Super Yummy Guacamole with Peas and FitFlax

I LOVE Guacamole.  It tastes great on chips, carrots, salami, bread or simply by itself.   The problem is that though it has tons of vitamins, minerals and good fats, it has a a high fat content. High fat content equals too many calories.   A typical portion size of guacamole clocks in at about 320 calories.  I found a way to have just as much at half the calories... and you can't even tell the difference.  The secret is Peas and FitFlax.  My Super Yummy Guacamole is rich, creamy and gorgeous looking too.  It is loaded with lots of healthy Omega 3's and the FitFlax gives it a nice nutty crunch....and there are only 160 calories per serving!!  

INGREDIENTS

10-ounce pack of frozen peas
1 small ripe avocado
½ cup cilantro (optional)
½ ripe tomato, deseeded and chopped
1/3 cup chopped onion (optional) 
Squeeze of fresh lime juice 
6 tbsp FitFlax 

DIRECTIONS
 
Cook peas according to package instructions. Empty into a colander, drain and rinse with cold water. Place peas, avocado and cilantro in a blender and blend to desired consistency. Spoon into a bowl with chopped tomato and onion. Add a squeeze of lime juice, stir and enjoy with a margarita! (Makes 8 servings) 

Running versus Walking

Running Versus Walking...Just get off the couch!!

Which is Better for Overall Fitness, Wellness and Weight Loss?

Presently, I walk daily for fitness.  I use a pedometer to track my miles and wear SmartSole Exercise Insoles to both tone my legs and burn more calories.  With the NYC Marathon approaching on Sunday, I ask myself whether I should start a running program again.  The answer is a resounding “NO!”.  Both running and walking are excellent for aerobic exercise. They each have advantages. Which is a better fitness program depends on the individual.  I know that I personally hate running. I always felt great once I finished a run, but was  miserable while actually doing it.  I hated every minute I was pounding the pavement, and I believe the whole runner's high thing is a fairy tale!  I just got sore joints, pains and always was gasping for breath.

Running is more vigorous than walking. It will produce a faster heart rate and will produce training effects in less time.  Brisk walking does burn about the same number of calories per miles, but it will take longer to walk the miles than run them. Those wanting to lose weight and having limited time for exercise can burn calories in less time by running.  Personally, I would rather spend more time doing something I enjoy, than a little less time doing something I despise.

For those who like to see scenery while exercising, running allows one to cover ground faster than walking.  Walking allows more time to enjoy the scenery than to view it as a blur as you speed by in a sweaty hurry. Walking also is a wonderful stress reliever as you can mull through issues as you briskly walk.

Running is also very hard on knees, ankles, and other joints. Hard impacts repeated about 1000 times per mile produce extreme stress on these joints. Good shoes can help, but many people can not run because of this stress on their joints. Walking produces far less stress, so people with knee or other joint problems should walk rather than run.

Beginners who have been previously sedentary or those with health problems should start their exercise program by walking. Those who wish to can slowly build up to running. Those who do not wish to run can continue to reap the same health and fitness benefits by walking.  I feel I get the best of both world’s by walking in SmartSole Exercise Insoles as I am not stressing my joints and I am burning more calories because of the negative heel/positive arch construction of SmartSoles.

So which is better Walking or Running?

Both running and walking are excellent aerobic exercises. They will both improve anyone's overall health and fitness. Either is better exercise than sitting in front of the television and eating junk! Get off that couch and start moving those legs. Choose whichever of these exercise programs best meets your needs and preferences.

SmartSoles are presently on sale at Duane Reade in NYC or can be purchased at www.smartsole.com .  The promo code fit10 gets you a 10% discount.

Pumpkin and FitFlax Healthy Muffin

I LOVE muffins.  However most muffins are really cleverly disguised mini cakes, and loaded with calories!  These healthy pumpkin and FitFlax muffins are not only delicious, but they are good for you and low in calories.  They are not too sweet and freeze well too. They are best served warm and shared with friends with a great cup of coffee!  

(FitFlax is loaded with Omega 3's, fiber & antioxidants and helps with weight loss.)

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/4 cup canola oil
1 cup nonfat milk
1/2  cup FitFlax

1/2 cup walnuts or pecans
Preparation:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger and nutmeg. Combine pumpkin, beaten egg, oil and milk in a medium bowl. Make a well in dry ingredients; add pumpkin mixture and stir until just combined. Fold in FitFlax and walnuts. Fill muffin cups and bake for 22-25 minutes.

Makes 12 muffins:  220 delicious calories per muffin

Metabolism Boosting Foods!

Some foods have a strong metabolism-boosting impact when eaten (no ice cream is not one of them!). Some of the calories are burned off just being digested, so the net amount of calories is less than the amount contained in the food. This process is not called magic; it is dietary induced thermogenesis. Here is a list of some of these wonder foods:

Dairy products can boost weight loss efforts, according to a recent study in obesity research. People on a reduced-calorie diet who included three to four servings of dairy foods lost significantly more weight than those who ate a low-dairy diet containing the same number of calories. Low-fat yogurt is a rich source of weight-loss-friendly calcium, as well as protein. Studies show that not getting enough calcium may trigger a hormone that causes us to store fat.

