Holiday slim down

I have had a lot of people tell me lately that they are struggling. Either in the eating department, or just overall feeling BLA.
I get that, and can totally relate. You know if anyone understands, I can.
This time of year is hard for a lot of people. Some struggle with overeating and gaining weight, some struggle mentally with certain situations in their lives that are going on. EVERYONE has something that can make it hard to get through the holiday season.
I decided that instead of sitting here hoping that didn't happen to my friends, I would try and help...even just a little bit.
I am going to open up a free group. It's not a challenge group, it's not going to cost you a dime. It's just a support group.
We will be working out, fueling our bodies with healthy foods, supporting each other, motivating each other, and keeping each other accountable. The ONLY thing I ask of you is to fit in at least 20 minutes of activity each day, and be present in the group! That means, posting daily and telling us how you did that day! I will be posting a shopping list, and helping you with a meal plan if you would like.
I really, really want to help as many people as I can get through this last chunk of 2014 on a positive note! I will be opening this up next weekend, and then we commit on 12/1.

I will be running the group from Facebook, and will put you in a private group.  Please contact me there if you would like to join us! 

3 day refresh

Every once in a while, I feel like I need to start fresh. I am the first to admit I do not eat clean all the time, and indulge here and there.  Usually I am on track, but this time of year I tend to slip more times then not.  I know I don't have to wear a bikini to the pool tomorrow, or pull on my shorts and tank tops...I can lounge around in my sweats, with my comfy sweaters, and watch football...
Listen, I don't TOTALLY throw out my healthy lifestyle during the winter months LOL...I swear. ;) But back to my main point, I sometimes cheat, and sometimes feel way to bloated...and sometimes just feel GROSS.
In comes the 3 day refresh!
Read below to learn all about it! 

What is the 3 day refresh?  
The 3-Day Refresh is 3-day program of specially formulated shakes, healthy snacks, and delicious, easy-to-prepare meals that have been scientifically designed to help you lose weight and break the cycle of bad eating while dramatically improving the way you feel.

Why the refresh? 
• You need a clean break from a period of unhealthy eating.
• You used to eat pretty well but have recently fallen off the wagon and need some help getting back on.
• You want to jump-start healthy eating habits for a new workout program.
• You want to quickly lose a few pounds for an upcoming event.
• You’ve never been a healthy eater, but are ready to kick-start better nutrition for the first time.
• You want your clothes to fit better.
• You want more energy.
• You love food and want to be satisfied while you lose weight and get healthier.
• You’ve tried liquid fasts or other fad diets and they simply don’t work.

What’s included?
• 3 packets of Shakeology®—your choice of 6 flavors (we recommend Chocolate Vegan or Tropical Strawberry
Vegan during the Refresh as plant proteins are often easier for the body to digest)
• 6 packets of Vanilla Fresh (high-protein shake)
• 3 packets of Fiber Sweep (digestive drink)
• 1 Program Guide

What does one eat and drink while Refreshing?
• FILTERED WATER: In addition to the water you use in your shakes and teas, we recommend you drink
at least half your body weight in ounces of filtered water each day.
• BREAKFAST: A superfood-packed Shakeology shake, plus one fruit option
• MORNING TEA: 1 cup of unsweetened herbal or green tea
• LATE MORNING: Fiber Sweep, a digestive health drink
• LUNCH: Vanilla Fresh shake, plus 1 option from the Fruit List, 1 option from the Vegetable List, and 1 option from the Healthy Fats list
• AFTERNOON SNACK: 1 option from Vegetable List, and 1 option from the Healthy Fats list
• AFTERNOON TEA: 1 cup of unsweetened herbal tea (caffeine-free)
• DINNER: Vanilla Fresh shake, 1 option from the Dinner Recipes, and 1 cup of organic vegetable
broth (optional)
• EVENING TEA: 1 cup of unsweetened herbal tea (caffeine-free)

What to expect when Refreshing.
• The 3-Day Refresh is a low-calorie program (about 900 calories a day) but because the shakes and food selections are high in protein and fiber they help keep you satiated throughout the day.
• Because this program is packed with fiber, if you don’t already have a diet that’s high in fruits, veggies, and whole grains, it’s a good idea to prepare for the 3-Day Refresh by eating a large salad and/or a few servings of fresh veggies throughout the week leading up to it.
• If you get a little gas or bloating, this is a sign that you need to up your fiber levels in general. Fiber promotes satiety, balances blood sugar, promotes cardiovascular health, and keeps your digestive tract functioning.
• If gas is an issue, we’ve highlighted the “low gas-producing” options in the veggie list and dinner recipes in the menu guide.
• We recommend mild to moderate exercise during the 3-Day Refresh because this program will be more effective when your body can focus on cleansing.


