Shakeology Breakfast Bars

Love this recipe!  I was looking for something  to switch things up a bit and this is a WINNER!  You can sub the raisins for Craisins and the Almond Milk with plain water as well.  I only had regular Shakeology on hand as well, not vegan. 

Another tip is to spray the pan with non-stick spray.  I used Coconut oil and I also sprayed a sheet of wax paper to help press them into the pan with less mess.  Give them a try and.... Enjoy!!

Challenge Groups WORK!

So if you told me that I would EVER post my before pictures when I took them, I would have told you NO WAY!  But now I'm so proud of, not only how far I have come, but the hard proof of how these programs work.

What was my secret? I can't lie it is all.....

W O R K!

There is no miracle pill, or crazy plastic wrap.  It takes the right calories in and work.  Now at one point in my life I would have believed it would take no less than 3 hours per day to achieve results.  But another wonderful thing that comes with age is the wisdom of working smarter, not harder.  I work out no more than 30 minutes per day.  PERIOD.  I think any of us can find 30 minutes in our day.  

You can achieve balance in your life, at home, work, school, time for family, time for yourself!

One thing I will say is that I LOVE that I have a blueprint for success.  And not only is it realistic but its manageable.  The difference in my fitness journey was joining a private Challenge Group!  That held me accountable and gave me a safe place to ask questions and learn tips and tricks I didn't have before.  We were in it together, through the ups and downs.  If they did get off track we were there to listen and help plan how they could find their way back.  

If you would like to know more about my Challenge Groups and how you can begin your fitness journey, reach out to me 
-----> HERE.

Fill out my online form.

There are tons of Wufoo features to help make your forms awesome.

Ultimate Reset Week 3 Review AND Results

This was my week 3 on the Ultimate Reset. If you want to know what the Ultimate Reset can do for you click and see a video on the clinical study ----> HERE!

In this phase you move into an all vegan menu. It wasn't that big of a transition after week 2. I continued to feel amazing and again relied heavily on the Reset in a Crunch during this week. I truly loved the fruit for breakfast. As well as the Miso Soup and Micro Green salads. It was all amazing.




The supplements change slightly, no more Detox or fiber supplement. Still lots of water. There was the addition of Revitalize.

My Experience/Results Week 3

Food was further simplified by the removal of grains and legumes from the menu. The meals mainly consisted of fruit and vegetables. My energy level was surprisingly really good. I still can't believe I have made it 3 entire weeks without coffee! That in itself is a miracle! Herbal tea was my wheelhouse and for my "treat" it was Starbucks Pineapple Kona Pop. That will be another regular in the rotation for me moving forward.


Remember that you are supposed to do minimal exercise. Stretching, light Yoga or walking. At this point I was getting anxious because I really do want to get back to my sweat. But with my injury I also didn't want to sacrifice my knee or foot further.


We did go out to eat during week three but I found THE most awesome Restaurant EVER G-Zen in Branford, Connecticut! They are amazing and if I had not done the Ultimate Reset I would not have truly appreciated the flavors and work that goes into making a vegan dish. And he flavor?? It was OUTSTANDING! It was in Vegan heaven. For Week 3 I avoided the rice, but the rest... well it was amazing!

I have five words for you... Raw Lemon Lavender Vegan Cheesecake. Do you notice there is no picture? Yeah, I ate every bit of it. Cashew based and beyond fabulous! I have to learn how to craft something as decadent as this. In the meantime I'll be returning to G-Zen many times in the future!





The rest of the week was basic in terms of the delicious salads, Miso and my favorite Wakame seaweed. I felt lighter and my skin looks fantastic. I sleep like a baby and no stomach upset, at all. It has made me aware that I really was eating so many more processed foods that I thought I was and how they made me feel. I think I fully expected to feel starving and lightheaded over this three week period.... Guess what. I did not!! I really felt nourished for the first time ever. I learned so much about cooking and tried so many different vegetables and foods I would never have known existed.

It was a culinary adventure! Now you won't ever get me to eat fennel bulb, cabbage or collard greens again. The taste did not agree with me one bit. My husband however, devoured everything I made. So I kicked those out of the rotation.

As for Vegetables? Fresh kicks frozen's ASS!! Yes I'm swearing.... because I didn't think it made that much of a difference. But YES it DOES!

Result Time

So what were my physical overall results? Here they are! My main goal was to maintain my weight loss and muscle gain from my last round of 21 Day Fix. Well I DESTROYED my goal!! I never imagined I would lose over 10lbs on this plan ever.


