Sharing a full review of my experience completing the Integrative Health Practitioner Level Two course. You can read about my level one experience here! If you’re interested in getting certified, check out the details here and use the code FITNESSISTA for up to $250 off. 

Hi friends! How’s the morning treating you? I’m off to a Pilates class and have a couple of coaching calls later today. Today, I wanted to chat a little bit about my recent IHP cert and the process for becoming a certified health coach if this is something you’re interested in doing!

Over 100 hours of coursework, continuing education, and some very challenging tests, and I’m now a Level Two Integrative Health Practitioner. I’ve been so excited to add functional labs to my current offerings, share them with clients, and also use these for myself and our family. The timing was also interesting, especially with my sudden eye issues and previous autoimmune symptoms. I’m working with my medical team, but also doing my own deep dive to bring my body back to balance to the best of my ability. <3

While I LOVED Level One, Level Two was everything I’d been wanting and more. I couldn’t wait to study the material each day, and during each module, I was like, THIS is exactly what I want to learn. This is how I want to help my clients. I’m so pumped to have this certification under my belt.

Here’s a list of my other fitness/health certifications: Precision Nutrition level 1, NASM Personal Trainer, NASM Weight Loss Specialist, NASM Women’s Fitness Specialist, NASM Corrective Exercise Specialist, Les Mills BODYPUMP, Zumba and Aqua Zumba, Barre Body, Schwinn, Yoga RTY-200 hr, Level One Raw Foods Chef, and AFAA Group Fitness Instructor. I want to continue to learn as much as possible, and have my eye on the High Performance Health certification next. 

Integrative Health Practitioner Level Two certification review

Here’s how Level Two differs from Level One:

Level One is focused on Dr. Cabral’s DETRESS protocol (diet, exercise

Best Sloppy Joes [+ Video]

All these years I’ve thought sloppy joes were the worst dinner ever, but after months of testing I’ve finally found a recipe I LOVE!

Every time I heard that we were having sloppy joes for lunch at school as a kid, I cringed.  I was never too excited for sloppy joes at home either. Not knowing what was in the sloppy joes made it harder for me to eat — it should have been called “Mystery Joes” or something along those lines.

For years, we tried new recipes and each one was getting closer and closer to me finally accepting the sloppy mess of a meal. Everyone went crazy for them at school and families we knew loved them, clearly I was missing something. 

We have finally found the best sloppy joe recipe EVER! Not just the best, but a totally crave-able recipe! It’s the perfect balance of sweet and salty and a little spicy.

Creating the Best Sloppy Joes Recipe

As a teenager, I watched Adam Sandler and Chris Farley perform “lunch lady land” on Saturday Night Live. Interestingly enough, this skit gave me a new outlook on sloppy joes, not sure why.

Well, a couple decades later this bad boy lands on my plate and a whole slew of feelings came rushing back: disgust, anxiety, unpleasant crunchy things, failure after failure of trying this recipe in the past, and almost complete despair of ever finding a Sloppy Joes recipe that actually tasted good.

Would this one be another flop? I sat down to the dinner table with that fake smile, that “thanks honey, this looks great” face on that I had nailed down over my childhood years. The smells began to hit my nostrils and to my surprise they were pleasant, smokey richness, grilled onions and peppers, almost like a bbq restaurant smell.

I began to feel a little excitement in this Mystery Joe. I went in for the first bite and it was all over from there, seconds and thirds landed on my plate and my taste buds were chest bumping each other.

What is a Sloppy Joe? 

To be clear, a sloppy joe is not a sandwich with chili piled on top. A sloppy joe is a sandwich consisting of ground beef or pork, onions, tomato sauce or ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and other seasonings, served on a hamburger bun. 

The dish originated in the United States during the early 20th century. According to legend, a cook named Joe at Floyd Angell’s café in Sioux City, Iowa, added tomato sauce to his “loose meat” sandwiches and the “sloppy joe” sandwich was born. And the rest, as they say, is history!

Sloppy Joe Ingredients 

For this easy sloppy joe recipe, you’ll need a handful of ingredients. I bet most of these ingredients are in your pantry already! For the sloppy joe meat mixture, you’ll need…

• Butter
• Onion
• Red Bell Pepper
• Garlic
• Ground Beef

Although you can’t have sloppy joes without the meat, the sloppy joe sauce is what really makes this recipe. For the sloppy joe sauce, you’ll need…

• Brown Sugar
• Dijon Mustard
• Worcestershire Sauce
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Is Pilates good for weight loss? I’m breaking it all down in today’s post!

Hi hi! How are you? I hope you had an amazing weekend! The Pilot worked all weekend, so the girls and I met up with friends, I taught a barre class, and we went to the farmer’s market.

