So how cool is this - my company is putting up a minium of 1 million dollars (yes, 1 million - like
1,000,000$) to help keep people motivated and accountable! Let's face it - losing weight, staying motivated - it's hard.... but nothing like a little cash to help keep you motivated, right?
For the month of September I want you to reach your goals, feel better, healthier and happier and get paid to do it? Not a joke, not a scheme, no catch, and no you don't have to be 'the biggest loser' to win - you just have to participate! And get a cut of 1-3 million dollars for doing so!
All the great qualities of my other challenge groups - daily motivation, tips, support, weekly meal planning assistance, and recipes - only thing that is different is you will get paid to be accountable... New and old challengers are welcome! Let's make September the month that we get started, break that platuea, or keep reaching our goals!
Here are the rules....
Ready to join?
Just fill out the application below and I will get back to you within 24 hours!
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...
I love picnics! I love the people, I love being outside, I love the food... But I also love the way my body feels when I eat healthy - and I want a dish that is yummy to share - tah-dah! You're welcome!
What you need:
Puffed Quinoa (I order mine from nuts.com)
1/2 cup of natural peanut butter
3-4 tbsp agave nectar
1 tsp vanilla extract
vegan dark chocolate (optional)
What you need to do:
In a mixing bowl, combine the peanut butter, agave and vanilla. If the mixture is hard to work with, heat it up a little.
Add the puffed quinoa
Place mixture in a pie pan
Evenly distribute and flatten
Refrigerate to let it harden.
Optional - melt a few chocolate chips in a baggie, cut a small hole in the corner of the baggie and gently squeeze onto pie
Okay mommas, in honor of Mother's Day - this one is for you...
-Daily Accountability, Motivation and support -Family friendly healthy recipes -Meal Planning assistance
-Gifts designed for you for added support -Busy and Fit mom tips
We give up everything for our families - our bodies, our time, our sleep, and sometimes even our sanity - we do it willingly and with a happy heart... but, it is time to show our families that healthy momma = healthy family....
Habits, confidence and body image ideals start in childhood - this is the why behind my transformation, I knew I could not teach my girls to love themselves and be healthy if I wasn't... so now I am inviting you along for the journey... the world is a big scary place and they need us to be the examples and to be there, to be healthy... whatever demons you have about food, confidence, self hate, emotional eating - lets squash it, lets squash it now - so our kids don't pay the price, so our kids don't repeat the cycle...
I am looking for 5 motivated mommas, who are ready to take this challenge on... there is no better gift to you or your family, and I can promise you that... apply for your spot today and I will get back to you within 24 hours xo
I love trying to find a way to mix veggies into my dishes - because honestly, I get tired of the taste of chicken sometimes! I love basil - fresh basil and fresh tomatoes just make me think of my garden and summertime.... This dish is full of rich flavors but was not a huge expense on my checkbook or my time. And yes, this is 21 Day Fix Approved!!!
What you need:
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil (can be pricey in the store, but is so cheap to grow)
5 small chicken breasts
3/4 cup cherry tomatoes, slices in quarters
2 cloves of minced garlic
8oz package of fresh mushrooms, sliced
2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
dash of dry basil
dash of garlic powder
1 cup shredded mozerella
What you need to do:
Preheat oven to 375
In a large frying pan, add olive oil, garlic and mushrooms.
Cook mushrooms to desired (I like mine with crispy edges)
Add in tomatoes, saute on medium for 5 minutes
Add in chopped basil and saute for 3 minutes
In a 9x13 baking dish, spray with olive oil spray
Place uncooked chicken in the dish, evenly spaced without overlapping.
Sprinkle dry basil and garlic powder on the chicken.
Place mushroom mixture evenly on top of the chicken.
Place in oven, uncovered for 20-25 minutes.
Spread mozeralla on top and place back in the oven until melted. (I put my oven on low broil to brown the cheese a little)
When I started 22 Minute Hard Corp - I admit, I was torn... After 2 years of a fitness journey could I really get good results in just 22 minutes a day? Would it be enough? And at the same time I was excited because let's face it, who wouldn't be excited about a 22 minute workout?
