The 21 Day What?

Many of you have seen my posts about my latest fitness adventure.  It is called the 21 Day Fix and it is AWESOME!  Another quality program from Beachbody!

The program is not just a quick fix as the title might imply, but it maps out nutrition and exercise for you step by step.  The concept behind it is that it takes 21 days to form a habit.  Therefore, sticking with celebrity trainer and national bikini competitor, Autumn Calabrese, will help you to form healthy habits that will last a lifetime.
The workouts are all just 30 minutes (everybody has 30 minutes) and the meal plan is simple and straight forward.  The programs comes with containers that are color coded and sized according to food groups. Once you figure out your calorie intake for the day, you just eat the assigned amount of containers.  Before you know it, you don't even have to think about what and when and how much to eat.  Drinking Shakeology everyday

just make it that much easier. I am just coming to the end of my first round and have thoroughly enjoyed the process.  I am starting to see changes in my body that I never thought possible.

Round 2 is definitely in order.  The 21 Day Fix takes the guess work out of planning and it gives you AMAZING results.  Anyone can this for 21 days!  Who's ready for the challenge?  Fill out my application to be in my July 21st online challenge group.  Results in your future!

http://beachbodycoach.com/esuite/home/dawnstern?bctid=3124709772001
 

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How and What to Plan

Here is where you can find practically all of my knowledge about meal planning. I tend to be a creature of habit, so I have the things that I like and just rotate them into my day as I need to.

Meal Plan

It is very important when exercising and trying to lose weight that you eat 5-6 small meals per day. This helps you to keep your blood sugar levels steady. It also helps your body maintain its muscle mass and fuels your body for your daily activities. Always eat breakfast within 1 hour of rising! And more importantly ALWAYS EAT BREAKFAST! Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It starts your metabolism and gets your body ready for the activities you have to do during the day. If you are not losing weight it could be because you are not eating a healthy breakfast with complex carbs and protein.  This was a huge deal for me, but now I can't go without it and I have seen the huge difference it makes.
Also, make sure you always pair complex carbs and protein at every meal. I recommend Tosca Reno's Eat Clean Recharged Book! She really explains the entire history and science behind eating clean and why you should pair your foods strategically together to get the results that you want!

Breakfast

My breakfast menus don't vary too terribly much. I have my favorites, and that's what I stick with. It is always one of these along with my cup a joe and organic half & half:

- Shakeology - usually just 12oz. of water and my flavor for the day.

- 5 egg whites, scrambled along with 1/2 cup oatmeal topped with frozen blueberries and almond milk. I usually add some cinammon and sometimes a little liquid stevia to the oats before I cook them. I also put organic salsa on my egg whites to spice them up a bit. If I don't want to make oatmeal, I will have a piece of organic multi-grain toast with my whites.

Snacks

My snack follows breakfast by about 2 1/2 hours. I have been eating on a schedule for so long now that my stomach starts telling me it's time to eat without even having to look at the time. These are the snacks I choose from.

- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt w/ berries and a touch of honey

- 2 Tbsp. Jalapeno Greek yogurt dip ( I like Skotidakis brand from Costco) w/ snap peas, cucumbers, or carrots

- 1/2 cup cottage cheese w/ berries or mango chunks

- a small apple with either 2 Tbsp. natural peanut butter or 8 cashews

- 1 protein bar (just watch the ingredients on these for weird things)

Lunch

Lunch is where I really have to be prepared or my day can fall apart pretty quickly. I try to prep some of these in advance for a quick and easy choice.

- piece of grilled chicken on a salad. I add every veggie I have in the fridge. Carrots, cucumber, tomatoes, peppers, feta cheese or fresh parmesan, slivered almonds and low fat balsamic vinaigrette dressing (1tbsp).
Always drink a big glass of water!

- 4-6oz. of lean meat, like chicken, fish or lean beef paired with 1/2 sweet potato and lots of fresh veggies

- 3/4 cup black beans, heated and seasoned with homemade taco seasoning and 3/4 cup brown rice and veggies or salad

- 1/2 PB&J with natural peanut butter and no sugar added, organic jam (I do a whole with 2 slices multi-grain bread depending on my carb intake for the day) along with some fresh veggies like snap peas or cucumber slices

Afternoon Snack

I will pick something from my snack list. I do make sure not to have more than 2 servings of fruit a day if I am watching my sugar intake. On the days that I eat something other than Shakeology for breakfast, I will have it for the snack that follows my workout.

