10 Steps to Making the Switch

So you want to make the switch to eating healthier and living a healthy lifestyle, but where on earth do you start?! It's like this whole other world and there's so much to know so how could you even begin?!

This is such a LIFE CHANGING decision and I'm SO EXCITED for you that you're even considering it! I definitely didn't take the first step of MY journey knowing all that I know now. All I knew was that I wanted to get back into my old clothes...and that led to a life completely committed to health being a TOP priority. I was sitting on my couch with a brand new baby and needing a brand new wardrobe for the wrong reasons. Not only did I not want to buy bigger clothes because, well, that's just depressing, but we didn't have the money to do so anyway... so really I didn't have a choice. So I DOVE in and it was one of the top 5 best decisions I've ever made. (More there later. ;) ) And now I want to share with you just how you can make this life change, too, 

Let's keep it simple. One step at a time. There are TWO steps that are the MOST CRUCIAL. The first step and one that I can't really list because it just depends on where it will show up...After this list I'll share that one.

Step 1 (most important): Decide that you're going to start. How can you take a road trip before getting in the car?

Step 2: Start reading nutrition labels--including ingredient lists. Don't worry so much about the details yet, just start paying attention. Look at the calories and fat, sugar, and protein content. Look at the ingredients. I dare you to try to say them out loud. And as you do step 7 & 8, you'll learn more about what you want to see on these labels. 

Step 3: Spend more time around the perimeter of the grocery store. What's out there? Produce. Protein. FRESH food!! Food that was created in nature instead of in a lab! Basically, if it comes in a box, use caution. Allow yourself to spend more money in the grocery store because you're cutting out most of the eating out!! What you buy in the store is the food you're going to be consuming aaaaall day almost every single day instead of what society passes off as "food" or even "healthy food."

Step 4: Don't try to change everything at once. The LAST thing I want is for you to get overwhelmed and just quit on yourself. 

Step 5: Think ahead and stay away from the drive thru. Instead of relying on this these pre-packaged, FAKE (yeah I said it) foods (pumped full of extra sodium, fat, and sugar), prepare yourself before you go out the door. Take healthy snacks! Anticipate that you are going to get hungry and need a good option!

Step 6: Surround yourself with other health conscious people. You need support, encouragement, accountability, and inspiration on a journey like this. Do you realize just how much more successful people are when they have like-minded people around them?? They push you when times get tough. They teach you and help you learn more. They give you new delicious recipes to try. ;) This is one of the best things you can do to help yourself succeed in this lifestyle change. This is one reason why I love our challenge groups so much! Whether it's there or a group of friends at work or WHATEVER, find yourself some people to do this with together. (And if you need help with this, hit that "I want to be your FREE coach" tab or the "Let's be Friends" tab and we'll get you into our group on Facebook!)

Step 7: Research. Just like you're doing now! KEEP LEARNING more and more about what it means to eat healthy! There are soooo many resources out there- blogs, books, instagram accounts, websites..there is a TON of information that you can dive into! I hope this blog is an excellent resource for you. I also share some tips with my Facebook & instagram friends & followers, so be sure to connect with me there! Some of my favorite online resources include um GOOGLE (seriously, if I have a question I will go there and look through a few sites to see what they say), The Gracious Pantry, and Michi's Ladder to help me know which foods to choose (kind of crucial). 

Step 8: Research. Yeah...more. The more you know, the more you'll realize that this country has a serious problem with what is passed off as "food." Check out Hungry for Change... it seriously might change everything about how you view food.   

Step 9: Find a healthy balance. This can only come when you research more and more. DON'T cut out carbs or fat. (You know what? I think I need to follow this up with a DOs and DON'Ts post, yes?) Your body NEEDS health carbs and healthy fats along with protein and micronutrients (all of those vitamins and minerals) in order to function properly--the way it's supposed to. Yeah, you might drop some pounds when you initially cut out all carbs, but your body will eventually say, "HEY! You WILL give me carbs or else I'll just pass out. Or binge on sugar. Or have ZERO energy." << for real. You NEED nutrients!!!