First of all, I fell in love with the meal plan - it is very similar to the 21 Day Fix with the awesome portion control containers, but it allowed me to eat things that I was not allowed to eat on other meal plans - like CEREAL! Yes, finally a program that included cereal ((now to just find one that includes butter lol)) I found the meal plan simple and easy to follow.
I was pleasantly surprised about the workout intensity, I could see how this could be easily modified for a beginner and it was challenging enough for someone like me ((I would say I am at an intermediate fitness level)). And I was shocked at the sweat I had going on in just 22 minutes. My favorite part was the core workout... I have been doing a ton of core workouts, but nothing like this! This worked every part of my core, front and back and my muffin top really toned up!
I am human, I had missed workouts and cheat meals along the way - nobody is perfect! I actually was hesitant to share my results because I was mad that I had put some weight back on... but the truth is, no matter where you are in your journey, it is just that a journey... there will be set backs, there will be challenges and again no one is perfect.... I faced some challenges leading up to starting this program - I had issues with anemia which made me exhausted and made it difficult to get a good workout in and my thyroid started acting up which led to weight gain - and some of it was my own fault, let's not forget the MANY cheat meals (days, okay entire week) surrounding the cruise! But I did not let these things hold me back, instead I made a plan and went for it! And I could not have done it without the support of my accountability partner and group! We motivate and inspire each other every step of the way! Join us for support, motivation and 24/7 coaching by applying below!
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!
Super Saturday is a quarterly event where we, as coaches celebrate success and learn about what is coming up next and how to prepare for it. The last 2 Super Saturdays, I spent in Pittsburgh - but this time the girls and I road tripped to Chambersburg, PA to support my coach, Deidra, hosting her very first Super Saturday event!
I love Super Saturdays, learn about new products, training tips, motivation, inspiring stories and best
yet meeting and socializing with the only people who know exactly how you feel - they understand the struggles and triumphs. This Super Saturday was very special, because not only was it the first ever in Chambersburg, but I was speaking - not just once, but twice! Public speaking, not really my thing and I thought about saying no a million times... I could come up with a million excuses, but how could I use my life to inspire others if I let fear get in the way? I practiced, and practiced - but I couldn't do it - I never made it through once without breaking down... one day, I put the note cards away and gave it to God...
This was the first Super Saturday event for my girls as well, and although it wasn't an ideal situation, they had a blast - they are my why, they are part of my journey and they are a reason to keep pushing forward... I hope one day they will be inspired by what I overcame to be present in their lives and the best mom I could be to them...
Kate on stage, and Aubrey asking to use the bathroom
while I spoke - gotta love Mom Life!
I shared my transformation story, for the first time - uncensored... I spoke about my struggles with
postpartum depression, hypothyroidism, confidence and finally how I lost 75 pounds.... I received a lot of feedback, and appreciation for sharing my story - and I am working on a little project to finally share my struggles publicly, which I will share with everyone some day soon! It is uncomfortable to talk about, but I know this is my purpose.. to spread awareness and hope - to inspire change....
I also had to the opportunity to do a training piece on Shakeology.. I am passionate about nutritional therapy and the power of food... I shared my love of Shakeology, why it is important for your health and business - more trainings to come!
We followed up with a live Cize workout, with the fabulous Alisha Smith as our instructor! The girls and I danced our hearts out!
Blessed to have this opportunity that understands that we regular people - just a couple of moms, who decided to go for it
Clean Snacks
Shakeology Bar - of course!
My coach, Trisha and I - great to see her!
We joined the team for a little hibachi (so fun, it was the girls first time and they loved it - not the food but the experience!). After lunch, we let our Beachbody babies have some fun swimming and bonding while we did some girl talk and masterminding....
The bond that we have as coaches and friends is undeniable - we are family... we push each other, support each other, learn from each other, love each other... I feel blessed to have taken this leap of faith, which seemed crazy and impossible at the time.. if you are someone who is ready to make a change in your life and build a business based on helping others, then please fill out my application for an exclusive spot in my next new coach training group for the best start to your business!
