Synergy Fitness and the End of a Challenge

This first Sunday in September marks the end of the Summer Sizzle Challenge. But it certainly doesn't mark the end of the summer HEAT and HUMIDITY. Stupid weather.

I have been a terrible challenger this summer. I got bored and then I just didn't care to track and then I just didn't care at all. I blame in on the aforementioned HEAT and HUMIDITY that caused me to lose my motivation and eat lots of frozen yogurt. Yes, I really am blaming the weather and I'm not ashamed.

But the challenge was good in many ways---

• I met new bloggers/challengers
• I learned more about myself 
• I learned tons about true organic foods and about those evil monsters at the Monsanto corporation
• I increased my fitness awareness and level
• I discovered Phil Campbell's Synergy workout program featuring the Sprint 8
• I walked quickly up three flights of stairs and did not have to stop at the top for a few minutes before continuing to the car

So even though I wasn't very good to the challenge, the challenge was very good to me.

And Rochelle? She's just the best challenge host EVER! I adore her! Her leadership qualities are phenomenal and her care for the challengers was felt and appreciated by all.

All in all, I only lost about 10 pounds- at least that's what I can figure from my best guess. And that's fine. It's not about the weight loss at this point. I'm focusing on increasing my fitness level now and I'm pouring 100% into that.

Yes, I need to lose a bunch of weight. But the weight gods (as Rochelle calls them) are not in my corner right now. So I called forth the fitness gods and we're kicking ass!

I'm keeping a daily journal of the Synergy workout plan that you are more than welcome to read by clicking here. And feel free to leave comments there too! I've just completed Week 2 of the 8 week commitment and I'm already noticing differences in shape and fitness!

I won't be posting any before and after pictures from the challenge. HOWEVER, I am planning on posting before and after shots for the Synergy program. Only 6 weeks left.

There are some leaves from one of the neighbor's trees falling into my yard right now. Which is a promising sign of fall---even though it's hard to appreciate when the temperature is 91 degrees. The weather app on my phone says the humidity is only 66%. The weather app is lying.

I'm not joining in another challenge for the fall. I'm on my own with this Synergy workout. BTW, I emailed Phil Campbell (the guy who wrote the book) and he emailed me back! He also put me in touch with the woman who is gathering research. She lost 80 pounds just doing the Synergy program. And I do believe here because she's not asking for money. LOL Seriously, head over to my Synergy tab and follow the links. Maybe this is something that will work for you!

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Regardless of your personal journey- I wish you great success!

Summer Sizzle- And a Rant

It's time for the Summer Sizzle update for the end of Week 12 and the beginning of Week 13! And guess what Week 13 is? Our final week! WooHoo!

I really did begin my Synergy workout this week. I even made a page devoted to keeping a Synergy journal. It's at the top of the blog if anyone wants to see how the first week went, or you can just click here. I thought that keeping the journal right here on the blog would help keep me accountable. We'll see.

I would love to tell y'all how I have enjoyed rocking the hell out of this challenge, but that would be a lie. I haven't- as far as weight loss goes. However, as far as fitness is concerned? I think that I might have. Remember those 3 flights of stairs? And now that I've started the Synergy workout, I have to say that fitness has become a major goal.

Weight loss stopped being my main focus a while back when it switched to healthy eating. I can't tell y'all how much better we feel now that we're eating only organic foods- veggies are certified organic and from local farms; dairy products and meats are from small, family owned farms that don't use machinery or give growth hormones or antibiotics to their livestock; grass fed beef, free range chickens/turkey, wild caught fish (fresh from the docks I might add); sugars are only organic cane sugar or honey; flour is unbleached and gluten free; we buy spring water that had to be researched just so we could be sure it was actual spring water with little processing (OH, and there are natural springs right here in our state and one is close to us so I'm going to start filling up there...it's FREE); soaps and shampoos, etc. contain no chemicals... And I know it makes a difference because, two weeks ago, we were out of conditioner and I had some left over from when I bought any old thing from Wally World. I didn't stop smelling that stuff for 3 days and it gave me a headache and made me all itchy...yep, won't be buying anything like that ever again.

