Chocolate Pumpkin Spice Homemade Protein Bars

A few months ago I made homemade protein bars for the first time. The girls really loved them and were happy they could have a healthy treat. Of course most of the protein bar recipes contain nuts or nut butters so the girls were not able to bring them to school as a healthy snack for their lunches.
Now that we are in September and back to school, the request for homemade protein bars came in again from the girls!
I knew I needed a binding agent that was sweet, and since Pumpkin season is gearing up, what a perfect  time to use Pumpkin Puree!

Chocolate Pumpkin Spice Protein Bars
Ingredients:
1 can white beans, rinsed
1 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 - 1 banana (mashed)
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup vanilla Shakeology
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 1/2 cup rolled oats
1 cup mix of dark chocolate chips, unsweetened coconut and craisins

Directions:
In a food processor, mix the first 6 ingredients until well combined.
Add the Shakeology, cocoa and oats. Pulse to just combined.
Add the last ingredient and pulse briefly to combine.
Spread into greased 9x13 pan.
Bake at 350 for 15 mins.
Cut into 24 small bars.
Store in airtight container for a week.  Freeze and take bars out as needed.

Moon in June - June 13th, 2015

Now that I had one post injury race under my belt, I have to admit I was getting my competitive spirit back. I was very happy with my run in May and of course, I wanted to run my next race faster :)
As soon as we finished the LeChocolat race, I registered for the Moon in June, 10 K.
This time around, our training schedule was a little different. There was 6 weeks in between races, so my running buddies and I decided to do a little speed work once a week at the local track. We did maintenance runs, long runs, cross training and speed work. Our speed work consisted of 400 meter intervals with 400 meter walks or slow jogs in between. They were tough workouts for sure!!! We were all unsure if the hard work was worth it or not...we questioned it a lot!
When we arrived on race day we found out the course had to be cut short because of flooding at the start/finish line.  It was only going to be 9.67 km instead of 10km.
I ran the first half of the race with no music, then around the 5km marker, I put my headphones in, cranked some tunes and pushed hard for the second half.
I was so happy with my time - 55:47 for 9.67km....and even if I did the math and added the distance, it would have put me around the 57:30 mark, which also makes me happy!!!
As soon as we were done...I was asking myself, OK WHAT'S NEXT :)

Le Chocolat - May 3rd, 2015

This was my first race in a year and a half.
I injured IT band and then rolled my ankle in the fall of 2013 and it took me a year to recover and even start to think about getting back into running.
I started back slow and easy at the gym on the treadmill. Just doing 10 - 15 mins at a time. Happy when I could run the entire time at a consistent pace.
When the weather finally started to break, I started to run outside more. Many people say it's easier to run on a treadmill, not for me...at all! I prefer to be outside, in nature or in a subdivision. I like to meet up with some running partners to chat or just breathe and run together.
I followed a simple 10K running plan with my running partner. Training runs during the week, a long run on the weekend and a little cross training on off days.
As I started to feel stronger as the race approached, I set myself a mental goal. I wanted to finish the run in less and 1 hour.  I would be happy with 59:59!!!
I was feeling great the morning of the race, it was an out an back starting at Walkerville Brewery in Windsor.
My official chip time was 59:13.  I was thrilled! Also thrilled with the medal and chocolate fondue at the end!!!
It was a great start back into my running!

Chocolate Shakeology PB Balls

Sometimes you just need a little chocolate fix!! I love the idea of throwing these into the freezer and taking them out when you need that chocolate quick fix!!!

Chocolate Shakeology PB Balls

8 tbsp PB2 (mixed with 4 tbsp water)

½ c. Chocolate Shakeology

½ c. rolled oats

3 tbsp natural peanut butter

3 tbsp raw honey

Mix all ingredients together. If it’s too sticky, add a little more PB2 so it’s crumbly.  Scoop out dough and roll into 1 oz balls.  Should make 12.  Throw them into the freezer before you eat too many. Take out one at a time as needed.

My Emotional Transformation

I'm a pleaser.

As I am a working mom, I've fallen into that trap of putting everyone’s needs before my own.  I'm also the oldest daughter and granddaughter and fit into all the characteristics of the first born daughter.

I have a feeling many of you can relate to being a pleaser.

I put my daughters needs first, making sure they have their homework done, their lunches are made, they are at their extracurricular activities, play with them. Ensure my hubby’s happy, his lunch is made, give him the freedom for his activities, and massage his back. I enjoy helping my family out. I make time to see them, offer to bring the casserole or other dishes. Spending time with friends, catching up  on each other’s lives, hanging out or even playing sports or doing other activities together.  My job challenges me daily. It’s demanding and there are days where I don’t take a break or lunch or even where I do some work at home. 

Don’t get me wrong –I do enjoy this.  But what I was finding was that I found myself growing bitter, resentful and even depressed.

It was especially bad over this last winter. 

In March I made the decision and was determined to turn it around.

