Spring is in - the grocery store that is!

2:28 PM Remy Maguire - Manifest the Best 0 Comments

Recipes COMING SOON!

Thursday Thoughts Ed. 38 - Bring it on, Spring!

2:27 PM Remy Maguire - Manifest the Best 0 Comments

My, my, how time flies! Spring has got to be right a round the corner, right?!? Maybe Mother Nature is just waiting for us to get ready? I'm ready! I'm ready! Plants are growing, birds are chirping, Spring is a time for renew and celebrating life. Let's do it! Keep your eyes open for this seasons freshest arrivals at your favorite farmers market or grocery store. Here are some top picks for taste and power packed nutrition.

Asparagus
Beets
Tangerines
Spinach and lettuces
Carrots
Artichokes
Peas
Swiss Chard

Log on to Manifest the Best at http://remywright.blogspot.com/ to find delicious recipes using these superstar ingredients.


As the end of the month quickly approaches let's make sure we don't miss anything super awesome happening around the club. You'll find a list of happenings below.

Bring your Friends and Family in. Zero to Join Special going on now until the end of March. Now is the perfect time to get your friend into the club. When they join you will receive a gift, your choice of 1 hour massage, 1 hour personal training, or one month free membership!

Last 2 days to fill out our member/client survey. Let your voice be heard. Don’t forget to print out the last page and bring it in by Friday, March 30th to be entered into the drawing for a massage or personal training session.http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8J2YS6P

Do you or someone you know like to Cycle. Join the Cycle Club. Join Coach Sara, first ride is this Saturday, March 31st.
http://www.nwwomensfitness.com/subs/events/event_details.php?event_id=199

Want to get in for a Specialty Dance Class, join Erin Easton for a Special Bellyfit Class, Saturday, April 7th 2:00-3:30pm, $7 members and $10 for non-members.

Next Round of Run Club with Coach Carol - Learn to Run 5k Wednesday, April 11th, 7pm-8pm
http://www.nwwomensfitness.com/subs/events/event_details.php?event_id=139 and Running Clinic, Saturday, April 14th, 11:30am-12:30pm
http://www.nwwomensfitness.com/subs/events/event_details.php?event_id=170


Time to get on the Triathlon Team with Coach Remy and Coach AJ! Informational Meeting, Saturday, April 14th, 1:30-3:00pm. Training starts in May. http://www.nwwomensfitness.com/subs/events/event_details.php?event_id=205

Join Chiropractor, Dr. Agger, speak about Natural Solutions for Neck and Back Pain…How to get more out of your body. This is a complimentary and co-ed seminar. Saturday, April 21st, 1:30pm-3:00pm

Ultimate Spring Makeover Challenge is bigger and better than ever! Program launch is Wednesday, April 25th 7:30pm-9:00pm. But don’t wait until then to sign up with your favorite Trainer Team register today!
http://www.nwwomensfitness.com/subs/events/event_details.php?event_id=30

Angela and I are pairing up to coach Team Fantastic! Join us! (We are totally going to win:-) Each week we'll provide a healthy eating and exercise habit to incorporate that will take your fitness to the next level. We'll be providing tons of awesome, slimming tips, recipes, workouts, inspiration and MORE. Whether you've got a lot to lose or want to lose it once and for all - we've got your back! And the prizes are outstanding! Ohh, PRIZES!

Fresh and Fruity,
Coach Remy

Thursday Thoughts Ed. #37- What it takes to lose weight.

2:23 PM Remy Maguire - Manifest the Best 0 Comments

What it takes to lose the weight.

You’ve got to want it. You’ve got to be willing to work for it. Number 1.

Then you’ve got to get your priorities straight. Figure out what is the most important, most effective thing you can do to get your body to change.

Be realistic. Take a long, hard look at your lifestyle. Are you super stressed out? Do you get enough sleep and time for rejuvenation? Are you exercising? If you are, how much and how hard – are you getting all gross and sweaty? (If not, you aren’t working hard enough to lose weight.)

Take a look at your diet? A really good look. Is your diet healthy and nutritious? Do you know what that even means?

Now pick one thing to work on. Yup, just one! Choose something you really believe you can do…get to the gym two more times per week, go to bed 30 minutes earlier (so you can get up and go to the gym!), have oatmeal for breakfast and add a salad to your evening meal.

