Healthy Recipe For BBQ's

Sorry for not posting the last few days. Sometimes I get carried away with other things and forget to post on here. :) 

It's the time of year when BBQ's are happening and you're being invited to many cook outs. Sure going to one BBQ or maybe two isn't so bad to get off track, but a whole summer of this can get crazy. I though I'd share a healthy recipe to bring to your next BBQ. 

Zucchini and Onions Gratin 

2 tablespoons olive oil, divided

1 large onion, quartered lengthwise and 

thinly sliced

1 tablespoon tomato paste 

2 teaspoons grated lemon grind 

1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves 

3/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 1/2 pounds zucchini diagonally 

sliced into 1/4 inch-thick pieces

1 ounce Parmesan cheese, grated (about 1/4 cup) 

1. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add onion; cook 6 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in tomato paste; cook 2 minutes. Stir in rind, thyme, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and pepper; cook 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. 

2. Preheat broiler to high.

3. Arrange zucchini on a jelly roll-pan. Drizzle with remaining 1 tablespoon oil;toss. Broil 7 minutes or until or until lightly charred. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt. 

4. Preheat oven to 375. 

5. Spread onion mixture in a 2-quart gratin dish. Arrange zucchini mixture over onion mixture. Sprinkle with cheese. Cover and bake at 375 for 25 minutes. Remove from oven. 

6. Preheat broiler to high. 

7. Uncover zucchini mixture; broil 1.5 minutes or until lightly browned. 

Serves 6( about 1 cup each) 

Calories 92; Fat 6.3 g; Protein; 4g

Carb 7g; Fiber 2g; Iron 1mg; Sodium 224mg; CALC 79mg

You can serve this dish hot or cold, enjoy! 

Thank you for stopping by, 

Sandra Ballester 

What Did My Kid Say About Me?

I thought it would be fun and cute to get my sons thoughts on...

On another note, I'm on day 73 of P90X3!! I'm super excited about this. I feel like I'm ready to move on to the next thing. I may have been a little bored today. I'm not one not to finish a program when I start it, so I'll be making it to day 90! Next up will be the Ultimate Reset, which I'm scared about starting. Then I'll start PiYo!  

I have stuck to the promise I made myself and walked my dog every morning after I workout. I'm pretty proud of myself. I just finished an audio book today called A Long Way Down, then started Start with Why. 

For dinner tonight I made fajitas with a side salad. I could of been fancy and made beans with it, but I wanted to keep it sort of of clean and simple. I say sort of clean because I had one of those super low carb healthy tortillas with dinner. :) 

I made my own seasoning for the fajitas. Better than buying a store packet of seasoning. 

• 2 Tsp chili powder 
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 onion powder
• 1/2 crashed red peppers 
• 1/2 dried organo
• 1 tsp paprika
• 3 tsp ground cumin     

Have a good night, 

Sandra Ballester   
      

What to Do to Get Moving

Hello everyone! 

I made it another day of P90X3 Day 71 to be exact. Decelerator was today's workout and what I really like about this one is you'll work upper body, then lower body. Great way to get the heart rate up! 

I'm pretty proud of myself because yesterday I made it through the whole day with no cheats! If you've been reading you know I have a dessert problem. :) I hope I can survive today and not let my sweet tooth take me over. I was still feeling bloated this morning, so I decided right then and there I would take my dog for a walk after I worked out and guess what…I did! I walked two miles and burned 180 calories. If you're feeling lost and don't know where to begin, just get outside and take a walk!! 

I'm missing my honey (A.K.A. Husband) :) so at nights I'm finding that's when I want to make my way to the pantry for desserts. Despite missing him last night I didn't make my way to the pantry. In my books that's a win win! 

Thanks for stopping by, 
Sandra Ballester :) 

My Rest Day

Hello everyone! Thank for taking the time to stop by here again. Today is my rest day and I didn't really want to take it since I've been feeling so yucky about myself. I took my own advice I give all the time and took my rest day. I took a nice walk with my dog Max this morning. It was nice because I was plugged in to my audio book. My walk was nice and relaxing. 

Someone of you who know me personally know I have a hamstring injury and haven't been able to run. :( I hurt myself back in February and continued to run and make it worse. So I really had to listen to my honey (A.K.A husband) and my friends and stop running. I finally made an appointment to the doctor, then was referred to a physical therapist. My first appointment is this thursday. I can't wait to get help and move on to recovery! I really, really, really miss running!! Any other runners out there?

This was the run I participated in when I injured myself. 

I hope you all have a beautiful day! 

