The Perfect Breakfast...Baked Oatmeal!

Baked Oatmeal is one of my favorite healthy breakfasts. Here is a quick recipe I used the other day with fresh raspberries. You can also mix it up with banana's, strawberries and my favorite blueberries!

2 egg whites
1/4 cup almond Milk
2 Tbsp maple syrup (Walden Farms zero cal)
1/4 tsp baking power
1/2 cup raspberries
1 tsp coconut/almond flour
sweetener to taste
dash of cinnamon
*Mix all ingredients (except flour) in a small ramekin and sprinkle flour on top. Bake in oven for 25-30 minutes at 365 degrees. Let cool and enjoy!

-Heidi xo

Baked Oatmeal

Healthy Cookie Dough!!!

Can you believe it? There is a way to make healthy cookie dough! So if your like me and eat half of the cookie dough before you even bake the cookies then this guilt free recipe is for you!

Ingredients;
1 can  Chickpeas/Garbanzo beans
1 scoop Vanilla Protein powder
1/4 cup Natural Peanut Butter
2 tbsp Rolled Oats
2 caps of Vanilla extract
Stevia or Splenda to taste
1/2 tsp salt
Carob chips (your desired amount)

Mix all ingredients together in a food processor (except carob chips). Mix in the the Carob chips afterward and wallah!

The easiest way to eat healthy is by putting a healthy spin on foods you already love.
Enjoy! -Heidi xo

Healthy cookie dough

Healthy cookie dough

WBFF Worlds!

This past weekend I had the opportunity to compete at the WBFF Worlds in Las Vegas. It was a fun weekend full of fitness and glamour! I loved meeting people from around the world that are so committed to their personal fitness and healthy living! 

Heidi xo

Heidi Carlsen Fitness

Race Time!

I recently had the opportunity to run my first race! I ran the San Diego Rock n Roll 1/2 marathon with my brother. The race supports Leukemia and we were able to raise money for a family member that was recently diagnosed. Not only was it rewarding to be supporting a good cause, but it was a good to get out of my comfort zone and try something new! It was such an awesome feeling crossing that finish line, what a great experience and fun atmosphere!

Try Something New!
-Heidi xo 

Heidi Carlsen Fitness

MMA Photo Shoot for ATTACK!

I recently had a video shoot in the windy city of Chicago for a new MMA DVD series called "ATTACK!", a Weider product. I filmed with two other models (Sideny Wilson and Scott McKendry), who are actual MMA fighters and trainers!! I relayed on their expertise along with the crews to make sure I was using proper technique while we were filming, with some experience in Mixed Martial Arts I caught on fairly quick. But that wasn't even half the battle!! The first day of filming we shot 4 DVD's back to back full of high intensity and high cardiovascular training. To say this was a challenge would be an understatement. The work outs consisted of resistant bands connected to either our hands or feet while preforming MMA exercises. Scott, Sidney and myself are all in top shape and workout for a living per se, but after hours of exercise we would drop to our knees in between takes in pure exhaustion while crew members brought us water and dabbed off our sweat! Luckily for our sore bodies day two of filming was much more relaxed and ended with a photo shoot for the packaging of the product. All in all it was a great experience that was a good test to my physical and mental toughness! ATTACK! is the real deal when it comes to getting the ultimate workout. You can get it when it hits Walmart shelves in September 2013!
-Heidi xo    

Behind the scenes of ATTACK!

Behind the scenes of ATTACK!

Behind the scenes of ATTACK!

Behind the scenes of ATTACK!

Behind the scenes of ATTACK!

Website Launch GIVEAWAY!!

My website is here!! I'm so happy to have a platform to share more with you guys through www.heidicarlsen.com and my h FITNESS program. I hope to build a positive online community where people can get motivation, communicate with others and reach health and fitness goals. Because of this I want to celebrate the new members of my fitness program with an AWESOME giveaway!

With help from Gamma Labs and Quest Nutrition, we are going to help jump start some new members to h FITNESS! We'll be giving away over 12 boxes of Quest nutrition bars and five grand prize winners with receive; Gamma Labs Pre-Training Formula, a box of G-Fuel and a Gamma shaker bottle!! (Valued at 70$) What more could you ask for?!?

