Thursday, June 6, 2019

Fanci ways to staying Fit on Vacation

 I often get asked how I stay on track when I am on vacation when it comes to my diet and exercise. To be truthful staying fit on vacation isn't as hard as it may seem, it's a matter of planning a head.

So the things I keep focus on when I am on vacation is hydration, diet, and movement. When I say movement I don't mean exercise as in going to the hotel gym. After all you are on a vacation so plan your movement and have fun with it because vacation is about enjoying yourself. For those who are saying "What if I just want to relax?" well that is fine too, part of my relaxing is staying active and being adventurous or seeing the sights but I do relax some on my vacation too.

Below are some of my vacation tips that work real well for me. I never seem to gain weight and at times I come back and lost a few pounds so it must work. So give them a try.

Start you day with a healthy breakfast: Try whatever you do not to skip breakfast and focus on the protein and veggies or fruit or grain.  A well rounded breakfast will start you day off right. 

Always have a water in hand: Just because you on vacation doesn't mean you should slack on your water goals. Try your hardest to meet them when you are out and about. 

Plan active activities: This is my thing to do. I love hiking, sighting tours, any water activity there is or rock climbing  horse back riding or adventure activity I am all about.  You may not be as adventurous as I am but finding some sort of active activity that is in your realm should not be hard even if it's just shopping the local farmers market which often in local area. 

 

Opt for the Stairs: Whether it be hotels or higher altitude locations like ...dare I say the Eiffel Tower... Leave the elevator behind and climb the stairs. Which each step you climb you get to take in a different point of view which often times is stunning. Why rush it with the elevator when you actually take a moment and gaze upon it when you climb the stairs? Some views are just too breath taking not to take a moment to take in so opt for the stairs if you can. 


Try to get 30 mins of cardio a day: If you do some type of active sight seeing this should not be a problem but if you find your self on a boat most the day or riding around on a taxi or bus most the day try to get some other form of cardio in just so moved some. I would do this before you start you day off as well. 

During meals focus on protein and veggies: Make sure you focus on the protein and veggies will ensure you don't over eat and eat until you feel about 80% full.  I personally love to  try new styles of food when I travel so this is always exciting for me. As for desert opt to share if you can and if you want  =)

Remember you aiming for fitness maintenance: So when on vacation you are not out to make any sort of progress you are just trying to maintain what you have. If you have the time to go and some type of full body workout then by all means do it, but if you don't just enjoy your vacation you are not going to lose anything in the short time that you are gone. 

Find Restaurants in walking distance:  Not only restaurants anything actually, if you can walk to a place walk, be as active as you can without getting around by bus or taxi. This will keep you moving and allow you to enjoy the area that you came to visit much much more. You would be surprise the sights you would miss if you took a taxi or bus every time you went out. 

Enjoy don't stress: Biggest tip ever just enjoy. I used to stress about gaining weight on vacation all the time then I got into this field and learned how to eat right and move more. I structured my vacations to where I am always going and I just don't stress when I have to eat or even when I want to have a drink or desert.  I am just over all more mindful of everything. So when I get back home I get on the scale and every time I either lost weight or am at the same weight I was when I left. 

If you like to more advice or to would like me to coach you into a healthy way of living then contact me through my page or blog or my email AMcKinney2@LT.Life and I will be glad to help you out! Look forward to hearing from you!









Sunday, May 26, 2019

The Fanci Way to Prep


Meal prep has become a common practice for people looking to take control of their weight and health via the food they eat. In today’s growing world of nutrition, more and more resources are becoming available to help individuals make smarter choices.

Finding the Value in Meal Prep


Meal prepping is in a nut shell preparing food in advance to not only save time, but to make sure healthier foods are consumed. When crazy schedules get in the way, most often do we just reach for something convenient like cheeseburger or a bag of chips. That is just the nature of things when time is pressed or if that is our only option.

Meal prepping can help with this by balancing our schedule with foods we eat to maximize our health. The idea is that when we have healthier foods at our finger tips, we are more likely to eat them instead of other potentially harmful food.  It is also more efficient and helps with waste because use reusable containers when you meal prep.  On top of this it allows you to stick to your plan and will save you money. 

