Tag: beginner fitness tips

Fitness Tips

How To Get More Steps Everyday Without A Treadmill

melaniewalessustainableliving

When it comes to making any fitness or activity goal happen day in and day out  without fail it’s imperative to be open and creative.  If we think the only way to reach a step goal is time on a treadmill, think again.

What happens if you can’t get to the gym?  Don’t own a treadmill? 

Do these obstacles mean you need to skip getting in your daily steps? 

 Of course not.  You have choices.  

Next are a few creative ways to increase your daily step count without access to a treadmill.

  1. Walk outside.  Personally I dress for the weather rain, snow, or shine and make it happen.  Daily outdoor light is a must and why not combine the time with a walk.  Enjoy a podcast, talk to a friend on the phone, or meet up with someone and make the time enjoyable.  My daughter is my step buddy.  We love our walks and talks together. 
  2. Walk inside.  Pace around the house.  Take more laps through the isles in a big box store.  Mall walk.  Take the stairs.  When tidying up at home take several trips instead of one and rack up a few more.  Every extra bit of activity counts. 
  3. Walk in place.  This is my secret weapon and I’ve done it for years and years.  This has been the way I make sure to never miss my daily step goal. I walk in place while watching a show, studying, reading, talking on the phone, and even in between sets during my workouts.  Yes, at the end of a long day I have been known to walk in place to ensure I have those last few steps before diving head first into bed.  Lol!

Make realistic goals, commit, be creative, and then make them happen. 

You’ve got this!

My own annual daily step average over the last 6 years!

If I can make it happen day in and day out, so can you!

If you have thought about having me as your coach to support you along your own fitness journey check out the Online Fitness Coaching page on my website for more info and how to inquire about my online fitness coaching service. Receive customized activity and nutrition plans, monthly virtual calls, and weekly email check in’s.

http://melaniewales-sustainableliving.com/online-fitness-coaching/

Follow me on Instagram for evidence based fitness tips, free recipes, and full days of eating.

http://www.instgram.com/melaniewales.sustainableliving

Fitness Tips

How To Master The Nutritional Content Of Your Own Recipes 

melaniewalessustainableliving

As you dive into the world of meal prep take your own favorite bulk recipes including soups, stews, and baked goods and find out the nutritional content with the easy steps outlined below.

First, grab a notebook and keep it handy with a pen in your kitchen. 

Next, weigh out each ingredient you are using in your total recipe and jot that down. 

Then, decide the number of servings you want that recipe to be.

Divide each of the ingredients by the number of servings you have chosen. 

Those numbers and ingredients are what you will track in your food tracking app or log book. 

To figure out your portion of the prepared mixed meal to eat, weigh out the total cooked weight of what you made and jot that number down too. 

Divide that number by the number of servings. 

This is how much you portion to eat.

Make sense? 

It does take more effort up front, but the results from having accuracy in your portions and how much you are eating more then makes up for the effort. It also gets easier with practice. 

Some nutrition coaching apps like Carbon Diet Coach have a recipe function. You input all the ingredients and then add in the prepared weight of the food and voila. Pick any portion and it does the macro calculations for each unique serving for you. This is what I do.  I’ve been using Carbon since it launched in 2020!  I highly recommend. 

Find more meal prep tips, ideas, recipes and more in my e cookbooks.  This info comes directly from The Art Of Meal Prep For Sustainable Living Volume 2.  Click below for details.

https://melaniewales-sustainableliving.com/shop-cookbook/

Find me on Instagram for more recipes, fitness tips, and meal ideas.

www.instagram.com/melaniewales.sustainableliving

Fitness Tips

Start Meal Prepping Now With 2 Simple Prep Ideas

melaniewalessustainableliving

Want to start meal prepping so you can have an easier time reaching your fitness goals but have no idea how to begin making it a habit? Here are 2 simple quick prep ideas to get you started.

Prep Idea # 1: Cut up some veggies so they are ready for snacking and use a store bought dressing as a dip.

