Veggetti & Egg Free Zucchini, Banana, Chocolate Chip Bread!!

I put my egg free baking skills to the test again! Let's just say, I didn't fail as miserably as last time :) This time around I made Zucchini bread with banana (instead of egg) and some chocolate chips! The flavor was really good (we ate it all in one day...opps!!!), but it was a little dense. I'll have to try it again in a few weeks..not giving up yet!

Second attempt at Zucchini bread

First attempt at an egg free, grain free zucchini bread ... no it's not a roast :) 

This is the recipe that I used and I'll update my post when I try it again: http://www.milkallergymom.com/2009/07/zucchini-bread-milk-and-egg-free.html

To shred the zucchini, I used a Veggetti that I randomly picked up a few months ago at Ross. I finally put it to the test and it was SOOOOO EASY!!!! I can't believe I waited so long to use it! I'm not one to buy things that are only good for one purpose, but this one is worth it. We even used some of the leftover zucchini noodles as a replacement for pasta at dinner.

What is a one purpose kitchen tool that you use and love??

The AWESOMENESS of life :)

Today is awesome! OK, life in general is pretty AWESOME! The last 1-2 weeks I've taken some time to slow down and focus on living my life the way that I want to every day! Because...well, isn't that what it's all about?! :) Sometimes we get off track and need to take a step back. Now, I am feeling much more focused, energized, and balanced. I'm giving and receiving love and that feels pretty great!

In addition to working out bright and early this morning with my hubby, showering (that's a biggie :)), spending all day with my amazing little boy and one of our friends ... I've been able to share successes and struggles with others doing 21 Day Fix. Women who are just getting started and seeing amazing results..and others, like me, that have been going at it for a couple months and need that extra push to keep going on their journey. I can't capture all of the amazing things happening today, but here are just a couple of the highlights!

"I am down 70 lbs and from a size 22 to a size 12/14. I had done calorie counting and the gym... when that stopped working, Holly introduced me to 21 Day Fix Extreme! I am happier than I have been in years and I'm able to keep up with my son!"

"We both lost 10 pounds in round 1 of 21 Day Fix and I lost 15 inches!"

"I wanted to let you know that I started the 21 day fix on Tuesday. I weighed 170.4 and today I am 165.6!!"

These are just some of the successes, but to me...every person who makes a choice to take that step today is a success...whether you are choosing to just get started or if you are trying to get back on track. It doesn't matter. Either way, you are choosing YOU. You are choosing life and happiness. That's what matters. 

If you are feeling off balance or know that you just need to make a change, and want to join in on the awesomeness...message me at https://www.facebook.com/holly.atkins63 and let's talk. It's worth it...and pretty fun :) What do you have to lose? Or better yet...just imagine what you could gain (and no I'm not referring to weight, but how about some muscle ;))!

12 nights in CALIFORNIA!!!!!

I have ALWAYS wanted to go to California, so I am super excited for our upcoming trip...especially since we will be there to celebrate our THIRD wedding anniversary! My husband and I mostly took international vacations before having Ethan, but now as a family of three, it seems just a little easier to stay in the US. Plus, there is still tons that we want to explore here.

I do have to say that I am a little nervous about Ethan adjusting to the time change when we get there and when we return. He is a pretty good, predictable sleeper and I don't want that to stop once we get back. But... I also want to go with the flow as much as possible while we are traveling (want my cake and eat it too, I suppose? :)). We will just see how he does and go from there...

SO, here is what our trip looks like so far! We have planned out a few things we want to see at each place, but still have more planning to do.

Fly into San Diego

• San Diego - 4 nights
• Pismo Beach - 2 nights
• Carmel/Monterey - 3 nights
• San Francisco - 3 nights

Fly from SF - SD and then SD home!

We are trying to strike a good balance between sightseeing and having some relaxing downtime...as much as you can with a toddler. My youngest brother and sister-in-law just moved outside of LA in July, so they are planning to meet up with us in San Diego. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THEM and explore San Diego together! They may even give us a date night out on the town! WOOOO HOOOOO! Now to figure out what to do on our night out..

Until we get there....I'll be dreaming about this view :)

Childhood Cancer Awareness - Donating $1 for every POUND lost in September!

