Keeping your head up and getting back on track during the pandemic

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I may not be where I want to be, but I think that it’s important to remember how far we have come especially in moments that we are feeling discouraged. ⠀

I know that this is a difficult time for everybody and most of us are feeling lost, discouraged, and frankly unmotivated. Most people downplay how critical the mental aspect of fitness and a healthy lifestyle. During these times of uncertainty we are challenged with so many things that can slingshot us into a bad headspace. It’s like a snowball effect, maybe you picked up a few bad things at the store and all the sudden you have reflected back and it’s been weeks since you’ve been active and your whole kitchen is stocked with only junk food. ⠀

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There are things that we are unable to control and I think it’s time to let that go and come to terms with it and focus on what you can control. After reading all the messages I received here is some information if you are feeling lost and discouraged.⠀

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1. PURGE THE JUNK FOOD- next trip to the grocery store have a specific list of foods that you know are going to help you work towards your goals. Don’t deviate and get rid of those foods you have been binging on⠀

2. INCREASE YOUR ACTIVITY – Even if it means going on a walk around the neighborhood and then slowly increasing to home workouts. Each day committed to a specific time and activity and hold yourself accountable.⠀

3. SET GOALS- Specific and measurable goals with a timeline. Make sure you write them down and maybe even post them somewhere where you see them every day. If you need more accountability them share them with your family/friends or post them on social media.

4. LOVE YOURSELF a little bit more – Social media can be a great tool but it also can be something that is extremely toxic when we are constantly scrolling and comparing ourselves to others. The only person you need to be better than is who you were yesterday. But remember progress is never linear. We are human, we have our setbacks but it’s important not to dwell and keep moving forward.⠀

By this time next week you’ll thank yourself if you can start to move yourself towards the right track.

Roasted (Air Fryer) Stuffed Poblano Peppers

Quick, easy, clean, and tasty! First time roasting peppers in my air fryer and it turned out great. You can cook more than one pepper in the air fryer at a time, the time might need to be adjusted.

Ingredients

1 poblano pepper

Meats2u Shredded Chicken

1/4 avocado

1/2 lime

Optional:

Salsa

Bolthouse Farms Cilantro avocado yogurt dressing

Instructions

1. Prepare crockpot Chicken ahead of time recipe here but don’t add sauce after cooking.

2. Cook pepper 400 degrees for 6 min, flip and cook another 6 min.

3. Peel off skin and cut slit down center from stem to bottom (don’t cut through both layers.)

4.Stuff with chicken and top with avocado slices and squeeze fresh lime on top. Add other fixings you see fit and enjoy!

Crockpot shredded chicken

This has easily become one of my favorite and quick ways to prep a good amount of chicken for my boyfriend and I especially since we are so busy with our hectic work schedules

It was nice to dust off my crockpot that I was not using at all anymore and it’s gotten to the point where we actually think we want to get a second one just to make even more!

This recipe can be used with basically any sauce that you like depending on what you were going to be adding your chicken to our use the shredded chicken on top of salads, tacos, rice, etc. Because it is extremely versatile and easy to eat cold if you are one of those people who are always on the go.

Ingredients:

• 6-8 Meats2u Chicken Breast
• https://meats2u.com/product-category/poultry/?aff=kelsey&coupon=VIPKELSEY
• 1 Carton organic low sodium chicken or vegetable broth
• Sauce of your choosing

Instructions:

1. Place defrosted chicken breast in crock pot. Add as much broth to fully cover chicken and a little bit more I usually use about 3/4 of a carton

2. Cook on high for about three hours or low for six just depending on how long you are going to be leaving your crockpot.

3. Once cooked, drain excess liquid and let it cool down. You can either use a hand mixer or two forks (pull forks in opposite direction)to shred the chicken.

4. Transfer to a large container add your favorite sauce, salsa, or leave unseasoned and add sauce later!

Mix well and store for up to about 3 days.

