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Diet | Nutrition | Recipes Latest News

Mexican Burrito Recipe

naked_burritoMexican Burrito

Happy 5 de Mayo! If you are looking for a recipe for a healthy burrito, you found it here. This recipe offers great substitutes for rice, beans, and flour wrap. It will nourish four people or two people with leftovers. You can eat it naked or wrap it with collard green leaf, which i recommend for added nutrition. Plus is a much healthier alternative to any kind of overly processed flour product. Make it a fun and enriching activity for yourself and family or friends. Help spread the concept of eating healthier but replacing inflammatory foods for nourishing foods.

Ingredients For Beef

 

1 pound ground beef, grass fed if possible to reduce inflammatory components in conventional meats

1 medium white onion, diced

1 long red chili, diced with seeds

1 can diced tomatoes

4 garlic cloves, finely diced

1 1/2 tsp sweet paprika

2 tsp cumin powder (you can grind whole cumin seeds)

1 tsp coriander seeds powder (you can grind whole coriander seeds)

1 tsp turmeric powder

1 tbsp ghee (or grass fed butter)

1-2 tsp Celtic salt or sea salt (use 1 teaspoon for those with hypertension or whatever other reason)

For roasted sweet potatoes

2 large sweet potatoes, cut in cubes

1 tsp smoked or sweet paprika

1/2 tsp cumin powder

A good pinch of black paper

A good pinch of sea salt

2 tbsp olive oil

redpepper_tomato_salsaFor salsa salad

2 tomatoes, cut in quarters, seeds scooped out

2/3 cup diced roasted red peppers

1 medium cucumber, diced

1/2 cup diced spring/green onion, about 2-3 springs

1/2 cup chopped coriander, leaves and stalks

1/2 lime, juice only

1 small garlic clove, finely chopped

1 small red chili chopped or chili flakes to your heat taste

2 tbsp olive oil

A pinch of sea salt

Instructions

Heat 1 tabslepoon of ghee in a large, deep frying pan or a casserole dish. Sautee onion until soft and golden. At the same time turn the oven to 390F.

Bring the heat back to high and add beef mince in small chunks. Stir and cook until browned on all sides, about 5-7 minutes. At this time I peel and cut the sweet potatoe – it’s all about efficiency. Remember to stir and break the beef apart regularly at the same time.

Add spices, garlic, salt and chili to the beef and cook for a couple of minutes. Add diced tomatoes and a little water, about half a cup, stir and bring to boil. Then turn to low-medium heat and cook for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Once beef is under way, mix sweet potato cubes with sweet paprika, cumin and olive oil and scatter in a large baking tray. Bake for 15 minutes at 190C.  Take out of the oven, sprinkle with a generous pinch of sea salt and pepper, toss around and put back in the oven for a further 5 minutes.

Final step is to prepare the salsa salad. Dice tomatoes, cucumbers and red peppers, add chopped coriander, garlic, spring onion and chili and season with lime juice, sea salt and olive oil. Mix together well and set side until serving.

Cut avocado into quarters and drizzle with some lime juice to prevent discoloration. Once everything is ready, divide between four bowls and serve with a quarter avocado each.

collard-green-wrapsOr add everything to a large leaf of collard greens!

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 30 minutes

 

Adapted Recipe from Eat Drink Paleo

Categories
Diet | Nutrition | Recipes Fitness | Exercise Latest News

Test your Strength with RM (Rep Max)

bench pressAre You Tracking Your Strength?

I didn’t notice how sore my upper body was until I started to stretch before the workout. Ouch! To help out, two of the 1x Rep Max movements were upper body. Had not done 1x RM done in a while. 

If you’re in the gym lifting moderate to heavy weights often and muscles aren’t building up as they ‘should’, I encourage you to look into your nutrition, sleep & rest, and timing. Reach out for a few tips to help you understand what, how, and when. 

Quick 5:15min workout:

15-12-09 reps of 
Burpees
Wall Ball Shots (14 lbs)

Then…all mostly shoulder RMs. It was a good test for my shoulders. They felt OK.
15 mins to find 1xRM Squat Clean (max at 95 lbs)
15 mins to find 1xRM Bench Press (max at 95 lbs)
15 mins to find 1xRM OHS or Overhead Squat (max at 75 lbs)

 

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Diet | Nutrition | Recipes Energy Boosters & Zappers Fitness | Exercise Latest News

Dancing, Beach, Friends, Volleyball, Self-Care

Dancing and Friends

Cheers to self-care!

