I finished the 3 Day Refresh!

Today is the day after my 3 Day Refresh!  It's a new program that I picked up because for the last month or so I haven't felt myself and was sick and tired.  Turns out (long story short), I was having thyroid issues.  I'm feeling MUCH better now but after eating whatever I could because it hurt to swallow and a lot of medicine and antibiotics, I wanted to cleanse my system out.  And just to let you know, I've worked hard the past few years to get to my ideal weight so I wasn't trying to lose weight.  I wanted to feel better and give my nutrition the kick start that it needed.  So the 3 Day Refresh was perfect for me because it was only 3 days.  :)

Here is what I did!

For 3 days I had a superfood-packed Shakeology shake for breakfast along with a fruit option. I chose to not give up my coffee totally but I did drink it black.   Of course I didn't drink as much because lets face it, black coffee is no fun.  Then, later on in the morning, a Fiber Sweep digestive health drink.  It was sweet and went down just fine.  Just make sure you drink it up fast!  

For lunch, I had a high-protein Vanilla Fresh shake along with fresh fruit, vegetables, and healthy fat options. For this, I just whipped up a simple salad of cucumber, cherry tomatoes, a little purple onion and a little avocado dressed with balsamic vinegar.  (I thought this was fine but later found out it had sugar in in so next time I might just use red wine vinegar.)  

For my snack I ate two stalks of celery and 2 TB of hummus which I found to be plenty.  My advise is to chew your food SLOWLY and really enjoy it.  I think it makes it last longer and helps with digestion.  

For dinner, I had another Vanilla Fresh shake along with the choice from a list of delicious, easy-to prepare dinner recipes. You can also have tea twice a day.   

Now lets talk about WATER!  It is super important to drink TONS more water.  The shakes can't do their thing without it.  Drink at least half of your body weight in ounces and you'll be fine.  Yes, I was peeing ALL of the time but I wanted to clean out, right?  So for three days I could handle it.  I even went shopping with hubby on day 3 and used the bathroom in REI 3 times.  But who cares?  I guarantee you that no one else did!  

So what did I learn from this and what were my results?!

1.  This program so doable!  My first day was the hardest and I know it was all mental.  I went through all the emotions and excuses to quit!  I don't really need this, no one will know if I finish, It's too difficult (which is wasn't!), etc.  But I stuck with it because I announced to the world and to my healthy lifestyle FB page that I was doing this.  I wasn't going to let anyone see me fail!  I wanted to do this for me and for you to show that you can do it too!

2.  I was only tired on the first day.  And I was never light headed or anything.  Yes, there were times that I got hungry and it wasn't time to eat yet.  BUT, it forced me to slow down and evaluate if I really was hungry.  Sometimes I was just thirsty and sometimes it was stress.  I had nieces coming for the weekend and a boy that broke his hand on the last day!  I could have quit but I kept going because honestly, what would have beer or a piece of my daughter's cake going to do for me?  

3.  On this day after, my energy is through the roof.  Can't put a price on that!  

4.    I lost about 2 1/2 pounds and I don't know how many inches because I didn't measure.  Like I said before, I wasn't trying to lose weight.  I really wanted to concentrate on the experience and how I FELT and not the numbers this time.  I was doing this with a friend at the same time and she said she could fit into her super skinny jeans for a girls weekend and was very happy about that. Yay for non scale victories!

So will I do this again?  

You bet.

My question to you:  

Would you do this type of cleanse?  Tell me in the comments below why you would consider it.  Can't wait to hear from you. 

Kristen

Smart Success Seminar Story

I had an incredible time at the Smart Success Seminar this past weekend.  I learned that your personal life and your business go hand in hand.  You cannot separate them and you don't really want to!  If you are looking to amp up your life and business please contact me so that we can chat about the seminar.  It would be my pleasure.

My motivation

I've had a few people ask me about what motivates me lately. This picture just about sums it up. For me, it's not about rock hard abs. It's about the fact that I hiked up that very steep mountain WITH my kids and got to see a view that I will never forget. Was it hard? Yes, but I wouldn't trade that feeling for the world. What are you willing to work hard for? Who are you wanting to feel better for? Find your MOTIVATION and run with it.

Do you have a word for this year? My word is ~BREATHE~. I am a jaw clincher, breath holder and it takes a huge toll on my body. I constantly have a stiff neck, jaw and shoulders because of this problem. I'm learning to make myself stop and take big deep breaths throughout the day. I'm doing it not only during my workouts but in everyday life as well.

