INSANITY // Week 5 Plan & Progress Report

Well, it is officially time to try and get back in a routine over at our house. My mom flew out Saturday morning; we were all very sad to see her go. What a blessing she is! She comes right in and takes over helping with everything that needs to be done. She was an extra special encouragement this time as she helped guide, encourage, and reassure me on learning how to take care of my little man and his diabetes. 

Today starts my second month of INSANITY. I honestly can't believe it. The first month flew by, and I am sure this month will too because...

Yes, that's right, we will be moving in a couple weeks! When we moved here 2 1/2 years ago, our intentions were to buy right away, but life kind of threw us some curve balls with my third pregnancy and looking for houses was put on the back burner. My Hunter and I have been going out with our realtor for the past 6 months looking at house after house. I thought we would never find one, because after owning once before, we now had a better idea of what works and doesn't work for us. But two Fridays ago, we pulled into the driveway of this house, and I instantly knew it was for us! My Hunter fell in love too! Needless to say, between homeschooling and packing... and then unpacking and settling in, this second month of INSANITY will probably slip by. 

Okay, so I did get a chance to lay down Friday evening with my girls during our family movie night and plan out our menu for the week. Here is a peek at what we will be having for supper each night. 

Monday - Black Bean Soup with Cheese Muffins

Tuesday - Pumpkin Pasta

Wednesday - Toasted Almond Chicken Salad Sandwich

Thursday - Vegetarian Stew {My meat-lovin' man will love this one when he finds out. ;) }

Friday - Pizza {Whole-Wheat crust! We found that kept Little Man's numbers lower than the week before when we had white crust.}

Saturday - Chili with Cornbread 

Sunday - Crockpot Chicken Greek Chicken Soup

What does my week look like with working out? 

Today will be tough I am sure. I have done two fits tests so far, and that is a workout in itself. I will be pushing to beat the numbers I had from Fit Test 2, you can bet that. Now that I am on month two, Shaun T is upping the game and adding in Max Interval Circuits too. I'm up for the challenge though! ;)

Challenge yourself this week! Whether in your workouts, fighting to get one more rep or with your job, there is always something to improve.

And, if you are up for a whole new challenge, consider joining my next challenge group where we will be detoxing from Halloween and working towards having more energy as we move into the holidays.

I am linking up with Katie today, because it was such a marvelous weekend with us finding our new home. Stop by and check out some of the other fun blogs.

Have a great Monday, friends!

INSANITY // Week 4 Plan & Progress Report

Happy Monday! I hope you are all enjoying a fabulous start to your week. I wanted to update you on my progress with INSANITY. The end of week two and the start of week three went a little different than planned. We ended up in the emergency room with my little guy a week ago this past Saturday. After some blood work and x-rays, it was discovered that he has Type 1 Diabetes. Our world has forever changed in that moment. It has been scary and overwhelming, but at the same time we are finding blessings and trying to focus on some positive. 

We had to spend three days in the hospital, which meant my workouts took a back seat, as they should. My eating has also been so-so. Hospital food? Yep. Dessert? Some. Snacking at night. You bet. Isn't this how it goes at times? We can't all be perfect all the time with our eating and working out. But we don't have to let these moments ruin it all. Get back on track, plan meals, start the workouts back up, and make it go time!

I was ready to start working out again Wednesday morning. I found that pushing myself to the limits really helped with kicking any pity I was starting to feel to the curb. No time for that! I was a sweating machine by the time I was done, and it was sweet to have the encouragement from my oldest daughter as she cheered me on from the couch.

Week three started out with my second fit test. I pulled out the numbers from my first fit test and was determined to beat or at least match those. Here are my week two numbers with week one numbers in parenthesis. 

