Prep Once and Eat Twice (or Thrice!)

Although I’ve come to love cooking, I’ll be the first one to admit that it isn’t always the most appealing option after a long day. By the time you’ve picked a recipe, gone grocery shopping and cooked a meal that (hopefully) everyone likes, you’re exhausted!  I hear you- It’s a constant battle to not pick up the phone and place an order for everyone’s favorite pizza place down the road.

Now, I’m not saying you have to LOVE cooking to be healthy- you just have to learn to cook SMARTER. To ease you into the process, here are some tips to make cooking as efficient as possible while allowing you to make the best decisions for your (soon to be) lean, sexy body!

• I know it’s easier said than done, but the first step to battling the cravings and not kicking yourself later for making poor food decisions is just removing the option from the table … literally. Throw out the take out menus and remove it as an option from your mind. 
•  Instead of starting from scratch each meal, follow a pre-determined schedule so you don’t have to make decisions on an empty stomach. Simply follow the regiment that you created for yourself earlier in the week- and stick to it! It’ll become routine.  You’ll love not having to mull over recipes and struggle to make a meal out of whatever random ingredients are left in your fridge.
• The more ingredients you can prep to stretch across multiple meals the better; less work during the week= greater likelihood for you to follow your meal plan. Do this by prepping your veggies ahead of time, precooking your meats and utilizing ingredients that can be carried throughout multiple meals in the day.
• One of my favorite ingredients for this is BROWN RICE. Cook a large quantity with dinner making sure there will be plenty of leftovers. Use the remaining rice for porridge during breakfast, add it to soup for lunch and then use it as a side with your chicken and stir fry for dinner.

If this sounds like too much work- I challenge you to try this routine for ONE WEEK.
List out every meal you plan to eat in the week and what ingredients you’ll need. Think about food that can be used for multiple meals and prep as much as you can beforehand.

I think you’ll find that not only are you feeling happier and healthier, but that the time you save DECIDING and COOKING from scratch cuts down your time in the kitchen dramatically- leaving more time for you to relax and do what YOU LOVE  to do and not be defined by your meals.

Who knows, maybe you’ll even find that cooking is what you love to do!

Let's have some fun!

Spring is here…and summertime fun is just around the corner!  There couldn’t be a better time to make a commitment to yourself and start a brand new fitness routine that is fun! 

Okay…I can hear many of you now, “Ugh…exercise is such a chore.  My schedule is crazy and I’m too busy…” Let’s face it…if you don’t enjoy an activity, you can come up with every excuse to avoid it. (That’s basic human nature, so don’t feel too bad.) But when it comes to working out and eating healthy, there are no excuses. If exercising isn’t fun for you…spice it up and make it fun!

Here are a few tips to get you out the door and put some Spring in your step! 

• Get a partner: 

Find someone you enjoy spending time with and ask them about working out together.  Don't be afraid to ask.  You'd be surprised how many people would love to work out with YOU!  Your partner could be a family member or friend.  Either way, you'll be amazed at how much fun it can be to collectively set goals and hold each other accountable.  My partner is my husband John.  Who's yours?

• Dress to impress (yourself):

Get rid of those old T-shirts and baggy sweatpants.  Spring is here and bright colors are in.   When you feel good and put together, you have more confidence to perform at your best.  You also have a lot more fun!  Now is the time for a new sporty outfit and a pair of colorful kicks.

• Workout alfresco:

Getting outside in the fresh air and feeling the wind on your face can bring out your inner child and make fitness feel like play time. (That’s why I love working out in the early morning.)  Head to a park, soccer field, stadium stairs or outdoor track and let your mood and environment guide you through a workout (just don’t forget the sunscreen!)

• Motivate with music:

Listening to music has been known to help people endure longer workouts that are also more enjoyable. Creating your own music playlist can be a lot of fun and definitely motivating.  Try it.  Not only does music keep me moving during my workouts, creating interesting playlists keeps me current with pop culture…and technology. 

• Reflect and Appreciate: 

Take notice of how you are feeling once you have finished your workout routine.  Notice your breath, notice how your muscles feel, notice your pulse.  If you worked out hard, notice your sweat and how it glistens off your healthy skin.  Appreciate the feeling and sense of accomplishment.  Enjoy this feeling of taking care of yourself. 

The next Personal Promise workshop starts April 16 in Belmont at The Boston Body Pilates Studio.  I look forward to seeing you there!  Until then...have fun!

Welcome to Nourish Fitness!

Welcome to Nourish Fitness and Blog #1! 

As part of Nourish Fitness, I can’t wait to share my passion for health, fitness and overall wellness with all of you.  I am excited to help you create your own Personal Promise.  I look forward to the opportunities that this blog creates for us to communicate as a community.  The Nourish Fitness blog will provide regular updates on a variety of topics.  I invite and encourage you to check in regularly and share your thoughts.  I want to hear your comments!

Together we’ll explore a wide range of topics. 

Here are a few examples:

• ·        How to create a healthy dinner in 20 minutes of less          
• ·        Recipes on: whole grains, legumes, main dishes, vegetables and much more
• ·        How much protein do active women really need?
• ·        Food prep like a pro
• ·        Tips on how to get the best abs, glutes and more!  Let's tighten 'em up!
• ·        The busy women’s guide to a sexy body
• ·        How to curve your appetite and have more energy
• ·        BALANCE – we cannot do the proceeding without the balance
• ·        Time planning like an executive!

I hope you have had a chance to explore my entire website and will decide to take the Promise journey!  Please contact me so we can work together and design a health and wellness plan that works for you!  My approach will have positive effects on your overall wellness and happiness.   Whether it’s about weight loss, energy, cravings or muscle toning…….you name it; we will design a plan that works for you and spend plenty of time on your personal needs.