Ultimate Health Challenge - My Journey to the Final 4

I got the call that I dreamt about 2 years ago... The call that put me one step closer to my big scary goal - the call came when I was making dinner on Thursday evening... A call from Beachbody, "Hi this is Author from the Beachbody Challenge and I have some exciting news for you..."

The rest is kinda a blur... Out of hundreds of thousands of submissions, my transformation - more importantly my story - was chosen to be one of four, yes FOUR as a finalist in the Ultimate Health Challenge.

The Ultimate Health Challenge isn't about the weight lost, it is about the HEALTH, the LIFE restored. They recognized my transformation physically but also saw the bigger picture. This is why I love Beachbody, it isn't about a before and after picture for them - it is about the lives changed.... I went from a mom dealing with anxiety, postpartum depression, and uncontrolled hypothyroidism taking 13 pills a day to a mom that is full of life and happiness and down to 1 pill a day. A mom that was desperate to find happiness and confidence so she could be an example to her young daughters. A mom that found herself under the weight of obesity and depression.

In the heart of my transformation, it quickly became my passion to share my story, my struggle and my mission. And I vividly remember saying to my coach, I want to win the Ultimate Health Challenge - I want to be on stage, I want to use this platform to inspire change ((which was a huge statement for this introvert to say)).



I stayed silent about my goal, but not about my mission. My mission to show moms that self love is not selfish, that healthy habits start at home, that it doesn't have to cost a fortune, and that we have the power to instill lifelong confidence ((but we ourselves have to have it and own it)). My mission to help raise awareness and support for new moms and the real threats of postpartum depression and anxiety.

I want to thank you all for your support, and for your continued support. If you would like to vote and help me reach my goal, voting will open up Monday at 12PT and you can vote once every 24 hours. Screen shot proof that you voted for me and email it to me (or send me a facebook message) to be entered in for daily prizes! Thank you again!

To create an account to vote with, please use this link for a free account!

Splash into Summer - 21 Day Fix Challenge

Let's make a splash this summer - a splash into health, a splash into confidence, a splash into fitness... And yes, I realize summer is right around the corner - which is why I have the perfect idea for you!

How about 21 days to lose up to 15 pounds? Ready to get into that summer wardrobe? Let's do this, together! Whether you are ready to recommit to the 21 Day Fix, interested in taking it up a notch with the 21 Day Fix Extreme, or are just getting started - this group will be perfect for you!

Yes, working out is important but in this group we are really going to focus on helping you dial in your nutrition and create healthy lifelong habits - not a quick fix.

The 21 Day Fix or Fix Extreme are complete systems - workouts, nutrition and support. The workouts
are 30 minutes and range from yoga to weights to cardio. And work every inch of your body - including a bonus 10 minute ab workout! Each system also includes the infamous color coded containers and nutrition guide - which takes the guess work out  of the equation. 

This month, I will also be including a bonus workout and 30 day access to Beachbody on Demand! Myself and so many others have found success in this program. Honestly, it changed the way I looked at food.

My 28 Day Group (I say 28 days because for 7 days I will be teaching you how to use the 21 day fix system) will kick off June 20th. I am accepting 10 new applicants into this group - I am looking for motivated women who are ready to drop excuses and find results. Apply below for 28 days of knowledge, support, recipes, meal planning, fitness and results!

Fill out my online form.

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Little Tick- Big Problem... Living with Lyme

Just another Wednesday evening, I was dancing like a fool in my bathroom while drying my hair - getting ready for another long 12 hour night shift. When something in the mirror cause my eye. It looked like a hanging scab on the lower part of my shoulder blade. Without even thinking, I pulled what I thought to be a scab off, only to realize it was a tick... my heart sunk...

Thinking back I did have a few symptoms, but like most moms (and nurses) I brushed it off - joint pain (well my mattress is 9 years old), fatigue (well I have 2 small kids and work night shift), chills (I must be coming down with a cold) - but in the moment I pulled the tick out, I just kinda knew - it all came together....

I went to my doctor where they promptly removed the remainder of the tick, and noticed by then I was febrile and had swollen lymph nodes. The tick was sent for testing, as was I and antibiotic therapy was initiated - if you know me, I am anti-antibiotics, but with Lyme and the risks associated with long-term or post-treatment Lyme, I was not about to refuse.

The tick, not to my surprise came back positive for Lyme, which prolonged my antibiotic therapy. Between the symptoms associated with Lyme's Disease and the side effect of the antibiotics, I felt miserable - nausea, vomiting, fever, chills, sensitivity to the sun, joint pain and stiffness, fatigue but the scariest of all was the numbness in my finger tips. I did my best to deal with it - I kept hydrated, drank my Shakeology so I knew I was fueling my body correctly at least once a day, and exchanged my high impact, high intensity workouts for yoga. And I started to fall in love with it! Especially yoga in the sun - the vitamin D and warmth from the sun really helped relax my stiff joints.

My little yoga lover!

I have completed my medications and I am ready to start getting back to my 'old' lifestyle. I can feel that I have lost strength and stamina. I know there will be modifications, and cursing lol, but hey - I love being the underdog and beating the odds is kinda my thing... 

Fit Mom Review - S'well Water Bottles

With summer approaching, I kept thinking about how I would keep water cold without spending a million dollars on water bottles at the park. Plus who wants all that waste?

But seriously, every water bottle I ever purchased has been an disappointment in one way or another - leaked, sweat, didn't keep my water cold, made my water taste funny, and on and on.

I recently heard of S'well water bottles, and I wondered if they were really worth their price tag. As far as water bottles go, they are pricey. They claim to keep cold beverages cold for 24 hours, don't sweat or leak. Pretty much sounded perfect to me!

So I had to test it out - I purchased the 1 Liter size, in hopes that it would work well for a day at the park with the girls.

I filled my new water bottle up with cold water and tossed it in my hot car, in the sun for 10 hours. I came back to it - water was still cold, still had ice. No sweat on the outside and water still tasted great.

Then I dropped it down the steps - no leaks.

In my opinion this bottle was worth the price tag - I actually ordered them for the girls. Oh, and I forgot to tell you - there are tons of patterns, colors and even textures! This bottle has this fit mom's seal of approval!