My Ultimate Reset: Week 3!

Ok! The results are in! The wait is over! My husband and I have completed all 21 Days of the Ultimate Reset. This was a whole-body makeover...a detox/cleanse that allowed us to eat whole foods and not be hungry. It helped us kick bad habits that were forming- I am no longer drinking coffee in the mornings and my husband has been waking up BEFORE his alarm! If you know him, this is UNHEARD of behavior! Our favorite recipes from this last week have definitely been these two paired with the Mediterranean Roasted Beets that I shared from week 2! It's a delicious dinner that we will be eating often in our home.

And now for the good stuff! I'm sure you want to see our results, right?! You're thinking...enough about the FOOD! How did you do?! How many inches did you lose? Where did you lose those inches? Well, here are our results, folks. I hope they inspire you to try this at least once in your life. It's definitely worth it. And now, I am holding myself accountable to my nutrition and fitness goals from here on out...because I had to work hard to get back to a place I had already come close to before (and with moving I'd let that slip away...) but I am fully committed now to keep going. Brian lost a total of 16.75 inches and 17 pounds! Here are his details:

I lost a total of 5 inches and 10 pounds! Here are my detailed results:

Simply put, the challenge group model held me accountable, having my husband as an accountability partner solidified my success and I am happy with my results and cannot wait to do this again in the spring!!!

My Ultimate Reset Week 2

At the end of week 2 of the Ultimate Reset, I ended up down 8 pounds total! I am super excited because I did have a couple slip-ups (I may have acted in a moment of weakness and stolen a few bites of my daughter's macaroni and cheese). However, overall I have been feeling really great and have thoroughly enjoyed my meals this week. My favorite recipes from this week:

Sweet Potato and Roasted Red Pepper Bisque  Ingredients: 
1 sweet potato (aka garnet yam)
¼ red bell pepper
1 cup vegetable broth or water
1 tsp. finely grated peeled ginger root
1½ tsp. extra virgin olive oil
2 tsp. miso paste, diluted in 1 tsp. hot water
Tamari or Bragg® Liquid Aminos
Himalayan salt
herbal seasoning (to taste)
Directions: 
Peel and cube sweet potatoes. Cook in boiling water until tender. Drain and set aside. Meanwhile, roast a whole red bell pepper on gas stovetop or grill, turning frequently until evenly charred on the outside OR in your oven at 400 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes, turning every 10 minutes or until skin is charred. Put pepper in bowl and cover with towel for 10 minutes to steam. Clean off skin and seeds by running under cool water. Remove seeds, cut in quarters, and chop one quarter into ½-inch cubes. (Set remainder of pepper aside for another use.) Place sweet potato, pepper, broth or water, ginger, oil, and miso in blender. (If you want chunky soup, set aside some chunks of pepper.) Blend thoroughly, adding more liquid to achieve desired soup consistency. Transfer to a pot and gently heat on low until hot. Add tamari or aminos, salt, and seasoning as desired. Serves 1.
 Nutrition 220 calories 7 g fat 1 g saturated fat 0 mg cholesterol 530 mg sodium 35 g carbohydrate 6 g fiber 3 g protein 509 mg potassium And of course...beets! I knew I liked them, but now I LOVE them!

As always, I hope this has been helpful. My journey hasn't been easy, but it's been worth it!!! I cannot wait to share with you my results and fav. recipes from week 3! If you'd like to order the Ultimate Reset, check it out HERE!

Post-Halloween Planning

Halloween is fast approaching and we all know what that means...CANDY! I don’t know about you, but once my kids hit the streets for trick-or-treat, my house will be loaded with chocolatey goodness that is nearly impossible to resist. I can already feel the pounds packing on as I think about the chocolate that I will probably consume. This is an especially hard temptation right now as I am in the middle of The Ultimate Reset and have had no sugar since the start) and it ends on the 30th. So what is my plan of action? I plan to minimize the damage that I will do from eating candy and keep my results from the reset by doing the following: Step 1: Eat some candy (hey! Ya have to live a little). Step 2: Start a new support challenge group November 3rd to get back on track. Step 3: Stay accountable and motivated by focusing on helping my challengers reach their goals. This 3-step strategy is really all I can do! And since I mentioned that step 2 is starting a new challenge group, I would like to extend an invitation for YOU to join me! If you’ve been eating poorly and want to get back into healthier habits...if you have a few pounds (or maybe 15 or more?) you want to lose...if you’re tired of being tired ALL THE TIME and want to get your energy back before the real holidays come knocking...and if you’re ready to look your best this holiday season...then JOIN my online support group and you will get yourself back into gear and ready to take on the world! Apply here: Fill out my form! and let’s do this! I can’t wait to hear from you and help you get started!

