Why Beachbody and not some pill?

This world is full of fast fixes and the promise of quick results.  It really is.  Instant gratification is the norm in our current society (ok, really, throughout history we have always taken the easier paths...).

Everything is made to be quick and offer results.  Quick passes at Disney World promise no long wait in lines.  Makeup companies offer overnight wrinkle removal.  Movies and music are streamed straight to your phone.  Overnight shipping, instant money transfers, boxed dinner, car-side pickup.....  

The need to get what you want NOW has made us look for the easy way out of our weight gains.

So, like many, I fell for the instant weight loss pills.  Keep eating what you want and lose 20, 30, 40 pounds!  Guaranteed!  First month free!  Common, seriously, how can you say no to an instant, no hassle pound shedding pill?

Please, say no.  Just say no.  There is a reason why they say "if it is too good to be true it really is."  

The stuff in those pills offer no guarantee, many do not even work properly, and the side effects should cause even the most desperate person pause.

There are 3 types of weight loss pills out there.  I will list the three different types and the side effects to show why these are NOT the way to go.

The first is stimulant-like drug to the nervous system that reduces appetite.  Sounds great, I like knowing I won't want to eat very much.  But....  the side effects include pulmonary hypertension, a rare and potentially fatal disorder due to high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs, valvular disease of the heart, elevated blood pressure, increased pulse and heart rate, restlessness, dizziness, insomnia, dry mouth, and constipation.

The second is increases levels of serotonin and norepinephrine, helping you feel full.  Side effects? Glad you asked!  They include headache, dry mouth, anorexia, constipation, insomnia, runny nose, and sore throat.

The third prevents a sizable amount of fat absorption and it;s side effects include diarrhea, oily stools, gas flatulence, and a decrease in absorption of fat-soluble vitamin.  (Lovely, right?)

Want to do a weight loss drug now?  The promise of a quick fix by one sounds lovely, but the side effects should REALLY cause you to rethink!

And then you have this....  

Really, WHO believes this crap?!

So, why go my route?  Here is why:

1. We DON'T offer quick fixes!  It takes hard work and self discipline (ugh, right?  Trust me, I know....) but there is a reason for that!  Science has shown that the best way to lose weight and get healthy is to make different life choices.  And those life choices are:
1. Exercise.  Yes, I keep harping on that.  It MAKES a difference!  In order to lose fat you have to burn it off.  Muscle burns it faster (but don't use those pills shown above...)
2. Diet.  Eating pizza and McDonalds everyday is being counter-productive.  Your body needs the right fuel to burn.  It is like putting diesel in a Prius.  You can't do it.  It is a fuel, but the wrong one, and you will destroy the car.
2. We offer the support you need!  We help you make those lifestyle changes.  We don't just send you a video and tons of reading and then walk away.  I am constantly being messaged by my own coach to see how I am doing.  She offers support, encouragement, and ideas to help me keep going.  Yes, I fail.  Often.  But I get back up and I keep going.  And it is worth it.
3. We get you into groups with like-minded people who are doing the same thing.  It isn't just me guiding you, supporting you, but 10, 15, 20 other people doing the same thing.  They push you.  They make you want to do more.  For example, I did my first 5K this year.  NEVER thought I could, but I did it.  And it was awesome!!!!

Pills are a quick, usually ineffective, fix to a lifelong problem.  Instead, change your life.  It will make all the difference.

Stupid Scale!

I hate my scale, along with millions of other women (*sigh* ok, and men too....).  I don't need to tell you how aggravating it is to step on the scale and see it go up and not down.

But don't go get the gun and shoot the scale (I have considered it!).  It won't make you feel better about your weight (although the aggressive firing may help your mental health!) and it won't make you skinnier.

There ARE some things you should be aware of when it comes to that stupid scale.

1)  Muscle weighs MORE than fat!  It surprises people when they know they are losing weight because their clothes are loose but the scale shows no progress or an increase in weight.  It can be frightening!

