So long and thanks for reading

Thanks for reading my blog while it lasted. I am no longer a Beachbody coach. It was fun and I've made a lot of new friends who still encourage health and fitness but the financial aspect of Beachbody was just too much for me. Please feel free to use this blog as a reference for what Beachbody can do for you. If you'd like to find a coach, I have a few recommendations.

Back on the wagon

October was crazy busy and I got overwhelmed by all that was going on. Something had to go and I had ZERO motivation to exercise and eat right so I took a hiatus. An almost 2 month long hiatus... Hey, sometimes you need a break and a reset! But I'm back!

I intended to start November 1st but a week later is ok too. A ton of my friends are doing Core de Force and I wanted to do it too but I saw a preview and it's just not what I'm looking for. I need weights. I need more than just body weight exercises. I was going to do my Pure Barre videos but they're an hour long and I just don't want to commit to that much time. I started thinking and decided on 10 Minute trainer because I can commit to 10 minutes a day. There's 2 options: 1 a day or 3 a day. My goal is to do the 1 and hopefully get the other 2 in but do at least the 1 every day for the next 28 days. So here goes (again)...

I made a huge mistake when I started Beachbody

I made a huge mistake when I started Beachbody. Hind sight it 20/20 tho and you live and you learn and I'm here to make sure you don't make the same mistake that I did.

I kept looking into Brazil Butt Lift and decided if I'm looking into it this much then I just need to order it. Not having a coach or even knowing what one did, I looked at the Beachbody website and Amazon. Amazon was the same price but offered Prime shipping so guess who I went with? Amazon. 2 days later I got my DVDs in the mail and signed up for a free membership. It asked who my coach was and I just chose the name of the girl of the blog I was reading at the time because she had great results. I did the program and got pretty good results even though I didn't stick to the meal plan much. I enjoyed it and have thought about doing some of it again soon. 

You're probably thinking "what was your mistake?" My mistake was I ordered on Amazon, didn't have a coach set up, and didn't know about on demand. I paid $53. If I had known better, and had a coach who would have told me, I wouldn't have purchased the DVDs at all. You see, there's a premium club membership but it costs money and as soon as I saw that I wasn't interested anymore. What I didn't know is how much you actually get with that membership and how it's sooooo worth it! It's a mere $2.99/week and is billed quarterly at $38.87. So basically I could have had 6 months worth of this level for the price of the DVDs. I would also have gotten 10% off anything I wanted in the store minus challenge packs. AND... here's the kicker and biggest mistake... access to on demand which includes Brazil Butt Lift, Brazil Butt Lift Master Series, Brazil Butt Lift Carnivale, 29 of Beachbody's most popular programs, Beachbody's cooking show, and 5 exclusive programs with Beachbody directors. But instead I spent it on ONE lousy DVD pack. AAANNNDDD it comes with a 30 day free trial!!!!!!

If I could go back in time I would have gone straight to the premium club membership and only used on demand. But my mistake is your advantage. Don't do what I did and check out all there is to offer. Sign up here.

Flexitarian's Guide to the 21 Day Fix

Google “21 Day Fix” and you’ll find a plethora of information without buying the program (you still should but I’ll get to that later). You’ll find how to calculate your caloric needs, how many of each container to eat, what foods go in each container, and even meal plans. 21 Day Fix has been around for more than 2 years and is still one of the most popular Beachbody programs. Almost everyone I know who does Beachbody has done at least one round of it and everyone has posted amazing results.

After completing Brazil Butt Lift and Insanity Max 30 and I decided to tone it down some and started 21DF. I did Dirty 30 before going on a cruise. The exercises look simple and I grabbed my 5lb weights and went at it. O…M…G… did I sweat!! My heart rate got up to almost where it was during Max 30 and I was barely doing any work. My legs hurt for the next 5 days! Looking at stairs made me cry. I took a week off and relaxed on a long awaited Royal Caribbean cruise and gained 6 LBS!! I’m sure some of it was waste and water retention, etc but I willingly consumed copious amounts of extremely delicious cookies, fries, onion rings, cookies, hash browns, bread, cookies, chocolate desserts, a little alcohol, and did I mention cookies? The best thing by far was the peanut butter rice crispie treats. I HAVE to find a way to recreate those and make them healthy. I knew I was going to stick to the meal plan when I got home so I wasn’t too worried and wanted to get in as much junk as possible before eating healthy again.

When I did Brazil Butt Lift and Insanity Max 30 I didn’t stick to the meal plans. I tried to eat healthy/healthier and sometimes watched my calories but the plans just didn’t appeal to me. Honestly, most of the plans are the same or very similar. They’re all full of protein and have few carbs. As a carb lover and protein hater, I found this really hard to swallow (ha!). I have limited how much pasta I eat and now maybe have it once a week instead of 3 times. Looking at the 21DF meal plan had me worried too. I’m very picky (think 3 year old) and don’t eat meat often. It really surprises me when people do meatless Monday because it’s that hard for them to not have meat. I’m not vegetarian because I love chicken and burgers but I don’t want a pound of meat every day. I discovered there’s a thing called flexitarian (or semi-vegetarian) which fits me perfectly!

