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!
November is all about being thankful. There are so many things to be thankful for, and at the top of my list is my health and wellness - because face it, without health nothing else really matters! I am going to take 30 days to treat my body the way it deserves while focusing on positive thinking and mindset changes... I am going to be rewarding my body with wholesome food and 30 minutes of working out.. And I am inviting you to join me...
I feel like with the holidays, school and a new job - I am all over the place with my fitness journey.... But I have a big scary goal for late February and I need to commit 110%! So time to get back at it, no waiting for the New Year for this momma!
I am currently doing T25 with the 21 Day Fix meal plan and as I am tracking my food - I am realizing one too many cheats and one too many missed workouts.. I love new challenge groups because they give me a fresh start to motivate and inspire which helps me stay more accountable too!
So what is this group all about???
Everyone including myself is committed to a workout program (not sure where to start? no worries, we will figure it out together!)
You have the option to take part in the Shakeology Cleanse, free of charge the weekend after Thanksgiving!
You don't have to skip turkey dinner, I will teach you how to modify, portion control and survive the holidays... including tips for Christmas!
Everyone is committed to checking in the group daily!
I am going to teach you how to meal plan and prep weekly - as well as include budget tips!
Daily motivation, accountability, 1:1 coach support
Recipes for your entire family!
Positive mindset activities
This is the time to keep your sanity, remain positive and enjoy the holiday season! Are you ready to kick things up a notch?!
Lets do this!
November 16th is our preseason start date - during this week I will give you daily tips and tricks to being successful during the Challenge!
Ready?
To be considered for the challenge, please fill out the application below!
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!
Starting this journey, I had a lot of doubts - I had tried to drop these pounds a million times on my own... I've done Weight Watchers, fad diets, joined a gym and odd ball nasty cleanses - part of me wondered if this would be any different... I had a big goal, and I was trying to beat the odds against me - a busy mom, small budget, not a lot of time and a thyroid condition that is notorious for causing unwanted weight gain...
One day, in a dressing room 14 months ago I had a break down - literally broke down, in public - As I collected myself, I looked down at my girls (who at this point looked scared) and I thought, "How will I ever teach them to love themselves and their bodies, if I can't even love my own?" In that moment, I distinctly remember looking at myself in the mirror - face to face - and promising that today was the day... A little (probably way to honest) backstory, when I found out I was pregnant with Aubrey, I wanted so badly for her to be a boy - I could never imagine myself as a mom of girls... I had always struggled with poor body image, poor self confidence and self esteem and I never wanted to "pass that down" to my daughter - finding out she was a girl was challenging because I didn't think I would be good enough for her - But through this experience, I realized these girls came into my life to save it... Every time I wanted to give up, give in, skip a day - I looked at them and kept pushing harder. They make me want to be a better person, they are that driving force, the heart beat...
While I wouldn't say this was always easy, there was not a moment I regret - with results like this in 30 minutes a day, who could regret anything? I started in a challenge group which is closed group on Facebook, where my coach helped myself and others like me on our journey - I learned about clean eating, fitness tips, how much water I should drink, how to order off a menu, basically how to make this a lifestyle change and not just a quick fix... I was negative at first, my stomach hit off my thighs as I workout out, my body craved sugar and carbs, I was out of breath - but I promised myself I would do this, 60 days fully committed... as time went on the workouts are easier, my energy levels improved, the cravings disappeared and I was getting real results.... A lot of times people ask me what I owe my success to - and there are a lot of things - dedication, support of the challenge groups, coaching, my girls... but I would have to say it is Shakeology - Shakeology gave me the energy, cut my cravings, it was a healthy meal that I didn't have to think about, it helped with mood stability and depression, and for once in 10 years my thyroid levels were more stable than ever... In the middle of the day when Aubrey wanted lunch and Kate needed this and life was crazy, I could have a quick on the go lunch for myself in less than 2 minutes! I went from napping on the couch when Kate napped to having enough energy to play with Aubrey, workout, clean, and just started feeling like myself!
As the weight started to come off and I could see a glimpse of the "old me", I started getting myself back - for years I put everyone before myself... I hated how I looked so I stopped getting my hair done, I stopped buying nice clothes for myself - and once I started losing weight and feeling more confident, I started putting myself on my priority list... It is so crazy that how I started this process thinking spending 30 minutes on myself was selfish, but it ended up being the best thing I could have done for my family, because they got ME back!
And although I know my body isn't perfect, that isn't what these pictures were about - today was a celebration, celebrating the perfectly imperfect, turning my mess into my message and beating the odds...
And how did I get here?! Simply the power of challenge groups, sense super foods, 30 minute in home workouts and a specialized meal plan...
Did I think I would be here 14 months ago? No! I never imagined how my life and body would change, and I can't envision a more satisfying journey...
As I continue my journey, my goal is to pay this forward - to join one of my upcoming challenge groups where you will get all the tips and tools to be successful please apply below! Hope to see you there!
Today was without a doubt the day I dreamt about 14 months ago - actually probably longer, I just never really thought it would be possible for me...
As I promised at the beginning of the year, I took my bikini after photos along with a "fit mom" session since the heart beat behind my transformation are my lovely ladies... it was such a fun and rewarding experience after 14 months of dedication to the process...
Little trouble maker ;)
When we came home I did my measurements and tallied my inches lost- as I calculated them I started becoming overwhelmed with emotion as I realized my total losses are 74.6 lbs and 64 inches!!! Are you kidding me?! 64 inches is a 5 foot 4 inch person!
And although I know my body isn't perfect, that isn't what today was about - today was a celebration, celebrating the perfectly imperfect, turning my mess into my message and beating the odds...
