2017 Goal Setting

HELLO 2017! Man, 2016 was a rough year for Hollywood. For me, not so bad. We had a surprise pregnancy. I was able to maintain a healthy and fit pregnancy. Delivered a very healthy and beautiful baby girl and then started my weight loss journey with a BANG! So for me, yeah, 2016 was pretty amazing!

What can I do to make 2017 even better? Well, I have plans. I have lots of plans! I have goals, HUGE GOALS! And I can't wait to share them with you. A lot of them have to do with this blog and the direction I want to take my journey to.

For the first time, I have actually made a goal boar. I have had these goals stewing in the back of my head for the past few months actually. So I already knew what I wanted to achieve for this year. I even came up with my own timeline on when I was going to do things, how I was going to accomplish them and so forth.

Some big goals for me:
1) Rebranding my blog. Getting a professional logo made with other social media content to use to make my blog more professional and cohesive. Rolling out in the spring.

2) Getting my Personal Training Certification. This is HUGE for me! I originally thought about it in 2010. Then over the past year, I have been deciding when I was going to do it. That is this summer.

3) Lowering my body fat %. GOAL: 24% BF. I started in November at 41%. And honestly I don't know if 24% is doable while nursing but I really want to be much lower in my BF%. That means building muscle to burn my fat. And really watching what I eat. And in 2 months I have lost 1 percent. Slow and steady. Goal: November.

4) Professional Fitness Photos. I CAN NOT WAIT FOR THIS! This is my reward for reaching my BF% Goal. WHY NOT?!? When I get my body healthy, why not show it off. So I am really looking forward to those! Timeline. November.

5) Getting out of credit card debt, staying out of debt and building our savings. Plus saving for 2 BIG trips. One this summer to New Orleans for the Beachbody coach summit and beach for Mason's birthday. And saving to take the family to Disney World in a year from now! I really want to run the Dopey. and still debating but...I will be running one race next year at least. First we have to get out of debt which is scheduled to be by March. Then we start saving for New Orleans, then Disney.

Couple of things when you are setting goals is to follow the SMART system. When you do you are more likely to achieve your goals because you are making a plan. Check out the SMART Goal making below!

S- Specific- Be super specific when making your goals. Write down what you really want to accomplish, not just the overall goal but if you want to lose 20 pounds then write it down, instead of just "lose weight".

M- Measurable- How are you going to measure your success? Do you have an app that you can put your info in and the app will keep track for you? Make a spread sheet or have some sort of way you can track and measure how you are progressing. (lose 20 pounds by using a scale and using my iHealth app on my phone.)

A- Attainable- Be realistic in your goals. 100 pounds in 2 months is not going to happen. Make real smart goals based on what you know you are capable of, and maybe push yourself just a little bit. Also don't under value yourself either. And how are you going to do it, being specific again. (lose 20 pounds by March 31st by eating clean, exercising 6 days a week and allowing myself 1 meal a week that is an indulgent meal.)

R- Relevant- Is is worthwhile? Does it fit in with your overall long term plans? (Double my daily page views on my blog by June 2016.) Find your why on why you want to accomplish it and make it worthwhile. This will help you stick with it more when you are having a hard time!

What are you big goals for this year? Drop them in the comments below! 

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey! Don't forget to follow me on INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK!

Setting Goals and GETTING Results

It's the beginning of the year and the #1 thing people do is set their RESOLUTIONS! But what often happens is that in about 3 weeks...the resolution fades away. Setting goals and sticking to the work required to reach your goals is HARD WORK! And it takes constant dedication to your goals to stay on track. Here are some steps you can take to make sure you stick with your goals and GET RESULTS!

1) Set Real and obtainable goals: 

Be realistic in your goals. Start with smaller goals that are obtainable rather than larger daunting goals. Like, lose 10 pounds by March. Instead of: lose 100 pounds by March. It isn't going to happen safely or without medical intervention. You have to be realistic with yourself or else you are just setting yourself up to fail. And no one wants to do that. Another great goal to think about is to slowly increase how many days you are exercising. If on average you exercised 2 days a week, like clock work, bump it up to 3-4 for a challenge. But automatically jumping to 7 days a week might be too much of a leap and can lead to getting burned out pretty quickly. Be realistic in your goals.