What is a flexitarian?

A flexitarian is simply someone who doesn't eat a lot of meat and doesn't have meat every day. According to Dawn Jackson Blatner’s website, per week beginner flexers have 2 meatless days, advanced have 3-4 meatless days, and experts have 5 meatless day. I’d safely put myself in the advanced category. I scoured the internet looking for a flexitarian version of the 21 day fix and couldn’t find anything so I decided to create my own! It’s a combination of the normal 21DF plan and the vegan plan. I’ll outline the differences between the two, show you what I’m doing, and maybe throw in a few recipes. Please be advised, I am not a dietitian. I am not a nutritionist. I am not a doctor. Use this as a guideline as you would anything else you find on the internet or in a book or pamphlet. Please seek medical attention if you feel you need to. Here we go…

Number of containers: 

The vegan plan contains the same amount of blue, orange, and teaspoon containers, more green and yellow containers, and fewer red and purple containers. It also has a category for 2300-2499 calories whereas the normal version only goes up to 2100-2300. The foods listed in each category also differ.

(To calculate your calories multiply your weight by 11 then subtract 350)

Foods: 

Green, purple, and teaspoon food lists are still the same. The vegan blue food list doesn’t include the cheeses and the vegan orange food list adds chopped nuts. Beans, lentils, edamame, peas, and refried beans are now reds and seitan has also been added. The yellow containers have been split into two categories: A and B. Yellow A’s include whole grains such as rice and quinoa whereas yellow B’s contain more processed grains like pasta and bread. You’re allowed more A’s than B’s and if you skip a B you should have an A. 

The food list pictured below has all of the vegan reds in the red list and removed from the yellow list. The yellow list is also divided in 1/2 to reflect yellow A's and B's.

Now what?

You’ve calculated your calories, have determined how many of each container to eat, and know what’s in each category so now what do you do? I initially started out thinking I was going to follow the vegan plan but add in some meat but decided to do it a little different. You could do it like that or you could follow the normal plan but with the added proteins, or do a combo of the two (one day follow vegan, the next follow normal). I like following both plans because it gives a better variety. On days I really want a lot of carbs I’ll follow the vegan plan and on days I don’t want a ton of rice, I’ll follow the normal plan with added proteins. The added proteins have really put my mind at ease when it comes to meals because I don’t have to have a ton of meat. I can now have freeze dried edamame and it’s a red container!

Why you should still buy the program even though it's all over the internet...

As shown, you can find pretty much all of the information you need in order to do the 21 day fix or at least the meal plan part of it. What you don't get is the containers, a Shakeology cup, 30 healthy meals every month!, the exercises, 24/7 support, new friends, access to Beachbody's most popular programs, challenge groups, and contests. You can try to google the exercises (I did before buying) and can find some but nothing is better than having them yourself. You can do your own exercises and eat according to the meal plan which is still good but it's not going to show you the results you want. There is no substitution to getting the program. If you order before 10/31/2016 then you also get an instant $20 savings! Ready to accept the challenge and start working towards a new, healthier you? Sign up here. Still have questions? Email me! :)

Some recipes just for fun…

3 Ingredient Oatmeal “Cookies” 

Makes 8 cookies 

(1 yellow (A) 1 purple 1 orange per 4 cookies)

1 C old fashioned oats

1 ripe banana

4T chopped walnuts

Mix together and bake at 350 for about 15 minutes. They do NOT spread so flatten them to your liking. The flatter the crispier as they’ll still be chewy in the middle.

Nutty Rice Quinoa Bowl

1 C/serving

(2 yellow (A) 1 orange)

2/3 C cooked brown rice

1/3 C cooked quinoa

2T chopped, toasted, pecans

Cook rice and quinoa according to directions. Toast pecans (careful! they burn quick!). Mix together and enjoy.

I'm back

Life has been crazy lately. I finished Insanity Max 30 and didn't get the results I wanted. Not even close. I gained 2lbs and I think some inches. My cardio improved though. I was able to get through Cardio Challenge without stopping so that's a win. I guess I expected to get really fit from seeing everyone's amazing results. Granted I didn't stick to the meal plan but I tried to eat healthier. I really think weights are needed in order to really see an improvement for me. Body weight is nice and all but not for me. My next challenge is the 21 day fix but I'll get to that in a second.

Hubby and I went on a cruise while our little one stayed with Nana. If you've ever been on a cruise then you know how much food there is at all times of the day. And it's delicious too. We started the cruise knowing we would probably gain a few lbs but that was ok because we had cleaned out the pantry and fridge before leaving and were only going to buy healthy foods when we returned. We did go to the gym a few times and stayed active (kayaking, snorkeling, dancing, etc) so all wasn't lost. I brought some Shakeology on board too for the Health Bet that Beachbody is doing right now. I swear that stuff saved me. I was so bloated and felt so gross after a few days and it quickly helped get things moving again. I looked pregnant at one point it was that bad. The last day we gorged on Johnny Rockets onion rings and fries and burgers and milkshakes. It was delicious. When we got home I had gained 6lbs and Hubby had gained 5.

