Build Muscle and Burn Fat with #mbf

It's here!  The new program Muscle Burns Fat  (#mbf for short) is now available for VIPs on Beachbody on Demand.

The program is taught by Super Trainer Megan Davies. She grew up in a gym and worked with a ton of clients as a trainer. During this time she developed some insider tips to building lean muscle while burning serious calories.  She’s compiled her best routines into two 3-week long programs, designed to be run back to back. People always ask her what the secret is to losing weight for good and she says, “The answer is easy because it’s so simple — no matter your goals, you need resistance training.”

The concept of this program is to BUILD MUSCLE and BURN FAT.  You can get leaner, get stronger, get healthier in 3 weeks, as you ignite your metabolism to incinerate fat. Blast through #mbf and light up an additional 3 weeks with #mbfa (Muscle Burns Fat Advanced) for a total-body transformation.

“I created both programs to be done back-to-back,” Megan explains. “Ideally, you’ll start on a Monday, and commit to finishing 21 workouts. Crush the first three weeks, and you can move on to #mbfa, where I dial-up the intensity and really push your results to the next level — plus there’s a whole new challenge called Megan Minutes. Your goal is to do a set number of reps in 1 minute using your heavy weights. Don’t quit on me!”

The Workouts:

Muscle Burns Fat (#mbf) is for beginners who want to get lean without “getting bulky.” It features simple, easy-to-follow moves and 25-35 minute works.

Muscle Burns Fat Advanced (#mbfa) is an intermediate program. The sessions run from 25-40 minutes and they build on the moves you learned in #mbf and include Megan Minutes! Megan Minutes are 1-minute challenges using heavy weights and low rep burnouts.

People often think cardio and crash-dieting is the magic formula for losing weight. Super Trainer Megan Davies has a better idea. She’s going to turn your body into a calorie-scorching machine. In both #mbf and #mbfa, the workouts are set to the music beat, so you know the level of intensity Megan wants from you, and the intensity you’ll need to help you succeed.  Push your pace, find your rhythm, and let the music help drive you to burn maximum calories. 

Check out some of these AMAZING results:

Equipment Needed:

To take part in this program you will need some equipment. You will need light, medium and heavy dumbbells, and the BOD rope-- the Cordless Indoor Jump Rope.

Nutrition:

In order to get the results you want, what you eat matters. #mbf Challenge Packs and Completion Packs include 2 healthy eating programs, both proven for the long term, without starving or depriving you of the foods you love. With Ultimate Portion Fix, Super Trainer Autumn Calabrese gives you control over food by managing portions with color-coded containers to help you create delicious, perfectly portioned meals aligned to your goals. The 2B Mindset, created by Ilana Muhlstein, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and bestselling author, is a flexible approach to weight loss that lets you eat larger volumes of food to help you feel satisfied physically and emotionally, with an approach to accountability to keep you on-track every day. You’ll also receive your first 30 days of access to the Nutrition+ membership, which gives you ongoing accountability and support to help you reach your weight-loss goals.

Of course, the key to taking control of your day is your daily Shakeology (your fuel-good, feel-good superfood shake) so that's included in your #mbf challenge pack as well!

Are you ready to turn your body into a lean, mean fat-burning machine?? CLICK HERE to get started with #mbf today!

If you have questions, or need help choosing the right #mbf solution that fits your unique needs/goals, send me an email at fabfitfunjen@gmail.com.

Barre Blend Workout: Program Info, Review & Results

What is Barre Blend?
Barre Blend is a low-impact, high-intensity, and high-energy workout program that helps you create a lean, toned physique through a fun fusion of ballet barre, Pilates, and cardio interval training. Super Trainer Elise Joan will make sure you feel the burn as you sweat, stretch, and strengthen with moves that help chisel your waist, define your arms, lean out your legs, and lift and firm your booty—without bulking you up. You can feel graceful, strong, and gorgeous in just 60 days.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER BARRE BLEND

What makes it unique?
Elise draws inspiration from her extensive fitness and dance background to design full-body workouts that include high-rep, small-range movements and isometric holds, as well as compound, full-range exercises, targeted core work, and dynamic stretches. And every 30- to 40-minute workout includes light weight training and cardio intervals to keep your heart rate up so you can burn maximum calories and fat.