Dinner

Dinner is where I have to get creative. My family likes variety and will let me know when I have made the same thing too many times in a rotation. Generally speaking, these are my go-to recipes.

- Bruschetta Chicken (see my previous post), brown rice and green beans

- Pan Seared Pork Chops, sweet potatoes, and salad

- White Chili and salad


- Taco Salad (made with lean ground beef/turkey and homemade taco seasoning)

- Grilled Steak, oven roasted potatoes, and veggies or salad

If I am still hungry in the evenings I will have 1/2 cup greek yogurt with fresh fruit and a dab of honey or homemade popcorn made with coconut oil! Green tea to drink! Green tea has these awesome natural antioxidants that help to fight off hunger and shed your body of toxins!

http://www.teambeachbody.com/dawnstern

What is Clean Eating?

The term "clean eating" has gotten to be a normal phrase in America in the past few years.  It was coined by author of The Eat Clean Diet, Tosca Reno who wrote the book after making a whole lifestyle change at the age of 40.  The concept itself wasn't her idea, competition body builders and fitness models have been eating this way for years Our society, as a whole, got caught up in the easy and convenient (and lets face it, somewhat delicious) processed food in the boxes on the grocery store shelves.  Ms. Reno simply brought us back to basics.  Eating whole, foods in their most natural state.  Fresh veggies, lean cuts of meat, and breads and muffins made with the most natural ingredients.  When I first picked up her book I thought, "I could never give up all the foods that I love and just eat that stuff."  Little by little I started incorporated changes into my daily life.  I started reading labels and using her book and other resources as a guideline for what I would buy and fix my family.  The more I did it, the easier it became.  The more recipes I tried, the more I realized I wasn't going to be missing out on anything.  I definitely do have a 80/20 mentality, meaning I eat clean 80% of the time.  This is a good balance for me and lets me enjoy a meal or dessert at a restaurant without feeling like I am sabotaging my whole diet.  I know it's cliche, but it really isn't a diet, it is a lifestyle.  Here are a few of the principles of clean eating to maybe help simplify it.

By following these principles, it makes it easier to figure out what you should be looking for when eating.  It really is a very basic plan and not as complicated as some might think.  Now, here are some things to avoid when eating clean.  This also give a short summary of what NOT to eat. You will notice it is harder to "clean"  up your diet if you have a pantry full of boxed items and processed foods, but it can be done.  Trust me.  If you are going to work on your own diet first, then make sure you have lots of options on hand and at the ready.  This way, when the family is having nachos, you can have some popcorn made with coconut oil.  Or when they are all eating their candy treats from a holiday, you can enjoy a small piece of dark chocolate. 

After awhile, you don't even want those things anymore.  I have a bag of Doritoes in my pantry that I see every time I open the door, but it just doesn't even temp me anymore. (The Cheetos call my name more often.)  However, if you are going to jump in with both feet, then go for it.  My family eats healthier than they ever wanted to and they don't even know it!
If you would like to learn more about clean eating, meal planning and incorporate a workout into your daily life, fill out the application below and I will get YOU on the road to fit.

http://www.teambeachbody.com/dawnstern
 www.shakeology.com/dawnstern

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The Magic Pill

It seems that everyone who has any sort of health and fitness goal is constantly in search of the "magic pill."  That one thing that will be quick and easy and get them the results they've been wanting.  I am here to tell you that I have found it!  It may not be quick and it definitely isn't easy, but it will get you results.  It's called HARD WORK and DEDICATION.