*disclaimer* this isn't me....  wish it was...

The images is a perfect example of fat vs. muscle!  Look how the size of fat vs muscle is so different, yet they weigh the same.  It is possible that when you step on the scale you are seeing results, just not in the numbers game.  Stop trusting that scale!!!!  Tape yourself and get an accurate idea of how you have slimmed down.  Use this link to learn how to take body measurements accurately.

2) When do you weigh yourself?!  No, seriously, when?  Do you do it at the same time every day?  All throughout the day?  

When matters because your body fluctuates by 1-2 pounds throughout the day.  It can be discouraging to keep weighing yourself and seeing the number go up, then go down, then go right back up.  

So, when should you weigh yourself?  I recommend in the morning before you eat.  Wake up, do your morning routine of getting dressed and ready for your day, then weigh yourself.  Don't hurt your brain by doing it at different times or throughout the day.  You'll just get discouraged.

3)  Stress, medications, hormones, and other external factors can cause you to gain or lose.  Keep track in a journal.  Write down what is happening that day, what internal (stress) and external (like what you ate) factors are happening, and then your weight.  Over time you can track and know what to expect.  For example, when I get stressed, I gain weight.  I tend to eat more carbs then.  So I know that my weight will go up when stressed.

4)  Water retention.  Most women know how horrible that can be (hello hormones) and just how miserable that scale is when it happens.  But did you know that dehydration can cause that as well?!   Ya, it can be pretty costly to your health and weight loss to not drink enough water.  Drink at least a gallon a day!  This page is pretty amazing and will give you 11 reasons why dehydration is making you fat and sick.

5)  Compensatory eating is another reason you could be gaining weight.  You went to the gym.  You kicked ass.  You came out feeling like a million dollars.  Then went to dinner and decided that a couple of margaritas wouldn't hurt because you worked hard.  You then do this every day.

Ummmm....  do you see how that could be a problem?  You tend to think that because you worked hard you can play hard.  Not necessarily true.  The occasional treat is fine, but to use food like that isn't going to make you lose.  You will gain.  Watch what you eat, when you eat, and also how many treats you give yourself.

6) And to follow compensatory eating, what you eat in general makes a big difference!  I have touched on this before, so if you missed it, click here to go to it!

7)  How often do you work out?  What does your workout consist of?  Ineffective exercise can be a huge reason as to why you are not losing weight.  Not all exercise was made equal.  Walking every day is not going to burn the same amount of calories that cardio will.  Look at your workout and consider changing it.  Real weight loss will have a good grouping of aerobics, cardio, and weight training.  Toning as well.  I can help you out there!  Need a better workout that guarantees results, click here to find a workout that will work for you!

These are just a few reasons as to why your scale isn't moving in the direction you want.  But remember this:

Comparison Time!

Despite my "Despicable Me" moment, I have to say, I am super happy with where I am in how I look.

On Friday, October 10, 2014, I got dressed up (aka, I put on makeup and finally put a brush through my hair.  No judging, I am a mom....) and took a picture to prove it.

Then, as I was looking at it, I thought, "hey, I look pretty good."  Again, no judging, I think all women should be allowed to be a little self-centered....

Anyway, I decided to compare how I looked in May to that day.  You know, just to see if I got my sexy back.

You tell me!  The picture on the left is October 10 and the one on the right is May 17 at a wedding (so I am gussied up then, too)....

What makes me happy is that my face shows the weight loss.  5 months....  this journey is worth it!

Let's go climb the Michi Ladder....

So we all know that certain foods are good for you, and that some are even better.

If you are like me, relatively new to all the healthy eating and haven't had a professional chef come to your door to teach you, then you need to check out this thing called Michi's Ladder.

Whhaaaaa????

Yup.  That was what I said.  A ladder.  I had no idea what that was, why it was important, or how it was going to change my life.

