Train Like An Athlete

As many of you know, I am an athletic trainer-making me live an athlete's schedule without the dedication and training.

All of my athletes work hard, but as wrestling season begins I see more of their lifestyle. This caused me to think. Yes, they are a special breed of athlete, but that's no excuse. 

I see their lack of excuses, their drive, their dedication, and their constant effort to be better than they were the day before. 

Due to this I challenged myself. I want to be in the best shape of my life, I want the confidence I have never dreamed of having. I decided it's now or never. I have the resources and the drive. 

I am continuing to follow the Focus T25 workout program, because I love my home workouts! I love the impact that doing these have one my life as well as my clients' lives. Adding to that I have began a weight room workout and beginning some basic "boxing" lessons.

You may be wondering why I am doing this.

Well here is the answer. 

To challenge myself. I want to push myself as hard as I can, I want to be dedicated to a life that I designed, and most of all I want to see how capable I am of reaching my goals. 

Here are my beginning photos: 

Follow my journey week by week as I push myself, change my body, change my mindset and become a better version of me! 

Would you like to begin your own journey? 

Do you need direction? A push? Maybe an accountability partner?

I would love to begin this journey with you!

Contact me today: brittanyplummer271@gmail.com

Savory Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with White Beans and Kale

Simple Dinner Recipe:

Savory Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with White Beans and Kale

I love simple dinner recipes. I prepare my meals ahead of time (for the most part) and I really love the easy to put together ones with lots of nutrients. 

Not only are these great dinner ideas but think about all the parties you go to, or that you have and energy runs low and the list of to-do's get longer!

Time, energy and nourishing meals can be a challenge.

I will not take the credit for this recipe. Actually I was at Insanity class with a few friends and afterwards I had a message from my sister-in-law telling me I had to try this recipe and had the link below her message. Now I absolutely LOVE my family. We are all active, and eat healthy (for the most part-except my dad and sister who couldn't go a day with a several cookies-not that they look like they eat them!) But this is one thing we bond over! Recipes, exercise and health!

So my sister-in-law introduced me to this recipe!

It depends on your schedule, but you can cook this all at once, or make some of it beforehand, or make the entire thing beforehand and warm it up before.

It makes a satisfying meal full of colors and textures with warm. The warm flavors of rosemary, garlic, and red pepper and significantly more nutrient than many grab-n-go meals.

The sweet potatoes take about an hour to bake, but they're hands-off, so you can use this as down time to get things done! If you like, bake the sweet potatoes ahead, store them in the refrigerator and then reheat.

You can cook the beans from scratch-simmer them with a bay leaf, a sprig of rosemary and a sprig of sage. Or you can use canned beans, which are much quicker and easier.

Serving is 4

Ingredients:

-4 Sweet Potatoes

-2 Tablespoons Olive Oil

-1 Shallot, diced

-1 Garlic Clove, minced

-1 (4-inch) Sprig Fresh Rosemary

-1/4 Teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes

-1 1/2 Cups (or 1 can) cooked and drained white beans

-6 Cups of Kale, trimmed and sliced into ribbons

-1/4 of a Lemon-juiced (or orange juice works as well as my sister-in-law discovered!)

-Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

-Preheat the oven to 400 degrees 

-Scrub the sweet potatoes and prick them in a few places with a fork. Place them on a baking sheet and bake them until soft all the way through, about 45 minutes to 60 minutes

-Start the beans and greens about 15-20 minutes before the sweet potatoes are done

-In a wide/deep saucepan with a cover, heat the olive oil over low-medium heat.

-Add the shallots and cook until softened-about 5 minutes

-Add the garlic, rosemary sprig, and red pepper flakes: cook, stirring, for about a minute

-Add the beans and cook for 5 minutes or stir occasionally 

-Add the kale, cover the pan and cook, stirring occasionally for about 5 minutes or until kale is soft

-Remove the rosemary sprig, stir in lemon juice (or orange juice) 

-Season with salt and pepper

Serving:

Slice each sweet potato lengthwise and push the ends to open up the middle

Spoon the beans and greens into the center

Please share with me your thoughts on this recipe! I would love to hear what you think and if you make it, take a picture and upload it to Instagram and hashtag #stuffedsweetpotatoes

Make food fun!!