Purchase options
-There are a couple of different options to chose from this month if your thinking about getting the refresh kit! The first one is just your BASIC refresh kit which comes what was listed above.  3 days worth of your shakes and fiber sweep, and your done!

 

 Click HERE to purchase your basic kit!

-Your second purchase option is to get your 3 day refresh kit, then continue on the next 30 days with a month supply of Shakeology!

 Click HERE to get your 3 day refresh challenge pack!

And your last option, is my favorite option.  For this month only, we have a PiYO/3 day refresh Kick-start challenge pack!  This includes the complete PiYO program, the 3 day refresh, and a 30 day supply of Shakeology.  Amazing deal right here.  

Click HERE to get your kick-start challenge pack!

My experience with the refresh is this.  It's simply amazing.  The first day is hard, because you are detoxing, and you are eating low calories.  But I swear you adjust very quickly.  I slept better, I felt better, I didn't have to take heart burn medication, my bloat went away, and I lost 6lbs.  In just 3 days.  And yes, I did keep it off! 

So, if you are interested in doing this with me starting 12/1, let me know!  I would love to have you join me and my friends. :)

Here we go again.....

I never in a million, gazillion years thought I would be making a blog post like this...ever.  

Me and my husband have been talking a lot about the future, and where we see our life headed.  We know for certain, we love what we have, and are happy as can be.  Including two beautiful daughters.

If you don't know, it took us a very long time to get pregnant.  We tried for several years on our own, before going to see a doctor.  Countless IUI procedures, and then finally one IVF cycle.  You can read my story here on that entire journey. 

I guess you can say, we have been thinking about more kiddos.  If you would of asked me a year ago around this time I would of laughed in your face...I actually used to laugh when people would bring it up.  Twins, plus another?  After what I went through? 

No, no, and hell no. 

But back up.

What if, I wasn't scared anymore?  What if, I knew I could handle it.  

Because this time around, I am not waiting for my miracle. I am not childless, and not sitting here month after month, negative pregnancy test after negative pregnancy test, wondering if I was ever going to have a baby. (or two) 

 This time, I know what to expect.  This time, I know it might take some time.  This time, I know we might not be able to get pregnant without some medical intervention. 

And I'm totally okay with that. 

Yes, we have decided that we are going to have another baby!!!  We are ready, and not only ready, but getting totally impatient...and this has just began! 

So here is what we have planned.  Neither one of us want to rush to the doctor.  We are going to try on our own until April of next year (after the girls turn 7) and then if I am not pregnant by then, we will move on to IVF.  I refuse to try anything else.  I don't want to waste my time, money, or emotions.  

So, if all goes according to plan...we should be pregnant by next Spring!!! 

I can't believe I am saying that still sometimes....we are officially TTC...holy crap. 

I didn't blog about my TTC journey with the girls. I was a part of a message board (fertility friend) and had my support system there...Facebook was not around, I don't think.  This time, I will be documenting it. 

It might take some time. It might not.  I might get pregnant within a couple months, or you could be reading this next Spring when I'm getting ready for my egg transfer. 

I just don't know. 

What I do know, is that I am excited to begin this new chapter in our lives.  I'm sure my emotions will be up and down, but I am okay with that.  

We just know, we are ready to make this family of 4, become a family of 5. 

And in honor of #TBT...here is a little glimpse into my first pregnancy...

 

My girls, as embryos. 

6 days later my first ever positive pregnancy test.

And me at 36 weeks.  6 days before I delivered these two beautiful, healthy, baby girls! 

Is it to early?

I asked on Facebook the other day, when was it to early to set up your Christmas tree.  The most popular response was "its never to early!"

My favorite response was....

Do it when your ready. It's your choice.  It's your tree.  Who cares what anyone thinks besides you?

"DUH."

So, here we are on November 15th, and we spent the entire afternoon setting up and decorating our tree.  We did a little flip flopping with the living room, but made it work. I actually LOVE this setup.

So...tis the season....is your tree up yet?

Transformation Tuesday

I am not sure I'll ever get sick of this transformation. While I have shared this picture on the left before, sometimes I need to look back at it.
The difference in pictures scale wise, is 37lbs!! How I ended up NEEDING to lose close to 40lbs is beyond me. It's called being lazy, am I right?
When I'm having a bad day, when I feel like I'm not doing enough, when I cave and eat like crap for a week because I'm to lazy to cook, I look at the picture on the left and instantly I feel something shift inside. I will never be there again. I will never cry standing in my closet, or cancel plans with friends because my clothes don't fit.
When I was this heavy, I was on 2 types of high blood pressure medication. Do you think my doctor told me to lose weight?? Nope. Why wouldn't he tell me my high blood pressure COULD be, because I was overweight. I still to this day will never understand.
I have a LONG way to go. Between battling depression, and trying to get my NORMAL back, I know I can continue on with my transformation.
Not only on the outside, but more importantly on the inside as well.
Each day I keep fighting. Sometimes I feel like I'm winning, other days I feel
defeated.
But the most important thing, is that I'll never give up. And you reading this, don't you ever either.
Keep fighting. It's one day going to be worth it, even if you don't feel like it will now!
#transformationtuesday

It's been a while....

