If It's Still In Your Mind...It's Worth Taking The Leap

This particular blog post is one that has been in the works - mentally - for a while. I knew today was coming up. I knew what I wanted to say. But, I was searching for the perfect title for the post. And then, a fellow Coach posted this pic to her Facebook feed and I knew that was it. It summed up everything I wanted to say.

"If it's still in your mind...it's worth taking the leap." 

As many of you know, 2 years ago, my husband was out of work, I was a stay-at-home-mom to 6 month old twins and we were broke. I had been a Beachbody customer for years & the idea of Coaching had been in my mind for MONTHS. Part of me though it'd be a cool thing to try. Part of me thought "don't waste your time or money...you're going to fail at it." But, I just couldn't get it out of my head. Trust me - I tried. I didn't want to think about it. It just kept popping up.

I received some money from Mother's Day as a gift. The shopaholic in me wanted to hit the mall ASAP to buy shoes or some makeup. But a voice in my head kept saying "Coach. Coach. Coach." I call it God. Call it a higher power. Call it intuition. Call it destiny. Call it whatever you believe in. So, a little begrudgingly, I took my money - that I'd much rather be spending on other things - and signed up to become a Coach. I will be 100% honest. I had no idea what I was getting into. I figured I'd do it for a few months, say "I tried" and then throw in the towel and quit. Two years ago - I took that leap...

As months went on, I started attending local events & the positive energy I felt from fellow Coaches was infectious. I always left meetings with a smile on my face and a laser focus with what I wanted to do. I started setting goals. I started building my team. I started expanding my network. Has it been all sunshine and roses? No. Like any job or business, there's good days and bad days. But those good days are SO GOOD and they outnumber those few bad days. 

Beachbody had helped my physically. Shakeology daily & my at home workouts have helped me shed the baby weight - and then some. But more important than that, Beachbody has given me freedom in a job that I never had before. I don't have to request vacation days. I can work from anywhere - my couch, an airplane, in the waiting room of a dr's office, sitting outside in the sun, in the car...literally anywhere....and at any time. I get to choose who I want to work with. And the best part is that I don't have to give up any time with my kids to do this. I knew when we started a family that I wanted to be at home. But, when that time came, we had no idea how much of a financial impact that would have. Our family literally doubled in size and our income got cut in half. Now I can be at home with my kiddos & work before they get up or when they nap. It's truly the best of both worlds.

A few weeks ago, I was sitting in my car. I received a text from my upline sponsor, Brittnae, thanking me for all of my hard work. I took a second. Looked down at where I was sitting and immediately responded back with a "thank you for getting me involved in this business because I would literally not be sitting where I am right now if it wasn't for you." Last fall, my CR-V, which was a 1998, finally was getting to the point where, to pass inspection, we were going to have to put more into it than it was worth. I NEEDED a new car. I knew the exact one I wanted (because I had put it on my PUSH Goal list for the year). As I was texting Brittnae, I was sitting in my Honda Pilot. The SUV I've wanted since it got released. And I can say with 100% certainty, that owning that vehicle would not be possible without Beachbody. Earning enough money in a week to pay for a car payment may not sound like much to some, but for us, it's HUGE. When I see that car, it's not just the car I wanted. When I look at it, it reminds me of everyone I've worked with these past 2 years. The people who have made a commitment to themselves to change their lives and get healthy. It reminds me of all of the amazing people in my challenge groups. It reminds me of my team. 

I have been able to meet the most amazing people. Travel to places I've never been. Do things I never expected to do. Never in a million years did I think I'd still be doing this 2 years later. 

It's been a wild ride - lots of up and a few downs - but I am thankful daily that I took a chance...that I took that leap...and I owe it to this girl right here... Brittnae - thanks for sticking by me & being there for me. You're a mentor, a friend, a sister :)

If you think that you're ready to take the leap with this amazing opportunity, let's chat to see if it's the right fit for YOU!!!

