Author: JennLabFit

Hey there, wellness warriors! It’s National Wellness Month – a perfect opportunity to reevaluate our health goals and kickstart a journey towards a stronger, healthier version of ourselves. Whether you’re aiming to shed body fat, sculpt some lean muscle, or simply maintain your current awesome state, I’m here to let you in on this very important tip: a balanced nutrition plan is the magical key to unlocking your full potential! Oh, and don’t worry; we’re not leaving out the fun part – because, you know, life’s too short not to enjoy some guilt-free treats along the way.

Now, I can already hear some of you skeptics muttering, “But isn’t a healthy diet boring and tasteless?” Well, dear friends, let me assure you that eating for wellness doesn’t mean giving up all the things that tickle your taste buds. It’s all about finding the right balance and filling those nutrient gaps to fuel your body like a champ.

The Power of a Balanced Nutrition Plan 

A balanced nutrition plan provides your body with a wide array of essential nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, protein, healthy fats, and carbohydrates. These nutrients work in harmony to keep your body functioning optimally, supporting everything from your immune system to your mood. 

Building Blocks for Your Goals 

Filling the Gaps with Supplements 

While a well-rounded diet should be your foundation, there are times when it’s challenging to get all the nutrients you need from food alone. Fear not, because this is where supplements step in to save the day! They’re like your trusty sidekicks, helping you fill those nutrient gaps and keep you on track with your wellness goals.

Enter Standard Process 

Let me introduce you to two stellar supplements from Standard Process – the superheroes of filling nutrient gaps.  

 First up, we have Congaplex, a supplement to support your immune system function*.  

• Contains whole food-based ingredients such as organic alfalfa and buckwheat. 
• Excellent source of antioxidant Vitamin A 
• Contains Ribonucleic acid, which the body uses for protein synthesis 

Learn more about Congaplex. 

Next in line is E-Z Mg, a plant-based magnesium supplement developed to help bridge the gap of inadequate dietary magnesium intake ensuring your central nervous system is working in perfect harmony.* Did you know over 50% of Americans don’t meet the daily dietary magnesium requirements?¹

Learn more about E-Z Mg. 

Both are grown on the Standard Process certified organic farm in Wisconsin. Standard Process has been a leader in making whole food-based supplements since 1929. My own family has used many of their products for decades.

Learn more about Standard Process products and where to buy. 

Remember, There’s No One-Size-Fits-All 

As with any superhero team, individual members bring their unique powers to the table. The same goes for your nutrition plan and supplements. It’s essential to consult with a health professional or a registered dietitian who can tailor your plan to fit your personal needs and goals.

Fuel your body right, enjoy the journey, and celebrate your progress along the way. Remember, wellness isn’t a destination; it’s a lifelong adventure.

  Happy National Wellness Month, my fabulous friends! Let’s make every month a wellness month! 

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. 

¹Moshfegh, A. G., Joseph; Ahuja, Jaspreet; Rhodes, Donna; LaCombe, Randy, Agriculture Research Service 2009.

This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx. 

RESET RESOLUTION! Most of us (including me) have set a goal or challenge for ourselves this year. Whether it’s wellness, nutrition, self-empowerment, organization or self-care related…big or small…I’m cheering you on! 

Today I’m teaming up with some awesome brands to help you on your resolution journey!  

Shaklee Life Shake Soy Protein – French Vanilla Protein Powder 

Let me lead with the fact that Shaklee was founded by Dr. Shaklee, who invented the very first multivitamin in the U.S. more than 100 years ago! Talk about pioneering! 

The Life Shake Soy Protein is packed with 20 grams of protein, 6 grams of fiber and 24 essential vitamins and minerals. Plus it’s Non-GMO, vegan and comes in indulgent flavors that you will absolutely crave! The best tasting plant-based protein powder! 

Just blend or shake two scoops of the Life Shake vegan protein powder into your favorite dairy or dairy substitute drink and blend! I love adding strawberries and blueberries but, the possibilities are endless. 

