July 16, 2013

that guy

July 16, 2013/ leah.egwuatu@6packusa.com

HAY!

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my legs felt so good after my 45 minute run last night that i wore.... :shock: shorts :shock: to class this morning.

i had on a Nike top and shoes, so i had to match, come on. knee-length cropped tights are obviously my fave, but change can be a great thing. at least that's what i keep telling myself! oh and don't listen to Homer up there- fitness is a DIY project so the answer is HECK NO.

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this was some of my post-workout breaky: oat bran pancakes and a veggie filled egg white omelette. i used my banana pancake recipe but subbed the banana for a tablespoon each of unsweetened apple sauce & pure canned pumpkin AND i used 1/2 cup oat bran + 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk. i should prolly just make a new recipe huh. the texture was fluffier, and moist-er (yep made it up) and i was really diggin' their appearance this time. (it also depends on the type of pan you use... i had a new cast iron skillet.)

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today was pretty busy, so i packed some lunch and hit the road. whenever i wait too long to eat, i get crazy. like forreal. headache, terrible mood, and i am more likely to hit the drive through cause it's as convenient as ff restaurants make it unfortunately. fueling your body properly is a huge part of the health and fitness lifestyle. it's the only way you'll effectively reach your fitness goals. if you would like to talk to me about reaching yours via 6 PackUSA's personalized fitness and nutrition plans, you know what to do. leah.egwuatu@6packusa.com.

Phonto

today's meal 4 after getting home was courtesy of Fitzee foods! i had the cheesy chicken and rice bake and it definitely didn't look like this before i put it in the oven! i dropped it while plating:( but it's all going to the same place. it was super good and satisfying! i know i harp on making your own food most of the time, but sometimes having a HEALTHY meal already prepared in the fridge or freezer is well, awesome. i'm super sad though cause it's the last meal of the huge box of food they sent me to try out. i will certainly be a repeat customer because everything i had (and didn't have lol) tasted amazing. my mom was visiting a few days ago and i came home to this little note and empty carton. she devoured the Fitzee pita pizza and was kind enough to leave a note. thanks ma. it was a wheat pita topped with ground turkey, red sauce, peppers, onion squash, olives, pine nuts, fresh herbs and mozzarella cheese. yammy.

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welp, it's that time again. we all knew it would come super fast, and well, it did. my bro Matt came down from working in Afghanistan for the past several months and surprised our entire family two weeks ago! he didn't say a word about his arrival which is so his style, lol. we all cried, even my dad who hardly ever shows any emotion.

we kinda missed that guy.

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he was able to make it in time for my Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. new member brunch, which was his goal! as if i hadn't cried enough that morning.... seeing him brought the ugly-cry-face right back and made my special day that much sweeter.

we laughed, we talked, we reminisced, we hung out, we did what we do best - eat. we went to brunch earlier yesterday for one last meal together before he departed- it's like Chiso understood his uncle was leaving.

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according to Matty, the food is just not that great where he lives, so he made sure to eat everything he had been missing while he was here, ha. like that there french toast.

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i ordered the 'health nut' from Le Peep, and it was as awesome as it always is.

six egg whites scrambled with smoked turkey and fresh seasonal veggies served with fresh fruit (swapped it for potatoes) and a dry whole wheat english muffin (swapped it for a biscuit for Chiso).

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we've been saying that the goodbye thing would never be as hard as the first time.... but yeah that went out the window :shock: .

