​There are affiliate links throughout this blog post for your convenience, where I can earn a small commission. I never support a product or brand I don't personally use and enjoy, but if you'd like to learn more, you can head to this page on my blog!
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A lot of you on Weight Watchers know and love Built Bar because they're one of the lowest SmartPoint options out there for protein bars. I also recognize that a lot of you were introduced to Built Bar through me! They just released their brand new formula of bars and also some new products (including revamped Built Boost and a new flavor, BuiltGo).

As some of you may know, I stepped away from Built Bar for a little while after their big sale this summer because of some mold issues with their old formula. If you saw my Instagram stories then, then you know whats up. But I want to be completely honest and transparent from the get-go instead of sugar-coating anything! If you don't know what happened, feel free to send me a message and I'd be more than happy to explain in more depth, but I don't want to beat a dead horse here. There were also, on top of this, a lot of issues with bars not being the size listed on the label. 

But, I wanted to give Built Bar a fair shot at redemption. With a new product, new formula, and promises to have no more issues with inconsistency - especially in terms of sizing - I thought it would be unfair of me to not at least give them a try and see if they've improved. They offered to send me (as well as other ambassadors) samples of their new products, and I accepted with cautious optimism. So, I'll be providing my honest thoughts and feedback here, even if it isn't all sunshine and rainbows - yes, even as an affiliate!  

So, that all being said, let's get to it, shall we?

Like I said, I went into this cautiously optimistic, but I wasn't disappointed. If anything, I was actually really pleasantly surprised! The new bars have a really nice consistency. They're significantly less chewy than the last ones, so they stick to your teeth less but still have a really soft texture. The best way I can describe it is "almost airy." 

The flavors are still really nice (sweet but not too sweet) and they're still coated with dark chocolate. You'll notice that the calories on these bars have increased, but for the most part, the SmartPoints values should still be pretty low since they increased the protein per bar as well. I've also noticed now with the bars I have had from my mixed box that the sizing has been consistent, and just based on eyeballing them, they all look to be about the same (whereas before, I could visually see which bars were smaller than the last). I've also noticed that the flavors with nuts actually do have little tiny bits of nuts in them like they claimed too (in the past, this was kind of hit or miss for me).

All in all, I'm really grateful that I gave Built another chance. They have some new flavors that are exciting, too, such as cookies-n-cream (a limited flavor that I used to love!), Apple Almond Crisp, and Lemon Almond Cheesecake.

If you're looking to trying the new bar, you can order them on Built's website and get 10% off when you use the coupon code MagicallyFit.

I almost didn't try these (and I'll explain why in a moment) but one thing I will point out is that the flavors have a new naming convention. Other than the Root Beer Float and Tropical Twist, there's really no indication as to what these taste like. Even the new packaging eliminates any pictures to show you what it could have in it (it used to have pictures of the fruit that it was flavored like), and the ingredients list is pretty vague.

​This was a red flag for me since cherry flavoring makes me sick, and it took quite a bit of back and forth via emails to convince the staff that cherry flavoring making me sick is not just me being dramatic with my preferences... but I finally found out the only one with that flavor is Cool Breeze (so I'll be giving those to Anthony to try). Phew! I've cut out soda entirely since I'm trying to reduce my intake of things that make me bloated, so I'm looking forward to trying the new Root Beer Float flavor in case I'm ever craving it. So far, I like the Cloud Nine (grape-y!), Red Ruby (strawberry lemonade-y), and Tropical Twist a lot.

*Update 8/18: Looks like now that the site is live, there's no wondering what the flavors are - they have descriptions on each individual item on the website! 

If you're looking to order these, you can stock up on the Built Bar website and get 10% off with the coupon MagicallyFit.

I haven't tried Built Go yet and honestly am not sure I will any time soon. They included a little card with this saying what it could be used for, and it included "at home" and "gaming" as some of the times you could enjoy it, but this reminds me a lot of Gu Energy Gels. I don't know that I'd have this unless it was to pick on while running a half marathon (which isn't in my future to do another one any time soon! I'm focusing on speed for shorter distances, so don't know that I'll need this). 