Move: 

1. Switch Kicks - 57 (48)
2. Power Jacks - 54 (54)
3. Power Knees - 120 (109)
4. Power Jumps - 33 (30)
5. Globe Jumps - 12 (10)
6. Suicide Jumps - 25 (21)
7. Push-Up Jacks - 21 (20)
8. Low Plank Oblique - 38 (38) 

Week four is about to start now. I am sitting here updating and drinking my E&E again. I have been tired in the mornings and have recently been doing my workouts in the afternoons. Getting up to do those 2 AM blood glucose checks on my little man have made me feel like I have a newborn again. I am exhausted. This morning, however, we have a doctor's appointment to get to, so I knew if I wanted to get a workout in, I had to get up anyway. I have goals I want to accomplish so I am just moving things around in my schedule, sleeping in and working out at different times. Here is what week four is going to look like for me: 

Meals have been a bit up in the air and put together the day of. I am trying to redo our meals, just because I now have to count carbs and track those for my little one. We have tried out some new recipes over the weekend and so far they have been given thumbs up from the family. I will definitely be sharing those here on the blog.

Here is a general idea of meals for the upcoming week:
Breakfasts: Shakeology
Lunches: Avocado Quesadillas, Leftovers, Salads
Snacks: Veggies & hummus, Apples w/PB, Nuts and fruit
Suppers: Tacos, Chicken, Chili, Spaghetti

I can't wait to have this whole diabetes thing down a bit more so I can feel prepared for the week. So thankful my MIL is out here helping. Even with her help, our day is super busy and packed as we are adjusting.

How is your week looking? Have you hit some bumps in the road with your fitness and health goals? If so, I challenge you to find some ways this week to work around those and keep moving forward. You can totally do it!

Have a great week, friends!

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!

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!

10 Tips for Better Workouts

Sticking to a fitness program and living a healthy lifestyle can sometimes be just plain tough. As a busy mom of three, I totally feel this way at times between trying to keep the house clean, take care of the kids, prepare meals, etc. Sometimes the last thing I want to do is get in a workout. BUT, I have seen how beneficial this is both for me and my family; it's totally worth it!

This is why I wanted to share ten tips with you that I have found helpful when I am feeling burned out. Hopefully one or more of these will help you too.

1. Wake Up Early :: Tell yourself the night before that you will be waking up early and that sleeping in or hitting snooze is not an option.
2. Warm Up :: Your muscles need time to warm up in order to prevent cramps or injuries.
3. Get Enough Sleep :: How many hours do you need each night? Figure that out and make sure you are in bed on time.
4. Make a Daily Schedule :: There is an old saying, "If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail" and I have found it to be very true. Schedule your workouts. Start meal planning and prepping. Be as prepared as you can for your week ahead.
5. Eat Well :: You can work out all you want, but if you aren't eating well, you are not going to get very far. Be sure to be eating a well-balanced diet.
6. No Excuses :: Keep your overall goal at the forefront of your mind. Stick with it; you can do this!
7. Drink More Water :: To figure out how much water you need, take your body weight, divide that number in half and drink that number in ounces daily. Drinking enough water helps you feel energized, clear headed and refreshed!
8. Take Needed Breaks :: Schedule in your rest days. Your body needs these to recuperate.
9. Vary It Up :: Falling into a routine of doing the same thing day in and day out can make you want to skip your workout. Vary your workout, playlists, and/or your post workout reward.
10. Tell yourself you can do this. :: You have to believe in yourself. Don't give up.

PiYo Update // Weeks 2 & 3

Sorry I am late on getting updates up on how PiYo is going. I have completed weeks two and three and will be starting week 4 today.

So the question you may all be wanting me to answer... what do I think of PiYo so far?

I will be honest with you and admit that I have had a hard time slowing down to do these workouts. I am so used to pushing myself with cardio and lifting weights that this has been a challenge in the sense that I have to clear my mind and really be present in these workouts. However, I do feel my core getting more defined, which has been really encouraging!

Week 2 Workouts: 

Monday - Sweat

Tuesday - Define: Lower Body

Wednesday - Core

Thursday - Define: Upper Body

Friday - Rest

Saturday - Sweat 

Sunday - Core

At this point my two favorite workouts from week two are Core and Sweat. When I do the core workout, I can feel it working *every* angle, and I love that because my stomach is not my strongest area after having three kiddos via three c-sections. 

