Insanity Max:30

One of the most influential men in my life is back at it! Sure, I get excited when new programs are released, but when it comes to Shaun T, it gets brought to a whole new level. I started my fitness journey in the summer of 2013 with Insanity, then moved on to Focus 25. Insanity taught me that I could do things I never thought possible. It pushed me past my limits and allowed me to see that even an overweight, miserable girl could achieve amazing results. It's that exact reason why I feel like a little kid at Christmas for his new program.

Enter Insanity Max:30

Shaun T's newest addition will take you out of your comfort zone like it did with Insanity, but instead of sweating your eyes out for 40-60 minutes, he's packed all of that intensity into 30 minutes. As a new mom, finding time to work out isn't easy, but I make the time. So the notion of being able to complete a high intensity workout in only 30 minutes in music to my ears! Another fabulous thing about this program is that it requires NOTHING. That's right, your body is all you need to achieve maximum results. No weights. No pull up bar. Nada!

Now that I've sparked your attention, let's discuss the nitty gritty.

Insanity Max:30 is a 60 day program. It's broken down into two phases, month one and month two. In typical Shaun T workouts, he wants you to keep up momentum and don't stop. For anyone that's completed T25, there are no breaks. The same would be true for this short workout, too. Right? Nope! Shaun T's goal is to get you to MAX OUT! The idea is to go as hard as you can for as long as you can, then, when you need to take a quick break, that's your MAX OUT point. You are encouraged to write down your MAX OUT times and try to beat them as the weeks progress. Even Shaun T said he can't go the entire workout without MAXING OUT. How cool is that?! What a great way to push our endurance and ability to the limits. LOVE!!

While it is a crazy program, it can be done by almost anyone thanks to the modifier. Unlike the modifier in T25, this one can be seen 100% of the time. There is an option to split the screen so you can always have the modifier up. How cool is that?! So even if you haven't exercised since high school, if you are mentally ready for the insanity... it's ready and waiting for you!

On to the fun stuff...what are the workouts like?

Cardio Challenge: crazy cardio with 4.5 minute intervals and 30 seconds to rest

Tabata Power: strength training Tabata-style "20 seconds on, 10 seconds off"

Sweat Intervals: even more ridiculous cardio

Tabata Strength: Tabata-style strength workout with no rest

Friday Right: Round 1: pure craziness. No really... INSANE

Max Out Cardio: gotta love more cardio in month 2! This time with 5.5 minute intervals

Max Out Power: Tabata-style intervals "45 seconds on, 15 seconds off" with lots of plyo

Max Out Sweat: twice the sweat in half the time

Max Out Strength: arms, shoulders, chest, and core "45 seconds on, 15 seconds off"

Friday Fight: Round 2: even harder than Round 1

Pulse: low impact combo of stretching and small "pulsing" movements for active recovery

Ab Attack:10: 10 minute routine

Max Out:15: 15 minutes of insane cardio

Max Out Abs: alternate between seated and standing for 15 minutes of core work

360 Abs: 360-degree attack on the abs and core... on the floor, in plank, and more!

The program is to be completed 5 days a week. No double days, either! So when we say 30 minutes, it's really just 30 minutes!

Pulse is meant to be used as an optional Saturday workout for that active recovery.

There's also a COACH EXCLUSIVE dvd called "Sweat Fest." You can only get this if you order through a coach. It's a fun, sweaty workout if you're looking to mix things up!

Now it's time to talk food!

Shaun T is really encouraging portion control when completing Max30. He discusses how planning your meals will allow you to eat healthy foods more often. Tracking what you consume will help you know what to eat and when, decreasing the chance of giving in to temptations because you're not prepared. Color-coded, portion controlled containers are available in the deluxe kit. These containers will help you reach your goals even faster!

What options are available?

There are a few different ways to get your hands on this new gem.

*Challenge Pack* 

This includes the base kit + 30 days of Shakeology.

