Push Yourself Harder Than You Ever Have

I am well aware that I think about workouts, diet, and living a healthy lifestyle way more often than your average person. I think about it when I am choosing my meals, all day when I am at work planning fitness events or training clients, and also after work when I am at the gym. These things are a huge part of my life. Are they a part of yours?

You and I are not equal. We have different genetic makeups which may mean different ethnicity, different height, metabolism, strengths, goals, weaknesses, etc. I am asked very frequently on what is the best diet or the best workout. This is an amazingly complex question to ask. Initially I wonder, what is their current plan right now? When does this person eat, what do they eat, how much do they eat, where to they eat, where does the food they eat come from, etc.? When it comes to workouts I wonder what their routine is. Do they lift heavy, do they rest a lot between sets, do they switch up their program often, do they do cardio and if so what kinds, do they like group fitness or yoga maybe CrossFit or boxing?

We are ALL so different and we each need to find out what works best for US. We need to experiment on ourselves and just know what feels right. For each of us this plan will be different!!!!

I just figured out my answer to the most complex question I've been asked... push yourself harder then you ever have before. This may mean train harder, or training some different way, or faster, or heavier. For dieting this may mean to add fats, cut carbs, add carbs, eat more, eat less, eat more often, eat less often. There is not just one way to see results, for myself it will be different than for you.

The point is to push your limits, and only you know your limits!! You will see results in your mind, body, and spirit!

Workout of The Day: Indoor Triathlon

Need to change up your cardio? Try doing a triathlon at the gym today!

ROW: 1000 METERS
BIKE: 3 MILES
RUN: 1.5 MILES.

Let me know how this goes, and what your time is!

Try it again next week, and see if you can improve your time!

30 day challenge

Tomorrow, I have decided to start a 30-day challenge. Nothing too crazy. I am just going to eat super-duper clean and work out hard like I regularly do. This means no clean treats, salad dressing, or drinks!
The reason for this is to NATURALLY cleanse and rid my body of toxins. No juice cleanse needed, just some good old clean eats. I feel really good when I eat good, and lately my energy hasn't been as high as I'd like!
This takes me back to meal prepping, Weighing, portioning, and being pretty strict with my eating. Mostly not eating out and spending lots of time grocery shopping/ cooking.
I am not doing this for a competition or any specific reason, but to just feel good about myself and my decisions. I am not encouraging or forcing anyone to do what I do, but for me this keeps me focused on a goal. I shut out the option of eating poorly and making not so healthy decisions. Feel free to join me! My friend Sammie is on board, and if you need the support I am here for you! Keep me posted on your progress, and if you use instagram you can #viathea #30daychallenge!

Humbled, & Completely EXCITED!

Over the last few years as my passion grew for health & fitness I started aspiring to becoming a fitness model. Although I never in a million years thought this goal was feasible, it stayed in the back of my mind as one of those (it would be cool...if) goals. I did my first fitness competition, and shot a photoshoot with the most amazing photographer Mike Byerly. Since the competition and the shoot I have been focused less on my own goals, and more focused on my clients. I feel amazing and ultra-inspired today, because sometimes you can get what you want without focusing on yourself. By doing good things for people, your hard work is often rewarded. Today I want to thank Peter Salama for this amazing article in World Physique Magazine, I could have only dreamed of this! I am so grateful that my work in the health and fitness world is getting a little pat on the back, sometimes that's all I need to keep up what I am doing! THANK YOU all for reading my blog, and holding me accountible for these posts that I enjoy writing so much!

Check out my feature.... HERE

Thea's Raw Creamy Coconut Mango "Ice Cream"

I made a yummy ice cream last weekend, and it was a slam dunk! I wanted to try something refreshing and fruity this time around, and I am even more impressed with the outcome! I was excited to see the abundance of fresh mango and coconut at the market this week, so why not make another recipe using the two! This is absolutely delicious!

