Desire

Deep inside each and every one of us is a desire to be the very best we can be. It took me a few years to bring this out in myself over the years of trying to do certain things I made up my mind that there was no other option, this time i was going to make it happen! I had dreamed of being in great shape for years I had invisioned what I wanted to look like and set that image in my mind. Everyday I was 100% focused on my goals I did not miss workouts and I did not sway from my clean eating because my mind was made up. There is no way to express how good it feels to get there but it is life changing for sure. When you bust your butt and give it everything you have it's such a wonderful feeling.
The whole reason I started coaching was to be able to teach others what I have learned because it can be really enjoyable to eat clean. I remember having cravings and feeling like I was deprived from having things but no longer. I eat only things that serve a purpose for my body and these clean & healthy foods do just that no cookies or cake are worth the feeling my body goes through when I eat them. Once these foods aren't in your system you don't even miss them. My whole mindset towards food has changed and this is why I have such great success with maintaining my weight. I'm not saying that the occasional treats aren't fine but until you have a grasp on your eating you'll never have the control which can be a disaster for many people. That's usually the problem with people who compete they withhold from all these foods and then go crazy afterwards what's the point of this cycle? I thought it was about being healthy? In my opinion if you eat clean healthy foods the whole year you could have an occasional treat and it wouldn't hurt a thing.
And also if your going to have something what could be better then a Quest bar? These bars are about as perfect as you can get without the worry. The main focus should be on the nutrition and what purpose the food is serving your body. So if you want to be healthy and fit make smart choices in what you put into your mouth and you can't go into clean eating with the mindset that you can't have things but more that your choosing not to have them. You do have to have a plan of attack, foods do have to be prepared ahead of time in order for it to work and most of all you have to have the DESIRE :)

Peanut Butter Coffee Protein Shake Recipe

• 1-2 scoops of vanilla whey protein powder
• Cold coffee*
• Stevia  or splenda to sweeten
• 1 of Natural Tabelspoon Almond butter or Peanut butter
  
• Ice cubes (preferably made with Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Breeze, milk or half 'n half - regular ice can make this a bit watery if you add as much ice as I do)
• Optional: 1/4 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
• Optional: splash of milk or almond milk to make it a creamy mock Starbucks treat!

Pimpin’ Tips & Variations:

• Freeze milk/almond milk in ice cube trays. Pop 'em in the blender instead of boring old ice for an ice cream thick treat.
• Add a chunk of tofu or ¼ cup cottage cheese for more protein and even more creamy thickness
• Want to go crazy with this? Add 1 Tablespoon of cocoa powder for a mocha blend.

Protein Pumpkin Ice Cream

PROTEIN PUMPKIN ICE CREAM

• 1 c. lowfat, good tasting cottage cheese
• 1 c. canned pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
• 2 scoops great tasting vanilla protein powder 

This is a flexible recipe so adjust the flavorings to taste.

Combine the ingredients in a food processor (or blender, but the cottage cheese mixture may be more difficult to scrape out of a blender) and put in your ice cream maker. Freeze for about 20 minutes (or more for your ice cream maker). Eat as is as soft-serve, or place in the freezer for up to an hour for a more scoopable consistency.

Marinated Grilled Chicken

Grilled Chicken

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup  extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 tbsp  grated lemon rind
• 3 tbsp  lemon juice
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 tsp  dried dill weed
• sprinkle of salt and pepper
• 4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

Instructions

In bowl, whisk together oil, lemon rind and juice, garlic, dill weed, salt and pepper. Add chicken, turning to coat; let stand for 10 minutes. (Make-ahead: Cover and refrigerate for up to 4 hours.) Place chicken on greased grill over medium-high heat; close lid and grill, turning once, until no longer pink inside, about 12 minutes.

Vicki's Eggplant Casserole

2 pounds Grass fed beef
8 oz.  sliced organic mushrooms
1 medium eggplant cut into cubes
1 onion
1- 24oz. 1% cottage cheese
2 eggs cage free
1-24oz Bertolli Arrabbiata sauce
1-24oz. Bertolli Organic Olive oil, Basil & Garlic sauce
1 teaspoon McCormick Roasted Red Pepper & garlic seasoning

Directions:
Brown meat,drain off any grease in pan i use paper towels to soak it up
Cut up all the veggies
Mix everything together
Spray 13x9 inch pan lightly and Bake at 375 for about 45 minutes
Top with mozzarella cheese
ENJOY

Pumpkin Pudding Recipe

Pumpkin Pudding Recipe

This is a fairly low carb, yummy recipe for an afternoon or before bed

• 1/2 Cup high quality 2% cottage cheese
• 1/2 Cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
• 1 heaping Teaspoon light sour cream
• 1/2 Teaspoon vanilla
• Freshly grated nutmeg or a pinch of ground nutmeg
• 1/2 Teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Splenda, powdered erythritol or stevia to taste

 Puree in a food processor, scrape into bowl and enjoy!

Almond Cottage Cheese Pudding Recipe

Almond Cottage Cheese Pudding
 If you simply can't stand the thought of another protein shake, reach for the food processor. Trust me, you'll be glad you did. Pureeing cottage cheese gives it a fluffy whipped cream cheese texture that leaves its pre-blended lumpy state alone crying on prom night.

• 1/2 cup high quality, good tasting cottage cheese (I use a 2% cottage cheese with 4 carbs per 1/2 cup that's not too salty)
• 1/4-1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• 1 Tablespoon all natural almond butter
• Stevia or splenda to taste

Add cottage cheese to a food processor and puree until the lumps disappear. Add 1/4 teaspoon extract and almond butter and sweetener to taste. Use rubber spatula to get every last bit out of the food processor and enjoy!

Variation: throw the cottage cheese mixture into an ice cream maker for thirty minutes (if you have the patience) and voila - high protein, low carb, all natural ice cream!