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Health and Fitness

New Year REDO

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Anyone else needing a New Year REDO? I started the New Year off on a weird foot to be honest. I felt disorganized, no goals in place, etc. Watching everyone else crushing it early on made me feel so behind.

But WHY?

How can I be behind on my own journey? A journey that I started 7 years ago?

Then I realized, I can’t.

There is no such thing on being behind or being too late. My journey Is mine and mine alone. It started back in 2012 when I made the decision to go ALL in on my goals. I remember the day like it was yesterday to be honest.

September 28th, 2012.

I was attending a work event and the speaker made us write down a list of our top 10 accomplishments and disappointments for the year so far. It was at that very event that I realized just how much my health was holding me back in life. I was allowing my weight, my lack of self confidence and worth hold me back from living my best life.

That was the day I knew I was faced with the decision.

  1. Be ok with it

  2. Make a change

Whatever we are not changing, we are CHOOSING. Read that again.

Whatever we are not changing in our lives, we are essentially CHOOSING. That day, back in 2012, I made the decision to change. I made a choice to no longer remain the same. I decided I would rather workout and learn how to ditch the cheetos than live the way I had been living. It is ALL hard – being overweight, losing weight, etc. It is up to US to choose the HARD. I didn’t want to choose to continue to go down the path of gaining weight and I was ready to make a change.

I used the scroll the gram and see these super fit girls and think – man, must be nice to be them. But, once I started my journey to losing my 75 pounds, I realized that it isn’t easier for some people. We all get up each day and have the same 24 hours. Those people who it looks easy for? I realized they were just making different choices than I was – and I could make those SAME choices, if I was willing to.

So, here I am now 7 years later.

Everyday, the old me FIGHTS to have me back. I still crave junk. McDonald’s still smells amazing (yep, I said it). Those old habits creep back in from time to time. Heck, I am human. It never gets easier – oh man, this is going to be cheesy – but you get stronger. Told ya 😉 Willpower is like a muscle and the more we exercise it, the stronger it gets. When we stop using it, it can weaken. BUT, we can always make the choice to use it again.

I started the New Year off poorly. Doing my workouts, but not giving my ALL. Eating healthy, but allowing more treats than I should. Drinking water, but not nearly enough. Feeling super tired and convincing myself that I needed more coffee instead of more water.

We don’t need another January to recommit.

We don’t need a Monday to make a change.

Every meal is a new opportunity to start again.

That is the thing about this journey. It is a rollercoaster. So many ups and downs. The ups are crazy exciting where we feel on top of the world, like nothing can stop us. Then we find ourself heading downhill and hitting a low. THIS is what separates those who have success and those who quit. When you hit a LOW, have FAITH that the high is coming again. When you are down, the only way you can go is up!

We get two choices.

We can keep fighting hard or we can get off the ride. If you exit the rollercoaster, you won’t be able to reach that next high, where you feel on top of the world.

The first few weeks of January were my version of the low on the rollercoaster. Where I felt like I was going through the rollercoaster. Rather than getting off the ride, I fought hard to figure out what was in my control to change:

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  1. I started my program over. Yep. I want to go through all 6 weeks of my fitness program giving it 100%. So, starting over is what I did.

  2. I started logging my food again and taking pictures of it ALL, even if it isn’t ‘pretty’. I feel BEST when I am following some sort of meal plan. Food addiction is a real thing and I know myself. I thrive on structure and a plan.

  3. I wrote out my meal plan, grocery shopped and meal prepped. Let’s face it, with three kids, if I don’t prep ahead of time, I end up winging it and snacking all day. Not a good thing for me. So, I made a plan and set aside time to get things prepared to make it easier during the week!

  4. I started drinking more water! Made myself a rule that there was no extra caffeine if I was behind on my water goals for the day. I also make sure I drink 16 ounces of water before I eat anything! Dehydration can make me feel munchy, when really, I am just thirsty!

  5. I told people my plan! I know telling others my struggles, like I am now, helps me stay on track. When people KNOW my plan, I feel more accountable!

  6. Lastly, I made a commitment to get out of my own dang way. Exercise and eating healthy is just like brushing my teeth. Part of taking care of myself. I am not always going to want to, but I know I need to. So, just doing the dang thing and trusting the process.

Three full days into my recommitment and I am down three pounds and feeling like I am heading back up again.

