Help My Unbelief: A Tribute to Michael

I don't go to a lot of funerals, I just haven't known that many people at this point in my life who have passed.  So, I don't know if it's standard practice, but when we went to my cousin Michael's funeral, the preacher PREACHED. And it was a really really good message.  I still pray that someone in that crowd was touched. Seeds were definitely planted, and if there's something to be gained from death, another soul for Christ is the biggest gain you could pray for.

It's probably hard to decide what to preach about at a funeral, but he preached about having questions and brought up a verse I hadn't heard before and started the domino effect that lead to this post.  I've been formulating it in my head for a while, but a recent interaction on Facebook pushed me to go ahead and get pen to paper (or technically finger tips to keyboard) to make sense of the stuff going around in my head.

Help My Unbelief.
The scripture was Mark 9:24
Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

Help my unbelief.  How often is THAT exactly what we need to pray? We believe. But, being logical human beings, it's so natural to question, to be sure you have things already figured out, to not understand, to just WANT to figure things out and have them make sense in your head.

We will never be perfect, we will always have questions.  And it's healthy, as a believer, to ask these questions.  Because unbelievers have all the questions we have, plus so many more.  And it's not our responsibility, as witnesses to ANSWER all the questions, or have any idea on HOW to answer the questions, but it's important to show that we believe in the face of the questions, that we acknowledge those questions, and that what we CAN do is pray about the questions and help find answers to the ones that matter.

Because some don't matter.
Dinosaurs? Doesn't matter.
The missing link? Doesn't matter.
Why we drive on parkways and park on driveways? Doesn't matter.

These questions are often useful to distract from a greater truth, the only Truth.  Because the fact of faith is that faith is believing EVEN IF all signs point to something else.  That's the beauty of faith and having a heart centered on Christ.

When those questions come up in your conversations with unbelievers, it's important not to gloss over, but point back to faith, and to point to prayer and helping them discover why the questions are affecting their walk with Christ and their decision to believe or not.  The questions may not be important to you, but may have a significance to them.

And you can always point back to this verse.  A man, in the VERY FACE of JESUS, who was performing a miracle on his son, STILL had unbelief.  How easy it must be to have unbelief in today's time, when we don't have Jesus in our midst, performing miracles, walking on water, and turning water into wine (can I get an amen on that on a Friday night?)...

Mustard Seed Faith.
The questions can feel debilitating.  They can make us believe that the whole system is broke, our whole belief is invalid, just because we have a question or two or 3904.  Well. There's good news on that front.

From Matthew 17:20 -
"Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

I have a feeling that if Jesus had had this conversation today, he may have used an even smaller item to compare "small" faith to. Maybe an atom? Or a part of an atom? (I guess those are the smallest things I'm aware of.)

That's good news. Really good news. Especially in the face of questions.  It's just another way Jesus reassures us that it's OKAY to have questions.  You can move an entire mountain, if God wants you moving that mountain, with faith the size of a mustard seed.  As adults, it's SO hard to have that childlike faith.  I can remember waking my parents in the middle of the night asking them why Jesus didn't put a baby unicorn under my pillow, because I was praying for it really hard. (I'm having the realization at this very moment that I'm probably about to get a very similar question from my precocious threenager very soon...) I whole-heartedly believed I was getting that unicorn.

In the FIRE.
So let's take one more look at faith.  First of all, I'd like to share this song:

It absolutely speaks volumes about our faith and the fact that sometimes we pray for things, and the answer is just "no." And it alludes to one of my very favorite Bible stories.

In Daniel 3, we hear about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Apart from having really awesome names, they also have a really awesome story.  There were, quite literally, put to the flame.  Much like Daniel in the lion's den, their faith was tested, and the heat was on. (That's two fire puns so far, for those keeping track.)  They were tested.  They were mocked, and told to call on their God to save them from the flames.  And their response?

"If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand.  But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."

 They knew that it might not be God's will for them to survive.  They were able to boldly uphold their own beliefs, follow in faith, and trust that God had a plan for them.  Because sometimes God doesn't want the mountain moved.  It's not to us to determine what's His timing.

What's this got to do with Michael?

Sometimes we have questions that don't necessarily lie on the stories from the Bible, but from a circumstance in our own lives. 

Why me? Why that? Why now? Why not someone else?

Faith in the fire doesn't have to be literal fire.  It's trusting that God's will is DONE, no matter how painful it is, and how painful it will continue to be.  Losing someone hurts.  And I only use that word because I can't think of a stronger word or a more accurate word for the feeling. 

There's a void.  There's an emptiness.  There's regret.  There are questions.  There are tears.  There are moments of extreme pain.  There's quiet solitude.  There's screaming in protest.  There's denial.  

There are questions.

We won't know the answers.  They are not for us to know.  But we will also never know the full impact. Someone like Michael fit more life into one moment than most people fit into a year.  He touched more people than we probably even know about.  Around the world, people grieve over his passing and wonder why him? why that? why now?

But ya'll.  At the funeral.  That preacher PREACHED.  And I don't know specifics, but I know someone heard. Someone's heart is changing.  And someone is accepting their Savior because they knew Michael, and loved him enough to be at his funeral, and heard the call of Jesus.

Throwback Thursday

June 6, 2005

The old hobo sings

And he sings of Love

And he sings it with a smile

On his weathered old face

Why is he so happy? 

What could this joy be

That nothing in his pockets 

Could ever replace?

