#BeThatGirl Leadership Retreat - Destin Florida

What a weekend!! I just returned home to the West Coast after an amazing 5 days in Destin Florida for a Leadership retreat. I have been coaching for 3 years now and for various reasons, including being pregnant, have not been able to attend a retreat, even though I was qualified. So to be able to attend this year, there was NO way I was missing it!! 

I will admit as the trip got closer my anxiety got stronger. I was about to spend the weekend with 40+ women, several of whom are some of my best friends, but many of them I did not know. But, what came out of this trip together is amazing memories, new friendships, a lot of laughs, and a ton of learning and growth!  

When we arrived we were given the royal treatment from the minute we walked in the door!

The retreat was themed around the book, I Am That Girl and we focused heavily on developing our own voice, story and truly being ok with being ourselves! We were also given a super cute tank which read,  #bethatgirl leadership retreat! 

Thursday night we had an awesome backyard BBQ dinner and chatted getting to know one another. After this, we kicked off the event with an ice breaker where we went around the room and introduced ourselves. We took turns sharing who we are and a little bit about our story and where we came from. It was such an awesome activity really getting to learn about each other. We laughed, we cried but over all we learned that we are ALL amazing women who each have a story unlike any other yet also similar in some ways too!

Friday morning we gathered for a PiYo workout around the pool.  It was pretty incredible to start out the morning with these amazing women working out as the sun was rising. What a fantastic way to start the day, calm, centered and focused!

Friday night we got together for our first official workshop of the weekend.  A huge part of your business is knowing WHY you are here and being able to effectively communicate your story.  I will tell you that this is a difficult thing to do! When I first started with Beachbody I was very shy and insecure  I was not comfortable putting myself out there and I thought I always had to be what "others" wanted me to be, no matter what that was. But after several years of learning and growing, reading personal development and really digging deep its getting a little easier. Being know WHY you MATTER and WHY you make a difference was what we worked on and was a truly eye opening activity!  

Saturday started off again with three choices of workouts with various certified trainers (Tabata, PiYo and Cize). And then it was in for a quick breakfast before our full day of Elite and Corporate training. 

We had the honor of listening to Cim Carver discuss the importance of goal setting, game planning for the end of this year and starting off next year strong,  overcoming fear, and controlling the controllable!  

We broke for lunch of grilled chicken salads

 Then back to training on how to create a marketing plan, how to grow your confidence and how to find a work life balance. 

After our training was over we all put on our Be That Girl tanks and headed to the Beach for a large team picture. To see how much our team has grown over the years is truly awesome! 

Then it was back to the house for Mexican night! 

We enjoyed chicken and steak fajitas, chips and guac, and margaritas. 

We sat by the pool, roasted marshmallows, made s'mores and relaxed together.  

On Sunday we learned all about social media and how to grow our business through like pages.  Then it was time to head to the beach to chill and relax!! It was nice after the 2 days of training to just laugh and have fun!!!  The breeze was perfect, the weather was warm and the fish were all around us in the clear blue water! 

Team retreats and other events like this require a lot. We have to leave our families, invest in travel, transportation and babysitters in come cases, but these experiences can never be duplicated. The value, knowledge and overall experience is just truly amazing!

One of the key things I learned about myself from this retreat is that I am not alone in this. Sometimes as an entrepreneur, its easy to wonder if we are doing this whole thing right, how we can be doing things differently and constantly looking to improve. So its nice to know we are not alone and that everyone goes through the same or similar things in their business! 

Today I sit here looking through countless pages of notes and I know that some BIG shifts are coming! My business is going to grow by leaps and bounds, I'm setting BIG, SCARY goals and I am becoming a stronger leader!  

If you want to be successful in life it means stepping out of your comfort zone, it means taking that LEAP OF FAITH, stepping forward, and be willing to fail so that you can learn from the experience and become stronger and better!

If you have every considered coaching, now is the time! We are ending 2015 STRONG and kicking off 2016 with a BANG!

I am currently running a 5 Day sneak peek into coaching for women who are not currently coaching or working with another Beachbody coach.  If you would like to learn more about how this business works then you can request to join the group:

I am also going to be doing a short 30 minute Q&A call on Thursday at 6pm PST this week explaining exactly what coaching is all about and how it could be right for you!

