Power Protein Egg Cups

Mornings can be tough. Especially as a busy family, There are a hundred things to do to before rushing out the door, and often my breakfast is an afterthought. It’s tempting to reach for a breakfast bar, grab a “healthy” muffin at the coffee counter (it has blueberries in it, so it counts, right?), or worse, skip breakfast altogether.

That’s where these protein-packed egg cups come in. The simple recipes for these grab-and-go mini-omelets make enough for a week’s worth of breakfasts. Trust me they are super easy and delish! Perfect for us busy momma who are wanting a healthy breakfast while on the go! Got extra? Store them in the fridge and reheat them in the microwave.

Power Protein Egg Cups
Start your morning off strong with this low-fat, high-protein egg cup recipe with turkey bacon, shredded chicken, and sweet onions and peppers.

Total Time: 35 min.
Prep Time: 15 min.
Cooking Time: 20 min.
Yield: Makes 6 servings, 2 egg cups each

Ingredients:
Nonstick cooking spray
½ cup unsweetened almond milk
16 large egg whites (2 cups)
Sea salt (or Himalayan salt) and ground black pepper (to taste; optional)
2 slices cooked turkey bacon, chopped
3 oz. cooked shredded chicken breast
2 cups chopped red bell peppers
1 cup chopped onion

Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
2. Prepare twelve muffin cups by coating with spray. Set aside.
3. Combine almond milk and egg whites in a medium bowl. Season with salt and pepper, if desired; whisk to blend. Set aside.
4. Evenly divide turkey bacon, chicken, bell peppers, and onion between prepared muffin cups.
5. Evenly pour egg white mixture over turkey bacon mixture.
6. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of egg cups comes out clean, and eggs are set.

For My Fixers this recipe is 1 Red and 1 Green Container

Recipe Courtesy of beachbody.com

The Master's Hammer & Chisel Coming December 1st

What is The Master’s Hammer and Chisel™? 

I am going to be the first one to tell you that this program is going to be a GAME CHANGER!!!  I haven't been this excited  about a program since the 21 Day Fix Launched almost 2 years ago!  I literally counted down the hours until I could purchase it. Now that it is ordered, and because I have Beachbody On Demand I get to access the workouts, the nutrition guide and program manual even before it arrives at my front door.  So if you are just as excited as I am make sure you get the challenge pack which comes with 30 days of On Demand so you can access it right away too!!! 

I am totally ready to get hammered and chiseled for the new year!  HECK, if I can stick to this program in December and have all of you for accountability and support we WON'T be setting New Year's Resolutions to get in shape! We are going to be rocking our NEW 
RESULTS! 

ARE YOU IN!?!?!
I'm kicking off my EXCLUSIVE HAMMER AND CHISEL TEST GROUP next week Starting December 14th ~ You gotta make sure you are included!  Hit me up for the details:  Complete the form for more information! Ready to order? Order Hammer and Chisel Challenge Pack Here

So lets talk about the details!  Yup, I'm about to get all technical on you, but I know that having all the facts helps me so much and hopefully it helps you too!  HERE YOU GO!

For the first time ever, trainers Sagi Kalev and Autumn Calabrese have teamed up to create an expert program designed to help you craft a powerful, perfectly defined body. The Master’s Hammer and Chisel is an innovative resistance training system that incorporates three muscle-sculpting phases—Stabilization, Strength, and Power—or SSP Training. This is how Sagi and Autumn help you efficiently build, chisel, and refine a masterpiece physique in just 60 days.

About your Trainers 
Co-creators Sagi Kalev and Autumn Calabrese are experts when it comes to incredible physical transformations. Sagi has been crowned Mr. Israel— twice—and is a Master Professional Personal Trainer, IFBB Pro, member of the IFBB Propta Hall of Fame, Certified Nutrition Specialist, and Functional Diagnostic Nutritionist. Autumn Calabrese is a celebrity trainer, best-selling author, and working mom who has held certifications from the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and the American Fitness Professionals & Associates (AFPA), and has competed at the national level in various bikini competitions.

What makes The Master’s Hammer and Chisel incredibly effective and unique? 

• The Master’s Hammer and Chisel is built on the three phases of SSP Training— Stabilization, Strength, and Power. Other workouts only focus on one or two phases, which might give you decent results. But The Master’s Hammer and Chisel program incorporates all three methods to help you relentlessly chip away fat and carve every muscle for a strong, visually stunning body in 60 days.

• 12 brand-new, 30- to 40-minute workouts that combine Sagi and Autumn’s proven techniques for 60 days of hardcore resistance training.

• Sagi and Autumn make eating for your goals simple. That’s why they included their easy-to-follow and completely customizable nutrition plan, along with 7 portion-control containers that show you how to portion out the right amount of food to help you reach your unique fitness goals.

