Protein Power Balls

As my boys get older and my waistline shrinks, I'm finding it increasingly important to make sure that I have nutritious and delicious snacks on hand all the time.

As I was scrolling through Facebook a few weeks ago, I saw an attractive woman with shapely arms and a fit body stirring something and doing a live feed.  I always marvel at how brave people who do live feeds are, so my interest was already piqued - but add to that fit arms and food, and I was a sure click.

It turns out she was making snacks for herself and her children, and as I clicked in to the live feed, she was talking about how nutritious these little balls were.  I saw she had assembled oatmeal, honey, peanut butter and some other things on the counter, and I thought, "Hey, I like those ingredients, and actually have them on hand!" and ended up watching the whole thing.

Basically, she "measured" some peanut butter into the bowl, plopped in some honey, added protein powder, cacao nibs and oatmeal and showed off her buff arms by muscling the mixture into a form you could shape into balls and then freeze.  It took her less than five minutes, minus all the talking!  The whole live feed was less than 12 minutes and in that time, I got a recipe and inspiration.  Win-win!  The boys, especially Tristan, love these balls, and so do I.  I guarantee you'll love them, too - let me know about your experience in the comments!

PROTEIN POWER BALLS

Ingredients

1 c / peanut butter

½ c / honey

2 tbsp / protein powder

½ c / cacao nibs or 100% dark chocolate morsels

3 c / dry oats

2 tbsp – ½ c / water

Directions

Stir together first three ingredients. 

Add nibs or morsels and combine. 

Add oatmeal and enough water to mix well. Dough should be firm.

Make balls as big or small as you want and store them in the freezer or fridge!

Mood Booster Smoothie of the Day

Today, I'm going to soothe, boost and mood-regulate you.

In my twenties and early thirties, I only thought of fitness as something that I did with my body, through love of the sport and sheer force of will.

After children and into my forties, fitness became the straw you grasp and can't quite reach.  I used the tool, but only months at a time.  I found that my forties were when all my accumulated bad habits could no longer be spot-cleaned or hidden.

When you are not fit, it is not just your body that is in need of help - it is your mind and your spirit, too.  In fact, I would say that it is your spirit first that is in need of soothing and boosting. 

We soothe and boost the spirit through our mind, and we nurture our mind through our body.

So to that end, let's add a little dark chocolate to our smoothie love today!

Raw, dark cacao is so good for you, just take a gander at this little (not all-inclusive!) list and see if you're convinced to give it a try.

5 Benefits of Raw Organic Cacao

• 40 Times the Antioxidants of Blueberries.
• Highest Plant-Based Source of Iron.
• Full of Magnesium for a Healthy Heart & Brain.
• More Calcium Than Cow's Milk.
• A Natural Mood Elevator and Anti-Depressant. 

Just a tablespoon or two and you've given your mind and your spirit a leg up for the day, and as we all know, building good habits is easier when your mind is positive, your spirit is soaring, and your body is the work of art in action that it should be.

So for this smoothie, I used two bananas, the LivFit Superfood blend, almond coconut milk and a tablespoon of Hershey's 100% dark cacao.

Blend it, drink it, and pay attention to what your body then gives your mind, and how this boosts your spirit.

With a nurtured spirit, you get a positive mind.  With a positive mind you can and you will build the best body of your life.

As you go through your day, try to think about that spirit, mind, body connection, and build from the ground up.

Stay positive, and be the best you of your life, today!

Mango, Banana and Coconut Milk Smoothie

Mangoes are cheap this time of year, and our family loves them, so whenever I want to switch up my smoothie routine, I reach for a lovely mango to complement my banana staple.

If you don't know how to cut a mango, check out Martha Stewart's easy-peasy one-minute tutorial.  You will not believe how easy it is, and you will no longer pass by these lovely delicious treats because they intimidate you.  You will best the mango!

http://www.marthastewart.com/967631/how-cut-mango

 Super simple, right?  Place all your mango in your Bullet, or whatever mangler you've got on your kitchen counter, add your coconut milk, and whir!

 Your end result will be good for you, delicious and eye-appealing, too.  Mango makes things rich and thick, so you will have to adjust your liquid to your liking.

Enjoy, and as always, moving your body and sweating your butt off should be a priority and goal every single day of your life.

As my grandfather used to say, "Use it or lose it!"

Just Because It Looks Gross, Doesn't Mean it Can't be Delicious

My smoothie today is so delicious, that I had to write about it before I exercise.

But it doesn't look delicious.

I told you about spirulina last time, but I didn't tell you expressly that it changes the color of everything into this shade of lovely green.

While it doesn't bother me, I'm 45 - I've taught myself not to be influenced by the unappealing look of some foods, but most people and kids don't.  In the case of spirulina, this would be a huge loss.

Three dates, a couple of tablespoons of hemp seeds, teaspoon of spirulina, two bananas and vanilla coconut milk?

You'll think you're drinking a coconutmilkshake, I swear to God.  It is so good, it's like a dessert.

I'm going to finish mine and hit my home gym for a cardio sculpt session with the gals at The Firm.

Join me today, and leave your comments below how you did!

Tighten up!