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Priorities in order?

Yesterday was my son Jake's first Birthday and it was one of the best days of my life! Not because we had a big party, ate cake, or did anything crazy, but simply because I spent the day with my family and I took some time to really appreciate and celebrate life. There have been so many times in my life when things have gotten so far out of balance and priorities get really thrown off track. During those times are when I've been the most unhappy. It's not easy to put priorities in place and stick to a plan to keep them priorities.
Yesterday, I took the day off from work (mentally and physically, which I've learned are both key!) and spent the day with my husband and son. We started off with breakfast at our favorite little cafe in Seal Beach and then went to the Aquarium in Long Beach.
I have never been so happy as I laughed and played with my family. I've got crazy amounts of work to do, endless emails to answer, yet I was 100% with my family and not thinking about any of it. It felt so amazing to know that my family, my number one priority, was happy. Truly happy and complete. I'm so thankful for that I don't take it for granted for one second.
I thought today would be a perfect time to remind you all of your priorities and give you a few steps to help you get them and keep them on track!

1. Write down your priorities. Here are mine: My Family, My Health, and my Job. Keep in mind everyone's are different and that's OK. Be careful not to list too many. For example, my friends mean the world to me, but if I'm not balanced with my first priorities I'm not a happy camper and not a good friend. If I'm not healthy, I can't do my job! So for me, these are my top three!

2. Assess where your priorities are. BE HONEST! Do you spend more time on facebook then you do talking or spending quality time to you family? Do you skip workouts to take care of friends? Do you work overtime and miss meals? If the answer is yes, then it's time to make some adjustments.

3. Take action. Don't wait for life to balance out. Instead put down your fist and make it happen. There is not a single boss or coworker that wouldn't understand if you said, today is a special day, I need some family time. If they don't understand, it's time to reassess your job or your priorities!

Thanks so much for being fans, you make my job fun, easy, and always a priority!
Cheers,
Kim

Back in action!

Hi Everyone! I had such a great weekend. I spent so much time relaxing with my family. I have to admit, it was really hard for me to get out the house, I was stuck on chill out mode with my family! It’s so easy to get lazy and not get back into your workout and nutrition routine after a long weekend, however I have to use analogy if you get a flat tire you don’t slash the other three tires, instead you fix it and get right back on the road. The same applies if you fall off the nutrition of workout bandwagon!

Here are three tricks to get back on track and off the lazy vacation/weekend mode!

1. Clean out the fridge! Having a nice clean fridge somehow seems to help you want to fill it up with healthy fresh foods.

2. Set up a new or unique workout or activity that you’ve been wanting to try. It’s best to set it up before the long weekend or vacation. Having the prior commitment will make it easy to get moving after a break. Gunter and I went and test drove the StreetStriders. Although this was “work” for me because I was testing it out to be a possible spokes person for the company. But setting the meeting up for first thing Tuesday morning, pure strategic planning! Little did my boys know, they were in for a ride too.


3. Fire up the grill. With your workout complete and your fridge clean and ready to go, now it’s time to fill it with a weeks worth of healthy food. I bought a ton of different veggies, chicken and shrimp, spent 30 mins. chopping then tossed them on the grill with a little seasoning and a spray of olive oil.

Any other ideas on how to get back on track after a lazy spell, please share! I love your comments!

Fresh Greens!

Hello everyone! It's another late night blog from the crazy mama! So many people ask me how I come up with ideas, recipes, and stay motivated to eat healthy. I have to confess, I have a little help! A few months ago I found this site www.farmfreshtoyou.com and decided to give it a try and I love it. A few time a month I get a box on my door step full of fresh organic fruits and veggies. It's a great surprise to wake up to a little box that's packed full of in season fruits and veggies that are crazy fresh. It's the little things that make all the difference! I never know what I'm going to get and it really forces me to try new things or foods that I don't usually buy.
Now I know you don't all live in CA, but I really encourage you to do a google search for fresh produce delivery in your area. It's super fun and a great way to get excited about veggies!
It also comes with some great recipes and the nutritional highlights of produce. So here's the recipe that I got today, I can't wait to try it, it looks awesome!
Strawberry Salsa into Avocados
1 or 2 TBSP balsamic or raspberry vinegar
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1 Teaspoon minced fresh jalapeno peppers
2 ripe avocados
2 Tbsp chopped roasted walnuts
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 TBSP olive oil 1/2 teaspoon honey
2 Tbsp finely minced red onion
1 pint strawberries, sliced

In a bowl, whisk together vinegar, olive oil, honey, garlic, onion, and jalapeno.
Season to taste with salt and pepper and combine the strawberries. Peel, halve and pit the avocados
Sppon some strawberry salsa in the avocado hollow and serve on lettuce garnish with walnuts

Super yummy salad dressing recipe

Hi everyone,
Gunter is still in Europe and life has been a bit nutty for me to say the least. To be honest, I'm loving spending time being mommy. I have been a cooking, cleaning, and being a full up mommy! OK truth is, I've been up till 12-1am getting work done too, but I figure I can make it on a little less sleep for a another week so I don't fall to far behind!
Although my workouts have not been structured I do have to say I'm getting my workouts in in unique ways. Today I put Jake in his Baby Ergo on my back and vacuumed, dusted, and picked up. He's only 21 lbs now, but wow, what a great workout. He was so happy and I we really had fun. When I took him off my back I couldn't believe how light I felt, I should have gone and run a few miles!!
So after I got done cleaning up, I got creative with the salad dressings and came up with a super yummy recipe for you. I thought it was a great add on to my last salad tip:)
Here it is, let me know what you think!
Strawberry-Balsamic Dressing
2/3 Cup sliced strawberries
14 Cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 shallot, chopped
2 Teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
1 1/4 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup water

Blend all ingredients until smooth. I love it on spinach or arugula with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese and almond slivers

On the run!

There just doesn't seem to be enough hours in my days!!! Gunter is in Europe for the next few weeks so I've been crazy solo mama and wow am I pooped! It's always good to be left to remind me how much he does around here to hold my wacky little life together! So today I'm sharing one of my super fast and easy meal tricks with you.
This tip will really help you avoid the drive thru and the 911 pizza call when life is too crazy to cook a healthy meal. I've been doing this for years and it comes in so handy.
Many grocery stores have soup and salad bars, but instead of getting the whole salad at the bar just fill up the container with a bunch of fresh toppings. Avoid the bacon bits (ok, just a few), croutons, pasta salads and other creamy stuff and stick with the all colorful veggies, chicken, and eggs.
Then go grab a bag of spinach or other mixed greens. When you get home toss it in a big bowl and there you have it, the perfect meal. No chopping, dicing, slicing, or buying 15 different ingredients. My last salad was HUGE and cost me $10. It could have easily feed four people.
Let me know what you guys think and stay away from the drive thrus!!!
PS-How crazy cute is my little guy, Jake in this video!?!

