INSANITY // Recovery Week & Progress Report

It's Thursday and I still haven't gotten around to posting about what my week of INSANITY looks like. That's life, right?! Busier weeks than others at times.

I have officially completed month one of INSANITY. These past four weeks flew by! Honestly, it doesn't even feel like I have been doing this program for that long. I am absolutely loving it and loving the way it is making my body feel.

My meal planning needs to get back on track, that's for certain. I just feel so much more prepared and accomplished when I get that all set-up over the weekend. With things being so hectic here, that has been put on the back burner, but I need and plan to move that to the front of my to-do list this weekend. My evening snacking needs to slow down, my bites here and there that I am not counting need to be fewer and I just want to get back to choosing my veggies and hummus for snack over the Halloween cookies. ;)

What have been some of the meals over here this week?

Monday - Grilled Mozzarella Cheese Sandwiches w/veggies & hummus

Tuesday - Homemade Chicken & Veggie Soup

Wednesday - Leftovers

Tonight - Planning that now!

Tomorrow night we are making homemade pizzas. It is Grandma Laurie's last night with us before she heads home. :-(

This week is my recovery week. Each day I have been doing 35 minutes of Core Cardio and Balance. It feels great to have an easier week and really stretch these sore muscles out. Sunday will be my off day, and then Monday morning starts my second month.

You can continue to follow my progress right here on my blog. I love having you all join me on this journey and hearing about what you are doing in your own life. New recipes will be appearing soon too! We have been trying out more and more and *most* have been hits. ;)

INSANITY // Week 2 Plan & Progress Report

Hello Monday! Where is September going?! Seriously! Fall is officially here in our house. We put up our decorations last week and love the cozy feel it gives. Life is in full swing with school, Bible study, gymnastics and all the other activities our family has going on. With the busy hustle and bustle of life, it is important to have a plan to stay on track with your health and fitness goals so you don't fall off the wagon, because we all know that is easy to do too.

I just finished my first week of INSANITY, and I am feeling great! The first day I had to take a fit test. This was a twenty-five minute test, involving eight different moves. I had to try and see how many of each move I could do in one minute. I will repeat this test every two weeks to track progress.

I remember My Hunter doing the first fit test and watching him sweat buckets during, so I knew in advance that this was still going to be a workout.

Move:

1. Switch Kicks - 48
2. Power Jacks - 54
3. Power Knees - 109
4. Power Jumps - 30
5. Globe Jumps - 10
6. Suicide Jumps - 21
7. Push-Up Jacks - 20
8. Low Plank Oblique - 38

The rest day I had yesterday couldn't have come at a better time though. I was starting to feel tightness in places I haven't in a long time.

Week 2 is about to start as I sit here drinking my E&E getting ready to start my Cardio Power and Resistance workout.

I created a vision board last Monday night, and I track my progress there. It is the best feeling to go to bed at night and cross off another successful day. Even better was taking down the "Week 1" sticky note!

Last night I snuggled up on the couch after getting the kids in bed with a cup of tea and my favorite show playing and started planning out my meals for the week. Here is what is on the plan. It's not set in stone. If something comes up, or I just don't feel like eating a certain meal, I will change it. But a lot of my meals are repetitive. I find things I like and I am okay eating them again and again.

Monday -
Breakfast - Proatmeal with berries, almonds and rice milk
Snack - Shakeology (2 scoops)
Lunch - Venison Burger Salad and berries
Snack - Carrots and hummus
Supper - Grilled Salmon with asparagus and squash

Tuesday - 
Breakfast - Yogurt Bowl
Snack - Shakeology (2 scoops)
Lunch - Grilled Chicken Salad
Snack - Tuna Salad in a tomato
Supper - Flank Steak, baked potato, and asparagus

Wednesday - 
Breakfast - Fruit and Cottage Cheese
Snack - Shakeology
Lunch - Venison Burger Salad and berries
Snack - Cold Cut Platter
Supper - Chicken Stir Fry

Thursday - 
Breakfast - Shakeology
Snack - PB&J bread and cottage cheese
Lunch - Venison Burger Salad and berries
Snack - Tuna Salad in a tomato
Supper - Crockpot Chicken

