Talk about totally to die for!!!! When we just need a chocolate peanut butter fix this is the way to go!!! It's not exactly the best nutritional value but it beats eating trans fat and empty calories. At least you get some healthy benefits of Shakeology and peanut butter to curb your cravings!!! Enjoy!!!!
Do you like Country Music? Do you like dance cardio? Do you want to spice up your cardio? Do you DISLIKE working out? Do you need your workouts to be fun in order to do them? No matter what your reason, if you are looking for something to spice up your fitness regime or you want to get started this could be the program for you! Beachbody is releasing a BRAND NEW fitness program on July 28th 2016 to the network! COUNTRY HEAT is going to knock your socks off! At first I was a little skeptical of a country music workout because I didn't think line dancing was much of a workout, I'm not very coordinated and I just want to get in, get my workout done and get out. I really wasn't excited about this new program! BUT..... that all changed when I got the chance to do the Sneak Peek!!! This program had me literally DRIPPING sweat and I didn't feel lost or confused by the moves. Anyone can do it! It is not hard at all. Plus my legs were on fire, my core was burning and I could tell it is way more than cardio. It's great for your entire body!
I am really excited for the launch of this program and I'm going to be walking a select group of people from beginning to end through the program! I'm going to be making sample meal plans, giving you recipes, tips and guidance on how to rock this program! The people in the test group are getting incredible results and one even lost over 60 pounds in 90 days!!! That is so cool.
So lets talk about WHAT this program actually is?
First of all it features all of the hottest country music! There is NO CHOREOGRAPHY to remember, just follow along for the 27-30 minute workout! This workout program is high energy, low impact dance workout that is super fun and easy to follow. Autumn Calabrese created this program and has also created the 21 Day Fix, 21 Day Fix Extreme, Co Creator of Hammer and Chisel, author of the Fixate cookbook, mom and bikini competitor. She has her certifications from the National Academy of Sports Medicine and the American Fitness Professionals and Associates. She is extremely talented and gifted at getting you results.
There are 5 high energy, cardio based dance workouts, 1 dance conditioning workout, and the portion controlled eating plan!
WHAT MAKES COUNTRY HEAT EFFECTIVE?
First of all it is a workout you will actually stick to! Autumn makes it fun and easy.
You get 5 high energy dance workouts and 1 dance conditioning workout to give you all the calorie burning benefits of a great cardio workout while using every muscle in your body to fire up your metabolism.
There are no complicated moves, NO WEIGHTS OR EQUIPMENT required.
Autumn uses her portion control container system and meal plan to help you lose weight by eating what you want in the right amounts each day.
WHO CAN DO COUNTRY HEAT?
ANYONE from beginners to 21 Day Fix Graduates to those advanced in their fitness that want something different and fun! It is great for all ages and sizes! People who like Zumba, people who want to lose weight and are looking for results in 30 days! People who generally don't like to exercise or who want a lifestyle change, but aren't sure where to begin! {DOES THIS SOUND LIKE YOU??}
This workout is great for people who have tried and failed at complicated diets and exercise programs. The reason is that it's easy to follow the portion controlled container system and you have ME as your coach to guide you every single step of the way! I will teach you how to meal plan, prep, and stick with the workouts from beginning to end. Plus the workouts are fun and you don't even know you are working out!!!
If you want to lose weight then yes that is accomplished in the program! I encourage everyone to do at least 2-3 rounds of the program. The reason is that in the first 30 days you are just learning the ropes. You are getting a good handle on your nutrition and understanding the portion controlled containers. As you dial in your nutrition you can increase your results!!
This program is great for those that like to dance but are intimidated by choreography. THAT IS ME!!! I have two left feet and I want to get in, sweat and get out! So I'm pumped for this!
WHAT DO YOU GET WITH THE PROGRAM?
When you purchase your Country Heat you will get:
- 6 workouts on 3 DVDs in 30 minutes or less.
-7 Color coded portion controlled containers to efficiently help you portion out your food
-Country Heat Nutrition Plan which is an easy to follow guide that has recipes, tips, and more to help you get results.
-30 Days of Shakeology in any flavor
-Quickstart Guide- This is a simple 3 step guide that preps you for your fitness journey by giving you the low down on the nutrition plan and workouts.
-30 Day Calendar so that you know exactly what workouts to do in what order to maximize your results.
-Plus when you get the challenge pack you get access to Country Heat On Demand which means unlimited access to stream Country Heat and all the other workouts to any desktop, laptop, tablet, TV or mobile device. So you can start your workouts the minute you make your purchase.
