The Most Beautiful Thing I've Read in A While...

I am doing a little research lately on the Universal Laws and came across this wonderful explanation of intuition... (the rest of the website is a little much for me and a bit hippy dippy ...er time travel...? but still a gem of a find on intuition)

http://www.one-mind-one-energy.com/intuition.html

and just had to make this to share... this captures what I feel in my heart is true. <3

Lovely isn't it?

What are your thoughts on intuition? Comment below or join me on my Like Page <3

The Hair Scare You NEVER Want to Have

{{ I will preface this blog post by saying that I have done SO much to my hair in the last 4 years that what happened to it was probably bound to happen when going from red to blonde and back a few times... }} 

Quick Life UPDATE: 

Quick side note... following up from my previous blogpost about leaving the network marketing company I was with for 5.5 years... got me thinking....

What do I do with this blog? So much of this blog circulates a part of my life that is no longer {{apart}} of my life. Its so crazy. But cutting it off would be like losing a phantom social media limb. I mean, I've had this baby since I was 21. And here I am typing away at 27. That's a good chunk of time right? 

Part of me debated starting a whole NEW blog. A whole new arena, but I think so many of you have been following me now it would only create confusion. Plus, I do not want to lose my readers... I've received hundreds of messages from women (and the occasional dude) about their own struggles, stories of success and stress, and I appreciate each one. Plus this corner of the internet universe has over 1MILLION hits! <3 WOW thank you!! 

I am however in the midst of starting my own business, finishing my health coaching certification, starting my group instructor certification, and embarking on a whole new journey of entrepreneurship. It's so mind boggling to think that the things that were once so out of reach, that were so out of focus... are being pulled into focus and existence all because I made a leap of faith. 

Life is beautiful, crazy, and full of sweet little moments like that. 

Ok but now onto the drama...

So as I mentioned, my hair has been through the ebb and flow of my tastes, distastes, cuts, dyes, you name it. I'm one of those girls who's willing to change my look time and time again. I want to see what I think I can pull off.

If you've been a long time follower of my blog and/or Facebook you have seen my seasons of change. I've had black hair, strawberry blonde, burnt orange, platinum blonde... and the list goes on... just not in that order.

Last year I decided I was done. Done. I was going to take time off completely from dying, cutting and messing with my hair. It was becoming too brittle and tired.

So I had one last appointment to lighten the hair closest to the roots so I could at least grow it out with some ease and it wouldn't be too shocking.

Even still, my hair was literally BANDS of color... I wanted to keep the length so bad, so I just dealt with it. I wear my hair up most of the time, and curling helps because it sure can hide a lot.

About two weeks ago, I decided I'd like to finally give it a cut and try to remove some of those bands of red and blonde in my hair and find some common ground. I have a photoshoot coming up at the end of the month to start re-branding and showcasing this NEW chapter of my life... so I thought 'why not!'

Well little did I know, I'd be chopping MOST of it off. And that part of the reason was what hairstylists refer to as a chemical cut.

I do not blame the hairstylist who did my hair, I gave her my hair history and the first mistake we made was NOT doing a test strand. I showed her THIS picture of what I wanted, and considering my hair color, it didn't look like it would be too hard to do. Well turns out, it was. I'm not sure if the stylist wanted to eliminate all the bands of color and then go back in and do strawberry lighting but either way, I was screwed.

When you have so many previous methods of dying from different professionals to home dye jobs in your hair, the amount of chemicals and metals that are in the hair are impossible to detect for catastrophe.

So here's my hair before on the right... this is 9 months of not doing anything to it. Then the picture of me on the left with the long blonde hair is post salon look. My hair felt like the usual stiff  blonde bleach post dye job (lets face it, bleach is the devil).

Then this what happened after leaving a coconut oil/olaplex hair mask on it for a few hours... 

Yes, I cried. A few times. Yes, I was mad at myself. Yes, I knew that putting bleach in my hair was like Russian roulette... but I had NO idea it would do THIS. Nor did I think the stylist I saw was 1. going to take me THAT blonde and 2. did so because she was inexperienced.

I mean literally just fried and frizzled off. It was like wet noodles.. or like pad thai. I don't know, but it was awful.