Not only did I lose pounds and inches but I also lost FAT! About 9 lbs of my loss was fat alone! That amazed me! I had a fear that I would lose much of the muscle I built. This was NOT the case!! If anything I was finally able to shed that layer of fat that was covering up my progress! The pictures don't lie!


The inches I lost came mainly from my bust (2") and my legs (another 6") and I lost another inch off my waist!!

This has been an incredible experience. At the beginning I would never have thought I'd even consider doing the Reset on a regular basis. However now, I think that I may do it annually.

If you have any questions about my experience ask them in the comments below. You can reach out to me as well if you are interested in learning more about this program or any other Beachbody programs by clicking -----> HERE

I would love to have you be part of a Challenge Group, you can reach out to me by filling out the form below, or checkout my Facebook Page!

Fill out my online form.

Vegan Strawberry Delight!

1 Scoop Vegan Strawberry Shakeology

1 C Honey Dew Melon Diced

10 oz. Water

Ice 

Blend to desired smoothness. 

How to make your own miso soup!

This is a dish that I have come to love!  White miso paste is readily available at your local whole foods store. There are many other alternative grocery stores that you can find it in as well. They sell me so powder in the supermarket but I think you lose many of the health benefits of actual live miso paste. 

The four stages of making your own miso soup!  You start with: 

1 TBSP of White Miso Paste

2 TBSP of dry Wakeme seaweed

1 Diced Green Onion

Next add 2 cups boiling water

(I heat mine in a teakettle)

Then you let the magic begin as the seaweed rehydrates into lovely flat noodles like pieces. I season with a dash of Braggs liquid amino's (A better for you so I sauce alternative) and Himalayan salt. ENJOY!!

Ultimate Reset Week 2 Review

So here I would go, into Week 2 of The Ultimate Reset.   This is a Video Link for what the Reset can do for you ----> HERE!

So there is NO misunderstanding, Week 1 was definitely a challenge for me.  Not just because it was a different way of eating but I really felt like things were being taken away from me.  I realized pretty quickly that this was mostly in my head than in reality. I had plenty of food and could choose what meals I preferred over others.  With that said, I wanted to try as many of the recipe's in the Reset as possible and wanted to be open to the entire experience.  
By Week 2 I had Meal Prep under control.  I knew what things I could get ready in advance to help smooth the week along.  I also relied upon the Reset in a Crunch guide as well because I knew I would be traveling later in the week.  I needed to get my head around that since I really wanted to stay consistent in my progress and not head too far off course.  I explored options for dressings and packed my Shakeology for my afternoon snack.  I made sure to bring my own water bottle and supplements too.  

Week 2 you are moving away from animal proteins and more into legumes, grains and vegetables.  Chickpeas, pinto beans, brown rice and lentils.  

I found the Miso was something that I really loved as well as the Wakame Seaweed.  Both were easy to travel with and bring along.  I knew I'd be able to find salad's that would also fit into the plan.  finally, as long as I had my Vegan Shakeology, I knew I would have the dense nutrition I needed no matter where I was.   

My Experience/Results Week 2

So traveling added some complexity, as well as the fact that it was a celebration.  I stayed on track with salads, supplements and my water intake.  I did enjoy some celebratory beverages and a little off plan deserts one night.  I still managed to continue to lose and was at the 10 lb. loss stage at the end of Week 2!  I'd say it was a SUCCESS!

Airport Salad! Winning!

I don't think I've experienced this level of regular results in a VERY long time!  And on top of it, I am learning SO much about clean eating and how these foods impact my mood and health.

I wake in the morning feeling refreshed, not bloated.  My skin looks AH-MAZE-ING, even without makeup, I'm literally glowing!!  That is a shock since I have struggled with my skin my entire life!  

This week there was an addition to the supplements of "Detox".  This was a fiber based drink you had to take 3 times a day.  The first answer I will tell you is, NO it did not make some horrible after effect at all!  LOL!  This isn't a chemical laxative.  Its a natural fiber supplement so it aids in removal of toxins and waste.  You don't have to panic it will cause gassiness etc... most of the foods at this stage, in my experience did non of that.  That was another wonderful experience. Not feeling stomach sick or bloated!!  

I always felt GREAT!  Satisfied, not starving and not overly stuffed.  I think that we lose touch with how we are supposed to feel since we get so used to overeating.  We don't know what "normal" is anymore!

