✝️ Happy Easter Weekend! Celebrate with New Recipes!

Sweet friends,

We want to wish you all a Happy Easter weekend on this Good Friday! Our hope for you this Easter is to enjoy your family and celebrate Christ’s resurrection!

As we've been celebrating "Holy Week" and following the April reading plan from the Gospel of Luke, we remember that today on Good Friday, the day Jesus was crucified, God was at work. The darkness of this day would be overshadowed by joy a couple of days later with the discovery of Jesus' resurrection. Luke 24: 6-7

 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: “The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.” As we celebrate Easter this Sunday, may we know by faith the forgiveness of our sins, a life of purpose meant to bring glory to God, and everlasting joy that does not end with death, because He is Risen!

Happy Easter to all our amazing friends and clients! Please keep following along with us in our April Bible reading plan. Download the free ebook below!

Honor the amazing body that God has given you and fuel yourself with nutritious treats this Easter! We challenge you to step away from the candy and overconsumption, and instead focus on the real reason for the holiday— Jesus' resurrection and the blessings He has given you! Below are four healthy Easter recipes you can enjoy without feeling sluggish later! You can find way more recipes like these on our website HERE.

Try these recipes for your Easter celebration and share them with us on social media! Follow us on Instagram HERE and Facebook HERE!

Spring Breakfast Casserole

Ingredients:

• 1 lb lean ground turkey

• 1 cup of grits

• 2 cups light cheddar cheese

• 5 eggs

• 1/2 cup skim milk

• Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions:

• Brown turkey sausage in a skillet, then crumble in the bottom of a casserole dish.

• Cook grits and add cheese (stir to smooth, let cool).

• Beat eggs, milk, salt, and pepper together. Add to grits mixture.

• Pour over sausage in casserole dish.

• Bake at 350 for 1 hour. (You can refrigerate the night before or even freeze and put in the refrigerator the night before)

Easter Salad with Lemon Dressing

DRESSING

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice

• 2 Tbsps unsweetened almond milk

• 2 Tbsps apple cider vinegar

• 4 Tbsps extra virgin olive oil

• 1 tsp organic prepared dijon mustard

• 1 Tbsp poppy seeds

• Pinch sea salt

Instructions:

• Whisk all ingredients.

• Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 2 days, whisk again immediately before serving.

SALAD

Ingredients:

• 8 oz organic baby spinach

• 1 diced peach

• 1/2 cup fresh blueberries

• 1/2 cup sliced strawberries

• 3 Tbsps sliced raw almonds

• OPTIONAL: 1/2 lb fresh, small asparagus. Chop to use just the tips.

• 4 oz chopped goat cheese

Instructions:

• Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and serve with Poppyseed Dressing. Enjoy!

Garlic Roasted Carrots

Ingredients:

• 24 baby carrots, tops trimmed to 2 inches

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

• 5 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 teaspoon dried thyme

• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

• 2 tablespoons chopped parsley leaves

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly oil a baking sheet or coat with nonstick spray.

• Place carrots in a single layer onto the prepared baking sheet. Add olive oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic and thyme; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Gently toss to combine.

• Place into oven and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until tender.

• Serve immediately, garnished with parsley, if desired.

Recipe credit: https://damndelicious.net/2015/01/17/garlic-roasted-carrots/

No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup natural peanut butter

• 1/4 cup honey

• 1/4 to 1/2 tsp sea salt

• 1/4 cup coconut oil

• 1 tsp vanilla

• 2 tbsp cocoa powder 

• 1 cup quick cooking oats

• 1/4 cup shredded coconut

Instructions:

• Line a baking sheet with wax paper and set aside.

• Combine peanut butter, honey, salt, and coconut oil in a saucepan and heat until combined. 

• Add quick cooking oats and mix well.

• Add coconut and stir until completely combined.

• Drop 1 tbsp portions of mixture onto your prepared baking sheet. Press into the shape of nests. Continue until you've used all your cookie mixture. 

• Let cool in the refrigerator or freezer until hardened. Top with your favorite candy eggs.

• Serve cool or at room temperature. Store in airtight container in the refrigerator!

Thank you to our sweet Hannah Cooper for this amazing photo!

We want your feedback! Please help us continue to improve by taking 5 minutes to complete the survey below!

Happy Easter from our TransFit family to you!

Check out our website for blogs, inspiration, recipes, workouts, and so much more!

Let us know how we can serve you! Email us at transfitathens@gmail.com if you have any questions or want to schedule a one-on-one.

Blessings, 

Team TransFit

✨ Amazing April Client Spotlight!

Sweet friends,

We are so excited to come ALIVE with you in the studio this April! If you haven’t read our last blog about all of our exciting April news yet, be sure to check it out HERE. We have less than a month until our Fit for a Miracle 5K, so we are getting prepared this month! In addition to sessions in the studio, come try TransFit Prayer Walks Wednesdays at 9:30 am and our Running Group Mondays at 8:20 am! Email us HERE if you have questions!

Today, we are thrilled for you to meet an amazing woman who has truly come alive— our April client spotlight, LeAnn Cleveland! Her bright smile lights up the room and her hardworking spirit in TransFit’s morning and afternoon sessions is contagious. LeAnn has lost body fat, inches, and changed her perspective on exercise and nutrition. She continues to transform her body, mind, and spirit and is such an incredible example of TransFit inspiration!

April Client Spotlight - LeAnn Cleveland

“Growing up, I was always the ‘big girl.’ I wouldn’t necessarily say I struggled with my weight. I didn’t struggle. It was part of who I was – part of my identity. Before I graduated from college, I ran into a friend who had lost quite a bit of weight through Weight Watchers. Inspired by her success, I joined and began my journey toward a healthier lifestyle. I learned a lot about nutrition those first few months. I also discovered exercise – walking, step aerobics, and strength training.

My weight has fluctuated over the years. Life got busy. I got older. In February 2018, I was ready for a change. I rejoined WW and began eating healthier and exercising. I have an elliptical I use at home regularly as well as exercise DVDs (Pilates, yoga, and cardio). However, I missed working out with others. The next month, I attended a school function where a silent auction was taking place. A TransFit package that included 4 Transformer classes was one of the items. I bid and won. To say I was a bit intimidated would be an understatement. In fact, I waited until the package was about to expire before I finally went. But I went, and I loved it! I had never been to a gym that provided such encouragement. I honestly don’t think calling TransFit a ‘gym’ is an apt description. I’ve been a member of many gyms over the years and this place is different. At TransFit, you are inspired by women without feeling the need to compare yourself to them. I try to attend sessions twice per week and workout at home 3-4 days per week. My goals are to exercise 5-6 days per week total, eat greens daily, and drink at least 64 oz. of water each day.

I love how TransFit challenges and stretches me. I am a tutor to students with learning disabilities and other learning challenges. I am constantly asking them to do hard things. I am a big believer in lifelong learning, so I realize that I have to be willing to put myself out there and do hard things. God has created each of us to run a race— a race that at times can be challenging. I can’t run your race, and you can’t run mine, but we can run alongside one another to encourage and inspire. This is how I view TransFit, an incredibly unique place that encourages and inspires.”

We are so moved by LeAnn’s testimony and are glad to be a part of her journey! We hope it inspires you to set and accomplish your own goals. We are here to serve you in any way we can!

Grilled Salmon

LeAnn loves warmer weather and grilling season. Try her favorite grilled salmon recipe!

Ingredients:

• 1.5 - 2 lbs salmon

• 1 tsp ginger

• 1 tsp minced garlic

• 1 scallion, chopped

• 1/4 cup honey

• 1/3 cup soy sauce

• 1/3 cup orange juice

Instructions:

• Mix ingredients well

• Pour over salmon and marinate for 1 (or more) hour(s)

• Grill or bake at 400 degrees until fish flakes easily

• Enjoy!

It’s time to set a new goal for this week! Try some of LeAnn’s goals by exercising 5 days this week, getting in 80 ounces of water, and increasing your vegetable intake. After a workout, try our Wall Postures yoga flow to stretch, relax, and reset! Download it HERE.

Fit for a Miracle 5K

If you have not registered for our Fit for a Miracle 5K yet, now is the time! Registration is $25 with a t-shirt for the 5K and $15 with a t-shirt for the Miracle Mile through April 26th, which is just a couple of weeks away!

The race is scheduled to take place on May 4, 2019 at 5:00 pm. We will also have a Miracle Mile (1 mile fun run) at 4:30 pm. We are SO excited about this opportunity to support ESP Miracle League, which will provide transformative experiences for individuals with disabilities to thrive through the magic of accessible play and inclusive baseball.

You can register for this event online HERE or download the mail-in registration form below. All of the proceeds from this event will be donated toward Extra Special People and help to fund the new Miracle League Complex. If you or your business would like to help sponsor this event please email us HERE!

We can’t wait to see you COME ALIVE in the studio this month!

Check out our website for more blogs, inspiration, recipes, workouts, and more!

Let us know how we can serve you! Email us at transfitathens@gmail.com if you have any questions or want to schedule a one-on-one.

Blessings, 

Team TransFit

❤️ Happy Healthy Valentine’s Day Inspiration and Recipes!

Sweet friends,

Happy early Valentine’s Day! We hope you have exciting plans to celebrate with your loved ones! As we all know, tomorrow is Valentine's Day and that typically that means lots of candy and sweets everywhere. Valentine's Day is such a perfect holiday to take extra time to show others how you love them! Take a moment to call an old friend and tell them hello. Along with loving others well this week, also take some extra time to love your body, mind and spirit this Valentine's Day! Breathe in God’s love for you. Below is truth about how much you are beloved.

