Delicious Bison Chili

As we are quickly approaching the CHILLY months here in Kentucky, I just had to get in the kitchen yesterday and whip up some CHILI to warm our bones <3

I decided to switch things up and kind of throw things in as I went...I don't know why I don't trust myself more often!

Here are the ingredients you'll need:

- 1 green bell pepper chopped
- Half small onion chopped
- 1 can organic tomato sauce
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup rotel tomatoes with green chiles
- 1 pound ground Bison
- 2 can organic red kidney beans
- all purpose seasoning to taste
- pepper
- 1.5 teaspoons cumin
- dash of chili powder
- 1.5 teaspoons of minced garlic
- 1/2 avocado
- Fage 0% greek yogurt
- shredded cheese
- fresh cilantro

How to cook it up:

1. Heat oil in medium pot over medium heat. Stir in peppers, onions and garlic; cook until tender, 5-7 minutes. Add bison, cumin, chili powder to taste, and all purpose seasoning. Cook, breaking up bison with spoon, until browned, about 5 minutes.
2. Stir in beans, tomato sauce, 1 cup water; bring liquid to boil. Reduce heat. Simmer until chili thickens and flavors come together, about 10 minutes. Season with pepper and chili powder.
3. Divide chili among serving bowls. Top with cheese {if you prefer}, avocado and cilantro.

The Master's Hammer and Chisel INFOMERCIAL

"If it's both terrifying and amazing, then you should definitely pursue it."

If that's not my motto this week, not sure what is...

I have huge news to share and to even keep it a secret this long has been one of THE hardest things I've done! Let me share how this picture came about.

One week ago today, as I was arriving in San Diego for our annual Beachbody leadership retreat, we sat down to eat, and the phone rang. "Hi niki! We would love for you to extend your stay in California and head to LA on Saturday. You've been chosen to shoot the infomercial for The Masters Hammer and Chisel."

Just like that, opportunities opened up! Fear struck me right away.

But what about my baby?
What about my flight?
Am I worthy of this?

And just like that, excitement took over!

This is once in a lifetime.
This is going to be like nothing I've ever done.
I worked my butt off in that test group!

So on Sunday we headed to LA and began filming! Still shots the first day, video the second. It was insane!! I've met some of the most incredible people during this group and heading to LA with people who I had bonded with during this test group, was exciting! We got to know each other, experienced this together and I made life long friends. 💕 This company never ceases to amaze me! They treated us like queens and kings; amazing dinners, a hip hotel, hair and make up primping and my first LA trip, all inclusive!

So I hate that I couldn't share sooner, but the cat is out of the bag!! And all the transformations are amazing!! <3 Here is mine :)

The Masters Hammer and Chisel informercial coming soon! 😱💪🏼

Did I mention this program is gonna rock your socks off? HUGE thank you to my man, who has been holding the fort down all while being my biggest cheerleader, I'm so excited to get home and squeeze my family!

Want on the waitlist for the release of this program? Shoot me an email! Niki.whiting@yahoo.com with the SUBJECT: HAMMER AND CHISEL

The Master's Hammer and Chisel: CHISEL YOUR WAY FIT!

Hey all! Long time, no talk right?? Well I'm here and I've been SO busy, I think that will be my excuse for not updating my blog sooner...But I have GREAT reason to update!

The Master's Hammer and Chisel <3

Beachbody has created another KILLER workout program and paired it with the 21 Day Fix Meal Plan! So what IS The Master's Hammer and Chisel. WELL, I was chosen to be in the OFFICIAL Test Group for this program and we have been dedicated to it and our results for the last 60 days. I can't say TOO much right now, but I promise that when I CAN share, I'll be posting my progress pics side by side, HERE for all of you to see!

But let me just share with you what you can expect:

*Lost lbs
*Inches lost OR gained depending on your goals
*MUSCLE
*Fun
*30-40 minute workouts
*RESULTS

What equipment will you need:

1. A variety of free weights - adjustable or other
2. Resistance band OR pull up bar (I used both)
3. Bench or Ball (I used bench)

There is a PREVIEW, TWO actually, available NOW on my website for you to preview, with Beachbody On Demand. With the club membership, which is $2.99 a week, you have access to not only THAT program, but thousands of other workouts as well!

CLICK HERE TO GET STARTED NOW and click on ACCOUNT - From there you can create a "club membership" that allows you access to all of our streaming programs, along with their program schedules, meal plans, etc.

