My Healthy Plan: Week 2

Happy Monday, friends!

This weekend absolutely flew by! It was a busy one for our family so I was especially tired when the alarm sounded at 5 am but day 1 of week 2 was completed and a great way to get myself energized!

I've been open on here that I have some big goals with my program and what I want to achieve. So for the purpose of full disclosure, I thought I would tell you how my weekend nutrition went. (Weekends are typically my downfall)

Saturday morning I had an early morning meeting. I got a few things done around the house, made my boys cinnamon rolls and then headed out the door arming myself with my chocolate Shakeology. I was pretty proud of that.

I had a baby shower early afternoon and then our family had a wedding reception open house that evening before meeting my in-laws for dinner. I squeezed in some laundry and my workout before getting out the door!

Warrior workout! So tough but finished!

I grabbed a larabar (cashew cookie--only two ingredients). At the baby shower I had some water and fruit. And at the reception I had some veggies and nuts. I was pretty hungry by the time we got to my in-laws.  They ordered from a local spaghetti house which is AMAZING but I had a chef salad and only a small slice of the garlic bread because, balance. My father in law also made homemade ice cream and I had a small scoop of that. It wasn't a perfect day but it wasn't a bad day either!

Anyone else love getting dolled up??

Sunday our family did late church because we were going to friends' to swim. I knew I wanted to stay on track so packed the makings of a vegetable tray and some fresh salsa and gluten free chips. Since we did late church I made omelets and Ezekial English muffins (only halves) for breakfast. Those English muffins are thee best in my opinion! So good!

Our friends grilled some awesome hamburgers and hot dogs. So for lunch I had a hamburger (no bun), lots of veggies with greek yogurt cucumber dill dip, fresh fruit and some chips and salsa. Still full from dinner my husband and I had our shakeology for dinner.

It wasn't a perfect weekend but it was far more on track than many this summer have been!

Today it was back to to the plan and pushing even more water since the weekend I lagged a little with all the busyness.

It is definitely not about being perfect. It is about balance, making the best choices you can and always pushing ahead.

How to Meal Plan As a Busy Mom

Failure to plan is planning to fail right?? 

Nutrition is always the tougher component when it comes to a healthy lifestyle.  In the last three years I have learned a lot about what to eat, when to eat, how to eat, how MUCH to eat. My issue has always been in the follow through. Allowing one too many treats, or deciding that what I planned for diner really isn't sounding good so just going with Plan B. 

Not anymore! My mindset is different. I want to succeed like never before. I know my body deserves more. I know I am made for more than just mindless eating. I've read Lysa Terkeurst's Made to Crave and know how deeply God doesn't want me to succumb to food cravings. 

Since I said I was going to be using this blog as a way to stay accountable, I figured why not share what I'm eating. Maybe nutrition is a struggle for you too! Maybe you don't know where to start or how to plan. Maybe you need some accountability. Whatever the case, here is the menu plan I am following this week. 

A few notes:

- The menu is color coded because I am using the 21 Day Fix portion control containers to help me stay within my portion parameters. I don't want to overeat; which, can still happen even if the food is healthy! 

-Shakeology: It counts as a serving of protein but know I mix in some other ingredients to increase the calorie count. Depending on the day, if I need more greens or purples, I add in spinach or 1/2 a banana. I always add in all natural peanut butter, ice, and water. YUM!!

-It's simple! I don't h ave time for a fussy menu plan. I won't stick with it if it isn't yummy, takes too much time, or leaves me feeling dissatisfied.  This menu combats all those feelings! 

If you are interested in more specific details of the recipes used in the menu, head on over to my Pinterest page and hit follow or shoot me an e-mail! I'd love to connect! 

Day 1...Again

After an awesome week in Nashville for our annual conference, way too much yummy indulgences, I started over on a brand new program.

Again.

The program isn't exactly brand new. It is just the next one I'm doing since finishing 22 Minute Hard Corps.

When I was thinking of what I wanted, how I wanted pushed, what I wanted my body to get out of a workout...I knew! I just KNEW what workout I was going to be doing!

P90x3!!!

I've loved this program from the very first workout I did almost three years ago. There is so much variety. The workouts are all only 30 minutes. I love how quickly I see results. And obviously-- Tony!

Here's the deal. If I am being honest, I can workout with the best of them. Like, get my sweat on and not miss a workout. But this summer, the multiple indulgences have added up and detracted from my hard work. That really SUCKS!!

So I'm saying no more! I've done it before! While pregnant!!! I can totally do it again

See?? Proof! 

So day 1 is in the books. My nutrition and water were great. AND, my husband is committing to doing this with me. Talk about awesome accountability!

So stay tuned! I'll be sharing what I'm eating, progress and in 90 days--some awesome results! 

May Goals

I love a fresh month. Filling out my family's calendar, looking ahead. A month seems like such a long time but I am always amazed at how quickly a month flies by these days.

It's with that knowledge that at the beginning of each month, I set some goals. I know that if I don't set goals, the time will pass me by and I won't have accomplished quite what I set out to do.

They say that when you set goals. write them down, and visualize those goals becoming reality, that you attract that positive energy and outcome to yourself and are in fact more likely to succeed.  And who am I to argue with science?? ;)

{O N E} Finish the Ultimate Reset

I am over halfway through this program! In fact, I only have 8 days left! It seems like I should finish this program no problem then right?? WRONG! This program is so mental for me. I've gotten great results so far (down 9 pounds!) and it is because I know I've gotten great results and feel so great, that my mind likes to trick me. Saying things like, "Hey, why do you even need to continue?? You've done so great." "One little snack of ____ won't hurt."

No siree!!  I am not falling for that. I am going to finish strong! My plan after the reset wraps is to add back in proteins to my dinner at first and then to my lunch. I am going to keep my snacks strictly fruit and vegetables.  I am thinking of holding back on adding back dairy and any wheat.  I feel SO good without those products. I do love cheese and greek yogurt so I may phase dairy back in after a week or so, but only in small increments. I can't wait to share my final results with you all!

{T W O} 22 Minute Hard Corps

I am a planner. I like knowing what to expect. Which is exactly why I know what program I will be starting when the UR wraps.  I CAN NOT wait to get started on this program!!! Tony Horton is probably my favorite trainer and I don't what it is about his programs, but my body RESPONDS! I see muscles pop out, get leaner, get stronger, get faster! Who doesn't want those things!??!! 

In fact, I am hosting a fun accountability group centered around this program. If you want to join my May Accountability Group, you can check out details here. And because I am so excited, the first 5 people to commit to my group are going to receive a free gift and ONE lucky winner will be chosen for an extra gift--a $25 gift card to the store of their choice! 

Umm..helloo??? Getting healthy and free gifts!!? WIN-WIN!!

{T H R E E} Outdoor Play

I am PRAYING this new month means warm weather that will actually STICK around! We have had such nice weeks interrupted by dropping temps and lots of rain. My boys and I love to be outdoors so this month I want to intentionally make extra time for walks, trips to the park, wiffle ball in the back yard and bike rides. 

I know as their mom I am responsible for them loving to move and be active. I want them to always view activity as fun! 

{F O U R} 3 New Recipes

I am always looking for healthy recipes that my family will love. Since we are ending the Reset and my plan can be a bit more flexible, I will be testing out three new recipes that are *healthy, *fit in my 22 MHC eating plan, AND *are kid-friendly, kid-approved.  Stay tuned for what I find! 

What are your goals for this new month??

Let's Get Crockin'!

Hey y'all!

Happy {almost} fall! The weather around here has been absolutely gorgeous. Blue skies, mild temps, sunshine. My boys and I have walked almost every day. I like to save our walks for after dinner when Dad is home and we can do it all together.

I love summer but when the temperatures start to drop just a little, I am completely falling for fall! And when that happens, I want to cook for fall! Do you know what I'm saying???

Stews, soups, warm, hearty, filling, delicious, comfort food foods! The only problem is that sometimes all that comfort food undoes all of my effort from eating well or my workouts. And then those winter pounds slip back on.

Not anymore! I have learned that you can eat yummy, filling, healthy foods you love. You can even make life simpler by using your crock pot.

I am hosting, alongside some of my teammates, a FREE 5 Day Clean Eating Crock Pot group! It all begins Monday, September 28th and we would love for you to be part of it too!

You will get a grocery list, meal plans and recipes for all five days that will give you 3 meals and two snacks, all dinners done in your crock pot! PLUS you will have tons of positive support from multiple coaches! It doesn't matter where you live because it is all through Facebook!

Interested? I know--it's hard not to be. The only thing that could make it better is if someone would do the grocery shopping for you! ;)

If you want to join this group, comment below! I will get in touch!

Breaking My Addiction

I  have been doing Les Mills Pump for 2.5 weeks now.  My body is definitely responding but not as good as I wanted it too.  And I know the cause.  I've known the cause forever.  If there is ever a stronghold in my life, it's this one. 

I am a sugar addict. 

I love it.  I love sweets.  I love breads and pastas.  I love those things and not in moderation.  And as much as I'd like to say that I can have a little bit and get right back on track, my addiction is strong.  I get derailed easily.  

One bite turns into a whole serving turns into the whole pan of brownies (cookies, cake, you fill it in). 

I had considerably began to limit the carbohydrates from grains when I started Max:30. But February got the best of me and my nutrition just has suffered.  

On top of that, caring for three kids under 4 {one being just 6 months old and still waking during the night bless him} I hated waking up groggy and not in control of what I was putting in my body. 

I decided to change some things.  I don't believe that in order to be healthy you have to deprive your body of anything.  I preach moderation to my team and my clients.  But I also preach knowing your weaknesses and learning how to have control over food, not the other way around.  How to eat to live, not live to eat. 

On Monday, I began my 30 day no sugar commitment.  Of course I am still getting sugar where it naturally occurs, but I am cutting out added sugars.  I also decided to limit my carbs.  I am still eating grains but not eating wheat.  

I don't necessarily care about the number on the scale.  The scale doesn't define me.  But I do care about how I feel when I put on my clothes.  I do care how I feel when I want to be intimate with my husband and I just don't "feel" sexy. I do care about having control over what goes into my body. 

I am halfway through day three.  I haven't indulged in PB&Js with my kiddos.  I haven't popped goldfish mindlessly.  The biggest #NSV: I haven't touched the box of Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies sitting in our freezer. {Yes, that is how my family enjoys them} 

I am down weight from last week.  I do feel more energized (getting out of bed is still hard. I'm looking at you Gabe- I-Want-To-Eat-Every-4-Hours). 

