Thanksgiving CLEAN eating – Round Up

I almost thought about titling this weeks post:
Turkey and Pretty Flowers. Seems fitting right?!

A little hodge podge of yummy foods + a pretty flower arrangement + Being surrounded by family= The Perfect Thanksgiving!

Where does the time go?! Am I the only one still scrambling to figure out what to make for Thanksgiving?
I thought I would share some Clean Recipes to keep everyone on track during the holidays!

In the past I have always just made my thanksgiving meals with plenty of butter, cheese, cream, and tons of sugar! Maybe not all in the same dish, but ya know let’s just say I was not “aware” of what I was eating. And Lord knows I didn’t want to count calories on thanksgiving.

But alas after our “Feast” I’m always left feeling soooo full and the inevitable food coma, in which I say “O my gosh I ate too much” but then three hours later “Who wants turkey sandwiches?!” Ha! Well this year I am turning a new leaf.

Yes I am going to have Mac N cheese, turkey, mashed potatoes and stuffing on Thanksgiving. But what I am NOT going to do is stuff my plate and mouth FULL of food and be oblivious to how much I am actually eating. Since completing Jamie Eason’s week workout program I have gotten used to smaller portions, and it has actually been really great! I get full very fast and I am in tune with my body so I know when to stop before I get the dreaded “food baby.”

Here’s some of the recipes I am going to be trying out this thanksgiving 🙂

Let’s start with Dessert, shall we?! Let’s be honest, that’s all we really care about!

DESSERTS
Clean Pumpkin Pie
{iFoodReal}

Clean Apple Pie
{The Gracious Pantry}

SIDES
Garlic & Herb Smashed Potatoes
{Linda Wagner}

Paleo Green Bean Casserole
{Fed and Fit}

Greek Yogurt Mac N’ Cheese
{Chobani}

Clean Cornbread
{The Gracious Pantry}

MEAT
Clean Eating Turkey Stuffing
{Dayna Deters Fitness}

Quinoa Stuffed Turkey Breast
{Skinny Supper}

Pomegranate-Glazed Stuffed Turkey
{Clean Eating Mag}

In addition to Eating Healthy it’s also nice to have a pretty table!
I LOVE adding fruit slices to my flower arrangements for that extra pop of color!

I have done this same trick in a previous Post: SUMMER PARTY. I LOVE the color that it brings to the table and it is soooo easy!

Citrus Flower Arrangement
*I aplogize in advance, for not having images of the process. I forgot to take pictures.

Supplies Needed:
-Clear Vase
-Smaller cup or glass to fit INSIDE the large vase
-6-8 oranges / lemons
-knife (to slice fruit)
-burlap or ribbon (to tie around vase)
Step One: Slice your oranges / lemons. I like the mixture of both, but you could stick with just one fruit.
Step Two: Take your small cup & place INSIDE your large vase. There needs to be enough room in between the two pieces of glass to slide your slices in.
Step Three: One by one stack your fruit slices in between the two glasses, creating a wall of oranges.
Step Four: Fill the small cup with water and place your flowers inside. This allows the flowers to remain in fresh (orange free) water.
Step Five: Tie a ribbon or burlap trim to the outside of the vase to finish it off!

Have a great Thanksgiving Everyone!! 

Jamie Eason FINAL recap {Week 12}

WOOO HOOOO!! Well I did it folks! Completed Jamie Eason’s 12 week program!! I can’t even begin to describe how amazing it feels!! I have learned SOOOOOO much and feel like  a completely different person. I am so proud of myself for sticking to it! I didn’t have one cheat meal or miss one workout. It was not easy BUT I am so glad I stuck with it. This really was a LIFESTYLE change for me. Like I have said before I considered myself a pretty healthy eater And I completed my 5th Half Marathon in February. I was running my butt off 4 days a week for (13 weeks) and only lost 5 pounds!! But now after doing Jamie Eason’s program I know how much Lifting weights and eating clean can really change the shape of your body. This was not just about losing weight, this was about putting myself first in health and fitness and learning how to prioritize multiple areas in my life. You can read about the reason I started Jamie’s program here: Jamie Eason Challenge.

Before I wrote this week’s post I went back and read all of the past 12 posts. OMG it’s so funny to see how much I’ve changed. The workouts that I thought were sooo tough were nothing compared to Phase 3! I am so glad I wrote the weekly recap, It really allowed me to be accountable to myself but also to help others! When I made the decision to blog about my journey I was SO scared & nervous! But now I know it was the best decision for me! I have met some amazing women through this and have connected with sooo many people! My blog went from averaging 30 views a day to almost 1,500 a day!!  And it’s not just about O look at me, by any means! It’s about connecting with other people & supporting eachother. I think people can relate to my story because I don’t sugarcoat anything. This has NOT been easy for me and I have been very honest about my struggles. I also think there is a HUGE misconception that people who are overweight are lazy or just don’t try hard enough. And that is just not true. I was working 70 hours a week between my full time job and my side business, I just had my priorities out of line and was putting myself last.

I realize now that by putting my health and fitness first, it really does overflow into other areas. I have become a better employee, wife, friend, etc. I am able to balance multiple areas of my life and NOT be stressed out. I have a tendency to stress easy and be overdramatic (just ask my husband! HAHA) But now it’s different! I don’t get stressed out anywhere NEAR how I was.

And some very EXCITING NEWS!! Through these past 3 months I got PROMOTED at work!! I am now the “Head Designer” for Product Development at Natural Life. It was so awesome to know that I can give 110% at work BUT ALSO in my eating and working out too! This was something I ALWAYS struggled with! I would go 110% into school or work and then everything else would just fall to the wayside. I would get home from my job and literally have no energy left. BUT NOW I am recharged after my workout and am able to come home cook dinner, finish an etsy order and have a nice evening with my husband.

My meals for week 12 were literally the same as week 11. The carb cycling was not too bad but I am def glad it’s over! HA Not really for me.

For my LOW carb days I ate the following: (PICTURED ABOVE)
meal 1 – 2 egg white muffins & 3/4 cup of chickpeas
meal 2-Protein Shake with Almond Milk
meal 3- 4oz. of chicken and 1/2 a cup of string beans
meal 4 – 2 Turkey Meatballs
meal 5 -1 chicken breast or tilapia, 1/2 a cup of steamed veggies & salad  (or avocado as pictured above)

For my HIGH carb days I ate the following: (PICTURED ABOVE)
meal 1 – 2 egg white muffins & 3/4 cup of chickpeas
meal 2- 1 Sweet potato steamed
meal 3- 4oz. of chicken, half a sweet potato and a salad with strawberries and walnuts
meal 4 – 2 Pumpkin Protein Bars
meal 5 -1 Chicken breast OR tilapia OR Ground Turkey, 1/2 a cup of steamed veggies & 3/4 cup or brown rice or beans

I of course had to throw some pumpkin pancakes in there this week! THESE ARE SOOO GOOD!!

So to celebrate my COMPLETION of the program, David and I went to Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse. It was sooo great to get dressed up and have an amazing night out with my husband! I had talked last week about my fancy new dress I got this past weekend BUT bummer I tried it on again and it had a black mark on it!! UGH so I had to last minute rush and find something else to wear! BUT YAY I found this dress in the back of my closet that I haven’t worn in a couple years and it fit! It wasn’t my original plan BUT I was still really happy that I could wear an old dress of mine and feel good in it! Instead of feeling like I’m squeezing out of it or having to wear a cardigan over it to cover up my arms. Let me tell ya it could be 100 degress out But there was NO way I would be wearing a sleeveless dress! HAHA It’s crazy the things you do to make yourself feel better. BUT NOW even though I still have some more toning to do and I still want to lose a couple more pounds, I felt really proud of how far I have come!

On a sidenote I just have to give a HUGE shoutout to David! Through this whole process he has cheered me on, supported me, ate pumpkin pancakes right along with me! And has embraced this lifestyle too! He has always been SUPER healthy and has seriously had a six pack since he was like 15! HAHA I would know, we started dating when I was 14. And after 11 years of being together and many of life’s ups and downs I AM SO BLESSED to have this amazing man by my side! We have grown closer through this process and he has been just as excited when I reach a new milestone. Whether its a spouse, a friend or even someone from an online community I cannot stress how important it is to surround yourself with people who want to see you succeed in your weightloss journey! It has made ALL the difference for me!

Funny note about this picture.. David said “Do a sexy pose!” UM do I just smile?! I don’t know what that means?! HAHA After David took the picture I of course wanted to see and at first I was nervous..I was so used to thinking I look cute or my hair looks good and then seeing a picture of myself and all I would see is a double chin or how round my face looks and think “O GOD! That can’t be accurate?!” HA its crazy but true! I would always have to “approve” a picture before it was posted, in fear that I needed just the right angle to hide my curves!  I now know how silly all of those things were and when I looked at the above picture my first though was “WOW! Not too shabby!” HAHA it felt good to actually see myself instead of pick myself apart! Of course I thought about the things I still want to improve on BUT I didn’t nitpick every flaw. I saw a beautiful woman who has worked her BUTT off (literally) and should stand tall & proud of how far she has come! I find myself sometimes being my own worst critic, and I have to get in the habit of stopping that. I always want to continue to push myself and improve BUT I also need to encourage myself too!

