It takes three weeks to create a habit.

You guys. I have been a Team Beachbody Coach for a while now and I started using TBB products about four years ago. I haven't really opened up about my experience with TBB because I wanted to make certain that the products lived up to their promises before I started sharing them.

After using multiple TBB workout videos, drinking Shakeology, following Chalene Johnson and the other TBB trainers on social media; and using available tools on the TBB website, I am convinced. TBB has a solid set-up, options for all all levels of fitness, and gives customers proven tools to receive attainable and sustainable results!

If you have been stuck in a cycle of bad eating habits; yo-yo diets; depression and anxiety that result in binge eating; or maybe you just need a fresh start from holiday over-eating, I want you to look closely at the promotion TBB is running right now! The 21 Day Fix takes the frustration and guesswork out of eating well. Getting frustrated with rules and points and numbers to count is why many of us quit before we even really start. This is different, and fuss-free!

For $140 you receive the following: 

• Personal online coaching from me - I understand where you are because I have been there, too!! It's always best to have a support system in place when you're going after new goals!
• Access to a meal guide and custom portion control containers. 21 Day Fix shows you exactly what to do in order to lose weight. You’ll learn how to incorporate your favorite foods into a healthy, sustainable lifestyle that you actually enjoy. This is my favorite part - YOUR favorite foods!
• Thirty-minute workouts that WILL get you on the path to optimum fitness; 
• A bag of Shakeology - the healthiest meal of the day. I started drinking ShakeO over four years ago to help me shake the sugar addiction that was overpowering my every move and leaving me lethargic, overweight and ill. It's worth it's weight in gold; I still drink it today and purchasing it with this complete package is the way to go!

If I wasn't already a coach, I would be taking advantage of this special without thinking twice. I needed this kind of guidance and direction when I started clean eating two years ago and I am happy to link arms with you today and help you get through. If you have questions, PLEASE ask below or message me here. If not, click the photo below to place YOUR order and let me know you did so right away so I can add you to our 21 Day Fix community.

Here's to eating clean, together, in 2015!

Gingerbread Almond Butter - for the win!

When I was addicted to sugar, my blood sugar used to drop and spike all day every day. I could feel it my bones and in my brain. Terrible feelings. When I started eating clean, those swings basically disappeared and I felt like a normal person for maybe the first time ever. Every now and then, if I wait too long to eat or get out of line with my eating (too much sugar), it will happen. BUT, I have a new solution.

Let's rewind, shall we? At my last job before becoming a stay-at-home-mom, I used to go home for lunch and hit the gas station on the way back to the office; I would grab a candy bar; a 44oz DIET* soda; and some chips or another snack. Awesome, right? THAT way, if I reached that moment of blood sugar desperation I was...prepared? Now that I think of it, it was more of an "armed and dangerous" scenario. 

Now I know that if my blood sugar drops or if I just have a "need to eat" moment, a much better choice is to grab some protein! Hardboiled eggs are often my go-to, but I don't always have them ready. If my blood sugar has dropped - ain't nobody got time to boil eggs. SO, I like to have some type of natural almond or peanut butter around. Usually a spoonful brings me right back into the atmosphere and all is right again. 

The trouble with natural nut butters is this...they are seriously pricey. SERIOUSLY. I am guilty of paying $10-$12 a jar for a fancy blend. That's not really frugality, friends, which is what I aim for at the store. 

The good news is this - if you have a high-powered blender or food processor, making your own nut butter is easy! I want to share a recipe with you that I made a test-batch of earlier today. 

This recipe is meant to mimmic our favorite molasses cookies; our family loves these, but they aren't super good for you. This almond butter is a pretty tasty alternative, much healthier, too!! I am guesstimating measurements, below. Please adjust to your needs and taste preferences.

Gingerbread Almond Butter

• 1 cup roasted almonds (I roast mine for 3-4min at 350 on a cookie sheet)
• 1/4 cup fractionated/liquid coconut oil**
• 1-2 TB organic molasses 
• 2 TB pure maple syrup
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp ground cloves
• 1/2 tsp ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp sea salt/kosher salt

Follow your manufacturer's directions for making nut butters in your food processor or blender. YouTubing videos may be helpful if you've never made homemade nut butter before. It's a trial and error process and requires patience - but it is so worth it in the end!

That entire bag of almonds, at Costco, was around $13. So far I've used them in a few batches of sesame cookies, this batch of almond butter and there's still plenty left. I think this DIY almond butter will be more delicious, nutritious and cost effective than anything you can get at the store.

Now for the asterisks...

*Diet soda. I drank diet soda every day for many years - through my teenage years and into adulthood.  I would be doing you a big disservice if I didn't share this info with you. It may not be confirmed as a carcinogen - but there are plenty of other reasons to avoid it. Read on to learn more. I have experience with all of these symptoms and can vouch that this isn't media sensationalism. Switch out your soda for water, tea or 100% fruit juice. 

