Happy Halloween!!!

Happy Halloween, y'all!! Have a spooky day and try not to eat all of the candy!

Eat Clean & Give Thanks

A Turkey Day without plates and plates of pumpkin pie, fluffy stuffing, sweet potato pie, and green bean casserole would be just plain wrong. Thanksgiving is a mighty celebration of calories and you would be lying if you said you haven't fallen victim to over-indulging at least once or twice on this epic day of feasting.

Did you know that the typical American consumes a whopping 4,500 CALORIES worth of turkey and all the trimmings on Thanksgiving?! Can you even believe that?! But eating fried onions from a can and MSG-laden condensed mushroom soup is NOT written in the by-laws of this cherished feast.

So, as a way to help us all find healthier, and just as yummy, versions of our favorite holiday foods, I'm running a 14 day Thanksgiving Menu Makeover group. The group will run November 10-November 23, 2016. During the course of this group, you'll have access to some healthier versions of your traditional Thanksgiving recipes. With these delicious clean eating options, you'll be able to focus on stuffing the turkey...not yourself. You can feel free to gobble with a lot less wobble!! (Cheesy, I know!!)

Want in on the fun? Want access to 14 FREE RECIPES? Want to make over your Thanksgiving feast without losing the flavor? Here's how to join:

• LIKE my fitness page, Get Fit With Alina, on Facebook, so you'll be able to see all the posts and updates from me. Just click the link above and hit the LIKE button. 
• RSVP to the Facebook event HERE. Be sure to tag a friend, and invite them to join you.
• Request to join the private Facebook group via the link that will be posted on the event page on Monday, November 7th.

**BE SURE TO LIKE MY PAGE so you'll get the notification when the group link is posted**

Also, coming to Get Fit With Alina in November...

• 30 Days of Gratitude CHALLENGE
• 30 Days of Scripture Writing CHALLENGE

{Photo Cred: Sweet Blessings}

TurboFire Challenge

Last month, I gave TurboFire a try and y'all, it has quickly become my favorite workout. I love the high intensity workouts that I can fit in no matter how little time I have! And now, I'm ready to dive in to the full TurboFire progam, but it's no fun to do it alone!

So, I'm looking for 3-5 women to join me for the next 90 days. Making a commitment to one another to stick with the program for the entire 90 days. Maybe you're not sure exactly what TurboFire really is. You can read a more in depth description HERE, but the short version...it's HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) that includes cardio, dance, kickboxing, and more! And the best part, there are workouts as short as 20 MINUTES!! I mean seriously, who doesn't have 20 minutes?!

What do you need to join? All you need is the TurboFire program! And if this is your first challenge, you can get your first 30 days of the program FREE!!! Sign up below and I'll tell you how to get it FREE!!

So, how can you join? It's simple, just click the sign up button below and you're in! Once you're signed up, I'll email to get you set up with the program and get you added to the Facebook group.

Chicken Fried Rice {21 Day Fix Approved}

Chinese food is a staple in our house so being able to make it at home is a must, but making it healthy has been a struggle until now. Today I'm sharing my favorite Chicken Fried Rice recipe.

Ingredients:

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken (I use THIS RECIPE and make my chicken in advance.)

1-2 tsp coconut oil

2 eggs

1 cup brown rice

2 cups frozen mixed vegetables

2 tbsp low sodium soy sauce or teriyaki sauce

Directions:

1. If you have not pre-made your chicken, cut into chunks, then saute on medium heat in a large skillet with a tsp of coconut oil for 7-8 minutes, until cooked through. Set aside. 

If you have pre-made your chicken, skip to step 2.

2. Scramble 2 eggs. Set aside.

3. Cook your rice. I use Seeds of Change's Seven Whole Grains, which only takes 90 seconds to make!

4. Add frozen mixed vegetables to pan with a tsp of coconut oil. Heat until thawed.

5. Add all ingredients to pan, add low sodium soy sauce or teriyaki sauce.

If you are following the 21 Day Fix Meal Plan:
Measure out 1 GREEN for portion size

One portion equals:
1 YELLOW
1 RED
.5 GREEN
1 ORANGE

{Photo Cred: Beachbody}

Core De Force Sneak Peek {Review}

One of my favorite things about Beachbody is the sneak peeks they release for their new workouts. Since joining Beachbody, I was able to take advantage of the Country Heat sneak peek, but recently I was able to try out their new MMA style workout program, Core De Force. Y'all I have been so excited for this workout! The promo videos look awesome and I have been counting the days until it was time to try it out.