Find me on Instagram while you are at it! @beplummer

These look so delicious! I am so thankful my sister-in-law shared these with me :)

3 Day Shakeology Cleanse: Day 2

Day 2 of the shakeology cleanse is in the bag!

Yes I know my post is late, but the day ended up busy ( thanks goodness!!)

The morning I woke up and I was hungry and tired. Instantly my thoughts were negative (no way to start...bad idea)

So I did quite a bit of work, went to the gym and than the hard part happened..

  Coworkers wanted to go to the movies: okay I thought I got this! Eat my salad before hand and I will be fine! Well then they wanted to go to Buffalo Wild Wings! Naturally what do you always want when you go there?!? WINGS!

But I got my salad and water-YES I DID IT!!

I was very pleased! Even though the salad was bigger than I should have eaten! But still..give the girl some credit (and patting yourself on the back is fine!)

So here is my picture-not remarkable change but I am feeling, less bloated and powerful and in charge! 

Stay tuned for day 3!!!

Clean Chicken Fajitas: Healthy Dinner Recipe

Clean Chicken Fajitas: For a healthy dinner

Do you absolutely love full hearty dinners? The ones that bring the whole family around the table with lots of chatter and laughter? Well here is a perfect one that all family members will love!! **YES even the ones that do not like spicy foods!

I am not very good with spices! Although my boyfriend loves everything that is at the hottest degree! So I have found happy mediums when cooking meals for the two of us! This one is a winner!!

It is a fun and easy recipe as well. Let me tell you, I had an incredibly crazy morning and I STILL got this meal cooked! I think it took me 30 minutes, maybe less!! WOW

The Ingredients:

**Red bell peppers-you can use multi colored (yellow, red, green) but I had red so that is what I used!
**Onion-1 full 
**Chicken-I used about 2 pounds
**Chili powder
**Paprika 
**Garlic-I used powder because I was pressed for time, but you can use fresh pressed
**Splash of lemon juice

I slice the peppers and the onion and place it in a pan to start browning the chicken, peppers and onions. 

Once the chicken is browned and the onions are translucent, the spices are added along with the lemon juice.

I mix is all together over the stove.

I really like the splash of lemon juice because it definitely makes the fajita have a zest flavor. When I order a fajita from a restaurant that it was I expect, zest and spice. Well there it was just created in 30 minutes in my kitchen and for several dollars cheaper!

Who said eating clean had to be expensive?? NOT this girl!!  :)

Treat your taste buds and your body tonight!

Side Dish for Dinner

Asparagus; Delicious, Clean, Filling

Are you in charge of dinner every night, and running out of ideas?

Were you asked to bring a dish to your family's Christmas dinner?

Here is a delicious side dish that definitely will send everyone's taste buds soaring!!

Ingredients: 

Asparagus

Vinaigrette of red wine vinegar

Extra-virgin olive oil

Shallots-chopped

Fresh flat-leaf parsley-chopped

Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

**Steam asparagus on the stove

Preparation:

Drizzle steamed asparagus with vinaigrette of red wine vinegar, extra-virgin olive oil

Finely chopped shallots

Chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Season all with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Bring a dish that your friends and family will

LOVE!! <3

Clean Chocolate Chip Cookies

Clean Chocolate Chip Cookies

This is the time of year where cookies are a MUST!

So many people have cookie exchange parties and they are always the go to dessert, during the holidays!

It is very difficult to stay away from fresh baked cookies for the whole season!

So how would you like to enjoy a few chocolate chip cookies during Christmas?

