My Skinny Greens Drink


A lot of people ask me what my favorite health drink is for staying active on the job. While I love my “Chocolate Almond Banana” when I’m craving something chocolaty & decedent (1 heaping scoop of almond butter, 1/2 frozen banana & 1 scoop chocolate protein powder blended with 1/2 cup ice and 1 cup almond milk), this greens drink is the one I ALWAYS send to clients who are looking to tone up their tummies & clean up their diet before for summertime!

My skinny greens drink packs enough nutrients to be a hearty snack or light meal – and since I eat small meals throughout the day, this is one of my must-haves! It’s perfect a few hours before a workout or immediately post-workout since this drink is PACKED with fiber, protein, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals to keep your metabolism high so your body can keep burning those calories! Plus it tastes AMAZINGGGG…just wait till you start making this and see how much more energy you have!


A client of mine now calls this drink her “Superwoman Drink” since she has dropped 2 sizes (along with doing pilates 4 times a week) once she started adding this into her diet! My other client nicknamed this smoothie “The Green Monster” and makes it for her kids when they get home from school. She adds a small scoop of peanut butter before blending to make it more decedent and says they love the taste and have as much energy as “little monsters” as they run around and play afterward! (…I don’t think kids ever slow down – but it’s better than cookies!)

Whatever you do, however you like it – make this drink for a healthy punch that will improve & enhance your immune system, body physique, waistline, energy levels, skin tone & metabolism!

Jessica’s Skinny Greens Drink

1 bunch spinach
1 bunch kale
1 cup chopped cucumber
A quarter or 1/3 of an avocado (depending how big it is)
1/2 cup pineapple
1/2 frozen banana
1/2 cup ice
3/4 cup water

Blend until smooth & enjoy immediately!

Cooking Healthy Together on KCAL-9

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I was so honored to have a guest spot on KCAL-9 news at 12pm this past Wednesday, May 2nd!

Since my new cookbook, Cooking Healthy Together, is receiving so much positive press (yay!), I was asked to do a special healthy cooking segment on KCAL-9 for Cinco de Mayo since it’s just around the corner! The afternoon show featured my Turkey Tacos in Lettuce CupsChunky Guacamole, and (of course) Fresh Lime Margaritas!

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Every item was a HUGE HIT as I lead the anchors David Gonzales & Sandra Mitchell down my fun Mexican-themed recipe lineup!

We touched on a few key points about my cookbook Cooking Healthy Together too, one of my favorites being how you can still enjoy yummy food & cocktails but can make everything healthier by cooking at home with your loved one!

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If you weren’t able to watch it on Wednesday, see me LIVE on KCAL-9 talking about Cooking Healthy Together and get the recipes for my Cinco De Mayo favorites by clicking on the link below!

Cooking Healthy Together on KCAL-9 News

Cheers to an amazing & healthy Cinco De Mayo…at home!

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And both my husband, Joey, and my dad came with me for support (of course!) and to help me set up…what great guys! :)

Here is my husband, Joey, and I before the show started!Image

Me with my dad right before they called us to set…

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FREE COOKBOOK GIVEAWAY!

Enter now for a FREE COOKBOOK GIVEAWAY!!!

Go to The Chalkboard Mag and write your favorite cooking tip in the comments section! I will decide the winner later this week and you will receive one of my cookbooks for FREE – and signed by me!

If you still need a cookbook, or want to order more, click on the photo below to purchase for only $19.95!!

XO jessica

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Cheers to Fridays!

Oh, how I love Fridays.

I make sure to mark myself out of the schedule early and take a little time for myself after a busy week of clients & constant early mornings (although I love my job, this is a necessity so I don’t get burned out!). And even though I fit exercise in most days of the week, Fridays are my “no-rushed-workout-days” where I enjoy my pilates routine without having to worry about what time it is.

But Fridays are my favorite for another very special reason…cocktails!

Yes, although I am a health freak – I really love an amazing glass of wine at the end of the day or a cocktail to share with my husband. If you have one of my cookbooks, Cooking Healthy Together, you can even see I have a special chapter dedicated to the fabulousness of cocktails titled “Cheers to Us!” (and rightfully so!)

So here is a cocktail from my book called “The Greatest Greyhounds.” I actually got the name from my dad who loves this cocktail and so I added my own little fresh twist to it. If you have my book, I love pairing this cocktail with either my Crispy Kale Chips, Organic Hummus or Chunky Guacamole - all perfect appetizers/snacks that go great with the tangy taste of refreshing grapefruit & mint!