Strawberries, blackberries and blueberries are all high-fiber berries. Fiber acts like a sponge and absorbs and moves fat through our digestive system faster so that less of it is absorbed. Fiber keeps you full and satisfied all day on little calories. A one cup serving of raspberries contains 8 grams of fiber and only 60 calories! FitFlax with flax seed and chia seeds is also a great source of fiber. For flax seed weight loss and chia seeds weight loss, check out FitFlax.

Green tea contains caffeine, which is a natural stimulant that can help your body burn more calories while at rest. Caffeine speeds up the heart rate and also frees fatty acids stored in the body, making them more readily available for energy use. Also, green tea contains a compound called ECGC that may help to boost your metabolism as well by speeding up the brain and nervous system.

Water helps to rid the body of toxins and chemicals that may be slowing down your overall metabolism. A new study seems to indicate that drinking water actually speeds up weight loss. Researchers found that subjects of a study increased their metabolic rates by 30 percent after drinking approximately 17 ounces of water. Water is also a natural appetite suppressant that banishes bloat as it flushes out sodium and toxins. FlaxVibrance with flax hull lignans and milled chia seeds is another great source of antioxidants.

FlaxVibrance is also a terrific immune booster which is essential during the upcoming cold and flu season.

Demi Moore looks a little "Less"

You may call me a hater, but I think Demi Moore looks like she needs a couple of chocolate cupcakes! Being fit and toned is great; looking like you are going to pass out is not so great.   Her shoes look fabulous though.

It is ironic that the word cheat is right behind her on the movie poster.

October 18th - National Chocolate Cupcake Day!

Seriously, today is National Chocolate Cupcake Day.  In honor of this momentous day, I am sharing the world's best chocolate cupcake recipe.This recipe is from Modern Day Baker by Nick Malgieri


Insanely Decadent Chocolate Cupcake Delight
(makes 18 cupcakes - share with friends!)

• 2 cups sugar
• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 4 oz unsweetened chocolate, cut into 1/4-inch pieces
• 1 cup boiling water
• 8 tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup sour cream

Set a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350F. Line a muffin tin with paper cupcake liners.

For the cupcake batter, stir the sugar, flour, baking soda and salt together in a mixing bowl. Set aside.

Put the cut up chocolate in a large mixing bowl and pour the boiling water over it. Let stand for 2 minutes, then whisk until smooth. Whisk in the butter, then the eggs, one at a time, whisking after each addition until smooth. Whisk in the vanilla and sour cream.

Whisk in the flour and sugar mixture in 3 separate additions, whisking until smooth after each.

Divide the batter equally among the cavities in the pans, spooning it in. Bake the cupcakes until they are well risen and feel firm when pressed in the center with a fingertip, about 20 minutes.

Cool in the pans on racks for 5 minutes, then transfer the cupcakes to racks and cool completely before frosting. Start the frosting while the cupcakes are cooling since it also needs time to cool.

chocolate fudge icing

• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/4 cup light corn syrup
• 12 oz bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, melted
• 6 tbsp unsalted butter, very soft
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Combine the cream and corn syrup in a small saucepan and whisk well to mix. Place over low heat until simmering and pour into a bowl to cool to lukewarm, about 110F.

Add the cooled cream mixture to the melted chocolate and whisk until smooth. Distribute the butter in small pieces all over the top of the chocolate mixture, then whisk it in smoothly. Whisk in the vanilla. Cool the icing until it is firm enough to spread. (I chilled mine in the fridge for 20 minutes and then stirred it and let it sit on the counter until firm.)

Use a small offset spatula or knife to spread some of the icing on each cupcake.

Okay, so today it feels to me to be mandatory to have a chocolate cupcake or you may be considered to be a bad American.  You also don't need to turn the oven on either.  NYC has so many great cupcake shops:  Magnolia Bakery, Crumbs and Baked by Melissa...just to name a few.  

I plan to enjoy a cupcake, not two or ten.  Just one incredible one and eat healthy the rest of the day.  That is my intention.  As I am told in Yoga, set your intentions!

I have already had a great cup of coffee with a bowl of 0% fat Greek yogurt, berries, almonds and FitFlax.  FitFlax is a golden roasted flax and chia blend that is loaded with Omega 3's, fiber and antioxidants.  It is low carb/low cal, gluten free and yummy.  It helps with weight loss, gives you energy and is great for your skin, hair and nails. This is my go to power breakfast almost every day.

Happy National Chocolate Cupcake Day!  Namaste!

OINK, OINK!

I used to write a fitness blog as I try to lead a healthy lifestyle.  I found it to be too much pressure.  I am not fit every day, and don't eat the healthiest every day.  I am a New Yorker every day with a certain New York sensibility.

Sometimes when I am stressed there is nothing like a Bikram yoga class to help.  Other times, there is nothing better than pizza, cookies and wine.  I started my day today with a 4 year old child screaming at me and having an epic tantrum.  That is where we had ended our day the night before.  Today my solution to my stress has been ice cream straight from the pint with a candy bar chaser.  I am attractively bedecked in a lovely pair of sweat pants.  I am not proud!

Tomorrow, I plan on taking a long walk in my SmartSoles  (a toning insole that I developed with my brother and business partner) with a pedometer.  Right now I am going to wipe the chocolate off my face, brush the crumbs off my lap and try to pick up the schmutz that is all over my apartment.