Chocolate Eggnog Shakeology

Yes, another Shakeology recipe!  I am telling you, I LOVE this stuff!  I saw this one today and shared it with my Shakeology group!  If you decide to make it, please let me know what you think!

Here are some of my personal favorites!  Enjoy!

https://fitfashionmom.leadpages.co/shakeologyebook/

This lighter, healthier version of chocolate eggnog is so good, you’ll want to drink it all season long. Good thing it’s under 200 calories!

Total Time: 10 min.
Prep Time: 10 min.
Cooking Time: None
Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients:
½ cup water
½ unsweetened almond milk
1 scoop Chocolate Shakeology
½ tsp. ground allspice
1 tsp. pure rum extract
1 cup ice

Preparation:
1. Place water, almond milk, Shakeology, allspice, extract, and ice in blender; cover. Blend until smooth.

Shakeology & Superfoods

I came to write and had NO idea it had been almost a month since I posted.  Again, it is about Shakeology because I am always learning.....


I got a Thrive Market Delivery over the weekend.  There was a magazine included.  I went to throw it away, then thought "self" just thumb through it.  Wouldn't you know, they were talking about Superfoods.  They listed 10.  Shakeology has 70.  8 of the 10 Superfoods that were listed are in Shakeology  Sesame seeds and bee pollen are not.  BUT Shakeology is high in lignan, which is 7 times more than the sesame seeds.  Is also contains 19 amino acids, including the essential 8, which is 6 times more than bee pollen.  I also did a quick add up of these 10, and it was around $103 to purchase them.

SO....

I want to take some time to help you understand this shake that you may feel Coaches have an overbearing obsession to.
You see me obsessed with Shakeology and talk about it often. I also talk about Amazon often. I like to share things that are important to me. Knowing about Amazon prime may help you, and Shakeology will help 100,000%.
I never say it is diet shake or quick fix. Ever. I would never talk about it in depth if I didn't know the formulation. I would never tell you it does something it does not. I am not an expert, but I do pride myself in knowing a lot.
Shakeology is about a decision to carry with you for a lifetime. Someone asked me today if I take vitamins in addition to Shakeology. I do not have to . The 70+ natural ingredients cover that. Who does not need a daily dose of dense nutrition every single day?
People say they want whole food This is whole food. All plant based ingredients from the earth. No junk, no soy, not gluten, no artificial colors or flavors. AND it tastes GOOD.
It is the world's healthiest shake. I bet a lot of money on that. The ingredients and benefits would take one hour to explain. That is where I have more in depth conversations. Does it have protein? You bet! 17 grams/serving.

The on the surface benefits:
Lose weight when you drink every day.
Reduce junk food cravings
Increase your energy.
Improve your digestion and regularity.

THEN we get into the good stuff. HEALTH. Preventative medicine. A fix besides a pill. Cholesterol, blood sugar (one person just recently went down 50 points in 5 days), blood pressure. Built up immune system. Autoimmune issues; arthritis, fibromyalgia, thyroid. There are just a few.

If you have never tried it, what are you waiting for?  Please contact me if you would like further information!

Why is Shakeology so expensive? Answer: It is not.

A lot of people ask why Shakeology is so expensive. I used to think so too - I apologized for it. THEN, I started becoming a super crazy student. Bottom line: it isn't. It is bag with 30 days of the absolute best, natural ingredients, you put into your body. I wish I could go to the grocery store and get 30 days of fresh food. I wish I had a private plane to fly me to China and the Amazon rain forest to allow me to get just a few on the ingredients that are part of the formulation of Shakeology. I save on gas and money by not going through a drive thru. I don't have Dr's visits or have to buy medicine because I am immune as a brick wall. I don't crash in the middle of the afternoon. I don't have to buy tons of Superfoods on their own spending over $500+ when they are all here. I am preventing high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, just to name a few, from biting me in the butt later. I get protein, nutrients, vitamins, minerals and know I am getting ingredients that don't claim to be something; they really are.
I don't throw it out to sell. I throw it out to share. I don't talk about mortgage options because I don't know enough about it. This, I do. You get what you pay for and this is worth every single penny.
Knowledge is information we can put to good use, and be well. 

