Fit Wife- Brooklyn Mar

Welcome to this week's Fit Wife Wednesday! This week Miss Brooklyn Mar is our featured FIT WIFE! Wife, mom, bikini competitor, Brooklyn is sharing her story as a healthy fit wife and mom! 

Follow Brooklyn on Instagram for motivational posts!

Fit Wife Wednesday...

Hi! My name is Brooklyn Mar, I am a 32 year old mom of two kids, Olivia and Brian. My husbands name is Hector, we have been together for 11 years this year and married for almost 2. 

My fitness journey started around the time I started seeing my husband, I was a cardio bunny! I was scared of lifting heavy, scared I would get too bulky. Oh man was I wrong and wish I had started way back when. But I have learned to eat well, lift right and thus began my competing life!

I have competed in both an NPC bikini competition in November of 2013 and also a WBFF show, in both divisions they offer, which are bikini and fitness. I didn't place in either of those shows, yet I find myself still driving towards becoming the best version of me I can.

Finding a balance in a lifestyle like this can be very difficult, especially having growing kids in the house and a husband who eats for bodybuilding as well, even though he doesn't compete. Thankfully we do all eat very similar, except my husband and I like brown rice and our kids like white rice!


I do most of the grocery shopping and can eat pretty much the same things daily, which makes it easier while I am on a prep, which lasts around 3-4 months or to make it sound a little better 12-16 weeks.

My food choices for proteins consist of egg whites, lean red meats, ground turkey, chicken breast and protein powder, usually from Cellucor. For my carbs I love the simple stuff like oats-rolled or steel cut, I just find their texture really good! Also, I like brown rice, sweet potato, Ezekiel bread or P28 bread. I love any type of vegetable but find I do very well with green beans, asparagus, zucchini, cucumber, squash spinach and all kinds of lettuce. I don't really count my veggies as an intake of calories, since most of them are very low in calories and very filling, so I never really go hungry. 


I prepare my food in bulk about three times a week to try and keep my prep times in check, especially since I work night shift I like to just measure out my ounces, pack it up and go! I do have a 6-pack bag that makes carrying my meals so much easier. If you are serious about a healthy lifestyle, competing or just getting your metabolism going, then you will want to carry your meals with you! It saves money, the frustration of what you're going to eat and you are never stuck somewhere and hungry! Also, start carrying water with you, I never leave without my gallon! 

Finding a balance between being a mom, a wife, a student as well as working nights while in competition prep is hard, but can be done with just a little preparation for your week ahead! My next show is about 14 weeks away, so I am already planning again! I am happy to share in my healthy journey to the stage, I hope to share everything I know about being a fit wife with a fit life! 

Fuel Your Better

Hello there!!
I have to tell you I am so incredibly amazed by how many people are so supportive of me on my journey! :) Everyone is so sweet and supportive on social media! I love it! I just wanted to quickly say THANK YOU!

Just recently, I was given the opportunity as a Sweat Pink Ambassador to review Vega Sport products! I tried the Vega Sport Performance Protein and the Sport Bar!! I am excited to share with you my review, but I am really excited that this review came at a time when my mission is definitely to fuel my own better!

First, I am always an advocate for whole, real foods whenever possible. Too often I see people consider a bar or protein shake as way to replace 3 or 4 meals a day. I never suggest this to any one who asks for my opinion. However, I do understand that life doesn't always allow for a meal made up of several complete sources of food. I too grab a bar or quick protein shake when I am in hurry and failed to prep all of my meals. For those times when life gets the best of us, seek better quality products to fuel your body. I encourage you to read labels, know what is inside the bar or shake you are going to be consuming, and make sure you check the nutritional facts before you chow down. Always take the time to research what fuels you best, but I believe I have stumbled upon some great products to share with you all!

On with my review... 

I was so pleased with the Chocolate Peanut Butter Sport Bar! It is a new flavor and it taste great! Sometimes I find bars are chalky tasting or too dry. This bar is far from that and I particularly enjoyed that it was sweet, but not overwhelming like a lot of bars I have had in the past. The bar has 15 g of complete, plant-sourced protein. Non-GMO, gluten free, and made without artificial flavors, colors or sweeteners. I personally love it and cannot wait to try the other flavors Chocolate Coconut and Chocolate Mint.

My take on the vanilla protein powder was a little bit more trial and error than the bar. At first I tried the Vanilla Performance Protein by itself with water and a tablespoon of UDO's oil. This is how I always enjoy my shakes post workout! Eeeeek! Not so great! The consistency wasn't what I was used to, BUT because of the benefits of the product, I was determined to find a way to enjoy it.

The protein in the Performance Protein is made of a plant-based source of the amino acid, Tryptophan. Honestly, I read that and thought... "Like Thanksgiving Turkey?!"... :) Anywayssss, I continued reading that Tryptophan is a key component of serotonin production... Vega's website describes this as the feel good hormone! Okay, okay...still listening... :) the serotonin in the tryptophan helps with the mental aspect of recovery! OH, I LOVE THAT!!!

So, here is what I did to solve the problem I had earlier... 1.) I used my unsweetened almond milk instead of the water, 2.) a blended it with a few strawberries... done!! :) so much better than my water and UDO's oil combination from the day before. I am going to assume the chocolate and berry flavors might be a little better than the plain vanilla, too.

I enjoy Vega products because they are plant-based and nutrient packed foods. "Our passion for plant-based nutrition is as much about empowering health as it is about supporting the health of our planet."

Have you tried any Vega products yourself before or currently?

I would love to know what some of your other favorites are!!

How to Make Cauliflower Spanish Rice

My plan was to gather more pictures and post this recipe early next week, but I had so many people ask me for the Cauliflower Spanish "Rice" recipe... I JUST HAD TO POST IT NOW!