It's been a while since I was able to look at natures beauty, and really appreciate it.  There was a time when I would get so excited, thinking about being able to run through the leaves on the sidewalks....that feeling went away, and I didn't even want to run for a long time. I was thinking of the future, and about how shortly it would be gone, and the brutal winter would be here.  There was no stopping to look at it, soak it up, and be thankful I live somewhere there are trees like this. Sounds silly that I can get so serious about trees right? 
But, I am sure if you have ever been through depression, you can probably relate to where I am coming from.

Pouring my heart out

*This was originally published on the 18th of this month, but wanted to link up and share it again.*

I have sat down many times and tried to write this post. Wondering if I should, wondering what people would think, and wondering if I should share something so personal. Wondering if I was able to let anyone in this time, if I should share my struggle or just get better and move on. But then I realized that not sharing this wasn't who I was, so slowly but surely, I finally found the words.
It took me a week. A week of trying to hide. A week of shutting down my personal life, and not really caring about anything but what 100% needed to be taken care of. My kids, my work, exercise, and showering. I hate to say it but even my husband and best friend have been feeling the effects of this....that's hard to admit, but it's true. Considering my husband has to live with this everyday....well I'm just blessed he loves me as much as he does.

The first time I ever got diagnosed with depression was when the girls were around 3.5 weeks old. I remember that day like it was yesterday. Walking into the doctors office, having a meltdown, feeling like I could not breathe or talk. I was so scared, and felt so helpless. After 6 years of infertility, feeling like I didn't want my children, and asking myself why I tried so hard...well, lets just say that's a very scary feeling to have. After a while I eventually got better, I eventually could enjoy being a Mom. It took some time, but it happened. I remember laying in bed with them while they were crying one night, around 3am. Instead of sitting there feeding them and crying along with them....I was just calmer, not so anxious, and I think then it finally hit me that it was going to be okay....that this was life now, and I had adjusted to having two new little babies in my world.
This time, I wasn't expecting it. I didn't think that the loss my family experienced was going to make me spiral down so far. I was sad. I allowed myself to be sad....I let myself FEEL being pulling me down, but I quickly said "it's not going to happen" and honestly I just wrote it off as grief. Grief is tricky. You go through it in stages, and in no particular order. So who was I to just say "oh I'm depressed again, lets get me medicated and I'll be fine!" I didn't want to do that again.
I fought. And I fought for many reasons.
I was embarrassed , I felt like I was failing at my job, failing at what I do to make an impact in this world, and failing as a Mom, friend and wife. I was not going to admit I needed help AGAIN. I was going to be like those people who say to read personal development, workout everyday, repeat happy thoughts and words to yourself, and EVERYTHING will be okay!
Last weekend, I had a panic attack. I was doing nothing but what I normally do after baths, snuggling with my kids in my bedroom. I got shaky, anxious, hot, and felt like I was going to pass out...I started crying for no reason, and couldn't even stand to be in the same room with them. I got up and looked in the mirror, calmed myself down, and what I saw was the same person I saw 6.5 years ago when this first happened to me. Then, I got even more scared....because it hit me. It really was happening. Again.
I walked downstairs, saw the look in my husbands eyes, and knew what I needed to do. He suggested getting back on Zoloft again, but I said I would think about it the next day...I was totally clammed up and couldn't talk. But that following Monday, I was at the doctor....experiencing that feeling again, having him ask me what's wrong, and breaking down, hearing the words "severe depression" and walking out with a script in my hand.
It's been 8 days. It's NOT been 8 wonderful days. It's been 8 days of sorting through feelings. Sorting through my thoughts, hoping and praying that one of these days I'll wake up, and feel like ME again. Knowing that deep down, I am still me. I just have to get better, and find myself again.
I have been hard to love, and not a very good friend the past month and a half. Knowing me, you can probably believe that I have some guilt about that. And I do....but not to everyone. Only the ones who have been there, and I have tried to shut out, but were still there. Only the ones who kept their promise to me, and stood by me through this difficult time.
I'll be better soon. thanks for reading if you made it this far.