Feel-Good Frittata

Ingredients:
1. Extra virgin olive oil / canola oil
2. 1/2 cup of diced pepper
3. 1 1/2 cup of baby spinach, loosely packed
4. 1 whole egg
5. 2 or 3 egg whites
6. 2 tbsp reduced far crumbled feta cheese ( I used reduced fat baby Swiss because I ran out of feta)
7. Salt and pepper
8. 1 orange
9. 1 slice of whole grain toast


Now we're ready to get cooking! :)

1. Heat up oil on the pan use about 1 tsp of oil, not too much just enough to grease the pan so it won't stick.

2. Sauté the peppers until tender approx 5 minutes, add spinach and sauté for 2 minutes

3. Pour egg mixture with salt and pepper to taste. Cook on medium heat until eggs set.

4. Remove from heat, place. Plate on top of skillet and invert so frittata falls onto plate. Now grease up the pan once more with oil, and return the frittata to heat to brown the other side approx for 1 minute.

Serve with an orange and a slice of whole grain slice! Bon appetit! :)

Shakeology Rocky Road fro-yo

Ok, so maybe its not TOTALLY rocky road because I made it without marshmallow, but this recipe is pretty close! I absolutely LOVE Trader Joe's and a couple weeks ago came across "non fat frozen plain yoghurt".  The other day, New York had its first heat wave of the year and it was a 100 degrees out with 99.9% humidity... I was totally dying for ice cream but remembered what I have in my freezer :).  I was going to have it plain but honestly was not a big fan of it at all! It was actually kind of icky! So I figured out this recipe instead :

- 1/2 cup of non fat plain fro - yo (It would be a good idea to leave it out for 10 mins before you try to scoop it its rock hard!)

- 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract

- Stevia (to taste)

- 1/4 scoop Chocolate Shakeology

- crushed almonds 

It was so good & most definitely a healthier alternative to ice cream. :) 

My Favourite Tropical Strawberry Shakeology Recipe

Ok so.....I used to tell people that the Tropical Strawberry was my least favourite.. uhm yeah.. I LIED! This morning when I was about to make my Maple Blondie recipe, I saw the strawberry sample packs on my table.  I was also aware that I had a ripe super juicy mango from Trader Joes (Seriously if you have not tried it yet you need to, it's so juicy, the juice literally just dribbles down my arms!).  If you love citrus this is the recipe to try!

 

1. Diced mango (1 mango)

2. 1/2 cup of coconut milk

3. 1/2 organic banana

4. 1/2 cup of OJ

5. last but not least - 1 scoop of tropical shakeology

Add ice to taste :)

The Ultimate Spice in my Kitchen

So I bet everyone has that one ingredient that you never left out no matter what you are cooking. Well this is mine I found this baby while I was shopping in a local TJMaxx (I know random but they do have good stuff) it seems like EVERYTHING I cook would have a trace of it even just the slightest! Everything just tastes so much better with it. :) What's your ultimate spice?

Sauteed Tofu & Tempeh and Steamed Asparagus

This is a super easy and quick Indonesian inspired dish! :)

Ingredients:
- asparagus
- 1/2 cup of long grain brown basmati rice
- 2 oz tempeh
- 2 oz of tofu
- 2 garlic cloves,minced
- minced onion
- 1 tsp of ABC medium soy sauce or 1/2 tbsp of low sodium soy sauce
- 1 tbsp of chilli paste (optional)
- fresh lemon (lemon juice)
- sea salt
- 1tsp of olive oil
- 2tsp of sesame oil

Rice:
I used a rice cooker, it makes life so much easier! :) Each brand normally has their own instructions so make sure to follow that! Or your rice will come out funny!

Tempeh & Tofu
1. heat up olive oil and sesame oil
2. throw in onions and garlic
3. add in tofu and tempeh
4. add in soy sauce, chilli paste (optional)
5. stir ahead! (for approx 5-7 minutes) 

Asparagus
- Squeeze the lemons on the asparagus and salt to taste, steam it for 10 minutes!

