Dogs and Your Work-Out

Having a dog is a great way to get out of the house, but it doesn't just stop at giving your dog a 10-15 minute walk to do their business! There are so many fun ways to include your dog in your active lifestyle. You can even learn and take part in new activities together!!!

A lot of these activities you might already do with yourself, but now you can get the pup out of the house for some fun too! Some activities include:

Running

Paddle Boarding

Kayaking

Hiking

Riding a Bike

Swimming

Rollerblading

5K Races for you and your pet

Agility Dog Training

Hunting

Mushing

Day Trips

Frisbee

Dog Parks

Surfing

Dog Friendly Events

Beach Trip

After waking up this morning to a very bored dog that wanted nothing but some good old fun it crossed my mind that we could easily make the things we enjoy, things we can enjoy with our pet. I mean it isn't anything new! I stumble upon these photos and videos of dogs partaking in fun outdoors activities all the time. Activities that can help you stay active and fit while also bonding with your furry friend. It's a win win!

It is nice for people who maybe don't have that gym buddy or a significant other also. It isn't always easy to be excited about doing things when you don't have someone in your life at the moment. If you have a dog though, you can be there for one another! You can explore and get out and try new things! We live in a world where people make their animals the center of there lives, so there are so many pet friendly places, activities and events. Make a point to make time for man's best friend, they will enjoy the time outside and the time with you as much as you if not more.

Remember of course when you are keeping your pet involved, there are things to keep in mind. You want to make sure your dog can swim if you are doing any water activities or make sure you have a life vest for them. Also when taking your pet for a hike or a walk make sure they have the correct foot wear. Sometimes if they are walking on ruff surfaces the pads of their feet can get torn, to avoid this you can get a pair of dog booties, which is also good for colder weather activities as well. Also for the cold weather a jacket or sweater is good depending on the breed and what kind of coat they have. Of course you always want to carry food and water with you for when they need a break, just like we do! 

Make sure you also arm them with flee and tick medication as well as keeping them up on all their shots such as rabies just in case!

It's important to know where your dog stands with other dogs. A lot of these activities could put you in a situation where there are other dogs, so you want to make sure that they get along with other dogs and won't be aggressive. Also be aware also of the other dogs around you and their behavior. Your dog might be friendly but that doesn't mean everyone else's is.

Make sure you also have a nice long leash so your doggie can explore a bit without letting them off leash. If you do feel comfortable with letting your dog off leash make sure you have your dog trained well, so that you can call them back and they stay close. Also make sure it's an area where it is permuted. 

DON'T FORGET THE POOP BAGS!

Of course. . .you always want to make sure you are equipped to clean up after your pooch. Anywhere that allows dogs, usually require this. However they don't always have poop bags. You never want to ruin things for other visitors by leaving a mess behind. It could end in a rule of NO DOGS ALLOWED. And that isn't fun for anyone.

Enjoy your time with your dog, their life isn't long. . .make it a good one! Show them love and affection and remember they get cabin fever and board too!

You are BE-YOU-tiful!!!!!

That's right! And you need to hear it!!!

Is it important to be healthy and active? Yes of course it is! You should want to be those things because it is what will allow you to play with your kids, and live a long happy healthy life where you can check EVERYTHING off your bucket list! . . . Is it important to be a size 2 while doing so? HELL NO!!! You don't need to be any size. . .just be happy with who you are. God made you in his image!

It doesn't make you a bad person to want to loose some weight, to get back into your wedding dress, to lose that baby weight, or maybe even be a size you never thought you could be. But you need to remember one thing! If you don't love yourself. . .it doesn't matter what size your jeans are, and it never will!

We are all different, and we can't judge anyone else because of that. You are a beautiful person, there are things about you that people will be jealous of and you will always have it better then someone else just like someone else will always have it better then you. . .In some ways of course! Not in all ways! We can't keep comparing ourselves to one another!

Media has poisoned us and our images of ourselves and each other. No one is perfect. Could we starve ourselves and work out 2 hours a day, 6 days a week and change that? . . . Well I suppose we could do that. But do you want to? Don't you just want to be good enough as you are and be able to better yourself at your own pace to the point where YOU are happy with yourself and your accomplishments? You don't need to win a fitness competition, you don't need to fit into this small group of people who have dedicated their life to fitness and 5% body fat.

