Tag Archives: diet ideas

Thai Pumpkin Soup with Coconut Milk (vegan)

Posted in Recipes by

Hello my dears!

Fall is definitely here, low temperatures, leaves on the ground, lots of rain, yeah i know its a cliche but this is what it is.

So if its fall that mean everything pumpkin: pumpkin spice latte, pumpkin pie, pumpkin doughnuts and obviously pumpkin soup.

IMG_1655Today I made the best pumpkin soup ever, so here is the recipe:

Ingredients
  • 1 tbs Olive Oil
  • 1 onion chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, grated
  • 1.5 kg (3 pounds) butternut pumpkin, peeled, chopped
  • 1 lemongrass stalk, finely chopped or grated
  • 1 tbs fresh ginger, grated
  • 1 bunch coriander (cilantro)
  • 1 litre water
  • 400ml (13.5 oz) coconut milk
Instructions
  1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat before adding the onion and garlic. Cook until the onion becomes translucent.
  2. Add the ginger, lemongrass and coriander roots and stalks. Cook until the stalks become soft before adding the pumpkin.
  3. Toss the pumpkin in the oil and cook for 5 minutes. Add the water and bring to a boil before reducing the heat to lower. Cook for 30 minutes or until the pumpkin is tender. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
  4. Pour the soup into a blender and blend until smooth. Add most of the chopped coriander (cilantro) leaves reserving some to garnish the soup.
  5. Return to a clean saucepan and add the coconut milk. Serve with shaved coconut, the remaining coriander (cilantro) leaves and chili.

Here you go, is this simple!

Enjoy! 🙂

About my detox experience featuring JUICEit

Posted in Nutrition Tips by

IMG_20150305_013308Hello my dears! I wanted to write about a detox diet, or cleanse some time ago, first of all because a lots of my clients are asking me what is my opinion about it, is it ok to try it, is it safe, is it healthy. Second because I wanted to try it first and tell you my own experience. JUICEit made this experience possible.

They are a Company based in Bucharest. Their juices are 100% natural, cold pressed and delicious. All their ingredients are local, fresh and in season. The juices are made daily and sent for their clients all over the country in the next day. More info about the company here.

Firstly let’s see what a detox is.

A juice fast is a type of detox diet or cleanse that involves consuming raw vegetable and fruit juice and water for a short period of time. It is considered one of the more rapid methods of detoxification due to the reduced food intake and absence of solid food.

A typical juice fast lasts one to five days. Consultation with a health care professional is recommended, particularly for fasts lasting longer than three days or for anyone with a health condition.

Why do we need to detox?

The point of detoxing is to get rid of toxins from your body. Detoxes may shift you away from bad habits like too much coffee, alcohol, sugars and fatty foods, and help to adapt to healthier habits after you’re done

Benefits of juicing

A juice cleansing is a great way to give our bodies the break they deserve while also keeping ourselves energized and nutritionally sated. Juicing helps you absorb all the nutrients from the fruits and vegetables.

A few days of juicing can help you with

  • Concentration
  • It gives a glow to your skin
  • Reduces cellulite
  • help your digestive systems function
  • boosts your energy level
  • helps you with sugar cravings
  • helps people with high blood pressure

IMG_20150305_102752My experience with JUICEit

First rule, before you start a detox diet, pay attention on what you eat 2-3 days before. Try to avoid fast foods, alcohol, sweets and coffee.

Rule nr 2. Consume only juices and water. I received 6 bottle of 500 ml each for the whole day of juicing. These juices are specially created to give your body the nutrients and vitamins for the whole day.

Rule nr. 3. Every morning before you start your day, drink a glass of water with fresh lemon juice. When you feel like snacking, drink a tea.

Rule nr.4. A detox plan can last from 1 day up to 5 days, but for a person who never did this kind of cleanse, they recommend the 3 day detox program. You will receive your 6 bottles, all of them will have a number on it (for you to know which one is next).

Rule nr.5. After you finish your detox plan, the company recommends to not to get back on an unhealthy lifestyle immediately. For the first 2 days after the detox try to eat as clean as possible, mostly salads and fruits.

IMG_20150227_130045_1JUICEit offered me the NEW YOU detox program and I have to tell you it was a great experience. Being a very active person, I work all day with my clients doing personal trainings and also teaching aerobic group classes I really need to nourish my body the best way possible.

My first juice components were: lemon, ginger, goji berries, cayenne pepper, agave syrup and filtered water. It was very spicy and energizing, perfect for the morning.

The next juice components: spinach, celery, cucumber, parsley, ginger, lemon and kale. I think this was the less tasty one of all, but I drink it without any problem.

The third juice: grapefruit, pineapple and mint. This one was one of my favorite. I adored this mix of flavors and I felt super fresh after. This was the drink before my aerobic classes.

