Inspired Supps

So one of the most frequently asked what supplements I take and how it works in conjunction with my thyroid medication.

For those of you who do not know me….Hello my name is Kelsey and I am a thyroid cancer survivor! I take armour thyroid to replace the thyroid hormones my body can no longer produce due to the thyroidectomy I had 5+ years ago.

One of the first questions I asked my Endrochronologist post surgery was if I was allowed to take any supplements and if so, how long did how long do I have to wait after I take my thyroid medication to have any. His response was that after I waited the 45 min whatever I wanted to take after that he was okay with. Now, I am not a medical professional and I will advise it’s up to you to work with your doctor if you have any questions. I am just sharing what supplements I take from Inspired and how they have worked for me.

What I take BEFORE THE GYM:

I am a busy thyroid-less girl. I have a full time Business Career in addition to the other companies I am involved with, my workouts, and this thing called life so best believe I NEED a preworkout stack that will give me that boost I need to power through my workouts without that “cracked out” feeling because I already drink coffee throughout the day. I mix 1/2 scoop of the two following powders 30 min before the gym

1. 3MBER

http://www.inspirednutra.com/collections/fat-burner/products/3mb3r-1?rfsn=1990854.1fcc7

This is a Thermogenic.Think of your body as a campfire the hotter the fire the more you burn! Thermogenic fat burners do exactly that. Heat up the core temperature in burn more calories throughout the day.

Why you need it:

• Increased energy
• Boosts metabolism
• Increases focus
• Helps curb your cravings and appetite

2. DVST8

http://www.inspirednutra.com/products/dvst8-worldwide?rfsn=1990854.1fcc7

This is my favorite pre-workouts that I have ever taken.

Why you need it:

• Increases focus
• Massive pumps
• Energy

3. LGND

http://www.inspirednutra.com/collections/pre-workout/products/lgnd?rfsn=1990854.1fcc7

This is an all natural plant-based performance booster that hits just about every single category to up your output in the gym.

Why you need it

• Improve natural testosterone levels
• Increase strength and endurance
• Mental focus
• Increased stamina

During my workout:

BCAAS/AMINOS

http://www.inspirednutra.com/products/bcaa-fermented-vegan-amino-acids?rfsn=1990854.1fcc7

http://www.inspirednutra.com/collections/just-in/products/amino?rfsn=1990854.1fcc7

You don’t want your hard earned gains to go to waste. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. Three of these leucine, isoleucine, and valine are muscle building power houses. BCAAS help you preserve lean muscle mass, recover quicker, and replenish vital minerals lost during training.

Why you need it:

• Reduce fatigue during your workouts
• Preserve lean muscle mass
• Triggers protein synthesis

These are also great to add to your water for flavor throughout the day if you have a hard time getting your water intake daily!

GREENS

http://www.inspirednutra.com/blogs/news/supercharge-your-immunity?rfsn=1990854.1fcc7

INSPIRED PROMO CODE: KELSEYFIT

Product Review: Beat Kicks

I love my beats headphones because whenever I workout I can’t hear ANYTHING around me. It helps keep my focused and when I first started working out I didn’t feel so anxious being around all the meatheads because I was focused on my music.

For anyone who wears beats or any over the ear headphones to the gym, you know they get pretty sweaty and nasty overtime as the leather starts to crack. I usually spray mine down with some disinfectant after I work out but the leather starts to wear out pretty quickly. After going through my second pair of headphones and I was going on my third I splurged and got the brand new rose gold ones as a black Friday #Treatyouself gift. I decided I needed to make sure I took good care of these! (For those wondering NO, I did not toss the last two headphones my ex stole my first pair which were pretty trashed and I left my second pair at the gym).

These new rose gold ones have white ear cushions so right off the bat I thought with my make up and tanning products and how my headphones were going to get dirty fast! I had my eye on Beatkicks for a while and finally decided to it was time after I got my new headphones.

I originally wanted the Palms print but it has been sold out for what feels like forever, which I am not surprised because it is such a cute print! I went with my second favorite the Maui print! After I purchased, they got my order out quickly and shipping was fast. I appreciate how it came in minimal packaging when it arrived, eco friendly.

Beatkicks are a one size fits most cover for your headphones including: 

Audio-Technica
Beats Studio
Beats Solo
Bose Quiet Comfort
Bose Soundlink JBL
Munitio Skullcandy Hesh ..and many others

The material is mostly made out of polyester at 83% and the other 17% is spandex. They are very soft and thick. They are shaped like a cloth donut (okay can you tell I’m hungry?) with a strong elastic scrunch band to secure around the headphones on one side. The other side is has a flush edge that goes next to your ears with the opening for your speakers in the headset. There is double stitching around the outside seam to ensure it wears well and stays in place. If you do not have wireless headphones there is a little slit on one of the covers to feed the cord through. But if you don’t have a cord don’t worry the hole isn’t noticeable.

