Week 3 & 4 Round Up of Exercise Challenges!

Hey guys! I didn't get a chance to post last week's workout challenge so I put week 3 and 4 together. Check out some of the exercises that really kicked my butt and try them out if you get a chance. :-)

Vegan BBQ Part 2!

Hey guys! I hope everyone had a great week. Today, I enjoyed my Saturday by attending another vegan barbecue hosted by Figueroa Produce. If you checked out my video from last year then you know how much I enjoyed the food and this year the cuisine was equally delicious. Plant Food for People were there again with their scrumptious jack fruit tacos. This time Figueroa Produce added a vegan gyro. It reminded me more of a burrito than a gyro but I didn't care because it was yummy, spicy, and delicious. Me, my hubby, and our friend decided to grab a few things and share them. Check out what we got!

Vegan Crab Cake.

Match Meat Vegan "Cheese Burger"

Vegan Gyro.

Jack fruit Tacos

Healthy Pizza Recipe!

Hey guys! I posted a pic of this awesome recipe for healthy pizza on my facebook page a few days ago. I got the recipe from bodyrock.tv and decided to make a video of exactly how to make this delicious meal. Check it out!

My Last Week of My 30 day Bodyrock Challenge!

Wow! It's really hard to keep up with your blog, facebook page, twitter page, and youtube vlog...and the rest of your life.lol I just looked at the date of my last post and shook my head. I have to keep on track with my post. Not just for the sake of posting but because I love to write and this is where it all started with my vegan journey. So, anyway I've been really rocking this month's challenge from Tone It Up & Bodyrock. The workouts have been amazing and I'm feeling stronger everyday. There have been some slip ups with the food, but I try not to beat myself up about it. I love eating healthy and fueling my body but sometimes I do just want to indulge a little. So, if I do slip up, I just know that I have to work harder the next day to make up for it. I'm wondering how the rest of you guys deal with the slip ups. Morning workout was Tone It Up's "Beach Babe Workout."

This morning for breakfast (Meal 1) I had the Tone It Up Quinoa Cereal.

Here's the link to recipe: http://toneitup.com/blog.php?We-LOVE-Food-Friday-Home-made-Maple-Quinoa-Cereal-From-EyeItTryIt-5149. I love this stuff! :-)


For Meal 2 I had some kale chips and home made trail mix with: almonds, cashews, pumpkin seeds, and unsweetened dried cranberries. Very happy to be able to use my dehydrator again. This time I used it for the cranberries.

For Meal 3 I had I burrito with black & kidney beans, brown rice, avocado, tomatoes, and lime juice. I had a salad on the side.

This meal was delicious and I was nice and full. I love brown rice and beans. They go together with almost everything...almost. ;-) Afternoon workout was Bodyrock's "Rock Star Booty Workout."

For my Meal 4 I thought I would celebrate Peanut Butter Day with a Tone It Up peanut butter protein shake. I didn't know there was such a holiday as Peanut Butter Day, but apparently there is. Whatever, peanut butter is delicious so I'll celebrate it any time they want me to.

For dinner I had a scrumptious quinoa bowl. I had some leftover quinoa and beans and layered them with some onions & peppers my hubby sauteed, some lettuce, and fresh guacamole. Yum!

I hope everyone had a great day today. Keep up with your workouts and eat the best food to fuel your body. :-)

Grocery Haul!

Hey guys! Check out the goodies I picked up from the grocery store. :-)

Week 3 of Tone It Up & Bodyrock Challenge Check In!

Hey guys! Hope everyone had a great weekend. If you checked my previous post about my birthday then you know I had an excellent weekend! :-) Now it's time to get back to work! It's week 3 of my challenges and I'm pumped for this week's exercises. Okay, so this mornings booty call was boot camp. I did the low impact version of this boot camp. For breakfast I had a tofu scramble with half a grapefruit and a slice of Ezekiel toast. I had class this morning so I brought snacks with me. For my meal 2 I had a mix of almonds, sunflower seeds, and pecans along with some orange slices. For meal 3 I had a whole wheat wrap with a tone it up black bean patty (black beans, onions, and ground flax seed), daiya cheese, spinach, and tomatoes...on the side I had a tomato and spinach salad. 

My afternoon workout was Bodyrock.tv's 600 reps challenge. For meal 4 I had the Tone It Up peanut butter protein shake. For dinner I had a black bean patty, diced tomatoes with garlic, broccoli, and cauliflower on top of quinoa.

