2016 is YOUR year!!

If you’ve been waiting to try some of the best Beachbody home workouts, 2016 is your year, with some of the hottest new programs on sale for the new year.

The Beachbody home workout programs on sale this month include the just released The Master’s Hammer and Chisel, 21 Day Fix, the 21 Day Fix Kickstart, the 21 Day Fix Extreme Kickstart and my favorite way to kick off the New Year: 3 Day Refresh. Each Challenge Pack designed to give you a new body and the strength and determination to make it last.

Beachbody Products on Sale January 2016

The Master’s Hammer and Chisel

The Master’s Hammer and Chisel + Shakeology Challenge Pack

This brand new 60-day program transforms in just 30-40 minutes a day with an intensive combination of SSP training. Balance, strength training, cardio, agility and nutrition combine to give you the masterpiece results you always desired. This Challenge Pack includes the portion-control containers, compete workout program with bonus workouts, calendar, meal plan, 30-day supply of Shakeology, and 30-day subscription to Team Beachbody Club.

This month, save $75, and pay just $160 for everything in the package.

The Master’s Hammer and Chisel + Beachbody Performance Challenge Pack

If you already have your Shakeology, get this Challenge Pack, which ups your game with Performance add-ons. Energize and Recover speed up your results by improving performance and recovery time. Combat muscle-soreness, speed recovery and hit those workouts even stronger!

This month, save $75, and pay just $160 for everything in the package. 

                                                           

21 Day Fix

21 Day Fix (+SP) + Shakeology Challenge Pack

This program by Autumn Calabrese merges smart nutrition tips with high-energy fitness. The sale pack includes six workouts, 30 days of Shakeology, a free 30-day Team Beachbody Club membership that includes free Beachbody on Demand streaming video – that’s every Beachbody video available whenever you want to work out – and a free insulated tote bag.

This month, save $70, and pay just $140 for everything in the package.

 21 Day Fix Extreme

21 Day Fix Extreme (+SP) + Shakeology Challenge Pack

Autumn gets serious with this hard-core 21-day program, which includes 30-minute workouts and a nutrition program that focuses on clean eating. The program includes color-coded portion control containers so you know exactly what to eat and how much. The Challenge Pack also includes 30 days of Shakeology and a 30-day membership to Team Beachbody Club, which makes the Beachbody library available to keep things fresh for the month – and keep you motivated.

Plus, you’ll save $70 at the low $140 November sale price.

21 Day Fix Kickstart

21 Fix Kickstart + Shakeology Challenge Pack

This is the program for people who want big results FAST! It includes Autumn’s 3-Day Refresh Kit, her 21-Day Fix program, a collection of 30-minute workouts – so no time will never again be an excuse – and color-coded containers to help with portion control. (And don’t forget the 30-day Team Beachbody Club membership, which unlocks the entire Beachbody library!)

This month, pay only $180, and save $95 over the full price of the pack.

21 Day Fix EXTREME Kickstart

21 Day Fix EXTREME Kickstart + Shakeology Challenge Pack

This get-results-fast program is designed to help you get fit in a flash. The Challenge Pack includes Autumn’s intense nutrition program – it focuses on clean eating, so you’ll get rid of all the crap – along with portion control containers and a tough-but-effective workout program that take just 30 minutes a day. Again, it includes a 30-day membership to the Team Beachbody Club, which gives you a chance to find out if Beachbody on Demand and other Beachbody programs – including being coached by me! – is right for you.

You’ll save $95 at the low $180 price tag.

3-Day Refresh

3-Day Refresh + Shakeology Challenge Pack

Perfect to kick-start the New Year, this Challenge Pack includes everything you need to get your eating habits on track. Detoxify and cleanse out all those holiday baddies in just 3 days and keep the good nutrition going with a 30 day supply of dense nutrition with Shakeology shakes. PLUS get 30 days of FREE workouts with Beachbody on Demand!

Save $70 at the low price of $140

If you’ve been waiting to try Beachbody, or get started on a new fitness plan, NOW is the time to get started. The savings are incredible, and you’ll be getting a chance to add some of the hottest workouts on the market to your collection.

Have Questions? I’m here to help.

