I love muffins. Wait, no. I love muffin tops. Not the ones that are glued to my sides, but the ones I eat. I love them. Whoever decided to just sell muffin tops in stores is a complete genius. And these muffin tops in this recipe are by far the best ones I’ve ever made. You’ll be quite happy to try these muffins. The bf didn’t agree, but sometimes, he’s just wrong.
Enough about muffin tops. I want to talk about exercise. Yes, yes I do. So I wanted to chat about fitness, the ups and the downs, and creating a workout you love to do. That’s honestly why I started this blog in the first place. To not only talk about food, but what life is like when you CrossFit every day.
I have been struggling with CrossFit for a little less than a year now. After Regionals last year, I injured my shoulder, then I injured my elbow. It led to me taking a step back from competing. And since I wasn’t competing anymore, I wanted to look different. I had gained over 30 pounds, some muscle and some fat, and wasn’t comfortable in that body anymore. My body didn’t look like the ripped CrossFitters out there who become lean and more muscular, I just had more weight on me. And I hated it. So I stopped working out multiple times a day, cut back my weights, and started running more. But running more led to other injuries. Pretty much my body has been feeling like it’s falling apart and I’ve been upset and frustrated constantly about it.
But the thing is, I’m not one to stop working out. I would look like a bowl of tapioca pudding if I did. So I stopped going over head in CrossFit and I kept running, mixing it up with some sprint work as well as “longer” distances. I put the “” down because I run 2.5 miles, which is long for me. By the end, I feel like my body is crumbling. Literally, crumbling. My awkward turtle body was just not meant for running.
Anywho. I wanted to talk about this because I want it to be proof that you can create your own kind of CrossFit. Or really, any workout. I think a lot of people are intimidated by CrossFit or by a gym or a certain kind of workout, but they shouldn’t be. I’ve created a workout that I’ve begun to love again and look forward to because I’m changing my body and feeling good in my skin. Isn’t that what it’s all about? Last year, it was all about hitting personal records, not crying during muscle ups, and making it as far as I could in Regionals. Now it’s about not hurting during a workout, fitting into shorts and jeans, and feeling good in Mexico. Funny how priorities change.
I don’t know why I’m talking about all of this. Most people won’t care. But maybe someone will. Because honestly, I’m writing this to say…don’t give up. Don’t ever give up in your workouts. And if you haven’t started working out yet, start today. There is no better day than today to try something new. Try Zumba, try pilates, try yoga, try cycling, try p90x, try insanity, try CrossFit, try out a fitness class at your gym, try lifting weights, try swimming, try walking/jogging/running/sprinting, try anything. The more things you try, the more you’ll begin to figure out how exercise can be fun in some way. Or at least beneficial. Ok, I’m getting off my soap box. That’s enough ranting for the week.
I really wish we had soul cycle out here. I want to try it. Any workout with good music, I’m in.
Look at these cool people who came in to CrossFit Broadway to workout and visit. They are so great. Thanks for stopping by Lauren and Ryan! You guys had good movements. I love that.
Enough about exercise, I want to talk about food.
Maple Pecan Crunch Banana Muffins
- Yield: 12 1x
Ingredients
- 4 bananas (I used the extra brown ones)
- 6 dried dates, pitted
- 4 eggs
- 1/4 cup Coconut Oil, melted
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 5 heaping tablespoons coconut flour
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- sprinkle of cinnamon
- pinch of salt
For the delicious topping
- 1 cup mixed nuts, chopped (I used sliced almonds, walnuts, and pecans)
- 2 heaping tablespoons almond flour/meal
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- sprinkle of cinnamon
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In yourfood processor, puree bananas and dried dates until you get a paste. Let it go for a while so the dates can break up completely.
- Add in eggs, coconut oil, and maple syrup and puree.
- Then add in the coconut flour. Mix. Then cocoa Powder. Mix. Then finish it off with adding the baking soda, powder, cinnamon and salt. Mix well in your food processor.
- In a separate bowl, add together the delicious topping mixture.
- Now line your muffin tin with paper muffin liners (I tried using silicone and they were a pain to get out) and use an ice cream scoop to plop batter into each muffin. It should make 12 muffins so try not to pile too high because the topping will take up a lot of room.
- Then add a heaping tablespoon of topping on each muffin and spread out around the muffin.
- Place in oven and cook for 35-40 minutes. These guys take a long time because they are so dense and wet, so check them at 35 minutes and every couple minutes after that. All you need to do is press on the top, if it give a lot, they aren’t ready. Be patient.
- Once they are cooked, let cool for at least 20 minutes. That way they will come out of the muffin liners easily.
- Then eat up and love your life.
- I did. Multiple times.
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More Muffins, Please!