Very delicious meal! Hope everyone got their workouts in and ate some very healthy and delicious meals. :-)

Birthday Dinner & Weekly Roundup of Workouts 2!

Hey guys! I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend...I know I did. Saturday was my birthday! :-) I had such a good day and it was so much better than last year (especially since I was sick last year). I started my day with a nice walk with the hubby and then went for some coffee. I got a free drink from Starbucks, so what better day to use it than on your actual birthday? :-)

It was nice to relax and chill at home with the hubby for the day. Then it was off to dinner at Masa of Echo Park! Masa is known for their Chicago style deep dish pizza. I have been dying to go there for months now and was so excited to finally get the chance. It was packed so we had to wait a little while but it was definitely worth the wait. The food was scrumptious and I was stuffed to the brim before it was time to leave. Vegan deep dish...oh yeah, I'll definitely be back. But, I'll have to wait a while cuz it's definitely not the healthiest cuisine. Loved it though! Check out some pics:

Vegan deep dish with teese cheese, tomato sauce, sun dried tomatoes, and spinach. 

One of the chef's brought this out to spice up the pizza. It was very yummy. 

A very delicious meal! And a very wonderful birthday...had such a blast! :-) Oh, and here is another weekly round up of some of the workouts I've done this week. Have you guys been keeping up with your workouts?



I know you're probably thinking "but you just totally stuffed your face full of deep dish pizza this weekend," which is true but I'm not going to let that deter me from my goals. I know I will have a few slip ups every now and then (especially if it's my birthday lol), but I'm not going to stop training hard and doing my very best to get in the best shape of my life. Stay focused everyone! :-)

Tempeh Pad Thai & Hard workouts for today.

Hey guys! Yesterday was pretty hard. I got my morning booty call in but after eating some breakfast I felt really sick. I'm thinking it was probably the oatmeal & peanut butter I ate. Maybe it just didn't sit right in my stomach or something...all I know is I was done for the day. I wasn't sure how today would go, but this morning when I woke up, after my quiet time, I felt good as new. I had a tofu scramble with a piece of Ezekiel toast, and a few orange slices.

I went to the gym and started the new Shredmill workout from Tone It Up..."oh my gosh," I felt like I was dying and I was so grateful that Zumba started because I needed a little break.lol After Zumba I came back and finished the Shredmill, luckily I didn't have much left to do. When I got home I made a Tone It Up peanut butter protein shake. I had a grapefruit and a few almonds for a snack after running some errands. For lunch I had a salad with some leftover miso soup. For my afternoon workout I did Bodyrock (I know my arms are going to be sore tomorrow lol). For dinner tonight I made some Tempeh Pad Thai with brown rice pad thai noodles. Yum! Feeling good guys and I hope you are feeling strong and healthy as well! :-)

This is packed with protein and a scrumptious veggies! The ingredients include brown rice pad thai noodles, tempeh (I steam mine first for a few minutes), broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, celery, and topped with green onions. For my sauce I used organic tamari, pure maple syrup, rice vinegar, pepper, garlic powder, and red chili flakes. I put some olive oil in my wok and added my veggies. After stirring the veggies for a few minutes I added the tempeh (which soaked in the sauce while I chopped the veggies) and the sauce into the wok. I let everything cook, stirring occasionally, until the veggies were soft and then I dumped in the noodles and mixed until they were fully coated. I turned off my burner and added my green onions on top. So good! I love making extra so I can munch on this for lunch tomorrow. :-)

Leftover Couscous & Miso Soup

Hey guys! I hope everyone is doing well and that you all had a great weekend! I started my week off right with a yoga morning booty call. Breakfast was rushed because I didn't want to be late for my class so I grabbed a home made protein bar. I had a long class this morning so I didn't have much time for lunch until I got home. I snacked on almonds and the Tone It Up's krazy koconut bites throughout my class and on the way home. When I actually got home I had a small salad with spinach, tomatoes, and cucumbers. I made my own dressing, which I tend to do a lot. For me, it's just easier to make my own dressing and also cheaper. I just throw a few of my favorite ingredients together: some apple cider vinegar, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, pepper, and sometimes a little soy sauce. Try making your own some time! For my workout I did Bodyrock.tv 400 reps and the rest of my Tone It Up lean leg pyramid challenge. I gobbled up a protein shake before making dinner. Here is tonight's quick dinner recipe:

Leftover Couscous & Veggies

Leftover plain couscous
Handful of Spinach
Half of a  Zucchini (Chopped)
1 Carrot (Chopped)
Some Organic Salsa (To taste)
Handful of Snap Peas

Saute your veggies until almost done. Add your organic salsa and mix in well with the veggies. You're going to add your couscous last since it's already cooked. Just make sure all of your ingredients are mixed in well and your couscous is warm and ready to eat. Season with pepper and top with some fresh parsley. Enjoy! 

