About Moi

About Moi
My Name is Brittany, and I'm 23yrs old. I was diagnosed with Lupus when I was 15, and then diagnosed with RA, when I was 18. I also got married when I was 18, and I'm enjoying my happily ever after with my hubby! When I got married, I was slim and trim...But not for long. After getting married, I started to gain a LOT of weight! In 1yr, I gained 50lbs! Finally, I went to the Doctor, where I discovered I have low thyroid. After being put on medicine, my weight gain slowed down, although over the next 3yrs, I gained an additional 26lbs. When I was 20yrs old, I got yet another diagnoses of Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome. That's 4 diagnoses in a 5yr period, if you lost count. They all effect my weight, in one way or another. Add on top of that, my love affair with food, and every 1 of those 76lbs gained was accounted for. Being 76lbs over weight is unhealthy for anyone, but it was especially unhealthy for me, and my health issues. Since starting this blog, in Jan-2010, I have lost 40lbs! I'm a new, slimmer, and healthier me! Before losing weight, I was told I needed knee replacements. Losing weight was the ONLY tool I had to help me hold off on that life changing surgery. Since losing 40lbs, my knees have never felt better! My husband and I are also trying to start a family, but my PCOS was not going to make it as easy as 1,2,3, as I didn't have periods on my own. My doctor had told me if I wanted a baby, I HAD to lose weight. Since losing 40lbs, I've had regular cycles for the first time in my life! Which is very important when trying to have a baby ;) This journey of mine is more than me simply wanting to wear skinny jeans. It has been a quest to becoming :Deliciously Healthy, so ALL of my dreams can come true! I'm almost half way there! With each new day, I get closer and closer to my goal of 120lbs, and becoming :Deliciously Healthy!

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

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!

14 comments:

Jessica said...

Those look very tasty! My exercise routine has been awful this week! I gotta get back to it!

Hannah said...

I'm so proud of you for getting back in the swing of things! I hope this week goes well for you.

And I love all your recipes! You're so creative.

Kimberly said...

Sooo... get shaking that groove thing and count it as exercise!

Those cookies look awesome but I know I'd better stay away from them altogether... one just wouldn't be enough!

Have a great rest of the week! I'm gearing up for a camping trip. Sheesh, I can feel the weight gain already...

Patrick said...

Um, do you deliver? I'll take 2 dozen and a gallon of milk please.

Closing your post with goals, very nice!

Mark said...

Those are great goals with an achievable deadline. Don't worry about thinking of more goals to set, else you risk spreading your focus too thinly.

Good luck :)

Jenn@slim-shoppin said...

Yeah! Sometimes your own advice is the best advice!

You can do it Brittany, I am rooting for you all the way!!!

:Deliciously Healthy said...

Thank you everyone! :D

Journey2Goal said...

EVERYONE I've talked to is in a diet funk lately... including myself! I say it's time we all whip ourselves back into shape (no pun intended) and work off some booty! :)
Hope your week is getting better...after all, it IS the weekend!

Anonymous Fat Girl said...

I too was in a diet funk yesterday. Pizza anyone? :(

I'm back tho, and I'm glad you are too! :)

SheFit said...

Goals are a great thing to help people get out of a funk! Ps- Those cookies look amazing. I've been wanting to try these M&Ms. Everyone has said great things about them

outdoor.mom said...

mmmm.... cookies!! lovely blog and i think August is a hard time to lose weight because we all have a hiberanting urgency - lol!!

The Crazy Crabb said...

OOH this recipe looks and sounds great! Fast food is too easy of a fix in my life. Can't wait to find and use some more of your recipes!

Corletta said...

I'm going to add to your last sentence. Watch out world because Brittany and Corletta have their groove back!!!!

Anonymous said...

I'm definitely gonna try these today. I'll post a link to your blog for this awesome simple recipe. Thanks!