That brings me to the 21 day fix! I started last Monday (a week ago) and have LOVED it!! It looks super easy but man will you be sore! Autumn will try to kill you during it. Really. It's all "raise that leg one more time" and you're over there like "but I can't!!!!" and break down crying because your muscles are all cramped up and you physically can't get off the ground. For real(z). Anyways... So far I've lost 3lbs of cruise weight and am enjoying the meal plan after tweaking that a bit. I'm working on that post now so stay tuned!

Insanity Max 30 Month 1

I have been horrible about updating my blog the past few weeks (have been super busy at work and travelling) so I'll just do a month 1 review.

I had some good meal plan days and a lot of bad ones. I need to not have cookies and M&Ms in the house or completely resist eating them because I can't have just one/some. Week 4 didn't really happen. I started it and got sick and tried to push through but my body had other ideas. I tried to start it again last week and did good until Thursday because we were on vacation. I had every intention to exercise in the mornings and even downloaded the workouts I would need but didn't do them. It's hard to find time to exercise when your toddler is with you all day and you're not at home and family is around. I did however complete a 7 day squat challenge and did the exercises for that every day so I'll count it towards something. I had my shakeo every day too. While I tried to eat healthy on vacation I indulged more than I had hoped and even had McDonald's for dinner yesterday (we were still on the road). BUT I did have water instead of soda! With missing about 2 weeks of exercise and eating poorly I gained weight and inches. I'm trying to not be too upset about it and thinking of it as being able to get even better results in the end.

Month 2 of Max 30 started today and it wasn't too bad. I also ordered Piyo (yay!!) and plan on doing that alongside Max 30 for the stretching. I am LOVING the Piyo meal plan too! There's more peanut butter and milk counts as a protein! That's huge since I love pb and hated eating so much animal protein. I WILL STICK TO THE MEAL PLAN! (if I say it it's going to be true, right?) I really want to lose the weight I gained over vacation and maybe a few more lbs before our cruise. That way I can enjoy the food and drinks without worrying. ;)

Updated Stats:
Weight 115 lbs
BMI 20.0
Waist 26"
Hips 32"
Butt 36"
Thighs 20.5"

Insanity Max 30 Week 1 Results

I started on the 4th of July because why not? I ate fairly well but honestly it's a holiday so... First up was Cardio Challenge. I maxed out at 8:10 but kept going. Tabata Power on day 2 kicked my butt and I had to stop 24 mins in. I had done CC after lunch and TP first thing in the morning so the lack of food in my stomach took a huge toll. I pushed myself too hard and paid for it. You live and learn and I started day 3 with 1T peanut butter on whole wheat toast and didn't have any problems finishing Sweat Intervals. I used the modifier because some things hurt my back but I didn't max out. Day 4 had TP again and I didn't max out thanks to pb. Day 5 was Friday Fight and I maxed out at 11:42. Day 6 can be rest but I chose to follow the ab maximizer schedule so I did Pulse which doesn't seem hard but takes a lot of mental strength.

My calves hurt all week. I followed the meal plan but added in some cookies and veggie chips because it was coming out to 1000-1200 calories and I didn't feel that was enough given how intense the exercises are. I'm trying to stay under 1500 so my body doesn't go into stress mode.

Shakes this week included:
Chocolate with 2t peanut butter (meh)
Tropical Strawberry with 3/4C strawberry greek yogurt and 1C water (yum)
Chocolate with 1/2t mint extract (YUM!)
Tropical Strawberry with 1/2C pineapple OJ and 1/2C water (yum)
Chocolate with 2T finely chopped almonds for National Chocolate with Almonds Day (can't really
          taste the almonds)
Tropical Strawberry with 5 frozen strawberries, 3/4C pineapple coconut yogurt, and 1/2C coconut
          water for National Pina Colada Day (on the 9th)

I'm going to start mixing most of my shakes with yogurt to get that extra protein and red container in. Plus it makes it like a milkshake.

I didn't lose any inches and gained a pound this week. My guess is it's from my sore legs and building muscle (hopefully). Plus it takes time to gain and lose weight so I can't expect to see amazing results in a week.

Updated Stats:
Weight 111.5 lbs 112.5
BMI 19.5 19.6
Waist 25.25"
Hips 32"
Butt 35.5"
Thighs 20"
Arms 9.5"
Calves 12.5"/13"

Join the flock!

So you've researched Beachbody programs and maybe even purchased or completed one and want to reap the benefits. First thing you should ask yourself is "do I want to be a premium club member and have access to Beachbody on Demand (BOD) and get a 10% discount or do I want to be a coach, get BOD, get a 25% discount, and help others achieve their goals?" I highly recommend becoming a coach but here's a breakdown of the cost associated with each option...