Ask me how you can be a part of that call!!!!

I am accepting 5 applications to join Team Simply Fit and be an apprentice coach in my October 5th New Coach University Program.  Complete the application below to be considered for a spot on the team!!!!  

3 Day Refresh While Breast Feeding

Hey there! Happy Wednesday :) I just finished up the 3 Day Refresh from Beachbody and I wanted to share my journey with you!!

***I will begin by saying that I am not a doctor, nutritionist or any other professional type. I'm just a mom with a 3 month old baby who needs to get a kickstart on losing the baby weight. I would advise you to seek the advice of your medical professional if you have any concerns about following this program yourself while nursing***

Ok, now that we've got the fine print out of the way lets get to it.... Harper is 3 months old and I wish I could say I was farther along on losing the baby weight but I'm not, but thats ok. What matters is that I'm starting NOW. I have been working out and following the 21 Day Fix meal plans most of the time but I still had a couple bad habits that were leaving me bloated, sluggish and feeling yucky so I decided to do the 3 Day Refresh. It consists of three daily shakes, a fiber drink, plenty of filtered water, plus a wide array of fruits, veggies, and healthy fats throughout the day to keep your energy and metabolism going. 

Honestly it was not that bad! Heck I lost 5.5 pounds and 4 inches at my belly button so I'd say it was pretty darn GREAT!! Let me break it down for you :) To keep things simple (I have 2 kids at home...I need simple) and cost effective. I chose to eat the same thing all three days. This program does come with several great dinner recipes and tons of fruit, veggie and healthy fat options though so you'll never get bored!! So let me break down the meal plan, exercise and my modifications....

Morning
Upon waking I drank 10 oz of water to get my system going

Breakfast Vegan Chocolate Shakeology mixed with 1/2 of a banana. I also did cherries one day too.

Optional -  Morning tea. I drank Mothers Milk Tea to help with lactation

AM snack - Fiber Sweep drink that comes included in the kit. (No this will not leave you running for the bathroom. It is a gentle fiber drink that helps keep your digestion moving)

Lunch - 1 veggie, 1 healthy fat, 1 fruit, 1 Vanilla Fresh (provided in the kit)
    **One day I mixed the orange in the shake and the other I ate the strawberries whole. Either way is fine and both days I doubled the healthy fats since I'm nursing I wanted to make sure I had that.

PM Snack - 1 Healthy Fat and 1 Veggie.
**I went with 5 grilled asparagus then drizzled in 1 tsp coconut oil and cracked black pepper

Dinner- Spinach Salad with tomamtoes, 1/2 cucumber, 1/2 bell pepper, 1 tbsp lemon juice and 1/2 tsp olive oil dressing

***Each evening I did have one egg before bed. I felt that I needed some protein and that satisfied me and kept my tummy happy!

Exercise

So the program states that you can continue exercise but being that it was low calories I took it easy as I didnt want my milk supply to be effected. Day 1 I did some yard work in 100 heat so I'm calling that my workout lol. Day 2 I did T25 Speed 1.0 and day 3 I rested. I was feeling tired and felt that was what my body needed most.

Modifications & Whats next
So as I stated above my modifications included doubling the healthy fat each lunch and adding one egg each night before bed.

After this I am jumping right into the 21 Day Fix. I love the portion control and was of the program and it will continue to keep my results coming!!

My next accountability group is starting July 6th and I would love to have you join us!! And I'm limiting this to ONLY 5 WOMEN who are ready to seriously commit to seeing great results!!

For the month of July the 21 Day Fix Kickstart challenge pack is on sale. You can get both complete programs I am doing here and join us for lots of fun, friendship and results of your own!! If you're interested please fill out the application below or message me on Facebook!!

21 Day Fix Cookbook is HERE!!! Get ready to FIXATE!!

Sooooo you all know how I'm kinda OBSESSED with the 21 Day Fix right?!?!? I mean how could I NOT be?? It was the program that was a GAME CHANGER in my 50 pound weight loss and truly an eye opener to the way I was eating and feeding my family. We were eating healthy but just too much of  a good thing! YES you can eat too much veggies ;)

I started using the 21 Day Fix in a very, very basic way. Literally just filling my containers with proteins, veggies and carbs and dumping them out on my plate. I really wanted to learn the program before I started getting creative with recipes. But that didn't take long and I started making some REALLY great, family and kid approved recipes. So it never really felt like we were on a diet....because we AREN'T...its a lifestyle change! 