Money Saving Tricks While Eating Healthy Foods

A question I get a lot lately is "how do you eat healthy food on a tight budget"? I can certainly sympathize, since this was one of the biggest struggles when we started eating this way.

Along the way, we've discovered a few resources and money saving tricks for stretching a budget while eating healthy foods, so I’ve compiled them in hopes that they can help you too.

1. Meal Planning: Meal planning allows me to make some foods ahead and have them available for lunches or to re-purpose for dinners. Since meal planning, I am also able to only go to the store once a week or less and can often prepare most of the food for the week in one day, which cuts down my overall food prep time.

2. Prepare in Bulk: I’ve found this especially helpful with regards to meat. When our budget is tightest, I prepare a large, inexpensive cut of meat and reuse it different ways throughout the week. I always keep an eye out for items like Turkey, Ham, Brisket, etc. to go on sale for these occasions.

3. Find Inexpensive Veggies: Veggies can vary tremendously in price, depending on the time of year and the source. Focusing on veggies that are in season will help cut costs some. Farmers markets, CSAs, and local farmers are great resources for buying inexpensive veggies in bulk. 

4. Order In Bulk: Though there is more of a cost upfront, ordering in bulk can usually save money in the long run. We order non-perishables like coconut flour, shredded coconut, olive oil, coconut oil, herbal teas, liquid castille soap, almond flour, etc. in bulk from a co-op.

5. Grow Your Own Food: Even if you live in a big city, it is often possible to grow at least some of your own food.

6. Don't Buy Drinks: If you are trying to eat healthy, hopefully you’ve already cut out things like soda, canned drinks, and processed juices from your food budget. If not, do it now! This alone is a big step in improving overall health.

It's time for YOUR success story!!!

Holy moly guys!!!!! I really hate being salsey, but my friend Leslie's results were too good not to share! She got these RIDICULOUS results in JUST 21 days!!!

When you find the right combination of fitness plus nutrition and support, you get results like these!!! She worked hard, pushed herself outside of her comfort zone, and gave herself a kick-start to summer!

Want similar results before the end of March? March 4th is the last chance to get this program for just $10 when you buy Shakeology! If you want to join my next challenge group and get bathing suit/vacation/wedding ready for Spring/Summer - comment below or message ME and I'll give you all the info!

Interested in joining an upcoming Challenge Group??

Click Here!!!

Mini Ham (or Turkey Sausage) and Cheese Quinoa Cups

First of all, Mini Ham (or Turkey Sausage) and Cheese Quinoa Cups might be my new favorite thing on the planet. I may or may not have squealed with delight when they came out of the oven. THEY ARE SO CUTE!!!! :D

They’re basically mini frittatas containing eggs, egg whites, cooked quinoa, shredded zucchini, cheddar cheese, and diced ham. Can’t get enough. ;)

Makes 28 mini cups

Ingredients:
2 cups cooked quinoa (about 3/4 cup uncooked)
2 eggs
2 egg whites
1 cup zucchini, shredded
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 cup diced ham (I substitue turkey sausage)
1/4 cup parsley, chopped
2 Tablespoons parmesan cheese
2 green onions, sliced
salt & pepper

Directions: 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and mix to combine. Liberally spray a mini muffin tin with non-stick spray and spoon mixture to the top of each cup. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the edges of the cups are golden brown. Let cool for at least 5 minutes before removing from the mini muffin tin.
2. TO FREEZE: Place baked cups on a baking sheet then freeze until solid and transfer to a freezer bag. Microwave for 20-40 seconds depending on how many you’re reheating.
3. FOR REGULAR-SIZED MUFFIN TINS: Bake for 25-30 minutes (Note: I have not tried this myself, although several readers have left comments saying this works!)

The 21 Day Fix EXTREME is here!!!!

It's here!!!! The release of the 21-Day Fix EXTREME was Monday!!! So what makes this so... extreme? Here's a break down of the similarities and differences of this new workout:

Similarities:

• 21 day program
• 30 minute workouts
• Autumn (of course!)
• a modifier in each workout 
• color coded food containers for portion control

Differences:

• weights and/or bands used in EVERY workout (even Pilates!)
• stricter meal plan (sorry! no more wine or zings for 21 days)
• Autumn's "Countdown to Competition" 21 day meal plan in addition to the regular meal plan
• more difficult workouts and all new moves with only 10 second breaks instead of 30 seconds

Who is this for? 

