Taking Off!

Here we are on the final day of January 2015!  I have been thinking lately about the term "taking off".  I have not flown a ton of times in my life, but I do find the take-off to be exhilarating, nerve-wracking, mind-boggling and just plain amazing.  I mean, even looking at a photo here, how incredible is it that all of this works?  I am not an aerospace engineer for whoever it is that really masters all of this... but I do spend quite a bit of time with people who are on the runway and preparing to "take off" in their own life!  I also get to work directly with those who have lifted off and are on their way.  Sometimes it is bumpy and unseemly as we transition.  But there is NOTHING like the celebration that takes place when someone is successful with reaching their own next chapter!

Earlier this week I had posted the following on my own FB page.  I had taken the "basement mirror selfie" which you will see on the right-hand side in the collage below -  

"Ow. Ow. Ow. Each flight of 7 stairs feels like 20 today! Modifying less and less in Max 30 and I am FEELING it

Today I saw myself in the mirror while coming down to switch laundry. And I could SEE it."

Now, here's the thing.  I have been on the journey for some time now.  16+ months of clean eating, daily home workouts and Shakeology for breakfast!  I am still not yet at my overall goal.  This progress has not happened overnight.  Actually, this morning I had the idea to go back to my own "Day 1" photos which some of you have seen.  (eeeeekkkkkk!)  But then I have my "Day 30" photos which no one outside of my own family has seen.  Not that they are any "worse" than Day 1 but I am accustomed to sharing Day 1 when I can look at the contrast of the results of many more days time in that side-by-side.  I will never forget the day that I reached Day 60 and felt brave enough to message these photos just to my own immediate family.  I was so mortified that I almost did not send them to my mom and sisters!  Let's just get something out of the way here - I am not wearing actual shorts in these photos because I did not own a pair that fit me when I started this journey.  Thus the photo-shopping with the little gray oval overlay below...

In March of 2014 I began coaching with Team Beachbody.  I had experienced such amazing life change that I was ready to share this with everyone in my circle and beyond!  I lead challenge groups and help others to reach their own health goals.  I also work with my team which is full of other quality people who are on this same mission!  When you are just at the beginning - at the "taking off" point yourself and you see something like my orange collage above, with the bridesmaid dress and basement selfie contrast, that sort of transformation can be inspiring but may also feel soooooo out of reach.  How do we get from here to there?  It is truly in our daily choices.  The little things that we do each day make all the difference!  Looking at the Day 1 to Day 30 collage above certainly puts the Day 1 to Day 500-something collage in perspective, right?  There is a saying that has meant more to me personally than any other statement that I oftentimes encourage myself while on this journey:

Wherever you are today, on this final day of January, KEEP WORKING AT IT!  I currently have two challenge groups running and I am really enjoying both of them!  Our Insanity Max 30 test group has been together for nearly two months now and I so appreciate the camaraderie while in the midst of this incredibly intense program!  These people are determined and have navigated multiple holidays, seasonal illness, travel and many other things.  Yet we are moving forward!  One more week until I chart my own results from 60 days of Max 30!  My "New Year, New YOU" group is just coming to the end of Week 3!  This means that many of my 21 Day Fix challengers there are just about to complete their own first round of that program.  OH THE SUSPENSE!  Tomorrow is the day to chart their progress and they have been working hard!  I am enjoying the "newness" of this group as many there are on their first round of any program while learning about clean eating and how to make all of this work in everyday life.  They inspire me!   And guess what will be available on Monday, February 2nd??  The 21 Day Fix EXTREME!  Oh boy - I am planning to do that one.  Let me know if you would like some details on our exclusive test group!

One of the challengers in my New Year, New You group has been coming up with some "cleaned up" versions of family favorites.  This is what it is all about!  I LOVE this sort of thing!  Last night she shared this with the groups and she has given me permission to share...

