September 3, 2012 · 4:01 PM

Plank Challenge

I recently saw my friend and inspiration, @MariaPaulercio, doing a Plank Challenge on Instagram and I decided I had to join in.

What’s the Plank Challenge, you ask?

Well, everyday you push yourself to hold a proper plank form (see image at the end of this blog for proper form) for as long as you can. By as long as you can, I mean until your core muscles can no longer hold you up. Not, “my mind says I can’t do this“. Your mind is a liar most times. You are capable of doing some pretty epic stuff if you push yourself to your absolute max, which is way past when your mind says “I’m done“.

*Please don’t confuse using common sense with pushing past your mental max. There is a difference here and I’m not telling you to push till you hurt yourself. I’m trying to get you to leave your comfort zone, cause THAT’S when the magic happens.*

Each day I do my challenge, I set my iPhone stopwatch to zero, select music that is going to get me pumped up and in the zone, get into my plank pose, press start and then I zone the hell out. You will shake while doing this. You might not last all that long, either. The important thing is proper form and a positive attitude. Each day you’ll see an improvement and you’ll begin to feel your core strengthen.

Here is what plank should and should NOT look like. I recommend using a mirror or have someone check your form, if you are new to it, until you know what correct form feels like.

I have chosen to post my daily results on Instagram with the hashtag #PlankChallenge. I use a photo collage app to show my time, song I listened usually a pic of myself. There is no need to do all of that, but if you are on IG, you know how fun it can be and I think it’s a great way to stay accountable with friends. If you don’t follow me on Instagram but are curious of my progress with this so far, feel free to look me up. My username is Bronc787 or you should be able to Click Here to view my photo stream via Statigram.

If you decide to join the plank challenge, please let me know! I’d love to keep each other motivated, challenged and to push each other to the next level of fitness!

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September 3, 2012 · 2:46 PM

The Color Run

This past Saturday, my husband and I, along with our friends Corine and James (aka The Complicated’s), formed Team Color Us Awesome, and participated in The Color Run here in New Jersey.

All of this was so last minute, as we formed our team and signed up less than a week before the event date. We tried coming up with corny team shirts and Corine wanted us to wear tutu’s, but sadly, we didn’t have enough time to plan things out and show our true awesomeness for the event. What we ended up with up were the t-shirts they gave us, neon sunglasses and colorful nails. (Not too bad for last minute!)

The morning of the race was a little crazy. We had no issues getting into the race venue, but The Complicated’s come from a different direction and it took them forever to enter and ended up in a completely different parking lot from us. Once we finally found each other and headed towards to start line, you were able to see just how many people were there and you could feel the excitement of those around us. We of course took some goofy photos and joked around while waiting.

They were letting people start in groups of 1,000. Yes, you heard me correctly. There was no true shot of running this thing, not that I can last a full 5K without stopping to walk for a bit, unless you arrived VERY early or VERY late. We were all just looking to have fun and The Complicated’s are not serious runners either, so it was all good.

The course was broken into zones and each zone had it’s own color. You would run/walk for awhile, hit a color zone and people who were working the event would throw colored corn starch at you that matched the zone you were in ie: blue, yellow, green, pink or purple. It was fun to see people rolling around on the floor in the color and people trying to scoop it off the ground to throw at their friends.

At the end of the 5K, (which took us about 45 minutes) there was a huge after party. All of the color filled (and not so pleasant smelling) people crowded in front of a stage and DJ booth to dance, cheer and catch additional color packets to be tossed up in the air at 15 minute intervals. They also had photo stations where you could have team photos taken by professional staff. (I’m hoping to have those back soon).

Overall, The Color Run was a fun experience and it is something I would do again. I’m a fan of these group 5K events and if I had the time I’d absolutely attend this one happening next month, because who wouldn’t want do to a 5K, while being chased by Zombies, flag football style?!

Here are some pics from The Color Run…

Top: The Color Run sign with signs of the aftermath. Bottom Left: Color Packets that were in our bags to be thrown at the after party. Bottom Right: The after party with color flying

Top Left: Team Color Us Awesome at the starting line. Top Right: Hubs and I pre-race. Bottom: Color Crawl in full swing.

Top Left: Corine had to a have photo of us by the pretty flowers! Top Right: Princess Rainbow Sparkle and myself, post race. Bottom Left: Hubs and I post race. Bottom Right: Me in all my technicolor glory.

Right: In the middle of the crowd at the after party. Top: In the middle of the color madness. Middle: Mike’s shirt, post run. Bottom: Having the color blown off of me by a guy with a leaf blower. SMH.

Top Left: Me, post run. Top Right: Color Run nails! Bottom Left: The contents of the race packet. Bottom Right: Post run

There you have it, my first ever Color Run! As you can see, it was a lot of fun! What was even more fun was the look on people’s faces at Target when we went shopping there post race, before cleaning up *giggle*

Oh, and for those of you wondering… clean up wasn’t awful, but it wasn’t fun either. I had color in places where I didn’t think color could get!

