about to strike a nerve.

this post will strike a nerve with some of you.

maybe you were an overweight child.

maybe you have an overweight child.

maybe you worry about whether or not your kids are active enough.

maybe you know you don’t feed your kids good food and it bothers you.

so for the nerve striking that may happen–know that is not my intent.

my intent is to motivate you to do something.

just a little something.

kids are funny little creatures.

-they have tons of energy.

-they love to play video games and watch tv that require no energy.

-they are great at listening to their body and know how to stop eating when they are full.

-they love sweet stuff that is crap.

adults are funny big creatures who are in charge of the kids.

-we allow kids to spend too much time in front of screens.

-we want kids to go be quiet somewhere else where they are safe…like another room in the house with a screen in front of them.

-we make kids “clean their plates” before they get dessert when that plate is loaded with crap.

-we offer them desserts daily because we love sweets and they love sweets and we want them happy.

what we are doing is slowing our kids down.  messing up their health.  taking away their future health.

we must stop teaching them that what they put in their body doesn’t matter and start teaching them how to eat and take care of themselves.

it’s much easier to start when you are little, than change when you are older and feel like crap and HAVE to make a change.

so what do i suggest?

this list is how we roll with our kids. it’s not always perfect. it’s not always fun or easy. but it is so flippin’ important.

• limit screen time. we allow one hour per day.  there are board games, books and Legos to be played with.  encourage that.  sure, they may not “like it” but why would they when the alternative option is television or video games?
• let them go outside.  unless you live in an unsafe area, let them go outside.  remember what you did as a kid.  i was outside all the time. summer, winter. didn’t matter. you know what kids do outside? they move.
• make sure your kids are active.  gym class might count, but it might not. depends on the class.  encourage them to workout with you. my husband and 6-year-old do P90X3 together every night.  INSERT IMAGE  sure, the little guy can’t do all the moves, but he’s trying. for 30 minutes. with his dad.
• don’t make them clean their plates. please. if they say they are full, then they can be done and remind them that there is no bedtime snack.  they won’t die of hunger.  i promise.  and they will learn to eat their dinner at dinner time.
• stop with the treats, sweet and desserts.  they don’t need them.  sugar is going to kill our kids.  i really believe that.  look for it, limit it.  we have dessert twice a week after a meal.  if all vegetables on the plate aren’t eaten, they can’t have dessert.
• stop buying crap.  chips and cookies are crap.  most things kept in a pantry in boxes or bags are crap. don’t feed kids crap. i know it’s easy, but don’t do it.  fruit is easy too.  wash or peel and serve.
• make fresh fruit and vegetables available for their little hands.  wash veggies and keep them in the fridge where they can reach them.  keep fruit on a counter in the kitchen. when they ask for a snack, start there.

  this is serious stuff.  big stuff. important stuff.
  each your kids how to eat good food NOW so that they don’t struggle when they are older.
  think about what you are feeling right now, do you want your kids to feel that?

let that be your guide to what you do next.

and remember, little actions make a big difference.  pick one thing from the list above and start there.

you can do it.

yes, you can.

no colds. no flu. thankyouverymuch.

This past Sunday our preacher started her sermon by giving the disclaimer that if she rambled on it was because of a terrible head cold she had.  She then said “you have most likely had the exact same terrible head cold this year.”

I wrinkled my brow, tapped my chin and thought.  Um, nope. I haven’t.

I haven’t had a terrible head cold.
I haven’t had the flu.

I haven’t even had a cough. or regular cold.

Neither have my kids.  Are we the ONLY people who haven’t had the flu?

I am tempted to knock on wood, but instead I’m going to keep doing what I think has kept us from being sick.

1. We wash our hands a lot.

2.  We drink Shakeology.

3. We eat real food.

Shakeology is not just a nutrition shake. or meal replacement. or the easiest stinkin’ breakfast ever.

It is powerful nutrition in one big bag.

Powerful nutrition keeps you healthy. period. dot. simple.

“What does Shakeology have that keeps us healthy?”

Short answer: antioxidants and superfoods the support the immune system.

Check out the long answer here:  http://sweetlifefitness.net/shakeology/shakeology-ingredients

We didn’t go to the doctor.

We didn’t stop at the pharmacy on the way home.
We didn’t spend days feeling like crap.

We drank Shakeology.
We washed our hands.

We ate real food.

That was easy.

pump. you. up.

weight training.

it’s not just for big dudes.

it’s not just for strong gals.

it’s not about glistening muscles.

well, unless you want it to be.

but most of us just want to be a certain weight or size.

we want to look good in our clothes.

we want to be able to pick up things without hurting.

we want to walk without getting out of breath.

we want to lose weight.

we want to get fit.

well, guess what?

i have the perfect solution and it’s not what you are expecting.

it’s a cardio workout. but not running.  not jumping.  not biking.

it’s weight lifting. yup.

here’s what you need to know:

• you will not get bulky and big unless you want to (ladies, most of us don’t have enough testosterone to make that happen)
• you will lose weight
• you will lose weight much quicker than a traditional cardio workout
• you will keep the weight off

here’s what you might want to know:

• you will create muscle that burns calories
• you will get a good cardio workout by lifting
• you can just add some weight training to your current workout (that’s what i do!)
• you can find weight lifting workouts online. for free. go on, google it.
• you can get an at-home DVD workout that guides you.

