A Bump in the Road

Well it was bound to happen; a little hiccup to my otherwise brilliant plan. I promised you that I would blog daily to chronicle my journey. Journal my memoirs, if you will.

In my head, it made total sense to work out daily (sometimes twice) and blog each day. I mean, what could possibly get in the way of that foolproof plan? Oh yeah-- LIFE! While I have not been consistent with everything I planned, I DID have a few wins in the last few days... so read on and help me celebrate!

These last few days have been busy full. I haven't exactly been productive, which is CRAZY because I feel like each day ends with me sleeping basically before I hit my pillow. The conference in Minneapolis was excellent. I got together with some other employees in my role at our home office and powwowed for a day and a half coming up with ways to save the world, one well-worded email and efficiently organized file cabinet at a time.

My husband and I celebrate our birthdays two days apart. He insists on celebrating my birthday individually on the 7th and then I insist on celebrating HIS birthday on the 9th. Meanwhile, we celebrate Sandwich Day on the 8th-- the day that is sandwiched by our birthdays! We always do something fun like see a movie or have a special dinner. THIS year, we are both working to make our lives healthier and happier. However, we DO believe in living life and celebrating accordingly. A little cake once in awhile never hurt anyone. (How else are you going to make a wish for your year?)  Here's how it went down:
      - We split the ONE piece of birthday cake he bought for my birthday and I only could stomach a few bites. It was DELICIOUS, but my palate isn't used to that much sweetness anymore!
      - We ate at a popular BBQ place on his birthday. You guys, portions are HUGE pretty much everywhere, but definitely at this place. I immediately cut my sandwich in HALF and took that home for leftovers. BAM.
      - We chose healthy snacks and meals all weekend!
      - My husband, Randy, bought us both FitBits for our birthdays! This handy little gadget is a bracelet that tracks the steps you take each day. I average (without running) only about 5,000 steps per day. My weight loss goal is to DOUBLE that!

This morning, I was running behind and I *should* have hustled to work. But, I'm salaried so if I'm a few minutes late, it's not the end of the world. I told myself that I was going to WALK to work this morning. This seemed like a great idea in theory-- I only live 2 miles from work and it was a gorgeous, breezy August morning. So, I got dressed and slapped on my running shoes (super cute look, I know), threw all my crap in a laptop bag and off I went.

I started off well enough... be-boppin' along listening to How the World Sees You by Sally Hogshead on Audible. Amazing read (or listen, as it were), y'all... I highly recommend. I was admiring the birds and the gorgeous fluffy clouds and the bright sun. OH THE SUN. I walked to work with zero shade whatsoever. Pretty soon, my easy walk turned into a journey in the sweltering heat. Sweat. Was. Everywhere. Dripping down my face-- I could feel it soaking my tank top under my shirt. My hairline was getting perspiration beads all over it. My make up was melting. I got to work feeling like I was lost in a desert and grasping for a drop of water. Ridiculous. Oh hey, co-workers, happy Monday. Let me just wring out my shirt. G-ROSS.

However, I will be doing it again- I'll just be more prepared!

The one thing that really centered me and totally kept my cravings and over-eating in check was my daily dose of Shakeology. You guys, IT IS DELICIOUS and easy to take with you on the go. It's the easiest way to make sure, if nothing else, that your portion sizes and cravings stay at a manageable level. If you struggle with eating out, over-eating by the time you DO eat, portion control or staying full meal to meal, think about Shakeology. This is a great way to do all those things.

My conference in Minneapolis was about efficiency in the workplace, but it's crazy how much I was thinking about Beachbody the whole time and how all of the tactics I learned could apply to it. One take-away was that the Wall Street Journal did a study about efficiency in the workplace. They learned that 95% of what we do is non-productive time. NINETY-FIVE PERCENT!!! I'm moving towards the goal of spending my time wisely and cutting back on wasted time.

The Good, The Bad, and the Very (Very) Jiggly

   Today I drove to Minneapolis for a conference for work that begins tomorrow. I did work in the office this morning for a bit, and grabbed Shakeology on my way out the door. After work, I ran a couple of quick errands but I still had to run home to get a few things out of the dryer to shove in my suitcase before hitting the road. The intention was to get to Minneapolis before rush hour so I wanted to get going.

  To avoid swinging through a drive thru fast food place (because really, fast food while travelling is the easiest and a great excuse to eat crap), I grabbed ANOTHER Shakeology shake. I was satisfied for the entire trip and I made it into a parking garage in downtown Minneapolis at 3pm on the button. SUCCESS!

   After my first two-a-day workout last night and a last minute trip to the storage unit for my sister, I accidentally slept through my alarm this morning and didn't get a run in. I NEEDED to get a workout in today, even if it had to be at the hotel! I planned ahead and brought T25 with me. As soon as I checked in and got to my (giant) "standard" room on the top floor with a gorgeous view, I changed clothes and put the disc in my computer. 25 minutes later, I was DONE!

