My First Super Saturday (well Friday really!)

I was so excited when I had the chance to attend my very first Beachbody event - Super Saturday... This event is held quarterly, but with my work schedule and trying to find someone for the girls - I just haven't gotten to go --- but I wasn't going to miss this one!!



Forever Fit - with our Elite Coach, the fabulous Deidra Penrose!



Flexing and Duck lips - these are a few of our favorite things!

 



Carl and Melanie

Okay, the weekend started a little rocky -- I get anxiety when driving somewhere I don't know and I never drove to downtown Pittsburgh and right before I left Aubrey was laying on the guilt.. It is hard for me to leave them, I hardly ever do and when I do it is usually just for work... I did for like a minute feel guilty, because unlike my nursing job - this isn't mandatory... but I remembered what my coach has been telling me - "come to the events they are game changers" - I am a coach for a lot of reasons but my number one reason is my girls - I want to inspire them, I want to be home with them more, and I want to be able to provide financially more for them... So I hugged her and whispered, "I promise, this is all for you" and Aubrey in all her wisdom said "Okay, whatever mom - can you just bring me home a present?" (ugh, the next 15 years will be interesting lol)

So I was off, and surprisingly impressed myself driving there!

The event was held at the William Omni Penn Hotel, I walked in and I was instantly in awe.. It was still decorated flawlessly for Christmas...




Sarah, Beth, AUTUMN, Deidra, and myself!

The ballroom was filled to the rim - 1000 people all to celebrate our Dream Team Coach - Melanie Mitro who was being announced as the number 1 coach in the company... So surreal, I have been on countless calls with Melanie and she is so down to earth, and I don't know - normal when really she is like a Beachbody VIP! Since our Pittsburgh Team is honoring Melanie and our team is so large we were able to get Carl Daikeler (Beachbody CEO) and Autumn Calabrese (21 Day Fix Creator) to attend the event!




My date and roomie for this event and Summit in July, the
amazing Maegan! Oh yeah, and Carl Daikeler - only the CEO
and creator of Beachbody :)

It was so motivating to be able to hear our own CEO of this billion dollar company speak before us... So great to hear him talk more about our values, mission for this company and WHY we are really here.  Talking about the success we have made for thousands and thousands of people around the US and Canada and talk about some upcoming events that we are having!! Most excitingly, the Beachbody Success Club Trip for 2016 - A cruise to Jamiaca and Hati!!! (and yes, I am going!!!)


Workout time!

After Carl, Autumn spoke about her newest program launching Feb 2nd - THE 21 DAY FIX EXTREME!!!! And we were able to work out with Autumn live, a workout from her new program! It was so fun and intense - I can't wait to do this program!

Learn more about her new program here!



Pre-workout selfie with my friend and accountability
partner, Alisha!

After the event, we had a great dinner and lots of laughs - I even had a cocktail (rare, rare event!) I got a little tipsy because we waited an hour for our food!

On Saturday, I opted to skip the Insanity workout in the morning - in an effort to sleep in! I was taking advantage of having no kiddos and a bed to myself haha - The Dream Team hosted a great training event. We got to hear from all the elite coaches from the Dream Team and Melanie Mitro herself!

After the training, Deidra took us to lunch in Market Square - it was fabulous and I def ate way too much lol! We received amazingly generous gifts for being Diamond coaches - a Michael Knorr purse which is stunning (I don't even own a single purse, so it was a great gift) and a beautiful bracelet with Forever Fit's motto!



Learning from the best in the biz!

I learned so much and became so motivated for the new year! I knew my goals but now I knew what I needed to get there! Beachbody has changed my life in so many ways - and I am so blessed to have my coach and other coaches to support me every step of the way, not only with my weight loss and fitness goals but with coaching and being the best coach for not only my challengers but for my coaches... This is the most rewarding experience, between my transformation, my self esteem, my confidence, helping others experience the same, and now working on my financial freedom! Before the event, I bought my first pair of high heels and my first tube of lip stick - I was telling my mom about my dress and everything about the event... My mom said, "this doesn't sound like you at all" - and all I could think was, that is exactly the point, I am not the same person I was a year ago...

Next Super Saturday is April 25th, who's coming with me??? My Team - Inspiring Change is growing quickly and if you have a love a fitness, health and helping people - then we would love to have you on our team! New coach training starts soon!

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Insanity Max 30 - Preview!!!

