Oh boy.

Did you go crazy last week and exceed your sanity limit?

I don’t mean this in just food either. I mean everything. Did you shop too much? Drink too much? Do too much? Was it just a ‘too much’ time for you? Were you always on the go?

Now for the most part, I am sure you tried to keep it clean with food while your ran around like a chicken with your head cut off. And in those moments of trying to be good, you may have been tempted to turn to a protein bar or two.

Stop.

Don’t do it.

Although convenient, if your desire is to look good naked then they are not an option for you. If your desire is to reap the benefits of all that you sow, then they are still not an option for you. If you want to tighten a little bit here, lift that somewhat up here or eliminate this thing over here then they are definitely not an option for you.

Fake foods (bars and powders), as I describe them, do not make a beautiful body. Food makes a beautiful body. And although you will be tempted to rely upon them in busy times, try not to make that a habit.

Now out of the two evils, powders are the much lesser of them both. They have plenty of worth post workout and really can get you out of a pinch (if you said to me it’s either a shake or a trip to the drive thru, I’m going to tell you to make sure you lick the shaker bottle, lol)—it’s more bars that I am referring to. Those delicious fake candy bars that have more junk in them than my hair after two weeks of not washing it. Side note: Was that too much info right there? Did that make you sick? Sorry about that—try to remove the image and move on.;) But honestly, do me the favor and read the label of those things. Tell me what you can pronounce. If that was packaged food you would never eat that. So why is it acceptable as a bar? It’s not! You have somehow told yourself it was because you can rationalize it more than a Snickers bar.

So now I know what you are going to say, “What can I have then when I am crazy and running around and I have no time to eat?” Lots of things! You can make your own bars:

Home-made Protein Bars

4 scoops chocolate whey protein powder

2 cups Quaker Oats (old fashioned or quick)

1/2 cup raisins

1/2 cup Whole Foods natural peanut butter

3/4 cup water

For top: 1/4 cup Whole Foods Honey Roasted natural peanut butter

Mix all ingredients in bowl (except for the honey roasted pb, that is spread on top). Spread mixture evenly into square pan lined with aluminum foil or wax paper. Spread thin layer of honey roasted pb over top.

Put in freezer for 30 minutes and then cut into eight bars.

Calories = 300; Fat = 16; Protein = 18; Carbs = 24; Fiber = 4

Got this recipe from a favorite lady of mine!

Or you can have a myriad of things that are convenient to carry in your purse (nuts, dried fruit, fruit, tuna packets and etc.) including a shake. Whatever you choose, just make sure it is not taking away from all the hard work you are putting in right now. It’s hard enough to stay on track during the holidays, why make it harder with bars?