If you are in the same boat. Make the decision to recommit TODAY. Go all in. Figure out what you can do to get started again. You are human, it is ok to struggle, but it is not ok to stay stuck. Make the choice to get unstuck!

You got this girl!

If you need help getting started, my next Bootcamp starts next week. I am in the trenches, right along side of you, and if I have learned anything, it is how important support and accountability are. Let’s do this TOGETHER. CLICK HERE TO REQUEST MORE INFO

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Dressings

Big Mac Salad

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I am a firm believer that you can have your cake and eat it too – with some slight tweaking 😉 I started my journey at 215 pounds and the main reason I gained all the weight? I LOVE FOOD! One of the key ways I have been able to lose weight and keep it off is by finding foods I love! I don’t believe that you have to eat boring and bland foods to lose weight!

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 lb lean ground beef (I used 96/4)

  • 1 tbsp avocado oil

  • 2 cups of sweet potatoes, chopped

  • ½ onion, diced

  • 1 garlic clove, minced

  • 2 tbsp yellow mustard

  • 1 tbsp tomato paste

  • 1 tbsp nutritional yeast (optional, but adds great flavor!)

  • 1 ½ tsp onion powder

  • 1 ½ tsp garlic powder

  • 1 tsp sea salt

  • Lettuce (I used a mix of romaine, cabbage and iceberg)

  • 1 tomato, chopped

  • Bread and butter pickles, chopped

  • Animal Style Sauce:

    • 1/2 cup mayo (I used vegan mayo to make it egg free!)

    • 1/3 cup ketchup (I used no sugar added ketchup and added 1 packet of stevia!)

    • 2 tbsp bread and butter pickles, finely chopped

    • 1/2 tsp apple cider vinegar

    • ½ tsp salt

    • Optional: add water to make it less thick! Helps make the sauce go further without having to use a ton!

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat a large skillet over medium high heat.

  2. Add avocado oil and then add in the onions and garlic. Saute 2-3 minutes and then add in the ground beef, mustard, tomato paste, nutritional yeast, onion powder, garlic powder and salt. Break ground beef apart and cook until the ground beef is no longer pink.

  3. Meanwhile, mix together chopped sweet potatoes with 1 tsp of avocado oil and sprinkle with salt. Cook in your airfryer at 400 degrees F for 5-6 minutes, flipping halfway through. If you don’t have an airfyer, you can cook in your oven as well. Remove from airfryer and set aside.

  4. In a separate bowl, mix together all of the animal style sauce ingredients and set aside.

  5. To assemble: add lettuce to your plate and top with ground beef mixture, sweet potatoes, diced tomatoes, chopped pickles and add animal style sauce.

2B MINDSET: Lunch Option!

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Health and Fitness

The Scale Is JUST Information

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There is exactly a month between these two photos and absolutely zero change in the scale. Yes, you read that right. I am the same weight in both. The scale may show no change, but my body says otherwise. .
I know it can be frustrating to step on that scale and see no change, but the scale is just ONE piece of information. Your body can be losing fat WHILE gaining muscle, which can lead to no change on the scale, but big changes in inches and body composition. One pound of muscle is so much more dense than a pound of fat, meaning they weigh the same, but muscle takes up less space!

So, before you go and throw in the towel on your fitness journey when the scale isn’t changing, be sure to take measurements, progress photos and try on your clothes to see how they fit. And always remember, no matter what your goal is – weight loss, toning, muscle building – nothing happens overnight. Give your body time to change.

I can’t wait for the day that I can come on here and shout to the world that I am back to my pre-baby weight, but in the meantime, I am celebrating all the other wins like lifting heavier weights, having my clothes fit better, my face slimming out and having the confidence to workout in a sports bra again!

Keep going. I am in the trenches with you. We GOT this!

And don’t forget, if you need help getting started, my New Year’s Bootcamp is open for enrollment!

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Main Dish

Pork Tacos w/ Pineapple Cucumber Salsa

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INGREDIENTS

  • 1 tablespoon of olive oil

  • 1 shallot, sliced

  • 1 clove garlic, minced

  • 1 jalapeno, chopped, ribs and seeds removed

  • 2 teaspoons fish sauce

  • 2 pounds of pork tenderloin, sliced into bite size pieces

  • 2 tablespoons stevia (I used Truvia)

  • 1 cup pineapple, chopped

  • 1 cup cucumber, chopped

  • 1/2 cup cilantro, chopped

  • 1/2 cup red onion, chopped

  • 1 tablespoon lime juice

  • 1 teaspoon sea salt

  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise (I used vegan mayo)

  • 1 teaspoon sriracha

  • Tortillas

DIRECTIONS

  1. In a bowl, add chopped pork, shallot, garlic, jalapeno, fish sauce, stevia and 2 tablespoons of water. Allow pork to marinate for at least 30 minutes or even overnight.

