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.

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from the swings,

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to the slide,

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back to the swings,

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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.

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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:

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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. IMG_20130213_162720

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

these crisps were made for snacking

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once i hear or read about a product (usually food) multiple times, i must see what all the hype is about for myself!  this was one of those items- Mrs. Dash no-salt fiesta lime seasoning.  i knew it would be the bomb on some seafood, but....20130208_150009

go ahead and add fruit to that list.  where did i get that tip? the back of the bottle!  paired with strawberries, it makes for a sweet, citrusy snack with a kick of lime spiciness.  you've  gotta try it on mango and pineapple too!

i heart sweet potatoes. i can smash an entire package of any kind of crackers in one sitting (especially gold fish), and you already know how i feel about my beloved cheese.

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i wanted something different from my nightly roasted sweet potato!  i bought a wedge of fresh parmesan cheese from HEB just for this, and you can get some at any local grocery store.

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so when you put those 3 things together, you have one healthy, low-calorie sweet & savory snack cracker chip thing.

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baked, not fried....you already know.

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baked cheesy sweet potato crisps

the stuff:

2 large raw uncooked sweet potato, shredded

1/2 cup egg whites

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

1/4 cup chopped green onion

fresh cracked pepper

1 tbsp liquid aminos

1 tsp fresh rosemary (optional)

do this:

preheat your oven to 425, and spray a baking sheet with no-stick cooking spray.  shred/grate your sweet potatoes either by hand or by food processor and squeeze all the moisture out.  don't skip that step! also, chop up your green onion.  add this to a mixing bowl and pour in your egg whites, grated parmesan cheese, aminos, and pepper and minced rosemary (any other fresh herb will do). mix! make tablespoon sized mounds all over your baking pan (make sure they aren't touching) until there is no more left.  press down slightly but do not flatten and bake for 20-30 minutes or until the edges are browned, not black :lol:

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serving size = i made approx. 20, but it depends on your scoop size.

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adapted from here!  and yeah, i left them in for a little too long but i'm a gigantic fan of burnt cheese so it was ALL good.  had i had some greek yogurt at the time, i would have tried the smokey yogurt dip to go along with it.  i mashed up a ripe avocado and sprinkled some salt-free Mrs. Dash fiesta lime seasoning on top and that worked for me! if you have the ingredients though, go for it: 

Smokey Yogurt Dip (via How Sweet It Is)

1 cup plain greek yogurt

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika

1/4 teaspoon cumin

i seriously only check our mailbox for my mags, that's IT.   20130208_185024

was this issue not perfect timing!?

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i paid Christine, my posing coach, a visit earlier this week to show some love by purchasing one of these cute, sexy, 'Pose4You' racerback tops of hers!  i'm so proud to be one of her clients!

what is your favorite food and/or fitness mag? 

get on the floor

and do the exercises below at home, in front of the tv while you stuff your face with... pancakes.

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ok do them after the pancakes.  they are guilt-free, so do it in whatever order you like, just promise me you'll do both!!!!!

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my favorite smoothie fruit combo to order in the Lifetime Cafe, or any smoothie place really, is blueberry banana. which means blueberry banana pancakes were calling meeeeee this morning.

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so i answered.

blueberry banana cakes

the stuff:

  • 1/2 cup wheat bran
  • 1/4 cup oat bran
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 3 0z banana
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (ya might need more!)
  • 5 drops vanilla creme stevia
  • 1/4 cup blueberries
  • 2 egg whites

do this:

miiiiiix!  everything! i threw the banana into my mix and mashed it up with a fork until it was chunky smooth.  so you can either throw your fruit in your batter, or leave it for the topping. or do half and half. it's your call!  i'm pretty sure i used like 1/2 cup or more of unsweetened vanilla almond milk, but it's cause i don't like my batter sooooo thick. 1/4th a cup just might work for ya though.  again, i've been experimenting with oat bran, but you can totally use 1/2 cup of ground or rolled oats as a sub.  stats are for the entire recipe. look at all that fiber and protein! *high-five*

