Roasted Corn on the Cob

I love corn on the cob! I'm not sure what it is...the sweetness, the crunch, the way it keeps you busy for 30 minutes after eating it by picking kernels out of your teeth..I really can't be sure what it is about it but it's bound to be one or all three of those!
One of my goals for June was to find new and flavorful ways to eat vegetables. While roasted corn is nothing new to me, I had to share it with you guys! It is ridiculously easy to do and comes out so flavorful! You won't even need butter, pepper, or even salt! The roasting adds it's own sweet, yummy flavor making it perfectly delicious to eat "naked!"

 Roasted corn will go with many different dishes! I've served it here with my Mini Baked Fajita Chimichangas!

Roasted Corn

• Corn on the cob with the husk on (as many as you plan to eat)

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Place the corn on the cob, with the husk still in place covering the corn, on a baking sheet.
3. Place it in the oven and leave it for about 30 minutes.
4. Remove from oven. Peel back the husk and the silk and ENJOY!

Now is that the shortest and easiest recipes you've ever seen or what?! So easy, so good!
Since we recently bought a new grill, we've also been cooking our corn on the cob on the grill. You basically prepare it the same way you did in the oven. Leave the husks on, place it on your grill over medium heat, and leave it for 25-30 minutes. You do need to be a little more cautious using the grill method as the husks can catch fire! But it still comes out equally delicious!

Now go throw some corn in the oven and get your toothpicks and floss ready! :)

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Toned and Tight Tuesday: Stability Ball Ab Pass

Today I've got an exercise that is going to work your entire core and inner and outter thighs! Using a stability ball really intensifies this exercise although you could do it with a medicine ball, basketball, volleyball, or nothing at all. Having to hold the ball between your legs really works on your inner and outter thighs though so I would suggest finding some sort of substitue if you don't have a stability ball. If doing it with a ball is too difficult for you, nix the ball and don't worry about it!

This exercise is pretty intense! The heavier the object your holding between your legs, the more intense it is! The stability ball I have pictured here is pretty light but the one I use at the gym is quite a bit heavier so it really just depends on what kind of ball you have!

Stability Ball Ab Pass:

A couple of fair warnings:

1. These pictures were taken with my iPhone.

2. There is some double-chinage going on here.

Don't say I didn't warn you :)

Start by placing the ball between your legs, lifting them so that the ball is approximately 3-4 inches off the ground. Raise your shoulders off the ground and reach your arms out behind you.

Squeezing the ball with your legs, bring your legs up to meet your hands to pass the ball from your legs to your hands.

Action shot!

Lower your legs back down so they are approximately 3-4 inches off the ground and lower you arms back behind your head with the ball. Keeping your shoulders off the ground.

That is one rep.

Repeat this action to pass the ball back to your legs.

You should now be back to the starting position. That would make 2 full reps.

Depending on how heavy your ball is, go for 12-15 reps. With the ball I use at work, I can only get about 12 reps before giving out, with this ball I can get between 15-20. Figure out what works for you but push yourself! You should feel your abs engaged the whole time and your inner and outter thighs should get a great workout as well!

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New Lunch Alert: Flat Out Wrap

As you all remember reading here and here, I've been trying to find some new lunch options. While at the grocery store the other day, near the deli section right next to the Joseph's pitas I used for my Skinny Pita Pizza and Skinny Pita Quesadilla, I found these wraps called Flat Out wraps. Similar to the Joseph's pitas, the healthy phrases caught my eye..."90 calories, high fiber, 100% whole wheat, Low fat, 0 sugar, Light." I also liked the fact that they had wraps with different "flavors" including Italian, Garden spinach, sundried tomato, and original. The Italian wraps sounded good to me so that's what I went for!

I started by spreading some spicy mustard on the wrap, laid on some lettuce, halved grape tomatoes, 1/4 of an avocado diced, a Morning Star Grillers Chick'n patty cut into strips, and some homemade green salsa. I also had a salad with spring mix lettuces, grape tomatoes, and 1/4 avocado diced with fat free Italian dressing and lemon-pepper seasoning.

