No More Mom Guilt

MOM GUILT! How many of you have felt guilty for wanting to get your hair cut, spending some time away from the kids to regroup, for working out maybe when your kid is crying for a little bit, for spending money on you and not your kids, for just taking some time for you. STOP IT! DROP THE MOM GUILT! You are not supposed to be last. You know what happens when you take care of everyone before yourself? You will crack! You will not be happy. You will feel sad and even angry at times. YOU NEED YOUR TIME TO TAKE CARE OF YOU!

The number one thing that most women feel about taking care of themselves, especially moms, is GUILT! You are no being selfish finding time to workout. You are not being a bad mom for maybe letting your kid cry a little so you can knock out the last 30 seconds of a move before you can hit pause, take care of your kid and then hit play again to finish it up (and sometimes a 30 minute workout can take 45 minute when you have to do that, and IT IS OK!) You are not horrible for taking 30 minutes just after you get home from work, exhausted, to bust out your workout. YOU DESERVE to be HAPPY. You DESERVE to kick butt! And you are WORTH IT! NO MORE GUILT for doing what you need to do to take care of you!

I have been there. Mason's first year, I never, ever had time for myself. Matt was deployed and I thought I had to do it all myself. Thankfully Mason was often held at church for me because, maybe I looked like I needed a break, I don't know, but just a few months after Matt returned and I was still doing everything first over me. I cracked! My facade I put up just shattered. I finally told Matt how I was feeling, how I felt like I just "lost myself" I didn't know who I was. I was first just a wife. Then just a mom. Then I was a wife and a mom and was still doing EVERYTHING and never ever took a break for me. I thought I had to do it all to be happy, but the one thing I forgot was ME! And without taking care of me, it just didn't work.

Why am I sharing all this here...YOU ALL NEED TO HEAR IT! Stop the guilt. Self shaming. And do what you can. Put aside 30 minutes a day to take care of you. Taking a nap, alone time, EXERCISE. Whatever you can fit into your day. JUST DO SOMETHING FOR YOU! You are worth it and deserve to be as happy as possible! Your kids are great and deserve your love, but so do you! 

***Comment below with some experiences where you didn't allow yourself to take care of you and what you should have had to do in the past to overcome the Mom/Self guilt and shaming for taking care of you over other things. Learn from your past and do better!

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Fit and Healthy Plus Size Pregnancy: Exercise

I have no idea why but most women, including myself with Mason (pregnancy #1) once we get pregnant, our mindset changes to EAT ANYTHING I WANT AND YAY! I CAN STOP EXERCISING! Seriously! So many women, the moment they get pregnant they just stop doing what they know they should be doing. I get it, the first trimester though, backing off from exercise because that is the most crucial stage and when most miscarriages happen, but once you hit 12 weeks there isn't really anything stopping you from continuing exercise. 

With Mason, I was so scared to do anything. I worked so hard to get pregnant with him after 8 years of trying. It literally terrified me to exercise. But I didn't take care of me. I didn't do what I knew I should have. Even just walking would have been better than nothing. And walking regularly. I went walking more once I hit 32 weeks or so because I was trying to get my body ready to have the baby and I needed to have him ready a week early since Matt was being deployed to Iraq. 

Let's change the mindset for pregnancy. Here are 5 tips to help you start right away with exercise! 

1) GET STARTED RIGHT AWAY! 

When you get pregnant, yes, back off from doing HIIT, jumping, running even. But continue to walk, or do the elliptical. Do as much as you can before morning sickness sets in. And when you do get morning sickness, still try to do what you can, but know it is ok to back off for now.

2) GET BACK TO IT! 

Once you hit 12 weeks or feeling better from morning sickness. GET BACK TO IT! You will have to go slowly, especially if you took some time off because you were sick or exhausted. But slow down. And you might be out of breath more because of the increased blood flow requiring more energy to move oxygen around your body.

3) DON'T GIVE UP! 

At times it is going to be hard to want to get your workout in. But don't give up. It is exactly what you need to be doing to keep you healthy and to keep the baby healthy. Added bonus, exercise while pregnant helps with labor! So if you are wanting labor to faster, more controlled, DON'T GIVE UP! 

4) PICK SOMETHING FUN! 

