I was nominated for the Liebster Award!

Liebster Award - Discover New Blogs

Have you ever followed a Pinner on Pinterest or read a blog post about something you are passionate about and thought "OMG, why didn't I think about that!" That's how I feel when I read Elaine's Blog OMGlifestyle.com. She comes up with the best OMG ideas.

I was so…. excited when Elaine nominated me for the Liebster Award.  This award is given by fellow bloggers as a way of introducing new blogs to their followers while at the same time learning about the people who actually write the blog.  As a nominee I am to answer 11 random questions (from my nominator) and then create my own questions for the bloggers I nominate.

Paying it Forward

OK, the first part of this award is finished.  Now, it’s time for me to pick bloggers to receive this award and pay it forward.  

Introduction to Four Blogs

The following are newer blogs that I have come across and enjoy and am pleased to nominate:

I hope you will visit these blogs that I have nominated for the Liebster Award and check them out.

Bethany with Project White Space

Jody with  Beachcombers Bazaar

Laurie with Line-by-Line

Elaine with OMGLifestyle

Marla with Organic 4 greenLivings

Random Questions from my Nominator

Here are the 11 questions Elaine asked to get to know me a little better:

1.  What inspired you to start blogging? 

I Wanted to teach people how to eat real food.

2.  What is your favorite post that you have written?

The one when I was in Africa.

3.  Who is your favorite TV chef and why?

Don't watch any on TV but sometimes look on you tube.

4.  Mac or PC?

Both, but love my Mac!

5.  If you could live anywhere in the U.S., where would it be?

It would be Sedona AZ. We go there every year for vacation and will retire there someday.

6.  How did you choose your blog name?

My passion is teaching nutrition and I love fashion, so I put them together.

7.  Sweet or salty?

Sweet, I love sugar but it hates me.

8.  What is your favorite social media outlet?

You Tube

9.  What's the one kitchen tool you can't live without?

My vitamix. I love my green smoothies.

10.  Favorite on-line fashion boutique?

Athleta http://athleta.gap.com

11.  Favorite ethnic food?

Don't have one. I eat kinda plain.

Random Questions for my Liebster Award Nominees:

Here are my random questions for my nominees:

1.  What was your vision when you first started blogging?

2.  What is your favorite post that you have read?

3.  What is your favorite way to workout?

4.  What is the best you tube video you have ever watched?

5.  If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?

6.  How did you choose your blog name?

7.  Morning or night person?

8.  What is your favorite person to learn blogging from?

9.  What area of nutrition would you like to lean more about?

10.  Favorite place to shop for clothes?

11.  

Please stop by and visit Shawn's, Bethany's, Jody's and Laurie's's blogs as well as  Elaine's at OMGLifeStyle.  A special thank you to Elaine for the Award.

What's up Everyone? As you might know I love Jon Gordon's books and have them all. I just got an e mail from him this morning and thought I needed to share it with all of you.  I hope our clients at Elite Physiques feel that we care as much as the customers that go to the barbershop talked about below.  Care More! When I was researching and writing Training Camp I found that the best of the best really do work harder than everyone else. Hard work has been, is and always will be an integral part of chasing greatness. Yet, when I ask executives, professional athletes, sales people, teachers, etc. if they believe they can work harder than they currently are, almost everyone raises their hand. This begs the question: If they know they can work harder then why aren’t they? I found the answer while writing The Carpenter. I had one of those eureka moments where I realized that in order to work harder you have to care more. When you care more, you’ll invest more energy, effort, sweat, tears and years mastering your craft. When you care more you won’t allow distractions to get in the way of your improvement, growth and progress. When you care more you’ll see yourself as an artist creating your masterpiece every day. Steve Jobs is a great example of someone who cared more. In Water Isaacson’s biography he shares a story about Steve helping his father build a fence when he was a young boy. His father told him he must care about crafting the back of the fence as much as the front. When Steve asked why the back mattered since no one will see how it was crafted his father said, "But you will know." Steve's father taught Steve to care more and years later he would create Apple products with such care that it generated feelings of awe, loyalty and passion among its millions of new customers. It wasn’t an accident. Jonathan Ive, the man who designed Apple products, said “We believe our customers will sense the care we put into our products.” Apple cared more about the work they were doing and the products they were creating and in turn their customers cared more about them. Turns out caring more is one of the greatest success strategies of all. Not just for billion dollar companies but for barber shops and hair salons. I was recently in Knoxville, Tennessee and had the chance to visit Frank’s Barbershop and Salon Visage owned by Frank Gambuzza and his wife Belinda. Frank speaks at conferences all over the world about the secrets to his success. Franks Barbershop is voted the best barbershop in America every year and when I walked through the barbershop and Salon Visage I couldn’t believe how busy they were. I thought I was in NY or LA. When I asked Frank to explain his secret to success he said this: When a young lady or gentleman sits in my chair to get their hair cut I treat them like I would my own kids. When a woman about my age sits in my chair I treat her like I would my wife. When an older woman sits in my chair I treat her like I would my mother. And when an elderly woman sits in my chair I treat her like I would my grandmother. I care about giving them a great hair cut and I care about them like family. Frank cares more and when you care more everything matters and everyone matters. You work harder, serve greater and love deeper...which leads to greater success. So the next time you realize you aren't working as hard as you can or creating your best work, stop beating yourself up. Instead ask yourself why the work you are doing matters and decide to care more. Then when you care more you’ll stand out in world where most don’t care. -Jon

Where have I been?

Hi Everyone!

I am back and ready to go! I have spent the last few months building a new web site. It should be live Tuesday. YES! If you want to check it out I would love some feedback www.elitephysiquesinc.com.

I have learned so much about Wordpress but, have lots more to learn.

I went shopping today with one of my trainers to Whole Foods. I love going there.

