Hey, lovers! I am stll living it up in Vegas and can’t wait to recap the trip for you. My days have been filled wit early AM workouts, amazing day trips with lots of walking, and semi-healthy #plantPOWER eats! Last night was our first official night in Vegas and we went to the club in our hotel. At that point, clean drinking went out the windows – gotta live it up sometimes! 
I’ve got a very special guest post for you by the lovely Ashley Mammel. She’s been an amazing supporter and participant of the #plantPOWER movement and she’s got a fun and delicious recipe to share. Moreover, her story is so raw and inspirational – I know that so many of you can relate to Ashley’s journey. I’ll let her take it from here!
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Hi everyone, my name is Ashley and I am so honoured to be sharing with you today as we focus on the topic of Fruit for our #plantPOWER
challenge. I want to give a huge thank you to Heather and Kasey for giving me the opportunity to be involved and take part in such an amazing opportunity. This month has opened my eyes to a lot of things, and both of these lovely ladies have encouraged me to not only incorporate more plant based foods into my diet, but have taught me about self love, acceptance, and taking care of the bodies we were given; I am incredibly thankful and truly blessed.
Right now I am working as a Certified Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor while studying to be a Registered Holistic Nutritionist. I have the opportunity to work with different clients on a weekly basis and teach 10 fitness classes from Monday to Friday. I have always had a passion for health and fitness but it didn’t become a career for me until after I finished a diploma in Counselling and realized that I wanted the opportunity to help people reach their goals both mentally AND physically. I feel so blessed to work in a career that motivates, inspires and challenges people to feel good about themselves, confident in their skin, and live a healthy life.
However, working in a career that is mainly focused on “outward appearance” has lead to some personal struggles in my life these past few years. I have turned to food, and away from food as a sense of comfort and escape from the hurtful aspects of my job. I have struggled with very distorted eating habits and have let my insecurities rob me of the opportunity I have to be a good role model in this industry. I have realized that in the fitness world, vanity and obsession are characteristics that I want to flee far from. As I enter and continue to work in a career with lots of hurt and insecurity, I hope to be a light to the many people who struggle with self confidence, and self worth.
I have learned that no matter where you are in your fitness journey, it takes a lot of hard work and dedication, but thankfully, I have also learned that there is so much more to life that the number on the scale, or how you look in skinny jeans. I am learning to love myself in the process, and show others how wonderful life can be when we take care of ourselves, but let go of the lies that the world wants us to believe. I have a story now
that I hope can relate to others; I have walked a journey that I don’t wish on anyone, but have learned so much in the process.
This #plantPOWER challenge has given me an amazing opportunity to step back, look at why I am in this career, and focus on fueling myself
with good, wholesome food. I have realized that I am not able to help others in the way that I would like to if I am not healthy myself. In the past, I have let food and my struggles around what I put into my body mute my voice and take away my passion. This month has given me hope and helped me look at food as a way to nourish and take care of the body I have been given. I have started to feel better, full of energy, and passionate about being the best Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor I can be!
A big thank you Heather and Kasey for believing in me, and setting such a beautiful example to so many. Both of these amazing women have
no idea the impact that they have made in the health and fitness industry already. And please, if you are reading this and can relate to any part of my journey and would like to talk, don’t hesitate to contact me; I am only an e-mail away and would love to hear from you!
…now, onto the recipe!
Zesty Mango Salsa
- 1 Mango
- 1/2 red onion
- 1 jalapeño
- 1/4 cup cilantro
- 1/2 lime (zest)
- 1/4 lime (juice)
- 1 Tbs olive oil
- 1/4 tsp Mrs. Dash Fiesta Lime
- Salt (optional)
Chop mango, red onion, jalapeño and cilantro and put it into a mixing bowl. Grate the outside skin of 1/2 a lime for zest, and squeeze the juice of a 1/4 of the lime into the mixture. Add olive oil, Mrs. Dash seasoning, and salt. Mix together and keep covered in the fridge to chill. The longer it sits in the fridge finished, the greater the flavor!
Thank you so much Ashley! This recipe looks divine but, more importantly, I know that Kasey and I feel so blessed to have you as a prt of the #plantPOWER community, cheering everyone on while you’re in the process of gaining self acceptance!
Make sure you follow Ashley on Twitter and Instagram – her updates are so positive and inspirational!
MILA Giveaway!
MILA, ground chia seeds, is a really great product. Remember when I hosted a MILA giveaway back in April? We all know the nutrition powerhouse that is the chia seed! And because these are ground, they might actually absorb a bit better in the body. They’re packed with antioxidants, fiber, phytonutrients and protein, calcium, vitamins, minerals, omega-3s, omega-6s, and potassium!
