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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Not a boring story at all. I think a lot of us can relate. I’m 34 years old and when I go to Crossfit, I feel like I’m 84. I can’t snatch because of my shoulders, I can’t run because of my knees, blah blah blah. I feel like an idiot when I do classes…I feel like people are looking at me like, “You’re just lazy.” or “Just suck it up and drive on!” <—haha, that's my nod to the Army…which might be part of my hang up, actually. Right now, I'm eating as Paleo as I can, doing what I can when I get to CF which is sometimes only once a week, and I feel good. I feel ok with my body too, sooooo…everyone and their judgements can suck it. 😀
Just the other day I shared with my husband a line from your blog. You said something like you were experimenting with running for the next 30 days because you thought doing Crossfit was hurting your body. We laughed, because, like you, he is recovering fitness over acheiver. Maybe you had considered just giving your body time off to help it recover, but you did not mention it. The flip side is over acheivers accomplish more in a day than us slackers will in a month. So, here’s to hoping you find the right balance! It’s fun to hear how you’re working it out.
You really just rock. This post just confirmed again why I love your site so much (aside from all of the delish recipes!). Your honesty is so refreshing! I started CF about a year ago and fell in love immediately. I was so excited to see my body transform, as all the people told me it would, and get stronger and more fit. Unfortunately, I didn’t see this “transformation”. I looked exactly the same. Maybe even a little bigger (bc of muscle), but definitely more lean and muscular. I was depressed. I was also dealing with chronic shoulder and back issues which didn’t help because it made the workouts even harder…some days I couldn’t even get out of bed without pain because my back was so bad. So I decided to relax a bit. Take some time. And now I do CF as more of a supplement to my current workout program which is more HIIT. NOW I’m starting to see a difference. Next up is incorporating yoga. Anywho….keep on keeping on Juli. You’re awesome and this is by far my favorite paleo recipe site out there. =)
PS – I found a FABULOUS supplement that has really really really (did I say really enough?) helped with my shoulder and back issues. Made a HUGE difference. Like I can get out of bed without feeling like I’m 85 difference. And its all natural and Paleo approved. I’m not pushing anything, I promise, but check out the website for LuRong Living. Read all the info. Then try it. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did.
it is so true… I was not a sporty child at all… I took up mountain biking, field hockey and snowboarding in my 20’s and capoeira in my 30’s… it is never too late and today is ALWAYS the best day to try something new!
Thanks for the recipe. The Chocolate Maple Crunch Banana Muffins look marvelous. And by the way, the idea of cross-fitness is a great way to express the need for balance and moderation when reaping the rewards of modern lifestyles. You rock Juli.
I eat paleo because I love how I feel when I do. I don’t crossfit and only workout 3-4 times a week. The only way I have been able to lose a lot of weight is taking weight loss supplements. Then when I stopped, I gained even more back. I am learning how to be happy a little thicker. As long as I stay toned and my tummy is relativity flat…Everyone has a journey. Ty for sharing yours. None of us are perfect!
Just made your Chocolate Maple Crunch Banana Muffins, absolutely delicious.
Holy frijoles these are good!
I made these amazingly delicious muffins thinking they’d be around for a while because my husband and step sons wouldn’t like them once I told them what I used to sweeten them and minus flour.. (trying to gross them out) ..Boy was I wrong! I got 17 out of the batch last night and there’s 3 left! I couldn’t find coconut flour anywhere in my town so I used all almond meal/flour..worked great! Thank you!!
Hey Julie, I’m the same as you. I quit doing obsessive amounts of cardio and started crossfitting a lot. It was great fun until I gained 20lbs and couldn’t fit into any of my clothes anymore 🙁 I’m currently trying to find a better balance. I hope it’s working out for you, you look fantastic!
After I had my first baby I started running to lose weight. I started at a mile and eventually ran up to 5 miles at a time. I hated every single second of it. When I had my second baby I felt like the only way I could lose the baby weight was to run so I put it off. I kept the baby weight on for two years! I remember one day literally saying I don’t have to run to lose weight. Now I’m even lower than my prepregnancy weight. I can do pull ups and push ups and I rarely run. I do what I love to do in the gym now and feel a lot more fit than my running days.
I’ve been feeling a little funky lately so I think I’m going to make these muffins. Baking makes me happy and these little muffins sure look happy 🙂