If you want to get started, let’s talk.  There is no need to spend an hour on an elliptical machine.
Pick up some weights.  And start dropping your extra weight.

every one matters.

therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort in love, any sharing in the Spirit, any sympathy, complete my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, being united an agreeing with each other.  don’t do anything for selfish purposes, but with humility think of others as better than yourselves. instead of each person watching out for their own good, watch out for what is better for others.   Phillipians 2: 1-5.

this was the scripture read at church today.
i followed along in the bulletin.
i was struck by the last line…instead of each person watching out for their own good, watch out for what is better for others.
that line is my life right now. everyday.
i closed my eyes in the pew and let it sink in.

i am a mom, a wife and a Team Beachbody coach.
everyday i am watching out for what is better for my family and my friends.
that is what a parent, a spouse and a coach does.

i did not become a beachbody coach because i needed a discount on the products.
(i hadn’t even tried Shakeology. yet.)
i did not become a beachbody coach because i needed something else to do.
i did not become a beachbody coach because i needed the extra income.
i did not become a beachbody coach because i had researched the company and loved their mission.

i became a coach because i had been part of a challenge group on facebook.
a challenge group that helped those who participated reach their goal.
i helped someone reach their goal.
i helped motivate someone to a healthier way of life.

i became a coach because i liked, no, loved, seeing that person change their life.
i became a coach because i loved being part of someone else’s journey.
i became a coach because i have a gift for watching out for what is better for others.
i thank God for giving me the opportunity to do so. every day.

i have ideas.
i have knowledge.
i have plans.
i have programs.
i have love.
i have passion.
i have compassion.
i have what it takes to help others put their health as a priority.

“every one matters”.  that’s team beachbody’s motto for the year.
it’s a perfect fit for what we do–remind folks that every one matters. including you.
if you need help and don’t know where to start.  i am watching out for you.  just ask.

feelings. whoawoahwoah. feelings.

Good foods.

Bad foods.

Blah, blah, blah.

Let’s skip the good food/bad food category today and focus on how food makes you feel.

Does it make you feel good?

Does it make you feel bad?

Do you…

• like carbs, don’t want to quit eating them and you feel fine on them? Great! Eat a few.
• gluten is A-OK for you and you don’t get bloated and uncomfortable when you eat them? Awesome. Eat some.
• caffeine makes you feel good and not jittery?  DRINK IT.
• counting calories makes you happy and helps you stay on track?  Count away.
• intermittent fasting makes you a rockstar? Do it.

On the flip side:

• If eating carbs makes you feel like crap, then you might want to cut back.
• If caffeine makes you cray-zee, then you might want to try tea.
• If counting calories stresses you out, then you might want to work on eating smaller portions.
• if you get hangry (hungry+angry) when you do intermittent fasting then don’t.

If what you put in your body makes you feel like crap, then it is time to make a change.

The point is do what works for you.  

Forget the fads. Focus on you.

I am here to tell you very clearly that if you are eating Cheetos and drinking Diet Coke every day that that is not making you feel good.

You might think to yourself, “I eat crappy food and feel great! So, I’ll just carry on.”

Again, I am here to tell you that you do not feel your best if you are eating those things.

You just aren’t.

(Don’t believe me? Try Shakeology for 30 days and see if you notice a change. Money back guaranteed.)

I know because I used to eat those things and now I don’t.  I know the difference in how I feel.

I feel like a rockstar because I changed what I was eating.

I eat what works for me.

I eat what makes me feel amazing both mentally and physically.

Listen to your body.

How does what you eat make you feel?

a girl’s gotta do, what a girl’s gotta do.

sometimes i have to brag.

sometimes i have to share.

sometimes i have to give a shout out to my main squeeze.

saturday marks 12 years.

12 years with this man.

he’s my rock.

he’s my friend.

he’s my everything.

he’s my good looking husband.

and he’s mine.

love. love. love.

Don’t go nuts.

I have been in nutrition information overload lately.

Podcasts. Books. Blogs. Emails.

Eat this.

Don’t eat that.

Gut health.

Omega fatty acids.

Eat clean.

Low carb.

Some carb.

High fat.

Hormone balance.

Caffeine.

Fasting.

Paleo.

Gluten-free.

Oh. my. gosh.

My brain is about fried.

I went to college and got a degree in dietetics 14 years ago.

Things have changed.

I knew that would happen.

I didn’t realize I’d go nuts trying to figure it all.  again.

So I have made a decision.

I will make it simple.

• eat real food.  enjoy it.
• eat when hungry.
• drink when thirsty.
• move your body every day.
• get good sleep.

That is all.

My job is to help you make it simple in your life.

My job is to support and motivate you to do those simple things that can be rather challenging.

My job is to help you get. it. done.

So that you can enjoy life and not go nuts.