Paleo Caveman Bars

Paleo Caveman Bars

My friends Josh and Janae introduced me to these bars and I just love them!  I added a little twist to the recipe by adding Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips and adding Coconut Butter. Mainly because I love those two things so why not?  These bars are super easy to make and are great to keep in the freezer when you need a little yummy snack!  

Ingredients:

1 cup pecans

1/2 cup walnuts

1 cup sliced almonds

1 cup shredded unsweetened coconut

1/2 cup almond butter...

1/4 cup coconut oil

1/4 cup coconut butter (if you don't have just use coconut oil 1/2 cup in all)

1/2 cup almond meal/flour

2 tbs vanilla extract

2 tbs organic, natural honey

1/4 cup Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips

 

Spread the nuts on a foil lined baking sheet and toast until brown. Making sure you don't burn them. 

Microwave coconut butter and coconut oil until warm and you can stir together then add in the almond butter. Stir together.  Add vanilla and honey to mixture. 

When nuts are done, blend until coarsely chopped in blender or food processor.  Set aside to cool. 

Add the coarse ground nuts to the almond butter mixture and mix thoroughly.  Add almond meal/flour and shredded coconut to mixture and then fold in the Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips. 

Using a freezer safe container, spread the mixture evenly into the pan with a spatula. 

Freeze for 25 min. Pull out and cut into squares. 

Make sure bars remain frozen until you eat them.

Enjoy!

-Jessica 

My fitness journey: Crossfit

my sis and I at her box Crossfit Frenzy

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xwK4cPNL19I&feature=youtu.be 

The founder of crossfit explains its purpose in this video (link above).  He doesn't mince words. However explains it in a very matter of fact, logical, and scientific way! Thus leading me to this blog post. Lots of negativity about crossfit flooding my newsfeeds lately. I don't believe in diminishing other peoples workout regimens if that is what makes them happy and healthy. However I do love being apart of a  movement that provides me the opportunity to be capable of fitness in a broad spectrum and also be apart of wonderful community of people! For those who say it causes injury... I will just use the word naive. My husband (sports chiropractor DC and masters in exercise physiology) works on sports injuries on a daily basis involving people participating in every possible sporting activity you can imagine. Every sport and fitness regimen comes with risks. Bad training and coaching are happening at every level of fitness you can think of and is a factor in why athletes can get hurt during physical activity. On another hand, anytime you are physically moving your body you are taking a risk for injury. So, if you don't want to get hurt go right ahead and sit on a couch and do nothing. You might find out soon enough though that you are at more risk of physical injury and decrepitation by doing that then the alternative. Risk and reward, you can way the odds and decide for yourself. As for me I will be taking the risk of moving my body. Here's my story: 

