New Year, New You-2016

Now that Christmas is over and we are approaching a new year, it's time to start thinking about goals for next year.  I had a wonderful 2015 and look forward to what the new year will bring my family and I.  I have learned so much in the past year, so much that I want to share with the world!  One important thing that i learned involves setting goals for yourself.  I had never really done this before, except maybe in my head.  I mean,  how many of us make a new year's resolution that never happens!?  Sure, I've said, "I would really like to get tone this year."  "I would love to start eating healthier!"  "I wish I could become more organized."  Yes, I've said all of these things multiple times in my life.  And some of them, I would even start on, but NEVER complete.  But this past year was different for me and this upcoming year is going to be even better because of the things that I have learned.

These are the top things that you must do when setting goals:
1.  WRITE THEM DOWN!!  You have to have them written down somewhere where you can see them daily.  Most of us are very visual people.  And it makes it more real when it's written on paper.
2.  Write down a plan for how you will achieve these goals.  What are you specifically going to do every day to ensure that these goals are met?
3.  You must look at them EVERYDAY!  Have then sitting on your nightstand so that every morning when you wake up, you look at then and reread them.  This will keep the idea in your head so that you don't forget what it is your are working toward.
4.  Share your goals with someone; spouse, friend, partner, etc.  If you share your goals with someone else, it will help keep you accountable.  You've said it out loud, now you must follow through.
5.  If possible, get an accountability partner, someone who has similar goals and that you can turn to when you feel like giving up.  Find someone who will help keep you motivated and whom you can help motivate.
6.  Make a vision board!  I love having a vision board, with pictures of my goals, my dreams, somewhere where i can see it daily and be reminded.  I have mine on a board in my office but there are also apps that you can use to create a vision board.
7.  Don't be afraid to reach for the stars!  I think that if you believe in it strongly enough, you can make it happen.  But you do have to WORK for it!!!
8.  NEVER GIVE UP!!!  You must fail sometimes in order to succeed.  That is how we learn, through our failures and mistakes.  Learn from them and keep moving on!!  Just keep swimming!!  ;)

All of these things have kept me focused on my goals.  Has it always been easy? NO.  Did I reach all my goals i set out to this year?  NO, but I haven't given up and I'm reaching for the stars in 2016!

One of my goals for the new year is to help as many people as i can to reach their health and fitness goals!!  This is important to me because I believe that living a healthy lifestyle can be life changing.  It certainly has been for me!
So, I am starting the year off RIGHT with our NEW YEAR, NEW YOU Challenge!!
We will officially start this challenge on January 11th with Prep week beginning January 4th.

Here are the details:

Your choice of one of Beachboy's best home based workouts
Meal plan based on your goals
Free Beachbody Coach
30 Day supply of Shakeology or Performance supplements
Inspiration, accountability and Support that fits with your busy lifestyle

Receive inspiration and support in our private challenge group on Facebook.  Be surrounded by positive people with similar goals as you.  The challenge will run for 60 days and there will be weekly contests and prizes based on participation in the group.

Here is how you can get a spot in the group:
*Order a Challenge Pack (comes with workout, meal plan and Shakeology)
*Order Shakeology on auto ship
*Order Performance Supplements stack on autoship

You MUST sign up with me as your coach!

Order deadline is January 4th.  Make sure to order using my link:  www.beachbodycoach.com/tgilles3177

If you are interested in joining this challenge, please fill out the following form:
https://tammygilles.wufoo.com/forms/z1g3iddz1ac0794/

Let's make 2016 the best yet!!

Why health and fitness...why now??

As Beachbody coaches, we talk a lot about our "Why."  Why did we decide to become a coach?  Why are you a coach now?  Why is it important that we succeed?  Why this business versus another network marketing company?  These are important questions because our "why" helps determine how successful we will be. Without a strong why, we wouldn't have the drive to keep going.  It's our why in life that drives us in everything we do.  Why do you get up in the morning?  Why do you go to work everyday?  Why do you go to church every Sunday?  Why do you volunteer at your kids school? Why?