The other most important step? Don't EVER quit. Realize that your precious life is TOO valuable to ever give up on this thing called health. This country has become SO focused and reliant on immediate satisfaction that we, too many times, lose sight of the big picture. You have to think about yourself 10, 20, 50 years from now. What kind of life do you want to be living? On multiple medications? Stuck to a bed because you're too heavy to walk around and live life? In a hospital bed because you're so sick? So when you just feel like giving up and want to go back to the old way full of "burgers," and chips, and coke, and cookies, and aaaaaaall of those preservatives and chemicals and additives, think about yourself years down the line. 


And when you think "just one more won't hurt," realize that the crap they pump into these "foods" is literally addictive and will just make it harder for you to get back on track. 

Oh, and are you thinking, "but this healthy stuff just doesn't taste as good!!"? 
I thought the same. I was the pickiest eater ever. But I promise you, after you've committed to this a while, you'll realize just how flavorful these healthy foods are and any time you try those old go-tos again, like that wonderful Vanilla Diet Coke I used to drink daily...you'll want to just spit it back out and be absolutely stunned at how you could ever have enjoyed it. 

I've been thinking about sharing with you all my own typical grocery list. Would this help you? Did this 10 step list help you at all? Leave a comment and let me know! 

My Pumpkin Spice Makeover...and a surprise

So now that I've bursted your bubble when it comes to your beloved Pumpkin Spice Latte (you're welcome) WHAT do you do to get that fall fix for your coffee?? I've played around with a few recipes and FINALLY found some amazing little treats. (I love it when my treats are healthy & allow my jeans to keep getting looser!) Let me know what you think and any other recipes you've tried that I should, too! 

Oh, PS: I am NOT a chef. I am a very "plain Jane" kind of cooker and eater so if you're looking for crazy, complex recipes, this is not the place to be. But if you're like me and need SIMPLE, here we go:

*Definitely play around the with amounts of each ingredient to find how YOU like it best! 
*To get it like a smoothie texture, put in enough ice so that the liquids you add just cover it. If it's really runny, add more ice.
*I always recommend buying organic. Stay tuned to this blog to find out why...

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Pumpkin Spice Shakeo- this one is for when you are CRAVING that pumpkin flavor but don't have a can of pumpkin around!
2 handfuls of ice 
1 cup cold/room temperature coffee 
2/3 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 scoop vanilla Shakeology
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (or go crazy with it...but that's between you and your tastebuds)
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
*2-4 drops vanilla creme liquid stevia (optional)

Add to blender in order listed. Blend until smooth and enjoy!

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Pumpkin Pie Frappe-o
2 handfuls of ice
2/3 cup cold/room temperature coffee
2/3 unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1/4-1/2 cup 100% pure pumpkin 
*1-2 tablespoons organic (*highly recommended) whipped cream (optional but you might fall in love with me if you go ahead and add it)
1 teaspoon organic vanilla extract
1 scoop vanilla Shakeology
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
*2-4 drops vanilla creme liquid stevia (optional)

Add to blender in order listed. Blend until smooth aaaaand let me know how you're life just changed. ;) <3

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Healthy Little PSL (Pumpkin Spice Latte for all you non-Starbucks addicts out there)

Is this what you came looking for? If you read this post revealing the PROBLEM with the typical Pumpkin Spice Latte, try this one out and let me know if you'll consider it your healthy PSL replacement!  

1 cup coffee
2/3 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1/4 cup 100% pure pumpkin
1 1/2 teaspoons organic vanilla extract
4 drops vanilla creme liquid stevia
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
*Organic whipped cream (optional for topping)

Combine all ingredients (except whipped cream) in a saucepan, medium-low heat, and stir until very hot but not boiling (about 5 minutes). CAREFULLY pour into blender, place hand towel on top of lid (it's hot, dude!), blend until foamy. Slowly and carefully pour into mugs and voila! 

