What’s All This about Surviving the Holidays

Now This is ME during the Holidays

I mean really…surviving the holidays??? What the heck is this all about…I can see wanting to survive an illness or some other grave situation…but the holidays…really…NOT.  I look forward to the holidays…spending quality time with family and friends…all the decorations, lights, music, the tree, the smells …WOW…this is all GOOD stuff in my book.  It is also my time to create fabulous foods for the Christmas morning breakfast…life does not get better than this.  I am seeing so many articles, tips, commercials, etc…on how to survive the holidays and a big YUCK.  If you have been following my Blog, you know that I am always candid and share my life and thoughts…well what a peeve.  Really a Darla soap box moment here…I do not use any holiday as an excuse to set aside my healthy lifestyle to gorge on unhealthy crap…I mean really…WHY?  Do I sample things, and enjoy treats throughout the season…a BIG YES…but I certainly do not make a 3-month adventure out of it…meaning Thanksgiving to the New Year…Hell to the BIG NO.  My healthy lifestyle is what maintains me and the word “lifestyle” says it all…holiday or not.  If I did not live this way, I certainly do not feel I could walk the shoes of teaching fitness to so many fabulous people…practice what I preach all the way or nothing.   

Christmas Morning Breakfast Table

Am I a scrooge…NO…as I shared, I do sample this and that…but sitting and eating let’s say a whole plate of mash potatoes and gravy…do not think so.  I am really not fond of that anyway, but sampling fabulous home baked Christmas cookies…well…now that deserves a nibble or two;)  Everything in moderation and I do not plan cheat days or even cheat meals.  If the desire strikes me to sample a cookie…well, I sample a cookie…simple as that…tasted, swallowed, DONE…moving on.   Why has it come this far to say that a holiday needs to be survived…what marketing hype…YES…it really is.  Has everyone gone completely off their rocker to not realize the meaning of the Christmas holiday and what really matters in this life?  I am talking about the shopping hoopla as well…I am definitely NOT a black Friday girl or any kind of shop-till-I drop woman…that sounds so overwhelmingly NOT FUN and not the way I want to spend the day…now give me a meet for tea with hubby or girlfriend and having my list in hand to purchase something at a nearby store...now that is fabulous.  I actually prefer the comfort of online shopping in my jammies with no shipping charges or tax…a WIN WIN…plugging Amazon here. My son turned me onto this site and I must say… I am impressed with the savings on the items, not to mention the wear and tear on my vehicle…and the gas prices…NO WAY.  I mean really…the Christmas season is truly not about how much money I can make, spend, most expensive toys,  or how much food I can eat…really???   

THIS IS WHAT LIFE IS ABOUT

The holiday is such a special time for me to spend with my family and friends, to make wonderful memories, look forward to laughter, board games, and cozy fires…this is what I enjoy about my life around the holidays.  Is this something for me to survive….NO…I am a simple girl who is deep into the meaning of being healthy all the way around….so I will not gorge for days on end until I feel sick, depressed and guilt ridden, or spend dollars until I am stressed and worried about how I will pay the bills…IS THIS HEALTHY…NO…so…I guess what I am trying to say in a healthy way is Happy Holidays…join me in taking the time to reflect on all the fabulous things to be thankful for…enjoy that quality time, take some time off from work, sample some goodies in moderation, do not neglect your health, your family, or overburden your  finances…I believe that life is a precious gift and I plan to soak up every meaningful moment I can during the holiday….NO REWINDS IN THIS LIFE AND NO REGRETS! Stay Healthy!

  

Merry Christmas from My House to Yours

Bake My Stay Healthy Chocolate Pumpkin Brownies over the Holiday!!!

Stay Healthy Flourless Chocolate Pumpkin Brownies

When it comes to chocolate…one of my favorites hands down is a fresh baked scratch brownie…nothing in a box for me.  I believe in quality and the taste has to be out of this world FABULOUS.  I spent the holiday season baking and pureeing pumpkins and set out to create recipes that would satisfy all of the above.  I was so pleased with how these turned out…one of the BEST brownies I have ever eaten…no kidding.  The pumpkin adds the perfect dense moistness necessary and the rich chocolate flavor is incredible.  I utilized Blue Agave Syrup as studies show this natural sweetener to be low on the Glycemic Index.  Also, I was happy to reduce the carbohydrates by omitting any flour, increasing the protein with the egg whites, and adding a few dark chocolate chips for antioxidant…this is a WIN WIN recipe to satisfy my chocolate craving.  I guarantee this will be a keeper in your kitchen!