Free Membership ($0!!)

• Your own personal coach (me)
• Access to message boards
• Access to the online supergym to log your workouts and track your progress

Premium Club Membership (Free for 1st 30 days then $2.99/week billed quarterly at $38.87)

• Your own personal coach (me)
• Access to message boards
• Access to the online supergym to log your workouts and track your progress
• Access to Q&A sessions with trainers
• Create personalized meal plans to help achieve your goals
• 10% discount on all Beachbody products including programs, shakeology, and accessories
• Stream hundreds of workouts and have access to all the nutritional packets that come with each program including TurboFire, P90X, P90X2, P90X3, 10 Minute Trainer, Slim in 6, Insanity, Insanity Asylum 1&2, Tai Cheng, Brazil Butt Lift, BBL Master Series, BBL Carnivale, Hip Hop Abs, and ChaLean Extreme. New workouts added every month.

Coach ($16/month + $40 sign up fee + $38.87 quarterly Premium Membership)

• Your own personal coach (me)
• Access to message boards
• Access to the online supergym to log your workouts and track your progress
• Access to Q&A sessions with trainers
• Create personalized meal plans to help achieve your goals
• 25% discount on all Beachbody products including programs, shakeology, and accessories
• Stream hundreds of workouts and have access to all the nutritional packets that come with each program including TurboFire, P90X, P90X2, P90X3, 10 Minute Trainer, Slim in 6, Insanity, Insanity Asylum 1&2, Tai Cheng, Brazil Butt Lift, BBL Master Series, BBL Carnivale, Hip Hop Abs, and ChaLean Extreme. New workouts added every month.
• Sign up fee is WAIVED if you purchase a challenge pack (discounts not applicable) or if you're active duty military, spouse, or a veteran your sign up fee AND monthly fee are both waived!
• 30 day money back guarantee if you decide it's not for you
• Access to your team of coaches to help you succeed and help other succeed
• You get to help others achieve their goals
• 25% commission on all sales even if you're classified as inactive (see below)
• Weekly paychecks based on commission

Active vs Inactive Coach

If you decide to become a coach there are 2 classifications: active and inactive. Basically if you sell 50 PV (personal volume) in a 35 day period you'll achieve active status and be eligible for extra team bonuses after you build your team. PV varies depending on the product but if you order Shakeology every month you'll get 90 PV. The 50 PV can be from things you order or things others order or a combination of both. What happens if you don't get 50 PV? You become inactive but still get 25% commission on anything you sell!!

I know it sounds like a lot and it's overwhelming at first. The monthly fee and 50 PV were the 2 things holding me back from becoming a coach. I'm still new at this so I can't really say if it's going to be awesome or not but I knew I wanted to do Beachbody programs, drink Shakeology, and help others so I signed up. The best part I've found so far is being able to help people get healthier. I really didn't expect to get this feeling but it's so fulfilling and heartwarming! 

Here's a look at what you'd spend a month if you ordered Shakeology with the monthly autoship option:

Free Member: $132.08/month

Premium Member: $119.09/month + $12.96 premium = $132.05/month (saves $0.36/year)

Coach: $97.46/month + $12.96 premium + $16 websites = $126.42/month (saves $67.92/year)

This doesn't include any commission. The commissions from 12/25/2014-12/30/2015 range from $0-$18,210 for retail coaches with an average of $502. I believe this is per year but the statement doesn't say. It's all about how much effort you put into it. The statement can be found here.

So are you ready to join our flock? Sign up to be a coach here or sign up for a free Beachbody account here.

Insanity Max 30

I've decided to continue my fitness journey with Insanity Max 30 (IM30 for short). I've tried a workout before and it's intense but I think it will keep me motivate by staying challenging. I'll update every week again with new stats and photos and a description of the week itself. I'm drinking Shakeology this time and am following closer to the meal plan with the containers so hopefully I'll see better results than BBL (not that those weren't good too). So here goes...

Starting Stats:
Weight 111.5 lbs
BMI 19.5
Waist 25.25"
Hips 32"
Butt 35.5"
Thighs 20"
Arms 9.5"
Calves 12.5"/13"

(my right calf is larger due to nerve problems and is swollen most of the time)

BBL Week 7/FINAL Results

This week has been hard. Almost every morning I'm fighting hitting snooze instead of doing my workouts. Monday I only did bum bum because I had a dr appt super early. Tuesday I didn't want to do sculpt so I tried higher and tighter and won't be doing that again as it hurts my back.

My pictures and measurements are actually from a day early because we're going out of town and I don't want to deal with bringing anything extra. I'm still not sure if I'll finish now or do week 8 when we get back. I decided to make this my last week and just enjoy vacation. Hopefully we'll stay active and won't binge too much on vacation. It's a lot harder to stay on track when travelling but luckily some meals have been planned out so I can try to stick with my meal plan.

