Wedding Crunch Time

So, I have a good 80 days left until it's my wedding. So with that, it's time to get shredding again. What does that mean you ask?  Well, my nutrition has been changed a bit, as well as my workouts. My routine is as follows:

Day 1: Legs/Core

Day 2: Back

Day Off

Day 3: Glutes/Core

Day 4: Shoulders

Day Off

Day 5: Glutes/Core

Day 6: Chest, Triceps, Biceps

Day Off

I am not going to lie, this is something that I am definitely not used to but I am trusting the process and my coach / fiancé Sam.  

I am prepping for the biggest shows of my life so far...my wedding day. Surrounded by friends and family, everyone that matters to me will be watching. It's something I have dreamed of my entire existence. I am def prepared to get the work done that allows me to look like I am ready for a contest ...of course with a little softer look for the 'BIG DAY'!  

So world... here is my scary before picture (after I carbed up from a treat meal...kinda bloated lol):

I usually have an off-season that stays fairly lean, but allow myself treats every once in a while.  But it's time to get serious SON!  I will be posting every once in awhile with my progression (I hope haha). Stay tuned!

The clock is ticking...  Let's do this!!!

-Kim-

GP3 Popsicle Recipe - SUPER easy!

Hey Friends!

Here is a fun and easy way to get in those BCAAs on your non-training days.  Here is what you will need:

Ingredients:
2 scoops of Advanced Genetics GP3 in any flavour (I used juiced grape)

300ml Water

Shaker cup

Small popsicle holder

1) Grab your shaker cup and fill up to the 300ml line.

2) Add the GP3 to the shaker cup and shake it up until blended. 

3) Open shaker cup lid and pour the BCAAs evenly into each reservoir.  

4) Cover popsicle tray with cellophane and place into freezer for a few hours. 

5) Gently unwrap cellophane from tray and carefully remove your popsicle.

6) and ENJOY!

Hope you enjoyed this fast & easy treat.  Tell me what you guys think.  

Thanks for stopping by friends!

-Kim-

It's Been A Long Time

Hi Friends!

Yes, I did go MIA for quite some time but I am back BABY!!!  I hope to be blogging every week at least.  So let's us begin:

Well, winter is here and with MY winter comes off-season.   Yes, some of us are a little bit "jolly" this time of year but like I say the more the merrier!  HO HO HO! 

When I say more, I most definitely mean more padding.  This helps to keep us warm on those cold, frosty nights...BRRRR.  It's that little something extra....a tad bit more fat, rounder muscle belly for most muscles and for me...a little round face LOL. 

I know for some competitors, this is one of the hardest challenges to overcome.  It's that whole mental game.  The world thinks you look frickin' amazing but your mind is telling you "GIRL, you need to get back on that treadmill."

All I have to say is:

1) Trust the process
2) Execute the plan
3) Follow through

A change is going to come and for the better.  A work of art takes time and that also goes for your body.  Just make sure you are always challenging yourself. CHALLENGE THE DAY.  I have been saying this over and OVER and OVER for the last month or so. 

Before this short & sweet blog post is over...one more reminder for you....NEVER forget about why you started your journey.   

Ta-ta for now!

-kim-

AG Chocolate Cheesecake Power Pudding

Hey guys!!! I am back with yet another concoction with the help of my trusty Advanced Genetics Isophase protein powder. I got the idea from my friend, Graeme, back home in Winnipeg.

He told me that his mixture tasted like cheesecake. From there, I WAS IMMEDIATELY SOLD on the idea. I said "Tell me more". He said it was so easy.

I know you guys keep coming back for my easy recipes, so here is another tasty and easy one. I really hope you do try this one. It is truly amazing!

Here is what you will need:

Ingredients:

1 scoop of Advanced Genetics Isophase in Chocolate
1/2 cup of Plain Greek Yogurt
1 tbsp to 1 tbsp of cocoa powder (however much you prefer)
1/8 tsp of Stevia (or more...and again it is whatever you prefer for sweetness)
Cinnamon (optional)
Walnuts or any kind of nuts sprinkled on top to make it look awesome



Directions:

1. Mix everything together (besides the walnuts/nuts to decorate) in your desired container.
2. Sprinkle the walnuts/nuts to decorate
3. ENJOY!

Now wasn't that easy?!?

 

My niece trying our chocolate cheesecake pudding out.  She loved it!

AG Protein Frozen Pudding Pucks

My girlfriends who work at my gym told me about their own versions of this awesome recipe. So with that, I decided (OF COURSE) to put my own spin on it.