It turned out pretty good! The wrap had a good,fresh flavor and I got plenty of veggies with what was on the wrap and in my salad.

In my lunch recap post I introduced you all to the Morning Star Chick'n Patties. These patties I used on my wrap were different. They are supposed to be like grilled chicken patties as the others were the breaded variety. I did not like the grilled one as well. They just didn't have much flavor and it really tasted like an imitation chicken patty as where the others tasted like the real thing! I will probably eat the other 3 that came in the package just because they weren't too terrible and I hate to waste food, but I probably will not purchase that variety again.

So overall, I say yes to the flat out wraps and a no go on the grilled chicken patties! Try them out for yourself and see what you like! :)

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Vacation Vitality!

When summer rolls around, we start going on family vacations, staying up late, waking up late, and partaking in many parties and cookouts that include not so healthy food options and lots of adult beverages. With this change in routine and desire to enjoy the summer just as much as the next person, it can be hard to stay on track with your normal fitness routine and proper nutrition.

Our trip to San Antonio to celebrate our anniversary definitely got me off track when it came to blogging but I didn't let it completely undo all the hard work and sweat I've put into getting myself to where I am now. I was determined to enjoy myself but keep everything in moderation and not get too far off from my regular routine.

So I've decided to share with you some tips to keep you focused while on vacation yet still enjoy your time away!

Pick a good hotel.
I don't mean good as in it has to be a 5-star hotel with penthouse options or anything like that. I mean pick a good hotel with amenities you will need to stay focused. For example, one thing on my checklist for our hotel was that it had to have a fitness center or small gym. I knew I wouldn't get up and go run outside in a strange place where I didn't know the streets or what the people would be like around that area, so a gym was a must. Our hotel, Embassy Suites, actually had a nice little setup with a few treadmills, a couple of stationary bikes, a couple of benches, medicine balls, stability balls, and mats. What more could you need? I didn't spend hours in the gym but I did try to get at least a quick 30 minutes workout every morning.
Another thing I looked for when searching for a hotel was a continental breakfast. Having stayed at Embassy Suites, I know they serve an excellent breakfast! They serve lots of healthier options like a variety of fruits, whole grain toast and bagels, oatmeal, yogurt, and you can even have an omelet made to order with your choice of vegetables! I was so excited to see fresh grapefruit out every morning to help keep me on track with my goal for this month to eat a grapefruit everyday and get my metabolism going each morning! They also have some not so healthy options that are very tempting like sausage, eggs, bacon, and pancakes...those MUST be eaten in moderation if you decide to go for them!

Find active things to do.
We literally barely sat down the whole time we were there! The first day we went to the Market Square in downtown and walked around for hours. That night we went to the Riverwalk and walked more. The next day we went to Sea World and walked what seemed like 50 miles just going from show to show and checking out all the park has to offer. Our last full day there we went back to Sea World to try out the new waterpark. Of course that was lots more walking, climbing stairs to get to the top of all the rides, and lots of swimming! On our way home we stopped at an outlet center and did even MORE walking! I really wish I would've had a pedometer on me all weekend...there's no telling how many miles we walked all weekend!

Balance out your meals/Eat lighter meals during the day.
For example, we would eat breakfast in the morning and then maybe just have a couple of snacks throughout the day then have dinner around 7 or 8. I let myself enjoy dinner and didn't make myself feel too guilty if I indulged a little too much. That was the point of me eating smaller meals earlier in the day. Also, our first day there we had a filling breakfast around 10 and ended up eating lunch/dinner around 4 or 5. This way we weren't starving yet still didn't have to go to bed on a full tummy.

Take it easy on the alcohol.
Our hotel proposed us with a little challenge for this tip...they had FREE drinks from 5:30-7:30 everyday (another great thing about Embassy Suites:) ). I did enjoy a few free beverages but before I did so, I made sure I had drank 3 full 32 ounce bottles of water and drank some water with each beverage as well. That way I could be sure I stayed hydrated yet still enjoy the free cocktails! I also stayed away from the alcohol while we were out and about during the day. Besides being over priced, I felt it was important to drink plenty of water since it was so hot outside and we were sweating so much!

