Home Made Protein Bars!

We were out grocery shopping a couple weeks ago and picked up some protein bars to try.  These were one of the healthier bars on the market with no soy!  The downside was they were expensive at almost $3.00 per bar.  So we thought "We can make these!"  It took some trial and error but I think we hit on a recipe that is pretty good!  This recipe will make about 6 bars.  You can double or triple the recipe but I found that if you do you will need to adjust the "wet" ingredients a little by adding a touch more.  Here it is!

In one bowl mix the dry ingredients:

1/2 cup Oat Flour

1/2 cup Quick Oats

1/3 cup Xylitol Sweetener

Dash of Cinnamon

1/2 cup Chocolate Protein Whey

1/8th cup Cocoa

1/4 cup crushed Almonds

In another bowl add:

1/4 cup Organic Peanut Butter

1/8th cup Almond Milk

1/8th cup Unsweetened Apple Sauce

1 Tablespoon Vanilla

Put the wet ingredients in the microwave for appox 40 seconds, then wire wisk it until you have a good consistency.

Now add this mixture to the dry ingredients.  At first it's sticky and you will think it's too dry.  Don't add anymore liquid at this time!  Keep working it (I use my hand ) until it get solid and thick.  If it is still crumbly and not sticking together simply wet your hand a little and keep kneading the batter.  Don't add liquid directly to the bowl or it will get too wet.  When it's mixed and solid put on wax paper sprayed with cooking spray and flatten out to about a 1/2 inch thick rectangle.  Set in Refrigerator for about 30 min or so until firm.  Cut into squares and enjoy!

Metabolic Training!

Started my new training program this week!   Warmed up on the treadmill running for about 15 minutes then?

4 sets of the following averaging about 1 minute each with little to no rest in between exercises.  This is a great workout to get your heart rate up and burn serious fat in a short amount of time!

Here's some links to show each of the exercises:

Kettle Ball Swing:  http://www.crossfit.com/journal/library/25_04_kettlebell_swing.pdf

Medicine Ball Slam:    http://www.bodybuilding.com/exercises/detail/view/name/overhead-slam

Boxing:  http://www.sheknows.com/health-and-wellness/articles/967107/boxing-workouts-for-women

Step Jump:  http://vimeo.com/27088787

Squat with Over Head Dumbell Press:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sstIkY-BZSs

This only took about 25 minutes to comlete but I felt every minte of it and you will too!  As you progress you can either add exercises or do more sets.

Ann

Triathlon Endurance Training

My endurance for whatever reason is down from a few months ago so I've been trying to add more metabolic training to not only burn some fat but to build up endurance.  Yesterday I had a simple but effective workout:

10 minute cardio warm-up on the elliptical machine

5 sets of the following:

2 minutes boxing

1 min wall sit

30 seconds plank

30 seconds decline situps with medicine ball

On about set 4, I started to crash/bonk.  I took a short break then decided to push through.  Good and short workut that burns a lot of fat and helps with endurance.   

Ann

Chest Workout Day!

Had a great chest workout today! Since Chris's rotator cuff surgery, I can't do normal free bar bench presses, so I have to do them on the Smith Machine.  On my 4th set I was able to hit 120 pounds!  

Ann