And now for the rant portion of the post: I've learned so much about fitness and healthy eating. I've learned which manufacturers to avoid because they claim 'natural' but are not organic and which ones are affiliated in any way whatsoever with the Monsanto Corporation. I've learned that it is nothing less than a complete and utter travesty that our government is allowing big business (and this has been going on for AGES) like the Monsanto Corporation to produce GMO crops and tell the American public that our food is safe and nutritious and even the supreme court who enables Monsanto to run the small, family owned farms out of business. Disgusting. And I don't even know the half of it, I'm sure. But that's enough to make me sick and tired of it. And scared, to be honest. It's not good when our food supply is not only being tainted but being allowed to be tainted--dare I say- encouraged to be tainted.

So, yes, I've lost weight. But that's not the best thing or even the most important. My fitness level has improved tremendously and I'm completely motivated to boost it even more. The foods I feed my family and the products we use are healthy and chemical free. There's no turning back now! And we're all the better for it! And we are more encouraged than ever before to go off the grid. It's time to say, "ENOUGH."

Week 12 - (begin August 19) - SURPASS YOUR FITNESS/WEIGHT GOALS FROM WEEK 10
I definitely surpassed my fitness goals from Week 10 by beginning the Synergy workout!

Week 13 - (begin August 26) - LOW CARB WEEK & NO EATING OUT
We don't eat that many carbs in a day or week and we rarely to never eat out, so this really shouldn't be a problem.


Have a great last week of Summer Sizzle y'all!

My First Time EVER

I put up my first EVER spaghetti sauce yesterday with tomatoes from the garden! WooHoo!

I was so scared of doing this. I just knew I was going to mess it up. But, all went well and, at the end, I got the pinging of the lids! Let me tell you though, I did not rest easy until I did hear that pinging.

Want to see all the pictures? Me too. But I was paying such close attention to what I was doing, I forgot to take any! I had to be careful. I have this horrible habit of not reading the directions through before starting a recipe. You can imagine what interesting results that has resulted in over the years.

And you'd think I would have learned my lesson by now. But, no.

Anyway, the jars look like this:

And as soon as I do this again, I will (hopefully) be comfortable enough to take some photos!

This time I used directions that my friend Julie at Healthy, Wealthy and Wise: Not...but learning sent me. Next time, I'm using the suggestions sent by my friend Kim at My Field of Dreams. I'm just waiting on more tomatoes now.

I've also tried a couple of new recipes this week---homemade Nutella Rice Krispies and Cherry Cookies.

For the Nutella Rice Krispies (which I found at the Cupcake Project) I used a recipe I got from NuNaturals for homemade nutella! What?! Yep, that's right.

RAW Healthy Homemade Nutella

8.9 oz jarred white beans, rinsed and mashed with a fork or in food processor (I used a box of 365 organic Cannellini beans, no salt added)
3 or 4 TBS cocoa powder
6 packets NuNaturals NuStevia NoCarbs Blend (I used this but I have to wonder how it would be if I used the liquid Stevia from NuNaturals---like the vanilla and the cocoa?)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp oil (Shocker! I used coconut oil)
2 TBS ground flax
pinch of salt
sprinkle of cinnamon
up to 1/4 cup liquid to thin (I just used water...but have to wonder how coconut milk would taste)

Mix everything together! I just used my mixer but I'm going to use the food processor next time. The recipe says to use it as a spread OR spread it out on a cookie sheet and put it in the freezer to be cut into chocolate strips. I'm definitely going to try this next time.

I really liked this recipe because it doesn't use hazelnuts. I don't like Nutella and I think it's because I am not a fan of hazelnuts.

Nutella Rice Krispies

1/2  cup honey
1/2 cup Nutella (the last time I made these, I used Trader Joe's Almond Cocoa spread and wanted to eat every dang one of those things)
4 cups Rice Krispies (I used Erewhon Crispy Brown Rice Cereal because it's organic and gluten free)

Combine the honey and Nutella in a medium-sized microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 30 seconds.
Stir. If the honey and Nutella are not hot and thoroughly combined, you can continue to microwave for ten seconds at a time and stir until they are. (I don't use the microwave much so I did this in a saucepan on the stove top). Mix the cereal into the bowl and stir, making sure to coat all of the cereal.

Spread mixture into an 8x8 glass baking dish and refrigerate for at least three hours.
Cut into squares and eat!