Have fun and don't stress about it if you get off track!
Vacations and parties are meant for you to enjoy yourself and have a good time! Not be stuck in the hotel room figuring up your calorie intake, spending hours in the hotel gym, or beating yourself up after you over indulge a bit. If you get off track, shake it off and get back ON track! No big deal! You're not going to gain back five pounds from slipping up on one meal or having a cocktail...I promise :)

We didn't take many pictures but here are a few from our trip! :)

At El Mercado-Market Square

Waiting for the Azul show to start at Sea World!

Feeding the dolphins!

Shamu just chillin!

The inside of our hotel from the elevator!

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Toned and Tight Tuesday: Side and Crossover Lunge

First of all, sorry for being MIA for the past week. Omar and I went out of town to celebrate our anniversary and there was literally no time for blogging! We were constantly on the go! But we had a great time and got some much needed time away!

Second of all, sorry (again) for being late on the Toned and Tight exercise! You might notice I look a little different in the pictures...it must have been all the sun! Sike! (yeah I just took you back about 13 years with that one) That is OBVIOUSLY not me in the picture (who likes that that tall, blue eyed, blonde, skinny model type anyways) Due to getting home late last night and going non stop all day long today, I haven't had time to take pictures and upload them so I just decided to jack these from my Pinterest board! :) and I am writing this post on my phone while at Omars soccer game so just overlook and errors or sentences that make no sense at all! :P

This is still a great exercise for your butt, inner and outter thighs, and core! If you move fast enough, this could really get your heart rate up and could be a great addition to your cardio workout!

(source)

"tart standing with your feet together, arms down by your sides. Take a wide step to the side with your left foot (your right leg should stay extended) and bend your left knee, pushing your hips behind you. Keep your back flat, eyes looking straight ahead, and reach both arms on either side of your left foot, touching the ground with your fingertips.

Push off the ground with your left foot, standing back up, as you cross your left leg over your right foot (think of stepping your left foot to the left corner of an imaginary box on the ground in front of you) and immediately bend your knees and reach both hands to the floor on either side of your left foot."

Go for 12-15 reps for each side!

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Skinny Pita Quesadilla

And we meet again...me and my beloved Mexican food, that is. I just can't get enough of it! And luckily with recipes like this, I can eat it a lot more often and not feel a bit guilty!

So in my attempt at creating more interesting lunches, I created this yummy, light version of a cheesy quesadilla! You might remember in my Lunch Recap post that I found these Morning Star chicken patties and really liked them! I had been contemplating the idea of using the Joseph's pitas I used in my Skinny Pita Pizza recipe for a quesadilla and figured these chicken patties would be the perfect protein to put in it! This turned out so wonderfully, deliciously cheesy! And super filling!

Skinny Pita Quesadilla

• 1 Pita (I used Joseph's brand)
• 1/4-1/2 cup fat-free shredded cheese
• 1 Morning Star "Chik Patties Original"

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
2. Start by microwaving the patty on a microwave safe plate following the directions on the package.
3. Next sprinkle half of the cheese on one half of the pita.
4. Cut the patty in half and place it on top of the cheese.
5. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the patty.
6. Fold over the pita and place on a baking sheet.
7. Place in the oven for about 8-10 minutes or until it is brown and crispy.
8. Halfway through the cooking time flip the pita over to make sure it stays folded up and both sides get brown and crispy.
I served my pita with homemade salsa and a few slices of avocado! Yummmmy!
The skinny: The whole quesadilla has approximately 255 calories and 7 grams of fat! (depending on how much cheese you use and what other things you add to the quesadilla)

Using the pita instead of a tortilla makes this a lot more hearty and if you've read all the wonderful things about the Joseph's pitas, it is a much healthier option! The fat-free cheese cuts out tons of fat and calories that I promise you won't miss!
If you are a Mexican food lover like me, or even if you aren't, you have GOT to give this recipe a try! :)


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Toned and Tight Tuesday: Bulgarian Squat

It's that time of the week again! This Tuesday I have a great exercise that is going to really work your butt, thighs, basically your whole lower half! If you choose to add weights to this exercise like I have, you will really feel "the burn!" :)

Bulgarian Squat:

You will need a sturdy chair, bench, couch, some sort of sturdy piece of furniture to place your foot on.