We had another winner in the "cleaning up family favorites experiment." We are a casserole family, but I was sure that canned condensed soup was not the cleanest thing in the world. 

I found this recipe for condensed soup substitute from Clean Eating magazine:

Serves: Makes 1 cup soup base

INGREDIENTS:
2 tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup minced onion
3 tbsp whole-wheat flour
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth, boiled and reduced by half
1/2 cup skim milk (maybe unsweetened almond? Haven't tried that yet)

INSTRUCTIONS:
In a saucepan or pot, heat oil on medium. Add onion and sauté until translucent. Add flour and stir for 2 minutes, until golden brown. Stir in broth, milk and optional top flavor ingredient (I used 1/2 cup minced mushrooms).Bring to a gentle boil, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes, until thickened. Allow to cool and use as desired.
Nutrients per 1/2-cup serving (using cremini mushrooms): Calories: 115, Total Fat: 7 g, Sat. Fat: 1.5 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g, Carbs: 8 g, Fiber: 1 g, Sugars: 2 g, Protein: 4 g, Sodium: 37 mg, Cholesterol: 1 mg

I made extra and divided it into 10 1/2 oz. portions (the weight of one can of soup). I froze them in Food Saver bags, but I'm sure zip lock freezer bags would work fine.
Our cleaned up tuna casserole tasted better than ever with whole grain noodles and bread crumbs.

You know what?  The challenger referenced above is a woman who is "taking off" with her health and her family is benefiting as well!  The biggest thing is to find an approach that is going to make all of this fit into your own life.  I can help with that and our other challengers are also full of ideas!  What an excellent environment!  Can you see why I enjoy this "job" so much???  Not to mention all of the flexibility, training tools, product discounts, team camaraderie and significant contribution to the household budget...  In recent days I have been able to see my coaching business "taking off" as well.  It is amazing to see our team growing.  I LOVE the enthusiasm and I am getting to know some fantastic people.  If you are interested in "taking off" with coaching as a career, just let me know ASAP and we will get you started!  Our next Smart Start Coach Basics training begins on Monday, February 2nd!

  

 

A First with My Daughter...

Last night I was cooking dinner and something happened for the first time...  I know that this is a feeling that I will remember for the rest of my life.  Friends with older kids have told me about this but I had not yet experienced it myself.  

My husband was doing some things on the computer which is set up at a desk in our dining room.  Our 5 year old son was circling the living room, dining room and kitchen loop while making tracks with a variety of trains.  I thought to myself, "Where is Kylee"?  She recently had her 8th birthday and has been spending more time upstairs in her bedroom.  She plays with her Barbies.  She sits at her desk and writes/draws in her diary.  She listens to music.  She works with her Lego Friends creations. I took a look into the dining room last night and my heart was so happy to see her sitting at the table.  She was working on some art project and was humming to herself.  I realized that this was the "first" time that I had felt a bit sad thinking of her off enjoying something alone in her room while feeling a bit wistful that she was not down here with the rest of us.  It hit me that this would likely become an all-too-familiar feeling over the years to come.  Aaaaaahhh!  Thinking and writing about this now makes me teary!  A moment later I heard her asking my husband to take a look at something that she had drawn.  They are both the artists in this family!  He instantly stopped what he was doing and turned around to be fully present in the conversation with her and my heart was full.  This is one area in which he does so much better than me. Granted, I am with the kids all day every day as we are a homeschooling family.  Balance is important and at times I am in the zone while running my coaching business from here at home.  But the combination of these moments last night will serve as a reminder for me to really hit "pause" on some of my endeavors in order to be fully present with the kids.  And my husband!

Nearly two years ago, I read a FB status that JUMPED off of the page at me and was a deciding factor in some decisions that we were making.  The statement simply said, "What you plant is what grows".  What are we planting into the lives of our kids?  There are a million things to do each week and sometimes the thought of proactively "doing another thing" can feel like too much.  It has been my prayer that in my everyday life, I am living in such a way that what I am naturally communicating to my kids is planting good seed and is cultivating what is at work within them. 