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August 30, 2012 · 8:02 PM

Cauliflower Pizza Crust

If you are like me, you’re saying cauliflower pizza crust?! What the deuce?!

I saw this for the first time a few months back on Facebook. An old friend of mine made it for her kids who have different food sensitivities. I remember being intrigued by it but life moves so quickly these days that I forgot about it. I then saw it again on Pinterest and instantly pinned it, remembering how it intrigued me a few months prior, but once again, life came along and I forgot about it. Fast forward to the other day when the lovely Jacmarie pinned the same recipe and I once again became intrigued. This time life was NOT going to sidetrack me! While at the grocery store yesterday, I made sure I grabbed a large head of cauliflower and tonight I satisfied my curiosity with the recipe below (making it a little more healthy, of course):

Cauliflower Pizza Crust

Makes one 9″ pizza crust

Cauliflower Crust, cooked and ready for toppings.

Ingredients:

1 cup cooked, riced cauliflower (directions to follow)
1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (original recipe called for 1 cup) 
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp dried oregano (I used basil as I’m not a big fan of oregano)
1/2 tsp crushed garlic
1/2 tsp salt
olive oil (optional)

pizza sauce, shredded cheese and your choice of toppings*

Directions:

To Rice the Cauliflower:
Remove the stems and leaves from a large, fresh head of cauliflower. Chop the florets into chunks. Add to food processor and pulse until it looks like grain. Do not over pulse or it will turn into a puree. (If you don’t have a food processor, you can use a cheese grater to grate the whole head). Place the riced cauliflower into a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 8 minutes (You may need to reduce this cooking time if your microwave is super powerful or increase if it’s not as powerful). I’ve seen some recipes call for you to add water but here is no need to add water. The natural moisture in the cauliflower is enough to cook itself.

*One large head of cauliflower should produce about 3 cups of riced cauliflower. You can make additional pizza crusts immediately, or you can store the rice cauliflower in the refrigerator for up to one week.*

To Make the Pizza Crust:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray. (If you have one of the Pampered Chef stones, that’s even better!)

In a medium bowl, stir together 1 cup riced cauliflower, egg and mozzarella. Add oregano, crushed garlic and salt, stir. Transfer to the cookie sheet, and using your hands, pat out into a 9″ round. Be sure that the center isn’t too thick so it cooks all the way through. Optional: Brush olive oil over top of mixture to help with browning (I skipped this step to save the calories and it browned fine without it).

Finished product! I topped mine with tomato sauce, tri colored peppers, chopped onions, spinach, and a 1/4 cup of mozzarella cheese.

Bake at 450 degrees for 13-15 minutes.

Remove from oven. Top your crust with your favorite sauce, toppings and cheese (I only used about 1/4 cup of cheese on mine and a sprinkle of grated parm). Place under a broiler at high heat just until cheese is melted, approximately 3-4 minutes. (I couldn’t use the broiler method since I used a Pampered Chef stone to make mine.)

Enjoy!

*Note that toppings need to be precooked since you are only broiling for a few minutes.

Now, I am a complete and total pizza snob so this recipe could NEVER replace actual pizza for me, however, it was really yummy and will satisfy my pizza cravings when I’m trying to stick to clean eating and not looking to have a “cheat day”.  I also like that it is low in carbs and gluten-free so if I’ve gone a little over board in those areas, I can still feel like I’m being bad without the guilt…plus it’s a great way to sneak in another veggie serving!

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August 28, 2012 · 10:37 PM

Easy Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken

I’ve been on a hunt for clean eating recipes this week and tonight I decided to give this one a shot. I’m usually willing to try anything with a Mexican flair to it so I didn’t think twice about tossing everything into the slow cooker and heading out the door without a back up plan for dinner.

Easy Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken

Ingredients:

Mexican Chicken Tostada

4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts (trimmed of any excess fat)
3-4 Tbs of Homemade Taco Seasoning (recipe to follow)
1 cup of Organic Low Sodium Chicken Broth

Directions:

Place all of the ingredients in the slow cooker and make sure the chicken is coated with all of the spices. Arrange in a single layer the best you can, cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours. The chicken will shred easily when it is fully cooked.

I happened to have some fresh limes in the house, so after shredding the chicken, I squeezed some lime juice over it, stirred and placed the lid back on to keep things warmed while I prepped the rest of dinner.

Homemade Taco Seasoning:

This is so quick and easy to make! No need for all of the sodium, MSG and preservatives that are included in those big name packets of taco seasoning.

2 tbsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/4 tsp. chili powder

You can store this in an air tight jar or mini tupperware and have it ready for easy use. Use about 1 Tbsp of seasoning for each pound of meat when making tacos.