 I must confess, I was one of those people.  I wanted to look perfect and fit in my jeans.  I wanted to have my cake and eat it too!  No long workouts, no depriving myself of the foods that I loved.  It wasn't until after starting my journey with Chalean Extreme that I started to appreciate all the hard work my body could handle.  I started really looking at what I was eating and taking it seriously for once.  Sure, I had been able to loose a few pounds and get back into my old jeans before.  The difference was that with the added effort of lifting weights and sticking to the principles of clean eating, I was seeing my body actually change.  I had muscles under all that softness!  It was amazing.  In one of the workouts, Chalene actually says, "I've got your magic pill right here baby!"  You know what?  I believe she is right.  There is nothing I have found quite as satisfying, personally, than accomplishing the full 90 days of a workout program.  Being able to cross off one workout after another and watching the inches on the measuring tape go down month after month.  My "magic pill" has allowed me to loose 10 pounds and 20 inches since January!  Who knew?!  Now, let's be honest, am I striving for perfection?  No.  What I am striving for is a healthy, fit and toned body that will allow me the joy and freedom to enjoy life. This does, however,  include finding a pair of jeans that fit me right!

 It's all about telling yourself you are going to do something and actually doing it.  So, are you ready to take your magic pill?  I believe  that we all have the ability to do it, but will we?
My next online challenge group starts July 21, be brave and see what happens!

http://www.teambeachbody.com/dawnstern

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Always Be Prepared

Another weekend has come and almost gone. That's means another busy week is ahead of us. This is the time when I start making my decision about how the week will go. I look at my schedule and figure out when I will get my workouts in, if not in the morning and what I will be eating. Now, this has not always been easy for me. In fact, I have been called "spontaneous, to a fault." What? Whoever heard of such a thing. It's true that being a fly by the seat of your pants kind of gal is not good for you if you are trying to fuel your body properly. Eating whatever and whenever doesn't really work out too well. In fact, just recently, I had a day of doing just that. I didn't get my workout in that morning and had to do it later in the day. But after eating whatever looked good (homemade chocolate chip cookies) for a snack and not getting any sort of protein at lunch, my afternoon workout was a total bomb! It was horrible, I could barely make it through the warm up. As if I didn't know it before, it was crystal clear to me at that moment that what I eat and when I eat was extremely important to my success to be fit and healthy. So, in true list maker fashion, I started making lists. I have a list for what I need to get done today, a list of jobs to do this week, a list for ideas, a list for everything I can imagine, so why not one for my eating habits. And guess what happens if I do something that's not on the list....yes, I add it so I can cross it off. My desk and nightstand and fridge and purse are covered with lists. Even though my phone could easily hold all of my listing needs. So today, I will sit down and plan all of my meals, prepare some things that require prep and plan out my schedule. It is truly necessary. With the 21 Day Fix, I know exactly how much of each food group I get and when I should eat them for optimal fuel. I can't lie,it is fun for me to sit down with my sharpies of all colors and make my menu on paper first, then I can use googledocs to put it in my computer. This comes in handy when I have exhausted my brain and can't think of menu ideas. Everything is color coded and so pretty. Here is what I came up with. Nothing too fancy, but it takes the guesswork out of figuring it out when I am in a hurry. I can print it out, put it on the fridge and look at it whenever I need to.

Little changes over time, plus consistency, equals big rewards. To join a group that will walk with you step by little step to gain big rewards, fill out the form below and achieve the success you've been striving for.

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I Get So Emotional, Baby

It's lots of fun being a girl. We get to have cute clothes and wear make up and do our nails. But there is also a downside. We all know what I am talking about. Sad days for us. We get bloated, depressed and irritable. This could happen at any time, anywhere. But with this a lot of times comes the emotional eating. We turn to food. I am not really sure why. In my family, food was at the forefront of everything. That's what it seemed our life revolved around. Why not? Food is good! In fact, it is still my favorite part of the day...mealtime! I love food. My problem is, I love to eat. I eat when the weather is nice, when I am happy, when I am bored, when I am stressed, when I am depressed, when I am angry.... I just eat. This is something that I still struggle with daily. Food is always on my mind for one reason or another. Just like most girls, I love to shop. My mom and I used to make a day trip out of shopping. With that always came a yummy meal somewhere and on the way home, a treat. It was fun and we just loved it. This is still my happy time eating. The sun is shining, the weather is beautiful, I may be feeling cute and so I want to treat myself. But now that I am trying to make better choices, it is hard to "treat" myself and still feel good about my decisions at the end of the day. I am learning that eating doesn't have to determine how I feel and my feelings don't have to determine how I eat. I have found better options to allow myself to "indulge" in when I am shopping. Iced coffee, no sweetener, just cream is something that I absolutely love. It is not perfectly clean or perfectly healthy but I can sip on one of those for 2 days! I feel like I am getting a treat and it makes my happy emotional self even happier.

