Skinny Me Chicken Soup

I call this “skinny me soup” for a few reasons. 1) It is packed with nutrient and fiber dense vegetables. 2) The soup is filled with chicken which is packed with protein and will help repair muscle tissue. 3) The fiber and protein will keep you full on minimum calories. 4) It is super easy to make (not skinny but still a plus).
soup
Ingredients 

2 tablespoons of olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 large onion, chopped
2-3 bell peppers, chopped
2 large carrots, shredded
2 cups mushrooms, chopped
1 can diced tomatoes
6 boneless, skinless cooked chicken breast, shredded
4-8 cups chicken broth
Seasonings to taste: salt, pepper, anise seed, fennel seed, dried oregano, and dried basil

Instructions 

In a large saucepan, heat olive oil and add garlic until fragrant.
Add onion and season with salt. Heat the onions for about ten minutes , stirring constantly.
Add the bell pepper and heat until tender.
Add the shredded [...]

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Benefits of Exercise

About two or three years ago, Time Magazine came out with an article about the effect of diet and exercise on weight loss. The conclusion was basically that exercise plays a minimum effect. As I remember, this article caused an uproar in the fitness community. And though not a popular idea, it had a lot of truth. Diets may be the number one thing that controls weight loss but exercise benefits the body in so many ways. Here are a few of my favorite:
pilates
Helps Control Weight
I know what I just said. Diet aids weight loss more than exercise. But, exercise still burns calories, boosts the metabolism, and allows you eat more!

Fights Disease
Being active, no matter your weight, helps to reduce your  bad cholesterol levels which can lower your blood pressure and works to prevent heart disease.

Improves your Mood
“Exercise gives you endorphins and [...]

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3 Tips to Guide You Towards Weight Loss Now

I wanted to share with you 3 of my top tips for when you are on any diet. These tips can help you succeed with weight loss.

1. AVOID THE SCALE!3 tips to help you lose weight nowThe scale is so overrated! Trust me, the scale can drive you crazy! Our bodies fluctuate constantly, so measuring your progress this way isn’t the best way. I understand that losing weight can be hard mentally and emotionally (I’m right there alongside you on this journey, too!), but I find that many people panic when they see the scale not budging or go up a notch rather than down – and I totally get this! I used to do this, and I used to panic about tiny gains or if the scale didn’t budge, too. But, I’ve learned that looking at the scale on a daily [...]

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Keeping on Track

diet tips
Lets be honest with ourselves, diets are hard. Eating clean, following a meal plan, and creating/maintaining healthy habits takes hard-work and dedication. But dieting becomes even more complicated when you are on vacation. Follow these tips to keep you on track even while on vacation.

Indulge-don’t forget that you are on vacation. Enjoy every minute, heck you earned it.
Sharing is Caring-Share meals and treats with your travel buddy. I spent this last weekend in San Francisco and wasn’t going to let a sourdough bread-bowl pass me by. But instead of consuming one by myself I shared. Satisfying all my craving without the extra calories.
Walk and Walk Some More- one of the best ways to explore a city is to walk it. Walk to dinner, to a different bar, or monuments you would like to visit.  The more you walk the more calories [...]

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Cauliflower Breadsticks!

 
cauliflower

Cauliflower Crust Garlic Breadsticks
Ingredients:

1/4-1/2 a head of cauliflower (about 2 cups) (Beneficial)
1 teaspoon olive oil (Beneficial)
1 clove garlic, minced (Beneficial)
1 large egg (Beneficial)
4 oz low fat mozzarella cheese, grated (Beneficial)
1/2 teaspoon dried Italian herb seasoning
1 pinch each salt and pepper
Cooking spray
Optional for dipping:Marinara sauce (Neutral)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350F and line a loaf pan with parchment paper so that paper hangs over the sides.
Lightly spray parchment paper with cooking spray.
Rice the cauliflower. To “rice,” grate the cauliflower with a cheese grater.
Cook “rice” in the microwave until soft, about 6-7 minutes, stirring every two minutes.
While the cauliflower cooks, beat the egg, garlic, 3 ounces of the cheese, 1/4 teaspoon dried italian herb seasoning, and salt and pepper.
Add cooked cauliflower to cheese mixture and combine.
Spread “dough” into your loaf pan.
Bake 30 minutes, remove from oven, flip over and bake an additional ten minutes on the other side. The bread sticks [...]