Take some time to dwell on this verse. These are the Lord's thoughts about you! He has created you exactly as you are for a purpose. You are so beautiful and perfectly made in His sight! Take some time today to write down things you love about the way God made you. Now, go share this verse with a friend! Encourage your sweet friends today in their own beauty, inside and out. Valentine’s Day is the day of love! Let's be intentional about spreading love and blessings.

We know many of you will be spending Valentine's Day with your families, so we wanted to share a few of our favorite healthy Valentine's Day recipes with you all! We guarantee these will satisfy your sweet tooth just as well as that box of Russell Stover — but without compromising your nutrition goals! These are treats you can feel good about, because  they will not only make your taste buds happy but make your body happy as well. 

If you DO have precious kiddos that are going to be receiving Valentine's bags from school, taking cards and expecting a small treat from Mom and Dad, this is the perfect opportunity to practice non-food rewards for your kids! Instead of loading them up with bags of candy, make Valentine's Day fun in other ways!

5 Ways to Have a Healthy Valentine’s Day

1. Make a Valentine's celebration breakfast! Make some fun Strawberry Love Parfaits to start your day with a sweet, healthy breakfast that tastes like a treat! Take some time to say 5 reasons why you love each other as you eat your breakfast. 

2. Celebrate with non-food items! If you're sending your kids to school with Valentines, try sending cards along with temporary tattoos, stickers, pencils or other fun little toys instead of candy. Be sure to emphasize that these are things they can enjoy over and over, instead of just once! If you're a college student, get together with some friends and make Valentines together! Get crafty and make fun, homemade cards with markers, watercolors, etc.

3. Spread out the sweets! Naturally, we're all going to eat some sweet treats on Valentine's Day. However, all of these treats don't have to be eaten on this one day! Pick 1-2 of your top choices for today, and then put the rest away to enjoy in moderation for days to come. The longer you spread it out, the more times you get to enjoy the treats! 

4. Try a new, healthy recipe! Below you will find several of our most favorite healthy and easy sweet treats! Try making these for you and your family, friends or significant other! 

5. Celebrate with red foods! See how many delicious and nutritious red foods you can put into your diet that day! Maybe try strawberries on a spinach salad for lunch, our beet and red onion side dish for a romantic dinner (recipe below), Tomato Tulips as an appetizer (just cut a plus sign on the top of a cherry tomato, fill with cottage cheese, then use chives as the stems) or Share the Love rice krispie treats (recipe below)

---

Dark Chocolate Granola Bark

Ingredients:

• 2 cups dark chocolate chips

• 1 cup Kroger Ancient Grain granola (or granola of your choice)

• 2 tsp. orange zest

• 1 tsp. cinnamon

• 1/2 cup dried tart cherries

• 1/4 tsp sea salt

 Instructions:

• Line baking sheet with wax paper

• Melt chocolate

• Stir in granola, zest and cinnamon

• Spread out onto baking sheet and top with cherries and salt.

• Chill for 30 mins or until firm. Enjoy!  

Strawberry Love Yogurt Parfait

Ingredients:

• 1 large container of greek yogurt

• 1 container strawberries

• Granola cereal (lower sugar)

• Stevia drops or honey to taste

Instructions:

• Take 1 cup of strawberries and blend in blender until smooth.

• Hull the rest of the strawberries and cut them into slices.

• Mix the yogurt with the blended berries.

• Begin layering the Mini Trifles. Start with a layer of greek yogurt. Add a layer of strawberries. Next sprinkle granola on top of the strawberry layer. Repeat layers until the mini trifles are full. 

• Garnish with strawberries and/or granola.

Roasted Carrots, Beets, and Red Onion Wedges

Serves 4; 1/2 cup per serving

Ingredients

• Cooking spray

• 2 medium beets (about 5 ounces each), peeled, cut into 1/2-inch wedges, and patted dry with paper towels

• 3 small carrots (about 2 ounces each), cut crosswise into 2-inch pieces (not baby carrots)

• 1 medium red onion (about 4 ounces), cut into 1/2-inch wedges

• 2 teaspoons olive oil

• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled

• 1/8 teaspoon salt

Instructions:

• Preheat the oven to 425°F. Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil to keep it from getting stained. Lightly spray the foil with cooking spray.

• Put the beets, carrots, and onion wedges on the foil. Drizzle the oil and sprinkle the oregano and salt over the vegetables, stirring gently to coat. Arrange the vegetables in a single layer so they don’t touch.

• Roast for 15 minutes. Stir. Roast for 10 minutes, or until the vegetables are just tender when pierced with a fork.

Cook’s Tip: Avoid getting beet stains on your hands by peeling the beets under cold running water.

Share the Love Healthier Rice Krispie Treats

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoons butter

• 3 cups miniature marshmallows

• 6 cups Whole Grain Brown Rice Krispie Cereal (I actually found this at Target and the kids had no clue!)

• 1 Cup Fresh sliced strawberries (blend or chop finely)

Instructions:

• In a large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add in marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.

• Add Brown Rice Krispie Cereal and stir until fully coated.

• Flatten the mixture on wax paper and use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut out hearts or use your hands to shape the mixture into hearts.

• Top the hearts with fresh sliced strawberries and gently press down to seal them. (You could also mix the strawberries in with the marshmallows).

• Cool before serving.

Don’t forget to sign up for this month’s lunch and learn! It is on February 22nd from 12-1 pm and we’ll be doing a self defense class taught by Borders! Spots in this event are limited so click the button below to sign up on our app before they run out! Cost is $15 to cover lunch from The Pine.

Let us know how we can serve you! Email us at transfitathens@gmail.com if you have any questions or want to schedule a on-on-one!

Blessings, 

Team TransFit

🔥 7 Foods that Balance Hormones and Help You Lose!

Hey friends,

What an awesome week it’s been at the studio! We are so proud of you all for showing up and starting January strong. If you haven’t read about Paige Colquitt’s Holiday Extravaganza transformation, check that out on our blog HERE.

Have you ever felt like you’re exercising and eating a better-balanced diet, but still seeing no progress? Still feeling sluggish? Often, unbalanced hormones can sabotage your goal of feeling your best. Your body’s hormones help control everything from your metabolism to your body’s fat storage. Today we want to introduce you to 7 superfoods you can add into your daily nutrition plan to revive your body to help you feel your best!

Avocados

Avocados contain a substance known as beta-sitosterol. Beta-sitosterol has been shown to significantly lower blood cholesterol levels, balance cortisol levels, and decrease inflammation in the body. And, you can add them to literally anything! Who doesn’t love another reason to eat avocados?

Nuts

Almonds contain protein and fiber, and are known to slow the absorption of carbohydrates in the body. Studies have found that walnuts are also a good source of the hormone melatonin, which helps promote more restful sleep.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon has the ability to speed up the metabolism and stabilize blood sugar levels, which can help with weight loss. It also has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties that help keep your body healthy. In fact, it’s the cinnamaldehyde in cinnamon that naturally helps balance the body’s hormones. Add some cinnamon to your oatmeal or sprinkle some on an apple and enjoy a healthy snack!

Green Tea

Studies have shown that green tea extract increases metabolism and helps the body burn fat. It provides a boost of energy while blocking the release of the stress hormone cortisol, which helps gut the accumulation of belly fat! It also helps you warm up on these cold winter days! Purchase our team’s favorite green tea on Amazon HERE.

Pomegranates

Pomegranates have amazing anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties that help keep the body healthy and fight off disease. They also provide the same estrogens that the female ovaries produce – estradiol, estrone, and estriol. Adding pomegranates to your diet can help reduce mood swings while helping your body combat breast cancer and heart disease.

Turmeric

Adding turmeric to your meals will do more than just spice things up. Turmeric naturally reduces inflammation, pain, and swelling in the body. It also helps to balance your hormones and keep your immune system functioning properly! Sprinkle it on your food or make Turmeric Tea or Golden Milk for a warm drink. Get our team’s favorite Turmeric from Amazon HERE.

Broccoli

Broccoli contains high amounts of photochemical called indoles, which play a large role in estrogen metabolism. Indoles work to convert estrogen into a safer form for the body to metabolize, which reduces the risk of estrogen-linked cancer, including breast cancer and prostate cancer. 

Try introducing some of these super foods and drinks into your daily nutrition plan and see how much better you feel! Eating a well-balanced diet with plenty of nutrients will revive your body and help you live transformed.

We’ve included a tasty recipe below that incorporates a few of these foods! Try it out and let us know what you think— we love when you tag us in your social media posts!

Superfood Salad

Ingredients

• 4 cups of leafy greens 

• 1/2 c chopped broccoli  

• 1/2 c chopped red apple

• 1 avocado sliced 

• 1 pomegranate seeds removed

• 1 cup walnuts roughly chopped

Dressing

• 1/2 cup avocado ripe

• 1 tsp seeded mustard

• 2 tbs lemon juice

• 6 tbs olive oil

• 1 splash apple cider vinegar

• 1 pinch sea salt

• 1 pinch black pepper

  
  Instructions

• Combine all the ingredients for the salad in a large bowl.

• Place all the ingredients for the dressing in a blender and process for 20-30 seconds or until you reach a smooth consistency!

• Enjoy! Top with grilled chicken or salmon for more protein.

Remember you can always find recipes, workouts, and inspiration on our FREE app!

Don’t forget to sign up for sessions in advance on the app!

If you have any questions or would like to schedule a one-on-one or nutrition counseling session, please email us at transfitathens@gmail.com.

Blessings,

Team TransFit

✨ 4 Healthy Holiday Breakfast Recipes for You!

Sweet friends,

We are less than ONE WEEK from Christmas! We are so excited to spend precious time with family and friends this holiday season! It is so important to start the day with healthy, filling meals that are filled with nutrients that can fuel our body! We want to share four of our favorite breakfast holiday recipes that you entire family will enjoy! Packed with protein giving you the energy and strength you need to finish 2018 strong and vibrant! If you need other healthy recipes this holiday season, check out our other recipes HERE.