Ingredients

1 cup fresh or canned pumpkin

½ cup almond butter
4 egg whites
1 cup organic Blue Agave Sweetener (Syrup)
1 tbsp vanilla
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 cup extra dark chocolate chips (at least 65%)

Preparation
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

Step 1 – Into a large mixing bowl, add each ingredient one at a time.  Whisk each ingredient until completely mixed before adding the next.  Continue this process until you have batter ready to pour and bake.  It will be a light and airy batter similar to a cake mix…this will not be thick. 

Step 2 – Pour into prepared oiled square baking pan and bake for 35-40 minutes. I start checking the brownie at 30 min.  Insert knife into center and when it comes out clean…the brownies are done. 

Step 3 – Let the Brownies rest for 15 minutes before slicing. These will be very moist and light.

Step 4 – Enjoy with some vanilla N/F Yogurt!!!

This recipe along with many others under the “In My Kitchen Tab, Stay Healthy Recipes” at the top of the page!
 Original recipe created by Darla Leal, Stay Healthy Fitness 2011

My Holiday Workout Challenge:

I Have Been Trying This Out: I add in order one exercise for 100 reps per day to complete the challenge within 10 days…so far so good.  

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STAY HEALTHY!

Looking Past Rotten and Seeing Potential

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I See Potential!!!

Now that is an opener for you…I have to say that I absolutely love rotten fruit…well, not completely over the top rotten…but most definitely very over-ripe, brown tinged, fragrant sitting on my counter fruit.  What do I see???  I see potential…I see that with some blending and mixing that I can create wonderful healthy foods.  I look past the rotten and into the beautiful creation of OMG…this is over the top fabulous (one of my fav words) and so good for me.  YES…I even maintain a positive attitude about rotten fruit…do I toss it…NO WAY…it has potential…potential to become something better than before. This can apply to who I am as a person as well…when I was injured…did I toss in the towel…throw myself away….give-up…NO, NO, and again…NO. I saw potential with a little mixing and blending of different therapies and exercise, I DID become better than I was.  So, YES…do I go over the top about such things as rotten, over-ripe fruit…well...YES…that is ME.  I savor every small thing in life because they are truly the big things…and tonight…the rotten overripe fruit is the BIG thing that I am going to create something very special with. 

What Do You See?

 I also think…why throw away a perfect piece of rotten fruit…OH MY…what a waste of $$$$...and I am not about doing that.  In fact, as I have shared in the past, I am all about saving every penny I can, clipping that coupon, and the deals…RIGHT…who does not want a DEAL.  OK…off that save money by saving the rotten fruit soap box.  Getting back to what I am doing with two rotten bananas and pears…creating another version of my Stay Healthy Omega Muffin.  If you have been following me, you know my passion for creative Stay Healthy cooking and baking.  It is truly therapy for me.  After a long work day, I find it so much fun to make a B-line to the kitchen and let the juices flow…no pun intended…but in a way…YES.  Having a passion in life is so important with the balance of who I am….I truly enjoy working in my passion which to me is not really working.  My sharing of Stay Healthy recipes is also a way I can reach out and motivate people to please get healthy and Stay Healthy with the one life that we all have.  So…if that means saving rotten fruit and sharing what can be done to create healthy snacks…I will click on that video to do just that…share my passion for cooking, share the enjoyment of healthy baking, and showing the outcome of living this way….PRICELESS.  I hope that this Blog comes to mind the next time you have rotten overripe fruit on your counter…and can look past the blemishes and into the potential that something better can happen with a little blending and mixing.

Motivation of the Day: You Do Not Have to Get an “A” Everyday ~ a Great Client Share

Workout of the Day:

Cardio Time: 45 Minutes ARC Trainer

Ended with Ball Work for my Core/Stretch

Stay Healthy Omega Muffins

Nutrition of the Day:

Coffee, one cup

Stay Healthy Banana Omega Muffin

Post Workout Shake & ¼ cup raw pumpkin seeds

Egg Whites, palm of raw nuts, watermelon slice

Grilled Salmon

Stay Healthy Banana Pear Omega Muffin x 2 ~ fresh baked from the oven

Here to Motivate YOU!!!!

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Stay Healthy!