However, it does remind me a lot of the energy gels you can get for runners, so I would probably recommend it for that. But, like anything, try it before you're out on your run in case it bothers you! Nothing worse than trying something new on race day and regretting it.

Also, I would not recommend having this and Built Boost at the same time. Both contain 10,000% of your daily recommended intake of B12, and there is such a thing as too much B vitamin in your system. You'd likely be fine (though if you do have concerns for your specific needs, please check with your doctor before taking any supplements), but if you notice your skin start to break out a little bit, that is likely why.

​If you're looking to order these, you can stock up on the Built Bar website and get 10% off with the coupon MagicallyFit.

Overall, I think Built is definitely on the right path. I think the new bars have a great new formula, and I hope that their new processes allow for the issues people had in the past to stay in the past. I'm a little on the fence about Built Go being a great product for everyone, but I do think it has its purpose for athletes putting in a lot of physical exertion who need to fuel up quick and during exercise. I'm looking forward to the future of this product and definitely feel comfortable recommending it again!

There are affiliate links throughout this blog post for your convenience, where I can earn a small commission. I never support a product or brand I don't personally use and enjoy, but if you'd like to learn more, you can head to this page on my blog!

With COVID-19 impacting literally everything, including races, it's been a huge adjustment for me. When I first started my running and weight loss journeys, I always had something on the books. Whether it be a 5K or a half marathon, it was my way of sort of forcing myself to keep up with my training. There was one year where I even ran in an organized race event every single month! However, it's allowed me to shift gears and also shift my goals.

I've run a half marathon... six times. I don't have anything to prove to myself anymore in the regards of knowing I can go the distance (take that, sciatic nerve damage!). However, I do have something to prove to myself... I can go faster. I've been a huge fan of Jeff Galloway's run/walk/run program (it's been a literal lifesaver for my aforementioned nerve damage) and will always recommend it to people starting out or looking to change up their routine. But I want to go beyond my comfort zone and improve my time. 

My ultimate goal is to run a 5K in 30 minutes or less. I'm in absolutely zero rush to get there, and not having a date for that goal is actually refreshing after years of constantly having something on the books. I'll get there when I get there, and likely blog a few more times about it along the way to hold myself accountable, but I want it to feel incredibly natural so I don't hurt myself or get disappointed if I'm not at a certain place by a certain day.

Music has always been such an important part of running for me. It really does make or break the experience! I've done a few different things: when I was first starting, I was really into the "Zombies, Run!" app and later, got really into listening to different soundtracks. I'd listen to the Star Wars OST when training for the inaugural Star Wars 10K or to Disney music when training for the Princess Half Marathon. It was really effective!

But now, I want to just vibe and go, so I've been turning a lot to K-pop and J-pop (music I've enjoyed listening to for years now). I speak only a little Japanese so while I may pick up a word or phrase here in there in songs, I don't really know what they're saying, and I don't speak any Korean at all. Having the music just be really fun songs that I don't know the words to has been a great way of making sure I don't get too distracted by the music.

One Korean girl group I really, really love is LOONA. Each member of the group has a few singles of their own, and there are a few subdivisions within the group. Their vibe is really fun, upbeat, and each girl/subdivision has a unique sound. Most, if not all, of their songs are - as far as my understanding goes - about love and/or girl power, so it makes for a really uplifting running experience. I've compiled a few of my favorite songs by LOONA in order for a warm up, run, and cool down that you can try for yourself whether you love K-Pop or are looking to expand your horizons. I even put them together in a Spotify playlist! Since Spotify is shuffle-only for free accounts, this is a great option if you're looking to go for a run/walk/run and want to let the music decide your intervals for you.

What do you like to listen to when you run or walk (or both)? Let me know in the comments!

I'm always looking for creative ways to add more protein in and curb my sweet tooth - and if I can do both at the same time, it's a win-win. These protein and oat pancake bites do just that and are low in SmartPoints and calories! These make for a fantastic quick, on-the-go breakfast or for a great snack before a run (which is what I made them for). 