   I used my laptop to play the disc so the big screen TV in the room was off and of course, the screen was reflective.
  
The Good: I was able to watch myself in the TV screen to make sure I had good form for each move.

The Bad: I was able to watch myself.

The Very Very Jiggly: Apparently, I carry all my weight in my stomach and I had the privilege of watching it suffer through a 25 minute workout.

The bright side is that I'm more motivated and see EXACTLY and in great detail how hard I need to work to reach my goal. The moral of the story is to work out at least once in front of the mirror. It's equal parts humbling and motivating. Make it happen, friends!

In the Name of Modification

Happy Monday, friends! Today I started my two-a-day workouts and I feel awesome! I run in the morning, anywhere between a mile and a half and just over 2 miles, depending on the time I have each day. I'd like to get up to about 3 miles, but that's a process.

Then in the afternoon after work, I REALLY want to come home and do nothing but eat dinner and hang out. You can learn more about T25 here and buy it here.

Today was cardio, which is no one's favorite, so I was happy to knock it out and be done with it for the week! Sweat was pouring down my face.

Luckily for me, most of the Beachbody workouts have a modified workout. There are several people on the video also doing the workout and one of them is doing modified moves and still getting a great workout.
That person is going to be my new best friend for awhile. In the T25 workout, the modifying person is Tania and she's AMAZING. Can I just say, I don't understand how these people smile the WHOLE time while working out! I'm huffing and puffing like the big bad wolf in my living room and they are having the best time of their lives. Crazy.

<----   ANYWAY, Tania. LOOK AT HER.

I don't always plan to do the modified workouts, but I do them because right now, that's a challenge for me. The point is, I'm doing it!

And one day, I'll be the girl that's totally rocking my work out with a big smile on my face the whole time. :)

That Sunday Evening Feeling

Sunday-- a day of rest,worship and relaxation in my life. They used to be a day for catching up on sleep and rechargin my batteries. As I get older, Sundays have now morphed into including meal planning and preparation for the week ahead. To me, Sundays are a new beginning and fresh start. I always get SUPER energized on Sundays thinking of what I have ahead and how I'm going to tackle the week.

Today I made plans with my best friend to meet her halfway between our cities for Sunday afternoon pedicures. She's a friend that I don't talk to for weeks, sometimes months, but when we hang out, it's like we pick off just where we left off and time always flies.

The trip to meet her took me about an hour each way and in that time, aside from some fabulous singing at the top of my lungs, I got some major mental week planning done.

So here's a little peek at my goal-oriented to do list for the week:

- Blog posts-- even though I'm heading to a conference this week for work, I'm still planning to post! Sick of me yet?

- Healthy eating-- this week adds a bonus challenge because of the conference, but I plan to be extra healthy and drink a TON OF WATER! THey keep you super hydrated at these types of events.

- Exercise-- guess who plans to run each morning and do a 25 minute workout each evening? This girl! That means my packing list grows from including just business casual attire to exercise stuff. Guess I'll have to pack my larger bag!

Tonight I'm hanging out with my husband. Instead of popcorn tonight, he suggested we snack on grapes! Healthy choices are happening in this household!

Have a great evening, friends!

Day 2-- Snacks of Champions

This will be a short post because, like most people's Saturdays, today has been busy. The fella and I have been running around since 8am and we're currently on our way out the door to go hang out with friends tonight.

But first, a few words on snacks. Last night, Randy and I stayed in the house and rented a few movies. In my former life, we would have treated ourselves to sodas and made hot, buttered and delicious popcorn on the stove-- no microwave stuff in this house! I'm a sucker for popcorn!

Popcorn isn't the WORST snack in the world, but when you drench it with butter it salt--- not so much. Last night, we made a much smaller portion of popcorn, a tiny bit of butter and a shake of salt. I had an ice water with some lemon juice in it.

Tonight, we're heading to a game night with some of my oldest friends. We ALWAYS have a great time with these people! Everyone brings food and we tend to over indulge and "graze" over the food all night long. So, thinking ahead I made a bruschetta from scratch, which includes fresh tomatoes, garlic and basil. I also made a creamy avocado dip with greek yogurt, not sour cream. It's always a huge hit. Head on over to my recipes section for these recipes!

The BIG Announcement!

I'm PUMPED to announce this to you, but I'm also pretty scared.

How's THAT for an opening, eh?  Today is August 1, 2014. This month I turn 29 and the beginning of the last year of my 20s. This could also be the last year I'm a childless woman... who knows. In many ways, this month marks a big transition point for me. August 2014 also marks the one year anniversary of me being a Beachbody Coach.

My life as a Beachbody coach can be summed up in one word: non-committal. I go through phases of major motivation and then, not so much. I don't see immediate results and get discouraged and give up for a bit only to start over with a jolt of energy. It's exhausting and it's not getting me anywhere near my goal!