SO DOES THIS SOUND LIKE A PROGRAM YOU WANT TO DO??
Did you know you can get it right here from me?
Plus I am going to be launching my first official COUNTRY HEAT TEST GROUP on Monday August 1st and workouts start on the 8th of August! You can get personal, 24/7 mentoring, guidance and support from me in a closed online accountability and support group! I am going to basically walk you through the entire program from beginning to end. I will teach you how to navigate the nutrition plan, how to choose healthier snacks, swap out your bad habits for better choices and how to truly make a lifestyle change vs. a crash diet.
I will be there to help you stay accountable, to track your food, to keep you motivated when you are not feeling it! My job is to be your support system and sounding board! I don't want this to be another program you invest in and don't complete! This time it will be different!! TRUST ME!!
All you need to do is get your name on the list to be the FIRST to know about the program launch!
If you DO NOT HAVE A COACH the first step is to make me your FREE COACH. Click here to sign up for free. If you already have a coach that you work with please reach out to your coach for details on their launch groups!
If you do not have a coach and would like to be in the official test group then complete the application below to be considered for a spot in the group. I will be hand selecting a group of people who are committed, dedicated and ready to make some changes in their health and fitness! So don't delay, spots will absolutely fill up fast. http://goo.gl/forms/EcNnjDZZ943jt3V72
Are You Part Of The Facebook EVENT? Stay up to date on launch details and information by joining here!
Did you know that there are a lot of foods that have been advertised as being healthy or diet foods that are actually working against you? I know this because I was definitely a victim of it as well. I thought low fat yogurt, 100 calorie packs or lean beef was still a good choice!! Diet Pepsi and low fat chips...the label tells you it is a better choice!
Unfortunately we are sadly misguided by the media and food companies. It's time to start taking your health and wellness into your own hands and being educated about what you are eating. I'm not saying you need to go crazy and refuse to eat anything in a package but I'm saying start to slowly make that transition. When you make small changes you are going to see the reflection in the mirror change as well.
So here are a few misleading foods that you would have never even suspected:
1. Yogurt
It starts out as good stuff. Fat aside, there's the calcium and protein you find in all milk products, along with probiotics, which make it easier to digest for those with lactose issues. The only problem is that straight yogurt can be pretty bitter, so manufacturers load the stuff with sugar and masquerade those carbs as fruit in an effort to make the whole thing more palatable. Have a look at most flavored yogurt and you'll find the second ingredient to be sugar or high-fructose corn syrup. One container of Yoplait® Original Strawberry has 170 calories, with 5 grams of protein and 33 grams of carbohydrates, 27 of which are sugar. Oddly enough, these are the exact same nutrition facts for Yoplait's other, less healthy-sounding flavors, including Key Lime Pie and White Chocolate Raspberry. Solution: Buy plain yogurt and flavor it yourself. You'd be amazed at how far a handful of raspberries or a tablespoon of honey will go to cut the bitter taste. Try 1/2 cup of plain greek yogurt with 1/2 cup strawberries and a drizzle of honey!
2. Wheat Bread
Whole-grain wheat is better for you than refined wheat. By keeping the bran and germ, you maintain the naturally occurring nutrients and fiber. But, for some reason, manufacturers constantly come up with new ways to lead you back to the refined stuff. One of their latest tricks is to refer to refined flour as "wheat flour" because, obviously, it's made of wheat. But just because it's wheat-based doesn't mean it's not refined. The distracted shopper can mistake this label for "whole wheat flour" and throw it in his cart. Another loaf of cruddy, refined, fiberless bread has a new home. Also note that most breads have high fructose corn syrup in them, even the whole wheat bread does! I always read my labels and actually Costco has a great bread! Solution: Slow down when you read the label. That word "whole" is an important one. I eat Ezekiel bread which is found in the freezer section of the grocery store. I rarely eat bread but when I do it's usually toasted and eaten with my omelet.
3. Chicken
Just because you made the switch from red meat doesn't mean you're in the clear. Three ounces of raw chicken breast, meat only, has 93 calories, 19.5 grams of protein, and 1.2 grams of fat. Three ounces of dark meat (wings, thighs, and legs), meat only, has 105 calories, 18 grams of protein, and 3.6 grams of fat. It may not seem like much, but it adds up. Also when buying chicken go with the fresh chicken breast versus the frozen chicken.
The frozen chicken is infused with salt water which just causes you to retain fluids, thus not losing weight. Solution: Go for the breast, and while you're at it, ditch the skin. It's nothing but fat.
4. Frozen or Canned Fruit
Any food swimming in juice or "light syrup" isn't good for you. Furthermore, most canned fruit is peeled, meaning you're being robbed of a valuable source of fiber. Frozen fruit is a little trickier. Freezing preserves the fruit itself, but some manufacturers add sugar during the freezing process to preserve color and taste. Solution: Read that ingredients list! You want it to say fruit, water—and that's it.
5. Canned Vegetables
"What?!" you declare. "There's light syrup in canned string beans too?!" Nope—actually, they add salt to preserve this produce. A half-cup serving of canned string beans has approximately 300 to 400 milligrams of sodium. Solution: Many companies offer "no salt added" options. If you can't find one to your liking, go frozen instead—many of these don't contain salt. Or better yet, buy what's fresh and in season. Right now being is fresh asparagus, green beans, zucchini and peppers.
6. Peanut Butter
Grind up peanuts, maybe add a little salt. How hard is it to make that taste good?
Apparently, it's so difficult that many companies feel compelled to add sugar or high-fructose corn syrup into the mix. Why? I don't know. Some manufacturers, such as Skippy®, are up front enough to admit this and call their product "Peanut Butter Spread," but many others still refer to this sugary concoction as good old "peanut butter." Solution: Read the label. (There's a theme emerging here.) Considering real peanut butter has one ingredient—two ingredients, max—it shouldn't be too hard to figure it out. The Smuckers all natural, Kirkland brand and the Mara Natha Peanut butter brands are the best ones that I have found!
7. Juice
The range in the nutritional value of store-bought juices is massive. On one end, you have "fruit drinks" with barely any actual juice in them. On the other end, you have fresh-squeezed, 100% preservative-free juices like Odwalla® and Naked Juice®. But no matter which you choose, it's important to remember that it's never going to be as healthy as whole fruit. And if you're trying to lose weight, it's a flat-out bad idea.
First off, it's been stripped of fiber, so you absorb it faster, which makes it more likely to induce blood sugar spikes. Secondly, you consume it faster and it's less filling, so you're more likely to drink more.
There are a few instances when juice is okay. For example, a home juicer can make predominately veggie-based drinks that are loaded with vitamins and minerals and lower in calories. If you're using this as part of a supervised juice fast, or you're trying to target a particular nutrient while concurrently not trying to lose weight, go for it. Otherwise, it's simply not worth it. Solution: If you must buy it, go fresh-squeezed, but you're usually better off just skipping it entirely. I can honestly tell you that I NEVER drink juice and I stick to mainly water. I just would rather eat the real fruit vs the juice. Plus it doesn't give me anything that is going to keep me full.
8. Canned Soup
As is also the case with canned veggies, you're entering a sodium minefield. Half a cup of Campbell's® Chicken Noodle Soup has about 37% of the recommended daily allowance—and who eats half a cup? Solution: Read those labels carefully. Most companies make low-sodium versions.
9. Fat-Free Salad Dressing
Dressing by definition is supposed to be fatty, and thus, highly caloric. You use a little bit of it, and in doing so, you get a healthy hit of the fats you need for a nutritionally balanced diet. Unfortunately, people prefer to buy fat-free versions so they can drown their greens while avoiding excess fat. Nothing's free. All this stuff does is replace the fat with carbs and salt, so you've basically gone from pouring a little healthy unsaturated fat on your salad to dumping on a pile of sugar. Solution: Make your own salad dressing. One part vinegar and one part olive oil with a blob of Dijon mustard makes an awesome vinaigrette. And here's another trick: Make your salad in a sealable container, add a tiny bit of dressing, and shake it up. It'll coat so much more than tossing will.
There are two types of phases that your body goes through: the fed stage and the fasted stage. Your body is in the fed state when it’s digesting and absorbing food. That fed state starts when you begin eating and lasts for three to five hours as your body digests and absorbs the food. In this stage it’s very difficult for your body to burn fat because your insulin levels are elevated. After those three to five hours of digesting, your body goes into what is known as the post–absorptive state, which is when your body isn’t processing any food. This stage lasts until 8 to 12 hours after your last meal, which is when you enter the fasted state. It’s much easier for you body to burn fat during this time because your insulin levels are lower. When you’re in the fasted state your body can burn the fat that has been inaccessible during the fed state. So for me since I eat from 10-6pm, I am a fat burning machine from around 2-10am (especially since I exercise in my fasted state). Too many people have a “late night snack” and then wake up and eat right away…never allowing their body to really dig into those fat stores.
What is a migraine and how does it affect people? Well, if you look up the word in the dictionary you will get a definition like this…”An extremely severe paroxysmal headache, usually confined to one side of the head and often associated with nausea.” If you ask someone that suffers from migraines the definition would be more like this…A migraine is a massive headache that makes you feel like your head is going to explode. The pain can be so excruciating that you might actually wish it would at times. Everything hurts your head when you have a migraine. Bright lights, noise and physical activity are all things you try to avoid. Some people experience nausea and vomiting. The headache normally affects one side of the head and doesn’t let up very easily, sometimes lasting for days at a time. Prior to getting a migraine, some have been known to perceive an aura. This in itself can be very scary if you have never had one before. A close friend of mine recently experienced this for the first time and didn’t know what was happening. She was driving her kids to school when it started. First her vision just seemed weird, not right. By the time she got back home, she was experiencing flashing bright lights, vision loss and couldn’t see to read. The migraine soon followed and her vision returned to normal but not before scaring her to death.
There are many triggers that contribute to migraines. Stress, hunger, fatigue, and a mix of environmental and genetic factors are possible contributors. They are also more likely to occur during and/or around menstruation. Treatments include medication, nutritional supplements and lifestyle changes. While not everyone agrees on what triggers migraines, I am pretty sure that everyone that has ever experienced a migraine can tell you one thing for sure. The pain of a migraine headache can be debilitating to say the least!
Here are some testimonials from Shakeology users who have experience with migraines: “Since starting Shakeology, I’ve only had to give myself 4 injections for my migraines, and taken very few other meds for them! I used to take just that in a week! AND, I finally feel good enough to start exercising again!” “I had migraines that made me violently ill. I started drinking Shakeology and haven’t had a single migraine since!” “I have been taking medicine daily for years due to headaches and migraines. Since I started drinking Shakeology daily five weeks ago, I rarely have ANY headaches. Geez…the money I’ve saved on medicine ALONE is well worth it! Not to mention I hardly have any cravings.”
Are you ready for some relief? Email me for details
“I’m a Shakeology Kid!” : Can my Child Drink Shakeology?
“We are Flintstones Kids, Ten million strong and growing.” These have been the lyrics heard in the commercials for Flintstones children’s vitamins since I was a little girl. But, is being a Flintstones kid really so good?
Every morning, millions of parents in the U.S. offer a multi-vitamin to their children as they’re off on their way to school, thinking that they are doing something good for their health. In reality, most children really don’t NEED a multi-vitamin, unless they have a physical condition that puts them at risk of a poorly functioning immune system or have food allergies that severely restricts their diets. But, if you feel like your child benefits from the extra nutrients and vitamins, by all means, you should give them the extra supplement. But — you should be aware of the other things you are giving to your child by providing a synthetic vitamin, such as most of the leading brands. The majority of them contain several ingredients that I’m not pumped about giving to MY children. They include:
Sorbitol — Often used medicinally as a laxative, it has been linked to irritable bowel syndrome when used in food products.
Aspartame — Aspartame as been linked to several diseases, including cancer, and increasing the sugar addiction that contributes to the obesity epidemic in America.
Artificial colors — FD&C Red #40, Yellow #6 and Blue #2 are included in most synthetic children’s vitamins. They have been found to increase the chances of hyperactivity in children.
Hydrogenated soybean oil — These synthetic fatty acids are linked to dozens of adverse health effects, from coronary artery disease to cancer. Certainly not something you want to see in a product you think is healthy for your child.
Gluten — Even though most companies say they do not ADD gluten to their vitamins, they also use a disclaimer that the product may contain gluten as a result of other practices used in deriving many ingredients. Not a risk I’d be willing to take if my child was gluten-intolerant or allergic.
GMO corn starch — Enough said.
If this isn’t enough to concern you, consider this: the vitamin you are giving to your child was formulated in a laboratory. It’s not natural. It’s a proven fact that our bodies absorb vitamins and minerals best when they are derived from whole-food based sources. Your child may be taking a daily vitamin, but how much of the “good stuff” in it is he actually getting into his system?
So, now what do you do? Have you considered giving your child Shakeology? I do daily with my children.
Kids can benefit from all of the advantages that Shakeology has to offer, too. Digestion, focus, energy, strength, etc! This is all good for children!