My Ultimate Reset: Week 1

Week one of the Ultimate Reset has been great! I have been on this journey with my husband and today is day 7. I must confess, my husband is doing the full-on reset and I am doing a modified version. Since I am still breastfeeding, I cannot take the supplements. Detoxing will release toxins into my breastmilk (yuck) and so I can’t nurse Sophia AND take the pills. I will do the reset WITH supplements once she is done nursing. For now, I am sticking to the exact schedule as far as food and water intake and following all other instructions. I believe it is still working to rid my body of the junk that has been building up and I am leaving behind bad habits, which is my ultimate goal. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ***Let’s talk SCHEDULE: The Ultimate Reset is demanding! Plain and simple- you need time each night (or a whole day on Sunday) to prep your meals for the week. The recipes are easy, but they are complicated because they require multiple steps and a lot of chopping veggies and fruits and measuring things. You have to be precise on the reset and you can’t “eyeball” your measurements. This is a change for me since I’m so used to just dumping stuff in and then tasting as I go when I cook. In addition to the food prep, you need to be able to set yourself up for success. My husband and I set our phone alarms to go off when we need to drink water (and he needs to take the supplements). These are precise times because certain supplements need to be taken a half hour before a meal, two hours after a meal, etc. You also need to make sure you are getting in enough water each day- about a gallon for me a day! And, the water needs to be DISTILLED water! I found gallons of distilled water at Target for 88 cents a piece, so that’s not bad since I need 21 of them and my hubby needs more PLUS we need some for cooking! ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ***Let’s talk FOOD: You will eat strange foods. Period. You may or may not have heard of all of the foods on the grocery list they provide- but be open-minded and give them a shot! I am now a fan of so many new foods and I now have an arsenal of recipes that I plan to make regularly even after our reset is over. My husband, who grew up a meat-and-potatoes guy, is also surprised at how many of the recipes he likes. I am now a huge fan of tempeh and plan to incorporate it into my dishes beyond the reset. I will also be adding in a “meatless Monday” to my life after the reset because that will give me a chance to eat my favorite dishes from this program regularly. Here’s a pic of some of the food I’ve been eating this week:

I also want to share my favorite dressing recipe and my favorite recipe from week 1. Check them out!

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ***Let’s talk MOTIVATION: Believe you can and you will! You CAN do this and you can be successful. If my husband can stick to this, without cheating (even on his BIRTHDAY!), then so can you! No excuses. This is going to be so great for our health, we already feel so AMAZING, I am going to be raving about this for a while. That is motivation enough! Trust me ;) However, if that’s not enough, Beachbody provides an Ultimate Reset private Facebook group for all participants to help each other with questions and encouragement. You also can sign up for daily emails explaining information about the phase you are in and get support through the online portal they’ve created. It’s literally AMAZING support! PLUS, there are plenty of YouTube videos to help with questions, reset cooking tips, etc. These are GOLD! ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Let’s talk CONFESSION: Bless and release. It’s a good motto to have...and during the reset you need to let go of any anxiety and negative feelings you are holding onto towards yourself and others. Also, if you slip up (it happens- I slipped and had a bite of a cookie and a sliver of birthday cake), you can’t freak out and beat yourself up about it. I felt bad, but I realized that what’s done is done and I need to move forward. I am pledging to no more slip-ups from here on out and I KNOW I will succeed because of the support I’m getting and the determination I have. Also, I have to say, I have lost my taste for those treats anyway. When I ate the sliver of cake, the aftertaste was HORRIBLE. It tasted like CHEMICALS! I could immediately tell it was highly processed and full of preservatives and toxins and I DO NOT want that going into my body ever again. In fact, after the reset I will probably be making my own desserts from here on out and only using clean ingredients (the blog Chocolate-Covered Katie has some great recipes for this if you want to check it out!) __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Let’s talk about YOU! If you think this is something you want to try because you want to experience these benefits, feel free to find me on Facebook and shoot me a message, or email me, or just order now HERE! I would love to help you through this amazing experience!