And he sings:

I want you to know...

I want you to know...

God's all you'll ever need...

I just wanted you to know.

As she sleeps

She's a body at rest

And he looks on

And tries his best

To memorize everything

The last view of the love he's known

He holds her hand

As she draws her last breath

And with it she sings:

I want you to know...

I want you to know...

He's all you'll ever need...

I just wanted you to know.

He hangs there silently

And they look on

Not knowing what they do

Yet forgiven anyway

Spit, whip, yelling, cursing,

Where is your God now?

His blood flows down

Mixed with salvation

And to the world He sings:

I want you to know...

I want you to know...

I'm all you'll ever need...

I just wanted you to know.

Pictorial Tour of the BEST Deal in Health and Fitness

Beachbody On Demand is seriously the best thing I've ever done for my health and fitness journey. And it KEEPS getting better.  For an entire year I have access to every single Beachbody fitness and nutrition program, PLUS a whole lot more content to keep things interesting, keep me motivated, and keep me SUPPORTED through my journey.

So what do I have access to?

 Over FORTY programs, including all the workouts, plus the deluxe workouts to amp up your routine.  Complete workout calendars tailored to get your body the best results in the best possible to keep your body functioning just right. Program guide and nutrition guide to lead you through every step of the way. Fitness worksheets to help you track your progress.

Content you can't get ANYWHERE else. A yoga studio that combines all of the yoga components of each program. A cooking show that tells you WHY to eat certain things and HOW to prepare it. A reality show to find the next Super Trainer. Exclusive workouts from all of the super trainers. A workout program geared toward each trimester of pregnancy and post partum. And immediate access to everything NEW that comes out in 2017!

Answers to all of your questions.  Recipe support. Master trainer workouts to experience a live class format. Challenge Du Jour to try out new programs without committing while still getting a total body, formulated workout. Answers to your frequently asked questions.

And it's all available to stream online.  In combination with Shakeology, you have the absolute BEST deal in health, fitness, and nutrition.  That in combination with challenge group support and the team atmosphere promoted in our team will keep you going and KEEP you successful!  The only missing part, is YOU!

Direct Sales and Jesus

I preface this post by saying that I myself am ever-learning, ever-growing, and ever-changing.  I have probably been both a victim as well as a perpetrator of what this post is about, so be easy on me as I continue to learn, grow, and change in both my spiritual and professional life.

Recently, I've found myself drawing great parallels between how I try to run my Beachbody business, and how I lead my life as a Christian.  We have been talking in my life group (and as a church as a whole) lately about starting conversations that will lead to a greater end of talking about Jesus and telling our story.  And it has struck me how amazingly similar that conversation feels to how Beachbody teaches our coaches to talk to others about Beachbody.  It's all about a relationship, developing a deeper connection, and stepping out of your comfort zone to help another person in need, whether it's a physical, mental, financial, social, or spiritual need.

Beachbody coaches follow 4 vital behaviors, so I'm going to break down the parallels that I've found by those four behaviors, and maybe give you a little insight into my OWN story, both with Beachbody and with Jesus, as well as a sneak peek into how a successful coach runs a business based on love.

First, you HAVE to be a product of the product.  You can't expect anyone to do something that you, yourself, are not willing to do.  And, you can't expect someone to try something that you can't personally attest works for you.  In my Beachbody business, that means I'm consistently using Beachbody products and showing the results.  I can't sit at home and eat pizza all day but expect my challengers to meal prep and watch their container counts.  It just doesn't work that way and I find that when I am more consistent with my own health and fitness, my business runs better too.  More people reach out to me for help (be it through a free group or through an actual program and Shakeology) and I'm able to offer more support to them and my previous challengers.

So how does this work in my Christian life? I have to use what I'm "selling."  I can't just rely on going to church once a week and then go home and forget about it.  Pastor Corts says that our walk with Christ is not a "moment" but a "movement."  We HAVE to display our faith consistently.  Why would anyone want to join me in my Christian walk if I'm constantly using profanity, miserable about all the world hands me, and doing things that are not of God?  KNOWING that, until very recently, those things were prevalent in my life, there has to be a CHANGE.  I'm not selling those values anymore, so the change has to be visible.  I have to display JOY in the midst of sorrow and triumph through the hard times, WHILE giving God the glory.  I have to do those things THROUGH Christ, not independent of Him.  And that has to be evident.

For the past two years, I have not been involved in church, I stumbled, and allowed myself to get out of the habit.  My daughter did not know who Jesus was or to close her eyes during family prayers.  I never made the outward decision to leave church and not come back, it just happened because I wasn't consistent and I didn't have it as a goal in my life.  My personal spiritual setback is my testimony, though.  I grew up in church, I don't have a grandiose over the top Come to Jesus story where I was involved with drugs sex and rock-n-roll.  But I have MY story, and it's time to start sharing it more. Which leads me to....

With Beachbody, when we mention inviting someone, we consider any conversation an invitation.  Even if Beachbody, or even health and fitness, does not come up.  It's really more about a relationship.  Getting to know others, their goals, and how you can help them achieve something in their life, is really what changing lives is all about.  We truly value our friends and families and want to foster those relationships.  I say this being aware that I have TOTALLY jumped straight into a conversation of "hey do you want to try x product? I saw you posted about wanting to achieve x and it worked for me!"  Um. I'm trying to break that habit, because it's NOT effective. It's all about planting seeds with LOVE, and continuing to water them by being there and ready when someone is ready to accept the help that you offer.  Trust me, that approach is much easier than "hey girl, you wanna lose some weight?" (Pretty sure that gets you blocked. Understandably blocked.)

