{Flourless Double Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana PANCAKES}

I have an intolerance to gluten, so I try to find amazing GF recipes that the whole family will love. It has been an adventure so far and I have found many recipes that we all love. My son Jesse (10) prefers GF. He always ask for the GF version because he says it taste better. Yay!

I decided a few months ago to try and go back to eating gluten in small amounts to see if my body could handle it and I did well! I wasn't reacting at all....or so I thought. I started to see changes in my skin, on my fore arms first. Then I started getting tired. I was so tired that I was not getting up in the mornings like I normally do. I am a morning person by nature. I like to get up early, but since I had gluten in my system I felt like I had been hit by a truck each morning! Then I started getting a sinus infection, stomach aches after eating, nausea, headaches, feeling weak....and even depression. I started remembering back to January 2013, when I was feeling all of these same symptoms. It was the worst time of my life. I did not want to go back there, so I am reforming and going back to being GF for good. It's just not worth my health. 

Here's to a new beginning and a great GF lifestyle. Join me and see what changes may happen in your health :)

Here is the amazing pancake recipe......

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 medium/large ripe banana, peeled
• 1 large egg
• heaping 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter (I eyeballed 2 parts PB2 w/ 1 part coconut oil to make a half cup)
• 3 tablespoons agave
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• pinch salt, optional and to taste
• 1/3 cup unsweetened natural cocoa powder
• 1/4 c. mini semi-sweet chocolate chips 
• *For extra protein I like add 1-2 scoops of chocolate or vanilla protein powder

*Place first 7 ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. Add cocoa (and protein powder) and blend until cocoa is well mixed. Fold in chips. Spoon small amounts onto hot griddle. Cook like you normally would pancakes being careful when flipping them because they tend to be a little more breakable (that is why you make them small)

Top with fruit, yogurt or maple syrup!

Hubby says he was impressed by
these and THAT is always a plus!

This recipe was found on Pinterest in the form of a muffin (*recipe link at the bottom of this post). It became a HUGE hit in our home and my Sunday School class loves them as well. I make them for "junk food" night every Sunday. That is a little tradition we like to keep on Sunday evenings. Instead of a "normal meal", we have snack foods and watch an old movie. What family traditions do you have at your home?

ENJOY!!!

*Flourless Double Chocolate
Peanut Butter Blender Mini Muffins

{4 Weeks on Shaklee 180}

Hey....just 4 weeks on Shaklee 180 Turnaround!!!!

In October 2012 I began to go through something I have never gone through in my life......DEPRESSION.I could not function at all. I had constant dizzy spells, I was tired, I was weak, and so very sick. My family was suffering too. I could not homeschool my children, I didn't want to clean or cook, none of my duties as a wife and mother were getting done. I cried all the time, I was angry, I was bitter...and I had no idea why. This was the first time I had experienced this. I didn't know what to do.

In January 2013 I finally made the decision to try Shaklee 180 and I am so glad I did! The very first week of my new journey was life changing! I followed the Shaklee 180 plan and my depression and ALL of my symptoms vanished in that first week!

READ MORE HERE

{Shrink Challenge #4 Week 3}

Save or print these if you like......

 For the Advanced...

{Shrink Challenge #4 Week 2}

You can save and print these if you like....

For the Advanced....

{Pushing 40}

This journey has been (what seems like) long. I have learned a lot about health, diet, weight loss, what works and doesn't work for myself, what to expect each week, not to set my goals so high, to be happy about my results no matter what and to be an encouragement to others. It sure does help to have support and accountability while you are making healthier changes in your life. Thanks to every one that is/has been/will be there to cheer me on. I could not do it without you!

I'm so close to 40 lbs lost! This is new and exciting! I'm thinking that I need to get my hair cut and highlighted as a reward ;) 

What would you do to reward yourself?

{After Week 17 & Breaking Through My Plateau}

So here I am after week 17. I hit a stand still in my weight loss April 19-May 14. I know, not long right? WRONG! When you are eating healthy, working out, counting calories, watching macros, and doing everything you know to do, then 4 weeks seems like forever! Anyways, after going weeks with no weight loss, I decided to try something different. Juicing!!! Ever heard of it? Well, it is a great way to get tons of vitamins, fruits and veggies into your diet, heal your body and lose weight. I started juicing seriously on May 14th. I originally wanted to do the juice fast, but I have juiced the majority of the time and have healthy lean protein and veggies for a meal when I feel like I need it. After a good workout I just really feel like I need more than juice. So, that is what I have been doing lately and here is my progress for the week.....

As you can see (below), since I started juicing I have lost almost 1 lb a day.....

Thanks for visiting!

Christi