The oats are totally optional, but I'll include them in the nutritional information since that's how I made them. I've just been on an oats kick these days!

myWW Purple: 1 SmartPoint for one, 3 SmartPoints for two
myWW Blue & Green: 2 SmartPoints each

Calories: 70
Fat: 0.8 g
Saturated Fat: 0.1 g
Carbohydrates: 11.6
Cholesterol: 15.4 mg
Sodium: 167 mg
Fiber: 0.8 g
Sugar: 1.5 g
Protein: 3.9 g

There are affiliate links throughout this blog post for your convenience, where I can earn a small commission. I never support a product or brand I don't personally use and enjoy, but if you'd like to learn more, you can head to this page on my blog!

Did you know that you can take a fishing charter out at Walt Disney World? There’s plenty of bank and dockside fishing available at a lot of the resorts, but if you want to explore the lakes, Take Me Fishing offers charters! Fishing excursions are available at the following marinas:

• Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
• Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort
• Disney's Contemporary Resort
• Disney's Old Key West Resort
• Disney's Polynesian Village Resort
• Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside
• Disney's Wilderness Lodge
• Disney's Yacht Club Resort

Call (407) 939-BASS or (407) 939-2277 to make a reservation at any of the above spots! You can go for two or four hours. We opted for a two hour excursion at 7 a.m. (the other time option is 10) and it’s worth noting that discounts are available for annual passholders - if you’re a Disney Vacation Club owner or a cast member, I’d check if you also can!

My husband Anthony and I have been dying to go on an excursion - with the parks having been closed for a few months, he explained to me that the fish haven’t been under fishing pressure for a while, so we’d likely have a lot of luck. 

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I’ve taken a fishing charter out of Yacht Club a few years back, and we fished in the World Showcase Lagoon and then headed to the waterways between the Swan & Dolphin and Hollywood Studios. We didn’t catch a ton, but still had a blast and got a few catches - but our experience fishing at Seven Seas Lagoon and Bay Lake was vastly different!  

We launched from the Contemporary Resort, but you can choose to go from the other Magic Kingdom Resorts listed above if you so desire or are staying at one of those locations. The marina at the Contemporary is easy to find — it’s right behind the lobby. 

The beauty of these excursions in my opinion is that the guide will do basically everything for you if you want. They also come fully prepared! You don’t need to bring anything with you. The boat has plenty of drinks so you can stay hydrated, the poles (you can bring your own), and bait. Our guide had artificial with him and Anthony cast two poles out, one with a live shiner (which I used and was recommended for the day) and one with a Gary Yamamoto senko. 

I hate touching live fish (I know, I know, call me a girly wimp all you want), and the guide will default to baiting your hooks for you. But you can do everything yourself if you want! They also help you bring your catches in with a net (this is because some of the larger fish will break your line, so the likelihood of losing one drops). 

We launched off from the Contemporary and went to a spot in Bay Lake that the guide said had a hole where fish liked to hang out. We caught the bulk of our catches here, especially since it was earlier in the morning. Our guide clearly knew the best spot to go!

Once it got a little warmer, we fished under the docks (where fish like to hang out in the morning once the sun comes up) at the Polynesian first, and then the Contemporary before we left. Anthony caught 11 fish total, and I caught 6!

The views were beautiful, and on your way to the Polynesian, you had views of the Magic Kingdom and Grand Floridian! 

All in all, it was a fantastic experience. Anthony is an ex-tournament fisher and I’m just along for the ride to enjoy nature, and we both felt like it was really fun and like we both learned some cool tips for the guide. 

To see more of the fish we caught (and a big one that I lost), plus some of the tips from the guide, check out Anthony’s video of our trip!

*Disclaimer: We did this on July 12, 2020 right after the parks reopened after being closed due to COVID-19. We were on a pontoon so we had plenty of room to spread out with our guide, and all three of us wore masks. I currently don’t recommend traveling to Florida, but hope this can serve as a helpful guide to either

1. locals and/or cast members looking for something outdoors to do while following CDC guidelines, or 
   
2. for your future Disney vacations.
   

I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy right now!

