31 Days of Mindfulness and Meatless October Week 3 Introduction overview of Days 15 through 21….

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Week 2 wrap-up of 31 Days of Mindfulness and Meatless October….Day 14….

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Welcome to Days 8 & 9 of 31 Days of Mindfulness and Meatless October Challenge late post due to some recent travel for teaching and training ….

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Mindful Minute

Move everyday. Moving heals. Sitting kills.

~ Candice Maria ~

Kind of self- explanatory. You know the old adage, if you “don’t use it, you lose it”? Well daily mindful movement is no exception. The same as skipping out on strength and resistance training causes loss of muscle mass, strength, and a slower metabolism. Not moving at all, or living a sedentary lifestyle causes even more drastic health problems over time. In the book Sitting Kills, Moving Heals: How Simple Everyday Movement Will Prevent Pain, Illness, and Early Death — and Exercise Alone Won’t, Dr. Joan Vernikos, a former director of NASA’s Life Sciences Division, presents a comprehensive scientific explanation for why Americans are so unhealthy. Numerous medical studies have proven that sitting too much shortens lifespan, even in people who exercise regularly, but what’s the reason? Dr. Vernikos explains in the following video:

 

 

So even if you are not a “gym” person, mindful movement everyday, whether its taking frequent mobility breaks at work, especially if you have a desk job like yours truly (insert side eye #thestruggleisreal); stretching or doing yoga frequently throughout the day, or whatever small movements you can do outside of walking to and from your car at the start and end of your workday, or going to the gym before and/or after work, is beneficial to your general health and well-being.

So during your mindful mobility yoga practice today, think about creative ways to add more movement into your daily routine!

Again, if you are keeping a journal during this journey, you may also want to jot these ideas down for future reference.

Mindful Mobility WOD

Today as you did yesterday, you will complete a minimum of 30 minutes of cardio and at least 1 Round (or as many as your body needs) of the Sun Salutation A sequence as prehab before and/or after or even during your other resistance training or athletic activities today.

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Meatless Meal of the Day (MOD)

 

Today’s featured Meatless MOD is Candied Walnut Quinoa from the Trifecta Nutrition System organic meal delivery Vegan/Vegetarian meal plan

Ingredient List:

  • Quinoa*
  • Onion*
  • Cauliflower*
  • Brussel sprouts*
  • Asparagus*
  • Cranberry*
  • Walnut*
  • Extra virgin olive oil*
  • Balsamic vinegar*
  • Coconut sugar*
  • Grade B maple syrup*
  • Garlic*
  • Parsley*
  • Thyme*
  • Marioram*
  • Coriander*
  • Turmeric*
  • Mustard seed*
  • Cumin*
  • Fenugreek*
  • Paprika*
  • Cayenne*
  • Cardamom*
  • Nutmeg*
  • Cinnamon*
  • Clove*
  • Black pepper
  • Sea salt
  • Filtered water

*Organic

Nutrition Facts (The Macros):

Serving Size: ~ 160 grams

 



This concludes Day 5 of 31 Days of Mindfulness and Meatless October Challenge…see you on Day 6.

Until next time ~ I AM CANDICE MARIA ~

 

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*LATE POST*

Well this is it…I am on my way to the competition prep and posing clinic workshop in Seattle with Physiques Northwest. Excited to see how things go, what I learn about myself and my potential in my sport over the course of the weekend as well as try to catch up with an old friend and take in some of the sights and sounds of beautiful Seattle while I’m in the area!

Hope you enjoy my highlights and thoughts from the weekend! Feel free to leave a comment below:

Pre Seattle Trip Expectations | Vlog

Sightseeing highlights and tour of the city with my long time friend Gary, during my mini vacation trip to Seattle for the Physiques Northwest competition prep workshop…

Sightseeing in Seattle | Vlog

 

This last video features my personal thoughts and outcomes from my trip to Seattle for the Physiques Northwest Competition prep workshop. I received some interesting feedback to take with me for the rest of the 2017 season. No definitive competition plans, but I do know what categories to work towards.

