The First Trimester: Fit Pregnancy

At the beginning of the summer I found out we were pregnant with our 3rd baby! I never documented my first two pregnancies so this time around I have been making it happen! 

Thankfully I was only a little sick and that didn't last long, but the first trimester was TIRING and left me feeling drained and unmotivated most the time. 

Feeling like I can barely keep myself together had me wondering who the heck would want me as their own health and fitness coach?

BUT then I reminded of something.

I am not inspired by "perfect" individuals.

I am inspired by those that wake up everyday and keep trying to move forward regardless of their obstacles.

So that's what I have been trying to do!

I am taking it one step, one minute, one hour, and one day at a time.

I won't be throwing in the towel because I know I will be happiest if I am consistently trying to be better.
I have still been running my monthly challenge because I need that support and accountability more than ever and thank my lucky stars Beachbody came into my life to give me the tools, the knowledge, and the community I need to keep going. 

10 weeks

I also wanted to document what workouts have worked best for me since I have been pregnant! I didn't exercise AT ALL my first pregnancy, and my second was hit or miss. I wanted things to be different this time around. My doctor gave me the green light so I kept at it!

When I first found out, I was trying to finish up the last few weeks of 22 Minute Hard Corps, BUT it got to be too much once morning sickness and fatigue set in. 

It was then that I had decided to switch to PiYo. 

This program was PERFECT for the 1st trimester (it would be more difficult with a belly). 

It is low impact and focused on strength and flexibility. I always felt SO good while I was done. Exercise is one way to relieve morning sickness and it definitely helped me! I looked forward to working out most days which is a BIG thing when you're pregnant and unmotivated. 

(For more information about PiYo click HERE or reach out to me!)

Another thing I have still been using is Shakeology! I brought the ingredients into my Doctor and she approved me to use it AND replace it as my prenatal (WIN!!!)

It has helped with cravings, it gives me a much needed energy boost, AND when I was feeling morning sickness it actually helped RELIEVE that. It's been a LIFE SAVER for me and I know baby and I are getting the nutrients we need fro it. 

(For info on Shakeology click HERE.)

 Along with Shakeology, I have just been trying my best to eat clean and not give into EVERY SINGLE CRAVING I have. (There are many!)

There is definitely a noticeable difference when I am exercising and eating well vs. when I am not. I feel like that may be ONE reason this pregnancy has been easier on me this time around.

If you're pregnant and aren't sure what to do please send me a message! If your doctor has given you the green light to stay fit then I would love to help you on your journey as well :)

Stay tuned for a post about my 2nd trimester and what I've been doing at that stage soon! :)

Easy Crockpot Shredded Chicken

Do you cook your chicken in the crockpot?! Well you should because it's so yummy and super handy to throw in soups, salads, casseroles, sandwiches, or whatever else!

Easy Crockpot Shredded Chicken:

3-4 large boneless, skinless chicken breast ( frozen or thawed)
1/4 C chicken broth

Put chicken in your crockpot, drizzle chicken broth over the top, cover, and cook on low for 6-7 hours of on high for 4-5 hours. 

Shred with a fork (or in a standing mixer) and use or freeze for later!

3 Day Refresh Results

Back in March I did the 3 Day Refresh for the first time so I thought I'd better document my journey with it and share my results!

I had just gotten back from the Beachbody Success Club Cruise and felt like it was a really good time for me to RESET my system to quickly get back on track! I was feeling sluggish and my sweet tooth was a little out of control.

When you do the 3 Day Refresh it comes in this kit with a guide along with Vanilla Refresh supplement shake, the Fiber Sweep shake, and Shakeology (if you don't have any and get the kit with it).

It gives you a step by step guide on what to eat and when along with recipes!

For 3 days you are basically eating a vegetarian diet with no meat and mixing in the shakes with your meals.

It is lower in calories so it is recommended to not exercise during the 3 days. If anything, light yoga or walking.




Since I cook for my whole family of 4 I had to plan out two dinner meals each day. Thankfully it's not always like that and we all eat the same thing!

Here is what my first day of meals looked like! Each day after looked pretty similar as well.

Meal 1: Shakeology + Fruit

Meal 2 - Fiber Sweep Shake ( I shook it up with cold water and drank it quickly. It thickens if you don't.)

Meal 3 - Veggies + Fruit + Olive Oil + Vanilla Fresh Shake (I blended mine with water/ice/cinnamon and loved it! It is similar in flavor to the Vanilla Shakeology to me)

Meal 4 - Veggies + Olive Oil + Vanilla Fresh Shake

AND that's it! It also has you drink at least 80 oz or water during the day.

Really simple to follow.

Here is my HONEST experience with it.