Mini Egg Frittatas

Mini Egg Frittatas

Ingredients

• 10 large eggs

• 1 cup chopped bell peppers

• 1/2 cup chopped onion

• 1 cup cooked crumbled low sodium chicken sausage or turkey bacon 

• 1 cup chopped spinach

• 1 teaspoon kosher salt

• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a non-stick or silicone muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray.

• Heat olive oil into a a non-stick frying pan over medium high heat. Add the bell pepper and onion and sauté for 2 minutes. Stir in the meat and spinach and cook an additional 2 minutes. Place 1 heaping Tablespoon into each muffin cup.

• Whisk the eggs into a medium size bowl. Stir in the salt and pepper. Then pour over the meat mixture in the muffin tin, leaving 1/4″ from the top.

• Cook for 23 to 30 minutes, or until the egg has puffed and comes clean with a toothpick.

• Run a knife around the edges to pop the egg frittatas out. Enjoy while hot.

• Store in the an air tight container in the refrigerator. Eat within 5 days.

Chia Seed Pudding

Chia Seed Pudding

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup vanilla-unsweetened almond milk

• 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup

• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

• 2 tablespoons chia seeds

• 1/2 cup of your favorite berry (frozen blueberries/raspberries)

• 1/4 cup sliced almonds, toasted

• 1/2 tsp cinnamon + any desired topping

• 1/2 cup plain low-fat (2 percent) Greek yogurt (optional)

Directions:

• In mason jar (or bowl) combine all ingredients except berries & almonds.

• Shake or stir well. Stir to distribute the seeds if they have settled (after 5 minutes).

• Cover and refrigerate overnight or for 30 minutes. When ready to eat mix in the almonds & berries.

**Great to make a few jars at one time and place in fridge. Try other fruits or topping! Walnuts and coconut flakes are also great!

**Depending on the type/brand of chia seed you buy you may have to experiment with just the right amount of liquid to get the consistency like you like it!

Baked French Toast

Baked French Toast

Ingredients:

• 8 slices of Sprouted Cinnamon Raisin Bread (or whole wheat bread sprinkled with cinnamon if you don’t like raisins)

• 1 1/2 cup almond milk (no sugar, vanilla)

• 1/4 cup maple syrup + extra for drizzling

• 6 eggs

• Cinnamon

  Directions:

• Cube bread into 1- 8 inch square pan

• Whisk together almond milk, eggs and maple syrup.

• Pour egg mixture over bread cubes, sprinkle with cinnamon and let soak for about 3 hours or overnight.

• Bake at 375° for about 35-40 minutes, until eggs are set.

• Cut into 4 pieces, drizzle with maple syrup and serve. Yum!

Gingerbread Smoothie

Gingerbread Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk

• ½ frozen banana

• 2 tsp ginger (or 1 tsp fresh ginger)

• 1 cup 2% Greek yogurt

• 1 tbsp ground flax seed

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• 1 tbsp maple syrup

• 1 cup crushed ice

Directions:

• Put all ingredients in the blender and blend until smooth! Enjoy!

Click the link below for more recipes that your entire family will enjoy. We have recipes for salads, smoothies, appetizers, dinners and more! 

We want to encourage you as we approach our second challenge day of Holiday Extravaganza and stay strong! We encourage you to go on walks with your family and eat healthy, nutritious meals that fuel your body! Need a transformational workout that you can do at home? Try one of our home workouts on the TransFit app HERE or follow a workout video from our YouTube HERE.

Over the next few weeks, please sign-up for sessions in advance as we are operating on a holiday schedule. Check out our other recipes on our website HERE. Please email us at transfitathens@gmail.com if you have any questions. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Blessings,

Team TransFit

🎄 5 Tips to Manage Holiday Parties This Year

Sweet friends,

The holiday season brings so many wonderful things to our lives! We get to spend time with our families and friends and celebrate the birth of our Savior. There’s so much to get excited about!

However, with these holiday celebrations comes holiday parties where we are surrounded by endless amounts of food! Often, we are surrounded by such homemade goodness that we can’t help but over eat, and then we feel guilty afterwards! Let’s not feel that way this holiday season!

Below are FIVE tips to help you navigate holiday parties this Christmas season!

1. Drink a large glass of water before the party.

Drinking water can help you feel full for longer. Drink 1-2 glasses of water before you go to the party to help eliminate mindless snacking. You can also carry a glass of water with you at the party to give you something to hold and drink without reaching for unhealthy snacks!

2. Keep moving!

Go to the party with the mindset that the party is for fellowship and spending quality time with friends or family and isn’t about food! Make your way around the room talking and enjoying others’ company, and you won’t think about the treats!

Make sure you are exercising regularly! Stay on track with your exercise goals during the holiday season. Block off workout times in your schedule and don’t miss! When you are exercising regularly, you won’t want to undo all of the hard work that you have put in!

3. Eat a high-protein snack before the party.

A high-protein snack can help you curb your cravings and help you be full before you arrive at the party! After eating your snack, you will be full and satisfied and will be less likely to mindlessly snack while you are there. Often, people eat less in preparation of a big party to try to “save calories”, but this usually leads to overeating foods that will not satisfy or fuel your body in the long run! Good examples of high-protein snacks are:

• 1/4 cup of nuts

• 1/2 cup of trail mix

• 1 cheese stick

• 1 hard boiled egg

• 1/2 cup of cooked edamame

• Kind bars

• Turkey roll-ups

• Rice cake layered with nut butter and chopped walnuts

  4. Chew sugar free gum.

  Chewing sugar-free gum is a great way to stop those sugar cravings! It will give you something to chew, but will save you the calories! Instead of reaching for that piece of chocolate or sweet treat, pop in a piece of sugar free gum!

  5. Bring a healthy snack or treat!

  Bring something to the party that you know you can munch on without feeling guilty. Your friends will thank you, too! Some great options for healthy dishes are:

• Lean meat and cheese trays

• Fruit or vegetable trays

• Homemade trail mix

• One of our TransFit winter recipes!

• Strawberry Edamame Salad
  

Don’t forget about our Favorite Things Luncheon this Thursday, December 13th from 12-1 in the TransFit studio! It will be a wonderful time of fellowship with our TransFit community! Think of something that you LOVE (valued around $15). Bring ONE of your favorite items. We will draw names and everyone will go home with a NEW FAVORITE THING!

The cost of attendance is $12 to cover lunch from The Pine. Sign up on our app at the link below under “Special Events.”

Thank you to everyone that has brought in a gift for our Giving Tree! There are a few ornaments still left on our tree if you would like to participate. Just bring your wrapped gift, put it under our Giving Tree by Friday, December 14th.

We also invite you to come help deliver these gifts to Downtown Academy next Tuesday from 12-1! We will be meeting at the studio at 11:30 a.m. and then going to Downtown Academy! You can also meet us at Downtown Academy!

We only have two more Tuesdays in 2018! Can you believe it?! We want to encourage you to finish out 2018 strong and reach your goals and dreams! Come join us in the studio for a session! Over the next few weeks, please sign-up for sessions in advance as we are operating on a holiday schedule. If you have any questions, feel free to email us at transfitathens@gmail.com. We can’t wait to see you soon!

Blessings,

Team TransFit

Healthy Swaps and Sides for Your Thanksgiving!

Sweet friends,

We are so thankful for our amazing clients! As Thursday approaches, let's stay focused on everything we are thankful for and enjoy our time with our friends and family. Let's remember we can stay on track, even in the holiday season!

During Thanksgiving, the main idea is to remember PORTION CONTROL. You do not have to avoid dessert and other Thanksgiving favorites completely, but focus on being mindful with your portions. Moderation is the key! Below are 4 Thanksgiving Recipes to help you have your healthiest Thanksgiving yet and that your entire family will enjoy!

Brined & Roasted Turkey

Brined & Roasted Turkey

from Fire and Flavor

Prep Time: 30 minutes + brine time
Cook Time: 2-2 ½ hours
Yields: 8 servings

Ingredients

• 1 (12-14 pound) turkey, neck and giblets removed and rinsed

• 1 package Fire & Flavor Turkey Perfect Brine Kit 

• Cotton string for tying

• 2 tablespoons canola oil

  Directions

1. Brine turkey according to package directions. If using liquid brine, remove turkey from brine and pat dry. Allow turkey to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before roasting. Preheat oven to 500°F. Place turkey on a roasting rack set inside a rimmed roasting pan or sheet pan. Tuck wings underneath bird and tie legs together; rub generously with oil.

2. Place turkey on lowest level of oven and roast for 30 minutes. Lower oven temperature to 350°F and continue roasting until meat thermometer inserted in thickest part of breast registers 165°F, about 2 – 2 ½ hours.

3. Allow turkey to rest for 20 minutes before for carving.

Quinoa Salad with Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Kale

Quinoa Salad with Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Kale

Yield: 4 servings

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• Salt and pepper, to taste

• 3 cups kale, chopped fine

• 5 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

• 1 cup uncooked quinoa

• 2 cups water

• Pinch of salt

• Optional: 1/4 cup walnuts

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place sweet potatoes in a bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Toss & put them on a large baking sheet lined with foil. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes. Stir a few times while baking.

2. Drizzle kale with 2 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar. Season with salt and pepper and massage, set aside.

3. While the potatoes are roasting, make the quinoa. Using a strainer, rinse the quinoa under cold water. Add quinoa, water, and salt to a medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil for 5 minutes. Turn the heat to low and simmer for about 15 minutes, or until water is absorbed. Remove from heat and fluff with a fork. Let cool quinoa cool to room temperature.

4.In a large bowl, toss quinoa, sweet potatoes, and kale. Drizzle the salad with remaining three tablespoons of balsamic vinegar and add in walnuts. Stir to combine. Season with salt, pepper, extra olive oil & balsamic to taste and serve. Add in avocado for complete meal! Enjoy!

