How I got started on my fitness journey

MY STORY

WHY I SAID YES TO PRIORITIZING MY HEALTH:

I get so many questions about how I got started on my fitness journey! I wanted to share it here so you can have it to read and save it for later when you need motivation. 

In February 2014 I found myself asking for prayers as we were rushed to Children’s Hospital holding tightly to VERY sick little boy.

My infant’s deteriorating health was dismissed as “a bad cold” before we got in to see HIS doctor who quickly sent us by ambulance to Children’s to get the best care.

We received his diagnosis: Pneomonia, double ear infection, bronchiolitis, and very high fevers. 

We spent two tiring nights there and while my little man attempted to get comfortable and rest I simply watched him. 

Sleep just wasn’t happening for me and eventually when he settled I grabbed the phone for a mindless midnight scroll. 

And there it was…

👉Amazing side by side from someone I didn’t even know

👉Shared by an old college friend

👉New program launch coming soon

👉Lose up to 15 pounds

👉Drink a superfood shake

👉Join a group

And, well my SCROLL – STOPPED ✋️✋️✋️

Something HIT ME. I saw the importance of GOOD HEALTH.

Colton, my son was 8.5 months old & I was still holding on to a few post baby pounds but more than anything I was EXHAUSTED 24/7 and at that moment I decided to stop wishing and start working.

It was JUST a virtual fitness group with a bunch of strangers at the time but what I learned in that group became a pivotal point in my life!!

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

So I went all in!

9 years ago I stood in my bedroom and handed my hubs my iPhone 4 to fulfill my coach’s request to submit my “goodbye” pics to gain access into her 21 day virtual BOOTCAMP….

That was me gearing up for my first online accountability group…and this is me NOW…

Ok to be honest this picture on the left was me on the second attempt.

The first set of pics I deleted…but my coach INSISTED I submit them, so I retook them the night before we started…

I had no idea what to expect.

Heck the term “challenge” group intimidated me enough as it was…

Those seemingly small containers scared me…

I thought weights would make me bulky…

And I had no desire to open up to a group filled with a bunch of “strangers”…

And I most definitely was not interested in posting anything on social or publicly for anyone to see 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

All I knew at that time was that I was tired of being tired. 

I didn’t feel comfortable in my own skin and I was DETERMINED to set the example I wanted my growing kids to follow!

Gosh I was NOT going to quit on myself, not this time. 

My babies needed their mama at her best, and I needed to make some C H A N G E S

I was R E A D Y to make the sacrifices.

I had NO IDEA then where I would wind up today…

But I do know that the very first step I took towards joining that group was the one door that opened up all the other possibilities! 

During those first few days I was a fly on the wall in the group! I didn’t post anything, I didn’t ask anything and I quietly just tried to figure it all out. It was a change and it was hard. But on the 10th day, Fat Tuesday, I went off the walls. We had lunch at a Pizza Hut buffet and I ate all the things. All the pizza, all the breadsticks and all the dessert and I felt AWFUL. LITERALLY – not because I felt like I was cheating but my digestion was awful, I was bloated, and so uncomfortable and I thought to myself “why am I beating myself up with these workouts and investing this time and money into new habits if I’m going to undo the hard work”

And that’s the day it all shifted.

On the 11th day I posted to the group for the first time. I shared my failure and I shared what I was going to do the next day to make myself FEEL my best. I didn’t know anyone in the group but somehow that public proclamation was all I needed to stay on track, eat the food that fueled me, and continue through the program.

By the end of that 21 days I didn’t have to be asked for my Day 21 pictures. I was proudly setting up that iphone timer and sending them back over to my coach with pride.

Not because I was perfect the remaining 10 days but because I was showing up as my best self and gosh it FELT really amazing.

I finally felt like ME again for the first time – post entering motherhood – and I LIKED IT!


I got my confidence back.

My husband got his wife back

My kids got the energetic mama they deserved

And I knew this was something other women NEEDED and so I did the only thing that made sense…I BEGAN TO SHARE as I kicked off my own business as a BODi partner!

