(diva)logues

"Gotta blame it on my juice, baby... "

 

So I bought a juicer  last month and not gonna lie... I'm kind of obsessed with it.  I've posted a couple videos on TikTok and even did a live video on Instagram, where I attempted my first homemade juice ever with a "liver cleanse" recipe.  I wouldn't say that it was the best tasting juice I've made so far, but it was healthy and did serve a purpose.  And yes... I drank the whole thing if you happened to be watching & wondering once the video ended.  LOL

Here's one of my favs though... recipe AND well, the song too... because who doesn't love ELO? 

I mean... if you're a youngster, maybe not... but I grew up with them on repeat.  Especially Mr Blue Sky...

I didn't spend a ton of money on it, because I wasn't sure how I was going to like it or if I'd actually use it regularly... but I've used it quite a bit so far & I love it!  Minus all the clean-up... which takes just as long as the preparation!

Hamilton Beach Juicer Machine, Big Mouth 3” Feed Chute, Centrifugal, Easy to Clean, BPA Free, 800W, (67601A), Black

 

 

I've also been using my blender lately too.  If you're a pumpkin lover... here's a yummy recipe!

1 C. milk (I used coconut/almond milk)

1/4 C. pumpkin

1 scoop vanilla protein powder

1/2 banana

handful of ice

1/2 t. cinnamon

garnish with sprinkle of nutmeg

 

This isn't necessarily a meal-replacement shake, just more of an in between meals kind of snack. 

Protein-rich snacks can help to avoid your blood sugar levels from taking a nose-dive, which can also cause you to overeat at your next meal. 

We call that being HANGRY... & ain't nobody got time for that.

 

If you're looking for a great meal-replacement shake though,  Advocare makes a couple I love... Advogreens Meal Replacement Shake... chocolate chip cookie dough & salted caramel flavors, both of which are amazing.  I also love that they're plant-based protein shakes, with 26 vitamins & minerals. 

I mean, let's face it, most of us aren't getting all the vitamins we need daily.  Or greens, for that matter.  Although, I'm pretty sure I'm giving it a good college try with the amount of spinach I ingest every day.  Some might joke that it's excessive.  LOL 

 

Maybe it's the change in the seasons or the state of the world in 2020 that's making me really want to take charge of my own health & surroundings, but I'm on kick lately!

 

In other related news... Bryn was just home for the night & we even made juice for breakfast this morning. 

 

How about you?  Have you used a juicer? 

Let me know in the comments if you have any great recipes!

XOXO

"You need to calm down... you're being too loud... "

Advocare has some great deals right now if you're interested!  If you're a brand new customer, you can get 10% off your total purchase by using this link: 10% OFF YOUR FIRST ORDER!

 

A few popular things you might be interested in are Spark & Meal Replacement Shakes.  They both come in individual packets and are fast & easy to use simply with a bottle of water.

SPARK is a vitamin & amino acid supplement that contains nutrients, CAFFEINE & no added sugar.  It's a great way to kick your soda addiction and still get your caffeine.  LOTS of flavors to choose from, although it seems as if most people love Fruit Punch.

New Vanilla Latte Spark... which is apparently best served HOT!

 

While I do think eating real & nutritious food is more beneficial on a REGULAR basis... I LOVE the convenience of meal replacement shakes when you're short on time or on the go!  Lots of vitamins & minerals, low in calories, high in protein & fiber.  Very filling & they taste GREAT.

I especially love to make protein balls with them for a snack that's sweet but also nutritious... 

I've also made Pumpkin Apple Crumble with the limited time Pumpkin Spice flavor that's so good...

 

Pumpkin Apple Crumble

2 whole apples, cored & chopped

1/4 cup old fashioned oats, raw

1 Pumpkin Spice Meal Replacement Shake package

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/8 cup slivered almonds or chopped nuts [optional]

1/2 teaspoon vanilla [optional]

1-2 teaspoon honey [optional]

 

Place chopped apples in microwave for 3 minutes, stirring halfway through until apples cooked to desired texture.  In separate bowl, mix oats, shake, cinnamon & nuts (if using).  Add apples to dry mixture, along with vanilla & honey (if using).  Makes 6 servings. 

 

Buy one box, get one FREE Meal Replacement Shakes (select flavors)

 

 

You may or may not have seen Advocare in the news recently.  Apparently there was a lawsuit against Advocare & several Advocare distributors alleging that they were operating as a pyramid scheme.   

Quite frankly, I think most companies you see people sharing about on social media are structured the same way... but whatever.  The FTC ruling doesn't really affect me.  I have just a handful of regular customers and really didn't work this business as much as I should have in order to be affected financially.   

I didn't have a "downline" of distributors that involved my profiting from what they sold... and well my "upline" is no longer profiting from what little I sell.  LOL 

 

I do know a LOT of people who have jumped ship and are now all of a sudden on board & "able to lock arms & stand behind" another company now... which quite frankly amuses me.  You were only able to stand behind Advocare when you were making a lot of money?  Ummmkay.... gotcha.   

 

 

Anyhooo... I still personally use Advocare's products and have respectfully declined standing behind another company so we can all profit from each other. 

 

That's a whole lot of information that the majority of you reading this had no idea about... but since I've seen the link shared on Facebook, I thought I'd clarify what the FTC ruling meant... and also clarify that the quality of Advocare's products is not in question.  It's simply in how they are structured and how they have changed they way distributors are now paid... or not paid. 

 

And let's just say I'll be keeping my day job.  LOL 

Speaking of which... Happy Tuesday!  Double classes tonight and I'm excited to be teaching a pop-up STEP + TONE class on Sunday afternoon! 

XOXO

"I just want my money... chips, guac and queso... "

Happy 2019!!!  Hope your year is off to a healthy start! 

Mine began with a quick 3 night all-inclusive trip with Bryn to Cancun on New Year's Eve.  We left our house at 4am that morning & were at the resort before 2:00 that afternoon.  It was the most fun NYE I can remember having in my life. Honestly... between raising a child & frankly not wanting to do anything too crazy on NYE that would result in having to be out driving with the other crazies, we just never really did anything other than maybe go out to dinner.  Even in my 20's... I just don't recall doing anything that made me excited to ring in a new year?  So many laughs though & it was a memorable time for both of us!

It was a quick trip, but it was blast and also very relaxing.  

A much needed change of scenery for both of us...

 

I made a little video of some of it... using a very old Zumba song of course... because I mean, duh, what other kind of music would work for a Mexico trip?  LOL

 

It's always good to be home though, even if we might be getting a lot of snow this weekend. 

Thankfully I don't do bread OR milk.  Strictly chips & guac for this girl.  LOL

 

I will say though, I'm glad to be back to a normal work week too.  With Christmas Day & New Year's Day falling on a Tuesday, I've REALLY missed that night's classes. 

Have I mentioned how much I love the month of January for classes too?  The challenge is to figure out how to keep people coming back all year long, without resorting to kidnapping those who may have fallen off the wagon. 

 

Speaking of classes though... LOTS of fun stuff ahead at Bloom Fitness Studio this year, including a new blog The Daily Bloom. Someone you know might be at the wheel.  (ahem)  Go check it out here! The website itself will be changing a bit soon too, as all the instructors had quite a photo session recently with head-shots & group pics & videos & lots of mayhem.  This is just a snip from a video, but you get the idea of the size of our cool crew...

 

We're really excited about the new year & personally I have this feeling of excitement that I had when the studio first opened almost 3 years ago!  Lots of momentum going into 2019 & hopefully others are feeling that along with us! 

Our focus for January is NUTRITION. 

Starting with SMALL changes in your diet & with your lifestyle is the key for big results. 

One small way you can make a change is by removing soda or sugared drinks from your daily routine and adding MORE WATER! 

If it's the caffeine &/or the sweetness you crave, I have an alternative for you.  Spark has caffeine, but also added vitamins, minerals & nutrients.  And although it tastes sweet, there's NO SUGAR!! 

 

It's available in about 10 different flavors & comes in individual stick packs that you pour right into an 8-ounce bottle of water.  OR it's also available in a canister size if you want more for your money. 

Here's more information on SPARK

It's helped many people kick the soda habit.  It's even helped people replace their coffee addiction. 

There's no nutrients in soda or coffee either, just sayin! 

I usually have samples on me if you're local & ever want to try it for FREE!

 

Okie dokie... that's all for now.  Probably ought to run to the grocery store just in case we really DO get this weather.  Secretly crossing fingers that we get snowed in though.

Wearing my cute new jacket, of course...

XOXO

 

Spring forward into hydration...

 

Now that we're into March, it's right about the time that New Year's Resolutions may begin to fade.  If fitness or healthy eating is a goal... baby steps & making small changes can add up over time & can show big results!

One small change you can make is to drink more water.   "They" say... at least eight 8-oz glasses per day is optimal.  Water does so many great things for our body that other liquids simply cannot do. 

 

10 Benefits of Drinking Water:

1. Increases Energy & Relieves Fatigue

Since your brain is mostly water, drinking it helps you think, focus and concentrate better and be more alert. As an added bonus, your energy levels are also boosted!