We spent most of our time checking out the veggies and greens but also checked out a couple of my favorite super foods. 

Here they are:

1) Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is the most economical health food you can have in your kitchen. For about $20, you can have a gallon of this amazing healing tonic, which will easily last you 3-4 months.

Apple cider vinegar has been shown to make us more sensitive to insulin (great for diabetics and blood sugar problems), curb our appetite, and even assist with weight loss.

I usually start my day with a glass of water with 1-2 tbsp of apple cider vinegar and a little lemon. 

2) Chia Seeds

Chia seeds are one of the best sources of fiber and omega-3s that the plant kingdom has to offer.  Plus, since chia absorbs about 12x their weight in water, they make for a great thickening agent, which is ideal for home made puddings.

Chia seeds are an unprocessed, whole-grain food that can be absorbed by the body as seeds (unlike flaxseeds). One ounce (about 2 tablespoons) contains 139 calories, 4 grams of protein, 9 grams fat, 12 grams carbohydrates and 11 grams of fiber, plus vitamins and minerals. 

The mild, nutty flavor of chia seeds makes them easy to add to foods and beverages. They are most often sprinkled on cereal, sauces, vegetables, rice dishes, or yogurt or mixed into drinks and baked goods. They can also be mixed with water and made into a gel. 

I put them on my yogurt in my green smoothie and on my veggies. The only bad thing is they get stuck in my teeth.

Chia seeds are supposed to expand in your belly, helping you to feel full, eat less, and ultimately shed pounds.

What do you think about these 2 super foods?

I will see you again sooner!

Sherry

Will you be wearing your fitness clothes shopping or out to dinner?

Hi Everyone!

Here it is again. Wearing yoga and fitness clothes as the new jean. 

This is a new add I just got from Athleta. www.athleta.gap.com  

Will you be wearing your fitness clothes shopping or out to dinner? Send in your photos of you in your fitness attire wherever you are. Spring is around the conner. Are you eating real food and working out? Visualize what you want to look like in your clothes. Waiting for your photos, Sherry

What's in your protein drink?

Do you drink proton drinks? 
This is interesting information from Forensic Food Lab.

Metals analysis tests conducted via ICP-MS and are only valid for the lot numbers mentioned here. These data are offered in the public interest for the purpose of promoting consumer choice for healthy food.

http://labs.naturalnews.com/heavy-metals-chart-Proteins-Vegan.html

                                         



All I'm saying is be careful with your choices. Eat your protein, and once in a while have a protein drink. Buy your food from farmers in your area. Always buy grass fead beef (www.flyingjfarm.com) and free range chicken.

Stay Healthy,
Sherry

Real food - Oats and Peanut Butter Blondies

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Why should you eat old fashioned gluten free steal cut oats instead instead of other kinds of oats?

**Lower glycemic index and blood sugar response

**Greater satiety (you feel fuller, longer)

**Greater vitamin and mineral content

**Greater overall nutritional value

Besides, if you're like most, you'll MUCH prefer the firmer texture and nuttier flavor of steel cut oats over mushy, bland instant oatmeal.

But even steel coat oats can be pretty plain by themself, so here are a number of ways to spice up your morning oatmeal and turn it into a bowl of certified deliciousness®:

1. Add honey and berries. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and/or blackberries are all extremely low glycemic and are packed with inflamation and disease fighting antioxidants...drizzle with a little honey and enjoy the sweet goodness. Very filling, fiber packed...you'll love it.

2. Add unsweetened cocoa powder, stevia, and banana slices. This is another one of my faves. 1 tablespoon of unsweetened cocoa powder contains only 12 calories and adds another 2 grams of fiber to your oatmeal! Sweeten it up with some stevia or truvia, and then top with banana slices. Tastes like dessert...only it's oatmeal!

http://www.befithealthstudio.com

Want to know more about steel-cut oats go to,  http://www.all-creatures.org/recipes/i-oats-steelcut.html

Make sure you soak all your grains. Put them in water with apple cider vinegar the night before and they are ready to cook in the morning. Please don't cook them in the microwave. 

Yummy recipe from: http://blog.julesglutenfree.com/2014/01/peanut-butter-blondies/#sthash.Hr3WVFRW.dpuf

Peanut Butter Blondies                   

• 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter (Earth Balance® Natural Peanut Butter) 
• 1/3 cup coconut oil (melted) or other vegetable oil
• 1 cup brown sugar or unrefined coconut palm sugar
• 1/2 cup milk, dairy or non-dairy
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups Jules Gluten Free™ All Purpose Flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 KIND Bars, chopped (I used Peanut Butter-Dark Chocolate + Protein flavor)

Preheat oven to 350º F. Lightly oil an 8×8 baking dish and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, combine peanut butter, oil and brown sugar. Once mixed, add in milk and vanilla extract. Slowly stir in Jules Flour and baking powder. While the mixture will be thick like dough, not like batter, it should hold together and not be crumbly.

Press gently into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Chop 2 KIND granola bars and sprinkle over the dough, pressing any larger chunks gently into the top of the dough.

Press gently into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Chop 2 KIND granola bars and sprinkle over the dough, pressing any larger chunks gently into the top of the dough.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the edges are just barely browning. Remove from oven to cool on a wire rack before cutting.

Makes approximately 25 blondies.

- See more at: http://blog.julesglutenfree.com/2014/01/peanut-butter-blondies/#sthash.RW6IJgKt.dpuf

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the edges are just barely browning. Remove from oven to cool on a wire rack before cutting.

Makes approximately 25 blondies.

These blondies tast great! My husband also loved them. Sorry to say they gave me gas (sorry they did) so I won't be eating them again. It was the peanut butter. I don't do well with nuts. Is there a food that you eat that causes gas or bloating?

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