5 Ways to Get That Spark - Without Caffeine

If you know me, you know I'm a coffee junkie. I honestly, sincerely love the taste of pure black coffee, the stronger, the better.

As with anything people love, moderation is important.  And it's a habit.  It's something that I don't NEED, I just have a habit of consuming it and using it to get rid of headaches and get a little jolt. Of course, too much can be a bad bad thing.  Too much caffeine can lead to increased blood pressure, increased risk of heart attack, incontinence in women, insomnia, indigestion, infertility, increased anxiety and depression, and other harmful effects.

Um. Raise your hand if you want any of those things.

(picture me sitting on my hands)

So what's a mommy of a crazy three year old/special ed teacher/high school athletics coach/runner/fitness fanatic/wife/health and fitness coach/tutor/daughter/friend/fitness instructor to do when she's just... well... kinda tired??

I had to find some new ways to get that spark, to get through the day, and to survive without as much caffeine.  So... here are my top five.

(side note: I'm still working on incorporating all of these!)

1. Start your day with a cold glass of water to...
(I learned this trick when I did the 3-Day Refresh, because caffeine was NOT part of the Refresh, so I had to start my day with a big ol' glass of water!)

**Fire up your metabolism - Quite simply put, your metabolism is how your body turns food into energy.  Why would you want it fired up? The faster your metabolism, the more quickly what you eat is burned through, so you're naturally burning calories at a more rapid pace, making things like maintaining a healthy weight more effective.

**Hydrate you - Your body needs water to survive and to run efficiently.  An easy way to calculate how MUCH water you need in a day is to divide your body weight by half, and drink that many ounces of water per day. At least.  Obviously, if you are doing hard labor, working out, or spending a lot of time outside in the heat, you'll need to bump up the ounces.  Fatigue is actually one of the first signs of dehydration, so, if you're feeling like your energy is lagging, it could really be because you need to drink something.

**Flush out toxins - Basically, toxins are the gross things getting carried around through your blood and vital organs.  Your body has to work harder to get rid of this waste.  Of course, the easiest way to keep your body from working so hard is to eat cleaner, but I do love a good cheat, and even the most conscientious eater can have some stuff in their system that needs to be flushed. So kick starting your day with a giant glass of water to get those things moving a little more quickly out of your system seems like a pretty cheap, easy way to bump up your energy level!

Now I know, I know.  For a lot of people, soda is for them what coffee is for me.  Seriously, it's a habit you gotta kick to the curb.  Yes, even (especially) diet sodas.  So, here are some great water add ins to help you transition your soda habit into a water habit:

2. Green tea
Yeah yeah yeah.  It's still caffeine. But.  It's less caffeine.  So sometimes you really just do need a little extra kick in the pants.  Green tea boasts great benefits for the heart, brain, and bones, so it gives a little switch-up to the coffee addict's needs while providing some other great incentives!

Another bonus is that tea is tea.  Sure, you can add a few things to it, but generally it's pretty awesome on it's own.  When I go to get coffee at a Starbucks or other coffee shop, I'm super tempted to get a fully loaded semi automatic frapawacka winner for most calories shoved into a cup. And while I'm at it, I might as well get that yummy looking sugar crusted sugar puff with sugar topping.

With a cup of tea, I can just make a cup of tea, and feel a little fancy when I say "Oh this? This is tea."  If I do add something, it's a moderate amount of honey, which has added benefits as well. 

3. Move

Sounds counterintuitive, right? I'm tired, so I need to move??

Well, yeah! It can be anything from a quick little walk outside to a full-blown workout, but starting to move will boost your energy naturally.

Sitting at a desk job all day, as many people do these days, causes fatigue.  The worse part is that sometimes we don't use the best posture sitting down and that can just make the fatigue more severe.

The easiest solution, obviously just get up for a few minutes.  Stretch, move around, make sure you stand straight and allow your blood to flow a little more!  If you can, step outside! Fresh air and a little vitamin D from the sun will help boost your mood and boost your energy!

If you can, heighten your work station so that you can either stand or sit with better posture.  It will help the blood flow and help get some of the awesome nerotransmitters (like dopamine and norepinephrine) that give you energy and good vibes pumping through your system!

Want a more long term solution? Get in a full blown workout!  Start a program that has a total body solution and get your blood pumping daily.  Consistent workouts will boost your energy levels and help you sleep better (more on that later!)... 

4. Shakeology and Boosts
I get "that 2:30 feeling" too.  But I don't reach for an energy drink just to get through my afternoon.  Seriously, those things are no good for your overall health!! Energy drinks have so many negative side effects (heart palpitations, tremors, agitation, upset stomach, dizziness, just to name a few) that regular consumption can really mess you up!  I mean, I guess if you have upset stomach, you'll be glad that your heart is pumping a little faster and you'll have the energy to blast straight to the bathroom, but who REALLY wants all that??

A better plan: the big key word from this whole thing, CONSISTENCY! I consistently drink Shakeology every day, and it boosts my energy enough in the immediate drinking, but it also supplies my body with so many great things (antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, micronutrients, gut clearing probiotics, probiotic enabling prebiotics, protein, etc) that my body consistently gets its needs met and I don't have to focus that extra energy and money on other supplements, caffeine, and my body working overtime on trying to clean out my gut!

Now, I will say, as a mom, sometimes you really just DO need that extra boost.  I understand that! Some nights the kids are up and down, they're sick, or you just didn't sleep well due to whatever is going on around you (hello, holidays!!).  So, you do need a natural boost! That's why the Shakeology Energy Boost exists! It's a great addition to your regular Shakeology to give you just a little more help with getting the energy to be the parent/coworker/spouse/friend/Santa's helper that you need to be!

5. Plan ahead
Okay this one is really called "Get More Sleep" but you would just skip it if' I'd called it that because 1. yeah right, and 2. duh.

Plan ahead is a much better name for it, though, because planning ahead makes that extra sleep happen.  There are mornings when I get up extra early so I'll have time to pack a healthy lunch (that will help with energy too because I'm not shoveling fried food in my face just to get a quick lunch), so I can get Ella up and pick out her clothes, so I can get a shower, so I can workout, so I can figure out what I'M going to wear, so I can pack my school bag....

