APS Grass-Fed Whey

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Praise Jesus, I’ve discovered a whey that’s as close to primal as they come. Grass-fed whey, made by All Pro Science. If you’ve been keeping up with my facebook page, you may or may not have seen a post I wrote awhile back about wanting to stray away from whey. The reason for this is because most brands are filled with tons of ingredients, artificial flavors, colors, corn syrups, and things that end with “itol.” Hmmm, that doesn’t sound very natural to me.

Regardless, nixing the whey has been a big struggle. There’s something very comforting about that mid-morning blender bottle waiting for me right after lifting.

What? Girl’s gotta grow.

Thank goodness for All Pro Science. I was so excited when I was contacted by them to do a product review because I knew this was going to be something I believed in. As they like to say (with good reason), they’re the natural choice.

Most cows are fed a grain and corn diet but APS uses only non-contaminated cows fed an all grass diet. Here are some more facts about their whey:

  • 23 g of whey per serving
  • Only 3 grams of sugar
  • Only 6 ingredients
  • Hormone-free Dairy (BGH-Free)
  • No artificial flavors, sweeteners or fillers
  • Good source of amino acids
  • Vitamin and mineral fortified
  • Comes in 4 delicious flavors: Strawberry Creme, Bavarian Chocolate, French Vanilla and Banana Creme

APS whey by itself is absolutely delicious. It mixes well, it tastes amazing and you know it’s good for you. My favourite flavor is probably the Bavarian Chocolate because it actually tastes like chocolate, something that isn’t too common these days in the supplement department. Many protein powders have a distinct chemical flavor, where every sip floods your taste buds with artificial copy cats. When I’m in a pinch, I usually drink my protein powder just with water so I’m always looking for a good product that doesn’t absolutely need almond milk to taste good.

I also noticed that after drinking APS grass-fed whey I didn’t feel the usual “protein bloat” that most brands cause me. I really can’t explain the logistics or science behind why it happens with other brands, all I know is that I can drink APS whey and still feel ready to rumble. I love that feeling. I’ve always had this love/hate relationship with whey because of how I generally feel after drinking it but not with this grass-fed whey! I think I can safely say my relationship is now love/love.

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After having a few solo taste tests, I decided to put it to use in my kitchen. Just to make sure it’s as versatile as I believe whey should be.

I came up with 3 delightful recipes. Strawberry Creme Fudge, a Vanilla Fatty Latte and miniature Dark Chocolate Raspberry Cakes. All “primal” & gluten-free.

Strawberry Creme Fudge (serves 4)

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Ingredients:
4 T coconut oil
4 T unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 scoop APS Strawberry Creme whey

Directions:
Melt coconut oil for 15-30 seconds in your microwave until it’s a liquid. Combine coconut oil, almond milk and strawberry whey in a blender and blend for a few seconds until it’s a very thick, creamy texture. Use a spoon to transfer your delicious mixture from blender to a freezer-safe Tupperware and set in the freezer for about an hour. Cut into 8-12 pieces and eat as fudge OR place it inside the fridge instead and use it as icing for your paleo pancakes or for dipping bananas in! (or be like me and just eat it a spoonful at a time)

French Vanilla Fatty Latte (serves 1)

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Ingredients:
1 scoop APS French Vanilla whey
1 T coconut oil OR MCT oil if you have it
1/2 T grass-fed butter
1 cup (or more) hot organic medium roast coffee
1/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk

Directions:
Mix all ingredients together in a blender and pour in a mug. The top of the latte should be deliciously foamy. I topped mine with cinnamon:)
* In case you’re skeptical about fat in your coffee, read this, this, this, this and for additional information on why fat is so awesome, this.

Starting your day off with fat is actually the perfect way to put your body in the ultimate fat-burning zone. Your energy will sky rocket. Your brain will function better. Not to mention, you’ll burn fat much faster than if you eat a massive stack of protein pancakes, which would actually stunt your body’s natural fat burning state. All the detail are in those links I’ve provided for you but take my word for it. If you’re trying to improve brain function and burn the fat…eat the fat.