I am sooo pumped for this new program - as you all know, I love love love Shaun T and I think this program will be a lot of fun! Insanity is just too long for me, and I need something more now that I am just about finished with my second round of T25... It is all about getting better than you were last time and beating you max out time!

Insanity Max 30 - Preview!

So what is Insanity Max???

INSANITY MAX:30 is the challenging new 30-minute, in-home workout program from Shaun T, creator of INSANITY and Focus T25. Shaun T has developed 150 new cardio and strength moves that will make you push harder and dig deeper than ever before to get the best body of your life in just 60 days. INSANITY MAX:30 will be the hardest 30 minutes of the day and you need to be ready to MAX OUT. It's not about "getting through" all 30 minutes, it's about going as hard as possible, for as long as possible, until becoming "MAXED OUT" (until taking a break). No equipment needed… just push to the MAX for INSANE results in just 60 days.  It may not be Tonia, but yes - there is a modifier to help you keep it low impact while you are learning the moves! I always try to challenge myself and beat my calorie burn, and this program is going to have me challenging myself in a whole new way - be beating my "Max Out Time" so what is maxing out? Maxing out is when you go hard as long as you can, and when you need a break - you take one. Write down that time, and that is your max out time! Every time you do that workout, your goal is to beat that time... I love this!!! It constantly pushes you to be better than you were last time! Such a fun spin on a challenging workout - eeekkk can you tell I am excited??? The first workout is a cardio workout and a fit test so you can see how far you can go and how long. Here’s the format for that workout: Warm-up Quick Break 3 Exercises at 30 Seconds Each (3 Rounds of each for 4.5 Minutes) 30 Second Break Repeat for 5 Rounds Total More details to come!!! So who wants to get insane results and max out with me??? Exclusive group starts Dec 8th and space is limited! 1 on 1 coaching, support, recipes, daily motivation, and accountability all in a closed Facebook group with coaches and other challengers doing Insanity Max 30 just like you!!!

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My 21 Day Fix Round 1 Transformation

Clean up your Diet

It is so challenging when you have a favorite recipes and they don't quite fit your new lifestyle... well here are a few of my favorite ingredient swaps:

• Use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream when you’re whipping up a spinach dip, ranch or French onion dip as an appetizer. This swap will make any chip dip healthier, and plain, nonfat Greek yogurt is a much better source of protein. Also a great on a clean taco salad or baked potato! If you’re feeling really ambitious, swap the chips for fresh veggies too!
• Use olive oil instead of butter when you’re cooking anything on the stovetop, like sautéed veggies or scrambled eggs. Unlike butter, olive oil doesn’t have cholesterol. In fact, it is known to help lower bad cholesterol while increasing levels of good cholesterol.
• Use a banana instead of an egg when you’re making a Sunday morning pancakes or a birthday cake. The banana will give provide sweetness and moisture, and it’s a great way to make your dish vegan-friendly. You can also use applesauce instead of a banana as another vegan-friendly replacement.
• Use spaghetti squash instead of pasta when you’re craving carbs. Spaghetti squash is a vegetable, so one serving can provide your body with the recommended daily intake of potassium, vitamin A and vitamin C. Whole-wheat pasta is a great way to satisfy your comfort food craving if you need it, but if you’re wanting to ditch the carbs (and a few pounds) go for the squash.
• Use almond milk instead of cow’s milk for your cereal, oatmeal and coffee. Unsweetened almond milk is one of the most nutritious milk substitutes out there, and it’s free of saturated fats. It’s also a great vegan source of protein, and has less calories per serving than cow’s milk.
• Use mashed cauliflower instead of pizza crust or mashed potatoes healthier and a low carb option!

Jen - T25

 

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!

 

Join Jen and I in our next challenge group!!! Click here to earn an exclusive spot!

Shakeology Balls

Perfect for those late night cravings!!

Peanut Butter Shakeology

Emotional Weight Gain

Are you an emotional eater like me? I used to eat when I was happy, when I was sad, bored, confused, procrastinating, really anything! Ha! Funny thing is, it never made me feel better - it only made me feel worse, made me feel fat and made me feel guilty! Truth is - we don’t always eat simply to satisfy hunger. We also turn to food for comfort, stress relief, or as a reward. Unfortunately, emotional eating doesn’t fix emotional problems. Never has, never will... I think some of these habits start in childhood, and I work really hard to break the cycle with my daughter... If you are a mom, how many times have you used food as a reward? "Eat all your dinner and you can have ice cream." or "you were a good girl today, you can have an extra popsicle." I know I am guilty of this just today!