2) Make It Exciting:

When you start a new exercise routine, make it fun and exciting! Start a new workout program so that you have something new and different to do than what you have done before! Doing the same old boring stuff means you can get bored sooner and more likely to stop. Try a new workout that challenges you. The Beachbody On Demand All Access Pass is perfect for anyone that needs to change up their program frequently! Hammer and Chisel, 21 Day Fix Extreme, a Cycle class, hot yoga! There are so many things out there to up the anti in your workouts! And make it fun! Also make an end goal for what you are doing to. Like sign up for a specific race that looks awesome, or be able to do 10 military style pushups. Challenge yourself but make it fun and exciting.

3) Set A Time Limit

Give yourself a deadline on when you have to reach your goals by so that you are pushing yourself every single day. It gives you something to look forward to to make sure you stay on track and you can literally see what you have and haven't been doing to make sure you reach your goal.

4) Reward Yourself

Plan a fun reward for yourself for when you reach your goal. Don't make it food related but something you have wanted for a while. New workout clothing. New equipment for your home gym. Necklace. Anything that makes what you are doing all the more worth it!

5) Don't Give Up On Yourself

The only one that can stop you from doing what you need to do is yourself. Yes life happens, but you are the one who determines if you workout or eat healthy for the day. Don't let other people, circumstances or obstacles stop you from doing what you need to do every single day to get you one step closer to your goals!  If you want to change you have to WORK FOR IT! Take ownership for what you want to accomplish and don't stop until you reach it! 

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey! Don't forget to follow me on INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK!

Dream Big: Goals

How many of you are writing down your goals every month on what you want to accomplish for the day, week or month ahead. This is VITAL to reaching your goals. I want you guys to DREAM BIG all the time. There is no goal too big for you to accomplish. It just might take a little time, or a few times to reach it.

I have had a goal to be under 200 pounds for years now. I have come so close to that goal and then something happens and then I have to keep trying again and again. But the key is, I WILL NOT GIVE UP! I WILL MAKE IT and I will be the healthiest I can be when I finally do reach that goal, only to have another goal in its place to set my sights on.

I worked so hard after I had Mason. My goal was to be under 200 pounds by the time we had our family photos. I made it to 203 and then my weight only went up from there.

DON'T GIVE UP! You are worth it. Take some time this week to think about your goals, desires, wants. We have the holidays coming up and I want to set you guys up with some amazing goals for the end of the new year. How great would it be to actually not gain weight this year during the holiday season? Well, this month in my exclusive group we are going to be doing 21 Days of Goals and Goblins! Our Halloween themed month! (I really love the Halloween themed month!) And in here we are going to do a week of focusing on our goals for the rest of the year.

The other key, is to always have goals. For me, if I finish my time frame for the goal and don't have another goal to follow I often fall off the wagon and stop trying. As is the case with these pictures. I worked so hard to lose weight, didn't make my goal, I was close but didn't make it. Then I just stopped trying. And then the weight came back on and it was so frustrating! 

If you are wanting to lose weight by the new year and are ready to take that next step, let's get you started TODAY! If you were to lose just 1 pound a week, you could lose 12 pounds by the new year! Think about it because it is totally doable and you don't have to let the holidays get you down this year! Don't know where to start or want to be part of my EXCLUSIVE SUPPORT GROUP with other ladies going through their journey just like you, EMAIL ME and let's get you set up! 

So close to my goal, but sadly, I didn't have my goals after this. My goal was to be under 200 pounds for these pictures. I didn't make it to my goal and gave up after this.

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey!

Don't Change Your Goals, Change Your Method

How many of you have set goals but haven't quite gotten there yet? Setting goals is the easy part. But reaching them, not so much. If you haven't reached your goal, DON'T CHANGE YOUR GOAL, change your method. Look at what you were doing each and every day. Were you doing your daily workout? Were you eating on point every single day or did a little temptation make it into your diet more often than you wanted it to? What about Shakeology? Did you drink that every single day?