You’ll work out with Elise and the cast in real-time, 5 days a week, which makes you feel like you’re in a high-end barre studio with a super-supportive community. Best of all, no dance experience or ballet barre is required. With Elise’s impeccable cueing and any sturdy household object at the right height (such as a chair, sofa, or countertop), you’ll be able to unleash your inner dancer with full self-expression right from your first workout. And to keep you motivated and uplifted, Elise has created “I AM” Daily Motivation Cards with her
most inspirational messages to help you cultivate
a positive mindset every day

Where can you find Barre Blend workouts, program materials, and related content?
Barre Blend is exclusive to Beachbody On Demand, where you can:

• Stream Barre Blend workouts from your laptop, smartphone,
tablet, or TV

• Get 24/7 access to all Barre Blend workouts, including prep and
recovery workouts

• Get 24/7 access to all digital materials (Daily Motivation Cards, Get
Started Guide + Workout Calendar, Beachbody Guide to Nutrition,
in both Spanish and French)


Who is Barre Blend for?
Elise includes 3 options for each move: a modifier, mid-line and the up-level intensifier.  It's truly a program built for all fitness levels and ages!  

You'll love Barre Blend if: 
• You want to build long, lean muscle without bulking up.

• Like and/or need low-impact workouts.

• Want a quick, convenient and efficient workout that you can squeeze into your busy schedule.

• Enjoy barre, dance or pilates.


My Barre Blend Review and Results: 
I truly LOVED Barre Blend.  The workouts were challenging, more challenging than I thought, but fun. I laughed at myself almost every workout as I lost my balance and cursed at my tiny little 2 lb weights (that would somehow feel like they weighed 20 lbs). After completing my first round of Barre Blend I can say that I am leaner, stronger, and have seen improved flexibility and mobility.

Elise, the trainer/creator of Barre Blend, is magical. Her encouraging words and teaching style were just what I needed. I started this program in a funk and she lifted me up every day. She is a ray of light and I truly loved working out with her over these past 8 weeks.

Throughout my 8-week Barre Blend journey, I lost a total of 8 lbs and 4.5 inches.  The majority of the inches that came off were in my waist, hips, and thighs. As you can see from my before picture, the shorts were so tight they wouldn’t pull down over my thighs. But 8 weeks later they fit normally!

CLICK HERE TO ORDER BARRE BLEND

Check out these other amazing Barre Blend transformations:

Ready to begin your Barre Blend transformation?

If so, you may want to utilize this tool to help you choose which Barre Blend package is right for you.

CLICK HERE TO ORDER BARRE BLEND

Still unsure is Barre Blend is right for you?  Email your questions to me at fabfitfun@gmail.com and consider signing up for a 2-week free trial of Beachbody on Demand so you can try Barre Blend before you make a purchase.  

CLICK HERE TO GET A FREE TRIAL OF BEACHBODY ON DEMAND

NEW PROGRAM: Morning Meltdown 100

One of my favorite things about Beachbody is that the company is constantly creating new and innovative workouts.  I never liked home workouts before because they were SO BORING! Group fitness classes used to be my jam but after I became a mom I just couldn't find the 2 hours needed in my day to get to the gym for these classes.  Beachbody programs were a game changer for me because the programs themselves offer a ton of variety, and they are designed in a way that you really get the feel of being in a live class... except it's way more convenient and affordable!  And they are frequently releasing new programs so you totally avoid ever getting bored or hitting a plateau.

Beachbody's newest program is called MORNING MELTDOWN 100 and let me tell you... this program does not disappoint!  I've been trying out the workouts and I can assure you that this program is fun, challenging and doable for EVERYONE regardless of your fitness level.  

What is Morning Meltdown 100?
Morning Meltdown 100 is a high-energy, fast-paced, and fierce fitness program designed to be completed first thing in the morning. Commit to 100 workouts, and Beachbody Super Trainer Jericho McMatthews will get you fired up to build strength and melt away fat. These are high-intensity cardio and resistance-training workouts that will blast your total body, while a live DJ keeps the energy high so you’re motivated to burn off the pounds. The goal: complete 100 workouts and unlock the best version of you.