And how did I get here?! Simply the power of challenge groups, sense super foods, 30 minute in home workouts and a specialized meal plan...
Did I think I would be here 14 months ago? No! I never imagined how my life and body would change, and I can't envision a more satisfying journey...
As I continue my journey, my goal is to pay this forward - to join one of my upcoming challenge groups where you will get all the tips and tools to be successful please apply below! Hope to see you there!
I already love this group - thanks to one of my rock star coaches for the great name idea! Welcome to 30 days of dropping serious weight and inches before summer! Losing weight is not easy, but with all the tools and support that comes with my challenge groups, you will be successful! I will give you my meal plans, tips and tools on how I lost 70 pounds and peer support... Oh and I almost forgot - one of the newest aspects we are trying out in our groups is challenges within the group and since it is swim suit season these short challenges are going to be focusing on the abs and booty! Are you ready to drop the cover up, drop the weight, drop the excuses, and drop it like its hot with us?!
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!
If my wonderful coworker, Shannon B. does not inspire you - I don't know who will! Shannon is a wife, mother of two beautiful kiddos, a nurse, and has the most amazing faith.
Shannon came to me after having brain surgery, which left her with balance issues, dizziness and deafness in her right ear. She saw my T25 transformation, and wanted to get started... I am not going to lie was a little nervous for her and I tried to talk her into another program - but she was ready to do this and she dove right in!
Shannon was diagnosed with a Endolymphatic Sac tumor in January of this year. The surgery was March 31st and balance nerve was severed on the right side, leaving her left side balance nerve to compensate - she basically had to relearn how to balance herself! Post operatively she had headaches and dizziness, and pretty much bound to the couch. She was blessed with friends and family, who brought her family food - but the combination of eating and unable to move much left her gaining weight and she weighed as much as she did 9 months pregnant.
When Shannon was cleared to exercise she got started in one of my challenge groups, I was very nervous that she would lose her balance with the quick movements of T25, but she assured me she would take it slow! Shannon followed Tania, T25's lovely modifier for some of the side to side moves. So even with modification she was able to lose weight steadily!
With Shakeology, Shannon says she felt more energetic, satisfied and the chocolate was like a sweet treat for her that she never misses!
Shannon has inspired me and so many others, most importantly her mom to embrace a healthier lifestyle.. I could not be more proud of Shannon in all she has accomplished so far! I want to leave you with this beautiful quote from Shannon - "We have this one body and after surgery, I have a renewed appreciation for it and a thankfulness to God that it was His plan for me to come through the surgery well. Not all are blessed with that outcome. Want to live well with my husband and model to my kids a healthy life!"
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?
AHHHH!! I am so excited to announce Jen's transformation! Jen and I went to high school together and recently reconnected on Facebook.... Jen watched my transformation with T25 and said "I want in!" She became one of my first challengers! Jen came to my house, I helped her with her before photos, measurements and we talked about clean eating... She said "I want to lose 30 pounds in 60 days like you did", I said "I am here for you, lets do it"
And the challenge started!!! What is soo amazing about Jen is she is a mom, wife and was starting a new job the same week the challenge started!!! Jen has 2 boys that are less than a year apart and keep her sooo busy - they are 18 months and 8 months!!!
Jen and I talked on Facebook and via text almost daily about clean eating, challenges we faced, water intake, our kids and marriages... It has been amazing reconnecting with her! And now I am so proud to have her as a coach on my team!!!!
Jen's transformation is just beginning, now she has joined me in a 21 Day Fix Challenge Group and I know she is going to nail it! When Jen told me she was going to drop 30 pounds with T25, I was honestly skeptical, I knew how hard I had to work (in and out of the kitchen) to drop the weight... but she did even better and lost a whole pound more than I did!!! Way to go Jen!
Im not sure if I thought these last 90 days went quickly or not... haha... When I think back to the day I
took my before photos, and I look at the girl in those photos, it seems like forever ago... So much has changed... I've lost almost 40 pounds, over 40 inches, Aubrey turned 4, Kate is sleeping through the night, laughing, cooing, jumping in her bouncer, rolling over, and I've been becoming more and more successful in coaching.. That is a lot of changes in 90 days...
As much as my body has changed over this time, I think I personally have grown more... I have learned so much about myself, I have become so much stronger mentally.. I feel like I am starting to get a "I am woman, hear my roar" kinda attitude which is fun... As much as I never wanted my weight to hold me back, it still did... I thought people would just look at me and say "wow, she gained a lot of weight" but I couldn't blame them for that because I did gain a lot of weight.
Looking back on these last 90 days, I see how much as changed inside and out and it makes me really excited for the next 90 days... The possibilities seem endless... My goals for the next 90 days physically are to expand my coaching and team, reach my goal weight, be able to do a real push up (I am soo close) and to start building a wardrobe! I feel like I haven't had one in years! I feel so proud of all I have accomplished these last 90 days, I thought the personal transformation would never have one and I thought the physical one would take 2 years (seriously, I calculated how much weight I wanted to shred and divided into average weight loss in a week and it was going to look like 18 months - 2 years). I don't think I would have been able to do this without the support of my coach, challenge groups and my team... We push each other to be better in every way and I am so thankful for them!
I am grateful for the leap of faith I took, it was something I never would've done but I was desperate for help and it ended up to be one of the best decisions of my life... I am grateful for the fabulous programs that helped me surpass my 15,30,60, and 90 day goals... I have lost most of my weight and inches with T25, then went on to complete 2 weeks of Les Mills Pump, I had to take some time off due to pneumonia and I am now doing the 21 day fix with my Hot Mom Group. When I complete the fix, I am excited to really go outside of my comfort zone and do PiYo (this will be such an amazing challenge for a girl who still can't touch her toes!)
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..."
