Month: June 2015

Although I am in a pretty happy place in my life I have fought periods of depression and anxiety in the past and even now can find myself so down in the dumps that I have to fight to get back to a happy place in my life.  In the past I most definitely turned to food to ease my pain.  This of course does not work and can really only lead to more feelings of depression.

So yesterday I found myself having one of those days.  I just couldn’t shake the blues no matter what I tried.  It has been one of the rainiest springs and summers in history where I live and that does not help.  The boys were trapped inside…again and I really couldn’t find the energy to find something for us to do.  It was a very long day!

Today I woke up with a better mind set and planned on doing 2 things that have always helped me get out of a funky mood- exercise and bake.  I am fully aware that these 2 things pretty much counteract each other, but today I made sure to get up with my alarm and get a good work out in.  I picked one of my favorites the night before and I was actually looking forward to pushing play on some PiYo Buns as soon as I got up. I also took a nice long bike ride with Alex before lunch.

Then I was pretty excited to try a new recipe that a friend had sent me!  This came at the prefect time because I got to bake, enjoy a sweet treat and with less of the guilt because this recipe is clean and relatively good for you.  Luckily I had everything in the house to make them!

Using Chickpeas (or Garbanzo beans) instead of flour offers a gluten free option and is 220 calories for 1 cup vs roughly 400 for a cup of whole wheat flour.  Chickpeas are also a great form of fiber and plant based protein.

chickpea cookies

Here is the recipe:

• 1 1/4 C of chickpeas (rinsed, drained and dried with a paper towel)
• 1/2 C plus 2 T of natural peanut butter (or other nut butter)
• 1/4 C honey
• 2 t vanilla
• 1 t baking powder
• 1/2 C chocolate chips (I used Enjoy Life making these dairy free)

Put all the ingredients except the chocolate chips into a high speed blender or food processor.  Blend until creamy.  Stir in the chocolate chips.  I use a small ice cream scoop to make my cookies- about 1 1/2 inch balls.  You can flatten them if you want them to be more like normal cookies.  Bake on parchment paper for about 10 minute at 350.  They will store well in an airtight container for up to a week, if they make it that long!

This recipe made 14 balls for me.  I would have 1 as a treat swap if following the 21 Day Fix. They are only 13 carbs each making them a great treat for Jacob!

Depending on how experimental your family is with food you can tell them about the chickpeas or leave it your little secret.  I promise they will never know. 😉

What do you do to Bust a Bad Mood?

In my attempt to always try new things, especially vegetables, I picked up some broccoli slaw on my last grocery trip.  I had no idea what I was going to do with it, but I figured I would find some way to eat it!

After spending just a few minutes on Pinterest I realized there are actually a ton of things you can make with broccoli slaw!!  I picked a few recipes and went to work.

My first recipe was Broccoli Slaw Stir Fry and it was delicious!

Here is the super easy recipe:

• 1 clove of garlic
• 1 tsp of olive oil
• 1 tbsp of Liquid Aminos
• 1 cup of broccoli slaw
• 1/2 a chopped red bell pepper
• 1 yellow container of frozen edamame
• 1 red container of baby shrimp

Saute’ the garlic for about 1 minute.  Add the broccoli slaw, peppers, edamame and shrimp.  Stir occasionally and cook until shrimp are no longer pink.  Add Liquid Amino and continue to cook until until veggies are soft.

Enjoy!

I was scrolling Pinterest a while back and saw a recipe for fried rice made with cauliflower instead of rice.  I had tried the cauliflower pizza a while back and it was not a Pinterest success for me so I hadn’t tried the fried rice yet.  I had a head of cauliflower in the house that needed to be used so I decided to give it a shot.  I am so glad I did- it was a-maz-ing!!!

As I normally do I looked up a handful of recipes and created one that I would like and with ingredients I had in the house.  Here is what I came up with:

• 1 tsp coconut oil
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 2 cups of finely chopped cauliflower
• 1 chopped carrot
• 1/2 cup of edamame
• 1/4 cup chopped red bell peppers
• 2 tsp liquid amino
• 2 eggs, beaten
• pepper, to taste

To chop your cauliflower you can use a veggie chopper, food processor or blender.  Chop until it is rice-like.

Warm your pan, then add coconut oil.  Sauté the garlic for 1 minute.  Add the chopped cauliflower, carrot, edamame, bell pepper and liquid amino.  On medium heat, stir for about 5-7 minute until the cauliflower is soft.  Make a round opening in the middle of the pan and add the 2 beaten eggs.  Stir and scramble the eggs into the veggies.  Add some pepper to taste.

This makes 2 servings and counts as 1 1/2 green, 1/2 yellow, 1/2 red per serving for those following the 21 Day Fix.

Enjoy!

So, are  you ready for swimsuit season?

There is still time to get fit by the 4th!  Join me!

Starting June 15th we will work together using a proven equation that has helped me not only lose 18 pounds and over 20 inches, but keep it off for almost a year!

Clean Eating + Exercise + Motivation + Accountability = SUCCESS

In this 21 day challenge we will focus on good nutrition, share delicious summer recipes, and share tips to fit in exercise no matter how busy you are in a group with other like minded individuals.  No matter what the people around you are up to, you will have a group of virtual Fit-Friends who have your back!

And to make it even more fun- there is a chance to make some $$$$.

Everyone in the group will put $10 in and the person with the best results along with best participation wins the pot.  Want to win the pot, but not put in $10???  I will pay your entry fee if you purchase a Challenge Pack.  Lucky for you, the June 21 Day Fix Packs are amazing!

 

So, are you ready for the 4th?  Get more information on how you can be HERE