Tips to Stay on Track this Labor Day

With Labor Day around the corner, that means summer is almost "officially" over!  I can't believe it's flown by so quickly!  Labor Day usually means that it's the last summer BBQ party, and of course can easily be filled with junk food, alcohol and desserts!  So...here's the question, are you going to give into your last party to end the summer, or will you enjoy your party by making some healthy choices and swaps to the foods you're serving?

Here's the deal...there are so many amazing recipes you can serve (or bring) that the entire crowd will love!  You don't have to sacrifice flavor or your desserts to stay healthy yet still enjoy your holiday weekend!

What are some tips as you go into this weekend and planning to be at a party?

1) Exercise

You may be enjoying a couple parties or BBQs this weekend, but if you KNOW you're going to be "splurging" at all, then why not start your weekend with a great workout?  Get up (even if it's a rest day) and workout anyways!  There's no harm in getting an extra calorie burn in before you go to a party!

2) Stay on track during your other days/meals

So you have 1 or maybe 2 parties planned this weekend...don't throw the baby out with the bath water!  Be on point with your nutrition the rest of the weekend and allow yourself to enjoy a treat or 2 for your party!  Don't make it an "all or nothing" weekend!  

3)  Plan ahead

Planning is the KEY piece to your success!  If you fail to plan, you plan to fail!  If you KNOW you'll be at a party or BBQ, you can probably have a rough guess as to what's being served.  Plan out on paper what your day will look like.  Start at the beginning of the day and plan it out.  Reserve enough calories or containers if you follow the 21 Day Fix so that you can enjoy your party!  Be an awesome guest that brings a dish!  If you bring something that you know you can eat and it is nutritious and satisfying, then you can munch on your item and know that you've got something to eat!

4)  Eat before you go!

If you know you'll be tempted with heavy and high fat foods, then what I like to do is have a nutritious meal (or my favorite is to drink a Shakeology) before I go to the party!  I will eat less and can keep busy by drinking water or tea!  Let's face it...you're at a party and most likely there are enough people there that you won't be singled out if you don't have full portions of everything!  

5) 80/20 Rule - Everything in Moderation!

Eating healthy and living a healthy lifestyle is not a death sentence!  It's a lifestyle!  We ALL need good health!!  So what I like to say is live by the 80/20 rule!  80% of the time, eat spot on and healthy!  20% of the time, enjoy a treat, dessert, special meal or a drink!  It's all about moderation!  When you eat like this, you don't feel deprived!  It's all about moderation!  Know when enough is enough!

Lastly...enjoy your last bit of summer!  Here are a couple recipes I like 

Delicious "pre party" meal - Blueberry Muffin Shakeology

Great appetizer or finger food (and packs a great source of protein) - Turkey Meatballs

Perfect side dish  - Quinoa Salad

Healthy yet delicious dessert - Dark Chocolate Flourless Brownie Muffins

Interested in joining an upcoming Health/Fitness Accountability Group?  Click here to fill out an application!

Grilled Chipotle Chicken with Cilantro Lime Quinoa

I found this recipe from a friend and was definitely in the mix for a new recipe!  Grilled chicken is a favorite in our house, but you can always spice it up and make it even tastier!  This was a complete winner, just enough spice and plenty of flavor!!  I love quinoa, but I'm always trying to find new ways to make it interesting and not plain!!  This is a winner!!


Chipotle Chicken

Grilled Chipotle Chicken

Ingredients

4-6 boneless skinless chicken breast
2-3 tsp Chipotle powder
1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Tbsp White Wine Vinegar
2 Tbsp Dijon Mustard
2 Tbsp Fresh Cilantro (finely chopped)
2 garlic cloves, minced
Fresh ground pepper, to taste
1.5 Tbsp honey or 1/2 tbsp stevia (I used honey)


Combine all ingredients and put into a glass bowl or gallon size ziplock baggie to marinate chicken in the fridge for several hours (or overnight...this is also a great recipe to make double of and freeze the extra one for a quick meal!!).