 There are LOTS of Beachbody coaches, y'all... there's an entire network and when you join, you're connected to their social groups and circles and, well, it's intimidating. They are all in great shape and seem to really have nothing better to do than to work their business. Many of them don't work outside the home and have time to read personal development books and listen to team calls a few nights a week. THAT'S why they are intimidating and from where I sit, that's frustrating.

But then you take a closer look and most of these people stay home because they have kids. Busy ones. And they have time to read and listen to calls because they PLAN to do it. Vince Lombardi said, "The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will." Isn't it AMAZING that people can be successful if they had the ambition to be?

You see, as a kid I always visualized myself as an adult that would be comfortable financially and has the option of staying home with children, if I was blessed enough to have them. I visualized myself as being in shape and active. I visualized that I would be crazy about my husband and we'd go on frequent dates, travel often and entertain friends at our beautiful home.

It seems pretty simple, and maybe some of you are laughing thinking how ordinary that sounds. But aside from being crazy about my amazing husband, I don't have those other things. In fact, most people don't have those options at the ripe ol' age of 29. Some of them are attributed to financial constraints. Some are physical and some of them simply haven't come up in God's plan for me just yet.

A couple of weeks ago, I posted on my Facebook page that I had some "BIG NEWS" to share. I can't tell you how many people asked me about it privately-- they wondered if I was pregnant, or moving, or I had found a new job or going to some big destination spot. NOPE! The big announcement is:

< DRUMROLL PLEASE>

I'm going to be even better than I am right now at this time next year! <-- Cue crashing cymbals. I want my last year of my 20s to be transitional. Transitional to AWESOME. I'm tired of thinking that ONE DAY I'll fit into my college jeans again and ONE DAY I'll be financially able to book a girls weekend or buy my husband those amazing Steelers tickets. I want to be able to give and give generously to all the people can things I love.

 There are a few things I plan to do:

   - I plan to be in a better spot financially at this time next year. I won't bore you with the details of my financial state, but like any good ol' American college grad, I have a hefty amount of student loan debt I'd like to pay down off. My husband and I plan to buy a home (have I mentioned that I'm so over apartment living?) and I'd like to be able to pay the mortgage with what I earn with my business.  Additionally, I'd like to pay off my vehicle and my husband's.

   - I plan to be in better shape by my 30th birthday. Since I left college, I've worked in a couple of office jobs where I sit all day and become "exhausted" at the end of each day. I stopped exercising for a long time and my diet went out the window. It's all gonna change, folks. I want to make sure that I'm the best version of myself for my husband, my job and for my family. Most people I know actually gained weight after college-- they get busy with jobs, fall in love and gain that "I'm happy and in love" weight, and stop making time for regular exercise and healthy eating. I'm in the same boat. I'm ready to be a happy, healthy adult with a smaller waistline. WHO'S WITH ME!?

The master plan involves being all up in yo' face. Just kidding. But I do plan to blog each day...some of these may get a little boring, but I will be chronicling my journey to the good life. I will post quite a bit on Facebook (I even have my own coach page!) host Beachbody Challenge Groups. I will add more to my Beachbody Coach Pinterest page and maybe even go crazy and create a Coach Twitter Account. I have been pretty inspired by a few people's weight loss and fitness journeys and I'd like to be an inspiration. #FitAndFree

I will post recipes and workout updates. Hopefully what I post will be uplifting and positive everyday and just by reading it you'll be motivated to make some big changes in your own life. But, if you've ever tried hard to lose weight, you know that it can also sometimes be frustrating and discouraging, so you can probably expect some of that too. It will be REAL, that's for sure!

Additionally, I'll be posting some tips and conquered challenges when it comes to our debt-free goal. If you don't know where to begin with that or just like to read helpful tips, you can check that part out on the debt free tab.

In my early 20s, I celebrated my birthday month. It's still a running joke among a few friends that I would take every opportunity during the month of August to celebrate and enjoy life. Well, I've abandoned that somewhat childish practice only to now focus on a FULL YEAR. Ha! But instead of celebrating with happy hours, late nights and shopping, I'm celebrating with Shakeology, early mornings and debt pay off. You can't say I don't know how to party.

So there it is, welcome to my transitional year of awesome. It's not pregnancy news or new job news or anything like that. But in my mind this is putting the horse before the cart--where it should be and making some good lifestyle changes to set the tone for my 30s. It's an incredibly lofty, but achievable goal and I'm counting on all of you for motivation and encouragement.

 I'd love to work with you if you're in the same spot as I am and want to make a better future for yourself and your family. Or, if you AREN'T in the same spot but have some bigger goals for yourself. It's going to be an awesome year, friends.

Until tomorrow!!!
Love,
  Future skinny-jean wearin', debt-free Mrs. L.