Cashew Cookie Lara Bars!

This is definitely a homemade granola bar recipe that you need to try. It has a very similar taste to the Cashew Cookie Lara Bars, but I added a layer of peanut butter just to make them extra decadent.

Ingredients:
8 oz Pitted Dates (~18 dates)
1 generous c. of Cashews
1/2 c. Dried Coconut
1 1/2 c. Oats
1 tbsp. Water
4 tbsp. Peanut Butter (Can vary according to how much peanut butter you want on top)

1. Put the dates, cashews, coconut, and oats in a food processor and pulse until is looks like a textured dough.
2. Add the water ONLY if the consistency of the mixture seems too coarse, like it won't stick together. (you may even need more water... it depends on how moist the dates are)
3. Put parchment paper in a 9x9 pan and spread mixture. The pan will be too big, so only spread it in 3/4th's of the pan. You could even spread it in two loaf pans instead, but I didn't want to dirty two pans.
4. Place in freezer for approximately 30 minutes.
5. Melt peanut butter and pour over the frozen dough, spreading evenly throughout.
6. Freeze until peanut butter hardens and then cut into individual bars.
7. Store bars in fridge until ready to eat.

If you don't put the peanut butter topping, then it is much easier to take these on-the-go because the peanut butter won't melt and get all messy. I really like the added flavor of the peanut butter, but it's simply not as practical.


Congrats to those of you on day 4 of the Stretch for Seven Challenge!! Keep it up!

Beat by the Heat

Yesterday I completed a 5 mile run in 85 degree weather and it was quite the challenge. When I finally finished I was exhausted and felt overheated. This made me really impressed with all the people who completed the Boston Marathon yesterday in the record-breaking heat!

After my run, I took a cold shower and refueled with a delicious ProBar.

These bars are so good, but I recommend not eating them unless they are a meal replacement or for pre/post workout fuel. My reasoning behind this? They contain around 400 calories...

I have heard a lot of good things about Lauren Fleshman's Picky Bars and so I bought a couple this week to try. They are pretty pricey, but extremely delicious. I thought I'd like the Smooth Caffeinator the best, but I actually liked the All in Almond flavor far better.

I wish Lauren Fleshman would just sponsor me to run really crappy half marathons so that I could eat these bars for free... haha I guess that's not going to happen. People generally get sponsors for being particularly good at something, not particularly mediocre. 

This makes Day 3 of the Stretch for Seven Challenge. I still have this one annoying knot in my left quad that is causing me a great deal of pain when I foam roll. So annoying.

Today ended up being an unintentional rest day due to the fact I have an exam tonight (what am I doing blogging and not studying?!) and because I feel a little sick. I'm pretty sure Lillie and Lola may be the culprits... That's okay though, I forgive them because of their immense cuteness.

Have a good Wednesday evening and keep up the stretching!

Stretch for Seven

I had the best weekend visiting my cousin and her family. She has the two most adorable girls in the world :) I love them both so very much!

Lillian Annabel

Lorelei Wren

Sadly, the weekend is over. But, it is time to start the Stretch for Seven Challenge!! This stretching will be much needed as I gear up for another race on Saturday.

Below are my favorite foam rolling stretches to do after I run. (Look closely at my face so you can see the awkward expressions I am making, as well as the weird state my hair is in... I think I was running on very little sleep here...)

I would have to say the IT Band and Quad tie for the most painful stretch. The Inner Thigh easily takes the prize for awkwardest stretch. Not recommended for the overly self-conscious...

Basically I just position the foam role underneath a knotted muscle and try to let the weight of my body press onto the role and release the knot. I usually tend to just hold it on particularly painful areas, but you can also role it up and down the leg.

Hope this doesn't bring too many people to tears.

Full Body Death:
Bulgarian Squats 3x10/leg
Front Loaded Squat to Shoulder Press 3x10
Hamstring Dead Lift 3x10
Bench Press 3x8
Lat Pull Down with Cables 3x10
Barbell Row 3x10
6-inches Holding MedBall 3x20 seconds
Plank with Elbows on Stability Ball 3x20 roll outs

Introduction to Next Week's Challenge!

I'm so excited to announce a challenge that Bess and I have created for the upcoming week!! It's a challenge that your body will definitely be thanking you for! We're calling it the Stretch for Seven Challenge ~ the idea is that all participants will partake in at least 20 minutes of stretching per day.

What counts as stretching? Yoga, Foam Rolling, Dynamic Stretching, Static Stretching... you choose!! 

Bess made an image that all participants are encouraged to post in their blogs, or wherever they want, to show that they are participating in the challenge. The challenge begins Monday, April 16th, and will wrap-up Sunday, April 22nd. (Check out Bess's introduction to the challenge here.)

I am currently on a foam rolling kick. I think it is because it gives me that "hurt-so-good" kind of feeling. If you have ever gotten someone to knead out muscle knots, that's what foam rolling feels like. It can be painful, but by the end of the week you will see a HUGE improvement. Your muscles loosen and it becomes significantly less painful.

I'll be posting an image demonstrating 6 of my favorite foam rolling exercises on Monday, so stay tuned!!

Have a relaxing Saturday (my day off from exercising!)