Sweet Potato & Roasted Red Pepper Bisque

I got this recipe on while doing The Ultimate Reset. Let me tell YOU! .. It's as amazing as it sounds. This meal can be great for a week night dinner with roasted veggies or you can steam them. Use the leftovers to have for lunch with a Salad. This would even be a great meal to batch cook and use all week long for lunches if you are a person that is on the go. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I did and still DO! I plan on keeping this in the weekly rotation of meals. ENJOY!

This recipe is good for ONE person - so double up or triple ...

1 sweet potato
1/4 red bell pepper
1 cup vegetable broth or water
1 tsp. finely grated peeled ginger root - you can omit this if you want. I used crushed ginger.
1 1/2 tsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp miso paste, diluted in 1tsp hot water
Seasonings to taste
Sea Salt, Liquid amino acids ( can be found at the health food store - similar to soy sauce), pepper, or I used Ms Dash Onion and Herb Seasoning. It's salt free. LOVE those seasonings.

Peel and cube sweet potatoes, Cook in boiling water until tender. Drain and set aside. Meanwhile, roast whole red bell pepper on gas stovetop or grill, turning frequently until evenly charred on the outside OR in your oven at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes, turning every 10 minutes or until skin is charred.

Put pepper in bowl and cover with towel for 10 minutes to steam. Clean off skin and seeds by running under cool water. Remove seeds by running under cool water. Remove seeds, cut in quarters, and chop one quarter into 1/2-inch cubes. (set remainder of pepper aside for another use)

Place sweet potato, pepper, broth or water, ginger, oil, and miso in blender. (If you want chunky Soup, set aside some chunks of pepper.) Blend throughly, adding more liquid to achieve desired soup consistency. Transfer to a pot and gently heat on low until hot. Add amines,salt,pepper, and seasoning desired. SERVES 1

Day 16 & 17 The Ultimate Reset

Sunday Day 16 -

We were suppose to head off to church this morning but we had so much stuff that needed to be done to our house. We have been swamped and once we get settled in we will be back in church but for now we have a TON to do and my husband only gets so many days off. He let me sleep in late and it felt great. He put up our fence in the back yard while I got some work done on the computer and tended to my coaching duties. The whole day consisted of me working and him putting up our fence.

Morning was fruit - the usual and I love waking up to it. The pineapple here is so amazing and i've been having some of that every morning along with grapes, and a green apple. SO GOOD!


After Breakfast I got to work on my computer and tended to business. I l don't get to have peace and quiet very often to work so this felt great to lay in bed and just focus.

Lunch was my typical micro green salad, chopped carrots, radish sprouts, and my favorite creamy garlic dressing. I just LOVE this salad and I top it with some sliced cashews and pine nuts.

Honestly, these last few days I've felt great energy wise!! I've never felt better and can honestly live on less sleep because when i do sleep, I'm out!!! I love it! I have amazing dreams and sleep so great. I am having all kinds of cravings though and just want something sweet. I think once I can have more normal shakeology with my almond milk, banana, and pb2 i'll be good. I MISS IT SO MUCH!!

Dinner was AHHH MAZING! .. I mean AHH MAZING! I will totally be eating this on a regular basis.

Dinner was a baked sweet potato with garlic veggies. I did post the recipe and you can get it here.

Garlic Stir Fry Veggies


The sweet potato tasted like CANDY and smelled like cookies while baking. It was great!! I highly recommend it.

Monday Day 17 - It's back to work for my husband and back to reality for me after a wonderful weekend.

My day went like this ... Woke up with my girls, changed my little ones diaper, took my girls down stairs to get them ready to have breakfast. I cut my girls up some fruit and made them whole grain waffles with blue berries. Right before getting their foods ready I took my supplements and got my fruit cut up. We all sat down together and had breakfast. I love my mornings with my girls and i'm so grateful that I get to be with them every morning!! Life is good!

After Breakfast we get dressed and then either go outside to play or watch cartoons. It varies everyday! I love playing with them and hearing their little laughs and giggles. My girls are why I choose to live a healthy life and be an example to them.

Lunch was different today. I made the Asian cabbage salad. I'm not normally a cabbage person but I decided that I was going to be open to trying new things.

I think that I would have liked it if i would have put less dressing. It was good but different and not one of my favorites. I tend to stick to things that I know I like and I don't think i'll repeat this meal and if I do ... it will be with LESS dressing!

My husband came home from work and I popped a lasagna in the oven for my family and helped him put together the table chairs that the moves decided to take apart. NOT FUN! No idea why they did this .. it was so much work. The girls enjoyed helping though and it was a family event.

I popped a sweet potato in the oven for me and made my garlic veggie stir-fry. I just can't get enough of this mean and I KNOW i'll be repeating this almost all week. When I find something I love and I know that I can stick to with out feeling deprived I cling to it. So that's what works for me. The menu this week does have some great recipes that I do plan on venturing out and trying in the future. 

I feel great on the reset and I love how i've been able to keep this up and still feel good, full, and not as crabby as I am on other detox programs. The first week was tough no doubt and there was some crazy emotions in the second week but now that I'm over the hump I really feel like this could be my life. 

