Good-bye 2012

I had a WONDERFUL 2012 and yes it did make me laugh and cry.  

Tears of joy and some of sorrow,

it's a brand New Year we start tomorrow.

So let it bring joy, let it bring cheer, 

keep yourself strong, and you will have nothing to fear.

Stay Strong!  

Train Hard.  Eat Clean.

I am spending a quiet night at home LEGO building, eating, painting my daughter’s nails, she is doing my hair and we are watching the movie, Dark Shadows starring Johnny Depp...waiting for 2013.  To All of you that have already welcomed 2013…Happy New Year!!!!

No alcohol for me tonight, I have a 5K race to run tomorrow.  I picked up my kit earlier today and I will be number 735.  I also picked up a new hat for running.  One that will keep my ears warm and all my hair tamed in a pony tail out the back of it.  I feel like I am wearing a swim cap.

I must admit, I have been a bit of an outdoor running wimp these last few weeks, so I hope that I will be up for the 5K tomorrow.  At least I have the gear for it...well...unless a winter storm kicks up over night and the in the morning.  Then...I will cry.  LOL

Have a great night tonight and Happy New Year to YOU!!!!

I will talk to you again next year…tomorrow.  LOL

Until then…Stay Strong!

Good night

Trina

I’m Still Here…I Hope You Are Too

It’s been a while since I have posted anything…just over a week to be exact.

A Little Bit of Back Tracking Through the Holidays...

We did our Christmas grocery shopping last Saturday and finished up any last minute gift shopping that day as well.  Oh that’s right…I left off by telling you on the Friday, that I was going to get a manicure and pedicure on this day, Saturday December 21^st.  And I did.  It was so relaxing.  I love my family dearly but it’s was nice to have some time to myself.  Early that morning I took my son for a hair cut and then dropped him off at home and headed out to shop and then to relax.  I ran into a friend that I have seen in a while and we chatted while having our feet pampered.  She’s off in Jamaica right now soaking up the sun, while I’m here getting ready to go shovel the snow. 

It has been a crazy busy and yet sometimes lazy holiday.  It has been a great holiday with my family.  Spending time with them and CLEANING up after all the Christmas presents were opened.  Oh the toys, toys, toys, TOYS!  Even though Santa brought toys to my children, that didn’t stop them from spending the money they got for Christmas on more TOYS!  Our home has been a disaster zone of toys, clothes and other stuff since last Monday. 

You see…we went to my parent’s home on Sunday December 23^rd to celebrate Christmas with my family.  And that is when the toys started to roll in.  When we returned home that evening, my kids should have gone to bed but they decided to pull out all their gifts and started to play with them instead of going to bed.  Yes I should have put my foot down and send them to bed, but we were on HOLIDAYS!!!!  And that is when the mess all started.  And it has been a mess ever since. 

The toys that came into the house included, LEGO and Lalaloopsy.  Yes the LEGO clean is back on again.  All those sets that I had put together about a month ago have since been broken again and the sorting was a mess once again.  So over this holiday time, I have been busy again trying to sort and rebuild ALL the LEGO set that my son has.  My daughter also got some LEGO for Christmas.  Her and I sat down on Christmas day and built it together.  She did a great job building it herself; I was only there for support.  That’s good, because she is getting another set for her birthday in February.  While I was out Christmas shopping for her this year, I also picked up some of her birthday presents.  They are already wrapped and put away…now I just have to remember where I put them.  But I have YOU to remind me where I hid them.  So if come February 7^th or the night before and I don’t know where her birthday presents are, I will ask you…I have them in the closet in my sewing room.  LOL

So getting back to the Holidays…on Christmas Eve it was LEGO building time again.  Later that day we met up with friends at the pub for some Christmas cheer.  Well my husband had the beer and the kids and I were the Cheer.  My daughter had our friends playing Telephone in the pub.  We had a great time with even greater friends.  The kids had had enough and my husband had enough beer…he was cooking our Christmas dinner the next day, so it was time for us to go.  The kids were excited for Santa Claus visit in the night.  As soon as we got home they remembered they had to leave the milk and cookies out for Santa and sprinkle the reindeer food in the backyard.