You see where this is going, right?

Have a plan in place, and take care of the set up the night before!  There's such a wonderful feeling of setting the alarm for a little later, getting up and just grabbing my things (bonus points if most of them are already in the car), dressing Ella in an outfit she picked out the night before, throwing on my own clothes that were already set out, ironed (because for real they're always wrinkly), and clean! Use your weekend to set a plan, have a little back up plan (like quick healthy back up snacks, just in case), and be ready to rock your mornings with a little less brain fog and a little more energy!

Bonus point: Pray about it
For real.  The going gets tough.  But remember that your body is your temple.  Your body is a reflection of the things that God can do through you, a flawed, imperfect human. You CAN'T do it all, and you were never MEANT to do it all.  But you can do the things that God has charged for you to do.

So, pray for clarity (what things AM I meant to do, and what things am I adding to my load that are not intended for me?)

Pray for strength (give me the strength to be a reflection of You in my tasks)

Pray for endurance (give me the energy and stamina to see the tasks through to completion)

And pray for grace for yourself (give me grace to recognize that I am doing extraordinary things in a world that is satisfied with ordinary things)

What's Your Miracle? - Part 1: My Miraculous Healing

We pray for miracles all the time and, usually, those prayers are centered around the idea of miraculous healing.

God delivers on those prayers a lot.  You hear many stories of tumors miraculously disappearing, people walking after horrific accidents, and folks flat lining and coming back.

So when we pray, hard, for a miracle, and the miracle is not miraculous healing, it can hurt and seem unfair.  I won't pretend that our human hearts don't feel that and our brains don't have a hard time accepting that.

But my prayer is that, if you've prayed for a miracle in your life, what I'm writing today will help your heart heal a little more.

I'm here with good news. If you've prayed for a miracle, your prayer was answered, even if your loved one passed. And here's why: miraculous healing is only one small part of what constitutes as a miracle.   I'm going to break down the other parts in Part 2 of this series, but I wanted to start by sharing my own personal miraculous healing, because it's MY story.

The Right Place at the Right Time
There's a doctor in Charlotte who kept my x-rays framed on his desk for years (maybe he still has them, I don't know) so that he could tell people my story.  The x-rays revealed the impossible: traumatic brain injury of a 4 year old little girl, bits of skull had been embedded, and part of the brain was destroyed.  All because she was in the right place at the right time.

To anyone else, it would seem that I was in the WRONG place. But in order for this story to be one of miraculous healing, I had to be where I was.  I was playing in the yard while my grandpa was giving my cousin a ride on the riding lawn mower.  Without too many specifics, my cousin (who was 3 at the time) started to fall.  Somehow, he hit the throttle while my grandpa was catching him, the lawnmower sped up, and I was quite simply in the way.

***I'm going to go into some details here, so fair warning.  If it's too much for you to handle a little blood, scroll on until you see the *** again.

I was hit.  My skull was smashed in, little shards impaled into my brain, my hair wrapped around the axle, and my scalp pulled away.  

***Okay it's safe again.

My grandpa pulled the lawnmower off of me and saved me. That was miracle number one of many.  He talked to me to keep me conscious until the ambulance arrived to rush me to the hospital.

Now, I don't know what you know about small towns in the 80's, but I'm here to tell you the hospitals were not as equipped as they are now.  I was rushed to Richmond Memorial Hospital in Rockingham, NC.  In other words, I was rushed to the 1988 version of a doctor's office on steroids.  It was just a small town, and they just didn't have the means to perform outrageous miracles, and that's just the way it was.  But they were going to try.

And that's when miracle number two happened.  A doctor from Charlotte happened to be visiting. He saw me and immediately told them they'd need to get me to Charlotte if there was any chance of survival.  They did the only logical thing they could and started preparing me for the ambulance ride.  He stopped them again and demanded that I be airlifted.  Of course, there were no helicopters at Small Town USA Memorial Hospital, so miracle number three had to occur.  There just so happened to be an air show in town that day.  I was loaded onto a borrowed helicopter and airlifted to Charlotte.

What I remember

I used to remember little specifics leading up to the accident happening in a different area of the house, simply a recreation I had put together in my head.  I don't remember anything about the lawnmower coming towards me, I don't remember being scared or being hit or any type of pain whatsoever.  That's probably a miracle in itself.

I do remember being in a large room with lots of beds and waking up to see my mom and dad standing over me.  As soon as my eyes opened, they were ushered out. I assume it was the end of visiting hours or something, but I recall making the most mean, mad face I could possibly make and tracking the nurse that made them leave around the room with that look.  She was going to know who not to mess with.

I also remember hearing the doctor tell my mom that I wouldn't be able to move one side of my body very well for the rest of my life, which, small potatoes compared to losing my life entirely, right? But when I heard it, I refused to believe it.  So I kicked my hospital blanket off, using both legs, and flailed my arms around, making him retract his statement.  Don't put your limitations on a four year old.

Fred Flintstone

My miraculous healing could have ended with me surviving, and that would have been the miracle.  There are so many things that could have gone wrong, things that could have remained impossible.  When my mom walked into my room and asked if I knew who she was for the first time after the accident, I replied with "Yes. Fred Flintstone." (I like to think I was just messing with her, but the truth is I was probably still putting a lot of effort into just surviving at the moment.)  I also knew color names, but didn't match them to the right colors.  I could have lived the rest of my life in a wheelchair, or been able to walk but have absolutely no control over what I did or said.  I could have been in special classes, unable to make and maintain memories, unable to read, unable to communicate... the list goes on.

But I survived and my recovery was truly a complete and total miraculous healing.  I have a few small scars on the back of my head and a tiny soft spot, but my coordination completely returned.  I've been a dancer, an athlete, a drummer, I've memorized lines for plays, I can sing (to a point), I enjoy learning and trying new things, I was in advanced placement classes...  There is nothing in my current life that would lead you to believe that I should have lost it all.

(This is the part where my husband would remind me how clumsy I am, but that was there before the accident as well.)

