I am the real deal

I am the real deal. I don't mean that in a conceited, cocky way though.

Here's what I mean, I'm a real person, a real woman, real wife, real mother. I don't have help around the house except for my husband when he's home from work. I have 4 kids and I run my own business.

I am not the perfect mother. I often say the wrong things to my kids, and I do raise my voice - a lot.

I have struggles with food and weight, just like a lot of people do.  Mine might not be as noticeable as others, but I go through my times when I want to raid the pantry. I go through my days when I feel frustrated because the numbers on the scale went up instead down.  Although I love to cook healthy, I don't buy everything organic. I drink cow's milk sometimes. I don't eat grass-fed beef. I'm trying to get better, I'm working on it.

I don't like the way my face is changing as I age, and I don't like what the skin right above my navel has become after having 4 kids.

I don't like waking up at 5 am to exercise. I'd rather not exercise on some days.

I didn't have an athletic childhood, and I wasn't a very popular or outgoing kid.  As a matter of fact I was very timid, shy and maybe even mopey.  I didn't come from a rich family, or even middle class. It was lower middle class.

I bounced form job to job. I couldn't find my niche. I'm not organized and I have some clutter hot spots in my home.

Too many people think its easy for me to stay in shape, to eat right, to run a successful business from home, to stay positive. But I'm real, just like you all are.

However, I am always working on turning my negatives into positives. One good and bad quality of mine is the fact that I'm rebellious in a way. I refuse to let a negative situation get the best of me. My rebellious nature has gotten me in a lot of tight spots and trouble. But thankfully its also helped push me to do better. When someone tells me it can't be done, I will try like hell to do it.

I look back at my life and I'm sometimes tempted to fantasize about; if I only did this, or if my parents had paid for braces for my teeth, or if I didn't use that credit card, if I didn't date that guy... But if my circumstances had been perfect, if I was Ms. Popular in high school, if my parents had money, if I had been more athletic, I might not be where I am today.  Where I am now is being a real person for you.

I'm a real person who coaches real people. Its not pretty and its not perfect, but its me. And I get where you're coming from, and I don't think I'm better than you.  I just want to help you be a better you.

I'd love to hear from you. Please leave a comment below.

How to cut the time on your P90X workouts

The first thing most people say when they think about starting P90X or they just purchased it is "the workouts seem so long!" Well, yes, they do seem long, but compared to getting yourself dressed, in the car and off to the gym, then start your routine, towel off and get back in the car to go home, they're really a lot shorter on time than trudging to the gym everyday.  And let's face it, most of us with gym memberships get tired of that routine so we slip up and stop going.

But there are ways you can make your P90X workouts a little shorter and shave off 20-30 minutes of your workout time.

1) One way to shave off time is by splitting your workout.  You can do your main workout (like chest & back) and then save Ab Ripper X for later in the day. This is good if you feel way to spent after your main workout.  Or you can split your workout by doing all the chest exercises in the morning (hit the next button on your remote to skip the back exercises) and then in the afternoon or evening do all the back exercises (again the remote comes in handy). Add Ab Ripper X in at the end of either workout.  But make sure you do the warm up and cool down with each split session.

2) You can do the first round of exercises only. I still highly recommendd doing the warm-up and cool down.  But be warned, if you get in the habit of doing 1/2 the DVD only everyday and every workout, you may have to decrease you calories.

3) As you get better at the workouts, you will find yourself able to start an exercise while Tony is still explaining the exercise.  You may finish by the time they start going.  Use the remote and skip ahead to the next exercise.  I do this a lot and it shaves off about 20 minutes.  I really don't do this with the cardio DVDs. But on occasion I will skip next during a few very challenging Plyometrics exercises (only if I'm really feeling wiped out).

4) Yoga X is long.  90 minutes is a long time.  Most of the poses in Yoga X are very advanced and if you;re not doing yoga more often can still seem too advanced for you by week 13.  On days I'm rushed, I will do the first 30 minutes and the last 30 minutes of Yoga X.  I used to teach yoga classes, so I know that some of the poses like crane, are poses that can take years to master.  You can still get an energizing yoga workout by eliminating some of the very difficult and advanced yoga poses.

So there you have it.  I know there will be some P90X purists who think what I said is blasphemy, but we all have busy lives and sometimes you need to make some adjustments.  I'd rather you do this than skip your workout entirely.

I'd love to help you reach your fitness goals.  As a Team Beachbody Coach, I'm here to support you and be your guide on your journey to a new, healthier you.  Please email me at fitwithjessica@live.com or visit my website http://fitwithjessica.com/ to get started. And please feel free to comment below.

Fire up that Metabolism

Having a higher metabolism will help your body burn more fat and calories.  Did you know that eating 6 small meals per day will help fire it up?  You burn an extra 237 calories per day doing this!  Read the article below to find out more ways to fire it up!

Ways to Fire Up Your Metabolism



By Monica Ciociola

It can be discouraging when your results don't seem to match the efforts you're putting into getting in shape. But instead of giving up on your fitness program, or worse, diving into the Twinkies® (trust me, you'll regret it!), try making just a few easy changes to your diet and your lifestyle. Sometimes the smallest things—like getting more protein in the morning or enough rest at night—can lead to the biggest weight loss surprises.