There are so many reason why we don't reach our goals, a holiday happens, or we overindulge too much and then it is so hard to want to go back. You can reach your goals, it just takes time to hone in on the right method that works for you!

Ready to join me and finally get to your goals? 

Summer Slim Down To Success 60 Day Program
What's included in the program: 
Daily Motivation
Daily Accountability
1 year unlimited streaming membership with over 500 workouts to choose from
1st month supply of Shakeology
7 color coded containers and a shaker cup to learn portion control and guide
Nutrition guides from over 32 programs
2 Different 30 day guides to help you stay on track
Tools and tips to help you stay focused
Recipe collections
7 Day Meal Plan
Weekly LIVE chats
ME as your motivator and supporter!

It is not too late to join my program. If you are ready to work on you from the inside out the time is now! FACEBOOK Message me with any questions or ready to order? Click the link and I'll contact you! 

CLICK HERE TO ORDER!

I want you to feel comfortable in your shorts, tanks, and your swim suit this year. For so long I never did! But not this year. I may still be super white legged but I will do everything I can now, to work on toning up my legs and arms, even while pregnant. If you are ready to get back into it and change your method and really make strides to your goal. EMAIL ME! Let's chat, get you started and in the group!

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey! 

Celebrate The Little Victories

Celebrate the little victories which are leading you to HUGE RESULTS! This is why it is so important to take a monthly picture and measurements because the scale is a BIG FAT LIAR! The other day I went into Kohl's because I needed jeans. BADLY! I have been wearing my maternity jeans because, well, they weren't worn in the inner thigh. They still fit, but the pair I have left have been falling off my hips and hanging too low and most of my shirts weren't long enough to cover the nude colored belly elastic thingy that covers your whole belly (do you know what I'm talking about?)

Anyhew, I am going out this weekend for a girls weekend and didn't want to sport maternity jeans. I automatically went to plus sized area. And grabbed a curvy bootcut. Totally thought I picked up an 18 because there is no way I can fit in a 16. I put them on and it was tight. I ain't gonna lie. And I had muffin top from my upper belly area, above my belly button. I hate that area by the way! I sat in the dressing room freaking out, because a) I have been working my rear end off to get fit. Even Matt said my butt was literally smaller! b) I didn't want to still be pushing out of an 18. 

After a few minutes of wallowing in my sadness I looked at the tag and it said 16! WHAT! My sadness went to AMAZEMENT! I not only was able to pull up a 16 past my thighs, I was able to zip and button them without much difficulty. Just my upper bell hanging out a bit. I can not believe it! 

At some point in your journey you will have a killer awesome moment just like that, that makes all the sweat, tears and squashing those pesky excuses totally worth it! 

Are you following me on Facebook or Pinterest yet? WHY NOT! Head on over and get daily motivation! 

Know Your Why

Why do you want to lose weight? Why do you want to feel better? Why do you want to start exercising? Why do you want to run that race? WHY! Why is the driving force to why we do things. It is also that annoying question that our kids tend to give us when we explain they can't do or they need to do something. Why? Why? Why? Why? They ask 1000 times! Well, why does a kid ask you why 1000 times? Because they aren't satisfied with the answer you are giving them. They want to know the deep dark reason why they can't have that candy. "Because I said so," just doesn't cut it for them.

And you know what? You need to be just like your kid and ask yourself why until you are so raw, emotional, crying and feeling it all the way deep down into your bones.

Why do I want to lose weight? Because I am terrified to get pregnant again at a heavy weight. I'm not saying my weight last time is what made me miscarriage but I started out my last pregnancy at my heaviest weight which made physical exercise difficult and hard. I want to be healthy. I do want to blame myself again for losing the pregnancy had I had been weighing less...I don't want to endanger my life or the life of my child because of my weight. I want to exercise. I want to eat right. I don't want to feel limited by my weight while I am pregnant. I want to be here for my family. I want to run at the park and not feel winded. I want to enjoy life to the fullest! I am determined. I am persistant. I am worth it and I know I am worth it!

You have to really dig deep for your why on why you want to do whatever it is you want to do. If you don't then those pesky excuses are just going to rear their ugly heads and sooner or later you might give into those excuses. Your why has to be stronger than your excuses.

