It's breakfast time: Sweet Celeriac Root Hash

Sweet Celeriac Root Hash

I have been loving all of the winter root vegetables, so I tried to get creative this morning. I created this sweet and savory breakfast hash and threw a dollop of it on top of a spinach and mushroom frittata. The final picture didn't come out too beautifully, but it tasted fantastic. The recipe below will serve two people, and you can make a really delicious mash with the leftover half of the celeriac root. It is an awesome potato substitute with way more flavor and great nutrients.

Ingredients:
- 1/2 celeriac root, peeled & shredded
- 1 small sweet potato, peeled & shredded
- 1 small apple, peeled & diced
- 1 small onion, diced
- Olive oil

- sea salt, pepper, and garlic powder to taste

Instructions:

1. Heat olive oil over medium heat

2. Add diced onions and cook for about 5 minutes until soft

3. Add shredded celeriac, sweet potato, and apple (use a cheese grater or food processor for these)

4. Season with a little sea salt, pepper, and garlic powder
5. Cook for 15-20 minutes until it fully cooks through and gets a little crisp like hash browns. I stirred it quite a bit at first but then let it sit for a few minutes at a time so the bottom would brown.
6. Serve on top of your favorite frittata or topped with poached eggs.

   

  

Source:

Sooo Paleo: Sweet Celeriac Root Hash: Happy Sunday people. Today was an interesting and informational day for many reasons: 1. (I thought) I bought a rutabaga for today's r...

Protein Roasted Cinnamon Almonds

Ingredients:

2 cups of raw almonds

¼ cup of almond flour

¼ cup egg whites

¼ cup raw no sodium almond butter

Splash of pure organic vanilla extract

1 scoop of vanilla or chocolate whey protein (I use Advanced Genetics Iso-Phase)

½ tsp of cinnamon (you may use more)

2 packets of stevia

Directions:

• First I make a paste with egg whites and protein powder to avoid lumps
• Place everything together into a blender or mixer and blend until everything is well combined
• Place almonds in a large bowl and add the creamy goodness and mix the almonds and let sit in the fridge for 30 min or overnight (the almonds will absorb the vanilla extract and cinnamon)
• If you have too much of the coating add more almonds to use up the coating…More almonds!!! 
• Once you pull the almonds from the fridge mix them one more time
• Line baking sheet with parchment paper and place almonds on baking sheet
• Bake at at 350F for 12-15 minutes until the almonds start to brown so keep checking them throughout as every oven is different

Some Tips:

Tip #1 Any leftover coating maybe mixed with some oats and a little more egg whites to get the right consistency of cookie dough and made into a couple of protein cookies. Yummy!!! No waste!

Tip #2 Any leftover baked coating that fell off may be used to sprinkled over your Greek yogurt or morning oatmeal.

Baking-Clean Healthy and Nutritious

Baking up a storm.....

It was a great weekend to try and start testing the recipes some are my own and some are creations of my girlfriend Tyrer so I can't take credit for the base of the zucchini loaf series below.  I just added my own spin to each one to change the taste profile.

These loafs are perfect as a post workout treat or mid morning coffee snack. All of them use clean source of carbs, protein and veggies. All in one goodness. Can't get any better than that.

I have so many things on my list to cook, bake and enjoy I just don't know where to start.

I hope you give these a try and let me know how you like them.

Zucchini Loafs 4 WAYS

Each Loaf Makes 12 slices

ZUCCHINI-BANANA

2 cups oat flour*

2/3 cup Truvia, Krisda (Stevia) or sweetener of choice

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

3 x 30 gram scoops vanilla protein powder* (low Carb is best) I use Advanced Genetics Iso-Phase...Amazing!!!!

1 1/3 cup grated zucchini (not peeled) (2 small)

1/4 cup egg whites

2/3 cup unsweetened low calorie coconut or almond milk

1 banana finely chopped

ZUCCHINI-CHOCOLATE BANANA

2 cups oat flour*

1/3 cup cocoa powder, sifted TO PREVENT LUMPS

2/3 cup Truvia, Krisda (Stevia) or sweetener of choice

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

3 x 30 gram scoops vanilla whey protein powder* (again low Carb is best) AG Iso-Phase Chocolate is my choice for this one...