For me, what keeps me interested in exercise is to pick something that I enjoy. About one day a week, I am doing something that allows me to shake my booty and dance! Why? Because it always puts a smile on my face. I might be horrible at dancing but it is still fun. Or yoga. I never, ever thought that I would enjoy yoga but it is my relaxing me time every week and just stretching out my sore muscles and keeping my back from hurting even worse is a BONUS! And you don't have to do hours, on hours of exercise. I am honestly doing 30 minutes 5 days a week right now. The exercises I do, 21 Day Fix, Beachbody On Demand Active Maternity, Cize are specifically cardio + strength training. A 2 for one as it were. Which cuts down on me having to do cardio on top of it. Would I benefit from doing cardio, of course. But I don't have a treadmill at home and being a stay at home mom I can't get into the gym to walk on a treadmill. We are getting outside more and walking since it is getting warmer. But since I have the boys walking with me, we aren't going too fast. But something is better than nothing! That is why I am specifically doing cardio + strength training. 

5) DON'T LET YOUR CRAVINGS CONTROL YOU

You are working hard to stay active and do exercise. That does not mean you earned a candy bar or cupcake. Nope. Exercise does not have a reward system. For so long I thought it did but it doesn't. It is OK to eat treats and cravings OCCASIONALLY but not everyday. Eat right, eat whole foods, and be smart about how you treat yourself. DO NOT feel guilty for enjoying a treat. There is nothing wrong with having a treat. And honestly to stay on track with your progress you need to allow yourself treats otherwise you will go back to old habits. Which for me include binge eating the foods I am depriving myself of! Or find new cravings. Frozen grapes are AMAZING! Strawberries! Watermelon! Homemade Granola! YUM! Buy exotic fruits, like mango or pineapple and enjoy them. Your body will love them and will thank you! 

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! 

Bump Update: 20 Weeks

HAPPY HALF WAY POINT TO ME!!!!! Yay for finally being at 20 weeks! this is so exciting and HUGE for me. With 3 miscarriages under my belt, making it half way is such a huge sigh of relief. I am feeling Elyse kick so much now. Everyday, multiple times a day and often I ask Matt if he can feel her kicking. Not yet for him. We even did the remote control test. (Where you lay on your back and put a long remote controller on your belly and it should move when she does.) Well it didn't work. Not yet. I give it another 2 weeks before Matt and the kiddos can feel her moving. 

Things, pregnancy wise have been going pretty straight forward. I have the normal round ligament pain, but a little more since I pulled it in my last pregnancy with Collin. I have to be careful when I move so that I I am having Braxton Hicks Contractions already. Not regular or anything but maybe one every other day. 

Total Weight Gain: 7 pounds total weighing in at 244.4 pounds.

Symptoms: Feeling great overall. I had a bad migraine on Tuesday so that wasn't fun, but it went away after about a day. I do have some shoulder pain from sleeping on my right side. 

Baby’s Size: Mango/Banana

Maternity Clothes: Yes, bottoms need to wear maternity or stretchy pants. Tops still good to go on regular shirts, but quickly starting to get too big! 

Stretch Marks: I already have a ton that I got when I gained weight years ago. So nothing new.

Gender: GIRL!!! 

Sleep: I am only waking up once a night to go to the bathroom. But started having some crazy weird dreams! Having some hip and shoulder pain from sleeping on my side. I just hate it. So I am flipping over from one side to the other a lot. 

Miss Anything: Sleeping comfortably flat on my belly or back! Sleeping through the night. 

Cravings: Nothing really this week. Maybe veggies and Shakeology. I have been really good about getting in my Shakeology every day!

Aversions: nothing yet

Excited About: HALF WAY TO MEETING OUR LITTLE GIRL! And feeling her kick so much more than before! That has been fun. Pretty soon Matt and the boys will be able to feel her kick from the outside.

Workouts: Got in my workouts 5 days a this past week, which is awesome! Still getting lots of massages from Matt for that. I have been doing 21 Day Fix yoga & pilates specifically, Cize, Diary Of A Fit Mommy's Fit For Two 2nd Trimester workouts and the Beachbody On Demand Active Maternity 2nd Trimester workouts. Did you see my post about how my belly is different now compared to my other 2 pregnancies? Be sure to CHECK IT OUT! 

