This is What Happened When I STOPPED Dieting

Since I was a teenager, I've always been a little obsessed with dieting and losing weight.  I tried all sorts of diets, took weight loss pills and fat burners, and succumbed to many other gimmicks.  None of this actually made me feel good, it left me feeling deprived and grew my obsession for trying the next best thing.  I was a classic yo-yo dieter because the results wouldn't last.  I would focus so hard to lose weight and look good for whatever vacation or special event was coming, and then I would totally fall off track after I hit my goal because life seemed so much more enjoyable when I could eat what I wanted and not feel deprived!

This is an unhealthy cycle - physically and mentally.  

The only thing that helped me to truly change my habits and to look at food as fuel (instead of a tool to lose weight) was 21 Day Fix.  I had started this program to lose weight, I can't lie about that.  But for the first time in my life I had a good grasp on why it is important to eat certain foods and how to consume well balanced healthy meals with healthy portions.  I did 21 Day Fix 3 times before moving on to a new program and somewhere within those 9 weeks I learned how to eat with purpose and I stopped looking at what I was doing as a diet.  Diets are only temporary, but a healthy diet should be permanent.  

Here is what happened when I stopped dieting:  

1. I stopped eating crap "food".  To use the term food is a little over exaggerated, because what I am talking about is processed stuff that more resembles a science experiment than a meal.  I stopped eating those awful Smart Ones and Lean Cuisine frozen meals - which are really gross, and not filling, but I would eat them because they were supposed to help me lose weight.  I stopped consuming artificial sweeteners and other processed "healthy" food.  I found happiness, balance, and results when I started eating actual food that made me feel good, feel satisfied, and feel nourished.  
2. I stopped yo-yo dieting and maintained my results.  No I don't eat perfect all the time and no I don't always measure my portions, but yet I have continued to maintain my healthy nutrition habits and transform my body.  This is because I am not eating to lose weight.  If I was doing that I would have stopped almost 2 years ago when I hit my first weight loss goal.  Now I eat because I want to feel good.  I eat to fuel my workouts.  I eat to feel energized.  I eat for pleasure and have found balance in maintaining my healthy nutrition while allowing for those indulgences that I sometimes NEED or crave.  
3. I started to love and appreciate my body.  When I started focusing on healthy goals like feeling confident and feeling energized (instead of the usual "I am fat I need to lose ___ lbs to feel good" goals) I started to think more positively about my body.  I accepted the fact that the scale will fluctuate about 5-10 lbs for me.  I stopped weighing myself every day and now weigh myself once a week at most (there have been times through this journey where I haven;t stepped on the scale in months!). Now that my mind is focused on positive feelings and accomplishments, instead of negative-minded goals, I am more motivated than ever!  

For me, stopping the dreaded diet cycle has been liberating.  I have honestly never felt healthier, happier and more alive than I do now.  I just had my 37th birthday and I feel like I look and feel better than I did turning 21!  

Are you sick of dieting?  Are you feeling trapped in a frustrating cycle of weight loss / weight gain?  I can help support you to break free and build healthy habits that last!   

CLICK HERE to learn more about my  FIT FOR LIFE CHALLENGE. 

22 Minute Hard Corps - Results & Review!

Well, first let me apologize for writing this review so late.  I finished 22 Minute Hard Corps (22MHC) almost 3 weeks ago but I just have not had the time to sit and write this out.  The results and photos are accurate as of the day I finished when I did my last fit test.  

Ok, so let's get on with it, shall we? 

First let me explain what 22MHC is.  This is an 8 week long fitness program by superstar trainer  (creator of P90X) Tony Horton.  The workouts are fast-past bootcamp style workouts inspired by real military bootcamp training (they even feature military vets as the cast) and they are only 22 minutes long.  The program also includes the now infamous Beachbody portion-based nutrition plan (similar to 21 Day Fix).  It's a total package that can help you transform from the inside out!  

