Post Partum Survival Challenge

Calling All New Moms... I NEED YA!!! 

As you may already know I am about to embark on my own weight loss transformation as I adventure into the "4th trimester" and begin recovering from pregnancy. I will begin my work to get my body back to where it was prior to having my sweet baby girl. I realize that this is going to be a journey and I plan to be kind to my body. I have to remind myself that it took 9+ months to gain the 47 lbs that I gained in pregnancy and that it will take some time to get rid of it. I am planning to wait until I am cleared by the doctor to resume exercise and will spend the next five weeks getting my nutrition under control all while keeping my breastmilk supply up. 

I plan to follow the portion control system that comes along with the Beachbody fitness programs. In addition I will be incorporating Shakeology into my daily diet as one of my six meals that I have each day. Typically I try to drink at least half of my weight in ounces of water, but I will be increasing that amount since I am nursing. I will also be adding in an additional 400 calories to my allotted calorie bracket that is suggested for my current weight.

Below is an example of what a typical week will look like in regards to my nutrition. I will create a different meal plan that I will follow each week that aligns with the container system.

I will be running an accountability group specifically for moms who have had a baby in the past year or are currently expecting. Others are of course welcome, but I will be incorporating specific help for those in a similar situation to my own.

Applications for this exclusive group are now being accepted. The group will begin on Monday June 12th and will continue into the summer to help you to stay on track once you get started.

Please fill out the application below to be considered. Participants should not be already working with another Beachbody coach.

Fill out my online form.

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3 years in the making - welcoming our rainbow baby

One Week To Go.... 

If you have been following our journey with infertility you may realize that the journey after three long hard years is about to end in less than a week. 

To be honest I am not sure how I feel right now. You would think I would be overjoyed and excited and just ready to meet her. While I am to an extent, I also have to be very honest and admit that I am terrified, worried and also anxious about all of the change that is about to come our way. I woke up this morning knowing that a week from today I will be induced to have her at some point on the 16th of May. I feel like I have a million things I need to do still to get ready, but I just don't feel ready.  

I keep praying that my anxiety stays down and that I calmly have an uneventful birth, but until shes in my arms I don't know that my fears will go away. I spent most of the first trimester worrying about a miscarriage. Then the second trimester worrying about how well she was growing and worried about her coming prematurely. Then I got to the third trimester and I started to have some major worry about the actual labor and delivery process. I am not sure why because my sons delivery was a breeze. I prayed a ton and that helped, but I still find the worrysome thoughts creeping in. 

I think all of this worry was my minds way of protecting me from the hurt and what we had been thru over the last three years. It's like I don't want to allow myself to get too excited until I know she really is here and safe. I would like to think this is normal when you walked the dark road of infertility, but who knows maybe it's not. 

So for the next week you will find me waiting and waiting and waiting some more. I am praying big and hoping that all goes according to HIS plans that are waiting for our family and this sweet little girl. We have such a special life planned for her with lots of love waiting for her. 

I have envisioned the moment when they hand her to us over and over in my head and every time I envision it I cry. The hard ugly kind of cry.

I have no doubt that it will be one of best moments of our marriage and my life as long as all goes well. I hope that the labor and delivery nurses who are there with us have a tissue because I anticipate it will be an emotional moment for everyone in the room. 

There was a bible verse that I held near to my heart during our dark days. Romans 8:18 says that "the pain you have been feeling can't compare to the joy that is coming." I believed deep down it was true. That all of our hurt and pain was going to turn into something beautiful someday and sure enough it did. 

I will be reminding myself over and over of this verse during labor as I endure a few hard hours before meeting our precious rainbow after the storm. 

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers. Thanks for coming along for the ride these past few years. We hope our story gave you hope for your own. God Bless you all. Can't wait to share her with you. 

Turkey Quinoa Taco Dinner

We are a TACO TUESDAY family, but lately I have been craving change and wanting to try something new. This weeks recipe was just the change I was looking for. I call it Turkey Quinoa Tacos. The protein from the turkey as well as the quinoa was super filling. I wish I could say I could got my son to eat this one, but it was a mom and dad kind of dinner. There was just too much in this mixture for him to be a fan. I used corn flour tortillas because I eat gluten free, but any kind would work well. May be something fun to make for Cinco De Mayo in the coming days! Enjoy. 
Ingredients 

• 1 pound lean ground turkey (I use 99% lean)
• 1 yellow onion, diced

• 2 cloves of garlic, minced

• 4 ounce can diced green chiles

• 2 teaspoons chili powder

• 1 teaspoon cumin

• 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt

• Black pepper to taste

• 15 ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained

• 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes

• 1/2 cup frozen corn

• 1/4 cup salsa

• 1/2 cup cooked quinoa

• 1/2 cup water

• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Directions 

1. Spray a large skillet with cooking spray and heat over medium-high heat.
2. When the skillet is hot add in the diced onion and cook for about 2 minutes until it starts to soften.
3. Add in the ground turkey and minced garlic and cook until the meat is almost cooked through, breaking it up into crumbles with a spoon as it cooks.
4. Stir in all the spices and the diced green chiles, cooking for another minute.
5. Add in the black beans, corn, diced tomatoes, salsa and quinoa, stirring until everything is combined.
6. When the mixture starts to bubble add in the water, cover the skillet with a lid and lower the heat to medium-low.
7. Simmer for about 20-25 minutes or until the quinoa is cooked, it should still have a slight bite to it, but not be hard and crunchy.
8. Sprinkle the shredded cheese on top and cover with the lid cooking until the cheese is melted.
9. Serve as is, in tortillas for tacos

This recipe is awesome as left overs too or you could freeze any extras that you may have. 

Cafe Latte Energy Bites

Because Protein Snacks Shouldn't Be Gross.... 

I have tried many many recipes for protein bites and balls and cookies and typically I think they taste super gross. This recipe is hands down the best I have made. We ate way too many in one sitting and they are all already gone. I wanted to use the new vegan cafe latte shakeology that I had on hand and wanted to do more than just turn it into a shake. It takes less than five minutes to make and is made up of lots of healthy ingredients. 

Try it out if you need a sweet fix for your late night cravings. I like to keep mine in the fridge. They taste best cold. 

Ingredients 

• ¼ cup chopped peanuts (unsalted) 
• ½ cup dry old-fashioned rolled oats
• ½ cup all-natural nut butter ( I used peanut butter) 
• 2 scoops Cafe Latte Vegan Shakeology 
• 2 Tbsp. chia seeds
• ⅓ cup pure maple syrup
• 1 tsp of hazelnut extract 

Directions 

1. Combine peanuts, oats, nut butter, Shakeology, chia seeds, hazelnut extract and maple syrup in a medium bowl; mix well.
2. Roll into eighteen balls, about 1-inch in diameter each.