5 Lessons Learned From Failing

"You learn more from failure than from success. Don't let it stop you. Failure builds character." Every time I have stumbled (really don't like the F word!) in this weight loss journey I have learned something new about myself or my journey. I have learned over time that:

1) I have to have "cheat days" or days where I don't stick to my plan and have a piece of cake or something decadent. Otherwise I will totally have a binge attack.

2) I have learned to listen so much more to my body. Whether it is for eating or exercise, I am in tune with what my body wants and try to listen to it as best as possible.

3) I am so much stronger and have so much will power that sometimes I forget about it. I have totally changed my eating because I wanted to, the the times that I don't, I am really just cheating myself.

4) Exercise makes me a better person. Even though it makes my body physically tired. I am a happier and better mom when I exercise. That is why I need to do it more than just 3 times a week.

5) Love what you are doing or you won't do it at all! If I don't love my eating plan, the foods I am eating or the workout I won't follow it at all. ENTER Beachbody On Demand Annual All Access Pass for the exercise. I can change to a totally different workout program and it won't cost me any extra! $99 a year for every workout program ever created by Beachbody!

What have you learned from your past struggles with trying to lose weight?

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

7 Months: Postpartum Update

Exercise: This past month I did mostly 21 Day Fix, but I also did a Workout With Me 5 Day Challenge where I changed programs every day to try out new programs. I've been streaming all of my workings using the Beachbody On Demand with the all access pass. 

Weight: Pre-pregnancy weight:237.7. Weight morning of birth: 265. Current weight May 1: 246.0. This whole month I have been between 244 and 246. I know it has to do with my eating so things are being change for this next month. I did not like seeing the scale going up. I have worked way too hard to start gaining weight back.

May Goals: IAfter gaining back 2 pounds I am not happy. I seriously have worked too hard to let my nutrition get the better of me. I had been having something sweet and or salty every day for the past couple of months. I am pretty dang sure that is what is holding me back. I am still aiming to lose 1 pound a week since I am exclusively breastfeeding. 4 pounds would be great by the end of the month. I started a new to me workout program (I loved it so much with the 5 Day Workout Out With Me Challenge, that I wanted to do it this month P90X3. All workouts are 30 min max. Almost every move is a combo move so burning more fat because using more muscle! I am also following my nutrition plan to a T and allowing myself a "cheat meal" every week. I am now 5 days into it and every time I get a thought for a sweet or treat I just tell myself, I can wait until Sunday! So it hasn't been too bad after I remind myself that. Plus the accountability from sharing my journey and in my groups is what is keeping me going everyday. I have a natural drive to exercise and eat right, but I have even more of a kick to just KICK BUTT and show everyone that it is possible to lose weight while breastfeeding. (interested in joining my private support community? CLICK HERE TO JOIN: CONNECT THE DOTS TO YOUR HEALTH, FITNESS AND LIFE Private Online Community.

Are you ready to make that complete healthy lifestyle change but don't know where to start? I have created a 30 day workbook with daily action steps to help you make a complete healthy lifestyle change. 30 Days To A Healthy Lifestyle Change is available in my EXCLUSIVE private Facebook group as a TOOL to go along with your Beachbody On Demand All Access Pass workout programs and journey. If you are interested in joining us and are ready to order CLICK HERE and I will send you an email after you order with your materials and get you added to 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! Don't forget to follow me on INSTAGRAM and FACEBOOK!

Elyse Cheyenne: 7 Months

STATS: 

14 pounds 13 ounces

Baby girl is 7 months old, well we are a little late in posting this but the pictures are for the right time. I really wanted to get a weight on her and her appointment was on the 10th. She had a follow up for the second half of her flu shot and I wanted to know how much weight she had gained. And really she is really doing well! She gained almost 1.5 pounds pounds in the past month, almost 2 months.Which is AMAZING! Her double frenectomy worked very well! 

Have fun with the picture overload! Man, she is such a cutie! 

The kids easter pictures

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!