Dark Chocolate Raspberry Cakes (serves 2)
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Ingredients:
1/2 cup gluten-free oats
2 T almond flour
1 scoop APS Bavarian Chocolate Whey
1 egg
1/2 banana, mashed
1/3 cup unsweetened almond milk
1/2 T Stevia
1/2 T dark cocoa
1/2 cup raspberries
Extra raspberries for topping (optional)

Directions:
Set oven to 350 degrees. Add all of the ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix thoroughly. Grease two ramekins with coconut oil or nonstick spray and evenly distribute the batter into the two dishes. Stick them in the oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the top of the cakes are firm. When it’s done, dress them up with warm raspberries and dig in!

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My roommate pointed out to me that these look like burgers. Now I can’t stop seeing beef and ketchup. That’s almost as good as chocolate and raspberries.

Grass-fed whey is not the only product that APS has! They also have a veggie protein, muscle recovery fuel, a preworkout and natural vitamins to support immunity.

The Veggie Protein is 100% natural and contains 23 grams of protein, omega-3 3-6-9, flaxseed powders, and is made of hemp, brown rice and pea protein. It’s the perfect formula for vegans and vegetarians.

The Recovery formula has a 3:1 carbohydrate to protein formula, supports rehydration, extends endurance, speeds up muscle recovery and it’s collegiate compliant. If you’re looking into fitness competitions or endurance races, this would be the product for you.

APS Precharge is a natural pre-workout with essential amino acids, 3 grams of creatine, 4 grams of glutamine, 2 grams of taurine and it contains a good dose of Vitamin B. This is a great energy booster for the after work gym-goer that needs a little pick-me-up before swole-o-clock.

Last but certainly not least, All-Pro Science Complete Immune+ contains acai berry, goji berry and grape seed extract in its unique formula. This product naturally promotes optimum wellbeing and a strong immune system.

Actually that line “last but not least” isn’t even appropriate to use because it’s not last, they still have more products you can look into. It’s just the last I am going to write about because now I’m to excited about this next part, the discount part!

YES! To get a 25% discount off all APS products, use the coupon code MOON25. I’m going to be stocking up big time to support the recent gains I’ve been making in the gym.

Don’t forget to check out their Twitter, Facebook Page, Pinterest and Instagram!

 I know you’ll love their products as much as I do! 

Hungry for Satiation

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hungryforsatiation

There’s something about being full that’s so attractive.

There’s also something about being hungry that’s so attractive.

Then there’s the fine line where you’re so hungry you can’t focus on your work. Or you’re so stuffed that you just want to sleep.

Many people have these cycles under control, and to you, I stand up and say bravo. But for those of you struggling to find a comfortable balance between hunger and fullness, you’re not alone.

There’s a word that’s been on my mind a lot lately…it’s satiation. It means to be satisfied and comfortably full. Satiation is a place that was really unfamiliar to me for so many years. I was either starving for food or feeling stuffed, bloated and all those nasty adjectives we try to avoid. I didn’t even know what satiation meant, until I experienced it.

And I’m not talking about experiencing just belly satiation, I’m talking about mental satiation. For the first time in years, I developed a satiation of the mind. And oddly enough, all other forms of satiation just fell into place.

I looked down at my body and I was satisfied.
I looked at my bank account and I was grateful.
I looked at my things and knew they was enough.
I envisioned my future and I liked what I saw.
I thought about the friends I have and smiled, because I have plenty.
I thought about the friends I lost and felt appreciation, because I’m better for it.
I thought about my diet and…wait no, I didn’t think about my diet. Because I don’t have a “diet.”

I not only feel free from restrictions but I feel satiated. I’m trying to learn how to tell others about this amazing balance I’ve found. The hard part is, I don’t even realize how I found it. I don’t have a step one, a step two and a step three.

But on the other hand, I have been taking note of daily rituals I’ve been conducting to help me not fall back into old self-critical ways. If you’re on the road to satiation, start here.

1. Walk to your bathroom mirror and don’t fidget. Keep your hair in it’s place. Keep your lips glossless. And tell yourself you’re beautiful.

2. Go a day without eating much protein, so that you know you will live through it. Go a day without eating 6 times, so that you know you will not die. Go a day without meal timing at all, so that you know you are still in touch with your tuition.

3. Take a picture with friends, look at it and say you love it, no matter how you feel. Refuse to dislike the image you see before you and instead, chose to appreciate everything about it.