Yesterday morning I opened up my BibleGateway app to the verse of the day.  It was found in Galatians 6 and as I read surrounding verses in that chapter, some questions that I have been asking myself and the Lord were swiftly confirmed to me...

Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life.  Don’t be misled: No one makes a fool of God. What a person plants, he will harvest. The person who plants selfishness, ignoring the needs of others—ignoring God!—harvests a crop of weeds. All he’ll have to show for his life is weeds! But the one who plants in response to God, letting God’s Spirit do the growth work in him, harvests a crop of real life, eternal life.  So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.

 

Healthy Buffalo Chicken Pizza + Chicken Parmesan Pizza

Hello!  Tonight's blog topic is all about what we had for dinner here this evening!  My husband is such a fan of Buffalo Chicken Pizza.  Prior to this evening, I had never made a homemade version!  This is something that we would get every once in a while through takeout and I liked it but really could not enjoy it all that much, guessing at what all I was probably consuming while eating it!  A few days ago, a friend of mine named Lisa who is also a Team Beachbody coach posted a link to where she had blogged a recipe for Buffalo Chicken Pizza!  I know how Lisa cooks and was immediately intrigued with the possibility of a "made-over" version of this favorite! I am actually going to just direct you to her page right here.  You may be surprised by the "sauce" ingredients??  :)  Other than skipping the green onions due to personal preference, we followed her recipe exactly!

But what about the kids?  Our children are ages 5 and 8.  They will actually tolerate a bit more spice than some kids.  But I knew that I was really making this one for my husband and I didn't want to dial it down for them... so I just set aside some of the chicken and did NOT apply any of the buffalo sauce to it.  I had some of our favorite tomato sauce (see photo below) on hand and I used that. I find this sauce in the Nature's Marketplace organic section at our local Wegmans.  It is low in sodium, the ingredients are simple and the taste is fantastic!  All of the pizza we made this evening was very "light on the cheese" and that is okay!  As our tastes adjust and we rearrange our expectations of how food "should" look and taste, we come to realize that we really do not need or even want to much of what is served as status quo in our country these days!  So, back to the pizza... I used the same whole wheat crust and added some of this sauce, a bit of mozzarella, the plain cooked chicken and a sprinkle of Parmesan!  EASY.  And so much better for us than pepperoni pizza would be!  Even this sort of "healthy" pizza is not something that I am going to eat regularly, as the carb ratio is a bit high for what I typically eat.  But as pizza goes, this is an excellent option and we will surely enjoy both the Buffalo Chicken and the Chicken Parmesan from time to time!

The kids each ended up having a second piece of pizza.  This dinner was a winner!  We also really enjoy our veggies.  I was going to add celery to this mix but the kids ate all of my celery at 4:30 this afternoon.  Oh well, things could be worse!  Dinner was running a bit late this evening because we got carried away with a study on Snowy Owls.  :)  As you can see, the kids had a nibble of the crust before the pizza made it into the oven...

 

Details on the 21 Day Fix Extreme!

Here we go!  We are less than two weeks from the release of Beachbody's newest program - the 21 Day Fix Extreme!  Click here to join the FB event which is described in the image above!

I was recently down in Pittsburgh for a coaching weekend and guess what??  Autumn herself was there with us! It was so neat to hear her talking about the Fix Extreme and what all she put into creating it and why she wanted to be able to offer this program.  My ears perked up when she mentioned that ALL of the Fix Extreme workouts will include weights!  Here is the program preview video!  I really enjoy using weights and have missed them while doing PiYo and Insanity Max 30.  Those are both body weight programs and no doubt I do have enough weight of my own to use!  But it will be good to pick up my dumbbells once again.  Anyways, Autumn shared how the 21 Day Fix Extreme will be on par with the intensity of Insanity Max 30 and also P90x3.  So that means that this is not quite a beginner program.  NO worries if you ARE a beginner, though!  In that case we would just have you begin with the original 21 Day Fix which is really perfect for most anyone!  While in Pittsburgh, we had the opportunity do do a live group workout with Autumn while previewing this fantastic new program!  Umm.... that was intense!  "Surrenders", anyone??
  