I played volleyball and other sports from the time I was a young girl all the way through college. I watched my husband play football through college as well. I can tell you that we both have experienced injuries through training. It's a part of being physically active. Post college and babies I became a long distance runner. Running half marathons and everything in between. I experienced debilitating knee pain causing me to hardly be able to run more then 100 meters without pain.  My husband diagnosed my knee injuries and encouraged me to do Crossfit  as a component to actually strengthen the muscles surrounding my knee. Reluctant to cause more injury to myself and doubting his diagnosis I was invited by him and close friends to try Crossfit. I finally decided that I would wait for baby number two to arrive then join. Six weeks post baby I did my first Crossfit workout at Crossfit Willow Glen in San Jose. Hardest work out of my life. Of course I committed to go again just a few days later. I have a problem with telling people NO.   Let's just say I hardly slept the next two nights because I was so freaked out about putting my body through such an intense workout again. I kept going though and I stuck with it. Something about challenging  myself at that level and accomplishing it after having a baby was empowering to say the least. Especially as a women. Every day I walked in the gym having no idea what the workout was going to be. Some days were harder then others. Most days I couldn't imagine how I was going to get through the workout the coaches had posted on the board. I had gained 40lbs during my pregnancy leaving me with about 30lbs to lose post baby. I lost those 30lbs within a short amount of time with working out 3-4 days a week and eating clean whole foods. To my surprise my knee pain dissipated. I was very careful at the start to monitor my knees with the help of my coaches and husband. Within 6 months I had no knee pain at all.  The strength training that comes with Crossfit had  strengthen the muscles in and around my knees immensely. I realized that my "routine" of running long distance on a daily basis was literally waring my knees out. The same pounding motion of running every day had left me almost crippled. So I bought in on this thing/fad called Crossfit that I sort of desperately tried to avoid. I hate fads by the way. But I am hooked. So what is Crossfit anyway? Well thats not easy to explain. I can honestly say that it took me months before I pieced together what it was and why it actually works. Not sure why it took me so long but I will blame it on "mom brain" since saying I'm not very smart doesn't sound as good. The best way to figure out what Crossfit is all about is to just do it. But not everyone is capable of or willing to do that so here is my take on a description. Crossfit is defined as constantly varied functional movements performed at a high intensity. Ok so what the hell does that mean right? Constantly varied meaning, having no routines and doing a different workouts and movements everyday.  Functional movements meaning movements I use on a daily basis (running, squating, picking up kids, lifting boxes over my head, carrying 50lbs of groceries up two flights of stairs etc.) All things My body does on a daily basis fall under functional movement category. High intensity meaning I do these constantly varied workouts with power, speed, force over a certain amount of distance as best and fast as I can. When I was a runner I had the same routine. Monday I ran this certain distance, Tuesday I ran another distance etc. Or even in college, Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays we would work certain muscle groups and Tuesday, Thursdays we would work other muscle groups. Once again it was routine. Crossfit workouts are constantly different. They are not conclusive to any routine. Spontaneous workouts are sometimes scary but at the same time absolutely rewarding. You never know what you are going to get. I literally feel as if my body is physically ready for anything you can throw at me.   I've never been physically faster, stronger, and felt better then ever before.  But let me throw one more at you. How about I say I've never felt better emotionally, mentally, and spiritually then ever before. Ok that can't be possible right? It is!! It's no secret.  Science proves physical activity stimulates our brains. We can think clearer and literally change our moods through physical activity. For me I went from being a college volleyball player to a mom in a matter of months. Literally I played my last month of volleyball pregnant. Yep, and to top it off I didn't even know it. Oops! If anyone knows me and my story (a bit personal) they can understand the pure joy and excitement that having a baby meant to me! It meant EVERYTHING to me. I stayed active during my pregnancy and had a very easy labor. Then started the joys of motherhood! Literally the best thing that has ever happened to me is an understatement.   Being a former athlete, physical fitness and sports have been the main focus for the majority of my life. I ABSOLUTELY  have to move my body and be physically active or I will shut down. I am not kidding, just ask my husband. I enjoy being a stay at home mom and I also enjoy taking a small amount of time out of my day to focus on my mental and physical health. It makes me a better mother and wife there is no doubt. I can keep up with my two busy boys on a daily basis and not feel literally exasperated by the end of the day. I can play volleyball on weekly basis with my friends and not feel like the ex college athlete that is out if shape and making (some what) of a fool out of myself. Actually I'm more physically fit then I was in college! I guess I am saying all of this to say...... Here it goes.... Crossfit makes me happy! Wait. That's it? I wrote all of that to tell you it makes me happy? Yep! Who gives a shit if you or anyone for that matter doesn't like Crossfit? I don't. Because here is what it all comes down to. Find what makes you happy and do it! Easy enough right. Does body building and dieting then getting judged in a bikini make you happy? Great! Then do it. Does that work for me? No. Does dance workouts in front of your tv with an instructor make you happy. Great! Then do it. Does taking long walks at sunset with your dog make you happy. Great. Then do that! If you find a way to be physically active and maintain a healthy lifestyle that makes you happy then do what works for you. The great thing about life is that we are all individuals. We are NOT the same. Meaning the same things cannot not make us all happy all the time. I do think anyone is capable of doing Crossfit but I realize it is not for everyone. Crossfit makes the most sense for my physical fitness therefore it makes me happy and that is why I  choose to do it. Now here is my last little tid bit on what Crossfit has done for me. It has changed my perspective on body image. When I started Crossfit I told myself that I didn't really want to get bulky. I just want to be lean and lose my baby weight. All 30lbs of it. So that's what I did. Then I started caring less about what my scale said and how my body looked and began focusing on how strong, fast, and fit I was. I became obsessed with how I felt instead of how I looked. When I ate like crap I felt like crap.  When I stopped working out for a week because I was feeling lazy I felt like crap. So all the sudden my body starts changing again. My body is more muscular.