Green Beans with Pomegranates and Toasted Walnuts

Green Beans with Pomegranates and Toasted Walnuts

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup walnuts

• 1 pomegranate, seeds only

• 1 1/2 pound green beans (haricots, verts or traditional green beans). Fresh is preferred, but frozen green beans work great too.

Vinaigrette Dressing

• 2 tablespoons flax oil, or olive oil

• 2 tablespoons coconut vinegar or apple cider vinegar

• 1 tablespoon shallot, finely chopped or 1-2 teaspoons onion

• 1 teaspoon dijon mustard

• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

• 1/4 teaspoon pepper

  Directions

1. To toast walnuts, heat a sauté pan over medium heat and add walnuts. Set timer for three minutes. After three minutes, stir and watch until crisp and fragrant. This takes about seven minutes total. Transfer to a bowl so they do not continue to cook.

2. Seed pomegranate.

3. Rinse green beans. Take a small handful and align the ends by tapping them on the cutting board. Cut the tips off all at once and repeat to the opposite end. Do this until all beans are completed. Do not cut beans into pieces; this will make them mushy once cooked.

4. Pour 2-3 inches of purified water into a pot with steamer. Once the water is at a rapid boil, turn the heat to medium, add beans and cover. Steam 5-6 minutes until bright green and tender-crisp. Don’t overcook.

5. In a two-cup glass measuring cup or medium bowl, combine the oil, vinegar, shallot, mustard, salt and pepper. Whisk until oil is incorporated well. Toss the beans with vinaigrette. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Just before serving, sprinkle the salad with pomegranate seeds and toasted walnuts.

Pumpkin-Carrot Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

Pumpkin-Carrot Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting

Yield: 48 squares

Ingredients

• 2 cups whole wheat pastry flour

• 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

• 2 teaspoons baking powder

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 cup sugar

• 1/2 cup brown sugar

• 1/3 cup Earth Balance butter (or butter)

• 2 eggs

• 2 large egg whites

• 1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin pie filling

• 
2/3 cup finely shredded carrot

• Cream cheese topping:
4 ounces light cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sugar

• 
1 tablespoon skim milk

Directions

1. Pre-heat oven to 350° F. Spray a 15 x 10  pan with cooking spray.

2. In small bowl, whisk flour, pumpkin spice, baking powder, and baking soda.

3. In larger bowl, use electric mixer to beat sugar, Earth Balance, and brown sugar until crumbly. Add eggs, egg whites, pumpkin pie filling, and carrots. Beat until well blended.

4. Add flour mixture and mix until well blended. Spread onto greased pan.

5. To prepare cream cheese topping: mix together cream cheese, sugar, and milk until thoroughly blended.

6. Drop teaspoon-fulls of topping over pumpkin batter and swirl and cut mixture into batter with a butter knife.

7. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

8. Cool in pan completely on wire rack before cutting into squares.

We hope that you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving week filled with love and joy! Don’t forget about our challenge to exercise 5x per week and eat at least 3 servings of vegetables per day to Nourish in November! We will be open on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week, so come into the studio for a pre-Thanksgiving workout!

Blessings,

Team TransFit

5 Foods to Lose Body Fat & Nourish Your Body!

Sweet friends,

This month we want to encourage you to nourish your mind, body and spirit. We can nourish our bodies by making healthy food choices and giving our body the super foods and nutrients that it needs to thrive. We wanted to share with you 5 of our favorite foods to help you loose body fat and trim excess fiscal fat from your abdominals!

5 Foods to Help Trim Belly Fat

Green Tea

Green tea is one of the healthiest beverages for the body and is filled with antioxidants and plant-based compounds that can help improve your overall health. Green tea is also a great caffeine source, but it does not contain near as much as a normal cup of coffee. Some studies even show that green tea may help boost your metabolic rate and increase fat burning! Tulsi green tea is one of our favorites, and we encourage you to have a cup with breakfast or your afternoon snack this week!

Walnuts

Walnuts are the super nut! These nuts provide healthy fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals— and that’s just the beginning of what they can do for your health! Walnuts can also help reduce inflammation and support a healthy gut. Because they are calorie-dense, eating walnuts can even help control your appetite, making you feel full quicker and longer! Try our Walnut Crusted Pork Tenderloin recipe for dinner this week!

Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes are one of the best side dishes for you, and they are amazing on top of a salad or with chicken for the fall! They are packed full of Vitamin A and Vitamin C, which fight against aging and disease. Sweet potatoes also keep you full longer and can help you burn fat, while also keeping your sugar levels from spiking! Check out our recipe for Maple Roasted Sweet Potatoes and try it with your family this week!

Kale

This low calorie food is packed with nutrients that you need in your body every day! Kale is an excellent source of Vitamin C and is one of the world’s best sources of Vitamin K, which is crucial for blood clotting. Kale is also low calorie, but provides a bulk that will make you feel full! This food is a WIN! Try our recipe for a Chopped Kale Salad with Butternut Squash and Chickpeas.

Salmon

Salmon is an excellent source of protein, which is a vital component of weight loss. This food is particularly high in omega-3s, which help reduce inflammation and reduce hormones in the body. Add salmon to the top of your salad or try our recipes for Blackened Salmon Tacos or Spinach Stuffed Baked Salmon.

We would like to share a meal plan to help guide your meals through this holiday season! Did you know we have FREE MEAL PLANS available on our website. Download them HERE!

We also have a Fall Meal Plan that you can purchase for only $9.99! This meal plan was created by our registered dietitians, Kaeti Shurling and Katie Woodall and includes four weeks of meal plans, recipes and grocery lists. Download it at the link below!

It’s almost time for our Holiday Extravaganza! For those of you that have never participated, this is your year! The goal is to maintain your weight through the holiday season! The cost is $20 to participate. Weigh-ins will begin the week of November 12-16.

If you maintain your weight, you get your entry money back in January when you come back to weigh-in! If you gain weight, your money stays in the bucket! At the end of the holiday season, we will re-weigh and the biggest loser gets to keep ALL of the leftover money! The top-five finishers will also receive a gift!

Join us in the studio for a session! We have TWO yoga classes to help you nourish your mind body and spirit. Come join our new instructor, Emily Deitz on Mondays at 5:30 p.m. or Caroline on Fridays at 9:30 a.m.

This 55-minute yoga session will increase flexibility and core strength. The postures are connected through the breath for a transformative and balancing effect. The yoga session will burn fat, increase endurance, flexibility and strength. The session will inspire you physically and mentally to live transformed in mind, body and spirit.

Sign up for the session on our app at the link below!

Please let us know how we can encourage you and help you reach your goals! Please email us if you have any questions or if you would like to schedule a one-on-one session or an appointment with one of our nutritionists at transfitathens@gmail.com.

Blessings,

Team TransFit

5 Halloween Recipes to Help Curb Your Sugar Cravings!

Sweet friends,

Halloween is one of the most fun holidays of the year as we dress up and spend time with our family and friends! But with all of that fun, comes a lot of temptations to eat sweet treats and candy. Don’t worry! We have some healthy recipes that you can eat before you take your kids trick-or-treating that will help curb some of those sugary cravings and some healthy Halloween treats that you can your family can all enjoy!

Try our White Chicken Chili recipe or our Kale Apple Salad recipe for Halloween dinner to help fill you up so you don’t want to reach for sweet treats!

White Chicken Chili

White Chicken Chili

Yields: 6 servings

Ingredients

• 1 32-ounce box chicken stock(organic)

• 3 cans white beans, left undrained  (use all different types to add variety)

• 5 cups cooked chicken (rotisserie or boiled)

• 1 16-ounce jar salsa(use fresh salsa-- this the key)

• 1 8-ounce block pepper jack cheese, grated

• 2 teaspoon ground cumin

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• Black or white pepper to taste

• 1/2 cup finely crushed corn chips (optional, if you like your chili thicker)

• Sour cream, for garnish

Directions

• Place all ingredients except the corn chips in a crockpot. Cook on high until the cheese is melted.

• Chili may also be cooked on the stovetop over medium-high heat until cheese is melted.

• When the chili is ready, add the crushed corn chips, if using, and simmer for 10 minutes to thicken. Garnish with more chips, cheese and/or sour cream and serve.

Kale Apple Salad

Kale Apple Salad

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar

• 1 teaspoon lemon juice, freshly squeezed

• 6 cups kale, torn, and big ribs removed and discarded

• 1/2 apple, cut into thin, 1" pieces

• 1/3 cup walnuts, chopped and lightly toasted

• 2 tablespoons goat cheese

• 1/4 cup cranberries

Directions

• In a small jar, combine the olive oil, vinegar and lemon juice. Secure the lid and shake vigorously to combine.

• Place the kale leaves in a large salad bowl. Pour and massage the olive oil mixture into the leaves with your hands.

• Throw the apples, walnuts, goat cheese and cranberries on top of the kale and lightly toss to combine.

These three fun, Halloween-inspired treats are perfect for the entire family!

Monster Mouths

Monster Mouths

Ingredients

• Apples

• Lemon Juice

• Peanut Butter

• Almonds, peeled

Directions

• Slice the apples into pieces that look like lips (just a standard slice will work)

• Place the sliced apples in a bowl or lemon water for about 10-15 minutes so they don’t brown.

• Heavily spread peanut butter on top of each apple slice.

• Stick the “teeth” into the peanut butter of one apple slice.

• Place an apple slice without teeth on top.

Jack-O-Lantern Juice Smoothie

Jack-O-Lantern Juice Smoothie

Ingredients

• 1 cup almond milk

• 1 cup frozen peaches

• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree

• Handful of carrots

• 1 serving vanilla protein powder or Greek yogurt

• 1/2 frozen banana

• 1 tbsp flax seed

• Crushed ice

• Honey to taste

  Directions

• Blend until smooth in the blender! Enjoy!