Logistics:

• The program is 21 days long and can be repeated as often as you would like!  This is a program which will help create a healthy lifestyle change.  This is NOT a 21 day diet!!!!!
• You will have one 30 minute workout per day.
• A 6 square foot area is all that you need to do the workouts so the average person should be fine on space.  :)
• Cross Trainer or aerobic shoes are the best choice for doing the workouts.
• Weights and/or a resistant band is required and not included.    

We are just beginning to see the first results from those who were part of this program prior to the release.  WhAT??!!?  The photos above represent just 21 Days of progress?  Were people working out for 3-4 hours per day?  Nope!  Of course not.  They were doing the Fix Extreme and really, really eating right by following the nutrition guide!  While in Pittsburgh the other weekend, Autumn was telling us about the nutrition plan.  It is similar to the original 21 Day Fix.  BUT this plan steps things up a bit... no more chocolate and wine treats included!  The waffles are also missing... but she does include a nutritious homemade pancake recipe!  You will also have the option of following a "competition track" nutrition guide.  Oh my!  That could be tough.  Or you can alternate between the two.  We will have options!  Sticking with the nutrition plan is where having the accountability of being part of the test group really goes a long way! 

The Workouts: 

 
Similar to the 21 Day Fix, the EXTREME includes: Upper Fix Extreme, Lower Fix Extreme, Pilates Fix Extreme, Cardio Fix Extreme, Dirty 30 Fix Extreme, Yoga Extreme, and Plyo Fix Extreme.

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

 

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.

On February 2nd, I am definitely planning to order my copy as soon as the Fix Extreme goes live! This will be perfect timing because I will just be ending my 60 days of Insanity Max 30!  I NEVER would have guessed that I would go from loving PiYo to also enjoying one extreme program (Max 30) and then leading right into another extreme program in the form of the 21 Day Fix Extreme.  We never know what we are capable of until we try!

I have just put together a Countdown Group where we will be posting daily beginning on Friday, January 23rd!  Join me 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/.

Just like I have done with PiYo and Insanity Max 30, I will be hosting an EXCLUSIVE 21 Day Fix EXTREME TEST GROUP!  I will guide you through each step of the program. We will learn how to correctly follow the nutrition plan with sample meal plans, plus ideas on meal prep, recipes, snack ideas, and more!  You will get daily posts within a closed Facebook group where we will encourage and challenge one another.

Our test group will begin our prep week on January 9th.  We will all set realistic goals, take our measurements, and prepare for Day 1 of the program. 

So, what do you think??  Are you ready to commit to a program that will get you the results that you have been looking for?  Really focusing for a defined period of time is going to set you off in a great direction for the spring!  And you can do as many rounds of the Extreme as you would like!  Just think of where you could be by July??? 

The 21 Day Fix EXTREME will be released at a PROMOTIONAL price!  There is the possibility of a sell-out, so contact me and we will get you ready for the 2/2 release.  

Who should buy the program?

21 Day Fix EXTREME is ideal for those with a dramatic short-term weight loss deadline--such as an upcoming vacation, photo shoot, or other big event. It's an excellent next step for 21 Day Fix graduates ready for a new challenge or graduates of other extreme programs like P90X, Insanity, and FOCUS T25.Fix EXTREME is also great for those who don't have much weight to lose, but want to get shredded and see abs; those who don't want to mess around with their workouts and nutrition; or anyone who doesn't want to count calories, weigh  their food, or follow complicated recipes. I would not recommend the 21 Day Fix Extreme for a beginner.  This is an advanced program.