Simple Tips for Meal Prepping


The concept of meal prepping can seem daunting at first. Many times, when I suggest meal prepping my clients struggle on where to put in or schedule their meal prepping time. Seems they have such busy lives that don’t have a few hours to do this even if it’s just for a few meals for the week.  You have to get in that mind set to make sure you succeed. Then I get asked, “Where do you start?” “What do you need?” and “How do you get into that mindset?”. Well let me try to answer a few for you. 

Pick a Day for Preparation

Simply choose a day of the week and stick with it (time and day). Make it a time and day that you have an ample time to prepare food for the week ahead for whatever meal you are needing to prepare. For most people it’s Saturday or Sunday where work doesn’t get in the way for others it’s weeknights when fewer crowds are at the store. Just pick a day and stick with it. 

If preparing all your meals it just to much for you choose one meal that is the hardest for you and start prepping that during the week. Once you got that down start adding more. When choosing your meal or meals to prep go for healthy foods you like.  Fun little fact veggies are free so eat as much of those as you want through out the day, it's what you put on them you need to count and the more color the better. Protein keep it lean and try the right portion size for you every meal and always add some healthy fats and starchy carbs to this and you have a well rounded meal.  More on portion sizes to come so keep reading.

Me personally I like to make bowls with tons of flavor. You can make them in a batch type setting and put them in the freezer or refrigerator and store them for the week or for dinner time for the family.  

Stock-up on Containers

You will soon realize that Tupperware is your best friend when it comes to food prepping. Honestly, I invested in prep bag called the Isolator but there is another called 6 pack bags that is also really good. If you are not that into stick with Tupperware and make sure you have soup bowls, containers with different compartments inside, plastic baggies in variety of sizes and if you don’t go for the Isolator or 6 pack a handy dandy lunch box.

Develop a Menu

This should be the fun part and if you good in the kitchen it will be. Try to brainstorm healthy, creative meals you would like to eat or try. I personally like bowls that have great flavor and can mix all in one container (less stuff to carry) I always have a lean protein, a complex carb or grain, lots of veggies and a healthy fat. Rule of thumb always think color. 

Get Crafty in the Kitchen

This is where you do the work and create your meals. You don’t have to stick with just the stove or oven get extra creative and prepare your meals in ways so they don’t get boring. Whip out the crock-pot, blender, and air fryer? Don’t forget during those warm months the grill is an awesome option for preparing the bulk of your food.

Store Your Foods Properly

So now that you have them prepared you need to store them. Depending on what you prepared and if you prepared for the whole week depends on how you will store them. You may be able to refrigerate some items when others are dry and can be put on the counter for easy to grab. Others however to keep from spoiling you want to put in the freezer and just zap in the microwave when you are ready to eat. Either way you want them to be easy to grab and go when you pressed on time with little hesitation. 

Meal Prepping Basics 


As we stated above you need to pick a day of the week that works best for you and stick with it. The reason is because meal prepping is going to take a little time. Once you get the hang of meal prepping you will move more swiftly and it will take no time it get through. Just be patient the first few times as you get the hang of it.  Once you have that day that allows you time sit down and plan your list of foods to buy. Stick with the list and buy enough. A little tip buy in bulk you want to make sure you have enough food for the whole week for those meals. 

When shopping you want to try to stick with a list and menu you create so have an idea of what you are going to make through out the week. You want to stick with the outside of the grocery store and avoid the isle as much as possible. This does not mean you won't go into the isles but you do want to do most of your shopping on the outside more than the isles. 

When going into the isles learn how to read the labels. Some quick tips on this are:
  • You should be able to recognize and pronounce each ingredient
  • There should be 5 ingredients or less
  • Look for food that have less than 5g of sugar/servings 
Ingredients to pass on: Trans fats and hydrogenated oils, High -fructose corn syrup, hormones and antibiotics, artificial sweeteners, artificial colors and flavors, artificial preservatives, sodium benzoate, bleached flour, carageenan.

Ingredients to limit: Processed seed oils such as corn, canola, soybean, nitrates and nitrites, added sugars even cane sugar fruit juice concentrate, soy isolate, MSG.  