My Grocery Staples and Upcoming Reset

My husband, Brian, and I are planning to start Beachbody’s Ultimate Reset on Friday. If you haven’t heard of this program, you are missing out on something serious for your nutrition! The Reset is a way to detox your body without starvation (I can think of a few other detox/cleanses that require you to eat literally nothing for days...this isn’t the same thing!). It is a three-week long program and it’s intense because it requires that you eat at certain times, drink distilled water at certain times and also take supplements at certain times to reset your body back to it’s natural, “factory” settings (<-- haha). While some people might find this to be crazy (I mean, what’s the point, right?), I find it to be exciting. I am excited for the benefits of this program- I am basically promised better sleep, better eating habits moving forward, possible weight-loss during the reset, and increased health among other benefits. My current eating habits aren’t too far off from the foods that I will be eating during the reset, other than the fact that I normally will allow myself a treat (none for the three weeks of the reset!) and I eat meat (on the reset, I won’t be after the first week). This will be something new for me, but I am looking forward to how I am going to feel once I am eating vegan. I have a suspicion that I will feel a lot better. Here’s a look at my current grocery list staples that I always seem to get:

A lot of these items will be allowed to stay on my list during the reset, so I’m excited about this! I also know that I will be adding new items to my list like seaweed, so that will be something different- but I am open to change and experiencing new things! Here’s to hoping that my reset shopping experience goes well tomorrow and prep equally well on Thursday. I will keep you updated and blog about my reset experience during my 21 days.

My First Year as a Coach

In high school, I was a cheerleader and also played soccer. I thought of myself as an athlete and I tried to work out on a regular basis so that I stayed conditioned to play. Then, when I went to college, I became somewhat lazy. I played lacrosse for my first semester and then quit in favor of getting a job on campus. Instead of staying active (I occasionally used the fitness center, but let’s face it, not often enough), I partied instead and ate junk food late at night. I gained more than my share of the dreaded freshman fifteen. After college, I managed to lose some of the weight again. Then I gained it back. Then, I used Weight Watchers to take it off yet again. It became a vicious cycle for me. My futile attempts at going to the gym weren’t working because I wasn’t consistent enough and I wasn’t focused on my nutrition and so it ended up being a waste of money. I wasn’t happy with what I was doing, but I couldn’t see a better way. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Then, I found my salvation- I was introduced to the world of Beachbody and having a coach by accident! I stumbled upon my coach while looking up fitness people to follow on Facebook. I fell in love with her enthusiasm and willingness to help. I decided to join one of her groups to get the support I needed to start and finally finish a program (I had tried in the past and failed). This time, my WHY was strong- I wanted to lose the baby weight from both of my kids and get back to the weight I was when I got married. Well, it worked! I lost more than I thought I would have and gained so much more- a group of people that I now call my Beachbody family. We all support and motivate each other...it’s priceless in my book! I lost 35+ pounds and gained a family and knowledge to last a lifetime. I wouldn’t trade it for the world! _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Today marks my one year anniversary of posting that I was joining the Bombshell Dynasty and becoming a coach. Over this past year, I’ve learned so much and helped a lot of people. When I get messages from people telling me how I’ve helped them lose weight or achieve a goal they set for themselves or even just helped them stay motivated to finish a program or get into a shirt they’ve wanted to purchase in a smaller size, it makes me grin from ear to ear! I love what I do and I just wanted to share. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Looking back at all that I’ve been able to do this year, I’m pretty pleased. Year two is going to be even better!!!