A tip from Costa Rica!

Hello my Oxygen blogger fans! I'm just back from a fabulous trip to Costa Rica! When I say fabulous I'm excluding the travel days that were far less then fun. Getting to Costa Rica from LA is surprisingly challenging. Add an 11 month old in the mix and wow, one word, exhausting! In the long run it was well worth it.
I went to pick the brain of one of my mentors about a new and larger then life project that I'm working on. I'll tell you all about it soon. I am such a sponge for information and I'm ready to expand my wings and do the only thing I have yet to conquer in the fitness industry. (Hint: You can all come train with me there!) Sometimes I have to laugh at myself and I wonder why I can't just chill instead of conquering the world. I guess that's just not in my blood!
I was in Costa Rica for my B-day, I can't believe I'm 38. I feel like I'm 25 only a lot wiser! We also celebrated my first Mother's Day while we were there. I think I'm officially a grown up now, 38 and have a kiddo!
Here's a few pictures from my trip.
!

Here i am!

Wow, has it really been a over a week since I've blogged? Do you ever have those weeks that completely overwhelm you? How about those weeks when you feel like you've bitten off so much that you need to barf? Or better yet, weeks when you just want to fly away to a remote beach and forget it all?!? Well, all of the above was my last week, actually, month! Don't get me wrong, I love everything I do and when I'm doing it I have a blast. However at the end of the days, weeks, or in this case really it's months, I realize that I am working way to much and simply must come up for air.
Really it all comes down to balance and that is something that I'm forever re calculating. Now, with being a mommy, that balance is even trickier.
At the end of the day I really just have to understand that every now and again, there is no balance and that's OK too, as long as I get the balance back before losing my mind!
I spent last week in Portland filming workout videos for a new product that I'm working on called The Journey Gym. Of course I was running around like a mad girl the day before getting all my wardrobe lined up (I'm a control freak when it comes to that stuff!) and then I actually made the workouts up the night before leaving. Ekkks, no prep time which lead to a bit of stress to say the least! Of course I stressed for nothing as it was a great shoot and I've done these a million times but yet I still get a bit nervous every time! So I filmed two days for Journey Gym (www.journeygym.com) and then a day for my online training program www.FastTrackToFatLoss.com. It was a super busy trip to say the least.
I got home just in time to go to Lara McGlashen's wedding party at the pool. To be honest, I was so tired and a bit under the weather so I wasn't feeling too social, but it felt great to be out at the pool!
Now I'm off to Costa Rica to work on another project (I'll tell you soon, it's exciting) It's just four days, but I'm excited to disappear for a bit! Gunter and Jake are coming too so we are having a mini vacation, Whhhoooo hoooo!
Here are a few pics from my adventures, I'll send some pics from Costa Rica at the end of the week:)

Chocolate time!

Hey gang,
Wow, is it really Friday night already! I've had a crazy week of photo shoots for a new product I'm working on (I'll share soon)! It felt like a really long week and I've got one word on the brain... CHOCOLATE! So I thought today would be a good day to share a great brownie recipe because we all have those days when we just need something warm and gooey! Believe it or not I actually stole this one from Jillian! Ekks, maybe I shouldn't admit that!!!! Anyhow, I have to give credit where's it's due, and these rock!! What can I say, when it comes to chocolate we gals gotta stick together!

Almost Healthy Chocolate brownies!
olive oil cooking spray
2/3 cup mild honey, such as clover or orange blossom
1/3 cups natural, unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup white whole-wheat flour
1/4 teaspoon aluminum-free baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large egg, at room temperature
3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Preparation
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray an 8-inch square pan with olive oil. Set aside.
Place the honey in a large glass measuring cup. Microwave on high power until the honey is runny and just bubbling, 45 to 60 seconds. Add the cocoa and stir with a fork until well combined. Let cool to room temperature.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, place the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Whisk until well combined.
In a large bowl, combine the applesauce, oil, egg, and vanilla. Whisk together until well blended. Add the honey-cocoa mixture and whisk until smooth. Add the flour mixture to the liquid mixture and stir until no traces of flour remain. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan.
Bake until the surface looks dry around the edges of the pan and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs clinging to it, about 25 minutes. Do not overbake. Place the pan on a cooling rack and let cool completely before slicing into 16 squares. (Store the brownies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.)
Makes 16 (2-inch) brownies


Let me know what you guys think, and remember everything in moderation:)

Hugs,
Kim

Core and thighs time!

Hi Everyone! Today I'm targeting your core and inner and outer thigh, two areas of the body that we can't seem to work enough! I'm showing you how to do 4 unique variations of the plough. For these exercises you'll need 2 wash clothes and a hard surface floor. I recommend doing 3 to 4 sets using a variety of these moves. Mix it up to make it fun!

1. Mt Climber Plough- Bring the knees into the chest in a running like motion. Start slow and increase speed keeping your body in a proper position.
2. Plough-Bring the knees to the chest together and push they out to the push up position.
3. Pike Plough-Keep the knees straight as you lift the hips to bring the feet in toward your hands.
4. Plough with abduction/adduction. Keeping the body in a tight push up or plank position, slide the feet in and out to work the inner and outer thigh.

Get creative with these as you become more advanced. You can add in push ups and mix and match all these moves for a killer workout that will be sure to leave your abs screaming for more (or not!!!)

Let me know what you guys think and if you like the videos!

Sexy arms for summer!

Hi everyone,
Here's another video blog for you with some little exercise tweaks to help you add variety to your routine!

My Oxygen Girls!

This past weekend I went to Vegas with my girlfriends for Lara's Bachelorette party. We had such a great time. I caught myself several times looking at Lara, Brandy, and Krystal and thinking about how we've "grown" up with Oxygen! Lara McGlashen has been a writer for years and has written hundreds of articles. I met her when we were competing in the Ms Galaxy competitions and we've been friends now for over 10 years. Then there's Brandy, I also met her while competing. I remember I was always so intimidated by her amazing beauty and dreaded being anywhere close to her in the bikini lineup! I'm sure you've all seen her in the old Hydroxycut ads. She's also been on the cover of Oxygen. Krystal was there too, she's a stylist and has been dressing me for Oxygen shoots for more then 10 years. We've all been through wins and losses, divorces and marriages, tears and laughs, good and bad, and just about everything life can toss at ya! We laugh about the days when our biggest stress was how fast we'd run the obstacle course, what we'd wear for the photo shoots, and when we'd get our next protein shake! Good times!!
It sounds kinds of cheesy, but Oxygen Magazine has been kind of like our yearbooks! We all have 100's of issues and can't seem to part with any of them! Here's a fun pic of Brandy (green) Lara (pink) and me! We decided that Lara looked so good in the wig that she should wear it for her wedding!!!!