I had been used to eating lots of sweets and a lot of food in general on the cruise so my body had a hard time with the lower calories! I did get a detoxing headache by day 2 (I was a little cranky LOL). I would always wake up in the morning feeling really good though! The end of the day was just the hardest when my cravings were kicking in.

I liked what I was eating and didn't mind the shakes so that wasn't a problem for me.

This isn't something I would do EVERYDAY because it was hard for sure! It's great for anyone wanting to kick start their weightloss, lose a few pounds quickly before an event, or to get back on track after a holiday/vacation.

Overall, I'm glad I tried it to get the experience for myself!

I woke up on day 4 when I was finished and had dropped 5 lbs in those 3 days!! I felt more energized and my sweet tooth had definitely diminished.

 I was back to exactly where I was BEFORE we went on our 6 day cruise (AKA a buffet on water!).

If you're interested contact me for more info HERE!

Cajun Stuffed Peppers

With summer around the corner that means green peppers are coming into season FRESH from the garden soon!

I could never find a stuffed pepper recipe I LOVED so I just made up this simple one on my own.

Stuffed Peppers

3 cups of cooked rice (brown or long grain)
4-6 green peppers
1/2 lb turkey sausage (lean ground beef or turkey would work too)
8 oz can tomato sauce
1 tsp Cajun seasoning, or to taste (I love Tony Chachere's brand)
Grated cheese

Have rice cooked and ready to go.

Cut tops off of green peppers and clean out the insides. For softer peppers boil in a pot of water for 5-10 minutes (they don't cook long in the oven later). Set aside.

Cook sausage until done. (I like to cut up the pepper tops, minus the stem, and cook that along with the peppers.) Add cooked pepper and sausage mixture to rice in a bowl. Add in Cajun seasoning and tomato sauce and stir.

Place peppers in a baking dish. Stuff them to the top with rice and sausage mixture. Top with cheese.

Bake at 350 for about 10 minutes or until cheese is nice and melted.

Makes 6 stuffed peppers. (I made 4 and just had extra rice to eat.)

Beachbody Coaching Misconceptions

Loud and proud... I am a Beachbody Coach!!

I LOVE my job... Yes I do, but there are a lot of misconceptions about what it takes to be a coach! 

I'm here to give it to you the facts 😉 

1. You can only work out at home with Beachbody programs to be a coach...... WRONG! 

We represent a health and fitness lifestyle. MANY coaches prefer the gym and some teach classes! Exercise is exercise 😉

2. I have to drink Shakeology.... WRONG! 

Coaches drink Shakeology because we freaking love the stuff and we value what it does for us!

3. You have to be in awesome shape and know lots of things about health and fitness...... WRONG.

I still had weight to lose when I started and I knew NOTHING about health and fitness! 

4. You have to eat 100% clean ALL THE TIME... WRONG! 

We are imperfect just like everyone else and struggle to find that healthy balance! 

SOO now that I have cleared that up.... Why haven't you joined my team yet?!

I am always on the lookout for people who want to make a difference not only in their own lives, but others!

If you'd like to be a member of The Fitspiraiton or to get more info click HERE.

Baked Spaghetti Squash + Pizza Crust

Are you a spaghetti squash fan? I tried it for the first time a year or two ago and I think it's so fascinating! Delicious when cooked the right way too!

It's great to use as a noodle replacement, a simple side dish, or in as a PIZZA crust.  I was pleasantly surprised at how well the pizza crust turned out!

FIRST this is how you actually COOK a spaghetti squash so you can use it in a recipe. 

Baked Spaghetti Squash: 

1.  Preheat oven to 350

2.  Cut fresh spaghetti squash in half and scoop out all the seeds. 

3. Bush with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.

4. Foil line a cookie sheet with foil and place upside down (opposite of photo). 

5. Bake for about 40 minutes or until the "noodles" are tender an easily shred. 

Now here is how you can make an awesome pizza crust out of the cooked squash!

Spaghetti Squash Pizza Crust: 

• 1 medium/large spaghetti squash or about 3 - 3 1/2 cups (This will make a medium sized pizza for 2-3 people)
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 tablespoon shredded parmesan cheese
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 400. 

Wrap measured out squash in a cheese cloth, clean kitchen towel, or a layer of paper towels. SQUEEZE SQUEEZE SQUEEZE the excess water out. The more water you get out, the crispier the crust will be. 

Once water is out, place in a mixing bowl with the remainder of the ingredients. Season with salt and pepper. 

Line your baking sheet with parchment paper and spread out the mixture as thin as you can get it. (About a 10 in circle)

Bake for 20 minutes and then carefully FLIP it over and bake another 10 minutes. 

Remove from oven, add desired toppings, and bake in the oven until the toppings are done. 