• Flexible nutrition that allows you to lean out, sculpt and maintain, or build muscle.

• Includes options to adapt certain exercises if you have limited access to equipment. BONUS!

• Includes a modifier who demonstrates some moves at a lower intensity.

The 21 Day Fix, 3 Day Quick Fix

The 21 Day Fix has proven to be a downright amazing program with nothing short of incredible results.  I have personally completed the program a few times and just can not get enough of it or it's amazing results! Never before have I ever felt better and that even includes the almost 2 years that I have been transforming my health and my body.  Yes, I was exercising and eating clean but I was missing an important piece along the way! Once I introduced the fix into my life it was magical.  No more bloating, so much more energy, simple portion control and effective exercise in just 30 minutes!  You can call me one happy momma! 

So the last week of the program is all about pushing you a little more to get the best results possible and offers what I like to call a secret weapon, the last 3 days there is the option to do this 3 day quick fix!  It is basically a little extra oomph to end the fix. 

You can also do this 3 day plan anytime if you wanted to drop an extra couple of pounds before an upcoming wedding, event or vacation.  If you feel like you just need a reboot after a few bad nutritional habits this would work too! 

This is a plan that Autumn Calabrese (creator of the 21 day fix) uses to prep for her bikini competitions and her photo shoots.  It's not something you want to do for any longer than 3 days, but if done occasionally, its a great way to lose a little weight, fast.

It is truthfully a little challenging, so be ready for it!  I can say that I am a carb girl and only having carbs first thing in the morning is hard for me!  Also, I miss my fruit and I felt a little dizzy at night. But water intake is key plus making sure you do indeed get your meals in thru out the day.

Here are the details:

To do this cleanse you will need the 21 Day Fix Portion Control Containers. I recommend buying the entire program. The workouts are 30 minutes or less, and are good ones! 

Space your meals approximately two hours apart.  Set a time on your phone to remind you to eat if you have to.

• Steamed veggie options recommended are broccoli, asparagus, green beans, zucchini, cucumbers or bell peppers.
• Seasonings allowed are lemon and lime juice, vinegars, and spices.  No SALT
• Oatmeal can be flavored with cinnamon, nutmeg, or one packet (1/2 teaspoon) of stevia.
• Drink at least one gallon of water a day. Spread it out as much as possible starting with a glass when you first wake up.  It will help you feel full while it flushes toxins from your system.  
• Drink the extra virgin coconut oil with meals.  To prepare it, place the desired amount in a microwave safe bowl and zap for 10 to 15 seconds.
• Coffee or tea is fine to drink, but avoid creamers and sweeteners except stevia.  
• No need to alter your workouts, the 3 day quick fix can be used anytime! It is also recommended during the last 3 days and only 3 days of the program for maximum results.

The PLAN:

Meal 1:  (YELLOW) Steel cut oatmeal (cooked) (RED) Egg whites and 1 spoon of E.V. coconut oil.

Meal 2:  1 (RED) grilled chicken and 1 (YELLOW) steamed yams

Meal 3:  1 (RED) steamed fish and 1(GREEN) steamed veggies

Meal 4:  1 (RED) grilled chicken and 1 (GREEN) steamed veggies and 1 spoon of E.V. coconut oil.

Meal 5:  1 (RED) Steamed fish and 1 (GREEN) steamed veggies and 1 spoon of E.V. coconut oil.

Meal 6:  1 (RED) ground extra lean turkey 1 (GREEN) steamed veggies and 1 spoon of E.V. Coconut oil.

Repeat for 3 days!  Drink lots of water and NO SALT!!

If you have any questions about the 3 day fix or would like to join an upcoming challenge group please fill out the form below!

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Stuffed Zucchini 21 Fix Approved

When meal planning for the week I tend to look for 3 things. The first being fresh in season veggies to keep our cost down and to help support local farmers, the second is prep/cook time. As a busy momma to 3 simple dishes tend to help me save sanity :) and lastly...will my kiddos eat it?
As I sat down to make out this weeks meals and shopping list I hit the internet to find some new healthy recipes and I came across this super easy Stuffed Zucchini recipe from the Clean Eating Magazine. It looks right up our alley and meets all of my families recipe criteria, especially because right now zucchini is in season and this is a great way to use up your over abundance of zucchini. Not to mention it fits into my 21 Day Fix Meal plan. 

You can also add some lean ground turkey, turkey sausage or even chicken for some added protein.

Ingredients: 
3 tsp olive oil, divided 
1 clove garlic diced 
1 small yellow onion, diced 
8 oz mushrooms, diced 
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar 
3 tbsp whole-wheat bread crumbs 
2 tbsp Parmesan cheese 
2 zucchini halved, seeds and pulp removed. 