Oddly enough, I had never tried a tostada before so I decided that’s how I would serve this up. I just tossed some whole wheat organic tortillas in a 350 degree oven, directly on the rack (make sure they don’t bend between the grate) for about 5-7 minutes per side, and then topped them with the chicken, organic salsa, corn, guacamole, lettuce and chopped tomato.

I’m hoping to try some more slow cooker recipes over the next week to prepare myself for the back to school craziness. Do you have a healthy slow cooker recipe you love? If so, please share it with me!

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August 26, 2012 · 10:43 PM

P90X: Day 7 Round 3.5

A little out of order to finish up the week, but it was truly worth it. Normally I’m not a fan of switching up the routine, but last night, the hubs and I had a wonderful date night that I wouldn’t trade for the world. I usually enjoy Xstretch to start my Sunday morning off but our dinner at a Hawaiian burrito joint followed by a walk on the beach, fireworks and some delicious frozen yogurt at Red Mango was well worth the change up.

Jab, Cross, Hook, Uppercut!

That was the theme to today’s workout!  There is something about kicking and punching for an hour that helps your stress levels to go down. (Not that I was stressed at all today but in the past it has really helped.)

To be honest, I was tired during this routine. My booty and hip flexors are still really sore from Friday nights Legs & Back and my balance wasn’t as good as it normally is. I was also in bum mode since I had just spent 4 hours on the couch watching my Broncos lose a preseason game to the 49’ers. Sigh. Needless to say, I got up, we pushed play and 58 minutes later, we were done, I felt accomplished and I could officially close the book on week 1! I was also done just in time to plop myself back down and watch the season finale of True Blood.

While doing my workout, I received a text from a friend who asked if I would be interested in doing a Color Run 5k next weekend. After checking out the website and exchanging a few texts, team “Color Us Awesome” was born! I’m excited to do this colorful 5k on September 1st. It looks like a lot of fun and it’s an excuse to be healthy and have fun with some friends.

I’m not sure if I will keep up the daily P90X blog entries or do a weekly recap…I guess my schedule and mood will dictate that. I will at the very least have some fit-spiration posts and a recap of my Color Run!

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August 25, 2012 · 5:18 PM

P90X: Day 6 Round 3.5

I had to switch things up a little here today. The scheduled workout for today is KenpoX but since the hubs and I are spending an evening out together, I decided to do Xstretch today (he’s not a fan of it and prefers a full rest day) and move KenpoX to tomorrow so we can remain workout buddies.

I love Xstretch. To me, it’s a relaxing hour that rewards my body for all of the hard work it’s done during the prior 6 days (5 days in this case). The stretching helps to ease all of the soreness of the week and it’s something that helps me to clear my head.

The only move I didn’t feel comfortable doing was Shoulder Stand to Plough. It’s a move I’ve always been leery of and I certainly am not taking any chances since I am still recovering.

Overall it was a wonderful hour of stretching. My booty, hip-flexors and especially my hamstrings are all very happy that I opted to do this today and not just make it a rest day.

Tomorrow will now be KenpoX which means I’ll finally be jab, cross, hook, upper-cutting my way to happiness and hopefully the ab definition I’ve always dreamed of.

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August 24, 2012 · 11:04 PM

P90X: Day 5 Round 3.5

Wall squats, sneaky lunges and skaters….oh my!

Three reasons why I curse on Fridays and walk funny while going up and down the stairs on Saturday.

Tonight was a tough one. I don’t know if I didn’t give myself enough time after eating one of the Gluten-free Brownies I blogged about earlier, if I was just tired or if I was just pushing my body to it’s max, but I was exhausted and wanted to puke when this routine was done.

Now that I’m showered and in bed, I feel great and I’m happy I pushed myself to do the workout. It’s so easy to get tired, feel unmotivated and not want to push yourself to press play. Chalene Johnson had some great advice in ChaLEAN Extreme. She said even on the days you don’t feel like working out, just press play and give it five minutes. If you still don’t feel into it, stop, but she guarantees you’ll end up feeling better about yourself and you’ll complete your workout for the day. So far, she’s been spot on. There have been many days that I haven’t felt like doing my workout, but I get up, get into my gym clothes and press play. An hour later, I’m done, sweaty and feel like a million bucks and that is something to be proud of.

Anyway, Legs and Back is a lower body killer. I bitch about wall squats often, but as a female, the one legged ones have come in handy many times while using public restrooms. You ladies know what I’m talking about. We hover to pee as it is when using these restrooms and there is nothing worse than ending up in a stall with a broken lock… enter the one legged wall squat and give a huge thank you to Tony Horton for being the prick of all pricks by making you do them every week for 90 Days, cause now you can squat to pee AND hold that door shut with one leg!

Tomorrow is my FAVORITE workout in the P90X program, KenpoX! There is something about jab, cross, hook, uppercutting, that makes me very happy!

