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!
Even though it isn't even Halloween, those mini candy bars are everywhere! And admit it, you have had one or two or six haha! I know, I know - me too! And now the skinny jeans are super tight and the sweaters are a little snug... Oh and all the yummy comfort food! Ready for a fresh start? And you probably don't want to eat salads all winter long, right? I gotcha! If you are like me, you want those warm filling comfort foods but not at the cost of my waist line!
I have cleaned up, modified, tasted and perfected some of my favorite fall dishes - and I want to share them with you! Along with these recipes you will get clean eating, budget and meal planning tips and tricks!
Sound good? Perfect, I am hosting a 5 day Clean Eating after Halloween Group with a focus on your favorite fall dishes! Soups, desserts, game day appetizers, and crockpot meals! Budget and family friendly meals and tips! This group is a closed group on Facebook and I would love to have you be a part of it!
Want in?
Create a free (yes, I promise it is completely free) beachbody account under me! HERE!!!
Finally, send me a friend request on Facebook (we have to be friends for me to add you in!) and a picture or screen shot of proof that you voted in a PM and you are in!
This is the story, I told myself that I would never tell. Until I realized, it wasn’t just my story - this is the story of millions of women and moms; and this is just my version.
My daughter Kate was born in late January of 2014. She was my miracle baby, the baby we hoped for for over a year. So when I had her, I expected to feel this deep connection, because I had longed for her all that time. But I didn’t have it. My friends would come and visit and say “I told you that you could love another baby like your first” and I would fake smile and nod, immediately sensing that something was wrong. Kate’s birth turned our world upside down. My 3.5 year old, Aubrey regressed - potty accidents, up all night, anger issues at school and behavior issues at home. Kate was difficult to nurse, resulting me having to take several rounds of antibiotics which she did not tolerate well. She stopped gaining weight, and ultimately I had to make the decision to stop nursing her. I felt like a failure. I would look in the mirror and say “what did I do?” and “I can’t do this.” Postpartum depression is a lonely, guilty place to be, I felt like I should be happy and I wanted to be - but I wasn’t.
I was never one to ask for help, so I just continued to go through the motions. But I started to feel myself spiraling out of control - isolating, having anxiety attacks, not sleeping… I felt like my skin was crawling. After many weeks of sleepless nights due to anxiety, I went into my medicine basket, looking for benadryl to help me sleep when I stumbled upon the prescription narcotic pain reliever I was given after birth but never took. Being a nurse, I knew they would help me sleep. So I popped a few, and slept amazingly. The next day, I felt a little better - so I popped a few more at night. And I did this night after night…. I was talking to my friend, and I told her about my situation and that i was so relieved to be finally sleeping thanks to my little secret. My friend, Deb said “you know this isn’t normal. promise me you will get help.” Her words really spoke to me, and I decided I needed to see my PCP.
I went to my doctor and we discussed the anxiety, depression and he never brought up my weight. But I could see on my chart that my BMI was 33. I was disguisted. I told him I felt like I needed to lose weight and that it would really help. He turned to me and said, “well good luck - you are not a spring chicken anymore and you have hypothroidism.” I was devistated - not even my dr believed in me! I left there feeling helpless and alone. I was the girl who seemed unbreakable but I was broken. Everyone thought I was super mom with this perfect life, but every ounce of me was hurting.
The moment that changed everything… Aubrey was at preschool and I needed a dress for an upcoming event. In the dressing room, there was an angled full length mirror and while I was undressing I caught a glimpse of myself. All I could think is, “this can’t be” - I broke down and with tears streaming down my face, I studied my body… the stretch marks, the dark circles, the cellulite, double chin… and I said “you are disgusting, ugly and fat. I hate you” and I continued to sob. I ended up waking Kate up, who was in her car seat. In the refelction of the mirror I could see her playing with her car seat toys and cooing. My flood of emotion quickly changed to anxiety - I realized I was killing myself in front of them. They were watching me self hate, self destruct and destroy myself every day. How could I teach them to be confident, vibrant, independent, happy girls when I couldn’t be? Finally, my Ah-Ha moment - I needed a hero, and I was going to be that hero.
I collected myself, the whole way home I thought about how I would do this. Couldn’t go to a gym, too much time, no babysitter. Couldn’t run, lets face it Pittsburgh weather combined with two young kids - it would never last.
My husband, got me in contact with my coach, Deidra. With knowing very little about the program, I went with T25 - because I could do anything for 25 minutes! But honestly when I got the price of the challenge pack - I quickly backed out… but i thought about it constantly, until one day I thought “screw it, im not going to let 200$ get in the way of changing my life.” So I stole my husbands credit card and joined my first challenge.
