Happy New Year!! :) Thanks for sticking with me during the past 8 months of insanity as I figure out how to
BALANCE
(my word for 2013) my life and I hope you will continue to read this year.
What’s been going on around here?
KIDDOS
Things are starting to look up or let up since I find the first year of a baby’s life a big challenge! The little one is almost 9 months old – what?! Where did the time go! This is a really enjoyable age and I’m finding that I am so much more relaxed with her schedule – when she looks or acts tired, I put her down for a nap or try to sync her with the other 2, when she seems hungry, I feed her…and with solid foods. I have a schedule of what she can eat, but instead of pureeing everything, I have been cutting things up in small pieces that we are eating for dinner instead. She loves it! Tonight she had black bean burger pieces, sweet potato coins cut up and some pasta! That makes things much easier 
I can’t believe that she is going to be one in 3 months. It seems like 3 years ago (seriously) but then it seems like yesterday. It’s a bittersweet thing.
The little one on the move and my little ballerina who has seemed to just age in the last few days, ahhh!
WORKOUTS
My weekly workout schedule has been something like this:
I’ve definitely changed things up from my heavy cardio routine and added in a ton of strength stuff, thanks to Anne Marie over at Rocky Road Running for guiding me! Unfortunately, I did something to my SI joint and my back is really bothering me. It all probably began when I continued to use flippers in the pool all throughout my pregnancy 
I haven’t really toned it down much and just found out I shouldn’t be doing any hill workouts which I have been killing lately, oops!! It has been pretty frustrating and I’m determining where to go from here! Fortunately, it doesn’t hold me back from the workouts, but I feel it the rest of the day and it’s a nagging pain. Had anyone had any problems with this area?
What is your CURRENT favorite workout?
Current favorite sites for finding great workouts:
Blonde Ponytail – and she’s expecting, fun!!
Rocky Road Running - just passed her Personal Training Cert – nice!!
FOOD
As in the title, I’m questioning coffee – is it good for us or bad for us? We’re supposed to avoid caffeine but I’ve heard good things about coffee. I started drinking it after Lindsay was born on a more regular basis – maybe 2-3 times a week instead of none. I really never liked the taste of coffee but I make it into a latte with half almond milk and then add whipped cream on top and it’s pretty tasty! Otherwise, I stick with the green tea. I’ve heard so many GOOD things about coffee, but don’t want to get hooked on it. Are you a coffee drinker? Need it or take it or leave it? I’ll only drink it at home how I like it!
I’ve been loading up on veggies for lunch and dinner – current go-to lunch and dinner is a load of grilled veggies with a handful of fresh spinach warmed up in the microwave with a scoop of feta cheese and any bean burgers that are leftovers from dinners for the week. Breakfast I need to clean up a bit – old habits die hard. I stick with Amazing Grass Chocolate Superfood + Hemp Protein powder mixed with water. My kids call it “pudding” – they love it! I haven’t been raiding the almond butter jar as much but when I get hungry in the afternoon, I usually do hit that up for something filling. What are your favorite filling snacks?
I attempted some gluten free brownies and thought they were going to be a fail with my adaptations, but boy, they were good!!
Gluten free, almost vegan black bean brownies
- 1/4 cup coconut flour
- 1/4 c garbanzo bean flour (ok, I had this on hand and it tastes awful but you can’t taste it in the brownies)
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, plus more for sprinkling on top
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 1/4 cups chocolate chips, divided
- 2 T coconut oil
- 1/4 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
- 1/4 package silken tofu
Place the black beans and 3/4 cup chocolate chips in the food processor and process till pureed, then add silken tofu. In a bowl, mix dry ingredients. Melt 1/2 c chocolate chips with coconut oil. Add the dry ingredients and melted chocolate mixture into the food processor and process until smooth. Spoon into an 8 x 8 pan and bake at 350 for 30 minutes. These were very thin and did not make all that many, so maybe next time I would try a loaf pan.
Do you do most of your strength workouts at home or do you get to a gym?? I find on maternity leave it is harder to schedule workouts because I have too much free time…if I did more workouts at home I might workout more.
I do most at home, sometimes at the gym. Tons that require no workout, I love blondeponytails site and my pinterest pins. If I want to do ones with kettlebells, bosu balls, etc.. I try to get to the gym. It’s more motivating there anyway! Also picked up a gymboss timer which is a sweet little thing!
http://pinterest.com/tosha25italia/strength/
It’s funny you mention coffee… I was just listening to a lecture today about it… seems like the consensus is that it’s still unclear whether the pros or cons win, all depends on the individual. If your body can handle it (no weird side effects, anxiety, etc) go for it.
And thanks for mentioning Rocky Road runner.. I had never seen her site, and her marathons were so inspiring to read just a few days before my second!
I know! Anne Marie is so inspiring and fast!! Great blog to read! And I forgot about your nutrition coaching/classes… great person to ask!
Can’t believe Lynsey is 9 months! Mind you, I can’t believe Harris is 12 weeks either! I decided before H was born that I’d just accept they weren’t going to nap at the same time, so when it happens it is a wee bonus. It def keeps my stress levels down! Oh and baby led weaning when you’ve already got toddlers on solids sounds like a plan – was thinking I may go that way myself in a few months – we’ll see.
Murray has suddenly become such a boy too. He’s in his big bed now!
I think coffee can help with digestion in some folk, of which I am one, but any more than 2 cups of proper (not instant) per day and I get the jitters, so I keep it to that and if I fancy another take decaff. Coffee with almond milk sounds nice!
Your girls are stunners!
Thanks Kaz! 12 weeks already!!! Big bed for Murray! Yes – if I have 2 cups one day, I am all over the place
My thoughts on coffee are mixed. Since I’ve been trying to save money and don’t really like coffee unless it comes from a shop, I have been brewing my own loose tea at home. I have this one that tastes like coffee… yum! I mix up caffeinated with de-caf tea days.