On Wednesdays We Wear Pink + 4 GREAT Workouts!

Shop My Look Pink Workout Tank  // Nike Melon Tennis Shoes // BP Mirrored Aviators  Forever 21 Active Leggings

I not only wanted to share this fun workout outfit for you ladies on this Wednesday, because who doesn't wear pink on Wednesday?! I mean if you don't...you can't sit with us, or workout with us! *Jokes* Gosh, Mean Girls never gets old!

Anyways, I also want to share these four workouts from Grace at A Southern Drawl because y'all they are KILLER good! I've done all four and some I've used multiple times and every time I've been so sore from my workout! I highly recommend them. Last night I did the back and bicep workout and now all I can think about is my massage appointment on Saturday.

Most of them have taken me about 35-45 minutes to do and then I pair them with 30-40 minutes of cardio. Tonight is leg day for me and I'm using her leg video again. Last week my butt and legs were sore for days!

I'm loving her workouts so let me know if you try any of them!

 

 

 

       

Chicken Broccoli Quinoa Casserole

Image Credit: A Southern Drawl  

My husband absolutely hates when I make a very healthy meal so I will just say he was not a fan of this chicken broccoli quinoa casserole that I made. I got the recipe from Grace at A Southern Drawl and knew this would be a great meal for me to meal prep for the week. 

I thought it was pretty tasty for coming in at just 336 calories per serving and it was filling. Easy to reheat and to have for lunch through out the week as well.

Chicken Broccoli Quinoa Casserole
Recipe from: A Southern Drawl 

Ingredients
2 lbs Chicken, raw
1 1/2 cups of greek yogurt (I used Fage 0%)
2 cups low sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup reduced fat shredded mozzarella cheese

2 cups cooked quinoa

1 12oz jar of roasted red peppers

1/2 cup of white onion, diced

1/2 cup panko bread crumbs (I used Italian just for extra flavor and that's what I had on hand) 

2 tbsp Italian seasoning

1 tbsp oregano

Salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste.    

Directions
1. Boil chicken breasts until done and then shred.

2. Steam broccoli and onions

3. In a blender, pulse greek yogurt and roasted red peppers until smooth.

4. Mix chicken, broccoli, onions, greek yogurt/red pepper mixture, seasonings, quinoa and half of the chicken broth in a bowl.

5. Spray a large baking dish with coconut or olive oil spray. 

6. Place mixture in baking dish and top with bread crumbs, mozzarella cheese and the other half of the chicken broth (this keeps it from getting dried out).

7. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.     

 Image Credit: A Southern Drawl (I failed at taking picutres of mine own)

If you make this let me know what you think! Also, if you have other recipes that you recommend for healthy meal preps, please share!

  

   

   

5 Reasons to Workout During the Holidays

 Admittedly I was not on track like I should have been around Thanksgiving and then I had a dream...one that I had gained 140 lbs over the holidays. Needless to say my booty has been back in the gym almost everyday since then! With the Christmas holiday quickly approaching, schedules filling up and the temperatures dropping workouts can be the first to go for me. But, I'm encouraging myself and you to stick with (or start) exercising through this bustling season for these reasons:

1. Reduce Your Stress For some of us, the holidays can be a stressful time of year and working out definitely helps to alleviate the stress and tensions. Even if I don't feel like going to the gym, by the time I am finished, I feel so much better! I have never regretted a workout but I have regretted not working out. Working out helps clear my mind and improve my mood a ton! I know one helpful tip for myself is to never miss a Monday at the gym. Mondays set the tone for my week.

2. Working Out Helps You Eat Healthier This is true for me, but I wonder is it true for you too? When I'm working out consistently, I tend to eat a lot better. I recognize that I worked hard at the gym and I don't want to blow it by eating terrible. If I'm not working out I tend to eat badly which leads me to indulging in way too may desserts, snacks and drinks. And I mean drinks of all kinds from hot chocolate, wine to cocktails especially at all the Christmas parties and happy hours. 

3. Finish Strong For me, I've worked really fairly hard at getting in shape and I want to maintain what I've accomplished. I have a long ways to go but I don't want to have to start from the beginning. If you've done the same, don't spoil it by quitting now!

