If you love a good burger but don’t love how heavy (or inconvenient) it can feel for everyday meals, this Burger Bowl is about to be your new go-to. It’s got all the best parts of a classic cheeseburger: savory beef, melty cheese, caramelized onions, crispy potatoes, and that must-have burger sauce… without the bun or the mess!

Even better? This recipe was basically made for meal prep. You can cook everything ahead of time, store it separately, and have quick, satisfying lunches or dinners ready in minutes.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Perfect for meal prep (hello, easy weekday meals)

• Comfort food that still feels balanced

• Customizable based on what you have on hand

• Reheats really well — no sad leftovers here

Burger Bowl

A hearty, flavor-packed bowl with crispy potatoes, savory beef, caramelized onions, and a creamy drizzle—comfort food that actually keeps you full.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients

  

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 large Walla Walla sweet onion, diced
• 1-2 tsp avocado oil
• salt & pepper (to taste)
• 1-2 tsp balsamic vinegar
• stevia (to taste)
• 4-6 slices American cheese (or shredded cheddar)
• 1-2 Sweet potato fries (store-bought, like Actual Veggies) OR sliced fresh

Burger Sauce

• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tsp mustard
• pickle juice (to thin sauce out)

Instructions

 

• Cook the Sweet Potatoes:

  If you’re using frozen sweet potato fries, air fry them according to the package directions until crispy.

  If you’re using fresh sweet potatoes, toss the diced potatoes with a little avocado oil and salt. Air fry at 400°F for 15–18 minutes, shaking halfway through, until golden and tender.
• Brown the Beef

  While the sweet potatoes cook, heat a skillet over medium heat and add the ground beef. Cook until fully browned, breaking it apart as it cooks. Season with salt and pepper, then remove from the pan and set aside.
• Caramelize the Onions

  In the same skillet, add a small splash of avocado oil and the diced onion. Sauté for 5–7 minutes, until softened and translucent.

  Add the balsamic vinegar and a small sprinkle of stevia. Stir and cook for another 1–2 minutes, until the onions are caramelized, slightly sticky, and sweet. Remove from heat.
• Make the Sauce

  In a small bowl, mix together the ketchup, mayonnaise, and mustard. Slowly add pickle juice until the sauce reaches a smooth, drizzleable consistency.
• Assemble the Bowl

  Layer sweet potatoes, ground beef, cheese, and caramelized onions in a bowl. Drizzle generously with the burger sauce and enjoy warm.

Meal Prep Tip

This recipe is a meal prep dream. Cook everything ahead of time and store the sweet potatoes, beef, onions, and sauce separately in the fridge. When you’re ready to eat, reheat the potatoes and beef, assemble your bowl, and add the sauce.

It holds up beautifully for several days and makes quick lunches or dinners feel way more exciting than your average leftovers.

Years ago, my worst fear was never getting to the other side of the weight I needed to lose.

I was the quitter. I was the complainer. And I was the woman looking for any excuse to get out of the goals I had set for myself the moment things felt difficult or uncomfortable.

I had accepted that was just who I was, and I let that identity infuse into everything else.

It trickled into my self-worth, my relationships, and made me feel like I was never going to reach my weight loss goal (or any other goals for that matter).

I finally came to a massive realization about the internal work I needed to do to get to the other side.

If I quit right now, I am GUARANTEEING that worst fear to come true.

If I give up yet again and let the discouragement stop me, or try to convince me to try another plan or another diet, my worst fear wins.

The moment I realized this, the trajectory of my life changed. And I’m not being dramatic.

Obstacles are a Part of the Process

Let’s normalize that our bodies were not meant to lose weight every single day.

Let’s normalize that plateaus, setbacks, and crazy seasons of life are all a part of this process.

But when they happen (because they will), ask yourself:

• Where is your head at when you experience them?
• How do you treat them?
• Are you willing to go through it to come out better on the other side?

If there is one piece of advice I can give you, if any of your responses to those questions were met with negative self-talk, it’s that as long as you don’t give up, it (the situation) is bound to change.

And that goes for seasons of chaos in life, plateaus in your weightloss journey, and the extra snack you grabbed from the pantry last night.

As long as you don’t quit, you will figure it out.

