My "why"

I am so thankful for the opportunity to be part of an amazing community of people! I love working with others with the same goals in mind. Here is why I decided to join Team Beachbody and the coaching community!

Surround yourself with people who lift you up.

We all have those moments in time where something has changed their life.
This last weekend was one of them for me. Finally meeting with this group of people where I've only known them virtually has made this whole thing more real. The friendship of this group of ladies is almost overwhelming.  I have found where I belong. The teamwork and support of these women has empowered me to become the best coach I can be.
We all have the same goals: to help people live the happiest and healthiest lives they can.
Who do you choose to spend your time with? Do they lift you up? How would you feel about surrounding yourself with people that do? Would you want to be that person to someone else? 
If you do, I would love you to join my team. Who knows, it could be that moment that changes something in your life.
Message me if you are interested. 

Making my dreams a reality!

Finding myself in this mess we call adulthood has been tough. I went to college for a year and changed my major at least 3 times. I then dropped out because I hated it!
I then got married,  had kids, and started to find myself over the years! I LOVE being a mom and a wife! I love photography and the great outdoors.  The more I live, the more I find out about myself. In the last 3 years, I have found out more about myself than I could have imagined.  I love myself. I know it's weird, but true!
Going through my weight loss and fitness journey I have learned that the sky is the limit. I have learned to not only take care of my family,  but to take care of myself.  And because of that, I have become a better mom and wife.
Becoming a coach has opened me up to so many new things. These things have become goals and dreams. I feel I can go far in helping others like me to reach for their goals. And I hope that they would want to join me in these possibilities and being part of this amazing team of people.

Skinny girl problem

Ok, I've run into this problem so many times. Having a skinny waist and a larger cup size causes issues when shopping for undergarments and swimsuits. 
Anyone else have this problem?
I don't think it's fair that I can go to Walmart and find these really cute and inexpensive bras, but not in my size. I don't want to spend an arm and a leg on bras from Victoria's Secret. And I really don't want to buy them online just to find out I have to send them back. I want to try them on, then buy them.
Ok, rant over. I guess what it came down to for me this time is altering the ones that I already have. It's fast to do and a lot less expensive than buying new ☺
Maybe next time I see the cute ones, I'll go ahead and get them and alter them once I get them home. Win, win, right?

Need some support?

I'm 30, I'm a mom, and I want to be around for as long as I can for them. One of the best ways I can make that happen is by being as healthy and fit as I can. I watch what I eat and I exercise daily.
It hasn't always been easy. But, I have had help from other people with the same goals as me.
Would you be interested in joining a group like this? Read the description and let me know what you think!
Summer, Set, GO!

The struggle is real!

The scale stopped moving. The measurements have stayed the same. My clothes are no longer fitting differently. I have achieved two sizes smaller than my original goal. And I have reached my goal weight.

So now what?

I need to maintain it! This is where the struggle is real. When losing weight, you have all of these reminders that you're doing something right. The scale is going down, your clothes fit differently, the measurements are changing. But what about when you're in maintenance mode? Where are all of those simple, automatic rewards?

The rewards are there in our everyday lives. I get excited to get dressed every morning. Shopping no longer depresses me. Sometimes I go shopping, when I'm feeling a little down, just to try on clothes with no intention of buying them. I go into the dressing room, try on the dresses, feel amazing in them, and put them back on their rack, and my day is made. If I like it too much to put back on the rack, I buy it, and those are my little rewards.

My little reward...

Another way I reward myself for working hard and staying on track with diet and exercise. I do the things that I would have never been able to do before I got fit. I never imagined that I would be able to ride a dirt bike at the age of 30. When at the age of 20 I was over 200 pounds and had a newborn baby. By the time I was 23 I had my second baby and weighed 230 pounds. It's amazing to know the difference between then and now. I do active things for fun. My family, especially my kids, benefit from all of my hard work as well. This is yet another reward!

Maintaining isn't always easy though. I struggle a lot sometimes to just go to the basement and get my 30 minute workout in. But I have these groups, support groups that I run, that help keep me accountable. There are people in there that keep me going because they are working on their fitness journey as well. They rely on me and I rely on them just as much in order to stay accountable on eating well and exercising everyday. I love these groups because they are rewarding as well. (Message me if you think you would want to join one!)

When I started this journey my mom asked me, "What are you going to do when you hit your goal?". I told her I plan on just staying on track and going forever. I don't want to gain his weight back. It's a lifestyle change not a diet. Exercise is something that is supposed to be incorporated in your life every day, all the time, not just whenever you feel that you need to lose weight. Being fit is a choice. I choose it for life. Even if it's a struggle, I choose to be fit, healthy, and happy!

She is beautiful!

First of all let me tell you how beautiful this woman is. Not only does she have a real body, but is comfortable enough to show it off in front of the whole world.

Did you know that we all have skin? Well, here is the fact. YOU DO! 

As a person that works with people that want to live a healthy lifestyle, it sickens me to see these derogatory remarks about this woman's body. I bet if you could see her chest, no one would have complained. It is obvious that Lady Gaga works hard on her body and carrier. If these people cannot see it then it is all on them. How about these people that body shamed her put that outfit on and show us what we are missing. 

I am so fed up with people thinking that a perfect body is one that looks like it has been Photoshopped. Guess what there is no such thing. That is why it is called Photoshopped for a reason. We all have the fold in our stomach when we sit. We all have the stretch mark we want to hide. Wrinkles are a part of aging. Those scars are our map of our lives. 

My thighs jiggle when I workout. My stomach hangs a little weird when I bend over. And you bet your butt I am proud of my body. Not because I want to be a bikini model (ha), but because I am a real person that has overcome obstacles and am living the healthiest life I can live. 

You are entitled to your opinion. But if you can, keep it to yourself and think about the impact you are making on someone else's life by your opinions. Not only are you hurting that person, but so many people that would love to look like her. 

I eat when I'm emotional.

So many of us look to food for comfort when things get emotional.

We all think of emotional eating as something we do when we are sad and stressed. Yes, those are a huge example of when we eat for comfort. But lets talk about eating when we are happy! I am definitely a happy eater. I eat when I celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, and minor successes. Is this a good thing? Probably not the best.

If I could count the times I have eaten way more than I should have on a happy occasion, I wouldn't be able to tell you the number, it's just that high. Now in the last year, the sad/stressed emotional eating I have had a lot less times. How do I fight this urge to eat when I'm having these emotions?

• Find something better to do - read a book, take a walk, color a picture ( I LOVE adult coloring books), snuggle with your kids, talk it out.
• If you need a oral fixation - make yourself a cup of hot tea, chew some gum, or chew on a toothpick.
• Make a journal of your food intake - I have found that if I have to write down what I eat, I tend to eat less or make it a healthier choice. 
• Remember that eating is okay. Just also remember to eat only when you are actually hungry and not because you are wanting to control your emotions with food. 

I am running a fitness support group starting on the 20th of Feb. We will be giving a lot more ways to deal with emotional eating. I hope that you can join us. Leave me a comment below if you would like to learn more about the group!

Check out the event on Facebook: Take Charge!

Love yourself this Valentine's Day

How often have you put others before yourself? I know as a mom, I am always putting others needs before my own.
How about this Valentine's Day you put a little bit if that care towards yourself? Learn how to live a healthier lifestyle,  get an exercise program,  and take care of yourself for a change. Self care isn't selfish,  but a necessity.  The better you feel, you will be able to do all those other things that need to be done easier and probably with less stress.
Think about it and check out my event. If you want to join or need more info just click interested,  going, or leave a comment. 

https://www.facebook.com/events/1538894356135727/?ti=as