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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Thanks for posting this Juli. I think as women we all have some type of body issues no matter how hard we work out. I started CF in Feb this year and I have been mostly pleased at my progress but instead of all the muscle definition that I’ve put on, all I see is the flabby bits that are taking too long to go away. My husband has been deployed to Afghanistan for the last year and just returned home on Wed the 15th. It was so great to hear him tell me how amazing my body looks and seeing his surprised face made all of the pain of those WODS totally worth it! On the downside it looks like I’ve managed to screw up my knee with a torn meniscus and LCL. I’m getting the results of my MRI next week and it’s completely freaking me out because I’m not sure when I’ll be able to CF again and so far CF is really the only workout that I look forward to and have managed to stick with 🙁 anywho…we will just see, looks like water aerobics may be in my near future for awhile :/
I can’t wait to make these tonight! I had brown bananas waiting around for this perfect marriage. Those pictures are lookin’ awfully perty Miss Bauer!
This was amazing, thank you! It is awesome to be able to find new and fun paleo recipes here. Keep up the great work 🙂
Just made the muffins, my very favorite so far. I’m not sure how you could top all of the other recipes! Delicious! Well done!
Great post. We hate injuries!! We both have mild scoliosis and oh that slight curve can cause a lot of grief! We love to exercise and feel fit and healthy….and like you love food!! So when we can’t exercise we just feel ‘blurghhh!!’ We do the same and mix up our workouts… bit of yoga, running, weights, cross fit, swimming. No week is the same!!
e & c
ps. muffins = OMG yum.
HiHi!
I reaaaaallly needed to read this post today, because of the muffins, and because of the message. A back and knee injury have been making me feel like I’m falling apart, and I’m sad about missing workouts etc. This gives me some motivation to stop feeling sorry for myself and get back there!
Thanks 🙂
I absolutely loved this post because it is so true. You don’t have to love CrossFit, you don’t have to love running, but you must do something! Try new things, get out in nature, move your body…
My husband is a Level 1 Cert Instructor and enlisted in the Air Force and he has been telling people for a long time to just get out and do something. Just because CrossFit works for us doesn’t mean it works for you. He has taught so many people about exercise and fitness and this post was just reiterating the fact that moving your body is more important than not moving your body. So thanks!
And P.S. I can’t wait to try this recipe 🙂
I don’t have a slight clue why I haven’t left a comment before because I have been obsessed with you & this entire blog since the day I found it. Anywho! Just want to say you’re such a badass. Seriously.
This post reminded me SO much of me (not like every other post doesn’t). I have been a crossfitter on and off for two years & it’s been an up and down emotional and physical battle for multiple reasons..I was doing 2-3 workouts a day, then had an eating disorder, then had rotator cuff surgery, yadah yadah yadah. But I went through the same BS about not liking my body.
I say all that to say this, keep it up. You’re amazing, inspirational, and once again a badass.
AND a freaking awesome cook. Thank you for making me fat off of healthy food 🙂
These muffins sound terrific! Perfect for breakfast or a mid-morning snack!
Hi Juli, just curious: how much weight have you lost since reducing the weight lifting? Same problem here, started crossfit, got too skinny, decided that I’m too weak, increased weights, started heavy lifting, now weight is constantly increasing….no decision yet if it is ok for me or not….
i lost about 10lbs, now I’ve plateaued