My other big downfall to emotional eating is right before payday, when we are down to the bare minimum. I tend to excuse myself from eating right and just eat whatever is left in the pantry. Remember, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Well that is when it happens to me the most. All my fresh veggies and fruit have been eaten and we are out of all of the "good" stuff. I have had to get really creative and make sure I always have some staples around or I just fall apart. My plan goes out the window. When I am stressed, depressed, or angry is when things can get really ugly. That is when I can hardly rationalize in my brain what I should do vs. what I want. That is when the ice cream and hot fudge come out. The problem is, I just feel worse afterwards. It has been known to happen on occasion, but I am getting a grip on this one as well. I know how much worse I feel afterwards, so maybe I just have a small piece of dark chocolate or I go look at Pinterest for awhile, just to get myself in a different state of mind. Sometimes, when I am really upset, I clean. That always works out well. Things get pretty and I feel so much better when I am done. That is a win/win right there. The point of all of this is that it happens to all of us. No matter what your triggers are or what you reach for, there is always a better option. Read a book, take a walk, clean out your car, ect., ect. Don't beat yourself up over it, just choose to do better next time. If I can do it, you can do it! If you would like support in your journey to become a healthier you, become part of my next challenge group. We will address emotional eating and so much more! Fill out my form and we will get you on your way!

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Best Ever Sloppy Joes - Cleaned Up

I don't know about you, but I absolutely LOVE Sloppy Joes.  They are one of those things that always taste good and just about everyone enjoys.  We had them at just about every family gathering growing up and I have carried on the tradition.  They are simple and delicious and this cleaned up version is no different.  In fact, no one will ever be able to tell the difference....so it can just be our little secret! 

In our haste to eat this delicious creation, I forgot to get my own picture.  Here is the original recipe. I found it on Pinterest, where else, on A Proverbs 31 Wife.  It doesn't take much to clean it up.

Best Sloppy Joe Recipe:

• 2# hamburger
• 1 chopped onion
• 1 cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons mustard
• 1 1/2 tablespoons vinegar
• 4 tablespoons brown sugar (organic, cane)
• 2 tablespoons Worchestershire sauce (optional)
• salt and pepper to taste

To Clean It Up - 
You can clean this up even more by using ground turkey or chicken.  I usually use a mix of  ground turkey and extra lean ground beef.  I also make sure to use the organic and no sugar added versions of the ketchup and mustard.  If you don't want the added sugar, just leave out the brown sugar.  The Worchestershire sauce is optional, but does give it a nice flavor.  I also added a little fresh minced garlic to the meat while it cooks. If you don't want the added sugar, just leave out the brown sugar as well.

1. Thaw your hamburger ahead of time and put all ingredients into a skillet.


2. Turn your heat to medium and cook. Stir frequently so the hamburger doesn’t fry up in chunks.

3.  Once the hamburger is cooked through, I like to put the lid on the pan and simmer for  about 20 minutes or so.
* If you are a crock pot fan, this recipe can work there as well. Just be sure to mix the meat in with the other ingredients really well. Cook in your crock pot on medium for 5-6 hours.

Find yourself some clean hamburger buns and you are good to go!  Bring on the summer get togethers!

Happy Monday!

Here it is Monday morning again.  Many of us are back to square one with our eating and work out habits.  Why is that?  Usually it is because the weekends are a break from the norm.  We feel free and relaxed and therefore our good habits become free and relaxed too.  While I am all about having a treat and relaxing, being back at square one on Monday morning is not the best feeling.  I used to do it all of the time.  I would  wake up feeling guilty about all the "fun" I had and realize it maybe wasn't worth it.  It has taken me years to learn the value of balance, with my nutrition, especially.  I was an "all or nothing" kind of gal.  Meaning that on the days I was eating healthy, I followed my plan to the letter.  But....on the days that I didn't plan or messed up, I would totally throw in the towel and just eat anything and everything.  I would get so frustrated with my self.  I would work so hard during my workout and then feel terrible at the end of the day because I totally threw off my nutrition.

