Shakeology Boost - Focused Energy

So it is no secret, as a busy nurse, coach and momma to two little girls - that I do not get the sleep I should! Between Aubrey who is up at least once a night and my night shift job that has me working 12-24 hours a week, I am exhausted. As I approach 30 (eekk yes 30!!), I am finding that I am not recovering from my sleepless nights as quickly as I was just a few years ago! Ironically, Shakeology boosts launch happened at the perfect time for me!

There are 3 boosts - Digestive Health, Power Greens and Focused Energy... Since my biggest hurdle is energy, I thought I would trial this product first... In this article, I will be explaining what Focused Energy Boost is, how it compares and my honest review! Let's do it ;)

So what are Shakeology Boosts?

• Boosts are the easiest way to customize Shakeology to your unique needs. When you boost your shake, you boost your health and Shakeology experience!

More Specifically What are the Unique Benefits to Focused Energy?

• Focused Energy energizes your day the healthy way. It supports mental clarity, alertness, and focus to help you be more productive.
• Designed to give you a wholesome boost of energy, both for your mind and body.
• Unlike other energy drinks, Focused Energy does not contain chemicals, artificial colors, flavors, sweeteners or preservatives that could compromise your health.
• While Shakeology is an incredible dose of daily dense nutrition, there are those days when you simply need a little extra. So when you are challenged for energy, or need some help being more productive, supercharge yourself with this boost!
• Help break your daily coffee addiction!

How do I use it?

• Simply gently shake the jar to loosen the compressed powder.
• Combine one level scoop with Shakeology and consume within 30 minutes

Why is this Superior?

• Naturally boosts your energy, focus and mental clarity with ginseng and 100mg of natural caffeine from guarana and green tea
• It is packed with adaptogens to help support the body in times of stress, as well as antioxidants that may help fight free radical damage
• And again - chemical, and artificial color, flavor, sweetener and preservative free!

My HONEST review....

I'm in love - seriously! I drink my Shakeology for lunch, which just so happens to be my 'tired time' - I wake up with energy, I drag mid day and I usually have a decent amount of night time energy... The natural caffeine gave me an immediate boost without feeling jittery (which I was afraid of because I do not drink coffee or other caffeine products) and I felt more energized than usual as the afternoon and evening went on.

I did not notice any texture or taste changes to my Shakeology (I do blend with ice)

The only downfall I see, is that I can't share this with my girls - because lets face it, who in their right mind would give their very active kids something that would increase their energy? ;)

The afternoon is when I usually blog, email and work on my coaching and I felt that I was focused and more creative... I have also noticed that the slight headache that I get in the afternoon (which I think is from being tired and then looking at a computer screen) is also diminished since adding Focused Energy to my afternoon Shakeology...

This is an all around win for me, and a new staple ingredient to my shake!

Clean Sweet & Sour Chicken

 

I've been craving Chinese - and this was just what I needed!!! Loved it!

 

What you need:

• 1/3 c low sodium soy
• 2 TBSP raw honey
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 1/4 lb bonesless, skinless chicken breasts (about 3 breasts, cubed into 1 inch cubes)
• 1 medium red bell pepper, cut into 1 inch cubes
• 1 medium onion, cut into 1 inch cubes
• 1/2 fresh pineapple, cut into 1 inch cubes (about 1 1/2 cups)
• 12 sprigs of fresh cilantro, chopped about 1/4 cup
• Rice (brown for clean eating, I used basmati rice (which is a long grain rice)

What you need to do:

1. In a small bowl, which together soy sauce, honey, garlic, and pepper flakes. Place chicken in a large shallow dish. Pour soy sauce mixture over chicken, toss gently. Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours.
2. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and marinade and sauté for 5 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Add bell peppers and onion and cook for 5 minutes or until veggies are slightly tender. Add pineapple and cook for 2 more minutes. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve immediately over rice.

Nutrition (without rice): Calories 161 - Total Fat 1.5g - Carbs 17g - Sugar 13g - Protein 21g - Sodium 404mg - Cholesterol 48mg

 

 

 

Build a Better Salad

Soooo - you think that salad is pretty healthy?? No fried foods, low carbs - okay, I see where you were tying to go with this! But what you may not realize, is the simple additions to your salad can add up to hundreds and hundreds of calories and over a day's worth of sodium! Sometimes you might be better off having that cheeseburger! I have some easy swaps that can help make your salad yummy and fun while keeping it clean and fit...

Dressing

Don't put your dressing on your salad, dip your fork and you will save a lot calories!

Salads are usually topped with salad dressing, hence the name, but sadly, most of them are high in calories and fat.

Plus, a serving of salad dressing is only 2 tablespoons. For those 2 tablespoons, you're going to get anywhere from 100 to 200 calories.

