Pleasing to the Whole

evepostapple:

Zain’s Raw Vegan Zucchini Pasta with Tomato and Pesto Sauce

Looking for new ways to spice up your main meals?  Try my delicious spring inspired zucchini pasta, packed with vitamins and nutrients.  Easy to make, this dish will very quickly become one of your healthy favourites!

*Makes 2 Servings

Ingredients:

2-4 Zucchinis (ends removed)

11/2 Cup Grape Tomatoes

1/4 Cup Fresh Basil Leaves

1/8 White Onion (diced)

1/2 Clove Garlic (minced)

1/4 Cup Sun-dried Tomatoes (soaked in boiling water for 3-5 mins)

1/4 Cup Nutritional Yeast

1 Tbsp Pumpkin Seeds OR Walnuts (chopped)

2 Tsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil (optional)

1 tsp dried oregano

Himalayan Crystal Salt and Ground Pepper to Taste

Directions:

1. Prepare tomato & pesto sauce using a food processor to blend all ingredients - except pumpkin seeds and zucchini - until smooth.

2. For zucchini pasta, use a food processor, to slice OR cut zucchini in half lengthwise and use a spiral slicer, mandolin or hand grater. 

3. Plate shredded zucchini pasta and top with tomato, basil sauce. Sprinkle whole or chopped pumpkin seeds or walnuts and a tsp of extra virgin olive oil per serving if desired.

*Note, this recipe is delicious with non-GMO tofu or ground tempeh for a complete meal but the meal would not be completely raw.

evepostapple:

Why I Start My Day With Warm Water & Lemon

I had no idea how beneficial this was for me growing up but everyday, like clockwork, mom would pour out a cup of hot water and squeeze some fresh lemon into the cup.

Usually in a mad hurry to get through breakfast so I could get outside, would gulp it down, scarf my processed breakfast (we lived in blissful ignorance around breakfast cereals, lucky me) and then grab my bike and I was gone.

Fast forward 20 something years to now where I, now knowingly, live my life according to the principles of Ayurveda and yoga that my family instilled in me at a young age.

So why do I think drinking this is a big deal? In a nutshell:

1. It raises your PH levels so from acidic to a more alkaline internal environment - Disease cannot live in an alkaline environment as it needs acidity to thrive.  When we sleep, our bodies become acidic so the simple act of drinking water & lemon in the morning balances the body.
2. Empowers your immune & nervous system - Lemons are rich in potassium and vitamin C stimulating your neuro-impulses and strengthening white blood cells.
3. Improves digestion by removing toxins from the digestive system and promotes bile production in the liver.
4. Aids in weight loss again due to keeping the body in an alkaline environment.  Lemon is also a craving buster.
5. Purifies the body by eliminating toxins, clears the liver and the skin.
6. Calms you with a high level of Vitamin C first thing in the morning.

(via fitnesstreats)

blogilates:

#WORKOUTCOMMAND! Do 2 sets of 12 twisted star ups for rock hard abs! GO!

workingtowardsfit:

Did it! Omg. 34 seconds! I need to start adding these to my workouts. I can do regular ones no problem. Time to get these done no problem. Lol.

(via health-heaven)

(via health-heaven)

(Source: ohbabyitsnatalie, via health-heaven)

evepostapple:

How I Mentally Prepare for a Challenging Workout

We’ve all been there.  There are those super challenging days that every one of us who is dedicated to living a fit, healthy lifestyle goes through. We stall.  We have another cup of tea…one thing leads to another…oh and then, it’s time for another meal so then we plan to cook, eat and promise to hit the gym strong after that. 

Being the dedicated, fierce ones that we are, we put on our power outfit (for me its my Nike Pro tights & neon green sports bra), lace up, grab our water bottles and ipod and - what often feels like dead-man-walking - we get ourselves into the gym door knowing that by getting ourselves there we have scaled half the mountain.

Yep, your dirty little secret is out.  All those little rituals and promises that you make to get yourself to the gym…we all have ‘em…so why don’t you take a deep breath and exhale.

Good.  Feel better?

So to reiterate, ALL of us, whether you are an Olympic sprinter, a super hot, super fit celebrity with a zillion dollar power trainer or a woman who is working on getting fitter to live a longer life with her children, ALL of us have those moments when we must really push through our mental resistance.

Here’s How I Mentally Prepare 

• Ground my energy by sitting on the floor and taking a few deep breaths
• Bring my focus to the present moment without thinking of what lies ahead
• Bring to mind the feeling of completing my training, that victorious, empowering feeling of strength and physical ‘glow’
• Set an intention for my training ahead.  This could be as simple as one word or one goal that I wish to achieve in my training session that day
• Pump myself up by jumping or running on the spot to get my blood flowing or throwing on a song I love and bouncing around to that freely before heading out
• Remind myself that what I LOVE training, that I am CHOOSING to live this lifestyle because it FEELS fantastic and that being able to do so is a GIFT (the gratitude part always helps)
• I often dedicated my workout to someone else in my life who I know can benefit from that energy