Cauliflower Fried Rice

This recipe is super easy and was a crowd pleasure for my entire family!  Oh, and did I mention it's healthy?  Nothing but veggies and protein are in this dish!  I know, WINNER!!!!  I hope you like it as much as we did! Now as you know, cooking (let alone taking fancy pictures) is not my thing...basic and easy are my thing so here is an easy to follow, not sure about measurements but throw it all together and I know it will still taste good Cauliflower Fried Rice recipe!  =)

 First saute an onion and garlic glove in coconut oil.

Then add cauliflower rice (about 2 cups) and continue to saute.

You can shred a cauliflower head but I get this bag from Costco and the work is already done for you! 

Add carrots and peas.  You can use frozen or I used 1 can of them mixed.

Add 4 eggs and scramble them in the middle then stir everything together.

Season with 3-4 Tbsp. of gluten free soy sauce, salt and pepper.

Add shrimp, chicken, or beef and...

ENJOY!!!!!

First Week of PiYo

I really need the stretching and lengthening that yoga gives you (especially while I'm running or trying for a race!) BUT I don't like to hold positions for very long and got bored whenever I tried it!  I want to move and sweat what can I say?!  =)  When PiYo came along I was hesitant for that very reason but thought I would give it a try.  The first time I did one of the workouts, I wasn't fully convinced and didn't do it again for a while.  Lesson learned...always give every workout you try a fighting chance!!  =)  You know when you go on a road trip and it seems like it takes FOREVER to get there but then on the way home or the next time you drive that same route it seems so much shorter?!  Workouts are exactly like that!  When you don't know what to expect it can seem long, boring, or too hard to do!  But when you try it again and continue it, you start to get in the groove and truly enjoy it!  Things are easier once we know what to expect and just like a road trip, it gets familiar and not so bad after all!  =)

So last week was my first entire week of PiYo and I'm LOVING it!!  Into week 2 my inner thighs are sore, I feel like I have better posture and truly look forward to pushing play everyday instead of drinking some Energize and talking myself into it!  =)  

I am on an oatmeal kick so instead of Shakeology for breakfast I've been having oatmeal and then Shakeology with lunch or as an afternoon snack!  

Oatmeal, berries, almond milk, stevia, & cinnamon!!  (1Y, 1/2P)

Chocolate Banana Nutter is my go to recipe!! (1R, 1P, 1Tbsp)

I know that picture of dinner is not fancy AT ALL but it was so good and the kids gobbled it up too!! Cut up some jalapenos and a little bit of cheese and mix it in with your ground meat and form patties.  Grill or cook on the stove and serve with veggies.  They are so tasty and super easy!!    Y'all, cabbage is so cheap and really delicious...get you some!  I'm going to be cooking this more often!!  

I'm not the only one loving PiYo!  my mini-me likes to jump in from time to time!  Be the example, right!!! =)

I hope you enjoy this "Beast" series from one of my workouts!  Let me know if you give it a try and what you thought of it!  

Try to do each move for 1 minute each, rest for 15 seconds and repeat 2 more times!!  

If you're looking for a workout program to help you reach your health goals please email me and we'll get you set up for success!  I'd love to have you join my next accountability group!  

XOXO

21 Day Fix Extreme

I think this might be one of my favorite programs!  You just can't beat getting such an amazing sweat in just 30 minutes!  The moves are different and changing everyday so you never get bored and after the 21 days I was left feeling stronger and tighter which left me super motivated to continue these results!    I don't own a scale so I can't tell you what the results are there but I go off of how I FEEL and how my clothes fit and I feel amazing and confidence inside and out!!!  I think my favorite workout was Plyo because it was challenging but I could tell such a difference in my leg strength each time I did it!  Progress is what keeps me going!  =)  I also was challenged by using the bands!  Although it was new to me, I got used to it and loved the extra resistance!

Let me know if you have any questions about my experience and I promise I'm going to be better about posting more often so I can share this amazing journey on a more regular basis to help inspire you to do the same!  I have never been happier than I am now simply by focusing on ME!  Taking time to grow in my faith, learn to balance my indulgences, and workout on a consistent schedule is so key!  When I'm feeling good, it makes me a better wife and mom which is priceless!  I'd love to help you do the same so shoot me a message or email if you're interested in learning how you can get started!  

Here's a video so you can preview some of my favorite moves from the program!  Results are guaranteed, who doesn't love that?!?! 

