Get Creative!

For some reason today I am thinking about food.  Actually, I guess that's not all that different from most days.  I love to eat and I love to eat good food!  The funny thing is that I really don't enjoy being in the kitchen....I think it's the clean up that makes me sad.  But, I have a family that seems to be forever needing a meal which puts me in the kitchen regardless of my feelings about the dishes.  This also means that I have to find things that I can feed them.  I have to say, sometimes I just feel stumped.  I can fix something for dinner that I think is the most amazing meal ever and they all just say, "eh, it's alright."  However, every now and then, I strike gold!  Thanks to Pinterest and my many clean eating cook books and magazines, we have a sweet little collection of yummy dinners that keep the family happy and healthy!  My advice to anyone out there with picky eaters is to just keep trying new things, get creative, and don't give up.  We have had some real flops in this kitchen of mine and yet they still allow me to use them as my taste testers the next time....probably because no one else wants the job. I found this gem on Pinterest from an amazing site and it is a clean comfort dish that everyone enjoyed and I had to get to the leftovers before anyone else!  It is pretty easy and just delicious!!! Seems like the perfect dish for all of this snowy weather!  Enjoy.

 http://www.heandsheeatclean.com/2014/03/savory-clean-gluten-free-paleo-chicken-casserole.html
 Ingredients:
2 c cooked shredded chicken
1.5 c butternut squash, peeled and cubed
1/2 c coconut cream (skimmed off of the top of a can of coconut milk)
2 Tbsp coconut oil, melted
1.25 c green peas (if using frozen, thaw prior to adding to recipe)
1 TBSP apple cider vinegar
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp onion powder

Directions:

1. If you have not pre-prepared your chicken, place chicken in an additional pot of boiling water for 40 minutes. Remove from heat, strain and shred chicken using forks or a stand mixer.

2. Meanwhile, soften cubed and peeled butternut squash in a large pot of boiling water for approximately 40 minutes. Remove butternut squash from pot using a strainer and place in a large bowl. Using a potato masher, mash butternut squash to a smooth, but somewhat chunky texture.

2. Add apple cider vinegar, sea salt, garlic powder, black pepper, oregano, thyme and onion powder to the mashed butternut squash and stir to combine.

3. Add coconut creme and oil, stirring to combine.

4. Stir in coconut oil, coconut creme, shredded chicken and green peas.

5. Place mixture in a large skillet and cook for approximately 8-10 minutes on medium heat.

Recipe makes 4 servings.

Mets per Serving

Calories: 325

Protein: 25g

Carbs: 15g

Fat: 18g

Beachbody On Demand!!!

Hey Hey my awesome blog readers!  I hope you are having an amazing Friday! I'm sitting down to do my post of the day and I'm really excited about some new things that are coming down the pike on not just the Dream Team but in Team Beachbody as a whole.  Beachbody is about to launch an entirely new program next week and I wanted to share the details with you!!!   So it's called Beachbody On Demand and it is the ability to instantly stream any workout in the Beachbody Digital library to your laptop, tablet, or mobile device- wherever you have an internet connection!  Plus you can get digital versions of the program guides and workout calendars, so you can start getting results today!  The digital library will be updated monthly with fresh workouts and different programs, so you never run out of the on the go options.  All you need is literally an internet connection!  How cool is that!  Seriously I am like a little kid in a candy store, I'm that excited!  
 

  So On Demand is perfect for people who have what I call workout ADD- defined as the person who cannot start and finish a workout program but bounces all over the place and likes to do different workouts everyday!  I am NOT this type of person.  I totally thrive on starting and finishing a workout program and following it to the T. But I have so many friends and family who love to switch around one day doing Turbofire, the next doing Chalean Extreme or 21 Day Fix!  Well now this gives you that option.  