Preparation: 
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare stuffing: In a large saute pan on medium-high heat, heat 1 tsp oil. Add garlic, onion and mushrooms. Saute until mushrooms soften, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and add remaining 2 tsp oil, vinegar, bread crumbs and Parmesan. Mix thoroughly. 
Spoon an equal amount of stuffing into each zucchini half. Bake on a foil-lined cookie sheet for 10 minutes. 

Nutrients per 1/2 stuffed zucchini: 
Calories: 110, total fat 5g, Sat. Fat 1g, Mono saturated Fat 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat 1g, Carbs 12g, Fiber 2g, Sugars 5g, Protein 5g, Sodium 135 mg, Cholesterol 2mg. 

Can't wait to make this recipe!!

Sharing is Caring!

Share this blog post and recipes with a friend who you think would enjoy it! Also if you make this recipe and post a pic on Instagram @jennamerson, Facebook or Twitter… tag me in it and use #jennamerson!

New Active Maternity, A Prenatal and Postnatal Series by Autumn Calabrese

PREGNANT MOMMAS or soon to be pregnant mommas this is for you!! I am beyond excited to announce that this October, 21 Day Fix and 21 Day Fix Extreme creator Autumn Calabrese is launching her new workout series, Active Maternity, exclusively on Beachbody On Demand. This set of four workouts gives you a complete guide to pre and postnatal workouts. With two rounds of eight exercises, she breaks down the workouts by trimester to specifically target the different needs of each stage of pregnancy. 

The "Active Maternity Series" is now streaming on Beachbody On Demand! So check with your doctor and Get ready to rock 3 pre-natal workouts “Get Stable,” “Get Strong” & “Get Ready” and 1 post-natal “Get It Back”! The workouts are trimester targeted and designed to follow you through the stages of pregnancy safely. How awesome is this?! 

Get Stable in the first trimester and Get Strong in the second trimester. These workouts focus on doing strength training for the core, lower body, back, and shoulders. These muscles are key to reducing discomfort during pregnancy. Then, for the third trimester, it’s time to Get Ready. This workout focuses on holding each move for 10 seconds, which is about how long each push is in the last act of labor. By holding each move for 10 seconds, it prepares your body for this action.

And after the birth, Autumn will guide you through your workouts with Get It Back. This 30-minute workout is a perfect pick me up to help get your body back in shape. It’s filled with squats, planks and lunges that you can squeeze in when your newborn is napping.

These workouts will only be available on Beachbody On Demand, so you have to login or sign up to access them!

To try these out, sign up here for a FREE 30-Day trial! http://bit.ly/1k2Be0D
‪#‎prenatal‬ ‪#‎pregnant‬ ‪#‎happymomtobe‬ ‪#‎mybaby‬ ‪#‎activemom‬ ‪#‎healthymom‬‪#‎healthymomtobe‬

Autumn Calabrese PUMPKIN “PIE” BITES - 21 Day Fix Dessert

PUMPKIN “PIE” BITES

Who is ready for Fall? I know it is certainly one of my favorite times of the year– especially when it comes to all the delicious seasonal dishes I look forward to all year. Pumpkin Pie is one of those dishes, but so often it’s loaded with lots of junk that takes me away from my heath and fitness goals. These pumpkin “pie” bites are an amazing substitute, and can be enjoyed by the whole family.

It may still feel like summer around here but let’s be honest, it’s never too early to start indulging those pumpkin cravings!

Enjoy!

WHAT YOU NEED:

Pumpkin Bites
1 can pumpkin or 1 1/2 cups pumpkin puree
2 very ripe bananas
1/2 cup coconut sugar
1 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon Himalayan or sea salt

Whipped Topping
1 can coconut milk- full fat
2 Tablespoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla or vanilla beans

(Makes approx 12 standard muffin sized bites)

WHAT YOU DO:

1. Combine all the pumpkin bite ingredients in a food processor, and blend until smooth. (You may need to scrape down the sides a few times.)
2. Spoon the mixture into lined muffin pans. *Option to use silicone liners to lessen chance of bites sticking to paper.
3. Preheat oven to 350. Bake for 20-25 minutes.
4.Let these cool completely before removing from the muffin liners. Since they are soft like pumpkin pie, I highly recommend putting these in the fridge after baking so they can firm up a bit.
5. (For the whipped topping) Open can of coconut milk that has been in the fridge overnight. Scoop the fatty white part off and place in a mixing bowl with the vanilla and maple syrup. Use the whipping attachment and whip the coconut into a cream.
6. Scoop a little on top of each muffin and option to garnish with pumpkin pie spice!

* MUST keep these stored in the fridge.
* I highly recommend making the whip topping right before eating for optimal results in taste and texture.

** I know a lot of you are looking for the container equivalent (the color coded portion control system from 21 Day Fix), well not everything fits so nicely into a little box.