**Liquid coconut oil/FCO is not the same as the solid coconut oil you probably buy (not the kind I buy and use for everything from makeup remover to recipes and household cleaners); FCO stays liquid! You can use traditional coconut oil in this recipe, but the consistency will not be as nice and it will solidify in some temperatures (like the fridge). I know the health benefits of FCO are probably not as great, BUT, it's my preference. I don't like my almond butter to get...funny. 

K? 

Just FYI, I used my Vitamix 5200's dry container to mix up this batch. Use of the tamper was required. YouTube Vitamix nut butter for more detailed instructions and demo videos. I ain't no pro, the kitchen is just my favorite room in the house. 

Did you *really* think I was going to quit eating meat?

Well, I totally did. It's been one month since I the last time I had meat and I'm feeling really good about it. Liberated, even. Here are five fun things that have happened since adopting a vegetarian lifestyle:

1. I don't have to freak out about the possibility of consuming raw or undercooked meat at each meal. Yuck, right? That's one of the big things that grosses me out about meat. I've had food poisoning before and I can't say I ever want it again. I know one can still get food poisoning from other non-meat items, but at least I've knocked a few possibilities off the docket, right?

Garlic Zucchini, Feta Omelet and Fresh Cherries

2. The very first week of my "vegetarian lifestyle," one of those steak solicitors started up the drive way. Now, if filet mignon grosses me out, buying steaks from a door-to-door guy with a clipboard and a box of meat chillin' in his truck is definitely not on the agenda. Thankfully, my hubs was able to pull the herbivore card real quick and go, "sorry, my wife is a vegetarian." Steak dude took his clipboard ran for the hills. 

Quinoa Tacos - You won't even miss the meat!

3. I'm not tempted to stop at a fast food place. Yeah, it does hurt my heart a little that Chick-Fil-A sammies are off the list, but it's for the best! Being a vegetarian means no Big Macs, no nuggets, no Whoppers, no General Tso's chicken, no pepperoni pizza and no wild wings. It feels good to have boundaries! I don't need those things any way!

Quinoa Salad - Just like an Italian Salad without the Greens

4. I'm consuming much more of what's better for me. More veggies; more salads; more plain yogurt; more nuts; more fruit; more Sriracha popcorn; more quinoa; more healthy oils; more water and more Shakeology. I'm coming up with creative ways to use these healthy foods and to make the most of them - make them delicious and amazing. Eating healthy does NOT have to be boring if you just give it a little thought. I feel much more balanced than before...if that speaks to you in any way. 

Shakeology - Every. Single. Day. Msg me with questions!

5. This might be too much information, but I feel like my food is digesting really well. Something happens when you get to be about thirty (so my friends say) and you can't just throw back any old cookie, doughnut or onion ring without consequence. No, no...there are TUMS to be taken, my friends. There is tea to be consumed. There are foods to be avoided. I don't know why it happens, but I feel like taking extra special care of my digestive system these days, because I don't have extra time to feel disgusting as a result of my food choices. Do you?

Loaded Sweet Potato - Quinoa, black beans, Sriracha, cheese, etc.

I'm not pushing you (or anyone, honestly) into vegetarianism, but for me....it's been great! I didn't eat that much meat to begin with, so giving it up was really very easy. There hasn't been one time I've felt deprived without it, honestly, and it's helped me clean up my diet even more. Questions? Ask me! 

I guess I'm feeling a little...

Content? Could I possibly feel content? Do I even know what that feels like? For an entire decade, I went from "dream" job to "dream" job and yo-yo diet to yo-yo diet, anxiety attack to anxiety attack and I was always sick, out of time, stressed out, and always complaining...you get the picture. I had all these plans and ideals about what life was supposed to look like; what rung I was supposed to be clenching on the corporate ladder; how much more education I should have under my belt - certifications, degrees, accolades, etc. But, I never felt good about it. I kept hitting speed bump after speed bump. Then, a few years ago, something changed. The Lord threw out the stop sticks.


I felt and overwhelming sense of need to be still, and patient. To look at everything God had laid out before me and take care of that, and that alone, while waiting and praying about what's next. It felt amazing to be simply, yet extravagantly, marked by grace instead of degrees or other worldly accomplishments.


BY GRACE I was ready and able to begin staying at home with our (then) three kids and soon to be four (no one was more surprised about this than me). SO MUCH has changed since then and people often ask me how I do it. It's easy. It's so much easier than when I was trying to make these plans for myself. Three simple words, trust and obey. 

I didn't know I was going to be expecting a fourth baby at the same time I felt and overwhelming call to leave my career (and insurance) to stay home with our kids.