You’ve got to want it. You’ve got to be willing to work for it. So go ahead and pick something you KNOW you can handle. Then do it.

If that’s sounds pretty easy, good. I want you to feel positive about what you are trying to do – to really believe you can do it!

The best thing you can do is the best thing you can do. Whether it’s exercise, diet or lifestyle related, you’ve got changes to make, so go slowly, and make one at a time.
If you want more, you are ready to sweat and succeed once and for all, keep reading.

Priorities for Fat Loss!

1. Dialed in nutrition.
Even if you create the necessary caloric deficit required to lose weight if you are eating a bunch of junk – you’ll still feel and look, well, like you eat a bunch of junk. A healthy, nutritious diet will make weight loss easier, give your workouts more energy and keep your skin glowing and smile bright. Bonus!

2. Dialed in nutrition.
I’m serious; it’s a big deal! I teach a whole class on how to eat, plan, prepare, and enjoy the right types of foods to lose weight. It’s very popular and it changes lives. Broccoli changes lives!

3. Lift some weights. Strengthen your muscles.
The majority of the calories we burn in a day are based on our body composition. A person with more muscle burns more calories at rest that the same sized person whose body isn’t as strong. It is so important to make sure you focus on including metabolic boosting, muscle building exercise into your routine.

4. Keep your metabolism stoked.
Your metabolism is your energy (calorie) burner. A faster and more effective system means your body can burn more calories and shed fat faster. So we want this baby cooking! How do we do that?? See #3. Muscle requires more energy (calories) than fat. Basically, more muscle = faster metabolism = less fat.

5. Now keep moving! Burn, baby, burn.
Spending time on the treadmill, sweaty indoor spin sessions, taking the stairs instead of the elevator; these activities all burn calories. Sweet. Remember the basic equation for fat loss? You want to burn more calories that you consume. A serious 60-minute spin class can burn up to 600 of those suckers. Boom. Combine this heart pounding, mood boosting, tank top soaking fun stuff with all of the above and you’ll be looking good (and thinner) by summer.

Need some help with #1 or #2? Set up an appointment for your own personal nutrition counseling session. I’ve helped even the pickiest, most sugar saturated clients figure out how to eat food they love and break the fat cycle. You can use the personal training sessions you have already or buy individual sessions until you see the results you deserve.

Stumped about doing #3, #4, and #5 the right way? Well, you’ve got a club full of world class experts at your fingertips if you are a member of Northwest Personal Training or NW Women’s Fitness Club. Ask us! We are here to help!

Here’s a link to the current class schedule at NWWFC. You can read below the calendar to find out which of the classes are going to help you reach your fat loss goal. Might I suggest coming to see me Monday night’s at 6pm in the cycle studio!!! It’s most fun you’ll have all week☺
http://www.nwwomensfitness.com/downloads/schedule/Portland_Sched_1_2_12.pdf

What questions do you have about fat loss? Send along your questions and I’ll do my best to get you an answer.

Club members: While you are online…like right NOW…please fill out our newest member survey. Just like you we want to be the best we can be, let us know how. Here it is.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8J2YS6P

With lots of sweaty, veggie eating love! (That sounds weird.)
Coach Remy

Thursday Thoughts Ed. #36 - Meal Planning - Putting it all together

1:33 PM Remy Maguire - Manifest the Best 0 Comments

This week in my BetterFoodBetterFit class we talked about meal planning. We’ve spent the past six weeks learning the how’s and why’s of nutrition for fat loss and now we are putting it all together.

Here are some tips for making healthy eating a happy routine in YOUR life.

How to Plan Meals – Step by Step

Get new ideas: Search online cookbooks like allrecipes.com for simple, healthy meal ideas. Ask your kids to look with you so they’ll be more interested in eating what you cook. Think of a superfood like kale and look it up in the index of your favorite cookbook.

Take shortcuts: 1) Could you combine fresh and convenience foods to make the meal faster? 2) Would using frozen and canned foods such as frozen broccoli or, canned tomatoes or beans, make the meal easier to prepare? 3) Do you need a simpler recipe for tuna casserole or a quicker way to make lasagna?

