Why I Became A Beachbody Coach

I post a lot about Beachbody on my Facebook page and I feel like it sometimes comes across that I am just trying to sell a product to someone so that I can make some quick cash.   But the reality is that I truly want to help people.

I've spent my entire life struggling with my weight.  Sometimes I was skinny and sometimes I wasn't.  When I look back, I think I probably gained a lot of weight around age 11 or 12.  What a terrible age to gain weight.  I was already in that awkward preteen stage and feeling uncomfortable in my own skin.  Of course, my twin brother got the tall/thin genes!  I remember being at my dad's work picnic.  One of his coworkers looked at my brother and I and said, "If you take some of your weight (pointing to me) and put it on him (pointing to my brother), you guys would be perfect".  Wow!  What a terrible thing to say.  So terrible that I've never forgotten it.

Once I got to high school, I lost a lot of the weight.  Looking back, I know that I did it in an unhealthy way.  I didn't have an eating disorder, but I certainly cut back on the amount that I was eating on a daily basis.  I wasn't eating enough and it was unhealthy.  I wasn't athletic at all and I just didn't know how to do it the correct way.  My College days rolled around and I fluctuated back and forth during those years.  Let's be honest... I wasn't counting calories during those weekly trips to the bar... didn't think twice about sitting around a pizza with my friends armed with a bottle of ranch dressing to dip it in....and working out really wasn't a top priority in  my life at that time.  By the time I graduated, I had terrible habits when it came to eating and exercise.

After graduation... bring on the desk job!  Hours upon hours of sitting.  I worked in an office where many of the people around me had terrible eating habits.  Fast food was a staple.  People would constantly bring in baked goods and set them on the break room table for everyone to enjoy.  And guess what?  I went right along with them.  Gaining more and more weight as the weeks went on.

It's hard for someone to see that they are gaining weight... and it's even harder to admit even when your clothes no longer fit.  I honestly couldn't even tell you how many times I've stood in front of my closet crying because nothing really fit and if it did fit, I felt terrible in it.  I would then go shopping in an attempt to find something that I would feel comfortable wearing, but after several attempts at trying things on in the dressing room, I would leave empty-handed.  Rush out of the store and cry the whole way home.  It was a terrible cycle.

My college years were some of the best years of my life.  I made some amazing friends.  We spent countless hours together and I knew that they loved me for me.  It was a sad day when we all graduated and went our separate ways.  With that being said, we always made a point to try and get together 2 times a year.  We would make plans and I would get really excited to see everyone.  And then a week before our get-together, I would start having anxiety.  I didn't want people to see that I had gained weight. I felt so insecure in my own skin.  Eventually by the end of the week, I was coming up with excuses why I wouldn't be able to make it.  I was so insecure and down that I was giving up spending time with some of my favorite people in the world!

I also found myself hiding when anyone brought their camera out for a group shot.  I would immediately volunteer to be the person who took the picture just so I didn't have to be in it.   One of my worst fears was looking back on my wedding photos and being completely disgusted and ashamed about the way that I looked in them.  And that's when I decided to make a change! 

I was initially approached by my friend/sorority sister Kayla about Beachbody and being a part of her challenge group.  I turned her down the first time she asked me, telling her that it was too expensive... I was planning a wedding... blah, blah, blah.  Looking back I knew they were all excuses.  If I really wanted to make it happen, I would have found a way.  She approached me for a second time a couple months later and I finally agreed.  BEST DECISION EVER!!!  I lost 30 pounds just in time for my wedding and I found a healthy lifestyle.  I learned to lose weight the right way, by eating clean and exercising.

I've now taken the next step and I've become a Beachbody coach.  I've never been surrounded by so many positive people who truly care about others.  I'm still working on my weight loss journey, but I'm the healthiest I've ever been in my entire life.  I'm starting to get my confidence back and I'm starting to learn that I can be happy with me! 

This is why I post about Beachbody.  Because I've been there.  I've tried everything to lose weight.  I know what it feels like to feel completely overwhelmed with my weight and not knowing what to do.  I've cried and cried and cried over it.  That's why I want to help others.   It just takes that first leap of faith to start on your journey to a better you! 

