Showing posts with label abdominals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label abdominals. Show all posts

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Flat Ab Challenge Final Week

Only a few more days until we take the tape back out and measure you up! I hope you have been working on your cardio and strength, but even if you weren't as spot on as you had hoped, I encourage you to measure and test; take those pictures! Just see the difference and maybe find a little motivation to go one step further!

Today, I am posting the final ab video. Again, there are five movements, which should each be completed for 30-60 seconds five times. I apologize for lack of a full film. My phone does not allow me to upload full films, I guess. Some people had trouble watching my last one, so I went back to the explaining version. Though they are quick explanations, you can always pause the film or write each exercise down before doing the sets on your own!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GR1PDsfZTSI&feature=youtu.be

A few weeks ago, my girlfriends and I went to see Katy Perry perform in Portland, Oregon. While in town, we ate at PF Chang's, my sister's favorite restaurant. We ordered the lettuce wraps, but as I looked down at the wrap, I couldn't help but notice all of the grease dripping off from the tip. Could this really be the healthiest option?

This week, I have found a healthy lettuce wrap, which is gluten- and dairy-free (celiacs, rejoice!).
Healthy Chicken Lettuce Cups
Recipe from Steamy Kitchen’s Healthy Asian Favorites
serves 4

INGREDIENTS
  • 1 1/2 tablespoon cooking oil, such as Canola or Vegetable
  • 1/2 pound ground chicken breast
  • 2 shallots, sliced
  • 1/4 red onion, diced
  • 1 clove garlic, very finely minced
  • Minced fresh chilies or jalapeno – more or less depending on how hot you like it
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce
  • 1/2 lime juiced
  • 1 teaspoon gluten-free soy sauce
  • 1 head iceberg lettuce, leaves separated into “cups”
  • 1 handful of cilantro & mint, cut into finally chopped
DIRECTIONS
Heat a wok (or large saute pan) over high heat. When hot, swirl  1 tablespoon of oil and add the ground chicken. Use your spatula to break up the meat and spread out of the surface of the pan. Cook until browned, about 3-4 minutes.
Push the ground chicken to one side of the pan and swirl the remaining 1/2 tablespoon of oil. To the oil, add the shallots, red onion, garlic, and fresh chilies and saute until fragrant, about 30-60 seconds. Add fish sauce, lime juice and gluten-free soy sauce.
Serve with lettuce cups and herbs.
Enjoy!

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Around the Corner!!!

Wow! So cool to see how many people are committing to the Flat Ab Challenge!! Even some of my awesome peeps in Santa Barbara are doing the challenge from afar and some people I don't even know have asked to join! You all are AWESOME! And you know what else will be awesome soon? YOUR ABDOMINALS. Get stoked!

Don't forget: You still have three days to spread the word! Get your friends involved! Spread the wealth.

If you are one of the people in North Carolina, Illinois, England, etc. who can't make it to Bend for the test in day, you can still participate! Send me a picture of your stomach (without it being covered) from the front, side and back. Wear as little as possible! Don't forget what you wore though, because you will need to wear the same outfit when we test out on October 15! After taking photos, have someone (friend, spouse, parent) measure your waist- that's the smallest part of your stomach where it comes in just a bit. Then do the plank test. Get on your toes and elbows and hold that position (with a flat back, straight body) for as long as you can. Time it and send me the results at pureawesomenesspilates@gmail.com.

I'm so excited for you all to come out of this month feeling leaner, meaner and maybe even greener!


Saturday, September 6, 2014

Flat Ab Challenge

Great news! I'm opening a fitness studio in good ol' Bend, Oregon! Once the studio opens, I will be selling memberships. Everyone loves free membership though, right? Well, I propose a challenge to all of you: How about a "Flat Ab Challenge"? One month to tone up, get ripped and change the way you view food, exercise and wellness. You can participate even if you can't attend classes in Bend. And the winner? Well, not only does the winner get a fantastic stomach to flaunt at the steam room, more core strength for the slopes and some bragging rights, the winner will also get free unlimited classes for a month and a gift card to Patagonia @ Bend!!

Without further ado, here are the rules:

Sign up with me before September 15, 2014. We will take measurements of your stomach and a beginning photo (for your and my eyes only). We will also test to see how long you can hold a plank. The challenge lasts for one month. That's only one month; you can do anything for a month. Within the month, I will update the blog with recipe ideas that incorporate foods that flatten the tummy. I will also post workouts and videos to do at home or with others to strengthen, tone and burn that stomach.

The winner will not be the person who has the best 8-pack; no, the winner is the person who took the most off of his or her waist and who shows the most progression before October 15, 2015.

So who is in? E-mail me at pureawesomenesspilates@gmail.com with questions or just to tell me that you are in! I look forward to hearing from you!