Fit Friday with Yummy Pre- and Post- Workout Foods

After exploring the connection between body and mind yesterday, I thought it was time to get a little practical and give you a fat-blasting workout and some healthy - but delicious - recipes for energy before and after your workout.

Let's discuss food first: it's always easier to workout knowing there's a delicious post-workout snack waiting for you! This is one of Leah's (from Chocolate and Wild Air) 5 tips for waking up early to workout.

Energy Bites: Inspired by Gimme Some Oven's recipe

I've been loving these energy bites this week! They are a perfect grab and go snack before a workout and the ideal afternoon pick me up. Plus, they only take 5 minutes to make (and no baking required)!  

Ingredients:

1 1/3 cup oatmeal

1/3 cup whole flaxseeds

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup ground flaxseeds

1/2 cup raisins (or you can substitute chocolate chips!)

1/3 cup honey

1 tsp. vanilla

Preparation: Stir everything together and form into little balls. Keep refrigerated. 

 Pumpkin Peanut Butter Oatmeal

After you workout, it's a treat to come home to a bowl of this oatmeal! It's fall flavored and so creamy... yum!

Ingredients:

1/3 cup oatmeal

1/3 cup pumpkin

1 Tbsp. peanut butter

1/2 Tbsp. whole flax seeds

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/8 tsp. nutmeg

1 banana, sliced

Preparation:

1. Prepare oatmeal according to directions. You can make it in the microwave and use almond milk in place of water, if desired. 
2. Stir in pumpkin, peanut butter, flax seeds, and spices.
3. Top with sliced banana.

Fat-blasting Circuit

Now onto the fat-blasting circuit, which is sure to have you sweating and good sore the next day!

All you need is a set of 5 pound weights... and your body weight. Why do exercises using my own body weight wear me out so much? Try out these "little" workouts and you'll see what I mean!

0:00-3:00 Warm up and lightly stretch

3:00-13:00 10-minute Crossfit Workout from FitSugar : This workout combines four different plyometric exercises (i.e. jumping) to get your heart rate up.

13:00-23:00 10-minute Fat-blasting Bootcamp from FitSugar : I loved this workout because it used exercises I'd never done before, yet were easy to get the hang of.

If you have the time (and energy!) repeat those two videos.

23:00-33:00 Video 1

33:00-43:00 Video 2

43:00-45:00 Cool down and stretch