Fit Tip: Take a walk during lunch

Let's be honest. Moving > not moving. But, if you're like most Americans, you spend an average of 56 hours a week just sitting. In fact, hours probably go by without you having moved from your desk. Or the couch.

I didn't believe it either, but then I spent a couple days wearing a Fitbit Flex and lo and behold, I noticed that if I didn't make a concerted effort to get up and walk around, I would clock in less than 1000 steps before 3pm. Combine that with going out to dinner or binge-watching shows after work and that makes for not much movement. Even if I did my daily workout.

In fact, sitting that much - even if you are working out daily - can be very harmful to your health. A recent studyrevealed that sitting for more than 6 hours a day can result in an early death. They're not yet sure why, but one of the study's authors told Harvard's health blog that "Even if you are doing the recommended amount of moderate to vigorous exercise, you will still have a higher risk of mortality if you’re spending too many hours sitting.” So get up.

If you can, set an alarm for yourself so you get up and walk around for 5 minutes every hour. It doesn't matter if you're walking up and down the internal stairs at your office or home or if you're walking to your car and back. Just make it happen.

Then, at lunch, take some time for an extended walk. Now that spring is here, it's warm enough to get out and walk. If it's raining, do a longer walk inside your building or head to a nearby mall (or other large indoor space) and do a couple laps.

Need some walking inspiration? Add Passion Pit's "Take a Walk" to your playlist.

Source

How to Stock Your Pantry for Success: Part I

When time gets tight and your grumbling belly calls for dinner, you're probably tempted to order take-out. Instead, stock your pantry with these healthy, waistline-friendly staples to back up the fresh fruits, veggies, and protein that make up most of your diet. You'll be able to make many good-for-you meals and snacks in no time—just call it healthy fast food.

Canned beans. Whatever your pleasure—kidney, black, garbanzo, navy—canned beans are a quick way to sneak more fiber and protein and up the satisfaction factor of any meal. Look for BPA-free cans and choose no- or low-sodium brands when possible. (Or at least rinse well before eating.)

Raw almonds. Packed with good-for-you, satiating fats, new research from the USDA shows that these nuts contain 32% fewer calories than originally thought.1 One ounce supplies just 129 calories.

Dried fruit. Toss dried plums, apricots, cranberries, and raisins into oatmeal, rice pilafs, and atop salads for a dose of filling fiber and antioxidants. Cup for cup, though, dried varieties can boast four times the calories as fresh, so stick to a 1/4-cup serving. Make sure to avoid dried fruits with added sugar.

Easy-to-cook grains. Precooked brown rice needs only a minute in the microwave; quinoa cooks in 15; bulgur and whole wheat couscous takes five, and whole-grain pastas are ready in eight minutes. New research in the Journal of Nutrition suggests that swapping traditional refined grains for these whole grains can lead to a slimmer middle.2

Nut butter. For the most wholesome option, look for almond, cashew, or peanut butter made with only nuts and maybe salt (added sugar and oil isn't necessary for taste or texture). Stick to a one- or two-tablespoon serving to mind calories. Blend into smoothies, oatmeal, and sauces.

Spaghetti sauce. Bursting with disease-fighting lycopene and fat-fighting vitamin C, use tomato sauce in a pinch to simmer with chicken, top on pizza, and, of course, pour over whole-grain pasta. Look for no-sugar-added varieties.

Salsa. Spooned over fish, chicken, eggs, or steamed veggies, salsa is a less processed alternative to jarred pasta sauce that supplies a savory, south-of-the-border taste for few calories. It's also a great way to increase your uptake of healthy veggies like onions and peppers.

Coconut oil. Not only adds a subtle warm, nutty flavor, coconut oil can stand up to the heat of cooking and baking without breaking down and forming unhealthy compounds like other oils. It's rich in lauric acid, a medium-chain fatty acid that may have a favorable effect on cholesterol.3 Look for cold-pressed coconut oil.

Extra-virgin olive oil. Drizzle monounsaturated fatty acids–packed extra virgin olive oil on salad or veggies after they're cooked to help your body absorb even more healthful antioxidants, advises a new study from Purdue University.