VIRTUAL BOOTCAMP SQUAD

Like I shared above, the only thing that made sense to me at the end of those first 21 days was so SHARE – because I knew in my heart there had to be another mama, another “MAEGAN” out there who had felt the way I was feeling before and deserved to feel the way I was feeling NOW – and I firmly believe if you are STILL here – reading this and you want to make a change too!

Let’s link arms and do this together! We truly are STRONGER TOGETHER!

I can’t promise that making changes will be easy but I can promise that investing in yourself is one investment that is always worth making!

I will provide you with my tools, resources and best of all SUPPORT to not only help you get started but reach your goals and keep on going through the good, the bad and everything in between! CLICK THE LINK BELOW to get started together!

JOIN MY VIRTUAL BOOTCAMP

The 21 Day Fix BODi Block is coming soon!

If you’re a fan of Autumn’s 21 Day Fix programs, you’re going to love what is coming in April 2023!

Are you new to Autumn’s workouts?

Well, we guarantee you’ll love her 21 Day Fix Super Block too! Keep reading to learn more.

So What Is a Super Block?

By now you’ve probably heard of BODi Blocks — 4 new programs that start on the first Monday of every month.

Each Block features 5 workouts a week for 3 weeks, followed by an “UP Week” (which stands for “Unconditional Progress”) to reset and recover.

A Super Block is when one of the BODi Super Trainers remake one of their most popular programs in the BODi Block format.

This is your chance to revisit your favorite programs — like 21 Day Fix or T25 — with new workouts, new playlists set to popular music, and an entirely new experience.

It’s all about giving you more of what you love, plus a little push to get you where you want to go.

Why are Blocks such a breakthrough?

They’re based on block periodization, a proven approach to exercise and recovery that challenges you without overtraining.

It’s all about helping you create consistency with your Health Esteem routine.

Your life is busy. Pretending you’re going to work out every day and never eat a cookie is silly.

So, we’re ditching the perfection mindset and bringing you new programs every month that you can actually stick to because they work with real life. Really.

Want to learn more about BODi Blocks and Super Blocks? Click here.

Super Block April Spotlight: 21 Day Fix with Autumn Calabrese

What Is the 21 Day Fix Super Block?

It’s everything you love about 21 Day Fix — now in a Super Block!

Super Trainer Autumn Calabrese has remade her megahit program using the proven block periodization structure, with new moves and popular music.

How Is It Different From Other 21 Day Fix Programs?

The workouts are similar to 21 Day Fix and 21 Day Fix Real Time. The moves are new, but the structure repeats over 3 weeks so you know what to expect.

She’s designed it so you’ll make progress each week as you gain confidence, push harder, increase your weights, and get stronger day by day.

What Kind of Workouts Can I Expect?

You’ll work your body from head to toe in this Super Block.

Autumn is bringing back your favorite 21 Day Fix — you’ll get your heart pumping with two days of cardio-focused workouts and help sculpt your muscles with 3 days of strength-focused training.

Autumn also created an optional 5er Ab Fix workout that you can do twice a week for an added burn, plus 3 bonus Cycle Fix workouts you can swap in on cardio days, or whenever you want an extra workout.

What Kind of Equipment Do I Need?

You’ll need light, medium, and heavy dumbbells. A mat is optional.

How Do I Know if 21 Day Fix Is Right for Me?

If you’ve worked out with Autumn before, you know that she’s going to bring the heat — and the fun.

She’s dialed in the right combo of resistance training and cardio and added her signature motivation and tough love to push you to reach your goals, whether you’re just starting out or you’ve worked out for years.

Don’t worry if you’ve never done a workout with Autumn.

She makes sure this Super Block will work for you. Every workout has a modifier, so no matter your fitness level you can follow along and feel great.

How Does Healthy Eating Fit Into This Super Block?

The perfect pairing for the 21 Day Fix Super Block is Autumn’s Portion Fix eating plan.

She makes it simple to eat all your favorite foods in the portions that work for you, and you get plenty of delicious recipes so you’ll love every bite.

The color-coded containers take all the guesswork out of eating, and you won’t be asked to count calories or cut out food groups.

When Can I Access the 21 Day Fix Super Block?

21 Day Fix starts April 3, exclusively on BODi.

How Do I Access This Super Block?

