Why I Believe...

I drink Shakeology. I am not a salesperson and I am not someone who pushes her opinion on others. I believe that everyone has his or her own ideas and opinions and it is only right to respect that. I am just a normal working mother of four who has found something that helps her to succeed in her weight loss journey...and I coach others to help them find the same success. I don’t know if it will work for you.

Here is what I do know. I know that Shakeology has helped me to curb my cravings for sweets. I know that I no longer get hungry halfway through the morning. I know that I have more energy since I started drinking it. I know that I feel less bloated now than I did before I was drinking it. I know that once my husband started drinking it regularly, his blood pressure went down. I know that one of my challengers has said that she sleeps better since she started drinking it. I know that my coaches and clients have had similar positive results to mine...or even more.

Will it work for you? Maybe...but it takes a commitment to your nutrition that goes deeper than that. You need to really commit to eating clean which means that you cut out processed foods. Shakeology was the first step for me and it helped me to get on the nutrition bandwagon. It continues to help me to stay focused and get rid of my excuses. If you are truly serious about making a change, you need to start in the kitchen. Shakeology might be the first step for you.

Want to try it? Let me know! :)

What About YOU?

Take time to focus on YOU.

Your journey and YOU matter.

Making the choice to focus on you is HARD. As a mom (or even a single person), you can be filled with many emotions.

ü Am I being selfish?

ü What if I give up and it was a waste of time?

ü I CANNOT do this. I always gave up before and I will give up again.

ü That money is should be used for ____ instead of on me.

ü My kids/significant other's needs should be put before mine.

I often call motherhood a journey of guilt and all of the above are the reasons why. When we are mothers, we put ourselves last.

It isn’t only true of mothers. Fathers or people without children often bow to many of the same pressures and concerns. I truly believe that while we have been so concerned about RAISING an egocentric generation focused solely on their own self-satisfaction, somewhere along the way we have thrown out self-care. We have driven home the notion that putting yourself first is selfish. Period.

But, when you make a choice to focus on YOU, your whole life changes for the better. You have more energy and you are happier. You enjoy and look forward to that little bit of time for yourself. Exercise has been proven to release endorphins that really do make you happier…and who wouldn’t want that?

I was BAD about making time for myself. I wanted so badly to be a mother…and not JUST a mother, but the very best mom I could be…that I made that my sole mission in life. I lived for my kids. I threw elaborate birthday parties and planned out every detail.

The reason why so many of us coaches proudly talk about how happy we are and how our lives have changed, is not for a sale. It's because we think EVERY person DESERVES to feel this way.

YOU. ARE. WORTH. IT. Make the change today!

*This month I am collaborating with a fellow blogger on the topic of balance. If you would like to read more on the topic of balance, check out my friend's blog at 

http://mossyoakmusings.blogspot.com/2016/01/finding-balance-doing-fandango.html

Six Roles

What are YOUR six roles?

Thinking about my six roles in life is something that I learned as a Beachbody coach. If you are a working mom like me, there are probably dozens of things pulling you in different directions. If you spread yourself too thin, you can’t do a great job at anything. That’s where your six roles come into play.

Think about all of your roles in life. Then think about which ones are your top six. Only six! For me it was really tough to narrow it down, but it finally came down to mother, wife, fitness coach, teacher, daughter and sister. These are the roles that are most important to me and the ones that should lay claim to most of my attention and energy. You cannot be all things….and you shouldn’t even try.

Once upon a time, I did try. I tried to do it all and I burned myself out. I did it for a long time and eventually found myself heading down the slippery road of depression because somewhere along the way I had lost myself. Don’t let that happen to you. That was a turning point for me and I came out of it a better person. I learned that in order to take care of others, I had to take care of myself and learn to say no. It’s not selfish. It’s survival.