Chicken Chili

I have been craving chicken chili for weeks. Yesterday was finally cool (and rainy) enough in Texas to make it. I have had the recipe in a box for years. It is my mom's and when I looked at the email, it was dated 2006 when she worked at Crane. She has been retired for around 8 years. smile emoticon

1 medium onion chopped
3 TBSP olive oil
1 4oz can chopped green Chilies, drained
3 TBSP whole wheat or almond flour
3 tsp ground cumin
2 cans of Great Northern Beans
1 14 oz can of chicken broth (I used organic)
1 1/2 cup shredded chicken breast (cooked)

In a large skillet, cook onion in oil for 4 minutes or until transparent. Add chilies, flour, cumin; cook and stir for 2 minutes. Add beans and chicken broth; bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes or until thickened. Add chicken, cook until hot

The rest is up to you! Cheese, crackers, etc!

I would double up next time to have more left over. We go to town on this stuff. Thanks mom!

Hammer & Chisel

This past Sunday, I had the chance to hear Sagi Kalev, the man behind Body Beast,  talk about his latest program, Hammer & Chisel.  Release date:  December.    This is the first time that Beachbody has had two celebrity trainers work together.  Autumn Calabrese, creator of the 21 Day Fix is his cohort on the program. Different components of weight training, and a nutrition guide, that will challenge you more than ever.  This is not for the weary.  This is for someone who is ready to step up their game.  Sagi said it challenged him.  His own program challenged him.  He is so passionate about helping others, he cried on stage.  This big, bag, ripped dude cried. 

This is one of the many reasons I love this company and what they stand to achieve.  Helping people reach their goals by living healthy and fulfilling lives.

There are two previews of the program now on Beachbody on Demand.  They are only there until the end of the month  I also have a promo video if you are interested in checking it out.  Just let me know!

Transformation Tuesday

‪#‎transformationtuesday‬ - Me.

I come across this picture every so often. I had the freshman 15 plus a lot more. It started in HS, and working at Dairy Master all the time did not help. I had no self control. Something I struggle with to this day. I also had really bad acne. Like the giant ones that are under the skin. And what made them funner is that they always seemed to be on the tip of my nose or middle of my chin. It got worse in college. I had ZERO confidence. I literally hated myself. I would see all of these pretty girls walking around campus and want to be them.
At the end of my education, I started to lose some weight. I was actually pretty small. But I didn't do it the right way. Once we were married I had a very hard time finding a job so that is when I started to exercise on a regular basis. I have never looked back. The nutrition continued to be a problem. A big one. People see my eat, they laugh. I can eat more than my husband. Over those several years, I gained 20 pounds. It stayed with me for a long long time. So I was pretty thick. Sure as heck not healthy cause I didn't know what the meant. Nor did I care.
All the time I was severely depressed/anxiety. Again NO self confidence. Almost paranoid - so worried about people thought about me. If one of my friends did not message me back, I thought "oh my gosh they are mad at me". It would make my stomach turn.
Over time, it got worse. To the point or almost costing me a lot and hitting rock bottom. I sought treatment. That is the same time Beachbody came into my life. Someone posted on Facebook about a group they were doing. I thought why the heck not. I had no idea what I meant. I had heard of Shakeology but wasn't sure what it was or did. No one in my group knew what I was doing. I would get up at 5, do Les Mills Pump every day, drink my Shakeology, and go take care of my head. My physical transformation was not huge, but enough for me. What changed was how I looked at nutrition for one. People say there is no magic pill - well, this might be close. It is not a quick fix, it is not crap. It literally changed how I ate food, and MY HEALTH, and what clean eating met, and how we can prevent things from happening. I became a student.
The biggest takeaway? CONFIDENCE, LOVING MYSELF. Not caring what people thought of me. Yes, I am a little feisty now. Better than being a door mat. I am a good friend and love you til it hurts, but also stand on my own two feet.
I chose this. I had to share what an impact this had on me. It is so competitive out there. Some people need cheerleaders, some need a push, some need a hug. So I wanted to be that person. To provide tools to help women love themselves and get some of that swagger back into their step.
Who the heck knew I would build a business doing so? DANG. I don't apologize for it. No one should. It taught me to have goals while serving others. It taught me that I , ME, can start to build a future for my family.