My 130lb ideal pre baby body weight obsession was booted out the door. I started gaining weight. Almost 10lbs and counting to be exact. My pre baby jeans were getting tight on my thighs and butt because they were getting bigger. But I was starting to get a smaller waist thus forcing me to now where a belt on a daily basis. I have less fat on my body hence you can see where I am going with this considering breast size right?!  

(Before and after: not sure how my legs got bigger.. Must be all those squats!) 

So here is my thought process now. Yes I really liked my long skinny legs and a bit bigger boobs. But I like how I feel 10 times better then what people consider an ideal body image. So I've thrown that out the door. I've embraced my new body. I'm confident in it. I feel strong and I feel empowered as a women. I beat and out lift guys (my own husband in fact) in workouts sometimes and damn it that makes me happy and proud to be a women. So there you go. My take on why Crossfit is for me and why I am so honored to be apart of such a great community. I recently moved to Boise Idaho leaving behind my home gym Crossfit  Willow Glen. I am serious when I say that leaving my gym was the hardest part about moving away. I absolutely love and adore the people I associated and became friends with the past two years. The great things is Crossfit is everywhere. I've already stopped in and worked out at few places here in boise and am so encouraged by the comradary and welcoming spirit every where I've gone. That is what Crossfit is all about.  Not pictured is our good friends the Mangisis who first introduced Jacob and I to Crossfit. How is that possible I can't find a photo!? Love them though!!

❤️ Rach 

Lifting partners! Gosh I love them and our many laughs! 

 

Crossfit sistas

My box/crossfit Willow Glen owner and coach Audra Soltis. I owe this women an infinite amount of gratitude. She is a one of a kind! Love her! 

My last wod before our move to boise! I will be back soon to visit! Love this gym and all those who make it what it is!

Jessica's Journey Part 2... Life with Isagenix

 This is the story of the next Chapter in my Journey to gaining optimal health and the strong body I have desired.  If you havent read my first post with my before and after pictures go back and read  "Jessica's Journey" as it will probably help you to understand how far I've come in the last year and a half, and how Isagenix is the next chapter and how it has truly helped me take my health to the next level. 

These pictures are 30 days apart. In 30 days I lost 8 pounds and 5 & 1/2 inches. 2 & 3/4 of those inches are from my waist. 

How I got turned onto Isagenix...

