Homemade Protein Bars

Healthy. Delicious. Sweet. Healthy. Perfect!

 

Ingredients:

1. 1 scoop protein mix (I use Shakeology!)
2. 1 cup gluten free quick oats
3. 4 Tbsp. apple sauce
4. 2 Tbsp. of peanut butter
5. 1 Tbsp. honey
6. Coconut shavings (any amount you want)
7. Chocolate chips or Peanut Butter chips 

Mix items 1-6 together in a bowl.  Mash and mix with a spoon to even the ingredients out.  Then form them into an 8x8 pan sprayed with coconut oil or Pam, push chips on top and put them in the freezer for about 30 min-1 hour!  ENJOY!!

I hope you like them as much as we did!  You could also form them into balls if you'd rather!  My kids and I had a ton of fun making them together, as you can see the video above!  I encourage you to try it with your kiddos and let me know what yall thought!  If you video it, tag me in it so I can see!  @kristinkfitness  =)  They were a hit over here and now I make them often for their after school snacks!  It's so nice having a snack that they love and I can feel good knowing it's healthy for them!  =)  WIN, WIN!!

Food Is Not Your God

About a year ago I remember reading an article called "Food Is Not Your God" and I loved it!  Nobody wants to be obsessed with food, it's there to fuel us, to feed us when we're hungry, and give us energy.   Yes, it is also a way for friends and family to get together and make memories by going out to eat or having a party with delicious dishes over a football game or around the table at Thanksgiving.  Those times of making memories should be enjoyable...it's not to obsess over every bite, stress us out or make you so disappointed with yourself if you eat the "wrong" thing!  STOP!!  

In one of my fitness accountability groups a lot of people were doing great with the workouts but it's the food that was a problem for most.  Why?  I think it's because we've been told that in order to lose weight or be healthy you have to completely cut out all food considered unhealthy.  As a coach I've been struggling with where I stand on this because most coaches host "Clean Eating" groups and "Eating all Organic" groups so I did too and although they've been successful and given everyone (myself included) healthier options and recipes, I don't want to come off as a 100% clean eater myself.  I'm not.  I never want people to think I am a 100% healthy eater ALL. THE. TIME or that I always eat organic and would NEVER drink a coke or eat a piece of cake.  That actually makes me laugh out loud because that's not me at all, nor do I want it to be me!  Would I rather feed my family something homemade than from a box...ABSOLUTELY!  But I'm not trying to pretend that it doesn't ever happen!  So I've been trying to figure out how I feel about the issue and here's what I've come up with so far and there are links at the bottom to help me out in what I'm trying to say =) ...

I think food is great! I don't think you should 100% deprive yourself of any of your favorite things whether it's coke, chips, or cookies.  SAY WHAT??  Yup that's what I said but keep listening and don't get it twisted...What I do think is more important is to limit your quantities and not over eat or stuff yourself.  Eat the things you like but maybe cut your portions in half, drink a coke once a week or month as a treat instead of daily, etc.  Don't obsess over every bite and beat yourself up when you didn't stick to your plan.  One unhealthy meal wont make you gain weight, just like one healthy meal wont make you lose weight!  Let's let that sink in for a minute...

Food is fuel and I feel like if we start using it as such instead of completely cutting things out and then over eating after week 2, we'd have a better relationship with food!  I am not saying go to McDonalds everyday and cut your food in half and you'll be good to go.  What I AM saying is stop beating yourself up over every unhealthy/non organic thing you eat!  We all feel better when our body is being fed right with a variety of fresh foods (Thank you Shakeology for your help!!).  We know this!  But things in moderation are OK.  We can't be on 100% of the time but we can do it 80% of the time and that's why I love the 80/20 Rule!  You eat well 80% of your week, indulge 20% of the week and WORK OUT!!  Working out not only improves your mood but it gives you so much more energy that then overflows and motivates you in every other aspect of your life too.  