Today, I wanted to chat a bit about Pilates! Since I’ve been gravitating more towards low-impact workouts to reduce stress, Pilates has become a staple in my routine lately. It’s something that I’ve loved for years, and I think it can be a great way to implement strategic (and smart) core training, in addition to endurance and stabilization with your regular strength training and cardio routine.

Pilates is known for its focus on strengthening the core, improving posture, and enhancing flexibility. Unlike high-impact workouts, Pilates is a low-impact activity that engages both the mind and body. However, it’s not always the first choice for those seeking significant weight loss. Today, I’m going to dive into the question of whether Pilates is effective for weight loss and explore the indirect yet potent benefits it offers in achieving your weight or health loss goals.

*It’s also worth noting here that it’s ok if weight loss is part of your health goals, but I don’t think it should be a #1 focus. The number on the scale says SO little about overall health and body composition. This post is titled this way so that my friends who are Googling can get some solid advice. 😉 *

Is Pilates Good For Weight Loss?

Pilates can indeed contribute to weight loss, but it’s essential to understand that it’s not a quick fix for shedding pounds. Instead, Pilates provides numerous indirect benefits that can lead to sustainable and long-term health goals, which may or may not include weight loss. For weight loss to occur, there needs to be quite a few building blocks in place:

– A calorie deficit, meaning that you’re burning more than your current intake

– A happy nervous system, because you can’t lose weight in flight or fight. Stress management, mindful eating, and

– Enough fuel! SO many women are under-eating for their activity levels and goals

– Nutrients and protein intake

– Hormone function

– Digestion

– Quality sleep

and so much more. If you need help

Say goodbye to leftovers with this Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole. Layered with crispy tater tots, gooey cheese, savory sausage, and fluffy eggs this breakfast casserole has earned thumbs up around the table every time I serve it.

Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole with Sausage

I literally cannot believe that I haven’t tried this before. This tater tot breakfast casserole with sausage blew the lid off of my expectations. This is one breakfast that I’m going to be making regularly for years to come.

I adore the simplicity of breakfast casseroles. Just throw everything in a baking dish and wait an hour. It’s divine for a lazy morning. But, I had no idea that a breakfast casserole with tater tots could end up being so good.

As much as we love tater tots (and who doesn’t love crispy bites of hashbrown potatoes??) I don’t know why I never thought to use them this way before now. These pulled pork tater tot nachos are always a win and cheesy bacon tater tots disappear about as quickly as they can be eaten straight off the tray.

Tater Tot Sausage Breakfast Casserole

Bacon, diced ham, and pork or turkey sausage will all work well in this casserole. You just need about 1 pound (or 2 cups cooked) of whichever meat option you choose to use.

This tater tot sausage breakfast casserole is a great make-ahead breakfast. Cover the assembled casserole with foil and refrigerate overnight. When ready to cook, set the cold casserole on the counter while the oven preheats.

Bake for 50 minutes, leaving the top covered with foil, and then uncover to bake an additional 20-25 minutes, until the eggs have set. The top should be golden brown around the edges.

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Delicious and Healthy Coconut Curry Chicken Burger +Video

Ground chicken is a deliciously healthy alternative to ground beef. For this recipe, we add coconut curry and put an Indian spin on a traditional burger. This coconut curry chicken burger will be your new favorite!

Recommended Equipment

• Cast Iron Skillet

Before You Begin…

Radicchio is quite bitter so we want to soak it in cold water first to remove the bitterness. Then toss it with a little red wine vinegar and salt for pickle it a little.

How to Make Chicken Curry Burgers

Ingredients for Coconut Curry Chicken Burgers

• Naan: You can buy naan at the store or use flatbread or pita bread. It is a fun change from a typical hamburger bun and tastes delicious!
• Ground Chicken: Chicken tastes great with the curry. You can also use ground turkey if you want.
• Coconut Curry: If you make curry at home, you will need: curry powder, garam masala, yellow onion, garlic, sweetened coconut milk, tomato paste, salt, pepper, sugar, water, and cornstarch.
• Salt and Pepper: adds flavor to the patties
• Radicchio: or red cabbage works great too
• Red Wine Vinegar: helps pickle the radicchio for extra flavor
• Cilantro: adds a delicious pop of freshness and flavor
• Lime Wedges: adds just a touch of acid

Keep scrolling down to see all the measurements for the ingredients in the recipe card below. You can also print or save the recipe there.

Are Chicken Burgers Healthy?

Ground chicken is a healthier alternative to ground beef and a great option for making a burger. Ground chicken is low in fat, high in protein, and inexpensive which is always a win these days! I paid $4.49/gallon at the gas station yesterday and I wanted to cry!

How to Make Chicken Curry Burgers

Since this isn’t your typical burger recipe, let me