XOXO
kristinkfitness@gmail.com

My First Half Marathon

Race Day was finally around the corner!  All my hard work was about to pay off and the goal that I had set out of the blue just 12 short weeks earlier would be accomplished!  At least I hoped it would!  ;)

No, I was actually feeling great about it!  All my runs had been easy and felt strong leading up to the race and I knew I was ready!  (You can read more about my training HERE!)

So the week leading up to Race Day we knew the weather was going to be cold and rainy!!  YUCK!! When I signed up the one thing I said was, "I just hope it's not cold and rainy on race day!"  haha!!!  I shouldn't have said that!  ;)  They toyed with the idea of canceling it but I am so glad they didn't and we got it done!

My family all drove to San Antonio to cheer me on!  My hubby and 3 kids, mother in law, mom, dad, 2 sisters, brother in law, and nieces were all there to support me!  They're kind of great like that!  We went to an early dinner around 5 and I had gluten free pizza and lots of water, then went back to the hotel to get ready for bed!  My throat was hurting and I wanted to be up early and prayed I wasn't getting sick.

 Arrived and getting my packet and bib!

Our first time on the Riverwalk as a family!  =)

I slept terrible.  Not because I was nervous but so excited!  I couldn't go to sleep and when I did I kept popping up thinking I was missing the race!!  Excited is an understatement!  =)  Finally the time came to actually get up and get dressed!  Click HERE if you'd like to see a few of my favorite things I made sure to have with me.  I don't eat much before a run so I had 1/2 a banana with some peanut butter, drank my Energize, met my friend Lauren in the lobby and we headed to the starting line!

Already raining but we're ready to Rock N' Roll!!

The race started, we got to talking and I never saw 1 mile marker.  I didn't want to look at them and we were in our own little world just running and talking so much that I didn't even know how far we had gone until we were past 5, then to 7, and we were having fun!  I saw my family once at mile 3-4ish and then at the finish line.  It made me cry and really gave me a boost during the run!  I was so glad they were there!

Some of my squad!  #thankful

   Proud Parents!!


















It began pouring and sometimes the roads were so flooded on the right and left that we were all corralled to the middle of the street which made us slow down until there was more room on the road.  Other spots there was just nowhere to go to avoid it so we were in puddles up to our ankles, feet completely submerged!  It's all mind over matter so we just laughed, had fun, and kept moving forward!  We hit mile 10 easily but the rain then stopped and that's when the cold really started to set in!  We were drenched and I couldn't feel my hands...gloves should be something I add to my must have list because I was missing those!!  The last mile seemed the longest because Lauren looked at her watch and we knew it was the last mile so it was like we instantly expected to see the finish line but we kept turning and running, and turning and running...when would we see it?  It seemed to be the longest mile EVER!!  Then we could see it, what a relief!  I saw my family as they cheered for us and I could tell they were so proud!!  I crossed that finished line with so much joy and emotion!  Having my family there was so special and I couldn't wait to get my hands on my hubby and kiddos!    There were some tears and lots of hugs!  It's amazing what your body is capable of and the only thing holding most people back is the negative talk in your head that never allows you to get started!  You can do anything you set your mind to!  Just Decide. Commit. Succeed!

Run Kristin Run!!

 Exercise sets such a great example for your kids!!  Now my 9 year old wants to race! =)

 My biggest supporter and best friend!  He was so proud of me and took amazing care of me, making sure I was comfortable and prepared all weekend!  

My sweet mother in law!

 We did it!!!  Couldn't have asked for a better partner to experience this with!!  So much fun!

I don't think I'll start any trends with my after rainy race hair!  This took a while to comb through afterwards!  =)

Walking back to the hotel and a hot shower had never sounded better! 

After my shower we went and ate a celebratory lunch.  My sweet hubby carried me everywhere as if my legs didn't work anymore!  =)  XOXO

I can honestly say I did not run for a time.  I focused on just having fun and that we did!  We talked and ran a comfortable speed not even realizing what mile we were at in the race.  We did have to slow down sometimes when it got crowded due to flooding but I was pleased with my time for my first race and look forward to doing another one in the future!  If you're not familiar...your chip time is your run time for the race!  There are so many people that it takes you a while to hit the starting line so "clock time" is counting your time before you crossed the starting line, "chip time" is from start line to finish line so it's the one that matters!  =)  The other email they sent me had my overall time at 2:10:05 and I like that time better but whatevs!  =) 

This shirt sums me up to a T!!!  It was a gift from a BFF who knows me all too well!  I earned those cookies and enjoyed every bite!  It was so great to get home and rest up!  This was such a great experience and I am thankful God gave me a healthy body to workout in and supported me along the way!  I saw multiple shirts throughout the race with Philippians 4:13 on them... "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!" It was a great reminder and boosted my spirits each time!     So there we have it...first half in the books!  Until next time...