There are affiliate links throughout this blog post for your convenience, where I can earn a small commission. I never support a product or brand I don't personally use and enjoy, but if you'd like to learn more, you can head to this page on my blog!
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It's been a few months since Walt Disney World was open thanks to the coronavirus, but as of today (July 11), Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom have officially re-opened, with Epcot and Hollywood Studios following suit on the 15th! 

There's a lot to keep in mind before you go to the parks. I went to my annual pass preview on the 10th with very low expectations, but was really pleasantly surprised at how safe I felt. 

Masks are required for when you visit. The neck gaiters that people use for fishing or running won't cut it - it has to have loops that go around your ears. They are required. I walked around the park for about two hours with one on yesterday and the feels like temp was in the low 100 degrees Fahrenheit range - it was really not that bad. I was a little sweaty, but that's the case even without a mask! 

My biggest tip for your comfort levels, especially if you're wearing a mask in the heat, is to stay hydrated. I drank an entire gallon of water before going and continued to drink water throughout my two hours at the park. I felt fine and not once did I feel overwhelmed by the heat, and I'm pretty sensitive to it! I recommend bringing your own water bottle, especially a stainless steel one, because that will help it stay cool. I really like these by Healthy Human (and you can get a 15% off discount by using the coupon JessicaS15) for keeping drinks cold all day.

You can make reservations for a Park Play Pass through My Disney Experience, and you'll need this on top of your ticket in order to get in. Capacity is limited so that way crowds aren't an issue (and we truly thought in our annual pass preview that this made a huge difference - we never felt like we were near anybody).

The trams at Transportation and Ticket Center weren't available, for example, but the walk from our car to the monorail and ferryboat wasn't far. Thanks to that reduced capacity, you'll probably end up parking near the front of the lot anyway! Be sure to check Disney's website for the latest information, since things are ever-changing.

There are tons of social distancing markers at the Transportation and Ticket Center, for example, and there are markers on the ferryboat itself for where each party can stand.

There are markers for pretty much all the rides, restaurants, and other queues, and they just tell you where to stand - it's really easy to follow! There is also hand sanitizer available everywhere, including before and after you get on/off a ride. I still recommend bringing your own, though, as a just in case!

No more Festival of Fantasy Parade or fireworks, sure, but there are some cool new ways to enjoy the characters and some entertainment. Characters will sporadically parade down Main Street on horses or floats, for example, in a sort of miniature processional. Don't crowd it, just enjoy it, and don't worry if you miss one - you'll probably catch another shortly after!

They also had Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Daisy, Goofy, and Pluto waving to everybody from the train station as we left right as the park closed at 7. You may not get to meet your favorite characters in a staged photo opportunity for a while, but these little random moments are so much better in my opinion because it's such a delightful surprise!

If you desperately need a break from your mask and you aren't having a meal, there are designated relaxation zones throughout the park. We spotted one near Splash Mountain. Please just be courteous of other guests if you do spend time in one of these zones!

Disney is going to be your go-to source for the most up-to-date info. This is such an evolving thing that there's no saying what could change. Be sure to check out Disney's website if you're heading down to Florida!

And she is beautiful!

Try a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime to have products shipped to you with unlimited free two-day shipping! Another perk of Amazon Prime is you can order Whole Foods delivery via Amazon Prime at no additional charge, so if Amazon doesn't have something you need, Whole Foods might! 

Leave any and all questions (there are no stupid questions, either - this is a weird time!) in the comments, or reach me on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

While you're dreaming of your next Disney trip, nothing helps get you more excited than bringing some Disney into your home. Here are some of my favorite kitchen gadgets that I use and have a Disney twist to them so your home can be even more magical.

​There are affiliate links throughout this blog post for your convenience, where I can earn a small commission. I never support a product or brand I don't personally use and enjoy, but if you'd like to learn more, you can head to this page on my blog!

There are a variety of Mickey waffle makers on Amazon. The round red one with Mickey on it is the one I have, and while the waffles are more like a pancake, it still makes a fantastic Mickey shape! There are others though that do make actual waffles, some in a more round Mickey shape and some just like the ones at the theme parks!

This one cup coffee maker is a great way to add a little Disney magic to your day, whether its for your morning cup or an afternoon pick me up! It even comes with a matching mug.

