Clean Eating- Sinfully Clean Chocolate Brownie

Tonight's dinner, was followed by a sinfully clean dessert!

I have to say, this is not one of my faves. But once you expect the fact, that clean brownies are not going to taste exactly like real brownies, then I would say this taste pretty darn good. It does have a "different" texture and certainly doesn't look like the picture. But I would give this ONE THUMB UP. It's worth a try!

Sinfully Clean Chocolate Brownie

Ingredients

• 1 square (7 g) dark chocolate
• 2 tbsp whole wheat pastry flour
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 2 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
• Pinch sea salt
• 2 tbsp unsweetened vanilla almond milk
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 tsp applesauce
• 1 tsp honey

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 FF. Break up chocolate into small pieces. Set aside.
2. Place dry ingredients, except chocolate pieces, in a large mixing bowl and mix.
3. Add wet ingredients to bowl and mix to combine. Stir in chocolate pieces.
4. Pour batter into a single-portion oven-proof loaf dish and bake 16 to 18 minutes. Serve.

Let me know what you think!!


XOXO

Clean Eating-Pasta Roll-ups with Turkey and Spinach

Tonight I made my first "clean" meal I have ever cooked for my family. I really enjoy cooking, so I couldn't wait for them to try it!

Overall, we give this recipe TWO THUMBS UP!!!!

It was very good! I left the spinach out of the recipe because my family and I are not a fan of cooked spinach.  The only thing I may change next time would be less cinnamon. I am not a fan of it, and I could defiantly taste it. Everyone else seemed to really enjoy it! I would definitely recommend trying this one! Delicious and healthy......what more could you ask for!

Pasta Roll-ups with Turkey and Spinach

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 lb ground turkey breast
• 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1 28-oz can whole tomatoes in juice
• 1 tsp salt
• 8 sheets dried high-protein or whole-wheat lasagna
• 1 10-oz box frozen chopped spinach, thawed
• 1 15-oz container nonfat ricotta cheese
• 1 egg
• 3/4 cup shredded reduced-fat mozzarella cheese

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium. Add onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook another minute. Turn heat to medium-high and add ground turkey, breaking it up with a spatula until meat shows no sign of pink. Stir in cinnamon and nutmeg, then add tomatoes and salt. Reduce heat to medium-low, stir, cover and let simmer for 20 minutes, occasionally stirring and breaking up tomatoes with a wooden spoon.
2. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to boil. Cook pasta according to package directions, drain, rinse and allow to cool in a colander.
3. Preheat the oven to 400°F. Squeeze all remaining moisture from thawed spinach and place in large bowl. Add ricotta cheese, egg and a 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese to bowl. Stir until combined
4. Spread 1 cup of cooked tomato sauce into bottom of a 9 x 10-inch casserole dish. Lay a cooked lasagna noodle flat in front of you. Use your fingers to spread 1/8 of ricotta mixture across the noodle and roll it up. Place the rolled pasta seam side down, into the casserole dish. Repeat with remaining noodles. Spread remaining tomato sauce over roll-ups, then top with remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella
5. Bake, covered with foil, for 20 minutes. Remove foil and broil for 5 minutes or until roll-ups are browned and bubbly.

Hope you enjoy it as much as we did! Let me know what you think!!!

"Eat clean, Train mean, get lean"

XOXO

The Healthiest meal of the Day!!!!

 Have you guys ever heard of SHAKEOLOGY?!?! Well, if you are my Facebook friend, then I know you have! This past week I have started replacing one meal every day with a shakeology and in three days, I am down 3lbs!!!! It is packed full of superfoods! These are things that I would never in a million years think about eating. I bought the chocolate flavor and I have to say, it's honestly DELICIOUS! To keep the variety I add different things to my shake every day so that I do not get tired of it! I love the chocolate flavor alone, it tastes just like chocolate milk! I have added peanut butter, and I love it!!! That may be my favorite! It tastes just like a peanut butter cup! I have also added mint, and it tasted like a mint chip milkshake! The possibilities are truly endless when it comes to the varieties you can make!

