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Thursday, June 27, 2013

Bulletproof Coffee Inspired Smoothie

A lot of my friends have been drinking bullet proof coffee. Bullet proof coffee is black coffee with either coconut oil or grass fed butter melted into it.  When I first heard of this, I wanted to vomit- mainly thinking about putting butter in coffee, but the people who drink it swear by it.

I'm not a coffee drinker (because I it gives me headaches and I act like a squirrel on cocaine when I drink it), but I love the flavor.  I also think it's a great idea to start your day off with a good fat.  So I came up with this smoothie recipe that gives you the yum of the bullet proof coffee but with some carbs and protein for those of us who eat breakfast and hit early morning work outs. 

4oz Coconut Water
4oz Water
3-4 ice cubes
1 tbsp coconut oil or grass fed butter
1 banana
1 scoop of chocolate protein powder
1 tsp coffee extract
Blend your ass off

I'm sure you can pour 8oz of coffee into the smoothie instead of the coconut water and water and skip the coffee extract.  I bet that would make it taste like iced coffee too.  You can also skip the banana if that makes the smoothie to heavy, you don't like bananas, or are watching carbs.  I top mine off with a few raw cacao nibs.  Nibs are delicious little devils.  They are pieces of the cacao beans that would eventually be ground into cocoa powder.  I love these bitches.  Chocolate makes life a little more amazing.

Have a bullet proof day!!!
xoxo
J

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Help, I'm stuck!

Sometimes right before we are inspired to mobilize and take action in our lives, we are faced with this feeling of being stuck.  This can often come with feelings of stagnation, hopelessness, irritation, guilt, fear, and sadness.  The even more confusing part of "stuckness" comes when these dragalicious feelings are accompanied with ideas of change, excitement for the future, thrill, and adventure.  It can be very confusing and emotionally exhausting. 

I think the turmoil before the decision to "unstick" yourself is the hardest part.  Sometimes instead of feeling like you are moving upward, it feels as though you are moving side to side.  Waffling, going back and forth, weighing the options.  The funny part is, usually, internally you know what is best for you, but the stuckness usually comes from protecting others, protecting yourself from the unknown, and trying to live by standards other people set for you. 

What is right?  Living a life feeling stuck in order to please others?  Sacrificing yourself and playing the martyr?  Are these things really, truly healthy for your psyche and the psyche of those whom you truly care?  Those are questions you have to answer for yourself.  Another difficult aspect of this is that although we are taught that self-sacrificing is this beautiful, amazing thing, we are also given the confusing message that if you are not happy and in love with your self, you cannot be in love and happy with others.  It can lead to very conflicting feelings which force you to examine who you are and who you need to become and the balance of the two. 

The beautiful part of all of this is that we have choices.  Every time you feel stuck or the victim of a situation you created or another person's choices or actions- you decide your reaction.  You decide the way you think about given situations.  You can move at any point when the time is right for you. 

Stuck is a feeling. 
It is not a reality.
And at any given moment, you can move. 

xoxo
J

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Cheezy Ass Mutha Fuckin' Lasagne

This afternoon was heaven- no practicum (fancy doctorate speak for working for free) and no class.  I headed in the house for my favorite past time- cooking.  Man, I have been so busy that I haven't hit up my kitchen for a real food party in what seems like forever!  It was so good to be back.  Cooking is so much fun for me.  I've really missed doing it!!!! 

So I had it in my head that I was going to make grain free lasagna.  I was going to use thinly sliced zucchini for the noodles.  Well, my daughters had other ideas.  The second we walked into the store and headed for the zucchini, the bitching began.  "EWWWWWWW!!!!!!  MAAAAWWWWWMMMMM, I HATE ZUCCHINI.  GROSSSSSSS."  Okay.  Hmmmmmmm....I thought about eggplant.  I could take or leave that.  Then I decided on mushrooms.  The kids love mushrooms.  Okay.  Mushrooms it is.  So here is my lasagna recipe for all of you to recreate.  I do not consider this recipe Paleo or healthy by any means.  It has about 40 pounds of cheese in it, so watch yourself home slice. 

Step One- Put on some Rod Stewart or Kesha
Step Two- Brown 1 to 1 and 1/2 pounds of ground turkey
Step Three- While that is browning, put some Olive Oil in the bottom of your 9x13 inch pan, followed by a layer of mushrooms. 
Step Four- Grate 16 oz of Mozzarella Cheese
Step Five- Pour yourself some wine (or seltzer water for me today)
Step Six- Mix together 15 oz of ricotta cheese and 1/2 c Parmesan or Romano or a blend
Step Seven- When meat has finished browning, add 3/4 of a 25 oz jar of sauce or homemade sauce and mix it together.  I just started buying a brand called Paesana Marinara and I love it!  There isn't any bullshit in it either so it's fabulous.
Step Eight- Spoon the meat and sauce over the mushrooms
Step Nine- Spread a layer of the Ricotta mixture and then top with a layer of mozzarella
Step Ten- Mushrooms
Step Eleven- Meat Shit
Step Twelve- Cheesy fucking goodness
Pop this bitch in the oven at 350 for 30 minutes, take it out, and eat the hell out of it!  

Have a fabulous dinner!
xoxo
J

Wednesday, June 5, 2013

You work out too much

Recently, I've had a couple of people offer the opinion that I work out too much. One was my mother, so I decided I would think about it a little bit.  At first I was a little offended by these accusations but I'm a big fan of listening and learning so I started to do a little self-evaluating.  Do I work out too much?  Are other aspects of my life suffering because of how much I work out?  Am I neglecting my children?  Are my grades slipping?  Nope.  I'm keeping it together pretty darn well.  I'm kicking ass in school, my kids are happy and healthy, I have a bitchin' social life, the house is clean, I'm rarely sick...hmmm...what's the problem here????

I usually work out for an hour almost every day.  Some days, I work out for two to three hours (like on a Saturday or Sunday) and some days I don't get there at all.  The CDC recommends doing 2.5 hours per week of cardiovascular training and 2 or more hours of weight training per week- MINIMUM.  Many physicians recommend 60 minutes per day of physical activity for adults and children. Okay.  I'm in that range of healthy activity level.

I wonder how many people would complain if I spent 1 hour a day watching television, reading, or participating in another hobby?  What is it about my exercise routine that some find so offensive?  I'm not exactly sure.  I find my work outs to be a stress reliever.  It allows me to spend time with people who I love dearly and care about.  When I get in a good work out, I am more alert and am more present with my patients.  I have more patience with my children.  Working out is not a life drainer, it's a life saver! 

Imagine if everyone took one hour out of the day to spend working on themselves physically- in whatever capacity- crossfit, yoga, running, hiking, walking, zumba.  I just don't see that as a bad thing.  Our physical health should be one of our top priorities.  For me, it is a huge part of maintaining my sanity in a very crazy life.  It isn't selfish and honestly, I find it to be selfish NOT to take that time out of your day to be healthy for yourself and for the people around you. 

So please, go exercise!  I will never judge you for it ;0)  
xoxo
J