*Base Kit*

12 workouts on 10 DVDS (Cardio Challenge, Tabata Power, Sweat Intervals, Tabata Strength, Friday Fight: Rounds 1+2), Max Out Cardio, Max Out Power, Max Out Sweat, Max Out Strength, Pulse, Ab Attack:10)

Sweat Fest (if purchased from a coach)

Nutrition Guide

Wall Calendar

Cooking Guide

*Deluxe Kit*

everything included in Base Kit

3 deluxe workouts (Max Out:15, Max Out Abs, 360 Abs)

Core Comfort Mat

Portion Controlled Food Containers

Shakeology Shaker Cup

Body Fat Calipers

Sounds great, but what's the cost?

Super stoked at how available they made this program!! The challenge pack will typically be $205, however they are reducing it to $180 as an introductory price for the month of December. The Base Kit is $119.85, and the Deluxe Kit is $239.70.

That means, if you purchase the challenge pack, you are getting 30 days worth of meals and a 60 day program for only $180! A month of Shakeology is typically $129, so by purchasing them together you are saving $69!!! 

If it still seems like a lot, let's break it down. Say we keep Shakeology at it's regular price and just consider Max30 is on sale. That means you will get 30 nutrient-dense meals for about $4.30 per meal. I don't know about you, but I sure can't make a meal as healthy as Shakeology for that cheap from home! So that leaves us with the new program for about $51. That's 60 days worth of hardcore training by one of the BEST personal trainers in the world for about $0.85 PER DAY! Is your gym membership going to be that inexpensive? Plus, you don't even have to leave your house, fight traffic, hassle with parking... you know the drill!

I WANT IT! Now what?

Fabulous! You can do this program right along with me, and we can keep one another accountable! How would we go about doing this? By joining in one of my amazingly awesome accountability groups! The groups are all done through closed Facebook groups, so only those participating can see what's going on. It's a safe place to share your struggles, fears, triumphs, and goals. No judgment and negative thinking allowed! Each day I will give you tips and tricks with ways to stay on track. Plus, there's lots of motivation to keep pushing yourself to be the healthiest you yet!

So if you're ready to join my accountability group, here is the direct link to purchase the Insanity Max:30 challenge pack.

http://teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/BCPIM205?referringRepId=291007

If you're not ready for the accountability group, let me know, and we can discuss how to keep you on track without the group. My goal as your coach is to provide you with a support system that works best for YOU! If that means joining a group, fabulous! If you're the type that would rather me just check in with you periodically to make sure you're keeping your focus, I'm ok with that, too!

For those of you that aren't quite ready for Max30 but are interested in learning more about Beachbody programs and would like for me to be your coach, please sign up for a free account by clicking this link! 

https://www.teambeachbody.com/signup/-/signup/free?referringRepId=291007

Put Some Jingle in Your Pocket: Cash for Christmas

Tis the season where we tend to be a bit too in love with the idea of "giving" and over-extend ourselves. How many times have you paid for Christmas using credit cards, thinking, "Oh, I'll pay it off come tax time" then never pay back that debt? I know I sure have! This year is going to be different though! With a promise made to myself to pay down debt as fast as possible, I'm not going to dig even deeper into that hole. That's why this year, we will be paying cash for Christmas! I owe all of that to Beachbody, and I want YOU to be able to have the same opportunity!

When you think of seasonal holiday jobs, what comes to mind?

Retail?

Hours that take too much time away from family?

Wages that barely cover the cost of gas to get to/from work?

Why bother with all of that when I am looking for 5 people to join my amazing team of health and fitness coaches to earn an additional $500 this holiday season. Wouldn't you love to be able to enjoy the holidays without racking up that credit card bill? Plus, you are earning extra by helping people! You get to stay motivated reaching your own goals and help others along the way. Tis the season, right?

So who am I looking for?

