Welcome December! All I want is chocolate...

Tis the season... For holiday parties, treats galore and the chocolate cravings! Don't let December be a weight loss failure. Here are some treats and ways to stay in shape, eat chocolate and continue to lose or maintain all of your hard work. This weekend I had 3 challenges: 2 were parties at our home and the 3rd was eating out. Here are some strategies I used.
 1.) I hosted the two parties and provided the dessert and had my guests bring snacks they wanted to have. This was helpful because I made a paleo chocolate treat- recipe to follow below. I had fruit and nuts and chocolate cake readily available for our snacking needs.

 2.) I have been packing lots of snacks like nuts and trail mix. In my trail mix I put Cashews, almonds, 75% Dark chocolate chunks, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds. Be careful with store bought trail mix- they are high in sodium.

 3.) Don't deprive yourself of a small treat like sugar free pudding (if you aren't on paleo), a little piece of dark chocolate, Dark chocolate pomegranates (if not on paleo), or a little bit of melted dark chocolate on fresh fruit.

 4.) Eating out: We went out to eat with friends this weekend and the best strategy we used here was to review menus in the area before we chose a place to eat. Brandon used his smart phone to pull up a few options. We chose to eat at Ruby Tuesday and take advantage of their salad bar. For my Paleo friends- this is a great restaurant for Paleo choices- I had Salad bar and Dry rub ribs with spaghetti squash and green beans. Lots of food and lots of good choices. Try to go to restaurants that list the caloric intake or ingredients on the menus. AVOID fast food!!!! If you are out holiday shopping all day, pack snacks of eat one big meal and grab a salad for a snack.

 5.) Get out and MOVE!!! Sign up for some holiday races/walks on http://www.active.com/ . Go for an evening walk and checkout holiday lights, research things to do in your hometown and try to find events that you can do and walk around to do. 

We worked for chocolate today and that is what life is all about!!!

This weekend I went to Leesburg, VA first Friday event. This is a downtown event where you walk around and look in the little shops, try wines and treats and see the Christmas decorations and enjoy an evening with friends. I also ran a race called "Run for Chocolate" on Saturday morning.







What has been keeping you going this December? What challenges have you faced? What are your strategies to keeping up with your life style changes?

Try these Almond Fudge cake (Gluten free and Paleo approved)

Ingredients:

1 cup coconut oil  5 oz. Bittersweet baking chocolate   1 cup pure maple syrup   1/4 cup cocoa powder  4 eggs  1 tsp salt  2 tsp Baking soda    12 oz almond butter  1/4 cup coconut flour

1.) Combine coconut oil, baking chocolate and maple syrup on low heat in a saucepan until all is melted. (Remove from heat)

2.) Add in cocoa powder, stir until  mixed well.  Allow to cool completely.

3.) Preheat oven to 350 F.

4.) In medium mixing bowl- mix Eggs, salt, baking soda, and vanilla. (blend well)

5.) Add in Almond butter and blend

6.) Slowly add in melted chocolate (blend), Add in coconut flour and blend until mixture is evenly combined.

7.) Pour batter into a lightly greased 9" x 13" baking dish.

9.) Bake cake for 30 min. or until toothpick comes out clean. Don't over bake- I set my timer for 20 min and then carefully watched it for the last 10 minutes of cooking. Over baking will result in dry cake.

10.) Serve with fresh strawberries or Fresh fruit. ENJOY!!!

Recipe compliments of food lovers Make it Paleo cookbook- listed as Almond Fudge Brownies