Flourless Brownie Muffins

 I used to dislike chocolate very much. Sweets in general were not the way to my heart... until that fateful day when i got pregnant - i haven't been able to put them down since and that was 4 years ago!! So, frankly - i will not have chocolate of any kind in my house with the exception of my beloved chocolate Shakeology due to my lack of self control.

Awhile ago, i was perusing the Beachbody blog and was searching through sweet recipes to cure me. These CHOCOLATE MUFFINS caught my eye. Upon reading the ingredients, i realized i had all but one ingredient on hand - you guessed it - the chocolate. I had to go to the store and buy the dark chocolate chips. You don't even wanna know what happened next - BUT - i have to confess, every night i would go in the bag of chocolate chips and eat a handful of them. It's ridiculous, i know. Over time, the entire bag was gone and i still hadn't made any muffins. So - back to the store and this time - i used self control, made the muffins and haven't touched the chips since. (insert round of applause here). These dark chocolate muffins are delicious and surprisingly healthy.  XO

FLOURLESS BROWNIE MUFFINS

Total Time: 22 min.
Prep Time: 20 min.
Cooking Time: 12 min.
Yield:12 servings, 1 cupcake each
Ingredients:
1 (15 oz.) can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained, rinsed
3 large eggs
½ cup pure maple syrup
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking soda
3 Tbsp. coconut oil, melted
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/3 cup dark chocolate chips

Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
2. Prepare 12 muffin cups by lining with muffin papers or coating with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
3. Place chickpeas, eggs, maple syrup, cocoa powder, baking soda, coconut oil, and extract in blender or food processor; cover. Blend until smooth.
4. Divide batter among 12 prepared muffin cups.
5. Top each muffin with about four chocolate chips; push into batter.
6. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
7. Cool completely and enjoy!

Clean Eating for Beginners

"Clean Eating" has been popping up more and more these days as people are more cautious of what they are putting in their mouths and learning what clean eating truly is. Have you ever wondered what eating clean means??

Clean eating is simply the practice of avoiding processed and refined foods and basing your diet on whole foods. But there’s much more to this plan. You can structure your diet to get proper nutrition, help manage diseases, avoid developing diseases, lose weight, remove toxins, and just feel better in general.  WHO WOULDN'T WANT TO REAP THESE BENEFITS??!!

The Basic Principles of Eating Clean

Eating clean involves not only choosing the right foods to eat but also avoiding all of the junk foods and processed foods that are so readily available. The following principles hold the keys to good health and proper nutrition.

• Eat whole foods: Whole foods are foods that haven’t been tampered with, in the lab or the manufacturing plant. The foods you eat on this plan are straight from the farm: whole fruits and vegetables, whole grains, grass-fed and free-range meats, low fat dairy products, unsalted nuts, and seeds.
• Avoid processed foods: Processed foods are any food that has a label. A label means that more than one ingredient was used to make that food. You don’t have to eliminate all processed foods (like whole grain pasta or natural cheeses), but if you can’t pronounce an ingredient on a label, don’t put that food in your shopping basket.
• Eliminate refined sugar. Refined sugar provides nothing but calories. Other sweeteners can be used, but with all the good foods you add to your diet, refined sugar really has very little place in the eating clean plan.
• Eat five or six small meals a day. By eating smaller meals throughout the day you can help speed up your metabolism and reduce the chance that you’ll eat junk food. You never get so hungry on this plan that you’ll feel deprived or feel the need to cheat.
• Cook your own meals. Instead of buying meals in a box, cook meals from scratch. That’s not as hard as it sounds! Clean, whole foods need little preparation beyond chopping and sautéing to make satisfying, delicious meals your family will love.
• Combine protein with carbs. When you do snack or eat a meal, make sure that meal is balanced. For the most satisfaction from your diet, and so you’ll be less tempted to eat junk food, combine protein with carbs or carbs and fat. This simple act will fuel your body and squash hunger pangs.