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so, over the waters, mountains, valleys, and deserts he goes.......until we meet again bro.

on skype. haha

March 04, 2013

savory protein-packed albacore tuna cakes....and stuff

March 04, 2013/ leah.egwuatu@6packusa.com

it is NOT tuesday already!!! seriously? please, come back with me to the weekend for a sec.

it started with this awesome quote above by Jim Rohn. when a quote hits home and find myself reading it over and over again, i GOTTA share it.

if you're satisfied with being unsatisfied, stop complaining and UPROOT YOURSELF. take comfort in knowing that you have the power to change your situation for the better, especially if you are unhappy with the way things are. less talking, more action!!

we met up with a few of our 6 Pack USA clients that morning for body fat testing and progress checks, then hit the gym, together! we make the effort to work out together at least once a week, minimum. it's our kinda date. this man pushes me like NO OTHER. buttons and all :lol: but it brings out the best in me as well as fantastic results. i always see more progress in my body working out with Sonny vs. solo. working out with a partner (or sig. other) provides:

*support

*encouragement

*partnership

*motivation

*accountability

*companionship

*friendly competition

choose a workout partner that truly pushes and inspires you to do better and go harder. friends don't let friends SLACK!

also, being able to see Sonny across the (weight ) room is....nice. even if we are both doing our own thing on opposite ends of the gym, i take comfort in knowing he is simply there.

afterwards, we went on another date.

a lunch date.

to my fave Greek spot in Houston, Niko Nikos! peak or off-peak hour, it don't matter. they stay busy because the food is that good.

i started with the greek salad- it's automatic. it was topped with a block of salty feta, calamata olives, tomato, red onion, peppers, and a splash of their famous vinaigrette dressing. i usually get my dressing on the side, but they never load it on ridiculously and i have always appreciated that. their salads are always cold, fresh, and crisp.

the salad was followed by a spinach & chicken pita loaded with lots of feta and melted mozzarella.

ok....as much as i LOVE me some cheese, it was too much. i watch my sodium intake and because i had just murdered that block of feta on my salad, i was good in that department already. soooo, i definitely took some off before i dove in.

this one's at the top of his list...the massive, impressive, Hercules Plate.

like mother like son! i'm always reaching over my own plate for Sonny's food too.

i sure wish i had read this statement straight from their menu while we were there:

'We challenge you to finish it: Gyros, Souvlaki, Chicken kebob served with tomato, cooked onions, bell pepper, mushrooms, tzatziki, yalandji dolma and two pita breads.'

cause Sonny KILLED IT. maybe we could have gotten free dessert or something!? i'll ask next time.

after church and teaching my gym class on Sunday, we sped over to a kiddie b-day party for Titus, the Engineer! he turned the ripe ol' ago of TWO. happy birthday big boy!

Chiso will be two in May, and i plan to do a similar type of party, meaning, somebody else will be doing all the work this time! nothin like last year's 1st birthday party at all!

Chi chowing down on cheese pizza.

once home again, meal prep sunday was in full effect.

i did a combo of grilling and roasting for my vegetables this week.

even had some egg-plant up in the mix!

i also made egg-plant 'fries' by slicing the starchy veggie into fry sized stalks, seasoning them with Mrs. Dash no-salt garlic & herb, and placing them flat on a baking sheet, 7 minutes each side. different and tasty!

roasting and grilling over steaming, ANYDAY. brussels sprouts, multi-color bell peppers, and egg-plant for the next few days.

last nights dinner:

savory, protein-packed albacore tuna cakes

the stuff:

2 cans albacore tuna, drained
2 egg whites
1 heaping tbsp 0% greek yogurt
1 heaping tbsp course ground mustard
2 tbsp red bell pepper, chopped
2 tbsp yellow, orange, or green bell pepper
1 tbsp cilantro, chopped
juice of half a lemon
1 tsp paprika
1 tbsp Mrs. Dash no-salt garlic & herb seasoning ( i like lots!)
1 tbsp green onion, chopped
1/2 tsp cracked black pepper

do this: * in a large mixing bowl, combine all ingredients and mix very well.

* coat a medium heated pan with no-stick cooking spray

* scoop out some of the mixture and place it in the hot pan, pressing it down flat, like a pancake.

*cook 4-5 minutes on each side or until done and cooked through!

that topping is just 0% greek yogurt, lemon juice, garlic powder, and sriracha. i didn't measure, but play around with these components to make a dipping sauce to your liking!

i made 8 cakes, and these are the stats for 1:

if you hadn't noticed yet,

SO, i started a new section up there titled FFL approved! but you noticed already, right! that page will be filled with all things health and fitness that i have either eaten, worn, or used myself! e.g. good ol' PRODUCT REVIEWS!!! i mean i've really been doing them all along, but this time the products will be mostly complimentary which i appreciate TREMENDOUSLY. sooo, head on over there if you haven't already... there's more to come. way mo!

