WIN A FREE BAG OF SHAKEOLOGY

Here's the thing...I am not "dieting" on Thanksgiving Day...or for that matter, the whole rest of that weekend.  So how could I ask anyone else to do the same?  But here's what I will do.  I will be as disciplined as possible in the three weeks leading up to Thanksgiving Day, so that I can indulge in the savory goodness and sweet deliciousness without guilt.  I will have worked hard, fueled my body, and then...I will FEAST.

This is why my next challenge group is called The Countdown to Turkey Day Challenge.  I am hoping I can find a few other people who want to put in the work for three weeks, and then enjoy their Thanksgiving dinners with relish.   The group and my one-on-one coaching is free with purchase of a Beachbody challenge pack!  Anyone who commits to the group by the Sunday, the 19th, will be entered in a drawing to win a free bag of Strawberry Shakeology.  Comment below or connect with me on Facebook if you would like to join me in this Turkey Day Challenge!  

Though She Be But Little, She Is Fierce

A friend sent me a blog post called 10 Things I Want My Daughter To Know About Working Out and it completely inspired me to think about how I want Sienna to view health and fitness.  My daughter is three years old, and she sees everything.  EVERYTHING.  Am I sending her the right messages?  Does she see me looking myself up and down in the mirror critiquing this and that?  Does she hear me talk negatively about my own body or heaven forbid, someone else's?  Does she watch me prioritize my workouts before all other things?  Does she notice that I never indulge in a delicious, fattening dessert?  

Happily I can answer "No" to many of these questions.  I am not afraid to crush some cookie dough and I am not in a habit of negative self-talk, especially out loud.  But what this blog made me realize is that at least for right now, while she is still young and impressionable, I have the opportunity to mold her perspective and mindset on what a healthy balance looks like.

• I want her to feel the ache of sore muscles knowing her body is becoming stronger.  
• I want her to experience the ecstasy of finishing a long, hard run.
• I want her to grit her teeth in determination.
• I want her to sweat the sweat of discipline. 
• I want her to know the anticipation and adrenaline rush of competition.
• I want her to recognize that inner beauty and strength result in physical beauty and strength.
• I want her to be the best version of herself, exactly who God created her to be.  
• I want her to smile with satisfaction after accomplishing a physical feat. 
• I want her to learn to love God's beautiful creation in a variety of ways (i.e. biking, swimming, hiking, para-gliding, etc)
• I want her to live without fear or abandon, knowing she can do anything. 
• I want her to create the lasting friendships that are a result of a mutual passion for health and fitness.
• I want her to go on adventures, carving her own paths. 
• I want her to treasure and cherish the body God has given her. 

Is this too much to ask?  I hope not.  Can I create this idealistic approach in this perfection-crazed society.  I hope so.  

What is one message about health and fitness you want to pass on to your children?

Passion Project

I have been running fitness challenge groups for months now, and have yet to do a group just for moms.  Moms are my "Why".  Moms are the reason I am so passionate about Beachbody.  Beachbody saved me almost ten months ago as an overwhelmed, desperate mom of a two year old girl and two month old twin sons.  I think motherhood is the most beautiful gift God could give a woman, and I also think it's the most challenging role God gives us.  

My vision for this group is that moms can come together, read a great book, work towards our health goals, and encourage and challenge each other along the way.  I am so excited I finally ponied up and am doing this group.  

The book we are reading is called "Hands Free Mama: A Guide to Putting Down the Phone, Burning the To-Do List, and Letting Go of Perfection to Grasp What Really Matters!"
I don't know many moms who couldn't benefit from a book like this.  It will be challenging, and I hope it will help all of us live in the present, notice the little things, and miss less precious moments.  

I am asking that all mamas commit to a Beachbody fitness program and Shakeology for the duration of the 4 week group.  The health and fitness portion of this group is extremely important to me and I believe in the products that Beachbody has to offer!  I want to help each mama start down the road of a healthy and balanced lifestyle.  I think we all deserve to feel beautiful in our OWN skin.  

I am so excited for this group and I hope the mamas who join will gain as much as I hope they will from it.  If you are interested in joining, please leave your email in the comments section below or message me on Facebook.  I would love to hear from you and get to know you better!  There are only a few spots left, and the absolute last day to order is October 13, so act fast!  