Friday -
Breakfast - PB&J toast and cottage cheese
Snack - Shakeology
Lunch - Grilled Chicken Salad
Snack - Cold Cut Platter
Supper - Pizza Braid

Saturday -
Breakfast - Egg White Breakfast Wrap
Snack - Shakeology
Lunch - Grilled Chicken Salad
Snack - PB&J toast with cottage cheese
Supper - Venison Meatballs and pasta

Sunday - 
Breakfast - Shakeology
Snack - Apple and cashews
Lunch - Tuna Salad
Snack - Cold Cut Platter
Supper - Grill Burgers

There we have it! This is my plan. Bring on week two!! Remember that you can follow along weekly right here on the blog and daily over on my Facebook page. I have a new recipe I will be sharing here tomorrow and hope to get one or two other posts in this week yet with tips, ideas and motivation.

Make it a great Monday, friends!

Coming Soon... P90!

Beachbody just announced that they would be coming out with a NEW workout program on September 23rd... my birthday! :-) I always love when a new program is released! I have heard so much about P90X and P90X3, but honestly I have never tried any of Tony Horton's programs. I have heard that they are pretty tough, which is why I was even more excited when I discovered he created this program... a program for beginners, a program for those just getting started with their fitness journey, a program for people like you and me! P90 will be great for those that maybe have wanted to get into strength training but just haven't yet. He designed P90 for those that need a good foundation in order to advance to more extreme workouts.

Who is P90 for?

• Anyone who wants to lose weight but doesn't want a hardcore workout.
• Anyone who wants to build or tone their muscles.
• Anyone who wants to get in good shape and wants a place to start.
• Anyone who has been injured previously and wants to build their strength back.
• Anyone who wants to improve their health but avoid injury.

What is P90?

P90 is simple cardio, simple workouts for 25-45 minutes a day, for 90 days to totally transform your body and health. This program is not high-intensity and there is no pounding of your joints. P90 also has a modifier that you can follow along with. Included in this program is a simple nutrition guide that will help you determine what to eat in order to properly fuel your body and clean up your diet.

When is P90 available for purchase?

The release date is Tuesday, September 23 through a Team Beachbody Coach, which is ME!

What is the cost?

The price of the challenge pack is on SALE for $160 {regular $180}. The best part is that when you purchase the challenge pack, the program (fitness) plus the Shakeology (nutrition) come together, and you save $$$!

This includes:

* the workout DVD's

* a nutrition guide and meal plans

* 30 day supply of Shakeology

* exclusive access to the private Facebook group

* daily coaching and tips from me

* daily accountability and support of the group

* continued support from me even when the challenge is over so we can continue to work towards your goals.

How do I get it?

While I would love for you to purchase this program, I do want to make sure you don't just buy it and throw it to the side where it is going to collect dust. I want you to have a plan so that you will succeed with this! My job as your coach is to support you. I want to make sure you understand the meal plan and will help motivate you through this journey.

What is a test group?

The P90 ELITE Test Group

This group is a private, online Facebook group where only the members in the group can see what is being posted. I will help you set goals, meal plan, and get the best possible results. Each day you will log into our group for the post of the day, recipe ideas and motivation. This is YOUR time! But any fears aside and realize you CAN do this! I am here to meet you half way! 

The requirements are that you purchase the P90 Challenge Pack through me as your coach. You first need to complete an application to be considered for a spot, and then I will touch base with you giving you more details. 

There is LIMITED space, so be sure to complete THIS APPLICATION now and you can join my elite test group here -----> ELITE TEST GROUP.

Insanity // Week 1 Plan

After doing PiYo, I am ready to start something a little more intense. We have had INSANITY at our house for months now, and I have joined in with My Hunter whenever he worked out with it on the weekends. I decided I wanted to commit to doing this workout program from beginning to end and experience the whole thing. I want to see what kind of results I can get if I commit 100% to this program. I feel like I have been back and forth with my eating lately, and I am ready to get back on track, back into a routine. 

What is it? 
INSANITY is a 60-day, cardio-based, total-body conditioning program that’s pretty intense. Fitness expert Shaun T drew on his collegiate track-and-field training, plus his subsequent years of experience as an elite trainer, to create a program that takes total-body conditioning to an extreme level. INSANITY is the pinnacle of cardio training. 