WHAT IS CORE DE FORCE?

WHAT IS THE FLOW OF CORE DE FORCE?

I tried the MMA Speed workout and it was very fast paced. The rounds seemed to fly by! The warm up was short and sweet and then we dove right in. This workout did come with an instructional video before the actual workout began. I would definitely recommend watching that first to learn the moves and make the workout more effective. 

{Photo Cred: Beachbody}

WHAT MAKES CORE DE FORCE UNIQUE?

{Photo Cred: Beachbody}

MY BREAKDOWN...

I struggled a little to get the moves just right, but when I got them down, it was a great workout. They suggest starting slow until you really have the movements figured out and then incorporate speed and power. While I wasn't able to incorporate the same speed and power that Joel Freeman & Jericho McMatthews were able to, I still got an effective workout.

And as usual, there is a modifier to help you along until you can really figure out the moves. 

WOULD I DO IT AGAIN?

Absolutely!! I am so excited for this program to come out! This workout was so much fun, I can't wait to see what they other workouts offer. 

WHAT SHOULD YOU WEAR? WHAT EQUIPMENT DO YOU NEED?

Something comfortable. You're moving a lot and quickly. You need full range of motion and clothes that you won't constantly have to adjust. And the best part, there is absolutely NO EQUIPMENT NEEDED!!

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF CORE DE FORCE?

Core De Force is full of short workouts, this one was 25 minutes, and the entire program is only 30 DAYS!!! Can you believe that?! You better believe I'll be ordering this one and I'll be sure to let you guys know what the results look like after my 30 days with Core De Force!

Chicken Stuffed Peppers {21 Day Fix Approved}

Stuffed peppers are one of my husband's favorites and one that I'm guilty of not making very often. In all honesty, I'm generally not that impressed with the recipes that I've found. They generally have the same ingredients and I've always made them with ground beef. Turns out, switching the beef out for chicken made a huge difference! So today I'm sharing my new Chicken Stuffed Peppers recipe and to make it even better...it's 21 Day Fix Approved!!

{Photo Cred: Pinterest}

Ingredients:

4 medium bell peppers (I used red and green, but you can use any color)

2 tsp coconut oil

1 medium red onion

1 tbsp minced garlic

1 tsp chili powder

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken (I pre-made my chicken using THIS RECIPE)

1 tsp ground cumin

1/4 tsp sea salt

1/4 tsp ground black pepper

2 cups brown rice or quinoa (I use Seeds of Change's Brown Rice & Quinoa Mix)

1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed

3 tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped

1 tbsp lime juice

1 cup shredded Monterey Jack Cheese

1/2 cup fresh or frozen sliced mushroom

1/2 cup fresh jalapenos, diced

Hot pepper sauce, to taste (optional - we like the new Chipotle Tabasco sauce)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees

2. Place bell peppers, skin side down, in baking dish. I used a square 8x8 Pyrex dish which worked well to hold the peppers upright.

3. Heat coconut oil in large skillet over medium heat.

4. Add red onion, stirring frequently, for 4-5 minutes or until onion is translucent.

5. Add garlic, stirring frequently for 1 minute.

6. If you have not pre-made your chicken, cut it into small cubes and add it to the skillet here with chili powder. Cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink. If you have pre-made your chicken, add chili powder to the skillet, let simmer, and move to step 7.

7. In a separate bowl, mix shredded chicken, cumin, salt and pepper.

8. Follow directions on bag for Seeds of Change Brown Rice & Quinoa. Add to bowl, stir.

9. Add beans, cilantro, and lime to juice to bowl and stir.

10. Add mushrooms and jalapenos to skillet and let simmer for 5 minutes.

11. Add 1/2 cup cheese to bowl and stir. Add contents of skillet to bowl and mix together thoroughly.

12. Add a heaping 1/2 cup of chicken mixture to each pepper and cover lightly with foil.

13. Bake for 35 minutes, or until peppers are tender, remove foil and top with remaining cheese. Bake for 3 minutes or until cheese is melted.

