Book Review: Reshaping it All

I got two books for Christmas this year, and the first one I decided to read was Reshaping it All by Candace Cameron Bure.  I honestly just didn't feel like typing a review about it.  So I made a vlog for you all!

I may actually try to do book reviews like this in the New Year.  I felt like I was able to share more, and it was easy to do pretty much right after I finished reading the book.  This way, I don't seem to forget all of the brilliant things that I want to say about the book because I don't have time to write a post.  This was quick and easy!

I've decided to share this book with one of you!  I loved it, but to me, it's not one of those re-readable books.  Please remember, as I said in the video, my mom had a hard time finding this for me for Christmas.  So the book is large print, and it used to belong to a library somewhere.  But whatever, a book is a book, right?!   So anyway, please enter to win! :)

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Blueberry Spinach Smoothie

I can't even begin to tell you how long Scott and I have had frozen blueberries in the freezer.  When Scott and I went shopping at Sam's Club a couple of weeks ago, I decided to pick up some fresh spinach.  It's a pretty large tub.  I like to toss it in with some zucchini and spaghetti sauce to use with pasta.

Mmmm....

Sorry.  I'm back.

I decided to try to find some blueberry spinach smoothie recipes.  Of course, I turned to Pinterest.  At first, I was looking for ones without yogurt since I don't keep it here in the house (because I don't like to eat it).  But then I broke down and picked up a tub of vanilla yogurt to try this recipe.

Blueberry Spinach Smoothie
Ingredients

• 3/4 c. frozen blueberries
• half of a banana*
• 1/2 c. spinach
• 1/4 c. yogurt
• 4 oz (1/2 c.) nonfat milk
• 1.5 tsp. honey
• 1 T flax seed
• 2 ice cubes

*My banana happened to be VERY ripe, but it doesn't have to be.  This was just another great excuse to use up over ripe bananas.  It probably also added a bit more sweetness than a less ripe banana.

Toss ingredients in a blender, and blend until well mixed.

Serves 1, serving size: approx. 1.5 cups

Calories: 271

Protein: 9.5g

We have a Magic Bullet-type blender with single serving cups.  This fit perfectly, and it's extra great because then I can just drink it out of the cup it's made in.  This was definitely quite yummy!  (You can trust me.  I'm super picky about healthy things, and the fact that I like this is a good sign!)  You can check out the original recipe here.  (I halved the recipe, and made a couple of changes.)

Enjoy!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars

At the beginning of July, I shared that Scott and I broke down and joined a gym.  It was just something that we knew we needed to do to take care of ourselves.  We've tried at home workouts, but the problem is that for us, working out at home is just not motivating enough...or totally inconveniences someone when someone else gets up at 4 AM to hop around to Insanity while you're trying to sleep until 6.....

Anyway.

Having to pay for something is a pretty big motivator to get out of the house and go.  Scott told me the other day that he's tired of protein shakes, and he asked me to find some recipes for protein bars or muffins or some kind of snack to have after a work out.

And behold, the Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars were born.  The original recipe made peanut butter protein bars using vanilla protein powder.  Our local grocery store doesn't even sell protein powder, so while I was there picking up ingredients the other day, I figured that you can't go wrong with chocolate and peanut butter.  So I just decided to use the chocolate protein powder we had on hand.

Ingredients

• 1/2 c. nonfat milk
• 1 c. Jif Extra Crunchy Peanut Butter
• 3 T honey
• 1 1/2 c. 100% Whey Protein Powder- Chocolate
• 2 c. regular oats (not quick cook)

1. Line a 9 x 13 baking pan with wax paper and spray with non-stick cooking spray.

2. Add milk, peanut butter, and honey to a sauce pan.

3. Over medium heat, stir milk, peanut butter, and honey until well combined.

4. Remove from heat and stir in chocolate protein powder.

5. Then stir in the oats.

6. Until it is all combined (and yes, this takes a little elbow grease!).

7. Transfer the mixture onto your wax paper-lined baking pan, and pat down.  (This is a super sticky and messy process, but it was pretty fun!)

8.  If you're a perfectionist like me, grab a spatula, spray it with a little cooking spray, and use it to form this into a more rectangular shape with a smooth top.  This will also help to make the bars more uniform in thickness.

9.  Allow the mixture to cool completely, and then cut into bars.

This was SOOOO easy!  It was incredibly similar to making no-bake cookies, but there was no butter, and no added sugar.  Even better--they TASTE like a no-bake cookie!  In my book, a healthy treat that tastes like something unhealthy is an absolute WIN in my book.

Because I am watching my calorie in-take, and Scott wanted a snack that was pretty close to 20g of protein, I did some math (ugh), and figured out the calories and protein for cutting these into 8 bars or 12.  I decided to cut my rectangle into thirds, and then each of those into fourths to make 12 bars, but if you want a slightly longer bar, just cut it in half and then into fourths.

For 8 Bars: 398 calories, 27.5g protein

For 12 Bars: 266 calories, 18.3g protein

While I was browsing for protein snacks, I also found some meals that were packed with protein.  Stay tuned for another recipe soon! :)

So here I go...

If you've been around here for awhile, you know that Scott and I started Insanity in March.  We did really well, and we almost made it to the end of the 2nd month.  We only had 4 workouts left during my last week of school, and Scott spoke these famous last words, "Let's take a break."

That break turned into ALL summer.  The time of year where I actually have all the time in the world to exercise.  We turned into big wastes of space.

BUT we've started back up again. 

I think the hardest thing about the Insanity workout is that it's supposed to be 6 days a week with a day off.  Sometimes that's just a) exhausting or b) not possible.  For example, if I have to go do a party for Celebrating Home after work, I don't have time to work out before I go.  And it's usually too late to work out when I get home.  And I'm sorry, friends, I am NOT a morning person.  So getting up before work is out of the question. 

The plan this time is to make sure we're working out 2, 3, or maybe 4 times a week.  I am going to my workout class on Wednesdays after work (we call it "Get Moving" since the person in charge isn't certified in Zumba).  It's so much fun, and I don't feel like I'm working out.  So if Scott works out that day, I'll pick up with him on the next video on Thursday.  You see?  We just ordered Hip Hop Abs, too!  That will be fun! :)

I don't like feeling bad because I'm super tired, or I don't have time for the workout.  I think, though, that as we work out more, we'll miss less.

I also started using My Fitness Pal.  My username is rebeckann2.  (IF you know how to find people that way...I don't.) 

This is from Sunday 10/13.

I like that I have a goal for calorie intake.  I have NO clue how many calories I consume each day.  I look forward to seeing some progress. 

What are your fitness goals?