Sharing the details on Pvolve: what is it, is it worth it? You can use my link here to try it out for 7 days free.

Hi friends! How’s the day going so far? I have an eye doc appointment and am catching a yoga class with a friend. I’m on Day 3 of the detox (3 out of 21. Woo!) so I’m taking it easy and looking forward to a tasty vegan lunch today.

For today’s post, I wanted to chat a bit about P.volve. I’ve fallen back in love with P.volve after quite a few years, love their rebranding, and am so excited to see studios pop up over the US. My workouts have been pretty low-impact as I work on my healing process, and Pvolve has given me a challenging workout without being too intense.

If you’re curious about giving it a try, here are the details about it!

Pvolve review and if it’s worth it

Background on Pvolve

Pvolve is unlike anything I’ve ever tried.. and I’ve been around the fitness block lol. It’s the brainchild of two remarkable individuals, Stephen Pasterino and Rachel Katzman. Stephen, the fitness guru behind the method, created P.volve after years of research and experience. His aim was to provide a fitness solution that not only transforms your body but also enhances functionality and prevents injuries.

Stephen Pasterino: Stephen, the driving force behind P.volve, has a background in kinesiology and functional movement. His mission was to develop a workout that not only sculpts muscles but also improves the way your body moves.

Rachel Katzman: Rachel, co-founder and CEO, brought her business acumen to the mix. Her vision was to create an accessible and results-driven fitness program that could cater to people’s unique needs and lifestyles.

The pair were previously together, and have split ways, with Rachel maintaining full control over Pvolve. Stephen has gone off to do his own thing! While I absolutely like the format he helped create, he wasn’t my favorite as an instructor. I loved his method, but found him to be pretty low energy.

The P.volve Method

P.volve is built on the foundation of functional fitness, a concept that goes beyond the aesthetic aspects of working out. It’s about training your body to perform better in everyday life, enhancing your movement patterns, and reducing the risk of injuries. The method involves controlled, precise movements that engage multiple muscle groups simultaneously.

Buttery, garlicky shrimp with plenty of bright lemon is something I can never get enough of. I have a hard time resisting eating these Garlic Butter Shrimp straight out of the pan each time I cook them!

Garlic Butter Shrimp

I love shrimp. I really love garlic butter shrimp. So, in my world, eating it straight out of the pan and calling that a meal absolutely works. However, sometimes it does need to be filled out a bit for a full family meal.

What to prepare with this garlic butter shrimp recipe? In two words, pasta or rice! Served over either those with a side of steamed or roasted vegetables, this is a dinner my family will happily eat any night of the week.

Butter Garlic Shrimp

Is there anything better than shrimp sauteed in butter and garlic? I love to bite into shrimp that’s been seared to perfection while basking in a rich pool of melted butter, and infused with all that garlicky goodness.

If you’re like me, then you know the glory of lemon with garlic and butter. Each has such distinct flavor, but the combination is timeless, especially for seafood. You simply can’t go wrong with lemon garlic butter shrimp, lobster, or salmon.

Just a note about shrimp colors, some shrimp are gray when raw, and others have a natural reddish hue

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