Looking Like Myself ~

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Taken Last Weekend ~ Vacation

LOOKING LIKE MYSELF…what do I mean by that?  Well, I have my genetics and my lifestyle of fitness and nutrition that creates…drum roll…ME!  I am not supposed to look like the girl in the magazine, the movies, or anywhere else for that matter.  Back in the day when I competed, did I look at magazines, other girls and think…I need to look like that…why is my body not responding the same way as hers…check out how tight her backside is…on and on…YIKES...and BIG YUCK.  I am so happy to come full circle with knowledge, age (yes…it is fabulous), and wisdom.  I embrace who I am, what I look like…and being the BEST ME…not anyone else.  It would be such a stressful life to constantly compare myself to her, then her, and oh my…her…OH hell to the BIG NO.  Life is too short to even think unrealistic thoughts, goals, and for crying out loud….I AM NOT HER, HER, OR EVEN HER.  Did you know that ALL images in magazines are photo shopped to soften here, cut there, and create unreal images of girls, women, and men representing something that they are not.  I am not saying that they are not fit, although some probably are not in the greatest shape …BUT…lines, bumps, blemishes, rolls, bootie, hips are quickly painted away with a few strokes of a computer…for crying out loud…you can get a photo shopped 6-pack now…lol.  Really????  I am not saying I am anti-photo shop, but if I look at a photo and struggle to recognize who it is and have to go to the credits…I say…horrible…off that soap box.   

 Some of my older model images are slightly photo shopped…not all…but some…and I have to say it is an art of knowing just how much…and loved when some softness was needed.  Overall, I prefer the edgy REAL image that shows me, right here, right now…and those… I embrace the most;)  I really enjoy taking self portraits…no photo shop…most without makeup, and posting them on the blog so that you can see ME, at 47, after kids, injuries, surgeries…and Staying Healthy with my lifestyle. 

Love the NOT overdone photo shop

It is important to want to be ME and not someone else…that tells me that I accept, embrace, and honor who I am as Darla, the woman, wife, mother, trainer, daughter, sister, and friend…How could I even walk the shoes of helping people get healthy if I did not believe in this.  I hear so often…I want to look like you… and I smile, take it as a compliment…and let them know that the goal is to look like them…their BEST self with the wonderful genetics they have. I am a mother with a beautiful daughter full of youth, smooth skin, and body that a 20 year young woman should have and it feels like a reflection in the mirror…ME and that body 20 years ago…BUT that is the point….that was 20 years ago… and all I can do and want for me is celebrate who I am TODAY…and for 47 years young…I am pretty darn happy with that. 

Not Shopped

I embrace my fine lines earned from laughs, smiles, and a few frowns along the way and also the energy that I still maintain from taking care of myself…and say…YES YES YES.  I believe that aging is a privilege and an honor and although there is no such thing as the fountain of youth…the only way to keep this body and mind young is through living a healthy life…that means regular exercise, healthy foods, plenty of rest, and balance of work and play.  Also, living a healthy life and feeling youthful decreases my risk of illness…I want to do my best to live a good long life.  When it comes down to me and my mirror…there is acceptance and I look back and smile…YEP…the lines are there…I EARNED EVERY ONE!!!

 

THIS IS ME!!!!

Motivation of the Day:  Don’t Compare Yourself to Others in Your Journey of Life…Let Your Life be Yours…and Live it to the Fullest!

My Workout of the Day:

ARC Trainer: 30 minutes

Body Stuff: (light today…a bit tired) 1 minute intervals

Modified french press (repeated 4x in between legs)

1 set cross back step ups

1 set reverse lunges

1 set squat lateral lifts

STRETCH TIME

Meal 3

Nutrition of the Day:

Coffee, one cup

1-1 Chocolate Cherry Whey Protein Muffin

2-Post Workout Shake/ ¼ cup raw pumpkin seeds

3-Shredded Chicken & Spinach Wrap

4-Small potato topped with n/f Greek Yogurt

5-Ground Turkey Breast Burger & Grilled Corn

6-Watermelon/Protein Ball

Personal Share:  Hubby wanted to prepare a full course healthy meal for me, so last night on the menu was: Appetizer: Grilled Jumbo Shrimp marinated in an orange ginger sauce and Chicken Sausage Skewer ~ Main Dish: Grilled Salmon and Brussel Sprouts ~ Dessert: Grilled Peaches stuffed with Goat Cheese topped with crushed Raw Walnuts.  He paired the dinner with a light Muscat wine.  The meal was absolutely fabulous….and we created a small video of part of it…bloopers are fun.  Enjoy the images as well.