So then I went back to the salon, and we were ALL shocked, confused and like 'WOAH'. But there was only one REAL solution after damage like that, cut it. Cut it all off baby.

I knew the night before going back to the salon if worse came to worse and I had to cut it off, I'd rock it, accept it and realize there's much bigger things in life than getting your hair cut. I had to get a grip on the whole situation. Shit happens. That's all there is to it. And the fact that I wont be cutting it again for a very long time.

So here I am now... I have a LOB. I don't mind it, its not my favorite look but its cute and I've always wanted to try it just never had the guts to cut my hair without a little drama first.

My cousin said I look more sophisticated. LOL. Thanks Meg, you know how to cheer a girl up. Honestly though, I'm gana rock this lil LOB and then grow my hair out and see some more of those natural light roots. I want to be as low maintenance as possible with my hair. 

And I just had to throw a quick flexing picture in here because why not.  Feelin' lean, strong and for the first time in  a long time... FLEXIBLE!! Goodbye robo-non-stop-lifting body. 

Quick Update: I posted this last week, and after days of being super frustrated with the blonde hair and not intentionally wanting or asking to be that blonde, I had my friend Matthew over at Salon on 30th (here in San Diego, he's amazing btw) put some strawberry back in. I did NOT go back to the salon/stylist who took me to the blonde you see above. 

Clearly, I'm much happier being a strawberry blonde (which I originally asked for). 

So my two piece advice to you gals is this: 

1. Always do a test strand. Even if its been a long time since you've dyed your hair and you've done tons of hair masks. 

2. If you have red in your hair, do some research on Olaplex and reactions to redheads. 

3. If the stylist who's about to do your hair sounds like they want to use a ton of bleach, don't do it. Figure out another way! 

Now I just have to figure out how to do this  hair... short hair isn't really my favorite, but I'll figure it out ;-)

Stay tuned for hair products that I'll be testing and let's see how long it takes me to grow it back! PS I am OBSESSED with the Unite hair product line as well as It's a 10! Miracle leave in spray. 

Ciao Bellas <3

Leaving Beachbody Coaching and Embracing the Journey Ahead

{{ Transcript }}

I want to thank those of you who have taken the time out to watch this, and for that reason I will try to keep it short yet impactful and positive. I know there are many other things to be focusing on in your own life, and that of our country. While I a have a moment, I’d like to send love light and healing to Dallas and our nation. Light can drive out the dark, but we must find light. 

So with that being said, I’d like to first start with the fact that although this video mostly pertains to me sharing why I am no longer actively coaching with Beachbody, this video is also meant to help anyone who is looking for the courage to discover the truths within your own heart and soul. 

I first became a coach because I needed my health back. I needed to learn about nutrition, I needed to get accountable, I needed to lose weight, I needed to grow. And I saw Beachbody as a growing experience. That I accomplished and still working towards everyday. 

I realized that by going after my own small goals, and sharing them with people - whether that was social media or in person, I was making some kind of impact. It became reciprocal. Me helping them, and them helping me. 

I fell in love with our industry. The industry of ‘network marketing’ but more than that, relationship building. and Dream building. Life wealth. 

I’ve been a coach for some time now, and I still am but in different ways. Once a coach, you will always find yourself in a similar profession. We don’t really do it for the money, we do it for the transformation. However, while I will always love Beachbody products and the community, especially my team and friends I’ve made over the last few years, I have also witnessed the many changes. 

Ive studied network marketing, I have friends in other companies, and Im always appreciative of what we can learn from one another. Im not ashamed to be apart of this community. Some people laugh at it, simply because they don’t understand it and have not experienced it in a way that pushes them to be better. But I have. 

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And here’s what I’ve experienced. 

Simplicity is genius. Simplifying the complicated will always win. 

The system must duplicate, and DEEP. 

Leadership is essential. 

You MUST believe in yourself FIRST and the products SECOND. 

I think my anxiety of social media came from not taking enough breaks. That in itself is my fault alone, I do not blame Beachbody for this. I see many companies of ALL industries who have social media teams and those who solely spend their time utilizing that aspect. 

Social media is a  FULL time job. It takes training, effort and skill. 

