You can’t go wrong with bacon and apples together!

I found this recipe on a cool new site called PaleoPot.com,  be sure to check it out!

Ingredients:

• 4 large Grass-Fed Pork Chops (filet a pocket on 1 side for stuffing)
• 4 large Strips of Bacon (chopped)
• 2 med Granny Smith Apples (peeled & diced)
• 1 med head of Garlic (smashed & chopped)
• 1 cup Raw Unsalted Pecans
• 1 large sweet onion (sliced into half-rings)
• 1 lemon (for zest)
• 1 Tbsp Paprika (optional)
• 4-8 toothpicks

Directions: 

1. Create a “pocket” in your pork for the stuffing, making sure not to puncture the back of the chop
2. Place bacon in a frying pan and cook until they are about 80% cooked.  Add diced apples, pecans, & garlic to the mix.  Stir well.  (Add paprika if desired) Cook until bacon is 95% cooked
3. Remove mixture into a bowl with a slotted spoon, keeping bacon grease in the pan.  Toss the onions in the bacon grease quickly (not cooking them) and remove from the stove.
4. Stuff the chops with the Apple, Bacon, and Pecan mixture and secure with 1-2 toothpicks.
5. Cover bottom of Crockpot with bacon grease and half of raw onions.  Place chops (stuffing side facing up) into crockpot.
6. Cover chops with remaining stuffing mix and rest of the onions.
7. Cook on low heat for 8 hours in the crockpot.
8. Serve Chops with zested lemon on top, and a quick squeeze of the lemon!

I am very excited to try this tomorrow….I’m going to make mine with either steamed broccoli or sautéed spinach.

For the original recipe, Click HERE! 

I hope you enjoy it!  If you try it, be sure to let me know how you like it!

This weeks Challenge has been a long time coming.  As much as we believe in the Paleo Diet, we know it requires a HUGE shift in the way we approach food and our eating strategy.

This week’s challenge will be a small step to show you just how AMAZING you will feel when you cut out BREAD & Pastas from your diet!

Many people have some level of intolerance to gluten (the protein that is found in bread, pasta, etc.)  Even if you don’t show any symptoms, at a cellular level, it causes INFLAMMATION in many people without our knowledge. 

Something You Should Know….

Since wheat grows free and open in the field as a plant, it has a natural protective mechanism build in called LECTINS.  Lectins are the plants natural protection against insects and other pests in order to not get eaten by them.

When we eat bread, we are ingesting these lectins, and they can cause crazy amounts of inflammation in our bodies.

In addition, lectins can cause  something called “leaky Gut” which let the “bad” things in through the intestinal wall and not allow your body to absorb the “good” things like nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.

Lectins = NO GOOD!

Bread includes:

• Bread
• Pastas
• Cookies
• Cakes
• Bagels
• Muffins
• etc.

You will not only feel AMAZING come Sunday, but you might have even notices that you dropped a couple of pounds

So…Are you READY to accept this week’s Challenge!?  

Make sure to let us know in a comment below if you will be participating!

Hello Weekend WARRIORS!!!

This was this mornings workout at Boot Camp, and it was a KILLER workout!  So….. I’ve decided to make it this weeks Weekend Warrior Workout!

We call this one “The Smoker!” It’s a little bit longer than the other workouts we have posted, but will be WELL WORTH the extra effort

So, let’s get started….

Warm up: make sure to warm up really well with 5-10 minutes of a light jog and stretching

Today’s Weekend Warrior Rules:  Complete this ENTIRE workout at one time in their best time possible.  Drink water and rest when needed because there are no designated rest periods bwaahahaha!!!

• ¼ mile run
• 50 Lunges (25/side)
• ¼ mile run
• 50 Dips
• ¼ mile run
• 50 Rows (25/side) 
• ¼ mile run
• 50 squats
• ¼ mile run
• 50 Bicep Curls 
• ¼ mile run
• 50 Mountain Climbers (50/side)
• ¼ mile run
• 50 Lunges (25/side)
• ¼ mile run

Cool Down & Stretch: (5-10 minutes)

Enjoy and don’t forget to post your time below!!!

Melanie A. DESTROYED the workout this morning with 29:31…very IMPRESSIVE!  

Today’s recipe of the week is a delicious and extremely healthy dish that is filled with Omega 3′s and loaded with vitamins and minerals.

Easy Salmon Baked in Foil!

Ingredients

• 4 (5 ounces each) salmon fillets
• 2 teaspoons olive oil plus 2 tablespoons
• Salt & freshly ground black pepper
• 3 tomatoes, chopped, or 1 (14-ounce) can chopped tomatoes, drained
• 2 chopped shallots
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme

Directions

Yep- this is my pup Ryder

If you didn’t have a chance to check out the No-Added Sugar Challenge, CLICK HERE

This Week, I’m Challenging YOU to Get Your ZZZ’s!  

We can all take a little advice from Ryder on this one, who is a PROFESSIONAL napper.  —–>

Rest, Recovery, and Sleep are EQUALLY as important as exercise.  

In fact, if you are not getting the proper recovery, some of your hard work will be wasted efforts.