What makes this program unique?
This is the first Beachbody program designed to be done in the morning. When you wake up and commit to giving Jericho everything you’ve got, you’ll go into the rest of your day energized, refreshed, and ready to take on the world. This is an intermediate-to-advanced program that features 100 workouts broken into 5 phases of 20 workouts each. In each phase, you’ll do a 10-workout cycle of 20- to 30-minute workouts, and then heat up the intensity and repeat those 10 with added 100-second challenges—all designed to give you a solid rotation of cardio, resistance, and mind/body training. However, you want to complete your 100 workouts is really up to you. Jericho has included recovery days along the way to give your body some TLC, so if you miss a day or want to plan for a day off you can stack that day’s workout with the next. The program outlines exactly how to do that. The most important takeaway is that you make a commitment to every single morning workout.

Morning Meltdown 100 also features music mixed live by DJ Jesse Blake, who ramps the beats to speed up moves, adding intensity and excitement. It’ll make your workout feel like a party and give you the motivation you need to keep going. At the core of the program is the Be 100 Book, a beautifully designed, interactive, daily motivational tool and tracker that will help you unlock your potential and guide your commitment as you melt off the fat.

HERE'S WHY I'M OBSESSED WITH THIS PROGRAM:

- 100 DIFFERENT workouts - a different workout every.single.day! 

- The workouts are short (20-30 minutes) but EFFECTIVE.  

- Jericho (the trainer) is amazing!! She has a mix of being gentle yet BAD ASS  - so you still love her even though she is pushing you hard.  

- The workouts are fun and innovative thanks to the creative moves put together by Jericho who is accompanied by a live DJ that is on set mixing music to go perfectly with the workout.  This is me is a GAME CHANGER because let's face it, music in home workout programs is usually LAME.  Not anymore!  Between the upbeat mixes and Jericho’s energy, you’ll have all the motivation you need to get through every sweat session - and have fun doing it!   “Working out with the DJ feels like a party! You’ll have fun, live in the moment, and connect to the workout like never before,” says Jericho.


Now you may be wondering... IS THIS PROGRAM RIGHT FOR ME?  I would say YES if you are interested in any/all or the following:

- Need a program that can hold you accountable towards completing it.  

- Are looking to tone up, lose weight, and build muscle.

- Want to switch up your fitness routine to avoid a weight-loss plateau.

- Need/like short, at-home workouts that are fun and effective. 

- Enjoy the energy of group fitness classes.

- Looking to create or start a morning workout routine (FYI these workouts can be done any time of day if your schedule does not permit morning exercise). 


Morning Meltdown 100 will become available in the Beachbody on Demand library on October 1, 2019.  However early-release offers for VIP access will launch July 16, 2019 with VIP Early Access beginning July 29, 2019.

I have already started the prep workouts and will begin the program on the VIP launch date of July 29th.  I'd love for you to join me in my private accountability group!

If you are interested in learning more about this program CLICK HERE or email me at fabfitfunjen@gmail.com

Food Freedom: overcome emotional eating, make better food choices, lose weight & feel great!

I struggle with emotional eating, mindless eating, secret eating… the hardest part for me with these bad habits is that I know they do not make me feel good about myself, yet I still find myself resorting back to them over and over.

Good news: there is FINALLY a program available to help overcome these bad eating habits.  And even better, it's simple, affordable and won't make you miserable!  This program is called 2B Mindset.

2B Mindset that was co-created by Ilana Muhlstein MS, RDN (Registered Dietitian Nutritionist) and Beachbody.  2B Mindset is a video-based weight-loss program that will change your mindset about food, your body, and losing weight. I’ve already gotten through most of the lessons in the program and have been putting the practices into play this week and so far it has helped me to make better food choices.  There have been food temptations, emotional eating urges, and just some odd cravings here and there.  I’ve been mindful of the mindset, principles, and strategies of the program and have mostly been able to avoid eating all together in these situations.  This is really impressive because I have been STRUGGLING to get back on track and STAY CONSISTENT with my nutrition. 

2B Mindset is not focused on what you CAN’T EAT.  Instead, it was designed to take on a simple and easy approach to focus on what you CAN EAT so you feel full, satisfied (never hungry or deprived!) and in control — without ever counting calories, points, cutting out food groups or even exercising if you don’t want to.

“You can lose weight happily,” says co-creator Ilana Muhlstein, who lost 100 pounds herself — and kept it off — using the 2B Mindset principles. She’s helped thousands of others lose weight through her private practice in Beverly Hills and a clinic at UCLA, and now she is able to help all of us achieve our goals by attacking the ROOT of the problem when it comes to our bad eating habits.

