As the winter chill sets in, there's nothing quite like a steaming bowl of hearty chili to warm you up from the inside out. This healthy chili recipe not only satisfies your comfort food cravings but also nourishes your body with wholesome ingredients. Ingredients : ·          1 lb lean ground turkey or chicken ·          2 cans (15 oz each) of black beans, drained and rinsed ·          1 can (15 oz) of kidney beans, drained and rinsed ·          1 can (15 oz) of diced tomatoes ·          1 cup corn kernels (fresh or frozen) ·          1 large onion, diced ·          3 cloves garlic, minced ·          1 bell pepper, diced (choose your favorite color) · ...

As the New Year unfolds, many individuals embark on a journey to improve their health and fitness. However, the key to long-term success lies in the creation of sustainable goals that promote overall well-being. Rather than succumbing to short-lived resolutions, let's explore how to establish realistic and lasting health and fitness objectives for the year ahead. Define Your Why: Before diving into specific goals, take a moment to reflect on your motivation. Understanding the deeper reasons behind your desire for a healthier lifestyle will help you stay committed. Whether it's improving energy levels, preventing health issues, or enhancing your overall quality of life, a clear purpose will serve as a powerful driving force. Set Realistic and Attainable Targets: One common pitfall in goal-setting is the tendency to aim too high, too soon. Start with realistic targets that align with your current fitness level and lifestyle. Gradual progress is more sustainable than drast...

One of the hardest parts of starting a new fitness regimen is setting goals.  Many people set their goals based solely on their weight and, without realizing it, they are also setting themselves up for failure and disappointment.  We are not simply numbers on a scale.  Everyone is different, and putting a flat figure isn't necessarily a good indicator of what is or isn't healthy for you.  Determining your BMI is the best indicator of where you stand with your weight vs height.  But trying to determine a goal based solely on your BMI can be tricky, and down right difficult to predict.  Instead, set simple, realistic goals that will ultimately affect your overall health and well being. Here's how I look at it.  When a person is trying to quit smoking, often times cold turkey just isn't an option.  What smokers do is ultimately reduce their consumption.  If they are currently smoking a pack a day, they may set a goal to cut back to half a p...

I don't know about you, but if there were a competition with prizes for making excuses, I would be the winner hands down every time.  Especially when it comes to changing my lifestyle (no matter how large or small).  I set a deadline, yet as it draws nearer, I come up with multiple excuses to get out of it.  The timing isn't right, I don't have the right footwear, the stars aren't properly aligned...No matter how strange, I will think of it and try to use it to my advantage to not do what I'm supposed to do. I am stubborn, plain and simple. To overcome this, I needed to change my thinking and use my stubbornness to my advantage.  When I set my sights on something now, nothing can stop me - I will always find a way.  When it comes to dieting and trying to cook with a very busy schedule, I will dedicate an entire day, if I have to, to cook for an entire week.  This is beneficial in its own right because on the days when I am tired and too stressed out...

In order to kick off this Fitness blog right, I thought that I would try to highlight one of my favorite recipes at least once a week.  I absolutely love to cook, but I often don't have the time, so I try to limit my recipes to those that are 30 minutes or less (or I devote at least one day to cooking meals that can be split up and saved for multiple meals throughout the week).  Today's recipe is brought to you by one of my favorite websites: Eatingwell.com . Broccoli & Feta Pasta Salad 6 servings | Active Time: 30 minutes | Total Time: 30 minutes Ingredients Dressing 1 clove garlic, minced 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup buttermilk 1/4 cup low-fat mayonnaise 3 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano or 1 tablespoon dried 1 tablespoon distilled white vinegar Pasta Salad 8 ounces (about 3 cups) whole-wheat fusilli 2 cups chopped broccoli 1 3/4 cups halved grape or cherry tomatoes ...

I think I may have covered this in another blog post, but I felt it worth mentioning again.  Anytime I talk to someone about my fitness and diet, they somehow automatically assume that I am eating only salads and fruits and somehow, "good" food isn't allowed.  This always gives me pause because when I decide to "go on a diet," this means eating more food than I would eat on a regular basis.  See, my problem isn't that I load up on a lot of chocolate (really just don't like it), or cakes and cookies (I can pass easily).  Salt does me in.  Plus the fact that my life is currently so busy there are times when I forget to eat.  Yes, it happens.  I'm a writer and an artist, and when I get "into the zone," hours pass without my noticing (that is until my stomach feels as though it is going to jump out of my skin and eat everything in sight).  This leads me to overeat and also eat at all the wrong times.  My metabolism is wonky to begin with,...

I'm not going to lie to you...yesterday, when I opened up my package from Beachbody and saw the tiny containers for the 21 Day Fix, my first thought was - OMG I'm gonna starve!  As you can see from the photo above, they are pretty tiny.  I added a standard coffee mug to show size reference so that you can see what I mean.  Not to be 100% discouraged, I tore open the book with the eating plan and skipped ahead to the chart to figure out just what the heck was going on.  Needless to say, I'm a lot happier with what I read, and the portions are what you'd expect from any good eating plan. Basically, here's the scoop.  Each container represents a food group.  You have vegetable, fruit, protein, starch, dairy, and fats.  Each container will be used multiple times throughout the day depending on your caloric needs.  And before you roll your eyes about counting calories, stop.  You don't.  You only need to determine the amount of calo...

It has been dreadfully long since I have posted in this blog.  Unfortunately, it appears it was neglected from the get go.  Life has a way of changing our plans and steering us in new directions without warning.  Other times, it merely re-directs to steer you on a similar path, but with a new focus. I started this blog as a personal dedication (and accountability) for my fitness goals.  I made this public to help me with this task.  Illness, work craziness, and just plain too-much-to-do took me away from this.  The beauty with life, it always offers you new chances. July 1st I decided to commit to my quest for health and fitness and I decided (after too many years of deliberation), that I would finally become a coach for Beachbody ! For years, I have used their products, starting with Insanity.  I have always loved the community surrounding the products and the energy that emanates (even over the internet...it is addictive).  I think i...