I didn't know how to balance cooking, cleaning, child rearing, and being the wife of a business-owner.

I didn't know about the substantial loss that was coming through to us: through deaths, relationships, and miscarriage - and that overwhelming grace heals us and allows us to go on.

I didn't know I would be healthier at 32 than almost every year of my 20s.

I didn't know that I'd be happily writing a blog about life and health, with no profit, instead of making big bucks as a corporate writer.

I didn't know I would be setting-up to homeschool four littles this school year. (I'm pretty sure I said I would NEVER do this, yet I'm thrilled about the opportunity now).

I didn't know that just working to trust and obey, every day, could be so much more fulfilling than any plans I've ever made for myself.

He carries us, every single time! Realizing that God's Will reigns over all allows us to experience incredible contentment. And, for that, I am SO thankful.

What is this core you speak of?

Growing up, I was in 2-4 dance classes a week plus some gymnastics work here and there; and, though

I was too young to know better at the time, I was great shape. After high school, I didn't maintain that same level of fitness. I just did what I had to do to get through college (which involved daily taco bell and the new-found glory of Starbucks coffee) while working full-time or close to it. I worked my butt off to achieve career goals, but let my physical activity level dwindle into oblivion. 

Right after college (I mean two weeks after graduation), we were married and had our first baby within two years of that time. We had another baby every two years after and while I may have dropped pounds, my actual fitness level never really improved. Ever hear of skinny fat? Yeah. 

Anywho. I couldn't even do a sit-up without a medicine ball because my core was seemingly dead. Gone. No where to be found. I thought maybe that's just how it was going to be after four babies stretched my stomach into uncharted territories.

Over the last two weeks, I've been dedicated and determined to move through the PiYo fitness challenge, without missing a day. I've been successful so far and while I haven't taken measurements yet (waiting till after week 4), I can totally tell a difference already. I am confident my core strength will return! My balance is still there. My agility and flexibility is improving with every workout. And, guess what? Last night, I did sit-ups WITHOUT a medicine ball. You have no idea. I've tried SOOOOO many times since having kids, and I just couldn't do it. It was like someone was holding me down. 

Because I'm a slave to the scale (I know this isn't good, you don't have to tell me), I do know that I'm down 5lbs since starting PiYo! 

But, I have to remind you of something reeeeallly important. Have you ever heard the saying: Abs are made in the kitchen?  I totally believe that, too. In addition to being really strict with PiYo, I maintain a clean eating, vegetarian lifestyle - including one Shakeology a day. 

Don't forget to follow me on Instagram to see what I'm eating and for more tips and tricks! Want to know more about PiYo or Shakeology? Just email me and I'll send you the info on how to order. 

I'm in love with PiYo.

I think it was some time last winter when I saw Chalene Johnson make the long-awaited announcement, via social media, that there would indeed by a PiYo DVD series. At that moment, I followed every waiting list, announcement list, IG account, twitter handle and Facebook account that would send me more info because I DID NOT want to miss the big release date. I absolutely love Chalene's videos, for one, and for two... Pilates + Yoga??? It's like she invented this routine for ME. Goodness.

My videos came in the mail last week and I set them aside until after vacation because...honestly? Why ruin a good start to something with vacation ice cream, road trip McDoubles and hefty servings of are-we-there-yet ice cold Coca-Cola. Can I get an amen?

Besides, there was a PiYo challenge group starting the day after we got back in town anyway. I wouldn't want to be an over-achiever and get ahead of those guys (insert eye-roll, here).

Anywho. I tore open the videos on Monday morning and WOWEE!!! If you think you think pilates/yoga is for wimps, you are sorrily mistaken! PiYO makes use of your own body weight for strength training while defining your entire body. It's basically amazing and I can't wait to see the change that 30 and 60 days will bring. I can tell it's working already and, the best part? I actually look forward to PiYo-ing each day. Awesome. :)

I really enjoy strength training, but unless someone is telling me what do to and how often to do it - I might as well just lift soup cans 200 times a day because it would probably be just as effective. Chalene's instructions are very detailed and easy to understand. The best part? No extra equipment is required. Your body. Towel. Water bottle. And, of course, the DVD. Well, a DVD player might help, too... I love, love, love this video series and I hope you'll try it out, too!

Interested in learning more about PiYo? Message me and I'll be happy to tell you more, help you order and coach you as we go! 

Order your copy of PiYo here!

Keep Calm and Eat Clean...

I've been a rather inconsistent blogger over the last few months; We've had so much
activity going on with our family, with our business, and with our kids that some things just have to take the back burner. It took me a long time to learn that, but priorities have to stay in place or else chaos ensues. Right? I know you know. :) I really, truly, feel that I'm called to minister to people who have had the same struggles that I've had with over-eating and sugar addiction. So, this blog carries on!

