How To Gain Self Confidence As a Plus Size Woman

245 pounds. That is how much I weigh right now, in this picture. Never thought I would ever share those numbers with anyone let alone everyone, but there it is!

But you know what? I don't see an uncomfortable person. I don't see someone hiding behind their smile, putting up a front, acting like they are happy. I see me. Truly happy. Truly feeling beautiful. Truly stunning. For the first time in my life, I am not judging and scrutinizing every single picture I take of myself because I finally see the beauty in myself. Many of these weekly pictures are happing on the first take which is ASTONISHING! But there it is. Just a girl who loves herself. Accepts herself as she is and is so proud of what she has become and done.

How did I get like this? Daily reading of positive uplifting materials that help me see me for who I am, now, and accept myself as I am. A big big portion of this whole getting healthy, changing your lifestyle stuff is personal development/changing your mindset.

Our team of coaches do it daily. I, for one, am so grateful I became a Coach as I honestly don't think I ever would have opened a book on how to improve myself. It is ingrained in us to do daily personal development, and it has changed my life more than anything else!

Because of personal development I can post pictures like this of myself, and my true weight, and feel proud of myself and see myself as a beautiful woman! And surrounding myself with people who lift me higher. Have you ever just looked at yourself and truly thought, "DAMN! I LOOK GOOD!" and not find something that needs to be better? This is true mental change. Be proud of who you are. Of the work you have done. 

My #1 tip to gain self confidence: 

LOVE YOURSELF! 

See yourself for as you are because you are beautiful. We all have areas we want to be better. but that isn't the point. You have to love who you are, stretch marks, curves, and all to feel amazing in your own skin. Check out the book YOU ARE A BADASS to help you truly learn to love yourself for as you are now! But love yourself. Because this is the only life you have. You deserve to be happy. Work on you from the inside out! 

If you want to get this kind of self confidence, let's chat. EMAIL ME!!!  Let's get you hooked up with amazing materials that will give you the confidence you need to rock your life! 

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! 

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Oatmeal

This is one of the most asked for and used recipes in my FREE health and fitness support group! Give it a try and see what you think! 

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Oatmeal:

Ingredients:
2 Cups Steel Cut Oats
7-8 Cups of Water (depending on how thick you like your oatmeal)
1 ½ Cups Pumpkin Puree (not pumpkin pie mix!)
1 Tablespoon Pumpkin Pie Spice
1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
½ Teaspoon Sea Salt
3 Tablespoons Agave Nectar
Topping Examples: Peanut Butter Powder, Chopped Pecans, Chopped Walnuts, Raisins, Chopped Dates

Directions:
-Combine the steel cut oats, water, pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice, vanilla extract and sea salt in your slow cooker and mix until it is fully combined. There should be no lumps of pumpkin.

-Cook on your slow cookers warm setting for 7-8 hours. Then turn your slow cooker to the low setting and stir in the agave nectar. After stirring put the lid back on and let the oatmeal cook for another 30 minutes to thicken (still on low).

-Stir once more and serve with your choice of healthy toppings.

**If you and your household will not be able to finish this in a week I suggest you portion the rest out into muffin tin cups, freeze and then pack away in sandwich bags to keep in the freezer. I do this with oatmeal all the time and it works out great! All you have to do is reheat in the microwave :)

Nutrition Info:
Serving Size = 1 Cup
Calories = 200
Fat = 3g
Carbohydrates = 34g
Protein = 8.4g
Fiber = 5.9g

Meal Prep Motivation

This weekend make sure you spend about an hour meal planning and prepping if you can. Meal prep doesn't have to be stressful at all. If you plan on making chicken sometime this week, just pre-cook it. Store it in the fridge and then pull out what you need. 

This past week we had homemade mac and cheese with chicken. All I had to do was toss in some already cooked chicken and that was one less thing to do! Super easy. I also pre-make my oatmeal for me and Collin. I make about 3 cups of it, store it in the fridge until I need it, or you can portion it out and freeze the individual portions, then the night before add it in the fridge to defrost. So easy. You are already going to be cooking chicken this week anyways, why not do it earlier!

What do you make a habit of pre-making for the week?

The Importance of Plus Size Exercise

BIG GIRLS DO WORKOUT! Seriously! I hear from gals everyday that they are too big to start working out. That they just want to get their eat on track first, lose about 20 pounds and then they can start walking/exercise. But guess what??? YOU CAN EXERCISE! Your body can do it. YOU NEED TO! 