We had an AMAZING mouthwatering dinner at Ruth’s Chris. Filet Mignon with mashed potato’s, sauteed mushrooms and chocolate cake! It was so delicious! And at dinner I thought, this is how it should be, a nice treat meal every couple of months or a couple times a year NOT every day! Not that I was eating filet every day HAHA BUT if it was Friday or if I had a bad day at work or it’s raining?! I used any excuse to have a treat meal. I never thought I could go 3 months without a cheat BUT that’s because I learned NEW recipes, made clean desserts and most of all learned how to eat well balanced meals that I actually enjoyed! I had to retrain myself on how to eat food. It’s no longer a support system or even a coping method, it is my body’s fuel, and I need to feed it properly.

So who wants to see some progress pics?!
WEIGHTLOSS UPDATE:

So *drumroll please* I lost a total of 26 pounds!! My original goal was to lose 30 pounds by February, and I ending up losing 26 by November!! I was blown away by how close I came to 30 pounds!  I would still like to get there by at least New Years. I went from a size 12/14 to a 6/8. I even went through my closet this weekend and donated 3 huge bags of clothes that are now TOO BIG for me! WHAT?! I can’t believe it, in just 3 months!

I have had alot of people ask what my specific weight is so here goes: I was 175 lbs when i started and now I am 149 lbs! I don’t want to focus so much on the numbers because it really is about having a healthy lifestyle and feeling good about myself. BUT seeing the numbers go down every week is an amazing feeling!

I totally look like I’m 12 in the after picture! LOL But I was SHOCKED When I did the final comparison! I cannot get over how different I look in just 12 weeks. And I have mentioned this before but one of my secret goals was to wear shorts to the gym. I literally have not worn workout shorts in literally probably 3 years! I always felt like my legs were huge and cellulite city… SO for week 12 I broke out those shorts and wore them proudly at the gym! I still have ALOT more toning to do BUT it felt great to finally meet a HUGE milestone!

So yep I wore my “shorty-shorts” as my sister calls them 😉 And I was proud to see how far I have come. The first week I would have NEVER worn shorts and a tank top to the gym!!

I also rocked my Bodybuilding.com Tank top this week! You can read about my post last week when the AMAZING marketing coordinator sent me a follow up Congrats box!! I have to say A HUGE thank you to Allie at Bodybuilding.com She believed in me and encouraged me when I was only at week 3! And since then we have stayed in touch and she has been a HUGE encouragement and motivation! 

I also bought some new workout tanks from Cross Training Couture this past week! I LOVE their scripture based tanks! I have said this before BUT I made a decision to give my Health & Fitness to God when I started the 12 weeks. I pray about my marriage, my finances, etc.. Why wouldn’t I pray about my fitness?! I have tried SOOOO many times to lose weight before and NOTHING stuck. I was always tired or hungry or just bored with it. BUT this time I asked God to give me the strength and determination to stick with this, and he truly has! Cross Training Couture makes adorable workout clothes with powerful messages! The grey shirt is based off 1 Corinthians 6:19: “Because my Body is a temple.” This really struck home with me, God has given me this body and I should continue to nourish & strengthen it! This isn’t some weird thing, this is simply treating my body the way it deserves and for me the way that God intended.

So don’t worry body, I’m guna treat you right! 

So my final thoughts on Jamie Eason’s program:
This is for ANYONE! Whether you are a gym rat or never lifted weights before, you can learn something from this program! I learned A TON about myself and how much I can accomplish when I put my mind to it. This program is amazing because the workouts are layed out for you. I brought my notebook with me EVERYDAY and checked off the exercises. I was not very comfortable with weights so this taught me gradually how to work the different muscles.

I truly think of this program as relaying a foundation of “healthy eating” and “working out.” I THOUGHT I was a healthy eater but when I realized how much processed foods I was eating it blew me away. I shop at the store differently, I cook differently, we literally don’t even have butter in our house anymore! HA I used to just use a little here and a little here at dinner and before you know it.. It was like Paula Deen made chicken stir fry! HA  I buy different brands now, and look AT EVERY label & ingredient before buying or even using it. I look up a restaurant’s menu before going out to eat, and I always drink water with dinner instead of ordering a sweet tea. What I’m trying to say is in just THREE months I have retrained myself how to eat food. I have created NEW healthy habits that I will continue to do in real life. This is NOT a diet, it truly is a lifestyle change. And if I can do it, anyone can do it!

I learned how to put myself first in health and fitness. And it felt good to prove to myself week after week that I could really stick with this. As I got stronger and the weight started coming off more it just made me want to try even harder! I HIGHLY recommend Jamie’s program. I learned SOOOO much in just 12 weeks! And I am so proud of how far I have come!

Here’s some frequently asked questions I have gotten over the past couple of weeks:

So What’s NEXT Alesha?!
I’m so glad you asked 🙂 For two weeks I am going to do phase 2 workouts & continue to eat clean. I LOVED phase 2 the best and felt like it was the most applicable to my life. I will in fact have some mac n cheese and turkey on thanksgiving! BUT I will NOT spend the next two weeks eating chick fil a & Krispy Kreme donuts! HA I have worked too hard and have too many goals to pursue to binge on junk food. AND THEN I am going to do the program ALL OVER! Yes start back at Phase 1. I know that this second round will really be where I see the toning and muscle definition come in. I only want to lose about 5-10 more pounds, but even if I did not lose anymore weight and had more muscle tone I would be happy with that.

How can I start this program?
You can find the series plan and more info about Jamie Eason’s 12 week program here: CLICK HERE.

How much does it cost?
Put that checkbook away! It’s FREE!! YES free! Won’t cost you a dime! Just download the approved foods list (or my Grocery list:  Alesha_FOOD_list_09_28 & example meal plan) and print out the workout sheets (see bottom of post for workouts)

Can I still get results if I do the workouts but don’t eat clean?
So I can only speak from my personal experience and I think that the workouts are AMAZING but you will not see the results that will come from clean eating too! I think this is SOOO crucial to losing the weight. I think any aspect of this program could be a huge benefit but I highly recommend doing both aspects and going at it 110%!

How do I stay motivated for 3 months?
For me, it was blogging about my progress. I put it out there so I knew I had to stick with it! I also follow a TON of women on instagram, facebook & pinterest who inspire me! These are not perfect models who are not relatable, these are real women, who have full time careers, or are single moms, they have lost 20 pounds, or maybe even 100! They inspire me and make me want to try harder! I suggest finding someone or something that will encourage you! Surround yourself with positive people and friends and family that want to see you succeed and will do this with you! And most of all, don’t give up!! You are WORTH it and deserve to be happy in your own body.

So are you convinced to give it a try yet?! I’ll be right along with you!

Click the Links BELOW to download the PRINTABLE workout sheets for each phase!

Phase 1 PDF                         Phase 2 PDF                        Phase 3 PDF

You might also like:

Jamie Eason Week 11       Jamie Eason Week 10          Jamie Eason Week 9

Jamie Eason Live Fit Review {Week 11}

O My Gosh week 11 Done! I Can’t believe it, only one more week till I’ve completed Jamie Eason’s program!!

I’ll talk more next week about ALL the changes I have seen and made in just 3 short months, above and beyond losing weight. I feel like a completely different person and I have really changed my mindset when it comes to food and the gym. I ENJOY it now and look forward to my “time” at the gym! I can get all my stress out and really focus on myself, which is something that I haven’t done in a LONG time! You can read more about my decision to start Jamie’s program HERE.

Weightloss Update:
Okay so after last week’s whopping amount of ZERO pounds lost I was totally having a pity party for myself! HA I have worked SOOO hard and the carb cycling is SUPER intense and I really thought it would be falling off more… AND then guess what! This week I am down 2 pounds! YAY that makes 24 pounds so far! It feels so great! My goal is to lose one more pound for week 12 making it a total of 25 pounds lost since starting Jamie Eason’s program. If someone had told me 3 months ago that I would lose 25 pounds over the next couple of weeks I would have shoved them and said NO WAY! That goal seemed SOOOOO far away and not attainable, and yet here I am. It has been ALOT of work but it has been so worth it. I have proven to myself that I CAN stay focused and determined and I CAN reach my goals ALL while continuing to carry all of life’s other tasks. YES I still work full time, I still do my Etsy business on the side, I still make my marriage and my relationship with God a priority, I still make sure the house is clean and dinner is on the table. I am HONESTLY busier than I have ever been BUT I am less stressed than I have ever been.

I give GOD all the credit, without him this would NOT be possible! You see this isnt my first rodeo when it comes to going on a “diet” or trying to lose weight. I have done weight watchers, gave up bread, no sweets for months, not to mention the 10 day Juice fast I tried that left me feeling SOOO tired and hungry! And every time I just couldn’t stick with it. It wasn’t until I brought my “fitness and health” to God, prayed about it and talked it over with my husband, that I could really see this being a lifestyle change for me. When I stopped trying to do it all on my own and relied on God to give me the strength and determination to continue is when it didn’t seem so crazy! I have just taken it day by and every morning I pray to God to continue to walk me through this, and he has. My Faith has played a HUGE part in my “weightloss” journey and I am not ashamed to say that. I know some people will not understand and that is okay. For ME this is how it has been and I am sooo thankful I was introduced to Jamie Eason’s program and decided to try it!

So Week 11 has actually been not that bad! I am still continuing the carb-cycling that I started last week, with the food.