4. Cook your own meals and take your time. When you make a meal with love, you digest it just the same.

5. LIFT SOME HEAVY WEIGHTS. Cause that’s just the best therapy ever.

6. This one may seem strange, but nix the loofah. Wash yourself with your own hands. The more you touch the parts of your body that you “dislike” the more you may come to appreciate them. It’s a therapeutic tool I’ve been using for years.

7. Last but not least, feed yourself with foods that you know will create satiation. Eat more fats. Colorful, creative and well-thought out dishes are satisfying in themselves. Eating them is just the cherry on top.

I hope you enjoy my Hungry for Satiation tips, as I will be making this a regular post on my blog! I think we all hunger for satiation in some aspect of our lives, whether it’s in our career, relationships, spiritual life, diet, exercise, or what have you.

Message me if you would like to share how you have found satiation in your own life and I may just share it in a post- madelynvmoon@gmail.com.

Sweet Potato Turkey Meatballs

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Today I was determined to cook. A little bit of stress has been weighing me down as graduation approaches and my dreams become more and more important.

There’s a lot of strategy involved with making a blog grow…a lot of marketing, connecting, etc. I haven’t really announced this yet but I’m hoping to make this blog a full time gig one of these days. I want to encourage a fit lifestyle and focus on the beauty of internal well-being. So many of us stress the importance of perfection and in turn become so self-critical of our “wrongs” and barely appreciate our “rights.”

We are all beautiful. We should pursue fitness to feel good, not just to look good. We should eat in a way that will encourage our happiness and lift us up emotionally as well as physically. When I was dieting for my show, I was starving. When I was trying to build muscle I was gorging. Either way I was extremely uncomfortable but I thought I HAD to do both of those things to achieve the perfect look I was going for. I was either pulling up my loose pants as they tried to fall down my waist, or I was bloated and wattling everywhere from the amount of carbs I needed for muscle growth.

Let me tell you something guys. THAT S*** AIN’T NECESSARY!

Oh how I wish I could go back in time and tell my former self it’s NOT about perfection, it’s about progress. Am I better today than I was yesterday? Yes, I am believe it or not! And I know it because today I am happy, I am full, I am content. I am not starving, bloated, angry or irritated.

I’m just me, intuitive and natural. That’s the way I’m supposed to be. I’m eating clean and wholesome foods to fuel my spirit, body and mind. I’m eating so that I can perform well in the gym, which actually will lead to “better” looks whether I like it or not.

So I hope to be able to spread this message time and time again through my blog, but in different ways.

One of the ways I want to spread this message is through recipes. Because good recipes lead to happy stomachs, which lead to happy minds. It’s a full circle, you see. And today’s recipe is…well, kinda superb if I do say so myself.

Sweet Potato Turkey Meatballs (gluten & dairy free)
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Ingredients:
1.25 lbs extra lean ground turkey
2 medium sweet potatoes
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup gluten-free oats
1 egg
1 T dried parsley
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp curry
salt and pepper or season to your liking

Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Peel the sweet potatoes, pierce them with a fork a few times and microwave them for 4 minutes. Flip them over and microwave for another 3-4 minutes. Let them cool for a moment, mash them and then put in a mixing bowl with all of the other ingredients. Coat a baking dish with organic cooking spray, olive oil OR coconut oil. Mix everything in the bowl together thoroughly with your hands and form into medium sized balls (I made 12). Place them on the baking dish and put them in the oven for 15 minutes. Serve them with veggies, spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles!

Or eat four of them standing by the stove like me.
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Ahhh the colors.

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I’m such a foodie. Not much else can improve my day like a recipe gone right. Before these meatballs, I actually attempted to make a parfait to photograph but it went completely wrong. I forget how quickly yogurt swallows up other ingredients. Makes a perfectly layered parfait difficult to accomplish. But fear not, I’ll get it right soon!

I hope you have a wonderful Friday. Connect with me on facebook, twitter or instagram to stay up to date!