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2 fantastic floor exercises that build your booty and strengthen your core:

#1. glute bridges

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a.)on your back, plant your heels firmly into the floor and bring them as close to your glutes as you can get'em.

b.)with your palms pressed into the floor on either side of you, drive your heels into the floor, pull your belly button into your spine, keep your hips and shoulders square (level), thrust them up towards the ceiling and squeeeeeeeeze your glutes!!! 4 x 25

for an extra challenge, try these options:

  • extend one leg out straight, keeping it level with your opposite knee.  hold until it burnzzzz! switch.
  • put a weighted barbel or a heavy plate across your hips.
  • place and hold a dumbbell in between your knees while thrusting. don't drop that weight!

#2. planks IMG_20130202_141101

we all know how to do these, right?  super simple but so effective!

a.) keep your body as flat as a board- no glutes in the air, and no sinking hips.  resting on your elbows and toes, pull your belly button into your spine as tight as possible, and tilt your pelvis slightly towards the floor, and of course, squeeeeeeeze your glutes.

b.) hold this position for as long as possible.  if you'd like a challenge, try these options:

  • transition to a high plank (palms directly below your shoulders); repeat low to high to low, etc.
  • take your right leg  up and hold, repeat on the left
  • take your right arm up and hold, repeat on the left
  • drop your hips and glutes to one side at a time in a twisting motion while keeping your toes and elbows planted. greeeeat oblique exercise right there!

20130207_195250 what has Chiso been up to? well, we are currently in potty training mode. aaaaaand we're gonna get it right one of these days.   my OBGYN and his Pedi gave me great tips and one of them was to invest in a singing potty, which makes perfect sense!  every time he does his thing, it plays a little song. i'll have to bootleg it and use my cell for now.  whatever works.  when he finally completes his mission that fateful day in the NEAR future, trust me, you will know. i will blow up this blog, twitter, IG, sound the alarm, run tel dat, EVERYTHANG :lol:

it's #throwbackthursday on IG!

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how bad do you want to change?  make the decision, commit, and DO IT then!

le

twosday

what? two posts in one day!? don't thank me, thank Chiso :lol:

he actually stays put when i put his Elmo movies on these days, so that gives me a little mo time to post some stuff.

how was your workout today?  i loved this the second i saw it:

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you're the boss, Applesauce!

you make the schedule and determine workload.  if you keep working away on that ginormous stack of papers on your desk, it will start to dwindle, eventually.  equate that to living a healthier lifestyle (or weightloss/gain/maintenance) - the results WILL come with a little consistency!  some days you'll do more work, some days you won't do nearly as much.  and that's ok.

20130205_064152 first early AM class of February has been taught, BOO-YAAAAAAH!  afterwards, i stayed behind and did a few weight circuits, solo.

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there's #crotchsweat, and then there's good ol' #bootysweat!

after that,  i came home and made these babies...........

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Peach Branberry Coconut Cakes.

this is another 'cardio creation'! i thought of this on the elliptical last night and almost made them when i got home cause i didn't wanna wait!

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i hope the new flavor combo is appreciated cause yall know i could eat banana pancakes EVERYDAY :shock:

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i've been using organic oat bran instead of oatmeal these days!  why? more fiber, more protein, and it's cheaper by the pound at my store.  i've seen it used in other recipes and decided to give it a try myself.  it can be found in the bulk bins at HEB and/or Whole Foods for sure, but if your grocery store doesn't have a 'bulk' area, i'm pretty sure it's sold in the box on the shelf too.