Thanks for reading :)

Sometimes You Just Have to Eat Well

Sometimes, you just have to eat well, ya know? This week my aunt and I hung out for a movie and dinner night. At the movies, I ordered this kids box which came with a super small popcorn, fruit snacks (which I saved for the girls), and a small drink. I shared a little bit of my popcorn, mixed in some raisinets, and enjoyed the movie (The One Hundred Foot Journey- I highly recommend it if you have not seen it. It's clever and has a ton of food porn in it! I was starving afterwards). When the movie let out, we headed over to a local restaurant that serves an amazing menu of seafood, among other things. This place does not disappoint! What did I order that was so fabulous? You ask. Everything! Especially the beet salad. I would and could eat it every day of my life and be extremely content and happy. As if that weren't enough, I tried some shrimp with biscuits, asparagus soup, bread dipped in olive oil and sundried tomatoes, and then my main course was a portobello mushroom ravioli in a goat cheese cream sauce served with roasted asparagus and carrots. It was to die for and I did not regret a second of it. Nor do I regret the glass of champagne and glass of wine that I consumed. 

___________________________________

Usually I am conscious of what I order when I am out. I try to eat clean and healthy most of the time; but ya do have to live a little, ya know?! What I am trying to say is love your life; be healthy, but still live your life! 

And now that my night out is over, it's back to eating clean and exercising and not making a one-time indulgent dinner turn into a bad habit. 

Staying on Track

I am not going to lie. It's been really hard to stay on track while on vacation. I'm not saying that you should give in to every temptation and throw in the towel while away, but I also know that your body can sometimes use a break. Do your best and forget the rest as Tony Horton says. Try to make good choices when eating out to minimize damage and travel with your own snacks. Bring along a workout you can do in your hotel room or utilize the gym or the pool at your hotel. Choose to walk everywhere if you can instead of driving. Drink plenty of water...but above all else, have fun! 

I went to the Fort Worth Water Gardens today. Walked around in the heat and worked up a sweat...it was a good reminder to stay active and healthy but have fun as well.

Cheers and enjoy the rest of your summer! 

Cat Poop. Kid Poop. Baby Puke: My Glamorous Life

The life of a stay-at-home mom is not often as glamorous as some people may think. Contrary to popular belief (well, at least to my husband’s belief), I do not sit around eating chocolate and watching TV while the kids play quietly and safely in another room. Even if that scenario sounds amazing, it’s not reality. Today, Sophia (she’s almost 15 months) decided that it would be interesting to try and see what the litterbox was like to WALK IN! I was brushing my teeth and helping Abby (my 4-year-old) get her teeth brushed, too, when I looked over and saw Sophia sitting on the floor and there was poop smeared on her foot, on the bath mat, and of course, on the bathroom floor. I was confused as to where the poop came from (aliens or ghosts, perhaps?) for a few seconds, until it dawned on me that we keep our litterbox next to the toilet in the bathroom (tip: this usually works out well as I scoop right into the toilet and flush!). That’s when I realized it was CAT poop. Gross! I immediately checked her hands to make sure she hadn’t touched it (she hadn’t! Victory!) and then sat her on the edge of the sink and washed her feet and also her hands for good measure.

Poop-1 Mom-0

After this lovely fiasco, I decided to not let it bring me down and to meet up with another mommy friend at the park. We played for a couple hours, picnicked, and enjoyed the sunshine before deciding to take the kids out for a special treat. I scream, you scream, we all scream for ICE CREAM! Well, froyo for me, anyway...that’s when disaster decided to strike. With only a porta potty in sight, I raced Abby to the bathroom. We were too late and didn’t make it in time. Of course, I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me to stop somewhere for a real bathroom since we had been out all morning/afternoon, but of course, hindsight is 20/20 and that’s how Abby ended up leaving there in just her shirt and bathing suit bottoms.