2. Promotes Weight Loss

Removes by-products of fat, reduces eating intake (by filling up your tummy if consumed prior to meals), reduces hunger (hello natural appetite suppressant!), raises your metabolism and has zero calories!

3. Flushes Out Toxins

Gets rid of waste through sweat and urination which reduces the risk of kidney stones and UTI’s (urinary tract infections).

4. Improves Skin Complexion

Moisturizes your skin, keeps it fresh, soft, glowing and smooth. Gets rid of wrinkles. It’s the best anti-aging treatment around!

5. Maintains Regularity

Aids in digestion as water is essential to digest your food and prevents constipation.

6. Boosts Immune System

A water guzzler is less likely to get sick. And who wouldn’t rather feel healthy the majority of the time? Drinking plenty of water helps fight against flu,

7. Natural Headache Remedy

Helps relieve and prevent headaches (migraines & back pains too!) which are commonly caused by dehydration.

8. Prevents Cramps & Sprains

Proper hydration helps keep joints lubricated and muscles more elastic so joint pain is less likely.

9. Puts You In A Good Mood

When the body is functioning at its best, you will feel great and be happy!

10. Save Money!

Water is FREE! Even if you choose bottled/filtered water, it’s STILL cheaper than that high sugar soda or fat-filled latte!

 

And speaking of that high sugar soda & fat-filled latte... cutting it OUT of your diet is another small change that will make a huge difference in your body! It's simply added empty calories that provides no nutritional value whatsoever. 

 

If it's the caffeine you crave... a great alternative that provides caffeine AND vitamins/nutrients with NO sugar, is SPARK!  It comes in individual stick packs or a canister.  The newest flavor is Raspberry Lemonade, but there are 10 other great flavors available as well! 

Spark contains an effective amount of caffeine to give you a quick boost, B vitamins to enhance your body's natural ability to produce and sustain its own energy, and neuroactive ingredients that enhance mental focus and alertness.  Plus it tastes good, so it's a great substitute if you're looking to give up your soda habit! 

 

Reduce your sugar intake, increase your water intake & stay hydrated to help keep your body functioning at it's best! 

 

Happy Friday & have an amazing weekend!  XOXO

 

"Rock on gold dust woman, take your silver spoon, dig your grave... "

 

Happy February... happy apparently 6 more weeks of winter... happy Justin Timberlake rocked the halftime show... and happy I-think-I've-already-posted-on-here-more-in-the-last-month-than-I did-all-last-year.   Go me, with that resolution! 

The other day I posted photos of my craft room.  You can see that here if you missed it.  And thank you so very much for your kind comments & positive feedback! ♥

Continuing on with more of the tour... these are photos from the first floor.  I'll do another post soon with the rest of the 2nd floor once I get everything edited.  My favorite app for editing photos lately is A Color Story.  It's great for lightening up photos, especially for rooms that do not get a lot of good natural light.  And it's easy to edit right from my phone since goodness knows almost all my photos are taken with my phone these days, while my Canon just sits there collecting dust.  Pitiful.  But when phone cameras are convenient AND take good quality photos... I mean... why bother?? 

So this old TV armoire was the inpsiration & starting point for the whole room.  I really wanted it to be a funky, bright statement piece.  And at the time, I found myself "pinning" a lot of painted furniture on Pinterest, so I decided to tackle it based on some suggestions of paint that promised minimal prep work because sometimes I'm lazy...

Velvet Finishes paint is made specifically for furniture & requires no sanding or primer... just a clean surface of course.  The color I chose is HANDSOME.  Literally.  And figuratively in my opinion.  LOL

I really love how it turned out.

And while I was at it, I painted old tables that used to be silver or black with a can of gold spray paint.  All of this took place in the garage & let's just say that I shouldn't have left the can of spray paint laying on the garage floor.  Because while the newly painted beautiful blue armoire was still sitting there, I decided it would be a great idea to back up my car over the can of gold spray paint, causing it to explode & violently spray gold paint everywhere, including onto the blue armoire AND my tire. 

I mean... I'm totally into bling & sparkle as you probably know...  but a gold tire was a little much.   

So... I suggest you don't do that & you'll likely not need 3 coats of paint on your furniture.  Ahem...

Oh & I spray painted the knobs gold for the armoire too.  What can I say except it's easy to get on a roll once you get a can of paint in your hands...

 

As I've said before, Bryn has a great eye for design & is very creative & artistic.  She made a couple of the pieces of art hanging in this room based off inspiration found on Pinterest.  White canvas, black paint... again... it's very cheap to make, but would cost a lot more money to buy it...

Design on a dime was my motto, so repurposing what I had &/or altering things I purchased at Ikea was how it all went down.  It was really a mix of mostly old stuff with some new stuff thrown in.  I also decided to just leave the paint on the walls white for now so I could play with more pops of color & pattern in all the rooms. 

Again... very different from my other house which had more color on the walls there.  

This Ikea light makes me really happy.  So cheap, but such a cool piece that also catches your eye.  And I love the shadow it casts on the ceiling at night...

I'm an 80's girl & I will always love my albums.  Gotta love that record player I received as a gift a few years ago so I can still play the albums too...

There are quite a few references to Bloom in the accessories in several rooms of my home.  Kinda love that place...  just sayin'. 

That print of the girl dancing was a gift & has my name in her body.  Are you kidding me right now???  So cool...

 

More Ikea purchases with the counter stools & chairs.  Cheap white chairs that had an aluminum base to them that I again used gold spray paint to change the look.  Honestly I think they look less "cheap" with the gold, but they also match the room better that way too. 

The kitchen table was not cheap, so I figured I could get away with mixing that almost farmhouse look of the table with modern chairs. I found it a few years ago at West Elm.  Love love that store.  Wish they were local.  

As for the corks... I'd like to say I didn't partake in drinking all those bottles of wine, but I'd be lying.  So try to focus on the cute little Bloom ornament instead...

 

Recently I organized the pantry after getting inspiration from The Home Edit on Instagram.  Again with my design on a dime motto... most of what I used as storage was found at the dollar store.  And I had almost paid like 5X that amount at Target, but decided to look there first instead...

These chalk board markers will write directly onto glass or plastic surfaces & then easily erase with a paper towel too...

I almost painted all the cabinet door pullls gold too, but my laziness kicked in & said... You know... you can mix metals & stick with some silver stuff instead of all gold, DUH. 

Plus I really don't like anything to be too matchy-matchy anyway, so laziness won out. 

But I do have a goal to get a backsplash & also get rid of the ugly sink & faucet.  I'd like to switch it out for a big white porcelain sink with something gold & yummy like this faucet.  Be still my heart...

This fish is totally my buddy & I'm not ashamed to admit it. 

We get each other.  In other words, he doesn't bark & wake me up in the middle of the night so he's totally low maintenance. 

He gets that I'm not low maintenance & sometimes go out of town for a week leaving him without food.  And that I'm not great about cleaning the poor thing's bowl regularly. 

I mean... he's like Gloria Gaynor & will survive my occasional bad parenting.  Honestly though, I probably care way too much about that fish, but it's really the only living thing in my house other than maybe an aloe plant, when Bryn's not with me. 

You're my boy, Blue...

Moving on... this is just the main floor half-bath right off the entryway.  And surprise, surprise... there's more gold spray paint! 

Are you getting sick of it yet? 

At least it's not gold polka dots. 

We'll get to more of that on the next post... much to Bryn's dismay...

This "shelf" was a bright turquoise blue color when I purchased it, but I decided to paint it gold & use it to store extra toilet paper... a decision that Bryn suggested when we found it at Hobby Lobby. 

Love that she can see beyond the obvious in that brain of hers.

As for the cat photo, I think I probably found the inspiration from Pinterest.  Decided to make my own version of whatever I had seen... found a photo of a cat with it's tongue sticking out somewhere online, then added the text Dat Ass & printed it.  What can I say except it makes me laugh & I thought it was good bathroom humor...

 

OK then...

More to come soon with the rest of the tour. 

Happy Monday & I hope you have a great week ahead!!   

"Don't sacrifice your peace trying to point out someone's true colors. Lack of character always reveals itself in the end... "

 

Ok so I'm about a third of the way into this book.  It's a quick read.  Short chapters, but fruitful in content.  I'm already highlighting things like crazy because so much of it is making me think ok... ok... I was supposed to read this, especially certain chapters. 

Divine guidance.

I mean, the timing... spot on.

 

As you may have read in a previous post, I'm taking part as one of the coaches again for the Lean Life Project.  This is the book we're reading during this 28-day journey.  If you missed the live call introducing myself & all the coaches, you can listen to the recorded playback here.

 

Before I put the book down for the night last night, I flipped to the end of the book & landed on a random page & wanted to share this quote because it truly resonates with everything I believe & am currently experiencing...

 

"Start to see your life as a story, and remember that every great story has plot twists, trials and hardships. 

We love stories where the unlikely hero overcomes adversity and chooses to act in spite of facing seemingly impossible odds. 

