VACATION: HERE WE COME {08.30.2015}

We're leaving on a Fun Ship, don't know when we'll be back again!

 
That's right, for eight days we will hanging out, enjoying the nice breeze on the Carnival Magic. Without giving away too many details before the vacation begins, here are some pictures of our ship. No worries, as soon as we return, we will divulge all the details of the cruise with you. You can bet that there will be plenty of pictures for us to share.

The Carnival Magic will be our home for 7 nights and 8 days

The waterworks on Carnival Magic and the seaside theater; I am really looking forward to sliding down those slides, jumping and splashing in one of the pools, and watching amazing movies at the seaside theater during the night

This jungle-gym ropes course looks like such fun; I can't wait for E and I to try it

 

We can't wait to post when we come back!!!

 

 

MUST HAVE CRUISE ITEMS {08.29.2015}

 

As I sit here and check, double-check, and re-check our suitcases, I'm reminded of things that are essential to make cruising as comfortable, easy and home-like as possible. If you're thinking about cruising in the near future, these five items are crucial!

I get a lot of questions about items that should be packed for a cruise. After our first cruise, I realized just how important these five little items are in playing a big part in helping us feel more at home. Let's chat about these items and why they are so important to bring with you.

 

#1 : Extension Cord

I put this item first because, not everyone knows this, but your stateroom only has one, I repeat one, outlet. Which means, if you plan on charging cameras, cell phones, tablets, or really anything, you only have room for two items. To me, that's silly! E and I bring cellphones to use as alarms and for taking photos on the ship, a GoPro, a video camera, and a mini fan (see item #2 for details on why). If we only had to use the one outlet in the stateroom, none of our stuff would ever get charged. So, if you are planning on bringing a whole slew of items that require charging, do not leave home with out an extension cord.

 

#2: Mini Bedside Fan

Sure, the stateroom is nice and cosy, but if you are like E and I, getting into bed and under the covers gets hot! On our first cruise, we brought our favorite little white Massey bedside fan and it worked so well. We were comfortable and the room, at night, never felt stuffy. Another thing to keep in mind is that you do not have control over the thermostat, so if you like to have a breeze either spend 600 extra dollars on a balcony suite, or just grab a small bedside fan at a nearby Wal-Mart.

 

#3: Dawn Dish Soap

Really, you could bring any type, but for us, Dawn is our gal! Why do we need dish soap? Well, while you are enjoying your long cruise, you might not remember that access to a Washer and Dryer is basically impossible. Sure, you could fork up a few more dollars to get them washed by the crew, but why do that when you can do it in your own room? On our first cruise, E and I only had one bathing suit each. This posed an issue for us because not only is the ocean water sticky when dried on a bathing suit, but the pool waters on the cruise ships are filled with the water your ship is floating on. You know when you get out of the beach and you hang your bathing suit to dry and it has that gross, sticky, and just nasty feeling? Well, that is exactly how it feels on the ship. If you are like us and only bring one bathing suit, putting on that crusty thing is a nightmare! So, grab a little travel sized bottle filled with Dawn and before bed, wash your bathing suit in the sink with the Dawn, hang it in the bathroom to dry, and in the morning, not only will it smell amazing, but it will be nice and soft.

 

#4: GermX

I don't think I need to explain this one, but yet everyone I meet on a cruise forgets this item. I will admit that I have an addiction to being clean. Maybe I'm crazy for wanting clean hands? But, if you share this same obsession with E and I, then you will not want to forget this. Let's be reminded that on a cruise ship, you are stuck with 3,000 plus bodies! I don't even want to know how many germs that creates. Yes, the cruise employees try their best to keep the ships clean, but let's face it, if you have trouble keeping every single inch of your home clean, imagine having to clean a ship with multiple floors and thousands of people running rampant, you would probably miss a few spots too. In addition to the germs on the boat, I know many people who go to port, touch items at that port shops, and then wonder why a few days later they caught a bug. Well again, you are touching items with germs from thousands of people who have touched those same items before. Keep in mind that being out of the country poses stress on your body. You are in a new place with new sites and smells, and with that comes germs! So be prepared and have some GermX bottles with you at all times. I try to keep one in our backpack that we use to carry our items around and off the ship, I also keep one bottle in the room.