I felt that TOO much of Beachbody coaching relied on social media. I felt that it became a complicated system that as much as I tried, could not simplify. I burned out. and I know Im not the only one, Ive talked to many leaders who felt and feel the way I do and did. 

I think coaches need more support from the company… it felt that our company grew so big, so fast and put out so many products that a lot of areas of business suffered. Now thats not to say, that every company does not experience that, because they do. But instead of helping coaches become more effective and efficient by providing services and tools - like a  simplified coach training that was up to date and simple, we were putting out workout program after program. As leaders, we have many tasks to help our teams survive and then thrive. Not only is running and leading a team a full time job, but also creating the tools necessary for that, that ACTUALLY work, takes time. 

I looked at my team, and I had to ask, what success is duplicating? My team was and is wonderful, we’re all imperfect and quirky in our own way. Im proud to know their WHYs. and Im proud of them. 

But was I helping them reach time and financial freedom? Was I leading them in a path I believed would help them achieve that..?

And the answer was not really. Was the non stop social media entertainment and plugged in mentality going to help them or was it replacing their 40 hour work week or adding to it? 

If I can’t stand being stuck to a computer screen all day, how can I attract those who do not mind it?

We attract what we are, in some shape or form. It was like running into a wall repeatedly when I was building my team. And not in a bad way, but in a way where the Universe was like ABBY WAKE UP!! 

Over time, I simply fell out love with Beachbody coaching. I could no longer invite people into a business that I did not see as a solution to time and financial freedom in the way that I believed. Now some people will disagree, some people LOVE being on a computer, and love being online. But I can’t speak for that. 

I could really list more reasons that pushed me away from coaching, but again, this is not a bashing upon Beachbody. 

Looking at something you have built for over 5 years is gratifying. I had the experience of building a team of over 500 people, and while to some in this company that may seem small, to me, it was a big deal. Every person I wanted to know and touch their life in some way, direct or indirectly. I had the experience of building my income to over 6 figures and giving myself a raise every year of about $25,000. And I don’t say that to impress you, but impress upon you, that 'If you wish to find, you must search. Rarely does a good idea interrupt you' 

So whats in store now? Now is the time to dream, create, grind it out and believe much bigger much sooner. Now that I’ve seen a glimpse of my potential and know my worth more and  more everyday, I don’t see any reason to hold back. Now is the time to build myself and others UP. 

A novice, yes. A student always. A student of life. And I hope that my experiences can help teach you too! 

First, I plan to stay in the health and fitness world. I’m half way through my coaching certification with IIN. I absolutely love it. Ive learned so much and I cannot wait to pour into others and help them. If you’re interested in a 30 minute health coach call to let me practice my skills on you, please email me. I will be doing group coaching starting in September and one on one coaching beginning of next year. 

Second, I will be beefing up my Youtube channel. I feel that I do have value to add, but Im no expert. Im inviting you to join me and see what shenanigans go on over there. I love video, I love editing. You’ll find healthy dessert recipes, how to’s, beauty hacks, health conscious tips, workouts and life lessons. 

Lastly, I have found the opportunity I was looking and searching for. When a good friend came to me looking at a company to get involved with, I told her I'd give her my honest opinion. And I did, I told her its a helluva an opportunity and had check marks in the boxes that are most important:

• Simple system that can be done in as little as 5 hours a week AND duplicated to the busy mom, the 40 hour work week worker, the military member who's always moving around, the soon to be or already retired wife and husband, and the college student trying to figure things out. 
• A team with support from amazing mentors and leaders (the top earner and #1 team recruiter jumped on a call with ME to share their testimonies). 
• The product line has an excellent catalogue of necessary and in demand products WITH a price range that can help anyone get started on their health. 

The list goes on, but for the sake of this already lengthy blog post and the video, I will cut it here. I will however end it saying that following my intuition has never led me astray and its my hope that you do the same. 

As for the direction of this blog... well you can certainly keep an eye out for more videos and a shift in SOME aspects. However, I have used this blog to document ALL aspects of my life journey, so I am still going to do so. Thank you for being such thoughtful, caring and understanding readers. I appreciate all the support you have shown me and I look forward to adding value to you as well! 