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Now this next one is not Pumpkin related but I was playing around with adding coffee in my daily superfood shake aaaand FELL IN LOVE. You. Are. Welcome.

Mocha Cookie Shakeo (This freaking BLEW MY MIND & I want to drink it EVERY DAY. Anyway...)
2 handfuls of ice
1 cup cold/room temp coffee
2/3 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk
1 scoop vanilla OR chocolate Shakeology
1 tablespoon cookie butter (found at Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, etc. by the natural nut butters!)
*1 teaspoon organic vanilla extract (optional)

Add ingredients to blender in order listed. Blend until smooth and PLEASE TELL ME THIS DID NOT JUST ROCK YOUR WORLD!!!!


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More to come my loves... time to go create some new concoctions and get my superfoods in for the day. :) 

The Pumpkin Spice Problem

I'm going to start this off with a bang...are you ready?

If you walk into Starbucks and ask for a grande Pumpkin Spice Latte, this is what they're going to hand you:

(and say you are even a little bit health conscious...one measly little Starbucks drink couldn't do that much damage, right?)

Starbucks Grande (Medium) Pumpkin Spice Latte 
380 calories
13 grams of fat
51 grams of carbohydrates- 49 of them come from sugar (FORTY-NINE?!)
14 grams of protein (woohoo!)

Perspective?
A Snickers bar: 270 cals, 12g fat, 33g carbs (27g sugar), 4g protein
Chocolate chip cookie: 110 cals, 7g fat, 14g carbs (10g sugar), 2g protein
Krispy Kreme glazed: 190 cals, 11g fat, 21g carbs (10g sugar), 2g protein
Sara Lee Cheesecake: 320 cals, 17g fat, 32g carbs (25g sugar), 7g protein
16 oz Coke: 182 cals, 0.1g fat, 46g carbs (44 sugar), 0.3g protein


"Bu-bu-but they make skinny versions of their drinks. I can just get that!"
2 problems for ya...
1) They don't (yet) make a sugar-free version of this pumpkin spice syrup. (Yeah...that flavor you love so much? It's a syrup, aka: pretty much straight sugar.)
2) Even those sugar-free syrups you think are the healthy way to order your fave concoction aren't a good option.

Whaaaaat?

There are toooooooooons of nasty chemicals in those artificial sweeteners they use to still give you that sweet fix without the actual sugar. Aspartame & sucralose are SABOTAGING your "diet" or "healthy" eating. Why you ask? They actually increase you appetite. So those calories you think you're saving by going the sugar-free route? You're probably going to eat them anyway. Oh, and there are some other lovely side effects like headaches, depression, uh cancer (studies have shown links...yikes), mood swings, anxiety, wheezing, palpitations...okay, I'll stop.

Oh and here are a few other lovely facts about what they throw into this cup for you: caramel color made with ammonia, NO real pumpkin, artificial flavors made from stuff like petroleum, natural flavor that can be made from anything--anything on earth...like sometimes. bugs.

Okay, I'm done, for real this time. 

So. I'm not saying don't enjoy yourself a lovely cup of this special joe. But, please, oh please, don't go have one every day because they're "only here for a limited time!"

Oh, and on that special day when you decide it's time to treat yourself, eat FRESH and go a little lighter on the carbs/sugar the rest of the day so you can fully enjoy that sweet, sweet slice of heaven with no guilt. 

As always, feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions about getting your healthy lifestyle on track. I'd love to help you really enjoy that seasonal specialty. :)

Start Where You Are

I have heard sooooooooo many people say "I can't do that workout. It's way too hard for me." 

Um yeah- I realize that everyone just starting a workout program isn't quite on Shaun T's level. 

And yes, when I thought about this post, I was thinking mainly about all of my peeps taking on the T25 challenge, though it does still apply to most other workouts as well.

I have a question- when I was here:

do you think I was rockin it out with that guy^^ the whole time? HEEEEEEEEECK NO! 