The forth juice: spinach, pineapple, celery, cucumber, ginger, mint and kale. I had this drink during my classes. I have to tell you after this drink I felt super hungry. Maybe because I had 3 heavy classes, cardio, circuit and functional training. I think it’s normal to feel hungry. I have to admit I ate 2 kiwi fruits after the training.

The fifth juice ingredients: beetroot, carrots, apple and sea-buckthorns. After drinking this juice I still felt hungry, so I opened the 6 bottle. It was only 8 o clock in the night.

The last juice: cashew nuts, agave syrup, dates, vanilla powder, cinnamon, banana and filtered water. This was far the best tasting juice. It was like a banana ice cream shake.

In the night around 10 o clock I ate some baby carrots and green salad. I really tried to focus on and not to cheat on this one day of detox, but training so hard I think it made it almost impossible.

The day after I really felt energized, fresh and my belly was so flat, not that it won’t be flat all the time :)) hahaha

I recommend this program to everybody, who wants to recharge his/her batteries before spring is here. I definitely believe that you can lose weight by doing this program for 3 days, before an important event like a photo shoot or to fit in a nice dress or wedding or vacation.

Hope you liked this little review and you will try it yourself, I tell you it worth it! 🙂

Baked peppers with capers and olives

Posted in Recipes by

wpid-mushrooms.jpgHello everybody!

Today I have for you a super easy and delicious italian dish. If you are going to visit italy soon, definitely try them, if not, you can make it at home.

Here is what you will need:

  • 2 red pepper
  • 1 tablespoon of capers
  • 1 tablespoon of black olives
  • grated parmesan cheese
  • a clove of garlic
  • extra virgin olive oil
  • salt and pepper

Instructions:

Cut the peppers in small pieces, put some olive oil in the pan and start to grill them on low heat with the garlic. After 10 minutes put some water on them and let them boil till they get soft. When they are ready put some salt and pepper and a little virgin olive oil. Mix in the halved olives and the capers. Put them back on the fireplace for another-5 minutes. At the end add some grated parmesan cheese…and your dish is ready.

You can serve it with any kind of fish or cheese, or just eat is simply like this.

Have a good appetite! :*

How to Choose the Best Personal Trainer for You

Posted in Fitness Tips by

wpid-img_4834.jpg 

Hello everybody!

I am back with you again after a long brake. I wrote an article about some little guiding points which can help you to choose the best personal trainer for you.

If you want to lose weight, get healthy and/or build muscle, hiring a personal trainer can be a step in the right direction. A good trainer can help you set up a program that meets your goals and teach you the best way to exercise. 

Personal trainers are not just for Hollywood stars and the “rich and famous” anymore! Your personal trainer will motivate you, keep you on track and make sure your workouts are safe, enjoyable and effective.
Finding and choosing a trainer can be a little confusing or difficult for some people so here are some guiding points that you should consider when choosing your trainer!
1. May sound a little superficial but your personal trainers physical appearence is one of the moust important things about his knowledge, motivation and hard work. If he or she is not able to do it for him/herself why whould he do it for you?
2. Education! A personal trainer should be certified through a reputable personal training organization. The more education your trainer has, the better your workouts will be.
3. Experience. Make sure your trainer has experience, especially in relation to your goals. For example, if you’re a bodybuilder, you want someone knowledgeable in that exact area.
4. Nutrition. Your trainer must have a knowlegde about nutrition. We all know exercise without a healthy diet will not do the work. They are strongly linked together.
5. A good listener. A good trainer will listen closely to what you say and make sure he understands your goals.
6. Tracking progress: A good trainer will regularly assess your progress and change things if necessary.training styles
7. A good trainer should respect his/her job, should be informed about the new fitness trends, training styles machines etc.
8. Needs to be a good motivator! Most of the clients needs that little push from the trainer, when they feel a little lazy or without motivation.

So these are my thouths on this subject, I hope you enjoyed it (I know I made a few personal trainers very “happy” with this article)

See you very soon! :*

How to make your own healthy almond butter

Posted in Nutrition Tips, Recipes by

PhotoGrid_1398987531520Hello everybody!

I have a little tip for you today, on how to make your own almond (peanut,cashew or any kind of nut) butter.

The ones from the stores are loaded with sugar, vegetable oil, salt and preservatives. You don’t need that stuff!!

It is so simple to make it, that you will be amazed! 🙂

How to do it:

  • Silk your natural unsalted almonds (2-3 cups) overnight
  • Place them in the food processor and start to process
  • After 10 minutes it starts to stick to the side of your blender, so stop for a while and mix it with a spatula
  • Process it again for about 10 more minutes, till it starts to be like a cream
  • At the end you can add if you want a little honey, vanilla or cinnamon.

And here you go, your almond butter is ready. You can eat it with apple slices, you can make smoothies with bananas and almond butter,  almond butter granola bars, flour less almond butter healthy cookies and so on.

Enjoy! 🙂

Tips on how to stay fit and avoid weight gain while traveling

Posted in Fitness Tips, Lifestyle Tips, Nutrition Tips by

mushroomsHey everybody, how are u today?