Updated Stats:
Weight 111.8lbs 110.8 (3lbs total)
BMI 19.5 19.3
Waist 25.25" (0.75" total)
Hips 31.75" 31.5" (1.5" total)
Butt 35.5" (1" total)
Thighs 20" (1" each so 2" total)


Total inches: 5.25" lost!

Next up: Insanity Max 30!

Shakeology Review

Shakeology is a nutrient rich, protein packed, supplement shake with fiber and digestive enzymes marketed by Beachbody. It comes in 7 different flavors (2 vegan) and are between 130-170 calories. You can purchase 24 single serve packets or a 30 serving bag for $129.95 retail (Beachbody club members receive a 10% discount, coaches receive a 25% discount, and monthly autoship customers get discounted shipping). You can also get a month's supply included with a challenge pack. If you're new to Shakeology, I highly recommend ordering the trial pack. You are only allowed to order this one time but it includes all 7 flavors and is $34.95 retail (same discounts apply).

I ordered the trial pack through my coach so I could try them all and give my honest review of each flavor. I will mention I'm a picky eater and a super taster so just because I don't like it doesn't mean you won't either. I tried each flavor in 8oz of water so nothing added to the original flavor.

I really thought I would hate some of the flavors but they all tasted good. Some tasted better than others but it was a close call. Here is my ranking of flavors from best to worst:

"Sensuously sweet and utterly delicious" 

Seriously amazing! I first tried this during my 3 Day Refresh and loved it. In 8 oz of water it's nice and thick and tastes like brownie batter. Next time I try it I may even add in tiny bits of walnuts to really make it so. It's great because you get to have chocolate so it curbs your sweet tooth. 

"Rich artisanal chocolate flavor that's 100% vegan, soy-free, and dairy-free"

I'd really have to taste test this back to back with the regular chocolate to see which I like better and if there is a difference. I think this one is a little bit sweeter and might have more of a stevia after taste but I'm not sure. Either way it's delicious and tied for first.

"Packed with tangy pineapple and sweet guava flavors"

I had heard mixed reviews on this but this is delicious!! I don't taste pineapple or guava or anything besides banana and strawberry but mostly banana. A close tie with chocolate for sure.

"Rich, sweet, fruity, and smooth"

 This one is good. It's sweet and fruity and could almost pass for dessert. The only thing that's better is fresh strawberries.

"Delicious creamy flavor"

I originally tried this in pineapple juice with coconut extract to make a "pina colada" and found it to be bland. I tried it again in just water and it's still nothing special. I thought it would be sweeter but that's ok. This would be a great one to mix with something like flavored yogurt.

"Whole coffee fruit and 25% of the caffeine you'd find in a cup of coffee"

I've tried another brand's coffee protein shake and have added different protein mixes into coffee and never liked it so I thought this would taste about the same. It's not bad! The best coffee flavored protein mix I've tasted. I like that it has some caffeine in it and has a slight almost chocolate taste. I wouldn't order it as my main flavor but it's not bad.

"Nutritional powerhouse packed with mouthwatering fruit and healthy greens"

This wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be! It has a light flavor similar to lettuce where it tastes like something but also doesn't have a taste. There's a subtle taste of berry that gives it a little bit of sweetness. Overall, I wouldn't make this my main flavor but would have it from time to time.

Considering Shakeology but are health conscious about nutrients? Here's a list of the flavors and their calories, fat, carbs, sugar, protein, and fiber content. Full nutrition facts can be found by clicking the flavor. Underlined values indicate the lowest calorie/fat/carb/sugar or highest protein/fiber options even though all are very similar.

Cafe Latte: 150 Calories, 2g Fat, 18g Carbs, 7g Sugar, 16g Protein, 5g Fiber
Chocolate: 160 Calories, 2g Fat, 17g Carbs, 6g Sugar, 17g Protein, 6g Fiber

Chocolate Vegan: 170 Calories, 4g Fat, 18g Carbs, 8g Sugar, 16g Protein, 5g Fiber

Greenberry: 130 Calories, 1.5g Fat, 13g Carbs, 6g Sugar, 17g Protein, 4g Fiber

Strawberry: 130 Calories, 1.5g Fat, 15g Carbs, 7g Sugar, 16g Protein, 3g Fiber

Tropical Strawberry Vegan: 170 Calories, 3.5g Fat, 18g Carbs, 8g Sugar, 16g Protein, 4g Fiber

Vanilla:130 Calories, 2g Fat, 14g Carbs, 7g Sugar, 16g Protein, 3g Fiber

What if you're interested but just aren't sure of the price? It is a little pricey when compared to other protein shakes. I'll admit that I'd rather go the cheaper route and get a protein powder that has more protein, less carbs, and less sugar and is cheaper (Vega Clean is a favorite of mine) but I also love the packets that Shakeology comes in as opposed to a bag/container. $70 for 30 days of Vega is almost half the price of Shakeology if you look at the retail price and 30% cheaper than the coach price (about $25). I do mix Vega with milk or coconut almond milk so that adds to the nutrients and the price a little. If you're on the fence I suggest ordering the trial pack as it is cheaper and you'll be able to try all of the flavors and know if you like any of them. You can purchase a trial pack here.