Also — think about your child’s diet. Even though you may push healthy lean meats and lots of fruits and veggies, they also get by with pizza, chicken nuggets, ice cream, candy and French fries, don’t they? Of course! They are kids!
Shakeology can help them digest all of that junk that seems to naturally find its way into their diets. It helps with digestion, reduces bloat and helps them get reduce their cravings for more junk. It contains easy-to-absorb vitamins and nutrients. And, you don’t have to worry about all of those artificial colors and sweeteners (which is a HUGE bonus, especially if your child shows tendencies to have ADHD).
Will your kids like Shakeology? If you just shake it up with water, probably not. But, if you make it like an event to concoct a treat every time, they will ask for it. Create fun around making it as a delicious milkshake, with fruit or other fun flavors. And, for many parents, it’s a quick version of breakfast that can be taken on the go, for those mornings that just don’t leave you enough time to get everything done. Whether for breakfast or a mid-afternoon snack, it’s much healthier than a honey bun, toaster pastry or sugared-up cereals.
* For smaller children they only need 1/3 to a half scoop of Shakeology
Oh the summer sun is getting hot here in Texas and we absolutely love it! One thing is for sure kids are hungry often in the summer and when they get to the point they recognize their hunger enough to stop playing it's as if they behave like they've never seen food before in their life! I'm sure it's a mix between being very active and a little dehydrated between swimming in the pool and different outdoor sports. It's a delicate balance when it comes to 'cool down' treats. It's so easy to direct them to the box of ice cold frozen popsicles in the outdoor fridge- but lets be honest, I'm just wanting to keep their wet feet & dirty hands out of the kitchen!
My BIG goal for the summer is to not let my kids go too long in between HEALTHY snacks during these hot summer months not only to really cut down on those sugar loaded frozen popsicles BUT to make sure they are getting the nutrients they need during the days... especially because they are sweating a lot in this heat.
So I've been collecting ideas for easy, healthy & refreshing summer snacks for these sizzlin' days ahead. One thing I really want to focus on is easy enough for my kids to help prepare & easy as a grab & go as well.
These YOGURT COVERED FROZEN GRAPES are delicious and so refreshing & easy!
Below is the step by step instructions on how we prepared this snack. The kids are absolutely loving them! They actually are reminding ME about their HEALTHY snack time! One bag of grapes and one single serving of yogurt sure goes a long ways. I can get at least a dozen half cup servings of frozen yogurt grapes out of one batch, if not more.
I hope you'll MAKE & ENJOY! Share with your friends!
Whole-grain wheat is better for you than refined wheat. By keeping the bran and germ, you maintain the naturally occurring nutrients and fiber. But, for some reason, manufacturers constantly come up with new ways to lead you back to the refined stuff. One of their latest tricks is to refer to refined flour as "wheat flour" because, obviously, it's made of wheat. But just because it's wheat-based doesn't mean it's not refined. The distracted shopper can mistake this label for "whole wheat flour" and throw it in his cart. Another loaf of cruddy, refined, fiberless bread has a new home. Also note that most breads have high fructose corn syrup in them, even the whole wheat bread does! I always read my labels and actually Costco has a great bread! 
Any food swimming in juice or "light syrup" isn't good for you. Furthermore, most canned fruit is peeled, meaning you're being robbed of a valuable source of fiber. Frozen fruit is a little trickier. Freezing preserves the fruit itself, but some manufacturers add sugar during the freezing process to preserve color and taste.
The range in the nutritional value of store-bought juices is massive. On one end, you have "fruit drinks" with barely any actual juice in them. On the other end, you have fresh-squeezed, 100% preservative-free juices like Odwalla® and Naked Juice®. But no matter which you choose, it's important to remember that it's never going to be as healthy as whole fruit. And if you're trying to lose weight, it's a flat-out bad idea.
Also — think about your child’s diet. Even though you may push healthy lean meats and lots of fruits and veggies, they also get by with pizza, chicken nuggets, ice cream, candy and French fries, don’t they? Of course! They are kids!
Oh the summer sun is getting hot here in Texas and we absolutely love it! One thing is for sure kids are hungry often in the summer and when they get to the point they recognize their hunger enough to stop playing it's as if they behave like they've never seen food before in their life! I'm sure it's a mix between being very active and a little dehydrated between swimming in the pool and different outdoor sports. It's a delicate balance when it comes to 'cool down' treats. It's so easy to direct them to the box of ice cold frozen popsicles in the outdoor fridge- but lets be honest, I'm just wanting to keep their wet feet & dirty hands out of the kitchen! 