These protein pucks are enjoyable, easy to make, and just a real treat...something that you can take your time eating. That is how great they are. They literally only took me 3 minutes to make. Try it today!

Here is what you will need:

Ingredients:

1 scoop of AG Isophase in Chocolate or Vanilla (I made both in my pictures)
1 tbsp-1 1/2 tbsp of all natural peanut butter
1/8 tbsp of Stevia (optional)
1/8-1/4 tbsp of Almond extract (optional)
Water

Directions:

1. In a small container (the container you will be placing your protein pucks in), mix all ingredients together until fully blended.
2. Add water slowly to mixture until you reached a pudding-type texture (using your own personal preference as to how watery or not watery you want to make it).



3. Cover your mixture with a lid and also place it into a ziplock bag in your freezer (to prevent freezer burn).
4. Wait approximately 6 hours to consume.

5. When you are ready, take the protein pucks out of the freezer and wait approximately 15 minutes to let them defrost a bit (I was too anxious...so when I took a bite of my puck, it was still hard LOL). The last thing I want is for you all to chipped teeth :D
6. ENJOY!!!!

It's Just One Of Those Days...

....when you do not want to get up from your comfy and warm bed...
....when morning cardio seems like the worst idea in the world...
....when you absolutely do not want to do core day. It's boring....
...when you have to work in the evening and all you want to do is snuggle up to the one you love and just SLEEP...
...when you know you have Birthday Cake Oreos in the cupboard and cannot eat them until your allocated cheat meal....

YUP!  It is just one of those days!!

I had to push through a lot of mental and physical things today. I had many thoughts of "WHY am I doing this again?" And "I wonder what it would be like to be 'NORMAL'".

But then I smartened up and think to myself "No...normal is not who I am...normal is boring...I am here to help make a change in my life and others...after all, we only have one life...so why not make it an AMAZING one!!!"

Yup, well that is all.  Gotta turn those "bad days" into good ones.  Thanks for reading my friends.

-Kim-

Move Your Butt Monday - AG Total Body Boot Camp

Monday's can be a drag. Here is a way to start your week off right..AG ARMY STYLE. Here is what was on the agenda today:

TRY IT TODAY!!!  3-5 sets with no rest in between exercise until full set is complete. Rest time in between sets is 45 seconds to 1 minute.

HAVE FUN!!!

Review: New Balance Minimus 3090 Ionix Running Shoes

It was finally the day to say goodbye to my Nike Shox from 6 years of running indoors, outdoors, through the mud, through my bikini competition prepping, dodgeball-ing, and of course chasing the boys :D

Don't get me wrong, I could probably wear those Shox down until I couldn't wear them anymore. I love my old shoes. But when splashed water on the front of the shoes would make my socks wet or the foam padding at the heels would come out after each use...I knew it was time to replace them.

Good thing SportsChek at West Edmonton Mall was having one of their BOGO 1/2 off sales or I probably would have waited another year to get some new shoes. Sam, the fiancé, was also on the market for new shoes. His situation...even worse than mine...having had his shoes for a good 10 years. It was definitely time!



I tried on a couple of running shoes. Nike Free's - I didn't enjoy too much. It felt too much like a barefoot running shoe, which I already own (Vibram FiveFingers). I then tried on the New Balance Minimus and WOW I was impressed.

Here are the details about the shoe:

 

Features:
4mm drop
No sew synthetic overlays for support
Synthetic/Mesh upper
EVA (Ethyl Vinyl Acetate) foam footbed for cushioning

This shape provides a standard fit with slight adjustments, including a more anatomical heel, an improved arch and a closer fit in the toe box. One of our most popular lasts in running, cross-training and court.

I immediately enjoyed the cushioning in the shoe, as well as the lightweight feel it had (so different than my Shox, which were extremely HEAVY). I felt support horizontally and throughout the heel area. These shoes are also very breathable, which is awesome. My other shoes...not so much. You wouldn't want to be near me when I took off my Shox. They could scare off ANYONE.



I typically weight train doing total body circuits and treadmill training. This shoe is perfect for both horizontal and vertical movements. My old shoes were definitely weighing me down. NOW, I feel as free as a bird when I do my workout. I am superwoman!!!

If there was one bad thing I would have to say about the shoe, it would be that it comes a little narrow at the front of the shoe...but then again...I do have wider feet. MEH! I still enjoy them nonetheless.