Another option is to get a challenge pack. If you're already considering a Beachbody program you can upgrade to a challenge pack that includes a 30 day supply of Shakeology and a 30 day trial to Beachbody on Demand, a streaming service that gives you access to nearly every program available! If you get a challenge pack, the $39.95 fee to become a coach is waived and you'll get a 25% discount on future orders! To find out more about becoming a coach, go here.

BBL Week 6 Results

I'm not sure why but this week it's been hard to find motivation to exercise. Maybe it's because the Facebook challenge group I was in is now over or maybe I'm getting bored with the exercises or maybe I'm not seeing the results I had hoped for by now. Either way I'm sticking with it and getting it done. I've gained back all of the weight I lost with the 3 Day Refresh. I'll admit diet has A LOT to do with that and probably the reason why I haven't seen the results I had hoped for. I really need to focus on sticking to a calorie goal and eating more well rounded meals. One problem with that is my pickiness. My new coach posted the updated 21 Day Fix foods list and I eat 38% of what's on there. Luckily my favorite foods (besides sugary treats) are fruits and veggies and I love salads. I'm not really a meat eater but I guess I need to start adding more into my diet.

This week is what I call sculpt week because we have it 3 times! I changed one for booty time, bikini body, and 15 min abs. I bought 8 lb hand weights, a new stability ball, and 10 lb (5lbs each) ankle weights to hopefully challenge myself more. I started with 3lbs on each ankle and moved up to the heavy resistance band. It made the moves harder so I wasn't able to do as many as before but I think it'll be better than using an easier band/weight. I skipped sculpt on day 5 and was going to add it to my rest day but had to install a door and week whack and that is equivalent in my eyes.

I can't believe there's only 2 weeks left. I'm still not sure if I'm going to complete week 8 or stop at 7 since we'll be on vacation the whole time and will be active. Guess I need to figure it out soon.

Updated Stats:
Weight 109.8lbs 111.8
BMI 19.1 19.5
Waist 25" 25.25
Hips 32" 31.75
Butt 36" 35.5
Thighs 20"

BBL Week 5 Results

I signed up for the premium club membership which gives a free 30 day trial for Beachbody On Demand (BOD) this week. I anticipated on doing this since we'll be out of town for week 8 and I didn't want to bring something to play DVDs. I'm still debating on how to work that week but I'll figure it out later. The best part about BOD is that you have access to several different programs and all of their content (meal guide, calendar, etc) so you can try out different programs before you buy them. Some videos are exclusive to you purchasing the program first (ex. 21 Day Fix, Insanity Max:30, P90, PiYo, and T25) but give you access to the digital files after you purchase. The premium membership also gets you a 10% discount on purchases, access to a meal planner, and is only $2.99/week (billed quarterly $38.87) which is a ton cheaper than any gym and cheaper than ordering all of the programs.

I also ordered a trial pack of Shakeology. It includes a packet of each flavor so you can try them all. I can't wait for that to get here so I can see which flavor(s) I like best.

My 3 Day Refresh arrived on Tuesday just in time for me to start it on Wednesday. You can see my review of it here.

I looked at the Brazil Butt Lift Master Series and Carnivale Series videos (thanks to the BOD access) and have decided to incorporate them into my schedule in place of similar BBL exercises to mix it up a bit. I tried to replace exercises with similar ones. Here is my modified schedule:

We had a lot going on this week which meant I didn't want to get up and exercise every morning but I did anyways. I did cut a few High & Tights short though and changed the last Cardio Axe to Carnivale. I think a lot of my weight loss is due to the 3 Day Refresh but will gladly take it! My hubby is seeing changes too and said these exercises are making me toned especially in my abs. :) I still fail the pencil test but maybe I'll be able to pass it by the end.

Updated Stats:
Weight 111.4lbs 109.8
BMI 19.7 19.1
Waist 25.5" 25
Hips 32"
Butt 36"
Thighs 20"

3 Day Refresh Review

This is my honest review of Beachbody's 3 Day Refresh. I participated in a challenge group that started with this and wasn't sure what to think at first. You follow a very easy guide of what to eat for 3 days and it's suppose to cleanse your body and get you eating healthier. You're also not suppose to exercise too hard because it's a limited calorie diet but I stuck with my Brazil Butt Lift schedule.