1.Don't skip breakfast. Eating lean protein in the morning will help get your metabolism revved up for the day ahead. Protein from egg whites, for instance, will help stabilize your blood sugar, make you feel fuller, and keep you from overeating later in the day.

2.Resistance training. Working out with some form of resistance—resistance bands, weights, or a stability ball—helps build your muscles. And because one pound of muscle burns way more calories than a pound of fat does, the more muscle you have on your body, the higher your metabolic rate will be.

3.Interval training. Short 10-minute explosive cardio sessions followed by less intense cardio for the same amount of time will rev up your metabolism. For some of the best interval training workouts, check out INSANITY® or TurboFire®.

4.Get your beauty rest. Human growth hormone works directly on cells to increase your metabolic rate by 15 to 20 percent and can only be produced during the hours of deep sleep. So make sure you get a good night's sleep!

5.The magic mix. At mealtime, try consuming lean proteins from chicken and white fish along with complex carbohydrates from fruits and veggies. This magical combination will speed up your metabolic rate as food is transformed into usable nutrients, and you'll build muscle and burn fat during the digestive process.

6.¡Ay, caliente! Studies show that hot peppers, spices, green teas, and caffeine can give your metabolism a sudden surge by stimulating the release of stress hormones. If jalapeño and cayenne make you wince, turn to our all-natural Slimming Formula supplement, which contains green tea, for the same metabolism-boosting effect.

I would love to hear from you! Please feel free to leave a comment below.  If you need help with your fitness and nutrition, email me at fitwithjessica@live.com or visit http://fitwithjessica.com/

Would you drink that?

I totally love, love, love my chocolate Shakeology.  So much so that I had no desire to try the greenberry.  I heard a lot of mixed reviews on the greenberry, that I decided without trying it that it wasn't for me. 

Well for lunch today I tried greenberry with vanilla flavored soy milk, 1/2 a frozen, sliced banana, and a little bit of peanut butter.  Guess what! It was pretty good.  I don't think I will convert from my chocolate, but there are some people who just don't like chocolate and this makes a nice alternative.  I also imagine it blends well with fruit flavors that might not be so good with chocolate.

Here's something else I learned from a coach/friend of mine. If you add unsweetened cocoa (the kind you bake with), you can turn your greenberry Shakeology into chocolate like magic.  That's all Beachbody does to it.  Same ingredients, nothing artificial, just one has cocoa and the other doesn't. 

Shakeology is a meal replacement shake designed to be enjoyed every day, one meal a day.  You can use it to lose weight or maintain your healthy weight.  Here's a video that explains what you'd have to blend up to get all the nutrition that's packed in one shake:



Again, I really love the stuff.  If you want more info, just send me an email to fitwithjessica@live.com or you can visit mt website by clicking here.  I can also show you how to save 25% on your order.

I'd love to hear from you! Please feel free to leave a comment below.

One of the best decisions I've made - becoming a Team Beachbody Coach

February 17, 2011, marks my 1 year anniversary as a Team Beachbody Coach! I'm happy to say its one of the best choices I've made.

Okay, when I first thought about becoming a coach, I really wasn't so sure it was a good choice.  It took me about 4 weeks before I made a decision and even then, I was hesitant.  Why did I sign up? Well, things started out great with my fitness career.  I lived in a neighborhood where word of mouth was really easy.  I taught Pilates, was a personal trainer and also taught pole dancing classes.  Things were going great!  But then we moved to another town and that "social network" I was in slowly dwindled.  The town I live in now is pretty big, and most people keep to themselves.  So it was hard to make friends and to promote my classes. 

We also had our 4th child, and that made it difficult to go out and teach or train people. I also started exercising less since I wasn't teaching more than 2 times per week.  I was also getting stressed out trying to find a sitter to watch my kids when my husband worked late, or trying to get dinner ready, lunches for the next day made and out the door on time to teach.  All this stress for $60 per week.  I needed to do something different.

Team Beachbody really came at a perfect time for me.  I'm not going to say its easy, or a get rich quick thing, but so far things have really turned out great.  I'm proud to be part of a company that offers so many great fitness and nutrition products, like P90X, Shakeology, Insanity and many more.  Becoming a Coach with Team Beachbody has enabled me to do what I'm passionate about and be home for my kids.

Listen, we all should be exercising and eating right.  Some of us need a coach, like me to help get them started and keep them on the right path.  Let me know if I can help you by sending me an email to fitwithjessica@live.com or leaving a comment below.

If you're interested in becoming a coach and helping transform people's lives through health and fitness let me know.  I can help you get started and keep you on the right path with that as well.

Keep your heart beautiful, healthy and ready to love

In the spirit of Valentine's Day, let's talk about our hearts.  Keeping your heart beautiful (well maybe beautiful to the medical world) and healthy is of vital importance.  Our heart pumps blood through our bodies and when its not functioning properly, well we can have some major set backs or even death.