I will be offering a group leading UP TO the release of this program, where we will be focused on two programs, 21 Day Fix and/or Body Beast. We will be toning up, losing inches and lbs, learning proper nutrition and better eating habits, and keeping each other accountable! These programs are a GREAT prep for the new program releasing this DECEMBER :)

My group begins October 12th and for anyone who decides to invest in Shakeology this month, you'll receive either Body Beast OR 21 Day Fix for ** FREE ** Thats right, nada!

I don't know about you, but I want to go into the NEW YEAR, WITHOUT having to have a New Year's Resolution tied to changes to my BODY!

If you need support, accountability, help, tips, recipes, and to make this new journey FUN...Let's chat!

You can find me on Facebook at NIKI WHITING - FITNESS AND NUTRITION <3

Whip Your NAYSAYS On Out the Door

PROVE THEM WRONG.

Can we get a big APPLAUSE for those who are 

working toward bettering themselves in their everyday lives??

Why is it that when you get on social media, you see someone who is just bitter, jealous, hateful, hurtful...Trying to put someone down for deciding to make a LIFE CHANGE for the BETTER?

I'm the last person to even acknowledge negativity on my timeline. I immediately HIDE IT and move along. Our days here are numbered and I'm not going to live my life according to how someone ELSE sees fit. I think it's time we stop putting others down, and allow them to do what makes them happy.

I have a few pointers for those who don't like to see the positivity, the life transformations, the human beings gaining confidence, happiness and ridding themselves of their daily meds they thought they would surely be taking for the rest of their lives...

1. Hide from Feed
2. Unfollow
3. Unfriend
4. KEEP SCROLLING

I mean, I've seen it since I began my journey post baby, just wanting to find a place of motivation and support. I found that online, and I found a TRIBE that wants ME to better just as much as they want to be better themselves. It's a cool thing when women can uplift other women and help them get past daily obstacles that were keeping them from getting results when trying something on their own. Finding this FitFamily was one of the best things to happen to me, and guess what? It's legit~ For how long have we had people not even acknowledging that being a health and fitness coach is actually a THING. I just don't live by the rules of a boss who tells me where to sit, when to eat, what to do daily and how do to it in a certain time frame. I've created a life that allows freedom for myself, my family, from debts and worries financially, to HEALTH and HAPPINESS. There is nothing wrong with someone thinking OUTSIDE of the box and going for their dreams and making ISH HAPPEN. We have to start embracing ALL jobs, realizing that if that person is happy, thats ALL we need.

We can let people hit up the local fast food joint ALL DAY, but the moment someone decides to post about getting HEALTHY and using something that works, we have an issue with it?? I'm pretty sure the daily news is negativity enough for me each day, with all the hate spreading throughout the world. In no way am I bothered by a human being, finding the bravery to share their story and struggles in hopes to inspire ONE other person...And if you are, you should revert back to the above tips ;)

Let's stop spreading so much HATE and JEALOUSY, and instead embrace others for deciding to make a difference in their lives, their families lives, those who follow them and may decide, just MAYBE, that they are ready to make some changes too! <3

FIX APPROVED - CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

So I wanted to share a little sneak peek into the new FIXATE COOKBOOK that was JUST released.  I know that you hear me talk about the 21 Day Fix and Fix Extreme often, and these programs have been life changing for so many because its teaching them healthier eating habits, by sharing what and how much of each food group they should be having each day. Well, the cookbook includes over ** 100 ** recipes ALL fix approved! So this makes it S I M P L E.

I wanted to share one of the desserts because anyone who knows anything about me knows I LOVE desserts.

You can score it for $19 right here --> www.nikiwhitingfitness.com

Here goes:

CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Ingredients:

3 cups almond flour
1 teaspoon gluten free baking soda
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 cup organic coconut oil, melted
1/4 cup raw maple syrup
1 large egg
2 large egg whites (1/4 cup)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup semi sweet or dark chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 375.

2. line baking sheets with parchment paper
3. combine almond flour, baking soda and salt in medium bowl, mix well, set aside
4. beat oil and maple syrup in large mixer bowl until creamy, 4-5 minutes approx
5. add egg, egg whites and extract and beat for 2 more minutes
6. add almond flour mixture to egg mixture and mix until blended
7. add chocolate chips
8. drop round teaspoons onto parchment paper
9. bake 14-16 minutes

Store in sealed container!

YUM-O!

Online Coaching - How Did I Get Here?

If you want to know how to feel REALLY vulnerable, try answering questions about INCOME publicly. It's SO hard to have a job on social media, share openly your life, AND try to share what a blessing its been without it been awkward! ;)

But I'm going to try...

In a few days, I leave for my second Coach Summit trip ever. NASHVILLE this time, after my first being in Vegas! For those who don't know my story, let me do a little refresher as I know many of you have just started following me recently.

