Cheesy Bacon McMuffins

Who needs McDonald's when you can make these?!  Hellllloooo delicious!  I know there are lots of variations on these little things out there, but this is the version I came up with.  My hubby actually made these while I supervised (that's how you do it ladies!).  :)  This is how you make them:

First, get all your ingredients together:  24 egg whites, a bag of part-skim mozzarella cheese, and a bag of turkey bacon.  

Next, preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  Get your muffin tin out and spray each one with some non-stick spray.

Crack two egg whites into each section.  Try not to get any yolks in there, but if you do - no biggie!

Next, slice up your bacon and cook it in a pan until it's done.

Put the cooked bacon onto some paper towels to drain any excess fat off.  Let them cool for a couple of minutes, then distribute evenly among your egg whites.

Top with 1 1/2 cups cheese.

Pop it in the oven for about 25 minutes.  If you are unsure about whether or not they are done, just cut into one and see if any juices come out.  When they aren't jiggly and juicy, they are done!  I know, I'm so technical with my cooking terms.

Just look at these little guys!  So good and easy to make!  They taste great right out of the oven, leftover and microwaved, and even cold.

Here's the nutritional breakdown per serving (makes 12 servings):

• Calories: 115

• Protein: 17g

• Carbs: 3g

• Fat: 5g

There are tons of ways you could change up this recipe...use liquid egg whites instead of real eggs, add in veggies, use a different type of turkey bacon, use turkey sausage instead, etc.

Take THAT McDonald's!  My version has WAY less fat, calories, and carbs!  :)  

  

Git R Done!

When's the last time you did something that scared you?  Are you the type of person who sits back and lets life go by, or do you take the bull by the horns?  Do you feel like you are missing out on accomplishing things because you are afraid of failure?

I would like to sit here and say that I have always been a "git er dun" type of person, but I haven't been...until now!  I have gone after things to a certain extent in the past, but not like I do now.  When I want something, I GO FOR IT.  Sometimes the ideas I come up with in my head scare the everlovin heck outta me, so I try to push them to the side and forget them...but they always come back.  When I wake myself up in the middle of the night thinking about it, then I just have to pursue it.  Like running a half-marathon.  Why in the world did I up and decide that I needed to sign up for one of those?  The thought of running 13.1 miles scares me, for real.  But, I have faith that I can do it.  I have gone from not being able to run a mile a year ago, to running two 5k's, and now I am up to 9 miles on the weekend.  So, I WILL do it! ...in 22 days, not that I'm counting.  :)

I am also in the process of pursuing a HUGE dream of mine that I have had for YEARS!  No, I am still not telling yet - you'll just have to wait and see!  What I will tell you is that it involves me starting my own business, and it's not related to health and fitness.  What scares me most is that I don't know what the outcome will be...will it be successful or will it just crash and burn?  I have no idea, but what I DO know is that I haven't stopped thinking about it in years, I have the knowledge, the guts, and the determination.  The only way I will ever know if I can do this is to try.  I actually met with someone today to talk business with me, and she said, "If you can run a half-marathon, then you can do this.  It shows that you have the discipline to put one foot in front of the other." <----Totally made my day!

Big dreams start small.  Just like my journey of getting healthy and fit.  My success with where I am today is all due to baby steps, patience, and determination.  Losing fluff doesn't happen overnight and neither does getting in shape.  If you think you can and believe in yourself, you are halfway there.

Don't spend your life wishing things were different and daydreaming about how life could be, if you want something...

Perseverance

Yup, that's me.  Sitting at a table playing a game during Christmas of 2011.  I was fat, insecure, hated who I was, uncomfortable in my own skin, and always wanted to hide.  For some reason, eating more and adding on more layers of fluff made me feel like I could hide better.

This is me now.  I am more confident, comfortable with who I have become, and I don't want to hide behind my fat anymore.  No, I am not 100% secure just yet, but I am getting there.  

My journey has had its ups and downs, struggles and successes, failure and challenges...but through it all, I have persevered.  

I have a mission:  get fit and get healthy.  On the days I think I just need a break, I just want to quit, or I just don't feel like it...I remember how I used to feel, and I keep going.  

Changing your lifestyle is not easy, and it takes time.  But I have goals that I am determined to achieve!  Come hell or high water, I am wearing a bikini WITHOUT shorts this summer.  It's going to happen!  

Looking back on the past year and seeing what I have achieved so far is still crazy to me, but it just goes to show that when you put your mind to it, you can do anything.  There will be super easy days, and there will be days that make you want to pull your hair out, but you CAN do it.  If you give up, the only person you're quitting is YOU.  God only knows how long we are all going to be on this earth, so while you're here - why don't you make the most of it and be who you really want to be?  That's the way I see it anyway.  

If you really want to achieve your goals, you have to be able to persevere through anything that comes your way.  Remember why you started, don't give up on yourself, trust the process, and stick with it.  If I can do it, you can do it!

Beef Tips & Gravy

I don't know about yall, but I love me some meat and gravy.  I used to make this with a packaged gravy mix, but after reading the long list of ingredients on the back - I decided to make my own mix.  It does not turn out as thick as normal brown gravy, but it's so good!!!  Here's how I made it:

First, get all your ingredients together.