Clean Eating Sloppy Joes

 Clean Eating Sloppy Joes

Eating clean doesn't mean that you have to give up all of  your favorite foods!  I'm always on the hunt for clean eating recipes that will not only satisfy my craving for these foods, but will also be acceptable to my husband who isn't necessarily quite as enthusiastic about "that clean eating stuff" as he puts it.  Even though I've tried to explain it to him, he has the same misconception that many have... that it's a diet.  Clean eating isn't a "diet"...it's about getting rid of the processed food and opting for fresh, natural ingredients instead.  It means that I cook a lot of things from scratch... but trust me when I tell you that I'm not spending hours in the kitchen!  I look for fast, family friendly recipes that everyone can enjoy.  I found this recipe on another coach's clean eating blog and thought I would share with all of you!  Clean eating sloppy joes... a winner with both adults and kids!  Sloppy Joe... Sloppy Sloppy Joe... You're singing it, aren't you?!

 

Ingredients

1 lb Lean Ground Turkey
1 (15 oz) Can Organic Tomato Sauce
1/2 Cup Clean Ketchup
1 tbsp. Garlic Powder
1 tbsp. Onion Powder
1 Medium Green Pepper
1 Medium Red Bell Pepper

For the "Clean" Ketchup, I used Simply Heinz since it was my best option at my local small town grocery store.  It was on the bottom shelf and hard to see, but I found it!

 

Cook lean ground turkey in a large skillet.  Once meat is cooked, add all other ingredients and stir until well blended.

Simmer on low for 10-15 minutes. 

That's it!  Serve on a Whole Wheat Hamburger Bun with some veggies on the side!  I did an open-face sandwich and just used one slice of bread.  Served with a side of fresh cut green beans.

Cauliflower Crust Pizza - Pizza Without The Guilt!

If I had to choose the one food that helped me to gain the bulk of my weight, I would blame it on pizza.  Oh Heavenly Pizza!  It's right up there with my love of sweets.  We ordered it EVERY Sunday and ate it ALL DAY LONG while we watched the football games.  So good... but oh so bad!  Now that I'm on my weight loss journey, I need to look for alternatives to my favorite foods and this recipe is the bomb!  It's a recipe that my husband loves and asks for frequently.

 Cauliflower Crust Pizza

1 cup cooked, riced cauliflower
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp crushed garlic
1/2 tsp garlic salt
olive oil (optional)

pizza sauce, shredded cheese and your choice of toppings

To "Rice" the Cauliflower:
Take 1 large head of fresh cauliflower, remove stems and leaves, and chop the florets into chunks. Add to food processor and pulse until it looks like grain. Do not over-do pulse or you will puree it. (If you don't have a food processor, you can grate the whole head with a cheese grater). Place the riced cauliflower into a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 8 minutes (some microwaves are more powerful than others, so you may need to reduce this cooking time). There is no need to add water, as the natural moisture in the cauliflower is enough to cook itself.
One large head should produce approximately 3 cups of riced cauliflower. The remainder can be used to make additional pizza crusts immediately, or can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week.

To Make the Pizza Crust:
Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray.  I line my cookie sheet with foil first to make cleanup easier.
In a medium bowl, stir together 1 cup cauliflower, egg and mozzarella. Add oregano, crushed garlic and garlic salt, stir.

Transfer to the cookie sheet, and using your hands, pat out into a 9" round. Optional: Brush olive oil over top of mixture to help with browning. Bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes. This is what they will look like when you take them out of the oven.

 Remove from oven. To the crust, add sauce, toppings and cheese.

Place under a broiler at high heat just until cheese is melted (approximately 3-4 minutes). 

I like to serve my "pizza" with a side salad!  And I usually have leftovers for lunch the next day!

General Tso's Meatballs... Getting My Chinese Takeout Fix!

One of my favorite takeout dishes from the Chinese restaurant is General Tso's Chicken.  However, I rarely ever order it because I know that it's terrible for me.  It's definitely something that I have as a splurge.  When I saw this recipe on Facebook, I was super excited to try it.  I changed a few of the ingredients to suit my own tastes and cut out the step where it tells you to fry the meatballs.  These little things are delicious and a perfect way to get that Chinese takeout fix!

General Tso's Meatballs
Serving Size (4 Meatballs)

 Ingredients (For The Meatballs):
1 lb Ground Turkey
1 tsp ground Ginger
1/4 cup Scallions, Chopped
1 tsp garlic powder
1/4 cup almond flour
1 egg

Mix all ingredients together and form into balls.  Should make about 16 meatballs.  Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until cooked thoroughly.

