What's for breakfast?

Mornings at our house usually go like this...

5:30: Alarm goes off

5:35:Alarm goes off again

5:40:Alarm goes off third time....

5:41: ASH can you please make the coffee...and breakfast!

At this point we've got 15 minutes!!!!

I've always been a cereal & fruit girl, but I've learned that Danny really appreciates a hot breakfast, and like most people these days, he has a bit of a coffee addiction. Also, he has started buying these frozen breakfast sandwiches that he THINKS are healthy. One look at the nutrition facts and you will see that these grab-n-go biscuits are chock full of sodium and fat...not to mention he's done in about 3 bites. I'm here to tell you that there is a better way if you want to make healthier choices and actually feel more satisfied. I know I'm a health nut, but come on, who doesn't want to start their day with an easy, wholesome breakfast?

With bootcamp at 6:00 AM, we have to pack lunch and start thinking about mornings the night before! I HIGHLY recommend taking a few extra minutes to plan meals...even if it's just breakfast! Smoothies are your friend. Fresh fruit is SO easy to grab and go. Oatmeal with no added sugar is another great option when you're in a hurry. We like to keep berries & other fruits on hand in the freezer to add as a topping to stuff like this!! Get creative and use ground cinnamon or Splenda to make blended smoothies, cereal, and oatmeal a bit sweeter without the added calories. Although I don't recommend eating much, if anything, BEFORE bootcamp, I do suggest these healthy recipes for when you get home...especially if you are short on time and want to avoid the drive-through or those devilish doughnuts at the office, which are easily over 600 calories and 30 grams of fat. I know that Chik-fil-a biscuits are delicious, but if you're serious about your diet, you have to make sacrifices. Here is a healthy breakfast sandwich recipe that literally takes 5 minutes. For you Starbucks addicts out there, here's a sweet treat that's a fraction of the calories that you can mix up in the blender in seconds.

*Courtesy of Skinny Kitchen

Egg McMuffin Made Skinny

Ingredients

2 egg whites (¼ cup)

¼ cup chopped tomatoes, drained

2 tablespoons chopped onion

1 Thomas’ Hearty Grains Honey Wheat English Muffin, toasted

2 teaspoons reduced sugar preserves or jam (see shopping tip), your favorite flavor

1 thin slice ham or turkey ham about ½ ounce

½ ounce (½ slice) reduced-fat Jarlsberg, Swiss, Havarti, or mozzarella cheese

Instructions

1. Pour 2 egg whites into a custard cup or small bowl to create a round shape. Add the tomatoes and onions. Cover with a microwave-safe plate and place in microwave for 2-2½ minutes until cook through.

2. In the meantime, toast the English muffin and spread the inside of both pieces with preserves.

3. Carefully remove the cooked eggs by running a spoon over the bottom of the eggs to lift out of the custard cup. Place on top of the bottom half of the English muffin over the preserves. Top with ham and then cheese. Place the remaining piece of English muffin on top. Heat in microwave about 30-40 seconds until cheese is melted.

Starbucks Caramel Frappuccino (I'm addicted to this one!)

Ingredients

⅔ cup double-strength coffee, chilled, see prep tip

⅔ cup (1%) low-fat milk, see substitution tip

2 tablespoons caramel topping

4 packages Splenda, Equal, or other sugar substitute

2 teaspoons sugar

1½ teaspoons vanilla

2¾ cups ice

Topping

Light whipped cream or light vanilla flavored whipped cream, see shopping tip

1½ teaspoons caramel topping

Instructions
1. Combine chilled coffee, milk, caramel topping, Splenda, sugar, vanilla and ice in a blender. Blend on high speed until ice is crushed and drink is smooth. Pour into 2 glasses.

3. Top each glass with 2 tablespoons whipped cream and drizzle about ¾ teaspoon caramel topping over each.

Get Kids ACTIVE Too!

Sometimes it's hard to get kids active when they've got summer days filled with nothing but Facebook, Playstation, and Cartoon Network. I don't have my own kids, but I know how important it is to encourage healthy lifestyles for everyone by staying active. Get out there and have fun with your kids! Ride bikes together or go on a family hike! Organized sports are also great...summer swim leagues, tennis, baseball, and soccer are all popular in many neighborhoods and local outdoor rec groups. Check what fun summer events your community has to offer! YMCA's, neighborhoods, church leagues, and county parks are great places to start.