And so it began, I cried every workout because I knew how hard it was going to be. But I did it with the mindset that each day I would eat cleaner, modify less and push harder. I embraced my challenge group and shakeology. And as I invested in my wellness the weight, anxiety, and depression all started melting away. And as I shared my journey, I accidently fell into coaching. When I realized how many women probably felt like me, I continued my journey but now with a new motivation of helping others along the way and being accountable to them.
It wasn’t always easy, but it was a way of life. As I looked in the mirror, I no longer felt ugly and disguisted - I started to feel proud and honored. After losing 30 pounds in 60 days with T25, I went on to do the 21 Day Fix, insanity max 30, a little more T25 and the 21 Day Fix extreme with a sprinkle of turbo fire, piyo and pump.
Today, I am 8 pounds lighter than the day I got married and went from having a BMI of 33 to a BMI of 21! Which is pretty cool. But what is the best part of this whole journey is that my girls got their mom back and the role model they deserve. I went from taking 13 pills a day to just one. And my thyroid medication has not needed adjusted since I started this journey. I have been anti-anxiety and depression med free for 10 months. So yes, I lost 75 pounds and that is great but regaining my life is priceless and unbelievable. Without a doubt this journey changed the future of these girls and because of that, I am forever thankful.
So now I feel this is my mission to turn my mess into my message - all of the pain has brought me to this pivotal moment and a new passion to share my story - to inspire women that there is no situation that is too hopeless... my dream is to have a larger platform to inspire change and with the Beachbody Challenge, I have it! But I need your help to get me to LA to tell my story, I need your votes! From Monday October 26th to Monday November 2nd at 11:59 PT you can vote once in 24 hours! All you need to do is create a free account (HERE!) and then vote (HERE! for Erin T.) - please email me and let me know that you voted so I can personally thank you and offer you a spot in my 5 Day Free Clean Eating group to thank you for your support!
Ahhhh - Spring is in the air, well snowflakes were in the air the other day - but Spring is coming, trust me! Spring is all about packing up the winter boots and wardrobes, out with the old and in with the new, open windows, flip flops, cleaning and de-cluttering! Now what if you committed to cleaning out your pantry???
Have you pulled out last years Spring/Summer wardrobe? My winter challengers are enjoying buying
a whole new wardrobe thanks to Shakeology, clean eating, great workout programs and fun challenge groups!
I love working very closely with my challengers, help them one on one with meal planning, grocery lists, recipes and whatever else they need - so because of this I am only accepting 10 new challengers for this group - Summer bodies are made now, will you be ready???
As I approach my one year anniversary of my weight loss journey, I am very excited to take my photos, talk about how my life has changed and show off a bit! I figured this is the perfect time to take on the 3 Day Refresh!!! Drop a few more pounds and inches before my big photo shoot! Who wouldn't want to drop a few pounds before a big event, or to kickstart weight loss or to kick some bad habits - whatever the case may be this is a great place to start - let tackle this challenge together! But first - what exactly is it???
What is the 3-Day Refresh?
The 3-Day Refresh is 3-day program of specially formulated shakes, healthy snacks, and delicious, easy-to-prepare meals that have been scientifically designed to help you lose weight and break the cycle of bad eating while dramatically improving the way you feel.
How is it different than other cleanses?
Unlike juice fasts or liquid cleanses that are high in sugar and low in protein (which can leave you feeling weak and sluggish), the 3-Day Refresh is scientifically designed to help support your metabolism while nourishing your vital organs. Plus, you actually get to eat delicious, real food during this program.
Why would I want to Refresh?
You need a clean break from a period of unhealthy eating.
You used to eat pretty well but have recently fallen off the wagon and need some help getting back on.
You want to jump-start healthy eating habits for a new workout program.
You want to quickly lose a few pounds for an upcoming event.
You’ve never been a healthy eater, but are ready to kick-start better nutrition for the first time.
You want your clothes to fit better.
You want more energy.
You love food and want to be satisfied while you lose weight and get healthier.
You’ve tried liquid fasts or other fad diets and they simply don’t work.
What’s included?
3 packets of Shakeology®—your choice of 6 flavors (we recommend Chocolate Vegan or Tropical Strawberry Vegan during the Refresh as plant proteins are often easier for the body to digest)
6 packets of Vanilla Fresh (high-protein shake)
3 packets of Fiber Sweep (digestive drink)
1 Program Guide
What can I eat and drink during the Refresh?