What is the worst thing that can happen if you approach it with a growth mindset? 

You gain invaluable experience; you learn and grow."

 

Which just goes back to the motto of where my heart was drawn last year... Bloom Fitness Studio. 

 

BLOOM where ever life plants you. 

Take the lesson from that seed and grow from it.

 

That's my advice to myself.

You, GROW, girl.

 

Take the advice if YOU need it right now too.

 

And I'm off to practice soon for the American Heart Association Zumbathon.  If you're local, you can join us for this annual event tomorrow 12:00-1:30 at the O'Fallon Family YMCA.  It's a $20 donation for a great cause!  It's always a blast & I can promise that we'll give you your money's worth in that 90 minutes!  Weart your RED & come join us!!

 

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Lean in '17...

 

Interested in a leaner life... in body and/or mind? Call to listen in live tonight at 8:00pm!  I'm one of the coaches who will be part of this journey with you.

712-770-4010... code 598514

Recorded playback call is here.

 

What have you got to lose... besides maybe some extra weight & maybe some extra negativity in your life? 

 

 

Pretty sure we could all lose a little of that...

 

Save

Save

"Do the hustle... "

 

 

There are a few things going on lately in the world of AdvoCare that may be of interest to you...

 

1. The Slim Down challenge.  Easy peasy... one simple product Slim taken twice daily.  It provides an appetite suppressant AND energy/metabolic enhancers... so yes, you'll get your caffeine fix!  2 flavors to choose from... Apple Pear and the brand new Lemonade flavor.  Oh... and you might want to join me in a class or 2 as well.  That always helps play a role in "slimming down."  Ahem...
2. Preferred Customer Discount.  Immediately save 20% on every online order.  The difference between this & the Distributor Discount is that the Preferred Customer Discount is only $19.95, but no selling/earning profits.  No minimum purchase required.  Great option for those of you who frequently order products!  You can, however, convert to a Distributor Discount at any time!  
3. The 24-Day Challenge.  The 24-Day Challenge isn't new, but there are currently still some freebies included with your order right now!  Limited time while supplies last. 
4. The Lean Life Project.  We're baaaack! In November I had the honor of being part of a team of coaches for a 28-day mind + body project.  In addition to 3 products for a leaner body... we also read the book Chop Wood, Carry Water for a leaner mind.  I can honestly say that there are still many things I read in that book that have stuck with me & I find myself purposefully changing the way I word things or think about things.  The mind really is very powerful.  It believes everything you think & say... good or bad.  Once again though, I'll be along for the ride as one of the coaches and beginning on February 6 (the day after the Super Bowl... a good time to reset goals) we'll be absorbing all the goodness of the next book by the same author... The Hustle. Plenty of time to get your products ordered.  In fact, one of my favorite new products is part of this project... AdvoGreens! The book is, of course, optional but I think you'll get more from the project if you're filling your mind with positivity & encouragement.  If you're interested in participating in the project &/or following along with the coaches daily videos, let me know & I'll add you to our private Facebook page.  I can honestly say I'm probably better at making stupid Dubsmash videos, but I'll be posting there weekly once again! 

 

 

It's almost February.  Now is the time when people tend to slowly sneak back into old comfort zones & habits.  It's been 1 month since New Year's Resolution time.  Are you still kicking ass & taking names OR could you use a little encouragement & more self-discipline?  I'm happy to help if you'd like it!

Ok then.... carry on with yo bad selves...

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

The Lean Life Project...

 

 

I'm excited to be one of the coaches involved in this upcoming Lean Life Project!  If you've been thinking about getting started on a healthier path in your life, this is a great starting point to develop that daily discipline. 

It doesn't take a New Year's resolution to do it.  It just takes your willingness to make small changes.  Small changes can lead to BIG results.

And sometimes it's simply a matter of changing your mind-set.  Or maybe you're just sick & tired of feeling sick & tired. 

 

This is a 28-day program involving some foundational products, that will help you develop the discipline to carry with you beyond that in your daily life... a stronger YOU living a more lean life!

 

Join myself &  7 very inspiring coaches for a dial-in playback conference call... where you can listen in as we introduce the upcoming project, what's involved & who WE are.  We all bring different personalities & backgrounds to inspire you on your path to good health.

(605) 562-3099 CODE 1032364

 

This Lean Life Project does NOT involve a cleanse & is not a 24-Day Challenge as you may or may not have done in the past.  It's simply an opportunity to focus on creating a leaner body & mind.  And I say that because it usually takes getting the "junk" we carry around in our mind under control, so our body can follow with healthier choices.  

 

There will be a private Facebook page for anyone interested in learning more about this project and what you'll need to prep for it. We will also be coaching along the way with daily inspiration... health tips &/or mind-set tips. 

 

I'd LOVE for you to join us if you're interested in heading into the holidays a little leaner, meaner & ready to kick booty!

Save

Save

Save

Save

Save

Lean in Sixteen...

 

 

 "It's suspended there to remind us before we pop the champagne and celebrate the New Year, to stop and reflect on the year that has gone by. To remember both our triumphs and our missteps - our promises made, and broken. The times we opened ourselves up to great adventures - or closed ourselves down, for fear of getting hurt. Because that's what New Year's is all about: getting another chance. A chance to forgive, to do better, to do more, to give more, to love more. And stop worrying about 'what if' and start embracing what would be. So when that ball drops at midnight - and it will drop - let's remember to be nice to each other, kind to each other. And not just tonight but all year long."

~ Claire from New Year's Eve the movie

 

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

New year.  New chances.  New beginnings. 

 

How about the chance to love YOURSELF a little more this year too?  Maybe put yourself at the TOP of your priority list? 

It isn't a selfish thing to do.  If you're healthy, happy & have more energy... everything else in your life tends to fall into place.  The people around you tend to be happier as a result. 

You've all heard the saying... if mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.  It is very true. 

 

 

There are a few tried & true ways you can love yourself more this year...

1.  A group exercise class...  I cannot tell you how many times I hear people tell me the same thing over & over again.  How taking a class (usually Zumba) has changed their life.  I can tell you that taking classes honestly changed mine long before I was teaching.  Getting 1 hour to myself when Bryn was a baby & growing up along the way... was so important to feeling like myself.  Not someone's wife or someone's mom.  Just me.  Even if for only 1 hour a few times a week.  And not only that... but I can't even count the number of awesome friends it has brought into my life just by finding a common interest with people.  Zumba, specifically, is a PARTY... minus the booze & bad pickup lines.  If you do nothing else different this year... trust me on this & try a class.  Try mine if you're local!  Promise you'll have fun AND burn quite a few calories.
2. Hang out with positive people... people that encourage you, inspire you, make you laugh, make you a better person.  The people we surround ourselves with... have a great influence on our own attitude... good or bad.  Keep your circle of influence encouraging to keep your own light shining bright!
3. Change your eating habits... I've blogged on this before.  Eating habits are learned... and quite frankly they are just that... habits.  Sometimes we just haven't learned from our parents or on our own just HOW to eat more healthy.   You can read more about how I typically eat on this previous post.  Junk in= junk out.  When you change what you're feeding your body, everything changes... your skin, your weight, your energy levels... all positives.  
4. Cleanse... in every form.  Cleanse your body of alcohol, sugar, refined carbs... cleanse your soul of drama & negativity.  A cleanse is a great way to get to a new starting point in every sense of the word.  I like AdvoCare's cleanse the best because I still eat real food while I'm doing it.  Homey don't play that liquid diet thang. 
5. Break-up with your scale...  Just say..."it's not you, it's me. We've had some good times, but lately you've made me cry a lot & I need to move on."  Too much emphasis is usually placed on seeing a certain number on the scale, when noticing how your clothes are fitting differently is a much better gauge of where you're at.  Being overweight doesn't necessarily mean you're not healthy... and being thin doesn't necessarily mean you are! 
6. Smile more... The energy you give to the world, comes back to you.  Whether you're in the best mood or not, smiling at others does change things.  And that's not to say there won't sometimes be things to cry about or feel angry about.... but tell yourself you get 5 minutes to be emotional & then you gotta be a gangsta.  BOOM. SMILES. SHOWTIME!
7. Change your hair... It is, in fact, just hair.  It grows.  But it can change everything about you.  How long has it been since you changed your hairstyle?  Give your hairstylist the reigns & ask them what they see on you.  Look for inspiration on Pinterest. 
8. Say NO... it's a hard word to say sometimes.  So much easier to go along with the crowd & say yes to something you really don't want to do.  Or feel resentful later that you wanted to say no, but said yes instead.  NO is a complete sentence.  You don't have to give reasons why you're saying it.
9. Say YES more often too...  Say yes to things that scare you, things that make you step outside your comfort zone.  It's only when we're willing to get uncomfortable that we change.  In life & in our workouts.  If it isn't challenging you, it isn't changing you. 
10. Write yourself a love letter... and then hang that bad boy up where you'll see it every day.  You are beautiful, you are strong, you matter. 