Surprisingly so many of us take for granted this beautiful, beating, pumping organ.  We smoke, we eat badly, we don't exercise and we stress ourselves out to the point where we get our blood pressure up.  The American Heart Association says that "Thirty-nine percent of Americans believe they’re in ideal heart health — but less than 1 percent actually are."

So how do we get our heart healthy and keep it that way?

Calm, breathe, relax. This sounds easier said than done, but learning to not sweat the small stuff, enjoy life and be grateful for what you have is a start.  You can also try meditation and yoga. Playing with your kids, laughing, not taking life so seriously will help your mental and physical being. If you have problems learning to de-stress, you may want to seek the help of a professional.

Get moving and grooving! Physical activity is good for mind and body. Try to get at least 20-30 minutes per day of physical activity.  I know people who only do this one time per week.  People we need to move, we were made to  move. Go for a walk, go swimming, ride a bicycle, participate in a group fitness class.  You can even workout at home. Beachbody has several fitness programs for every level from beginner to highly advanced.  Need help deciding what program you should do? Just let me know:)  Exercise is not only good for your heart, but this is also a great way to get rid of stress!!

Lose the belly.  Well, you can start by getting up and move! But you also need to watch what you eat too. And believe it or not, holding on to stress produces cortisol, which helps us hold onto belly fat.  Try to get a good night of sleep, eat right and exercise to lose the belly.

Quit smokin da butts!! I know this is so hard to do.  I used to love smoking! I found it enjoyable.  But you all know the harmful effects of smoking on your health.  Oh and just think of how much money you will save by quitting! I can't believe how much a pack of cigarettes goes for! So quit now. Find a support group or talk to your doctor about this.

Feed your body well.  You would think this would be a no-brainer, but its not.  Fast food, overly processed convenience food, high fat treats all are just so tempting and easy, right? But what are you sacrificing for shaving off a few minutes? I know its hard to get in the habit of cooking healthy and making healthy choices. Although once you get in the habit, it becomes a lot easier.  And guess what, you eat better, you will feel better and look better. Eating from the top 2 tiers of Michi's Ladder is a great place to start.  But if you need help with recipes and what to eat when, then look into the Team Beachbody Custom Meal Planner that comes with Club membership. You can get dozens, upon dozens of heart healthy meals for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks.  These meals are all easy to make and most dinners take less than 30 min to make. The weekly price is a lot less than Weight Watchers, plus you get something that WW doesn't offer - me as your support person and coach!

Shakeology is another great way to get good nutrition fast! You won't be tempted to hit the drive-thru if you pack a rich, chocolatey smoothie with you.  And its been shown to improve cholesterol levels and blood pressure.

Eat the right fats. Not all fats are bad for you!! I repeat, NOT ALL FATS ARE BAD FOR YOU! Dietary fats are essential to give your body energy and to support cell growth.  They also help protect your organs and help keep your body warm.  Fats help your body absorb some nutrients and produce important hormones, too. Your body definitely needs fat – but not as much fat as most people eat.

Using oils like olive and canola are a good choice, but watch your serving sizes.  Also eating foods like avocado, walnuts, salmon are an awesome way to get healthy fats into your diet.  These fats also help raise your good cholesterol, and lower the bad cholesterol.  You can also take a supplement like Core Omega-3, which gives your body the support it needs for optimal heart, brain, and joint health.

So this Valentine's Day, give the gift of love to yourself, by taking care of your heart.  This gift is the gift that keeps on giving.  You'll be able to spread love to your family and friends.  If you love someone who need to take better care of their heart, ask them to do it for you:)

If you need help with nutrition and fitness, send me an email to fitiwthjessica@live.com.  I'd love to hear from you!!! Please make my heart happy and leave a comment below:)

What to do when your lover doesn't want you getting fit

Sometimes the people we love the most and think will support our weight loss goals are the ones who derail us the most.  It may be intentional, but there are a lot of people who are unaware that they do this. 

And its not just spouses or significant others that can do this,but our friends and other family members can be our worst enemy when it comes to fitness.  Most people don't like change.  And when you decide to change for the better, it sends up a warning signal to your spouse, friend, parent, that you may not be happy. 

Then you have the people who show love with food. The food pushers get insulted when you turn down a second helping or dessert.  They feel that you're not accepting their love.

Here is a great article by Stephanie Saunders on how to go about getting your healthy on even when your mate might not be supportive.

Unsupportive Partners: Ways to Placate Your Mate When They Don't Feel Great about You Losing Weight


By Stephanie Saunders

To have and to hold from this day forward; for better, for worse; for richer, for poorer; in weight loss and muscle building; till death do us part. It is unlikely that these were your actual vows on your wedding day, but often the most difficult struggle a couple can face is when one member is considering a change, while the other prefers the status quo. That includes having kids, changing careers or homes, and, yes, getting into shape. You'd assume that the more attractive your partner becomes, the happier you would be, but this isn't always the case. Increased attractiveness can foster insecurity, jealousy, resentment, and in extreme cases, emotional withdrawal and sabotage.


