The Master's Hammer & Chisel Test Group

I am so beyond excited to announce that on December 1st, Beachbody is going to launch the NEWEST fitness program called Hammer and Chisel!!!!  I love Autumn Calabrese's 21 Day Fix and love weightlifting (which is where Body Beast comes into play)!  Autumn's portion controlled container system has helped me and my customers in finding success with clean eating and portion control!  

So when Team Beachbody announced a new program hosted by two of my favorite trainers, I was so excited!!  I am for sure going to be sitting here at the computer on launch day -December 1st - getting my copy!!!!   It is going to be surreal!!!!  I have both committed to completing this program, to running an official TEST GROUP for People just like YOU who want support in getting results!  

So What is Hammer & Chisel?????

Hammer and Chisel is an expert workout system that delivers breathtaking, body changing results in 60 days!  Trainers Sagi Kalev and Autumn Calabrese are amazing experts at sculpting bodies and have tons of awards to prove it!  So this program is sharing their strategies for resistance training to shape powerful muscles, shed body fat, and build a ripped physique.  In my case, I'm not going to be competing on stage but I do want to look and feel my best!  PLUS muscle burns FAT and we all want to KEEP THAT METABOLISM FIRED UP!! So anything with strength training and cardio is a keeper!!!  This is a 60 day program and each workout ranges from 30-40 minutes which is perfect for me because anything longer than that I can't do!  I'm a busy mom so I gotta get in, get out and get going!

What do you need for this program?

You do not need a ton of space but you do need some equipment!

You need dumbbells ranging from 5 to 20 pounds for women depending on your strength.

Pull up bar or over the door attachment for the resistance bands.

Weight bench or stability ball.

Optional Equipment and items would be The Team Beachbody Club Membership so you can access on Demand live streaming, The Beachbody Performance Line Supplements so that you can maximize your muscle recovery, performance and results.

So What do you need to do to get into my exclusive Top Coach Test Group?

#1 I must be your assigned coach.  If you are not working with a coach already that is great, head over to my site and create a FREE account!

{if you already have an assigned coach please reach out to your coach to see what groups they will be running}

#2 Complete the application below so that I can gather more information about you and to see if this would be a good fit for you!

#3 Requirements to participate in this test group: you commit to the Hammer and Chisel Challenge pack which includes the 60 day workout program, nutrition guide, program manual, schedule of workouts to follow, Shakeology, discounted shipping and price!  

#4 Commit to being an active member of the online support and accountability group.  You must be willing to show up every day, log your workout, rate your nutrition, check in for accountability and support.   I am also going to share with you how to meal plan, how to prep your meals, how to make it easy and simple to get results, I am going to help you with daily accountability, motivation, tips and tools to get you the BEST results possible!  

If you are ready to switch it up, get great results the time is now!  Make sure you fill out the application below to get on the list to be the first to get HAMMER AND CHISEL!!!!

You don't want to miss this, IT IS GOING TO BE AWESOME!!!!  ARE YOU IN?!?!

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Coach sneak peak - Christmas giveaway

coach sneak peak - christmas giveaway

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holiday survival guide

I like to call November and December SURVIVAL MODE when it comes to nutrition and fitness.  This is the time of year when most people make excuses as to why they don't have the time to workout or why they don't have the money to eat healthy.  I am going to call Bull*&^% right there.  I KNOW for a fact that if you have a strong desire and motivation to DO ANYTHING then you will find a way.  If you are not highly motivated then you will FIND EXCUSES instead!  I hear it all the time.  For the last 4 1/2 years of coaching people to reach their health and fitness goals I see excuses, I see people lose motivation and give up, but I do see people that succeed.  

The characteristics of successful weight loss are this:

1.  A strong driving force or "WHY" to change their nutrition and fitness. You can't just sorta kinda want to change, you have to REALLY WANT TO CHANGE!  After the novelty of the new program wears off, what is going to keep you going?  It's internal motivation to change more than you want to stay the same!

2.  Committed.  People that succeed are committed.  They are willing to do whatever it takes to be successful and they are not QUITTERS. They are committed to starting and finishing the fitness program exactly as it is laid out and they will evaluate and tweak their program as they go.  But, once they go in, they go ALL in!

3.  FAITH.  People who succeed have faith!  They believe that without a shadow of a doubt that somehow, some way, they will be successful at this weight loss game.  It's just that, its a series of trials, errors and triumphs before you find what works for your body the best.  Those that have faith in the process and believe that I won't lead you astray succeed.  It is those people that think its not working fast enough, or that their progress is TOO slow, or that they NEED  MORE cardio or MORE protein and start going off and changing things on their own that get frustrated and FAIL.  The reason is that they didn't follow the plan!  No one knows best than the trainers and nutritionists that create the program what will work.  So, don't second guess the program.  It was designed for a very specific reason!

4. Successful people follow the nutrition plan.  Yes, I know this isn't what you wanted to hear but it's the truth! The people who have the MOST success are those that really do truly follow the nutrition plan laid out in the program.  If you aim to eat 80% of the time according to your plan you will get results.  If you track your food in a journal, you track your water intake, you allow yourself 1 or 2 treats per week you will make great steady and healthy progress!  You can have your cake and eat it too!