1 1/3 cup grated zucchini (not peeled) (2 small)

1/4 cup egg whites

2/3 cup unsweetened low calorie coconut or almond milk

1 banana finely chopped

ZUCCHINI-CARROT

2 cups oat flour*

2/3 cup Truvia, Krisda (Stevia) or sweetener of choice

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

3 x 30 gram scoops AG Iso-Phase vanilla whey protein powder* or any low Carb protein (read labels)

2/3 cup grated zucchini (not peeled)- 1 medium

1/4 cup egg whites

1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce (1 snack pack)

2/3 cup unsweetened low calorie coconut or almond milk

2 cups of finely shredded carrots

ZUCCHINI-PUMPKIN SPICE

1 cups oat flour*

2/3 cup Truvia, Krisda (Stevia) or sweetener of choice

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. cinnamon

1/8 tsp. allspice

1/8 tsp. nutmeg

2 x 30 gram scoops AG Iso-Phase vanilla protein powder* or any low Carb protein

2/3 cup grated zucchini (not peeled)- 1 medium

1/2 cup egg whites

2 cups of canned organic canned pumpkin (not pie filling)

2/3 cup unsweetened low calorie coconut or almond milk

AG Iso-Phase BUY IT HERE!!!

*NOTES:

-Do not substitute different flour for oat flour in this recipe, or else it may not turn out.

You can easily make oat flour by grinding regular or old fashioned oats in a food processor, blender or coffee grinder.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, sift cocoa powder to prevent lumps. Add in other dry ingredients (oat flour, baking soda, baking powder, stevia, spices where applicable and protein) and mix until well blended. Make sure it’s well blended or your loaf will not rise evenly.

To the same bowl, add in the wet ingredients (zucchini, egg whites, milk). Mix until well blended.

Pour into a prepared loaf pan lightly coated with coconut oil. Bake for 45-55 minutes or until a toothpick comes clean. The timing will depend on your oven and the pan you use. No need to check until the 35 min mark.

Allow to cool on a rack and slice. Enjoy.

Hope you enjoy this holiday season with your friends and family.

Thank you for visiting.
Grace

Much Needed Update!

It’s been so long since I have written a personal blog…I have shared a few things here and there but haven’t written an update on my prep so thought to really get myself motivated to write. It’s not always easy…to do so with prep, family, life and so on…but here it goes

Since my last post a lot of things have happened. Immediately after my hubby’s CBBF Nationals show which was held in Vancouver we had a phenomenal weekend …We truly enjoyed our city. We started our Sunday with the once a year guilty pleasure Krispy Kreme Doughnuts located in Delta, B.C....They are so good!!!! We really enjoyed them... We went to Granville Island in Vancouver and went through all the little shops. 

Granville Island, Vancouver B.C.

Enjoyed a few treats and just took a day off from training that weekend. We slept in all week….How glorious did that feel…Actually I can’t remember it’s been so long since then with my prep in full swing.

With so much excitement already happening post Nationals Andrew decided it was time to say goodbye to restaurant life.  Since becoming certified as personal trainer he has obtained a FT position with StaveNash Fitness World in Langley BC…

For Local Readers Click Here to Get your 8 Day Pass and book a FREE consultation with Andrew

I must say I have never seen my man so happy. He’s so in his element. I am so proud of him for taking such a huge risk.

The following week we got a surprise of our life by getting a sponsorship. Not only Andrew but both of us are now sponsored athletes of Pure Force Nutrition which targets an even wider audience of its sister brand Advanced Genetics. Pure ForceNutrition includes not only bodybuilding and physique athletes, but also hockey players, wrestlers and power-lifters  We are very proud to represent this up and coming brand.

Please follow PureForce Nutrition on Twitter, Facebook and check out their product line.

Quickly after the Nationals came August 18^th the official day I started my prep for Sandra Whickam Fall Classic.

I had originally planned to prep for this show on my own with Andrew’s help since he’s now certified as we decided not to train with our trainers and kind of stand on our own two feet to see if this fitness lifestyle was for good or I would just stop....I knew Andrew was fully in but I doubted myself…at least that was the thought process at the time.  I felt I had done enough research about prep nutrition and knowing my body’s response mechanism from my previous prep, putting a plan for myself was pretty straight forward.

Not having a trainer was not the problem as I have a competitive edge and I love training….What I needed was a Coach and Andrew really needed to focus on building his business. He has been so supportive of my decisions and helping me get up every morning for my cardio....I wouldn't do it otherwise...ha ha...YES I would but either way thank you honey!

I decided to make a change and connected with someone new to the Competition Prep World. 

With all the changes that came so quickly I realize now that this lifestyle is 100% a part of my life. Staying fit is a priority and competing is something I am passionate about and YES maybe even a Pro Card in the future… Wouldn't that be wonderful!!!