 

#5: Pen and Paper/Notepad/Notebook

Too many times in our first cruise, pens and paper came in handy. From planning the next days activities, to writing our order for the in-room delivery, and even writing thank you notes to our stateroom steward. Pen and paper are so important! *sidenote* we always try to write our room steward a nice note, which usually is laid on top of their tip. We always pre-pay gratuities but leave a few dollars every day with a note on top. The note can be something simple like a thank you or, like with our last cruise, a request. During our last cruise, we requested that the steward leave extra Carnival chocolates. I was obsessed with these little delicious chocolates but typically you would only get two, one per person in the room. This frustrated me because I wanted more than just one, so I would write a polite note requesting the steward leave a few extra chocolates, thanked them for their service to our room, and placed the small tip under the note. Another great use for the pen and paper is if you are traveling with kids. Say you wake up before they do and decide you want to go grab coffee, well you can leave them a little note stating where you will be and request that they meet you there upon waking up. Of course, this is dependent on the age of the children and your trust, but it comes in handy regardless.

 

I hope you found these items to be helpful. Next time you cruise, be sure to add these to your packing list!

 

Thanks for reading, Bon Voyage!

*Bonus Item*

Reusable Water Bottle

 

Starting July 2015, cruise lines will no longer allow passengers to bring water bottles on to the ship, which means you will be stuck grabbing water with the little cups provided. Don't be that person that has to collect a million cups, instead, bring an empty reusable water bottle with you so that you can fill it up and enjoy! No worry about extra charges for using the water in your stateroom, no need to purchase the water the cruise line provides, and no more "let's see how many plastic cups I can collect in my room."

 

GUEST BLOGGER • AMBER CHAMBERS {08.28.2015}

Our very first Guest Blogger is someone I have been close to throughout high school. I was lucky enough to cheer for a year with this little lady. She has always been such a sweet, kind-hearted person and I'm so lucky that she offered to write a post about her journey through weight loss. Please give her a warm welcome and enjoy her post!  

 

{AMBER'S STORY} 

In April of 2014, I attended my aunt's wedding, the day after was Easter. So naturally we took lots of pictures with family that weekend. That was my breaking point.

Until that day, I knew I had been gaining weight but I haven't seen myself from a distance like that.  I didn't realize how out of control I had become. In high school I was very active as a cheerleader  and other after-school activities. After graduation in 2012, I continued eating the way I had always ate (which was not healthy). But not realizing, with out being active, I would quickly gain that infamous "freshman 15",  and some.  My weight gain on top of other realities of adulthood, put me into a deep depression. Misery loves company, and I became worse and worse. I ate my feelings, I gained weight, and it made me even more upset. A vicious cycle.

I met with a doctor who suggested I be put on an anti depressant. On top of the fact it was only making me a numb zombie, my weight gain snowballed. I woke up one morning and I had enough of it all. I made a life changing decision, I would not let this depression rule my life. 

At that time last year I weighed in at 149lbs. To some this may not be much, but being that I am short, I did not carry my weight well. Unsatisfied with this number, I joined a gym, and was totally lost with their equipment. I never had to use any of it before. So I stayed on the tread mill because it was all I knew. Month after month I went to the gym but my weight stayed the same.

In June 2014 I started T25, this is a program put out by BeachBody.  I started to see some results! I lost about 10lbs. between summer 2014 and April 2015. But I continued my eating habits because hey, I was loosing weight.

 I saw a post about a clean eating challenge on a "buy sell trade" site several months ago and decided to give it a try. Since I started eating clean, doing the 21 Day Fix videos, and drinking Shakeology, I have so much more energy. I sleep great at night, my back doesn't ache anymore because my core is getting so strong, I don't have headaches anymore, I have lost fat but gained muscle, and dropped an additional 20lbs. so far!