It's the same with Jesus. Most people who are not involved in church, are not involved in church for a reason and are NOT looking to be preached to.  I know this because I was there.  Those two years that I was not at church? I was being preached to.  Each time I talked to a certain person, it came up, it was uncomfortable, and I didn't want to hear it.  It did nothing to help me get back to church.  But that's not to say we don't need to bring it up at some point.  The point has to come when the opportunity naturally presents itself, and with prayer, it WILL present itself.  It could come seemingly out of the blue, or it could naturally come up.  But with trust that God will give you the words to say and the will to do what he puts in your heart to do, the opportunity will present itself and will become more and more natural feeling.  Again, it's about planting seeds with LOVE, and then continuing to water them.

Sharing your own personal story (hello, vital behavior number 1) helps a LOT to have people come to you, but you also need to be willing to START the conversation.  Even if it's just a conversation, a "hey how's it going" or "wanna grab coffee?" Beating someone over the head, be it with a company or with the cross, doesn't work for anyone.  You HAVE to start with the relationship, and you HAVE to lead with love.

Personal development can come in so many forms.  And it's the vital behavior that I struggle with the most.  Even devoting ten minutes of my day to reading up on confidence boosters or product knowledge or stepping out of my comfort zone is usually the LAST thing on my to do list daily, but it's, um, VITAL.  As said before, when I'm consistent with it, my business is consistent.  Sometimes it comes in the form of listening to podcasts, sometimes it's a book, a blog, a video, an article... But it needs to happen daily.

Guess what? The same is true for my spiritual life.  I am nothing if I am not in the word daily.  And it can come in the same forms.  Podcast. Devotional. Bible. Blog. Video. Music.  But make sure that whatever you're consuming is God-centered and directed toward something in your life. (Don't worry, this blog entry can count. I asked God. He said He'd lead what I write.) Remember, it's a "movement" not a "moment"? So that means you need to be in the Word daily.  Guess what else? This is the thing that I struggle with the most. But when I'm doing it, I'm where I need to be. Especially if I can start my day in the Word or in worship.

For Beachbody, recognition is the newest of the vital behaviors and becomes more vital once you are a little more established in your coaching career.  As in, you have a few people to actually recognize.  But it can relate to just about anything.  You could recognize your own coach for helping you with something, another coach for inspiring you, a friend for an NSV (non-scale victory), someone for staying consistent with their workout, a mommy who made time for herself... whatever!  It doesn't have to be huge, just a little shout out to those who are putting in the work.  This helps boost each other up, but also helps show the COMMUNITY that we share within Beachbody, letting others know that we provide support and love on each other.

And as a Christian, the ultimate recognition needs to go back to God.  I have an amazing friend Karen (hey Karen!!!) who I have been planning out a little shout out for, but I KNOW that she will pass that recognition on to God, because that's who she is, and that's who HE is, and that's who the real recognition should go to.  Everything needs to reflect Him.  Every victory, belongs to Him.  And that's where the real recognition will always ultimately go.  But it doesn't mean that we don't give shout outs to the Earthly representation of Jesus in our friends and family.  Thanking them for allowing God to work THROUGH them, for stepping out to share His words, and for feeding us when we were hungry (sometimes spiritually, sometimes physically) does wonders to foster the community of God and to show others the support within the church because, honestly, that is often the big turnoff: that someone was not supported in the church.

The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today
Is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips
Then walk out the door and deny him by their lifestyle.
That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.

-DCTalk

What If I Stumble?

3-Day Refresh: Day 4 and Beyond

In case you don't know anything about the 3-Day Refresh, check out my blog post about my second round, and the good, the bad, and the ugly.

So I want to RE-re-emphasize my point of doing the program in the first place (because I know some of ya'll WON'T go back and read the blog post that explains it all), was to get my mindset back to a healthy eating lifestyle and to remind myself that I CAN overcome food temptations more than anything else.  The physical transformations were great, but just a side effect of the short, intense, eating program.

The BIG thing to know is that eating like that is not meant to be long term and that you HAVE to make changes in your mindset in regards to eating that continue for a longer duration.

I was asked what I would eat on day 4. Cookies? Pizza? Ice cream? Whatever I wanted?

No.

That's not going to do me any good at all.  The good news is, the program comes with a maintenance guide that tells you exactly how to eat to maintain your results!  It's very similar to the type of meal plan you would have on programs like 21 Day Fix, 21 Day Fix Extreme, Hammer and Chisel, 22 Minute Hard Corps, etc.

And since I had to majorly plan out what to eat for those three days, it really gave me a lot of confidence to continue on!

So, was I perfect? Nope!  But I planned, and I resisted some stuff.

I had my normal eggs cooked with coconut oil, fruit, and toast (with coconut oil and cinnamon) for breakfast (and coffee!!!!)...  I knew I was talking Ella to Chick Fil A for a treat that day, so I had the Spicy Southwest Salad (very little dressing, no toppings) and unsweet tea. Resisted the cookie. That was big haha.  Then we were going to the movies, so we split a small popcorn.  She's definitely my child because she ate  most of it and begged for more.  THAT was a big resist too, because I definitely wanted more and it's HARD to tell her no!  Had my shake and some fruit when we got home, then had steak, home made mashed potatoes, and brussel sprouts for dinner.  Only had half of the steak (so... resisted some there) and a small portion of mashed potatoes because I knew they were loaded with butter!  So the day wasn't even based around container counts, but I felt proud of myself for letting myself indulge a little and practice some resistance.  (I also wanted candy at the movies and fruit snacks, so, more wins there!)