When a significant other becomes more attractive, and as a result, receives more and more attention, it can make the other person insecure. And if everyone starts turning their heads, look out! That person may start to wonder, "Why is my partner seeking so much attention? Is something already going on? If I find them attractive as they are, why isn't that enough?" The answer is, of course, that we want to change to feel better about ourselves. Not that having heads turn as you enter the Christmas party is not a bonus, but it really is about meeting your own goals. And when the love of your life suddenly forgoes snuggling on the couch with Chinese takeout for a P90X workout, resentment can enter the picture.

So how do you continue toward your fitness goals without letting it affect the relationship you have with your partner?

Begin with communication. In the same way you should consult your doctor before beginning an exercise program, talk to your partner about what you are looking to accomplish. Explain that this is not motivated by a desire to attract other people, or anyone already in your life, but simply because you want to be healthier and feel better about yourself. Going into detail about your exercise plan and nutritional goals can take the unknown out of the equation, and possibly spark a desire in your mate. If you are still met with resentment, explain that you do not expect your partner to change just because you want to, and that you love him or her exactly as he or she is.

Ask for support. The road to health can be a tough battle, and we can use all of the support we can get. Asking your partner to be supportive along this road can make a huge difference. Ask your mate to use positive comments regarding your progress, and to only ask if you are making a wise choice, if you actually slip up. This will allow your partner to feel like he or she is part of the process without giving him or her the power to control it. Encouraging your partner to join you along this path will elicit the greatest amount of support of all.

Get a training partner. If your mate is unwilling to join you, find someone who is. Having a training partner creates greater motivation and retention than doing it alone. Obviously, find someone of the same sex, or at least someone who won't threaten your mate. If you're meeting resistance from your mate, working out with Lorenzo Lamas won't increase the love at home. In addition to pushing one another to work out and eat healthy, talk with the training partner about your frustrations and ask about his or her own. If you are unable to find a Workout Buddy, remember your Beachbody® Coach is always available to give you added motivation.

Don't fall into eating pitfalls. Grocery shopping, meal preparation, and snacking can be challenging in a household on the same eating path. But when you are trying to eat lean protein and vegetables, and your partner would prefer macaroni and cheese with a side of fries, the challenge can become World War III. If you are the primary shopper and food preparer, you have a lot of power over what your family consumes. Healthy food can taste great, and your mate might have no idea that you have altered his or her diet. With that said, you might need to make concessions for what your mate desires and make alterations to meal plans that can satisfy both people's needs. Something as easy as adding an extra side for your mate can keep the peace. If you are not the primary meal provider, be prepared to take control over what you consume.

Also, make sure tempting treats are out of immediate reach. If you have a countertop full of potato chips and Oreos®, eating carrot sticks might lose its appeal. Put all of your partner's junk food in a specific drawer, and avoid it.

Try to work out around family time. There are only so many hours in a day, and you should spend at least eight of those hours asleep. Finding time to exercise can be challenging as it is. And if that exercise time cuts into time that can be spent with a loved one, resentment can build. I have several friends who began workout programs that took them immediately from work to the gym daily, which got them home at 9 PM. Basically, they didn't see their mate until Saturday, which did not go over well. Here is where P90X and INSANITY® workouts are so helpful. If you can manage to crawl out of bed a bit earlier in the morning, you can begin your day with an amazing workout, and still be home in time to have dinner with your partner. If you're a night owl, try working out after your love has retired for the evening. Being considerate of your time together can make all the difference in the world.

Keep the peace, but honor thyself. Sometimes all of the communication and consideration in the world will not help a partner to understand your desire to change. If this is the case, short of seeking therapy, you must continue toward your goals and try to make it as undisruptive as possible to your partner. We realize that this is one of the most important relationships in your life, but no relationship is more important than the one you have with yourself. Walking away from health and fitness to please someone else will just lead you down the path of resentment. Keep moving forward, creating positive change, and try to still give energy to the relationship. Maybe your partner will not understand, but perhaps over time, he or she can learn to accept.

Relationships can be incredible adventures that offer great opportunities for growth, happiness, and security. Learning to navigate that adventure can be challenging, but ultimately well worth it. Always remember that your greatest tools are communication and compassion. Sometimes, trying to understand why our partner is resistant can help you figure out a way to explain your needs to them. And know that change will come in life, whether we create it or not. Figuring out how to foster support over something like lifestyle change can make the harder struggles in life easier to deal with later on. Having six-pack abs should not destroy "till death do us part." And with communication, consideration, and some effective planning, perhaps your mate might learn to love your new look.

If you have questions or are having a hard time sticking to your workouts and healthy eating because of a loved one, send me an email to fitwithjessica@live.com

I would love to hear from you!! Please leave a comment below:)

Got the winter blahs?

So far my mood has been far better this winter than last.  Why? EXERCISE!! I'm exercising 6 days per week as opposed to last year, only 2 days per week.  Last year, I was only exercising on the days I was teaching a class. It was hard for me to teach more than 2 days per week, so that's all I got in.  Better than nothing, but my body and mind needed more. 

Enter P90X and becoming a Team Beachbody Coach.  P90X was a "god-send" for me.  I didn't have to think about a routine to do at home, it was all right there in front of me.  And it came with an extensive nutrition/recipe guide which made figuring out how much to eat easy for me.  I'm a busy mom of 4, with slight attention deficit (so I think), so for me to sit down and try to figure something out for myself was the last thing I wanted to do.

