Cheryl L. Ilov's Blog, page 13
August 6, 2019
Fabulous Frozen Desert
I’m not a huge fan of deserts, but lately I have been craving a frozen desert that my mother used to make when my sisters and I were a lot younger, and before we worried about silly things like our weight. I didn’t have the recipe, but fortunately one of my sisters did. Yay! Frozen desert time!
Then I looked at the ingredients. Sour cream, maraschino cherries, canned pineapple, and Cool Whip, just to name a few. YIKES! So, I used my ninja knives and a few ninja skills to cut out the bad stuff and see if I could make this delicious desert more palatable to my health-conscious mind.
Substituting Greek yogurt for sour cream, whipped coconut cream for Cool Whip, and using fresh cherries and pineapple worked like a ninja hiding in plain sight. Oh, and I completely eliminated the sugar to complete this fabulous frozen desert.
Ingredients:
1 14 oz can coconut cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 pint Fage Fat-Free Greek yogurt
4 diced bananas
1 cup fresh pitted cherries (yes, it makes a heck of a mess, but it’s well worth it)
1 cup diced fresh pineapple
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 cup chopped walnuts
Start with making the coconut whipped cream:
Refrigerate the can of coconut cream. You can also use coconut milk, but I prefer the cream. Leave it in the refrigerator overnight so the cream rises to the top.
An hour before making the whipped cream, chill a metal mixing bowl and beaters in the freezer. Carefully open the can of coconut cream, making sure you don’t shake the contents. Scoop the solids and place in chilled bowl.
Beat the coconut cream with an electric mixer (I’m thinking your arm would fall off if you tried to do it by hand, unless you have some serious anger issues you want to work through). Start on medium speed and then turn to high. Beat until peaks form, about 8 minutes. Add the vanilla and beat 1 minute longer. You can also add sugar if you want to, but trust me on this. The fruit adds enough sweetness.
Mix together.
Mix the coconut whipped cream and the yogurt until smooth and well blended. Gently fold in the fruit and nuts. After folding ingredients, place in a container and freeze. You can use a freezer safe baking dish, individual custard cups, or foil cupcake liners. Let them set at room temperature for about 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!!
August 5, 2019
Episode 8: Nature’s Oil Can
Do you ever feel like the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz? Maybe you wake up every morning so stiff and inflexible that you wish you had your very own oil can and a team of friends to help you use it. Or, maybe you try stretching your tight muscles, only to feel even worse afterwards. Don’t feel like you’re alone. It happens to a lot of us, and there is a physiological reason for it.
Martial artists manage to stay flexible during the course of their entire lifetime. They have to, if they want to continue to keep fighting the good fight. This episode highlights an ancient ninja secret which is a miracle of nature that is in each and every one of us. It will help you discover a new level of flexibility in your body, mind, and spirit. Download this episode to learn what it is and how to access it.
July 31, 2019
Episode 7: Strength Is Sexy
Strength is another important aspect and characteristic of the ninja spirit. Now, you’re probably thinking, “Well, duh! Of course you need a lot of strength to take down an attacker, especially if they are bigger than you.”
No, not really. It doesn’t take strength to take down an opponent. It takes technique, which explains how I was able to take down guys that were half my age and twice my size. And then go get my nails done. However, I will save that discussion for another day.
The truth is that strong is sexy, and we ninjas are all about looking good. Because there is nothing more attractive than sleek, toned muscles in EVERY stage of life. But, as I mentioned in my previous episode, there are a lot of people (like me), who hate the thought of going to the gym. So, what’s a person to do?
In this episode you will discover surprisingly simple and effective ways to keep your muscles strong, fit, and toned all in the privacy of your own home. You will not only love the way you look, you’ll love the way you feel. Because, strength is not only sexy, it’s powerful.
Strength Is Sexy
Strength is another important aspect and characteristic of the ninja spirit. Now, you’re probably thinking, “Well, duh! Of course you need a lot of strength to take down an attacker, especially if they are bigger than you.”
No, not really. It doesn’t take strength to take down an opponent. It takes technique, which explains how I was able to take down guys that were half my age and twice my size. And then go get my nails done. However, I will save that discussion for another day.
The truth is that strong is sexy, and we ninjas are all about looking good. Because there is nothing more attractive than sleek, toned muscles in EVERY stage of life. But, as I mentioned in my previous episode, there are a lot of people (like me), who hate the thought of going to the gym. So, what’s a person to do?
In this episode you will discover surprisingly simple and effective ways to keep your muscles strong, fit, and toned all in the privacy of your own home. You will not only love the way you look, you’ll love the way you feel. Because, strength is not only sexy, it’s powerful.
July 29, 2019
Episode 6: Who Needs A Gym?
