Asian Inspired Chicken Lettuce Wraps | #FitnessFriday

I love me some rice. I used to eat rice 2-3 times a week in various forms. Red rice, brown rice, yellow rice, white rice... You name it---I love that ish. But when did rice start to have so many calories! Smh. Global warming ruins ERRYYTTHHIINNGGG!

You see, I started tracking my calories (yes...I'm still doing it! #fistbump) and actually measuring out my food. When I saw that my rice side dish was over 200 calories alone---I realized that it was time to scale it back a notch. Plus---I kinda have no will power. Just a little bit of rice just ain't enough...

So, I've changed all of my staple rice dishes into lettuce wraps! <insert drooling emoticon>

Last week, I whipped up these delish Asian Inspired Chicken Lettuce Wraps! The ingredients are pretty straight forward, the execution is beyond easy. The best part? My kids gobble these down like rabbits. Yeppers---this recipe is a keeper.

Am I giving up rice all together?

Girl, heck no!

Happy #FitnessFriday chicas! What's new on your menu this summer?

Besitos!
KLP

An InLinkz Link-up

30 Day Squat Challenge, Cardio Kickboxing & Calorie Tracking | #FitnessFriday

It's #FitnessFriday update time! Thanks to my renewed motivation (and your amazeball encouragement) I'm totally back on my workout/healthy living grind! Since the hubs out saving the world and the in-laws are several hours away, I've been on a mission to find new workouts to fit into my disgustingly hectic schedule. I'm siced because I think that I've found a couple of things that are sticking!

Refinery 29's 30 Day Squat Challenge:
My friend sent me the link to Refinery 29's 30 Day Squat Challenge with the message was "I challenge you to a dual!" Squats are simple moves but super effective at firming up the booty, back, and legs. So far, we've done 4 days of the challenge. And omgosh I can feel it my calves, glutes, and hamstrings! Let me know in the comments if you wanna join the challenge too!

Cardio Kickboxing
Since my schedule is crazy hectic and something is always coming up, I took to YouTube to find some fresh new workout routines to get me sweating. When I was a gym regular---I LOVED cardio kickboxing. So imagine my surprise when I found this 50+ minute kickboxing routine that I can do anytime from my house! First of all, let's talk about this instructor. HE IS INSANE. Just the way that I like 'em! Ha-ha! He NEVER stops moving and he has fantastic musicality. If you're one who is wary of at home workouts because you're not sure if you'll give it your all---this video is for you. I promise you that you'll be sweating buckets by the end!



Calorie Tracking
To continue my calorie tracking adventure that I mentioned last week, I created a food plan using my FitBit app. I entered my current weight and desired weight then determined what intensity I'd be willing to commit to. The awesome thing about the FitBit app is that they do the calucating for you. You can select the "Easier" plan where you'd lose .5lb/week by cutting your calories by 250 each day. It also shows you how long it will take for you to achieve your goal. Of course, being the crazy person that I am, I selected the "Hardest" plan that has me set to lose 1.5-2lb per week.

With my Food Plan squared away, I faithfully tracked every single thing that I ate. And to my complete and utter surprise, I've lost 3 lbs! Now I know what you're thinking---that's just water weight. And it might be but I drink almost a gallon of water every day (which I also track using my FitBit---see why I'm in LOVE with my FitBit?!?). I've almost eliminated my terrible habit of snacking late at night while I'm up working on projects plus I've finally started to understand what portion control really means. I'm much more intentional about if I'm eating because I'm bored or if I'm actually hungry. I'm super proud of myself for it! I'm finally just as committed to working out as I am to eating well. I'll keep you guys updated to see if I can keep it up!

Hows are you doing with your summer fitness goals? Share an update with the #FitnessFriday crew!

Besitos!
KLP

An InLinkz Link-up

Does Tracking Calories Work? | #FitnessFriday

Y'all know that I LOVE my FitBit!

Not really breaking news right?

You can read why I'm FitBit obsessed here, here, and here.

It's actually quite sad that I really can't remember what life was like before my FitBit! I love that I can keep all of my non-walking/running workouts, join competitions with my FitBit friends, and track my water intake all in place. The one feature that I haven't used regularly is the Food Plan tile. Tracking calories sounds crazy tedious, time consuming, lame, and annoying. But before I completely knocked it---I tried it for two weeks.

And I lost 4 lbs...

That I didn't gain back!

That wasn't water weight!

Without changing up my usual workout routine!

BOOM!

Is tracking calories tedious? Yeah. I'll be honest with you. But it's not as lame, time consuming, and annoying as I thought that it would be. And once I got into the habit---I actually remembered to do it more often than not.

It was pretty eye opening too. I really thought that I was eating well. But I wasn't. My sugar intake was crazy high. FitBit lays it out so well that it's really hard to ignore that I needed to make better choices in my afternoon snacks.

