Healthy (ish) Pumpkin Cookies

I know it’s technically winter now, but I enjoy pumpkin themed food all year around.

Tools:

-Bowl

-spoon

Ingredients:

-2 1/2 cup gluten free bobs redmill flour

-1 tsp baking soda

– tsp baking powder

-1 tsp cinnamon

-1/2 tsp nutmeg

-1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

-1/2 cup softened butter

-1 cup pumpkin puree

-1 egg

-1 tsp vanilla extract

-1 cup powdered sugar

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Line baking sheets with parchment paper or spray with non-stick baking spray.

Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a medium bowl.

Beat granulated sugar and butter with mixer on medium high speed, then blend in pumpkin, egg, and vanilla until incorporated.

Gradually mix in flour and dry ingredients. Refrigerate dough for 3-4 hours.

Scoop dough into one inch balls. Roll in powder sugar, place dough balls on baking sheet (12 per sheet) and bake for 11-13 minutes.

Remove from baking sheet to a cooling rack. When completely cool, store cookies in an airtight container.

Enjoy!!

for more free content, and fitness related things follow me on instagram: @lookingglassfitness

Advertisement

Guilt Free Chocolate Banana Bread

This is definitely something that will soothe your sweet tooth, it is a perfect guilt free dessert or even breakfast.

Tools:

-Bowl/mixer

-spatula

-loaf pan

-oven

Ingredients:

-2 large bananas

-2 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

-1 tbsp white vinegar

-1/4 cup almond milk

-2/3 cup maple syrup

-2/3 cup gluten free flour (I use bobs red mill 1:1)

-1/4 cup sugar

– 1 tsp baking powder

-2 tbsp coa coa powder

-1/8-1/4 cup chocolate chips

Directions:

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Grease your loaf pan (I use pam).

In a bowl mash the bananas, mix in the vanilla, milk, vinegar, maple syrup until combined.

Mix in the flour, coa coa powder, sugar, baking powder until combined.

stir in the chocolate chips.

Put the batter into the pan.

I put additional chocolate chips on top, that is optional.

Bake for 45 minutes.

Turn off the oven, and let it sit inside for an additional 10-12 minutes.

Enjoy!

Refrigerate and store in an air tight container.

For more free content and workouts follow me on my instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lookingglassfitness/

The Best Oatmeal Raisin Cookies Ever. Gluten+Dairy Free+Low Sugar

When I say these are the BEST EVER oatmeal raisin cookies….I am not joking at all. I have been experimenting for a long time to get this just right, and here it is! If you want a guilt free and delicious dessert this is for you!!!

Equipment:

• Mixer
• Oven

Ingredients:

• 2 1/2 cups of all-purpose gluten free flour (I use bobs red mill).
• 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon.
• 1 1/2 tsp baking soda.
• 3/4 tsp ground cloves.
• 3/4 tsp ground nutmeg.
• 3/4 tsp baking powder.
• 3/4 cup butter softened.
• 1/4 brown sugar.
• 1 egg.
• 1 1/2 cup applesauce.
• 1 1/2 cup raisins.
• 1 1/2 cup old-fashioned rolled oats (gluten free).

Directions:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Cover baking sheet in parchment paper, or spray with cooking spray.
• Combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda, cloves, nutmeg, baking powder.
• In bowl with mixer at medium speed beat the butter with the sugar until it is combined. Add egg; beat until fluffy. Reduce speed to low, beat in flour mixture alternately with applesauce. Stir Raisins and oats. BATTER WILL BE SOFT.
• Drop a heaping tablespoon for each cookie onto the baking sheet.
• Bake for 10-15 minutes.
• Store in air tight container.
• They will get sticky as the days go on due to the applesauce, don’t be alarmed they are still okay!

For fitness, motivation, more food follow me on Instagram: Looking Glass Fitness

 

Gluten Free Banana Bread Muffins (minimal sugar)

TOOLS:

• Mixer
• Muffin tins
• Muffin tin liners

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 TBSP unsalted butter, melted.
• 3 bananas (preferably overripe.
• 1 egg.
• 2 TBSP granulated sugar.
• 3 TBSP light brown sugar.
• 1 1/2 TSP vanilla extract.
• 1 1/2 TSP ground cinnamon.
• 1 1/2 cups gluten-free flour (I use bobs red mill, but you can use any).
• 1 TSP baking soda.
• 1 TSP baking powder.

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. line muffin pan with paper muffin liners or you can coat in non-stick spray.
2. Microwave, and melt the 2 TBSP of butter. Set aside.
3. Mash the bananas, add in the egg, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and butter. Mix until fully combined.
4. Mix in the flour, baking soda, baking powder. stir until fully combined.
5. Spoon batter into the tins.
6. Bake for 15-19 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
7. Remove from oven. let them cool. Store in an air tight container.
8. ENJOY!!

Yields 12 muffins.

126 calories per muffin.

serving size=1 muffin.

For free workouts, motivational posts, more food and 1:1 coaching follow me at: https://www.instagram.com/lookingglassfitness/

 

Gluten-Free Cinnamon Dulce Donuts

Ever crave donuts but without the guilt? Look no further! These are gluten and refined sugar free!!

