2013-07-12

New Member Forum
I am really excited to introduce my new Forum! This will be a great place to interact with others in the "Maria" community. You can start posts for any topics you like including your success stories, Fitness and workout advise, nutrition, recipes and more. This will be a great place to post your favorite "Healthified" recipes with photos and your experience. Please note, if you have a question for me, please use this facebook page or my blog. This will be a site to interact with each other. So share it with others. The more members the better!  Just click "forum" above or go HERE to get signed up!

Glimps of My Workday and Testimonial
When I am answering your questions and comments, I wanted you to get a picture of what it is like in the life of Maria and Craig! The boys are my little helpers too!



My client, Rob, (who travels 70% of the time for work) wanted to share with you how EASY my program was for him:

"Maria, Many of those that have posted have struck a chord with my situation before starting with you.  The "dark" side of my story was intentionally left out because I'm not at my goal yet.  For now, I just keep myself focused on results and not how or why--especially since it's difficult to exist in the "what if I didn't have a friend that helped me?"

It is humbling to see how much trust you place in your clients and how much hope and faith they have in you!  There were some posters that touched on similar concerns to mine, so I wanted to clarify in the hope that others may see how working with you can simplify, not complicate; can be cheap not expensive.

1.  I did NOT cook for most of my progression.  I suck at cooking.  I had to ask my wife how to hard boil eggs.  Seriously.   So MY weight loss was not dependent on baking or cooking skills.  Your recipes  impacted my enjoyment and spare time, but my weight loss was not dependent on a magic recipe.  And I built up to them.  With that said, I can see how some people would see immediate benefit from substituting your healthified stuff.  But for someone that is on the road, eats out or just can't cook--don't worry.  Maria's plan works incredibly well in that reality that so many of us live in.

2.  When my son and I cook, it's often easy stuff like fried eggs or my new hard-boiled egg recipe (egg + boiling water).  I thought I'd be late to work, but it literally takes 15 minutes start to finish.  Okay, sometimes longer if we decide to sing.  My waffle maker was $50.  Made that back in one skipped trip to Sunday buffet.  Your pancakes are like $2.50 and were breakfast for 3 days.

3.  My progress and your plan for me was 100% INDEPENDENT of source of food.  Eggs were eggs.  Chicken was chicken.  I did NOT need to find cage-free, organic DHA ratio'd eggs from Chickens that did yoga every morning.

4.  I took the past 1.5 to 2 months to learn WHILE doing.  You have now recommended 4-5 books that I read while exercising.  And youtubes and postings.  But if I waited to learn, I'd still be where I was.  Maybe even more depressed.  I imagine a lot of people are like how I am in many many ways but chose not to be with this.  I would read to find fault or problems.  To blame an industry or a food.  I came to realize that even if all of that is true, so what?  It's not about them, it's about me.

5.  I did not try to change anyone but me.  We had meals where son, wife and me all ate different things.  So what?  Is that ideal--no.  But who cares?  You know what--son started asking for what "papa" was eating.  Salsa (Pace) over ketchup.  Then mustard over salsa.  Then eggs over toast.  Now mustard on eggs.   And mustard on waffles.  Eventually that's where the baking and recipes helped...and that was key for me.

6.  Your plan SAVED me money.  I saved on snack foods not because I chose to not eat them--but because I did not need to snack.  I have a $8 bag of almonds in my pantry that I bought 2 months ago--and am only now down to the bottom.  I used to spend $15/day on snacks throughout the day.

7.  It was far easier for me to use your system of basic meal first, then build.  I didn't focus on what I couldn't eat--just on what I could.  I built a meal only from known things--especially helpful when on the road.  "When in doubt, leave it out."  I was stunned that I would get full and satisfied throughout the day so I didn't even feel like I missed anything. 

8.  Here's a true story--I started to pass on airline meals.  I've had two flight attendants tell me "Good for you" in a very sincere way.  One explained how she fasts while flying.  This WILL happen to anyone that does your plan--you will find camaraderie in the oddest places.

9.  I have an ego and associated my willingness to try any local food with business success and whatever.  That was totally in my head.  There are just as many, if not more, people that I work with that have endeared themselves to me because I opted to jog along the oceanside rather than eat a local potato.

10.  Mentally, it was important for me to paint a picture quickly.  After a couple days of seeing the mental shift and energy level, I tried consciously to act as though I was already there.  What you helped me focus on was things like sleep, stress and reading.  I was therefore making decisions from a positive place and not out of victim, sufferer, tired/cranky, etc..

Anyway, Maria thanks for all your help and I'm looking forward to my own home stretch to my goal.  Looking forward to trying even more of the recipes with my son who's already asking me for your chocolate donuts!  'Papa, Nutritious AND Delicious!'   He's one smart low-carb cookie!" 



Last night I spoke with a weight loss group and one of the questions was how do I make life easier and what tips do I have when shopping. Well, I rarely go to the grocery store! I get most of my items online.

One woman thanked me for my aStore because she ended up saving money (especially with the Jay Robb protein powder). To find the protein powders I love, check out this list: (I also have allergen-free protein powders in HERE): http://astore.amazon.com/marisnutran05-20?_encoding=UTF8&node=56

Here is a great Pure Protein and Fat recipe for you initial days of Pure Protein and Fat. To read more on why Pure Protein and Fat, check out my book: Secrets to a Healthy Metabolism. Thank you all for your kind words!



Reminder: If you are ever unsure about where to find the ingredients in my recipes, just click on the word and I will send you to where I purchase my ingredients at a great price! I RARELY go to the grocery store. I get most of my pantry items online. It saves me time and money!

"HEALTHIFIED" PANCAKES
2 TBS butter or coconut oil
3 large eggs
3/4 cup unsweetened almond milk
1/2 cup vanilla Jay Robb protein powder (egg white or whey protein)
1/4 tsp Celtic sea salt
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp stevia glycerite (or 1/4 cup Swerve)

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. In a medium cast iron skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat and set aside. In a blender, combine the eggs, almond milk, protein powder (any flavor will work... strawberry??? yum!), salt, vanilla and natural sweetener. Blend for about 1 minute or until foamy. Pour the batter into the skillet. Bake for about 18-20 minutes or until the pancake is puffed and golden brown.

Remove the pancake from the oven, spread additional butter or coconut oil on the pancake, cut into wedges and enjoy! Makes 2 servings.

NUTRITIONAL COMPARISON (per serving)
Traditional Dutch Baby = 378 calories, 22.3g fat, 15g protein, 28.6g carbs, 0.8g fiber (27.8 effective carbs)
"Healthified" Dutch Baby = 334 calories, 20g fat, 34.9g protein, 2.3g carbs, trace fiber (2.3 effective carbs)

Top with Nature's Hollow Syrup or click HERE to find my favorite homemade sauce or follow this dairy free option:

"HEALTHIFIED" DAIRY FREE CARAMEL SAUCE
1 can (2 cups) coconut milk
1 cup Swerve
2 TBS coconut oil
1/4 tsp vanilla

Bring coconut milk and natural sweetener to a boil and vigorously simmer for 40-60 min until slightly brown in color. The longer you simmer, the thicker it will become.  Remove from heat and mix in oil and vanilla. Cool. Makes 12 servings.

NUTRITIONAL COMPARISON (per serving)
Traditional Caramel = 120 calories, 9g fat, trace protein, 39g carbs, trace fiber (39 effective carbs)
"Healthified" Caramel = 66 calories, 7g fat, 0.5g protein, 1.1g carbs, trace fiber (1.1 effective carbs)

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