The 21 Day Fix is a fitness program designed by BeachBody.  It is my favorite fitness and eating program ever!  It teaches portion control, "clean" eating, and has daily exercise videos that are super effective but only 30 minutes long - my favorite part because I never have enough time!  I love the workouts.  It's so easy to fit in a 30 minute workout, especially when you don't have to leave the house to do it!

The program also does a great job of teaching clean eating and portion control.  You receive a series of color-coded containers, and each color corresponds to a certain food group (veggies, fruit, protein, etc.).  You get to eat a certain number of each container every day. It is the best eating plan I've ever seen for truly teaching the right way to eat and making it a lifestyle, not a diet.  It is so simple. It comes with the food containers, all the exercise videos, and a 30-day supply of Shakeology, which is awesome... I can't say enough about it, for me personally!  So delicious, and 100% natural. They have over 18g of protein and over 70 different vitamins, nutrients, and herbs. They aren't anything magical. They just give your body what it needs to function at its best.

This program is great for ALL ages and fitness abilities/levels.  I have coached the whole spectrum through this program.  I've run lots of groups on Facebook to help people who are doing this program and coach them through, motivating and helping them overcome obstacles. I have so many repeat customers who really love this program, because it works! The #1 feedback I get on this program is that it's a sustainable lifestyle.

I now weigh in at 119lbs., I'm back to my high school weight. But I feel so much stronger than I did back then. Becoming a coach changed my life!  I am not a fitness model, and I still have a ways to go to reach my physical goals. (Sting is the new skinny!) But I am getting there, it's more about being on the journey, than having reached the destination. People can relate to you better when you are working at it with them, becoming a coach I received training from other coaches who are extremely successful and  have replaced a fulltime job with this business. My attitude about life has changed and I am genuinely happy again.

I love to share this feeling, and that's why I do what I do. I want to help others overcome their personal challenges and become a better version of themselves. If you want to see what T25, the 21 Day Fix, or any other BeachBody program can do for you, visit http://www.beachbodycoach.com/COACHAMBERRENEE

Follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter! I would love to chat with you and find out your goals to become a healthier, happier, & more confident person!

Twitter @amberrenee33 Instagram @amber_chambers

 Huge shout out to Amber for her determination, hard work, and for sharing her amazing story with us. The best part, she is only just beginning! I can't wait to see where this lifestyle will take her. The world is in the palm of her hands and with fitness as her main focus, she will go far. Be sure to check her out on her social media platforms so you can get tips, tricks, and more information about the amazing BeachBody programs.

*Learn more about joining the BeachBody family here!*

 

*Megan is not affiliated with BeachBody in any way. Guest Bloggers are not paid and are offering their stories at their own will. Guest Blogger information should not be copied or sold. Please do not steal images from this post.*

 

CHOCOLATE CHIP & ZUCCHINI {08.22.2015}

On Wednesday, as part of our normal routine, we stopped by My Fit Foods to pick up our lunches and dinners for the remainder of the week. We typically go on Wednesday night after the gym to grab lunches and dinners through Sunday. After the gym, I was starving! We worked our tushies off, and I needed a little pick me up. I noticed some chocolate chip cookies and grabbed two, one for E and one for Me. At first, I was a little concerned. I noticed on the package it said "Chocolate Chip Cookies made with Zucchini." To my surprise, they were the most delicious cookies I have ever tasted! E was even raving about them. I noticed they were made by Green Plate Foods.
 
I've eaten their mini muffins and now the cookies and I am just in love with their products. If you live in Texas, like me, you can find their delicious products at Whole Foods, My Fit Foods, H-E-B, and several other retailers.

If you don't live in Texas or just don't want to spend the extra money, you can use the recipe below to make your own Chocolate Chip and Zucchini Cookies!

Ingredients
{yields 96 cookies}
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups granulated sugar
2 eggs, beaten
4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
2 small zucchini, grated (measure approx. 2 cups of grated zucchini)
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
1&1/2-2 cups walnuts, chopped (optional)


Directions
1) preheat oven to 350 degrees
2) spray cookie sheets with cooking spray or line with parchment paper
3) mix butter and sugar together until light and fluffy
4) add eggs, flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt into the butter mixture gradually; mix well
5) stir in the zucchini
6) fold in your walnuts (optional) and chocolate chips
7) drop by teaspoonfuls with two inches between each cookie - onto the cookie sheets
8) bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until golden; do not over-bake
10) let stand for 2 to 3 minutes, remove from cookie sheets, and enjoy!