I absolutely LOVE coaching, but I didn't begin as a coach. 2.5 years ago I was an elementary teacher. I had gone to school, received my undergrad in marketing then pursued teaching because I loved helping others understand things and loved nurturing others. I got my masters in teaching and started what I thought would be my career! After struggling to get pregnant we finally conceived and the anxieties I had around leaving my little while heading off to work, was enough for us to decide to make some sacrifices and allow me to be home with our baby girl.

Fast forward to 5 months post partum and the moment I started with Beachbody products. Getting results and in the best shape of my life, at home, was the start of a new career and definitely fate. I began coaching shortly after, even with all the nerves and self doubts. Thank goodness for that nudge that allowed me to just go for it. What started with "Well maybe I could make enough to pay for our groceries" has become so much more than that! I've never led with income in the forefront, I've always just led with my heart, knowing that if I've helped just one person change their life, I've done my job.

My parents have ALWAYS taught me good work ethic, and I think thats honestly been the biggest reason I've succeeded. Working HARD even before the rewards were visible. My dad has ALWAYS been a huge supporter of me and me working toward my dreams, but what was "comfortable" was just getting an education and getting a mediocre job and working your way up. There was no thoughts of building my own dreams early on. My dad grew up knowing HUGE struggles. His family always struggled and the one big lesson my grandmother always taught him, was to always work HARD. And he has. He's built a business from the ground up and I'm SO proud of him. I wanted that. I wanted to be able to do MY thing and leave something great for my little ones behind. To build a LARGE savings early on, to not stress about the little things, to be able to give freely to others, and to be able to have FUN and go SEE places! I think for a long time, it was almost like I felt guilty finally feeling that freedom and success. It takes a while to take it all in and really understand that its OK to be successful and enjoy those successes and celebrate them!

So I was absolutely nervous about sharing this post, the posts about growth always freak me out. Because I never want you to assume that this is why I began coaching! But it's helped our family in so many ways. We have gotten in our best shape. My relationship with my husband has strengthened. Westley sees the importance of being healthy at a young age. Why would I not share this with w everyone? So whether you want to help a few people, help yourself, pay a few bills or create a six figure income, that all begins with learning more!

I'll be opening up a no risk, no obligation little intimate group to share with you all about the coaching opportunity after I return from our big coaching summit! We will begin Monday, and be sharing:

✔️ how do we earn? ✔️ how I grew my business from home on part time hours? ✔️ is this right for you? ✔️ what do coaches do? ✔️ is it the real deal? ✔️ what if I'm not in the best shape yet?

And lots more! You ready to see if it's your thing? Message me or comment below!

{cannot have a coach or be a coach}

Zucchini Nachos

Can anyone ever spell zucchini properly the first time? I have to write it out at LEAST two times.

Anyway, no matter how you spell it, this recipe for clean zucchini nachos is amazing! I use it when I'm teaching my challengers how to eat better meals, without your taste buds having to suffer ;)

So here goes:

Clean Zucchini Nachos

Toppings: 

¼ cup of black beans, 2 Tbsp of greek yogurt,1 tbsp of shredded cheese, 2 tbsp of salsa, ¼ of an avocado chopped, ¼ of a lb of ground turkey or ground bison sautéed with cumin, sea salt, and paprika

1-    Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Lightly mist one baking sheet with olive oil cooking spray.

2-    Slice one zucchini into 1/8"-1/4" thick rounds.

3-    Arrange evenly on baking sheet and lightly coat the tops with olive oil cooking spray.

4-    Sprinkle on salt and pepper. Bake zucchini rounds until browned and crisp, about 25 to 30 minutes, flipping each over halfway through. Check on them often, cooking times may vary. Rotate the chips around the baking sheet if needed.

5-    Sautee ground turkey/bison in pan over medium high heat seasoned with cumin, sea salt, and paprika. Set aside.

6-    When the zucchini chips are ready, take them out and allow them to cool. While you wait, heat the beans.

7-    Use a spatula to scoop the zucchini chips up and over to your plate. Layer on the toppings and enjoy.

Clean Fried Rice

Sick on the couch today, but I did make it to the grocery because I swore to myself and my challengers in my current 28 day group, that I was going to stay on track beginning today and stick with it for 5 weeks leading up to our beach trip!

With that said, I was craving some fried rice, and made this yummy meal that is sure to make everyone in your family, happy, healthy and FULL! Even my toddler raves about this meal wanting MORE MORE MORE.

So here goes:

What will you need to make this meal go down just right?