Lately I was travelling a little, so I wasn’t able to write…but now I am back with a very useful topic. What should we eat when we are travelling? It doesn’t matter if it’s a road trip or by plane, the point is we cannot eat our usual healthy cooked meals. People tend to crave junk food while travelling, so to avoid this I have some tips for you about what you should pack with you, to not to be tempted to eat those crackers, croissants, chocolate bars and sugary juices.

Traveling nowadays means waiting and waiting, and unfortunately this means we eat and drink. The reason we crave more those junk foods in the first place because of the stress that goes with travelling. The stress hormones fires up your body to crave those sugary high calorie foods. Just one Starbucks blueberry crumb cake and a coke (“just” 800 calories) and you are not even satisfied.

So here is your solution!

  • Near your things you should pack a banana, which is full of fiber, potassium, vitamins and it satisfies your hunger and your sugar craving. Other option could be an apple or any kind of fresh fruit.
  • Another good snack to pack with you are natural unsalted unroasted almonds. A pack of 40 gr is enough for you to not to feel hungry. Almonds are rich in proteins and healthy fats, so I can say it is a perfect snack.
  • My third option is a protein bar, but please look for one that provides a minimum of 20 grams of protein and nor more than 20 gr. of carbs. My favorite is the Quest bar, is one of the less processed and contains the fewest ingredients on the market.
  • The forth option in actually 30 gr of whey protein powder. You just buy a bottle of water and you shake it. Perfect if you feel hungry and thirsty as well.
  • Other option could be a trail mix containing natural unsweetened nuts and dried fruits, but pay attention, those are really high in calories, so do not eat more than a handful.
  • And the last but not the least on my list is water. Very important to drink a lot of water, especially when you are travelling by plane, and the air is so dry. Skip the diet drinks and sugar free “healthy” juices, water is your best friend 🙂

So these are my tips, hope I was helpful and hope you have a nice travel!

See you soon! :*

Best post workout snack/food ideas

Posted in Fitness Tips, Nutrition Tips by

Hey everybody!

mushroomsI hope you are having a nice and hot summer. I have a very requested article for you today, about post workout nutrition, so keep reading! 🙂

Here’s the first thing you need to know when it comes to post-workout food and fat loss: It is best to eat something within 30 minutes to an hour after training to replenish your body’s energy stores and repair muscle tissue. After a workout your muscles are depleted of nutrients, specifically carbohydrates and electrolytes such as potassium. The key is to follow your workout with meals that combine protein, which helps your muscles recover, and carbohydrates, which replenish energy stores. Here is our list of favourite healthy workout meals.

1. EGGS AND ORANGE JUICE

Eggs are the best protein source ever. There’s protein in both the yolk and the white of an egg. Orange juice provides plenty of carbs and vitamin C. If you workout in the morning, take a boiled egg and a frozen juice to the gym. The juice will thaw as you exercise and keep the egg cool as well.

2. BANANAS

Bananas are nature’s perfect post workout food. One large banana contains up to two grams of protein; four grams of fibre; 36 grams of carbohydrates; half a gram of fat; 602 milligrams of potassium and no cholesterol. Eat this with a tub of yoghurt or cottage cheese for a protein hit.

3. SALMON AND SWEET POTATO

Protein-rich salmon is a packed full of omega-3s, and will keepyou satisfied to avoid snacking. Try pairing salmon with spinach or green beans for vitamins and minerals and sweet potato for slow-burning carbohydrates.

4. SMOOTHIES

Tasty and refreshing, a yogurt-based smoothie provides the essential amino acid required for muscle recovery. Try this recipe: Half a cup of yoghurt, 1 banana, half a cup of skim milk or almond milk, 1 tablespoon of peanut butter for protein, and 1 tsp of ground flax seed for a dose of omega-3s.

5. CHICKEN

Skinless chicken breast is an excellent source of lean protein. Add some brown rice for fibre and carbs, load up with the vegetables and you’re good to go.

6. DRIED FRUITS AND NUTS

If you are away from a kitchen, dried fruits and nuts are a simple solution. Store a sandwich bag filled with dried fruit and nuts in your gym bag. Nuts provide a dose of protein and fats, and fruits will give you a shot of simple carbohydrates to replenish your muscle glycogen quickly.

7. HUMMUS AND PITA

Another great carb/protein combo: Hummus and whole wheat pita. Hummus, a dip made from pureed chickpeas, gives you both carbs and protein. Coupled with the slow-release energy from the whole wheat pita, it makes for a snack that’ll keep you fueled for hours.

After a good workout you need a good workout snack to help your body recover, rebuild your muscles and get back to shape. It is advisable to consume a post workout snack rich in proteins in 30 minutes of your workout.

Remember, your body uses a lot of energy during a workout. If you don’t replenish it in a short time after finishing, your muscles won’t properly recover, and all your hard work could go to waste. Even a small fistful of food within 15 minutes of working out goes a long way.

Have a wonderful day!  :*