The tree was lit, the milk and cookies were out, and the stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there.  Oh yeah, the kids were all nestled and snug in their beds…OR so I thought…

After putting the kids to bed, I went downstairs to do some last minute wrapping and organizing of gifts.  I put some gifts under the tree and then went upstairs to find my son still awake watching a movie with my husband.  I think he was too excited to sleep.  I put him to bed, and waited about 30 minutes before proceeding with the rest of the Christmas delivery.

Santa had come and gone and it was off to bed…

On Christmas morning I was up at 7:00am and was working out at 7:15am.  That’s right I kept to my workouts.  I thought if the kids wake up before I am done, I would stop and open presents.  They didn’t wake, and I got my workout done.  My husband was up too having a cup of tea.  After I showered and got dressed, I joined my husband and had a cup of tea.  We sat in our living room waiting for our son and daughter to wake up on Christmas morning.  Well we waited and waited and waited…

Believe it or not, they slept till 9am.  I heard my son up first and he said to his sister, “Wake up it’s Christmas morning”.  I heard another set of feet stomping around upstairs and then it was GO time.  My son came down the stairs first…followed by our little girl...

It was time to open some presents and being thankful for EVERYTHING.

It was so nice to see them getting along like that.  If only everyday was like Christmas.

Christmas dinner was great, thanks to my husband.  The day was fantastic!

My workouts in the last couple days has been shoveling snow and cleaning.  We finally got some snow in Waterloo.  I got a gorgeous The North Face parka from my husband for Christmas, so shoveling snow is so much more comfortable this winter. 

My days through this time off have been filled with family fun, shopping, #LEGO building, watching the third season of GLEE and listening to #Justin Bieber.  My son likes the song “Beauty and a Beat”, so Santa brought my son Justin’s new CD.  My son made up his own lyrics to the song.  They go something like this… “All I need…is mummy and daddy…to make my life complete”.  LOVE IT!  So cute. 

Here are a few pictures of our hard work of LEGO rebuilding...

It might not look like it was hard work, but when all the pieces are mixed together...it is very time consuming.

There are a few sets not shown and a few sets that still need rebuilding.

I took a break from blogging, logging (MFP) and eased up on Facebook and Intsagram too.   The New Year will bring on new posts and new workouts too.  I hardly took any pictures over Christmas, which is sad, but I guess I just needed a break from everything.  The New Year is just around the corner and a fresh start to everything.  Since my workouts have been continuing, that will not be one of my New Year’s resolutions.  Organization is KEY for my 2013.  Yes…continuing on with my journey to A Healthier Version of ME will always be THE most important thing in my life, because it is my life.  I will be looking for more events to enter into and will be reviewing some products and working on some other projects throughout 2013.

Until then…Stay Strong!

Good night

Trina  

Sponge Toffee and Snowflakes

This is what I was up to yesterday and today…

Thursday began with Workout 1 and then went into baking up a storm.  Cooking, melting and coating are more like it. 

This may not be the most healthy sounding and looking post.  I made Chocolate Covered Sponge Toffee to go along with the Dark Chocolate Coconut Bars I made on Wednesday.  YUM!  Too many of these YUMs will go straight to my BUM, and make me feel like CRUM.  However, I have CLEANed UP these tasty treats so that they are not as bad as they could be.

Here are some pictures of the sinful yet a CLEANed UP version of these treats…

This first picture is of the coconut palm sugar and the honey cooking.

The second picture is the sponge toffee setting up.

After the sponge toffee set up, I broke it into bite size pieces to then be enrobed in dark chocolate. 

The outside coated with Dark Chocolate...The inside...oh so sinful.

Here are the Coconut Bars

These are really good!

I packed them up for teacher’s gifts and some for all the daycare families, our friends, to enjoy over the holidays.

Moving onto to Friday, today...

Welcome to Fabulous Fit Friday!  I just want to say that “I’m glad the world did not end today, because I made an appointment the other day to finally get my nails done tomorrow”.  It’s been awhile since I had a proper manicure and pedicure.  Lately I have been pampered by my little girl.  She enjoys painting my nails, fingers and toes.  But I am getting a French mani and pedi, and I think that would be a bit too much to ask of my 4 year old to do.  Don’t you?  LOL

I started my Friday off with @RitaCatolino’s Glorious Glutes workout.  I didn't get my abs workout done but I will do it tomorrow along with some cardio.