We ALL know how important a good night’s sleep is, so why is it then, that we always put off going to bed until we do that “one last thing”, or “watch until the next commercial”?

We have so much to do each day, but the truth is, we would be SO much more productive if we all actually got enough sleep!

There are a TON of reasons why getting enough sleep is so important.  Here are just a few….

1.  Did you know that around 80% of your HGH (Human Growth Hormone) is released while you are sleeping?  HGH is a VERY important hormone in  maintaining a healthy body weight because it controls metabolism, cell growth and repair, and regulates your lean body mass to fat ratio.  If you’re not getting around 8 hours of solid, interrupted sleep, you are

2.  Lack of sleep will also cause an increase in a hormone called CORTISOL, which will not only prevent you from LOSING weight, but it can also cause you to GAIN WEIGHT!  Not something any of us want.

3.  When you sleep, your body is repairing and restoring itself.  Cutting this time short will not only delay this process, but cause you to be lethargic, irritable, and emotional.

4.  Lack of sleep is also associated with impaired memory, slowed speech, lack of ambition, lack of focus and a host of other lovely things.   

Because over 40% of us suffer from a chronic lack of sleep, this week’s challenge is for you to ”Get Your ZZZ’s!” 

Your Challenge:  To get 8 hours of UNINTERRUPTED sleep EVERY NIGHT this week. 

Here are a few things that will help:

1.  Set a bedtime for yourself and STICK to it- even if you are NOT tired.

2. Turn off all electronics (TV’s, phones, iPads, etc) at least 30-60 minutes before you go to bed.

3.  Stay away from caffeine after around 3 pm.  

4.  Make sure you have complete darkness in your bedroom.  

5.  De-Stress before bed.  This one is HUGE and I do this every single night.  I write down my list of EVERYTHING I need to get done the next day.  This way, I don’t have to think about it because it’s down on paper, and I can get to sleep knowing that it’s on my list and I won’t forget it.

6.  Make it a Priority!  (if you do- you will be AMAZED at how great you will feel at the end of the week!)

Make sure to leave a comment below if you ACCEPT this Challenge!!! 

Good luck & get some rest!

This workout if for all of you Kettlebellers out there!

Kettlebell Weekend Warrior Workout: 

Make sure to warm-up well first, and then complete 4 Rounds of the following….

• 50 snatches (25 on each side)
• 40 squats
• 30 wipers
• 20 push-ups
• 10 deck squats

Looks deceiving, but it is a good one!  Hope you enjoy it

Make sure to post your time below if you give this a go this weekend!

Here’s a GREAT alternative that I found coming to you complements of Health-Bent.com.  Hope you enjoy it!

Orange & Ginger Chicken…

Ingredients: 

• 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken thighs (cut into bite size pieces)
• 3 tbsp  coconut oil
• juice of 2 oranges
• zest from 1 orange
• 1 tsp fresh ginger
• 3 tbsp coconut aminos or wheat-free soy sauce
• 1 tsp chili garlic sauce or sriracha
• 3 green onions, chopped

Directions: 

In a medium size sauce pot, add the orange juice, zest, ginger, coconut aminos and chili garlic sauce or sriracha. Set over medium heat and let simmer to reduce and thicken while the chicken cooks.

In a saute pan, heat 3 T of the fat of your choice, over medium high heat. Add the chopped chicken thighs and cook until a nice brown crust has developed on the chicken pieces, about 6 minutes.

Add the chicken to the sauce pot and stir to coat with the orange sauce.

Serve topped with sliced green onions.

That’s it!!  For the original recipe, visit: Health-Bent.com

If you didn’t have a chance to check out the great breakfast recipes we posted, CLICK HERE <—

This week, I’m Challenging you to a:

“NO ADDED SUGAR WEEK.”

Added sugars (that don’t occur naturally in the foods you are eating) can be detrimental to your health.

Here are just a few of the MANY reasons to cap the sugar intake in your diet….

• Sugar promotes INFLAMMATION in the body (Inflammation is the ROOT of ALL disease in our bodies.)
• Large amounts of added Sugars will SUPPRESS the immune system.  (Imagine how your immune systems suffers if you are eating added and processed sugars at ever meal!)
• Sugars will suppress the release of HGH (Human Growth Hormone) in the body (and since HGH is imperative in anti-aging in our bodies, we want as much of this as our bodies are able to naturally produce.)
• Sugars will raise your insulin levels- which over time can lead to a whole host of diseases.
• Short term, added sugars will have a HUGE effect on your energy levels throughout the day.

By taking this challenge it means that you commit to having no ADDED sugars in ANYTHING you eat this week! 

Here are the Rules:

1.  No Added Sugars of ANY kind: Honey, Molasses, Cane Sugar, Coconut Sugar, Stevia, Truvia, etc.)

2.  Absolutely nothing in the ingredient label that says HFCS (High-Fructose Corn Syrup).  Try to stay away from all processed foods in general to make it easier on yourself (though that is another challenge for another week!)

3.  Do NOT eat anything that says Sugar-Free.  This will almost 100% of the time have artificial sweeteners in them.  General Rule of Thumb: If you can’t pronounce the ingredient, you probably shouldn’t be eating it!