Using food from time to time as a pick me up, a reward, or to celebrate isn’t necessarily a bad thing. But when eating is your primary emotional coping mechanism—when your first impulse is to open the refrigerator whenever you’re upset, angry, lonely, stressed, exhausted, or bored—you get stuck in an unhealthy cycle where the real feeling or problem is never addressed.

Emotional hunger can’t be filled with food. Eating may feel good in the moment, but the feelings that triggered the eating are still there. And you often feel worse than you did before because of the unnecessary calories you consumed. You beat yourself for messing up and not having more willpower. Compounding the problem, you stop learning healthier ways to deal with your emotions, you have a harder and harder time controlling your weight, and you feel increasingly powerless over both food and your feelings.

So what is the difference between real hunger and emotional hunger??? Glad you asked...

Emotional hunger comes on suddenly. It hits you in an instant and feels overwhelming and urgent. Physical hunger, on the other hand, comes on more gradually. The urge to eat doesn’t feel as dire or demand instant satisfaction (unless you haven’t eaten for a very long time).

Emotional hunger craves specific comfort foods. When you’re physically hungry, almost anything sounds good—including healthy stuff like vegetables. But emotional hunger craves fatty foods or sugary snacks that provide an instant rush. You feel like you need cheesecake or pizza, and nothing else will do.

Emotional hunger often leads to mindless eating. Before you know it, you’ve eaten a whole bag of chips or an entire pint of ice cream without really paying attention or fully enjoying it. When you’re eating in response to physical hunger, you’re typically more aware of what you’re doing.

Emotional hunger isn’t satisfied once you’re full. You keep wanting more and more, often eating until you’re uncomfortably stuffed. Physical hunger, on the other hand, doesn't need to be stuffed. You feel satisfied when your stomach is full.

Emotional hunger isn’t located in the stomach. Rather than a growling belly or a pang in your stomach, you feel your hunger as a craving you can’t get out of your head. You’re focused on specific textures, tastes, and smells.

Emotional hunger often leads to regret, guilt, or shame. When you eat to satisfy physical hunger, you’re unlikely to feel guilty or ashamed because you’re simply giving your body what it needs. If you feel guilty after you eat, it's likely because you know deep down that you’re not eating for nutritional reasons.

 

So what should I do instead of eat???

• If you’re depressed or lonely, call someone who always makes you feel better, play with your dog or cat, or look at a favorite photo or cherished memento. WORKOUT!!!
• If you’re anxious, expend your nervous energy by dancing to your favorite song, squeezing a stress ball, or taking a brisk walk. WORKOUT!!!
• If you’re exhausted, treat yourself with a hot cup of tea, take a bath, light some scented candles, or wrap yourself in a warm blanket. SLEEP OR WORKOUT!!
• If you’re bored, read a good book, watch a comedy show, explore the outdoors, or turn to an activity you enjoy (woodworking, playing the guitar, shooting hoops, scrapbooking, etc.). WORKOUT!!! (get where I am going here)

21 Day Fix Results - Round 1

Week 3 was some what of a challenge... my girls will let me workout for 30 min no problem (most days lol) but doubles were hard to get in for sure!!! But I remained committed (and sore!) and I feel like it paid off! Total inches lost 9.0 and 7.5 inches lost!

I learned a lot these last 21 days - you can overeat on healthy food, I was not eating enough and I was eating more carbs than I thought! Great program for all fitness levels! I will be repeating this program in the future!!

300 calorie Berry Cobbler

Great and easy cobbler recipe!

 

What you need:

- 1 refridgerated pie crust
- 4 cups mixed berries
- 2 tbsp. sugar
- 1.5 tbsp. cornstarch
- 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp. salt
- frozen vanilla yogurt

 

What you need to do:

- Unroll pie crust.. trim into 8inch square and create strips
- Place berries in 8 inch square baking sheet
- Sprinkle with 2 tbsp. sugar
- In a small bowl, whisk cornstarch, cinnamon and salt with 1/4 cup boiling water until cornstarch dissolves.. drizzle over berries
- Arrange dough strips in a lattice pattern on top of berriesx
- Brush dough with water and sprinkle with 1 tsp sugar (optional)
- Bake at 375 until crust is golden and filling is bubbling, about 1 hour
- Let stand 15 minutes and serve with frozen yogurt.

