Cloud Bread-How To Make

Let me tell you about Cloud Bread!!! This low carb bread has been all the rage and I had to try it out myself! It looked so good, but it also sounded too good to be true! Cloud bread makes you feel like you're eating actual bread, minus the carbs. It's mostly protein, it is light and fluffy, but crispy enough to form a sandwich or eat like toast. And here's the part that sounded too good to be true...WAIT FOR IT...it's only 47 calories per slice!!! 

EPIC FAIL

Most cloud bread recipes call for eggs, cream of tartar (a natural thickener), and cream cheese, which despite being delicious, is not very good for you. The recipe I followed used Greek Yogurt which I'm a huge fan of because I sub EVERYTHING with greek yogurt from "mayo" to "sour cream"! The sandwich-sized rounds came out of the oven with a crisp exterior and fluffy – you guessed it – cloud-like interior. When stored overnight, they become soft and chewy.

Cloud bread tastes a little like egg so I added some fresh oregano from my garden, paprika, and himalayan salt and it made it taste more like bread. You can adjust the flavor to your pallet! My first go around with this recipe was an EPIC FAIL. It resulted in one big, flat, cloud! 

TIP: your mixture should flop on the baking sheet just like cool whip would! I followed the recipe exact so I couldn't quite figure it out, but the second go around went perfect so I switched up the recipe a bit for people like me who somehow suck at following instructions and end up making things twice. Hopefully it will save you from having to do it a second time! HAHA!

Cloud Bread

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

30 mins

Total time

40 mins

Cloud bread is light, fluffy, low carb, high protein (well, for bread) and is just 47 calories per slice!

Foodie Source: Beachbody

Serves: 3 servings, 2 pieces each

Ingredients

• Nonstick cooking spray (Unless you're using a Demarle Silpat like me) 
• 3 large eggs
• 1 dash cream of tartar
• 1 dash sea salt (or Himalayan salt) (to taste, optional)
• ⅓ cup reduced-fat (2%) plain Greek yogurt (I prefer Fage brand)

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 300° F.
2. Lightly coat large baking sheet with spray. Set aside.
3. Separate egg yolks from egg whites. Place whites in a medium bowl. Place yolks in a separate medium bowl. Set aside.
4. Add cream of tartar to egg whites. Beat with a mixer on high until stiff peaks form. TIP: you should be able to hold your mixing bowl upside down and it won't fall out, roughly 4-8 minutes! Set aside.
5. Add salt (and any other seasoning of choice) and yogurt to egg yolks. Beat with a mixer on medium until blended.
6. Gently fold ⅓ of egg white mixture into egg yolk mixture. Fold in the remaining egg white mixture until just incorporated. TIP: Be careful not to overmix.
7. Using a spoon, transfer a scoop of egg mixture onto prepared baking sheet, gently spreading into a thick pancake shape about 3 inches in diameter. Repeat with remaining batter.
8. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown and exterior is crispy to the touch. Immediately loosen cloud breads with a spatula; allow to cool on the baking sheet for 3 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.
9. Serve immediately, or store in an airtight container.

ENJOY!!!

Zucchini Bake

Recipe from Fixate Cookbook

I have 101 reasons lately to try new recipes and it's mostly due to my new favorite cookbook, Fixate by Autumn Calabrese! My recent favorite is this delish Zucchini Bake! I am obsessed with Zucchini and this is a cheesy and fresh summer recipe!! SOOOO good and very easy to make, plus for your fellow Fixers, it's approved for your containers!!! 

Serves: 4

Prep Time: 15 min (took me more like 5) 

Cooking Time: 20 min (you can cook main dish while you wait!)

