The Thanksgiving Turkey Theme Song

Holiday Survival Tips and Your Official Party Guide

Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years... Oh My! We’re entering a holiday season where so many people abandon their exercise and diets and pack on the pounds. Here are some easy-to-follow party tips to help you survive the holiday season with your waistline and buttons intact!

1. Focus on what you CAN eat, not on what you can’t. Thanksgiving dinner offers you one of the best ways to feast without the fat. Last weekend, I attended a Thanksgiving dinner wedding reception. The turkey, green beans, and sweet potatoes were delicious. I didn’t need the other stuff. Nor did I miss it. You can do the same. Eat the clean foods and enjoy your time with your family and friends.
2. Eat before you go. If you choose a high-fiber snack, like an apple, or drink a protein shake before you go, you’ll be less tempted to snack on the sugary and fatty foods at the holiday parties.
3. Eat on smaller plates. All to often, people “gorge” themselves on Thanksgiving Dinner and spend the rest of the day, miserable, watching football games. It is also a time where more people experience heart attacks and medical problems than any other time of the year. Is it worth it? Eat til your satisfied, not stuffed. One easy way to do that is choose a smaller plate so you won’t be tempted to eat so much.
4. Fill up on the good stuff first. Whether you are at a buffet or a holiday party, fill up on the healthy food first. You’ll eat less of the not-so-healthy foods later.
5. Don’t deprive yourself. Thanksgiving only comes once a year and it is a time meant to be enjoyed with family and friends. You might have a traditional favorite that you look forward to every year or you might just want to ease up a little. That’s okay! Clean eating is a lifestyle. It should cause you stress and discomfort. Enjoy the foods you love. Just try not to overdo it!
6. Move away from the table. You know how you tend to eat what is in front of you, whether or not you are hungry? If you are done with dinner, move away from the table. If you are at a party, move away from the table. Feel free to mingle and enjoy yourself... but move away from the table. Got it? =)
7. Shift your thinking. So many times, our holidays are centered around food. Spend time with your family and friends. Move your time out of the kitchen and onto what is really important: your relationships.
8. Get Active. Chattanooga affords you many opportunities to get moving and get your family out of the house. We encourage you to join us at the Turkey Trot. We’ll meet at 8:30am. Some will do the 3 mile walk at 8:45am. Others will participate in the 8k at 9am. Proceeds go to the National Kidney Foundation. You can register online at www.active.com. The Grateful Gobbler is another great charity event that happens on Thanksgiving Day for the Homeless.

We're expanding... Big Time....

I'm talking 4000 fat-burning, muscle-toning square footage. We are planning on opening up an indoor location, with opportunities for new growth and class expansion, on Adams Road in Hixson.

Originally we were hoping to just find an indoor location for the winter months but this is too good to pass up!

And we're excited because we are hoping to bring you bigger and better things and add more value to your boot camp experience in the new year.

Our bootcamp building even has a kitchen!!! Yay!

We're very excited about the possibilities.

Please stay tuned to our blog for the latest...

Protein Shake Recipes

Hey Ladies!!
As requested, here are some of my favorite Protein Shake blends!
Hope this adds some "spice" to your blends...

Frozen Choc-o-latta- Better than Starbucks!
1 scoop chocolate whey protein
1/2 tsp. Dunkin Donuts ground coffee
4 ice cubes
8-10 oz. water

Strawberry Cheesecake Protein- Rich, Creamy and Delicious!!
1 scoop Vanilla whey protein
1 cup skim milk
3/4 to 1 cup frozen strawberries
1/3 cup low-fat cottage cheese
3 Tbsp. of walnuts (good source of Omega-3's)
Make sure you blend well to ground up all the walnuts!!!

Reeses Shake- Just as good as a DQ blizzard but 10x more nutritious!!!
1 cup skim milk or water
1 Tbsp. peanut butter (no trans fat blend!!)
1 heaping scoop of chocolate whey protein
4 ice cubes (optional)

Here is my friend JNL's recipes...

Whey Egg Nog- Great for the Holidays!!
Mix one serving of vanilla whey according to the directions. Add 1/2 teaspoon allspice, 1 graham cracker (4 small squares) and 3 ice cubes. Blend at high speed for 45 seconds and serve.

PB&J- Brings me back to being a kid again!!!
Mix one serving of vanilla whey according to directions. Then, add one heaping tablespoon of all-natural peanut butter and four frozen strawberries. Blend at high speed for 45 seconds and serve.

JNL's Ocean Breeze Pina Colada Protein Shake- like an instant vacation!!
Use Jay Robb's Pina Colada protein shake mix. Add 1/4 cup of rinsed crushed pineapple to the blender along with ice and water.

The Wii Fit Parody

Just for laughs... If you haven't seen it already, Check out the Wii Fit Parody video. It's pretty funny and sadly, very true. Think twice before you look to the Wii Fit as your mode of exercise.

Sports Barn Turkey Trot

This is the 3rd year we will be participating in the Sports Barn Turkey Trot! The event benefits the Kidney Foundation and happens Thanksgiving Morning!!!
It is the perfect time to get your friends and family active on a day that is centered around FOOD!

Here is the info:
Date: November 27, 2008
Time: 8:30am- 1 Mile Fun Run
8:45am- 3 mile Walk
9am- 8K
Location: Sports Barn East on Lee Hwy

Everyone is encouraged to attend. We will have several campers and friends participating. Dogs are allowed at the 3 mile walk.

Online Registration: You can pre-register online for $18 at www.active.com. Online registration closes at 8:59pm on 11/25/08. If you don't wish to register online, there is a form available to print on the Kidney Foundation website.

Packet Pick-up: You can pick up your packets and free t-shirts Wednesday, November 26 at Sports Barn East between 9am and 7pm or before 8am on the day of the race.

Race Day Fee: If you register on race day, the cost is $20.

For our Scenic City Adventure Boot Campers and Fitness Sisterhood Club Members, we will have Fitness Sisterhood t-shirts available for $8. If you already have one, we'd love you to wear it and we will take pictures before or after the race.

Hope to see you there!!! Happy Turkey Trotting!