Now, please note, that this is NOT a diet.  So don't treat it like it is.  It is just a simple substitution plan.  To lose weight, swap out those foods you eat that are similar to the foods in tier 1 and 2 (the SUPER good stuff!) and then try to avoid the ones lower down the ladder (SERIOSULY avoid tier 5!).  The more foods you eat from 1 and 2, the better your chances are for losing weight!

The lower tiers are just not as dense in

Now, seriously, common.  I am handing you the tools you need to succeed!  Take them and run with them!!!!

Despicable Me...

I have been bad.....  

I haven't been keeping up.....

Ya, I know.  I am pretty angry with myself right now. 

I was doing great before September.  And then I got the news that my brother needed emergency surgery and I found myself jumping on a plane with my baby boy and leaving Louisiana for West Virginia.  

I never realized how much I needed the monotony of my life up to that point.  My husband worked nights, till I left.  My daughter wasn't clingy.  My son wasn't even more clingy than usual.  And my calender looked empty.

Gone for 2 weeks and getting back and my whole life went insane!  I haven't had a lot of time to even breathe.  So I used that as an excuse and didn't keep up with working out, eating right, and doing my shake.

Can you guess who physically felt sick?  

Me.

I felt like crap.  Thankfully I didn't gain weight, but the scale didn't go down.

Now I am back on the bandwagon and I feel amazing!

I swear, I sound like one of those infomercials trying to sell you guys something you don't need.  But I am not joking when I say that by eating right, exercising, and drinking Shakeology I feel so amazing.  I had headaches, felt tired, and craved sugar.  Now that I am back on track I feel like Superwoman!  

I just need to keep at it!

And that is the beauty of this.  If I fail, I know that I can just get back on the horse and keep going. 

September 11 - the bad and the good

This post has nothing to do with weight loss, healthy eating, fitness, etc.  I think today is going to be just me, writing about a few things that mean a lot to me....

The bad, obviously, is about what this day means to me on a large scale.  I won't bore you with the details as to where I was, who I was with, and what I know about what happened September 11, 2001.  We all have such stories and memories.  I was blessed to not know anyone in the towers, planes, or Pentagon when it happened.  I could have, it was a pretty scary couple of hours while we waited to make sure my dad was safe and still in our area of Virginia, but we went unscathed.

Except for the feeling of safety we always had, no matter how obscure it may have been.  That was gone.  Like those towers, it was smashed, burned, and left in a pile of dust at our feet, wondering what was to come next.

We all know what happened next.  Our military went to a sandpit and fought to give us that security back.  They signed a blank check to Uncle Sam and agreed that they would go to hell and back for him, if it was asked of them.  And for many, it was.

My own husband signed that check, served 8 years in the Marines, spent 2 tours in Fallujah, Iraq, and came home with his own demons.  September 11 may have happened while we were in highschool, but it changed us even after it had happened.  It continues to change people.  We can't run from it, we can't hide from it.  And it isn't getting any better.

I won't let this day be forgotten.  I will teach my children and grandchildren to respect today.  I will show them the videos of that day, show them how it changed our lives, and make sure that they understand the price that has been paid and will always be paid for their safety.  Our future is forever changed by this one moment and I will not let it be forgotten.

But the good, for me, is this - I married my best friend for a second time on September 11, 2010.  Duff and I were married in a quick civil service in February and we had the chance to have our "big" church wedding with family and friends in September.  I joke that I was quite the catch to be able to have him want to marry me twice in 1 year!

It was the best day in my life up to that point (we have had 2 kids since then, so their births became my best day) and it was perfect.  It was comfortable outside, so the garden reception was perfect.  I was sad that many of our friends had military obligations and were not able to make it last minute, but our family and friends were still there and it was perfect.  Absolutely perfect because I got to say "I do" again.

Today is our 4 year anniversary.  We are apart right now as I am in West Virginia and won't be back till tomorrow night, but I know that he is thinking about me like I am thinking of him.  Distance means nothing when you love someone.

So while the world, and I, remember with sadness the lives lost and altered forever by terrorists, I will also enjoy this day as it is the (second) first day of the rest of my life.