I completed all 8 week of 22MHC plus the additional Hell Week Challenge (total of 9 weeks). Here are my results:  

• Weight Loss:  3.2 lbs
• Body Fat decreased by 1.4%
• I lost 1 inch in my waist, and about a quarter inch in each thigh and each arm
• I saw a big improvement in my Fit Test over the course of 9 weeks: 

Now I will be honest and say that I wasn't great with my nutrition.  I had some really good weeks, and some really off weeks.  One low point for me was when we had to put both of our cats down at the same time.  I was an emotional wreck and certainly fell off my game that week.  But overall, I stayed consistent enough so that I still went in the right direction and didn't gain.  
When I looked at my before and after pictures I was bummed out because I didn't think you could see any difference.  But then when I compared the side view photos I was really shocked at the difference I could see around my waist and the perkiness in my butt.  Between the perked-up butt and the improved fit test results, I will say that I am truly happy with my results!  

I loved the short workouts in this program.  Prior to starting this I was doing The Masters Hammer & Chisel, which I did enjoy but struggled to squeeze in the longer workouts.  I really do best when I can keep my workouts to 40 minutes or less because I exercise before work and time is very limited when I have to get myself and my son out of the house by 7am. 

I was absolutely shocked at how difficult the workouts were.  I was not expecting to struggle through them like I did.  In fact, I was wondering if they would be too easy!  Guess I thought wrong with that!  Even the level one workouts were very challenging.  By them time I got to level three there were moves that I had to modify the modifier LOL.  I was also shocked at the amount of burpees in the workouts.  There are so many burpees.  Soooooo many burpees!  Each level you move on to presents a new version of burpees to hate.  Luckily my son was usually still asleep when I did my workouts because the words coming out of my mouth during some of these workouts were not appropriate ffor 3 year old ears LOL.  

Is 22MHC the right program for you?  

22 Minute Hard Corps might be a good choice for you if you fall into any of these categories: 

• Are busy and don’t have a lot of time to spend at the gym or working out
• Are a former member of the military and you want to get back to the fitness level you had while in the service
• Want a basic, no-nonsense workout routine that gets results without a lot of challenging choreography
• Like Tony Horton and his workouts, or want something short and intense (similar to T25 or Insanity Max:30)

How do I buy 22MHC and how much does it cost?  

There are a few different option for purchasing 22MHC:  Base Kit, Deluxe Kit, Challenge pack.  

The Base Kit (priced at ONLY $39.90!!) includes:  

• 8 no-nonsense workouts on 2 DVDs
• Quick Start Mission Guide
• Basic Training Action Plan (this is your workout calendar)
• Rations for Results Nutrition Field Guide (simple meal plan to maximize your results)
• Hell Week Challenge Card (two-a-day workout week to push your limits!)
• Cold Start Pre-Workout Drill
• Exclusive “Battle Buddy” DVD workout if you purchase from me – or another Beachbody Coach

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE BASE KIT

The Deluxe Kit includes ($79.80) includes everything in the base kit PLUS:  

• Beachbody PT Sandbag (which you can use in place of weights)
• 3 advanced 22 minute workouts
• 7 color-coded portion-control containers
• Shakeology Shaker cup

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE DELUXE KIT

The Shakeology Challenge Pack (only $140!) - BEST DEAL!!    

Getting the ultimate results takes the right combination of fitness and nutrition. And with the 22 MINUTE HARD CORPS and Shakeology Challenge Pack, you'll get everything you need to get "Boot Camp Fit" from head to toe, along with a full month supply of Shakeology. Shakeology is an ultra-premium nutritional shake that can help you push harder, stay healthy, and reach your fitness goals even faster. 

Here's what you get with your 22MHC SHakeology Challenge Pack:

• Your first 30-day supply of Shakeology—the superfood protein shake that helps give you energy, reduce cravings, and accelerate your fitness results—delivered on Home Direct, our monthly autoship program. (can be cancelled at any time)
• The 22 MINUTE HARD CORPS Base Kit
• A FREE 30-Day Trial Membership in the Team Beachbody Club, so you can start streaming 22 MINUTE HARD CORPS workouts, and more than $4,000 in other proven Beachbody workouts.  
• Plus Super Discount shipping (and SAVE OVER $12) every month if you continue Shakeology.

