Salmon Dinner

What’s for dinner tonight? I have a delicious recipe for Chili-Roasted Salmon and Veggies to share with you that’s quick, satisfying and might be just the perfect recipe to cook up for dinner tonight.

The best dinners to fuel your fitness results are a combination of fresh, fiber-rich vegetables and quality protein, like this Salmon and Veggie dish. Enjoy!

Servings: 4

Here’s what you need...

• ¼ cup fresh lime juice
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 1 Tablespoon chili powder
• 1 Tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil, divided
• 4 (5-oz) salmon fillets
• 2 zucchini, sliced into half moons
• 1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 poblano pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
• sea salt
• black pepper

For the Creamy Mustard Sauce

• 2 Tablespoons coconut cream
• 1 Tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
• 1 Tablespoon fresh chives, minced
• ⅛ teaspoon sea salt
• ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon water

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Lightly grease 2 large rimmed baking pans with olive oil. Arrange the salmon fillets on one of the pans and generously season with salt and pepper.
2. In a small bowl combine the lime juice, garlic, chili powder, cumin and 1 teaspoon of the olive oil. Pour half of the spice mixture over the tops of the salmon fillets.
3. In a medium bowl toss the zucchini, bell peppers, poblano pepper and red onion with the remaining 2 teaspoons of olive oil and with the remaining spice mixture. Spread the veggies over the remaining pan and generously season with salt and pepper.
4. Place both pans in the preheated oven for 20-30 minutes, until the salmon is flaky and the veggies are tender. Mix the mustard sauce ingredients in a small bowl and serve over the salmon. Enjoy!

Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals:  572 calories, 26g fat, 21g carbohydrate, 8g sugar, 30mg sodium, 8g fiber, and 61g protein

I hope that you get a chance to give this recipe a try this week. Remember that I’m only a call or email away to assist you in all things fitness. And if you are not yet one of my prized clients then call or email me now to set up your first workout – I’d love to help you achieve your best body ever! 

Cheese-Stuffed Burgers!

There’s nothing quite as satisfying as a hot-off-the-grill burger. The problem with most burgers is the bun that it comes wrapped in. Buns are filled with grains, gluten and simple carbs that are easily stored as unwanted fat.  This recipe for Cheese-Stuffed Lettuce Wrapped Burgers gives you that burger taste and satisfaction that you love, without the downside of the bun. To make this burger even tastier, and to really make you forget about the bun, I placed a cube of fresh mozzarella cheese in the center of each patty – making every bite a cheesy, ooey-gooey experience.  Servings: 4  Here’s what you need... 1 Tablespoon olive oil 1 yellow onion, sliced 1 lb grass fed ground beef 1 Tablespoon ketchup 1 Tablespoon yellow mustard ½ teaspoon sea salt ¼ teaspoon black pepper ¼teaspoon garlic powder 4 oz mozzarella, cut into 4, 1-inch cubes 1 head iceburg lettuce 1 tomato, sliced Place the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sliced onion and cook until tender, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside. Preheat your grill to medium-high. In a large bowl combine the beef, ketchup, mustard, salt, pepper and garlic powder. Mix with your hands until the ingredients are fully combined. Divide the meat into 4 equally sized balls. Press a piece of mozzarella into the center of each ball of meat, and flatten into a patty. Make sure to keep the mozzarella fully covered on all sides. Grill the patties for 4-5 minutes per side, until cooked to your desired doneness. Assemble the burgers with a large piece of lettuce, a slice of tomato and a spoonful of tender onions. Enjoy! Nutritional Analysis: One burger equals: 354 calories, 16g fat, 8g carbohydrate, 2g fiber, and 44g protein.  I hope that you get a chance to give this recipe a try this week. Remember that I’m only a call or email away to assist you in all things fitness. And if you are not yet one of my prized clients then call or email me now to set up your first workout – I’d love to help you achieve your best body ever! Talk Soon, Miguel Serrano P.S. If you want more recipes like this, check out my newsletter to get more....click here!