There are a few ways you can access this Super Block — and unlock a second Super Block at the same time— for free.

For starters, you can purchase a Total-Solution Pack or Completion Pack (The Essentials Collection is the perfect choice to build your Health Esteem routine) in March or April.

You can also unlock this Super Block and a second Super Block with your purchase of a qualifying nutrition subscription in March or April.

What if you already have a qualifying nutrition subscription? If you renew your subscription in March, you’ll unlock the 21 Day Fix Super Block for free.

Just want to get your Fix? You can buy access to the 21 Day Fix Super Block for $29 ($35 CAD, £29 GBP, €35 EUR).

However you choose to unlock your access to this Super Block, a BODi membership is required.

I am looking for 10 test group participants!

Now that you have all the details of the new super block coming soon let me ask you:

ARE YOU WILLING TO COMMIT TO 21 days with me and join my April 21 day fix BODi block group?

Within the group, we’ll focus on nutrition & mindset as well. I’ll help you create your full proof health esteem system that will last you a lifetime.

I’ve been using these programs for 9 years, beginning with my 2nd postpartum journey and I’m so excited about the mindset component being added to our extensive library of live classes, programming that’s proven to work as well as nutrition programs that are created by registered dietitians & nutrition experts!!

Can you commit to 30 minutes 5X a week and just focusing on becoming 1% better every day?

SAMPLE WORKOUT is coming 3/27

Come be a part of history in the making and get insane results both physically & mentally to kick off Spring! Fill out the form below to get started and as always reply to this email if you have any questions

CLICK HERE to join the accountability group and begin this SUPER BLOCK with us on APRIL 3rd!

Maegan Blinka, Megan Blinka, UPF, What is the UPF, What is the Ultimate Portion Fix, What is included with the Ultimate portion fix program, UPF results, Ultimate Portion Fix results, Post partum journey, how to get results from home, weightloss results without fitness, Home fitness solutions, Weightloss solutions, New mama home fitness results

What is the Ultimate Portion Fix

Maegan Blinka, Megan Blinka, UPF, What is the UPF, What is the Ultimate Portion Fix, What is included with the Ultimate portion fix program, UPF results, Ultimate Portion Fix results, Post partum journey, how to get results from home, weightloss results without fitness, Home fitness solutions, Weightloss solutions, New mama home fitness resultsThe Portion Fix is what introduced the world to rainbow portion control containers and kick started my own health and fitness journey EXACTLY 5 years ago, and now Autumn is back and revamping the nutrition program to make it EVEN BETTER!

Whether you did this program before or you’re brand new to the idea of portion focused nutrition – I am LEGIT so excited for you to experience this program!  These little containers changed my life and opened my eyes to the flexibility and POWER of clean eating, helping me reach my goal weight, maintain my goal weight (5 years and counting) ditch my 3x a day crohn’s disease medication and just LIVE out a healthier lifestyle.

Portion control is just the beginning.

In this new program, Autumn dives in to other principles including balanced macronutrients and eliminating processed foods from your diet.

The Ultimate Portion Fix will help you break your sugar addiction, get your whole family on board with eating healthy, and teach you how to maximize your nutrition for performance.

The Ultimate Portion Fix is about giving your body exactly what it needs to operate at its best! No starving. No random points that disregard food source. No fasting. No trendy fad. This is how you enjoy food, and get the most out of it because it feeds your body what it needs in the right ratio!

What’s included in the program?

  • Over 30 new videos about the containers and principles of the nutrition plan
  • Portion control containers
  • A workbook and daily logbook
  • Fixate Volume 2 Cookbook with 102 new recipes
  • Access to over 200 episodes of the Fixate Cooking Show
  • 75 Healthy Lunch Ideas for Kids PDF
  • Tracking with the Nutrition+ and Beachbody on Demand apps
  • BONUS: When you purchase the Ultimate Portion Fix before April 1, you’ll get real time streaming of 21 Day Fix and 21 Day Fix Extreme Workouts, so you can work out together with Autumn Calabrese starting April 1, 2019

The Combo pack will also include an Insulated Beachbody Tote Bag that comes with large partitioned containers, ice packs, and plenty of storage so you can take your food with you wherever you go.