Take up a hobby that benefits you, do yoga because you want to increase your flexibility and find peace in your life. A way to escape from the daily grind. Take walks to create some good habits and chat with a friend you have been wanting to catch up with. Make that time for yourself! You want to treat your body with love and respect, keep your heart and lungs healthy and be able to feed your body things that give you strength and balance. But don't ever make it about the way you look. Because you will always find a picture somewhere that makes you think "oh great. . .what's the point, I'll never look like that. . ."

Stop worrying if your butt is big enough, or your boobs are big enough, or your waist is small enough. . . It doesn't work like that. Would you want us all to look the same?! There is someone out there who will see you and love the crap out of you and just stare at you as you get dressed and say "You're beautiful". . .THAT is what it's all about. Don't let the media or anyone else for that matter take that away from you. No one is perfect! NO ONE!

This is an entertaining spin on ads I've seen of women, and it is 100% right!!!

Men feel the pressure too! We talk about muscle bound men, well endowed men. . .tall men, tall dark and handsome men. . .Tan men, men without body hair, men with thick hair, men with big hands. . .We list all of these things that are seen as important, and no one realizes that this is just as hard for men to hear as it is for women to hear about big boobs, and big butts and a number on a scale.

Men are suppose to be strong and manly. Survival of the fittest! And yet we do not live in a world where every guy is going to be a body building 5% body fat, well endowed Greek God. And when you stop and think about it. . .is that really all that important anyway?

I consider myself very lucky in the fact that I am with someone who takes care of his body, simple because if I wasn't with someone who did, I wouldn't either! We both have our flaws and things we would like to change, but I am no less attracted to him and he is no less attracted to me. We are not the perfect couple, body image wise or in any other way. We don't always see eye to eye and we butt heads at times. . .but when we look at each other across the room we check THE CRAP out of each other! And not just that. . .we have common interests, A LOT of them. And I know that when I get home from work and he has off, he is just as excited to order a Domino's pizza and sit down and watch and episode or two of Dr. Quinn Medicine Women as I am. I mean how lucky am I?! Those are the things that matter!!! Not making sure you both don't have love handles, or a "belly".

I mean by all means, working out is great! Working out as a couple is GREAT! But don't let yourself or your significant other ever forget how beautiful they are! Tell them every day! EVERY DAY! We have to stop this madness. . .this isn't the real world. We are REAL people, and we shouldn't be made to be ashamed of ourselves because we don't fit into this mold set by society and media alike.

Yes, it's true. We use fitness "motivators", pictures of people who are fit. Hoping to reach our own goals and be smokin' hot! But how about this. . . Don't use those images to motivate you to change your body. . .use them to change your attitude. OWN IT! Rock what you've got! The sexiest thing a person can have is confidence! So go out there, live your life and be the sexy confident person that YOU are!

Just be Active!!!

You want a fun and fit lifestyle?! Just be Active!!!

This is the easiest way to stay in shape and even lose weight! Pick an activity, pick several! Try something different every weekend! There are so many fun activities out there, that are great for every season and every location. Try something that you've never done, make a bucket list of activities. That's what I did! I just wrote down everything I could think of that I would ever want to try and now I just have to make a point to start checking them off. And guess what?! It's fun! It isn't an hour and a half in the gym on a beautiful day. It isn't "a job" you feel you HAVE to do. It's you living a fit and active lifestyle and making the most of your time here on earth!

So make a list!

Here are somethings I have on mine, and maybe you might want to put on yours!

Learn to Paddle Board

Run in a Spartan Race

Go cross country Skiing

Hiking somewhere new

Kayaking

Whitewater Rafting

Take a couples dance class (salsa and swing)

Rock climbing gym

Finish a half marathon

Horseback ridding

Zip Lining

Ice skating

Jet skiing

Snowmobiling

Go Hunting

Fishing

Dog Sledding

Camping 

Anti Gravity Yoga

You can literally do anything! Be active, have fun! Make everyday a challenge and an adventure. Put down new places you'd love to walk. Maybe there is a nature trail by your house you just never got a chance to check out. Maybe you want to go hiking and camp out. Maybe you've always wanted to run in a 5K or a half or full marathon even! Mud runs are so popular right now, and they aren't all super intense. Most of them are just a lot of fun, and cool to say you've done. There are no limits to what you can do.