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE 22MHC SHAKEOLOGY CHALLENGE PACK

Some other things you should know before buying:  

First, when you buy your program / Challenge Pack from me, I will be assigned as your free coach.  You will get FREE support from me including access to my private challenge groups, one-on-one support from me, meal plans, e-books, video trainings and more!  All of these are free perks for being my customer!  

Second, you should know that every purchase through Beachbody comes with a 30-day money back guarantee.  You are not locked into to anything when you become part of the Beachbody family.  We want you to get results so if this is just not working for you then you can return and try something else or just get your money back.  

I hope you found all this information helpful.  If you have any questions please email me at fabfitfunjen@gmail.com

Lastly - make sure to Like my Facebook page so you get can get even more of my healthy recipes, motivation, workouts and tips!

Roasted Vegetable Quinoa Bowl

I am always on the hunt for new meatless meals.  I try to cut back on meat because I believe it's healthy to minimize meat consumption, plus meatless meals tend to be less costly and easier to prepare.  What's not to like right?  Eggs are one of my favorite protein sources.  I can eat them for any meal or a snack, they are so versatile!  So when trying to put this meal together I thought it was worth giving it a try with poached eggs.  I actually suck at making hard boiled eggs so that was my main motivation for the poached method.  I must say that I think the poached eggs totally made this dish!

This meal could be great for breakfast, lunch or dinner.  I made it for a meatless Monday dinner and it was very nice because it was filling and required very little effort to prep and cook.  Total bonus for a weeknight meal!

Give this meal a try and your tummy will be happy!

Ingredients

• 1 cup of quinoa
• 2 cups of water
• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• Cracked pepper
• 2 yellow squash, sliced
• 2 green peppers, sliced into strips
• 1 red onion, sliced into strips
• 2 roma tomatoes, sliced into strips (seeds removed)
• ½ teaspoon of smoked paprika
• ½ teaspoon of cumin
• 1 tablespoon of fresh lime juice
• 4 eggs, poached
• Sriracha

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 425.
2. Grease baking sheet lightly with olive oil or cooking spray.  
3. Place vegetables in a bowl and mix with olive oil, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. 
4. Place vegetables on a baking sheet.
5. Bake for 20 minutes. 
6. While vegetables are roasting prepare the quinoa:  Place quinoa, water, cumin and smoked paprika in a medium saucepan over medium / high heat.  Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover and cook until the water has absorbed (about 15 - 20 minutes).  Use a fork to fluff the quinoa.  
7. Finally, poach the eggs.  CLICK HERE TO SEE HOW TO MAKE PERFECTLY POACHED EGGS. 
8. To serve, place vegetables on the plates first, then top with about 1/2 cup of quinoa, and add on two eggs.  Add some fresh lime juice and Sriracha on to add some delicious heat to the dish!  

Make sure to Like my Facebook page so you get can get even more of my healthy recipes, motivation, workouts and tips!

Keep Going - Never Give Up

You'll notice my shirt says "KEEP GOING never give up". This statement means so much to me! And I'll tell you why...

Yesterday on my Facebook timeline I was reminded that one year ago my mom had major spinal surgery. She was basically paralyzed at the time and we were praying the surgery would open up an opportunity for her to recover. It was a very successful surgery but it was just the very beginning of a long and bumpy road that she went through with her recovery. She was in rehab, physical therapy, occupational therapy, she had scares due to neuropathy and was scared out of her mind (rightfully so!).

But, she kept going. She didn't give up on herself because she knew she had to fight back for her life because she would not let go of a life to enjoy with her grandson. When you have a deeper motivation like that you are unstoppable!  Now you wouldn't even know that she had that traumatic accident.  She is healthy and active - she is even back in my challenge groups!  

