I am living each day to be the BEST I can and also inspire others along the way. I am leading by example, dreaming big and turning my passion for health and fitness into my business. I have completely changed my life in the last 2 years and I want to pass this gift on to everyone! You don't have to struggle alone. Together we can accomplish amazing things -xoxo
Meal planning has never been my strong area. I didn't understand how people did it, I thought it was something only "fitness competitors who lived on chicken and rice did". Plus it seemed like SOOO MUCH WORK!! Has anyone else ever been there?
Let me explain what my weekly grocery store trip looked like "Pre-Beachbody" - I would make a list of the normal things I needed for the week like milk, bread and eggs. Then I would add things we were low and on get the staples like granola bars, snacks and anything else that came to mind. Then I would go to the store and walk up and down every aisle! Not shocking, I would get home and have spent twice as much as I planned and have a ton of food. Most of the time I would think we would eat healthy so I would buy way more produce than we could eat and then I would have to toss it because it would go bad. (keep in mind I HATE wasting food) I just had no game plan, we would get home from the store after spending tons on money and STILL couldn't find anything for dinner because I hadn't actually bought things for meals. It was a disaster and this is how I shopped every week! So embarrassing! Now, lets jump to "Post-Beachbody"... I was desperate for something, anything that would be a quick fix and help me lose weight because, after all, I was the quick fix queen and then when one didn't work I was on the to the next. So when my coach repeatedly told me the 21 Day Fix wasn't a "diet" but it was a lifestyle change I was like "ya ya ok, we shall see!" haha sorry April! Anyway, meal planning was recommended and talked about OVER and OVER and OVER so I decided that I would give it a try and see exactly what it was all about. Plus I had these cute little color coded tupperware containers now that would make it easier.
Did it happen overnight? Hell No! I failed...A LOT, but I failed forward and kept trying and getting better because I was actually seeing results for the first time in FOREVER. Today, 14 months later I make a meal plan EVERY Sunday and then I meal prep because it's a life saver! So now when I go grocery shopping I have a plan!
I look at the sales in my area and then find recipes that use the ingredients on sale, I use an excel spreadsheet to create a template for my meal plan and fill it out for the whole week. We eat the same thing for a few days, I'm not about to cook every single night. So once the meal plan is done I make my grocery list and then I stick to only the list at the store. Instead of buying 10 fruit options have have 2 or 3. It cuts down on waste and we don't eat that much fruit anyway. Once I get home it's time to start prepping! All the fruit and veggies get washed and I use my containers to portion everything into ready to grab snack baggies or tupperware containers. I get everything ready for the week I can and pre-measure it, I am so much less likely to overeat that way. Here is this weeks meal plan:
So today I made the taco meal, sliced peppers, and diced my lettuce, tomato and avocado for the tacos also. The next two days are ready to go!
I also made half a dozen hard boiled eggs, washed and portioned out my grapes. I tend to keep it really simple for my meals also. I just look through the meal guide and pick a protein, grain and veggie. Our food has tons of flavor and nutrition so we don't ever feel like we are eating like rabbits.
I checked on Amazon and found these containers so our whole meal can be ready to go in the fridge, we just heat it up and eat.
Moral of the story, spending a few hours on Sunday (or whatever day works for your schedule) really does save TONS of time and headache during the week. Meal planning and prepping is KEY to staying on track and once you get into the routine is super easy. I make sure my challengers have all the support they need because I have been there and know it can be overwhelming. SO KEEP IT SIMPLE!