FILTERED WATER: In addition to the water you use in your shakes and teas, we recommend you drink at least half your body weight in ounces of filtered water each day.
BREAKFAST: A superfood-packed Shakeology shake, plus one fruit option
MORNING TEA: 1 cup of unsweetened herbal or green tea
LATE MORNING: Fiber Sweep, a digestive health drink
LUNCH: Vanilla Fresh shake, plus 1 option from the Fruit List, 1 option from the Vegetable List, and 1 option from the Healthy Fats list
AFTERNOON SNACK: 1 option from Vegetable List, and 1 option from the Healthy Fats list
AFTERNOON TEA: 1 cup of unsweetened herbal tea (caffeine-free)
DINNER: Vanilla Fresh shake, 1 option from the Dinner Recipes, and 1 cup of organic vegetable broth (optional)
EVENING TEA: 1 cup of unsweetened herbal tea (caffeine-free)
What to expect when Refreshing?
The 3-Day Refresh is a low-calorie program (about 900 calories a day) but because the shakes and food selections are high in protein and fiber they help keep you satiated throughout the day.
Because this program is packed with fiber, if you don’t already have a diet that’s high in fruits, veggies, and whole grains, it’s a good idea to prepare for the 3-Day Refresh by eating a large salad and/or a few servings of fresh veggies throughout the week leading up to it.
If you get a little gas or bloating, this is a sign that you need to up your fiber levels in general. Fiber promotes satiety, balances blood sugar, promotes cardiovascular health, and keeps your digestive tract functioning.
If gas is an issue, we’ve highlighted the “low gas-producing” options in the veggie list and dinner recipes in the menu guide.
We recommend mild to moderate exercise during the 3-Day Refresh because this program will be more effective when your body can focus on cleansing.
Join me for the 3 Day Refresh and Clean Eating Challenge!
I am so excited to be telling you about the launch of Beachbody On Demand, coming this Spring! Ever want to try a new workout program, or have commitment issues to one program, or maybe you are traveling a lot and still want to get a good workout in? Whatever the case may be, this is your solution!
Beachbody On Demand is a new feature of the Team Beachbody Club that provides unlimited access to stream Beachbody's proven fitness programs. Club members will be able to work out anytime, anywhere. It is include many of the most popular fitness programs in the digital library, making Beachbody programs easy to access anywhere an internet connection is available! (Meaning I could totally do an AB workout on my lunch break, or an impromptu workout with friends without bringing my DVDs!)
What workouts will be On-Demand with unlimited access staring in March?
P90X® & P90X Deluxe
P90X2® & P90X2 Deluxe
P90X3® & P90X3 Deluxe
P90X ONE on ONE® Volume 1
10 Minute Trainer®
INSANITY® & INSANITY Deluxe
INSANITY: THE ASYLUM® Volume 1
TurboFire®
Brazil Butt Lift® & Brazil Butt Lift Deluxe
ChaLEAN Extreme®
Hip Hop Abs®
You will also get Insider Access to Beachbody's Newest Programs! Insider access provides individual sample wokrouts of some of Beachbody's newest and bestselling programs to give Club membersa taste of the program before they decide to buy! So not sure if you are ready for 21 Day Fix or the 21 Day Fix Extreme? Well, now you get to give one workout from each program a try to see which would be best for you!
Here are the programs you will have exclusive access to starting in March 2015:
21 Day Fix – Total Body Cardio Fix
21 Day Fix EXTREME – PiYo Fix Extreme
PiYo® – Sweat
FOCUS T25 – Alpha Cardio
INSANITY MAX:30™ – Sweat Intervals
P90® – Sculpt A
Body Beast® – Build: Chest/Tris
What about the nutrition guide for each workout? Will it be included?
Yes, the nutrition guide for each workout will be available for download with the club membership. These will be accessible on the Beachbody On Demand page
Will I be able to download the workout?
No, you will need to have access to the Internet because a download option will not be available. All of the workouts listed above will be able to be streamed.
How will it Work?
When you log in to TeamBeachbody.com as a paid member of the Team Beachbody Club, you simply select the 'Beachbody On Demand' tab from the home page, then choose any fitness program in the Member Library, and press play!
Convenience: Enjoy 24/7 streaming access from your laptop, tablet, or mobile device. No DVDs required. All you need is an Internet connection.
Variety: Try different programs that are all proven to deliver incredible results. You can also try out different trainers, workout lengths, or fitness levels before committing to a program.