Entering my meal information after each meal definitely convinced me not to have another helping or another snack. I also realized that while depriving myself from my favorites leads to a very unhappy KLP---I also can't binge eat either. Hello portion control! We finally meet!

I'm not really sure why I didn't start tracking my calories sooner. But this is EXACTLY what I needed to keep my sweet tooth in check! I'll update you guys in a few weeks to let you know how it's going and if I keep up with it!

Do you track your calories? Is is working for you? What's your favorite app?

Besitos!
KLP

An InLinkz Link-up

Kale Taco Salad with Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette| #FitnessFriday

#FitnessFriday on a Monday! I just had to share my newest favorite way to eat kale: In a raw salad! Now before you squish up your nose---hear me out. Kale doen't have to taste like the grass raw. Especially if you mix it with the right stuff. Here's my Kale Taco Salad with YUMMY Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette!

Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette

Ingredients:

1/2 bunch cilantro, stems trimmed and discarded
1 lime freshly squeezed
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 tbsp Cumin
1/2 tbsp Chili powder
Pinch of coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

Directions:

1. Chop cilantro finely. Put in a mason jar.
2. Then add lime juice and shake.
3. Next, add the olive oil, cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper. 
4. Shake vigorously.

Kale Taco Salad (Makes two full sized salads or 4 side salads)

Ingredients:

3 cups of kale
1/4 red bell pepper
1/4 cup mixed beans (I used a mix of gandules verdes and black beans. Use whatever beans you have on hand)
1/5 cup of chopped cherry tomatoes
2 tablespoons of olives
1 roasted jalapeno minced
Queso Fresco (optional)

Directions:

1. Chop kale into small pieces
2. Mix all of the other ingredients together.
3. Toss with Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette. 

How are you spicing up your veggies this spring?

Besitos!
KLP

An InLinkz Link-up

3 Workouts To Try This Summer | #FitnessFriday

Living 10 minutes away from the beach has a ton of advantages. One of my favorites is that there are tons of outdoor sports that are relatively inexpensive (or better yet completely FREE), super fun, and will keep me from getting bored in my workouts. Here are 3 outdoor workouts that are on my to do list this summer:

Hiking:

During the summer, I despise being inside the house. I wanna feel the sun on my face and the wind in my hair! Being in a beach town, we have a ton of really wonderfully maintained state parks with fantastic trails. Which is why this chica is totally stoked to go hiking! I can't wait to take pictures of the beautiful wild flowers and most of the trails are easy enough that I can take my minions with me!

Source

Sunrise Yoga:

Because life is crazy hectic, I really need to schedule time to recharge and refocus. Which is why I'm siced for sunrise yoga. I want to start with a sunrise sun salutation practice once a week (probably on the weekends) in my back yard by the pool. Hopefully, I can bring a little zen back into my life!

Source

Barefoot Sand Run:

No summer workout plan is complete without a barefoot sand run! Running on the sand is crazy hard---now add in the fact that you're barefoot and you've really got a challenge! Fingers crossed that I'll be able to make it to the beach before it gets crazy busy with tourists!

How are you changing up your workouts for the summer? I need some fit-spiration!

Besitos!
KLP

An InLinkz Link-up

5 Ways To Get Re-Motivated To Workout | #FitnessFriday

I spent the last 6 months completely focused on training for my half-marathon. Now that it's over, I just feel lost! I was still throwing myself a pity party over the way that the entire debacle ended. I had to force myself to run and when I did, I couldn't convince myself to go long distances. Then my hubby deployed and transitioning has been stressful. Honestly, I feel like I should be able to count being a glorified single mother as exercise.

I'm getting bored of being trapped in my exercise rut and complaining won't change anything, so here are 5 ways that I'm trying to get back into the swing of things:

1. Forgive Yourself- I felt really awful for completely neglecting my workouts. I felt lazy. I had a lot of negative self-talk floating around in my head. Then I thought about it from another perspective. What would I say to another woman who'd stalled on her fitness journey? Would I be mean? Would I doubt her? Would I constantly berate her with reminders of failure? OF COURSE NOT! I would encourage her. Tell her that tomorrow is a new day; But today was the day to start again. Once I realized this, I literally looked in the mirror and said "I forgive you. Let's start again." If I can extend Grace and positivity to others, why not myself?!? We all mess up. We're human!
2. Start small- I don't have the time or resources (ie a babysitter for the minions) to go off running for hours since my hubby deployed and after almost a month of not focusing on fitness, I knew that I needed to start small. Both of my kiddos love biking, so I started escorting them on rides around our neighborhood. We started small with 1/2 mile rides and we've worked our way up to 3 mile rides! The best part: I still get a good workout in---running behind them and they all their energy out #winwin. Because it's so much fun, they beg me to go out every day after dinner. And honestly, I don't mind taking them!
3. Get A Good Influence- When I don't have something or someone holding me accountable to my daily workouts its super easy to just say forget about it when I'm not self-motivated. Thanks to the FitBit Workweek Hustle Challenge that my friends invited me to, I finally got a reason to recommit to getting my steps on. The goal of the challenge is to get as many steps as you can in a workweek---Monday-Friday. For the first challenge week, I focused on just getting 10K steps a day---and I made it into 3rd place. For the second challenge, I focused on getting 15K steps and I'm actually in the lead---for now. Ha-ha! I'm sure that someone is going to have a crazy amount of steps today and lock me off the throne!
4. Schedule a regular workout time- My schedule is crazy hectic and something is always coming up, so I've scheduled two blocks of time in my day to workout: early morning and late at night. During both blocks of time, my kids should be asleep, my house should be quiet, and I should be able to focus. If I don't wake up at the butt crack of dawn---I have flexibility and I won't have to beat myself up about it because I get another opportunity later in the day. I like to think of it as built in Grace! I'll be shaking my hips to Zumba and rotating myJillian Michaels' DVD collection to keep things fresh.
5. Try something new- I loved trying different group fitness classes at my old gym. While is was a lot of fun, gym memberships are expensive and the class schedules would require me to take away time from either work or my minions. So I'm focusing on building up my in home gym. I plan to take my yearly gym membership and invest it in either a treadmill, elliptical, or spin bike. I'm sooo stoked!

Glad to be back on my #FitnessFriday grind! I missed you guys!

Besitos!
KLP

An InLinkz Link-up

How I Totally Failed My Half-Marathon | #FitnessFriday

I really don't know how to begin this post. 

So, I'm just gonna be 100 with you guys.

Y'all know that I've been training for that half-marathon right? Well it was last Sunday. And I didn't run in it. 

Disappointed doesn't even BEGIN to describe how I feel.

My in-laws came in town Friday night to watch my minions and cheer me on. Saturday, I prepped with a 5 mile walk. I took them shopping. We had a BBQ. It was a fantastically wicked good time. They are fun and ridiculously supportive. I just love them to pieces.

As I started to lay out all of my stuff for the race that night, I realized---I FORGOT TO PICK UP MY RACING PACKET.

*heavy sigh*

If you've never run in a race, you probably have no idea what that means. Or how big of a deal it is NOT to have it. Long explanation short: without your racing packet (and your racing bib) you can't participate in the race. NO EXCEPTIONS. 

You see how many times they have NO EXCEPTIONS written in the FAQs? In ALL CAPS? That was obviously written for forgetful idiots like me.

My hubby and I drove to the pickup site hoping, praying, that someone was still there. 

But there was no one in sight.

I cried all the way home. 

And all night.

When I had to tell my mother in law, father in law, grandmother in law, and sister in law--all who had all traveled hours just for this occasion, that I couldn't race---my heart broke. They have been cheering me on---supporting me for over 6 months while I trained. My father in law walked miles and miles with me. My mother in law helped me find the race gear that I needed. My sister in law watched my kids so that I could go and run. They've been there for in a 100 ways. And I let them down.

I know that my memory is pretty much garbage. But I knew what I was supposed to do. I had a reminder programed in my phone. I'd read all of the requirements and FAQs ahead of time. I made a race day list and had it stored in my notes. I thought that I was prepared.

I don't even have a good excuse y'all.

I just forgot.


Race day morning, my father in law encouraged me to still go out and run. Not at the race---but along my training course. I didn't really want to. But I didn't want to just sit there either.

So I ran.

It was so hard. And I cried for the first 5 miles. I went over and over in my head all of the ways and people that I failed. I was angry. I was sad. I was disappointed. I was mad. I was really a hot mess.

My negative thoughts were all consuming and had complete control of me.

Then...I heard my RunKeeper app say that I was on mile 8.

What the whaty? How did I run 8 straight miles without stopping? Without needing my inhaler? Without struggle?

Never had that happened when I was training.

So, I stopped pouting, stalking, and complaining to concentrate on my running.

My legs and hips hurt but I refused to stop.

Before I knew it---I was done.

13.1 miles complete.

I wish that there had been a finish line to cross. My family cheering me on. Maybe a little rainbow colored confetti. Oh...and a shiny half-marathon medal around my neck.

*le sigh* I really wanted that medal y'all. 

But---I still did EXACTLY what I'd set out to do. Run 13.1 miles without stopping in less than 2 hours and 30 minutes.

Will I train for another half-marathon any time soon? Man---idk--I still really want that medal but the wounds are still too fresh.

I just want to thank y'all for all of your support. and I promise to do better next time. "Failure is only the opportunity to begin again, only this time more wisely."