I think it was yesterday that I saw something on Facebook about making snowflakes and sending them to Sandy Hook Elementary School for the children to hang in their new school.  So today I started making some snowflakes.  It didn’t start off so well so I Googled, “How to make a snowflake?”  I watched a YouTube video and I was off…

Folding, cutting and unfolding…

I still need to press them, place them carefully in an envelope and send them to the:

Connecticut PTA

60 Connolly Parkway, Building 12 Suite 103

Hamden, CT 06514

More information is on thehttp://www.facebook.com/pages/Snowflakes-For-Sandy-Hook/310968865680538?fref=ts Facebook Page

So this is what I have been busy at tonight.  It cold and windy outside, but it’s now snowing INSIDE my home, snowing with the beautiful snowflakes that I have made.

These are just a few I made.

 

I’m going to wrap this post up now and I will write again tomorrow and show off my finger and toe nails.

Until then…Stay Strong!

Good night

Trina              

Quick Recap of…Tighten Up Tuesday and Today

Tuesday...

I knew that I could sleep in a little bit this morning as my kids did not have school today due to the one day teachers strike.  SO…

…my husband tried to wake me up at 5:20am; I rolled over and went back to sleep, only to be woken up by my alarm at 5:30am.  I stayed in bed until 6am.  I was up and ready to work the back of my body.

I decided to stick with Body Revolution, and I chose Workout 6 for today’s workout.  It again is one of my favourites.  With this workout combined with Jillian’s Killer Abs Level 3, I can feel the muscles building in my butt.

This day, Tuesday is a short post because I was spending more time with my family after we went to the bank to renew our mortgage tonight.  At bed time my son wanted to know what a mortgage is.  Boy oh boy, explaining what a mortgage is to a tired 7 year old…it was quite interesting.  When we were at the bank, he was worried that we were going to move.  I guess he was catching bits and pieces of the conversation that was going on and he asked me what was going on.  I tried to explain quietly, but I guess that wasn't enough for him, so we talked about it at bed time.  I guess he was satisfied once I told him that we were NOT moving because he rolled over and went to sleep.  I went to bed shortly after.

Wednesday…

Today I became a sweaty mess after completing Level 3 of Killer Abs.  

Well then I was bawling this morning.

I think I enjoyed it more today than I did on Monday.  Probably because I knew what was coming up.  The One Legged Burpees with a Push Up sound worse than they actually are.  In this level I have modified some of the moves.  Like the Bear move…I don’t do the lifting of the hands.  I jump with the feet but not the hands.  I have mentioned in post from the past that I have had wrist problems in the past, so I don’t like to do any plyo moves landing on the hands.  In level 3, Jillian also does Clapping Mountain Climbers; I just do regular Mountain Climbers instead.  Even though I modify some of the moves, I am still working hard.  I work out hard…I work out safe. 

I mentioned in the recap of yesterday that my butt is getting a real workout from the combination of these workouts that I am doing right now.  Well…I can really feel it in my backside today.  

That's not my butt in the picture...not yet anyways.

All my hard work is making me feel strong again after battling with an ongoing cold from the start of the fall season.  I tired of having a stuffy nose, sneezing fits and headaches.  We welcome the first day of winter on Friday, and I hope that this winter holds good health and happiness for me and to you too. 

The last couple days I have been doing some Christmas baking, and with baking comes sampling to see if it’s good enough to others.  So I have had some treats that I would not normally eat.  I have fallen off track a bit with logging my food on www.MyFitnessPal.com but that doesn't mean I am totally off track.  Over the next week and a half my food logging may still be hit and miss, but I will still be logging in my workouts.  It’s nice to take a break from logging everything ALL the time.  I have logged into MFP over 540 days (I think that was the last count update, or close to it).  And for most of those days, I have logged ALL my food.  So this is my little vacation.

Speaking of food and foods that I should not really be eating…I will tell you what I made today.

