The search is over people! I had been hunting for the perfect snack recipe that's great to have before a workout, as an afternoon pick-me-up, or even late at night when I get really hungry but want to avoid the chocolate stash. We all know that struggle, right?

Healthy and reliable snacks can be hard to come by and we don't always have enough time in the day to put something together. But these muffins are super easy to make and you don't need a lot of ingredients. They're protein packed to keep you full as well as give you energy. And did I mention that they taste amazing?

Ingredients: (makes 7-8) 

2 ripe bananas

2 cups rolled oats

1 egg, beaten, 

3/4 cup (60ml) milk

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1 scoop vanilla protein powder

1 cup frozen (or fresh) berries

Preheat oven to 180*c

In a medium sized bowl, mash the bananas then stir in oats. 

Add the egg, milk and vanilla then stir to combine. 

Then add the berries and mix well. 

Spoon the mixture into greased muffin tins, filling right to the brim. 

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until cooked through. 

Leave to cool, then remove from tins and enjoy!

I seriously love this recipe and everyone I've shared it with has become a fan too, which makes me happy! They are budget and kid friendly as well, so it doesn't cost a lot to have healthy snacks ready to go. These are also great for those mornings where you're rushed for breakfast and want to keep your eating on track.

Let me know if you try these, or what some of your healthy snacks are!
Steph x.

Fun Variations To Your Fruit & Yogurt Snack!

I'm a big fan of having fruit and yogurt for a mid-afternoon, or evening snack. It's healthy, satisfies the sweet tooth, and has a nice hit of protein. Something filling and nourishing for a post-workout treat too! There are so many combinations to try and toppings to think of. No matter how you like to eat it, fruit and yogurt is a great option to have with a healthy lifestyle.

But we can all get bored with the same-old snack, so I'm here to show you some fun ideas that might make your break-time even better! 

Dippers 

I started doing this other day and it's such a fun snack! You can use any fruit that can be used to scoop yogurt (apples, pears, watermelon, strawberries, banana etc.) For something different, I like to use a flavored coconut yogurt which is thicker than natural ones. The mango and turmeric mix is my absolute favorite. This would be a great snack to take to work, university or even on a picnic!

Parfait 

If you're craving some texture and maybe a few added nutrients, then this is a great way to go. Making up your own granola mix is super-easy and quick. All it takes is some oats, spices, nuts of your choice, and some coconut oil for baking. If you buy some already made, make sure to check that the sugar content isn't too high, companies can be pretty sneaky that way! Layer the yogurt, granola, and your favorite fruit for a filling snack any time of day. 

Watermelon Pizza

Is this the best idea or what? I had seen these floating around Instagram and Pinterest, so one hot afternoon I decided to try one myself. Not only are they fun to decorate, but so delicious to eat! Just add yogurt on top, sprinkle some berries, a few nuts, and even a swirl of honey, and voila! A healthy snack that almost looks too good to eat. 

Frozen Bites

These couldn't be easier to make. Just find some molds (I used cake pop ones) pour in a little yogurt, add some fruit, top with a little more yogurt, and freeze! In a few hours you will have a refreshing treat you can grab whenever you need to satisfy that sweet tooth. These are especially great on hot summer days to help cool you down.

I hope you guys like these snack ideas, let me know if you decide to try any of them!
What's your favorite way to eat fruit and yogurt as a snack?
Steph x.

Daily Blog: Upper Body Workout & Healthy Options

Happy Tuesday!

I switched up my usual breakfast this morning (I know, I'm shocked too!) I made chocolate protein waffles and a side of fruit and yogurt, you know, to feel healthy. To make the waffles, I just put the following into my Nutri-Bullet:

1/3 cup oats

1/2 scoop chocolate whey powder

tsp baking powder

Tbsp GF flour

1 egg

1/2 a banana

A dash of almond milk 

Blend it all up, pop it in your waffle maker, lather in maple syrup and enjoy!

I was going to do the #BDIB Twitter chat this morning, but the topic was events and since I've never been to a blog event, I decided to give it a miss. Instead I read some blogs, including one from my favorite Sweet Is Always In Style Blog and my long-distance gym buddy Lucy! She wrote an update on her fitness journey and it's so inspiring to see her achieve her goals. She can lift some serious weights!! Wonder Woman watch out. 

I got an alert on my phone this morning about the new Little Mix song being available, so of course I've been dancing to that all morning. Shout Out To My Ex is definitely a song I can relate to! 

Decided to wear my Captain America tank top to the gym today! It is arm arm-day after all. Kind of in a self-love/goofy mood today.

Pre-Gym Rituals = check! Delicious Pre-Gym Snack = devoured. Time to go work these arms. 

Today I'm going to mainly focus on upper body and throw in a bit of cardio as well. I've been doing higher reps lately to help with toning my arms, rather than working on strength (I can have fun with that later.) Apologies for the bad photo quality! I was going to set it up so that I was in the picture, but the gym was busy and I didn't want to be rude.

Warmup: 10 minutes cross-trainer, alternating intensity

Bench Press 10kgs, 7-10 reps, 4 sets

Alternating bicep curls 7kgs, 20reps, 4 sets

Tricep dips 10 reps, 4 sets

Seated shoulder press 6kgs, 15reps, 4 sets

Spartan Circuit:
Box push with 60kgs, 1 lap
10 burpees
1 lap weighted lunges
10 pushups

Overhead tricep pulls, 18kgs, 20reps, 4 sets
 

Overhead ball throws, 10kgs, 20 reps, 3 sets

Pulls ups, AMRAP, 3 sets

20kg powerbag catch & clean lifts, 4 sets

Leg press

80kg x15
90kg x15
100kg x12
100kg x12
 (Personal Best! Woo!)