About 2 minutes in, I realized just how thankful I was for the modifier. 

The modifier. She's there to GET YOU where you want to be! 

There is a REASON she's there! And for many of us. including myself, it's a gut check. You gotta put your ego aside. When I first started, I was thinking, " okay, I might have gotten out of shape but I was a college athlete so I'm sure I'll be fine through just 25 minutes." 

HA! ha. hahahahaha. 

I realized VERY quickly that I was absolutely, 110%, positively WRONG.

And I could have quit. I could have said, "It's just too hard for me."

But I was COMMITTED to getting my body back, and I wasn't going to let this stand in my way. It was clear that if I stayed consistent and just gave it all I had, however little that may have seemed to an onlooker, I would get the results I wanted.

So I put my pride aside and hung out with Tania, the modifier. And when my heart didn't feel like it was about to pound out of my chest, and I could actually feel my arms, I pushed myself to get back on Shaun T's level. 

And you know what's a super cool feeling? Each time I did a workout, I was able to modify less and less. 

And I knew it was working. I could see it working and I could feel it, too. 

Aaaaand I think it worked! 

So, moral of the story: allow yourself to start where you ARE. Don't beat up on yourself for having to modify, just get to work and feel yourself moving closer and closer to the results you want! 

Oh, and guess what? I still have to modify sometimes. I did Total Body Circuit yesterday and when I thought I was dying and couldn't do any more, he pushed me further...and further...and further some more. So. Many. Pushups. (You T25ers know what I'm talking about!! That burnout at the end?! Whaaaaa??) Knees went down. Self-doubt crept into my mind, even on my knees. And I told that negativity to SHUT UP and pushed myself as hard as I could. Even though someone watching might have thought I was slacking, I knew I was giving it my all. And THAT'S what gets results.  

Don't think you have to be able to do it perfectly to just DO IT. Love yourself where you're at & put in the work if you want to change. <3

Does having kids steal your dreams?

I see it quite often. A statement like, "be careful...once you have kids, your dreams are ruined." Or like all of these blog posts circulating about whether or not you should get married young. (I might get into that at a later date...) I saw someone say something along these lines in a Facebook post the other day and it really got me thinking.

First a little background so you understand where I'm coming from with this. My husband and I got married after our 4 years of athletic eligibility was up at the University of Louisville. I, however, still had a year left to finish my Elementary Education degree. (That's what happens when you change your major a thousand times because you can't find the exact right fit for you-foreshadowing, now that I think about it.) I had always loved working with kids and found that being able to help mold our future generation was something I was very passionate about. I knew I would never make much money doing it, and I was okay with that. Well, when hubby and I found out four months after our wedding that I was pregnant, it really got me thinking about just how much time this career would take me away from my family. It's not just the school day hours...there's mandatory meetings, grading papers, preparing lessons, writing up report cards, and so much additional work that would demand to steal my attention away from my new baby. 

As I grew closer to graduation and finished up student teaching, I realized I was just going to have to accept it. But If I was going to miss out on so much of my daughter's life, I REALLY didn't want to miss that first year of first words, first steps, etc. It would have absolutely broken my heart to have to go to work just a few weeks after she was born and place my new baby in daycare and receive updates from strangers about her growth and development. I wanted to be a present mother. I wanted to witness her life. 

So hubby and I decided that I would wait to apply to find a teaching job. Maybe I would start substituting the second half of the year...just depended on how we were doing financially. 

.....how'd we do financially? Ha. To be honest, we were drowning. Not like "struggling to keep our heads above water" but more like "how are we going to buy groceries? which bills can we pay this month? none? okay..." 

As you guys know, during this time I was working on transforming my body- getting rid of all that "baby" weight I had put on. Those 60 pounds I had packed on were coming off with a TON of hard work and dedication. In losing the weight, I gained so much more. Confidence and strength. Full-hearted belief that I could do anything. A happier marriage. More energy to shower love on my daughter. Optimism. Laughter. Happiness. 