*see more delicious recipes here!*

 

EXCITED {08.20.2015}

Excited is an understatement!

I have just purchased my NPC Competition Bikini and competition jewelry. I also found my heels but will not purchase those for at least a few weeks. The bikini I chose is absolutely gorgeous. I am really excited that it will be customized for me! I'll be patiently waiting...

 

Although I want my vacation to go nice and slow, I am really excited that when I return home, my competition suit will be only days away from being in my possession. My competition date is March 2016, so I have plenty of time, and a lot of people have been asking why I decided to order  my suit so early. One of the main reasons, is motivation. After spending the money on the suit, the last thing I want is to have it be spent for nothing. The other important reason, I really want to take progression photos. I knew that taking the photos in the suit that I would be wearing on stage which allow me to see not just the changes that are happening weekly, but also visualize what areas of my body need more work.

 

I've come to the realization that my goal of doing my first competition has just become real! Now that I have ordered my suit, there is no time for excuses. No time for cheating. Every day at the gym will need to count. I'm sure that over the course of the next six months, with hard work and determination, I will reach my goal.

 

I will be attempting to do weekly Vlogs on YouTube. I really want to document my journey. I always see other bikini competitors documenting their journey and am thankful they do because it allows people like me to see that anything is possible. I want to use that as a tool to show people that weight loss and your dreams are possible.  I'm constantly reminding close friends and family members, who say working out and losing weight is hard, that E and I have lost 40lbs. it wasn't easy and there were days where we felt like nothing was changing, but looking back, I'm so proud of how far we've come. It's never going to be easy. But we have fallen in love with working out and this healthy lifestyle change, and you can too!

I will definitely post photos and maybe even an unboxing video, once my competition suit has made it to my home. For now, I will focus on my vacation which is exactly 10 days away!!!

 

God Bless and No Stress

*becoming a bikini competitor*

 

 

 

BIKINI COMPETITION MOTIVATION {08.19.2015}

Currently, I am 18 days away from starting my NPC Bikini Competition training. As I get closer, I have started researching workout and eating plans. I have also tried to find motivation in stories from other women who were in my shoes, women who have made the path available for me to follow and succeed as well. During my searches, I have found some really amazing and inspiring stories! This one in particular really struck a cord with me. I was browsing through the web when I came across this story and I just had to stop and read it. Mainly because this woman literally was where I am and is where I want to be. It's so inspiring when you find someone who shows you that anything is possible. Here is a short part of her story...

Sami Imbriano went from 165lbs to 112lbs for her competition. In an article by www.trimmedandtone.com Sami dished out all the details of her journey.

 

"One day I was looking through some Facebook photos, cringing at how I looked and felt, and I knew I had to make a change if I wanted to feel any differently about myself. A few years later and I am absolutely hooked on gym life, love getting active both indoors and outdoors, and genuinely enjoy eating healthy, so much so that I now work for a large Australian active-wear brand, take group fitness classes and boot-camps part time, as well as mentoring a range of online clients as a Personal Trainer, where I offer customized training programs and nutritional guidelines."

 

A big thing that everyone wants to know is how long it takes to see results. I am always shocked by this question. For me it's less about seeing results and more about feeling better all around, which is why I decided to start working out. Here is Sami's response to the question, "it only took about four weeks for me to notice a signification difference in my appearance, as well as just generally feeling better from improving the quality of food I was eating."

 

A major part of training for a bikini competition is staying motivated and on track, no meal skipping or missing workouts, you have to be very disciplined.  During her interview, Sami was asked how she stays motivated? To which she replied, "honestly, it was a challenge at times. Having a looming deadline definitely added a level of drive for me, but there were days that I really wanted a break from training, or just wanted to eat some bacon and eggs on toast instead of my comp-prep meals and sometimes I did just that! I found that if I stuck to my diet the majority of the item, I could manage to be slightly more relaxed on occasion - it kept me from going crazy living off chicken and greens 24/7!"