This recipe is for sure healthier, it does not container refined sugar, white flour, or gluten. It is also vegan. That being said it is still dessert, it still has calories, it still has fat and it is still meant to be enjoyed on occasion not all the time.

Not every recipe I share on here fits perfectly into the container system! I try to offer healthier versions of treats as an option for people to enjoy, especially during the holiday season where it can be hard to be surrounded by sweet temptations. If you want to use the recipe as an inspiration for a #21DayFixApproved recipe and share the containers, I know many other fixers would appreciate!

Recipe and content from http://autumncalabrese.com/

Fixate Cookbook: Recipe Sneak Peek

For those of you anxiously awaiting the release of Fixate, the Brand New 21 Day Fix cookbook by Autumn Calabrese, we’ve got a fun insider’s sneak peek for you.  Here are just a few delicious recipes from the book to get your mouth watering and your waist line shrinking! They look delish!  Scroll down to print out the entire .pdf for your reference.  Also, don’t forget to visit my other blog post for additional clean eating and 21 Day Fix Approved recipes.  Or, you can visit my 21 Day Fix Recipe Ideas Board on Pinterest for even more fix approved meal ideas. 

FIXATE ZUCCHINI CHIPS

SERVES: 4 Prep Time: 15 min. Cooking Time: 2 hrs.
CONTAINER EQUIVALENTS (per serving): One green, 1/2 tsp.

1 large zucchini, very thinly sliced
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1⁄2 tsp.sea salt (or Himalayan salt)
2 paper towels to help draw out liquid

1. Preheat oven to 225° F.
2. Place zucchini slices in one layer between
3. Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper.
4. Place zucchini slices on prepared baking sheets.
5. Brush zucchini with oil; sprinkle with salt.
6. Bake for 2 hours, or until golden brown and crispy.
7. Cool completely before serving.

PINEAPPLE CHICKEN SKEWERS

SERVES: 4 (2 skewers each) Prep Time: 20 min.
Cooking Time: 10 min.
CONTAINER EQUIVALENTS (per serving): 1/2 green, 1/2 purple, 1 red

8 bamboo skewers
1 lb. raw chicken breast, boneless, skinless, cut into 16 1-inch pieces
1⁄4 cup reduced-sodium tamari soy sauce, gluten-free
2 tsp. sesame oil
2 tsp. grated fresh ginger
1 (8-oz.) can pineapple chunks in juice, drained
1 1⁄2 medium red bell pepper, cut into 16 1-inch chunks
large red onion, cut into 16 1-inch chunks

1. Soak bamboo skewers in water for 30 minutes.
2. Place chicken in resealable plastic bag (or container);
add soy sauce, oil, and ginger; seal bag and shake gently to mix. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes to marinate.
3. Preheat gas or charcoal grill on medium heat.
4. Place a piece of chicken, pineapple chunk, bell pepper, and
onion onto a skewer. Repeat, so the skewer has two pieces of each ingredient. Repeat with seven remaining skewers. Discard marinade that contained chicken.
5. Grill skewers on covered grill for 4 to 5 minutes on each side, or until chicken is no longer pink in the middle.
6. Serve immediately.

FIXATE QUINOA AND BLACK BEAN SALAD

SERVES: 12 (1 cup each) Prep Time: 30 min. Cooking Time: 12 min.
CONTAINER EQUIVALENTS (per serving): 1 green, 2 yellow, 1 1/2 tsp.
1/3 cup fresh lime juice
1 Tbsp. ground cumin
1 Tbsp. sea salt (or Himalayan salt)
2 cups dry quinoa, rinsed
1 medium red bell pepper, finely chopped
1 medium orange bell pepper, finely chopped
1 medium yellow bell pepper, finely chopped
1 10-oz. bag frozen corn,thawed
1 bunch fresh cilantro, finely chopped
1 Tbsp. olive oil
2 cans (15-oz. ea.) black beans, drained, rinsed
4 1/2 tsp. red wine vinegar
Ground black pepper (to taste; optional)
water

1. Combine lime juice, cumin, and salt in a medium bowl; whisk to blend.
2. Slowly add oil, while whisking constantly. Set aside. 3. Combine beans, vinegar, and pepper (if desired)
in a medium bowl; mix well. Set aside.
4. Bring water to a boil in medium saucepan over high heat.
5. Add quinoa. Reduce heat to medium-low; cook, covered, for 10 to 12 minutes, or until all water has been absorbed. Remove from heat. Cool for 15 to 30 minutes. Set aside.
6. Place cooled quinoa in a large bowl. Fluff with a fork.
7. Add bell peppers, corn, cilantro, bean mixture, and dressing;
toss gently to blend.

Download the entire Sneak Peek pdf here.