Quest Nutrition Giveaway

Gamma Labs Giveaway

After becoming a member increase your chances of winning by sharing one of these photos on your social media pages.

FACEBOOK tag heidicarlsenfitness

INSTAGRAM & TWITTER tag @heidi_carlsen
#hFITNESSgiveaway

 GOOD LUCK!!! Heidi xo

GIVEAWAY!! I'm Celebrating The Launch of My New Website!

I'm celebrating the launch of my website www.heidicarlsen.com by teaming up with Quest Nutrition and Gamma Labs for an AWESOME giveaway!! My website launches 05.08.13 @ 11:59 pm. I can't wait!

Heidi Carlsen Official Website Launch

I'll be giving away over 10 boxes of Quest bars including my favorite the Craving peanut butter cups! I'm obsessed with Quest Nutrition Protein bars! They taste amazing and are very low in carbs, high in protein, high in fiber, and have no added sugar. I don't think I could live without them (they're that good) and perfect when traveling!

For the Grand Prize giveaway I'll be giving 5 lucky winners a tub of Gamma Labs Pre-Training Formula (I use it before every workout and swear by it!), a box of G-Fuel and a Gamma Labs shaker bottle!





I'll be posting more details soon!
Heidi ox

Ab Circuit!

I have gotten a lot of questions about ab work outs, I love when people share their routines because its nice to see what works for others, so I thought I'd share my ab circuit today;

Heidi Carlsen - click to enlarge pic

*Barbell or wheel roll outs
*Weighted Russian twist
*Hanging knee raise
*Cable ball crunch

3-4 rounds, 15-20 reps, 60 sec rest between rounds. I like wheel roll outs first because you need your abs to be fresh because you don't want to arch your back. Also I use light weight for weighted russian twists, if you go too heavy it can thicken your waist. Typically I do abs 2-3 times a week. I hope this is helpful!


Happy Training! 
Heidi xo

COCKTAIL HOUR!

The easiest way to eat healthy is by putting a healthy spin on foods and meals you already love! This is my new favorite recipe courtesy of The Biggest Loser cookbook.

COCKTAIL-HOUR!!

Heidi's Healthy Habits 

4 ounces sushi grade ahi tuna
2 tablespoons minced mango
1 tablespoons minced seeded cucumber
2 teaspoon lime juice
1 teaspoon chopped cilantro
1 teaspoon chopped green onion tops
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
192 calories and 28g protein





CHEERS to that! Heidi xo

Exercise of the Day!

Negative pull ups are one of my favorite upper body workouts. Start by jumping or climbing up into peak pull up position. Then begin lowering yourself slowly with control. When your arms are strait and your in hanging position climb back up and repeat. Try 4 sets of 4 reps. If you need more of a challenge add extra weight by holding a dumbbell between your feet before lowering yourself.
Heidi xo

Heidi Carlsen Fitness

Fitness Progress

It's always exciting when you start seeing improvements while working toward a goal. Two weeks ago I upped my cardio to four 40 minute sessions at moderate intensity. I also made a few changes in my diet. Every day I'm eating 1600 calories, 157g protein, 96g carbs, 40g fat (healthy fats from avocados, almonds, egg yolk and natural peanut butter) spread through out 5 meals a day. "Mentally to succeed you need to have in place a set of goals, don't be afraid of setting the bar high!"

Heidi Carlsen Fitness

Commit health & fitness! Heidi xo

Healthy Peanut Butter Cups!

I just made a batch of healthy peanut butter cups. It's my little weekend treat to fight off my sweet tooth! Give them a try, you won't be disappointed!

1/2 cup coconut oil
1/2 natural peanut butter
2 tablespoons of organic cocoa
2 tablespoons of raw honey or Stevia.
Optional: nuts or peppermint/orange/cinnamon extracts.

*Mix all together and pour mixture into paper cups or a pie pan and freeze for 5 minutes. Afterward keep them refrigerated.

Heidi xo

Healthy peanut butter cups!

Tuesday Fitness Motivation

"Our deepest fear is not that we are Inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not out darkness that most frightened us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?"
 -Marianna Williamson

Heidi Carlsen Fitness

Committed to my health & fitness. 
Xoxo Heidi