                                         http://beachbodycoach.com/esuite/home/dawnstern?bctid=3978549615001

This is also perfect for people who travel a lot and don't want to pack the DVDs and are worried about having a way to play the workouts.  With On Demand you can play the workouts from your ipad, iphone or other device!  You can take your P90X workout to the gym and do it at the gym or you can hit up a spare room and bust out some Insanity!  This makes life so much easier to stay fit!  It works! YAY! You might also like On Demand if you are trying to maintain your fitness results and want to try other workouts.  So you can sample different workouts to keep your body guessing and always in the fat burning mode!   So what's the scoop:  How do you get it and how much does it cost?  Believe me those are always the things that I personally wonder as well. So on Monday March 2nd Beachbody On Demand will be available to every Team Beachbody Customer that has the club membership.  The club membership is our all access pass to a plethora of amazing tools to truly help you get great results.  I honestly love that Beachbody doesn't just give you a bag of powder AKA Shakeology and a box of DVDS and tell you GOOD LUCK!  They match you up with the best coaches, a community of support (challenge groups and if you aren't in one ask your coach about one) and an online site with meal planners, recipes, tips and tools to help you start and complete an entire program and BONUS actually get the results you were hoping to get!  Lets face it.... transforming your body and your habits is just stinking hard!  It takes will power and want power! It takes doing it anyways even on the days that you do not feel like it!  It takes making good choices when its so much easier to just make bad choices.  So the club membership gives you all of those things!  You get the club membership by contacting your current Beachbody coach and asking how you can upgrade to the club or you can contact me if you do not have a coach and I can walk you through the steps to get the club membership.  

How much does it cost?  Well the club membership is $2.99 a week but it is billed quarterly at $38.87.  You can cancel or change it at any time.  You are not locked into the club for a specific period of time.  So that is definitely nice that you don't have to sign a contract.  There is no additional cost to stream the workouts.  When you get the club membership you INSTANTLY have access to the customized meal planning feature, that has a printable grocery list, it allows you to customize and note if you have food allergies or don't like certain foods, you get access to celebrity trainer chats and support groups.  Most importantly you get a coach like me who will connect you to our support and accountability groups AKA challenge groups to help you set realistic goals for you, match you up with the correct program for your needs and keep you accountable to what  you want to accomplish.  Ohhh I almost forgot to tell you that with the club membership you also get 10% off all Beachbody Products and programs including Shakeology, supplements, pre and post workout, ect.... SWEET!!!

What workouts are included in the Beachbody On Demand?

• P90X base and deluxe kits
• P90X2 base and deluxe kits
• P90X3 Base and Deluxe Kids
• P90X one on one volume 1
• Insanity Base and Deluxe Kits
• Insanity:  The Asylum Volume 1
• Turbofire
• Brazil Butt Lift Base and Deluxe Kits
• ChaLean Extreme
• 10 Minute Trainer
• Hip Hop Abs

You also get an insider "sneak peak" of the new releases, so you can can sample a workout before you buy the DVD program.

• 21 Day Fix Total Body Cardio Fix
• 21 Day Fix Extreme Plyo Fix Extreme
• Piyo sweat
• Focus T25 Alpha Cardio
• Insanity Max 30 Sweat Intervals
• Body Beast Build Chest and Tris
• P90 Sculpt A

New workouts will be added to continue the variety!  

If you already have the club membership then on Monday March 2nd when you log into your account you will have access to this program.

Ok so the really really cool part is this!  You can also get the club membership and Shakeology in the form of a challenge pack starting on March 2nd as well.  So if you want to get both Shakeology and the club membership you have this option!  It gives you Shakeology for 30 days and access to on demand for 90 days!  $140.00 is the cost and there is $2 shipping so its much less than the $15 of a regular bag of Shakeology shipping!  You have 90 days to be in my customer support and accountability group, get 1:1 support and decide if this is right for you!

So if you are interested in trying out on Demand you can join me on March 2nd for an exclusive On Demand challenge group! For 90 Days you pick the workout program (I can help with this too) and you commit to replacing 1 meal a day with Shakeology and my commitment to you is that I am going to teach you how to plan your meals, give you snack ideas, recipes, tips, and help you truly get that body ready for the warmer weather! Does this sound like something you would like to do????

Then its go time!!!  Don't wait! Get into my On Demand Group today!

Complete the application below to be considered for this group!!!

 Check it out by following this link!

http://beachbodycoach.com/esuite/home/dawnstern?bctid=3978549615001 
 

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I Am Still Here!