Frightening Fruits

Ingredients

• Bananas

• Chocolate chips

• Clementines

• Celery

Directions

• For the ghosts, take each banana and slice in half. Add a chocolate chip for the mouth. If you have mini chocolate chips, use these for the eyes. If not, slice a regularly sized chocolate chip in half.

• For the pumpkins, peel each clementine, making sure to keep the segments together. Cut small pieces of celery and use these as stems.

Have a happy, healthy and safe Halloween with your kids! If you are coming to a session at the studio on Wednesday, please dress in a costume! As we finish Optimism in October, let’s

This week is the LAST week of the Outdoor Runner’s Group! Come join personal trainer and running coach, Lisa Patton on Wednesday, October 31st for the last session of the year! You can sign up on our app HERE or on our website below!

We challenged you to be active and stretch every day in October! Below is a handout to give you ideas for stretches that you can do at home. As we finish out the month, don’t forget to keep filling out your calendars for Optimism in October! Send us or bring in your calendar for a chance to win a FREE MONTH of sessions!

Happy Halloween! Please email us if you have any questions or would like to set up a nutrition or one-on-one session at transfitathens@gmail.com. We can’t wait to see you in the studio!

Blessings,

Team TransFit

Three New Fall Recipes You NEED To Try!

Sweet friends,

It’s October, which means it’s officially FALL— FINALLY! Bring on that cooler weather! It also means it’s time for new healthier, delicious fall recipes! We are so excited to share some of our favorites with you! Approved by our TransFit Nutritionists.

You and your entire family can enjoy these recipes, and fall is a great time to encourage your kids to help out in the kitchen! It’s a win for everyone!

Porter’s Favorite Pumpkin Bread

Porter’s Favorite Pumpkin Bread

Ingredients:

• 1 cup light brown sugar

• 2 large egg whites

• 1 cup pure pumpkin

• 1/2 cup canola oil (or substitute coconut oil)

• 1/3 cup low-fat plain yogurt (I used 2% organic Greek yogurt)

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 1 cup all-purpose flour

• 3/4 cup whole wheat flour

• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder

• 1 tsp ground cinnamon

• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

• 1/2 tsp baking soda

• 1/2 tsp salt

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

• Spray metal loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray with flour.

• In large bowl, combine brown sugar and egg whites.

• Add pumpkin, oil, yogurt and vanilla extract, and stir to combine.

• In medium bowl, combine all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda and salt.

• Add flour mixture to pumpkin mixture, and stir until just combined (don’t overmix!)

• Pour batter into prepared pan.

• Bake 45 to 50 minutes. Cool in pan for 10 minutes.

• Invert pumpkin bread onto wire rack. Cool completely.

Pumpkin Turkey Chili

Pumpkin Turkey Chili

Ingredients:

• 2 lb. 99% lean ground turkey breast

• 3 15 oz. cans of great northern beans, or kidney beans

• 1 15 oz. cans of pumpkin puree

• 1 onion, chopped

• 3 cloves of garlic, minced

• 1/2 tbsp chili powder

• 1 tbsp oregano

• 1 tsp black pepper

• 2-3 cups of low sodium chicken broth

• 1 tsp olive oil

• Salt to taste

Instructions:

• Spray a large frying pan with oil, and over medium, cook the turkey, onion and garlic for about 4-5 minutes or until mostly white.

• Pour into large pot or crock pot the beans, pumpkin, peppers, spices and broth.

• Mix in the pot and let simmer or crockpot and set on LOW for 8 hours or HIGH for 4 hours.

• Garnish with avocado, greek yogurt, cilantro and salsa! Enjoy!

Apple Cinnamon Energy Bites

Apple Cinnamon Energy Bites

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cup oats

• 3/4 cup organic creamy nut butter of choice

• 3/4 cup honey crisp apples, grated, small

• 1/3 cup finely chopped walnuts or pecans

• 1/3 cup ground flax seed

• 1/3 cup local honey

• 1 tsp vanilla extract

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• 2 tbsp Chia seeds

• 1/3 cup chocolate chips

  ** optional

  Instructions:

• Stir all ingredients together in a bowl until combined.

• Cover and chill in a bowl 30 minutes.

• Roll into 1 inch balls. Store in an airtight container! Enjoy!

Need more great fall recipes? We are offering a NEW Fall Meal Plan for only $9.99! The plan was created by our registered dietitians, Katie Woodall and Kaeti Shurling and includes four weeks of meal plans, grocery lists and recipes!

If you would like to set up an appointment with our registered dietitians or nutritionists, please feel free to email us at transfitathens@gmail.com. We can’t wait to encourage you this week as you commit to your health!

Blessings,

Team TransFit

Curb Your Sugar Cravings With These 5 Tips!

Sweet friends,

We are halfway through our TransFive 5-Day No Sugar Challenge! You’re almost there, and we are so proud of you! In the challenge, we are reviving our body, mind and spirit by eliminating sugar! The eBook includes a meal plan, recipes, tips, a getting started guide, daily inspiration and more! It’s not too late to join the challenge! Download our FREE eBook below!

As we know, eating refined and processed sugar can have a negative impact on your health! As we reach the halfway point of our TransFive No Sugar Challenge this week, you may be starting to crave sugar and being tempted to reach for that pack of candy! Be STRONG! Here are three tips to satisfy your sweet tooth and curb those sugar cravings this week!

1. Brush your teeth

   Brushing your teeth can help stop those sugar cravings! Not only will you have fresh breath, but you won’t want to eat any sugar after brushing!

   2. Drink hot tea

   Drinking hot tea can not only help you curb your sugar cravings, but it can also help fill you up. If you’re reaching for sugar for a boost of energy, grab some green tea! You can also try mint tea, lemon balm tea or carob tea.

   3. Chew sugar-free gum

   Chewing sugar-free gum is a great way to stop those sugar cravings! Step out of your comfort zone, and break that habit! Instead of reaching for that piece of chocolate or sweet treat after dinner, pop in a piece of sugar free gum!

   4. Reach for fruit

   Grab some fruit when you are tempted by sugar cravings! Sugar is a source of natural sugar and will keep you from reaching for processed sugar while also giving your great fiber and nutrients. You can eat raw fruits, put fruits in your morning smoothie or infuse your water by adding a few berries to stop cravings!

   We have great smoothie recipes in our TransFive No Sugar Challenge eBook! It’s not too late to join us! Download it HERE.

   5. Go for a walk

   When you start craving sugar, go for a walk around the neighborhood or get a change of scenery to keep your mind off the sugar that you are craving. Not only will this curb your sugar craving, but it will help you reach your daily goal of exercise! It’s a win-win!

You can do this! You’ve already made it halfway through the challenge, and we are so proud of you! Please reach out to us to tell us how you are doing with the challenge at transfitathens@gmail.com and use the hashtag #TransFit5 on social media!

If you have any questions or would like to set up an appointment with one of our registered dietitians, please email us at transfitathens@gmail.com. You can also sign up for sessions on our app HERE and our website HERE!

Blessings,

Team TransFit

Your 5 Day Plan to Transform Your Nutrition!

Sweet friends,

What an amazing month celebrating strength in September! We’re gearing up for our last full week of the month, and our team would like to challenge you to strengthen your nutrition!

Nope, we’re not talking about bicep curls using cans of black beans (although we should try that!) We’re talking about committing to better nutrition just as we commit to our workouts!

So, what exactly are we committing to? Five consecutive days of no sugar! That’s not even a full week — just five days!

As your personal trainers and nutritionists, we know the effort you put into each workout! We see the sweat and the hard work you put into every single rep. We want you to feel just as good on the inside!

For this 5-day challenge, we encourage you to reach for clean, unprocessed foods, and carefully choose wholesome foods that will fuel your body without any added sugars!

Of course, you can eat fruit or foods that naturally contain sugar. But for five days, avoid processed foods that contain any form of sugar in its ingredients!

If you’re already wondering how you can manage this or you’re feeling like this is way out of your comfort zone, remember — it wouldn’t be a “challenge” if it didn’t challenge you!

Let’s remember the second part of our September theme: Stronger Together! So ladies, remember that we’re taking this challenge with you! We’re right alongside of you, cheering for you as always!

The first thing we want you to do is pick up your phone and text or email a friend, family member or one of us at TransFit. Let someone know that you’re taking the challenge for extra accountability! We believe in you and know that accountability is KEY!

5-Day Challenge Steps to Success

1. Clean out.

Take a few minutes over the weekend to clean out your pantry and fridge. Get rid of any foods that might be a temptation. 

2. Plan.

It’s hard to be successful without a plan, and we made it easy for you — follow this link to download our 5-day challenge meal plan. Every meal, including snacks, are already planned for you! The dinners are quick and family-friendly. Simply print it out and keep it posted on your fridge! Extra accountability, right?

3. Prepare.

We made this step easy for you, too! Along with your meal plan, we’ve included a grocery shopping list! Once your shopping is done, take a few minutes on Sunday to wash and cut up any produce you’ll need for snacks and salads. You can also prepare a few salads so they’re ready to grab and go!

Adjust your meal plan to fit your family’s activity schedule. We understand that fall schedules are full of sports and other after-school activities. If you know that a particular night is super late, plan accordingly by preparing your salad or meal in a to-go container so you avoid a late-night drive thru. You can also pack a cooler of healthy snack options!

4. Keep moving.

Stay on track with your exercise goals during the challenge! If you feel hungry between meal times, take a short walk to get your mind off food. Most likely, you’ll forget about being hungry and you’ll gain some extra steps. 