Grill until cooked throughout.

(Another option is to bake at 350 for about 35 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink.


Cilantro-Coconut Lime Quinoa

Cilantro-Lime Quinoa

Prepare quinoa as directed on the bag for a serving of 4.  (2 cups water to 1 cup quinoa).
Add 1/4- 1/2 salt (and pepper if desired) to taste
2 tsp Organic Coconut Oil (adding this makes the quinoa SO delicious and fluffy too!)
Zest and juice from 1-2 limes

Bring to a boil (with all above ingredients included).  Cover and reduce heat to low.  Simmer for 15-20 minutes.  Let stand 2-3 minutes and fluff with a fork!

Let quinoa cool for about 10-20 minutes then add 2-3 small tomatoes, diced
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
2-3 tbsp chopped cilantro



21 Day Fix Program, per serving:
Chicken: 1 Red
Quinoa: 1 Yellow, 1 tsp

Interested in joining a 21 Day Fix Challenge Group?  Click here to fill out an application!

Finding Passion and Fulfillment by Inspiring Others!

Have you ever felt unfulfilled, unsatisfied, or unsuccessful with anything in your life?  Whether that's as a mom, a wife, a coworker, a friend.  You're not alone...and you don't have to feel guilty!!  In fact, this is what started my journey for searching for something more. 

I remember back in high school struggling with my weight, having put on 15 pounds in 3 short months with no reasoning why or change in what I was doing, that was when I first started being concerned about my body image.  From that time forward, I feel like I have been on a yo-yo diet for the good part of my adult life.  I've had my fair share of high weights and low weights, times where I felt my metabolism was on fire and others where I thought it was dead.  It always came back to this belief in my head that I was unsatisfied with my body and unsuccessful at trying to "fix" it.  This up and down continued on thru college, marriage, before/after pregnancies and into my 30s.  I had allowed my mind be controlled by beliefs that were untrue about myself for close to 20 years.  

Fast forward to 2013 when I started searching for something that would "end the yo-yoing" and get me doing the daily activities I needed to really feel satisfied and successful with myself.  Little did I know, it would fulfill more than just a desire to be satisfied with my body, but what I found would open up a door to fill the missing hole of feeling unfulfilled in my life.  I always knew I was created for something more in my life, even thought I'm a mom of 3 beautiful kiddos, I wanted something outside of the scope of daily happenings as a mom.  Something that would bring a different kind of joy and drive into my life!

Well, in August 2013, in my searching to lose some weight, I came across something called T25.  I dug a bit deeper and came to a blog (much like this one) that got me excited to change my old habits!  I found that I could get into a group that had support and accountability to help me through the fitness program and changing my eating habits.  I knew accountability was something I needed.  I decided to go for it, I contacted my coach and wanted into the group!  But as I stared looking further into her blog, I found out this was also a business opportunity...and dug deeper.  

As I researched more, I found out I could get healthy, stay accountable to my fitness goals, WHILE, at the same time, help my friends, family and others do the same and change their old unhealthy ways into new healthy opportunities!  Suddenly, I felt a sense of fulfillment as I thought of the possibilities that could occur by becoming a coach and I wanted to be a part of it!  It was perfect...I could work on my own health journey, help inspire others along their health/fitness journey AND I would feel fulfilled helping others with something I love and am passionate about and also create income and eventually financial freedom all at the same time!

At that time, I knew I wanted to be a Beachbody coach.  Now, I didn't become a coach an instantly make a ton of money, that's not how this works...I didn't become a coach and magically everything was perfect.  Everything is a journey and process, my health/fitness journey as well as my coaching journey!

I know I'm where I'm supposed to be. God created me with a desire to make a difference in this world and this is where HE led me!  I believe that it wasn't by chance that I was introduced to Beachbody.  I know my story shapes who I am, but I'm not confined to that story and any insecurities I have.  I now have the tools and the future as a coach to shape the ending of my story!  The journey that I'm on now is constantly changing and being molded into the mom, wife, daughter and coach I'm becoming.  