Fulfillment, Perspective, and A Fisherman

This has been on my mind over and over and over. I'm in this place where I want to achieve my dreams but want to keep my life simple. Sometimes that can feel very 'at odds' and makes me question my direction in life.

I won't deny I've accomplished quite a bit for being 26 years old. I began my coaching career with a company called Beachbody a few years ago and hit 6 figures. I've made amazing friends. I've been on amazing trips. I've seen wonderful transformations. I've grown a decent size following and have helped leaders step up.

I've never really been THAT motivated by commas on a paycheck. I've met millionaires who are assholes. I've met millionaires who are humble and you would have never guessed. Character is everything. When I got started with my coaching career, my goal was to gain financial independence and travel. Both of which I've done, and for that I'm so grateful.

However at this point in my journey, its time to change things. It's time to really fall in love with my life on a day to day basis. I think somewhere along the way, I lost sight of my own path based on looking left and right at what others were doing that helped THEM become successful.

But just because someone reached success in their own life DOES NOT mean that it will be success in your life. Or in this case, MINE.

Success is personal. Its relative. It's something you become. And I think I'm ready to become MORE of myself, to unveil and shed the cloak of expectations and roles that no longer fit.

But I stumbled upon this wonderful story, 'The Fisherman and the Business Man' by Paulo Coelho

There was once a businessman who was sitting by the beach in a small Brazilian village.

As he sat, he saw a Brazilian fisherman rowing a small boat towards the shore having caught quite few big fish.

The businessman was impressed and asked the fisherman, “How long does it take you to catch so many fish?”

The fisherman replied, “Oh, just a short while.”

“Then why don’t you stay longer at sea and catch even more?” The businessman was astonished.

“This is enough to feed my whole family,” the fisherman said.

The businessman then asked, “So, what do you do for the rest of the day?”

The fisherman replied, “Well, I usually wake up early in the morning, go out to sea and catch a few fish, then go back and play with my kids. In the afternoon, I take a nap with my wife, and evening comes, I join my buddies in the village for a drink — we play guitar, sing and dance throughout the night.”

The businessman offered a suggestion to the fisherman.

“I am a PhD in business management. I could help you to become a more successful person. From now on, you should spend more time at sea and try to catch as many fish as possible. When you have saved enough money, you could buy a bigger boat and catch even more fish. Soon you will be able to afford to buy more boats, set up your own company, your own production plant for canned food and distribution network. By then, you will have moved out of this village and to Sao Paulo, where you can set up HQ to manage your other branches.”

The fisherman continues, “And after that?”

The businessman laughs heartily, “After that, you can live like a king in your own house, and when the time is right, you can go public and float your shares in the Stock Exchange, and you will be rich.”

The fisherman asks, “And after that?”

The businessman says, “After that, you can finally retire, you can move to a house by the fishing village, wake up early in the morning, catch a few fish, then return home to play with kids, have a nice afternoon nap with your wife, and when evening comes, you can join your buddies for a drink, play the guitar, sing and dance throughout the night!”

The fisherman was puzzled, “Isn’t that what I am doing now?”

 So here's to Redefining. Reinventing. Getting back to the passion behind the mission. To recognizing my potential is limitless no matter what opportunity is there or that I have to create. 

I'm nervous, excited, and leaning into my faith. I know something is on the horizon. I know that there's genius in simplicity. I know there's a reason for this season. 

Ciao babes. 

OH, and because I have to add our disclaimer for income: 

" "Beachbody does not guarantee any level of success or income from the Team Beachbody Coach Opportunity. Each Coach's income depends on his or her own efforts, diligence, and skill. See our Statement of Independent Coach Earnings located in the Coach Online Office for the most recent information on our Coaches' actual incomes." In addition, please provide prospective and current Coaches with the link to the Statement of Independent Coach Earnings,http://tbbcoa.ch/TBB_SOICE." 

Easy Peasy Tuna Burgers {21 Day Fix Container Approved}

Ya know when you're hungry? Ok, that might have been a bad way to start this blog. We ALL know what its like. My boyfriend often reminds me I'm like the snickers commercial ... or a gremlin. Either way, it can get sharp around here.