(Original recipe can be found at http://sharedappetite.com/recipes/gluten-free-spaghetti-squash-pizza-crust/)

Rosie's Beachbody Transformation

In honor of Transformation Tuesday, I want to share with you an AMAZING one from a coach on my team!

Rosie has been working SO hard and I couldn't be more proud of her. She used Beachbody fitness programs (mainly the 21 Day Fix), Shakeology, and clean eating to get her results!

Read her story below!

(Words from Rosie)

" When I say Beachbody has changed my life I'm not just blowing smoke. 

My mentality before Beachbody on losing weight?? Just starve yourself. Shame yourself into feeling so bad and so crappy about your body and your appearance that your emotions take over and shut down your common sense and you STARVE yourself to see results! 

New mentality?? Work your ass off, give your body ALL the vital nutrients it deserves and needs, wake up every morning with a game plan and a schedule and fuel that with a healthy lifestyle and THATS how you see REAL RESULTS! 

I joined Beachbody literally lost, with no clue on how to lose weight and get TRULY healthy. I felt daily anxiety about my appearance and my life. I felt like it was just passing me by and I had stopped TRULY living. I felt secluded and cut off from the rest of the world and honestly I felt depressed. I was always putting everyone's needs before mine and leaving myself to drown in anxiety with an emotional cup that was NEVER being refilled. 

Fast forward to today. I have NEVER felt more fulfilled. I have honestly found my niche. I have found my community. I have found my happiness... I have found MYSELF I have found my CONFIDENCE. 

I have a giant group of some of the most amazing people I have ever met behind me and I have made so many amazing friendships through out this process. I no longer feel secluded or alone but instead I feel COMPLETED and EMPOWERED. 

.... THIS is how I got THESE results and THIS is the program that I have lost 18 POUNDS on."

AMAZING story right?! This could be YOU next!

If you're ready to start on your own journey click HERE and let me help you get the support and the tools you need to find your own success!

Whole Wheat Apple Cinnamon Waffles

These delicious whole wheat apple cinnamon waffles are perfect for a weekend breakfast! They whip up quick, they are filling, and they freeze great!

 

Apple Cinnamon Whole Wheat Waffles

1 1/2 C whole wheat flour 
1/4 C white whole wheat flour (or any other kind)
2 tsp baking powder
2 T honey (or pure maple syrup)
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 C nonfat milk (or almond milk)
1/3 apple sauce (or some kind of healthy oil)
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon

Combine dry ingredients and wet ingredients. Combine. Cook until golden brown in waffle iron. Top with apples and pure maple syrup!

Cinnamon Apples (optional)

1-2 apple pealed and chopped
Cinnamon
Coconut oil

Heat about 1-2 T coconut oil in a frying pan, add apples, sprinkle with desired amount of cinnamon, and cook until soft (stirring frequently). These are GREAT on oatmeal too! 

Meal Prep for Busy Moms

Meal prepping is my saving grace to ease my stress as a busy mom during the week!

I always hated when 4 PM rolled around and I had NO clue what to eat and then when I'd figure out something I would be missing an ingredient. It was a bad cycle of unneeded stress on my part!

Meal prepping for me looks a bit different than what you would normally see!

You might be thinking of something like this below:

It looks beautiful and convenient to have on hand, but here are the reasons I have trouble with that:

1. I don't like reheated meat. (ewww)

2. This is honestly MORE work than I am willing to do.

3. My goals are not to compete in a bikini competition.

SOOO for those three reasons I bring you my SUPER easy way to ease stress and make sure you stay on track with healthy choices all week for you AND your family!

Step 1

On Monday morning or Sunday night I will browse through my cookbooks, Pinterest, recipe folder, or anything else I have to figure out what DINNER meals we will be eating for the next week.

Step 2

I will then WRITE out what we are having on my fridge magnet white board (Target dollar section find!) AND I will make a grocery list of everything I DON'T have for those ingredients as well as any staples we need for breakfast, lunch, and snacks.

Step 3

Go shopping on Monday to pick up any needed items! For a family of 4 I try to keep it to $100 per week. Sometimes it's less and sometimes it's more depending on what I need to get.  "You may also notice some "unclean" items on the table, but we live by the 80/20 rule around here! Balancing is what works for us. 

AND that is honestly ALL I do!

Keeping it simple keeps us on track and helps me stay SANE when dinner come everyday.  The trick is to find what works for YOU. 

For a little more info on this topic I also have this YouTube video I made for my Free 7 Day Clean Eating for Families group! 

If you would like me to be your Free Beachbody coach or you would like information about my support groups click  HERE. 

Tomato Soup & Breadsticks

There is nothing better than a bowl of warm soup on a cold and rainy day. 