I highly recommend the Ultimate Rest if you are looking for some serious weight loss, gain natural energy, get better sleep, and get some great recipes. My pants are literally falling off. Put a pair on to day and couldn't believe how loose they were. LOVE THAT FEELING!! 

Go check out www.theultimatereset.com/marlenahedine to get yours today! 

Day 15 - Phase III Restore

I'm officially in the third and final week of The ultimate Reset. This week is all about Restoring the body!! This week is a tough because you are suppose to eliminate grains and legumes from your diet and focus on a simple cleansing diet based on fruit and vegetables. However, there is an option for those who don't wish to eliminate grains. They are able to aid in quinoa or brown rice at dinner or lunch. I have not done this yet and was perfect fine the last few days with out it. I did have a little bit less energy and felt a little light headed but I think it's my body adjusting to the new eating plan.

This week I will no longer be taking the Detox before every meal but will be adding in two more pills called Revitalize. This supplement is meant to restore good bacteria back into your gut and help your metabolism fire up!! 

I started the morning out as usual - took my supplements and as waiting the suggested 30 mins till eating I cut up my fruit. Really enjoy the yummy green apples & Grapes. I even added in some nectarines! It was amazing, as always!  

That morning I was off to the Aloha market to get some souvenirs with a friend. She was searching for souvenirs to send back home and these markets are HUGE and have so many goodies to send back to family from Hawaii. We only stayed about an hour before heading back to the house. I fixed our girls some lunch as we waited for the hockey game to end so that our hubby's and us could all head out to the north shore for some walking around and dinner. I was totally prepared for this!! Lunch was not prepared because I was so tired the night before and didn't even have dinner. So I still had my dinner in the fridge. I had made Edamame and Roasted Corn Succotash already made in the fridge. I know that we aren't suppose to mix meals between the two weeks but I had it made and really didn't want to toss it. So I warmed it up and had that for lunch quickly. 

After eating, My friend and Quinn and I chatted as I made my Creamy Garlic Salad Dressing. I knew that we were going to go out to dinner that night and I had myself mentally prepared. I didn't want to ruin the fun day just because I was doing the Reset. I packed my salad dressing and put some pine nuts and cashews in a bag. I took my Alkalinize before leaving the house and made my Vegan Shakeology to go. I did not want to be in the position where I was starving and caved.   

We drove up to the North Shore and took a few pictures on the beach. 

It was gorgeous and I'm so blessed to be able to live in Hawaii these next few years. I'm very excited to have new friends as well and make this place our HOME! 

After a walk on the beach and fighting the kids from jumping in the water we walked on down to some cute little antique and artsy shops. Love those kind of shops! We also stopped at the famous Shaved Ice place on the North Shore. The line was long and I was the only one that did not indulge in one but they did look good!! I'm glad that everyone enjoyed theres. That Shakeology was my life saver in this moment because i didn't even have the temptation. 

We walked around a bit and enjoyed all the fun shops until dinner. We then found a Mexican Restaurant called Cholo's which we all thought was a pretty name and decided we would use it the rest of the night in jokes. It was a GREAT NIGHT! I will admit .. we had to wait a LONG time to get seated at our table and I was starving. Everyone had margaritas in had and were munching on some chips and salsa. I debated with myself that whole time till getting our table if i would cheat or not. It crossed my mind and I was fighting with myself. I really just wanted to give in - have Margarita and some mexican food. HOWEVER, when it came time to order I followed through and ordered a plain salad. No dressing, no cheese! I am not a tomato fan so i only got a mixed salad and had them add some onions. I pulled out my dressing and nuts and it was actually really amazing. I loved it and did not feel deprived at all. I'm so happy that I decided to stick with it and not give up because I was hungry. This proved to myself that I can still go out with friends, make healthy choices, and still have fun! You don't have to eat horrible to have a good time. Sure, it's okay to once a week as long as you are good during the week but if you plan ahead it really is just as good and fulfilling. I will be taking my dressing with me in the future and using this when going out again. It really worked well for me and I had a great night! 

Day 13 & 14 of The Ultimate Reset

Day 13 & 14 of The Ultimate Reset were GREAT & basically the SAME! I was starting to gain energy and just feel great. By far the best days YET! I did loose my appetite when dinner came around and drank a vegan chocolate Shakeology for dinner both nights. The food has of course been amazing and I pretty much ate the same thing all week. Were so busy with unpacking and getting the house unpacked that I really didn't have as much time to cook as I wanted. I do plan on going through these menu's again and using them after the reset. This is a lifestyle change that I attend to continue with. I will have my one cheat a week because I honestly am going CRAZY with out it. I think about sweets, cookies, cake, pie, all day long. I'm not normally like this either. Normally I can get my kids an ice cream or fix their food and be totally okay but i'm going crazy with the cravings. I have to fight with myself not to eat my kids nurtigrain bars at breakfast and take a bite of their waffles. Definitely need that one cheat & my daily Shakeology!!!

Breakfast all week has been the same - Fruit!! I've honestly LOVED IT. The only thing I will change after the Reset is I will add in the original plain low fat yogurt with a drizzle of honey with my morning fruit like we were able to have in week 1. LOVED the yogurt .. but enjoying having fruit for breakfast. We live in Hawaii and the pineapple here is AMAZING!!! I am addicted I think and it's a nice morning treat.