 

There are many more ways to love yourself more this year.  These are just a few things that came to my own mind.

 

I hope you have an amazing 2016... full of much love, especially for YOURSELF!  

 

If you'd like more information on starting the year off with a nationwide ALL IN 24-DAY CHALLENGE, message me for details.  It's a great starting point for health & wellness...  involving a cleanse, better eating, exercise AND likely shedding a few pounds & inches.  Last day to get all the FREEBIES is Monday, Jan. 4th.  Let's get LEAN in '16...

 

 

 

 

Jump IN!

 

I'm really excited about 2016 for many reasons.

A new year is always a new chapter. 

A fresh new start. 

Many use this time as a starting point for a healthier lifestyle.

Many also give up after giving it the ol' college try & are back to old ways. 

Comfortable ways I should say.

Nothing ever changes in our comfort zone though. 

It's only when we're willing to get uncomfortable that we change.

 

One of the things I'm excited about with the new year approaching, is the nationwide All In 24 Day Challenge!

The free things included are a great incentive for those who may have been quietly considering giving themselves 24 days to make some changes. 

I know there are many who've heard about this challenge & thought... hmmm maybe I'll try it...  but just haven't taken that jump yet.

New year.  New challenge.  New goals.  New body.  New attitude. 

And did I mention FREE stuff?  Just the FREE SHIPPING alone is nice!!

 

 

I LOVE that one of the items is a free meal prep container!  Meal prep & planning is so key to one's success in their weight loss or wellness goals. 

Let's be honest here... you can't expect to look like a million bucks if you're eating off the dollar menu.

Save money on the things you put ON your body... like clothing, shoes, etc.

Don't skimp on the things you put IN your body.

Junk IN = junk OUT.

 

I've had my own good results from the 24-Day Challenge by losing a few pounds & inches of bloated belly.

I've watched my friends have their own good results from the 24-Day Challenge by losing pounds & inches.

I've heard many stories over the past year about good results from the 24-Day Challenge & how it was the start to their success with a new body, mind & overall attitude. 

 

 

Of course long-term success doesn't end in 24 days.  There is a 25th day & beyond.  And it's called real LIFE. 

Of course a "challenge" isn't the total answer.  It's simply a piece of the puzzle.

And long term success is hugely based on good nutrition, exercise & nutritional supplements.

Because whether you're eating a perfectly clean diet daily (and most people are not), we just cannot get everything our bodies need from our food source. 

 

Read more about the challenge here!

 

For those of you who already use some of our more popular items like Spark & Meal Replacement Shakes... there are quite a few add-ons you can buy along with your Challenge bundle & still get FREE SHIPPING!!  So load up your cart with your favorites! 

 

NOTE:  The company will not start processing the pre-orders until DECEMBER 28th.

That means your credit card won't be charged until then!

The nationwide challenge begins on January 12th so you'll have your products in time to begin with all of us!

ARE YOU ALL IN WITH US?!

 

Make one of your goals in the new year, getting more educated about what you're putting IN your body.

 

We only get one body.  Sometimes if we're lucky, we get second chances to make better choices.  Sometimes we wish we'd made changes sooner & wish for a do-over.

But one thing is for sure.  You can make a change at any time, on any day.  And it can change your quality of life from then on!

 

 

I scream, you scream...

 

 

Are you a lover of ice cream?  I used to eat it quite a bit until I switched out that daily dessert years ago for dark chocolate. 

I've since quit that one as well... replaced by chocolate protein balls.  A girl's gotta have some chocolate, just sayin!

If you love ice cream though, I've got a healthier alternative for you with much less sugar.  AND it has 26 vitamins + minerals, 22 grams of protein & much lower calories than the real thing.  Win-win!

Effective today, there's a brand new limited-time-only White Chocolate Peppermint Meal Replacement Shake.  It's REALLY GOOD, especially frozen!

I placed one packet of shake mix into a plastic container (you can use any of the flavors & I'll probably do this again with my favorite flavor Vegan Dark Chocolate. Yum yum.) 

Then I added just enough water to make it a pudding-like consistency.  I didn't measure how much I actually used, but much less than the 9oz. of water you'd normally add to mix it as a shake.  I'd say it was maybe around 1/4 cup??  But pour in slowly & stir until you get the consistency you want. 

Then cover & freeze for 30 minutes. 

 

Voila... "ice cream!"

 

I've posted quite a few other recipe ideas on ways to use the meal replacement shakes on my blog... pancakes, protein balls, apple crumble, etc.  Find many ideas via Pinterest too!

 

Thanksgiving is next week!  Can't believe it!  Here's a few "holiday helpers" you may want to consider to get you through the next 2 months without packing on the pounds.  "They say" the average person gains approximately 7-10 pounds during the holidays. 

I personally say... that's 7-10 pounds more weight to take off in January with a New Year's Resolution, so why not try to stay ahead of the game now?  Makes sense!

 

Carb-Ease Plus supplement is a full-spectrum product that helps support weight management and body composition.* Carb-Ease Plus contains ingredients that help inhibit the breakdown of fats and particular carbohydrate molecules so that the body is less likely to absorb them.* It also helps maintain weight and healthy blood glucose levels already in the normal range by reducing the negative effects of excessive carbohydrate consumption.*

 

AdvoCare LeptiLean® is an innovative weight-management product that supports appetite management, satiety and helps boost metabolism.* Ingredients in LeptiLean® also help support a healthy cardiovascular system, help maintain a normal blood glucose level, and promote overall well being.* This convenient and flexible product, free of caffeine, can be taken before any meal – breakfast, lunch or dinner – and can be easily combined with other programs.

 

AdvoCare Slim® supports weight loss and weight management by combining appetite suppression with energy and metabolic enhancers in an easy-to-take supplement.*  AdvoCare Slim® combines green coffee extract and garcinia cambogia fruit extract to burn fat and help support weight.* AdvoCare Slim® also contains chromium; an essential trace element involved in the metabolism of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins which primarily increases the efficiency of insulin.*

 

Crave Check SR™ is an innovative sustained-release tablet that combines non-thermogenic ingredients to promote weight management.* This product also supports appetite control by helping to maintain healthy blood glucose levels already within the normal range.* Works in conjunction with MNS®, AdvoCare Core™ or as a stand-alone product.

 

These are, of course, just a few suggestions.  There are many supplements in their TRIM line... just depends on your own personal needs & goals!  Sometimes having a little assistance with a supplement is a lot easier than saying NO to all the holiday goodies! 

I'm happy to help... just message me if you'd like some advice!  

 

Say cheese...

 

 

Offer the world a smile from your heart today. It's a simple, easy act that upgrades whatever situation you're in.

You look better when you smile, because you are better. A genuine smile pushes away negativity and supercharges your attitude.

Say what you say with a smile on your face, and you exude confidence, enthusiasm and credibility. Spread that smile into the core of your being, and a world of new possibilities suddenly appears in front of you.

Smile when there's a reason, and smile when there's no reason. Smile, and let your smile create its own reasons.

Dare yourself to visualize this day in the most positive, empowering light. Smile with your face, your words, your actions and your attitude.

Give life permission to shower you and all those around you today with goodness and value. Smile, and turn up the brightness in this world.

By Ralph Marston

 

And here's another reason to smile!  You'll receive a FREE White Chocolate Peppermint Meal Replacement Shake sample with EVERY online order right now!  I just received mine this week!  Yum!!  So if there's something you've been thinking about, now is a great time to place any order & you'll receive one too!  Gotta love freebies!  

 

Okie dokie then.... off to teach Zumba!  And I'll be smiling for sure!  TGIF! 

 

Hitting the holidays with a jump start...

 

 

 

 

Clocks have been turned back, the weather is slowly changing & the holiday season is quickly approaching. 

It's that time of year when shopping for gifts is underway, holiday parties are happening, the days get shorter & the nights get longer.  The time on the clock doesn't feel the same as the time it appears to be outside our windows.   

What time is it for you? 

Are you on your list of "things to do?" 

 

I don't know how well you know me, but when it comes to working out... it's first on my list of things to do.  Even long before I started teaching it was first... which is probably why this is a good job for me.

At one point years ago Bob said to me, "Are we going to plan all our airline flights around your Zumba class?"

"Ummm well yes... if we can.  Why arrive early if we can't check-in yet anyway?"  LOL

And besides... if mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.

 

Maybe I'm in the minority. 

Maybe the majority waits until they feel like crap & use the new year as a time, along with everyone else, to make some changes.  And then..... slowwwwwwwly drift back into old habits.

 

Are you waiting until January 1 with most of the population to make changes to your health? 

Or have you stuck with your resolutions from this past January?  I know some diehards that have!  YAY!

But what is magic about the new year that isn't magic about today?  

 

 

Change can happen at any given moment.  All is takes is the decision to do it.

Like Nike says... JUST DO IT.

 

I was getting ready to JUST DO IT... another cleanse, that is.  Thought right before the holidays would be a good time to get a fresh start again and thought I'd share some info.

