Chocolate Dipped Pear Bites - EASY Holiday Tasty Treats

Who says you can't enjoy the holidays just a little. I know I didn't! I would be a hypocrite if I said that. 80/20 peeps! live your life in 80/20. 80% of the time I am eating clean. 20% of the time I allow myself to indulge just a little. You know what that does, it keeps me from binge eating like I used to do during a diet. I would say, "no, No, NO!" too long to myself on a treat or sweet and then one day I would just SNAP and I would binge eat. I would feel terrible and put myself down. I felt like a failure. (Can you relate?)

Now I don't feel like that at all. I am still losing weight even though I am eating a sweet treat during the week. Not everyday but in moderation! So for today's I found this killer dessert over at The Gracious Pantry! Make sure you check out their site for even more clean eating recipes! Check it out! Oh and this would be a fun and healthy option to your next Cookie Exchange!

Chocolate Dipped Pear Bites

Ingredients: 

Water 
2 tsp. lemon juice 
3/4 cup chocolate chips
3 pears 
1/2 cup walnuts, ground into crumbs 
candy canes or sprinkles would be great too (optional)
1 box toothpicks

Directions: 

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and have your toothpicks handy. 

Set out a small to medium bowl of water with the lemon juice in it. 

Melt the chocolate chips in a small slow cooker or microwave them, 1 minute at a time, stirring between each minute until fully melted.

Using a melon baller, scoop the balls out of your ripe pairs. Put the balls in the lemon water temporarily to keep them from browning. 

When you are ready to dip them in chocolate, place them on a paper towel to remove most of the water first.  

Using a toothpick, pick up one ball, roll in the chocolate and then sprinkle some crushed walnuts over the chocolate while it's still warm. 

Set the ball on a parchment lined cookie sheet, leaving the toothpick in the ball. 
After dipping all of the pear balls, place the entire cookie sheet in the fridge until the chocolate is hard and you are ready to serve them (at least an hour). 

December Book Club

It's the first Wednesday of the month and you know what that brings...MONTHLY BOOK CLUB! YEA! I am so excited for these books. Just going to say, do not, judge a book by it's cover or title. Seriously! Read through the description, then decide if it is something you want to read but I choose book #2 for a reason! Stick with me!

Book 1: Jen Sincero  - YOU ARE A BADASS!  How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life

I seriously love this book. I am reading it AGAIN because sometime I just need that inner "umph" to get me to feel like I really am a badass and to just stop making excuses for myself or letting other people get me down! 

In this refreshingly entertaining how-to guide, bestselling author and world-traveling success coach, Jen Sincero, serves up 27 bitesized chapters full of hilariously inspiring stories, sage advice, easy exercises, and the occasional swear word, helping you to: Identify and change the self-sabotaging beliefs and behaviors that stop you from getting what you want, Create a life you totally love. And create it NOW, Make some damn money already. The kind you’ve never made before.

By the end of You Are a Badass, you’ll understand why you are how you are, how to love what you can’t change, how to change what you don’t love, and how to use The Force to kick some serious ass.

Book 2: Brian Tracy - Eat That Frog: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time. (Hello, we all need this right! What a great book to read BEFORE the New Year to help you get the new year started right!) 

Using "eat that frog" as a metaphor for tackling the day's most challenging task, Tracy shows readers how to zero in on these critical tasks and organize their time. He details 21 practical, doable steps to stop the procrastination treadmill and get more of the important tasks done.

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!

How to start December Feeling Great

So who is feeling a little sluggish or icky from this past weekend feasting? Did you eat too much good stuff, or too many days of it? It's ok! Take a deep breath. It is ok! I have been enjoying a bowl of the fruit salad everyday. Yes it has marshmallows in it. It is my weakness, but I am limiting myself to only one bowl a day. Oh and it is going bye-bye today. It will not be in the house TOMORROW!

First things first. Make today the last day to have leftovers that might not be the best for you. And decide that tomorrow is the day that you get back on the healthy food and workout bandwagon.

