Master Worlds Training Camp

I am excited to announce that I will be hosting another Master Worlds Training Camp. Open to guys and girls!

WHAT IS THIS CAMP ABOUT?
The focus will be on polishing techniques, timed rounds and drilling to maintain fitness and get acclimated to the dry Vegas air before you steps on the mat to earn your gold medals!!! 

WHEN, WHERE?
The camp will be held at the UFC Gym. 4360 Blue Diamond Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89139
Date:  Saturday, August 18 - Tuesday evening August 21. 

Sessions times are as follows:
Saturday & Sunday  at 12pm - 1.30pm
Monday &Tuesday at 10am - 11.30am and 6:30pm - 8pm .

HOW MUCH?
Camp in Full: $180
Day passes (2 sessions Monday or Tuesday): $60
Single sessions: $35
Limited spots available. Day passes and casual sessions available. 

WHO CAN COME?
This camp is open to all females & males of all associations, teams, belt ranks. This camp is not exclusive to those competing at the master Worlds, however, the minimum age is for those to attend is 15 years old.

WHERE DO I BOOK MY SPOT:
Please reserve your spot and/or sessions below!

Chicago Tour!

There are loads of events coming up and I am super excited to be travelling, teaching and meeting new and amazing people. The 1st stop for June onwards is a mini tour in Chicago.

I will be teaching a coed seminar in at BJJ LAB in Naperville on Saturday June 30th at 10.30am - 1pm. To book your spot email Mark at: napervillebjj@gmail.com

My next stop will be women's workshop at Serafin BJJ Academy in Evanston on Sunday July 1st at 10am-12pm. I will be showing specific techniques and movements that work better for women. There will be Q&A for all the ladies who would like to ask any specific questions. To book your spot email Jen at: jenzanotti26@gmail.com

Finally I am teaching a seminar/workshop on Monday evening July 2 at 7.30 - 9.30 pm at ROL Academy in Orland Park. This seminar is Co Ed and I plan to teach spider guard concepts.

To book your spot register at www.rolacademy.com/seminar.

I can't wait to go back to Chicago! Book your spot if I will be in or near your neighbourhood!

Legumes

You’ve all heard of them and probably had them on your plate at one point or another. Legumes are packed with protein, vitamins, minerals and fiber with no added fat or cholesterol! They also account towards your daily vegetable serving! Legume family includes: Kidney beans, peas, soybeans, peanuts, green beans, lentils, chickpeas and alfalfa.

So why should you introduce legumes into your daily diet??

1. High in Protein

Legumes are a great source of plant-based protein. For example a cup of Chickpeas contain up to 15 grams of protein and white beans contain 19 grams!! If your goal is weight loss, eating enough protein can also encourage satiety and keep you feeling full while increasing your metabolism and the amount of calories you burn after a meal!

2. Boost Your Heart Health

Legumes have been shown to decrease cholesterol, blood pressure and inflammation.

3. Stabilizes your blood sugar

The high amount of fibre in legumes works to slow the absorption of sugar in the bloodstream and maintain blood sugar levels.

Don’t like the taste or idea of eating legumes? Well here is a delicious recipe that uses legumes in a sneaky way!!

Chickpea Protein Bars

Ingredients
1 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
½ cup packed, very soft dates (about 6-8)
¼ cup peanut butter (or any nut/seed butter, e.g. almond, sunflower seed, tahini)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
⅔ vanilla protein powder
⅓ cup pepitas (green pumpkin seeds), toasted
⅓ cup dried cranberries

Method
1. Line a 9x5-inch loaf pan with baking paper

2. In a large food processor, process the chickpeas, dates, peanut butter, vanilla and salt until smooth, stopping and scraping the sides of processor bowl.

3. Add the protein powder, pepitas and cranberries. Pulse until very well combined and mixture looks like a dough ball (if not, add a bit more protein powder).

4. Press mixture evenly into prepared pan.

5. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or freeze 1 hour until firm. Remove from tin and cut into bars, Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks (or freeze for up to 2 months). ENJOY!!

Lifestyle Camp Review

The other week my Lifestyle Camp took place in the beautiful and quaint town, St Augustine, Florida. It was the most amazing experience where all the ladies connected just like they were sisters. The support and friendships made was just incredible. Ladies came from Europe, South Korea, Mexico, Australia and across the United States.

The camp focused on overall lifestyle and the health of body, mind and soul. The day started off with morning sunrise yoga taught by the lovely Jasmine Bienvenue.

