Presently and #RECIPEFRIDAY...

I cannot believe we are approaching the beginning of September...

Seems like just yesterday the weather started cooperating with the season ;)

That being said...

I have been making the most my summer days...

Enjoying and savouring every little bit as much as possible.

FUrthermore...

I've been really taken the time to disconnect more than I ever have which...

Has been doing me good! (You realized how connected you are to your electronics the moment you intentionally make an effort to take a step back from them!)

In other words...

I've been looking up a lot more and...

Spending less time in front of a screen. (I've touched on slowing down on the blog before and, no doubt, I've really been putting my words into action. Pressing the refresh button has really done me good in more ways than one!)

It's been a slice ;)
Quite literally lol

Having shared my 'presently'...

Let's get to recipe sharing seeing that it's...

#RECIPEFRIDAY!

**

Today...

I have a compilation of things that were submitted during last week's link up!

If anything...

They are totally worth checking out if you're looking for some recipe inspiration! (click on links in caption)

via Jen over at Burpees for Breakfast.

via Brittany over at Barr and Table.

via Lindsay over at Cotter Crunch.

via Tina over at Tina Muir.

via Healthy Helper Blog.

Honey Roasted Vanilla Almond Crusted Chicken via...
Rebecca over at Strength and Sunshine.

via Arman over at The Big Man's World.

Alright so...

If you have something you've been making and loving as of late...

Share it!

An InLinkz Link-up

I can't wait to see what you've cooked up!

Have a great weekend everyone! (Long weekend herrr in Canada!)

Weekends definitely bring a smile to my face loaf ;)

Questions FU You...

How's your summer been?
What's your presently?

Stay Tuned FU More on *CaNdY FiT*

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#RECIPEFRIDAY: Easy Cookie Cutter Cookies...

A little FUn recipe to share with you today in this edition of #RECIPEFRIDAY...

It's one that I made for the puppies after they ran out of their other homemade treats.

I've never used cookie cutter without my Mama.
I felt all grown up :P

The moment I realized they were good for us humans too was when...

I took them out of the oven for an official taste test :P

Let's just say...

I was pleasantly surprised at how tasty they were so...

I may have had one, or two. 

This bear didn't last very long ;)

I think it goes without saying...

We all shared the goodies to be had :) (Although I don't think we had a chance to share them SuperFit hehe)

Easy Cookie Cutter Cookies...

by *CaNdY FiT*

Cook Time: 40-50 minutes

6065591

Ingredients (24-36 cookies)

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 2 cups bread flour (All purpose is fine)
• 1/2 cup oatmeal, ground into flour (optional)
• 4 tbsp ground flax seeds
• 3 tbsp brown sugar
• 1tsp salt
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 3 eggs, with yolk

Instructions

1. In a large mixing bowl, add the dry ingredients, stir
2. In a separate mixing bowl, combine the wet ingredients and mix well
3. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry
4. Mix until well combined (feel free to use a mixer, or, just use your muscles) :P
5. Cover bowl and set aside for 20 minutes
6. Once 20 minutes have passed, pre-heat oven to bake at 375F
7. Pour dough out onto a lightly floured surface
8. Roll out to about 1/8 inch thick
9. Pick your favourite cookie cutter and press into dough
10. Remove the shapes and place them on a baking sheet, lined with wax paper (sprayed with olive oil), leave about 1/2 inch in between each
11. Place tray into the oven and bake for about 40-50 minutes (until brown and hard)
12. Remove from oven, let cool and enjoy!

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On that note...

Let's get to recipe sharing!

If you have something you've been making and loving as of late...

Share it!

An InLinkz Link-up

I can't wait to see what you've cooked up!

Hope you all have a great weekend :)

Stay Tuned FU More On *CaNdY FiT*

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#RECIPEFRIDAY and a Running Update...

This week has just flown by and...

I can't believe it's already Friday!

That being said...

Can you believe it's been a month (tomorrow) since I ran last?!

Yep. One. Whole. Month.

My last run.
It was an amazing one.
I just went with the flow.
(And yes, I worked my way to this distance. I didn't rush it!)

When I last updated you on my shin issue...

I had mentioned that I was going to get things checked out.

Let's just say...

I'm waiting to hear back as to whether or not I have a tibial stress fracture.

Ya, you read right. A possible stress fracture. (I'm crossing my fingers that it's not!)

Having said that...

I was given the green light to bike and such so...

That's what I've been doing instead while on break from running (and some elliptical too!)! (I'm not sure I'll be able to run the half-marathon race I signed up for later next month...we shall see. A total bummer though since my running was going so well! wannnnh!)

But you know what...

I have been faster on my bike than ever before! (I'm feeling strong, that's for sure!)

He takes my breath away <3

I took Little M out for her first ride of the season.
She stayed on my wheel the whole time!
Awesome, she is!

Now I realize I'm making light of the running situation but...

Better be doing something than nothing while I wait for my results! (And since I was given the okay for cycling, you better believe I've been taking advantage of it!)

On the topic of making things...

I've been experimenting with my sourdough bread by using different blends of flours as of late.

Some of which include...

Kamut...

And...

Emmer.

I made sandwiches with these slices of bread :)

Both are very distinguishable in flavour and both are delicious in taste! (Also, they are both ancient grains. High in protein and lower in gluten content.)

If anything...

I'm looking forward to loafing around again this weekend!

On that note...

Let's get to recipe sharing!

If you have something you've been making and loving as of late...

Share it!

An InLinkz Link-up

I can't wait to see what you've cooked up!

Have a lovely everyone!

I had to take a picture of this beautiful view.

Questions FU You...

Ever get a stress fracture from running?
How was your week? Plans for the weekend?

Stay Tuned FU More On *CaNdY FiT*

**

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If Your Pants Don't Fit...Don't Have a Fit.

Well, not every time ;)

My body has changed a whole lot since I started on my healthy living journey. (It goes beyond the physical, but my main focus today is just that.)

From the moment I decided to commit myself to health, fitness and everything in-between...

I've seen myself evolve in more ways than one.

With my initial goal to get healthy and tone up (which is easier said than done!!!)...

I never imagined that in the changes I would introduce into my life that...

My 'pre-healthy living pants' would no longer fit. 

Pants here were so, so, so tight.

And I don't mean in a sense where they'd end up getting too big butt but...

That they'd end up getting too tight. (Not all of my pants, but some of them!)

Now for all of those who think that because you lift weights you're going to grow as big as the Hulk...

It simply doesn't happen the way you think it does. (I've been lifting heavy for 4 1/2 years and I look nothing like Arnold.)

Correct me if I'm wrong...

That being said...

My body has taken form.

A form I never thought I could achieve simply by focusing myself on me and my overall well-being.

I lift, I run, I cycle, I sometimes do yoga, I cook, I bake, I rest, I , I, I (do a lot of things!)...

And as a result of my growing interests (in and outside of fitness)....

I have become stronger, both in body and mind. (I know I said I wouldn't speak to the mind portion of my journey but both are so connected that it's difficult not to link the two together because they do go hand in hand!)

From thinking I could never be strong physically let alone...

Strong enough mentally to commit myself to a lifestyle so new and out of this world for me...

I've been proving myself wrong time and time again.

I can do it.

And most recently...

Proving myself wrong in my thinking that exercising and eating the healthiest I ever have...

Would lead to my pants getting looser. (I mean with everything that we are inundated with in the media, we tend to forget that healthy living is not only meant for weight loss. It can also be meant to shape up, add muscle, gain strength, be HEALTHY...among many other things of course.)

And believe me when I tell you...

I nearly had a fit when I thought that my 'old' pants would simply slide on! (Which they totally did not!)

But before I could go all crazy and such...

SuperFit reminded me that my body has changed.

"Go on..."

He went on to tell me that...

I now have leg muscle and a FUller derrière (thank you squats!)...

And...

If I were to take away the bottom portion (which was my sole focus in that moment in time)...

Everything and then some has changed, and not only in body!

Without having to go any FUrther...

It was clear why my old skinny jeans just didn't fit me no more!

I've gained muscle in areas I never knew I could and would.

Without a doubt...

I got a reality check which is when I realized, more than ever before that...

In my growth (both mentally and physically)...

Fitting into the old wasn't (ever) my priority yet, carrying on forward with the new! (And fitting into whatever suited me best, both inside and out and all around.)

**There's a lot more than just fitting into a pair pants that comes along with healthy living. But if we're talking pants...those pants that I once really loved long ago no longer fit my body the way they once did because change happened along my journey. And with change comes change so, I couldn't expect everything to remain the same, right?! If anything, in these changes, I've become the healthiest and fittest I've ever been in my life and, I feel good!**

So, with all of that being said...

I bought myself a new pair of pants that fit,  ALL OF ME...

And...

Believe it or not...

They fit like a glove.

Thumbs up to that :P

Stay Tuned FU More On *CaNdY FiT*

**

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#RECIPEFRIDAY: The In-Between Of An Awesome Sandwich...

What makes a good sandwich (be it gluten-free or not) is...

The bread (duh! lol) and...

Everything in-between. 

Since I've been making bread on the regular over here...

I've only recently been making sandwiches with it. (I'm not sure why it took me this long, but it did. Better late than never I suppose hehe)

My first sandwich made with my very own homemade sourdough bread.

So back to the in-between.

I remember when I was young...

The insides of a sandwich was very important to me.

Not only the insides but...

The outsides too.

White. Whole wheat. Rye. Cinnamon Raisin.

Crust. No crust.

Peanut Butter (smooth not crunchy).

A little jam...but not always.

If anything...

Everything that went into a sandwich had a significant role for wanting me to take another bite! (And for my parents, it meant that I'd come home with an empty lunch box! It was a win win really lol)

And now...

The same applies only...

The inner-workings of making a sandwich has come with a lesson learned.

As I've spoken about the in-between before...

Making my own sandwiches has led me to think deeper into what goes in-between each slice of bread (<--- since we've already talked about what goes into the making of my loaves).