I still struggle, I still mistakes, I still fight hard everyday. now? I just have a better attitude about it . I attribute that to some good personal development. (something I never did before, and if you did it I thought you were a big fat nerd)

E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E has a story. We can chose how we write it. How it ends? leave that to the Big Guy upstairs.

Remember How - Before making another unhealthy choice

I run private groups on Facebook for motivation and support.  It is a safe place to go and be with people with common goals.  The groups themselves do not cost anything, but to get in to you, yes, you do have to make an investment.  It is an investment for your health. 

One of my sweet, sweet girls shared this with us today:

"This was me a year ago. I hated myself: my reflection, how I looked in my clothes, and how I felt walking up a flight of stairs. I'm so glad that I loved myself enough to give Shakeology and Beachbody a try. It has changed my life!"

Don't let this be you.  Do something now.  Do something before the holidays make it worse.  Have a plan of action in place to help balance it all out.  This is what I do.  I help. 

This changed everything...

A lot of people say they were hesitant, or skeptical when it came to becoming a health and fitness coach. I was not one of them. I had such a life changing experience that I jumped at the opportunity. No one had to ask me. I had ZERO experience. Nada. Zilch. I did not even know it was network marketing. When I found out, I said "so?", and kept on going. I jumped right in, started to learn and went for it.

At 40, I had found my passion. I never once thought "I am too old". Who cares? I run my own business, my own hours, and create freedom for my family and our future. We are able to look at long-term goals and believe they will happen.

Only 20% of Americans like their jobs. Are you one of them? Do you want to be present with your kids more? Be around other motivating people?

My goal is to add some stay at home moms (or dads), or moms in the workforce who are ready to make some changes.

You just need to be:
self-motivated, disciplined and goal-oriented
open-minded to training and learning new things
willing to grow your business on social media
passionate about health and fitness
willing to invest in your own health
supportive of others while on your own journey
seeing the bigger picture before it is in front of you

If any of this sounds like something you want to consider, please fill out the application below and we can then talk further.

I look forward to hearing from you!

https://fitfashionmom.wufoo.com/forms/qil04mq07g169b/

"I can do anything I put my mind to"

Sometimes we want to give up before we even started.  It looks hard, we think we can't do it, without even trying.  One of my jobs is to help with that mind shift.  This is more mental than physical.  Letting your guard down, trying something different, or for the fist time, can literally change everything.  I love this story.  It is true transformation for a better quality of life.   Take the first step, especially before the holidays to have a plan in place.  What is stopping you?

“I can do anything I put my mind to. I learned that being healthy and strong are necessary for a fulfilling life.”

For most of my life, I felt like the fattest person in the room. I was made fun of, called names, treated poorly by many, including family and friends. To escape this emotional cruelty I turned to food. When I found out I was pregnant it was bittersweet because I was 5 months along and didn’t even know it. I used my pregnancy as an excuse to eat even more—after all, I was eating for two. As the years passed, I got dangerously heavy and even walking a few steps left me breathless. Everyday tasks, such as shopping and driving, were nearly impossible because my stomach was so huge.

Thankfully my sister, who’s also my Beachbody Coach, told me all about 21 Day Fix and encouraged me to give it a try. In the beginning I couldn’t even get through one workout, even the modified version. But I refused to quit and every day I could see and feel I was making progress. I loved Autumn as a trainer. She’s so motivating and uplifting and I felt as if she truly cared about me and wouldn’t let me fail.

The other part of the program that was key to me losing so much weight was the portion-control containers. These things are absolutely amazing because they take all the guesswork out of eating. I LOVE THEM! And I will use them forever. I also drank Shakeology every day throughout the program and still do. It took away my cravings while fueling my body with proper nutrition. Without Shakeology I never would have achieved the amazing results that I did!

21 Day Fix and Shakeology have changed my self-image completely. I am healthy and strong. And until now, I’ve never been able to look in a mirror and smile at the girl who’s looking back at me. I can get in and out of my car with no problem. But beyond all that, I’m most proud of the inches I’ve lost—which is almost 100!

