Tuesday, January 31, 2012

My favorite healthy snacks!!! WIAW19

I can't believe I am almost at 20 WIAW posts... man it seems like I just started blogging yesterday LOL.
Well for a look back at some oldies but goodies.....
WIAWv1  WIAWv2  WIAWv3  WIAWv4  WIAWv5   WIAWv6   WIAWv7   WIAWv8  WIAWv9  WIAWv10   WIAWv11 WIAWv12  WIAWv13   WIAWv14  WIAWv15 WIAWv16  WIAWv17  WIAW18

If you are just tuning in here is what you missed so far this week
Getting Back on track
In honor of my dad
Foodie Pen Pals
Guest Blog 
 SuperSets: Quick Workout 


And here is a sneak peek at what is to come
*I have an AMAZING GIVEAWAY which is coming up on my 100th post (only 2 more to go) trust me... all of my fellow fitbloggers do not want to miss this one. (hint... one of the pictures below is the item I will be giving away tehe)
*I am working on my first VLOG... I am new to this whole thing
*I have a very exciting project in the works that I can not wait to tell you about 

Ok So as I start my detox for the first time this year ( I do it bi-yearly) I dont have a day of munching for your enjoyment. Instead I decided to post my favorite HEALTHY snacks... what I use to eat to stay on track.  I may even through in a recipe if you are nice...




So here are just a few healthy things I like to munch on throughout the day... I have my days where mindless munching does occur but thankfully I always have enough of the healthy options around so that the mindless munching isn't as bad....




   Home made smoothies
   Cottage Cheese and pomegranate





PrOatmeal with fresh berries, almond milk and Natural PB
Plain Cottage Cheese




  Lara Bars ( I make home made ones too.. Check out the recipe)
O.N.E. coconut water- Great after a run or with some vodka haha that recipe coming soon... you know you want it


Plain sweet bell peppers and some Babybel cheese

Home made Granola Bark... SO YUMMY! A lot healthier then those Barks you find at the store. RECIPE BELOW!!!


 Chobani yogurt :o)
Naked Juices (A little high in sugar) but filled with lots of vitamins, fruits and veggies ( I also like to make my own juice but it is not as convenient) Taz loves it too.
Apple Slices with different types of nut butters YUMMM! 
 Home made PB protein bars.. recipe here


  OK so there was just a few of my favorite snacks. A lot better then eating a bag of chips...







Ok I promised a recipe so here it goes

Alexis' Granola Bark 
 3cups oats
1/2 cup walnuts
1/2 cup pecans
1 cup sunflower seeds
1Tbsp sesame seed
3/4 cup unsweetened coconut
1/8cup dried blueberries
1/8cup dried cherries
1/4cup raisins
64 chocolate chips (this was 2 servings)
2 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1 1/2 tsp. ginger
3/4 tsp. nutmeg
2Tbsp butter
1cup honey
18Tbsp Ground Flax seed
3/4 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp Vanilla

Heat over to 250
add all dry ingredients (except flax) in a LARGE bowl. Heat butter, honey, and flax in a pan on Med heat. Once blended (about 5 min)  stir in salt and vanilla. Pour over dry ingedients

Bake about 50 min. Take out and let cool. It will harden a little more as it cools so if you want it a little softer cut back time in the over by 5 min, if you like it harder add 5 min.
 Heating Honey, Butter, and flax
 This is what it looks like when it is combined


 Add to dry ingredients





                                Dump into lined baking sheet.                                                    All Done!


What are your favorite snacks to munch on? 

Ciao and healthy snacks

Alexis












 

Superset: Quick Gym workout


I have been doing some awesome workouts lately but I have not been blogging about them: FAIL!!!

So here is a quick workout to get done at the gym when you are really short on time...


Superset: pick a few exercises to target similar body parts, decide on the exercise and do the sets back to back with no rest until all muscles are hit. After all muscles are hit take a 30-45 sec break then hit it again. Each Set is done 3 times



Superset 1:
Overhead lat pull down 10 reps
seated rows 10reps
pushups 10 reps
Do not rest between exercise between exercises... 

I like to switch between upper body and lower body between each superset so I can regain some energy 


Superset 2:


Free squats 12-15 reps (I didnt go to heavy, just a 45 on each side)
*Uneven lunges on a bosu ball (flat side up) with a 25 pound bar held chest level 10-12 reps

*For uneven lunges use the same motion found blog on no excuses... except instead of stairs you are using the bosu


Superset 3:
Low Row 12 reps
single shoulder press 12reps each arm


Then I finished with leg press... my normal progressive weight ( I believe in going heavy)



set1- 45lb each side- 12 reps- one leg then switch
set2- 90lbs each side- 12 reps (both legs... I am not that good)
set3- 135 each side- 12 reps
set4- 180 each side- 10 reps
set5- 225 each side- 8 reps

set6- 260 each side 6-8 reps


This is a super quick workout but hits major muscles which will give you a great work out and burn some major calories.