Why is it effective?
Interval training allows you to beat the “stress adaptation response,” which is what happens when your body gets used to exercising at one level of exertion and stops improving. An interval workout includes a set where you perform at your maximum, followed by one of lower intensity, with the cycle repeated to achieve a cumulative effect.

INSANITY uses MAX Interval Training, which replaces your moderate-intensity exercise with maximum-intensity exercise, and your short intervals of intensity with short periods of rest. Adding high-intensity exercise, during which your heart rate increases to 80% or more of its maximum capacity, forces your body to use fast-twitch muscle fibers not normally engaged in cardio exercise. These fast-twitch fibers continue burning extra fuel even during lower-intensity exercise.

This program’s high-intensity activity is likely to have you working out at over 85% of your maximum capacity, instead of the lower rate recommended in other programs. As a result, you’ll experience faster increases in fitness and more efficient burning of carbohydrates and fat—as much as 1,000 calories per hour. 

What equipment is needed? 

I love that you use only the power and resistance of your own body to amp up your cardio, lower your body fat percentage, and sculpt your muscles. You don’t need any gear other than water, a towel, and your own strength of purpose.

Week 1 Workouts:
Monday - Fit Test
Tuesday - Plyometric Cardio Circuit
Wednesday - Cardio Power & Resistance
Thursday - Cardio Recovery
Friday - Pure Cardio
Saturday - Plyometric Cardio Circuit
Sunday - Off

I am ready to start this morning, and I refuse to let the busyness of fall and getting back into school, along with all our other activities and obligations ruin the goals I have for my health and fitness. Who's with me??? I am starting a brand new transformation group on October 6th! More to come on that soon, but if you are interested, be sure to contact me now to reserve your spot on the list!

Clean Eating Principles

Have you ever heard someone mention that they are "eating clean" and thought to yourself, what the heck is that?

Well you aren't alone, because when I started this journey two years ago I heard that phrase and had no clue what it meant.

The trick is figuring out what those healthy foods are and how much of them to eat, because if I have learned one thing over the past two years it is that I can exercise all I want, but if I am not eating right, I am not going to get very far. If I eat garbage, my body will show that. And if I eat clean, my body will show me that too, giving me a healthy glow and more energy.

Here are some basics that I have found very important:

• Eat 5-6 small meals per day.
• Eat every 2-3 hours.
• Have a lean protein and complex carb at every meal.
• Drink your body weight, divided by two, in ounces every day.
  
• Never skip a meal, especially breakfast!
  
• Have clean-eating foods with you at all times; carry a thermal tote filled with healthy snack options.
  
• Avoid over-processed, refined foods, especially white flour and sugar.
• Avoid all saturated and trans fat.
• Avoid sugar-filled pops and juices.
• Consume healthy fats each day.
• Avoid alcohol, which is another form of sugar.
• Avoid all calorie dense foods containing no nutritional value.
• Depend on fresh fruits and veggies to get you your fiber, vitamins and enzymes.
  
• Measure! Stick to appropriate portion sizes.

7 Ways to Stay Motivated

Summer is peeking around the corner, which means making time to workout can be put on the back burner. If you are like our family, you are just out and about more when the weather gets nicer... family cookouts, kids' activities, lazy pool days... you get it. So this morning I wanted to share some ideas on how to keep or get yourself into that healthy routine.

1. Try something new - Switch up your current workout routine. This keeps you from getting into a rut or becoming bored.
2. Head outdoors - Now that the weather is nicer, take advantage to get outside and walk, run, hike, etc. The change in scenery can motivate you in a whole new way.
3. Buy a new piece of clothing - I don't know about you, but if I have a new tank top or shorts, it makes me look forward to my workout. It doesn't have to be anything outrageously expensive. Heck, I even get excited over something as small as a new headband. ;) 
4. Turn on the tunes - Who doesn't get pumped up listening to music?! Get Pandora on your phone and purchase something new to get you through your workout.
5. Get a friend involved - Accountability makes all the difference in the world! Finding someone with similar goals keeps you going, especially on the days when you may not feel like working out. Having that friend calling or knocking on your door can be enough to get you up off the couch.
6. Get online - Online support groups can be so helpful. Post your sweaty after workout pic., share the food you eat... these are all things that we do in our online challenge groups. If you are looking for that kind of group, let me know and I can get you in our summer one.
7. Schedule it - The same as you schedule and don't cancel your dentist and doctor appointments, schedule your workouts and don't let anything else replace that time. Sometimes things will come up where you may have to shuffle things around or skip your workout, but if you have this schedule, you'll be less likely to skip your fitness.