Where do we go from here? Meal planning, plain and simple. And... sticking to it.  I'll never be perfect, but I do want to come pretty close!

3-Day Refresh: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

So before we begin, let's discuss the "why."

I spent two weeks grieving over a shocking family death. It's still hard to even type that out.

And... I live in the south. So, what do we do when someone is grieving in the south? We bless their heart and we bring over a cake. Or a pie. Or fried chicken.

And that is NOT to sound unappreciative. I'm very appreciative that my family was well-taken care of and that the basic needs were covered. But another way we grieve is by overindulging. And I overindulged for those two weeks. Think: a dessert sampler platter after a boatload of fried chicken, dumplings, and biscuits. Also known as: all things sugar and carbs.

So I knew I'd have to reign it all back in, hard. For me, the 3-Day Refresh was a kick start BACK to a healthy eating lifestyle and get my mindset back into the mind frame of "I can do it."  I can resist temptation of not-so-great foods. I can stick to a plan. I can do what's RIGHT for my body.

So let's break it down. I'll tell you everything: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

The Good.
Well that's what you're all here for, right? The results? With the disclaimer of I REALLY wanted a mind set reset and a feeling of accomplishing something good over anything else, the results of my body getting cleared of the junk I'd been putting in it, plus getting a little of the bloat to go away, was a great physical representation of my body coming back to me. So... results:

That's right! 3.5 pounds and 2 inches DOWN. And my mind set is in a place that I don't want to waste my efforts, I want to keep the momentum! You can even see those stupid shorts (that used to fit RIGHT) are a little looser in the second pictures than in the first!

Other goods? Well let's talk about what the 3-Day Refresh IS.  It's not 3 days of starvation or just limiting what you eat. It's formulated, proven, and clinical trials have repeatedly proven that it works!  It's a mind game as much as anything else.  So here's the plan:

Each day I had:

• Shakeology and a fruit serving (an orange in my case) for breakfast (green tea was optional, so I had it to curb caffeine withdrawal)
• Fiber Sweep at snack time
• A lunch of Vanilla Fresh shake, a veggie serving (baby carrots), a healthy fat (almond butter), and a fruit serving (a small apple)
• A veggie serving (broccoli) and healthy fat (hummus) for snack
• Afternoon tea (herbal tea)
• A dinner option (recipes are included in the guide), a cup of organic veggie broth (which is optional), and a Vanilla Fresh shake for dinner

During my first round of 3-Day Refresh, I noticed I stayed fuller longer if I had the optional tea breaks.  This time I decided to do the veggie broth, which is optional, but made me feel actually FULL at dinner time.

It's a TON of fiber, ya'll.  It's really to clean out your system, get the mail moving, and I'll talk about that more in another section.  But it's NOT just eating fruits and veggies all day.  The shakes are needed, you're just cheating yourself if you're not including the well-rounded system.  You HAVE to fuel your body.  Here's why the shakes are important:

• Shakeology. I seriously don't go a day without it.  It's everything your body needs in nutrition that you don't get on a regular day's basis (no matter how clean your eating habits are), it keeps your immunity pumping, and it gives you energy to get through your day.  Here's a little about what it does and what's in it.
•  Fiber Sweep. It's not the most delicious thing in the world and you actually need to chug it to get it in before it starts to settle.  But it keeps you full and keeps your system pumping out the bad stuff.  It's made from whole-ground flax, chia, and psyllium seed husks to support digestive health.  It naturally lowers cholesterol and supports healthy blood sugar levels and the psyllium fiber husk may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.  It's also a source of omega-3 fatty acids.  So, a lot more than you would get out of just eating a week's worth of fruits and veggies in a day.
• Vanilla Fresh.  A little more fiber, and it's soy and dairy free.  Plus, (you knew there was a "plus," right?) 20 grams of wholesome plant protein to maintain those sexy lean muscles, 22 essential vitamins and minerals ("essential" meaning you need them to just live right), probiotics to keep that digestion and immune health on point, potato protein extract to curb hunger, and no artificial flavors, colors, preservatives, or sweeteners.  It's pretty yummy, and I added some freebies like cinnamon and all-spice to mine for dinner to change it up just a little.

I FEEL great today! I can tell my body is functioning better and I felt more powerful saying "no" to junk food in my house and eating a healthy breakfast.  I KNOW I can maintain the mindset that came along with my results, and I'm excited to get back to a more strenuous workout routine.

The Bad

There was nothing terrible. But I eat a lot on a normal basis.  And going from packing in everything I could fit on my plate to eating barely anything, well, I definitely knew when it was time to eat.  And there's a lot of fiber involved, so there's some gas to be expected.

I had to overcome some pretty major temptations. And it was HARD.  Kyle made a giant steak (seriously my favorite food ever) on day 1.  On day 2, lunch was catered at the school. Barbecue, delicious-looking rolls, cake... On day 3, Ella was gnoshing on fruit snacks, my number 1 temptation, and I went climbing, so I really wanted a beer or some nachos.