Family hike

Hey peeps! I hope you are having an awesome week. I love this tip with little Jake, he wanted to look at his dad filming me and is so cute peeking around me.
I've been a busy little nut lately so many great projects in the works. I can't wait to share all my latest projects with you all. I am still managing to get in my workouts in (just barely) and eating as healthy as possible (let's just say shakes have been a big life saver).
Today I decided to take a break and go for a hike with Gunter and baby Jake. I wanted to take a few minutes to talk about how important it is to walk correctly. It sounds silly, but it can save you all kinds of ache, pains, and injuries down the road. Stick with me, I'm going to get a little a little technical on you!
Jump up and walk across the room. Do your toes turn outward? If they do your kinetic chain is off. But don't worry, a little practice walking with your toes forward and you'll be back on track. It's going to feel really odd at first, but trust me, it will be natural in only a few weeks. Walking with feet over pronated (outward) causes the outside of the heel to make contact with the ground first while walking or running. As weight is applied to your foot, it rolls in. This can cause your ankle to twist inward causing ankle sprains. It can also cause pain to the bottom of the foot (plantar fasciitis). This twist of your foot also causes problems to the knees by putting excess stress on the ligaments and cartilage of the knee. The inward twist continues up to the thigh and hip causing a forward tilt of the pelvis which strains the lower back.
I'm curious to hear how you all are walking and if this is something that helps! I promise if you spend some time focusing on this it will make a huge difference for you.

Bicep bootcamp!

Hi Gang! I'm glad you all enjoyed the video blogs! This week I'm targeting on the biceps. Make sure you add variety into your exercise routines to help sculpt sexy arms in time for summer! I'm excited to share these exercises with you. Let me know if you have any questions!

Check out my video blog!

Hi Gang,
I finally figured out how to post a video to you guys! I filmed this on Wednesday for you, but just now figured out how to post it!! The file was too big before so I changed up the size and here it is! Let me know what you think! I can show you all so much more via video, I hope you like it and be sure to leave me your comments so I know what you what to see and hear about and click to follow me so you know when I have a new video up!
Hope you are all having a great weekend:)

Secret Millionaire

I'm not sure if you all have seen the new show on ABC called The Secret Millionaire, but my friend James Malinchak was the secret millionaire this past Sunday. It is such an amazing feel good show that helps so many people that are doing such great things. If you haven't seen it, check it out, you will love it! (But have the tissues ready, it'll make ya cry)
http://abc.go.com/watch/secret-millionaire/SH5580166/VD55117876/james-malinchak-gary-in

James is not only a friend but also a mentor of mine. He's so down to earth, and such an amazing guy. I know it's not exactly fitness related, but I wanted to share four of the top tips he's taught me. These are all things that have really helped me grow and stay inspired to be the best "me"!

1. “Rich” does not equal money. Those that are truly “rich” are giving, caring, loving, and happy.

2. In order to grow and improve, you have to get comfortable being uncomfortable. For most, starting a new workouts and meal plans is a big lifestyle change, and it’s uncomfortable at first… but soon you begin to feel really good and see great results and the discomfort that you once felt all becomes worth the effort.

3. You need hope. America’s ‘hope tank’ sometimes hits empty and you need hope to move forward and be successful. I see so many new people in the blogs and in my emails that are hopeful and it’s really important that we all stay positive together and encourage and support each other as we go through this uncomfortable change to improve our health.

4. You need to be “present.” To get the most out of any situation or experience, you really need to be present in the moment. Whether it’s an experience with a loved one or a workout, be really focused and present in the moment.

These are such simple concepts to apply into our everyday lives yet we all need that little reminder. Do any of you have words of wisdom that you'd like to share? I'd love to hear your thoughts:)

Who's on your team?

Hey Everyone!
What a nutty week I've had! I spent 3 days in San Francisco at the IHRSA trade show and it was awesome. The IHRSA is a trade show that displays all the latest and greatest in everything in the gym industry from equipment to software. I'm like a kid in Disneyland looking at all the amazing technology. Of course there are always a few things that I have to laugh about. For example, this years top silly product was a HUGE life size "horse" that looked like it was wrapped in a snuggie. It moved in the motion of a horse and was supposed to help tighten the core. Now I don't doubt that horseback riding tightens the core, but this suck was going for $15,000. I mean hello, buy a horse if you are going to spend 15K!! So silly!
The highlights of my trip brainstorming and chatting with the inventor of the Bosu and the Perfect Pushup. I love to hear their stories and am inspired to believe in my ideas and learning how to make them a reality. I've noticed one common trend of success is A GOOD TEAM. No one is good at everything so it's key to focus on what you are good at and find the best people that are good at what you aren't good at to fill in the blanks.
I got home late last night and headed out the door early this morning to go to a photo shoot. I was just going to help and support him as he was shooting with an amazing photographer that I really admire, Florian Schneider. As I watch him work I saw how amazing his team of assistants was. They all worked together so well and although it's Florian behind the magic, it's the power of the team all working together that makes him able to focus on what he does so well. It's really very simple, but something that so many people forget as we all try to conquer the world alone!
My question for all of you...Who's on your team? What do you struggle with and how can you find to teammates to help you fill in the gaps. In the end, we all enjoy what we are good at so if you need help, chances are there's someone out there that would love to help!
Here's a quick pic that I just snapped on my phone, but I have to brag about my handsome hubby a bit! He's my hero! Oh and yesterday was our 4 year anniversary:)

Do you treat your car better then your body?

Hi Everyone!
I'm on the hunt for a new car! I'm not giving up my super fun Porsche, but Gunter and I need a "family" car so we are looking at SUV's. Oh the joy of car shopping!!! Blaaaaaa!!!! Anyhow, as we look at all the cars on the lots it occurred to me that most people treat their cars better then their bodies!
I mean think about it...when you don’t drive your car, you don’t need to put fuel in it, right? The same goes for your body. If you fill your gas tank when it’s already full it over flows. The same happens to your body, only the excess overflows in the form of stored fat. So think of your body as your fuel tank, don’t let it hit empty, don’t overflow it, and don’t fuel up just for fun!
Secondly, it seems everyone will put endless money into good tires, but yet I see so many people working out in cheap shoes! We can always buy new tires, but we only get one set of feet!
Or how about the guy that puts premium fuel in the his tank but fuels his body with candy and coke! People put the best oil in our cars, but then eat saturated or fried foods full or bad oils!
The best spark plugs for the car, but people drink chemical sugary drinks with crazy calories for energy. Gunter (my husband and I laughed all the way to the dealer as we came up with so many comparisons.
I just thought I'd share this random chain of thoughts!! If nothing else you'll get a good laugh and think twice before you buy a hotdog or a coke as you put premium fuel in the gas tank!!
Can any of you think of any other ways you treat your car better then your body? I have a speaking gig next month to a group of business men, I think they'd get a kick out of this line of thought!