Insanity Max 30 Meal Plan: Week 6 + Recipes!

I am just at the beginning of Week SIX with Insanity Max 30!  I put together my meal plan for this week and thought that I would share it with you.  I will add in my dinner recipe links below!  

The Insanity Max 30 nutrition guide uses the same principles that are found in the 21 Day Fix program.  It is all about portion control and eating the right ratio of food categories as we seek to make the most of our energy, metabolism and overall health!  Of course eating clean is the foundation for all of my meal planning.  :)

Dinner Recipes

Molly is a coach on my team who first shared her Pineapple Salsa recipe this July.  It always reminds me of a "summer" flavor and who isn't longing for a bit of that as we go through the month of January here in Erie, PA?  We make this recipe and serve it over grilled chicken.  This one is definitely a family favorite!

On Wednesday of this week we are going to try something NEW for dinner!  I am excited about this one.  Buffalo Chicken Pizza is a favorite for my husband.  I like the taste but the thought of what all I am eating makes me cringe and definitely helps to keep my portions in check when enjoying that "cheat meal"!  Trying this homemade version could be a great solution!  A coach friend Lisa posted this on her page over the weekend and I knew right away it was going to wind up on my own meun plan!

The new Wegmans Menu Magazine arrived this week and that is always a highlight!  We will be making two recipes that I found there!  The sauce is what you have to watch out for when cooking clean.  The sauce used in these recipes in not awful, but I will still "go light" on it and will incorporate plenty of the veggies.  My family has grown accustomed to eating our dinners this way.  It is great to really let the flavors of the ingredients themselves shine through the dish.  Enjoying things in a simple way is perhaps a bit of an acquired taste.  But now I would never want to go back to all of the old sodium, exra fats and added sugar!  

Wegmans Organic Sesame Garlic Beef Stir Fry

Wegmans Organic Cashew Chicken with Mushrooms and Green Beans

Lunch and Snacks

Vanilla Berry Cup is a Max 30 recipe which is simply Plain Greek Yogurt, a dash of Vanilla Extract and some Mixed Berries.  I thaw out some frozen berries and it all combines in a nice way!  

Here is the Tomato Cucumber Salad:

And here are the Turkey Roll Ups: 

Month 2 Week 1 of Insanity Max 30 - Liking Cardio MORE than Strength!?!?

Here we are!  I am now more than 1/2 way through my 60 Days of Insanity Max 30!  I just completed my first week of Month 2.  With Insanity Max 30, this means FIVE new workouts this week.  What??  And let me just say that there is a reason that these are not included within Month 1.  :)  I had two surprises this week... within the Max 30 schedule you will find that Monday, Wednesday and Friday are very much cardio days.  Tuesday and Thursday also involve an element of strength training mixed in with some cardio.  Tuesday and Thursday utilize the Tabata approach.  In Month 1 this meant 20 seconds on, 10 seconds off.  Month 2 steps it up to 45 (!!!!!!!!!?????????) seconds on and 15 seconds off.  So surprise #1 this week is that I found myself actually liking cardio MORE than strength.  This is pretty much a lifetime first for me.  So is it that the strength is just that intense and really rough or am I becoming better at cardio and thus I enjoy it more than I did in the past?  Probably a little of each!  Surprise #2 was that I put on a pair of jeans yesterday morning.  For the first time this week.  This happened on Saturday??  I have been a little behind on the laundry and have been enjoying yoga pants and leggings this week.  Anyways, my size 12 jeans were fresh from the laundry and shortly after putting them on, I was pleasantly surprised to find the waist fitting in a loose way!  Hurray!!  The thighs are still snug and that seems to be my build as my body continues to change shape.  But yesterday was the first time that I could really picture myself looking for 10's in the not-so-distant future.  That will be a FIRST for me.  It is my goal to be able to do this before my birthday which is coming up in April.  I will complete Insanity Max 30 in February and will then move into a couple rounds of the BRAND NEW (2/2 release!) 21 Day Fix Extreme.  Keeping my goals in mind will help me to continue to stay on track in the kitchen.  