The big point is: people prayed for a miracle, and I got one in the form of miraculous healing.  I wasn't done yet.  And God wasn't done with me yet.

But, just because the prayer for a miraculous healing isn't answered with a "yes" doesn't mean that God didn't use a person or that He was DONE with that person.  That person's miracle was just in a different form.  So, I invite you to check out Part 2 where I delve into other types of miracles that God grants through a person's life.  Just because the physical body is gone, doesn't mean that God is done.

What's Your Miracle - Part 2: Other Miracles

If you haven't already, make sure you check out Part 1 of this series.

But I'd like to dive right into the other types of miracles that God may be granting when He doesn't choose to use miraculous healing as a life's ultimate purpose.

1. Miraculous Reach
It seems a whole lot easier in this day and time to reach a lot of people.  You could say one silly thing and end up a viral video sensation, but really, that's still pretty rare.  Most of us in our everyday lives meet and maintain a few really great friendships and that's that.  You may have a thousand Facebook friends and 500 Instagram followers, but how many of those people do you really know, communicate with, and have a close bond with?

For some people, though, their life miracle is reaching the masses.  My cousin Michael led a short life of 32 years, but he traveled all over and maintained genuine friendships that endured the test of time.  His funeral, which I talk about a little more in depth here, was even live streamed to a friend of his in Poland, because he was that important to her.  He reached so many people.  Even though his passing was sudden and heart breaking, and I definitely used my tiny human brain to think that maybe there could still be some miraculous healing there, his passing touched someone in a way that God is using.  His story, his kindness, his brilliance, his faith, his questions, his genuine spirit... because of that, I know that seeds were planted all over the world for Jesus.

And that was just from him being him and living the life he would have lived anyway.  Imagine the reach others have that choose to do mission work.  Imagine all the lives that they touch, all the seeds they plant, and all the good they do in the hearts of others.  Those things live on, despite a lack of miraculous healing.  Their stories and their love are in the hearts of every person they met and made a lasting impression on.

I'm reminded of a story that reached the masses recently.  A man went live on Facebook and shot another man, killing him.  I don't know all the details, but I know the story spread all over.  That story had miraculous reach. But what the man who was killed had was his miracle, because he had...

2. Miraculous Legacy
Similar to miraculous reach is the miraculous legacy.  If miraculous reach is planting seeds, miraculous legacy is the next step of tending to those seeds.  And one person could definitely have both of these miracles in their lifetime.  You could miraculously reach thousands of people directly while producing a miraculous legacy within your own family and close knit group of friends.

The miraculous legacy is what we leave behind when we have instilled the values of Christ in our children, our families, and our friendships.  It's those stories that touch others, long after we're gone.  If I can be touched deeply by a person whom I never even met just because of the relationships they had during life, that person left behind a miraculous legacy.

The man that I wrote about above, the man who was murdered, left behind his own miraculous legacy, and because the story of his death had miraculous reach, his legacy picked up the pieces and continued God's work.  The family of the man who was senselessly murdered stated that they forgave the killer.  They were praying for him.  Not for vengeance, not for him to be apprehended, but for his soul.  This man's miraculous legacy, the things that he instilled in his children, friends, and family, lived on and touched so many more people than he could have ever imagined touching.

As another example, I told a story in my Life Group today about the first time I'd walked into the room.  I'd never met the previous leader of the life group, a guy they called Cam.  I didn't know him or his wife, or anyone in the room besides one girl that I'd gone to college with.  Cam's wife shared that things hadn't gone well that week with him, and I was filled in briefly that he'd been diagnosed with a brain tumor about a year earlier, and his health was continuing to decline.  The group asked his wife what she needed and then we all gathered around her and prayed.  I knew that community was where I needed to be from the relationships in that room, but it was even further cemented today.  Cam passed.  His miracle was not miraculous healing.  His miracle was miraculous legacy.  The stories told today about what an amazing man he was, how much he emulated Christ, how he always put Christ first and others second, and himself third... those stories made me jealous that I had missed out on knowing him.  But they also inspired me and are the reason I had to get this specific post that had been working its way around in my brain for a while written today.

And his story leads me to the third miracle...

3. Miraculous Transformation
The stories that were told today about this man that I never met told a story of a man that changed.  They were the epitome of what our pastor has been preaching about: shedding your old story when you come to know Jesus and living a brand new story.  It's a story of being able to say "that was me, that's not me now, because Jesus."  It's a story of reflecting the name of Jesus in such a way that you are unrecognizable to the people who knew you before.

Every Christian's life has a miraculous transformation, a story of being blind but now I see, a story of being lost but now I'm found.  Not everyone will go from sex drugs and rock n' roll to preaching on a pulpit.  That's not my story, although I have had my own set backs that now are part of my testimony.  Some people have the blessing of being brought up in a Christian home, as I was, and always having the support and love of a large extended Christian family.  Their miraculous transformation is still there, it just may not be as outwardly apparent or as seemingly grandiose to the observers.

But, some people have that transformation story that rocks worlds.  Some people have a miraculous transformation that is visible to outsiders and they are able to point directly back to the love and grace and sacrifice of Jesus.  It's an incredible miracle, a living testimony, and a glowing recommendation for Christ that inspires all of us.

4. Miraculous Perseverance
Sometimes the miracle IS the fight.  It's the fact that through pain, loss, confusion, heart break, depression, the joy of CHRIST shines through.  And sometimes that perseverance is left behind in the miraculous legacy.  Look at a Christian who has lost a loved one.  Yes, they cry in the dark. Yes, they question, scream, whisper why? But they have a joy, they have a hope, they have faith.

It's hard to be positive all the time and God does not expect us to always be happy.  Happiness is a feeling, just like anger and sadness and so many others.  The difference is that we always have joy because we always have Christ.  While happiness is a feeling, joy is a state of being.  Joy is there in the anger, sadness, jealousy, rage.  It's in the background reminding us of our mission, of God's love, and of the peace that waits in the midst of all of this.