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! 

How Different Can Pregnancies Be?

The story of my 3 different pregnancies. All pictures are at 20 weeks!

Pregnancy #1 (Mason)

I lost a ton of weight before I got pregnant with Mason. But once we got that + sign I stopped all exercise and just started eating whatever I wanted. I didn't care. I was finally pregnant after 8 years. I earned it. And I "assumed" I would lose the weight while breastfeeding. (we all know what assuming means and oh yeah, I was an a** because I did not lose 1 pound from breastfeeding!) Oh, and I gained 55 pounds making me 255 pounds day of birth!

Pregnancy #2 (Collin)

I had again lost a lot of weight through eating right following a nutritionist given plan. I had gotten into running that summer and even ran a half marathon at 29 weeks pregnant. AMAZING RIGHT! But again once I got pregnant, all I learned before went out the door and I let my comfort eating take over. And once that half marathon was over, I stopped all running and most exercise. I was tired. I was sore. I was done! And I gained a total of 20 pounds putting me to again, 254 pounds day of birth.

Pregnancy #3 (Elyse)

First time in all pregnancies that I was the heaviest starting weight. 200 with Mason, 234 with Collin and 237 with this one. But...I was determined to continue exercising (which I have) and eat right (again doing!) And have gained the LEAST amount of weight while being pregnant at this point in all 6 of my previous pregnancies (including my 3 miscarriages!) Only up 7 pounds as of today. I have more energy. I feel better. My belly is carrying differently. I am doing more strength training with cardio this time around. Really mixing it up. And only doing 30 minutes 5 days a week. AND IT SHOWS! I think I look better than I did when I was a cardio queen with Collin. (even though I am actually about 10 pounds heavier, NOW, on the scale than I was with Collin at this point) All because I am taking care of me from the inside out. Feeding my body what it needs and wants, and still allowing myself some treats WITHOUT guilt. Hoping to be at 255 at time of birth, but only time and baby will tell!

The point is, don't stop exercising. Don't just do one thing to stay healthy. To truly be healthy it takes a mindset change, a lifestyle change. A desire to change. And doing the whole package to stay healthy, pregnant or not. Doing just exercise doesn't work. Eating right only doesn't work. You have to do both exercise, and eating right along with working on you mentally for the changes to truly last and work. 

This is what it truly means to have made a lifestyle change. That I continue WANTING to do the things that make me feel better, look better, be better during any changes that occur in my life. This is what it is like to LOVE myself and to finally ACCEPT myself and it feels amazing!

Have you gone through life changes that just rocked you off your goals or health and fitness plans? What did you do? What are you willing to do to get back on them? Comment 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! 

Get Organized In Just 5 Days!

I had a major pregnancy/mom brain happen yesterday! I posted a picture and talked about how I HAD to get some more almond milk because I was out and I need it for my daily shake. Well, made it to the store and FORGOT ALL ABOUT IT, even though I had a list with me. Sad thing...I forgot to put it on the list in the first place! So it was like a double pregnancy brain whammy! UGH! It wasn't until I was at the second store (cause the first one didn't have everything I needed) that I remembered. I felt so silly. How could I forget something that I just thought of. And that is just the first thing I forgot to do. I have so many things I forget to do. So...I felt inspired. My FREE GROUP'S THEME WEEK is going to be about

How to get better organized in just 5 days! 

And I want you to join us if you want to be better organized! I am in the process now of making printables, and lists of ideas for the group! It will not disappoint and I want you in there! We have so many things in our lives that distract us but we still have to be the "perfect mom" and remember everything. That ain't gonna happen...speaking of the perfect mom, have you seen the trailer for the new movie, BAD MOMS? Click the link and let me know what you think...See and I just got distracted again with what I was going to say. We all have things in our lives that WE CAN NOT FORGET and I want to help you with that. 

If you would like to join the FREE GROUP and get tips to help you be more organized in just 5 days, CLICK HERE TO JOIN! It is held through at PRIVATE FACEBOOK GROUP, so you have to have an active facebook page (and if you don't click on the picture that says "CLICK HERE TO JOIN" and request to join the group I might not be able to get you added). Once you sign up,  MAKE SURE YOU CLICK ON THE picture to join the group to help you get STARTED NOW! Group officially begins the 23rd, but don't wait till then to sign up. You might forget about 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! 