Ingredients:
1 Organic Mango
1 Organic Coconut (just need the meat, so drink the water or bottle it for a later use)
1 handful of organic raw unsalted cashews
1- 1 1/2 c. Organic Unsweetened almond milk
2-3 packets organic stevia

1. In a blender blend together coconut meat, mango, and almond milk.
2. Add stevia and cashews.
3. Blend until smooth, then pour in to plastic container with lid.
4. Freeze for a few hours.
5. Stir, then freeze again for 30-45 min.
6. Scoop then serve.

Let me know what you think!

Baked Sweet Potato Fries

I am in love with fries, but let's get real I am not trying to eat a ton of fried food! I love yams and sweet potatoes because they are rich in potassium,Vitamin A, Vitamin B, and Vitamin C. Yams are also great, because they are lower on the Glycemic Index so they don't effect your blood sugar levels as much as say a white baked potato! Try out this recipe, and see if you can switch in the fried foods for this deliciously baked treat!

Ingredients:
Peeled Yams (I cooked in bulk and used 3)
Sea Salt
Pepper
Spices (I used Chili powder, and garlic)

1. Preheat oven to 450
2. Spray a baking sheet with non-stick spray
3. Cut thin slices of yam then lay them on baking sheet.
4. Spice your yams however you'd like, heavy or light!
5. Bake for 30 minutes or until done, sometimes I like mine extra crispy and keep them in longer!

You can enjoy these as a snack, or pair them with a meal!

Thea's Raw Cacao Coconut Coffee Almond Ice Cream

Wow it sure is hot out! I want something cold and refreshing (no not a beer), but ice cream! Not just any ice cream,flavorful and guilt-free ice cream.

Knocked this one out of the park:)

Thea's Raw Cacao Coconut Almond Ice Cream

Ingredients:

3 cups organic unsweetened almond milk
Coconut meat from 1 coconut
1/4 c. Raw cacao powder
3 Organic stevia packets
1 Tbsp. Raw Almond butter
4 Organic pitted dates
2 Tbsp. Organic instant coffee
Cinnamon to taste

1. In a blender blend together coconut meat and almond milk.
2. Add in dates, almond butter, cacao, stevia, coffee, cinnamon, and cacao.
3. Blend until smooth, then pour in to plastic container with lid.
4. Freeze for a few hours.
5. Stir, then freeze again for 30-45 min.
6. Scoop then serve.

This reminds me of mocha almond fudge ice cream, just tastier:)

To Cheat Or Not To Cheat

I am often asked when do I cheat on my diet? Do I pick cheat days, cheat weekends, cheat meals, or week long binges?

Well first off, I like to "treat" not cheat. When I am feeling like I need to loosen up a little and socialize I may decide to go out to dinner and drink wine. I try to not go ALL out and binge. I pick one of the treats I crave whether it be glass of wine, dessert, or maybe some sweet potato fries. Its not about eating all of it at once, but enjoying one thing you've been missing.

I sometimes cook a "clean" treat do I can make something with no sugar and know exactly what's in my treat. I am also human and LOVE me some fro-yo (who doesn't).

You can maintain a healthy diet and have weekly treats. Heck- you can even have daily treats. Some people like one small piece of dark chocolate. I am not like that I couldn't eat just one piece I would eat the whole darn bar. So I stay away until I feel like I want a treat. This isn't planned for me (like an every Friday night thing). I may have no treats for 2 months and I may have a few treats a week. It depends on my goals and what's going on in my life.

Ideas on Do's:
-Pick a treat meal when you feel like you want one
-Make a clean treat (from my blog duh)
- Go out to get your treat (so your treats aren't tempting you in your pantry everyday)
- treat yourself with things besides foods i.e. workout clothes, new shoes, haircut, etc.
- don't treat yourself until you reach your goal, or of you have the treat planned ( don't go to a family party and just eat junk because it's around, bring your own clean eats and share)

Don't:
- Treat each time it's offered (will power isn't genetic, you create it)
- Treat yourself because your friends/ family are (they are living a different life than you and have different goals)
- Treat yourself with a whole weekend of junk ( pick your battles, you don't want to feel like complete crap at the end of a weekend)


I hope you understand, everyone treats themselves differently. Also, try to not judge people on their treats, until you've walked in their shoes!

Hope you have happy treat meals to come!