Last week on our Coach National Wake Up Call Autumn Calabrese (the creator of the 21 Day Fix and Fix Extreme) announced that she will be launching an official 21 Day Fix cook book called Fixate!! I was literally jumping up and down as I heard her speak and today I want to share with you some of the details!! Read to the bottom and find out how you can get some sneak peeks at the recipes in the book!!

Who is this cook book for?

"This book is for everybody," says Autumn. "You don't have to be graduates of 21 Day Fix or 21 Day Fix EXTREME®. You also don't have to be a chef or great in the kitchen. It's for anyone who wants to make healthier versions of the foods they love."

According to Autumn, "Everyone will use the book differently. For some, it will become their "go-to" cookbook they use every single day. Others may use it when they're going to a special event like a barbeque or party."

And in addition to all the amazing recipes, Autumn has also included a detailed checklist for her absolute must-have kitchen and pantry staples, as well as the basic utensils and tools that every cook needs.

What's Inside?

Inside Fixate you'll find a section for every possible meal you can imagine: simple breakfasts, on-the-go lunches, sit down dinners, soups, salads, as well as healthy snacks like kale chips and protein bars.

Autumn insisted that all the "on-the-go" lunch recipes be easy and fast for working moms. "I based all of the lunches off leftovers from dinner and even breakfast," she reveals. "I turned them into delicious, easy-to-make lunch recipes." Autumn adds, "I also included a few of my favorite Shakeology recipes—even some Fix-approved skinny cocktails."

And then there's the desserts. "I have a big sweet tooth so I was really pleased with them," she says. "I especially love the brownies (made with chick peas), peanut butter cookies and cake recipes, and the desserts are all gluten-free so absolutely everyone can enjoy them." 

How do I get it???

Well I'm glad you asked!! So this cook book isn't coming out until July, BUT I get my pretty little hands on it while I'm in Nashville at the Beachbody Summit Convention and I will be bringing home a copy for EVERY person who joins my June 15th challenge group and orders a 21 Day Fix or Fix Extreme challenge pack through me as their Beachbody coach This month!! How cool is THAT!!! 

REQUIREMENTS:
*Purchase your 21 Day Fix or Fix Extreme challenge pack through Me as your Beachbody coach
*Commit to replacing one meal a day with Shakeology
*Commit to a daily 30 minute workout
*Have fun and get amazing results!!!

Like I said I've come up with a few great recipes of my own already that will get you though your first round of the Fix and then just as you're ready to start round 2 you'll have an amazing cookbook right on your kitchen counter!!!

So click the button below, create your free account and then shoot me a message over at Facebook so I can get you ready to roll!! Oh...And I MIGHT just be previewing some of the actual recipes from the book on my Facebook page so make sure we are friends!!

Memorial Day Fun and Recipes!!

For many of us Memorial Day is the official start of Summer, celebrated with BBQs, Picnics at the park, and parties by the pool!! This also usually means a pretty heavy spread when it comes to the food!! While this is all good in moderation keep in mind that it adds up quickly!! Typical BBQ food consists of hot dogs and burgers, potato salad (approx 180 cals), macaroni salad (approx 250 cals), baked beans (approx 140 cals), desserts and drinks!! Just in your sides ALONE you just consumed 570 calories...YIKES!!!! So let's not freak out...let's make a game plan for how you're going to get through the holiday weekend and stay on track!!

First of all sit down and list all of the events that you will be hosting or attending. This way you can see CLEARLY what you're working with! 

Even though it is a holiday weekend make sure you still get in your planned workouts. I know it's easy to want to give yourself a break but what good would that do? Start your day off right and give yourself that energy you'll need for all of the weekend's festivities!! If Sunday is your "rest" day, but you're heading to the park for a picnic or BBQ try a few of these playground workouts while you're playing with your kids, I promise they wont disappoint!! 