The percentage of working mothers has increased by 800% since 1860.  More and more of us are working outside of the home and need to find a way to balance it all. Limiting yourself to six roles will help you to achieve that balance. That doesn’t mean that because friend isn’t listed in my six roles I can’t be a friend to anyone. It just means that the other six roles are my top priority. Those are the roles that I will focus on and pour my energy into.

And those roles may change….just as I may change along the way. 

Hopefully you will too. Life is a journey…hang on for the ride!

I am participating in a linky where I have joined with other bloggers this month to write about the topic of balance. If you would like to read more about balance, go to my friend's blog at  http://mossyoakmusings.blogspot.com/2016/01/throwing-my-heart-over-bars-teacher.html

Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies

PERFECT sweet treat! These really hit the spot! I love homemade cookies...they are my kryptonite....and I have a hard time staying out of them. I am always desperate for a healthy cookie option because, let's be honest, life is just NOT the same without cookies!

Beware, however....these cookies are addictive! Just because they are healthy doesn't mean that you can eat the whole batch in one sitting...but you can have one or two...or three? ;)

2 large ripe bananas, mashed

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1/4 cup honey

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 cup dark chocolate chips

1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Mix all ingredients together. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto a cookie sheet (line it with parchment paper. I didn't have any so I lightly greased it this time). Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes. Enjoy! :)

Plan Your Strategy

Turkey dinner with all the fixings? That is what was on the menu today for lunch at the school where I teach. I love a big turkey dinner but....would that get me to my goals? The problem is...there was pie in that line, people! PIE!

I knew ahead of time that the turkey dinner was looming and so I carefully planned my strategy. First, I packed foods that I liked....in fact, that I loved...so that I would not be tempted, or at least not quite as tempted as I normally would be. Second, I made sure that I was busy in my classroom during the entire lunch period. I found work and reading to occupy myself with so that I would take my mind off the pie in that lunch line.

Planning ahead saves me nine times out of ten from making bad decisions. I used to eat out every day. When you fall into traps like that, it is habit. Make planning ahead a habit instead. :)

Whole Wheat Pancakes

These were ABSOLUTELY delicious! And because they are made with whole wheat flour, they are much more filling. No sugar....you get all of the sweetness that you need from the bananas. If you need a little more sweetness, add a drizzle of the optional agave nectar.

1 1/4 C oats
1 1/4 C almond milk
2 egg whites 
1 TBS canola or grapeseed oil
1 C whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp vanilla
a little aguave nectar (optional)
*I also added a few chopped walnuts (optional)

Soak the oats in the milk for 5 minutes. Mix in the rest of the ingredients and stir to form a batter. Cook in hot pan with cooking spray. Makes 8.
I served this with real maple syrup and a couple of slices of turkey bacon on the side. Yum!

Eating Out...Say What???

The hubby says, “Let’s go out” and I swear my heart skips a beat. Really??? I don’t have to cook? In that moment I think that I love him more than chocolate!

Someone waiting on you, “treats” that you never get to have... love it when I don’t have to cook but I know if I do it too often, I could end up in a LOT of trouble. (But, dang! That fresh bread they like to serve you is SO tempting!) How do you enjoy a meal out…really enjoy it…and still stay at least somewhat on track? Know exactly what you are eating, of course!

Read the description. How is the food being prepared? Grilled is great. Even sautéed is good….but not if it is “sautéed in a garlic butter sauce.” The word “stuffed” in a description should probably send up a red flag. Obviously “fried” or “breaded” are things you want to avoid. Pay attention to what you are putting in your mouth. Treats are alright to have in moderation, but a treat every day will take you down the wrong road fast. Can you splurge here and there? Sure…and if you don’t, you will probably end up feeling deprived. You just have to know how to balance. Pair your meal with a fresh salad or order grilled veggies for your side. Life is ALL about balance.

The picture above is my meal from a recent trip to the Outback. What can I say? It was a steakhouse so I had to have steak! But I did pair it with steamed veggies and a side salad with vinegarette dressing…and I kept my bread consumption to one small piece. I got my splurge and still balanced it out.