Ingredients (For the Sauce):
1/2 tsp Sesame Oil
3 Tbsp Rice Wine Vinegar
3 Tbsp Soy Sauce (Low Sodium)
3 Tbsp Honey
1/4 cup Scallions, Chopped
4-5 small dried chilies, seeded and chopped (I didn't have these so I substituted a tsp of chili powder and added some red pepper flakes)

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil.  Simmer for five minutes until thickened and remove from heat.  Pour sauce over meatballs and serve.

To get updates about new recipes on my blog and for some health and fitness tips, check out my Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/BurpeesAndBakedGoods
Beachbody Coach Page: http://www.beachbodycoach.com/shanwarburton (sign up for a FREE account!)

Southwest Stuffed Peppers

Southwest Stuffed Peppers

3 or 4 Peppers (can use Green, Red, Yellow or a mixture)

1 lb ground turkey
1 cup chopped onions
Packet Taco Seasoning
2 cups cooked rice
1 can of black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can of corn (or use frozen corn)
1 15 oz jar of salsa (I sometimes use a little more)
Shredded Mexican Cheese

Cut and clean your peppers.  Hint: Cut Peppers in half lengthwise and try NOT to cut off the top of the pepper (like I did in these photos).  If you cut off the top, you will have trouble getting your "stuffing" to stay in them.  I already had these peppers cut and in my freezer so I just went with what I had.  Place peppers in a baking dish and drizzle with Olive Oil.  Bake at 400 for 20-25 minutes or until tender.  They will be done by the time you are done with making the stuff for inside.

 

In a large skillet, cook your ground turkey and onion (salt and pepper to taste).

Once your meat is cooked through, add salsa, black beans, corn, rice, and taco seasoning.

Spoon this mixture into your peppers.  Top with cheese.  

Place back into the oven and bake until your cheese is melted.  Here is what the finished product will look like.

This recipe makes a ton of "stuffing" for in your peppers and I usually have a good amount left over.  We usually use it to top off salads, in a wrap, or just heated up in a bowl.  Makes a great lunch for the following day!

Avocado Chicken Salad...Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

I'm a huge fan of chicken salad, but I don't make it that often because the only recipe I know how to make calls for mayonnaise, and I've been trying to avoid mayo.  As many of you know, I am a Pinterest freak!  So, when I saw a recipe for chicken salad that called for avocado rather than mayo, I was on it!  I revamped the recipe to my own liking and it came out a winner.  I got a 2 thumbs up from my husband!  Here's the recipe:

Avocado Chicken Salad

2 or 3 chicken breasts (I did 3, but mine were on the small side)
2 avocados
1/4 chopped onion
juice from one lime
Salt and pepper to taste

Chop up your cooked chicken breasts.  Add avocado, onion, and lime juice.  Mix all ingredients.

That's it!  Voila!

Yes it's green... it has avocado in it, but it is the best chicken salad I've ever had!  Here's what the finished product looks like.

Banana Pancakes!

I've had bananas sitting on my counter all week that didn't get eaten and they were staring at me with their browness.  I hated to just throw them away.  I decided to use what I had in the house to make something with them.  So I set out on a Pinterest mission!  I spend enough time going to the grocery store, so that was NOT an option.  I've been hungry for pancakes and it's Sunday, so banana pancakes sounded like a perfect plan.  I found several recipes for banana pancakes but they all had ingredients listed that I (a) did not want to use in the recipe or (b) did not have in my house.  So this recipe is a modge podge of all 3!

So here are the ingredients that I used:

2 Mashed Bananas

2 Egg Whites

1/2 Whole Wheat Flour

1/4 Vanilla Shakeology

1/2 C. Milk

1/2 tsp. Baking Powder

2 tsp. Cinnamon

2 Tbs. PB2

 

Mash Bananas. Mix with Egg Whites and Milk.  Add all other ingredients and mix well.

Drop into pan as you would with normal pancake mix.  

 

 Hint: Cook on low heat for a longer amount of time so middle cooks through.

 

They had a pretty similar consistency to regular pancakes and I just ate mine plain. I thought they were fantastic!  My husband ate them as well.  He said they were "okay" but he is a pancake snob so I wouldn't take his opinion to heart.  Pancakes are his favorite breakfast food and he usually smothers them with butter and syrup, so I was already at a disadvantage going in.  Ha!  I would definitely make these again and I know that you would love them too!

Swap it out!

Spinach Dip
16 oz of Greek Yogurt (instead of sour cream)
Box of Frozen Spinach (thawed)
1 Packet of Ranch
Mix Greek Yogurt, Spinach, and Ranch Packet together.

