Progress is Progress- Just Keep Swimming!!

As you move thru your fitness journey you are going to go thru may different emotions.

It is so easy to get discouraged and want to see instant results.  But the hard facts are - it takes time and effort.  That's REALITY.

Honor and respect yourself for the work you are putting in daily!  Rome wasn't built in a day is not a cliche.  It's truth.  Part of this process is about changing your mindset - I know we all have goals for our bodies.  I'm no different.  But how about looking at the things we are able to accomplish or like about ourselves too during this process!?  That's a unique thought for sure.  We are so conditioned to see the flaws. 

Those things you dislike about yourself will begin to fade as you work every day to improve. But I'm here to tell you bluntly, it takes time. If you put your head down, TRUST THE PROCESS, do the work. It will happen. You'll pass by the mirror one day and say "Wait? Is that ME!!"  Every step you take towards improving your health and nutrition is a step in the right direction. 

I struggle with my workouts most days because I push myself out of my comfort zone. I have learned that simply I HAVE ALOT TO LEARN!  Just when I think I've mastered a move or get a little full of myself I get a reality check as a reminder! 

Do I get discouraged and want to come down on myself?  ABSOLUTELY. But what I have learned is next time, I will try harder and likely do better.  That is growth. So when I can actually hold Crow Pose for more than 0.5 seconds, or when I manage to balance in Half Moon I take that as a win and move on. 

On the days when I'm SO exhausted and I just can't get that extra push up in like I did the week before, am I disappointed?  Yes, do I let it define me?  No way!  I just do what I can for that day. I'm WAY TOO SMART to beat myself up!  I'm an accomplished woman and I'll be damned if I'm gong to let something I'm doing to improve my life become a negative experience!

More importantly because this journey is mine, I'm not competing against anyone but myself. I enjoy the process, I've learned a lot about myself and what I'm capable of. YOU WILL TOO!! That is what is so exciting for me!  Because I'm not some super athlete or competing for an Olympic event (there is nothing wrong with that BTW!), I'm TRAINING FOR DAILY LIFE!  I have two active l kids and work full time, I have pets, family and friends. I like to give back and work with favorite charities. My plate is FULL!  I couldn't do it all if i didn't have my health.

What ever your reasons are, be kind to yourself along the way. Just like the nutrition, you will not stick tonit ifnitnisntje taste good.  You have to learn how to cook.  Learn how to be good to yourself too, your more likely to keep going strong if your biggest daily cheerleader is YOU!  (And me!  Because I'll be here cheering for you too!!)

Keep up the AMAZING with Warriors, we fight another day!!  

Apple a Day Protein Shake

Sometimes I run out of our Results & Recovery and Shakeology (the horror) and have to improvise. This is another way I do that!  Enjoy!

Blueberry Bliss R&R

Tropical Berry R&R

Ripped Raspberry R&R

So I'm running SO LOW on my supplements!! ARGHHH!!! But I found a stash of R&R I had from traveling!! SCORE! Only problem is now it's gone!! Come on Home Direct!! Anyway, enjoy!! It was Delicious!

Lemon Pepper Roast Turkey Breast

One of my FAVORITE recipes is roast turkey.  I have to admit that I didn't cook a whole lot before cleaning up my nutrition. 

First and foremost you need a good roasting pan. Preheat your oven to 325, per your labels roasting directions. 

Next I LOVE my roasting rack. It positions Your bird very nicely and if you are ambitious enough to roast the WHOLE bird you don't have to tie and truss it.  You'll notice the pan is lined. I use foil lined parchment. This speeds clean up big time. No pan scrubbing!  I AINT GOT TIME FOR THAT!! 

Next are my tools of the trade!  A lemon reamer, Mrs. Dash Lemon Pepper, Grapeseed Oil and lemons!  I wash the turkey breast out well, and set it on my roasting rack. I lightly baste it with the Grapeseed Oil (you can use olive oil too etc.. ). I squeeze some cut lemons over the bird and stuff the used halves in the body cavity. I sprinkle the skin with Mrs. Dash and finally pour about 2-3 cups of water into the pan. This helps the humidity in the oven and makes for a juicy bird. 