Below is the break down of my food each day:

LOW CARB DAYS:
20% of your food intake should be CARBS
50% Protein
30% Fat

HIGH CARB DAYS:
20% Protein
50% Carbs
30% Fat

For my LOW carb days I ate the following: (PICTURED ABOVE)
meal 1 – 2 egg white muffins & 3/4 cup of chickpeas
meal 2-Protein Shake with Almond Milk
meal 3- 4oz. of chicken and 1/2 a cup of string beans
meal 4 – 2 Turkey Meatballs
meal 5 -1 chicken breast or tilapia, 1/2 a cup of steamed veggies & salad  (or avocado as pictured above)

For my HIGH carb days I ate the following: (PICTURED ABOVE)
meal 1 – 2 egg white muffins & 3/4 cup of chickpeas
meal 2- 1 Sweet potato steamed
meal 3- 4oz. of chicken, half a sweet potato and a salad with strawberries and walnuts
meal 4 – 2 Pumpkin Protein Bars
meal 5 -1 Chicken breast OR tilapia OR Ground Turkey, 1/2 a cup of steamed veggies & 3/4 cup or brown rice or beans

Again I PREP all my meals for the week on Sunday, EXCEPT dinners. I make those every night for my husband and I.

One night I made Hummus crusted tilapia (just 2 TB of hummus & pesto placed on Tilapia then baked at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.. then Broil for 4 minutes). I also made Mashed Cauliflower & hummus stuffed mushrooms.. MMM delish! And added a side of string beans. It’s finally “cooling” down just a teeny bit in Florida to have dinner outside.

MMMM Pumpkin! On Saturday morning I made Pumpkin Protein Pancakes…. OMG my new FAVE! I know I say that with every recipe, but really guys, these are AMAZING! Jamie Eason has a pumpkin pancake recipe but it makes ALOT of pancakes, and it was just me so I kind of made my own up. I’ll be posting the recipe later this week 🙂

O did you want to talk Chocolate?! Okay if I must! As you know I try out a new CLEAN treat recipe every week. And I limit myself to ONE per week. In the past I had a tendancy to… I dont know maybe be a sugar addict?! HAHA But I now know I don’t have to eat a dessert every day. I have learned what “in moderation” means and have learned to create new healthy desserts at home! SOOO this week I made Chocolate Date balls. And Boy O Boy did they deliver!

I don’t know about you but sometimes Dates get a bad rep, like what is it?! They kind of look like prunes and just remind me of food that old people eat (sorry!) But after seeing a couple date recipes on pinterest I decided to give these bad boys a try. I will be doing a blog post later BUT its basically 10 dates (pitts removed) 2 TB of unsweetened cocoa powder, and 2 TB of all natural Peanut Butter ground up in a blender or food processor. This makes a LOVELY paste, that you roll into balls and then roll into whatever topping you choose. I rolled some of mine in crushed Pistachios (for my husband! I am NOT a pistachio fan) some in cocoa powder and some in PB2 powder. They were SOOOO sweet! I couldn’t get over the fact that you didn’t need to add honey or any sweetener to these!

In other FUN news: HOLY COW!!! This week I received all this awesome swag from Bodybuilding.com!! Over $250 worth.. The marketing coordinator (who sent me the first package) has been keeping up with my blog.. and wanted to say CONGRATS on my progress!!
I can’t tell you what a huge BLESSING this is! I totally cried when I opened the box. Just three months ago I was sooooo nervous / scared to go “public” and BLOG about my weightloss journey. What would people think?! What if I didn’t lose any weight?! “What if I couldn’t finish it?! “What if it was too hard?!

And NOW with only one week to go (and down 24 pounds!!), I am BLOWN away by the encouragement and support I have recieved, from family friends, facebook groups, other fitness inspirations!! And even Bodybuilding.com! Starting this whole process was such a HUGE step of faith & I can honestly say God has been with me every step of the way!

THANK YOU THANK YOU BodyBuilding.com for your support and for supplying Jamie Eason’s Workout program for FREE!! It has literally changed my life.

Work out Time! So workouts for week 11 really weren’t too bad. I was getting kind of used to the sprints BUT now you just do 30-40 min of medium intensity cardio (along with your weights). The reps are higher so on leg day you do 3 sets of 30 of each exercise BUT you do them in a circuit (so If you have to do squats, then lunges, then leg press,) You would do 1 set of 30 of EACH then you rest, THEN you go back and do 1 set of 30 again. You repeat this “circuit” 3-4 times. So at first when I saw this I was like “O I got this!” UM then I started the workout and I quickly got my butt kicked! The higher reps are intense and because you are doing everything back to back it is very exhausting. I am really enjoying week 11’s workouts. PLUS Saturday was only 1 hour of cardio! Felt kind of like a treat 😉

I’m SUPER excited to share EVEN more progress pics next week BUT here’s a sneak peak! WOW 24 pounds down!! Feels so great! I might add I used to only wear OLD shirts to the gym I NEVER wanted to workout in a tanktop because I felt SOOO uncomfortable and insecure. NOW I enjoy working out in cute clothes, it makes me feel more confident in the gym. I still have my shorts in my gym drawer I just might break those bad boys out Next week!! EEEEKK I have NOT worked out in gym shorts in literally almost 3 years!!

O & I also thought I would share a NON scale victory from this week! To celebrate all my hardwork David and I going to Ruth’s Christ Steakhouse next weekend, so excited for a romantic date night with my LOVE! And I of course wanted a new dress to wear. I went this past weekend with my mom and sister on the hunt to find the perfect outfit. NOW might I remind you that just three months ago I DID NOT enjoy shopping, everything looked better hanging up than it did on and clothes were just too tight. So I basically wore black every day! HA it’s slimming right?! Well I was a little hesitant in the store.. I wasn’t even sure what size to grab but I started with a couple dresses in a medium / 10. When I started this process I was a 12/14 (Large/ Xlarge) I almost didn’t even want to look when I tried the dresses on! I was soo nervous, and wasn’t sure if they would fit. I was so used to grabbing a bunch of choices and having to put them ALL back because they just didn’t fit my shape / curves.

WELL *deep breath* I sucked it up and sucked it in! HAHA and tried on a couple dresses my mom and sis picked out AND **Drumroll please** The mediums were too BIG!! AH I seriously almost cried when EVERY dress I tried on was too loose! It is such an amazing feeling knowing all my hard work is really paying off. I ended up buying a dress, that yes my mother picked out! It’s a little outside my comfort zone and Its NOT ALL BLACK! Well  just white & black 🙂 And guess what it’s a size 8! WOW I can’t believe I’ve gone from a size 14 to a size 8 in just 11 weeks! I even pulled out a pair of size 6 jeans from my closet this week, I had to dust the cobwebs off of them!  🙂 I Still have a LONG way to go, I am no where near my goal, Im really shooting for that flat stomach! BUT I am way further than where I was. You guys will just have wait till next week to see my dress 😉

OMG only 1 more week to go! Stay tuned for more exciting progress pics next week!

Click the Links BELOW to download the PRINTABLE workout sheets for each phase!

Phase 1 PDF                         Phase 2 PDF                        Phase 3 PDF

You might also like:

Week 10: RECAP                Week 9: RECAP                   Week 8: RECAP

Jamie Eason Live Fit Review {Week 10}

Another week down! Only 2 more weeks till I’ve completed Jamie Eason’s Live Fit Challenge!
I can’t believe it, the time has flown by. This week was suprisingly a little challenging with the food.. and NOT so challenging with the workouts!
I mean don’t get me wrong, the workouts were still SUPER intense but it was not as hard as last week. I think maybe because I knew what to expect in the gym? And I am getting used to the sprints.. it was still HARD but totally manageable.

Weightloss Update:
So no weight lost this week. BOO!! I couldn’t believe it!! I have worked sooo hard all week and even stuck to the plan over our out of town weekend. How could that be?! At first I was totally frustrated BUT then I realized that it is not always about the scale. I have come a long way and have learned so much in just the last 10 weeks. I was able to pull out an old pair of jeans from the back of my closet! So I guess that kind of makes up for it! HA I know I am a total party pooper this week! I thought for sure I would have lost another 2-3 pounds BUT alas it just didn’t move at all this week. 😦

Total Bummer but I am not guna let it get me down. I have worked so hard and lost 22 pounds so far!! I am going to keep pushing through and try to reach my goal of 25 pounds lost by the end of week 12!

Here’s a little snippet from Jamie Eason about Carb cycling:

Carb cycling takes the macronutrients (the proteins, fats and carbs) of your meals and manipulates them to reduce body fat to very low levels, with as little muscle cannibalization as possible. This carb cycle will last only 3 weeks. Any longer and you might lose too much hard-earned muscle.

Week 10 started the Carb cycling that I will continue for the remaining 2 weeks as well. It took me a couple of days of research and plugging foods into My Fitness Pal to really understand what I could eat for my low carb and high carb days.

LOW CARB DAYS:
20% of your food intake should be CARBS
50% Protein
30% Fat

HIGH CARB DAYS:
20% Protein
50% Carbs
30% Fat

I’m not guna lie, the Low Carb days were a little rough. I found myself really getting used to eating my pumpkin protein bars.. and MISSING my beloved sweet potato at lunch!

