Photo Card

Wave Of Wishes Holiday

Click here to browse Shutterfly's holiday card collection.

View the entire collection of cards.

Tropical Shakeology!

Tropical Shakeology Is HERE!!!!  
My shipment arrived on Saturday and I've since had a few opportunities to test it out!  I still am tweaking it to find out what recipe I like best (plus I've been out of Coconut Extract and didn't feel like driving to the store). But here's what I've tried (and liked best) so far.


Tropical Shakeology Smoothie
~ 2 cups water
~ Ice (at least one cup)
~ 1 scoop Tropical Shakeology
~ 1/2 banana
~ 3/4 cup frozen pineapple chunks
~ 4 frozen strawberries
Blend, blend, blend, blend, blend.....and this is what you get!

As soon as I buy some Coconut Extract, my next Shakeology meal will perhaps be:


Tropical Pina Colada
~ 2 cups water
~ 1 cup ice
~ 1 scoop Tropical Shakeology
~ 1 tsp Coconut Extract
~ 1 cup pineapple chunks (frozen or defrosted)


One more I would love to try is


Strawberry Lemonade
~ 2 cups water
~ 1 cup ice
~ 1 scoop Tropical Shakeology
~ juice from 1/2 lemon
~ 3/4 cup frozen strawberries


The tropical Shakeology is yummy, and very sweet!!!  This new flavor is 100% VEGAN and when you open the bag, it smells like fruit punch bubble gum.  The vegan protein source is raw sprouted brown rice and sacha inchi, and provides 15 g of protein per serving! Tropical Shakeology contains the same antioxidant/super-fruit blend, prebiotic and probiotic blend, digestive enzymes, the same phytonutrient/super-greens blend and adaptogen herb blend as well.  It also contains a fruit powder blend (strawberry, apple, banana, pineapple, and papaya) to give it its tropical flavor.  Tropical Shakeology provides:
Calories - 160 per serving
Protein - 15g
Fat - 1g
Sodium - 70mg
Carbohydrate - 20g
Dietary Fiber - 4g
Sugars - 10g
Cholesterol - 0   
Don't forget all of the benefits of replacing one meal a day with Shakeology.
~ Weight loss 
~ Improved digestion and regularity
~ Reduced cravings
~ More energy
~ Lowered cholesterol
~ Reduced risk for heart disease and other degenerative diseases
~ Improved mental clarity
~ Healthier skin, hair and nails
(Who doesn't want all that?!?)
Try it and see that 100% vegan nutrition is not only, DELICIOUS but truly is the healthiest meal of the day!!
~Cheers!!!

Sleep, it does a body GOOD!

This week is school break, which means VACATION!!!  No, my family isn't going anywhere exotic or exciting.  We've opted to just stay put in our cozy, wonderful home and relax the week away!  We're the type of people who go full speed, 900 miles per hour all the time.  This break couldn't have come at a better time!  I, for one am sooooo looking forward to sleeping, relaxing and resting!

My very first night of vacation, I slept a full 8 hours!  The second night, another full 8 hours!  It is a rarity for me to get that much sleep and I cannot even tell you how great I feel.  Combine that with a full weekend of sitting around doing very little, and I am a new woman!!!  We busy ladies (and mothers) often neglect ourselves, put ourselves LAST on our priority list and hesitate to give our bodies this most basic, precious human requirement - adequate sleep.  

Here are some benefits from getting proper sleep:


1.  Improves memory. 


2.  Live longer!


3.  Curbs inflammation.  Inflammation in the body has been linked to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, arthritis, and premature aging.  Get your sleep and stay away from these awful side effects!


4.  Increase creativity.  You know how kids have the uncanny ability to come up with impromptu plays, little games or what have you?  They sleep A LOT (or at least my kids do).  Their brains are well-rested, therefore, the creative juices are flowing!


5.  Improve athletic performance.  No wonder I have been struggling with my workouts lately.  5-6 hours of sleep a night just isn't cutting it for this girl who needs 8+ hours to rock it out properly!  


6.  Improve grades.  No wonder my children are so smart! :-)


7.  Increase attention span.  For me, going through a day after getting a less than adequate night's sleep must be what it feels like to have AD/HD.  I have a very difficult time focusing and getting tasks completed.  


8.  Healthy weight.  Now here's the kicker!  We all want to be at a healthy weight, right?  Sleep the proper amount and it could be that much easier!