This delicious tomato soup and breadsticks are ones won't feel guilty about having either!

 

Tomato Soup

1/2 c chopped onion
1 tsp olive oil
2 minced garlic cloves
14.5 oz diced tomatoes
8 oz tomato sauce 
14.5 oz low sodium chicken broth
1 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp salt

Heat oil in a sauce pan and sauté onions until translucent. Add garlic and sauté for one more minute. Add the rest of the ingredients, bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 30 minutes.

Remove from heat and purée with an immersion blender in the pot or pour into your blender until desired consistency is reached. Serve with parmesan cheese sprinkled on top!


Breadsticks 

***This makes TWO batches so cut in half for only one ****

Dough:
2 1/2 cups whole wheat or white whole wheat flour

1 TBS instant yeast

1 cup warm water (120 deg)

1 TBS olive oil

1 tsp. honey

1 tsp. salt

Mix together warm water and yeast in a bowl and let sit for a few minutes. Combine the rest of the ingredients and knead for 5 minutes. ( I do this in my KitchenAid )

Let rise for 30 minutes in a warm/draft free spot. 

Topping:

1/4 C italian dressing

1/4 tsp. salt

dash of pepper

1/4 tsp. oregano

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

1/4 tsp. thyme

1 TBS dried chopped onion(optional)

2 T grated parmesan cheese

1/2 C Mozzarelle (or grated mixture)

Stretch out the dough onto a small pizza pan or cookie sheet and spread Italian dressing on top. Mix dry spices in a bowl and sprinkle on top. 

Bake in the oven at 450 for 15 minutes or until golden brown. (Keep an eye on it after 10 minutes)

Cut into strips and enjoy!

Is Shakeology Worth It?

In October 2012 when I joined my first challenge group, Adam did it with me. We got one 30 day supply of Shakeology, but I refused to drink it because "I didn't need to lose weight" and "I didn't want to bulk up". To me it was just an expensive weight loss protein shake. 

Adam, my husband, ended up drinking a third of the bag and the rest went to waste and expired sitting inside the cupboard.

Flash forward 18 months and I had been using Turbo Fire to help me lose my baby weight (20 lbs off!), and I had decided I wanted to be a coach! The programs gave me a love for fitness I never had before, I loved the positive community of coaches, and I wanted a way to make money from home.  (My full transformation story HERE )

Shakeology isn't a requirement to be a coach, BUT I knew it was apart of the lifestyle and it was important if I wanted to be successful with my business and helping others on their journey. 

SOO I decided to give coaching and Shakeology a try for a few months to see if it was something I wanted to stick with! 

60 days later: 

- I had dropped the last 10 lbs of my baby weight that I had been stuck with.

 - my diet drastically improved because the nutrients from Shakeology curbed my junk food cravings (unexpected!) 

- I started to see actual muscle tone which hadn't happened since my high school days. 

- my energy levels went UP and in return gave me MORE time in the day to get stuff done (really unexpected!) 

- I stopped going through the drive through at fast food places when I was running errands because I could easily bring it with me! 

- AND my digestive health was awesome #truth

I am not gonna sit here and tell you it's not an investment, because it IS. 

BUT I decided the VALUE the dense nutrition gives me IS WORTH $4 a day. 

My HEALTH is worth $4 a day. 

I AM WORTH IT. 

It was important to me so I found a way to make the cost work.

So take it from a BIG CRITIC who has now been drinking it consistently for 18 months...Shakeology is WORTH every penny!

If you would like more detailed information about Shakeology click HERE.

Pineapple Chicken Skillet

I LOVE pineapple! 

I originally found this Pineapple Chicken Skillet as a kabob recipe (really good that way too!), but I didn't want to go out in the cold to cook it so I adapted it into a skillet recipe!

It's super easy and a family pleaser :)

Pineapple Chicken Skillet

1 lb chicken cut into bite sized pieces
1/4 C low-sodium soy sauce 
2 tsp sesame oil 
1/4 tsp ground dried ginger
1 8 oz can pineapple chunks, drained
1 red bell pepper 
1/2 large onion
1/2 T coconut oil

Cut up chicken and place in a ziploc bag with the soy sauce, sesame oil, and ginger added. Shake to come. Marinate for at least 30 minutes in the fridge. 
Cut up pepper and onion into bite sized pieces. 
Heat skillet to medium high heat and heat oil. Add chicken and cook halfway. Add peppers and onions and cook until chicken and veggies are done. Add in pineapple the last few minutes of cooking to heat through. 
Serve with rice and enjoy!

21 Day Fix: 

You can scoop out the right amount of portions for a green, red, and purple container. If you have it with rice that would be a yellow as well.