Tiffany is an amazing athlete. The first time I met her, she was just finishing up a swim at the lake, training for the St. George, Utah Ironman. My husband and I just arrived and I chatted with her for a minute and I was thinking, “Wow, she looks like an IM pro.”  You could definitely tell, she knew her stuff about IM training.  My husband and I were training for our first IM, so she was quite an inspiration to me.  Her accomplishments “WOW” me, especially with the obstacles that she has overcome………… AND she is my sister’s neighbor and she speaks very highly of her. I’m so very excited for her post today. She is going to share with us some inspiring accomplishments about herself, a family favorite recipe and some really great fitness tips. Thanks so much Tiffany for sharing with us today. Also, for those of us who live in the STG area, Tiffany can help you reach your optimal performance at the Dixie Regional Health & Performance Center. They have a sports package that includes a Bod Pod (calculates body fat %), VO2 Max, and basal metabolic testing that would be very helpful for training. I am looking forward to getting tested. STG Marathon and NY are right around the corner! Okay, so let’s get to it! Here’s Tiffany………………..❤️

I guess you could say that I am a wellness nerd. I graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science and a minor in Dance. I love to learn, so I decided to go back to school and get my Master’s in Sports Nutrition. I have to admit that my grades are much better now that I’m older and understand the value of education. Who would have thought that I could get a 4.0 GPA? HAHA!

My job as an Exercise Physiologist at Intermountain Live Well allows me to share my passion for wellness with others, and the rewards of seeing clients pursue a healthy lifestyle is priceless. I also empower others to chase their dreams as owner of TG Triathlon and Fitness. As a World National Olympic Distance Age Group Qualifier in 2012-2016, I have been chasing my own dreams by competing in over 175 triathlons, including 16 Ironman finishes. From 2012-2016, I received Ironman All World Athlete by placing in the top 10% in the world for my age division. (I’m old…. hitting 50 on my next birthday). J

Despite my accomplishments in 2010, I suffered 3 strokes which lead to heart surgery. These obstacles have lead me to have a great desire to infuse balance and gratitude in my life. When I’m not training or races, I enjoy hiking, cooking, sewing, reading and SUP. My greatest accomplishment is being a wife and mother of three kids ages 25, 20, and 14. My family is the heart of my success.

This recipe is one of my family’s favorite. I will usually double the recipe so that we can have left overs. It can be used in whole wheat tortillas, taco shells, on tops of nachos for a hearty meal, or on top of mixed greens for a yummy salad. (That’s my personal favorite) J

One Pot Quinoa Taco Dinner

Ingredients

• 1.25 lbs. of Ground Turkey or Beef (You can leave this out for vegetarian option)

• 2 Bell Peppers Diced

• 1 Onion Diced

• 2 Tomatoes Diced canned or fresh from the garden

• 1 Can of Corn (drained) or Frozen works great too

• 1/2 cup salsa

• 1 cup Canned Black Beans (about half a can) I like to rinse them off first

• 1 cup Water

• 1 cup Beef or Vegetable Stock Low Sodium

• 1 cup Long Grained Rice (not minute rice) or Quinoa

• 1 and 1/2 teaspoons of Cumin

• 1 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1 teaspoon chili powder

• 1 cup Cheddar Cheese

• Taco shells, whole wheat tortillas or mixed greens (depending on what your family enjoys)

Instructions

1. Begin browning meat in skillet. Drain the fat. (I like to add crushed garlic too).

2. After slightly brown, add diced onion and diced peppers and cook until meat is completely browned.

3. On medium heat, stir in water, beef stock, beans, and rice or quinoa. (I’m added both rice and quinoa sometimes)

4. Stir in cumin, garlic powder, and chili powder.

5. Add in the corn and tomatoes

6. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes, (quinoa takes a bit longer 20-25 minutes) or until rice is completely cooked and liquid has absorbed.

7. Stir in the cheese and top with your favorite taco toppings! We love adding sour cream and guacamole to ours. Enjoy!

I love this recipe because you can adapt it to what your family likes. If you are vegan leave out the meat and switch the beef broth to vegetable. If you have fresh garden tomatoes, use those. I can’t really say where I got this recipe from, because I adapted it from an original and made it fit my family and their needs. One word of advice is you should do just that. Look at a recipe and make it fit your taste and your family. Same way when you eat out. If you don’t something on the menu, as if they can create something for you based on what ingredients is found in the other menu items.

 Fitness Tip-

“Start where you are, don’t compare yourself to others, and enjoy the journey.” Tiffany Gust

There is no magic bullet for optimal health. Just eat real food and then you don’t have to worry about all the fads and diet craze. Listen to your body and try to make movement a part of your everyday life. Engage in activities that you enjoy and encourage those around you to become active with you. Spending time with family and friends can make movement and exercise enjoyable and rewarding, while building the bonds in the relationship.

If you struggle to enjoy fitness, then learn to enjoy the feeling of success when you have completed a hard workout. Enjoy the freedom you feel when the endorphins have amped up your energy. Work around your limitations if you are dealing with health issues or an injury. Trust me, I know how it feels to have your whole life flipped around and going from being a successful athlete to having health issues that only allow you to go for a walk or a short swim. Don’t focus on what you can’t do, focus on what you can. Bask in the gratitude that you have for still being alive and well. Anchor into the moments that can get you through those hard times. Do things that will allow you to feel success and make your heart smile. Find ways to enjoy nature and peace in your life. Now, go out and CHASE THOSE DREAMS!!! J