Biggest Loser Tricks!!

Ever wonder how they lose so much weight the first week on “The Biggest Loser”? I did their diets, I know exactly what was going on and (water tricks aside) this is the secret. I could get really graph and down right nasty with you, but I’ll spare you the details and tell you it’s time to add fiber into your diet and clean out your intestinal tract. Believe it or not, all the junk stuck in you can turn your body toxic and inhibit proper absorption of nutrients from food you eat.
The most effective way to clean out your system is with psyllium seed hulls. 1 TBSP every morning in a shake or small glass of water or juice will do the trick. Drink it as soon as you mix it because the psyllium bulks up which is why it works so well to sweep out your intestines. Be sure to drink plenty of water to keep the throughout the day to keep it moving through your system. Don’t be surprised if you are a “Big Loser” after a week of using this trick.

Forget the fruit and veggie servings!

When it comes to eating fruits and veggies I've always found it confusing as to what the heck count's as a serving size! I mean does anyone really know how many servings of fruits and veggies they should eat much less count them? I happen to know because well, that's what I do for a living!!! However, I'm guessing 99% of the populations doesn't even know! Here's the scoop:

An adult female should eat 2.5-3 servings of veggies and 1.5-2 servings of fruits, while an adult male should eat 3-4 servings of veggies and 2-2.5 servings of fruit. A serving amounts to one cup of raw fruit, one cup of cooked veggies, or two cups of raw veggies.

No wonder people don't remember this...it's nuts! So here's my solution...EAT THE RAINBOW! If you aim to eat 3 different colors a day you'll hit or come close to your daily requirements and get all kinds of nutrients! Here's a list of what's what to get your mind wrapped around the full spectrum!

Red:
Provides lycopene, which may help prevent lung and prostate cancers, and antioxidants that may help prevent heart disease.
Top picks: red grapes and apples, cherries, rhubarb, red bell peppers, tomatoes, beets.


Purple:
Provides anthocyanins, which may help prevent heart disease and lower the risk of cancer.
Top picks: concord grapes, blueberries, blackberries, plums, figs, eggplant.


Green:
Provides lutein, which may reduce the risk of stroke and protect eyes against macular degeneration.
Top picks: green grapes and apples, honeydew melon, kiwi, spinach, avocado, green beans.


Orange:
Provides beta carotene, which may help prevent some cancers, reduce the risk of heart disease, and improve immune function.
Top picks: mango, oranges, peaches, pumpkin, carrots, corn.


White:
Provides anthoxanthins and allicin, which can help lower blood pressure and protect against stomach cancers.
Top picks: bananas, cauliflower, mushrooms, onions, potatoes, turnips.


Call me crazy..but that's much easier right? What do you guys think?

Family Frustration!

So I'm going to go on a bit of a rampage here! Be warned!!! Last night my sister watched my little boy while Gunter and I went out for sushi with some friends. When my sister left I opened my snack drawer to put an uneaten bar in there only to discover that she had polished off my huge chocolate bar. I have had the same chocolate bar for months and I eat a little bit every now and again. She finished it off in a few hours.

My point is that my sister is very depressed about her weight, tells me she is eating healthy, yet I find fast food wrappers in her car, she calls me with a dead car battery from the burger joint at 10pm, tells me she went out for pancakes the night before, etc, etc, etc.

Now I usually don't say much because she gets upset so easily, but last night I'd had enough. I confronted her and as always she got all upset and told me she didn't feel good, was depressed, stressed, and turned to food for comfort. My response, "I know, just you, 90% of my clients, and the other 500,000 people I work with everyday on my training website." (www.FastTracktoFatLoss.com)

My usual response to her is "I'm sorry, hang in there". This time I felt the need to crack the whip and let her know that I know the cycle all to well. Feel yucky, eat comfort food, feel guilty, eat more, gain weight, feel depressed, and start the cycle all over again. Sound familiar? I've been there, and it sucks!

So AGAIN, I offered to help my sister so that she can feel good about herself again and set a goal to reach for a wedding in HI that she is going to this June. She said I was "too busy" and she was going to bed. I told her that was just another excuse and I'd make all the time she needed. That's where the text ended.

Needless to say, I was so sad and frustrated. So my advice to all of you is to know that if you are in the same cycle that my sister is, you CAN break it. Here's three simple steps to help you:

1. COMMIT. Know that you can and will feel better if you commit to giving it your 100% for 3 months. That's enough to get amazing results and from that you will be motivated by your results.
2. GET SUPPORT. Grab a buddy, a family member, join a group or website because you will have those moments that you find yourself wanting to quit! I have an amazing website, www.FASTTRACKTOFATLOSS.com and the support, information, and community is unbelievable.
3. HAVE A POSITIVE ATTITUDE. Get up everyday and make a verbal confirmation that you are going to have a good day, you will feel good, and do the best that you can. Sounds crazy, but it really helps

Thanks for listening!! I'll keep you posted on the "sisterly love" updates!
True confessions...is anyone in this cycle? I have been there in a bad way, I know how it feels! Reach out, I would love to help you!

Winter blues?

Hi Everyone! Here is a short and sweat tip for you to help "light up" your winter blues. Believe it or not I had a tough time with depression when I lived in Phoenix. Sounds odd, I know, but believe it or not I didn't get enough sunlight. I opened a gym at 5 am and was inside all day, then when I got home, I staying inside, napped, and avoided the heat. I ended up with a big case of the blaas other wise known as SAD, Seasonal Affective Depression. I switched out my light bulbs, got more sunlight, and snapped out of it a few months. I thought this would be a good time of year to give you all a tip to help cure your blaas!
There is a direct link between sunlight exposure and hormone production. If you are inside a lot you are missing the essential benefits from the sun. Aim for 30-60 minutes of sun every day to get your fill of Vitamin D and an added bonus, UV light makes the adrenal gland to release more androgen, a sex hormone responsible for sexual arousal. Can’t get outside? Go to your local hardware store and pick up a 120 watt “full spectrum” light bulb for your home or office. These bulbs closely mimic the sun’s rays and have been shown to provide the same great benefites as getting direct sunlight.
Do you guys get enough sunlight? Anyone else out there got the blaas?

Think like a trainer!

I traveled to Phoenix and back yesterday to do a guest appearance for TV webisode on Sheknows.com. I couldn't help but laugh at the thoughts that went through my head at the airport. How funny would it be if people could hear my thoughts?