A cleanse every 90 days is optimal for ridding your liver & kidneys of toxins.  And... like the change of seasons, our bodies & eating habits typically change throughout the year too.  I think it's safe to say we all probably indulge in more "comfort foods" and carbs in the winter, especially if you celebrate holidays like Thanksgiving & Christmas.  

I think it's safe to say a few more cocktails are consumed during the holidays as well. 

Or is that just with my family? 

 

I know sometimes cost is a factor in budgeting for your health.  Whether it's a gym membership, organic & whole foods, or supplements to assist in your health goals... cost can determine what we're willing to afford.

A simple 10-day cleanse is easy to do & won't break the bank.  It's a great way to re-set your body & jump start it for the holiday madness.

A little tune-up, like we do for our cars.  Keep the engine running better.

 

I put together a mini bundle of 3 products for a 10-day cleanse.  It's half the price of the full 24-Day Challenge, but FULL of benefits for your body.   Here's what the 10-Day Cleanse bundle includes:

1. Herbal Cleanse System
2. Omega Plex (omega 3 fatty acid)
3. Catalyst (amino acid)

I think I've mentioned a few times that Catalyst is my can't-miss-have-to-have-every-day supplement.  I love it.  It protects & promotes lean muscle mass so your body burns fat instead of muscle during exercise & weight management. 

I don't use Spark myself, because I don't do caffeine, but you could certainly add that into your bundle as well!

A little meal planning & prepping can help you achieve results & of COURSE you should exercise.  You KNOW I always promote that.

And lots & lots of WATER!!  On a normal day you should drink half your body weight in ounces.  For example, if you weigh 100 lbs.  you should drink 50 oz. of water.  But drink even MORE than that during the cleanse so the added Fiber can be pushed through your system. 

And water is FREE... unlike soda, Starbucks, energy drinks, etc.

 

Speaking of meal planning, here's my new favorite & EASY dinner... spaghetti squash.  I gave up pasta around the time I turned 40.  Also gave up pizza, bread... all those bad carbs that really did nothing for my body nutritionally & all it did was make me bloated.

Spaghetti squash is an awesome alternative to eating spaghetti.  And it is SO good!!!

Cut a whole squash in half.  After removing the seeds, I place them face down into a glass baking dish filled with a small amount of water (helps to steam it) & 2 tablespoons of olive oil.  Then I cover the dish with aluminum foil & bake at 375 for 45 minutes.

When you pull it out of the oven, grab a fork & scrape the inside of each squash... creating your "noodles..."

I just throw on whatever red sauce I happen to have on hand.  Last night I served it as a side dish with grilled chicken & salad, but you could throw in whatever pasta ingredients you like & make it your main dish as well. 

Put your health first so you can get through the holidays with lots of energy & NO illness.  And I bet everyone at your holiday parties will notice how great you look too! 

 

"I'm gonna pop some tags, only got $20 in my pocket... "

 

 

A few weekends ago, I sat in a very very cold gym watching Bryn's all-day volleyball tournament.  It was so cold, in fact, that I decided it would be a good idea to drive all the way home & get a blanket  when the first match was over since she had a 2-hr break before the next games.

I'd much rather the room be cold than hot, but this was ridiculously cold.  Even the players had blankets when they weren't playing! 

Stopped for some lunch on the way back & also decided to get a Starbucks so I'd have something warm to drink & something warm to hold in my hands for awhile.  It was the first time I've been there since May... as I decided to give up that daily purchase  when I started using AdvoCare products regularly. 

Not sure if you ever buy Starbucks coffees/drinks... but can I just say I'm so glad I gave that up.  Do you know how much that Venti Decaf Soy Latte cost?  And we're talking decaf coffee + soy milk.  No frilly extras... no whip... nothing except they had to use the latte machine to make the milk frothy. 

$5.15

Five dollars & fifteen cents!  I believe it was around $4.82 in May when I'd last been there, so it's gone up a bit.  But why in the holy heck was I spending that every day?  Like every day for over 5 years?! 

Habit... routine... tasted good... or I guess I'm just basically a dumb ass?  I mean for that price I could be eating a whole meal.... not drinking a coffee.  And  I could've bought a few Louis Vuittons for the money I've given Starbucks over the years. 

I've basically saved about $140/month... $1680/year. 

 

I've heard people say they can't afford to eat healthy.  They can't afford nutritional supplements.  They can't afford the cost of a gym membership. 

It "costs too much."

I've heard people say they're not sure what's in nutritional supplements, so they won't take them. 

 

What's in these products pictured below?  How much do they cost?  When is the last time you've read the labels for everything you put into your body... food, supplements, alcohol... all of it?   When is the last time you've added up how much you spend on "junk food"... food & drink that does nothing for your body nutritionally? 

What would happen to your grocery budget if you quit putting those items in your cart?  How much money do you think you would save every day... every week... ?

Would you change your mind about putting those foods in your mouth once you read the list of ingredients or do those ingredients not matter to you? 

I was forced to start reading labels for everything we buy when Bryn was diagnosed with severe food allergies at age 3.  I'm actually glad I was forced to do that because it made me start paying attention to what I was eating as well!

 

I had friend say the other day that our kids are part of the first generation that will likely not outlive their parents because of diets that are high in processed foods... and activity levels that are very sedentary. 

THAT is scary. 

THAT is sad. 

We have a huge problem in the US with obesity.  It is an epidemic.  Kids learn their eating habits from their parents.  And until they're out on their own, they are only able to eat what their parents bring into the house. 

The problem is... once they're out on their own, they need to learn how to eat healthy.  They need to learn WHAT is healthy.  They need to learn that just because a label says LOW FAT or FAT FREE... that it isn't necessarily healthy, nor is it going to help you lose weight. 

 

It is simply a matter of replacing one item for another... replacing one junk food item for one healthy item. 

 

When you think in terms of cost per serving...  it becomes affordable. 

When you think in terms of health benefits vs. health destroyers... it becomes a necessity, not a luxury.

 

Meal Replacement Shakes have 14 packages in each box.  That's 14 quick, easy & nutritious meals.  If you break it down by cost per serving, each meal costs only $3.50.  They are low in calories & packed full of all the protein & nutrients you need for an entire meal. 

 

 

Why are there always long lines for fast food restaurants?  Because we live in a very fast-paced society & people are usually on the go.  How much did you spend on the last "nutritious" meal you got from a fast food window though?  I'll bet it was more than $3.50.  I'll bet it wasn't low in fat or calories.  I'll bet it wasn't packed full of all the nutrients you need for that meal. 

 

 

One thing that is for SURE... if we don't take the time to care about WELLNESS now, we will be forced to make the time for ILLNESS eventually. 

And ain't nobody got time for that! 

Girl power...

 

 

Had a very inspiring night last night!  Wish everyone I knew could've been there to hear all the stories from women just like me & you who have changed their bodies &/or their finances with AdvoCare.

I'm so excited to be associated with a company that changes lives in more ways than one.

I've been part of an industry that changes lives for 4 years now as a fitness instructor.  I LOVE my job.  I love all the friends I've made & people I've met because of it.  It is certainly a blessing in my life that I've been given a role of helping to change people's bodies, while also creating stronger minds to go along with it. Because that's how it works.  Strong bodies create strong minds.

And at the end of the day... your health is really all that matters.  

 

I started on products in May.  My body has definitely changed since using them.  Just because I workout for a living, doesn't mean my body is in perfect shape.  Let's face it... you can spend all day in the gym but unless you're eating a relatively clean diet & have good nutrition... you're wasting your time. 

Who knew how important a cleanse was every 90 days?  I didn't. 

Who knew how important it was to protect your lean muscle because your body wanted to burn that instead of fat if you weren't protecting it?  I didn't.

Who knew that a dehydrated body could not lose weight & had a higher likelihood of injury?  I didn't.

 

I've learned so much in these past 5 months & am still trying to absorb as much info as possible.

 

In addition to loving how the products I'm using have changed my body, I'm loving how this company is changing my checking account. 

 

Could I work harder than I am with this?  Absolutely. 

Should I work harder than I am with this?  Absolutely. 

 

But without even working as hard as I could & should... since the end of May, AdvoCare has been depositing money into my account that I certainly wasn't making before this adventure.  I'd be happy to tell you exactly how much if you're interested, because it's definitely making a difference in my own finances!

I don't make a lot of money as an instructor.  There's not a lot of potential there to earn more without it affecting my body because I've added too many classes to my weekly schedule.   Maybe you've got a job too that doesn't have a lot of potential to earn more.

There is a LOT of potential to earn more with AdvoCare. 

 

My body is changing & my bank account is changing.  Who doesn't want either of those changes in their life?

 

The holidays are around the corner.  We have a few months until everyone decides to make their New Year's Resolutions to eat better, workout more, etc. 

What's stopping you from starting today? 

Small changes lead to big results.

 

Your health is all you really have.  It affects your job, your marriage, your quality of life.

 

When you're ready to make changes in your life... I'm ready to help.

Girl power...

 

 

 

"How many times can you drop drop drop it low..."

