I did it!
I actually went ahead and….got a gym membership. Wow, really. Who am I?!
Well that was a bit anticlimactic. *Ahem, cue the crickets*
If you have been following Fit for the Soul for quite some time now, then you probably know that my go-to method of working out is pretty basic. Most likely, you have read my posts where I am touting about the amazing benefits and joys of working out at home. However, after having moved to the 3rd story apartment, I still itched to go all out in my workouts as usual. That is obviously not as easy to do as it is in a house, so my dad offered to get me a membership before I had even mentioned a thing. 
He is seriously the sweetest, and I’m so grateful for him. I always feel bad about asking him for anything, so this is quite special!
On top of all that, I have decided to try some different and out-of-the-norm routines that require special equipment: the treadmill for intervals, heavier weights, and some equipment such as the lat press.
I am still going to crank out the bodyweight plyos in-between the strength training, but I am also enjoying HIIT runs on the tread! Note: that is really strange because I always avoided those; I just felt like a hamster in a wheel. 
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I also want to share the Ginger Snap recipe I promised last week. I like these because I feel like I can eat them whenever, since they’re not as sweet as the store-bought kind. Also, I love the addition of fresh ginger. Yes, I know that sounds really intimidating! But when it goes into the oven, all the sinus-throb inducing spiciness goes away. 
Spelt Ginger Snaps *Not GF*
Ingredients:
- 2 C Spelt Flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/2 tsp sea salt (or regular)
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 2 TBSP ground flax seed
- 1 egg
- 1/2 C brown sugar (or Sucanat)
- 1/4 C softened Earth Balance (or butter)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 TBSP fresh minced ginger
- 1/4 C pure maple syrup
Directions:
- Preheat your oven to 350 F. Grab a medium large bowl, and mix all the dry ingredients together.
- In a separate bowl, mix all the wet ingredients. Also, make sure that the ginger is peeled before you start to chop it up.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry, and gently incorporate it and mix it with a wooden spatula. The consistency will end up somewhat crumbly.
- Grab about 1/4 of the mixture and start to gently make it into a ball, or oval shaped dough.
- Place it on a cutting board and flatten it with a rolling pin until it becomes about 1/4 inches in height. It shouldn’t be too thick or thin.
- With whichever shape or cookie cutter you desire, go ahead and press it into the dough.
- Slightly grease or butter the cookie sheets and place the cut out pieces of dough about 1-2 inches apart from each other. Continue direction number 4-7 until it’s done.
- Bake it for approximately 16 minutes. Let them cool for at least 10 minutes. Serving depends on the cookie size.
Everything always tastes better when it’s on a “silver platter” (from the Dollar Tree in actuality) and a pretty cup of tea. (Pronounced in a British accent)
Enjoy!
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Happy Halloween everyone!!!
Having grown up in Argentina where we have no Halloween, I just never really got into the groove of its festivities.
On the other hand, Greg always loved and still loves this fun day because of his sweet memories with his mom.
Finally for the first time ever, we carved a pumpkin together! It was so much fun, and I can’t wait to make crazier and more creative designs come next year.
A few weeks ago, we went to a pumpkin patch where we didn’t necessarily yank the pumpkin out of the ground, but still got to choose the lucky one out of the thousands of options there.
You bet that I totally wanted to transform these into Cinderella pumpkin carriages!
We also saw a very strange goat that was begging us to take its picture. As soon as I popped the camera in front of it, the goat climbed the haystack and left me with this pose.
Did you grow up celebrating all of the holidays and special days?
-In Argentina we have Dia de los Amigos (Friend Day) and we give each other lots of hugs and sweets!
What’s your fave holiday?
-I have to say that I love Easter and Christmas because of their significance. Oh, and I love Thanksgiving obviously.
What equipment would you recommend for a great leg and cardio workout?
Have a blessed day,
Ellie <3
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
I love the dainty shape of those cookies, too cute! And do I spy puffins behind you in the pumpkin carving pic??
best cereal ever. Hope you have a wonderful Halloween!
hahah “dainty”….I like that description!!
And you are one smart gal!!! I was actually wondering if anyone would notice or mention it, lol. Have a great blessed day, love!
Glad you’re going to be joining the gym…very sweet of your dad! I’d say the arc trainer and incline walking on the treadmill are good starts. A stationary bike at a high resistance is great, too.
Those cookies look amazing!
Thank you so much for the recommendation Alexa!! I’ll make sure to try the arc trainer out–so far I’ve done HIIT on the tread and it’s been so much more fun that I originally thought.
So, if I gave you their home number, could your parents please call my parents and have some words? Lasik and a gym membership… yes, your parents need to talk seriously to my parents about gifts for daughters
Love the look of these cookies! It’s funny how much I adore ginger cookies and gingerbread when I hate crystallised ginger
Haha~It is a real blessing to get these gifts! Oooooo I want a gingerbread man now….
they may not be GF but they are close and super cute! I love ginger cookies! Enjoy the gym membership, i know you will take full advantage!
I’ve already been taking full advantage of it Lindsay! Maybe you should show us a recipe of your own that’s GF!
What a lovely shape these are! And ginger snaps are among my favorite cookies, so I will certainly be trying these!
I wish your gingersnaps were gluten-free – but those still look delicious! I’m a total gym rat – I seriously cannot get consistent exercise in without one!
haha i guess I’l be a gym rat in no time–though before I was a home-gym rat
Great recipe! I wuld love to see a motivational post from you relating to God you always make me smile and I would love some imput from you on what you do when you are let down by someone you love
aww thanks Angie!! Now, YOU made me smile so big!~ Yeahh I love to share things of the Lord whenever He moves me to do so.
I hope you’re well, sista
I love doing HIIT workouts. I like it because it’s effective and gets my heart pumping quick and fast. I feel like I can do anything for 20 mins and I am likely to push myself during my HIIT workouts knowing I only have to do it for 20 mins. Yeah…that’s how my mind work, lol!
We didn’t carve pumpkins this year but we did celebrate Halloween by dressing up and attending my husband’s work party.
Yeah I know what you mean~~HIIT can be very time efficient.
Pumpkins! I love cutting the pumpkin open and sticking my hands right in the gooey center. Pumpkin seeds are the best!
Whitney
haha I really liked that too! Greg, on the other hand, hates that mushy feeling.
Those pictures look so gorgeous. Love the reflection of the teapot. And how fun to have the first pumpkin carving together. I love that tradition.
ahh thanks Tina~!
Yes, it was most definitely a fun experience!! Can’t wait to make crazy designs!
As I said the other day, those ginger snaps look delicious, I’d love to have a tin of these to see me through the week!
I can’t wait to bake next week when I’m home
Choosing a pumpkin looks like so much fun, I love doing things like that. I used to adore carving out the pumpkin with my dad who is something of a pumpkin artist!
Your pumpkin in so sweet, I love that it’s happy
hehe that’s the only face we could make since we forgot to buy the special tools!
Looks like so much fun!! Glad you had a good time