Coconut Bars - CLEAN

Sponge Toffee - CLEAN

Sugar Cookies – CLEAN

Well as CLEAN as you can make the above 3 goodies.

I will have some pictures hopefully tomorrow.  I am making up some gifts for my children’s teachers and I thought I would make goodies that may look NAUGHTY, but really they are NICE.  Nice and healthy, or at least a healthier version. 

Ingredients used in my recipes include…

Coconut oil, butter, honey, coconut palm sugar, organic cane sugar, whole wheat flour, spices, dark chocolate, vanilla

These are all ingredients that can be pronounced with ease.  It’s not like you need a dictionary to find the meaning of any of them or figure out how to pronounce them.  I ran out of coconut oil, so I had to use some butter for the sugar cookies.  But again, butter is easy to say and it IS natural, unlike margarine. 

Tonight I had to run out and get some more coconut palm sugar.  I was in the Bulk Barn and I was standing at the sugar bins and I was contemplating on trying Xylitol.  I Googled it and read a bit about it before making my decision.  My decision was made when it came to the part about it having a laxative effect.  Ah…no thank you.  I don’t want to give a gift that is going to send people running for the bathroom.  Now for that to happen though, people would have to take in high quantities of the food containing Xylitol.  With the goodies that I am making, that is quite possible.  (It also depends on each individual too).  I promise I will post pictures of these goodies tomorrow.  If my kid's teachers are reading this post tonight, sorry to ruin the surprise.  But just know this, you are getting some healthier versions of sinfully delicious treats.

Well it is getting late and I am ready for my bed.  I will get back to posting more food pictures soon.  I will also have some more recipes again too.

Thanks for reading and I will talk to you again tomorrow.

Until then…Stay Strong!

Good night

Trina

I would rather feel sore tomorrow. 

What about YOU?

Motivated Monday with Level 3 Killer Abs

Well I wasn't so motivated at 5:30am this morning, with my son having a bad dream last night and my daughter in our bed again, I was not wanting to budge from my cozy bed.  But...I did get up at 6:15am and had just enough time to get in Workout 1 of Body Revolution.  I didn't have enough time to do my Killer Abs workout though, so I got it done this afternoon during daycare nap time. 

I know I said I was going to start Level 3 this coming Wednesday, but I was curious to see what this level had in store for me.  It’s a good one.  There are so many great moves in this level, and SO many throughout the entire workout.  In Level 3, there are a lot more leg moves, such as different variations of Mountain Climbers.  It felt more like I was working legs in this one, but with the moves that were done; they all really work the core.  Rather than just lying on your back doing crunches all the time, Jillian shows you other moves that will give you Killer Abs. 

The reason that I did not write a post yesterday is because I was spending time with my family.  After the terrible occurrence that took place on Friday at the elementary school in Connecticut, I just wanted to be with my kids and spend quality time with them.  Hugging them and kissing them and loving them so. 

Today was great!  When my kids got off the school bus, they both ran to me and gave me a great big hug.  I was happy to have them home with me.  It also makes me very sad though that I CAN feel this way while the parents of those little children can not.  It just doesn't seem fair.  To those parents…know that the world is thinking of you through this most difficult time.  You must Stay Strong for the rest of your family members.  To all the teachers that protected the children…you are heroes.

I would like to thank the teachers of my children…Thank you for keeping my precious children safe each and every day at school.  Thank you for teaching them how to read and write.  Thank you for everything you do for them.  I am grateful to you.

No food pictures today…No quotes.  I will leave you with this…

 Please...Remember them all.

Send love and warm thoughts to those they left behind.

Stay Strong!

Good night

Trina

Spending Time with My Family

Early morning Christmas shopping.  The rest of the day spent with my family.

It was a good day!

I did take today as my Rest Day so tomorrow I will spin.

Until then...Stay Strong!

Good night

Trina

A Very Sad Day for All...Hug Your Loved Ones

I went out to do some Christmas shopping tonight…but I just wasn't in the mood, the reason to follow.  I don’t find Christmas shopping that stressful.  In my family we don’t buy for EVERYBODY, I would need to work 24/7 if I had to do that.  Getting together with family is SO much more important then gifts.