Container's: 2 Green, 1/2 Purple, 1 tsp

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 Tbsp. freshly grated lemon peel
• 1/2 tsp dried thyme leaves
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano leaves
• 1/2 tsp sea salt (I used Pink Himalayan)
• 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
• 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 4 large zucchini, quartered lengthwise
• 1 Tbsp. olive oil
• Lemon wedges for garnish

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350F 
2. Combine cheese, lemon peel, thyme, oregano, salt, pepper, and garlic in a small bowl; mix well. Set aside.
3. Place zucchini skin side down on large baking dish. Brush with oil covering all of zucchini. Sprinkle evenly with cheese mixture.
4. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until tender.
5. Serve with lemon wedges.

Plated wtih grilled chicken breast.

ENJOY!!!!

21 Day Fix Extreme Meal Plan and Prep

The time is here and it's time for me to jump into the 21 Day Fix Extreme meal plan and create something that works for me and our lifestyle. Tyler and I are committed to getting at least 2 full rounds of the fix extreme in before we go to Cancun, Mexico this April for the Team Beachbody Success Club Trip!! 

I received my order last Friday and completely went over the entire plan through the weekend. We didn't want to set ourselves up for failure and start then because we had our last treat meal planned for Valentine's Day! Last night I sat down and calculated out my calorie range and Tyler's so I made sure we were each getting the right amount of containers in for each day. There are some great 21 Day Fix apps in the app store, I prefer the one by Fat Chicken Studios because you can calculate for use of 1/2 containers. If you're more of a pen and paper kind of person you can print of the tracking sheets by going to teambeachbody.com and then the Get Fit tab, the tracking sheets! 

I like to use a spreadsheet to make my meal plan because it's easy to follow and I print that sucker out and put it smack in the middle of my fridge so I know what my plan is. That way, I don't roam the fridge and wander from my plan. I like to make a grocery list and get all of my groceries on Sunday so that way I have everything I need to stick to my plan and I don't get caught in a pickle! If you fail to plan, you plan to fail! 

My 21 Day Fix Extreme Meal Plan Based on Category 1 (1200-1499 cal)

So since this is my first week of the fix extreme what is my game plan?  Well I am following the regular fix extreme plan because I want to get my nutrition in check, I want to get my body used to eating the correct portion sizes and I know that there are going to be a few days where my body just craves some of the things I was allowing myself to have before like chocolate, wine and an extra carb or two. I also know that anytime I start a new workout program the first week is awkward.  You are trying to learn the new moves, plus a new eating plan, your sore, and it takes a lot of mental energy to think through your food.  So I expect that it will be a little more exhausting than usual.  I also know that week 2 is always so much better. So my goal is to do my best the first week but not to beat myself up over it either.  

Last night we took our pictures and measurements because your most accurate measure of progress is NOT the scale but in fact its the measurements and the pictures.  Trust me you will see inches disappear before the pounds and the scale is just not the most accurate measure of progress.  So go by how you feel, your energy level, your clothes and how they fit and throw the scale out the window! 

Our Before Pics

Now I encourage you to create a meal plan and to write it down because its easy to forget what you are eating, to not have the food in the house and to make poor choices if you don't have a clear focus.  So if you are serious about this workout and the results then you want to be prepared.

I am not doing the Countdown to Competition plan initially.  I am going to at least do 2 weeks of the Fix Extreme Nutrition Plan and then switch over to countdown to competition.  I want to give my body time to adjust to fix eating first.  Also, if you feel this is to restrictive then just follow the extreme plan!  You will still get great results.  But if you feel yourself plateauing or not getting results at all then you might have to follow her countdown to competition plan.  I really find that this is very similar to the "How to lose the last 10 pounds" By Tosca Reno book I read and implemented 3 years ago.  It's tough and restricted but doable.

For the workouts:  You are going to need a set of light and heavy weights and a resistance band. Personally I was using 5 and 8 lbs but also up to 10 lbs for some of the lower body exercises because my legs are stronger.  The resistance band is used quite frequently so make sure you have one of those. They are inexpensive and you can get them from Dicks, Walmart or Target.  

Alright I think we are ready!!!!  