My Mama

My mama. Some of you know her as Mary. Some of you know her as Mrs. Shannon. Some of you know her as Miss Mary. Some of you don't know her at all. But, I want to preface this post with a heartfelt THANK YOU to all of you who have shown us support as my mom has battled Stage 3 endometrial & uterine cancer.

As I look at myself & my life - there is no doubt that my mom has had a profound influence on where I am and what I'm doing. 

With fitness: my mom was always active. She had numerous Jane Fonda & Joanie Greggains VHS tapes that she'd workout to all the time. And right by her side - me. I watched my mom workout and perhaps the most influential part is that she never made it seem like work. It was fun for her. Something she enjoyed doing. Something she enjoyed getting me involved with. She had a body that moved and she was thankful for it. Exercise was a privilege, not a chore. Thirty some years later, here I am. Fitness Coach & Fitness Instructor. I used to workout only when I could be alone. It was my "me time" where I just zone out. And yes, depending on the workout now, that's sometimes still the case. My kids would get bored watching mommy run on the treadmill for 5 miles. But, if it's a day where I'm popping in a DVD, I bring them into the room with me & encourage them to participate. I want to instill the same thoughts into their head that my mom did with me. Exercise is a privilege. A healthy body is not something to be taken for granted. 

With my obsession with make up: this was something that also started at a very young age. My mama had a VHS from Lynda Carter - yes, Wonder Woman - called Secrets To The Perfect Make Up. I'm surprised I didn't wear that tape out. My mom would give me all of her old make up, put me in front of the TV with a mirror, let me watch the tape & do my thing. She'd let me experiment with all the different colors & try new things. If we were friends in elementary or middle school, there's a chance you did this video with me at a sleepover or on a Saturday afternoon. I'm not a very creative person - artistically speaking. But, when it came to make up - it always fascinated me. It was never about covering up flaws...it was always about bringing out & highlighting your best features. I could sit around all day in Sephora or Ulta and just play. 

My mom has always supported me. When I told her I wanted to go to college as a Theater major, she supported me. When I wanted to switch my major from Theater to Nursing, she supported me. When I wanted to switch my major from Nursing to Business Management, she supported me. When I wanted to run a half marathon 6 months after giving birth to twins via c-section, she told me to go for it. When I told her I was going to become a Beachbody Coach, she was thrilled. No matter what I've done in life, no matter how sane or insane the choice I was making, she's always supported me. 

And now it's my turn to show my mom some extra support - and you can join in too!!! Next month, I'm running my 3rd half marathon. Perhaps my craziest running decision to date because of the amount, or lack thereof, of training time & also the time of year. I don't like to go outside in the summer to get the mail, let alone run 13.1 miles. But, this race is about more than that. It's about doing something hard. Something that pushes me far outside of my comfort zone. It's about running those miles for my mama because I know she'd do the same for me.

As you probably know, my mom's cancer treatment over the past few months was successful. Earlier this year, she was declared cancer free. However, the doctors wanted her to go through another round of chemo just to make sure all of the cancer cells were gone. This round of chemo will be more intense. She will lose her hair this time & will feel more ill/rundown. This has not been a fun process for her to go through. She has her good days and her bad days. But I can't tell you how important all of your thoughts, prayers, cards, phone calls, texts, etc. have been to her. She's so encouraged by all of the love and support. Going through this second round of chemo isn't something she wants to do. But, she is doing it because we want her here. 

She's now 76 years old. And other than this stupid cancer & a little arthritis, she's in fantastic shape. I will consider myself lucky if I'm in as good of shape at age 50 as she is at 76. 

I've decided to start a little campaign called Miles For Mary & I encourage you all to get involved. This is all about getting up & moving. Getting as many people involved as possible. So, whether you're a runner, a walker or maybe you're taking a leisurely family stroll around the neighborhood, all I ask is that you take a picture during/after your walk/run and post it. If you're on Facebook, tag me in the post so that I can see the pic. If you're on Instagram, tag me in the post & use the hashtag #milesformary on the pic. I want to be able to show my mom all of the pics of everyone walking and running in her honor. I know this will bring such a huge smile to her face. I created a shirt with the #milesformary hashtag on it & I'll be wearing it during my half marathon next month. If you'd like to buy one too, you're more than welcome to! There are unisex t-shirts, ladies tank tops & youth t-shirts available. 