I'll be running a private support group for anyone who would like to lose weight and gain freedom from unhealthy eating habits, using the 2B Mindset.  I am so excited to continue on this journey myself and am even more excited to see what’s in store for all of you who join this FOOD FREEDOM movement! 

The support group will run from June 4-July 3.  Anyone who wishes to join must have me assigned as your free coach and have purchased the program by May 29th.

Interested?  Email me ASAP if you’d like to reserve your spot in the group or want more info!

Spring CLEAN WEEK

March is a pretty exciting month for me.  March 2013 was the month my son was born, and March 2014 was the month when I had a little rebirth of my own.

After having my son I definitely put my self-care on the backburner and I really lost myself.  I wasn't eating healthy, exercising, or sleeping well.  I struggled daily with anxiety.   I hated my body and had very low-confidence...  It was not the happiest of times.  I desperately wanted to lose the weight and feel like myself again.  Every Monday I had a grand plan to start a diet and exercise and I could never make it through a full day with hitting my goals.  This went on and on for months.  The frequent failed attempts to lose the baby weight were causing me more harm than good, because I would feel so guilty about my failures that I would go on and binge on more unhealthy food as a way to deal with my emotions.

But everything changed on that one momentous Monday:  March 10, 2014.  This was the day I started 21 Day Fix.

For 4 years now I have continued to use Beachbody programs and Shakeology as two of my most critical self-care tools.  They're effective, affordable and convenient.  To quote the legendary Choice Is Yours rap by Black Sheep " You can't beat that with a bat!"

My results go far beyond the scale.  Yes, I have transformed my body.  But I have also transformed my mind, my attitude, and quality of life.  This has benefitted my family greatly because we eat MUCH healthier, and mom has MUCH more patience, energy, and confidence.

SPRING CLEAN WEEK CHALLENGE!  

To celebrate my 4-year anniversary, I'm going to be hosting a special 7-day SPRING CLEAN WEEK challenge from March 19-25. 

It's going to be 7 days of clean eating and exercise. If you've been too unsure or intimidated to try a Beachbody program or try one of my accountability groups - this is the perfect way to dip your toes in to test out the waters.  It's also a great option for those who have fallen off track with healthy habits and need a little sumthin sumthin to get motivated again.  There is zero cost to join the challenge, however, you can upgrade for a small fee if you'd like to get a 7-day Shakeology sampler to enhance your Spring CLEAN WEEK experience.

Email me if you'd like to join the challenge or have any questions.  And feel free to pass along the invite to your friends - the more the merrier!

My Top 3 Time-Management Tips that will help you finally "find the time"

Have you ever been guilty of putting your health on the back burner?  Have you ever thought "I just don't have the time" when it comes to taking care of yourself?  

After I had my son, I put my health on the back burner for almost a year.  My lack of self-care caused anxiety, insomnia and a raging case of low self esteem.  It brought me to a low point physically and mentally, and my whole family had to deal with the consequences.  Almost 4 years ago, I decided to make a change.  Since I started this self-care journey back in March of 2014, I've been lucky enough to help many others in transforming their health and lifestyle.  Today, I want to share with you my top 3 time-management tips that can help you finally "find the time".  

1.  Do a Time Audit
The is the first step because it's the most important.  The reason why I say "find the time" in so-called quotation marks is because you'll never actually find more time.  You need to make the time!  And you can't successfully make time for new activities until you've got a clear picture of how you are spending your time.  This is where the time audit come in.  For 3-5 days, live life as your normally would and track how your spending your time each day.  This means from the moment you wake up to the moment you fall asleep, you should be tracking EVERYTHING that you do (showering, eating, cleaning, working, watching tv, social media, email, driving, etc.)  I know, it sounds like a real pain to do this but I promise you it's worth it.  Once you are able to look over what you're doing each day, you'll likely see that there are some pockets of free time and/or things your wasting time on. Here is the link to the time audit spreadsheet I made when I did my time audit.  You can use this for your own time audit, or any other tracking method that works for you.  

2.  Prioritize
Once you evaluate your time audit, you should have a clear picture of the MUST DO activities and the time suckers/wasters.  You need to add your own self-care into the MUST DO category and in order to add in something new, you need to make room by cutting back (or cutting out) some of these unnecessary activities.  Think outside the box for ways that you can save time by combining activities, reducing frequency and setting time limits.  If I was able to make the time to do this (working full time, commuting 3-4 hours PER DAY, and caring for my family) ANYONE can do this!   