But the best part of purchasing the Ultimate Portion Fix is that you get access to me as a coach as well as an invitation to my Remix the Fix UPF virtual Bootcamp Group!!

When does UPF launch?

The program comes out on March 18th, 2019 for customers and live workouts will start on April 1st.

chris parrett

4 week results from Ultimate Portion Fix testgroup participant

If you are interested in earning a discount or making an income, you can get early access to the program on March 4th by signing up as a coach. If that sounds like something you’d like to do, click here.

Why should I work with Maegan Blinka?

You can try the Ultimate Portion Fix by yourself, but I know from experience that I am way more successful when I am surrounded by like-minded people who can hold me accountable!!

I have been running my coaching business for five years now and I have some tried and true methods for success to share with you. This isn’t about a one size fits all solution but a SYSTEM that is adjustable to help YOU reach your health and fitness goals.

Maegan Blinka, Megan Blinka, UPF, What is the UPF, What is the Ultimate Portion Fix, What is included with the Ultimate portion fix program, UPF results, Ultimate Portion Fix results, Post partum journey, how to get results from home, weightloss results without fitness, Home fitness solutions, Weightloss solutions, New mama home fitness results

I love the Portion Fix and I’ve been using it since I began my journey 5 years ago.

Not only did it help me get  my portions under control but it helped me understand BALANCED — nutrition. You do not have to cut out food groups (carbs are your friend too!) but its important to understand how to use food as fuel for your body.

More importantly it helped me learn how to HELP others which has become the most fulfilled piece of what I do!

Maegan Blinka, Megan Blinka, UPF, What is the UPF, What is the Ultimate Portion Fix, What is included with the Ultimate portion fix program, UPF results, Ultimate Portion Fix results, Post partum journey, how to get results from home, weightloss results without fitness, Home fitness solutions, Weightloss solutions, New mama home fitness results

I am excited to launch my VIRTUAL group for those of you who would like to do Ultimate Portion Fix – – – WITH ME!

Fill out the form below for details!

Post Halloween Candy Detox

Where there’s a will there’s a way!!!

Post halloween Candy detox cover

I got a SEVERAL messages from my past clients who were asking about my annual post-Halloween detox-so here you have it friends!!!

If you’re already anticipating getting caught in the sugar addiction/downward spiral that comes post Halloween —I invite YOU to come join our team’s 3 Day Refresh Kickoff group next week (you choose your 3 days, November 5-9)

The group is for my girls who want to lose 3-8 lbs by following a 3 day plant based gentle detox  (And no no, it’s not one of THOSE detox things 💩)

-Yes you can do this while at work.

-No you won’t spend all day in the bathroom.

-Yes you actually EAT FOODS

-No you won’t be starving OR drinking only liquids

-Yes you can expect to kick the boost, drop a few lbs, and of course feel FRESH come day 3!

3 Day refresh results 4 pics

If you are interested in the deets, fill out the application below!

I will provide you with a sample meal plan for the detox, provide you with a source of accountability so you won’t be in this alone, and help you make sure you don’t just lose weight and gain it right back but follow a lifestyle that’s going to allow you to MAINTAIN your results!!!

Deadline to register is HALLOWEEN 🎃👻

Maegan Blinka, Megan Blinka, Beachbody coaches in PA, Pittsburgh Beachbody Coach, How to stay balanced over the summer, How to stay on track while traveling, Healthy Summer Travel Tips, Beachbody on Demand, Netflix for workout programs, BOD, Shakeology, Superfood meal replacement shake,

Healthy Summer Travel tips

So how do you balance that time when you’re ready to make a few changes for the healthier you – YET – your summer travels and/or your social calendar aren’t exactly conducive to regular meal planning, eating all your veggies and getting that daily workout in…

How to stay on track in the summer.jpg

My little secret: YOU PLAN AHEAD!!!!

