If there's one thing I love talking about, it's food. You all know it by now, and I doubt it will ever stop being a passion of mine. My long-distance gym buddy came up with the brilliant idea of doing a comparison of American and New Zealand protein bars! Both Lucy and I share a love of food and many other things (Chuck, Chris Evans, & Harry Potter.) Also, we are both addicted to trying protein bars of all different brands and flavors. It's almost a hobby that comes with an active lifestyle and we love it!

Here are all the amazing protein bars I got to try and what I thought of them.

Make sure you go and check out Lucy's post to see what bars I sent her, it also includes some of my favorite protein cookies!

Pro Bar Base "Coffee Crunch" 

This brand was one that I tried on our trip to Seattle and I became a fan very quickly. There's 20grams of plant protein in these babies and other great ingredients to keep you going. Because of the caffeine in this one, it makes the perfect pre-workout snack. Or even as a pick-me-up after a long and tiring workout. Really excited to try more flavors on my next travels!

Taste: 4/5

Texture: 5/5

Power Crunch "Salted Caramel"

OMG Lucy how did you know this was my all-time favorite flavor!? Salted caramel protein bars are a dream come true. It's slightly lower in protein (13grams) which I like because this would make a perfect afternoon snack. I love that it's low in sugar too, so I don't have to feel bad for having a sweet treat. The smell of this one when I opened it was to die for and I really enjoyed the waffer part of the bar.

Taste: 4/5

Texture: 4/5

Robert Irvine's Fit Crunch "Cookies and Cream"

This one called to me as soon as I saw it in the box! And not just because it's one of my favorite flavors, but since it makes me feel like I'm about to eat a healthy candy bar. I can dig in without the guilt! It's super-high in protein (30grams) and I love that they used whey as the source. It tasted more like chocolate caramel than cookies & cream, but that's beyond okay with me!

Taste: 4/5

Texture:5/5

Lenny & Larry's The Complete Cookie "Double Chocolate"

Oh my, these cookies have stolen my heart. On our recent trip to the States I picked one of these up at a cafe in Santa Monica after I saw Lucy raving about them. Everything about these cookies are superb and they have that freshly baked texture. Apart from being a little high in sugar, these are the perfect treat for an active lifestyle. Even better when heated in the microwave and eaten as dessrt!

Taste: 5/5
Texture: 5/5 

Oh Yeah Nutrition "Pumpkin Pie"

There's no better flavor to have at this time of year! I have to say that the macros in these bars are pretty impressive. Any bar that's high protein and low in sugar is a winner in my books! Once I opened this one I fell in love and even more when I finally ate it. It was like biting straight into a pumpkin pie! The texture is quite smooth and soft, but there's a little crunch in there too and it made this bar perfect for me. I tried this bar last, but now I wish I had eaten it sooner!

Taste: 5/5

Texture: 5/5

The US definitely has a better range of bars and flavors than here in New Zealand, I've very jealous of all the treats available! I will definitely try and pick some of these up when I can.

A big thank you to Lucy for sending these delicious bars my way and for collaborating with me once again. It's always a delight to work with you! Make sure you go and check out her blog that she shares with her awesome sister Kelly. It really is one of my favorites to read. You can check out her post of all the New Zealand bars and how she liked them while you're there!

What are your favorite kind of protein bars?
Steph x.


 

Daily Blog: Meal Prep & High-Protein Foods!

Tuesday, January 10th 2017

Back to 6am starts! With everyone on holiday, there have only been CrossFit classes at 9am and 5pm. I really enjoyed the 9am crew we had for the two weeks, made some new friends too! But it's back to normal times and getting these workouts done before breakfast. 

Not gonna lie, today's training was quite the challenge. We started with strength, which was:

5 Clean and Jerk 

5 EMOM  for 5 min (Every Minute On The Minute)

1 min rest

5 EMOM for 5 min 

I did 25kgs for the first five, then increased it to 29kg for the next five. My technique feels like it's getting better and I'm certainly getting a lot of practice lately. 