14. Serve sprinkled with cilantro and hot sauce (if desired).

If you are following the 21 Day Fix Meal Plan:

1 YELLOW 

1 RED 

1.5 GREEN

{Photo Cred: Pinterest}

Eating Clean and The Struggle to Eat Out

Y'all I try to never stress about calories. I try to make good food choices and stick to reasonable portion sizes. I've never struggled to find healthy food items when eating out, but late last week I went to dinner with some of my girlfriends. We tried a restaurant that I had never been to and at first I was blown away by all of the seemingly healthy items on the menu. Then I just happened to notice the calories listed in parenthesis, and y'all I was just plain shocked!! These meals were so deceiving!! 

{Roasted Salmon Quinoa Bowl}

Now, mind you the calories aren't listed for every item in the menu, but the menu item that caught my attention was their Roasted Salmon Quinoa Bowl. The menu describes it as "roasted Atlantic salmon with sauteed red onions, mushrooms, fresh asparagus, and fire-roasted red bell peppers served over quinoa and drizzled with soy ginger sauce." Granted, I could easily order it without the sauce, but I seriously doubt that would make a huge difference in the calories...

{Roasted Salmon Quinoa Bowl Nutrition Info}

1040 calories?! Are you kidding me? Y'all nothing in the picture or description gave me any indication that eating this selection, which is found on their "Enlightened Favorites" section of their menu, would mean the intake of an obscene amount of calories!!

{Santa Fe Salad}

Because the majority of the menu items didn't have the nutrition information listed, I decided on the Sante Fe Salad, thinking that HAD to be a better option. The menu describes it as, "romaine, blacked chicken breast, red onions, fire-roasted red bell peppers, jack and cheddar cheese, avocado, corn, diced tomatoes and crisp corn tortilla strips tossed with Santa Fe dressing." It was a better option, but not by much.

{Santa Fe Salad Nutrition Info}

980 calories!! For a SALAD!! Seriously? One might say that you could split it into two portions and it would be reasonable. It wasn't filling at all!! There was no way you could eat half that salad and be full afterwards. Now, don't get me wrong...it was delicious! It was one of the best salads I've had out, but I also wouldn't order it again. 

{Barbeque Bison Burger}

So out of curiosity today, as I was researching the nutrition information I decided to check out some of the other menu items that look less than healthy. They couldn't possibly be better, could they? I found the Barbeque Bison Burger, which the menu describes as "lean, ground buffalo, boldly seasoned then grilled to order. Topped with chipotle BBQ sauce, seared green chilies and pico de gallo and served on a toasted bun with Baja sauce, red onions, and lettuce. Served with tangy slaw tossed with Baja vinaigrette and topped with green onions."

{Barbeque Bison Burger Nutrition Info}

680 calories! That's almost half of the salmon and 300 calories LESS than the salad!! That makes absolutely zero sense! Eating out is hard enough. It's hard to find reasonably sized portions, healthy meals, and clean ingredients. And now, to make it even harder, restaurants like this are offering up "lighter" options with ridiculous amounts of calories. How are we supposed to make educated decisions and not completely derail our hard work.

Obviously, for many of us, avoiding ever eating out is not a real option. We're going to have birthday celebrations, like the one I went to, and other fun events. The point isn't for us to never feel like we can go out or splurge. We should all be able to do this. But we have to know what's going on behind the seemingly healthy description in the menu. Know what you're putting in your body.

I really hate to be that person on my phone looking up each menu item at the table to figure out the healthiest option, but oh, how I wish I had thought to look up the menu in advance and check the nutrition information ahead of time. 

Now there are two reasons why I haven't mentioned the name of this restaurant and haven't linked any of their menu photos to their website. This is a pretty negative post. The experience at the restaurant wasn't all bad, the food really was good, and while I'm using a few of their menu items to educate, I don't want anyone to think that it's all bad. 

After doing research today, I've found that they do offer a few lower calorie menu items. My point in this post, is that the menu items that caught my attention and seemed healthy were terrible choices. Delicious yes, but certainly not healthy choices. So, if you do some research and figure out the name of this restaurant, please don't use this post or the comments below to bash them. They're most certainly not the only restaurant doing this and wrecklessly bashing them on the internet isn't going to change it.