I'll echo what I said in Week 1- I have learned to SLOW THE HELL DOWN!  When you are cooking like this and eating mass quatity of salads etc..., you just have to.  One thing that really stuck with me... your stomach doesn't have teeth!! We are so used to gulping down our food we actually cause issues for our digestive track and stress it out.  

Also, we don't need to drink lots of water while eating.  Dilution of stomach acids while eating can actually cause gas and bloating.  

There are so many great things that I have learned again in Week 2, it's been an eye opener.  I actually love giving myself permission to slow down, without distraction and eat my meals.  It's been very peaceful and rewarding.  We are always so rushed, and I wanted to enjoy the fruits of my labor.  So what do I miss so far?  Oh my coffee for sure!! I just love it and I can't lie that I miss it.  But I have been sleeping like  a ROCK and that is something that I haven't done in years.  So I think the caffeine will be something that I'll have to introduce back gradually for sure!  I have to say I do like the occasional red meat, so that also is something I crave but it's in no way overwhelming to the point that I would cave at this juncture.  Ask me after Week 3! 

More to come!  Message me if you want more info on The Ultimate Reset and how you can join me in my journey!

Sore Muscles - What can you do?

So I have been working out intensely for the past year and I still experience muscle soreness!  2 Half Marathon's, P90X, P90X3 and 21 Day Fix to name a few!  I got a taste of  Combat and Max 30 Sweat intervals too! When you switch up your workouts you still work your muscles in a different way!  So instead of taking a rest day and using that as an excuse not to workout.  I chose a workout that did not target my lower body.  Instead doing an upper body workout.  I did some research about working out and muscle soreness since so many of my Challenger's experience it when they start my Accountability Groups. Who isn't sore from working out at one point or another.  It's best to know how to handle this discomfort. It's common for beginners to experience muscle soreness that lasts for a week or two, just as seasoned exercisers will be sore after a tough work out. Yes, you should keep working out even though you are sore, but there is more to it than that. The only way to avoid muscle soreness is to not workout at all!  And that is certainly not going to get you that body you envision in your mind!

Muscle soreness has two primary causes. The first soreness you experience happens during your workout ("the burn") and should subside within a couple of hours. This is caused by lactic acid production. When you are training and your muscles are not getting enough oxygen (anaerobic glycolysis), lactic acid builds up. You can break down lactic acid by continuing to move and by doing light aerobic exercise (such as walking) after your workout. This is why cool-downs are so important, especially for beginners. The longer you cool down, the faster that lactic acid will leave the muscles (typically within an hour).

This is where rest comes in. You absolutely must rest the muscles you worked for 1-2 days after a workout. Take at least one day off between strength training sessions, and if you are still very sore, take 2 days off. (This means from lifting, not from all exercise such as cardio). If you don't let your muscles recover and repair, they will continue to break down and you will actually get weaker. 

Soreness Prevention

2. Stretch after a warm-up, during your workout, and after you are done. Only stretch when your muscles are already warm from some kind of light activity.

Your muscles need protein for repair and growth, and your body needs some carbs to replenish its glycogen stores. Truth be told, after a hard workout your body is like the plant in Little Shop of Horrors: It's crying "Feed me!" and it won't take no for an answer. Remember, right before exercise you have to consider the time it takes to digest food, so you need to go light. But post-workout is the ideal time to have a full meal. So what's the best meal, or combination of foods, to have post-workout? 

Benefits:

• Dextrose-based formula for optimum glycogen replenishment*

• A high Protein Efficiency Ratio (PER) blend to provide the critical building blocks for rapid muscle resynthesis*

• Vitamins, including antioxidants, to help reduce muscle soreness and assist in repair and growth*

The fat in boneless, skinless chicken is mostly monounsaturated. Only 1.1 grams of the 4 grams of fat in 4 ounces of chicken is saturated fat. The vegetables provide carbs and fiber. If you like, you can have half of a sweet potato with the meal and a spoonful of olive oil and/or almonds on the vegetables.

Breakfast Anytime: Egg Omelet with Avocado

Eggs are just about the best source of protein on the planet. Mix with as many vegetables as you like for a perfect meal. Hint: I also stir-fry a sliced apple into the mix. Serve with avocado for a nice dose of fiber and monounsaturated fat.

