on.  mind you there are like 50 different things you can build your salad with, people!  you don't pay by weight at Salata; everything is portioned out reasonably by the server.  look at all that gorgeous, healthy color!

20150829_131540-01

dressing on the side, you know it.  that Chipotle Ranch though... don't say i didn't warn ya.  i wanted to drink it.  i got a small side of it along with the fat-free mango dressing.  if you'd like to sample one first,  just ask.

20150829_131750-01 (1)

protein!  i went with the seafood mix which is a scrumptious combo of herb marinated salmon, krab, and shrimp. those three proteins are available individually along with these choices: baked tofu, quinoa,  falafel, pit-smoked turkey, asian BBQ chicken, pesto chicken, spicy chipotle chicken, and herb marinated chicken.  complete nutritional stats and ingredients are available on their website.  avocado is extra but get it anyway!!! you're worth it.

20150829_131833-01 (1)

next, you have a choice between croutons, a multigrain stick, or a basil asiago roll on the side,

20150829_131922-01 (1)

a cup of yummy, gluten-free soup,

20150829_132216-01 (1)

and/or one of these sweet treats for just a buck.

20150829_131840-01

nothin' to it, right?

20150829_132754-01 (1)

i found Dego and i a quiet corner of the restaurant so i could do my Periscope thang buuut, as usual ya girl couldn't catch a signal. womp.  man i love the app so much though! i just wish i could get a gauranteed signal whenever the moment to broadcast strikes.  i am not a fan of scheduled scopes (or super crazy long scopes that you can't fast forward through lol), so maybe i'm finally accepting that 'winging it' is just my thing.

20150829_132601-01

just know it went down.

20150829_132639-01-1

20150829_134539-01

Dego woke up right after i dove in.  he loves bread so he swallowed that multigrain stick.  he is my little garbage disposal and still eats everything. *knocks on wood*

on my way to finishing the entire bowl.  i just couldn't stop.

i picked up my goodies and headed home to get ready!

20150829_182641-02

my lopsided bun and i were on our way to Michelle's house with the Salata Bar in tow.

PhotoGrid_1440998435797

thank you, Michelle, for graciously hosting our lil' shin-dig! i set everything up on the kitchen island before we dove in.  the Salata Bar serves 15 people and came with:

• plates
• large tongs
• small tongs
• napkins
• cutlery
• 1 protein choice (we chose the Asian BBQ chicken)
• 3 housemade dressings of your choice (we chose Chipotle Ranch, Ginger Lime Vinaigrette, & Lemon Vinaigrette)
• 12 fresh toppings
• multigrain sticks, croutons, pita chips, & basil asiago rolls

20150829_185009-01

the ladies circled the island like sharks while i took pictures, haha.

PhotoGrid_1441167003447

aaaand GO!

IMG_16741-01

twice in one day.  ok, 3 times cause i took the leftovers home and ate again.

IMG_20150830_003526

the Salata Bar was perfect for us, but there are a few more catering options to choose from including Wrap Trays, Boxed Lunches, Salata Bowls or you can customize a combo package.

20150829_202907-01

i also brought along this low carb, dairy-free dessert for us to enjoy: Chocolate Chick Cookie Pie. i didn't tell a soul about the secret ingredient ;)

20150829_203051-02

what a fun night; all the ladies raved over how delicious, fresh, and healthy everything was.  they also now want to order cases of the Chipotle Ranch dressing!!! if you're in the business of hosting parties, gatherings (family, friends & professional) then the Salata Bar is convenient, highly recommended, and fitfoodiele approved.