I'm excited to continue these next 30 days.  It will be a battle.  It is my siblings', SIL's, husband's and I's birthday in a few weeks (you read that right; it's a lot). Easter is approaching aka Easter candy. But I have support and accountability from my team.  And I have goals.  

Height: 5'5"

Last Weight: 142.2 (Monday 3/9)

Current Weight: 141.4

Change: -0.8

Total Loss (since 8/21/14): 25 lbs

What I learned in 3 days

When I posted my Max:30 results, I mentioned that I tagged on the 3-Day Refresh to the final days of the program. 

What is the refresh? 
It is a program designed to give you a break from poor eating habits while kick starting some healthy ones.  With Shakeology, two high protein refresh shakes, a fiber sweep, snacks and delicious vegetable dinner options, your body and mind have a chance to clear themselves from some vices. 

I chose to do this for a couple of reason.  One, I knew that doing this could help me shed a few pounds.  But more than that, I was not seeing the same results month 2 of Max:30 as I did month 1 and I KNEW the culprit--my nutrition.  We had my son's birthday, a weekend out of town, my son's party/mom's birthday and Valentine's Day all in month 2.  I ate great during the week, but those weekends were definitely more off track than I wanted.  And when you really think about it, weekends are a large chunk of a month. It accounts for almost 30% of February! So if you give yourself "a break" on weekends to eat whatever, you really aren't going to progress forward.  And I sure gave myself one to many breaks during some of those events. 

What I didn't realize before the refresh, were some ugly, bad habits creeping back into my lifestyle. 

On the refresh, there is no eating except what is outlined.  There is also no dairy, meat or starches. (Of course, the allowed fruit and vegetables on the program are carbs and the high protein shakes help satiate hunger).

Because of that, I caught myself--quite often, actually--in the midst of popping something into my mouth.  You know what I am talking about moms: a nibble of your kids snack as you prepare it, or their lunch.  Or maybe you finish off their lunch as you are scrambling to clean the mess up and get them ready for naps.  A snack out of boredom, or a sip of this or that.  

That mindless eating was catching up to me.  It was stalling my results just as much as an occasional treat would if not MORE! 

I had also really, REALLY become a slave to sugar again. You saw the list above.  Those are some sweet confection opportunities all bundled up together.  Because of that, I was craving sugar--ALL the time! And caving.

Doing the refresh, I had to have discipline.  I said I was going to follow the program.  That meant when I was making my kids mini pizzas one day for lunch, I couldn't just pop a pepperoni.  It meant not nibbling an M&M from the treat container.  It meant not snacking when watching HTGAWM (sidenote: PLEASE tell me you are obsessed with this show too??) 

What happened mentally was amazing.  I was breaking through some habits and barriers that I know can have a pretty strong grip on me.  My body started craving GOOD things.  I was texting my accountability partner through the refresh about eggs.  I wanted chicken and eggs.  She wanted a Greek yogurt.  Talk about a difference, right?? 

Did I get results? For sure, an inch of my waist and 4 pounds gone!!! But more than that, I gained control over my eating again.  I saw the roadblocks I had allowed to creep back into my life and consciously overcame them and now am so much more aware of them.  I reset my system, ridding it of the need for sugar.  IN JUST 3 DAYS!! How huge is that! 

This program is amazing and I am so grateful for what it taught me! 

Italian Meatballs and Marinara Sauce: Recipe and Review

When we began to seriously discuss and then go forward with becoming a gluten free (and according to my friend we have actually embraced more of a grain-free lifestyle) lifestyle, I began to immediately think of all the things I wasn't going to be able to have.  Why is it that we do that? It is like we are trying to make ourselves miserable.  We focus on the negative! 

While doing this, I thought of all the carb-y foods I just couldn't have.  Well, silly me! That is plain crazy and false! You really can have whatever you had before, it is just made in a different way, a cleaner, healthier way really.

So when I came across a recipe from homemade meatballs and marinara I was excited! I love pasta and my boy-filled family loves meatballs! Bonus- the recipe made enough for our family to have leftovers the next night! I LOVE when that happens!

Italian Meatballs and Marinara via
Meatballs
1.5 pounds beef
1 large onion diced small (set aside half)
4 cloves of minced garlic (set aside half)
1/3 cup almond flour
2 eggs, whisked
1/4 cup of fresh, chopped, flat-leaf parsley
pinch of red pepper flakes

Sauce
1- 28 oz can of San Marzano plum tomatoes with sauce
15 oz can of tomato sauce
other half of diced onion
other half of minced garlic
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp dried basil
2 tbsp fresh chopped parsley
1/2 to 1 tsp salt
healthy pinch of red pepper flakes

1. Saute onion in 2 tbsp oil, 5-7 minutes
2. Season with a pinch of salt and add minced garlic. Cook for an additional minute.
3. Remove from heat.
4. Pour half of mixture into the crock pot and set aside the other half in a separate bowl.
5. Add the remaining ingredients for the sauce to your crock pot.  Break apart the tomatoes into smaller pieces.
6. Turn crock pot on low.
7. Add your meat to the  bowl of onions and garlic mix.
8. Add the rest of the ingredients for the meatballs to the bowl.
9. Gently mix the meat mixture together.
10. Preheat a large frying pan with 2-3 tablespoons coconut oil over medium heat.
11. With your  hands, shape golf ball sized meatballs.
12. Place meatballs into the pan.  Let them get a nice brown coating.  They won't cook all the way through. They will finish cooking in the slow cooker.
13. Transfer browned meatballs directly into the crock pot.
14. Cook on low 4-6 hours.

My husband is a hunter and just helped stock our freezer with some fresh venison. I used a 50/50 mix of grass fed beef and venison.  I wouldn't recommend using all venison since it is a leaner meat and the meatball might not stay together as well.  The mix stayed together perfectly.

I also used coconut oil whenever the directions called for any kind of oil.  It is super healthy and has such a light flavor that I use it for all cooking and baking needs.

I stirred my crock pot occasionally over the course of the day.  I will say that my house smelled amazing all day long.  I prepped the meatballs and sauce that morning and it was a really quick process; much less time consuming than I thought.

A bit before dinner, I boiled a pot of water and made some gluten free spaghetti to serve with our meatballs and marinara.  The meal was SO GOOD! My entire family ate it up! It was such a cold day when I served it that the  meal warmed us right up.  It was the perfect guilt-free comfort food.  And the leftovers heated up great the next night.  This is a meal I will definitely keep in our dinner rotation.

Chicken Soup: Recipe and a Review

As I mentioned earlier, my family is working on becoming gluten free.  I say working on because there are days I still don't get it exactly right but overall the transition has been pretty seamless. My kids don't notice and to be honest, I don't really notice either.  I haven't  noticed a ton of change in some of  my son's symptoms (which is what prompted this switch to actually take place versus just talking about it) but I know it is still early.  And, like I said, I haven't been perfect so there have been some slip-ups.

I am also learning to love cooking and baking again.  Don't get me wrong; I don't want to spend all day in the kitchen.  Who has time for that? But I do enjoy trying out new recipes, seeing my family's reaction, learning something new.  It has been really fun.  And I love that I know that in this process that I am enjoying, I am actually doing something so great for my family.

If your family is like mine, your lives are seasoned with busyness.  For that reason alone, I love to use our slow cooker.  It is by far one of the most used appliances in our kitchen.  It is definitely used weekly if not more.  So color me happy when I found some slow cooker gluten free recipes! To add to my excitement, they were super simple to prep! All the mamas are rejoicing with me right now! :)

Paleo Crock Pot Chicken Soup via
1 medium onion, chopped
3 stalks celery, diced
3 carrots, diced
1 tsp apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon herbs de Provence
2 chicken breasts, bone in
2 chicken thighs, bone in
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp ground pepper
3-4 c filtered water

1. Layer all the ingredients into your crockpot. Place the chicken bone side down.
2. Cook on low for 6-8 hours
3. Remove chicken. Allow it to cool slightly then remove the bones and shred. Place the shredded chicken back into the pot and stir.
4. Reheat and serve.

When I made this recipe, I had chicken breasts on hand. Boneless.  Little old me didn't know that when making soup from scratch, so much nutrients and richness to a broth comes from the BONES.  Broth is actually quite a popular trend right now.  You can read more about it here and here, That being said, the broth for my soup was REALLY watery,  Which made it lack in flavor quite a bit.

I will definitely be trying this recipe again knowing now how important it is to make sure I don't just use what I have on hand to see if that changes the flavor.  If you like a really strong broth (and I do) you may cut the water in half and add some stock to your soup.

I would love to hear if you try this and your thoughts!

Good-bye November

Hello friends! I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday with your family and friends! This time of year is my all time favorite and we certainly filled our long weekend with lots of family time and traditions to kick off the season!

This past month has been a crazy one for my family.  We moved out of our home Halloween weekend and into our new home in our new (technically old since we moved back to our hometown) town that Monday.  I left that Thursday (three days later) for a leadership training event in Dallas (you can read about that here) until Sunday night.  Then it was painting, a funeral, a birthday party for our middle guy, more painting and well--Thanksgiving hit!

To say November was a whirlwind would be an understatement.  All of that led to a pretty poor workout routine for this mama.  My workouts were spotty.  And if my workouts were on--my nutrition was OFF!

You see we all have triggers.  My husband is currently commuting as we transition so has been spending large parts of the week away.  I found myself with a lot of responsibility in addition to my usual routines and I can be a stress eater plus I hate to be alone.  Can we say triggers? But enough is enough.  I used to be blind to the fact that I was sabotaging myself or that I was getting bigger but I am so aware of how junky I feel when I don't have my clean eating and workout routine in order.

Tomorrow--new month, new Monday, new me!! I am getting back on track (along with some other ladies!)  I am really excited about it. I will be following the 21 Day Fix nutrition plan (ASK ME about that if you don't know because it is awesome) and starting T25.  I know I can easily fit in 25 minutes sometime in my day and the HIIT training is exactly what my post-partum body needs!

Check out my meal plan for this week! Talk about yummy!

You may notice everything on this menu is gluten free.  This is another added "new" in my journey.  Last week I began to transition  my family into a gluten free lifestyle.  There have been indicators for me that I may have an intolerance and there are some indicators we are seeing in our oldest based upon the research I have done, what I have read, and after talking with some other people who have transitioned to gluten free.  It is scary because I know I have lots to learn but also exciting because I think it can mean some great things for our family, especially our oldest.  I will be sharing recipes I find that our family loves with you all too! So I am looking forward to that! And I am definitely open to hearing some recipes you love! 

This time of year can be tough as we strive to maintain a healthy lifestyle.  But I am committing to it.  I know I need to for myself and my family.  Anyone else wanting to commit? 

Results

How is it already the end of October? This month has flown by! This YEAR has flown by!

We have been crazy, busy around our house.  At the beginning of the month, we began to pack up our house in preparation for our move (2 more days!!). Add to that the responsibilities of two toddlers (one in preschool) and a newborn, I had my hands full.  Not to mention, I was busy running a challenge group with people all dedicated to reaching their health goals {ME included}! 

I took my before pictures and measurements exactly 30 days ago and committed to the 21 Day Fix.  I know this program can bring results but had not completed yet not pregnant.  {I did two rounds during my pregnancy.}

One reason I love being a coach with Beachbody is the accountability I have as a coach.  My team is great at keeping me motivated. Their energy and love for a healthy lifestyle makes me want to get up and get the work done even on days when I really don't feel like it or the time seems to be slipping away.  My clients in my groups push me too! They could all come up with 100 excuses but they don't.  I don't want to let them down so I press on!

Today when I got on the scale and did my pictures and measurements I was shocked! It is often hard to see the changes in our body day to day.  We doubt if we are making progress.  I also wasn't perfect this past month.  I missed three workouts and didn't eat as clean as I wanted to! I followed the plan pretty well but there were a few dinners {pizza} that I had an extra slice.  

Down 6 pounds

-6.5 inches gone (2.5 from my waist alone)

I am really happy with my results! I still have a long way to go but these photos prove that good choices, consistently, will pay off over time.  It isn't about fad diets, pills, or long workout sessions.  I love that I got to eat.  I consumed between 1500-1800 calories a day {higher than my bracket but I am breastfeeding}.  I only worked out for 30 minutes.  

I still have a ways to go to get my pre-baby body back but I have never been this fit so soon after a pregnancy before.  

ANYONE can do this!! I am proof of that! If you would like to get started or have any questions, I would love to hear from you! 

Menu Revamp

On Friday I was a little disappointed in my weight loss, or lack there of, for the week.  I know I have lost inches the past couple of weeks but I really want to see that number drop too.  

For me, when that scale doesn't move in the direction I want, I look at my food choices.  I know my work outs had been good because I hadn't missed, I had gone harder and I had increased weight. Plus, we all know our results are based largely in the food choices we make (right, right? That is a must know). 

Although I had done well with clean eating, I felt my carb load might be a bit high.  So I started adjusting my plan.  I wanted my carbs to come from the fruits and vegetables I was eating more than the starchy carbs.  I also upped my protein.  I wanted my protein to be a larger part of my diet. I started doing this on Thursday.  I noticed by Saturday that I was increasingly hungry by the end of the day but I attributed this to me not eating later and the higher protein maybe helping my metabolism be more effective.  I also noticed when I woke up my tummy felt flatter.  

I am really excited to see where these adjustments take me this week.  I know I have to be making progress because today I put on a pair of pants I couldn't button last week AND because my husband said, "Wow, that is the thinnest you've looked.  You are definitely thinner than you were two weeks ago!" 

I will take those non-scale victories! 

What are your goals for the week? Any changes you are making to meet them?

Progress

I loved waking up to it being Wednesday.  I love that the week is already half over and we are nearing the weekend.  I mean, not mathematically, no.  We need to get through Wednesday but whatever.  

Heather/Ash/Erin

Today was day 10 of the 21 Day Fix.  I love this program.  LOVE IT! I do my weigh-ins on Friday with my online fitness group {who are rocking it by the way}.  Today was Lower Fix; thirty minutes of concentrated leg work.  Talk about working up a sweat! This workout challenges me.  Last week, I had to pause the workout to calm my newborn back into his slumber. {We were having all kinds of nap issues that we seem to have surpassed. PTL!} This week, I not only didn't pause it, I used heavier weights for many of the exercises! #nonscalevictory

I have really been working on sticking to the nutrition guide.  It is honestly a guide I should follow all the time.  It is so simple and easy and advocates for clean eating.  As a nursing mom I did worry that my milk supply might be compromised but it honestly hasn't.  I am eating enough and drinking lots of water and still getting enough milk for my 7 week old.  I love that! 

Last week I lost three pounds.  My husband, who is working out on his own but using the Fix nutrition, lost almost 4 pounds last week.  

I am hoping to have another good loss this Friday.  More than that I want to loss inches.  I feel like my body is back to normal {well, close to it} except for the dreaded mom pooch area and thighs.  I know the pooch is just a result of my third cesarean and that area takes time.  But I'd really like to see some inches leave those areas ASAP! 

How is your week going? 

I'm BAAACCKKK!

Seriously! How is it already mid-September! These days are flying by.  If you weren't aware, the reason for my hiatus:

Our little guy arrived almost three weeks ago! So between that and our oldest starting preschool, we have just been trying to figure out life with three, three and under! Some days are easier than others but I know how blessed we are!

So what is up in September? Well for one, my Back to School Bodies group is KILLING it! These women are checking in daily, working hard and kicking butt! It is amazing to see the motivation, support, and encouragement going on between these ladies all connected by their goals and this group! It is pushing me too! (You better believe I have goals! Buh-bye baby weight!!)

If a group like that sounds like something you could use in your life, then you should definitely be in my Fall into Fitness group that kicks off October 6th.

Yes you are reading that right--just by joining and doing the work, you could win some fabulous prizes! I can't tell what they are {because that would ruin the fun} but just think read the sign close and see if you can figure it out! 

If you aren't sure where to start, I can help you.  Helping people find something that they can get on board with and find success with is something I love to do! I am passionate about helping people realize that a healthy lifestyle isn't boring or too much work; it is 100% WORTH it! 

So please shoot me an e-mail {bmbruce20@gmail.com} or find me on Facebook {facebook.com/bekahmbruce} and let's chat about your goals! We can reach them together!! 

Getting my body back!

No--I haven't had baby yet but I am fully aware that I won't be slipping back into my size twos after baby unless I work for it! 

My thoughts exactly!

Fortunately, I have been staying on track {for the most part} during this pregnancy and am hoping that hard work helps my efforts.  But it is going to take more than that.  And since working out is out of the question for a few weeks at least {silly c-section} I know nutrition is going to be my biggest ally!

So I am hitting it hard with the easiest nutrition plan there is to follow.  This program has given countless clients amazing results in such a short amount of time.  There is no measuring, guess work, counting calories.  I have tons of clean food choices that I can prep beforehand or grab easily when juggling the responsibilities of a newborn.  

What little gem am I referring to? The 21 Day Fix of course! I will be utilizing my Shakeology and the nutrition guide to get myself back on track while not working out.  I know that I will still be eating for two (since I am breast-feeding) and want to make sure I am properly nourishing my body and my baby's by eating the best way I can: fresh, clean foods in the right portions! 

I would love to have some support and accountability! If you are interested in joining me, comment with your email below or find me on Facebook!! You can choose any program that is right for you! I am really excited to host my first post-pregnancy group and kick butt with you all! 

Let's get healthy{er} together!! :) 

What's for Dinner: Slow Cooker Jambalya

How is August almost half over?? These weeks just fly by don't they??

 This week we will be featuring the slow cooker once again for a meal my whole family ate up! 

Here's what you will need:

12 oz turkey sausage, sliced
1 (28 oz) can diced tomatoes with juice
1 onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
2 stalks celery, chopped
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
2 tsp dried oregano
2 tsp dried parsley
2 tsp Cajun seasoning
1 tsp cayenne pepper**
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1 cup dry brown rice

The original recipe also called for chicken but I didn't want a "meaty" dish so we used just the turkey sausage.  I am sure you could use other sausage if you like.  Or you could use shrimp or just chicken.  It really is your preference. 

Directions:
Place all the ingredients in your slow cooker except your rice. {You don't need that yet.} Give it a good stir and cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low 7-10.  

When you are almost ready to serve, cook up some brown rice according to the package directions. Spoon the jambalaya over the rice and serve it up hot! {For my boys, (3 and 1.5) I served their rice on the side.  I knew they probably wouldn't eat the tomatoes but everything else, seriously, GOBBLED UP!}

**I only used 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper since our whole family was eating this and I didn't want it to be too spicy for the littles. Well, my husband thought it was spicy {I did not}.  So you may want to tone down that measurement even more if you don't like a lot of heat. :) 

Original recipe here

The cost of getting healthy

One thing I have noticed since becoming a Beachbody coach is the common factor of money being an issue.  I cannot tell you the number of times I am having a conversation with someone about their lifestyle and their goals and they have such a deep desire to get healthy and fit and just live better and then, money. 

I get it.  One hundred percent. Life is expensive.  Even if you live on a budget and are financially savvy with your income most people just don't have tons of extra cash and those that do are pretty particular in where that money goes.  I also get it because I was making the same excuses and struggling with the same concern: "Is this really worth the money?"

I personally would like to break down the cost of getting healthy at home and how it actually SAVED my family money!

Working out at home vs. the gym
Before I began working out at home, I had a gym membership.  Our gym offered many classes as part of your membership.  Specialty classes (Les Mills, Insanity, P90x {which- sidenote, is totally hilarious because I never thought I'd be using those programs at home} were offered for an additional cost). My gym membership was $60/month.  For just myself.  I had my membership since before Hudson was born and did pretty well going 3-4 times a week UNTIL he was born.  Then the balancing act of work, new baby, house and just life in general put my gym time on the back burner.  I took a pretty long hiatus for like 6 months post baby and then resumed working out.  It was fewer times a week.  I felt like I had to spend at least an hour there to get in a good workout. And I had to choose times that worked for Andrew to be home or with Hudson's schedule.  And then I got pregnant again and well..yeah. I never went back.  

Fast forward to six weeks after Beau and I knew I HAD to do something.  I contacted a friend who had gotten amazing results (in just two months) working out in her garage.  SAY WHAAATT???? I was intrigued.  I purchased something called a challenge pack for the grand total of $160.  My husband was a little leery because, well, my track record the past couple of years with the gym sucked. And we had wasted a lot of money.  But I promised that I was committed, and with the support of my friend and her challenge group, committed I was!