Thanks to The Delicious Pantry, I have found a clean version of several cookie recipes. Here is the chocolate chip one.

Ingredients: 

2/3 cups of almonds (I put this as optional, I used them in one batch but not the other.)

1/3 cup of cooked oatmeals

3 tablespoons of honey

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/8 cup of whole wheat pastry flour

1/2 cup of grain sweetened chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325

2. Mix everything EXCEPT the chocolate chips in a food processor-the consistency should be sticky/wet

3. Use your spatula to scrape the dough into your mixing bowl and mix the chocolate chips

4. Spoon onto a parchment lined cookie sheet

5. Bake for 20 minutes.

Enjoy a few chocolate chip cookies guilt free! 

Yum :)

Clean Hot Chocolate

Clean Hot Chocolate: 

Nothing better for a cold December night!

The winter months have officially arrived, it's chilly, the snow is starting to fall, wind is blowing and the fireplace is being sparked. This automatically makes me want hot chocolate. I love eating clean but how can I give up hot chocolate??

But then I found The Gracious Pantry and there was an incredible clean eating hot chocolate recipe. 

I really do believe we are meant to find pure and guilt free joy in the foods we eat. The problem is foods we have come to know as "good" food are not always good for us! This is what I have realized over the past few months, changing my lifestyle. So when I have the chance to change a recipe to one with more nutrition and less calories, I hardly can wait. 

Here is one of my new favorite once-in-awhile treats that is now healthier!

The Ingredients you will need

*4 cups unsweetened milk (I use Blue Diamond Almond Breeze)
*3/4 cup honey (Walmart organic)
*2 teaspoons cinnamon (Trader Joes')
*3 tablespoons unsweetened powdered cocoa (Hershey)

Directions:
*Combine all ingredients in a pot and warm over the medium heat
*Pour into cups and serve

Enjoy on a cold winter's night!! :)



Data for 1 cup:

Calories: 282
Total Fat: 5gm
Saturated Fats: 1gm
Trans Fats: 0gm
Cholesterol: 0gm
Sodium: 31mg
Carbohydrates: 56gm
Dietary Fiber: 6gm
Sugars: 49gm
Protein: 10gm
Estimated Glycemic Load: 32
(nutritionaldata.com)

Clean Chicken Chili

Chicken Chili-Clean Version

Do you LOVE chili in the winter season? Besides the fact that it is EXTREMELY easy to make (especially in a crock pot) it is so nice to sit down to a warm bowl of chili!

The Ingredients you will need:

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts (raw)
1 (6 oz) can of diced no salt added tomatoes
4 (16 oz) cans of low sodium or organic beans
1 (4oz) can of fire roasted green chiles
2 medium onions, diced
6 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup of chili powder
2 teaspoons cumin
1 1/2 cups of reduced sodium chicken stock
1 cup of low fat cheese, shredded

Directions:
I am sure you can do it a harder way but I was running short on time and literally placed all the ingredients in my crock pot
Mixed them
Placed it on low heat (6-8 hours of cooking) or high heat (4-6 hours)

(I used low heat because I was going to be at work)

When I came home it smelled delicious!!

Before I ate it I placed some shredded low fat (skim milk) cheese on top 
 And loved every spoonful!!

Enjoy!!! :)

14 Day Shakeology Shake Off

14 Day Shakeology Shake Off

Here are some questions I want you to answer to yourself:

1. Have you wanted to try shakeology without spending the amount of a full month?

2. Would you like to stay on track and healthy during the holidays?

3. Do you want to begin a healthier and more fit lifestyle?

4. Would you like to wear that cute little cocktail dress at your New Year's Eve party?

5. Are you prepared to start 2014 with a BANG!?

If you have answered YES to one or more of these questions, then the 14 day Shakeology Shake Off is just what you are looking for!!!