Post Seattle Trip Thoughts | Vlog

Until Next Time….I AM CANDICE MARIA

 

Counting down to my very first official posing clinic and competition prep workshop ever since I  began my figure competitor/fitness model journey in 2013…lol! Looking forward to the trip to Seattle and meeting with the coaching team of Physiques Northwest http://www.physiquesnw.com

Also just my thoughts and reasons on why I took a break from competing and my goals going forward, looking ahead into my future as a physique athlete and aspiring fitness model.

 

 

Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel for future updates and follow me on my various social media platforms and website blog. Will truly appreciate the support. Until next time….I AM Candice Maria

 

Most recent video blog content posted to date on my YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/c/CandiceHubbard

 

 

 

Until next time….I AM CANDICE MARIA

workout with Candice

 

Staying fit on the fly, or lean on the go, doesn’t have to be challenging, nor does enjoying social meals with friends. When I used to travel a lot with my former career, Panera Bread was always one of my go-to places to eat while on the road traveling from city to city every few months because of their generally “healthy” menu choices. However, as a fitness professional and competitive aesthetic athlete, over the years I have learned that you never have to settle for just what’s on the menu, especially when you have precise health and fitness goals to meet. Always customize if and when you can, something I like call lean couture.

Ms. Natural Alabama State Figure Champion
Ms. Natural Alabama State Figure Champion

Below you will see how I reduced the fat and turned a normally greater than 262 calorie fattening menu item into an under 500 calorie nutritionally dense and deliciously filling meal that can be enjoyed solo or socially through restaurant menu customization.

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The Panera Bread menu item: Roasted Turkey & Avocado BLT. Half a sandwich ordered off the menu as is: a whopping 255 calories before side items or beverages.

SO what exactly did I do to not only reduce the calories of this hefty half of a sandwich, and be able to enjoy a fun side item?

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Home screen of the myPanera app

I customized my order through the myPanera app that can be accessed through Google Play or iTunes App Store, or simply visiting the Panera Bread website.

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I am allergic to tomatoes, hate pork so I hate bacon, but love turkey and the health benefits of avocados, mayo is a very unhealthy fat whereas mustard has metabolism boosting properties, and don’t need added salt, also I prefer the nutrients in spinach over lettuce, and the bloat and inflammation reducing benefits of cucumbers and onions, plus whole grain bread is simply a healthier complex carbohydrate bread of choice

If you are a myPanera member, or simply have a smartphone or access to a computer, simply go online and set up an online ordering account. From there, you can pre-order a customized entre’ for rapid pick-up at any Panera Bread location and quite possibly if you decide to dine-in, you can pre-select your customizations, and see the complete nutritional totals before leaving home, and read your list of custom changes for your order at the restaurant counter.

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Get the Facts: Nutrition facts that fit my macros and my fitness goals. NOTE: be sure to calculate the macro exchange ratios. Panera math is not the most accurate: Totals: 366 calories (Fat 2.5 g x 9) + (Complex Carbs 63g x 4) + (Protein 23 g x 4)

So my customized Panera Bread menu item was ready for pick-up during the busy Saturday afternoon lunch hours after leaving the gym, made exactly how I wanted it, fit and filling, for a busy afternoon of writing, creating and blogging.

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My Customized Panera Bread Roasted Turkey and Avocado NO BLT half sandwich on whole grain bread just 366 calories, plus a serving of baked chips and black coffee: Total meal: 496 calories

Until Next Time…Train Smart, Eat Smart

~ I AM CANDICE MARIA ~

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Professional Bodybuilding | It’s All Subjective 

Personal Reflections with Candice Maria

 

My personal reflections and views on competition and experiences in competing. One thing people must realize about my sport and the potential of being successful, or “going pro” in this  industry is that it’s all subjective to the opinions of a few people, the panel of judges one person stands in front of, who they are affiliated with, and what influence that affiliation carries.

3rd Place Open Figure - Class C - NPC Vulcan Classic
3rd Place Open Figure – Class C – NPC Vulcan Classic