At the Gym: Whey Protein Shake

I consider whey protein powder the best protein powder available. You can mix whey powder with frozen berries (my favorite) and water, or with almost any combination of ingredients; I've thrown in a spoonful or two of peanut butter, oatmeal or sliced apple, or made it plain with water. All work. The whey provides the protein; the berries provide the carbs. (You can of course make the shake with milk or almond milk, but watch out for the calories. I don't recommend making shakes with juice.)

The Three S's: Salmon, Spinach and Sweet Potato

Here's the ideal balanced meal. Wild salmon for protein and omega-3s, spinach for the cornucopia of vitamins and minerals (including the superstar of eye nutrition, lutein), and a sweet potato for slow-burning carbohydrates. It's an almost perfect meal. You can add a little flaxseed oil (or olive oil or butter) to the sweet potato or even sprinkle it with almonds, but watch your portion size: While these additions are all brimming with health, they're also high-calorie items.

Bodybuilder's Delight: Tuna, Brown Rice and Vegetables

You can't go to a "hard core" gym without seeing a bodybuilder eating this old classic from a Tupperware container. A single can of light tuna canned in water and drained provides an astonishing 42 grams of high-quality protein for under 200 calories. That same can has more than 100 percent of the daily value for niacin, 29 percent of the daily value for vitamin B6 and 82 percent of the daily value for vitamin B12. And tuna is a superb source of the vitally important cancer-protective trace mineral selenium. Add some brown rice for fiber and carbs, load up with the vegetables and you're good to go.

Sometimes....no pain, no gain! Take care of yourself!

The type of muscle soreness you are experiencing, up to a day or two (and sometimes even three) after your workout is known as DOMS (Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness). DOMS is caused by microscopic tears inside the muscles, resulting from weight-training or fully exhausting the muscles during cardio. This is normal. Again, beginners will be more sore and usually for longer, but if you really worked as hard as you should have during a weight-lifting session, you should be somewhat sore for the next day or two.

To help prevent soreness in the future, and alleviate some of it now, be sure to:  1. Always warm-up for 5-10 minutes and cool-down for at least 5 minutes. 2. Stay active. The more your muscles move, the faster they will recover from exercise and soreness. If you choose to rest completely instead of "actively recovering" with light exercise, you'll probably be sore longer. 3. Hydrate!  Your muscles can't get rid of that lactic acid unless you DRINK WATER! This is something that people need to get their heads around.  You need at minimum per day half your body weight in water.    If you are working out?  You need more.

 I learned  a couple techniques after running my half marathons that made a big difference.  One is the use a foam roller regularly as a part of my cool down. This is particularly helpful for me after a long run or after I start a new type of exercise or a new weight training routine. Plus it just feels amazing to stretch out your muscles.  The key is to find the sore spot and lay on it.  So use the foam roller find the hot spot and just sink into it slowly moving back and forth almost giving yourself a massage!  Feel the knots and tension melt away!  Second, Epsom Salts and a warm bath!! My FAVORITE!  Usually about a cup of Epsom Salts in a warm bath, stir it around until it dissolves and ENJOY!  Its like bringing the spa to your home. Studies have show that magnesium and sulfate are both readily absorbed through the skin, making Epsom salt baths an easy and ideal way to enjoy this benefit.  Magnesium plays a number of roles in the body including regulating the activity of over 325 enzymes, reducing inflammation , helping muscles and nerve function and helping to prevent artery hardening.  Sulfate helps improve the absorption of the nutrients, flush toxins and help ease migraine headaches!!

Nutrition to Alleviate Soreness
There are some great post workout drinks and foods that you can consume to help reduce the post muscle soreness and help your body to recovery faster.  The most important meal you eat is the one that you have directly after your workout.  for about an hour after your workout, there's a window of opportunity when your muscles are literally starving for nutrients. We call this the golden hour. And the meal you eat at this time is the most important for building muscle and replenishing energy sources.

