Surviving through the Holidays!!

So of course, Easter is this weekend and I use to be one of those holiday bingers that completely blew everything I worked so hard for the week prior.  I want you to think about this weekend as a holiday where we give thanks for everything we have!! We are all so blessed in one way or another!!! Think about the hard work and dedication we have put into being healthy by exercise and clean eating.  It is by far not easy to do!!! We go through struggle, emotions, moments where we want to give up because the results are not coming fast enough, but if we stick to it, especially through this weekend, we will be that much closer to our goal!!!  
We need to keep our goals in mind over the holidays! 
How important is our goals to us?
Think about if we stick to our plan, how much happier and further off we will be.. NO REGRETS!!! 
Now think if we binged and ate anything and everything.. Its only a TEMPORARY FIX!!! Then we are mad at ourselves and regret it because we just ruined everything we just worked so hard for!! 
It's your body and your decision, but I do encourage you to think before you take that bite!! Nutrition  is 80%!!! Exercise is 20%!! If we get those workouts in early before our plans, we good to go!! Finish the day by sticking to healthy snacks and meals!! remember... NO REGRETS!!! We got this!!!
Here are some tips that you can use to help you get through the weekend!! ENJOY!!! 

ACE's Top 10 Tips for Surviving the Holidays

The holidays can be a joyous time of year shared with family and friends, but they can also bring stress and anxiety as we struggle to keep up with often-unrealistic demands and expectations.

That's why it is so important for all of us to relax and take good care of ourselves.

ACE's top tips for surviving the holidays are great for increasing your energy and reducing your stress, this season and all year long.

• ·        Take time for yourself. Although spending time with friends and family is essential, it's also important to have at least five minutes to yourself to relax. Try practicing deep breathing exercise when you feel stressed out.

• ·        Don't set unrealistic exercise goals. Aim to exercise 20 minutes a day instead of an hour. You'll be sure to get at least 20 minutes of exercise per day without feeling disappointed if you do not complete an hour.

• ·        Enlist a friend or family member to exercise with you. Walking and talking with a friend can be a great way to burn extra calories and reduce your stress level.

• ·        Create new, more active traditions. Instead of throwing a dessert or cocktail party, try snowshoeing or ice-skating as an alternate holiday event. Play powder puff football or build a snowman.

• ·        Don't try to lose weight or stick to a restrictive diet this holiday season. If you enjoy your favorite foods in small portions, you'll feel more satisfied. Trying to stay away from certain foods may leave you feeling deprived, which may cause you to eat more than you intended to.

• ·        Drink plenty of water. Although the cold weather may make you less inclined to grab a glass of water, it is just as important in the winter as it is during the summer. Water helps counter the dehydrating effects of travel or drinking alcoholic beverages, and it may also help satiate your appetite since thirst is often mistaken for hunger.

• ·        Spread out meals. Don't feel like you have to eat everything at once. Try eating dinner early and then taking a walk before sitting down for dessert.

• ·        Don't overdo it with alcohol or caffeine. These stimulants will only cause you more grief in the end by adding to your feelings of stress. Try drinking hot herbal tea instead of coffee, and keep the number of alcoholic drinks to a minimum.

• ·        Don't aim for perfection, and enjoy the imperfections. There is no such thing as the perfect party or the perfect decorations or the perfect way to spend the holidays. Don't set yourself up for disappointment by placing unrealistic demands on yourself.

• ·        Laugh. Laughing is a great tension reliever. It burns calories, reduces stress and usually means that you're enjoying yourself.

Happy holidays!

Ultimate Reset Day 11

Ultimate Reset Day 11

Today was not bad for the most part.  I had an awesome breakfast as usual, a fruit plate. 

 It fills me up until my next meal, which were quinoa lentil pilaf and a sweet potato. 

 Then I had my snack, which I chose blueberries and a green apple.  I will be eating that for every snack just because I love those fruits.  Then for dinner I had a new recipe, Edamame and corn succotash with lemon-pepper Kale.  It was great!!

 Although, I did eat my meals literally 3 hours apart which hurt me because I was starving after 8pm and I ate my last meal at 6.  I was up until after midnight so I had to give in and eat another snack which I just had some steamed green beans and zucchini.  I felt much better afterwards.  You are only supposed to eat another meal if you know it is hunger pains and drank water without relief.  I know I did not intake enough calories because I did do an Insanity workout at the gym with friends and I am not supposed to do strenuous workouts.  I definitely paid for it last night.  The only other thing really different is I am a little more emotional at this time in my reset.  It is not necessarily a bad thing though.  My supplements are again so easy for me to take now. 