• 21-Day Fix graduates
• people who are already physically fit and are looking for a more extreme workout 
• anyone looking to get in some serious shape for summer :) 

You don't need to be a 21-Day Fix graduate to do the 21-Day Fix Extreme. 

Check out Adam and Lauren's 21-Day Fix Extreme results!! 

If you know me at all then you know I was one of the first people to order this on Monday (at least that's what I'm telling myself) :) Summer is coming up too soon to wait any longer than I have to!

I'll be running a private group for everyone who will be joining this group with me. I will only be selecting a few serious people to work with, so please contact ME if you're ready to get crazy results like these!

*As always, if you're vegetarian  vegan and/or gluten-free I can help you customize this to work for you!

Crazy right!? Alright, let's do this!! Here's where you can get your copy so you can start with me asap!

If your HEART is in your DREAMS, no request is too EXTREME!

I feel like I’m starting to say this every month, but I can’t believe how fast time is flying; it’s January 10th already! The start of a new month and year is a great time for reflection and goal setting. A time to be totally honest with ourselves. Despite me having this blog, a blog following my journey to a healthier, fitter me; Despite working out and eating healthily on and off, I have gained a stone since October. Ironic, isn’t it?

October 11th, 2014 *the most magical day of my life* I got married!!! Which brought cake, alcohol and treats. That was closely followed by Thanksgiving, Christmas, and EVERY person in my family having a birthday which brought even more treats and indulgences. Many of us gain a few pounds over the Christmas period, with us vowing  to undo the damage and get in shape come January. However, for me December for people like me (teachers) comes weeks off which in turn means lying around all day in an attempt to stay warm. On the outside I appeared fine, but on the inside I struggled to find the motivation to care or look after myself once again. I sought comfort from the temporary highs that junk and sugar-laden foods provide.

Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t constantly gorging on bad foods for 2-3 months. I still did my healthy food shops and still worked out....occasionally. But I no longer had the balance right. I ate too much, even when I ate healthy foods and I wasn’t consistent with my workouts. My metabolism slowed, my appetite increased, my cravings were relentless and my motivation weakened. That leaves me here, where I am today; Sitting pretty at a stone heavier than before the wedding.

Sure, I don’t like what I see in the mirror, I don’t like taking full length pictures, I don’t enjoy clothes that I did a few months ago and my trouble areas have become slightly troublesome. BUT I do not hate my body and I refuse to beat myself up about it. How I have felt and reacted these past few months have been a learning curve. The way my body looks right now IS temporary and I have the tools and knowledge to improve my body. So, here’s what I’m going to do:

1. EAT CLEAN

I will eat clean, wholesome, unprocessed foods with one cheat meal a week where I will eat whatever I want. This is what works best for me, my body loves and needs good, clean foods and my sanity and social life need a cheat meal to help me keep on track and not force me into becoming a hermit. I find it easiest when I have a meal plan and I shall be writing my own. I know how to eat healthily, I know what I like to eat and I know what I can afford, so I’m taking charge.
P.S. Don’t worry if you’re just starting out, or are not sure how to eat healthily. I want YOU to know that eating healthy isn't about being PERFECT. It's not an all or nothing deal.

2. SWEAT IT OUT

Whilst you can lose weight by eating healthily alone, you can’t get a sculpted, toned or fit body without working it out. Up until this point I have been focusing on toning up whenever I workout. Now, I am going to focus on building muscle. I want to maintain what I have worked hard to get to but I would like to shed the layer of fat that I accumulated over the holidays while shaping and building my muscles. In essence I want to turn my body into a lean machine! I will be upping my weight training from practically zero, to 3-4 times a week to start off with, whilst still doing cardio and body weight strength training, focusing on increasing my strength.

