So here were are 6 months into 2011 and I’m revisiting what I’m doing for me this year. This is the longest that I have gone without a fitness goal.  I got to tell you I’m a feeling a little out of sorts.

This past week I sat down and got clear about what I want to accomplish between now and the end of 2011.

1. Finish the Falmouth Road Race

• I’d like to run this in under 1 hour
• I’d like to properly train for this race, the past few years I’ve done a half ass job training for it. (more…)

The magical way to lose weight is taking consistent action.  My favorite quote is by Cher ~

If having a perfect body was easy everyone would have one.

To have your perfect body, you will need to take consistent action. Taking consistent action requires the following.

• Change your eating habits
  • remove sugary drinks — sorry ladies, those sweet coffee drinks sure look and taste great but they can pack on the pounds. (more…)

We all have those mornings where we are running out the door and can’t quite cook a meal or now that the summer has finally arrived and its too hot and you just don’t want to cook give this smoothie a try.

• 1/2 mango
• 1/2 banana
• 4 strawberries — frozen
• 1 scoop of protein powder (any flavor)
• 6 ice cubes
• 1 and 1/4 cup cold water

Put all in your blender and blend until desired smoothness and thickness.  Want this to be a little more satiating add in some good fat give 1 t coconut oil, flax or udos.

Quinoa is pronounced keen-wah and has a rice-like appearance with a crunchy texture and slightly nutty flavor. It’s a staple in my cupboards because it takes great warm as well as cold. Here are a few other reasons why you should think about giving quinoa a try.

(more…)

I am passionate about my goals. My passion drives me forward to live the life of my dreams. I know what I want in life and I set goals to get me there.

I know that each goal I achieve brings me in union with what I desire. I feel truly invigorated with each success! Meeting a goal, no matter how big or small, strengthens my confidence and self-esteem. I enjoy these feelings and strive to receive them as often as possible. (more…)

To get the future you want, you need to let go of the past. Review your baggage and see if those old beliefs you have been holding onto are holding you back.  Take time to reflect and then say those are old beliefs and I let them go.

1. Set a deadline — nothing springs you into action like a deadline.  I recommend picking 3 dates (short roughly 6 weeks, medium roughly 12 weeks and long roughly 24 weeks). This way you’ll have something to celebrate yet keep you motivated.
2. Review past behaviors — As I said earlier, look at your past, if what you were doing wasn’t getting you to where you want to be, then you need to stop doing them. What I mean is if you want to lose weight and you are not exercising and/or watching what you eat, guess what’  You are not going to see results.

Now is the time to take your dream and put it into action.  I am hosting a Shape Up For Summer teleconference call.  I will be discussing actions you can take to flatten your belly, tone your legs, tightened your tushy and what’s the best thing to eat on a hot summer night. To attend, just register here.

In the next 30 days what actions will you take to make your dreams come true’

For those of you who don’t play golf, a mulligan is a do over. You hit a bad shot and then you get to do it over again.  Well here we are coming off a long weekend filled with fun activities that may have included lots of food and alcohol.

You wake up today look in the mirror reflect on your weekend. You say to yourself,  I’m going to the gym and hit the weights the little harder, do a little more cardio or skip a meal or to to make up for all this past weekend’s bad behavior.

Do you think it will help’  Sorry to inform you, but no. I tell my clients that you need to live the 80/20 rule. Eat cleanly 80% of the time and have some treats 20% of the time.  If you go over that limit then there is no make-up.  You need to step up and take responsibility for your actions. If you eat you own it!

The lesson is before you eat or drink it. Think about it. Are your actions moving you toward your goals or away from you goals.

It’s the first big weekend of the summer, you’re staring at the invitation thinking how can I do this AND keep to my lifestyle. Guess what YOU CAN! Offer to bring side dishes or part of the main course. With a grill there are so may choices grilled veggies, lean meats and great salads.

Here are a few dishes you can give a try.

Roasted chick peas — (2) cans chickpeas (garbanzo beans) drained and dry with papertowel. Put in a bowl and season with 1T chili powder, 1t kosher salt 1T olive oil. Place on cookie sheet coated with non-stick cooking spray. Cook for 30-40 min keep you eye on the for the last 10 min to make sure they don’t burn.

