Healthy Dinner Ideas: WW Pork Milanese

I somehow ended up on a mailing list to get Weight Watchers cookbooks many years ago, but I only kept the first one they sent me. It's an ENTIRE cookbook of HEALTHY Italian recipes. Heaven. I love Italian food and below is one of our favorite recipes from the book, titled "Weight Watchers Quick Italian Favorites." YUM!

Pork Milanese
4  (4 oz.) boneless pork chops
2 (1.2 oz) slices of wheat bread
1/4 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese
1 tsp Italian Seasoning
2 tsp olive oil
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp black pepper
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tbsp water
1 large egg
Cooking Spray
4 lemon wedges

1. Preheat Oven to 450 degrees
2. If you'd like (I've never done it) flatten meat to 1/4" thickness with a meat mallet.
3. Place bread in food processor, and pulse 10 times to form coarse crumbs that measure 1-1/2 cups. Place bread crumbs in a pie plate or shallow dish. Stir in cheese and next 5 ingredients.
4. Combine water and egg in a bowl; stir well with a whisk. Dip pork chops in egg mixture; dredge in breadcrumb mixture.
5. Place pork chops on a baking sheet coated with cooking spray. Bake at 450 degrees for 20 minutes or until done. If desired, squeeze a lemon wedge over each chop.
   
   Yield: 4 servings (serving size 1 chop); Points Value: 5

Per Serving: Calories - 231; Fat 9.3g (saturated fat 3.5g); Protein - 27.5g; Carbs - 8.5g; Fiber - 1.3g; Cholesterol - 97mg; Iron - 1.6mg; Sodium - 358mg; Calcium - 87mg.

A couple of notes... we've never flattened the meat and I usually use regular parmesan cheese. Also, I've never used the lemon wedge... I'm sure it's great though! This is fairly easy and SO yummy!!!

ENJOY!

Beauty Minute: L'Oréal Paris Magic BB Cream

Recently, I was lucky enough to be invited to try L'Oréal Paris Magic BB Cream. This is my second experience with a BB cream and I love how flawless they make your skin look. This brand of BB cream didn't disappoint.

When I first opened the tube and squeezed it out, I was surprised by the white color. However, when I rubbed it on my face it took on the color of my skin. Pretty sweet!

This is definitely one I would purchase again!

Note: I received a complimentary product from SheSpeaks/L'Oréal to facilitate this review.

Body Beast - High Energy Trail Mix

I posted this picture yesterday showing the YUMMY High-Energy Trail Mix I made thanks to my Body Beast Nutrition Guide. Everyone wants to know the recipe, so I finally got a minute this evening to sit down and type it out for you.... enjoy it, SUPER good and clean eating snack!

High-Energy Trail Mix

2 cups pumpkin seeds, without shells

1 cup slivered almonds

1 cup dried cranberries

3/4 cup raw sunflower seeds, without shells

3/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes

1) Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.

2) Place 1/2 cup mixture in 12 small baggies.

Nutritional Information (per serving): 335 Calories / Fat 27 g / Saturated Fat: 11 g / Cholesterol: 0 mg / Sodium: 7 mg / Carbs: 18 g / Fiber: 5 g / Sugars: 8 g / Protein: 11 g.

Yes, it's a little higher in the calorie range but a great snack, especially with me needing more calories with Body Beast. It was a great, easy snack today at work about 2 hours before lunch and held me over till I could get home to eat. 

Lead by Example with your Kids!

I workout before the sun comes up every single morning. Some of these mornings I end up with an assistant with my workouts, which is what happened today. Check out the video below to see my little munchkins working it out with me during Les Mills Combat 60 Live.

What are your favorite activities to do with your kids?

Spot Reduction…. Fact or Fiction?

You’ve seen the infomercials for the Thigh Master and the Ab Belt that shocks your ab muscles… it’s a multi-million dollar industry these days. There are so many different contraptions out that claim they will work miracles on certain body parts. Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but you can’t focus on just one part of your body and expect it to look fabulous. Trust me, I wish it were true!!! In college I bought so many different things that claimed they would help my troubled thighs, and I used them religiously in hopes that one day I would have gorgeous thighs like Suzanne Somers. I had the lotions; I had the Bun & Thigh Rocker… all of them. But I just didn’t GET IT…. And my thighs did NOT look like Suzanne’s (they still don’t… ha!).

You can use these items all you want but you’ve actually got to put in some extra work. It’s simple work really, once you figure it out. Eat nutritious foods and exercise your ENTIRE body! Did you know that when losing weight, you will lose weight in the area of your body you gained it last? Fat loss is an all over body experience and you can’t target just one area.

While you may want to target certain areas of your body during workouts, don’t forget to let the rest of your body in on the fun. As you become more active, your metabolism will start chugging away and the calories will be burning long after you finish your workout.

Have you fallen into the spot reduction myth? What have you been duped into purchasing that made the promise to work miracles?

Finding Your Flat Abs!

Everyone wants nice, chiseled, flat abs but they always seem to be hiding under a layer of fluff. You can do crunches until the cows come home, but truthfully, flat abs start in the KITCHEN! What you are putting into your body along with your activity level is what will help you achieve the flat abs you are looking for. The cleaner you eat, the more likely you are gonna see those abs start to surface. Here is a list foods, courtesy of Fitness Magazine, that will give you some great nutrients and help the flab melt away and those hot abs make their grand entrance:

1. Almonds
2. Eggs
3. Soy
4. Apples
5. Berries
6. Leafy Greens
7. Yogurt
8. Veggie Soup
9. Salmon
10. Quinoa

Are you eating any of these foods? Which ones are your favorite? 

Remember, nutrition is 80% and fitness is 20%! If you want to see those abs shine through, you've GOT to have your nutrition in line. You can find the full list of foods and WHY they are a benefit to you and your abs here --> http://www.fitnessmagazine.com/weight-loss/plans/diets/foods-for-flat-abs/.

Ready to Get Fit in 2013? Join My February Challenge Group!

Are you ready? What's holding you back? 2013 could be your year. Look, I've been there... it's hard to be heavy! There is nothing worse than trying to button up your pants and have that tight, uncomfortable feeling across your waist... a feeling that wasn't there just a few months ago. It's time for YOU to take control of your life and get on track.

NO EXCUSES!!

That picture over there on the right, that is me almost two years after having my second baby. Do you SEE the changes that can be made in as little as 30 days. Want to see more of my transformation? Click up at the top of this page on "My Story." You will see that with work, consistency, clean eating, motivation and accountability... the weight WILL come off!!

I have TWO little girls, a husband, and a full-time job. On top of it all, I do what I really love which is being a Health & Fitness Coach. Yah, I'm pretty dang busy... throw in dance lessons and swim lessons, I barely have time to breathe. But you know what I DO have time for? Myself. One hour a day before the sun comes up, just one hour (sometimes less). I schedule that time for myself and MAKE IT HAPPEN!! You can to!

Think about it? Why are you putting it off? No motivation? No energy? No accountability? Then you NEED to learn more about my groups and why they WORK and will give you the much needed things you think you are lacking.

Again, I ask... what are you waiting for? It's simple, CLICK ON THE PICTURE BELOW. Watch the video, fill out the form and let's talk about your goals and let me help you get in the BEST shape of your life! :)

I look forward to chatting with you about how YOU can reach your goals in 2013! LET'S DO THIS!