What Does a Healthy, Balanced Lifestyle Look Like?

I posted this image on my facebook wall, and was shocked at how much feedback I received.  I didn’t realize how many people struggle to find balance in their health and fitness life.  The struggle is real. 

I have not achieved the perfect balance, but boy am I closer than I was a few years ago. 

A few years ago, I ate oatmeal for breakfast every single day.  I ordered a salad when I ate out every single time.  I worked out five days/week without fail.  I did AT LEAST 1 hour of cardio every workout session.  Working out took priority over everything.  When I did indulge in unhealthy foods, I went overboard, which resulted in feeling awful, which made me disgusted with myself leading to extreme dieting for the next three days until that number on the scale was back down to where it “should be”.  On the off-chance I missed a workout, the guilt ate me up. It would be all I could think about and I would be in a bad mood all day.   I weighed myself every single morning, and the number on the scale set the precedent for my attitude and actions throughout the entire day. 

Writing this out and re-reading it makes me sad for that girl.  It’s not that I was perpetually unhappy.  I was a very happy, positive, fun person, but the control that fitness had over me was ugly and unhealthy.  The guilt I would feel was unnecessary.  My heart goes out to those women and men who are still caught in this nasty cycle. 

I also want to be clear that not one of those things I listed above are wrong (except maybe the extreme dieting part).  What’s wrong about my lifestyle back then was my attitude and heart behind all of those actions.  The actions by themselves are pretty good habits, but the control I gave each one of those actions and the lack of grace I gave myself is where the problems lie. 

I can honestly say, I don’t know what changed in me.  Pregnancy and breast feeding was a huge catalyst for adopting a healthier balance.  Doing what was best for my babies helped me put everything in perspective.  Also, after training for a figure competition in 2009, my eyes were opened to the extreme behaviors I practiced to accomplish that feat which turned me off completely from living that way. 

So what does a healthy lifestyle look like now? 

• ·      I work out from home for 30 minutes/day at the MOST using some incredible Beachbody DVDs like PiYo, T25, and P90X3. 
• ·      My goal is to get 4-5 workouts in per week.  Some weeks, I only get 2-3 in and guess what…I don’t beat myself up for it!  Victory!
• ·      I try to make more healthy nutrition decisions than unhealthy. 
• ·      I don’t count calories, but I do my best to eat whole foods.
• ·      Shakeology has been a big part in me eating healthier and getting the nutrients my body needs everyday.
• ·      My husband and I try to eat very healthy in the home, so that when we do go out to dinner once or twice a week, we readily and happily INDULGE! 
• ·      I no longer have rules for what my workouts MUST look like.  My goal is to be active whether that’s chasing the kids around the yard or going for a walk or playing beach volleyball…it all counts! 

I encourage you, my friends, to give yourself grace.  Keep working to walk that fine line of contentment and becoming a better version of you! 

Do you struggle with finding balance in your health and fitness?  I would love to talk to you!  Connect with me on facebook or leave a comment below! 

Forgotten Potential

Do have any idea of what you are capable of? Or have you forgotten?  Has your potential been buried underneath laundry and diapers and groceries?  (That's where mine went).  

When I started Beachbody I had very low expectations and a heart full of doubt and skepticism. I didn’t believe in myself and I didn’t believe in the business, but I was desperate, so against all of my logical thinking, I went for it.  I was up to my ears in laundry, diapers, and groceries, but Beachbody pulled me out.

I had a specific number in my head that I thought, if I could just make that much money per month, it will be worth it.  It will be worth getting a little vulnerable.  It will be worth being "THAT girl" trying to sell everyone something on Facebook.  It will be worth giving up some of my limited free time to "work".  It will be worth the feelings I was currently having of insecurity and incompetence.  

Do you know that I am now making that amount of money per WEEK?!

I am in humbled awe of what God has done. And it’s not about the money (although it helps), it’s about how God reminded me of who I was and what I was made of! I learned to believe in myself again and dream big dreams for my life.  I remembered that I had potential and I could do hard things.  I re-learned how to set goals and go after them with confidence and enthusiasm.  I found me.  Not "me-the mom" or "me-the baseball player's wife", or "me-the Gator" or "me-Pastor Craig's daughter".  Just.Me. The "me" God created intentionally and purposefully and beautifully.