TOOLS:

• Silicone donut molds
• baking sheets (to place the molds on during baking)
• a mixer

INGREDIENTS:

• 8 tablespoons of butter (melted).
• 1/2 cup maple syrup.
• 2 tsp vanilla.
• 2 eggs.
• 1 cup almond milk.
• 2 tsp baking powder.
• 2 tsp cinnamon.
• 1/2 tsp allspice.
• 1/2 tsp cloves.
• 2 cups all purpose gluten-free flour (I use Namaste).

FOR THE TOPPINGS: 2 kinds

Cinnamon sugar dipped:

• 1/3 cup granulated sugar.
• 2 tablespoons cinnamon.
• mix together.

glaze:

• 1/2 cup powdered sugar.
• 1-1/2 tablespoons almond milk.
• 1/2 tsp vanilla.
• whisk together.

DIRECTIONS: CINNAMON DULCE DONUTS, yields about 10 donuts.

• Pre-heat the oven to 425 degrees F
• Spray the silicone molds with pam, or use butter to grease them.
• Melt the butter completely, add it to the mixer. Stir in the vanilla, maple syrup, and almond milk until combined.
• Mix in the eggs, baking powder, cinnamon, allspice, cloves until combined.
• Mix in the all purpose gluten-free flour, until combined.
• Now spoon the batter into the molds just over half way full.
• Bake for 15-20 minutes or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean.
• They will appear puffed up and large, don’t be alarmed that will go down and you will have perfect little donuts.
• Let cool for 15 minutes.
• While still slightly warm either dip the donuts into the cinnamon sugar or drizzle with the glaze.
• Enjoy.

For free workouts and inspiration check out my instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lookingglassfitness/

 

 

5 Misconceptions You Need To Let Go Of.

Okay, we are going to channel Elsa for a second and let it go, of what exactly? Let me tell you.

Here are 5 misconceptions you need to let go of when it comes to fitness. With social media and the internet in general it is hard to dig through the BS and see what the facts are. Because everyone is an “expert”. So, lets chip the tip of the ice berg shall we?

• 1. You’ll be “picture perfect” all day everyday once you reach your fitness goals. People believe this due to the fact social media is a highlight reel, people only post good pictures of themselves with their abs out and not at the end of the day when they have a food baby. It makes me laugh really.
• 2. if you follow that girl with a big booty and buy her plans you’ll look just like her. Like I said before, everyone is an “expert” when in reality half the people have no education in whatever they’re preaching.  Yeah, you can buy her plan but you won’t look like her, because you’re a different person. There is no “ideal” look and you won’t look like every other fit person because your body is simply perfect and unique. Stop falling for the “do this to look like me” bit.
• 3. It’s easy to be “fit”. People believe that because most influencers on social media don’t share the hardships that come with being fit and how they got there. It’s hard, and not everyone will get there as quick as others, and you won’t ever look like your favorite influencer because you have different genetics. If it was easy to be a top tier athlete, everyone would be one. Everyone wants to be fit but not put in the work. That is why “quick fixes” exist like all those fat burning pills and tea. Which brings me to my next point…
• 4. If I drink this detox tea I’m gonna get fit and have abs. There are NO easy fixes, and no easy way to be fit and healthy. The quick fixes that are mareketed will always to more harm than good, there is no way to reach your goals besides sucking it up and putting in the work.
• 5. Your progress will always go up and be consistent. NOPE, no progress is every linear. It’s going to jump around, and go up and down it will never be a straight line. Stop thinking it’s gonna be an easy path with no obstacles.

I’m not going to sit here and pretend I’m perfect, of course I’ve wanted to skip to the end. But that was before I slowed down and enjoyed the journey, I haven’t always been fit and healthy. Quite the opposite, but it takes hard work, dedication, and tremendous patience. Without those things you won’t get very far, it’s not a fast process so you might as well sit back and enjoy the ride. Nothing worth having comes easy, and having abs won’t necessarily bring you the happiness you desire. Either commit or don’t but don’t do it half way and drink all the fat burning teas around to try to get there. Do it right.

You can follow my instagram where I post all of my workouts: https://www.instagram.com/lookingglassfitness/

Sinful Flourless Peanut Butter Butterscotch Muffins

Healthy Flourless, NO refined sugar muffins! They sure don’t taste healthy, but they are!

Tools Needed:

Blender

Ingredients:

2 ripe bananas

1/4 cup syrup

2 tbsp  honey

1 tbsp vanilla

1/4 tsp baking soda

2 eggs

1 cup Peanut butter

1 cup butterscotch chips

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oven to 400, line a muffin tin with cup liners.
2. Next add all the ingredients into the blender EXCEPT the butterscotch chips and blend.
3. Once blended, mix in butterscotch chips by hand.
4. next fill cups 1/3-1/4 way full.
5. bake for 12-15 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
6. once baked cool for 10 minutes then transfer muffins onto a cooling rack to finish cooling.