Lunch was my normal amazing salad with Cashews and the Creamy Garlic Homemade Salad Dressing. AMAZING!!!
After the reset I plan to keep this amazing salad in the rotation. Some mornings I'll have my Shakeology for breakfast and some days i'll have my morning fruit and have my Shakeology for lunch!! Loving the new variety that I will have and that I have found some recipes that I love and plan to keep around.

Dinner was Vegan Shakeology and I enjoyed EVERY ounce of it!!! I love my Shakeology!!

Right after my shake I watched a few of my shows,  worked a bit on the computer, and was off to bed. I was excited to wake up to the last day of the DETOX!!!!!

Day 13 & the FINAL day of Week 2!!!! I have a love/hate relationship with the Reset. I have major cravings but I LOVE the challenge and I enjoy the connection in the group and the menu plan that I almost don't want it to end. However, I am looking forward to feeling like a normal person and not being a hermit in my house because I'm scared of all the temptations around. I'm telling you the Reset is  easy at the beginning but as time goes on the cravings get BAD. It's key to have a good support group that you can count on and hold yourself accountable. I can help you through this if you decide to. It's been one of the best experiences and i highly suggest this program for anyone looking to drop some weight, learn to eat clean, learn to love vegetables, and expand their recipe book, or just put yourself to the challenge.

Today started out with my morning fruit & of course ... MORE UNPACKING!! I swear it's never ending. Still so much to do! Lunch was the same as the day before. A delicious microgreen salad with cashews, and the creamy garlic salad dressing. I could easily eat this everyday and i use to NOT be a salad person!!

I made dinner but was so tired I feel asleep with out even eating dinner. I think all the late nights up working and unpacking through out the day caught up to me. I took my last detox and fell asleep on the couch. My husband woke me up and I was half asleep walking to bed. It was a long week & I just need a night to catch up.

Here's to the last Detox and the end of week 2. ON TO THE FINAL WEEK!!!! If I made it this far, I can definitely make it through the last week.

The last of the detox and off to week 3... feeling great and ready to tackle this!!

Garlic Veggie Stir-Fry

I am currently on week 3 of The Ultimate Reset and I am finding some TASTY ways to make veggies. I'm loving it and have found the vegan clean eating recipes GOLD MINE!! These recipes are truly amazing and I want to share some of them with you so that you can find new was to enjoy vegetables.  You don't have to load them up with buttery and creamy sauces for them to taste good. Finding the right seasonings is key and I'm here to tell you .. you may find yourself LOVING Veggies!! I know I have! 

This recipe makes a dish for one but if you would like to double it that would be great. I found that I couldn't eat the full amount with the sweet potato.

1/2 small head broccoli. cut in to bite florets
1 carrot, cut in thin diagonal slices
1/2 medium zucchini, cut in chunky half-moons
1/4 red bell pepper, cut 1-inch strips
I also added in 1/4 of an onion
2 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp. water (I used organic low sodium vegetable broth)
Juice of 1/2 small lemon
1 or 2 cloves garlic, crushed (or more, to taste)
1 1/2 tsp. Bragg Liquid Aminos or you can use light soy sauce.

Heat Oil in large sauté pan over medium-high heat.
Add garlic and stir 15 to 20 seconds. Add carrots and broccoli. Stir frequently for 1 minute. Add water (I used Vegetable Broth) and cover for 1 minute. Uncover and add zucchini and bell pepper.
Cook, stirring, for a few minutes until almost tender.
Add lemon juice and aminos (or light soy sauce) and remove from heat. veggies should be cooked but still crisp.


This recipe called for a baked sweet potato. This was the BEST sweet potato I've ever had!!

Pre heat the oven to 425 degrees.

Rince and poke holes in your sweet potato with a fork. Put in the middle rack of the oven on baking sheet for 45 mins. Once you remove it - slice it down the middle and drizzle a tiny bit of extra virgin olive oil and sea salt. DELISH!! You can also serve this dish with brown rice or quinoa.

Ashley's Brazil Butt Lift Transformation

Today marks the end of my Brazil Butt Lift Challenge Group and WOW did we get some amazing results. All of these ladies pushed through and are now one step closer to being bikini ready just in time for summer.

Summer bodes are made in the WINTER!!!

Ashley Katz had amazing success in my challenge group that she has now decided to pay it forward as a Beachbody coach and inspire others to feel confident in their own skin!


She went from 124 lbs - 117 and completely toned her whole body!!! Ashley works full time and is a Momma of a little boy named, Stephen and if she can do it, YOU CAN TO!!! Don't ever settle for less!! Your dreams can come true too!!!

In honor of her graduating and starting this new life of inspiring and helping other people we are going to co run a Brazil Butt Lift Challenge Group! This will be a closed Facebook group where you will join other women doing the same program. We all start together and finish together. You will have Ashley and I to support you through this journey. We will help you with meal plans, teach you how to eat clean, share recipes, motivate you, hold you accountable, and help you through the whole program. In the challenge group you will commit to replacing one meal a day with Shakeology! I can't rave enough about Shakeolgy and what is has done for my life. This shake has it all. It contains over 70 super foods and is equivalent to 5 trips to the salad bar. I now have more natural energy, my immune system is stronger, and I crave less junk. PLUS, it taste like a chocolate milk shake. I'm a chocolate lover ... :) Shakeology does come in many flavors to please all different tastes.