Happiest 5K on the Planet!

OH YA!  I DID IT!  MY FIRST 5K!!!

I decided earlier this year that I was going to do a 5K.  I wanted to do the Color Run after seeing friends of mine post pictures of theirs over the past few years.  Well, New Orleans had a Color Run August 23, 2014, and I was going to do it!

I was so lucky because not only did I do it, but my husband and kids, his sister, and her husband joined me!  What an awesome experience this run was.

Here is us before

Me and my little family.  Yes, even the baby was ready!

At the start line at 7:30 a.m.

Now, I will be honest and say I had to walk the majority of it.  I couldn't run with that stroller I am holding onto.  It isn't a jogging stroller as much as an off-roading one.  It is rugged but as soon as you go faster than a fast walk the front wheel shakes uncontrollably.  But I gave my husband the nice jogger and he ran the whole thing.  

But seriously, it wouldn't have mattered if I ran it, I am proud of myself for speed-walking it and having a good time!  My daughter sure did!  She got out and "ran" for a while.

And check out the aftermath!

Haha, you can tell that the baby was NOT impressed.  And my daughter was ready to get down to party.

But we had a great time.  We got out, we got moving, we were active, and THAT is all that mattered!

And what made me so proud of myself is that I BOUGHT those leggings, WORE those leggings, and I think I look pretty good.  AND I GOT IN FRONT OF THE CAMERA!!!!  I HATE being in front of it and I did it willingly!  Getting rid of some of that weight has made me more confident in myself.  Whoop!

Can not wait for the next 5K!  Going to either get a different stroller or get a sitter for the kids so I can run it!

Hey Jiggles!

I am Fluffly.  Soft.  Squishy.  Pleasantly Plump.  Or, as my dad says to my mom, "You're in shape.  Round is a shape."

Ya, go ahead and giggle at that last one.  I always say it to myself when I feel particularly *blah*.

And I am working on it.  

But today my husband made me laugh so hard that I had to share this Meme with you guys.  His (joking) reason for our weight loss?  

Enjoy.  <3

Why I Chose Shakeology...

As a mom of 2, I am all for making my life easy.  Especially while they are still so little and always seem to tag-team each other for needing my attention.  Kids need warning labels stating they eat, poop, and demand mommy attention....  All. The. Time.

Moms, can I get an "Amen"?

But seriously, I love my kids.

And then having a husband who works nights and sleeps all day means I am with them almost 24 hours a day, 5-6 days a week.  I am not claiming Single Mom status here, just stating that my life revolves around baby dolls and "Frozen" as of late, and finding time to eat is a lot harder now.

So I had to find easy.  And FAST!  I tried frozen meals (can I say "Ick"?) and a lot of the ready-made meals were so high in calories or sodium that I felt that not eating was healthier compared to eating that junk.  I have tried GNC shakes and the ones you can easily find at Wal-Mart....  but I still felt hungry, sluggish, and blah (my Mommy-technical term).

What to do, what to do?

HELLO Shakeology!!!!!  I was introduced to this by a friend (and my own Beachbody Coach!) and I admit, I was skeptical.  I had already tried a bunch of meal replacement shakes and now I was supposed to shell out $$$ on yet another one?  Ummmm.... ok?

I can sum up the experience in 3 words - BEST IDEA EVER!!!  Finally I have a meal in a cup that I not only look forward to eating but actually has proven itself.  How, you ask?

Well, I took the shake for 10 Days as part of a Challenge.  I had energy, I didn't have sugar cravings, and I wasn't hungry after replacing a meal with it.  Then I went off it for almost 2 months.  And I saw a huge difference.  I was eating bad again, I wanted sugar foods all the time, I just felt icky.

When I talked to my husband about it, he told me to get back on it if I felt better.  I did just that.  And then asked him if he was interested in trying it.  At first I got this look like I was insane.  Till he saw that my weight loss journey was actually doing better now that I was back on it, and then he said "ok, I'll try it."