3.  Schedule
You've done all the hard work now, so this one should be easy!  Schedule your self-care time every day.  You cannot leave it to chance, otherwise it will not happen!  Just like you schedule work, appointments, and chores - you have to schedule your ME time.  Consider your self-care an important appointment that cannot be missed.  Even if you can only schedule 15 minutes a day, it's enough to make an impact.  Once you start building up some consistency with getting your ME time in, you'll likely be motivated to re-work your schedule so you can increase the time.  

Bottom line:  Having no time can feel like a legitimate excuse.  But remember, we have no guarantees on this beautiful life that we've been given.  Take advantage of the opportunity to improve your health and quality of life now - while you have the chance.

February Fitness Specials that you'll LOVE

Are you looking to make improvements to your fitness and/or nutrition?  Are you looking for a convenient and simple to follow system that will help you get great results, but won't break the bank?  If so, you're going to LOVE these exciting promotions that are being offered in February!  

Join NOW and SAVE!
Beachbody is running a special $10 discount off all Challenge packs purchased in February. If you're looking to make some improvements to your health, fitness, and nutrition, there is no better time than now to get started!  

Back in 2014, when I decided that I HAD to start prioritizing my health, I decided to give Beachbody a try.  it was clear to me that the Challenge Pack was the best value because it bundled all of the tools that I needed to improve my fitness AND nutrition - at a discounted price.  It worked wonders for me.  I saw incredible results in just a few weeks:  I lost 10 lbs, had more energy, stopped taking meds for my insomnia and anxiety, and finally felt like the ME that I was before I had my son.  It was one of the best investments I ever made!  

I've been supporting others for years as a Beachbody Coach, and I can assure you that the people who get the best results (and keep them) are the ones who start with a Challenge Pack and join a challenge/accountability group.  

In addition to the Challenge Pack discount, I'm also running a contest for a$50 Amazon gift card!  

In order to be eligible for the prize, you must have me assigned as your coach and: 

A) Purchase a challenge pack, or be a current BOD member WITH an active order of Shakeology in February.

B) Join my next accountability group. The group runs from February 12 - March 11.

C) Log at least 5 workouts and 5 Shakeology each week, throughout all 4 weeks of the group.

You know what they say about summer bodies being made in the winter? Well, there are only 16 weeks left until Memorial Day, so it's time to get to work!! Nothing can beat the feeling of good health and body-confidence. That is the BIGGEST reward you'll get... but the discount and contest will make it a little more enticing! 

Click here to order your Challenge Pack

Questions?  Email me at fabfitfunjen@gmail.com

Healthy Super Bowl Recipes and Tips

Are you planning to partake in some Super Bowl festivities this Sunday?  I sure am (I wouldn't miss out on watching the Pats in the Super Bowl followed by This is Us!) but I want to make sure I stay on track with my health goals so I don't totally blow it and wake up feeling like crap Monday morning.  

So, here's my GAME PLAN (pun intended) for Sunday.  If you're also trying to be healthy(ish), I think you'll find these tips helpful!  

1.  Prep with intermittent fasting and lots of H20
Sometimes on Sundays, I like to eat "normally" along with my family.  Since I will likely be eating later than usual this Sunday, and I want my body in fat-burning mode as long as possible, I'm planning to continue my intermittent fasting for Sunday.  My goal is to keep my eating window under 8 hours so I will choose a time where I will STOP eating, which then tells me I'll open my eating window.  I am planning to stop eating by 8pm so that means I'll open my eating window at noon or later.  Throughout the day I will ensure that I am keeping hydrated so that I hit my daily water goal of 90oz BEFORE the game starts.  Dehydration often feels like hunger to the body, so I don't want any false signals telling me to eat more than I should.  

2.  Prioritize and plan healthy snacks
If you're at home, this one will be a lot easier since you have control of the menu.  But regardless of where you're going to be watching the big game, you have to drill it into your head that you have to limit the unhealthy stuff.  There are tons of recipes out there on Pinterest, Facebook and Google for healthy game-day snacks.  Plan to make at least 1-2 healthy options so you know you'll have some healthy food to choose from. If there are delicious treats and/or decadent desserts that you just can't live without having, you don't have to feel totally deprived.  Choose 1-2 indulgences and limit your portions... and leave it at that!