Unisex Tshirts click HERE
Ladies tank top click HERE
Youth Tshirt click HERE

Thank you all again for your outpouring of support - it truly has been a blessing to us!!!

21 Day Fix Participant Results

By now, you've all heard me rave about how much I love the 21 Day Fix. But, today, I want to share with you some of the results from my Challenge Group participants.

I opened up the group in March & we had people starting all at different times in the months of March and April. So, while everyone is on a different day of the program - we are still going through it side by side and supporting each other along the way. I couldn't have asked for a better group. They are all so supportive of each other and it's been so rewarding to watch them blossom with confidence over these past few weeks. Check out some of their results...

L.L. lost 12 pounds 21 days
A.V. lost 4 pounds in her first 14 days
E.P. lost 9.5 pounds 21 days
A.D. lost 4.6 pounds in her first 14 days
C.H. lost 20 pounds in 28 days
L.M. lost 4.6 pounds in 21 days
M.S. lost 5 pounds in her first 10 days
A.C. lost 15 pounds in 41 days

It's been so cool to watch their transformations. Not just the physical ones, which are fantastic, but the mental and emotional ones, too. They're stronger - mentally. Able to pass up temptations. Getting up early to get their workout in. Getting their kids involved. Bringing their workouts with them when they travel to make sure they stay on track. I could not be more proud.

If you're looking for a change and are ready to give me just 21 days to make some new habits, let's chat and get you going in my next Fix group!!!

I'm Not Getting Any Younger...

Time to talk about one of my favorite things - make up!!!!! More specifically, It Cosmetics.

Let's face it, I'm not getting any younger. I'm much wiser about my skin now than I was years ago. From many years spent laying out - sans SPF - and many years in the tanning bed - all of which now make me cringe - I've got some skin damage & pre-mature wrinkles. And next to my wrinkles, there's zits. My skin isn't sure if it's 13 or 35. It's oily in most places & dry in others. So, finding products that work with my aging, yet acne prone skin, are hard to come by.

About 2 years ago, I happened upon a make up artist on Instagram by the name of Tiffany Lee Bymaster - you may know her as Coach Glitter (www.coachglitter.com). Tiffany KNOWS HER STUFF!!! 

She had posted about a product that peaked my interest. The Vitality Face Disc. It's an anti-aging matte bronzer, luminating powder and blush - all in one big compact!!! I love multi-tasking products, so I decided to make my first It Cosmetics purchase.

Vitality Face Disc

This thing is amazing!!! First, the disc itself is HUGE. The bronzer is a matte bronzer - which is fantastic for contouring. The blush is a beautiful peachy pink color that will flatter any skin tone & the luminating powder is a great highlighter. I've been using this product for 2 years now and I absolutely LOVE it. 5 out of 5 stars!

Since that first purchase, I've been starting to incorporate more and more It Cosmetics into my make up kit. First and foremost - because they're anti-aging - and I need all the help I can get in that department!!! Second - the quality of the products is so high. Rarely do I purchase a cosmetic product, use it up and then purchase the same thing again, but I've found myself doing that with the It line because the products are that good. 

Next up are a few products that came in a kit that I got off QVC last summer: Bye Bye Under Eye Anti-Aging Concealer, Vitality Lip Blush Hydrating Gloss Stain, Hello Light Anti-Aging Creme Radiance Illuminator & Your Brows But Better Brow Power Skinny Pencil.

Bye Bye Under Eye Anti-Aging Concealer - what I love about this product is that it's truly a full coverage concealer. It will cover under eye circles, acne scars, tattoos, you name it. It also stays put all day. And, it's another multi-tasking product as it can also be used as foundation. Oh yeah, and it's waterproof & sweatproof - so ideal in the humid summer weather. What I don't love about it is that it sometimes feels tacky on my skin. You know those lip glosses that feel tacky and gross on your lips & your hair gets stuck in them...sadly, this kind of reminds me of that. It never feels dry on my skin - even after setting it with powder. But when I really need the extra coverage - I break it out because it beats anything I've ever used in the coverage department. 