In the lull of what was quite possibly the LONGEST WINTER OF MY LIFE - having never ending snow and ice, a death in the family, sickness after sickness for each member of our family, and a miscarriage a couple months ago (I may post on that at a later date), I found myself back in a series of bad eating habits. I KNOW from experience that binge eating is not how I deal with these things (anymore), so I cut myself off at the pass and am now back to clean eating (down 10 lbs in about a month!). It feels SO good to make healthy decisions after experiencing so many repeated trials - or even one trial. Amen?

I wanted to tell you about a few yummy things I've been loving lately. If you're ready to get back to clean eating, here are a few ideas to get you started!

Zoats! Oh my word. You need to Google these! This is oatmeal + zucchini. I mix mine with 1TB pure maple syrup (maple syrup is considered clean) and top with sliced strawberries. It's true, zucchini doesn't have *much* nutritional value. It is a source of vitamins, but mostly importantly it's a Low-GI food that acts as a clean filler for your oats. If I eat a plain bowl of oatmeal for breakfast, I'm ready to start gnawing on my hand by mid-morning.

Omelets. After several attempts at making an omelet the way I thought one would make an omelet, I finally YouTubed some omelet tutorials (I know, I never would have survived at everyone's favorite Little House on the Prairie). My favorite (clean) way to make these (whilst conserving calories) is: 2 egg whites (get the liquid whites so you don't waste eggs), 1 whole egg, 1/4 cup feta cheese, 1oz of ham (I like Boar's Head because I think it has fewer preservatives than others, onion, garlic powder, sea salt and crushed red pepper. SO SO good.

Salad. With chopped red bell peppers. I don't know WHY I've never added these peppers to my salads before, but they add interest AND color. I do love color. I usually make a salad like this: living lettuce or romaine, english cucumber, bell peppers, thinly sliced white onion, and 1TB Bragg's organic vinaigrette. SO good!! Eat that along side your omelet and you'll be in for a tasty lunch.

Hot Tea.  For the most part, I try not to drink my calories (maybe an occasional coffee these days or a chai latte, but my calories are rarely consumed this way). Hot tea is a perfect morning or midday pick-me-up and if you detox from sugar, you can totally drink it straight with no sweetener. I love: TAZO zen and wild orange. Also, I love a good earl gray and sleepytime for evening.

Chicken Burgers. There's something about warm weather that makes me want a burger EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. I picked these up at Costco yesterday and I've had two since. They are AMAZING. Sometimes I think I could be a vegetarian, and then I find something like this. They are seriously so good - 150 calories and 19 grams of protein. How about that? Yum!!

Quinoa Cakes. I'm sure these could be made at home, but I found Cedarlane's Baked Spinach Quinoa Cakes at Costco yesterday and they are also - guess what - AMAZING. They are 50 calories each 3g of protein and 100% YUM. If you have a Costco nearby, you should totally run there and pick these up. I had them as a side dish (next to my chicken burger) for lunch today. Better than losing my mind to a bag of chips, right?!

Quest Bars. I'm going to leave you with my absolute FAVORITE treat. These little pieces of joy are pricey $2+ ea, but GNC usually has buy 3 get one free and they are TOTALLY worth it. If we're at a party and there's cake being served, a Quest bar is a direct substitution for me. Then, there's no chance I'm going to cut myself an extra big piece, go back for seconds, or eat ALL the icing that's left around the edge of the cake tray. (I have issues with cake). I also love these when I'm craving a cookie, chocolate or other baked good. They truly are delicious. Check out these flavors: Cookie Dough, Cookies & Cream, Lemon Pie, Cinnamon Roll, PB&J and Coconut Cashew. If you look at Quest Nutrition's page on FB or Instagram, you'll also see recipes you can make using these amazing treats.

What are some of your favorites lately? Let me know!

30-Day Yoga Challenge

Baby even joined in the yoga fun!

Last fall I was doing a good job running and working out; after settling into a full winter of doing nothing but trying to stay away from the freaking polar vortex, baking cookies and wearing 3-5 layers of clothing plus fuzzy slippers each day; while doing so, my bones and muscles retreated to, well, a less than agile state. It's not quite warm enough (for this girl) to start running outside again (I don't even like outside, remember? It has to be just right). While I'm waiting on the sun to show up, I thought I'd start regaining some muscle movement with a 30-Day Yoga Challenge that I found on YouTube. I took Yoga in college (I know; that's an exceptional use of tuition dollars.) and I couldn't believe how much agility I'd lost in the few years following high school that I'd done nothing but go to school, eat lots of food, work lots of hours and hang out with my hubs-to-be. Yoga was great to get back in the program...and much better than those geology classes on my schedule that I wasn't actually going to.

