www.alysonhorcher.com: healthy living

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Thursday, April 24, 2014

Strawberry Chia Shakeology

Thirsty Thursday and man oh man am I loving my shakeology these past few weeks!!

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We have had sickness after sickness in our house and I am thankful all I have dealt with is Allergies!! I feel very strongly that the ingredients in Shakeology help me stay well!! When my family is sick I usually double up on my shakeology most days to make sure I don't get sick!! I don't have the best sleep habits (stay up way to late, and wake up super early) so at least I can help my body stay on track nutrition wise!!

Anyway, here is another new Shakeology recipe I tried over the last few weeks and it is another that I am loving. I am actually taking the ingredients for this one to make as I am away this weekend for a college friends spa weekend getaway!! Gotta have my shakeology with me wherever I go - NO EXCUSES!!

So here it is....

Strawberry Chia Shakeology

1 serving Strawberry Shakeology

1 cup coconut water

1 teaspoon chia seeds

ice, if desired

Blend and Serve

and of course ENJOY!!

Interested in more shakeology and clean eating recipes or maybe you want to get on the healthy train? Join my next 30 day Clean Eating and Shakeology challenge group. This type of group is great for someone who is not yet ready to start incorporating exercise but wants to learn how to eat better....healthier!! I will teach you everything I have learned and more!! We will talk about what foods to eat and what not to eat, meal plan, incorporate shakeology into your daily regime, daily doses of motivation, recipes, tips, etc. If you would like more information regarding this group please CONTACT ME and we will discuss what would best fit your needs!!

Now is the time to learn how to live a

FIT, HAPPY, and HEALTHY Life

and we will do it

TOGETHER!!!!

~Alyson

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Christmas Week Simple Meal Planning

Ahhh, the spirit of Christmas is in the air!! Soon we will be celebrating the Birth of Baby Jesus and awaiting the arrival of the jolly fella in his red suit!! My kids are beyond excited that Christmas is almost here! Every morning the first thing we do is look for our elves Elvin and Pippa (Elf on the shelf) and then check their Advent Calendars. I have to say I am quite impressed that my son has done so well remembering the dates (without looking at the calendar too!) After this we change the date on our Baby Jesus ornament, Santa ornament, and then update the Santa countdown calendar. If we miss a step I am reminded about it from my little ones. I am loving Christmas this year! I am living it through the eyes of my Leo and Addyson.

With that being said though, it is quite a busy season with a ton to do and the same amount of hours in a day to get it all done. I have done well staying on track this year with my to do list and that to do list includes my daily exercise and staying on track with healthy eating. Now we have gone out to eat a few more times BUT I always choose a healthy meal and keep my portion in check.

How are you doing this holiday season staying on track with your health and fitness?

I am very fortunate because I run health and fitness groups and I am helping others stay on track and in the process I help myself too. Part of what I share in these groups is how to meal plan and why meal planning is so important to help build healthy eating habits. See if you plan in advance what you are going to eat you are much more likely to stick to it. If you leave what you eat up to chance, you are more likely to choose unhealthy options - drive through, not eat, grab something quick from the cafe in your building, vending machine - sound familiar? Well this is what I use to do but not anymore.

Each week I plan my meals for the upcoming week on Sunday (today!) and then I post a copy in my office and in the kitchen. This way I always know when and what I should be eating. Tomorrow will be grocery shopping and prepping for the week. Again it is a busy week with Christmas festivities so I am keeping my meal plan super easy this week. I am repeating a lot of meals because they are easy and my kids will eat them (so much easier going throughout the day without a fuss over what we are eating!)

Here is my plan for the week:

A recipe I tried last week and absolutely love are the Real Breakfast Cookies. Super easy to make, delicious, and portable. Christmas breakfast is still kind of up in the air as far as what all will be served. My in-laws come to our house Christmas morning and my mother-in-law makes breakfast. She knows I am a healthy eater so usually her or my husband make me an egg white omelet - YAY!! I plan on offering my assistance as well!! Clean pancakes, waffles, french toast, eggs...

The key to meal planning is to plan on eating every 2.5-3 hours and pair a complex carbohydrate with a protein at each meal. I get asked often for examples of these and so here are a few. This is just a basic list but no matter what you are purchasing I recommend you ALWAYS check the ingredients of what you are buying.

I have had this list for so long I cannot remember where I got it from but to whoever did create it, thankyou!!
Has helped me a lot!!