Reduced-sodium broth. Whether chicken, vegetable, or beef, broth adds loads of flavor for few calories. One tip: cut nearly 120 calories by sautéing veggies in two tablespoons of broth versus one tablespoon of oil.

Spices. Zest up dishes for zero calories—and add a weight loss boost, too. Among others, black pepper, turmeric (an ingredient in curry powder), and cinnamon all have fat-blocking potential, recent research finds.4

Lentils. With fiber and protein, legumes digest slowly—so you'll stay fuller, longer and won't fall victim to blood sugar spikes and dips that drive hunger. Short on time? Buy precooked lentils to toss with salads, rice pilafs, and soups.

Hot sauce. A low-calorie way to add a hit of spice to dishes. Hot peppers contain a compound called capsaicin that not only provides that characteristic burn but also can temporarily raise your metabolism so you can torch a few extra calories at dinner.

Sea salt. With minimal processing, sea salt packs trace minerals and a crunchier texture. Though both sea salt and table salt contain about the same amount of sodium, when used in moderation (a sprinkle is all you really need) sea salt can punch up the flavor of foods.

Cupboard-friendly vegetables. Onions, garlic, and potatoes keep best in a cool, dark place like your pantry. With a long shelf life5 (whole garlic bulbs and onions can last three months if stored properly; potatoes up to a month), you can use them up before they go bad.

5 Signs Your Body is Toxic

Do you sleep 8 hours but wake up groggy? Are you perpetually grumpy? Do you crave sugar? Are you gaining weight even though you’re exercising regularly? Is your cholesterol through the roof even though you think you’re eating right?

If this sounds a typical day for you, your body may be overloaded with toxins. Toxins that are causing you to gain weight, feel fatigued, and crave all the wrong foods. How did this happen?

1. You have a hard time losing weight.
Possible Cause: In modern society, toxic chemicals are everywhere. They’re in the processed food you eat, the plastics you handle, the cigarette smoke you breathe in, and more. Some of these pollutants may trigger disruptions in the body’s endocrine system and this can cause you to gain weight.

Solutions: The harsh truth is that ridding your world of all toxic chemicals and pollutants is nearly impossible. But, you do have some control. Choose to eat more whole foods. Package and reheat your foods in glass instead of plastic. Stop smoking. These solutions do require some effort, but once you start to see the numbers on the scale go down, you’ll feel rewarded for it.

2. You’re always tired.
Possible Causes: Toxic chemicals in the environment and in the foods you eat could be the culprits here too. If you’ve been feeling severe fatigue for more than six months, you could have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Other symptoms may include forgetfulness, joint pain, irritability, depression, and achy muscles. Another possible cause for your exhaustion could be mercury poisoning if you eat a lot of fish or shellfish or have mercury fillings in your teeth.

Solutions: Once again, you’re not going to be able to avoid all toxic chemicals, but you can stop smoking, choose glass and other products over plastic, and eat less processed food. If, your doctor determines that you have mercury poisoning, steer clear of fish and shellfish for some time and have any mercury filings replaced with a non-toxic alternative.

3. Your cholesterol is too high.
Possible Causes: If you are overweight or obese, your weight is one cause for your high cholesterol. Obesity can decrease your HDL (good cholesterol) numbers and increase your triglyceride numbers. Triglycerides are particularly dangerous as they can increase your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. If you are in good shape, your high cholesterol may be due to certain medications such as beta-blockers, estrogen, and corticosteroids.

Solutions: To put it simply: lose weight. If that’s not an issue but you can’t ditch the medications that are causing your elevated cholesterol levels, eat foods–such as oatmeal, fish high in omega-3 fatty acids such as salmon and halibut, nuts, and olive oil–that can help you in your battle against those numbers.

4. You crave coffee, sugar, or junk food.
Possible Causes: The foods themselves. When you eat caffeine, sugar, and other unhealthy foods, they often cause your serotonin and/or your sugar levels to spike…and then sink to lower than they were before you ingested that food. Talk about creating an unhealthy cycle!