“Quitting” is a word I had to permanently remove from my vocabulary.

Because we are capable of doing anything we set our minds to, even if it feels uncomfortable and so far out of reach.

If You Don’t Break the Quitting Cycle, Nothing Changes

And here’s where my clients have a very similar breakthrough to what I experienced so many years ago.

You will never break free from the plateaus, setbacks, or chaotic seasons of life if you don’t first break free from the quitting mindset.

Because every time something gets uncomfortable and your instinct is to either stop, start over, or abandon the process altogether, you’re reinforcing the exact pattern that is keeping you stuck.

The setback was the problem to face until you decided to quit.

When those moments come (because they will), the goal is not to panic or throw your progress out the window.

It’s to slow down, assess, and ask yourself:

• What is working right now?
  
• What isn’t working right now?
  
• What is one small adjustment I can make without blowing everything up?

That’s it. That’s the key.

Focus on implementing small intentional adjustments you can make, built on the foundation you’ve already created.

What you’ve been doing has gotten you this far, so it makes sense to refine it — not walk away from it.

This is how you move through adversity and discomfort instead of letting it define you and your next steps.

That is growth.

And that is how you stop guaranteeing your worst fear.

​If You’re Ready to Stop Quitting on Yourself

This is exactly why I created the Fit Mom Blueprint.

I needed a way to stop quitting when things got uncomfortable.

The Fit Mom Blueprint is built from the exact process I followed to lose 80 pounds and keep it off.

This blueprint contains the mindset shifts, habits, and structure I followed during my weightloss journey that allowed me to move through life’s setbacks instead of letting them stop me.

It’s about having something to come back to when life happens, the progress feels slow, or your brain starts looking for an exit altogether.

If you’re ready to stop guaranteeing your worst fear and learn how to adjust instead of quitting, The Fit Mom Blueprint gives you a clear, realistic approach that you can use to face these moments for the rest of your life.

You can learn more about The Fit Mom Blueprint by clicking here.

Yes, before you choose to grab that Reese’s in the pantry that you didn’t plan to eat today, take a 15-minute timeout. Before you choose to mindlessly go against the progress you’ve made toward healing your relationship with food, take a 15-minute timeout. This timeout was something I began to implement in the early days of my weight loss journey when I was up against the unhealthy habit of emotional eating.

It took me some time to realize I wasn’t the only person experiencing it. We all fall victim to emotional eating, and for some of us, it snowballs into so much guilt and convincing ourselves that we’re not worthy of a life where food doesn’t control us.

Fortunately, it’s my job to remind you this is not the case, and I have a method to overcome emotional eating by taking a 15-minute Timeout. This could look like hiding in the closet, going for a walk, or stepping outside for some sunshine and fresh air. During this time, the goal is to piece through and confront the thoughts (easier said than done) that are leading us to emotionally eat.

Getting to the Root Cause

What if, instead of reaching for the gratification that comes from food, we start by identifying the root cause as to why we’re doing this in the first place?

Let’s look for the emotions behind this habit while in timeout by asking ourselves 3 simple questions:

What else do I really need in this moment?
Does it actually make me feel better once I get it?
Or does it lead me to guilt and more negative self-talk?

I know for myself, in these moments, I can almost always pinpoint that I’m feeling exhausted or overwhelmed. Because of utilizing this method and asking myself these questions routinely, I’ve realized a couple of things. If I’m exhausted, my body is clearly asking for rest, not for a Reese’s. If I’m overwhelmed, maybe it’s time to put those swirling thoughts onto paper and try to figure out what my priorities are instead of taking on the role of Wonderwoman and juggling it all.

Once you can name the emotions you’re feeling, you can determine what your body actually needs in those moments. Then, the pattern recognition can kick in.

Control the Controllables

Say it with me, “I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions.”

This is important because I’m not asking you to change everything all at once after your 15-minute timeout. I’m simply reminding you to address what you can change. Life can be challenging, but it can also be filled with gratitude and excitement for what comes next when we take intentional steps to build small healthy habits like this one. You can choose to acknowledge the emotions you’re feeling in those moments, accept the pattern of tying them to food, and take action in a way that supports your body… without emotional eating.