Luckily I have a pretty low-key weekend but I'm still sitting down and planning it out. Saturday night we will be grilling steak, asparagus and zucchini and for dessert we will be having strawberry banana creams. I have learned to season and prepare healthy foods that taste amazing so I feel good knowing that I'm not only feeding my guests food that is healthy but that is also tasty and full of flavor!! I also don't feel deprived by having to prepare one menu for everyone else and one that follows MY meal plan.

Sunday morning we have church then off to the grocery store for our weekly shopping and meal prep for the week. I will get up at 6am to do my workout and plan the meals for the week so I can get just what I need at the grocery store and nothing extra! If you don't keep tempting foods in the house then you can't eat them...just sayin ;) Once I get home from the store I will wash, chop and bag my snacks and meals for the week and batch cook my oats, eggs and meats. I'll most likely throw on some TurboFire Chili in the crock pot so I have dinner already done for Tuesday!!

Monday we don't have any real plans but I'm so excited to just lay out and RELAX!!! This year we'll be having grilled chicken and veggies and a yummy watermelon, mint and feta salad. Its so cool and refreshing!! I'll also have some chopped veggies and hummus to snack on since its a favorite of all and fruit infused water for dinner. This is something that I discovered last year and it's SO yummy!! It adds a little flavor and vitamins to your water with nothing artificial! but my main focus is to really spend time with my family!

Recipe and Pics from The Blond Cook

Ingredients

• (1) 7 pound (approximate) seedless watermelon, chilled
• 1 cup fresh chopped mint leaves
• 2 cups crumbled feta cheese
• 1/2 cup honey
• 2/3 cups lime juice
• 2 teaspoons sea salt

Instructions

1. Cut watermelon away from rind and chop into approximately 1 inch cubes. Remove any seeds, if any. Place in colander to drain while you're preparing dressing.
2. Whisk together honey, lime juice and sea salt for the dressing.
3. Gently stir watermelon chunks with mint and feta cheese.
4. Drizzle dressing over salad; gently stir to incorporate dressing

Ingredients:

2 Lemons

8 Strawberries

Water

Ice

Directions:

Slice lemons. Quarter strawberries. Add ingredients to pitcher with ice and water. Refrigerate for an hour. 

I also want to note that it is OK to have a sweet treat!  I firmly believe in the 80/20 rule.  80% of the time you want to stick to your healthy eating routine and then 20% of the time you can have what you would like within reason.  This boils down to one meal per week.  Not one entire day of indulging but one meal!!  Eat what you would like and do not feel guilty about it!  You earned it because of your hard work and you deserve to enjoy without reservation!!! I will be having my cheat on Monday! S'mores are one of my all time favorites and a family tradition I would like to have with my son, I'm SO excited!!

Here are a few other ideas you might enjoy for your holiday weekend gatherings!! 
Thai Shrimp Skewers, 
Clean eating BBQ sauce, 
Black Bean Burgers
Triple Berry Summer Salad
2 Ingredient Cookies
Creamy Santa Fe Chicken Salad Cups!

Have a happy, safe and blessed holiday weekend with your loved ones!!

For MORE recipes and other helpful tips friend me on Facebook and Pinterest!!

Clean Eating Grocery List

I love Tosca Reno's Eat Clean Diet! Her books and recipes are amazing! She breaks down eating to the basics! Eat food consumed in its most natural state, or close to it- REAL FOOD! (Which means nothing processed)

Fruits and veggies.
Nuts, legumes, natural nut butters, nut oils. (no additives)
Whole grains like oatmeal, quinoa, brown rice. 
Lean proteins. (chicken, ground turkey, fish, lean beef) Meats should be grass fed, free range! Free of chemicals and hormones.

General rule of thumb for clean eating: If your great, great grandparents didn't eat it, you shouldn't either!


