Make your own Protein Bars

At the Bar Method event on Sunday, my friend Stacy from Arbonne came and shared with us some great products that Arbonne has to offer (I am obsessed with the RE-9 anti-aging skincare...crazy good results with this product! ). The line is fantastic because it is all-natural and plant based. The skincare is Swiss made, so you know it has to be good! 

One thing Stacy shared with us is her homemade protein bars using Arbonne's chocolate protein powder. They were delicious, filling and incredibly easy to make! 

And if you want to make them yourself, here is the recipe:

16 oz jar of Natural Peanut Butter

1 and 3/4 cups of honey

2 and 1/4 cups Arbonne chocolate protein powder

3 cups dry, uncooked oats

 

Combine the peanut butter & honey in a bowl. Microwave 70-90 seconds, or until it easily stirs. Add protein pwder & oats amd mix thoroughly. It will be thick. Press into a 9x12 pan and refrigerate for at least one hour. Pull out. Cut & enjoy! (Refrigerate to store)

I can't wait to try this at home! I am tired of buying protein bars that I feel aren't all that good for me...they seem packed with a lot of unnecessary ingredients. These actually seem healthy! 

Bloggers at the Bar

I am sure you are hoping for a juicy post about bloggers throwing a few back, but this is not about a drinking bar...it's all about the Ballet Barre...

For those of you who have read my blog for the past year, you know I am a devoted fan of the Bar Method. I started going over a year ago and continued taking classes throughout my entire pregnancy. I felt amazing through the entire 9 months, had minimal weight gain and really bounced back quickly...I owe it all to the Bar Method classes.

SO, I thought it would be fun to bring some blogger girls together to take a class. We bonded over 60 minutes of intense interval training. For first timers, it's always an interesting experience. It's hard to get used to the "shake" that happens during a Bar Method class...but like our instructor Hoddy says, "If you don't shake, you aren't pushing yourself hard enough!"...

Here are a few of the girls gritting their teeth and smiling through thigh! I love it! 

This was not planned...but apparently Pink was the color of the day...with Ali and Michelle

Jamie, Hoddy, Me, Erin, Ali, Sarah, Michelle 

Thanks to all the girls that came out on Sunday for the class, and a huge thanks to Hoddy for giving the bloggers a fun day at the Bar Method! 

For more information about the Bar Method, click HERE. 

Thank You Bar Method!!!

Top: J.Crew (similar HERE)

Jeans: Mossimo at Target

Shoes: Harolds (OLD!)

I cannot tell you how happy I am to not be wearing anything elastic waist or full-paneled. Bye-bye maternity clothes, hello new spring wardrobe!

At 5 weeks post partum, I am back in my regular clothes with only 3 pounds to go. I am shocked, honestly...this is not normal, right? With my son it took me a very long time to get my body back. With my first pregnancy I gained almost 40 pounds and it probably took a year to feel normal again.

Getting back into my skinny jeans is no miracle; I have to give credit where credit is due. The Bar Method is THE miracle worker.  I started taking the classes before I got pregnant and then 3-4 days a week throughout my entire pregnancy. I even happened to take class the day before I went into labor!

When you are pregnant, it is definitely hard to stay motivated to workout. There were days I had to force myself to go, because I was either too nauseous or just plain tired. But once I got to class everything changed...I felt rejuvenated, strong and so relaxed afterwards. The stretching part of the workout did wonders for my body. It felt so good to stretch my muscles that are working overtime while pregnant.  I never had the bad aches and pains of pregnancy either, which I really attribute to the Bar classes as well.

To celebrate losing the weight, I got a few fun things for Spring. One of the items being the red skinny jeans (shown above) from Target. They are a phenomenal fit for only $24.99. They are Mossimo Fit 4 and they come in Red, Mint Green, Peach and Turquoise. I stalked 4 Targets to get the mint green and I finally found them!

And another great Target find...Dolce Vita knock-offs! Only $14.99 and they come in neon Pink, Black and Turqoise. A total steal!

Put down the potato chips...this girl is not messing around!

My sister and law and I were sitting at the pool yesterday and she started telling me about this fitness blog she has been following. I was totally intrigued from the beginning...first off she told me that the girl (Zuzana) has an incredible body. In fact, I think the words out of my SIL's mouth were "don't let your husband see the site". And when I saw it today, I knew what she was talking about! whoa. No wonder it's called Body Rock? Zuzana has probably the most rocking body I have ever seen!

The site is incredible. They have daily at home workouts you can view for free (all are mostly short interval training workouts), recipes, and inspiring video and photos from her readers who have transformed their bodies through Zuzana's workouts.

 After watching just a few of her videos, I can tell it's not going to be easy. But looking that good doesn't come without some serious effort! What do you think? Anyone out there tried any of these workouts?

Did you know?

That Tracy Anderson's first book, The 30 Day Method, hits bookstores today?! I am kind of excited to see what it is all about, considering I am so obsessed with her DVD workouts. I am thinking this diet/workout plan in her book would be a good kick start (if you need it) or even a good way to get your body back after a baby. I might go to the bookstore tomorrow to check it out and report back. Any loyal followers who pre-ordered it already?

PS-our trip to Napa was a DREAM! A post with pictures is to come...

T is for my girl Tracy...I am obsessed!!!

I am sorry to all of my friends and family who are sick of hearing me talk about Tracy Anderson. But, I can't STOP talking about it because I truly cannot believe the results I have had in such a short amount of time.  Up until right after having my son I would say that I worked out "hard" for the past 8 years. I started slacking after our son was born because not only was I tired, but I just didn't have the time to schlep him to the gym, and try to squeeze in an hour workout in between naps. Enter my friend Gina...looking amazing and svelte after a few short months of doing The Tracy Anderson Method. I was completely sold...

Tracy's killer body...pretty ridiculous, right?!

A little background on Tracy. She was a dancer and had a large weight gain during college. She spent 10 years researching a method in which she could tone and lose weight without bulking up. She has a huge celebrity clientele base...Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow, Shakira, Courtney Cox and Jennifer Aniston. She is literally transforming women's bodies through her method.

I started doing the mat workout video Jan 1. and since then the results have been pretty unbelievable. I measured myself at the beginning because I wanted to see what was actually happening to my body. 5 weeks later I have lost 4" off my thighs, 1" from my butt and hips and 1" from my waist. My lower half is definitely my "problem area", so to see what has happened in these few short weeks is just amazing! I actually was able to pull on my skinniest jeans from when I was in my best pre-baby shape. AND, I had to pull out some old pants from the bag of "give away" clothes because I thought I could never wear them again!

I also have her dance cardio DVD which I will incorporate soon. It's pretty intense. As my friend Jill says, it's like doing jumping jacks for 40 minutes. BUT, I am ready for the cardio and something to break up the monotony of doing the mat video 6 days a week. She also just released 3 new DVD's that I am anxious to get my hands on.

TRUST ME...her method works. I am totally obsessed...any other Tracy Anderson addicts out there?