Besitos
KLP

An InLinkz Link-up

My Favorite FREE Fitness Apps | #FitnessFriday

If you're anything like me, you're always looking for ways to make tracking your fitness journey more streamlined, interesting and fun. Thanks to a few amazeball FREE fitness apps, I've been able to do just that. Here's the inside scoop. But shhhh! don't tell anyone else. Ha-ha!

FitBit

I know, I know. You're not in the least shocked that FitBit made my favorite free fitness app list are you? I love ERRYTHING FitBit. I can log my food, fitness activities, weight, water intake and compete with my FitBit buddies all in one place! I love that they've added GPS so that I can record my runs too. Best part? You don't even need a FitBit tracker to use the app. 

RunKeeper

I adore RunKeeper's training programs and the half-marathon training plan is legit! The plan slowly advances both my volume and pace so I can reach race day ready to finish with a time of sub 2:15 without getting hurt in the training process. I was able to run using GPS when I was outside or in stopwatch mode on the treadmill. My favorite part of RunKeeper is that they have a live broadcast mode. Which is the perfect way for my family to track my progress during my half-marathon race next weekend.

Zipongo

The Zipongo tag line is eating well made simple and it's totally true. I love Zipongo because they offer tons of healthy recipes, coupons for REAL food---not all that processed mess, and even a meal planner that syncs seamlessly. No guessing and lots of simplicity. Did I mention that it's totally FREE?

All of the apps are available for iPhone and Android. What are your can't-live-without fitness apps?

Happy #FtinessFriday chicas!

An InLinkz Link-up

The Best Foam Roller Routines on YouTube | #FtinessFriday

My half-marathon training is back in full swing. I've been running somewhere between 30-40 miles a week and O to the M to the G am I sore! I finally caved and picked up the foam roller that was on my half-marathon lust list from my local sporting goods store last week. As I walked gingerly into my house, I went straight to YouTube for guidance. And here are the best foam roller routines that I found:

Tone It Up: Frisky Fall Foam Roller Routine!

I love the ladies at Tone It Up. Karina's Foam Roller Routine is intense and thorough. What I love about this routine is that it works the upper body, lower body and you even get some core work in thereh too. Foam rollers aren't fun---but I feel GREAT after these stretches.

Full-Body Rolling Out Routine | Perfect Form With Ashley Borden

Ashely Borden is an amazing fitness instructor and I adore her foam roller routine. She offers great tips and tricks for newbies while also explaining how to make your foam roller routine more intense as your body gets used to pressure. She goes rather quickly through the different moves---so if you didn't catch it all or you need a written reference, check out her website for her FREE rolling out guide.

Dr. Sarah Solomon- Foam Rolling, Stretching, Postural Correction & Ergonomics

Sarah is a fitness beast--model, instructor, coach---all that jazz. I love her foam rolling routine because she stresses the importance of stretching for injury prevention and treatment---both things that I need! Her video is in real time and super easy to follow. Once I get used to foam rolling (aka it doesn't hurt like heck anymore!) I'm definitely going to upgrade to the advanced rumble roller that she uses.

My goal is to get into the habit of foam rolling every day! Fingers crossed that I can make it!

What's your favorite foam rolling stretch?

Besitos!
KLP

An InLinkz Link-up

3 Tips for Exercising With Natural Hair | #FitnessFriday

I'm only a few weeks post big chop, but I'm totally not new to the struggle to keep your hair looking cute and going beast mode in the gym. Here's how I'm managing---so far.

Instead of shampooing---co-wash

If you workout more than 4 hours a week, you should probably be washing your hair twice a week. Shampoos tend to strip my hair so, I started co-washing a few summers ago while I was stretching my relaxers. Co-washing made my roots soft and fluffy. While it kept my scalp free of sweat, dirt, and grime. I was able to prevent my ends from knotting by detangling pre-wash and then washing in sections. Since my chop, I'm loving co-washing even more! My hair actually doesn't tangle anymore! #winning.

Protective Styles

I love me a good protective style! Top knots, low buns, halo braids,  french twists. You name it---I'm about it. If you're used to having your hair free, then it will take a lot of getting used to, but I promise that your hair will thank you. Plus in an updo--you won't have to fuss about with your hair!

No heat

If you love a wash-and-go---then you're good to go. But if you're like me and not about that life (yet) then you need to find a way to stretch your hair...without heat. Damage from using heat tools too frequently is real! Make air drying will be your friend. I've been using the banding technique for about a 1 1/2 year (even before I big chopped) to stretch my hair. You can find the dets here.

What are your tips for keeping your hair cute while you get your sweat on?