Monday - Max Out Cardio 

Here is what I shared in my Test Group in regards to this workout...

Done!! First day of Month 2!!

1) Pleasantly surprised that I did not have to modify as much as anticipated!

2) That first crazy power move scared me!! The plank/jack/punch thing all done in plank position! Modified there!

3) The plank/squat was nifty and actually pretty cool for the first 2. By #3 my glutes and hamstrings were really feeling it!! Whoa!

4) I can tell how much my cardio fitness has improved while doing the sprint/jack. I actually felt really good through there!

Tuesday - Max Out Power

Reflections posted in my Test Group:

Okay! So this was probably the most simple but most intense Max 30 yet! 45 seconds feels like forever!!!!

I maxed out before 8 minutes! My quads were on FIRE! The 9th minute was a flashback to the sounds of the Labor and Delivery unit! 

This one also has a good amount of water breaks. And 5 (FIVE?!?!!?) minutes of push-ups in that 45 sec on/15 off rotation. 

There is nothing complex in this routine but yet it is a crazy challenge! I kept reminding myself of the article that I had posted earlier. I am not on a spaceship, therefore I have no excuse to not make the most of gravity in this resistance training!

Welcome to Month 2!

Wednesday - Max Out Sweat

Afternoon Workout was on the plan for today. 

Call me crazy, but I really liked this one! Wednesdays may be a favorite day again in Month Two?

The warm-up follows the Month 2 format. Intense! My quads were begging for mercy during that 123 Clap! Remnants of yesterday's 9 minute mark agony. 

I don't know why I liked this one so much?? Shaun T had a few surprise reactions! Maybe because it is tough but very doable? It goes quick and before you meld over you are on to the next move. 

I also added in Ab Attack. I can see and feel how much stronger I am getting there!

Thursday - Max Out Strength

I maxed out somewhere around the 8 minute mark. But at 15:50 I think that I was mumbling incoherently! I hit pause, stood up and walked around the basement for 30 seconds. I got myself back together and return to the floor! I did it again at 28 minutes, even knowing that we were almost done. That was pretty crazy! Definitely upped the ante from Tuesday's workout. Oh my. 

 
Friday - Friday Fight: Round 2

This was my best workout of the week!  Sure, it is hard.  Shaun T begins by saying that it is the hardest workout that he has ever created.  Oh boy!  On the heels of Thursday, I was a bit nervous upon hearing this.  But I was in the zone and pushed myself just right and I loved it!!  Finishing this one strong is the best feeling ever!!

 

Weekends with Insanity Max 30

Max 30 runs on a 5 day per week schedule.  The 5 workouts are 30 minutes in length and they are INTENSE.  You have the option to do the 20 minute "Pulse" workout on the weekends.  Pulse is all about stretch and strength and you can also add in the 10 minute Ab Attack if you would like.  Sometimes we may have a week where we are "running behind" a day during the week itself.  It is good to have the flexibility of being able to catch up a day over the weekend.  In that case, you could use Saturday as a "make up" day and still take Sunday to either rest or do Pulse.  You NEED that rest day in this program.  Especially in Month 2.  

Overall, I am very, very happy with Insanity Max 30.  I am personally still surprised at home much I am enjoying it.  If you are someone who does not have physical limitations an you like to push yourself, I would recommend it!  Begin by following the modifier and you will still get some crazy results.  Contact me for more details on how to get started with Insanity Max 30.  You might surprise yourself with what you can accomplish!

