Life as a Beachbody Coach a Year Later

It is so hard to believe that I started my journey with Beachbody almost one short year ago, and what a year it has been!  Prior to getting connected with the 21 Day Fix and Coaching, I was what I like to call, a yo yo workout girl. I wanted so bad to stick with something, but nothing just seemed to connect, so I was always on the lookout for a new workout routine.  After I had Gavin, I canceled my gym membership with such little time in my day to actually get there.  When I canceled my membership I saw an infomercial for Insanity, so I ordered it through the Beachbody website, rather than a Coach.  Not knowing any different, I did not have a coach, I was not drinking Shakeology, and I was not connected with a challenge group. Needless to say, after a few weeks of plugging along, I ended up getting bored and quit.  I resorted back to running, but I always just felt like I needed a little more and I definitely needed to fine tune my nutrition.  I was a tired mom and always lacking energy!

Around the same time, I had a friend that was posting about the 21 Day Fix.  I saw it a couple times, read about it, and then continued on with my day.  While browsing Facebook one day during naptime I saw a post about the 21 Day Fix yet again. I thought hmmm, alright what is this really all about?!  I will be honest....I was SKEPTICAL, very very skeptical, but desperate to feel better I thought, I will give it a try.  What in the world do I have to lose?? After getting my 21 Day Fix kit in the mail, meal planning, and participating in my first challenge, I WAS A BELIEVER!  My energy sky rocketed, my nutrition was the best it ever was, and I stuck with my workouts!  The truth is, I never felt better since becoming a mom!  I fell in love with the methodical plan that was spelled out for me!  It was GENIUS! I had support to get me started.  I had support during my victories.  I had support when I failed.  I had support!

I was such a believer in the 21 Day Fix and Beachbody's mission as a company, that I told Chris I just had to become a coach!  His reaction pretty much went like this.... uh huh Molly, yep. Sure. Are you serious??? Haha! I am sure he thought that this was just another fad for me, but after he saw how passionate I was, he not only supported me, but even better. He JOINED me for a date every morning before work and did the 21 Day Fix workouts with me, drank his Shakeology daily and followed the nutrition guidelines.  He lost 8lbs in 2 weeks, so I would say he is a believer too :))  

I can honestly say, I never started this to make money.  I started this because I wanted EVERYONE TO FEEL AS GOOD AS I WAS FEELING!!!  I wanted to help others improve their health and fitness.  I wanted to pay it forward!  Everyone deserves to feel fabulous about them self!

A year later, I am still going strong, and I am still just as passionate! I am still a BELIEVER in the products, and my mission to help others.  My team is growing, and I am building a successful business which is just plain crazy for me to even think about, and I couldn't be happier doing it!  I love surrounding myself with like-minded coaches and challengers!  It is inspiration and motivation at its finest!

The 21 Day Fix and all of the Beachbody programs are pure genius.  If you are willing to commit to 30 minutes a day, there is literally nothing left to the imagination.  The workouts and nutrition are spelled out for you, the 1:1 support is amazing, and Shakeology is just plain awesome for you (and yummy too)!

If you have ever thought about joining a challenge or coaching, follow your heart!  You seriously will not regret it!  :)

Love,

Cauliflower Crust Pizza Recipe

21 Day Fix Extreme

21 Day Fix Extreme

My journey with Beachbody began almost one year ago with the 21 Day Fix program by Autumn Calabrese.  This is the FIRST program I have ever fallen in LOVE with!!!  I truly made it a lifestyle rather than a fad, a bad habit I was used to!  Almost a year later, I am happy to say not only am I still following the 21 Day Fix nutrition plan, but my family is to!  

On February 2nd, Autumn is releasing the 21 Day Fix Extreme, and I couldn't be happier!!!  Just like the original 21 Day Fix, this program will also be 21 days and can be repeated as many times as you would like.  If you follow the program, you are guaranteed results in 21 days! Yes, that's it, 3 weeks and you can shred inches and watch extra body weight melt away!  There are no tricks.  No gimmicks. Just simple nutrition, 30 minute workouts, and serious results!  

The Workouts Included:

Plyo Fix Extreme: An explosive lower-body workout that uses jumping and resistance to torch calories and sculpt muscles.

