Over the last 8 weeks, I’ve really hit my fitness stride. And it feels AWESOME!

I haven’t talked much about fitness here, but it’s become such an important part of my healthy lifestyle that I can’t not share it with you. I also sent out a survey to all my subscribers yesterday (I’d love for you to fill it out if you haven’t yet) and realized that SO many of you are also integrating fitness into your daily routines to help you lead a happier and healthier life.

Go you!

So what am I doing to stay in shape? I include three main things into my exercise routine: yoga, walking and Tone It Up workouts.

I’ve been a fan of the Tone It Up girls for years, but haven’t ever really committed to one of their challenges. They host a bunch of 8-week challenges throughout the year, their biggest one being the Bikini Series which started in April and ended this past weekend.

I’m not sure what clicked for me this year, but I went for it. I followed their daily workouts *almost* exactly and really pushed myself. While my changes weren’t huge, it was the internal changes that made the whole thing worth it. I feel stronger, more fit and more confident, but what really surprised me is that my body craves better food. Like it’s all I want to eat!

Before I ate super healthy, but I’d still wolf down some tortillas chips, or take a few of Matt’s fries, or take some bites of his ice cream. But now? I want nothing to do with it. Instead, I’m filling myself full of fruits, veggies, healthy fats and plant-based protein. Lots of salads, smoothies (and smoothie bowls) and fruit/nut butters for snacks.

And I feel AMAZING!!

I guess until now I never really realized how intertwined nutrition and fitness truly are. And honestly, at the beginning of the Bikini Series I didn’t really make any changes in my diet and so I got frustrated with my progress. But when I started focusing on what I was eating, everything changed. The way I looked, the way I felt and the way I thought about myself.

Truth is, you can workout all day, every day but if you aren’t eating right, you’re not going to get the results you want. And my results? I’m happy with them!

While the goal wasn’t to lose weight – it was more to tone up – I lost a total of 7”! My stomach is flatter, my butt actually has some muscle to it and I can do 20 pushups (on my toes!) no problem. That’s a big accomplishment for me.

And again, it feels awesome!

One of the keys to my success has been my morning routine. I do the Tone It Up workouts 4-5 mornings a week and go to hot yoga 2 times per week. The days I do yoga in the morning, I do my Tone It Up workout after work, and the days I do Tone It Up in the morning, I do yoga after work. And of course, I sprinkle in 2 – 3 daily casual walks per day with my pup

Because my mornings have been so intense, my breakfast has been one of the most critical parts of my eating habit. It not only serves to refuel me, but it also sets the tone for my eating habits for the rest of the day. It took me a little while to find my breakfast groove, but I’ve settled on smoothies (with the occasional quinoa breakfast bowl sprinkled in).

They’re filling, hydrating and nourishing!

And this one is my favorite. I’m calling it the Ultimate Post-Workout Smoothie because it’s packed with ingredients that your body needs after a hard workout:

1. Raw Coconut Water

Rather than using a nut-milk or water as the base for this smoothie, I opted for raw coconut water. Coconut water has lots of electrolytes as well as being high in potassium, so it’s a great drink for after your workout. One word of caution: you’ve got to buy raw. Most coconut waters have been “pasteurized” or cooked a really high temperatures which basically just kills any of the good nutrients that are inside. My favorite brand is Harmless Harvest – it tastes like you’re drinking it straight from a coconut!

2. Banana + Pineapple

Both of these fruits are fairly high in “good” carbs, and also give your body a good dose of potassium. They not only help give the smoothie some sweetness, but they also help you recover from your workout.

3. Blueberries

We all know that blueberries are high in antioxidants which can really help speed up your recovery after your workout.

4. Raw, Vegan Protein

I know that protein powders can be a sticky subject for a lot of people and this is completely optional in this smoothie. When I’m looking at a protein powder, there are few things I make sure it has. It needs to be raw, vegan, organic and without added sugars. The one I used today is from Garden of Life, but I also like hemp protein as an alternative.

5. Quinoa

Last but not least…quinoa. Quinoa is a great ingredient to eat after a workout because it not only has protein, but it’s also a complex carbohydrate which will help speed up recovery AND it’s got a bunch of minerals that your body needs to stay healthy. I love adding it to smoothies because it really helps thicken them up!

This smoothie really does have it all!

Oh and I did also throw in a little bit of spinach to up my green intake, but that also is optional.

So now that I’ve shared all about my fitness routine, I’d love to hear from you! Do you workout? What’s your favorite kind of exercise?

And if you want to see more of this type of post, let me know! I love sharing about this kind of stuff, but only want to write about it if you want to read it

xx Alyssa

Share this recipe!

If you make this recipe, make sure to snap a pic and share it on Instagram using #SIMPLYQUINOA – I want to see your own quinoa creations!

 

The post The Ultimate Post-Workout Smoothie appeared first on Simply Quinoa.

Read the original on: Simply Quinoa