So remember when I said I was obsessed with dark chocolate? Well here I go again. Dark chocolate cups are my go-to. But it was time for something other than banana and almond butter. I found this recipe for roasted blueberry & almond butter dark […]
Ever have the problem where you’re craving two things at once? Well it happened to me. I was craving both chicken noodle soup and minestrone so I decided to combine them. Sound crazy I know. But to be honest it came out amazing. I don’t […]
When I began this new lifestyle I knew I needed something that I could call my own. I wanted somewhere I belonged and I wanted somewhere that motivated me daily. Going to the gym was a struggle for me unless I had a partner. If I went on my own I most likely ended up doing cardio and abs. That was never enough.
Cardio can only get you so far. I became bored very easily. My dad mentioned to me that his dojo had HIIT classes (high intensity interval training). So I gave the class a try. Ichiban Karate and Fitness changed my life. I started going there in November of 2016 with my mom. The classes were brutal, but the support was undeniable.
Ichiban Karate and Fitness became a second family to me. I was there 4 days a week with the same people. It was so inspiring to see such an age range there. My fitness instructors ranged from 27 to 44. The classes consisted of people around my age (25 or younger) to people my mothers age (61).
No matter the age they were all there to motivate you. They wanted to help you become the best version of yourself. I was pushed beyond my limits. I came to realize that in this journey it’s me against me. If you want something bad enough you can absolutely achieve it.
These HIIT classes incorporated cardio and strength training into a 30 minute class that kicked your ass. The work out was what YOU made it. If you didn’t push through those exercises and give it your all it’s 30 minutes wasted. I remember bringing a few of my friends to try out the class and they said, “that was the hardest workout I’ve ever done.” But you never left feeling like you wasted your time and you never regretted going to class. There were so many days when I didn’t want to go, but they held you accountable if you didn’t. I would show up the next day and hear, “where were you yesterday, Janine?” But that’s what I wanted and what I needed. It was a time in my life where I absolutely needed that extra push from the people around me.
One of my favorite parts about Ichiban Karate and Fitness was the sense of acceptance. No one was there to intimidate you. No one was there to make you feel inferior. They were there to make you better. If you live in the Wakefield area of Rhode Island I highly recommend Ichiban. Head over for a drop in class and give it a try. It won’t be easy, but it will absolutely be worth it. Thank you Ichiban Family for having such a huge impact on my journey thus far. Thank you for believing in me. I miss you all!
Fall is probably my favorite season aside from summer. What I love most about it are all the colors and all the “seasonal” food we eat. Take for example, this sweet potato chili that I made the other night. When I found this recipe for […]
Since Thomas and I moved to Spain we haven’t made too many friends. It will definitely take some time, but we did recently meet a lovely couple. We met Matt and Cassie through the program we are doing here in Spain. They are from Wisconsin […]
So I’ve always been a savory person until about a year ago. Dessert was never really my thing. I know that sounds crazy, but it’s true! Now I can’t go to bed at night without something sweet. I blame this on my Nanny (grandmother). She had the biggest sweet tooth ever!
Recently I’ve been obsessed with dark chocolate and I will find anyway to consume daily. When I decided to make this frozen treat I knew dark chocolate had to be incorporated. The inspiration for this frozen treat came from Justin’s peanut butter cups. Those cups are seriously amazing and I could easily eat like 5 of them.
But I was determined to try making my own. Bananas are also a big part of my diet and what’s better than chocolate, peanut butter, AND banana? My dad is also a bit obsessed with a peanut butter chocolate combo so I really want him to like them.
The great thing about this frozen treat recipe is that you can alter it to add anything you’d like:
Melt the dark chocolate and the coconut oil together to make a mixture. Buy yourself some mini cupcake liners to form the perfect peanut butter cup shape! Pour in some chocolate mixture, add in the banana, dollop of peanut butter and then add more chocolate.
Freeze for about an hour and you’re good to go!
Being in a new place can be scary, but when it’s as beautiful as this it can also be exhilarating. I was so nervous to move out of my house that I’ve known for 20 some years. Not only was I leaving my home, but […]
Clean eating doesn’t just benefit you physically it also helps you mentally, “clean eating is good for the soul”. In order to have a clean mind you need to focus on what’s important in your life. Once I realized that I needed to prioritized my […]
Who here loves turkey chili?
I know I do! I was actually never big on chili growing up because my mom never made it for us. When I started this fitness journey I knew I needed to find recipes that worked for me. I love food so it was important to me to find recipes that were healthy, but still delicious.
When I found a turkey chili recipe that was healthy and bursting with flavor, I was hooked. If you’re ever in need of some amazing dishes that can be part of your new healthy life style, check out Ambitious Kitchen.
I found the chili recipe on her page, but altered it a bit:
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 yellow onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
1 pound extra lean ground turkey or chicken (99%)
4 tablespoons chili powder
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes (I use Rotel brand)
1 1/4 cups chicken broth
2 (15 oz) cans dark red kidney beans, rinsed and drained (sometimes I add another kind of bean whether its black, chick-peas, or white beans.)
The great thing about chili is that you can eat it by itself or add a little something. I love putting my turkey chili over some sautéed zoodles or quinoa.
We are finally settled in at our new place in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. It was a rough couple of weeks, apartment hunting, eating out all the time, and being unsure of our new work schedule. We hit a few rough patches along the way, […]