Drink lots of water. You need to help flush your system of the heavy foods you ate this weekend. So make sure you are getting at least 100 oz of water over the next few days.

Drink 1-2 cups of warm lemon water (this counts towards your daily water allotments) This will help to flush and detox your body of the stuff you ate. It will help to regulate your system and help your tummy feel better. 

Drink 1 cup of water with 1-2 teaspoons of RAW Apple Cider Vinegar. This will help to re-balance out your body to a better PH balance. Eating meat and heavy foods change the ph balance of your body. it will also help you retain the good minerals in your body that you need instead of flushing all of them out with the extra water you are drinking. Plus more benefits. 

Eat more fruits and veggies! Have leftover veggie? Eat those up first. Stick with lots of veggies and fruits as your sweets. Now that you have had sweets your body is going to crave it. Use your fruits as your sweets. Get some grapes and stick them in the freezer for a nice frozen treat. Grapes have some of the highest natural sugar contents and it is a good starting point to help cut your cravings for sugar. After a few days cut grapes and go with apples or other fruits with less sugar in them.

But most of all. Give yourself a break. If you overate or indulged more than you had planned, it is done. It is in the past. Focus now on how you can help your body feel better and happier now. Also use this as a good lesson for Christmas. Remember how you are feeling to help drive you to eat differently over Christmas! You all did great. Give yourself some credit. I know each and everyone of you made at least 1 change to what you had at your table and that right there is the starting point!

Diamond Coach

 Last Thursday I hit a HUGE milestone as a health and fitness coach! I had a goal in May that I wanted to reach this goal by Christmas, and I am a whole month early! I advanced to DIAMOND RANK!

I don't receive a payout bonus, and it is not determined by how much money I have made or am making. What it means is that I am helping people every single day. Motivating them, supporting them, helping them reach their goals. And on top of that I am helping my team help others too. They are duplicating what I do and are now building their own teams. I have helped over 60 people now personally in my coaching career and that number is only going to get bigger.

What does that mean, well, that means that I am still going to be providing daily motivation and support. I am still going to be holding a clean eating challenge every month to anyone and everyone who wants to join. I am still going to be offering one on one support to my friends. Nothing changes, I am just leading a team who want to help people reach their health and fitness goals and are also reaching out to their friends who want to do the same. 

I am working with amazing women who want to be mompreneurs, girl bosses. Who want to contribute to their families income. Empowered women! Women who believe that they have a special mission to help people and who believe in themselves. (and some days we all need a little help believing in our selves. and that's ok! I'm here to help with that because I believe in you!)  And it is AMAZING! I feel so blessed to be able to work with such amazing people every single day. If you want any of these things, let me know, I would love to have you on my team! Send me an email or comment below! Connecting the dots to find balance between your fitness, health and life! 

BLACK FRIDAY SALE

 Ok, so it is Saturday but I still wanted to extend this AWESOME OFFER to you! My PERSONAL BLACK FRIDAY SALE! When you get either 21 Day Fix or 21 Day Fix Extreme, which is ON SALE! I will send you FIXATE FREE!

Yep! You have seen me post recipes from it, and it is AMAZING! Fixate gives you 101 great tasting recipes that you can use along with your killer new program to help you reach your goals!

Plus, you get access to my exclusive health and fitness support group, and ongoing support group filled with motivation, support, great people and tools to get end the year FEELING GREAT!!! The offer ends 11/30! 

Are you in?

December 30 Day Ab Challenge

It's another month and this is the month of cookies, sweets, sugars and decadent dinners. To avoid getting your own belly that shakes like a bowl full of jelly I thought it was the right time to do a 30 day AB challenge! Sounds great right?!?