Keep in mind, it's a process. Changes take time. Hang in there... these changes are totally worth it!

3-Day Shakeology Cleanse // Explanation & My Results

Last week I decided I was going to do the 3-Day Shakeology Cleanse. You can see a bit about my day one here, day two here and I will be updating you on how my last day went in this post. :-) I know those of you that followed me on this may be wondering if I survived and stuck to the plan on that final day!

Before I give you that update though, I want to share why I chose to do this and go into more detail on how this cleanse works. I did not do this with the intention of losing weight. My main reason was because I needed to detox from the sugar I put in my body over Easter. I still can't get over how having sugar just made me go crazy wanting more and more.

What is the 3-Day Shakeology Cleanse?

The main purpose of the 3-Day Shakeology Cleanse is to jump-start your fitness, break a plateau, or shred pounds fast and effectively in a healthy way.

The Plan

• 3 Shakeology Shakes a day
• 2 Green Teas a day
• 1 or 2 pieces of fruit a day (optional for those needing additional calories - I chose to have one fruit each day... why not? ;) )
• 1 salad for dinner (only white grilled protein in salad)

No:

Dairy or extra sugars

Only low fat dressings 

You can put your snacks before or after any of your major meals (breakfast, lunch or supper).

This cleanse is not for pregnant or nursing women.

Example of how my days went:

Start: 

Drink one cup of green tea to start your day.

My girls joined in one of the mornings.

Breakfast: 

Make your Shakeology (140 calories) with ice and water. You can have 1/2 cup of fruit at this time too (60-90 calories). Like I said above, I chose to have my fruit all three days. I love to eat, so if it is an option, I will take it.

Snack #1: 

One piece of fruit (85 calories)

Lunch: 

Shakeology (140 calories) with ice and water and 1 cup of green tea

Snack #2: 

Shakeology (140 calories) with ice and water

Supper: 

Salad... this thing ended up monstrous every night. I was full afterwards, no issues there! You put three servings of greens in your bowl, top with 2 tablespoons (no more!) of non-dairy dressing, and then add 4 ounces of grilled white meat (fish or poultry). 

I mentioned last week that I tried to do this cleanse back in November and failed from the start. I was worried I wouldn't make it through this time, but I stopped those thoughts in their tracks after My Hunter reassured me that I *could* do this. So, day one and day two, as you read earlier, were followed to a "T" for me. I couldn't have felt more proud or better! 

Now, let me catch you up on how day three went. My Hunter got home at 5:00 pm so that I could get out the door and get to the church for setting up my conference. This was the end of my day for eating. The cleanse had been followed to a "T" again. YAY! A success!

I have to share this next part though. I thought some of you would get a good laugh. On my drive to the church, I had to stop by and pick up the rosettes and verse cards that a friend put together for me that I needed for the event gifts. I was chatting with her real quick, with my hand on the door ready to jump back in my van to keep moving when she said, "Oh! I made an awesome dessert for the conference tomorrow. You have to try it!" {This is where I should have just told her I was doing this cleanse and I really, really did not want to eat anything outside of my plan, but do you think I did that?? Nope. Silly me! Worrying about what other people will think again.} 

She pulled me into her kitchen and handed me the dessert. I just held it in my hand thinking about what I was going to do now, while she stared at me waiting for me to take a bite. And I waited for her to turn away, but she watched, smiling, waiting for me to eat it. So... I did, because what else could I do?! And it *was* good, but I hated that I had a bite! She then turned her back to close the fridge and I quickly shoved the rest in my sweatshirt pocket saying, "Mmm! That was *so* good!" And, it really was, but I wasn't going to eat the rest of it, and I was certainly not going to let her know I hid the rest in my sweatshirt. {Sorry if you read my blog, Carla. I know you will laugh and wonder why I just didn't tell you! :-)}

Here it is, the dessert with a small bite missing that caused me from saying I had a "perfect" cleanse.