I also was super tired. I'm used to a lot of caffeine and I definitely felt the cut-back.  Plus, I get up at 4 am and go to bed around 9:30, so those are pretty long days.  I'm generally kinda tired, but if I'm being honest, the sleepiness was definitely THERE, but it wasn't debilitating.  I did nap on day 2 and 3 for about 45 minutes, but that's normal for me.

I didn't feel the results as much as I did during my first round, and I didn't have as drastic of results as I did the first time, so I had to adjust my expectations and really consider that I did everything by the book and was doing something perfect for my health.  

For the record, these were my round one results:

I lost 6 pounds in the three days during that first round.

Why the 5 day picture? Because my body continued to clear out the junk and I continued to lose more inches even after completing my 3 days!  In those 5 days, I lost about 9.5 pounds and kept the habits going strong!

The Ugly.

Let's get it out of the way and talk about what you're all worried about. Poop.  Like I said, there's a lot of fiber.  And fiber USUALLY means poop.  If you're not getting a healthy dose of fiber beforehand, you could be dealing with a lot more poop than you might be expecting.  The good news is, that's LITERALLY the bad stuff coming out!

But, it's not explosive.  It's normal, healthy poop.  You're not going to go running out of your office or classroom or living room holding on for dear life hoping to make it to the potty.  You'll just know you need to go, and you'll go quickly.

This round, for some reason, I didn't poop as much as the first round.  In fact, I didn't poop until day 3.  That seemed a little odd, but I'm expecting that it's going to continue settling in and I'll continue to see continued results in the next few days.

Want to try it for yourself? Get your own results here!

The Beauty and the Beast Controversy

Lots of people are mad about stuff these days.  Really, anything we can disagree on, we're mad about.

If you're not mad about something, chances are you're probably mad at the people who ARE mad about it.

It's confusing, hard to keep up with, and divisive.

The latest thing to be up in arms about? That there's an openly gay character in the new Beauty and the Beast live action movie.

OR

The latest thing to be up in arms about? That people are upset that there's an openly gay character in the new Beauty and the Beast live action movie.

Doesn't matter. Either way, people are upset, people are arguing, feelings are hurt, and people are put down for their beliefs and opinions. It's ugly.

What's the solution?

Obviously, boycott the movie if you want to.
OR
Go to the movie if you want to.

But no matter which you decide, TALK to your children.  This is where the controversy lies, right? That children may be exposed to something YOU as a parent don't agree with?
OR
TALK to your children.  This is where the controversy lies, right? That children may be exposed to someone else's opinion that YOU as a parent don't agree with?

It IS important.  It's vital that, no matter which way you lean, or how you are raising your children, you talk to them and lead them in LOVE.  That is the only solution. To love one another and be a shining beacon by example.  If someone "hates" something, we overcome with love.  We explain to our children that hate is a real thing, but that love is the only way to live.

I worked with a man once who was opposed to gay marriage. Okay. That's fine. That's his opinion.  But his reasoning? Because he might have to explain to his daughter why two men were holding hands walking down the street.

Um. News flash.  Banning gay marriage isn't going to stop that.  And you DEFINITELY need to talk to your daughter regardless.  (Side note: he thought lesbians were "hot," so, there's not always a clear divide. Not sure what he planned to tell his daughter about that.)

The point? We need to PREPARE our children for what they will encounter in this world, whether it's the fact that something we don't agree with exists, or the fact that people hate.  They need to be armed for whatever they will face.

So, take your kid to see a movie, or don't.  But you still need to have those conversations and help your children learn to love one another, despite our differences, despite our different opinions. Because the differences exist, and the opinions exist, and it's NOT always pretty or a clear divide.  Leading with love is the only responsible thing to teach.

I Didn't LOVE My First Shakeology.

I've heard this from some of my friends, and I can honestly say this myself.

But I knew that it was really good for me. And if you've seen anything else I've ever posted, you see that there's a ton of benefits. So I thought, I NEED to give this another try!

So here are some common mistakes that people make when they first try Shakeology, and how you can avoid them (or overcome them if you've already made one!)...

1. They tried it shaken, not stirred.
Er. I mean... blended.  My very first Shakeology I tried shaking it in the shaker cup with water.  It was... not great.  The texture was weird.  I had to kinda chug it.  I didn't enjoy it.  I wasn't sure I'd be able to do that every day, but I knew I needed it every day. So, I used a little ice, ice baby. (Sorry for all the outdated pop culture references today...) I have a Magic Bullet blender that I LOVE.  I put in crushed ice, water, almond milk, and my Shakeology and blend for about 30 seconds.  The texture is anywhere from a slushie to a frosty, depending on how much ice I use.  And that's just if I want a simple shake.  Check out some awesome recipes in the next section if you want to add more amazingness to your shake!

2. They didn't follow a recipe.
Some people try to wing it on their first shake.  Or they try to make something up.  A friend of mine mixed chocolate Shakeology and a cup of cold coffee in a blender and hated it.  I think I'd hate that too, but she let it affect her opinion on Shakeology and couldn't get passed her initial reaction.  So let Pinterest be your best friend and search out some recipes first that you think you'll love!  Use other people's experiences to guide you!  And you might find something fun (like, a healthy shamrock-style shake that you can have year round??) that you wouldn't have even considered yourself!

