For this week's Monday Motivation we thought we would put together some of our favorite recipes from a few of our faculty members here at  Rise Together Today.

Dr. Mark Hymans Skillet Tofu with Broccoli and Peppers

This is a tasty and super-easy meal from Dr. Hyman's new cookbook Food the Cookbook that can be on the table in less than 20 minutes. You can easily use 1 pound of chicken or beef in place of the tofu as well as different vegetables depending on what’s available and in season.

Ingredients

2 teaspoons sesame oil
1 large red bell pepper, stemmed, seeded, and julienned
2 large broccoli heads (about 1 pound total), cut into small florets
1⁄2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and minced
1 pound non-GMO firm tofu, drained and crumbled
2 tablespoons wheat-free tamari
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
1⁄2 cup vegetable broth or filtered water
1 tablespoon arrowroot
2 tablespoons of filtered water
1 tablespoon white sesame seeds
1⁄4 cup loosely packed...

Hey Pumpkin! ;) We're spicing things up over here at RISE and we wanted to share some of that spice with you! Below you'll find one of Chef Jenny's favorite fall pumpkin spice recipes. It's healthy, it's hearty, and it's definitely perfect for a fall harvest dinner! 

Pumpkin Bisque

2 cups raw pumpkin or butternut squash

1 cup coconut milk

1 clove garlic

2 Tbsp chives

2 Tbsp raw agave nectar

1 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp sea salt

Blend on high in a high powered blender for 30 seconds. Garnish with more chives and enjoy!

Pumpkin Pie Seasonal Smoothie

We hope all is well! We wanted to share something with you that is near and dear to our hearts....something that we know will make life richer and more fulfilling.

It’s amazing that simply taking a few minutes to share a daily act of kindness, such as texting a friend to say hello, writing a thank you note,or taking out your neighbors' trash can profoundly change your day, your week and ultimately your life! 

We are thankful to be on this journey with you and we are honored to be able to discuss topics that can make a profound difference in all of our lives

https://www.risetogethertoday.com/coachingmembership

Today we wanted to share a delicious, healthy pumpkin spice latte recipe! 

Did you know that a 16oz pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks has 50 grams of sugar? A lot of coffee drinks tend to have hidden sugar in them that you wouldn't even realize!

Because of this, we wanted to create a recipe that you will love, but that will still satisfy your sweet tooth! Blend all the above ingredients and enjoy!

This has been quite a unique season, with more difficult twists and turns than any of us expected. So, we thought it would be encouraging to start the week by taking a deeper look at joy from the wisdom of Kay Warren…

“Happiness is completely connected to what’s happening to us on the external circumstances of our lives. But when joy is turned around with a new definition of joy, it makes all the difference as it has nothing to do with the circumstances that are happening in our lives…

This type of joy has everything to do with what I believe about God, what I believe He can do on the inside of me, and my choice then in response to what’s happening to me is to give praise back to Him.

That becomes something that’s within my control. I can’t always control what’s happening to me on the outside, but I can most definitely control my response, what I do with it, what I believe about God, what I believe he’s going to do about...

Treating other people well is a great rule to live by. But did you know it’s also good for your health, vitality and growing resilience?

Psychology researcher Barbara Fredrickson, PhD, author of Love 2.0: Creating Happiness and Health in Moments of Connection, studies how “micro-moments” of connection with others, like sharing a smile or expressing concern, improve emotional resilience, boost the immune system, and reduce susceptibility to depression and anxiety.

In Fredrickson’s view, we need affirmative human connection in much the same way that our bodies need wholesome food. “Moments of uplifting positive emotions function like nutrients for creativity, growth, and health,” she says.

And when we look at the New Testament, we see the same sentiment of love being the highest goal and treating others with care and compassion as our ideal. Colossians 3:12 says it best…

"So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe...

Healthy sleep is a major cornerstone for an energetic, joyful, healthy life. Sleeping better is one of the simplest and most powerful things you can do to improve your health as it plays a key role in rejuvenating the cells in your body and helps wash away toxins that build up during the day.

High-quality, restorative sleep carries several additional life-giving benefits, including:

 • Improves brain function 

• Faster muscle recovery

• Increases fat burning

• Boosts longevity

• Balances your hormones 

• Protects your heart 

Not getting enough sleep or poor-quality sleep adversely affects hormones that make you hungry and store extra weight. This lack of sleep also creates blood sugar imbalances that increase the risk of pre-diabetes, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and poor immune function.

VALUE YOUR SLEEP AS MUCH YOU DO YOUR DIET AND PHYSICAL FITNESS

When you become aware of your sleep and its importance, you’re more...

If you’re looking for a way to add to your joy, look no farther than spending some extra time with the relationships that matter most in your life! Convincing evidence of this comes from Martin Seligman, a leading expert in the field of happiness research. Check out a couple other compelling reasons why investing in deep connections are vital.

Close Relationships Make Us Feel Optimistic

A study in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology showed that when we have social support, our perception of challenges changes. And the social support paves a way for optimism to grow, increasing overall satisfaction with life while lowering the risk of anxiety.  

Friends Provide a Deeper Level of Support

We all enjoy some causal chit-chat with our buddies and colleagues, but when there’s something important to discuss, it’s crucial to have a confidant we can turn to.  This has been shown to be...

This week we thought we’d dive into a few simple and practical ways to improve your health, lose unwanted fat and rev up a sluggish metabolism.

At RISE we focus on small steps that lead up to remarkable results and following these five foundational tips will lay the groundwork to transform your health - one step at a time. 

#1 Eat a Diet Rich in High-Quality Protein

A diet rich in high-quality protein is a proven way to reduce your cravings and burn extra fat. In fact, research indicates a diet high in quality protein is associated with a lower percentage of belly fat, leading to increased muscle mass and a higher metabolic rate. 

RISE healthy proteins include chicken, turkey, beef, bison, lamb, eggs, wild- caught fish (check out www.seafoodwatch.org) and plant-based proteins like lentils, quinoa, tofu, and tempeh. 

#2 Increase Your Intake of Healthy Fats

You may be thinking this seems counterintuitive. However, increasing your intake of healthy fats keeps...

We hope this Labor Day weekend finds you well and ready to RISE Together this weekend!

We have a few questions for you this weekend….what do you think is the best exercise proven to help you:

·      Melt off body fat, lose weight and keep it off 
·      Rev up your energy 
·      Breakthrough stress 
·      Boost your mood 
·      Increase your earning potential 
·      Enhance your love life 
·      Tone and tighten your entire body 
·      And much, much more…

Want to find out? 

What’s the best exercise to help you accomplish all of these wonderful benefits? Drum roll, please……

Here’s why walking ranks #1;

...