Avocado-Lime Smoothie

I've been making this one quite a bit lately as it is very refreshing and smooth and has a big hit in "healthy fats" as well as "super food" designation due to its use of Avocado! It is fairly caloric, but avocados are nutrient dense and this combo with the zesty lime, and a touch of sweetness from honey, is really delicious. I love this after a workout because it also has a great boost of protein when you use Greek Yogourt!

Cut all ingredients by half if you want an individual serving, or save the second serving for the next day's power drink! TIP: save the avocado half in a covered container, into which you have added a Tablespoon of lime juice. The lime juice will help prevent the avocado from going too brown, and it will be pre-measured for your next smoothie!

Avocado-Lime Smoothie
1 Medium Avocado (cut in chunks)
2 Cups Almond Breeze beverage (or use any milk or substitute beverage you choose)
1/2 Cup Greek Yogourt
1 Tbsp Lime Juice (fresh squeezed if you can)
1Tbsp Honey or Maple Syrup
To make: Assemble all your ingredients and dump it all into a tall container. Use an immersion blender and give it a quick whir (15-20 seconds is usually plenty). If you prefer to use your counter-top blender, then that is fine too... I'm just a fan of the "easy clean up" with the hand-blender!

Serves: 2

Nutrition Info:

Total:	Cal: 633	Carbs: 57	Fat: 41	Protein: 12
Per Serving:	Cal: 317	Carbs: 29	Fat: 21	Protein:  6

 

ENJOY! Let me know how you like it!

We'll talk soon!

Why we do this.

Why do Fitness Professionals do what they do? Is it the glory, the fame, the money? Not so much. Here are a few of the real reasons...

Excerpt from a letter to Yoga Instructor, Fortunata McConkey:
... the yoga practice specifically helped me regain stability as well as physical and mental strength. Leaving after the sessions, I always felt stronger, better able to breathe, filled with confidence that my body can heal, and my soul can, too. On my good days, this was a truly enriching experience and a strong tool to help me heal. On my occasional bad days, it was a life saver. ~ Judith L

Excerpt from a letter to Zumba® Instructor, Elizabeth Glenday:

...The only thing that I had started to do differently was going to Zumba classes, there's no doubt that the cardio workout (with the help and support of encouraging instructors and classmates alike) did what I wouldn't have done alone and never thought could happen, strengthened my lungs and basically cured my asthma. Never let there be any doubt about just how effective and terrific Zumba is, it's given me the second chance that I never thought I'd get and completely changed my life. ~ J.



To the Personal Trainers at Access Fitness:

I am so happy you have been busting my ass for the last few months, now I can go to Mexico and feel proud in my bikini! Thank you Ryan! ~ Kerry Dominguez

...because of you, your training and the grueling abdominal workouts you push me to do...I've got my Marathon back on. My run today felt effortless!!!! I am so ready! Thank you Ryan :-) ~ Anonymous

Working with a Personal Trainer has renewed my enthusiasm for taking care of myself.....and that's worth any price. ~ D.K.

I have never felt so good about myself and I owe it all to Terri’s knowledge and enthusiasm. ~ Andrea Caton

I have been able to get back to my “fighting weight” (as I call it) in less than a year of having a baby – in fact I believe I am even stronger than before! ~ Diane Kaltz

I never imagined that training...twice a week could change my life!  I went from feeling tired, flabby and frumpy to feeling in control of me again.  My husband, kids and coworkers noticed a difference in my attitude almost immediately and within a few weeks my body was toning up... "Happy, loving & living life!" ~ I.T.

We'll talk soon!

I need it... I want it... but is it a GOAL?

Okay, it's early in February, and there is a chance that some of us are still on track with some of the NEW stuff we planned to accomplish for the New Year... Hopefully, the How to Write SMART Goals posting helped a bit!

Here is another question, and the answers may help refine your goal setting strategies further!

What is the difference between a goal and a "need" or a "want"?

Needs are logical (“I need to lose weight to be more healthy”) and wants are emotional (“I want to lose some weight because it makes me feel better about myself”). Needs and wants don’t always match… nor are they enough to spur people into action, most often. Everyone who smokes knows they “need” to quit (logically) but the “want” for the nicotine’s effect is strong and often results in the smoker NOT taking action.

What about wishes? 

A wish implies that results won’t be achieved. “I wish I could…. ” (implied: 'but I can’t')

Semantics? Perhaps; but why not re-frame the wish into a goal and see what happens?

So, what exactly is a goal?

A goal specifically defines the logic of a need and links it to the emotional attachment of a want and adds an active phase to produce a desired result within a defined timeframe. It is concrete. It is not just out there somewhere - in "wish-world"!

Well, I wish I could write more (I won't) but I need (logically) to get some sleep because I want (emotional and unspecific) to achieve more each day! But really my GOAL is to increase my sleep to 7 hours each night by the end of this month, and I'm going to achieve that by heading to bed 15 minutes earlier each weeknight until I achieve my optimal bedtime. Okay, you get it!

We'll talk soon!