So what can you do? Know before you go. If you have plans to go to your favorite restaurant on Friday, take time to check out the menu and nutritional information beforehand. Plan ahead and know what you're going to order. Not only will this help you make healthy choices, but I bet it will help your food get to the table a little faster too. 

{Celebrating with some of my favorite ladies}

Pure Barre Pop Up Class {Review}

{Our pre-rain selfie}

Before I dive into the review I should probably give you a little background. Our local Pure Barre studio offered a pop up class at a new local brewery. (Side note: the brewery is one of our favorite night spots!!)

{Photo Cred: Brown Truck Brewery}

The day of the class, there was a huge storm rolling in. I was assured that the class would go on. The problem?? The brewery is small which meant no indoor area for the class. When I arrived, I saw that they had set up a huge tent and the class would be taking place inside the tent. This seemed like the perfect solution...until it started to rain. 

The rain found its way in and about 10 minutes into the class everybody's mat was floating. I'm not talking just a little bit of water, y'all. We were drenched! To lay down in your mat, you were laying in puddle. The instructors did offer space on the stage for anyone that wanted to take advantage, but it definitely wasn't feasible for us all to fit up there.

{This was still early on, by the end the mats were floating.}

The other issue was the sound system. I believe this was the first pop up class that the studio has put on, so issues are to be expected. The sound system was giving them a fit and for most of the workout, it was very difficult to hear the instructor.

So, take this review with a grain of salt. There is no way I can 100% review the class, because the extenuating circumstances made it impossible to fully take advantage of the class. With the backstory filled in, I'll try my best to accurately review the class without the bias of the negative experience caused by the rain. And please remember, that the studio did their best to make a good alternate plan and the fact that it didn't work out, was out of their control. 

WHAT IS PURE BARRE?

WHAT IS THE FLOW OF A TYPICAL CLASS?

Each class is 55 minutes. Our class started with a light warm up and stretching. We then alternated conditioning workouts while standing or laying on our mats. The video above describes the flow of a class in the studio.

{Photo Cred: Pure Barre}

WHAT MAKES PURE BARRE UNIQUE?

Pure Barre focuses on small isometric movements that are low impact. They believe these movements push your muscles to the point of fatigue. Because of the odd nature of the class I was able to attend, I didn't feel any muscle fatigue. It does, however, look like the in-studio classes are higher intensity than the pop up class. I would imagine that's because of the use of other equipment that is available only in the studio.

Pure Barre strives to help you create a long, lean figure rather than a "bulky," muscular figure.

{Photo Cred: Pure Barre}

MY BREAKDOWN...

I didn't find the workout to be challenging at all, however, considering that I wasn't able to fully participate in the class while try to divert water away from my purse and mat and trying to keep my daughter dry since she had tagged along. The movements that I was able to complete were simple and easy to follow. I would love to try another class, without the rain, and get a better feel for the intensity and effectiveness of the class.

WOULD I GO BACK?

I would definitely try another pop up class, provided that the skies were blue! After this experience, I'm not sure that I'm ready to pay for a class, but I would definitely go back, if for nothing else than to give the workout a fair shot. 

WHAT SHOULD YOU WEAR? WHAT SHOULD YOU BRING TO CLASS?

Their website suggests you wear long pants or capris and socks. For the pop up class, they also asked that we bring our own mat. If you're taking a class in the studio, I'm sure the mats are provided. And don't forget your water.

{Photo Cred: Pure Barre}

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF PURE BARRE?

{Photo Cred: Pure Barre}

While the class may not have been a total success, I would love to take a second to thank Pure Barre and Brown Truck Brewery for hosting this pop up class. This was such a great offer and I'm thankful that I was able to take them up on it. Hopefully, they'll host another one and if I'm able to attend, I'll be sure to update my review.

{Photo Cred: Pure Barre}

Deconstructed Tacos {21 Day Fix Approved}

{Photo Cred: Pinterest}

Y'all I could seriously eat tacos every single day. I love them!! I've yet to find a taco I didn't love. I mean even a less than stellar taco is still pretty amazing. But, I generally find that when I'm eating tacos, they're also slightly less than healthy. So, today I'm sharing my super delicious Deconstructed Tacos. These tacos are amazing and feel like a cheat meal, but they're completely clean!

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef (I use 97/3 grass fed angus beef, but you could easily substitute ground turkey and make this meal even healthier).