Besitos!
KLP

An InLinkz Link-up

My #FitnessFriday Lust List

Since confessing my half-marathon fails to you guys last week, I feel re-energized and focused. I was able to get a couple really good runs in before my part of the world got hit with a super cold arctic freeze that dumped 1/2 - 1" blanket of ice over everything. My times were fanastic and surprisingly my endurance was even better. It kinda made me wonder if my month break was exactly what my body needed. Anywhos, while I was out running in the I cannot believe that its this cold at the beach weather, I realized that I was going to need to add a few more items to my half-marathon running gear just in case it's this stupid cold next month. Here's what's on my #FitnessFriday Lust List today:

1// Nathan Trail Mix Hydration Belt ($45)
I've never been a fan of hydration belts. I was afraid that they would be bulky or bounce about while I ran. I'm incredibly clumsy just standing still, so attempting to run, pull a water bottle out, drink from it, and put it back is going to take some serious practice. #judgeme #imterrible But after my 20 mile run/walk a few weeks ago, I realized that there is no way that I can tackle long distances without water. Before my half-marathon, I'm definitely investing in a hydration belt so that I don't die. The added bonus: it's roomy enough to hold my keys, a couple of dollars, and my id. #winning Plus my running buddies from BGR say that this Nathan belt is amazing.

2// Under Amour Knit Gloves ($18)
I already have really warm moisture-wicking (texting) running gloves, but in this cold, they just aren't enough to keep my fingers warm! I'm hoping that another layer of cozy knit warmness will do the job.

 

3// Under Armour Knit Beanie ($18)
Monday, I ran in 20 degree temps. While my body was super warm and my ear-warmer headband kept my ears nice and toasty. But my head was COLD! This cute little Under Arnour Knit hat matches my running jacket, is sweat resistant and has coating that retains body heat! I can not believe that I'm this siced for a hat. #runninggirlproblems

4// Foam Rollers (price varies by size)
Another bit that I learned from my 20 miler. I hate foam rollers. But OMG that are a necessary evil. Especially if you---maybe want to walk the day after a ridiculously long run. Once I started running 10+ miles I noticed aches and pains in all kinds of muscles that I never knew that I had. Foam rollers are excellent at working out the kinks.

Cross your fingers that the hubster is reading!

What's on your #FitnessFriday lust list?

Besitos!
KLP

An InLinkz Link-up

My Half-Marathon Training Fails | #FitnessFriday

I was a beast out the gate. My first month of half-marathon training was amazing. I was getting stronger. My endurance increased. I broke every single personal record that I had ever made.

Then....well...life happened.

And I didn't run for a month...

I feel like such a failure.

I feel like I have some xplaining to do. I swear that I have legit excuses reasons...

Military Life:
My superhero hubby went off to save the world away from home for a few weeks. While I'm uber proud of his hunky heroism, I won't lie, the separation stinks. Especially with two young children. Especially with a crazy demanding schedule. Especially in a new town. And especially without a solid support network. Finding time to take a shower was hard enough. Running didn't even make it on the to-do list.

Winter stinks:
I've run in temps as low as 20 and loved every minute of it. However, without the hubby to lean on, the minions would have to ride along in our double jogger. And while, I've come to enjoy running in the cold---I just won't take them out in anything below 40. How many above 40 days have we seen lately? Smh...not that many.

No gym:
Finding a gym has been on my to do list for months. MONTHS y'all. I'm picky and I'm ballin on a budget. My ideal gym has to be within 5 miles of my house, have a great childcare center, and offer group classes when I can actually attend them. Who knew that it would be this hard or this time consuming to find something that works?!? 

But this update isn't alll bad. I have accomplished a few crazy awesome things in the meantime.

20 miler
I ran 10 miles and then walked back 10 more miles. Crazy right?!? Yeah, didn't think that through. While I was running, I took note that I needed to invest in a water carrying system that's actually easy and functional to use. I also realized that running/walking that distance on an empty stomach is dumb dumb dumb. But that running/walking that distance with a low cell battery was even dumber! Nonetheless, I'm just proud that I made it back!

Better Eating Habits
Because I wasn't working out as much, I wanted to do my best to get things right in the kitchen. I focused on getting more fruits and veggies in my diet thanks to my obsession love affair with my NutriBullet. I even started logging my food in my FitBit and I increased my water intake.

Now that the hubster is back, I'm a little pverwhelmed by the amount of catching up that I have to do. My half-marathon is 5 weeks away! I don't want to stress about it but I also don't want to disappoint myself. *Le sigh* Wish me luck! I'm gonna need it!

Besitos!
KLP

An InLinkz Link-up

15 Ways to Make Green Smoothies Taste Better | #FitnessFriday

Green smoothies may look like freshly mowed grass clippings but I promise you that it doesn't have to taste like it! Here are 15 of my favorite ways to make my green smoothies taste better.

