Hey, hey, hey! I hope y’all are doing well!
First off, I have to say that things are about to get very serious ’round here! Ha ha. I told you guys last time about the new gym I’ve been going to and LOVING, right??? Yes, it’s called F45 (Functional 45) and I love it so much!
Oh guys, it is just the motivation I’ve needed!
Before I had my baby (almost 2 years ago!), I was on a very good workout schedule. I’d usually go to 3-4 of my favorite classes at my gym each week and I’d run a couple days a week as well. It was just perfect. However, the gym I went to was about 20-25 minutes away from my house so after I had my little babe, I just couldn’t justify taking that much time to workout. Also, after I had my baby, my gym opened up a new gym just down the street from my house, which was awesome. HOWEVER, the classes at that new gym were/are lame! There was ONE class that I loved and I’d go to that, but for the most part I just resorted to doing my own thing and making up my own workouts.
Soooo, for the past 2 years I have really missed having a consistent workout schedule. I’ve missed working out with people all around me and an instructor to motivate me! I’ve missed having a set time that I go to class because if I don’t have a set time….I tend to put it off! I’ve missed going to killer classes that push me harder than I could ever push myself.
Case in point, here is a beautiful picture I want to share…
I took this pic a couple of weeks ago after a run on the treadmill. I really, really, really DID NOT want to run on the treadmill that night! BUT, I hopped on, got ‘er done and was glad I did! I took this pic afterward to convey my “I really didn’t want to run tonight, but I did it and I’m glad it’s over” face. Ha ha.
Seriously, these are the types of workouts I’ve been doing the past couple years; killer workouts and runs that I’m glad I did, BUT have a hard time finding the motivation to do!
With that being said, I’ve been loving this new F45 gym!!! I actually look forward to my workouts again! The classes are different every day, the time seems to fly by and I don’t get bored….at all!! It’s also right near my house and the classes are usually only 45 minutes long. BAM, I’m hooked!
Here’s a video clip that I snagged off of their Facebook page. This was the first class I went to (last Saturday) and you can see me for .5 seconds on one of the rowing machines, lol…
Posted by F45 Training South Valley on Saturday, July 9, 2016
As you can see, there is a lot going on! I love the style of these workouts! Sooo awesome and so fun!
Anyway, this gym is also starting a challenge TODAY that I’m so excited for! It runs for 8 weeks and the winners (male and female) will win a year membership! Although I’d love to win (of course), I think everyone who enters and completes the challenge is a winner! Seriously, I just love the structure of an official “challenge” and the motivation that comes with it. It is just what I need right now.
They are having a seminar about it tonight and will be talking about nutrition and meal prep. They even said they would have “blood work options,” which I think is way cool. I love this stuff, folks! Oh, and I also must mention that the challenge is free as long as you’re a member of the gym. So great!
I’ll keep y’all posted along the way! Kev gets home from his Humanitarian trip on Friday and I’m hoping he’ll want to do the challenge too! Sadly, he jacked his knee up pretty bad playing some kind of sport over there (why am I not surprised!?!)….so I’m hoping he heals quickly!
Speaking of their trip, I want to share a few pics. I’ve been posting updates on my Instagram and Facebook page, but thought I’d share here as well.
They’re having a great time! I’ve only been able to talk to Kev on the phone once and only for a few minutes. He usually sends me a big ol’ text once a day. Just to recap, Kev and my oldest son are in Fiji with a group called HEFY (Humanitarian Experience for Youth.) It’s a church based (LDS/Mormon) program specifically for teens ages 16-19. They go all over the world and spend the bulk of the time doing humanitarian work, but they also get to know the locals and their culture and attend a lot of different events with them. They also get to spend the weekends siteseeing.
Anyway, Kev and my son have been building bathrooms with plumbing for families that don’t have indoor plumbing. They are each working with different families and they love the families sooo much! Kev said the little kids follow them all around and will just come up and hold their hands.
Here’s a pic of Kev with his family and my cute, skinny son digging a hole for the bathroom!
Twice a day they have “tea time” with their families. Kev said they are soooo very poor. They live in one room homes with curtains as dividers. He said they feed them like kings though and are just so gracious and humble. He said they call out their names every time they pass.
Anyway, here are some pics of them at “tea time.” Kev said he’s with “our mom.”
This past weekend, they were also able to make the 3 hour trip to attend our church’s temple in Suva…
Kev said that was a really special experience for all of them! They were also able to meet up with my aunt and uncle who happen to be serving a mission over their right now. Sooo fun! Oh, and all the boys/men wear those skirts called sulus as their dress clothes over there.
They are having such a great time. I can’t wait to hear all about it!!!
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In other news, last week my kiddos and I decided to go to Chick Fil-A’s Cow Appreciation Day! Ha ha! We go to this every year! In the past, Chick Fil-A would give you a free meal if you dressed like a cow, but this year they simplified it a bit and just gave anyone who had anything “cow” on them a free entree. They still gave kids a free kids meal though.
I was down a couple kids; my oldest is in Fiji and my 8 year old was at a birthday party. You can see our past Cow Appreciation pictures here, here, here and here if you so desire (you may have to scroll down the post a bit to see the pictures!)
