Sunday, September 29

The Life-Changing Power of Early Morning Workouts


It's a beautiful start of the fall.. Staying in bed might sound tempting, snuggled in the warmth of your mattress, however, a morning workout might just be the little change you need that will make a world of difference. Read on for the details.

1.     Mental Clarity:

 Even if you look like a zombie after you go out of bed, once you awaken your senses and start to exercise, you're going to have great mental clarity and focus, which will pump you up for an awesome
and effective workout session much better than one you would have after you're tired and drained of work in the evening.


2.     Equipment:

Since most people train after their work, you'll have plenty of equipment and the gym would be nearly entirely yours for the conquering which means you can do much more in less time as you wont have to wait for your turn to use the equipment.
My invigorating training session at 9 in the morning after already giving two private training sessions and two online consultations. Early workouts ---> more time, more productivity


3.     Metabolism Boost:

According to research, high-intensity morning training sessions keep your energy levels high and metabolism boosted for the rest of the day.


4.     Increased Productivity:

Pumped metabolism and the resulting increased energy levels will also lead to increased productivity at work, guaranteed! Where most people would be tired and grumpy at the office, you'll walk in there with the invisible shiny armor and be full of life, full of creativity and fresh ideas, getting more work done.


5.     Time For Other Activities:

 Since you have a life, you'll get to spend more time doing other things in the afternoon like reading a book or catching up with your loved ones after work instead of working out.


Sunday, May 15

My Healthy Waffles Recipe


Yields 3 servings  Calories: 116   Protein 12.7g | Carbs 10g | Fat 2.5g


Ingredients                                                                            
  • 4 egg whites
  • 1 whole egg
  • two tbsp granulated sweetener 
  • 1/2 scoop protein powder (flavour of choice)
  • 4 tbsp of oats (kind does not matter)
  • dash of cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 tbsp greek yogurt (or 1 tbsp of salt-free fat-free labneh)


 Directions        
                                                                      
1.    Blend all the ingredients in a blender until a batter of smooth texture is formed

2.    Heat your *waffle iron and grease by spraying lavishly with PAM fat-free cooking spray 

3.    Pour part of the mixture into the waffle iron and wait for a couple of minutes until it completely bakes

4.    Remove from waffle iron and top with strawberries, light whipped cream and light chocolate sauce

5.    ¡Sahten! Enjoy!

Note: *The waffle iron can be found at most home appliances stores for an affordable price. Shoot me a private message if you want to know where I got mine from. 

A lot of time goes into preparing the recipes and writing the articles. If you enjoyed reading and want me to keep writing useful articles like this one, please click on like and share it among your friends. 

Should you have any question, feel free to post it in the comment section below and I'll answer them as soon as I can.

Wednesday, May 11

Healthy Frozen Yogurt Sugar-Free Fat-Free Recipe







Total Calories: 167      Protein 12g | Carbs 27.4g | Fat 1.2g



I love frozen yogurt. The ones commercially available are loaded with sugar, additives and flavourings. What if you can make it yourself easily at home?


Q:Why makes this version much lower in calories?


A: We are not using any sugars and no fillers whatsoever. 


Perfect if you have a sweet tooth and you're trying to cut down on sugar and sweets to meet your fitness goals. Also the yogurt is well known according to research to help shed belly fat. 


It's very simple and quick to prepare. Let's go!


 Ingredients                                                                            

  • 300 grams of fat-free Lebanese yogurt (Plain Laban)
  • 4 heaping tbsp of splenda granulated sweetener - 10 grams (can use more/less depending on your palate)
  • 1 tsp of vanilla extract
  • 100 grams of strawberries cut into pieces (optional)
  • 10 hazelnuts (optional)
  • 1 tbsp of raisins or goji berries (optional)

 Directions                                                                              
  1. Spoon the laban into a bowl 
  2. Place in the freezer. Then every 15 minutes take out and mix with a spoon. We will repeat this process 4 to 5 times over the course of of 1:15-1:30 hours in order to keep the mixture in a creamy frozen consistency. We don't want ice to form. 
  3. Once frozen, remove from the freezer and mix sweetener and vanilla extract in with a spoon.
  4. Top with sliced strawberries, hazelnuts and berries (optional)
  5. ¡Buen Provecho! Enjoy!

Note:

The Laban commercially available in Lebanon contains a lot of water, so don't expect the frozen yogurt to turn out like absolute cream. However, a hack would be to blend the mixture with a frozen banana towards the end, and that should make it creamier if you prefer. Also, if there are any ice lumps, use a hand-held mixer to make the frozen yogurt somewhat creamier.

More Pictures:

The yogurt and granulated sweetener I used for this recipe












Monday, May 2

Double Chocolate Creamy Custard Pudding


Double Chocolate Creamy Custard Pudding

Total Calories: 271      Protein 10g | Carbs 30g | Fat 9g



This is an insane snack. Let yourself be carried by the decadent taste of chocolate pudding the healthy low-calorie guiltless way.


Q:Why is it healthy?


A: We are using unsweetened cocoa powder which is low in fat yet high in antioxidants to fight free-radicals and boost feel-good hormones the chocolate induces, but without the calories. Also the strawberries are delicious, boast tons of health benefits and are incredibly low in calories.



Perfect if you have a sweet tooth and you're trying to cut down on sugar and sweets to meet your fitness goals.


It's very simple and quick to prepare. Let's go!