Becoming a Team Beachbody Coach put the icing on the cake.  Now I am accountable not only to myself, but to everyone I coach and reach out to.  This has really put a fire under me to get up and get moving.

Well, enough about me, please read the article below by Amy Ludwig on beating the winter blahs.

Beat the Winter "Blahs" with Exercise


By Amy Ludwig

Feeling a post-holiday letdown? Tired of shorter days and early nights? Wondering how you can get through the dark months as you pine for summer sunshine? Fear not. You can walk—or jog, run, or lift—your way to a brighter mood with exercise.

When you're feeling low, moving may be the last thing you feel like doing. As Sir Isaac Newton pointed out, an object at rest tends to stay at rest. But increasingly, science is proving that if you can peel yourself off the couch and put one foot in front of the other, you'll feel better, both about yourself and the world.

So how do you make this happen?

Working out "cheers up" your body chemistry.

When you're physically active, your body releases natural chemicals that actually make you feel good. Neurotransmitters like endorphins, serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine help you feel relaxed and happy.

Exercise also reduces your body's production of hormones like cortisol, which are released at high levels during chronic stress and depress the immune system.

Working out has a calming effect on the body. When all else is equal, the harder to exercise the calmer you'll be.

You can help support these positive results with the right supplements, like ActiVit® Multivitamins, Core-Omega 3 or Shakeology®.

Move your body, change your mind.

Exercise has been proven to:

•Boost confidence: Achieving a fitness goal, no matter how small, will give you a sense of accomplishment.

•Burn calories: How else does the weight melt away? Plus getting thinner and feeling more fit is likely to cheer you up.

•Redirect your focus: You'll be too busy trying to do one more rep of that crunch, curl, or kick to think about anything negative.

Show you can do something positive: By choosing to get up and move, you're taking care of yourself, and coping in a healthy way. And when you observe that, you'll believe you can take other steps forward.

How much exercise makes a difference?

As little as 10 to 15 minutes of activity can improve your mood, especially if you're doing something dynamic, like running or cycling. Harvard psychiatrist John J. Ratey, M.D., writes that a single workout can jump-start the feel-good chemical changes. So the most important thing is getting started. To get the greatest benefits, work your way up to at least 30 minutes a day, 3 to 5 days a week.

What kind of workout is best?

One you enjoy. Seriously. If it's not something you like, you're less likely to make the effort. For instance, I don't happen to be a fan of plyometrics, despite its many benefits. When I work out, I opt for cycling, yoga, or low-impact programs instead. They still get me sweating my way into a great mood. Identify the activities you enjoy, and get going.

How do you get started?

Choose something accessible. The power of exercise doesn't come from fancy equipment, but from the effort you put in. If you pick something you can get to and that fits your timetable, you've lowered the barriers to beginning. For example, you can:

•Turn everyday errands into workouts when you do them on foot or by bike. (Extra points for adding a hill, or taking the long way home.)

•Check out the activities offered at your local park, like swimming, basketball games, or fitness classes.

•Commit to an in-home Beachbody® workout program that's sure to fit your schedule.

So start today. Boost your activity level and help put a smile on your face. Because you don't have to wait for the sunshine to feel good.

I'd love to help you you get started with a new fitness goal.  Let's make 2011 your healthiest year ever.  Send me an email to fitwithjessica@live.com

And feel free to leave a comment below!

A day in the life of my eating plan

Everyday someone wants me to make up a meal plan for them.  I used to do this for my personal clients for free. But honestly I stopped because it was time consuming and I wasn't getting paid for it. 

Don't get me wrong, I do love to offer free help and advice, but sometimes you have to put limits on what you do for free and what is a service that should be paid for.  Since I'm not a registered nutritionist, I feel funny charging people for meal plans that I do create. So that's why I stopped.  When I became a Team Beachbody Coach I found a great alternative and problem solver is the Team Beachbody Custom Meal Plan Wizard that comes with the upgraded Club membership.

What I've also found to be a great tool for planning my meals is the nutrition guide books that come with almost every Beachbody workout program.  P90X, Insanity and Brazil Butt Lift are the 3 programs in my library. Each one of those came with a nutrition plan that's easy to follow and if you like to cook, you can totally modify the recipes to suit your taste buds.

So here is a sample day for me from yesterday.  I'm in Phase 1 of the P90X Nutrition Plan.  Phase 1 is a lower carb phase, meaning 50% protein, 30% carbs and 30% fat.  I'm taking in about 1800-2000 calories per day, eating 5-6 small meals.  These meals are inspired by or taken from the P90X Nutrition Guide.

Post workout snack

small recovery drink and a cup of non-fat yogurt

Breakfast

Spinach & mushroom omelet with 8 oz milk, 1/2 a grapefruit and a cup of green tea

Snack

P90X Peak Performance Bar (wildberry yogurt)

Lunch

Grilled chicken over baby spinach with tomatoes, celery, baby carrots, avocado and balsamic/rice vinegar. And 1 TBS of vanilla whey protein powder mixed with water.