The following is a suggested list of healthy foods and prep items to have:
  • Chicken breasts/Shrimp/Ground Turkey
  • Eggs
  • Steamer Bags of Frozen Veggies (broccoli, cauliflower, kale, spinach, asparagus, peppers, etc.)
  • Fresh Veggies (carrots, celery, radishes, peppers, broccoli, etc.)
  • Nuts, seeds, olive oil or avocado
  • Plastic Storage Bags
  • Plastic Meal Containers
  • Quinoa/Brown Rice
  • Sweet Potatoes
  • Fresh Fruit (grapes, apples, oranges, berries, bananas, etc.)
You can customize each meal prep to your individual palate. After cleaning the food, it’s time to prepare it all. Have fun with this part, get creative!

Tips for Preparation
An easy way to prepare all your protein at once is to use a grill. If you don’t have a grill, the oven is fine. You can put several chicken breasts on/in at the same time. The same goes for shrimp; skewer them in between onion and peppers for a healthy and delicious meal. The ground turkey can be made into patties and you’ve got turkey burgers for the grill or oven as well.

Take your eggs and place them in a pot of water on the stove top to hard-boil them. All of these foods can be cooked on the grill, stove top or in the oven while you use a microwave to steam your bags of vegetables, rice, quinoa and sweet potatoes. The fruit and fresh vegetables can be put into small plastic bags for snacking. Just be mindful of the portion size.

Let’s talk about portion size for a second. You are cooking all this healthy food and it nutritionally dense which is good but you need to know how much of it you can have because you don’t want to over eat your good food either. Good news (like I stated above) is veggies are free food. It’s what you put on them you have to count such as oils or sauces. But if you eat them raw or steams with no butter or oils or sauces, they are free food eat as much as you want.
Your carbs or your grains you should measure or weighed dry.  I often us a food scale or sometimes measuring cups if it’s a grain. This also goes for your pasta and rice. If in doubt go by the serving size on the back but remember measure dry.
Fats I measure by teaspoon or tablespoon or a quick way is by the size of my thumb. Nuts you should go by the serving size which is usually 1 to 2 oz and you can weigh it on a food scale. Most of my fats are oils and I cook them on the meat or veggies.
Proteins I always measured cooked all but for fish which I measure raw. Basic rule of thumb on meat you should go to the palm of your hand. I eat typically 4 to 5oz but depending on your goals I will increase one’s intake to 5 to 6 oz’s per meal rarely up to 8 oz and I will weigh it on food scale. However, I do eat several meals a day. That lean protein is very important for weight loss and lean muscle mass and satiety.
While all the food is cooking get your containers out and ready to go. Line them up on the counter and start what I would call an assembly line. Add your food and make sure you add all the macro’s in each container and seal the top and place in the refrigerator or freezer.
Once you get in the habit of meal prepping you will fine you spend less and less time in the kitchen. You find simpler ways easier dishes and your stress level there will go down. The biggest reward is you will be eating healthier which will make you feel and look better making you hit your goals. So what are you waiting for?

Saturday, March 23, 2019

Fanci Avocado and more...


The avocado is my new favorite fruit/berry I swear. This powerful green berry has been around for 10,000 years and gone by a few different names including Fertility Fruit, Alligator Pear, and Butter Fruit. The Aztecs thought it brought strength to those who ate it while people of the ancient Mesoamerica felt that it possessed mythological powers. I honestly can see where they thought this because the avocado has such an amazing nutrient density, providing 20 vitamins and minerals plus all the healthy benefits that come along with it. It would be a shame not to add this fruit to your diet. 
Lets talk about the amazing benefits of the Avocado, we already know of the vitamins and minerals but lets talk a second on the health benefits. Avocado's are a healthy fat that aid in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. The healthy fats help transport the fat suable vitamins it contains so they can do their job. Another way it helps with cardiovascular help is with cholesterol, because avocado contains phytosterols which is a plant nutrient that is linked decreasing the absorption of cholesterol, lowering levels for some people. It can even lower blood pressure because of the potassium which and avocado as more than even a banana. 
Now as impressive as that is, that is not all this little berry can do. Avocado's also contain antioxidants which in nut shell neutralize the effects of free radicals which are responsible for dozens of serious conditions in our bodies. This includes cancer, cardiovascular disease (stated above) vision problems, premature aging and cognitive disorders.  Adding avocado to your diet can help prevent all this. 
And there is even more... Studies have shown that avocado can lower blood glucose levels which can correct over time and other variables or prevent type 2 diabetes. They are also good for strengthening your bones, your skin, and for athletes and their performance. Honestly the list just keeps going on and on, and on. 