Solution: Kick your junk food habits. Expect a withdrawal period during which you’ll be cranky, have headaches, and feel fatigued, but this will likely subside within a day or a few days.

5. You’re grumpy.
Possible Causes: Likely, your irritability is caused by a combination of the environmental and food toxins that might be causing your other issues as studies have revealed that chronic exposure to low levels of environmental toxins can lead to depression, anxiety, and mood swings.

Solution: The best way to feel better is to eat better, lose weight, exercise (it boosts the serotonin levels in your brain that help keep you happy), and make smarter decisions when it comes to what chemicals your exposure yourself to.

Admittedly, making major changes to your lifestyle is difficult. But, we also want you to feel healthier and happier. That’s why we recently launched the Beachbody Ultimate Reset. It’s a 21-day program that will help you curb your cravings, lower your cholesterol, feel more well rested, and more. Isn’t it time to stop feeling toxic and start feeling better?

Friday Transformation Stories

Check out these transformations !

Fresh Fruit Sorbet

Satisfy your sweet tooth with this homemade sorbet that packed with fruit flavor. This healthy treat. 

Total Time: 4 hrs. 10 min.
Prep Time: 10 min.
Cooking Time: None
Yield: 4 servings, about ¾ cup each

Ingredients:
3 cups fresh fruit (like bananas, peaches, pears, or strawberries)
¾ cup unsweetened almond milk (or soy milk or nonfat milk)
4 strawberries, sliced (for garnish; optional)

Preparation:
1. Place fruit and almond milk in blender; cover. Blend until smooth.
2. Place blended mixture in a shallow bowl; cover. Freeze for 2 to 4 hours, mixing with a fork every 30 minutes to break ice crystals.
3. Garnish each serving with a strawberry if desired.

Nutritional Information (per serving):

Calories: 73

Fat: 1 g

Saturated Fat: 0 g

Cholesterol: 0 mg

Sodium: 35 mg

Carbohydrate: 17 g

Fiber: 3 g

Sugar: 10 g

Protein: 1 g

  

P90X/P90X2 Portions (per serving)

½ fruit

½ condiment

P90X3 Portions (per serving)

1 carbohydrates

Body Beast Portions (per serving)

1 fruit

21 Day Fix Portions (per serving)

1 purple container

Source

Blueberry Buckle Granola

Here's a delicious yet sensible dessert recipe that contains the healthy fiber of oats, the antioxidant properties of blueberries, and the crunchy goodness of almonds...plus it tastes great!

Total Time: 25 min.
Prep Time: 5 min.
Cooking Time: 20 min.
Yield: 2 servings, about ½ cup each

Ingredients:
¾ cup steel-cut oats
1/3 cup fresh blueberries
2 Tbsp. slivered raw almonds
½ tsp. ground cinnamon
1 Tbsp. water
2 tsp. pure maple syrup
1 tsp. coconut oil, melted
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
2. Combine all ingredients in a glass baking dish.
3. Bake for 20 minutes, stirring twice during baking. 

Nutritional Information (per serving):

Calories: 323

Fat: 10 g

Saturated Fat: 3 g

Cholesterol: 0 mg

Sodium: 2 mg

Carbohydrate: 51 g

Fiber: 8 g

Sugar: 9 g

Protein: 9 g

P90X/P90X2 Portions (per serving)

1 carb/grain

½ fat

1 condiment

Body Beast Portions (per serving)

2 starches

2 fats

1 fruit

Source

Zucchini and Red Pepper Frittata

Frittatas are healthy, easy, and packed with protein. Try this one with zucchini.

Total Time: 41 min.
Prep Time: 15 min.
Cooking Time: 26 min.
Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients:
2 tsp. olive oil
3 medium zucchini, thinly sliced
1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
½ medium onion, chopped
¼ cup chopped fresh basil
¼ tsp. sea salt
6 large eggs, lightly beaten
¼ cup crumbled goat cheese (1½ oz.)

