Summer Slim Down. Are you up for the challenge?

We are starting a new group in just a few short weeks and if you feel like now is the time for you, let me know!  I could not have done it by myself. I am SO thankful every day that I have people on this journey with me to support, encourage, and PUSH me daily to do the best that I can do.

Summer is only a few months away and it is also the perfect time to get a jump start on creating a healthier life for yourself! And what better time than with TWO amazing programs on sale!

Join me!  I will be starting the Ultimate reset soon and I would love a few people who are extra motivated to hop on board with me. 

Message me or email me so we can talk!

Is it time?

What kinds of changes do you need to make in your life today?

Do you have something that you are working toward?

For me, we have a vacation coming up - and a lot of my energy lately is going into THAT. And I know that I would not be able to meet my goals if it wasn't for my challengers in my support groups. We keep each other accountable AND encouraged. We post when we are struggling AND when we have victories. I AM going to accomplish my goals - and I will do so because of my groups.

I have FIVE SPOTS LEFT for my upcoming online fitness support group officially starting on MAY 5TH. If you have any goals before Summer arrives that you need help with - let me know! You do not have to work at it alone! Some of the best people I know now, have been from people I have met in these groups! We build lasting friendships because we are working toward the same things!

Let me know if you are interested in filling one of the last few spots!

Heart warming Tea Recipes (Immune Booster #2)

TEA

I could go on and on and on about tea. It is the BEST. Especially because it fights viruses and soothes sore throats - but also according to Prevention.com, a Harvard study shows that people who drank 5 cups of black tea for 2 weeks had more of the immune boosting protein interferon in their blood than those who didn’t.

Since tea doesn't necessarily have "recipes" other than infusing it with fruit and such. Here is a list of a few tea favorites that will help with many different types of illnesses!

Raspberry Leaf Tea:

Highly nutritious and especially beneficial for women as it helps balance hormones and is good for the skin. It is often consumed during pregnancy as it can strengthen the uterus and is a good source of Magnesium, Potassium, and B-Vitamins.

This is good hot or cold - and simply with water. Add stevia or natural sugars to sweeten.

Chamomile Tea:

Chamomile tea is one of the most consumed teas in the world behind regular black tea. Chamomile flowers have a naturally sweet taste with a hint of an apple flavor. Chamomile is a good herbal source of  Magnesium, and is known as a soothing and relaxing herb.

It makes an excellent in the evening or in times of stress because of its mildly sedative and soothing properties. It is an excellent herb for children and can even be an effective remedy for pink eye.

Another one perfect simply with hot water.

Mint Tea:

My husband LOVES mint tea when he is sick. Peppermint tea soothes the digestive track and is helpful for heartburn, nausea and indigestion. Useful in early pregnancy to help alleviate nausea.

A lot of people like this with hot water - I am one who usually can only drink this is it is infused with fruit.

While it is especially helpful during illness, Peppermint is a delicious tea anytime and can be consumed alone or with other herbs to help increase their effectiveness.

Jasmine Green Tea: Can be used to treat depression and other health issues. Plus it can also be used for Aromatherapy, Stroke Prevention, Antioxidants & Cancer, and Lower cholesterol. On top of that - it is AMAZING. Yum. Perfect simple and with hot water

Chai Tea: 

Chai tea is an ultimate favorite for me and can be good with Raspberry Leaf tea instead of black tea and with coconut milk instead of regular milk. There are many variations of chai tea recipes and with a little experimenting, you can find the one that you like best. Here is a basic recipe to give you some ideas.

Crock Pot Chai Tea Latte

An easy Chai Tea that can be pre-made in the crock pot for a warm drink on the go.

4 cups water

4 cups coconut milk (store bought or well-filtered homemade)

8 tea bags OR ½ cup loose leaf black tea or herbal tea

1-2 tsp stevia leaf

8 thin slices of fresh ginger root OR ½ tsp dried ginger root (optional)

6 cinnamon sticks

8-10 whole cloves or ¼-1/2 tsp clove powder

2 cardamon pods (optional but really good)

1 teaspoon of real vanilla extract

Optional: 1 Tablespoon chamomile flowers and ½ tsp dried fennel seeds

Instructions

Put water in crock pot and add herbs and spices (I really suggest using a cloth bag or reusable tea bag)

Cook on high for 2-2.5 hours or on low for up to 6 (I’ve kept on low overnight). Add milk or coconut milk and stir until heated.