Bye Bye Under Eye

Vitality Lip Blush Hydrating Gloss Stain - ok, so you know that gross tacky gloss that your hair gets stuck in that I was just talking about??? This is the exact opposite!!! The Vitality Lip Blush Hydrating Gloss Stains feel amazing on your lips. It's a stain and gloss - all in one!!! Once again, packed with anti-aging properties - this is like a lip color & lip treatment all in one. In the same family are the Vitality Lip Flush Butter Glosses. They feel just as amazing on your lips - just without the stain! I'm a lip gloss junkie - I probably have hundreds. But these are always in my purse as they're my favorites!!! 

Vitality Lip Flutter Butter Gloss & Hydrating Gloss Stains

Don't adjust the color on your screen. Yes, the top gloss is blue. News Anchor Blue to be specific. The gloss goes on completely clear on your lips but it’s infused with blue micro-crystals that counteract yellow in your teeth and give you a brighter, whiter smile! It’s derived from an old news anchor secret where they used to mix blue eyeshadow with clear gloss and wore it over lipstick for a whiter looking smile on air. Below the blue Butter Gloss are the Gloss Stains (in Sweet Rose & Je Ne Sais Quoi). Don't let that light gloss on the bottom fool you. That one packs a punch!!! It's got self-adjusting color that pops up as a beautiful bright pink once you put it on. 

Hello Light Anti-Aging Creme Radiance Illuminator - ahhhhhhh - this stuff is so amazing. It's one of those products that I purchased, used it up & purchased it again. This is a fantastic product for highlighting - and it actually looks natural on. It doesn't have those huge flecks of glitter like a lot of highlighting products have. Its so creamy, it glides on easily, blends beautifully & makes your face glow in all the right places.

Hello Light Anti-Aging Creme Radiance Illuminator

Your Brows But Better Brow Power Skinny Pencil - before I critique this product, let me say this: I've never been a fan of brow pencils. I much prefer powder to define and fill in my brows. But, since this came with the kit, I gave it a try. It does go on smoother than any other pencil that I've used. It stays in place & is easy to use. However, it's supposed to be a universal taupe shade. My eyebrows are way to dark to fill in with a taupe colored pencil. So, this looks quite unnatural when I use it. Like I said - I just prefer powder to use on my brows. To each his or her own :)

Your Brows But Better Brow Power Skinny Pencil

Last fall, It Cosmetics had their friends & family discount and if you ordered, you could get 25% off of your order. I had been eyeing up the Your Skin But Better CC Cream with SPF 50+ for some time, but I was nervous to purchase it. As I've mentioned, I've got oily, acne prone skin. CC creams usually don't give me the coverage I need. Also, anytime I've used a foundation that had SPF in it, it makes me break out like a hormonal teenager. But, I'd been so impressed with their products so far, I figure now was a good time to try it - seeing as I could save some money on it. The name of this product says it all. I don't know how they do it. It's full coverage - but it doesn't look like you're wearing any foundation. It just looks like your skin. It's got staying power, too! I used to wear this when I taught TurboKick & at the end of the hour - my makeup was still in place and looked as good as it did when I started class. This is another one of those products that I've bought, used & bought again. It's so good!!!

Your Skin But Better CC Cream with SPF 50+

Celebration Foundation is up next. Coach Glitter RAVES about this product. She uses it on Chalene Johnson - which you'd think that'd be reason enough for me to up & buy it. I have never, ever had luck with powder foundation. It never looks natural on me. My friend Chelsea ended up buying this foundation. She sent me her before & after pics which totally wowed me. I still was nervous to try it, but I finally did. Once again, color me impressed! Another full coverage product - which I love!!! But this goes on differently than some of the other powder/mineral powder foundations I've used. It's not dry and talc-like. It's a powder, but goes on quite creamy. I know, I know...why do I need a powder foundation when I love the CC cream? Different product, different purpose. Some days, I only have a few minutes to get ready. Powder foundations go on in a flash & some days, that's what I need. Also, in the summer, I don't always have the best luck with liquid foundations, so I prefer something like a powder (although I've yet to try the CC cream in the summer, so we will find out how it holds up soon). Celebration Foundation is another waterproof/sweatproof product - so it will stay in place until you're ready for it to come off.

