We hit the halfway mark!

40 days into our little abs, booty and tank top arms program (okay, maybe the tank top arms thing is for me!) but we are making progress and proud to share.

We haven’t missed a workout YET.

We are having LOTS of fun together and I gotta say I don’t want to go back to solo workous! He makes it wayyyy more fun!

The hubs is eating around the 3000 calorie mark and I am right about 2000.
So to the person who thinks “i’m not eating enough” oh sweet friend, yesssss we are!

I haven’t seen much change in the scale but I am so much STRONGER and I’ve lost several inches, mainly around my hips and stomach. I am lifting heavier, I am more energized and my endurance is increasing.

Oh and you know how SOMETIMES you have those undies that just kind of cut off the circulation and you would not DARE wear them leggings?! No? Only me?!
Well anyway, I have a pair and they no longer leave the indents – YES – that’s a HUGE non-scale victory for me!!!

The hubs dropped about 10 pounds although he is eating at the “maintenance” level with a goal to not drop pounds but more BUILD lean muscle.

All in all we are HAVING fun and excited to wrap up the final week in phase 2 before going on the SHRED phase, phase 3.

So many people ask for my weekly meal plans, and more specifically, how we are handling REFEED day -so here you have it!

And while I can scream from the rooftops how much I am LOVING this program and the variety of the workouts and daily challenge it brings, I thought YOU may enjoy hearing from some of my Launch party guests!

Its been an honor to lead these woman and I look forward to helping YOU get started on your journey next!
If you’d like to learn more about my accountability and support groups and info on joining my next VIRTUAL BOOTCAMP please fill out the application below!

*TOGETHER WE ARE STRONGER*

They say it takes 21 days to make or break a habit

And as we closed in on that magic number in my 80 day Launch Party I think its safe to say we are seeing those HABITS strongly forming!

The general consensus from my launch party guests at this 3 week mark included:

• Stronger
• More confident
• More energized
• Leaner
• and all around HAPPIER

We finally got the hang of this Timed Nutrition meal plan and we’re having FUN with it.

The most common question/objection I hear from others who are watching and not YET doing is that they just can’t imagine working out for more than 30 minutes.
And I get that.
I understand change is hard.
But sometimes you have to EMBRACE THE CHANGE and if you want something you’ve never had then you have to do something you’ve never done.

Amongst dinner’s out and birthday parties and traveling on the weekends we’ve managed to keep our nutrition in check but its not by chance. It all comes down to PLANNING and keeping our goals in check and WHYpower at the forefront of what we’re doing and WHY!

Each week we have taken the time to PLAN out all our meals and as we approach the final week in phase 1, its no different.

Here’s what we have in the works for this week:

I cannot wait to round out phase 1 with this final week of workouts.

I finally stepped on the scale yesterday and while there has only been a small HALF POUND change in three weeks I am feeling so much stronger mentally and physically and THAT MATTERS. We have been increasing our weights and double looping the bands and I can feel the change and I am beginning to SEE those seemingly small changes COMPOUND.

I am SO EXCITED to open enrollment in ROUND 2 and I cannot wait to help YOU get started!

Nutrition + Fitness + Support = RESULTS

TOGETHER we are STRONGER and this is my open invitation to YOU to come join us!

Fill out the form below & Join my Launch party group and let’s get STARTED! 

“You cannot out run a bad fork”

A quote I heard years ago and never forgot…

Meaning…if you want to improve your overall health and fitness you can’t just “exercise” but you have to learn how to FUEL your body with the RIGHT foods in the right PORTIONS and that’s exactly what I set out to do every day and it starts with my weekly meal prep.

Weekly Meal Prep

I have had my instant pot for a few months now and to be honest I was a wee bit scared! I’m not sure why but it was new, my “normal” recipes didn’t seem to fit and I am a creature of habit, so this change wasn’t on my radar.

But after staring at the brand new kitchen device that I couldn’t WAIT to have EVERY time I opened the pantry I decided to give it a try.

A friend told me about a hamburger soup she tried and I decided to give it a whirl with my own twist!

WHAT YOU NEED:

• 2.5 lb lean ground beef or ground turkey 
• 1 onion, chopped
• 4 large carrots, peeled and chopped
• 3-4 celery stalks, sliced
• 4 cups yukon gold potatoes (cut into small pieces) 
• 1/4 cup tomato paste
• 3 cup frozen green beans
• 2 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes with green chilies 
• 4 cups  beef broth
• 2 teaspoons fresh garlic
• 2-3 teaspoons sea salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• Jalopenos (optional but so highly recommended!) 
• Shredded cheese (optional) 

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO: 

Set your Instant Pot to Saute.

Add  beef/turkey and cook until browned.  Add all other ingredients, stir to combine & set Instant Pot to Soup setting.

And THAT simplicity is now why I am finding new Instant Pots to add to my MEAL PLAN weekly!