Need help finding your why? Ask yourself these questions:

1) What makes you come alive? What gives you drive to want to do something. Your kids. Your family. Your future family. What is going to give you that push to push harder.

2) What strengths do you already have? Look at what you already have going for you. Use these strengths to help you realize that you can do what you are wanting to accomplish!

3) How will your life change if you succeed? Think about the outcome of what you want to accomplish. How much different could your life be when you succeed? How amazing will you feel?

When you figure out your why I want you to write it down and post it in a place that you see everyday. On your bathroom mirror. On your computer. On your fridge. In your car. Wherever you can look at it daily, or when you are having a bad time. So that you can read your why and find that drive to keep going! You have this. You are so worth it!

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey! Don't forget to follow me on INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK!

September's Book Club

Every month now, I try to pick out a new book every month that I need to read and that I want to read to help me continue to learn to love my life, gain more self confidence and to just better my self. These books are often called "self help." But they are so much more than that to me. I call them my personal development to help me develop myself to be better. And since I started reading these kinds of books in May, the way I see my life and the lives of those around me have totally changed.

So what's on my reading list for this month? Book #1

52 Ways To Live A Kick Ass Life: BS-Free Wisdom to Ignite Your Inner Badass and Live the Life You Deserve  By Andrea Owen. I love her podcasts and she really is about giving it to you straight and making you really think about how to look at life. I am so excited. Oh and it is for FREE on Kindle Unlimited! Yeah Baby!

Book #2 for when I finish 52 Ways:

BrenÉ Brown: Rising Strong: If you are brave enough, often you will fail. This is a book about what it takes to get back up.  This is a book that was recommended by Andrea Owen on one of her podcasts and when she talked about it and reading the brief little summary it is something that I totally need right now and can't wait to start reading! 

My 5 Biggest Weight Loss Secrets

I am coming up on 20 lbs lost since mid May. In 3 months I will have passed the big 20 pounds loss mark and almost 10% of my starting weight is GONE! THAT IS HUGE! And it is seriously just hitting me how huge that is! I have no idea why I didn't realize it earlier but I didn't!

So would you like to know my secrets??? And guess what, there is no pill, wrap or anything else I do. This is what I am doing to get my results!

1) Decide! The biggest factor to why I am finally losing weight is that I am determined to do this. I have decided that this is the time that I take back my life and I want to be as healthy as possible for the next time that I do get pregnant. And I will get healthy because this is my time. I decided that it was my time and I am DETERMINED! (Even my parents know that when I am determined, nothing will stop me!)

2) Clean eating! You can workout all you want and still get results. But if you combine clean eating with working out the weight will just fall off of you! I am living proof of that. It has happened now more than once in my life that when I start eating clean my body just sheds what it doesn't want which happens to be the excess fat on my body.

3) Exercise! You need to add exercise to your daily life. Even if it is just 30 minutes a day. Combining exercise with your clean eating allows you to build muscle which means you will overall burn more calories during the day because muscle is a CALORIE BURNER!

4) WATER! Drink lots of water! Our bodies need water to survive. It is 0 calories and you can drink as much of it a day as you want. And you can put fresh fruits in it to flavor it up naturally and it tastes so good! It also helps to flush our stuff from your system. Feeling bloated, drink more water! Stopped up, DRINK WATER! Stay hydrated and cut the sugary drinks. Those are not what our bodies NEED!

5) Stay determined! You have decided and you are eating clean, adding in some exercise and putting down the water, now what?!? You have to stay committed and give it everything you have. You have to really want it or else you are going to make excuses and just give up after a few days because you are going to miss your other foods. This isn't about missing foods or feeling like your are depriving yourself. It isn't about punishing yourself or dieting. This is about putting you first. This is about taking back your life. This is about you taking care of you. This is so much more than just the food. This is about you being here for your family. This is about you being able to play with your kids. Run after your kids. Getting up and down off the floor with your kids. This is about you being a good example for your kids. This is about bringing good eating habits into your house so that your kids learn it to and that they won't be one of the statistics of obese children in this country. Find your reason why you have to do this for you and you will be determined and you will stick with it.