Abs are so important though, they help protect your back, keep your posture finely tuned and help you just feel strong. Are you going to get a 6 pack doing these? Maybe, if you lose body fat on top of doing the exercises. But for me I know that I have a six pack under my fat because it would take a LOT for me to get visible abs. But just because I am plus sized doesn't me I shouldn't work my ABS off! (like that huh!) If anything we should be working our core more as plus sized women because we need to compensate for the extra stuff we already have. And that is ok! I love my curves and I have accepted that I have a belly. I have 2 beautiful babies! But here is the thing, I am fit. I am healthy. And I love my body and am taking care of it. It is just taking me a lot of hard work to get to where I want to be!

So let's go ladies! let's work our abs off! And get a strong core which will help us with all of our other daily things we do!

And, of course, be sure to like our FACEBOOK page and follow us on PINTEREST for motivation, clean eating tips, and healthy lifestyle resources.

21 Day Fix Results

I have been doing the 21 Day fix now for 5 months. And this program has literally CHANGED MY LIFE! I see foods in a whole new way. I finally enjoy my workouts. I want to exercise everyday, well almost every day! I am loving how my body feels and the strength and endurance I am developing. I finally see my goals ahead of me and it is all because of this program.

6 Months ago I was in the deepest depression I have ever been in in my entire life. It was horrible. I had sucidial thoughts. I didn't want to be here anymore. I didn't think I had a purpose. All because I survived a miscarriage, a miscarriage that so very closely almost took my life. I have been in therapy for the past 6 months to help myself heel. And part of my therapy has been my workouts.

I finally see happiness where there was sorrow. I finally see purpose where there was despair. I finally feel at peace with what happened and it is a hard thing to go through. Know that if you ever go through a miscarriage no matter how small, it is a hard thing to go through. Find someone to talk to. Get a counselor. Go to a group. Someone to help you cope with the feelings. Because in order to change the outside, you must first work on the inside. I truly believe that it was my willingness to change my whole attitude towards myself that helped my body shed my weight and reflect what I truly felt.

I started my journey just before June 1. I wanted to share my actual changes I went through over the course of this first step in my journey. I lost a total of 21.2 pounds from May 18, 2015-November 23, 2015 and I lost 18.75 inches on my body. The most being from my belly button area! Check out my results!

Are you ready to try 21 Day Fix yet? If so, you can ORDER HERE and I will contact you with more info on joining my group! I would love to have you part of my EXCLUSIVE group to help give you the support and accountability to stick with your program for good! Or you can EMAIL ME for more details!

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

Post Thanksgiving Homemade Turkey Stock

Don't throw away that turkey carcass from Thanksgiving! Use it to make a flavorful homemade stock that you can freeze and use for months! This year I am finally going to bite the bullet and DO IT! This recipe is salt free! BONUS! And from everything I have read, it is SOOOOOOO easy! Now you will know, when a recipe calls for chicken stock or veggie stock, you made your own and you know exactly what went into it! Clean eating at it's finest! 

Homemade Turkey Stock

Ingredients: 

Turkey carcass and bones from 14-pound turkey
1 large yellow onion, halved (unpeeled)
1 carrot, peeled and cut into large chunks
2 celery stalks, cut into large chunks
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon black peppercorns
5 sprigs fresh parsley
3 sprigs fresh thyme

Directions:

1. Place the turkey carcass and bones in a large stockpot and cover with at least 5 quarts of water, or enough to ensure that the water covers it by at least 1 inch. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Skim off any fat or foam that rises to the surface.

2. Add the onion, carrot, celery, bay leaf and peppercorns. Reduce the heat to low so that the stock is at a very slow simmer. Simmer, uncovered, for 2 hours.

3. Add the parsley and thyme to the stock and simmer for an additional 2 hours.

4. Pour the stock into a large bowl through a fine-mesh sieve and discard all of the solids. Allow to sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes, or until a noticeable skin forms on the surface. Using a spoon, skim off the layer of fat, then let the stock cool to room temperature. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

5. The next day, remove the layer of fat that has collected on the top of the stock, then portion out the stock into quart-size containers or freezer-safe ziploc bags and store. The stock can be refrigerated for up to 3 days, or frozen for up 6 months.