These challenge groups don't only focus on the physical but also what is on the inside. We are here to transform your life mentally and physically through this journey.

Bikini Season is right around the corner! Don't miss out on this!!

Challenge starts February 4th. Message me today to reserve your spot
www.beachbodycoach.com/marlenahedine

Day 11 & 12

Day 11 was another crazy busy day! We had a huge load of our household goods that was coming and and my daughter had dance class. So this Ultimate Reset Momma was a cooking, unpacking, and taxi service machine.

Morning was my usual fruit breakfast and was just as amazing as the previous days. Hubby was directing the team that brought our stuff and I was taking care of the kids. I took my kiddos into the kitchen and cooked me some Quinoa pilaf & a Salad. Which I wasn't sure about .. but actually turned out to be one of my favorites that I plan on having from now on after the reset. These recipes will definitely carry on with me. They have all been so good.

Once I finished with lunch my daughter and I sat on the couch and watched a movie together. After her movie is was time for dance class. So I got her ready, I had my smart water in hand, and we headed out the door. Her class is ballet and tap and it was 55 mins long.

Once class ended it was time to go home. Help with some unpacking and then it was time for dinner. I was so tired for the long day that all I had was a Vegan Chocolate Shakeology for dinner. This may or may not have been right but I was so tired. I just wanted to crawl in to bed. 

Day 12 consisted of me cleaning out some closets and eating whatever was left in the fridge that I had made that week. This week was really a blur and I felt amazing as far as energy goes ... so I put it to good use and went to work on unpacking our house and cleaning out closets. 

I also stepped on the scale first thing when I woke up and had a nice surprise of 10 lbs LOST!! I like to use the word GONE because I do NOT plan on putting these lbs back on. 

Fruit plate for Breakfast as usual. I cut up a green apple, strawberries, and added some green grapes. LOVE IT. I do not complain at Breakfast time. 

Lunch was pinto beans and rice and a side salad. I tend to be starving by the time lunch comes up so I am eating half of it while i'm making the other half. So didn't get a picture of the salad. I've been on the go this week and it's been a bit crazy but I made it work and powered through. 

Dinner was left over Quinoa Pilaf & Steamed Veggies. Totally hit the spot! After Dinner I got my kids bathed and in bed. Then it was time for me to get to work and work on my coaching duties. I wouldn't change my life for the world though. Love what I do. This reset has been amazing and even though i've been busy ... i've enjoyed every ounce of it, even through the tough times. 

Day 9 & 10 of The Ultimate Reset

As Day 9 & 10 approach so does the Release of all my emotions. I was an emotional wreck for these few days. I was crying over everything and just felt the need to be down in the dumps. I talked with the other ladies in my group doing this journey with me and they felt the same. We were all emotional and just cry babies. So, it's totally normal and it's just your body releasing all the negative fun stuff in your body. Yes, you might go through a lot of changes in this process but I can say that it is totally worth every experience because you are discovering yourself in so many different ways and proving to yourself that you CAN go through with this program and YOU CAN complete it.

Day 9 was a day of unpacking. We just moved to Honolulu, Hawaii because my husband is in the Air Force. We live on Hickam AFB. We had one load come just a week before and had an OVERLOAD of stuff. So we had to unpack some boxes only to make room for another load that was coming in only a few more days. So Sunday was a busy day! Not only did I have to unpack but I had assignments for the class i'm taking online due the next day. The life of a Mother, Military Wife, Beachbody Coach, & Full time Student - phew!! :) I love it though and wouldn't change it for the world.


Day 9's meals looked a little like the day before. I'm someone who can eat the same thing over and over again. I had a fresh fruit plate for breakfast. However, I did wake up to a nice little surprise on the scale.

I am so excited to say that I officially lost 9lbs in 9 Days. UH! I feel amazing too .. a little emotional and stressed from all the craziness but extremely happy with the way my body feels and the weight loss. 

Day 9 was a repeat in meals of Day 8. I had a salad for lunch and Pinto beans and rice for dinner with Steamed veggies. 

Day 10 & Monday Morning! I had some errands that needed to be ran because the next day I have a Health and Wellness fair i'm attending and needing to get things in order for that. 

The girls and I woke up that morning - Had our usual fruit plates of a sliced green apple, green grapes, and sliced strawberries. It was delicious of course. I did some cleaning and then we loaded up in the car. I was in need of some vegan shakeology due to my major sweet tooth. It was getting BAD and I was really missing my Shakeology. What can I say - I'm addicted. I also was leading our team call that evening and needed to prep for that, as well as finish up my assignment for class. BUSY BUSY BUSY MONDAY! :) 

After coming home from our journey to Waikiki that took 1 1/2 hours with traffic. I took my supplements and got my lunch ready. Lunch again was leftover pinto beans and rice and a side salad. I already had it ready so I ate it quickly and prepped for my team call. 

Since, I got my vegan shakeology - I thought I'd break those bad boys in and I had me one for a snack. YUM YUM YUM! I highly recommend getting the vegan chocolate shakeology. It's amazing! 