Prepped and ready for the foil tent!! 

You defiantly need a foil tent for about 2/3 of the cooking process. Otherwise the skin will burn.  Then I remove the foil and the skin browns nicely. 

While I won't eat the skin. My kids and husband may have some and they DO enjoy it. 

I can't explain how moist and delicious this turkey is!  The key is in the slow roast and the citrus really gives it amazing flavor.  This was about a 9lb. bird. That will definitely last me the week and then some!  

Carve, portion out and ENJOY!!

Rescue Remedy

Sometimes you get too happy at Happy Hour!  Too much bad food, too much wine.... Whatever. So clean it up and start again!!  Enjoy!

Strawberry Fields

Nothing like fruits of the season to pump up your Shakeology! The best thing about THIS!  You can have it all year, just buy fresh frozen strawberries!! The Chia gives it a bit of crunch too. My Vitamix does a pretty good job of crushing things up so I don't blend as aggressively. Blend away!! XO

Cinnamon Banana Bread Shakeology

The kids helped me name this one too!  I love to use in season fruit as well as my leafy greens-- which I realize now I left out of the written receipe!  2 Handfuls of Baby Spinach please!  I swear this tastes HEAVENLY!! Enjoy!

Coffee Cake Shakeology

Meal Prep! Set yourself up for SUCCESS!

This is defiantly an area that took me a L O N G time to master!  And I still fall off the wagon from time to time.  But honestly it makes all the difference in your success.

So- will you become an overnight expert?? Probably not and that's OK. What is important is you find your way, experiment, try different receipes and SHARE!  If you are in one of my challenge groups, this is where you can get some FABULOUS ideas!  Step out of your comfort zone!  

So I'll give you some tips here abut what I use and do. Maybe they will help you too. 

To start you really need to plan your shopping trip. What foods do you require to achieve your goals?  Are you following a nutrition plan?  More importantly what do you think you would like to eat for the next week?  We are cooking for the week here so you want to have what you need and make sure it's palatable. 

One of my best secrets is the use of FRESH FROZEN veggies!! Did you know that these veggies are frozen right at the peak of their ripeness?? What does that mean to you?  That means they have the MOST nutrition packed into them, and are just waiting for you to pop them in the microwave and eat. Fresh veggies in season should be a go to. But they are not available year round. This also makes meal prep easier when you can steam on bag too!  Most grocery stores have their own brands for a great discount over the name brands. 

Another must have is a good shaker cup for your Shakeology of course!  What an easy grab and go?  All you need is water and you have some serious nutrition at your finger tips!

Then there are other mechanical blenders for smoothies and shakes with fruit or leafy greens. 

I love my Oster blender from Walmart!  A very economical choice over many blenders. 

It also comes with a sport top so you can blend and go or even take it with you. I've used mine for over 2 years with no issues and I have several sport bottles which can be purchases individually. 

My all time FAVORITE blender is my Vitamix!  Now this is a far more pricey option but it is worth it!! This is how I get to blend my fruits and leafy greens into my shakes. LOVE IT!  I am huge fan of eating your vitamins in the form of whole foods. This makes it so much easier to mix it up and get what you need!  Especially dark leafy greens like baby spinach and kale which is loaded with Vitamens A,C, and K. 

This particular mixer was found at a William Sonoma Outlet and was Certified Refurbished by the Culinary Institute of America. Guess what?  It was less the. 1/2 price because of that!  

I think it's a piece worth saving for. When it comes to your health pay now or pay later!

What makes my cooked dishes taste SO FAB without the extra sodium???  Mrs Dash. 

This defiantly made things MUCH tastier!  I could not stick to eating bland food. Girlfriend needs flavor!!j These beauties have saved me. I sprinkle them in my portioned out protein and veggies and it kicks it up a notch... BAM!!