I have always had trouble when it comes to protein shakes because I usually end up gagging it down or throwing it up! This shake honestly tastes amazing! I would not steer you wrong! I am one of the pickiest eaters every and this goes down smoothly every morning! I have more energy, and less carvings! I swear this is one the best things I have ever tried! I really can't believe I can start my day off every morning with one of these and it's healthy! Watch my Facebook for my Shakeology recipes!

 

These pics are hard to share! But I want to show you hard work does pay off!

If you are interested in trying SHAKEOLOGY or would like more info, please check out my site!

"Shakeology, the healthiest meal of the day!"

I Knew this Journey Wouldn't be Easy....

During this challenge, I have come to realize that food journaling is a must! Friday night, I worked out the hardest I ever have! I jumped on the scale only to find out I gained weight! I didn't know if I wanted to cry or scream! I was devastated!!! I immediately sent a message to my coach because I was so upset. Before she even responded, I thought about a food journal, but that is exactly the same thing she suggested! It made me feel good when she told me I am definitely putting in the work, because that is exactly how I feel! So I have decided that I am going to start writing down the times I eat and what eat! I think it will make me much more aware of what I am putting into my mouth. Do you use a food journal? I think it is going to be very helpful! I suggest trying it for a week and see if it is an eye opening experience!  Who's with me?!?!

"Your body keeps an accurate journal, regardless of what you write down."

 

XOXO

Did Someone Say Clean Eating?!

Hello my fabulous followers! I hope you are all doing wonderful! This week I have started a cleaning eating challenge. I have been working out very hard lately, but not getting the results that I want. So, I have decided that I need to tackle the hardest part of my journey, my eating habits! Just as I was thinking this to myself, I get a notification that a fellow coach of mine is running a clean eating challenge this week! I believe it was fate! Like someone saying to me you're ready to do this, now just expect the challenge! That's just what I did! So here we are day 1! I have spent some time today researching some recipes that I feel I may enjoy! This is going to be one of the toughest challenges! I am one of the pickiest eaters you will ever meet! But I am going to try my best! So, I am going to post a clean eating recipe everyday on my Facebook page, and I will post reviews on here of recipes that I make! 

***What I would like for all of you to do is to head over to my Facebook Page and share one of your favorite clean eating recipes with us! With all of this healthy eating, we are going to be looking AMAZING!

"What you eat in PRIVATE, eventually is what you wear in PUBLIC! Eat CLEAN look LEAN!"  

XOXO

What Keeps Me Motivated?!

So did you all love my exciting news? I'm so pumped that I have all these new resources for helping all of you! I have been spending a great deal of time reading and studying all of my materials so that I can better motivate you all! I hope you are all keeping your eyes and ears open for the announcement of my first challenge group!

Lately, a lot of people have been contacting me asking how I stay motivated! Well, let me just tell you how happy I am that I have stuck to this and NOT GIVEN UP! I feel terrific! Even if I look the same as the day I started, which I don't think I do, I already feel more confident in myself! But it's definitely taking hard work to get there! Last night I worked out for a long time! I ran 5 miles, did T25 Total Body Circuit, and did some weight training!

What is T25? For those of you who don't know what T25 is, it's simply.....truly.....AMAZING!!! When I first started working out, I bought this program just because I knew it was 25 mins long and then I was done! If you can't spare 25 mins for yourself everyday, we need to have a talk! Well, I got the program and I love that there is a little clock in the corner counting down your time for you! It's a great motivator to just keep going and push to reach the 25 min. mark. I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to keep up with them or do every move they do, well fear not! On the TV you will see 5 people working out, one of which is a modifier. She breaks the moves down to easier ones for you! I definitely used that in the beginning, and I'm not going to lie, I still look to her for those days when I can't seem to do what the others are doing! Is it tough?!?! Um YEAH! If you only want to work out for 25 mins a day, you have to make it count right?!?! Is it doable? FOR SURE! I was a freakin' couch potato and still managed to get it done! If you have any questions about that program, email me!!! I have owned this for 3 or so months now and would be happy to answer questions! If you want to check it out, teambeachbody.com/jessbeattie