Dinner was nothing short of amazing and was the delicious Roasted Red Pepper & Sweet Potatoes Soup. I will be posting this recipe to my blog soon. It's THAT GOOD! 

So - THIS DOES NOT SUCK!! The Ultimate Reset is not a starvation diet what so ever!! Loving the food. I'm eating delicious food & LOOSING WEIGHT! What more could a girl want? 

Week 2: Release - Day 8 of The Ultimate Reset

I can NOT believe I am already in Week TWO of the Ultimate Reset!! I did not think that this would be something that I could stick to and it's been amazingly easy. I actually plan to keep my diet post reset pretty close to what I am doing now. I will add in some extra snacks since I'll be working out and will probably have a little tiny cheat every few weeks. I will be mostly Vegetarian. I don't miss meat at all and this has given me such a wide range of recipes to keep me happy. So i'm going for it. I don't think that I could be completely vegan. Only because I do enjoy yogurt and occasionally eggs. We will see how this goes for me and how long I can hang with out meat but I honestly think it will work great. I wasn't much of a meat eater prior to The Ultimate Reset and now that I've been given the tools to learn how to eat as a vegetarian I plan to keep it going. Loving this lifestyle and can't thank The Ultimate Reset enough for transforming the way I think about food and my taste buds. Fruit now taste like Candy! I was still a bit tired at the beginning of this week but I could tell my energy levels were slowly rising.

Monday morning I had a delicious fruit plate - I actually will eat this pretty much every morning. There are other things on the menu such as Miso Soup and smashed Chick peas - NAHHH .. doesn't sound very appetizing first thing in the morning. So, I'll stick to the delicious fruit plate.

After Breakfast was play time with my girls and then I put my little one down for her nap and had my avocado and Creamy Garlic  micro green salad. DELICOUS! The dressing is amazing. Highly recommended - Even if you aren't a salad person this might make you change your mind. 

Week two requires us to drink the FUN DETOX! The first try was well, GROSS! After that I knew what to expect and it wasn't so bad. I chugged it and grabbed a lemon after. I made a video of how I got my Detox down. Hopefully this helps you too. I know this is the only way I can get it down. 

After Lunch it was time to get our family ready for a Luau that we had planned for the evening. I totally prepared myself mentally and physically to stay on track during this outing. I packed up my Pinto Beans and Rice and My steamed Veggies. I even drank my detox and supplements right there at the table with everyone around. NO SHAME HERE! I'm doing this for ME!! It worked out well and I stayed focused. We had a blast and the girls enjoyed it. That's all that matters. 

  

Help!! I'm Cheating and I can't stop!!

Do you find yourself cheating your diet everyday? Are you not seeing any progress on the scale because of your small cheats? Lets talk about how NOT to cheat when eating clean.

None of us think to ourselves "I'm going to cheat today"... But we all still do. I know it's hard to stay on track. Getting the hang of a new lifestyle is never easy but I can promise you that it's totally worth it.
The amount of energy I have from eating clean and how great I feel about myself is totally worth it.
I know it's not easy!! Junk food and pre-made and packaged foods "make life easier", especially when you are tired after a long day at work, but the truth of the matter is that small things do make a difference and the sugars and salts in pre-made and packaged goods can really make a difference to your health and weight loss goals.
I know food can be addicting and sometimes those guilty pleasures can fill in a void. However, I'm here to tell you that piece of cake, that piece of pizza, those greasy fries will only give you stastifaction for a fraction of a minute and before you know it you are feeling guilty.

 So here are some tips to keep you staying on track and how you can prevent yourself from cheating.


1. Have a day where you Prep your food for the week. 

I reseve Sunday's for my menu planning for the week, grocery shopping, and food prep. I bake up some chicken breast to throw in wraps, chop any veggies, portion out my snacks. Example 14 almonds and an apple, 1 cheese stick and 20 grapes. I have it all in baggies just ready to go. If you are stressed for time in the week and don't have time to cook a good dinner make a few dinners on sunday and portion them out. My favorites to portion out for lunches is Turbofire Chili and Clean Eating Chicken Salad. I portion out about a cup - 1 1/2 for each meal of the turbo chili and have wraps ready for my chicken salad. Prepping your meals and having everything ready will really help you stay on track and stick to your meal plan. If you don't have things ready excuses will creep in and you are more likely to reach for a prepackaged box meal or go through the drive thru. Pack a cooler!

2. Get Rid of all the Junk Food In the House! 
If you don't keep the junk in the house you won't have the temptations of eating it when those cravings kick in. If you had a party the night before and have a bunch of junk in your house - Get rid of it. Toss it in the trash!! Just do it! It will make thing so much easier. If I had a cheat meal the night before and I had leftovers I don't save them. That meal is done and I leave it behind.

3. Keep Healthy Foods that You Love in the House. 
This one is pretty simple. The more crap food that you keep in your house, the more likely you are going to eat it when cravings kick in. Your clean eating plan success starts by what you put in your shopping cart. Stay on the outer aisles of the grocery store and stick to your grocery list will keep you on track. Don't go to the grocery store hungry either. Always keep a pack of all natural almonds in your purse.