Start by standing in front of the chair facing away from it. Take a step or two forward and bend your left leg back so that the top of your foot is resting on the chair or bench. Take a weight in each hand. I'm using 15 lb weights in each hand. You might need to use more or less depending on your fitness level.

You will then bend your right leg and drop straight down like you are doing a lunge. Keep the weights at your side and try to keep your back as straight as possible. This will require some balance so you might try a few without weights so you can get the hang of it first.

Push back up to the starting position. That is one rep. Aim for 12-15 reps. Switch legs and do the same thing with the opposite leg.

As always, go as slow as you need to maintain good form. If you try it out, let me know how it goes! :)

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Lunch Recap

Now that school is out and I have a lot more time to spend at home, I've decided to try and find some interesting, new, delicious lunch options! So here is a recap of a few of my lunches this past week!

While at the grocery store this past Monday, I found these Morning Star "Chicken" Patties in the freezer section. Apparently they aren't made of actual chicken but they sure do taste like it! They are called "veggie-style" patties yet still pack 8 grams of protein! These are honestly very good! The greatest part is each patty only has 140 calories and 5 grams of fat! That's WAY better than your traditional breaded chicken patty! I also made a "salad" with halved grape tomatoes, half an avocado cubed, and a little fat free italian dressing! SO YUM! And last but not least, my trusty ole apple! :)

Another day I had a packet of Starkist Tuna Creations Herb and Garlic Tuna with a chopped boiled egg mixed in. This isn't tooo inventine but by adding the boiled egg I'm getting some extra protein! I ate the tuna on reduced fat wheat thins and finished my meal off with a grapefruit! Very filling!

Wanting to find another way to use those delicious patties, I made my Skinny Pita Pizza with a little twist! I used the Joseph's pita and spaghetti sauce as usual but used fat-free cheddar and the diced up patty as my topping! I was so in love with the avocado and tomato salad I made the other day, I decided to have it again! :) I also had a half a grapefruit with this meal!

Hopefully this will give you a little inspiration to try something new or even one of these great combinations! If you try any out, let me know about it! :)

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Mini Baked Fajita Chimichangas

If you know me or if you've been reading my blog, you know I LOVE Mexican food and all spicy food! I could seriously eat Mexican or Tex-Mex every day for every meal and never get tired of it! Unfortunately, Mexican food isn't the most figure friendly food out there. But by making a few changes, you can fix some great, lighter Tex-Mex food right at home!

Mini Baked Fajita Chimichangas

•  2 cups shredded chicken
• 12 egg rolls wrappers (I used Nasoya All Natural egg roll wraps...found in the refrigerated section next to the packaged lettuce)
• 1/2 onion, cut into strips
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 tsp olive oil

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. In small saute pan, add the olive oil and onions.
3. Saute the onions until translucent.
4. While the onions are cooking, put the chicken in a bowl. Add all spices to the chicken and mix well. (Measurements of spices are estimates...I usually just eye ball everything when I add in spices)
5. Take an egg roll wrap and lay it on a flat surface. Spoon approximately 2 tablespoons of chicken onto the center of the wrap. Add a few strips of onion on top.
6. Then dip your finger in the water and outline the edges of the wrap with your wet finger. This will make the edges "sticky" so the wrap will hold together.

This is how you roll the wrap:

(source)

7. Place the egg rolls on a baking sheet and place them in the oven. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until they are lightly browned and crispy.

The skinny: Three mini chimichangas have approximately 230 calories and 3 grams of fat! Sooo much better for you than the fried version! :)

You can, of course, add more inside your rolls. This was all I had on hand so that's what I did! Bell peppers or low fat cheese would be a great addition!