I remember my dad training for a marathon many years ago! At that age, I thought the only reason people ran marathons was to raise money for a cause. So, I asked him what cause he was running for, which prompted him to sign up with Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.... I still remember trying to help him fundraise smile emoticon

September will be my fourth accountability group and found myself asking...how can I use this as an opportunity to give back even more?? Well, it is Childhood Cancer awareness month! 

Now that I have my own son, I can't help but get emotional when I think about what those little kids and their families are going through. The struggles - physically, mentally, emotionally and financially that they experience at such a young age that most of us don't have to experience in a lifetime. It breaks my heart to even imagine Ethan going through that. 

So, for each POUND lost by one of my Challengers in my next group, I will donate $1 to Childhood Cancer awareness! My next accountability group is starting Monday, September 7. Don't worry, I know that's a busy week with Labor day and kids going back to school, so that week will be pre-season - just getting to know each other, etc. The workouts will start September 14!

I hope that you will join me for a month of FUN, meal planning tips and recipes, and daily motivation and support you need to make a healthy lifestyle change! I will be your cheerleader the whole way through to get you the results that you want to see smile emoticon

If you are interested, please send me a Facebook friend request and message at https://www.facebook.com/holly.atkins63. Feel free to share this with anyone else that could use some motivation and support on their journey to be healthier and happier every day while giving back to an important cause! 

Recipe: Hummus in less than 5 minutes - Roasted Red Pepper with a little Spice!

I am very lucky that my hubby, Greg, is the chef in our house! I do my fair share of cooking now that I stay home with Ethan, but Greg has a love for cooking that I just don't.  I am all about quick, easy, and healthy. I cook to feed my family, not because I enjoy the art of cooking :) So, while I am not surprised that I never tried to make my own hummus, I am surprised that my hubby never had either!  It is SOOOOO easy to make and takes less than 5 minutes!

This is a Roasted Red Pepper Hummus recipe that Greg came up with and it is YUMMY!!!  The Harissa gives it some spice, so just adjust that to your liking. If you just want a plain, original hummus, you can skip the ingredients from "roasted red pepper" and down.

Why did we ever buy hummus from the store??

Recipe: Black Bean Burger with Veggies

OK, I'm not going to lie. My expectations were pretty low for this Black Bean Burger recipe. I mean a burger...and black beans....it just didn't seem to go together. If I'm going to have a burger..I want a burger made of meat, but I decided to give this one a try and OH MY GOSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was SOOOOOO good! What I plan to do next time is at least double this recipe, so that I can keep patties on hand in the freezer for a quick dinner.

Black Bean Burgers

• 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
• 1/2 cup chopped scallions
• 3 tables chopped fresh cilantro
• 3 garlic cloves
• 1/2 cup quick-cooking oats
• 1 large egg yolk (the original recipe calls for 1 egg, but we only did the yolk since our son is allergic to whites)
• 2 teaspoons of Chili Powder
• 1 teaspoon hot sauce
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Optional toppings

• Whole wheat hamburger bun (my hubby had one, but I skipped it)
• Cheddar cheese
• Avocado, thinly sliced
• Tomato
• Sautéed squash, zucchini, and onions  (We had some on hand from a Moroccan lettuce wrap recipe we made over the weekend, which I still need to post! It was the perfect topping! 

Directions:

Dry the beans well after rinsing. Put the beans in a medium bowl and mash hem until thick and pasty.

In a food processor, combine the bell pepper, scallions, cilantro, and garlic and pulse until finely chopped. Add the oats, egg, chili powder, hot sauce, cumin, and salt and pulse a few times. Fold it into the black beans. Form the mixture into 4 patties and put them on a baking sheet with wax paper. Freeze for at least 2 hours before cooking. 

To cook, heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Spray the skillet with oil and cook the frozen burgers until browned, about 7 minutes per side. 

You can serve the burger on a bun, bib lettuce, or cooked sliced eggplant! We had a side of asparagus with it and it was all delicious!!

Recipe adapted from Skinnytaste Cookbook

21 Day Fix Serving

1 Burger = 1 Yellow and 1/4 Green. I really don't even count the egg yolk as a red container since it would be so small! Remember, black beans are considered a yellow container - not a red - on 21 Day Fix! 

21 Day Fix and CiZE Hybrid Schedule!

There are things that I love about 21 Day Fix AND CiZE, so I found myself wanting to do a hybrid schedule instead of just one on its own! This gives me the dance cardio workouts mixed in with the 21 Day Fix workouts to tone my body and have some FUN! Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Quick Meal Prep Tip - Shredded Chicken!