You can’t beat the convenience and taste for a complete, healthy and protein-packed meal! 

To learn more and to purchase visit Shaklee Life Shake Soy Protein.

Shaklee Collagen-9 

Shaklee Collagen is the most complete collagen product, including ALL 9 essential amino acids required by the body to support protein synthesis. With 10 grams of collagen and a powerful combination of biotin and Vitamin C, you will see a healthy promotion in your skin, hair, nails and joints! 

Shaklee Collagen is unflavored so you can mix it with your favorite shake (like your Shaklee Life Shake), smoothie or even in your morning coffee!

To learn more and to purchase visit Shaklee Collagen-9.

Zebra Pen Journaling Set 

I am fanatical about my to-do lists and staying organized. As much as I love the latest apps and content management systems for staying organized, I can’t escape my love for old-school, pen to paper lists. And of course I have to have all the best quick dry ink pens and colors!  

Zebra Pen Corporation offers a full line of writing and creative products, like ballpoint pens, gel pens, rollerball pens, mechanical pencils, highlighters and more! 

The Zebra Pen Journaling Set includes both Sarasa Clip Gel Retractable Pens AND Mildliner Highlighters in fun colors. 

The wide variety of colors offered in the Zebra Pen Journaling Set are perfect for color coordinating all my notes and I LOVE that each gel pen has a corresponding mild color highlighter pen! That’s perfection for my color-coded, organizational obsession! 

The Mildliner Highlighters have a chisel tip and fine point which are perfect for hand lettering and marketing applications. The mild, water-resistant ink is translucent so it won’t bleed through the paper! 

Use code RESOLUTION15 to save 15% on the Mildliner Highlighter, Mildliner Brush and Sarasa Clip from www.zebrapen.com

Beetology 

Did you know that they’ve been shown to be great for your heart, blood pressure and brain? Their health benefits simply can’t be “beet!” 😊  

The versatile beet is packed with vitamins and minerals associated with lowering blood pressure, fighting inflammation, increased stamina, detoxification support, boosting immunity, and much more. 

And the best part is there is no need for a blender! Beetology does the juicing for you! They offer five different flavors and all their 100% organic cold pressed juice blends are under 110 calories per bottle. 

Here’s two of my favorites: 

Beetology Beet and Cherry 

This deliciously balanced blend of ripe tart cherries, bold beets and naturally sweet apples is irresistible! With only three ingredients, 100 calories, no preservatives, additives, artificial color or flavors, Beetology is like no other beet blend. Plus, it’s all natural, not from concentrate, GMO free and includes all organic ingredients. 

Beetology Beet and Veggie 

Need an extra dosage of veggies? The Beetology Beet and Veggie blend is a powerful veggie punch, layered in fresh carrot juice, kale and celery. It offers the mildly sweet flavor of natural beets with the added sweetness of green apples. 

Drinking your veggies never tasted so good! 

Beetology Beet and Veggie blend includes only five ingredients, 90 calories, no preservatives, additives, artificial colors or flavors. And just like the Beet and Cherry blend, it’s all natural, not from concentrate, GMO free and includes all organic ingredients. 

Learn more about Beetology and all their products by visiting: https://www.beetology.com/ 

Tree Hut Vitamin C Whipped Body Butter 

Self-care is a crucial part of our physical and mental health! While I admittedly am not the best at pampering myself, I do make a conscience effort to take care of my skin! I workout outside a lot and my skin tends to take a beating. 

I love all the Tree Hut products because they never skimp on good ingredients! I know I will get soft, smooth skin every time I use their products.  

Tree Hut’s Vitamin C Whipped Body Butter is the perfect skin-refresher to get that glowing skin! Plus the scent of Vitamin C leaves my skin feeling soft, hydrated and smelling amazing. 

Vitamin C is a powerhouse antioxidant and is known to help boost skin for a brighter, firmer and even-tone appearance. 