I have found that Define: Upper Body and Define: Lower Body are quite short so I have been adding in a cardio, usually one of my 21 Day Fix workouts, on those days as well. What can I say, I love getting my sweat on. ;)

It's summertime, so sticking to my meal plan each week has honestly been a challenge for me. I have no problem getting each workout in; that is the easy part. I try to stick to what I have planned for breakfast, lunch and snacks, and then when it comes to dinner and we are out and about for gatherings, I make the best choices I can. All three of my kids have summer birthdays, two of them were last week, and I did have cake and a few other treats.

The thing about PiYo is that you don't burn a ton of calories so you have to be diligent about staying within your calorie range if you want to see results. Making sure I eat less carbs and more protein is what I have found I need to do, and that is a challenge because this girl *loves* her carbs! 

Portion sizes are a bit different than what they are for the 21 Day Fix program. For example, with the 21 Day Fix I could have 12 almonds whereas with PiYo it calls for 6. No more reaching in my almond container and mindlessly snacking!

I have my week three meal plan to share, but I will warn you that I am a creature of habit and tend to eat the same things over and over so it's not super exciting. I pick foods that are nutritious and that I love to eat, and then I incorporate those into my plan.

Week 3 Workouts: 

Monday - Define: Upper Body

Tuesday - Buns

Wednesday - Core

Thursday - Define: Lower Body

Friday - Rest

Saturday - Sweat

Sunday - Strength Intervals

For week three, two new workouts were added, Buns and Strength Intervals. I would say these two were my favorite this week. Buns in no joke! I could feel the work it did on me the next day as I was walking up and down our stairs. 

Strength Intervals is a great workout too. It is a 25 minute calorie burning, body sculpting, no weights  workout. 

I am off to start week four now and am super excited! While the first three weeks have been enjoyable, I felt like I was trying to learn the moves and form, as well as build up my strength. I have noticed that I am starting to sweat more during my workouts now that I am getting more familiar with the program. 

A question I have been getting asked so often is, "Is this workout going to give me results?" My answer to this is that you have to give the program time and try your absolute hardest. You have to trust the program and Chalene Johnson! The workouts do get harder as you move along and you will be pushed more and more as you move through the PiYo program. Just because you aren't sweating buckets by the time you are done with your workout does not mean it's not working. You are building strength, burning calories and getting rid of fat... maybe in a different way than you are used to. Another way I look at this program is by thinking of yoga masters. Do they look overweight or unhealthy to you? Heck no! They look amazing! They are lean and flexible! There is more than one way to get results and PiYo is one of those ways.

Tips for the Perfect Push-Up

When I started my fitness journey two years ago, having just come off a few months of bed rest, my first goal was to be able to do one push-up off my knees. It took quite some time, but I have gotten to the point where I can do a few before having to modify by going down on my knees.

Today, I wanted to share a few tips on how to get that proper form with a push-up.

Whether you're on your toes or on your knees, proper form is extremely important.                                                                             

1. Get into a plank. Be sure your hands are aligned with your shoulders, and then just wider than them. Tighten your core.
2. Lower your body until your chest almost touches the floor, tucking your elbows in as you do. When you're at the bottom, your arms should be at 45-degree angles.
3. Keep your back flat and do not let your back or hips sag. If you can't do a push-up on your toes yet, don't give up! You're still getting a great workout.

For those of you who want to make your push-up more challenging, here are some tips:

1. Slow down. By taking more time to do each repetition, you increase the time that each muscle must stay contracted.
2. Bring your hands and feet closer together to move your center of gravity forward and make your shoulders, pecs, back, and triceps do more work. Tighten your core to protect your lower back.
3. Change the angle. Place your feet on a stable surface and keep your hands on the ground. This puts more of your weight onto your shoulders.
4. Move away from a stable surface and do your push-ups on a balance ball. These exercises will challenge those muscles groups and force you to tighten your core to stay balanced.
5. Do handstand push-ups!

Introducing PiYo

In less than one week, Chalene Johnson, one of my favorite trainers, will be releasing a new workout program called PiYo! Have you heard about it? If not, I want to fill you in on what this program is all about and how you can be one of the first to get your hands on it.