The first thing your body needs is a nice fresh supply of amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein and are used by your body for making muscles, hormones, neurotransmitters, bones and all sorts of other important things. Exercise depletes critical amino acids such as glutamine, valine, isoleucine and leucine–and the way you replenish your body's supply is with protein. That means meat, chicken, eggs, fish or whey protein powder. The second thing you need is some carbohydrates. Exercise draws upon your body's stores of glycogen, which is the storage form of sugar. Glycogen waits in the liver and the muscles for a signal that sugar is needed: "Hey, she's exercising, let's give her some fuel!" Your body can hold about 1,800 calories of sugar as glycogen, which is plenty to fuel any workout short of a marathon, but athletes do best when their glycogen stores are full, so unless you are on a carb-restricted diet, some slow-burning carbs after working out is a good idea. (Hint: The best carbs are oatmeal, brown rice, grains like quinoa or amaranth, and all vegetables and fruits). 
Shakeology is a great post workout meal.  It has a perfect combination of protein and carbs along with all the essential amino acids and nutrients your body needs to recovery from the workout you just did.  At least you don't have to stand there in the kitchen wondering if what you are eating is the right option.  Instead whip up a shake and go!  It honestly is refreshing and delicious! 
Results and Recovery Drink - R&R is one of my favorite post workout recover drinks.  It tastes so great, you won't believe how good it is for you! When recovering from intense workouts, Results and Recovery Formula will provide you with the vital nutrients you need to bounce back from your workout. And the delicious, smooth orange flavor makes it the perfect post-workout reward.

Chicken and Mixed Vegetables Four ounces of skinless, boneless chicken breast contains almost 35 grams of high-quality protein as well as small amounts of calcium, magnesium, zinc and iron; 255 mg of phosphorus; 287 mg of heart-healthy potassium; and 75 percent of the recommended dietary intake for niacin, a B-vitamin that's important in energy metabolism. One large (6-ounce) chicken breast is even more loaded: It contains more potassium than there is in a medium banana, plus a whopping 53 grams of protein. You can't go wrong with any of those five, or variations thereof. They'll load up your body with the energy needed to refuel and the protein needed to rebuild and repair muscle. Couple them with hard, intense and frequent workouts, and you'll be on the way to the body of your dreams.

12 Ways to Better Eating-Mental Approach

Lots of people are trying to eat better,... trim off some extra pounds gained over the holidays, or get beach-ready for a moment in the sun. Eating better is hard, and many people get frustrated, fall short or give up. Here are some key ways to make your eat better stick.

1. Set Goals: It starts by having clear and realistic goals. Write a list of things you want to change about your diet. Also incorporate goals that you may have regarding your body and plan your diet around those goals. I recommend setting present goals, short term, and long term goals. If you try and do everything all at once you can be overwhelmed and want to quit. Take it one goal at a time if need be, and one day at a time, this isn’t a race. You may also want to write reasons why you want to make a change in your eating habits. You might share your goals with others who will help you meet them. You can put your goals where others can see them “on the fridge, at work” to motivate you to work harder. This will also get others behind you and involved in your new routine. As you achieve your goals, check them off. This will give you a sense of accomplishment and add excitement leading to your next goal.

2. Have Realistic expectations- Any diet plan needs to work with you and not against you. You need to be realistic when setting up the parameters of your new diet. Your plan needs to work for you and your situation. It needs to fit your schedule and your budget. If you don’t follow your budget, your cooking costs will get too high and you will have to withdraw from the diet you set up. If you don’t cook for your schedule and your eating times you will find yourself without food and scrambling to find a healthy choice. So be realistic with time, and give yourself extra time to prepare food, or have food pre-packed. Also know that obstacles can and will come into your path from time to time to derail you and your progress, so don’t think that everything will be easy and will just happen. This takes work.

3. Be Proactive - Make a list of healthy foods you enjoy, and what foods you can take with you to work, in the car, school, etc. You can create entire menus revolving around where you will be at what time of the day. Never give yourself an excuse to not have something available for you to eat, no matter where you are when you are supposed to have a meal. Always keep healthy foods on hand. If you don’t you will probably eat whatever is available at the time whether it be fast food, office treats, etc. This can throw off a diet plan and get you in the habit of making bad food choices and eat whatever is fast and convenient. Know where you will be at what time of the day, when you are open to cook, to eat, to shop for groceries, and plan accordingly. When you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

4. Consistency is key - Most people respond well to consistency. Make a plan and stick to it. Try to eat at around the same times daily and keep to the same portion size and caloric intake.. Your body will recognize this pattern and in turn keep your metabolism burning and your energy levels will stay high. You will feel better, and get in a healthy routine. It is easy to sabotage yourself by grabbing nasty snacks to meet uncontrolled cravings. The time you spend on planning and consistency is a true investment that will benefit you for the rest of your life.