Celebration Foundation

Airbrush Blush Stain is up next! I've got this in the Rose Glow color. I love cheek stains - because of their staying power. But I'm the worlds worst blender of cheek stains for the liquid kind. It always looks like I let my kids paint on my face. This gives you the staying power of a stain, but with the application ease of a powder blush. It goes on beautifully and stays put. It's a very sheer & natural looking color that I LOVE.

Airbrush Blush Stain

Bye Bye Lid Lines - I will admit, I've used, and been happy with, another shadow primer and have used it for years with no problem. I NEED to use a shadow primer, otherwise my eyeshadow creases and doesn't last. My reason for trying this - again, I'm loving all of the anti-aging properties that the It Cosmetics have. This product lives up to it's name and helps keep your shadow looking fresh all day.

Bye Bye Lid Lines

Bye Bye Pores HD Micro Finishing Powder is the perfect setting powder and all over face finishing powder. This powder is infused with hydro collagen to smooth lines, luxurious silk for a poreless finish, and vitamin K to help reduce discoloration. It also contains anti-aging anti-oxidants Vitamins A, C, and E to help ward off free radicals throughout the day. The powder looks really white, but goes on translucent & blends easily for a perfect finish!

Bye Bye Pores HD Micro Finishing Powder

And last, but not least, the Naturally Pretty Eyeshadow Palette. I was really excited when this product came out. I currently have and LOVE the Urban Decay Naked Palette. Their shadows are insanely highly pigmented, they blend beautifully & stay on all day. It's one of the best palettes out there. However, most of the shadows in that palette are shimmery. Which, I like. But, as we age, those shimmery shades don't always look great on our eyes. Plus, I like a matte eye look, too. So, I finally broke down and got this palette. A lot of the colors in the Naturally Pretty Palette are similar in color/shade as the Naked Palette. Where this palette differs is that they're all matte colors. BUT, there's a cool "transforming pearl" shade that can be applied on top of any of the matte shades to give them a very sublte shimmer. So, it's really like you're getting 28 shades of eyeshadows in one palette. The shadows are also highly pigmented, blend easily & have staying power. 

Naturally Pretty Eyeshadow Palette

Needless to say, I've been thoroughly impressed with a majority of the It Cosmetics that I've tried. I don't work for them, I just really love their products & when I love something this much, I like to share!!! This post has been a long time in the making, but it's perfect timing if you've been thinking of trying their products. Now through April 8, 2014, you can get 25% off of your It Cosmetics purchases with their Friends & Family discount! Just type the code CELEBRATE when you checkout at www.itcosmetics.com and the discount will be applied!!!

Happy Shopping fellow It Girls!!!

Chalene Johnson's PiYo - COMING SOON!!!

The news a lot of us have been waiting for finally became official this week!!! 

If you follow Chalene Johnson, you know that she's been hinting at this for a while now. We knew she was going to have another workout program coming to DVD and everyone kind of "knew" what it was going to be...we just had to wait for the official word.

And we got it!!!!!

PiYo is going to be released this year at Beachbody's Coach Summit!!!

So, what exactly is PiYo??? It's a unique program that is designed to build strength and gain flexibility. The moves fit perfectly together to form workouts filled with intense choreography that’s fun, challenging and will make you sweat. It’s about energy, power and rhythm. Think sculpted abdominals, increased overall core strength, and greater stability.

With Beachbody's Coach Summit being at the end of June, I expect (do not quote me on this because we haven't been given a release date) that PiYo will be released at the end of June or beginning of July.