It drives me nuts how lazy people are in the airport. It's a world of escalators and people movers. On top of it all, people get on them and don't even walk! Then they look at me like I'm nuts when I actually pick up my suitcase and take the stairs or walk next to the moving walkway! It's like people are programed to be lazy. Without even thinking, they just jump on and stand there.

As I boarded the plane a lady was struggling with getting her suitcase so I offered to help. I tossed it up in the overhead compartment and she said "Wow, Thank you. You are so strong!" Truth is, the suitcase was so light. I guess I shouldn't take my strength for granted and a went on to my seat feeling good that I could help.

I packed some snacks for the trip, even though it was a short flight, I always like to nibble! I snacked on my toasted pumpkin and sunflower seeds on the short flight and the flight attendants handed out the little packs of snack mix. I got one assuming it was peanuts but it was a processed pack of salty stuff! Blaa!

I got water, my standard travel drink, and the lady next to me got tomato juice and ate two packs of the processed "stuff". I wanted to say, hey, do you know that you have almost a thousand mg of sodium in that snack? I guarantee she wasn't even thinking about it, and that's the worst part. Ekks! I was torn between wanting to pop into my superhero trainer mode and save this lady from her nightmare snack and trying to mind my own business!! I opted to just sit quietly, but it wasn't easy!!!

My day was pretty long and they only had big subway sandwiches for food so again I opted for the rest of my seeds and a light string cheese. All I could think about was the poor quality nitrate filled lunch meat in fluffy white flour bread. Again, do I tell them the 101 better options, well yes, I did! I couldn't help it, but to my defense, they asked and I confessed that I prefer not to eat processed white bread, only whole or sprouted grain and that I simply don't eat nitrates! I'm pretty sure I ruined their lunch! Opps!!

I headed back to the airport and by now was pretty hungry. After passing all the fast food places I found a bakery and decide to get some chicken soup. At this point the sodium the the least of my worries! I looked down for 2 seconds to grab some money and just as I looked up I saw the guy behind the counter drop a huge handful of chips in my soup! It was like slow motion...NOOO!!! Anyhow, he read my face and was happy to give me a new soup without chips!

It was like a mini battle field out there!! So I encourage you all to follow this advice when traveling:
1. Always pack snacks. Nuts, seeds, fruit, string cheese, and whole grain crackers are great
2. Think of the airport as a chance to get some exercise before you sit on the flight. Avoid escalators and people movers!
3. Drink plenty of water and avoid soda and high sodium drinks.

Travel Fit, Feel Good!

PS anyone have good travel tips?

Super unique shake ingredient

I've always been creative, but this one is on my top ten strange but great list (that's a new list, just made it up, but I like it!) So here is how the story goes. As you know, I'm a new mama and perhaps I'm just dilerious, but I have to share this tip with you because I think it's awesome!
I've been at a conference for the last 4 days and Gunter ate pretty much everything in the kitchen, so breakfast was a a total a challenge this morning. I was in one of my creative moods and so I got nutty with the blender. You won't believe the secret ingredient!
I was sure that it was going to be gross, but I'm a full up trainer and so I was looking for healthy over yummy. So, here's the mix I came up with, it was crazy good. You're going to have to try it when you see how strange it is, but I'm really serious, it's beyond health and no kidding, and tastes great! The measurements are a bit of a guess, I didn't measure it when I made it!

Kim's Crazy Healthy Shake!
1 1/2 cup unsweetened Vanilla Almond milk
1 Huge handful of fresh spinach
1 wedge of cantaloupe (it was frozen, I keep it in the freezer for shakes)
1/2 TBSP Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
1/2 cup Fage Greek yogurt
1/2 Tbsp Agave syrup

and the secret ingredient...BABY FOOD! Yep, so check it out. It's Plum Baby Organics, 100% natural, no sugar added, unsalted. Totally organic, only 70 calories, 3 grams fiber, 16 grams carbs, and a great mix of fruit. The ingredients are pears, carrots, blueberries, purple carrot and lemon juice. Just squeeze on pack in and bend it all up.

*Beware! It looks a bit scary! It comes out green!

It's a great mix of protein, fruits and veggies too! I did the nutrition profile for you!
Calories 290 Protein 10 Carbs 40 Fat 9 Fiber 6



Let me know what you think!

Improve your sex life this Valentine's Day!

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY EVERYONE! And I don’t want anyone pouting about not having a Valentine’s Date!!

It’s a perfect day to reflect on EVERYTHING you love in life, not just that one someone. Remember back in the day when you handed out cards to everyone in your class and then there were cupcakes and cookies done up with the red, white, and pink frosting and sparkles. It was one of my favorite holiday’s and still is!

Gunter and I aren’t getting into the mushy stuff this year; we’ve opted for a quiet night at home and a nice dinner out later in the week. I’m breaking the mold today and Gunter and I are bringing you our 5 favorite reasons to workout with your significant other.

1. It’s a great way to spend Quality Time together! Get your buns off the couch and go get active.

2. It’s a perfect time to really open up a communicate about goals and insecurities. I have a rule that you can’t complain about something until you are actively doing something about it! It’s important that your other half understands how and why you feel the way you do and what you dream about.

3. It’s pure chemistry. Exercise produces chemicals in the brain that evoke feelings of happiness, reduce stress, and also increase arousal and libido. Studies show that men and women who exercise regularly report better (and more frequent) sex with their partners.

4. It’s a built-in workout buddy! Stay Motivated as you cheer and support each other.

5. It gets you out of your box and adds variety to your routine. Take turns choosing the workout, be open minded, and have fun with each others workouts

One more tip...Instead of sending a box of chocolates send an Edible Arrangement. www.EdibleArrangement.com Super unique, fun, and healthy.

Stop trying!

When it comes to getting in shape the toughest part is staying motivated. Every now and again I realize I have a different drive then many people. When I want to lose a few pounds, tone up, or put on a little muscle, I do. It's not that it's easy for me, but I set my mind to it and I just do it.

My biggest pet peeve is when people tell me they are "trying" to get in shape. Really people, don't "try", DO! I mean what the heck is "trying"?! Seriously! Stop messing around and, as Nike would say, "Just Do It"! Such a simple little slogan but boy do I wish I'd have thought of it before they did!

It's like when people say they are going to "try" to make it to an event or party, you know they aren't going to be there! It's a strange way of not committing and not feeling guilty about it. I have to giggle a little, but if you really think about it we've all done it!

When people tell me they are trying to lose weight and I ask them what trying means, I get some odd looks but no real good answers. So next time you say you are trying to do something, I want you to laugh a bit and correct yourself to "I AM DOING IT"! You'll be surprised how effective it is!