I had a great time playing in a volleyball tournament, dancing, catching up with friends, and appreciating the ocean view Fort Walton Beach, FL offers. I left Atlanta on Thursday evening and went straight to AJ’s, in Destin at midnight. Said hello to friends and hit the dance floor until they were about to kick me out at 3:30am. I spent so many hours staring at the ocean, met a few great people, spotted dolphins, and drunk a few margaritas. Yes, I make alcohol consumptions exceptions when I go to this spot. Yesterday, I left the beach just on time to catch the gym. Tough and yet awesome! Literally, body was craving a good workout. Check out memories made.

As far as food goes, I cooked and brought my food. I cooked broccoli, cauliflower, squash, chicken, hard boil eggs, and red cabbage. Also brought walnuts, pumpkin seeds, brazil nuts, chia seeds gel, and hemp seeds. I also brought greens, cocktail of food/herb powders, coconut milk, avocado, beets, and green apples for smoothies. 

Workout: 2 Rounds (done in 44:45 min)

400m Run

26 Hand Release Pushups

400m Row

26 KBS (35 lbs)

400m Run

26 AbMat Sit-Ups

400m Row

26 Hip Extensions

400m Run

26 Double-Unders

400m Row

26 Box Jumps (20 inches)

New friends

Volleyball Warm-up Beach Volleyball Volleyball Team Freak From Beach To Gym

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Diet | Nutrition | Recipes Latest News

Broccoli, Leek, Carrot, Yucca, Crock-pot Soup

broccoli soupThis crock-pot broccoli soup never fails to taste amazingly good.

It does not matter how I change it every time I make it. This soup is rich in healthy carbs, protein, fats, and micronutrients!

If you know my wellness warrior story, you know I did ZERO cooking a few years ago. I was the queen of putting ‘stuff’ together. It had to be quick and easy or no deal. Wonder why I had health issues. This kind of ‘nutrition and lifestyle’ DOES NOT WORK for your long term health. If you are young, your body isn’t telling you that yet, but it will sooner or later. Don’t go there. Invest in your health now. I went from cooking nothing to about all my meals. When I started, it took me hours on Sunday to cook my weekly meals. Well, I’ve learned, improved, and do it MUCH faster. Patience!

Rule #1: cook in bulk for diversity and time saving.

Rule #2: invest in tools to save you time in the kitchen: crockpot, steamer, food processor, vegetable/fruit chopper/cutter, spiralizer, good blender or even a Vitamix (finally bought one last December), and dehydrator. If you don’t have any, start with a crockpot! Make room in your budget and schedule to buy one at a time. Or even better, ask your family and friends to gift them to you. Be creative or consult Dr. Google or others who have been there! Would like my opinion and/or have questions, reach out. 

Rule #3: be open minded to introducing different foods and tastes to your lifestyle. I was horrible. I’d do anything to not touch any vegetables. Today, my diet is 70% plant base. Number of vegetables and colors on my plate or smoothie still shocks me when I look back. Thus, be open mind. Be patient. It’s a marathon. It’s your life. It’s your health. It’s your well-being. Think ahead and ask yourself…how do I want to look, feel, and do in my 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s? Every healthy step you take now counts. Do what’s in your control to feel fab and age beautifully. 

I have establish more rules for myself which I’d recommend but let’s get to the recipe 🙂

Broccoli Soup

Tools:

6-quart crockpot, knife, cutting board, blender, containers to store/freeze (glass is best), can opener, and smile!

Ingredients:

  • 1.5 pounds of broccoli
  • 2 leeks (chopped)
  • 1 medium carrot (chopped)
  • 1 medium yucca root (chopped)
  • 1 medium onion (chopped)
  • 3-5 cloves of garlic (minced)
  • 1 can of coconut cream (read the ingredients…prefer one that says: coconut and water only)
  • 8 cups of broth (own made or low sodium or combo of broth and water. You can do vegetable, chicken, or beef broth). Often, I cook with 4-6oz of my homemade crockpot beef broth and 2-4 oz of water.
  • 1/2 bunch of fresh parsley (optional)
  • 4-5 tbsp of collagen (optional)
  • Seasonings: himalayan/celtic sea salt and black pepper are staples. Others to consider: paprika, fennel seeds, turmeric, etc. the list goes on. 

Best is to use organic vegetables for higher content of nutrients and less toxicity. If that’s not in your budget, it’s OK., just wash them REALLY well (washing = scrubbing).