I am going to be all over this program. Chalene's programs are my favorites and I can not wait to add this to my routine. Want to be in the know for when more information comes out??? Just click HERE and enter your info. I'd love to have YOU by my side as we go through the program TOGETHER!!!

21 Day Fix - Week 3

This was it - week 3 of the 21 Day Fix!

I knew this would be my toughest week - mentally and physically because in week 3, you have the OPTION to switch things up a bit. I was in this for the long haul, so I went for it.

The first thing that would be different this week was my workouts. Week 3 is an OPTIONAL DOUBLES WEEK. I was still fighting this cold/sinus infection, but I wasn't going to let it win. I was going all in. Doing doubles was challenging for a lot of reasons. I was still sick. As a busy mom, let's face it, it's much easier to make 30 minutes for exercise than it is to make 60 minutes. This meant some early morning workouts to be able to squeeze it in. These workouts alone - just 30 minutes - are INTENSE. But, I always tell myself, "suck it up...it's just 30 minutes." And it's much easier to push yourself REALLY HARD for 30 minutes than it is for 60 minutes. Hopefully, for Round 2 of the FIX, I won't be sick, so doubles will be a little easier.

The second thing that was going to be different this week was something called the 3 Day Quick Fix. Again, this is another OPTIONAL aspect of week 3. There's no way to sugar coat this...the Quick Fix is hard...and it's all a mental game. Why is it hard? Well, your meal plan changes. You're eating 6 times a day (every 2 hours), so hunger wasn't a factor. In fact, I was stuffed on these 3 days. But it's WHAT YOU'RE EATING that packs a punch. Essentially some form of lean protein (egg whites, chicken, fish & turkey), 2 healthy carbs and 4 veggies. Plain and simple - it's really boring, but really SIMPLE, so it makes meal prep a breeze. 

• Meal 1: Egg whites & oatmeal
• Meal 2: Chicken & yams (I don't eat yams, so I substituted quinoa)
• Meal 3: Fish & steamed green veggie
• Meal 4: Chicken & steamed green veggie
• Meal 5: Fish & steamed green veggie
• Meal 6: Turkey & steamed green veggie

It may not look like a lot of food - but I was so full. You're also drinking a gallon of water a day. I had done something similar to this a few years back (but I only did it for 2 days at a time)...so I kinda knew what I was in for. I warned my husband ahead of time that I was going to be cranky & moody. The first day wasn't bad. I got through it with no real issues - except peeing every 10 minutes ;)  Day 2 was a little harder. I was more tired & going through carb withdrawl at that point. There were cookies in our kitchen that were screaming my name. I'd go in, open the box and sit there and smell them. Frequently. By day 3, I was ready to throw in the towel and eat a cookie. Again, I wasn't hungry...I just wanted carbs....ALL OF THEM. Like I said, a lot of this 3 day portion is all mental. It's knowing you CAN'T have something that makes you want it more. I knew what my weight was prior to the 3 Day Fix & all I kept thinking was that I better see a drop on the scale to make this worth it. And it was...

I got up this morning, went into the bathroom, took a deep breath and stepped on the scale. I was so excited!!! I didn't believe what I was seeing, so I got off, and got back on just to make sure. Yep - it was accurate. I hadn't seen a number like this since July.

Before I get into my actual results, I want to comment on something that may be obvious, or may not be. Why does this program work so well? Well, yes - it's proper nutrition and effective workouts. But, beyond that.... I think the answer is that "it's only 21 days." Mentally - that's something easy to wrap your head around. Beachbody has numerous other programs - ranging from 6 weeks to 90 days. I'll be the first to admit - when I see that 90 days - it seems like an eternity away. But, with this, you can START AND FINISH in the same month. That makes this program perfect for so many people. Maybe you're new to exercise and you want to start with something shorter. Maybe you've completed other programs, but want to switch things up for just a few weeks. Maybe once you've completed this, you will see that anything is possible and that 90 days of another program seems much more doable now.