Rather than focusing on the emotions themselves that drive us to this point, let’s focus logically on what our body is telling us when we feel them. Then let’s figure out a game plan once our timeout ends.

And if you still want that Reese’s after your timeout? Go get it, girl. But you will know you’re eating with intention rather than emotion.

Your Next Step Toward Food Freedom

Learning to pause, identify the patterns, and respond differently in moments of emotional eating is one of the first foundational steps in building healthy, sustainable weight loss habits you can keep for life. This 15-minute timeout is just the beginning.

The Freedom Formula is a series of mini-trainings I’ve created to support you in developing simple, but powerful habits like this one.

Inside The Freedom Formula, we work through the nuances of how much to eat, how to incorporate treats (like Reese’s) while still maintaining weight loss, and developing a process that leads to self-regulation so you’re not relying on willpower or quick fixes.

In my corner, we’re focused on learning how to respond to the body with intention, creating habits that feel realistic, and developing a healthy relationship with food. If you’re ready to move beyond temporary solutions and start building habits that support lasting change, The Freedom Formula is your first step.

👉 Click here to get yours

When I started my weight loss journey, I didn’t have a fancy gym membership.
I didn’t have a personal trainer or a perfectly stocked kitchen.
And I definitely didn’t have endless time, energy, or motivation.

What I did have was a decision that I was done starting over every Monday.

And while I used to think I needed the perfect plan, the truth is… the things that made the biggest difference were the simple, free ones.

No expensive programs. No all-or-nothing rules.
Just small habits I could actually stick to.

Here are 7 free things that changed everything for me:

1️⃣ Walking Daily

I didn’t start with heavy workouts or complicated routines.

I just started walking.

Even ten minutes a day helped me clear my head, reduce stress, and reconnect with my goals.

Some days it was around the block with my kids, other days it was alone with a podcast, but those walks changed everything.

Movement doesn’t have to be extreme to be effective.

2️⃣ Going to Bed Earlier

For years, I stayed up late scrolling my phone, telling myself I needed “me time.”
But all it really gave me was exhaustion and sugar cravings the next day.

Once I started prioritizing sleep, my energy skyrocketed… and so did my consistency.
You can’t out-diet exhaustion.

3️⃣ Drinking Water First

Before coffee. Before meals. Before excuses.

It sounds small, but it was a game-changer.
Half the time I thought I was hungry, I was really just dehydrated.

Now, I start my day with a big glass of water — it sets the tone for better choices all day long.

4️⃣ Planning Meals Like Appointments

I used to feed my kids on schedule, but would forget to feed myself.

When I started treating my meals like non-negotiable appointments, everything shifted.
I stopped skipping meals and stopped the cycle of being “too busy to eat” — then binging later out of hunger and frustration.

You wouldn’t let your kids skip lunch. Stop letting yourself, too.

5️⃣ Letting Go of Perfect

For years, I thought that if I couldn’t do it perfectly, it wasn’t worth doing.
So I’d go all in, then all out.

But perfection is the enemy of progress.

When I learned to give myself grace: to eat well most of the time, to move even when it wasn’t intense, to simply keep showing up; that’s when things started to change.

Progress > perfection. Always.

6️⃣ Getting Outside

This one surprised me.
Fresh air and sunlight did more for my mental health than any workout ever could.

Whether it was a walk with the kids, sitting on the porch for 10 minutes, or taking my morning coffee outside, it helped me reset and breathe.
A healthy body starts with a healthy mind.

7️⃣ Believing It Was Possible for Me

This one was the hardest, but the most important.

For a long time, I didn’t truly believe I could lose the weight and keep it off.
Every time I started something new, I was already waiting for the moment I’d fail.

When I finally decided to believe that I could do it, even when it was hard, even when I doubted myself… everything changed.

Because once you believe it’s possible for you, you start showing up like the woman who already did it.

The Bottom Line

You don’t need a complicated plan.
You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight.

You just need simple, sustainable consistency that fits your real life, the kind you can do when the kids are home, when work is crazy, or when motivation disappears.

That’s exactly what I teach inside The Fit Mom Blueprint, the same system I used to lose 80 pounds and keep it off for over a decade.