Forgo the salad dressing and squeeze some fresh lemon or lime juice on your salad. Or get creative with some salsa as a topping and balsamic vinegar is also nice. I also love adding grilled apples, or fresh berries - they add a lot of flavor and you don't even need dressing!

When you order a salad at a restaurant, ask for your dressing to be served on the side. You'll be amazed at how many calories you can save when you control the topping.

Love these yogurt dressings by Bolthouse - So yum!! Here was the true test for the Ranch...
My husband's buddies were over and cooking out, they asked for Ranch and this was all I had...
I knew if they saw "yogurt" they would not try it, so I put it in a little bowl and they ate it all
and asked for more!

 

Croutons

These extra toppings don't add any nutritional value, but they can add a lot of calories and the cheap ones are loaded with ingredients with names you can't pronounce. One-half cup of croutons has about 100 calories and those bacon bits  aren't even real bacon. Turkey bacon is another great alternative!!

So you like a few crunchy toppings, do this instead -- add a tablespoon or two of chopped walnuts or flax seeds. They've got omega-3 fatty acids, plus they're good sources of fiber, which your body needs for a healthy digestive system.

But if you are like me, and can't help but want to add some carbs to your salad - add some Annie's Cheddar Bunnies! (Yes, I know - I have the palate of a 3 year old - but don't knock it til you try it!)

 

Cheese

Cheese is a catch 22 - while it is a great source of calcium and protein; it is also loaded with sodium, saturated fat and calories.

So how can we fix this one? Simple - pay attention to the portion size... Don't just pour the bag of cheese over your salad! Did you know a serving of cheese is about what would fit into a shot glass (about 2 TBSP)??? YEP! Go with a low fat, dry cheese like a Parmesan!

 

Iceburg

Well yes, Iceburg lettuce does have a nice crunch - but it has virtually no nutritional value... That's right very few vitamins and not much fiber either. It is a good source of water, and that is about it! And since it's not too flavorful, a pile of iceberg lettuce practically screams for globs of high-fat dressings.
So, to keep your salad on the healthy side, use a variety of darker greens like spinach, leaf lettuce, arugula, dandelion greens, kale, watercress and basil leaves. The darker the leaves the better -- they're richer in folate, minerals and phytochemicals.

 

Processed Meats

Adding a protein source can transform a salad into a full-fledged (and really good for you) meal.
But adding deep-fried chicken strips or hunks of processed lunch meats will turn your healthy salad into a health-disaster. And a typical taco salad with seasoned ground meat and globs of sour cream is just a no-go.

Keep your salad lean and mean by adding cooked chicken or turkey breast, a couple of grilled shrimp or legumes.

Hope this helps you build a better salad!!!

21 Day Fix

With 21 Day Fix, losing weight has never been simpler—or faster! Anyone can have success with this simple program. Expertly combines simple nutrition with simple daily workouts to give you extraordinary results...

What is 21 Day Fix? 

 •    A 21-day program of simple portion control and 30-minute workouts that anyone can do
 •    Simple, fast weight loss—no weighing food or counting calories, carbs, or points
 •    You can lose up to 15 pounds in 21 days

What makes 21 Day Fix unique?

 •    Portion-control containers take all the guesswork out of losing weight
 •    It's the simplest way to control how much you eat
•    30-minute workouts that anyone can do and fit into everyone's busy life

 

Is the 21 Day Fix for me???? It is if you...

 •    Want to lose weight
 •    Don't want to make long time commitments
 •    Have tried and failed at complicated diet plans
 •    Don't want an extreme fitness program
 •    Have started their weight-loss journey with Shakeology®
 •    Are new to fitness, dieting, and weight loss
 •    Don't like deprivation

What all do I get???

•    7 color-coded portion-control containers

•    Shakeology® shaker cup 
•    6 easy-to-follow 30-minute workouts
•    21 Day Fix Start Here quickstart guide and workout calendar
•    21 Day Fix Eating Plan that shows you exactly what to do
•    3 Day Quick Fix Guide, Autumn's secret weapon for fast weight loss
•    Dirty 30 bonus workout
•    FREE bonus workout—Plyo Fix (a $19.95 value)

What do I have to do?

•    The Eating Plan shows you how to use the color coded portion-control containers
•    Simply put your choice of food in the color-coded container—if it fits, you can eat it!
 •    Do one 30-minute workout per day according to the Fitness Guide
•    Follow the simple plan, and you can lose up to 15 pounds in 21 days

The 21 Day Fix is perfect if you want to...

•    To finally lose the weight and keep it off
•    To lose weight quickly before an event or vacation
•    To learn what healthy portions really look like
•    To find out how easy portion control and weight loss can be