Next, get your crockpot ready.  I use a liner in mine, total time saver when it comes to cleaning up!  Go ahead and chop up your garlic.

Put your chopped garlic, 4 tbsp. coconut flour, and 2 cups beef broth into your crockpot and mix well.  Try to get rid of all the clumps of flour if you can.  Toss in some spices you like - I used sea salt, black pepper, and garlic salt.

Once that is mixed, chop your roast into cubes.  They don't all have to be perfect, just try to get them all relatively the same size.  Toss em in your crockpot.

Cook on low for 8 hours...

...and then you have this! :)

Here's the nutritional breakdown (per serving - makes 8 servings):

• Calories:  193

• Protein:  27g

• Carbs:  2g

• Fat:  8g

The possibilities are endless when it comes to this one!  You could eat it with brown rice and green veggies...you could make tacos with it...you could eat it over scrambled egg whites...

However you choose to eat it, I hope you like it!  :)

Not Yo Mama's Meat N' Tater Breakfast Casserole

My husband leaves for work before I do every morning, so I am always trying to think of ways to have an easy breakfast ready for him.  I used to make him a breakfast casserole...NOT the healthy way!  It had frozen hash browns, lots of eggs, pork sausage, cheddar cheese, and sometimes bacon in it.  So last night I decided to experiment and see if I could make him a healthier version.  It turned out great, and he loved it!  He even said, "Are you sure that's turkey sausage?"  :)  Here's how I made it:

First, you need to get your ingredients together:

Once you have all your ingredients, preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  While it's preheating, peel and wash your sweet potatoes.  Stab them with a knife a few times (helps steam escape so they don't explode), wrap them in a couple paper towels, and microwave them for about 4 minutes.

While the potatoes are microwaving, you can get your baking pan ready.  I used a 9x13 size.  Put 1/2 tbsp. olive oil in the bottom, then smear it all over the bottom and up the sides with your fingers.  This will help keep everything from sticking.

By now, the potatoes should be done in the microwave.  You want them to be just a little soft, but not completely mushy!  Take them out, and then cut up into chunks.  Don't worry, they don't have to be perfect!  Spread the chunks out evenly onto the baking sheet.  Next, it's time to cook up your lean turkey breakfast sausage!  Just get out a skillet, put your heat on medium, and add 1 1/2 packages of the links.  Toss them around and flip over often to make sure they cook evenly - mine took about 15 minutes.  Once they are done, put them on a paper towel to drain off excess fat, and cut into rough chunks.

Let them sit for a couple of minutes to drain, then throw them in your baking sheet with the sweet potatoes. 

 Next, sprinkle a handful of cheese all over your potatoes and sausage.  Then, measure out 2 1/2 cups liquid egg whites and mix in some salt and pepper with them.  Pour all over your meat and taters.  Then sprinkle the rest of the cheese on top of everything.

Pop it in the oven, and let her rip for about 45 minutes.  This time may vary depending on your oven.  You will know it's done when it's not jiggly in the middle, and no liquid comes out when you cut into it.  It should look something like this: 

Cut into 12 squares, and that's it!  

Here's the nutritional breakdown per serving (makes 12 servings):

•  Calories:  150

•  Protein:  16g

•  Carbs:  4g

•  Fat:  8g

Things I love about this recipe:

•  You can get it ready the night before, cover it in saran wrap, and then put it in the oven when you wake up.  By the time you are done getting ready, it will be ready to eat.
•  It tastes great leftover.
•  It's super easy to make.

•  It's hubby approved!  :)

You're Addicted to WHAT?

I know this may sound silly because most people are addicted to things like alcohol or drugs, but it IS totally possible to have a food addiction – trust me, I know!  I got an invitation through email at work to attend a webinar about food addiction at the beginning of this year, and I decided what the heck, I'll listen in on it.  Let me just tell y'all – it was seriously scary!  Not because of the content, but because it made me realize that I used to have a real problem.

I’m about to share some things with y'all that a lot of people don’t know about me.  Don't get too excited, it's nothing crazy!  Drum roll................I used to be a food addict.  My days were focused and planned all around food.  When it was time for my lunch break at work, I would go to a drive through and load up on food.  I’d go to Sonic and get an extra-long chili-cheese coney, an order of cheese sticks, a large cherry vanilla Dr. Pepper, and cheesecake bites with caramel sauce.  Or I would go to Taco Bell, and I would get 6 crunchy tacos, 2 double deckers, 2 orders of nacho cheese, and a large Root Beer.  Or I would go to KFC and get a mashed potato bowl, an order of macaroni and cheese, 2 biscuits, and a large Sweet Tea.  You name it, I went there.  After I had loaded up on my food of choice, I would go find an empty parking lot and park under a tree in a corner so I could hide.  I would stuff my face as fast as possible because I didn't want anyone to see the amount of food I was consuming.  After I was done, I would go to a gas station or the Dollar Store and buy a bag of candy – usually Snickers bites, Reese’s, or Skittles.  I would shove it in my purse so nobody would know that I had secret plans to eat it all afternoon while sitting at my desk.  After getting off work, going home, and putting on my stretchy pants – I would eat supper.  This usually consisted of something quick and easy - pizza, fast food, etc.  Then I would park my rear on the couch and wait.  I would wait for my husband to go to bed so I could grab the can of frosting I had stashed on the top shelf of the refrigerator behind the butter where he couldn't see it.  I would grab a spoon, crack it open, sit on the couch, and eat it.  By the spoonful.  Usually half a can and sometimes even a whole can at a time.  After I had eaten myself into oblivion, I would hide what was left of the frosting back in the fridge so I could have a date with it again the next night.  Sometimes, I’d even have a glass of wine or beer with my late-night food rendezvous.  Then I would go to bed, just so I could wake up and do it all over again the next day.  Hey, don’t judge.