Who doesn't love YouTube, right?! It has everything. Who doesn't love yoga?? It's almost like working out, while napping, but it does actually do something! I mean...I have four kids. Any time I get to close my eyes for more than 30 seconds, I consider it a nap. Zzzzzz....

If you'd like to shake off the winter sludge with me, check out this challenge! I'm only on Day 2 so you can catch up! The best thing about yoga, is can be a pretty inexpensive workout and you can do it at home if you don't have time for classes. You can also do it if you have ZERO flexibility (that's why you do it!) I do want to try Hot Yoga eventually, but making the time to go is difficult. So, I'm aiming for some time this year. :) I think that sounds like an attainable goal...maybe.

If you don't have a yoga mat and you'd like to get something inexpensive just to see if you're actually going to love yoga (and I know you will), try TJ Max for mats, blocks, and towels. Also, getcha' a weighted jump rope while you're at it! I've been pinning jump rope workouts and I'll be blogging those sometime soon, too.

Here's the 30-Day Challenge instructor's FB page: https://www.facebook.com/erinmotzyoga

Here's Day 1 of the challenge:

Let me know if you decide to try it!

I've decided something...

As disorganized as I can be sometimes, I totally thrive on structure. I know that doesn't make sense, but let me tell you something....since our kids have been back in school, this whole eating better and exercising thing got a lot easier. Like, a lot a lot. All of the sudden we have a schedule again. Weeeee! It's like some light turned on and I know how to shop for healthy food and workout again. So, hopefully, I'll start seeing results again. I've been stuck in the same weight range for like six months or something crazy. I'm hopping to get into the next 10 pound range very soon.

Here's what I'm going to do to get there... (are you ready for this?)

• Eat clean.
• Drink water.
• Exercise.
• Praise God.

I know. Nothing shocking there. It feels SO good just to take those simple steps toward progress when you've been off the radar for a while. I actually enjoying working out (I know...something must be wrong) and I'm searching Pinterest with a fresh-food frame of mind, lately...instead of scoping out the latest cookies. I've been doing Couch to 5k with a friend and it's been going really well so far. I'm hopefully to be able to run the whole darn 3.1 miles for once and for all. The scale hasn't been moving just yet (it usually likes to mess with me like that when I throw in exercise) but I feel focused and energized. 

Here's what else I know. 

These vegetarian protein (made from rice, pea and soy protein - also GF) shakes are really good! You can check the company's website for your local retailers. It's an easy way to get a good, healthy meal in when you're in a hurry...or when you're just out of ideas.

Lysa TerKeurst is a pretty smart cookie and this quote of hers is really sticking with me this week!

My friend, Karen, made us some super delicious granola. I've been having it over greek yogurt at lunch - so simple and satisfying. I love granola, don't you?

I still love coffee and my delicious un-clean coffee creamer just as much as ever. At least it's not crack. Right?

About that watch...

So, my FB friends know that they'll be seeing the face of my Polar Heart Rate Monitor watch, displaying calorie burn stats,  on their newsfeeds every time I finish a workout. I'm sure some people wonder why the crap I do that and it probably does annoy a select few (sorry if you're one of those easily annoyed people). However. I'm going to keep posting it and I'll tell you why.

No, I'm not bragging about my fancy dancy watch. I'm not showing off personal fitness records or even that I'm getting healthier; I'm also not taunting those who chose not to work out that day (that's been me on a million bajillion occasions). I do it because it keeps me accountable. It keeps people asking me "how are your workouts going?" or giving me that "good job" - that keeps me motivated! I'd really hate to tell someone: "well, I've decided to sit around and eat chips and candy again today." Right?! I post it, also, because (regardless of how many times I've posted it, there's still someone who hasn't seen it). People message me and ask about it all the time - which is awesome!! They want to know where to get one (amazon.com, btw), what it does, how it's helped my workouts and - most importantly - how it can help them.

Did I tell you I like helping people? I do. Helping people is my favorite. And, in case you haven't noticed, that's what this blog is about.

So, for as many people as it annoys, I hope it helps just as many people either get motivated to workout or at least consider making lifestyle changes that will help them get healthy. I've been SO motivated by others; If this blog, or my dumb watch motivates at least one person. That's good enough for me. I want others do know this, you're not on an impossible journey. You just have to get on the road and go; you might pull-over from time to time, but as long as you reach your destination, that's all that matters. If I can do it, so can you.

Way back on September 29th...