 

So how do I feel about the 21 Day Fix or Cleanses?  I think they're amazing!  Anything you do for your body to make you happy and healthy is a GREAT thing...eating healthy, doing a cleanse, portion control, working out...they are all good!  What's not good is when you start obsessing, talking negatively to yourself, and become consumed by it. 

When any aspect of my life starts to feel stressful, whether it's finances, a decision I have to make, or a relationship, and I find myself getting worked up or thinking about it all the time, I just stop and refocus on Jesus instead of focusing on the thing I'm stressing about. Then, because our God is SO BIG, it makes my problem seem SO SMALL and so much more manageable.  God is the only influence that should rule your life; food, your appetite, and your weight should not be in control or be the root of any worrying!  

Galatians 5:16 - So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  

More on the 80/20 rule soon but in the mean time you can get introduced to it HERE.   

I couldn't find the exact article I read years ago but here are 2 others I found that I really enjoyed and would love for you to read too!  

http://www.stacymakescents.com/food-is-not-your-god

http://www.charismamag.com/life/health/19682-is-food-your-god 

So here is a summary of what I'm trying to say:
Don't worry and think about food so much.  Food is NOT your God and should not consume so much of your thoughts.  Eat healthy meals because that is when we feel our best but indulge some of the time and don't feel guilty about it!  Food is enjoyable and the Lord wants us to feast and thank him for our blessings but he does not want us to be gluttons.  Things in our life seem like such big issues and can overtake our thoughts until we remember to give it to God and know that if he can heal the blind and raise the dead, he can surely help us in our relationships (with people or food), in our finances, decisions and every other aspect of our life!  =)

Pesto Zucchini Noodles

I'm allergic to gluten so I always have to buy rice noodles but the latest craze on zucchini or spaghetti squash noodles intrigued me so I decided to give it a try!  We bought my husband a spiral french fry maker for Christmas so I decided to test it out and see if it could co-exist as a noodle maker too! They look a little thick but honestly tasted delicious and I will for sure make it again and can't wait to use it for other things!!  

I started by peeling 3 zucchini (1 per person you're cooking for) and then cut them in half to fit in my spiralizer better!  

Then I put them one by one into the spiralizer and started twisting!  FYI- the end of the zucchini that wont fit through the spiralizer is delicious to eat raw with some hummus while you're cooking!  Just sayin'!  =)  You'll thank me later!  

After that I pressed them in a paper towel to get the water out of them and then threw them in the skillet with some salt.  I didn't use any oil because they have so much water in them you just let that cook out.  

I blotted them with a paper towel again before putting them in a bowl and mixing some garlic pesto that I had bought from HEB. Then I topped it with some sliced almonds and cherry tomatoes.  It was delicious!! Try it and let me know what you think!  Please share it with someone who you think would enjoy this meal!  It was very quick and easy!  ENJOY!!

  

Ingredients:

1. zucchini
2. pre made pesto
3. cherry tomatoes
4. sliced almonds

Could it be any easier?  =)  

Well, HEL-LOOOO Turbofire!

Hi, I'm Kristin and I like to JAM OUT!!  Put some good music on and I will dance like nobody's business!  (I don't really understand that expression but I think that's how it goes!).

In order to workout consistently you have to actually ENJOY your workouts, right!?  I've done Bodypump, T25, 21 Day Fix, and PiYo schedules and I always enjoy them and I do seriously love each one I've done.  But a dance party workout?!  I seriously don't think it could get any better!  Although there is Hip Hop Abs and I'm trying that next so maybe it can get better?  We'll see!  ;)  

Because of the new Beachbody On Demand I've been able to try other programs that I don't own.  Recently I've been doing some of the Turbofire workouts and let me just say...well, wait...let me just show you...

Do you see what I'm talking about??  THIS is fun!  THIS is a workout!  THIS is something I can do everyday and look forward to!  I can't wait to do this entire program and see what results I get out of it!  Cardio is always the biggest mind game for me and is the hardest part of my workouts but cardio like this...I CAN DO THIS!!  =)  

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