A Much Needed Break

Ahh... so good to have Wednesday completed! Now for a nice long Easter weekend :)

This was an exhausting day, and I almost didn't lift weights at all. But then something inside of me realized that sometimes we can put mind over matter and push through. I completed Wednesday's workout and felt completely exhausted, but it was totally worth it.

Upper Body, Hamstrings, and Abs:

Shoulder Split Press 3x10

Reverse Pushup 3x10

Overhead Tricep Extension 3x10

Single Arm Seated Bicep Curls 3x8/side

Hamstring Let-Downs 3x10

V-Sits (inverted crunch) 3x30

Plank with Knee Tucks 3x10/leg

Russian Twists Holding Med Ball 3x20/side

Debating whether I should go to a 9:30am spinning class or go on an hour jog... not sure. I wish someone would just tell me to do one or the other because I can't make up my mind.

As far as healthy eating goes, today was not ideal. I pretty much just munched the whole day on random handfuls of chocolate chips and spoonfuls of peanut butter. Not to mention I had frozen yogurt for dinner. But I think it's okay sometimes to have days where healthy eating goes out the window. It's all about how you feel. 

Tomorrow is a new day :)

Yummy Raw Energy Bars!

Yesterday I made delicious raw and vegan granola bars that had a wonderful consistency and delicious flavor (in my opinion). I was very pleased. I even cut and individually wrapped them so that I would actually take them on-the-go this week instead of just secretly eating the whole batch in my dorm. Tempting...

I wish I could take credit for this recipe, but none of it was my idea. It is adapted from a blog called Sea Salt with Food. Regardless, I wanted to share it because they are so yummy!

Raw Energy Bars ~ Chocolate, Cashew, and Almond

Sadly, I can't take credit for these beautiful pictures either!

Ingredients:
2 Cups (300g) Moist Medjool Dates, pitted and chopped --> you can buy them already pitted, and my food processor didn't need me to "pre-chop" them
2 Cups (280g) Raw Cashew Nuts --> I actually used Pecans
½ Cup (60g) Raw Almond (without skin) --> I used Almonds with the skin
¾ Cup (75g) Cocoa Powder
A Pinch Of Sea Salt
½ Cup (40g) Unsweetened Shredded Coconut
2 Tbsp Vanilla Extract
2.5 Tbsp Cold Water

Equipment: Food Processor
11 ½ x 4 ½ inches (29 x 12 cm) Loaf pan, lined with aluminum foil
Method:
Combine chopped dates, cashews, almonds, cocoa powder, and sea salt in a food processor. Pulse and process all the ingredients together until the texture is coarse. Then add the shredded coconut, a quick pulse, and add the vanilla extract, a little water at a time until it reaches a dry but moist dough consistency. Scrape the dough mixture into the lined pan, press evenly with a rubber spatula, and chill for about an hour before serving. After the hour was up, I just cut them into bars and wrapped them with plastic wrap. I store them in my fridge until I'm ready to grab one.
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So please try this recipe :) 


Today's workout was exhausting! Rachael, Kate, and I almost passed out! Here it is...


Lower Body Focused
Leg Press 3x10
Front Loaded Squat to Shoulder Press 3x8
Goodmornings 3x10 (slow and controlled)
Reverse Pushups 3x8
Standing Row 3x10
Split Jumps with Squat Holding Med Ball 3x10 (lunge right leg, lunge left leg, squat, repeat 9 more times)
Hamstring Curls 3x10
Flutter Kicks 3x25/leg
Plank on Stability Ball 3x20 (roll the ball out and back with your elbows for one rep)


Have a good night!

Leg Day Postponed

Uh still too sick to workout today. I felt fine in the morning and then as the day progressed I felt worse... I'm going to try to pack in 2 workouts tomorrow before I leave for my cruise :) yay!

Ambitious I know... We'll see how it actually goes.


Legs: (Supposed to be Thursday's workout)
Squats
Lunges
Bulgarian Squats
Leg Curls
Good Mornings
Stiff Leg Deadlift

Shoulder/Abs (Supposed to be Fridays's workout)
Seated Dumbbell Shoulder Press
Anterior and Lateral Dumbbell Raises
Arnold Press
Seated Smith Machine Shoulder Press
Leg Lifts
Crunches
Medicine Ball Oblique Twists
Hanging Leg Lifts