Friday, January 24, 2014

Egg White Muffins

Hey y'all!! These are so yummy and so easy to make! You can throw in any vegetable you like! I used green bell pepper, onion, and spinach. Sometimes I add red bell pepper just for color:)
Ingredients:
Coconut Oil Spray
Salt and Pepper
Onion
Green Bell Pepper
Spinach
Egg whites
Spray you muffin tin real good with coconut oil spray. Don't want them to stick! Cut your onion and bell pepper into little fine pieces. Take the spinach and lay a few pieces in the bottom of each slot of the pan. Then add the onion and bell pepper. I just sprinkle a few pieces in each slot.
 
Put egg whites in a bowl and add the salt and pepper. Whisk together to make sure the salt and pepper get in the egg whites.
Each slot is 1/2c of egg whites. Add to all the slots. I used 1 1/2 small cartons of egg whites.
Bake at 350 for 10-15 minutes. I just look to see if my edges are turning brown. That's how I know they are ready.
For a serving size, I eat 2 at a time. That's 1 c. of egg whites. And then I take my mom's homemade salsa for a garnish on top. YUMMY!!!!
It takes no time to make these. And you can eat on these all week. Just throw them in the microwave to heat up. I hope you like them! Enjoy!

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Variations of Cardio

When women want to loose weight, the first thing that pops up in their mind is "I need to do like a hour of cardio." This "great idea" is by far the worst thing that you could possibly do.  Anything over a hour of cardio is too excessive. 30-45 minutes is all you need, especially if you are lifting weights. Steady state cardio is a constant steady pace that you are performing  by either walking on the treadmill or on the elliptical. Sure you are burning a few extra calories, but as soon as you stop steady state cardio, you quit burning the extra calories. Cardio is a great way to improve your endurance and overall cardiovascular health. But your cardio doesn't have to be just boring. There are several ways to make it fun, yet challenging! Incorporating HIIT (high intensity interval training) is  very productive because even after stop, you are burning calories as compared to steady state when you stop, you stop! You burn more fat and calories with HIIT.  The best thing about HIIT is that you can take it anywhere. Be Creative!  Take it to a stadium... Run all the way to the top as fast as you can and then walk down (this will be your recovery). Do like 10 rounds and BOOM, you are done! Also, you can get on a spin bike and sprint for 45 seconds and rest for 15 seconds. Repeat for 15-20 minutes. There are several ways to add some kind of HIIT to you cardio routine. Last but not least, PLYOS!!! Plyometric is the only kind of workout or exercises that will make me barf. True Story! Choose a few exercises and you can do either sets or a timed workout.

An example is: 4 sets of 15
Burpees x 15
Jump Squat x 15
Mountain Climbers x15 (per leg)
Jump Lunges x 15(per leg)
Rest for 1 minute and repeat 3 more times
OR
4 set per 1 minute
Jumping Jacks x 1  min
Pop squats x 1 min
High Knees x 1 min
Box Hop Overs x 1 min
Rest for 1 minute and repeat 3 more times.

It is always fun to get creative with your workouts. The thing about plyos and HIIT is that you can do them anywhere if you don't have access to a cardio machine. NO Excuses!!!  You just have to have the motivation to do it whether your on a business trip, home, or on vacation. Also, you can break up your cardio routine. Maybe do steady state cardio a few days a week and add a HIIT day and a plyo day. Its always good to keep your body guessing. And if you feel these are to aggressive for you, then maybe try Zumba, Spin, or kickboxing at your local gym. Group fitness classes can be fun if you have a great instructor. I hope this helps and stay tuned for my egg muffin recipe coming soon!

                                                                                 

Monday, January 20, 2014

Sweet Potato Hash

Hey Y'all! I love sweet potatoes, but sometimes they seem too sweet for me so I like to spice them up. Sweet Potato Hash is by far the best way I like to eat my sweet potatoes. These will be a good side dish paired with some grilled chicken or a sirloin steak. YUM! They only take about 30 minutes to make including prep time. So here is what you need:
Bell Pepper, Onion, Sweet Potatoes, Coconut Oil, Chipotle Chili Powder, Cumin, and a skillet with a lid.
 
First, add about 1 TBSP. of Coconut Oil to the skillet. I use an electric skillet because its big enough for all the potatoes to cook evenly.  Peel your potatoes and cut them into small cubes. Next dice up your onion and bell pepper and put everything into your skillet. Add your seasoning. I use no exact measurement. However, I do like mine spicy so I always had more chipotle Chile powder! Sprinkle your cumin on all the vegetables as well.
Next, I completely cover my potatoes because the locked in moisture makes them tender faster. Occasionally stir.

Once they are somewhat tender, take the lid off so they can crisp up. At this point, you want to stir them every couple of minutes to keep them from burning. Once they are crisp enough for you, put in a dish and serve with an Awesome steak.
Like I said, I could eat this all day, everyday! These are my hubby's favorite too. Enjoy!