Chocolate Coconut Protein Cookies

I'm a huge fan of peanut butter, protein, and a quick snack especially if it's chocolate! I usually make just Shakeology Protein No Bake Balls but I wanted something a little different. Shakeology is amaze-balls and it's my go-to superfood shake but when I made Shakeology No Bake Balls every week using 1-2 scoops and on top of my daily scoop for breakfast, it started to add up. So I found a new recipe that I thought I could try with just a generic protein brand. I got this recipe from a fellow Beachbody Coach, Reina O'Dell, she is awesome @Rainavsfood on Snapchat is where I got the idea. Mine looked a little different than Raina's, so here is my recipe.

Ingredients:

1 cup chunky peanut butter 

3/4 cup honey

1/2 cup coconut oil

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 scoops your choice of chocolate protein 

Instructions: 

Meal peanut butter, honey, and coconut oil in the microwave (stovetop is preferred).

Remove from heat and stir till cooled off add in vanilla, protein, and oatmeal.

Stir and drop spoonfuls on wax paper. 

Place in fridge till hardened. 

Once hardened put in Ziplock baggies for protein control. 

Serving size: about 2 cookies 

Here is my process in pictures:

I usually make these as soon as I'm out because they are my favorite morning snack or evening sweet treat when I'm getting a sweet craving. The ingredients are all healthy and as long as you don't eat more than 4 (trust me I have experience with this) you won't feel guilty or bad about these cookies. 

I usually just microwave my first three ingredients. For convenience and laziness of not wanting to wash a stove top pan I just use a microwave friendly bowl. 

All of my ingredients are fairly inexpensive and mostly from Costco. #GoKirklandBrand

One thing I have noticed is this coconut oil is very hard and scooping into a measuring cup is tricky so I eyeball it. It will also come out in little clear chunks when you microwave it so make sure to microwave the mixture for about 30 seconds take it out and stir well, then place it back in for about 45 seconds to a minute more. Stir until those little chunks are gone. It will be pretty liquidy.

Once your mixture cools down add in your protein. You don't want to add any sort of protein powder into a hot mixture because it will ruin the potency and the goodness and you lose a lot of the protein. So make sure it's cooled off. 

The protein powder I use for this, to keep cost down is one I found at our local Grocery Outlet store here in Bremerton, WA. I haven't made it for a shake or post workout drink yet but it tastes pretty good in these cookies. The scoop is smaller than a regular protein scoop so I use a full 3-4 scoops. For regular larger sized scoops, I would add 1-2 scoops. This is totally a personal preference, though. The more scoops the thicker it becomes and more chocolatey. 

The rest is pretty easy I promise. if you need to thicken up your mixture I find adding more protein is good to keep them super healthy. If you don't mind a few more calories add in more oats or coconut flakes. 

Here is my final product! Kid tested and boyfriend approved!

Enjoy! <3

Meal Prep 3 Tips

If you’re like me you are a visual learner. I also hated the idea of meal prepping. I wasn’t good at it and I overthought the process. With the help of groups like this articles I read, and people I follow on Snapchat or social media I’ve learned a lot and I realized it’s actually not that difficult.

Here are my 3 tips for making it easier:

1. Think 3-4 days at a time that’s it
2. Think bulk/simple meals, crockpot meals, chicken & rice & veggies, etc.
3. Buffet style not day by day

Here is also a good visual of meals that you can make and super easy and healthy! There are also a few people I follow that are great on Snapchat who usually always talk about meal prep. Here are a few of my favorite.

@ChaleneOfficial
@NatalieJillFit
@Fitmomfitbritt

I’m sure there are others. If you know of any share below. :)

There is also great accounts on Instagram! This is one of my favorites!

All Access All Year!

What if you had EVERY program Beachbody has EVER made and access to premium content even the programs they haven't even come out with yet?

We all love our Amazon Prime accounts and Netflix memberships right? Well this new offer Beachbody has put together is just like that, but for fitness.