Here's a look at my meals:
Day 1
     Wake up: drink 8 oz filtered water
     BBL Carnivale and High & Tight
     Breakfast: Shakeology and 12 strawberries (1h after waking up. Mine was a little later than that)
     Late AM: Fiber Sweep
     Lunch: Vanilla Fresh, 1 peach, 2 celery sticks, and 0.5T almond butter (0.5T=1.5t)
     Snack: 1C sliced cucumbers and 0.5T almond butter
     Dinner: Vanilla Fresh and spinach salad recipe

Day 2
     Wake up: drink 8 oz filtered water
     BBL Ipanema Booty and 15 Min Abs
     Breakfast: Shakeology and 12 strawberries
     Late AM: Fiber Sweep
     Lunch: Vanilla Fresh, 1/2 apple, 1C sliced cucumbers, and 0.5T almond butter
     Snack: 2 celery sticks and 0.5T almond butter
     Dinner: Vanilla Fresh and spinach salad recipe

Day 3
     Wake up: drink 8 oz filtered water
     BBL Carnivale and High & Tight
     Breakfast: Shakeology and 12 strawberries
     Late AM: Fiber Sweep
     Lunch: Vanilla Fresh, 1/2 apple, 2 celery sticks, and 0.5T almond butter
     Snack: 2 celery sticks and 0.5T almond butter
     Dinner: Vanilla Fresh and spinach salad recipe


I chose the chocolate Shakeology and hoped it was going to be good since I hadn't tried it before. It's amazing!!! 1 packet in 8oz of water is nice and thick and tastes like brownie batter! There's a slight aftertaste from the stevia but it's not bad.

The fiber sweep is very lemony. It's not horrible and since it's only mixed in 8 oz you can chug it easily. I've heard to drink it immediately so don't let it sit around!

The vanilla fresh isn't bad. I wish I could have Shakeology instead tho. It's mild enough and pretty bland. I tried it with plain water and with lime juice and mint (mojito recipe found here). The mojito isn't close to a real one but I guess it's better than nothing.

I forgot to measure so I'm just using my BBL week 4 results since they were taken just a few days before hand so they should be close. I did weigh myself though.

Start                           End
Weight 112.0              109.8
Waist 25.5"                 25
Hips 32"                     32
Butt 36"                      36
Thighs 20"                  20

Overall it's not too bad because it's only for 3 days. I was a little hungry. I wanted ice cream and wine and chocolate but feel this is an easy way to get a lot of fruits and veggies into your diet so you get use to eating more of them and develop a craving for them.

Just a side note... you might gain the weight back in the days following the refresh. I did. Granted the 1st day afterwards I ate A LOT of carbs but I ate better on the second day. I weighed myself on the 3rd morning and was a little sad to see the scale back at 111.8. It definitely has taught me that yes you can lose weight with it and maybe you'll be able to keep it off but in reality it's more of a way to flush out your system and get it ready to eat healthier. It taught me how to time out my meals and shows me that I need to vary my diet some more.

BBL Week 4 Results

Did I really just finish 1/2 of the Brazil Butt Lift program?! Time has flown by!

This week I've been adamant about sticking to my calorie goal and did well. It's really not too hard when you meal plan. (What? Meal planning helps?? Who knew!? haha) I've been eating a lot of fruits and salads but still have carbs because bread is yummy and the easiest to break down into energy. I've also added another protein shake in for lunch which helps keep me feeling full. I actually lost 2lbs!!

I tried Beachbody's Shakeology this week for the first time. A friend of mine gave me a packet of the vanilla and I decided to make a pina colada. The recipe calls for 1/2C pineapple juice, 1/2C water, and 1/2t coconut extract. Mix that with a scoop/packet of vanilla Shakeology and some ice and voila! I was expecting something spectacular considering all the great things I've heard about Shakeology but was disappointed. It wasn't bad but it wasn't something to write home about. I ordered the chocolate one with the 3 Day Refresh (which finally shipped) so hopefully that one is better.

I also tried mixing EAS Vanilla with black coffee. Don't. Ever. Do. That. It's the most disgusting thing in the world! I suffered through it but will never do that again! Maybe someone likes it but I certainly don't.

I wasn't sure if I should continue on the classic schedule or move to something else. I don't feel I need to lift at all and thought about slim and shape to get rid of excess fat. I think I'm going to stick with the classic for now but might change it up some and maybe even add in extra workouts on my rest days (if I feel like it). Today was my rest day but I tried Insanity Max30 Sweat to fill up my Apple Watch rings. Oh my! That's a serious workout!! My watch said I burned 209 calories in 30 minutes! I actually took a cold shower afterwards and I like my showers as hot as a hot tub.

Updated Stats:
Weight 113.4lbs 111.4
BMI 19.8 19.7
Waist 25.5"
Hips 32"
Butt 36"
Thighs 20.5" 20"

Start vs Week 4

BBL Week 3 Results

Week 3 is done! I can't believe I'm almost 1/2 way through already! I don't think I've ever stuck to an exercise plan for more than a week if I'm being honest. It's hard to find time but it's worth it if it's important to you.

The exercises get easier each time I do them. That doesn't mean they're not challenging. I hate the circle leg lifts in high and tight. They hurt so much. Oh. I should mention that I have to modify a few of the exercises, mainly sit ups and such, because I have a fused spine and physically can't do them. It's important to push yourself but know your limits. You don't want to injure yourself and have to start all over.