Take what you want, alter it to fit your needs but I love doing a short to the point workout at least once a week.

Ciao and supersets

Alexis

Guest Post... Food PenPal

This month I was paired up to send my box of goodies to Laura. Since Laura isn't a blogger I told her she was more than welcome to do a guest post on her box. (only if she wrote good things HAHA JK)

It was funny reading this because Lara ended up doing something pretty similar with her Coconut water I sent that i do for parties...

So here is what Laura got for her first time participating in Lindsey's food pen pal exchange ...


 Alexis at fitpossible.blogspot.com was my foodie pen pal. She is really into eating healthy. We all are, especially at this time of year. The guilt will eat us ALIVE!!
I’m into the "idea" of eating healthy and working a program! But I don't do it. I fall into my own sloppy habits of several glasses of chardonnay and mashed potatoes and gravy..
Yes I can be better. But I am lazy!!

 I had just celebrated my birthday so in my sweet card that she HAND MADE she told me what was up for my package: which was:
 First she acknowledged my birthday!












I didn’t get a very good pic of her recipe but it is awesome!

It's Granola Bark, What a tasty treat! It would be a nice replacement for that chocolate I crave in the middle of the night.  What is Granola Bark, you ask? It contains a lot of different ingredients assorted nuts, assorted fruits, chocolate and cinnamon.  It’s a great snack to fill u up throughout the day. She sent me some to try and then a recipe for it. I had a piece by my bedside and my cat went CRAZY! Not sure what she liked in it. BUT there was somethin’! She was actually eating it. I heard a crunch and then went what are you doing? I took it away but she was sniffing and meowing.
 Alexis sent me some bomb ass-(can we cuss?) Coconut lemon lime flavored water. I like the idea of flavored water. It’s usually too sweet BUT.... I found a way to make this water work for me! It’s very hydrating also. 3 parts vodka 2 shots coconut water and a FRESH squeeze of grapefruit from our friends tree. It was perfect! I will finish off the rest after a nice hike at our local Mountain.

 Then there were these Pomegranate White Tea Gummy Bear things. Not a fan of gummy bears but these were really addicting!! I had one. I thought naw. Then I wanted another. Next thing ya know I ate several and felt like I had a Snickers! I was satisfied-minus chocolate.
The next thing was some Lavish  chocolate oatmeal. First off let me say she didn’t know I was a chocolate fiend!! But I tried it and it wasn’t bad. I have a very creative mind and I think oatmeal should be left alone. I don’t like my granola chocolate flavored though. So I have 2 new plans for it. Add to Granola Bark recipe she sent and add it to a cookie recipe that I have.
Then there were Mulberry treats-claiming high fiber and it’s a super food!! Those were weird but then I liked them. Like a coated raisin.  I almost put em in my steel cut oats! Hmm. I will
try that tomorrow!










So I need an apple for the next one! Justin’s Almond Butter and Chocolate hazelnut butter. It’s healthy, organic peanut butter. I actually just opened a package and ate the whole thing! I sucked it right out of the pack. It was the best thing ever!! I looked it up online to see where I could buy it locally. Luckily they sell it at our local Sprouts store. Thank god! I see a new addiction coming on!




It was my first foodie pen pal experience and I thought it was awesome! I will definitely do it again!
Thanks Alexis for turning me onto some very yummy items!

And there you have it. Laura's first Foodie Pen Pal experience and guest blog...

- Alexis

January Foodie Pen Pal

So this is now my forth month participating in Foodie Pen Pals hosted by the wonderful Lindsay...

For a look back at all my past wonderful packages... October, November, December

I just want to say I have enjoyed all the packages I have received but I will say this has been by far my favorite.. My Package came from Tory, a reader. The reason this has been my favorite package is because Tory is from my hometown... and she spent a day shopping at my favorite place in my hometown to send me a package of wonderful goodies from... you guessed it MY HOMETOWN!

If you have never read my blog I am a Pittsburgh girl and there is nothing like food shopping in Pittsburgh. In downtown Pitt. there is the Strip District, where you will find tons of mom and pop places that have been around for DECADES... One of my favorite places to go is the Pennsylvania Macaroni Company. When I drive to PA I always take a cooler with me so ic an bring home my favorites from Penn Mac. They have all of my favorite Italian cooking ingredients...
2011 trip home... Penn Mac Bulk oil section!!!


