Faith, Inspiration, Food Caroline Ward Faith, Inspiration, Food Caroline Ward

🔥ABSolutely Exciting March News⚡️

Sweet friends,

We are so excited to help you transform during March! Spring is almost here, March will be all about maximizing your whole body health. Commit to reaching your goals and filling out that ABSolutely awesome March calendar!

With Spring Break in full swing, it may feel like exercise is not an option. But don’t worry— we have plenty of workouts you can do anywhere, with or without equipment! Check them out on our app HERE, website HERE, and YouTube channel HERE.

Even during the busiest weeks of the year, you CAN stay on top of your nutrition. Let meal prepping at the beginning of each week help you stay accountable and on track! We are kicking off March with a new salad recipe that is healthy, delicious, and nutritious. The Baked Chicken Kale Apple and Quinoa Salad will be a family favorite and is easy to prep— try it out and let us know what you think!

Baked Chicken Kale Apple and Quinoa Salad

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb chicken breast

  • 1/2 cup tricolor dry quinoa

  • 6 cups slightly packed chopped kale (it will take about 1 1/2 bunches. Remove thick ribs before chopping, 6 oz chopped)

  • 2 crisp sweet apples, cored and chopped* (I used gala apples)

  • 1 cup walnuts, lightly toasted and roughly chopped

  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries or rasberries

  • 4 oz goat cheese, crumbled

Dressing Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup olive oil

  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

  • 2 Tbsp honey

  • 1 1/2 tsp dijon mustard

  • Salt to taste

Instructions:

  • Bake the chicken breasts: Place in the oven on 400 degrees for 35 minutes

  • Cook quinoa and cool: Cook quinoa according to directions on package and cool completely. 

  • Whisk dressing ingredients: While quinoa is cooling, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, honey, dijon and salt in a jar or bowl. 

  • Pour 3/4 dressing over kale, chill: Add kale to a salad bowl, whisk dressing once more then pour 3/4 of the dressing over kale and toss until kale is evenly coated. Cover bowl and chill 15 minutes (adding the dressing and letting it rest helps soften kale a bit).

  • Toss in remaining mix-ins and dressing: Remove salad from refrigerator, add apples, quinoa, walnuts and cranberries. Pour remaining dressing over salad then toss. Add goat cheese and toss just lightly. 

  • Serve or store covered in refrigerator for up to 4 hours (see notes).

This salad is filled with so many amazing ingredients to nourish your body! Olive oil and walnuts provide healthy fats; these are essential to give you energy and support cell growth. Chicken provide us with protein, which is an important building block of bones, muscles, cartilage, skin, and blood. Quinoa is a gluten-free, high protein, plant-based food that provides smart carbs, fiber, and protein. Kale is one of our favorite superfoods because it is rich in vitamins K, A and C, along with other vital nutrients. The health benefits of kale include detoxification, heart support, cancer prevention and a number of others. Apples help the digestive system, increase energy, and keep the doctor away🤩

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4-Week Spring Meal Plan

Are you feeling energized and motivated to continue fueling your body, mind, and spirit after the TransFIVE No-Sugar Challenge?

Click here to purchase a one-month meal plan complete with survival tips, a grocery list, a full meal plan, and various recipes!

March News

We want you to help you ABSolutely Maximize March! Pick up your March calendar challenge in the studio and make it a priority to fill this out each day of the month, with the ab exercise you did daily. We suggest that you print it out and put it on your fridge, bathroom mirror, a bulletin board, or somewhere you will see it everyday. We believe YOU CAN!

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ABSolutely Strong

Start off your month on the right ab (😆) and give this killer workout a try! Fire up the core and get the heart rate up in a matter of minutes. This will leave you feeling strengthened and empowered.

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NEW Bible Study

After an incredible 6-week Bible Study where we read through Rhythms of Renewal by Rebekah Lyons, we were inspired to continue diving into the Word and invest in our relationship with the Heavenly Father. We are so excited to start a study focused 1&2 Kings, called Trustworthy, by Lysa Terkeurst. Join us in “exploring the deeply applicable Scriptures that will teach us how to truly trust God.”

In this study you will learn to:

  • Identify and challenge doubts in the one true God.

  • Loosen your grip of trying to control people and circumstances in your life

  • Explore how the Old Testament applies to our lives today.

  • Learn to trust in the goodness and faithfulness of God.

This study will start on March 5th, from 12:00-1:00pm and meet in the TransFit studio. Sign up on the APP for this FREE community bible study.

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TransFit Girls

Every Wednesday, TransFit Girls meets at 4:30pm in the TransFit studio. Sign up on the app.

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Fit for a Miracle 5K

Our SECOND annual Fit for a Miracle 5k benefitting ESP is scheduled to take place on May 3, 2020 at 4:30 pm. We will also have a Miracle Mile (1 mile fun-run) at 4:00 pm. We are SO excited about this opportunity to support ESP Miracle League, which will provide transformative experiences for individuals with disabilities to thrive through the magic of accessible play and inclusive baseball.