Now you have the chance to do something for yourself and take control of your life and take this challenge beginning on Monday December 9th and finish 2013 strong! Start 2014 off with a BANG-healthier and happier! Don't make the same excuses I made for several years, don't make the same New Year's resolution this year-as I did year after year. Do not use trick yourself into thinking up excuses: too much money, don't know about shakeology, already eating healthy and working out, don't want to lose weight. 

So many people think all of these things, the truth is-Shakeology is not just for those who want to lose weight, it is much more than that!

Start of 2014 by giving yourself health and wellness! It is a wonderful way to give yourself and others the gift that just KEEPS giving! Don't you LOVE those gifts? Take advantage now! It is ONLY 14 days!!

Requirements:

1. December 9-December 23 you must commit to being accountable and present in my private facebook group (staying active by checking in daily)

2. Join my team for free at www.teambeachbody.com/BRITTANYPLUMMER

3. You can either order your own shakeology HOME DIRECT (month supply) or you can order the 14 day shakeology supply from me.

4. The cost from me is $80 dollars, including: 14 packets of shakeology, shakeology shaker cup, plus shipping

     OR

Cost from ordering from www.shakeology.com/brittanyplummer HOME DIRECT (month supply) $129

5. Order today!! You do NOT want to miss out on this amazing opportunity to try shakeology and make the next 14 days a complete health transition!

If you would like to join my 14 day shakeology shake off, I would absolutely LOVE to work with you!!

Email me: brittanyplummer271@gmail.com

                brittanyplummer@beachbodycoach.com

or message me at www.facebook.com/brittany.plummer.7

Clean Eating During Traveling

Traveling This Holiday Season?

If you are traveling this holiday season here are a few tips for you!

Pack your cooler and healthy snacks for the road. It is surprisingly easy to take your snacks with you. I recently ordered a thermal tote from the company Thirty-One, that easily holds my Shakeology, apples, almonds, protein bars, home-made trail mix, veggies and fruit. You can portion out oatmeal servings so when you stop you can easily make your own oatmeal. This way you know exactly what you are getting and it does not have added sugar that is hidden when you order oatmeal from Starbucks or McDonalds. 

Trust me it is definitely worth added your snack preparation into your packing.

Here are the ingredients I used.

And I placed it in a little baggy so I can easily take it on the road.

Enjoy!

Staying on Track During Thanksgiving

Staying on Track During Thanksgiving

Today I feel like we finally have entered the holiday season. Thanksgiving is in TWO DAYS!! I have even started taking out my Christmas decorations, because when I return it will be Decemeber!! :) I have the Christmas candles placed out in exchange for the pumpkin candles and it smells like Christmas in here!! 

So with all the holiday celebrations so do the muffin tops and tight jeans! During the holiday season there is loads of cocktails, wine, dips, pumpkin pie, chocolate chips, holiday hot chocolates and more delicious treats! YUMMM!!

I allow myself to enjoy some holiday treats, BUT I continue to make good choices most of the time. I do LOVE sweets and enjoy them more than I thought, but I still stay focused and try to remind myself how I feel after I eat too many sweets!

What can you do to have a healthy holiday that will not leave you with those extra pounds and tight fighting outfits. I will give you some of my favorite tips.

1. Workout: I continue to get my workout in even when I am getting packed up to visit family and traveling. While my responsibilities, social calendar and work continue to pack my days-it is important for me to fit my workout in. Even with the busier days and extra hustle and bustle, I schedule my workouts like I schedule any other appointments that I would not skip. It is on my calendar for 7:30am every day! 

If you like to complete your workouts in the afternoon, decide what is most important to you in order to stay on track. If you say "I really need to do my workout." That is your answer and ask the friend to meet you later or if it is with a group meet them a few minutes late. Taking too many unschedule rest days during the week will throw off your routine and mess up your progress. Do not take unscheduled rest days unless it is on your calendar over your workouts!!

