Working out can be a challenge sometimes. I've heard all the excuses before, " I have no time", "theres no gym near me" , "I dont know what to do once I am in the gym", however, with the countless amount of workout apps on the market today, there is something for everyone! 

I am going to do a short review on three of my favorite apps to use for workouts. I wanted to share a good mix between, free of charge, weight lifting, dance cardio, and community. Yes, I have all three Apps downloaded on my phone, and I use them all pretty frequently! Workout apps are great when the weather is gross and I want to stay in my pajamas, or I dont have time to commute to the gym and back, and the best is when I am on vacation all I need for a great sweat is my cell phone, and possibly a resistance band to challenge myself (an easy add item to add into my carry on).

This app makes me feel like a total badass in the gym. It breaks up your work outs each day by muscle groups, and gives you a weekly plan to follow.

I also love how with each exercise Madeline has a short video clip showing how to do it. 

These work outs are NO JOKE! The little bursts of cardio in between weight lifting sets has my heart pumping and torching calories. I usually burn more calories in her weight lifting workouts than I do in a 50min cardio class!  The app is $20 a month, and provides you with these new work outs weekly! You can log your workouts and revert back to older workouts if you want to repeat them at any point. You can download her app on the iTunes app store or google play, but first you need to head to her website to sign up, linked here

The tone it up community is one of my favorites in the fitness industry. Everyone is so nice, and motivating towards one another! The great part about the app is that there is a paid and FREE version! The paid version is definitely more affordable than gym memberships, and most of the workouts require little to no equipment! (think a set of weights, resistance bands). For costs and sign up you can click here. 

The best part about the paid version is you have the ability to sign up for classes and chat before and after with individuals all around the world taking the class at the same time as you! This way you get the same feel you would at a fitness class outside the home (I actually think I talk more to people in the app then I do in actual workout classes).

If you are not looking to pay, they offer for free their daily moves located on the home page. This is usually 5 moves that you repeat 3-4 times. I love doing the daily moves on the app when I need something quick, or I am traveling.

Do you ever see on Instagram people posting about all these cool fitness boutique studios and workouts with celebrity trainers and wonder how you can find something similar ? Well, Obe fitness app has tons of classes by celebrity trainers both live and on demand!

Workouts are 28min each but usually are broken out into 28min of sculpt, and then 28min of cardio. If I have time I like to stay for both the sculpt and sweat cardio session given by the instructor, but if I am in a rush I will choose one or the other. I love taking these classes when I want something low impact but bring a lot of burn (They do offer classes that use higher weights and HIIT classes). 

This is a subscription based services ($27) a month, but they usually offer a free 7 day trial! Can access the free trial by clicking here


Looking forward to seeing what work outs you try! Follow along my workout journey by visiting/following me on Instagram @stephi.paige

Vegan cookies are a struggle to make for me. I am not vegan, but love using the least amount of ingredients possible, so leaving out some eggs in a recipe does just that. I was skeptical at first because these cookies took a million trys to get just right, but once I did, I might even say these are my best cookies yet! 

They are crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside, and crumble just the right amount. Even non health advocates approve! (If ever I want to please a crowd with my recipes I usually have my brother try them out because he is my harshest critic. (he went in for seconds!)

Okay, Okay...Lets get to the recipe and ingredients needed. Just 7 Simple ingredients here, (that includes the baking powder and soda!). I have my favorite brands but always can sub out for what brands work for you or what you have in the pantry. 

Once the cookies are done cooking, make sure to let them cool for at least 30 minutes before transferring onto a cooling rack. Your kitchen will be smelling amazing, so this will be hard, but try and resist! (the cookies will fall a part if messed with right out of the oven.
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After the cookies cool, then you can go ahead and drizzle your chocolate on top. Leave the cookies out for about an hour or so and the chocolate will harden.
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Recipe Details:
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups of Bobs Red Mill Almond Flour (my fav brand)
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 cup almond butter (creamy) + 1 tbsp (for melting in with your melted chocolate drizzle)
1/4 cup melted coconut oil
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 eating evolved chocolate bar (1/2 bar chopped in chunks for inside the other half for melting on top)

Directions: (serves 10-12)

1.) Preheat oven to 375 and line a baking sheet with parchment paper (dont spray)
2.)combine all wet ingredients in a bowl, and then add your dry ingredients. (make sure you leave 1 tbsp of almond butter aside)
3.) fold in half the chocolate bar (after its chopped in chunks). can easily sub in chocolate chips of your choice here)
4.) take 1-2 tbsp of batter and roll into balls and place on a lined baking sheet (leave room between each one since they will expand). 
5.) Bake for 15min. Then let cool for 30min before touching....DO NOT TOUCH before 30min!
6.) Transfer cookies onto a wire rack or another piece of parchment paper and drizzle with melted chocolate (just place tbsp of almond butter with your half chocolate bar in the microwave and heat up for 30 second intervals stirring in between) do not over microwave or chocolate will burn.:)
7.) drizzle on top of cookies with a spoon and let them sit out for an hour so chocolate hardens.

Make sure to save one or two for yourself, these will go fast!

​If you make these please remember to tag me on instagram @stephi.paige so I can see your recreations! <3

​Week night meals dont have to be fancy. Some of my favorite healthy go to meals are ones that are whipped up quickly in the kitchen and take less than 30 min to make (no chef skills required here).

After coming home from my 9-5pm job, I want my dinner ASAP, and dont want to spend time waiting for something to cook in the oven (always a FEED ME NOW mentality these days). Lots of frozen heat up dinners can be full of chemicals and yucky stuff that we dont want to be putting in our bodies, so this dish has the same quick turn around as a microwave heat up meal except the ingredients are CLEAN and I feel nice and satisfied after eating it. 

A couple of items that you might not have on hand but can be found on Amazon, or most grocery stores is the Palmini Pasta, and the Siete Foods queso. You could easily sub in any zoodle of your liking and/or buy any cheesy substitute to melt on top. (Lets try to keep it healthy folks, non-kraft here!) 

You can add any lean protein on top that you have prepped in advance. 

 All you have to do is spray your pan with cooking spray, add in your veggies, protein, and pasta (rinse first) and add your queso/spices and cover and cook for 15min, or until hot! Literally, this blog post took longer to write!
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If you make this recipe dont forget to tag me @stephi.paige I love to see your recreations and how these meals work out for you!

RECIPE DETAILS:
Serves 1 (because Im hungry, but this could easily serve two)
Ingredients:
1 Can of Palmini Pasta (rinsed)
1 Cup of Broccoli
2 tbsp Siete cashew queso
source of lean protein
1 tbsp Nutrtional Yeast
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder

Directions:
1.) Spray Saute Pan with Cooking Spray.
2.) Add in all ingredients above and cover and cook for 15min on med high heat
3.) Serve and Enjoy!



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