My New Comfort Dish- English Peas & Bacon

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English Peas & Bacon
Ingredients:
3 slices Sunday Bacon (I use Applegate brand)
1 lb English peas
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1/2 T grass-fed butter (optional)
Dash of salt

Direction:
Pour water in a pot and boil. Add a dash of salt and put peas inside the pot. Let boil for a few minutes, then drain and run cold water through the peas. Place them in a serving bowl.
Next, place your bacon in a skillet on medium heat and fry until crisp. Once done, crumble the bacon in with the peas and throw the onions in with the pan’s bacon fat. Sauté the onions until translucent and then add them to the bowl with the peas and bacon. Mix thoroughly and add additional salt. Finish it off with a dollop of grass-fed butter, crème fraiche (I’ve seen this used in other recipes) or eat as is!

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Confessions of an Anxious Mind

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Sometimes even the smallest things in life are painfully unpredictable…like your attitude or anxiety. Sometimes you’re in the best mood imaginable and the next you’re cursing yourself for all of your natural imperfections. For me, today is one of those not so awesome days.

I started my morning off with a hot cup of Joe, a gluten-free protein pancake, a little bit of the Today show and then a lot of shoulder/bicep work. It was sweaty and beautiful.

Except I wore an outfit that I felt made me look a little boxy. But that’s okay, I decided, I’m not at the gym to look good, I’m at the gym to do work.

So next I hurry home to make a (paleo) mocha banana ice cream that I’ve been wanting to post on my blog for awhile. Photographing ice cream is not a sport for a perfectionist. Trying to get the perfect shot as your creation melt away is slightly frustrating. Plus, I was starving after my workout so my patience was already wilting away. But that’s okay, nobody will mind it’s a little melted.

As I’m slurping away at my once-beautiful ice cream, I surf through Facebook and Instagram. Of course, since I follow a lot of fitness accounts I see post after post of stage-ready bodies and abs everywhere. As I’m eating a sugary but delicious banana.

Ugh.

I stumble across a picture of one of my fellow Fitluential bloggers in a sporty tank flexing her arms and encouraging others to do the same for our recent What’s Beautiful campaign. I think sure, I should probably do that, I haven’t taken a picture in awhile.

I go from room to room trying to find the perfect lighting for an “arm flex” photo but can’t seem to find a good area. I try the bathroom but the lighting is crappy. The kitchen is just awkward. Or maybe it’s that my arms really aren’t that impressive? It has nothing to do with the lighting but I just don’t look as impressive as my friends? Why does my face look so weird?

What the heck Madelyn, stop that. You look fine!

So I think, Maybe I’ll try to take one of those bathroom pictures where I put my camera behind my head and flex my back. Yeah, my back feels strong today maybe it’ll look good.

Head to bathroom. Suck in unseen abs. Flex back.

Noooo that looks terrible! Madelyn, why doesn’t your back look as amazing as everybody else?? 

Wait. Stop. I look fine. I just ate a banana, so I’m just really full. Maybe a little irritated because my time of the month is around the corner. Yeah that’s it.

So I skip the pictures and head to the shower. Post shower I decided to hit the blog and do some editing on my new site. This. Was. A. Mistake. One thing led to another and before I knew it, I had realized my new blog had 15 problems I needed to figure out. I HATE learning how to be self-hosted. At least right now I do, because everything is different and it’s not what I’m used to.

Sometimes, change is hard.

So to avoid getting overheated, I decide it’s nap time. Thirty minutes later, nap time is over and I need to revisit my blog. For the next hour, I feel my body tense up every few minutes when I get frustrated. I notice this because I actually begin to feel achy and have to force myself to relax. A lot of times when I get anxiety I tense up, which is another reason why I’m so grateful I’m rarely anxious anymore.

I’m on the verge of tears. My baby, my blog, is not working right. I feel that (today) my body isn’t looking right. My photographs didn’t look exactly like I wanted them too. I’m hard on myself for no apparent reason beside that fact that I’m CHOOSING to be.

This is what I think: something like this is avoidable if you take action. For me, I know there is only one thing that can help me to refocus. No, it’s not yoga, it’s not green tea and it’s not a walk in the nearby park. It’s to get away from my wordpress dashboard, head over to “add new post” and begin to write.

Writing. That’s my therapy.

Honestly, putting out this confession helps me as much as I hope it helps anybody else struggling with anxiety-related issues. Today I am going to blame it on being a women and being forced to engage in traditional bodily functions, but any other day I would say this is just a simple example of being too hard on myself.

