Protein rich banana nut bread!

     Hey there everyone! I'm here today with your next recipe...a flour-less, no sugar added, protein packed banana nut bread! Yes, you read that right ; )...and with this version, you can eat a slice (or two) without any guilt what-so-ever ; )!  This bread has a decent amount of protein in it due to the fact that it is made with almond flour versus regular flour and as an added bonus, it is a good banana nut bread alternative for those on a low gluten/no gluten diet.  Do keep in mind, though, that because it is made with a different type of flour, it will have a slightly different texture then your typical banana nut bread....but still delicious nonetheless ; ). I find this bread (with it's decent amount of protein) to be a great post workout snack as well!

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 cup almond flour (I buy mine at Whole Foods in the bins where you buy items by weight)
• 1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes (Whole Foods is the only place I have been able to find the unsweetened kind)
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 4 tsp cinnamon
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 3 ripe bananas
• 3 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease a loaf pan with nonstick spray.
2. In one bowl, combine the dry ingredients. (the first 6 ingredients listed)
3. In another bowl, mash the bananas and then mix in the eggs and vanilla.
4. Combine dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix until there are no lumps.  Pour into the greased pan.
5. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean from the middle.
6. Cool for at least 5 minutes before slicing.  Enjoy ; )

Let me know how it goes and leave me a comment telling me what you think ; )!

~Christina

Get Back In It

Good evening San Antonio. Get Back In It. For several San Antonioans the heat becomes a major deterrent for people in terms of working out. Just an FYI update but there are also several gym in San Antonio that offer indoor training in an air controlled environment. Yes that was sarcasm. Come on people!! I know it's hot but most of us are not going to be working outside anyways. Most of us were not doing our workouts outside before the heat arrived so that's enough with that cop out. Get your butts up and stop making excuses. Get back in the healthy lifestyle pattern and make it happen. If we help 1 person then awesome and if we don't help anybody at least it won't be for lack of effort damnit!!! Tomorrow Is Now....San Antonio Chris

Consistency Damnit

Good evening San Antonio. Consistency Damnit!! Great workouts and great nutritional days are only great if we do them consistently. A client of mine is struggling to get his off day Workouts done in the morning , but he is getting them done on his lunch break which is totally awesome. He knows that the times we meet are great workouts but they become even better when he can make his off day workouts consistent.Consistency is everything people. Stay consistent. Get that workout in consistently and eat right consistently and the results you earn will be consistent with what you want. If we help 1 person then awesome and if we don't help anybody it won't be for lack of effort damnit!!! Tomorrow is now...San Antonio Chris

Quick (& easy) Cucumber & Avocado Salsa

     Hey there y'all! I'm here today with your next recipe! This one is not necessarily a meal in it's own, but is a great condiment to throw on some tacos or to just enjoy with some fresh tortilla chips (& maybe a cerveza ...or two!)...& heck, if you want to eat it straight out of the bowl then that's fine too...it really is that good ; )! 

     Well, I don't know about you, but with the mercury rising these days to some crazy temps (especially here in Vegas), our go to foods are often much "cooler" and more refreshing foods! I'm talking about fresh and raw veggies and fruits. No, I'm not telling you to go on this raw diet and forgo cooked foods ; ), but adding in more of the fresh stuff can help bring down those temps maybe a tad or two ; )!  Today's recipe is a cucumber and avocado salsa...& it is super easy to make...you can't beat it! I made this for my hubby and kids last week and we topped it on "street tacos" (steak for him and veggie ones for the rest of us) and it was a HIT! The nice thing about this recipe is that you can alter the salsa to be mild (which is what I did since my kids were eating it too...I simply omitted the jalapeno) or spicy...whatever you fancy ; )!

Ingredients

• 1 medium English cucumber, seeded & diced (I simply cut in half lengthwise and with a fork gently  ran it up & down the length of it to remove the seeds)
• 2 medium or 3 small ripe (yet firm) avocados, diced
• 1/2 red onion, diced
• 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (I used 2.5 limes to get this amount)
• salt to taste (I prefer sea salt)
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1-3 jalapeno peppers, seeded & finely chopped (adjust to your preference or omit for mild salsa)

Directions

Gently combine all the ingredients in a bowl to thoroughly mix. Serve within an hour of preparing...enjoy!

Leave me a comment and let me know how it goes!

~Christina

Summer benchmarks

Good morning San Antonio. Summer benchmarks. Summer is here. A good way to stay motivated especially during the sweltering Texas heat is to set benchmarks during the summer. Whether its a pair of shorts, a certain swimsuit, or a goal weight or body fat%....use that benchmark to keep you on track and at the same time give you a new sense of focus. Once you hit that benchmark set another little benchmark and go from there. Remember...don't forget to celebrate your achievements. If we help 1 person then awesome and if we don't help anybody at least it won't be for lack of effort damnit!!!! Tomorrow is now....San Antonio Chris.

Against The Grain

Good morning San Antonio. Against The Grain. For most of us and on most days it feels as if life gets in the way of living a healthy lifestyle and as if trying to live that healthy lifestyle would be against the grain of what is being dictated. That's why we go to fast food places because it's "convenient".....that's why we skip our workout....that's why veg out on the couch....that's why we skip our workouts. Look don't let life dictate the lifestyle you will lead. There will always be something in your lives that will attempt to get in the way, so to speak, of you leading a healthier lifestyle. The only answer is to take control and make the decision to do it. We preach on this blog all the time that it comes down to making the decision to do so. Trust me we are not trying to be redundant and there is a reason. Simply put...go against the grain if you have to and make the decision. If we help 1 person then awesome and if we don't help anyone at least it won't be for lack of effort damnit!!! Tomorrow is now....San Antonio Chris