Hey, it's me!!! 💁🏽💁🏽💁🏽💁🏽(⬅️me in the summer when I am tan). And...I really want a bagel. I'm having a serious craving over here. BUT I am staying committed. I am sticking with this gluten-free lifestyle. This has nothing to do with weight loss or trying to look better....BUT does have to do with feeling better. I have blogged about this plenty of times, and you all know by now that I am supposed to be gluten-free all the time. Last weekend as I was literally in tears with stomach pain...I kept asking Eric to make sure I wouldn't eat gluten anymore. Um hello....that isn't his job. It's mine(Don't worry he reminded me that right as the words came out of my mouth). But it made me think today that like anything in life, this is something that is tough right now, but will totally benefit me in the long run. You just have to stick with it. Right? It's what I tell my students, my clients, and my class go-ers all the time. So here is my pep talk to myself and everyone else who is dealing with a tough goal, situation, or obstacle in life: "Suck it up. You can do this. You've been through harder things (especially than withstanding a bagel). You are a rockstar. You are going to kill it". And if you need fancier motivation. Check out the words of Nelson Mandela: Keep on, keeping on! I promise the end result (whatever you are reaching for) is worth it! And I'm going to go try and find a good gluten-free bagel recipe! #goals XoXo, NaturallyNati 🍞🍕🍩🍪
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I am 10000% not complaining. I will take a no-snow, snow day....any day! I can promise you that! But I do secretly hope we get some real snow tonight so I can stay snuggled up with my little fam for the rest of the weekend. I have been totally blog negligent this week....but for good reasons. I was trying to upgrade and change my website. But at the end of the day, I decided that if it ain't broke...don't fix it. And one day when I am rich and famous and a million people follow this blog...then I will pay someone to make this thing the bomb.com. Well I will keep it naturallynati.com....but it will be THE BOMB. So for your Friday workout.....nothing too crazy, but something I have been in love with lately. Integrating "gliders" or "sliders" into your workout is a great way to force your core to work, get your heart rate up, and tone those muscles! If you don't have the real gliders or sliders (don't worry...most of us don't), you can use washcloths on hardwood or paper or plastic plates on carpet. Two of my favorites are the step back lunge and plank slide. You will see these two snazzy moves on washcloths in the video below. The plank slide works on toes and palms, knees and palms or even knees and elbows. When doing the plank be sure that you are using your abdominals and engaging your entire core...in order not to put any strain on your low back. You can incorporate the gliders into so many great exercises. Side lunges, mountain climbers, burpees, plank arm circles, army crawl, knee crunches, curtsey lunges, forearm planks, bridges and more! Go through each of the exercises for 12 reps, twice. Good luck. I'll just be over here, waiting for the snow, drinking white wine and eating gluten-free pizza. Xoxo, NaturallyNati Are when there is no work on Monday!! I'm also feeling pretty pumped about my heart rate after Friday's workout. Check that! Holla!! I know we have been down the fake cookie dough bites road before, but I am such a fan....so I needed to bring them back. Especially in the month of hungry January. I'm just so hungry for chocolate still. And there is nothing to do but eat. Well I can think of a lot of things to do....but when it's dark and cold....eating just feels right. Anyways...these things are my jam. Great for Sunday meal prep..very easy to do. 5 ingredients. Scrumptious to the tastebuds. The hardest thing/most expensive ingredient is the raw cashew. Kroger sells raw cashews in bulk for around $6.44 a pound. You only need a cup....so you are looking at less than $3.00. Plus you get about 12 balls out of the recipe. To give you a fair warning....they are super sticky when rolling. Once they are bite-sized, they go so quickly from hand to mouth...the stickiness goes unnoticed. If you don't believe me.....the recipe is below. Try it!! Happy MLK day!!! XoXo, NaturallyNati It's Friday!!!!! And a three day weekend!!!!!! So I'm a happy camper! Here is your interval workout for today! First, download an interval timer app. The one below is free and works wonderfully! Choose from the list of exercises below. Perform each one for 30 seconds, 4 times, with a 10 second rest in between (You can set the timer to do this). Continue for 20-30 minutes. Your ❤️ will be pumping! Good luck!!! XoXo, NaturallyNati Because they obviously go together......right?! I think my husband just pulled a muscle fist pumping for Sylvester Stallone. So there's that. Anyway....I love chocolate and peanut butter. And dessert. So instead of depriving myself of any of the above I put them all together for a little weekday goodness. Energy bites are my go-to pre and post workout snack. They are SUPER easy and not too shabby on the nutrition side either. I don't think I ever actually follow the recipe....I change it up all the time depending on what I have in my pantry. They taste amazing and you'll feel better about yourself knowing you consumed chia and flax seeds over Oreos. Those little wins matter. XoXo, NaturallyNati Friday. Amen. One thing I know that I have struggled with for most of my adult-hood is getting my workout in on a Friday. If I don't do it before work...there is a good chance it won't happen. And I don't even work until 5 PM. So I really don't know how people who work late can get motivated....or even get it in with weekend plans & Happy Hour (priorities). So my solution has always been an at-home HIIT workout. HIIT just stands for high-intensity interval training. Essentially...you are going to push yourself hard for short periods of time with breaks in between. I am obsessed with HIIT workouts...because they are quick and efficient. And ain't nobody got time for a long workout on a Friday. So below is just an example of one of my FAVES. 