They come in two sizes regular and mini. I purchased the regular and I feel that they are slightly baggy on my Beats Solo3. I should have got the mini even though the sizing chart depicts you could go either way and “when in doubt, go regular”!

I was worried that the cloth would bother me while I was wearing them working out but it actually keeps them in place instead of sliding around compared to the leather when I start to sweat. Overall the covers are extremely high-quality I am impressed. I highly recommend them for anyone who works out with over the ear headphones to keep them sanitary and preserve your headphones.

Because I work out 6x times a week and these are machine washable I will more than likely end up going the Maui print when it comes back into stock so that I have two pairs so I can always have a clean pair on hand. But this time, I will go with the mini!

Low Carb Lemon Pepper Chicken “Fried Rice”

So I know that utilizing cauliflower instead of rice is not headline news but I feel like I do often forget how much it is a great filler when you are on a low-carb diet and looking to fuel up!

I am not a huge fan of cauliflower unless it’s roasted, mashed or riced. A lot of people who are on the keto diet or just in general are looking to keep their carbs low definitely should take advantage of incorporating “Riced cauliflower” into their meals. I find it at Trader Joe’s or Sprouts!

I decided to make a lemon pepper fried rice and seriously it was one of the best things I have made since I have been back on my meal plan! A great guilt-free way to enjoy fried rice! If you enjoy making more of a classic version, you can always add peas, carrots, & liquid aminos instead! I will probably make another version of this with some shrimp in the future!

Ingredients:

• Package riced cauliflower
• Lemon Pepper Seasoning
• 1/4 c egg whites
• 2 cups of finely chopped broccoli
• 1Pk Meats2u Lemon Pepper pre-seasoned
• 2 tbs olive oil

Directions:

1. Pre-cook your chicken. I decided to cook it in a crockpot or you can go ahead and bake it however you please! Chop or shred and set aside to add at the end. It’s also to just add top if you are counting your protein intake After the rice is cooked to your own portion (that’s what I do)

2. In a large skillet heat olive oil. Then add package of Riced cauliflower. Cook on high heat too quickly crisp up the cauliflower so it doesn’t get soggy for about 2 min.

3. Drizzle in egg whites and once they are not translucent, stir in broccoli with any other veggies you would like to incorporate!

4. Add Chicken and enjoy!

USE CODE VIPKELSEY on your next MEATS2U purchase

Low Carb Zucchini Lasagna

I love the cheesy carb-loaded goodness of my Italian family roots just as much as the next person BUT my waistline, not so much!

I have substituted zucchini noodles previously when I made an enchilada style dish and it was absolutely amazing so I decided to try it with a lasagna dish!

Although I am I’m not sure what my grandpa would think about me subbing zucchini for noodles but for me it was absolutely delicious! I was worried about the dish being too soggy because there is a lot of moisture in the zucchini but I didn’t have any issues.

Traditionally I like to make my family recipe tomato sauce but I’m trying to make these recipes short and easy!

 

 

Ingredients:

• 1 jar of pasta sauce
• 3 large zucchini
• 1/4 c shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 large egg
• 20 oz ricotta cheese
• 3 cups baby spinach
• 1 pack of Meats2u House Seasoned Chicken*
• Pink Himalayan salt
• Pepper
• Oregano
• 2 Tbs Fresh Basil
• Olive oil cooking spray

*Pre-cook your defrosted Meats2u Chicken in a crockpot for about 2.5-3 hours, drain, and shred with an electric mixer

You will also need a 9×13 baking dish and a Y peeler

Directions:

1. In a mixing bowl combine ricotta cheese and egg with fresh basil, 1/4 tsp oregano, and pinch/salt pepper. Refrigerate until ready to assemble

2. Using a Y peeler make thick noodle like strips with your zucchini, set aside.

3. Lightly grease your deep 9 x 13 pan and preheat your oven to 375°

4. To assemble have your chicken, Baby spinach, cheese mix, and sauce ready to go. Starting with the zucchini noodles line them along the bottom of the pan (2 Columns lengthwise seems to work best). Then top with ricotta cheese and spoon the pasta sauce over the top. Add your shredded chicken and top with baby spinach. Repeat one more time.