Everyday I log into my laptop and pull up my online membership and log in. I pick the program I'm following and I press play. Plugs right into my TV in my apartment and I'm set! I travel a lot too being away from my family. I am on planes a lot and in hotels. This All Access Membership is to a site called Beachbody On Demand and it's just that! ON DEMAND, anywhere you can get wifi you can get your personal trainer.

This Beachbody On Demand or for us lifers we call it BOD. BOD is amazing for boredom, and for people who like to change it up constently. I still like following a 21, 30, 60-day program but some people hate that. Well with BOD you get all access NOW to EVERYTHING! Which is for people who seriously want to take their fitness to a new level this 2017!

Now what a better time of the year for this to be released! With gym membership prices sky-rocketing, everyone now has their own fitness program they want to sell you, different memberships that are super expensive but not this one though! For a LIMITED time only (about two months) Beachbody is giving you access for only $99!! #MicDrop #MindBlown

Now it gets better. The reason I got hooked on these programs three years ago was because I had the solution of Shakeology as well. Superfood nutrition as my daily dose of dense nutrition. Like my vitamin packed breakfast everyday. This is the number one reason I finally got the results I wanted to see that I had been never been able to see with just killing myself at the gym.

Not done yet... So these containers, seen them before? Well, these things have been the reason for millions of people seeing results that were life changing. Habit forming and really a game changer. Portion control is HUGE and a big part of your results. With this All Access Challenge Pack you now get a full set of portion controlled containers!

You get all this PLUS me as your Coach to help you throughout the whole year. I run support groups to keep you accountable as well and these you will get access to join with this All Access Challenge Pack. Plus it comes with a 30-day money back guarantee. This all comes bundled for a limited time only for only $199. Amazing they were going to charge $1,000 and I wouldn't be surprised if the cost goes up after the trial run is done to this but for now, they want to prove this way works!

I first bought a Challenge Pack three years ago and knew it was an investment in myself. I told myself I would quit after my third month of Shakeology. I even signed up to be a discount coach so I could receive a discount. Turns out these results were better than I thought. I was hooked! Loved the community I was a part of and the products. I'm so stinking excited about this offer because now I can really HELP people for a full year!

To explain this Challenge Pack and the full offer, I'll let our CEO explain- All Access All Year .

If you want to purchase the streaming only click here.

If you are ALL in and want the best savings and get the one month of Shakeology as well click here.

If you already have BOD and want to upgrade, you can do that as well. Just click here.

Let me know what you choose! I look forward to sharing this with so many people this upcoming 2017 and for them to be a part of my Fit4Life family! 2017 can be your year! Stop waiting and just go for it! The time is NOW!

Any questions please email JulesFit4Life@gmail.com and let me know you read my blog post.

Get ready for an amazing 2017!

Jules <3

January Health Bet

What is a Health Bet?

What if you got paid to do what you’re supposed to do when you want results. Things like workout 3 times a week, drink a healthy nutrient dense shake 5 times a week, and get support by being in a community of others doing that same thing. Sounds easy right?

Considered it that easy! Beachbody is putting together a Health Bet in the month of January perfect for New Year’s Resolutions. The amount of people who fall of their resolutions is just crazy. Only 64% of people make it through the first month, according to StaticBrain.com. This number is one Beachbody wants to have higher and I know I want to help.

Here’s how it works. Beachbody put down $1 million and for every Challenge Pack sold from October 31st - December 31st 2016, they will add $5 to the $1 million prize pot. With a guaranteed prize pot at $2 up to $3 million!! All you have to do to win a portion of this pot of cash Beachbody is investing in is the following:

Be working with a Coach (someone like me)

Join a Challenge Group your coach is running on The My Challenge Tracker App

Drink 5 Shakeology’s a week, and log them into our private app with a picture

Workout 3 times a week, and log it on the app

Do all of this for 4 weeks starting January 9th- February 5th 2017

And that is IT!