1. Make it 60/40- Use 60% veggies and 40% fruit. You don't have to use a ton of fruits to get the right sweetness. 1/2 an apples, 3 or 4 strawberries, or a handful of grapes is enough.
2. Ripe is best- The concentrated flavor of a ripe fruit makes any smoothie taste better.
3. Keep it thick- If you like your smoothie thin, add just a little more water. But if you like it thicker (say if you wanted to eat it with a spoon) add a tablespoon of water at a time just to get your blades moving and freeze your fruits before you blend so that you can skip the ice.
4. Drink em cold- I prefer my smoothies cold. I think that it tastes better and is smoother. You can freeze of the smoothie ingredients in the blender cup for a few hours before blitzing to get a cool temperature once blitzed.
5. Fresh is best- Fresh produce is KEY for a great tasting smoothie. Plan to use your fruits within 3-4 days of purchase and your veggies within 4-5 days. When in doubt, throw it in the freezer so that it doesn't get too sad looking.
6. Use a Smoothie Straw- If the consistency of your smoothie grosses you out then grab a smoothie straw! You'll finish it faster because the straw is bigger too!
7. Add citrus- Perk up the acidity of your smoothie with a squeeze of fresh lemon or orange juice.
8. Nut Butters- Adding a teaspoon of your favorite nut butter (think almond, peanut, or cashew) to create a creamy texture and give your smoothie a boost of protein to keep you fuller longer.
9. Freeze em- Wanna have a smoothie for work but can't take your blender with you? Freeze it, then let it thaw from morning until lunch time!
10. Shake it up- If you let your smoothie sit, chances are that it will separate, but don't let that scare you. Just shake it up and you're back in business!
11. Color- Be careful when adding red or purple fruits to your smoothie. It will change the color from a bright green to a muddy brown. The good news is that it tastes fantastic---if you can get past the color. If you can't stick to reds and purples for one smoothie and greens for the others. 
12. Order of operations- In my Nutribullet, I've noticed that the order in which I stack the blending cup matters. First I add fruits, then veggies, the your other stuff (butters, etc) and topping it off with ice (or you can freeze the fruits) and a little water.
13. Grab Baby greens- So---you hated the kale in your smoothie---and the spinach wasn't much better. But don't give up! Try baby greens instead. The raw flavor is softer and the greens are more tender.
14. Blend well- If you're getting chunks of smoothie in your cup then...you need to blitz it into oblivion! Just note that the heat from your machine will warm your smoothie so you might want to add a bit more ice.
15. Yogurt- When all else fails, add a few spoon fulls of your favorite fruit yogurt to mask the flavor, close your nose and just drink it! It's good for you!

So you tried all of these tips and nothing worked? Keep trying! Remember adding more raw fruits and veggies to your day is a lifestyle— not a diet.

What are your tips for better tasting green smoothies?

Besitos!
KLP

An InLinkz Link-up

Printable Weekly Meal Plan and Shopping List | #FitnessFriday

I've never been one to go to the grocery store without a list, but I was constantly finding myself throwing out forgotten produce or hidden in the back of the pantry expired items. I felt wasteful. I was literally throwing money in the trash. I talked to my neighbor about it and she introduced me to meal planning. I loved the idea of only buying the items that I needed for the week. I loved the idea of not having to wonder at 5pm "what am I going to cook for dinner." Most of all, I loved not having to run to the store for last minute items. After about a month, I was hooked! Here's how I started:

1. Inventory: Take inventory of what you already have on hand in your refrigerator, freezer and pantry each week. Add these items to your planner first. For example, if you already have fresh broccoli or a package of frozen chicken thighs, add it as an meat or side dish in your planner first. The idea here is to use what you have on hand before you plan to buy anything else. No more produce going bad or meat getting freezer burnt.
2. Factor in Leftovers: I have two children and a hungry hungry hubby but I don't cook a full course dinner every night. Why? Because I factor in leftovers. I usually cook Sunday-Tuesday, make something in the crock pot on Wednesday, so Thursday is our leftover night. It saves me time and prevents us from being wasteful.
3. Fill in your menu: Fill in your planner to make complete meals. By using what you already have on hand, you shouldn't have much more to add.
4. Make your shopping list: Add what you don't have in your kitchen to your shopping list. Take it with you to the grocery store and stick to your list!

Viola! It's that simple. And of course I can't share these awesome tips without giving you the opportunity to download my FREE Printable Weekly Meal Plan and Shopping List!

Besitos!
KLP

An InLinkz Link-up

Juicing vs Blending? #FitnessFriday

So everybody and they mama---including me!---are on this crazy juice/smoothie bandwagon. I love my smoothies and I love my juice. I was blessed enough to get both as gifts last year and I use them both constantly! If you are anything like me, you probably wondered, which one is better? While debating the health benefits is waaaayyyyy above my pay grade, I can tell you from experience which one required less time, was cheaper, easier to clean, and has a better taste. Then you can decide for yourself if you should juice or blend!