Sandra Ballester 

Day 69 of P90X3 and I Got the Blues

Some days I don't feel good enough or thin enough. Today is one of those days. I can't seem to like me today. I've been having a craving problem lately with desserts. It's been going on for a few months now. I can say it started around the same time my honey deployed. He's my rock and knows how to make me feel better when ever I'm down. With him not being home he can't fix me. If you read my first blog you know I still have set backs and days where I don't really like the way I look. 

I work out so hard and stay on track, but I can be my biggest sabtoger!(I made this word up) This is what goes on in my head sometimes…Let's say I make my goal weight, you'd think I'd be happy, right? Well I think I don't want this because then I'll have to maintain it and anything more on the scale is just not OKAY! This is when sabotaging comes in play. So even though on the outside I might look perfect to others, I'm not and I'm just as human as you are. 

Tomorrow I'll get back on the saddle and hope the day goes better! 

Thank you for reading, 

Sandra Ballester 

My Diary of Day 68

Hello everyone! Thank you for stopping by and reading my blog. Today I completed day 68 of P90X3!! I could really notice a difference in my endurance today. I feel so much stronger. My legs feel so firm and the definition is pretty fantastic! What I love most about this program is each workout is only 30 minutes long. During this program I've gotten pretty awesome results from just 30 minutes. However I think my results could be further along now if I wasn't such a dessert junkie :) This has been a problem for a few months now. So…..

Today I finally took the plunge and purchased Ultimate Rest I'm very excited about this. I plan to blog about my whole journey while I take the challenge on for 21 days. I won't be working out during this program, nothing more than yoga. So I have to wait till I finish P90X3. Then once I finish the reset I'll be starting the popular awaited new PiYo program! 

If you have any questions about anything I wrote about please email or friend me on Facebook. 

Have a wonderful day! 

Sandra Ballester 

The Perfect Boiled Egg

As promised I made a video of how to boil the perfect egg! If you follow my directions you will sure have the perfect egg! I've never had a epic fail using this method. :) 

Thank you for watching, 

Sandra Ballester 

Day 67 of P90X3

I did it again…I knocked out another day of P90X3! Sometimes I want to pinch myself because I didn't think I would make it this far. Today it was extra difficult to get my workout in. I had friends over last night and maybe a few glasses of wine. :) Let's just say I paid for it this morning. My workout was YogaX3 and it was very tough today. One my body is really sore, two I stayed up late, three I drank last night. But I didn't let my sleepiness be my excuse not to workout. So I'm happy It's done for the day. 

This workout has really helped me with my flexibility. I can stretch so much further in every move, much better than when I began. Flexibility is important and will help with not getting injuries. Which is a plus if you're a runner. I should have listened to my own advice. :) 

Have a wonderful day! 

Sandra 

Recipe

Cilantro Lime Chicken with Avocado Salsa

This one is delicious, clean, and doesn't require many ingredients!
Cilantro Lime Chicken with Avocado Salsa
For the chicken:
2 T fresh cilantro
2.5 T freshly squeezed lime juice
1.5 T EVOO (can use coconut oil - I haven't tried it this way though)
4 (6 oz) boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/4 tsp sea salt
For the salsa:
1 cup chopped plum tomato
2 T finely chopped onion
2 tsp fresh lime juice
1/4 tsp salt (or to taste)
1/8 tsp pepper
1 avocado (peeled and chopped)

To prepare the chicken, combine the first 4 ingredients in a bowl, toss and set aside. Let it marinate 3-5 minutes. Remove the chicken from the marinade and discard the marinade. Sprinkle the chicken with salt (if desired) and cook over medium heat on a grill or grill pan for approximately 6 minutes on each side (or until chicken is cooked thoroughly.)

To prepare the salsa, combine all ingredients except the avocado. Once mixed together, add the avocado and stir gently. Serve the avocado salsa over the chicken.

Enjoy!!http://www.sandraballesterfit4life.com/p/recipes.html

Food Prep/P90X3

Hello everyone!!


I wanted to share a short video about food prep. I'm the laziest person I know when it comes to making food for myself, so I decided I'd share some tips that work for me. :) 

Also, I made it to day 66 of P90X3!! Woot woot! I'm tooting my own horn….lol!! 

Why I love shakeology!

Hello everyone!! As promised I made a video of why I love shakeology!! Here's a few things to read 

Shakeology is:

• A daily dose of dense nutrition
• A world of superfoods in every glass • Nature in a bag
• Nutrition simplified 

What can Shakeology do for you?

Shakeology makes you healthy from the inside out. It truly is nutrition simplified.
Shakeology can transform your health by helping:*

• Curb cravings for sugar and
junk food
• Promote healthy weight loss • Increase energy levels
• Improve digestion
and regularity
• Support your immune system • Support cardiovascular health 

If you have any question please message me or friends me on face book! fb.comfit4lifesandraballester.com 

Also, I completed day 65 of P90X3!! 