The Greatest Greyhounds

Serves 2

Ingredients:

1⁄2 cup (3 oz.) premium vodka

1⁄2 cup (3 oz.) fresh squeezed grapefruit juice

Crushed ice

5-10 mint leaves, washed and patted dry

Muddler

Cocktail shaker

Bar glasses

How to Make:

1. In a cocktail shaker, crush mint leaves with a muddler until they break apart.

2. Add vodka, grapefruit juice and crushed ice to the shaker.

3. Hold top and shake well for at least 15 seconds.

4. Fill bar glasses with crushed ice.

5. Pour greyhounds slowly from shaker into each glass.

Cheers! :)

Cookbook: Cooking Healthy Together

I am SO EXCITED to announce that my cookbook, Cooking Healthy Together, has been published!!!!

It can be ordered & sent to you immediately by purchasing it from CreateSpace or the fabulous website of celebrity wedding planner Mindy Weiss! If you would rather purchase it in-store (and live in Los Angeles) my cookbook is also available at the high-end fashion boutique Switch in Beverly Hills.

Let’s start cooking for health, longevity, skinny waistlines & good food!

Bon Appetite!!!

Cooking Healthy Together

Easy & Delicious 5-Step Recipes for Newlywed Couples

Authored by Jessica Luengo
Photographs by Trina Harris

Cooking Healthy Together

List Price: $19.95

Add to Cart


 Jessica Luengo (longtime Pilates instructor of actress Tamera Mowry and celebrity wedding planner Mindy Weiss), has created a healthy & easy-to-follow cookbook with every recipe in 5 steps or less! This book is an essential in any kitchen, with everything from healthy meals and cocktails to kitchen must-haves, grocery lists and quick health tips. It even includes a special section on how to cook fish, chicken and red meat two ways (seasoning instructions included) for those who are just learning the basics! This is truly the perfect wedding gift for newlywed couples and/or for anyone looking to cook healthy meals together.

 About the author:
Jessica Luengo is passionate about nutrition and is a newlywed herself. Her talent for cooking was developed at an early age, as she helped her mother create healthy meals every night in their kitchen at home. Besides being knowledgable about nutrition, Jessica is also a Pilates instructor and strives to help her clients develop and maintain a healthy balance in their everyday lives. She hopes this cookbook will inspire people to get in the kitchen and have fun cooking as they enjoy healthier meals together!

Juicing for Your Health

juicing

I’m sure you’ve heard of it. It’s in tons of magazines hyped up as the miracle secret to every celebrity body. It’s also readily-available to buy and have delivered to your door by just googling “juice cleanse.”  We would be crazy to think it’s not the smart & healthy thing to do! But what is the point of juicing, really? To loose weight? Get clearer skin? Be healthier overall? I do recommend juicing for those looking to start the year off fresh and feeling the need to detox, especially since juicing is an easy way to incorporate many different fruits and vegetables you might despise eating on their own into your diet. All the drinking, holiday cookies and vacations can sit in your stomach for a while, and it’s time to bid those extra pounds GOODBYE! But I want you to reconsider your reasoning behind why you want to put your life on hold (for juice, that is…)

Juicing to LOOSE WEIGHT: It’s a great thought - “all I have to do is drink juice and I will automatically loose weight!” Well, that’s halfway true. Juicing will help you loose weight initially because you’re drinking your calories instead of eating them whole, so the body processes them much quicker and more efficiently since it dosen’t have to break down actual food. However, once you go back to eating regular foods that weight you lost will come right back. This is because you’re not permanently changing your eating habits, you are temporarily changing them, so the body gets confused once it has to start breaking foods down again. And let’s be honest, you can’t juice forever. But don’t get discourage by this – GET ENCOURAGED! This is a challenge to start getting your eating habits healthier and keep the weight you do loose with the cleanse off for good. I also remind my clients who want to do this type of cleanse (or any type of cleanse for that matter) to be cautious about how often they decide to do these, as it usually disrupts your normal schedule, such as going out for lunches/dinners (it would be weird to bring your juicer to dinner), energy levels for workouts (you tend you have less), and bank account (it can get pricey!). Plus, if you have a normal and busy life to begin with, juicing is not an easy lifestyle to keep up with. Yes, it will help you loose weight initially, but then it’s up to you to continue to eat healthy unprocessed foods and stay on top of your workouts to keep the weight off.