I choose balance over perfection and loving myself over hating myself. I choose patience over anger and relaxation over…..uneasiness. Once I’m done with this post I’m going to feel ten times better and I can only hope that if you’re having any anxiety today, you will turn to something that will help you refocus and think clearly. There is no reason to be hard on ourselves; life in itself is plenty hard enough. Today I am focusing on living for right now, with or without wordpress problems and body issues. It’s part of life.

And personally, I think anybody that can recognize this is engaging in something beautiful.

I hope you have a good rest of your day. And tweet me if you’re watching The Bachelor tonight. We can talk about how horrible this season’s batch of guys are.

p.s- The main problem I’m having right now is that my past post’s pictures aren’t showing up on my site so don’t be alarmed if my homepage’s photos aren’t appearing. I’m working on it!

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First eBook & UA Updates

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This past week has been absolutely insane. My blog has taken over my life and I haven’t even written a post in a week. How does that happen?! I’ll tell you how it happens.

You become self-hosted. And your crappy MAC breaks down every five seconds so you can never make any progress. So you have to download a new browser. And then that one always crashes. So you have to eat some almond butter to calm yourself. Then you reinstall your old browser. And your new self-hosted site never saves any of your changes. So you have to call your self-hosted server and complain and cry a few times. And then you decide to work on your newsletter instead. But that’s really confusing too. So you just say oh whatever, I’ll just make an ebook.

And that my friends is how my first ebook was born.

Before you get too excited, let’s have a moment of silence for the amount of almond butter that has been eaten this past week.

It was probably too much. No regrets.

And let me also tell you that this ebook is very short and only contains a few recipes (all gluten-free). But it’s FREE and regardless, I’m really excited! It’s still going through it’s last stage of edits but I should have it linked to my newsletter sign up email in no time. If you do sign up for my mailing list before I link it to the newsletter (AKA in the next day) please let me know and I’ll personally email it to you when it’s finished.

In regards to my UA What’s Beautiful challenge, I’ve been making some gains, as meatheadie as that sounds. I went to meet up a couple local power-lifters last weekend and they critiqued my exercises which was excellent for me. I’ve also raised my chest db press from 42 to 47.5 lbs in each hand and my bench press is 110. My deadlifts have made a 10 lb increase too, which feels absolutely amazing.

I did a little HIIT this week after a fun Memorial Day weekend which was semi-torture because you know I strongly dislike cardio. But sometimes, just sometimes, it feels pretty awesome to run out a couple sprints.

Maybe not immediately after Memorial Day festivities but I did it anyways.

One last thing- if some of the links in my blog don’t work or if some of the pictures don’t show up, bear with me. The self-hosted site is transferring over to this domain slowly so it may be awhile before it all comes together properly.

So there are my blog and fitness related updates. Time to get back to work and drink more coffee.

What kind of progress have you been making for your mind, body and spirit this week?

 

Jacked Jerky: Product Review

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Paleo and meat go hand in hand, especially when it’s hand-crafted jerky that radiates with flavors and spices. I’m proud to introduce the new line of “natty jerky” called Jacked Jerky….it’s obviously the jerky for you if you want to get jacked.

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I know a very intelligent man who is constantly creating new products and establishing businesses because he’s a born entrepreneur. This genius friend of mine decided that there needs to be a bodybuilding jerky on the market, one that could easily help people reach their goals naturally….and so Jacked Jerky was born.

I was one of the lucky few that got to sample the jerky before it was released for purchase…all for the cause of the jerky’s well-being of course, of course. It’s not because I’m a meat addict or anything.

Of course.

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The jerky is made from all-natural, protein-packed, USDA Choice Top Sirloin and then hand-trimmed, seasoned with a 12 spice blend and then smoked. Because it is created fresh and lacks the typical additives and preservatives you would find in store-bought jerky, it does not last as long and should be consumed soon after purchase or refrigerated. I really don’t think eating it quickly would be too much of a problem though, considering the amount of deliciousness contained inside.

I really love jerky but the thing that usually holds me back is how chewy and tough it can be. I know that’s typically a turn on for people but I don’t necessarily enjoy chewing on the same piece of meat for five minutes. The thing I really like about this jerky is that it’s not as tough as most and the actual process of eating it is a lot more enjoyable.