Want to know one of my FAVORITE quick and easy meal prep tips? Make Crock pot Shredded Chicken! It is SUPER easy and awesome to have on hand throughout the week. For lunches, I usually throw together a spinach salad with veggies (cut up on Sunday). I love having shredded chicken to throw on top for my protein. You can use the chicken with almost any meal...sandwiches/wraps, quesadillas, on top of rice or pasta with veggies, etc. 

Here is what you do....be prepared to have your mind blown once you see how easy this is! You'll wonder why you haven't been doing it all these years. 

1. Put 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts in a crockpot.

2. Add 1 cup of chicken or vegetable broth

3. Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 8 hours

4. Remove the chicken from the crockpot and shred

DONE!!! Something about having a color salad makes me happy :)  

Meal Plan for the week!

I get a lot of questions about meal planning and what I typically eat every day, so I am sharing my meal plan for this week! Since joining Beachbody and starting 21 Day Fix, I have continued to follow the 21 Day Fix eating guide regardless of the exercise program that I'm using. The goal is to eat 5-6 small meals throughout the day, so every 2-3 hours.  

My first two meals of the day and afternoon snack pretty much always stay the same. Why? Because it's quick, easy, and simple. If I don't stick with something like this, then I am more likely to snack on those yummy, but unhealthy carbs (crackers, etc.) and by the end of the day I'm pooped! So, I find that sticking with a plan like this every day sets me up for success!  When my eating is on point, I feel great and have so much more energy ALL day! 

In terms of servings per food group for day, this is what I aim for:

Protein: 4
Veggies: 3
Fruits: 2
Carbs: 2
Healthy fats: 1
Seeds/Dressing: 1

Meal 1 (5:30am): 

• Chocolate Shakeology with ice, water, and almond milk... and sometimes 1/4 banana for a little something extra :)

Meal 2 (8:30am):

• 2 Eggs with fruit and 1/2 Ezekiel English Muffin 

Meal 3 (12:00pm):

• Spinach Salad with veggies (bell pepper, cucumber, tomatoes, red onion) and  shredded chicken..... OR
• Tuna salad on Bib Lettuce

Meal 4 (2:30pm):

• Apple with almond butter
• Baby Carrots

Meal 5 (6:00pm): 

We will make one of these meals each night for dinner this week. I'll keep you posted on any modifications that we make to the recipes. 

1. Crock Pot Beef Stroganoff with side of veggies
2. Black Bean Burger (from Skinnytaste Cookbook) with side of veggies
3. Salmon and Bok Choy with Rice & Lentil medley
4. Pork Tenderloin and Brussel Sprouts with Rice & Lentil medley
5. Shrimp Sushi Bowls - we make our own, so I'll post this recipe later!

Free 5 Day Clean Eating Challenge!

FREE 5-DAY CLEAN EATING CHALLENGE GROUP starts MONDAY!!!!

Do you want to learn about clean eating and how to very easily incorporate it into your lifestyle? Small changes in your meals can give you GREAT results - not just in terms of weight loss, but with your energy throughout the day, and so much more! Join me for my first free 5-day CLEAN EATING Challenge group starting on Monday, August 24!!!

I'll provide you with:
* Sample Grocery List
* Recipe ideas
* Education
* Daily support and motivation
* Meal Planning tips
* FUN

Send me a Facebook friend request and message (https://www.facebook.com/holly.atkins63) today if you're interested in joining us!! I'll be sharing some preparation tips this weekend to set you up for success during the week! Each day we'll learn something new, share ideas, and have some FUN!!!

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

Yoga Saturday to Unwind!

Seems like Saturdays have become my Yoga days :) I've been a little stressed and anxious recently, and yoga really helps to wind down and reset. I started thinking about how amazing life is right now and appreciating the small things in life. Even just that for the past 4 months, I have been active at least 5 days a week! I have a hard time slowing down and truly realizing how BIG of a deal that is! 

Becoming a Beachbody Coach, I not only get to help people make positive changes in their lives, but by being a part of their journey, I am motivated to stay accountable to my own health and fitness goals. Without Coaching and my Challengers...I'd probably go back to my old ways. Why? Well it's easier....life is busy and I don't always want to work out. But, I think about the other coaches that I've met, I think about my Challengers, I think about WHY I started this journey to be healthier...for my FAMILY. To feel stronger and to set a positive example for Ethan. I am in this for the LONG haul, because I want to be a strong mother for him - physically, mentally, and emotionally!!