As my summer slimdown accountability group kicks off week 1 – I am getting similar inquiries – HOW TO STAY ON TRACK WHEN TRAVELING & AWAY FROM HOME

So I wanted to take a few minutes to share my top tips:

FOR YOUR WORKOUTS:

  1. Find a way to get your workout in!
    • Many of the Beachbody workout programs don’t even require any weights! If you’re doing something like PIYO or Insanity Max: 30 or T25 – you won’t even need to worry about packing anything special! You and a positive mindset and you’re GOLDEN!
    • No DVD player? No Internet? No problem!!!
      • Beachbody On Demand (BOD) allows you to stream all your purchased workout programs as well as hundreds of other workouts. While the Internet is required to stream straight from BOD using wifi – if you find yourself with no internet connection simply download the BOD app and then download the selected workouts for while you’re away! variety is the spice of life banner
  2. Invest in a resistance band (for all my Fixers!)
    • You can grab a resistance band from TeamBeachbody.com or at Wal-Mart or Dicks Sporting Goods for next to nothing, it travels well, packs lightly and will allow you to continue with your strength training workouts without the need for weights2015-03-04 07.05.37
  3. Use this time on “vacation” to give back to yourself!!! Sure you can allow yourself some extra rest but without the distractions of every day home life – carve out those 22-30 minutes, sweat it out, and reap the benefits all day long! This is a great time to set a new habit! Better yet – include your family or friends that are vacationing with you and make it a group effort! Its always more fun to SWEAT TOGETHER! 2015-05-29 07.45.30

NUTRITION

  1. Whether you’re off to a graduation party, birthday party or neighborhood picnic – my biggest tip: DO NOT ARRIVE STARVING!2015-04-12 10.10.11
    • Yes you’ll eat while you’re there, but when there is food surrounding you, you tend to OVEREAT – and usually not on the healthy stuff. 9 times out of 10 – I drink my Shakeology ON THE WAY to any get together! This helps reduce the cravings, fills me up and allows me to make better food choices once I get there – and it avoids the HANGRY mess. We all need to avoid the HANGRY stage!
  2. If you’re attending a potluck – take something you know fits your goals. Maybe its a veggie tray or fruit salad, or my favorite: Southwest Quinoa salad – take something YOU know YOU will eat…but also tastes good too! Its not about eating rabbit food…its about eating food to fuel you – and yes – it can and does taste good too! southwestern quinoa.jpg
  3. Schedule in your splurge meal Maegan Blinka, Megan Blinka, Beachbody coaches in PA, Pittsburgh Beachbody Coach, How to stay balanced over the summer, How to stay on track while traveling, Healthy Summer Travel Tips, Beachbody on Demand, Netflix for workout programs, BOD, Shakeology, Superfood meal replacement shake,  – its natural to enjoy and indulge every now and then! In fact – its part of a healthy weightloss journey. Too much restriction isn’t good for you!!! If you know you’ll be at the family reunion and you can’t imagine passing up those homemade rolls then my goodness – eat and enjoy the rolls! Or cake or cookies or whatever it is that you LOVE. But enjoy one and move on!
  4. Follow the two-bite rule
    • When you’re staring at that decadent cake…and cannot stand it anymore. Take two bites. The first one will be amazing. The second one even better, but after that the satiation diminishes. So just stop there!
  5. Stay hydrated! Too often we are hot, outside and maybe even getting bored. Before we have a chance to realize it we’re stuck munching on who knows what…before you hit the pantry – drink a big glass of water. That hunger you thought you felt may really just be thirst calling! If you need a little thirst buster – try a sparkling water! The Dasani Pineapple is my FAVORITE! 2016-04-25 17.34.49
  6. Boost your Shakeology!!!
    • Beachbody has these amazing Shakeology boosts – Power Greens, Focused Energy & Digestive Health – that I use on a situational basis. When I am short on greens I toss in the POWER GREENS – when I need a day of extra energy I boost it up with FOCUSED ENERGY and when my digestion could use a little kickstart – I add in some DIGESTIVE HEALTH!2015-07-18 10.15.36.jpg
  7. Pack a cooler! 
    • Whether you’re heading out for a day of meetings, a day at the amusement park, a road trip down the coast or just a day at the pool…if you’re away from home for more than a few hours you’re going to need to eat.
    • Control the controllable, pack your veggies & fruits, clean/prep as much as possibl and include plenty of DRINKS!!! 2015-08-29 09.51.43
  8. Pick a “good bar” – there are a lot of “bars” on the market but trust me when I say they are not all created equal!!! Kind Bars, That’s It bars, and Quest Bars are a few of my go-tos – and more recently Lara Bars as they are Gluten Free, Vegan and NON-GMO!!! Read on for more detail as to how these fit into the 21-day fix planTravel snacks - bars on the 21 day fix
  9. If you’re at a house for a week long vacation – pick up your staples! When we vacation I always keep stock in peppers (great, easy snack!), apples, berries, yogurt, oatmeal, spinach, eggs, etc… so I can still continue to enjoy my favorites throughout the day. Then when it comes time for dinner I make the best CHOICES I can…afterall isn’t that all you can really do?!