Serve plain or topped with real whipped cream or the cream from a can of coconut milk. Can also be chilled and blended with ice and 2 TBSP coconut oil for an iced version!

Enjoy!

Everything you got - Day 5

Day Five is now in the books.

I was SO spot on with my water today - which was good because i didn't quite squeeze all my containers in today. And the water really helped fuel me for my workouts. I did upper fix and cardio fix for today. AND I did them one right after the other. Yikes.
I may not do it that way again. HA!

I usually take my time and do upper in the morning and then when J is down for one of his naps, I will do the other one. Wellllll, I let the day fly by and when J got to his second nap I decided to go for it - because I knew I would not do them - especially not the second one - if I didn't do both NOW.
Then I just got a huge burst of energy. And I was able to push hard through both - but man was I beat at the end of the second one.

Here is a little something I found that I LOVE about 21 Day Fix. Autumn says it in almost every video and it really pushes me - EVERY TIME.

GIVE EVERYTHING YOU'VE GOT....

AND THEN JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE.

YES! Isn't this how every aspect in life should be. We always have "a little more" that we can give - especially when we are pushing for something that we want to accomplish. In everything I do - I never try to do something and only do it halfway. I always try to give it EVERYTHING I've got. It doesn't matter where I am or what I am doing. And this is something that I want. I want to be healthy and be able to BE an EXAMPLE for him not just a spokeswoman.

So in this, and in everything, I will give it everything I've got. AND just a little bit more.

All Around Me - Day 4

Everyone around me is getting sick - and I can feel my body trying to fight it off - HARD.

It makes me even more thankful for shakeology and healthy eating.
Today I had a pretty spot on day of clean eating. Oatmeal for breakfast with strawberries, a whole wheat chicken sandwich with walnuts and cranberries for lunch, my strawberry shakeology, and a brown rice and steak bowl.

I have also been drinking a ton of water. Which is another thing that I feel is helping me stay healthy when the rest of my family is sick.

Todays workouts were Pilates Fix and Upper Fix.
I LOVE pilates days.
It refreshes my muscles and gives me the perfect amount of stretch and challenge for the middle of the week.

Water is so important to keep your body strong and healthy so, today, make sure you get the amount you need!

Love PiYo!

Here is an extra little post for you all today...

I am just so excited for the new program that Beachbody is coming out with soon. I have always loved PiYo and this one looks amazing!

The best part is that it will give great results - even though it will be low-impact on your body.

So those of you with bad knees, joints, and other body issues - this will be perfect. 

It is a flexibility program that will change your body! Keep a look out for it - and watch this video!

To do that AND to get on an email list to know more about it -

Click Here!

Spring "Cleaning"

Ok so I decided to do it!!

Who else feels tired, clogged, or bloated?
I know I could use more energy!

The Ultimate Reset it a great detox program that can Flush toxins and heavy metals from your vital organs and rejuvenate your digestive tract! It will also enhance your ability to digest and process foods, extract more nourishment from the food you eat AND help you to eliminate dependencies on sugar, caffeine, and alcohol!

Who else is ready to establish new nutrition and hydration habits while making your body feel amazing?

Who wants more info?!

This program is AMAZING and I have only heard GREAT things from people who have done it. Here is a testimonial from someone who finished the Ultimate Reset.

"I decided to give the Ultimate Reset a try. I really felt like my body had to de-toxify if I was ever going to get back to my old self. Guess what? It worked. I felt fantastic. My cholesterol dropped by 102 points. I lost 11 pounds. I’m no longer addicted to coffee. I need less sleep. I’m clear headed. And I have so much energy... And I FEEL 20 YEARS YOUNGER! In my opinion, the Ultimate Reset is the best program Beachbody has developed (and I have almost all of them)!"

CLICK HERE to order!

Support Groups

After 2 rounds of T25!

Changing my HEALTH.

The picture on the left is where I was a few weeks ago - and I am still working hard this month. Isn't it amazing being able to notice progress. I have never been one to be "I need to get my bikini body ready for summer". Maybe because I have never had an "ideal" bikini body - HAHA - but now I have that motivation but for a different reason. I have always loved myself and my body. It has taken encouragement and strength over the years but I loved it.