Simplicity: All the program guides, workout calendars and nutrition plans will be online—all in one place.
Another HUGE Perk coming later this month:
Later in March, programs that you have purchased will be available to you On-Demand!!! DVD programs that are not in the Member Library, you will exclusively stream those programs as well. Just look for "Purchased Programs" in Beachbody On Demand.
The first set of programs that will be available for streaming later in March as part of the Purchased Program section are FOCUS T25®, 21 Day Fix® and 21 Day Fix EXTREME®. Over time, the selection will expand!!!
Will there be an app?
No, not at this time. You will be able to access the streaming feature across your laptop, smartphones, and TV though!
Ahh, I am so excited it is almost Spring Time! It makes me so ready for a change! Going outside, spring cleaning, new wardrobe, and some green grass - So with all this change going on, I wanted to switch up what I do with my challenge groups! So what is a challenge group? Well it is a super awesome "place" (aka a secret group on Facebook) that you can access anytime and get unlimited support, motivation, accountability, tips, recipes, meal plans, and on and on... Usually I post something motivational in the morning, post my food, my tips, etc... I ask my "challengers" to post daily in the group so I know how they are doing and how I can help them - easy enough, right? wwweeelllll, I need to switch things up a bit! So I am so excited to announce my next 30 day challenge group - "Luck of the Irish Challenge" tah - dah! I am looking for 10 people that are ready to make a 30 day commitment to me and to themselves to live a healthier and fitter lifestyle - I promise you, this group won't be like anything I've done in the past... I am going to be posting "bonus video challenges" where we might have a chugging water contest or a bonus little workout... Oh, and the best part - besides the results? Weekly Prizes!!! Each week, every challenger will start with zero points, as they earn points they get their name placed in to a Shakeology Shaker cup (of course lol) and one name a week will be pulled for a cool prize.. Each week the points start over! Fun challenge to help you get into a new wardrobe or maybe just even fit into the one you already have!
So again, 10 spots, weekly prizes (maybe even a few bonus prizes, never know!), 30 days and all the information, support, motivation and accountability to get you ready for warmer weather! Who's ready to tackle this challenge with me?
I've been craving Chinese - and this was just what I needed!!! Loved it!
What you need:
1/3 c low sodium soy
2 TBSP raw honey
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1 1/4 lb bonesless, skinless chicken breasts (about 3 breasts, cubed into 1 inch cubes)
1 medium red bell pepper, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 medium onion, cut into 1 inch cubes
1/2 fresh pineapple, cut into 1 inch cubes (about 1 1/2 cups)
12 sprigs of fresh cilantro, chopped about 1/4 cup
Rice (brown for clean eating, I used basmati rice (which is a long grain rice)
What you need to do:
In a small bowl, which together soy sauce, honey, garlic, and pepper flakes. Place chicken in a large shallow dish. Pour soy sauce mixture over chicken, toss gently. Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours.
Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken and marinade and sauté for 5 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Add bell peppers and onion and cook for 5 minutes or until veggies are slightly tender. Add pineapple and cook for 2 more minutes. Sprinkle with cilantro and serve immediately over rice.
So what does a Beachbody Challenge Winner look like? Well there I am, nothing exciting.. So many people stop and tell me how amazing I am but honestly there is nothing extraordinary about me... I am stubborn and I had an amazing coach and the best of the best products and programs at my fingertips...
The face you see, is the face of a mom... A mom who was terrified that her low self esteem would effect how her daughters would see themselves. A mom who thought "how can I teach them to love themselves, when I don't even know how to love me?" A mom who pushed play with a needy 3 year old at her side and an 8 week old in the swing in front of her... who stopped and restarted her workouts time and time again to tend to her daughters
The face you see is the face of a wife... A wife who would not dare to undress in front of her husband... A wife who lied to her husband and charged the challenge pack on a credit card... A wife who's confidence issues was harming her marriage...
The face you see is the face of a nurse... A nurse who is up all day with her daughters then all night at work then all day again with her daughters.. A nurse who tended to her patients with sore muscles...
The face you see is the face of a coach... A coach who leads her team and challengers by example... A coach who is a fighter, determined and is pushing play and resisting temptation right along side them...
The face you see is the face of a woman... A woman who learned that she could no longer serve others from an empty vessel... A woman who learned to love herself, who found herself through fitness and a woman is NOT about to give up...
There is nothing extraordinary about my journey, it is simply about turning a dream into a plan and into reality... I am just a mom, a wife, a nurse, a coach, a woman... And the face you see, well it could be yours... ARE YOU READY?
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..."