Our whys can change just as our lives can.  The reason I became a BeachBody coach is not exactly the same reason that drives me now.  I became a coach because I wanted the accountability for myself.  I loved being a part of a challenge group.  It helped keep me motivated and on course.  I wanted to run my own challenge groups to help others do the same. I chose health and fitness because I'm passionate about it.   I didn't think I would earn an income from it.  I had no idea how much I would enjoy it.  I never realized that it would change me in so many different ways.  I didn't know it would make me want to be better in all areas of my life.  I didn't know the drive for success, that it would ignite in me.  But it has done all of these things. 

I have been a stay at home mom for over 12 years now.  I wouldn't trade it for the world!  I love that I have never missed a first step, or first word or any other firsts.  I love playdates and meeting other stay at home moms!  I love that I get to volunteer at the kids school and go on field trips!  I realize that this is a luxury that not all moms get or maybe even want.  We are all different and different is good.  But as moms, working or not, we all make sacrifices, and at some point we question the decisions we make.  As a stay at home mom, especially in the early years, my husband and I sacrificed a lot!  It is not always easy to live off of one income and there were many, many times that I felt so much guilt because I wasn't contributing to our family's finances.  I was always looking for a way to save money or make an extra few dollars here or there without giving up the time with my kids.  I have no regrets about staying home!  My point is that it's not always easy.

The point of this little story is that I have found a way to contribute to my family financially.  I have found something that I'm passionate about!  I have found something that allows me to help others!  I have found my "why!"  I will succeed in this business so that I can give back to my husband all the things that he sacrificed for our family!  Not because he's ever complained, because he certainly hasn't.  But because he has worked so hard to support us the last 13 years and has given up so much for our family.  It's time for me to give back to him!  My husband and my family are my "why."

This "why", coupled with my passion to help others get healthy, is what drives me everyday and keeps me going strong! 

I want to share my passion with YOU!  I want to help YOU make your why come true!  We often get signs in life.... HERE IS YOURS!  DON'T INGNORE IT! 

Message me for a Backstage pass to see what coaching is all about!!

Snickerdoodle delight Shakeology

I discovered a new favorite Shakeology combination this week so I have to share!  I don't veer too much on what I put in my Shakes except maybe to switch from bananas to strawberries.  And I've been drinking the chocolate flavored from the start.  However, I have tried other flavors but chocolate has been my favorite, imagine that.  Anyway, last month I ordered Vanilla to change it up a bit.  And here is the combination that I put together and LOVE!

Snickerdoodle Delight

1/2 scoop chocolate Shakeology
1/2 scoop vanilla Shakeology
1 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Vanilla
1 tsp honey
1/2 TBSP PB2
1/2 Banana
1/2 cup ice

Mix all ingredients together in a blender and voila!  Enjoy!

PS- I did add spinach in mine today because I needed the extra greens and it did NOT change the taste at all.  Also, I almost always add Chia seeds in my Shakes. 

Oh yea, and in the picture is also Focused Energy Boost which I absolutely swear by!  It gives me the extra energy i need to get through the day with a busy 3 year old!  Shoot me a comment if you'd like more info on it or check out my website!  http://teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/SHKEnergyBoost?referringRepId=582447

All I want for Christmas is a Six-Pack of abs!

We all have abs!! Some of us can see them, some of us can't.  And that's okay. Not everyone wants a six pack of abs. Not everyone has the desire to see their abs come out. And that's okay. We are all different. We all have different fitness goals and are at different fitness levels. It's what makes the world go round. I think, if you are up and moving and making a conscious effort to feed your body the nutrients you need than you are on the right path. My goal as a Health and Fitness coach is NOT to have everyone look the same. My goal is to help people start making healthier choices and start living a healthier life. 