 

Stay Healthy!

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What a Vacation Adventure...OH MY!

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Our Magma Boat Grill for Marine Stay Healthy Cooking

I am not kidding…my vacation was full of adventure, storms, bears, and a few bumps and bruises…YIKES…but OH…did I have a BLAST.  Well…the last week in June and into the July 4^th weekend…a vacation on the water seemed absolutely perfect…escape the heat, enjoy swimming in beautiful Lake Shasta, and take in the majestic Glacier and surroundings.  We would stay on our boat, bring our Stay Healthy Foods, and try our new addition...a marine Grill to enjoy our fabulous foods.  I am a planner, so list in hand, creating the budget and down to every morsel we would stock in our cooler.  The excitement and anticipation of a week escape into the beauty of nature was over the top YAHOO…ready to GO!  My hubby paid attention to the weather forecast and attended to the mechanics of the boat and truck…thank goodness.  Let me tell you and can you believe this….drum roll…THUNDER STORMS were on the way…a tarp was packed with bungee cords just in case we had to batten down the hatches.  We were hoping for the forecast to change the closer the trip came…we both were not going to let anything like a forecast change our plans….Full Steam Ahead.  I pre-cooked Stay Healthy Omega Muffins, Whole Wheat Pasta with sundried tomatoes, basil, spice and olive oil, & boiled eggs.  I also included raw nuts, fruits, peanut and almond butter, plenty of veggies, fruits, yogurt, spinach salad, lean meats, graham crackers for a treat, & plenty of water.  We also purchased a small aged beef to break in the new Magma Grill.  It was truly one of those feel like a kid can’t sleep because we are leaving for someplace magical vacations.  The drive was fabulous…no clouds, great conversation, and we arrived at Lake Shasta ready to start our week of living on the boat.  Food on board, water, and us….life could not have been any better.  We launched the boat and found our cove for the night…now you have to imagine close quarters on a boat…and I look back now on how funny all this is…first thing… needing to drop anchor hubby quickly moves from the wheel to the front of the boat, but in the process foot connects with my jaw…YIKES…startled to feel a big foot in my face…but an ice is nice made it feel so much better.  Moving on to 4am...the forecast came true and the rain began to demand our “no stitch on” attention…there we were in the middle of the night, tarp in hand, bungee cords everywhere, balancing on the top of the boat  to batten down our home away from home. 

Tarp On, Thermals On...Ready to Weather the Storm

We could not get done fast enough and now in our thermals...YES…thermals and sweatshirts the end of June on beautiful Lake Shasta completely shut into our 24 foot boat.  We were very thankful for our prepared food because the new grill was now going to have to wait until the storm blew over.  We rocked, we talked, we ate, we napped and had truly quality time in our little shelter….this is where you know a relationship is a healthy one…teamwork and laughter through a crisis which turned out not to be…really.  It was still our vacation and we were going to make the best of what nature brought our way...and we did.  I was bummed that I could not be physically active as planned the first few days…but it was what it was…so there Darla.   So… foot in face, raging storm, playing balance without a stitch on in the middle of the night on top of a boat, tarp on, bungee cords securing our shelter and shut in this rocking tiny house….it could make for a funny movie…don’t you think.  Our adventure started on a Monday and the storm broke on Wednesday…we were able to un-tarp and poke our heads outside….IT WAS ON.  I brought my resistance bands and was able to do a little workout and swim like crazy. 

Mt Shasta after the Storm...BEAUTIFUL

It was like the Wizard of Oz going from black and white to color…all of a sudden everything was no longer grey but green and lush.  The water gleamed like emeralds and felt so refreshing!  Hubby and I grilled lean turkey burgers and corn, gourmet chicken sausages, thin bagels, and although quite horrible…boiled water for instant coffee…it grew on me.  We saw a black bear along the water and a brown bear during our tour of the Caverns.  Wildlife was everywhere and the beauty of the trees was breathtaking.  Now…imagine…we made the most of our Thursday because Friday was the drive back home.  Were we disappointed because things did not happen as we wanted them to….NO…it was an adventure…it was a journey….we worked together as a team and still had fun through every bump in the water.                                             

Grilled Aged Beef & Asparagus

Greek Yogurt Parfait!