The only other slip-up I made was at church. We were working until midnight, and my friend had brought me a coffee. It smelled so good, and I honestly could have gotten by just fine without having any, but throughout the night I had 5 or 6 small sips just because.

So, other than those two small bumps in the road, my cleanse was almost followed to a "T".

Now, let me share how I felt and what I noticed while doing this cleanse.

My Results:

• I felt clear-minded and focused! No foggy-brain.
• My digestion got a restart! {Oh yes it did! They don't call it a cleanse for nothing! Sorry if this is T.M.I., but I am an honest gal. ;) }
• I slept so much better!
• My metabolism got a boost because of the green tea!
• I kicked the sugar cravings!
• The plateau that I was on was kicked! 
• I was not starving at all!
• I challenged myself and proved I could do this; the biggest, and by far my favorite, result of this whole adventure!!!
  
• I lost 4.2 pounds in three days! I have never felt better... honestly! I SO, SO, SO wish I would have taken measurements beforehand, but I wasn't trying to lose weight, nor thinking I would ever possibly lose that kind of weight in three days. My legs, stomach, arms... everything felt slimmer and more toned, so I am certain I lost inches. I am planning on offering this cleanse in a challenge group setting sometime in the future, and you can bet I will be making my challengers take their measurements beforehand.

{Click to Enlarge}

Questions:

• Have you ever done a cleanse? 
• What do you think would be the hardest part for you with doing a 3-day cleanse like this?
• Do you think it would be fun to do something like this in a group setting with me coaching you now that I have gone through it successfully myself?

Day 2 of Shakeology Cleanse... DONE!

We had a green tea date yesterday morning... just us girls! :-)

I don't know if you could tell from the picture I posted yesterday of my day one completion post, but that was not a recent picture of me. That was me from back in November when I *tried* to do the 3-Day Shakeology Cleanse. Go back and look here if you missed yesterday's post. You will see my hair is shorter. I was too lazy too busy to post any other picture yesterday. You see, I have this whole conference event coming up TOMORROW {Please pray for me!} that has consumed my time, so I couldn't justify making a new photo that says the same thing... that I made it through day one. 

The thing with back in November when I tried to do this cleanse was that I only made it through day one. I failed after that. On day 2 I started by slowly licking the peanut butter off the knife after making the kids' breakfast, telling myself, "No big deal. It's one little lick." That then led to a small bite of one of their sandwiches. {I am sure you can guess where this is going. :-)} Eventually by the end of the day I was eating everything that I should not have if I wanted to truly do this cleanse right. And, by day three... well, there was no day 3.

This time around, however, I made a promise to myself and My Hunter that I was going to do this 3-day cleanse! He reminded me that I am so strong when I make up my mind to do something, in fact I think his exact words were, "You are seriously the strongest woman I know... when you decide to be." That meant a lot! It got me thinking that, "Yeah... I *can* do this! It's only three days!" I believe that when you truly accept yourself and put your mind fully into your goals, you will achieve them! 

That is part of the reason I have been posting this 3-day journey on here. I know that if I share with you guys, you are all now holding me accountable too, and I love that! It keeps me going! Accountability is another huge part in moving towards your goals. I want to succeed because I gave my word that I am going to do this!

So, I am happy to report in to all of you that I completed day two yesterday perfectly! I did it! One more day to go!

Like I said yesterday, I will be sharing a full post {hopefully Monday} on how this went and what my results are, but I have to say I am feeling so amazing! I think God orchestrated this cleanse in line with this conference prep. I am feeling so clear-headed and focused, which as a result makes getting things done much easier.

Okay, now I have to go. More work to get done for the big day tomorrow! I hope you all have an amazing Friday! <3

Questions:

• What is one goal that you are putting your full mind into believing you can do and WILL prove you can do?
• Do you have an accountability partner?
• Any fun events going on in your life this weekend?

Thanks for the link-ups, Lauren and Jennie! This is by far my FAVORITE Friday highlight from my week! :-)

Day 1... DONE!

Tuesday night I decided I needed to hit the reset button! I was slipping on my eating habits and starting to gravatate to all those sugary treats after having some Easter weekend. Isn't it funny how once you get that sugar back in your system, your body craves it just like that again?!

What I am doing to get back on track is the 3-Day Shakeology Cleanse. This isn't about weight loss for me, but already since completely day one yesterday, I am down a little over two pounds! Not going to complain since I had put about four pounds on recently. For me, this is more about getting back on track physically and mentally.