5. Your final layer should be a layer of zucchini topped with a bit of pasta sauce and sprinkled lightly with the mozzarella cheese. You can add the shredded cheese to each layer but I am trying to keep this low fat! Who doesn’t love cheese though?

6. Top with foil and bake in preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove foil, and bake for an additional 25 minutes to allow cheese to brown. Serve warm!

 

Try Meats2u using code VIPKELSEY on your next order!

Monday Motivation – Glow Up

Fitness is so much more than just working out, it’s a lifestyle change. We all go through our ups and downs, and I’m not just referring to weight. When we are faced with situations in my life where things didn’t go as planned we have really two options: to either sulk (why didn’t this go as planned, how did this happen, why me) OR you can let yourself feel but use this moment to fuel what comes next. Being diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2013 at 21 years old it was hard and it really put me at my lowest point the next few years. I really didn’t know how to handle the cancer, trying to graduate college, and being in a extremely unhealthy/abusive relationship. Like all other adversities, it is so much a MENTAL battle as it is physical. I WISHHH I would have found The Camp and got into fitness sooner than I did in 2016 . People come and go in your life and life is always going to keep to keep challenging you, THIS WILL NEVER CHANGE! But WHAT WILL change is HOW you handle it. Fitness has been there for me to immerse myself in when I feel lost, down, hurt, or juts need to get away from it all. It has also been a way for me to celebrate all that my body can do. We are all our own worst critics, if everyone could just love themselves a little bit more I feel we could shine just a bit brighter each an every day. I love being online sharing my journey and working with all the clients at the Camp on their health and fitness journey’s while continually improving myself. Thank you for all being a part ofmy life and letting me be a part of yours!

What matters is how well we rise after falling

Instagram: @Thyroidfitnesschic

Lemon Pepper Chicken

Meal prep Monday’s usually consist of plain dried up chicken, broccoli and brown rice right? Because it’s simple easy and quick! But it doesn’t have to be like that and chances are the more boring than your meal prep is the more likely you are to trash it and eat something else while you’re at work.

Lemon Pepper chicken only takes a few more steps and makes such a difference!

What you’ll need:

• Sprig of fresh rosemary
• Six chicken breasts (skinless)
• 2 lemons
• Lemon Pepper seasoning
• Capers (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees and grease a baking sheet or large casserole dish.

2. Lightly spray olive oil on the dish and add chicken. Lightly season with lemon Pepper and turn over and season again.

3. Thickly slice lemons and add to the top of each chicken piece. Squeeze any extra lemon on top.

4. I LOVE capers so I also added 1 tablespoon to the top

5. Add the fresh rosemary and bake with foil for 20-30min depending until cooked. Spoon the lemon juice in the dish every 10 min while cooking. Time will vary depending on the size of the chicken pieces.

I served this with oven roasted asparagus and tricolored quinoa.

Summer Salad: Creamy Mango Vinaigrette

There was this local market I used to go to all last summer that was next to my old work called Elements Natural Foods out in Covina. They have the best Acai bowls and smoothie bowls hands down. They also served loaded salads and my favorite was the Mayan salad which was topped with ingredients such as quinoa, avocado, and a creamy mango vinaigrette. That dressing is so delicious and recently I have been craving it!

I decided to make my own superfood version and it was delicious! It also gave me the chance to test out my “avocado rose” skills which has been a trend on Instagram lately. Lets just say I still need some practice!

 

I know that the original dressing had to contain fresh mangos and lime juice so I looked on google to see what else I might want to add. After experimenting this is what I came up with:

Ingredients:

2 tbs. olive oil (I ran out so I used coconut oil)

• 1/2 cup chopped mango (about 1 mango’s worth_
• 1 tbs. white wine vinegar
• 2 tsp. raw honey
• 1/2 tsp. pink Himalayan salt (any salt will do)
• 1/2 lime juice

 

 

 

Directions:

1. In your NutriBullet or blender combine all the ingredients and blend until smooth
2. Transfer into a container and chill until ready to serve the salad. You can store up to 3 days in the fridge.

Salad mix:

• I mixed  1 parts chopped Kale 1 parts cabbage kale slaw bag, strawberries, mango, avocado, onion, and quinoa.