I want someone who is MOTIVATED. I am NOT your boss, I am your mentor!

Someone who can give me ONE hour a day to expand their business.

People with an upbeat attitude! No negative Nancy's here!

Ladies and gentlemen who are determined to succeed.

And let's face it, I want folks around me who want to have FUN!

This sounds all fine and dandy, but I don't have any experience!

That's ok! You don't have to be a fitness or nutrition expert. Nor do you have to be in the best shape of you life. You don't even have to be this uber fitness person who knows every detail of everything fitness related!

As a part of the #1 Team in the Beachbody organization, I just want you to have a desire and willingness to learn. If you give me one hour a day, I can teach you how to become a successful Beachbody coach and earn that extra cash. Trust me, I learned everything I know from the top coach in the company!

Since this is such a great chance to learn from the best of the best, it's going to come down to picking those that sign up first. Remember, only 5 spots are available! One on one training with me will start immediately, and on December 1st you will begin a formal training program. (All of this is STILL a part of that ONE hour a day!) 

Fill out the application below so you can start earning Cash for Christmas!

There are tons of Wufoo features to help make your forms awesome.

How I Failed at the 21 Day Fix

You read that right. This is the story of how I failed at my attempt at the 21 Day Fix six weeks after having a baby. 

I started off the week strong. I had my meal plan all ready to go, and what I thought was enough food in the house. Hillary kept her cool during my workouts, making the perfect little cheerleader!

By the middle of the week, she would stay napping after our afternoon walks long enough for me to breeze through Autumn's 30 minute videos.

Towards the end of the week, I started having problems. I couldn't eat all of the food. Say what?! Yeah, it was too much food. I wasn't getting in my allotted intake, which left me feeling like a failure. It's not that I wasn't hungry, it's that I was trying to manage a fussy baby, while trying to eat almost every 3 hours just to get all of the food in. Overwhelmed was the perfect way to describe how I was feeling. 

Then Hillary decided she didn't want to let Mom have her 30 minute sweat sessions. I was being interrupted constantly, turning a quick workout into a constant try to workout-pause-try again-pause.

Even though I struggled with my food and continuous exercising, I still managed to lose 4 pounds in that first week!

The following week I tried. Really, I did! Exhaustion and a deep feeling of being overwhelmed got the best of me, though. I gave up. 100% honesty here! I'm not perfect (just in case any of you are thinking I am). I have my ups and downs, and motherhood is getting the best of me. I had every intention of going back to work being almost at my pre-baby weight. Not even close, and I start work Tuesday. But I'm not going to let that initial failure keep me down! 

This time I have an easy meal plan in place. All foods that I've prepared ahead of time and are easy to eat with one hand. A busy mom has to learn how to adjust with a finicky infant in her arms! My first attempt was a learning experience. Just because I'm home with Hillary doesn't necessarily mean I have time to cook fantastic meals. But it does mean I can still eat healthy, easy, quick meals that are good for both of us! 

Here is my meal plan for the coming week. It's very boring, but I know these foods will be super easy for me to stick with. I have my egg muffins, chicken, venison, and quinoa bars already made. Some days I don't get all of the allotted food in, but I'm not letting that stress me out. I'm plugged in to a higher calorie bracket due to the fact that I'm nursing, so I feel like there's a little wiggle room. I'm also "splurging" and eating a serving of lactation cookies every night. I'm trying to amp up my milk production since Hillary will be in daycare two days a week and my body doesn't respond well to the pump. 

So there you have it. I lost a grand total of 7 pounds in 21 days. (Thank goodness for breastfeeding.. what I'm chalking those other 3 pounds up to.) I'm not going to get down on myself, though. I'm only human. And I have this tiny human to care for (while keeping my sanity), who is far more important than losing X amount of weight in 3 weeks. My new goal? Successfully complete the 21 Day Fix, feel more confident, and don't be too hard on myself!

Tony Horton's NEW P90!