Dream! Believe! And Good Things Will Happen!

I will write a blog post of this prep and share my wonderful experience as I feel it deserves a post of its own….and yes there may be some progress pictures…

Till then 

Thank you for reading

Grace xo

Sweet Potato Carrot Cake

Sweet Potato Carrot Cake

 by Fit Life 24/7

• 2 cups oat flour
• 2 scoops of vanilla protein
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• Pinch of salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
• 1 cup brown sugar Splenda or sweetener of choice
• 1 1/2 cups of unsweetened apple sauce
• 1/2 cup unsweetened low fat coconut milk
• 8 egg whites
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1.5 cups mashed cooked sweet potatoes
• 1.5 cups of finely graded raw carrot
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans additional for garnish- optional

Drizzle-OPTIONAL:

1 cup of greek yogurt

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup of Splenda

1 scoop of vanilla protein

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Adjust the position of the rack to the center of the oven. Use PAM to grease and flour 2 (9-inch) pans. Set aside.

In a large bowl, stir together the oat flour, vanilla protein, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and sweetener. Set aside.
In the bowl of a mixer, mix well apple sauce, coconut milk and brown sugar Splenda on low speed, and then increase speed to medium and beat until well-combined. Gradually add the dry ingredients and beat on low speed until just incorporated. Add egg whites a little at a time, beating well and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Add vanilla, sweet potatoes, carrots, and pecans and blend on low speed until thoroughly mixed.

Pour batter into pans and smooth the surface with a metal spatula. Bake for 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean; when you touch the center of the cake, it should spring back. Allow to cool in pans for 10 minutes, and then place on a rack and cool completely.

For drizzle: In the bowl of an electric mixer, greek yogurt on medium speed until smooth. Add vanilla and Splenda and beat until incorporated.

Drizzle Cake and top with chopped pecans and ENJOY

5 WEEKS OUT- Kelowna Western Canadians

Yay….5 weeks out!

BCABBA Membership Card

Its official I received my BCABBA Membership Card as well as my confirmantion for the Kelowna show. Hair, Make-up, Tanning all booked!!!!

It was a great week of TRAIN, EAT, SLEEP AND REPEAT!!! With a full work schedule, family time and a bit of social life all bundled up into a week. Yup it was busy!!! Rewarding but busy.

I have adjusted emotionally to my meal plan which was a relief and allowed me to fully focus on training hard and not focusing so much on food. With my body in full machine mode I did feel hungry. First time in this prep experience….I will have to remember that for my next contest prep…he he at 6 weeks you get really hungry at the 2 hour mark and with the distinction between hunger and cravings …I am truly hungry no cravings or mind games this week. I am determined and motivated to bring my best to stage and have fun along the way. This is the week I realized that you truly have to be happy to be able to do this type of disciplined training, meal planning and everything else involved in prepping for a show. I know I have said it before but it really helps having my husband prepping for the same show and just being able to understand what’s happening to you is also happening to your partner. Supporting each other has been huge…some days I need more support and some days he needs some TLC as well so being there for each other is important.

After a full week of training meal planning….I was kind of done....This past Saturday marked 5 weeks out and although there were no weight ins or BF testing….I did drop about 2 lbs. in weight….This is great progress. I started with 121.8lbs at 12 weeks and weighed in at 108.0lbs on the dot on Saturday morning….with 5 weeks left there will be very little left of me….It all happens in the kitchen that’s for sure…..you can run you can workout all you want but if you don’t feed your body proper nutrition nothing happens.

With a full week behind me on Saturday after training with Leigh and posing class I booked myself for needed and well deserved reward…..a chiropractic treatment followed by massage therapy! Ahhhh heavenly! I felt like a new woman! And since there were no line ups on the US border we made a quick family trip across for some needed food supplies. We were in line for mere minutes before entering Costco Bellingham on a Saturday afternoon…Are we nuts?! Even the customs officer thought we were very brave to go to Costco on a Saturday….and to our surprise it was busy but smooth and quick exit within an hour and $600.00 later mostly on proteins and we were on the way to Fred Meyer for spices…

Thank goodness we have a deep freezer it limits our food shopping to once every two months and a huge savings as organic proteins are less than half price in the US than they are in Canada.

I get asked quite often about what we eat to stay fit. I won’t go into what I am currently eating as it’s not suited to someone not competing and I have an agreement with my trainer and I do pay for it after all to prep for my show so there. But the off-season grocery list we take to the store and follow is Michi’s Ladder. Here is a bit of info on how it works and you can clink on the link below to download the list if you’re interested.