You don't have to feel trapped where you are and by your own personal story, whatever insecurities or things you struggle with.  Own it, recognize it, and move beyond it.  

As a coach, my goal each day is to impact ONE life.  Whether it's a challenger through one of my health/fitness accountability groups or it is introducing someone just like me to an opportunity that can change your life and give you that chance I had to get rid of those untruths that were haunting me and shaping who I believed I was.  Someone who I could give the opportunity to be successful, no matter what that looks like, either with their health, finances, paying off debt, saving for the future.  The sky's the limit.  

I want to invite you to really take a serious look at this coaching opportunity.  It is for ANYONE.  There are no limits or restrictions of who would be a "good" coach.  Anyone can be a good coach, you just have to be willing to be coachable!  I am looking for 10 women of all shapes, sizes, race and backgrounds.  10 women who want a change in their life just like I did!  I want to mentor you as a new coach and on throughout your coaching journey and help you succeed, help you find that fulfillment you desire.  I want YOU on my team!  Together we can make a difference in this world!  

What if you changed just ONE life in taking this leap of faith to find out more about what it means to be a Beachbody Coach, even more so, what if you changed 50-100 lives, would it be worth it?  I will teach you how to succeed, I will match your effort and will not let you fail!  Please fill out the application below for more information.  I can't wait to help YOU succeed at whatever you set your mind to!

Start Your Coaching Journey!

It's been 2 years now since I first started coaching!  I can't believe it's gone by so fast!  I truly feel blessed that I came across coaching back 2 years ago!  At the time, I was searching for something...first a new fitness program, a way to lose about 10 pounds or so, and a way to bring in some extra income for our family!

At the time I started researching fitness programs, I had heard of Beachbody, but had NO idea there was a business opportunity attached to it as well.  The more digging I started to do about the fitness programs (at the time I was checking out T25),  the more I continuted to come across the coaching opportunity!  So, that led me to digging for more information into coaching.  I immediately saw the value in coaching and knew this would be a great way to not only keep me motivated to reaching my health/fitness goals, but also to help out our family income yet still be able to be at home.  So, I jumped on the opportunity!!

The last 2 years as a coach has made such a difference in our lives.  I'm the most consistent with my exercise than I've ever been in my life, I've been able to pay for family vacations and "incidentals" that always creep into our spending, I've gained amazing new friendships and helped so many people reach their health and fitness goals!  I've been able to set, reach and set new goals, both personally and financially!

So, now what?

With the kids going back to school and you finding yourself with a little more time on your hands, NOW is the perfect time to join my amazing team of coaches!  Maybe you're needing to pay off some of the "summer activities" or you're finding that in your "summer fun" you've inadvertently gained a bit of extra weight and need to get it off...well, that's ok!  I can help!!

By joining my team you can:

1. Work with me and my team, Team Ignite Your Life, and learn how to grow a successful business.
2. Get yourself back into shape after a summer of fun with the kids or with friends!  We'll help hold each other accountable to reaching our health and fitness goals!
3. Get PAID to do something you love and are PASSIONATE about...helping others in their own health and fitness journey and by sharing your story and inspiring others!

You do NOT have to be a fitness expert, nutrition expert or even at your "goal weight".  Your story is unique to YOU and you have the ability to impact and change someone's life based on where YOU are right now in your journey!  You can inspire and change lives at any "weight"!  Being a successful coach takes passion, a heart for others, and a desire for the possibilities of change, for yourself and for others!

I'll be hosting a 5-day Sneak Peek into coaching.  Sharing with you how I got involved and my experiences as a coach, answering your questions you have about coaching and sharing other coaches experiences too!  This will be a group where you can ask questions and see if it's a right fit for you!

To Apply, please click the link:

Apply to Coaching Sneak Peak