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Healthy Pumpkin Granola Recipe

My mom and I are back with another recipe for you.  Click here if you missed our pumpkin black bean soup recipe.  It was delicious.

Granola is a very tasty snack or breakfast, but it does contain quite a bit of calories.  It is always better to make things from scratch.  Enjoy the video and then below the video will be the recipe and my moms commentary :)

PUMPKIN GRANOLA

3 c. organic oats Continue Reading →

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Food Journal Analysis

I think this blog post is going to be very powerful for you.  I want to first say that the woman in her early 30′s that will be talked about in the blog post, she is one of the nicest and most amazing people I have met.  She has a warmth about her that radiates, and I am so excited to be part of her transformation.  She has given me permission to be brutally honest with her as well as let you all in on the conversation.  I am not going to give many details besides the age I have already said and that she is just into the morbidly obese category looking to lose around 100 lbs.

To make it 100% clear, this conversation you are about to see is genuinely out of love and not judgement or disgust.

Hi Dustin,

Attached is my food journal for the week. This is what I typically eat. I know I have lots of room for improvement. I do good all day but then at 530 when I walk in the door I raid all the kitchen cupboards. I eat my last snack at work around 300. Dustin I have thought about doing push ups or crunches but honestly when I walk in the door food is on my mind. I want to relax before making dinner and I guess I associate relaxing with eating. Any ideas or suggestions?

I think Saturday I’m going to go grocery shopping get items for the meals through Tuesday and have what we are having for dinner all set. I think that is my problem when I get home from work I don’t feel like cooking and have no idea what to make. I really don’t like to cook. I think I need to get over that. :-)

I just wish I could carry how good I am during the day into the evening.

Day 1

Breakfast Advocare meal replacement shake (with fake sugars)  with banana blended

coffee with Fat Free Creamer

Continue Reading →

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How to Overcome Late Night Food Binges

ahh, the late night cravings or the mid afternoon munchies.  They hit us all from time to time.  But for those who struggle with this on a daily basis it can lead to some serious problems.  I believe late night eating is one of the single greatest causes of obesity in the world today.  I am not oppose to eating in the evening, when it contains little to no carbs that is.  But most binges are mostly carbs combined with some highly processed dangerous fat.  This had become such a problem for Katy, one of my MamaToners, that she asked me what she should do.

Check out this video for my answer.

Question of the day: What do you do to help get rid of the cravings?

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Amazing Green Smoothie Drink

Drew Canole and I are back with another recipe for you. This shake that you will see Drew make blew me away. It was so tasty, easy to make, and ridiculously healthy. After eating it, I felt so good for the rest of the day. In case you missed our last video where Drew showed you some pushup variations, you can click here to check it out.

Here is what is in the green smoothie drink:

Whey Protein (I use Prograde Protein)

Maca

Chia seeds

Cacao

Probiotics

Raw egg

Water (or you could use almond milk)

Drew has just released an amazing product on juicing.  I must admit that I am not the most consistent juicer, but when you look at all the amazing benefits of juicing it really should be a no brainer to do.  I have learned so much from Drew about how different fruits and vegetables can be combined to create an amazing potion for the body, and he has a powerful program I highly recommend you check out.  Click here to learn how you can become an expert juicer.

 

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Great Summer Recipe and Interesting Information on Weight Loss

Hi Everyone!

My name is Karen, I am a not so regular contributor on this blog (I will blame it on my 3 young girls :) ) and a Fit Fun Bootcamp Instructor in Waunakee, Wis.

Beat the Heat
If you live in the Midwest this week is going to be HOT. I am trying not to complain, one it isn’t good for you but two I really dislike winter and cold weather. Just be smart in the heat. If you are exercising outdoors, please get your workouts in early and hydrate. Otherwise, unless you are swimming, I would recommend working out in an air conditioned building.

Are you trying to lose weight and the scale isn’t moving? If yes, check out this article.
I am not going to promote or sell any supplements. I was emailed this article and found it very interesting so I wanted to pass it along. Keep in mind it takes good nutrition and exercise to lose weight safely and keep it off. I take Krill Oil and wanted to share this article with you as I found it very interesting.

http://www.getprograde.com/burn-more-calories-with-krill-oil.html?advert_id=CN

Recipe – Thanks to Beth, a regular Fit Fun Bootcamper in Middleton and Waunakee, for this recipe for a great snack or dessert for summer.

Banana Fruit Split
Ingredients:

2 large bananas
8 “scoops” watermelon and/or cantaloupe
1 cup blueberries (or raspberries or strawberries)
1/2 cup low fat vanilla yogurt
1/4 cup granola

1. Peel bananas and cut in half crosswise, then cut each piece in half lengthwise. For each serving, lay 2 banana pieces against the sides of a shallow dish.

2. To make watermelon “scoops” use an ice cream scoop to create balls of watermelon. Remove seeds, if needed. Place a watermelon “scoop” at each end of the dish.

3. Fill the center space with berries.

4. Stir yogurt until smooth, spoon over the watermelon “scoops”.

5. Sprinkle with granola.

Have a great week and don’t forget to be mindful of how your body feels under these extreme heat conditions.

Go Out, Get Active!

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Healthy Spinach Dip

It’s me! Patty!

I’ve been looking for healthy snacks to take to the lake for the 4th.  I love fruit, love veggies, but need to remember to add the protein. Greek yogurt is a great way to add protein!  Today I found this recipe on Oxygen.  I will be making this and serving with pita chips and veggies!