If you already have a coffee maker but want to keep your mug warm, you can get a mug warmer that comes with a 10 ounce Mickey Mouse ceramic mug. It works on soups and hot drinks, and makes for the perfect way to treat yourself or a great gift idea for someone who loves their coffee at home or in the office.

Need something for your coffee to stay warm while on-the-go? Healthy Human provides sustainable stainless steel products like steins for keeping your water cold and coffee tumblers so it stays nice and hot.

​Get 15% off when you shop through this link or use the coupon JessicaS15!

My slow cooker and InstantPot have been ultimate lifesavers on my weight loss journey, and even if you aren't watching your weight, they make it so much easier to have dinner ready on a busy day. Nothing beats being able to throw the ingredients in before I leave for work and having dinner totally done when I get home. There are a bunch of super cute slow cookers now that allow you to show off your love for Disney, Star Wars, Pixar, and Marvel!

Whether its to bring a smile to your own face with a classic Mickey on your bread or to encourage your kids to eat their breakfast, toasters with imprints are such a fun and easy way to add a little fun to your kitchen! You can get them inspired by Spider-Man, Captain Marvel, Star Wars and Disney. I've personally tried this red Mickey Mouse one and always enjoyed seeing the Mickey face on my bread when it'd pop up.

I used these Mickey Mouse cookie cutters to make my two-ingredient dough beignets! These also work great for cookies or even to make fun shapes out of things like cheese or deli meats for a charcuterie board. Amazon sells different sets depending on how many sizes you want.
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There are so many more fun options, too, like popcorn makers, oven mitts, dishes, and serving sets that you can get to add a touch of Disney magic to your home! How do you like to bring the magic into your home? Let me know in the comments below!
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This is a sponsored post for Always Eat After 7 PM: The Revolutionary Rule-Breaking Diet That Lets You Enjoy Huge Dinners, Desserts, and Indulgent Snacks—While Burning Fat Overnight written by me; all opinions are my own.
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In case this is your first introduction to Always Eat After 7 PM: The Revolutionary Rule-Breaking Diet That Lets You Enjoy Huge Dinners, Desserts, and Indulgent Snacks—While Burning Fat Overnight by Joel Marion, feel free to check out myfirst post where I share more about the diet and book and my second where I answer a few Q&As with the author. You can also check out my three week check in!

I’m on week 4 of following the diet presented in Always Eat After 7 PM, and I am thrilled. Not only have I finally started to lose weight that I’ve been struggling to lose (three pounds to be exaxct!), but I feel confident that these principles are things I can easily carry into my day-to-day life. The Acceleration Phase wasn’t as hard as I thought (that’s the first two weeks of the plan), and now that I’m in the Main Phase, I feel confident and like I’ll be able to finish shedding this stubborn fat and carry on into the Lifestyle Phase (you switch to this once you hit your goal weight).

This plan was pretty easy for me to follow, and different enough from what I’ve always done that it gave my body the shakeup it needed to break my plateau. I can’t wait until my gym fully reopens so I can take one of those body scans that tell you your body fat vs muscle percentages, since I took one not long before I started this diet plan. I can already tell just from looking at my body that the numbers will have shifted in my favor! 

Beyond the weight loss, the main thing I’ve noticed is that I feel more energy throughout the day and significantly more satisfied with my meals. Even though I’ve eaten a similar amount of calories in the past, I feel like I’m eating a lot more even though I’m not. I think a lot of that has to do with reintroducing healthy fats into my diet (something I touched upon in my previous post), and strategically combining them with carbs and fiber. 

As Joel explains in the book: “In general, healthy fats can also help increase feelings of fullness and satisfaction because they regulate appetite through a number of mechanisms, including the release of appetite hormones. What’s more, combining fat with fiber has been shown to further increase the satiating potential of fat. The satiating power of fats is often one explanation offered to describe why some weight loss trials have shown that low-carbohydrate (and higher-fat) diets tend to lead to greater weight loss than low-fat diets.” 

This has also helped me get my sweet tooth under control - which is even better because this plan has allowed me to enjoy dark chocolate and different dessert recipes every single day. Seriously, it actually tells you to eat dessert rather than avoid it, which is great to establish a better relationship with food. A win-win all around, if you ask me!