He has been on it for a month now and he swears by it.  My Marine husband, who has tried tons of supplements and meal replacements now swears by Shakeology!  He feels better when he takes it every day, especially after his morning workout before he goes to bed.

So perhaps you are wondering what is in Shakeology.  I know I am all about the facts.  Thankfully there is a comparison chart already made up with all of the nutritional information about Shakeology versus the other leading meal replacement shakes out there, including the ever popular GNC, MediFast, Slim by Vi, and Advocare.  Take a look:

Do you see the difference?!  I not only see the difference, I feel it!  I get all the nutrients that I miss in a normal day.  I know I don't eat enough veggies and fruits, and I know I am not getting the vitamins and minerals that I need in just my food.  I don't even take a vitamin anymore.  Why bother, it is all there!!

Want to know more about this AMAZING product that I and my husband are supporters of, as are thousands of other users who are seeing results?  Check out my link below or message me!

www.myshakeology.com/lauradufrene
laura.dufrene@outlook.com

A Wedding Ring Success

In 2011 I was pregnant with Eleanor. I had pre-e and gained a lot of weight, which sadly means my wedding ring no longer fit. Even after giving birth it didn't fit properly. Then I got pregnant with Damion in 2013. Didn't gain a lot of weight but it didn't help the ring situation. I hadn't been able to wear it since I got pregnant with my first, and my second baby made sure it stayed that way...

Guess what I just tried on? Yup, my wedding ring.

And. It. Fit.

No forcing it on. No cut off circulation. No fighting, tugging, or the soap trick to get it off. It slides on and off like it did the day I got married!

My daughter will be 3 in November.... it has been that long since I have been able to wear it.

Look at what 1.5 months working out and eating right did for me!!!!! Who else wants to change their life and be able to put those rings back on?!

"You exzercizing? You got this!"

Now I know that 2.5 year olds are full of energy.  I am the oldest of 8 kids and I worked with small children for many years, so I am very aware that they are moving from sun up to sun down.  But little did I know that this little spitfire would be the pushing me to keep going when I feel like I just can't.

Nono has decided that it is her job to join us on our journey to being fit.

In the morning she jumps into the jogging stroller and yells at her Daddy to "go fast!" while he is doing his 3 mile run.  Then, when they get home, she joins him in doing his T25.  She jumps, wiggles, twists, and does her own version, but she does it right beside him.

In the evening, it is my turn to have her.  She will plank (she is VERY good at these), run in place, punch, and kick right along me with Power90.   She grabs my kickboxing gloves after I get home Tuesdays and Thursdays, puts them on, and then asks "Wanna fight?"

And through all of this she yells at us "You got this, you got this!"  When we feel like we can't keep going she says "I love you.  You got this."

How can we look at her and say we can't do this?  We can't!  We have to keep going, because it has dawned on us that she looks up to us.  She does what we do.  And we have to show her that this is the right lifestyle.  So even though there are days we want to quit, we keep going.

So, I will ask you what she asks me all the time - "You exzercizing?  I exzercizing. You got this!"

My excuse for being gone....

Sorry guys for being gone for a little while.  I had a busy weekend that lead to a close tragedy and have had to unwind a bit.

At a birthday party, my 2.5 year old baby girl decided Saturday afternoon to go swimming in a friend's pool without supervision and without her floaties.  Thanks to a grandmother my daughter is alive as she found her fighting to stay afloat and jumped in to get her.

A few hours later she had a sudden fever of 104, was shaking, her feet were blue, and she was either fever talking or hallucinating.  Thankfully the birthday boy's mom is a nurse and she was able to get her temperature down.

At 1 am Sunday morning she wasn't herself and I was scared of dry drowning.  So we found ourselves in the ER.  Thankfully the X-ray showed irritation but nothing more (besides a lovely bout of stomach sickness...)

She is ok, but I have been very shaken by this.  It dawns on me that my little girl came close to not be here.