60.50.40.30.20.10. 4 moves----around 20 minutes----and you will be sweaty fo-sho. So........since it is the New Year and of course I had some goals for the ole blog as well...stay tuned for Friday workouts. I am hoping to build an online community of people from all over who will come together for Friday Fitness @ 5. Live streaming....pictures....cooking...and more :). Tag us on Instagram after you complete the workout! @naturally_nati_fitness #fitfriat5 Man, I love routine. I love being on a routine. I love schedules. I love looking at my planner and knowing where to go next. I'm kind of crazy. So while I, like everyone else, enjoy a good break from reality....do much better on a schedule. Of course I missed Kelly and Michael and Matt....and all of my other morning talk show besties, but it felt good to be back. With that being said, I need to tell you all how much I love my crockpot. Talk about feeling back together....leaving for work on a Monday and knowing your dinner is at home simmering for you....holler! So...I present to you Quinoa Chili. The recipe here describes how you can prep it on a stove top for immediate enjoyment; however it works in a crockpot fabulously. As long as you cook the quinoa, you can dump the rest of your ingredients in the crockpot, and set it to cook on low for 8 hours. It will be the perf meal to come home to! XoXo, NaturallyNati Happy New year! What a freaking year it was! I am so excited to continue to grow my blog and business and stay organized doing it all! I'm so grateful for all of my clients, party throwers, friends and family for the support! It has been a blast! Oh yeah....and I married the most amazing man ever!!! 2016 is starting off with a bang too! We already have several parties booked in the next two months! I couldn't be more excited! So onto resolutions. Do you partake? It's funny because most years I jot some stuff down, and see how it goes...but honestly I think it's kind of a crazy concept. Why not try to live every day/month/year healthy, exercising, spending time with family, saving money....whatever your resolution is? I'm more of a short term/long term goal gal anyways. If I haven't said this before...I'm totally obsessed with planners and to do lists. I freaking love the feeling I get when I cross something off my to-do list. I really solidified my love for this feeling of accomplishing tasks when I was running the other day. I was at the gym and wanted to do 4 miles on the track. I had to run 32 laps. So I spent the whole time crossing off milestones in my head. 8 laps.... check one mile. 12 laps...4 more to go and it's 2 miles. At two miles, only 16 laps to go. Wonder how fast I can do a lap? Okay now I'm going to beat that time. So what am I getting at?! Goal setting. You don't have to commit to 10 resolutions on New Year's Day that you may or may not accomplish, but set little short term goals all day every day to help you get to where you want to be in life. Create daily to-do lists or goal setting lists (if you want to get fancy). Some of those things aren't going to mean you are reaching a longer term goal---like unloading the dishwasher, unless of course you wanted to be cleaner in the new year....but setting mini goals for the gym or eating will do. Ultimately those goals are going to get you where you want to be. And here is the teacher in me but.....if they are specific, measurable and attainable.....you are going to feel more successful! Then...... next New Year's Eve you won't be cursing yourself for not losing 80 pounds and not completing 15 marathons. Cheers to 2016! XoXo, NaturallyNati In the spirit of Christmas...I really wanted to post this recipe....but then it was like 95 degrees and it just didn't feel right. Since it is gloomy and in the 40s today...it's allowed. Plus I love peppermint mocha anything all year. I found this amazing White Chocolate Peppermint coffee from Dukin' Donuts and used it in the recipe....YUM. BUT....you can use any coffee. Preferably strongly brewed. The banana is hit or miss. Sometimes it overpowers the flavor. So you can totally leave it out! Other than that....these oats are on point. Perfect for a snuggly morning. Or afternoon. Or anytime really. Enjoy. XoXo,
NaturallyNati Wow. You blink and it's over. The holidays go by way, way too fast. And now as a big grown up they have become so stressful. I literally turned psycho on Christmas Eve. While getting ready for church, my straightener quit working. I started crying and screaming for Eric to help and try to find electrical tape. Can you say CRAY?! I'm ready to detox, de-stress and ring in the new year with an entirely different outlook. Anyone else!?!? Until then wine and the office will do :)! XoXo, NaturallyNati |
AuthorI AM A 30-SOMETHING, FOOD-LOVING, FITNESS-OBSESSED, DIY-ING, WORK-A-HOLIC, MOMMY, DOGGY MOMMY & AND WIFEY.....THAT DECIDED TO SHARE MY LIFE WITH YOU. WELCOME AND ENJOY! Archives
February 2022
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