Another meal prep lesson is you need your good fats to cook and season with. EVOO and Grapeseed are two of my go to oils. You can get infused Grapeseed oil as well with garlic for instance which is DELICIOUS!  This is where you get a little adventurous!  You need to eat fat to burn fat. Choose wisely. 

I put a tablespoon of oil in all my portioned out foods. 

This is just the start of meal planning, a taste to ease you along your way.   Get your groove on and get to PREPPING!! 

HUNGOVER and the Walk of Shame

Not the hungover you thought is it!! Let me start out by saying that nothing is perfect!! I struggle like everybody with nutrition and exercise. What I will say is when you start and stop as much as I have over the years you begin to understand what it means to eat clean and what effect that has on your body. That is not to say that you cannot have treats or cheat meal from time to time. And I'm surely no different.  

So I had a date with Ben & Jerry's last night. And like every date with a bad boyfriend,  it started out REALLY well. I had self-control, everything was going fine I was going to be home on time (put it back in the refrigerator) and I'm sure it wasn't going to be a big deal. Yeah, no, that didn't happen. Instead, I woke up my hair a mess, I didn't know where I was, I had nightmares all night,  crawling out of bed, where the heck did my phone go, let me grab my shoes as I do the walk of shame to the kitchen. 

Now seriously, I'm not kidding. I couldn't get out of my own way!! And I should know better because sugar does that to me. And I could've stopped. But I didn't! I also know that one indiscretion doesn't make me a nutrition "Ho-bag". This is not  going to deep-sixed my progress. I just have to pick up where I left off.  Simple as that. 

My point to all this is you need to understand what your real normal is. What does it feel like to eat clean for a long period of time and be consistent?? If you do that then you'll realize how some foods affect you negatively. You get to know your own body. And make the choice of whether really is worth it. Sometimes we eat so bad for so long that we think that is normal. 

Stay focused, stay consistent, and you won't be doing the walk of shame in the morning like I did!!

Oh dear Lord I am SORE!!!

THIS is today's workout.  And I have to be honest. It's day 6 and I feel like I was beaten by a baseball bat!!  I continue to be in awe of how a 30 minute workout could wreck me like this!!

I'm no beginner in the world of P90X either!  I finished 2 rounds of it, (granted they were 2 years apart and I became SO unhealthy in between but that's another story) the last being just 2 weeks ago. 

So here I go, tired, sore, very nervous about what this next one is going to do to me.... 

Action Packed Blueberry Shakeology

Let me tell you I LOVE my Shakeology. And what I love more is kicking it up a notch with seasonal berries, chia and spinach. Cannot get enough of those leafy greens!! Drink your vitamins people!! 

Friday night and I BROUGHT IT!!

So funny what happens to your Friday nights. But if you're going to live the fit life your priorities have to change. That's not to say you're not going to go out with your friends. But this mean something to me. And if I can't get it in first thing in the morning, I have to readjust my day. I wouldn't go with day without brushing my teeth (twice a day with flossing!!) my but I miss my work out. YOU ARE WORTH IT!  even with a crazy busy life. This is what's going to make it better!!  

Get this party STARTED!

First Blog Post EVER!

Lets get this PARTY STARTED!! I  am on a journey- to reclaim my health and fitness!  The process is a transformation and I'm an open book!

Luckily I have some experience here since I've done this before. And also back slid and come back again!  My goal is to make these changes PERMANENT this time!  No joke!  

But with a Full Time job, family, pets etc… this is an UPHILL battle.  One I just can't ignore anymore.  

Because I'm worth it!!  I have to devote the time because in the long run I know it will benefit me.  

So a few things about me:

• I'm a happily married mom of 2 kids (boy 9 and girl 6).

• Animal Family Members: 

2 dogs, a mutt, Roxy and a Retired Greyhound, Bolt. [I'm PASSIONATE about pet adoption]

• 3 horses, Mabel a Clydesdale, Chiquita a Mini Horse, and Gidget.




• 14 Chickens! 

So that is just a little bit about myself!  I want to share my journey and what drives me to help other people find out that they DO have time for themselves!  You have to MAKE IT!!  We can be successful togther!