Cafe Latte Shakeology - For Real

As if it could not get any better.  They have announced a new flavor of your daily dose of super food nutrition.  I don't say that lightly, it is true. 

A few things to know about Café Latte:
1) The new flavor is made with whole coffee fruit, which is indigenous to India and Mexico, it's the the fruit that coffee beans come from.
2) By sourcing whole coffee fruit for Shakeology, which is often discarded, we are minimizing our carbon footprint and increasing sustainable farming.

With that information, you can see the research and time it takes to develop. The Q&A to make sure it is the best flavor while staying all natural.  It is the healthiest thing you can put into your body. =)

It has so many benefits, it is silly.  What I think is the most important are the health benefits.  This is preventative medicine, as it reduces inflammation in the body.  Did you know that is how the root of disease is started?  Many a many autoimmune diseases have been conquered with this.

Fibromyalgia
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Thyroid Issues (Hashimoto's)
IBS
Lupus

Also:  lower of blood sugar levels and cholesterol  Good for the heart. 

I can't say enough about it.  I just can't.  It is part of my every day diet.  If I miss it, I can tell.  

If you want to be on the list for this release (early 2016) leave me your email.  We can talk about the other flavors right now. =)

Homemade Taco Seasoning

I found this from allrecipes.com.  I like their stuff, AND I like "spicy".  This is straight from your home.  No packets needed. You can also double or triple up, depending on what you are making.  I did one pound of ground turkey and this was perfect!

1 TBSP chili powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp paprika
1 1/2 tsp ground cummin
1 tsp seal salt
1 tsp black pepper

Mix ingredients and here you go!

Best Guacamole ever (I am not kidding)

My husband found this recipe online a few years back.  It is hands down the best I have ever had, and I love me some Mexican Food.  He made it Sunday when we were watching the Colts win a nail biter.  

Ingredients
2 ripe avocados
1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
1 Tbsp of fresh lime juice or lemon juice
2 Tbsp to 1/4 cup of minced red onion or thinly sliced green onion
1-2 serrano chiles, stems and seeds removed, minced
2 tablespoons cilantro (leaves and tender stems), finely chopped
A dash of freshly grated black pepper
1/2 ripe tomato, seeds and pulp removed, chopped

Serve with tortilla chips. We used organic Blue Chips

1 Cut the avocados in half. Remove seed. Scoop out avocado from the peel, put in a mixing bowl. (I find it easiest to score the inside of the avocado with a blunt knife and scoop out the flesh with a spoon. 
2 Using a fork, roughly mash the avocado. (Don't overdo it! The guacamole should be a little chunky.) Sprinkle with salt and lime (or lemon) juice. The acid in the lime juice will help delay the avocados from turning brown. Add the chopped onion, cilantro, black pepper, and chiles. Chili peppers vary individually in their hotness. So, start with a half of one chili pepper and add to the guacamole to your desired degree of hotness. Be careful handling the peppers; wash your hands thoroughly after handling and do not touch your eyes or the area near your eyes with your hands for several hours.

Remember that much of this is done to taste because of the variability in the fresh ingredients. Start with this recipe and adjust to your taste.

3 Place plastic wrap on the surface of the guacamole cover it and to prevent air reaching it. (The oxygen in the air causes oxidation which will turn the guacamole brown.) Refrigerate until ready to serve.

4 Chilling tomatoes hurts their flavor, so if you want to add chopped tomato to your guacamole, add it just before serving.

Please let me know if you make it!

Fall is upon us! 

It might still be 90 degrees in Texas, but it is autumn.  I think of pumpkins, pumpkin spice, pumpkin everything!  This is a recipe from the Fixate cookbook, part of the 21 Day Fix.  Pumpkin Pie Energy Bites.  I have had intentions of trying this for some time, and finally decided no better time than now!
This is where I have to keep it real.  I am not Betty Crocker.  I am messy, it never looks the way it is supposed to, I am not the best at presentation, but to me, as long as it tastes the same, I am OK with it!
Please let me know if you make them and what you thought!  Thank you!

