Toasted Kale, Brussel, Potato, and Lemon Dijon Salad

This recipe was inspired by Autumn Calabrese's Fixate Cookbook. I've taken out the chicken, and added red potatoes and brussel spouts to accommodate my vegetarian diet.

Salad ingredients: (serves 2)

• 1 slice of Ezekiel Bread cut into cubes
• 1 tsp. Olive Oil
• 1 pinch sea or Himalayan salt
• Black pepper to taste
• 2 small red potatoes cut into desired size
• ground chili powder to taste
• 1 bunch of kale, torn into large pieces
• A hand full of brussel sprouts - sliced in half with stems cut
• Lemon juice

Lemon Dijon Salad Dressing: (serves 2 - 2 Tbsp. each)

• 1 cage free egg yolk
• 2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
• Sea or Himalayan salt to taste
• Ground black pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup EVOO
• 2 Tbsp lemon juice 

Mix together. 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 450.
2. Line baking sheet with aluminum foil.
3. Toss cubed bread, oil, salt, and pepper, and place on baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes or until croutons are toasted and crunchy.
4. Sprinkle red potatoes with chili powder.
5. Heat large nonstick skillet (you may want to use some olive oil) over medium heat, add seasoned potatoes and brussel sprouts face down, and cover. Once potatoes and brussel sprouts are soft, remove from heat and set aside
6. Add kale to skillet; cook over high heat for 4 minutes (or until crispy and lightly charred) turning once. Squirt lemon juice on top.  
7. Evenly divide kale into serving bowl; top with potatoes, brussel sprouts, and croutons.
8. Drizzle Lemon Dijon Salad Dressing on top

ENJOY!

Pumpkin Maple Muffins

I LOVE love love pumpkin anything! This is one of my fave recipes from the Fixate Cookbook. The cookbook also has 100 more recipes: breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, desserts, and Shakeology. You can use it with you 21 Day Fix portion control containers, too!
RECIPE
What you'll need:
~2 OZ cream cheese (I used neufchatel cheese)
~1 Tbsp. pure maple syrup (organic)
~1 large egg, slightly beaten
~1 cup pumpkin puree
~1.5 cups almond flour (you can make your own)
~3/4 tsp baking soda (gf)
~1 dash sea salt (or Himalayan salt)
I ADDED about 2 tsps of Pumpkin Pie Extract to this recipe!
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350. Prepare nine muffin cups and coat with coconut oil.
Combine cream cheese and maple syrup in a small bowl and set aside.
Combine egg, pumpkin, and extract in a medium bowl and set aside.
Combine almond flour, baking soda, and salt.
Add almond meal mixture to egg mixture; mix until just blended.
Spoon batter into each muffin cup a little less than 1/2 full.
Add a heaping tsp of cream cheese mix into center.
Evenly fill muffin cups with remaining batter.
You can sprinkle pumpkin seeds on top, but I SPRINKLED CINNAMON & PUMPKIN PIE SPICE.
Bake 16-18 min or until golden brown. Transfer muffins to rack; cool.

ENJOY! 

Energy & Endurance and Yoga Pants

Seriously I love love love this pre-workout. I don't get those awful "heart palpitations" and jitters...plus it's all natural, so you're not contradicting your workout and healthy lifestyle. Give your sweat sessions an extra push! Click here for your E&E. I recommend starting off with a 3/4 scoop and then working your way up. ENJOY! P.S. My yoga pants are from Fabletics! You pick me up when I am down. You motivate me. You help me push myself. You make me sweat. You taste like lemons. You aren't fake. I love you E&E.

Live the Life You've Always Dreamed of

APPLICATION: https://marcellaemily.wufoo.com/forms/marcella-emilys-coach-application/ I used to dread the "Monday Blues"...from all the unnecessary stress. But guess what? I don't have that anxious feeling anymore! I feel free. What the HECK does it mean to be a Beach body Coach? It's actually different for everyone-it's the same idea, though- helping others reach their health and fitness goals WHILE you reach yours. "LIFE SHOULDN'T BE HARD...just your workouts." ;) - Chalene Johnson I've always envied those who could do their own thing and live their own life and do what they want rather than feeling like they have to work a "typical" job. I want to inspire others to Sweat Their Heart Out, Fuel Their Body, Love Thier Soul. I want EVERYONE in this world be to happy and positive. Why wouldn't you?