So I have been a little out of it.  Emotionally I have been a wreck.  But I have been working out, keeping up with my weight loss, and I am not quitting.

Will be back soon to get back at it, but asking forgiveness for being gone for a little bit...

Hey good looking, watcha got cookin'?

Food is a passion of mine.  My husband may say otherwise, since I am not much of a cooker the past few months, but I claim it is too hot to cook and with 2 little ones I don't have much time.  But that doesn't mean that I don't enjoy a nice meal.

But, as we all can attest too, sometimes a nice meal can be overload in the caloric area.  And that sucks.  Because then we starve ourselves the rest of the day to make up for what we ate.  We have to eat only so many calories, you know, right?

NOPE!  Yup, I said nope.

Maybe some of you know this already, but there are some foods that burn MORE calories than they contain!!!!!  Yup, MORE!

To let y'all have some healthy food that won't hurt you when you have overdone it:

1. Celery.  I know, no brainer.  Mostly water anyway.  
2. Grapefruit.  Now this one can be a hard one for people to like to eat, so here is my secret.  Slice, put a LITTLE bit of sugar on top and broil it in the oven for about 5-10 minutes.  It is so much easier to eat and so yummy warm.
3. Lettuce and leafy greens.  Another no brainer.  Yummy salads are in your future!
4. Watermelon.  This is my go-to for when I am having sugar cravings.  Sweet, juicy, and it hits the spot
5. Broths.  Weird, right?  But if you throw veggies and some meat into a pot, add water, and boil it for about an hour, and bam!  Guiltless broth!
6. Apples and Oranges.  Fruits Salad, anyone?
7. Tomatoes and Cucumbers.  Told you, awesome salads!
8. Asparagus.  MMMMmmmm.......  grilled is my favorite way to go!
9. Broccoli.  Can't go wrong with those!
10. Coffee.  Yup, seriously, coffee has 0 calories (yup, ZERO).  It isn't until you add stuff that it started to get a little heavy handed in the calorie department.  I am slowly weaning myself off the sugars I add, but we are getting there!

Now I am NOT saying go out and pig out at a meal because you know you can eat these other foods.  That is not the point of this.  What I am saying is that there are foods out there that will really help you reach what goals you have because, in a way, they are super foods in the diet world!

Not my finest weekend.

Baby showers are so much fun, and even more fun when you help plan them!  A friend of mine is having a little girl (she is due in 2 weeks) and we are so excited for her!  We decided to throw her a shower and celebrate this mommy becoming a mommy for the second time.

And what shower would be complete without yummy food?!  I spent 3 days slowly making some amazing food.

Cucumber sandwiches.
Mini BLT's.
Chocolate chip cookies.
Sugar cookies.
Peanut Butter cookies.
Lady fingers with sweetened cream cheese and raspberry jelly.
Chocolate cups with vanilla pudding.
Meringues.
Hershey Kiss Pies.
Chocolate stuffed strawberries.

And that is just what I made!  Check out this spread!

(teas, lemonade, veggies, and salad)

(that is spinach-artichoke dip in the front... to die for!)

(A friend made this cute cupcake cake...  oh so pretty and tastes even better!)

Ugh....  it was so good....  I couldn't help but try everything - at least once.  Oh, how my taste buds went crazy!  MMMmMMmmmMMMMmm......

But I know I didn't do well.  Taste testing everything over the weekend and then eating today.  I feel guilty.

But tomorrow starts a new challenge, one with rewards.  Time to loose those 2 pounds I gained this weekend.

And I was doing so well!!  I am down almost 10 pounds since the start of July.  And even my dad, after watching a video I sent to them with me and my kids, said I look slimmer.  As we all know, the camera adds 10 pounds.  So to have him say that means that what I see in the mirror is what others are starting to see as well.

The plan for tomorrow?  Running in the morning, Power 90 in the afternoon.  Back to eating healthy.  Giving all the extra sweeties to the neighborhood kids.  

Tomorrow is another day!

-- Never give up, Never surrender! --

Let's Do This!