My reason why I am doing this. I firmly believe that our baby girl sacrificed her time now to be with us. She saved my life because had the pregnancy continued there could have been other complications that could have done a heck of a lot more damage than what was already done. I also believe she did it so that we could both be healthy, together. If it continued and I made it out ok, she probably would not have been. I owe her  to get as healthy as possible now so that her sacrifice isn't wasted. And I firmly believe that I will get as healthy as possible now because I know I will. I believe in myself that I will.

All you have to do to believe in yourself is to start believing. You can do this. I know it is hard. I know that it might seem impossible but it isn't. You just have to decide, and stick with it and stay determined! You can do this.

Need daily motivation and one on one support? Let me know. We can do this together because you are stronger than you think! I know you can do this!

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here to join my private online community where you get free advice, support and encouragement + a free gift with tips to help you get started with the right mindset for healthier nutrition choices!

Just A Little Bit Further

I just realized the other day that I am coming up on my first goal for this journey! I have no idea why it took me so long to realize that but I am. My first goal was to get down to where I was before I got pregnant with Collin. And I am only 10 lbs away from that. WHAT!?!

The cool thing is that I have already lost 15 lbs so right now, 10 more just seems like a cake walk. (without the cake of course!)

It is amazing how quickly that something will happen when you are consistent with it and it just becomes a habit! I was asked the other day about denying my kids sugar drinks and if they were missing out on something as part of their childhood. My kids prefer water over any other drink. Do they like sugary drinks? You bet! But it is only occasionally that they do have it. And that right there, my friends, is the key. OCCASIONALLY!

We have come to believe that "dieting" is restricting yourself on calorie intake and denying yourself certain types and kinds of foods! In a way I look at dieting as a form of punishment and I think that is why I personally would rebound so hard after a stint of dieting. Now that I have built up a habit of eating clean 80% of the time and allowing myself an indulgence 20% of the time I have learned a healthy natural lifestyle full of balance. And I know that I can enjoy that cake on our Anniversary, or birthdays and I won't feel guilty for it at all! I am going to enjoy every single bite, guilt free! And I deserve that in my life.

Don't restrict yourself. Live your life. But you have to learn the healthy way to do it! Need motivation to stick with your new lifestyle of eating clean and exercise? Let me know! My next challenge group starts TODAY and I would love to have you in there!

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here to join my private online community where you get free advice, support and encouragement + a free gift with tips to help you get started with the right mindset for healthier nutrition choices!

Why Not Start Today?

Not a lot of people know this about me. For the first few years after I got married every single time I went to the grocery store I would buy a doughnut or a candy bar. I would hurry and eat it on the way home so that Matt wouldn't know about it. As the months went by and I started gaining weight it didn't really bother me because I assumed I would get pregnant soon and that once I started breastfeeding I would lose all my gained weight. HA! It only took 9 years to get pregnant and have my 1st kid! Well that one doughnut or candy bar turned into 2 and then I was doing a candy bar and a doughnut or 2. IT GOT SO BAD! 

It took a few years, and Matt finding the "evidence" and that is when I realized that I had a very unhealthy relationship with foods. I have probably come across lately that I have it all together. And have never struggled with food. But I have. I have cravings just like you. I love food. Good food. I love sweets because it helps me feel happy and sometimes it brings back great memories of something from years ago. It is what I choose to do with those cravings that makes me different from back then to now!

But what I have learned is that I am stronger than those cravings. And those sweets only give me like 5 minutes of pleasure and add that to the way I would beat myself up afterwards it just isn't worth it. And the amazing food out there. Yeah, I still have it, sometimes, NOT everyday. I allow myself to indulge. But I also feed myself great tasting whole foods. And just because I eat healthy doesn't mean it tastes bad. It is actually pretty delicious! 

If you have ever felt like this or feel like you need a little helping hand in getting your nutrition and exercise back on track? Let me know! Send me an email message! I will get back to you and we can talk about your goals or set them if you want! I'm starting my next health and fitness private support group on the 3rd of August and I would love to have you join me and the others in the group! Let's do this together!