What do you think? Do you think you will try this out this year? Recipe found at Brown Eyed Baker

Leftover Turkey Tostadas

Recipe time! So after Thanksgiving we all tend to have LEFTOVERS! Here is an awesome recipe for your Turkey Leftovers! (Matt is super excited for this one!) 

Leftover Turkey Tostadas

INGREDIENTS:
1 14-ounce can petite diced tomatoes, preferably with jalapeños
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
3 cups shredded cooked turkey, or chicken (12 ounces; see Tip)
8 corn tortillas
Canola or olive oil cooking spray
1 avocado, pitted
1/4 cup prepared salsa
2 tablespoons Fage greek yogurt
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
1 cup shredded romaine lettuce
1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese or pepper jack

PREPARATION:

Position racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven; preheat to 375°F.
Bring tomatoes and their juice to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is soft and most of the liquid has evaporated, 15 to 20 minutes. Add turkey (or chicken) and cook until heated through, 1 to 2 minutes.

Meanwhile, coat tortillas on both sides with cooking spray. Divide the tortillas between 2 large baking sheets. Bake, turning once, until crisped and lightly brown, about 10 minutes.

Mash avocado in a bowl. Stir in salsa, sour cream and cilantro until combined.

To assemble tostadas, spread each crisped tortilla with some of the avocado mixture. Top with the turkey (or chicken) mixture, lettuce and cheese.

Who wants to give this one a try?

modified from eatingwell.com

Staying On Track For Thanksgiving

Check out my tips for staying on track this Thanksgiving. Many of us will be having a buffet style dinner. Here are my tips to keep Thanksgiving healthy but still enjoying many of the foods you want to eat for Thanksgiving!

Tips to Conquer The Buffet

Scope It out
Before taking your plate through the buffet line, check out the options and pick what you like. Having a plan will keep you from going overboard.

Top it with Turkey
Grab a plate of salad, (or bringer own) and top it with some turkey. When your plate is full of delicious veggies you won’t have room to over-do it with the other sides.

Be Mindful About Added Butter, Salt and Sugar
yes those dishes may taste incredible, but most Thanksgiving sides are packed with those things that aren’t the best for you. Try getting smaller portions or avoiding some of the choices.

Choose Water
There are probably lots of options filled with sugar. Stick with WATER! You will be well hydrated and feel great after!

Stick To One Trip
As tempting as all that food just laying around is, try to get everything you’d like in your first trip. et smaller portions of sides so you can have a variety.

Greens Over Yellows
Get more veggies than carbs. Obviously we love those potatoes, but we don’t need a plate full!

Bring Food to Share
Bring your own healthier options to share! Then you know exactly what went into it!

Be Selective About Desserts
there are often tons of desserts. Remember your goals and only get one small choice (or none if you’re feeling extremely controlled!) 

And, of course, be sure to like our FACEBOOK page and follow us on PINTEREST for motivation, clean eating tips, and healthy lifestyle resources.

Perfect Holiday Spinach Salad

It's RECIPE time. And this one is coming straight from the Allen home to you! This is my mom's AMAZING Spinach Salad with homemade poppyseed dressing. To me, it is not a holiday without this salad. 

Spinach Leaf Salad with Homemade Poppy Seed Dressing

Salad:
~2 bunches fresh spinach leaves, stemmed and washed (pat dry with paper towels.) OR 2 bags of baby spinach leaves
~1/4 lb fresh mushrooms, sliced
~1/2 lb bacon (8 slices), cooked and crumbled (optional)
~1/4 lb swiss cheese, grated
~1/4 red onion, thin half moons
~6 boiled eggs, sliced
~croutons (optional)

Dressing: Combine in a Blender
~1 cup salad oil
~1/3 cup cider vinegar
~3/4 cup brown sugar
~1 tablespoon dry mustard
~1/2 teaspoon salt
~1 tablespoon red onion (from the salad)
~1 tablespoon poppy seeds

Assemble salad in a large bowel. Combine dressing ingredients in the blender and blend together. (If you pre make the dressing store it in the fridge and blend it together just before serving because the oil will separate.) Just before serving, pour dressing over salad and stir well. Top with croutons.

