7 Ways Women Can Blast Middle-Age Belly Fat

One of the biggest queries I get from my mid-life friends is how can I get and stay lean? Many of these same ladies in their 40s, 50s and beyond are telling me they eat well, they exercise, and still yet, they can’t get rid of the stubborn pounds that show up around their middles. And, I believe them because many are workout buddies and so I see the struggle firsthand. We can largely thank pre-menopause and menopause for this unwelcomed fluffiness. The changes can be so frustrating and stressful, that many (even the once dedicated) decide to throw in the proverbial towel and allow their fitness to turn into fatness . . . but that’s not healthy, mentally or physically! Ways Women Can Blast Middle Age Belly Fat

While we can’t completely beat the “the change,” there are ways to keep ahead of this stage of life and minimize unwanted symptoms – like belly fat.  Read on to learn 7 Ways Women Can Blast Middle-Age Belly Fat – you’ll feel better and you’ll #BeYourBestBeast – that’s the personal hashtag / mantra I live by! Continue reading

15 Must Haves in a Keto Diet Kitchen

ad This post is sponsored by iWi but the content and opinions expressed here are my own. This post also contains affiliate links.

The Keto Diet is all the rage, although it’s been around since the 1920s. It’s an extreme diet, not for everyone . . . but devotees sing its praises and show off the results. High in fat (think 75 – 80% of calories), very low in carbohydrates (think 5%), and middle ground in protein (think 15 to 20%). 

Full disclosure, I am not a strict follower of the keto diet, but I am fascinated by it as someone who has been eating high protein, higher fat for years. In fact, I’ve posted many times about becoming fat-adapted and fat-loading for endurance sports. In other words, how to train your body to use fat more efficiently as fuel, thereby sparing glucose for later down the road in a race. The Keto Diet is pretty much the same, restricting carbs so your body sources out other energy, namely fat. Read on to find out some of the must-haves that benefit a keto, fat-adapted, or very low-carb lifestyle. Continue reading

Why Athletes Need Plenty of Omega-3 and Benefits of Algae-based

This post is sponsored by iWi but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

You run, you lift, you play sports, you lead an active lifestyle. You may also eat clean or follow a diet to help optimize your performance. It’s amazing what certain nutrients can do to help our bodies recover more quickly so that we can jump right into the next day’s challenges.iWi omega 3

“Omega-3s” are one of those buzzwords that you’ve probably heard thousands of times along your health, wellness and/or fitness journey. If you’ve ever wondered exactly what omega-3 fatty acids are, what the do and how they can help you as an athlete, read on! Continue reading

Supplement Strategy of Middle Age Female Endurance Athlete – Peek Inside my Medicine Cabinet

Friends and acquaintances on social media frequently ask me what supplements I use to support my active lifestyle. Partly, I’ve never really answered the question because it feels like opening up my medicine cabinet and inviting strangers rifle through at their leisure. And, also partly because I don’t want anyone to use MY cocktail of supplements as a cookie cutter solution for their needs. That just won’t work, we are all unique people with different needs. Peek Inside My Medicine Cabinet

However, that being said, I think that many of my supplements, considered individually, could help another female athlete (and in some cases, men) optimize wellness and performance . . . and so, I share! But please consult a medical professional if you thing you want to try one or more of these. Read on to learn about my major challenges as an elite master’s athlete (running, obstacle course racing, and CrossFit) and the supplement solutions I use on both a daily and as-needed basis. Continue reading

Off the Hook Flavor! Coho Salmon with Cranberry Jalapeno Compote

This post is sponsored by Sizzlefish, I received products to review. However, all opinions, editorial comments and recipes are my own.

Cooler of Frozen Sizzlefish

Sizzlefish recently sent me an impressive assortment of fish and seafood to incorporate into my November menus — sable fish, salmon, trout, scallops and more. Honestly, I couldn’t decide which fish to fry first (speaking metaphorically, of course), so I pulled the Coho salmon out of the pre-portioned, individually-packaged pile. That’s one thing I appreciated right off the bat, the fact that each serving is single-serve (less waste) and measured out to be exactly 4 ounces (no guesswork). As a connoisseur of all proteins, I know that a 4 ounce serving of beef, chicken or fish protein gives me around 25 grams of protein which is the optimal amount for my body to take on at any one feeding.

For quite some time now, I have made a conscious effort to increase the amount of protein I’m eating and pair that with as much fresh seasonal produces as I care for. However, I haven’t eliminated all grain and starchy carbs from my diet, because after experimenting around with Paleo and such, I really feel like I need some quality carb fuel to keep me where I want to be as an athlete. That being said, the powers of protein have done great things for me including speeding up my recovery time, leaning me out and boosting my brain power (okay, jury still out on that one)! Everyone knows I love beef, that’s no secret – but when it comes to getting enough quality Omega-3 fats, even a Texas rancher would say – go eat some fish! My husband and I eat at least two servings of Omega-3 rich fish per week and you should too! I think you’ll love this fall-seasoned recipe I created this weekend – Coho Salmon with Cranberry and Jalapeno Compote.

Coho Salmon with Cranberry Jalapeno Compote - TheFitFork.com

Sizzlefish Coho Salmon with Cranberry Jalapeno Compote - thefitfork.com

Coho Salmon with Cranberry and Jalapeno Compote Recipe (serves 2)

  • ½ cup fresh squeezed orange juice
  • ¾ cup fresh cranberries
  • 1 tablespoon minced jalapeno pepper (omit if you don’t like spicy)
  • 2 tablespoons Jalapeno jelly
  • 2 4-ounce portions of Coho Salmon (might I suggest Sizzlefish?)
  • ½ lime, juiced
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 tablespoon pepita (pumpkin) seeds, optional
  1. Preheat oven to 400 F degrees.
  2. On stovetop, add orange juice, cranberries, jalapenos, and jalapeno jelly to small saucepan. Bring to boil, reduce heat and let simmer, stirring frequently, for approximately 5 -7 minutes until cranberries have popped and cooked down.
  3. Meanwhile, place thawed salmon, skin side down, on rimmed baking sheet and drizzle with lime juice. Season with salt and pepper.
  4. To serve, scoop a generous serving of the cranberry compote atop salmon. Sprinkle with pepita seeds, if desired.

Note – skin may be removed from salmon after cooking, but at least try to eat the darker flesh next to the skin because where A LOT of the good-for-you fats are found.

Try Sizzlefish for yourself — use discount code TRISIZ for $10 off order!

What is your favorite type of fish?