FIXATE Mac & Cheese

Macaroni and Cheese with Broccoli and Chicken (From the Fixate Cookbook)

Serves 8 (2 cups each)
1 GREEN, 1 YELLOW, 1/2 RED, 1/2 BLUE

4 oz. dry whole wheat macaroni (or 3 cups cooked)
4 tsp. organic grass-fed butter (or organic coconut oil)
2 tbsp. unbleached whole wheat flour
1 1/2 cups unsweetened almond milk
1 1/4 cups freshly grated extra-sharp cheddar cheese
3 cups cooked chopped chicken breast (boneless, skinless)
     * I seasoned chicken with Mrs. Dash Original Blend while cooking (herb and garlic would be good too!)
6 cups chopped broccoli florets, steamed
1 tsp. sea salt (or Himalayan salt)
1/2 tsp ground black pepper

1. Cook macaroni according to package directions (Do not use salt or oil if suggested.) Set aside.

2 Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat.

3. Add flour; cook, whisking constantly, for 1 minute, or until brown (don't let it burn.)

4. Slowly whisk in almond milk; cook, whisking constantly, for 1 to 2 minutes, or until mixture thickens and there are no lumps.

5. Reduce heat to low. Add cheese; cook, whisking constantly, for 2 to 3 minutes, or until melted.

6. Add chicken, broccoli, salt, and pepper; cook, stirring constantly, for 1 minute, or until heated through.

7. Serve immediately.

8. Optional: Top each portion with 1/2 Blue container of grated cheddar. This would bring the count up to 1 BLUE per serving.

>Nutrition and Supplements > FIXATE

THE BEST Black Bean Burgers!

These are hands down the best bean burgers ever! The recipe is from The Eat Clean Diet Recharged.

 
Paradise  Island Bean Burgers

Ingredients

1 cup black beans, rinsed, drained and mashed
1 cup cooked brown rice
1 clove garlic chopped
2 Tbs leeks whites only, chopped (I usually just use onions.)
2 Tbs pumpkin (canned) or sweet potato mashed (I've only ever used sweet potatoes.)
1 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp basil
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp sea salt
1 Tbs EVOO

4 Toasted thins, whole grain buns, wraps etc. Anything you like :)
Toppings of your choice. 

* TIP: I use spinach instead of lettuce, just for a little extra oomph in the health department! I don't notice the difference, so why not?! It's all about the smart little changes :)

Directions
* Mix all ingredients except EVOO and buns in a large bowl. Coat clean hands with olive oil to mix.
* Divide mixture into equal fourths, shape into patties.
* Heat grill pan over medium flame and coat lightly with oil.
* Add patties and cook 5 minutes per side or until patties are "golden" and crispy.
* Serve on toasted burger buns.
* Top with your favorites!

Number of Servings: 4

One time I made these and after I had started realized I didn't have the mashed sweet potatoes. I thought "Oh, it's just 2 tablespoons, I'm sure it won't make a difference." Uh yes, it makes a huge difference! Don't skip it, you've been warned! :)

The end of an era

So Piyo is complete, (it's the end of an era) and I have to say that I was really surprised with how much I loved it! I am moving on to the 21 Day Fix Extreme again now and after those 21 days are complete I think I will revisit Piyo again and keep it in the mix of my regular workouts. {{ The Buns video was AMAZING and it may just be my fave from the whole program! }}


So what have I noticed from my Piyo experience?

1. A huge increase in my upper body strength. All those planks and tricep pushups are no joke! My arms feel super tight and toned.

2. My legs look longer to me because they definitely leaned out more. (This program really took care of that saddle bag area that I HATE but always seems to return!)

3. I gained A LOT of flexibility. I'm not really a fan of stretching and although I work out pretty much everyday, flexibiity is certainly in a whole other bracket of it's own - a bracket I am not in! I am really amazed to see that I can stretch a lot further than before.

It was so nice to try something so new and different!

The secret is, there is no secret!

