If you're waiting for a sign..

Happy Friday, y'all!

Can you believe we are halfway through May? Summer is definitely approaching.  And although my belly is growing, I am still working towards my fitness goals.  I wanted to extend an invitation to you.  

I love what I do and I want to help you on your journey.  I am looking for some ladies that are ready to lose belly fat, lose weight and lose inches! If you are willing to commit, ready to make a change in your life and your health, fill out the form below! Join me and others for some fun, some support and accountability, and some results!!

June Challenge

Don't waste another summer sitting on the couch or on the sidelines wishing you would have made a change.  Make the change now! You will be AMAZED at what can take place in a short time! So....

Check out what is possible with a some motivation and support..and a kick butt system! 

You've gotta get some!

So my post about pregnancy cravings.  I still hold strong to that.  Because I know full on today, I was craving anything in particular.  I was craving junk.  Not the baby, me.  Straight up comfort food.  The ooey-gooey kind that makes you feel warm inside and just makes the world right.  There are a lot of things that could have done.  I could have gave in.  I could have completely ignored it.  Or, I could just satisfy that craving with a little mockery.  

Clean eating does not have to be, it absolutely should not be BORING! Or bland.  You should still get to have the foods you love, just better. Smarter; cleaner. 

So I looked at what I had and I looked at my Pinterest board for some inspiration (what did we do BEFORE Pinterest???) and there it was.  A little gem I had recently pinned.  The original recipe and post can be found here.  

Tonight's dinner:
Spaghetti Squash Mac and Cheese

I am not one who wants to spend that much time in the kitchen for a couple of reasons. One- I have better things to do (play with my kids, go for a walk, paint my nails, read a book, etc) Two- I am a taster. Sip of that, nibble of this.  All kinds of extra calories get added into my day and I am none the wiser (or thinner!) Three- I really like to be in the kitchen..to bake.  And by bake, I mean whip up some mean sweet treats and I generally don't have a lot of will power. And see number two again. ;)

That being said, I was a little turned off because I felt this meal would require a lot of time.  FALSE.  Not true.  Most of the time related to this dish is said dish baking in the oven.  Like two hours of it.  Wait--don't run away.  An hour and 20 is spent baking that yummy spaghetti squash, the ingredient that makes this little dream possible.  But there are tons of ways to save time.  Like bake it in the crock pot all day so when you get home from work or whatever you spent your day doing, you can just scoop those noodles out and carry on. BAM! Half the time already gone from this dinner.  Honestly, it is three simple steps!

I called this a clean cheat.  It is mostly clean.  The squash acts as your noodles and cuts WAAAAYY down on the ol' calorie total.  I used skim milk but whole fat cheeses.  That makes it a little less calorie friendly but still clean.  So still watch your portions.  I don't eat a whole lot of cheese anymore and I hadn't had any healthy fats yet today so it worked out alright.  

So seriously, if you are hankering for some down home cooking but do not what to get totally off track, this meal hits the spot.  Pair it with a salad, a glass of vino, or heck, a slice of really tasty bread if you really want to indulge.  

You can thank me later! 

Insert clever title here..

A title for this post eludes me. Why, you ask? Let me tell you.

All my energy is consumed with repairing my muscles.  S to the O-R-E.  I am seriously, seriously sore!!  I am in week two of Brazil Butt Lift and it is lifting and kicking my booty into shape simultaneously.  

Don't let Leandro with his cute accent and good time moves fool you.  He gets me every time.  The girls are smiling and lifting their weights and he is speaking some Portuguese at me while he says, "Shake your bum bum!"  

And then the next morning, POW!! Can hardly move. And let me tell you, I LOVE IT!  

Seriously, I know I've done this program before but it has been awhile.  I am amazed at the changes I am seeing in my arms and legs already.  I feel like my booty is even getting tighter.  ***which can we just recognize together that a tighter booty during your second (almost third) trimester is a quite a feat.. 

I have definitely had moments the past couple of weeks where I have thought about not working out.  I mean, I just don't always feel like it and to be honest, my belly isn't getting any smaller and I sure don't feel super hot grooving and moving with my baby bump.  But that really isn't why I wanted to stay committed to this lifestyle in the first place.  I mean, yes, in part I definitely would love to not have to struggle {as much} to get back to my pre-pregnancy body.  

But really, the BIG picture purpose behind this lifestyle has never been so much about my appearance.  It has been about feeling confident and healthy; about keeping up with my kids; about making sure my boys grow up with a healthy example so they don't ever struggle with weight or the unhealthy side effects of a sedentary lifestyle.  And staying committed during pregnancy, is first and foremost about giving this little guy the best chance at a healthy start possible.  He is going to need a mama ready to brave the world of three boys 3 and under and all that will ensue from that adventure.  

That being said, I have a date with Leandro and the girls during nap time where I will gladly shake my booty, lift some weights and work up a less than attractive sweat.  And I'm sure my little guy will be dancing right along with me. ;) 

Cravings, I'm Calling Your Bluff!

The first time I became pregnant, I couldn't wait to experience my first "pregnancy craving".  I had heard about the range of crazy foods pregnant women craved; all hours of the day; ranging from typical to the most unusual.  

I always wondered what mine would be and when they would hit.  I would picture my husband getting up and heading to the market or random eatery to pick up something so out of the blue that I craved on a whim.  

And oh did they come! I was surprised how quickly those pregnancy cravings kicked in.  It almost seemed like the minute I knew I was pregnant, that baby was just demanding all kinds of tasty things.  

What were those cravings?
Pickles
Candy (sour and chocolate)
French Fries
Ice cream
Cheeseburgers
Pizza

CRAZY right? No--not at all.  Those are foods I love.  Those are foods I would eat all the time.  Foods I would pick (now) as a treat or cheat or indulgence.  

Can I tell you something? I don't think there really are pregnancy cravings.  At least, not in my world.  I craved the same foods I crave anytime.  The difference was, during my first pregnancies, I gave into them because I had this excuse (pregnancy) to give into them.  To eat whatever the "baby" wanted. 

What a joke! What sabotage! The best foods for my baby isn't junk food.  It is whole, healthy, clean foods.  And the more I indulge in those the better I feel.  

I think it can be easy to use pregnancy as an excuse.  I sure did.  And believe me, I still indulge in those cravings from time to time.  The difference is, I choose when.  I choose how often.  And I do so knowing that it isn't a pregnancy craving; it is me choosing to treat myself to something I don't normally.  I recognize now that just because my mind is telling me I want something or I'm hungry--it doesn't mean I actually am.  If that were the case I would be eating french fries dipped in milkshakes all day long.  

We have to learn to differentiate between a true feeling of hunger and boredom.  A true craving versus just a yummy treat we'd like to indulge in.  

I'm far from perfect at this but am making an effort!

What was your "pregnancy" craving that you liked to give in to?? 

I get it

When I started this blog, I had a few intentions. 
1) To share my experience as a pregnant person trying to stay as committed as possible to the healthy lifestyle I had adopted
2) To hold myself accountable (nothing like putting your goals out there for the world. i.e- 20 people that read this. THANK YOU!)
3) Connect to other mamas out there; currently pregnant or not.  Fit enthusiasts or not! 

Here was my fear.  That this blog would be perceived as judgmental or discouraging versus uplifting, encouraging, and a place to discuss how to give our babies the healthiest start possible. 

Here is the thing.  My first pregnancy I was 20 pounds heavier than I should have been.  I looked bad, slept bad, felt bad.  Then got pregnant.  And I used that pregnancy as an excuse to eat what I wanted, not exercise and honestly, just do whatever I damn well pleased.  I failed my glucose test the first time, passed by the skin of my teeth and had my doctor tell me that I needed to make wiser food choices for the remainder of my pregnancy.  Did I? No! I felt miserable the last trimester, had terrible heartburn, wanted to be induced because I was so big (as was the baby), failed to progress and had a c-section.  Total weight gain of that pregnancy- 40 pounds.  

Not much compared to some, right? But the thing is, none of the choices I was making, was helping me grow a healthy baby!  I had to come to terms with the fact that my birth plan was so far from what I envisioned in my mind.  I had to come to terms with a body that I didn't recognize as mine.  And two years later, after my second baby and pretty much the same patterns (I started out at a more reasonable weight), having to leave my newborn to have my gall bladder removed..probably a result of my terrible habits.  

I see it all the time. People who mock my ideals this pregnancy or make remarks not completely at me but ones that apply.  People who say, "well I am eating for two now." "You're supposed to gain weight during pregnancy." "I would never diet.  I want a healthy baby." And I feel judged. I feel like they are saying I don't want a healthy baby.  Don't you see?  We both do.  I have just been on the other side.  

At the risk of not being popular, I am having a healthier pregnancy now than I did my previous two.  Doctors recommend a weight gain range for a reason.  Pregnant women should gain weight, a REASONABLE amount, put on by healthy foods, but mostly by the way our bodies change.  That weight accounts for the fetus, placenta, extra blood, fluid, etc.  Not because we can eat the flavor of the day from Culver's every night of the week.

At the risk of continuing to not be popular, pregnancy isn't a sit on your butt card either.  Your body can grow a human and still be physical.  Women birthed children in caves, in fields, in their log cabins with midwives while tending their other children, doing housework (like legit work), and working the land..all up until labor began!!  Now, I am not saying to push yourself and put you or the baby in harm's way.  Listen to your doctor.  If there is a medical condition that dictates taking it easy, by all means, kick your feet up.  But that isn't all of us.  It certainly wasn't me.

So can I just say, I get it.  I embrace my expanding belly that makes it hard for me to button my pre-pregnancy pants.  I embrace the 1000x a day I am running to the bathroom.  I embrace the stretch marks from my previous pregnancies. I embrace the number on the scale going up.  I embrace that I get winded more easily, my runs are now walks, and that I just can't keep up quite like I used to with my boys.  I think we should embrace every beautiful aspect of pregnancy.  It is a joy, a blessing, and something I am so grateful for.  

But, this blessing, is a responsibility.  A responsibility to give our babies the best, healthiest start.  I embrace that too.  So know that I get it. Whether it's your first pregnancy or your fourth, we all want the same thing.  This is just my journey to have the healthiest baby I know how.  

Soul Mates

Before Beachbody, on the rare occasion I would be working out, I never found anything I really loved.  The elliptical was ok..better than the dreadmill.  Zumba was fine, depending on the instructor.  Hot Yoga was nice but I sometimes felt like I stretched but didn't workout.  Nothing that just made me stop in my tracks and fall in love.  

Then I began Brazil Butt Lift.  From the first day I pushed play, I was hooked.  It was fun.  The workouts flew by.  I felt sore after every workout in all kinds of places (the truest way to measure the success of any workout, of course). And I was getting results.  SAY WHAT??? 

I have loved all my other workouts but nothing holds a candle in my heart to BBL.  I know it sounds crazy..but it is my soulmate workout.  I seriously get giddy to go push play!!

This week I started back up with Brazil Butt Lift a week behind my challengers. I have loved it.  I was quite used to my 30 minute workouts coming off of P90x3 and the fix.  However, doing doubles the last week of the fix was a great way to get my body (and my mind) ready for the longer workout days.  

I am also still using the nutrition guide from the 21 Day Fix but I tweaked it a little.  I was on the lowest bracket when I began but have adjusted the bracket to meet my needs.  I know I needed more calories.  I also know how important fiber is as well all know those prenatals aren't always the friendliest when it comes to regularity.  So I upped my greens to five. (Green corresponds to veggies for you non-fixers ;) ) I am eating two purples (fruits), four reds (protein),  two yellows (carbs) and one orange.  On days I feel extra hungry, I up my blue from one to two. Blue is healthy fats.  This has really helped me feel full and also stay on track with healthy eating.  I have had some pretty intense cravings lately that I am trying to resist.  Not that I won't indulge sometimes.  I just don't think nightly would be wise! ;)

I also went to the doctor this week.  Total weight gain= 13 pounds. I felt like that was a little high considering all the working out I have been doing but then I realized, "Hey! You are 6 months pregnant.  That is like 2 pounds a month average! You are OK!" I had gained two pounds a week at time in my other pregnancies so keeping perspective is key.  I would still like to say under 25 pounds so as long as I continue to be healthy and stay on track these last four months, I think that goal is achievable.  

So what about you? Do you have a soul mate workout? What are you doing to stay on track for your health and fitness goals? I would love to hear from you! 

Or if you are looking to start a program, need some accountability, I'd love to hear from you too! 

Dream BIG

This past weekend my husband and I got to spend Saturday together.  Since moving, we don't do dates very often and hadn't had a date (out of the house) since Valentine's Day.  We were planning on shopping for the new baby that morning so my mom met us and then took our boys with her for an overnight, which meant Andrew and I had most ALL day and night together! 

If you are a parent, you can probably relate to the rarity it is to have time to have a conversation without being interrupted by your littles.  And even when you do find the time, often the conversations center around the "business" of your lives.  

Well on Saturday, without our boys, without interruptions, Andrew and I had the chance to talk.  To really talk. To get past the day to day relaying of information, catching up with what needs done, to the REAL stuff of life.  We got to talk about the things that brought us together as a couple. We got to talk about not only our present, but our future.  About what we wanted for our family, in our careers, in our marriage. I get teary-eyed even thinking about that precious time because so often we take it for granted and don't do it enough.

But Saturday we did.  As we chatted about what the next few years looked like for our family, between running errands around town, catching a movie, and indulging in sushi (what a great day, huh?) we began to dream.  We began to ask  the what ifs. We began to plan what actually could become. 

You may be wondering how this post fits here on this blog about fitness. But it fits exactly here.  Why? Well, it is BECAUSE of fitness, and finding myself and a new passion; finding my new purpose in coaching, that these dreams are possible.  

My husband, a year ago almost to the day, began a new job. It was his DREAM job.  It required so much scary change but we knew it was where God was leading us.  So we went.  From that step of faith, I got to become a stay at home mom; another dream fulfilled.  But I also didn't want to lose myself in that role.  I found coaching.  I found a team.  I found friendships and a purpose and reason to wake up in the morning bigger than just fixing waffles and laundry.  God planted a dream in my heart and fulfilled it without me even knowing to dream it! (Talk about blessing!)

Because of those actions, those leaps of faith, following our hearts--the dreams and I dream now are BIGGER than we've ever dreamed before.  Because the possibilities are bigger.  Coaching has forever changed my life and my family and our future.  How many people can say that their "job" has done that for them? 

I am so grateful every day to get up and help others with their health journey.  It is a privilege and an honor that I don't take lightly.  It fills up my soul and genuinely makes me happy.  That kind of feeling is priceless.  I have to share it.

Do you have BIG dreams? If not--can I encourage you to dream bigger? Go after dreams that seem scary and impossible and find ways to make it possible.  Surround yourself with people who tell you over and over that you can make it happen. 

So...