My Top Five Tips for Surviving the Holiday Season!

We made it to Thanksgiving week! A big part of me can't believe it is here already and even though I detest the cold and snow that is unavoidable in Pittsburgh, I do get excited for the hustle and bustle of the holidays. I love seeing people. Wrapping pretty presents. Decorating my house and even going out in the cold to pick out a tree. I have learned that seeing the excitement for Christmas and other
holidays in my three year old's eyes (and energy level!) is contagious. Dressing up in pretty Christmas dresses. Baking and decorating cookies, making bright colored candy and homemade hot chocolate as gifts has taken on more than just being something on my todo list this year. It is magical....because she sees it as magical.

But what is a girl on a mission to stay as healthy as she can to do while facing all of these big celebratory meals, parties and yummy homemade treats?

Here are the five big things I do during the holiday season to avoid the weight gain and falling off track when it comes to my exercise game (because when I fall off it is SO hard for me to get back on again!)

1. Sweat Everyday (and I mean everyday!)

I know this time of year is extra busy and it may mean you have to get up a little earlier or stay up a little later BUT make this a nonnegotiable. Schedule it into your day. You will feel better and help balance out those extra little treats that will make their way into holiday meals. Shoot for 30 minute workouts when extra time seems nonexistent.

If you are traveling...bring your DVD's with you and play them in your hotel room or make use of the hotel gym or even just go for a brisk walk or run. Anything to keep your body moving and your exercise routine in check. Plus once the Holiday crazy is over you won't be scrambling to figure out how to get back on routine.

Get your family and friends involved by finding a Turkey Trot near you and running or walking Thanksgiving morning. My sister and I ran one last year and it was so much fun. These runs are typically full of people out in costume running and having a great time. Not a runner? Who cares? So many novice runners (and walkers) participate in these types of races.... you will not be alone. Alternate between running and walking. Or just grab a buddy and walk the race. You will still reap the benefits of getting your body moving that morning!

2. Bring the Healthy Dish

Not cooking dinner? Worried about what will be available for you to eat and not stray WAY off track? Bring the healthy side dish. (This is my game plan this year!) Whip up a healthy version of your favorites (like Shakeology Pumpkin Pie or this clean Green Bean Casserole by the Gracious Pantry.) I am going to be making a huge, colorful winter salad chock full of healthy greens, pomegranate and oranges all topped with a healthy and homemade citrus vinaigrette. This way I know I will have something to fill most of my plate while still enjoying small bites of my favorites (like stuffing!)

3. Eat Breakfast

Do not skip breakfast (or lunch) to "save" your calories for the big meal. Binging will surely happen in that situation. Have a healthy and filling breakfast. You will be less likely to overindulge and choose your treats wisely.

4. Decide Where you Want to Indulge

The holiday's are for celebrating and having some of your favorite treats is an important part of balancing a healthy lifestyle. If there is something you always look forward to....by all means enjoy but be conscious of serving size. AND this is not an excuse to indulge in everything. Choose wisely and savor your favorites.

5. Hydrate

Drink plenty of water (especially if alcohol is one of your chosen treats!) Make sure water is still your drink of choice and you are aiming to get at least 1/2 your body weight in ounces a day. This will also help keep you full and from overeating.

If there is any way I can help you in achieving your health and fitness goals, please don't hesitate to contact me through email or a message on Facebook.

Have a Happy and Healthy Holiday Season!

Giving the Gift of Clean Eating (and fun kitchen gadgets I love or covet....)

My Christmas wish list this year looks a lot different than it has in years past. In the past I asked for books, cute clothes, sassy boots, books and lots of sparkly makeup. Since I have embraced clean eating and learning to make things for myself, I have found what kitchen gadgets are essential, what I need to get and what I really really want. I thought I would share what I have found to be some of the best purchases I have made since starting this lifestyle. (And some things I really really want.) So if there is someone in your life that is starting to clean up what they eat and avoid processed foods, think about a basket with some of these gadgets to help make being healthier everyday a little bit easier.

Olive oil sprayer --

I can not live without this. I use it almost every day and can fill it with the good stuff. I use it to spray oil on popcorn, in skillets, on salads and basically everywhere spraying oil is a good idea. And you use a lot less oil than when you just pour which can save a ton of calories. Win, win.