Who is this for?

Anyone and everyone! This program is so much more than just yoga and pilates! This is a *high* intensity, low impact program that can be modified to meet anyone's needs. You will improve flexibility and burn calories, all while getting in the best shape of your life! There is no equipment required, and for those of you that want to go easy on your joints, I have to tell you, there is no jumping involved!

What are the PiYo workouts?

Align (46 mins): The basics

Upper Body (35 mins): Strengthens and stretches your entire body 

Lower Body (25 mins): Tones and strengthens your lower body muscles, glutes, hamstrings, quads, and calves in a gentle yet effective way.

Sweat (35 mins): Fast paced, traditional PiYo workout with bodyweight strength training and ab work

Core (30 mins): Targets all back and ab muscles

Drench (45 mins): Total-body workout burning calories and firing up your metabolism.

Strength Intervals (25 mins): Tones the whole body, all without any weights!

Sculpt (30 mins): Intense full-body workout, again, all without weights

***When you order through me, you will get a *bonus* workout, as well as get this program two weeks earlier than Beachbody's launch date! SIGN UP HERE to have me as your coach.***

Be the first to have this PiYo Challenge Program on June 23rd, and you will also have a spot reserved for you in my exclusive PiYo Test Group. This will be a select group that will commit to completing this program from start to finish to get the best possible results. You must be willing to invest it all, knowing I will be there to meet you half way!

What is a test group? How do I join?

A PiYo Test Group is a committed group of people that will be working to finish this program in a private, online area. You will submit your before and after photos to me. We will be posting in the group daily, and I will be there to give you all the support you need. I will be providing meal plans and daily tips as well.

If you would like to join, please email me privately at rundebriana at gmail dot com. I will follow up within 24 hours to discuss. 

Beachbody Summer SALE!

Oh my goodness, everyone, I am *so* excited to share this news with all of you! Beachbody is offering a SALE on some amazing fitness products!

The offer is valid for a LIMITED TIME ONLY starting today, June 4th at 12 PM PST until Monday June 9th at 12 PM PST. Offer quantities are limited and we’re expecting that some items will sell out quickly, so be sure to get your order in asap!

Have you have been thinking of joining one of my challenge groups?? This is your chance to commit! I have a challenge group starting up at the end of this month that you could get in on, and what better time to join than when things are on a big discount????

TO SEE ALL SALE ITEMS, CLICK HERE!

Let me break down what is on exactly on sale during this time though.

Fitness Programs Sale prices will be reflected starting June 4 at 1 pm MST 

• P90X  Originally $120  Discount 50% off = $59.90  (Coach Price $44.93)
• P90X2 Originally $120  Discount 50% off = $59.90  (Coach Price $44.93)
• Les Mills Pump Originally $166  Discount 50% off = $82.93  (Coach Price $62.20)
• Les Mills Combat Originally $60  Discount 40% off = $35.91  (Coach Price $26.93)
• ChaLEAN Extreme Originally $90 Discount 34% off = $58.95  (Coach Price $44.21)
• Tai Cheng Originally $120  Discount 50% off = $60 (Coach Price $44.57)
• Slim in 6 Originally $39  Discount 37% off = $24.95  (Coach Price $18.71)
• Hip Hop Abs/Rockin' Abs Originally $20  Discount 50% off = $9.95  (Coach Price $7.46)
• Insanity: The Asylum + Free Chin up Bar Originally $149.70  Discount 40% off = $89.87  (Coach Price $67.39)

Equipment & Gear

• Barbell Weights 5 lbs Originally $16.90  Discount 50% off = $8.45  (Coach Price $6.34)
• Barbell Weights 10 lbs Originally $31.90  Discount 50% off = $15.95 (Coach Price $11.96)
• Les Mills Combat Gloves Originally $40  Discount 50% off = $20  (Coach Price $14.95)
• P90X Chin-up Bar Originally $60  Discount 33% off = $39.95  (Coach Price $29.96)
• Stability & Medicine Ball Pack Originally $130.85  Discount 85% off = $19.95  (Coach Price $14.96)
• Foam Roller Originally $30 Discount 40% off = $17.95  (Coach Price $13.46)
• Team Beachbody Apparel : Men/Women - Prices vary and free shipping! 