9.  Lower stress.  Duh.  I think we all know that.  A good night's sleep makes you feel calmer and less stressed.  That's a no-brainer.


10.  Avoid accidents.  


11.  Combat depression.  Raise your hand if you feel weepy and sad when you are chronically sleep deprived! 


Also (for me), when I get the proper amount of sleep, I feel happier, am a nicer person to be around (my family can attest to that), I feel like I can do anything, and the "Negative Nellies" disappear.  So pull those covers tightly up around your chin, close your eyes, snooze away......and don't feel guilty about those extra few hours of shut eye.


Happy Weekend!
Carrie 

Superbowl = Epic Diet Fail?

Survive the Big Game By Eating Clean!!!

When you look at the images above, what goes through your mind?  Looks good, right?  High fat, high calorie, typical game watching fare which is bound to set a focused, healthy eater off the rails.  I think - holy moly, that looks good, but it's gonna do a number on my waistline, my "life plan", and not to mention cause some next-day regret (and stomach pains).


Good news!  You CAN enjoy (what feels like) indulgent, high fat, high calorie snack food while enjoying the Big Game tomorrow!!!  Clean Eating Magazine posted some awesome cleaned up versions of typical game food.  I'm so excited to try them out!

The first recipe is for Skinny Skins - by preparing your potato skins this way, as opposed to the traditional, you save

285 calories!
29 grams of fat!
17.5 grams of saturated fat!
48 mg of Cholesterol!

Another one I cannot wait to try is Sweet and Crunchy Guacamole.  I heart guacamole, do you?  This clean recipe is vegetarian, gluten free, and easy to prepare!  

  
Finally, there's the Boneless BBQ Pork Strips.  What is it about men and meat?  I know I am not a huge fan of ribs and bbq sauce, but I know my husband would love this recipe.  

Preparing it this way saves:
100 Calories!
14.5 g of fat! 
6 g of sugar!
516 mg of sodium!


Think the Superbowl is just another excuse to drink tons of beer and eat high fat food?  Think again!  There is a way to clean up it's reputation, have a good time, eat yummy food and not feel awful (or terribly guilty) in the morning.  Here's a more complete  list of Clean Eating's Superbowl food.  


Enjoy the Game!!!
~Cheers

How's That Working For Ya??

"YOU FIND THE FOCUS AT HOME AND YOU GO AND YOU LIVE IN IT...."

~Shaun T.

So today, I began my day doing The Asylum - Speed and Agility.  This is an extremely intense workout which incorporates every muscle in your body.  Not only is this workout challenging physically, but also mentally.  It requires the use of an agility ladder and you have to carefully assess your footing in order to not hit (and move around) the ladder.  The Asylum utilizes familiar moves from INSANITY (i.e. power jumps and in/out abs), but in much more tricky sequences - all while using the ladder.  There is also very little time to rest or to take water as you move quickly from one pattern to the next.  Trust me when I say I was dripping in sweat at the end.  Every muscle in my body was shaking.  Today's workout is an example of how I aim to complete all of my workouts.  I go in with complete focus and 100% commitment to the process as well as the end result.  

I (obviously) hold myself to a very high standard when working out.  I do not expect the same from everyone, but expect at least a little sweat, a little effort, a heart rate increase and some huffing and puffing.  I understand that not everyone can complete extreme workouts, but at least do SOMETHING!  When I encourage people to start a home fitness regimen, join a fit club, or begin a program, I often hear  "No thanks, I'm doing my own thing."  First of all, I wouldn't approach someone who I didn't think could benefit from the physical activity, and second "your own thing"?!  What does that even mean???  If it is clear that month after month, "your own thing" is not producing real, visible results, I wonder what is actually happening.  Are people only appeasing me or just phoning in their workouts and not being completely honest with themselves?  I find this extremely frustrating.  I don't know about you, but if I was spending money, time and energy "doing my own thing" and not reaping any benefits, I would be asking for my money back.  The truth is, when you give something your all, when you focus, when you approach something with determination (no matter what it is), you WILL see results.  However, if the size of your behind is not decreasing, "your own thing" might not be working for you!  If your pants are still tight, the very expensive gym membership that you pay for may not be worth the money.