Focused Energy BOOST!

I LOVE love love the Focused Energy Boost...It literally gives me non-jittery energy and focus. I always fine myself dilly dallying! So it's nice to have something to keep me on track. Plus it's all natural. I like to add a scoop of the boost to my Vegan Chocolate Shakeology with banana, PB, and non-fat Greek Yo. So yummy. Click here for the Shakeology, and here for the Focused Energy Boost. XO

Pumpkins Bananas Chocolates OH MY!

This is my crazy healthy alternative to "Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte"...don't get me wrong I love my occasional Starbucks, but I much prefer 70 superfoods vs. some of the drinks with artificial flavoring and color. I even added non-fat Greek yo for some extra protein and a banana! RECIPE: ~1 scoop Vegan Chocolate ShakeO ~1/2 cup non-fat Greek yogurt ~1/3 pumpkin ~1 small banana or 1/2 large ~a dash of pumpkin pie spice or pure pumpkin extract.

PiYo

PiYo is on PROMO this month! Plus, you get a free shirt once you have completed the challenge. What is PiYo? It's a sped up hybrid of Pilates and Yoga. You use powerful strength moves while flowing and stretching. There are NO WEIGHTS, NO JUMPS. YOU USE YOUR BODY TO SCULPT YOUR BODY! If you are a runner, PiYo is the PERFECT fitness program to incorporate with your training.
Challenge your body with the PiYo Fitness Program, or get your full Challenge Pack that includes Shakeology, PiYo fitness program, and 30 days of streaming additional workouts on On Demand. Results: I feel leaner, more flexible, more energetic.

What is a Challenge Group? I host monthly Challenge Groups! We all become a little "fit fam". It's 30 days of fitness, motivation, accountability, support, clean eating recipes, and tips.
What is Shakeology? Shakeology has over 70 superfoods. It’s your daily dose of dense nutrition, gives you energy, boosts results, curbs your sweet tooth, keeps you full, aids in healthy weight loss, keeps you regular, and I have even noticed healthier hair, skin, and nails! There are different flavors and tons of yummy recipes. One of my favorites is Vegan Chocolate PB! Take a look at what the doctors have to say about it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dg1AaAbQ3J4

Honey Cinnamon Baked Peaches

On our way back from Mt. Rainier, we picked up a basked of fresh-picked peaches! We ate most of them whole, but I took the rest of them and created this little recipe. It's CLEAN and HEALTHY and tastes like dessert! This recipe is pretty much all "to taste", so have fun with it! Pre-heat oven to 450 degrees. Dish Recipe: Quarter peaches and place into a ceramic dish. (I used two 3x5 ceramic dishes with 3 peaches in each one) Drizzle pure honey on top Sprinkle cinnamon on top Throw in a pinch of old-fashioned oats Add unsalted almonds. (I cut up about 5 for each serving) Cover with tin foil and bake for about 25 min. Topping: Mix in two dollops of plain non-fat Greek yogurt 3 packets of Stevia Cinnamon Enjoy!

Dill Weed and Rainbows

When you eat clean, you crave it! I could live off this colorful mix of vegetables. Fresh broccoli; cucumber; tomatoes; red onion; green pepper; dill weed; olive oil; red wine vinegar ENJOY!

My Motto

This is my motto. Sweat Your Heart Out; Fuel Your Body; Love Your Sould. ~Sweat your heart out- Give it ALL you have during your workouts. Sweat everyday. Take that chance to better yourself! "You are worth the effort." ~Fuel your body- Eat clean and treat your body right! When you fuel your body, you'll get the most out of it. "Your body is the only place you have to live in." ~Love your soul- Don't ever compare yourself to anyone. Be happy with who you are...if you're not, then change for the better! Be happy. Be mindful. Be inspirational. "Be yourself; everyone else is taken."

Loaded Up Oatmeal

My Go-To Breakfast! Breakfast is literally breaking your fast...eating a healthy breakfast is going to fuel your body for the day and actually aid in weight loss, and maintaining, a healthy weight by speeding up your metabolism. Enjoy! 1/2 C Old Fashioned or Steel Cut Oatmeal (not the packets loaded with sugar) 2 TBS ground flax seeds 1 TBS PB2 A handful of unsalted almonds or mixed nuts A heavy-handed sprinkle of cinnamon I like to have this with a piece of fruit, 16oz of water, and hot herbal tea.