4. Make Small Changes in your Favorite Meals to make them Clean. 
You and your family love eating pizza, burgers, fries, and pasta, and so do you .. Right!!?? Well, I do too! Learning to adapt the clean eating lifestyle doesn't mean you have to eat salads the rest of your life and never enjoy your favorite meals. Eating Clean means fixing your own meals and controlling what ingredients are in the food you eat. Think all natural. There are so many chemicals and sodium in our foods today that it's insane. Why would you want to put that in your body? If you are craving a burger - have a turkey burger on a wholewheat bun instead. Make a pizza on a whole wheat Pita. Use feta or goat cheese instead of processed cheese. Instead of french fries have homemade sweet potato fries and instead of regular pasta switch it out for wholewheat pasta loaded with fresh veggies and lean protein or  try Crock Pot Chicken Stroganoff. (when trying to loose weight - Pasta and cheese should be limited to once a week)

5. Don't EVER feel Guilty About Eating! 
Many people have it in their mind that they need to starve them selves in order to loose weight. That food is the enemy and if they just don't eat they will loose weight. Eating the right foods will help you reduce your hunger pains and even give you MORE energy and help you loose weight. Adding more veggies and lean proteins in your meal plan will help boost your metabolism and feed your body the fuel it needs to burn more calories. Keep a food diary of what you are eating and write down how you feel after each meal. This will really help you understand how your body works and how certain foods can effect you.

The Ultimate Reset the End of Week One!

Day 5, 6, & 7 of the ultimate reset happened so fast and I really ate almost all the same foods towards the end of the week. I learned what I loved and what I didn't love and took some of the recipes I had left overs with and ate that. I have been so amazed with how easy it is to stick to this plan. Towards the end of the week I have been craving sugar MORE instead of LESS. It just goes to show you how much of an addiction your body can have to sugar. It's almost all I think about but I know in time this will go away. So i'm staying focused and I finished the week Strong!! At the end of week 1, I am down 7lbs. Still feeling a bit tired but I really think that is my own fault. Too many late nights. This next week I need to focus on myself and get to bed at a decent hour. I really want to take in the full effects of this process and sleep is one of them as well as personal development and becoming more in tune with yourself. I'm enjoying all the food and I'm not missing meat at all really! I could totally live this lifestyle from now on and plan to carry these teachings and recipes in my everyday life after the reset. It's been a life changer for sure. I enjoy what I eat now and look to every meal for nourishment to my body. I eat because i'm hungry not because I want to fill a void. Yes, it hasn't been easy this week but It's really helped to have such a great support system along this journey with me. Loosing 7lbs is a good motivator too. The food has been excellent and that has really kept me going.

Day 5 went something like this ....

I woke up well rested and came down stairs with my girls and took my supplements right away. You have to take your supplements 30 mins before eating and i'll tell you this has been the hardest for me. You really have to think ahead and plan each day just right because you have a lot of stuff you have to take and it's all timed out. It's helped keep me organized, that's for sure. Something I need to work on.
I got my girls breakfast ready and chugged water. 30 minutes later I had my breakfast ready. This has been my FAVORITE breakfast and I will continue this after the Reset. I had the same thing all week long because I was IN LOVE!! The fruit was so sweet and the yogurt was so creamy. A big bowl of fresh fruit, all natural yogurt with a drizzle of honey, and a piece of whole wheat toast really hit the spot and I enjoyed every bite.

After breakfast, I got the girls cleaned up and dressed and we went and played with their toys and with our puppy. Before I knew it It was time to put my little one down for a nap, take my supplements, and get my lunch ready. Lunch was GREAT! I had never tried Quinoa before and now that I have tried it I will never go back to just plain ol' brown rice. It was GREAT and so much better for you. It's packed with tons of protein. Lunch called for a quinoa salad with tomatoes and olives. AHHHH, that wasn't for me ... So i stuck with plain ol' quinoa with a drizzle of EVOO and some Herbs. It was Awesome. I'm a plain gal. I paired it with some chopped carrots and hummus. You were allowed to mix the veggies up but i'm a fan of carrots so I stuck with that. I know ... I'm Plain but it's what kept me going and on track.

My daughter woke up about an hour after lunch and it was time to get the girls lunch ready and more play time and movie time. I can't get enough of spending time with my girls. They are my world and I love being their Mommy!

I didn't even take a picture of dinner because it was the same ol' same ol' as I had all week long. Black Beans and Rice  on a corn tortilla with avocados, fresh corn, and salsa with a side of steamed spinach. A new favorite of mine for sure. I went to bed early that night and got a good night sleep, so I could be recharged for the next day.

Day 6 - Was EXACTLY the same as Day 7. Played with my girls and had the same Breakfast and Lunch but dinner was different and it was AWESOME!!! I wish I had this meal all week. It is another new recipe to add in the mix!! Creamy Zucchini and Cashew Soup and Roasted Root Melody It was simply amazing. All I have to say is this Reset does NOT SUCK! The food has been out of this WORLD!

Day 6 was a success and I laid my head down at night full and happy with what I have accomplished so far. It was a lot of work fixing and preparing all the meals but I believe it was well worth it and If you are pressed on time you can always pre prep a few of the meals and trade them out through out the week.