Serves about 6 - Enjoy!!!

How to Lose 10 Pounds in 21 Days Challenge Group

 

 

Join us to an exclusive 21 Day Fix Accountability and Support group. These groups are closed Facebook group were myself and a team of coaches help and support you through the 21 Day Fix Program. See our workout tips, recipes and meal plans. Daily motivation, accountability and support. What is the 21 Day Fix?

 Who is ready to lose 10 pounds in 21 days with us? Join here!

Strawberry Cheesecake Shakeology

So refreshing and yummy :) I love Vanilla Shakeology because I can make it any flavor I want... Feels like a cheat meal!!!

Angel Hair Chicken Pasta

Angel Hair Chicken Pasta

I love this dish because it is simple, easy, healthy, a crowd pleaser and you don't need any fresh ingredients so it is a great recipe right before a grocery trip! It is kind of like a summer time chicken noodle soup! Enjoy!

 

What you need:

2 TBSP olive oil

2 cups of chicken breasts cut into slices

1 bag of Steam Fresh frozen Broccoli, Caulifower and Carrots

Whole Wheat Pasta

2/3 cup Chicken Broth (I used 2/3 c water with 1 cube chicken bouillon)

1/4 c freshly grated parmesan cheese

Dried Basil

1 clove minced garlic

 

What you need to do:

-Cook pasta according to directions

-Add olive oil and garlic to a skillet

-Heat pan over medium heat

-Add chicken, season with basil and cook chicken

-Remove from skillet

-In the same skillet add frozen veggies, cover and heat until warm in the middle (I found they get too mushy for this recipe if you microwave them first)

-When warm, add chicken broth, chicken, and cheese and cook over low for 4 min.

- Serve over whole wheat noodles - be sure to measure the noodles for portion control!!!

Enjoy!

 

 

Red, White and Blue Berry Fruit Salad

Peach Mango Salsa

Peach Mango Salsa

Great clean appetizer and I also love it on top of grilled chicken :) Only 10 calories in 2 tablespoons!

What you need:

 

1 large ripe peach
1 ripe mango

3 medium-size tomatoes
1/2 sweet onion
1/2 green, red, or yellow bell pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
2 teaspoons minced fresh Jalapeno pepper
1/2 cup freshly chopped cilantro
1 tablespoon lime juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar

 

 

What you need to do: 

1. Peel and remove the pits of the mango (it was a lot of mango for me so I pureed some of it to make a paste that I added to the final product to get the texture I desired) and peach then chop both into small chunks. Dice the tomato, sweet onion, and bell pepper into small chunks.
2. In a mixing bowl, stir together the peach, mango, tomato, onion, bell pepper, garlic, Jalapeno pepper, and cilantro. Add the lime juice, salt, and sugar and stir well to coat. Let rest at room temperature for 15 minutes for flavors to combine, or refrigerate until needed.

This salsa keeps for 2-3 days in the fridge, or can be frozen for later use!



Organic, non-gmo healthiest chip possible for dipping!

Look at that yummy texture!

 

Sticking to your goals during holidays and events!

It is always something! Ugh! If it isn't a holiday, it is a wedding, graduation or birthday party... There are always a million things getting in the way of living a clean and healthy lifestyle... And of course everything in moderation, but when you are actively trying to drop some pounds, avoiding temptations at these events are critical! Here are some tips that can help you avoid the temptations!

- Don't focus on the food
All too often when we go to an occasion, we are thinking and asking "what are they going to have to eat there?" Because lets face it, food is apart of every occasion - the meal, the dessert, the candy table, the appetizers and sugary drinks... You could easily undo several workouts in one event... The funny thing is, the food should not be the focus... The people should be, the reason to celebrate should be!

- Offer to bring a dish
Offering to bring a dish to the event is a great way to stick with your new habits, you can bring something that is fun and different and that fits into your meal plan! So you don't have to stress, you know that at least one thing that will be there is something you like and will work for you to help you reach your overall goals

- A little splurge isn't a game changer
Okay, so your Aunt made your favorite dessert! Take a small piece, that's right... A small splurge won't ruin everything (if you read my blog article about zig zag dieting you know that cheat meals are okay here and there).. BUT there is a catch, just because you had that one cheat, doesn't mean you can have 10 pieces and some to go home with and oh hell, since I ruined today I will just have a burger with extra mayo... NO! Just a small taste, just enough to enjoy it... My advice - chew it very slowly! haha

- Don't show up hungry!
Biggest mistake! On my way to a party, I grab a piece of fruit, a Shakeo or even a full meal.. That way when I show up to the party I am not hungry and as tempted to hit the buffet! Then I can have more of a snack as opposed to a meal!