Upper Fix Extreme: By alternating opposing muscle groups, this no-rest upper-body workout will shred the chest, back, shoulders, and arms.

Pilates Fix Extreme: Using a resistance band for every exercise, this intense mat workout works the entire body, placing emphasis on the core.

Lower Fix Extreme: Glutes, quads, hamstrings, and calves will get stronger, leaner, and more defined with 30 minutes of challenging resistance work.

Cardio Fix Extreme: Combining weighted cardio moves with traditional metabolic training intervals keeps the heart rate soaring.

Dirty 30 Fix Extreme: Using only seven compound moves focusing on multiple body parts at a time, this workout will burn extra calories while defining muscles. Get down and dirty, and get it done.

Yoga Fix Extreme: A fast-paced flow yoga class, combining strength, balance, flexibility, and power.

The Fix Challenge: Keep things interesting and burn off calories with this quick resistance workout!

Power Strength Extreme (Upgraded Kit): Based on functional movement patterns, these nine total-body exercises will change the way the body moves, increasing strength, endurance, and power.

ABC Fix Extreme (Upgraded Kit):  A 30-minute workout that targets common problem areas by pushing abs, butt, and cardio to the extreme. It'll get that competition body ready for the stage.

*There will be an additional bonus workout included when you order through a coach. There will also be an option for an upgraded kit that will include 2 additional workouts: Power Strength Extreme and ABC Extreme. 

Is This Workout for Me?

 21 Day Fix Extreme is ideal for those:

ü Looking for a dramatic short-term weight loss deadline (upcoming vacation, photo shoot, wedding, etc)

ü 21 Day Fix graduates (or graduates of other exercise programs)that are ready for a new challenge

ü Who don't have much weight to lose, but want to get shredded and see those abs!

* If you are a beginner, I would recommend starting with the original 21 Day Fix!

Interested in More Information?

The 21 Day Fix Extreme will be launched at a promotional price on February 2^nd.  Last year when the original 21 Day Fix launched it broke records and sold out FAST!  There will be an exclusive challenge group just for the 21 Day Fix Extreme starting on February 9th!  If you are interested in more information, there is a Countdown Group that another coach put together.  She will begin posting daily starting on Friday, January 23rd!  Join us there for 10 days of details as we count down to the 2/2 release date!  To be included there, ask to join https://www.facebook.com/groups/754765004601232/.  

Thai Tacos & Cabbage Slaw

This recipe is inspired from the Cooking Light Magazine.  They are light, simple to make and oh soo yummy!  These are one of my all time favorite, but they do have a little kick, so you may want to adjust spices accordingly if you are cooking for your kiddos! The slaw gives it a refreshing crunch!

Ingredients

3 - 4 boneless skinless chicken breast

juice from 1 lime

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

1 shallot chopped

3 garlic cloves diced

3 tsp. low sodium soy sauce

1/2 tsp crushed red pepper

1/2 tsp hot sauce

1 tsp olive oil

warm whole wheat tortillas

Cabbage Slaw

1 bag of coleslaw

1/4 cup rice vinegar

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Wash and cube chicken breast.  I often squeeze a little fresh lime juice over it to marinade it for a few minutes.

Make cabbage slaw by mixing in rice vinegar and cilantro and set aside, you may also add sea salt/pepper to taste if you prefer.

Mix juice from fresh lime, chopped cilantro, diced shallot, garlic, soy sauce, crushed red pepper, hot sauce together and let sit for 10 minutes.

Heat pan with oil and add chicken.  Brown chicken until cooked and add the mixture of sauce/spices mentioned in the step above to the pan.  Simmer for 10 minutes.

Serve chicken mixture on a warm tortilla and top with the cabbage slaw.  Easy and Yummy!  Enjoy!

Chocolate Shakeology Balls

Taco Boats

I made these for dinner tonight and they were absolutely scrumptious!  I was craving crunchy tacos, so I substituted crisp tomaine lettuce instead.  Not gonna lie, I wasn't sure it was going to cure that craving for crunchy tacos but it did!  They were so yummy I ended up eating quite a few, but the best part is, I didn't walk away feeling guilty!!!