Sometimes it is hard to jump right into a fitness oriented lifestyle, maybe that has always seemed boring to you and you just wouldn't be able to stick to it. But that doesn't mean you have to be unhappy with your body. The gym isn't the only place you can lose weight. In fact I have found that the gym is the least effective place for me to lose weight. I have my workouts I do at home through Beach Body, and then I just do my best to constantly stay active and be fit in other ways. 

Do you have dogs? Dogs need exercise too. Take your dogs for a walk, once a day is ideal. This is a great way to start making a fit lifestyle change. Try going to new places, jump in the car with your furry friends and pick a nice canal path close by. The options are endless! Don't give up, there is always something you can be doing to get results and better your health and your life.

Combative Pistol Course with Dynamis Alliance

Epic Weekend! Course Review

https://www.dynamisalliance.com/

Ok, I will start of by saying that while this blog is centered mostly around fitness I am also a firearms instructor and firearms enthusiast. I know that this can turn some people off and interest others, so I choose to be selective about what I discus on the topic unless someone requests otherwise. However my life is very balanced with both fitness and firearms so I felt a strong desire to share my experience this weekend.

This weekend my boyfriend and I took the Combative Pistol Course run by Dom Raso, former Navy SEAL and owner of Dynamis Alliance and personal friend. In the almost two years I have been with my boyfriend I have met some really great people, and I have had some really amazing opportunities presented to me. This being one of them.

I am a very friendly easy going girl. I would never be explained by someone else as angry or aggressive. But that doesn't mean I don't understand the need to know how to handle yourself if ever put in a bad situation. I have always had an interest in fighting, and martial arts as well as the art of self defense and anything that falls into those categories. I have heard hundreds of stories told by my boyfriend who has been a police officer for 23 years, as well as seeing all the craziness going on in the world today. You might not want to hear it, but we don't live in a perfect world and the truth is you might be found in a situation where you need to defend yourself and do whatever you have to, to stay alive.

This course blew my mind. Knowing Dom, I went into it with the mindset that I was probably going to walk away with some bruises, as well as training that would be hard to beat by most standards. I walked away with both!

The training was over the course of 2 days, both days being 8 hours long. Where we went over a countless amount of situations involving defending yourself against an attacker and accessing your firearm. We paired up and ran drills all day long, learning just how quickly we could better our situation and situational awareness with the proper training and know how.

My boyfriend and I partnered up in the class, figuring when we got home we would be training with one another. My mindset was also that I knew he wouldn't hold back like someone else might have and I would get the most out of the class. The one thing I always disliked in taking classes in the past is when I was paired with a girl (unless training with a female instructor of martial arts) I wasn't pushed nearly as hard and never got the full effect of any of the holds. I mean nothing bad by saying this, but I know how much I can take and I know that if I don't go 100% and my partner doesn't go 100% I am not getting much out of the course at all. Dom didn't let up knowing I was a girl, he pushed me just as hard. His team as well. I didn't feel short changed at all like I have in the past with other courses I have taken.

Mind you, this makes for a very intense 2 days. You walk in not knowing what to expect and maybe you're even intimated by Dom and his team because of how well trained and experienced they are. But those are the guys you want in your corner! Those are the guys you want teaching you how to do it. Dom, his partner Dylan and Dom's brother Brian are amazing, they push you and give you the tools you need and they are there every step of the way to make sure you have a complete understanding of the course and why they want you to do it the way they do. 

I walked away feeling so confident and strong. I knew I had shown up to give my all and the money spent was worth it and then some. I also walked away with not only the skills to fight, but also with THE WILL TO FIGHT. 

Great course Dom, I WILL be taking it again, and I will recommend anyone else to take it as well!

21 Day Fix!

It takes 21 Days to make or break a habit!

So if your goal is to lose weight, get fit and eat better. . .you need to make a habit of it, and knock the habit of eating the wrong things and the wrong amount as well as not making exercise a part of your everyday.

21 Day Fix gives you a variety of workouts and the ability to monitor your portions so you know what you should be taking in every meal. Base what you eat off the portion controlled containers they give you and follow the workout plan while using shakeology and you will have no choice but to loose weight and see results!!!

Everyone has 30 minutes they can dedicate to a workout every day. There is  no excuse! This is time for you! Time you should be spending because you deserve it! If you make those healthy choices and this step into a new healthy lifestyle you will see results!

