Zucchini Madness! :)

This weekend we found about 15 lovely zucchini growing in our garden, it was so exciting!  Except what do you do with so many fresh gorgeous (yes, zucchini can be gorgeous when it comes from your own garden) zucchini?  You find an awesome recipe for Zucchini Bread and get to baking!  I love to bake and almost always bake vegan since I consider myself 85% vegan, if there is such a thing....haha!  Anyway bake away and enjoy!

Chocolate Vegan Zucchini Bread



Ingredients (use vegan versions):



5 tablespoons ground flax + 10 tablespoons water

3 cups flour

1/4 cup cocoa powder

1 tablespoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

2 cups sugar

1 cup vegetable oil

2/3 cup nondairy milk (I used unsweetened almond milk)

2 teaspoon vanilla

2.5 cups zucchini, shredded

1 cup vegan semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 cup walnuts, chopped, optional



Directions:


1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 2 9x5" loaf pans with nonstick spray. For flax eggs, microwave flax meal and water for 30 seconds, stir, microwave, 30 more seconds, and stir again.



2. Combine all dry ingredients in a large bowl and mix well. Add vegetable oil, and use a fork to stir. It will be dry but stir as well as possible. Then add the flax eggs. Continue to mix.



3. Add milk and vanilla, and stir until well blended. Add zucchini, chocolate chips and walnuts, if using, and blend them in. The mixture should be nice and smooth; moist looking.



4. Spoon into prepared loaf pans. Bake 55-60 minutes. Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then remove and cool completely. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and it will keep for days (if your family doesn't gobble it up).



This is my Nana's recipe that I've converted to a delicious vegan zucchini bread.



Serves: 2 loaves

That Crazy Game of Life!

It is so easy to get caught up in this game we call life. Sometimes, before we know it we are deep into the hustle and bustle, running to and from long days at work, social events, appointments, the gym, etc, just trying to keep up.  You know the feeling, it seems you are chasing something that you will never catch- the question is...what are we chasing?  What you don't take into account when you are stretched so thin is the negative damage you are doing to your heart, body, and soul.  Through running around constantly you create stress in your life and your body.  This increases your cortisol level and can cause strain on your heart, increase your risk for heart disease, cancer and stroke among many other things. 

I have recently learned this the hard way and am being forced to slow down and "smell the salty air" of Pawleys Island.  After developing strange food allergies, rupturing ovarian cysts, developing sleeping issues, fatique, anxiety, and weight gain; I went to see my endocrinologist believing that what I was experiencing HAD to be strictly hormone related.  As it turns out, although my hormones have changed, it seems that my symptoms are primarily caused by stress and my stress hormone.  After receiving this information I was surprised, I do not consider myself to be stressed, I am so happy.  I live at the beach, run my own business (LOVE my job), teach yoga, have the most amazing husband in the world, and exercise regularly...who wouldn't be happy?!?!  But, as I already knew from my psychology and life coaching background (and of course chose to ignore) negative stress and positive stress are very similar when it comes to your body's sympathetic nervous system's response.  SO although I have had amazing and wonderful events happen in my life in the past year (getting married and moving to the beach, coaching fun swimmers for a while then starting my own business, meeting awesome new friends, etc) I have put myself and my body under a great deal of stress increasing my cortisol level and causing health problems.  I really just had no idea!  Like many of you I work very hard at my job, bouncing around all day (sometimes for 14 hours) and then I run off to social events or home to do housework and be with with my husband.  I am a perfectionist and an overachiever and I am ALWAYS trying to be better at something, I just had no idea I was trying TO hard as it is so easy to get caught up in life. This realization has been a wake up call for me, I mean, I have been making myself sick!!  Ekk!  Clearly, I need to slow down, I can't be and do everything, everywhere all at once. I can not be the perfect business owner, personal trainer, swim coach, yoga teacher, friend, daughter, grand-daughter, wife, runner, yogini, etc if i do not take care of myself first.  Therefore, I am going to have to make some changes: get more sleep, make time for yoga for myself (especially restorative yoga), meditate, journal, say "no" sometimes, be careful no to over-exercise, stop taking on more than I can handle, just BREATHE....and the list goes on.  I have been studying up on ways to lower cortisol levels, so I will keep you all posted as I begin making these changes in my life. 

The moral to this story is to be aware of your lifestyle, slow down, and take a breath in the moments you want to remember and cherish.  Stop chasing something that you can not identify, stop and be proud of your accomplishments before you try to achieve more, appreciate every second of your time with your family and friends, stop rushing through life....the consequences of chronic stress are SO not worth it.  Take care of yourself,  give time to restore and strive to find BALANCE.

B Balanced Grand Opening & Open House!



LET THE GAMES BEGIN!