Directions:

  • Wash your vegetables really well.
  • Peel carrot and yucca.
  • Floret your broccoli (if not yet).
  • Chop other vegetables in 1.5-2 inches thick.
  • Toss all ingredients in a crockpot (except for parsley and collagen).
  • Poor coconut cream and broth on top of vegetables.
  • Set your crockpot for 5 hours in low. If you have an automatic type, which I highly recommend, you wake up or get home for a treat!
  • After done, mix everything well. If you wish, add more seasonings.
  • You blend everything in batches (approx 4-5 batches. it depends on the size of your blender). Add some fresh parsley and add 1 tbsp of collagen in each batch. I use unflavored beef  collagen from Great Lakes.
  • Enjoy right away and/or freeze in container (s).

I have made this soup different ways and traded ingredients multiple times. However, core/base ingredients are broccoli, coconut cream, broth, onion, and garlic. I’ve used coconut milk instead of cream before but it didn’t taste as rich as I like it to be. 

Give this recipe a try and let me know! or let me know how other ingredients you used.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I do. 

Like what you read? Share with family/friends and visit www.BeFabBeYou.com for more on health and fitness.

Categories
Blood Sugar | Insulin Resistance | PCOS Diet | Nutrition | Recipes Latest News

Plantain Chips – Healthier Version

dehydrated plantain chipsIt takes just a few minutes to slice and place plantains in dehydrator to make your own plantain chips. I like them cut very thin!

Dehydrated green plantains or green bananas are great resistant starches and less sugar content compared to ripe ones. I recommend the very green ones!

Ingredients: plantains.
Dehydrate for 7 to 10 hours (more hours won’t hurt just make them crisper).

No added junk such as sugars, unhealthy fats from vegetable oils, preservatives, additives, etc. All you need is to take another step toward your health. 

A dehydrator like this one is less than $40. You can use for vegetables, fruits, nuts, etc.

Questions? Or need help revamping your health and lifestyle? Visit www.BeFabBeYou.com or call 770.835.5490

Categories
Diet | Nutrition | Recipes Fitness | Exercise Latest News

Sunday Double!

Weighted LungesBack Squat

 

 

 

 

 

 

Woke up early on Sunday at 6:30am ready to Move my Fanny at 7am!  Double fitness fun day!

Energy boost post workout, healthy and balanced breakfast, and got ready to do some work done during the day and was feeling good enough and compelled for second workout at 6pm. 

At 7am, nobody else at the gym besides the instructor and I. It was pretty way to get day started.

Total of 20 minutes, broken down into 4 minutes, 5 rounds, allowing for little break between rounds. Slowest round was 3:25min

Rounds 1, 3, and 5: 500m row + 12 Toes To Ring

Rounds 2 and 4: 400m run + 12 Back squats (95 lbs)

At 6pm, took the fanny outside for 6 rounds of routine below and completed in 25:30 min.

10x wall balls 14lbs (10ft high)

15x ab-mat sit ups with 14 lbs wallball

20x  alternating leg lunges with 25 lbs per arm

1 minute plank

What else for the day after 7pm? Went to farmer’s market for my vegetables and fruits. I went a little crazy on the amounts of vegetables. Well, more will be freezed as I cook this week 🙂

How did you move your fanny? Remember, walking is great…but for bone health, you need to challenge your body more. Body weight exercises such as squats, push ups, wall sits, lunges, dips, and many more require no equipment and can be done ANYWHERE! If nothing else, add 30-60sec sprints or fast walks in your walking routine! Learn more about the importance of fitness as we age here.

 

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Diet | Nutrition | Recipes Latest News

Cauliflower Popcorn

Cauliflower Popcorn
Cauliflower Popcorn

Cauliflower popcorn is a super healthy sub for corn popcorn.

Absolutely amazing, simple, and nutritious.

– 2 heads of cauliflower cut in florets (they shrink in the dehydrator so don’t cut them too small—yet they must fit your dehydrator)
– 1/4 teaspoon of salt (Celtic sea salt or Himalayan salt)

– 1 tbsp of thyme
– 2 tbsp of cold pressed olive oil
– Nutritional yeast

Directions:

Sprinkle salt and thyme evenly. After you mix oil, coat florets with nutritional yeast. Dehydrate for 8 hours, until desired crunchiness. The longer you dehydrate the crunchier your cauliflower will get.

Is there a reason to avoid conventional popcorn?

Yes, popcorn is a crop that is heavily covered in pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, and fertilizers. A large, and that means that it’s best eaten as organic. Plus, if you are not making your own popcorn, watch out for oil that is being cooked, especially at theaters. More than 98% of soybeans grown in the US are GMO. That said, your popcorn is now a source of GMOs. 

