What gives you energy?

I should feel completely re-energized with the new year and kids back in school.  What I really feel like doing is climbing back in my bed with a million blankets and the heat on and going back to sleep for several hours.  My workouts have killed me.  I think the 11 mile run and chest and abs workout yesterday did me in, especially with only 5 1/2 hours of sleep the night before.  I need to have a little bit more control of my life!  Soooooo, another NEW YEAR’S goal will be to get more sleep!  In bed at 10:00 p.m.  JANUARY blessed JANUARY 🙂  I will not say anything negative about this month except I wish I could be running outside in this outfit!

Runners Legs-Awesome

We were few in numbers at our workout this morning.  Everyone is probably working on the GET MORE SLEEP goal.  We had fun though and it was a TOUGHIE LEG DAY!!!  Here it is:

WARM UP  

RUN 1 ladder

30 Seal Jacks

Repeat

WORKOUT

50 Mountain Climbers

40 Thrusters

30 squats with weights

20 Walking barbell lunges

Ladder and 30 Seal Jacks

REPEAT

50 Jump Squats

40 Stiff Leg Dead lift

30 Dumbbell Step ups

20 Lateral Dumbbell step ups each leg

Ladder and 30 Seal Jacks

REPEAT

50 Hip Raises with weight on hips

40 Lunge Switches

30 Calf Raises

20 Burpees

Ladder and 30 Seal Jacks

REPEAT

100 Sit ups holding a weight and reaching as you sit up!

We’ve been talking food a lot lately too.  Here are a few favorite recipes I’ve posted in the past and some ideas on what to eat for the new year!

BREAKFAST: Oatmeal with flax, protein powder, berries, cinnamon, unsweetened coconut, almond milk, and a few almonds OR a Banana, peanut butter, chocolate protein powder, spinach smoothie (I have one of these EVERY day.  I love them!)

LUNCH: Salad (a huge one) with black beans and a little low fat poppy seed dressing.

SNACKS: fruit, cashews, protein balls, yogurt and berries, popcorn.

DINNER: Veges with sweet potato, brown rice, quinoa, or a big bowl of soup.

Meal 1: Banana, peanut butter, chocolate protein powder, and spinach smoothie

Meal 2: Muscle milk

Meal 3: HUGE salad with chicken, cottage cheese, nuts, or beans for protein

Meal 4: Protein ZONE bar and an apple

Meal 5: Chicken or fish, veges, brown rice, sweet potato, quinoa, or salad.  Soup is a good choice too.

Meal 6: Cottage cheese or greek yogurt with blueberries or blackberries (optional meal)

Drink a big glass of water with every meal.  Stay away from bread or pasta, sorry!

Baked Oatmeal

Combine: 2 c. oats, 1/2 c. agave nectar or honey, 1 t. baking powder

Add and stir: 1 1/2 c. water, 1/2 c. applesauce, 1 T flax, 1/2 scoop protein powder

Scoop into greased muffin tins and add raisins, nuts, and coconut on top of each one.

Bake at 375 for 20  minutes.  Freeze in airtight container.  

Heat up in microwave and add almond milk, berries, and cinnamon!

Chocolate Fudge Bites

3/4 pitted dates

1/2 t vanilla

dash of salt

2 T. cocoa (I’m going to try 1 T. cocoa and 1 T. chocolate protein powder)

2 T. unsweetened coconut

1/3 c. raw pecans

Blend all ingredients together very well (food processor).  Squish dough in balls and store in an air-tight container in the fridge.

CHOCOLATE COCONUT CHIA PROTEIN BALLS

1/2 c. Natural Peanut Butter

1/2 c. Agave Nectar

2 scoops Chocolate Protein Powder

1/3 c. Oats

1/2 c. Unsweetened Coconut (plus more to roll them in)

1 T. Chia Seeds

Microwave peanut butter and agave nectar and stir.  Add everything else and mix.  

Form into balls and roll in coconut.  Store in airtight container in the freezer or fridge.

This last recipe is what I gave my workout girls for Christmas.  I found it at browneyedbaker.com.  I LOVE this blog.  Not everything is healthy, but good stuff and I can always change it up a bit.  Here is my modified version of the Cliff bars recipe.

Granola Bars

1 cup pitted dates

1 1/4 cup crisp rice cereal

1 cup oats

1/4 cup crushed pecans, walnuts, or almonds

2 T ground flaxseed

1/2 t. cinnamon

1/2 cup natural peanut butter

1/3 cup agave nectar

1 t vanilla

1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:

•  Spray an 8×8 pan with non-stick cooking spray.

• Place the dates in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped.  Combine the dates with cereal, oats, nuts, flaxseed, and cinnamon in a large bowl.
• Combine the peanut butter and agave nectar in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until melted and completely combined.  Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
• Pour the peanut butter mixture over the oat mixture and stir until well combined.  Let cool.  Gently stir in the chocolate chips.  Turn the mixture in the prepared pan and press firmly to pack the mixture into the pan.  Cool and let set at room temperature for 1 hour.  Cut into bars, wrap individually in plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator.

So, my question again, what gives you energy?  I’m thinking eating clean and getting more sleep!  Also, being with my favorite people and laughing*  Have a GREAT day and stick to your GOALS!!!  I love this motivational poster!