 

The other day I posted here about my replacement Fitbit Charge HR watch & my new TurboSTRAPP.  I've worn both for my last 2 days of workouts & am pretty amazed at the difference in calorie burn even though BOTH are supposed to measure my heart rate. 

 

If you were in my ZUMBA class last night, this was my calorie burn with my TurboSTRAPP...

 

 

And this was my calorie burn with my Fitbit.  I did think I had turned it on, but noticed after the warm-up it wasn't recording my workout.  So I missed a few minutes.  But still there's a pretty big difference...

 

 

 

483 with the TurboSTRAPP vs 284 with the Fitbit (+ a few more calories for the warmup). 

 

Both devices have my stats... weight, age, male/female (I know I also had to put my height on the TurboSTRAPP & don't think my Fitbit asked for that).  So someone else doing my same class at the same intensity could have totally different numbers because of different body, age, etc... and they've shown me their own much higher calorie burn (804 calories for someone else with the same class). 

 

I've been wearing my Fitbit since March (minus the last few weeks that it died)... and my average calorie burn with it was around 350 for my Zumba classes. 

I honestly was VERY surprised by that at first because if you've been to my class you know I'm not just doing a casual stroll through the park. 

And while yes, I am in good shape & my body has adapted to high cardio workouts, I still thought that couldn't be right. 

 

I did wear both devices for my BODYPUMP class the other night too.  And yep... about 100 calorie difference between the 2 devices with the TurboSTRAPP measuring higher. 

 

I know, who cares right?  I'm pretty excited about this though.  I think for those who do my classes, it gives you a general idea of what your calorie burn could be even without wearing a TurboSTRAPP.  483 for me... 804 for someone else!  In other words... get to class & kick it with me because we're burning quite a few calories!

I already know I take at least 10,000 steps a day... sometimes double that if I'm teaching 2 classes.  So really... who cares what I'm doing for an entire day?  I've worn the watch long enough to know I average about the same every day.  There are other functions the watch provides in addition to your entire day's activity, like caller ID on your watch if you want it (I don't need more distractions), an alarm if you want to wake up with it (I haven't used that but have a friend that swears by it) and it measures how well you sleep (or how restless you are), and more.

Bottom line is... maybe I no longer care that my Fitbit broke & I got a free replacement.  Still think they have AMAZING customer service, but I may not be as regular about wearing it as I used to be.

The Fitbit is GREAT for someone who wants the accountability of getting in more activity daily though!!

 

And PS... if you're burning all these calories in class every day, but have hit a plateau & you're not seeing the results of your hard work, it may be a great time to do a cleanse and change up your eating habits.  The gym can only do so much!!

 

That's what FIT girls are made of...

 

Saw an interesting list the other day via the Apartment Therapy blog [10 Things Productive & Organized People Do Before Noon].

When people ask me for advice about losing weight... 2 things I always suggest are DRINK MORE WATER & DO NOT SKIP MEALS... ESPECIALLY BREAKFAST!! Love that both are included on a list of things productive & organized people accomplish before noon!

 

And speaking of breakfast, since the article mentions that 31 million people SKIP breakfast every day (seriously???!!), I've got a great solution that will give you all the nutrients you need with a quick on-the-go prep time. 

Throw a packet in your purse with a bottle of water.  Shake it up & drink it. 

BOOM. DONE. Breakfast checked off the to-do list.

 

Pumpkin Spice & everything nice.  That's what fit girls are made of.   LOL

 

Annnnnd... it's a limited time flavor... a  flavor I'd say most people love in the fall & winter.  So don't hesitate on this one!  I recently tried using this with my protein ball recipe & it's REALLY GOOD!!! 

Of course you already know I love all things chocolate, so there's several more flavor choices here.

 

 

And I realized I do almost all of the things on the article's list except avoiding digital distractions before noon. I kinda do that the minute I wake up.   

What can I say except I can except I can't always be expected to be productive.  LOL

 

Speaking of the shakes though... I saw another way to use them on AdvoCare's Instagram account the other day.

With the holidays approaching, here's a quick & easy way to make a dessert that doesn't pack on the extra calories that most holiday treats do!

 

Pumpkin Apple Crumble

2 whole apples, cored & chopped

1/4 cup old fashioned oats, raw

1 Pumpkin Spice Meal Replacement Shake package

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/8 cup slivered almonds or chopped nuts [optional]

1/2 teaspoon vanilla [optional]

1-2 teaspoon honey [optional]

 

Place chopped apples in microwave for 3 minutes, stirring halfway through until apples cooked to desired texture.  In separate bowl, mix oats, shake, cinnamon & nuts (if using).  Add apples to dry mixture, along with vanilla & honey (if using).  Makes 6 servings. 

 

Bring on FALL, y'all!   Enjoy your weekend! 

 

"These are a few of my favorite things... "

 

 

In the past 4 months, I've tried quite a few new products.  Some have literally become part of my daily routine.  Some products, I use occasionally.  And many others, I have yet to try. 

There are over 70 products available.  And let's just say they aren't one-size fits all. 

I'm probably not going to need Prostate Support any time soon.  LOL

And I love how they categorize their products so it's easy to find what fits your needs simply by clicking on that category... TRIM, WELL, ACTIVE, PERFORMANCE ELITE & SKINCARE. 

 

 

So here goes on what I personally love...

Daily:

• Catalyst.  Can't say enough about this product.  I've taken 3... 3X/day for 4 months.  And why have I been so religious about taking it?  Because it works.  Arms, abs & even quads are more defined... and since my work-out routine hasn't changed in the last 4 months, I can only attribute this to what's changed with my supplement intake.  Not only does it repair/protect muscle, but I swear I look/feel less bloated too. 
• SYS Eye.  Why on earth does their skincare line not get as much attention as Spark???  I've been wearing Clinique All About Eyes for YEARS & YEARS.  Cannot say enough about the quality of the SYS eye cream & since it costs a little less than Clinique, I'd say it's a win-win.  I also love their SYS Night.  It even smells good... almost has kind of a citrus scent.  Seriously.  Love both.
• Vegetarian Dark Chocolate Meal Replacement Shake.  I've tried quite a few of the shake flavors & this one still wins as my favorite.  I don't DRINK it daily, but I do eat the protein balls daily that I make with it.  It's replaced my dark chocolate addiction.  No dark chocolate candy at all since May.  And that was a daily thing for YEARS so I'm serious when I say this can help satisfy your sweet tooth without all that sugar.  This is also the only shake Bryn can have too since she's allergic to dairy.  It's the only vegan shake they offer. 
• OmegaPlex. An omega-3 fatty acid.  Have you been to your doctor lately?  I bet they've told you it's a supplement we should all be taking.  Not only is it good for your immune system... but you also get healthy skin, hair & nails too. 
• Nighttime Recovery.  I've only been using this one for a month, but it's become part of my daily routine.  I am completely amazed at how NOT sore I've been since taking it.  And  considering I haven't been able to get into my massage therapist for a month because he's been totally booked... this is a good thing.  I don't recall having a month without some level of aggravating pain in my back/shoulders since I've started teaching.  So for this to be working like it is... ummm yes please.

I have other supplements I take daily as well, that are not AdvoCare.  And the only reason for that is because I'm trying to use up what I've got before I just throw it away to buy more. 

Occasional/Weekly:

• Rehydrate.  I've tried all 5 flavors.  My favorite is Red Raspberry, but really it's just a matter of what you typically like, they're all good.  And considering I absolutely do NOT like the taste of Gatorade at all (or any other flavored water or sport drinks)... this is a surprise!  I'm probably almost DAILY with this, but I also drink some kind of electrolyte water (usually Smart Water) every day too, so I don't feel like I'm missing out on electrolytes if I miss a day.  Whether you sweat every day with a work-out or not...  women tend to lose more water daily than men just during sleep alone.  They say women lose about 1/2 cup of water during the night.  Night sweats anyone?   Do you have muscle cramping?  It's almost always cured with electrolytes.  Regular water won't do it.  A GREAT product to have on hand that the whole family can benefit from... especially active kids!
• V16.  Since I'm in the minority of people who don't drink some kind of caffeinated beverage every day, this rocks on giving a boost of energy + nutrients... minus the caffeine!  And it tastes really good.  Has a slight fizz to it so it's kind of like drinking an orange soda.  I don't need it daily, but there are days when a few more hours of sleep would've been nice & it definitely helps when I drink it!
• Oasis.  It's like having a glass of wine without all the calories.  Helps you adapt to stress.  Pretty sure we could all use this at some point!  Tastes really good too.  Hell... mix it with your wine & add some more calories if you want.  I won't tell.  LOL
• O2 Gold.  Great product if you're looking for increased endurance during physical activity.  It's like having an extra lung... more oxygen.  My only problem is that I forget about it & you should take it an hour prior to increased activity.  Great to take prior to running or cardio classes like Zumba! 
• AdvoBar Snack.  A great-tasting chocolate protein bar without all the sugar that a LOT of leading brands have in them.  Start looking at labels & seeing what you're putting into your body.  If you're eating a Greek Yogurt with 25 grams of sugar in it... you're basically eating a candy bar.  READ LABELS.  You should have no more than 14 grams of carbs, at least 10 grams of protein & less than 6 grams of sugar.  Anything other than that & you've just lost your "health" benefit of a quick snack on the run in between meals. 