Serve with Pita Chips 

Let's be honest. Not everyone can completely revamp their eating habits in one day. The thought can be overwhelming and I think it sometimes prevents people from starting that journey to change their lifestyle.  But I have good news for you!  You don't have to start eating clean, cold turkey (unless you want to).  Start by making small changes... eventually those small changes will lead to bigger changes...and that will lead you to a habit that becomes your lifestyle!

For example, instead of using sour cream in a recipe, replace the sour cream with plain Greek yogurt.  Trust me... it tastes great! Try the Spinach Dip Recipe that I've posted above.  I made it recently for my hubby and his friends for their Friday night card game.  They all loved it and had no clue that it was made with Greek yogurt.   I call that a win!  I know that it wasn't completely clean, but I felt much better serving that than a dip made with a whole container of sour cream.

Changing eating habits should be a lifestyle change...NOT a diet!  Make swaps that  you feel comfortable with.  Find things that you like.  And always try new things!  I make a point to try new recipes all the time.  Some are winners.  Some are  not.  But I don't know unless I try!  In fact, this Summer, I tried using spaghetti squash instead of pasta and made pizza crust out of cauliflower rather than using pizza dough.  Both were fantastic (and again hubby approved... which is my way of determining recipe success)!

Here are some examples of other food swaps you can make:

GET RID OF:                   SWAP WITH:      
White Rice                        Brown Rice or Quinoa
Coffe Creamer                  Unsweetend Almond Milk
Mayo                                 Avocado
Sugary Drinks/Soda          Water
Ground Beef                     Ground Turkey
Regular Peanut Butter      Natural Peanut Butter (only ingredient is peanuts)
Chips                               Fresh Cut Veggies, Zucchini Chips (recipe in my blog)
Pasta                                 Spaghetti Squash

TurboFire Chili... A recipe to welcome you to Fall!

Most people in my life are pretty excited that Fall is here.  I wish I could share in the excitement.  I'm a Summer lover hands down.  Fall just reminds me that in a few months, I will be suffering through another cold, blustery winter here in Central PA.  Even though Fall brings cool days, gorgeous backdrops and fall festivals, I always picture the white stuff that I'm about to endure.   I dread the snow shoveling, ice scraping, and dark days...not to mention the white knuckle driving on icy roadways.  With that being said, the upcoming months are when people turn to comfort food.  That's why I love this TurboFire Chili recipe.  It gives you that feeling that comfort food gives you, but it's good for you!  It's one of my favorite recipes and it's hubby approved!

Turbo Fire Chili Recipe

1 lb lean ground turkey
1/2 cup diced tomatoes
8oz whole kernel corn, canned
1/2 onion, diced
2 garlic cloves
8oz black beans, canned
8oz pinto, chili, or kidney beans, canned
1tbsp tomato paste (I tend to use a little more)
1 pkg Lawrey's Chili seasoning
4 oz low-fat shredded cheddar cheese (optional)

Brown turkey. Drain and discard any fat. Place all ingredients except cheese into a slow cooker. Cook for 4 hours on low, or 2 hours on high. Top with 1 oz. cheese, if desired.

Dear Scale.... I hate you....

I break up with my scale frequently...VERY frequently.  We definitely have a love/hate relationship, although hate/hate relationship may be more fitting.  To tell you the truth, I haven't stepped on the scale in months and I have no intention of getting on it any time soon.

I'm sure many of you can relate.  You start out strong.  Workouts are going great.  You are making great food choices.  And the next thing you  know, you are down 2 pounds!  SCORE!!  That just motivates you even more.  The following week is just as good and you are down another few pounds.  All goes well like this for awhile until one day you step on that scale and it tells you that you've gained 5 pounds.  WHAT THE... (you fill in the blank)!  You step off the scale and then step back on... maybe your feet placement was wrong... yes... that's it!  So you re-position when you step back on.  NO CHANGE (like moving your toe a half an inch was really going to make a difference)!  Well... maybe the settings are  messed up or the battery needs changed.  So you flip it over, mess around with some buttons, maybe even change the battery, feeling sure that the results will now be better.  WRONG!  In your mind,  you keep saying, "This can't be right!".  Enter in the panic and a whole mix of other emotions... frustration, the overwhelming feeling that you are going to cry (and if you're me, you probably do), anger, and so many more.