 Well, for the last two years I have been saying that my diet would be all about finding a balance.  It has taken me that long to get it right.  Do I still have treats and comfort food, yes.  But one treat is no longer a pass for me to eat that way the whole day, or week, or month.  It is just that, as treat.  Now this past weekend was my birthday.  I have to say that I did in fact treat myself....quite a bit!  Do I feel guilty about it?  No, because besides the treats that I indulged in, I was eating healthy the rest of the time.  I have a coach and challenge group that is here this Monday morning with a plan of action.  That plan is to get the workouts done and stick to our meal plans that we made over the weekend.  Is there a possibility to slip up?  Sure, but we build each other up and move on.  No guilt, no beating ourselves up.  Just determination to make today a better day.   I woke up this morning with my game face on and ready for a new day and a new week to eat right and work out, just as planned.  Is it balance you struggle with?  My challenge group starts in 1 week. June 23.  Let me help you find your balance.  Message me for more information.

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What's The Difference?

Today I sit here thinking about my before and after pictures.  I have had several people tell me that they really can't tell the difference.  I just laugh, because when I look at them I see nothing but differences.  While it is true that I have never been truly overweight, the difference between being fit and being a blob who sits on the couch everyday is almost immeasurable.  My before picture was of a person who was sad and disgusted with the way she looked.  A person, who no matter how hard she tried, couldn't find a pair of jeans that fit just right, a person who dreaded the words, "let's go to the pool" because that meant a swimsuit!  Ugh!  (Although, I still don't care for swimsuits!)  But beyond the physical, I was depressed and had zero self-confidence. 
                                              
That has been an issue I have dealt with all of my life.  The way we see ourselves does have a lot to do with how we conduct ourselves every day.  I tend to be a pretty joyful person.  I try to see the positive in things and avoid negativity when possible.  But that didn't stop me from talking negatively to myself everyday.  I was raised with a very modest and almost self-conscience upbringing.  My body wasn't something to be proud of, it was something to hide.  Now, don't get me wrong, I am a firm believer in modesty.  I do not work out everyday and eat right so that I can flaunt my body and I am certainly not raising my daughter to flaunt herself. But not a day goes by that I don't tell her that she is beautiful.  She can be in her pajamas, fresh out of bed or in her date night dress for daddy.  She is beautiful ALL of the time.  In fact, I ask her some days "have I told you you're beautiful today?"  So guess what she says to me while rubbing my cheek....."Mommy, have I told you you're beautiful today?"  I want her to feel comfortable in her own skin and be free of the worry about body image while learning how to take care of herself at the same time.  My after picture, which is still in progress and probably always will be for many reasons, is of a woman free of the sadness.  I decided that I was not going to let myself get in my own way.  God made me and as His child, I am responsible to take care of myself.  I wake up everyday and choose joy. 

 Joy that I have a new day, joy that I have a husband who adores me, joy that I have three beautiful children who are healthy, joy that I have the energy to do things, and yes, joy that I can get dressed and not feel like hiding behind a frumpy sweatshirt.  The list is endless.  That old before picture wasn't choosing joy everyday, but that was then.  Today, and everyday, I choose joy.  That is the difference.

Bruschetta Chicken

Oh my yumminess!  This has to be one of the most flavorful and tasty dinners I have made.  It is full of fresh ingredients and is simply amazing!!!  My whole family enjoyed it as well.  It would be one of those recipes to serve to company also.  My mouth is watering just thinking about it!