Honey Veggie Mix

You know those nights when dinnertime is approaching and you have no idea what you're going to fix?!  Surely I'm not the only one...right?!?

Ok, well that happens to me often!  The days are busy and by the time we get home from one of the kids practices after school, they're ready to eat!  Yesterday was one of these days that I didn't plan for and I had nothing made.  We could have made sandwiches or something else super easy but I wanted to feed us some VEGGIES!!  I had some ground meat cooked in the fridge that was extra from a baked ziti dish I made for a friend the other night and I needed to use it!  So my wheels started turning...I'll just make bakes ziti!  The kids weren't having that!  They giggled as they yelled, "NOOOOO!!" in unison!   Apparently I make that a lot!  So a concoction it was!

I looked in the fridge and grabbed some things, looked in the pantry and did the same and got busy.

Can I just tell you that my thrown together meal was a hit with all 5 members of our family!  So delicious, so easy, and I made it with things I already had in the kitchen...WIN, WIN, WIN!!  The kids helped name it...Honey Veggie Mix.  Genius! ;)

Here is the recipe below.  I hope you enjoy!!

Disclaimer: I am not a chef (that just made me laugh out loud!) or remotely close to being an expert.  AT. ALL.  So if you don't see a measurement it means I just added a "normal" amount...so cilantro, honey, olive oil... I just added enough to saute the veggies!  If I had to guess on the honey I would say 4 Tbsp.?!  Anyway, it's not a science..add as you want!  =)

Ingredients

1. rice (brown rice or quinoa would be even better!)
2. olive oil
3. honey
4. 1 yellow bell pepper
5. 1 red bell pepper
6. 1 orange bell pepper
7. 3 cups spinach
8. cilantro
9. 1 pound lean ground meat
10. 1 can black beans
11. 1 can Amy's Chunky Tomato Bisque
12. salt
13. pepper
14. seasonings of your choice- I used Tony Chachere's
15. cheese

Directions:

1. Start cooking rice in a pot per directions on bag.
2. Pour your olive oil and honey into a large pan and begin heating.
3. Dice your peppers and put into a pan with spinach and cilantro.  Saute until veggies are soft and spinach is cooked down.
4. Pour in cooked ground meat, black beans, and Tomato Bisque.  Stir it all together and add your seasonings. 
5. Rice should be finished so they you scoop some rice into a bowl, dish your meat mixture on top of the rice and top with cheese!  ENJOY!!!!  

Beachbody On Demand

Today we launched Beachbody On Demand and I couldn't be more excited!!  Imagine having 11 different workout programs like P90X, P90X3, Insanity, Turbofire, Brazilian Butt Lift and more, all available to stream to your phone, iPad, computer, or TV when and where you want to do your workouts!  Plus you have limited access to even more workout programs like 21 Day Fix Extreme, Insanity Max 30, and PiYo, to name a few, so you can try them out and see if it's something you would want to do next.

Maybe you have a hard time committing to ONE workout to buy because so many look like a good fit for you, now you can alternate a different workout program each day to give them ALL a try!  Then you can purchase the DVD's of your favorite one that you want to do all the time OR maybe you decide to stick with On Demand and just keep streaming different workouts when you want them.  

Or maybe you try workouts but get tired of the routines after the first month or two?  Now you wont have that one program to choose from but MANY so you can change it up whenever you want to.  The possibilities are endless and having your workouts On Demand will not only broaden your workout horizons but take your fitness to another level!  

Here is a video to give you a better look into what it's all about and below are some answers to some FAQ!

 

Q- What's the Team Beachbody Club?
A- The Team Beachbody Club is an exclusive membership to our online health and fitness community. And new for 2015 is Beachbody® On Demand, which gives Team Beachbody Club members streaming access to hundreds of workouts, including all-time favorites like P90X® and INSANITY®. That means you can instantly stream your favorite workouts straight to your desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile device. You also get access to program guides, nutrition plans, and workout calendars, so you can take your workouts to the gym, on vacation, or anywhere you want to work out. Team Beachbody Club is truly a total health solution, because it also offers customized meal plans, fitness and nutrition advice from top Beachbody experts, support and accountability from thousands of other members, and live chats with your favorite celebrity trainers. You also get a 10% discount in the Team Beachbody store, on everything from fitness programs to apparel to supplements—even Shakeology®!