-One on one support from me to help you set and reach your goals.
-Daily motivation.
-Work with a program that is just right for you to fit your lifestyle.
-Provide you with recipes and a meal guide
-Daily dose of nutrition.
-Plus you will be with other people just like you in our PRIVATE accountability group where you can ask questions and get real answers.

Our Motto for August is: Simply Be-YOU-tiful It is never too late to take care of you! You are worth it!

(You must be willing to make a small investment in your health and wellness.)

Interested? Fill out this form!

Disney Princess Half Marathon Registration

The Disney Princess Half Marathon registration opens to everyone TOMORROW! Have you decided yet if you are going to be doing it or not? I sadly won't be doing it in 2016, as we have a couple of family events to attend next year that we are saving up to be able to attend but man, if I had unlimited funds, I WOULD BE DOING THE RACE! No questions asked. It is really that awesome.

Yes I was 29 weeks pregnant when I ran mine. Yes it was hotter than hades on a nice balmy day, and yes, my body hated me for the rest of the day, but it was TOTALLY worth it. The experience of running in my first Disney race, which is something that I had wanted to do for years! but the experience of it all. All the women coming together. To be healthy, to try something that seems impossible to so many. We did it! I DID IT! And I will never ever forget my experience of it. All 13.1 miles. (I may have zoned out for a mile or 2 in the beginning but still!) I remember the whole experience.

Put this on your race todo list if you can't do it in 2016. You want to!

Check out my tips for the half marathon!

Half Marathon Race Recap

The 1/2 Marathon race: What to expect

The Expo

The Costumes

Race Morning

21 Day Fix Round 2 Results

I don't have my pictures yet. (CLICK HERE To see my 21 Day Fix Round 2 Results Photos) but I wanted to post my results from my second round on 21 day fix. 

In 7 weeks, I have lost 10 lbs. 10 POUNDS! I am no longer stuck at the weight I have been at for months and months. I am on my way to reaching my first goal which is 25 lbs lost.

I have lost 7.65 inches off my body. The most being from around my belly. I fit my pre pregnancy clothing more comfortably and just overall I am feeling great! 

I am so excited to keep losing weight. I see my goals happening because I have decided that I am doing this. I want this and I am worth it. This time is different for me because I have so much support from my challengers on our private support group page and together we are making huge changes in our lives!

Are you ready to get results like these? The time is now to get your membership to Beachbody On Demand bundled with Shakeology and your own Nutrition Fix Containers! NOW to join my EXCLUSIVE group!  CLICK HERE TO ORDER and I will send you an email to connect and help you get started right!  If you need to upgrade your current subscription or have questions EMAIL me, or send me a message over at FACEBOOK! 

Want more daily motivation and inspiration? Click here get free advice, support and encouragement + a free copy of my Clean Eating guide to help you get started on your health and fitness journey! Don't forget to follow me on INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK.

One Step Forward, or Crawl

Can I just say how much I love this saying...I LOVE THIS SAYING! Because it is so true! It doesn't matter if you tip toe, crawl or drag yourself in the right direction just make your way there! NOW! 

I have seen what one wrong choice after another after another and many more can do to you. It drags you down deeper and deeper. People lose faith in trust in you because of the choices and actions you make. Or you lose faith in yourself that you can actually do better or be better (yo-yo dieting, why start over again if it hasn't worked in the past?) Or you might want to get out of the huge pit you dug for yourself but don't know how to even start or which direction is even the right direction. Well as long as that direction is opposite to what you have been doing lately then it is more of a right direction than you have been in. The point is to GET MOVING into that direction.

If you decide today that you are done living your life how it is. Yo-yo dieting. Or tired of putting of starting a new workout for next week. Make that choice to just do it. Set a date that you are going to start your workout. And do it! Stop yo-yoing around and don't diet, change your lifestyle! Dieting has such a negative mindset to it. Decide you want to change how you look at food in the first place and do it. Stop doubting what you can truly accomplish what you put your mind to! Read books about foods or watch documentaries about clean eating. (see below)

If you need any help in clean eating. Let me know! Or finding a workout routine that actually fits your lifestyle so you stop putting it off. LET ME KNOW! You have to make that first move. That first step and I will help you drag yourself, crawl, tip toe or even run if you want but you have to make that choice that you are ready to change! 