With that said…Today that holds SO very true.  Today in Newtown Connecticut a terrible tragedy occurred (I’m sure you are all aware of).  There was a shooting in a school, an elementary school grades Kindergarten to grade 4, children ages 5 to 10 years.  As a result 26 died, 20 of that number were children.  It’s SO very sad.

I cried when I read the reports and the information that came through over the Internet.  I saw a picture of a woman hugging a boy and I lost it.  He reminded me of my son.  I was thinking of him as he was at his school at the time, and I could not hug him.  I grabbed my daughter and squeezed her tight; she wriggled away from me and wondered why Mummy was crying.  I tried to explain, but she just wanted to go and play.

It has been a very emotional afternoon for me.  When my son got off the school bus today, I gave him a cuddle and then really hugged him once we got back home.  There are no words that could comfort those parents and families who are mourning the loss of their precious children.  To say that time will heal their wounds, I don’t know.  I don’t know if I could ever get over a tragedy like this.  Yes I have been saying…”Stay Strong!” for all occasions and situations…well this one is probably the hardest and most unfortunate of them all.  But TRY, if not today, TRY in the days, weeks, months and years to come…Stay Strong!  I am thinking of all those affected by this horrible event and send them positive thoughts, love and hugs. 

Hug your loved ones and never part being angry with one another.  Today has proved that life is too short.  Spend quality time with your family and friends, and cherish every moment.

I would like to apologize for my chosen workouts this morning.  I was up early and did not know what this day had in store for some dear people in this world. 

I began with Jillian Michaels’ Killer Buns and Thighs.  After the 40 minute A$$ whooping, I finished off with her Killer Abs workout Level 2.

I woke up before my alarm went off this morning and was out of bed by 5:28am.  Since KB&T is a bit longer, I knew I had to get moving.  I had this planned out last night.  I thought if I slept in, I would fit one of the workouts in later in the day.  But I think deep down inside I knew I NEEDED to get them done this morning.  And I DID!

Killer Buns & Thighs Level 1…I believe the first circuit of 4 is the toughest.  No weights used unless you want to push the UP button (I did not)…it was tough enough without weights.  Jillian kills you with the Sumo Squat Calf Raises, followed by Sumo Jumps, followed by Chair Pose while lifting one foot off the Floor…OUCH!  My quads were screaming.  There are more moves than these in the first circuit, but these are the ones that I remember causing pain.  Pain yes, but in the best possible way of course.  “If it doesn't challenge you, it won’t change you”.  Well things are going to change in me then, because this most definitely challenged me this morning.

Since there isn't much in the way of Biceps with this workout, while we did the Dead Lifts, I used 10 lb dumbbells and at the top I did a Bicep Curl.  Next time I think I will UP the weights to 15’s.  I will definitely needs some heavier dumbbells in 2013.  

Today’s food…

Breakfast: Full of Goodness Bar/Chocolate Hemp Protein Mug Cake with Blackberries

Well I ate the Full of Goodness Bar but only tasted the mug cake.  I waited too long to eat it and it was way too dry.  I did eat the blackberries though.  

Snack: Pistachios

Lunch: Head Lettuce, 2 Hard Boiled Eggs and Thin Crust Mushroom Pizza

The pizza was leftover from the other day and I ate it cold while I was making the kids lunch today.

Snack: Pistachios

I told you they were addictive.

Tomorrow I will be getting back to some cardio, but first I have to go out early in the morning, so hopefully I will get it done after I get back home. 

Until then…Stay Strong!

Good night and hugs to you all.

Trina

In loving memory of all those lost today.

December 14, 2012

HOLY Triceps!

Today I chose to do Jillian's Workout 5 from Body Revolution.  HOLY Triceps!!!!

I can never remember what the exact moves are in each of the Body Revolution Workouts, so when I was choosing a workout to do this morning, I knew that it would be “Chest, Shoulders, Triceps with a little bit of Abs”, as Jillian says.  But I forgot HOW MUCH Triceps in this one.  She really works them in Workout 5.  I like the element of surprise, so with not being able to remember…it’s just like Christmas everyday, only without the turkey dinner.  Not that there’s anything wrong with turkey.  It’s the stuffing and the other not-so-good fixings.