Also, spraying the rolls with a little spritz of cooking spray or brushing them with an egg wash will give the rolls a golden brown appearance. (I forgot this step :)

As you can see, I served my chimichangas with roasted corn and homemade salsa for dipping. In the grocery store, next to the egg roll wrappers, I found another great item! These little 100 calorie packs of spicy guacamole! Yum!! Even though the avocado in guacamole has lots of good fat, we all know it's very easy to overdo it! So these 100 calorie packs are a great way to keep your portion control in check and so much easier than fixing up a big bowl of guacamole and having the left overs go brown on you! And it's DELICIOUS! :)

Provecho!! :)

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Toned and Tight Tuesday: Point and Shoot Abs

Per the request of a frequent reader of my blog, I am giving you a great exercise to really work those obliques and your whole core! This is an exercise I call the Point and Shoot (I doubt that's the official name but it's my blog so I'll call it what I want!) :)

Point and Shoot Abs:

You are going to start by sitting on the ground, bringing your legs off the ground bent slightly until you almost have a 90 degree angle, and leaning back slightly to engage your abs.

It is important that you find that "sweet spot" to engage your abs. If you're not leaned back far enough, you won't feel it.

Extend your arms out to the right side of your legs like you're holding a gun, leaning your legs over to the left slightly.

Then take your arms up and over your legs to the left side, leaning your legs slightly to the right.

To the right and then to the left is one rep. Aim for 20 or so reps.

Don't try to go too fast! You want to maintain good form and make sure you continue to work in that "sweet spot." You should feel your abs engaged the whole time! Also, be sure to keep your legs up and off the ground the entire time!

As always, try this out and let me know how you like it! If you have an exercise you would like to see or a specific area you'd like to see an exercise for, let me know by emailing me or connecting with me on my Facebook page! I would love to know what you all would like to see or read about! :)

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Haters Gonna Hate

Some of you might remember the post I did a couple of weeks ago about how the fitness world is such a pleasant place with such a positive vibe and people who are willing to help you reach your goals and get to where you want to go. Well that still rings true in regards to the health and fitness circuit. However, unfortunately, I got my first dose of real negativity towards me wanting to become a personal trainer from an outside source.

The conversation went something like this:

Woman: "Lindsey what are your plans for this summer?"
Me: "I'll be working at Anytime Fitness part time."
Woman: "Oh really? What will you be doing there?"
Me: "I'll be doing personal training."
Woman: "Oh wow! You're a personal trainer?! That's exactly what I need! How much do you charge?"
Me: "Well I'm not really sure...I haven't had a client yet so I don't really know what I'll be charging."
Woman: "Oh...you've never actually trained someone? Well nevermind...I need someone who has experience and actually knows what they're doing."
Me: "Wow...you're right. I wouldn't be good for you."

Can I just tell you how quick my jaw fell to the ground when she said that?! I obviously know NOTHING about health and fitness since I don't have the little piece of paper saying so, right? I proceeded to tell her I do know what I'm doing, I work out regularly, I do research constantly and am studying to obtain my certification. I realize that to someone that isn't involved in fitness and possibly doesn't know me at all in that aspect might be a little hesitant at first. But the way she said it was uncalled for.

This just goes to show you how not everyone is going to support you in your dreams and goals. This person was unfortunately one of those "leaders" I spoke about lacking support from in the post about the fitness world being pleasant. As a leader, even if it's not in the fitness world, I would have expected more.

Word.

Luckily, I DO have lots of support from other people. People who know how hard I am working, how important this is to me, and how dedicated I am to becoming a great trainer. And of course with every "hater" I have, there will be a "supporter" as well. Thankfully, the very same day I received this inspiring message from a great friend.

I can not tell you how wonderful it feels to read that! Especially after such a negative experience that very same morning. Needless to say, after reading this, I quickly shook off the conversation from that morning and decided I would focus on the positive. There ARE people who enjoy what I'm doing, there ARE people who believe in me, and I AM inspiring people and encouraging them to change for the better. And in the end, that's all that matters and that's all I'm here for! (Love you, Yari! :))

So I want to say THANK YOU to all those who believe in me, support me, encourage and inspire me...and to those who don't as well! Which ever category you fall in to, you are making me a better person and trainer! :)

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June: A Month of New Beginnings

It's June already...June! Can you believe it?! Oh, how time flies!