Poop-2 Mom-0

Fast forward to the evening. I had a lovely dinner with my grandparents and my aunt and I was about to go with Sophia to the mall. Abby opted to stay with my grandparents instead of coming along, which turned out to be a blessing! Sophia and I left and arrived at the mall fairly quickly. I hopped out of the car and moved to grab her so we could go inside and pick up what I needed. Just as I was reaching to get her out of her car seat, I remembered I left my wallet in the front seat and went back in the front to grab it. Unfortunately for me, this was my fatal mistake. My one knee was on my driver’s seat and I was leaning over into the passenger seat to grab my wallet when I heard it. Loudly and clearly, I heard it. I tried to pretend that I didn’t hear correctly, but of course I had! I moved quickly to Sophia but it was too late, her dinner was in her lap and all over her car seat. I had forgotten our new “favorite” thing to do- get car sick! If I don’t wait long enough after a meal to put Sophia in the car, then her guts will be in my car as well pretty quickly. Hopefully, I will learn this lesson sooner rather than later, as I would rather not have to deal with the smell and mess again. Because there I stood, in the parking lot of the mall, trying to clean puke out of a car seat and strip down my one-year-old to her diaper, put her in a new outfit, and try not to sympathy puke all over the whole darn mess! It worked. I cleaned it up without adding to it and was able to get in and get out of the mall in record time.

Poop/Puke-3 Mom-0

The rest of the night was spent doing my nails...oh wait...nope...it was spent giving my kids a BATH! Even though it was past their bedtime...I didn’t care. They smelled and they were dirty and needed a bath. I needed a glass of wine, but I didn’t get one (there should be an emergency stash around at all times...I haven’t learned this lesson yet either). Anyway, what do you think? Am I living the glamorous life or what?! HA!

Being Active During The Summer Heat

There are a lot of reasons to lay around and do nothing during the summer...especially if you are a stay-at-home mom like me. Children might be whiney due to heat, i.e.: "Moooooommmmmm, I don't want to play outside. It's too hot. Can't we just watch tv all day?! Puh-lease?!"   and you may have no motivation to argue with them. You may also want to avoid crowds at places like the amusement park, the zoo, or the playground or public pool. With all of those factors going up against you, it's hard to fault you for staying indoors and lounging around doing nothing. However, if you do decide to get off your rear and make your days more exciting (and more calorie-burning), then by all means, follow these suggestions: 

1. In the morning when it's cooler, go jogging with your kids in the jogging stroller or if they are old enough, on a bike.

2. Set up a sprinkler in your yard and run through it with your kids.

3. Mid-week, take a day trip to places like the local zoo or even to the Crayola Factory. You will walk a ton and have a lot of fun playing with your kids. Also, it will be less crowded than on a weekend.

4. Find some friends and take a trip to the beach! But don't just lay around getting burnt in the sand...walk they boards and look for some fun food finds. 

5. Go hiking! It's cooler in the mountains and you will get to see some more of te beautiful nature that God has surrounded us with. 

Let Freedom Ring

I just wanted to take a second to THANK GOD for the freedoms that I have been given. I live in the United States, where I am lucky enough to experience Freedom of religion and to experience the RIGHT to pursue happiness. I LOVE that it’s a constitutional right for people to be able to do so. However, just because we have the right to pursue happiness, doesn’t mean we have the right to make stupid decisions that could get ourselves or someone else hurt, or worse. So today, be thankful of your freedoms but be mindful of other peoples’ as well. Stay safe and try to eat somewhat healthy today so you don’t get completely off-track. I’m choosing to use my freedom of choice today to make healthy decisions- like watermelon for dessert instead of dirt cake :)

I also plan on trying out some fun recipes. Like these healthy & not-so-healthy recipes (ya gotta live a little) I pinned on my Pinterest. Check them out here!

Enjoy your Independence Day, America, and stay safe!

Losing Weight on Vacation

Ok...so you might be wondering how I went on vacation to Las Vegas and LOST 4 POUNDS!!!! Well, here is my secret: I didn’t overindulge and I actually saved myself a ton of money by packing my own food! I packed the following to eat 3 every day for the 4 days I was in Vegas...I planned to not buy anything except dinner, and I stuck to my plan except for buying the occasional green tea. Here it is: For Breakfast I brought a Shakeology packet and a small blender for my room that blends right in the cup you drink from and it has a travel lid (it was $15 on Amazon). I used water I got from the convention center plus the ice from the hotel’s ice machine. I brought along Quest bars and P90X bars to have once a day (I switched it up). Then for lunch I brought a plastic fork and a tuna packet. I also brought some corn tortillas and I ate the tuna on the corn tortillas and also just ate it out of the packet with the fork. I didn’t mix it with anything. I did have wasabi dried-edamame 100 calorie-packs as a snack with it. I also brought with me a clementine and an apple per day. And as a treat, I brought one packet of Justin’s chocolate almond butter to put on top of my apple. That’s it :) The last day, I treated myself to a banana from Starbucks and added it to my shake :) I saved money and I also was able to not gain weight by eating healthy the whole time I was gone. It wasn’t hard at all to stick with this, and I felt great instead of crappy, which usually happens when I eat junk food. Good thing I didn’t eat any junk! My dinner choices were all sensible and I only splurged one night by getting dessert- creme brulee. I also avoided alcohol and only had 3 drinks the entire trip.