Q- How much does Team Beachbody Club membership cost?
A- Club membership costs $2.9 a week, billed $38.87 quarterly in advance to the credit card you use at sign-up.

Q- Do I have to pay for Beachbody On Demand?
A- Beachbody On Demand is included in the price of your Team Beachbody Club membership. You must be a paid Team Beachbody Club member in order to access Beachbody On Demand.

Q- What fitness level must I be at to do the streaming workouts?
A- There are workouts for every fitness level, from beginner to advanced. You can choose by fitness program, type of workout, length of workout, and your favorite trainer.

Q- What workouts are included in the Beachbody On Demand streaming service?
A- Beginning in March 2015, Team Beachbody Club members can stream every workout from: •P90X Base and Deluxe Kits
• P90X2 Base and Deluxe Kits
• P90X3 Base and Deluxe Kits
• P90X ONE on ONE Volume 1
• INSANITY Base and Deluxe Kits
• INSANITY: THE ASYLUM Volume 1
• TurboFire
• Brazil Butt Lift Base and Deluxe Kits
• ChaLEAN Extreme
• 10-Minute Trainer
• Hip Hop Abs
• Club members also get insider "sneak peeks" of new releases, so you can sample a workout before you buy the DVD program:
• 21 Day Fix “Total Body Cardio Fix"
• 21 Day Fix EXTREME “Plyo Fix Extreme"
• PiYo “Sweat"
• FOCUS T25 “ALPHA Cardio"
• INSANITY MAX:30TM “Sweat Intervals"
New workouts and programs are added to the digital library every month, so you'll always have something new to try. With so much variety, you'll never get bored and you can keep seeing results. Plus, when you're a Club member and you buy a Beachbody DVD program, you'll get streaming access to those workouts plus digital access to all the program guides, meal plans, and workout calendars for that fitness program.

Q. What kind of device do I need to stream workouts?
A- You can stream to any desktop, laptop, tablet, or mobile device—all you need is an Internet connection.

Have another questions that wasn't answered here?  Please leave me a comment or email me at:
kristinkfitness@gmail.com 

Quinoa Stuffed Bell Peppers

Stuffed Bell Peppers...I see them everywhere and they're a great idea but once they're made how the heck do you eat them?!  We just cut them up which then made me wonder why we stuff them in the first place instead of just chopping the peppers from the beginning but I guess that's because the peppers would get too soft?!  Something to think about but regardless they were delicious and my 7 & 5 year old actually gave me a hug and thanked me while they praised how yummy they were! =) I was pretty shocked and made a mental note that I will keep this recipe on the list of regulars!  I actually made this recipe up...  I've seen lots of different recipes out there that I've wanted to try but last night my daughter had gymnastics and I didn't have a clue what I was cooking for dinner.  I got home and decided I would throw some things together to make a healthy dish and this is what I decided on!  I'm pretty proud of the spinach addition because nobody would EVER know it's in there!  So healthy and so yummy!!   Try them yourself and let me know what you think!

Ingredients:

• Quinoa
• 6 Bell Peppers
• 2 pounds lean ground turkey or I used venison from our freezer (perks of a hunter husband!) which is super lean.
• 2 cloves of garlic
• 2 TBSP coconut oil
• 1 cup chopped spinach (I chopped fresh spinach in my food processor) 
• 2 tomatoes, diced OR you can use 1 can of diced tomatoes
• 3 tsp dried basil
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp Mrs. Dash Southwest Chipotle seasoning (it's salt free!)
• pepper to taste (a little salt is delicious but if you're doing the 21 Day Fix then don't add it!)
• grated cheddar cheese

Directions:

Cook Quinoa according to box.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Cut the top of each bell pepper and rinse out seeds. If you need to trim some of the pepper on the bottom so it stands up on the pan you can! 

Place foil on a pan or casserole dish and place bell peppers inside.

Heat coconut oil in large skillet and add onion, garlic, and chopped spinach and saute for 5 minutes or until soft.

Add the ground meat and cook through.

Add the tomatoes and spices and mix well.  

Once Quinoa is finished, mix it in the skillet and blend.

Tightly stuff the mixture into the peppers and then top with shredded cheese.  

