It's Friday - and it's St. Patty's day...let's be real here. I live by the 80/20 rule...meaning, I'm on my health track for 80% of the time and I allow myself "cheats" about 20% of the time. Sometimes it's more like 70/30 and other times, it is more like 90/10. Point is; I LOVE being healthy and eating healthy. I feel better. I actually prefer healthy foods and options. BUT, sometimes, I may have too much wine, chips and salsa, etc. Here is the deal for today, for any Friday, any holiday, or any cheat times:
One cheat meal won't make you fat, just like one clean meal won't make you lean. You've got to practice self-discipline to have more "on" days than "off". The key is to find your healthy moderation, enjoy your life and meet your goals. You CAN have both.1. NO GUILT. Savor it. Enjoy it. if you allow yourself to feel guilty, you're missing the point.2. PLAN YOUR CHEAT MEAL. They should not bea spur of the moment decision.
3. DON'T FORGET EVERYTHING YOU KNOW ABOUT PORTION CONTROL. A cheap meal should not be a license to binge.
4. LIMIT YOUR CHEAT MEALS to two times a week.
5. MOVE ON. Don't allow a cheap meal to be a trigger to more bed eating. Do it, love every second of it, and move on.
Let's talk about breakfast. I 
❤️ breakfast!! How many of you eat breakfast? Studies show that eating a HEALTHY breakfast (as opposed to the kinds that include donuts ) is linked to many health benefits, including weight loss. You may have heard the weight loss tip before but how about the others?Did you know:1. Eating breakfast can lower your risk of type 2 diabetes? Very simply put, people who skip breakfast experience insulin resistance, a condition in which you need more insulin to bring your blood sugar into a normal range. Chronic insulin resistance is a major risk factor for diabetes.
2. Improved memory! Giving the nutrients that your body and brain need is important for memory. Increasing the nutrient intake provide your brain and neurotransmitters all the elements needed to properly function.
3. Heart health. Studies show that those who skip breakfast have a higher risk of a heart attack or coronary disease! Experts say that not eating breakfast will lead to a greater chance of eating MORE calories later which can not only spike your blood sugar but clog your arteries.
4. Lose weight! If you skip breakfast, your body is in starvation mode - and conserves your calories, storing them instead of allowing them to burn. Eating breakfast boosts your metabolism and gets the digestion moving! "Fun" fact: sumo wrestlers typically skip breakfast for this very reason! They don't want to kick start their metabolism but rather want it stored. Who knew??
For more information on metabolism, eating clean recipes, and #girlieboss talk - connect with me on Facebook! I have monthly free groups on metabolism boosting tips, clean recipes, and more! I'd love to have you!
Calling all chocoholics!!! This recipe is to die for!!! SO good! If you would like more recipes, health/fitenss tips, etc - be sure to connect with me on Facebook!!!-1 1/2 cups raw cashews-1 1/2 cup dates, pitted and roughly chopped-1/2 cup almond butter
-1/2 cup maple syrup
-1/2 cup coconut flour
-1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
-1/2 teaspoon almond extract
-1 1/2 cups dark chocolate chips
-1 1/2 tablespoons coconut oil
Grind the cashews to a very fine meal in a food processor. Add the dates, almond butter, maple syrup, coconut flour, shredded coconut, and Almond extract and pulse until you have sticky ball of dough.
Line a small sheet pan with parchment paper and press the cashew mixture out on the paper, making a rectangle 1 inch deep. Refrigerate the mixture for 6 to 8 hours, until it's firm.
Meanwhile, combine the chocolate chips and coconut oil in the stainless steel or glass bowl set over a pot of simmering water (make sure the water doesn't touch the bowl). Stir the mixture until it's just melted, remove from the heat, and pour the chocolate mixture over the cold cashew mixture.
Return the bar to the fridge and let it cool until the chocolate coating is set, at least one hour. Using the parchment, lift the bar out of the sheet pan and cut it into rectangles.
Enjoy!!!
(Recipe from Gwyneth Paltrow)
