Personal Health Intiative Training

Posts tagged ‘femalebodybuilder’

Healthier Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Chewy Bars!!

October is here! It’s time for some new recipes! I really enjoy eating pumpkin, but it’s harder to find outside of the fall season. I purchased two cans of pumpkin last week and decided to do something with them. I made a healthier version of pumpkin bars that are easy to make and have a good amount of protein. I added chocolate chips because I just love chocolate. You could substitute the chocolate with nuts or blueberries. These are great pre or post-workout.

Pumpkin Bars

Pumpkin Bars

  • 2 scoops of chocolate protein powder
  • 1/4 cup of flaxseed meal
  • 1/2 cup of chocolate chips
  • 2 whole eggs (can substitute egg whites)
  • 2 tablespoons of coconut oil melted (or leave out for less fat)
  • 1 can of organic pumpkin
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon of baking soda
  • 1 and 1/2 cups of ground instant oatmeal
  • Enough almond milk to wet the mixture to the consistency you desire ( you can also use water)

1. Spray a square glass baking dish and preheat oven to 375 degrees.

2. Take about 2 cups of dry instant oatmeal and grind in the blender until it is the consistency of flour. Measure out 1 and 1/2 cups of the ground oats and place in a bowl. Add the baking soda and protein powder in the bowl with the oatmeal. Add the flaxseed meal. Mix.

3. In a separate bowl, mix the canned pumpkin, vanilla extract, eggs, coconut oil, and chocolate chips. You can also add in stevia if you want more sweetness.

4. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until blended well. Slowly add in the almond milk to make the mixture smoother, but it should still be a little thick.

5. Bake at 375 degrees for 30-45 minutes. Check often and make sure it doesn’t dry out too much.

6. Take out and cool.

7. Cut into 10-12 squares.

In Between

I heard a message this morning that really made me think. We get so caught up in our daily lives and trying to get the dream job, dream house, dream car, and even the dream body, that we don’t enjoy the process. I have thought about this in regards to my prep for this next show and also my career. Of course, I have big goals and positions that I would like to see myself in.  Ultimately, I want to make a career of teaching others how to make healthy lifestyle changes, not just temporary changes for a show or an event. But, I realized that I am getting so caught up in reaching the end or dreading the beginning, that I am not truly enjoying the journey.

For the next 10 weeks until my next competition, I have a plan to enjoy the journey more. Here it is outlined step-by-step.

  • Share my experience in more details by writing in this blog
  • Record training sessions of myself and my clients
  • Implement a new training style for the first six weeks (German Volume Training…more on this in a separate post)
  • Read more literature on nutrition and competition training
  • Take my cardio outside on nice days, walking outside, or running at the lake
  • Include yoga back into my routine once a week
  • Include meditation
  • Pray for more patience and strength to enjoy each day

 

Don’t ever get so consumed with the FINAL result that you forget to enjoy what it takes to get there. If you enjoy the process, the task will be less arduous and stressful in your everyday life. If you want to lose 20 lbs in 3 months, don’t just think about that last day of the 3rd month, think about what you are doing to get there. What will your workout plan involve? What new and creative exercises can you add to your regimen, and what types of creative meals can you plan. How will you be a positive influence to those around you while you are pursuing your goal? Yes, it will be hard and yes, you may slip and fall….but just keep going and please enjoy the ride!!!

“Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it.”-Greg Anderson

 

 

 

The Night Before

Its the day before the competition and I am pretty pleased with my accomplishments over the last 16 weeks. No I was not perfect, but I was consistent and I didn’t give up. I am going for gold tommorow but no matter what happens I plan to celebrate! I’ve come a long way and this show is not just about me…it’s about inspiring others who want to compete. You can do it if you have faith in yourself.

I will keep you posted!

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