Sometimes when we pray for miracles, God grants it through allowing us to have a little more time with a loved one.  Allowing them to fight the good fight and set an even greater example for others that, even though I'm feeling like this right now, I still have joy, I still reflect my Jesus, and I still want to help others find Him.

Other Miracles
What other ways does God grant miracles when miraculous healing is not in His plan? These were the few that came to me as I was praying over this post, but you may be able to share more, and I'd love your feedback!  My prayer is that, even though we will always grieve the loss of our loved ones and really and truly experience and deal with that grief in our own time, someone will find some comfort in the words that God shared through this post.

When grief is a fresh, raw wound, sometimes you just want to be in the grief for a while and feel the loss.  I understand that.  God gives us all different ways to deal with it in our own lives.  If you ever experience the deep grief that seems inescapable, please find someone to talk to and someone to pray with you.  You can email me at hollie.alicia@gmail.com, even if it's just to help pray for you.  No one should ever go through loss alone.

My Friend Jade

When Stephanie Smith told me that LuLaRoe had workout leggings, I'll admit, I was a little skeptical.  I mean, the leggings are cute and all, but I wasn't sure they'd hold up or be any better than anything I could just run to Wal-Mart and pick up. So, she encouraged me to try them out!

I do a lot of stuff that, let's just be real, require me to put a lot of trust in my pants.  I know, that sounds kinda crazy, but, when you do the things I do, you can't risk the possibility of splitting at the seams.  That's why I love Jade.  She's my bestie, even after several washes, when it comes to, quite literally, covering my behind!

Let's take a look at some of the adventures I've taken Jade along with me on!

Bouldering
There's two things I need to know about my pants when I'm climbing.

1. They will allow me to stretch to make the moves I need to make.
2. They will keep me from smelling like a sweaty teenager.

Seriously.  I'm pretty new at this whole climbing thing, so when I'm contemplating my next move, I  can't put any brain power towards focusing on "will my pants rip apart if I put my foot..."  I just need to be focused on making that next move.  I need to have faith in myself, in my hands, in my feet, and in my pants.

I also know that sometimes I'll be in close proximity to another climber.  They may be helping me plan out a route or spotting me as I'm moving from one place to the next, so I really don't want to stink.  I need something I know will wick the sweat and keep me cool.  And when we go out for Mexican food afterwards, I want to make sure that someone will not mind sitting beside me, so bonus points that they keep me from stinking AND I look cute!

Thanks Jade! 💗

PiYo Live! Instructing
I had the pleasure of leading PiYo LIVE in front of a group of about 20 Beachbody coaches for our quarterly Super Saturday event.  I was nervous! But mostly because I'd never lead that many people in one group workout!  I was not nervous about how I presented myself, though!  With the high waistline and the fact that I don't have to keep pulling Jade up to stay in place, I knew my midsection would look a little toner (no muffin top here!) and I'd be able to show proper squat form, butt to the audience, without having to worry about my audience getting a Grand Canyon sighting!



Every good PiYo routine features lots of squats, lunges, warrior moves, single leg down dogs... lots of fun stuff that require some streeeeetch in both my muscles, and my pants.  So I need a pair that can withstand all that and, again, keep me from getting overheated.  Sweat wicking to the rescue again!

Running

As a distance runner, I am rough on pants.  No matter what I do, I'll never have that lovely "thigh gap" that people think is all the rage.  There will always be friction between my thighs when I run, that's just the way it is.  So I need to know that I can get a good ten miles from the house and only worry about if I have enough water and a long enough play list to get me back home.  I don't need to wonder if I'll rub a whole in my leggings!  The material in the Jade was great for this, nice and thick, without being too hot!  And super duper soft!

 Momming
Mommin' ain't easy, ya'll.  But I LOVE the fact that I can slip into my Jades after school and hang out with my kiddo, and be comfortable while doing so until time to get my workout in.  Or, I can get my workout in and then go pick her up from school without risking embarrassing her by looking like a total hot mess.  Or I can workout and get to the grocery store without embarrassing myself.  And I even found an adorable matching tank for $5 at Wal-Mart and don't look like I belong on the People of Wal-Mart website... so... win/win!

Follow Hollie Shaping Up on Facebook for more!

How I've Been Blessed - My Beachbody Story

I have the kind of personality that, quite honestly, probably scares my husband sometimes.  I jump in with both feet and don't look back.  I dream big.  I just DO the things I want to do.  Now that I'm a mommy, I've slowed down a little, but I still dream big and go for big goals.

That relates to one of the biggest blessings in my life: Beachbody.

About five years ago, I found a Craigslist ad advertising for health coaches.  I thought it sounded great, because I was looking for a part time job.  But, I didn't know the girl who was my coach.  I bought in with a challenge pack, and was told that it was what I needed to be successful.  It worked, for my health and fitness needs, but I had no idea how to coach others and I couldn't afford it as a job if I wasn't helping others.  I waited until my credit card on file expired, because I didn't know how else to cancel my account, and I quietly slipped away from Beachbody.

Two years ago, I found myself desperate to re-gain my health after having Ella.  I reached out to the wife of a guy I dated for four years through high school and college, how awkward, right? But she was doing the whole Beachbody thing I'd given up on three years before.  I knew the products were good, I knew they worked, but I was not interested in helping anyone else.  I'd been down that road before.

But when I thought it through, it made sense to help others. I'm so glad I started to actually reach out and help others after a year of coaching just for the discount on my Shakeology!  Because it's blessed so many areas of my life!

Specifically, there are five areas of my life that it's blessed me through, so I want to share them with you here.  Knowing that I could have just JUMPED into any other "health" company out there, I'm so glad it was Beachbody.  I didn't really know what I was getting into, but I lucked out by finding the total package in health and fitness, real whole ingredients and total nutrition in my shake, and an amazing team with a company that's ten years strong this year!

So here's how I've been blessed:

Fitness:

This one seems like the most obvious, and what everyone goes to first in their minds when Beachbody is mentioned.  The "oh, you have to want the perfect body and look like a model" idea/objection is what I hear most.  And that's not the case.  It's finding your strength, your motivation, and your goals within you and then meeting yourself where you already are.  Your goal never needs to be perfection or model-like. But I digress.