3. They didn't use enough liquid.
For some people, consistency is a BIG issue.  The right amount of liquid can make a HUGE difference, and some of the flavors might need a little more liquid than others.  For example, the Cafe Latte powder is a little looser and I enjoy it with a little less liquid to get more flavor.  But, to me, chocolate needs more liquid to keep from clumping up.  So if you've tried your shake and you don't like the consistency on the first go, don't be afraid to try again with more water or more unsweetened almond milk! It could make a big difference!

4. They didn't get the right flavor.
It happens.  You think you'll love a certain flavor, but it ends up not being exactly what you thought it would be.  In that case, there are a couple of options with Shakeology.  To begin with, there's a 30 day money back guarantee.  So if you don't love it, you can return it for a full refund, even if you've used the whole bag!  But before going to the trouble of all that, you might as well try the second option of trying some different recipes or dessert options!  You can STILL get that money back guarantee and try a different flavor if you have tried a few things and then still don't like it!

5. It made their belly hurt.
This happened to a certain husband of mine who shall remain nameless.  And I don't want to give away all of his bathroom woes from day one, even though I'm not naming him or anything, but it was a problem, and it swayed him from trying again.  The problem was that he wasn't getting enough fiber in his daily diet to begin with.  So when he got that healthy dose of fiber that Shakeology packs, his body was NOT ready.  So if you are not getting in a lot of fiber normally, try adding some raw greens to your diet for a week, THEN try your Shakeo to avoid a day or two of discomfort.  Your system will adjust pretty quickly, so don't let it totally turn you off, but veggies beforehand will help if you're nervous!

5. They didn't have my super secret special ingredient.
Shakeology is low on the GI index and is not that "sweet" if you're used to eating junk food a lot.  For me, I can shake up a chocolate shake now with just water and I love it, but it was an acquired taste.  I had to ease into it.  So definitely don't make your first shake with just water.  It just won't live up to your sweetness standards.  I like to use about 4 ounces of unsweetened almond milk and then add water until the consistency is right most of the time.  But... when I first started (and occasionally now when I want a sweeter treat), I'll add 4 ounces of dark chocolate almond milk instead of unsweetened.  It adds a few more calories, but it ups the sweetness quotient without totally ruining the low-calorie snack part of it!

The Shakeology Myth: Revealed.

Let's get something straight. I'm not trying to lose weight. I don't replace meals with Shakeology. I don't count calories. I get plenty of protein without Shakeology.

So... what the heck am I using it for???? 

Glad you asked! Let's dive into getting these myths BUSTED (without the help of Adam and Jamie)!!!

Okay so first and foremost, it CAN be used for all of the above purposes.  Weight loss IS a by-product and a natural consequence for anyone who IS attempting to lose weight for many reasons.  It CAN be used to replace a meal as needed.  It DOES help cut calories.  It DOES contain enough protein that it can be used as a protein shake.  

So if you NEED those things, great! It has you covered!  And I'll address those things as well! 

But, if you're like me, and you're just looking to be healthier and a productive functioning member of the human race on a daily basis, it has you covered there too!

So...........

Myth 1: It's only for people who need to lose weight.

False. When your nutritional needs are being met in a HEALTHY way, you will naturally lose weight if you are already overweight.  I'll address calories and meal replacement later, because those things help with the whole weight loss thing, but NOT reaching for junk every time you have a craving will help you lose weight, and when your nutritional needs are being MET, like Shakeology will do, you won't reach for the junk.  BUT.  What if I don't need to lose weight? That's great! I say, very sincerely, congratulations!  You still need Shakeology.  You can eat the most perfect, most well rounded, most organic, pure, whole foods in the world and STILL not get in the nutrition you need. Especially every single day.  There is literally no way to get in ALL these foods  that you would need to eat in a day.  You'd definitely gain weight (or explode, the jury is still out on that)!  So it's NOT just for people who want to lose weight, it's for people who want to be healthy. Consistently.

Myth 2: It's strictly a meal replacement shake.

False. It can replace a meal.  If, again, you are trying to lose weight or you are superbly busy (as is the case for so many people), it can be used to replace a meal like breakfast or lunch, or even be PART of your breakfast and lunch routine.  I rarely replace a meal, but if I do, I "beef" it up, so to say.  I'll blend in a banana or kale or peanut butter or a boost like the Power Greens boost to give me a little more "umph" from my meal. The boost is amazing if you don't have time to cook a bunch of veggies or you generally hate the taste of veggies, it just gives you a full serving of vegetables to add to your day. BUT. I usually use it as a snack.  It's really up to you on what your needs are and what your day looks like.  For me, I found that I needed that extra kick of energy around 2:30 pm (yes, that proverbial "2:30 feeling") and I needed to stay fuller for longer.  I needed a snack that was HEALTHY that would get me through picking up Ella, working out in the afternoon (if it didn't happen at 4 am, and, let's be honest...), chasing a three year old around, cleaning, and making dinner. If I make it as a snack, I usually just shake it in the shaker cup with a little almond milk and water if I'm on the go. If I'm home (and no one is napping, because, let's be real, don't nobody want to wake up the kid), I'll blend it with ice, almond milk, water, maybe a banana, maybe some peanut butter... depends on how frisky I'm feeling.

Myth 3: It's about cutting calories.