If you need some ideas to start with, here are two of my favorite CHEAT CLEAN recipes: 

• Buffalo Cauliflower Bites
• BBQ Chicken Pita Pizza

3.  Make a plate
This one is REALLY helpful for me:  no mindless munching!  It's amazing how much more food I will eat when I'm mindlessly grabbing snacks and finger foods.  When I actually make myself a plate I have a clear understanding of how much I'm eating so I don't overdo it.  Plus, I actually feel it's much more satisfying and enjoyable when I'm eating my food from a plate than I do when I'm mindlessly grabbing food while walking/talking.  

I hope you found these tips helpful!  Just remember, you have goals that are more important than a football game.  You can enjoy the action, the great company, and yes, even the game day snacks — without overdoing it!  

6 Tools I'm Using to Crush Goals in 2018

I've set my health goals for 2018 and I have high hopes for what's to come in the year ahead.  My health goals this year are a bit "softer" than years past since I'm not focusing on obtaining a measurable achievement (i.e. lose ___ lbs, get to ___% body fat, complete ____ program, etc.).  This year I'm focusing on improving my physical and mental wellbeing.  Some examples of my health goals for 2018 are: decrease stress, do more yoga, be more mindful/present,  eat more plant based meals and further experiment with intermittent fasting.

I'm feeling excited about tackling these goals HEAD ON.  But I won't be doing it alone!  I am going to be using the following tools to help me achieve my goals and become HEALTHIER and HAPPIER:

1.  Commit30 Planner
This is my second year using the Commit30 planner.  I just LOVE it because it combines everything I need: a simple day planner with separate life and work to-do sections,  annual goal/vision mapping for all aspects of life,  monthly goals along with 30 day "challenges".  I'm one of those people that has always set WAY to many goals for myself (I'm an optimist!) and it was very discouraging to see how "little" I was accomplishing.  The Commit30 planner only allows one goal per month, which you break down into action steps and one action that you commit to doing for 30 days.  It may not seem like much, but those commitments add up to big results over time! 

Visit the Commit30 website for more info.

2.  Beachbody on Demand
I've been using Beachbody workouts for about 4 years straight.  I just love the trainers, the quality and variety of the programs, and the convenience!  Beachbody on Demand (BOD) has been the best thing ever because it gives me access to EVERY program ever created by Beachbody, along with loads of new exclusive workouts.  Since my only option is to workout at home, it's extremely important for me to have access to both quality and a variety of programs.  BOD offers both of these things so I'm always able to challenge myself with new styles of exercise and I NEVER get bored!
The workouts are streaming (think Netflix, but for your fitness) so I'm able to workout anywhere, anytime, and from any device. Traveling?  No problem!  I can still do my workouts by streaming them from my mobile device or laptop.  Son takes over the TV room with his toys?  Not stopping me!  I just grab my laptop and move to another room!  BOD really makes it possible to say NO EXCUSES when it comes to fitness.

Interested in trying BOD or getting more info?  Click here to learn more and to activate your free 14-day BOD trial.

3.  Fitbit
I admit it.  I'm a Fitbit addict!  I love my Fitbit because it really helps me to get moving more during the day, which is important since I'm behind a desk for 8 hours a day.  I never realized how little activity I was getting until I started wearing a Fitbit.  It's so bad for your body and your health to be stationary for so long!  I have my Fitbit set to remind me to move every hour, so my activity has definitely increased and it forces me to take a "mental break" from work when I get up to move - which is also very refreshing!

I am constantly in challenges with my friends through the Fitbit app, which is a fun and competitive way to further motivate yourself to get more active.  Also I love using my Fitbit to track my quality of sleep (I have the Fitbit Charge with heart rate monitor).  Getting enough sleep is an important priority for me since sleep is such an important factory for physical and mental health.  Now that I can track my sleep with the app I can easily see if I'm not hitting my sleep goal so I can take steps to catch more zzz's.

Click here to visit the Fitbit website.  If you have a Fitbit add me as a buddy!  My account is listed under the email fabfitfunjen@gmail.com.