I started eating 1.5C of strawberries every day. I love fruits and raw veggies (can't do them cooked) and strawberries are my favorite. It's costly to purchase a lb package every other day but it's a great snack that doesn't have a lot of calories.

My weight is back to starting and I haven't seen any inches lost this week. That's ok thought because my diet is still sucky and I've noticed I'm in better cardio shape. I've noticed a slight change in my butt shape so maybe I'll pass the pencil test soon.

On a side note, my niece has become a Beachbody coach and started a challenge group for next month! We're going to suffer through complete the 3 Day Refresh. I'm excited to get that in the mail and have a support system knowing that others are doing the same thing.

Updated Stats:
Weight 114.2 lbs 113.4
BMI 19.9 19.8
Waist 25.5"
Hips 32"
Butt 36"
Thighs 20.5"

BBL Week 2 Results

Week 2 of Brazil Butt Lift had longer workout combos which meant getting up 30 minutes earlier at 5am. I got my new resistance bands in and the light one is still too easy so I'm on the medium. It definitely requires work but I know the results will be better than if I take it easy. I'm hating the tricep exercises in sculpt but am trying my best. It's easier to follow along this week but bum bum is still very challenging. Way too many squats and lunges for me but I try my best.

As far as eating right goes, I've completely failed at that. I have no control if there's sweets around so I finished off what was left in the house. I haven't had soda in a while because it makes me break out and it's a lot easier to not drink it now. I hate drinking water but have been really diligent about getting my ounces in. I have a water bottle that is 1/2 of what I need in a day so it's easy to measure out.

Due to eating way over my calorie goal, I've gained weight this week. It could also be my scale. It's digital and, being a scientist, I don't trust it if it's not calibrated regularly. I was able to lose a few inches though.

Updated Stats:
Weight 113.6 114.2
BMI 19.8 19.9
Waist 26" 25.75
Hips 32"
Butt 36.5" 36
Thighs 20.75" 20.5

BBL Week 1 Results

Brazil Butt Lift week 1 is complete!! I've been following the classic schedule but an older version than what came with the DVDs. This one has more exercises per day so I figured I'd give it my all. The schedule can be found here:http://i0.wp.com/www.beachreadynow.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/classic-program-schedule-brazil-butt-lift.jpg I found the resistance band that came with the program a little loose so I ordered a set of 4 and can't wait for them to come in. I started with 5lb weights for sculpt and definitely feel it! Occasionally I'd switch to the 1.5 lb ankle weights that I've been using for high and tight.

I'm not really a meat eater and am super picky so a lot of the meals in the meal plan don't appeal to me. I started off good and stuck to my calories for about 3 days then slowly kept adding more and more sweets. If it's in the house, I'm going to eat it. I found these awesome coconut cookies and made my own. Only 50 calories each! Great if you eat just 1 instead of 5 or 10... I didn't think the recipe would make 75! I finished them off (so they wouldn't be in the house) and tried to stick to the plan again.

To up my protein I've started having a protein shake (Vega Clean Vanilla) after each workout/for breakfast since I usually workout in the morning. That's another story. I love to sleep in as much as possible with a toddler but have been waking up at 5:30 to make sure I get my workouts in. It's hard but comes with an amazing feeling of accomplishment knowing that I'm done for the day. Sure beats waiting until the end of the day and not wanting to do anything.

I failed the pencil test but didn't expect to pass it. I did lose 0.2 lbs 1" from my hips and 0.25" from my thighs so it's something.

Updated Stats:
Weight 113.8lbs 113.6
BMI 19.8
Waist 26"
Hips 33" 32"
Butt 36.5"
Thighs 21" 20.75"

Supermodel Slim Down

I attempted the Supermodel Slim Down and did the workouts and ate well... for 1 day. Needless to say, my results aren't noticeable because I didn't stick to the meal plan. It was a good way to get introduced to the workouts though.

My starting stats are as follows:
Weight 113.8lbs
BMI 19.8
Waist 26"
Hips 33"
Butt 36.5"
Thighs 21"

And here's the super embarrassing starting pictures for the entire world to see. Yay...

Here's to a better first week.

Welcome!

Welcome! I've created this blog as inspiration for others on their fitness journeys. Whether you have 5 lbs to lose or 50 or just want to get in better overall shape, I am here to help.

I want to share a picture with you. Left is in 2012 when I was at my heaviest.  My BMI was slightly over 22 and I was unhappy with the fluff I had accumulated over the last 9 years. Fast forward 4 years, add in a baby, and exercise and you'll get the picture on the right. My BMI is now 19.something and I feel a lot better overall. I fit better into my clothes and feel more confident in my skin. While I cannot say Beachbody made me this way (I attribute a lot of it to good genes and breast feeding) it has definitely helped fine tune things. I have friends and family who have completely changed the way they look because of Beachbody. They found a healthier them. You have to decide you want to change, commit to a program, and you will succeed. Let me be your coach and help you find a healthier ewe. Sign up here.