Clean Fried Rice (Makes 2 servings)

1/4 avocado diced small

¾ cup of cut up broccoli

6  baby carrots sliced thinly

1 and 1/4 cups of long grain brown rice, cooked

2 eggs

1 Tbsp of soy sauce or Tamari

2 Tbsp chopped onion

1/2 tsp of freshly grated ginger or 1 tsp of ground ginger

1 tsp of organic olive oil

Garlic powder to taste

Salt and Pepper to taste

Now to cook it just right! :)

1- Pre-cook your carrots and broccoli either in the microwave or stove top.

2- Heat a wok or non stick skillet over medium to medium high heat. Add the olive oil, onion, and ginger. Cook for about 3 minutes to really infuse the oil.

3- Add the rest of the veggies to the oil, and cook for about 5 to 7 minutes. Sprinkle with garlic powder and black pepper.

4- Add the rice and stir everything well. Then add the soy sauce (or tamari) and combine.

5- After cooking for a couple of minutes, create a well inside the rice mixture. Add the two freshly cracked eggs, and let them start to firm up. Then take your spatula and break up the egg into the rice mixture.

6- Take the avocado and top it for a yummy and quick meal.

Add ground turkey, bison, shrimp or chicken if you want something even more filling.

Enjoy!

Post Workout Tips

1. RECOVERY IS NOT ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL

Your buddy from yoga is going for round two the next day, but you can’t think about another downward dog? Perfectly normal. “If you are deconditioned or new to a fitness regimen, even low impact activity may be highly taxing on your system, and you may need to take breaks,”. So while another workout may be out of the question, consider a slow jog, walk, Piyo, yoga, or, heck, don’t do anything. Completed a tough race or marathon? You’re entitled to a few more days of recovery, which will help repair muscle tissue and joints.

2. YOU CAN STILL MOVE ON YOUR DAYS OFF

If you’re feeling pretty good the day after a hard workout, you don’t have to sit on the couch. On your off days, it is great to add active recovery. Doing light exercise such as yoga or a 30 minute low impact program, will help increase circulation, moving fibers and tissue so they are hydrated and heal quicker. Movement and circulation also drive nutrients into your muscles, accelerating the recovery process. She suggests doing an activity that uses different movements and targets different areas of the body. So if you’re addicted to spinning, try Pilates or Aqua Zumba on those off days. Lighter training days where you change your training activity will help you recover from particular movement patterns and avoid physical overuse injuries.

3. WHAT YOU EAT MATTERS, TOO

Paying attention to what you eat before and after you work out is important too. Your workout snack may differ depending on what you’re doing, but grabbing something rich in carbohydrates and protein is generally a good rule of thumb — think an apple with nut butter or a whole wheat English muffin with turkey. Got results and recovery? BEST POST WORKOUT EVER. Next to Shakeology of course ;) Remember, 80% of results come from EATS.

4. SLEEP IS (ALMOST) EVERYTHING

Getting sufficient shut-eye can also help with workouts. Research has shown that exercise can improve sleep quality, but there’s also the inverse relationship to consider: sleep improves exercise. Sleep is one of the most critical energy balancers. If you’re in zombie mode after a night partying or tossing and turning, your fitness performance can suffer. Something as simple as crunches can seem like a struggle, or your regular 2-mile run might suddenly feel taxing. Think of sleep as a system reboot that will get you into gear for your next workout, physically and mentally. 

  

Clean Penne with Alfredo and Broccoli

Clean Penne with Alfredo and Broccoli

Ingredients:

1 cup cauliflower (either dethawed or fresh chopped up)

¾  cup of organic fat free low sodium chicken broth

1/4 cup of unsweetened almond milk

½ Tbsp of garlic powder

A dash of salt and pepper

2 Tbsp of organic cottage cheese

 2 Tbsp of water

½ Tbsp of organic extra virgin olive oil

Directions

1- Over medium high heat, pour in your chicken broth and half of the almond milk the chopped up cauliflower. Bring this to a boil, then turn down the heat to simmer the cauliflower for 20 to 25 minutes. You want the cauliflower to soak up the liquid, and to become well cooked.

2- Add the spices to the cauliflower, and stir well. Remove from heat, and let it cool for about 5 to 10 minutes.

3- Pour the mixture into the blender, and blend until smooth. (You may need to use a spoon to scrape the sides down).

4- Add the olive oil, cottage cheese, the other half of the almond milk, and water to the mixture, and blend again to combine.

5- Return sauce to the pan over low heat to heat the sauce until ready to serve. Use half of alfredo for dinner, and the other half tomorrow for lunch.

Serve with 1 cup of whole wheat penne pasta. (Prepare 2 cups of pasta for leftovers tomorrow).