Snack

Chocolate Shakeolgy mixed with 4 oz chilled coffee, 4 oz milk and 4 oz water, and a dash of cinnamon

Dinner

Roasted chicken breast with oven roasted veggies, spinach salad and one slice of whole wheat bread.

If you're really serious about changing your ways in order to lose weight, burn fat and gain muscle, or just feel better, you need to get serious about your eating habits too.  But getting serious doesn't mean it doesn't taste good or your starving yourself.  As you can see I had a lot of food yesterday.  My big treat was my Shakeology:)

For those of you who think its too expensive to buy a workout system like P90X or do the Custom Meal Plan Wizard, I say divide the cost by number of days in a month.  For instance the Meal Plan Wizard comes out to about 50 cents per day.  Considering what kind of junk we buy through out the day that costs more than that, I think the Custom Meal Plan Wizard is a bargain.

I'd love to hear from you.  Please feel free to leave a comment below or email me at fitwithjessica@live.com

Woo hoo! Brazil Butt Lift end of week 4 results!

Okay, this was my last week of round one with Brazil Butt Lift.  After 4 weeks of working the bum bum (pronounced boom boom,and Brazilian for booty), tucking the tummy, sculpting the body I'm quite pleased with the results.

I know my results would have been a lot better if I didn't start Brazil Butt Lift during the holiday season.  I'll admit that I indulged in some holiday goodies.  So I'm going to do another round, but this time really behave.

Here were my measurements on Day 1/Week 1:


Waist 28.5"
Hips 36"
Thigh 20.5" each

And here are my measurements on Day 6/Week 4:

Waist 26.5"
Hips 35"
Thigh 19.5" each

I lost a total of 2 inches off my waist, 1 inch off my hips and 1 inch off each thigh.

Even though my nutrition wasn't the best, it wasn't the worst either, so that helped.  Shakeology played a big part in me not totally blowing it with my nutrition. 

I made sure I pushed play every day I was scheduled to workout, even Christmas Day.  If you want results you need to commit yourself to sticking with a plan. And a structured plan works the best.  Trust me I know.

If you would like more information on Brazil Butt Lift or any of the other Beachbody workouts email me at fitwithjessica@live.com.

I'd love to hear from you, feel free to leave a comment below.

Brazil Butt Lift beginning of week 3 results

Okay, I was a little afraid to take my measurements this morning. I wasn't on my best behavior with eating last week and over the weekend with Christmas.  I made cookies, and of course you can't make them without having one, two or a few. Then I made ravioli, had Chinese food, had a big Christmas breakfast, the list goes on.

One thing I made sure of though, was not missing a Brazil Butt Lift workout.  If I know I'm going to be eating worse than usual, I make sure I stick to my workout schedule.  Some people get so upset if they go overboard that they just throw in the towel and give up.  You can't do that!! You need to get over it and move forward. 

So here are my results with Brazil Butt Lift, so far:

Here were my measurements on Day 1/Week 1:


Waist 28.5"
Hips 36"
Thigh 20.5"

Here are my measurements on Day 6/Ending week1
Waist 27.5"
Hips 35.5"
Thigh 20"

And here are my results from today beginning Week3

Waist 27" (down another .5")
Hips 35" (down another .5")
Thigh 20" (unchanged)

I'm pretty impressed with the results so far!  Even after all of the cookies and extra snacks, I still managed to make progress:)

I'm a Team Beachbody Coach and former fitness/Pilates instructor.  But this doesn't make working out any easier for me. I know how hard it can be to find time to exercise or eat right,or just get started.  If you need someone in your corner to help cheer you on, let me help you by clicking here for free coaching and support.

I'd love to hear from you! Please feel free to leave a comment below or send me an email to fitwithjessica@live.com

6 Days with Brazil Butt Lift and my results so far:)

Okay, I am totally stoked about my results so far with Brazil Butt Lift.

Here were my measurements on Day 1:

Waist 28.5"
Hips 36"
Thigh 20.5"

Here are my measurements on Day 6 (I thought I only lost 1/2 an inch in my waist, but when I looked at my Day 1 measurements it was a different story):

Waist 27.5"
Hips 35.5"
Thigh 20"

I got these results with my normal eating and even a few indulgences that week.  I can't wait to see what the next 3 weeks bring!

If you want more info on Brazil Butt Lift or any other Beachbody program, send me an email to fitwithjessica@live.com or checkout my retail site http://beachbodycoach.com/fitwithjessica

I'd love to hear from you, feel free to comment below:)

And my new work out will be...

I'm super excited!! I'm ordering Brazil Butt Lift today! After completing two rounds of P90X, trying Insanity on two different occasions, I decided to go a different route and try something different.

P90X and Insanity are very intense training programs.  I'm not saying BBL will not be effective, but I want to try something fun that will keep my whole body toned, but also work a little more on the lower body. 

Here's my secret. I've always been pretty happy with my legs and booty. But I want to make sure it all stays the way I like it.  As we age, and if we don't work at it, gravity will take its toll on the booty, and muscle will decrease.  This results in a flat, droopy appearance.  I don't want that! Neither does my husband!!!