Keep the pantry and freezer stocked with staples: Adding meal staples to your shopping list makes it easier to create quick meals – brown rice, grains, frozen veggies, whole wheat tortillas, beans, etc. Remember, the food you have on hand will determine how healthfully you eat so, choose wisely. 


Make Your List:
Make a list of all the main dishes you normally fix, as well as foods that you would like to serve but often don’t due to time constraints or missing ingredients. List the ingredients that you will need to prepare these meals too.

Look before you shop:
Finally, check your pantry and refrigerator to see what you may already have on hand, make adjustments to your list and take your list to the store.

Tips for How to Plan Meals

Once you've got the meal plan, here are some other tips that can help make your life simpler:

Look ahead for extra-busy days and plan something quick for those days.

Use a shopping list. Before you go to the store, plan your shopping list so you buy everything you need.


During the week, plan simpler meals: one-pot meals, broiled or roasted meats, steamed vegetables, salads, fresh fruit desserts. Save sauces and multi-step meals for weekends.


In addition to our double-duty meals try these tips:

– Brown extra ground beef or turkey for dinner to use in another dish, like tacos, later in the week.

– Cook two more chicken breasts and then cut some up for another meal such as stir-fry with vegetables and brown rice.

– Cook extra rice, put it into a container, and refrigerate or freeze. On a busy night, microwave it, stirring occasionally, until heated through, and then use as you would fresh.

– Chop a whole onion, even if you only need part of it right now. Store the rest for another meal.

– Grate extra cheese and store it in a zippered plastic bag in the freezer.

Example of a super healthy and EASY weekly dinner meal plan:

Monday: Turkey burgers with sweet potato ‘fries’ and zucchini sticks
Tuesday: Veggie Stir-fry over brown rice
Wednesday: Steak salad
Thursday: Whole wheat pasta with meaty or veggie tomato sauce and a green salad
Friday: Salmon tostadas
Saturday: Eggplant parmesan with steamed broccoli
Sunday: Veggie Chili

List:

Staples: Bags frozen stir-fry veggies, Brown Rice, Whole wheat pasta, corn tortillas, canned salmon, canned corn, canned black beans, jarred salsa,

For Recipes:
Ground Turkey, Lean Sirloin steak, Sweet potatoes, Zucchini, Broccoli, Eggplant, Tomato Sauce, Avocado, Salad greens,

Optional:
Whole wheat hamburger buns
Basil (For burgers and parm)
Mozzarella cheese (For burger and parm)

What are you planning this week?

I like to sit down on Sunday evenings and plan the week ahead. What about you?

I’d love to hear from you.

P.S. Member Surveys are up online TODAY! Go get some feel good exercise endorphins kicking and then fill it out. Your input makes our club what it is. Tell us what you think!
P.P.S. I’m subbing the 5:30am class tomorrow morning! We will be working a kick butt circuit - - come start your Friday right!

With Love,
Coach Remy

Tunisian Eggplant

1:09 PM Remy Maguire - Manifest the Best 0 Comments

I'll admit I had to look Tunsia up on the map. The ingredients screamed Meditterian but I just wasn't sure!

This was delicious. Serve as an appetizer with sliced pita bread or as an entre like i did Saturday night on a bed of soft and crisy polenta.

1 cup olive oil (or more, as needed)
1 medium onion, finely chopped
2-3 medium cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. salt (or more to taste)
1 large eggplant (peeling optional), cut into 1 inch cubes
3 Tbs. tomato paste
1 cup red wine vinegar
1 cup small pitted green olives
1 small jar (6 oz) marinated artichoke hearts (drained, each piece cut into 2 or 3 smaller pieces)

Pinches of dried tarragon, basil, and/or oregano
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet. Add the onion, garlic, and salt, and saute over medium heat until the onion is soft and translucent (5 to 8 minutes). Add the eggplant cubes, stir, and cover. Cook until the eggplant is very well done (15 to 20 minutes), stirring occasionally. Add small amounts of additional oil, 1 Tbs. at a time, if needed to prevent sticking.

Stir in tomato paste and vinegar, and heat to the boiling point. Add the olives and remove from heat. Stir in the artichoke hearts, then cool to room temperature. Taste to adjust the seasonings, adding the herbs if desired. Cover tightly and chill. Serve cold or at room temperature.