I thought I had everything under control. I had spent the last year and a half healing my gut with the paleo diet and was able to send my autoimmune disease into remission with my new healthy lifestyle. It wasn't easy.  I just got use to the fact that gluten could never touch my tongue again and I would probably spend every Monday for the rest of my life going to the grocery store to then go home and spend hours food prepping so I could be prepared for the week ahead. I always had breakfast and lunch prepared so all I had to deal with then was dinner.  I had everything under control. Except my hair started falling out in January. And it seemed no matter how strictly I followed paleo it wouldn't stop. My thyroid levels were good so my doctors couldn't explain it and so they kept supplementing me with B vitamin shots and I swear 10 other pills a day. Still no luck. But I felt decent. I knew that I was stressed trying to keep up with my diet and new added stress at work, but I also knew hair that falls out from stress usually only lasts a few weeks. I was pushing almost 6 months at this point.  I felt good or so I thought, I wasn't having any of the horrid Hypothyroid symptoms of the past. So I just kept chugging along in hopes it would quit but starting to worry as my hair was the thinnest it had ever been. And then tragedy hit. My husbands uncle passed away from cancer. It was an emotionally hard time and after the memorial service my husband decided on Sunday night he needed to take a personal day and go to the beach for the night. He wasn't ready to go back to work the next day. I completely understood and was supportive. But I'm not gonna lie my first thought was "How the hell am I going to get my food prepped for the week?"  We went to the coast and it was exactly what my husband needed but needless to say we came home and my week was a mess. I was stressed from work, emotionally drained and ate like crap as I didn't have anything really healthy prepared and hadn't went to the store.  I knew I had too much on my plate but I truly didn't have any other option. I had come too far to let my health go by eating junk.  I realized at that point that as long as life was going smoothly I had everything under control. I had it under control for over a year, but life threw me a curveball and it got me discouraged. How was I suppose to keep up on working a full time job, exercising, food prepping, cooking, cleaning house, blogging, tending to a husband and then try to have kids someday??  The thought overwhelmed me.  I felt truly discouraged for the first time.  Maybe I couldn't do it all. And then God through me a bone.  I was introduced to something that I can truly say changed my life for the better. Isagenix.  A friend of mine from my Crossfit box posted that she had been using the program and loved it. I trusted her as I knew her and her husband followed the paleo diet and lived a lifestyle not that much different then mine.  As soon as I talked to her and her husband I had a positive feeling.  It was a slight glimpse of hope. A year ago, the thought of drinking two meal replacement shakes a day seemed too hard. How can you drink your calories???  I NEED food I thought. That doesn't even seem right!  Until I spent the next year cooking  and exhausting myself over it. All of the sudden drinking two shakes a day seemed too good to be true. You mean I don't have to prep breakfast and lunch anymore??  Just snacks and dinner.  Too good to be true. But then I found out it was Whey protein and I got real worried. My body doesn't digest whey. I've spent God knows how much money on trying lactose free whey and every kind imaginable. I can't digest it, literally it stops me up.  And I already knew with my Thyroid history that a bad gut screws everything up. But my friend was so encouraging and said research it. So I did and I found Isagenix Whey truly is different. They have a patent on the way they process it and it has digestive enzymes to help with your digestion along with other vitamins and minerals and countless other good things. Well I've tried digestive enzymes with no luck in the past but I was so desperate for something in my life to give I figured I would give it a shot. Why not??  And I knew two days in that my life would be forever changed. I not only could digest this product but my digestion got better and I felt energized. A few days in I did my first two Cleanse days which consisted of a liquid cleanse and no food. I was scared but I was also desperate for my hair to stop falling out. The first day was uncomfortable. I wasn't starving just thinking a lot about food. BUT the second day I awoke at 5:30am (which is really early for me) and was wide awake and literally felt like I could conquer the world.  I wasn't hungry and I felt this energy like I've never felt before. I accomplished in that second cleanse day more then I had in a long time. I found a new place to work. That day. I couldn't have been happier. I lost 5lbs to top it off. I felt like Jessica was back. And the very best part was two days after I cleansed my hair quit falling out. Just like that. I looked down at my hands in the shower and saw normal hair loss and felt so grateful that my friend had introduced me to Isagenix. In 1 week Isagenix fixed something that my doctors and myself couldn't fix in 6 months.  Maybe I could do this..  Maybe I could continue my Paleo/Gluten free  lifestyle, still do all the things I love and have kids some day. It seemed more doable for the first time to me. I don't know why my hair quit falling out, if I had to guess I would say that the cleanse released built up toxins in my system that I was unable to release myself. But maybe it was that and the fact that for the first time in a year and a half I spent a Monday doing something other then food prepping. I was able to spend a day out looking for a new place to work, and found it that day.  I really can't say why it worked, as I'm not a doctor, but what I can tell you is I feel like Isagenix gave me my life back.  I feel like a normal person again. Like this life is a blessing and is fun, not always work.  I will always use Isagenix now.  I will keep a shake packet in my purse at all times so when I go to events and all I see around me is pizza and gluten filled crap, I can bring out my shake and not go hungry.  How easy is that??  I will always follow the Paleo diet as closely as I can because it has done wonders for me and I believe in it, but Isagenix gave me something I needed. And that is control. I can keep everything under control when life throws me a curveball because I now have options.  And for me that is huge. 

-Jessica