I have two different brands of these, a Misto and a Prepara . I like the Prepara. It costs a little more but it clogs less and it gives you the option of adding herbs and things to create infused oil. (And I like options.)


Electric Chopper

Sure you can cut up your own half an onion for that recipe but I like to avoid the whole crying into my dinner thing. I just cut it up in big chunks, throw it into this little baby and hit the button a few times (holding it down will turn it to mush) and boom! I have diced onions. No tears necessary. Plus it doubles to make mini goes of hummus or other dips. And it is small enough I can throw it in the dishwasher without it taking up the entire rack. (Dishwasher safe is an important word in this house.)

Air Popcorn Popper

This has been my saving grace on many occasions. There are just those nights when I am super snacky and I am kind of a popcorn-o-holic. So when I realized how many chemicals are in microwave popcorn, I knew I had to kick my popcorn habit to the curb. I was desperate to replace it with something and this little baby saved me. It is quick to pop and easy to clean. Plus it is like a super fun event in this house. My toddler loves watching for the popcorn to start popping and we top it with olive oil and whatever spices we feel like....fresh rosemary and sea salt popcorn anyone?

Immersion Blender

This thing may be my favorite kitchen tool of all time. I use it everyday to mix my Shakeology with frozen fruit and multiple times a week for things like pureed soups, salad dressings, hummus, pesto etc. It is so much easier to puree a soup in the pot than transfer hot liquid to a food processor. And it travels well so when I am taking my shakes on the road I pack this baby too.

Freezer Safe Jars


These are a must have for me. Freezer safe glass jars are designated by not having a curve under the neck of the jar. They are straight up and down. And are fantastic for freezing all the big batches of pureed soups I like to make.

Blender Bottles

Although I am trying to limit my use of plastics, I am finding it so hard to break up with these. I find them useful for so many things. I love keeping salad dressing in them.

Tortilla Press


Every since I visited my aunt in Texas and found them making fresh tortillas in the grocery store I was hooked. And they are almost impossible to make without a press. (Although if I do get one of these someone may want to come over and pry the fresh tortillas from my hand as I will certainly go to town for a while.)

Griddle Pan

For eggs, pancakes and all the tortillas I plan to make....all at once instead of cramming them into a tiny skillet.

Vegetable Spiralizer or as I like to call it a zucchini noodle maker

I have wanted one of these for a while now. I have visions of whole wheat pasta mixed with zucchini noodles dancing in my head. (And it will fit in my stocking *hint hint*)

Pineapple Corer

I saw one of these used at a mixology class and was amazed at how easy it was to core and slice a pineapple. (They intimidate me quite a bit.) And the leftover shell was used as a glass as a cocktail. Of course I want it.

Waffle Maker

My two year old is obsessed with waffles and it is really hard to find a decent brand of freezer waffles that meet my standard to toss into the toaster oven. I have dreams of making batches of these ahead of time and sticking them in the freezer for super busy mornings.

Food Dehydrator

I have a dried food addiction. It makes up for the fact that I love(d) all things gummy-- fruit snacks, candy, you name it. Dried apple rings are one of my favorite I feel like I am cheating snacks. And my aunt used to make homemade strawberry fruit roll ups that I loved. I have hopes and dreams of being able to make fruit roll ups (and eat them too!)

Check out this article for more info on how to choose the right food dehydrator for you.


Happy Shopping!

Making the most of the days between Thanksgiving and Christmas (at least 21 of them)

This year there are 26 days in between Thanksgiving and New Years.

26 days between two different events that can be a nightmare if you are trying your best to eat healthy
and make the best choices. There is something about wine, gravy and sprinkle cookies that make me want to just throw it all out the window.

And that doesn't even take into account all the celebrations in between. Work parties, extended family parties that are scheduled early so the maximum amount of people can be there, parties with friends....it is so easy to have every weekend fully booked in between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Or even between Thanksgiving and New Years.

Dear Santa, what I would like for Christmas this year is not to gain weight.

So this is how I am going to arm myself to have a totally healthy holiday season (and still enjoy all the family, friends, and fun Christmas themed cocktails that are available) and rock the little black dress I haven't worn in 4 years for New Year's Eve.