  2. In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat and add pork mixture. Cook for 5-6 minutes, or until pork is fully cooked through.

  3. While the pork is cooking, combine pineapple, cucumber, cilantro, red onion, lime juice and sea salt to a bowl and mix. Set aside.

  4. If you have a gas stove, you can char your tortillas otherwise you can warm them up in a skillet or microwave. I lightly spray mine with cooking spray and put over my gas burner, flipping often. They will catch fire, so please be present! Remove one they are charred to your liking!

  5. For the sauce, combine mayonnaise and sriracha in a bowl and add water until it reaches your desired thickness.

  6. To assemble, put pork mixture in each tortilla and top with pineapple cucumber salsa. Top with spicy mayonnaise sauce!

PORTION FIX EQUIVALENT: 2 corn tortillas, 3/4 cup of pork, 1/4 cup of salsa and 2 tsp of sauce counts as 1 yellow, 1 red and 2 teaspoons.

Adapted from: Pinch Of Yum

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Breakfast

Gluten Free Pumpkin Oat Bars

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These bars are perfect for breakfast! I love to have these with my coffee in the morning!

INGREDIENTS

  • 2.5 cups of gluten free oats

  • 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice

  • 1 teaspoon of cinnamon

  • ½ teaspoon of baking powder

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

  • 1 cup of almond milk

  • 3/4 cup of canned pumpkin

  • 1/4 cup of maple syrup

  • 1/2 cup of applesauce

  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

  • Optional: Swerve brown sugar

DIRECTIONS

  1. In a mixing bowl, combine all ingredients and mix together.

  2. Allow mixture to sit for 30 minutes and begin preheating oven to 350 degrees.

  3. Pour mixture in a 7×11 pan and cook for 30-35 minutes. I sprinkled 2 tablespoons of Swerve brown sugar over the top and baked for another 2 minutes.

  4. Let cool and slice into 8 pieces.

I store mine in the freezer and take out one at a time to reheat in my air fryer. I love topping mine with peanut butter!

PORTION FIX EQUIVALENT: 1/8 of the recipe counts as 1 yellow and 1/2 purple

2B Mindset: FFC

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Main Dish

Dairy Free Spaghetti Squash Alfredo

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I recently had to give up dairy, eggs and soy for my little boy. I am already gluten free, so this was tough! I have been on the hunt for new recipes that taste GOOD and don’t make me feel like I am deprived! My family and I loved this recipe. Has a hint of sweetness and totally felt like rich, creamy, comfort food! This recipe is adapted from 40 Aprons.

INGREDIENTS

ALFREDO SAUCE:

  • 1 1/2 cups of raw cashews

  • 3/4 cup of unsweetened almond milk

  • 1 tsp of minced garlic

  • 2 tbsp of lemon juice

  • 2 tbsp of nutritional yeast

  • 1 1/2 tsp of salt

  • 1 tsp of dried basil

CHICKEN ALFREDO

  • 2 chicken breasts (I sprinkled with salt and pepper)

  • 1 tbsp of olive oil

  • 1 spaghetti squash

  • Fresh parsley, chopped

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

  2. Cut spaghetti squash in half and remove the seeds. I usually poke a few holes in mine and microwave for 4-5 minutes to make it easier to cut in half!

  3. Roast spaghetti squash in the oven for 40-45 minutes or until it easily pierces with a fork. Scoop out the inside of the squash and set aside.

  4. Meanwhile, add all dairy free alfredo sauce ingredients to a blender and blend until smooth. Set aside.

  5. Over medium high heat, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the pan and then add the chicken breasts. Cook 8-9 minutes, or until no longer pink in the middle, flipping halfway through.

  6. Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes before slicing.

  7. To assemble, heat alfredo sauce on the stove until it is hot and serve over spaghetti squash and chicken. Top with fresh parsley and enjoy!