Bake for 30 minutes.  ENJOY!!!!  Please share or pin this recipe with someone you think would like it!  How do you eat your stuffed peppers?  

The End of my 21 Day Fix and WHY I Cheated!

Do you see that?!?  That means that I'M FINISHED!!!!  Yay!!! I made it through my 21 days and I couldn't be more proud of myself!  I feel amazing and can't wait to post my full review but here is how my last 2 days went...

On Saturday, what I used to call my rest day, and I got up at 5:30 and pushed play on Dirty Thirty and Pilates.  I was almost done with my workouts when the rest of the house started waking up...what a great start to my day!!!

We got dressed and headed to my sons basketball game where he played the best game he has EVER played (granted this is his 3rd basketball game of his life...but it was the best, hands down!)  =)  He was on fire and made 4 baskets, stole the ball multiple times, and had some great rebounds!  I'm a proud momma!

Lunch was on track and then came a big crossroads in my journey.  We made plans to go with family to dinner...Mexican food (my favorite) so I had to decide what I was going to order!

I did my double workout today, I drank my Shakeology, I had a healthy lunch with plenty of leftover containers and I only had 1 MORE DAY left of my 21 Days...to cheat, or not to cheat?!?!

Well, I've been good for 20 days so far, would I really want to blow it the night of the 20th day, the EVE of my last day?!  That would be crazy right!?  There are plenty of things I could do to stick to it...10 chips with salsa (yellow), corn tortillas with chicken and veggies (yellow, red, green)  I could stick to the plan.  If it was earlier in my journey I wouldn't have even questioned sticking to it or not.  But,here's why I decided to CHEAT when I was almost done with my full 21 Day Fix!

This 21 Day Fix wasn't just a phase for me!  I didn't go into it with the attitude that I would do these 21 days and then go back to eating junk and large amounts of anything and everything I wanted.  No, I went into these 21 days looking to make healthier habits, wanting to learn how to eat the right portions, make healthier snack choices, and be on a consistent workout schedule!  I DID that and now that I'm finishing up, it's time for me to continue doing the healthy habits I've learned while also indulging a little now and then!  Shaun T calls it the 80/20 rule.  80% healthy, 20% indulgence and that's how I want to live!  Life is too short to count EVERY single calorie or to just never let loose with family and friends!  So I went out and had 2 skinny margaritas and shared a fajita plate with my husband.  It was delicious and we had a wonderful time with family!

I don't regret cheating and guess what?  I got up on Sunday and did my Yoga workout before church, had my Shakeology and continued on a healthy day.  I weighed myself (at a family members house because I don't own a scale!) to see the results of my 21 days and I lost 6 POUNDS TOTAL!  I feel amazing and I didn't gain it all back by eating some Mexican food!  Now, if I chose to cheat and indulge everyday I would, but not by doing the 80/20 rule!  The crazy thing is that I actually lost the least amount of weight from my other 21 Day Fixers in my Challenge Group!!  I lost the least at 6 pounds, then there were some 7 pounders, 10, 12, and even 16 pounds!  AMAZING!!

Feel free to read through each day of my 21 Day Fix for food ideas and my personal journey plus I will be blogging my review of each workout so check back soon for that!

I have Challenge Groups starting every single month so if you'd like to join one of my groups please comment below!  I would LOVE to help you reach your goals and the new 21 Day Fix Extreme comes out in Feb 2015!  Both programs are guaranteed to give you results so there is no risk!  

              

Day 19 of the 21 Day Fix

I can't believe this is my last weekend of my 21 days!  What a journey it's been so far!  I can tell my body has changed but I don't own a scale so I wont know the numbers until the end when I'll go to a friends house to weigh myself!  =)  I really don't care about weight, I just go by how I FEEL!  If I'm  happy and feeling good in my clothes and daily life then that's my perfect weight!  When my clothes start getting tighter and I'm feeling sluggish and blah...I know it's time to make some changes!  =)

This morning I tried Greenberry Shakeology for the first time and it was delicious!  My usual Chocolate is so sweet and tastes like a yummy dessert so the Greenberry was a nice change and very refreshing!  I can't wait to try more recipes with it but here is the one I had today and will definitely repeat in the future!  =)

Today was a double day of Cardio Fix and Upper Fix.  I can really tell that I am getting stronger!  I really didn't feel like doing a double but pushed play twice and of course felt amazing afterwards!  Why do I ever even argue with myself...JUST DO IT!!!  =)

Day 19 down, 2 more to go!!!