5.  Shakeology
I started drinking Shakeology in March 2014 and have been hooked ever since because I immediately noticed it made me feel great, improved my digestion, curbed my cravings and overall helped to expedite my results.  For years, I always had my shake for breakfast because it was healthy, convenient and kept me full through the morning.  However this fall I've really fallen in love with intermittent fasting so I actually don't eat "breakfast" anymore.  Usually my first meal is between 11-1pm so I often start my eating with my lunch meal.  My hunger has greatly reduced with intermittent fasting so I could actually go without having my shake... if I were using it to manage my hunger and/or lose weight.  It DOES help with that, but since I'm beyond those challenges, my main goal for having my daily shake is for the health benefits.  I consider Shakeology as my daily vitamin.  I make sure I have it DAILY because it delivers massive amounts of nutrients, antioxidants, prebiotics, and digestive enzymes - all in one easy to make and delicious shake.  And best of all, these awesome nutrients and minerals are coming from the whole food ingredients.  So there's no added (and synthetic) nutrients and minerals added in any of the Shakeology formulas!  To understand why this is so important, listen to why this doctor loves that Shakeology is derived from whole foods: click here for video.

To learn more and/or purchase Shakeology (included a 7 day sampler package) click here to visit my Shakeology site.

6. 10% Happier App
I have been using the 10% Happier app to help me further develop my mindfulness skills.  I love this app for it's simple approach to meditation.  The tag line for the app is "meditation for fidgety skeptics", and that is truly what it is!!   I tried meditation on and off for years and I always hated it.  I felt like my skin was crawling just trying to sit still and insisted my mind was "too busy" to be good at meditate.  The awesome meditations in 10% Happier help taught me that meditation is not about clearing your head, it's about becoming more mindful and present... which results in having more control over thoughts, behaviors and emotions.  Since I started consistently using this app over a year ago I've become very comfortable with meditation.  Even though I'm hardly ever able to "clear my mind", I've noticed benefits from my practice such as becoming more mindful and present, controlling bad habits such as emotional eating, and having better control over my thoughts and emotions.

You can get a free 7 day beginners meditation course in the 10% Happier app.  Search your app store to download 10% Happier and learn more.

I'm confident that these tools are going to help me achieve my health goals for 2018 and beyond.  What are you using to help you achieve your goals this year?  Share in the comments below!  

A Year in Review - Top 5 Year-End Reflection Questions to Ask Yourself

Reflecting on your year is a powerful way to end the year because it can help you to recognize/remember all the awesomeness that happened and plan your goals for the upcoming year.  

The New Year is quickly approaching so I wanted to share my TOP 5 year-end reflection questions.  I like these questions because they've got a positive focus.  We can be SO HARD on ourselves, which can often be very de-motivating, so I like to use questions that force me to think positively about how the year went.  

Here are my top 5 year-end reflection questions:  

1. What were my favorite moments/highlights of the year?
2. What were my biggest challenges/obstacles of the year?
3. What accomplishments am I most proud of?  
4. What NEW things did I try this year? Were these things outside my comfort zone?  
5. What could I have done better?  

These questions can be applied in a general way, or you could specify separate answers to the questions for specific areas in life (i.e. wellness, professional, personal).  I encourage you to answers the questions thoughtfully and reflect on how your answers make you feel. 

Once you've finished your year-end reflection it's time to set your new goals for the upcoming year!  What do you want to accomplish in 20187?  I encourage you to set goals for all areas that are important to you and break them down into an action plan of measurable tasks/accomplishments that will help you achieve your goals.  Once you've got all this planned out, I suggest that you schedule a time to review your goals at the end of each month throughout the year. Monthly check-ins are very helpful to track your progress and make changes to your goals, which will keep you mindful of what you what to accomplish (and act on it!). 

NamaSTAY Fit for the Holidays

I've always loved intense workouts (fast pace, heavy weights, loud music... you get the picture).  But after my month-long illness this fall I needed to gradually work my way back into a good exercise routine and I started following along to various yoga and PiYo workouts in Beachbody on Demand.  My body feels great from all the restorative exercise and I find I'm enjoying these workouts more and more.  

I've decided I'm going to end the year with a little self-challenge by completing the 3 Week Yoga Retreat program, which means I'll do 3 straight weeks of yoga from December 11 - December 30.  I'm naming the challenge "Namastay Fit for the Holidays" - get it?  

Anyway, I will be completely transparent with you by admitting this is totally putting me outside of my comfort zone.  I'm not sure I'll survive with doing 3 weeks of yoga!  Will I get bored?  Will I like the program?  Will it be too hard?  too easy?  I HAVE NO IDEA!  But I'm willing to give it a shot because it's a do-able (the workouts are 30 minutes or less and they're appropriate for beginners) for me to keep up with and I believe the physical and mental benefits of yoga will be much needed over the next few hectic weeks.  

