Exercise is a really important part of my life. Clearly, when you spend most days baking and eating decadent desserts, it’s a necessity to work off those calories. Exercise also makes me feel good. It reduces my anxiety, helps me deal with stress, and often brings clarity on problems I’m dealing with. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had writers’ block or couldn’t figure out what went wrong with a recipe until mid-run when the solution hits me.
But since I exercise a lot, it can get a little monotonous. I typically run and play Wii Active Life Outdoor Challenge (it’s a serious workout!), and I’ve been using the elliptical I bought a few months ago. However, I’ve been wanting to try something totally different. So I ordered a couple Jillian Michaels workout DVDs. I just finished 30 day Shred.
Working out about an hour and a half five days a week, all intense cardio, I figured I’d easily be able to do these workouts. WRONG! It turns out I lacked some serious strength. I couldn’t even do a push-up! I looked forward to the DVD everyday, moving through the progressively harder workouts, each with all different moves. It was exciting and interesting, keeping me totally engrossed. It did take me a day each week to catch onto the moves and not fall all over the room, but maybe I’m just not as coordinated as I thought either.
Plus, it’s an awesome workout. It seriously kicked my butt each day, my muscles twitching and sore – just how they should be after a workout. There were some moves I didn’t love, like lots of modified lunges, which can be hard on your knees and mine are already a little sensitive from running. Most moves I loved, though. From high knees to skaters to lots of crazy hard plank variations, I kept wanting to do the moves even after the video finished. And it worked. I feel stronger and more toned. I can even do a few push-ups now. I’m taking a break from the DVD for a little while and doing my other workouts, but I will definitely be doing it again.
After all this exercise, I need some recovery food. How about No Bake Peanut Butter Marshmallow Bars? Okay, so they’re not the healthiest, but they are full of protein packed peanut butter. These are the simplest, yummiest treat and so perfect to make in this hot summer weather when you don’t even want to think about turning on the oven. The recipe only has four ingredients, it’s addictively good, gluten free, and it will have you grabbing bites until it’s gone. Oh, and about ten seconds in the microwave makes it messy, but ooey, gooey, and even tastier!
No Bake Peanut Butter Marshmallow Bars
- Total Time: 7 minutes
- Yield: 9 bars 1x
Ingredients
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 cup peanut butter chips
- 1 10.5 ounce bag mini marshmallows
Instructions
- In a large microwave safe bowl, combine peanut butter, butter, and chips. Microwave on high in 30 second increments, stirring in between, until fully melted. Stir the melted mixture until it is well combined. Add the marshmallows and stir until they are fully coated. Some may melt a little – that is okay.
- Pour in the mixture into an 8 or 9 inch square pan or even a pie pan (that’s what I used) and smooth into an even layer. Though they will be messy, I loved them warm. To cut into uniform bars, allow to cool to room temperature. May be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. Bars may be microwaved for 10 seconds to make them gooey!
Notes
Recipe adapted from How Sweet It Is
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 minutes
Laura, you’re a machine! I seriously need to work out – I’ve gone to the gym only once this entire year. *hangs head in shame* The elevators in my building aren’t working today and I had to climb 4 flights of stairs to my office. I was DYING. That’s not a good sign! Thanks for the review on the 30 day shred. I’ve seen a lot of people use it and like it. I should get on that…although my chances of making these delicious, gooey, peanut butter-y bars is much higher! Love these!
If only exercise were as fun as making these bars! Oh well. Thanks, Nancy!
Those Jillian Michaels exercises are waaaaay hard! Good for you for working out as much as you do. I try… 🙂
Love the bars! Marshmallows and PB is one of my fave combos!
PB and marshmallow is the best! Of course that combo is why I have to workout so much 😉 Thanks, Kate!
just mouthwatering….looks delicious!
Thanks so much, Kalyan, and thanks for visiting 🙂
Oh. My. Goodness. This looks like a peanut butter lover’s heaven!! I love that you used both peanut butter and peanut butter chips in these 🙂
I love using both pb and pb chips, it intensifies the flavors so much!
I’ve gone through phrases where I felt compelled to change it up also…never checked out Jillian’s shred but now I will!
Now can we discuss these bars?? YES. Serious YES.
Laura that’s amazing! I’ve done that workout before. It’s tough! I could not do it every single day, though. Anywho! These bars?! Seriously?? Oh my g… All my favorite things!!
I wish I had the will power to work out like you do. All I want to do is sit on the couch and eat bars exactly like this!! They look delicious 🙂
★★★★★
Oh La La….sounds wonderful. Keep up the good work on your exercise….Hugs.
These are great!
I tried some of the Jillian Michaels’ workouts in June, and they were hard! But I really felt like I was accomplishing something. I hope to get back to them in the fall!
The Jillian Michaels’ workouts for sure make you feel like you’re accomplishing something.
Oh these look so perfect !
I wanted to start eating healthy, but.. never mind 🙂
★★★★★
This is my idea of recovery food! We walk at least an hour and a half every day (knees to old to let us run), and do pushups (and other exercises) a couple of times a week. Pushups really are no fun, but they do build strength, so we grumble but do them. I gotta start making this as a post workout reward, though 😉 Really nice – thanks.
It’s great that you are so dedicated to exercise! People usually look at me like I’m crazy when I say I exercise an hour and a half. My knees are already feeling old – that’s why I use the elliptical more than anything now. Thanks, John!
You had me at “No bake”. Great job Laura, I see these in my near future!
Quite the dangerous combination, I would become addicted to these for sure.
Love the “no bake” desserts….it’s so hot here this week!! Good luck with your exercise!!
It’s really hot here too – yet my oven is still on!
Yay for an effective workout! These bars look delicious!
If I didn’t exercie, I would look like the girl who turned into a blueberry on Willy Wonka. Jillian Michael’s is hard core. I love these bars…oh so very much.
I know – exercise is so important. I love these bars too – just made them again last night! Thanks, Jennie!
Ugh. I hate you (not really :P). I wish I liked to work out. It’s so hard for me to do it…I just…would rather lay around, lol.
★★★★★
Sometimes I would rather just lay around too, so it’s good I have a schedule that I need to be accountable to. And I do take two days off a week – always nice.
These look awesome! My aunt used to do a similar treat but with peanuts added for crunch. These would definitely take me back to my childhood!
These sound sooo good. I’d love to try with some peanut butter cereal added for a little crunch.
Thanks, Annmartina, and thanks for visiting 🙂 PB cereal sounds like a great addition!