Bon Appetit! <3

"Clean" Your Kitchen! #1

A lot of people say that they struggle to cook a healthy meal. I used to think this but in reality it is easier than you think :) The key is to "clean" what's in your kitchen. I will be posting new ones every two days :)

Olive Oil (Extra Virgin)

Olive oil, mostly used in Mediterranean countries are known to have health benefits and may be the reason of low heart related diseases with Mediterranean diet.  Olive oil has mono saturated fat which is often referred to as "good fat", this helps lower your "bad" LDL cholesterol and increases your "good" HDL cholesterol. This in turn will lower your risk of heart related diseases. Sounds great right? But wait there's more... not only it lowers your risks of having a heart attack, it also helps regulate your blood sugar level & blood pressure. :)

Many people complain about the price of olive oil, well think of the bigger picture your heart needs you to take care of it to take care of you <3

P.S: Trader Joe's has it for cheap (same price as vegetable oil in regular supermarkets!). Also try a TJMaxx or HomeGoods home dept near you if you cant find any in your local grocery store :)

Protein Loaded! Garbanzo Beans with TVP (Textured Vegetable Protein)

ingredients:
1. Half a cup of Garbanzo Beans (I use organic Garbanzo beans from Trader Joes)
2. Half a cup of Textured Vegetable Protein (I got it in bulk from whole foods)
3. Chopped onions
4. Two cloves of garlic, chopped
5. 1 cup of marinara sauce (home made or sometimes I use organic roasted garlic sauce from trader joes)
6. Potatoes
7. 1tbsp extra virgin olive oil (any olive oil or canola oil)

- Boil the potatoes for about 10 minutes or until soft

- Heat up oil on a skillet.
- throw in chopped garlic and onion
- add in garbanzo brand
- add in marinara sauce
- add TVP
- add oregano, sea salt, pepper to taste!
Stir it around and add in water if needed (the TVP will absorb it). I usually add in about a cup of water but add it in slowly.

Bon Appetit! :)

Where's your favourite place?

Mine is the beach <3

What's yours?

Former Retail Workers

So I used to work for a department store...And this is pretty much what it looks like every night. I've got some CRAZY stories :-/ anyone used to work in retail want to trade some?

Maple Blondie Shakeology

Ok, so anyone who knows me well would know they I absolutely HATE peanut butter and chocolate(Sorry Reesee's lovers)! But this recipe absolutely makes me forget about it!

- 1 cup of almond milk
- 1 scoop chocolate shakeology
- 1tsp of organic maple agave syrup (I used trader joes)
- 1 tbsp of natural unsalted peanut butter
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 banana
- ice cubes to taste

Happy blending! :)

Me & the Butt Master himself

So this is me & Leandro himself. I auditioned for the BBL test group! Didn't get picked :( its ok though no big deal it was an awesome experience either way! He was such a nice guy! And he really does say "SQUEEEZZEE THE BOOM BOOM" hahaha!

Chocolate Mousse Shakeology

This is absolutely YUMMY! For all you chocolate shakeology fanatics out there :) try something different!

Ingredients:
1. 1 cup of Greek yoghurt
2. 1 scoop of chocolate shakeology
3. Berries (optional)

Mix that baby up! I just mixed it in a bowl with a spoon until its smooth :) ah! So good! I'm going to make myself some now! :)

Baked Honey Lime Chicken w/ Crushed Almonds

Baked Honey Lime Chicken with Crushed Almonds & Steamed Broccoli 

(serves 2)
Baked Honey Lime Chicken
1. Ingredients:
    - 1 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil
    - 1 tsp of red wine vinegar
    - 1 tbsp of honey
    - 1 tbsp of lime juice / 1 squeezed lime
    - 4 cloves of garlic
    - 1 tsp of Himalayan salt / Sea salt
    - chilli powder (to taste)
    - 2 pieces of 6-8 oz chicken breasts
    - broccoli
    - 1 cup of almonds

2. Crush almonds in a food processor. (I crushed my almonds by putting them in a plastic bag and smashing them with a pan :) haha)

3.  Mix extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, honey, lime juice, 2 cloves of crushed garlic or garlic powder, salt, and chilli powder to marinate chicken in a bowl.

4.  Cut each chicken breasts into 4-5 stripes, or you can leave it whole. Place it in chicken marinade, cover and leave in the fridge for an hour or more.

