Advent Calendar of Good Deeds

 

This year our family has opted for something different from the typical Advent calendar.  In order to get our minds & hearts focused on the true spirit of the season, we are doing good deeds each day!

Some are as simple as giving a smile to everyone you see or holding open a door.  Others are more involved, like making cards for nursing home patience or baking cookies for local law enforcement.

The good deeds don't need to be grand, they simply need to come from the heart.

To keep the deeds for each day a secret I wrote them on little pieces of paper & hung them on this little "Charlie Brown" Christmas tree.  Each morning the kids read their good deed for the day as they eat their breakfast.

 

In addition to our preparations for Christmas I am reading a daily Advent devotion & a section I read the other day really spoke to the lifestyle that I strive to live & share.  It spoke of preparing yourself mentally, spiritually, & physically for the coming of Christ. 

 

*Treat your body with respect - exercise regularly & nourish yourself with healthy foods.  Don't get sucked into perpetual overindulging on rich foods & alcohol.

 

*Focus on giving & what you can do to help others now & throughout the year.

 

*Avoid overspending on gifts - keep it simple, focus more on experiences & spending time together as a family rather than things.

 

Have a blessed & healthy Advent season.

Holly, Jolly, & Healthy - De-Stress & Re-Energize this Holiday Season

 

Feeling stressed out, run down, and out of energy is typical for many during the holidays. But not you, not this year! We will use the 80/20 rule to make healthy choices most days, but fit in those holiday treats in moderation. I will share how I meal plan around the holidays, what kinds of dishes I take to holiday gatherings, and my tips to stay energized & low-stress during this bustling time of year. Join me for accountability, motivation, & lot of holiday fun! We'll roll into the new year building healthy habits & hit those New Years resolutions out of the park!

 

 

You may be saying...

***?!?!***SERIOUSLY***?!?!***
Who wants to start a fitness group right before Christmas?

*Folks who want to find some BALANCE this holiday season & not feel like you are busting at the seams come NYE.

...

*Folks who want to have some tricks up their sleeve to avoid overdoing it at holiday parties.

*Folks who want more ENERGY to enjoy the season's festivities & reduce their STRESS in a healthy way.

*Folks looking for a positive community of support to roll into the new year with some of the ground work already laid to crush your 2016 resolutions.
 

You Get:
-Healthy Holiday Recipes
- Holiday Meal Planning Tips
- Fun Fitness Friends
- Daily Coach Support
-Tips & Tricks for Healthy Living through the Holidays & Beyond

What you will need:
*me as your coach!  Click here to get your free membership.
*a Beachbody home workout (fill out the questionnaire below & I'll help you pick the one that best suits your needs)
*Shakeology - the healthiest meal of the day to help you bust those holiday cravings
*a can-do attitude & some holiday spirit
 

You deserve a healthy holiday.

Join me today.

 

 



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The Masters Hammer & Chisel Fit Mommas Test Group

 

So I'll admit it....the picture above has been photoshopped.  Hahahaha... 

I may not have the body of trainer Autumn Calabrese now, but a girl has got to have goals!  My motto for the next to months is "Moms can get chiseled too!"  So who wants to join me?

 

Today is the day!  The launch of Beachbody's newest strength & resistance training workout - The Masters Hammer & Chisel! 

This is the first time these two power house trainers, Sagi Kalev & Autumn Calabrese, have teamed up for body sculpting, toning, & tightening workouts. 

 

If you loved the 21 Day Fix, 21 Day Fix Extreme, or Body Beast this program will be right up your alley.  The Masters Hammer & Chisel focuses on a flexible, clean eating nutrition plan with a focus on proper portion sizes.  You even get color coded containers with your order to help you stick to proper portion sizes.  This program has 12 new workouts that are all only 30-40 minutes in length & can all be done in your home with minimal equipment needed.

 

Necessary equipment:

*a few dumbbells

*a weight bench OR stability ball

*a chin up bar OR door attachment with a resistance band

 

In each workout there are modifications shown for those working with limited equipment or who need to use a lower intensity, so you do not have to have a full gym of weights & equipment to make this program work for you.

