Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies

I've been in a little bit of a diet funk since Monday.

Monday night I was tired, lazy and in pain (thank you for all your comments!). Fast food seemed to be the answer to all those problems (food comforts me when I'm in pain. But that's a post for another day...). I had fast food that night for diner, and junk food for dessert. Those poor diet decisions leaked into the next few days, and sent me into my little diet funk.
I hate those...

I asked myself what advice I would give to someone who was in my situation?

It would be to set goals, and to think of what you
enjoy doing in this weight loss journey, and focus on doing more of that.

For some that might be going to the gym and working up a sweat, running, etc...

mine is to
transform unhealthy food, into deliciously healthy food.
It's to be creative in the kitchen, experiment, and to have fun with my food, all while being healthy and losing weight!
It's a fun challenge for me.

So that's just what I did!

Have you tried these coconut M&M's? They're good all by themselves (for only 210 cal.), but they're delish inside a cookie! My husband, the cookie monster, can second that. He loved (devoured) them!

Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies:

This is what you need:

• 1/4 cup butter, softened (I used smart balance butter blend)
  
• 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup unsweetened natural cocoa powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 bags coconut M&M's, coarsely chopped (I didn't chop mine, but I would recommend it. That way you have little chocolaty coconut bits in every bite!)
  

This is what you do:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

• In a large bowl, mash together the butter and sugars with a fork until well combined. Add the oil and egg and beat until creamy. Mix in the vanilla.

• In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix well. Stir in the M&M's and mix well. Using a tablespoon, scoop the batter onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 12 minutes.

To help myself not overindulge, I baked 6 cookies, and froze the rest.

Here's what I'm thinking:

• Makes 1 1/2 dozen
• Serving size: 1 cookie
• Calories per serving: 140
  

Enjoy!

I've also set a couple goals for myself (I'm still thinking of more):

#1. is to get my butt exercising again! I'm going to start back up my daily and nightly walks, starting TODAY! I'm also going to get back to the gym. My plan is to go 3 times a week.

#2. is to lose 3 pounds by the end of August (1 1/2 weeks). That would put me 165 (I've gained a pound since Mon.), which is 1 pound past my 40 pound mark! I'm DETERMINED to reach that goal by the end of August!

As it turns out, I give pretty good advice ;) as this was just what I needed!

Watch out world, cause Brittany's got her groove back!