You can register for this event online HERE or download the mail-in registration form below. All of the proceeds from this event will be donated toward Extra Special People and help to fund Summer Camp. If you or your business would like to help sponsor this event please email us HERE!

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Check out our website for more blogs, inspiration, recipes, workouts, and more!

Let us know how we can serve you! Email us at transfitathens@gmail.com if you have any questions or want to schedule a one-on-one.

Blessings, 

Team TransFit

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Most Inspirational Client Spotlight, Jessica Beaver!

Inspirational Client Spotlight- Jessica Beaver's story of true transformation

Jessica and family

Jessica came to meet with me four months ago and had a burning desire and heart to want to get healthy so she could be the BEST mother, wife, and friend she could be to all those around her. She wanted a program that would help her stay accountable and help her reach her goals for whole body health – body, mind, and spirit.  Over the pst four months Jessica has lost weight, decreased body fat and inches significantly but more importantly has found her TRUE STRENGTH!  Jessica’s story is so inspirational and I am so proud of her for staying committed and reaching her goals to be her very best!

 “Set your minds ready for action, being self disciplined, and set your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you by Christ!” 1 Peter 1:13

I am so thankful that Jessica found her true strength and I know she will keep acheiving her goals and dreams!

Client Spotlight- Jessica Beaver

For most of my life I have been a healthy, active person. My husband, Britt and 2 children, Amelia (10) & Landon (7), enjoy being active together at home and on vacation. With life and priorities, over the last few years my exercise routine had become sporadic and I developed some unhealthy eating habits. This led to a 30 pound weight gain. I struggled for some time with different diets, exercise programs, ‘fix-me-fast’ concepts that just did not work. I was in a place where I didn’t recognize myself, on the inside and out. I was defeated, hopeless and so ashamed of allowing myself to get to this point. I had even stopped doing physical things I loved to do. I have always been self-motivated, a do it on my own type, but after much prayer and I knew I needed some help. I needed consistency, accountability & encouragement. Caroline came to mind and I gave her a call. Of course being Caroline she was so sweet, encouraging and supportive. She was just what I needed to turn my defeat around. I decided on the Advance Your Fitness program –Weekly meal & exercise plans with weekly weigh ins. This was end of March, so I have been sticking to the program for 4 months now.

The exercise plans are great! Honestly, I love exercising, always have. I love challenging my body and trying new things to see what I can do.

I will admit that on some days I did not think I would make it through the strength training workouts! I was pushed to my limit and it was hard. But I kept going. These workouts also taught me to listen to my body – when I could push harder and when I needed to take a break. My favorites are lunges and squats with planks mixed in. My current routine is strength training (body weight, HITT) 3 times a week and cardio 2 times. I try to get in yoga or stretching once a week.

If you haven’t worked with Caroline on nutrition – you should. I have to admit I was skeptical about the concept of losing weight eating nuts, oils, avocados, etc. I am convinced that is the most significant contribution to my weight loss. More importantly, I have more energy and no longer crave the bad things I thought I had to have a few months ago. My new favorites are chia seeds, farro, avocado on most anything, and smoothies. Adopting this all around healthy lifestyle has benefited my family as well. This has been a family movement – for the most part I am not making separate meals for them and me. They are eating things we had never heard of – and loving them!

When I initially began the shift to a healthier lifestyle, my main goal was weight loss. I just wanted to get it off. 20 pounds lighter, I have achieved that. Although I still have more to lose, that is no longer my focus. It has been an amazing experience to see my body transform. It was so encouraging to not only see the scale go down, but my BMI & body measurements were significantly lower. I am stronger, healthier, and more confident in my own skin. I had no idea it would happen this fast. It has been HARD and I still struggle, it is a daily battle. But it is worth it. I look forward to seeing even more progress over the coming months. My family has noticed a difference too. I am in a better mood : ) I want to ride bikes again. Go to the park. Be active WITH them.

My goals at this point are to maintain my current exercise routine & nutrition when I begin working full-time. I am also working on increasing my push up max and developing core strength. 

I encourage you to take time for yourself – to give your body the care you deserve. 

Below is one of Jessica's favorite recipes!

Cucumber, Feta & Sun-dried Tomato Farro Salad

Ingredients:

* 1 cup uncooked pearled farro

* 2 tbsp minced red onion

* 1/4 cup minced sun-dried tomatoes

* 1/4 cup fresh grated feta

* 2/3 cup finely chopped cucumber, seeds removed

* 1/4 cup finely chopped bell pepper

* 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice (use vinegar if you don’t love lemon)

* 1 tbsp olive oil

* 1 tbsp finely chopped mint or parsley

* kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste

Directions: Cook farro in salted water according to package directions, about 15-20 minutes. Drain and let cool. Combine olive oil with lemon juice. Gently mix ingredients and toss well. Serve chilled or room temperature.  Add in chicken or avocado. Delicious over a bed of fresh spinach for a hearty, healthy lunch.

Makes 4 servings.

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