4. Be Ahead of the Game for the New Year When the New Year comes and everyone is resolving to "get in shape" you'll already be ahead of the game! I look forward to this feeling every year!

5. No Guilt for Small Indulgences I try to watch what I eat most of the time, but I admit to having a small addiction this time of year to hot chocolate especially and other yummy holiday snacks! I don't think a total withdraw is a good thing (or fun at all) and knowing I workout helps remind me that it's alright to indulge during the holiday without feeling guilty. Just not so much to were I gain 140 lbs! Ah!! 

Putting this all in a post helps motivate me to continue my efforts at getting and staying fit...as well as the dang Victoria Secret Fashion Show! Those beautiful Angels get me every year, instant motivation! I hope post this is motivating to others as well. What are some helpful tips you have for staying active and healthy through the holiday?

 

Jump, Jump, Jump Around Featuring: TKO Sports

The summer months are so brutal in Oklahoma especially with the temperatures at their peak in August. Mix in the high humidity and it makes for very hot days around here. Which makes it extremely hard for me to be motivated to get my workouts in after work. Stopping at the gym is the last thing I've been wanting to do but the scale puts some pressure on me making my butt get in the gym.

Thankfully we have received a break and the humidity is down and temps are back out of the triple digits making things a lot more bearable this week. Since we aren't all melting as soon as we walk outside I have been spending the evenings outside enjoying the break. Last night my sister-in-law Randi and my new two nephews were in town so after my workout I stopped by in-law's house to see them all.  My nephews were playing outside and since Randi and I were already in workout clothes we decided to have a fun workout together.

We pulled out the TKO jump ropes and burned a few calories while having a little fun outside. Randi's favorite workout is jumping rope and I honestly hadn't used a jump rope in my workout in quite some time so it was so fun to change it up. We pulled out another rope to use and it was much more light weight than the TKO soft grip rope. After trying both ropes I definitely preferred the TKO rope. I started out with the other and couldn't figure out why I couldn't get the hang of jumping and after switching to the TKO rope I felt much better about myself. Whew, I thought I had lost my touch! The TKO soft grip jump rope is light weight but still weighted making it much easier to get more reps in. The handles are soft and ribbed for easy gripping making the rope not slip.

 Since I was still wearing my Polar watch I tracked that I burned a quick 75 calories in 15 minutes of jumping. Add that to the calories I had already burned that evening at the gym I quickly decided that I will be adding jump roping to my workout daily. It will be a great way to spend some time on the patio or in the backyard, add a few more burned calories and a great at home workout when I cant get to the gym for a workout.

Brecken had a great time "jump roping" with us. He couldn't quite get down how to jump through the rope but he was too cute trying. He just jumped and shook the rope, hey that works buddy! We had a little cool down yoga session together afterwards. And working out in your underwear is always a great idea y'all!

You can find the TKO soft grip rope and other TKO Sport products at Macy's. I like that the line is affordable and others different styles of each product. 

   

This TKO jump rope was sent to me by TKO Sports in exchange for my honest feedback, all opinions are my own. 

Working Out with the Army...Featuring: RBX Active

When picking out new workout gear my number one priority is comfortable. If I can't move in it freely it's a no go for me. I also tend to pick outfits that are fun and cute, a lot of the time I end up with items I never thought I would pick but those are always my favorites to wear for my workouts. My workout routines are all over the place. I like to switch them up to keep from getting burned out. I always include cardio in my workout but some days I'll do all cardio, some days hot yoga, sometimes zumba and lifting and occasionally I'll just walk into the gym and pick a random cardio or strength class to attend. So, like I said I'm all over the place and I need my workout wear to be flexible, cool but cute because I truly believe if I feel frumpy then I'll be less motivated for my workout. Side note, I also feel this way with my work outfits. If I feel like I have a cute outfit on then I seem to be way more productive during the day. 

 

Ok, I didn't really workout with the Army but I did recently receive a pair of RBX Active digital camo leggings, you read that right camo! I'm not usually the camo wearing type of girl but I have to say these digital camo leggings are super fun! RBX Active definitely got it right with these stretch leggings.The fabric wicks which means it pulls moisture away from the skin to help keep your body dry. They also have a four-way stretch providing all over flex while also keeping their shape and are seamless preventing any chafing. And best of all they are fade resistant so you wont lose the fun brightness of the digital camo pattern.