Less than occasional:

• 24-Day Challenge.  I've done this cleanse twice now.  They say every 90 days for a cleanse.  I love that you can still eat real food while doing this cleanse... because I can tell you right now an all-liquid cleanse would probably never happen for me.  This cleanse is also a great way to not only prep you for better nutrient absorption, but it's a great way to re-set your body if you've hit a plateau in your fitness or weight-loss goals.  On the flip side it's also a great starting point if you're working on gains in the gym.  I'd say most people would like to lose a few pounds though & that is a typical side-effect of this cleanse.   I do modify what I personally take when I do this, since I don't use any of their caffeinated products.  So I remove the Spark & also use CORE instead of the MNS line.  

 

How about you? 

What are your fitness & weight goals?  Have you hit a plateau?  Have you changed what you're feeding your body?  Have you changed up your workout routine?   Are you simply looking for better performance or recovery? 

We all have different goals & different bodies.  Again I say that supplements aren't a one-size fits all approach.  They're just a piece of the puzzle that also involves exercise & good nutrition. 

I have a group starting a "Fall Into Fitness Challenge."  Why wait until the new year to make some resolutions to change your health?  How about going into the holidays with a head-start this year!  I can help if you're ready to make some simple changes...

 

 

 

 

 

"I don't like it... I love it, love it, love it... uh oh... "

 

Zumba, shakes & volleyball... LOTS going on around here. 

Bryn just made the Freshman volleyball team.  I'm SO proud of her.  So if you're keeping track that means volleyball in the fall, cheer in the winter.... OH & her select team again in the winter, too, so.... hmmm.  Could be tricky.  And I think I'm going to be filling up my tank more often because I drive back & forth to school about 55 times a week.  Speaking of which... school starts on Wednesday.  We walked her new class schedule 5 times in a row so I think she's ready.  

Not sure I'm ready for high school, but I guess she is...

 

 

There's a new limited-time only flavor shake that was just released.  My protein shake brings all the boys to the yard.  I mean seriously... chocolate + peanut butter?  What's not to love about that combo?? 

Well unless you're my daughter & you're allergic to peanuts.  And then steer clear.  Just do the Vegetarian Dark Chocolate instead!  (My fav, by the way!)  

 

I recently got certified to teach another fitness format... CRT Method (Cardio Resistance Training).  It's another head-to-toe workout that will whip your booty into shape quickly!  Still working on my class & hope to be teaching it soon...

 

New song coming up in Zumba this week...  (Minus my guitar player.  For some strange reason she's just not into Zumba as much as I am)...

 

 

And I have about a third of the contents of my closet (clothing, shoes, handbags, accessories) ready for a garage sale this Friday night & Saturday morning.  I have FIVE rolling racks of my clothes.  So if you're local & wear a size SMALL clothes or size 8 shoes or love handbags... this is for YOU.  I also have quite a few baskets filled with Bryn's old clothes too (mostly the last couple sizes she just grew out of). 

Name brands... some things still with tags... good stuff!

 

 

Happy Monday!  Hope it's a GREAT week for you....

 

Sleep is totally overrated...

 

So I've told you about chocolate balls... LOL... how about some pancakes?

Today is the FINAL day you can order the limited time Iced Lemon Cake Meal Replacement Shakes.  In fact, it's while supplies last, so the stock may not last through the end of the day.

Like the other shake flavors, it's only 220 calories & 24 grams of protein. 

You simply mix a packet with 8 oz of water to make a shake. 

However.... there's many other recipe ideas you can easily find on Pinterest & have other options than just making shakes! 

 

Here's an easy way to make pancakes:

Mix 2 egg whites + a little water.  Stir in your shake package.  Add to pan & voila... yummy pancakes!   You really don't need any syrup on top because it just adds sugar & the pancakes have enough flavor anyway.  But if you do... just add some honey.  Maybe a little fruit on top & BOOM... quick healthy breakfast.  And it's almost back to school time for the kids so quick & healthy is key!  

 

And speaking of kids... I'm missing mine!!!  She's been gone all week at the lake with my parents & her cousin.  Looking forward to seeing her tomorrow afternoon!

Off to teach Zumba!  TGIF!

 

 

 

"Gotta smile while you're hurting & whistle while you work it... "

 

Just thinking about challenges lately & things that are "challenging." 

We ALL face challenges.  No one gets through life without difficult times, major change, loss of life, depression on some level.  If only we could.  And we either grow from it all & find a way to deal with it... or in some cases people don't.

The people I love the most are those that will show you how vulnerable they are & how crazy their life really is.  No one's life is perfect & exempt of challenges... although sometimes people's lives appear more perfect than they are.  

And then there's those overly dramatic people we all have in our Facebook newsfeed.  Yep.  We ALL know their life is NOT perfect. 

Puh lease... could you keep things a little more to our imagination?   

Raising a teenager, for instance, can sometimes be challenging.  She never went through the "terrible two's" but there are moments when I wonder if she couldn't have just gotten it all out of her system THEN instead.  And that's not to say that she's terrible now by any means... it's just that she feels very comfortable arguing with me over stupid stuff all the time. 

Like... reallllly???  Whyyyyy???? 

I do miss her being so young, even though I have LOVED every single age & the young woman she is becoming.

Just took her to the doctor for her annual checkup & she's 5'8"... as in 4 inches taller than me.  And I bet she still has an inch or two to grow...

 

Finding time to get my photos onto pages & into the scrapbooks is a MAJOR challenge for me lately.  AdvoCare has a 24-Day Challenge to get your health back on track... so maybe I should do my own 24-day challenge to finish a page every day for 24 days?  Imagine how much I could accomplish if I would just DO IT. 

I do randomly get pages finished, it's just that I'll go back through old scrapbooks & feel so thankful I got those photos & stories on paper before POOF it was gone from my old brain... & think... how many current memories & conversations am I not putting on paper that will never be remembered? 

Just shaking my head.

But here's some of what's been accomplished in the last couple months... (if you're a scrapbooker & want to see more detail, you can click on each one to see the images bigger)... assuming anyone is even still coming here for scrapbooking inspiration because I'm pretty sure that ship has sailed.  I suck. LOL

 

  

   
   

 

Some people's challenges involve cigarettes, alcohol, food... whatever their drug of choice is.  One person's bottle of wine every night, might be another person's gallon of ice cream. 

But how is it... that same person will say they can't afford to buy something healthier... like fresh veggies or nutritional supplements?  "It's too expensive."

They ARE affording to buy product... expensive products that add up... just choosing to buy non-healthy stuff instead.   

 

I did my first 24-Day Challenge at the beginning of May.  It's been almost 90 days & I'm getting ready to do another cleanse.  Will I follow it with all the perfect food choices?  Maybe not, but I'll get close.  Last time I did it, I lost a few pounds & some major bloat.  Did I necessarily need to lose weight?  No.  But I did want to get rid of some toxins & re-set my body for better health, so it was really nice to see results from my effort.  At the time I was looking pretty bloated from newly teaching 4 night classes in a row every week & it was messing with my body big time to come home & eat a big meal at 9pm.  

 

What else does the challenge do?  It starts you thinking about making different choices in the kitchen. 

It's been said that it takes 21 days to form a new habit. 

What IF you made a couple different choices in the kitchen?  What IF just a couple changes gave your body more energy, less fatigue, better digestion?

Small changes lead to big results.  

 

 

You don't necessarily need to be local to join me in this.  We can chat from afar.

 

No time like the present to challenge yourself with some changes... rather than letting life continue to challenge you. 

It's how we continue to grow & become who we were meant to be...

 

Popeye the sailor (wo)man...

 

It's been awhile since I last posted here, but not for lack of anything going on.  In addition to the obvious ZUMBA & BODYPUMP classes, much has been keeping us busy.

And since Bryn's doing a day trip to a nearby lake with a friend today, I have some time to reflect.

 

Here's just some of the things going on in the past month or so.

I purchased tickets for Bryn & me to see Cake Boss live at a local arena.  Ordinarily I would've thought I could just stay home & watch the guy for free on TV, but when I had the chance to buy the tickets at half price I knew Bryn would be excited because she watches the show all the time.  She's become quite the chef herself.  We had fun & the show was entertaining. 

 

 

That cake was one of the cakes he decorated during the show & it's evidently one of their biggest selling cakes.... over 200 of that design are sold per week at their Hoboken store alone.  Wow.  It inspired us to make something similar for Bryn's birthday.  Since she has major food allergies to dairy, eggs & nuts and we aren't able to do store-bought cakes for her, we make our own creations every year.  We didn't buy enough fondant to do the entire cake, but we did use it for the polka dots.  (Oh & we did buy Cake Boss fondant.  It's the only fondant I've found, as a matter of fact, that doesn't have dairy in it).  She made & decorated the entire cake by herself with a little help from me on some of the polka dots.  She also piped the entire bottom border using nothing but a baggie with the end snipped.  She's quite the quick learner, that kid...