Well, with a new month comes a new start. And it just so happens, this month I am starting something very new that is a huge step towards my dream in becoming a personal trainer!

Drum roll please...

 I was recently hired at the Anytime Fitness gym in Forney! I am so excited to start this new journey training people, bettering myself, and pursuing something I love! I'll be working part-time and will be starting sometime next week. So if you're in the area and want to become a member of a great gym or need some personal training, come see me! :)

With the coming of a new month, I've also decided to partake in something else. I recently saw on another blog where they did this thing called "Say it, Do it" at the beginning of every month. It's simple...you say what you're going to do and you do it! Sounds easy enough, right? But you don't just DO anything...you set goals for yourself and you do your best to achieve them.

So I want to share with you the goals I have for the month of June.

• PUSH MYSELF!
• As you may remember reading in my 18 Minute HIIT workout post, I realized I have not been pushing myself hard enough when it comes to my work outs. To see changes, you have to challenge yourself. Hence the inspiration for this post! I'm not usually ones to set goals or make out a plan but it's always easier to gauge yourself when you set goals. So in everything I do, I want to push HARD!
• Work out 6 times a week.
• I usually average 4 or 5 days a week but here lately, it's been hard for me to get in 6 days of working out per week. Since I will have alot more time now that school is out, I want to get into a groove and really make this happen.
• At least 3 or 4 of those days, I want to do a workout in the morning and one in the afternoon.
• I am bound and determined to get in the best shape possible this summer. Not just for summer but for life. I want to look and feel the best I've ever felt. One of the tips I got from my cousin and mentor, Stewart, was that the way you look is is one of the bigges selling points when it comes to being a personal trainer. I rememer a Zumba teacher having a conversation with one of my friends and she asked how much weight she has lost...the teacher replied, "that's it? If you've been doing it that long you should have lost a lot more!" Meanwhile, the Zumba teacher, who had been doing it much longer than my friend, was A LOT bigger than my friend. I've always said myself, "you can never trust a chunky trainer." 
• I'm also a big believer in "practice what you preach." Therefore, I want to be able to do anything and everything I might ask my clients to do, and at a superior level. Working out two times a day 4 days a week might seem like a lot but I'm going for it! After all, I will have 24 hour access to an excellent gym...no excuse not to take advantage of it.
• Go hard on the weights!
• I do lots of body weight exercises but to get to where I want to be, I know I need to really get on the weights. And ladies, don't waste your time on the light weights and lots of reps. So many women think they will bulk up if they lift heavy weights(or take large amounts of protein)...NOT TRUE! Lighter weights and more reps only help with building endurance while heavier weights and fewer reps help build muscle, burn fat, and help to get a more defined look.
• Eat more vegetables.
• Since realizing I had fallen into the diet food trap, I've really upped my intake of vegetables and whole foods. But I still want more! I have no problem eating lots of fruits but vegetables aren't as easy. So I'm going to make it my mission this month to find new ways to eat vegetables and stuff myself with them.
• Run a total of 80 miles for the month of June.
• This is ambitious. Very ambitious. But I figured with working out two days a week for the majority of the week, this can be done.
• Eat a grapefruit every day.
• Grapefruit has so many health benefits, some of which you can read about here. Plus, I really like them but for some reason don't eat them as much as I do other fruits.
• Take a multi-vitamin every day.
• I've fallen by the way side on this one. I need to get back to taking a multi-vitamin every day. Our body needs vitamins and nutrients to perform correctly, why deprive your body of something it needs to function properly?
• Study as much as possibe.
• I hate studying and I'm no good at it. But I've got to start studying for the CPT exam...my job depends on it!

And that concludes the list of my major goals for June! I'm excited for everything this month will bring...not to mention, my one year anniversary with my wonderful husband, Omar! :)

Enjoy your summer and make this June the best ever!! :)


Question: What are YOUR goals for June???


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