I had a rocky relationship with “fitness” at first. My senior year of high school I decided I wanted to shed a couple pounds. I wanted some abs, lean legs, etc. Of course, I had no idea how to go about achieving these goals and when I went to the gym I’d hop on the elliptical for an hour and a half, typical cardio bunny style. I’d then proceed to use about 3 “weight machines” and called it a day. Food was a no back then. I ate three tiny meals a day and I’d be starving, but I’d chew gum to stave my hunger. I hated water so I didn’t really stay hydrated. I found myself at an alarmingly low 110 lbs, which is nothing on a 5’9″ frame. I soon went to college and found myself surrounded by tons of delicious food. For four years I ate junk at odd hours. I went to the gym and “challenged myself” with “machines” and an hour on the elliptical. In college, I was fortunate enough to meet my boyfriend. About a year and a half after graduation, I went to visit him in New York. We hit the gym, but this time, he told me to come with him and lift some weights. He taught me some exercises and I found that this was something I enjoyed. The idea of being powerful and one day being able to lift heavy weights, heavy groceries, my suitcase to store it in the overhead bin etc., really excited me. I began to look up lady bodybuilders and take exercises from their plans as well as follow their diets and found myself actually enjoying my daily trips to the gym. I began enjoying nutrient dense foods and came up with several recipes to mimic the junk meals I enjoyed. The progress was amazing! The only thing missing was my dessert. I LOVE sweets. Cookies, cakes, brownies, shakes, ice-cream, muffins, and the list of my weaknesses goes on and on. I decided it was time to experiment in the kitchen and I’m so glad I did. I’ve created several foods, both sweet and salty, to help me manage my cravings. I hope these recipes help you fight your cravings and you're able to enjoy them as much as I do! In short, I make "clean" food look dirty ;)