What is your word?

November Beachbody Excitement~Give and Recieve

Can I just tell you that I'm so proud to be a part of the Beachbody family?  And even more so this month.  Just when I think things can't get any cooler, they come along with this month's promotion.  It's called Give and Receive and it comes in two parts.  

Part 1:  "Recieve":  Whenever someone buys a challenge pack this month, they will receive a $20 dollar coupon to apply to a future purchase.  That would be like getting Results and Recovery formula, the after workout liquid gold, for about half off. * 

Part 2:  In the second piece of the promotion, “Give”, Beachbody is proud to partner with Feeding AmericaTM, the nation’s leading domestic hunger-relief charity. For every challenge pack purchased or Shakeology order processed (on home direct) this month, Beachbody will give $10 to Feeding America. That equates to a $10 donation for every Shakeology HD order and a $20 donation for every Challenge Pack sold. 

Here's a short 2 minute video about it!

There is no limit to the amount Beachbody will donate and they've promised a minimum of $250,000 with a goal of $1,000,000.  Can you help us reach this?  Each $1 donated provides 9 meals secured by Feeding America, so together, we can provide over 2,250,000 to America’s hungry.  more information about Feeding America, or if you’d like to make a donation yourself, please visit www.feedingamerica.org/beachbody.

*Coupon Terms: When your customers or enrolling Coaches purchase a Challenge Pack in November, they’ll receive a $20 coupon towards a future minimum purchase of $30 or more on TeamBeachbody.com! Coupons will be emailed to the address on file within 7-10 business days of the Challenge Pack purchase for customers and new Coaches and on or around December 11 for sponsoring Coaches. Hurry, coupons expire on April 1, 2014! Coupons may not be used on certain products - see official promotion rules here.

The Beachbody 21 day Ultimate Reset

Wow I took a long bloggy break, didn't I?  We are in full summer mode here but Hubby and I just finished the 21 day Beachbody Ultimate Reset and I wanted to tell you about it.  It's a 21 day gentle cleanse to rid the body of toxins and learn to eat cleaner.  Complete with daily breakfast, lunch, and dinner plans.  The program comes with all of the supplements you need along with a participant portal to keep you on track and motivated to finish.

• I love roasted beets.  And the kids do too!
• I CAN drink lots of water.  This was honestly the scariest part for me.  I got used to all of the extra potty trips quickly. I've never been a huge drinker of water but now I'm converted.   This little smily face on my water bottle might have had something to do with it:

• Before the reset I hated eating fruit in the morning.  It kind of interfered with my coffee drinking.  Sort of messed up, huh?  Most of the mornings we were assigned a fresh fruit plate for breakfast and I can't get enough now. 

{yummy looking, huh?)

• I missed my morning coffee but I didn't die.  James found me some fake coffee to drink which leads me to believe that my morning coffee was more of a comforting ritual than the need for caffeine.  I'm drinking a cup of real coffee right now and it's not like the heavens opened up or anything when I finally got to have that first sip.    
• I will forever eat toasted walnuts in my oatmeal.
• I will forever eat toasted nuts/seeds in my salads.
• We have decided we don't need meat at every meal!  Don't worry we haven't become vegetarian or vegan.
• James lost 9 pounds and I lost 4.  I have to say that the Ultimate Reset is NOT a weight loss program or starvation diet. When you look at the meals in the guide it sort of looks that way but once you get into a groove of eating super clean, you actually eat less and feel more full.  I honestly didn't believe that until I experienced it.  People have lost a lot of weight but that's simply because they have cleaned up  their eating habits for the better and it shows for them in weight loss.  We weren't in this to lose weight (don't hate me) so when we started getting too low and losing energy we upped our food intake.  We added oatmeal in the morning along with the fruit and I started adding eggs and small amounts of protein the last few days.  

{I know these are the worst pictures of me ever!}

• I didn't miss working out much until my PMS kicked in and I realized that working out is like therapy to me.  (They advise you not to work out while doing the program because you are taking in less calories than usual.) 

• But mainly I learned that diet is essential to getting the body that you want.  Not just exercise!  Don't get me wrong, I'm not out for perfection and rock hard abs.  I'm a 38 year old mom with other issues to deal with.  But when I see people pinning the next new 10 minute rock hard ab workout along side the best chocolate cake recipe ever, I'm not expecting them to see the changes that they want to see. I know it sounds harsh but it's no coincidence I caught myself thinking time and time again during the reset, "this is how they do it"!  All of the trainers that I see on a daily basis while working out with my dvd's at home.  They do a super clean healthy meal plan along with exercise!  And at the risk of sounding like a commercial, Beachbody has it for you.  Not only for them, but for YOU, too!  Exercise plans and meal plans to get you on your way to not just a better looking body, but one that works more efficiently to give you a more enjoyable life. 