5. Once your chicken is all marinated, coat the chicken with crushed almonds.

6. Bake chicken for 15 minutes in 350degrees

Broccoli - steam it with 2 cloves of diced garlic for about 10 minutes or until its cooked.


Bon appetit!

NOTHING feels as good as being CONFIDENT & COMFORTABLE IN YOUR OWN SKIN!

FITNESS IS MORE THAN JUST A PHYSICAL JOURNEY

My first round of p90x results!

 

Here is my INITIAL 90 day result of P90X doubles =) : 155 LBS sz 9-11, L-XL top on the left and my weight continued on to fluctuate between 154-160 lbs throughout the Fall & Winter (for some reason I always get bigger during these months). Started in January 2012, made it half way through the first recovery week, lost about 3lbs because I ate everything in sight! I got sick and ended up falling off the wagon once again. It wasn't until I began to COMMIT 100% to P90X & Shakeology back in March that I started to see REAL changes. I graduated in June 2012, 138 LBS, sz 5-7, and sz Small top. I just can't believe how much this has changed my life. Not only it changed me physically but mentally as well. 

My "GOODBYE pics" on the left this was me at 160 lbs at my heaviest point. I was browsing through photo albums etc and i realised that I used to absolutely HATE taking pictures, I hated when someone wanted to take a picture of me, I hated the cameras. Being near one meant another chance to look fat. The weight was more than numbers to me. It was a result of emotional eating & my own insecurity. I realized that I NEEDED to take responsibility toward MY OWN ACTIONS but never got up and did it until 2012. Well.. That person is NEVER coming back!

PRE-P90X (post-failed 4th attempt) VS post-insanity 

 April 2013 
 up next : Les Mills Combat + a little Body Beast here and there.. + the Ultimate Reset

People in NY used to say that I was never fat to begin with etc etc.. Ok so maybe I wasn't 500 lbs BUT I think most people forget that at the end of the day if someone is insecure about themselves it doesnt matter whether that person is 50 lbs overweight or 5 lbs overweight.  

I grew up with very little self esteem, as the "big-ugliest-one" out of three siblings in an abusive household.  In Asian culture, they have a very particular perception on how women are considered beautiful. Pale and model thin (ectomorphs).  I am none of those things! I've always been on the tanner side and mesomorph body type. So I was always considered "big" and at one point I was told that I am black (as an insult)? I will skip all the emotionally gory stories regarding the extent of physical/sexual/emotional abuse that I have had to endure and go straight to how i got to this point. 

So unfortunately in 2010... there was an event that triggered a demeaning abuse episode in my life that happened in the past.  I must have blocked it out because I did not remember it until that point.  Long story short as if the stress of my parents leaving the country, going to college full time, living in some crappy apartment in an area with daily gunshots, being chronically sick, 3 crappy jobs and a taco bell diet was not enough, now this happened. I literally wanted to kill myself by later that year.  Pulled all my hair out. I was depressed, I had a fully devised plan and goodbye plans. Scary to think of it now.  I felt as if my world was literally falling a part in front of me.

I did recover however I got help etc.. but things were never the same. I became even more pessimistic, negative and angry at the world.

I'm glad that those who loved and cared for me reminded me that life is still worth it...  things eventually turned around for me.

April 2011 - Accepted into nursing school

January 2012- a Revelation that I can still take back control of the one thing I CAN change. my body. 

March 2012 - P90X and Beachbody 

April 2012- became a Beachbody coach. BEST DECISION EVER.

June 2012 - Insanity

August 2012 - Insanity/P90x hybrid

November 2012 - TF/BBL

December 2012- perhaps the best month so far. Ultimate Reset. & I became a vegan.

The journey was NOT AT ALL easy....especially with my health issues... I have to be honest I did not figure out what I did wrong until December 2012! PATIENCE is a virtue... NOTHING GOOD COMES EASY. I believe that life is 10% what happens to you and 90% of HOW YOU REACT TO IT.  Fitness is MORE than just a physical journey it is also a mental and spiritual journey. However, I am nowhere near done yet :) and I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU AS A PART OF IT and I would sure LOVE TO BE A PART OF YOURS! <3 

Jaclyn Arrijani Tjipto
www.facebook.com/jacky.arrijani
coachjackya@yahoo.com