Since my guy loves me so much and sees how often I'm involved with my clients, he takes it upon himself to come up with some really easy and quick lunch ideas that require little effort, but have pretty good taste. While I'm getting a few things done, he doesn't mind man handling the kithen. So bravo hunny buns, this blog is dedicated to you. I appreciate you!

. . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

With that said, this is OUR (I made a few adjustments) Tuna Burger recipe. These use ALBACORE tuna, therefore they are like crab cakes. #HellsYES

It's simple. And you probably have the ingredients in your kitchen now.

You Need: *Makes 4 decent size burgers
21 Day Fix container count per burger: 1.5 Red, 1 Blue, 1/4 Yellow, add 1 green IF you put on top of spinach 

• 2 cans of Albacore canned tuna (I get it from Costco #CostcoLife therefor they're BIG) *please note that if you use cheaper versions of tuna, the texture and taste will be very different and more watery. You will need to adjust the recipe based on consistency. 
• 2 tbsp Hummus - FLAVOR FLAVVVV is up to you! I used chipotle and holy smokes. YUM.
• 1 tbsp Horseradish 
• pinch of pink Himalayan salt or Sea Salt (to taste, optional)
• Sweet Relish (optional) 
• chopped white onion
• minced garlic (fresh is best) 
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup of oat flour (you can also use bread crumbs) 

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees and get glass pan, spray with olive oil
2. In a bowl combine above ingredients - be sure to taste test and make it fit your tastebuds. 
3. Pack the meat into burgers 
4. In a pan on medium high heat, brown each side of the tuna burgers so they create a thin crust. 
5. Once browned on each side, pop them in the oven for 7-10 minutes. 

Serve on top of a bed of spinach, with soup, or whatever tickles your fancy tastebuds. 

Easy? We like easy. 

Bon Appetite friends. 

Friend Promoting Their Biz on Social Media? What's this TREND...?

So lets get some ‪#‎RealTalk‬ for a second... maybe you've realized the recent trend, and maybe you're apart of it. And if you're apart of it, I have some tips for you. And if you're an outsider looking in and need some perspective on what the HECK is going on... well then I can help enlighten you :)

smile emoticon

You've heard of Beachody? It Works? Advocare? Herbalife? Jamberry? Scentsy? Nerium? Mary Kay? 31 Bags? Isagenix? Young Living{Oils}? Seacret?

I could go on, but I think you get the picture. These are called Network Marketing opportunities. They're MADE for everyday people with the sole purpose of using 'word of mouth' to put their product, and opportunity into the hands of NETWORKS of people.

You may be apart of one. That girl from high school may be in one. Your mom told you about this new skin care she's using. You saw this guy lose a ton of weight from his photo being shared to only realize its the guy you use to bus tables with...?

Yep. There's people out there who didn't have to hand in a resume, do a background check, didn't needed a ton of money to start, and possibly have ZERO skills in the profession. Some have pHd's, some barely graduated high school. Some didn't start reading a book until their mid twenties. Some people are already wealthy when they get in, and some can barely rub two nickels together.

So if you're an outsider looking in, a good question to ask yourself is ' WHY are these people {of all WALKS of LIFE} getting INVOLVED?' Now if you're a true skeptic (as most are, myself included circa 2010) you're fist assumption is ' THEY'RE JUST GOING TO SELL ME SOMETHING' --

And some of you may be thinking, 'hmm. Something is going on here.. maybe its just a little side money...'

And then you see these people with new friends, going on vacations, losing weight, their skin cleared up, whatever it may be...

And then you see some who hit the million dollar earner milestone! And you're sitting their like, 'HOLY $h!T" Is this REAL??'

And then you see some who quit and end up joining another company. Or even bash the last one they were in 'There was no help. They just wanted me to sell a product' -- You're going to hear it all. Some may be accurate, while others mask their giving up with the company's flaws.

One persons passion may be another persons poison. Some people have a STRONG true desire to help others. And their product has helped them SOOO much in their own life, WHY would they want to hold it back from anyone? While others are too worried that 'selling' may mean actually recommending a solution that worked for them. They use excuses like 'I'm shy, I'm not a sales person, I could never ...' Hint: You are a sales person by default. You sell your personality, you sell your smile, you sell your kids on eating broccoli, you sell your boss on giving you a raise... you sell your boyfriend on going to a certain restaurant.