Failing to plan planning to fail

At the end of the day – its about living and sustaining a healthy BALANCED lifestyle. There will never be a “good time” to start something new. So don’t wait any longer. When you’re ready – just go for it – do your best and never look back!!! Plan as much as possible and make HEALTHY choices at each opportunity!

If you’d like some help getting started or even jumping back into a HEALTHY balanced lifestyle fill out the form below for details on my next online Fitness challenge!

What Kind of Bars can you have on the 21-day fix?

I never used to be a procrastinator but I swear the older I get the more squirrelly I become!

During my race against the clock to pack for a 5-day trip to Texas for my family of four within a 2 hour a time frame I managed to do about 34,539 things that didTravel snacks - bars on the 21 day fixn’t NEED done but I decided to do anyway all the while forgetting my apple and peppers in the fridge with the munchkins yogurts 😡

Luckily I keep these little gems in the diaper bag! I def don’t encourage “bars” on a daily basis but if you’re going to grab and go these are the THREE that I recommend…all ordered from Amazon Prime and delivered right to my door🙌

1. That’s IT Bar: These are my new found “can’t leave home without it” snack! I stumbled across these on my way home from SUMMIT in Nashville while waiting for my Green Tea at Starbucks. The name caught my eye and when I flipped it over I saw that the ingredients were simply fruit – THAT’S IT!

I snagged a few from Starbucks before I realized I could order through AMAZON and get them right to my door! The Apple and Strawberry is definitely my favorite (reminds me of a fruit roll up!!!) and the Apple and pear is a close second!
For my 21 Day Fix Friends – I count these as one purple – racking up 100 calories, 4 grams of dietary fiber and about 17 grams of natural sugars. 
2. KIND BARS: I caught a Q&A from Autumn on this topic and ever since I have kept this stashed in my diaper bag! Kind bars are primarily nuts. Don’t get me wrong there are some wild and crazy varieties out there with a lot more in them but if you watch the labels you can get a pretty natural nut bar in the KIND variety! I also order these from Amazon or grab them when I head to SAMs on a stock up trip!
For my 21-Day Fix Friends – I count these as 1 BLUE and 1 tsp – coming in around 200 calories and 17g of (healthy) fats. 
3. Quest Bars: I’d say these are the least “clean” of the 3 but also my favorite as I find them the most filing.
For my 21-Day Fix Friends – I count these as 1 red and 1 yellow…although I def. don’t recommend these when “strictly” following the fix as they do not have the equivalent nutritional value as a lean meat (red) or healthy grain (yellows) – would. They range 160-200 calories with about 8-12 g of fat yet virtually ZERO sugar! 
Caramel Vanilla shakeoOf course I ALWAYS keep a Shakeo packet always within reach….this is the most clean and natural way to squeeze in a snack on the run – especially when those unexpected hunger growls start! I prefer to make it blended but I’ll be honest…give me a shaker cup and some water and I’m good to go! Cures my cravings, fills my tummy and fuels my body for the day ahead!
Do you want to try Shakeology??? 

You can get your own 30 day supply HERE or even start with the FLAVOR SAMPLER PACK TO FIGURE WHAT WHICH IS YOUR FAVORITE!

As always you can email me at maeganblinka@gmail.com with any questions or fill out the form below for more information on my upcoming Health and Fitness online accountability group! Whether you’re interested in the 21-day fix, Hammer & Chisel, PIYO or any of the other incredible home workout DVD programs we offer – I do believe there is one fit for YOU!

There’s POWER in numbers but YOU only have control of ONE.