For me it started with weight loss, because that was my initial goal.  It morphed to wanting to be more tone, to wanting to run, to wanting to set an example for my daughter, to wanting to be able to match my health goals, which I'll talk about next... It's ever-changing, but it's enabled me to meet the goals of completing a triathlon, numerous 5k's, two 10 k's, two half marathons, and a full marathon, and even become a PiYo LIVE instructor.  I thought that would have been impossible when I got started, but I'm here to tell you, I have accomplished more goals than I even knew I could set.  And I'll be honest.  Those things were accomplished during my two years that I was away from the church, away from God.  I can't imagine what He'll do now that my goals are Christ-centered and focused on prayer!

Health

This is the BIGGIE.  This is the thing that's been impacted the most, and it's because of Shakeology.  So many people believe the myth that it's a protein shake.  If it is just a protein shake, I'm an absolute idiot to pay more than a dollar or two for it, and there's no reason for me to drink it every day.  Very few people are protein deficient enough that they need a protein shake daily. But again... I digress.

Because of Shakeology, I can put in a major workout and still MOVE the next day.  I'm stronger and more able to accomplish my next goals.  And not just that, but I'm rarely sick. It boosts immunity (so I get to spend all my sick days on Ella, and not myself), my skin and hair are much improved, I am more "regular" (which is great as a teacher, because I don't really have bathroom emergencies), my lung capacity has improved (I used to get winded super easily), I've LEARNED more about nutrition because I want to know WHY Shakeology is amazing (no worries, I'll link you to the posts about all that at the bottom), and my overall well-being has improved.  I just FEEL better!

And isn't that what everyone wants? To be able to get up in the morning and just feel GOOD?

Like I said, I could have stumbled into any kind of "health" shake that didn't provide me with all the nutrition that I need in a day, or contained ingredients that were not whole foods or were comprised of chemicals... it would not have been a pretty picture.

But I know, way back then, when I very FIRST got started with Beachbody (well now that's a whole other story), I was blessed and God had this plan for me.  Someone told me I needed Shakeology, so I went with it.  Then I decided to see why it was worth all the hype and why it made me feel so amazing.

Literally, thank God for Shakeo!

Relationships

Holy cow.  The people I've met through this experience.  Not just the people on my team, but other local coaches.  I've met other fellow PiYo LIVE instructors and other coaches who got started "just for the discount" like I did.  And one of them has blessed me more than she knows.

I was talking to Karen, a local coach who happened to see a group I was running posted in our local coach group on Facebook.  She participated in my group, and even won first place in the challenge!  She loves Shakeology as much as me, and knows that it's a blessing in her life.  But here's the big thing...

This was during my two year Jesus hiatus.  I would drive by churches on the road and question if I even believed anymore.  I was in a bad place, and I actively avoided even thinking about God, for fear that I would realize that I didn't believe in Him, that I may renounce Him.  That's a scary thought and I didn't want to accidentally even think it.

That's where I was when I talked to Karen on the phone for the first time.  I was in the drive thru pharmacy at Wal-Mart, picking up something for Ella when she blurted out "are you a believer?" And, without a second thought, I said "yes."  

That's what got the ball rolling for my thinking about my faith, thinking about what I believed, and deciding to make a commitment to go back to church.

Of course, my team and the family they have become have proven to be an amazing support and an incredible asset, but for me personally, that one interaction has been one of the biggest blessings that Beachbody (and specifically Shakeology, since that was what we were talking about) has been in my life.  No one else will have my specific, unique experience with the relationships that come because of this decision, but everyone who gets involved with Beachbody has their own personal story and is able to tap into a network with this kind of support and this kind of benefits.  I hear so often that people don't want to "do Beachbody" because they need to be around the people at the gym, but my team is ALWAYS there, I can talk to them at any time, and the challenges we run are more motivating to me than a gym membership could ever be.  

As I always say, if you find something that gives you the results you're looking for, go for it.  Do what's right for you.  But for me, it's THIS.

Mentality

Lately my mentality focus has shifted.  Yes, my confidence has improved, yes my I'm less stressed, yes I am bolder and more confident, and I still attribute those things somewhat to Beachbody.  That's where it started.  But lately the mentality shift is coming primarily through prayer, and Beachbody backs it up, because, again, God has blessed me with these tools, this community, this outlook on life and how I should honor Him THROUGH Beachbody. 

Financial

Every month since I've started actively coaching, I have at least made enough in commissions to cover the cost of my own personal Shakeology purchase.  Most months I made my car payment as well (which is now totally paid off, whoop whoop!).  I've begun to budget my money more efficiently and learned to plan for things, like making sure to make a meal plan and stick to it in order to stop wasting money at the grocery store.  In June I had five coaches join me in the business and earned a $100 bonus in addition to other commissions, and Beachbody has other bonus money that can be earned at higher ranks.  I'm continuing to grow my business and am praying and trusting that God is going to provide in even bigger ways in the upcoming months!

He's HERE! - A Teenager's Heart and the Living Church

I grew up in church. I was there on Sunday mornings, Sunday nights, Wednesday nights, in children's choir, youth choir, on mission trips... if it was happening, I was involved.

But that doesn't mean that I was always "all in."  People come to their own spiritual awakening and recognize the voice of Jesus calling them on their own time.  For me, it was relatively early on.  I remember making the decision to be saved and baptized and asking my mom, after I'd prayed the prayer and was waiting on baptizing, if I would still go to heaven if I died before I had a chance to be baptized.  I was ready for a new life, at the tender age of 8.  I went through several re-dedications since then, and probably will continue to do so, as happens with the human nature, but my salvation is secured.

I used to think that my story wasn't that important because Jesus has always been there.  But when I think back, I think of one key moment when I first FELT Him there. (And I realize that my story DOES matter, but, that's another... well... story.)

My friend Holly and I were at Camp Caswell as teens.  If you knew Holly and I at that time, you would know that we were your typical teenage girls: absolutely 100% unquestionably obsessed with boys.  We even had a rating system on how cute a guy was that was totally and completely arbitrary.