The cookie recipe was found right HERE and I actually followed the recipe word for word. Except when I didn't read the directions first and didn't add the dry ingredients to the cereal in the food processor---Oopsy! They turned out good anyway! 

Oatmeal Flax Carob Cherry Cookies

 
3/4 cup butter, room temperature
3/4 cup coconut palm sugar
1/4 cup applesauce
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup Erewhon Rice Twice cereal

1 cup Erewhon Crispy Brown Rice Gluten Free cereal

1/4 cup arrowroot flour (I used Bob's Red Mill all purpose, gluten free)
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 1/2 cups rolled gluten-free oats
1/2 cup flaxseed meal
1 cup unsweetened dried cherries, chopped
1 cup unsweetened carob chips

"Fit a stand mixer with a paddle attachment. Beat the butter until light and fluffy. Meanwhile, put the coconut palm sugar in a blender and process until powdered. Add the powdered palm sugar to the butter and beat for 2 – 3 minuets on medium high. Add applesauce and egg. Beat until combined. Mix in vanilla.

Add the Erewhon Rice Twice cereal to the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Process until very fine. Add the brown rice cereal, arrowroot flour, cinnamon, baking powder, and sea salt. Pulse to combine." (This is the step I messed up on- I put the cereal in the processor and then into the mixer. On top of the cereal I put in the rest of the ingredients mentioned in this paragraph AND THEN read that I was supposed to put it all in the food processor).

"Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture in one addition. Beat until combined. Add oats and flax meal. Stir to combine. Add dried cherries and carob chips and mix just until combined. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes to overnight.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line two baking sheets with silicone baking mats or parchment paper. Use a cookie scoop to evenly portion the dough. Space two inches apart. Roll the balls of dough and then flatten them out. Bake for 12 – 15 minutes until the edges just start to get light golden brown. Let cool until set on the baking sheet, about 8 minutes. Let cool completely on a wire rack. Store in an airtight container at room temperature."

 

If you try any of these, let me know how you like them! 

 

There's still plenty of time to enter one or both of my TWO giveaways! Just click the buttons at the top of my sidebar!

Organic Baby Puree Cafe

Yep, that's the name of it- IT being the new restaurant that my wonderful friend and I patronized on Tuesday. Let me tell you, the name is the only problem I have with the place. Everything else- and I mean EVERYTHING- is fantastic!

When we arrived, there were firetrucks there- with lights going and all. Thankfully, it was just a false alarm. Whew.

Tuesday was only their 11th day being open.

They were having an issue with something on the oven hood so they couldn't LEGALLY prepare us anything that had to be cooked. Frankly, even though I wouldn't have cared if they just didn't tell us and went on as though nothing was wrong, I greatly respected the fact that they did inform us.

They gave us options of only having salads or a wrap or coming back at a later time --all with a discount.

It was decided that we would just take a sampler of what their choice. Boy o boy did that ever work out mighty fine! They brought us spinach pie- which is usually heated up but quite tasty cold.

They brought us THREE salads- from the top and clockwise- quinoa salad, citrus and ginger slaw, barley salad with kalamata and tomato.

And their tuNO wrap was TO DIE FOR. They can wrap it in nori or a tortilla. Ours was in a tortilla.

We had no intentions of ordering a dessert but, when we got to the counter I spotted the baked goods case. No problem. Until I saw the coconut cupcakes. I bought one. It was TO DIE FOR. Hey, they don't use any refined sugar or processed foods in there so it was fine.

There are times that I am so glad I'm not a grandmother yet. This is one of those times-CUTEST CLOTHES EVER!

Not only was the food delish, but the staff is just wonderful! So friendly and they go out of their way to please! The food could have sucked and I wouldn't have cared. They are just that nice.

We're planning a trip back soon. And we're taking DoodleBug with us. She LOVES organic food and my wonderful friend- who was her GT teacher in elementary school.

We're thinking of going for breakfast next time---maybe we'll just sit there until it's time for lunch. I already know what I'm going to order. I can't wait!

If you live in our area, Organic Baby Puree Cafe is located at 1034 Chuck Dawley Blvd. in Mount Pleasant. Give them a try- you'll only be sorry if you don't!