I personally do not use the croutons or the bacon. Neither like me much so I just leave them out!

One trick I do, I don't douce the salad in the dressing unless I am serving it to a HUGE crowd. I put the dressing in a mason jar and just drizzle a little on. And whatever leftover salad there is I still have dressing left! Enjoy!

What do you think of this salad. You all know I do not like salads but I do love this one!

Tracking Your Journey

One thing that's so important to remember as we're on this journey is that this is in fact A JOURNEY. It's ongoing, and we need to be making lifestyle changes in order to have a lasting effect on our health. There are no more diets in our world - just clean, whole, healthy foods, portion control and exercise to go with it.

Have you struggled in the past with dieting and having it quickly come back once you resumed your normal habits? What is your story about why you got here and why you realized you needed to change your habits, and not just do another fad diet out there?  I have. But it wasn't until I finally realized that I eat the things I like in moderation that this lifestyle change really clicked for me! 

I think it is so important to keep returning to our journey and see where we have come from and how far we have changed. Answer these questions: Where did you start at the beginning of your journey? What have you learned from your journey thus far? And where do you so yourself at the end of your journey? 

And, of course, be sure to like our FACEBOOK page and follow us on PINTEREST for motivation, clean eating tips, and healthy lifestyle resources.

Be Fearless

How many of you feel like exercise and clean eating have become a normal and regular part of your life now? Yes, I have times where I just want a milkshake and goodies, but it is just times now. Not ALL THE TIME like it used to be. I love that I have a healthy relationship with food now. This is the first time ever! You do not have to sacrifice to be healthy you just have to realize that there are better things out there for you.

In high school I ate so little because I thought I was fat. Always skipping breakfast and I would eat Jr. Mints for lunch and that was it and barely ateany dinner too. I used to think, "to lose weight I have to cut food, or a food group." I lost 20 pounds in high school because I didn't eat. I used an excuse as a reason to why I didn't want to eat. I felt that I had to stop eating and exercise to be happy. And I still thought I was fat even when I was too thin for my body type. Most people thought I looked great. I was miserable. I was hungry. I was depressed. And I was hurting myself. 

Even as a young adult I was hard on myself. Thinking that if I ever reach a certain weight that I would just stop eating again. And I thought I was HUGE! 

Now, I finally get to eat, and it always fills me up and still lose weight. I am eating the right types of carbs. I am eating healthy fats. I am LOVING veggies and fruits. And I am getting the protein in my body that it needs to function correctly! And the food I make is pretty great! Oh and I still get goodies, sometimes. I live my life by the 80/20 rule where I eat clean most of the time but still get a good treat. 

We are all in here for our own reason but we are fighting for what we want. We are fighting to be healthy and sometimes the battle is REAL! Be fearless in what you are pursuing. Because in the end, you matter. Your healthy life matters! You are worth it and never forget that!

If you are done letting food rule your life and want to start eating clean and healthy. Fill out this GOOGLE DOC and I will get back with you within 48 hours.  I can't wait to talk to you! 

Thanksgiving Appetizer: Pumpkin Hummus

Here is a great appetizer to try out before you dive into your feast! Let me know what you think! 

Pumpkin Hummus:

Pumpkin is a great Thanksgiving tradition. This recipe taste good with chips, and baked pita chips.

Ingredients:

2 tbsp tahini
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp pumpkin oil
3/4 tsp sea salt
1/8 tsp ground pepper
15oz pumpkin (plain) baked or canned
4 cloves garlic, passed through a garlic press
2 tbsp cilantro

Preparation:

Place all ingredients in a food processor. Process until smooth.
Spoon into a decorative stoneware serving bowl and serve chilled.

