Sharing tips on how to get back in shape and start a fitness routine after taking a break after an extended time or injury.

Hi hi! How are you? I hope that you’re having a wonderful morning. Thank you to those of you who have entered the giveaway so far! Check out the post here. This morning, I’m taking a yoga class, and then meeting a friend for lunch in between podcast interviews.

Today, I wanted to share some strategies on how to get back in shape if you’ve taken some time off.

The truth is, sticking to a regular fitness plan can be quite a challenge. Life happens, and it’s not uncommon to find yourself taking a break from your fitness routine. Whether it’s due to a busy schedule, health issues, or just a lack of motivation, getting back in shape after a hiatus can feel like a daunting task. But the good news is, it’s never too late to restart your fitness journey, and I’m here to help you ease your way back into it.

How to Get Back In Shape

Find Your Motivation

The first step in your fitness comeback journey is finding your motivation. Ask yourself why you want to get back in shape. Is it to improve your health, regain confidence, or simply feel more energized? Knowing your ‘why’ can provide the drive you need to stay committed.Motivation often varies from person to person. Some might be inspired by a desire to shed a few pounds, while others want to increase their energy levels or reduce stress. Whatever your motivation, write it down and remind yourself of it daily. It’s your compass on this journey.

Create a Plan

Once you’ve found your motivation, it’s time to create a plan. Set clear fitness goals and establish a workout routine. Having a plan in place gives you a roadmap to follow, making it easier to stay on track.

When creating your plan, consider the following:

Goal Specificity:

Make your goals specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). For example, instead of saying “I want to lose weight,” say “I aim to lose 10 pounds in three months.”

Balanced Workouts:

Include a mix of cardiovascular exercises, strength training, and flexibility work in your fitness routine. This balanced approach ensures you’re working on various aspects of your fitness.

Progress Tracking:

Keep a fitness journal or use a tracking app to record your workouts, nutrition, and progress. Tracking your achievements can be incredibly motivating.

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Hands in the air if you’re equally excited to be back in a routine, but also lamenting the end of summer. We are officially back in school, back to the dance-horses-homework extravaganza, and while I thrive on a schedule, things are busy, as I’m sure many of you can relate.

I’m here trying to make the week as streamlined as possible, and here are some of the things that have helped:

– Doing anything I can the night before. This means packing lunches, setting out uniforms (including hair accessories and shoes), packing snacks, and setting out water bottles to be filled. I also make a mental note of what the kids are having for breakfast, so I can make anything in advance.

– Start dinner in the afternoon. Many nights, Liv is finished with dance late, so I have dinner waiting for the crew when they’re done with their activities for the day. I’ve found that late afternoon, before school pickup, is the best chance to get some veggies chopped, and make anything I can before pickup.

– Snack prep! I try to make snack staples at the beginning of the week, so that the kids have lots of options.

Here are two favorites that they’re loving lately!

Lemon Blueberry Muffins and Chocolate Coconut Energy Bites

Lemon Blueberry Muffins

These lemon blueberry muffins have a bright and zesty flavor. P says they taste like pancake muffins! I also like that they’re not too sweet. You can absolutely increase the sweetness by adding more coconut sugar or maple syrup. Make a batch and freeze to have on hand for the week. I’ll heat them up and serve with pre-boiled eggs for a quick school morning breakfast.

Sliced fresh apples, with a drizzle of peanut butter and honey, topped with a handful of crunchy chocolate peanut butter granola add up to a plate of the best ever Apple Nachos.

Apple Nachos

For as long as I can remember, I’ve enjoyed apples for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. What’s not to love about crunchy, sweet, tart apples? Paired with a crunchy peanut butter dip or this honey yogurt dip, they’re a snack everyone loves.

These apple nachos combine the freshness of sliced apples with savory sweet peanut butter and honey and the chewy crunch of granola. They’re satisfyingly filling for a simple meal or a hearty snack.

This time of year, my family can not get too many apples and Meijer consistently has the tastiest apples. I partnered with Meijer a few years ago to share this apple recipe with you and we’ve been making these apple nachos regularly ever since then.

There’s just no end to the sweet and savory ways you can eat apples: apple oatmeals, apple butter, baked apples, apple pancakes, dehydrated apple chips, applesauce, apple cakes, and apple pie bars.