Naturally occurring sugars in your food are OK (fruits, veggies, etc.) Try to eat your fruits earlier in the day (not past 3-4pm)

This Week’s Challenge may be a LOT harder than it looks….but you’ll be SHOCKED at how amazing you feel at the end of the week.

You’ll probably also notice you are sleeping better, have more energy, and may even have lost 2-3 pounds!  :-)

Are you UP FOR THIS CHALLENGE!??!?  

Here are a few tips for a Successful Week….

1.  Make sure you post a comment below saying that “I Accept this Challenge!”  

2.  Get RID of ALL Distractions or items that will keep you from your goals.  If you have other people in your home living with you, put their sugary foods in a separate cabinet or refrigerator shelf to keep you from temptation. (This step is HUGE!)

3.  Plan Out Your Food for the Week!  Just like you may have done last week with planning your breakfasts out for the week, sit down for 15 minutes to plan out what you will be eating for breakfast, lunch, and dinner this week.  Taking the time to do this will tremendously increase your chances for success!

4.  Plan Out Your Reward/Consequences.  If you succeed at this challenge, what will be your reward?  (Please do not make it a Brownie Sundae!)  Something like a massage, manicure, and other non-food related rewards work best.  (You don’t want to start conditioning your self with food as prizes.)  Also, if you do NOT succeed with the challenge, what is your penalty?  (Example: Offering to do your husbands chores for a week, 150 Burpees, etc.)

Good Luck this week with the Challenge!  Don’t forget to leave a comment below if you are committed!

Our Waterford Lakes Boot Camp PRE-SALE is Happening NOW!  

With the launch of our new location coming May 7th, we’re running a HUGE discount for the FIRST 35 campers who register!

Spots are filling up FAST!

—-> Click HERE for Waterford Lakes PRE-SALE Details! <—-

OK- now back to our “Recipe of the Week!”

My friend Lovelle reminded me of a long-time favorite blog of mine called Chocolate Covered Katie.

Her blog focuses on healthy desserts that taste and won’t bust your waistline.

Since our “Challenge of the Week” this week is focused on eating a HEALTHY breakfast every day, I thought it only fitting to post this up here for all of you chocolate lovers (of which I am DEFINITELY one!)

Here’s a fun recipe you can try for breakfast to switch things up a bit!

Mini Chocolate-Chip Breakfast Love Bites

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 cup applesauce (can sub mashed banana)
• 1/4 cup roasted cashew butter
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/16 tsp salt
• 1-2 tbsp mini chocolate chips or chunks
• 2 1/2 tbsp freeze-dried raspberries (can sub 1 tbsp dried fruit, or more chocolate chips)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mash the applesauce or banana with the nut butter.  Add all of the other ingredients and mix until well-combined.  Shape into cookies and bake on a greased cookie sheet for 14-16 minutes. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before removing from sheet.  Makes 18 mini cookies or 10-12 bigger cookies.

Hope you enjoy it!

For the original recipe and to visit Katie’s Blog, CLICK HERE!

It’s FINALLY HERE!!!   

Our Waterford Lakes Boot Camp is Officially Opening on May 7th, 2012!  

To Celebrate and Kick Off our Waterford Location, we’re having a HUGE PRE-SALE EVENT.

Here are just a few things members are saying…

“I’ve been with Forte Fitness for almost 2 years and can say it is INCREDIBLE. I lost 30 pounds in 3 months of my first year and the results only got better from there….” – Cian O.

“The workouts are intense but appropriate for everyone’s level. It is the THE BEST workout you will ever get.  I was able to drop 40lbs and reach great levels of fitness and toned muscles following their guidance and eating habits in a matter of months…” – Maite C.

“Alicia and all the trainers at Forte Fitness are great! I have really learned so much from them about fitness! My favorite thing is that I don’t just feel like a number. They really care about my progress and motivate me to do better. The other members are just as supportive and it really does feel like a family. Worth every penny to hear my son say “so glad your taking care of yourself mommy” – Ashi D.

It’s YOUR turn to feel amazing and get into the best shape of your life!

This Special Pre-Sale is ONLY available to the FIRST 35 People who sign-up!

Your Waterford Lakes Pre-Sale Special Includes:

1.  1-Month of Unlimited Boot Camp at our Waterford Lakes location ($159 value)

2.  21-Day Belly Blast Transformation Meal Plan ($227 value)

3.  Boot Camp Success Manual (with home workouts & recipes)

4.  Daily motivation to help keep you on track (priceless)

5.  Forte Fitness Nutrition Journal

6.  I Survived Boot Camp Tee-Shirt

7.  Before and After Measurements

ALL for ONLY $77  (for the first 35 people who register)

There are ONLY 35 spaces available at this discounted price!  

Camp Starts: May 7th, 2012

Location: 453 Mark Twain Blvd. Orlando, Fl. 32828 (click for map)

Camp Times: 

• 6am- M,W,F
• 6pm- M,W,TH
• 8:30 am- Sat Morning

To be one of the 35 people who get this special deal, Register NOW!!!  

ONLY 35 Spots Available! (Just $77)

**New Members Only**