Do you struggle with nutrition, eating or meal planning? I would love to help you! We have another boot camp starting on September 5th and I will walk you through everything. Check out more details here ---> https://www.facebook.com/events/327546750912107/
or check me out LIVE tomorrow at 3 PM EST on Facebook :) (it will be in the event in the above paragraph <3 )
Do you like Country Music? Do you like to dance? Do you need to add some pizzazz to your cardio? Do you DISLIKE working out because you hate squats and burpees? Do you dread your workouts because they aren't fun? No matter if you answered yes to all of those questions or none of them, this program could be for you! Beachbody is releasing a BRAND NEW fitness program on July 28th 2016 to the network! COUNTRY HEAT is going to rock your world! I wasn't super excited when I first heard about this program because as much as I love country music, I am not really into line dancing!! That changed after I did the first sneak peek available to us in June. It was so fun that I was dripping in sweat and didn't even realize 30 minutes had passed. Plus, the next day I was SORE!!
I am so excited for this program to launch! I am going to be helping a group of people from beginning to end get amazing results! I will help share tips, recipes, meal plans and be there every step of the way for the full 30 days :) or longer if you want to keep going!
It's not just for the ladies ;)
So WHAT is this program?
Country Heat is a high-energy, low-impact, country dance inspired
workout created by Autumn Calabrese. It's so simple anyone can do it, and so much fun you'll barely notice you're dropping pounds while getting
a great total-body workout. It's an easy-to-follow, 30-day fitness program that combines 5 high-energy, cardio-based dance workouts, 1 dance conditioning
workout, and the portion-control Eating Plan to maximize weight loss and achieve a toned, tightened body in just 30 minutes
a day. Plus all Country Heat songs are set to the hottest country music, with songs that you've probably heard on the radio. Not only did
Autumn Calabrese pick these songs for their popularity, she specifically matched her moves to the faster and slower beats to create the
perfect interval training within each routine. The result? A fired-up metabolism that burns maximum calories and fat!
Autumn Calabrese... does that name sound familiar? She is the mastermind behind the 21 Day Fix, 21 Day Fix EXTREME, Fixate Cookbook and the Chisel in The Master's Hammer & Chisel.
Why is Country Heat effective?
It's a fun, easy-to-follow dance workout that ANYONE can do—in just 30 minutes a day for 30 days!
Diets don't work when you feel deprived! So Autumn is including her foolproof, portion-control containers to help you lose
weight while still enjoying your favorite foods. No calorie counting, special foods, or eating at home all the time.
Autumn's easy-to-use Eating Plan shows you how to use your portion-control containers to create easy, delicious recipes—
with foods you love—in just the right portions to reach your weight-loss goals.
No choreography to memorize, no equipment required and easy to follow moves.
Who can do Country Heat?
Literally....ANYONE! From someone who is just starting out on their health journey to someone who is a 21 Day Fix Extreme graduate. Any size, any age, any fitness level! People who love Zumba or just dancing in general. It's great for people wanting results in 30 day! But you can keep going for as long as you want! One person in the test group lost 60 pounds in 90 days!!!
Do you want to make a lifestyle check but have no idea where to start? This is for you!
Do you get overwhelmed by the thought of memorizing choreography and having to put a bunch of moves together? You won't have to in Country Heat!
This workout is great for people who have tried and failed at complicated diets and exercise programs. The reason is that its easy to follow the portion controlled container system and you have ME as your coach to guide you every single step of the way! I will teach you how to meal plan, prep, and stick with the workouts from beginning to end. Plus the workouts are fun and you don't even know you are working out!!!
What will you get with the program?
- 6 workouts on 3 DVDs in 30 minutes or less. They also include breakdowns of all the moves if you have two left feet.
-7 Color coded portion controlled containers to efficiently help you portion out your food for each food group.
-Country Heat Nutrition Plan which is an easy to follow guide that has recipes, tips, and more to help you get results.
-30 Days of Shakeology in any flavor
-Quickstart Guide- This is a simple 3 step guide that preps you for your fitness journey by giving you the low down on the nutrition plan and workouts.
-30 Day Calendar so that you know exactly what workouts to do in what order to maximize your results.
-Plus when you get the challenge pack you get access to Country Heat On Demand which means unlimited access to stream Country Heat and all the other workouts to any desktop, laptop, tablet, TV or mobile device. So you can start your workouts the minute you make your purchase - no waiting for the post man.