Ingredient Ideas for Salads:

• Fruit
  • Strawberries
  • Raspberries
  • Blueberries
  • mango
  • pineapple
  • cherries
  • dried coconut
  • oranges
  • Pomegranate seeds
  • apple
  • pear
• Protein
  • Chicken
  • Tofu
  • salmon
  • ahi tuna
  • black beans
  • soy beans
  • Black Eyed Peas
  • hard boiled eggs
• Greens
  • sprouts
  • broccoli
  • tomatoes
  • cucumber
  • bell peppers
• Nuts
  • sunflower seeds
  • walnuts
  • pecans
  • pistachios
• Other
  • Garbanzo beans
  • sweet potatoes

Power Breakfast: Eggs and Hash

As I’ve mentioned several times on my blog I am a huge breakfast fan! I can eat breakfast at anytime of the day. Making breakfast taste good without getting boring can be difficult! I recently made some zucchini hash and eggs and it was so delicious!

I was scrolling through my Instagram one day and I saw someone had added nutritional yeast to their zoodles (zucchini noodles) so I thought why not do the same to in a breakfast hash!

A perfect addition to any meal — providing nutrition while saving calories — nutritional yeast is one source of complete protein and vitamins, in particular B-complex vitamins. It contains folates, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, selenium and zinc, making it a great superfood! – Dr.AXE.com

Ingredients for 1 serving:

– 1 Zucchini

-1/2 tsp nutritional yeast

– Meats2u House Blend Seasoning

If you don’t have their seasonings, you can use your favorite spices! Some ideas are garlic powder, pepper, and red pepper flakes

1. Using a course cheese grader, grade your zucchini into a small bowl
2. Add your seasoning and toss with a fork to incoperate
3. Add to a warmed electric skillet ( I have a Oster Skillet and it’s my favorite appliance in my kitchen, other then their Waffle maker! You don’t need ANY oil!)
4. Let it cook for 3-4 min and then turn into the other side for an additional few minutes!
5. Serve with a side of scrambled egg whites and enjoy!

Power Breakfast: Hot Quinoa Bowl

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, and its usually the one we all have the least amount of time to prep for. Before my lifestyle change I used to get my coffee and breakfast at Starbucks but the $ and high fat breakfast sandwiches caught up to me!

I recently got my hands on the Julie Morris cookbook that not only shows you how to incorporate superfoods, it  also helps you understand them which is why I am in love with this book! the first part of the book is dedicated to technique, nutritional breakdown, and overall understanding of superfoods! You can find here on Navitas Naturals Website!

The first recipe I cooked was the Hot Quinoa Bowl in which I discovered what “quinoa flakes”. This is a game changer for me!Like the concept of rolled oats, they are
flattened/rolled quinoa. They cook extremely
fast and taste great, I wish I would have
found them sooner! I stopped by my local Sprouts
Market and picked up some Ancient Harvest Quinoa
Flakes (you can find where to by locally here).

What you will need:

Mix for Cereal:

1 c unsweetened hemp or almond milk
1/2 c quinoa flakes
optional:
cinnamon
pink Himalayan salt

Optional Topping ideas:
Cacao Nibs – I use Navtias Naturals 
Maca Powder – Navitas Naturals
Berries/ fruit of your choice – I used raspberries and blueberries
Flax seeds
Chia Seeds- Navitas Naturals
Dried goji berries – Navtias Naturals

Directions:

1.  In a medium saucepan, heat your milk to a boil
2. add the quinoa flakes, turn of heat immediately and stir to mix. Le it rest for 2 min to finish cooking. Add your salt and cinnamon if desired!
3. serve with your toppings of choice ( I used  blueberries, raspberries, cacao nibs, and Maca powder)

MACA Benefits:

“The maca root was prized throughout the

Inca empire for its adaptogenic-like qualities

that enable it to nourish and balance the body’s delicate endocrine system, and to help cope with stress. It also energizes naturally, without the jitters and crashes of caffeine, and it can aid in reproductive function by helping to balance hormones”

Cacao Nibs Benefits:

One of nature’s richest dietary sources of magnesium, cacao nibs are also an excellent source of iron and dietary fiber. You’ll feel really great about eating cacao nibs, due to the alkaloids theobromine, phenylethylamine and anandamine, which boost your mood and can make you feel like you’re in love!

 

Disclaimer/ Source: Navitas naturals.com – these are a healthy food, not a miracle drug. These statements herein have not been reviewed by the FDA. Navitas Naturals products are not intended to treat, diagnose, cure or prevent any disease.

First workout Video: The Camp Transformation Center

Upper body day at @thecamptc with my new #swolemate @transformationkay 💪🏼🙌🏼❤️ check her out! 📷:@transformationka

A video posted by SelfiesandSunshine (@thyroidfitnesschic) on Apr 11, 2016 at 7:41pm PDT

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