     

Turkey Burger!!!

Thermals, Tarp, Instant Coffee, US...PRICELESS

We were thankful for things like our ready to go Stay Healthy food, our tarp that provided our shelter, and the warmth our thermals and cozy boat provided. Also, being a fit couple gave us the ability to be agile to batten down our hatches.  Life is a journey and this vacation is one that has so many fun stories that will be told over and over again….fabulous memories!  I hope you enjoyed the videos and images of my fabulous Shasta Vacation Adventure;)

Spinach Salad

Fabulous Shares from Our Shasta Adventure Vacation:

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Stay healthy!

I am Responsible for MY HEALTH in this Relationship

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I am Responsible for MY HEALTH

The alarm goes off at 6am and my hubby hits the snooze button…..more than once.  I am an early riser and when an alarm goes off…my feet easily hit the floor and head for the coffee pot.  The intentions are always there to get in an early couple workout prior to starting the workday and many times it is talked about the night before, planned for, etc…but it has become a hit or miss thing.  Would it be easy to stay in the cozy warmth of my bed….of course…and especially with my fabulous hubby trying to keep the cuddle on for just 5 more minutes…then 5 more minutes….it becomes a game of jump and run to escape….lol.  He knows how I am…he sees my discipline, my determination, and my morning energy that takes me into my world of LOVING my morning workout.  Do I get pissed off because he is not honoring our planned workout together….NO…do I not work out because he is not doing it with me…NO….I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR MY HEALTH….No IFS, ANDS, or BUTS….it is up to me to take care of this body.  I absolutely cherish my hubby and realize that he is an afternoon energy person and even into the night energy person.  That man can get his sweat on at 10pm…OH MY NO…not me.  The beauty about being in a healthy relationship is seeing the differences in each other, and accepting who we are as individuals….and MOST IMPORTANT…taking care of our health for ourselves and for each other.  So, off I go to do my thing while he stays in bed and gets some more sleep time and recovery.  This topic is very important and key to being a healthy person in my relationship….physically and emotionally.  I will not blame my husband if I do not get that workout in, am unhealthy, out of shape, unhappy, overweight, eating like shit or all of the above….REALLY…would it be his fault…Hell to the NO.  I would have to look at myself square in the mirror…YES…it is me who is responsible for MY HEALTH.  I have seen many of couple get wrapped up in the blame game….he or she is cooking unhealthy this or that and I have to eat it, they are not walking with me, working out with me…and the list goes on and on…OK…listen…STOP THE EXCUSES to not take care of yourself already.  Everybody has their own brain & body…we CHOOSE to be who we are regardless of who we are with.  I believe in taking care of this body for me, my life, this life….I have only one life with no rewinds…and I am going to be the BEST me until my time is finished.  NOW…this is healthy…and you know what….my husband tells me that I motivate him and he admires the woman that I am because of how I LOVE myself.  YES, we both benefit from living healthy, eating healthy, being active…and if that workout comes together once in awhile in the morning…that is our bonus.  Do I depend on it…NEVER…It is Up to ME to keep on keeping on the Stay Healthy Life.

Motivation of the Day:  Take Responsibility for Your Health

My Fav Cardio & Great for My Body..Arc Trainer!!!

My Workout of the Day: (my neck is aggravated:/  so staying away from upper body)

ARC trainer for 45 minutes

Bodywork: hi -rep legs  for 1 set (Yes, I took small breaks…this was HARD)

Leg extensions 25lbs @ 100 reps
Hamstring curls 25lbs @ 100reps
Body ball to the wall Squats 100reps
Pelvic tilts lying on the floor 100 reps

Nutrition of the Day:

Coffee, one ½ cup…I was tired..went to bed late :/
1-Post workout shake

2-Powered Up Steel Cut Oats

3-Egg whites on Sprouted Bread

Dinner is Ready to Go!!! Pre-prepped and in Bags...Grill and Serve!

4-Protein Ball (vanilla cinnamon raisin..YUM) & fruit

5-Grilled Mahi Mahi with Grilled Squash & Steamed Artichokes 

6-Protein Pudding

Bummer Report: My neck is aggravated so will focus my workouts on cardio & lower body until I feel better....so I am making the BEST out of the situation...ALWAYS POSITIVE & ICE IS VERY NICE!!!

Thanks Rehana 4 the FAB Bday Outfit

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STAY HEALTHY!