{Snow Run}

Good Afternoon everyone!!! Hope your all having a GREAT weekend so far!! Last night we went to Kobe SUSHI yet again.. with some of the Mr's siblings--I love that place.. Totally a legit sushi bar. Veteran Blog readers might remember our last visit there and the experience with the Hell Fire Challenge..
I ended up getting the same thing.. as usual..

edamame to share

and the ALOHA roll

which has tuna, avocado with jalapeno and mango! 

The only thing I don't like is that they don't offer brown rice.. so I just eat the center.. I know I am INSANE.. but really.. would you expect any less from me.

I also got just a skinny salmon roll. 

DELISH

No hell fire challenge this time,but the brother in law that did it last time ordered a level 6.5 to share with the table.. Everyones eyes were watering.. that is some serious spice they put in there! 

I woke up for an oatmeal craving! Seriously.. Its actually been a few days since I have made oatmeal for breakfast. And I enjoyed every last bite! 

That big white blob is vanilla greek yogurt! Its so good with the warm oats. 

You have got to try it!!

Body Pump Class was PACKED today, Loved every second of it.. even those bottom half squats.. ouch! 

I had a training run to do today, 7 miles.. done and done.. Thanks to my running partner to get me through that one.. at about mile 3 we were getting pelted with hail!!!! Most painful run to the face ever.. But we didn't let it stop us.. by the end of the run the sun was shining again.. On the drive home it started coming down even harder! But 1st week of training is complete!! YAY!! 

Green Monster - Post workout!

Time for a blog POLL

The Mister and I were having the conversation last night.. 

Free weights VS. Machine weights..

Whats your vote?

He likes both.. I am all for FREE WEIGHTS!!  Because it requires more muscle use in every workout.. Stabilization, Core, Isolation, etc. 

What are your thoughts?

Also, I have gotten a few emails lately on how to choose a gym?

What are some important qualifications to you when choosing a gym?

I have a few pointers but I want to hear your advice.

Whats important to you in a gym membership?

See you tomorrow for the tally- Tonight the Mr. and I are going on a "us" date, and I couldn't be more excited. It has literally been 11 months, since we last went out with just us. As in our anniversary last feb.

A little overdue.. ? I think so! 

Have a good weekend!!

And so it begins...

Moab Half is 58 days away, 81/2 weeks.. Time to get on that whole training thing.. I have shorter runs throughout the week. 2 rest days and long runs on sat. wish me luck!

Pre-workout today- 1 Cup of vanilla Greek yogurt, blackberries with cinnamon! 

Lunch- Salad beast

Lettuce mix of Romaine and Spinach, 8 oz of grilled chicken, 2 scoops of fat free cottage cheese, mushrooms and carrots with a Tbs of hummus. Drizzeled with Balsamic vinagrette. Flavor FULL explosion. 

I love it.

Hope your all having a great day so far! 

..My Staples..

My most asked question is, what do you eat? What is your diet like?  Well.. I post some of it, but I do not post absolutely EVERYTHING.. I eat. I do have my staples, things I have almost everyday. All of which have made an appearance on the blog. Here is the run down.

Old fashioned Oats. My "original" breakfast. 

  

I LOVE mah OaTs!

 

Bear Naked Granola.. This is my guilty pleasure. Being a little pricey but I justify it because I don't buy cereal.. that often. 

  

Bananas- What is a protein shake without them. I also eat them pre-workout with a little AB

Protein- Of course.. Elite has been my favorite brand for over 2 years. Best tasting, low sugar. Delicious. I use it ALL the time!! breakfast, baking, post-workout, snack. 

Kroger Water: I literally cannot stand the taste of any other water!! I'm kind of a water snob.  I drink 7-8 or more a day!! I keep some in the back of my car at all times!! 

Sabra Hummus- does it get any better? Best hummus I have tried thus far. Any and all flavors! 

Extra Sugar free gum- mint chocolate chip is the best by far. 

hello, my name is Candice and I'm a gum addict! 

Edamame- Makes a great snack and fun to throw in pastas and salads

Green beans- Are always my go-to veggie side for dinner or a quick snack

Ezekiel Bread: The one and only whole protein bread. Although, I only enjoy it toasted. Its hard to get used to at first. But in my opinion the best bread for you out there.

Smart Balance butter: is Better.. I use this for all my baking

Kroger Greek: Cheaper then other greek yogurt, has lower sugar (vanilla & plain only), and taste delicious.

once you go greek you don't go back!

Peppers: love them to add color and crunch to meals and they are the perfect hummus dippers

Eggs- I literally buy the 5 dozen eggs at Costco and boil half of them so I can have a quick protein snack when needed. I mostly eat just egg whites. But I LOVE eggs

APPLES- I eat an apple everyday.. it keeps the doctor away

Cinnamon- the more the better

Agave Nectar- the perfect sweetner! Agave is low on the GI track which keeps your blood sugar at  the same level, avoiding those blood sugar spikes that cause you to crave carbs and sweets! 

Sweet like honey!

Thats a wrap folks! 

These are just a few of my favorite staples.. In all reality.. food is just a staple in my life. 