How Whole Foods and Eating Clean Help You Stay Healthy

What you eat really does have an effect on how you feel. Eating whole foods and avoiding junk food, a clean eating lifestyle, can keep you healthy or help you regain your health if you haven't been well. Follow these ideas below and you will have a better chance at living an active life:

• It’s easier to maintain a healthy weight, which reduces the risk of several diseases.
• Eating a good variety of foods ensures you get adequate amounts of most essential nutrients.
• Relying on whole foods is the best way to get a good combination of micronutrients.
• Whole foods keep you satisfied longer so you’re less tempted by junk foods.
• Foods high in micronutrients can help reduce cholesterol levels and regulate blood sugar.
• There are some nutrients we haven’t yet identified that are present in whole foods but not in supplements.
• Whole foods help keep your digestive system regular.
• Eating a healthy diet makes you stronger so you can stay more active.
• Avoiding artificial ingredients keeps your cells strong so your body systems work efficiently.
• If you feel good, you’re more likely to take care of yourself in other ways
  
  
  
  
  *Adapted from Eating Clean for Dummies

Leg Day with Richard

I came across this picture the other day and fell in love with it for many reasons. What many do not know is that when i was in middle school, my mom let me pick out my tennis shoes for PE class. I am not sure where we found these particular gems and i unfortunately, do not have a picture but you can imagine what they looked like when i tell you the brand was "Richard Simmons". They were plain white and BULKY. Not even kidding a little bit.

And boy, was i made fun of for those shoes! I was only teased a little bit by my closest friends BUT i OWNED those shoes and it didn't bother me one bit. I laughed with them. I've always know to be a little quirky so i don't think it phased me really.

As i have always been into fitness - usually just admiring bodies instead of working on my own, it's only fit i had those shoes at one point in time. I've finally realized i can't just admire bodies to be fit - i must actually work at it and exercise. Crazy i know! So, yesterday - i posted this picture of my man on my Facebook page and every other quirky person i know "liked" it.

Posting that picture meant more to me than anyone realized i'm sure! In fact, my best friend from that PE class is still one of my best friends today. She definitely still remembers those shoes and we definitely still laugh about it. AND YES, yesterday was LEG DAY!

Work it!
XO

Getting My Ducks In A Row

There is an internal battle going on within me. There always has been. It's something i feel i will always struggle with, yet, maybe not.

Lately, i've had an incredible amount of determination to get my life where it needs to be in ALL areas! BUT, i've also still been lazy, sad, depressed, lonely, etc. I've ALWAYS dealt and struggled with those negative feelings. Some days are worse than others. I don't know if it stems from my car accident and alcohol/drug use. Or if it's just something i struggled with becoming an adult. Both of those began at the same time.

A week ago, i began reading 'The Slight Edge' by: Jeff Olson. Already, the book has really helped me PUSH MYSELF to be the best version of me. Of course, i don't always succeed BUT i most certainly try - just not hard enough all the time!

When i was little, life came super easy to me. It was pretty much handed to me on a silver platter as they say. Upon graduating high school - i sorta had to figure out the world is a cruel place and figure out where i fit in. The path i've taken is a crazy one and not necessarily one i'd recommend BUT it's not about where we came from or what happened to us in the past. And it isn't about where we are going in the future - It's about NOW. What am i doing RIGHT NOW to change the direction my life is headed?!? What are the steps i am taking?

If you take positive steps every day and contribute to what you want your life to be - YOU CAN HAVE THAT FUTURE YOU'VE ALWAYS WANTED. Not all steps are seen by others, but that doesn't matter - what matters is that YOU see them and know you are doing them!

One duck at a time!

XO

Fuel Yourself

It's AMAZING to me how eating different foods makes me feel. I admit this past week i haven't worked out as much as i should have or eaten as i should have. These 2 go hand in hand for me and i am sure for everyone. The less you do, the less you feel like doing. This past week has been physically and mentally tough as my body hasn't been fueled properly and IT STINKS!!
DO MORE. PUSH YOURSELF. Today, i woke up with that mentality AND it is working for me! BE INSPIRED! STAY INSPIRED! XO

Monday Funday

Monday is a day to START OVER! I personally like mondays for that reason! We started it off by going to Jaxton's swim class. Jaxton has been attending Seal Swim School for 2 months now and "graduated" to Level 2 yesterday! I didn't think i'd be emotional when they moved Jax up a level in swim class BUT as his mom, of course i was! His teacher, Sam, is AMAZING! The progress Jax has made swimming has been awesome to watch! He went from Seal Pup to Super Seal! WOO-HOO!