Ingredients:
1 cup pitted dates
1/2 cup raw pecans
1/3 cup canned pumpkin puree
1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes (reserve small amount for garnish)
1 tsp. pure hazelnut extract (or pure maple extract)
1 tsp. pure maple syrup
2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1 pinch sea, or Himalayan salt

1. Place dates in a medium bowl; cover with water.  Let soak for 10 minutes, drain, set aside.  
2. Place pecans in food processor; pulse until finely ground.
3. Add dates, pumpkin, coconut, extract, maple syrup, pumpkin pie spice, and salt; pulse until well mixed.  Place in a medium bowl.  Refrigerate, covered for 30 minutes.
4. Using clean hands, roll into tablespoon sized ball; roll in reserved coconut if desired.
5. Store refrigerated in air tight container.

Serving: approx 16  Cal. 61  Total Fat 3g  Saturated Fat 1g  Cholesterol 0 Sodium 10  Carbs 9 g.  Fiber 2 g  Sugars 7 g  Protein 1 g   Containers: 1 yellow 1/2 tsp 

BBQ Pulled Pork

We had week two of the NFL and watched the Colts get pounced last night by the Jets.  That hurt.   0-2.  =(  Sunday by husband made his yummy pulled pork.  This is an oldie but a goodie.  Always tastes delicious!

4 pounds pork shoulder
5 to 6 cloves
3 TBSP Liquid Smoke
2 red onions, thinly sliced
2 cups water
16 oz BBQ sauce (we have been using Stubbs)

Directions:

Stud the roast with cloves and add liquid smoke on pork and rub in.  Place in a crock pot or slow cooker and top with onions.  Cover roast with water and cook 8-10 hours.  Remove pork, discard cloves and layer of fat, as well as any water and grease remaining in the pot.  When pork is cool enough to handle, use a fork or your hands to shred and pull the meat apart.  Return the meat to the crock pot along with the BBQ sauce.  Heat for one to two hours.

You can serve with: whole wheat buns, tortillas, or alone.  A lot of people like slaw.  To make a healthier version, use a Mayo made with avocado oil.

Let me know what you think!!!

Gratitude Bank

One thing that was suggested to me this week was creating a gratitude bank for our home, and each night, put something in for which we are grateful.  How awesome is that?  Society has shifted us to focus on the negative.  Get those thoughts out of your head!  This is a great perspective and makes you truly think of something as the simplest blessing to something big.  Please let me know if you try it and what you think!  Have a great weekend!

Beachbody Coaching Perspective

I don't like/want to get defensive, but a lot of times Beachbody Coaches get a bad wrap.  This is before anyone knows anything about it.  There is just this assumption.  I say, look into it before you assume.  Like with anything, right?  It sure doesn't hurt!

It started for me a life change.  I lost some weight, learned about nutrition and the impact it had on my entire life.  I learned to love myself and earned some self respect.  I decided it was for me  THEN, I realized it was a legit business.  I mean, smart.  My goal now is to help others create their own online health and fitness business.  It is do-able for the stay at home mom, or the mom that wants to be able to be with her kids more. To have the flexibility, freedom, and better quality of life!  Yes, MANY full time incomes are replaced; and at a growth faster than any other job you would have in corporate America.  I heard yesterday, why would do stay broke for 40 years doing a job you hate, rather than work hard for a few years to build your own business for something greater?  

I believe I provide the best answers I can to the best questions out there.  I am happy to address any hesitations or concerns.  I LOVE what I do.  I BELIEVE in it.  I don't apologize for it.  I want everyone to know about this?  Why would I not share something I love?

If ever ever ever anyone wants to know anything, just ask me. 

Football Recipes - Boneless Wings

Football season is upon us, so that means we are happy campers.  We are Colts fans, yes, back before they were good.  They did not look pretty yesterday, but it was only game one.  My husband likes to cook, unlike me.  We decided it would be fun to share a recipe a week with everyone during the football season.  I will try and get the next one out before Sunday so you can try as well.

This is for buffalo chicken wings.  We like boneless, so use what you prefer.  It is from Anchor Bar in Buffalo (gee, that is funny, we played Buffalo yesterday.)  It was just a recipe he found online and has been making them for a few years now.

