Dinner is Served!

I don't know about you but when I'm eating healthy I tend to feel hungry more often (probably because I'm not stuffing my face all day) ;) Well my husband started his weight loss journey with me this week and this was his biggest complaint coming in "I don't want to be hungry all the time", "I am never full after dinner" etc. Well let me tell you, he didn't have anything to say after dinner last night except for "Dinner was so good and I don't feel hungry, good job babe" LOL! 

Dinner consisted of chicken with mushroom sauce, cauliflower mashed potatoes, and a yummy salad! 

• CAULIFLOWER MASHED POTATOES
•                                             INGREDIENTS:
• ~ 1 large cauliflower, cut into small pieces 
• ~ 3 garlic cloves, chopped
• ~ 2 (14 ounce) cans low sodium chicken broth 
• ~ 2 tablespoons chives, chopped (or green onion)
• ~ 2 tablespoons fresh parsley (chopped)

DIRECTIONS:

1. 
   

   ~ Combine cauliflower, garlic and broth in a large saucepan. If the broth does not cover the cauliflower add water to cover.

   
   

   ~ Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium low and simmer until cauliflower is fork tender, about 15 minutes.

   
   

   ~ Drain cauliflower and garlic, reserving 2 tablespoons broth.

   
   

   ~ Hand mash, or if you'd rather transfer to a food processor and process 'til smooth, adding broth if necessary to moisten mixture.

   
   

   ~ Season with salt and pepper; add chives and parsley and stir. Serve while warm. 

CHICKEN WITH MUSHROOM SAUCE

INGREDIENTS: 

• ~ 4-6 boneless skinless chicken breasts 
• ~ 1/2 tsp salt
• ~ 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
• ~ 8 ozs mushrooms (presliced)
• ~ 1 onion (chopped)
• ~ 2 garlic cloves (minced)
• ~ 2 cans lower sodium chicken broth (fat-free)
• ~ 1 tsp fresh thyme (minced)
•                   

                                                      DIRECTIONS: 

1. ~ Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. 

1. ~ Sprinkle chicken with 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper. Add chicken to pan; 

1. ~ Add onion, mushrooms, and broth to pan, stirring occasionally until chicken is cooked. 

1. ~ Add garlic; sauté for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Sprinkle mushroom mixture with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt; cook 30 seconds.

1. ~ Remove pan from heat; add thyme and serve. 

I hope you enjoy this as much as my family and I did!! Feel free to SHARE the recipe :)! Also, if you haven't tried Marie's Yogurt Dressing, you are missing out!!! We love the ranch! 

Get more recipes and health and fitness motivation at www.facebook.com/SmashingPHITNESS

Grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken

www.fb.com/SmashingPHITNESS

Grilled Cilantro Lime Chicken - one of my families most favorite dishes!! Feel free to share :) 

Ingredients

• 2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts
• 2 Tbsp olive oil for the marinade plus more for grilling
• Grated zest from 2 limes
• Juice from 2 limes, about 1/4 cup
• 3 Tbsp chopped cilantro
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• Lime wedges, fresh sprigs of cilantro, and slices of avocado to serve

Directions 

1 Place the chicken breasts between two piece of plastic wrap or wax paper and pound to an even thickness with a meat mallet or rolling pin.
2 Mix the olive oil, lime zest, lime juice, cilantro, sugar, salt and pepper together in a large bowl. Add the chicken and massage the marinade into the chicken. Cover and chill for at least 30 minutes, and up to 4 hours or overnight.
3 Preheat the grill for medium high heat. Remove the chicken breasts from the refrigerator. Remove them from the marinade and pat them dry with paper towels. Coat the chicken breasts with some olive oil. Soak a paper towel in a little more oil and use tongs to wipe the grill grates. When the grill is hot, place the chicken breasts on the grill. Grill for a few minutes on each side, until cooked through and then enjoy!

Never Give Up

Never. Give. Up

To be an open book for a minute  I've thought about giving up, it's much easier, less stress, no pressure, I'll just live fat and happy right? WRONG! I was living large but totally not in charge. I was sooo depressed, hated looking in the mirror, never happy, always tired, always grouchy, hated picking out clothes to wear, hated summers (because I couldn't hide as well) and I wasn't a good health example for anyone 

I woke up one morning and prayed with everything in me (I knew I couldn't do this alone) for strength and guidance and then I made the MENTAL DECISION from that day on my life was going to change! And boy has it!

I've lost almost 40lbs and I'm getting ME back, the happy me that was stuck in the past and I lost the "I can't do it or I don't have time" excuse. I've inspired so many to start their journey and transform their lives, I've drawn closer to God and leaning on him like never before, I've gained a new family and support in my fellow coaches that I couldn't live without and my challengers inspire me to be better and work harder. I am producing an income that allows me to stay home with my girls and I'm soaking up every minute with them  I don't have to miss things with my husband because I'm working late nights at the hospital, I can be home and be the wife he deserves, I am simply BLESSED!

The best part about all of this, I'm not hogging it, I want to SHARE it!!! I want you all to wake up and see your potential and that YOU CAN DO IT TOO! Anything and everything you set your mind too and I promise to be there every step of the way to help you! If you would like more information on what to do next please comment below, email me at arhoden31@yahoo.com, like my page at www.facebook.com/SmashingPHITNESS or JOIN MY TEAM at www.teambeachbody.com/Smashley02 <3

Avocado Egg Salad

AVOCADO EGG SALAD

www.facebook.com/SmashingPHITESS 

ingredients:

2 hard boiled eggs, chopped
2 hard boiled egg whites, chopped
2 small avocados, pitted and peeled
1 tablespoon plain Greek yogurt (we use Chobani)
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons chopped green onion
1/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

directions:

1. In a medium bowl, combine the hard boiled eggs and egg whites, avocado, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, green onion, and mustard. Mash with a fork. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

Serving suggestions: Spread between two slices of bread for an Avocado Egg Salad Sandwich. Eat with crackers, cut up veggies, on toast, or in a wrap. This salad is best eaten the day it's made, ENJOY!