Well, it has been a very long time since I added anything to my blog.  There is no tragic reason or inspiring story behind it other than I just felt like I had run out of things to say.  Life just rolled on by day after day and it seemed that there was really nothing new going on.  I had a lovely holiday

season, which included lots of yummy food and lack of consistent workouts.  It's the same old story.  I also lost my old Facebook account and had to start from scratch which left me feeling oddly disconnected for some reason.  All of my challengers and friends who told me what an inspiration my posts were had vanished from my life for a time.  It has been crazy trying to find everyone again, but I have kept at it.  After January 1st hit, it has been time to get serious and back into the routine.  So, here I am,  now 7 weeks into 2015 and I finally feel like I am there!  I can't tell you why it has been so rough.  I thought I was tired of the 21 Day Fix, so I tried a few other programs, but really couldn't
get into it.  All that being said, I have decide that Autumn and the 21 Day Fix have my heart!  I am back at it and feeling wonderful.  It has variety each day and challenges me, yet I am done in 30 minutes....Hallelujah!!!  I have even gotten my hubby to join me and now he even does it without me.  Awesome-sauce!  Needless to say, we are feeling fit and loving it.  Our kiddos are wanting

to workout and often challenge the little momma to fitness tests...which I can still win every now and then, by the way.  Although I have had some trying times and not felt the best lately, my advice to anyone and everyone is to keep it up.  I have forced myself through on those down days and even though it didn't solve my issues, it released my happy feelings for awhile.  The point is, keep going.  Don't give up and don't let your head talk you out of a good workout and into horrible food choices day after day.  There is nothing worse than thinking you feel bad and skipping here and cheating there and then one day putting on your favorite jeans and realizing they are now tight or worse, don't fit you again.  DON'T DO IT!  I beg you!  It's not worth the sadness you will feel after all the work, to go backwards.  It will get better and you will find your motivation again...just stick to it.  I have tried new things and new recipes and feel like I am on the down hill slope from a couple months of climbing uphill.  Life is good, God is better!  I will be setting up a Spring in Fitness Challenge starting in March if anyone would like to join me, I would love to have you!

Day After Day

It seems crazy that we have already made it to November!  Just yesterday, I was getting the kids school supplies in order and reeling from a wild summer.  The days march on by whether we are using them wisely or not, I guess. That brings me to the point of today's post.  All of these days that pass are a tool for us, as new start and a way to find success.  It is with each new day that we have a choice to make.  Lately, my choices have consisted of staying true to my workouts, but truly missing the mark with my eating.  It has a way of piling up and suddenly I have found myself totally addicted to the sugary junk that I had gained victory over only a few months ago.

I look at each day as a gift that God gives us and it is up to us how we are going to glorify Him with it.  Although, health and fitness is just a small piece of the puzzle of life, I know it matters.  God has given us our bodies and we are to treat them as the temples that there are.  If you question if good health matters, ask someone who doesn't have it.  I have gone back and forth with myself wondering if all of the time and effort I have put into my coaching with Beachbody and the posts and even the workouts and worrying about what I eat is really important or just superficial and vain.  My conclusion has been this; while some people do it all for vanity, I have chosen to look at it differently.  Yes, I want to look good in my favorite jeans and see that baby belly get a bit smaller, but I also want to keep myself in check.  I don't do all of this just for a size on my clothes or a nice comment from a friend.  I do it because I do think it glorifies God to take care of myself.  Those times when I become lazy and stagnant in my sweats just leaves me with a feeling of unrest. (Even though I was getting plenty!)  I get the same feeling when I don't take care of my house the way I should or I let the dishes get out of control.  I am not being a good steward of the blessing God has bestowed on me.

It is in those moments that I cannot feel at peace with my Lord until I do what I need to to be in complete obedience with Him.   It is right there in Proverbs 31 for me to read and remind myself of what I am capable of and what I must strive for each and every day.  And yes, it says ..."her arms are strong for her tasks" v.17b.  This doesn't necessarily mean I have to be a body builder momma, my husband would really not enjoy that.  But, I do need to keep myself healthy and able to do the things that are required and needed of me from my family.  I tell you this, there is no greater joy on this earth for me than taking care of my home and my family.  It is what I am here to do and I praise God everyday that I get to do it.  It isn't glamorous or rewarded with great fanfare, but it is the best job in the world.  I can't think of a better reason to take care of myself!

So as the days continue to pass with each sunrise and sunset, think about why you are or aren't taking care of yourself.  How do you feel and what can you do about it?  I am just a mom who is striving to be her best and I would love to help you on your journey as well.  I don't have all of the answers, but I just keep learning as I go.  If you would like to be part of my next challenge group to create new habits or harvest the ones you have already created, fill out the application below and let me walk through your journey with you.