Apple crisps, apple crisp ice cream, Read more

Cream of Mushroom Pasta +Video

Creamy mushroom pasta starts with buttery caramelized sauteed mushrooms and ends with that deep rich umami flavor in your mouth. It’s literally love at first bite! But it hasn’t always been that way…

As a little kid in church I learned the sweetest song, “I’m Trying to Be Like Jesus”. Sometimes even now it goes floating through my mind with the simple reminder to be like Him. But lately a new version has taken over, “I’m trying to like those mushrooms….” It’s a bit of a journey for me.

Picky eaters will understand, it’s a texture thing. But truly, I’ve come a long way and this pasta is a bit of a nod to the delicious flavor a well caramelized mushroom can bring to a pasta, elevating it from simplistic to romantic.

How to Make Cream of Mushroom Pasta Video

We are going to share all the tips for making mushrooms the star of the show and not the rubbery, squeaky undesirables that they can be if they are cooked incorrectly.

Ingredients for Creamy Mushroom Pasta

I am going to include a brief description of the ingredients you will need. This is meant to be just an overview. You can find all the measurements and details in the recipe card at the end of the post.

• Mixed Mushrooms: cremini, shiitake, chanterelle and oyster or any combination
• Olive Oil and Butter: the combination of the two caramelizes the mushrooms perfectly
• Garlic: adds flavor
• Kosher Salt: adds flavor and enhances all the other ingredients
• Nutmeg: this might seem strange, but trust me, it adds the best little flavor to the mushrooms
• Pepper: adds flavor and a little heat
• White Wine: adds richness and depth of flavor
• Bucatini Pasta: you can use spaghetti, but I love the thicker noodle for this recipe
• Heavy Cream: creates the creamy sauce
• Lemon: cuts through all the heaviness and adds a bright pop of fresh flavor
• Pecorino Romano: you can use parmesan cheese instead if you can’t find it
• Pasta Water: helps thicken the sauce
• Fresh Parsley: adds a freshness to the dish

Which Mushrooms are Best for Pasta?

I love to use a variety of mushr

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Protein Baked Oatmeal Mug Cake

Oatmeal mug cake loaded with peanut butter and chocolate chips…for an excuse to eat cake for breakfast, look no further!

Over the years, I have learned that I feel so much better throughout the day if I start with a high protein breakfast. I joined the baked oatmeal trend and have been obsessed with trying different combinations of flavors. It’s no surprise that peanut butter and chocolate was a combo that had to make it on the blog.

This mug cake is loaded with 34 grams of protein and is a hearty (and outrageously delicious) way to start the day! And just for the memories, this mug cake recipe and our chocolate chip cookie version pretty much saved my life after the bike crash. I couldn’t eat normally for so long, and these mug cakes were the perfect way to get loads of protein.

Ingredients in Peanut Butter Choc Chip Mug Cake

These ingredients are so simple and likely ones that you’ll already have at home which is always a winner! This is meant to just be an overview of the ingredients needed. For all the details and full measurements, scroll down to the recipe card at the end of the post.

• Banana: adds moisture and natural sweetness to the cake
• Peanut Butter: adds flavor and protein
• Egg: helps with the structure of the cake and adds more protein
• Oats: go with old fashioned oats or quick oats
  • NOTE: Steel cut oats will not work in this recipe
• Protein Powder: we have been using vanilla but I’m sure it would be great with chocolate or peanut butter protein powder too
• Milk: any type of milk will work, use almond milk and make it dairy free!
• Baking Powder: gives the cake some rise and fluffiness
• Salt: enhances all the flavors
• Mini Chocolate Chips: you can mix these in or just sprinkle them on top after baking
• Peanut Butter Chips: totally optional but they are a delicious addition

Substitutions

If you aren’t down with using bananas in your mug cake, here are few ideas for substitutes:

• Applesauce
• Zucchini
• Apple Butter
• Yogurt
• Canned Pumpkin

You’ll want to use about 1/4 – 1/3 cup of these.

Possible Variations

Skip the chocolate chips and add a dollop of jam on top. It will be like eating a breakfast pb & j.

Add chopped peanuts for more peanut flavor and added crunch.

Slice up some bananas and add them on top.

Add flaxseeds or chia seeds for even more added nutrition.

Drizzle with caramel or top with a scoop of ice cream. Ok, this may have entered the dessert zone, but it just feels right!

What to Eat with a Mug Cake