A happy life. And as I was finding success, my friend kept telling me that I should become a fitness coach so I could help others do the same.

I thought she was crazy. I thought there was no way I would ever be able to succeed as a coach...but looking at my baby girl in my arms & feeling like we were just so STUCK and had no way of climbing out of the hole we were in, I realized I had no choice. I saw what others had done with this opportunity so I decided I would let nothing stop me from letting this save my family. 

As I put my head down and worked, learned more and more from the leaders on my team of coaches, and let the mission of the company guide my steps (end the trend of obesity)...something else happened. 

I set huge goals for myself and I knocked them out. I realized more and more every day that I wanted to help as many people as possible realize the potential I had realized in myself. I noticed just how many people are living a life of mediocrity and are okay with it. 

I'm sick of seeing people not living life to their true potential. It breaks my heart to see people settle. Jobs that take them away from their family, hundreds of trips through the drive-thru, expanding waistbands, foregone vacations, living with constant embarrassment or guilt over your body...that affects your entire life. Your career, your marriage, your parenting, your friendships, the adventures you take or don't take...everything.

Why does it hurt me so much to see this? Because I was doing the same. 

I was forcing myself to be okay with a career that would steal me from my family and hold us back from adventure and opportunity. (Teachers do NOT get the credit or the salary they deserve. Props to the ones who suck it up for the good of those sweet children.) My entire wardrobe was too small. We were b r o k e. I knew we would never be able to live financially stress-free let alone attempt to chase those big dreams we always talked about but had no clue how we could ever achieve. 

I found a way to get my life back. And in the process I found a passion and purpose deep within that I never knew I had. 

So, did my daughter steal my dreams or take my life away from me? No...she gave me new dreams. Better dreams. Dreams that change lives. 

And she gave me a way to make them possible. 

Pretty good for a tiny little baby. <3

Why is there such an epidemic? Part 1

So why is it that we are having such a problem with obesity these days? There are SO MANY REASONS. And right now I just want to touch on one of them. 

What is the common theme in most fast food joints? Let's think about some of the things we order-
Fried chicken (sometimes on a sandwich)
A big juicy burger
Sandwiches 
Fries
Onion rings
Mozzarella sticks
Chips
Large and extra large Cokes/Sprites/Sweet Teas/etc.
Smoothies/milkshakes
Pumpkin Spice Lattes

So what do we have here?
-Chicken, potatoes, onions, fish, and more... covered in batter... cooked in grease.
-Sugary syrups (and straight sugar) & lots of dairy fat poured into our drinks.
-Huge cups full of sugary drinks (and chemicals...but more on that later. oh, and the cups keep getting bigger, btw.)

Starchy carbs. 
Sugary carbs.
Lots of fat.

First and foremost, I must say this: CARBS ARE NOT EVIL! FAT IS NOT THE DEVIL! You NEED carbs and fat in order for your body to perform. Period. End of story. YOU MUST EAT CARBS AND PROTEIN!! K? Okay.

Guess what else you need? Protein. Most people don't get nearly enough of it. And it's very easy to see why.
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Let's look at some more specific examples:

McDonald's Steak, Egg & Cheese Bagel with Hashbrown 
Calories: 820 
Fat:        44 g
Carb:      71 g
Protein:  34 g

KFC Classic Twister Meal
Calories: 1,164
Fat:         45 g
Carb:      147 g
Protein:   36 g

Applebee's Steakhouse Burger and Fries
Calories: 1,546
Fat :        85 g
Carb:      134 g
Protein:   57 g

Daily total: 3,530 calories, 175 fat (45%), 352 carb (40%), 128 protein (15%)

See how heavy the day is in fat and carbs? Not to mention how high the calorie content is...and this doesn't even have drinks, coffees, appetizers, desserts, or snacks listed. 