Case in point...THE BIGGEST LOSER! Notice how the trainers to do not take it easy on the contestants on day 1. They push them because they need it. Is it easy? NO WAY! But is it worth it? YES!

Why is exercise so important for plus size ladies? 

Because it will help us feel better. I suffered from depression. And most days I would rather lay in bed, watching Netflix then get up and move my body for 30 minutes. To this day I still struggle with it. But when I do exercise, I always feel better. Remember Legally Blond? Exercise gives you endorphins, endorphins make you happy. Plus when you are feeling happy you are more likely to make better eating choices. During my depression I didn't care what I put in my mouth as long as it helped to make me feel better. See the cycle. Depression= no working out and eating whatever made me feel better. Exercise= happy and better food choices. I am not saying that everyone who is plus sized is depressed but for me this was a huge thing that I never realized until I started reading books that helped me feel better about myself. Call them self help or personal development. It wasn't until I started learning to love myself that I actually realized how unhappy I was with certain things about my life and lifestyle. If you want to start seeing yourself in a different light I highly suggest you check out my favorite positive and badass book to read, YOU ARE A BADASS! Within the first few pages I promise you, that you will feel amazing about yourself and realize how amazing you are!

So how do you start? 

1)  Yes changing your diet is the #1 way to start making changes to your lifestyle. Often it is the diet that is the starting point to gaining weight. Eating out too much, or eating the right size portions. These are things that can be learned to change. And this is one of the hardest things to change. Because once a bad day hits, all the urges to eat our "comfort food" hit us in full force. But learning healthy habits is the #1 way you will lose weight. Start by throwing out all the junk foods or processed foods you have in your house. Or eat what you have and don't buy any more. I understand it cost a lot of money to buy it in the first place, but you HAVE TO get that stuff out of your house! Stock your kitchen with apples, veggies that you will actually eat, and start planning out your meals. Go to Pinterest and look up: HEALTHY DINNERS to start with. Also cutting out pasta, breads and maybe even dairy are a good start. Stick with old fashioned oats as your carbs with your breakfast instead of toast or cereal. And add brown rice or quinoa with your lunch and dinner for your carbs. You can flavor the rice and quinoa with homemade fajita seasoning, or other seasoning of your choice to give it more flavor. Chicken, turkey and eggs are your best friends and there are tons of great healthy recipes to try out or cookbooks to use. My favorite clean eating cookbook is FIXATE it goes right along with the 21 day fix program or it works for anything you are doing because it has the nutritional information right along with it!

2) Combining good eating with exercise is the sure fire way to help you tone up your body and get you feeling good. Because you are pumping your body full of more oxygen. And not just walking. Also adding in strength training. Strength training is so important to help your muscles tone up. You will not get bulky. You might gain a little weight in the beginning but over time after regular exercise and training your muscles will tone up and become smaller than they were. It is so important to use measurements and pictures of yourself instead of the weight on the scales. For me, I always lost inches before pounds. My clothing would just fit better but the scale went up 1-2 pounds or barely went down.

3) Set Real expectations and goals. I will always be a plus size lady. It has taken me years to a) accept that fact and b) appreciate it. I do not want to be skinny. It just isn't possible for me. For my body type, or shape. I was blessed with birthing hips and getting to jeans smaller than a size 12 just won't happen. Even in high school at my skinniest I was in size 14 jeans (but they were baggy on me because I refused to wear tight fitting clothing because I thought I was fat!) I am finally okay with that. I have accepted that and honestly, I CAN'T WAIT until I am a healthier and fitter version of myself right now. Right now, I am a healthy and fit plus size lady. I work everyday to better myself mentally and physically. So right now, my goals are to workout at least 5 days a week. 30 minutes a day and eating as healthy as possible. 21 Day Fix has definitely helped me learn what to eat, how much, and to get the right kinds of exercise in to help me lose weight. It is my soul mate workout program and I have never regretted getting hooked on it! Best beginner workout program available!

4) Support! Get support! Have a buddy join you. Or find a group that you can join to help you get that daily motivation and support when you need it. I offer support to those that are wanting it. You can go here to join my FREE PRIVATE FACEBOOK GROUP to receive daily motivation, recipes and support. Plus a fun theme week every month on various topics to help you stay motivated and on track with your lifestyle change. Be with people who are going through what you are going through. Whatever keeps you on track is what you need but you are more likely to stick with it if you have a friend to go along with you!