For my fellow portion fix & 80 day friends:

Makes 10 servings: 1 RED, 1 YELLOW 1 GREEN – If you add cheese you would include as BLUE. You could decrease your potatoes to 2 cups and add one cup corn and one cup peas 

In 2013 Autumn Calabrese introduced, what became, a revolution to the health and fitness world:

Color coded portion controlled food containers and a plan that told you how many of each you got in a day depending on your fitness goals.

It was GENIUS!

And helped THOUSANDS upon THOUSANDS transform their bodies and their lifestyles…including myself.

21 Day Transformation February 2014

And with her latest program, 80 Day Obsession, they’re back, but in a BRAND NEW way!

Introducing TIMED NUTRITION.

Timed nutrition is what Autumn calls her “secret weapon”.

Its not complicated but its incredibly effective.

If you are already familiar with the portion control system (that was introduced with the 21-day fix) the timed nutrition plan will be very similar, with a few SPECIFIC tweaks.

This plan isn’t just about eating X food throughout the day but eating EXACTLY as she outlines for EACH meal.

No guesswork, totally simplified to get the BEST results.

She covers it all, providing a “workout  block” which gives provides what to eat BEFORE you work out, during, after and as your first post workout MEAL to follow.

She also takes the allotted containers for the ENTIRE day that remains and gives you specific combos so you don’t have to figure it out…you just FOLLOW IT!

I have fielded a lot of questions from those who work out SUPER early or through the night with shift work regarding if this program is still possible and the answer is ABSOLUTELY.

We all eat all throughout the day, timed nutrition is no different, you are just going to be more precise with your timing while keeping your macro nutrients balanced throughout the day.

Its based on a combination of healthy carbohydrates, healthy fats and lean proteins to keep your metabolism burning like a furnace so you shed fat and build lean muscle no matter what time you work out and what your day looks like!

FAQs:

Do you have to follow the meal plan EXACTLY to get results? 
The program was developed and designed to give you optimal results by following it as is. If you choose to do things differently then you aren’t following the 80 day Obsession program.

What should I do if I usually wake up and workout super early at 5am? 
I too am an “early riser” so I am not using the recommended 60-90 minute wait between my pre workout meal and exercise time. Autumn shared you can swap “meal 1” with the pre workout meal (which are reflected on the examples below) and I have found that I can have my Shakeology and banana and immediately drink my pre workout then exercise! Then my meal 1 is a bit larger, including a green, yellow and red.

Can you mix up the containers?
NO – you must eat the containers listed in the combos provided, but you can move them around (i.e. Meal 1 2 and 3 are interchangeable, but the combos must remain the same.)

What do you do if you go over one meal? 
You still eat your next meal as follows.

Is there a Vegan Meal plan?
Yes, there are vegan meal plans provided.

What does it look like? 

Following the nutrition program laid out in the 80 Day Obsession meal planning guide, I made the following meal plans for my hubs and I.

After figuring out the daily caloric needs for both of us, I landed in meal plan A and he landed in F.

I can’t say I have ever been one to get up and eat BEFORE I worked out
Or to eat all my fruits by 6:30am or to follow a specifically laid out meal plan.
But with all the results I’ve seen I am TRUSTING THE PROCESS, following the lead of the trainers and leaning in on my support group to make sure we FINISH what we START.

If you’d like to learn more about the 80 Day Launch Party or what the PROGRAM DETAILS include fill out the form below!

I talk about it all the time on my social media channels because quite frankly its like a saving grace…

But what is my magic mommy go go juice all about? 

What is energize? 

Performance energize, aka my magic morning mommy juice, is a preworkout drink designed to help you blast through your toughest challenges with a surge of energy.

Before you begin your workout, or get active, use Energize to help sharpen focus, push harder, and last longer.

Energize pre-workout product is formulated with key ingredients that are SCIENTIFICALLY shown to help give you energy without jittery side effects. Take it before workouts to help:

• Boost energy and endurance
• Improve intense exercise performance
• Sharpen focus and reaction time
• Increase muscle power output
• Delay exercise induced muscle fatigue

When do you drink it & How do you mix it? 

Simply mix with water according to the label instructions, and drink within 30 minutes before you begin exercising.

I persoanlly prefer it COLD and will put a water bottle in the fridge in the evening so its ready the next morning. You can use anywhere from 8-12 oz – mix – shake – ENJOY!

Why is it effective? 

Energize is formulated with:

• Beta-alanine
  This amino acid helps reduce lactic acid buildup in your muscles, which helps to delay exercise-induced muscle fatigue so you can push harder and last longer. Numerous scientific studies show that beta-alanine is especially effective at helping to improve performance during intense exercise.
• Low-dose caffeine (from green tea and coffee bean extract)
  Low-dose caffeine has been shown to be ergogenic (which means it helps enhance performance). It also helps improve reaction time and focus, and reduce exercise-induced muscle fatigue. From recreational exercisers to elite athletes, studies show that it can give you both a mental and physical boost.
• Quercetin
  This powerful performance-enhancing phytonutrient gets a lot of attention in leading exercise physiology-nutrition laboratories because it can help improve endurance and delay exercise-induced muscle fatigue to help you get through your workouts and give you a competitive edge.

What is Energize better than OTHER energy products? 