And then what was weird was on the HIGH CARB days I kind of didn’t want to eat the carbs.. I guess I was getting used to the low carbs. By the weekend I was fine and finally felt like I got a handle on the low carb/high carb days for week 11. I feel like just when I get the hang of the workouts or the food. BAM it’s time to change it up. I was REALLY enjoying Phase 2 and then BAM Phase 3 has thrown me for a loop. LOL

I’m going to break down what I ate on each day, hoping that it will take some of the guess work out for other people 🙂

Low Carb Day (Pictured Above)
Meal 1 – 2 egg white muffins with 1/2 a cup of black beans
Meal 2 – 2 Turkey Meatballs (use Jamie Eason’s recipe)
Meal 3 – 1/2 a cup of Sugar Snap Peas, 4 oz of baked chicken, 1 whole tomato
Meal 4- Protein Shake with Almond Milk (not pictured)
Meal 5 – Hummus and walnut crusted Tilapia with a spinach salad & 2 tb of Light Balsamic Viniagerrete

Above is what I continued to eat on all 6 low carb days for the rest of the week 🙂
The FREE app My Fitness Pal is GREAT because you can plug in your foods and it will give you the percentages (20% protein, 50% carbs… etc) And that way you know if you are hitting your goals. YOU HAVE TO BE VERY ACCURATE. You can’t eyeball your measurements, you need to know exactly the right portions for this to work.

High Carb Day (Pictured Above)
Meal 1 – 2 egg white muffins with 1/2 cup of black beans OR quinoa
Meal 2 – 1 sweet potato
Meal 3 – 1/2 a cup of string beans, 4 oz of baked chicken and a whole avocado
Meal 4 – 2 Pumpkin Protein Bar squares (not pictured)
Meal 5 – Hummus and Pesto crusted chicken with 1/2 a cup of quinoa and 1/2 a cup of black beans

Above is what I ate on the only HIGH CARB day I had (Thursday).

And then with just two weeks to go.. we decided to go out of town this weekend.

Taking a ROAD TRIP reminds me of Chick Fil A breakfast biscuits, sweet tea, doritos, hamburgers, twizzlers… (basically anything horrible for you! HAHA) Talk about sucking the fun out of a road trip.. UGH
BUT I knew I wanted to stick with my plan EVEN IF WE WERE TRAVELING, and these last few weeks are SOOOO critical. I have busted my butt in the gym all week and didn’t want it to go to waste!

David and I went to Georgia to see family, 5 hour drive there (on Friday Night) and then came back on Sunday afternoon. So what did I do all NIGHT on Thursday?!  MEAL PREP!
I stayed up late making ALL David and I’s food for the weekend. We packed our little cooler to the BRIM with the following:

-Egg white muffins with 1/2 a cup of Quinoa (breakfast)
-Baked chicken, green beans, and tomato (Lunch)
-Jamie Eason Pumpkin Protein Bars (Snacks)
-Protein Powder and Almond milk (snacks)


It was SOOOOO great to see all my aunts, uncles and cousins! There is something about campfires and how peaceful the woods are that really made it seem like fall.

Even though I didn’t lose any weight this week, I hit a HUGE milestone! NOT caving into my junk food cravings and having all my meals prepped ahead of time, allowed me to stay on track EVEN while being out of town!
IT IS POSSIBLE TO EAT HEALTHY ON A ROAD TRIP. This was a BIG deal for me. I would usually cave into to any of the food and not think twice BUT now I am more aware of what I am eating and really want to stick to my clean eating plan.

It was MORE work BUT I came home knowing I stuck to my guns and continued with my healthy habits.

I had a hard time turning down funnel cakes, “crack brownies” HAHA (carmel, peanut butter brownies), hot dogs, coleslaw and potato salad.. just to name a few little gems from the weekend BUT I didn’t feel pressure to eat it AND I didn’t judge anyone for eating it either! If I wasn’t doing this program I probably would have dived in too! I think if I was at maybe month 6 or so I would have had no problem indulging in some treats over the weekend BUT with this being my first time through Jamie Eason’s program I wanted to stick with what I said I would do.

I have said from the very first week I want to stick to this plan to the “T” all the way through! So no cheat meals for me! It was a tough weekend as far as denying myself all the yummy food BUT I came home satisfied knowing that I didn’t give up and I stuck to my original commitment!

Workout Time:
I have to say after the torture from last week I soooooo was NOT looking forward to this weeks workouts. HAHA BUT suprisingly it wasn’t too bad. I mean it still sucked HA But at least I didn’t feel like I was going to die, which is basically my feeling during every workout last week. I think I knew what to expect for week 10  so it was more manageable. And the Treadmill Sprints really weren’t too bad. I even bumped it up to level 9 (last week was level 8)!!

The HIT workouts between the weights is still challenging and it’s safe to say I HATE mountain climbers and burpees! But I know they are good for me… so I guess I’ll just suck it up 😉

O hello there little tricep muscle, nice to see ya! It’s been a while.

Finally seeing some more muscles in my arms. They still have a LONG way to go BUT I can start to see more changes. With only 2 more weeks I feel like Okay Im guna be ripped by week 12 right?! But realistically I know this is going to take alot longer. I have said this before, but I am taking a two week break (going to enjoy my thanksgiving…  Perfect timing 😉 And then I am going to start the program up again!

Another progress photo.. I didn’t take too many workout pictures the first couple of weeks because I felt sooo BIG in all my tshirts! I wish I had taken more. I HATED wearing tank tops but NOW I love working out in them 🙂
I have lost 22 pounds so far and excited to see even more changes by week 12!! EEEK only 2 more weeks to go!

Click the Links BELOW to download the PRINTABLE workout sheets for each phase!

Phase 1 PDF                         Phase 2 PDF                        Phase 3 PDF

You might also like:

Week 9 Recap                     Week 8 Recap                         Week 7 Recap

Jamie Eason Review {Week 9}

Wow! Phase 1 and 2 done! WOOP WOOP! This past week started The final phase (the home stretch), Phase 3 of Jamie Eason’s Live Fit Program. Only 3 weeks left.
Overall Phase 3 definitely kicks it up a notch!! OMG the workouts are way more intense! I will talk more about that later in this weeks post.
As far as the food goes, it is basically very similar (only for week 9) to Phase 2 nutrition, EXCEPT you are actually counting calories. I was already tracking my calories using My Fitness Pal. I am not as concerned with calories, since I am eating healthy food in the proper portions, BUT for Phase 3 you will need to be more meticulous with the food calculations. Week 10 – 12 will get a little crazy with carb cycling BUT I’ll talk about that next week.

Weight loss update:
I am down another pound this week! Making 21 pounds total!! YAY!! I have to say with as hard as the workouts have been I thought surely I sweated off at least another 5 pounds right?! HA I was a little bummed that it was only 1 pound this week.. BUT every pound counts 🙂 My goal is by the end of Week 12 to have lost 25 pounds total! AND my BIGGER goal is to lose 30 pounds total from when I started..I am going to be doing Jamie’s program twice, making it 6 months of clean eating and lifting weights.. and by the end of the 6 months to have the total pounds lost equal 30! At that point I will continue to use her workouts as a guide for my daily workouts. They are just layed out SOOO well and Phase 2 workouts are def something I will continue to do in the future.

(Picture Above) So food prep for phase 3 WEEK 9, was really the same as Phase 2. I was already hitting my recommended calories and limiting my carbs to earlier in the day, so nothing really changed this week. NEXT week (week 10-12) is when the nutrition will really get kicked up a notch! SOOOO looking forward to that, HA Not!

Once again here is a recap of my daily meals:
-Meal 1: 2 egg white muffins with 3/4 cup of chickpeas
-Meal 2: 2 squares of Jamie Eason’s recipe Pumpkin Protein Bars
-Meal 3 (LUNCH): 4 oz of baked chicken, half a steamed sweet potato, and half a cup of steamed broccoli OR spinach salad with strawberries and walnuts
-Meal 4: 2 Jamie Eason’s recipe of Turkey Meatballs
-Meal 5: Protein Shake (post workout)
-Meal 6 (DINNER): Baked Tilapia (or Baked chicken), spinach salad with walnuts and tomatoes, 2 tb of new mans own balsamic vinaigrette, AND half a cup of string beans (or other veggie)

For a downloadable copy of My Grocery List CLICK the link below!
Alesha_FOOD_list_09_28 <—— CLICK here to download the PDF Document

(Picture Above) Dinner’s this week have been pretty simple, baked chicken or tilapia with string beans or broccoli. One night I also added some mushrooms, onions and an avocado.

(Picture Above) Saturday night I went to my sisters house to craft (we use any excuse to actually use our pinterest ideas!) The old me would have just grabbed sushi rolls to go (with plenty of PINK SAUCE to dunk them in! HA) and brought a box of brownies to our girls night! HA But instead I brought my little tupperware of baked chicken and string beans and we made Pumpkin Protein Bars. If you plan ahead and have meals already made, it makes it sooooo much easier to stay consistent, ESPECIALLY on the WEEKENDS! It is possible to eat healthy every day, just prepare for it 🙂 

I Just have to give a HUGE shout out to my amazing SISTER!! I am sooo blessed to have her in my life, she is an amazing mother of 3 little ones, devoted wife and works for my dad’s company AND not to mention is a true friend!  She manages to balance EVERYTHING with such grace and poise! And is one of my biggest cheerleaders! She is starting to tackle the clean eating journey too and I LOVE being able to swap recipes and text eachother every time to be a voice of reason when we get a crazy craving!!

Surround yourself with people who will lift you up, keep you accountable and cheer you on!! It makes all the difference! 

I have had a lot of people ask if it’s okay to eat out during Jamie Easons program?