 

Everything you need is included and you can loose on average 15 pounds in that 21 days! What a great jump into your fitness goals right?!?!

Better yet join a challenge group and find other people doing the same workout or something similar and make sure you are being held accountable for pressing play every day and sticking to that portion control plan! In 21 days you will understand what your body needs, you can see exactly how much you need to be eating of what, and you will be able to make better decisions in the future!

AND DON'T FORGET THE BEFORE AND AFTER!!!

This will let you know how far you've come!!! Take down your beginning weight, beginning measurements and before and after photos so you can see at the end of the 21 days just what kind of results you got out of it! Knowing you have that to looking forward to. Seeing the transformation will give you the motivation you need to keep pushing forward and stay on track. Plus if you go through Beach Body you can submit those photos and receive a free T-shirt for the program you completed as well as being able to enter to win between $500-100,000!!! Why not give it a try!?!?

The biggest thing to remember when starting anything is to START IT!

We can all make excuses as to why we can't stick with a workout or a diet plan. Time. We have kids. We just don't have a schedule we can stick to. Holidays are coming up or we have vacations planned.

This is meant for all of those things! You don't have to stop your life, you just have to be held accountable. Make the time for the workouts, IT'S ONLY 30 MINUTES! And use those portion control cups with whatever it is your eating until you become comfortable with what amount you should be eating of what. You can do it! Don't get yourself down because it seems outside of your lifestyle to loose weight and eat healthy. It really isn't! This can be your new lifestyle and you can be the best you possible!

Fit Couple

Ok now I know that there is gym etiquette about working out with your significant other (rightfully so), but other then making sure you don't have a full on make out session in between sets it might be the best way to workout.

Why you might ask? Well it might go without saying really. . .but here are some reasons anyway. . .

The Buddy System

It is always easier to stick to a regular workout system when you have someone to go with you. If this person is also your special someone, there is no need to feel like you are sacrificing that time you could be spending with them to go and workout. It is also very much fun to check each other out from across the room while you are doing "your own thang".

If you come home from work and your boyfriend is on the couch watching reruns of CSI eating a pizza, the likely hood is you will join him. If you have it planned that when you get home from work you head to the gym then together you are being accountable for one another and the follow through is that much more likely. 

Great for the Bedroom

Well duh! You have more energy when you are working out and you look smoking hot!

Seeing each other workout and sweat and make that effort to look good for one another is very attractive. We aren't attracted to lazy people for a reason. We desire to be with someone who we know will carry their weight, and when we see them not only carrying their weight but also bench pressing a crap tone more weight. . .we can't help but to be more attracted to them. It means they are healthy, and able to protect the home and provide. Survival of the fittest right?!

Not to mention we feel 100 times better about ourselves and our bodies! We feel great and look great and the fear of getting naked is little to none when you are fit and trim. You also have the energy to go longer and even have a better response to one another because of your bodies over all health and wellness.

Dinner for Two

When you workout with your partner, it is also likely that you both desire to eat better and healthy as well. Remember, it's 50% what you do at the gym and 50% what you put in your body. If you are both geared towards the same goals you can keep each other in check and you don't need to worry about your partner bringing home fast food for dinner or filling the fridge with soda and processed crap.

Most likely you will decide on some kind of diet (paleo, low-carb, clean eating, gluten free) and you will hold each other accountable to it. 

If you decide to do a cleanse together you are more likely to complete it. My boyfriend and I did a 10 cleanse of smoothies together and it was tough. There was no way we would have gotten through it on our own. But on the second or third day my boyfriend said "I will stay true to this cleanse, the same way I will always stay true to you" and from there on out he knew he had to finish it haha. It's true though, you count on what each other says, you take promises seriously and it means a lot more with all that being said. Needless to say while it wasn't always easy we stuck to it and we helped each other when it got hard. We finished and we both got the results we were hoping for.

At the end of the day fitness and a healthy lifestyle needs to be supported by the people you surround yourself with. We can't always pick the healthiest group of coworkers, and sometimes we have friends who just don't care what they eat or if they ever see the inside of a gym. Maybe even our family will laugh at our attempts to get into shape. But if you want something out of life there is nothing and no one who can stop you. Picking your partner based on those goals and desires, will help keep it that way as well.

