Kookie's World

[krystendee]

(Fit)spiration

We are all busy and sometimes we only have a few minutes to exercise. But that's no excuse to NOT exercise... Especially when trying to work and cram all of the things on your To-Do list in life, it gets hard to find time to set aside to exercise. So here's a few pointers on a short and quick cardio workout that I incorporate into my everyday routine while I'm on the run. In just 15 minutes you can get a decent cardio workout in by taking a brisk walk. Most of us that work in the corporate world are entitled to at least 2 - fifteen minute breaks. I strategically use those breaks to walk around the parking garage, or walk up and down the five flights of stairs instead of taking the elevator. Take a coworker with you to keep you motivated, and it'll become a party!

[krystendee]

Work It Out

When it comes to workout songs I have quite a few go to songs. I use them all for zumba and the recumbent elliptical. Fergalicious - Fergie (Obviously. If you haven't seen my video yet I suggest you go watch it.) We Be Burnin' - Sean Paul Pump It - The Black Eyed Peas Lose Yourself - Eminem What They Gon Do - Lil Jon Bring Em Out - T.I. Fireball - PitBull and John Ryan B.O.B. - Outkast Pass the Courvosier - Busta Rhymes Ante Up - M.O.P. I mean have you seen you got served?! It's all hype music to keep me motivated.. To actually workout!

[krystendee]

Work It Out

When it comes to workout songs I have quite a few go to songs. I use them all for zumba and the recumbent elliptical. Fergalicious - Fergie (Obviously. If you haven't seen my video yet I suggest you go watch it.) We Be Burnin' - Sean Paul Pump It - The Black Eyed Peas Lose Yourself - Eminem What They Gon Do - Lil Jon Bring Em Out - T.I. Fireball - PitBull and John Ryan B.O.B. - Outkast Pass the Courvosier - Busta Rhymes Ante Up - M.O.P. I mean have you seen you got served?! It's all hype music to keep me motivated.. To actually workout!

[krystendee]

(k)Nutrition K(n)owledge

I’ve learned a lot during these 60 days on this Genghis Grill HealthKwest journey... and the the most important lesson concerns how Nutrition is about being HEALTHY, not necessarily “skinny”.  Yes, we all want to lose the most weight so we can win the prize money, but at what cost to our bodies?  Food is fuel to keep our bodies running.  And what happens when you don’t maintain a clean engine, or put crappy cheap low-grade fuel in your car?... gross, stinky sludge builds up and your car’s performance suffers and eventually shuts down. The same thing happens with your body... and continuously ingesting cheap/greasy/sugary fast food isn't going to help your body’s performance.  Fortunately, the food at Genghis Grill is all simple, fresh, and healthy.  My taste buds have adapted and evolved to desire just water and simpler foods that I can easily recognize, like: eggs, lean meat, and veggies, rather than extremely sweet “drinks”, and refined, over-processed mushed up mess.  Plain and simple, you really are what you eat... and I’m not a greedy person, so I’m no longer “eating greedy”, but eating good!... So since it’s all good food.. I’M GOOD. :) 

[krystendee]

I'm going through changes... Can I let you go?... My mind is going through changes... And I can't let you go... The perfect song from sultry soul R&B singer Ledisi to help describe some of my feelings about my HealthKwest journey. Changes both physical and emotional, I'm growing and shrinking at the same time. Increasing my will power and strength, and shrinking (15lbs lighter) unhealthy eating habits and my waistline feels so good! BEING HEALTHY IS BEING HAPPY!... and I'm never going back 😊 #HealthKwest #GenghisGrillAd

[krystendee]

Work it out!

Working out can be so hard to get motivated to do. I tend to find myself making up excuses as soon as I think about working out. I mean, come on... It's hard work! And work is called work... Not fun. But what about all of those all too seemingly cliché ideas that our parents and teachers tell us about finding something that you love to do, and make it work as a career? Because then, WORK can be FUN! Yeah right... We grow up, and slowly but surely learn the hard way that most of the work that we do, day in and day out, begrudgingly working on tasks to appease someone else's agenda, is simply because we have to find a way to pay those never ending bills... So now it was all lies! But I've found a way to make work, and even working out - FUN! IT'S CALLED ZUMBA!!! A 💃dance inspired cardio workout to get the body burning calories all while having fun! It's so much fun, and you don't even have to be a professional dancer... just being silly in a 1 hr Zumba class, the time goes by, and leaves you ready to strut your stuff all day! Zumba is an excellent cardio workout, that I'm always excited to clock in! WORK IT OUT!

[krystendee]

My Top 3 Goals I want to achieve for Genghis Grill HealthKwest 2015:

1 - Weight Loss (duh)

2- Becoming more sociable

3- $10,000! (DOUBLE-DUH!)   :)

*I usually forego the starch when I assemble my Genghis Grill bowls, but today I got brown rice in my bowl, and it was oh so tasty! Brown rice has lots of benefits, in that it's healthier than white rice, but just as filling, an with less calories.  Whole grains are especially helpful in maintaining a healthy diet and are filled with fiber (fat fighter) to help aid in digestion.  "BROWN-IE" Rice points for me! 