So that's my random thought for the day:) On a side note, I had a great weekend with Gunter and Jake. We went for a long walk on the beach, out for lunch, and to a fun Super Bowl party! How cute are we in our jerseys! What do you guys do last weekend? I'm trying to come up with something fun to surprise Gunter with for Valentine's Day, any ideas?

Naps, bargains, and balance!

As most of you know, I'm a new mom and that means no more sleeping in! In fact I often get up crazy early just to get a bit of work done before little Jake wakes up. The funny thing is that this morning I laid in bed and bargained with myself for a good 15 mins. "If I get up now, I can take a nap later...I have a little break at 1 and at 4, so I can lay down then." Some how that little bargain makes it all OK to get up. I always feel great once I'm up, and let's get real, I never really get to take a nap as that time always gets filled up with one of the 5 thousand projects I'm working on, but somehow that little deal I make with myself seems to get my buns out from under the cosy covers!

Then I found myself doing the same little trick to get myself to the gym. "If I get there and I'm still not in the mood to workout, I'll just stretch and do some ab work, then I'll hit it hard tomorrow." But with out fail, once I'm in the gym and I get my blood flowing I feel so good and always get a great workout.

All and all, this is just my way of not letting my laziness or my excuses over power what I know is important. At the end of the day, nothing feels better then knowing I got my work done, took time to get my workout done, and I take some time to relax. It's a tough balance to find, much harder then it seems, but when you find the balance and learn to prioritize things it makes all the difference in the world. It's a life long process to perfect this balance, but it's worth it!!

Is it just me, or do you all have funny little bargains that you do with your daily routines?

Are you eating pigs feet and cattle hide...gross!

One word describes what Americans want from their diet these days: CONVENIENCE. I wish it were “Healthy,” but these days it seems convenient wins. As a new mom and a gal always on the go, trust me, I’m all about convenience, but it has to be healthy too! When it comes to the $700 million dollar industry of energy bars, I’m not on board! Those bars claim to fight fatigue, fuel muscle growth, or help you lose weight when in fact they may be doing just the opposite.

Today I’m going to help you cut through the hype and flashy packaging so you can choose the right bars. Believe me, it takes some work to find the good ones! Many bars are nothing more than protein-containing candy bars in disguise.

First the bad:

The first thing you want to be aware of is the sugar content. Many bars contain high fructose corn syrup, which quickly raises blood sugar and cancels out any of the potential benefits you might otherwise get from healthy ingredients like oats. Take Health Valley Low Fat Chocolate Chip Granola Bars, for example. The main ingredient is brown rice syrup—DON’T be fooled by the word brown rice. Brown rice syrup is sugar.

On the flip side, making it even more confusing, you also must be aware of the reduced sugar and sugar-free bars. They do have little impact on blood sugar, which is good—but not without a price.

Sugar alcohols like maltitol and sorbitol can cause uncomfortable side effects such as gas, bloating, and…well…you get the point. You also want to keep in mind that, “reduced sugar” does not necessarily mean reduced calorie—at least, not reduced enough to matter. Maltitol, for example, has 75 percent the calories of sugar, and since it’s not as sweet as the real sugar, more is added to make it sweet so the calorie count is the same.

You also really need to be aware of the sneaky wording for some pretty gross ingredients. You won’t find pig’s feet or cattle hide listed in the fine print, but that’s because they’re hidden behind names like gelatin, hydrolyzed collagen, or hydrolyzed gelatin. This can add grams to the protein count, but both collagen and gelatin lack an essential amino acid required to make them a complete protein.

Now for the good news!

There are a few good bars in there and I don’t want to scare you away from bars all together, but I do want to scare you into really looking hard at the labels, so let’s talk about what to look for.

You want to look for a bar that lists whey or casein protein—or a blend of both—as the first or second ingredient. These milk proteins contain all the essential amino acids your muscles need.

First look for labels with no more than five ingredients. The longer the list and the more unpronounceable the words are, the farther it is from real food and I’m pretty sure it’s nothing that’s going to help you get to your fat loss goals.

Look for bars that have quality protein, natural carbs from grains and fruit which will also add to the fiber content, and be sure that they are low in saturated fats. If they are high in fat be sure that it’s healthy fats from nuts or seeds. You’ll also want to be aware of the size and calorie content. A ton of calories can be packed into those bars, and that’s why it’s important to know the serving size and know you can always eat a half a bar or nibble on it throughout the day.

Here are a few of my favorite brands that made the cut!

• Lara Bar’s
• Kind Bar
• GNU Foods Bar

Another option is to make your own bars. That way you know exactly what’s in them. Here’s one of my many recipes for homemade bars:

Chewy Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars

• 1 cup oat flour
• 1 ½ cups whey protein powder ( Protein Freeze works great)
• ¼ cup raw organic cocoa powder
• ½ cup nonfat dry milk powder
• ¼ cup stevia blend
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 egg whites
• ¼ cup creamy peanut butter
• ¼ – 1/3 cup water

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line a 9”x9” baking pan with wax paper.
2. Combine all dry ingredients in blender — Process on high speed 2 minutes. In a bowl, beat eggs, and peanut butter. Add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture. With an electric mixer, slowly add the water until dough becomes a “gooey play-dough” consistency. Pour batter in lined pan, spreading, or pressing dough to an even thickness.
3. Bake for about 15 minutes. Remove from pan and allow to cool slightly. Remove wax paper and allow to cool completely. Cut into 8 bars

Calories: 250 Protein: 24g Carbs: 24 Fats: 7 g

Enjoy!

PS: If you want to see my video about this check out my youtube channel and follow me on twitter so you can get updates on new fun videos like this!

Frozen World!

Today's blog is kind of random, funny really! Last night Gunter and I got in to a discussion in the car on the way to meet some friends, about what we would do if we could freeze the world for a week! You see, we just got back from 10 days in CO and I pretty much worked the whole time because I didn't want to come back to piles of work. That's why we decided we needed to freeze the world. We then proceeded to break down every day to perfection in our frozen world. I was on an Island with baby Jake (8 months) and Gunter and in summary, my days consisted on no computers and no phones! In my dream land, we swam with dolphins, worked out every day and evening, ate a fresh fruit, veggie and fish buffet that magically appeared every time we were hungry, my best friends and family were just on the other side of the island incase we were feeling social, and there were naps every day!

Gunter's frozen world was very similar! We laughed as we came up with the perfect worlds and how we would return to our awesome little house in Hermosa and had not missed a thing (cause the world was frozen!!)

The conversation continued with our friends and it was fun to hear where people would be in their world!

On the way home Gunter and I had to laugh at the fact that both of us keep the healthy foods, active fun stuff, and workouts in our perfect world. We really just took out the work for a week and went to the beach!!!