I also love that all their Whipped Body Butters are paraben free, vegan, sulfate free, alcohol free and contain no formaldehyde donors. 

You can find more information on the Tree Hut Vitamin C Whipped Body Butter www.treethutshea.com

Monday 

With the new year I often hear resolutions that include limiting or removing alcohol from your routine. Some of you are trying to lose weight or work on fitness goals. Good choice, as alcohol is one of the number one deterrents from reaching those goals! Or maybe you’re just celebrating Dry January! 

But, like it or not, there is often the peer pressure when you go out with friends or family. They all mean well but, after hearing “just have one” or “why aren’t you drinking?” multiple times a night, it gets old! 

If this is you…I have a fun brand to suggest to you! Introducing Monday, alcohol free gin! Spirits lovers on a mission to shake-up the modern drinking experience! Here’s the kicker: amazing taste, zero alcohol and all-inclusive. So you can enjoy flavorful cocktails, socialize without stress, and wake-up feeling fresh. 

Monday Zero Alcohol Gin is a bold, aromatic blend of juniper, natural botanicals, citrus, and spices that satisfies like a classic London Dry style spirit that even finishes with the familiar kick of your fav adult beverage. 

Aside from being alcohol free, it’s also 0 calories, 0 carbs, 0 sugar, vegan, gluten free, paleo and keto friendly and the big-8 allergen free. 

For best results, make a delicious cocktail or mixed drink with fresh ingredients. 

Monday looks, feels, and tastes the part, no one will know. Plus, because it’s alcohol free, you won’t regret last night’s good times the morning after! 

Shop Monday Gin by visiting: drinkmonday.co AND use the code JENN15 to save 15% off anything on the Monday site (except subscriptions). One use per customer only. Expires Jan.31, 2022 

Cheering you on in your journey, no matter what your goals are this year! Now, go an crush them all!

Fall Favorites with a Twist! Enjoy the flavors of fall without adding unnecessary amounts of sugar, calories and fat. 

I’ve put together three recipes that offer healthier versions of seasonal yumminess we all love. 

Share them with friends and family (or keep all to yourself). I promise, no one will complain about the swaps! 

Swapping is a great way to tailor recipes to your own needs…whether you need to eliminate/substitute certain ingredients because of allergies, counting your macros or just trying to create a healthier version! 

These three recipes will introduce you to some great ways to sub out items! Check out the lasagna, for example: We swap zucchini for noodles, and turkey for beef! That cuts down on carbs and fat, alike. 

Just click HERE and download the recipes now! Let me know how you like them! 

Let’s all start each day with a grateful heart – and mindful about what we’re preparing and enjoying. 

Meal prep – or preparing meals in advance – is one of the best ways to eat right every day, while also saving time and money. You make meals ahead of time all at once, then put them in servings for serving or freezing.  

It reduces the hassle of cooking at every mealtime, and it cuts down on binge eating or grabbing whatever is most convenient when you’re hungry, rather than eating what’s in your plan. 

But to start it might seem like a big time commitment, right? A whole hour in the kitchen? Well, I think you’ll find it’s a great investment. Here’s how to manage the time. 

• Choose a day or two each week where you can devote the time and focus. Most people pick Sundays because they’re not working. Some can get it all done at once. Others might want to break it up with, say, a Wednesday. But remember: You don’t have to meal prep for an entire week; it’s up to you! 

• Start simple, with just one entrée recipe. Slow cookers are useful. It’s so easy to make chili or soup in a crock pot and then have it to enjoy all week, along with a big salad you can prepare in advance (and dress when you serve).  

• Gather recipes and make a shopping list. That way, you’ll be sure to have everything you need in advance. 

• Make sure your supplies include storage containers you can put in the microwave and freezer, and materials like tin foil and plastic wrap. 

• Make big batches of staples like rice, quinoa and oatmeal. You can use them throughout the week to mix things up.