What do you want to start doing today to be a better, stronger you tomorrow? 

Clean Eating Pizza and Ice cream

I don't know if it's the weather, time of year, or what...but I have REALLY wanted pizza and ice cream....like several times a week smile emoticon Of course I know how I would feel if I gave in to those cravings, so I have found ways around it! We made these pizzas last week for the first time, but since we still had Ezekiel tortillas and pizza sauce leftover, we made them again! They are super easy, healthy, 21 Day Fix and KID approved 

Pizza Recipe: 

* Ezekiel Tortillas (usually in the freezer section at the grocery store)

* Pizza sauce - combine the following:

      - 16oz no-salt added tomato sauce
      - 8 oz no-salt added tomato paste
      - Italian seasonings, garlic powder, and pepper to taste

*Toppings of your choice - we used part-skim mozzarella cheese, mushroom and red onion

Cook for 8-10 minutes at 425 degrees. DONE!  Serve with a side salad or extra veggies.

To get my ice cream fix, I have Chocolate Shakeology - think of a Wendy's frosty, but actually it's PACKED with nutrients that are so good for you! I blend it with a little ice, water, and almond milk..and sometimes 1/2 a frozen banana! 

I get my pizza and ice cream fix, but with a fraction of the calories and I feel SOOOO much better! 

3 Day Refresh Results!

This is a very late blog post, but I wanted to capture the final results from the 3 day Refresh! Two of my Challengers lost an average of SEVEN pounds and one of them lost 10 INCHES!!!! Since then I had another Challenger complete the refresh and she lost also 7 lbs and 5.5 inches! They all did an amazing job of sticking with the plan and clearly got some great results! 

Below are my before and after pics from the 3 Day Refresh. I lost a little over 2 pounds and 1 inch in my waist. You probably can't see much of a difference, but my goal was to FEEL better and get my eating back on track. 

The best part is that EVERYONE felt great! We didn't feel hungry (again, that doesn't mean there were no temptations :)) and our energy levels were high! It made us pay attention to whether we were actually hungry or just wanting to eat. The program helped reset our minds on clean eating and proper portion control, and it's a great way to kick off a program! 

The only thing I changed in terms of the plan after Day 1 is I allow myself to have 1 cup of coffee. That's all that I ever have, but when I skipped it the first day I had such a headache by the time I went to bed. You are allowed to have a cup of black coffee on the 3 day refresh..although tea is always a better option. 

Left is before..right is after.

3 Day Refresh - Day 1!

Today was my first day of the 3 Day Refresh!! In all honesty, I have never used a cleanse in my life. It just didn't seem healthy to me and I felt like it was all a gimmick. On my journey with Beachbody, I heard more and more about the 3 Day Refresh. It's essentially a clean eating detox to help cleanse your body and help you break bad eating habits. It helps your body to just reset occasionally.

I knew that I was going to be traveling and visiting family in July and that I'd probably need a reset in August to jumpstart my workouts.  A few of the women in my monthly fitness accountability group had an awesome experience with it the month prior.  They ALL said that they were not hungry, they were energized, and they felt really great each day. They each lost between 2-7 pounds and several inches in 3 days. Their bodies felt refreshed and ready to kick-off their new workout programs. So I figured...OK, I trust you guys..I've loved all of the Beachbody products so far (one of the many reasons I decided to become a Coach)...let's just do this!

I am the type of person that eats pretty frequently throughout the day..I'm always snacking, so I was worried that I would be hungry, but I haven't been so far! Now, that doesn't mean I haven't been tempted. Since I stay home with my son, I obviously make him meals throughout the day. He never finishes his food, so I've had passing thoughts to eat his leftovers, but I have stuck with the plan! I don't want it because I'm hungry..I just want it because it's there. That's a habit I want to break! 

This morning, I started off with 20 oz of water and about an hour later I had Chocolate Vegan Shakeology and 1/2 cup of mango!
             