Bottom Line: Think of juicing as a starting point to getting on a healthy track verses a quick body fix.

Juicing to get CLEARER SKIN: I think most people would agree that you are what you eat. More correctly, what you eat will show up in your pores! If you eat crap, you’re going to look like it – and that’s both gross and unattractive to all parties. So instead, eat cleaner foods for a clearer face. It’s that simple. Juices are FULL of vitamins and minerals that we need to keep our skin looking and feeling amazing, so when you start replacing that greasy cheeseburger with a juice full of green leafy vegetables or fresh squeezed fruit, you’re going to definitely notice differences in your complexion.

Bottom Line: Juicing helps hydrate your skin to show off its natural glow – no plastic surgeon needed!

Juicing to be HEALTHIER OVERALL: A question I love to get all the time is what people can do to be healthier. Three things: Eat more fruits & vegetables, drink more water, and exercise on a daily basis. Juicing covers two of those (fruits & vegetables are full of water if you’re wondering what the second covered point is…). As you go on whatever form of cleanse you decide, or happen to juice as a healthy way to supplement your meals (which I personally do), the benefits will be enormously huge no matter which way you look at it. I have heard stories about people fighting (and beating) diseases through juicing, finding a new love for their body and mind, and finally realizing how aware we must be of what we put in our mouths. How we eat directly affects the way we feel, look, and live.

Bottom Line: If we juice to be healthy, we are choosing a better way of life for the long-term.

I write for an online health magazine called The Chalkboard Mag that was created by a juicery here in Los Angeles, Pressed Juicery (which is amazing to buy juice from if anyone is looking). I am constantly reading new information about juicing and how wonderful it is for the body, mind and soul – and I personally think it’s wonderful for those looking to incorporate a dose of healthiness into their existing lives. Sometimes we are so busy (especially if your schedule is always changing) to control what we have to eat when we’re hungry. You can find a local juicery or buy juice online to have delivered for convenience purposes, but with all the juicers, high-end blenders and fresh produce available, there’s no excuse as to why you can’t make at least one juice a day to have as or supplement with your meal (which I do for my husband and I every morning with our breakfast).

My Bottom Line: You don’t have to make juicing your life, but try to make it part of the process.

jessica luengo juicing for health

Check out The Chalkboard Mag (the magazine I write for) for healthy lifestyle tips: thechalkboardmag.com

Check out Pressed Juicery for the best juices I have ever tasted and refer all my clients to try: pressedjuicery.com

*If there are any topics you would like me to ellaborate on in regards to heath and fitness, PLEASE POST and I will be sure to consider it for my next article on The Chalkboard Mag!

How to Stay Healthy this New Year

Oh how I love the motivation of people after the New Year…the bright aspiring new faces in the studio hoping to get the body of their dreams in just a few simple sessions. Like “POOF! – here’s the new body you wished for in 2012!”

Although I love meeting new faces, it’s not what inspires me as a trainer. What inspires me are my AMAZING clients who have been in the know about health and fitness for so much longer than that goal set at midnight. They set new goals for themselves – and continue to come in and work hard, only to leave with REAL EXPECTATIONS of what they need to do after they leave the studio. Now that’s something to celebrate if you ask me!

I am a HUGE FAN of setting goals for yourself (obviously!) and creating realization exercises to get people a step further in their health and fitness. From writing resolutions in a journal, to making charts and vision boards, I believe if you realize what you want you go after it more!

To begin this process there are three things you have to remember every new year:

  1. Where have I been?
  2. Where am I going?
  3. How am I going to get there?

Think about how far you’ve come from last year – that’s where you’ve been. Whether it was at the gym, racking up hours at the office, or running around after your kids (maybe you even had kids!) – we’ve all grown in some way from last year’s experiences. It is important to take a moment and recognize how much you’ve accomplished within the year. However, it’s just as important to set new and improved goals that you want to reach by the end of this year. Which leads me to my second point…

Where do you want to be in your life? Is it promoted? Thinner? Eating healthier? Scheduling appointments better? Making more time for family and friends? Every person needs to have the realization of what direction they want to be going toward. To do this successfully, we need to have a plan and check in everyday with ourselves. I personally love making check-lists with things I want to achieve personally, professionally and physically. Be honest with yourself about the road you are headed on and the things in your life you might need to tweak to get to where you want to be.