That being said, if you are looking to bring out that six pack of abs, I have a challenge for you!  Next week I will be hosting. FREE 7 day ab challenge via Facebook. Each day I will be posting an ab workout that you can do almost anywhere. If you need some new ideas to add to your workout regime then you will want to join me. I will also be revealing my secret tips to how after 37 years and 3 kids, I finally found my abs!!

If you are interested in joining me, you can go to my Fb page and leave me a comment and I will get you added. https://www.facebook.com/Tammy-Fierce_and_Fit-1423818677926236/

If you think a six pack is out of reach, you're wrong!  But it does require work and dedication. 

Top 5 Reasons to do the 21 Day Fix

What a great Thanksgiving we had this year!  I have so much to be thankful for today and everyday!!
But oh boy did I overdo it on the food!!  Have you ever noticed that Thanksgiving dinner is made up of mostly carbohydrates?  Let me recount the food we ate just for dinner on Thanksgiving day; mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing (dressing), mac n cheese, dinner rolls, corn, green beans, ham and turkey!  HOLY MOLY!  That's a LOT of CARBS!!  But you know what, it's once a year, so I indulged!  And I felt like crap the rest of the weekend, which is why I do not eat like that all the time.  And also why I am super excited to be starting the 21 day fix nutrition plan today!

Why the 21 day fix??
Here is why I love the 21 day fix and also why it is so effective.
1)  It's an easy to follow nutrition plan!!  It comes with these cute little containers that you use to measure your food so no counting calories or points.  The containers are color coded; ie.  RED is for your protein, PURPLE for your fruit and so on.  The nutrition guide shows you exactly how to figure out how many of these containers you get to eat in a day based on your personal needs.  It also contains great recipes and meal ideas. 
2)  The workouts are 30 minutes long!!!!  That's it, one half of an hour!!!  Anyone can make time for that!  The workouts also come with a modifier so just about anyone can do it.  And believe me, when I first started, I used the modifier often!  And it can be done from the comfort of your own home!!
3)  The meal replacement shakes that come with this program (Shakeology) are AMAZING!!  I seriously do not go a day without my Shake.  It is full of nutrients and superfoods!  It gives me so much energy and helps keep those cravings at bay.  My whole family drinks these shakes because I know, even if they eat terrible, if they've had their shakes they are getting the nutrients they need. 
4)  It takes 21 days to break a bad habit and start a new good habit.  Following the 21 day nutrition plan helps you to break all those bad eating habits and teaches you how to eat healthy, clean food that also tastes good.  This is not a quick fix!  This nutrition guide is meant to show you what foods you should be eating ALL the time, not just for the 21 days.  You can't get finished with the 21 days and then go right back to what you were doing before.  What you can do is take what you've learned from the challenge and apply it to your daily life with an 80/20 rule.  That's what I follow.  If you eat right 80% of the time then you don't have to feel guilty when you have cheat meals the other 20%.  It's all about moderation and that is the one thing that the 21 day fix has taught me.  I do NOT diet but I do provide the fuel my body needs with an occasional treat. 
5)  It works!!!

So even when I am not necessarily doing the 21 day fix workouts (I like to change my workouts often), I like to follow the nutrition plan.  This is the program I started with over a year and a half ago.  This is the program my hubby started out with over 6 months ago.  It is the program that we will always go back to.

If you are interested in ordering the this program, you can fill out the form on this blog or go to my website here http://teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/BCP21D160?referringRepId=582447
Make it a great week!!!

Healthy Buffalo Chicken Dip

This will be a short post since I'm currently trying to get my house in order and food prepared for company this Thanksgiving day.  But I wanted to share really quickly a yummy healthy appetizer for anyone who may still be looking for ideas. 