From Mollie Katzen, author of The Moosewood Cookbook

Going for the Fitterati - I need your VOTE!

4:12 PM Remy Maguire - Manifest the Best 0 Comments

No, no, I'm going running for President...although, wink. But I would LOVE you VOTE. Check this out!

FITNESS magazine is looking for the best lifestyle bloggers around the country for its first-ever Fitterati Blogger Awards. Winning bloggers will appear in an upcoming 2012 issue and will be invited to contribute to the magazine’s website.

Readers can cast their ballots for their favorite blogger or nominate one. There are six different categories: Best Healthy Living Blog, Best Running Blog, Best Healthy Eating Blog, Best Motivational Blog, Best Personal Trainer Blog, and Best Weight Loss Blog. Voting will run through April 12, 2012 and winners will be announced on FitnessMagazine.com in May 2012.

Each category will have two winners: Readers’ Choice (the popular vote) and Editors’ Pick (hand-selected by FITNESS editors).

The Fitterati Awards are open to personal blogs run by one or two people, not media outlets.

Here's the Link to VOTE. The "election" takes place April 12th! I know I'm a late entry but I'll run a good, hard, campaign. This would be a dream come true.
Manifest the best!!! Fitterati here I come!

http://blog-awards.fitnessmagazine.com/blog-awards/fitness_blog

Chef Challenge -- White beans - Go!

12:03 PM Remy Maguire - Manifest the Best 0 Comments

White bean and Tofu Tabboleh


Planning meals for the week often takes place over Sunday night dinner. What better place to get inspired. Chowing down on our meaty, oooey, gooey, sloppy joes, Andrew suggested we go for something vegetarian. Then he tossed out a challenge. "How about something with white beans?" "Um, ok, like what?" I asked. "Dunno, that's your job!" White bean challenge - it's on!

Here's Mondays meatless meal...with white beans!

Ingredients:

1 cup bulgur wheat, uncooked
1 1/2 cups boiling water
2 cups chopped fresh parsley
1 cup chopped baby spinach
1 tomato, diced
1/2 yellow bell pepper, diced
1 small onion, finely diced
1/2 zucchini
1.4 cup diced cucumbers
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (15 ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 block firm organic tofu
1/4 cup olive oil
1 lemon, juiced
1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions:

Place the bulgur wheat in a large bowl, stir the boiling water into it, cover, and let stand until the water is absorbed and the wheat is fluffy, about 30 minutes.
In a large salad bowl, lightly stir together the parsley, spinach, tomato, yellow bell pepper, zucchini, cukes, onion, garlic, cannellini beans, tofu, olive oil, lemon juice, sea salt, and black pepper. Add the bulgur, lightly stir to thoroughly combine the salad, and refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.

Sloppy Joes! Seriously.

11:54 AM Remy Maguire - Manifest the Best 1 Comments

NO WAY! Not from a can! This is as simple to make and so much better tasting and WAY better for you! Enjoy - with a few napkins!



Last minute dinner company called for quick thinking and a freezer sweep. My 'eat more meat' mission meant I had some delicious Piedmont beef and organic turkey on hand. Hmmm, what to do? what to do? Sloppy Joes!!! I can't remember the last time I had one. Man, are they yummy! Here's what I did to make sure these babies were healthy and tasty...

Ingredients:

1/2 pound lean ground beef
1/2 pound ground turkey
1/4 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/4 cup zuccini
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon prepared yellow mustard
3/4 cup ketchup
3 teaspoons raw brown sugar
dash of worchester sauce
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste

Directions:

These are underestimated amounts. I don't often measure spices. I just toss them in until I think I've got enough. True, I can go overboard. Hence, the measly amounts listed. Do what you want:)

In a medium skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef and turkey, onion, and green pepper; drain off liquids.

Stir in the garlic powder, mustard, ketchup, worchester sauce and brown sugar; mix thoroughly. Reduce heat, and simmer for 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

I served the two boys joes stacked high on soft Hawaiian rolls with a side of peas and carrots. I ate mine on a bed of spinach with lots of veggies.

Nutritional Information

Amount Per Serving Calories: 188 | Total Fat: 9.3g | Cholesterol: 50mg