After I had my baby - it became more about health and less about "looking hot". I could care less about what I look like in a bikini but I DO care about being healthy and not letting my body get in the way of enjoying things with my son and husband.

Stronger

Progress is progress.

This is something that I tell myself a lot and something that I think everyone needs to tell themselves. 

I am specifically referring to fitness and weight loss but this could be applicable in any area of life. We like to call these "non-scale" victories. At first, I used to struggle a lot with the scale. Stepping on that dreaded thing (daily) to find that the numbers have not moved or have even gone UP after a day (or week, or month) of a lot of work. 

How frustrating is that?! 

But I have learned:

1. Not to step on the scale every day
2. Muscle weighs more than fat AND
3. That the scale doesn't define progress

ANY "non-scale victories" mean progress. Any inches lost means progress. Weight loss is progress too - but progress isn't simply defined by it.

I have lost a lot of weight and inches since I started my journey, but I have also changed my eating habits, cut out certain foods, I am able to do normal push-ups (not many - but anything is better than 0), I can push through a full workout with no breaks, I work out on days I don't want to or don't feel like it, I use heavier weights than when I first started, AND most importantly I have not given up. 

These little victories are what push me through and allow me to keep going when I feel like quitting. Progress IS progress and do not let anyone tell you otherwise - especially not the scale. AND even more - especially not YOU.

A Little Bit of Awesome

I love taking the time to research a little bit every now and then, the ingredients that are in Shakeology.

Today, for one of my groups, I chose to research the Goji Berry.

Man superfoods are amazing!

GOJI BERRY

"Scientists have found the goji berry to be one of the most nutritionally dense fruits on earth. Here are the main nutrients found in the goji berry that makes it such a potent wellness agent.

Goji berries contain special polysaccharides which fortify your immune system and are responsible for controlling your body’s most important defense systems. Scientists atrribute most of goji’s amazing health properties to these special polysaccharides.

Goji berries contain 19 amino acids–the building blocks of protein–including all eight essential for life, Goji berries are a better source of Vitamin C than oranges.

Goji berries contain complete spectrum of antioxidant carotenoids, including beta-carotene and zeaxanthin (supports the eyes). Goji berries are the best source of carotenoids of known foods.

Goji berries also include:

B-complex Vitamins

Vitamin E

Essential fatty acids

Betaine"

Other special things about the Goji berry are:

• To treat: diabetes, high blood pressure, fever, and age-related eye problems
• Have also shown to have benefits in mental well-being and calmness, athletic performance, happiness, quality of sleep, and feelings of good health.
• They have one of the highest Antioxidant Powers of any fruit
• They have close to 20 different vitamins and minerals, which makes it one of the most nutritionally beneficial foods available

And the list goes on and on.

And just think that this is only ONE of SEVENTY amazing ingredients in Shakeology. 

Prepping Time

Last minute prepping for my Ten Day Clean Eating Challenge.

These are free challenges that I will do every once in a while.

I love these because it gives people an opportunity to see how beneficial it is to change your diet - even for just a week! When my husband and I first signed up to do one of these, we were BLOWN AWAY by how we felt. And it is actually kind of funny because we didn't fully realize how great we felt until we skipped a day and started eating badly again. We felt horrible.

It is amazing how good you feel and how great your body feels when you fill it up with REAL food. There are so many benefits to eating clean. And "Abs are made in the kitchen" anyway right?

What will you do today to make sure your body gets the right amount of nutrition and none of the wrong kinds?

Will you drink only water for a week?

Will you cut out sweets?

Will you change your afternoon snack from chips to veggies and hummus?

What step will you take this week to ensure a better you?

Somewhat of an introduction - but also an explanation for my inspiration.

This is my sweet little one year old boy. Yes - his face is covered in blueberries. And yes - HE is my inspiration. In one of my challenge groups, our challenge for the day was to post a picture of someone or something who inspires you to keep going.

I want the best for him and I want to lead by example. As he grows I want him to know the importance of health and fitness and treating your body right. I cannot imagine having any of my days be cut short with him because of my health. I will not let anything get in the way of my time with him - and I love that this journey is something I get to share with him.

Love you Baby J.