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But let's say you're health conscious & you choose better options throughout your day:

Panera Strawberry Granola Parfait & Power Sandwich
Calories: 650
Fat:         26 g
Carb:       74 g
Protein:    25 g

Subway 6" Club on Wheat with Sun Chips (cuz those are healthier, right?)
Calories: 610
Fat:         22 g
Carb:       72 g
Protein:    29 g

Ocharley's Chicken Apple Spinach Salad
Calories: 1,010
Fat:         61 g
Carb:       71 g
Protein:   44 g

Daily total: 2,270, 109 fat (44%), 217 carb (39%), 98 protein (17%)

Still...very little protein and a TON of fat and carbs.
Depending on your body composition, these numbers could be WAAAAY off when it comes to meeting your goals. You could be thinking you are taking the right steps to lose weight and STILL gain weight. 
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I know it's confusing. But basically here's how it works: (and if you only read one thing out of this post, read this)

Your body needs a specific amount of each macronutrient in order to perform, and especially to perform the way you want it to.

So, for example, once your body has enough carbohydrates, it says, "okay. I'm good there. I don't need any more; now I need some protein." So those extra carbs you keep giving it, your body just stores them (in your cells as water) for later use, and if you don't use what you've stored (like in a good workout), it turns that water weight into fat. So when we are day to day consuming too many carbs and too much fat, it just keeps storing it.That's why we're packing on the fat. And remember how it's asking for protein now but we keep giving it carbs? (In this example) THAT is part of the reason why we feel hungry all of the time! We aren't giving our bodies what it's asking for! 

And what is all of this doing to your INSIDES? Well, that's a loooooong story. I'll save it for another day. :) 

Fit tip for the day: include protein every time you eat & become more aware of all the carbs you are eating. fruit, breads, pasta, breading (on anything fried), sugar, flavored drinks (yes, that includes your Starbucks favorite)...if you don't have a nutrition facts label, google it. ;) 

Which diet is best?

The truth? No diet. Diets are what make us yo-yo and unable to stick to a plan therefore fall off the wagon. Don't look at this as a diet, but instead a LIFESTYLE CHANGE. Now that that's out of the way, what is the best way to eat? IIFYM? Clean eating? Paleo? Vegan? There are so many options! Which one is the BEST?

I know you've heard about these but they are just ideas floating around that you may not really understand. Let's start with a (very short) discription of each of the above.

About food in general: The foods we eat are made up of macronutrients and micronutrients. Micronutrients are the vitamins and minerals in the food, the stuff our organs and body functions have to have in order to perform. Macronutrients, aka macros, are the things that make up the caloric content of a food. Fat, protein, and carbohydrates are your three macros. Each gram of fat has 9 calories, protein has 4, and carbs have 4. So you can calculate where you're getting that calorie total by looking at those totals. For example, if you look at the label and see it has 9 grams of fat, 4 grams of protein, and 14 grams of carbs, you can calculate that the total calories for that food is 153 per serving.

IIFYM (If It Fits Your Macros): Counting your macros. This style of eating is COMPLETELY focused on those three macros. You get a certain gram total for fat, number for protein, and number for carbs and you have to hit those totals each day. This is a great style of eating if you can stay consistent. That's the key. You have to track and count every single thing you consume each and every day so if you are really busy or new to the lifestyle, it is very difficult to stay consistent with the time commitment it takes. It is great in that you can eat whatever you want and get the same physical results. Now what's happening to your insides may be a different story since you're ignoring the micronutrients you are giving your body. (I know, it's confusing. If you want to learn more about it, just email me.)

Clean eating: This is totally focus on fueling your body with unprocessed, whole foods. You stay away from chemicals, additives, and preservatives that make up the majority of mainstream foods these days. That means fast foods, most boxed foods, and pretty much anything with a really long ingredient list. The two shortcuts to following this one: stay out of the aisles at the grocery store and don't buy anything with an ingredient you can't pronounce. This is what I choose for many reasons, but one of my favorites is how it keeps your insides healthy and happy, therefore the outside- what you see in the mirror- takes care of itself!

