Progress goals and Power Balls

It's Motivational Monday again! Today I posted a brief blurb on my Facebook page about what is motivating me this week; the prospect of Concrete Hero this summer (August 17th). Concrete Hero is a obstacle race (think Tough Mudder) for a cause, the BC Cancer Foundation. My bestie Lindsay and I have been trying to come up with a team name so we can get registered but so far we got nothin' (and i've been hummin' n' hawin' for over a week)! Anyways, so i'm excited to train a little harder with this in mind, because it's going to be a lot tougher than the runs i've done in the past due to the obstacles. I completed Emporer's last year with silver (A 20 km mountain race in Tumbler Ridge) so I have no doubts about this run and can't wait for the adrenaline high! I haven't been running as of late because i've been focusing on HIIT, including skipping and the occasional sprint, but no long runs. For training last year I usually ran 5-6 days a week for half an hour, with an incline sprint every 10 minutes for 1 whole minute, then at least one longer run OR trail run a week (6+ km). I think i'm going to start running asap (as in probably today) I think i'm going to play with my routine a little bit and maybe train with shorter runs (15-20 minute sprints) combined with my usual HIIT/strength workout, and then one long run a week to build my endurance. I'm also going to have to adjust my food because i've been eating low low carb since I started paleo (probably only one serving of carbs per day) and i'm not sure what i'll need if i'm doing more cardio each day. My carbs will consist of either quinoa, berries, or tuber veggies like sqaush and yam. I probably don't need to start training this early, but I really want to rock it!

We obviously all have big goals like looking good, losing weight (feeling better/healthier), or even setting an example for our children, but our other performance goals like completing a run that is a certain distance, or even small progress goals each week, can be even more important when it comes to fuelling our fire, especially since you can sometimes forget about the BIG picture if your results aren't coming as quickly as you expected. My goal this week is to get in 2 runs maintaining a 6mi/hr pace and to increase my daily push-up number by 5! What is something that is motivating YOU this week? I would love to hear from you!

Last week I posted a recipe for home made almond milk/coconut milk, if you made it you probably were left with a huge container each of the 'pulp' what to do, what to do?? I meant to post about this sooner but didn't get the chance. I decided to turn my 'pulp' into Paleo Power Balls!

Ingredients:
(use organic ingredients whenever possible)

10 dates (I used medjool)
1/2 cup leftover almond pulp (OR raw dry almonds, or other nut)
3/4 cup leftover coconut pulp (OR dry coconut flakes, or any nut)
1/2 cup nut butter (I used almond)
1/4 cup of coconut oil
1/4 cup honey
2 tbs cocoa powder
1 tbs cinnamon
1tsp vanilla
1/8th tsp sea salt
1/4-1/2 cup coconut flour (this will vary depending on if you used the leftover pulps, or dry nuts, as the pulp is wet, if you are using dry nuts it may not need much flour)
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

For Rolling
1/4 cup flaked coconut optional
1/4 cup sesame seeds (or other seed) optional

The method:
In a food processor (I used my Ninja), combine all ingredients (excluding the coconut flour and chocolate chips, coconut flakes, and sesame seeds) until well mixed. At this point it will probably be quite dry, add coconut flour, 1/4 cup at a time, and mix until its cookie-dough consistency. Add chocolate chips and hand mix, then roll into 1.5 inch balls. In a small bowl, add flaked coconut and sesame seeds, and roll each ball. Refrigerate in an air tight container for at least an hour. My batch made 12 balls, but this could vary depending on if you used the pulp or not.

12 minus one, thanks to a little Summer cutie

I also made another batch  to try and use up all the leftover pulp I had These ones were more coconut based... let's call them.

-1/2 cup leftover almond pulp (OR raw dry almonds, or other nut)
-3/4 cup leftover coconut pulp (OR dry coconut flakes, or any nut)
-1/2 cup coconut 'Manna' butter (By nutiva, I find mine in the peanut butter isle at my local Pricesmart, I posted about this awhile ago but in case you missed it, it's pure coconut flesh in a jar the consistency of a butter)
-1/2 cup coconut flakes
-1/4 cup of coconut oil
-1/4 cup honey
-1tsp vanilla
-1/2-1/4 cup coconut flour (this will vary depending on you used the leftover pulps, or dry nuts, as the pulp is wet, if you are using dry nuts it may not need much flour)

For Rolling
1/2 cup of hemp seeds optional (you could also use any other seed or coconut flakes it's all whatever you like best!:)

The method:
In a food processor (I used my Ninja), combine all ingredients (excluding the coconut flour) until well mixed. At this point it will probably be quite wet, add coconut flour, 1/4 cup at a time, and mix until its cookie-dough consistency. Roll into 1.5 inch balls. In a small bowl, add hemp seeds, and roll each ball. Refrigerate in an air tight container for atleast an hour. This batch made 10 balls, but again this could vary depending on if you used the pulp or not.

Today is the second to last day of the Raw Recharge Challenge, it went by SO fast! I enjoyed it more than I thought I would, I'm definitely feeling 'recharged'. My juice this morning was 1.5 cups of water, half a lemon juiced, a handful of herb mix, a handful of cilantro, and 4 stalks of celery. Not too bad.

<3-Steph

***The entire content of this Blog is based upon my own opinions, the information on this blog is not to be used without your own research and advice of a qualified health care professional. The information is not intended as medical advice, and I will not be held liable or responsible for any injury sustained in your home, gym, or elsewhere. Please consult your health practitioner before starting any new diet, cleanse, detoxification, or exercise routine.