A new fitness challenge has been posted to my new blog at www.bodydesignbyalissa.com. Please subscribe to my new location to keep up to date with latest in fitness, health and beauty.
Thanks again for reading my blog and always stay fit! 
New Body Design by Alissa site!
30 JanThank you for reading the Body Design by Alissa blog, we will be moving to a new location: http://bodydesignbyalissa.com/category/blog . I look forward to inspiring you towards higher levels of health and fitness in our new location!
New Year, New You! Challenge 4!
26 JanI hope you (and your friends and family) are enjoying this journey to a healthy new you! If you’ve stopped seeing results with your exercise program or are bored with typical strength and cardio workouts, it’s time for you to switch up your routine! Luckily for you, new workouts are created all the time. Try something new and you just may find a new appreciation and love for exercise. I’ve recently added suspension training to my workout and love it! The small change in my program has created positive changes in my physique! Remember all the different styles of exercise that there are: hooping, reformer pilates, aerial yoga, couples yoga, aerial silks workouts, suspension training and many more. Search the internet to find new DVDs or local studios with classes that excite you, this is a huge step to help make all of your health and fitness dreams come true! Good luck and of course have fun!
New Year, New You! Challenge 3!
16 JanMaking a lifestyle change is not always easy, but it is definitely worth it! Reaching all of your health and fitness goals is not only possible but can even be fun. It’s important to have a support system in place to help keep you on track and motivated. My challenge for you this week is to get your friends and family involved in your lifestyle change. Make it fun! Get together with a group of friends and sign up for a cardio dance class, have a yummy, healthy recipe swap and talk about the progress you all are making! I promise that this challenge will help you have more fun and be more motivated, and successful while taking this journey to a healthier you. YOU CAN DO IT!
New Year, New You! Challenge 2!
9 JanLast week was a fun challenge, now it’s time to turn the excitement and hope generated from the vision board into action and results! Sometimes it’s hard to get back on track after you spent December eating cookies and sipping cocktails, but this week we’re going to get our diets back on track! Diet is the most important aspect of weight loss and optimal health and beauty! This year we’re looking for a lifestyle makeover!
1. Beware of any diet that offers a quick fix.
There are many diets that offer quick and drastic weight loss: the grapefruit diet, the cabbage soup diet,completely cutting out all carbs and many more. Any diet that drastically cuts back on calories and promises quick and easy weight loss is a gimmick. You may initially lose 10 pounds in a week, but the weight will return, plus more. The goal of today’s challenge is to find a nutrition plan that you can stick with and will leave you feeling healthy, satisfied and full of energy for the rest of your life!
2. Find a diet that fits into your lifestyle.
There are currently two popular theories in weight loss: listen to your body and eat only when you are hungry (as opposed to when you’re bored or when everyone else is) or eat 5 small meals every 2 1/2 to 3 hours that consists of lean protein and an abundance of veggies, fruits and whole grains. I’ve listened to people discuss both theories of weight loss and both have validity in my mind (I personally find the most success when eating only when you’re hungry). No matter which diet you feel is correct, focus on eating real, nutritious foods (lots of veggies, whole grains, fruits, nuts, seeds and lean protein) rather than consuming preservative filled diet foods or sugary snacks. A diet full of natural real foods will always give you the positive results.
3. You should feel better on your new diet.
How do you know when you’ve found your perfect diet? The right diet will allow you to maintain your perfect weight with ease, increase energy, and improve digestion, mood, skin, hair and health.
4. Research!
There is no one size fits all diet plan. There are so many valid theories of nutrition that it can be overwhelming! Below are some of my favorite diet and nutrition books:
-The Beauty Detox (which I just started today) : I highly recommend reading this book, it allows you to look at food, nutrition and beauty in a new way. I will report back in two months to let you know the changes that I notice in my body, hair, skin and nails!
-Skinny Bitch
-You Are What You Eat
-The Eat Clean series
Good luck with this week’s challenge! Check back next week for a new challenge!
What’s For Dinner Tonight? Smashed Potatoes with Mushroom Gravy!
6 JanThis recipe is a delicious and easy side that makes any dinner feel special and is enjoyed by everyone!
Ingredients:
1 large baking potato per person
1 Tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup onion
1 8 oz container sliced mushrooms
14 oz vegetable stock
2 Tbsp soy sauce
3 Tbsp cornstarch or arrowroot
2 Tbsp nutritional yeast (optional)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Line a baking dish with foil, arrange potatoes in it and cover with more foil. Bake for 45 minutes to one hour (potatoes should be easily pierced).
Prepare gravy shortly before serving.
Heat oil in a large saucepan, add shallots and saute over medium-low heat until just beginning to brown.
Add mushrooms, cover and cook 8 minutes, until mushrooms wilt and add stock an soy sauce.
Combine cornstarch or arrowroot with enough water to dissolve. When the liquid in the saucepan comes to a simmer, slowly whisk in the dissolved arrowroot, stirring constantly until the liquid is thickened.
Remove from heat and add in yeast.
Cut each potato in half and lightly smash each with a potato masher and pour gravy over each.