Mongoose = gorgeous.  So, if you've never seen a mongoose, THIS is what we considered to be the most desirable features of the opposite sex:

Isn't he, like, all the rage?

But I digress.

I just wanted to make the point that BOYS, in all their glory, was what was on our minds during what was supposed to be a camp experience aimed toward getting our hearts set on Christ.

Towards the end of the week, when we had effectively categorized all of the male species in the area to their appropriate animal counterpart, we were in a worship service.  The place was packed.  It was hot.  The excitement was palpable.  I don't remember what the song was, but we were in worship, all singing, raising a joyful noise, when Holly grabbed my hand (then promptly wiped it on my own shorts and then grabbed it again, because my hands were always sweaty) and whispered excitedly "He's HERE!"

I looked around, excited. A mongoose siting. Was he close, was he in our row, was he *gasp* looking at us????

That's when I looked to Holly for more direction and noticed that her eyes were closed. How could she see him if her eyes were closed? Which HIM was it?? Was it the guy we'd nicknamed JCC (short for Jimmy Crack Corn... oh yeah... we also had nicknamed all the mongooses)??? Was it the guy who had played a 3 Doors Down Song on his guitar for us on the porch one night??? Was it the one that had stood in front of us in the breakfast line???

I sharply elbowed her.

"WHO's here???"

Without opening her eyes, she smiled. "Him."

Oh. It took me a second. I looked around again. Most of the mongooses had closed eyes.  So did the mosquitoes, despite the fact that they were clearly less desirable.  Heck, even the poor unfortunate koalas had their eyes closed. (*Side note: we must have had a thing for animals indigenous to Australia.) 

 

I had to check myself. HE was here, and clearly I was the only one more focused on other things.

And then, with my sweaty hand still clasped in Holly's, I closed my eyes. I listened. I could FEEL it. HE was HERE.

I'd been saved. My eternal soul was cleared.  But I had never, never, felt the presence like I did that night.  The mongooses, the mosquitoes, the koalas, the JCC's, the guy with his guitar, the breakfast line guy, the uncomfortably sweaty hand... they faded away.  I got the experience for the first time that I call "God hugs."  Nothing else mattered, and my joyful noise rose.  

I've experienced it many times again since then, and Easter Sunday, I was so overcome by it, I couldn't even sing.  I had to fight tears.  It was beautiful, and I was reminded of my night at Caswell because I was sitting beside a young man, probably 10 or 11 years old, during the service.  I know what it's like to be that age and sit in a packed room with lots of adults talking about adult stuff, like transgressions and servitude and redemption.  I know what it's like to doodle, with half an ear open for what I could possibly gain from the guy in the front giving a speech.  Even though I am content, as a preteen, with listening to this guy, and I know I'm doing what my parents want me to do, I am still counting down the time, listening to my rumbling belly. Doesn't that preacher guy know it's time to eat?

And then the service is ending and the music starts.  It's a familiar song to me.  I think, man, this song is kinda heavy for a big crowd to sing, but I like this song.  I start to sing along.  The others start to fade.  He's here. 

Then.

This little voice beside me starts singing along. Louder. Louder. Louder. Hands up.  This 10 or 11 year old boy, eyes closed, belting out the words to "What A Beautiful Name."

He's here.

I try to keep singing. I close my eyes.

He's here.

Tears start to well up as I listen to this little voice beside me.  

He's here.

I start to realize how much this young man must be exposed to the beautiful truths of Jesus, that he knows this song, that he knows the feelings, that he knows...  He knows...

He's here.

I want that for Ella.  She picks up on everything.  She loves church, she loves to pray (and I'm okay with her ending her prayers with "a-sucker" because "amen" is what the adults say, she likes suckers, so she wants to say "a-sucker"), she loves to sing... she loves God.  I want her to feel Him, to know He's here always, not just when we're in deep worship or the spiritual high of an amazing service.

So I tell you, I feel Him more often now.  At home, in the car, at work... I feel Him. He's here. I hear so often that church is not needed for salvation, and I agree, to a point.  What is needed for salvation is a relationship, a commitment, and the attestation that Jesus Christ is your personal savior. However, if you want to feel Him, and know that He's here all the time, I invite you to find a church that is LIVING.  I invite you to come with me, to experience LIVE worship, LIVE praise, LIVE renewal.

So many people are attending dead churches.  That's why they don't think it matters, that church matters.  It's because they can't feel Him.  They don't know He's here, they are going through the motions.  Everything is routine.

But a LIVING church makes the difference.  It's the kind of place you want to serve in, the kind of place you want to be, any day of the week, not just Sunday.  It's the kind of place where relationships are built and maintained, where people love you, despite.  Despite your differences, despite your past, despite your sin.  

Despite your story.

Because Jesus gives you a new story.  So ask yourself: is your new story a story of LIVING, or one of wheels spinning, head down, going through the motions? You were meant for more.  You were meant to LIVE.

7 Ways to Save Moolah to Prioritize Your Health

What is the number one thing I hear about why someone doesn't want to try Shakeology? The cost.

That is a VALID reason.

I get it, and I've been there.

But IF you want to prioritize your health and make the best decision for your body, it's absolutely affordable.  Here are some tips that have made it easier for me.

1. Understand what you're getting
This is huge. When I jumped in, I didn't know what I was getting, I was just told that I needed it and that it would help me with being healthy, so I went with it.  Luckily, I stumbled into the best possible thing and not something fake, nasty, or that didn't do all it promised.

So what does it promise? I think a lot of times it gets tagged as a protein shake... but I wouldn't even consider it that.  I mean, if you NEED protein, it contains enough to be considered a protein shake, but you need to understand exactly what you're getting!  I've done a few blogs about it, so I won't bore you and repeat myself if you've been following me, but definitely check these out if you haven't already...

It's...
ALL All Natural Ingredients

Not A Protein Shake

Craving Blasting Nutrition

Once you understand exactly what you're getting with Shakeology (and what you're NOT getting), it's a little easier to understand WHY you need it and WHY it's so valuable in your life.