Over the past couple of weeks I've gotten amazing messages from moms in my challenge group: Tanya who is down 50 lbs, Leah is down 30 lbs, Rebecca who is down 2 pants sizes (in just 6 weeks!), and Laura who is down 40 pounds and has regained so much confidence that she's enrolling back in school to finish college. The reason why they have had such a huge success is because they have a deeper drive beyond weight loss to feel good and be the best version of themselves for their family! 

This isn't easy for any of them.  In the groups they are constantly sharing about the sleepless nights, sick kids, parties, etc that make it very hard to  live healthy.  But they keep going despite all of the tough times that arise and they don't give up, and that is only possible when you have true commitment!

I am so proud of my mom and all the hard-working ladies in my challenge group. I am beyond blessed to get the opportunity to be a part of their journey - because it inspires me each and every day to see the hard work they put in!

If you have that desire to change beyond the scale, if you crave to regain your confidence, if you want to change more than you want to stay the same, then check out how my challenge group can help you with that!

Click the link here to learn more about this amazing opportunity!

Top 3 Benefits of Meal Planning

The Top 3 Benefits of Meal Planning  

OK, I know, planning out your exact menu for the week might seem a bit tedious.  I thought so too at first, and sometimes I still do!  But I know for sure that it is worth the effort, and it is the only thing that helps me stay on track with my nutrition goals for the week. 

Think of meal planning as your directions to get you to a destination.  You wouldn't just get in your car blindly and drive with no directions / GPS if you are driving to a new destination, right?  Directions make your trip easier and it saves you time so you don't get lost... and that is what meal planning can do! 

I always recommend that our challengers write out their meal plans over the weekend for the upcoming week.  It can feel overwhelming at first (which is why I provide plenty of sample meal plans for them to use) but eventually the process gets easier.  Putting in the extra effort ahead of time to plan out a week long meal plan is totally worth it.  And if you ask any persona who successfully sticks with a healthy nutrition plan, they will likely agree that they are planning their meals ahead of time!  My motto is:  if you fail to plan, you plan to fail!

If you still aren't on the meal planning bandwagon, here are 3 benefits that just might get you to hop on! 

1) Saves you time and money in the grocery store.

When you plan out your meals ahead of time (I recommend planning out all meals and snacks) you can put together a specific grocery list to ensure that you buy only the items that you need. I categorize my grocery list by the section / aisles so not only do I save money by avoiding the unnecessary extras that catch my eye, but I save time because I am able to zip through the store and grab what I need as I go through each section.  It makes shopping so much easier!  I know my 3 year old certainly likes to get in and out of the store as fast as possible, so anything I can do to make it out of the store without a meltdown is welcome! 

2) Helps you avoid unhealthy choices and overeating / undereating. 

When you have a meal plan and all the food is stocked up for you in the house, it's so much easier to eat healthy!  Think about it, you already have all the food right there waiting for you, and if you avoided buying the unnecessary stuff (refer to previous item) then there probably aren't that many other options for you in the house.  After I go grocery shopping I try to prep whatever food I can so I can "grab and go" with snacks and lunches during the week.  I will wash up and portion my fruits and veggies.  I will also prep any meals and snacks that I can so I can have it ready to toss in my lunch bag when I'm rushing off to work in the morning.  That extra prep helps me avoid takeout, skipping meals, and wasting food.   

3) Helps you stay on track with your nutrition goals. 

When you plan what you eat, you eat what you plan.  Did you catch that?  Let's say it once more:  when you plan what you eat, you eat what you plan.  Doesn't that sound lovely?  It's just like I mentioned above, your meal plan should be thought of as the directions that will get you to your "destination".  That destination is a healthier you! 

I hope you found this helpful!  If you are looking for a little guidance with meal planning, or need some accountability to stay on track with your nutrition / fitness goals then fill out this super quick application to inquire about my challenge groups! 

Are you struggling to stay consistent with your nutrition and fitness?  Or are you looking for an extra push to overcome a plateau or break free of boredom with your current routine? 

Apply here for my FREE 5 day clean eating and fitness challenge!