How to Select an Avocado in the Store

  • Always select fresh, ripe avocado's with no dark spots
  • Do not refrigerate avocados  unless they are ripe
  • If a portion of the fruit has been used, then the remainder may be stored in the refrigerator for future use
  • Unripe avocados can be stored at room temperature

Basic Nutrition 


Just 1/3 of a medium avocado has:

  • 6 grams of healthy fats
  • 3 grams of fiber
  • 250mg of potassium
  • B vitamins 
  • Calcium & magnesium to reduce muscle cramps 

Avocado Tips

Ripen it fast: Place your avocado in a paper bag along with a banana (check daily).

Slow it down: Store it in the fridge.
Keep it green: To avoid browning due to the oxidation process, lightly coat in lemon or olive oil and wrap air-tight.
Now let me share with you some avocado recipes I have found and few I have tried. Avocado's are also good to add in Smoothies which I provided as well and though I am not huge on smoothies I have to say is pretty good. 

Avocado Cauliflower Rice


avocado cauliflower rice

Ingredients

  • 3 cups cooked cauliflower rice, drained
  • 1 ripe avocado, mashed
  • 1 Tablespoon cilantro
  • 1 teaspoon turmeric
  • 1 lime, juiced

Directions

  1. Steam cauliflower until soft, about 5 minutes.
  2. In a medium bowl, add all ingredients together and mash to desired consistency.

Roasted Avocado Bites

Ingredients
  •       1 medium avocado
  •       Lime juice
  •       Your favorite spices (suggest garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, and parsley)
Directions
  1.       Preheat over to 425 degrees F
  2.       Cut avocado into ½ inch chunks of similar size and place on a plate
  3.       Sprinkle with lemon juice and gently toss to coat, drain excess juice from plate
  4.       Place avocado and spices in a Ziploc bag and gently toss to coat
  5.       Spread on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, remove and gently stir. Bake 10-15 more minutes or until golden brown. Allow to cool before eating.
Great on their own, served with eggs, or great added to a salad

Frozen Avocado Pops



Ingredients


  •       2 ripe Avocados
  •       3/4 cup unsweetened coconut milk
  •       2-3 Tbsp honey
  •       ½ cup pineapple juice
  •       2 Tbsp lime juice
  •       2 Tbsp shredded coconut or crushed pineapple or cherries. optional


Directions
  1. Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor and mix until smooth. Adding any of the optional ingredients? If so, add now
  2. Spoon mixture into popsicle molds. Insert popsicle sticks and place in the freezer
  3. Freeze for at least 6 hours
Tip: To remove popsicle from molds, run under hot water momentarily to release.

Flourless Avocado Pancakes

Ingredients
  • 1 medium avocado, ripe
  • 1 medium banana, overripe
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • ¼ cup quick oats
  • ¼ cup almond milk (or milk of your choice)
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 Tbsp Coconut oil, divided (optional)
Directions
  1. Heat a non stick pan over medium heat (add a dab of coconut oil if you choose)
  2. Mix all ingredients in a blender
  3. If using coconut oil, place a small amount in pan to coat (save some for each pancake)
  4. Pour ¼ of the batter into the pan and cook 3-4 minutes each side. Repeat steps 3 & 4 until batter is gone. Top with your favorite berries, nut butter, or honey and enjoy!

Mexican Stuffed Sweet Potato

Ingredients
  • 1 Avocado, Ripe
  • 2 medium sweet potatoes
  • 1 cup salsa
  • ½ cup black beans (If using canned: drain and rinse)
  • 4 Tbsp plain greek yogurt
  • 1 Tbsp Olive oil
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with foil for easy clean up.
  2. Rinse sweet potatoes and cut in half lengthwise. Brush face of potato with olive oil and place face down on foil. Bake for ~45 minutes.
  3. In the meantime, dice avocado and mix in a bowl with salsa and black beans. Keep yogurt aside.
  4. When potatoes are done (when they are fork tender), place on a plate face side up, cut in half lengthwise. Divide salsa topping amongst potatoes and top with a dollop of greek yogurt (if desired)