Books: 

Primal Body, Primal Mind by Nora Gedgaudas

In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan

You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero

Documentaries: 

Forks over knives

Fed Up

Super Size me

Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead

A Little Grain of Faith

I am so thankful for the chance that we have to have faith in something. To have faith in ourselves, our situation and our circumstances. And seriously our faith can be bigger than your fear. This morning I have been talking with a woman about wanting more children. But it might not happen. I am in the same place. I was told that I could have more children, but what if I don't? Am I ok with that? I am still working on the answer, but I have faith that we have one more child meant to come to our family. I have so much faith in general. About my life, family and businesses. I put all my faith in front of me right now it seems.

I am not saying that I am perfect. No way, no how. But I know that if something is meant to happen that it will. I have always believed that. It took us 9 years to get Mason. To get my first positive pregnancy test. After my second miscarriage, I lost my faith. I didn't want to believe anymore because it was too hard. But I got stronger and started having faith again.

I was reminded of one of my favorite talks today and encourage you that if you just need a little ounce of faith building today read it. Listen to this talk. Know that you are not alone. Know that we all struggle with something. Exercise is so hard. Changing your diet or lifestyle is so very hard. Losing a child or family members is devastating  Dealing with the kids. Not having children. Finding a job or switching jobs. Struggling with a family member who has lost their way. And a thousand more things. The key though getting through your tough times, your challenges, your trials is to keep your faith. As hard as it is sometimes that little grain of faith is all we have. But you have to keep moving on. Let your faith be stronger than your fear of not moving forward. Of trying that hard exercise. Of changing your lifestyle. Keep your faith.

If you have a few minutes to watch this and need a booster in your faith, please check this out. I so encourage you to take just a little bit of time and check out the following video. It is amazing and helps to remind me that I am not alone in my struggles.

Last Call...

It's the last call to be part of my 30 day challenge group for June! 

Why do I host these challenge groups? Because I know that exercise is easier with a buddy to join you! Seriously, how much faster does a workout go when you have someone doing it right along with you. Last July when I was a participant in my FIRST challenge group (not hosting actually a challenger) I was excited to do my workout and to tell everyone in the group about it. You could tell the ones who wanted it compared to the ones. We all supported each other, asked question and made it fun. I had daily motivation that made me think about how to better myself on the inside while I worked on the outside. It gave me confidence I didn't know I was lacking. I learned a ton about myself that first 60 days and I am so thankful to my friend Janet for encouraging me to join the challenge group. Take that first step and do it! 

I am offering that same opportunity to take that first step. Decide to do this for you. Commit yourself to 30 days of eating clean, working out and enhancing your life through positive thinking. Today is the last day that I will accept people (within reason of course) into the group! I want to be there for you. I want to help you. Let me walk you through this. Take that first step! 

Join me this JUNE for our challenge group to help you get started! Fill out the form below to let me know you are interested!
Being part of the challenge group you as the challenger get:

One on one support from me to help you set and reach your goals.

Daily motivation.

Work with a program that is just right for you to fit your lifestyle.

Provide you with recipes and a meal guide

Daily dose of nutrition.

Plus you will be with other people just like you in our PRIVATE accountability group where you can ask questions and get real answers.

Our Motto for June is: It's not about being skinny. It's about gaining confidence, better health, more energy and HAPPINESS!

(Please do not apply if you are currently a Beachbody Coach, are already working with a Beachbody coach (other than me) or are not willing to make a small investment in your health and wellness.)

Sizzlin' Summer Is HERE!

I don't know about where you live, but here in central VA, it is getting hot outside! To me, mid May is the beginning of summer. Being an Arizona girl born and raised mid May is when it is just plain hot out and it will only get hotter. Well now in VA this is when the humidity starts to sky rocket and doesn't let up until October. Yeah we get our nice day here and there of low humidity but for the most part it is going to be SIZZLIN' OUTSIDE!