Jillian nails the Triceps with super sets of Chest, Shoulders and TRICEPS…followed by Chest, Shoulders, TRICEPS.  I find that the T’s really take a kicking, more so than the others.   The Abs, not so much.  But that’s okay because I am taking care of those again tomorrow with Killer Abs.

I am fighting off yet another cough/cold.  I am not letting this one get to me, I am fighting my way through it.  I am eating right and working out hard.  I am getting a little more rest than I did a few months back.  I am drinking lots and lots of water.  That is a key thing for me this time around.  I drank about 12 cups of water well before noon today.  I find I always drink more in the morning than I do in the afternoon.  I seem to slow down, but that's okay because then I won't be waking up in the night to go to the bathroom.  My total water intake for today was about 18-20 cups.  I had a cup that I was drinking from and then my kids got at it, so I drank somewhere between 18-20 cups.  I feel my body getting flushed out, and it feels great.

Short post tonight.  I had to go out and do some running around…NO not on foot, but rather in the car.   I will get back to running again soon.  I had a few Christmas things to do and I have run out of time.

One great thing that happened today…I got my spin bikes fixed up and tuned up.  One of them has been down for a while and the other two just needed a check up.  Now I have 3 bikes that are in top shape and ready to go for a SPIN.  Thanks Mike!  http://www.facebook.com/pages/MY-Fitness-Repair-Services/105642556137608

Spinning, running, abs, glutes, spinning, running, abs, glutes…Oh yeah!  Look out 2013…I’m ready for you!  But I’m not waiting for you.  I will not be a Resolution Baby.  I am a REVOLUTION, BABY!

I will end 2012 on a high note and start 2013 even higher.  Bring it!

The only food of today that I will share with you quick is...
Lunch: Salmon Burger on a Lettuce Bun

Instead of using a bun for my salmon burger, I used layers of head lettuce.

So good!

After a good night sleep tonight, I will be hitting the back of the body again tomorrow along with some Killer Abs.   

Until then…Stay Strong!

Good night

Trina

Killer Abs + Spin = A Killer Combo

Today's workout...Killer Abs Level 2 + Spin

This is SO true!

LOL

Maybe I will make myself one...just kidding.

This morning I rocked the second level of Jillian's Killer Abs Workout.  The one move in this one that I have to work on, is the Side Plank Angels...I think that's what she calls them.  I can do some of them on both sides, but not all of them YET.  I seem to fall all over the place when I'm doing them.  It's the whole lifting the leg thing.  I have no problem doing Side Planks/Side Plank Dips...it's just when I have to lift that upper leg that I start to lose my balance.  I will get it though.  It's ALL progress...Never give up!

In this level there are a few different versions of Push Ups to help work your core.  Jillian does give you options, so don't shy away if you are not a fan of Push Ups.  You will get through them.  Concentrate on your core and keeping it tight, and you will ROCK them.

I paired this Killer workout with my favourite cardio...Spinning.  I only had time to do a shorter spin session today, but I killed it.  I belong in the saddle and will be getting back it again sooner rather than later.  

I had some time this afternoon to start on a new dress for my little girl for Christmas...

Taking some down time this afternoon allowed me to work on this dress.  I have been wanting to make something up out of this fabric for the longest time.  It is going to ROCK this Christmas!

Sparkles, Skulls and Stars VS Santa Claus...LOL

She is going to look lovely in this.  I will post a picture when I have it done.

I am feeling yesterday's Glorious Glutes workout.  I am sure that I will be feeling it tomorrow after today's spin.  It's a good thing that I will be working the front of the body tomorrow.  It will give my back, glutes and hams a break.  

I am going to rest up now and get ready for tomorrow.

Until then...Stay Strong!

Good night

Trina

Glorious Glutes Kind of Day

It was a glorious Glutes kind of day today...