False. Again. If you're trying to lose weight, this WILL help cut calories.  Shakeology, depending on the flavor, is around 130 calories per serving.  You end up full (because of the protein and other awesome nutrients) and you will stay full longer, so you're not reaching for snacks again within minutes.  And remember, we talked about helping with cravings.  But. I don't count calories.  If there's anything Autumn Calebrese has taught me, it's that I need to count food TYPES and what they do for my body.  I have a much easier time following her container meal plan, and I can stick to it much easier, than I can sticking to counting calories.  Plus, it helps get my regular nutrition in check since I can make sure I'm not getting too much sugar, fat, sodium or some of the other things that are in food naturally (like sugar in fruit) that you can STILL get too much of if you're not following a plan.  So what does that mean for people who NEED calories? It means that it's still a great source of nutrition for anyone, even if you're pregnant, nursing, or need to gain weight, but want to do it in a healthy manner.* 

Myth 4: It's just a protein powder

False. I get this one a LOT. "I already have a protein powder I use and love, and it's cheaper." Holy smokes. If protein was the ONLY thing that Shakeology was used for, I would agree that it is way to expensive.  Also, I, too, have a recovery protein powder I love for when I do double days or do a particularly crazy hard workout. Shakeology has enough protein in it to be considered a "red" (protein) container for the Portion Fix, AND it has enough (16 grams) to help your muscles recover after your workouts. But. Hello? Have you learned nothing yet? (I kid, I kid.) There's SO much more to Shakeology than just the protein.  It's proteins, amino acids, antioxidants, phtyonutrients, prebiotics, probiotics, digestive enzymes, vitamins, minerals... SO much amazing stuff that has SO many benefits that you can have in your DAILY life. Check out the graphic below of SOME of the amazing ingredients and benefits and you'll see that protein is just PART of what's in Shakeology!

Myth 5: The bonus myth. It's expensive.

False. The second most often thing I hear is that it's expensive. I addressed this a little above, but, yes if it was JUST a protein shake, it would be stupid to pay more than a couple of dollars per serving.  There are tons of great protein shakes out there!  But. Let's crunch some numbers.  Consider that you COULD use it to replace a meal.  It has WAY more nutrition than even everyone's favorite "go to" healthy meal: the salad.  And we all know that we like to beef up our salads by adding dressings, toppings, and proteins to them.  Doing that packs on calories AND price.  With Shakeology costing about $4 per serving, you start to see how much cheaper you COULD be getting off at lunch time as well as how much we could be increasing our nutrition intake at lunch time.  Think about what you would pay for a good salad at a restaurant... salads cost anywhere from $4 up to $15 depending on what's on it and where you're getting it from!

*Always talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or nursing.  No matter what product you are considering. Your doctor knows YOUR body and YOUR needs.

What You CRAVE.

Cravings.

They're not just for those who are pregnant.

And they're not completely random.

There's a REASON why we crave what we crave.  It's our body's way of telling us what we need nutritionally.  And we've conditioned ourselves to reach for the easy things.

Need magnesium? Grab a Snickers. It's cheap. It's quick. You can eat it in the car.

Need calcium? Grab some fries and a Coke.  It's cheap. It's quick. You can eat it at your desk.

Need tryptophan? Grab some gummy worms. They're cheap. They're quick. You can eat them in line waiting to pick up your kid from school.

But normally, we're missing more than just one nutritional need at a time.  MOST people aren't getting all the nutrients their bodies need.

So, it can be really hard. It's almost impossible to get in all the nutrients, it's really hard to plan out multiple meals and snacks that cover ALL of those bases on a daily basis, and it gets expensive buying fresh fruits, veggies, and meats when they're going bad sometimes because you just weren't able to get them all in every single day.

***Flashback.***

Picture it: Winston-Salem. 2012.  It was a warm spring morning and I popped open my first box of Greenberry Shakeology (because I thought it would be healthier than chocolate. Eye roll.)

I thought: "This protein shake is pretty good!"

Flash forward to March of 2015 when I popped open my first box of CHOCOLATE Shakeology on my second attempt at making Beachbody happen in my life. (The reason the first time didn't happen successfully is for another blog entry on another day, but it had a lot to do with not having a team and not being able to understand exactly why I was doing what I was doing.)

I thought: "Well I know now this is more than a protein shake, and it's even better than the Greenberry flavor!"

Flash forward to a couple of months ago.  I realized after I'd been CONSISTENTLY drinking my Shakeology for almost an entire year that ALL of the claims other coaches made were evident in my life.  I started researching to find out WHY it was all working so well.

But one thing was missing.  I assumed my cravings were being satisfied because I LOVE chocolate and I LOVE fruit snacks.  I assumed Chocolate Shakeology met my chocolate craving and Tropical Strawberry met my fruit snack craving.

Not true.  We're now back to present-day for those of you keeping up, and I'm here to tell you WHY my cravings are met and some of the other amazing side effects of Shakeology.

My cravings are being met because my nutritional NEEDS are being met.  Check out the chart below.  Do you see something (or several somethings) within that chart that speaks to you? Do you crave some of those things on a daily basis?

Even on the PERFECT whole food diet, you can't get in ALL of those nutrients in one day.  It's just not possible.  You'd overeat (because you can totally still overeat even with perfect health foods) and you'd spend your life savings trying to eat everything you'd need to to satisfy ALL of those nutrients.

Shakeology meets all of those needs. It includes all of those nutrients. 

And guess what?

It's cheap (at $4 per serving... how much would you spend on a good salad that doesn't cover half of that?)