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August 24, 2012 · 8:00 PM

Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies

Since making efforts to eat cleaner, I’ve been trying to find some healthier alternatives to the sweets and treats I love and crave. Tonight, I tried this recipe and I’m very happy with the results. Even the kids liked them!

Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies

Prep time: 10 Minutes – Cook time: Approx 30 Minutes – Total time: Approx 40 Minutes
Yield: Makes 12 – 16 Brownies

Gluten-Free Brownie Ingredients:

  • 1 can black beans (15oz – rinsed and drained)
  • 1 egg
  • 1/4 cup egg whites (or 3 eggs  total)
  • 1/3 cup  unsweetened apple sauce
  • 1/2 cup natural cocoa powder
  • 1/4 tsp sea salt
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup  agave, honey or maple syrup
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 1/2 tsp instant coffee
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips (more if you wish)

Peanut Butter Swirl Ingredients:

  • 1/3 Cup Peanut Butter
  • 1 Tbsp agave, maple syrup or honey
  • Pinch of salt
  • Dash of vanilla extract

Directions:

  1. Pre-heat your oven to 350 F.
  2. Place all of the gluten-free brownie ingredients into your food processor and blend until smooth.
  3. Spray an 8×8 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
  4. Evenly spread batter into baking dish.
  5. On your stovetop melt peanut butter swirl ingredients together and mix.
  6. Dollop peanut butter swirl mixture with a spoon about an inch from each other on the brownie batter.
  7. Use a knife to create swirls in the batter.
  8. Place in the oven and bake for 30-40 minutes.
  9. *Ovens vary so your discretion is needed. You will know your brownies are baked when the top becomes firm and the brownies pull away from the sides of the dish.
  10. Sticking a tooth pick in the middle and pulling it out clean will ensure your brownies are baked fully.
  11. Remove from oven when baked and let set in the baking dish for about 10 minutes.
  12. Carefully cut the brownies, serve and enjoy!
  13. To store brownies, let them cool completely and then store them in an air tight container in the refrigerator.

I’ve seen many different recipes for black bean/gluten-free brownies but the coffee and addition of the peanut butter swirl is what caught my eye and made me try these.

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August 23, 2012 · 10:18 PM

P90X: Day 4 Round 3.5

Well, as I said in yesterdays post, there was no way I would be doing YogaX today. To be quite honest, I think YogaX gives yoga a bad name and I’d rather spend my time stretching, breathing and centering myself with a DVD from GAIAM.

I chose one of my favorites, AM/PM Yoga with Rodney Yee. The AM portion of the DVD is hands down my favorite and yes, I have done it at night many times. There is something about the sound of the ocean, Rodney Yee’s calm voice and the relaxation techniques that he uses, that makes my entire day just melt into the ground along with all of my stress.

Another plus is that it is about 15-20 mins long so I can squeeze it in no matter how hectic my day gets.

Tonight, I was feeling very relaxed after the hubs and I finished AM yoga (see…told you I do it at night too) so I decided to do PM yoga as well. It felt good to get some additional stretching in since I am very sore from the first 3 days of P90X. I am still partial to the AM segment and felt much more relaxed after it, but that could also be because I know the routine by heart and don’t have to open my eyes to see what he is doing at all during it.

I am currently feeling very relaxed and centered and that is a feeling I don’t mind in the least.

Tomorrow is Legs and Back, which means there will be cursing as I am forced to do wall squats! Fun times I tell you, fun times.

Until then, Namaste.

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August 22, 2012 · 10:48 PM

P90X: Day 3 Round 3.5

My favorite line this workout.

I entered Day 3 with a sore upper body and core, which I absolutely love! Nothing beats that post workout soreness. To me, it lets meknow I am doing something right and that means I’ll start to see some progress before I know it.

Today we worked the glamour muscles with a little Shoulders & Arms.

This is one of my favorite P90X workouts because when I’m done with it, I feel strong and I tend to see quick results in my shoulders.

The workout is broken into 3 rounds plus a bonus round for those of us who really want to Bring It! Each round works the shoulders, biceps and triceps (in that order) and repeats itself before giving you a 30 second water/ballistic stretch break.

Since I’ve done this program a few times, I tend to keep us laughing by reciting many of the Tony-isms that are in each DVD. From “like a Pterodactyl coming for a landing….kaaaaaa!” to his fawning over the “fabulous Dreya Weber”, we toss the lines back and forth to keep the workout fun and help pass the hour.

Tomorrow is supposed to be YogaX but I’m not gonna lie….I’m not doing it. I know Tony LOVES yoga and I know how important it is, but I know my core is not ready for 90 intense minutes of it. I will most likely do a shorter yoga DVD and hopefully go for a walk/run. I guess you’ll have to come back tomorrow to find out what I actually end up doing.

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