Last night I met my little sister for a late evening jog/brisk walk...my body literally hates running. I just can't do it but I can jog! The city recently put in a trail that is between our houses so we met up after the blazing crazy hot temps dropped a little and took advantage of getting in a quick and convenient workout. I was a little nervous about wearing leggings in the heat but these RBX leggings were so awesome! I never felt like they were clinging to me with sweat or that I couldn't breathe in them. I'm a fan and can't wait to wear more of them!

After washing and drying them they still look brand new, no fading or shrinking! I've decided since no one at the gym saw me in them yesterday I'll be back in them tonight for my gym workout, score! You can find the digital camo leggings here and receive 25% off, check bottom of the post for discount code! I am also so happy with the army green tank I picked up at Old Navy for five dollars! It's very light weigh and breathable and matches perfect with the leggings.

You can shop RBX's line here and get 25% off your entire order! Just use discount code: Active25 good until July 31st. Also, free shipping is offered on all orders over 50 dollars. You can also find RBX's line in department and sporting good stores often receiving store discounts through them. I can't wait to pick up a couple more pairs since I know they will work for all seasons!

These leggings were sent to me by RBX Active in exchange for my honest feedback, all opinions are my own. 

 

Staying Under the 1,200 Mark

Today marks day eighteen of counting every calorie that goes into my mouth. A few weeks ago I realized my beach trip wasn't far away and I needed to pull it together so I started counting calories and hitting the gym extra hard. In early 2010 I began a lifestyle change and started making working out a non-negotiable part of my world and I also started using My Fitness Pal and logging all my calories I ate. I lost seventeen pounds so I knew this dieting method worked for me. So now anytime I want to cut a little weight and buckle down I start the count again. Here is what a typical day looks like for me right now...

Breakfast: Gluten free Instant Oatmeal with Flax

Calories: 180

I love starting my day off with oatmeal because it keeps me full for quite some time, gives me energy and is a quick on the go meal. I can throw this in the microwave while I'm packing up my lunch and its ready for me to grab and go on my drive to work.

Mid-Morning Snack: Plain Whole Almonds

Calories: 80 (15 almonds}

I don't always have a mid-morning snack but if I need a pick me up and something to pull me through until lunch I typically grab a few raw unsalted almonds. Almonds are high in calories but are considered "good fat" and are a fat burner.

Lunch: Half Grapefruit and Tuna Lettuce Wraps

Calories: 210 (Total)

I love this easy work lunch! I mix one can of regular tuna with half a tablespoon olive oil mayo, chopped dill pickles and a tad bit of pickle juice and black pepper. I wrap a spoonful up in a leaf of bib lettuce and have tuna lettuce wraps! Pair it with the grapefruit and I have a tasty low cal and protein packed lunch, score!

Afternoon Snack: Protein Bar

Calories: 210-245

I'm the kind of woman that will not make through a hard workout without something to power me through. My go to protein bar is the Zone Perfect- chocolate peanut butter. It doesn't have that nasty protein powder taste and fills me up giving me plenty of energy to hit the weights. It took me a bit to get over the whole 210 calories, lets be honest that's a lot when you only have 1,200! But with 14 grams of protein I know its a must! Everyone once in awhile I'll pair some fresh fruit with it.

Dinner: Sautéed Vegetables and Turkey Sausage

Calories: 310

I love this healthy and tasty dinner idea! I got the idea from an Instagram fitness post and I've made it several times since. I just cut up Brussels sprouts, broccoli and a sweet potato. Sautee all your veggies with a tad bit of EVOO and black pepper. Add in cut up smoked turkey sausage and heat through. So good and again low calorie!

Evening snack: Fresh fruit or Angie's Sea Salt Popcorn

Calories 30-70 Calories

If I am craving something and need a snack after dinner I fix fresh cut up fruit or I am absolutely LOVING Angie's Boom Chicka Pop popcorn! The lightly caramel kettled is my favorite (70 calories for one cup) and if I cant have it then I love the sea salt kind as well and only 30 calories for a cup. Perfect snack! I realize this is not the healthiest snack choice but its not terrible and just not every night...if I could remember that!