5. Be flexible - Of course, even the best plans fall short at times. Life can sometimes get the best of all of us. Sometimes your eating routines need to change. Where you can, try to plan ahead for these events and have items on hand you can take with you when you’re in a rush or are eating out. Example: Bag of almonds, protein bars and shakes, fresh fruit. Also educate yourself on nutrition through the internet, books, and magazines. You can use this knowledge to help you improvise and find foods that are compatible with your diet, for example if you are out with friends or stuck with no time to cook. Find items that are less time consuming that you can take with you in a pinch.

6. Don’t be so hard on yourself -Nobody is perfect all the time. If you mess up, miss a few meals, or even have a bad couple of days, just pick yourself up and get back on track. You’re doing this for you, and the added stress of not living up to your own expectations can lead to a total diet derailment. Being healthy and eating healthy does not mean you can’t enjoy foods not on your meal plan. So don’t be so hard on yourself. YOU CAN DO IT!

7. Stick with your plan - It takes time to develop healthy behaviors. After about a month of eating better consistently, you will have developed a habit. You will find that everything you initially may have had a hard time doing becomes more effortless and be a normal part of your day to day life.

8. Have fun - Eating right takes dedication, commitment and sacrifice. Don’t stress yourself out over small bumps in the road. You have the power to change any negative into a positive, and you have the choice to have a positive outlook regarding any situation you find yourself in. Find fun ways to keep yourself motivated. Get friends and family involved. Set challenges at home, with friends, or at work to start eating healthier. Take the time to cook and try new and interesting recipes. You are making change for the better, so why not make it enjoyable.

9. Give yourself praise - You are not a dog so don’t reward yourself with treats. Realize that changing your eating habits can be a daunting task for anyone. Just think how long you have had your current habits and know that changing those habits will not happen overnight, but with time. Congratulate yourself on any healthy changes you make, you deserve the praise. Praise builds confidence and makes you feel good about the healthy choices you are making, and in turn help keep you on your path to betterment.

10. Don’t rush into this - People always start with the best of intentions and will try and do everything at once. They get overwhelmed and quit before they really even started. Small changes add up and can make a huge difference. Work on one thing at a time and keep adding to it. Before you know it you will have many healthy habits that incorporate together to make a healthy lifestyle and a healthier and happier you.

11. Focus on the journey and not the destination - To live a healthy lifestyle is never easy. In order to enjoy this lifestyle with all the ups and downs, we must enjoy the process and the journey on the way to our destination. Once we hit our destination we immediately look to the next mountain top and we either want more, or worst case scenario we think that we have accomplished all we need to and we relax on all of the things that got us there in the first place. Take pride in small victories along the way, they add up.

12. Measure Success and Set New Goals: Making successful changes means measuring your progress towards your goals and recognizing your accomplishments. As you meet short-term goals, you can plan the next steps with more confidence. Constantly re-strategizing your goals takes long-term visualization. That long-term vision needs to be broken down into doable steps.

Now go out and make a difference in your life today!!  Did you enjoy this article?  Would you like to receive more support from me on a daily basis?! Ask Me about my next challenge group!  Together we can set goals and achieve them!!

The Ultimate Reset Week 1 Summary

This is my first week on the Ultimate Reset. And I have to say that I went into it with some apprehension. I have done the 3 Day Refresh before this with great results. So I imagined this would be similar. In some ways it is but in other ways it's very different. The 3 Day Refresh mainly being 3 days, could I do 21?? (Video on the Ultimate Reset ----> HERE)

Why Reset?

My reason for choosing this program is because I currently have an injury and I am not supposed to be doing any intense exercise. So I wanted to maintain my results and continue to eat clean. Many people use this program if they're struggling with their health, food cravings, or with their weight. Or even if they've been experiencing low energy and they feel sluggish.


Caffeine is removed as well although you can work with that with some exception. That was going to be tough for me, I don't drink a lot of coffee but LOVE my tea. So herbal tea it is for the next 21 days!






WHAT YOU GET & PHILOSOPHY: So this is what was in the box that showed up with all of these packets, DVD's and booklets. The nice thing about the program is that it come with two DVDs to help you 1. START the program as well as 2. COOK! I have to say that I definitely learned a lot. From as simply as how to make scrambled eggs to how to prepare a micro-green salad. (WTH is a Micro Green Salad? I know now! Picture a little further down the blog.)



Another aspect of the program is the supplements you will take along with your meal plan. This shows which ones you will use while on the Ultimate Reset. As well as what each one does for your body.