Enjoy Your Cauliflower Popcorn!  Bring that to the theater instead 🙂

Categories
Diet | Nutrition | Recipes Fitness | Exercise

The Importance Of Fitness As We Age

Fitness is defined as a state of being healthy, which prepares the body for the physical necessities of daily life.

To be more precise, fitness provides strength, flexibility and stamina for the proper functioning of the body. It is a total solution for a perfect, fine-tuned life. This is why daily exercise and fitness is critical for aging adults because our body goes through more biological changes than we think. One of the most significant change is the loss of muscle mass because as we age, the muscle becomes weaker than a younger person’s muscles which repair naturally especially in terms of burning calories. Plus, there is testosterone…this hormone that plays a role in the building and strengthening of muscles. As we age, levels of testosterone decrease so the ability to build or rebuild muscle. Exercise at any age causes muscle cells to become stronger and agile; therefore bigger and stronger muscles burn calories. The five main components of fitness are aerobic endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, and flexibility and body composition. The right kind of physical and mental exercises and proper intake of nutritious food are the factors that contribute to fitness. A well-balanced diet not only makes one fit, but provides all necessary nutrients for the body. Mental fitness, essential for the psychological well-being of a person, is also a key factor in sustaining a healthy state.

Another benefit of daily fitness is that it lowers the risks of various health issues such as obesity, cardiovascular problems, habitual inactivity and depression. It helps to prevent age-related problems. Moreover, fitness makes one feel relaxed and active throughout the day. To stay physically fit does not entail spending hours in a gym or on costly fitness to develop muscle mass like body builders. All you need to do is improve power and endurance and get mobile. Nowadays, immobility has become part of a lifestyle, with people spending more time in front of the computer. So the need for fitness is a must.

For those who are middle-aged, a systematic workout of small exercises such as brisk walking, cycling, jogging and swimming can energize the body. An overdose of exercise might injure the body and cause more stress to the body. So it is vital to find an enjoyable schedule of activity. The fitness methods adopted must be person-specific. It varies for men, women, children and the aged. Individuals have to choose exercises that are ideal for their body. A qualified trainer can help you with that.

Today, more and more people are struggling to keep their body and mind fit. This has resulted in the growth of a range of sophisticated multi-gyms, professional fitness institutions and clubs. Health and fitness magazines and publications are also available, and fitness tips and training programs are available via the Internet. In conclusion, the older you are, the more you should be exercising the right way as long the fitness regime grows with you.

If you found this helpful, share it with your family and friends. Encourage others to Move Their Fannies!

References:

Gleeson, Brent. “5 Ways Busy Executives Can Stay Fit.” Inc.com. Inc., 03 July 2013. Web. 31 Mar. 2016. <http://www.inc.com/brent-gleeson/five-ways-to-stay-fit.html>.

Martin, Margaret. “Why Exercise Is Important As We Age – Function to Fitness.” Function to Fitness. N.p., 12 Apr. 2010. Web. 27 Mar. 2016. <http://www.functiontofitness.com/exercise/why-exercise-is-important-as-we-age-your-muscles/>.

Bowen, Liz. “The Importance of Exercise Increases as We Age.” National Personal Training Institute. National Personal Training Institute, 30 Apr. 2015. Web. 27 Mar. 2016. <http://nationalpti.edu/blog/2015/04/the-importance-of-exercise-increases-as-we-age/>.

Categories
Diet | Nutrition | Recipes Latest News

Delish Roasted Red Cabbage Recipe

I had two small-medium size red cabbages in the fridge. Most of the time, I eat cabbage raw, steamed, sauteed, or add to recipes as an ingredient. Yesterday, I roasted them for the first time. I was amazed how DELISH it turned out:

Categories
Diet | Nutrition | Recipes

From almost trash to delish!

Tomatoes Don't Go To Waste In This House
Tomatoes Don’t Go To Waste In This House

My cherry tomatoes were about to go bad. I do not like to waste food and my money. Here is a quick way to keep them from going to the trash.

Cooked 1/2 left over onion on a table spoon of coconut oil for a few minutes. Added garlic for another 2 minutes.

Then, added cherry tomatoes (cut in halves) and let it cook for about 10 minutes or so.

Added fresh parsley, oregano, himalayan salt, black pepper, and turmeric.Let it cook for another 2-3 minutes.

Now I added this to my meals!  Delish!  

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