• Start with lunches and dinners. At home, a healthy breakfast can be quick and easy. But if you’re going to work every day, you don’t want to rely on food courts and cafeteria food. And, after a long day, it’s grand to come home to dinner that’s already done and waiting for you. 

• Stock the freezer with meats and veggies, the pantry with nonperishable staples, and your spice drawer with your favorites. 

You’ll find it’s really kind of amazing how much time you’ll save each day during the week. And that hour you spent in the kitchen? Totally worth it! 

The biggest obstacle I hear from the people I coach is that they “just don’t have time.”  People are SO busy today with work, families, managing a house, and the million other things that come up.

So it’s too often that they find themselves grabbing food for convenience – food that not only doesn’t serve their bodies but that also ends up negatively impacting the family and their waistlines.  This leads to further guilt and a vicious cycle begins.

It breaks my heart to see these ​smart, hard-working, and deserving people go down the rabbit hole of convenience because they just don’t know another way.  So, I’m here to help!

Check out my strategies for ​healthy, fast, and convenient ​dinners (or whichever meal you choose!):

You make it:

1. Pre-cook proteins, pre-wash and chop veggies.  You can do this 1-2 times a week depending on time.  I’m a fan of the Sunday Ritual, where you prep and portion for the entire week.  How to do this:  Simply grill or bake enough protein to sustain dinner each week.  You can prep the veggies to be prepared on the spot in the evening before dinner or in advance like the protein.  Heck, throw it all on the grill!

2. Purchase pre-chopped veggies.  If to the first point you were thinking…”Yeah, but the part I HATE is washing and chopping!”  Pretty much every grocery store sells vegetables that are ready to throw in a pan, in the oven, or on a grill.  It’ll typically cost you a little bit more, but it’s worth it if this is what it takes to make the right choice.

3. The 10 minute, minimal effort meal.  This is one of my favorite strategies!  It’s as simple as this:  Rotisserie chicken, steam in a bag veggies, and wrapped microwavable sweet potato.  Serve the chicken, grab 1-2 cups of veggies for your plate out of the bag (season if you like), and eat half the potato with a pat of grassfed butter.  And you’ve got leftovers!

4. Crock Pot meals.  It doesn’t get much easier than throwing a bunch of ingredients in a crock pot in the morning then coming home to a fully prepared meal (and a house that smells awesome).  Also requires minimal clean up!  This is definitely easy to make in large portions, so you’ve got leftovers!

Still not quite going to work?  Here are my GRAB AND GO strategies!

5.  Hit the hot bar.  Have a grocery store like Whole Foods nearby?  Chances are they have an awesome hot bar!  

6.  Healthy take-out.  This is easier to find than you think.  I love Asian restaurants for this because you can almost always find grilled protein and order it with a side of vegetables.  You’ll typically be able to get a few servings out of it too, so you’ve got lunch for the next day!

Believe me, I am all about convenience when it comes to food, so I always suggest making more than you need so you’ve got left overs!

And when, I cook, I keep it SUPER SIMPLE!  Check out one of my go-to’s with this Beef Stir Fry:

Ingredients:

1lb ground beef
1 medium onion
1 large bell pepper (any color)
1 tbsp coconut oil
salt & pepper to taste

Heat a sauté pan to medium high.  Add coconut oil and let it melt.  Add the onion and let it start to turn translucent.  Add the bell peppers.  Let cook for 2-3 minutes.  Add ground beef and cook to desired temperature.  Add salt and pepper to taste.

I usually throw this in a bowl and eat it as is.  This makes about 3-4 servings for me. You can also serve this with about a half cup of quinoa!  How is easy is that!? Under 15 minutes!

Give it a try and let me know how you like it!

P.S. If you are struggling with finding foods for weight loss and need support, strategy and mindset to help you put it all together then I invite you to schedule a personal, 30-minute discovery call with me and let’s make change happen!