PiYo

PiYo is going to be a revolutionary program and I’m excited to announce that I will be certified (as of this coming Tuesday) to teach it!!! Check it out Here! If you want to transform your body and get MAXIMUM results, without the joint strain, jumping, and weights that take a toll on your body, then this is the program for you! You won’t age (aging is for idiots!) when you build muscle. I swear, you’ll look younger!!! I, for one, plan on going back in years once I start this program. Hello 20’s! Want more details? The program was created by Chalene Johnson (TurboFire, ChaLean Extreme, TurboJam) and is a 60 day program. The workouts are 25-45 minutes in length. Because I want to maximize the results of my first test group, I plan on opening up a limited amount of space. If you’d like to be considered, please fill out this application.

Fill out my online form.

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Comment below if you’d like more info. I’d love to talk with you further!

Food Addiction

Recently, I’ve been working with some challengers who struggle with food addiction. I, myself, definitely struggle with an addiction to sugar, so immediately, my heart goes out to them. Food addiction is definitely REAL and is being recognized by the scientific community as a real addiction that needs treatment, in some cases. Many people who struggle with food addiction fall victim due to the sugar, salt, and fat in the foods they like to eat. Of course, this makes sense, since sugar, salt, and fat = taste! A WebMD article on “How to Break Food Addictions” explains why this addiction is real. "Barnard, the author of Breaking the Food Seduction and president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, says that these foods contain chemical compounds that stimulate the brain's secretion of opiate-like, 'feel-good' chemicals like dopamine, which drive our cravings for them.” ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ WebMD explains one way we can help ourselves if we are food-addicted: "How to break the cycle? First you have to pinpoint which feelings trigger overeating. To figure this out, create an 'emotional eating record,' suggests Edward Abramson, Ph.D., author of Body Intelligence. Take a three-by-five index card and write down four headings: TIME; LOCATION; FOOD; EMOTION OR THOUGHT. Put the card in your pocket so you can keep track of any unplanned snacks. After a few days, you'll be able to decipher which emotions and situations triggered eating binges.” <--of course, once you know this, it will make it easier for you to avoid the emotions/situations that trigger you! Don’t be fooled, either, by thinking it’s only when you are sad/depressed that you overeat. Many people overeat in happy situations or reward themselves with food (a very, very dangerous habit). ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Dr. Peeke explains in her article, “6 Ways to Beat Your Food Addiction,” that this is powerful stuff! "But wait, there’s more: At the same time your reward center is being hijacked, the brain’s CEO, the prefrontal cortex (tap your forehead and that’s where the PFC is located), is becoming damaged and impaired. The PFC can no longer help you rein in impulses or stay focused and vigilant. That’s why, when someone is in full-on addictive mode, moderation is a moot point. Revolutionary and groundbreaking new studies funded by the National Institutes of Health funded have shown that the brain scans of food addicts show the same changes and damage as those of a cocaine user. And, for your information, research also shows that table sugar (sucrose) is more addictive than cocaine.” See the full article HERE! She also explains ways to kick the addiction for good! It’s definitely worth the read. ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Something else you can do if you also struggle? Find a community of others who feel the same way, and support each other. A challenge group can do that for you, or you can form your own Facebook group or find one to join. Whatever option you choose, make sure that your loved ones know about your efforts so that they can support you as well. Some of my other recommendations- in addition to what’s above- (I am not a doctor, this is just my personal opinion based on research I’ve done on my own: Replace your “bad” habits with good ones. Instead of rewarding yourself with food, reward yourself with a shopping spree or a date with a friend to go see a movie. If you need to talk, or want to know more about what I’ve researched, please don’t hesitate to ask. On my reading list this week: The Hunger Fix: The Three-Stage Detox and Recovery Plan for Overeating and Food Addiction, Breaking the Food Seduction: The Hidden Reasons Behind Food Cravings---And 7 Steps to End Them Naturally, and Food Addiction: A Proven Plan to Overcome Food Addiction for Life. I’m also going to be ordering Made to Crave and the workbook to go along with it. I will be starting an online book study (in a private Facebook group) for anyone that’s interested. Let me know!