People who don't care about fitness, are usually people that have already tried and failed to many times to count. So reach out to them, see if they need your support. If they refuse, then it isn't your problem to fix. You need to worry about you and your own health. This isn't about vanity, or being narcissistic. This is about feeling good and being able to get the most out of your own life. Find someone who will support your way of thinking and the rest is cake! (you know. . .low calorie. . .sugar free cake. . .oh screw it! We all have cheat days, make it ice cream cake for me please!)

This Isn't Just about Diet and Exercise!

This is about be the best you possible!

I decided about a year ago that I didn't just want to start eating healthy and get in shape. . .I also wanted long healthy hair and smooth soft skin and to look 25 when I was 45! It wasn't just about being fit. . .It was about being the best me possible!

It all comes back to it being a life style choice! Deciding what you want out of life! My motivational quote was "I want my body to be my temple!" With that in mind I did my best to figure out exactly what I wanted out of my body to get it to that point.

So I Started With My Hair

My hair has always been long, but it hasn't always been healthy. Long unhealthy hair. . .looks gross. Let's face it! It look like you just don't care. Long HEALTHY hair looks amazing! It shows your dedication and that you care for your body. And its true! You do! 

 That's me ^^^ ! Doing a Coconut Oil Hair Mask

All you have to do is get a tub of Extra Virgin Coconut Oil (http://www.gnc.com/GNC-SuperFoods-Coconut-Oil/product.jsp?productId=17440856) and put it throughout your hair, focusing on the ends, and message it in so that your scalp is stimulated. You leave it in your hair for as long as you want. An hour or over night. I always leave it in over night. Then all you do is wash it out. What I do is I sleep with a towel on my pillow (so it doesn't get my bedding greasy EWWW) and then I wash it out, usually two rounds of shampoo. AND THEN PRESTO CHANGE-O you have soft shiny hair that over time as you do the oil treatments will be healthier and longer as well!

I also use good quality shampoo and conditioner, I like Wen myself and a few others I have tried are nice. You can save money by shopping on Amazon! (http://www.amazon.com/Chaz-Dean-Almond-Cleansing-Conditioner/dp/B0089AA8RS/ref=sr_1_1?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1407952038&sr=1-1&keywords=wen), and get my hair trimmed ever 4-6 months. Just enough to get ride of the dead ends but still allow growth over all.

Now it's time to spend some time on your skin!

For me this is important! My skin can get very dry and I have had problem in the past with very itchy dry skin, even hives. For anyone who doesn't know how this can impact your life. . . .Imagine your skin itching like a million bugs are crawling under your skin EVERY TIME you shower, swim in a pool or the ocean, get caught in the rain. . .sweat a lot. . . That's right. That was me. And it brought me to tears more often then I can remember, it hurt that bad.

What did I do to stop it? Well honestly I tried just about everything! What I found worked best though? A 32oz, $2 a bottle Cocoa Butter Lotion (http://www.queenhelene.com/skincare_product_detail.php?id=38) I found in. . .wait for it. . .Walmart! I have been using it now for 3 years and my skin is amazing! I don't have those little bumps I use to on the back of my arms or legs. I don't have dry patches and most importantly I DON'T ITCH! For such a small investment It has changed my life! I literally use it on my entire body every single time I shower! Even my face!

An added bonus to using this or a product like this? When it's time for me to start having babies my skin will already be well hydrated and supple making it a lot easier for the skin to stretch, without leaving stretch marks! It also helps fade ones you already have! There just isn't a bad thing to say about it!

Face it!

Aging isn't something we want to do. . .however the alternative isn't much better. So lets make it graceful shall we?!

In addition to Cocoa Butter I first put on a Vitamin C serum on my face (http://www.amazon.com/OZ-Naturals-Hyaluronic-Neutralizing-Satisfaction/dp/B00DPE9EQO/ref=sr_1_14?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1407952161&sr=1-14&keywords=derma+roller) to help to fight the signs of aging. YES I am only 26 but it is said that you need to start anti-aging around the age of 25. This will allow your skin to be healthy and smooth longer without having to back track and try to "undo" the signs of aging. My beauty routine isn't complicated. It's honestly very simple!

I also do not use any foundation or powder or cover up. The goal should be to get our skin looking good without all that. All it does is create more breakouts and dries our skin out. Get a good SPF Lotion, an anti-aging creme or serum. . .basic essentials you can stick to. But your over all goal should be to better the blank slate. . .not add more paint!