 

In addition to all the tools you will receive in your challenge pack, I will plug you into a private online accountability group to keep you motivated, focused, & on track to get "chiseled" this December & January.

I provide weekly meal plan suggestions, healthy recipes, daily support, motivation, tips, & activities to keep this journey fun!  Having a community of positive support will help you get an amazing jumpstart on  your 2016 resolutions & get you into healthy habits for the long-run.

 

Hammer & Chisel Fit Mommas Test Group requirements:

 

*I must be your assigned Team Beachbody coach. 

Click here to sign up for your FREE membership.

 

*You must purchase a Hammer & Chisel Challenge Pack.

This includes your complete workout program, nutrition guide, portion control containers, &

a 30 day supply of Shakeology

OR

Energize & Recovery Performance Line Supplements

 

*Daily engagement in the online accountability group

 

Are you ready to get "hammered & chiseled" & get a jumpstart on your 2016 resolutions?

Complete the challenge group application below today!  Space is limited!

 



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After you stuff, lose the fluff - 3 Day Refresh & Clean Eating Support Group

All week long I have been sharing cleaned up versions of Thanksgiving favorite recipes, but let's face it....PIE HAPPENS!  And even if you don't go totally overboard with your Thanksgiving feast, you may just feel the need for a fresh start for December.  Goodness knows there will be lots of parties, get-togethers, family dinners, & gatherings that will make staying on track with clean eating & fitness down right tough.

 

Let me help you plan for success & minimize the holiday weight gain with

*clean eating tips & recipes

*weekly sample meal plans

*daily support & accountability

*personalized support

 

We will start planning for our 3 Day Refresh on Nov. 27 & hit the ground running on Nov. 30.

 

Requirements for this group are:

 

*3 Day Refresh + drink Shakeology daily for the remainder of 2015

 

*share your weekly meal plan

 

*keep yourself accountable with daily check ins to the closed Facebook group where this group will be based

 

Optional (but highly recommended) :

 

*daily exercise

 

I can help you find an effective workout you can do right at home in as little as 30 minutes a day!

 

Here are my personal 3 Day Refresh Results

 

Let's get the ball rolling.  Please, complete the short questionnaire below:

 

 

 

 

 



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Baked Sweet Potatoes

 

Sweet potatoes are one of the most nutrient dense foods out there.  You get a serious bang for your buck with this root vegetable! Packed with vitamins, minerals, & flavor...sweet potatoes are a winner every time.

 

A lot of people like to turn sweet potatoes into a casserole with brown sugar & marshmallows...but these beauties are so naturally sweet I dare you to give this super simple preparation a try.

 

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit

 

2. Thoroughly rinse your sweet potatoes.

 

3. Use a fork to prick holes all over the sweet potatoes.

 

 

4. Place each sweet potato on a square of aluminum foil & add 1 teaspoon of coconut oil on each sweet potato.  Wrap the foil snuggly around the sweet potato.

 

5. Place the sweet potatoes on a baking sheet & place in the oven.  This is so the coconut oil does not drip all over the inside of the oven.

 

6. Bake for 45-60 minutes, depending on the size of your sweet potatoes.

 

7. Remove sweet potatoes from foil, slice open, & enjoy!  Sprinkle with a little cinnamon & you are good to go.  You can add a dab of real butter (skip the margarine...yuck!) or a tad of coconut oil & a sprinkle of sea salt, but sweet potatoes are so flavorful, you really don't need any toppings.

Plus the coconut oil we wrapped up the sweet potatoes with makes the skin soft & yummy enough to eat!

 

Check out a great breakfast dish where you can use your leftover sweet potatoes.

 

Click here for more clean eating recipes.

 

 

 

 

Green Beans with Sauteed Mushrooms & Onions

 

To be totally honest, I have never been a green bean casserole fan.  The limp, gooey texture does absolutely nothing for me.  But with Thanksgiving fast approaching & knowing there ARE lots of green bean casserole fans out there, I whipped up this recipe to give you the key flavors of that dish, but with a FRESH new take.