Here's an awesome way to get kids interested in health and fitness (from Norcross, GA-my hometown)!

The Peachtree Corners Kids Triathlon

http://peachtreecorners.patch.com/articles/early-morning-race-a-big-hit-for-peachtree-corners#photo-7359193

Claire Doroff competes in the final stage of the Peachtree Corners Kids Triathlonas Frank Bobo hands her a cup of water on Saturday, August 13, 2011.

Photos

As the birds started chirping early Saturday morning, Peachtree Corners parents and their children started arriving at the Simpsonwood Conference and Retreat Center for the 6th annual Peachtree Corners Kids Triathlon.

This year 123 children ages six to 15 participated in the event which tested their endurance in swimming, biking and running.

After a pre-race safety orientation, the race got underway shortly after 8 a.m. with the first leg being swimming, followed by a bike course and finally the running portion.

Each racer who completed the course received a medal and a relaxing late morning party at the Simpsonwood United Methodist Church campus.

WELCOME TO THE DNA BLOG!!!

WELCOME TO THE DNA BLOG!!!

This is a year of new beginnings for me. My life has changed in so many amazing ways over the past few months...from getting married to my wonderful husband, moving all the way from Atlanta, Georgia to Jackson, Mississippi (my first move ever!), to starting my own personal training business! I am blessed beyond belief...I seriously wonder how I could possibly be so lucky sometimes...and I remember how good God is and what great things he is doing in my life. I went through a rough season a few months before our wedding. I was not living life to my full potential and I often wondered what my purpose was. I didn't know how to put my gifts to work. I was unhappy in my job and I just felt lost. I prayed for direction to find my "niche" and before I knew it things began to happen.

As our wedding date grew closer, I was overjoyed just knowing that my long distance relationship with Danny was coming to an end and we were going to finally be together all the time! Danny and I were surrounded by friends and family at Simpsonwood United Methodist Church in the community where I grew up. It was the happiest day of my life and I was able to have all of my closest friends there with me! In the two years before Danny and I got married, I spent many days alone at Simpsonwood Retreat Center, running the trails and spending time reflecting on where my future was going. I basically lived at the Peachtree Corners YMCA or walked the old familiar sidewalks through the Peachtree Corners community when I was not at work. My parents had moved out of state and I was living with my grandmother to save money. Danny was my support during that time, which was difficult because he was in school at West Point in New York and I was in Georgia. I kept myself going by counting the weeks on my iCalendar to our visits at West Point and eventually our wedding. Although I felt lonely, it was just a matter of time before things would be all better. The thought of being able to spend my life with him was almost too good to be true! I've learned that no matter how lost you might feel sometimes, God DOES have a plan for you! You just have to get out there and go after it!

After an amazing honeymoon cruise to the Bahamas, we packed up everything we owned (which was minimal) and moved it in two truckloads to Mississippi. Danny and I learn more and more about each other everyday. We both have learned the meaning of true love and compromise and I'm sure we still have loads to learn about marriage! He encouraged me to get my personal training certification through AFAA, which I did upon moving to Jackson, and start my own business! I couldn't be more excited about DNA Fitness, my new company!!!!!!!!

My website is finally up and running: www.dnafitnessllc.com . My passion is fitness and I am ready to go after it by helping YOU live a healthier lifestyle! I LOVE being outdoors and I am encouraging everyone to sign up for my outdoor fitness bootcamp at Freedom Ridge Park on Monday and Wednesday mornings. I also come to homes for one on one personal training with minimal equipment and BIG RESULTS! I am a true believer that by making health and fitness convenient, attaining results will be much easier, faster, and more fun! If you are more into group workouts, email me for some info on bootcamp! We use our surroundings to make the workout fun, interesting, and always different. It is non-stop moving for fifty minutes so be prepared for an intense workout...ending with a short 5 minute devotion to help us get focused on the day ahead! I live in Canton and will be serving the entire Jackson area for my mobile, in-home training. I hope to hear from you soon! Feel free to drop me an email!

ashley@dnafitnessllc.com

I plan on keeping you all posted about interesting things going on in the DNA household (that's Danny and Ashley) as well as interesting fitness related content I happen to come across. I want to keep YOU motivated to be as active as possible in your fitness & in our awesome community of metro Jackson!!!