I am going to do a 21 day Holiday Shred.

Here is how it would work:

For 21 days I would put you in a closed Facebook group with others trying to achieve the same goal (including me! yay!) We will talk about clean eating, meal preparation, meal planning and everything you need to get set up for success. We will measure progress by not just using the scale but by measurements and photos (I know. Super scary but when you think you aren't making any progress it is amazing to see what you actually done in the photos. Believe me. I've been there!) Because this challenge is so short we will do this at the start of the challenge and again on day 21. 

We will post daily in the group and rate our day on a scale of 1-5, 5 being the best and 1 being the worst. We will rate our diet and our exercise (basically how hard you brought it!) and whether or not we had our Shakeology.

We will commit to trying out Shakeology for the duration of the challenge. I know once I did it, I fell in love with the energy I had and how great I felt.  (*Side note* my nails look awesome. Better than when I was on prenatal vitamins. It is my current obsession since I have struggled with weak and peeling nails forever! One of the perks I didn't know I was going to get.) So Shakeology is going to fuel your body (key word fuel) with the vitamins and nutrients you need throughout the day. And there is a 30 day guarantee on Shakeology so if it isn't working for you, we'll talk (and you get your money back.) --For more on my experience Shakeology read this.

We will eat clean. (For more info on what that means read this.) But basically just strive to eat real, whole food. No chemicals and no processed food. I will provide you with recipe ideas, meal planning and all the tools that have worked so far for me on this journey.

We will also commit to working out 5-6 days a week. I don't care if you run, walk or lift. Just get that body moving! If you already workout regularly think about stepping up your game. Adding some weight training to your cardio. If you don't have an exercise regimen we can talk about options. If you are interested in trying a Beachbody program, we can talk about that too and get you set up with something that totally works for you. There are so many options outside of P90x and Insanity (which I feel gets all the love) so if hard core intensity isn't for you, we can totally find something that is. I am currently doing a combination of Chalene Extreme and TurboFire and am in LOVE with with both. TurboFire really gives my inner cheerleader some much needed attention. And Chalene Extreme makes me feel super strong and like a total bad a$$ -- because that is what lifting weights does to me. I have found success with the at home programs from BeachBody because they are a killer workout and they all come with a schedule. So I can wake up, get my toddler some breakfast and toss in a movie, look at the schedule, pop in a DVD and press play. I don't have to worry about getting her ready to go to the gym with me or what series of exercises I am going to do that day. I know me and I need that schedule. I get really freaked out if I am going to miss a day and "mess up" the schedule or the order. But whatever works for you, we will make it happen.

Plus I will give you daily motivation, tips and tricks and share all the research I have accrued over the last few months.

But there are so many parties and it will be so hard....

Yes. Parties are hard to navigate. I have always had the fear of missing out on food and wanting to make sure I get to taste everything. I mean what if I miss the very best thing at this party? What if I never get to have it ever again? 

The goal of doing this is not avoiding temptation and saying no to every party invitation that comes in the mail this year. It is about learning how to navigate those situations so you still get to enjoy everything about the holidays. (Because isn't the point really about seeing friends and family and not so much about eating so many cookies it would put Santa to shame?) We will talk about dealing with the hustle and bustle -- some of the best ways to deal with having so much to do and so many places to go that it makes the entire holiday season just seem like a whirlwind (and makes me just want to lay on the couch to take a nap!) 

But there is something so nice about having a group of people with a common goal to help get you though it. There will be bad days and bad choices but you always have somewhere to come back to that gets you right back on the wagon. 

Taking it up a notch....

I am also going to kick it up a notch by starting my 21 day shred with a Shakeology cleanse. This is not required for the group but it is something I have found to really start things off strong. It totally gives me the motivation to bring it for the duration of the challenge. (And after the four Thanksgiving dinners I have to eat this year, it is something I really need to do.) For more info on the cleanse read this or for my first cleanse experience you can click here. If you are interested in the cleanse (and only the cleanse) give me a shout. I have cleanse kits available that come with instructions and all the Shakeology you need. 

So how do I make this happen?

This is going to kick off December 2nd -- the Monday after Thanksgiving. 

Enrollment is open now. Send me a message or an email to scyobe@gmail.com with any questions or to get signed up!