I am on a mission this holiday season to keep people ACCOUNTABLE & MOTIVATED to continue their health and fitness journey.  This time of year I'm not asking you to go 100% strict but what I am asking you is this.  

DO YOU WANT TO END 2015 BETTER THAN YOU STARTED?  DO YOU WANT TO MAKE A REVERSE NEW  YEARS RESOLUTION??? 

Imagine how much more energy you would have to get in your holiday shopping, wrap presents, to visit with friends, to get in those extra work hours, and do everything on your holiday wish list if you ate healthier and exercised 30 minutes each day?  

Did you know that just the simple act of fueling your body with really great nutrient dense food can ALONE boost your energy level and metabolism?  
I know for a fact when I do my workout first thing in the morning that I feel more empowered and strong to take on the day!  I find when I fuel my body with healthy foods I'm not starving or craving unhealthy snacks.

It did not happen over night but through support, accountability and daily motivation I have changed my entire families life.  We have never felt better, our kids are learning great habits and we are not stressed about the holiday season.  We are planning a healthy Thanksgiving dinner, some fun get togethers with friends but we are staying accountable to our workouts and we are eating on track 90% of the time.  We know that when our treats happen they are earned and they are in moderation!  It is truly just a shift in mindset of taking it one day at a time and not getting overwhelmed by the big picture!

So that's the game plan!  I feel that it would be super VALUABLE AND HELPFUL to do the same for YOU!!!

insert survival candy cane image

I am going to run a 30 day HOLIDAY SURVIVAL guide support group starting on November 30th and running until the end of the year!  

Here is what you can expect from this group:

1.  A health and fitness program to fit your needs in 30 minutes or less each day.

2.  Sample meal plans and recipes to help you stay accountable, to help you with quick easy meals and snacks to fit your lifestyle.

3.  Daily accountability through a closed online support group.

4.  Tips on handling holiday parties, a restaurant guide, traveling tips, healthy alternatives to holiday favorites.

5.  Motivation, Accountability every single day to help you end the year stronger than you started.  

What if you could lose a few pounds this holiday season, rock in the New Year feeling confident and not defeated yet HAVE A REALLY GREAT AND ENJOYABLE HOLIDAY SEASON?  

So what are the requirements to participate in this group, because I know that is what you are thinking!!

1.  You must be a customer of mine on TeamBeachbody, which means that I am assigned as your FREE coach.  If you already have a coach please reach out to the person you work with.  If you do not have an account, complete the application below.

2.  You must commit to a  fitness program and nutrition plan in which we will discuss options that are best for you, your ability level, your time constraints and your needs.  

3.  You must commit to checking into the accountability group daily and reporting progress.


Are you in?  Does this sound like something you would like to do???  

insert holiday image

I am committed to helping YOU END THE YEAR STRONG!  LETS DO THIS!!!!

insert app

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Rainbow Light Multivitamin Gummies {#momsmeet Review}

I was recently contacted by Moms Meet to do a review of Rainbow Light's gummy vitamins for children.  I have used Rainbow Light's prenatal vitamins and felt they were a good choice for me, so I was honored to be given the choice to give my daughter their line of gummy vitamins.

Rainbow Light is one of those companies that I trust their products to be safe for me and my family. Their vitamins are organic, non-GMO, plus have probiotics, which we all need for good digestive and immune health.  Not only that, but a charity that is important to me - Vitamin Angels - is a great program that provides mothers and children everywhere with life-saving nutrition.  As an extra bonus, Rainbow Light also carries a trademark on 100% upcycled EcoGuard bottles, which have helped to keep over 10 million plastic bottles our of our water system.

So as you can see, being asked to do a review of their kids' line of gummy vitamins from a company that not only cares about the environment as much as what goes in our bodies is a win-win in my book.

Inside my box were 2 boxes of gummy vitamins - Power Sours Multivitamin Gummies and Bear Essentials.  In each box is 30 stay fresh individual packets which contain 3 (in Bear Essentials) or 4 (in Power Sours) gummy bears, which is the recommended daily amount for each child.  These types of gummy vitamins are formulated for children ages 4 and older.

Now as you know, getting your child to take anything that is good for them is sometimes nearly impossible.  So after trying several brands of vitamins for my daughter, I caved to giving her a gummy vitamin.  I mean, if it means getting her to take something that is good for her also means giving her something that looks like one of her rare and favorite treats - gummies - then I will.

Now, we all know as parents that even though something is in gummy form and is good for you, if it doesn't taste good, your child will not eat it.  The Power Sours Multivitamin Gummies looked just like huge gummy bears and came in strawberry, pineapple, raspberry and lemon.Her favorite out of all four flavors was strawberry, then again, she can eat an entire container of strawberries in a matter of a couple of days.