Her typical day of eating:

Breakfast - Oats, berries, almonds, or poached eggs on rye toast

Snack - Chobani yogurt with protein powder, or a protein shake

Lunch - Chicken, green vegetables, small serving of brown rice or sweet potato, avocado

Pre-Gym Snack - Rice cakes or fruit, with peanut butter and a little honey

Post Gym Snack - Protein Shake

Dinner - Meat and vegetables, herbal tea, and berries

 

Sami's workout plan includes:

2 x Upper Body weight training (back, arms, chest and shoulders)

2 x Lower Body weight training (glutes and hamstrings, quads)

2-3 x HIIT training (usually one short HIIT circuit, 1-2 body attack classes each week)

Just absolutely inspiring! I love reading these stories, such motivation and determination. I look forward to seeing my own changes. I am amazed at how much I have changed since we started working out in January. I now have 6 months to get ready for my very first competition and thanks to Sami's story, along with many others, I have more confidence than ever to reach my goal.

*Read Sami Imbriano's full story here!"

 

Follow Sami on Instagram @sami_rose_

CARDIO • CONSEQUENTIAL {08.18.2015}

I find that a lot of people, at the gym, tend to skip cardio. Sure, lifting is great. Abs, Shoulders, Legs, Back, those are all really great, but you cannot forget cardio, yet people do. I'm always amazed when people, who lift exclusively, say they can't understand why they aren't losing weight. Sure, you are toning muscle and tightening skin, but without cardio, you won't get very far. That's why, you'll notice, many workout plans include up to three, sometimes four, days of cardio.

 

Now, that doesn't mean that you should just do cardio exclusively. It's good to have a balance of cardio and strength training. But, for those of you who want to know just how important cardio is, here are five reasons you should be adding cardio to your workout schedule.

 

 

 

1. Improved Heart Health

Prevent Heart Illness

2. Improved Brain Function

Pumps oxygen to the brain

3. Increased Bone Density

12% Increase

4. Alleviate Depression

Smile More, Depressed Less = No Medication

5. Improved Sleep

Fall asleep 54% faster and sleep 37% longer

 

 

 

Now, I fully understand that not everyone likes to run. But running is not the only form of cardio. Here are five ways you can get your cardio workout in!

 

1. Speed Walking

2. Swimming

3. Skipping

4. Martial Arts, Kickboxing, Karate

5. Jump Rope

 

Keep in mind that you can do all the cardio and strength training workouts you want, but the real work is done in the kitchen. It is so important that you eat the right food for your body. There are so many healthy eating plans on the internet, so finding one that fits your lifestyle shouldn't be hard. Focus on eating five to six meals a day at least two to three hours apart from each other. Make sure you are cautious not to pile up on the carbs. Another thing that I have found to be super helpful, protein and supplements. The more I take, the fuller I feel. Not all proteins and supplements make me feel like this, but I've noticed that taking these gives me energy and makes me feel fuller, longer.

 

If you are looking for a specific workout plan, maybe you are like me and want to become a Bikini Competitor, or maybe you just need a simple workout and eating plan, then visit www.BodyBuilding.com and spend some time researching options for your lifestyle. Remember, you are not going to see the exact same results as someone else, but you will see the results that your body needs.

 

 

*For some amazing, "transforming" workout plans, click the links below*

{MEN}

{WOMEN}

(note: these plans are for intermediate levels, please do not do these workout plans if you are not at the intermediate levels)

Find more amazing workout plans and more health/workout information at www.BodyBuilding.com.

 

GUEST BLOGGERS {08.13.2015}

I am so excited to finally be able to say that we will be welcoming some Guest Bloggers! These men and women will be sharing some of their inspirational weight loss and fitness stories with us. Maybe you will learn new things or you might even get the inspiration to finally get to that weight goal you've been dreaming of. I am so thankful that these men and women agreed to write their success stories. You'll get to meet all different kinds of fitness-loving people who have come from all different levels of fitness!