So I ask you again...do you know what you’re capable of? 

Free Nights and Weekends

I love my children, Sienna, Price, and Maddox.  I love being a mom.  Cliche or not, it is truly more rewarding than I ever could have imagined.  

But here's the thing.  You know as a new parent, when people ask you, "Do you even remember what life was like before you had that sweet baby?  Can you even imagine life without him (her)?"  I never know what to say.  I tend to smile sweetly and nod.  

But the honest, real answer?  "YES!  I completely remember what life was like before these beautiful children, and sometimes I want THAT life back!"  

Matt (my husband) and I had a mini breakdown yesterday.  He was bored.  I felt trapped.  We've been grinding and doing what it takes to survive, and it caught up with us yesterday.  The truth is, I believe we are doing pretty darn good with all the changes that took place in our lives over the past year.  We have routine, our kids are hitting all their milestones (the true indicator of good parenting), we have date night once a week, we communicate well about our expectations, our children seem to be thriving and even happy...We are good.  We are great most of the time.  But it doesn't mean this season of our lives with a three year old daughter and twin ten month old sons is easy.  It is really hard some days.  

Somedays, we wish we could go to brunch after church without worrying about the boys' afternoon nap.  Somedays, we just want to go grab dinner and see a movie without having to coordinate babysitting and show times and feedings and naps.  Somedays, I would love to wake up whenever I happened to open my eyes, lay in bed for as long as I want, slowly sip my coffee, and not have any responsibility.  Somedays I want to be selfish.  Somedays I want to be spontaneous.  Somedays, I wish we could go back to the early days of our marriage before we had children.  

I always say that I can do this mom stuff Monday thru Friday, but I wish I had nights and weekends off.  

We are blessed beyond measure.  I am not complaining.  I am not unhappy.  I am not selfless.  I am not perfect.  But I do strive to be transparent and honest about my thoughts and the reality of what life is like when you have little ones around the house.  I want to loudly proclaim that it is OKAY if you feel this way.  I want to encourage my fellow mamas not to be so hard on yourselves.  

So what are my remedies for these feelings of entrapment?  
Hire a babysitter.  Take a deep breath.  Look at pictures of your sweet babies.  Remind yourselves of something funny they said or did.  Instead of cleaning your house, watch your favorite guilty pleasure reality show.  Get off Facebook for an hour and read a good book.  Stop comparing.  Buy yourself flowers.  Light a candle.  Take a bath and LOCK the bathroom door.  Breathe in their baby smell.  Hug your husband tighter.  Cry.  Call a friend.  Reach out to your Savior.  

And here are some fun cards to make you laugh, instead of cry, or maybe both!

What is Success Club?

Success Club

You are going to hear the term “Success Club” A LOT as a Beachbody coach.  So what does it mean?  And why is it important?

As a coach, you earn Success Club points.  You earn:

1 point: Any NEW customer who order Shakeology on Home Direct (HD)

2 points: Any NEW customer who orders a Challenge Pack

Success Club 5: 5-9 SC points earned in the calendar month

Success Club 10: 10 or more SC points earned in the calendar month

Success Club points can earn you prizes.  For example, if you hit SC 5 in the month of June, you were sent The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy.

You can win trips!

Every year there is a trip called the Success Club trip.  The Success Club points you have earned in the 12 months leading up to the Success Club trip, give you credits toward the trip, paying for a portion or ALL of the trip!  The 2015 trip is in Cancun, Mexico in March.  Last year, it was a 5-day Caribbean cruise. 

MORE IMPORTANTLY, earning Success Club every month is an important goal to hit because it means that your business is growing and moving in the right direction.  You are gaining at least 3 new customers each month who are being introduced to Beachbody and the incredible products we have to offer. 

When I became a coach, my upline sponsor gave me one goal: Hit Success Club every month.  She PROMISED me that if I hit Success Club every month, success would come.  She told me not to worry about recruiting coaches or messaging all 2000 of my Facebook friends.  She said to hit Success Club.  And so I did.  I have hit Success Club 10 every single month since I became a coach.  And you know what?  Right now I am a 1-Star Diamond qualifying coach, I am making more money than I ever thought I would make doing something like this, and my business is continuing to grow.  All I did was put my head down and make Success Club a non-negotiable every month.  

Make.Success Club.non-negotiable.