Spinach Dip – Oxygen Magazine

Makes 4 servings

This guilt-free dip provides a healthful dose of protein and phytonutrients.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup smooth low-fat cottage cheese
  • 1 cup plain low-fat Greek yogurt
  • 1 package onion soup mix
  • 1 can water chestnuts, chopped and drained
  • 1/4 cup grated carrots
  • 10 oz package frozen spinach, thawed, chopped and drained

Instructions:

  1. In a bowl, mix cottage cheese, yogurt and soup mix. Add water chestnuts, carrots and spinach and stir gently.
  2. Refrigerate for about 2 hours before serving.

Nutrients per serving (Makes 4 servings):

Calories: 150, Total Fats: 2 g, Saturated Fat: 2 g, Trans Fat: 1 g, Cholesterol: 0 mg, Sodium: 570 mg, Total Carbohydrates: 19 g, Dietary Fiber: 5 g, Sugars: 4 g, Protein: 17 g, Iron: 2 mg

“It’s great to dip pitas or vegetables in, or you can use it as a spread for a sandwich.”

 

Follow my blog on exercise and meal ideas!

 

Have a Great 4th of July weekend!

 

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Strawberry Salad

It is strawberry season in Wisconsin! What I buy from the grocery store in January has so little in common with the homegrown strawberries of June that they really should be re-named! Here is the salad that I have been eating every day for the past week.

Ingredients                                                                                 

2 teaspoons strawberry jam (I use Simply Fruit)                                             

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Salt and pepper

Chopped romaine or other greens

Sliced strawberries

Crumbled goat cheese (or feta)

Chopped toasted walnuts

Wisk together the jam, vinegar and oil. Season with salt and pepper. I’ve found this amount of dressing enough for 2 or 3 salads. Toss the greens, strawberries, crumbled cheese and walnuts with the dressing and enjoy.

It’s not strawberry shortcake but it hits the spot!

What is your favorite summer salad?

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Eliminating Artifical Dyes From Your Family’s Diet

Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1… read the labels on hundreds of foods and beverages sold in the United States and you are bound to see these and other artificial food colorings among the ingredients.  There are some studies that link these dyes to behavior problems in children.  Earlier this year, a Food and Drug Administration panel investigated a link between hyperactivity in children and artificial dyes.  Their findings were inconclusive, but the panel did recommend further investigation.

The possible link between food dyes and children’s behavior is just one area of concern.  Many people are concerned about the overall safety of these man-made artificial dyes, especially since they have no nutritional benefit and are mainly added for cosmetic reasons.

I made the decision to remove these products from my family’s diet about a year ago when I began reading food labels.  I was shocked to find how many items my family ate that included these dyes, everything from yogurt to cereal to jello!  You can view a complete list by clicking here.  I did notice a change in my children’s behavior, but I am not sure if it was linked to the elimination of the dyes, or just eating healthier.

It is fairly easy to avoid artificial dyes, just stick to eating foods that are as close to their natural state as possible.  When you do purchase a packaged item, always check the food label (the FDA requires that dyes be listed on all processed foods).  Popsicles are a great treat this time of year, but make sure you find one that is colored naturally, or make your own.  If you’re worried your children will be mad that you eliminated their favorite snack, don’t be!  Many dye-free alternatives can be found in the organic section of your supermarket.

Many of the dyes used in the US are banned in Europe.  This means many companies are all ready making a dye free version of their foods.  For example, NutriGrain bars in the US are colored with Red 40, Yellow 6, and Blue 1.  In the UK they are colored naturally with beetroot, annatto, and paprika extract.  Some companies are making changes.  I was thrilled to see Yoplait’s Go-Gurt Yogurt come out with a Simply Go-Gurt that eliminates the dyes.  There is still a fair amount of sugar in them, but if you treat them as a “treat” it’s not so bad.  Hopefully more companies will start using natural colorings as the public demands.

What are your thoughts on this issue?  Have you tried to eliminate dyes?

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Green Smoothie Anyone?

Hey – It’s me, Patty, one of Dustin’s FMFL bloggers.  Just a quick blog on a recipe that you need to try! 

Memorial day is not a good one.  It’s cold, it’s wet, and there are severe storms headed our way later this afternoon/evening.  So – I’m inside, catching up on some bookwork, housework, recipes, planning, batch cooking, blogging, etc. 

A friend of mine from Spark People challenged me to try to put spinach in my smoothie.  I’ve thought about doing it for some time, but eesh!  Well – LOVE IT!  I think I’ve had a green smoothie almost every day, if not every other day since!  Even my 7-year-old tried it and liked it.  Maybe not enough to ask me to make one individually for him out of the blue, but he has taken a drink each time I’ve made one so that’s a start! 

Here’s my favorite mix:

Spinach

Frozen banana

Prograde vanilla protein powder

Ice, water

Chia seeds

Truvia

Flax

Today I added strawberry to it, it’s just as good, but it changed the color a little; I prefer the bright green color!  :)  

Doesn’t that layer of healthy ingredients look delish!?  It is!

Try something new!  Try a new exercise routine.  Try a new recipe. 

And thank a veteran this Memorial’s day! 

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Summer has officially begun!

…and ready or not, so have summer sports!   Hi!  This is Kim, one of Dustin’s contributors.

Summer is supposed to be a time of relaxation.  When I think of summer, I think of hammocks and beaches.  My first day of having kids home on summer vacation went like this:

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