 

Be sure to check in every Friday when we feature a new Guest Blogger!

 

 

*Do you have an inspirational fitness or weight loss story that you want to share with us? Please email me at megan.richards1374@yahoo.com for more information!*

BECOMING A BIKINI COMPETITOR {08.13.2015}

Over the last few months, I have really been thinking hard about my goals. Sure, I want to lose weight. Yes, I want to get down to a healthy weight. But, I still want more! I've been talking a lot about my real goals. After all, a goal without a plan is really just a wish. I don't want to just wish things, I want to make things really happen. Make huge changes and be a better me than ever before.

 

This lead me to Bikini Competitions. I have so many beautiful friends who are Bikini Competitors, and when I see their bodies, I am in awe. I am inspired. I think to myself, "that's what I want." So, why not go get it? Well, that's exactly what I'm going to do!

 

I researched for days on all the details of a Bikini Competitors Life and I'm ready for the challenge. I'm ready to succeed and make my goal more than just a wish. Will it be easy? Not at all! But I just know that I will feel so proud of myself at the end of the day. Ironically, my own father was, at one point in life, a Body Builder. He did the competitions, the strenuous workouts and eating plans, and even did the ridiculously dark tanning. I still remember seeing those videos and photos and thinking, "that will never be me." And while I will never try to become a woman Body Builder, I will work hard to become a Bikini Competitor. Though it does surprise me that I naturally, and just like my father, have made Bikini Competitions my dream, my goal.

 

Unfortunately, I am not prepared at this time to being the dieting and intensified workouts for the competition yet. Partly because I am in the middle of finishing up my strength training workouts, but also, I will be going on vacation in about 17 days. Even though I will be focusing completely on healthy eating options as well as continuing to exercise, I know that I would not be able to keep up with a Bikini Competitor workout and diet plan while on vacation. But that's not to say that my current workout isn't going to help me in the long run. Lord knows, between my current workout and meal plan, I am still losing weight in a healthy amount of time.

Check out this girl! In just six months, she was able to pull together and compete. I imagine this is what my body will look like. I also have about six months until the competition, so it definitely helps that I have already started eating healthy and working out regularly.

 

Currently, I have 33 weeks until the competition {March 2016}. Technically, I won't be starting the rigorous workout and dieting plan until I return from vacation. That means, when I return, I will only have 28 weeks to get it together. I know its possible. I've seen how hard work and eating right can change my body in so many ways. For example, E and I didn't start really working out and eating better until January 2015. By March, we had lost 25pounds each. After being stuck in my plateau for about two months, I can finally say that as of right now {August 13, 2015} I have lost a grand total of 40 pounds in just seven months.

 

Here's to my journey to becoming a Bikini Competitor.

May the odds be ever in my fat body's favor!

 

 

 

*stay tuned for my new workout and dieting plan*

 

 

SILENCE {08.11.2015}

Suicide is something that we, as a world, often forget to talk about. Sometimes those of us who have experienced this with someone we love, find it hard to reach out. Sometimes we forget that we aren't alone. And we even forget that our own friends or family members are not the only ones affected by this disease.

 

Sometimes I find it hard to talk about and other times, I can be as open as the books found in the library. But my father's suicide is still a "touchy" subject.

 

I still remember the day I found my father. It was my sixteenth birthday. I was coming home from cheer practice, eager to celebrate my birthday. I got home first before anyone else, and found my front door and garage locked. When I peered into my house, there he was. Panic set in. What do I do? Who do I call? How? Why? So many things ran through my mind at that time. In a moments notice, the only thing I could think to do was run around to the backyard and kick in the window. I still have the scars on my right ankle. I look at them often to remind me that I am stronger than this life. Today, is a hard day for some. Just this day, one year ago, Robin Williams took his life. It was a shock. The world could have heard a pin drop with the silence that filled when everyone found out the news. The idea that someone so funny, so loving, so amazing could take his life was unfathomable. That's how I felt. My father was the type of man who everyone loved. He was a natural comedian, in his own Cajun ways. He was a character.