 Ingredients                                                                            

  • 200 grams of fat-free Lebanese yogurt (Plain Laban)
  • 30 grams of unsweetened cocoa powder 
  • 3 heaping tbsp of powdered sweetener of choice (can use more/less depending on your taste)
  • 100 grams of strawberries 
  • 15 grams of raw nuts

 Directions                                                                              
  1. Spoon the laban into a bowl 
  2. Add the cocoa powder in and mix them together to get a creamy pudding
  3. Add the sweetener and mix the pudding again with a spoon
  4. Top with sliced strawberries and raw nuts
  5. Optional but recommended: Place in freezer for 20 minutes then remove, mix again with a spoon, and put in freezer again for an additional 15 minutes to get half an ice-cream like consistency.
  6. ¡Buen Provecho! Your guiltless chocolate pudding is ready to tickle your tummy!



Pictures:

200 grams of fat-free yogurt (laban) in a bowl


Mix in around 30 grams of unsweetened cocoa powder until it completely dissolves 








Tuesday, June 2

Weight Loss Rules from Fit and Wit Master Trainer Djoe Mitri




When I first started as a fitness coach, I only had one or two clients. But with hard work, continued education and much experience to support the knowledge, my name got out there quickly and by now I have already worked with hundreds of clients and helped them reach their weight-loss goals. 

One example, Rimal, 26, mother of a girl, lost more than 20 pounds but most importantly "We built foundation together, and now I'm stronger, leaner, more determined to live healthy and keep the lifestyle."

Another example, Faraj Aoun, Film Director, in just 2 months his whole body transformed and not only lost plenty of weight, but is now muscular and very lean with six-packs on the horizon.

With my clients, I get hard at work not just making them lose fat, but to build a strong foundation, and help them overcome muscle imbalances.

We exercise very efficiently, foam-roll, and use a wide variety of equipment including kettle bells and free weights.

While I can help you reach your goals, I strive to inspire you to realise goals you never imagined before! Like the immense energy you will have, like the power. Heck, I have many clients that come to lose a few pounds and end up seeing their whole body transforming and they stand in awe, in disbelief at the sight!

Because in Beirut most 'coaches' you see in commercial gyms do not even come close to portraying the real image a coach should be. A coach does not toss weights around and count (any kid at elementary school can do that). A coach is there to inspire but most importantly to hold you ACCOUNTABLE! which is why I work with my clients around the clock to make them adhere to a proper diet plan and a healthy lifestyle and work for SUSTAINABLE results.

Djoe's Five Rules for Weight Control:

1. Stay Positive! I listen to my clients, learn about their weaknesses, what they like and what discourages them and we build a foundation together.

2. CARDIO?? No thank you. I implement an appropriate strength-building routine and some high-intensity interval training because that WORKS and that will yield better results in LESS TIME. I will not make you do hours of cardio, but only short, challenging fun ones that work!

3. Awareness to Eating! Yes, I ask my clients to keep a food diary and ask them to share it with me so that I analyse it and help them best. Research shows this SIGNIFICANTLY improves weight loss.

4- Change to Just One Thing: No, I will not frighten you by turning your life around. I understand we are human. I will help introduce small changes to your lifestyle little over little but that will make BIG DIFFERENCE. For example: drinking alcohol less often during the week. 



Coach and Fitness Trainer, founder of Fit and Wit, Djoe Mitri


Friday, April 3

Spicy Chocolate Protein Oatmeal


345 calories | Protein: 30 grams | Carbs: 28 grams | Fat: 9 grams  


Djoe's Spicy-Chocolate Protein Oatmeal



I love chocolate and I love the chili so I thought why not combine the smoothness of chocolate with the fierceness of chili into one explosive marriage of flavors? And guess what? The result turned out phenomenal. Not just that. It's all perfectly healthy.


What makes this so good?
  1. It is a perfect nutrient-dense powerhouse.
  2. The chocolate taste with chili is just divine. 
  3. As with all my recipes, it's easy to prepare.

 Ingredients                                                                                                                    

  • 4 table-spoons of oats
  • 1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 125 ml non-fat cow milk (or almond milk) 
  • 1 tsp red chilli powder
  • 3/4 tsp of cinnamon
  • 1 scoop of protein powder (chocolate or vanilla flavor)
  • 1 scoop of low-fat vanilla ice cream (optional) 
  • 1 tbsp of calorie-free chocolate syrup (or melt a square of dark chocolate) 

 Directions                                                                                                                      

1- Place the oats and milk in a non-stick pot and bring them to a boil then simmer for about 4 minutes until you get a thick consistency. Alternatively, you can cook in the microwave for 1 minute, take out, stir, then place again in the microwave for another minute. If mixture gets too dry, add a tiny little bit of more milk. 

2- Place the oatmeal in a bowl and let it cool for a minute before adding the rest o the ingredients and stirring until they completely dissolve. Make sure to taste your oatmeal and adjust the chili according to your taste. You don't want it to be overpowering! 

3- Add a scoop of low-fat, sugar-free ice cream and top with some calorie-free chocolate sauce.

4- Voila! Time to devour that deliciousness! It makes for a perfectly nutritious breakfast!



A lot of time goes into preparing the recipes and writing the articles. If you enjoyed reading and want me to keep writing useful articles like this one, please click on like and share it among your friends. 
Should you have any question, feel free to post it in the comment section below and I'll answer them as soon as I can.

Saturday, March 21

BodyBuilding Recipe: Red Velvet Protein Pancakes




These Red Velvet pancakes are so easy to prepare it's insane! And not only they don't owe any of their lusciousness to refined sugar and butter at all, they're also nutritious and very calorie efficient, meaning, bringing tons of protein and some complex carbs for quality energy without no sugar or fat.


So what you need is: 5 egg whites, half a banana, 40 grams oats, 1/2 tsp baking powder, sugar-free strawberry jello.

Yes. You heard that right. Only that....

You throw everything in a blender, depending on the sweetness desired, you might choose to put either half a packet of sugar-free strawberry jello or the entire one.

After they're blended, cook like normal pancakes in a pam-greased pan.

Enjoy this sinless treat, sinner.

Love, Djoe