Clean up:
The Jack LeLanne juicer isn't difficult to clean, but it's not super easy or super fast either. You must clean it thoroughly as soon as you use it because the pulp and fibers will get hard making it even harder to clean (trust me---I know from experience). The pusher, the pulp collector, the filter, the blade, the lid, the receptacle plus the juice catching container all have to be washed by hand with warm soapy water. It doesn't take long---but its tedious. Whereas with your Nutribullet, you wash the cup and the blade then you're done.

The Nutribullet definitely wins the clean up race.

Time:
Juicing takes time so I'd make my juices in bulk twice a week. I had to make time to prep the veggies, make/store the juices, and then time to clean up. It's not hard, just a bit tedious especially if  you're already pressed for time, like me. The Nutribullet on the other hand, has been much easier for me to handle. I don't have to make my smoothies in bulk because the machine takes less than 2 minutes to clean up. My kids eat fresh veggies and fruits at each meal, so whatever is left over, I throw into the Nutribullet cup, add some spinach or kale, then store it overnight in the fridge. In the morning, I add the blade, I little water or ice, blitz, rinse the blade then take my smoothie to go. I most certainly can't image making the time to juice daily.

Nutribullet for the win.

This only made enough juice for 3 days...

Price:
No explanation needed: Quality juicers like the Jack LeLanne Power juicer are crazy expensive. I received mine as a gift but it retails for something like $100 without the accessories. And honestly, I can't really imagine using my juicer without the overflow platform, filter brush, juicer platform and measuring cup. The Nutribullet was $80. Nutribullet +1.


A weeks worth of produce when I was juicing daily, was about $40 (during the summer months). A weeks worth of produce for my smoothies is about $8/week. Why the crazy difference? Well it takes probably 4 or 5 times the amount of produce to make a cup of juice from the juicer than with a smoothie.

Nutribullet hands down wins the price race.


Taste:
This is tricky. The taste of both your juices and smoothies will certainly depend on how you balance the sweetness of your fruits to the bitterness of your veggies, the freshness of your produce, and of course it's ripeness. I love the taste of juices because they are incredibly light, clean, refreshing and pure on the palate. If you've never had a fresh juice before, then you probably have no clue what I'm trying to say but trust me there is a HUGE difference between the apple juice that you buy in the store and juicing a real apple! With smoothies, you have to be very careful with your proportions of veggie to fruit. Too much dark leafy super fibrous veggie (Think: kale) will leave your smoothie tasting like you pulled it from the lawn mower. I find that my smoothies taste muddled because of all of the extra fiber. The good thing is that smoothies leave you feeling fuller longer.

The best taste award definitely goes to the Jack LeLanne Power Juicer.

The final verdict: During the winter---I'll be all about that green smoothie life. Once the spring and summer hits---I'll throw some fresh juice back into the mix. If you have to choose between one or the other, go for the Nutribullet and I bet that you won't regret it!

Which one would you chose?

Besitos!
KLP

An InLinkz Link-up

My Cheap and Easy Winter Green Nutribullet Smoothie | #FitnessFriday

Committing to drinking one green smoothie a day is a habit that I made in 2014 and intend on keeping for 2015. I love my Jack Lelane juicer to death, but let me tell y'all, juicing in the winter time is tough. It's harder to find fresh (juicy) fruits. Plus the amount of fruits and veggies that you need just to make one cup of juice is uber pricey. So, for Christmas, I asked my super hero hubby for a NutriBullet. Because he's simply amazing, he gifted it to me early and I stepped up my green smoothie game asap. Here's my recipe for the best winter produce friendly and inexpensive Nutribullet green smoothie:

Apples- Affordable fiber

The key to any green smoothie recipe is finding the right balance of sweetness and bitterness while keeping the calories down. Apples are rich in fiber, sweet, and super affordable.

Spinach and Kale- Dark Leafy Vegetables

I, like many chicas struggle with iron deficiencies that can lead to anemia. Research has shown that low iron levels play a role in hair loss. Eating dark leafy veggies is one way to increase your iron levels, keep your body feeling energized and your hair follicles healthy.

Cucumber- Light and Refreshing anti-oxidants

As one of my favorite veggies, I use cucumber in everything. Cucumbers are high in potassium, manganese, silica and sulfur. Plus they are mostly water, so they add the right amount of liquid to keep the texture from being gritty or pasty.

Green grapes- Sweet nutrients

Chocked full of vitamins C and K, green grapes are available year round in most places. Because it's incredibly difficult to get pesticide residue off of grapes, this is the one fruit that I try to buy organic.