Now, how are you going to get there? Well, it’s not like the Wizard of Oz where you can click your heels and end up at your goal. (Sorry Dorothy!) Life is real work if you want to make a big change in it! If you want  a promotion, you need to show up earlier, stay later, and be more aggressive in your job position. If you want to be thinner, you need to exercise more, eat healthier, and possibly get a trainer to jump start your weight loss journey. Yes, a journey – this does not happen overnight if you want a skinny body for life (sorry to crush your hopes in one sentence). It’s about committing time for yourself, and this can only happen by rearranging your existing schedule to make yourself a priority.

So here’s your jumpstart to accomplishing your New Years goals! Realize where you’ve been, where you’re going and how you are going to get there. No one wants to hear “I would like to loose 10 pounds…”

In the words of Nike: JUST DO IT.

pilates jessica luengo los angeles

Here’s to a Healthy 2012!

Just wanted to reach out to all my followers who love and care about making 2012 a year of healthy choices for themselves and their families. We all have so many goals we want to reach at one point or another, so why not make this year your year?

For myself…as a newlywed – I not only want to be a supportive and loving wife, but continue to take care of myself mentally & physically for myself and my husband - because what hubby doesn’t want a confident & sexy wife by their side?

To my clients…who I depend on as much as they depend on me – thank you for trusting your bodies with me in 2011! I know 2012 will be a kick-ass year for you. You all have the strength to become whoever you want because you are strong, beautiful and mindful of what it is to be healthy. I love & cherish each and every one of you (and I only train people I believe want it and are ready to work hard for it!) ;)

To my family and friends…you are everything and more to me. You are my support system and my cheerleading team. I love that I can call you in times of frustration AND joy – which is why you will always be so important in my life. I always say this, but family is everything to me. You can tell this easily if you ever see my family and I together.

Everyone has the choice to be healthier, live stronger & be happier. Let 2012 be the year for new beginnings, continued successes, and letting go of those who hold us back.

Cheers to Health in 2012!!!

XO jess

jessica luengo

The Gift of Pilates

Everyone wants a hot pilates body…so give the gift of fitness!

Gift pilates to friends, co-workers & family members – but most importantly – gift it to yourself.

I have a lot of clients who work so hard all year around, they don’t want to throw it all away on holiday cookies! (Thank God.) There are a lot of easy ways of staying motivated throughout the holidays, and pilates is one of them. That’s because pilates keeps you focused and in tune with your body – two of the most important factors when exercising.


This holiday season, here are a few pilates tips that I share in my studio:

  • Stand tall. Pilates is all about alignment, which in turn helps your posture. Standing tall doesn’t necessarily correlate to your actual height – it’s about pulling your shoulders down, elongating your spine, opening your chest and making sure your hips are at an even height. Simply put: act like someone above you is pulling your head up toward the ceiling so your whole body leans out like a string bean.
  • Up the workouts. Add 10-15 minutes to your normal routine to burn those extra calories you might be eating or drinking as the holiday treats emerge. A lot of my clients add in a session or two the months of December & January because of so many holiday vacations & parties!
  • Watch what you eat. Just because its being offered doesn’t mean you have to accept by eating or drinking it. Pilates reminds you that what you put in your body is directly felt the next day in your workout session! Be smart.
  • Think health when gifting. Give yourself and others a healthier body – not more stuff that will never be touched or worn. I love giving out healthy cookbooks or cooking classes to those I know want to learn how to cook, or workout gear from Lululemon and Nike outfits. Prepaid workout classes are great ideas too! When you gift motivating things people will use them!

Think about what to gift this season and rethink what you are doing for yourself to keep your mind, body and health in tip-top shape.

Pilates is a gift I give myself and my amazing loyal clients. Hopefully it will also be to those who are looking for a new challenging workout in 2012.

Like I always say: If you aren’t a fan of the pilates workout – maybe it wasn’t hard enough or you didn’t sweat enough when you tried it – you haven’t experienced a good enough trainer! (The most important element.)

Gift yourself!

jessica luengo pilates

Thanksgiving Recipes

Thanksgiving is always one of those holidays we love and hate. We love all the eating, drinking, laughing, entertaining – but we hate the feeling of actually feeling like a stuffed turkey afterward!

One of the easiest ways to watch your figure around the holidays is to bring an item from your own kitchen to the table. This way you have one dish you know is really yummy – and not because it’s loaded with tons of cream, sugar & salt!