So what else keep me motivated? My coach! Yes I said my coach! Just because I switched over to the coaching world doesn't mean I have stopped reaching out to mine for encouragement and support! No way, she is awesome and I still lean on her when I need to! Just the other night, I was working out while I had a migraine and fighting a stomach bug, I sent her a message complaining about how long it was taking me to complete what I wanted, then sent her another message when I FINALLY finished! Both times, she answered right away with words of encouragement to kick me into gear! I am here to do that for you as well! HIT ME UP and I will be your little burst of support and encouragement!

A huge motivator for me is my why list! Do you remember that list I posted way back in Oct?!?! Well I still read that to myself all the time! I want to reach my goals more than you ever know! My biggest reason for wanting to be healthy is so that I can have the opportunity to save someone's life! Save someone's life what???? Yes! When my mom got sick, I quickly realized how important organ donations, blood donations, any type of donation they can use to save someone's life are! My mom had many many blood transfusions, and if those people had donated their blood, she wouldn't be here! As you all know, my mom is an amazing person, and a true fighter, but the reality that we live with every day is that she is in stage 3 kidney disease and one day may need a kidney transplant! And you better bet your buns, I'll be the first one to be tested! But to be considered for a match, you need to be in good physical health! This is a huge motivator for me! Could you imagine, if I was a match, but they didn't take mine because I wasn't healthy enough, I couldn't live with myself!

There are of course little things I do everyday to keep me motivated as well!

1.When I run I watch a movie or favorite TV show on my phone! It helps the time fly bye without you realizing how far you have ran!

2. Some days I read a book while I run! I love to read and when I start a book, I can't put it down. So lately my life has been so crazy busy, the only time I get to read is when I am running! It's a great reward to myself!

3. I talk to myself! I mean literally talk out loud motivating myself if I have to! The others at my gym make think I am crazy! And they are right! I am CRAZY motivated to reach my goals!

4. Take pics! I take pics of the sweat pouring off me after a workout to remind myself I have earned every bead of that sweat!

5. This blog! I love reporting to you all! All of your comments, and likes, and what not are crazy motivating! You all believe in me, and that is amazing!

Don't ever forget I am here for you! Reach out to me! I want you to succeed and reach your goals more than you do! I know you can do it! I believe in you!

XOXO

This really makes my blood boil!!!

 If you have ever shopped in the plus size section of a store, you know it's not always a pleasant experience. The clothes look like ugly area rugs sown together. If they can make cute trendy shirts and dresses in sizes xxs-xl, why the heck can't they just use a little more fabric and make larger sizes of the same shirt. I just don't see why no one has really jumped on board and done this. Don't get me wrong, I know there are some stores that make beautiful plus size clothes, but they come with a hefty price tag. Why is this?!?! I'm sure I'm not the only one who has this issue. I also can't stand the fact that stores have a "plus size" section. Why not just put all the woman's clothing in one section?! Nope, if you're a "plus size" girl, you have to shop in a designated section or a special store. The fact that it's still called, "PLUS SIZE" blows my mind! In men's sections most of the time, it's all blended together. I can't say that I have ever seen a "plus size" men's section. They are all blended together because it is more acceptable for men to be bigger. But.....Us women.....have to shop in special sections, or special stores! This is something that makes my blood boil!

Lately, I've been getting emails asking where I shop to find comfortable clothes to work out in or what sneakers I run it! I love it, keep the questions coming! Let's face it, it's not always easy to find things to wear, when you are a larger girl! I am always here to lend an ear, or share my experiences with you!

"Never change who you are because someone else has a problem with it"

XOXO