Q: would you rather actually go out for a girls night, or stay in?

http___signatures.mylivesignature.com_54493_267_38EEDA794ECC9B61FC9DE0E61757D91B

my #StartFreshii Juice. Cleanse. Energize. experience!

the results from my 1 day #StartFreshii juice cleanse are in: i survived, woo hoo!  in all honesty, it wasn't that bad.  i'm definitely saying that cause it was only 1 day though, haaaa. when those hunger pangs kicked in i was totally transported back in time to my 1st bikini competition prep. good times, lol! mix that in with a couple "come on, Leah..just a few more hours. you can do this. focus." moments and that was my day in a nutshell.  i explained on Periscope (are you following me yet? have you checked out the app? leave your ID below so i can look you up!) that i'm breastfeeding and can't afford to go longer than one day to keep from putting a big dent in my milk production (gotta keep those calories up!).  plus, i'm a group fitness instructor and although light exercise (yoga, walking, stretching)  is ok when detoxing, strenuous activity is not recommended.  bummer.  anyway, i've gotten the 'do you juice? do you detox?' questions over the years and can finally say, 'Yes! i've done one!' however, i have always turned them down in the past because:

• fearful of feeling way too hungry (and crappy) to deal
• i prefer eating calories over drinking them
• cannot be sustained long-term
• prohibited strenuous exercise (booooo.)
• generally low in protein

what i do believe they are great for:

• complete system reset
• rid body of toxins and excess waste
• improved complexion, hair & skin (clean eating cleared my skin up completely by the way...no more Proactive!)
• promotes/jump starts healthy lifestyle changes
• increased mental clarity, energy, stamina
• a healthier, nourished colon

when the #StartFreshii Challenge was presented to me, i finally decided to take the plunge! i love Freshii cause they offer a variety of healthy, nutritious, fast-food items for people on the go. i just wish they had a drive through! the decor is fun, bright, and contemporary, and kid friendly items make this the perfect healthy family eatery.

again i did the 1 day, but if you decide to give this a whirl yourself, you've got 3 or 5 day options too.  pick the one that best suits your lifestyle and schedule for best results.

i ordered some oatmeal for the boy's breakfast.

adorable presentation! and i am thrilled they both love oats so much.

  my eyes!! i was LOVING all that beautiful, healthy color! the smoothies were labeled and to be consumed in a certain order every 2.5-3 hrs;  the detoxifying Metaboost salad was to be eaten at the end of my day.

1. Green Energy - apple, cucumber, kale, lemon, carrot, romaine, spinach (my fave!)
2. Carrot Zinger - carrot, apple, ginger
3. Mighty Detox - pineapple, cucumber, celery, apple, ginger
4. Red Power - beet, carrot, lemon, ginger (2nd fave!)
5. Metaboost Salad - field greens, spinach, kale, carrots, mango, edamame, almonds, goat cheese, balsamic vinaigrette

staying busy between meals was going to be key in getting me through this! we explored the city a little before running errands.

one of the calming fountains at a small, contemporary park just down the street.

the sun was out but thankfully there was still a nice breeze at 10am! so Chiso got to run around and play a bit as i finished up juice #1.  i sipped all of them suuuuuuuper slow.

Q: what is THE very first thing that pops into your mind when you read that question? comment below.

A: before i die...i want to live out and fulfill His purpose for my life. that's #1. i will remember and cherish these days forever!!! so grateful to be able to do what i love with the people i love.

after that, errand time.  running around in the Texas heat and jumping in and out of the car with kids is a workout in itself. whew.

i said all that to say that at 2pm, i cracked.

lol! keeping it real! i'm used to eating over 2k cals a day so i was really going through it at that point.

i just hope there was nobody sitting in their car watching me tear this salad UP. wasn't it pretty though?

 after that, i felt like i could actually finish this thing strong.

3rd juice done with one left to go as we finally headed home.  you're supposed to drink 8-10 glasses of water in between 'meals' when doing a cleanse as well. i did my best.

by 6pm? DONE. finished a lil early, haha.  the Freshii cleanse pamphlet did suggest that if hunger overtakes you, increase your water intake, drink a herbal tea, or reach for raw or lightly cooked fruits and vegetables.  that said, i had grape tomatoes and half a cucumber before finally getting in bed around 10pm.  the next morning i felt lighter, and my mid section's skin was noticeably tighter.  that's what cutting out refined sugars does for me though, immediately. my tummy and waist are the first to respond when i tweak my nutrition.

takeaways:

• this was a mental battle more than anything! once i woke up the next morning with no pressure to stick to the cleanse, i wanted to keep going. go figure.
• not having to chew overall made it feel like i had not eaten a thing = hoogry
• great for resetting/restarting your system.  i am now motivated to keep my refined sugar intake low and my raw fruit/veggies intake high. this is when i feel and look my best.
• not great as a lifestyle (possibly once a week at best) or for fat loss.  the diet is already low in protein and calories and the body goes into starvation mode after a while which conflicts with the fat burning process.
• unless you have your own juicer at home and get a great, cheap deal on produce, juicing can get rather expensive.
• we CAN do anything we put our minds to

fyi! many times the media choses to focus on the short-terms results produced by these cleanses.  know that your results won't last if you don't make it a point to move more and maintain and healthy, low-no processed diet.

i highly recommend you accept the #StartFreshii juice cleanse challenge! all 4 juices are delish and refreshing but my fave was definitly #1. tell me about your cleanse/detox experience below.

le

Dego's Dedication Day + Chocolate Chick Cookie Pie

baby Dego was dedicated to the Lord recently!  Sonny and i both desire to raise these boys up His way.... that is our daily prayer.  though our parenting styles differ in some ways one thing is clear; we both love our boys deeply and have their best interests at heart.  always.  we want them to both have their own personal relationship with our Savior and we can illustrate that best by setting the example.

our niece, Camille, was also dedicated that same day!  so sunday was pretty busy.  i didn't get to meal prep like i planned,

but i did get a quick workout in that morning before coming home to cook dinner for the family we had coming over.

fresh trout is on sale at HEB this week, so i seasoned a 2 lb. fillet with one of my fave spices! i can only find Adams Reserve at HEB, and the Smokey Sweet Potato is BOMB.  450 degree oven, 12-15 minutes or until cooked through. depends on the size of the fillet though.  just pierce the thickest part with a fork to check and make sure it's done.

on the side, i made a fresh spinach salad with Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing!

whisk together:

• 2 tbsp raw honey (or 2 tbsp granulate stevia packets)

• juice of 1 lemon

• 1 tbsp EVOO (extra virgin olive oil)

• 2 tbsp Apple Cider Vinegar (or white wine vinegar

• 1 tsp lemon zest

• 1 tsp poppy seeds (i get mine from the bulk spice aisle at Sprouts Farmers Market)

i added crumbled goat cheese, cucumber, and avocado on top.

toss and coat!

my dad is a bean eater so i had to include them on the menu.

for dessert? deep dish cookie pie. again!

man. i have made this dessert like 6 or seven times in the past few weeks.  this has become the kind of recipe i don't even need to read anymore; it's all in my head.  and it's SO good!  and deceiving!  

Chocolate Chick Cookie Pie

the stuff:

• 1 -15 oz can garbanzo beans (drained and rinsed)

• 1/2 cup rolled oats or oatbran

• 1/4 tsp baking soda

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 2 heaping tbps unsweetened applesauce

• dash salt (maybe 1/4 tsp)

• 1.5 tbs melted coconut oil

• 1/2 cup golden brown sugar or coconut sugar

• 1/2 cup dairy-free mini chocolate chips

do this:

1. throw everything except the chocolate chips into your blender/food processor and let it rip until a smooth and creamy consistency is achieved.

2. in a mixing bowl, add the batter + 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips and combine really good

3. pour into prepared baking pan, spread batter evenly across, sprinkle on a few more chocolate chips on top, then bake for 35-40 min.

the chocolate drizzle is just melted down dairy-free chocolate chips mixed with a little unsweetened cashew milk ;)

i plopped two spoonfuls of Arctic Zero's A Lil' Bit Chippy ice cream on toppa there. had to!

we thank our friends and family for celebrating Dego's dedication with us.  it's a REALLY big deal and we treated it like one.

up on the jumbotrons!