Here are a few holiday favorites I love to make that are easy & healthy, but yet delicious and not too “good-for-you-tasting” so it feels like you are really splurging when you’re not. Bonus: You’ll never hear so many compliments on how good your dish is – and they don’t even notice it’s full of vegetables…


Sweet & Salty Brussels Sprouts

It’s not often anyone asks for brussels sprouts at the table, but this dish is so full of flavor & vitamin C, it will be gone before you are able to go back for seconds!

(Serves 8-10)

4 cups brussels sprouts, haved

4 slices low-sodium turkey bacon, diced

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 large pears, diced

2 large fugi apples, diced

2 cups apple cider

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 teaspoon ground pepper

2 tablespoons walnuts

Directions: Cook turkey bacon; set aside. In a large pan, heat oil over medium heat. Cook brussels sprouts, cut side down & flipping once, until browned, about 10-12 minutes. Add in diced pear and apple and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add cider, cinnamon, sea salt & pepper. Simmer and stir until all liquid cooks away. Add in cooked turkey bacon pieces and heat with brussels sprouts for 1-2 minutes. Top with walnuts.


Roasted Root Vegetables with Rosemary, Garlic & Thyme

*Time Saver: At Trader Joe’s, they have prepackage root vegetables available that are already washed & cut into perfect cube-sized pieces for this recipe!

(Serves 10-12)

3 cups carrot

3 cups sweet potato

3 cups baby red potato

3 cups butternut squash

3 cups parsnip

3 cups turnip

1/4 cup olive oil

4 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped

2 tbsp rosemary

2 tbsp thyme

sea salt & fresh ground pepper

Cooking spray

Directions: Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Peel & cut all vegetables into 1/2 inch cubes (or similar size). Combine vegetables in large bowl with olive oil, garlic, 1 tbsp rosemary, 1 tbsp thyme, sea salt & pepper to taste. Toss well to coat. Spread vegetables in a large baking dish (you may have to use 2) coated well with cooking spray. Cook for 35-40 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. Top with remaining rosemary & thyme.


Super Quick & Easy Lemon Tart

This dessert isn’t the healthiest - but it’s so rich with lemon & vanilla flavor, you can have a few bites and be completely sugar-saitsfied. Plus, its so easy to make you’ll never have to worry about bringing a dessert last minute again!

(Serves 8-10)

1 large Meyer lemon

1 1/2 cups superfine sugar

1 stick organic butter

1 tsp. vanilla

4 organic eggs

Powdered sugar for dusting

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut lemon into 8 pieces and place in blender (skins and all!) with the rest of the ingredients. Blend like crazy until smooth! Pour this mixture into your favorite pie or tart crust shell. Bake for 40 minutes or until set (making sure it doesn’t burn). Sprinkle top lightly with powdered sugar and serve.

Remember - Thanksgiving is all about being thankful - so what are you most thankful for?

I’m thankful for my loving family, close friends, good health, amazing clients – and of course, pilates.

jessica luengo pilates health


Everything in Moderation

This is for those who struggle with living a healthy lifestyle that they can keep up with. “Is this forever?” is what I hear on a daily basis from clients looking to change their look without putting in the time. “What about cookies? Wine? Chocolate? How am I going to get through the holidays with all the treats around?!” The answer is simple: moderation.

Moderation is what you need to start incorporating into your every day routine so that you can enjoy all the things you love, especially around holiday time. After all, it’s the every day stuff that’s going to hinder your weight loss/gain and healthy eating habits.

So what does everything in moderation really mean?

Here are 5 tips on how to bring a little more balance & moderation into your life…