1 packet of your favorite taco seasoning (I use the low sodium version)

1/4 cup water

1 small red onion

1 tbsp minced garlic

Brown rice (I use Seeds of Change's Seven Whole Grain rice)

Broccoli slaw

Tomatoes, chopped

Fresh avocado, mashed (in a pinch I've also used Good Foods Chunky Tableside Guacamole)

Directions:

1. In a large skillet, brown ground beef (or turkey) until no longer pink. 

2. Add taco seasoning packet and 1/4 cup water.

3. Add onion and garlic.

4. We assembled with brown rice on the bottom, then taco meat, topped with broccoli slaw, tomatoes, and fresh avocado (or guacamole).

If you are following the 21 Day Fix Meal Plan:

1 YELLOW of brown rice

1 RED of ground beef (or turkey)

.5 GREEN of broccoli slaw

.5 GREEN of tomatoes

1 BLUE of guacamole (or mashed avocado)

{Photo Cred: Pinterest}

Clean Eating for You...and Your Family

One of the biggest excuses I hear when it comes to clean eating is that it's impossible to eat clean when the rest of your household is still downing oreos and doritos. And y'all this is an excuse I can totally understand. When temptation isn't staring you in the face, it's so much easier to stay on track and really start cleaning up your eating habits. But how can you convince the rest of your family to get on board?

The truth? There aren't any magic words and probably just throwing out their treat stash won't go over well. But there are a few things you can do to that just may have them wanting to eat clean too!

Tip #1: Start Slow

So often we just want to jump in feet first and go from a junk food junkie to a clean eating freak. It's okay to start slow! Start with switching out your snacks or maybe set a goal to eat clean at dinnertime every day. By changing one meal, you should easily be able to work that into your family's meal plan.

{Photo Cred: Pinterest}

Tip #2: Set An Example

Before you can expect them to jump on board, you've got to set an example. You've got to start your clean eating journey and let them see what you're doing. The trick here is to find healthy meals that you love. Whether you're eating out or cooking at home, let them see that not only are you choosing healthier options, but you're enjoying it too. When they see that you're enjoying what you're doing, they'll be more likely to join in.

{Photo Cred: Pinterest}

Tip #3: Stop Buying Junk

While it probably won't go over well to just throw out their goodies, if you're the chief grocery shopper...stop buying it. If your kids can't drive, you can easily control what they're allowed to have in the house. For older children or your spouse, if they want the junk food and processed stuff, let them make the trip to the store for it. Most likely, they won't.

When the junk food stashes start running low, they'll be looking for snacks and guess what? All your healthy meal prepping will be staring them in the face.

{Photo Cred: Pinterest}

Tip #4: Be Prepared To Answer Questions

When you start taking the junk food out of the house, be prepared to answer questions like, "why is fast food bad for me?" or "why can't I buy my favorite chips?" The best advice I can give you is not to word vomit on them. Tell them enough to answer the questions they've asked but leave it open-ended enough for them to ask more. Let them guide the conversation.

{Photo Cred: Pinterest}

Tip #5: Be Prepared For Resistance

Let's be honest, at some point you're going to meet resistance. They're going to want pizza and wings and macaroni and cheese. Know in advance that this is coming. Find healthier versions of foods they love and be prepared to offer them when they ask for one of their less than stellar favorites. Having trouble finding a decent recipe for a clever switcheroo? Let me know! I'll help you find an awesome substitute.

{Photo Cred: Beachbody}

Tip #6: Be Creative

Clean eating should NOT be boring!! If it is, we need to talk! Pinterest has tons of delicious clean recipes and I try to post them here for you as well. Try this Easy Lemon Garlic Chicken Recipe. It's clean, it's delicious, and my daughter loves it!

Tip #7: Let Them Help

Have your family help you meal prep. Older kids and spouses can chop vegetables. Younger kids can stir or wash fruits and vegetables. Find something that they'll enjoy and let them be a part of the process. When they're able to help, they're more inclined to eat the food they've prepared.

Tip #8: Keep Going

And if all else fails, don't give up! Let them see that no matter what, you're changing your lifestyle. Maybe they're just not ready to get on board and that's ok. Don't let them be a stumbling block for you, but don't force your new eating habits down their throat either. And with a little time and a consistency on your part, I'd be willing to be that they'll come around. 

{Photo Cred: Pinterest}