2. Need vs. Want
This is a really easy way to budget for yourself anyway.  And I'm not always the best at it! But make a list of the things that you are spending money on monthly.  There are things that you NEED to pay for every month: food, shelter, transportation...

But there are some things that you're paying for that you might find you're able to cut out, and things that you might be able to replace with Shakeology.  For example, I'll get into it more, but I stopped buying things like candy, sodas, over-the-counter meds, snacks... again, I'll get more into it, but I found things that I only "wanted" and didn't "need" that I could cut out of my budget pretty easily.  Think about the things that you spend money on, the things that aren't that healthy, that you could cut out and make more room in your budget for something GOOD for you!

3. Move money
...to a swiss bank account. No just kidding.

A friend of mine actually told me she was doing this and I thought it was brilliant! She said every time she thinks about grabbing a soda or candy bar, she takes the money that she was going to spend on it and move it to a jar for a month.

I know for some people this seems difficult because we don't always carry around cold hard cash... so track the prices of things that you would normally impulse buy (trashy magazines, candy bars, chips, sodas, sweets, a Starbucks run) and move that money from checking to savings, or use cold hard cash if that's your style.  See how much you end up saving over the course of a month! You may be surprised at how easy it is to save up enough for something HEALTHY!

4. Subtract what you won't need
You already have a little money saved up, now start thinking about the things that you won't be buying any more as you are being consistent with your health.  For me, the biggest benefit has been the boost in immunity.  Before Shakeology, I was plagued with sinus and allergy issues, plus various illnesses I picked up from the students I work with.  Because of immunity boosting and anti-viral ingredients in Shakeology, those days are gone.  I no longer stumble into the drug store in an allergy-or-cold-or-sinus-infection haze grabbing several over the counter medications not being sure exactly what the culprit was.  And after days mouth breathing, I'd finally stumble into the doctor's office, and pay whatever co-pay they asked for just for them to tell me exactly why I was sick, and to stick it out with over the counter meds.  Those are the kinds of expenses I know I can subtract out of my monthly budget and apply toward being PROactive instead of REactive.

5. Make a plan
I am NOT a planner.  I am super spontaneous, and that doesn't always work anymore as a mommy.  So I've taken up making some plans and learning to stick to them.  I still have space for spontaneity, but there are some things I've learned I NEED to plan.  When I first started improving my eating habits, I would go to the grocery store, continue buying all the junk I'd been buying before, and buy every piece of produce I thought I might like.

I thought eating healthy was SO expensive.

It didn't work because I didn't have a plan.  I was still eating the junk first, and the produce was going bad.  So I thought I was spending way more money and wasn't getting any healthier.  I thought right.

What was I missing? A plan.

So I started planning my meals and buying ONLY what was on my list.  And sticking to the plan.  That way, produce wasn't going bad and I wasn't eating a bunch of junk. And Shakeology fit right into my meal plan as a snack.  Of course, some people use it to replace a meal, so consider the money you would be saving if you replaced breakfast or lunch... $3 to $4 for a lunch that's EVEN better for you than a salad, but with MORE nutrition than a salad, and WAY cheaper than a $5 foot long.

Need help with making a meal plan you'll stick to? Let's chat, and check out this amazing deal on meal planning that will keep you moving towards your goals!

6. Be consistent
None of the things above will help you if you're not consistent.  You need to be getting in your nutrition daily in order to consistently feel the benefits.  I drink my Shakeology daily, but I have definitely missed a few days, a weekend here and there, some holidays... but that was before I was really good at planning it out and packing it to take it with me wherever I was going.  With consistency, my cravings for crap disappear (saving me money on junk food), my immunity is better (saving me on meds and copays consistently), my energy naturally increases (saving on multiple trips to the coffee maker), my skin clears (saving me on expensive make up to cover blemishes)... and I KNOW monthly where my money is going.  Every time you stop and start back over, your system has to re-adjust to incorporate the nutrients and build up the benefits.  Consistency is the key.

7. Do it with a friend
Know it's what you want to do for your health? Talk to your friends! Share the knowledge that you have, and do it with a friend, a neighbor, a coworker, a family member... Find someone who will want to encourage you in person and accept a healthy challenge WITH you! This will help with consistency, but it could also earn you some of your investment back!

I signed up as a coach with Beachbody JUST to get a discount on my Shakeology.  That 25% discount was quite nice.  And since I was loving it and sharing my results, people started wanting in on my secret.  Even though I said I didn't want to actually coach, more people kept coming to me and I figured, well, heck.  I might as well help them AND make back some of my investment.  At $30 a pop when my friends order their Shakeology through ME, my investment gets paid in FULL when 3 people want to try it!  Even without sharing it with friends, the discount helps me save monthly!

Bonus: WIN MONEY!
Ah, yes. The  Beachbody Challenge.  By simply submitting before and after photos and sharing a little of your story, you win at least free gear: a shirt, a shaker cup, shorts... but you also get entered to win money!  Check out some of these awesome stories:

Check out their stories, plus more, here!

Super Saturday Recap

Super Saturday was SUCH a great experience! What is it? It's Beachbody's quarterly coach and guest get together where we learn about NEW products, get some amazing motivation, share our own stories, and workout together!  So, here's a little re-cap of what went down THIS Saturday!

Me with guest speaker Keichun Graves!

What's NEW in FITNESS!
We'll start with the exciting news!  We have TWO new programs coming out, TWO new Shakeology flavors, and TWO new super food ingredients being added to Shakeology!

Beachbody On Demand is getting better by the minute! It's already the best deal in health and fitness, but the two new programs that are being introduced will be added for immediate access to Beachbody On Demand for anyone who has an all access account! That means that when You V2 is released on May 16, you can get in on it immediately! Same with Shift Shop being released in July!

You V2 is going to be a GREAT place to get started on your fitness journey! If you HATE working out, or you have a significant amount of weight to lose before you can move on to more difficult programs, OR you just want to have some FUN, this is going to be YOUR program!  It includes fun music from the 80s and 90s and the dynamic personality of Leandro Carvalho of Brazil Butt Lift fame! It even has a channel for the kids to get involved in! Check out this video to get more info and to get excited about it!

