Calling all Single Moms! Happy Mother's Day

So I have been kind of floundering with this blog.  I wasn't really sure which direction to go with it.  You guys seem to like my workouts and recipes but I have very inconsistent because I really didn't have any direction.  Today it hit me....

I woke up to my daughter (she is 7.5) upset because she couldn't make me breakfast in bed by herself.  For those of you who don't know me personally I am a single mother....When I say single mother I don't mean she goes with her father every other weekend and I get child support.  I mean if I am not at work my daughter is with me.  Every waking moment of everyday.... 

Back to my point... I have managed to figure out how to live a healthy lifestyle on a non existent budget and absolutely no free time so I thought I would share my ideas with you folks.  

Today I have added a healthy cookie recipe my daughter and I love to cook and a do it ANYWHERE workout for those of us that cannot afford a gym or at least one with daycare.  

Chewy Almond Butter Cookies

Ingredients

·         1 cup raw almond butter

·         1 teaspoon baking soda

·         1/4 cup honey

·         1/2 cup Enjoy Life chocolate chips

·         1 egg

Method

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees  and line a tray with non-stick baking paper.

Step 2

In a bowl, whisk all the ingredients except the chocolate chips together, then gently mix in the chocolate chips.

Step 3

Gently scoop out 1-2 tablespoons of the batter onto the tray. (The batter may be loose but it doesn't generally spread out a lot).

Step 4

Bake for 8-10 minutes or until they are slightly firm. Allow the cookies to sit on the cookie sheet for another 10 minutes after removing from the oven.

 Warm-up:
75 jumping jacks
Dynamic warm-up - 4 movements x 2 at 25 yards

Main set:
30 mountain climbers
15 burpees
3 x 5 pull-ups
15 box jumps
15 sandbag squat-throws or squats
3 x 10 crunches
3 x 10 jumping lunges
5 x 25′ bear crawl 

Hope you enjoy and check back soon for more helpful single healthy parenting ideas!  

~eat well and keep moving~

xoxo jenn

What to do on a rainy Sunday?  Well for me it started with clients to train.  Then we headed home and I got my own workout in....
100 Squats
100 Walking lunges
50 Burpees
50 Flights of stairs
100 Jumping Jacks
Then is was time for meal prep.  I made some yummy muffins for the week and asparagus, mahi mahi, sweet potato, and fruit salad.  
I split everything up into serving sizes and individually packed.  I am ready for the fist half of the week.  
Are you ready for a successful week?  Start with these delicious muffins! 

Carrot and Raisin Muffins! 

Ingredients

2 cups almond flour

2 tsp baking soda

1 tbsp cinnamon

1 tsp salt

1.4 tsp nutmeg

3 ripe bananas

1 /2 cup dates, pitted

3 eggs

1/4 cup raisins

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp white vinegar

1/4 cup coconut oil

2 cups carrots shredded

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Mix all dry ingredients together in a large bowl.

In food processor blend all the wet ingredients together.

Transfer wet mixture to the dry mixture.

Pour into paper lined muffin tins, bake for 25 minutes

Cool on wire rack

~eat well and keep moving~  xoxo jenn

Happy Monday!  Hope everyone had a fabulous weekend striving towards your goals of a healthier lifestyle!
I have decided to train for my first Triathlon!  (September)
I am very excited.  The swim will be my biggest challenge as it is something I have never done before.  My training has been tough lately.  I;m lifting heavier and my workout time has changed due to my much busier schedule.  Nothing will get in the way of my goals though.  I will push harder and set new goals to get out of my rut!
Anyone else in a rut this time of year?  The weather around here certainly doesn't help!
This yummy cookie recipe always makes me smile

Choco Chip Cookies

¾ cup rolled oats

1/2 cup gluten free flour 

½ cup vanilla or chocolate IsaLean Protein Powder

½ tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

½ cup melted coconut oil

¼ cup stevia

1 large egg

1 tsp Natural vanilla

1 cup dark chocolate chips

Mix all ingredients together bake at scoop onto cookie sheet.  Bake at 375 degrees for 11 minutes. 

Enjoy! 

Happy snow day!  Like most places this year we are once again buried in snow.  No need to hibernate though.  Sledding today was a blast and a great workout.  I also got a great does of Vitamin D out in the sun!
Just wanted to share my most recent photo shoot pics with you.  I usually do a shoot once a year to see my progress and have some fun.  These are from almost a year ago.  Can't wait to do another shoot in May.  I have made some great progress this year.
If any of you are interested in my plan shoot me an email I would be happy to get you started!

Thank you Jason Halbert LLC for more fabulous photos!  

Hey there,
How is everyone?  Long time no chat.  I have been so busy working towards my goals this year its been tough to reach out to you guys.  Hoping to get on a regular schedule really soon.  I have some fabulous new recipes and some great quicky workouts to keep you moving and burning those calories.  I'm going to add in some stretching routines too.... I don't know about your guys but I don't stretch nearly enough.

Here's a quick HIIT Workout and a yummy recipe for these FREEZING winter nights!

30 seconds of burpees
30 seconds of recovery
15 second sprint
30 seconds of recovery

(Repeat 2 - 4 times)

Then,
10-30 crunches
Jog 1-2 miles

Stretch

Apricot-and-Cinnamon-Glazed Pork with Roasted Vegetables

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Mist a baking sheet with cooking spray; arrange 1 cup quartered brussels sprouts and 1 cup quartered fingerling potatoes in a single layer on sheet. Mist with cooking spray, season with salt and pepper, and bake for 30 minutes, flipping halfway through. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add 4 ounces lean pork tenderloin and cook for 3 to 4 minutes a side, or until internal temperature reaches 145 degrees. Whisk together 2 tablespoons 100 percent fruit apricot preserves, 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar, and 2 teaspoons cinnamon. Coat pork with apricot mixture and cook for 2 minutes more

I'm going to tell you something you have all heard before but it is so true and very important.

If you don't take care of yourself you cannot take care of anyone else.  

I am a single mom and my daughter is my first priority but I have learned if I don't make time for me I am no good to anyone else.
I work full time and still make sure I work out 6 days a week.  It can be done.  It's about prioritizing.  I SCHEDULE my workouts in my appointment book everyday and I don't break the appointment.  Lose the guilt of feeling like you should be doing something for someone else and schedule 1 hour a day for you!
Give it a try you will feel the difference.

How is everyone doing on their New Years Resolutions?  I am doing OK but still a work in progress with a lot of work to go.
My work outs are right on track.  I'm not blogging as much as I would like and I am not tracking my Macro Nutrients.
My goal this week was to track my macros everyday....I didn't!
I have started tracking them today and I will continue until my next contest in about 15 weeks!

I have kept my exercise interesting by adding activities other then the gym.  I went skiing last week and this week I tries Rock Climbing.  It was an absolute blast and a great workout.
I'm making sure to surround myself with people that support me, my goals and my life style.  If makes life a lot more FUN!

This week I think I will try CrossFit.  I'll let you know how it goes...

~eat well and keep moving~
xoxo jenn