There are those in our profession who as Eric Worre puts it, 'treat this business a lottery ticket' and quickly give up after their mom, cousin, brother in law and high school friend said no. And tell you all the reasons why it never worked.

And NO, not every company is created equally. In my experience of being involved in network marketing {{aka relationship marketing}} since the ripe age of 17 (started with Mary Kay then to avon for a month not knowing a deng thing except I didn't want a boss) is that finding the company you are passionate about, and believe in is PART of the KEY to unlocking your success.

But the other key is that if you don't EVER try, you will NEVER succeed. You have to understand while that THIS is a profession anyone can get in, not everyone will make it. And this is directly correlated to how much they are willing to personally grow themselves. Straight up. No investment? No reward. You MUST believe in yourself to succeed. Bottom line.

I LOVE that anyone can get into network marketing and become a million dollar earner. I love that anyone who came from a crappy past can inspire and MOVE people to act using their pain for purpose. I love the possibility of changing your direction overnight is available for those who are ready for a better way.

And if you AREN'T in Network Marketing and you ARE annoyed the mirage of posts you see on a weekly basis, I hope you see the WHITE FLAG waiving... its the flag of FREEDOM yo. Its the SIGN that there is a BETTER way to live your life if you aren't fulfilled.. but if its not for you, no problemo. Some people are totally ok with working their 9-5, two week paid vacay or busy travel back and forth commute... maybe you are already passionate about what you do. SUPER!! If you are cool where you're at, thats fine.

This isn't FOR everyone but its meant to help ANYONE who wants it and GOES FOR IT.

That doesn't mean you need to sign up if you aren't interested in the opportunity, maybe you just love the product. GREAT! We love it too. But maybe it DOES mean signing up because loving it, and believing in it so easy -- so why not?

If you're already in this profession with the millions of others, do yourself a FAVOR and get REAL about it. Work on your skills! Don't hunt people down. Create real connections. If its all about you, no one will join you. Make it your mission to add value, and not expect people to buy something just because you posted your link on your profile. There's a better way to run your business and actually LOVE it so that people are flocking to you while you reach out to them!

Ok post and #RealTalk over!

Ciao babes and bros. <3 

The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows - My Hammer and Chisel "Results"

No... I didn't name my post's title off of Brand News most epic song that takes me back to my  high school days... 

Ok maybe I did. It literally just came on Pandora and it's actually QUITE fitting for today's blog post. 

I know this may not be blogger kosher (is there such thing...), but I use my Facebook wall as a micro blog posting spot... so I'm going to be sharing directly from there because I couldn't have said it better myself... (please laugh at my jokes, I know I can't see/hear you, but it would be appreciated). 

So the last few months of 2015, I felt my body shift, MASSIVELY which I explain in my post below, but it was something I kept to myself. I NEVER wanted to make excuses as a coach, a person that people look to for advice and as an example. Being a role model (and I don't say that with ego) keeps me very AWARE of what I write, post, say, and share. While I try not censor myself or my personality, I know when I'm spewing excuses and when I'm sharing my story. 

So without further adieu... 

I know I know. I didn't post my before and after Hammer and Chisel photos. Truth be told I kept going back and forth with how I felt about my pictures. I will be posting them on my blog, but I kind of had a pity party to myself on Monday. ‪#‎WeAllDoIt‬

I didn't see the drastic change I was aiming for. In fact, I pretty much look the same. (Insert sigh/groan/choice cuss words starting with F)

And I know the few reasons why that is.

One is my meal plan. The things I use to eat truly have a different effect on me. I noticed I was bloated more... And I tried to pin point what it was. I have an idea,which I share in a second.

Another aspect was I still enjoyed my "cheat meals" ... Probably twice a week. And I wouldn't say they were full on throw me a side of BBQ ribs and fries to feed all of California. The last time I was super strict with my diet was 21 Day Fix Extreme, when it's only 3 weeks, you don't really want to be lackadaisical with your meal plan. Side Note: I hardly ever drink.

I pushed and kicked my ass in every workout and maybe missed two because I was so sore.