Day 7 - I was hoping to wake up fully recharged but NOPE, not yet. I had a slight headache and had a day full of UNPACKING! BOOO! My least favorite thing to do. It kept me busy and active though so i'm thank for for that. I was happy to step on the scale and see that I had lost 7 whole pounds. I have not seen this kind of weight loss in a LONG TIME. The scale hasn't been budging in about 3 months and I was getting so frustrated with it. I really think that this is just what my body needed to kick things back in gear and break some dirty little eating habits I had picked up.

Breakfast was my fav - all natural yogurt, drizzle of honey, bowl of fresh fruit, and a piece of whole wheat toast. I enjoyed breakfast on the porch with my two beautiful girls while they played. I breathed in the fresh Hawaiian air and just enjoyed my meal. It was just what I needed to kick the headache and feel alive.

We played for a bit more on the porch while I enjoyed the sunshine with my girls. Then after awhile we came inside and watched a movie. I made my daughter her favorite "Kop Corn" and we all sat together. Love my being a stay at home Momma. Some days I want to pull my hair out but I'll never get these years back and I'm thankful I get to spend them with them. I plan on being healthy and fit so that I can be around for a LONG time. It was nap time and time for me to get my lunch ready and unplug. Relaxation and a few coach duties to handle. It was great to have a little quite time to enjoy my food. I had the same lunch as the previous days and I even had the same dinner. I had some left over Zucchini and cashew soup and some roasted veggies that needed to be eaten before this week was up. New week starting up tomorrow and that means new menu to play with. After dinner I got my list together for the next week and headed out to the grocery store while my husband put the girls to bed. My car was just delivered to Hawaii, and I was ready to do some grocery shopping on my own and in peace.

BRING ON WEEK 2!! GOING ALL VEGAN!! 

I'm ready for the challenges ahead and loving how my body and mind is changing each day. 

Les Mills Body Combat

Beachbody came out with a BRAND NEW 60 day workout program you can do in the comfort of your own home. Les Mills Body Combat has been offered in Gyms all over the world for years now and I have done these classes in the gym. They are AWESOME! However, I'm LOVING that they now have a program that is tailored to get you in the best shape ever in only 60 days. Plus, you can do it on YOUR time for a fraction of the cost. 

So, to welcome this new program to the Beachbody family I've decided to kick off a 60 day challenge group with everyone doing Body Combat and replacing one meal a day with Shakeology. To make it even more fun I'm going to be doing the program along with my group. I pre-ordered this program before it was even released and have been waiting to knock it out since I got it. I've done a few of the workouts but want to give it the full 60 days and follow the whole program along with my challengers. It's going to be a blast!! 

Watch this video to get a better idea of what comes in the Les Mills Body Combat Challenge pack and what the workouts will be like. 

If you are looking for a kick butt workout that makes you feel empowered - This is so for you!

You will kick and punch your way to a chiseled mid section and strong arms. Plus your legs will be slimming down and toning up with all the fun kicks.

If you are looking for some motivating trainers and fun workout music included - CRAZY FUN & SO FOR YOU!

If you are looking for support, motivation, and help with meal plans - This is TOTALLY for you!!

We will all join together in a closed Facebook group where I will lead you each day with different assignments to keep your head in the game.

I WON'T LET YOU QUIT - and I will doing the program right along with you. We will motivate each other.

If you aren't a veggie lover, have trouble controlling your cravings, feel sluggish and have low energy levels - Shakeology is going to work wonders on you!!

It's the one meal each day you CAN'T SCREW UP!

The fight will begin  Monday January 28th!! The biggest loser will win a prize and each day we will post in the group how are eating went, how our workout went, and if we had our shakeology or not.

These challenges have been proven to work and I can't wait to share the experience with another group and even get to join in the fun.

SO .... ARE YOU IN!!?!? Spots are limited and I only have 5 spots left so don't wait. First come, First serve.

Contact me to reserve your spot or go to this link to get your challenge pack. http://www.teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/BCPLMC160?referringRepId=187965

Because right now, this very minute can be the time when you look back on as a moment your life changed forever. 

Ultimate Reset - Day 3 & 4 - 5 lbs Down

It's DAY 4 of the ultimate reset and let me tell YOU ... I am SO PROUD OF MYSELF. I have never stuck with anything like this in my entire life. It's actually been kind of easier then I thought. I've really enjoyed the food. I have been expierencing  some muscle cramps in my calves. This is totally normal though. It is only the toxins being released from my muscles and it's all part of the process. So far this has been a great experience and I recommend the reset to anyone who is struggling with sticking to clean eating, has an addiction to caffeine, or just wants to rid their body of toxins, gain clarity, and loose some weight. The food has been out of this world and I've been very surprised with the things I have actually liked. As I was going through the reset menu plan and cook book I wasn't thrilled. There were many things I didn't think I would like but I have actually LOVED. This has been a wonderful learning process for me and I am learning so many different ways to cook that I think I could actually keep this as lifestyle. The salad dressings have been my all time favorites along with the rice and black bean burrito. I will never go back to dressing in a bottle again.