We left there and went to the mall for a bit to exchange something at Macy's and i'm not sure what i was thinking BUT i was determined to buy some new things for myself. And on that note, he is 3 now and boy, is he testing me! It's always challenging being a mom but WOAH! This is a whole new level for me. We didn't experience what they call the "terrible twos" - got lucky there! We are in the stage called "Threenager" though FOR SURE! Check this out:

 

He's the littlest LOVE OF MY LIFE but when this happened on the way home....

I couldn't have been more excited:)

XO

NEW LIFE CHOICE

WOW! I've been all over the board with what i want to be when i grow up! Growing up, all i ever wanted to do was become a movie producer. I graduated high school and went on to college to pursue that dream. While away in school, i made a few bad choices. Towards the end of the school year, i was involved in a bad car accident that altered my life plan. Ever since that day, i have questioned what i wanted to do for years. I enrolled myself into cosmetology school and realized i had a knack for doing hair! I LOVED it! I found out i was pregnant a week before graduating. I went on to take my cosmetology exam to become a licensed hairstylist in the state of Florida. I passed the theory with flying colors. I missed the practical half by 2 points. Instead of kicking it up a notch and re-taking the exam, i went back into depressed "whoa is me" mode. I decided to stay working as a waitress/bartender while i was pregnant. (Living the dream - i know:) After my son was born, i decided it was best to stay at home with him. I was back to "what should i do with my life?".

My son was so attached to me that i ended up being a Stay At Home Mom (SAHM). It has been awesome! I wouldn't trade the time in the world for anything! My son just turned 3! I took on a part-time job last Novemeber and LOVE it but wanted and needed MORE for myself. Just recently, i signed up to become a BEACHBODY COACH! When my friend, Dara, decided to become a coach, she put it out there she was looking for people who wanted to change their life. Her posts literally tugged at me and pulled me into this world of GETTING FIT, FEELING GOOD, and INSPIRING OTHERS. I signed up to be a COACH to keep myself accountable and inspire others. I am excited about this NEW JOURNEY and i'm finding my way in this world. Being 31 without a "LIFEPLAN" is something i've always had to deal with - but it's been my personal choices that have brought me to this place. I can't go back and change those choices - BUT, i can make the choices i have in the future to better my life and that is what i am doing! XO

www.beachbodycoach.com/alysutton

Commitment

I have always struggled with a healthy body image. I've always thought i need to lose a little weight and tone up. When putting clothes on, i change outfits at least 3 times before deciding "this looks ok". Since i can remember, when i see a picture of a fit muscular body, i stare in "awe" and wish i looked like that - YET, never do anything about it, except for the occasional walk/run, etc. In the past, i have had gym memberships and even personal trainers BUT never committed to the nutrition part of it so i never achieved what i wanted.

About 2 months ago i started Focus T25. I was doing great with the program and looked and felt better. 3 weeks into it, we went on vacation and things just got messy. I fell off the bandwagon and struggled to get back on. I failed myself yet again.

Today, i am committing to achieving the body i've always wanted. I am starting another Beachbody program called "21 Day Fix". They say it takes 21 days to form a habit and i will have done just that if i can complete this program. So many people in my life tell me i am crazy for "going on a diet". This isn't a diet. It's a lifestyle - a new way of living. The 21 day fix is a fool proof way of getting nutrition right. It teaches you correct portions of each food group each day. The idea is you will get use to this way of eating and continue on with it after the 21 days is over.

I am excited to start this adventure and get it right this time. Follow me on this journey if you'd like and if its something you think you would be interested in - contact me and we can make that happen! xo