Prep Idea # 2: Prepare bananas for protein smoothies. Simply peel ripe bananas, break or slice into chunks, place in a freezer bag and freeze. Add a few pieces along with water, ice, and protein powder to a blender so you can make delicious smoothies in a matter of minutes.

Meal prep doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s about planning and preparing ahead so when those feelings of hunger strike it’s easier to make choices that align with your goals.

Need plenty of meal prep ideas, recipes, and tips to help you reach your goals? My e- cookbooks are available! Click below for details. Find over 100 macro friendly recipes and so much more.

https://melaniewales-sustainableliving.com/shop-cookbook/

Find me on Instagram for more recipes, fitness tips, and meal ideas.

www.instagram.com/melaniewales.sustainableliving

Fitness Tips

5 Proactive Fitness Habits To Start Now 

melaniewalessustainableliving

Over the course of losing and keeping off 145lbs I have learned quite a bit about what it takes to make weight loss not only possible, but also sustainable. 

It can feel hard to build new habits. That’s why it is best to keep things as simple as possible. It’s amazing how all the small things we do each day add up with time and consistency, not perfection.

Here are 5 proactive habits you can begin doing now to help you get and stay fit long term.

  1. Cook: make most of your meals at home.
  2. Grocery shop: do this weekly to make sure you always have fresh fruits and vegetables and lean proteins available. 
  3. Walk: Move more often throughout the day. Bonus points if you can do it outside. 
  4. Don’t snack: Mindless snacking makes it so easy to overeat. Aim for 3-5 meals each containing at least 25g lean protein and a fruit and/or veg at consistent meal times. 
  5. Found Moment Exercise: Don’t let the excuse of not having enough time stop you from doing something! A solid session of resistance training is great. But if time is limited a set of push ups or bodyweight squats sprinkled throughout the day really add up! 

If you have thought about having me as your coach to support you along your own fitness journey check out the Online Fitness Coaching page on my website for more info and how to inquire about my online fitness coaching service. Receive customized activity and nutrition plans, monthly virtual calls, and weekly email check in’s.

See my client testimonials.

www.melaniewales-sustainableliving.com

Follow me on Instagram for more tips, free recipes, and full days of eating.

www.instagram.com/melaniewales.sustainableliving

Fit Recipes!

Free Recipe: Quick and Easy Protein Packed Cereal 

melaniewalessustainableliving

Try this quick and easy protein packed cereal when you don’t feel like cooking, have no meal prepped food, or are super busy.

By simply mixing a scoop of protein powder to your milk and adding in berries you take cereal to another level.

Cereal and milk by itself is usually very low in protein and a hearty bowl can pack in the calories, but then leave you feeling hungry soon after. 

However, when you add in protein powder and high volume berries you can keep the calories in check while leaving you feeling more satisfied from this convenient and quick meal with longer sustained energy. 

Additionally, if you are using a super tasty protein powder it makes it even more delicious than using plain milk with your cereal. 

Once you try it you will never go back!

Serves 1 (calories and macros will vary slightly depending on the ingredients you use)

364 calories
29g protein
48g carbohydrate
6g fat

NGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED

  • 175ml 2% milk
  • 100g fresh or frozen berries
  • 30g protein powder of choice
  • 30g cereal of choice 

DIRECTIONS

Whisk the protein powder into the milk. Add in the berries and cereal. Eat and enjoy!

Need some more fun and delicious recipes and meal ideas to help you reach your goals? My e- cookbooks are available! Click below for details. 

https://melaniewales-sustainableliving.com/shop-cookbook/

Find many more delicious, macro friendly, and quick breakfast recipes and so much more!

Find me on Instagram for more recipes, fitness tips, and meal ideas.

www.instagram.com/melaniewales.sustainableliving

Fit Recipes!