• You get a safe boost of energy (without jittery side effects).
• It’s a powerful combination of ergogenic (performance-enhancing) ingredients and phytonutrients that are scientifically shown to help improve exercise performance, sharpen focus, and delay exercise-induced muscle fatigue.
• It contains functional ingredients that have been scientifically shown to work. Other products include gimmicky ingredients with no evidence that they work.
• Key ingredients are included at their clinically established effective serving levels.
• No artificial colors, artificial flavors, artificial sweeteners, or preservatives.

Is it tested? 
Energize, along with the other Performance products, has been tested by NSF International.

As an independent, accredited organization, NSF International tests and certifies products. The NSF Certified for Sport marking assures your Beachbody Performance products have been thoroughly tested for quality.

What does this mean to you?
This means you can be confident that Beachbody Performance supplements have been rigorously tested to meet NSF’s strict banned substance standards when taken at the recommended serving size.

Beachbody went through this rigorous certification process to meet the growing demand of athletes, coaches, and all those concerned about banned substances in professional and amateur sports.

I’ve been sharing and talking publicly about the 30 day elimination plan that I began with some of my friends on November 6th but I haven’t yet taken the moment to share with you WHAT it is or WHY I’m doing it and with the recent questions I’ve received I realized it was best to just lay it all out there!

So here it is!

This is not whole 30, this is not paleo, this is not a portion fix plan and this is not vegan.

This is ME noting what works best for ME.

Over the last 3.5 years I’ve been making my own health and fitness a priority. I’ve followed a variety of programs and as I progress and as I try new things I’ve noticed some things that used to work for me don’t anymore!

For example, a loaded yogurt bowl used to be part of my DAILY routine. I looked forward to it every morning! The greek yogurt with some fresh berries, a drizzle of honey and some crunchy almonds to top it off! But over time I noticed my skin was breaking out like crazy.

I didn’t think I ate “a lot of dairy” but when it was suggested to cut it out I noticed improvements almost IMMEDIATELY.

That was the first eye opener! And with that, I began noting how different foods impacted my skin, my sleep, my energy levels, my cravings and I found:

Through my own experiments over time, I found I feel my best when I am: Grain free, gluten free, dairy free and (limit) my sugar…so that’s my 30 day PLAN!

Now those who know me know I love a good cookie and I don’t ever plan on cutting out cookies entirely but I am no longer including them daily and after 8 days no cookies I am proud to say I am not just surviving but THRIVING.

I kicked off my 30 days with a 3 day refresh. Not because that’s what everyone else was dong, in fact I don’t think anyone else in our accountability group started that way but after wrapping up a trip to Florida, London and then Vegas in a 5 week span – my body needed a JUMPSTART and this always does the trick!

3 Day Detox Results

I can’t really say that I lost any certain number of pounds because well, it was one heck of a morning in our house upon completion and I just never got there #momlife but I lost the BLOAT. 

I needed to break the bad habits and this was exactly what I needed to kick it into high gear!

Oh, and don’t mind the instant tan- it’s just the difference in light I was standing under-that did not come with the detox. #sorryfriends

Together we’ve been holding one another accountable through a private Facebook group complete with live calls with different nutrition experts and celebrity trainers, like Chris Downing, the creator of The Shift Shop.

I’ve been leading challenge groups for years now. They are my saving grace and give me so much JOY and really give a purpose to what I do for a living but I will admit it feels good to be on the CHALLENGER side again. I am loving the change, the victories and knowing that we are doing this TOGETHER!

So what’s my meal plan look like?

I’m splitting my daily caloric intake into 4 meals. I’m not eating LESS I’m just eating specific foods that I know help fuel my mind and my body for optimal function!

Meal prep has been KEY for me to stay INTENTIONAL with my choices and make sure I don’t find myself caving later in the day!

Last week was the warm up.
This week kicks off my first go at Intermittent fasting.
I don’t have all the answers but I am willing to give it MY BEST not just for myself but for my challengers and those that allow me to be a part of their journey!

I am getting ready to kick off my Mission Maintain: Holiday Survival group on the 27th and I want you to know I have a spot set aside for you!

Living a healthy & balanced lifestyle isn’t easy.

But you’re statistically 6x m ore likely to follow through with it if you have someone else holding you accountable.

Let me be your person.

Fill out the application below to learn more and join me in this journey!

We are going to end 2017 STRONGER than we started.

To the parent who struggles to find a NUTRITIOUS meal that their children will eat, without a moan or groan or fit or battle…I’m writing this to you…

If your kid eats plenty of fruits and veggies and healthy fats and lean proteins then I may hand carve you a medal (j/k I can’t carve anything!) but seriously I have had this conversation with MOST of my friends and I know we have all been there at some point…

For 6.5 years I’ve battled with my strong willed daughter at meal times.

And I know you may think that’s a wee bit exaggerated but from the time her tiny fingers could grasp bites of food she would navigate around all fruits and veggies on her plate and find the carb loaded noodles and breads practically with her eyes closed.

If you can relate to what I’m sharing here…keep reading…I have something for you!