Would you like to join along with me and get your "flow on" over the next few weeks?  If you already have Beachbody on Demand there's nothing you need to do.  The 3 Week Yoga Retreat is included in your membership!  If you don't have Beachbody on Demand you can activate a free 14-day trial.  

Send me an email if you'd like to join along with me or want more info.  

Time Savers For Busy Moms

As a busy mom who works full time, weekends are my time to plan my meals, go grocery shopping and food prep.   This can sometimes be challenging to tackle on weekends, because... weekends are busy too!  Trying to fit this stuff in around swim lessons, birthday parties, family time, etc... can be pretty tough.  Luckily, I've found two awesome services that help me minimize time with some of these chores so I can enjoy more quality time with my family.  

Timesaver #1:  PlateJoy

This meal-planning service is DA BOMB.  You can customize a meal plan every week to meet your needs (how many meals, how many people, how much time you're willing to spend on each meal, food preferences, weight loss goals, etc). I have enjoyed (even LOVED) every single recipe that I've tried so far.  I can now get a customized meal plan in just a couple of minutes PLUS build my shopping list.  This process used to take me about 30-60 minutes when I was doing it on my own!  And even better, I can send the ingredients that I need directly into Instacart!  Which brings me to...

Timesaver #2:  Instacart

Instacart is a grocery delivery service.  In my area, they offer shopping from 8 different stores so I can shop from any of my preferred stores online, and have it delivered to my house.  The small delivery fee (10% of the order cost) makes up for itself in the time saved, stress saved (grocery shopping with a 4-year-old is NOT always easy), and money/calories saved (I'm not browsing the store buying extra food that we don't need) it's WELL worth it!  

These timesavers may or may not be for you, but I wanted to share because I know so many of are stretched thin and can benefit from services like these that simplify, save time and reduce some stress.  

If you have any tips or other time-saving services that you use - please share them in the comments of this post!  

How I Overcame My Obsessive Food Cravings

I want to be open with something I've struggled with for as long as I can remember... I'm always thinking about food!  And not in a good way.  It's more of an obsession about what I can eat and when I can eat again.  It tends to go in cycles for me based on a few factors that I've pinned down (current nutrition habits, stress, and boredom).  Needless to say, it's annoying, and usually, derails me from my nutrition goals since I'll eventually give in to my cravings.  

I also want to share the ONE THING THAT HAS HELPED ME overcome these struggles:  intermittent fasting.  I know, you're probably thinking this sounds horrible, maybe even unhealthy.  We've always heard that we should eat 5-6 times a day to "boost our metabolism' but the science has proven that theory wrong (just like other nutritional advice such as low-fat diets, etc.).  

To sum it up for you, intermittent fasting is NOT starving yourself.  It involves eating a healthy balanced diet but condensing your eating window to 10 or less hours per day. 

I have been testing out intermittent fasting throughout the last year or so and I ALWAYS notice 3 things: 

1) I feel great

2) I lose weight (more specifically FAT)

3) I do not struggle with the food obsession/cravings

I've also noticed a couple of more things... 

It's a habit that takes adjusting to.  When I re-start my intermittent fasting routine it always feels hard because I'm used to eating so frequently.  But it gets easier day by day, and what makes it easiest for me is prolonging my eating for as long as possible.  After testing out various fasting windows and eating patterns I've found my sweet spot with eating lunch for my first meal (between 12-1pm), having my Shakeology as a PM snack, and then having dinner.  I'm still eating the recommended amount of food but I'm now eating 3 bigger meals in a 5-6 hour window, as opposed to 5-6 times per day throughout a 12-14 hour window. 

After I began to notice my positive reactions and results with this eating pattern, I've begun to do a little research about intermittent fasting and I find it's incredible FASCINATING to see all of the proven benefits that it has to offer. 

If you'd like to learn more about intermittent fasting, here are the two books that I've learned a lot from:

The Complete Guide to Fasting

Intermittent Fasting for Women

There's plenty more books and blogs out there... so you'll have no struggle finding information that will help you decided if this is right for you.  Doing some research will also help your chances of success since you'll be better educated and prepared. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.  I'm happy to answer based on my own experiences!  My email is fabfitfunjen@gmail.com