You also want to be drinking plenty of water throughout the day so another tip is take your current weight divide it by 2 and the resulting number is the amount of ounces you should drink daily of water. If you are not use to drinking water often then this might be challenging for you at first but over time you will get better.

Not everyone agrees with the drinking water before bed,

some it causes them to get up at night

and have to use the bathroom. For me,

I have problems so I continue to do it!

Notice in my meal plan I also have my workouts scheduled. I like to know what I am doing when. I also schedule my rest day and this week I chose to have it on Wednesday, Christmas Day. This is my last week of the Les Mills Pump program and next is P90x3!!

Well there you have it, my plan for this week!! If you or someone you know would like help getting started on meal planning or learning how to live a healthier lifestyle please Contact ME and we can set up a time to chat and figure out how best I can help you. Remember I am a health and fitness coach and I LOVE helping others realize their true potential. We all have the ability to be healthy, we simply need to make the choices to get us there!

Now is the time to learn how to live a

FIT, HAPPY, and HEALTHY Life

and we will do it

TOGETHER!!!!

~Alyson

alysonhorcher@gmail.com

facebook.com/alyson.horcher

@alysonhorcher - Instagram

Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Pizza Roll Ups

Lunchtime for my kids usually consists of Peanut Butter and Jelly. This week as I was making my meal plan I was looking for kid friendly meals and I came across this recipe on thegraciouspantry.com (love this site for clean eating recipes!) I modified the recipe a bit as I was also looking for something

quick and easy.

Ingredients...
4 whole wheat tortilla
1 jar clean marinara or pizza sauce
2 cups shredded or finely chopped veggies of choice ( zucchini, bell peppers, mushrooms,etc.)
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions...
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a parchment lined cookie sheet.
2. Lay each tortilla out flat and cut into triangles with a pizza cutter
3. Spread a thin layer of sauce over each triangle and sprinkle on some veggies and cheese.
4. Roll up the triangles and place on cookie sheet
Note: If the roll ups are not staying rolled because you fill them too much place a toothpick in them to hold together
5. Bake for 20 minutes (this can vary depending on how thick and how full the rolls are, so keep an eye on them).

Optional: In place of the whole wheat tortillas, ou can make your own batch of whole wheat pizza dough. If so you wold cook your dough accordingly and then roll it out into a rectangular shape. Then proceed cutting dough into triangles.

Not only did my kids enjoy these Pizza Roll ups, I did too. They were my lunch today and I paired it with a spinach salad with vinaigrette dressing.

If you try this recipe I would love to know your thoughts. Also if you have any kid friendly recipes to share please do so. I am always looking for my kiddos!!

Interested in more clean eating recipes or maybe you want to get on the healthy train? Join my next 30 day Clean Eating and Shakeology challenge group. This type of group is great for someone who is not yet ready to start incorporating exercise but wants to learn how to eat better....healthier!! I will teach you everything I have learned and more!! We will talk about what foods to eat and what not to eat, meal plan, incorporate shakeology into your daily regime, daily doses of motivation, recipes, tips, etc. If you would like more information regarding this group please CONTACT ME and we will discuss what would best fit your needs!!

Now is the time to learn how to live a

FIT, HAPPY, and HEALTHY LIfe

and we will do it

TOGETHER!!!!

~Alyson

@alysonhorcher - Instagram

@alysonhorch - Twitter

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Clean Hashbrowns

My husband loves hashbrowns and although not all hashbrowns make with potato are unhealthy I was trying to find a cleaned up version that was nontraditional. Here it is...

Clean Eating Hashrowns

In this picture the clean eating hashbrowns are with the Pepper Egg Scramble

Ingredients...

· 1 large jicama

· 1/2 large red onion

· 1 teaspoon garlic powder

· 1 tablespoon olive oil

· Salt and pepper to taste

Directions...

1. Find a nice, large, beautiful jicama.

2. Peel it. You can use a knife or a potato peeler. They peel similarly to an apple.

3. Grate it on a cheese grater.

4. Chop your onion.

5. Put your oil in the pan.

6. Saute your onions in the oil until they are translucent. Be sure to do this over low to low-medium heat so the oil doesn’t cook out completely.

7. Add your jicama to the pan and cook, covered for about 10-15 minutes. Then remove the lid and cook until the jicama is slightly browned.