2. Thanksgiving Day: Even thought it is a holiday don't use that as an excuse to skip your workout. ESPECIALLY if you have been saving up for the special Thanksgiving FEAST, get in a good sweat session before! I still get up normal time, or later depending on when the festivities will begin and I do my workout. I know I am about to eat more than I am used to and I want to get my metabolism fired up and my feel good endorphins pumping so I can have an amazing day with family. If time is an issue T25 is literally 25 minutes! How easy is that to fit in? This year I am doing Hip Hop Abs and the workout is 30 minutes-I can still fit that in!! I eat a normal breakfast and I will be having Shakeology. I also have my usual snack about 3 hours after my breakfast. It is important not to starve yourself to save calories for dinner. Follow proper portion sizes throughout the day-even at Thanksgiving dinner. 

I continue to follow the palm size portion for lean protein (turkey), I have 1 cupped palm of potatoes (starchy carbohydrates) and I choose either potatoes or corn since both are starches. Then, load up on the vegetables (with no sauce or butter). It is okay to have a roll at dinner! I do!! But then stop there! I do not eat casserole, scalloped potatoes, stuffing, corn, rolls and cookie, pumpkin pie and apple pie. I pick and choose which ones I want to spend my calories on! Choose between the foods you absolutely know you want versus the foods you just want to try! Make sense? Drink LOTS of water! Still aim to drink 1/2 your body weight in ounces so you do not confuse thirst with hunger and your metabolism is still cranking!

3. If you are hosting or going to a Thanksgiving dinner bring a healthy dish. You can be sneaky about this-I am sometimes. I like to bring something I can eat a lot of! Usually it has protein in it so you have a back up plan (which happens often when you eat away from home). Quietly get you plate, fill it with what you brought, grab some veggies and fruit and be satisfied with that! I always have my shakeology in my car or bag for afterwards. Remember-it is all about will power and balance. Just because there is nothing healthy, does not mean you have to eat it. Pick and choose what maters to you. 

Enjoy your holidays!

Make sure you take some time to relax, cuddle up with family, laugh lots and play games!

I know my family and I love to play games with each other and watch some football. It is my favorite to do this with my family and catch up on some relaxing time!

Enjoy your healthy holidays!!

Lastly just in case you did mess it up a bit during the holidays you still have time to get back on track before Christmas!!

I am doing a 20 day clean eating and shakeology accountability group to keep you on track! I will teach you tips just like the ones above to help you stay focused and balanced.

There is something about having support that makes all the difference in sticking to your goals!!

What Are YOU Bringing to Thanksgiving Dinner?

 Are You Bringing to Thanksgiving Dinner?

Is It Clean and Healthy?

Here are a few SWEET treats that are changed to clean recipes for you and your family's enjoyment and completely GUILT FREE!!!

Clean Pumpkin Cheesecake

Ingredients you will need:

3/4 cups low fat cottage cheese

2/3 cups nonfat, plain Greek Yogurt

1 TBS white whole wheat flour

2 TBS honey

2 dates, with pits removed 

1/4 tsp salt

2 TBS lemon juice

4 egg whites

1/2 cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin filling)

1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice (no sugar added)

For the Crust:

1 1/2 cups Graham Cracker Crumbs (sugar free low-fat)

1/3 cups butter (unsalted)

1/3 cups organic coconut sugar

Directions:

Place everything (besides the crust ingredients) in your blender and blend until smooth.

Pour into a greased spring pan

Bake 350 degrees 25-30 minutes (look for the top to turn golden)

For the crust: mix it all and place it on the bottom of the pan

Pumpkin Fruit Dip (special thanks to Amie DeSanzo for this delicious recipe)

1 can pumpkin puree

1 cup plain nonfat Greek yogurt

1/2 cup honey

1 tsp pumpkin spice

1/2 tsp cinnamon

I blended it just because it was out, but it was actually easier to just mix the ingredients in a big bowl!

Travels easy in a mason jar and tastes delicious too!!

Enjoy your Thanksgiving dessert guilt free!!