Paleo: This one focuses on eating similar to how cavemen did. Seriously! If it was something that could be hunted and gathered, it's fair game. I am not an expert on this one, and I know it would not work for me so if you want to learn more about it, visit thepaleodiet.com

Vegan: Vegans do not eat meant, fish, poultry (including eggs), dairy, or use other animal products and by-products like honey, leather, fur, silk, wool, cosmetics, and soaps derived from animal products. Many vegans I know choose this not only because of how they wish to feed their body, but because they want to take a stance against animal cruelty.

So what do you choose?


To be honest, it's totally up to you. There are so many other options out there as well! I did clean eating for a while, then tried IIFYM for a while and realized it wasn't the best way for me to stay consistent, so I am back on the clean eating train. But I definitely learned a lot while following IIFYM- mainly that I need way more protein in order to hit my goals! So I don't look at my time doing IIFYM as a failure, I look at it as a learning process! The most important thing when choosing your nutrition plan is that you give your body the healthy nutrients it needs while keeping yourself SANE and staying consistent. Remember, you are choosing a lifestylechange, not a way to drop weight quickly then go back to your old ways. Your old ways are what got you to where you are in the first place! Choose to end the cycle. And it is TOTALLY 110% absolutely perfectly fine and dandy to do a little trial and error here because, like I said, it's a learning process! Commit to one style for a month and see how you feel and if it's something that you can stick with or if it's leading you to binge eat on foods outside of your plan. You have to constantly be learning and being totally honest with yourself. Don't blame the nutrition plan if you just don't want to put in the work to see if it could actually be an option for you.

You have to decide you want this life change. You have to commit to it. That is when you will succeed.

Failure

I. Hate. Failing.

With a background as an athlete in a team sport, letting myself down meant letting my team down, and I pushed myself daily so that didn't happen.

So when I don't hit my goals, I get really frustrated.

I feel like a failure.

And that feeling used to keep me down...stop me from going after what I want. It's really easy to say, "well, you failed this time so what makes you think you won't fail next time?"

....but what if you DON'T?

One thing I have learned over these past few months of diving into personal development is that failure is a GOOD THING!

Who'd have thought?! Am I crazy? Well, this is what I've learned:

Failure and success fall on a pendulum. You HAVE to have failure in order to have success. The bigger the fail, the bigger the success. So if you don't swing it FAR into the side of failure, you won't have as great a success as you want. If you just stay complacent and don't push that pendulum to the failure side, you have no hope of achieving great success.

It's not a quick fix either. You have to constantly work on your mindset in order to become a person strong enough to endure...strong enough to earn it. You have to continuously feed your mind with thoughts that let you know, "it's possible." Thoughts that help you grow. Thoughts that transform you into the person you want to be, who lives the life you want to live.

Tonight I learned that I am not going to hit my next BIG goal. Just now actually-- it's what prompted me to jump onto my computer and write this post! This goal doesn't just affect me...it affects my business therefore my family. It's really complicated so I won't get into it, but it is something I've been pushing for for a while now and have missed the deadline- again.

So. A few things happen when you realize that you're missing a huge goal.
1) You feel like a failure. Either in a good way or a bad way, for 2 minutes or 2 days...or as long as you allow the feeling to haunt you and, more importantly, control you.
2) You are forced to take a long, hard look at yourself. Did you really do everything in your power to make that goal a reality? Is there really anyone other than yourself to blame? Is there really any reason to be upset because you now realize that you didn't actually EARN it- you didn't actually put in the WORK it requires to achieve this goal? (If the answer is no, then you know what you must do next. If the answer is yes, then you have to have faith in the process and the path your life is taking...FAITH that what is happening and will happen is exactly what is meant to happen.)

So now you're faced with a choice. Dwell on it? Let it break you down? Let it hold you back? Let it stop you from pushing for that life you dream of-- those big, scary goals that you set for yourself, and maybe your family, too?
Or...
Do you use it as fuel to the fire that you have deep inside you to make that goal a reality? Do you use this as a motivator to work even harder for the next goal? Do you go THROUGH this failure in order to get to your success?