Please feel free to contact me for *any* questions you have about these products or if you need help ordering!

Also, I want anyone that may have thought about becoming a coach, now would be an awesome time, because you get a 25% discount on any products, and with these sales, you get to take an additional 25% off the sale price! You don't need to feel like you have to sell and there are no monthly requirements, so you could just join for the discount. If this is something you are wanting to do, contact me before placing your order and I can help you get going on that.

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!

No Place Like Home

You may know by now that I workout right here from the comfort of my home. There really is no place like home, and here are a few reasons why I think so.

1. I have finally stopped making excuses! I invested money into my workout DVD program and with it sitting here in my living room where I see it each day, I am reminded to get moving. On days when I just don't feel like working out, I feel guilty knowing I have no excuses.
2. It's cheaper! The first program I bought was one I used for over a year. The gym I looked into over here costs $60/mo. Take that times a year and that costs $720! Whereas, I only paid $180 for my DVD program, which came complete with a 30-day supply of Shakeology and my own coach! I'm also saving by not spending gas to get to and from the gym. That all adds up on a day-to-day basis.
3. I  have been working out at home for two years now and have yet to get bored. Beachbody offers such a variety in programs, that whenever I get the itch to try something new, I can browse the selection to find something new and exciting. Gym classes are limited, but there is a growing demand in fitness DVDs. If you don't want to purchase a program right now, you could even find some free videos on YouTube.
4. I can workout in my pjs! I literally crawl out of bed in the mornings, throw on my sports bra, pop my DVD in and press play. So as long as you have a good bra and supportive shoes, the rest of your outfit does not matter. How awesome is that?! 
5. One-on-One Attention! I know, I know... Shaun T is not literally in my living room pushing me, but trust me when I say it feels like it! This guy motivates me to keep going. He shows the proper form and gives the best encouragement right when I want to give up. 
6. For a busy homeschooling mama, this is a way for me to make the most of my time. By doing home workouts, I am cutting out the commute time I would have if I chose to workout at the gym. We live 15 minutes outside of the city, so that is 30 minutes round trip right there, plus factor in getting the kids ready to go with.
7. I don't have to wait for the shower! As soon as my workout is over, I am free to jump right in my shower and then get dressed to move on with my day. No waiting on other gym members.

For me, working out at home is absolutely the best choice. However, I understand that this doesn't fit for everyone, so ultimately you have to make that choice.

Questions for you:

• Do you workout at home or at the gym?
• What is your favorite part about whichever you do?

Workouts and Meals for the Week

Home from church and set the timer for 30 minutes to force myself to get this menu done. Having a time limit helps me. I really should do that more often. ;)

My meals are so repetitive and simple, but as My Hunter said, I am busy and need to keep it simple.

So here is my plan. Excited to get back on track.

{Click to Enlarge}

After yesterday's intense Insanity workout, I am excited to have a rest day today.

I am now off to meal prep... chili is going to be thrown together and in the crockpot so I can have it in the fridge all set for the week.

Tonight's supper is leftover from last night, Chicken BBQ Beer Sandwiches. You can find that recipe here.

Thanks Laura and Jill for the link-up!

Have a great Sunday, friends! :-)

5 Weight Loss Tips

How many of you watch "The Biggest Loser"? If you do, then you are familiar with trainer Bob Harper and understand that he knows his stuff when it comes to health and fitness. I was reading an article last night where he shared his top fitness tips. I wanted to share them with you all here.