My answer: This is a LIFESTYLE not a diet. ☝️In the past two months I have only gone to a restaurant 3 times, every incident I was very hesitant, but the reality is I cannot isolate myself just because I am trying to eat healthy. I need to empower myself to make healthier choices & order food that is good for me! 🍓💪I always check MyFitnessPal for lower calorie options before ordering. 👌 My husband and I went to Crispers for lunch on Sunday. Normally I would have gotten baked potato soup and a flatbread or sandwich with a sweet tea.. would have been well over 1,000 calories! But instead I looked at the lower calorie options and  my lunch was only 375 calories. A side of butternut squash soup, summer salad with strawberries, and oranges.. and I asked for dressing on the side, picked off the cheese & candied pecans. ( picked off the “pita chip” as well.) I was already full after just eating the salad I only had a little bit of soup, I really am getting used to smaller portions. But It was delicious & I did not feel guilty!

I had to compromise and work a little at it, but it was worth it!  Think before you eat has been my biggest lesson so far… something as simple as taking 5 minutes to pull up the nutrition facts and ordering a healthier meal can help keep you on track! Since starting Jamie Eason’s program I enjoy eating at home now and actually prefer it to going out or driving through somewhere. So that when I do eat out it is a special occasion!

Ready for a little storytime?! MKay!
The other day I wore a PLAIN tshirt to work.. May seem like no big deal, right?! But the fact is I have not worn a plain T & jeans in YEARS!! I have always had to have just the right shirt to fit my “curves” And let me tell ya, that’s real fun! HA With just two short months of hardwork and consistency I am able to wear a size MEDIUM shirt! And it was actually big on me!

Although I am still in “progress” I am so proud of myself! Down 21 pounds and enjoying the journey! It is only the beginning  Point is, don’t always focus on the end goal, sometimes it is the milestones along the way that make it worth the effort. It is HARD, it is WORK, it is CHALLENING, BUT it is also WORTH it, it is REWARDING and it is AMAZING to feel proud of yourself! Stick with it, you are worth it!

I also want to take a second to talk about balancing real LIFE with Jamie’s program…I have had alot of people ask me how I continue to work full time and still spend time in the gym 6 days a week.

Last Monday is a perfect example of my busy schedule.
-Wake up 7:00 am
-Work 8:00am – 5:00pm
-Gym: 5:30-6:45pm
-Marriage Class at church: 7:00pm – 8:30pm
-Get back home at 9:00pm, shower at some point.. cuz I know Im lookin like a hot mess!
-Etsy Orders: 9:30 – 10:30 PM
-BED 10:45 and PASSSSSSSSS OUTT!!!!
A day like Monday, in my previous mindset would have STRESSED ME OUT, burnt me out and I would have been totally overwhelmed and not very pleasant to talk to! HA BUT instead I was able to do ALL of those things and have enough energy to feel great. When I say my energy level is up, I am not implying I wake up at 5:00am thinking “YAY!” I get to wake up.. Bring on the day!” UM no I still hit the snooze button, still need coffee before having any real conversations, and still say O just 5 more minutes please!! .. LOL I am NOT a morning person.. BUT my energy is up BECAUSE I am busier than I have ever been and still able to balance everything without feeling overwhelmed. (Did I mention I get stressed easily?!) I truly believe this is contributed to putting my faith first and trusting God to continue to give me the determination and strength to handle everything.  I talked more in depth about the role my FAITH has played in my success doing Jamie’s program in Last week’s blog post.

In just two months I am already seeing that I have grown as a person, not just in my physical changes, But in my attitude, my outlook on life and in my relationships. I am able to balance all of life’s craziness and yet still smile and look forward to conquering the next day! This TRULY is a LIFE change for me, I have used this time to improve my thoughts and make positive changes in all areas of my life.

Workout Time:
Okay let’s talk torture, I mean workouts this week! HAHA I remember the first day looking ahead to Phase 3 and thinking “OMG are you joking?!” There is no way I could do that!!

But sure enough here I am doing the workouts ever day! Jamie Eason has TRULY thought about everything on this plan, Every Phase builds on the last and you need all those parts (the clean eating too!) to be able to do Phase 3.
The biggest change with the workouts, is instead of resting in between sets, you have to do an “active rest” 1 min of jumprope, or 20 burpees, or 20 mountain climbers (whatever is on the daily plan).. And let me tell ya, you will use EVERY muscle in your body. I literally woke up sore every day this week, It was intense. Also another kicker is instead of doing 30 minutes medium intensity cardio (4 days a week + your weights) You replace that with Level 8 sprints (30 sec sprint, 30 sec rest) for 30 minutes!! OMG after lifting for an hour, doing HIT (high intensity training in between) AND THEN SPRINTS, it is pretty exhausting!

Tuesday Nights workout was probably the hardest thing I have ever done! I am not sure why it but it was the hardest workout yet. Even the workouts later in the week were not that bad compared to Tuesday. It took me an hour and a half and a whole lot of convincing myself it was worth it! HA BUT I did it!! The workouts this week do take about an hour and a half on the days where I have to do the sprints too! But the two LEG days, they take about an hour.

ON a random side note, I have had a secret goal that I haven’t shared yet. But since I LOVE you all I will open up! WHy not, I am sharing everything else?! HAHA well I have NOT worked out in shorts… in well lets just say YEARS! I have always felt like my legs were ginormous and didn’t feel comfortable wearing shorts to the gym. BUT YAY another milestone! I bought some workout shorts this week! In a size medium (YAY!) and although I am still not sure if I am going to wear them to the gym yet.. (maybe on the second round of Jamie’s program when my legs are just a little more toned?!) It felt great to buy them and step out of my comfort zone.

Bring on Week 10! Only 3 more weeks till I have completed Jamie Eason’s Live Fit Challenge.. EEEKKKK!

Click the Links BELOW to download the PRINTABLE workout sheets for each phase!

Phase 1 PDF                         Phase 2 PDF                        Phase 3 PDF

You might also like:

WEEK 8 recap                      WEEK 7 recap                      WEEK 6 recap

Jamie Eason Live Fit Review {Week 8}

Woo hoo!! 2 months down! I can’t believe I have already been clean eating and lifting weights consistently for 60 STRAIGHT DAYS! This is a BIG deal, guys! HA I usually have a hard time sticking to something for more than 3 weeks, so the fact that I am continuing to follow Jamie’s Program AND look forward to doing it a second time.. IS AMAZING!! I have said this before, but this is really a LIFESTYLE NOT A DIET, for me.

I am learning soooooo much and look at food soooo diferently now! I am like the ingredient natzi at the grocery store, HA. If it has more than 3 ingredients I don’t buy it. I am looking at EVERY nutrition label of EVERYTHING I am eating. Not in an obsessive way, but in a awareness empowerment “way.” Is that even a full sentence?! You get what I’m saying, I am really thinking about what I am putting in my body, instead of blindly following my emotions towards food. It feels great to be feeling better, sleeping better, my complexion is better, and I have WAY MORE ENGERY! What’s not to love?!

And to top it all off.. I am down 20lbs.. YES TWENTY POUNDS!!

OMG I couldn’t believe it when I stepped on the scale. All my hardwork is really starting to pay off. EEEKK! Can’t wait to see even more progress by week 12!

Okay so meal prep this week was GUESS WHAT?! MORE egg white muffins, sweet potatoes and broccoli! HAHA I just don’t want to veer off from what is working so I am sticking the veggies I like! I also just want to reiterate how IMPORTANT meal prep is, while doing Jamie Eason’s 3 month program. I truly believe it is KEY to getting the results you want. For me it has helped me turn to healthy food, instead of binging on junk food. Because I spend about 3 hours on Sunday prepping all my food, (except dinners) for the week, it is literally grab n go! What could be easier?! So many people say, “O I just don’t have time!” really, you don’t have 3 hours in one week?! We all have the same hours in the day, it takes making it a priority to make it happen! I love the quote:

“Failure to plan, is planning to fail” It’s so true. When you don’t plan ahead, it is SOOOO easy to slip up and eat something bad. Trust me, I was that person for years. I would do GREAT during the day and then at 8:00 I would be craving chocolate & ice-cream!

Every time I get a craving for junk food, it’s usually a sign I am just HUNGRY! It’s my body telling me it’s time to eat, so I grab an apple, or a protein shake and tell that pesky hungry monster to suck it! HAHA okay a little dramatic, but you get the point.

Dinner time: (pictured above) 4oz of baked chicken, 1/2 cup of broccoli and a salad with strawberries, avocado and walnuts. Delish!

Dinner (pictured above) Another night I made Hummus crusted tilapia, topped with tomato & avocado, and a side of asparagus and mushrooms. I could seriously eat this fish like everyday! Its sooo good!
So I guess I should explain my dinner choices, Jamie’s program recommends basically eating lunch, then eating lunch (lean meat, with veggies) AGAIN and then having 2 turkey meatballs or a 4 small protein bars. HOWEVER that doesn’t quite work with my schedule, I am married SO my husband and I eat dinner together, and the idea of him having a big ole dinner and my eating a small protein bar just won’t cut it. SO I basically eat a lean meat and veggies for dinner. I limit my carbs to earlier in the day, just like Jamie recommends. I might make brown rice for David and then I will just have extra broccoli instead. Again this is a LIFESTYLE so I don’t want to feel deprived or hungry, so I am still eating a healthy filling dinner.

Dinner (pictured above) So it was Saturday night, I waited entirely too long to cook dinner and all of a sudden I was SUPER hungry!! I am usually pretty good about having my dinner ready around 7:30. But I got stuck doing laundry and you know time flies when your having fun?! UGH not.. okay anyway back to the food. Since I was in such a hurry I could tell I was starting to crave junk food.. BUT instead I was really proud of myself I cooked a sweet potato, and piled that bad boy on top of black beans & spinach. SOO SIMPLE but seriously delish! It was a hodgepodge of whatever I had on hand.. but it did the trick.

