Christmas Lara Balls

1/3 cup cashews
1/4 seeded dates
3 Tbsp Enjoy Life Mini Chips (dairy, nut and soy free)
1/2 tsp Peppermint Extract or Oil

Pulse dates in food processor, add cashews and pulse until small chunks appear but not until paste.  Add chips and oil and pulse again quickly. You may need to add 1/2 to 1 tsp of water so the mixture kind of clumps together.  Roll a spoonful in your hand to form balls.

We gave these as healthy treats for teacher gifts this year.

This Week's Workouts 12/16 - 12/22/12

My apologies for not posting this sooner...the countdown to Christmas got the better of me!

For Tabata workouts, I found a Tabata Timer app for my phone that allows for programming the workout to meet my specific needs.  You can also just use a traditional timer and work for 20 seconds and rest for 10 seconds.

Long Hike/Walk

1 Hour or longer

Lift Day

10 Minute Tabata (20 seconds work, 10 seconds rest) of the following moves:

4 x Box Jumps (See link for adaptations - we use a landscape irrigation box for ours)

4 x Sit Ups holding a Kettlebell (See link for variations - I like to also bring the kettlebell forward to my toes) 

4 x One Hand Snatch with Kettlebell

4 x Squats holding a Kettlebell

4 x Push Ups
Long Hike/Walk

1 Hour or longer

Lift Day

5 Tuck and Holds on Exercise Ball

10 Burpees

15 Lunges

As many rounds as possible in 10 minutes

Long Hike/Walk

1 Hour or longer

Sprints

Tabata of Jumprope

Try different jumping styles:  left foot, right foot, double unders, slalom, fast as you can, high as you can...have fun with it!

Paleo Christmas Cookies

Check out Elana's Pantry for 10 Paleo Christmas Cookie Recipes http://www.elanaspantry.com/christmas-cookie-round-up/

This Week's Workouts 12/09 - 12/15/12

Long Hike/Walk

1 Hour or longer

Lift Day

This is a workout from Experience Life Magazine

10 Turkish Get-Ups
2 Pull-Ups
10 Push Ups with Feet on Exercise Ball

As many rounds as possible in 10 minutes Long Hike/Walk 1 Hour or longer Lift Day 10 Knees to Elbows 10 Push Press with Dumbbells 10 Kettlebell Side Steps 10 Squats As many rounds as possible in 10 minutes Sprints Jump Rope Tabata 20 seconds of work, 10 seconds of rest. Repeat for at least 10 minutes Try different jump rope styles (right foot only, left foot only, double unders, slalom, forward and back) make it fun!

Be Inspired by What's Around You

A few months ago, I posted on Facebook about one of my favorite workouts.  On a Saturday I asked my 10 year old son if we would like to go on a walk. We had been on walks before, but on this walk I told him he was the leader and I would do or try to do anything he did. Well, we started by jumping up stairs, then jumping off high ledges. We passed a park, where we stopped to swing and climb on bars, do push ups off of benches and scale up walls.  Then we found a hiking trail where we sprinted after lizards, twirled sticks, skipped, and leaped from rocks. It was a great walk, not just because I got a workout, but because I had fun time with my son and through his eyes discovered how much more there was around me. My son's movements were inspired by the simple things around him, just like this man in the video below. I hope this story and video inspire you to take some time to look around you and move!

 

 This video is called Nothing Is Something -#1 The Bench, Concept by Laurent Piemontesi.

Actress Fired over Celiac Disease issues?

Actress Jennifer Esposito collapsed on the set of her show due to complications linked to Celiac diseas and CBS fired her.  She goes on to talk to Dr. Drew about what happened and he, like many doctors I have personally dealt with, just doesn't seem to understand or even listen to what she is saying.  He is so disrespectful to her in this interview, but it is exactly what happens to many of us everyday when we try to explain just what gluten sensitivity or Celiac disease really is.  Very few people/doctors really seem to get it.  Watch the video and tell us if you have ever had a similar experience in trying to explain your symptoms.  She also did an interview with Fox News where she wasn't treated so poorly, it was informative as well.

Free 4-week MovNat Training Series Coached by Erwan Le Corre

Anne Marie and I are following this 4-week series.  It is getting us to look and think outside of the traditional workout box.  I can't wait to crawl up the trail and get dirty.  Try these workouts hosted by Breaking Muscle and let us know what you think.

This Week's Workouts 12/2 - 12/8/12

Long Hike/Walk

1 Hour or longer

Lift Day

This is a workout from Experience Life Magazine

5 Alternating Reverse Lunges
4 Mountain Climbers
3 T-Roll Pushups
2 Modified Burpees
1 Pull-Up

As many rounds as possible in 10 minutes Long Hike/Walk 1 Hour or longer Lift Day 10 Elbow Dips 10 Box Jumps 10 Hang Cleans 10 Squats As many rounds as possible in 10 minutes Sprints Find a track in your area and try this: Sprint the curves, walk the straights, two times around the track Sprint the straights, walk the curves, two times around the track Finish by walking once around the track