Grilled citrus shrimp –1 to 1 1/2 pounds of uncooked medium shrimp peeled. Squeeze 2 medium oranges and 1 lime in a mixing bowl. Now add 1/4 cup olive oil and 1 t kosher salt. Like it a little spicy add in crushed red pepper flakes. Put shrimp and marinade in a ziplock bag and refrigerate for  at least 30 minutes.  Grill about 2 min/side or until shrimp turns pink.

Hummus cucumber cups — Cut 4 cucumbers into thick 1 inch slices. Using a melon baller, scoop at the seeds (careful don’t break through bottom) and add in hummus. You can use store bought. I like the garlic lovers.

Here’s a marinade to give a shot.

1/2 cup cilantro leaves, 1/2 c parsley, 1/2 c olive oil, 2 limes squeezed, 2 garlic cloves, 1/2 t salt and 1/2 t crushed red pepper and 2 T red wine vinegar . Mix together using a food processor or hand mixer.

If you really want to do something, you’ll find a way. If you don’t, you’ll find an excuse.

I am a personal weight loss coach. This is my job to help you succeed at your weight loss goals. What’s really interesting is that when it’s time for the rubber to meet the road a few of my clients retreat into excuseville.

This is what it’s like to live in excuseville. You can’t workout or take care of yourself because….

Your kids need your help with _____________.

Your husband comes home with ___________ take out and  you don’t want it to go to waste.

It’s your friend’s ________________ and you’d be rude if you didn’t.

You’ll start ______________.

It’s only one______________. It can’t hurt, right’

What excuse are you using to keep you from living a healthy lifestyle’

Here’s one way to get started. You don’t need to do every thing at once, commit to change one thing! If you tomorrow was day 1 what is the one thing you would change’  Now that you make that change can you keep it up for 21 days.  It take 21 days to make a habit.

Are you done making excuses and ready to get real’ Give me a call.

I saw this in a blog post that was so unrelated to nutrition, but it get me thinking. Do we go through our lives and just want to get through the day.
You know what I’m talking about. You think if I just keep my head down it will all be okay. Now if I asked you is that surviving or thriving what would you say’ Pick me — it’s surviving I know that Gloria Gaynor’s I Will Survive song is so suppose to be the female national anthem, but it’s all about surviving. Once you survive is there more’ Can you then THRIVE’

Do you want to thrive’ Just follow these 7 steps.

(more…)

Feeling exhausted’  Pop a handful of blueberries in your mouth and enjoy a little energy boost, along with a ton of nutrients. Blueberries contain anthocyanins and other pigments high in antioxidant properties possibly having a role in reducing risks of inflammatory diseases and certain cancers. Let me put on my big brain and tell you that blueberries contain pterostilbene, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, and resveratrol (yes that stuff that stops wrinkles), all which inhibit the cell development of cancers.

Blueberries are also a good source of vitamin C, manganese, fiber, and vitamin E , and are low in calories! Many studies have found that blueberry consumption lowers cholesterol and total blood lipid levels, possibly reducing the risks of heart disease and high blood pressure. Even more studies have found that a diet rich in blueberries may enhance short-term memory in older adults while reducing symptoms of depression.

Fresh blueberries keep very well and can be packaged and stored easily. Blueberries usually hit the peak of their season, depending on the region, sometime between May and October.

I love heading to Farmer’s Markets this time of year and get fresh blueberries and putting them on my oatmeal, cottage cheese, plain yogurt or just eating them out of the container.

If you have any recipes you’d like to share leave the comments below.

And doing it any way.  I read this book a few years ago and it still sticks with me. This week I felt as though I jumped off a high cliff.  I’m in the process of making some serious changes as to how I run my business and decided to take on a business coach.  I’ve known for a few years that at some point I would need to do it, but the time is now to bite the bullet.

I pulled up my big girl panties and LEAPED!

Is there fear that is holding you back. Is there something that you have been thinking about know you should do, but just haven’t taken the steps to make it happen’

Let me tell you. I’m nervous, excited and terrified all at the same time.  I’m a big fan of Lululemon clothing and on their bags they have a number of inspiring phrases.  One of the phrases that sticks with me regularly is Do one thing everyday that scares you. I’ve been living in my comfort zone for a little to long and now I’m OUT! If I want to see change, I need to be the change!

Big things are ahead for me I can just feel it.

What about’ What’s  your fear that you can embrace’ I would love to hear it. Hell I’d love some company on this journey!