For phase 2, you are suppose to limit your carbs to earlier in the day, BUT I was just so hungry I knew I needed a filling meal. So hey, this is real life, do what works for you! So I ate my sweet potato concoction and didn’t feel guilty!

Let’s talk dessert shall we?! Every week I spend a little time in the kitchen either following Jamie’s recipes or coming up with my own clean desserts. I limit myself to them about once a week. This week I made  Jamie Eason’s Pumpkin Bars for my mid day snack and LOVED it so much it doubled as my weekly treat! I have them every day around 10:30 am.. OMG they are AMAZING!! So when I wanted dessert one night, I just popped one in the microwave and topped it with cinnamon + greek yogurt! SOOOO amazing! My fave of Jamie’s protein bar recipes so far. And just in time for fall 🙂 CLICK here for Pumpkin Protein Bar Recipe.

In other fun news, my family and I did a Bubble Palooza 5k this weekend! My dad, aunt, sister, nieces and nephew all participated, it was sooo Fun! Every mile there was a “bubble station” where you have to run through the multicolored suds, not guna lie it was pretty intimidating! HA I felt like we were in Willy Wonka! After my nieces and nephew were terrified for the first mile, HA they ended up loving it in the end. Def a great family run. I LOVE being able to be active with my family and set good examples for my nieces and nephews.


If you ever get a chance to do a Bubble run! I highly recommend it!

Workout Recap for Week 8

I have to say I am in LOVE with phase 2! I feel like it is really the most applicable to my daily life. I can totally do these workouts and follow the food list after I finish the program. I am getting so much stronger and am really comfortable with the weights now. I don’t have to watch the tutorial before every exercise! HAHA like literally had to pull up the video on my iPhone when I started phase 1. Now I just read it and know exactly what to do 🙂 Phase 2 consist of 6 days a week of weight training (about 30-45 minutes) PLUS 4 of those days you do an additional 30 minutes of cardio.

It’s sooooo crazy that there’s a 20 pound difference in the photo below! I can’t believe it’s only been two months. I used to HATE working out in tank tops, I was SUPER (and still am sometimes) self conscious BUT I bought some new workout tanks and it honestly makes me feel soooo much better to wear a cute outfit to the gym! I know that I am still “in progress” but I can’t believe how far I have come. In a weird way I feel like “I’m Back!” Im busting my butt in the gym and still able to eat healthy, balance my full time job, my online etsy store, AND be a wife! It’s not easy BUT it is worth it.

I talked about this last week, but I truly believe the reason I have been able to stick with this program and continue to be consistent is by putting my faith first. I have asked God to give me the wisdom to know how to balance everything & the determination to keep going. And it is SHOCKING that two months in I don’t feel overwhelmed, stressed or even burnt out! I feel calm, energetic AND proud. I continue to pray every day and thank him for all he is doing in my life and for what is yet to come. I know that I am not alone, and I don’t have to carry this heavy burden, this is an opportunity to be the best Alesha that I can be. I am not competing with ANYONE but myself. And yes I am working hard in the gym and eating healthy, BUT I am also learning how to let this just be ONE area of my life.

And I think that is something I have never done before. I have always just put myself 110% into ONE thing, be it school, graphic design, work, running, and then everything else just fell to the wayside. BUT NOW I am prioritizing and balancing multiple things and it makes me more productive. Being organized in the gym rolls over into wanting to be more organized at work & vice versa. Everything ties TOGETHER equally! Instead of ONE area being the main focus. And I KNOW that this would not be possible without help from God. He has truly given me a new mindset and the strength to continue.

Isaiah 40:29-31
He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength.
Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.

Yay for actually being able to see the muscles in my arms! This weeks workouts have been NO JOKE! Definitely intense. Every day is harder than the last,but I can feel myself getting stronger. I can say I was SUPER PROUD when I did the single dumbbell squats using one 35 pound dumbbell! When I first started I could only squat holding a 10 pound, and that was hard!  I LOVE being able to push myself in the gym!

I still want to continue to tone and that is why I am going to do Jamie Eason’s program a second time! That will be 6 months of clean eating and lifting weights. It’s so exciting to think about how far I have come in just two short months, imagine what 6 months or even a year will do!

I have had alot of people ask where I get the “printable” worksheets from. If you click each day on Bodybuilding.com, under each workout it has a printable PDF BUT its a simplified form. You can use those OR I am in a facebook group where they had the Print Ready files all pretty with matching pictures of each exercise! It’s so great, I just take my notebook with me to the gym and follow step by step.

I absolutely LOVE the community of women I have met through this program. Every email or message makes me smile, it’s so great to know I am not doing this alone! The amazing Brittany Bellair is in my facebook group and uploaded these PDF’s to our group. They make it AWESOME and a super easy checklist.
Go check out her AWESOME transformation… OMG soooo motivating!! She’s done Jamie Eason’s program twice.

CLICK here to FOLLOW her on Facebook.

Click the Links BELOW to download the PRINTABLE workout sheets for each phase!

Phase 1 PDF                         Phase 2 PDF                        Phase 3 PDF

Woo HOOO! BRING ON PHASE 3! Only 1 month to go! 

You might also like:

Week 7 RECAP                    Week 6 RECAP                    Week 5 RECAP

Jamie Eason Live Fit Review {Week 7}

Yay! Seven weeks in & I feel great.  I have really seen the most changes in my body/workouts from this past week, it’s like all of a sudden I can really tell I have lost weight.
I am down 16 pounds!! Yep 16 whole pounds.. OMG feels so great!! I am really proud of myself. I haven’t had one cheat meal in 7 weeks! The food is very normal to me now, and all of my cravings for junk food have faded. Every now and then I’ll want chocolate or dessert, and I just make a healthy protein muffin or drink a protein shake. Again as I said in last weeks post.. this is a lifestyle for me, NOT a diet.

I am rediscovering / retraining my body how to eat food and make smart / healthy choices! I want this to be sustainable and a permanent change, not a quick fix. Because I am eating so frequently and eating well balanced healthy foods, I am never starving. Which is why I don’t want a cheat meal, I really like how I feel so far just from eating clean and I don’t have the desire to go out and have a Big Mac. At the end of the 3 months, David my amazing husband 🙂 is taking my on a date night to Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse (A fancy schmancy restaurant). And I am going to have a BIG Ole Steak and definitely something chocolate and amazing for dessert!

I am counting down the days for that amazing dinner!! But what I think I have realized is, it’s about consistency and here I am almost 2 months in of clean eating and I don’t miss any of my old habits.

I have stuck to the plan and guess what.. I didn’t die?! HAHA Sometimes that’s my mindset, if someone had told me 2 months ago (and they actually did) to try coffee without creamer, I would have laughed and said NEVER!! But here I am drinking coffee every day with just one stevia packet and NO creamer! And guess what, I actually like it! I drink my coffee and then I move on. It’s amazing how once you change your thinking you can really do anything. Something as simple as not pouring a gallon of sugar filled creamer in my coffee has helped me to become healthier and more disciplined. It’s all those little decisions that really add up.

And for all my little decisions I have made for the past 7 weeks, I am really proud!!

Meal Prep: WEEK 7

So I am sure all my meal prep images are starting to look boring! It’s all the SSAAAAMMMMEEEE. But it just really works. And I like the food, so why change it.
I cook chicken every week and have had a couple people ask what kind of seasoning / marinade I use. For my meal prep, I just simply pour about 1 TB of Newman’s Own Balsamic Vinaigrette on top (first I use a fork and poke holes in the chicken so the dressing seeps through, and then sprinkle with a little Mrs Dash seasoning (Garlic and Herb). Thats it! Then I baked in the oven at 350 for about 30 minutes. And the trick is, if you want juicy chicken, after its cooked let it sit for about an hour in the juices, the chicken will absorb the juice and be really tender!

This weeks lunches were broccoli, sweet potato, and baked chicken.

For Dinner I mixed it up a little, this was (pictured above) Hummus Crusted Tilapia, with rice pilaf and a salad. OMG it was soooo delicious!! The fish just literally melts in your mouth.

Okay I know this looks pretty boring, but don’t let it fool ya, this meal was packed with flavor! Baked chicken, sweet potato and sautéed mushrooms, onion, squash and zucchini. Sometimes the simplest meals can be perfect!

Time for my weekly baking experiment! I decided to have wishful thinking and pretend its actually Fall here in florida, so carrot cake (pictured above) sounded yummy! I followed Jamie Eason’s Carrot Protein Bar recipe. I baked them as “muffins” and then topped with Greek Yogurt and Cinnamon mixture. Easy and delish! A miniature little deceptively healthy carrot cake.. yes please! I’ll be posting the recipe later next week.

Workout Time!

Week 7 Workouts, were intense, no suprise there! I was very proud of myself, I finally used 30 pound dumbbells for my squats!! The first week I could only squat using 8 pounds.. WOW!! It’s so awesome to see the changes (literally I can look back through my notebook). Like I said earlier, I really feel like I have noticed the most changes from this week.

When I look back at the first week picture.. Its shocking!! I am so excited that you can actually see a difference! I took this picture on Wednesday, and it is crazy it is only a  16 pound difference. But I feel like it even looks like more than that, I am really gaining muscle. I feel so energized after my workouts! My goal is to lose 30 pounds by February. I am already down 16 pounds in just 7 weeks!! I am right on track to my goal and I think I might even reach my goal before then. 😉  We will see! I think what’s great is I am establishing HEALTHY HABITS, instead of a quick fix weight loss trick. Working out consistently and eating healthy consistently is going to be sustainable and something I WILL continue doing in the future.

EEEEK! I can finally see more muscle in my arms! YAY!! Its crazy to see the difference from week 1 in my arms. Just in finishing week 7 I am already excited to do this program all over again. I will be taking a 2 week break (still going to workout and eat healthy) and then START the program all over again! I am so excited for the changes by February, that will be 6 months of clean eating and working out! I am doing the Donna Hicken Half Marathon (this will be my 6th half marathon!!) BUT I want to be in the best shape! I have done the Donna Hicken Half the last two years, and it’s a great 13 mile run! BUT even though I could go out and have great endurance, having a consistent workout schedule was never in my daily plan. NOW I enjoy going to the gym, its my time to destress and get in the zone!

I’m guna get deep for a second.. ya’ll ready?!

I have had so many people ask how I stay so consistent & motivated?

“Wow, you haven’t had one cheat meal?!”

“O I could never do that!”

“I don’t have time to work out.”

I used to say those same exact things, FOR YEARS!

Until I decided to make a change.  At the beginning of this journey I made a decision & gave my health and fitness to God, I know this might sound crazy to some! But I really prayed about it and knew this was an area I have struggled with and just didnt make my health & fitness a priority. I was working 70 hours a week between my full time graphic design job and my etsy shop. I was burnt out, tired and had no energy! I KNEW I could not do this alone, and everyday I continue to thank God for all he is doing in my life and for giving me the strength and determination to continue! He has not let me down and I truly believe he has taught me a new mindset. He wants to see me at my best and through the past 7 weeks I have grown closer to him. I truly believe that what was once an area of my weakness will be an area of my strength! It’s all about changing how you think. And that has been KEY in my journey.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13

I also hit another milestone this week. Because I was down 16 pounds, I wanted to treat myself for all my hardwork. Instead of binging out on junk food, I went workout clothes shopping. To my suprise I had to go down a size!! WHAT?! OMG feels so great to have those kind of victories! I only really have like 3 workout shirts and I just rotate them, HA. But now I have a couple more cute gym clothes and I don’t have to wear old tshirts! I totally did the Happy Dance in the dressing room. I cant wait to start Week 8 so I can wear my cute new workout outfits 😉

I have had so many people ask what my grocery list looks like. So I have put together this handy dandy word document of my grocery list, example meal plan AND my chocolate mousse recipe. Feel free to use it and let me know what you think!

Alesha_FOOD_list_09_28 <—— CLICK here to download the Word Document
Alesha_FOOD_list_09_28 <—— CLICK here to download the PDF Document

EEEK! Just one more week of Phase 2, then it’s on to Phase 3, The Home Stretch!!

Phase 1 PDF                         Phase 2 PDF                        Phase 3 PDF

 

 

 

 

You might also like:

Jamie Eason: WEEK 6        Jamie Eason: WEEK 5            Jamie Eason: WEEK 4 

Jamie Eason Live Fit Review {Week 6}

Okay okay.. so I’m a little late in my recap this week, it’s been a BUSY couple of weeks around here!
HALFWAY THROUGH!! WOO HOO! Can’t believe I’ve already done 6 weeks of Jamie Eason’s Live Fit Challenge!

I am down 13 pounds!! (SNEAK PEAK, I am actually writing this post during my week 7 and I am down a TOTAL of 15 pounds!!!) I am just so excited I figured I would tell all of you!
It feels really great, I am def getting the hang of this program. I know I say that every week, but I really mean it 🙂

The food is becoming very much a Habit, which is great! I am eating all the same foods but I still haven’t gotten sick of anything yet!
I am a little tired of my Egg White Muffins! HA but I figured I can suck it up, it’s only one meal of the day.

This weeks meal prep, nothing too crazy. Just the usual 🙂
BREAKFAST
-egg white muffins

LUNCH:
-chicken, salad, sweet potato

DINNER:
Mix of chicken, veggies and lots of baked tilapia.

I just want to talk for a second about how my mindset towards food has changed in just 6 weeks!! I DO NOT consider this a DIET (I really hate that word and the label it creates) I love the (whisper tone) “O your on a diet?!” looks you get from people when you eat a salad.. “UM no Im just eating healthy, but thanks!” HAHA This program is a LIFESTYLE change. I am learning about what healthy foods my body needs to just live. I don’t “treat” myself EVERY day with Chick Fil A sweet tea anymore. Moderation is key! That is something I have always heard but had a hard time with. I think I have been so successful this time because I am NOT depriving myself of foods. I am eating every 3 hours and I am making CLEAN healthy desserts, and yummy filling dinners. I want these recipes to be things I will eat in the future, not just a quick fix to lose weight. One Night I made hummus crusted tilapia (I was tempted not to have the hummus since it was store bought BUT I looked at the ingredients, ONLY 3! And I reminded myself this is a LIFESTYLE! I don’t want these three months to be where I feel so deprived or starved that after I just go back to the way I was. I want to LEARN from this process and use all of these tools in the future. I really feel like I am redefining my relationship with food. I don’t have to treat myself with something super unhealthy when I have a success, I now WANT to get a pedicure OR buy a new workout tank instead! I am learning that I can be disciplined and work hard without feeling like I am missing out on something!

I also followed Jamie Eason’s recipe for Lemon Protein Bars!! DELISH!!
I made these a couple times and the middle was always soggy but the outer edge was cooked perfectly! So frustrating.. I finally decided to use my muffin tin to make a batch and they cooked all the way through.
I’ll be doing a blog post with the recipe soon!

One night I made a big bowl of Chilli (and I ate mine without cheese or sour cream OR cornbread!! EEKK big step for me! HA I used to drown my chili in cornbread, But alas it was still tasty and delish!)
I also made Tilapia lettuce wraps, I seriously ate these like 4 nights in a row! HA, Super easy to throw together and always taste so fresh.

I experimented this week with baking a new Healthy Treat! Skinny Whoopie Pies.
I used Greek Yogurt mixed with Cookies N Cream Protein powder (that I got for FREE from bodybuilding.com, HECK YES!!)  for the filling, OMG SOOOOOO DELISH!! And only 150 calories in each one.

Of course on Saturday I made Chocolate Protein Pancakes, MY FAVE!! I have to say if you were a fly on the wall in the Haley house …. you would have been very entertained!  I was such a hot mess making these! David was a really great sport when I almost cried because my pancakes kept bubbling up and getting burnt in the pan! UGH (Might I remind you I had a SUPER intense Leg workout Saturday morning and was just tired and hungry..haha I am a bit of a DRAMA queen when I get hungry!) After realizing I just needed more egg whites and a hug from my amazing husband, everything was much better and the pancakes turned out perfectly 🙂 It’s the little things in life! (you know you work at Natural Life when you start quoting sentiment in daily life haha!)

My pancakes still turned out yummy and all was not lost! 😉

Let’s talk Workouts! 

I feel like every week there is always one workout that just takes everything I have to not give up. That was Day 40 this week. Shoulders and Cardio.
OMG I thought I was going to die! It was super intense. I had to do some alternative exercises since I didn’t have all the machines, but it was a great workout! It always feels good when during a workout I feel like it never ends, and then sure enough, WOOP its all over 🙂 My energy level is definitely way up! And I feel recharged AFTER my workouts instead of completely exhausted like I was in the beginning.

I have to tell you a little story about this picture (above). It was Friday night, and I really didn’t want to go the gym! It had been a crazy day at work and for the first time in like a month, David had a Friday Night off and we were planning on going on a date!! FANCY! (It actually turned into well let’s just eat chili and watch netflix kinda date, but hey whatever works 🙂 Anyway I just really wanted to go straight home and relax. BUT I got my butt to the gym determined to at least try to have a good workout. It was intense, and I was not feeling very motivated. After slowly trudging through my weights.. I hopped on the treadmill for my 30 min cardio session. 15 minutes into it I accidently pressed the emergency STOP button! NOOOOO!! All my calories, distances, everything was lost. And I don’t know if that has ever happened to you?! But it sucks! HA and you feel like you don’t want to keep going. I was feeling very defeated and like maybe I should just end my workout. UGH this was just not my day! But then Katy Perry’s ROAR song came on Pandora (okay don’t judge my music selection when I work out..haha!) And something about it just made me feel like YES I can do this, don’t give up! So I pulled out another 15 minutes and my second half of the run was WAY FASTER than the first! I left the gym feeling PROUD of myself for putting my big girl panties on and sticking to the plan.

Lesson Learned:
I am going to have days where I don’t feel motivated and I am just tired BUT that’s when I need it the most. To prove to myself I can do it! I am stronger than those doubting thoughts, and God has made me to be strong and determined, I just need to remind myself of that from time to time. When I got home I was going through my pictures and came across this picture from WEEK one, I couldn’t believe it! OMG did I really look like that?! Even though its only been 13 pounds, I really see a difference. I remember taking that first picture on the first day.. I was so excited to finally have a “cute workout tshirt” and not just old shirts. AND NOW that blue shirt is too big! This side by side picture comparison was just what I needed to remind myself NOT to give up, and even though I still have a way to go, LOOK HOW FAR I’VE COME! YAY! 

Feels great to be able to pull some of the clothes that are shoved in the back of my closet back out to wear! Yes I do wear real clothes not just gym sweats 🙂

Halfway through!! Only 6 more weeks to go! Can’t wait to share next weeks post about Week 7!!