I had some miso soup on the side. This recipe is super easy as well. I made extra so I would have some for lunch tomorrow, so you can make a smaller batch if you want.



Miso Soup

Silken Tofu (A few squares)
2 Stalks of Green Onion
A few pinches of wakame
3 cups of Water
About 2-3 tablespoons of Mellow White Miso

Heat your water in a pot on medium and add your wakame. After a few minutes you will see the wakame change into a softer texture. Add your green onion and tofu and let simmer for about 5 minutes. Take your miso and place in a bowl. Add some of your broth to the bowl and mix until it dissolves. Once the miso dissolves add it to your pot and stir. Continue to let your soup simmer just a few more minutes. Make sure you don't boil the miso. Serve!

Week 1 Round Up of Exercise Challenges!

Hey guys! Check out my video where I show you a 1 week worth of some of the exercise I do.




Oh! Here's another yummy recipe for you to check out:

Asian Style Tempeh with Brown Rice Noodles

Ingredients

-Tempeh (I used less than half a block)
-2 Tablespoons Soy Sauce
-2 Tablespoons Rice Vinegar
-1 Tablespoon Pure Maple Syrup
-Brown Rice Noodles (I used enough for one serving)
-Broccoli (About a handful)
-1 green onion
-Handful of snap peas

Take your block of tempeh and slice into thin strips. Place in a steamer for about 10 minutes and then place in a bowl where you'll add your soy sauce, rive vinegar, and maple syrup. Make sure your tempeh is fully coated and set it in the fridge to marinate. Follow the directions on the package for your noodles and set them aside once they are finished. Prepare your veggies by setting your burner to medium and adding a little water, rice vinegar, and soy sauce to your pan. Add your veggies and continue to stir. When your veggies are almost done add your tempeh and continue mixing everything until done. Take your tempeh and veggies and place them on top of your noodles. Season to taste.

Warm Brown Rice Salad Recipe & Tone It Up Check In

Hey everyone! Today for my booty call I did The Biggest Loser: Weight Loss Yoga. I had a tofu scramble and some potatoes for breakfast.

For my workout I did the Bodyrock workout from yesterday: http://www.bodyrock.tv/2012/01/04/day-3-of-the-30-day-challenge-international-love-workout/. After my sweaty workout I had my usual Peanut Butter Protein Shake. For a snack I had a home made protein bar with half a grapefruit. Here's my lunch and new quick recipe for you guys.

Warm Brown Rice Salad

Brown Rice
Black Beans
1 Avocado
1 Medium Tomato
1/2 Medium Red Onion
1/2 Cup Green Onion
2 Limes
2 Lemons
Handful of fresh parsley (optional)
Handful of fresh cilantro (optional)
Herbamare or Salt (optional)
Pepper (optional)

I chopped my veggies, threw them into a bowl, and squeezed some fresh lime and lemon on top of them. I sprinkled some herbamare and black pepper on top, stirred it until the veggies were mixed well with the lime & lemon, and popped it in the fridge for an hour. You can let this overnight or prepare right before lunch or dinner. I used leftover brown rice and black beans to add in. I heated them up 10 minutes before taking out the veggies. When everything was done I mixed them together and chowed down! :-)

Quick Brown Rice Pasta & Tone It Up Check In!

Hey guys! Check out my video for my Tone It Up Check In. I also have a quick recipe on there for you of some yummy brown rice pasta.




Quick Brown Rice Pasta

Here are the ingredients that I used:

Organic Brown Rice Pasta (I used the Trader Joe's Brand)
A can of Organic Diced Tomatoes
Shiitake Mushrooms (Use whatever mushrooms you like)
Some greens (I used kale & spinach)
2 cloves of garlic
Herbamare (or a little salt)
Pepper

Cook your pasta until done. Saute your garlic in a little olive oil until a little golden then add your mushrooms and mix until they get soft. Add in your greens and stir until they wilt a little then add your diced tomatoes. Mix in your tomatoes well, add your seasonings, cover, and let simmer until ready. Yum!