{Click to Enlarge}

I will do a complete recap post on the cleanse next week, so pop back over to check it out. But right now I can already say I feel fantastic!

For now, I off to enjoy my green tea, followed up by my Shakeology for breakfast and a lot of water so that I can stay hydrated.

My workouts for the next few days are just going to be light recovery days. Since I am cutting back the calories for this cleanse, I want to keep those lower impact because my energy will definitely not be there to get through my regularly scheduled Insanity workouts. {Sorry Shaun T! I will be back Saturday morning to work out with ya. ;) }

Hope you all have an amazing Thursday!

Questions for you:

• Have you ever done a cleanse before?
• If so, how long and what did you think?
• What was {or would be} the one food/meal you couldn't wait to have afterwards?

Slim Down for Summer Challenge

How is it that summer is right around the corner? Here I am planning for the girls' summer swimming lessons, Vacation Bible School, family vacations, etc. when I feel like we were just visiting our family back in Wisconsin!

As I am sitting here, memories of two summers ago are flooding back in my mind as though it were yesterday. I was laying in a hospital bed praying and doing all I could to keep our baby safe and inside me "cooking" longer. We made it through to mid August... I had been put in the hospital in June. I am sure you can imagine what laying in a bed for that long did to my body {If you can't... stay tuned for a picture below.}. I came home, all muscle lost, not being able to walk up our stairs without having to stop one or two times to catch my breath. My body no longer was the same.

Three months after having our little guy I knew something needed to change. I hated that all I wanted to do was sleep. I hated that in the morning I would wake up to the sounds of my 6 year old daughter whispering and quietly pouring her 4 year old sister's cereal in a bowl, trying not to wake me up. I was supposed to be doing that job, not her. They are children, and here they were trying to take care of each other and their mama!

Enough was enough. No more excuses. I had too many of those, and I was sick of it. So, I joined my first challenge group and started TurboFire. I was determined to get in the best shape of my life. I wanted my muscle back, plus some. I wanted to have energy to keep up with my three kids, and I also didn't want to dread and cry at the thought of having to put a swimming suit on when summer rolled around.

I hated seeing my before pictures, but here I post them again, still not liking to look at them anymore than the day I took them. Who likes to see those?! However, I am now so thankful I have them, because I see the results of all this hard work! Was it easy? Heck no! There were days I was pushing through my workouts crying. There were days, I later found out, that my husband would sit on the stairs where I couldn't see him so that he could pop in the room to encourage me when he heard me getting frustrated or about to give up. That right there brings tears to my eyes now. He was and still is my biggest cheerleader. He knew how bad I wanted this, and he was right there to keep me going when I needed it most.

This is why I do what I do. This one challenge group that I decided to spend the money on, the money my husband, at the time, thought could be better used somewhere else. I am a stay-at-home, homeschooling mom, so we have to choose wisely where we spend. But, let me tell you, that was the BEST purchase I have ever made. Hands down! Life changing! And, I am never going back. Never.

Accountability. Support. Help. A shoulder to cry on. Someone to celebrate with.

Let me be all of that for you! Let me help you move into summer being happier and more confident then ever. This is not some quick fix or diet. This is the start to a new you, a whole new healthy lifestyle. I am inviting you to join my "Slim Down for Summer Challenge" staring Monday, April 28th and going through Sunday, May 18th. 

We will find a challenge program that you will love and fits you. You can start by checking out all the options on my site. T25 is on promo this month with a savings of $90, and Shaun T is amazing! You push play and get your workout in with only 25 minutes! Brazil Butt Lift is the other program on promotion this month, with a savings of $70, and although I have not tried it out yet, I have heard many great things about the program!

All our programs give modifications so don't worry about that. No matter what your fitness level, you can push harder or follow the modifiers and you are still going to get a great workout.

The great part is that when you purchase a challenge pack the Shakeology will come with. This is part of the designed meal plan I will put you on. It will help you with cravings, "clean you out," make you regular, increase your energy, and lose weight of course.