This is a sponsored post for Always Eat After 7 PM: The Revolutionary Rule-Breaking Diet That Lets You Enjoy Huge Dinners, Desserts, and Indulgent Snacks—While Burning Fat Overnight written by me; all opinions are my own.

This is a sponsored post for Always Eat After 7 PM: The Revolutionary Rule-Breaking Diet That Lets You Enjoy Huge Dinners, Desserts, and Indulgent Snacks—While Burning Fat Overnight written by me; all opinions are my own.

I’m three weeks into the Always Eat After 7 PM plan, and I just wanted to touch base on how it’s going: spoiler alert, I’m loving it. In case you missed it, here’s my first post explaining why I took on the challenge and also a Q&A with the author, Joel Marion!

My goal going into this was to find something new that would help me shed these last 10 pounds. I’ve lost 2 pounds in three weeks - which I am thrilled about and is a healthy weight loss! - and I’ve already started feeling some of the other benefits that Joel said we could expect in the book. 

I let myself ease into intermittent fasting, and now I’m up to a 15-16 hour fast every day (I shoot for 14-15, but sometimes get to 16 because I lose track of time with work). I feel more focused in the morning, especially since I’m not immediately thinking about food - something I didn’t even realize I was doing. I’m not even hungry in the mornings anymore! This is because, as explained in the book, “Late-night eating also curbs calorie intake the next day. In a four-week study, dieters added a snack to their daily regimen 90 minutes after dinner every night, and check this out: late-night eaters ate an average of 397 fewer calories per day.”

I’m also feeling so much more satisfied both in terms of fullness and fulfilling with my body’s needs. My past diets had me pretty low on fats, even healthy ones, so it feels good to have those back in my body. This is even more exciting because you usually hear that a diet has to be one or the other, that carbs are evil and fats are evil, but I’m having both now after the Acceleration Phase and still seeing success while feeling deprived of nothing. This program has made my eating day-to-day simple. Especially since you do get to have cheat meals, there’s been no feelings of, “Oh man, I wish I could eat this or that,” which is a first for me in my five years of dieting! My relationship with food has improved so much.

Having the meal/day where we can indulge in things we really want is helpful too, and even with intermittent fasting Joel doesn't force you to be super strict - even he said he enjoys weekend breakfast with his family. I think it's great because he takes into consideration what real life is like, and it helps me feel like I"m not missing out on anything because I still can enjoy pancakes on a Saturday morning if my husband makes them. 

The recipes that Joel has provided are delicious and simple. It’s seriously one of my favorite parts of the book. Nothing has a crazy amount of ingredients, nothing weird or hard to find, and they’re so flavorful. It’s hard to pick a favorite, but I really love the Cheesy Ground Beef Skillet (I make it with ground turkey since I don’t eat red meat, and it’s super tasty) and my husband couldn’t get enough of it either! We also really both love the recipe for chocolate buttons since it makes for a quick and easy dessert. We plan to make the fruit tarts next!
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This is a sponsored post for Always Eat After 7 PM: The Revolutionary Rule-Breaking Diet That Lets You Enjoy Huge Dinners, Desserts, and Indulgent Snacks—While Burning Fat Overnight written by me; all opinions are my own.

There are affiliate links throughout this blog post for your convenience, where I can earn a small commission. I never support a product or brand I don't personally use and enjoy, but if you'd like to learn more, you can head to this page on my blog!

Happy #NationalDonutDay! Seeing the posts all across my social media feed had me craving a donut... but not wanting to buy either a massive one from Joffrey's at Disney Springs (in case you haven't seen them, they're the size of my face... literally) or a box at Publix that would tempt me all week. I wanted a day-only indulgence (which is allowed on my current Always Eat After 7 PM plan!) and I did a really intense workout this morning, but didn't want to set off a trigger food. So, I decided to take what I had in my fridge and pantry and see what I could whip up - and voila, massive chocolate peanut butter donuts! 

I made four of these for 5 SP each, but you could very easily make eight smaller ones. They're seriously huge!