This workout is from Tosca Reno's Coach, Rita Catolino.  She had posted it on Tosca's blog months ago and I started doing it on and off back then.  I was doing this workout at the beginning of my second round of Body Revolution, but then I came down with that cold and it was all too much for me to do, so I backed off...until now.  Check out my post that posted the Glorious Glutes workout...Day 12 of Round 2 Body Revolution

It's back to tightening up that backside of mine.  I know tomorrow I will be hurting, BUTT it will be all worth it.  I love doing the Dead Lifts and SQQUUEEEEEZING that butt of mine.  It's all good!  It's pretty much all strength training with some cardio to warm up(I just do my own thing)and in the latter part of the workout with Kettle Bell Swings and some Weighted Jump Squats. Your legs will love you for the last one.

The weights I used from the notes I made in the "Day 12" post changed today.  I pretty much used my 10 and 15 lb dumbbells plus my 25 lb plate for all the weighted moves.  For the Weighted Jump Squats, I used the weights for all 6 reps today.  I also used the 25 lb plate for my last set of Kettle Bells Swings(I don't have any kettle bells so I use dumbbells or like tonight, I tried the plate).

After I worked on tightening up.  I made something that could undo some of the work that I just finished up with.  WHY would I make it??? You ask.  Because it could only undo SOME of the work.  I made a batch of my homemade CLEAN Marshmallow.  I wanted to make some healthier Rice Krispies Squares for snacks for my family and for the daycare kids.

The CLEAN Marshmallow setting up.

Everything in moderation...even the not-so-good stuff.  However, with my CLEAN Marshmallow recipe, these tasty treats are not as bad for you as they would with using regular marshmallows to make them.  The recipe for the Marshmallow can be found on the "Cook With Me" page.  To make the squares, I just follow the recipe on the box, except I use Coconut Oil instead of margarine or butter.

I used about half of the marshmallow shown in the "Marshmallow setting" picture.  

Above is shown the half portion, and then the melting of the marshmallow with not quite 1/4 cup of Coconut Oil melted in the pot, I used a bit to grease the pan.

Here is the finished creation waiting to set up.  They were waiting for some hungry school and daycare kids to dive into them at second snack.  And that they did...they LOVED them!

Today's food...
Breakfast: Chocolate Banana Hemp Protein Shake
It was chaos this morning trying to get my son ready and out the door to catch the school bus, so I just whipped up a protein shake for breakfast.

Snack: Pistachios
I am able to control myself with these if I leave the jar of them upstairs.  If I want more, at least I have to climbed a set of stairs to get more.

Lunch: Salmon Burger with Lettuce
I LOVE Salmon and I LOVE lettuce.

Together...made a perfect lunch for me today.

Snack: Full of Goodness Bars

I made these up this afternoon while the little kids were sleeping and the others were playing outside in the snow.  They are not that hard to make once you have the CLEAN Marshmallow made up.  I just looked in my cupboards to see what I had and threw them in a dish.  I entered the recipe into the Recipe Calculator on www.myfitnesspal.com and they came out quite high in calories because of all the nuts in them.  So make sure you enter the ingredients YOU use for your bars.  Nutritional information may vary.  

I plan on eating mine for a breakfast-on-the-go, along with a small serving of yogurt.

Recipe as follows...

FULL OF GOODNESS BARS        

Makes 24 bars

INGREDIENTS

1 tbsp coconut oil

¼ batch of CLEAN marshmallow finished recipe

½ cup unsweetened coconut

½ cup raisins

½ cup dark chocolate chips

½ cup slivered almonds

½ cup pecan pieces

½ cup dried cranberries

½ cup pumpkin seeds

1 cup coconut mango granola

1 cup hemp granola

ONE: Melt coconut oil in a large pot over low heat on stove.  Add CLEAN Marshmallow; stir until melted and well blended.  Remove from heat.

TWO: Combine all ingredients in a bowl; stir so they are mixed well.  Then add them to the marshmallow mixture.  Stir until coated.

THREE: Using a spatula coated with coconut oil, press into a pan.  Let cool.  Cut into bars or squares. 

Now I cut mine into 24 bars, but they could be cut again into squares and that would cut down on the calories per serving if you were serving them to guests.

Dinner: Chicken, Rice and Broccoli

A perfect end to my day of food.

Some Cardio and Killer Abs are on the schedule for tomorrow.

Until then...Stay Strong!

Good night

Trina