Anyhow, I'm not sure what my point is except to stir your thoughts on your perfect frozen world. If you aren't living an active life and eating healthy foods every day, start now because you will love it and not ever go back to eating unhealthy, even in your dream world:)

I want to hear about your frozen world....

Muscle Growth!

OK, so here's the lowdown on how to build muscle! Let's face it, muscle looks good, is good for your body, and it boost your metabolism! I really can't think of any negative things about gaining muscle! However, in order to build muscle its essential to understand why muscles grow! Its important to view muscle growth from a physiological side rather than the egotistical side. This analysis is important for a few reasons; understanding the physiological side of the body means the person is more inclined to make the right scientific decisions and not be influenced by some of the crazy trends that come and go. It also helps increase motivation, a key requirement for muscle growth.

Here's why muscle grows..

Muscle growth will not occur just because you do a few curls or tons of curls for that matter. You can eat protein til you are blue in the face, but in order to put on muscle, you have to give muscle a reason to grow.

Muscle growth occurs for a physiological reason. That reason is the same for all bodily changes and functions, its adapts for survival purposes.

When a muscle cell is stressed intensely it causes damage to its internal elements, protein filaments shatter and glycogen storage depletes rapidly. If the cell experiences this level of stress on a regular basis its ability to survive would be compromised. When the stress stops (between workouts) the cell has the time to recuperate, replace and fix the cell back to pre-stressed state. After this recovery the cell will overcompensate for the stress by adding more strength, more protein filaments, glycogen stores and increased enzymes for energy production. The idea is if this stress is encountered again in the near future it has a better chance of survival because there are now more elements to be broken down.

To build muscle fast we manipulate this principle by introducing a new level of stress and cause a further overcompensation process to make cells continuously add strength and this causes muscle growth.

Muscle growth is an adaptive response so train scientifically to continue the muscle building process!

Stop the plateau with these exercise techniques

Mix it up and challenge your body!

I often hear people say that they out grow, get bored, or plateau doing the same exercises. Here's 5 exercises techniques that you can use to make the exercises more challenging. Keep it mixed up and as long as you keep challenging your body you will see results.

1. INSTABILITY—We all want stability in certain areas of our life: relationship, finances or even just knowing that the recipe you prepare once a week will always turn out the same – yummy. But stability in your workouts isn’t always good! In fact, a study in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research found that key muscles in the back and abdomen might work anywhere from two to seven times as hard when the upper body, lower body or both are made unstable. So, challenge your balance…and you’ll strengthen core muscles, and boost your calorie and fat burn.
2. LOAD—A great way to increase the intensity of your workout is by adding extra weight. FIRST, though, make sure you’ve mastered the exercise without weights! You can increase the load with dumbbells, resistance bands, a weighted vest…you name it!
3. TEMPO—The best exercise to demonstrate the power of tempo is a push-up. Faster isn’t always better! In fact, by s..l..o..w..i..n..g it down, it’s actually a lot harder. And, you’ll really feel the burn. You can also increase the tempo, or add speed, but really explode it! Finally, mixing up slow with fast is also a great way to change the tempo to increase the intensity and difficulty of your exercises.
4. RANGE OF MOTION—When you’re a beginner, you want to use a smaller range of motion. This way, you can make sure you’ve got perfect form. Once you’ve mastered the exercise, add a deeper range of motion. Believe me, this is super challenging!
5. INCREASE TIME, SETS, REPS or DECREASE REST—This is pretty obvious, but not everyone tries it!

I'd love to hear how you all keep it interesting and challenging!

A little pampering...

I usually preach to take care of yourself from the inside out, but I recently discovered a simple, homemade body scrub that is simply awesome. The benefits of a body scrub are numerous- they scrub away dead skin and impurities, giving your skin a healthy glow and a super smooth feel. And if it smells great, that's an added bonus! With the cold winter months dry skin is inevitable, and it feels so good exfoliate it away!

To make a coffee body scrub, you will need:

• About a cup of coffee grounds. It should be ground a little on the coarse side to ensure maximum exfoliation. I've used both fresh grounds and "used" grounds, both work!
• About 1/3 cup sugar, which is also a good exfoliator.
• About 1/4 cup olive oil which will leave your skin as soft as a baby's bottom.
• A container with a tight lid.

Simply mix the coffee grounds and sugar together, then stir in the olive oil. It shouldn't be particularly runny- you should be able to grab a handful of it without it seeping out between your fingers. You may want to play with the ratios a little bit, perhaps adding a smaller amount of olive oil at first, and gradually adding more as you see fit.

That's it! It only takes a small amount to exfoliate a significant area of skin, and I use it everywhere except my face (although sugar by itself is a great face exfoliator, and less rough.) You won't want to use it every day because of how coarse it is, and you won't need to for the same reason! It's excellent for a weekly pampering session, and my husband will vouch for how delightfully smooth my skin is, especially when I follow up with a nice moisturizing lotion.

As a side note- you may notice that using this scrub leaves a thin film on the skin. Don't fret- it comes off easily with a little body wash on a loofah or sponge.

You will want to use it up quickly, so if you don't think that you will use it all within a few weeks, plan on not making very much at a time. If you leave it for too long, the delicious coffee scent will disappear. (That's one reason for making sure your container has a good, tight-fitting lid). The simplicity of the recipe allows for dividing it by half or more if you need to. You could even just make enough for one use.

Bread rocks!

Hello everyone!

I recently went shopping with my college girlfriends that I haven't seen in a while. We were stocking up on some food for a weekend in the mtns and I was shocked when they were so confused in the bread isle! There are so many "tricks" on the labels that can make you think the bread is healthy but most of it is just fluffy while flour, other wise know as enriched wheat flour! So I thought I'd take a few minutes to share some tips with you on how to pick your bread!

Best Bread Tip No. 1: Go for 100%

Just "whole wheat" doesn't cut it. Neither does "made with whole grain," Look for labels that say "100% whole wheat" or "100% whole grain," and don't settle for anything less. If it’s 100% whole wheat, the first ingredient listed in the ingredient label will be whole-wheat flour or 100% whole-wheat flour.

You want whole grains because they're naturally low in fat and cholesterol free; contain 10% to 15% protein, and offer loads of healthy fiber, minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. These breads are packed with whole grains and provide so many health benefits, including protection from heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity, and some cancers.

Best Bread Tip No. 2: Watch the Sodium.

Most bread products come with a dose of sodium, which is added to help control the yeast activity and for flavor. If you eat three servings of whole grain bread a day, and each slice has about 200 milligrams of sodium, that contributes 600 milligrams to your daily sodium total. It may not sound like much, but it represents one-third of your limit if you're trying to stay within 1,800 milligrams a day.