For 1 piece of chicken here are the facts:
Calories 201; Fat 7g, Saturated fat 1g; Carbohydrate 9 g; Protein 24 g; Fiber 2g; sodium 354 mg; cholesterol 62 mg

Salsa Topping

• 6 medium Roma tomatoes, seeded and chopped
• 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh basil leaves
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tbsp olive oil

Chicken Breast

• 1 tbsp chopped fresh oregano
• 1 tbsp chopped fresh basil
• 1/2 tsp. chopped fresh thyme
• 1 tsp chopped fresh Italian parsley
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp fresh ground black pepper
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

* For Salsa, combine all ingredients in a medium bowl.  Cover and chill in refrigerator until ready to serve.
* For chicken breast, combine all ingredients in a large ziplock plastic bag.  Shake to distribute well, seal, and marinate in refrigerator for at least 1 hour.
* Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
* Remove chicken from bag; discard marinade.  Place chicken in glass baking dish.  Cover with foil and place in oven for 30 to 40 minutes or until chicken is thoroughly cooked.  Serve with salsa on top; garnish with fresh basil leaves.

****I served mine with brown rice and sauteed greens.  ENJOY!****

How Do I Stay Motivated?

One of the hardest things to do when deciding to work out and get healthy is staying motivated.  There are days when I just don't wanna!  I am tired, busy, have other things to do that sound like more fun....ect., ect,. ect,.  I tell you, it is a change in your mind set.  I have put my work outs on my calendar as something I have to do.  If I have an appointment with someone else, I won't miss it or just blow it off, so treat I workouts the same way.  It is an appointment with myself.  I make it a priority, not just something I'll do if I have time.  Once I got in the habit, I miss it when it's not a part of my day.  For the longest time I would look at Pinterest and see all of these great recipes and pictures of great workouts and motivation and say, "Tomorrow I am going to start"  only to be sitting in my bed the next night thinking, I should have started eating better today and I should have worked out while I had the chance. 

  So, in January, I made a New Year's Resolution to say "tomorrow" no more and I haven't looked back.  There have been days that haven't gone according to plan, but I have done my very best.  I plan at the beginning of the week for meals and snacks and schedule my workouts according to what I have going on that day.  It helps so much to have it written out and planned for.  I can just look at my fridge or my phone and know what snack to pack or what I need to pull out for dinner.  It really has been a life saver to do all of my thinking at the beginning of the week so that I don't have to think about it when I am in the busyness of the day. 

These little things that I consistently do everyday and every week have helped me to stay motivated to do the right thing.  I know for a fact that when I don't plan my meals and have healthy things in the fridge, I will be more likely to make a bad choice. It is the same with my workouts.  If I don't have a set time to workout, it is more likely that I will put it off until something comes up and I just end up not doing it at all.  With that being said, I have to admit that I am not a morning person.  It is a wise idea to workout first thing in the morning, but I take some time to get my engine going in the morning.  I need to shuffle around, have some coffee and slowly ease into my day.  I cannot hop out of bed and start jumping around, it just doesn't work.  I know this, so I schedule my workouts for about and hour after I get up.  In doing this, I am not setting myself up for failure and say, "well, I didn't do my workout before breakfast, so I just won't get it done today."  I also find that setting goals for myself is a great motivator.  I work at it 30 days at a time.  So, each month I set a goal to get these workouts in and put them in my calendar.  Then I say, "At the end of this 30 days of workouts, I am going to....buy new work out clothes, get a pair of jeans, get a pedicure, or new jammies."  It works for me to have something to look forward to, along with the satisfaction of completing my workouts and seeing my measurements go down.

Staying motivated is something that is different for everyone.  We all have things that keep us on track.  I too need accountability, challenge groups are a great way to start.  It helps for me to have someone looking to see if I worked out and giving me new "assignments" each day and sometimes it is the cheerleading that I seek the most.  All I know is that it all works together to get me going each day and keeps me on track. 

What is it that you seek the most when needing motivation?  A challenge group may be just what you've been looking for.  My next one starts on June 23.  I can be your cheerleader and help you figure out menus and get you going on those workouts.  Nothing feels better than laying your head down at night knowing you did everything you needed to do.

If you would like to be a part of my next challenge group, message me or comment for more information.

Dawn Stern
Independent Team Beachbody Coach
http://www.teambeachbody.com/dawnstern

What Is Your Why?

Meet my shadow.  She is there, by my side almost every minute of every day.  She is turning out to be just like me in so many ways....scarey, huh!?  She likes coffee, making pie, shopping and taking care of people.  She is also not a real morning person, tends to cry when she gets upset and yell when she is mad.  She watches EVERY move I make.  So when I am asked, "what is your why?", she is at the top of my list. 