  1. Workout in the morning. I know sometimes it seems impossible to even imagine – especially when you have kids running around or an office to get to – but if you leave your workouts to the afternoon or night something will always come up. When we were kids, my mom would get up at 5am to workout and be home in time to wake us up for school (she has always been super-mom in my opinion – of course I’m biased ;) ). It really does take commitment to get exercise in. Not only does research prove this, life does too.
  2. Don’t buy junk food. If it’s out of sight, it’s out of mind. Don’t buy food you’re tempted by! If you want your kids to have snacks, make them healthy ones like carrots with hummus or guacamole, turkey wraps in high-fiber tortillas or natural peanut butter in celery sticks. Cookie craving? Buy the ingredients and make them fresh! Not only are they more delicious, the process of baking makes you re-think how bad you want them verses just grabbing a few mediocre store-bought ones. Stash a few fresh-baked cookies away for you and then give the rest to neighbors or coworkers for a sweet gift!
  3. Indulge – a little bit. Love chocolate? Have dark chocolate that has at least 70% cocoa to get antioxidant benefits. Want to have a glass of wine at night with dinner? Go for it! Resveratrol, a compound found in wine, may help break down fat (yay!). Plus, research shows that enjoying a glass of alcohol, particularly wine, made women 30% less less likely to gain weight and 21% less likely to add inches to their waistline, Nutrition Reviews reported (making this review magazine my new favorite read – Ha!). But in all seriousness, your body gets used to an eating routine. Therefore, it’s better to have a glass of wine a night or a little piece of dark chocolate instead of gorging on the weekends which just confuses your body and screws with your metabolism.
  4. Be happy. Have you ever noticed that sometimes you loose weight without even thinking about it, but when you obsess over loosing weight the pounds never seem to fall off? That’s because we stress ourselves out way more than we need to, and when we stress out our bodies hold on to everything we eat. Surround yourself with people who encourage healthy lifestyle choices (and don’t stress you out) so you feel supported, comfortable & happy with yourself and your goals.
  5. No excuses. So tired of hearing them as much as the next person. We all have lives – don’t make your life any more busy than it needs to be. Say no to drinks after work and say you have an “appointment.” That appointment being with your trainer! If you find yourself skipping workouts you might have to face the sunrise & get your workout in before work (tip #1). Sure, at first it might be hard to turn down a social scene or to get up earlier in the morning, but whatever your excuse is now throw it away. No one buys those anymore.
Happy Moderate Holidays!
jessica luengo pilates

What to Cook for Dinner

It’s Monday. You’re standing in front of your fridge and thinking…”what the heck am I going to make for dinner?

Sometimes it’s hard to figure out which foods will taste good together. I’m here to help you out a little bit. Here are 4 easy food groups to look for. Once you identify one in each group, grab & set it aside.

Now let’s get ready for some easy-made home cookin’!

  1. Protein. Whether its chicken breast, turkey, steak, fish, eggs, beans or tofu – make sure you have some protein ready to cook (or already cooked) in your fridge everyday. Meals should be based around this food group. Chicken & turkey breasts can be cooked in the oven at 425 degrees for about 20-25 minutes and fish for 10-15 minutes. You can also turn on the grill or stovetop to medium-high heat and cook fish for 6-10 minutes or chicken for 12-15 minutes.
  2. Vegetables. Learn to love them & think outside the box! Asparagus, spinach, kale, beets and onions can all be prepared fresh or cooked. Fresh: use as a base for a salad. Cooked: saute’ with a tablespoon of olive oil and fresh chopped garlic over stovetop on medium-heat for 3-5 minutes.
  3. Whole grain. Brown & wild rice, quinoa, couscous and potatoes might be known as carb “no-no’s,” but in small doses they actually help keep you satisfied and full without the bulge! About 1/4 to 1/3 cup of cooked whole grain, 1 small sweet potato, or  2-3 baby red or purple potatoes is the serving size you should be aiming for.
  4. Healthy Fat. Heart-healthy oils, avocados, raw nuts, raw coconut and olives are all wonderful to add to meals in small doses. Whether you’re sauteing with 1-2 tablespoons of heart-healthy oil, combining olive oil & vinegar for dressing, adding 1/4 sliced avocado to salad, or topping your quinoa with 2 tablespoons of chopped nuts – a dose of healthy fat will satisfy any cravings you might have for sweets later & miraculously keep the belly bloat away!
I know a lot of you are full-time moms, employees, or just plain food-challenged (it’s okay to admit it, no one is judging), but this is a really easy way to start learning how to cook and get healthy at home.
Use these 4 points of what to look for next time you peak in your fridge. Then write a list and bring it with you as you hit the grocery store – ASAP!
jessica luengo pilates

Your Guide to a Flat Belly

jessica luengo pilates flat belly

You want a flat belly?

Please don’t do 200 sit-ups at the gym. Not only is it hard to watch – it’s pointless.

There is no other request I get more often in the studio than for a skinny middle, and I always repeat the same answer: To get a flat belly you need to change the way you live. That means changing your workout routine (cardio is not enough), throwing out all the soda (even if its diet), and learning how to cook (put down the take-out menu).

Here are 7 ways to cinch inches off your waistline – plus my personal flat-belly tips!

