joyfully fit

Fun Foodie Friday: Shakeology Mug Cake

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We all have seen mug cakes right? A few ingredients mixed together in a mug and pop into the micro and out comes a cake! About a few months back on one particular day,  I found myself looking at the clock and realizing how late it was. My first thought was; I still have so much to do before I can go to bed. My second thought was that I didn’t drink my Shakeology yet!  I was in the mood for something sweet. So, I decided to make a  Shakeology Mug Cake! My friends all rave about them, so I decided it was time I tried it for myself.

Shakeology Cake

It was so easy. And so delicious. Did I mention it was so easy? Even if you don’t drink Shakeology, any protein powder will do. You can satisfy your sweet tooth all while watching your weight, adding protein to your diet and doing so in under 2 minutes! Everyone has time for that!

Shakeology Mug Cake Recipe:
Serving: 1 serving, 1 1/2 Red containers (21 day fix equivalent)

1 scoop of Shakeology/protein powder
1/4 tsp. baking powder
Pinch of Himalayan salt (my preference, but any salt will do)
3 Tbsp. of water
1 egg

Optional Toppings *
Fruit, nut butters, honey, seeds, coconut flakes, whipped cream…

Directions:
In mug, mix together the Shakeology/protein powder with the baking powder and salt. Once the dry ingredients are mixed, add in the egg and water. Mix until most of the clumps are gone. Place in your microwave for no more than 90 seconds. If this is your first time making this, microwave for 60-70 seconds first. Some microwaves are a tad stronger. Mine usually cooks perfectly in 80 seconds! I like my interior to be a little gooey. It reminds me of a molten lava cake!  Remove from the mug and add your toppings! ENJOY!

What’s your favorite mug cake recipe? What toppings do you like? I would love to hear your take on this (healthy) dessert!

Namaste~
Joy

Baked Apple Chips & 21 day fix approved

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Apple’s are delectable. I will take them anyway I can get them. Sauce, Pie, Cobbler, Crisp, Chips or right off the core! I have made & consumed them in all these ways except Apple Chips. I occasionally buy a bag of dried apple chips, but they always end up disappointing. They are either too sweet, not sweet enough or just a pile of crumbs at the bottom of the bag. And to top it off, they are not cheap. Usually no less than $3 for a small bag. A few weekends ago, thanks to Storm Neptune, I had some time on my hands. I made Apple Chips for the 1st time. And let me tell you, it certainly won’t be the last.

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It’s quite simple really.  Apples, Cinnamon and  Sweetener are the only ingredients you need. Add a baking sheet, some parchment paper, a sharp knife (or mandolin cutter) and you are in business. Preheat your oven to about 200 degrees. The low temp allows you to keep them in the oven longer. They will crisp up nice and slow and ensure that you won’t burn them. Slice your apples as thin as you can. The thinner the apple slice, the faster they will crisp up in your oven.  Lay the apples on a parchment paper (or slip mat) lined cookie sheet. Mix together about 1 tbsp of cinnamon and 1 tbsp of sweetener of your choice. I used stevia. This will cover about 2 apples. Adjust depending on how many apples you use. Sprinkle the mixture on the apples. You can do both sides if you want, but I prefer only doing one side. Place in oven and set timer for 1 hour. Flip after one hour and put back into oven for another hour. After 2 hours are up, I shut the oven off and let them sit in the oven for another 30 minutes or so. I did a workout, took a shower, washed the dishes and checked my email all while these bad boys cooked (crisped) away!

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I love this recipe and will be making it again and again. I can ensure there are no added and unwanted ingredients, especially added sugar. For those who follow the 21day fix plan (which I LOVE), as long as you stick with the recipe above, you can enjoy these for a mere PURPLE container! This 21 day fix recipe for baked apple chips is so easy to make, it will become a staple snack in your house! time I think I will add only cinnamon, as I love the flavor. If you love apples as much as I do, this is a must try. Let me know if you try these!

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Happy Snacking ~ Namaste

Be #happiernow with Carson Kressley

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It’s Monday folks. Back to work for many, a happy day for some and a dreaded day for others. Why? Too many women are living their lives in a way that doesn’t suit them. What do I mean by that? Magazines tell us what to wear. Celebrities show us what is trendy. We lose ourselves in the over-abundance of media outlets surrounding us. I want to be happy. Not happy after I lose another 10 pounds. Not happy when I can afford that “trendy” bag I want. Not happy when I move into a bigger house. I want to be #happiernow.  Thanks to Carson Kressley and Happier.com, I am!

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Carson teamed up with Happier.com to create a course dedicated to women who are stuck in a rut. Whether you are having issues with your self-esteem, not finding enough time for yourself or just not sure what the problem is, this course is for you. It’s quite simple really. 7 days of inspirational and helpful videos paired with a quick challenge for you. It’s all about YOU and what you WANT & NEED to be #happiernow. Carson is super motivating and honest in the videos. It felt like he was talking to me. How did this man get into my head and uncover all my emotions? It was actually quite refreshing to realize that there are more women who feel the same way as I do. He helped me overcome some fears & challenges in just 7 days. What’s even better is, it’s only $4.99!  Isn’t that almost the cost of one large (or should I say Venti) Starbucks Iced latte? Are you worth $4.99? I think you are!

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Contrary to what the media tells us, we do not need more money, expensive clothes, be a size 0 or a big house to be happy. Happiness is something we can choose to live in. We can make the conscious decision to wake up tomorrow and be happy with what we have. Find the good in what you have, rather than the bad in what you don’t. Make the pledge to be #happiernow. Take this course and let it inspire you. But first, fill in the blank below. It is your new mantra. Write it out- and put it on your bathroom mirror, in your daily agenda book or make it your screensaver. Today is the day to get #HAPPIERNOW.

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For more courses offered at the Happier community, click here and follow them on twitter and Facebook. Be sure to follow Carson on twitter @CarsonKressley and check out his newly re-launched site here.

Motivation Monday- Reviver Challenge

/ mysenkid / 3 Comments

Over the weekend, I participated in something I never thought I would/could do. I ran an obstacle course style race called the Reviver Challenge. It.was.hard. The obstacles were not fun or enjoyable. I mean, if you like climbing over 12 foot walls with only 1 platform for your feet- then you are well, not like me. If you like crawling in tunnels of mud that smell like <not mud> then this is your cup of tea! Me, I like running on smooth pavement listening to my teeny bopper catchy music and people watching as I go. This did not include any of that.

Ready to Race

Ready to Race

Just because the obstacles were not fun or easy, doesn’t mean I didn’t have fun. The fun came with running this with some fabulous ladies. The fun came with conquering each obstacle as a team. The fun came with getting out of my own head and living outside my comfort zone (even if only for a short while). The fun came when I saw my family there cheering me on. But the most fun was at the finish line.  When I crossed the line, I felt accomplished, proud, excited, relieved, tired, hungry and so much more. It was an overwhelming mix of emotions.

Over the past few years, I have been trying to live my life outside of the lines. When you push the boundaries, you experience things you never thought you would. When something scares you, think about how you will feel if you conquered it? Would you be in awe of yourself? Feel proud? What scares you? What is something you have always wanted to do, but never found the right time? Do it. What are you waiting for? Life is not endless. There is a limit to what we will be able to achieve here on Earth. So why waste your precious time doing nothing when you can be doing something. Go. Whatever it is, try it. Try everything once…..you never know……

Congrats to my girls- Jen, Meghann, Rebecca for a job well done!

After race smiles!

After race smiles!