Now to my results :) I lost a total of 9.8 pounds and 9.5 inches!!! This program came along at the perfect time. In the fall, I was dealing with some injuries, along with my mom being sick (more on that in another blog post to come soon). Seeing my mom sick had sent me into a downward spiral. I was depressed and just ate and ate in an attempt to numb the pain. I would sit alone and eat an entire box of donuts or cake. I just kept eating and eating. I then became ashamed that I'd let emotions win. I didn't want to leave the house. I lived in my pajamas (or anything with an elastic waist band). I felt like I had let myself down and like I had let others down. The 21 Day Fix gave me focus. It was simple nutrition. I'm not hungry on the fix. I can have chocolate. I can have wine. I can have bread. I can even have pizza. Everyday? No. But, it's allowed. Having a program with flexibility like that is what I needed. The workouts were great. 30 minutes and I was done. A new workout everyday left me feeling good and never bored. I'm starting to see my muscle definition come back & clothes that didn't fit 3 weeks ago, now fit just fine. This program helped pull me out of a horrible funk that I had gotten myself into and to Autumn Calabrese, I'm eternally grateful.

Yes, today is a bit of a treat day for me. I'm drinking a non-fat white chocolate mocha from Starbucks as I write this. I'm going to have a cookie later & my husband is going to make me dinner. And then tomorrow, it's back to the FIX for ROUND 2!!! I still have a ways to go, but I couldn't be happier with my results thus far. 

If you want to join me for your own journey on the FIX, please contact me here. I have groups forming for March & April & I'd love to have you as a part of it :)

Week 2 on the 21 Day Fix

Another successful week on the FIX is in the books. I've lost a total of 6.6 pounds & I can't believe I'm now in my final week. Week 2 definitely had it's share of ups and downs - literally and figuratively.

I'll start with some of the things I struggled with this week. 

• I still have this darn cold/sinus infection which had drained my energy. The very last thing I want to do is workout. But, all week, I just kept telling myself, "It's only 30 minutes and you can modify if you need to." So every day, I have put on my workout clothes, gone downstairs and pushed play. And it's funny, my competitive side comes out as soon as the DVD is in. My mind shifts from "I don't want to workout" to "If I'm going to to this, I'm going to push as hard as I can." So, I crank some good music and have at it. And surprisingly, I even beat a majority of my calorie burns from the week before. 
• At one point this week, the number on the scale went UP. Say WHAT???? This is the EXACT reason I tell people to not go by the scale alone. Take progress pics. Take measurements. Did it still freak me out. Yeah, a little. But, I knew exactly why. One - I'd been upping my weights this week, so I knew I was putting on some muscle. Two - while I was sticking to the plan, I wasn't always making the best choices. For instance, I was having turkey bacon frequently. And while, yes, it's allowed on the plan, it's the protein that is at the very bottom of the list. Meaning - it's not the best choice. It's got a lot of sodium & I know it was making me retain some water. 

But, with struggles, there's also triumphs...

• After seeing the number on the scale go UP, I immediately went into our bedroom and took my measurements. They were definitely down. I looked at myself in the mirror. I was seeing positive changes. And I tried on some clothes - that at the beginning of the fix were too tight...well, now they fit fine. Ok - mental crisis averted. 
• I cut back - well - eliminated turkey bacon for 2 days...and what do you know...the number on the scale went down. I have been choosing higher quality protein & my body was thanking me for it. 
• Despite having a cold and feeling like crap - I feel really GREAT! Huh? Yes, I'm coughing and sneezing and am somewhat of a hot mess. But, I'm starting to feel like the old me. The one who ate for fuel her body. Not the girl who ate her feelings. My body is starting to feel solid. I'm seeing muscle being built back up. I'm sore from my workouts, but am having less body aches & pains. My neck & back are feeling fantastic. My hip pain is all but gone. My left knee still gives me problems, but I can feel it getting stronger each day.

I am so excited to dive into week 3!!!! I still have ONE SPOT left in my March Fix group, so if you want to take that coveted 10th spot, just message me here.