Complex Carbs

Steel Cut Oats/Oatmeal
Sweet Potatoes
Black Beans
Kidney Beans
Lentils
Ezekiel Bread --sprouted grain bread (Available in the frozen section of grocery store)
Ezekiel brand pasta and tortillas
Wild rice
Brown rice
Wehani rice
Whole wheat orzo & couscous
Quinoa
Quinoa flour
Wheat germ
Flax seed &flax oil
Cracked wheat
Rye flakes

Vegetables

Lettuce
Broccoli
Asparagus
Green beans
Spinach
Bell peppers
Brussels sprouts
Cauliflower
Celery
Mushrooms (Shiitake)
Pickles
Cabbage
Sprouts
Cucumber
Green and Red pepper
Onions (green, red, yellow)
Garlic
Tomatoes
Zucchini
Squash
Spaghetti Squash
Pumpkin (fresh & canned)
Sundried tomatoes
Cilantro
Chives
Kale
Dried Split Peas
Edammame

Fruits

Blueberries
Raspberries
Strawberries
Lime & lemon juice
Apples
Grapes
Pears
Clementines
Watermelon
1/2 a banana a day

Healthy Fats

Natural-style Peanut butter (unsalted) or PB2
Avocados
Olive-oil cooking spray
Pine nuts
Almonds--moderation
Walnuts
Tahini paste

Proteins

Boneless, skinless chicken breast
Water packed albacore
White meat chicken (water packed)
Salmon
Shrimp
Extra lean ground round
Buffalo steak (lean)
Filet
Flank Steak (leanest)
Extra lean ground turkey
Turkey cutlets
Bison meat
Turkey jerky

Dairy & Eggs

Fat-free cottage cheese
Eggs and/or Egg white Substitute
Non-fat, plain yogurt
Greek yogurt
Fat-free String Cheese
Almond Milk
Jarlsberg Lite Swiss Cheese
Fresh Parmesean cheese
Feta

Condiments

Braggs Liquid Amino Acid (sub for soy sauce)
Reduced-sodium teriyaki sauce (no corn syrup)
Balsamic Vinegar
Balsamic vinaigrette
Salsa
Chili Paste
Tomato Paste (low sugar)
Stewed tomatoes (low sodium)
Mustard (yellow or Dijon)
Vanilla extract
Almond extract
Low-sodium, fat-free chicken broth
Low-sodium, fat-free vegetable broth
Reduced-sodium tomato sauce & tomatoes
Worcestershire
Olive-oil cooking spray
Sugar-free applesauce

Herbs & Spices

Chili powder
Mrs. Dash
McCormicks
Cinnamon
Allspice
Basil
Bay Leaf
Onion Powder
Garlic Powder
Dill
Chicken bouillion
Ginger
Sage
Rosemary
Paprika
Thyme
Oregano
Curry Powder
Red Pepper
Dry Mustard
Cumin
Saffron
Nutmeg

Memorial Day Weight Loss Challenge - 21 Day Fix Style

Ok ladies!! The weather is warming up, the shorts are in the stores and the bikinis are lining the racks!! Are YOU ready!?!?!? I know I'm not...4 weeks post partum and I have some  work to do!! But I need YOU...I need some MAJOR accountability if I want to see some pretty good results by Memorial Day and I want to help you get them too!!

I'm by no means an expert with this program but I have had a pretty great transformation last year and I'm ready to do it again. I feel very comfortable using the containers in a way that I can whip up a family friendly dinner of Chicken Fried Rice or Chicken Enchiladas so that we can keep the family happy AND keep ourselves on track! I PROMISE this is NOT going to be a boring meal plan!

I was going to wait to start my next group in May but then I realized that if we start April 27th (NEXT WEEK) that we will have AMAZING results by Memorial Day!! So what do you say? Lets kick off the Summer right and be able to enjoy some treats for the holiday weekend!!! Oh yah...I'll be giving you lots of recipes too so you can healthy, 21 Day Fix friendly option too!

BUT I'm ONLY taking 10 women to join me this round. I want to be able to check in with each and every person and have a small group vibe....so don't wait!!

So how do we get started???

If you're SERIOUSLY interested in joining me on this journey to lose 10-15 pounds in the next 21 Days then here are the requirements:

1.  You are required to have ME as your COACH through Team Beachbody.

 

2.  Then together WE pick a fitness program that fits your needs. Either the 21 Day Fix or 21 Day Fix Extreme

 3.  You are REQUIRED to replace 1 meal a day with Shakeology ONLY for the duration of the group. Once it is over you can decide if you have enough healthy recipes in your pocket to prepare meals without needing Shakeology or if you find it’s convenient and it takes care of 1 meal you can keep going!  Yes, 3 years later my husband and I drink Shakeology daily!