Workout With Me LIVE

Every Wednesdays are now WORKOUT WITH ME WEDNESDAYS in my FREE PRIVATE online community Connect The Dots To Your Fitness, Health and Life Group. What's involved? I will be doing a SHORT live workout featuring a different workout every week that you can try out with me LIVE, or do on your own time later (since all the videos are recorded!)

JOIN ME IN MY FREE GROUP TODAY for Workout With Me Wednesdays AND daily info, tips, motivation and a community of amazing women all working towards the same goals: Connecting the dots to balance their health and fitness with their busy life! Plus you get a free gift from me- Tips to help you get started NOW with healthier food choices!

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

New Month - New Fitness Program: P90X3

Happy May!!! It's a new month and I still have the same goals, but I am just going to go about reaching those goals in a different way! 

I am stuck. My progress is stalled. My body is in pure maintenance mode right now and I don't want to maintain. I feel like I am telling you more than showing you that I can actually make these changes. And if I can't change, how can you expect to. I do not like my current body shape, size or how I feel. My body aches. My body gets tired. I am fit but...My body is holding me back to what I can really reach and in the end it is my choices in food that is holding me back.

But that all changes this month and for whatever reason May always seems to be the month that I get my butt in gear and WORK IT! Maybe it is because summer is almost here. Not sure what it is but...It was May 2012 after Mason was born that I started with my nutritionist and the weight just fell off. It was May 2013 that I suffered my second miscarriage and gained excess weight and started running to lose it. It was May 2015 that after I started seeing a counselor and getting back into exercise after my 3rd miscarriage that almost took my life and started my weight loss journey again to get me out of my depression. Now it's May 2017 and again, I am buckling down and will finally stop telling you about my weight loss goals but SHOW you too! I might have made bad choices in the kitchen the last 2 months but that doesn't mean I give up. That means I work harder in putting the right foods in my mouth and the right portion sizes. To finally stop making excuses because my excuses snowball. And to start pushing play or doing something even on on the days that I just don't want to.

This month I am going to be starting a new program: P90X3! Yep! You read that right. I am going to be doing a P90X program! But this one in particular is that you still get the results of a P90X program but in only 30 minutes a day. Which is totally doable for this busy stay at home working momma of 3! It is just high intensity for the 30 minutes and you have to BRING IT for the 30 minutes! Going to the best of your level and ability every day! 

Are you ready to join me on my journey? JOIN MY FREE ONLINE FITNESS COMMUNITY to get the support, info and tips to help keep you motivated. Not ready to invest in the Annual All Access Pass Bundle yet? You can GET THE FREE 30 day trial of Beachbody On Demand to see if it fits your lifestyle first! 

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

Plus Size Fitness: Total Body Strengthening Exercises

Just because we are plus size doesn't mean we can't rock our workouts! Try out these combination exercises to give you a total body strengthening workout! 

8-10 reps of each exercises repeated 2 times

PIN FOR LATER! 

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

The Goldilocks Syndrome To Starting A Program

Too many times we wait to do things for "goldilocks" moments. You know, for when the timing is just right. But life doesn't always workout that way. Don't wait for life to be perfect to start your journey because at some point in your journey...LIFE WILL HAPPEN and get in the way. ALWAYS FREAKING HAPPENS! Either way you have to learn to adapt your plans around your life. Sometimes it just takes a little leap of faith to start your journey and do the best that you can.

Look at your life right now. Do you feel like you don't have time to workout. Don't have time to plan out your meals. Don't have energy. Don't know where to start? START WHERE YOU ARE RIGHT NOW! Make time to exercise. Make time to plan out your meals to save you time later in the week. And just exercise because it will give you energy. Trust me, from this momma who isn't getting much sleep these days, it gives you a boost and helps you get a deeper sleep. And with how and where to start, it can start with putting your shoes on and just walking out your door for a daily walk. Or doing some squats and leg lifts in your house. Use soup cans or water bottles for weights. Do what you can! If you can't invest right now in a program and want to get started on your own.