Because sustainable weight loss doesn’t come from restriction.
It comes from small habits done with consistency and belief. ❤️

Hey you —
The woman standing in front of the mirror, trying not to cry because you barely recognizes the person looking back.

I see you.
Because I was you.

You pull on jeans that used to fit and tell yourself, “It’s fine.”
You scroll past old photos, remembering what it felt like to be confident in your own skin.
You dread pictures, avoid mirrors, and keep promising yourself, “I’ll start next week.”

But deep down, you’re scared.
Scared that you’ll never get back to feeling like you.

Let me tell you something that changed everything for me:
You’re not broken.
You’re just overwhelmed.

You’ve Been Carrying Too Much for Too Long

You’ve spent years taking care of everyone else:  your kids, your job, your home, your family… and somewhere along the way, you forgot to take care of yourself.

You’re constantly pouring out, running on empty, and convincing yourself that exhaustion is normal.

But it’s not your fault.
You’ve been told that being a “good mom” means putting yourself last.
That you should be able to juggle it all: career, kids, marriage, meals, and somehow, yourself.

And now, you feel like you’re drowning in your own life.

I’ve been there… sitting in the car after dropping my kids off, holding back tears because I didn’t even recognize the woman staring back in the rearview mirror.

It wasn’t that I didn’t want to change. I just didn’t know how anymore.

Waiting for the “Perfect Time” Keeps You Stuck

You keep waiting for motivation to magically appear.
For life to calm down.
For the “perfect time” to start taking care of yourself again.

But what if this is the time?

What if the version of you who’s exhausted, frustrated, and ready for change is the perfect place to begin?

Because here’s the truth: motivation doesn’t come first, momentum does.
And momentum starts with one tiny step.

Start Small. Start Messy. Start Tired, But Start.

You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight.
You just need to do something.

Go for a 10-minute walk.
Drink a glass of water before your coffee.
Eat one balanced meal today.

You don’t need to do everything; you just need to start doing something.

And when you do it again tomorrow, you’ll start proving to yourself that change is possible.

She’s Still in There

That confident, happy, strong version of you?
She never left.
She’s just been buried under the noise, the stress, the responsibilities, and the years of putting everyone else first.

But she’s still there.
Waiting for you to remember her.

You don’t have to wait until you’ve “figured it all out” to begin.
You just have to start acting like the woman you want to become, even if it feels hard right now.

Because once you take that first step, you’ll realize: she was never gone.
She was just waiting for you to come back home. ❤️

If This Hit Home…

If this letter feels like it was written for you, take it as your sign to start today.

You don’t have to do it alone.

That’s why I created The Fit Mom Blueprint — a simple, sustainable system for busy moms who are ready to feel confident, strong, and at peace in their bodies again.

It’s not another diet. It’s a new way of living — one that fits your real life.

Because the woman you want to become?
She’s still in there.
Let’s go find her together.

It’s so easy to lose focus on healthy habits, especially during the holiday season.

“After the holidays… I’ll get back on track.”
“January 1st… that’s when I’ll start for real.”
“Once things slow down… I’ll be able to focus on me.”

I know that story because I lived it for years.

December would hit, and suddenly it felt like my only two options were:

1. Put my goals on hold until the calendar magically resets, or
   
2. Try to diet through the Christmas cookies, holiday parties, travel, exhaustion, and the most amazing home-cooked meals.
   

Neither was doable, so I picked the easiest (but arguably the worst) option.

To wait.

Wait for life to calm down, wait for more motivation, or maybe wait for the person I’d thought I’d become by January.

If only there were someone who could’ve told me sooner: a calendar reset is not a mindset one.

January won’t save you.
YOU save you.

Every woman I’ve ever coached who struggled with developing their own consistency had one thing in common:

They were waiting for a future version of themselves to show up and take over.

But that future version doesn’t magically appear when a ball drops in Times Square.

That version of you appears because of the choices you make before you think you’re ready.

She appears when you stop believing the “messy middle” disqualifies you from reaching even your wildest dreams.

She appears when you look around at the busy to-do list, the kids screaming through the cartoons, and the tower of dishes piling up, and says:

“Okay. How can I show up and honor myself anyway?”
“How can I choose to give myself grace in the midst of this chaos?”