Climb Michi's Ladder

Michi's Ladder is not a diet. It's a simple substitution plan. To lose weight, try swapping the foods you eat for similar foods in tiers 1 and 2. The more you eat in tiers 1 and 2, the more you'll increase your chances of losing weight.
There are some healthy foods in lower tiers, but they're either calorie dense or nutrient deficient. To lose weight, you want to maximize the nutrients in every calorie you consume.
Note on frying: Foods should be eaten raw, steamed, grilled, poached, baked, or broiled. Frying automatically drops even the best foods into tier 5.

MICHI'S LADDER GROCERY SHOPPING LIST

The food journey is something that is a huge part 80-90% of my fit life journey and it all starts with how you feed the body....I read a quote which is my motivation for this week
"What you eat in private shows in public"

Till next week the fit life journey continues.

Thank you for reading

Grace xo

7 WEEKS OUT- Kelowna Western Canadians

OK....7 weeks and counting!!!!....It was a good week of hard training and clean eating!  There was no weight-ins this week and no BF testing but I did drop another pound and feel leaner. Here is a sneak peek of my progress and the only one I will post before the show!!!! Gotta keep some mystery of the before and after’s and 12 weeks in between :)

My last letter to myself....or better said my FAT as its kind of hanging out where I need it to come off.

"Dear FAT! I see you do not like hanging out in my upper body I appreciate that and love my abs, however anytime you’d like to begin coming off of my legs and ass, that would be really great. I only have 7 weeks Thank you!!!!"

This made me laugh the moment I posted this to my Facebook page....and I reread it when I need to focus on doing more lunges more squats more dead lifts.....I now dream of these "Three Musketeers" as I call them....pretty much every night!!!! More More More.....and then I wake up at 5 a.m. exhausted when hear my husband start the Cappuccino machine for our morning Americano's and get ready to do cardio as soon as our gym opens at 6 am. That machine although not very loud is my queue to get up....somehow my body just knows it's that time. Strange!

So far I have enjoyed the process of transforming my body....I find it fascinating what can be accomplished with a little tweaking here and there, however that has come with some unusual cravings....at least they are unusual for me. Pizza, Ice Cream ....among a few. I don't eat these things as a choice for a cheat meal or have ever craved them before....I frankly don't like pizza...What can I say and Ice Cream is only welcome with some sort of warmed dessert....OK now it going to get ugly and out of control so I better stop... but YES the craving are driving me a little crazy and I am sure they are driving Andrew crazy too....as I am a bit short with everything I do these days....It can be the simplest thing as getting a glass of water that will irritate me out of the blue....So weird...I am not hungry!

After all....I do eat 6 well balanced meals a day...so it’s not the hunger getting to me...It’s my mind!

Anyhow enough about my food drama...It's a New Week and I am pumped to make a breakthrough in my legs and a** this week....Any pointers send them over!!!!

Leigh Brandt IFBB Bikini Pro...my amazing trainer tells me it’s all gonna come in the last few weeks....Well it’s the last few weeks and its not budging....lol....I am probably freaking out since this is my first competition.

Now if I can only master posing I will be golden.....ha ha ha...This is another topic that needs a full blog by it's self....I won't go there but I can say one thing...You're only as good as your posing! I totally believe that to be true....I didn’t before starting the process but now I see the difference when I give it a 100% and when I don't.  It has to be perfect as you can have the best body and if you don't show it off with confidence and pride it’s useless. You're only on stage for 90 seconds or so....if you get called out for comparisons maybe then a little longer...but in the scope of things it’s a relatively short amount of time compared to all the meal planning and training, but the preparation that goes into it is intense. To the average person it may seem so simple but its actually hard work and I am pooped after a full hour of posing in 5" heels. I can't wait to get home eat and not move off the couch for at least an hour and YES my back and every little muscle is sore as if I just did a mega workout.

I can't imagine what the next... well now less than 7 weeks will look like with my meal plan changing this Saturday, evaluating my progress pictures for training tweaks, daily posing practice at home and weekly with my Body By Brandt team! We all look so good I can't wait to get to stage!!! And the best part of it all is that my honey it going to be there right along my side. We will cheer each other on!

I think that's it for this week. Looking forward to the week especially with Easter fast approaching and a few extra days off work it will be nice to plan out meals for the following few weeks!

Till next week and Thank you for Reading

Grace xo