If you live in my neighborhood, you would know I am an avid walker! Once after breakfast and once after dinner - the one after breakfast, I let Kate walk so it is the "longest, shortest walk" you will ever take! My morning walk is designed to burn off some energy of the pup - a tired puppy is a good puppy theory (and so far it is working, she is a great pup!)
And my evening walk is designed to help increase my metabolism going into the night time hours.... But is it just a myth?
Nope :)
Ovet the years, researchers have found that a post-meal walk (as short as 15 minutes) cain in fact help aid with digestions and improve blood sugar levels. There are many studies to support this finding, but I will spare you all the details and just give you the facts!
Researchers have found that walking has a significant effect on blood sugar levels after meals. Blood sugar typically rises and then falls after eating, but large spikes and variations can raise cardiovascular risk and potentially signal diabetes.
In 2009, it was discovered that a 20 minute walk about 15 minutes after dinner led to lower post-meal blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes than either a walk before dinner or no walk at all.
A German study, looked at what happened when people ate a large meal and then consumed either an espresso or an alcoholic digestif — like brandy or flavored liqueur — or walked at a slow pace on a treadmill. Walking, they found, sped the rate at which food moved through the stomach. The beverages had no effect.
Another study found that walking for 15 minutes shortly after each meal improved blood sugar levels to a greater extent than a single 45 minute walk in the morning.
Sooooo - to sum it up a post meal stroll will help clear glucose from the bloodstream in part because more of it is taken up by the muscles! I challenge YOU to head out for a brief walk, instead of the couch to improve digestion and help with blood sugar stability!
For more tips and one on one support on your health and wellness journey, apply for a spot in an upcoming challenge group!
Let's face it - getting in a workout can be challenging! Especially if your kiddos wake up super early like mine! Some days I supplement my workout with Fit Mom Workouts! Thought I would share some of my faves!
This one is amazing and fun for both of you! Bye bye muffin top!
So as many of you can tell - I took the week off!!! My first entire week off since I started my journey - I focused on stretching and resting my body... Not only did I stop vigorous cardio workouts, but I also loosened the leash on my nutrition - And why, why would I work so hard and then throw it away the next week? Well I don't see it like that... I have Hashimotos, which causes my metabolism to be a little slower than normal even with medication - I have learned that when I zig-zag my calories and constantly "trick" my metabolism, I am able to lose weight faster long term - plus, it is a little fun to take a break from all the chicken and spinach!
There is a type of art form to losing fat and gaining muscle - because you have to be in a negative caloric state to lose fat but you need to be in a positive caloric state to gain muscle - so HOW?
So I have a few rules:
Eating at least 5 meals a day - this helps control blood sugar levels (thus keeping your cravings at a minimum) and you'll get protein in small amounts throughout the day to help support growth and recovery of muscles. When you are constantly feeding your body, your body doesn't feel like it needs to "hold on" to stored fat.
Remember portion control!
Think before you eat! If you are getting ready to workout, then eat more complex carbs, if you are getting ready to nap or be sitting in the office eat less than the average amount of carbs
Plan cheat meals - but a cheat meal, but make sure you are committed to get back into it come Monday! Cheat meals (I'm not talking about eating a Big Mac, either people!) help readjust for basal metabolic rate upward, support lean muscle growth, and give you a little "mental" break
Reducing calories can make it impossible to get all the nutrients your body needs to remain healthy and active - so DRINK SHAKEOLOGY DAILY!
When I am doing a program, I am very faithful to the nutrition plan because I want my results to be
genuine.. I usually try to hang out around 1400 calories, then every 3rd day I will drop those calories to 1200 a day and then back up to 1400 calories. It keeps my metabolism guessing, and then at the end of the program and before I start another program, I will take my calories up to 1800-2000 for a weekend... Which then forces my body to get used to that many calories, and then it shocks my metabolism when I drop back down to 1400 and 1200 calories/day. This helps me avoid weight loss plateaus. Please know, that this is specific to me - and your calorie needs might be very different! It is important not to starve your body, it will be counter productive for long term weight loss success, trust me - been there!
For more tips, one on one support, guidance and motivation apply here :)
So how cool is this - my company is putting up a minium of 1 million dollars (yes, 1 million - like 