Protein Pancakes

Protein Pancakes

This delicious dish is made with cottage cheese, eggs, protein powder and almond flour and makes a low carb breakfast. Enjoy with a little bit of grass fed butter.

Pancakes are a favorite breakfast indulgence, but this recipe is made with such wholesome ingredients that it’s possible to enjoy pancakes whenever the mood strikes you! Starting your day with a nutritious, filling and protein-packed meal like this one will keep you on track with your food choices all day long.

Servings: 6

Here’s what you need...

• ½ cup high quality protein powder
• ½ cup almond flour (or oats)
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon sea salt
• 10 drops liquid stevia (or half a banana)
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup cottage cheese
• ½ cup low fat milk
• 1 Tablespoon coconut oil

1. Combine the protein powder, almond flour, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Mix until fully combined.
2. In a food processor combine the stevia, eggs, cottage cheese and milk. Add the dry ingredients and pulse to combine.
3. Heat a pancake griddle over medium heat. Grease with the coconut oil, cook the batter by ¼ cup scoops until bubbles form, then flip and cook the other side until golden. Serve with grass fed butter. Enjoy!

Nutritional Analysis: One serving equals: 311 calories, 12g fat, 11g carbohydrate, 2g fiber, and 37g protein.

I hope that you get a chance to give this recipe a try this week. Remember that I’m only a call or email away to assist you in all things fitness. And if you are not yet one of my prized clients then call or email me now to set up your first workout – I’d love to help you achieve your best body ever!

For more cool recipes, check out my Newsletter, packed with Health and Fitness tips, and recipes.  Check it out here!

Simple enough, right?

  

Not happy with your body?

It’s hardly your fault.

Have you ever stopped to notice how many times you’re bombarded by food marketing each day?

Ads come at you from magazine pages, T.V. commercials, on websites and billboards, each boasting of cheap, convenient and tasty ways to cure your hunger.

The question “What’s for dinner?” has never been more complex than now.

Extensive menu options and large entrees have distorted your concept of a proper meal, and before you know it you’ve fallen into the trap of the chain restaurant, the drive thru, and the take-out line.

But wait – truly healthy eating is simple. 

First, block out the blizzard of food marketing around you.

Remember that advertisers want your money, and they don’t stop to consider if the food they promote will expand your waist – that’s your job.

It’s safe to say that, with few exceptions, any food that you see marketed should be avoided. When was the last time you saw an ad for grilled white fish and steamed broccoli?

So what does truly healthy eating look like?

A healthy meal contains lean protein, fresh vegetables and the occasional modest serving of whole grains.

Just as importantly, a healthy meal does NOT contain:

• Refined sugar / corn syrup
• Fried / fatty food
• Full fat dairy food
• Processed food with chemical additives

Healthy Breakfast

Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. What you decide to eat when you first wake up will set the tone for the rest of your meals that day. Try these healthy options:

• Scrambled egg whites, sliced tomato and steamed spinach.
• Whole grain oatmeal, a scoop of protein powder and sliced fruit.
• Homemade breakfast sandwich: Multi-grain English muffin with lean turkey slices and egg.

Healthy Lunch

It is important to plan your lunch ahead of time in order to avoid turning to a fast food joint or vending machine. Pack your lunch the night before and carry it with you. Try these healthy options:

• Dark baby greens topped with chopped chicken breast and diced tomatoes.
• Albacore tuna (packed in water), mixed with finely chopped cucumber.
• Lettuce Wrapped Sandwich: Lean turkey slices, lettuce, tomato and mustard.

Healthy Dinner

Dinner is the meal where most people splurge and eat far more calories than they should. Eating at home is the first step in reducing your dinnertime calories. Try these healthy options:

• Grilled white fish, sautéed spinach and whole wheat couscous
• Baked chicken breast, steamed broccoli and brown rice
• Try the recipe for Cajun Salmon with Roasted Cauliflower and Broccoli below.