I was doing some research on the 21 Day Fix nutrition plan when I came across BeachBody and my coach. I decided to go for it and signed up for the 21 Day Fix, Shakeology, and joined my first Challenge Group (even though I had no idea what any of that really was).

I did 2 rounds of 21 Day Fix, 2 months of Insanity Max 30 and 3 different Challenge Groups. I got incredible results with I've vulnerably shared on my blog and Facebook.  I am still a work in progress with my physical transformation.

My shifts emotionally have been equally incredible and am also still a work in progress in the department.

Each day I get up and schedule time for myself to practice my self-care.  I'm starting to re-fill my tank. Working out, feeding my body with delicious healthy foods, drinking my daily dose of dense nutrition, breathing deeply, meditating and intention setting.

I notice changes in my behaviour, outlook and reactions to my family when I'm taking care of myself vs. when I'm not.

What I want most is for my daughters to be strong, independent, confident women who are passionate and find things they love to do.  I can teach them and give them all the tools to do that, but is that really how they are going to learn? I know I NEED to model that behaviour for them. EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. No matter what.

In order for me to be those things to be that role model I desire, I require myself to take time for myself.

Am I Strong, Independent, Confident and Passionate?  YES…and NO. But I am working on it. Always trying to learn and grow.

At the end of the day, if my girls see it in me and take time for themselves to become the women they want to be, then that is all I could have hoped for.

Transformation - In Progress

This is my transformation – In Progress story (very condensed version) mile emoticon
Last summer when my youngest daughter Vaunne was 18 months old, I weighed as much as when I gave birth (I had gained 60lbs during each pregnancy). My activity level hit an all-time low. I was always pretty active, even at my heaviest weight, I ran, played baseball, beach volleyball and soccer. That summer, I was nursing a pretty bad sports injury so I was not doing anything. By the time the girls were back in school, I realized that my Caribbean vacation was right around the corner and there was no way I was going to be on the beach looking and feeling like I did. I organized a weight loss challenge at work to help keep me accountable. I got a gym membership, a Fitbit and started keeping track of every single calorie I consumed and burned. It was a full time job, but I was committed and successful. The challenged ended, I won, and went on my trip and felt pretty good. The accountability and support was over, then came the holidays and I gained back a little of the weight.
January and February were challenging times for me (the Winter Blues), I started a new routine and stopped a few times, and steadily gained back some of the weight I worked so hard to lose.
I had had enough, I was tired of how my weight was affecting my mood, my attitude with everyone. I didn’t even want to be around me and my negativity and I certainly was not acting like a very good role model for my 3 impressionable girls. I was done with ‘dieting’, I wanted and needed a complete healthy lifestyle shift.
I had heard of the 21 Day Fix through some infomercials. I started to do the research and actually started out as an amateur. I thought I could do it on my own. That didn’t last long. I reached out to a Beachbody coach. She was wonderful, she supported me and put me into my first Challenge Group! I fell in love. It was so many things…a place to learn, be held accountable, be supported and to support others, to make new friends. There is nothing like a tribe of women (and the occasional man in our group) who are supportive, like minded, really have your back and want you to succeed! The challenge groups played a tremendous role in my success along with:
• The Beachbody workouts (in my case 21 Day Fix, Insanity Max 30 and starting 21 Day Fix Extreme) are incredible. The trainers are inspiring and the workouts are laid out on a schedule which helps take the guess work of what to do and when.
• The nutrition plan on 21 Day Fix. It’s has been my saving grace. I've tried eliminating entire food groups from my diets in the past and had limited success. The balanced portion control plan helps me live a healthy balanced life…with amazingly nutritious foods and room for the occasional not so nutritious food (I am human after all).
• Shakeology. This superfood saves me on a daily basis…so I'm not skipping breakfast, missing on veggies, hitting the drive thru, eating my co-workers donuts and best of all, makes me feel like I'm having a chocolately treat!
All of this made the process simple, fun even. Getting up in the mornings was ‘less hard’ with my accountability partners, eating for fuel and occasionally for pleasure and finally taking the time to make myself a priority in my life, something my soul was craving.
The support and momentum was so inspiring to me, I knew I wanted to help other people feel as incredible as I did (as I do!). I am by no means an expert, or fitness professional, but I've been there deep in the trenches, and I could relate to how others are feeling.
I started putting myself out there on Facebook, it was scary and still is sometimes…posting this terrifies me. But if it can help to motivate or inspire one other person, it’s worth it.
They say that losing weight is rarely about losing weight. I believe that to be true. I have never pushed myself to my limits like this before, and I continue to push myself daily. I am working on my inside (attitude and outlook) through personal development just as much as I'm working on my outside through fitness and nutrition, and that has been helping me get through the challenging times.

So why am I sharing this with you today? Of course, I'm proud of myself and what I've accomplished, but more than that, I am calling out to you…I know you, trust me, I understand how you are feeling. If you don’t know where to start or looking for a sign…this is it!! All you have to do is take the first step - message me and we will get started on this awesome journey!

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