Turkey Taco Lettuce Wraps

My family and I LOVE mexican but trying to stick with the healthy, clean eating with mexican food can sometimes prove to be difficult. I came across these turkey taco lettuce wraps and they were a HIT with my husband and girls! YUMMY!! 

Turkey Taco Lettuce Wraps
Servings: 4 • Size: 2 lettuce wraps • Old Points: 6 pts • Points+: 6 pts
Calories: 255 • Fat: 11 g • Carb: 6 g • Fiber: 2 g • Protein: 30 g • Sugar: 2 g
Sodium: 849 mg • Cholesterol: 108 mg 

Ingredients:  

• 1.3 lbs 99% lean ground turkey
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp chili powder
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp oregano
• 1/2 small onion, minced
• 2 tbsp bell pepper, minced
• 3/4 cup water
• 4 oz can tomato sauce
• 8 large lettuce leaves from Iceberg lettuce
• (optional) 1/2 cup shredded reduced fat cheddar - (7 pp)

Directions: 
Brown turkey in a large skillet breaking it into smaller pieces as it cooks. When no longer pink add dry seasoning and mix well. Add the onion, pepper, water and tomato sauce and cover. Simmer on low for about 20 minutes.

Wash and dry the lettuce. Divide the meat equally between the 8 leaves and place in the center of each leaf and top with your favorite taco fixins! With the cheese, 2 wraps are 7 pp (toppings extra). ENJOY :)

PiYo LOVE

I have seriously fallen in L.O.V.E with my newest workout program PiYo! I love that it's low impact so it doesn't hurt my knee (slight previous injury) but is still high intensity so I sweat more than I have with ANY other program that I've done.

WHAT IS PiYo: Using your body weight, you'll perform low-impact, high-intensity movements inspired by Pilates and yoga. With PiYo, you'll work every single muscle to stabilize, stretch, and strengthen every inch of your body. And since Chalene Johnson cranked up the speed and the fun, you'll burn crazy calories while you're at it. It's perfect for ALL fitness levels!! 

I can't wait to start my PiYo accountability group on July 7th! If this sounds or looks like something that you or someone you know would want to do, we would LOVE to have you!!

You can go to www.teambeachbody.com/Smashley02 to create your FREE account :)

Do you drink energy drinks? If so, read this!

A few questions to get started... Do you drink energy drinks? If not, I bet you know AT LEAST one person that does. How about Shakeology, do you drink Shakeology or know someone that does? I bet your answers are very different for these two questions. I know for me personally, I see on a daily basis either someone buying an energy drink or supplement in the store or posting a picture of them online with the caption "what gets me through the day". Shakeology on the other hand, some people may have heard of it (most probably haven't) but I doubt you know many, if any, that drink it every day or even know what it is. Well we are going to go over some risks and benefits as well as cost for both and then you can be the judge! 

Energy drinks contain a higher percentage of caffeine as compared to other caffeine sources like tea and coffee. They even contain more caffeine than most other soft drinks. Heavy intake of caffeine is scientifically proven to be very harmful to the human body, leading to many short-term as well as long-term side effects. Some of the side effects of energy drinks secondary to caffeine are: Insomnia, high blood pressure, Osteoporosis, infertility, heart diseases, ulcers, irritability  nervousness, increased urination, irregular heartbeats or even "just" an upset stomach. 

For parents that allow their teens and adolescents to drink "liquid caffeine", you need to know that these could pose a serious  health risk! Kids who are most at risk are those who regularly consume energy drinks or gulp down a large amount in a short span of time. Children also might have trouble falling asleep or experience tremors, anxiety, agitation, heart palpitations, nausea or vomiting and even more serious, rapid heart rate or seizures. Now I don't know about you but I do not want to risk my children's health or anyone I know for that matter for something that might "give them energy". 
 

Now on the flip side of this is Shakeology. I hear all the time, I would love to try or drink Shakeology but I just can't afford it, it's too expensive, I don't know if it's safe, and the list goes ON and ON. Well did you know that Shakeology is a CLINICALLY PROVEN daily dose of dense nutrition? It contains more than 70 super foods, is low in sugar, is not genetically modified, and has NO artificial flavorings, fillers, dyes, etc. It also has more than five plates of veggies all in just one shake. Did I mention it also replaces your daily multi-vitamin, gives you energy (because it's correcting your vitamin deficiencies) and it also helps curve your junk food cravings! Now this sounds like something I would want for myself, my children, and anyone I know because it is doing good for my body and not harm!

I've also heard, well I'm already drinking a protein shake daily, to which my response is why, are you protein deficit? You don't need to drink a "protein" shake daily and Shakeology certainly is NOT a protein shake. However, it does have protein in it that comes from natural sources such as Chia, Quinoa, Flax, Amaranth, and Pea.   

As far as price goes, your normal energy drink can cost anywhere from $3.00-$6.00 per drink. So, you're actually paying to cause your body harm, ekkkk, that's scary to think about!!! OR you could pay $3.00-$4.00 for Shakeology a day and you're putting so many superfoods into your body, you feel better and look better too ;) 

I leave you with the two charts below and then you be the judge. Which would you prefer?! For me, I want to be around to see my children grow up, I want to be around to see my grandchildren and great grandchildren and keep my body as healthy as I can by preventing diseases and added health concerns.  

I couldn't believe the amount of sugar in each drink!!! 

Shakeology