Now--the cost.  I paid $60/month.  That is $720 for a year.  This one time purchase gave me a program that I could do for life! I still have it and have done this particular program twice over.  Had I purchased just the program (not the pack) the program was only $60! Seriously--a lifetime program cost me the same as 1 month at the gym.  And this program came with some equipment I needed, a nutrition guide and since it was a video--I felt like I had a the experience of a personal trainer sculpting my body.  I got more results in two months than I did in two years at the gym! SOLD!

One thing I love about working out at home is not only do I save on my monthly costs, but we save on gas.  I don't worry about when to workout because I can workout whenever I choose.  When it's crappy weather, my gym is always open.  And my littles can get in on the action! 

Eating Clean
This is another part of the conversation.  It is so true. You can not out train a bad diet.  One healthy meal doesn't make you fit just like one poor meal won't make you fat.

  I really try to convey the message of lifestyle versus diet. Who wants to be on a diet anyway? NOT ME! I really just want to eat to live, indulge now and again and not constantly be thinking about calories or if I should eat that or not. Anyone else get me???

Like I stated above, I purchased a challenge pack.  It was more than just the program because my pack included a month supply of Shakeology.  If you want to know more about shakeology you can check it out here. I used this product to replace a meal once a day. I know, I know what you are thinking--meal replacement? Seriously, I was SO skeptical too! But just check it out--or message me! #gamechanger

I will be the first to say I thought, "This is crazy expensive! I'll just use {insert any product} instead."  Then I did some research about what Shakeology was, what it offered and the results people got and no other product compared.  Nothing compares still.  

When I broke down the cost of Shakeology it was about $4/day.  Well I was replacing breakfast.  Since starting, my husband has also become a shakeology user.  So it is about $8/day for the two of us to eat a meal.  Where else can two people eat for $8? No where! 

We used to spend so much on "quick" breakfasts we could take with us in the car that had no nutritional value.  We don't have to buy those items anymore.  

We also changed our eating habits.   I will admit the first few months our grocery bill was outrageous and I couldn't seem to figure out why.  I wondered if it was because we were adding Shakeology.  I wondered if we were eating more.  But then I looked at our receipt.  It was because we were still buying JUNK too! I was buying the same stuff and then adding in our healthy stuff.  WHY?? If we were going to eat healthy, we didn't need the junk.  So I consciously stopped buying junk.  No more chips, boxed goods, snack-kind of stuff.  We were eating real foods for our meals and snacks.  I was cooking simpler with better oils and spices to flavor our food.  

Once we started this, along with meal planning consistently, our grocery bill went from $200/week down to $125 (this includes our shakeology).  We were SAVING money and eating better as a family! That savings alone was paying for our shakeology itself! 

Real Cost
So now that you have some facts, I think the real question is, can I afford not to get healthy? For most of us, that answer is no.  It may be more pressing for some than others, but in reality, how we take care of our bodies affects us.  The healthier we are the less we are going to be paying in co-pays, medications, procedures to fix or repair down the road what we have done to ourselves.  I wasn't terribly overweight but I found myself getting run-down and sick more often before I decided to change my lifestyle.  And buying new clothes because my old clothes weren't fitting anymore was getting to be a little bit ridiculous.  Let's not forget also the toll it takes on us when we start to feel a certain way about our body.  

So if money is your concern, don't let it be.  Save up for a bit. Choose to get healthy over that new handbag.  {Because seriously, I never thought twice about a new purse or pair of shoes.} Or talk to me, or your coach if you have one already, about a budget you are comfortable starting out with. I know we have effective programs that start for $20.  And if you really don't have the money, start with changing your food choices, drinking more water, and just lacing up your tennis and walking for some exercise.  

Just do something that your body will thank you for tomorrow! 

If you do have questions about programs or products and aren't working with another coach, I'd love to help you along your journey.  You do not have to go it alone.  It is always easier, and more FUN, with friends along the way! 

Feed Your Soul

So terribly sorry that I have been absent but July has just been crazy!

BUT--I wanted to post this quickly to give anyone a chance to join in if they are interested!

Starting Monday, I am hosting a FREE accountability group for clean eating! But there is a twist!! 

I am really excited to not only share some healthy clean eating and nutrition ideas but to delve into some encouragement for the spirit as well! 

It is 100% free (except the cost of groceries), is done via Facebook so no need to be local and starts Monday! Email me if you are interested! I would love to have you! 

What's for Dinner? Week 3

Happy Thursday everyone!!

Since I missed last week, I thought I'd share a couple of recipes with you guys! 

Side note: I had a healthy meal planned out and made..just in the midst of packing and heading home, it was not a night where taking photos of each step seemed practical. It'll be featured later though, I promise, because it was tasty! :) 

This week's menu at the Bruce household was full of really simple meals.  But simple doesn't mean bland and it certainly doesn't mean difficult. 

My first recipe for you is SUPER simple.  We eat a lot of grilled chicken in our house.  I love to find new ways to season or marinade our chicken without adding a lot of ingredients, heavy dressings, or salt.  So when I found this recipe Pinterest I knew I could figure out something similar.  This one didn't have exact measurements so I conjured up my own.