 

Clean Eating Nutty Oatmeal Cookies

Hello!  I am a mom with children who are ages 5 and 8.  We began eating clean in September 2013 and it has been life-changing for my family.  But this doesn't mean that we don't still enjoy some cookies every once in a while.  I will just go ahead and say that I do not make cookies all that often.  I do not eat them in a responsible manner.  Cookies are my weakness!  Yesterday my 5 year old son was asking if we could "please make a new healthy cookie recipe"?  He went on to list some ingredients that he would like to include.  That made me smile, as they were all very logical cookie ingredients and did wind up in the recipe that we made.  :)  I have made other treat recipes that have banana as the only sweetener and some sort of bean as the grain.  These nutty oatmeal cookies are not quite of that category of "healthy" cookie.  They do still involve a healthy fat and some low-glycemic coconut palm sugar, plus raw honey.  I think that these came out GREAT!  I actually had one just now and I like this recipe.  I began by searching online for recipe ideas and then took one and changed a few things to make it suit us - and also to match my son's ingredient recommendations!  I hope that you enjoy this one as much as we are!

Clean Eating Nutty Oatmeal Cookies

• 1/2 c. coconut oil
• 3 Tbsp. raw honey
• Just under 1/4 c. coconut palm sugar
• 3/4 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 egg 
• 1/2 - 1 tsp. cinnamon (to taste - we like cinnamon lots!)
• 3 Tbsp. water
• 2 c. rolled oats (I used 1/2 old-fashioned oats and 1/2 quick oats)
• 2/3 c. whole wheat pastry flour
• 1/4 tsp. sea salt
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 3/4 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/3 - 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
• 1/3 - 1/2 cup raisins

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Use a glass bowl to melt the coconut oil and the raw honey.  Whisk in the palm sugar and vanilla.  Add egg and mix well.  Next whisk in the water and the cinnamon.  Switch to a mixing spoon and fold in the oats, salt, baking soda, flour, and chopped walnuts.  You may choose to divide the dough at this point and add chocolate chips to one bowl and the raisins to the remaining portion. 
3. Drop by tablespoons onto stoneware baking sheet.  Flatten a bit BEFORE baking!
4. Bake for 10 to 11 minutes or until bottoms or until cookies have set. Makes 20-22 cookies.
   

What If She Hadn't...

Hello!  Welcome to my blog.  My name is Jeanette Paradis.  Today I would like to tell you a story.  This is something that has been circling my mind for a while now.  If you are a personal friend of mine of a follower of my blog, you are familiar with the big life changes that I have had over the past 16 months.  I used to weigh well over 230 pounds and that was a lot on my 5'4" frame.  I am not of a "petite" structure and I have always had strong shoulders and legs.  Lots of time riding horses and works with them has contributed to that!  But I was not at all healthy.  I was headed for trouble.  I had a visit with my doctor and was cautioned that if I did not lower my cholesterol through changing my lifestyle, I was going to wind up on meds for it.  Yikes!  Other than a prenatal vitamin during both of my pregnancies and a handful of antibiotics in my adult years, I have never been on a daily medication and thinking of that possibility is part of what gave me the desire to REALLY make a change.  Plus I did not have enough energy to keep up with my kids the way that I would have liked.  My husband has always been a great fan and never for a moment made me feel self-conscious about my shape.  He has always had that twinkle in his eye when he looks my way!  :)  But I wanted to be healthy.  For myself and for everyone else in my life.  I had tried things here and there in the past but I would never lose more than 5-8 pounds and nothing stuck.  I began in September 2013 with clean eating, daily 30 minute home workouts and Shakeology.  I was part of a secret FB group where my coach led the way and I was supported by a group of friends who were working on their own health.  Looking back now, it is STILL mind-boggling to me that I lost 19 pounds and 11" that first month!  Oh my goodness.  It was not easy but it was also not excruciating.  I found new habits and gave up my old ways.  What a difference!  But how did I come across this approach in the first place?  It was through my youngest sister Rachel.

Rachel is 6.5 years younger than me.  Rachel had always been petite but was having trouble losing the weight from her own baby #2.  She kept thinking of a former co-worker who had really been having some success herself.  Rachel was intrigued and wanted to learn more.  Rachel wound up following her friend's example and joined a "challenge group" (a secret FB accountability group) in May 2013 and she began making some excellent progress!  This group was led by a coach named Melanie Mitro.  