The main thing is, anyone can start exercising. Please don't think you can't because of your weight. You can start now. You can do it. If you want more information about how to get started or anything I talked about here. Please EMAIL ME and let's chat. Get you started and loving yourself for how you are now!

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: 22 Weeks

Happy 22 weeks! All I kept thinking this week was being further along than I was and just enjoying this pregnancy. I don't know why I trying to speed up this pregnancy, but mentally I am! 

Also this past week I have had the STRONGEST desire to GET THINGS DONE! To painting a lot of my house, finishing/catching up on baby books, and deep cleaning. I know that if I don't do this NOW that it won't get done. So nesting has set in like crazy for me. Which I am okay with. I don't mind it so much but just trying to fit it in my busy day is hard! But I am getting things done. I finished up 3 baby books, and deep cleaned our glass shower doors. But many other things to do! 

Total Weight Gain: 8 pounds total weighing in at 245.7 pounds.

Symptoms: I had some sickness Tuesday night through Wednesday. But I think that was more food related that pregnancy related! 

Baby’s Size: Spaghetti squash

Maternity Clothes: Yes, bottoms need to wear maternity or stretchy pants. Tops I wear maternity now and my bigger t-shirts.

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! I am flipping over from one side to the other a lot, but often times I end up on my back. 

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

Cravings: CARBS! Big time. This is the first time where I just want to eat carbs, breads, pasta and goodies all day long! I have been fighting it and eating the good carbs instead, but I still have that nagging feeling in the back of my head.

Aversions: nothing yet

Excited About: Collin's Birthday today (Thursday, May 19) and Mason's graduation ceremony on the same night. 

Workouts: Got in my workouts 3 days a this past week, which is awesome! I have been doing 21 Day Fix yoga & pilates specifically, Diary Of A Fit Mommy's Fit For Two 2nd Trimester workouts and the Beachbody On Demand Active Maternity 2nd Trimester workouts. 

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! 

Fruit Infused Water Recipes

I have been talking with a gal who has a really bad addiction to pop. Drinking 4-5 cans a day of mountain due or other like pops. And the thought of drinking water literally makes her gag! I used to be like that. I was drinking many cans of pop a day until one day I just decided I was done and gave it up. I drink it occasionally now but not much. A trick I am helping this gal with is basically suggesting to her not to drink any pop until she meets her water intake requirement for the time of day. Basically drinking 25 ounces of water 6 times a day (25 ounces at each meal following the meal frequency plan). She is keeping a log of how much water she drinks and if she drinks 50-75 oz by the time lunch rolls around she can have a pop after her lunch (making sure to drink 25 ounces with her lunch). But same rules apply for dinner. She needs to have her requirements first. Some days are better than others and it is a learning process for her to overcome her addiction!

This is just one way to help teach your body, yes teach your body, that it no longer wants sweetened and artificial drinks to survive but that it needs and WANTS water. 

If you want some sweetened water, flavor it with fresh fruit. Fill a pitcher with water and add some strawberries, blueberries, and fresh mint. Let sit for about an hour then enjoy! Fruit infused water!

Check out these other awesome recipes: 

Grapefruit Infused Water: 

Combine 2 parts water to 1 part club soda. Add fresh grapefruit slices and a few mint leaves. Allow to infuse for 4+ hours.

Blueberry Lemon Infused Water: 

Add fresh lemon slices and blueberries to a pitcher or carafe of water and allow to infuse for 4+ hours.

Cantaloupe Infused Water: 

Combine 2 parts water to cantaloupe, cubed. Allow to infuse for 4+ hours and add 1 part club soda.

Cucumber, Strawberry and Kiwi Infused water: 

Combine sliced whole cucumber, 1 cup sliced Strawberries and 2 sliced kiwi's to a pitcher of water. Allow to infuse for 4+hours.

Every Day May Not Be Good...But There Is Something Good In Every Day!

Guess what?!? It's raining AGAIN in central VA! We had 17 days straight of rain in the last month. Then just a few glorious days of sunshine, then today. Rain all day long. I can look at this in either 2 ways...I HATE RAIN, it sucks because we have to stay indoors and with 2 boys that is so hard. OR, I LOVE RAIN! It is watering my grass for free. Making my flowers and garden grow. And we need the rain, since we didn't get enough snow this year.

I have had really great days and really, really crappy days. But I always try to find the good in my life. My miscarriage last year, was a HORRIBLE day, but I gained an understanding that it happened for a reason. That it was better that way. As hard as it was to go through it, I not only survived but I became STRONGER because of it!

