Ok here are a few of my favorite recipes! The first is a version of Clean Lemon Bars I saw on instagram by the fabulous _Hunny_Buns_Fit. It is also a paleo recipe meaning it is made with organic and all natural ingredients.

For the Crust:
-1 cup Almond Meal
-2 Tbsp coconut oil
-1 tsp pure agave syrup

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. After mixing crust ingredients together press into 8x8 pan. Place into oven until crust is golden brown.

For the Filling:
-Grated lemon zest (about 1 1/2 tsp)
-Juice from two lemons
-2 whole eggs
-1/4 cup pure agave syrup
-1 tsp baking powder
-1/4 cup Almond meal
-1/2 tsp sea salt

Mix all filling ingredients together and after crust has baked to a golden brown, pour mixed filling over the top of the crust. Place back into oven for another 8-10 minutes or until the filling is firm.
Let cool, cut, and enjoy. They are best after cooling down in the fridge over night! ( Warning! They are crazy good and it is easy to forget how much you have eaten!)

I am new to the whole healthy clean cooking so I will be experimenting to find some great recipes and pass them onto you guys!

**A little update on me!
I'm down to a crazy 112 lbs and my body has really transformed in these last 4 weeks I have been training with my coach. She even said I might be ready by April instead of the initial July date we set. Below is my 4 week transformation It really is amazing to see how fast your body can react to a great diet and training program.

Thanks for all of the support!
Chelcie <3

CLEAN it up!

A completely new lifestyle is not an easy thing to achieve and most have no clue where to even begin! It took me awhile to realize what I needed to do to get to where I am today! My biggest piece of advice and a little rule I like to go by is to have a C.L.E.A.N. lifestyle! 

-Create a goal for yourself. 

Setting a goal seems easy and it really is. Set a goal that will challenge you but is not so far fetched that you cannot achieve it in a healthy way. Set small goals for yourself and when you reached a goal, create a new one that will further challenge you. An example would be to set a goal to lose 10 lbs, after you have reached that goal, aim to lose an additional 30 and maybe lower your body fat by a couple percents. This is a healthy mindset so you don't discourage yourself and also so that you live a healthy life while working toward a goal. 

-Limit the amount you eat out.

 Eating out is inevitable but being reasonable with how often is smart. The meals served at restaurants are usually packed with unnecessary calories, fat, and sugar. Consuming excess amounts of any of this will ultimately halt any healthy lifestyle goals. Enjoying a treat occasionally is not bad but always in moderation of course. 

-Eat your calories and carbs, don't drink them. 

I can't stress enough damaging alcohol is. It is really pointless, the carbs found in alcohol are empty and pose no healthy benefit. I am not saying that a glass of wine occasionally is a bad thing but night outs at the bar consuming multiple drink will do nothing but give you a nice little "muffin top". 

-Allow yourself a treat. 

Sticking to a strict diet for a prolonged time without any type of  "cheat" or treat   will often result in a binging attitude toward food later on. Allow yourself to have some dessert or eat a nice hamburger every once in awhile. The shock it plays on your body will actually result in your body working harder to get rid of the unwanted sugar and fat which will help with plateau's in your progress. Keep in mind portion sizes when you do have these treats. Healthier treats are always preferred but a hamburger won't hurt every so often. 

-Never doubt yourself. 

Nothing is worse than telling yourself you can't. When we tell ourselves we can't do something our mind believes us and we don't work as hard to achieve our goals. Look for inspiration wherever you can and motivate yourself whenever you feel doubt coming on. 

An update on where I am now! 

Body weight- 114.5 lbs. 

Body fat- 18%

Coach is really having me put muscle on so I will have some great definition come contest time!

**Recipes coming soon I promise! :)

Ready, Set, DON'T GIVE UP!

I know, I know I haven't put a new post in awhile (blogging is not my specialty :))These last couple of weeks have been big for me! My coach and I officially started my training for the contest this summer and it has been so intense but rewarding. My diet hasn't changed much, I am actually eating a lot more than I was before, about 4 to 5 meals a day, which makes me happy. I think my real problem before was snacking, I always wanted to just nibble on whatever I saw. It makes my day so much more enjoyable when I eat my scheduled meals because I satisfy my hunger when I need to and it doesn't phase me one bit when I see yummy snack foods hanging around. Some simple steps to starting a good training program would be to plan out your meals for the day and even week so you are more conscious of how much you consume. 

I will share with you guys some great meal ideas that are super easy to prep!

For breakfast it is important for me to get the protein I need for my muscles throughout the day. Probably the biggest source of protein without the fat and calories is egg white! I absolutely despise egg whites so it was always hard for me to get the protein I needed in the mornings but my coach gave me a  great recipe for protein pancakes that only requires 4 ingredients! 

PROTEIN PANCAKES:

 what you will need:

4 egg white

 1/3 cup oats 

1/2 banana 

cinnamon to taste 

( I like to add a little pack of stevia in to give it a sweeter taste :))

How to make them:

Start by combining all of your ingredients in a blender.
One ingredients are blended, you simply pour into pan just as if making normal pancakes! (They do tend to stick more so be careful when you go to flip them!)

As for my coffee, I put 1 packet of stevia and a splash of unsweetended Almond milk (Coconut milk taste great too).

**I will post some awesome clean recipes in my next post :) Stay tuned!