Next was one of the hardest metcons I've ever done, but in a good way:

(for time)

30 Back Squats

20 Hand-Stand Push Ups

30 Front Squats

20 Toes To Bar 

30 Over-Head Squats

20 Pull-Ups

I finished it in 16.08min, but I feel like I could have gone harder. The over-head squats were by far the hardest part. The movement feels really un-natural and they're so killer on your arms that everyone was just using the bars, no weights. The burn was real!

But a positive was that during the warm-up I managed quite a few double-unders! (skipping, with the rope passing twice in one jump.) Stubborn me wasn't going to try but my coach (bless him) made me do it anyway. With the help of the bf's Reebok rope I got the hang of them quite quickly. About time too!

Home to this sleeping beauty. He never gets up before 9am.

Just having a bowl of porridge for breakfast. No bananas in the house, but we did have raspberries and strawberries ready to use! I topped them with a little coconut sugar and energy seed mix. It was amazing!

Getting organized for then next few weeks! I'm really excited for some of the posts I'm going to be putting up.  

I had a big craving for eggs this morning and I needed something to tie me over before I go for a run. We didn't have any bread for me to make toad in the hole, but I had this packet of brown rice handy and it's worked even better! A healthy option that's packed full of protein and healthy carbs. I also added a little soy sauce and sweet chili for taste. So good!

Run time! It's a beautiful day, so I'm looking forward to being in the fresh air.

Time for lunch and I'm having my meal prep. I added some avocado for texture (and because I'm obsessed!) Topped with a little soy sauce and it's one great lunch bowl. 

 

Still trying to get more fruit in my day and this goes down so well after lunch. 

Feeling very motivated to write lately! I'm really enjoying keeping my blog about motivation and healthy lifestyle.

A cheeky after-noon snack is needed today. I think with the strength based workout this morning, plus a run, my body needs some extra nutrition. I never feel guilty for eating a few extra calories than I should, especially when it's what I need to fuel myself. 

I'm taking my dinner to work tonight and I'm so excited to dig in. It's a lentil salad with roast vegetables and grilled halloumi.There's a nice chili hit in there too!

I'm helping Steve with his meal prep tonight. I love cooking, so I'm happy to do it! Option one is pork meatballs and vegetables (rice to be added later.) And option two is chili chicken with roasted sweet potato and broccoli. For a vegetarian, I've gotten quite good at baking chicken until it's cooked and juicy.

I also munched on some popcorn while I cooked. Sweet and salty is my new favorite flavor.

 How are you staying motivated in 2017?
Steph x. 
 

Finding Fitspiration To Keep You Motivated

Surrounding yourself with positive influences can make all the difference when you're trying to stay on the right path. This time of year when we still have our New Year goals in mind, staying inspired everyday can help us achieve even more than we thought possible. 

As someone who is obsessed with the health and fitness world, I'm always looking for inspiration to work harder, eat better, and try new things. It keeps me going on days I don't feel like training, or my craving for donuts gets too much. Fitspiration can be found on pretty much every social platform, so here's how I make the most of it everyday:

Instagram 

I love spending part of my evening scrolling through posts from some of my favorite fit-girls, seeing what they ate and what workouts they've been loving. Seeing them keep up their hard work makes me feel motivated for the next day. I love getting updates on their progress and see them slowly get stronger. I wrote a post in November about my favorite Instagrammers to follow, so make sure you check out these lovely ladies!

Health & Fitness Bloggers 

Read through the #fitnessbloggers and #fitbunnieschat tags on Twitter and follow some of the amazing girls who post there. They will be more than happy to support you and offer advice. The #FitBunniesChat runs every Sunday at 6pm (UK time) and they're always a lot of fun. Great for getting and discussing ideas on a healthy lifestyle.

Pinterest

 I find it really helpful to keep a board just for fitness inspiration that I can add to each day. I look for anything from motivational quotes to funny gym memes that make me giggle. You can also use it for workout ideas to help change your gym routine, or stretches to do at home. Use it for whatever inspires you and keep it updated regularly. You can see what I'm posting on my board here!