And once in awhile throw in a facial! Use a derma roller! Exfoliate! You need to get rid of that dead skin and help replace it with new skin! Keep your body turning over new skin cells and keeping that blood flowing! Take that little bit of time for yourself and it will make a world of difference!

Tips for getting into Working Out!

Start with a Reason & a Goal!

"I want to look great in my wedding dress!"

"I am going on vacation for the first time in years and I want to look smoking hot in my bathing suit!"

"I just had a baby, and I want to get my body back to where it was"

"I want to loose 20 lbs!"

"I don't want to keep giving up on my self!"

"I know I need to start being healthy and fit, for the sake of my health" 

"I want to feel good, and look good!"

"I am sick of being jealous of everyone else! I want people to desire to look like me!"

"I want to run a 5k!"

"I want to complete a Tough Mudder or Spartan Race!"

Your reason and goal can be ANYTHING! As long as it is about you finding a happier healthier you! Don't limit yourself either. . .But remember, we are all different. Making your goal "Look like Megan Fox" isn't reasonable. . .you aren't Megan Fox. . .you will never look like her. Make your goal instead "Be the best version of myself!" It has to be realistic and possible. We are all built differently, heck. . .you could end up blowing Megan Fox out of the water! You just never know until you try!

Find Support!

Starting a new life style is hard to do on your own. It is best to find someone who desires the same things as you so you can have one another to motivate or help when you hit a rough patch. You can get a gym buddy, decide with your significant other that together you are going to make better choices in your diet and exercise, or you can find someone like myself who is a Beach Body Coach to support you and make you accountable for your goals and keep you on track. It doesn't matter what you decide, but the best way to stick to any goal is to put it out there and make yourself accountable. Personal trainers are good for a while but it can get very expensive. There is a reason celebrities use them daily. . .they are a great way of making sure you stay on track! However. . .most of us don't have those kind of budgets! So consider more cost effective options and get started!

Buy Yourself Something Nice!

THAT'S RIGHT! Go shopping!!! 

Ok! You've decided to get your life in order and start making better fitness and diet choices! Now it's time for the motivational shopping spree! (don't go crazy now. . .) But why not buy a few new cute workout outfits, a nice new pair of running sneakers, some workout DVD's, containers for yourself to use for food prepping, HEALTHY FOOD for the fridge. . .

I know when I buy myself a new workout outfit, I am just dying to find a chance to wear it! And there is accountability in spending money on this life style change. "Ok. . .well I just bought myself a nice new pain of Nike's I better use them!" And you will! Use this push to get you excited about this new chapter in your life!

COOK AT HOME!

It's not only cheaper but it's healthier! We live in a world where everyone thinks it's ok to go out to dinner 4-5 times a week, and get lunch out every day they work. I don't know about you but if I go to Quick Check for a deli sandwich, a bag of chips and a water. . .That's like $12 right there. FOR ONE MEAL! FOR ONE PERSON! It adds up FAST. And lets be honest you're not making the healthiest choices. When you cook at home you're much more likely to make healthier choices.

Fitness and working out means nothing if you don't also eat right and keep yourself in check with your diet. And by diet I really mean your eating habits. Because that's what it should be. A habit of making healthy choices over bad. Diets fail, they don't last. Habits stay forever. Just like buckling your seat belt (which y'all better do!) or brushing your teeth (also important to be doing) and just about anything else you do without really thinking about it. This isn't a diet, this is a lifestyle.

PLAY LIST!

Create a play list of motivation and inspirational music you can listen to during your workout! If you are working out alone. . .well then why not let ACDC get your blood pumping! Or maybe a little techno! Whatever it is that gets you moving, put together those songs and use it as your way of letting that 5 mile run go by fast and keep you pushing through it. You can also pick premade stations on iHeart radio or Pandora or other apps similar to those so you don't get sick of the songs you already have. I have that problem sometimes. This way you don't know whats coming up and if it's a song you haven't heard in awhile you can get excited about it and enjoy an extra push!

Before and After

ALWAYS take a before and after photo! This is your proof that yes it is working! We have such a hard time seeing change in ourselves. But if we take a before and after photo. . .well they don't lie. And when you see that change it will drive you to push even harder and create an even bigger change!