While healthy eating is a huge factor in achieving your ideal weight, exercise is the other half of the equation. Your exercise routine should be challenging and should be done on a regular basis.

I know that you have more than enough in your life to think about without having to plan your own exercise routine. Leave that job to me—call or email today to get started on a personalized fitness program that will leave your body no choice but to shed those unwanted pounds.

It's Only Your Life...

Today I’m going to let you in on a little secret…it’s not hard to get and stay fit. It’s not about hard work and deprivation.

It’s all about boundaries. Let me explain…

When you were a child your parents set boundaries around you. They were the authority on what was or wasn’t acceptable behavior. You had to complete your chores before dinner. You had to finish your homework before going out to play. You had to eat all your vegetables before dessert.

If you failed to comply with these boundaries then you knew that there would be consequences.

As an adult you, and only you, are the authority on what is or isn’t acceptable behavior. You are in the position to set boundaries around yourself. These boundaries serve as a framework of order around you – a rock of support in an otherwise chaotic world.

With self-imposed boundaries you can assure your success in anything…specifically with weight loss.

Your fitness boundaries have to be self-imposed—no one is going to do it for you. Don’t look at this as a bad thing! Self-imposed boundaries are self-empowering. Let’s face it, you’ve been living life without fitness boundaries.

• You eat whatever you want, whenever you want it.
• You use any excuse to avoid exercise.
• You indulge whenever it feels good.

Your Fitness Boundaries

It’s time to introduce boundaries back into your life. These boundaries are the key to unleashing your ideal fit and healthy body.

Fitness Boundary #1: What you eat

If you were to be perfectly honest with me, you could list off the foods that are unhealthy and fattening. So why are you still eating them? You know that refined, fried, processed and sugary foods are not good for you.

Place boundaries around what you will allow yourself to eat. Acceptable food items include whole foods, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean meats.

Fitness Boundary #2: How you exercise

I know that you’re not an Olympic athlete, but that doesn’t mean that you can simply pass on exercise. By now you are well aware of the host of benefits that exercise provides. With regular exercise you’ll look great, feel amazing and have more energy than ever.

Place boundaries around how often you must exercise. Choose exercise that is challenging and fun – don’t be afraid to try new activities that improve your strength and endurance.

Fitness Boundary #3: When you indulge

Let’s face it, we live in a world where indulging has become the norm, rather than the exception. When you live life without fitness boundaries, everyday is an opportunity to indulge. These indulgences all add up quickly, causing your clothes to become tight and your energy levels to drop.

Place boundaries around when you can indulge. You’ll find that by limiting your indulgences you’ll end up enjoying them even more.

Putting It In Action

Sit down and take a long, hard look at your lifestyle. Are you eating as healthy as you could be? Are you exercising 3-5 times each week? Are you indulging too often?

Answer the following questions:

1. What 3 food items can I eliminate from my daily diet? (These should be nutritionally void items like high-calories beverages, fast food, packaged snacks, high-fat food, candy or desserts.)
2. When can I schedule exercise into my week? (Pick 3-5 days, and select a specific timeframe. Example: I’m going to exercise on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays from 5am-6am.)
3. When will I allow myself to indulge? (Don’t go overboard here, especially if you need to lose weight. Enjoy a treat a couple times each month, and do so guilt-free knowing that you’ve maintained healthy food boundaries the rest of the time.

Remember that self-imposed boundaries are self-empowering.

Fitness boundaries put your fitness results on autopilot. If you know what constitutes an acceptable meal, then choosing what to eat just got a whole lot easier. If you’re committed to exercising 3 times a week, soon it becomes second nature.

Need help setting up your fitness boundaries? I am here to help – call or email me now!

9 Ways to Burn More Fat—Faster

9 Ways to Burn More Fat—Faster

Unwanted fat slows you down and makes you feel less confident. Fortunately, if you take the right steps, you can burn off pounds of fat faster than you ever imagined.

How can you get started on this mission? With these nine fat-burning tips...