**p.s. if you make ANY of my recipes, i'd LOVE to see them! how? take a pic and post them to the Fit Foodie Le Facebook Fan Page, or Instagram it and tag me to it -----> #fitfoodiele. **

February 21, 2013

1st lululemon product review!!

February 21, 2013/ leah.egwuatu@6packusa.com

HOT french toast for Chi this morning, oat bran banana pancakes for me! and egg whites. you know the drill.

i didn't measure for the french toast, but i used whole wheat bread dipped in a mixture of egg whites, unsweetened vanilla almond milk, cinnamon, pure vanilla, and vanilla creme stevia. i topped it with some Walden Farms pancake syrup. Chiso is still in love with bananas and eats a whole one for breakfast every morning, so he can lick his syrupy fingers all he wants since it's sugar-free!

for lunch, i got fancy with something i make at least 4 times a week cause it's so QUICK. and i need quick these days.

egg whites, wild tuna, cucumbers, and tomato on some wheat toast with a dollop of guacamustard (avocado and coarse ground mustard whipped into a mousse) and sprinkled with some no-salt Mrs. Dash fiesta lime seasoning. you don't have to make a tuna tower too, but it's FUN! right!?

i'm no trained chef, yall! yeah right! yall better stop emailing me with those 'i can't do all that' messages!!! first off, you can, and second, who said you had to!? i do this for kicks cause it makes me happy. ok and to impress Sonny. ultimately though, it also contributes to the fact that wholesome, healthy, nutritious food can taste as great as it looks. presentation is important to me, but above all else, eat what's good for you, first.

SO, thank youuuuuu for your emails and questions!!! i will continue to do my very best to respond in a timely manner, and even answer some of them in my posts. how bout i do that right now!

Q: are you a PT (personal trainer)?

A: no, guys! i'm a group fitness instructor! a PT is something i've considered in the past and it's just not for me...'officially' anyway, lol! i am certainly not opposed to the one-on-one thing, but the energy of a riled up group of athletes, the loud music, the microphone...yeah the combo of all that is what i live for. i am in complete love with teaching classes for 24 Hour Fitness and Lifetime, however, i do have intentions of teaching local classes (bootcamp, abs, TKB), in due time.

'WHAT DO WE WANT?! '

'GAMS!!!!'

'HOW DO WE GET'EM?!'

pop some squizats!

one of the many lower body exercises you can do for toned, strong, defined, glutes(butt), hamstrings(back of your legs), and quadriceps(front/top of your legs).

TIPS:

lift your toes in your shoes and press your heels into the floor
have an actual seat- like you're about to sit in a chair
keep your knees behind your toes even at the lowest point of your squat
back flat, chest up, abs in, head up!
your stance determines which part of the legs you work, so switch it up often to target and work more angles (narrow stance, shoulder width stance, wide stance)
inhale down, exhale up
if your knees cave in toward each other as you squat, the weight is too heavy. proper form first. always.
you can hold heavy dumbbells down to your sides, you can sit the dumbbells on your shoulders (my personal fave), use a weighted barbell across the meaty part of your shoulders, or use no weight at all!

i am THRILLED to now be apart of lululemon's r & d (research and development) team, whoop, whoop! i want to be apart of ALL THINGS LULU!!! no, this does not mean that i am employed by lululemon- it means that as an instructor, my feedback concerning lululemon products is valued and considered. well i have A LOT of that to spare and share ;)

before i get to new items, i'm gonna start my first product review with some things i wear constantly as you can prolly tell via Instagram! i'm currently working on a new section on my blog that i will dedicate to *drum roll* product reviews! it'll be composed of healthy food products i eat and use in my own recipes, as well as fitness related gear that i wear, use, and support. sooooo, here we go:

lululemon grey and black Wunder Under Pant (WU's 2012) - 82.00$

second-skin fit - feels like next to nothing, literally!
four-way stretch
designed for yoga, gym, to-and-fro, extremely versatile
stylish!

