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Showing posts from April, 2014

The Ripple Effect

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One thing I have been paying attention to lately is the ripple effect. Thinking about the chain reaction of things that come from one event is insane to me. It really goes to show how powerful something simple can actually be. It got me thinking about the ripple effect that deciding to get healthy and fit had on all areas of my life. That one decision completely changed my lives, and other peoples lives as well.  Making the decision to get healthy and fit prompted a friend of mine to suggest a fitness challenge group that her sorority sister was having.  Joining that challenge group gave me the base I needed to live a healthier life. Living a healthier life led me to start looking and feeling better physically.   Looking and feeling better physically led to me being more confident. Being more confident led to me actually speaking to people, and having meaningful, genuine conversations. Making personal connections led me to

Can My Body Really Change That Much in 60 Days??

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Today I posted the picture above advertising for an upcoming challenge group and somebody sent me a message asking, "Can your body really change that much in 60 days??". I gave it some thought, and am here to answer this question for you. When I started my first 90 day fitness challenge I honestly believed in my heart and soul that after 90 days I would have this amazing transformation and be done with it. I thought all it would take was the 90 days and I would never have to do anything ever again. Sadly, I was wrong...but not sadly because it ended up being the best thing that every happened in my life. The good news is that my initial answer to the question asked of me is, Yes! Some people have that natural body type that when they make the changes necessary can transform completely in 60 or 90 days. The bad news is, I did not have that body type. Did I get to my final goal in my first 90 day challenge ? No. Wait a minute though...there is more good news! I may no

Clean Eating Snack Ideas

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I have been hearing from people that finding healthy, transportable snack ideas are an issue for them. I have decided to put together a list of easy to carry snack ideas. These are recipes that I will make in bulk at the beginning of the week, leave a few out for snacks on the go, and freeze the rest until needed. I can only leave a few out, because when too many are around I find myself eating more than I should!  #1- Turkey Meat Loaf Muffins  Turkey meatloaf muffins may seem like an absurd idea when you read the name, but let me tell you they are damn good! I made enough for the week, and would have them as snacks. Good source of protein, easy to make, and easy to take with you on the run! #2- Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Protein Squares These are actually a little too good! I recommend after making them either immediately freezing what you don't need, or giving the extras away to your friends!  #3- Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Protein Bars Ok I'm not g

3 Simple Fitness Tools That Make Life Easier

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Some of you are new to fitness, and I wanted to share some tools that I have found useful throughout my journey. At first starting a new lifestyle can be overwhelming. For me it seemed like everything I thought was right and helping me was actually wrong and affecting my progress. It takes time to learn a new way, and it is an ongoing process as things continue to change. These are 3 simple things that you can add to your daily life that will aid in your journey. #1- Polar Heart Rate Monitor You have to know your route to get to your destination right? Well knowing how many calories you are burning during your workout is part of that route. Your first step will be to figure out your caloric needs for your goal. Once you figure out the calorie range that you need to stay in to reach your goal, you can make a plan around that. Part of that plan is knowing how many calories you are burning. Aside from knowing how many calories I am burning, using a heart rate monitor gets me pump

Week Review of the 21 Day fix

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I am going on week two of using the 21 day fix containers for my meal plan, and I couldn't be happier. I have found that not only is it keeping me on point with my eating, but it is also saving me money. I have also been finding that sometimes it is just too much food for me! Great problem to have! Here is the meal plan I have been following this week. As usual I like to stick to the same thing every morning. Cooking an actual breakfast has never really been my thing, and I love that my Shakeology tastes like a coolata every morning and gives me a kick in the ass to wake me up. These are some of my favorite meals from my plan this week: The Chicken Fajita that I had for dinner on Monday definitely gets the award for the most food. That thing was HUGE! It was bigger than my head. All it took was 1 green container, 1 red, and 1 yellow. I like to call it my stop light dinner...well...because it reminded me of a stop light. Before the fix I was hardly eating any yellow

What's so great about Shakeology?

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I am sure it is hard to ignore all the posts on Facebook and social media about Shakeology . I know I for one talk about it all the time. Reading random posts here and there about it probably cause some confusion about what shakeology really is. Luckily I am here to tell you whats up! Are you wondering what is so great about this stuff and why people like myself go a little crazy if I run out of it before my new supply comes? Keep reading! I will start off by informing you of what Shakeology IS NOT . I hear people saying to me that they won't try it because they don't like "drinking their meals". Shakeology is not slim fast. You do no drink 3 shakes a day and eat 1 meal. Shakeology can be used as a meal replacement for 1 meal or as a snack if you choose. Sometimes I will make one as a snack at night when I am craving peanut butter cups , or Almond Joys . Shakeology is also NOT a protein shake. Although Shakeology does contain 18 grams of protein

Remembering Boston Strong

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For those of you who don't know me I am going to give you a little background into my history as a Bostonian. I was born and raised in Watertown, MA. It is a small suburb about 15 minutes outside of Boston. I attended Northeastern University for my undergrad which is located right in the heart of the city. I remember thinking how cool it was that I could see the city skyline out my dorm room window. I have absolutely LOVED the Citgo sign ever since I was a little kid. I remember the first time I saw it up close and personal. My dad had taken me to one of many red sox games that we would go on to see. We had box seats along the first base line. I was so close to Mo Vaughn (my favorite player at the time) that I could see his sweat. From that day on, the citgo sign had a special place in my heart. I loved the way it lit up, and how it reminded me of Fenway Park. I grew up attending the marathon every year. It always fell during school vacation week and my father would bring me t

5 Tips to Increase Your Energy

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Tip #1: Eat a Healthy High Protein Breakfast! Starting your day with a well balanced breakfast is so important! Research actually proves that eating breakfast helps people feel better both physically and mentally in those morning hours. Eating a high protein breakfast will keep you feeling full and alert. Pairing a lean protein with a complex carb will give you the perfect balance. Some high protein/complex carb breakfast options are: veggie omelettes, non-fat greek yogurt with blueberries, natural peanut butter with banana on whole grain toast.  Egg white veggie omelette with corn salsa and whole grain toast Tip #2: Drink Water/ Stay Hydrated  Drinking water is crucial when it comes to keeping the body and mind energized and clear. 60% of our bodies are made up of water! To keep our bodies running efficiently and energized staying hydrated is crucial. Not sure how much water you should be drinking during the day? Click here.  Tip #3: Get Moving! A bo