A few hours later I had the Fiber Sweep drink that comes with he 3 Day Refresh. OK, I heard not so pleasant things about this part of the refresh, but I didn't find it all that bad! The taste didn't bother me, but you do want to make sure you drink it immediately! Even if you wait just a couple of minutes, it seems to thicken up a little, so it became more of a texture thing to me. You just mix it with 8 oz of water, so it's really not that much to drink. Kind of reminded me of Emergen-C or something :) 

By the time I was starting to get hungry, it was time for lunch around noon. I had 1 small red bell pepper with hummus, 1/2 banana, and the Vanilla Fresh Shake that comes with the 3 Day Refresh.

The program also allows for mid-morning and afternoon unsweetened herbal tea or green tea, but I opted out of those for at least today. I associate tea with being sick, so I am not a big tea drinker :) I typically like to have one cup of coffee a day, but I am skipping it at least for day 1 of the refresh. I may have some decaf another day..we'll see :) I just like the idea of a warm cup of coffee..caffeine doesn't actually do anything for me. 

For my afternoon snack, I went with 2 cups of spinach and a little olive oil.

I'd have to say that dinner was the toughest part! I had coconut steam veggies and my husband ended up cooking a yummy dinner for him and Ethan. I REALLY wanted to have some rice, but I stuck with my 3 Day Refresh meal plan. I want to feel the amazing results I hear about after these three days, so I wasn't going to blow it on day 1. I didn't particularly feel hungry, but I did just wanted other food. I'm also a stress eater and I had a lot going on...so that probably contributed to my cravings, but I'm so happy that I stayed strong. It is all mental!

Day 2 here I come!!!

Hi!!

Thank you for visiting my Blog! Through this site, I plan to share more of my personal journey with you, and hopefully HELP and INSPIRE you to be the happiest and healthiest version of yourself every day!

I am married to my best friend and soulmate, and I am a mom to our amazing little boy, Ethan! When I was on maternity leave, and the day was approaching to return to work, I just couldn't imagine leaving Ethan's side. My husband and I talked about it and figured out a way to make it work financially for me to be a full-time Stay-At-Home Mom (SAHM). I was scared and nervous about leaving my career and how it would impact our finances, but I knew it was a once in a lifetime opportunity to be able to stay home and raise our son. I'm so grateful to be able to stay home even though as any SAHMs will tell you, it's not always peaches and cream :) There are days that are challenging, but it is also so incredibly rewarding...when you can take a step back from the craziness and allow yourself to appreciate it! 

Until Ethan was about a year old, I didn't think about focusing on myself. He was my world! It was winter time and I found myself really in a rut. Although I wanted to be home with my boy, I wasn't in a happy place. I would anxiously await for my husband to get home every day, just to have a little "me" time or figure out a way to get some adult interaction. My husband and I knew that I needed to make a change for myself and my family. 

It had been years since I was in any sort of regular exercise routine. To be honest, I've never really had a "regular routine". Fitness and healthy eating was something I jumped in and out of throughout life. I had put fitness on the back burner to make sure we were spending as much time together as possible, but I have learned that isn't healthy for me or my family. I want to be healthy and happy and to LEAD BY EXAMPLE for my son. I want to show him that regular exercise and making healthy food choices, and thinking about food as a way to FUEL your body are important to living a long and healthy life. 

So, I reached out to another Coach on Facebook and after a lot of thought, I decided to try 21 Day Fix and Shakeology. Well, I fell in LOVE! To be honest, it was the motivation from the monthly accountability group that really pushed me to make a positive change in my life! Hearing from women with multiple kids, hour long commutes, working full-time, and STILL getting in a workout, or moms that were up all night with sick kids and didn't get much sleep...STILL getting in their workouts. They motivated me to make no excuses and keep health #1. Progress, not Perfection. There will be days where you slip up, but we always encourage each other to get back on track! It's all about finding a balance to create a healthy LIFESTYLE!

Through Beachbody, I have found a passion for fitness and health! I LOVE waking up every morning knowing that I get to HELP people make POSITIVE changes in their lives to be happy and healthy. I decided to DREAM BIG, take a chance, and become a Beachbody COACH! I was always the type to play it safe and not take risks, but that only resulted in a career that did not bring me joy and fulfillment. I knew there was MORE to life! I decided life was worth living! I needed to go for my dreams, so that one day my son would see that he should go for his! He truly has been my inspiration to change my mindset. Fortunately, Beachbody gave me the FREEDOM to stay home with my son and pursue a career with PASSION!

I hope you all will enjoy this blog! If you ever have questions, just want to chat, or have any feedback for me - please contact me! Hollyatkins1013@gmail.com