 

He struggled with alcohol and drug abuse most of his life. Was he a good man throughout his whole life? To be honest, I don't know, but I can tell you he was an amazing and inspiring man. He became a single father at just 20 years old. He put himself through school and managed to raise me while also working three jobs. He had a goal and he made it happen. He was one of the few engineers who worked on some of the largest oil rigs out in the Gulf of Mexico. My father was incredible, to say the absolute least. For those who knew him, knew what a shock it was when he took his life, just as the world was shocked when Robin took his.

 

Everyone fights demons of their own. Regardless of your battle, we must all remember that we are all living this life together. No life is greater than another. It doesn't matter if you are poor or rich, black, white, or gray, we must all be reminded that life is not and should not be our enemy.

 

I wish I could go back. Well for a few reasons. One, I would love to hug my dad one last time, but two, I would love to tell him all the things I never said. I should have told him how amazing he was. I should have reminded him of all the blessings in his life. I should have showed him God. We could have walked in God's light as a family. There are so many things I should've or could've done, but the bottom line is, I will never get that chance. You have that chance. If you know someone that is struggling, help them. Remind your friends and family how important they are. If you are someone searching for a way out of this life, seek God. He will help you get through the darkest nights and lead you into the brightest days.

 

Not everyday will be easy. Not everyday of this life will we get to say "wow, what an awesome day." Not everyday will be the greatest, but we were only given one life. For those who are thinking about suicide, remember you are loved. Not just by your friends and family, but by Him, the Almighty God! He created you. He knows you. He knows your pain and your suffering and He wants you to come to Him. Seek Him in everything you do.

 

No matter where you are in your life, there will always be moments of weakness and heartbreak, but please never let this get you down. Please be honest with yourself, God, and then your friends and family. Be honest and know that this life will not always be easy. Maybe you were bullied or maybe you feel like things will never get better. I can tell you, they will!

 

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please encourage them to find help but also remind them they are loved and cared for in every single way possible. Please encourage them to seek the Lord and if they cannot find Him, for whatever reason, please be sure to encourage them to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1(800) 273-8255.

 

God bless and always remember to seek God in all that you do!

 

 

DREAM BOARD {08.07.2015}

I have always been an avid "dreamer." Always dreaming about my future house, future children, and well, just the future in general. Recently, I was reading a post about a woman who made herself a dream board and all the things she had "dreamed" about, she accomplished. I thought to myself, "what a great way to make goals and follow through, no matter how hard it may seem to accomplish." So, I set out to make my own Dream Board and Pinterest is one outlet to use to make/start a board but I really wanted to narrow it down.

 

E and I have been talking for awhile about building our first home. After living in apartments for five years, we felt it was time to start looking for a place to plant our roots and grow. We have always loved our city, it's where we met in fourth grade and we've always thought how wonderful it would be for our children to grow up in and go to school in this city.

 

This past Sunday, August 2, we spent some of the day touring model homes and new neighborhoods around our city. Scouting out the best deals and trying to narrow down our choices. We settled on a neighborhood and even our future home. I am really excited to watch where we will be within the next year. Our goal is to be able to put our down payment on the house in December 2015 or January 2016 and start building around February/March 2016. I'm really excited about this! I have been praying and dreaming that we might be able to get a home, and it may finally be coming true. Best part is, we aren't just buying any old home, we are building. Which means our home will be ours. We get to choose what is looks like inside and out.

 

I'm really looking forward to keeping you all updated on the status and I think this would be the perfect Christmas present to E and I. We have a few months left to get things in order and then fingers crossed, we will get the process started.

 

Here is my dream house ideas, inside and out:

I do not want a 2-story, but I love this stone style

 

 Dream home elevation #1

 Dream home elevation #2

 Kitchen love

 Literally drooling over this one

Can you see a pattern in my dream kitchens?

 

I'm really excited to share this journey with you all and as we get closer to December/January, I will let you know the status.