Conclusion: These shoes are great for any type of training style. There are great for anyone who wants something in between a minimalistic shoe and a support shoe. It was well worth the amount I paid for them. I highly recommended this shoe. New Balance, I give you props for making an amazing shoe.

PS. Thanks to Brandy for recommending the Minimus. I adore them!

AG No Bake Power-Up Poppers

Quick, tasty, easy to make and VERY ADDICTING!!!

I wanted to do another energy ball recipe but this time opting for the no-bake kind. No bake recipes are great because you don't have to sit around for the darn thing to finish cooking. There is always that odd chance you could burn what you are baking if you do not continuously check on it (i.e my protein pancakes from the other week LOL).

These poppers are of course CLEAN, as well as super fun to make! You can make many substitutions for the ingredients. Just play around with what your taste buds like.

Warning: these tasty poppers will be gone in no time.

This recipe yields for approximately 10-15 energy balls.

Ingredients:

1 cup of rolled oats
2/3 cup of Unsweetened Shredded Coconut
1/2 cup All Natural Peanut Butter
1/3 Egg Whites
1/3 cup Flaxseed (ground or whole)
1-2 scoops of Advanced Genetics Isophase Protein Powder (I used Chocolate)
1 tbsp of Stevia
1 tbsp of Artificial Vanilla Extract







Directions:

1. In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients and mix with your hands until fully blended.

2. Roll the mixture into small balls about an inch in diameter (or however big you want to make them). This recipe makes approximately 10-15 poppers.
3. In a large container, place the poppers leaving space between them to refrigerate for 1 hour.

ENJOY these lovely treats my friends!

YUM!!!

Three Ingredient AG Protein Pancakes

I love playing around in the kitchen...especially when I have my niece to help me out with my little experiments. I wanted it to be quick and with a few ingredients that people normally have laying around their kitchen. I say THREE INGREDIENT recipe because eggs are categorized as the same thing in my eyes.

I was intending to make 4 pancakes but I burnt one, so my final picture only has three haha.

This recipe yields for 3-4 protein pancakes (depending on how large you want them and if you DON'T burn them). ENJOY!

Ingredients:

1-2 small to medium sized ripe bananas
1/2 cup egg whites
1 whole egg
1 scoop of AG Isophase Chocolate or Vanilla Protein Powder

Cinnamon, nuts, stevia (optional)

Directions:

1. In a large bowl, mash the banana as much as you can. Use your hands if needed. You don't have to worry about chunks of banana, because it tastes better IMO. You do have the option to mix everything in a blender for a smoother texture.

2. Add in the eggs and protein powder until blended completely.

3. In a large pan/skillet, lightly spray with Pam. Heat to a medium-low temperature.
4. Using a 1/2 cup measuring cup, fill the cup to top and pour into skillet.
5. Cook on first side for 1 minute (depending on stove top). Flip over using a spatula and cook for another 30 seconds to 1 minute.

6. Repeat the last step 3 more times.
7. Grab a plate and stack 'em.
8. ENJOY!!!

AG Energy Cookie Breakfast Bar

Hey There Friends,

I was playing around in the kitchen again (seems to be a trend here lol) and THIS TIME I wanted to make cookies. Well, I am going tell you that I failed on the cookie-tasting part (WAAH!). But as for the shape, it does look like a cookie. What it ended up tasting like was an energy/protein bar. With that being said, here is my recipe for my AG Energy Cookie Breakfast Bar.

Ingredients:
2 cups of Rolled Oats
1 cup of Ground Rolled Oats
3 scoops of Advanced Genetics Isophase Protein Powder in Chocolate
1 1/2 cup of PB2 Powdered Peanut Butter (Original)
1 cup of water
Pam spray

Directions (Yields 5-6 large bars):

1. In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients until blended.
2. Add water to mixture and mix well until fully blended to form a dough-like texture.
3. Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. With a rectangular baking tray, cover the tray in foil and spray with Pam spray.
5. NOW THE FUN PART! With your hands, grab a chunk of the dough and roll into a ball.



6. Place the ball onto the tray and press down with your palm to form a flat circle (your cookie breakfast bar). Repeat 4-5 more times until the mixtures is gone.



7. Place in the middle of the oven and time your energy bars for 15 minutes.
8. Take bars out and let cool for 15-30 minutes.
9. ENJOY these bars for an energized breakfast or take as a meal replacement for an "on-the-go" treat.

Thanks for stopping by.

Wordless Wednesday - March 20, 2013

c/o motivationintohabit