I showed up everyday ready to sweat and waddle my way out of the gym.‪#‎AndWaddleIDid‬

But somewhere along the lines... A few months ago I FELT different. Like my body was going through this CHANGE and I was kind of in the passenger seat trying to grab the wheel and yank it back. I kept thinking why the heck can't I eat what I'm use to eating? Why do I look 5 months pregnant everyday around 5 pm?! ‪#‎ItsNot5oClockSomewhere‬

I'll be honest, this threw me for a LOOP. Until I started my nutrition certification and started to learn about the shifts your body goes through during different stages of your life.

For example, did you know that when you eat a diet that has animal products (ex. chicken) as a child, that the digestive enzymes in your saliva can no longer break it down as good as it did when you were younger? As you age, your body can only do SO much work when it comes to nutrition. But I / we / you need to do our part and put healthy things on our plate to help our bodies adjust to change.

What you use to eat may not work for you anymore. Some people switch from vegan and vegetarian diets to more animal based diets later in life and find that it works for them and then sometimes switch back. & some don't at all because of animal rights.

&& this is what I noticed. Eating animal products DOES have its effect on me. I know that everyone has their own opinion on this and not everyone SHOULD eat the same (we're all unique) and I can't say for sure this will solve my problems... But I know between adjusting to a more plant based diet and less junk food cheat meals, I'm going to not only see the results I want, but feel like a billion trillion dollars.

This week in class we are learning about vegan and vegetarian options and had two AMAZING speakers.

Because nutrition is a natural curiosity of mine, I decided that I'll take the challenge.

Slowly cutting out animal products to evaluate how I feel is a new path and I'm excited to see how my body works best.

Oh and as for the sammich... it has: 

> Spinach

> Cucumbers

> Shredded carrots

> Spicy sprouts

> Chipotle Hummus

> Dijon mustard

> on a flaxseed honey sprouted grain bread 

And here are my results. Let me share what I gained by doing this program:

• Renewed love for Beachbody programs again.. I was feeling high and dry lately.. I've been in this game for 5 ish years and was ready for a program that I could CONNECT with. Some people call them soul mate workouts... this was def something along those lines. I have a few good handful of workouts I LOVE by Beachbody, but I beat the dead horse a few times with them and needed something FRESH off the film set. 
• I noticed a LOT of change in my arms, although not shown really, I see my triceps more and my arms are SLIMMER! I was starting to feel like someone secretly attached swim floaties to my arms before HC.
• I noticed how STRONG my legs got! I don't get NEARLY as light headed going up stairs now ;-) (somehow no matter how long you've been in the workout game, stairs are just one of those life obstacles that remind you -- you need to do more cardio and legs)
• My BACK - my rear delts!! I feel like I can see my muscles so much more now... I cant wait to rock some tank tops and not have that bra fat hanging over. #NoThanks
• My ASS is way more solid. The  boyfriend noticed and I know he's not trying to butter my muffin because I enjoy grabbing my own toosh too. It's solid(er). 
• My face looks slimmer. You know you're going into the RED ZONE when your face starts to get more round... I was glad to see my cheek bones a little more! 
• I was able to push myself through out the whole program. YES I was sore but I took recovery and intra workout to help push me as hard as I could. 
• I LOST 3.5 pounds! *hey I'll take it! 

All I gotta say is this. Stay. Freakin. Tuned. I will be sharing more of my journey with vegetarian/vegan meals and what I go through. I plan to do videos and share it directly from my experience and the heart. I'm excited to embark on this journey and discover what makes me feel AMAZING everyday. 

I cant wait to see how my body reacts and responds internally and externally ... here comes the #LeanMachine 

If you follow a workout junkie/fanatic who is vegan or vegetarian and really love their vibe and what they share, please post it below in the comments! I'm on the hunt for role models I can lean on during this time! 

As for now, CIAO babes... I'm excited to be back in the blogging game and back in my fitness/health grind. I feel like Ive hit my stride and I'm ready to run my own race. 

XO! 

it has:

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•  Spicy sprouts 
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•  chipotle hummus 
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•  cucumbers 
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• shredded carrots 
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• spinach 
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• gluten free crackers 
• 👌
• 🏽
• 🌱
•  Dijon mustard 
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• On honey flaxseed sprouted gra