Perhaps my favorite aspect of group exercise classes (like my beloved BodyPump!) is the ability to simply show up, workout and be done. There’s no planning or thinking through a regimen involved. It’s like plug-and-play exercise.
Easy peasy. That’s how I roll.
Today’s workout began with a 20-minute warm up before I headed into BodyPump to feel the burn. The class was a decent one that left my biceps tingling and my quads screaming. Always a good sign!
Walk + Breakfast
I came home to a dog who demanded exercise. Okay, so Sadie didn’t demand a walk, but I know she’d make me pay for neglecting her morning exercise by trying to sit on my face as I try to work this afternoon.
Actually, even with a morning walk, she’ll still do that. I’m such a sucker.
We walked for slightly more than 20 minutes before heading to the backyard for 10 more minutes of playtime. Then my tummy told me it was time to come inside and get crackin’ on breakfast.
I had many different breakfast ideas flowing through my head this morning. A yogurt bowl? Baked pancake? Eggs with toast?
In the end, the thought of a smoothie reigned supreme. I just can’t help it! In the summertime, there’s no better breakfast.
Chocolate Peanut Butter and Banana Smoothie:
- 1 1/4 c. almond milk
- 1 frozen banana
- 1 scoop chocolate protein powder
- 1 tbsp. cocoa powder
- 1 tbsp. peanut butter
- 1 tsp. xanthan gum (for thickening)
- 1 large handful fresh spinach
How to Freeze a Banana
To many of you, this may seem incredibly simple. To others, it boggles the mind. I’ve received a handful of questions from readers (and my best friend!) about how to properly freeze a banana.
Don’t worry, PBF is a judgment-free zone, so if freezing a banana properly is a skill that has eluded you, it’s okay. Take my hand. We’ll figure it out together. 
(If it makes you feel any better, I had to read Monica’s tutorial to learn how to make iced coffee. There are some skills that just bypass us at birth.)
First, remove the skin. If you don’t, terror awaits you when you try to peel a frozen banana.
Then place the banana into a plastic bag and freeze! You may also cut it up into pieces before freezing to make it easier to blend if you’re going to use the banana in a smoothie.
As you can see, I almost always have several frozen bananas on hand. I like to freeze them when they’re slightly overripe because I find that they have the most flavor when the banana peel begins to get a little spotty.
See? Nice and simple! 
(I think this post may have caused Melissa to die a little inside.)
Of Possible Interest
- Recipe: Healthy and Delicious Apple Crumble (FitSugar.com)
- Top 10 Yoga Poses to Increase Your Metabolism (Shape.com)
- 12 Ways to Improve Your Family’s Health (AOLHealth.com)
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I definitely tried freezing a banana with the peel on the first time. It was awful. I learned that lesson quickly
hahah i ALWAYS wondered how your frozen bananas never turned into complete mush! it all makes sense now. thanks for this post! 🙂
I had been meaning to ask you how you do it!! Haha that is too funny! I swear I was like does she just throw the whole banana in the freezer? Plastic bag or no bag? Peeled or unpeeled? Thank you for this!! 🙂
So I’m guessing to freeze strawberries you just put them in a bag too? haha.
Ok so I freeze bananas WITH THE SKIN ON! And it works. I defrost for about 15 seconds and squeeze those suckers into the blender. Am I totally wrong and demented or a social outcast?
Wait up girl, smoothies in summer only? Here in New Zealand it’s almost the middle of winter, but you’re blog has me craving smoothies for breakfast. Seriously, I drank my smoothie this morning after I scraped ice from my windscreen.
I love how I just put bananas in the freezer for the first time this morning with the peeling on! ahh haha i would read this post now. Noted for next time 🙂
I just found you blog and love it! I wanted to say though that bananas are even better when dipped in a little chocolate THEN frozen. Better than a popcicle any day. Yum!
How long can they stay frozen for. I have to say I never even thought of freezing a banana!
Is it wrong that I freeze it in the skin and then just cut and peel it once frozen? Haha- oh my I am a shocker.
Thanks for the information. I just purchased a Vita mixer and starting to try to eat and drink things that are organic. I am making smoothies now and love them. I froze my bananas whole (did not know any better)and took my vegie peeler and peeled it when I needed some banana. You have to wrap a paper towel around it or your hands will freeze but it worked.:)
After I started reading your blog, and getting your recipes for smoothies…I definitely tried freezing bananas the WRONG way. I was totally confused how you didn’t end up chucking the darn thing out the window every time you tried to peel it. When I saw this post, I had a Homer Simpson, “Doh!” moment.
Is that a Vizsla?! I have two and they’re the absolute best dogs! Love you post!