PORTION FIX EQUIVALENT: 2 cups of spaghetti squash, 1 chicken breast and 1/3 cup of the alfredo sauce counts as 2 greens, 1 red and 1 blue.

2B MINDSET: Perfect meal for dinner!

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Uncategorized

Celebrate the Action, Not the Result

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I started my postpartum journey one week ago, with the approval of my OB. I started back with a lifting and HIIT program that is just four days a week, 30-40 minutes and can be done at home.

When starting any new program, it is always tempting to let instant gratification take over.

You know…workout and eat healthy for a couple days and then be looking in the mirror for your abs. LOL!

This right here is why I think so many people feel stuck on their journey. They don’t give their bodies a chance to change before they are ready to throw in the towel. I started my journey 7 years ago at 215 pounds and I didn’t gain that weight overnight. It was years of poor eating habits, lots of late night food binges and very little physical activity. It would have been foolish of me to think that weight would come off overnight.

Now, here I am 7 years later, postpartum with my third little boy and guess what – again, my body didn’t get this way overnight. It spent nine months as the home for my little boy and it is now his sole source of nourishment. My body is hanging onto an extra 20 pounds right now and it is going to take time for my body to change. One week of workouts and healthy eating isn’t going to do it.

I think it is so important to celebrate the ACTIONS we are taking, not just celebrating the RESULTS.

Celebrate the fact that you worked out 5 days this week. Or maybe the fact that you cooked dinner at home each night and skipped the drive thru. Whatever you are working on right now, celebrate all of those little wins. In the end, it is those little wins that compound over time to turn into BIG results.

I have full faith that my body will continue to change and I will drop these 20 pounds, but in the meantime, I am celebrating!

Celebrating that my body created this sweet, precious little boy of mine.

Celebrating that I got in all my workouts this week.

Celebrating that I found time to meal prep and eat at home all week.

One week down, the rest of my life to go – because for me, this isn’t a diet to lose the baby weight, it is a life long healthy lifestyle to be a strong and happy mama for not only my family, but ME too!

What are you celebrating this week?

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Health and Fitness

My One Constant

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I made the decision to get healthy 7 years ago. I was addicted to food, had tried every quick fix out there and finally was ready to change my life.

It hasn’t been easy though.

Over the last 7 years, I got married, had not one, not two, but three kids, I have had job changes, started a business of my own, gone on vacations and have grieved the loss of my brother.

Lots of ups and downs where I could have easily thrown in the towel.

One constant through it all as been coaching.

It has been my accountability and my support network.

I started with less than 500 followers on social media, weight to lose and didn’t know how in the world people would be inspired by little ole me. But I saw these women supporting one another, cheering each other on and getting healthy together.

And I knew I wanted in.

All these years later, the women that I inspired are now inspiring me and supporting me as I start my third postpartum journey. The same women who supported me every day after I lost my brother are the same women who are there for me everyday as I start my new journey as a mom of three. I met these women on social media and they have become some of my closest friends that I talk to everyday.

Getting healthy and showing up daily isn’t easy, especially when we have other people who depend on us for their every need. Why do it alone? Support and accountability has been huge for me.

You don’t have to be perfect to inspire others. No six packs or perfect social media accounts required. You just have to have a desire to get healthy and support others.

This right here is what it is all about.

If you are interested in learning more about joining me and inspiring others along the way, I would love to invite you to my upcoming webinar to share what I do to see if it is a good fit for you too!

Click here for more information!

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Health and Fitness

Postpartum Journey

This is me, nearly 5 weeks postpartum. I feel incredibly vulnerable sharing this. My body looks different than before, but I love it more than ever because it was the home to my three boys and is the body that is nourishing my littlest. With my OB’s permission, I will be starting light exercise this week and continuing with my meal plan.

Wanted to share a couple things on my mind:

1. I know there will be people telling me I need to not worry about my body or exercise because I just had a baby. Exercise for me is more about my mental health than the number on the scale. I love my body the way it is and I would gladly gain the weight over and over again to have my sweet boys in this world. For me, this is about mental health. I struggle with anxiety and exercise is what helps me.

2. Never compare your journey to someone on the internet. Every single postpartum body is different. Our bodies created a human life for 9 months. Our bodies deserve to be CELEBRATED, not compared. If you gained more than me, less than me, have stretch marks or have a different shape – that is OK!!! Every body and journey is different and they are ALL beautiful.

