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.

Are You Willing To Bet On Your Results?

May 8th Diet Bet Challenge 

As you may already know, each month I run an online accountability and support group for my clients to help them get results with the programs and meal plans they are following. When they start with me we talk about the habits they currently have, what they want to change and the results that they want to work towards. From there I help them find a fitness and nutrition program that best suits the needs that they have. 

Many find the journey to be easier when they are a challenger in one of my groups. As you may already know it can be easy to buy a workout program and have good intentions, but the follow thru and doing it is a lot harder than you would think. That's where the groups come into play and are helpful for my clients who really need help sticking with it. Each day in the group I post 3 - 4 times a day to help keep them motivated. Some posts are recipes, some fitness tips tricks or motivation. I like to change it up often. We use the Beachbody app called my challenge tracker to not only track progress, but also to interact with one another. Many new friendships are often formed because of these groups. 

This challenge group atmosphere seems to be what helps women stay on the weight loss path compared to when they try to just do a program on their own. Because of these groups I have been lucky enough to coach women on their journey to 60+ lb weigh loss transformations and lots of other transformations in between that number. 

Beginning on May 8th I am going to be adding an extra layer of fun to this months challenge group. We are going to be doing a diet bet as well. The money pot will get split two ways. Prizes will be given to the challenger who interacts the most as well as the challenger who has the biggest overall weight loss and inches transformation. There will be a $20.00 buy in to this prize pot from each challenger. Obviously participation in the prize pot is not a requirement to be in the group however it would be to be eligible for the prize money. The prize money will be awarded on June 4th to the winners. 

Please fill out the application below to be considered for the challenge group. 

Fill out my online form.

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New Product Launch Coming Soon

Youv2 = You Version 2- A program for EVERYONE!!! 

Maybe you have heard that there is a new fitness program coming out in just a few short weeks and it has you curious. 

Today I am going to answer some common questions that people have right now about YouV2 - the newest addition to the Beachbody family. 

What is Youv2? 

YOUv2 is a fun and easy health and fitness program for the woman just getting started in fitness, and eager to find something she’ll love doing. There’s no confusing choreography or complicated diet—just 6 easy-to-follow 30-minute routines, a simple approach to eating better, plus lots of inspiration and support. No matter her size or fitness level, she’ll find it fun and easy to get moving and develop healthy habits on this 4-week empowering and inspirational journey. 

What makes YOUv2 so effective?
Both the workouts and meal guide recommendations are simple and fun so you can stick with the program and get results. Leandro Carvalho’s 4 beginner-level cardio-dance routines and 2 body-sculpting workouts feature feel-good party songs like “She Works Hard For The Money,” originally recorded by Donna Summer, and “Love Shack,” originally recorded by The B-52’s, that help you really let loose and get moving. The meal guide gives you small, simple changes to build on each week to help you create new healthy habits for weight loss.

What makes YOUv2 unique?
YOUv2 is a simple, gradual approach to help you get moving and create healthy new habits. By focusing on small changes over time, you can lose the weight and keep it off. YOUv2 is not just a way to burn calories. This is a journey of self-discovery where you’re encouraged to think about your fitness and nutrition habits, what sets you back, and what it will take to push you forward to a healthier, happier “new version of you.” 

What type of fitness level is this considered? 
Beginner

Can this workout be modified? 
Yes you can follow different intensity levels based on your needs. 

What comes with your workout program? 

Workouts
4 cardio-dance routines	Join Leandro and the ladies in 4 cardio-based dance routines set to awesome music. Simple moves help you get moving and start sweating. Learn 4 moves one-by-one. Then Leandro picks his favorite 8 moves to create a mini-dance combo where you can dance it out to a classic party song.
2 body-sculpting workouts	Leandro kicks off each routine with a quick warm-up. Then, it’s on to a series of light toning exercises using your body weight, because that’s all you need when you’re just starting out.
Kids’ channel	YOUv2 features a kids’ channel to show kids they can do this workout and are welcome to join in too, exclusively on Beachbody On Demand.

Fitness Tools
Quick Start Guide	Start here to find out what your journey entails and how to make the most of it.
Motivational Wall Art Calendar	Learn which workouts to do on what day. You’ll get weekends off for grocery shopping, meal prep, and, of course, life. Plus, get inspirational wall art with motivational quotes from Leandro and the ladies.
K.I.S.S. (Keep It Super Simple) & JUST EAT! Meal Guide	Forget strict diets. This flexible plan with 4 simple steps and easy recipes will help you create healthy habits to eat better, feel better, and shed the weight.
Oh Hello YOUv2 Journal	Here’s where you set goals, track your progress, and note your habits and feelings throughout the journey to discover what sets you back and what pushes you forward to a healthier, happier you.

Why consider a challenge pack? 

In addition to getting the fitness program that I discussed above, you will also get a months supply of Shakeology and the portion control containers to help get your nutrition under control. 

Think this program could be for you? Consider joining my upcoming challenge group for this program. Fill out the application below and mention that you want to do the YouV2 program. I will be in touch within 24 hours.

Fill out my online form.

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Strawberry Oatmeal Bowl

Plain oatmeal is not my jam. Jazzed up oatmeal totally is. I have started to get creative with what I was putting in my bowl for breakfast lately. This was one of my favorite combos so I had to share. I don't have an official recipe for you for this one. Use as much or as little as you like. You can't mess this one up.

I used cooked gluten free oats then added about a cup of chopped strawberries, peanut butter granola, shaved coconut, and drizzled peanut butter.

Enjoy! This one will keep you full until lunch.