My kids love Chick Fil-A, but we don’t go there too often because it is quite spendy! Also, yes I know Chick Fil-A is not healthy. I’m just keepin’ it real folks! I try to feed my kids nutritious foods often, but MAN life is hectic and I’m grateful for convenient (albeit not healthy) foods in my life as well. Oh, and there are usually healthy options at most restaurants nowadays, thank heavens. Although, my kiddos don’t seem to appreciate that! Ha ha. I’m grateful there are healthy options for me.
I got myself their Grilled Market Salad and it was yummy! Seriously, I think Chick Fil-A salads are my favorite fast food salads out there. I took a pic of my salad, but only after I’d eaten half of it!
Sooooo good!
Well, I know this post is random, but I thought I’d end by sharing a simple, healthy recipe. Guys, I have SO MANY new recipes I want to put on here! Sadly, since I’ve only been able to blog once a week (or even less), I haven’t been getting new recipes up! Dang.
Anyway, this recipe is for Cauliflower Rice. It’s very simple, easy, quick to make and yummy! You can use it as a replacement for rice in any of your rice based recipes. However, I’ve never experimented with it as an ingredient in a cooked casserole or anything like that, I usually just mix it up (after it’s cooked) with various protein, veggies and/or sauces and call it good. It’s very versatile, flavorful and yummy!
Cauliflower Rice
Ingredients:
- 1 large head cauliflower
- olive oil spray
- Seasoned Salt (or seasonings of your choice!)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Wash cauliflower and cut it into florets
Transfer cauliflower florets into food processor (I imagine a blender would work too!) and pulse until the cauliflower becomes small pieces that are about the size of rice…
There are a lot of different ways you can cook cauliflower rice, but my favorite is to roast it! I think it gives it the most flavor.
Sooooo, line a large baking sheet with foil. Spray the foil with cooking spray.
Spread the cauliflower rice out evenly on top of the foil.
Drizzle a little olive oil on top.
Season with seasoning salt (or seasonings of your choice.)
Roast at 425 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until slightly browned. I actually think the crispier/more browned parts have the most flavor!
Enjoy!
This will keep in a sealed container in the fridge for 3-4 days (or probably even longer.) I love to mix mine with chicken and veggies and a little ranch or salsa. It’s so good!
I had this all the time when I did Whole 30 last year. It was a life saver!
Well I think that’s all I have to say today! I hope you all enjoy your Monday! xoxo
- Serving size: ¼ recipe
- Calories: 66
- Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 7
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 424
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 2.75
- Cholesterol: 0
- 1 large head cauliflower
- olive oil spray
- Seasoned Salt (or seasonings of your choice!)
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Wash cauliflower and cut it into florets
- Transfer cauliflower florets into food processor (I imagine a blender would work too!) and pulse until the cauliflower becomes small pieces that are about the size of rice.
- Line a large baking sheet with foil.
- Spray the foil with cooking spray.
- Spread the cauliflower rice out evenly on top of the foil.
- Drizzle a little olive oil on top.
- Season with seasoning salt (or seasonings of your choice.)
- Roast at 425 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until slightly browned.
- Enjoy!
I have yet to try cauliflower rice thinking it would be way too hard, but this looks like something I might be able to handle.
It always seemed complicated to me too, but it really is super simple, quick and easy! I think you would love it Abby!
We’ve been eating so much cauliflower. My husband loves it roasted, and it’s so easy. My younger son doesn’t like it. I’ve tried making cauliflower rice, mashed cauliflower (so much like mashed potatoes) and cauliflower pizza dough and he’s just not having it. Bummer.
Love the Fiji pics. That kind of experience can be so eye opening for kids. We took our boys on a service-oriented trip to Guatemala several years ago and did walk throughs of farms, and then the farmers took us back to their homes and showed us how to cook tortillas. They have kitchens with open flame ovens. The whole house would be dirt floors with curtain-separated rooms with chickens running through. My youngest, the one who won’t eat cauliflower, also won’t usually eat anything with beans or tomatoes, politely ate the food they gave him (homemade tortillas with salsa and beans) and, surprise! He loved it. Ha!
I have a lot of picky eaters around here too. It’s frustrating! I love how you and your family have gone on so many cool trips and had so many neat experiences!!! I think that is amazing that your son ate that food in Guatemala. I KNOW how hard that can be for kids. What a sweetie.
FRIGGIN’ DIGGGGGINNNNNNN cauliflowered rice – seriously soo soo soo good!!! However, if I eat tooooo much, well yeahhhhhhhh unfortunate things can result, LOL!
Ha ha!!! I love how versatile and yummy cauliflower rice is! I wish it didn’t come with the unwanted “side effects,” lol!
That gym looks like something I would love. It’s great when you find your motivation again when things get repetitive or stale.
I hope Kev’s knee heals up soon. Looks like it was a wonderful, humanitarian trip.
Char, I wish you were here and we could work out together! I know you would love that gym!!!
We just found out that Kev more than likely tore his ACL. Yikes. They DID have a fabulous trip though and learned so much though!
Kev and your son are doing wonderful work. I didn’t realize there were such poor in Fiji. Thank you for spreading awareness! Just followed you on Instagram and the cauliflower rice looks great!
Thanks so much! I didn’t realize that about Fiji either. It always seemed like a resort-sy, tropical paradise to me. This was sure an eye-opening trip for my boys! I was grateful they could go. I just found you on Instagram too!