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Elliptical Interval Workout

Spice up your elliptical training with this 34 minute heat-pounding, boredom-busting workout. Why 34 minutes? It fits perfectly into the suggested 34 minutes of exercise for the 17 Day Diet and is extra credit for the 30 minutes suggested on the Flat Belly Diet.
ell

 

This routine is all about interval training. You will use varying amounts or speed and resistance to blast calories and keep your metabolism boosted all day long.

Time (minutes)

Speed**

Resistance

0-3

Level 1

4

3-5

Level 2

8

5-6

Level 5

15

6-8

Level 3

10

Repeat minutes 5-8, five more times

23-24

Level 5

17

24-25

Level 4

15

25-27

Level 5

17

27-30

Level 4

20

30-32

Level 3

8

32-34

Level 2

5

**Speed is difficult to gage as no elliptical is created equal. Follow the chart below to make the workout more personalized what may be your 3 could be my 5.

1: Slow, leisurely walk. “I can do this all day.
2: Deep Breaths “I can’t keep up a conversation at this pace.”
3:  Feeling good. “I can stay here 20-30 [...]

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Black bean and Tomato Quinoa Salad

Whip up this Black Bean and Tomato Quinoa Salad for a delicious entree to satisfy your body and soul.
Black Bean

Ingredients

2 teaspoons grated lime zest
2 Tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 cup quinoa, washed
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
2 medium tomatoes, diced
4 scallions, chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Instructions

Whisk together first four ingredients with 1/2 teaspoon sea salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a large bowl and set aside.
Bring 2 cups water and 1 cup quinoa to a boil in a medium pot with 1 tablespoon salt. After it reaches a boil reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until tender, about 10-15 minutes.
Remove pot from heat and remove lid. Let stand for about 5 minutes.
Add quinoa to dressing and toss until dressing is absorbed, then stir in remaining ingredients and salt and pepper to taste.

Optional: Beef this up with a little extra [...]

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Why Drink More Water?

Want to improve your skin, health, and aid your weight loss efforts? Drink more water. This tried and true method gets over looked too often. The popular 17 Day Diet suggests you drink at least 8 eight cups daily and during the jumpstart phase of the Flat Belly Diet, 8 cups of “sassy water” are mandatory. But can this tasteless liquid really live up to all its claims read on to find out…

abluewater
Health Benefits of Drinking Water:

Healthier  Skin-Forget about  expensive creams or beauty treatments. Drinking water is the free way to hydrate your skin, prevent acne, and prevent wrinkles. 
Remove Toxins-Water flushes toxins from your body especially from your digestive tract. The kidney system is dependent on water to do its work. Water also helps get rid of excess nitrogen and ketones which is important when following a high protein diet.
Cushions and Supports [...]

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Healthy, Lean, & Vegan

I spent the morning hiking with a close friend who had just completed a month of veganism. She partook in the challenge to be “healthier & leaner.” Did it work? She reported back this morning that not only did she gain six pounds; she, also, felt too sluggish to workout. I of course had to ask what she was eating daily to make her gain weight and lose energy. The culprit: protein, well more lack thereof.

If you are unsure of why our bodies need protein, check out “Get Your Protein.” The short story is that protein repairs muscle tissue, keeps you full, and provides the body with needed energy. In my friends case, meat, eggs, and dairy had been her number one source of protein for years and she didn’t know what to supplement her diet with when she cut those things out. Cutting out animal products can be an excellent [...]

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Raw Recipe: Creamy Nectarine & Blackberry Smoothie

Going fully raw isn’t easy. But remember you don’t have to become fully raw to reap the benefits. Adding raw foods to your regular diet can be helpful as well. Try by starting out with 1 meal a day raw – breakfast might be the easiest and I have a raw smoothie recipe below to help! You can double this recipe if you want to consume more – this recipe makes a 16 oz smoothie.

You could also jump right in to the Raw food world and try a raw food cleanse to see if the diet is right for you. First check out our previous post “What Can A Raw Food Cleanse Do For You?”. We have apps for trying a cleanse out. You can do 3 days, 7 days, 14 days or 28 days. These cleanses will help [...]

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