Here are some examples of excuses that really get under my skin:

"I don't have time" 

Oh really?  Make time!!  When it's a priority, you just do it without even giving it much thought.  It becomes a habit like brushing your teeth or breathing.  I get up at 4:30 in the morning to work out, work a full time job, take graduate classes, have 3 children running around all afternoon/evening with their busy schedules, spend all weekend doing school work and teaching Sunday School, and trying to manage my very full schedule.  If I can do it, anyone can do it.

"Exercise is uncomfortable."

Yeah?  Well, so is being overweight.  I, myself would rather spend 45 minutes a day being uncomfortable, than spend the other 23 hours a day struggling to exist in my own skin.

"Shakeology (or healthy food) is too expensive."

You know, I bought a large (i.e. "venti") mocha at Starbucks a few weeks back (as a treat) and it cost me more than $5.  No nutritional value whatsoever (except for perhaps a little calcium in the milk).  Shakeology is $4 a day for customers and $3 for Coaches.  You do the math.  A lot less money for substantially more nutrition.  Again, people invest money (or time, or energy) into what is a priority to them.  All it takes is a shift in thinking and a reorganization of what a priority is. 

"I'm not ready."

This one I do not understand.  Ready for what?  To feel better?  To look better?  To have more energy?  To be a better person inside and out? 

As Shaun T says above - you have to FIND THE FOCUS and you have to live in it!  Yes, it is often all too easy to get caught up in the easy.  All to easy to slip into sluggishness and apathy.  FIND THE FOCUS and stay there!  When you live in that mindset, trust me, everything else will fall into place.

I am so excited to offer a Fitness Challenge - starting February 6.  So far, I have participants who have chosen to use the INSANITY program, and some who have chosen to use the P90X program.  I am honored that these people have put aside their fears, recognized that this will not be an easy journey, have delved deeply into their reasons for entering the challenge, expressed their desires for change and put their trust in me to help get them achieve their goals.  These people recognize that "doing their own thing" has not worked for them in the past and a drastic change in priority and focus is needed to get them the healthy, positive results they are looking for.  

Want more information about a Fitness Challenge?  Leave a comment below with your contact information and I will get back to you. 

~Cheers!

Fitness Challenge Group

"It is never too late to start, it is always too late to wait."

How are those New Year's resolutions holding up?  

If your answer is "not so great." I have some GREAT news!  My February Fitness Challenge Group is starting in about a week.  February 6 to be exact!!!  This is going to be an amazing opportunity to get the "full package" - fitness, nutrition and support!  Lucky participants will get it all, and in turn, they WILL get the results they have been looking for!  I will be there every step of the way virtually kicking butts to make sure people are staying true to their commitments and their "why."

"Before" - June 2010

"After" - August 2011

Don't let time (or lack thereof), a busy life, kids, limited money, or low motivation be your excuses for not getting what you want.  I have been there!!!  This is ALL about reorganizing your priorities!  Great results do not come from an “I’ll start tomorrow” attitude.  Great results start today and come from a place of intense focus, determination and 100% commitment.  Let me stress that I am NO DIFFERENT than anyone else!  I live a cuckoo life.  I work a full time job.  I have a busy family with people running in (what seems like) 100 different directions on a daily basis.  There are life stressors to contend with and the endless treadmill (no pun intended) that we all get caught up in.  Throw in a few food temptations to boot and trust me, I know how difficult it is!  All of these factors get in the way of our focus, determination and commitment.  I am asking that you make a choice today.  Choose right over wrong.  Choose healthy over unhealthy.  Choose activity over being sedentary.  Choose me as your fitness Coach!  Sound good?  Let me help you achieve the results you are looking for.  Let’s do this thing together!!!  

As I said, the next challenge starts February 6 and I would LOVE for you to be a part of it!  This is going to be a very limited group, and I still have a couple spots left. Sound interesting? Leave a comment, let me know and I'll be happy to send you more details. I look forward to hearing from you.


~Yours in Health,
Carrie




     

SUMMER'S FINALLY OVER

Holy Moly!  

I just looked at the date of my last post and it was a LONG time ago.  What have I been up to since my last post?   A lot!  I have been to the beach, to a lake house in Maine, celebrated an anniversary, spent a week in Disney World, enjoyed a birthday whale watch, participated in the Beachbody Success Club Team Challenge and throughout it all, I remained dedicated to working out and eating right.  


I am so blessed to have had a healthy, wonderful, full and FUN summer.  My family is amazing and I am so happy to have gotten to spend so much awesome time with them (and yes, that last photo is me holding a dozen cupcakes - it's all about balance, right?).

~ Cheers!