 

*Do you have Dream Board or Dream House? Share your Pinterest name or URL with me so I can see your ideas and dreams*

 

THE PLATEAU {08.06.2015}

 

{PLATEAU}

to reach a state of little or no change after a time of activity or progress

 

When E and I started on this fitness journey, we had no idea where we would go but we knew that we would be better than we were. I remember back in 2013, I had just started fertility treatment, we were eating horrible fast foods every night (just about), and sodas were the number one in our house. I don't think we even thought about water.

I remember stepping on the scale and seeing that digital scale read "198."

 

At the time, I didn't think I was that bad. I kept telling myself things like, "you're taking fertility supplements you're going to gain a few pounds," "you don't look that bad," "who cares? I'm married, I'm not trying to look good for anyone but E." And while it really didn't matter if I looked good for others because E would love me no matter what, it wasn't about fitting into size six Miss Me Jeans, it was about health. I remember when E stepped on the scale in 2013 and his mouth dropped when it said "299." For about a year, we pretended it wasn't important. Always using the excuse that "we didn't need to look good," and I think a lot of people think that gaining weight is okay because we're married. The bottom line is, it's not about looking sexy for others, its about health for each other. Towards the end of 2013, I decided to stop drinking sodas. I figured it was a start and was bound to take me somewhere, I just never expected to be where I am today.

After six months of completely cutting out sodas, I managed to encourage E to stop as well. It was at this time that we started talking about the possibility of losing weight. By November 2014, after our trip to Florida, we looked at photos of ourselves and decided right then and there that we would work together to get back to our fit bodies. After all, I had always been fit from Cheerleading, Volleyball, Track, and Swimming and E was always fit from Football. December 2014 we hit the gym hard. But we didn't really make huge changes to our eating. We thought as long as we were putting the work in at the gym, that would be good enough. Granted, we did lose 10 pounds by the end of 2014 just from working out and cutting out sodas, but it wasn't good enough.

 

January 2015 we decided we were going to get in the gym and make huge changes to our diet. We both formulated a healthy eating plan for ourselves and went on about our business in the gym. By March 2015, we had managed to drop 25 pounds each! Still we knew we needed to push harder. We hadn't completely cut out fast food and would eat it on several occasions. So, we set out to find another way to get ourselves to cut out fast food entirely. We found several eating plans that required you to eat certain amounts of food for weeks at a time. This made a big difference in the way we started looking at food. By July 2015, we both lost a grand total of 30 pounds each. We were just pounds away from our goal but needed something to get us there. We were stuck in a plateau. E was stuck at 260-265 and I was stuck at 165-170.

 

At this point, we thought about looking outside for meal planning assistance. That's when we walked into My Fit Foods.  That, by far, has been the best decision we ever made. In addition to eating My Fit Foods, we also started doing more than just cardio and the occasional lifting. We set out to find a new and improved/strict workout plan. We found this amazing plan on BodyBuilding.com. Was it hard? YES! But, it was rewarding.

 

Currently, we have been on a My Fit Foods diet for about a month and have also been using the BodyBuilding.com plan in conjunction with the diet. We do allow ourselves two "cheat" days on Saturday and Sunday but this doesn't mean go out and eat hamburgers and french fries, this means making smart decisions because we know that those hamburgers and french fries will eventually come back and haunt us.

  

Today, I can officially say that I have left my plateau behind me. I am now at 163! Which is a major accomplishment. Keep in mind that I was stuck at 165 for about 2 months! This morning I weighed in at 163.0. What a wonderful and overwhelming feeling to finally be less than 20 pounds away from my final goal. E and I always say we aren't done yet, we aren't where we want to be but we are so much further away from where we used to be and we are never going back.

 

I hope that you can find the motivation inside of you to not get fit to look good for others, but to be healthy for your loved ones. It's so important to stay healthy for each other. I couldn't imagine life without E and a lot of times I blame myself for just sitting back and allowing us to get the way we did. There are so many things that could have happened just from being overweight; heart attacks, diabetes, the list is long. No matter what you decide, just remember that you can do anything you put your mind to. Will it be easy? NO. Will working out be fun? NO. Will it be rewarding? ABSOLUTELY!

 

 *see our workout plan here*