The truth is that I can't handle the up and down roller coaster that is my weight.  I've dealt with it my whole life and it overwhelms me.  The scale ruins my self esteem and causes me to just head straight for the pizza and ice cream when it doesn't show me what I want to see.  I say to myself, "What's the point?!".  My mind starts racing and I conjure up all of these reasons why it's stupid for me to continue getting up at 4 am to workout.  I tell myself that I might as well eat those wings that are staring me in the face.  I mean... I'm just going to gain weight anyway, right?  WRONG!

I'm not perfect at eating and I'm not perfect at working out.  But I did promise myself to do my best at living a healthy lifestyle.  That's why I can't give up... and this is why the scale and I have broken up.  Honestly, when the scale blares that big red number at me, I swear it blinks the word "FAT" "FAT" "FAT" and I don't need that in my life.  I stay focused on my future when I stay away from that evil scale, so that's the best option for me.  I don't need a constant reminder that I haven't reached my goal yet. I already know that. Let's be honest.  If you had a friend that came to your house everyday, told you what a loser you were, and made you feel bad about yourself, you would get rid of them, right?  Well that's how I feel about my scale. We have a bad relationship, so I've eliminated it from my life...for now.

Many will argue that you need to see what progress you are making and that you need to use the scale to measure it.  To a point, I agree.  Yes... the scale is one way to measure.  I wholeheartedly believe that you need to weigh yourself for a starting point and check back periodically.  But I also think that stepping on the scale daily and obsessing over that number is bad.  There are other ways to measure.  Inches lost.  Clothing fitting differently. Overall feeling of getting stronger and healthier each day.

So, yes, the scale and I will get back together someday.  But for now, I'm just focusing on making myself healthier and stronger.  I'm making healthy food choices and I'm making a point to stay on track with my workouts.  And that's good enough for me. Everyone is different, so do what works best for you.  Ultimately, it's your journey...no one else's.

Zucchini Lasagna

One of my husband's favorites meals is my lasagna.  Even when he and I weren't clean eaters, I would hesitate to make this meal because I knew how terrible all of the cheesy, gooey-goodness was for us!  I would limit our lasagna intake to about 2 times a year, one of those times being his birthday. Every year on his birthday, I tell my husband that I will cook him anything that he wants... and every year, he chooses lasagna.  With that being said, I hesitated to make this "healthier" version of lasagna.  Even when I mentioned it to  him,  he definitely didn't seem sold on the idea and I swear I saw him wrinkle his nose a little bit!  I checked out a bunch of different recipes and did a little research.  Most people gave it a two thumbs up, so I figured I would give it a whirl. Hey... you don't know unless you try, right?

In the end, this recipe was a winner!  My husband told me twice that it was good and even offered to eat the leftovers tomorrow night so I didn't have to cook again.  SUCCESS!  If it's hubby approved, then you know it's good!

So here's what you will need:

1 lb ground turkey
1/2 chopped onion
1 Jar clean pasta sauce (no sugar added)
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp basil
1/4 tsp garlic powder
sea salt and black pepper to taste
16 oz cottage cheese or ricotta cheese
1 cup mozzarella cheese
3 medium zucchinis

Cut zucchini into thin slices lengthwise. I read a lot of reviews that stated that their zucchini lasagna was runny because of the water in the zucchini itself.  After slicing the zucchini, I laid the slices out on a baking sheet covered with paper towels.  I then covered the top with paper towels and placed a heavy item on top in an effort to get some of the water out prior to baking.  You can also grill the slices as well to remove some of the water.

In a large skillet, cook ground turkey and onion until meat is cooked through.

 Drain. Add pasta sauce and spices.

Layer zucchini, meat sauce, cottage cheese and repeat.  Top final layer with mozzarella cheese.

Cover and bake at 375 degrees for approximately 50 minutes .  Remove cover and bake an additional 10 minutes to brown cheese.

I was so excited to try it that I forgot to take a picture of what the finished product looked like!  It actually looked exactly like my "regular" lasagna if that helps!  

One Foot In Front of The Other

It's amazing what you will agree to when you've had a few beverages of the alcohol persuasion.  Things that you would never even remotely consider become the best idea you've ever heard in your entire life.  You start shaking your head up and down with a passionate intensity saying, "Yes, Yes, Yes!!"  You know where this is going, right?