Besides Penn Mac you will find all sorts of specialty shops.  Presto George which is where I buy my coffee to bring back to FL,  Fudgy Wudgy where the handmade candies are to die for, Pittsburgh Popcorn where you can find everything from regular popcorn to peanut butter chocolate, you of course will also find countless amount of stores selling Pittsburgh (Steelers, Pirates, Penguins...) Memorabilia. So when Tory told me she was from Pittsburgh and she was headed to the Strip to shop for my package I knew it would be EPIC!!!!

So here is what I got... my taste of home

First off Tory sent me the cutest card that was filled on both sides inside and on the back... talk about super friendly.

And here comes the good amazing stuff!



First bag I pulled out brought an instant smile to my face.  I love Popcorn and I knew this was not going to be an ordinary Popcorn. Tory picked me up some zesty ranch popcorn. I dumped this in a rubber maid thinking it would last long enough that it may possibly get stale... HAHA who was I kidding? Brian and I downed this in the first 3 days (with a few samples taken by my mom and sister) ... I guess you could say it was good.


 Next up came flavored Quinoa. I have not found any here but Tory picked it up at Penn Mac. <--- go figure :o) I have not yet tried this because I am using up the Quinoa that is already in my pantry but I am excited about it... Plus it only takes 15 min... EVEN BETTER!





  This one makes me smile and cry all at once... I am a Pittsburgh girl so I by default am I STEELER GIRL!!! Tory picked me up these amazing knee highs (was it the store on the corner run by the amazingly cute Asian family?) in hopes of superbowl partying. Unfortunately we lost in the playoffs right before she sent my package... I am still a little bitter so please refrain from any mean comments LOL. I sooooo look fwd. to rocking these next year with one of my many jerseys, steeler bag, hats, scarfs, blankets... and everything else fun that I can find...                                                                     Side note:  My sister and I have a tradition that whenever we make it to the AFC championship we strike a particular pose... so I could add it to the outfit... (pose below) we also decided in 2010 when we won the AFC championship we were driving to PA to watch the Pitt Baltimore game.... Ya we are those fans HAHA ok so I am way off topic but now you understand why I love them so much


                          
2010 (left): custom Hines Ward Rookie jersey Won the SuperBowl!!!
2011(right): Lost to Green Bay in the SuperBowl


Ok back to the actual food HAHA. Next up was COFFEE!!!! I am a coffee lover.. I am not one of those people who need coffee, once I am awake I am awake all day... I seriously just love the taste. I didnt really start drinking coffee until my Sr. year in college and I was hanging out with my sister a lot in the AM. Tory sent me two different types. I have tried the Morning blend which I loved, but I am saving the vanilla to try with my mom (she likes the flavored ones... me not so much) Tory also may have mentioned sending me some coffee from my favorite place in the whole world Presto George <--- you can order online!!! So if she is still planning on it my mailbox is very welcoming haha

 The last food item in my box was chicago steak seasoning from Penzeys Spice.. another amazing little shop! Brian has used this to Grill and he loves it! That is his department not mine LOL

My favorite thing in the box was not a food item (or steeler related) but it was probably the most thoughtful gift of all. I keep it in my wallet at all times and it makes me smile no matter what. I know its not the expected reaction to this gift but it was mine... and it is my box so I WIN!!!

It is one of those souvenir smashed pennies. This one is from the Duquesne Incline. Tory didn't know this but one of my favorite places to be is on the top of Mt. Washington looking over the city. My dad used to take us up there and I still go back every time I am home. It is so peaceful and there are so many memories. My grandfather was VP of Ambridge and US Steel and is responsible for much of the downtown area so looking over it from above (especially at night) is breath taking. It is my favorite place in the USA!!!



my favorite view and my favorite boy!!!
nothing better than this view

2 of my sisters and me


 Ok I will leave you alone now and quit with the pictures HAHA But i would like to throw out another THANK YOU!!! to Tory and a thank you to Lindsey for hosting this amazing Pen Pal ( can I get another Pittsburgher again? PLEASE hahaha jk)

So if you interested in joining next months Foodie Pen Pals (and you do not have to be a blogger) 
 send  an email to Lindsay at theleangreenbean@gmail.com and include the following information:
-Your full name
-Your email address
-Your blog name/address (if applicable)
-Your twitter handle (if applicable)
let her know by February 4th as pairings will be emailed on February 5th!

Ciao with love from HOME

Alexis