YAY! Coach Applications welcome. "Put me in, Coach."

~YAY!!! I am super excited to announce that I am now accepting Coach applications! I would love love love to have you on my team. I am welcoming 10 people into my Beachbody family! I will give you: training, proven tips, and 1:1 mentoring. ~ENDORPHINS: The happy fitness drug that causes you to become addicted; making you a junkie... A FITNESS JUNKIE. Let's make the world a happier place by inspiring and motivating others to live a healthy lifestyle! ~My hobby has now turned into a working passion. Although, it doesn't feel like work! I wake up everyday excited to be able to: help others from home, make my own schedule, learn more and more about health and fitness, meet like-minded individuals, go on "business meetings" aka vacation, earn an extra income, stay on track with my health and fitness goals, use and share the "healthy lifestyle necessity" products...and this is just the beginning.

FREE 14 Day AB Challenge Group starting May 1st

I am hosting a FREE 14 day ab challenge starting May 1st. When we turn our wishes into actions they become our goals. Although sometimes we find ourselves falling off track because we don't have that motivation or accountability! That's why I need you to help keep me on track to get to one of my goals: defined abs. We need each other for support! Who is with me?! Create a free Team Beachbody profile here so that I can be your Coach!

Yesterday I decided to switch up my regular routine and do a 40 minute Insanity PLYO workout for cross-training. I woke up this morning feeling sore! I haven't been sore in a while...not even after running for over 2 hours. Your results come from continuously challenging yourself and pushing THROUGH your limits. So, when you feel like stopping, do one more! Don't ever get complacent. If you get bored doing your same workout routine, get ON DEMAND to stream tons of workouts!!!

Staying healthy and fit on-the-go!

Summertime is approaching! It's the most popular season for travel or vacations and being extra busy! How are you supposed to stay on track with your health and fitness progress? Here are some quick ideas for snacks on-the-go, or your "fast food." Here is a list of what I brought with me when I was on my last road trip/vacation with my husband: Shakeology (of course), PB2 (powdered PB with 85% less cals) for my Shakeo, sprouted whole grain pretzel puffs, kale chips (you can even make your own!), freeze-dried strawberries, mixed nuts, almonds, dark chocolate covered cranberries (for my sweet tooth), Old fashioned oatmeal, and KIND, Quest, or Laura bars. I also brought my E&E (Energy and Endurance) to help me power through my workouts! (It's an all natural pre-workout!) A few times we had to drive-thru for food...I either got a salad, or I would get a Protein Bistro Box or Classic Oatmeal without the brown sugar from Starbucks! (Of course I also had to get my tall un-sweetened green-tea latte with non-fat milk...I love Starbucks and I swear they put something in there to make it addicting.) Another time, we went to Wal-Mart and my husband suggested a fruit and veggie tray to share for the road! Genius! (See, your good habits will eventually rub off on others, so don't be discouraged by weird looks or comments you get when you break out your healthy foods.) ***As far as staying on track with your fitness: If you are staying at a hotel, make sure it has a gym inside you can use! If you are staying with family, you can go for runs or walks, or clear a space in a corner in the room and do some exercises. (I was literally doing ten min. abs on the bathroom floor at my Aunts.) Another GENIUS idea is BEACHBODY ON DEMAND. All you need is your tablet or laptop, a little moving room, and you're good to go! You can stream from 11 full workouts and 8 sneak peeks. I hope this has inspired you to stay dedicated and make health and fitness a part of your lifestyle.

Sometimes Mondays (or any day) can be hard to find that motivation to get your daily sweat done. When that happens to me, I find something to look forward to! Today it was my spiced chai tea. What is pushing you to reach your goals today?! "Never miss a Monday." ***My RECIPE: 1 TBS non-fat milk; Honey or Stevia drops; Steeped spiced chai tea (with no additives); Cinnamon to taste. ENJOY! Hey, if you went off your clean eating or fitness goals this past weekend, it's OK! We are human.(Just don't make it a weekend habit!) Did you know Mondays are a great way to have a fresh start?!