2015-05-04 23.01.27

our homework was to write a letter to Dego as if he were 18 years old.  man, each family that went up had beautifully written, heartfelt letters for their children!  it was incredible to witness. sure we wanted to write a novel (ok, i did) but Sonny kept ours short and sweet.

what is this, a natural hair convention? LMBO

my mom, brother, and sis-in-law came up to pray over Dego with us.

20150503_172400-01

Dego was pretty excited for his big day.

20150503_173139-01-1

i was looking through my closet for something to wear that morning and came across my baby shower dress!  last time i wore this thing we were two weeks away from meeting Dego.  sure it was a lil' baggy, but it was perfect for the occasion.

20150503_172224

congrats to baby Camille and baby Dego; God's will was certainly done.

le

is that sweat? 3 weeks postpartum

why yes!  that IS sweat.  today...was a great day. not just cause it's friday either! it was great cause i started my day super-duper early this morning in the what?

GYYYM!

i'm back baby!!!! i'm home. kinda. i miss the smell, the energy,  the whirring of the machines...  is that weird!?   the same smell that used to make my stomach turn when i was training for my bikini comp, go figure. and i definitely miss my gym buddies and instructor friends!  i said 'kinda' cause i only came to walk, which is still the only thing i've been doing until i'm cleared to hit those weights again.  that's next though! i haven't gotten up at the crack of dawn to workout since i took my hiatus from teaching my Lifetime classes at the end of May.  i had my headphones blasting and arms swinging as i power walked to the beat. before i knew it, my hour was up! pure, sweaty, bliss.

Odego is sleeping a lil' longer these days (prolly 3-4 hour stretches if that) so this morning i had a small window of opportunity that i ran and jumped straight through.  praying for more mornings like that! else it's back to my evening neighborhood walks or whenever i can get them in.

i felt like i had the entire day ahead of me to get stuff DONE.  i've been losing track of what day it even is while trying to get a routine going with the kiddos, and today's workout made me energized, refreshed, focused, and most important, MOTIVATED!!! you see i even got this blog post up :D

i'm eating around 1900 cals a day currently, and this morning's balanced brekky consisted of scrambled egg whites with homemade guacamole (i only had a fresh lime instead of lemon and it worked just as well, yum), low fat turkey sausage, a nectarine, and some whole wheat toast with a tbsp of dark chocolate dreams peanut butter.  for your own customized meal plan, email me at leah.egwuatu@6packusa.com.

i marinated some chicken breasts in homemade honey mustard (equal parts dijon mustard and agave nectar and yes you can you honey) and a little sea salt and black pepper to taste.  i grilled them up on my grill pan and smoked up the 1st floor of the house real good.  all you need is a HOT grill pan sprayed with no stick cooking spray, cook the breasts for 8 minutes on each side (depending on size), then cover the meat with foil and let them rest for 5-10 minutes.  here are a few of my grilled chicken lunch/dinner plates from this week:

,..paired with plantains pan-fried in coconut oil, a fresh spinach, tomato, pecan, jicama salad, Annie's  all natural Artichoke Parmesan dressing on the side (i could turn the entire bottle UP it's so good) and my prenatal vitamin...

..paired with sautéed spinach and mushrooms, a summer corn, tomato, cilantro & mozzarella salad with honey mustard on the side..

..a ginormous spinach salad topped with pecans, strawberries, blueberries, jicama, green onion, and feta cheese crumbles.. this was actually my first time ever buying jicama and it won't be my last!

3 weeks postpartum now and my sweet tooth is still RAAAAGING, so i've been trying to stick to natural sugars as often as possible.  the cravings are SO strong though and all i want to do is eat chocolate and chips all day.  so i've been having fresh fruit with a little sugar-free cool whip and cinnamon for dessert most nights. super yummy and a better option than the Marble Slab i will go HAM on. also, the peeps over at Squarebars so graciously sent me some samples of their organic protein bars to try. omg. can you say right on time!? they are D-freakin-licious!!

no refined sugars, no GMOs, soy-free, gluten-free,  low glycemic, vegan, and 12g of protein. i'm feelin'em, and their nutritional stats aren't too shabby!

newborn life lol! have a fun friday evening!

le