Face to Face Friday

Face to Face Friday!

College Katie ----> Mama Katie

Girl on the left had lost 30+lbs one summer by completely restricting her food {eating less than 1200 calories a day- mainly deli meat and raw vegetables} and pretending like she knew what she was doing at the YMCA {mainly walking on the treadmill or using the stationery bike}...but then gained it ALL {and more!} back when she went back to school and began binging on sugar - her roommates treats, candy from a house where she was babysitting, an entire pint of ice cream from the dorm store. {Then came a senior year of margaritas and chili cheese dip...all downhill from there!}

Girl on the right has lost 15+lbs {all of her baby weight plus more} the RIGHT way, and has maintained weight loss for almost a year now. Eating whole foods {and still enjoying sweet treats in moderation!}, eating ENOUGH food, using portion control, regular exercise combining cardio and strength training, and drinking enough water! {with an occasional glass of wine}

I've been there- in the 'dieting' phase. Many, many times. I know how tempting quick fixes are. I've tried all kinds of 'diets' over the years. I know what it's like to keep quitting and starting constantly. I do.
But a real transformation takes TIME and CONSISTENCY. It's a process. It happens when you have patience, when you show up every day, and when you make small changes along the way! {Not by going to the gym once and eating a salad once a week!}

It's a JOURNEY, not a destination. Enjoy the ride. Love yourself, whether you WANT to start, you just started, or you are already on your way!!

Accepting July Challengers!

Could you have written any of the statements below?

•Yes, I have tried a fad diet and gained back my weight within a few months.
•Yes, I have joined a gym, used the membership for a month, and stopped going.
•Yes, I want to be successful on a health and fitness journey!
•Yes, I want a support system that provides me with accountability and motivation!

If you can relate and want to break out of the constant cycle of quitting and starting new 'diets' each January 1st....…JOIN US! Every month, our team runs Challenge Groups---private forums with recipes, tips, meal plan ideas, challenges, accountability, and SUPPORT! We want YOU to be SUCCESSFUL in your journey to be the healthiest, happiest you!

Would you like to join our next group? If so, fill out the application below to get started!

Exercise...do YOU make time for it in your life?

I had a physical yesterday for the first time in AGES! {Thanks to the urging of several friends in the medical field...} I regularly see my gynecologist and the endocrinologist, but realized that due to my ever-increasing age {ha!}, I needed extensive bloodwork each year.

One of the first things she said to me: 'Your EKG looks fabulous. Do you exercise frequently?' BOOM. Why yes, actually I do---6 days a week! That started a good conversation, and we talked a lot about exercise, various types of exercise, and then ventured a bit into clean eating and gut health.

Having a medical doctor comment on my health really hit home for me. I try to constantly remind myself and others about the importance of regular exercise. It's NOT just for a bikini. NOT just for a pair of shorts. NOT just for a dress. NOT just for a special event. It's for LIFE. Literally! We only have ONE body to live in, so we need to care for it wisely!

What are YOUR favorite ways to exercise and take care of your body?

Ice Cream for BREAKFAST?!

Y'all. I am the FIRST to admit. I eat weird foods. I LOVE vegetables. I will try {almost} any vegetarian/vegan food out there. So, sometimes people assume ALL of my food is weird. {I promise, it's not!}

Until...NICE CREAM. Even my 'meat-and-potato' husband loves this stuff. SERIOUSLY. He has it ALMOST every morning for BREAKFAST! {Ice cream for BREAKFAST!? What!}

I did NOT invent this recipe, BUT I am sharing because NOT everyone KNOWS about this AMAZING treat! {and you NEED this in your life}

Nice cream is vegan, dairy-free, and lower in fat/calories/sugar than regular ice cream! Made with NORMAL ingredients that you have in your home.

In a food processor {I use a Ninja}, blend:
2 frozen bananas, 1/2 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk, splash of vanilla extract, pinch of cinnamon.
THAT'S IT.

Simple. Easy. QUICK. Few ingredients. WHAT more could you ask for?

NOW- the beauty of this recipe...much like my overnight oats and smoothie bowls, you can have VARIETY! {which is the spice of life, right?!}

Some of my ideas for DELICIOUS flavor combos.....
*PB2 + Cocoa powder = Peanut butter chocolate
*Mint extract + Chocolate chips = Mint chocolate chip
*Strawberries or blueberries = Fruity
*Cafe Latte Shakeology = Coffee
*Coconut milk + pineapple = Pina Colada

You also can TOP the nice cream with anything you'd like {in moderation}...
*Chocolate chips
*Granola
*Fruit
*Pure maple syrup
*Chopped nuts

*Unsweetened coconut

ENJOY! Let me know if you try this out!

Check out my friend Lauren and I discussing nice cream ;)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4RGzlXNOT3w

Thursday, June 1st, 2017

Today is Thursday, June 1st.

For me, today is SO much more...

Day 1/30 of our Bikini Bootcamp! I am SO excited to work with our amazing challengers and help them through their journeys!