Does this sound like what you have been looking for?
Did you know you can get it right here from me?
Plus I am going to be launching my first Exclusive COUNTRY HEAT TEST GROUP on Monday August 8th! You can get personal mentoring, guidance and support from me in a closed online accountability and support group! No pressure or judgement! I am going to basically walk you through the entire program from beginning to end. I will teach you how to create meal plans, make healthier choices and create a lifestyle that will stick for life!
I will be there to help you stay accountable, to track your food, to keep you motivated when you are not feeling it! My job is to be your support system and sounding board! I don't want this to be another program you invest in and don't complete! This time it will be different!! TRUST ME!!
All you need to do is get your name on the list to be the FIRST to know about the program launch!
If you DO NOT HAVE A COACH the first step is to make me your FREE COACH. Click here to sign up for free. If you already have a coach that you work with please reach out to your coach for details on their launch groups!
If you are ready to get started and finally get the results you have been wishing for fill out this form and I will be in touch :) I am looking for people who are dedicated, committed and ready to make a healthy change. There are a limited number of spots in this exclusive group so make sure you reserve yours today, it will fill up fast!!
This was a question I always wondered. My body seems to react much better to my food intake vs. exercise for weight loss. However, it always seemed like I have to starve myself to get the results I want which we all know isn't healthy. This past week I participated in a 5 day Clean Eating Challenge. It was simple - no processed food, no sugar, lots of water and lots of fruits, veggies and lean protein.
Now, coming off a holiday weekend where I overindulged in margaritas and carb loaded may have helped my results but I was still blown away by how much by body changed in just FIVE days. I didn't get on the scale because I really didn't want to see the number and have it ruin my day or make me feel like I could overindulge so I went by measurements. In those 5 days I lost a total of 6 inches from my stomach and hips. Our whole group lost a combined total of 33.5 inches in five days! Most of these results were also with minimal exercise.
I felt so much better and it was so easy to stick to (for the most part). I didn't feel starved or deprived, it really made me aware of the choices I was making and the accountability of the group make me want to push through.
Eating out is always a struggle for me. I walk in to the restaurant with the best intentions of making healthy choices but it usually goes out the window when I order because I feel it's a "treat" or that I have earned that order of fries. But, this time I stuck to my guns! I ordered my usual but opted for no bun and a side of fresh fruit instead of the french fries. I left feeling full but not that OMG I need to lay down or go jog full (like usual).
I am getting ready to kick off our July bootcamp on Monday and I am more determined than ever to really stick to the meal plan for 21 days. I mean, I did it for 5 so I can do it for 21 :)
Your body really does react to what you put in it, Stay tuned for the latest results!!!
I always do so good when I start a new round of the 21 Day Fix or the 21 Day Fix EXTREME. I love how much more the extreme workouts challenge me so I try to alternate and mix things up so my body doesn't plateau.
The first week I am super on the ball with the workouts and the eating but it always seems like sometime during the second week I let myself fall off the wagon and then I can't get back on. It might start out small as an order of french fries or a margarita (which would be totally fine if that's where it stopped). I find myself telling me that I earned it so it's fine and that usually turns into another cheat tomorrow and the next day and then a skipped workout here and there. By the end of the third week I am eating horribly and not working out consistently.
I have done both programs start to finish at least once consistently and the results are amazing. The only thing standing in my way is ME and my willpower. So I am determined to go hard and go strong in July. It is only 3 weeks and I KNOW I can do it. I am going to have my challenger keep me super accountable and make sure I check in several times a day with my accountability buddy.
Wanna do it with us???
I will spend the time until July 11th getting myself back on track with other workouts and really watching what I eat. I know I won't be perfect but as long as I am aware and better than I used to be I will call it a win. This is a LIFESTYLE and a journey; not a quick fix and a destination.