Chunky Meats2u Shrimp Burgers

Burgers:

• 1 pound @meats2u shrimp, shelled and deveined

https://meats2u.com/product-category/seafood/?aff=kelsey&coupon=VIPKELSEY

• 1 egg

• 1/4c chopped cilantro

• 2 tbs minced garlic

• 1/2 cup Panko

• 1/2 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped

• 1 large shallot, minced

• 1 tsp salt & pepper

• 1/2 cup red pepper, chopped small

Aioli

• 1 avocado,

• 1/2 c plain greek yogurt

• 1 tbs fresh lime juice

• 2 tbs minced garlic

• 1/2 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped

• 1/4c chopped cilantro

• 1 tsp salt & pepper

Instructions

Burgers

• Divide the shrimp in half. Coarsely chop one half and set aside. Put half in a food processor. And grind to a coarse puree. Add in egg, shallot, cilantro, jalapeño and garlic to processor. Process until smooth. Sprinkle mixture with breadcrumbs and process again. Transfer contents of food processor to a bowl & add coarsely chopped shrimp and red pepper. Season with salt and black. Mix well. Form burgers and chill for 1 hour (covered).

• Heat oil in a heavy skillet. Fry the shrimp burgers until golden, about 3 minutes per side, depending on thickness. Drain on paper towels.

Avocado Aioli

• Remove peel and seed of avocado and scoop into food processor.

• Add greek yogurt, lime juice, garlic cloves, jalapeno, cilantro, salt and pepper. Process until smooth.

• Place in a dish, cover and chill for an hour.

If you are feeling discouraged about “Getting back on track”..

It’s probably about that time where the “new year new me “ has lost its luster. I tried SO hard to stay on track through the Holidays, they are tough on everyone! Then I had to throw in the fact that I was sick for weeks back to back and in the middle of picking up my life and moving to a different city PLUS work was a lot of pressure on me.

My scale has been dead for WEEKS. I literally did not change the batteries in my scale because I was all messed up in my head about gaining weight and didn’t want to see the number. I thought if I got on the scale it was going to be 12lbs heaver, I’m not joking …. I finally got on last weekend and I was barley up 5lbs and was getting upset over NOTHING.

When you’ve been through tough relationships that make you self conscious about your weight, an eating disorder and then throw in the fact you are constantly scrolling on Instagram seeing all these “amazing bodies” your self image can be a mess. There are going to be times where you miss workouts or you mess up on your meals, you are human BUT don’t let it drag out and be the person that gets in your own way. This definitely has become a lifestyle for me and with that you need to see the big picture. Sure there are times that I’m getting ready for a photo shoot or some sort of event and I go a little bit more hard-core but overall I have come to terms that being a thyroid cancer survivor my life has to be lived a little bit differently with my nutrition.

I love how I look and feel when I TAKE CARE OF MY BODY. that’s how I see all the time in the gym & kitchen, me taking care of ME. Are you taking care of YOU?

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.

Summertime eats: Salmon Lemon Skewers

I have been on a barbecue kick ever since it’s been so warm outside here in California. I love to make all my meal prep for the week on the grill because it just has such amazing flavor and you can do so much variety easily. I also have been working on getting my patio back and ready for entertaining because it’s so fun to have people over and barbecue!

What you need:

1.5lbs salmon fillets, cut into 1-inch squares ( I used three of the Meats2U salmon fillet’s from their members pack
1 large lemons thinly sliced
16 (10-inch) bamboo skewers

Marinade brush 

Foil

Ingredients for Marinade:

2 Tbsp parsley, freshly chopped
2 large or 3 small garlic cloves chopped 

1/2 Tbsp Dijon mustard 

1/2 tsp salt

1/8 tsp ground black pepper

2 Tbsp light olive oil (not extra virgin, pick something with a higher smoke point)

2 Tbsp of fresh lemon juice from 1/2 large lemon 

Directions:

1. Stir together all the ingredients for the marinade in a small bowl. Set aside 

2. Take the cubed salmon and alternate between a thinly slice lemon and a piece of salmon onto the Skewers.

3. Set the Skewers on a piece of foil on a cooking sheet for easy cleanup and coat them with the marinade. It is much easier to use a marinade brush to coat the skewers but if you have to you can use a spoon to spoon the mixture on top. Coat both sides. 