 

Move over green bean casserole, there's a new side dish in town.

 

Ingredients:

2 lbs. fresh green beans, cleaned & trimmed

1 medium onion, sliced thinly

8 oz. button mushrooms (or your favorite mild mushroom), sliced

2 Tbls. extra virgin olive oil, divided

1 Tbls. fresh ground black pepper

2 tsp. sea salt

1 tsp. garlic powder

 

Directions:

1. Clean & trim your fresh green beans. 

You can buy pre-washed & trimmed green beans, but in my grocery store they were $0.50 more per pound.  It only took Luke & I a few minutes to prep our beans.

 

2. Bring a large pot of water to a rapid boil & add 1 tsp. sea salt.

 

3. Boil green beans for 5 minutes.

 

4. Remove green beans from boiling water & place into a bowl of ice water to stop the cooking process & keep the beans a nice bright green.

 

5. In a large pan, saute sliced onions & mushrooms in 1 Tbls. extra virgin olive oil for 3-5 minutes on medium heat, until onions are translucent & mushrooms are slightly browned.

 

6. Add an additional 1 Tbls. extra virgin olive oil to the pan. 

 

7. Drain all water from the green beans - be sure to get as much water off as possible. 

Hot oil + water = bad news.

 

 

8. Add green beans to the pan of oil, onions, & mushrooms.  Top with 1 tsp. garlic powder, 1 tsp. sea salt (or to taste), & 1 Tbls. fresh ground black pepper (or to taste). Stir well & saute for 2-3 minutes.

 

Enjoy with your Thanksgiving turkey or a delicious side dish for any meal!

 

Click here for more cleaned up versions of family favorites.

 

 

 

 

Healthy Through the Holidays

 

With the holidays fast approaching it is easy to get caught up in the hustle & bustle of this time of year & lose yourself in the process.  You know you will be busy with preparing the house, shopping for gifts, doing crafts, baking, wrapping, attending parties, cooking, going to the kids' chorus concert, seeing a holiday play, attending your company holiday gathering, hosting...

the list goes on & on.

 

How will you deal with the stress of the holiday season?

Many folks will turn to the comfort foods of the season.  Some may have a few alcoholic drinks to loosen up. A few may just curl up on the couch & let the stress overtake them.

This is NOT you....not this year!!

 

My game plan?

Workout daily, even if it's only for 30 minutes a day.  Make a weekly meal plan chocked full of delicious, healthy recipes my whole family will enjoy.  Live by the 80/20 rule - I know that there will be cookies, appetizers, & glasses of wine, I will enjoy them in moderation!

I plan on completing my all time favorite workout ChaLEAN Extreme (I always go back to my old standbys when I know the times will be toughest to stick to a routine) & I am looking forward to jumping into Beachbody's newest workout The Masters Hammer & Chisel in December.  With a plan of action in place I am more likely to stay on track.

 

How can I help you?

I will help you find a workout that will fit your schedule, your needs, & your goals.  I will plug you into a community of support in our private Facebook group where I will post daily motivation, tips, recipes, & weekly meal plan ideas.  I will help you trouble-shoot your areas of weakness (like those Christmas cookies calling  your name...)  I'll share some great healthier alternatives to holiday favorites that you can take to your gatherings. 

Your job is to commit yourself to THRIVING this holiday season, not just surviving.  Commit yourself to getting a jumpstart on those 2016 resolutions rather than digging yourself a hole you have to climb out of come January.  You check in daily with the group for that layer of accountability to keep you focused & on track! 

Gift yourself with better health! You deserve it!

 

 

Group requirements:

You must be doing a Beachbody home workout program (I'll help you select the one that best fits your needs)

You must drink Shakeology daily (learn more about Shakeology here)

You must be ready to approach this holiday season with a positive attitude & ready to roll into 2016 with some healthy habits in place.

 

If you are ready to get the ball rolling, complete the questionnaire below & I will contact  you with more info via email.

 

 

 

 

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