So in about a week's time, I'll be able to share my excitement about another cool Beachbody workout!

I'd love to hear from you! Feel free to comment below or email me at fitwithjessica@live.com

When sickness strikes.

Well, its that time of year when all sorts of sickness strikes.  Cold, flu, stomach bug, you name it.

Right now, I'm starting to recover from my least favorite, the stomach bug. Its no fun for anyone when mom gets sick, so I have my own way of shortening the duration of it.  Acidophilus really helped me last year and so far with this year's bug.  I take it acidophilus capsules everyday, but when my kids start getting sick, I take it 3 times per day. Ialso drink plenty of fluids and eat very light until a full recovery.  This little trick has helped me tame the bug to last only 24 hours for me instead of 48 or more like in the past.

But what should someone do with their workout routine when sickness strikes?  Well my advice is to take it easy, especially if you're running a fever, have a stomach virus, or just feel like you can't move.  Get rest! You can always get back into your routine when you feel better.

If you are starting to feel better, you can do some easy exercise like gentle yoga, walking or even light weight training.  But if you start feeling dizzy or tired, stop.

After you're recovered, ease back in to your routine.  If you went without eating for a few days you will feel very weak.  Don't force yourself into a really tough workout right away.  Get back to eating right and then you can get back to normal.

So, don't forget to keep washing those hands of yours, take your vitamins and eat right. Hopefully you can keep the germs away.

I'd love to hear from you! Feel free to leave a comment or send me an email to fitwithjessica@live.com

This is how I roll.

Having 4 kids and running my own successful online fitness business has generated a lot of comments and questions from so many people.  I get people who feel the need to give me blessings, (which I appreciate), but I do sense sarcasm in some of these.  I also get people who think I'm crazy (not sure why, I'm not doing anything that weird, like base jumping).  Then I get the people who ask if I'm going to have more kids (um, no), or the people who say having all those kids is what keeps me in shape (um, I wish, but no again on that one). Or that I must be super organized (well,I wasn't a born organizer, but am working on that), or that I don't get any down time (hmm, I think I get more downtime than most people :))) )

So, I thought I'd share a little bit of what helps me and what doesn't.

Okay, for starters, if you don't know me by now, I'll get you up to speed.  I've been in the fitness industry since 2003.  I started out with 2 boys (11 months apart), teaching 12 classes per week and training private clients 10 times per week.  In 2005, we added another boy to our family.  Then in 2008 we added a little girl.  My husband is helpful with the kids, but he works outside of the home.

So, as I stated earlier, I wasn't born organized. Its still a work in progress for  me.  But now more than ever I see the importance of staying focused, but being flexible.  When I decided to take my fitness career to a new place (my online business), I definitely saw the need to having a plan in place. In the beginning it was very easy to get lost and put chores off.  Although my house wasn't horrible, I noticed the dust starting to accumulate, clutter was threatening in the rooms, and when I was forgetting to pick something up from the store or run an errand.

Enter my "TO DO LIST." Yes, I wrote it in caps because its very important to me.  I can't live without it.  I used to think lists were for organized people and that I was to unorganized to keep a list.  Oh boy, how warped is that thinking? How do you think people who appear organized stay organized? A LIST!!!

It doesn't need to be a fancy Daytimer, I just picked up a cute spiral notebook with lots of paper in it.  Every night, I make up my list for the next day.  I include exercise, my time to read 10 minutes of something inspirational, and then I list my daily chores to do, errands to run and if something unexpected pops up, I add that too.  I checkoff each item I complete, and if it was a last minute add, I check it off so I don't feel bad when something else might not have gotten done.  If it didn't get done, I move it to the next day.

At the end of the day, at the bottom of my page, I write down at least 5 things I was grateful for on that day.  This way I always end on a positive note.

Now as far as my family goes, we're pretty simple.  We only enroll our kids in one (max 2) sports per season.  And they usually take the summer and winter off.  I'm lucky because my older boys just like baseball right now.  So this save time and there is less chaos for the entire family. Too many people run their kids around to all sorts of activities, and then there is no downtime for their children.  Kids need downtime!!

Maybe it helps that my husband and I are loners.  We used to have a busy social life, but that gets exhausting. Ever since our last move, our social calendar has slowed down a lot.  But I like it like that.  So instead of going to holiday gatherings every weekend from November until January 1st, we have a lot of weekends where we get to stay home by the fire, watch movies, go on hikes, do projects around the house and just enjoy our family.  I love not having to worry about packing up the kids or finding a sitter every weekend.  I know this sounds mean, but my parents live in FL, so during the holidays we only have to worry about visiting with one set of parents. Yes, I do miss my parents but we go visit them during a less stressful time of year.

Now all of this helps, but I still needed something to keep me on track with keeping the house tidy.  In a perfect world, I'd have the motivation and desire to do this, but housework was never my favorite thing to do.

I don't have the luxury of doing my cleaning while my little one naps.  She needs me to lay down with her (trust me I love this!).  And I really want to get my daily exercise in too. Well, enter http://www.flylady.net/.