Creamy Garlic "Ultimate Reset" Salad Dressing

1/2 Cup of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/4 Cup of Apple Cider Vinegar
3-5 Garlic Cloves Crushed
3 Tbsp. of Fresh Lemon Juice
2 Tbsp. of chopped Fresh Parsley
1 Tbsp of Himalayan Salt/Sea Salt (this salt comes in our kit)
1/2 tsp of Dijon Mustard
1 Tbsp of Honey or Agave Nectar

DELISH! This will be your go to salad dressing from now on PROMISE. The ultimate Reset has you add in some cashews on your salad and it was to die for. Never would of thought of adding cashews but it is a great source of protein and really tasted great with the dressing.

I also enjoyed the Black Beans and Rice and ate it 3 nights in a row. SO GOOD!

1/4 cup cooked brown rice
1/4 cup low sodium black beans
3/4 tsp of extra virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp of ground chili powder ( I added more because I love spicy food)
1 pinch of ground cumin
1/4 tsp of ground coriander
1 tsp of braggs amino acids or Himalayan salt / Sea Salt.

While the rice is cook heat beans gently in saucepan until very hot. Drain and Return to Pan. Add oil, aminos, spices, and salt. Stir well and fold beans into rice. The ultimate Reset has us Serve ours on a 6 inch Corn Tortilla with guacamole and Salsa. It was DELISH!


Day 3. - I craved chocolate BAD and really wanted to eat my kids cookies and Gold fish but I refrained. I really want this bad and I really want to stick to this plan. The first few days are always the hardest. Breakfast was okay - I made it in a egg & spincah sandwich but honestly I need more spice to my eggs to enjoy them. I'm not a huge egg person. HOWEVER, it wasn't bad at all and I did eat every bite.

Few Hours Later ... Actually probably more - I get pre occupied with my kiddies. I had Lunch It was the same salad I have had all week with the amazing Creamy Garlic Dressing!! TRY IT - SERIOUSLY! YUM! & a lentil lime salad. I am a bean lover but I definitely wasn't digging the lentils. Just wasn't my thing. I actually forced a few bites down and then tossed the rest. In it's defense, I think i overcooked them and it made them too mushy. It would have been better if I cooked them right.

The next day after this picture I learned that the supplements you take with water 30 mins before is the last time you are suppose to drink before eating and you aren't suppose to drink while eating. WHOOPS. Suppose to chew your food and enjoy it. So from now on, I'm following that.

2 hours later I drank down my Alkalize in the car at Target .. BARF - But i'm getting use to it & was burping up grass the whole way in. Hubby got a Starbucks (my fav) and the kids got some popcorn. Didn't phase me. That satisfaction only lasts for a minute but completing the Ultimate Reset lasts a LIFETIME.

We tried to search for a Sushi place near by to make our Nori Rolls - Called a few and didn't get any answers. We are new to town and don't know where all the places are yet. So no Nori Rolls. I am a sushi lover too, so I know I would have enjoyed them. I ate some leftover black beans and rice and it was great. It hit the spot.

As I was winding down for the night and checking e-mails I had some Vanilla Sleepy time Tea. It was so good and really helped me relax and cure my sweet tooth.



Day 4- FEELING GREAT - Still having a few muscle cramps but Day 3 was by far the worst day as far as cravings and cramps. Day 4 went great and I had tons of energy. We went for a day at the beach only to realize it was cold and wet. So we got out looked around and the kids and hubby ate french fires and Chicken burgers. I sat and watched and smiled and enjoyed the time with them. I didn't give in ONCE and french fries are my weakness. I really felt fine too. I knew I had a yummy salad in the car waiting.

Breakfast was AMAZING. I think I'll have this same breakfast tomorrow. The fruit tasted like Candy and I really appreciated the flavors. This whole process is learning to appreciate natural food and reclaiming your taste buds. Breakfast was a fruit plate of a small green apple chopped, some blackberries, blueberries, and chopped strawberries. I got a Papaya and just didn't care for it. Along with the fruit was a side of all natural low fat yogurt with a drizzle of honey and one piece of whole wheat toast.. YUM YUM YUM! Even my kids ate breakfast with me.

After breakfast we packed up for the beach as planned and I made my Salad and packed it in a cooler along with some creamy garlic dressing and a green apple just in case. Turns out I didn't need the apple and ate my salad in the car on the way home as we were stuck in horrible Oahu traffic.












When we got home, I had every intention on fixing dinner but was so tired and it was starting to get late. We took a wrong turn and ended up in traffic for 1 1/2 hours. Hawaii is notorious for their horrible traffic. Small island = lots of people. GORGEOUS though. So, once again ... I had the black beans and rice. I ate the last of it. I'm a creature of habit and when I like something I don't mind having it over and over again. Dinner was suppose to be Stir fry veggies and quinoa with a cucumber salad. I think I will have that tomorrow night and let you know how it goes.

So far I'm really enojoying this and so glad I jumped on board, even if it was a last minute impulse decision. It's been great so far and I'm learning that I have control of what I eat.

Loosing 5 lbs in 4 days isn't too shabby either. We JUST bought a scale so I wasn't able to have my weight from the first day BUT I did weight myself at one of those scales you pay 50 cents for about 3 weeks before this and I was 141.
I stepped on the scale the night of Day 3 and was 138 got up the next morning and was 135. CRAZY! I feel amazing and can't wait to share the rest of my journey with you.