Check out what I had for breakfast.

Half a grapefruit & a home made protein bar. Recipe from Bodyrock.tv

Day 2 of Tone It Up & Bodyrock Challenge! Spirulina in my juice!

Hey everyone! This is day 2 of my workout challenges and I feel great! I find myself more and more excited to wake up and find new ways to push myself physically and mentally. Because we all know that getting into shape starts with mentally forcing yourself to get your body up and moving. This morning for my Tone It Up Booty Call I did the stairs challenge. Running up and down stairs is definitely a good way to get your heart rate up and get that metabolism going.


For breakfast I made a tofu scramble with a slice of Ezekiel bread on the side.

Tofu scramble with red peppers, green & red onions, tomatoes, spinach,  and  some avocado on top. I also sprinkled in  some nutritional yeast. A slice of Ezekiel bread to accompany. 

For my snack I had some soaked raw almonds, kale chips, and green juice. I had to eat the almonds on the run because I had some errands. I ate the kale chips and made the green juice when I got home.

Green juice with spinach, apples, spirulina, cranberries, and squeezed orange juice.

I was going to do my workout around this time but Bodyrock was having some loading issues with youtube so I just decided For lunch I had some leftover curry with chickpeas, veggies, and couscous.

Okay, so after lunch they finally put up the workout for Bodyrock. Here is the link: http://www.bodyrock.tv/2012/01/03/day-2-of-our-30-day-challenge-good-feeling-workout/. OMG! This thing was brutal. I was drenched and exhausted by the time this was done. But, I'm so glad I made it through and finished it. After my workout I had my usual favorite, the Tone It Up Peanut Butter Protein Shake. Yes, I have a picture this time...but I gobbled half of it up before I realized that I needed to take a picture...sorry.lol 

Peanut Butter, Almond Milk, Organic Hemp Protein(Vanilla),  Frozen Banana, Ground Flax seed, and I added a scoop of Almond Butter. 

Dinner was yummity yum yum! Sushi night! One of my favorite things to eat is sushi. If you've checked out my post on Shojin, then you know how delicious vegan sushi can be, but sometimes you can't make out for some fine dining and you just have to make the sushi yourself. Well, I did all the chopping of the veggies & "meat" and my hubby does the sushi rollin. I used a gardein "chick'n" scallopin breast and seasoned it with some organic soy sauce & rice vinegar. 

Sushi with brown rice, carrots, cucumbers, avocado, and gardein chick'n.

Alright everyone, this is the conclusion to my day. I hope you all have a goodnight and make sure to get your workout in tomorrow! :-)

Tone It Up Check In & What I ate today

Hey guys! Today was the first day of the Tone It Up & Bodyrock challenge. Here are links to the two workouts that I did today:
http://www.bodyrock.tv/2012/01/02/day-1-of-our-30-day-challenge-fit-test/#comments

http://www.bodyrock.tv/2011/06/04/l-a-hard-body-workout/

For breakfast I made some apple cinnamon oatmeal.



After my workouts I had the Tone It Up Peanut Butter Protein Shake.

For lunch  I had leftover potatoes, chard, mushrooms, green onions, and I added some spinach.

For dinner I had a whole wheat tortilla with brown rice, black beans, sauteed spinach, tomatoes, red onions, cilantro, avocado, and organic salsa. 

Vegan Mozzarella Sticks!

I can't remember the last time I had mozzarella sticks before I became vegan. They were always something I enjoyed but they weren't my absolute favorite snack. But, once you give something up, you start to notice it more...all of the sudden there's tons of commercials for it, or you start to see more and more people with it. It's like you can't escape it!lol Well, once I read online that a vegan restaurant was going to stop serving vegan mozzarella sticks, before I even had the chance to try them, I knew I wanted some. So, imagine my glee when I found out that I could just make them at home. I found a recipe on youtube using Teese cheese and bread crumbs.

Okay, they're not the best looking mozzarella sticks (I'm still working on my technique).lol But, they were absolutely delicious. I wasn't sure how I would like the teese cheese because I'm so hooked on daiya but it was very good and tasted very much like the real thing. I love vegan food! :-)

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year Everyone! I'm so excited for what this year is going to bring and I can't wait to embark on even more delicious vegan adventures! Have a blessed year all of you! :-)