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i haven't had blueberry pancakes in a good while.  #satisfied

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here's another recreated Central Market salad fave from last night:

dill, cucumber, tomato & feta salad

the stuff:

  • 2 sliced cucumbers
  • 3 chopped roma tomatoes
  • 2 tbsp red wine vinegar OR juice of a fresh lemon if ya don't have any
  • 2-3 tbsp fresh chopped dill
  • fresh cracked black pepper
  • 1 tbsp liquid aminos
  • 2 tbsp garlic and herb goat cheese
  • 1 heaping tbsp 0% greek yogurt

do this:

chop up/slice the cucumber, tomatoes, dill and add this to a large bowl.   add everything else and MIX! you can break up the goat cheese over the ingredients.  let it sit in the fridge overnight and it'll taste eeeeeven better the next day. no red onion in this recipe.

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been eating this all day today!

IMG_20130202_175515 gnite- i know someone needed to see that as bad as i do/did. you ARE good enough!!!  believe in YOURSELF.

hollaaaaa

le

sb sunday

i started my super bowl sunday out with a beast of a workout!  why was it such a beast?  well, my bro-in-law, Brian, strolled into the gym and took the last 30 minutes of my total conditioning class with me, and he made me do 30 minutes of his workout afterwards in return, whew.  s/n- it's always a great thing to see familiar faces in my class!!! when i first started teaching, i used to get ridiculously nervous if someone i knew told me they were coming.  even having my own husband there used to frighten me!  i just didn't want to get so nervous and mess up.... unconfident much?

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 but you know what i learned? nobody even know's i've 'messed up' unless i SAY something.  i actually used to apologize on the mic to everyone in the middle of the routine!  i have grown tremendously over the years through practice and experience and did NOT give up.  even now, i have brain farts often  but it's usually because i get so pumped and start to run around the room motivating members that i forget what i was about to do next in my routine!!

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quitting is NOT an option though- do. not. give. up.  if you're committed to something you truly LOVE,  your passion for it won't let you.  it's worth all the time, energy, and effort you put into it.

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we did a kettle bell and box circuit.

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when i saw him go get those stupid boxes i knew it was about to be ON. #crotchsweat

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that's my grimace face...not a smile.

i post pics of my Polar watch after my workout on Instagram sometimes and i get questions like, 'wow, what'd you do to burn all that??' or 'how much of those cals were from ____?'

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truth be told, it's different every work out, of course.  i try to get in and out in under 90- minutes, but it also depends on what i'm workin that day.  here's the approximate breakdown for this particular day though:

200 cals - 15 min fat burning warmup on the elliptical while waiting to begin my class

750+ cals - 1 full hour of Total Body Conditioning (cardio + weights, HIIT)

350 cals - 20 minutes of kb's and boxes with my bro

i go over 1k maybe twice a week at the most.

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working out with Brian = soreness in places i forgot about. never a dull moment with him, EVER.

hope you guys enjoyed watching the big game on Sunday, whatever you did! we had a little last-minute viewing party at our home and i told myself i wouldn't stress this year and to make it a SB potluck party!  i only made four things:

1. chunky grilled shrimp dip

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grilled chunky shrimp dip

the stuff:

  • 1 lb EZ peel shrimp, any size
  • 1 avocado, chopped
  • half of 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • half of 1 green bell pepper, chopped
  • 1 lemon
  • 1 tsp fresh cracked black pepper
  • 2 tbsp coconut aminos
  • 2 tbsp fresh, chopped cilantro
  • 1/4 cup red onion, chopped

do this:

cut the lemon in half and squeeze the juice onto the thawed shrimp and add 1 tbsp of liquid aminos.  season with your choice of no-low sodium seasoning, and let it sit for 30 minutes minimum.  whip out your grill pan and grill them up on high heat. remember they cook extremely fast...no more than 3 min on each side.  plate them, cover with foil, and let them sit tight for about 5 minutes.  chop up everything else if you haven't yet and throw it in a bowl: cilantro, bell peppers, red onion, avocado, and finally your shrimp.  bite size pieces perfect for scooping with chips is best.  add the last tbsp of aminos, squeeze the other half of the lemon over your mixture, and sprinkle with the cracked pepper.  let this chill in the fridge for at least an hour. then, scoop away.  fresh, easy, quick, mmm hmm, all that!