Day 1 of Insanity Asylum Volume 2! This is going to be SO tough but I'm hoping for amazing results and always love spending time with my favorite trainer Shaun T!

Shaun Week is THIS month! No. Words. Needed.

Beachbody Pay Day!! I will be setting aaside ALL of my Beachbody paychecks for the next few months because I'm going to ENGLAND! (more details to come on that...) I realize an envelope is a bit outdated for 2017, BUT I want to have a visual to motivate me!

and....lastly, PROMOTION DAY! Thursdays are also Promotion Day for Beachbody and I am THRILLED that I have advanced to an EMERALD coach and am now growing my team! BEYOND thankful to have begun this journey! I have met so many amazing people and love helping others!! BLESSED!

What a happy day indeed!

Happy Memorial Day!

Memorial Day.
The unofficial start to Summer. (my VERY favorite season!)
A day to spend to spend with friends and family.
A day off of work.
BBQs and swimming pools.
BUT- SO much more than that.

Lives given. MANY lives. For US. For our freedom. For our liberty.

Although I do not know any soldiers personally who gave their lives for this country, I am BEYOND thankful to live in this GREAT nation where brave men and women put their lives on the line for us EVERY SINGLE DAY, and are willing to pay the ultimate sacrifice for US as well. Something we often forget and should NEVER ever take for granted. No matter what your politics are, you should take a moment today- and EVERY day- to appreciate the BLESSINGS and FREEDOMS you have in this country!!

In honor of our Armed Forces, today I did two 22 Minute Hard Corps workout (Resistance 1 and Cardio 1)---Tony Horton's program that is filmed with real Veterans. Super quick workouts but super intense and a great way to work up a sweat!

I hope everyone has a safe, happy holiday! GOD BLESS AMERICA!

Smoothie Bowls (aka DELICIOUSNESS!)

I'm having so much fun playing around with smoothie bowls lately! Breakfast is my FAVORITE meal and the meal I experiment with the most. I always have Shakeology for breakfast, but I like to get creative and use it beyond shakes!

I made this Almond Joy Shakeology bowl this week, and it was PERFECTION.

Base:
1 scoop of Vegan Chocolate Shakeology
1 purple of frozen mangos/pineapple
3/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
Coconut extract
LOTS OF ICE

Blend, blend, blend until super thick and creamy!

Toppings:
Unsweetened shredded coconut
Slivered almonds
Almond butter
Homemade coconut almond granola

It was heaven in a bowl. Seriously. Try it! Let me know if you like it!

HAPPY WEEKEND!

Transformation Tuesday

The left picture is my 'before' for Insanity- my UNOFFICIAL start with Beachbody On Demand on August 1, 2016 (I had no idea what I was getting into!) I STARTED my health journey at the END of the Summer season---this is NOT my 'Summer body'. This is my Spring, Summer, Fall, AND Winter body. It is just ME, who I am, and a piece of my life. Since August, I have completed FIVE full Beachbody programs (what? those at-home workouts really work?) I eat much better---I do eat a LOT, but I eat WELL and I don't eat junk (abs are made in the kitchen..right?) I drink my Shakeology AND a ton of water every day. I coach other women on their health journeys (who actually help me in my journey more than they realize!) I do intense exercise 6 days a week (and I actually ENJOY it!!) I work on my personal development and self-love by reading books or listening to podcasts on a daily basis. I DO work HARD on taking care of ME---which then helps me to better take care of my family and other responsibilities. NOTHING in life that's worth having comes easy. For me, being healthy in ALL aspects of my life is 100% worth the constant challenge.

Just a bit of perspective- I weigh 6 pounds MORE now than I did last August. That number on the scale – whatever it may be and however you may feel about it- is NOT the ONLY indicator of hard work, or nutrition, or dedication, or knowledge, or happiness, or WORTH. That number is NOT the focus of my daily life, and I hope it’s not the focus of yours either. If you want to be HEALTHY and HAPPY for longer than just Memorial Day to Labor Day each year----don't do hard work just for your 'Summer body'. Do hard work for your Spring, Summer, Fall, AND Winter body---for YOU- and for EVERY aspect of your overall health. Wellness is about taking CARE of your body AND mind. Fueling yourself. Moving yourself. Challenging yourself. Respecting yourself. LOVING yourself. Your body and mind are truly a precious GIFT-- and you are only given ONE body and ONE mind…so why not provide them with the best possible LOVE and CARE?

Overnight Oats: Fast, Easy, and Amazing!

Overnight oats have been an obsession of mine for a long, LONG time. I LOVE the versatility of oats. You can mix and match so many different flavors based on what you're craving and what you have on hand.

Basic recipe:
3/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 scoop of Shakeology flavor of choice
1/2 cup raw old-fashioned oats
Sprinkle of cinnamon

Add in fruit of choice, mix, and let it sit in the fridge overnight.
In the morning, add toppings of choice and enjoy cold!
My favorite fruits to add in: frozen blueberries, mashed banana, and strawberries!
My favorite toppings: granola, slivered almonds, nut butter, shredded coconut, or more fruit!