We did a Health Bet in September this year and saw huge results!! Check out these stats from the last Beachbody Health Bet:

• 75% of customers and 86% of Coaches met their health and fitness goals
• More than 85% of Coaches and customers were satisfied with the contest
• 85% of customers would most likely participate in another Beachbody Health Bet

How can you be a part of this Beachbody Health Bet? You can contact me directly by emailing JulesFit4Life@gmail.com with the subject line Beachbody Health Bet. You can also click attending to my Challenge Group event page on Facebook January Jumpstart where we will be promoting this Health Bet Contest and I will send you a message directly on Facebook. Or if you are in and aren’t currently already working with a coach you can choose your next program and flavor of Shakeology here. Choose the challenge pack you want to start with this new year. The deadline to submit your order to guarantee delivery by the start of this Health Bet, January 9th, is to have your order in no later than December 29th, 2016.

I can’t wait to lead this January Jumpstart Challenge with this Health Bet incentive next month. Here are some of the results I got from my personal experience with the Health Bet earlier this year.

Turkey Meatballs

Cleanest Turkey Meatballs Around! 

Want to know my favorite Turkey Meatball recipe that I made last night?

It’s boyfriend approved too! ;)

Only takes 7 ingredients! #CleanOhMy

What you will need

1/3 cup whole wheat bread crumbs

1/4 cup Vanilla almond milk (or unsweetened) 

1 tsp. Avocado oil 

1/2 medium red onion, finely chopped 

1 pound raw 93% lean ground turkey breast 

1 large egg 

1/2 tsp Himalayan salt

1/2 tsp ground pepper 

1 TBSP Parmesan cheese 

optional: 1 TBSP parsley 

Preheat oven to 425º F. 

Line baking sheet with non-stick spray

Place bread crumbs and almond milk in a small bowl, set aside and Soak for 10 minutes

Heat oil in medium skillet on medium-low heat

Add onion, cook till clear 

Add garlic stir for 1 minute

Combine onion mixture, turkey, egg, cheese, salt, and pepper into bread crumb mixture in a large bowl. Mix well.

Refrigerate for 1 hour 

With clean hands or large spoon scoop 1 inch size balls of mixture into a small ball and place on baking sheet. (Should make 24) 

Bake for 13-18 minutes (flip at halfway mark) or until browned and cooked thoroughly 

Add on top of some whole wheat pasta or in my case I love quinoa pasta! First really nice home cooked meal I made for the bf and I! I got raving reviews #hehe #WhatANiceGirlfriendIAm ;) 

Enjoy <3

Protein No Bake Balls

Weekend Snack Ideas

Ever craving something sweet on the weekends but don’t want to ruin the progress you had throughout the week!? When you have more free time on the weekends, if you are like me I need something chewy and chocolaty…. and FAST. I’m not a huge baker or cook so I wanted to find something that was EASY and didn’t take too long to make. This recipe is one of my FAVORITE sweet treats that feels like a cheat but actually isn’t. They are called Protein No Bake Balls. You can use any type of protein you want and any flavor you chose. I am a chocolate fan so of course chocolate protein is my go to. Hope you enjoy this little sweet treat. Word to the wise put them in the freezer so you don’t eat them all in one sitting. ;)

Protein No Bake Balls

What you will need

½ cup protein (any brand or flavor works, I prefer Chocolate Shakeology)

½ cup natural peanut butter or almond butter

½ raw organic oats

3 tbsp honey

Pick one fun ingredient to add in, try them all, mix it up

½ cup raw mixed nuts

½ organic unsweetened coconut flakes

½ cup coco nibs

½ organic chocolate chips

½ raisins

Three Simple Steps

Mix it all together, dig in with your hands get dirty (licking of the hands is strongly encouraged!)

Roll them into ping-pong size balls

And cool them (fridge or freezer works)

ENJOY <3

Turkey Taco's

Turkey Taco's

 

Perfect for Taco Tuesday

What you will need

1 pound ground turkey

4 TBSP garlic vinegar

1/2 onion

1/2 black beans

1 Tsp olive oil

Brown turkey in oil and garlic vinegar. Add last TBSP on once cooked. Sautée onions in once cooked add in beans. For the shell any flower or corn tortilla will do. Top it with my favorite avocado and a splash of hot sauce. #YUM