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Chocolate Protein Granola

I think it's about high time for another great recipe!  I found this one on Ripped Recipes, but modified it slightly.  It looked amazing and it truly delivered.  It is really hard to find a protein bar that doesn't have a bunch of added junk in them, even cereal has a lot of "strange" ingredients sometimes. 

These were meant to be bars, but mine ended up a little dryer and crunchier, so I just called it granola.  It is FABULOUS! 

Ingredients:
*1/4 cup Honey
*1 egg
*1 Tbsp cinnamon
*1 Tbsp cocoa powder
*1 scoop Chocolate Shakeology
*3/4 cup shredded coconut
*2 cups rolled oats

Directions:
Mix 2 cups of rolled oats and 1/2 cup shredded coconut (I toasted it in the oven for a few minutes to give it a toasted taste), 1 scoop chocolate Shakeology, drizzled unsweetened cocoa powder and cinnamon in a bowl.  In a separate bowl mix 1 egg, 1/4 cup of honey.  Start pouring in the dry mixture little by little until all of it is moist.  Toss back onto cookie sheet and spray with olive oil.  Pack it down and put in oven for about 20 minutes at 350.  Keep an eye on it, it will harden and burn quickly.  After about 15 minutes, sprinkle the remaining coconut on top and bake for the last 5 minutes.  Let cool. 
*Hint - the longer you bake it, the crunchier it gets!  It all depends on your crunch preference.   I ate mine out of the jar, but you could sprinkle it on top of some Greek yogurt and YUMMY in the TUMMY! 

It's Not ALL Bad

I have made a few posts in the past with my "before" and "after" pictures that mostly I can see a difference in.  While it is true that I have never had a real problem with being terribly overweight, I have had three babies and had to work to get back to feeling like myself after each one.  I am proud of the fact that I am in better shape now than I was in high school.  All of that being said, I had to step back and look at this whole "transformation" thing from a different perspective. 

My husband saw this picture that I posted on Facebook awhile back and was really upset by it.  At first I thought he was just being critical until he explained.....he has seen all of my posts and grand excitement about being down this many pounds and so many inches and he is very happy for me.  What upset him about this picture in particular was the fact that he liked me just the way I was in ALL of the pictures!  He said I have always been his cute little wife and it never mattered to him what the tape measure or the scale or the size of my jeans said. 

I think it is worth noting that sometimes we are our own worst critics and our loved ones that see us everyday don't care if we went up or down a size, they just love us because of who we are.  I really appreciated my husband's kind words and admiration about what I considered my "before" pictures as well as what I see as my "after".  He is thrilled with the progress and dedication I have made to making myself a healthy and fit momma mostly because it makes me happy.  The truth be told, "If momma is happy, so is everybody else!" 

So, I say, keep going and setting goals for yourself, but don't discount the fact that you are loved just the way you are!

Sweet Tooth Sally

If you are like me, you have a sweet tooth.  Sometimes I just can't help myself.  Unfortunately, that does not lend itself to helping me on my fitness journey.  After LOTS of searching and experimenting, I have come up with a list of 5 snacks to curb that sweet tooth without blowing all of my hard work. 

1. Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

These are easy and quick and you can make just enough to enjoy without going overboard.

2. Frozen Chocolate Banana Bites

 Just slice up a banana, dunk in dark chocolate and place on wax paper in the freezer....yummy!

3. Fresh Fruit

 Sometimes a sweet piece of juicy fruit is all it takes...you can also try freezing your grapes!  They make a great and refreshing snack.


4. Dark Chocolate - more that 70% cacao

The great thing about this is that you only need a tiny amount to really feel fulfilled when a craving hits.

5. Chocolate Milk

This is also a great post workout drink.


These are just some of my favorites that I indulge myself with occasionally.  It is next to impossible to stay on track with a "diet" that doesn't allow for some treats now and then.  These are not a regular part of my meal plan, but it is nice to know that I can have something sweet without derailing my progress entirely.  (Funny how all but one are involving chocolate!)  Happy sweet tooth snacking!

"Everything in moderation." 

If you would like more help getting yourself on the right track with diet and exercise, fill out the application below and I will walk beside you in your own journey!

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