...you know, when we were still weaning ourselves off summer, I took my friend Nicole up on a challenge. She had been going on about how clean eating/Paleo changed her life (and her shape) and posted a shout-out on Facebook daring people to try it for 30 days. So, because I was sick of STILL wearing maternity clothes, am always up for a challenge, I took her up on it. I committed myself to 30 days of clean eating (before I even really knew what it was) via some posts on the blogosphere and by giving my word to Nicole. Then, I started Googling what I'd gotten myself into. I got started the very next day. I went to the library, checking out every book they had available on clean eating and bought a couple copies of Clean Eating Magazine, too. I'm all or nothing, people. Over the last month or so, I've had some delicious food, hardly exercised (exercise is recommended, I've just been lazy about it  busy) and lost 13lbs. This has happened as a result of me eating pretty basic foods and small meals, about six times a day. I haven't counted a calorie, fat gram, carb or point and it's a rare occasion that I feel hungry.

Yes, I've passed up some delicious treats.
Yes, I've oogled over pastries and everything-pumpkin and cream cheese on Pinterest.
Yes, I've taken extra time to make myself healthier alternatives to what's being served (like ice cream).
No, I haven't touched a single piece of Halloween candy (and I won't).
Yes, it's been worth it.

I have to say. I believe clean eating works. There's no catch, people. It's just eating naturally and sticking to it. It's eating more of what's good for you - fruits, veggies, brown rice/noodles, poultry, fish, whole grains, nothing artificial, etc. I can't really say if I have more energy or not - taking care of four kids kind of has a person running on fumes full-time, but I certainly do feel better since shedding my built-in Boppy Pillow some extra weight. So, 13lbs down 58 to go. It seems like a long journey, but if I don't quit I bet it will be over before I know it.

So, thanks, Nicole, for posting the challenge. Thanks to your motivation, my clothes fit much better; my maternity clothes are now back in hibernation; and, I'm totally pumped to see what number pops up on the scale 30 days from now. :) I'll try to be more consistent about posting; please send me your questions/comments on clean eating. I'd love to help you get started!

Eat to Live, Not Live to Eat (Clean Eating - Part 2/2)

Hey guys! If you caught yesterday's post, you know that I've turned blog over to my friend Nicole for a few days. She's the one who challenged me to eat clean for 30 days to see what happens. Today we hear the rest of her story, how she put clean eating/Paleo into action, and she included some status and a before/after snapshot at the bottom of the post, too. Enjoy!
--

Nicole writes: 

So now what? This is what my husband and I did to get started…We went through our pantry and threw away all processed food. We were able to take it in for a food drive so it wasn’t a complete waste. Believe me it was a lot of food, but we both knew it had to go if we wanted to keep ourselves honest. It was frustrating giving away all that food, but it was more frustrating that we had all of that processed food that we were not using. We started reading labels. What I didn’t know I looked up and was surprised to find how many hidden sugars there were in everything. I’ve gotten to the point where we rarely buy box or canned foods to make it easier. We only shop the perimeter of the grocery store (this is something you will read about in the clean eating books/websites). If you think about how your grocery is laid out it makes sense. Most groceries have produce, bakery, seafood/meat, dairy on the outside and the center of the stores are all the processed foods, so stay on the perimeter! The most important part of clean eating…Kick your sugar addiction!!! Again, read ingredient labels!  You may be surprised at what products contain added sugar! Even if it says sugar free or no sugar added READ THE LABEL! I promise you will be surprised!

Fast forward one month after starting to eat clean. I started getting involved in Crossfit a little over a year ago (though I am not currently active) and was hearing about the Paleo lifestyle. After talking to a few of my CF friends I started looking into it and reading The Paleo Solution by Robb Wolf. This is a very easy read for someone who would like to know more about it and the benefits from it. Paleo is similar to eating clean in that you do not eat sugar and processed foods. Paleo friendly foods include: fruits, veggies, lean meats, seafood, nuts & seeds, and healthy fats. Things you should avoid on Paleo that you may not on clean eating: dairy, grains, processed foods, sugars, starches, and alcohol. You can read about the Paleo life on Robb Wolf website where he gives information on health benefits as well. So why not legumes and grains? After you do your research you will find that they are typically gut irritants and cause too much bloating (beans beans the magical fruit, the more you eat…right?). Go a while without them then try to have it, I get bloated and stomach aches from it.

Perhaps Paleo is too restricting for you, but if you at least move to a clean eating diet, you will not only lose weight, but feel better and that is most important! We have not been consuming those foods for almost 4 months now and when we “cheat” and have something sugary we feel it the next day with headaches and stomach aches (no joke, it’s like a hangover!) That is why if anything I recommend cutting sugars and processed foods out. I know you might say yea right that is not possible or I love my sweets. Well I did to, but I enjoy feeling better about myself and making healthier foods choices for my family. It’s all to do with whether or not you truly want to lose weight and live healthy or if you want to lose weight now and fight to keep it off. I have done the calorie counting and lost weight, but put it right back on once I stop counting. I find it much easier to eat healthy. Don’t think you are limited to what you can eat; this has actually opened the door to so many more foods for us. We cook more and eat so much better now. If you don’t like to cook, you better learn to like it because food prepping is very important!