You will also get me as your coach! You will be added to a secret Facebook group, where only the members of the group will see what is being posted. This is where you will get support, encouragement, and be held accountable. The group will open up one week before our starting date so we can plan and prepare for the start of this challenge! We will work on your goals and why statement. You will take your measurements and before pictures during this week. We will talk meal planning and prep. And, then throughout this challenge, you will check-in daily for encouragement, tips, recipes, ideas, as well as to record your workout for the day and how you did on your eating. You will have moments of temptation and moments where you may want to give up, but that is why we have this group. I will help you!

So... are you ready? Are you in?? If you are tired of the excuses like I was and are ready to dive in head first, comment below for more information and to be considered for a spot in my "Slim Down for Summer Challenge" group. This all starts April 28th, which is just around the corner, so don't wait too long. Now is the time to become the best you!

21 Day Fix Results from one of my challengers!
4 pounds & 5.25 inches lost!

Stay Strong Over the Weekend

I know how the weekends can go, because I used to do it myself. You work hard, stick to your goals, workouts and meal plan all week long, and then the weekend rolls around and everything you invested the past week goes right out the window. For some reason, now it seems okay to eat four slices of pizza, have a bowl of ice cream or end the evening with two too many drinks. Sleeping in on Saturday and Sunday is the way you start the day, which throws everything off and means not getting your early morning workout in or eating breakfast because it is now noon. You start to wonder why you aren't seeing results. "How can the weight not be coming off when I ate so healthy all week, stuck to my snacks and meals, and even worked out?"

No matter how healthy you are during the week, if you give everything up over the weekend and make it a free-for-all, you will just end up un-doing the week of healthiness you just had.

But, I have good news, it doesn't have to go this way! And I am here to share some of the tips that I have found to be helpful in reaching my goals and making this lifestyle change.

1. Keep your same routine! If you are in bed by 9 or 10 during the week and up early to workout each morning, continue with that schedule. I know that when I stay up even an hour or two later on the weekends, I am exhausted the next morning. It throws me completely off, and I have a hard time getting up in the morning, as well as accomplishing the tasks I had in mind. Having a schedule like this, where you are up later on the weekends can actually hinder your weight loss goals too.
2. Plan! I take time on Saturday to plan out my meals for the following week. Sunday, while we are out, we run to the store to pick up the groceries needed, and then I start meal prepping when we get home. This just ensures I will stay on track and has me prepared for the days when we are super busy.
3. Eat normal! Why change eating habits just "because it's the weekend"? If you think about it, it's kind of silly to have that mentality, but I get it because I have, and still do at times, think that way. The most helpful thing I have found is having that plan ready to go that I prepared the previous weekend, with snacks and meals all laid out. If I know we are going to be out and about on Saturday, I will have our food ready to go and pack healthy snack options in my bag in case hunger strikes and we are not around options I would prefer to have.
4. Workout! I used to take the weekends as my rest days, but now My Hunter and I workout together on the weekends, which has become a favorite time for him and I. With it being the weekend and having more free time, we are able to get in a longer workout than normal. 
   
5. Get outside! Our family is big into the outdoors. It is just so refreshing to "unplug" from social media and get out to enjoy nature, breathe in the fresh air and spend time with my family.
6. Watch your drinks! As I mentioned above, you can sometimes get in the habit of having wine, beer or pop over the weekend, and while those things are totally fine in moderation, you don't want to end up going overboard on them. There are a lot of calories in some of those drinks, and they can add up extremely fast when you aren't paying attention.
7. Relax! Isn't this what weekends are all about? Take time to read a favorite book, go to a movie, get out to dinner with your spouse or a friend. Unwind from the week you just had and the one that is coming up.
8. Have a treat! You don't want to deprive yourself or you will completely fail. It's totally okay to have a scoop of ice cream or a slice of cake every now and then. Just watch portion sizes and make this an occasional thing versus an everyday occurrence. 

You can be strong over the weekends, and you will learn how. The best part is, once you carry your healthy habits through your weekends, you will find you have more energy, which makes family and friend time even more fun.

Enjoy your weekend! Enjoy this time away from your hectic day-to-day week!

Have a great Saturday, friends!

FREE 5-Day Clean Eating Group

New Month, New You! 

Monday, March 31st I'm starting a FREE 5-Day Clean Eating Group on Facebook. I will go over the basics for anyone that is interested in cleaning up their eating, as well as their pantry and refrigerator. 