Keeping fit and healthy is an important component of the spirit of the ninja. Think about it–how could you possibly defend yourself or your loved ones if you were in poor physical shape? You couldn’t, which is why you need to follow some sort of fitness routine.
But, what do you do if you’re like me, and hate going to the gym? Believe me, in my younger years I tried. Really I did. I even tried running a long time ago. But I quickly discovered that I was allergic to running and the mere thought of going to a gym made me break out in hives.
Fortunately I discovered other ways to keep in some sort of shape, including dance, Pilates, and martial arts classes. All, by the way, are highly effective but also incredibly expensive to pursue on a regular basis. But, they share many basic principles and have a lot in common, which is something I was able to figure out and share with hundreds of my clients along the way stay in tip-top shape so they can fight the good fight.
In this episode I share some surprisingly simple tips to help you get fit and stay fit in every stage of life, without spending hours at a gym. Because it’s not what you do during those few hours a week at the gym. It’s what you do during the rest of the time that really counts. And here are just a few ideas.
Who Needs A Gym?
Keeping fit and healthy is an important component of the spirit of the ninja. Think about it–how could you possibly defend yourself or your loved ones if you were in poor physical shape? You couldn’t, which is why you need to follow some sort of fitness routine.
But, what do you do if you’re like me, and hate going to the gym? Believe me, in my younger years I tried. Really I did. I even tried running a long time ago. But I quickly discovered that I was allergic to running and the mere thought of going to a gym made me break out in hives.
Fortunately I discovered other ways to keep in some sort of shape, including dance, Pilates, and martial arts classes. All, by the way, are highly effective but also incredibly expensive to pursue on a regular basis. But, they share many basic principles and have a lot in common, which is something I was able to figure out and share with hundreds of my clients along the way stay in tip-top shape so they can fight the good fight.
In this episode I share some surprisingly simple tips to help you get fit and stay fit in every stage of life, without spending hours at a gym. Because it’s not what you do during those few hours a week at the gym. It’s what you do during the rest of the time that really counts. And here are just a few ideas.
July 24, 2019
Episode 5: Cutting The Ties That Bind
Breaking up with someone is always awkward, and uncomfortable. But a few years ago I had the McDaddy of all breakups when I had to break up with my BFF.
It was so bad I actually had to seek professional help. Because, how do you tell someone you have been best friends with for thirty years (yep, I said thirty), that you haven’t liked them for the past fifteen and have been trying to figure out how to break up with them for the past ten?
Find out what happened, and why cutting the ties that bind an incredibly empowering experience, and a terrific way to reclaim your human dignity.
Cutting The Ties That Bind
Breaking up with someone is always awkward, and uncomfortable. But a few years ago I had the McDaddy of all breakups when I had to break up with my BFF.
It was so bad I actually had to seek professional help. Because, how do you tell someone you have been best friends with for thirty years (yep, I said thirty), that you haven’t liked them for the past fifteen and have been trying to figure out how to break up with them for the past ten?
Find out what happened, and why cutting the ties that bind an incredibly empowering experience, and a terrific way to reclaim your human dignity.
July 22, 2019
Episode 4: Don’t Be Sorry–Just Be You
It’s interesting how some of our habits and patterns are actually self-sabotaging. And we don’t even realize it. However, some of our habits are so self-destructive they can become pathological.
Unfortunately, unless someone brings our awareness to it, we can’t change the pattern that is slowly and methodically chipping away at our personal power. And here is just one example.
How many times a day do you say you’re sorry? And what exactly is it that you are so sorry for? Women especially are always apologizing for one thing or another, even when the situation doesn’t warrant it or there is nothing wrong to begin with.
This episode of The FemiNinja Project addresses the apology pathology of Excessive Apology Disorder. But, never fear–there is a safe and effective way to recover from Excessive Apology Disorder and reclaim your personal power. And, it requires no harmful drugs or intensive therapy. Just good, old-fashioned awareness.
After all, admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery, restoring your human dignity, and unleashing your personal power.
Don’t Be Sorry–Just Be You
It’s interesting how some of our habits and patterns are actually self-sabotaging. And we don’t even realize it. However, some of our habits are so self-destructive they can become pathological.
Unfortunately, unless someone brings our awareness to it, we can’t change the pattern that is slowly and methodically chipping away at our personal power. And here is just one example.
How many times a day do you say you’re sorry? And what exactly is it that you are so sorry for? Women especially are always apologizing for one thing or another, even when the situation doesn’t warrant it or there is nothing wrong to begin with.
This episode of The FemiNinja Project addresses the apology pathology of Excessive Apology Disorder. But, never fear–there is a safe and effective way to recover from Excessive Apology Disorder and reclaim your personal power. And, it requires no harmful drugs or intensive therapy. Just good, old-fashioned awareness.
After all, admitting you have a problem is the first step to recovery, restoring your human dignity, and unleashing your personal power.