So here are my stats for those of you who want to know. I am 5’6” and started at 182lbs with a 35 ¾“ waist. According to the professionals I should be between 118 - 155 lbs with a waist line around 30”. My main goal now is body fat percentage though, so now I need to start working out better. I started off in a size 12-14 (always different depending on brand, you know!); 4 months later I am down to 152lbs and into size 10, some 8's (to add my husband started at 206lbs and is at 178lbs, 5’9”). One thing I noticed about this time of losing weight was my stomach; it took me a lot of hard work and months to get my stomach “flat” again. My stomach changed a lot faster this time around. Sugars and processed foods go straight to our stomachs. Look around and where do you see most people’s problem areas? Yep, their stomach. Another area I noticed changing were my legs, I had a lot of cellulite on them and I have already seen a big change in that was well! Don't get me wrong I love sweets, dairy, and breads but for me it's not worth it anymore and Paleo is more fitting to me than Clean Eating. I was depressed about my weight/look and it emotionally took a toll on me. I am a major stress eater. I wasn't one to starve myself because of stress, bring on the junk food! Then I would chow down and get more depressed that I just ate all the food. So, it is an endless cycle. This is the only way I can stay healthy. Of course we "cheat" here and there, maybe a few times a month, but for me I need to or I might go overboard one day. Whatever works for you really! After a good month into no sugar, the cravings go away and you start to replace your sweet tooth cravings with naturally sweet foods like fruit!

See the Clean Eating page on this site for a list of sites related to clean eating, sugar addiction, and Paleo that I compiled. Do your research and read up on Clean Eating and Paleo. Whichever you chose, remember one of the most important things you can do is eliminate the sugar and processed foods in your diet (have I said that enough?). I asked a "Would you rather" question on FB the other day..."Would you rather go 30 days without sugar or 90 days without caffeine?" I am not saying there is a right or wrong here, but my friends living the healthy lifestyles of eating clean all gave up the sugar without a doubt. Some have made the comment "Sugar is more addicting than Heroin." Now I’ve never done heroin, but more or less sugar is just as addicting as a drug. Sit down and look at your eating habits and really ask yourself why you are not willing to give up sugar. I like the saying "If it was easy then everyone would do it." Be strong and know you can do it. Do it for yourself and your family. One of the best things you can do for your children is to teach them healthy eating habits. If we as parents are overweight our children are more likely to follow in that path. Be the change you need for yourself and your children will learn from your commitment!

Remember this is NOT a diet it is a lifestyle! It is not something you do for a few months to lose weight, it is something you have to be dedicated to and really want. Let me know if you want help with anything! I am still learning and have a great support of friends to help me out!

 *Warning* If you decide to eliminate sugar from your diet, you can have withdrawals from it. I had headaches and so did my husband. It can be a few days or weeks. So stay strong for a least a month or so!

It's totes tubular!! A cheap piece of workout equipment you NEED!

Ok, kids, I've had a pretty sweet piece of exercise equipment in my possession for a while now and I didn't even realize it! I can't wait to tell you about it, but here's a little story first.

Ok, so, if you've been reading this blog a while, you know I can be completely irrational nervous about some things. One of the things that bugs me, is the thought of one of my kids knocking one of his or her siblings in the head with something heavy...like dumbbells (wait, I just heard an excuse not to workout...did you?). So, I've avoided bringing free-weights in the family room (where I work out) for that reason. I have my 10lb set put in a closet way up high where not even I can reach them (that's helpful for my triceps, isn't it??). However, this afternoon, I pulled out one of the Turbo Jam discs I hadn't tried yet; it's the Totally Tubular workout. I didn't pick it on purpose, it was literally just the first one I found that wasn't a cartoon. I thought nothing of the name...you know; I just thought it was going to be a cool enough workout to be deemed tubular! When the dvd fired up, however, I saw that Chalene and her posse were going to use the tubes to workout with. What?? I dug around in my bag of workout junk and, guess what??? I found some tubing! My friend let me borrow it a while back and, apparently, I hadn't found a use for it yet. Quite honestly, I've seen the tubing in the fitness aisle at Target; I thought it looked like a gimmicky piece of equipment and never thought twice about picking it up. Amazon has them here.

Once we got into the workout, I started seeing the many awesome uses for this piece of stretchy tubing. Alas, my fear of free-weight mishaps can be over. This stretchy tubing adds resistance much like a workout done with weights. In fact, you can use free-weights with this workout instead, if you want (some of the people in the video do). The tubing works for arms and legs and is adjustable to suit anyone's fitness level.

And, I can pretty much guarantee you that I'll be sore tomorrow. 

It's that time again...