3. PAY ATTENTION TO MY EMOTIONS

I have allowed my emotions to control my head and used them as an excuse when I ate badly. “I feel tired, I need a sugar hit”, “I feel like crap, so I'm not going to workout tonight”, “I can’t be bothered to cook, let me order takeout”. I’m sure I’m not alone in feeling like this sometimes. But, eating the right foods will give us consistent energy throughout the day, working out will give us endorphins and being prepared with healthy, nutritious foods will ensure we won’t reach for the takeout. I am going to work on getting the balance right so that a genuine want takes the place of a craving.

4. BLOG!

I started this blog as a way of tracking my progress, keeping me accountable and sharing what I learn with you beautiful people. However, I am not a hypocrite so I will never blog about nutritious smoothies and salads whilst I’m eating a greasy pizza. I believe in practice what you preach. On top of that I work a full time job and blog as a hobby and often find I don’t have the time to blog. However, just as I make time to workout, to cook and to see friends, I can make time to blog. Besides, sharing my progress with you guys will keep me on track and help me to feel like I’m not doing this alone.

So there we have it, I may currently not be in the best shape I've been in ever but I'm certainly not in the worst shape I've ever been in. I am finally ready to stop leaning on the self-destruct button and become the best I have ever been. What are your goals/plans for 2015?

Page 1 of 365

The first day of a new year is special yet it holds no magic.  We resolve to be better, do better, and wake up tired and, often, hungover.  We commit to healthier lives on December 31st and spend the evening having fun, but not truly being kind to our bodies, and we find ourselves at IHOP for a New Years brunch nursing a raging headache.  

The first day of this new year is special.  It truly is.  We dedicate this year as our year.  We will be healthier.  We will be happier.  We will get out of debt, make more time for family, finally do a mud run, volunteer more, lose twenty pounds, be nicer to people, quit smoking.  We will make it happen this year.  After nearly two months of taking an extra cookie, having that third glass of eggnog, skipping that workout, we are ready to take charge and make real changes.

You should always have goals.  You should always keep your dreams close.  Resolutions are critical to improving ourselves.  It's true that most people will not keep their resolution.  We make the same resolutions year after year without ever succeeding.  We continue to make those same goals because they mean something to us.  We truly want these changes in our lives and yet, we continue to fall short.

I've had the same resolution for years and then in 2014 I made a specific and manageable goal.  A target I knew that I could easily hit.  This goal, be positive every day, was easy.  I'm not much of a Debbie Downer but there were times, a bad day, someone cut you off, etc. that it was tempting to just see the negative. I didn't, though. I made it 365 days being positive about something. What I found is that there is ALWAYS something to be POSITIVE about and it makes me a better person. I have other goals that I want to achieve.  However, now they seem a bit more accessible because I've actually kept a New Years Resolution from start to finish.  

Yet it holds no magic.  January 1st is just another day.  It is a day when plans are made and goals are set but the day is still only a day.  I woke up this morning later than I wanted, sore from yoga class, and puffy from a sodium rich dinner.  My house still needs cleaning, the trash still needs to go out, the litter box still needs to be scooped, and the fridge is empty.  Nothing in our life changes so drastically from December to January that makes this day any different from another. Yet, we expect amazing things to happen today.  We expect to wake up and feel better.  We expect that we'll actually want to get the juicer out of storage and give our bodies amazing food.  We expect to be happier... but it's just another day.  

Debbier Downer, right?  Not at all.  We are responsible for everything that happens in our lives.  We are responsible for filling the fridge with food, we are responsible for cleaning the house, we are responsible for making our resolutions, and YOU are responsible for achieving it!  There is nothing magical about January 1st aside from it being the ultimate Monday.  I'll start on Monday, we always say.  Well, here's your Monday.  It's the Ultimate Monday.

If your goal is to get fit, then go to the gym, pop in a video, and workout!  If your goal is to eat better, pick up an apple.  If your goal is financial, be it getting out of debt, paying off a car, or anything else money related, get on the phone with your bank and creditors now.  Making a resolution is great but you must take the next step.  Be present in the process.  Don't sit back and wish it would get better. Actively make the change.  And remember, there will be problems.  You will make mistakes.  It will be hard at times.  If it were easy you would have done it already.  Stay positive.  You've got 365 days to make 2015 absolutely amazing.  Start today and be proud of the changes you make.  Take responsibility and be the best you that you can be.  Happy New Year!!