secret waist pocket (keys, cards, small items, etc.)
wide soft waistband for comfort and eliminating muffin top

light-weight, comfy, moveable, breathable fabric no matter what type of exercise you are doing
the contours and embellishments contribute to a longer, leaner appearance <----my FAVE!

it never fails- every time i wear them out, people really dig the back of these pants, and i did too! which is what sold me on 'em. and can i just say i take 'to-and-fro' to a whole new level. gym or not, i slip them on and GO! highly recommended!

do you own a pair?

September 18, 2012

blogging from de plane

September 18, 2012/ leah.egwuatu@6packusa.com

that post title is false advertisement. i was so excited to blog from our plane headed to Jamaica to celebrate our 5th anni that i started the post early, from home! however........ after all the hustle and bustle of the previous night (we had a FANTASTIC time and did well at our first bodybuilding show!!!!! details in my next post) that we naturally *sigh* overslept and missed our WI-FI enabled first flight. UGH. the second flight, which only left 1 hr later, was not wi-fi enabled because well, that's just how things go. SO, Sonny and i actually spoke to one another (cause people still do that :shock: ) about the weekend's events, the highs and lows of training under one roof, our bodies then and now, how we felt on stage, how each other looked on stage, future shows, etc... yeah we had lots of time to catch up as life has finally slowed down a little.

i can't shake this 'i need to be prepared for anything' feeling, which is a good thing though. i knew i wouldn't go completely HAM on sweets so soon after the show, so i packed some healthy stuff for our trip a few days beforehand to make this a gradual thing:

strawberry flavored magic pop, some shelled pistachios, light tuna packed in water, apples, chocolate PB2, canned salmon, and a stack of Food Network magazines i never found time to sit down and crack open.

not gonna lie- even though we woke up super late and rushed out to miss our flight, i still had my oats and bananas lol! i really WANTED them though and didn't have time to get creative and make something else anyway. we had a quick layover in Charlotte, NC, and it was there where i was reunited with the dairy food group again after over 3 months. i had an unused Starbucks gift card from Christmas, so i whipped it out and ordered a fruit cup and one of my fav drinks- a skinny vanilla latte.

so, even on vaca, and i said i was gonna try and stick to 5-6 balanced meals a day, but also indulge and live a little! with everything being all-inclusive (unlimited food and drinks EVERYWHERE) this is hard. not doing TOO bad so far though- there are different menus everyday, so i'm grateful for the variety. for breakfast, there's a live omelette bar- was so excited to see that!! can you guess what i've been ordering? haha

they only have *GASP* instant oatmeal which is disgusting and tastes and looks like wall paper paste. maybe even worse. i see why some people might be turned off by oatmeal if they ever have this stuff when eating oatmeal for the first time, my goodness. i mean it was BAD. there aren't enough toppings in the world to mask a bowl of that stuff :shock:

my lunches and dinners have been looking a little like this: salad,

fruit / veggie plate - raw celery, tomatoes, artichokes, watermelon, cantaloupe.

and yes that's a slice of cheese pizza lol- i said on IG that i've had a slice with every meal so far except breakfast and that is still in effect!

random lunch plate - curried tilapia, roasted yellow potatoes, sautéed green beans/onions, jerk chicken.

random dinner - grilled jerk chicken, beet salad, raw tomatoes, zucchini, and chicken/tomato pizza;)

have we been indulging? DARN RIGHT. they don't just put out one dessert as you can see. i made us a sample plate and well, we got our sample on.

rum cake, chocolate chip cookies, strawberry cheesecake, vanilla mousse cake, and chocolate cake.

there is a poolside grille that is open til 1 am (they shouldn't have told us that) and we took advantage right away. fried fish and french fries - we split this though!