Tofu and Quinoa Stuffed Green Peppers

Tofu and Quinoa Stuffed Green Peppers I love these! I tweaked an old recipe to satisfy my taste buds and make it a clean recipe. ENJOY! Servings: 4 large green peppers **Ingredients: 4 green peppers 1 yellow squash 1/2 white onion Quinoa or BROWN rice 7 OZ extra firm tofu Low-moisture mozzarella cheese A tiny bit of olive oil Pepper to taste **Prepare: Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees Wash vegetables Chop squash, onions, and tofu to desired size Cut the tops off of the green peppers and discard the insides (chop the tops into pieces for the mix) Tip: cut the uneven bottoms of the green peppers to stand evenly **Time to cook! Sautee chopped veggies and tofu in a tiny bit of olive oil until browned (or however you like it) Make 2 servings of quinoa or brown rice by following the directions on package Combine the sautéed mixture into the chosen carb and add optional pepper Take mix and STUFF into each green pepper (I like to use a flexible spatula) Top with some low-moisture mozzarella cheese Place in the oven for 30 min and VOILA! ***Did you know... you need lean protein and complex carbs at every meal? tofu is high in protein? quinoa is a superfood?!

Motivation Monday

Here are a few of my favorite quotes that I find myself quoting when I need a little more motivation. Every Challenger gets an incentive (whatever it may be that month) and a picture of these quotes for them to hang somewhere that they can see daily for an extra little pick-me-up!

Yours Truly

Hello! My name is Marcella, but you can call me Marcie or Marc. I am an online health and fitness coach, which has turned into my passion, and I'm certified in PiYo! I also have an online Chloe and Isabel boutique. I am married to a wonderful man (and literally my BFF), Jaime, who serves in the U.S. Army. I, too, was in the Army as a Veterinarian Technician, and left after my term was up to go to college to become a Kindergarten teacher! I have no children of my own, but I do have a step-son, Blake. I LOVE (and sometimes hate) running. I find it clears my head and is a time for ME. Plus, the after-run high is fantastic. I love animals...especially horses and elephants. I would rather be outdoors than inside, I'm a vegetarian, my favorite color depends on my mood. I wanted to create this blog to share with you my health and fitness journey and to hopefully provide support and motivation for you to not give up, and not be a quitter, no matter how bad you wanna just fall flat on your face and collapse. (Yes, I just quoted Eminem ‘Till I Collapse. That song is great motivation just FYI) I love helping people and making them feel happy, healthy, and CONFIDENT! My motto is "sweat you hear out" (meaning give EVERYTHING you have and be in the moment during your workouts) "fuel you body" (eating CLEAN isn't a diet...it's a lifestyle, and you need to treat your body right for it to function properly) and "love your soul" (don't ever compare yourself to ANYONE. You are your OWN person. Love who you are and treat yourself right. You are unique :) ) A little health and fitness background: Whether I was playing sports, taking classes at my local gym, or participating in all sorts of running events, I have always been an active person. Between that and my previous military career, I was always engaging in some type of physical activity. However, throughout these times I would find myself “slacking”, or taking breaks from exercising and eating healthy for weeks or even months at a time. I was so tired of having to literally start over in reaching whatever goals I had. That is when I decided to join Beachbody. Between the CHALLENGE GROUPS, the fitness programs and Shakeology, and all of my Beachbody family, I have the support I need to keep me motivated and on track because I surround myself with likeminded individuals. Since August 2014, I haven't had to start over! My daily sweat is a part of my day and eating clean is second nature... (of course I do totally enjoy my cheat meals! Oh how I love ice cream and pizza.) My first love was PiYo, which is absolutely AMAZING. Chalene Johnson is my idol! I drink Shakeology daily (the healthiest meal of the day with over 70 superfoods) and I also use E&E (energy and endurance-an all natural pre-workout.) My favorite Shakeo recipe is a toss up between very berry and choco banana pb. I have completed PiYo, 21 Day Fix, 21 Day Fix Extreme, and a couple rounds of the 3-Day Refresh. I am currently training for a full marathon! My next challenge will be Insanity Max 30 which I will be doing with my husband... There are so many “complete solutions” to fit your life style and your goals. I'm here for YOU!