I actually have 2 completely unrelated, recently discovered, amazing things to talk about today starting with this concoction.
Chia pudding. You’ve probably seen it before, I’m definitely not the first person to post it but this combination BLEW ME AWAY. So much so that it deserved a mention.
First of all, let’s start by addressing the elephant in the room with this one. The texture.
Yes, it’s weird.
If you’ve ever had chia seeds, you know what they do in liquid…puff up, triple in size and get all gelatinous. If tapioca freaks you out, this won’t be your thing.
I, however, looooove tapioca, rice pudding, bubble tea, all those weird texture pudding-y things.
This came from wanting something smoothie like with kefir but not wanting to shiver my way through the drink. I also had no bananas on hand and I find orange to be one of the few fruity flavors I like alone, sans banana.
I’ve also been really curious about this whole chia pudding since seeing it passed off as a “treat” on many blogs.
I was skeptical.
I went into this doubting it would pass the dessert test.
I was wrong.
The orange flavor was so refreshing, the kefir is pretty much like eating tart frozen yogurt and the chia seeds give it a very cool texture. It’s like eating a tart creamsicle. It’s honestly an experience eating this. I know how ridiculous that sounds, but if you try it you’ll understand.
- ½ cup kefir
- ½ cup milk
- juice of 1 orange
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 tablespoons chia seeds
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon coconut flour
- Whisk all ingredients together in a small bowl and refrigerate for at least an hour or up to overnight.
- Remove from refrigerator, if it’s been sitting overnight you may want to add a little more milk to thin it out.
- Serve cold.
**********
Ok, #2….Bodyrock TV
Told you, completely unrelated.
I’ve been really into quick, effective circuit style workouts lately. Since this post, my ambition for running long distances (right now I consider that more than 3-4 miles, funny how your perception of “long” changes when not training for a half marathon) has completely gone away. It’s not that I’m burnt out on running, I’m just enjoying circuit training and strength a lot more so my runs have been 2-3 miles at most and usually quick, HIIT style only 1-2 times a week.
Earlier this week, I stumbled onto Bodyrock’s website. It wasn’t actually my first time there, I’ve heard people talk about it and had actually checked it out briefly before, but the half naked people with ridiculous bodies and the horrible layout of their site (it’s barely organized into any categories and you can’t search or filter for specific workouts) turned me off and I never actually did a workout.
My recent obsession with circuit workouts though got me interested enough this time to poke around and watch some of the videos and something just clicked.
Before I knew it I was doing the fit test for February’s monthly challenge, completing the Bikini Body Beach Ready workout and watching tons of other videos trying to get a queue of workouts that I can easily do at home without any of their props (I refuse to buy a $100 sandbag).
There’s something amazingly satisfying about a workout that leaves you completely spent after just 12-15 minutes of full blown, balls to the wall effort. Call me crazy, but that sounds way more fun and way more time efficient than running 10 miles to me right now.
I also found Lori & Michelle’s post on their favorite Bodyrock workouts which looks like a gold mine. Like I said, the site is cumbersome so having a go to list of workouts from someone I “know” (I read their blog, so obviously that counts as knowing them) is definitely helpful.
I’m thinking I’m going to give this workout approach 30 days and see what the results are and how I feel. I’ll probably still keep up with the minimal running I’m doing now. I don’t want to completely stop because I never in my life want to have to build a base back up…that is HARD work!
There may or may not have been “before” pictures taken. We’ll see what 30 days brings before I decide on posting them.
Any of you “bodyrockers” out there? Link up your favorite workouts if so!
{ 31 comments… read them below or add one }
I really like BodyRock! It’s crazy to me that a 15 minute workout could be so effective!
I just love chia seeds! Everytime I put them in something my husband sings the Cha cha cha Chia commercial!!
haha, Ulysses does the same thing!
Looks like a delicious healthy treat. I know how you feel about changing up workouts. About 7 months ago, I was totally crazy about doing hard core aerobic classes at my gym and worked out for about 2-3 hours 6 days a week. It became more of an obsession than fun and health, so I started listening to my body. Now I still work out pretty much everyday in the form of different things that i do when i feel like it: running about 2 miles, core workouts, weight lifting, a little biking, lots of walks, and lots of yoga. My body is loving it!
I haven’t made chia pudding in years…I love how you just “set it and forget it” with this one. Sometimes recipes for it are a little fussy and need repeating stirring and “fluffing up”. Love how you just put it all in one bowl, stirred, and it was ready as-is the next morning or in a few hours.