TurboFire Review

So yesterday, I began to use my Turbofire Advanced Class set of DVDs. They are AMAZING! Today, I was able to complete a workout called FIRE 60. Hands-down, this workout is the best one for calorie burning! I burned the most calories that I ever have in a single workout today, and it felt amazing.

I really felt like I was in a LIVE CLASS. I was pumped up the whole time and really into it. The music was definitely a key component, as well as the motivation from Chalene. I really felt like she was right in front of me. I think it made a big difference and reminded me of why I love working out in the first place- it can be fun! It also reminded me of when I used to take live Zumba classes at the gym, which I used to do religiously because they were so energized and I felt like I had the best time sweating it out with everyone. Now, I can experience that in my living room...say what?! HAHA. Anyway, I am now looking forward to doing the rest of the workouts that came in this set, plus the "Keep on Burnin'" set. These didn't come with a workout calendar, however, so I made my own. I thought I would share in case anyone else bought these DVDs as well and is looking for a schedule. If you use it, please let me know what you think! Also, if you want to jump on the Turbofire kick with me (and I highly recommend that you do), you can purchase the base kit here, advanced classes here, and the challenge pack here. Have a great day and enjoy the calendar!

If you want to taste something gross, read on!

I am not going to lie to you. This stuff tastes DISGUSTING! If it didn’t work, I would never drink it again and I would be thrilled. However, I LOVED how it made me feel! I had enough energy to get through 2 workouts AND I even burned more calories than usual. Why? Because it gave me a natural boost that didn’t leave me crashing in a couple hours in a sugar-induced coma. This stuff is legit and it made me feel awesome and I would drink it again in a heartbeat...even if I have to gag it down and hold my nose while doing it. Let me walk you through what led me to try this stuff... Picture a 30-year-old mother of two who wants to get a workout in but lacks sleep and the desire to actually move her body (she’d rather be sleeping...or watching The Bachelorette!). She is dragging and can barely get through a 25-minute workout. She also follows the modifier and takes text-messaging or baby-changing breaks. Now, picture that same woman, still with lack of sleep, but with the energy needed to give her the desire to push play. She is bouncy and smiling and ready to go. She nails 2 workouts and even though she breaks a sweat, she is able to complete them without even using the modifier! How did this happen? She drank some E&E. Energy and Endurance is a pre-workout supplement. Laced with caffeine and other ingredients, it’s an amazing boost- better than coffee, Monster, or a 5-hour energy drink! It tastes disgusting (I made the ugliest face after I tasted it for the first time today) but I would drink it again in a second because I LOVED the energy it gave me and I loved what it did for me. Taste doesn’t matter to me if the results are there. They speak for themselves! If I ever have to go for a long drive, I’m drinking this stuff instead of coffee!

Make Your Own Destiny

Tonight, I watched the most recent episode if ABC's Once Upon A Time. As I watched , I was struck by something Regina (a former evil queen/evil witch) said to her wicked sister (the wicked witch of the west). The wicked witch questioned how Regina, an evil queen, could use light magic. Light magic was the only way to defeat her, but no one evil should be able to use it; it's just not who they are. However, Regina claimed that she made her own destiny and that no one was going to tell her who she was or who she could be. She didn't let her past shape her future! She decided to create her own destiny. 