For $39.99 you can purchase a pound of their regular or cajun spice jerky….I sampled the cajun one and even though I haven’t tried the regular, I am going to advise you get the cajun. Cause it’s pretty awesome.

The price may seem a little steep but you’re definitely paying for quality since most jerky brands are loaded with artificial crap and tons of preservatives.

Be sure to click on the links below to find out more information about how to get jacked!

Jacked Jerky:
Website
Twitter
Facebook Page
Instagram

Be on the look out for giveaways on their page!! I know they have a couple going every so often.

Monday Updates!

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Happy Monday! I first want to thank you all for following MoonFitness. I love each and every one of my readers and the messages I receive from you guys. I’ve had one of those weeks were SO many great things are happening, as well as some rough things. Every time one of you guys message me with a question or comment, I remember that I’m getting to do what I love and that feels absolutely fantastic. This post is a little short and sweet, but here are a few things going on with myself, as well as Moonfitness.

1. One of my awesome clients is a really great photographer and we had a whimsical photo shoot planned for a few months now and finally made it happen yesterday. Our “costumes” were seriously awesome and I’m pretty sure the pictures are going to come out great. No this was not a fitness shoot! Something more along the lines of Alice in Wonderland….and I’ll let you guess which character I am:)

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2. I am reading two great books right now that I want to recommend. One is called Lights Out by T.S. Wiley and the other is called The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz.. You can buy these here and here. Lights Out is really enlightening on the subjects of sugar, sleep and health concerns. We eat more sugar because we have less sleep. We have abandoned nature’s natural clocks by tricking our bodies into thinking the extra sunlight is summer, and as we all know, most animals eat a lot of food in the summer so that they can hibernate safely in the winter when food is scarce. Our ability to produce artificial light at 2:00 in the morning tricks our bodies into thinking it’s just summer time, which means the more food the better. This is obviously not the case for us human folks. I hope I’ve caught your attention on the subject, and you’ll look into reading it yourself so that you can learn how to adopt nature’s natural cycles once more. The other book, The Four Agreements, is really short but also powerful. It’s about finding freedom from the world and other people’s words. One of the best things I’ve learned so far in this novel is to not take others’ seriously. Whatever cruel things they say are said because of THEM not me. Everybody speaks out of their own personal experiences and it has nothing to do with anybody else. I already feel a little bit more free from others.

3. I don’t have a lot of physical possessions that I really “love” but the few things I do, are all breaking. The things I care for the most are related to the kitchen and the gym, obviously. My phone broke last week, my ridiculously expensive headphones broke, a piece of my crock pot broke, my favourite purple water bottle that I carry everywhere with me broke, my gym iphone arm band broke and my only good knife broke. Am I stressed about this?! Yes, I’m human. But it’s a good reminder that things are just that, things. I can have a moment of self-pity and then move on because everything will be okay. I just have to make-do with what I have and focus on the things in life that are eternal:) Cause those won’t break on me! (oh and in case you follow me on facebook, this indeed doubled as a status update….I wrote it while I was slightly flustered).

4. My health coaching program has changed. I want to develop more personal relationships with my clients and really help them create life-long habits. One month is not nearly enough to do that, so I will now only have 3 and 6 month programs. A lot of communication will be involved in these programs, as well as individualized meal plans based on your schedule and personal needs/habits. Message me at madelynvmoon@gmail.com if you’re interested! The 3 month runs at $150/month and the 6 month program is $125/month.

5. I’m making bone broth for the first time right now and I’m super nervous and excited. I’ve never had to buy beef knuckles before, so that was fun. But I am cooking it in my crock pot, which is a lot smaller than the normal ones that are used to make broth so I don’t know if my water to knuckle ratio is spot on. I’ll keep you updated!

6. I’m writing my first article for Paleo Magazine and I recently wrote one for Austin Fit Magazine. Yay for writing for awesome companies!

7. Last week, I started writing about my obsessive tendencies in regards to health and fitness and how I’ve finally come to find balance in this lovely world of ours. I have covered a lot about my own past and where I am now, hoping that it will really help some others who have struggled to live in “moderation” instead of 100% all day every day about ONE thing. I love living a balanced lifestyle. I’ve stopped putting emphasis on having the perfect body and have started focus on having the perfect relationship with my body. If you have any concerns or personal issues you would like my to talk about, I’m open to suggestions. We all have a different story but we can still learn from others’ experiences.