My husband and I are LOVING our workouts together.  We have found that we are really motivated when we set up plans for our workouts.  To see what we have accomplished in a week makes it even better!

To help us along I made this board and it is in the hallway leading to the Master Bathroom.

I know it is hard to see...

Here is what our weekly schedule for workouts looks like (and please note that we haven't started.  We just decided to do this today!)

Ya, you are reading that right.  Running in the morning (ugh....) and then Power 90 (the precursor to P90x).  I am also doing kickboxing Tuesdays and Thursday.

Here is what we have accomplished this week!

(and of course we have to have inspirational quotes to keep going!)

And this is my favorite thing.  I made this last year to have a place to write memos to my husband about why I love him.  And here is what has been up for the past few weeks:

May be an odd thing to love in my husband, but he is motivated!  He pushes me and, in return, I push him.  It is a win-win situation!!!!!   His motivation is wonderful and I love him for it.

Well, just wanted to share what we have done as a couple to prepare ourselves for a new us.  We have made a weekly goal to complete- 6 days of exercise.  

WE CAN DO IT!

-- never give up, never surrender --

-- failure is not an option --

I promised I would be honest about how I was doing with my goals and here I am, being honest.

The past few days I have been on point.  Eating right, drinking my shakeology once a day, and working out.  I KICKED A$$ yesterday at kickboxing.  Was SUPER proud of myself.  I ache, I have nasty bruises, and I knocked my kneecap out of joint, but I was on fire!

And then today....

Ugh.  Where to begin?

First, last night was miserable.  My kids are coming down with summer colds.  That means a 2.5 year old and a 5 month old have stuffy noses and both want mom.  I was up a lot last night holding one and then the other.  So I was exhausted.

Wednesdays are my errand days, and I had plenty to do.  Office Depot for business supplies and to pick up prints.  Target to get a baby shower gift for Sunday.  Books-a-Million for a much needed pep-talk book (and maybe another book in a series I enjoy that just so happened to be $5... SCORE!)  And Wal-Mart for the very much needed grocery shopping (like we literally ran out of healthy food yesterday and I needed to go shopping) and to pick up baby shower supplies (I am co-hosting the shower.)

To sum that up, I was tired, hungry, and a little stressed about getting this all done and still getting time to spend with my husband who works nights, sleeps most of the day, and is with us for a few hours every afternoon....  and who just so happened to get another raise!  (Good job, Babe!)

I decided we needed to get out and celebrate and we ended up eating at Twin Peaks.

If you have not had their fish tacos, you are missing out...  so good.  Oh, so good.  I ate all 3.  I did skip the chips and ate my husbands summer squash that was covered in melted butter... oh, so good.

(not my picture, but there it is in all of it's glory - fish tacos!)

First fail of the day.

Then, because of all the running around, I didn't get home and done with all my errands till late.  Which meant that I still hadn't fed Nono dinner (thank you PB&J) or Damion (thank you baby cereal and mommy milk!)  And it also meant I had not eaten anything either.  Ya, you hear the uh-oh....

Second fail.  I had gone 7 hours between meals and I was so hungry!  So I ate 2 PB tortilla wraps and a plum.  I know, not bad, but...

I didn't have my shake today.  And no exercise.

Third and Fourth Fail of the day.

I know reading this seems silly, it isn't like I had eaten a whole cake or something (which, I am going to have to watch it this weekend, cause I may be really tempted at a wedding and baby shower!)  Thing is, I was doing so well but I let my busy life take control today and right now I feel *blah*.  Mentally I am tired, physically I feel drained, and I am not liking it.

Making this a lesson for the day.  If you break from a good routine, you will hurt for it.  Tomorrow I will be back on track, I will be going to kickboxing, and I will forget today ever happened.

Tomorrow is another day.  I will pick myself up and just keep trying!

Challenges and Coaching!

So the cool thing about Beachbody is that EVERYONE can do it!  No matter your fitness level, if you have the heart and desire to make a change in your life, you can, and I can help!!!!!!