 There are many reasons that I work out everyday and eat a mostly clean diet.  For one thing, it makes me feel like a million bucks.  I also want to be healthy, for my family that God has entrusted me with and my husband who needs me.  Many of you know that I lost my mother when she was only 53 years old.  She was on a perpetual diet and nothing seemed to work for her.  Even though I was a grown woman with a husband and two babies, I was too young to not have a mother in my life.  In fact, at the age of almost 37, there are times when I still want my mommy!  I don't tell you this for sympathy or pitty.  It is however, one of my "whys"  in this life of mine.  Another reason is definitely ME. 

Truly, if I didn't work out because I loved the way I felt afterwards, and the reward of being able to wear cute clothes and feel  good in my own skin, I probably wouldn't work as hard.  I am proud of myself when I finish a workout, or lay my head down and know that I ate well.  It is something you have to want for yourself.  And even though I was talking about my daughter being the one watching, my teenage boys notice too.  They have come to expect seeing me work out and are shocked when I treat myself and eat a french fry.  In some ways, I think they are proud of their "little mommy", as they affectionately call me.  I love having my workout partner with me, trying to talk to me about everything on the planet while I can barely talk and am dripping with sweat.  She is not only watching, but is now doing what I do. What is your "Why"?  Even if you don't really know, I would love to help you in your quest to figure it out.  Is it time for your next DIY? Message me or comment and I will get you on your way and walk beside you on your journey.

Pay It Forward

So today I am here to tell you about my exciting decision to become a Team Beachbody Coach.  I have always had a desire to be fit.  This does not mean that I have always been fit.  After having baby #2, I got into a routine and actually lost some of the weight I had gained.  It was the most empowering feeling in the world.  I kept it up until baby#3, after which I had to start all over again.  But, I did.  Through Beachbody I have done Chalean Extreme, P90X, Brazil Butt Lift and TurboFire.  I have had my good days and my bad days and am definitely not done, but I feel AMAZING!  However, I decided that I would take my passion and pay it forward.  There is nothing more satisfying than setting a goal and reaching it.  Whether it be to complete P90X or loose 10 pounds or get off of some sort of medication, it is totally worth it.  I am here to help.  If it weren't for my coach and her posts and constant encouragement to keep going....I may have given up....again.  I want to help others feel healthy and empowered as well.

I am looking for 3-5 people who would like to join me in my next challenge group starting June 23.  I will be there for daily encouragement, accountability, menu ideas and just a listening ear.  If you are at all interested in joining me or becoming a coach yourself, like this post or message me and I will get you the details. 

Dawn Stern, Independent Team Beachbody Coach,  www.beachbodycoach.com/DAWNSTERN

Mexican Lasagna

So, this is one of those clean recipes that no one knows is clean or healthy.  I made it once before and we loved it.  When the kids asked what I was making or dinner the other night and I told them, "Mexican Lasagna" they all said OOOHHH!  Now, I don't know about you, but that is a small miracle when ALL of the children like the same thing....at the same time.  Anyway, this clean recipe is so full of flavor it will blow you away.  To top off your Mexican Fiesta, you can add some fresh avocado and plain greek yogurt....both of which I was out of.

-1 lb. lean ground turkey
-1 cup low fat shredded cheddar
-1 cup cottage cheese
-1 cup clean salsa
-1/2 can black beans
-1 small onion, chopped
-1 TBS taco seasoning
-4 whole wheat tortillas cut into strips (I like the Santa Fe brand from Costco)

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

2. In a skillet, cook ground turkey and onion.  Once cooked, turn to low and add salsa and taco seasoning.

3. In a bowl, combine 3/4 cup shredded cheese and cottage cheese.

4. In a baking dish sprayed with cooking spray, line with 1/2 of the tortilla strips.  Scoop 1/2 o the meat mixture on top and spread out, covering tortillas.  Then add 1/2 o the cheese mixture on top o the meat and spread.  Repeat the layers and top with remaining shredded cheese.

5. Cover and bake for 40 minutes.  Enjoy!  Makes 4 servings at 350 calories each.