Overall, I am very pleased with Rainbow Light's Power Sour Multivitamin Gummies.  The main reason - my daughter actually liked them and even reminded me day after day to take her vitamins. You can find exclusive discounts and special offers by following Rainbow Light at www.rainbowlight.com or on their Facebook page.


Disclaimer:  I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program, May Media Group, LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer.  As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my opinion on my blog.  My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product.

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Chicken Alfredo "Pasta"

Having food allergies or intolerances mean you sometimes are forced to give up some of your favorite foods,  Alfredo sauce was a favorite sauce for just about anything pasta related, but going gluten and dairy free meant I could no longer have alfredo sauce made with tons of cream.

But with some easy substitutions, dairy free alfredo sauce was created.  The texture is similar to the regular dairy based sauce, however, now not only is made dairy free, but also healthier, and with only three ingredients.

Ingredients

Alfredo Sauce

1 1/2 cup Original Almond milk, unsweetened

1 package of Dajia mozzarella "cheese"

1/4 cup of Earth Balance spread (dairy free option) or butter

1-2 chicken breasts, cooked, shredded

1 medium spaghetti squash, cooked

1 head of broccoli, steamed

Directions

1. In a frying pan, place the Earth Balance or butter and let melt over medium high heat. 
2. Once melted, add in the almond milk and "cheese," 
3. Using a whisk, you will want to stir, stir, stir so that the mixture does not burn to the pan.
4. The mixture will thicken to a creamy sauce.  

At this point, you will want to turn the heat to a low-medium and add in your shredded chicken and broccoli, or whatever vegetables you want to use.

For a low carb option, serve over spaghetti squah or any other type of vegetable noodles,  You can also use any type of noodles - gluten free or whole wheat - for those that are not low carb.

I would love to know your thoughts on this recipe and your favorite vegetable add on in your alfredo sauce.

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The Cleaning Delema of My Never Ending Shedding Dog {Review and Giveaway}

Meet Max.  He is our lovable, feisty, full of energy, German Shepherd.  And he sheds 365 days a year.

This post is sponsored by e-cloth, but the review and opinions are purely my own.

Does your dog or cat shed?  Of course it does - most all breeds of dogs and cats shed.  And if your dog (or even cat) is like mine, he sheds pretty much year round and not just in the spring time.  Now don't get me wrong, I love our dog.  Max has been with us for almost 7 years and we hope that we are blessed with many, many more years to come.  But when I can walk into a room and see clumps of dog hair on the floor - well, it kind of grosses me out.

The never ending sweeping and vacuuming daily to clean up the dog hair though is tiring and during the spring and fall (yes, he is shedding now when you would think he would be getting his winter coat), I have to sweep the floors twice a day.  But is isn't just the dog hair that seems to fall in layers on my clean floors, but also the dander (especially in the winter when the heat is on and the air in the house is dry) and dirt.

Sure monthly baths or trips to the groomers would help, but that can get expensive and let's face it, giving him a bath outside during the winter when it is below freezing is not going to happen.  Yes, I know I could give him a bath in the tub.  Been there, done that.  But when your dog is 90 pounds and hates water, well, let's just say he will win that battle and I get soaked plus a war zone in my bathroom afterwards is a huge turn off.   On a side note, he does go to a groomer twice a year, once in the winter for a skin soothing/oatmeal bath to help with dry skin and late spring when he loses his winter coat.

It was when I was looking for something that was easy to use, could be used indoors (especially important during the winter months), wouldn't irritate his skin and could be used daily to help control the amount of dog hair that ends up on the floor that I was contacted by  e-cloth to do a review of their pet care line.  Now I had been contacted by e-cloth to do a review of their kitchen cleaning products (see this post) and was very impressed by how effective the product worked, so I gave the Grooming Mitt a shot.

The mitt is double sided,  One side - the creamy side- is used for getting loose hair and and dirt or debris in the hair.

The other side - the dark side- is used for removing surface hair and adding a shine to the coat.

I was curious how well the grooming mitt was going to work since the brush that we currently use to comb out dog is pretty much a horse brush since it helps to get the loose undercoat out.  But I have noticed too that when we use the horse brush, it also tends to irritate his already sensitive, dry skin and cause more dander.

The mitt was so easy to use, in fact, my 5 year old daughter used it to brush the dog, and the size was a perfect fit for my large dog. Now typically when he is brushed, he hates to be still, but using the mitt seemed more like I was petting him instead of brushing him.  And the amount of fur that came off in just a few strokes was impressive.

I then tried the other side of the mitt that is used for getting the dirt out.  While it is hard to see dirt, I did notice that it did help to get some of the smaller pieces of fur and dander that was already on the outer layer of fur.  I am curious to try this side of the mitt during the spring and dryer months of the year when his coat gets really dirty.

I do note that after using the mitt to brush my dog for only a few days, the amount of dog hair that has to be swept up has been reduced, which is a good thing.  I am hopeful that using the mitt every day will help control shedding.

To learn more about e-cloth, you can visit them on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and Youtube.

E-cloth is also generous in allowing me to host a giveaway for your chance to win your very own e-cloth, please enter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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