[Image source: cooktj.com]

Keeping The Holidays Healthy

Here they are! The Holidays are HERE!

Every December I have been resigned with the fact that I was just going to enjoy my holiday and deal with the aftermath in January. But this year is going to be so different. This is the first year that I am going into the holidays losing weight and actually knowing what I should and shouldn't eat. And trying to follow that. I am taking the time for me, my health and my body! No more just allowing the holidays to run my life for me.

Why wait for New Years to make the changes your body is wanting?

For December I am running a group to help keep your holidays healthy. A holiday survival group just for women who are ready to make themselves a priority this year.

My 30 day exclusive private group will include:

-A fitness program that fits your lifestyle and needs
-30 day supply of dense nutrition
-Meal plans, recipes and grocery lists
-Meal planning help and support
-Accountability and one on one coaching
-Daily motivation to help you stick with your goals
-Clean eating and holiday survival guide ebooks
-A group of supportive women who can relate to YOU

I am ready to make this December the most healthy and best one I have ever had with ME as a priority. Are you ready?

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!

Stretches for Tight Hips

Oh my legs and hips are super sore and tired from my workouts I have been doing this week. Tonight I am taking the time to stretch them out and help them out a little! Thankfully I have Pilates on the schedule for tomorrows workout and not strength training but I still need to stretch them tonight. I'm following this exercise routine to help me out! 

All of you doing the squat challenge. Takes some time during the week to stretch out your legs and hips! 

20 Pounds...GONE! My 5 Tips To Help You Lose 20 Pounds

I finally did it! I am at my 20 pounds lost mark! It feels like it has taken forever but looking back it really hasn't been that long. Since May. Since I came back and decided that I was worth it, that I was tired of being tired. Now I am going into the holidays losing weight, being healthy for me and my family and KICKING BUTT! (while making it smaller too!)

So what are my tips? 

1. WORKOUT! You have to workout and exercise that beautiful body God blessed you with. We sit too much, I still sit too much, but I try to get at least 30 minutes of active exercise in. Not meaning I walk around my house or up and down the stairs but 30 minutes of an actual workout routine or walk outside, at a good pace. No more lazy strolling. Find a program that is easy to follow. Find a routine that you can do. And don't push yourself too hard in the beginning or else you are going to get too sore and give up too quickly! Don't know what program is best for you and your lifestyle? Send me a message and we can chat about that! I know there is one out there that will work best for you! 

2. EAT CLEAN! Ok so working out is only about 20% of the equation to actually losing weight. It is so good for our bodies and mind but eating is the other 80% that you really have to do to actually lose weight. You can exercise your butt off, 2 hours a day, and still only have minimal weight loss (trust me, I have been there) But once you clean up your eating and doing exercise, your weight will just literally FALL OFF OF YOU! So check your cupboards right now. See anything in there that you know isn't the best for you? Pitch it and get rid of it. Start filling your cupboards with healthy foods. Cut the snacks. And snack on fruits and veggies! Trust me! You will feel more satisfied with good whole foods than you do with any of the pre-packaged, processed snacks!

3. WATER! Water is so important to flush out all the toxins from your system. Drink half your body weight in ounces. AT LEAST! Just drink water. Take a measuring glass to your favorite cup and measure how much water it holds that way you will know, When I drink out of my favorite ASU cup I am getting 32 ounces of water! Really is that easy!

4. BE HAPPY! If you are happy and enjoying life you are going to want to exercise, eat good and people will notice. You are an amazing person. You are special and unique. You don't have to do anything special to feel happy and be positive you just have to be happy and positive! Say a positive phrase in the morning every day for 1 week and see how you feel at the end of the week.

5. BE YOU! You are amazing and wonderful. Just be you. Don't compare yourself to other people. Don't compare your success to other people too. It just isn't worth the time and effort. You are perfect and enjoy who you are now, but be open to making changes to enhance yourself! That's it!

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!