GIVE AWAY TIME

FREE GIVEAWAY TIME!! Read up on how to score one of these workout tanks!

I finally sat down to order a workout tank for myself and I thought why not give one away as a thank you to everyone who has supported me in the journey!

So....

In order to be eligible, you MUST do ALL the following:
1-LIKE my Fan Page
1-LIKE this post
2-SHARE this post
3-COMMENT by tagging someone else who might like this page!
If you do all the above, you'll be entered to win one of the shirts below!!
(Sizes small- XL available!)

Drawing will happen on 4th of July!

Good Luck friends!

Spicy Turkey Lettuce Wraps

One of my challengers shared this recipe with me and after her entire family enjoyed it I had to give it a go. Boy was I glad I did. Much to my surprise this was delicious! The best part is that it is fixed approved. This recipe minus the sauce is 1 Red, 1 ½ Green, 1 Yellow and 1tsp.

What you need:

1 lb Lean Ground Turkey Meat

1/2 Medium Onion, chopped

4 Green Onions, chopped

5 Snacking Peppers, yellow & orange preferred, chopped

3 cloves garlic, crushed

1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 tsp Chili Powder

Salt & Pepper (to taste)

2 cups Brown Rice, cooked

Head of Iceberg or Green Leaf Lettuce, washed and prepped in whole pieces

2 Tbsp Fresh Parsley, chopped (optional)

 

 

*EXTRA BONUS*

SAUCE

1 tsp Sesame Oil

2 tsp White Vinegar

2 tsp Soy Sauce

1 tsp Fresh Lime Juice

1/2 tsp Honey

Dash of Ginger

Mix together and use as a dressing/sauce on top.

 

What to do:

• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the chopped onions, green onions and bell pepper and cook until tender, 2-3 minutes. Add crushed garlic.
• Brown the turkey meat in another pan over medium heat. Once browned, stir in the onions and peppers. Add chili powder, salt and pepper and remove from heat. Stir in fresh chopped parsley and serve with brown rice.
• Wrap all ingredients in lettuce.

Low - Calorie Margarita

It's THIRSTY THURSDAY and who doesn't enjoy a nice cold margarita?! This girl for sure does!!

 

Here is a tip you can use this weekend when you are out socially and want to enjoy a few drinks without stacking on the pounds. Don't be afraid to ask the bartender to make your drink this way.

 

Let me know if you give this a try!! CHEERS!!!

 

 

WTF (What's the Facts) Wednesday

On my facebook like page, I do a weekly WTF Wednesday so my follows can get educated on healthy options at restaurants and fast food chains. Because busy people need options to stay healthy!!

CLICK HERE TO MY FACEBOOK LIKE PAGE

Who likes Chipotle? Here is a good healthier option if you are out and need to grab food. I know for me personally this summer I have been so busy keep the kids busy that finding time to fix my meals have been challenging. Just because I am busy doesn't mean my healthy and fitness goals have to suffer. Please like my facebook page if you enjoy getting tips like this.



Benefits to Lemon Water

So a little trick of the trade is to drink warm lemon water before you eat your breakfast. It has all sorts of great benefits.

I find that it clears up my skin, keeps me hydrated, helps me lose weight, shed water weight, and starts off my day with a mini detox.

I know it seems weird but it totally works!

I have a bag of lemons I get from Costco sitting on the counter and every am it's 1/2 of a lemon and warm water. I drink that and then at my breakfast!!

Try it! It works!!!

 

Mexican Food Tips

Surprise! Mom doesn't cook on Saturday night so we usually pick something up for dinner. Mexican food is my favorite. Here are few tips I go by while dinning out at Mexican restaurants. What are you having for dinner tonight?

Find Your Balance

I believe life is all about balance! Sure I'm passionate about being healthy and strong. But I don't let it dictate everything I do. I eat sweet treats and drink wine. I love those things! I just choose not to allow them to control me and my health.

And I don't feel guilty about having them. Life is meant to be lived to the fullest, but moderation is definitely key.

Summertime, vacations, birthdays, holidays, and other celebrations are most certainly times to celebrate special moments and make wonderful memories. They shouldn't be spent worrying about cheating or weight gain. That's where healthy balance comes in.

I totally practice the 80/20 rule. I aim to eat clean and get my workout in 80% of the time, so when those events roll around, I can indulge and treat myself without feeling guilty.

It's not about depriving yourself all the time, but creating new habits to replace old ones that weren't working for you. These are the type of things I teach in my challenge groups and to my coaches. I'm not always at 100%. That is NOT attainable. But balance is!

Message me at aplayo@gmail.com if you want to know more about the 1:1 coaching I offer.

The skinny on cocktails

My college girlfriends and I made a pack when we were in college that no matter where our lives went that we needed to stay in touch. So here we are 12 years later and we make it a priority to do one weekend trip together. This year’s trip is at the river one town over from our college town. It’s always so refreshing to take time to reconnect and nourish those friendships. Since the trip is in a few weekends, I decided to do some research on clean low calorie cocktails so I can enjoy myself but still feel confident in my bathing suit.

How to enjoy any cocktail with friends without high sugars and calories?

I found Bethenny Franklin’s fixologist formula to be the easiest to apply to any social setting. Just  apply these 4 step to any drink and you will feel lighter with the fewer calories.

1.   Fill a short glass with ice. Always use a lot of ice

2.  Add clear liquor as it is cleaner and lighter with fewer impurities than     dark liquor. Vodka is a good one because it is clear and you can make a vodka version of just about any drink.

3.  Fill the glass rest of the way with club soda. This will reduce the strength of the drink and help keep you hydrated.

4.  Add a splash of the sweet or fruity component – typically this will be a sweet liqueur, a sugary mix, or fruit juice.

Examples

Margaritas  - Ask for a clear tequila on the rocks with club soda and just a splash of that frozen

machine mix everyone is drinking

Daiquiri or pina colada – a shot of rum, club soda, and a splash of daiquiri or pina colada mix

New Orleans hurricane – A shot of clear run over ice with club soda and a splash of the hurricane mix

Vodka and cranberry – Vodka and soda on the rocks with a splash of cranberry

Martinis – Gin or vodka, club soda on the rocks with a splash of olive juice

At home margaritas – Clear tequila, club soda on the rocks with a splash of citrus liqueur

Rum and cola – Clear rum, club soda on the rocks with just a splash of cola

See it’s that easy. Don’t be afraid to ask the bartender for the modifications. More than likely you aren’t the first one who has asked him for a skinny girl cocktail.

In addition to Bethenny’s fixologist formula here are some great tips to consider when out drinking.

·      Only drink clear liquor

·      Have a two-drink maximum

·     Alternate a glass of water with every alcoholic drink.

·     Wine goes down too quickly so beware of the  wine refill

·     Eat protein and veggies with alcoholic drinks rather than starches

·     If you have a dessert liqueurs, enjoy one over a lot of ice after dinner instead of dessert

These are the tips I plan to follow on my girls trip. It’s nice to know I can still enjoy a tasty drink but with fewer calories!! I highly recommend Bethenny's book The Skinnygirl Dish if you are looking for more naturally thin tips.