This is the self-talk that trains your brain to choose you time after time, even when it feels easier not to.

The Real Reason You Want to Wait Until January

It’s not because the holidays are such a busy season and there’s just too much going on.

But rather, it’s fear — the fear of failing, not being able to stick with it, and feeling disappointed in yourself again.

January only feels safe right now because it seems so far away.
It’s a clean slate where failure doesn’t exist yet.

But something you may not realize yet is that starting now makes you more likely to succeed.

Research has shown this over and over: the longer you wait between deciding to change and actually doing something, the less likely you are to follow through.

Waiting makes the goal feel bigger, scarier, and easier to talk yourself out of.

Starting now, while the desire is fresh, dramatically increases your chances of sticking with it.

When you choose to learn how to show up in a season that’s messy, unpredictable, and chaotic, you’re building a skillset that will carry your consistency year-round.

And if you can choose to take care of yourself now, you can take care of yourself anytime.

If You Need a Little Structure…

If reading this lit a fire in you… good.

That spark is the beginning of your reset (not a calendar year).

And if you want a simple, real-life way to feel better in your body right now, without dieting your way through the holidays, the Fit Mom Blueprint is a great place to start.

It’s the exact system I used to lose 80 pounds and keep it off without giving up holidays, dessert, or my sanity.

👉 Check out my Fit Mom Blueprint.

It’s all about taking that first step while the desire is fresh.

That desire has been placed in your heart now, (not January).

There was a December a few years ago when everything felt hard. Not the dramatic, completely fall-apart hard, but the “when it rains, it pours” hard.

The kind that sneaks into your routines, settles into your mood, and slowly stifles your confidence.

It was the hard that made me put myself last without even realizing I was doing it.

I was standing in my kitchen after a long day, staring at a sink full of dishes, feeling this heaviness I couldn’t put into words.

I wasn’t angry or sad (maybe a little exhausted), but it felt more like a disconnection from myself and from the woman I thought I would be by then.

And in that quiet, tired moment, the familiar thought crept back in:

“I’ll start next year.”

It was the same line I had fed myself for years.

January felt like a reset button, like a fresh version of me would magically appear once the calendar changed. The “disciplined” me. The “motivated” me. The “I-can-do-this” me.

But truly, I was waiting for a version of myself that only existed in my imagination.

I was waiting for the woman who had more time in the day, more sleep, more willpower, more… everything.

And waiting for her became my comfort zone and a safe place to stay.

Because as long as I believed she was coming in January, I didn’t have to face the disappointment of trying and feeling like I was falling short. I didn’t have to deal with starting, stopping, and starting again.

I didn’t have to sit with the fear that maybe I wouldn’t follow through.

So I kept postponing the life I wanted for “future me.”

But eventually I had to face the truth:

January would never actually save me.

I’d get there, feel a burst of motivation, do “everything right” for a week or two… and then life would get loud again.

Something would throw off the immaculate routine I had created, and suddenly I was right back where I started.

Feeling frustrated, discouraged, and telling myself it just wasn’t my time.

But the problem wasn’t my life or timing, the holidays or the chaos.

The problem was the story I kept telling myself — that taking care of me only counted when everything else was calm and quiet (and more convenient).

But that’s not real life.

We’re messy, and we’re always busy. Real life rarely gives you time to settle down before the next hurdle of commitments and obligations are thrown your way.

The women who see results in their wellness and mindset goals aren’t working with perfect circumstances. They’re being honest with what they have and making space for something better.

They’re steadily choosing themselves in the midst of a cluttered calendar and an endless schedule.

Choosing that mindset shift changed my perception of my life and the goals I set for myself.

I took ownership of the things I wanted and accepted that reality would never hand them over to me on a silver platter.

The moment I stopped waiting for the “right time” and started choosing this time — this imperfect and unglamorous moment — I finally became the woman I was meant to be.

I showed up even when it wasn’t easy.
I chose not to abandon myself when life got full.
I accepted that consistency won’t be built in January…
…it will be built in the middle of the most chaotic months, like December, through trial and error.

And if you’re reading this thinking, “Dang Jess, this is me right now.”
Just know, it means you’re human.