To get serious about losing baby weight. I say "baby weight" like my little babies (who averaged about 7.5 lbs each) caused me to gain 40-60lbs a pop. They totally didn't. My over-indulgent, "I'm pregnant, I eat what I want" attitude did it. My anxiety, that also added a pound or fifty. And, while all those cupcakes, milkshakes, french fries, candy bars, potpies, and cans of ravioli were the best thing ever while I was preggo, now I have to work it off. The truth is, I lost the weight that came with all my babies, now I just have to work on that extra donut and milkshake weight and some pre-baby junk food weight. I know you know what I'm talking about.

So, I know you want to know the damage. I have 50lbs (or so) to lose. Now, the thought of losing that much weight (with four kids) was a little overwhelming to me at first, too. I mean, our schedule here changes every day (which means I can't really have a workout schedule either). I also haven't left the baby yet, and I don't want to. SO, that means I can't go to the gym. It's has also been hot outside for the last couple months in addition to the fact that I'm not a huge fan of outside; so, it's not like I'm super motivated to go walking/running and I can't do that in my house. I spent the last few weeks stacking up all of these can't statements and they started turning ugly; they started turning into a big fat don't want to.

I devised an alternative plan (that should work for anyone should you be in the same situation) and I started it. Because others have told me it's been helpful in the past, I'm going to be blogging my journey to be fit, not fat. It will also give me some check-in accountability to keep going. I have worked off all my baby weight in the past, so I *think* I know what I'm doing. If you have tips though, tell me! I love new ideas.

1. I put my maternity clothes away. You know; If I can't reach for my clothes that expand at the waist, I have a little more motivation to lose weight. No one likes ill fitting clothes. No one.
2. I hooked up my HR Monitor/Calorie Counter. By tracking my calories burned, I can regulate the intensity of my workout based on how many calories I want to be burning. It makes for a  much more effective workout. Everyone has questions about this super awesome device. Here's a whole blog post about it to answer your questions. If you have more, just ask!
3. I dusted off some DVDs. Just because I can't go to the gym, that's not an excuse to skip working out. It's ALSO not an excuse to do workouts that I hate (like sit-ups and crunches, etc). I LOVE the Beach Body DVDs (Turbo Fire and Turbo Jam). They are just like the classes I'd do at the gym, if I were there. My best advice to you, find what you like. If you love kickboxing, yoga, pilates, zumba or anything else, there's likely a DVD for it. Or, if you like running the track, go run outside! The weather is great most places this time of year. Check your local library, too. I hear they usually have lots of great fitness DVDs.
4. Finding a workout buddy. Ok, I know what you're thinking. "If I can't find time, myself, to workout, how will I ever sync up with someone else's schedule, too?" You don't have to workout together, just exchange texts, emails, Facebook wall posts, tweets, or whatever to stay motivated and accountable. I know you can do that! I have a couple of these peeps to keep me in line and I'm SUPER thankful. 
5. Taking some before photos. I don't go through the trouble of measuring myself and stepping on the scale at every second because, quite frankly, I don't care about numbers. I want my clothes to fit and I want to move comfortably. I want to see the difference. So, I take before and after photos (one of my favorite Pinterest searches, too, btw). I'll post them here, on a new page within the blog, once I've made some progress.
6. Changing my diet...I was looking through the 2,800 photos on my phone earlier today. I would say a good 2,600 of those are of food. Cake, cookies, snacks, drinks, fries, candy, etc. I'm hoping that the upcoming food pics will be of things like: fresh fruit and veggies, peanut butter, small pieces of dark chocolate, bubbly seltzer water, chicken, salad, eggs, and other delicious good-for-you treats. Now, don't do anything extreme. Don't pickup a yo-yo diet. Figure out how many calories you need to safely lose weight, and eat that many each day (by way of healthy foods that you enjoy).
7. You know that ________ (treadmill, elliptical, bike, weight set, etc.) that you had to have? Go use it. It's not doing you any good just collecting dust. Make time to go use it. That's what I'm doing with the elliptical machine. Find about 30 minutes of your favorite music and make a playlist; once you listen to all of it one time through, your workout will be over. You're welcome.
8. Be as consistent as possible. Maybe, like me, you can't workout at exactly 7am everyday and you can't eat like a bunny everyday either (because sometimes, picking up a bucket of chicken is just what happens to busy families). Don't sweat the minor misses, focus on the big picture. Keep  your focus every day; make goals and try your best to keep them. Don't be hard on yourself, but don't let one day off your diet turn into weeks, either. 

That's all I have for right now! I promise this blog isn't turning into a a sob-fest about all the weight I have to lose, but I'm hoping that these weight-loss journey stories will be helpful to you. My posts about faith, family, and other stuff will all still be here. After-all, this blog isn't about me. It's about everything in this precious world and how it all works together, by grace. Fatness and fitness included. God has a reason for all of it. :)