Preparation:
1. Heat oil in a 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat.
2. Add zucchini, pepper, and onion; cook, stirring frequently, for 2 minutes, or until zucchini is tender.
3. Add basil and salt. Increase heat to medium-high; cook, stirring frequently, for about 30 to 60 seconds, or until the moisture has evaporated.
4. Add eggs and goat cheese to vegetable mixture. Stir until combined; cook, over medium heat, without stirring, for about 2 to 3 minutes, or until the bottom is light golden. As it cooks, lift the edges and tilt the pan so uncooked egg will flow to the edges.
5. Reduce heat to low; continue cooking, covered, for 15 to 18 minutes, or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.

Nutritional Information (per serving):

Calories: 196

Fat: 12 g

Saturated Fat: 4 g

Cholesterol: 284 mg

Sodium: 302 mg

Carbohydrate: 8 g

Fiber: 2 g

Sugar: 6 g

Protein: 14 g

P90X/P90X2 Portions (per serving)

½ protein

1 vegetable

½ fat

½ dairy

Body Beast Portions (per serving)

2 proteins

2 vegetables

1 fat

Source

Broiled Grapefruit with Orange Liqueur

A little orange liqueur and a touch of cinnamon transforms an ordinary grapefruit into a gourmet dessert.

Total Time: 10 min.
Prep Time: 5 min.
Cooking Time: 5 min.
Yield: 4 servings, ½ grapefruit each

Ingredients:
2 medium grapefruit, cut in half, sectioned
4 tsp. orange-flavored cognac liqueur (like Grand Marnier)
¼ tsp. ground cinnamon

Preparation:
1. Preheat broiler on high.
2. Place grapefruit halves in medium baking pan.
3. Drizzle grapefruit with liqueur.
4. Position oven rack so that grapefruit is about 2 inches from the broiler; broil for about 3 to 5 minutes, watching carefully so they don’t burn.
5. Sprinkle evenly with cinnamon.

Nutritional Information (per serving):

Calories: 54

Fat: 0 g

Saturated Fat: 0 g

Cholesterol: 0 mg

Sodium: 0 mg

Carbohydrate: 12 g

Fiber: 2 g

Sugar: 11 g

Protein: 1 g

P90X/P90X2 Portions (per serving)

½ fruit

P90X3 Portions (per serving)

½ carbohydrate

Body Beast Portions (per serving)

1 fruit

Source

Zucchini Bread

Try this healthier take on zucchini bread for your next brunch.

Total Time: 1 hr 10 min.
Prep Time: 15 min.
Cooking Time: 55 min.
Yield: 20 servings, 1 slice each

Ingredients:
Nonstick cooking spray
6 large egg whites
¼ cup melted coconut oil
½ cup unsweetened applesauce
1/3 cup sugar
2 tsp. vanilla extract
¾ cups all-purpose flour
1¾ cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
¾ tsp. sea salt
3 tsp. ground cinnamon
2½ cups grated zucchini
½ cup chopped raw walnuts

Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
2. Lightly coat two 9 x 5-inch loaf pans with spray.
3. Combine egg whites, oil, applesauce, sugar, and extract in a large bowl. Set aside.
4. Combine all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a medium bowl; mix well.
5. Add flour mixture to egg mixture; mix until just blended.
6. Fold in zucchini and walnuts; mix until just blended.
7. Divide batter evenly between the two pans.
8. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until golden brown and tester inserted into the center comes out clean.
9. Cool bread in pans for 5 to 10 minutes, remove from pans and transfer to rack; cool completely.

Tip: Leftover slices can be wrapped individually and stored in the freezer for future meals.

Nutritional Information: (per serving)

Calories: 121

Fat: 5g

Saturated Fat: 3g

Cholesterol: 0g

Sodium: 191mg

Carbs: 17g

Fiber: 2g

Sugars: 5g

Protein: 4g

P90X/P90X2 Portions (per serving)

1 carb

Body Beast Portions (per serving)

1½ starch

Source

Blueberry Maple Muffins

These blueberry muffins taste—and smell— incredible. One whiff of them fresh from the oven and you won't be able to wait until they hit your plate!