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Double Chocolate Almond Espresso Muffins
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I loved your post! I’m a mother of 2 and new to Paleo and now Crossfit (they kinda go hand & hand hu?). This is the first time in my whole life I feel like I’ve really “worked out”. Crossfit is amazing and hard and inspiring and it puts me on the floor. I love it. I gained 45 pounds with the last babe and I’m down to my last 10ish pounds. I’m on my 4th week of Crossfit, doing it 5 days a week and I haven’t lost an OUNCE however I’ve lost a pant size and am feeling stronger that I ever have so trying to focus on the scale. Keep up the awesome posts they are motivating and if we’re all here reading them then we’re obviously interested (duh!) 🙂
NOT focus on the scale – guess I should proof read. whoops.
Great post. I love when you talk about exercise and crossfit.
To me, I decided to get serious about exercise so I could look good. So I decided to give bodybuilding/bikini division a try and it was amazing! My body look better than I had ever seen it, but then my health was failing and I didn’t even realize it. You may have had injuries and I’m glad you decided to give your body a break to heal, but my body was in a constant catabolic mode and I didn’t get periods…eeeek, too weird for a recipe post, lol.
So my new goal was to regain my health (and fat…unfortunately). That’s when I decided to try crossfit and now I workout to perform and stay healthy. I wish my mind would love my body as much as it did when I was unhealthy, but girls are crazy. So are you btw. I always think you look great. Anywho…great post! 🙂
Jules, first of all my roommate and i love your blog, like look at it every day and honestly multiple times a day to see if you posted a new recipe! but i have a huge issue that nobody can seem to solve for me, but i feel like you would know the answer. i am allergic to coconut, like get super bad headaches and nobody wants to be around me because im crabby allergic. i have been able to use almond flour instead of coconut flour, but cannot find a good substitute for coconut oil, do you have any recommendations?! Im desperate. Mostly because i really want these muffins. Thanks!!!!!
You could try using almond oil in some of your baking instead of coconut oil!
I want you to know this blog means a lot to me! Just 6 months ago I moved from Denver to Australia and had a lot of life changes before the move and when first settling here. I gained 30lbs and could barely squeeze into my everyday work clothes and my normal gym routine was non-existent. I wanted to cry, I felt like at 28 I had ruined my body, and it made me even sadder considering I live on the beach.
Recently I came across CrossFit and Paleo and I found a great coach to help me with both. The fat is coming off, I am stronger than I have ever been in my life, and I can wear old jeans without the bad muffin top. I am starting to feel human again. Your blog keeps me excited about CrossFit and Paleo, being young, and just wanting to be healthy. It has also made me love cooking!
These photo’s looks amazing!! And I love your honesty and openness regarding crossfit! Keen to try this recipe, I need to make a dent in my coconut flour stash!
Juli ! I just got your recipe book all the way here in South Africa 😀 I am attempting the 21DSD from Monday – so these muffins (and all the other yummy treats are going to be rocked out this weekend!)
Your blog is AWESOME.
This post also hit home for me! I love working out but often succomb to over training or do too much too fast. I keep getting injury after injury as well, plantar fasciitis from training for a Half too quickly. I recently decided to try something new.. a boxing class. Yea, towards the end of the class during a drill, I felt a “POP” in my knee. That was tuesday. Now Friday, still hobbling, will see my knee doc Monday. Ugh.
I recently gained 15 pounds and am less than thrilled about it. But also feel quite uninspired at the gym… now with this knee injury i’m a tad more frustrated. But will do what I can..
Blogs like this are great! And I thank you for sharing your experience.. definitely helps those of us that are struggling with similar issues.
I really liked the way you opened this post and were just being HONEST! It is great that you are listening to your body, still working out, but making it work for YOU and making YOU feel good. That is the way that it should be! Training should be fun and not painful, discouraging, or a pain in the butt. Have a great weekend!
Thanks for sharing Juli – hits so close to home for me! I started CF after 40 and after 4 years or so, I’m feeling totally crippled by an injury that just refuses to get better. Like you, not exercising is not an option but it’s been a real struggle telling myself to scale, not lift heavy etc. Your post has made me really think of taking a break from CF (stop drinking the kool-aid as my husband would say!) and try out other things. I need to evolve as my body seems to be doing! Thanks also for all the yummy recipes – tried the jumbalya earlier in the week and am still loving the leftovers.
Juli,
You rock. You inspire me. And I have a small girl crush on you that makes any guy I date feel slighty under loved. But this post was needed. I started Crossfit in January, my biggest issue is competing with myself and being to hard on myself. I can’t seem to have the faith and confidence in myself in workouts or frankly in life. So this post, was needed. Very much so. Alright. And I suck at running….. Like not ohm she’s just saying… no i suck. I see 400 meter run on a work out and want to cry. Well I’m gonna to run red rocks… Let me rephrase that.. Do sprints up the stairs til I want to puke. And then go again. Maybe cry. Haha Keep on keeping on girl