Find a fitness buddy 

I know this is easier said than done, but it can do wonders for your motivation. Try looking for someone who feels the same way you do about exercise and encourage each other on your journeys. Set a routine together, or even start up a challenge that can motivate both of you to work hard. You can even be like me and The Blossom Twins and send updates to each other no matter where you live! Having a fellow fitness blogger that is as passionate as I am has really helped keep me motivated on those hard training days. And I love seeing them succeed!


YouTube 

If you are like me and have a mild addiction to YT, this one might suit you well. One of the best things about most fitness YouTubers is that they are usually relatable and funny people.You don't feel intimidated by them or their videos, because they intend for them to be beginner-friendly. And the best part is being able to do an awesome workout in the comfort of your own home! I've gotten a lot of great advice about meal prep and supplements from various sources too. Here are some of my favorites:

Heidi Somers
The Lean Machines
Scola Dando
The Blossom Twins
Lucy Wyndham-Read


Try a new class

If you're feeling bored in your fitness routine, perhaps you'll find some inspiration in a new environment and new people. It doesn't mean you have to jump on a spin bike for an hour. You can try dancing, boxing, gymnastics, or yoga on the beach. When I joined CrossFit, I felt excited by trying something different from my usual training and I met some bad-ass people. It keeps me motivated and I keep finding reasons to work harder. Fitspiration at it's best. 

Let me know in the comments where you get your fitness inspiration from and what works to keep you motivated.
Any suggestions of people to follow would be awesome!

Steph x.

Recipe: Zesty Rainbow Salad

Hello, Everyone!

I hope you all had an awesome New Year. One thing I wanted to do more of in 2017, was to share recipes I'm loving on my blog. It's a good way for me to put my love of food and nutrition to some use. Especially if you guys enjoy it too!

Some afternoons I just want to chill out with a nice hearty salad to fill me with some goodness. A nice bowl that will leave me feeling pretty good once I've eaten it. One hot afternoon, I decided to come up with a refreshing recipe that would do just that. It includes some of my favorite foods, all in one gorgeous looking bowl. This salad has everything you could need in a nutritious meal:

Protein and omega-3 from the tuna

Vitamin C from the mango

Iron from the spinach

Healthy carbs from the crackers

It's also super-easy to put together and you could even take it to work/university with you. A bowl like this is a great way to get a tonne of nutrients into your day, and the zest is a great pic-me-up!

Ingredients:

1x 95g can of tuna, drained (or chicken pieces)

A generous handful of baby spinach 

1/2 mango

1/2 red pepper

Cucumber slices

Sprouts

Seeded-crackers 

Dressing: 

1 tsp dijon mustard

1 Tbsp olive oil

Juice of 1/2 lemon

 Cracked pepper

Chop and assemble all of your salad ingredients and arrange in a bowl. To make the dressing, mix all of the components well in a small bowl with a fork. Drizzle evenly over the salad, and dig in! 

 A salad bowl doesn't have to be boring, and if you add some protein there they can pretty filling too.

Let me know if there are any other kinds of recipes you would like me to share. We can make 2017 our healthiest year yet!

What do you love to put into salads?

Steph x. 

My Realistic 2017 Bucket List

Who doesn't love a good bucket-list, especially at the start of a new year! It's currently summer for us at the bottom of the world, which makes it the perfect time to get outside and have fun. I decided to put "Realistic" in the title because as much as I would love to tour the world and buy a dog, my budget for the year doesn't quite stretch that far. But it doesn't mean I can't plan some awesome activities closer to home and make the most of our trip to Hawaii in August. I'm pretty lucky to live in New Zealand where there are plenty of the opportunities for adventures. All of which will be documented on my blog of course!

Go on road trips

Try paddle-boarding in Hawaii

Eat at IHOP

Start an adventure fund

Have a Star Wars game night

Go on a zoo date

Finish a Spartan Race

Go skiing 

Take cute photo-booth pics 

Participate in the Mud Run 

Watch the sunrise at the beach

Go paint-balling 

Spend a day at hot pools

Start my own recipe book 

Start a memories album

Watch fireworks on Waikiki beach

Read 30 books

Have a Mexican food night with friends

Go rock-climbing

Go for a nature walk & take lots of pictures

Get my 10th tattoo

Go zip-lining 

I think these are definitely achievable! I might try ticking off a few each month and review my list throughout the year. I'm really looking forward to all the fun memories coming in the next twelve months.