I'm a Baller

Need a quick pre-workout snack? or something sweet? 

{Make Balls}

Choconut

inspired by fitnessista

2 Tbs. Chocolate Protein Powder

2 Tbs Almond Butter

2 Tbs unsweetened coconut flakes

1 Tbs. Pure Maple Syrup

pinch of cinnamon and truvia

Simply put all ingredients into small food processor

mix er up and form into balls

Peanut Butter Cup 

2 Tbs. chocolate whey protein

2 Tbs white chocolate Peanut Butter

2 Tbs of Old fashion oats

1 Tbs Agave Nectar

pinch of truvia

{Repeat process above}

Are YOU a BALLER?

chewy granola protein bars.

My husband just loves when I come home with a bag full of protein bars.. stink eye and all.. I have learned to just hide them in my car. Although I love certain protein bars, they are the perfect go to snack on the go. BUT we hate paying $3 + for them.. they really can get quite pricey.. and since most of our mula goes toward other important things like formula.. I figured,  why not just make my own..? These are perfect for pre-workout, post workout and for a quick healthy snack on the go! 

You will need:

• 2 c. old-fashioned oats
• 2 c. granola cereal of your choice (I used the pumpkin flax, that I got in the bulk section at smiths marketplace)

• 
  
• 
  
• 4 scoops of vanilla Elite Protein (You can use any kind of vanilla protein powder)
• 1/2 t. baking soda
• 1/4 C. Agave Nectar
• 1 c. brown rice syrup
• 1 T. Smart Balance butter
• 1 t. vanilla extract
• 1/2 t. salt
• 1/2 c. Slivered almonds
• 1/2 c. chocolate chips

{How to Make}

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.  Line an 8×8 pan with parchment paper or spray with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, Mix together oats, granola, protein, slivered almonds,  flour and baking soda.

  

In a small saucepan, slowly heat brown rice syrup, margarine, agave, vanilla and salt over medium heat.

Bring to a low boil. Stir constantly.  Remove syrup from heat and allow to cool slightly.

Pour ingredients in the sauce pan over oat mix and stir until evenly coated, this is the fun part you can use your hands for ;) or if you like to be clean.. just use a large spoon. 

Turn cereal out into your pan that you cover with wax paper.., and press until evenly distributed in thickness. (wax paper will help with clean up) 

Place a few chocolate chips over the top of the bars and press them into the granola spread ;)

Bake for 15 to 18 minutes for soft chewy bars, if you like them a little crispy bake for 20-25 minutes. 

makes about 15 bars! 

ENJOY!!

The mister enjoys these a little more to, and so does his wallet ;)

Today I learned something. Actually, if I think about it, I learn something new everyday. But during my workout today at GPP. My trainer Neil Anderson, Taught me that its the bodies nervous system that needs to learn the movement, not the mind. First, the body learns the movement, then the mind will catch on and it will just happen. (It really was a little more extensive then that.. but I think thats the gist)

[source]


[source]                                    I, for example, have the tendency to over think movements.. (such as kips) 

But, after so much practice, torn caluses and sweat and blood. I finally just gave up trying to think it. And had to let my body do it. Well, guess what? My mind finally caught on!
Today, the work out was single hand snatches, now I really do love this movement. Although, I did them wrong the first time.. then the second time. ( I would press it up, instead of jump) Neil showed me the movement and once again. I would over think it.. my jump was off & my shoulder did all the work. I had to stop and take a breath. Reminded myself that my nervous system is bedonked because my mind was trying to control the movement, not my body. I simply put it in the back of my head, grabbed my dumbbell and chucked it up. I did it!
Do you remember the first fitness class you ever went to? Whether it being a STEP, KICKBOXING, ZUMBA and you just felt like you could not just catch on? But after awhile, of going and practicing each movement you can do it with your eyes closed?  I had that feeling today. I finally got the movement of kips and these single hand snatch business. **As with everything there is still room for improvement but the point of the matter is, Is that if you put your body and soul into something besides thinking so hard with your mind, it will come easier.

• If you keep doing what you’ve been doing, you’re going to keep looking how you’ve been looking.

So what I am actually trying to get to here, is simply is to stop thinking about it and just do it. The easiest way I can explain is to just let go and have fun. I love learning new things/movements. Especially, when it is challenging. It makes the excitement of finally getting it that much better! 

Have you ever had a "ta-da" moment like this?

{welcome bagel thin}

Hey everybody! Hope your having a great morning! The twins woke up happy and EARLY.. In the past I have kind of bragged that they sleep for EVER.. sometimes I even have to wake them up.. but that was not the case this morning, At 6 am B woke up and about 45 minutes later T was up. They ate and played..So instead of hanging out in bed while someone (B) kept whacking me in the face.. I figured I might as well get up and make some breakfast since there was no way I was going to get back to sleep!

4 egg white

yellow pepper

diced mushrooms

spinach

Topped on a whole wheat bagel thin

With a smear of goat cheese

Get in Mah Belly!!

Now, we are all sitting and enjoying our breakfast

with one of these

{frostingless cinna bun}

And some Baby Einstein 

But I really think they were more interested in moms cinnamon roll ;)