Trader Joe’s Quick 15 minute Low-Carb recipe.

Posted by Doug Doug 13,March 2011 Leave a comment

Since putting my last post on Trader Joe’s I’ve been swamped with questions on buying tips  and healthy options for low-carb and low-cal recipes.

Well, I’ve come up with a recipe that not only takes 15 minutes to cook is healthy, low-carb, low-calorie and taste great.

Best yet it only calls for 7 items of which are all packaged :)

Pictured here:

 

What to buy at Trader Joe’s:raw sliced almonds, organic broccoli, extra virgin olive oil, spicy peanut vinaigrette, frozen seafood blend(shrimp, calamari rings, scallops), refrigerated low-fat ranch dressing,  organic baby spinach.

How to Make:

Sautee’ minced garlic (1 tbsp) in 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil.  Add 4 ounces seafood blend (thawed)and sautee’ on high heat  for 3 minutes.  Stir often.  Tip: if liquid remains then drain and continue to cook.

Add 1-2 cups organic broccoli florets and mix.  Sautee’ for another 2-4 minutes on highSuper CLA Blend with Sesame Lignans, 1000 mg 120 softgels heat.

 

Place on plate and drizzle with Trader Joe’s Spicy Peanut vinaigrette.

On the side, I added baby spinach greens topped with raw almond slices and drizzled with Trader Joe’s Organic Low-Fat Ranch dressing.

 

If you have any 15 minute or less meals that are easy, healthy, all natural and low or good carb then comment below or shoot me an email.

Try this out and comment below.   Thanks.


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Kettlebells! Are they so great?

Posted by Doug Doug 10,March 2011 Leave a comment

Ok, lets get something straight.  There is no one exercise regime that’s the perfect solution to losing weight, getting fit and increasing flexibility.  If  one more person tells me that kettle bells are the solution to optimal fitness than we should get in the ring.  Listen, I have been doing kettlebells since 1989 when I trained with some of the best Russian coaches while wrestling for Clemson University.  I had the privilege of learning from the best while I traveled and wrestled internationally with many of the worlds best athletes and wrestlers.

So, ya kettlebells have their place.  Great for strength, core training and overall stamina if used correctly.  Yet, they are not the only nor the best exercise apparatus for losing weight.  Next time someone tells you that if you swing a kettle bell for an hour that you’ll lose fat and inches then you should turn around and crack them in the head.  Don’t be nieve….Add kettlebells to your repertoire along with cardio( running, swimming, walking..etc.) , power yoga, boxing, Zumba, resistance training, pilates, bar class….they are all good.  The key to getting lean is to take in less calories then you take in and burn calories with intense training including good muscle development so you can eat more :)

By the way, if you want a kettlebell training for women then click below:
From Russia With Tough Love-DVD
The Woman’s Guide to Kettlebell Training

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Who loves Trader Joe’s? My TJ’s staples.

Posted by Doug Doug 7,March 2011 Leave a comment

If you don’t have a Trader Joe’s near you than your missing out.  Overall, the prices and different foods they have make dieting or eating healthier easier.  I’ve listed below my top staples that I personally buy to keep a six pack and healthy.  If you have any suggestions or favorites than shoot me an email or leave a comment below.

Trader Joe’s Cioppini Seafood Stew: cod, scallops, mussels and shrimp in a hearty tomato sauce.  Taste fresh and great on top of brown rice or by itself.  Better yet, takes less than 15 minutes for a healthy meal.

Trader Joe’s 8 minute steel cut oats:  no more soaking in hot water for hours.  Just boil, stir and eat.  Lots of fiber and great with agave and organic blueberries.

Trader Joe’s Brown Rice: organic brown rice in the frozen section.  I like to keep it in the fridge and add it to salads or withTJ’s organic broccoli and spinach topped with my favorite dressing.

Trader Joe’s Traditional Salsa: goes on anything if you like salsa.  Best with egg whites and Mexican cheese.  I like to mix it in with ground turkey and TJ’s Mexican cheese (sparingly).

Trader Joe’s Organic Hemp and Whey Proteins:  I like to mix these together with Trader Joe’s frozen organic strawberries and Trader Joe’s Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk.  I add tbsp of maple syrup and agave mix.

Trader Joe’s Raw Almonds and/or Cashews:  inexpensive for nuts and great on salads or a snack.

Trader Joe’s Spicy Peanut Vinaigrette: hands down the best dressing if you don’t have a peanut allergy.  The best product they have to put on anything you can imagine.  Yes, contains little sugar but that’s why you workout I hope.

So, there are some of my favorite staples.  Don’t forget their organic frozen veggies, too.  Experiment between TJ’s and Whole Foods and you should have a good assortment of healthy options.

If you need help with your diet then just put your email and name in the box to the right and become a Fitbytes’ Insider.

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Healthy Breakfast Ideas that are different.

Posted by Doug Doug 3,March 2011 Leave a comment

Throughout the years, I have tried all different breakfast recipes that were different but tasted good. Currently, my breakfast usually consist of an egg and 4-5 egg white omelet topped with organic cheddar cheese and Trader Joes’ original salsa. Ya, I eat cheese and stay at 4-5 % body fat. No, I’m not a body builder or admire my self in the mirror at every ripple nor do I like that mentality. I just feel healthy and fast when I box, wrestle or workout.

So, one question I get all the time is suggestions on breakfast meals that are healthy but different. I’ll list a few that you may want to try below. Please comment on any breakfast ideas that are different that you may have to share.

Breakfast Idea 1:Sweet potatoes, bananas and cinnamon. Slice the sweet potatoes thin and saute them in coconut oil or olive oil. Mix with sliced banana and top with cinnamon. Place a scoop of Greek yogurt on top.

Breakfast Idea 2:Plain Greek yogurt, mixed with 1-2 tbsp of raw agave, 1/2 cup eziekiel cereal and chopped up raw almonds, dates and a scoop of green magma plus all natural vanilla whey protein.

Breakfast Idea 3:blended fruit with scoop of your favorite all natural protein, chia seeds and tsp of raw almond or sunflower butter. In blender..blend small banana, organic berries, strawberries and melon with water to consistency you like. You could even use coconut or almond milk instead of water. Blend in scoop of whey protein, tbsp of chia seeds, tbsp of raw almond butter and tbsp of agave or raw honey.

Breakfast Idea 4:egg whites mixed with low-fat cottage cheese and pineapple in its own juice. Slice eziekiel toast with earth balance butter or raw almond butter.

Breakfast Idea 5: Carrot juice blended with frozen organic strawberries, 2 scoops hemp or whey protein, 1 tbsp of raw almonds and 1/2 cup organic oats.

Breakfast Idea 6: egg white omelet with sauteed chicken slithers, Mexican cheese and hot sauce or even cocktail sauce. I actually love the spicy peanut vinaigrette from Trader Joes. I put it on everything!

So, there you go. Some different ideas from the usually yogurt with granola or the egg and turkey bacon sandwich.
Try them out. You may like them or you may say they su**. :)

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