Note: You can cook this on low heat until it reaches the texture you prefer. But be aware that it WILL have a tiny bit of crunch to it no matter how much it’s cooked.

So before I made this recipe I never had Jicama, nor did I even know what it looked like. Honestly I had to ask at my local produce store. Overall I was very pleased with this recipe. It was light, yet filling. I of course had it at breakfast with different egg recipes throughout the week. My husband got to try it over the weekend and he too was very pleased. Adding this one to the recipe box!!

Now is the time to learn how to live a

FIT, HAPPY, and HEALTHY LIfe

and we will do it

TOGETHER!!!!

~Alyson

@alysonhorcher - Instagram

@alysonhorch - Twitter

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Transformation Spotlight - Mom Loses 20 pounds of Baby Weight!!

Any Mom who has carried a child knows there is weight that gets put on during those 9 months of bliss!! Some people put on very little weight and others a whole lot more. Some moms lose the weight right away and others don't.

With my first child I lost most of my weight right away, with my second it was much harder. In either case though I was always left with a bit of a belly pooch that always drove me nuts!! I know I am not alone, I am told it is one of the many memories of carrying a child BUT I wanted it GONE!!

This transformation story I am sharing with you today is also about a mom after childbirth who wanted to get rid of some excess she had accumulated. I think most if not all moms should read this story so you know IT CAN BE DONE - YOU CAN LOSE THAT BABY WEIGHT!!!!

This story was taken directly from TeamBeachbody.com
Meet Fiorella G.! She participated in The Beachbody Challenge and won the $500 Daily Prize for June 12th!

Here is what Fiorella had to say about her experience,

So for the next few months, I wore my maternity clothes. After two and a half months, I stopped feeling sorry for myself, got off my butt, and decided to start working out again. Besides, I didn't want to be a fat and lazy mom. I wanted to be in shape, totally active, and a positive influence on my daughter’s life as she grew up.

To get in shape and lose the post-baby pudge, I did ChaLEAN EXTREME. Not only did this program give everybody on the infomercial the results I wanted, it also looked really fun. So the challenge wasn’t figuring out what to do, but when to do it. As any new mom will tell you, caring for a baby is exhausting. And even though I wanted to work out, I rarely had any energy. But thankfully I signed up for a Challenge Group which inspired me daily and held me accountable for following through on the promises I made to them, and myself. They truly were the most important part of my success.

We had daily “assignments” in the group, which not only made me feel important, it challenged me as well. On the days I didn’t feel like eating healthy or exercising, just knowing others in my group were doing exactly what I “didn’t feel like doing” pushed me to follow through. It’s so beautiful to see how each of us became friends over time, even though we never met in person. We all helped change each other from the inside out. Plus, being able to work out from home was key to helping me losing all that weight because I was finally able to ditch the excuses. It felt like I had a personal coach, in my house, at the exact time I wanted one.

Another huge part of my weight-loss success was Shakeology. I’m a chocolate lover and used to eat so much chocolate that my husband either had to hide it from me, or throw it away because I couldn't control myself. But thankfully, Shakeology helped control my junk food cravings. It made me feel full, improved my metabolism, and made me regular—which I didn’t even know was a problem until it was no longer a problem.

I am so proud of myself for getting in shape the healthy way, and not by some magic pill. Today, I’m way more active, happier, and positive than ever. I went from 138 lbs. to 118 and have totally toned up. Plus, I’ve taken what I learned and am now helping others lose weight. It’s so beautiful to see smiles of others who’ve changed their lives too. Thanks Beachbody, for EVERYTHING! My family thanks you too.

You can change your life, too. Take The Beachbody Challenge™, for the ultimate motivation to get fit! Select any Beachbody® program and once you complete it, share your results for your chance to win cash and prizes.

Hey Moms out there,

are you ready to get rid of that baby weight and pooch for good?

I am accepting challengers for my next Challenge Group .
If you are interested CONTACT ME now to hold your spot!!

Time will continue to pass, you have to make the choice to change how you will live that time. What will you do to gain more energy, feel better inside, look better outside?

Your kids are not getting any younger and neither are you!!

What type of role model do you want to be for your family?

Overweight, unhappy, lethargic?

Fit, healthy, and happy?

Our kids look to us for the answers, we have a job to do and that is to show them the way.

What way are you going to lead them?

Now is the time to learn how to live a

FIT, HAPPY, and HEALTHY LIfe

and we will do it

TOGETHER!!!!

~Alyson