Taking before and after photos can also get you things! Like free t-shirts after you complete a DVD workout, or even MONEY!!! Why not?! What do you have to loose?! Fat? Self doubt? Disappointment? DO IT! You won't regret it!

CLEANSING!

 

I LOVE CLEANSING!  

Cleansing is the PERFECT way to jump start your health. And a weight loss goal. AND a fitness goal! 

My boyfriend and I use cleanses a lot!

Just recently we did a 10 Smoothie cleanse. I liked this because it was different and the book had easy to follow directions. 10 days is pretty long however so it helps to have a partner in crime on this one! 

We had a tough time the first day or two, you will get a head ache from the lack of sugar and your body adjusting. BUT it's proof it's working!

After that it was almost easy! We just made our smoothies for the day and we didn't need to think about food the rest of the day! For me that is what makes eating healthy hard at times. Deciding to stop and think what you SHOULD eat and then getting it prepared and ready. It's just easier to buy something quick and not worry about it. HOWEVER there are ways to make things easier on your self! It doesn't have to be hard!

When the results came in we were pleased, and all of our hard work and self control paid off! My boyfriend lost 15 lbs! and I lost 8 lbs! It was just the kind of results we needed to jump start our motivation and dedication to our fitness goals!

 My boyfriend and I also found we didn't crave those sweets and salty treats like we had once before! It wasn't in our system anymore, so we didn't desire it! It made making the right food choices so much easier!

ULTIMATE RESET & 3 DAY REFRESH!

Beach Body provides the 3 day refresh as the 21 Day Ultimate Reset, all designed with this same idea in mind! Jump starting our bodies into health with a cleanse that can get your body functioning better and looking better in no time!

Clink the link below to check out and try the Ultimate Reset!

http://myultimatereset.com/kimbergirl1911

The thing to know about a detox or a cleanse is it's meant to flush out toxins and get you to a better place, so that when you start a new life style of working out and eating you can get the maximum benefits! So don't do a detox or cleanse and just go back to eating like crap and not working out! That isn't how it works! 

So use a cleanse or detox to make that first leap, and follow it up with smart healthy eating habits. Cut out junk food and fast food and soda. Introduce more fruits and veggies into your diet and stop eating out so much! These are all simple ways to make sure you are getting the most out of your cleanse!

Take the Challenge!!!

I LOVE CHALLENGES!!!

Challenges are a great way to do something for a short period of time with the promise of results!

It isn't easy to dedicating yourself to A LIFE TIME OF FITNESS! I mean. . .it's intimidating! Not that we don't of course want to just kick butt and be this awe inspiring fitness success story! And it's more then possible! But the way I see it is you need to set short term goals in order to get to those long terms goals!

That's why I love THE SQUAT CHALLENGE! Or the 10 Day Smoothie Cleanse! Or a Beach Body Challenge Pack! In the long run is 30 days that long? even 60 days?! NO! It goes by like that! How many times do you find your self say "O.M.G. It's already August?!" or "Wow I can't believe the summer is already almost over!" (booooooo) OR "Holy crap it's almost Christmas!" . . .Time flies! It really does! So why not add something to your daily schedule that doesn't take up much time and before you know it you've completed a simple Squat Challenge or a cycle of PiYo, or INSANITY! AND!!!! Your body is looking toned and slim and now you have that driving force to keep going! Pick another challenge now! Do something different to switch it up and keep your body guessing!

You can also do this with food and creating healthy eating habits! (notice I said nothing about the word "diet", this isn't about dieting. It's about good eating habits!) Want to go 20 days without soda?! How about a cleanse that can kick off your healthy habits and leave a clean slate!? Or check out what all this talk about Paleo is! Or Gluten Free! Do it for a week. . .a month. . .a year! Before you know it, it will be second nature!

IT TAKES 21 DAYS TO MAKE OR BREAK A HABIT!

So put in that time, it really isn't that long! And before you know it you will be well on your way to healthy eating. . .regular workouts followed by results. . .running a 5k or competing in a Tough Mudder or a Spartan Race! You can literally do anything you desire! You just need that baby step. . .that little push. . .To show you just what you are capable of!

THERE IS NO MAGIC PILL!!!