See, there's something you have to realize. NO ONE <<EVER>> achieved great success without going through failure first. Seriously. If you go talk to anyone who has reached success that you admire, I promise they'll tell you all about the failure and the pain and struggles they went through to get there. E V E R Y O N E who has big scary crazy "unrealistic" goals and dreams was faced at a crossroads and one time or another....or 50 times...or 193 times... Those who persevered and promised themselves that they would NEVER give up <<NO MATTER WHAT>> are the ones who you admire now.

Their reason WHY they wanted that success was far greater than any obstacle (ehm: failure) that stood in their way.

So when I think about things in that way, I realize:
I. Love. Failure.
It means I'm one step closer...and stronger than ever. (More on that later...)

So. What's your next move?

Well, hi there!

Hi friends! Welcome! I am SUPER excited to be starting up this blog! I've really been wanting to have an outlet where I can share my life journey with you all...so what will that entail? I want you all to know some about me but I want to TRY to keep this short- I know you all are busy and just want to get to the GOOD stuff.

Here the main idea of what you'll find here: 

• inspiration
• guides to healthy living
• progress pictures on my own healthy journey and some of my dear friends and challengers
• mommyisms and adventures of having a new little toddler
• life lessons from personal development that I've read or listened to
• my growth as a Jesus-loving mom, wife, and friend
• a glimpse into my life as a coach 
• trainings for the coaches on my team and others who are also on the mission to #endthetrend of obesity and help people get healthy!

Told ya...my life journey. 

Oh and pictures...I love pictures :)

Okay- now for a bit deeper dive into who I am:

• I grew up in Lafayette, IN.
• I played softball since I was 5.
• I started playing competitively when I was 8...(that might give you an idea of just how SERIOUS this sport was in my life.)
• I went to University of Louisville to pitch for their softball team.
• That's where I met my husband who was a linebacker on the football team. 
• We actually took an acting class together and did a skit together where we played husband and wife...when we barely knew each other. (Foreshadowing ;) )
• His final playing season ended in 2011, mine ended May 2012.
• We got married June 30, 2012. (Yep. That was fast. ...proposal and wedding day post to come at a later date!)
  
  
  
  
• From July-November of that year, we took some time away from the healthy lifestyle/mandatory workout/rigid schedule we were used to.
• A couple weeks before Thanksgiving, we found out we were to have a baby!!
• Because I hadn't been working out the past several months, it made me nervous to begin a workout plan- everything I had done the past 4 years was INTENSE and definitely not safe for a developing baby...so I used that as an excuse to not workout at ALL.
• By the time our Miss Kennedy came on July 23, 2013, I had COMPLETELY fallen off the healthy train. I packed on 60 pounds during my pregnancy. I promised myself I would get my body back.
  

• I had to have an emergency c-section to deliver our sweet girl. After staying in the hospital a week to recover and be with our sweet girl in the NICU (pneumonia from swallowing fluid), I had to be re-hospitalized because my incision became infected.
• When my daughter was about a month old, I realized I was STILL only in my hubby's 2x clothes, breastfeeding was NOT helping me lose weight, and if I didn't draw a line in the sand, I was going to keep gaining that weight back. (Nursing doesn't mean you can still eat pizza and fries all day and lose weight...more on that later.)

I'm going to fast-forward through this next part because I want to go WAY in depth in future posts...

• I joined a challenge group on Facebook.
• I started T25 and Shakeology.
• I lost the last 40 pounds I had gained plus 10 more.
  
• My body changed. My mind changed. My mood changed. My whole freakin life changed. 
• I decided I wanted to to help others find this happiness through healthy living as well, so I became a coach.
• I started building a team of people who have the same goal- we want to #endthetrend of obesity in this country and give people their lives back.

And now we're here. 

So there you have it... I hope you'll find these little snippets into my life entertaining but more importantly, valuable to your life. My goal is to spread love and light and help you live a little healthier and a little happier. <3