I loved the clean crisp taste of my Jack LeLane juices, but I kinda felt like I was missing out on all of the good fiber from the skins of my fruits and veggies. The Nutribullet solves that issue completely! Plus I use much less produce per smoothie. and it only costs me about $8/week in extra groceries.


How do you get your veggies in during the winter?

Besitos!
KLP

An InLinkz Link-up

3 Ways To Workout With Your Kids

Finding time to workout is my biggest challenge. As most of you know, I have two kids under 5 and I'm a military spouse. My superhero hubby is very supportive of my half-marathon training but his schedule is straight up all over the place. Which usually means that I don't have a lot of time away from the minions. Instead of letting this prevent me from getting my workout on---I've came up with 3 ways to workout with my kiddos when things just don't go as planned:

Zumba for Kids

Y'all know that I'm a self-proclaimed cardio-queen and Zumba fanatic. So are my kids! They always tired to join in with me while I did Zumba DVDs but the moves were a little bit too advanced from them---then I found this Zumba Kids for XBOX connect. Can you say perfecto?!? They get a chance to dance (aka wear themselves out) and I get my cardio fix too. Win-Win.

24 Hours of Happy

Everyday for at least 3 months, my kids begged to turn on 24HoursofHappy.com before dinner so that they could dance and sing. No matter what kind of crazy hectic day I was having---there was no way that would deny them happy! Ha-ha. We play "follow the leader"---where you have to mirror one person's dance moves for a song. Let me tell you---after playing that for 30 minutes---is just like being in Spin class for an hour! These kids have too much energy!

Bike-Ride-Run

On warmer than normal winter days, I take my kiddos outside for a bike ride run either in our neighborhood or at our local park. My oldest is really good on her training wheels and whilst she bikes, I jog behind with the youngest in a jogging stroller. Believe it or not---at the end of our fun, I've usually run about 3 miles---and they are exhausted. (which is the BEST part!)

How do you workout with your kiddos?

Besitos!
KLP

An InLinkz Link-up

My #FitnessFriday 2014 Accomplishments

 
Committing to #FitnessFriday was one of my proudest accomplishments in 2014. I adore the #FitnessFriday gang! (Shout out to Ebony, Britt, Dani, and Lexi!) I'm not a naturally thin girl. I am addicted to chocolate. I have to put in sweat equity workouts every week if I want to stay in my skinny jeans. I didn't have official #FitnessFriday goals; I just wanted to stay motivated and try new things. Here are a few of the coolest #FitnessFriday things that I did in 2014:

Realizing how working out AND eating well helps my hair grow longer:

In all honesty, I'd rather sweat like a sinner in church while running 10 miles then deny myself good food. But good food doesn't have to be unhealthy food. I'm most certainly still a chocoholic, but knowing that there are foods that will keep my body strong and my hair healthy, encourages me to eat more of the good stuff and just a little of the bad stuff!

See Related: Foods That Shrink Your Waist and Grow Your Hair

I failed a juice detox:

I know...doesn't sound like an accomplishment right? Gimme a sec to explain. My first juice detox was an uttttterrr fail. I didn't own a juicer, I worked out too much, I just tried to do quit coffee and sweets at the same time. It was a miserable week for sure. I also learned what it felt like to be full, that I actually DO have will power, and how food affects my energy levels. Failing my detox + being gifted a juicer, inspired me to drink one green smoothie a day---a habit that I've kept for months!

See related: 5 Ways to Fail on a Juice Detox

I got a FitBit Zip:

I'm addicted to my FitBit Zip. I'm so addicted that I purchased one for my father in law and uncle so that I wouldn't be the only one addicted. Then we convinced 3 other family members to get one. These people are crazy competitive. I get text messages asking what my problem is when I don't nail my 10k a day step goal. As a family, we've lost a ton of weight. And last--but not least---I have a tangible way to track my all of my workout related activities, food, water intake, and weight. My FitBit definitely encouraged me to keep moving---even on vacation! If I lost my FitBit today---I'd buy another one ON.THE.SPOT. #dontjudgeme



See Related: How I Lost Weight On Vacation

 

Figuring out what to eat before...

AND after my workouts:

Eating too heavily before my workouts lead to an upset tummy. But when I don't plan appropriately, eating after my workouts completely undoes the hard work that I just put in. With the help of a trainer---and you guys--- I finally discovered a few mini-snacks that I could have that kept me full and focused!

See Related: What to eat before and after your workout

I'm super stoked for the possibilities that 2015 holds for us and #FitnessFriday! May we all remain committed and focused on being the best that we can be mentally, physically, and emotionally. If you haven't already joined the #FitnessFriday movement, we'd love to have you, support you, and sprinkle positive pixie dust on your goals!

Besitos!
KLP and the rest of the #FitnessFriday Fam!

An InLinkz Link-up