1. Include protein in each of your meals. I wasn't surprised to see this as one of his tips. Protein is more satisfying than carbs or fats. It encourages fat burning while keeping you feeling full.
2. Load up on veggies. Love this tip because produce is low in calories and high in fiber. I remember reading somewhere that vegetables are ranked the number one food to eat for weight loss. I use to find it so hard to get my servings of vegetables in, but now I just make sure I add some to each meal... breakfast can be as simple as adding veggies to my eggs, a salad or a wrap for lunch, snack time can be sneaking in some carrots and hummus and then I include a side with supper. 
3. Don't drink your calories. Simply put, our body does not register liquids the same as solids.
4. No carbs after lunch. This is one I didn't know. I love my carbs so this would for sure be a hard one, but Bob says if you follow this, you will lose weight. I did look into it more and what I found makes total sense. Carbs are a form of sugar and sugar cues the pancreas to make more insulin. Insulin creates hunger hormones, which triggers appetite. The later in the day you  have sugar, the later you will get cravings, and I get that... late night cravings can make or break your diet! In fact, after researching this one, it makes sense that I have always found the night my hardest time to stay on track. Kind of curious to try this one out for a bit to see if I notice a change.
5. The 80/20 rule - Nobody is perfect, so this is probably my favorite rule that I read from his list. What this rule means is that you eat healthy 80% of the time and then allow for a cheat meal or snack occasionally, which is the 20%. It's obviously a good thing to aim to eat healthy... not buy unhealthy foods, cook at home when you can, make smart choices when eating out... but it is just not realistic to say that we can do that 100% of the time.

In the article, Bob also listed some of the exercises he felt were the best for women to do as they work to get ready for summer: planks, push-ups, squats and jumping lunges.

His number one suggestion for the overall body move that will get your heart pumping is burpees.

He just released a new book last month called, Skinny Meals. Definitely one I would love to check out sometime.

Questions for you:

• Which rule would be the easiest for you? Hardest?
• Do you watch "The Biggest Loser"?

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!

Meals & Workouts for the Week

Happy Sunday! It has been a gorgeous weekend here! We played outside quite a bit of the time. Hope you all have been enjoying your weekend as well.

I laid out our meal plan yesterday and now today, after church, we will run to the store to pick up any needed items and come home to meal prep for the week. I love having this all laid out, with as much of our meals and snacks prepared ahead of time. It makes it so much easier with everything we have going on once the week's activities begin.

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I have a new group of challengers starting on the 21 Day Fix tomorrow, so I figured I would join in {my third round} with them. I am absolutely loving the program, the simplicity and results of it all so I figure why not.

When My Hunter is home to work out with me this week, I will join him in whatever Insanity workout he is on, just because I really enjoy working out with him and I am finding that I really like working out with Shaun T. He is TOUGH but totally pushes and motivates you as you go through the workout.

I am planning my May challenge group now, and am looking forward to starting something new. I love variety in my workouts, and it is good to keep your muscles guessing. ;)

Enjoy your day with family. We will be relaxing and playing with the kids in between church, meal prep and before they have AWANA tonight. Busy day! :-)

Thanks, Laura and Jill for hosting again!

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:

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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. :-)

High Five for Friday

It's Friday; this picture {that is SO cute} pretty much sums up exactly how I feel about Fridays!

I thought I would share some highlights on this Friday.

1. First up, we are going to have some *pretty* excited girls tonight when they find out we are now the proud owners of the Frozen DVD! My Hunter took the girls to see this in theaters when it came out, but I still have not seen it so I am super pumped for 7:00 pm to get here!
   
2. I go through phases on Pinterest where I am never on there, and then I will go on a couple nights and find a ton of stuff I end up pinning. Last night I did this and found this extremely adorable spring outfit
   
   and these cute workout tanks that I can now not decide which one I want the most! {Which one do you like? HELP! ;) }
   
3. The girls and I made these muffins again this week, and YUMMY! {That's all I have to say!}
   
4. Excited for dinner at our friends' Saturday night! I am ready to get out, eat a great meal, and have some adult conversation! :-)
5. My Hunter's Insanity program came Monday, and he asked if I was going to do some workouts with him. After watching him do the fit test this morning, I am wondering if I could make it through one of these INSANE workouts! I may just stick to my 21 Day Fix!
   

Hope you all have an amazing Friday! Comment below with a highlight from your week or with something you have planned for the weekend. I would love to hear. :-)

Thanks for hosting the link-up, Lauren!