Sugar Free Gum Drops

     When I first started my THM journey I found that I was missing gum drop style candy you know like sour patch kids... gummy bears and worms...

     So I challenged myself to making some at home, my kids always loved Jigglers so I have a bunch of molds from when they were at home. I was hoping they would curb my urge to snack without tandem fueling.

     The first batch I made was a little squishy when I used 3 packets of gelatin which is equal to about 2 tablespoons. So I went searching some more and experimenting.

     Gelatin is a wonderful ingredient that adds a protein boost as well as collagen and other nutrients that help with healthy hair, nail and skin growth.

     Recently, I wanted to try the recipe that was available in the Trim Healthy Living, ezine but it wasn't available due to technical issues. So searching again I ran across this version that includes sugar...

  Part of the issue with using a sweetener like Pyure Organic Stevia is that they are mixed with erythritol and when that is concentrated it causes a weird cooling sensation, at least to me. This time I opted to use the sweet juice concentrate that I made. It worked beautifully!!!

     I adapted the above recipe to make it sugar free and it fits within Fuel Pull guidelines for Trim Healthy Mama.

 Here is the adapted recipe that I used:

Sugar Free Gum Drops

Printable Recipe

 4 Tbsp gelatin (that’s about 6 envelopes)
 1 cup cold sweet juice concentrate
 1  cup boiling water
  1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
 1/4 cup lemon juice
 1/4 tsp flavored extract like lemon or peppermint (I used strawberry)
 1-2 drops food coloring
  extra sweetener for coating or a combination of sweetener and citric acid for sour gummies

• In a large pot, soften gelatin in cold sweet juice concentrate for five minutes.
• Stir in boiling water until gelatin dissolves
• Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and boil for 25 minutes. Stir constantly.
• Pour mixture into 4 – 3X5 pans.
• Add 1/4 tsp extract and 1-2 drops food color to each pan.
• Stir until thoroughly combined.
• Cover pan and chill overnight in the fridge.
• Cut gelatin mixture into 3/4 inch cubes using a knife dipped in hot water.
• The gelatin may pull, but continue cutting.
• Separate cubes and roll in sweetener until coated on all sides.
• Place gumdrops on wax paper and leave at room temperature for two days to crystallize.

Store in an airtight container.
Makes about 8 dozen 3/4 inch gumdrops or 3 trays of jiggler molds.

This post contains affiliate links, while it is no extra cost to you, if you happen to make a purchase than we make a small profit. This helps keep the content of the blog free

Chocolate to the Rescue

     Part of what makes me happy eating my new healthier lifestyle is "Skinny Chocolate" it was one of the things that drew me to Trim Healthy Mama to begin with. (We are serious Chocoholics in this house.)

     So when  planning for my very first fuel cycle one of the administrators mentioned making chocolate fudge for Deep S days. She posted this link to a wonderful recipe over on Gwen's Nest that follows the Deep S guidelines.

     I'm not a huge fan of dark chocolate so I normally tweak my everyday chocolates with peanut butter, heavy cream or cream cheese...

 Hello!! Those aren't weight loss friendly...

     Protein powder makes Chocolate chewy, not my favorite... but it works to help make things a more milk chocolate taste. These don't even have that ...

     So I was looking at the variations that were listed and was like but I want chocolate and cherries... or maybe some with coffee as that makes the chocolates taste ohhh so yummy.

     And Chocolate Cherry Candies were born...

Chocolate Cherry Candies

Printable Recipe

1 cup coconut oil, I used refined
1/2 cup softened butter
1 tsp cherry extract
4 TBS ground Sweetener, (I use Pyure Organic Stevia All-Purpose Sweetener )
2 TBS Cocoa Powder, I used Hershey's Dark

Melt the oils, whisk the sweetener into the oils, add the extract.
(I poured this mixture into candy mold cervices about 1/2 way and froze them. Then added the cocoa powder to the remaining oil mixture while that layer was hardening in the freezer.)

When those were solid I whisked the oil mixture with cocoa again and poured into the remaining space of the molds, popped them in the freezer and let them harden all the way.

Unmold and store in the fridge or freezer.

This post contains affiliate links, while it is no extra cost to you, if you happen to make a purchase than we make a small profit. This helps keep the content of the blog free

Planning a Fuel Cycle – Meal Plan

      With the New Year fast approaching I decided that I am going to do a Fuel Cycle.

      Fuel Cycles are part of the Time Healthy Mama lifestyle, they are not recommended for people just starting the plan and are used to remove what is referred to in the book as "donkey weight" (you know the weight that is just stubborn as a mule). 

      Being that I am older and my lifestyle is more sedentary than I'd like my weight loss has stalled a bit (yeah ok, I have had a few too many cross over meals). 

     Out with the old and in with the new… I'm also doing a "No Cheat Challenge" sponsored by one of the administrators of the Facebook groups (she has a really cool blog).

       One of the most important parts of a Fuel cycle is to plan your meals and snacks. This regiment is really strict about the foods that you can and cannot have and follows the guidelines in Chapter 28 of the Trim Healthy Mama Book.

     I made a batch of Chocolate Cherry Candies (skinny chocolate with a twist) for the Deep S days... I'll post that recipe soon. 

But here's a picture... 

 
      And here's my menu beginning January 2, 2015. (Some of the recipes are linked and it is printable for your convenience)

1 Week Fuel Cycle Menu

Day	Breakfast	Snack	Lunch	Snack	Dinner
Friday: Jan2 Deep S	S Pancakes (page 379) Trimmaccino (rich)	Skinny Chocolate	Slimming Salmon Salad- no Avacado	Cake in a Mug	Baked Chicken Cabbage Side salad
Saturday: Jan 3 Deep S	Fried Eggs Trimmaccino (rich)	Cake in a Mug	Slimming Salmon Salad-no Avacado	Veggies & Ranch	Pork Chops w/Mashed Cauliflower
Sunday: Jan 4 Deep S	Fried Eggs Trimmaccino (rich)	Veggies & Ranch	Salmon Patties Salad	Cake in a Mug	Crockpot Pork Broccoli Side Salad
Monday: Jan 5 Fuel Pull	Egg White Omelet (page 217) Shrinker- Hot	Cake in a mug	Coffee Fat Stripping Frappe	Choco Pudding (page 366)	Egg roll in a Bowl
Tuesday: Jan 6 Fuel Pull	Egg White Omelet (page 217) Trimmaccino (light)	Choco Pudding (page 366)	Cake Batter Frappe	Veggies	Loaded Fotatoe Soup (page 294)
Wednesday: Jan 7 E	Sweet Cinnamon Porridge (page 227) Shrinker- Hot	Sprouted Cinnamon Scone	Waldorf Salad (page 300)	Caramel Apple Smoothie	Lighter Side of Chili (page 330)
Thursday: Jan 8 E	Sprouted Cinnamon Scone Trimmaccino (light)	Caramel Apple Smoothie	Waldorf Salad (page 300)	Cottage Berry Whip	Balsamic chicken w salad (page 324)

 

Planning a Fuel Cycle

Part of the Trim Healthy Mama eating plan is to implement a 1 week Fuel Cycle  when your weight loss is stalled for a month or more. Being that I am older and post menopausal it makes weight loss challenging.

Enter the Fuel Cycle

Fuel cycles are very different from free styling with S and E meals. They require a lot more planning and preparation.  Lucky for me I have a couple "buddies" to come along on this part of my journey, which is really going to help with keeping me accountable about my meals and snacks.

So now I'm off to plan the menu I need for the Fuel Cycle... I will share it the next time I check in.