Meal Prep Tip #4

Meal prep is going to make or break you from reaching your goals! If you want to succeed, you HAVE to plan and prepare. Check out Tip #4

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Be Sexy And Believe It

Talk about total mindset change. Today, when I was taking my weekly bump update pictures, it is just me and a camera. I set up my tripod and put my camera on timer. Then, I basically have to smile at the camera and hope that they come out ok (and I am doing the pictures without my glasses so I am blind!) I generally think of a motto or thought to get my smile to be more genuine, normally I think about how happy I am about Elyse joining our family, or how much fun it will be to dress her. Well, today...a specific song popped in my head and would not leave! And it is one that I would never have thought of myself a few years ago.

I'M SEXY AND I KNOW IT!

Yep, you read that right. As I was taking these pictures, I kept saying in my head, I'm sexy and I know it! (yep full Pitbull voice and all!) This is all thanks to the positive books I read to help build up my own self confidence, self belief and self love. In the coaching arena we call it Personal Development and it really is. I have developed my mental thoughts to finally love me for me as I am right now in my life!

If you have ever doubted yourself, or just wanted that extra little boost in knowing how awesome you are...START HERE WITH THIS BOOK! You Are A Badass. Check it out, give it a read and feel the awesomeness take over your way of thinking! Don't question it anymore. Just do it! Know it! BELIEVE 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!

Bump Update: 29 Weeks

11 weeks to go! The countdown has begun! Yesterday was fun! I got to see little miss! And she is doing so well! So I have been getting monthly ultrasounds every month since 13 weeks due to my history with all my miscarriages and the placental abruption that happened last year but after yesterdays appointment she is doing so well. And I am guessing based on the ultrasound yesterday that when she is born she will be 8-8.5 pounds! She was weighing in, based on her measurements and size, to be about 3 pounds. (These are only estimates as the ultrasounds can be off as much as 3 pounds in the end!) She is measuring in the 51% for her size, when a couple of months she was below average. So we are happy to know that she is so healthy, and BIG!

Mason and Collin have officially moved into the same room. Pictures have been moved over. New mattress (Hyphen, is what we went with and it is actually pretty comfy. Check it out here!) for Collin is in the bed and they spent their first night in the bunk beds last night with Mason on the top and Collin on the bottom. It didn't start out too well in the beginning with Collin freaking out about Mason being on the top bunk, and Collin was put in his crib until he could calm down and get a little tired out. I ended up putting him back in the bed about 30 minutes later and he fell asleep. When I went in this morning. Collin was not in his bed but he, at some point, fell out and had slept under his bed. Just his feet were hanging out. It was cute. I just wonder how long he actually slept on the floor. But he didn't cry once last night. The ladder is the other issue we are still trying to work out! Collin wants to climb up and be with big brother but I am not ready for that. So no ladder on the bed. We take it off once Mason is in bed and he knows how to climb down safely with out it but can't climb back in yet.

Total Weight Gain: 16 pounds total. Weight as of this morning 254.0 pounds. 

Symptoms: HEARTBURN! Lack of sleeping well. Still have to take 1 nap to make it through the day And round ligament pain from my pulled ligament I injured during my last pregnancy. Feeling HOT all the time!

Baby’s Size: Small Cabbage (~17 inches inches, 3 pounds)

Maternity Clothes: Yes, bottoms need to wear maternity or stretchy pants. Tops I wear maternity now and my bigger t-shirts. Wearing my new Fabletics sports bra in these pictures and LOVE THEM and the fun colors! A ton more coverage and super comfy!

Stretch Marks: I already have a ton that I got when I gained weight years ago. So nothing new. I am using Honest Company belly balm right now though to help my belly stretch so I do not get any new ones.

Gender: GIRL!!! 

Sleep: Sleep actually hasn't been too bad, except for the heartburn at the beginning of the night and trying to get comfy. But once I'm out, I am out until my first bathroom break, then out again, until my second time I wake up to go to the bathroom! 

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

Cravings: Veggies? I really don't have any cravings. I just really enjoy eating good foods. I have been snacking on Peanut M&M's, maybe a handful a day, but I am trying really hard to have a junk free July. 

Aversions: Nope. But sweets taste too sweet for me, so I can only handle a little at a time.