How To Get The Perfect Night's Sleep

Being pregnant it is hard to get a good night sleep, let alone perfect, but I can do things to help my sleep be a little better. If you want to improve your sleep quality then check out this little chart. Think about it. Are you having a hard time sleeping but notice that you are playing on your computer right up until you turn out the lights. Might not be the best thing.I honestly do read prior to going to bed and that is what helps me go to sleep. Might not be the best but it actually knocks me out the fastest. 

(Mason taking a nap on Archer a few years ago)

My 5 Tips To A Perfect Night Sleep:

1) Listen to your body. If you are tired. Then go to sleep. Don't fight it. 

2) Pick a reasonable time to get to sleep at night. Maybe trying going to sleep 30 minutes earlier to see if you feel more rested the next day. 

3) Don't guzzle a ton of water just before bed, because you are probably going to have to get up in the middle of the night to take care of that.

4) Try meditating as you are laying in bed before you fall asleep. Think of the things you are thankful for. It can actually leave you feeling positive before you fall asleep, therefore waking up positive and ready to take on the day.

5) Do not exercise too close to when you go to sleep. Your body will be pumped and amped up too much. At least 2 hours before you go to bed, BE DONE with your workout.

6) BONUS TIP: Always kiss your spouse or partner goodnight and tell them that you love them. Never go to bed angry! 

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! 

Cinco de Mayo: Mango Red Pepper Salsa

Cinco de Mayo is just a few days away! Personally we celebrate Cinco de Mayo here in the Allen household every year. It brings up back home to Arizona a little bit. So this year, why not make it even healthier and enjoy great tasting foods.

Back in the Phoenix area (Gilbert/Mesa) there is my very favorite restaurant called Rancho de Tia Rosa's. And every time I go I always get salmon tacos (even though I do not like seafood) and it topped with a mango salsa. It is AMAZING! (just like everything there) So...let's recreate it just a little bit...

I know that the salmon is marinated in a sweet marinade with honey, but the salsa topping totally covers taste of seafood for me enough that I will EAT IT! So check out this mango red pepper salsa I found that is pretty close to it. This would be great on top of chicken or salmon as tacos! Serve with brown rice with some fajita seasoning on top and some black beans too for a super healthy, yummy dinner!

MANGO RED PEPPER SALSA

Ingredients: 
2 ripe mangos, peeled and diced
1 red pepper, diced
Half red onion, chopped
3 tomatoes
3 tablespoons fresh cilantro leaves, chopped
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
Juice of half an orange
Dash of cayenne pepper
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Combine all the ingredients in a bowl.
Cover and allow to sit in the fridge for at least one hour (overnight is better.)
Serve with chips, or on top of tacos! 

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! 

May 30 Day Squat Challenge

How did your winter treat you? Are you ready to get your body back and in tip top shape for bbq season and swimsuits.? Ready to DROP IT LIKE IT'S HOT??? Summer is around the corner and I want you to be SUMMER STRONG! 

I want to get you swimsuit ready for some beach and pool fun!!! I'm pregnant and I KNOW I can do squats and darn it, I refuse for my butt to get even bigger!!!

I have 2 FREE PLANS for you. Beginning and advanced. You decide. I personally am doing the advanced and in sets of 10, rest for a little bit then keep going. I am so excited to do this with you.

And if you want to kick it up a notch and get even better results, JOIN me and my EXCLUSIVE GROUP!!! On top of the squat challenge you also will get:

☀ Nutrition assistance
☀ 30 day supply of super food nutrition
☀ 30 Minute Workouts
☀ Positive Motivation
☀ Positive Support
☀ Accountability
☀ Recipes
☀ Exclusive access to my private group with the tools I have used to help me lose weight, oh and not gain excessive weight while pregnant! (only up 6 pounds at 19 weeks!)
☀ One on One Support from me!

Oh, and PRIZES will be given as well!!! Let's work together to rock this summer! EMAIL ME or FILL OUT THIS APPLICATION so we can get you HOOKED UP!

*Must be willing to make a small investment in yourself. Reserved for those not already a Beachbody coach or working with a coach.

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! 