All of that totals to 1,095 calories, coming in 105 below my goal mark! Then I try to burn between 400-530 calories in cardio alone. I just ordered the Polar FT7 so I will finally be able to also know how many calories my weight lifting burns. But for now minus my cardio calories burned I net on average 580 cals for the day. If I stay on track and most of my days look like this I will lose 2-3 lbs a week. Now, if I could lose just a couple more by the end of the week. Praying to the Victoria Secret Angel body Gods for a miracle!

Please know, this is just works for me! Everyone is different so I realize not everyone will benefit from my daily routine but it might motivate just one person that needs that extra push! Go after your goals, you can do it...we can do it, together!

   

Workout Playlist

I've needed a little extra boost to get going with my workouts lately so I decided to switch up my playlist. Getting motivated to go to the gym can be freaking difficult. Before I just set my Pandora to the Katy Perry station or the 2000s Hip Hop Radio station but I was getting burnt out. I'm the kind of girl that can definitely workout without music but I will workout for half the amount of time without it. So, I switched it up and I've made more of a custom playlist to kick up my gym sessions.

I like to set obtainable goals for myself such as "Ready, Set Go- scissor tail crunches until this song is over!" with a hot song on this makes that crunch session go much faster and seem easier. Here are a few of my top picks that made my list. I know these are all very popular songs right now but they are really good "get your booty going" ones.

Songs on this high energy list include:

Ariana Grande, Jessie J and Nicki Minaj - Bang Bang
Taylor Swift - Shake It Off
Iggy Azalea - Black Widow
Sia - Chandelier
Ariana Grande - Break Free
All About That Bass - Meghan Trainor

Avicii - Wake Me Up

OneRepublic - Love Runs Out

Katy Perry - Roar

Miley Cyrus - Adore You

Eminem - Till I Collapse

Lolly with Juicy J & Justin Bieber - Maejor Ali

Nicki Minaj - Anaconda

Iggy Azalea - Fancy

All of these songs are high energy that are great at naturally getting me to pick up the pace. I have been trying to pick songs that are almost impossible to sit still to. This has seemed to be helping me pick it up at the gym lately. When I want to cool down I just turn on a country station on Pandora usually.

What are some of your tips that help you keep you motivated with your workouts and what does your current playlist sound like?

   

Stepping Up My Fitness Goals With Fitbit

I was on the fence for a good six to eight months about purchasing a FitBix Flex. I loved the idea of finding out how many calories on average I was burning a day by just living everyday life. However, I was not so sure I was in love with the idea of wearing a black rubber "bracelet" every day with every outfit. I know, I am a tad ridiculous but with a hundred dollar price tag I did not want to regret my decision with buyers remorse. 

Several of my friends and mother in-law have one and they all love it. I asked around and found a lot of people used it to have fun competitions with their friends and family and it really helped them stay motivated. Well, I caved and purchased the Flex and have to say...I love it!

 

 

The Flex allows you to download the Fitbit app and sync your activity straight to your phone for easy access. I am able to track my calories burned, steps taken, miles, active minutes and so much more. You can customize your daily goals that you would like to obtain to your standards and log your run with the gps running log feature {I do not know this feature...not a runner}. One of my favorite features of my Flex is that it also syncs with my MyFitnessPal account. So, once I log all my food, water and exercise in my FitnessPal app it syncs and calculates with the Fitbit. 

I am also really loving that I can see my sleep patterns. Each morning I can see how many times I was restless throughout the night and when I was awake. Just shows me exactly why I never feel rested and that maybe I should be going to bed a lot earlier!

I will admit, I still don't know how I feel about wearing it with all my outfits but it is growing on me. I just add accessories around it and just go with it.

 

 

I do realize that the calorie burning count is not completely accurate cause the Fitbit does not come with a heart monitor like the Polar watches. I went back and forth on the Fitbit versus the Polar but I KNEW personally I wouldn't want to wear the Polar on the regular. So, I like that I at least have an idea of how many calories I am burning daily.  They say it is waterproof but I don't trust it so I personally do not wear mine in the shower, pool, lake, etc.

 

 

All in all, I am happy with it and will be keeping it. It really does help me stay motivated, especially when I am just a few hundred steps or calories away from reaching my goal. I get up and start movin'! If you own a fitbit yourself and want to have a little competition, friendly of course hehe, just let me know!