8. Watch this for a laugh.

9. And click here to watch Ellen Degeneres stick up for women and put down Abercrombie and Fitch for their terrible tactics. (if you don’t know about the Abercrombie and Fitch controversy yet, this will be a good place to be enlightened).

10. In regards to the group I have been trying to put together for my What’s Beautiful campaign, there have been a lot of technical difficulties going on and I still have yet to be able to make one. Nonetheless, all of the goals I talked about in this post are still going strong! All of my chest exercises have been increasing and I feel major progression in my arms, even after a few weeks. Make a goal for yourself and join in on the fun! Let me know what yours is and we can keep each other updated on our progress:)

11. Last but not least, curry and cinnamon make an awesome combination, not to mention they both have insane health benefits. Try these two together on your yams, it’s awesome! Or maybe I’m just so super weird. Or possibly both? I don’t know but this is definitely a new obsession of mine.

Hope you’ve had a great start to your week!

Clean Orange Chicken Quinoa Stir Fry

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Day one of my What’s Beautiful challenge and I’ve already increased my weight in close-grip bench press from 75 lbs to 85 lbs and my dips from 8 reps to 11 reps per set…I don’t know if my triceps were feeling extra good or something but today they were doing WORK.

I also accomplished something that has to do with the “balance” challenge I have for myself. Usually after my workout, I rush home to prepare my post-post workout meal at least an hour after my protein shake. If I don’t get the carbs in that time frame, I get anxious and nervous that my muscles will have lost that optimum carb/protein intake time frame for muscle growth. Today, I took my time. Instead of going home immediately, I went next door to Whole Foods to buy some of those Japanese yams I love so much. And then, instead of going home after that, I knew I had a lot more grocery shopping to do so I went to my next grocery stop, and finished the rest of my  shopping. By the time I got home, instead of whipping up something fast, I decided to put on some music and make a new recipe I’ve had on my to-do list for awhile. Usually when I cook recipes for my website it takes about an hour, with plenty of dishes to do, veggies to cut and lots of loving care:) Regardless of the mess and time it would take, I decided to go for it. So an hour later after making this delicious meal, I finally got those post-post workout carbs in and it was at least 2 hours after my workout. I’m so proud of myself for listening to my body, relaxing and enjoying cooking stress-free.

Now, on to the recipe. Step by step directions are at the bottom but I’m thinking we should look at some pictures first. Chyes? I think so.

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The orange extract, looking as lovely as ever.

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The ground cloves, doing a little mixing and mingling.

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The chicken, hot and sizzlin.

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The quinoa, fluffy and luscious.

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Oh heyyy chikn, you lookin gooood.

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Just a little love makin.

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B-E-A-utiful colours.

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The final masterpiece.

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A little extra orange squeezed on top…just for additional perfection.

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AND PLENTY OF LEFTOVERS!

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Orange Chicken Quinoa Stir Fry
(**paleo, serves 3-4)

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Ingredients for the orange chicken:
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast cut into small pieces
2 tbs orange extract
1/3 cup water
a dash of ground cloves
a dash of cinnamon (a big dash!)
1-2 packets of Stevia depending on how sweet you like it

Ingredients for the stir fry:
1 cup quinoa
Thinly sliced carrots
Mushrooms, chopped
Broccoli
Chopped onions
Sugar snap peas
Red pepper slices
1 orange (optional)

**I’m sorry I don’t have the measurements for the veggies. Just add accordingly to the number of mouths you need to feed! I would start with 1/3 cup for each veggie and add more of what you like the most!

Directions:
On a nonstick skillet, place the chicken strips on medium to high heat. Mix all of the other “orange chicken” ingredients in a small bowl and pour the mixture on the chicken (you could also marinate the chicken beforehand if you want more intense flavor but I thought it was awesome as is). Prepare the quinoa by boiling 2 cups of water with the 1 cup of quinoa. After about 15 minutes (time varies) the quinoa should be fluffy and cooked through. When the chicken is cooked through, add the chicken to the pan with the quinoa but try to keep as much of the marinade inside of the pan. Add as many veggies as you would like into the pan with an additional spoonful of coconut oil if needed! Saute the veggies and then add them to the pan with the chicken and quinoa. Serve hot with a few additional orange slices or get more creative by adding avocado slices, bragg’s liquid aminos or some toasted almond slivers.