4. Carefully place salmon skewers onto the hot BBQ. Grill kebobs for 3-4 minutes per side or until salmon is cooked through and opaque.

Next time: I will use to bamboo sticks to make it easier to turn them and also soak them in water at least 30 minutes prior to so that they don’t catch on fire! Other than that it was delicious! 

I am my own problem, but also my own solution

For the most part, I believe that you have a say in whether you keep going or fall down. Sometimes you really will fall down no matter what you do and that is okay. But, generally speaking you have a 100% freedom to choose to get back up or stay down. Sometimes it’s necessary to stay down, to recover and build yourself back up. But you can’t stay down forever. I go through challenges and I know I can’t stay down forever. And I’m not saying I’m falling right now, but there’s plenty of times it has happened. You never know what the future holds. But I’m gonna keep fighting matter what gets thrown my way. I have to, and so do you. I always tell you guys to take it one day at a time. You win some and lose some but no matter what don’t let a bad turn into a bad week and then months go by and then years later you still haven’t “gotten back up”. I have told you guys this before that I feel better now than I did before my cancer diagnosis. I am nobody special but I share my journey and hopes to inspire other people that you can overcome the adversity is in your lives. Maybe you need help standing back up? Reach out to those who are close to you. It’s not going to happen overnight but every step that you take in the right direction is a start.
For more posts and and updates checkout my Instagram

A surgery I elected to have

Today I will be undergoing a #breastaugmentation . I’ve been sitting here wondering how to post about today on my IG and blog and then I realized I just need to be real with you guys like I’ve always been. I decided to do this as an early Birthday present for myself. I am so thankful for when I am at with my health and after getting in shape this has been on my mind for a while! It’s crazy the day is already here! I’ve been very open and honest about it at the gym I work at and I’ve had such a positive experience! People are telling me that it’s nice to see me share that part of my journey because often people feel ashamed if they want to undergo a “boob job”. I spoke with all my doctors at the City Of Hope and they all cleared me and were happy for me actually! People ask me if I’m nervous but after undergoing so may surgeries and procedures for my health in the past, this one is the only one I’m excited about! I will keep you all update, and that you for the positive thoughts and vibes!! My road to recovery/fitness is going to be mentally challenging but another opportunity to grow and become stronger in other ways. I will be excited to share my journey back to my fitness level goals. 

Valentine’s Day: Treat yourself without the treats

Valentine’s Day definitely doesn’t have to be about chocolate and teddy bears! I have a couple ideas to share whether you are treating yourself or someone else to help get something that you will enjoy and help stay on track!

http://www.teamiblends.com/Teami_Alive

 CODE: FITVDAY This is for a FREE Tumbler on orders over $49. 

You guys know I am a huge fan of the detox tea from Teamiblends but I also love their other teas! If you find yourself feeling “dead”, with zero energy to get motivated in your day to day life (I know how we always reach for that cup off coffee to make it through the day).

The reason why I love Teami Alive is because it helps give your body the boost in nutrients and vitamins that it needs to heal itself, therefore ridding you of the “sluggish, dead feeling” that seems to consume your days. Teami Alive was developed with 3 main ingredients to directly target your bodily issues, and solve them! The unique and delicious combination of Ginger Honey – Lemon Grass – Green Tea can help with:

 * Eliminating Chronic Exhaustion 

* Boosting Metabolism 

* Heightened Focus & Concentration

* Increasing Energy Levels

* Relieving Muscle Pain & Inflammation

* Purifying the Colon

* Increasing Blood Circulation which Improves Skin Complexion

* Detoxing of the Kidney & Liver

* Decreasing Migraines

* Relieving Discomfort from Stomach Cramps

Enter the CODE: FITVDAY at checkout for a FREE Tumbler on orders over $49. Let me know what you guys think!