  1. Drink H2O. Listen – it’s not rocket science I’m writing about here. Water cleanses your liver and pushes food through the body faster. The more water you drink, the thinner you’ll be. *Flat-Belly Tip: Adding lemon to water has been linked to a smaller waist size!
  2. Move More Often. This doesn’t concern the gym. It simply means walking more regularly, taking stairs, hiking with your dog or running after your kids on the playground. Put down your remote control and get up off that chair to get more active throughout the day. Make that call to your mom as you’re walking around the block, or climb your office stairs every day. You can burn extras of hundreds of calories by simply just moving more often. *Flat-Belly Tip: Think of pulling your belly button toward your spine as you walk to feel a greater belly connection!
  3. Lift Weights. Cardio is not enough. I’m a big fan of pilates exercises on the reformer machine, which uses resistance ropes to control movements while concentrating on your core. My clients notice results in their bodies – especially in their stomach regions - faster. Your body has to work harder to recover when you integrate weight-bearing exercises into workouts, which drives your metabolism into overtime! *Flat-Belly Tip: Every time you lift a weight or resistance band, think about moving from your center to control movements & create a better connection to your stomach muscles!
  4. Eat Protein. Think organic free-range chicken breast, fish (especially wild salmon), lean ground turkey, eggs, tofu and beans. Protein is also the nutrient that builds muscle—and the more muscle you have, the higher your metabolism and the more calories you’ll burn throughout the day! *Flat-Belly Tip: Adding protein to every meal/snack will keep your stomach full & your mind off the sweet stuff!
  5. Eat Fiber. Berries, apples, pears, seeds, leafy greens, oats & whole grains. Fiber gives you a ton of nutrients with less calories. Perfect. *Flat-Belly Tip: Here’s a waist-slimming breakfast recipe – Combine freshly prepared oatmeal with one scoop of protein powder and top with berries, cinnamon & sliced almonds.
  6. Make Friends with Healthy Fat. Polyunsaturated & monounsaturated fats, like those found in nuts, olive oil, fish and avocados, help your body digest foods in a quick and efficient way to keep your stomach fuller longer and your brain happier. Bonus? Healthy fats are tasty in small doses – just a tablespoon or scoop is usually enough to get your recommended daily amount. *Flat-Belly Tip: Make your own belly-friendly salad dressing by combining 1 tablespoon each olive oil, vinegar, dijon mustard, honey & lemon juice. YUM!
  7. Don’t Forget Antioxidents. Artichokes, berries, cinnamon, oregano – even beans and potatoes! Fruits and vegetables are packed with powerful antioxidants that can lower your risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes-related damage and even slow down the body’s natural aging process. Antioxidants help prevent cholesterol-clogging in your arteries, keep your heart pumping, and (more vainly) will help clear your skin! *Flat-Belly Tip: A glass of red wine counts!
Remember, these are just ways to incorporate healthy changes into your exercise and diet routine. Now that you have the knowledge and flat-belly tips, make a plan, stay on track & create the changes you need to.
Your flat belly is so close I can (barely) see it! :)
jessica luengo pilates flat belly

Happy Hour Healthy-Style

Have you ever heard of unhappy hour? I didn’t think so. Happy hour is the new and improved excuse to get friends together earlier, jet out of the office faster and get your social fix in. The only thing that isn’t “happy” about this hour (or let’s face it – hours) is usually how your stomach feels around 8pm. Now I love a good happy hour (trust me), but what I’ve learned is you have to choose where to go to really enjoy it hours after the “happy” has ended…

Here are 3 favorite tips of mine to survive the many unhappy hours you will spend at the gym working off your one hour of happiness:

  1. Stay away from the sugar. That means the sugary bottom-shelf cocktail on the menu is $5 for a reason. If you want to enjoy the prices – but not the sugar – order the vodka they are serving with that happy hour drink and have it with club soda and a splash of cranberry or lime instead.
  2. Order what you like, not necessarily what’s on the menu. If there’s a particular wine or liquor you enjoy, is it really worth the $3-5 savings to order off the happy hour menu? If it is, go for it – but you’re better off ordering something you like to drink verses saving a few bucks. Here’s the irony: you’ll end up drinking less because that drink costs more – making you think twice about ordering a second or third drink – so you save on calories and money!
  3. Don’t throw away your food rules. A lot of happy hour menus come with food options – so choose wisely! Those chicken wings aren’t going to metabolize as quickly as raw vegetables with hummus. Stay away from the fried foods and look for lean proteins that are grilled or raw, such as sashimi, chicken skewers and carpaccio. If they don’t offer raw veggies with dips like hummus or salsa on the menu, just for a side or to substitute them for chips or bread.
Everyone wants to enjoy happy hour!
Restaurants are becoming more conscious of the fact that healthy offers equal repeat customers. So the next time a colleague asks you to hit the bars after work, just be smart and use these 3 tips as a guide to staying on track.
jessica luengo

jessica luengo

Workout Goals

jessica luengo pilates los angelesThere tends to be high expectations when someone starts to workout again. People want to see results today – not 3 months from now. As we all know (tried and true) these workout goals don’t motivate us to be healthier overall, but instead motivate us for immediate killer figures! The problem? These goals eventually fade with frustrations of wanting instant results, and we surrender back to our normal inconsistent habits.