I have no idea why I continued to do that to myself.  I hated who I was, how I looked, how I felt, and what I was doing.  I guess stuffing my feelings down with food was my answer to coping with my problems.  But after I would eat, I would feel guilty and just eat more because it made me feel better.  Turns out, I had all the tell-tale signs of food addiction:

• binge even when you aren't hungry
• eat faster than normal
• eat alone due to shame and embarrassment
• feel guilty due to overeating
• preoccupied with your weight
• suffer from depression and frequent mood swings
• aware that your eating pattern is not normal, but do it anyway
• history of weight fluctuations
• withdrawal from activities due to embarrassment of weight
• history of many unsuccessful diets
• low self-esteem
• urge to eat greater amounts

Yup.  All of the above USED to describe who I was to a T.  But not anymore.  Even though the fluffy girl inside me rears her big ole fat head when sweets, chicken fried steaks, rolls, and nachos appear – I am very proud to say that I am no longer a food addict!  I don’t depend on food to make me happy anymore; I depend on food to fuel my body for the day.  Did I just say that?  Yep, I did.  Totally "that" girl.  

If you suffer from food addiction or binging, go check out my awesome coach/friend/trainer lady’s blog by clicking here.  She knows her stuff and has some great ways to help you think about food in a different way.

Life outside of food addiction is gloooorious!  I have energy, confidence, and the desire to do things and wear things (like yoga pants and leggings, what!) that I used to be afraid of.  Who knew that getting my eating habits under control could make such a difference in my overall happiness?  I feel like a new person, and the burden of food no longer weighs on me.  I choose what I eat now, I don’t let food control me.  No, I'm not on a diet, and I don't restrict myself.  I choose what I put in my face for a reason, not because I "can" or "can't".

If you need help, want to know more, or have questions, please don't hesitate to shoot me a message!  I don't bite, and I won't judge you!  My email is losingfluffwithkelli@gmail.com.  :) 

Stay tuned for my EXCITING news I have to announce next week!!!!!!

Sweet Potato Meat Lover's Pizza

You can eat PIZZA while getting healthy?!  YES!!!!  This pizza is hubby-approved, tastes uhMAZing, and is easy to make!  Here's a step-by-step of how I did it:

First, you need to get your crust ingredients together - oats, medium sweet potato, coconut flour, and egg whites:

Then you need to cook your sweet potato.  Peel it, rinse it off, stab it with a knife a few times (this lets the steam escape so it doesn't blow up all over your microwave), wrap it in a paper towel, and cook it in the microwave for about 7-8 minutes or until soft.  Go ahead and get your oven preheating to 340 degrees also.

While the potato is cooking, get the rest of your crust ingredients together.  Add 1/2 cup oats to your blender, and grind them up into a fine powder.  Then add in 1 tbsp coconut flour and 4 egg whites, and blend together.

Once the potato is done cooking, take it out of the microwave and chop it up so that it can cool quicker.  You don't want to add a super hot potato to your raw egg whites because it will scramble them.

After the potato is cool, add it in to your blender with the rest of your mixture and blend until smooth.  Spread it out as evenly as you can onto a baking sheet.  I used a 15.25 x 10.25 sheet.

Bake in a 340 degree oven for about 25 minutes.  This time will vary depending on your oven.  Just cook it until the tips start to brown a little bit.  While your crust is cooking, get your topping ingredients together.

Next, cook your turkey bacon and your meat.  I used the same skillet and cooked the turkey bacon first, then the meat.  I added some garlic salt, pepper, and parsley to the meat to give it more flavor. 

Once the crust is cooked, add your toppings.  I spread 3/4 cup pizza sauce evenly on the top, then added the beef, and torn up pieces of turkey bacon.  Top it with the cheese to help hold it all together.  Try to get an even amount of toppings all over the pizza.  Spread 1/2 tbsp olive oil around the edges to help the crust get brown and crunchy.

Pop it in the oven, turn it on broil, and let her rip for about 7-10 minutes or until the cheese starts to bubble and the crust starts to brown on the edges.

Cut into 12 pieces, and ENJOY!

Here is a comparison of my version of pizza vs. pizza hut.  Pretty crazy, right?  If you or your kids are craving pizza, I hope you try this recipe next time!  :)