Phase 1 PDF                         Phase 2 PDF                        Phase 3 PDF

 

You might also like:

Jamie Eason: WEEK 5            Jamie Eason: WEEK 4          Jamie Eason: WEEK 3

Jamie Eason Live Fit Trainer {Week 5} Review

So here we are at the end of Week 5.

This was my first week of Jamie Eason’s Phase 2. (Five weeks TOTAL of doing the whole Program)
And guess what?! Im down TWO more pounds!! WOO HOO! That makes 12 Pounds so far! I have to say Phase 2 is no joke! The workouts are 6 days a week (4 weight training + 30 min cardio, and 2 LEG days) With all the gym time I have put in this past week PLUS I have been SUPER disciplined with my eating I was SOOOO hoping I would have lost something. After not losing any weight for week 4 I was starting to get bummed, but I keep hearing “Just trust the process” from other ladies who have done this program. So I stuck to it and I am starting to see some great results! I know I still have a long way to go but for now I am really proud of myself.

My thoughts on Phase 2 {so far}:
So the biggest change with this phase is ADDING cardio back in! I honestly missed it. I feel like I have left the gym every day this week drenched in sweat (GROSS I know) BUT it feels really good! To know I am laying it all out and doing it full force! And funny thing is I am starting to appreciate the two LEG days that don’t have cardio, It’s a nice break. As far as the meal plan goes, it’s pretty much the same EXCEPT we are eating our carbs in the morning and lessening their intake throughout the day. So I actually eat my last carb (sweet potato) at lunch time. So no more brown rice at dinner 😦 I know that in the future this is something I won’t be quite so strict about (eating certain foods at certain meals) BUT I am really trusting this process and going to go for it! It wasn’t really a big change and it has honestly made me branch out in the veggie department! I feel like I am not afraid to try new foods or think of different ways to cook vegetables, mixing things up a little.

For this weeks meal prep, its basically the same old same ya’ll. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it right?
Egg white muffins, broccoli, baked chicken, sweet potato’s, and turkey meatballs.

These little guys just never to seem to get old, Even after eating them every morning for the past 5 weeks, (except on Saturdays, that’s reserved for Protein Pancakes!) I still find them tasty!

For my recipe on Egg White Muffins: CLICK HERE.

For Jamie Eason’s Turkey Muffins Recipe: CLICK HERE.

Lunch has been the usual: Chicken, sweet potato and broccoli. I have to say every time I eat a sweet potato I just think about what amazing flavor it has! I used to drown mine in butter and cinnamon BUT now I eat them just plain and it’s delicious! It’s crazy but I feel like I am able to “taste” the ingredients better. I don’t need a gallon of creamer in my coffee and I don’t need a scoop of butter on my veggies. It’s funny how quickly your taste buds can change! I never thought I would enjoy just steamed veggies, but I am starting to really like them (EEEK I know!)

For dinner one night this week I made Spaghetti Squash with Chicken, Yellow Tomato’s and a side of asparagus and mushrooms. OMG mouthwatering good! It was my first time ever making Spaghetti Squash and I am in LOVE! Not only was my mind blown that it actually LOOKS like spaghetti?! So crazy! BUT it was the easiest thing ever.

Just cut a Spaghetti Squash in Half, rub with a little bit of olive oil and season with Salt and Pepper. Then just pop in your oven (face down) on a pan and roast on 400 degrees for about 40 minutes. Then literally it just scoops out so easy like noodles!

Another night I made Lettuce Wraps with sautéed shrimp, corn, onions and topped with carrots and green onions. So easy and fresh!

Okay let’s talk Workouts….

Here’s a little progress pic for ya! Okay so how sad is it that I was actually flexing in the first photo 😦 My poor muscles never had a chance to come out. Well fast forward to Week Five (I’m 12 pounds lighter Woop Woop!!) and I think I see a little muscle!! EEEK! So exciting. It definitely makes such a difference when you take progress pics. Honestly I didn’t feel like I had changed that much, BUT looking at the photos it makes me really proud! I feel like you can really see the difference! I still have a long way to go, BUT I know I am going in the right direction. And yes I am sporting my Body Building Tank that I received for FREE last week (read more about that fun story here)!! I want to wear it every day!

Okay ignore my crazy hair in the picture below (not that it ever really looks different than just a giant ball on the top of my head!) HA .. This was an early workout BUT I am so excited to starting to see muscles! I still don’t feel completely comfortable working out in tanktops but ya know I’m getting there and who cares it’s hot in Florida 🙂

The workouts this week have literally been twice as hard & twice as long as the first month, I am usually shaking by the time I leave. But it feels really good! I feel like I am starting to feel more comfortable with weights and really learning the basics of weight training.

Let me just give you a little breakdown of Leg day on Wednesday .. I thought I was going to die! But guess what I didn’t 🙂

DAY 31 LEGS:
These are broken up into sets and reps but this is the TOTAL number.
I’m also upping the weights this week (using about 85% of my max effort) so for most of these exercises I am using 20 lb dumbbells. Which I might add is exciting since I started off at week 1 using only 8lbs in each hand. It’s so awesome to know that I am getting stronger in the gym!

-60 Leg Extensions
-30 LIGHT weights Squats
-40 HEAVY weights Squats
-32 Leg Press
-60 FRONT dumbbell Lunges
-60 REAR dumbbell Lunges
-45 Pile Dumbbell Squats
-60 Standing Calf Raises
-60 Sitting Calf Raises
* I had to make some adjustments (our gym doesn’t have the leg press machine so I just did some more leg extensions. OMG it was literally the hardest Leg Workout I have ever done!

Some of the other days were just as hard in a different way. Below was Day 30: Chest, Abs and Cardio.

I know I have said this before, but I really LOVE having my notebook with me. Im a HUGE fan of checklists. It’s great to feel like I am accomplishing my tasks!

Woo Hoo! Week 5 done! Bring on Week 6!

Anyone else trying Jamie Eason’s 12 Week Live Fit Trainer? Would LOVE to hear from you!!

Phase 1 PDF                         Phase 2 PDF                        Phase 3 PDF

 

 

 

 

 

 

You might also like:

Jamie Eason: WEEK 4          Jamie Eason: WEEK 3          Jamie Eason: WEEK 2

Protein Peanut Butter Cups {Clean Eating}

A yummy Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup thats under 100 calories?!
Shut the Front DOOR!

Yes its true Folks! You can have chocolate and gain muscle 😉

As most of you know, I discovered PB2 (Powdered Peanut Butter) a couple weeks ago! I fell in LOVE immediately and have been looking for new things to try with it!
PB2 only has 45 Calories for 2 TB, compared to (typical) Peanut Butter that has 210 Calories for 2TB!!

NO BAKE Protein Peanut Butter Cups
Ingredients You’ll Need:
-4 Cupcake Liners
-2 TB of PB2
-1 TB of water (*may need more)
-2 TB of Plain Greek Yogurt
-1 TB of coco powder (unsweetened)
-1 Scoop of CHOCOLATE Protein Powder
*Optional:
-1 Stevia Packet or a small spoonful of Honey *For Taste

Mix together the Coco Powder, Greek Yogurt, and Chocolate Protein Powder. Slowly one TB at a time, add water, until the mixture is easy to pour (NOT THICK).
Next (in a separate bowl) mix together your PB2 & water. You may have to slowly add water so that this mixture is also a liquid consistent.
First pour your chocolate mixture into the bottom of the cupcake liners, about a quater of the way up. Then Pour your PB2 mixture in.
And one more time, Top it off with some more of the Chocolate Mixture. NOTE: You don’t want to fill these up too high since they are mostly “liquid”.
Now just pop them in the freezer for about 15 minutes and your all done! I store my leftover ones in the freezer in tupperware containers. They are a great snack when Im having a chocolate craving!
ENJOY

Mix together the Coco Powder, Greek Yogurt, and Chocolate Protein Powder. Slowly one TB at a time, add water, until the mixture is easy to pour (NOT THICK).

Next (in a separate bowl) mix together your PB2 & water. You may have to slowly add water so that this mixture is also a liquid consistent.

First pour your chocolate mixture into the bottom of the cupcake liners, about a quater of the way up.

Then Pour your PB2 mixture in.

And one more time, Top it off with some more of the Chocolate Mixture. NOTE: You don’t want to fill these up too high since they are mostly “liquid”.

Then pop them in the freezer for 15 minutes. That’s It!!

NO BAKE Protein Peanut Butter Cups
Ingredients You’ll Need:
-4 Cupcake Liners
-2 TB of PB2
-1 TB of water (*may need more)
-2 TB of Plain Greek Yogurt
-1 TB of coco powder (unsweetened)
-1 Scoop of CHOCOLATE Protein Powder
*Optional:
-1 Stevia Packet or a small spoonful of Honey *For Taste

Mix together the Coco Powder, Greek Yogurt, and Chocolate Protein Powder. Slowly one TB at a time, add water, until the mixture is easy to pour (NOT THICK).
Next (in a separate bowl) mix together your PB2 & water. You may have to slowly add water so that this mixture is also a liquid consistent.
First pour your chocolate mixture into the bottom of the cupcake liners, about a quater of the way up. Then Pour your PB2 mixture in.
And one more time, Top it off with some more of the Chocolate Mixture. NOTE: You don’t want to fill these up too high since they are mostly “liquid”.
Now just pop them in the freezer for about 15 minutes and your all done! I store my leftover ones in the freezer in tupperware containers. They are a great snack when Im having a chocolate craving!
ENJOY

Total Calories: 87 (one peanut butter cup)
*recipe makes 4 peanut butter cups