Let me set the scene.  Sunny afternoon.  College friends reunited again.  Tailgating in a parking lot for hours. I'm pretty sure that I would have agreed to anything at that point.  So, when my friend suggested that we all start training for a half marathon, I quickly and enthusiastically replied, "Absolutely!  I'll start training tomorrow!"  Maybe not a big deal for someone who runs, but let's clarify that I am anything BUT a runner. In fact, I couldn't even run a mile in high school when I weighed a little over 100 pounds.  I dreaded those Presidential Fitness Challenges that they held every year in high school, because... let's face it... the gym teacher wasn't going to let me quit until I made my four rounds around that track.  I'm sure she would have stood there all day waiting for me to finish!  But I digress...

Anyway, I'm always someone who stays true to my word.  I made a promise to run a  half marathon in two years, so now I need to get to work.  I got up the gumption to go to the gym today and run three miles.  I swore to myself that I wouldn't leave that treadmill until my three miles were in.  Let me tell you, it wasn't easy and it took me about 40 minutes to do it, but I got it done.  I'm pretty sure my face was beet red, sweat was pouring off of me, and I looked like I was about ready to die (and Lord knows I felt like I was going to die).

As I was running, I was thinking, "This is crazy... you're not a runner... you'll never be able to do this".  And then I pushed all of those negative thoughts from my mind.  "Why NOT me!?".  The only person stopping me from doing this is myself!  Everyone starts somewhere and this is where I'm starting.  So I turned up my music, increased the speed on the treadmill, and kept going... one step at a time.

Today I realized that you have to start somewhere...everyone does.  And if you don't start something, you will never finish.  I also realized that doing something worthwhile is never easy and it takes hard work and determination.  Let's face it, if it were that easy, everyone would be doing it.  So don't be afraid to start.  Don't talk yourself out of something that will be worth it in the end.  Just start... one foot in front of the other... and you will eventually reach your destination.

Cupcake Interrupted....

I bet you are wondering why I named my blog, "Burpees and Baked Goods".  It seems kind of silly to have "Baked Goods" in the name of a fitness blog!  But the truth is that the title represents my love/hate relationship with food and fitness.  I LOVE food... especially baked goods... cupcakes, pie, cake, doughnuts, chocolate... the list goes on and on...and on... and on!  Did I mention that I LOVE these items??!!  Doesn't seem to go hand-in-hand with someone who is trying desperately to lose weight and get in shape!  But I've learned that I can have these things in moderation.  I just can't have them everyday.  It doesn't mean that I don't look longingly at them when I go past them in the grocery store... in fact, there may be a little drool on my chin if you look close enough.

And then on the flip-side... let's talk about my hate for burpees!  Do you know what they are?  Have you ever tried them?  If you don't know what they are, Google them now!  I feel like I am flailing my body onto the ground only to try and get back up again.  How the heck do the people in my workout videos get up SOOOO fast??  I used to chuckle at the contestants on the Biggest Loser when they would complain about burpees.  I mean, they didn't look so hard! "Suck it up", I would say!  Fast forward to me and my burpee adventure.  WOW!  I have literally stood during the segments of my workouts where they were doing burpees.  And...shhhh... don't tell Chalene and Shaun T, but there have been instances were I pushed the fast forward button so I didn't have to come to grips with the fact that I was giving up and being a quitter.  With that being said, I've been working hard to master the burpee.  I'm not fast, but I don't quit, and I'm better than when I started.

So I guess the moral of the story is that you have to take it day by day.  You will slowly learn to cut back on the "baked goods" that you shouldn't be eating and you will get better at the "burpees" that seem so difficult.  It's a constant struggle everyday for me, but I see myself making progress and that's something to be proud of!  Maybe someday when I'm feeling a little braver, I'll even post a video of me and my burpees, but let's save that for a later date.   I'm not ready to make my comedic debut just yet.

What my blog is about...

I've struggled with weight my whole life.  Lost weight.  Gained weight.  Lost weight.  Gained weight.  It's the most frustrating thing to go through, and I know there are millions of people out there just like  me.  I've been jealous of those who can eat whatever they want and don't seem to gain an ounce of weight... but let me just look at a french fry and I swear I gain five pounds! I've done it all... tried pills, stopped eating carbs, exercised like a maniac... the list goes on.  So trust me, I've been there, done that. 

I finally found something that works and I'm hoping I can help others who share the same frustrations that I do.  Through the use of Beachbody workouts, Shakeology, and Clean eating, I'm finally down a path where I've been successful at losing weight and getting fit.  I still have quite a journey in front of me but I know I can help you get started on your own journey! 

Follow my blog for updates on my journey, recipes, and tips on clean eating!