The secret to these is adding some things to the two-ingredient dough (which I've used to make cinnamon rolls and beignets) like Jordan's Skinny Syrup and sugar-free fat-free chocolate pudding mix. The Skinny Syrup is a great way to add a sweet flavor, kinda like vanilla extract, but with a more specific taste. I used cookie dough in this one, but there are different chocolate varieties and peanut butter ones if you wanted to strengthen those flavors even more.

1. Mix Greek yogurt, chocolate pudding, Jordan's Skinny Syrup, cinnamon, and self-rising flour together until well-combined.
2. Divide dough into quarters or eighths and roll each section until it's a smooth cylinder. If you have a donut pan, put them in there. If not, you can just shape them like Os. 
3. Bake or air fry for 20 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. While donuts are baking, combine powdered sugar with a drop of water until it makes a glazing. Add powdered peanut butter and cocoa, and mix with water. The amount of water you'll need to add may vary from time to time, so start small, and do so until it makes a nice glaze consistency. Refrigerate. 
5. When donuts have cooled, apply glazing and serve.

This is a sponsored post for Always Eat After 7 PM: The Revolutionary Rule-Breaking Diet That Lets You Enjoy Huge Dinners, Desserts, and Indulgent Snacks—While Burning Fat Overnight written by me; all opinions are my own.

In case you missed it, I started reading and implementing practices from the new book  Always Eat After 7 PM: The Revolutionary Rule-Breaking Diet That Lets You Enjoy Huge Dinners, Desserts, and Indulgent Snacks—While Burning Fat Overnight by Joel Marion. Check out my first post about it here! 

In this blog post, we get a few questions you may have (I know I did!) answered by the author, Joel Marion. He’s a best selling author, fitness expert, and nutritionist debunking the myths underlying traditional dieting.

Anyone else feel like the most challenging times to curb hunger are just before bed and in the morning? By following the Always Eat After 7PM program, I’ve found I have the most willpower to stick to this diet because I’m eating during the hours when I’m most hungry. Doing this will also get you intermittent fasting, increase your metabolism, and put you into ketosis.

There are studies backing this up, too. As Marion explains in the book: “Late-night eating also curbs calorie intake the next day. In a four-week study, dieters added a snack to their daily regimen 90 minutes after dinner every night, and check this out: late-night eaters ate an average of 397 fewer calories per day.”

I have personally found that this greatly helped me with intermittent fasting. I was hesitant at first (and built myself up to longer periods of time), but found myself not even hungry for breakfast most mornings and satisfied with some water and coffee. On days I really want breakfast, though, I know I can start at 11 a.m. and know that I can still enjoy something in the mornings - the book even includes a few recipes you can have for a light breakfast that are easy and tasty.​
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As far as the evenings go, this plan has me feeling more satisfied - in terms of both fullness and cravings - than I can say I ever have been in the last five years when I started my weight loss journey. I’m looking forward to seeing how the benefits of this continue to help me get to my goals since I’m trying to shed the last bits of fat!

This makes sense because, as I mentioned, this is the core of this plan. Marion is a six time best-selling author, but the difference between this book and the rest? In his own words: “Although many of the concepts are similar, the biggest difference is that you don't have to deprive yourself of your favorite foods. You don't have to deal with the burden of eating every few hours. And you don't have to skip the carbs at dinnertime or avoid eating before bed.” ​

And how difficult is it to follow? Marion says, “It's not. And that's exactly why I wrote the book. While any diet is never truly easy, it can be more enjoyable and much easier to adhere to when you understand how Always Eat After 7 PM works because it caters to our bodies natural instincts.”

This is not a quick fix fad diet, either, and Marion didn’t come up with this overnight. He says, “It actually took several years of researching for me to discover the real science of eating late night. After a few years of tweaking and refining, I finally came up with a rapid fat loss solution that overcomes all the pitfalls of traditional diets.”

This is a sponsored post for Always Eat After 7 PM: The Revolutionary Rule-Breaking Diet That Lets You Enjoy Huge Dinners, Desserts, and Indulgent Snacks—While Burning Fat Overnight written by me; all opinions are my own.