 4.  Then, it is required that you participate in the online closed group daily.  Each day I will share a tip, recipe, motivation or recipe.  We will address everything from emotional eating to staying on track during the holidays.    You check in, rate your day and get your inspiration for the next 24 hours.  We all keep each other accountable.  You can log in whenever you want. 

I will be there for you during the good times and the tough times!   My job is to see you through from start to finish and help you succeed at changing your lifestyle.  I will share with you the recipes that my family loves along with the quick easy recipes that don't take a lot of prep

We will start our plan and prep week on April 27th.  That means we will “clean house”!!   Set our goals, give you recipes, a meal plan outline and suggestions and together we will start working out the following MONDAY!

If you have any questions shoot them to me on Facebook

Fill out the application below to be considered for this group!

Valentines Day - 21 Day Fix Style

So I know that when we hear the word Valentine's day our mind INSTANTLY goes to big boxes of chocolates, candy conversation hearts, heart shaped cookies. cupcakes and MORE!! I can't even begin to list all of the goodies that were greeting me as I walked into the grocery store this week. Not to mention the bottles of wine, champagne and dinners out that many of us attend to celebrate our love for one another.

But WAIT just one minute!! Yes all that stuff is fun, fun to splurge, fun to love on each other but I think I heard on the news this week something about "Valentines WEEK"!! WHAT???? Since when did this Halmark holiday turn into an ENTIRE WEEK??? I don't mean to be the Scrooge on this holiday full of LOVE but if we are turning these celebrations into a week long event  that can do some serious damage to our waist lines and goals!!

Now I'm NOT saying don't splurge, don't have fun or don't celebrate that special someone....absolutely DO that!! But lets just keep things in perspective! Lets plan out our days and clean it up where we can!! If you're going out for a fancy dinner lets clean up brunch and snack so we stay on track through the day! Maybe you're making dinner in...GREAT I have lots of yummy, HEALTHY ideas for you too!! Ok enough talking lets get to it!!

Breakfast / Brunch

*3 Ingredient Pancakes

2 egg whites
1/2 cup oatmeal
1/2 banana
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
*Put all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.
*Heat a skillet to medium high with 1 teaspoon of coconut oil. 
*Pour three even portions into the pan (or use a heart shaped cookie cutter for heart shape) and flip when they start to bubble a little.
*Mash and heat up a handful of raspberries in a small saucepan just until they were saucey and put them on top. 
Enjoy!

21 Day Fix Container Guide:
1 Red - egg whites
1 Yellow - Oatmeal
1 Purple - 1/2 banana, raspberries
(depending on the size of your banana. if small count it as a half purple and the berries as the other half)
1 tsp for the coconut oil 

*Valentine Heart Fruit Kebobs

*Cut strawberries in half and slide onto skewers
*For a treat melt 1 tsp of dark chocolate chips and drizzle over strawberries

21 Day Fix Count - 
one purple container - fill with as many strawberries as you can :)
one tsp/one yellow treat container - Dark chocolate chips


Lunch / Dinner

If you're dining in there are lots of  yummy ideas that are 21 Day Fix friendly and so tasty!! 

Sausage and Kale Pasta

Meatloaf Cupcakes w/Sweet Potato Frosting

Chili Flank Steak

Snacks/Dessert/Drinks

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

*1 Purple container Strawberries
*2-3 Tsp melted Dark chocolate mixed with melted coconut oil to thin if needed
*1 Blue Container - Chopped almonds
*1 Orange shredded coconut

*Wash and dry strawberries
*Dip 1/4-1/2 of strawberry in melted chocolate mix and immediately sprinkle with nuts or coconut
*Let dry on wax paper 
*Enjoy!!

2 Ingredient Cookies

Wine Spritzers

Strawberry Basil Wine Spritzer

1 Yellow - White Wine

1/2 purple - Strawberry

Free - Basil

1 Can La Croix sparkling water. 

(Makes 2 servings)

Red Wine Spritzer

1 Yellow Red wine

1/2 purple strawberries

1 can La Croix Sparkling Water

Makes 2 servings

I hope I've given you LOTS to choose from!! If you're still looking for more be sure to check out the RECIPE section above!! I wish you and your loved ones a very Happy Valentines Day!!

Don't forget to stop by and say Hi over on Facebook!! Love meeting new friends!!