5. Stay hydrated.

Keep a water bottle with you at all times! Drink at least 1 cup of water as soon as you wake. And drink 1-2 glasses of water before meals to help keep you feeling full. Your goal during the challenge is 100 ounces of water each day! If 100 sounds like a lot, break it into smaller water goals — 25 ounces before 10:00 am and at least 50 ounces before lunch.

Don’t forget about our lunch and learn/service project coming up this week on Wednesday, September 26 from 12-1! We can’t wait to SERVE with you!

We believe in YOU! And we are so proud of you for working hard during September! Let’s take this 5-day challenge, one day at a time — and remember, we’re stronger together!

If you have any questions about this challenge or want to set up an appointment with one of our nutritionists, feel free to email us at transfitathens@gmail.com. We can’t wait to be #StrongerTogether!

Blessings,

Team TransFit

High-Protein Salad You NEED To Try!

Sweet friends,

We can't believe August is almost over! This month, we focused on COMMITTING, whether in our exercise, our nutrition or our spiritual journey. It's been a great month at the studio and we want to encourage you to finish the month STRONG and COMMITTED to our goals and dreams!

REMINDER: Our challenge this week is to incorporate high protein snacks in our daily nutrition plan!

Here are some great suggestions of snacks that you can take with you on the go in your busy schedule this week!

Here is a salad full of protein you can try at home this week with your family to stay committed to your nutrition!

Southwestern Salad

Ingredients

• 1/2 ripe avocado
• 1/2 cup packed fresh cilantro
• 1/2 cup nonfat plain yogurt
• 2 scallions, chopped (optional)
• 1 clove garlic, quartered
• 1 tablespoon lime juice
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3 cups mixed greens
• 1/2 cup black beans, canned (rinsed) or cooked
• 1/2 cup corn kernels, fresh or frozen 
• 1/2 cup grape tomatoes
• 1/4 cup edamame

Instructions

1. Place avocado, cilantro, yogurt, scallions, garlic, lime juice, oil, and salt in a blender; blend until smooth.

2. Place greens in an individual salad bowl; toss with 2 tablespoons of the dressing. (Refrigerate the remaining dressing.) Top the greens with black beans, corn, edamame and tomatoes. Sprinkle with a touch of Mexican cheese! 

Blessings,

Team TransFit

Are you ready for a Nutrition Challenge You CAN do this week?

Good morning, sweet friends,

 Today is the day! You are ready for a new nutrition challenge! This month, we are focusing on COMMITTING each day to our whole body health plan! Let's focus this week how we can commit to our health by making some changes with our nutrition! 

YOUR CHALLENGE THIS WEEK: ADD IN HIGH QUALITY PROTEIN SNACKS!

One new way you could COMMIT this week is to increase the amount of high-quality protein that you include in your daily nutrition plan! Protein is an essential food for repairing muscle tissue and keeping you feeling full longer. Replace processed foods with quality protein and you will feel the difference. A great way to incorporate this essential protein in your diet is to include it in the snacks that you eat throughout the day! High protein snacks (15-20  grams) should be consumed 30-45 minutes after workouts for maximum muscle building and repair benefits. They can also be consumed as a snack throughout the day to fight cravings and to help manage weight. Below are some suggestions of snacks that you can take on the go during your busy schedule. COMMIT to incorporating a few of these snacks in your diet this week!

Here are some of our dietitian, Kaeti Shurling's favorites:

• 1/4 cup of nuts (cashews are a great option!)
• 1/2 cup of trail mix
• 1 cheese stick
• 4 oz of low fat cottage cheese
• 1 hard boiled egg
• 1 cup of plain Greek yogurt with slivered almonds
• 1/2 cup of cooked Edamame
• Koia drinks
• 1/2 cup of chickpeas
• 1/2 cup of black beans
• 3 oz of tuna
• Kind Bars (under 5 grams of sugar)
• 2 tbsp of peanut butter
• Turkey roll-ups
• Rice cake layered with nut butter and chopped walnuts

Here is a homemade protein bar that you can make this week and also store to take with you on the go!

Homemade Protein Bar (Approximately 180-220 calories, 15-20g protein)

Ingredients:

• 2 & 1/2 cups whole grain oats
• 1/2 cup natural creamy peanut butter
• 4 scoops vanilla protein powder
• 1/2 cup unsweetened almond milk
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 tsp cinnamon

Directions:

1. Line a 8x8 dish with wax paper

2. Mix all ingredients by hand

3. Press mixture down into dish, using a spatula to flatten

4. Freeze for 30 minutes. Cut into six or eight bars. Refrigerate. Enjoy!

Try out these great high protein snacks and COMMIT to your healthy lifestyle with a delicious, higher protein nutrition plan!

High Protein Trail Mix

• 1 cup lightly salted almonds
• 1 cup lightly salted walnuts
• 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
• 1 cup dried cranberries or blueberries
• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips (leave chocolate chips out if you will be outdoors) 
• 1 tsp. sea salt
• 1 tsp. cinnamon

**For nut allergies, replace the almonds and walnuts with pumpkin seeds & sunflower seeds!

You can always toast the nuts in the oven at 450 degrees for 3-5 minutes first to bring out a rich flavor then toss with favorite mix-ins.

Let the family measure and mix and have fun playing with your favorite combinations. Place 1/4 cup into snack bags and keep in your snack basket! 

We are excited to see you this week to help you reach your goals!

Blessings,

Team TransFit

COMMIT to Your Nutrition- FREE Back to School Meal Plan!

Hey, sweet friends!

What an awesome start to August this week in the studio! We are so excited you are COMMITTING to your whole body health this August! Let's reset, recharge, and stay focused to make August our best month, yet!

A lot of you have young ones starting back to school over the next couple weeks, and just like you all, we are ready to get back into our routine of healthy lunches and dinners! Sometimes, though, the thought of planning out meals might seem overwhelming to you. That’s why we’re going to help you jump back into this school year one step ahead! We want to serve you, amazing friend! 

TransFit Nutrition Consultant, Katie Woodall & Dietitian Kaeti Shurling are sharing a full week's meal plan with you (on the TRANSFORM section of the website or click HERE), so your meals and workouts are already planned out for you and your family! Wahoo! A week’s worth of family-friendly meals with recipes are laid out for you to help make this transition back to school a smooth one! We’re even giving you a shopping list so you can breeze your way through the grocery aisles!

A new school year is a great time to get your kids to try some new healthy foods! But let’s not get crazy — remember we have to ease them into it, right? Let’s be real. Most kids could eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich every single day (or is that just mine?) Give yourself and your kiddos some grace but set a goal to some new healthier recipes this month.  We are here to help any way you need to get your family back on track.

In addition to our meal plan, we want to provide 5 packing items that you should include in your child's lunch for school! These five items allow you to ensure that your child is getting in their nutrition needs for the day! 

1. Protein. 

The protein doesn’t have to come from meat! Sure you can roll up a couple slices of deli meat, like roast beef, turkey, chicken or ham, but try a variety of protein sources — like a cheese stick (or shredded cheese as my child prefers!), yogurt (just look for low-sugar kinds and resist any artificial sweeteners). You can use different nuts or nut butter (great for dipping, too), beans, hummus or hard-boiled eggs.

2. Whole grains.

Buy whole grains when you can, like whole wheat bread or pasta. Substitute two slices of bread with a whole grain wrap. Add in some whole grain crackers for dipping. You can also try the 1/2 and 1/2 trick for a while to help transition your kids to whole wheat!

3. Colorful fruits and vegetables.

This is a great way to add in fiber and antioxidants. Whole pieces of fruit are great — apples, bananas, oranges, or get creative with the mini fruit kabobs using grapes and berries. Slice up veggies, like a bright red bell pepper or celery. Along with carrots, these vegetables are great for dipping so include a container with a yogurt-based Ranch dressing, fresh salsa, hummus or even guacamole!

4. Sweet and salty snacks. 

Mix up a healthy trail mix, or include raw nuts, dried fruits or pretzels. You can freeze tubes of yogurt for a cool treat. Enlist your child’s help over the weekend to prepare homemade energy balls or granola bars for their lunches, too.

5. Hydration.

Pack a mini-bottled water or an organic low-fat milk. When you can, avoid fruit juices. Stick to whole fruit options in their lunchbox to avoid any added sugars.

Use this lunchbox prep time as a chance to connect with your children! Take time to ask them about school or their friendships. Encourage them, and of course, use this opportunity to talk about why we choose healthy, nutritious foods!

And remember, you’re setting an example for your family! These little ones are watching you — taking a little extra time to prepare for the week can be a way of showing your family that you’re honoring your body with healthy foods at lunchtime, too!

Reflect on our verse for this month: Proverbs 16:3 says, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans.” Just like your workouts, commit to planning healthy lunches and dinner for your family. We believe in YOU! If you would like to meet with our Nutrition Consultants or Registered Dietitian to help you with a plan for feeling your best please email us!

In addition, our middle school (5-8th grade sessions and our 4th grade sessions) will begin THIS Wednesday! We hope that your school year will be off to a great start! We are praying for each of you as the school year begins! 

Love & Blessings, 

Team TransFit

Tips to Make The Second Half of 2018 Your Best!

Clean slate, yes, it's Sunday! Let today be a fresh start for YOU! You can make the 2nd half of 2018 your best! Today, shift your thoughts... focus on being thankful for the body that you have and set a new goal (or two) to ensure you are treating your body with care and respect! Write this goal down, put the goal as a reminder in your phone, and tell a friend- that is how you make your goals become reality! 

One new goal could be to increase the amount of high-quality protein that you include in your daily nutrition plan!  Protein is an essential food for repairing muscle tissue,  building and toning muscles, and for keeping you feeling full for longer. High protein snacks should be consumed after 30-45 minutes after workouts for maximum muscle building and repair benefits and should be consumed as a snacks during the day to fight cravings and help manage weight.