The good news is that there are plenty of breads with 200 milligrams or less of sodium per slice.

Best Bread Tip No. 3: Diet or "Light" Isn't Always Better.

There are several brands of bread that are promoted as being lower in calories. They usually have the word "light" in the name or on the packaging. Often, "light" bread means a smaller serving size and a product that is pumped with some extra fiber. For example, Sara Lee has a "45 Calories & Delightful" whole-wheat bread. Although the 45 calories is "per 1 slice," the nutrition information on the label is given for 2 slices. The weight of a 2-slice serving of this bread is 45 grams, compared to Sara Lee's classic 100% whole-wheat classic bread, which weighs 57 grams per 2-slice serving.

The best and Fail proof way to choose bread is to look for sprouted grain products. Sprouted grains of any kind are beneficial because the sprouting process releases more nutrients which yields 10-20 times more nutrients

Myth Busting!

Hi everyone! I hope you are having a great week. It is so beautiful today in southern Cali and I'm sitting on my rooftop deck answering emails and I had to take a break and share a little with you all! It amazes me how I get the same questions over and over again about some crazy nutrition myths that just never seem to die!! Here are a four over the hill myths that I thought I help bust for you all!

MYTH: Low carb diets are the only way to lose weight.

A low fat diet with a balance of carbs and protein is the only diet that has stood the test of time for successful weight loss. The only way to lose weight and keep it off is to consume less calories then you expend. Fat has 9 calories per gram, so it’s easy to cut calories by trimming fat.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends 20 to 35% of dietary calories come from fat, 10-35% from protein, and 45 to 65% from Carbohydrates. All of these macronutrients, as well as micronutrients (vitamins and Minerals) are essential in the proper amounts for optimal health. From a heart health perspective, the healthiest over all meal plan is a Mediterranean diet which is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and omega-3 fatty acids from fish, and low in saturated fat, sodium and added sugar.

A diet void of carbs will do you more harm then good and will set you up long term failure. If you are going to cut carbs, cut out the overly processed carbs that are full of sugar and white flour and eat whole grains, fruits, and veggies.

MYTH: Not eating is the best way to lose weight.

Not eating unhealthy high calorie foods is the best way to lose weight, period. If you do not get enough calories, your body will out smart you and store fat because it knows it is not going to get what it needs. Your body could go into starvation mode and your metabolism will slow to a crawl in an effort to conserve its energy stores. This is why people who cut their calories too low may hit a plateau and not loss weight.

MYTH: Eating late at night will cause you to gain weight

Weight gain occurs when you consume more calories then you expend, whether that occurs in the middle of the day, morning, or at night. Eating late at night will not cause you to gain weight. However, people who eat a lot of food late at night tend to mindlessly consume more calorie dense foods through unhealthy snacking. Balance your calories throughout the day and if you choose to eat late at night account for it in your daily balance.

MYTH: Grapefruit and cabbage will speed up your metabolism

We’ve all heard of the crazy diets out there that promise a “magical compound” found in certain foods. Bottom line, there is no magic bullet to weight loss and there is no food that will help you burn more calories. The only way to speed up your metabolism is to exercise and build muscle.

Totally random blog today, but I thought I'd take some time to share fun stuff!! So last night I went to a Clippers Game with my husband Gunter and celeb trainer Gunnar Peterson (say that 10 times Gunter and Gunnar!!!) and his gal Caroline. I'm getting over a cold and was so close to canceling because I just didn't know if I was going to have fun feeling a bit under the weather. But it's tough to catch up with friends these days so I decided to stick it out and just go! So I toss on my ball cap, packed some tissues and headed out to meet Gunnar at his gym (which might I add is my dream gym!) So we show up and he got a limo for the night just to make it easy! Wow, fun! So we get there and turns out Gunnar has season tickets and swapped with some people around him so we could all sit together front row...ON THE COURT! It was so cool, Denver Nuggets and LA Clippers. Gunter (my hubby) is German and doesn't know much about basketball so I was so worried he would have fun. Man was I wrong. the energy was rocking and we were so close I swear I could have made a basket from my seat! Not once did I think about my cold!

We ended the night in Gunnar's Gym where I played on the new monkey bars he just had put up. Seriously, now he has it all it that little gym, it's amazing!

So my true confession and lesson learned, I didn't work out the last few days because I felt crappy, but I have a feeling that the energy in the gym would do me good just like the energy of the game did! Me and my snotty little nose are off to the gym first thing tomorrow! No more excuses!!!

Have a great weekend everyone:)

Happy New Year!

I really have a love/hate relationship with January! I'm so fired up for the New Year, yet I'm never quite sure where to begin. So many ideas, I want to conquer the world and need 10 lifetimes to do it all! And now on top of all my ideas and jobs, I'm a mommy!

So this morning I got up, strapped on my wonder women cape and made it as far as the upstairs couch where I fell back asleep for 2 hours. Wow, really, no kidding! What the heck was that!

Anyhow, on to todays topic, JANUARY!

For those of you that know me you know that I don't usually watch much TV. Frankly, I find it an utter waste of time and while I do love Criminal Minds and True Blood, I don't usually have the TV on. Last night my sister was over and she insisted on watching House, not bad either, but I couldn't get over the commercials. If I didn't know better here's what I'd have learned:

-High Fructose corn syrup isn't bad for you, it's just like sugar.

That's total crap and I don't know how they can put that on TV! High fructose corn syrup is a chemical and it's cheap so that's why food companies use it. It's so bad for your liver and if you are stressing out your liver you won't be losing weight or doing your body good. As for it being just like sugar, well, sugar is bad for you too!

-Cheerio lowers cholesterol. Really, again, processed crap! Soluble fiber is what helps lower cholesterol and there is only one gram per serving. Apples, veggies, and beans and give you 2-5 times that. Sorry Cheerios, you lose!

-Diets fail, lap band works. UGH, do I really need to dig into this! I nearly lost it with this one!

-Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers with their million dollar spokes people. Do you really think they are counting points and eating packet's of god knows what for snacks.

I could go on and on, but I think we all know that if you want to be healthy you need to exercise and eat NATURAL foods.

As much as I'd love to believe that there is a quick fix to get in shape and stay in shape I'm here to remind you that there isn't. Make changes in your routine that you can maintain for life. Now here's your homework for the day.

1. Go clean out your kitchen and get rid of all the things that have High Fructose Corn Syrup and other chemicals (That includes soda, people!)

2. Ditch the processed cereals and eat your oatmeal!

3. Don't go on a diet, just eat 5 small meals a day with natural foods.

Last get moving! Exercise! You'll feel great and have the best year of your life!

PS-I want to know one thing that you found in your kitchen that you were surprised to find high fructose corn syrup in.