*The outer-layer of a sandwich: it can be whatever you use to make yourself a sandwich (wrap), be it lettuce leaves, gluten-free bread, whatever it is you enjoy most. The creation is yours to make! But for the sake of this post, I'm keeping to the classic...bread*

Every layer has its place.

Just like those moments in-between our destinations, goals etc...

What is found in the middle is worth savouring. (Be it in the waiting, pausing or, in our slowing down.)

Why? Because...

It's within these very moments that we can see how every layer (every step taken) have their purpose and...

The reasons why they are (were) all important. (Teaching us to be patient and grateFUl for everything once it all comes together. In a way we imagined it...or not.) 

If anything...

All of the layers have their place and, matter. (Yes, it all counts! Just like when it comes to healthy living, each step taken matters!)

And when it comes sandwich building (here's were I take sandwich making to another level. Call me crazy, I'm okay with that! lol)...

They matter not only for their flavour but...

For their purpose.

Their purpose to FUel, nourish, enjoy, and most importantly...

To savour. 

To savour in the time spent putting it together.

To savour each bike taken.

To savour in the slowness of chewing, without rush and...

To be grateFUl that you have something to eat at the end of it all. (Each layer filling you to the very brim.)

Be it a sandwich or not...

The in-between in all that we do matters because...

It's what shapes (and leads) us to where we are today and in this case...

To an awesome, tasty sandwich! (I had to lighten up the mood at some point right?! lol)

The In-Between Of An Awesome Sandwich

by *CaNdY FiT*

6065328

Ingredients

• Sourdough Olive Bread (or whatever you prefer)
• 1/4 to 1/3 avocado, mashed
• Allegro cheese, sliced
• BBQ chicken, sliced into strips
• Lettuce
• Maison Le Grand Sundried Tomato Pesto
• 1 tsp lemon juice
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Season your chicken breast with salt and pepper.
2. Cook on the BBQ or on your stove top until ready.
3. Slice into strips and set aside.
4. In a small bowl, add the avocado and mash it with fork.
5. Add lemon juice, salt and pepper (to taste). Set aside.
6. Slice your bread for your sandwich.

Here's where you decide your path

1. Either add the in-between ingredients onto your sliced bread or, toast your bread before hand, then top.
2. I added the pesto, avocado, cheese, lettuce and chicken on one half, then put the other slice of bread on top. I left the BBQ on low heat, then BBQ'd my sandwich for a good crunch. About 1 minute each side.

optional

• Feel free to make this an open-ended sandwich.
• Feel free to use a skillet too.

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Alright so...

If you have a recipe you've been making and loving as of late...

Share it! 

An InLinkz Link-up

I can't wait to see what you've cooked up!

Have a great weekend!

Questions FU You...

Any lessons learned from cooking?

What's your fave in-between layers in a sandwich?

Stay Tuned FU More On *CaNdY FiT*

**

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#RECIPEFRIDAY: What's Cooking?

Hey Friends and...

Welcome to another edition of #RECIPEFRIDAY!

Want this salad recipe?
Check it out here!
(I'm obsessed it's so good!)

I hope everyone has been enjoying their summer thus far and...

I do hope everyone has been able to soak in as much of the warm weather that we've been getting! (In spurts over herrrr.)

Teddy hasn't minded the slightly cool temps this week!

If anything (and in case you haven't noticed!)...

I've been intentionally (and sometimes unintentionally) disconnecting to really savour up the season! (And spending more time being present, FUlly.)

In other words...

I've reduced my online screen time in areas where I've had most control over. (I won't lie, it's been refreshing!)

Although I did mention a while back that I was going to slow down...

I wasn't sure how well I'd be able to do that simply because...

We live in a world now where we are SO connected! (Despite my taking breaks here and there, this slow down has been super beneficial for me, all around. It's also made me appreciate more of what is around me as opposed to in front of me! Know what I mean?)

All to say...

I've really been loving the change of pace and...

Doing what I can when I can! (And want!)

It's been good :P

Speaking about updates...

I haven't ran in over a week.

I miss this.

I've had what seems to be shin pain (on my right side) for over a month now and...

Despite being able to run passed the discomfort, without any real issue...

It got really uncomfortable after my last run which...

Led me to take a break.

Wannnnh!
It's been two weeks tomorrow since I ran last!

I have to admit...

It's been tough not to run and...

No doubt....

I miss it. I miss it a lot. 

All to say...

I'm getting it checked out (ya, it's gotten to that point!), so I'm hoping it's nothing!

Le sigh.

***

On a brighter note...

It's recipe sharing time and...

Here's a glimpse into what was submitted during last week's link up! (Click on the links in the caption to see recipe!)

Vanilla Latte Millet Protein Cakes from Rebecca.

Chocolate Zucchini Bread from Angela.

Skinny Buffalo Chicken Veggie Enchiladas from Tina.

No Bake Triple Almond Breakfast Cookies from Arman.

Alright so...

If you have a recipe you've been making and loving as of late...

Share it!

I can't wait to see what you've cooked up!

An InLinkz Link-up

Have a great weekend!

Questions FU You...

How's your summer been so far?

Ever had shin pains that just wouldn't seem to go away?

Stay Tuned FU More On *CaNdY FiT*

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