I am sorry. . .but there isn't. And when I tell you that, it's because I know from experience. . .I do. I have tried just about everything. . .And unless you are willing to eat right and stay active, you will never see results. You need to get off the couch. . .put down the frozen pizza and coke and do something about it! Start off small and before you know it, it will become a lifestyle! Trust me!

Yoga is where it's at!

Why do I love yoga so much?

Well. . .for starters ever since I can remember I wanted to be a dancer or a gymnast. However my family wasn't in a place where they could afford he cost of sending my twin sister and I to lessons. So the desire to be limber and free moving was always there.

It wasn't until high school during my elected class, Sports Medicine, when I discovered the art of Yoga. A male yoga instructor came to our class and explained the benefits of yoga and also demonstrated it to us. This man stood easily 6 feet tall and was skinny as a rail, he stood in the middle of the room and started to show us basic poses. . . .THEN he went from a simple down dog, to a full on handstand! His movements seemed effortless! And from there he just transitioned from one extreme pose to another. I was in AWE! 

I was going to take a yoga class in college following the interest I had from this demonstration but my schedule just didn't allow it to work and I kind of just stopped thinking about it. I would of course buy the DVD's at Walmart (with all the intent to pop them in the DVD player) but I just kept getting pulled in different directions. Basically I kept making excuses. . .

THEN I SAW THIS!!!

 PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO WATCH THIS VIDEO (it will change your life!!!)

Seeing this. . .seeing what Yoga can do. . .the complete recreation and rebuilding of the human body. . .It blew my mind. . .It brought me to tears. . .And it empowered me to the point where I knew that nothing was impossible.

This isn't the only story out there of people turning to yoga, to loose weight, to repair their body or heal from an injury. . .or to heal from the inside out. . .Yoga is proof that the human body is capable of anything. It is a beautiful thing, to see someone who had lost all hope. . .to see them struggle. . .till they didn't have to struggle anymore. It's just beautiful.

Since then I have made yoga a priority and I have been actively engaging others to see what their thoughts on it are. I have noticed that while you might not think it, MEN LOVE YOGA. I spent a weekend with my boyfriend in Virgina Beach with his good friend who is a former Navy SEAL and I was amazed at how much of the guys there were talking about how great Yoga is, and the part it plays in their regular workouts. . .I mean. . .If Navy SEAL's are doing Yoga. . .it's bad-ass. . .RIGHT?!

Now I too desire the wonderful effects of making Yoga a part of my every day. I have seen the change, and seen my abilities grow and I am just so excited to record even more growth. 

My First PiYo review

           

Today is day 6 of me doing PiYo!

I have to say. . . I have done yoga DVD's in the past and other types of at home workouts. . .BUT THIS IS BY FAR MY FAVORITE!

It's fun and Chalene Johnson is a great instructor! She is interactive and she explains the movements and what you should be doing or how you should be feeling in every move, in order to get your best workout. I honestly look forward to that time every morning where I can just zone out and get my sweat on.

When I started as a Beach Body Coach a little over a week ago, I was also a first time customer. I knew that doing the workouts and drinking the shakeology would be the most beneficial for me. You ARE the product you're selling. And I am not the type of person who could sell something I didn't stand behind 100%. I am so happy I started this journey and I am so delighted to have already reached out and signed 2 coaches up. Now we can all workout together while also helping others find their motivation to achieve their goals!

IF NOT NOW. . .WHEN?

I mean seriously. I have said it 100 times, made a 100 excuses. "I will. . ." "Once the new year starts" "When I can afford it" . . . "I just hate doing it by myself" "I get bored going to the gym and doing the same thing every time" "I don't have that kind of time, I am so busy already"

Well. . .for the price of a cup of Coffee a day, I drink Shakeology which actually has what my body needs to be strong and healthy and I have already seen the positive effects in just a weeks time! It cuts cravings, fills me up, keeps me regular and it tastes great! And then I have the fastest most effective workout right before I have to leave for work. Not only do I physically feel great. . .I also don't have the self doubt or the disappointment I did before when I would sleep till the very last minute with just enough time to grab something for breakfast and jump out the door.

SO HERE IT IS!

I will be updating you guys on my own personal results and reviews of the products, as well as I will be giving tips for health and fitness as long as mental well being and anything else that can help you live the best life you can and be the best you possible!

I am so excited for this and I am looking forward to helping those like myself, that just didn't realize how much control they have over seeing those desired results. . .