What’s Beautiful?

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UA_WB3_Post

I’m so excited to a part of the Under Armour What’s Beautiful Challenge with the rest of my friends from Fitfluential. The reason why I promote this campaign and think it is such a beautiful movement is because it pushes women to perform better and challenges them to do whatever it is they have been wanting to do but haven’t been able to make the commitment. Last year when this challenge first started, my goal was to compete in my first NPC Competition. I didn’t sign up online for the Under Armor What’s Beautiful Challenge, but I did mentally. I was so busy with training, I didn’t think I could have had enough time to do video logs and blog about it on both the Under Armour website and my own blog….but I wish I did! Regardless, this movement helped me to pick a goal and DO IT. No thinking, no pondering about it endlessly, just doing it. And it was ultimately and amazing experience. (By the way, this post might look slightly familiar to one I wrote in October of 2012 about self-worth….check it out here!)

This year is different though. As much as I wish I had one goal to work towards, I’m focusing on two slightly broad things. Balance and muscle growth. I believe balance is a challenge in itself, but it’s one that I’m learning how to master. Muscle growth, as you probably know, is a HUGE challenge for me. I tend to psych myself out a lot because I think that the reason why I’m not growing is because I don’t eat enough, but honestly, I think I eat just fine. I have a very well rounded and balanced diet and I would much rather eat when I want instead of having to time everything and eat to the point that I’m stuffed. I hate feeling stuffed. Usually, that’s when my energy is the weakest and I would much rather pick awesome energy over a uncomfortably full belly.

So my training techniques are what I’m focusing on for this challenge. More power lifting and compound movements. Not only do they increase mass, but they also make you feel like one tough cookie. Who doesn’t love to see their PR increase in deadlifts and pull ups?

So my goals for the Under Armour What’s Beautiful Challenge are as follows:

1. Continue to seek out balance
2. Learn proper power lifting etiquette and form
3. Continue to do sprints once per week (all other cardio has been cut out)
4. Increase my strength
5. Increase my muscles, duhhh

Here are my PR stats for the compound movements I’m already comfortable with:

Straight-legged deadlifts- 170 lbs
Normal deadlifts- 155 lbs
(Decline and Flat) Bench Press- 100 lbs
Back squats- 115 lbs (I used to be much higher but then I realized I wasn’t even going parallel…now doing booty to the ankles!!)
Overhand barbell rows- 70 lbs
Military press- 60 lbs
Barbell curls- 65 lbs
Dips- 10 per set
Chin ups- 8 per set, no assistance
Assisted pull ups- 10 per set (with 60 pounds assisting)

All of these exercises in particular I would like to see at least a 10 lb increase within the next month or so.

And then of course, there are the movements I’m not too familiar with that I would really love to get better at…such as:

Overhead Squat, Cleans, Snatches (ahh), Pulls, Jerks, Presses, etc…..I’d mostly like to learn the basics and then all the different variations. The names are confusing in themselves to me…power clean vs. high-hang clean vs. clean and press vs. clean whatever. Yeah, maybe I should look into Powerlifting for Dummies. I’ll think about it.

I’m working on putting a group together on the Under Armour Website, where my females friends can join and push themselves with me! Because of some technical difficulties, I’m having to post-pone the creation of this group but I’m hoping I’ll have it running asap. So please stay tuned to my facebook page for details! I’ll most likely be posting it there.

The first step is to go to the Under Armour website, create an account and upload your goal. Easy peasy. And feel free to give yourself completely different goals than mine! If you’re a runner, pick a race and start training for it! If you are a competitor, pick a show and join in on the fun!! We all have different goals for our bodies but we can encourage each other every step of the way! And you can follow individual athletes’ pages so be sure to follow me by clicking here and then clicking “follow athlete” :) I’ll do the same for you!

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By the way. I really wish I could take pictures and videos of myself doing particular exercises in the gym and post it on my group’s page. I know a lot of people post pictures of themselves working out but how in the world do you muster up enough courage to ask somebody to take a snap shot of yourself?! I just don’t want to be that person!