[krystendee]

It's so easy - drinking Green...tea, that is :)

Since I've embarked on this 2015 Genghis Grill HealthKwest challenge, one of my promises to myself has been to cut out all "unnecessary" drinkable calorie evils... i.e. - Soda, Juice, Alcoholic Beverages, Coffee... of which the later is more accurately described as a cup of Sweet Cream with a dash of coffee.  But honestly, I've always been kind of an "old-soul".  And ever since I can remember, I have preferred the mild and calming sensation of slowly sipping hot tea.  We all have been told time and time again to load up on leafy greens for a healthy diet, so why would drinking Green Tea be any different? Loaded with powerful antioxidants, green tea is a natural and effective way to improve brain function and physical performance. Other than water, it can be argued that Green Tea is the healthiest drink in the world!  Genghis Grill has a trio of new Green Tea drinks that are absolutely delicious, and I can't wait to try them all!

[krystendee]

Interview With A "Health Finder"

Akela Dunagin, MA K: How long have you been in the health field, and what made you decide to pursue it as a career? A: 6 years, and wanting to know more about the body and all the different aspects. K: What are the most important things to you, to stay healthy? A: Staying healthy to me is just staying in shape mentality and physically by eating the proper diet that works for you as an individual. K: How do you keep yourself motivated to continuously eat healthy and workout? A: I think of my future and all the money my health could cost me down the line....ie more doctor visits because I have different health problems, but also family. I would like to be around to see the different changes in life. K: What health accomplishment are you most proud of? A: Being an African American woman and not having high blood pressure. K: Any other advice you can give me, on how I can lose weight on this Genghis Grill challenge? A: I believe you're already doing everything.... make sure you eat 5 times a day and exercise. When exercising make sure you change your work out constantly, never do the same thing two days in a row....and just stay motivated, you can do this!

[krystendee]

KW GG HealthKwest DanceVideo 2015

[krystendee]

My GG Veggie Tale

When I was a kid, I used to LOVE to watch a cartoon show called "VeggieTales".  The theme song was really cute... "Brocc-o-leee..... Cel-er-eeeeeyyy... gotta beeee...VeggieTales...Lima Beeeeaaaanns, Collard Greeeeens, Peachy Keeeeen, Veggie Tales.... Cauliflower, Sweet & Sour, Half an Hour... VeggieTales..."  I sang along with every word, even though I HATED Peas & Lima Beans, and no matter how much my mother tried to get Broccoli to be a "cool food" to eat by saying it was tiny trees, I just wasn't having it. But I absolutely LOVED "Junior Asparagus" & the French Peas - "Jean Claude & Philipe" so much, that sometimes I could force myself to eat peas if I thought of them as little Jean Claudes & Philipes. The show had an adorable, musical, and most captivating way of teaching Biblical principles and morals.  I'm glad that I grew up watching that show (ok, at 27 years old I still secretly watch it every now and then, but use my nieces as an excuse) because I realize that all of the silly songs stuck with me, but the lyrics and lessons really did help shape my character.  However, even in  learning how to be a good person, I never really thought about the characters actually being VEGETABLES. I was too focused on the stories and songs that made me laugh.  It's funny how I'm on this Genghis Grill Health Kwest, and I've come to an interesting realization of how BRILLIANT the creators of VeggieTales were in also pushing the issue of HEALTH to kids.  As a kid, my tastebuds consisted of wanting nothing more than sweet stuff, fast food, and pizza... anything that I could tell actually GREW out of the ground, or on a vine, or in a tree was "icky".  Now as an adult (I don't know HOW that happened) my taste buds have matured, and I've really learned to enjoy vegetables in a way that I never had before.  Genghis Grill has such a variety of vegetables, and here a just a few that I love loading up my bowls with for all of their glorious yummy-ness & health benefits:  Broccoli (OH NO, SAY IT AIN'T SO, I LOVE THE LITTLE TREES) is a brilliant little cruciferous veggie, loaded with Vitamin C & Fiber.  Talk about a double-whammy, helps with immune system, and keeps your plumbing "moving"... no need for Metamucil.  Black Beans & Garbanzo Beans (close enough to Jean Claude & Philipe) packs a powerful protein punch without the added fat of meat.  Spinach!!! Chock full of vitamins, antioxidants, & minerals.  Hey, I just thought of another childhood song by Shirley Temple, "Nooooo Spinach... Take Away that awful Greenery... Noooooo spinach, give us lots of jelly-beanery..."  Man, things have changed since childhood, but I'm glad I'm still learning the lessons on eating healthy... and maybe one day I can come up with my own little cutesy song for kids to grow up singing, and remembering into adulthood.  Health is Happiness! -God Bless

[krystendee]

Completing Orders on the Genghis Grill Community on #fancorps rules! #Ad http://fcrps.me/KrystenWalker

[krystendee]

The best part about the Genghis Grill #fancorps community is completing Orders! #Ad http://fcrps.me/KrystenWalker