Here are some of our Dietitian, Kaeti Shurling's,  favorites:

• 1 hard-boiled egg- 8g

• 1/2 cup chickpeas- 18g

• 1/2 cup cashews- 16g

• 3 oz of tuna- 25g

Try out these great high protein snacks and start your healthy lifestyle with a delicious, higher protein nutrition plan!

Here is a high protein healthy popsicle to try this week! 

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cup – strawberries

• 1 1/4 cup – coconut water

• 1 teaspoon – honey

• 4 teaspoon – chia seeds

• 1 1/2 cup pieces – mango

Directions:
Puree strawberries (fresh or frozen) with half of the coconut water in a blender or food processor. Taste the mixture and blend in honey to desired sweetness, if needed. Stir in 2 teaspoons of chia seeds. Set aside. Puree mango (fresh or frozen) with the other half of the coconut water in a blender or food processor. Taste the mixture and blend in honey to desired sweetness, if needed. Stir in the remaining 2 teaspoons of chia seeds. Alternately pour each fruit mixture (for a marbled look) into popsicle molds and freeze until set. Makes 10 (3 ounces) popsicles. If you have an Ice Pop Maker let it freeze for 45 minutes and then add wooden sticks so they stay in place better and the lid will come off easier.

Additionally, here is one of our favorite workouts you can try today! Add this workout to your week and then enjoy a high protein popsicle after! Let's do it, ladies! 

We hope that this second half of 2018 is your best! We believe in YOU! Let us know what your goals are for the second half of the year. We want to encourage you, as you prepare for a great rest of 2018! If you would like to schedule a 1-1 appointment for nutrition or personal training, you can purchase a package on our FREE app or website, or you can email us at transfitathens@gmail.com. 

If you have any questions, please email us at transfitathens@gmail.com. 

Blessings, 

Team TransFit

Healthy Gut = Healthy YOU!

So many great questions about probiotics this month. Gut health is one important part of whole body health. Did you know most diseases begin in the gut? 90% of our cells are bacteria cells and 10% are human cells. Thousands of species of bacteria all have different functions. Some of the bacteria digest foods, some produce different vitamins and hormones, some respond to medicines and infections, some control your blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and some control your risk for obesity or diabetes. These bacteria control almost every process in your body! 

Our brain and gut are connected through the enteric nervous system. The belly and brain are connected physically and biochemically. What does this really mean? The types of bacteria in our gut controls the way we think, behave, and feel.  Your gut health is vitally important in your transformation journey. 

Let's make a new goal this month to maintain a healthy balance of good and bad bacteria in the gut. There are many reasons how the delicate balance of a healthy gut is compromised. We eat diets of sugar, processed foods, and alcohol. We consume antibiotics and have too much stress. These areas create an imbalance causing the bad bacteria to shift from a single cell of yeast into a mycelial fungus. Thus, causing gut diseases and other problems in our bodies.

So what can we do to keep it balanced and try to regain gut health?

• Cutting back on sugar, processed foods, antibiotics, NSAIDS, steroids, and synthetic hormones

• Cut back on stress. Stress is harmful to our health and is actually the second cause of unbalanced gut flora. Take more deep breathes and use exercise to de-stress.

• Read food labels to decrease added sugar and processed foods

• Eat whole, live, raw foods

• Supplement with a quality probiotic (kombucha, supplement, fermented foods)

The colon (gut) has at least 500 different kinds of bacteria! One of the bacteria is the bifidobacteria making up the majority of the "good" bacteria that is in your gut. This good bacteria is benefited by the intake of probiotics.

Probiotics can help your digestive tract and help take up space in your stomach that could be taken over by a less healthful product or organism. Probiotics can be found in foods that have live and active cultures. A great source of probiotics is found in yogurt, kefir, Kombucha, and sauerkraut.

It is important to choose yogurt products that are made with milk from cows that eat organic food. Additionally, try to choose yogurt or kefir that does not have any added sugars, colors, or flavors that have been added by heat after that was fermented. The best way to know if you are choosing yogurt that has the probiotics you need is to see if it has the LAC seal, standing for Live and Active Cultures. We encourage you to add more probiotics into your diet and then help the probiotics by eating more fiber, too!

Fiber is important for overall health, but it is found that around 90% of Americans do not meet the recommendation for dietary fiber. Women should work to eat 25 grams per day and studies encourage you to have 40-50 grams of fiber, in order to have optimal gut health. Adding fiber and probiotics to your diet can help the number of probiotics in your colon, this will improve your health.

Here are some fiber-filled foods you can add to your diet! 

• Avocado- 1/2 cup serving size with 8 grams of fiber

• Raspberries- 1 cup serving size with 8 grams of fiber

• Lentils, cooked- 1 cup serving size with 15.6 grams of fiber

• Black beans, cooked- 1 cup serving size with 15 grams of fiber

In addition to your dietary needs, it is important to focus on your exercise, time spent resting, and the amount of sleep you get each night. As you know, exercise is such an important part of whole body health. Regular exercise can help you have a greater diversity of bacteria in your stomach. Also, we forget that rest is needed for whole body health. Stress can add to the amount of adrenalin your body gives off and therefore speeds up everything occurring in your body. As a result, adrenalin can cause your food to pass through too quickly and can lead to a negative impact on your stomach's health. Take time each day to check in with your exercise and rest balance. 

Here are some great recipes that will add in more probiotics and fiber to your meals! 

Flora-Flourishing Meal in a Jar

• 1/2 cup Greek yogurt

• 1/2 cup plain Kefir

• 1 teaspoon real maple syrup

• 2 tablespoons whole grain oats

• 1 tablespoon chia seeds

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, plus additional for sprinkling

• 1/2 cup frozen mixed berries

• 1 tablespoon sliced almonds or nut of choice

In a mason jar or bowl, combine yogurt, Kefir, syrup, oats, chia seeds, and ground cinnamon. Let stand 5 minutes.  Top with frozen mixed berries in jar or layer the mixture. Sprinkle with cinnamon and top with almonds. Refrigerate overnight or up to two days. 

Farro & Black Bean Salad

• 1 cup of farro, cooked according to package directions

• 1 15-oz. can black beans, rinsed

• 1/2 cup corn or edamame, (thawed if frozen)

• 1 roasted red bell pepper (from jar), diced

• 2 large garlic cloves, peeled and minced (about 3/4 teaspoon)

• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro or Italian parsley

• 1 tablespoon red-wine vinegar

• 2-3 tablespoons lemon juice

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

• Salt & freshly ground pepper, to taste

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl. Stir gently to combine! Enjoy! 

Try to add fiber and probiotics to your diet this week. You can do it! If you would like to meet with our nutrition consultant, Katie Woodall, or Registered Dietitian, Kaeti Shurling please email us at transfitathens@gmail.com to set up a 1-1, 30-minute session or 55-minute. This 1-1 session will allow you to talk about you specific nutrition, meal planning, give you new recipes to try, and a plan to succeed! Let's finish this week strong! Let us know if you have any questions! 

Blessings, 

Team TransFit 

Happy 4th of July! 🇺🇸

Happy 4th of July! ☀️

This month we are challenging you to finish this summer strong! Below we have a pushup challenge we would love for you to be apart of with us! Download the calendar and start crossing off each day. We are stronger together! If you haven’t downloaded our Summer Transformation Challenge, it’s not too late!! Scroll down and download it and get started today. We’re here to help and encourage you throughout your summer transformation! This month we’re going to dive deeper in everything we do and focus on the fact that by grace we have saved through faith! That’s when we have freedom & true peace! On the 4th we are especially thankful for the freedom of our country! We live in a place where freedom is offered day after day because of the sacrifice of others. We are so thankful for the men & women who serve our country bravely and with honor. Let's lift up these amazing hero's in prayer as we celebrate this 4th of July. 

Client Spotlight: The Dean Family🦋⁣

We are so proud of our amazing clients Kelli, Kendall, and Avery Dean for all their hard work and dedication! 💪🏻 What a treat to inspire all these amazing young women! They have been working out strong together virtually almost daily. The other day in HIIT, we could tell they loved the boxing round!!⁣ 🥊 Two of Kelli’s favorite exercises are curtsey lunges and deadlifts! If you’ve been in TransFit over the past 2 months or so, then you know we love these exercises too! They are great if you want to target your glutes and thighs, and there are so many different variations!

⠀⁣Below we’ve attached one of her favorite recipes for the family!! This recipe will get you and your family in the spirit to celebrate the 4th of July!! 🎆

FoodieCrush’s Greek Turkey Burgers with Tzatziki Sauce

Ingredients

For the Turkey Burgers:

• 1 pound ground turkey

• ½ cup fresh spinach leaves , chopped

• ⅓ cup sun-dried tomatoes , chopped

• 1/4 cup red onion , minced

• ¼ cup feta cheese , crumbled

• 2 cloves garlic , pressed or minced

• 1 egg , whisked

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1 teaspoon dried oregano

• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

• 4 soft whole-wheat hamburger buns

• Bibb lettuce leaves

• Sliced red onion

For the Tzatziki Sauce:

• ½ cucumber , halved with skin and seeds removed

• 3/4 cup low-fat plain Greek yogurt

• 2 cloves garlic , pressed or minced

• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

• 1 tablespoon fresh dill , minced

• Pinch of kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, add the ground turkey, spinach, sun-dried tomatoes, red onion and feta. In a small bowl, whisk together the garlic, egg, olive oil and dried oregano and kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper then pour over the turkey and mix with your hands to combine.

2. Divide the burger mixture into 4 portions and mold into patties. Place on a cutting board or plate dividing the patties with parchment paper and refrigerated for 30 minutes up to overnight. You could also individually freeze the patties at this point for up to 3 months.