For more food and fitness inspiration you can follow my instagram https://www.instagram.com/lookingglassfitness/

Gluten and Dairy Free Banana Pancakes

Here are some nutritious and delicious gluten and dairy free pancakes that taste like banana bread!

INGREDIENTS:

2 1/2 cups oats

2 Tsp baking powder

1 Tsp cinnamon

1 Tsp nutmeg

1 whole banana

1-2 cups of almond milk (or any nut milk)

2 eggs

DIRECTIONS:

First blend the oats by themselves into a flour, then add in the baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg. Blend.

Next add in the banana, eggs and nut milk. Blend until its one consistency.

Next get your frying pan ready, set the heat to medium-low, you can use coconut oil, butter, olive oil etc. to cook the pancakes in.

Pour the batter into the pan, about the size of the palm of your hand, you should be able to cook two at a time.

Yields 10-15 depending on how big you make them.

Intermittent Fasting

Intermittent Fasting.

What is it?

Why do you want to do it?

What benefits does it bring?

How often Should I do it?

Those are just a few of the questions I will be answering. So, what is intermittent fasting (or intermittent energy restriction? It is simply a fancy term for a cycle of when you choose to consume calories, when you time your meals and when you start restriction.

There are a ton of different ways you can approach it, but in order for you to not hurt your metabolism permanently you have to listen to your body. If it doesn’t feel right, stop. There’s the 16/8 method which is the one I personally follow. This means you allow yourself to have meals for 8 hours of the day then fast for 16, so for me I stop eating around 6 PM and I don’t eat again till 12 PM the next day. All I have between is water, lots of water. Then there’s the 5:2 method which means you fast for two days per week, this is more extreme and should be done cautiously, if you feel sick in any way immediately stop. There’s also the eat-stop-eat method which requires you to fast for 24 hours once or twice a week, also should be done cautiously. Then there’s intermittent fasting to an extreme, a lot of the pro body builders and strong men will use this method called the warrior diet, where you fast all day and have one giant  meal at night.

When you’re just starting to play around with intermittent fasting, I would start with 12 hours and work your way up to 16 where I am. Fasting over night is so much easier than throughout the day as well which is why I stick to the 16/8 method.

So why would you want to intermittent fast? It has great benefits;  1. it will help with inflammation of your digestive system, especially your stomach. Our stomachs work hard everyday, it’s super important to give it a break so it can work optimally. 2. It kick starts your metabolism, if you notice you’re bloated and you just can’t seem to get rid of it this is a good indication your body needs a re-set, and intermittent fasting will do that for you. 3. It will help reduce bloating due to inflammation, water retention, and sodium retention. 4. It can assist you in weight loss, our bodies cling to the carbohydrates and the sugars we consume and store them as fat unless we somehow force our bodies to burn it (which is difficult because our bodies survival instinct kicks in and wants to keep it there for fuel if necessary). By fasting for 16+ hours, it forces your body to use those carbohydrates and sugars instead of keeping them in storage. So in turn our insulin levels will drop, blood pressure will drop, and so will cholesterol. Pretty cool right?

For me, I use intermittent fasting as a re-set so after the holidays is perfect. But I normally keep up with it for a couple weeks at a time (minus the weekends normally), and then eat on a normal schedule for a few days if I feel like it. For me it is not hard to fast because I’m usually not very hungry in the mornings and all I crave is water. You just have to listen to your body, see what feels good. I use it during both my cutting and bulking phases (since I keep my bulks lean), it’s really helpful. I wouldn’t do anything crazy like the warrior diet method, but I do highly recommend intermittent fasting for total body health.

 

Embrace YOU

Confidence, is the ability to be yourself and not care if you are liked or not. Do not confuse this with arrogance, arrogance is thinking everybody is going to love you, confidence is being ok with people not liking you.

It has taken years for me to get to this point where I have realized I don’t want to be like everybody else, there is only one of me so why am I trying so hard to fit in when that isn’t who I am? Now, I have spent years fearing to be myself, fearing that people won’t like me when I am myself but you know what? I am done being one with the herd, it’s exhausting always trying to fit in when that’s not me.

Here I am, after years of fear and struggle, I don’t care if you like me or not I am going to be true to myself and be who I am supposed to be. If you don’t like me? that is totally fine, it just means our energies don’t align, and I am at peace with that. Of course I still have anxiety over being myself, but it’s not as strong as it once was. So many of you put on clothes you think others will like, wear makeup because that’s what girls do, avoid certain foods, act and talk certain ways, watch TV shows everybody else watches, stop. Don’t go out trying to be like everybody else, BE YOU, EMBRACE YOU. Be ok with who you are, because honey there is no one else like you out there!! It’s nerve wracking, I know but I promise you’ll be okay, just be you and you’ll realize how freeing that is.

I wish I could tell you how I achieved this, to be honest I think I was just exhausted trying to fit in and be like everyone else, there comes a point when it’s enough and it’s time to grow. So do it, embrace yourself and be okay with the fact not everybody will like you, be okay with being YOU.

For more fitness, wellness, inspiration etc you can follow my instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lookingglassfitness/