You can choose to be happy in your life or you can choose to not be. You get to make that choice. Life isn't perfect for anyone but its important to be thankful for the good that we do have in our lives.

So how are you going to look at the day today? 

What is ONE thing that is GOOD in your life today? Comment below! Let's celebrate your amazing day! 

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 NOW!

I Workout Because...

Over the years my reason to workout has changed so much. Originally it was to lose weight to get pregnant because having PCOS made me gain more weight and also difficult to lose weight. Or to lose weight for an upcoming trip with the family.

Now it is so much more. I almost died last year. I have been given a second chance to be with my family. To live a life. And darn it, I better not waste it! That means being the best that I can be. That means taking care of me everyday. That means actually working my butt off to find time to exercise and eat better ever single freaking day. I have come up with emotional and physical reasons that actually rock me to the core on why I choose to exercise and eat healthy every single day. It is so much more than just for my family but it is for me too! It is apart of me and is the main reason why I have changed my lifestyle.

Need help finding your why? Ask yourself these 5 questions!

1.  What makes you come alive?

2. What has happened in the past that made you really think you need a change?

3. How will it affect those around you if you decided to not change and if you decided to change?

4. How would you feel if you stayed the same and never felt?

5. What are you willing to do to get the results you want?

I challenge you to sit down today and think about why you want to exercise. why you want to eat better. And if it doesn't have you crying or emotional dig deeper! Now the second part of this is to WRITE IT DOWN and place it where you see it everyday! Don't just think about it, put it into action! 

Want more help in finding your why and/or achieving your goals? Let's work together. I am a virtual health and fitness motivator, support and educator. This is what I do. Through online private groups and personal emails I help people just like you rock your workouts, and balance your life to achieve your goals!  Send me an email and let's chat! 

What is your reason? 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!

Kids Photo Books

A few months ago we lost all of our photos that were stored on a backup hard drive. ALL. OF. OUR. PHOTOS. Pictures from before Mason was born, all of Collin's birth pictures. Anyways, it was an accident and I have finally accepted it. Good thing I post a lot of the pictures to Facebook and on this blog. That has helped.

Anyways I have a lot of catching up to do as I haven't made any of Collin's baby books and I still have Mason's year 2 to finish, and start year 3 and year 4. Yeah, a lot to do. I am so proud of myself. But I just finished this one so I am so happy! Check it out. Do you do special books for your kids?

 
Click here to view this photo book larger

**Update! I got a good amount of work done on Collin's 0-12 months baby book today, even with the missing photos I have been able to find lots of them. So thankful for social media! (still working on it but making progress!) 

1. 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! 

5 Rainy day Toddler Activities

We are on about day 17 of straight rain here in central VA! I feel so badly for Mason's preschool teacher. All the kids are going stir crazy not being able to go outside and play on the playground. So her and I am sure other teachers and parents are on the lookout for fun indoor activities for the weekend to keep these kiddos entertained!

Honestly I am at a loss as to what we can do, so I went to the internet to find more actives. I feel like we have done a lot of these ideas but here are more ideas to entertain your kiddos! What do you do that is special for rainy days?

1. Pretend to go camping. 
   
2. Build a tent in your living room out of blankets and chairs. Or use a real tent and hang some Christmas lights on the outside to have the "stars" shinning brightly! Don't forget to bring the flashlights, snacks, and books. Or make it an igloo and pretend to hunt for polar bears and go ice fishing. 

1. Recycle, reuse, renew. 
   

1. Find broken crayons, put them in an oiled muffin tin, and place them in a warm oven to melt. Let them cool and pop them out of the tin. Use your new "rainbow color-wheel crayons" to draw pictures for Grandma and Grandpa.

1. Create an in-home drive in theater. 
   
2. Take some old boxes and paper plates and have the kids make their own cars, turn out the lights, grab popcorn and beverages, and put on their favorite movie.

1. Mix education and fun.
   
2. Pull out old magazines and catalogs and let your kids find pictures of animals, food, babies, or cars. Give them safety scissors and glue sticks to make collages. Or have them make their own picture out of the colors they find! 

1. Get messy! 
   
2. No outside dirt play, play in the tub with shaving cream, bathtub paints, and bath crayons. Don't want a bath? Paint with finger-paints or, for easier cleanup, let your kids paint with chocolate and vanilla pudding cups. That way they can lick their fingers without the nasty after taste of paint! Yummy!
3. 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!