How do we stick to workout goals that last?

For those wondering how to get a figure you’ll love all year around, you have to make goals that last all year around. It’s really that simple. Here are a few rules to remember to keep you on track:

1. Don’t get distracted by your busy schedule. Life is all about scheduling, so why would you think workouts would be any different? You have to make workouts an intergrate part of your schedule so you can stay on track and not make excuses for time constraints.

2. Don’t beat yourself up if you miss a workout – life happens! Just remember to skip dessert that night and workout a little longer the following day.

3. Listen to your body. If you’re sick – rest. If you’re sore, stop being a wimp and push through it! Our bodies are strong machines and we let ourselves off the hook too easily sometimes.

4. Stay consistent. Kind of the same with scheduling in workouts – but this one really speaks to those who tend to workout hard for the first 6 months of the year, and then take the rest of the year off! Consistency is key for a physically fit physique.

5. Team up. If your friend wants to loose weight or start getting more active, hit the gym together after work. Hold each other accountable by motivating daily emails checking in on what they did that day for their workout. If you’re held accountable, most likely you won’t want to let the other person down – or it will motivate you to step it up!

So get on those workout goals…

*Remember: think long term. Make goals for the year, not just for the season!

Celebrity Pilates Trainer

celebrity pilates trainer

Celebrity Pilates Trainer

Are you looking for a celebrity pilates trainer? Jessica Luengo is a celebrity pilates trainer in Los Angeles. She trains celebrity clients for upcoming shoots, television, movies and magazine covers. Pilates has a huge celebrity following in Los Angeles because of its fast and incredible body-scuplting results. Pilates exercises are part of a healthy lifestyle, especially for those who always have to watch their figure. Stars love pilates for their endless benefits and anyone can start incorporating pilates into their fitness regimen.

Check out Jessica Luengo training celebrity client, Brad Goreski, on Season 3 of the Rachel Zoe Project on Bravo TV.

My Pilates Story

I have been actively doing pilates for the past 10 years. It has changed my life in more ways than one can imagine and continues to inspire the way I live and teach every single day. One thing clients are always curious about is how I first got into the exercise regime, so here’s my pilates story…

After a horrible experience with a throat surgery back in college, I was bedridden for months and lost an incredible amount of body weight and muscle. Being active my entire life, I had to find something safe for myself that would allow me to regain that lean muscle mass and strength I missed so much…

Insert Pilates.

I was first introduced to pilates through a class given at my school’s gym – my legs shook more than I had ever thought possible! What was going on here?! Well, I learned pilates exercises both elongate and strengthen muscle mass – literally pressing the muscle to the bone – thus creating a leaner, more defined appearance in your body. This is why I absolutely fell in love pilates…you can’t bulk up.

Pilates is a scary thing when you’re first starting out. It can be frustrating, confusing and empowering – all in one beginners session! Never being one to let any exercise detour me, I went straight to the store, bought 2 pilates DVDs, and signed up every week at the gym for pilates classes. Did I struggle those first months? Yes. Did I dread being the one who the teacher had to assist? Yes. Did I give up on myself or ever doubt my body? Sometimes – hey, I’m human! But then I began to see definition I had never seen before in my abs, thighs, arms and calves. My shoulders dropped from my ears, my legs felt longer, my butt lifted higher (major plus), and my pants started to get a little baggy. I wasn’t loosing weight – I was becoming leaner.

The best part is that pilates not only reshaped my body, it reshaped the way I thought about health. Becoming more conscious of what you do on a daily basis helps develop the kind of relationship with your body that is forgiving, respectful and most of all, happy. This reshapes the way we think about our bodies forever – not just for a New Years resolution or a cleanse you regrettably agree to do with your best friend. So do yourself a favor, or as I like to see it – give yourself a life-changing gift - and get some pilates in your life.

Your body, mind and skinny jeans will thank you.

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