What's on your 2017 bucket-list? 

Steph x.

2017 Blogging Goals + Ways To Acheive Them!

Happy New Year!

It's time to sit down, get out one of my many notebooks and plan some awesome goals for 2017. I definitely learned a lot about blogging and networking last year, so I'm confident about getting better. My little blog has so far to go but I'm enjoying every step along the way. I like to write down monthly goals and have them somewhere visible for me to remember. But I can look back on this post at the end of the year and see how well I've done.
Last year I braved some photo-shoots at my gym, collaborated with two of my favorite bloggers Lucy & Kelly, and got my page views close to 50,000 (which seems like A LOT to me, so crazy!) I'm very excited to work hard and see where 2017 takes me and my little space on the internet.



New Layout

One thing I have learned from the beginning of my blogging days is to never under-estimate the power of a fresh look. I try and update my blog every six months to keep it fun and I fall back in love with it. I'm still really happy with the theme I have now, but I really want to change it's layout. I would like for my posts to be easier to read, so I'm planning on changing to a grid system rather than just scrolling. I'm looking forward to making some changes!



Post on Instagram everyday & reach 1000 followers

 I'm still loving this platform at the moment, despite never being able to decide on a theme. I love sharing my favorite healthy foods and fitness updates. I've had a great response from them this year and I want to keep building on that in 2017. I posted on Instagram almost everyday through October and it helped me grow my numbers. If I can keep up that consistency throughout the year it will really help me reach my goals. It will also be quite a fun photography challenge.


More book & fandom posts

  I think the only rule to blogging should be to stick to what you love writing about. I really have enjoyed getting into the fitness/motivation side of my blog, but I mustn't forget my other passions. A goal for this coming year is to write more about what books I'm loving (and read more too!) with book reviews, favorite quotes etc. As well as embracing my nerdy side with more posts on my favorite TV shows and what movies I'm geeking out about. I love reading them from other bloggers, so why not do it more myself?


Regular Health/Fitness Posts

It's really fun for me to go on about my life as a fitness addict, runner, and healthy food enthusiast. I came out with quite a few posts like this in 2016 and you guys really seemed to enjoy it. I want to make sure I'm writing something health-related once a week at least to share my motivation. There are so many topics that I have yet to have seen being talked about. They say you should write posts you would want to read, right? I'll be your healthy best-friend getting you through the New Year!


Hit 1000 Bloglovin' followers

When this day finally comes I am throwing a party and all of you are invited. Some of the bloggers I idolize are beyond the 1K mark and I feel like that's my major milestone I want to aim for. Growing a following isn't easy, but I know the lovely people I have following me are genuine. I see them in the comment section each week and chat to them on Twitter. That's the kind of community I would love to build, so hopefully 2017 will bring some more blogging friends too. 



So, how am I reaching these goals in 2017? 

Networking! Engaging with other bloggers and having real chats is what has helped me build some amazing friendships so far. You end up supporting one another and that's what our blogging community should be all about. Chat to others who have the same interests as you then check out each other's blogs. It's a win-win!

Post the highest quality content I can, regardless of the schedule I set for myself.
It's easy to get wrapped up in having to post something on certain days, and it makes me rush them instead of taking the time to get it right. Some of my favorite bloggers only post once a week, but I adore every word anyway. Always quality over quantity.


Set a promotional schedule and stick to it.
Twitter is a bloggers best-friend when it comes to growing your readership. Taking the time to schedule tweets everyday can get incredibly tedious, but it really does pay off. I've been getting better at keeping to certain times, but if I want to gain more views then I have to be consistent. I've got a list of times written down and set above my desk ready for me to follow when I open buffer.



If you would like to support me, you'll find me on Instagram, Twitter and Bloglovin'!
If there's anything that you would like to see from me, or any tips on getting fitter/healthier this year, feel free to let me know in the comments.
What are some of your own goals for 2017?
Steph x.