Do you suffer from all-or-nothing disease? I am a chronic sufferer and may have even been born with it and it has effected every aspect of my life. Good news though for you fellow sufferers, I found the cure! It's The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy and it is SO AMAZINGLY good.

The principals of this book certainly apply to EVERY aspect of life and this all-or-nothing girl is working hard to apply what I am learning. SMALL, SMART CHOICES + CONSISTENCY + TIME = RADICAL DIFFERENCE.

Our world screams at us that instant life changing results are possible with no work and no waiting and it is simply not true. It is a thinking that is hard to let go of but if you are willing to change your thinking you can truly change your life!

Piyo: Day 10 ROCKED!

What can I say, this program is just full of surprises!

 
Today was Piyo Core. I haven't done this one yet and as someone who LOVES doing abs and loves the 21 Day Fix Flat Abs routine, I must say, "Chalene, you rocked my world girlfriend!!" I loved this entire video! Standing abs, plank abs, side bend abs, I  loved everything! It was so different than anything I've ever done before and I can't wait until its core day again and I can go into it a little bit more prepared now that I've done it once. I especially loved the series at the end. She shows you one thing and then another, you do each move individually and then put them together in a flowing sequence and it seriously makes me feel like Wonder Women! Seriously, it's this cool powerful feeling just to flow through all these empowering poses, bend, lift, POW, trust me you'll feel like a total vixen!

A definite make-againer!

 Taco Quinoa Bake

Ingredients:

1lb Lean Ground Turkey – 4 RED containers
1/2cup uncooked Quinoa – 2 YELLOW containers
Black beans, rinsed - 2 YELLOW containers
1 14oz can diced tomatoes (no sugar added)
No Salt added Tomato Sauce – about 4oz
1 Large Zucchini Squash – 2 GREEN containers
1 bell pepper, chopped - 1 1/2 GREEN container
1 onion, chopped - 1/2 GREEN containerr
Shredded cheese – 4 BLUE Containers
2 tbsp Chili Powder
2 tsp Cumin
3 Garlic Cloves minced
Cilantro chopped fresh

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly spray 9×13 glass baking dish with coconut oil and set aside.
2. Prepare quinoa as directed.
2. While quinoa is cooking, spray skillet and place on med-high heat. Add garlic and ground turkey. Break up meat and add your Chili Powder and Cumin as it browns. Before all the way cooked through, add your peppers, onions and can of diced tomatoes (I leave the juices in). Adjust seasonings to taste. 
3. Add shredded zucchini squash to your meat mixture. Allow to simmer until the veggies are tender.
4. Remove from heat and add your quinoa, black beans, tomato sauce, and 1 blue container of shredded cheese. Mix together.

5. Pour mixture into prepared baking dish. Top with cilantro and remaining 3 blue containers of cheese.
6. Bake uncovered 10-15 minutes until cheese is melted.
7. Divide into 4 equal portions.

I served this meal with a side of broccoli and Train ate everything! He loved it so much and mama loved knowing that this meal was FULL of healthy veggies!

Eat your heart out Cinnabon!

 

Shakeology Cinnamon Bun 

Ingredients:
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 scoop Vanilla Shakeology
dash of salt
1 egg
3 tbsp unsweetened almond milk
3/4 tsp cinnamon (divided in three)
1 tbsp agave nectar (divided in two)
1/4 cup 0% Plain Greek Yogurt
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

Directions:
In a bowl combine baking powder, Shakeology and salt. Mix well. Add the egg and almond milk and blend until dry ingredients are wet.

Pour half the batter in a mug, sprinkle with 1/4 tsp of cinnamon and drizzle 1/2 tbsp of agave nectar. Pour remaining batter on top, sprinkle with 1/4 tsp of cinnamon and drizzle with the remainder of the agave nectar.

Microwave for 90 seconds. When it's done the edges will pull away from the sides.

Pop cake onto a plate to cool.

In a bowl combine the yogurt, cinnamon and vanilla and pour on top.

Voila!