So let's talk about this summer time. Summer time the dreaded time of year where it is swimsuit season. Time to hit up the pools, beaches and splash parks in our case to beat the heat. This year I want to feel comfortable in my own skin. I don't want to look back in my pictures and hate what I see. I am starting NOW to work on that and I wanted to invite you to join me in my next private accountability group that will begin JUNE 1st.

Something amazing happened this weekend. We had Collin's 1st birthday party and I for the life of me couldn't eat the cake. AT ALL. It tasted bland and just not satisfying. I mean it was good cake. Everyone said so and the place I got it from I have always enjoyed their products but it just didn't taste right to me. If you would have told me last July, when I joined my first challenge group, that sweets, junk food and fast food would not taste right to me, I wouldn't have believed you. I have made changes to my life that have helped me come this far. To not want to eat any of that stuff. Yeah, with the pregnancy I fell off the wagon. But I am human. We all make choices that we aren't happy with. That will not happen again! I assure you! I drink Shakeology now everyday and I know that this is what has helped me kick the sweets and to me, a person who is addicted to sweet, this drink is PRICELESS!

I promise you that I am changing my life. Making choices daily to better myself for me and my family. I have found through working out that I am happier. I have more energy and I want to do it more and more as each day passes. And I want to help you gain more energy, be happier and want to exercise. I want you to be comfortable in your own skin. Make goals and ACHIEVE them. And I know you can because you can do anything you put your mind to!

So Join me this JUNE for our challenge group to help you get started! Fill out the form below to let me know you are interested!

You will get:

One on one support from me to help you set and reach your goals.

Daily motivation.

Work with a program that is just right for you to fit your lifestyle.

Provide you with recipes and a meal guide

Daily dose of nutrition.

Plus you will be with other people just like you in our PRIVATE accountability group where you can ask questions and get real answers.

Our Motto for June is: It's not about being skinny. It's about gaining confidence, better health, more energy and HAPPINESS!

(Please do not apply if you are currently a Beachbody Coach, are already working with a Beachbody coach or are not willing to make a small investment in your health and wellness.)

Overweight And Exercise

We all have to start somewhere. Right? Did you wake up this morning and think, it is time for a change! I need to change? I don't want to be like this anymore. Now what do I do? Exercise is hard. It doesn't matter if you are a size 0 or a size 24. Exercise does take work and effort.

~2010. Picking my hubs up after a deployment and surprising him with all the work I did to lose 35 lbs!~

Here are a few pointers to think about as you begin this new journey in your life style change. YES! LIFE STYLE CHANGE! This is not an easy battle. It will take time, it should take time. There are no quick fixes to losing weight. There are no pills, special drinks or wraps that will accomplish the results that last. It is a total mindset. How can she say this. She is overweight and hasn't been able to keep the weight off herself. Why listen to Becky. Because I have been there. I am there. But I have also lost the weight. I lost 40 lbs and not just once I have done it a couple of times. I learned to eat right and what my body wanted and needed. I have also fallen off the wagon and I trying to climb back in. I am just like you who has dieted, tried pills, drinks, HCG, meal plans, starvation, Atkins, I have tried it all! 

~Hard work and dedication to exercise and eating right and her is what I looked like. I will be here again! I AM WORTH IT!~

The one thing that worked? Eating right and exercise. When I finally started to eat right the weight just fell off. I didn't even have to workout for an hour or 2 a day. I was doing 30 minutes of exercise and the weight just fell off. Well if it is so easy... IT IS NOT EASY! It takes work and a total commitment and I'm human. I really like ice cream, sweets, candy, cookies, pasta. I mean I really like them. I lose sight of what I really need to be doing. And I am worth more than that. I know I am. And it isn't about being SKINNY. I want to be HEALTHY. I want to be able to run more easily. I want to be at a healthier weight when I get pregnant again so that when I do gain weight through the pregnancy I am not pushing 300 lbs. That scares the crap out of me. And that is just more work to do in the end. So today, eating better. Shakeology so that I know I am getting my super foods that I need. More veggies. Exercise. I can and I WILL do this. WE CAN DO THIS! 

~3 months into my nutritionist given plan and I lost 20 lbs by this point. Time and dedication! That is all it takes!~

Let me know if you want to join my Facebook group to become the healthiest version of you!