Excited About: Got to see little miss Sassafras yesterday! She was so active and not really wanting to take any good pictures. It was fun to find out that she is doing so well! Things are going so well for this pregnancy. Tomorrow is my next monthly check up with the doc and last monthly check up as I will probably be every 2 weeks beyond this point. I am now 11 weeks from my due date! 

Workouts: Okay this week! I only got in 4 days this past week. My regular Workouts include: 21 Day Fix yoga & pilates.  Beachbody On Demand Active Maternity and Diary Of A Fit Mommy's Fit For Two 2nd Trimester workouts in daily. Still trying to get in walks everyday for the kiddos at night, but it didn't happen every night with the rain and thunderstorms.

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!

Junk Free July Challenge

Good Tuesday Morning! Did you all have a wonderful 4th of July weekend? We sure did!

Now that the holiday is over I have a challenge for you for the next 21 Days. The remainder of this month I am really striving to be as healthy as possible. I am over 7 months pregnant now and only have a few more months left of being pregnant. My weight is creeping up there and the one reason why: FOOD. Even though I am eating pretty well, I am still indulging way more than I used to before getting pregnant. When I was in the height of losing all my weight. But since becoming pregnant, I have enjoyed too many sweets and treats. Yeah, I have kept it under control, but now this month, I am going to really keep it under control. No more stashes of peanut M&M's to snack on, no more chips that I don't need. More watching how many yellow containers I am really eating. And indulging in healthy fruit as my go to sweetness for the day. I AM GOING TO BE JUNK FREE IN JULY! STARTING TODAY! WANNA JOIN ME?

Make sure you "like" my special Facebook Page: Becky Allen - Connect The Dots Ginger. I will be posting tips and info to help you stay junk free! And be sure to keep checking here for more tips too! Are you ready?

If you want to take it one step further you HAVE to be PART OF MY EXCLUSIVE HEALTH AND FITNESS GROUP! You get access to:

~my exclusive tools that have help me lose weight prior to getting pregnant and actually control my weight gain while I have been pregnant
~have daily support and motivation
~one on one accountability
~Daily dose of superfood nutrition that cuts those pesky cravings for sweets and treats
~Easy to follow nutrition plan to finally eat and feel satisfied and still lose weight!
~30 minute workouts that are perfect for any level

I WANT YOU AND I AM READY TO HELP YOU! MESSAGE ME OR COMMENT BELOW TO LET ME KNOW YOU ARE READY! It's never too late to start and the first step to change is letting me know you are ready! EMAIL ME HERE! Or comment below! 

WILL YOU JOIN ME?

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 today! 

Go NUTS For Your Man's Health!

Healthy and fit families start with healthy and fit moms! I remember as a kid, when my mom was on a diet, we were ALL on a diet! Well moms, this one is for you to help your hubs or partner be healthy and fit too. Our men need us! My husband relies on me to feed him good, healthy foods, and have good workouts for him to do at home to be a great example for our boys and so that he can prevent any future health problems and be here as long as possible for me and our kids. I have really worked hard to teach him to pack his own HEALTHY, WELL BALANCED lunch so that he doesn't have to rely on the vending machine or spending his hard earned money on lunch made in the cafeteria at work. One of my favorite easy, mid morning snacks to have him pack is my take and go trail mix!

Take And Go Trail Mix

Ingredients:

10 unsalted almonds

1 Tbls pumpkin seeds

1 Tbls dried unsweetened cranberries.

Directions:

Combine and store in snack size Ziploc bags for grab and go! 

When I make this trail mix I make 10-14 bags at a time. So that he can just reach in the pantry and pack it in his lunch! EASY and healthy! 

Don't be fooled by this small snack though. I know it looks small and you are probably thinking, "how can this keep him or me satisfied?" But IT REALLY DOES! All thanks to the NUTS! Nuts are a great healthy snack to have. They are healthy fats, which our bodies really do need to be healthy to help maintain good blood sugar levels. But we don't need that many, and 10 almonds in this case, are THE PERFECT number to help you feel satisfied and to stave off that "I'm hungry feeling" between a healthy and much needed breakfast and a healthy lunch! Want to know why NUTS are so awesome for you and your man? CLICK HERE for HEALTHY SNACKS and HERE for HIGH PROTEIN SNACKS ideas.

And it is so good all the men in my household enjoy them too! Including my 2 year old! 
With our help, our men can be just as healthy and fit as us!

Comment below: What are your favorite nuts to enjoy as a snack?

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 today!