I have never heard of chia seeds, and I still don’t really know what kefir is…so this post intrigues and scares me all at the same time. But, it sounds yummy and I assume pretty healthy, so maybe I’ll get out of my comfort zone and give it a shot!
Chia seeds are literally the same thing as the chia pets! haha I bet that makes you want to try them now, huh?
They’re considered one of the “superfoods” and are packed with Omegas so they’re healthy little things 
I love tapioca pudding, and I’ve never heard of chia pudding. I was convinced for the first part of the post you’d spelled chai wrong (or I’m projecting that I spelled “broccoli” wrong for a whole post the other day). I’ll have to give it a try.
Chia seed pudding is like, one of my favorite things right now!! Love it! I went crazy for it once, maybe a year and a half ago and now I can’t get enough of it again. I love all those weird tapioca-y things too
I also really love Bodyrock. Although not so much with the new people, I MUCH prefer Zuzana. She posts new workouts just on her YouTube for now I think, but after baby I think I’ll just go back and do old workouts if I can find them. They are incredibly awesome and I majorly noticed a difference in my body when I did them as opposed to my regular “slow” workouts 
I was trying to figure out the whole new people/Zuzana thing b/c it seems like lots of people in the comments don’t like Lisa. Having known no differently, the “new people” don’t bother me but I’ve been checking out the older ones too and like them just as much.
I really don’t know much about Body Rock because I’ve been stuck on running lately. It’s perfect weather to be outside in Phoenix (finally!) but in the summer I can definitely see the advantages of this program
Will be interested in seeing your reviews in the meantime! PS: I never thought of/saw chia seed pudding! Looks and sounds fantastic 
I’ve been mixing things up with the Body Rock workouts too. It’s awesome that they are so short and can be done at home BUT I have to watch them all the way through before I even start which does add a little extra time of me sitting (aka. NOT working out). Still, it saves me a trip to the gym which is nice.
very true about having to watch the whole video first. I’m hoping once I become more familiar with their terminology I won’t have to always watch the video b/c it does definitely add time to the whole thing.
I’ve done a few of the Bodyrock workouts but always sort of forget about them. They’re tough though!
They definitely are tough. I’m usually grunting and cursing by the end!
Wow your post addresses two things I have been curious about forever and never actually tried. If chia pudding tastes like bubble tea then I am sure to be a fan.
This is the first I have heard of chia pudding….my only experience with chia is the full seeds GT puts in some of their Kombucha varieties (yeah, not a fan of chunks in my beverages…
You honestly sold me at the tapioca comparison, as I do enjoy a great tapioca and I have heard a great deal about the health benefits of chia, so this is a no brainer. Thanks for another great recipe!
I’ve tried the chia seed thing in drinks before too and think it’s beyond disgusting! Not a fan of drinking those things but in pudding they’re delicious
Where do you purchase your kefir from?
I got this from Trader Joe’s but I’ve seen it in my normal grocery store (A&P and Hannaford’s) too.
Can’t wait to hear what your thoughts are on the bodyrock program after 30 days. I like the shortness of it but I feel like it’s too hard for me. Yea, I’m a wimp.
Haha yes, they are definitely HARD workouts. I’m usually cursing within the first 30 seconds.
YUM! this looks super good.. love the squishy chia seeds!
Seriously – how do you know about these amazing things like Kefir? I grew up on it (and we’re feeding Addi that for snacks), but I didn’t even know anyone in the US knows what it is? Even our pediatrician had to ask me what it is.
Dude, I’m so in love with it that I just spent over $4 for it at my grocery store and it’s about half the size of a 1/2 gallon (which I guess would be 1/4 gallon…)
both of our favorite things – chia seeds and bodyrock!!!
thanks for the shout out. and glad to hear you are giving it a try!
Saw this recipe this month in food and wine mag with almond milk. Can’t wait to try it
I just googled that to see what their recipe was, had no idea it was in Food & Wine, how weird! Especially, b/c they did the citrus thing too with the lemon zest. I guess it just proves how delicious it is!
Get this! My younger brother is majoring in nutrition. He’s really into chia seeds and kefir right now and he sent me a link to your recipe! What are the odds?
haha! gotta love the internet
If kefir is something you drink regularly, you should consider getting some kefir grains to make your own. Its super easy- all you do is add the grains to the milk and let it sit, then pull the grains out to use again and drink the kefir! The grains never die and actually grow so you can share with a friend. I got mine from my aunt but I’ve heard you can order them off of the internet. By the way- tried the recipe and loved it… I think it would be even better as a slushy!!
{ 3 trackbacks }