Sorry, I'm stepping away from the microphone now.....

Anyway, So why did we do this?  

Honestly, we have been working out hard for two years straight.  Going from one program to the next without a long rest.  We thought this would be a good way to give our bodies the rest that was needed.  Well, we rested our muscles but don't be fooled about the rest part.  It was hard work to eat so clean all of the time.  More shopping trips, more chopping, more planning.....But it was all worth it to take away the small things from this program that, when put together, add up to a big change for us.  Also, since we know that Beachbody doesn't do anything less than awesome, we wanted to be able to personally recommend this product to others that are needing a big change in their diet.  

All in all, James and I are glad that we did it.  It was another challenge to conquer together.  If you have any questions at all about the reset, or making healthier choices in your life, just email me!  I'm only a click away.

Spartan Race 2012

I did it!  I survived the Spartan Race.  Before the race,  I envisioned myself (literally from being awake in the middle of the night thinking about it) that I would get to each obtacle and try and fail and then do a thousand burpees for punishment.  Hubby kept saying to me not to worry and that I would be telling myself "that was no big deal" afterwards.  Not so much because it was hard.  But can I just say, I'm so proud of myself?!  On two occasions, the monkey bars and "spider man wall", I started and finished on my own! With no help from hubby.  Both times almost falling off but sticking to it with the mentality of I will make it through.  What an awesome feeling!   The times that I did need hubby's help were just as cool.  We are a team and I loved having him by my side encouraging and supporting me.

{I'm in the purple about to step on hubby's shoulder}

The kids did their own races and I am one proud mommy.  Pops and Grandma were there to watch and support them since their races went on at the same time as ours.  Their courage and bravery to do it on their own amaze me.  J-man's race was a mile and Roo's was a 1/2 mile.  Both weren't too sure about doing it but they blazed through and had a great time.

That's my son going around the mud pit because he didn't want to get too dirty!

Roo is in the pink shorts and white shirt.  Look at that face! The poor girl in front of her was fine.

 Roo said her favorite part was walking through the mud.

When their races were over they camped out by the last few obstacles and waited for us.  It was not awesome that when they finally saw us, they witnessed me throwing a spear like an absolute girl and then freak out and be a scaredy cat about jumping over the fire.  But I redeemed myself rope climbing over the wall and then rolling through way too much mud under way too much barbed wire.

Woo Hoo is how I felt too!

I just have to say that I could not have done this race without the help of Beachbody programs.  All of the programs I have done have led me to this point.  The most fit I have ever been in my life and I'm pushing 40.  Thank you P90X, Insanity, Chalean Extreme, Turbofire, and Les Mills Pump!  If you have any questions about any of these programs I would love to help!   I can even be your coach through it all.  Wouldn't that be fun?  Just click on the "Connect/email-me" button on the right hand sidebar and I will get right back with you!

My home gym spruce up

I've been sprucing up my home gym for months now.  I stand in front of the this TV and setup everyday working out and I wanted it to be more motivating.  It was around Christmastime when I got the urge to paint the backs of my bookshelves black.  You know, with all of the extra time that I had.  I'm pretty sure I was painting the day before my in-laws arrived.  

 

I got the idea from Edie's place to paint the back black to sort of hide the TV.  I've always thought mine stuck out like a sore thumb.  

I used some leftover chalkboard paint so I could add and change out quotes easily.

It makes me happy that the TV isn't the first thing seen anymore.

For me, the things that should stick out the most are the inspirational ones.  Like Tony Horton's motto:  "Do your best, and forget the rest" and a Spartan helmet.  Yes, a Spartan helmet.  This became a must because hubby and I just signed up to run a Spartan race in the Spring.  I need some serious motivation staring me in the face while I work out to get myself ready for it!

And my favorite pictures of my family are definitely not up to date but I chose them because they make me smile.  It motivates me to work hard and stay healthy for them.

Here is the saying in the frame:

{I found it on Pinterest but unfortunately it's not a direct link}

It's a great quote for all areas of my life right now.  Blogging, volunteering, mothering, etc.....

Since I'm such a visual person all of these things help me to stay on track.  What about you?  Do you have things around your house to hold you accountable and motivate you?  

I would love to hear about them.