- Remember WHY you are on this journey...
Not going to lie, I look at my before photos all the time.. right before you head out it wouldn't be a bad idea to peak at them! I often chant, "moment on my lips, forever on my hips!"

- Stay hydrated
Drink a lot of water! Especially during warm months, your body often confuses hunger and thirst!

- BYOB
Feel like you want to have a cocktail at the party?! Bring your own drink, that way you can avoid the sugar and calories of a typical beverage!

Eat slowly, stay active, watch out for portion control and enjoy the reason to celebrate and the wonderful people you have to share it with!

The 21 Day Fix

Week 1 - 21 Day Fix

I was so excited to start the 21 Day Fix, I decided the best time to start was with a Mommy 21 Day Fix Support Group.. After completing 10 weeks of Focus T25, I thought this would be a walk in the park! I wasn't able to start the Fix Workouts with the group because of pneumonia, I started a week later...

 

When I got my package in the mail, I thought "huh, maybe this will be a challenge?!" The containers were smaller than I imagined and the workouts looked intense, especially the last week of doubles... I was excited to start the challenge!

Day 1 - I pushed play, and I see cute little Autumn talk about 60 second workouts with a break in between and honestly I thought "are you kidding me? I just finished T25, 25 minutes of non stop pushing yourself to the limit and now I am going to be taking break!!?" HAHA boy was I wrong... It was such an intense workout! I felt it all day and was so sore getting out of bed the next morning! I totally under estimated the program! And in that moment I realized, that this was going to be awesome!                

 

I enjoyed the workouts, and the food - it was actually more food than I was eating prior to starting the Fix so I was pleasantly surprised! The workouts were challenging, I felt sore and oddly energized at the same time!

 

Week 1 food looked like this :

 

No time to cook - that's okay! Pick up a roasting chicken!

Made yummy and filling Stuffed Peppers!

My favorite! Chicken Stir Fry.. Simple and easy.. have everything ready to go on prep day and just toss it together in olive oil!

Quick and easy lunch... Pretty much a daily meal! Aubrey and I had a great time making them and would add chicken and veggies to change it up!

 

 

 

 

Think you can't go out to eat? WRONG!!! I love Chipotle, and thought I would have to give it up... NOPE! I just had to modify it - no sour cream and I asked for everything next to each other so I could measure it out!

 

Well how did I do on week 1 - I lost 3.2 pounds and 1.5 inches! YAY! So excited for week 2! This has been so much fun to do with my Mommy Support Group! Who wants to join me for Round 2?

CLICK HERE!

Looking back at the last 90 days....

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!)

Thank you all who have been on this journey with me thus far.... See how I can help you!


 

21 Day Fix Stuffed Peppers

21 Day Fix Stuffed Peppers!!!

Absolutely delish!

 

What you need:

2 Bell Peppers

1 Yellow container of brown rice
1/2 Yellow container of black beans, (canned) rinsed and drained
1/2 Yellow container of frozen corn
2 Red containers of browned low fat ground turkey or beef, seasoned with 21 Day Fix Southwestern Seasoning
1 Green container of petite diced tomatoes (no sugar added, read the ingredients.  Should only contain tomatoes and ascorbic acid) - I used fresh Roma Tomatoes
1 Purple container of organic canned tomato sauce
1 Blue container of your favorite cheese

1/2 green onions (Chopped, can use in pepper or I like adding mine to the finished/cooked pepper from some crunch!)

What you need to do:

1.  Brown ground meat and season with Southwest seasoning.  Set aside to cool.
2. Drain and rinse black beans.
3. Portion out diced tomatoes, corn, and tomato sauce, and cheese.
4.  Combine in large bowl meat, tomatoes, corn,

rice/quinoa, beans, and sauce.
5.  Cut caps off of peppers and pull out ribs and core.  Rinse excess seeds out.
6. Stuff peppers with filling.
7. Sprinkle with cheese.
8.  Bake at 375 Fahrenheit for 40-45 minutes - Cheese should be melted and filling should be heated all the way through.
9. Top with onion if desired

Enjoy!  Each Pepper = 2 Green, 1 Red, 1 Yellow, 1/2 Blue, 1/2 Purple