Believe...Achieve!: Happy Healthy Heart Day!

Believe...Achieve!: Happy Healthy Heart Day!: On this very special day, of love, the most important thing is our heart! Most people don't think of what's on the inside, only what's seen ...

Happy Healthy Heart Day!

On this very special day, of love, the most important thing is our heart! Most people don't think of what's on the inside, only what's seen on the outside. Your heart is the most important! The Heart and Stroke Foundation has some pretty eye opening statistics:

• MORE than 50,000 STROKES;
• MORE than 70,000 HEART ATTACKS and
• up to 45,000 CARDIAC ARRESTS every year!

The incidence of stroke is expected to double in the next ten years (Heart and Stroke Foundation 2012). If those numbers aren't enough to make you get off the couch and start exercising, maybe this will...

• CANADIAN CHILDREN ARE THE FIRST GENERATION POISED FOR SHORTER LIVES THAN THEIR PARENTS

That is a scary thought!

New year, new goals, new you!

It is amazing how every year at the exact same time, millions of people make resolutions...new start on life! It seems like a sabotage! We go out the Eve of, eat tons of greasy, heavy foods and drink copious amounts of booze, get up in the morning and say...I'll start tomorrow...and it begins. Procrastination, excuses, let down and finally we fall back into the same old habits. WHY? Are we gluttons for punishment, do we want to disappoint ourselves, do we stare in the face of change and say, "Meh, not today".....
Let me ask you this; would you NOT take you're child to their ballet lesson or hockey practise. NO because YOU want your kids to be healthy. Would you look at a deadline at work and say, "Meh, not today."? NO because you'd possibly get fired. If one of you're friends came to you and said I want to run a marathon, would you tell them not to do in case they fail. NO because you would be a crappy friend! So why do it to yourself?
At this moment, as you are reading this blog, I want you to get up and go do what you set out to do! Exercise and set your goals; go to the grocery store to buy those groceries for you're new meal plan; start looking for a new job online and touch up your resume, if you hate your job or are unemployed; enter your closet and purge those old clothes that you've been meaning to rid yourself of because you lost weight, you AREN'T going back to that weight! Don't wait for tomorrow, for it will only bring you sorrow. DO IT NOW!

Yoga Fit Level 1

To all my friends, family and fans,

I am so happy and excited to share my new of completing my Level 1 Yoga Fit. I'm already signed up for Level 2 in November! It brought such insight and strength to me as an individual that I really hope that I can pass it on to everyone else.

Your friend,
Shannon

What the weekend has in store....?

I hope that everyone burned off some additional calories this week, what with last weekend being Thanksgiving and all! I know I could feel a little extra "stuffing" in places that shouldn't have extra "stuff"!

I'm excited to be taking my Level 1 Yoga Fit Certification to propel myself and my knowledge in a new way. I still have a long way to go before I become a teacher but I'll get there.

Have a safe weekend!

GRILLED TOFU WITH BASIL PUREE OVER TUSCAN BEANS

Prep time: 10 minutes

Cook time: 10 minutes

Makes: 4 servings

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

¼ cup extra virgin olive-oil

1 ½ cups loosely packed fresh basil leaves

3 garlic cloves

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

Non-stick cooking spray

1 block of extra firm tofu

2 15.5 ounce cans white beans, rinsed and drained

1 cup grape tomatoes, halved

1 tablespoon finely chopped red onions

1. In a food processor, combine the lemon juice, oil, 1 cup of basil leaves, 1 garlic clove, ½ teaspoon of the salt and ¼ teaspoon of the black pepper. Puree until smooth; set aside.
2. Heat a grill pan to medium-high and mist with cooking spray. Hale one garlic clove and rub the tofu with its cut side. Season tofu with ¼ teaspoon each of the salt and black pepper. Grill 4 minutes per side.
3. Mince remaining garlic and saute in pan coated with non-stick spray over medium-low heat for 2 minutes; let cool slightly. In a medium bowl, combine the white beans, tomatoes, red onion, remaining salt and black pepper, and sauteed garlic. Tear up remaining basil and combine with bean mixture.
4. Divide beans among 1 plate and 3 Tupperware (for later meals) and top with tofu. Add basil puree and serve.

 For meat lovers use 1 pound 1 1/2-inch-thick sirloin steak cut into 4 portions.

Make sure that the red onion is fresh and used immediately.

Disservice to my clients

I would like to apologize to all my clients and followers for not staying up-to-date on my blog. I feel that I have done you a disservice, for that I am deeply sorry. I'm back, online and still here for you, even if I don't blog. ;)

I'm totally booked for the October Boot Camp which makes me happy to know that people see the benefits of exercise and health! I hope to expand my studio for 2012 so I can service more people in the winter season.

Yours in health,
Shannon