I used to use the Fly Lady when we lived in our last house.  It came in handy when we had Realtors coming daily to show the home.  Everyone who saw my house couldn't believe how clean it was for having 3 kids (one of which was a baby).  Somehow I got off track when we moved in to our current home and then got pregnant again, but I have rediscovered her system and found that it has really simplified my life.

I know this sounds nuts, but I wake at 5 am every morning to do my exercise (almost always a Beachbody one).  Then while my husband is showering I do a quick "swish and swipe" of the kids' bathroom. Then I shower, clean our bathroom and get ready to start the day.

The Fly Lady sends you missions that take 15 min to do.  I can't explain it all, so you need to check her out yourself.

Okay, so my next time saver is menu planning.  I love to cook, but used to just cook by mood.  Not good when you have 4 kids and you might need to run to the store.  I've found that the Beachbody Custom Meal Plan Wizard has really been a useful tool in planning the weekly dinner menu.  It also gives you breakfasts, snack and lunches. It's really helped me save money and have less food waste.

Well, there you have it. Those are some of my secrets to appearing to be organized and in control.  I love my days with my family and they're a lot less stressful now.

I'd love to hear from you! Please feel free to leave a comment or send me an email to fitwithjessica@live.com

The biggest excuse for not working out...TIME

One of the biggest excuses I hear for people not exercising is time, or lack of.  Look, I know we all have busy lives, with work, school, holidays, kids, spouses, friends, church, you name it. But taking care of your body is not a luxury, its a necessity.  If you don't take the little steps now, you will regret it later on in life.  The good news is that you can just pick up now, don't feel like you need to make up for lost time.

Here is an article by Beachbody's Monica Ciociola on how to find more time to squeeze in that work out during the holidays.

No Time to Work Out? 7 Ways to Find the Time


Monica Ciociola

The perceived lack of time is one of the main reasons people on the Message Boards give for not exercising regularly. Even those of you who have discovered the wonders of in-home fitness still find it difficult to juggle work, family, and fitness—especially during the holiday season. We hear you asking for help, and here are 7 smart ways to find more time for your workouts.

Shop online. Now that you can basically order anything and everything over the Internet and have it delivered, consider doing your holiday shopping this way. Most major retailers have online stores, and provide gift-wrapping services along with shipping options. So there's no need to go to the mall or the post office.

Farm out some chores. Try dropping off your laundry—especially if you're already going to the laundromat. You'll find that it doesn't cost that much more.

Wake up 30 minutes earlier. Work out before heading to the office. A little trick for waking up faster is to touch your toes as soon as you open your eyes, bringing blood to you head so you feel alert more quickly. After your workout, you'll be more energized for the day ahead and hardly notice the lost sleep. Working out in the morning as opposed to midday or at night also saves you the double cost of showering, getting dressed, and making yourself beautiful.

Make it a family affair. Mike Y. and his wife Christine and daughter Samantha made shedding pounds with the Power 90® program a family activity. By working out together at 5:30 AM each day, before getting ready for work and school, they managed to get in both some family time and exercise. They became Success Stories and were invited to Hawaii to star in the Power 90 TV show. It may be a little more difficult for you right now, with everyone's schedule crammed with holiday events, but working out together as a family ensures a built-in support system, and that support is crucial when you're trying to keep your fitness goals on track.

Prepare meals in advance. Try to get most of your meal preparation for the week done over the weekend. That means washing all your lettuce, veggies, herbs, fish, and poultry up front, and stocking complete salads-in-a-bag to take to work. You can also prepare individual slices of poultry and fish and a variety of veggies for dinner. Also make vats of soup, pasta, and brown rice that you'll be able to microwave throughout the week. Filling up on healthy meals and having low-fat, good-for-you snacks readily available at work will reduce the temptation to sample the goodies at the office—the gingerbread cookies, chocolates, and inevitable fruitcakes.

Take your DVDs with you. If you're traveling over the holidays, make sure you pack your favorite fitness DVDs along with your laptop so you can work out wherever you are, whether it's at your in-laws', your friend's house, or in a hotel room.

Pop in a 20-minute workout. Beachbody® makes some superfast and effective workouts for when you're seriously short on time. Try the Turbo Jam® 20-Minute Workout for an excellent calorie-blasting session and the Great Body Guaranteed!™ collection to focus on specific trouble areas in even less than 10 minutes. Look out for Tony Horton's all-new 10-Minute Trainer program launching in January—just give Tony 10 minutes and he'll give you incredible results! No more excuses—now you can always find the time to squeeze in a 10-minute workout . . . And the rewards stretch far beyond that to stronger bones and muscles, a sharper mind, and a lower risk of cancer and diabetes. And remember, working out reduces stress. You'll enjoy the holidays much more if you're healthy and energized.
 
If you're having a hard time getting started, that's what I'm here for.  As a Team Beachbody Coach, I can help keep you motivated and reach your goals.  Its hard to try and figure it all out on your own, but you have me here to help you.  You can sign up for free or get a club membership with custom meal plans and recipes.  Click here to sign up.
 
I'd love to hear from you. Leave a comment here, or send an email to fitwithjessica@live.com.