You have not failed.
It means you’re standing in the exact moment where everything can shift.

Just like it did for me all of those years ago in front of my kitchen counter.

If You’re Ready to Take One Gentle Step Forward

If you’re reading this and feeling that same tug I once felt — that quiet “I want to do this differently” — just know you don’t need a perfect plan or a new year to begin.

Only one small step with a new start — The Fit Mom Blueprint

It’s a 150+ page guide where I share every single thing I did to lose 80 pounds and keep it off for over a decade. The real-life, mom-life strategies that work even on the busy days, the loud days, and the “nothing is going according to plan” days.

Inside, I walk you through the exact approach I took from the nutrition strategy that didn’t require starving or meal-prepping for hours… to the beginner workouts I started with… to the mindset shifts that helped me stop quitting every time life got messy.

If you’re craving a fresh start that doesn’t rely on motivation or perfection, you can take a step inside here:

Explore The Fit Mom Blueprint

Let’s be honest: losing weight isn’t just about eating less and moving more.
If it were that simple, you wouldn’t be reading this right now.

The truth is, trying to do weight loss all by yourself feels overwhelming, lonely, and downright exhausting. And there’s a reason for that. In fact—there are eight.

1. You’re stuck in your own head.

When it’s just you, every decision feels heavier. You’re second-guessing: Should I eat this? Am I doing enough? Did I just ruin everything?
Support gives you perspective, encouragement, and tools to move forward instead of spiraling.

2. There’s no one holding you accountable.

Let’s be real—when nobody knows your goals, it’s way too easy to give up the second things get tough.
Accountability doesn’t mean someone policing you—it means someone reminding you of who you said you wanted to be when motivation fades.

3. You don’t have a plan you trust.

On your own, it’s tempting to jump from one trendy idea to the next. Keto this week, fasting next week, a cleanse the week after.
Coaching gives you a proven system, tailored to you, so you stop hopping from plan to plan and actually make progress.

4. You’re relying on motivation—and it always runs out.

Motivation feels amazing on Day 1. But by Day 4? Exhaustion, cravings, and life set in.
That’s why you need mindset tools—the kind a good coach gives you—to help you keep going long after the “new week” buzz wears off.

5. You’re carrying the mental load alone.

You’re already juggling kids, work, laundry, soccer schedules, and a thousand little things. Adding “figure out weight loss” to your already full plate? No wonder it feels impossible.
Having a coach means taking that load off your shoulders—so someone else is helping you problem-solve, strategize, and simplify.

6. You don’t see your blind spots.

We all have patterns we can’t see in ourselves.
Maybe you self-sabotage at night. Maybe you always “start over Monday.” Maybe you’ve tied food to stress relief.
A coach sees what you can’t and helps you finally break those cycles.

7. You don’t celebrate the small wins.

On your own, you’re likely only tracking the scale. And when it doesn’t move fast enough, you quit.
But when you have support, someone is pointing out your progress: better energy, fewer cravings, more confidence. Those wins keep you going.

8. You’re missing real coaching.

At the end of the day—this is the biggest one.
A community is amazing. Accountability is huge. But coaching? Coaching changes everything.

Because a coach doesn’t just cheer you on.
👉 A coach gives you tools.
👉 A coach gives you strategy.
👉 A coach helps you shift your mindset when you’re ready to throw in the towel.
👉 A coach helps you build a foundation that actually lasts.

And that’s why weight loss feels so hard when you’re doing it alone—because you were never meant to do it alone in the first place.

Ready to see the difference coaching makes?

That’s exactly why I created For The Last Time.

This isn’t another diet or quick-fix program—it’s a coaching experience designed to help you:
✅ Build the mindset and belief that carry you through when motivation fades
✅ Create simple, sustainable habits that fit your real life (no extremes, no restriction)
✅ Finally break free from the cycle of starting over every Monday
✅ Gain the consistency and confidence to not just lose the weight, but keep it off for life

You don’t need another plan that leaves you overwhelmed or burnt out.
You need coaching that helps you follow through—for the last time.

✨ If you’re ready to stop doing this alone and finally make weight loss feel simple, sustainable, and permanent… this is for you.

👉 Click here to learn more + join For The Last Time