 

 

Speaking of her birthday cake, she just turned 14 yesterday!!  Oh my gosh...

 

 

And I recently turned a little older than 14.  Forever 21 to be exact. 

Or at least that's how I act anyway.  I'll grow old but I'll never grow up...

 

 

 

Although my sister just turned 40 right before my birthday and since she's younger than me I guess I have to own up to my real age.   Had a crazy bus trip to Fast Eddies in Alton for her big day...

 

 

Bryn's also been keeping up with lots of volleyball this summer doing "open gym" times & camps with her high school team she's hoping to make in the fall.  She's also been playing sand volleyball with her teammates from her winter club team...

 

 

AdvoCare has also been keeping me busy!  In fact I'm having a lot of fun with it & it's also inspiring me to change some of my eating habits too.  I completed the 24-Day Challenge last month, but since I have quite a few friends that are in the middle of doing the challenge or have just started it on Monday...  I decided to challenge myself to tweak some of my daily routine & hang in there with them too! 

One thing I have stayed consistent with during & since doing the challenge (& I think has caused me to see more definition in my body) is Catalyst.

At the beginning of April I took on a couple regular evening subbing gigs every week.  So for the past 2 months, I've been teaching 4 nights a week in addition to my other morning classes.  I'm used to being more of a morning workout girl... so these evening classes really started messing with my body.

One would think all the extra classes would equal weight loss.  However in my case, my body has adapted to working out for a living & since you can't out-exercise your diet, I was having issues of looking like I was 3-months pregnant because I was coming home & eating a big meal at 9:00pm every night. 

I did lose 3 lbs on the challenge, which basically was the 3 lbs I'd gained since April.  Aside from that though, Catalyst is causing me to see abs & more definition in my arms.  Do I want to look like a bodybuilder?  HELL NO.  And quite frankly, unless you're taking steroids, women don't produce enough testosterone to look like that anyway.  But if boys are going to start coming around with the intent of dating my daughter, I'm ok if they're even slightly intimidated by my guns. 

Beware future boys... I can & will kick ass, just sayin...

As for my eating habits, they are mostly good.  I've posted before about my typical day of eating, but as of Monday decided to cut out a few things.  First of all, I replaced my daily dose of dark chocolate with Meal Replacement Shake Protein Balls that I made.  Makes approximately 2 dozen & I just store them in the fridge.  Less sugar, more nutrients... still satisfies my sweet tooth...

I also quit drinking my daily decaf + soymilk from Starbucks.  This is not only saving me from useless calories, but also saving me from stupidly spending about $30/week.... $120/month.  Craziness.

Also decided to give up my beloved Kashi Go Lean cereal + almond milk + blueberries that I've been doing for YEARS & YEARS for breakfast... and replaced it with egg whites & spinach.

Yes, I know cage-free eggs are better, but for speeding up the process in the morning I bought the already prepared version of egg whites. 

• I grab 2 handfuls of fresh spinach & put it in a bowl  (I eat a lot of spinach all day long by the way... Popeye would be proud).
• 1/4 cup of egg whites that I just pour on top of the spinach
• microwave for 1:15 minutes & stir when finished
• I add a couple spoonfuls of pico de gallo + a few slices of avocado

SO good & I'm pretty sure I knocked out some more of my daily sugar consumption by replacing the Kashi cereal.  Even though that cereal is low in sugar & high in protein, it's still sugar none-the-less.  Sugar comes in lots of forms... NOT just candy, cookies & cake. 

 

 

This is another typical meal for me (lunch or dinner) that involves more fresh spinach.  My salads usually involve whatever I have on hand.  In this case pictured below I used:

• fresh spinach
• fresh red leaf lettuce from a friend's garden
• garbanzo beans
• sliced carrots & celery
• cucumbers
• tomatoes
• artichoke hearts
• grilled salmon

My dressing is my own quick way of making a dijon mustard vinaigrette.  I literally squeeze the mustard on top of my salad... pour on some white wine vinegar.... mix it up a little & boom... done.  I don't use olive oil & I don't take the time to prepare a jar of it ahead of time.  Why be that organized?  LOL 

 

 

If you'd like to jump in on a the challenge or would like more ideas for healthy meals or snacks...  I'd love to help!!  I don't do everything perfectly.  You know I love my wine, I love tortilla chips, I love chocolate...

I just really LOVE eating mostly healthy though & letting my workouts take care of the rest. 

Fit by the 4th!  There's still lots of time to make some changes if you're ready...

 

 

Happy HUMP DAY, yo.  Almost time to kick it in Zumba tonight... 

 

Fit by the 4th...

 

I would LOVE to help you get fit by the 4th!   If you're local, I'm hosting a little get-together on Sunday at my house to talk more about this.  Message me for details if you're interested!  Exercise, good nutrition & nutritional supplements... that's how I roll.

Find more information on my website!

 

 

 

 

 

And you know what else I love about AdvoCare... their eye cream ROCKS. 

Sorry Clinique... you've been replaced... 

 

 

It's baaaaack....

 

 

Several flavors to choose from, but after much request to bring it back.... Green Apple Spark is here for good!  Bob thinks the Fruit Punch flavor is the bomb.  They have 7 different flavor choices.

 

I have a good friend who was drinking TWELVE cans of Pepsi EVERY day.  I cannot imagine.  And how much does that cost????

She has replaced every single one of those sodas with 2 Spark per day.  No more soda AT ALL. 

Wow!!

Spark = a nutritional source of energy that's sugar-free containing about 20 vitamins, minerals & nutrients

Soda = sugar, sugar, more sugar & ZERO nutritional benefit

 

I personally don't do caffeine, so I haven't tried it, but I do the V16 instead & LOVE it.  It's basically the nutrients without the caffeine.  And it got me through 3 days in a row of teaching Zumba & BodyPump with a bad head cold & sore throat so I'm hooked!  

 

Let me know if you decide to try the Spark & tell me what you think! 

Just 24 days...

 

 

Memorial Day weekend will be here in a few weeks & summer is quickly approaching!  Are you swimsuit-ready?  Would you like to lose weight?  Are you wanting to tone up & have more optimal performance in the gym?  Would you like to sport some "guns" in your tank tops & strapless dresses? 

You KNOW I'm all about fitness, good health & looking your best!  Aging gracefully is a MUST! 

In fact, in 2 weeks I'll be a year older myself & I'm not going down without a fight!  LOL

I'd LOVE for you to join me on a 24-day challenge to lose weight & gain your good health!  24 days of moving your body in a positive direction.  You can read more about it here:

24-Day Challenge

Grab a friend or your spouse too & make it a little friendly challenge to see how well you BOTH do!   

 

 

I can't wait to see your GREAT results!!  Let's DO this!! 

Volleyball is life... or at least it was anyway...

Last night was our final night of volleyball for awhile... maybe for a long while, as Bryn seems to have lost interest in the sport.  To be perfectly honest I wish she'd keep at it.  I think she's improved SO much in the past year and could be really good with more practice.  But, right now it's not working for her and I'm not going to push it.  At this age, I think keeping yourself open to trying new things is good.  It's only in trying new things that we figure out what it is that makes us happy.  So this summer we'll look into doing gymnastics and I'll be registering her for a 1-week soccer camp that she's participated in for the past 4 summers as well.

Anyway... with the final night of volleyball looming & lots of SRM tubes on hand, I decided to make a little something for all the girls on Bryn's team.  She's been into changing out her shoe laces lately, so I thought it might be fun to fill each tube with a pair for each of the girls.  I started with a bunch of different colors I found at Target, but you can find an entire batch of 15 pairs on Amazon  for less than I paid, and well.. who doesn't love the convenience of online-shopping? 

Isusser 15 Pairs 45" Flat Coloured Athletic Shoe Laces Sneakers Skate Shoes Boots Sport Shoes

#ad

I used my SRM volleyball stickers along with a star punch, some Pink Paislee & some random ribbon I had in my stash to embellish my tubes...

I put it all together on Tuesday night while watching The Voice.  Wanted to pass the time with something I didn't actually have to sit & watch...

 

I love how the volleyball stickers fit perfectly on top of each tube...

 

 

Check out the SRM Stickers blog for more inspiring ways to use the SRM tubes.

  The ideas are endless!

 

And now... I'm happy to say it's time to go teach ZUMBA!  Love my job! 

 

Speaking of which... have you checked out Spark? 

It's a GREAT way to kick your soda habit while getting more benefits than just caffeine. 

In fact, it contains vitamins, nutrients, caffeine... but NO sugar!

 

Get 10% your order if you're a first time customer:  Use this link.

 

 

This crafting stuff we all enjoy so much is a very sedentary hobby.  Get your body moving daily.  It's so important to your overall health & mindset. 

Lace up those colorful shoestrings and put YOU first on your daily "to-do" list! ♥