Fat Burn Tip #1: Hit the Weights: Losing weight is always a good idea. Unless you’re losing so much you’re also burning off muscle. By adding weight training into your routine, you’ll ensure your muscle is here to stay.

As an added perk, muscle burns more fat faster, and you burn more fat and burn it for longer after an intense weight-lifting session than you would with just cardio.

Fat Burn Tip #2: Run like Crazy: You’ve got to want it, but if you’re willing to sprint 100 yards 10 times in a row, you’ll melt away about 500 calories from your waistline. That’s a Big Mac or two Snickers bars you just burned off! Do that a few days a week and you’ll have a new body in no time.

Fat Burn Tip #3: Down the Green: It may seem odd that drinking unsweetened green tea can help you burn fat, but try a glass of it after working out. Not only does it taste good, but it will cause your love handles to fall off your sides faster.

Fat Burn Tip #4: Work Out Early: Like everyone else in the world, you’ve got a lot to do in the day. Imagine if you could get to the gym or run a few miles before it all gets started? By hitting your routine when you first wake up, before you even eat breakfast, your body will burn fat like there’s no tomorrow!

Fat Burn Tip #5: Go to Sleep: Just because you’re awake doesn’t mean you’re doing good things for your body. Live in a constant state of sleep deprivation and you won’t be able to work out as hard as you should, and you’ll likely wind up making poor food and drink choices—especially late at night.

Fat Burn Tip #6: Stop Sitting: Working a desk job is no excuse to stay on your backside all day. Need to talk with a coworker? Leave the email and phone alone and get up and talk with your coworker face to face. Then take a quick walk during lunchtime to rejuvenate yourself and power up for the rest of the day. Making activity part of your lifestyle will go a long way toward shaving off pounds faster!

Fat Burn Tip #7: Wait for Seconds: Your instinct may tell you to grab a second helping of meat and potatoes as soon as round one is over. But if you want to burn off fat, give yourself 20 minutes after eating your first plate to let your brain catch up to your stomach. Most likely, you’ll feel full after that amount of time and will avoid adding unnecessary calories you’ll just have to burn off later.

Fat Burn Tip #8: Add Ice: Want to burn more fat faster, without even trying? Then stop drinking room-temperature water. Instead, drop some ice into your water and drink it when it’s nice and cold. It may seem like an old wives’ tale, but drinking cold water has been proven to force your body to burn calories in order to warm the water to body temperature.

Fat Burn Tip #9: Go for Lean Protein: You want to burn fat, and protein makes it possible. How? By helping to boost your metabolism and build more fat-burning muscle. So grab a chicken breast and a spoon of peanut butter to give your body the upper hand against forcing fat far, far away!

My programs are designed to help you quickly and efficiently burn fat and get into the best shape of your life.

Call or email now to schedule your first body-transforming workout! Better yet, take advantage of our Fitness Kickboxing or Women's Boot Camp Web Specials!

20 Minute Fish Tacos

This is a great, light & refreshing recipe for the summer time! 

Ingredients:
6 ounces Greek yogurt
1 tbsp. Taco Seasoning
2 tbsp. fresh lime juice
2 cups finely shredded cabbage (or coleslaw mix)
12 ounces mahi mahi
2 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper
½ cup pico de gallo
8 large lettuce leaves or corn tortillas


Instructions:

In a small bowl combine Greek yogurt, taco seasoning and lime juice. Mix in cabbage until you have a nice light, creamy, cabbage slaw. Set aside.

Slice uncooked fish into ¼-inch slices and season with salt and pepper. Heat 1 tsp. of oil in a medium non-stick sauté pan and ad fish to pan. Cook for 2 minutes on the first side and then two more minutes on the flip side or until just cooked through.

To assemble tacos: Layer a heaping tablespoon of the slaw on the bottom of a large lettuce leaf or tortilla. Top with 3-4 slices of fish and a heaping tablespoon of pico de gallo. Repeat until you have made 8 tacos and enjoy!!

Makes 8 tacos or 4 servings.


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