Yes... for those of you who think I made a typo... I said Cauliflower Spanish "Rice"! At first when I heard "cauliflower rice" I turned my nose up... I decided to try Cauliflower Rice last week plain... WOAH, BABY! So good! I began to think of alternatives!

This amazing grain-free... dairy-free recipe is a tasty alternative to Spanish Rice! I had the leftovers today for lunch, also

AND. I. AM. HOOKED!!!

It was paired with garlic, cilantro balsamic chicken tacos on coconut flour tortillas... it was Cinco De Mayo dinner... how appropriate, right?!


Garlic, Cilantro Balsamic Chicken Tacos on Coconut Flour Tortillas
with Cauliflower Spanish "Rice" 

I remember my Mom making boxed Rice-a-Roni ((Sorry Mom!)) Spanish Rice when I was growing up. She would add a can of stewed tomatoes and I would go back for seconds...thirds!! It honestly was one of my favorite side dishes. Well... here were are... a healthy version of one of my FAVORITE foods! I won't keep you waiting! You're welcome...

Cauliflower Spanish "Rice"

1 Tablespoon Coconut Butter
1 Sweet Onion-Chopped
2 cloves Fresh Minced Garlic
1 small-medium head of Cauliflower
1 Teaspoon Cumin
1 Tablespoon Coriander
1 Tablespoon Fresh Oregano
1 Teaspoon Sea Salt
2 Fresh Tomatoes-Diced
1/4 Cup Fresh Cilantro-Chopped
Juice of 1 Lime

First, "rice" your cauliflower... Add the florets to a food processor ((remove outer leaves and remove all stems)). I put a hand full of raw florets in my Ninja Blender and pulse until the cauliflower looks like rice. Do not "blend" it for a long period of time... it will get mushy. I dump the "rice" in to a bowl and repeat until all of the florets have been "riced".

Saute the onion in the coconut butter over medium heat in a large skillet. Add the minced garlic and saute them both until the onion is translucent.

Stir in all of the spices and salt. Mix well. You can add a little water if the mixture is dry or difficult to stir.

Fold in "riced" cauliflower in to the onion/spice mixture. Cook for about 10-12 minutes stirring frequently to keep the "rice" from sticking or burning at the bottom of the pan. Cook until the cauliflower is soft.

Add in the tomatoes, cilantro, and lime juice. TURN OFF THE HEAT and stir the mixture. Let the rice mixture sit just a couple minutes to allow for the lime juice to soak in!

OH! HELLO CAULIFLOWER SPANISH "RICE"!!

I LOVE YOU!

 

Please try this recipe and provide your feedback below or email me! You can find my contact information and social media links in my "Contact Me" Page!!

Fresh Out of the Oven

I could not wait to get back home from my last competition so I could get in to the kitchen and start on some healthy recipes for you all!! Well... Actually... for my fiance, but I was excited to share them!
Last night's dinner was a healthy take on one of my favorite meals and one of my favorite indulgences...
Meatloaf Cupcakes with Cauliflower Mashed-'tatoes Frosting!!

Cute, right?!
The recipe for both came from Danielle Walker's newest cookbook, Against All Grain!!! Completely grain free, dairy-free, and gluten free. I made my own ketchup (meatloaf topping) and almond milk (in my cauliflower mash)!!! Recipes are also in the cookbook!

The recipe made 12 meatloaf cupcakes and plenty of Cauliflower Mashed-'tatoes which left me with a few leftovers to send to work with Nick today for lunch!

If you haven't tried Cauliflower Mashed-'tatoes, I suggest you try it out!! They are the perfect substitution for starchy mashed potatoes! You will be surprised how a few simple ingredients can make such a tasty dish. I added rosemary infused olive oil instead of standard extra virgin olive oil. I find the best selection of infused olive oils and balsamic vinegars at the local Farmer's Market. I had to change a couple things from the recipe in the book because I forgot a whole garlic at the grocery store! Recipe for Cauliflower Frosting is below!! Let me know what you think and pick up Danielle's book Against All Grain for other AMAZING recipes!

 

I find my asparagus is best steamed using a steamer rack in a pan of boiling water. I put the asparagus on the steamer rack, put the lid on the pot, and let the water at the bottom of the pain boil creating enough steam to steam my veggies. I steam my asparagus for about 10-15 minutes. Just enough for them to cook slightly, leaving them with a little crunch. I don't like mushy asparagus!!

 

If you have a quick second, I would love it if you subscribed to my blog using the email subscription to the right of this page!!

Mashed Cauliflower (Cauliflower Frosting)

Adapted from Danielle Walker's Recipe in Against All Grain Cookbook

2 Crushed Garlic Cloves

1 Tablespoon Rosemary Infused Extra Virgin Olive Oil

1 Head of Cauliflower, trimmed in to florets

1/4 cup almond milk, warmed (I made my own from the recipe in Against All Grain)

3 Tablespoons Soy-Free, Dairy-Free Butter Alternative (Found at Sprouts Farmer's Market)

1/2 teaspoon sea salt (Recipe in book calls for 1 1/2 teaspoon)

Dash of Cracked Black Pepper (I added more than a dash!)

 

-Put cauliflower in a sauce pan with 1/2 inch of water. Cover and steam about 10 minutes.

-Drain water and put cauliflower in food processor

-mix in olive oil, crushed fresh garlic, almond milk, butter alternative, salt, and pepper. Process until smooth and fluffy.

 

I let the cauliflower frosting cool about 10-15 minutes, put in a quart size Ziploc, and snipped a small hole in the corner. I topped the Meatloaf Cupcakes as if I were frosting a cupcake with a pastry bag. Simple, easy, and my fiance LOVED it!

 

Thank you Danielle for such an amazing book!!