Zesty Chicken Marinade
~3-4 chicken breasts
~1.5 cups apple cider vinegar (I love Bragg's brand)
~2 tablespoons of Mrs. Dash Garlic and Herb seasoning blend
**I love Mrs. Dash seasonings because they are really yummy, have no MSG and can be used in lots of recipes. 

I let my chicken marinade in this mix for about 6-8 hours.  Then either bake or grill.  We baked ours since my hubby worked late.  Our house smelled amazing.  AND my whole family chowed! Like even my boys, who have been a bit picky lately, inhaled their servings.  I served ours with fresh green beans.  A super simple, healthy, and delicious meal. 

My next recipe for y'all screams summer.  It is super easy.  A friend on Facebook posted about meal prep and had this dish and I just knew I wanted to try it.  I tweaked it a little because I like a little extra flavor but I am sure she made an awesome dish! Thanks Haley for the inspiration!

Summer Veggie Chicken Salad
~3 chicken breasts, cooked and diced
~1 summer squash, diced
~1 zucchini, diced
~1/2 container of cherry tomatoes, halved
~1 tablespoon EVOO
~1.5 tablespoons of Newman's Lite Italian Dressing
~1-2 teaspoons of Mrs. Dash Extra Spicy seasoning (I used a pinch more than 1 teaspoon)

While your chicken cooks, dice up those colorful veggies.

Seriously..YUM!

Once your chicken is cooked, dice it up and add it to your veggies.  Then add your oil, dressing and seasoning.  Stir it up and serve! Seriously. That is it.  So stinking simple and yet SO DELICIOUS! I sprinkled a few pinches of Parmesan cheese on mine before eating and it was divine.

You could serve it with something or on it's own.  I toasted some sesame Ezekiel bread, topped it with a little butter.  Perfect, light summer meal. 

I hope you enjoy these dishes as much as my family did! 

What's For Dinner? : Week 2

Thursday is already here in this short work week! I have been looking forward to sharing this recipe with y'all since I made it.  So let's get right to it!

Cauliflower Pizza
Our family adores pizza and we have tried tons,several, HUNDREDS  quite a few cauliflower crust recipes.  They come out way to mushy, soupy, or more like a casserole than a crust.  The taste is the there but what is missing is the feeling of eating a piece of pizza.  Something I can hold in my hand or cut through with our slicer and here that crisp crunch of the crust. You feel me, pizza lovers??

So I found a recipe I hadn't tried here at Lucky Penny and decided to give it a go. 

Here is what you'll need:
~1 medium head of cauliflower
~1/4 tsp Kosher salt
~1/2 tsp dried basil
~1/2 tsp dried oregano
~1/2 tsp garlic powder
~1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (I like spice, you could cut this out or use less)
~1/4 cup parmesan cheese
~1/4 cup mozzarella cheese
~1 egg
~your choice of sauce and toppings

***Here is how this recipe was different.  It had me heat my pizza stone before putting the crust on it.  It had me cook the crust on oiled parchment paper on the stone.*** 

First you need to cut your cauliflower into florets and then get them nice and tiny in a food processor.  Or blender.  Whatever you have handy so you don't have to chop it all finely by hand. {Oh yeah, you should be preheating that oven at temp of 450. And don't forget to pop that empty pizza stone (or cookie sheet) in there too!}

You microwave that beautiful mess for 4 minutes. Then let it cool!! Don't rush a good thing people. You will also burn your pretty little paws on the next step if you do rush it!

When your heap of cauliflower is cool, dump it onto a tea towel or thin dish towel.  Then wring out all the excess water.  Cauliflower is one of the veggies that holds a lot of moisture naturally and you well, you just steamed it.  This step has always played a big roll in my pizza crust success. I squeezed and squeezed and got quite a lot of water out. 

Then dump your crust back into a bowl, and add all the ingredients listed above (except the sauce and toppings!)  Mix well with yo' hands!

Then form your crust on that oil piece of parchment I mentioned earlier.  You are going to place that crust on your hot stone.  Cook for 8-11 minutes then remove from the oven for your next step. 

Before cooking

After. Do y'all see how nice that is cooking up? This mama was feeling pretty hopeful about this crust!

Next add your toppings.  For sauce, if you are keeping it clean, mix no sugar/no salt added tomato sauce with some oregano, basil, and smidge of garlic salt to create your own clean sauce.  Spread that on.  Then add whatever you like.  My boys requested "peppy-oni" pizza so I used some turkey pepperoni.  Eh, not the cleanest but, it's better than frozen or delivery. *ahem*

Then pop your pizza back into the oven for an additional 5-7 minutes until the cheese is nice and melty.  

Y'all, I took it out and looked at those crispy edges and was just delighted.  I couldn't wait.  But let me honest, mmmmk.  It wasn't as firm as I'd have liked it to be.  And it stuck to the parchment.  So here is my little tip.  If you have a pizza stone, lightly grease it, and cook it straight on the stone.  I think that would have made all the difference.  The flavor of this pizza was phenomenal it was definitely sturdier than other recipes I've tried, but still could use improvement.  

So get to adding this to your list of must-tries and let me know how it turns out! :)