Free Recipe: Double Chocolate Fudge Protein Brownie

melaniewalessustainableliving

I stumbled across this perfect protein brownie recipe on accident!  I was trying to create something else utilizing canned pumpkin and chocolate and what ended up happening was that I made divine brownies instead!  The pumpkin is what makes this brownie possible. You don’t taste the pumpkin at all, instead it gives this brownie it’s perfect texture without using butter and allows the rich chocolate flavor to come through.🤤 

Makes 8 servings

Per 60g serving

135 calories 

9g protein

19g carbohydrate

3.5 fat

INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED

  • 2 eggs 
  • 75ml real maple syrup 
  • 75g nonfat Greek yogurt (unsweetened applesauce can also be used and works great!)
  • 140g canned pumpkin 
  • 25g cocoa powder 
  • 50g Chocolate Protein Powder of choice 
  • 25g all purpose flour 
  • 50g semi sweet chocolate chips (or mix and match any kind of baking chips such as milk, dark, white or peanut butter chips)
  • 5g baking powder 
  • 1/2 tsp ground pink Himalayan salt 

DIRECTIONS

In a mixer or by hand mix together the eggs, maple syrup, Greek yogurt, and pumpkin until smooth.

By hand fold in the cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.

By hand fold in the protein powder.

By hand gently fold in the flour and chocolate chips until smooth and just combined. To not over mix!

Pour the batter in a parchment lined 8×8 baking pan and bake at 325 degrees for 22 minutes.

Remove from oven and allow to cool on a wire rack. The middle of the brownie should still be a bit gooey when you first remove it from the oven. It will further set as it cools.

Once cooled cut into desired portions and store in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.

Need some more fun and delicious recipes to help you reach your goals? My e- cookbooks are available! Click below for details. 

https://melaniewales-sustainableliving.com/shop-cookbook/

This Double Chocolate Fudge Protein Brownie recipe is included in Volume 1 as well as many more delicious and macro friendly sweet treat recipes for brownies, cookies, and so much more.

Find me on Instagram for more recipes, fitness tips, and meal ideas.

www.instagram.com/melaniewales.sustainableliving

Fitness Tips

How To Reach 10k Steps Per Day Without A Treadmill

melaniewalessustainableliving

When it comes to making any fitness or activity goal happen day in and day out  without fail it’s imperative to be open and creative.  If we think the only way to reach a step goal is time on a treadmill, think again.

What happens if you can’t get to the gym?  Don’t own a treadmill? 

Do these obstacles mean you need to skip getting in your daily steps? 

Of course not.  You have choices.  

Next are a few creative ways to increase your daily step count without access to a treadmill.

  1. Walk outside.  Personally I dress for the weather rain, snow, or shine and make it happen.  Daily outdoor light is a must and why not combine the time with a walk.  Enjoy a podcast, talk to a friend on the phone, or meet up with someone and make the time enjoyable.  My daughter is my step buddy.  We love our walks and talks together. 
  2. Walk inside.  Pace around the house.  Take more laps through the isles in a big box store.  Mall walk.  Take the stairs.  When tidying up at home take several trips instead of one and rack up a few more.  Every extra bit of activity counts. 
  3. Walk in place.  This is my secret weapon and I’ve done it for years and years.  This has been the way I make sure to never miss my daily step goal. I walk in place while watching a show, studying, reading, talking on the phone, and even in between sets during my workouts.  Yes, at the end of a long day I have been known to walk in place to ensure I have those last few steps before diving head first into bed.  Lol!

Make realistic goals, commit, be creative, and then make them happen. You’ve got this!

If you have thought about having me as your coach to support you along your own fitness journey check out the Online Fitness Coaching page on my website for more info and how to inquire about my online fitness coaching service. Receive customized activity and nutrition plans, monthly virtual calls, and weekly email check in’s.

http://melaniewales-sustainableliving.com/online-fitness-coaching/

Follow me on Instagram for evidence based fitness tips, free recipes, and full days of eating.

http://www.instgram.com/melaniewales.sustainableliving