Every family get together I am required to make my buffalo chicken dip.  If I don't I could possibly be banished from the family.  ;)  While it is super delicious, it is definitely NOT healthy!  So, when I started my healthier lifestyle, I decided I needed to find a healthier version of it, at least for me.  Now, I usually bring my old version and my healthy version for those of us trying to be healthy.  So, this is one of things I will be making for Thanksgiving day.  I figure we will have plenty of unhealthy foods to eat, I should at least have one that isn't so bad. 

This can also be 21 day fix approved!

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Ingredients:

1/2 cup of cooked shredded chicken
1 cup of plain Greek yogurt
2 Tbsp of shredded Mexican cheese
Texas Pete buffalo sauce to taste

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Mix chicken, Greek yogurt, half of cheese and buffalo sauce together.  Pour into container.  Top with remaining cheese.  Bake until heated through, about 15-20 minutes. 

Serve with celery sticks or crackers of your choice. 

Now, it doesn't get much easier than that!  And I promise, it is delicious!!

Sorry, I don't have a picture of the finished product since I won't be making it until Thursday and I never thought to take a picture of it before.  But here is a lovely picture of the ingredients.  :)

When Momma's Don't Make Time for Themselves

I'm in the mood today to be brutally honest about something that, as a health and fitness coach, I hear a lot. I spend a lot of time inviting people to join me for various health and fitness challenges that I run through Facebook.  I do this because I genuinely want to help others feel good about themselves and to reach their goals, whatever they may be.  I do want to point out that I, in no way, believe that everyone should be the same size or weight.  My goal is to empower people, especially women, to feel good about themselves, whatever size or weight they are.  Also, it is important to me, as someone who lost her mother way too young, to keep you healthy and energized.  If you are not eating the right foods and you are not exercising, chances are, you are not as healthy as you could be.  I want all you of you mommas to be around to watch your children, and grandchildren grow up.  And I want you to be able to enjoy that time with them, to have the energy to play and chase them around.  If you are not taking care of yourself, you are probably not able to do this like you could.  I know you want this too!!  So now, I'm going to say it, and I know you don't want to hear it but hear it goes.....STOP MAKING EXCUSES!

Look, I know you are busy, whether you are a full time working outside of the home mom, a stay at home mom, a single mom or a part time working out of the home mom!  I get it, you are BUSY!!  Time is the number one excuse I get for why people can not complete a workout program or eat healthy.  And I understand because I've made the same excuses.  But the thing is you HAVE to make the time for this one thing so that you can continue to do all the other things that you do.  The stress will catch up with you if you do not have a way to channel it.  Believe me, I know!  I use to have so much stress in my life and I let it eat away at me until I had major stomach issues.  My stress was affecting my kids and my marriage.  I had to find a way to let it go so first I let God fully into my life and decided to let him take over the stress. Secondly, I found a way to channel my stress through exercise.
So here is some food for thought because I know someone is reading this and saying, "well she has no idea what my life is like, I really don't have the time!"  And you're right I don't know what your life is like and you don't know what mine is like.  I'm not here to judge you and I'm certainly not telling you that you are a bad person because you haven't made this a priority yet.  What I am here to tell you is this, as bad as you think you have it, I can guarantee that we can find someone who has had it worse, and who was able to overcome it.  As busy as you are, I can guarantee that we can find someone who is busier, but was able to make the important changes in their life.  This goes for all aspects of your life.  I think this is an important thing to be reminded of.  If there is something that you want in life, then make it a priority. 

The point of this blog entry is not to put you down for not making health and fitness a priority.  My goal today is to inspire you to want to be a better person, to start taking care of yourself, to have you look at things a little differently.  I know all about the momma guilt that is involved when we do something for ourselves.  I lived with it for years!  But by taking care of yourself, you are in turn taking care of your children.  You are helping to ensure that you will be here for them a little longer.  You are providing yourself the energy to take care of them.  You are setting a positive example for them to follow.  Children learn by what they see you do, not what you tell them to do. 

If you want my help to get you started, message me or find me on FB at https://www.facebook.com/Tammy-Fierce_and_Fit-1423818677926236/