 I did have a hard time when I was getting my son’s Easter basket ready with Reese Cups (my favorite and only candy I eat).  But I know I am doing so well with this and that candy is only temporary satisfaction.  Tomorrow will be difficult I have another Easter Egg hunt with my neighborhood and we are all bringing food, along with this weekend I have my nephew’s birthday party, and two Easter celebrations with our families.  I have all of my food prepped and pack and ready to go!! Let’s do this!!

MY ULTIMATE FITNESS GOAL IS REACHED!!!

I am so excited to announce not only is my youngest son 9 months old now, but I have worked my butt off to eat clean, exercise, and stay positive and have officially reached my goal weight right at 9 months after having my second child!! It took a lot of hard work, dedication, support from friends and family and of course my upline coach and cousin who got me into beachbody!! 

I started Insanity the day I was cleared by the doctor at 6 weeks post-partum.   I then started drinking Shakeology, which made eating healthy so much easier and so convenient!! Then when I finished Insanity, I moved on to a month of P90X and then found a love for turbo fire!! I was always into dancing, so this was a great motivator and so much fun at the same time while being healthy!!  After my turbo fire, I did a mixture of Les Mills combat with more Insanity until now where I am currently doing the 21 day Ultimate Reset!! I was having a lot of trouble losing my last 10 pounds, which I knew that was coming because my goal is 125 and have not been that since 9^th grade.. a long time ago!!! So I figured by tricking my body and doing the reset may help! Guess what?!? I am 10 days into this reset and lost my last 10 pounds already!!! I am just thrilled with what I am capable of accomplishing!! I feel great, have so much energy, and am more confident!! 

 I do want to say one more thing.... My weight did not come on in one day, pregnant or not just like anyone else... So the weight and inches are not coming off in one day.. It will take time, dedication, will power, and change.. You may go through emotions, binges, missed workouts, and pain.. but as long as you get back up, YOU WILL get your results and achieve anything you want!!!

Ultimate Reset Day 10

Ultimate Reset Day 10

I cannot believe I am 10 days into my reset!!! This is awesome!! I  did struggle slightly today, but Easter weekend is just starting for me and I better get used to the temptations!! So first, I had my awesome fruit plate for breakfast, which I could probably eat every day and never get sick of it..Then for lunch, I had a micro green salad and ½ serving of pinto beans and rice. 

For a snack I had blueberries and a green apple (addicting), and for dinner I had pinto beans and rice and steamed green beans and zucchini!! 

I loved the food again today even though it is the same thing, I still enjoy eating it!! Got another gallon of water in and it’s easy to do now!!  My supplements were easy to take as well!! Now this evening was the tempting part.. We went to an Easter egg hunt at a friends’ house and they had pizza, peanut butter and chocolate covered marshmallows, Doritos, peanut butter brownies, and I made an awesome clean veggie pizza.. Of course, I could not eat ANYTHING!! I wanted a piece of veggie pizza so bad!! It was not even the pizza I wanted which is unusual for me.  Now, the marshmallow looked amazing too, so I took one and put it in a zip lock bag and it is sitting in my freezer for when I am off my reset, when I want an off meal that will be it!! J This weekend is going to be tough.. Why did I pick to do my reset during Easter?! What was I thinking?!?!  It’s not that I want candy, I just want food that is healthy lol.. and eat portion size of what I want!! Oh well, it will be over before I know it and it will pay off that I stuck through it!!! 

Ultimate Reset Day 9

Ultimate Reset Day 9

Day 9 went well, I worked a 12 hour shift and was not as bad as I had expected.  I was up early to take care of my children, but did not get off work until 115 am.  So I really had to stretch out my meals.  I have come to realize it is not that bad because when I am hungry, I just drink a bunch of water and it definitely satisfies me.  I never took the time to think about how much drinking water really helps your hunger.  Being on the reset really is teaching me so much about eating.  I know that the food I am eating is so good for me and benefits me in so many ways that it does not bother me not to eat unhealthy food! I have not craved any fattening foods and love it!! Now, I am craving other healthy food, but am not able to eat it, which I know in 12 more days I will be fine! I made clean brownies and they sit in front of me and my mouth waters!! So I go and drink water and know that what I am doing will pay off!!!  My meals were pretty much the same food choices; breakfast was a fruit plate (awesome!!).  Then for lunch I had Quinoa lentil pilaf with hummus, for a snack I had blueberries and an apple.  For dinner I had Pinto beans and rice with steamed green beans and zucchini.  Food will be similar for the rest of the week, I am enjoying eating this food and do not want to waste more money on food I will not like.  Although, I am glad I at least attempted some other foods and am giving them to friends that do like the food!! Sharing the health!!! Taking my supplements is officially easy and I do not even think about drinking the Alkalinize and Detox!!