Another AMAZING place to start? Shift Shop! The video explains it all, but it's like having a personal training session in your own home!  And it's based around building athleticism with dynamic moves that you learn and master through the first week, and then build on during weeks 2 and 3! AND the nutrition plan helps train your brain in the same way!

These are going to be GREAT additions to the current programs already ON Beachbody On Demand.  There are already OVER 40 fitness and nutrition programs, a reality show, a cooking show, opportunities to try out LIVE formats of programs like Insanity and PiYo, Challenge Du Jour to allow you to try out several programs in a systematic way... and so much more!!

And working out from home helps fit the health bill for almost everyone! The average gym membership is $58 per month, which totals $696 per year!  And 67% of people with memberships don't even use the membership! And the ones who do? Most, like me, go to the gym and are clueless on what to actually do! I would walk into the gym maybe twice a week, try a random class that sounded fun (regardless of what I needed to work), and then spend 30 minutes walking no the treadmill.  Compare all of THAT to paying $30 for EVERY BEACHBODY PROGRAM for an entire year... programs that are systematic, proven, most around 30 to 45 minutes long, and can be done without finding childcare, without driving anywhere, and without the cluelessness of how to eat and what to do from one day to the next!

Beachbody is going 10 years strong for a REASON! They continue to change with the times and add in new programs and nutrition as the demand goes up!  With support from a coach (like me, hello!!) and other challengers who have been where YOU are, the only way to fail is to not begin!

What's NEW in SHAKEOLOGY!
Now on to.... NEW SHAKEOLOGY FLAVORS!!! Drum roll please.....







VEGAN VANILLA AND VEGAN CAFE LATTE!!!! I LOVE the vegan flavors we already have, but now I can add even more variety to the chocolate and tropical strawberry rotation!  And they're ALREADY available!!

These flavors have been a request from vegan fanatics for a while, but it takes a while to get them perfect, and they HAVE to be perfect before Beachbody will pass them on to consumers! Why? The flavor needs to be delicious.  It's super easy to get cheap artificial flavors.  In fact, that's what most companies do.  They get their flavors from third party sources and may not even know where the flavors came from.  Not Beachbody.  Shakeology's ingredients go through a 13 step process between testing the soil that our ingredients come from and the bag showing up at your doorstep.  Ingredients are tested several times to make sure they are of the best quality.  No artificial ingredients, non-gmo, no soy, no chemicals.

Shakeology is the missing link that MOST people don't have in their routine.  Even the most avid gym member who eats the most perfect diet are missing something.  It's the ingredients that are in Shakeology that meet all of your nutritional needs that you're missing out on!  There are several reasons:
1. the ingredients on their own don't taste that great
2. you may not be able to get most of the ingredients in the store
3. you may not even know that you need these ingredients

Check out this video of what's IN Shakeology! (AND check out what's NOT in Shakeology)

And it looks like Tony Horton needs to add in a few more ingredients in his spare time (you know, when he's not doing things like 22 Minute Hard Corps, Insanity series, or P90 series) because...

We have two NEW ingredients!  

Chaga and Matcha have been used for thousands of years to fight free radicals and stress, and add vitamins, minerals, and anti-oxidants!

And, of course, we had some samples to give out!

The MISSION Remains the SAME!
Beachbody's mission has not changed: to end the trend. What does that mean?

We want to end the trends of obesity through being the ultimate provider of fitness and nutrition.

We want to end the trend of loneliness by connecting others to a support system and fostering relationships that last.

We want to end the trend of living paycheck to paycheck by allowing consumers to build a team and earn money from their commitment to their own health and fitness goals, not just through commissions, but also through other bonuses and chances to WIN money with the Beachbody Challenge.

We want to end the trend of self doubt through building confidence, improving body image, and raising awareness for a healthy lifestyle.

We want to end the trend of excuses by providing ALL of the tools needed to be successful towards your goals, and working towards NEW goals.

The WORKOUT!!!

This time, I got to lead the workout with another coach, Brandy Anderson!  We had SO much fun introducing other coaches to PiYo LIVE!  Here's a quick clip of our strength session and some of the pictures we got from the workout!  It was such a fun experience leading about 30 people in a group workout! 

Two Ways to Make Vegan Guilt Free Ice Cream

We can do this two ways. The easy way, or the hard way. I'll start with the easy way.

The Easy Way
You can add what you want, but this is the base recipe:
Ingredients:
1 scoop vegan chocolate shakeology
half a banana, frozen
splash of dark chocolate almond milk
ice

I added some shredded coconut and a little caramel extract for this one.

Instructions:
Blend ingredients together until it has the consistency of a frosty from Wendy's... Add water if you need more liquid and more ice if you need to thicken it. You can enjoy it at that consistency, or stick it in the freezer for 20 to 30 minutes to get a more ice cream consistency. (I went more with the frosty recipe, I didn't want to wait 20 to 30 minutes 😝)

The Hard Way
Ingredients:
half a banana, frozen
splash of dark chocolate almond milk
ice
a small amount each of: pea protein, oat protein, rice protein, chia (seed), flax (seed), quinoa (seed), cacao (bean), agave (fruit), pea fiber (seed), chlorella (whole plant), yacon (root), chordyceps (fungi), acerola cherry (fruit), pomegranate (fruit), chicory fiber (root), camu-camu (fruit), blueberry (fruit), bilberry (fruit), astragalus (root), lycium berry (fruit), moringa (leaf), maitake (fungi), reishi (fungi), Methylsulfonylmethane, Spinach (leaf), ashwagandha (root), amylase, cellulase, lactase, glucoamylase, alpha-galactosidase, intervase, kale (leaf), rose hips (fruit), lactobacillus sporogenes, luo han guo (fruit), schisandra (fruit), maca (root), cinnamon (bark), green tea extract (leaf), and spirulina.

Instructions:
Blend ingredients together until it has the consistency of a frosty from Wendy's... Add water if you need more liquid and more ice if you need to thicken it. You can enjoy it at that consistency, or stick it in the freezer for 20 to 30 minutes to get a more ice cream consistency.