For instance, as you can see from the chart you will use Mineralize. Since you drink distilled water you add Mineralize (Himalayan Salt) since the water is stripped down.



The meal plan on this program is key since you are restricted with fitness to light Yoga, Tai Chi, stretching or 20 minute walks.

MY EXPERIENCE/RESULTS WEEK 1: 

So I have completed Phase 1 or the first week of the program called Reclaim. It was a learning curve for sure but I am AMAZED because I LOST 6.8 LBS THE FIRST WEEK. I was fit and in great shape before the program so I honestly did not anticipate a significant weight loss. For someone that is 5'3" that is significant! And I can say I don't feel as though it was a loss of muscle mass since I am eating horse size portions and do not feel starved at all! THAT is enough to motivate me to dig deep and keep going.

The purpose of Phase 1 is to begin to remove the stress on your digestive system to help get your body back into a healthy pH balance. You gradually remove meat from your diet.



This wasn't an issue for me since already curb my use of dairy and many of the vegetarian options they provide are very appealing to me.

Jicama

I will say that the shopping and preparation process for the plan was a challenge at first since it was new to me and I literally didn't know what some of the vegetables or seasonings were. For instance Jicama-- my new BFF. I have eaten it on some of my favorite restaurant dishes and NEVER knew it before! I'd never know that this was what it was looking at it in produce. It's crunchy and has a mild sweetness, and is amazing in salads or on it's own. So, see I'm learning!

BASICS OF THE PLAN: 

You have a list of foods and meals to prepare which make up 3 meals per day. You can have a snack and they give you a list of of foods as well or you can substitute Shakeology. Well I was all in on that because I needed something I didn't have to CHOP to be honest. All the fresh veggies need prepping so you do feel a bit like Bobby Flay or Top Chef. But they, in my opinion, have been DELISH! The only mediocre exception was the Temphe (fermented soy). You can bake it and it wasn't horrible, just not my first pick.

Micro Greens Salad

Water

Then there is the WATER. You need to drink at minimum half your body weight in DISTILLED water per day, optimally a gallon per day. All the water you use to cook should also be distilled. They don't want any impurities in the water and you will use the Mineralize in the water to add essential minerals. 

Finally the Supplements - you take them on a schedule and the important thing is that you take them on an empty stomach so don't get hung up on the timing listed below. Each week comes with a little card you can keep in your caddy to keep you sane and know what to take when.

CONFESSION TIME: 

 Did I cheat at all? Well I didn't completely. But I will say during the first week I did gobble up a baked chicken strip my kids left on their plate, OK 2. But I it was more of a panic moment that I wasn't going to be able to have animal proteins for a while! LOL! Did I have to talk myself out of a tree to NOT eat my daughters Christmas Peppermint Patty?? YES!! This is something that I know about myself. I'm an emotional eater and when I get upset I want to soothe myself with food. I have had to really consciously break myself from that habit and channel it to other things. But doesn't make me immune from it.

I started this on a vacation week so that took the stress out of it somewhat because I didn't have to prepare so militantly as I have in the past. But also I learned that it would take time to make the dinners so I could prepare for the lunches and just know that I'd have to allocate time to making my food.

With that said, preparation is YOUR FRIEND. There is also an AWSOME feature, Reset in a Crunch.


This saved me some days I just could NOT make the recipe listed or had not time. The chart broke it down neatly into what I could have that day that would work. Took the sting out of panic mode when I didn't have all the ingredients or didn't like the options for the day.

Making things ahead like pre-chopping veggies or making the dressing, baking your pumpkin seeds are also key.

One other important fact I learned SLOW THE HELL DOWN! Seriously. The meals do take some time to cook and guess what. That's not a bad thing. I actually found myself connecting more with my family because I COULDN'T DO ANYTHING ELSE BUT COOK. LOL! Really! I joke but I also found that I was taking the time to enjoy what I made and that using different spices made my food taste AH-MAZE-ING. I LOVE that I'm learning so much in this process. It is a process. I'm a soup making fool right now! That Zuchinni/Cashew Soup....OMG- I'm still floored how easy that is and how amazing it tastes!


So I am EXCITED to move into Week 2 and Phase 2 of this program. It has opened up so many new doors for me in my nutrition and knowledge about myself.

Keep following my journey and please ask questions. I won't hold back!!

For more info on the Ultimate Reset check out this video link and let me know if you'd like to know how you can start your journey! ----> Ultimate Reset