I think this is an important lesson for all of us! We shouldn't let our past define us. Just because we used to be a certain way, doesn't mean we have to stay the same. People can change! I, for one, love that redemption is possible for anyone willing to accept and embrace a different life than they are used to. Thank God for free will and the ability to shape our own futures and make our own choices. How wonderful that our past doesn't have to define us.

 

Quick Dinner Solution

Busy moms, listen up! I've re-discovered an easy dinner solution that allows me to put fresh, healthy meals on my dinner table in MINUTES! What is it? You ask. It's made by Ziploc and it's called Zip 'n Steam. 

Your veggies, potatoes or protein can be ready in minutes by putting them in the bag, adding a tablespoon of water, adding seasoning, and popping it in the mic for anywhere from 2-6 minutes, depending on what it is and the portion size.

I'm steaming some broccoli and carrots tonight to go with my crock pot chicken leftovers. Dinner is ready in 4 minutes! It's definitely a lifesaver with Sophia crawling around and wreaking havoc. 

I hope you enjoy cooking with this in a pinch as much as I do! Enjoy! 

Have a Heart

Do you have a heart for helping others? I truly believe that helping others is a calling. There are people that are naturally born to do this. We call them Pearls. My mentor, Lindsay Matway, explains that Pearls see the world in terms of service to others. They are motivated by helping others! They like to have a cause in their work. They are a SAFE PLACE for most people, very giving of themselves and are usually the first ones to volunteer. If this sounds like you, then you’ve come to the right place! This month, I’m finishing up with three different fundraisers. You can help if you’d like! And if you’re a Pearl, I know you’ll want to! 1) The Chemo Bag is a local, non-profit organization that provides gift bags to cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. This month, all of the sales from any challenge packs, Shakeology orders, workouts, supplements, and clothing will be donated to The Chemo Bag. I am also accepting donations to be included with my own donation. If you’d like to help out by placing an order, or simply by making a donation, please get in touch with me or order from my shop. 2) The National Multiple Sclerosis Society is hosting an annual Walk for MS this Sunday, April 27th. I will be participating to help raise money to fund research for a cure for this horrible disease. If you would like to join my team, or make a donation, check out this link 3) Finally, the third way you can help is to donate to the Trike-a-Thon to benefit St. Andrew’s Nursery School. I will be collecting donations for this event up until May 1st. Please message me for how to get the donations to me OR to see about attending the event! Thank you so much to everyone who has already donated to these wonderful causes. I know that I am so blessed and appreciative to have your support. I hope you’ll join me in supporting these three organizations. Have a wonderful day!

30 Days of X3

When I think about posting my transformations...any pictures of myself, really, that show a lot of skin, I cringe a little on the inside. Has anyone ever felt afraid of stuff like this? I know I should be proud but also, I'm a little shy and a little bit modest when it comes to this stuff so putting my whole body out there...that's scary! 30 days ago, I started P90X3. I also decided that I was going to do the 21 Day Fix at the same time. Double workouts. Focused on nutrition (which I ended up slipping up on more than I care to admit...chocaholic right here and I need help! Even Shakeology, which usually helps, wasn't cutting it. I blame it on the breastfeeding...). I finished the first month of X3 AND finished the 21 Day Fix. I did not lose any weight. It was really disappointing and I felt really upset. I started beating myself up (almost literally) for not being more disciplined with my food choices. I felt ashamed...I wanted to hide in a closet. Then... I took my 30 day pictures. The pictures I had been dreading. I wanted to avoid them, but decided it was time to be held accountable. WOW! Am I glad I did! I am excited to share with you all my results. While the number on the scale didn't budge, my inches did and so did my definition! I am proud to say that I can now see more muscles. Don't let the scale define you. I almost forgot that lesson. Now, I have proof that it's a lesson I never want to forget. Sooooo without further adieu, my 30 day results:

My plan for the next 30 days of X3 is to conquer it head on and have no regrets. I also plan to do T25 in the evenings and X3 in the mornings. I admit, I miss T25 and Shaun T. too much to just not do T25 right now. It's my favorite program...my soul mate program HAHA and I cannot live without it. If you can relate, I'd love to know! Feel free to share these results or any of the posts on my blog with a friend that might want to hear about it. Keep smiling and keep pushing play. Have a wonderful evening.