2. tidy turkey janes

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waaaaait a minute....i said i was saving this recipe for my Fit Foodie Le  fit e-cookbook, remember!?!? uh oh, i think i only disclosed that info on IG and hadn't mention it on my blog yet. well, SURPRISE!!!! :shock:

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the meat sauce is aaaaaalll clean, but you can always switch out the rolls and use whole wheat/grain for sure.  e-book is still in the works! will hop right back working on it after i finish this post. it'll be worth the wait;)

3. homemade, clean guacamole

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i did everything 'to taste' with this guac recipe! forgive me! here is everything i used though:

ffl's homemade guac:

the stuff:

  • 8 ripe avocados
  • 2-3 roma tomatoes
  • garlic powder
  • onion powder
  • coconut aminos
  • half of 1 medium yellow onion
  • fresh cracked black pepper
  • sweet, smokey chipotle paprika
  • juice of half of 1 lemon
  • fresh chopped cilantro

do this:

you can throw ALL this into your food processor/blender and whip it into a smooth, creamy avocado mousse like texture, or chop everything finely by hand and keep it chunky.  here's a tip though- make sure the tomatoes are somewhat dry, cause they can make the dip runny.  taste and season accordingly from there!

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4. savory & sweet rotisseri chicken bites

ok....i did not get to go to Sam's and get some rotisserie chicken, but i DID have some leg quarters in my freezer already. so i totally switched this recipe up this year.  i roasted them on 350 for about an hour or so, then shredded them after they were cool.  dark meat just doesn't shred as easily as white meat, but i did my best to make it work.  and i didn't use flour this time.  the clean version is right beside each ingredient in parenthesis for ya, as promised!

savory sweet rotisserie chicken bites w/ pb toast crunch coating

the stuff:

  • 4 cups shredded chicken (white, breast meat)
  • 1 bunch chopped green onion
  • 4 oz garlic and herb goat cheese (4 oz fat free cream cheese)
  • 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar (1 cup low fat or 2% cheddar)
  • 1/2 cup sriracha hot sauce
  • 2-3 tsp black pepper
  • coating - 3 cups crushed peanut butter toast crunch cereal (3 cups peanut butter puffins or fiber one cereal)
  • 4 scrambled raw eggs (5 egg whites)
  • 2 tbsp tony chacheres cajun seasoning (salt-free tony chacheres)
  • 2 cups flour (whole wheat flour) OPTIONAL!

do this:

turn oven on 350.  after  the chicken has been shredded finely, add the cream cheese, hot sauce, shredded cheese, green onion, seasonings, and  form individual balls (1-2 in in diameter) with your hands.  get two separate bowls and put the eggs in one, crushed cereal in one, and the flour in another.  use one hand to roll the chicken ball into the flour first (optional), then the egg wash,  and finally the dry cereal mix until it is covered completely.  place the balls on your baking pan, and cook them for about  15-20 min or until brown and crispy.  makes about 30+ balls, depending on the size you rolled'em!

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yes, more goat cheeeeese! i found this one right next to the honey goat cheese @ HEB. it worked GREAT in the chicken bites recipe! so much flavor. 20130202_193400

20130203_152916 alright, here's some of the spread!

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these snacks made the Beyonce concert, i mean, the game much more enjoyable. 20130203_172437 a family member of ours brought wangs, YUM! you can't watch football without'em.  hot, galic and parmesan, and my fave, honey bbq. 20130203_172503

friends also brought several bags of chips, like these multigrain Tostitos i adore,  among other things! we were so grateful for every contribution thank you MUCHO, friends and fam! 20130203_165911and lastly, there is NOTHING thing clean about these babies! i just used an ordinary vanilla boxed cake and made mini and reg size cup cakes topped with vanilla icing and sliced strawberries.  they went FAST.

alright, those were our game day treats!

now, what did you make? was it 'clean' or 'dirty'?

le