It's easy (just shake in your shaker cup or throw it in the blender for 20 seconds).

You can have it in your car.

You can have it at your desk.

You can have it in line waiting to pick up your kid from school.

You can throw it together for breakfast before your workout.

You can throw it in your gym bag for after work.

You can take it with you to the ball park while your kid's at batting practice.

It provides ALL of your nutritional needs and can serve as a meal replacement OR a snack.

There are SO SO SO many amazing recipes to play around with the flavor and texture.

You can even make fun desserts out of it that are about 250% guilt free.

Ya'll. I'm an all in kinda girl.  I was told this was good stuff, and I jumped in.  THEN I started doing the research.  Not everyone is like that.  Some people want to do the research first.  

Stop. I've done it for you.  If you've tried "everything else" or researched "everything else" and you're not accomplishing your goals, NUTRITION is why.

You're not a failure. Your meal plan is not a failure.  Your workout is not a failure.

You're just not getting EVERYTHING your body needs. 

You can now.  

How to Spot a Fraud

This may come as a shock to you, but not everyone is honest.  Some people legitimately JUST want your money and will do things.. ugly things... nasty things... mean things... to get you to sign over your hard earned dough.  I'm not referring to individual PEOPLE when I say this, or anyone that I actually know.  I'm referring to companies. And, unfortunately, there ARE some very sweet, dear, trusting people who may at some point promote such companies.  The companies may provide promising before/after images that seem too good to be true from "product testers" or "long time users."

There are also some completely legit companies that promote healthy products that will do wonders for you and carry through on the promises that they make, assuming you are correctly using their products.  So... I compiled a list of ways to make sure you're not getting duped.  I know there are many healthy ways to accomplish goals, I, for one, promote Beachbody, but that's not to say that many many other companies, trainers, or products won't work for you.  You find your path and you stick to it!  Just make sure you're following something that you can trust by following these principles:

1. Avoid anything that seems "too good to be true."
If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.  Many products can cause great outcomes, but only with work and consistency.  Nothing is going to get rid of a "trouble spot" permanently without putting in effort over time.  Drastic results are often unhealthy and un-maintainable.  When presented with before/after pictures, use other things in the pictures to judge the legitimacy of the pictures.  Is there any manipulation of the image?  Is there a change in more than one area of the body (for example, are the arms more defined?)  Is there a difference in the overall size and shape of the pictures?  If you're not sure if it's too good to be true, look to the next few items on the list to help you decide!

2. Avoid products that can not provide research other than support from other consultants.
Your friends are great. They really are.  They would not dupe you on purpose, I'm sure.  But make sure that whatever they are promoting has some backing other than their occasional before/after pictures and a ton of pictures of strangers they post.  Check into the people who claim to be "interested" in joining them and do a little research on your own.  Some companies promote having their consultants boost each others' posts by feigning interest in joining a company they already work for.  Supportive comments from team members is one thing, but don't fall into a trap of believing that every comment is interest from a brand new "client."

4. Be aware of buzz words.
What's in the product? What ingredients does it boast that have the effects you want? What benefits will you get from the product? There are fancy words like "gluten free," "organic," and "all natural" that make people think that the product is superior.  But remember, poop is all-natural, and I don't want to smear that on my face or my toast.

4. Avoid "quick fix" results.
There are some great ways to "fix" your habits or "fix" your mindset.  These "fixes" are meant to give you a kick start to something that will last longer.  You still have to do work.  I know several people who have had procedures, such as having their stomachs stapled, to kick start weight loss.  For the ones who maintained new healthy habits after that, they've continued to have amazing results.  But for those who did NOT change their lifestyle, they are back to where they started.  Do not be fooled, you HAVE to put forth effort to have lasting results.

5. Avoid results that are not maintainable.
You can  not cut out a major food group from your diet forever.  You can not workout three hours a day for seven straight days for twelve months.  You can not pull all of the water out of your body to clear the water weight on a daily basis.  You can not severely reduce your food intake for more than a few days at a time.  Great programs (like Beachbody's 3 Day Refresh) will give you instructions on how to follow up your kick start success to MAINTAIN your results in a healthy way.

6. Don't make a judgment on a product based on one picture.
The camera CAN lie. If your friend LOVES a product or company, follow up with them.  Ask for more results pictures.  Again, do some research and see what other people have posted about their results.  Ask your friends for pictures of their team mates.  See how long your friend has been using said products and do a little profile diving to see what other pictures they have that would back up their results.  Unfortunately, there are some people who have a hard time sticking to one plan, or even one company.  Direct Sales Jumpers are difficult to follow in terms of results, because their results may not be purely from one product, or they may be hard to trust because they themselves didn't even trust the products long enough to stick around before trying something new.

7. Avoid anything that says it will do the work for you.
It won't.  YOU have to put in work. YOU have to put in effort. YOUR mentality has to change. YOU have to want it.  I always feel weird about products that "eliminate" something that you're eating ("Hey, I can eat Taco Bell tonight because my Fat Ninja pills will eliminate all the calories from what I'm eating!") because it makes me wonder a) where does the eliminated fat go? and b) why wouldn't you just feed your body correctly in the first place and use the calories or fat to fuel the other things you need to do with your life? (Plus, it's totally fine to enjoy the occasional Taco Bell without guilt!) And when you find that product that will HELP you reach your goals (because that's what the products SHOULD do), stick to it, put your all into it, and love yourself enough to enjoy the journey!