Melanie had been coaching for less than two years at that point in time.  Melanie herself became a coach after having her own big transformation with Insanity, clean eating and Shakeology.  Melanie is a mom of two little boys.  After her 2nd son was born, she was having a hard time losing the baby weight and was adjusting to the world of being a SAHM.  She posted on FB something about eating celery and trying to lose weight but not making much progress.  A coach named Nikki Minton read that post and reached out to Melanie.  Nikki's husband was a friend of Melanie's husband.  Nikki started telling Melanie about challenge groups and how they worked.  From that point, Melanie began making her own changes and did wind up becoming a coach on Nikki's team. 

Fast forward less than two years later and Rachel joins one of Melanie's challenge groups.  Melanie was a 5 Star Diamond coach at that point in time.  In 2013 she ended the year as the #2 ranked coach in the entire company!  A few months after Rachel began her own transformation, she began coaching.  Our middle sister Bethany was one of her first challengers.  Bethany went on to lose 50 pounds.  I couldn't help but notice all of this and I got my own start about 6 weeks after Bethany.

I became a coach in 2014 and Rachel and I led my first challenge group together that March.  In April I was up and running with my own groups.  Rachel and I now lead a team of coaches ourselves and it is AMAZING to see all of the individuals and families whose lives have been changed for the better through what we do as our everyday work!  Melanie ended 2014 as the #1 coach in all of Beachbody.  Our larger team is called the Dream Team and I am thankful to be a part of it!  We were just down in Pittsburgh this past weekend and had a big celebration and lots of practical training as we closed out 2014 and welcomed 2015!  It was amazing to gather with 1,000 other coaches and our CEO Carl Deikler plus Autumn Calabrese who created the 21 Day Fix program.

 

So... what if Nikki hadn't reached out to Melanie in 2011...

What if Melanie hadn't made the decision to change her own health?

What if Melanie hadn't become a coach later in 2011?

What if Rachel hadn't found Melanie to begin her own transformation in 2013 and then went on to become a coach that year?

What if I hadn't jumped in with making my own changes in September 2013?  WHERE WOULD I BE TODAY??  I am afraid to even ponder it.  Probably weighing in well above 200 pounds and facing who knows what as far as meds and health conditions?? And I would have missed out on so many fun things that I have been "up for" these past 16 months.  

And, what if I hadn't become a coach 10+ months ago??  What about the 100+ people that my team and I have been able to help in 2014?  Not to mention the fact that this "job" is amazing and it an excellent fit at this point in my life!  

So, what could you explore in 2015?  If you say yes to beginning improving your own health and fitness, imagine the ripple effect?  And what if you also became a coach on my team?  Think of the individuals and families who could be impacted as you join this movement to combat the obesity that is taking over our society???  SO many of the current health problems that are plaguing our country could be remedied through eating clean, eating the right foods and portion sizes and spending 30 minutes a day doing a home workout!  It really is an incredible thing to imagine all of what 2015 will hold!  It is hard to describe how amazing it is to be part of something like this.  I LOVE it.  Leading my challenge groups, mentoring my team, working with my peers and learning from Melanie herself has been incredible.  And I feel like this is really just the beginning.  Plus I have been able to make a significant contribution to our household's monthly budget.  

I am thankful.  I am thankful for my own health.  I am thankful for the success of my business.  I am thankful that everyone mentioned in this story decided to take the plunge!  I can't imagine what life would be like otherwise.  I am thankful for God's plan and how He brings people together at just the right times and places.  It is a lot to ponder, isn't it??  Most of all, I am so glad that who I am now is a person who is able to be my own best for my family.  This means more than I can say.  No matter your starting point, let's make the most of today!  Join me and be a part of this amazing thing.