This past Saturday we had the Grand Opening for my lovely B Balanced, "A wellness studio for the heart, body, and soul."  My close friends and amazing mother and stepfather came to help out at the event!  We offered free classes, yummy food, a free raffle with prizes from local businesses, and fitness demos ALL day!  It was a blast and we had a fabulous turnout, I could not ask for more!  Thank you to everyone who came out to participate, help, and support B Balanced!  Here's to many years of health and wellness! 

If you missed last Saturday, not to worry we will be having many events in the future! But for now, be sure to visit our Facebook page and become a "fan" facebook.com/bbalanced and our website www.bbalancedllc.com to stay up to date on new classes, events and Personal Training Packages!  B Balanced is open for business so stop on by!  Hope to see you soon!

Special Days :)

This was our view during yoga!
What an amazing way to start the day or a wedding weekend.
I have the most amazing job in the world! :)

Today I had the wonderful privilege of teaching sunrise yoga on the beach for a clients wedding weekend!  Her Bridal party and close friends gathered this morning at 7am on the south end of Pawleys Island for an hour of flow yoga and breathing before the wedding festivities began this afternoon.  Having gotten married last year this time I remember very clearly how special every moment of wedding weekends are and I was completely honored to be included in this one! Congrats to the soon to be happily married yogini and her very lucky husband to be!

Cinco de Mayo Yumminess!



Try this yummy recipe tonight for a healthy Cinco de Mayo celebration!

Veggie Quesadillas

6 Servings, Prep/Total Time: 25 min.

Ingredients:

1/2 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced

1 medium zucchini, sliced

1/2 cup sliced green onions



2 cans (15-1/4 ounces each) whole kernel corn, drained

2 medium tomatoes, seeded and diced

1 teaspoon dried basil

3/4 teaspoon salt



1/4 teaspoon pepper

6 flour tortillas (8 inches)

2 cups (8 ounces) shredded reduced-fat Mexican cheese blend

3/4 cup salsa

6 tablespoons reduced-fat sour cream

Directions



In a large skillet coated with cooking spray, saute the mushrooms, zucchini and onions until tender. Add the corn, tomatoes, basil, salt and pepper; cook 2-3 minutes longer or until heated through. Using a slotted spoon, spoon filling on half of each tortilla. Sprinkle vegetable mixture with cheese and fold over tortilla. Lightly spray top of tortillas with cooking spray. Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with salsa and sour cream. Yield: 6 servings.



Nutrition Facts: 1 quesadilla with 2 tablespoons salsa and 1 tablespoon sour cream equals 499 calories, 21 g fat (9 g saturated fat), 55 mg cholesterol, 1,509 mg sodium, 50 g carbohydrate, 4 g fiber, 31 g protein.



B Balanced LLC almost ready!

B Balanced LLC is almost done! Tomorrow we are putting the final touches on the paint and I am organizing new packages and programs for my amazing clients. One week from today classes begin and we will be rocking! Call, email, or come by to sign up and take charge of your health asap. A Balanced and healthy life is priceless!

B Balanced in Pawleys!!!

Hi Everyone!

I am so so happy and excited to announce that ALONG with Yoga coming to PI, I am opening a Wellness Studio for the Heart, Body, and Soul in the Commerce Trade Center in Pawleys Island (Suite 107)!!!!  The B Balanced LLC Grand Opening is the week of April 4th so be sure to drop by!  B Balanced will offer Personal Training, Nutritional Counseling, Group Fitness Classes, Corporate Health Programs, and Private Yoga Sessions!  Below are some of the classes that will be offered weekly, there will also be  group seasonal programs so stay tuned! :) YAYYYY!

Heart, Body, and Soul:


60 min of an all inclusive workout broken into three 20 min segments!

Part 1: HEART!

Is a fun and easy cardio dance fitness warm up that burns fat and releases endorphins, targeting your stamina and aerobic capacity.

Part 2: BODY!

Is all about toning and sculpting, targeting all of those “problem areas!”

Part 3: SOUL!

This is the time to breathe, and recover from the workout as you move through a series of yoga poses, targeting joint flexibility, lengthening muscles, reducing stress levels, and calming the mind. This last 20min leaves you feeling refreshed, strong and clear.

This workout creates perfect BALANCE! As it works out your HEART, BODY and SOUL!



Cardio Dance Attack:

60 min of heart pumping, endorphin rushing, moving and grooving! Cardio Dance combines hip hop, latin and aerobic dance moves to create a heart pumping workout that will torch calories and leave you feeling energized! Check your inhibitions at the door and join the fun!

B^3 Boot Camp:

BYE- BYE BELLY Boot Camp! Come get down and dirty and sweat it out as you move through 45 min of body weight, core strengthening and plyomeric exercises. B^3 Boot Camp will boost your metabolism for hours following the class and leave your muscles and your mind feeling stronger each time!

Call or Email me to schedule a Nutrition or Personal Training consultation today and get a head start on your journey to BALANCED health!!!  Also, be sure to check out the B Balanced facebook page for status updates as I work to get the studio ready for all of my amazing clients! 

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/B-Balanced-LLC/193315817374651