Bent over rows with bar, 5kgs, 20reps, 3 sets

Ab routine:
12 sumo squats
30 Russian twists with 10kg dumbell
20 knee to elbow 

I've been avoiding foundation this week and just putting on a little BB cream. Plus a little powder to set it. I want to take better care of my skin and I've seen a few girls online doing the same, so we will see how it feels after a month free of foundation. 

It's such a beautiful spring day today that I decided to do a little work outside! I desperately needed a change of scenery, it's always great for productivity. I got an idea for a blog post in the shower, so I'm dying to get it written out!

Couldn't resist having my lunch outside either! I watched a Lexlos vlog while I ate, mostly because I missed that positive couple. Can't wait until little Ocean is born.

Blog Photo Time! I have a post going up today and I'm actually glad that I waited for good lighting to take the pictures. I was able to set up outside for once and they came out great.

Being out of my room has been so good today. It's let me have some good family time and I always forget how good that makes me feel.

I managed to edit the photos and get the post up (yay me!) so I think I have earned myself a much-needed afternoon coffee.

And I can't be expected to schedule tweets without some kind of food source...
Which is why I'm making a quesadilla full of spinach, sweet chili, corn and more cheese than I should have. Oh well!

 Alright, it's time to give these protein donuts another go! They came out super-dry the other day and I wanted to see if trying a new recipe would work. Fingers crossed.

Kinda-success! They're still a little dry, but they're tasty. I melted a mint chocolate mini bar with a little coconut oil and sprinkled it on top.

Since I'm home from work tonight it's my turn to make dinner. Mum requested cauliflower pizza, so that's what she's gonna get. It's also one of my favorite dishes ever, so I'm pretty excited about it. A little fact about me is that I love to have barbecue sauce on my pizzas!

Editing while I watch new Big Bang Theory. And yes, those are my Captain America socks I bought in New York : ) They may be made for men, but I love wearing them!

Look what I found on the movie channel! The Lizzy McGuire Move! I still remember the words to the songs.

Having a little dessert of a chia and coconut pot. These are so good!I'm going to try and make my own at the weekend. Stay tuned!


I hope the week is going well for everybody : ) Let me know something that you are looking forward to in the comments.

Steph x.


Follow me on Bloglovin for more Daily Blogs!

My Pre-Gym Rituals!

I still find getting ready for the gym to be the most exciting part of my morning routine, especially because I know how amazing I'm about to feel. I was thinking the other day that I have a few little things I do every single time before I leave the house. I'm very much a creature of habit, so it makes sense for me to have my own pre-gym routine. Preparation is key, right?

I usually leave for the gym at about 9am. I don't mind going earlier, but I like to miss the busy morning traffic. I'm incredibly lucky that I get to be so flexible with my time. Here's how I get ready:

Blast my gym playlist

Music never fails to motivate me to kill my workouts, which is why I start listening to early into morning routine. Once I've done my morning blog work and I have to do some house chores, I put my headphones in turn on my Spotify gym playlist. It just gets me into a really bad-ass/superhero kind of mood that fuels my workouts.

Pre-Gym Snack 

I never used to eat anything before exercise, but after a while I noticed that half way through a session I would get super-hungry. When I'm at the gym for two hours I need all of the energy I can get, so a quick snack is really helpful. My usual is peanut butter toast, sometimes with raisins or a banana on top. Lately I've been loving these bars, which are full of oats and they give me great energy throughout my gym time. 

Hydrate 

I've tried to make it a morning habit to drink about a litre of water before I go workout. Obviously not all at once, but with my breakfast at 7am until 9am when I leave. I try to drink six litres a day, so this is a great start. And we all know how important it is to stay hydrated while you workout! This means I can go harder for longer and my body can handle whatever I throw at it.

Pre-Workout Drink

This is completely optional, but it works really well for me. I mix a scoop with about half a glass of water and down that sucker. I have to do it just before getting in my car to drive, otherwise I get uncomfortably energetic before I even get there. I always begin with a bit of cardio, so this boost of energy is awesome to get my workout off to a great start.


Organize My Supplements

 

I have two shakers that come with me to the gym (kinda feels excessive, but they are definitely needed.) The first is my post-workout protein smoothie that I made in out Nutri-Bullet. I usually mix in: almond milk, one scoop whey protein, some peanut butter, and maca powder. It honestly tastes amazing and acts as my treat for working hard. The second shaker has my BCAA mixed with water for me to sip on while I working out.

Look in the mirror and feel awesome

Hell yeah! You have to check your gym outfit and say to yourself, "I look amazing and I am totally going to kill this workout!" Learning to appreciate your body for what it can do and how far you've come is important. A little bit of self-love each day can be a powerful thing.

Go Over A Workout Plan

Sometimes with fitness, preparation is everything. To keep things interesting I try and do a different workout everyday I'm there. I have my set days (Mon-Legs, Tues-Arms, Wed-Chest/Back etc) but sometimes it's best to figure out exactly what exercises to focus on. I always enjoy my workouts more when I have a set routine to go through. You can do this with a journal, or even using notes on your phone.



There we have it, my morning pre-gym rituals that help me get in the mood and get prepared for my workouts. Obviously if I go in at about 7am, I just grab a banana and shot some pre-workout before I leave the house. But this is my current favorite routine.

Do you have any pre-gym rituals?
Steph x.