Sandra 

P90X3 Day 64!

Today's check is a little different, I've decided to record a short clip. If you have any questions about the challenge pack message me on fb.com/sandraballester or message me on IG.com/sandraballester 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzPlQ_MW60A

Sandra :)

Proper Form Bridge

Bridge:

This exercise strengthens and shapes both glutes (buttocks) and hamstrings (back of the leg) at one time.

1. Lie supine with your heels on the Bosu Ball,  or a Stability Ball, knees directly above the hips.
2. Contract the abs, tuck the pelvis, press through the heels and lift the buttocks slightly off the floor.
3. Lower the hips close to the start position, but not completely resting on the floor.

 

Do

• Place your heels on the Bosu Ball or small bench, with your knees directly over the hips for proper body alignment
• Keep your back flat.
• Contract the gluteals, tuck and curl the pelvis up.
• Press firmly through your heels.
• Keep the movement smooth and controlled.

Don't

• Arch your back.
• Lift your pelvis too high.

Beginners

• Do not use weights.
• Make your movements smaller to decrease the intensity.

Form is important with all exercises because when not performed correctly you open doors for injury. 

Thank you for reading! 

Sandra 

P90X3

Most of you reading this have followed my P90X3 journey on Facebook. I'm now going to post about my workouts on here, but with a little more detail. Today I knocked out day 63…Total Synergistics, which I love! I was pretty sore today from yesterdays workout. This workout challenges your balance and really gets you to focus on stability. I really love the definition I'm getting all over my body. All of this from just 30 minutes a day. If you want keep reading on and I'll share what P90X3 is. 

What is P90X3?

P90X3 is the third iteration of Power 90 days extreme (yes, that's what P90X stands for). The original P90X serves as a deep immersion into extreme fitness; P90X focuses on advanced sports science for extreme-extreme performance gains; and now P90X3 adds another extreme-extreme efficiency. Every move and every routine in P90X3 is designed to produce the greatest physical changes during what is now scientifically determined to be the sweet spot of physical activity: the first 30 minutes of working out. X3 maximizes your results during this short window of opportunity, with no time wasted, no superfluous moves, and no loss of intensity. How is this possible? It's called Muscle Acceleration. 

If you have more questions about the program message me or friend me on Facebook.com/sandraballester 

Thanks for reading! 

Sandra 

First Blog!

I've had this blog created for about a month now and have I kind of just been waiting to post. I felt like everything on here needed to be perfect before I could post. But…today I was inspired and I felt I needed to share why. These words spoke to me, "DON'T JUDGE SOMEONE'S PRESENT UNTIL YOU KNOW THEIR PAST!" We all have a story. What's yours?

 I've battled with my weight since my early teens. Actually I knew I was the chubby kid as early as second grade. I felt like I didn't have many friends because I was chubby, and I felt like boys didn't like me because I was chubby. I was even called FAT by kids in school. When I went into the seventh grade, things got worse for me. Kids were so mean and they would say the meanest things to me. All because I wasn't a perfect size 2. By the summer before eighth grade I took matters in my own hands and developed an eating disorder. About the time eighth grade came around I was so excited to go to school because I had lost so much weight and was feeling skinny. The excitement only lasted for a day. By the next day, mean girls were spreading rumors about me. They were saying I did drugs to lose all my weight. These mean girls couldn't let me just be skinny, they had to take it to a whole new level. 

 As my schools years went on, I kept up this eating disorder to stay thin. Finally in eleventh grade I learned about exercising. I took a step class and fell in love with it. My coach inspired me so much she was the best to me. She spent extra time with me and really tried to drill the idea of exercising and importance of eating. She also told me the methods I was taking to lose weight were not healthy. This worked for awhile, but over time I developed my bad habits again. 

 After I gave birth to my son I was heavy for some time and tried to lose weight the wrong way...once again. While trying to raise a baby and being a new bride I couldn't get a hold of my weight. My solution was if I don't have time to workout I will eat two times a day. Well that will only work for so long, then you're stuck and you're a prisoner to your own body. By the grace of God my husband has really helped me get over a lot of my views of myself and help me not be afraid of food! My dear BFF has helped more in the recent years. I sometimes still fall into a dark place and she always picks me up. Don't get me wrong I still have bad days and still think I'm the chubbiest person in the room. 

We all have insecurities and we've all judge someone without knowing their story. Please know I will share pictures of myself, I will share my journey, I will share stories with you, I will give you my advice, I'll answer all your questions and it will be coming from a good place. Ever since high school, I knew I would have a job where I would be able to help people with their weight loss journeys. From the bottom of my hearth, I love helping people and never want anyone to feel the way I did growing up. It's not easy sharing my story, but I hope it helps someone reading my post. 
 What's your story??