Marney, who works for MILA, is offering 1 free 16 oz bag to a lucky winner!!
To enter:
- Leave a comment telling me your favorite FRUIT!
- ”I am entering to win the @MilaMarney #plantPOWER GIVEAWAY via @POWERCAKES & @THELOVEOFKALE http://fortheloveofkale.com #FitFluential”
Also, if you are interested in ordering MILA, here is Marney’s contact info; www.marneyrohda.fueledbymila.net and www.marneyrohda.lifemax.net or e-mail milamarney@gmail.com.
*BIG THANKS TO KASEY for putting this MILA giveaway together!
Stay lovely,
Heather
P.S. – Don’t forget to check out Kasey’s post!
Watermelon in the summer and apples in the fall.
Love this Mango Salsa recipe! Looks awesome! That’s awesome that Mila is better absorbed in the body than chia seeds! Love the health benefits of chia but never quite sure what to put them with!
I can’t pick a favorite fruit!!! But my top 5 are:
Mango
Pineapple
Grapefruit
Strawberries
Cherries
Right now – apples with pumpkin butter – YUM!!!
LOOOVE FRUIT. No way I can pick just one! Apples are probably are the most frequent and functional for me….also raspberries, blueberries, mangos, and pineapple. YUM!
Hmm.. so many!!
Grapefruit
Raspberries
Strawberries
Blackberries!
My favorite fruit is raspberries, as of right now
Grapes are definitely my favorite fruit by far!
I love fruit, but the apple never disappoints!
Apples are my absolute favorite fruit. Watermelon and pineapple are also divine.
That is a tough question so I have decided to narrow it down to five (that is the best that I could do!): apples, bananas, cantaloupe, blueberries, and strawberries!
My favorite fruit has to be pineapple. But I love pretty much all fruit — bananas, mangoes, apples, strawberries, blueberries… I really just love all fruit.
How could I only choose one! I love grapes, mango, blueberries, granny smith apples and strawberries the most, but there isn’t one I don’t like.
I love pretty much every fruit, but my favorite has to be papaya.
Great giveaway!
My favourite fruits are apples (boring, I know, but when they’re baked…mmm)
My favorite fruits are definitely apples and bananas. I really can’t choose between the 2! I have both almost everyday
I tweeted
https://twitter.com/BarrAndTable/status/261896730398842880
BANANA- How it mashes into breads/smoothies/butters…YUM!
My favorite fruit is probably golden delicious apples followed by mangoes and bananas.
My favorite fruit is apples, hands down. I eat at least one apple every day.. so many different varieties, and they are such a convenient snack.
My favorite fruit is any type of berry, yum!
Mango all the way!
I tweeted the giveaway!!
My current favorite fruit is figs!! My all time favorite would probably be bananas! I eat one almost everyday!
I love fresh pineapple when it’s in season! And fuji or honeycrisp apples in the fall.
I have a question about your morning routine…you write that you are waking up early to work-out and you are walking a lot…Do you find you are doing the morning work-outs because you feel you have to? It sounds like an obsession stemming from the ED. I only ask because I have the same compulsion and I have an ED. Any thoughts?
Hi Sophie!
That’s a great question. I’m no longer consumed by my ED – I’m living an amazing, happy life free of ED! I naturally wake up early around 7:00 a.m. and look forward to starting my day off with a workout. That is a part of me and always will be! As for the walking aspect, I was just mentioning it because I was surprised at how much walking we are doing!
Thanks for your concern, though! If you need anything else, feel free to email me.
Right now I’m LOVING apples. I went apple picking last weekend and ate approximately 295467240598 apples haha
Strawberries! Always!
Also, have you head of Carrot Mob? I just booked a commercial for them, and it seems like something that’s totally up your alley. They stage mobs of businesses (like people buying their products) instead of boycotts in exchange for the businesses using that money to make a change that aligns with the customers’ values. So, using the “carrot” instead of the “stick.” I just thought it sounded like a kind of organizing you could be into!
my FAV fruit of all time are raspberries!!
[...] who shared her her Zesty Salsa Fruit Recipe [...]
my fav fruit is banana
My favorite fruit is an apple! I have at least 2 a day when they’re in season. But I’m picky, thy have to be from one specific farmer from the farmers market who grows the best organic fujis!
I love mangos and papayas!
Love them ALL!! Bananas and apples are the ones I eat most daily
I don’t think there is a fruit that I don’t like!
i would say my favorite fruit is apple (or maybe banana)!