After heading back to the house for a hearty breakfast we went to FYOA academy (http://foyabjj.com) nearby and trained BJJ. I focused on techniques and movement patterns that are better suited to women. We all had fabulous rolls and it was a great opportunity for women to train only with other women when they usually train with men.

All the meals were prepared by Lindsay Boston who did an incredible job. After she made a glorious post training lunch for us all, the afternoon was spent relaxing by the beach or doing some sightseeing followed by evening workshops that involved workouts, meditation, empowerment concepts and nutrition.

I can’t wait for my next camp to take place and to have the opportunity to meet more amazing women who I am happy to call my sisters. Stay tuned!

Ready for the beach at my up and coming Lifestyle Camp

Preparing for my Lifestyle Camp and things have been crazy busy. Even though I haven't had time to train as hard or as much as I would have liked, I have been on point with my diet. All I need now is a sun tan... and that is what I am going to get at the beach in St Augustine, Florida. 

Veggies - How many do we need?

Vegetables provide nutrients vital for health and maintenance of your body! The list of benefits Veggies provide is ongoing but below are a few of the important ones!

• Can help you lose weight
• Are high in important nutrients including potassium, folate, vitamin A, vitamin C and the list goes on…
• Can reduce your risk of certain cancers, chronic diseases (such as diabetes) etc.
• Help to keep you immune system strong, heart & skin healthy
•Keep your gut, digestion and brain healthy

HOW MUCH?
Adults need to be eating a minimum of 5 serves of veggies! For kids 4 - 7 years they need at least 4 serves and 8 -18 years at least 5 serves of vegetables.

WHAT IS A SERVE?
A serve of vegetables or legumes (yes legumes such as lentils & beans count as veggies!!)
1 serve =
1/2 cup of cooked veggies
1/2 cup of dried beans, peas or lentils
1 cup of salad veggies

If you are struggle to include your 5 serves of veggies into your diet, My Nutrition E Book & 7 Meal Plan E Book are jam packed with veggie inspired recipes! And you can still receive 30% OFF my 7 Day Meal Plan Ebook! You can add your details here or shoot me a message for the discount code!

S T R E T C H

Nothing beats a good stretch especially when I'm feeling sore! Stretching is also a great opportunity for you to switch off, disconnect and just focus on you! 

Benefits of Stretching include:

- Improves blood flow to your muscles
- Helps your flexibility and range of movement by loosening tight muscles
- Increases energy levels

Keep an eye out for my detailed post about stretching!! Subscribe to my newsletter here, follow me on Instagram & Like SophiaFIT on Facebook so you don't miss out!

Blueberries

Blueberries, sweet morsels jam packed with vitamin C, K & B6, folate, potassium, fibre, manganese and antioxidants! Often labelled as a superfood, blueberries are low in calories and incredibly good for you plus super convenient snack for when you are on the go!

Instead of throwing loads of facts at you about Blueberries, I’ve picked my favourite and I think most beneficial facts about Blueberries!!

They are the King of Antioxidant Foods! 
The antioxidants in blueberries help to protect our bodies from damage by free radicals, unstable molecules that can damage cellular structures and contribute to aging and diseases like cancer. They contain even more antioxidants than green tea, and that speaks volumes about their nutrient density!

Help with weight loss!
As blueberries are rich in fiber and low in calories, this makes them an ideal snack to have in-between meals for those who are seeking to lose weight. Blueberries are rich in soluble fiber, which are the type of fiber that dissolves in water. Soluble fibers slow down the process of digestion, which in turn keeps you feeling full for a longer period of time therefore keeping those hungry pains at bay! Combine 1 cup of natural yogurt with 1/2-1 cup of blueberries and you have the perfect 3pm snack!

Powerful Skin Food
Blueberries are good for your health both internally and externally. Being rich in Vitamin A and vitamin C, blueberries nourish your skin from the inside out! Eating blueberries helps heal sun damaged skin, reduce dark spots and reduces puffiness in the skin due to its anti-inflammatory properties. 

Moisturizing Blueberry Mask

1-1/4 cups fresh or thawed blueberries, pureed (blender or other method)
1/2 cup raw or organic milk (full fat)
1/2 cup oatmeal, processed to fine powder in a blender)
1/8 cup virgin olive oil
1/8 cup raw honey

Mix well, apply to face and leave on for 15 – 20 minutes.
Refrigerate and use the remainder for up to 1 week.

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