EASY Homemade Freezer Breakfast Burritos

Wanna know one of our favorite easy freezer meals? BREAKFAST BURRITOS! Yep, they are actually really easy, and make A TON! and PERFECT for make ahead meals for when baby arrives! I get 10 of them knocked out in one night, and easy thing is I pop the remaining 8 in the freezer for an easy meal another day! So, so, easy, so tasty and not filled with tons of preservatives like the ones you can get at the store.

Here is my personal recipe to try out! Use what you like though. I stick with bell peppers, green chilis, onion, turkey bacon, eggs, hash browns, and cheese on large flour tortillas. It's not gluten free, I have tried the brown rice tortillas and they don't work well with this. 1 flour tortilla is ok per 21 Day fix!

Easy Homemade Freezer Breakfast Burritos

Ingredients: 

1 bell pepper, diced
1/2 a yellow onion, diced
1 Dozen Eggs, cracked and whisk together
1 4 oz can diced green chilis
salt and pepper to taste
1 package of turkey bacon or sausage
1.5 cups frozen hash browns (or you can make your own from a potato)
1/2 block of cheese, grated
10 large flour tortillas

Directions:

~sauté bell peppers and yellow onion to soften.
~Add whisked eggs to veggies and can of green chilis and make into scrambled eggs. 
~Cook bacon to desired crispiness and let drain on a paper towel. Once cooled crumble into small pieces.
~Add 1 tablespoon to a medium hot pan. Add frozen or fresh hash browns and brown up. Stirring frequently so they don't burn. 
~once eggs are all cooked, bacon is cooled off and crumbled, an hash browns have finished cooking. It is time to assemble. 
~Lay a flour tortilla down, top with a spoonful of eggs and veggies, then add the bacon, then spoon some of the hash browns. Top with a sprinkle of cheese and fold up as a burrito. 
~Wrap in tin foil to serve or to freeze in freezer for later!

To reheat from freezer: 

Defrost overnight in fridge. 
Pre-heat oven to 400 and add burrito still in tin foil. Cook for 15-20 minutes turning at least once. Making sure the middle is warmed. 
or microwave without the tin foil for 2-3 minutes. (oven is way better though as it makes the tortilla crisp up!) I still use this on my 21 Day Fix nutrition. I think it is close enough to being approved. Use turkey bacon instead of sausage though. More veggies the better!

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! 

runDisney Virtual Races Series

Virtual races are everywhere and are so popular in the running world  since you can participate from anywhere. I have even done one. And runDisney has decided to join the masses and start their own series! "We will look for more opportunities to stay connected with our runners as well as introduce a healthy and active lifestyle to new audiences."

runDisney just announced the Virtual Running Shorts Series. A 3 race 5k series totaling 9.3 miles if you complete all 3 races and each building up the theme. You can do just one of the races or register for all 3. You have the Yellow Shoes, Red Pants, or White gloves race.  If you do all 3 you get a special challenge medal.

Each individual race is $39. If you choose to do all three and register for all 3 at the same time then it is $142.

Completion Timeframe: May 15 and June 30, 2016- But you have to complete each leg of the race by specific dates.

Now you can experience a taste of a runDisney race in your own backyard!

For the first time ever, runDisney is going virtual with the all-new Virtual Running Shorts Series, and the whole family is invited to join the Disney fun. Walk, jog, take a stroll through the neighborhood, or run your race on a treadmill. You choose the course that's right for you! Select from one of three Mickey-themed Disney 5Ks or run all three to complete the Running Shorts Series. Four specially-designed Finisher Medals celebrating Mickey Mouse add even more Disney excitement to this brand new offering!

Oh and it wouldn't be a Disney Race with out helping out an amazing charity: The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The runDisney Virtual Running Shorts Series benefits The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® (LLS), an organization dedicated to the fight against blood cancers.

You can read more info about the race HERE AT THE RUNDISNEY EVENT PAGE! Or if you are ready to REGISTER go HERE!

What do you think? Are you going to do this? The cost for all 3 is pretty close to what I paid for to do my Disney Princess half marathon...Is it worth it to you? Right now, I'm thinking, "Just take all my money Disney! I WANT THAT MEDAL!" And if that means it will get my butt out and walking this summer, while pregnant, it might be just the little kick in the butt I need! 

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!