- 36 wings (again we just chicken tenders, diced)
- 1 TBSP vegetable oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 cup all purpose flour (for a healthier version we used almond flour)
- 1 1/2 TBSP white vinegar
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/8 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp Tabasco sauce
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 6 TBSP hot sauce (we use Frank's)
- 6 TBSP unsalted butter or margarine
- type of dressing you want to dip (we use Blue Cheese and need to work on a "cleaner" version)

preheat over to 425

1. toss chicken in a bowl with oil and salt.  Place into a large plastic bag (ziplock) and add flour to shake and coat.  Remove from bag and spread out evenly on an (oiled -foiled lined baking pan) you can line with olive oil or some type of similar spray.  Do not crowd.  Bake for about 20 minutes, turn the wings over, and cook for another 20 - until browned.

2.  While the wings are baking, mix all the ingredients for the sauce in a pan.  Bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally and then turn off.

3.  After the wings are cooked, transfer to a large mixing bowl.  Pour sauce over wings and toss until completely covered!

We saved some nuggets for my son to eat plain.  And truth be told, we ate all of them before I realized I never took a pic!  Let me know if you make them and what you think!

I am on a Mission!

I watched a training video last night.  It rocked my world.  Guess what I am BOLD.  And I am on fire.
If you told me 6 months ago I would be getting up at the butt crack of dawn to do a challenge I would have laughed in your face. If you were doing it, I would probably have called you a dork. I found personal development valuable, but these past couple of months has been an entire new level for me. Knowledge, personal growth, and yes doubting myself. Going back to "what will others think?" Here is the deal. If I have a strong conviction, the support of my husband and confidence in myself - I am doing it. I have realized you won't make everyone happy. But you do hope to have respect.
I have also realized that you really can visualize something that is not a reality at the moment. Maybe for someone it is losing 60 pounds. Not happening tomorrow but you can visualize it. And with consistent actions, you can get there. This applies to anything.
We can lose momentum at times, this is when a lot of
people give up. Don't. Man I do it, but I would not have an office if I had given up. (It is still weird). This is just a step to my story. Helping more people. Being more driven. Showing them they can be driven too. Never apologize for doing something good and believing in it.

Are you?

Just Breathe

So here is the deal.  I have insomnia.  I am bipolar.  Any one of them can sneak up on me at anytime. One might trigger the other.  I get crabby.  I get manic.  I have not slept for 4 nights.  Why?  I don't know.  Man I wish I did.  I am tired.  I want to cry.  I try and stay as positive as possible.  I am so transparent that you can tell when I am down.  I won't pretend not to be. It took SO long to get here, I don't want it to go back to where it was.  It is daunting.

BUT,  how it used to be is different than how it is now.  See, before, I never saw the "it would be better".  I just stayed in despair.  I would hide in bed, EAT, feel sorry for myself.  Oh, don't worry, I feel a little sorry for myself, cause I want to sleep.  Sleep is vital to our health and VERY vital to me. I want to feel like I did 5 days ago.  Now though, I try to use tools to help me get better.  1. call my dr and find out what the heck is going on, again.  2. I exercise, better than medicine.  I don't care how tired I am.  3.  I pray and read something to lift me up.  3.  I acknowledge and own it.  4.  I realize I need to take a step back and take care of me before I can take care of others.  5.  I. breathe because it will be OK.

It is what it is.  Do the best you can.  You are not alone.  XO

Overnight Steel Cut Oats

A friend posted this recipe last week.  Then I saw someone else post it.  I figured I better check it out.

Overnight Steel Cut Oats 

Serving size 1
Ingredients

• 1/3 cup of dry steel cut oats
• 1/4 cup almond milk
• ¾ cup of low-fat, plain greek yogurt
• 1 cup of any fruit of your choice
Directions

1. Mix together.
2. Put in a pint jar or other small container with a lid.
3. Store in the refrigerator overnight with the lid on. The next morning stir and add a sprinkle of cinnamon. I added stevia as well)
Feel free to warm yours in the microwave for about 1 minute.