MINI PROTEIN MUFFINS
PALEO(ish) SALTED PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE
Why Paleoish Salted Peanut Butter Chocolate Mini Protein Muffins are Great
Paleo(ish) Salted Peanut Butter Chocolate Mini Protein Muffins are the perfect post work out snack because they are full of protein to help you recover. The few carbs from the peanut butter and the chocolate are sucked up by your glycogen depleted muscles, so you are protected from insulin spikes.
Secondly, and maybe just as important, they taste great and are simple to make.
These little muffins are also made from high-quality ingredients. Wilderness Athlete Paleo(ish) Beef protein is made from Grass-Fed Cows!
How Becoming Fat Fueled Can Help You
I first started playing around with low-carb last year. Shortly after I learned I drew an awesome Dall sheep tag, I had devised a nutrition and fitness plan to turn me into a sheep hunting machine, or at least be as ready as I could be. (Here is the story of my awesome non-motorized DIY hunt)
I knew my size was not to my advantage and I would need every advantage I could find. I also knew that fat has twice as many calories per gram as carbohydrates or protein. Like many backpack hunters, I count every ounce that goes into my pack!
Eating low-carb also has many health and performance benefits, such as consistent energy, lower inflammation, and less intense hunger cravings. What is not to love about that?
How to Become Fat Adapted
Becoming fat adapted is a process, and unless you want to experience the “keto flu”, I would recommend you ease into ketosis.
I started to be more mindful of my carb intake and over a few months worked my way towards full-on keto. I was strict “keto” for five and a half weeks. During this period my body became more adapted to burning fat as fuel. I also learned the strict keto is not for me and that I do better on a cyclical keto diet. Ketosis and low-carb are just a couple of the many tools at my disposal.
It is important to experiment on yourself to see what makes best for you. When conducting your n=1 experiment, make sure to give your body time to adjust to any new changes, but also be aware if something is not working for you, do not force it.
Fasted Workouts
While diet is a huge proportion of health, exercise is also hugely important and another powerful tool. To become fat adapted I started to do all if not most of my workouts fasted in the morning. Training in a state of ketosis or fasted sends a strong message to your body that fat is the preferred fuel.
This strategy is not for you if you do high-intensity workouts multiple days in a row. However, if your strength train, 2-3 times a week or do low-intensity endurance training, it can take you to the next level of fat burning.
It is worth mentioning that you never need to feel like you are starving if you get super hungry eat. If you are patient with yourself, you will see improvements.
Is it Worth It?
In short, heck yes! By packing high-fat foods, I was able to cut 10 pounds from my backpack!! I also worked harder and felt better than any other hunt ever! Because my inflammation was down, I didn’t wake up sore every morning. So yeah, the months of preparation were worth it.
How Paleoish Salted Peanut Butter Chocolate Mini Protein Muffins Fit In
The problem with fasting is that you don’t take in protein. Some people have a hard time meeting their protein needs as is. So, eating Paleoish Salted Peanut Butter Chocolate Mini Protein Muffins post workout help solve this problem. And as everyone knows, you need protein to build muscle and recover after a tough workout.
When eating a low carb diet, and especially when exercising, your electrolyte requirements increase. The added sea salt on the mini muffins helps replenish lost electrolytes and adds a nice little crunch.
INGREDIENTS
| 1/3 Cup | Peanut Butter |
| 2 TBSP | Coconut Oil |
| 2 Scoops | Wilderness Athlete Paleo(ish) Chocolate Protein |
| 1/8 TSP | Baking Powder |
| 1/4 TSP | Vanilla |
| 2 | Eggs |
| 1/4 Cup | Dark Chocolate, Chopped |
HOW TO PREPARE & COOK
1. In a small saucepan over low heat, add peanut butter and coconut oil. Keep the heat on just until the coconut oil melts.
2. Meanwhile, in a separate small bowl, combine protein powder and baking powder.
3. As soon as the coconut oil is melted, remove from heat and thoroughly mix together peanut butter and coconut oil.
4. Add the dry mix to the saucepan and completely mix together.
5. Mix in eggs, then fold in chocolate.
6. Scoop 1 tablespoon of batter into lined mini-muffin tins
7. Sprinkle a few granules of salt on each muffin.
8. Bake at 350° F for about 10-12 minutes.
9. Let cool on the counter and store in the refrigerator.
Check out Gina’s 28 Day Challenge results!