Comment below or  shoot me an email if you are interested in being added to the group. 

Feel free to SHARE with a friend that you think this would help!

Meals & Workouts for the Week

I am on the final week of my round 2 plan with 21 Day Fix! This week includes a 3 Day Quick Fix, which I will be sharing more about in a post coming up in the next day or two.

As for workouts this week, there is an option to double up. This is for anyone looking for more dramatic results. The second workout is to be done at a different time of day. This will help rev metabolism, burn more calories, and just get you closer to reaching your goal. I do plan to do both workouts each day this week.

Here is a look at my plan:

{Click to Enlarge}

We had a great weekend over here; I hope you all did too. My Hunter ordered Insanity, which came last week, so we pulled that out and did workout one on Saturday

and workout two on Sunday.

There's a reason Shaun T called the program what he did! It is definitely not for the faint of heart! ;)

Have a great start to your week, and thanks to Jill and Laura for the link-up. :-)

21 Day Fix! Why Didn't Someone Think of This Sooner?

If you follow me on Facebook or Instagram, you may have seen that I am currently doing something called the 21 Day Fix. Maybe you have wondered what this is, and with the incredible popularity of this program, I wanted to share more.

Beachbody's one-of-a-kind fitness and nutrition program that just came out last month, is designed to help you lose weight fast. It makes weight loss so simple, people are losing up to 15 pounds in just 21 days.

The way 21 Day Fix works is simple—it's a combination of easy portion control and 30-minute workouts. That's it! What makes it different is that there's no guesswork involved. Everything is laid out for you so you don't have to count calories or points.

What I love about this program is that you can lose weight without ever feeling deprived or cutting out your favorite foods. There's room for everything in this plan!

And the workouts are easy to follow, so no matter what your fitness level is, you can keep up and see amazing weight-loss results.

If you get 21 Day Fix through me, I can get you a FREE workout DVD called Plyo Fix that burns a ton of calories in only 30 minutes. Plus, you get me the accountability and support of me as your coach!

I am currently working with an exclusive test group that is just starting week number two, and already they are noticing changes. 

Want to grab your own fix? I am here to help! To start, you can create a free account on my site which makes me your Beachbody Coach. After your account is set-up, just stop by my website here and follow the 21 Day Fix banner. Or contact me directly and I'll tell you more about it!

I will be hosting another Exclusive Test Group starting in April for individuals who would like continued support, motivation, accountability, and guidance to complete this program from beginning to end! 

Would you be interested in being a member of this test group? If your answer is yes, comment below with your email and I will send you the application to be considered for a spot in my group. I keep this group small for better accountability and support. I also only accept those people who are totally committed to this, because I know that when you commit, you see RESULTS! I am here to help you every step of the way, walking you through the nutrition plan, teaching you how to plan it out, how to fit it in your busy lifestyle and to hold you accountable. This group is all done online via Facebook in a secret group, where no one but the members of the group will see the posts. 

The cost is just that of the challenge program, which includes everything you need to make this a success: 7 color-coded portion-controled containers, Shakeology shaker cup, 6 workouts plus one bonus workout on 2 DVDs, 21 Day Fix Start Here Guide, 21 Day Fix Eating Plan, 3-Day Quick Fix, FREE shipping, and me as your coach to support, guide and hold you accountable! I realize this is an investment, so when you invest, I invest to make sure I do my part to help you succeed.

I've seen the results first hand after I completed this 21-day program, and although I didn't have weight to really lose, I still lost 5 inches and a little more than 5 pounds, which lets you know it really works. 

If you are ready, let's do this! The time is now! You will look amazing by the end and be ready and confident at the pool this summer! Let's make you the next success story!

Meals & Workouts for the Week

I have gotten back in to a regular routine of planning and prepping my meal plans {and hello!} it just makes life so much easier! I need to stop falling off that wagon. ;)

I am in the midst of prepping now, but I wanted to take a quick break to pop over and share what I have planned for eats this week.

You will see that I am a pretty repetitive person. It works for me. I cook up a bunch of a few things and just re-eat them all week.

For those who are not aware, I am on round two of the 21-Day Fix, so that is why all my food groups are color-coded.

{Click to Enlarge}

Thanks for hosting this link-up, Laura and Jill! It's always fun to see what others are eating.