3. Taking care of my body is a form of self care for me. I am a better wife, mom, friend, sister and daughter when I take care of myself. I workout and eat healthy because I LOVE myself, not because I hate the way I look.

4. Everything I do along my journey has been approved by my doctor and her opinion is what matters. I will be starting with light weight lifting and modified low impact cardio, just four days a week for 20-30 minutes a day. I will also continue doing exercises to help strengthen my pelvic floor.

I am excited to start this next chapter of my journey and as always, share it all with you!

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Main Dish

Shrimp Tacos

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This recipe was a hit in our house! I adapted this from Pinch Of Yum. These are so easy to make too! I prepped everything on the weekend and then just cooked the shrimp each day. Took about 10 minutes to throw together each day!

INGREDIENTS

SAUCE:

  • 1/4 cup olive oil

  • 1/4 cup water

  • 1/2 cup green onions, chopped

  • 1/3 cup cilantro

  • 2 cloves garlic

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • 1 tablespoon lime juice

  • 1/2 cup plain greek yogurt

SHRIMP:

  • 2 teaspoons cumin

  • 2 teaspoons chili powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • 1 pound shrimp, peeled, deveined, tails removed, pat dry

ADDITIONAL FOR TACOS:

  • 4 cups shredded cabbage (I use a red/green cabbage mix)

  • 1 avocado

  • Cotija cheese (found with the refrigerated salsa usually!)

  • 8 corn tortillas (I sprayed lightly with cooking spray and toasted them on my gas stove to get them a little charred!)

DIRECTIONS

  1. In a blender, blend together all of the sauce ingredients and set aside.

  2. In a bowl, add shrimp and all the shrimp ingredients. Mix together until shrimp are coated.

  3. Heat large skillet over medium high heat. Spray with cooking spray or light drizzle of oil. Add shrimp to skillet and saute for 5-8 minutes, flipping halfway through. Set shrimp aside.

  4. Take the sauce mixture and toss with the cabbage.

  5. To assemble: take each tortilla and add 1 tablespoon of smashed avocado, then cabbage mixture, then shrimp and top with cotija cheese and a little extra sauce!

PORTION FIX EQUIVALENT: 2 tortillas, 10 shrimp, 2 tablespoons of avocado, 3 tablespoons cotija cheese, 1 cup of slaw is equal to 1 yellow, 1 red, 1 green, 1 orange and 1 blue!

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Breakfast

Fried Cinnamon Bananas

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INGREDIENTS

  • 1 banana, chopped in 1/2 inch slices

  • 2 tsp of raw honey

  • 1 tsp of cinnamon

  • Optional: 2 tsp of melted natural peanut butter or almond butter

DIRECTIONS

  1. Place small skillet over medium heat. Spray lightly with cooking spray and then add honey and cinnamon.

  2. Once honey mixture starts bubbling, add bananas. Allow them to cook 3-4 minutes per side. TIP: Depending on how ripe your bananas are, the more you mix them around, the more they may break down. Let them sit while cooking and then flip with a spatula and continue cooking.

  3. Remove from heat and add melted nut butter if you choose! TIP: I melt my nut butters in the microwave for 30 seconds so I can drizzle over the bananas.

PORTION FIX EQUIVALENT: 2 purples

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Breakfast

Maple Cinnamon Overnight Oats

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Let me first say, I am NOT an oatmeal fan. As I start my third postpartum journey, I am working hard to fuel my body properly AND maintain my milk supply – which I know oatmeal is supposed to help with! I have a friend who told me that I need to try overnight oats and I might like them! Goodness, she was right! This recipe totally hit the spot and I have been looking forward to it each morning!

INGREDIENTS

  • 1/4 cup of dry oats (I use gluten free oats)

  • 1/4 cup of unsweetened almond milk

  • 1/4 tsp of pure vanilla extract

  • 1/4 tsp of cinnamon

  • 1 tsp of pure maple syrup

  • 2 tsp of Truvia brown sugar

  • Optional: Since I am breastfeeding, I also add 1 tsp of brewers yeast to help with my supply!

DIRECTIONS

  1. Combine and mix all the ingredients in a glass jar and put in the fridge overnight.

  2. Enjoy in the morning! You can eat hot or cold! I love them cold!

PORTION FIX EQUIVALENT: 1 yellow, 1/2 teaspoon

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