KIND BARS

1/3 cup honey
2 tablespoons coconut flour
2 tablespoons PB
pinch of sea salt
1 1/3 chopped walnuts, almonds, pumpkin seeds (or any combination you want!)
1/2-3/4 cup dried blueberries and craisins (or any combination!)

1. Line an 8x8 pan with parchment paper, leaving it hanging over on 2 sides. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
2. In a large bowl mix coconut flour, honey, PB and salt together until smooth.
3. Mix in chopped nuts.
4. Mix in dried fruit.
5. Spoon mixture onto the parchment paper and using the flaps of parchment paper, press down and spread mixture evenly.
6. Bake for 20 minutes.
7. Let cool, place in fridge and then cut!

ENJOY!

Where I was to where I am

This was me 5 years ago.

The most unhappy place I've been in my life. You can see it on my face. Unhappy with my looks, my job, my relationship... Smiling was a rare thing at this time in my life. I would look in the mirror and not recognize myself. Where did the division 1 soccer player go? Mentally, I was a mess and had zero self confidence.

I would workout for endless hours and eat like crap, or not eat at all. Drinking was part of my life every single weekend. I knew something HAD TO CHANGE.

I was introduced to some amazing people who were part of Beachbody. At the time, I had NO IDEA what it was all about. They taught me that all you need is 30 minutes of working out a day. They taught me what eating healthy was all about. They INSPIRED ME!󾍘

Slowly...the real me was peaking through. I made changes in many parts of my life to find myself again. To get control back in my life.

Now, I'm happier than ever!  I can't imagine where I would be today without these amazing people I have met through Beachbody. I can't imagine NOT smiling󾌸

It's my turn to inspire. Monday➡️free 30 day healthy eating and fitness accountability group.

Is it your turn for a change?

PUMPKIN GRANOLA BARS

Brought to you by The Nutty Scoop...and tweaked a bit by me : )

1 cup rolled oats
1 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup peanut butter or almond butter
3/4 cup honey or maple syrup
1/4 cup dark chocolate chips (I use the vegan kind)...or use dried fruit!
1/3 cup pumpkin seeds
2 tbsp chia seeds
1 tsp cinnamon
3 tsp pumpkin spice

1. Preheat your oven to 350 and line a 8x8 pan with parchment paper. set aside.
2. Mix everything in a bowl, transfer to the prepared baking pan and flatten it out with the spatula.
3. Bake for 25 minutes.  After you can put some extra chocolate chips on top to make a chocolate layer :)  Let the bars cool in the pan before cutting them into 16 pieces.  I like them smaller, but you can cut them into 8 pieces if you prefer.  Store in refrigerator or wrap individually and store in the freezer!

ENJOY!!

"I wish" changed to "I CAN"

The day I turned I wish into I can. 

Some things just "click" in life.  Some people say certain things are meant to be. I personally never really believed in that. 

I always had a negative attitude about what I thought I could do and what I actually was capable of. Self doubt, fear, disappointment were all things I had. 

I never ran a marathon and always thought wouldn't it be amazing to experience that, especially in Boston. But I thought I couldn't. That I wasn't able to with 4 knee surgeries. That I wasn't good enough for such a quest. That my mentality wasn't strong enough. 

The day I turned my thinking into a positive motion, is the day I committed to saying "why not me". Why can't I cross the finish line. Why can't I train in the winter and be one of those people I called "crazy maniacs."  Nothing was truly stopping me from doing so. 

When I truly believed "I CAN" is when this so called fate came into action. I applied to the American Red Cross, I had my interview, and the rest is history. It is part of my journey towards the finish line, which is now only 41 days away. I WILL succeed and I WILL run a marathon with a smile on knowing I changed those "I wish" moments into "I WILL" 

You can truly do anything you set your mind to and I 100% believe in that. So...is it your moment to change the I wish into an I CAN??

Marathon is less than 2 months away!!

Took a little trip to San Francisco last week to work remotely and get out of Boston.  It was pretty incredible and very easy to stay on track with eating healthy and training for the marathon.  SO SO many healthy options!  

First was the long run that I had to do while I was there...

"Battery low". Not what you want to hear only a couple miles into your 17 mile run.

Honestly any other day I would care but not today. I got to run over the golden state bridge...SO. AWESOME!! It was super windy but I just looked at it as a little resistance training. You could totally tell it was my 1st time ever running it as my face was smiling ear to ear thinking HOW FUN IS THIS?!! And every other runners face was I HATE THIS WIND!

Haha another long run in the books that was super fun!

And the day after the long run when Amanda's work conference was over and we did some more sight seeing (aka supposed to be my day off of training!), this is what I got from her haha...

"This is for your own good"- Amanda

This is what she told me when I was hesitant on going on over a 2 hour hike after the previous day of running 17 miles and then having to jump on the red eye flight.

Clearly lost this battle of tough love! Apparently my rest day in marathon training turned into a hiking day at Muir Woods. As sore as I was, it was so incredibly worth it. smile emoticon.

Thanks for keeping me on track for conquering heartbreak hill.

Donate today to www.crowdrise.com/lynngugliuzza.  ALL DONATIONS WELCOME for American Red Cross!!

 smile emoticon

BANANA OAT BITES

2 ripe bananas mashed
2 cups rolled oats
1/4 cup almond butter or peanut butter
1/4 cup honey
1 tsp cinnamon
*raisins or mini chocolate chips optional

Mix it all together, roll into bite size balls, refrigerate, and ENJOY!!

Marathon Training- week 9 complete

This has been such an amazing experience so far, with the best being this morning.  I finally had the chance to make it out to Newton for a Team run out of Heartbreak Hill Running Co.  WOW what an awesome atmosphere to be in.  I will admit, I was beyond nervous for it because while I love team atmospheres (I mean duh, growing up playing soccer), but when it comes to running, I am a solo runner.  Headphones on and tune out the world without a care in the world.



Saturday morning...surrounding yourself with energetic, positive people who share the same passion for living a healthy and happy lifestyle is exactly what I needed!!  I could have done without running heartbreak hill twice...and all of the rolling hills in between, but it was well worth it!

My coach says that we need to find a rhythm.  Week after week. In training. In our nutrition. In our habits.  Well one thing is for sure, I love this pre long run meal!  Oatmeal, chia seeds, hemp seeds, cinnamon, dash of maple syrup, mixed with banana slices and a few strawberries.  WOW it is yummy!  Sometimes I mix in a tsp on chocolate or strawberry shakeology too if I want a bit more flavor.

Layering is another piece of the rhythm and preparation that I need to get better with.  I SWEAT! Seriously wonder how one person can sweat so much (maybe it's because I CONSTANTLY drink water).  So figuring out how many layers in what degree temperature is still a mystery...only a bit more time to figure this one out!

Here is the run from this morning and seriously, I feel like I just inhaled a ton of positive energy in my life and exhaled the negative.  Of course it was even better to come home to my girlfriend ready to make me a post run shake and get ready to head to our massage!  What a Happy Weekend!