For me, I love the structure of a program. And I like following workout programs. Takes the guess work out of things and helps me know I am working my whole body even in just 30 short minutes a day. That is why I do the Beachbody Programs. Why I love the unlimited online streaming. I know and trust what the workouts are doing and I know they work! You have just 3 days left to get 20% off on the already super great deal for the all access pass, month supply of Shakeology and the nutrition fix system! You are just 5 minutes away from changing how you exercise forever and feeling better! Don't be Goldilocks and wait for the perfect time. Because that time is right now.

If you are like me and really like following programs for structure and take the guess work out of what to do ***CLICK THIS LINK*** to order the All Access Beachbody On Demand Annual Pass!

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

Skip The Jam: Berries and Toast Healthy Breakfast Swap

Foodie tip for the day! Want toast? Avoid using sugar filled jams and jellies! Just top your toast with fresh berries. I love strawberries or blueberries personally! Tastes yummy and way less sugar! Perfect side to eggs to help you get a balanced, filling breakfast! 

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

Introducing Vegan Vanilla Shakeology and Vegan Café Latte

Earlier this month Beachbody introduced 2 BRAND NEW Shakeology flavors that have been much anticipated! We are adding 2 new vegan flavors to the mix giving a wider variety to our vegan choices and making it a total of 9 flavors to enjoy!

Flavors of Shakeology Now Include:

Vegan Chocolate
Vegan Tropical Strawberry
Vegan Vanilla
Vegan Café Latte
Chocolate 
Vanilla
Strawberry
Greenberry
Café Latte

Check out more details on the 2 newest flavors and you can check out all the ingredients in the newest flavors HERE in this Complete Collection of Shakeology Ingredients list

Vegan Vanilla Info

 Vegan Café Latte Info

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

Tips To Help Prevent 2nd Day Soreness

How many times have you started a new workout program, so excited, super motivated and ready to give it your all, and you do. But then the next day you are so sore you can't raise your hands up over your head, or sitting down on the toilet is the worst pain you have ever felt in your life?

How can you avoid that shock to your body that makes you stop dead in your tracks from exercising the next day and the day after that because of 2nd day sorenessOr DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness)?

1) Don't go 100% full out on day 1 of your workout, especially if you haven't been exercising regularly or at all for awhile. Allow your body to acclimate. Allow your body to get used to what you are doing. Otherwise you are going to literally shock the crap out of your body and you will be so sore the next day. Give 80% effort so that you can let your body get back into the groove of exercise.

2) Slow down to watch and feel for correct form. You do not have to keep up with the trainer. If you are just getting back into it you need to slow down on the moves, and focus on your form so that you are doing each and every move correctly and safely. Otherwise your chances of injury are increased. Also listen for cues from your trainer or instructor on what mucles are being used during each move. They often say, "you should feel this in your butt, mid back, legs." And make sure that you are feeling the move in those areas, and not really anywhere else. Like lunges, should workout your legs and hip flexors. If you are feeling it in your chest, and aren't doing it as a combined move, then check your form!

3) Go light on the weights. Don't start out with heavy weights on day one. Start with 0 weights, or light weights again to let your body acclimate to what you are doing.

4) Don't be afraid to modify the moves. Most of Beachbody's workouts have a modifier. Most gyms in classes will show modifications. You are still going to get a killer workout, even doing modifications, especially if you haven't been exercising regularly. As you get stronger, gain more endurance you won't be modifying as much. I am still modifying some moves in my workouts. Not all anymore, but some of them.

5) Make sure you are getting in a good enough stretch at the end. Even if that means doing more stretching after your workout is over, after a class or later that night. Holding each stretch for a good 30 seconds to allow your muscles to relax into it. And stretching the next morning helps too.

6) IF you are super sore the next day...WORKOUT MORE! I know it sounds backwards but really, If you are sore, workout more. Exercising helps to lose those muscles back up. Move around the lactic acid. Helps you recover a little faster. The first time my trainer said to do that I thought he was crazy, but within 5 minutes I was feeling better and at the end of the 30 minutes, I could walk normally without pain.

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