Total Time: 24 min.
Prep Time: 10 min.
Cooking Time: 14 min.
Yield: 15 servings, 1 muffin each

Ingredients:
Nonstick cooking spray (optional)
1 cup whole wheat flour
¾ cup + 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
¼ cup wheat germ
1½ tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. fine sea salt
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 large eggs
½ cup pure maple syrup
1 cup low-fat buttermilk
¼ cup coconut oil, melted
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1½ cups fresh blueberries

Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 375° F.
2. Prepare 15 muffin cups by lining with muffin papers or coating with spray.
3. Combine flours, wheat germ, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in a medium bowl; mix well. Set aside.
4. Combine eggs and maple syrup in a medium bowl; whisk to blend.
5. Add buttermilk, oil, and extract; whisk to blend.
6. Add flour mixture to egg mixture; mix until just blended.
7. Gently fold in blueberries.
8. Divide batter among 15 prepared muffin cups.
9. Bake 13 to 14 minutes, or until golden brown and tester inserted into the center comes out clean.
10. Transfer muffins to rack; cool.

Nutritional Information (per serving):

Calories: 156

Fat: 5 g

Saturated Fat: 4g

Cholesterol: 25 mg

Sodium: 157 mg

Carbohydrate: 25 g

Fiber: 2 g

Sugar: 10 g

Protein: 4 g

P90X/P90X2 Portions (per serving)

1½ single snack

Body Beast Portions (per serving)

2 starch

Source

Banana Banana Bread

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs, beaten
2 1/3 cups mashed very overripe bananas

Directions:
1 Preheat oven to 350°.
2 Lightly grease 9 x 5 loaf pan.
3 In large bowl, combine flour, soda and salt.
4 In separate bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar.
5 Stir in eggs and mashed bananas until well blended.
6 Stir banana mixture into flour mixture; stir just to moisten.
7 Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
8 Bake in preheated oven for 60-65 minutes until a toothpick inserted into center of loaf comes out clean.
9 Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.

Recipe from Food

Funky Monkey Baked Oatmeal

Ingredients

• 3-4 medium bananas $0.88
• 2 large eggs $0.50
• 2 Tbsp brown sugar $0.04
• ½ tsp vanilla extract $0.14
• 1 tsp baking powder $0.04
• ¼ cup natural peanut butter $0.57
• 2 cups milk $0.50
• ¼ tsp salt $0.02
• 2.5 cups old fashioned rolled oats $0.43
• ⅓ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips $0.50
• ⅓ cup shredded coconut $0.26

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Mash the bananas with a fork until they are about half liquidy and half chunky. Start with just three bananas and add another if needed to make 1.5 cups.
2. Add the mashed bananas to a large bowl. Warm the peanut butter slightly in the microwave so that it is more fluid and can mix in easier. Add the peanut butter, eggs, brown sugar, vanilla, baking powder, and salt to the bowl. Whisk these ingredients together until smooth. Add the milk and whisk again.
3. Add the dry oats, chocolate chips, and shredded coconut to the bowl. Stir everything together until evenly combined. Lightly coat the inside of an 8×8 inch casserole dish with non-stick spray. Pour the oat mixture into the casserole dish and bake for 45 minutes in the preheated oven.

Notes

SERVE: After baking, divide the dish into 6 or 8 servings. Scoop the oats out of the dish and break them up slightly in the bowl. Pour cold milk over top and enjoy! The cooked oats can be placed in individual resealable containers and either refrigerated or frozen until ready to eat. Simply reheat in the microwave before eating or enjoy cold!

Found this recipe on Budget Bytes

What are your excuses? 
Someday, when I have the money
Someday, when I have the time
Someday, when I have the skill
Someday, when I have the confidence...
Someday doesn't exist. Never will. When tomorrow comes, it will be another TODAY. There is never anything but TODAY. What are YOU going to do with YOUR today? Throw out all those excuses. They aren't doing anything for you.