Challenges are a great way to get started.  There are many kinds of challenges (they vary in length and type) but my Challenges are EASY!  I have 2 kinds - 10 Days and 60 Days.  Yup, that is it.  Challenges are great because they change the way you view fitness.  There are no crazy 20 pill supplements, none of the crazy diet fads that make you feel sick, and no killing yourself for hours in the gym!  

Both Challenges follow the same idea - change the way you eat, how you eat, how and how often you exercise, and replace one meal with a shake from Shakeology that will help fill in the gaps in our nutrition that we all have.  Unless you are some nutrition guru, you are like me and fail in some area of nutrition.  I know I don't get my recommended daily intake of fruits, veggies, or dairy.  But these shakes do that for me.  

That's it.  With a secret facebook group, constant support and accountability through your fellow challengers, me (as your coach), and a few other coaches, and help with planning meals, you get a GREAT start in changing your life to a fit one!  You get all the help you need to get started, and even after it is over I am there for you to keep it up!

But then, when you have tried it, you may want to know HOW I do what I do!!!!  Because, I will be honest, this is pretty amazing being able to stay home, help others on their goals which in turns makes me accountable to myself, AND I get to make money doing this!!!!!

You all know I have just started as a Beachbody Coach, but do you ever wonder what exactly it is that I do and how the coaches in this company have been able to create an income from home working part time? How I get to be able to stay at home doing what I LOVE (helping people reach their goals) while having the freedom to spend the time with my kids/family?

Our team is kicking off a Coaching At A Glance 7 day FREE Facebook Group so you can get an idea of what my daily schedule looks like, what my challenge groups are all about, my compensation plan, how I manage my time and the fun perks, bonuses, trips and events that come along with this amazing opportunity. You'll be able to learn the details to see if this opportunity is something you would like to do.

Here are the requirements and details:
• This group is 7 days long and we will be posting a topic each day for you to read or a video for you to watch on your own time.
• This group starts >> Monday, July 21, 2014<<
• May NOT already be a coach
• Do NOT have to be a fitness professional or at your ideal weight/goal. In fact, if you're looking to start your journey it will be to your advantage! I am not fit, but I am doing it!

If you would like to jump in to this group, please say so in a comment below and then message me on my personal page
https://www.facebook.com/LauraDufrene2014
Looking forward to meeting you and showing you how my business works!

Blisters are a motivator!

Yup, blisters.

Another stupid little thing that has me motivated to keep going.

I went running for the first time since middle grade (2007!) yesterday morning.  In reality it was mainly fast walking with short bursts of jogging.  I don't run.

 

It wasn't easy.  I hate running.  I look funny.  I sweat (no, I don't sparkle, I SWEAT).  I ache (I hate pain).  Flat out, I hate running.  It was a good thing my husband was there with me, pushing me forward.  He is a Marine and he runs 3 miles.  RUNS 3 miles.  Ugh...  But he jogged beside me and kept me moving.  Even yelling running cadences (I will not repeat them here because there were some pretty messed up ones.  *Rolls eyes* Marines....)

But I did it!  For the first time in 7 years I went out and tried to run.

And now I have 2 massive blisters on my feet.  They are not awful, but they hurt (see pain comment above).  Blisters are miserable reminders that I am not in shape to do what I want to accomplish!  I signed up for a 5K Color Run in August and now I am faced with the realization that I am not ready.

But here is where the motivation part comes in.  The blisters heal, the skin hardens, and if I keep this up, I will not have them anymore!  They will become a distant memory and my hard work to be able to run and not get those blisters anymore will be realized.

It dawned on me last night that those blisters are another goal for me to reach.  Keep running, keep aiming for a better lifestyle, and the pain that comes with it will subside and it all becomes easier!

Well, just thought I would throw this motivation out there.  Pain passes, blisters go away, and you are left with accomplishments!

And because these Meme's made me laugh, here are a few running ones I think I will share with you!