3. Prepare the tzatziki sauce by grating the cucumber. Gather the cucumber together and place in a paper towel and press the water out of the shredded cucumber and place in a medium size bowl. Add the yogurt, garlic, red wine vinegar, fresh dill, kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes or up to 3 days.

4. Heat a non-stick grill pan over medium heat and spray well with cooking spray.

5. Place the turkey burgers on the grill, cover with an upside down sheet pan or lid and cook for about 5 minutes per side. Be sure to watch the burgers and monitor your heat as the burgers will brown quickly if the heat is too high.

6. Slather buns with tzatziki sauce and garnish with lettuce leaves and red onion. Or serve bunless in the bibb lettuce leaves.

Quick 4th of July HIIT Workout for the Whole Family!

If you need our TransFit staff to be praying for YOU, please email us your prayer requests. We are a family and want you to feel loved and supported.

We look forward to "seeing" you virtually from HOME OR in the studio!   

Check out our website for more blogs, inspiration, recipes, workouts, and more!

Let us know how we can serve you! Email us at transfitathens@gmail.com if you have any questions or want to schedule a one-on-one for workout or prayer.

Blessings,
 

Caroline and Team TransFit

Transformation Tuesday- NEW Recipes You Need to Transform Your Nutrition!

Sweet friends,

Summer can be extremely busy with schedules changing every day! We all know how difficult it can be to prepare, in advance, healthy meals and snacks! Just like with everyday life, preparation is key! Planning ahead, even in the summertime, can help you reach your nutrition goals and help you achieve the body, mind, and spirit transformation you desire! Check out two of our new, favorite recipes! You are going to LOVE THEM! 

Summer Peach Salad

Total Time- 20 mins

Fresh peaches make the perfect easy summer salad. Pecans and a light honey vinaigrette drizzled on top make this the most incredible salad.

Serves: 6

Ingredients

• 5 ounces  Arugula or Mixed Greens
• 1-2 Peaches, sliced thin
• 1 Nectarine, sliced thin
• 8 ounces Fresh Mozzarella
• ½ cup Pecans, chopped in half

Honey Vinaigrette:

• ⅓ cup Olive Oil
• 3 Tablespoons White Wine Vinegar (or balsamic)
• 2 Tablespoons Honey
• ½  teaspoon Salt
• Pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Toast Pecans in oven 425 – 2-3 minutes
2. In a small bowl, whisk olive oil, vinegar, honey, and salt to taste.
3. On large platter or bowl, place greens, peaches, nectarine, fresh mozzarella, and pecans. Sprinkle sea salt over fresh mozzarella. Serve with honey vinaigrette. Enjoy! Add grilled chicken or salmon to make a complete meal.

Classic Gazpacho

Loaded with tomatoes, cucumbers, red peppers, shallots, tomatoes, olive oil and sherry vinegar a delicious chilled soup. Low-carb, gluten free, dairy free, and Paleo friendly!

Servings: 10 servings

Calories: est 200 

Ingredients

• 3 1/2 pounds ripe tomatoes 
• 2 red peppers, seeds, veins and stem removed
• 2 large shallots, skin removed, minced
• 2 large garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1 large English cucumber, skin and seeds removed
• 3 jalapeños, seeds, veins and stem removed (1 for garnish to taste)
• 1/4 cup sherry vinegar
• 1 teaspoon Tabasco (and more to taste)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 2 avocados for garnish
• 1/3 cup cilantro for garnish
• 2 green onions for garnish

Instructions

1. Wash, dry and remove the core of each tomato. Over a mesh colander with a large bowl underneath, use a spoon and scoop out the meat of the tomato, leaving the skin and flesh intact. Make sure all the juice, seeds and meat go into the colander. Set the hollowed out tomato aside.

2. Make sure the tomato seeds are removed from the meat, then put the tomato pieces into a food processor (or blender).

3. Using a spatula press, stir, and work to get all the juice through the colander, leaving the seeds behind. Discard the seeds and add the juice (should be about 11/2 cups) to the food processor or blender.

4. Add half of one chopped red pepper, half of one chopped shallot, 2 minced garlic cloves, and 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, and tabasco to the food processor. Blend until completely smooth. Pour this liquid into a large bowl and set aside

5. Finely chop the rest of the shallots and red pepper, jalapeno, cucumber, and tomato skin with flesh. Add to the bowl of tomato liquid, then stir in sherry vinegar, salt, and pepper. Place in the fridge and let chill at least 2 hours (longer would be better) before eating.

6. Meanwhile, finely chop the jalapeno, green onions, and parsley for garnish and refrigerate until soup is ready to serve. Slice and dice the avocado for garnish right before serving.  ENJOY!

If you would like to set up a session with our Nutrition Consultant, Katie Woodall, or Registered Dietitian, Kaeti Shurling, to discuss your personal nutrition plan you can purchase a consultation or package on our website HERE or email us at transfitathens@gmail.com for more information!  You can also find FREE meal plans on our website HERE! 

Try these recipes sometime this week! Remember to email us at the end of the week with your June Squat Challenge calendars! You could be entered to win a MONTH of FREE SESSIONS! We are so proud of you and the way you have committed to living transformed this summer! 

If you have any questions, please email us at transfitathens@gmail.com. 

Blessings,

Team TransFit  

How to Live Transformed on Vacation! 5 Tips You Can Take ANYWHERE!

Friends, it’s sweet summertime! The kids are out of school and that much-anticipated summer vacation has finally arrived! Each of you has worked so hard in the studio toward your summer fitness goals. Thank you for giving your best! 

Just because you’re traveling and away from your normal daily routine, doesn’t mean you must compromise good nutrition and exercise! You’ve put in too many hours of strength training and cardio sessions to throw it all away! Right?!

You want to feel your best before, during and after your vacation! We want to help you enjoy your vacation and come home feeling relaxed and refreshed — instead of feeling guilty or like you’ve blown your transformation goals!

Just like with everyday life, preparation is key! Planning ahead can help you avoid any slip-ups with your goals and your whole body transformation! So let us help you with 5 simple strategies for Living Transformed when you’re on vacation!

1. Pack smart!

First things first, grab your workout gear! Throw your tennis shoes and exercise clothes into your suitcase. Take your tennis racket if courts will be available. Bring a resistance band or an ankle band! 

Pack your favorite healthy snacks. Lots of fruit, nuts and protein bars. Apples and oranges are easy to throw into your carry-on luggage or purse. Pick up a box of the 100-calorie packs of raw nuts. On-the-go packs of roasted edamame can also be found at your local grocery store. And protein bars are an easy snack to pack — just remember to check the nutrition labels and pick bars with 5 grams or less of sugar!

Also, consider packing a shaker bottle and a few servings of protein powder. You can portion out individual servings in snack-sized Ziplock bags. Or Blender Bottle has a shaker bottle that comes with separate containers for storing protein powder.

2. Research ahead of time!

Get online and see what’s close to your hotel or condo. Is there a grocery store nearby? What healthy, local restaurants are close? There are app delivery services that will deliver groceries to your condo where-ever you are! 

Also, if you’re staying in a hotel, find out if there’s a kitchenette or mini-fridge available in your room.  Ask for a mini fridge! Does the facility have a fitness center available?

3. Hydrate!

So many of us neglect to hydrate our bodies while traveling even though dehydration is very common during trips. Pack extra water bottles (in a cooler if there’s space) or take your favorite water bottle to refill along the way. Drink water as soon as you get up in the morning, and when you sit down at each meal, drink a large glass of water first! You can still get in your 80oz daily on vacation! 

4. Make smart choices when dining out!

Most importantly, choose restaurants that offer healthy options that support your lifestyle! So many restaurants post their menus online now so you can look it up before you dine. Then you’re prepared to order when you arrive and aren’t tempted with less healthy options. You can also check the entree on MY FITNESS PAL! The food journaling app! 

Don’t be afraid to ask for a healthier option or to customize your meal. Most restaurants are used to this now and don’t mind accommodating your needs!

Choose seafood, chicken or another lean meat option and order them steamed, broiled, grilled or roasted. If fried is your only option on the menu, remember don’t be afraid to ask for another option!

Order your potato baked, boiled or roasted instead of fried! And ask to leave off the butter and sour cream! Consider ordering a sweet potato instead of white potato!

To avoid over-eating, eat small meals throughout the day so you’re not starving at dinner. Take your time eating your meal, enjoy every bite as well as your company at the table!

Of course, it’s vacation, so relax and enjoy a cocktail! Just don’t overdo it! And make sure that you’ve hydrated throughout the day.

5. Sweat!

You know the feeling you have after you’ve worked out, so why sacrifice a good sweat session when you’re on the road? That’s why you packed your workout gear — so use it!

Lace up your tennis shoes and hit the pavement (or sand!) This is a great way to explore the city you’re in, too. And since you researched ahead of time, you already know the parks or running trails nearby! We promise that you will not regret a workout! Don't forget about our FREE workouts and workout videos on our website and YOUTUBE channel! 

If you want a good strength workout during your trip, here are a couple options you can do anywhere without any weights:

Five, simple things you can do to take your transformed lifestyle with you on the road! We are so proud of you and all the hard work you put in through the spring months! Enjoy this quality time with your family!

If you would like to meet with our Nutrition Consultant, Katie Woodall, or our Dietician Kaeti Shurling to discuss nutrition and assist you in meal planning, please contact here. Additionally, you can purchase our eBook- Healthy Families Handbook. This eBook has a full week of meal plans, "family-tested" recipes, family devotions, a kid's couch to 5K program, and workouts for the whole family!  

Awesome new sessions have been added in June — check them out on MindBody! Sign up for something new this month! Come out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself on vacation or here in Athens!

If you have any questions about MindBody or our summer schedule, please email us at transfitathens@gmail.com. We look forward to seeing you in the studio and hearing about your summer travels and your new summer goals!

Blessings, 

Team TransFit