What Week 1 Groceries Look Like

So bottom line the 21 day fix extreme is all about no cheats, no treats, workouts that push you to the max!  I know personally that when it gets down to the last 10 lbs and or you are trying to get abs or change your body you have to go extreme!  Its not something you have to maintain forever but you have to get the results then go into maintenance.  It can be done!  That's why Team Beachbody has coaches like me. My job is to provide you with support, accountability, guidance and tips to start and finish the program!!!  

Day 1 Fix Extreme (5:30 am Wake Up Call was Rough!)

If you would like to join my 21 Day Fix Extreme Group please contact me by completing the form below.

Not Just About Weight Loss

It's Transformation TUESDAY and I have to share something that's on my mind! It's been a year since we began our journey and looking back I realize JUST how many things have changed!

I see success stories all the time from people who lose weight with A program, B drink, and C meal plan...but to me it has been more than that..you see, just a year ago, I was a very unhappy person. I had no real reason, I had a beautiful life, a roof over my head, and a family that loved me, but I just couldn't get my mind off what I didn't have. I had this feeling inside that I needed more and I felt like I lost something inside. This way I was living my life took it's toll on my marriage and we constantly argued and had a hard time getting along. I also noticed that it affected my parenting...I was always on edge and I felt like any little thing would set me off. I didn't know what was happening to me and why I felt this way.

Then one day, my husband and I were driving home from Vegas and I was complaining that I wanted to do something with the way I was feeling. We both decided at that moment that we needed to work on ourselves and we decided to do it together! We had been drinking Shakeology for about 6 months at this point, not consistently and I had told my husband that I saw something about P90x3 coming out and thought maybe it was something we could do together. You see, at the time we were a little tight on money and that was also one reason we were at our wits end. We decided to go ahead and purchase the program and were committing to making a change in our lives because we felt like we didn't have any other options.

We started following a meal plan that was provided in my group, as well as a grocery list, and we focused on eating clean 80% of the time, drinking our Shakeology for breakfast, and pushing play on our workouts every day.  We didn't see immediate results, but what I did feel was accountability, support, daily encouragement, I learned how to manage my eating, and I was surrounded by others who were literally seconds away from lifting me up, keeping me motivated when I felt like quitting and they were my biggest fans! I had no idea who these girls were, but we bonded and became great friends! My two biggest fans were the ones who were watching me every day and they were my driving force to be better than I was, because they deserved a mom who was happy!

Our Transformation with P90x3

When I am talking to a potential challenger and they give me the line "that's too expensive, I can't afford it" I have to giggle a bit!! First, because that was where my head was when I started, I had no idea what Shakeology was and why the heck it was any different than what I could get at Costco. I remember not knowing if I was going to get the results I wanted by working out at home and if I was actually going to complete the program because I was always a quitter before. But I was so desperate for results and I couldn't stand the way I felt anymore and if I wanted my marriage to get stronger and my kids to learn from example, it was worth giving a shot! 

So, you see, a challenge pack is so much more than Shakeology, a P90x, T25, or 21 Day Fix workout program, free shipping, and discount pricing. It's about having someone on the other end to make sure that you open your program, that you push play on Day 1 and Day 90! It's having someone to lift you up when you feel like you can't do anymore. It gave me LIFE again and it opened my eyes to how differently life can be if you just take chances. Most importantly, it saved my marriage and it made our family whole again! To me, that is PRICELESS!!!

If it wasn't for my coach, I would not have finished my P90x3, I would not be 12lbs lighter, and 13% body fat, I would not have been asked to work out with THE Tony Horton himself, and I would not have completely changed my families eating habits and influenced those that I love most to make a healthy change too! So when you are thinking about the options...think of this! 

When you go to the gym, who is making sure you show up every day? Who is checking your nutrition to make sure you're eating correctly for the workouts you are doing? Do you know if the workouts you're doing are going to give you the results you're wanting? Who is going to keep you accountable from start to finish?

Answer those questions and then go with your gut and what you think will truly give you the best results and be the best BANG for your buck!! 

Is it time for your own transformation?

Join my January 19th Get Healthy For Life Challenge group today: