Healthy Chocolate Shakeology Candy and Treats!

Imagine chocolate candy, ice cream, pudding, and chocolate-covered fruit that are all actually GOOD for you! We’ve got it!!!

Here are some GREAT recipes to satisfy your sweet tooth while eating fully healthy foods! These recipes include no added sugars, no artificial ingredients/flavorings/colorings, and are PACKED with good nutrients! They all utilize Beachbody’s incredible health shake, Shakeology! If you don’t know what that is, you can check out my run-down of what I love about it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2loh3aOeBOs (and if you decide you want to get yourself some, purchasing info can be found here: http://www.teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/MDSUSH311G?referringRepId=183908)!

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease*

I am writing this blog post for a 7 Day No-Candy Challenge that our team is currently running, so I will start off with our candy recipes then get to some other sweet treats later!

ADD-ANYTHING CHOCOLATE

This chocolate recipe is REALLY easy and will be the base for a few of the other recipes. I’ll be honest, I make this a little differently each time so the amount of coconut oil and Shakeology is approximate. The mixture (before freezing) should be thick but still liquidy. The thicker it is, the richer your final product will be. You might want to try a few very small batches to get your mix to your taste preferences! Adding fruit also really helps balance out the richness. Nuts and other similar add-ins help too. AND they all make it even more delicious!!

My favorite add-ins are fruit (I make chocolate covered strawberries and frozen chocolate bananas this way- recipe down below in this blog), almonds, and pecans. I’ve only added them in separately but I'm sure using a combination of these add-ins would be good too! I plan on trying batches with cashews, pecans, and peaches soon (I’ll keep you posted)!

For this particular batch I used pecans as my add-in!

Ingredients:

Approx. 2 Tablespoons of coconut oil

Approx. 1.5 scoops Vegan Chocolate Shakeology (regular chocolate Shakeology works too but vegan chocolate is my favorite of the flavors so that’s what I always have stocked)!

Your add-ins (in this case, pecans)

Melt the coconut oil in the microwave. I add in the Shakeology a half scoop at a time so that when the mix starts to get thick, I stop adding. If it gets too thick, just melt more coconut oil and add that in. Hopefully you can judge by the picture (direct middle square in the above collage) what the final thickness should look approximately like!

Next, add your pecans or other add-ins! For nuts it’s easiest to stir the nuts in. For fruit, I usually pour the chocolate mixture over the fruit.

Throw it in the freezer for at least 30 minutes and you’ve got yourself an amazing treat!!

**Note about the container: My preference is to use this handy glass bowl but it is really hard to get the candy out once it’s frozen (I use a sharp, pointed knife to cut it within the bowl). The easiest way is to pour the mixture (before freezing) onto a small sheet of aluminum foil with edges rolled up. This makes it super easy to remove once frozen. The only reason I use the bowl is that it’s easier to fit in my freezer :)

HEALTHY REESE’S PEANUT BUTTER CUPS

This recipe is from my friend and awesome coach, Stephanie Wess (you can view more of her delicious recipes on her page: https://www.facebook.com/getfitwihsteph/). Thanks, Steph!!

Picture care of Steph! :)

Ingredients (this will make 8 peanut butter cups):

4 tablespoons of coconut oil

8 tablespoons of chocolate shakeology or raw cacao powder add stevia as a sweetener

4 teaspoons of natural peanut butter

Place 2 tablespoons of coconut oil in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds until the coconut oil is liquefied.

Stir in 4 tablespoons of chocolate shakeology. Divide the chocolate mixture evenly between 8 spots in a mini muffin tin. Place in the freezer for 5 minutes.

Pull the muffin tray out of the freezer. Place a half a teaspoon of peanut butter on top of each chocolate disk. Spread the peanut butter evenly over the hardened chocolate with a knife.

Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of coconut oil in the microwave. Stir in the remaining 4 tablespoons of chocolate shakeology. Use this to pour on top of the peanut butter layer. **You will want to do this in 2 batches so it doesn’t harden up on you while the first layer of chocolate is hardening in the freezer.

Place the muffin tin back in the freezer and leave it in there for at least 30 minutes.

The chocolate cups will slide easily out of the tin. Keep the cups stored in the fridge or freezer for the best consistency!

CHOCOLATE COVERED FROZEN BANANAS

I warn you, NOTHING about this is pretty but if you can get past the looks, it is a delicious and nutritious treat! Make the chocolate using the “Add-anything chocolate” recipe above then pour over a banana in a bowl and freeze! It tastes JUST like the frozen bananas I used to get at carnivals and fairs as a kid! In fact, you could probably make it a lot prettier by putting the banana on a stick like at the fairs and freezing it on a sheet of aluminum foil for easy removal.

SHAKEOLOGY PUDDING

Shakeology pudding is amazing!!!!! And if you’re doing the 21 Day Fix, it easily fits right into the meal plan!!

SHAKEOLOGY ICE CREAM

Another AMAZING and healthy treat! Like the “Add-anything chocolate” recipe, this one also has a lot of flexibility to what you can add in to make it even more delicious. My favorites are blueberries and strawberries!

Recipe here: http://katelynlesk.blogspot.com/2016/03/healthy-shakeology-ice-cream.html

Happy, healthy cooking wishes to you! Enjoy!!!

~ Katelyn

Shakeology purchasing info: http://www.teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/MDSUSH311G?referringRepId=183908

I would be honored to help you with your fitness journey :)  Here is a link to sign up for a free account with me as your coach: https://www.teambeachbody.com/signup/-/signup/free?referringRepId=183908. Or you can go to www.teambeachbody.com, sign up for a free account, and enter any of my info in when it asks if a coach referred you: screen name: KatelynLesk, coach ID: 183908

Visit https://www.facebook.com/CoachKatelynLesk and http://beachbodycoach.com/katelynlesk for more info!

Disclaimer Copy: Katelyn Lesk is an Independent Beachbody Coach.

Hammer and Chisel Review!!

I’ve started to write this review of Hammer and Chisel several times and each time, I had to revise based on a new workout I did and a new impression of the program that I got! I’m 2 weeks into the program and haven’t even gotten to all the workouts yet! With 15 different workouts in this 8-week program, there is a TON of variety. Half the workouts are taught by Sagi Kalev (creator of the Body Beast program); half are taught by Autumn Calabrese (creator of 21 Day Fix). Most of the workouts are total-body workouts, but all in very different styles. I love that most of the workouts use weights- strength training is very effective for leaning out my body and they plyo and cardio workouts are more effective because the weights make the moves more challenging. A lot of the workouts go by reps (rather than timed duration of the exercise) which I like because psychologically the workout passes more quickly for me.

Equipment needed:

Weights, pull-up bar, bench, and resistance band. I don’t have a bench so depending on the exercise, I used either a stability ball, a chair, a step stool, or the floor modification as shown in the workout videos. I don’t have a pull-up bar, but rigged up some resistance bands over my door hooks to create a lat pull-down.

What’s included:

Here’s my  friend and fellow coach, Alyx, unboxing her Hammer and Chisel program and explaining what all comes with it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HOEUpzsDbo . She got the deluxe edition; I only got the base edition (but she explains the differences in each package).

Schedule and workout times:

If you’re like me and like to know what you’re getting yourself into, here’s the schedule of all of the workouts and the duration of each one! No workout is repeated more than 5 times; most are only 3-4 times in the whole 8 weeks. Like I said, tons of variety!

 

My results so far:

I started this program mid-December and was determined to stick with it through the holidays. I’m so glad I did!! I felt great through the holidays despite indulging in bigger family meals. The tough workout each morning really set the tone for each day- I felt stronger and more energized and it helped motivate me to keep my nutrition in check (relatively speaking, given that it was the holidays). I actually felt better AFTER the holidays than I did going into it! Thank you, Autumn and Sagi!!! I’m really looking forward to seeing where my results are after the 8 weeks!

Workout previews:

I recorded clips of some of the workouts and posted my individual review of each:

Iso Speed Hammer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cypVyugOLkk

First Hammer and Chisel preview workout in the books! Workout was fast and effective and I loved the format!! Each move was broken down into 3 stopping points for 10 reps then an additional 10 reps at a fast pace. I also really liked the warm-up with the bands (lower left)- the stretch felt great!!

Total Body Chisel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uU6napThEMg

Hammer and Chisel preview #2! Today's workout was a slightly different format. Each round was 10 reps of 3 different exercises, cycled through 3 times. There were 3 rounds total in the workout. Felt so good to be back to some lifting! I love challenging myself with heavier weights- my heart was pounding!! I can't wait for this program to come out in December!!!

Iso Strength Chisel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7vxloT38-A

With 15 different workouts and each workout being a different format, every day is a surprise with Hammer and Chisel! I loved the format of Iso Strength Chisel. I kept thinking each move would be easy but by the end of the 10 reps - hold for 10 seconds - 10 reps -hold for 10 seconds - 10 reps - hold for 10 seconds pattern, I was dying!! These Bulgarian squats had my butt on fire haha!!

Chisel Cardio preview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Tv9c2tRaiQ

Super proud moment for me during my workout- somewhere in the midst of Chisel Cardio, I realized that despite it being a tough workout, I was able to do every move! Moves that involve lower body have always been my strong point- those feel even more kicka$$ now. Moves that involve my upper body that I used to struggle with, I now feel really confident with (these sword pulls may look easy but I was never able to do moves like that for long without my shoulders fatiguing)! And moves like this plank/oblique kick that I used to dread because they were so challenging, I'm now ready to tackle head-on for the full minute! Overall, it makes the workout a lot more enjoyable- it took a lot of work but I feel ready to tackle just about anything in a workout now. And that realization of the mental and physical shift made me really excited!
As we approach the end of the year, it's a great time for us all to focus on the progress we've made and to get excited about the things that we used to struggle with that we now feel incredibly confident in handling (like a boss)!! Merry Christmas and happy new year, all!

How to buy:

Hammer and Chisel base package: http://www.teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/MHCBase?referringRepId=183908

Hammer and Chisel Challenge Pack (also comes with a full supply of Shakeology, free shipping, and a month free of Beachbody on Demand where you can stream any of our workout programs): https://www.teambeachbody.com/en_US/checkout/-/bbcheckout/challengepack/hammer-chisel?referringRepId=183908

Disclaimer Copy: Katelyn Lesk is an Independent Beachbody Coach.

What is the Ultimate Reset and WHY IN THE WORLD am I crazy enough to do it over the holidays??

WOW, do I have a lot to fill you guys in on!! This is a long post (so much to share with you guys!) but keep reading- there’s a lot of good info in here. And I promise to make the rest of my posts about my updates/progress with the Reset a lot shorter :)

So... What is this “Ultimate Reset” exactly? 
The Ultimate Reset is a 3-week cleanse. It transitions you to a vegetarian diet in week 1 then a vegan diet for weeks 2 and 3. You eat 3 full meals a day (and there are snack options too) as well as take supplements provided by the Reset throughout the day. I’ll feature a little bit about each supplement and its purpose over the next few days. My favorite part of it is that you are clearing out processed foods (and all the residual toxins in our bodies because of them). I’ve been trying very hard over the last year or 2 to GREATLY decrease my intake of processed foods and transition to a (mostly) organic diet. So I feel like this cleanse will be a great way to clear out anything leftover from processed and/or unhealthy foods and continue on my path to clean, healthy eating (fresh, healthy foods, no pesticides, raw where applicable/possible, as little processed foods as possible, no antibiotics/hormones, and tons of nutrients and best possible quality of food).

I’m a HUGE skeptic 
Prior to becoming a coach, you would have never seen me trying something like this. I was so skeptical about any sort of cleanses, detoxes, and so-called “health” shakes. But after seeing what goes on behind the scenes of Beachbody, learning the values/beliefs of the company about what should (and should not) be going into our bodies is the same as mine (no GMOs, no artificial additives/flavors/colors, no scary stimulants, and the BEST quality ingredients from all over the world from areas where they are naturally grown and the soil quality is the best), and experiencing the benefits of the products first-hand, I have a complete and total trust in any Beachbody product. They do not cut corners for any reason. They truly care about the health of the customer and want people to get the MOST out of their products and are only willing to put the best quality ingredients into any of their nutritional products. 

Live greens and whole foods in this (not to mention one of my favorite elixirs of life... ginger!) - nothing artificial

Extra nutrition? ...Me? 
Now going back to my original opinion of nutritional products- quite frankly, the way I ate was pretty healthy to begin with. I never thought I needed any of these additional nutritional products. Based on my trust in Beachbody, I knew these would be good products, I just didn’t think *I* had a huge need for them. I’ve completely changed my belief about this. Shakeology was what really changed my perspective. The health benefits I started seeing from it less than 2 months into drinking it daily were incredible (reduced cravings, much easier weight maintenance, energy, fullness, overall feeling of health, and most notably, a 45 point reduction in cholesterol). I could go on and on all day about the benefits I’ve seen from it but I’ll save the specifics for another post. So after seeing these results first hand and doing a TON of research on the individual ingredients in these products, I realized there was no way I could be getting all of these nutrients from my normal, daily diet no matter how many fruits and veggies I was eating (and trust me, I eat spinach right out of those giant plastic containers- I’m not lacking on my veggie intake). Why do we wait until we start feeling a cold coming on to overload our system with Vitamin C and zinc? Why not do this everyday, for ALL of our bodies’ systems, not just our immune system? So bottom line, the biggest skeptic has now become the biggest believer and I’m looking forward to finding out what great health benefits I’m going to discover with the supplements and diet in the Ultimate Reset :)  

A cleanse over the holidays. Could my timing BE any worse? 
Now, as you can imagine, the diet that comes with the Reset is pretty strict (you’re not even supposed to use table salt, but use Himalayan sea salt instead because it’s not stripped of a lot of its minerals the way table salt is). So naturally the option to find something healthy on a restaurant menu or at a party is out. I will be cooking and eating ALL of my own food over the next 3 weeks, carefully monitoring every single thing that’s going in it. You guessed it, that means I will be bringing all of my own meals to any holiday parties and even Christmas dinner (I already warned my family not to factor me into the food count). But truly, there is never a perfect time. So why not start now and prove to myself it’s possible?

No Christmas cookies for me :(

This was actually my Runner’s World quote of the day: “If we wait for the moment when everything, absolutely everything, is ready, we shall never begin” - Ivan Turgenev, Russian novelist and playwright. Very fitting :)

My main reasons! 
So that brings me to my 3 main reasons for doing this (and starting now): 
1. To be a guinea pig. As a coach, I always like to be able to give you answers and info based on first-hand experience! I’m also excited to see what health benefits I can get from this. I’m hoping for improved digestion/decreased bloating, better healthy feelings all-around, and a decrease in cholesterol (Shakeology has improved that a lot but I still have a ways to go). Heart disease, high cholesterol, and cancer run in my family (on both sides) and anything I can do to help my long-term health, I’m on board with!! 
2. Force myself to learn a lot of new clean-eating recipes and the healthiest ways to prepare food. I have already learned a lot just in the grocery shopping and preparation about the healthiest possible ingredients I should be using (like the Himalayan sea salt) 
3. To show it IS possible. In addition to what I already touched on about it never being a perfect time, I want to inspire people to make healthy choices even during the busiest times of year. The holidays are a perfect time to demonstrate this. I know most people wouldn’t be trying to go as extreme as this, but if I’m managing to do the Ultimate Reset over Christmas and New Year’s, I hope that can inspire people to at least get a quick workout in each day and reduce their holiday cookie intake :)  Remember, every little healthy choice counts so keep at it! You can do it!

This was a post to some of the women in my “busy moms” challenge group on the same topic. They are doing an AMAZING job of buckling down and sticking with their workouts and good nutrition despite the craziness of the holidays.

More to come! :)
So I’ll keep you posted on how this goes! I’m looking forward to feeling SO HEALTHY after the holidays instead of *so crappy* like I have in years past (or the feelings of digestive system failure I had a few weeks ago after Thanksgiving). If this is something you’re interested in, please don’t hesitate to contact me!! I will guide you through every step of it!! It would be a FANTASTIC way to kick-off good health in 2013!! For more info, check out the Ultimate Reset website: http://myultimatereset.com/KatelynLesk 

 

Beachbody Reset Youtube channel: Check videos playlists for info specific to what you’re looking for (better digestion, healthier eating/clean eating, preventative measuers against poor family healthy history, fitness lovers looking to take their nutrition to the next level, and more). http://www.youtube.com/user/BeachbodyUltimate?feature=watch

Disclaimer Copy: Katelyn Lesk is an Independent Beachbody Coach.

Never a perfect time

When it comes to working out and good nutrition, there is NEVER a perfect time to start. Holidays are busy (with tons of treats readily available); wedding season starts in May; summer months bring picnics, vacations, grad parties, and general busyness; with fall comes tailgates and football parties; and on it goes. And those are just the temptation-heavy events and periods where you’re extra limited on time. That doesn’t even include the normal day to day life stuff that sneaks up on us out of nowhere. Not to mention, illnesses, other people needing your time, busy projects at work, etc. But those are the times when you have to buckle down and say, you know what? I’m going to MAKE this work! Think of it as the universe throwing a big challenge at you. And you know what the best part is? If you can keep at it during the busy/tough times, you can handle ANY situation or circumstance that gets in your way (not to mention the less stressful times will be a breeze)!! It will send your confidence and motivation sky high!! Prove it to yourself that you can do this! Make a commitment to yourself to make a health priority and start NOW! 

This concept applies to EVERYTHING in life!!  I saw this quote from Carl Daikeler, the Beachbody CEO, the other day:

Show yourself what you want your new "normal" lifestyle to be, by doing it.
You want to be a "healthy person", be that, today.
You want to be a "wealthy person", do the work it takes, today.
You want to be a "fit person", workout, today.
-Carl

He's got a point. If we want to be those things, we can be. And we can be those things TODAY. The tangible results may not come until later but we *become* those things the moment we start living that way. Let’s do this.

Disclaimer Copy: Katelyn Lesk is an Independent Beachbody Coach.