Ingredients2 lbs 95% lean ground beef or turkey
3 roma tomatoes
2 avocados
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
low fat shredded cheese
romaine lettuce-washed and dried
fresh lemon or lime
homemade Taco Seasoning

1st Step- Prep Avocado
Mash avocado with fork and add pinch of sea salt,  fresh squeeze of lemon or lime juice, diced onion, and cilantro.  Cover and put in fridge.  Wash, dice tomatoes and place in seperate bowl.


2nd Step- Prepare your meat
Next brown your meat and add seasoning.  I also had a little bit of water.


Prepare your Taco and Add your Toppings!

The Skinny on Clean Eating

Ahhh CLEAN EATING???  What in the world is this actually all about?  The term clean eating is gaining traction and seems to be appearing everywhere these days, so I thought I would give you the skinny on what it really is all about.  I want to first say clean eating is not a diet!  It is simply living a happy and healthy lifestyle while eating some quite tasty food.

Back when my family started clean eating I thought, hmmmm is it boiled chicken and steamed veggies?  Is there really any flavor?  Well, little did I know we were eating clean way more than I even knew.  We were almost following the 80/20 rule without even knowing it!  BUT we didn't get off the hook that easy, there was plenty to clean up too! Think of clean eating as basically eating whole (meaning REAL) foods that are unprocessed or minimally processed. I think you will be surprised how clean eating really is more simple than one thought.

So the big picture to look at in our kitchens and around us are the difference between processed vs. unprocessed foods.  Processed foods are foods that are changed from their natural state by the addition of additives like preservatives to keep food fresh longer or foods that are manufactured in labs.  Have you ever taken a look at the ingredients and couldn't pronounce some of the words?  I know, I sure have! Those are the ingredients that were manufactured in a lab, and most likely are NOT natural!!!  The problem with processed and genetically modified foods (GMO) is that they don't break down in our bodies properly and can be linked to a plethora of health problems, as well as, completely detrimental to our diets. Whereas, we know whole foods are linked to good health and can help ward off certain diseases.  

I AM READY TO MAKE SOME CHANGES AND GIVE CLEAN EATING A CHANCE, SO WHERE DO I BEGIN???

The first step to eating clean is cleaning out the kitchen.  Yes, your kitchen! So let's get started. It is time to go through your pantry and ditch items that have high sugar, artificial sweeteners, food color, preservatives, high fructose corn syrup or ingredients you can't pronounce.  Still unsure??? Google the ingredient in question or better yet, go to www.fooducate.com and type in the product name.  It will give you a rating, and give you details on why it was rated high or low.  There is even a fooducate app you can download on most phones.  Once you download it, fill out the info and start scanning away....my husband had fun with this nifty little tool while we were grocery shopping sans kids! Ohhh how our date nights have changed!

Once your kitchen is cleaned out, it is time to meal plan and gocery shop.  A few general rules apply to the grocery stores.  It is best to shop the perimeter, meaning produce, deli, meat, dairy.  Most of these are foods that will spoil and do not have a shelf life, and if this is true that means there shouldn't be as many preservatives. When you do shop the aisles, look at the ingredients.  If there is a long list, keep on walking, especially if you can't pronounce the names or there are artifical colors.  EEEKKKK!   The same rules you followed to clean out your pantry, apply while you are restocking your pantry :) 

TAKE A LOOK AT THE CATEGORIES BELOW TO HELP YOU GET STARTED!

Clean Eating Foods that are unprocessed or minimally processed include:

fruits

vegetables

hormone free eggs

nuts

legumes (beans/lentils)

Minimally Processed Foods Include:

unrefined grains-whole wheat bread, whole wheat pasta, steel cut oats, quinoa, brown rice

organic or hormone free dairy
frozen fruits and vegetables
unprocessed or nitrate free meat

oils

WHAT IS THE 80/20 RULE???

The concept behind the 80/20 rule is that you eat healthy (clean) 80 percent of the time while there is still room for cheats and treats 20 percent of the time.  Following the 80/20 rule still allows you to go to dinner, enjoy a cheat meal, have a dessert, or enjoy that happy hour cocktail while still maintaining your healthy lifestyle.

I can honestly say that since we have started eating clean and following the 80/20 rule we have not looked back.  We feel energized and we feel good!  It is amazing how crummy we feel if we are off track.