It's about time Beachbody launched a new program! I bet it's safe to say that most people have heard about P90X, as well as P90X2 and P90X3. What are the odds those who own any of the programs thought they were SUPER intense? Back in the day, I tried to do P90X. Key word being tried. Not only could I not do half of the moves, but the 60-90 minute exercises just weren't my cup of tea. The great results P90X can produce were seen, but it was also noted how many people needed something to get them to the point where they could actually complete it!

Insert P90

Tony Horton's new P90 program is made for people who want to work on improving their fitness levels but aren't quite ready for the intensity of P90X. This program was created to teach the basics - proper form and building strength.

P90 was made for those of us who want to lose weight without extreme work-outs, people who want to build muscle/lean out, individuals who "lost it" along the way and want to get back on track, and anyone who might need to spice up their normal routine by trying something new!

But just because it teaches the basics doesn't mean you won't get amazing results! By committing to 25 minutes a day for 90 days, you can achieve great results! You won't be straining your body, as it is not high intensity, just basic work-outs and cardio.

Along with the great work-outs, you will also be getting Tony's nutrition guide. We all know abs are made in the kitchen! As tough as it may be to get control of, nutrition is a key part to weight loss and getting that body you've always wanted. Tony makes it easy by combing those great exercising with an easy to follow nutrition plan. 

Now I know I have you all excited for this great new program, but it isn't available quite yet! Beachbody will be releasing P90 through your coach next week! To create the best experience possible, as your coach, I will be available to you for support, motivation, and accountability to achieve great results with P90, as well as many other programs! Starting October 6, I will be offering an accountability group to ensure that you stick with the program you purchased so you succeed at your health and fitness goals!

So if you don't already have a coach, I encourage you to create a free account! It's simple! Just click the link below.

Create a FREE account with ME as your coach!

New Addition and Maternity Leave

At 4:30am on Tuesday, July 29, 2014, my water officially broke. Finally!! Nearly 40 long weeks later, we have action!! I labored at home for several hours, leaving us with the hour drive to the hospital. That was fun... Long story short, by 9:18pm, our family had increased by one!

In active labor at this point.

Meet Miss Hillary Jane! She entered the world screaming, but calmed down long enough for an adorable photo. She weighed 7lbs 10oz and was 20 1/4in long. I will be honest in saying we were totally expecting a boy, so she was a HUGE surprise!

Miss Hillary Jane

 Now our world is filled with pink, purple, and all things girly! 

Sleeping during tummy time

I am loving my maternity leave and being able to watch her grow a little bit every day. It's so crazy to see the changes she makes from one day to the next. At 7 weeks old, she is getting to the point where she wants to smile and interact more. So what do we do while Dad is at work? Watch the 21 Day Fix infomercial! Girlfriend loved learning a bit about what Mom does (see that smile?!).

Lazy Sunday with my love

Initially, Mike and I were super nervous about my nine week maternity leave. We have always used my income from Beachbody to pay off debt. Our steady paychecks from working traditional jobs pay for day living/bills, so it's nice to have supplemental income to chip away at those loans at a faster rate. 

Well, lucky for us, I am able to work from home while watching our little princess. I continue to run challenge/accountability groups, while helping others reach their health and fitness goals. Having this once supplemental income be enough to subsidize my paychecks takes a huge weight off of our shoulders. We are continuing with our usual bills, as well as medical bill incurred while hospitalized. All from the comfort of my own home, while loving on a newborn. I am BEYOND lucky for this opportunity!

Maternity Paychecks

Now I don't show this to brag, as there are many coaches earning far more than me. I'm displaying this so you can see what is possible. What would you do with an extra $200 a week? What about more? Would you choose to stay home with your kids? Travel? Pay off debt? I am able to enjoy my maternity leave thanks to Beachbody. Then, once that is over, I will continue to pay off debt. 

Even greater than this, I am helping people change their lives! With each of these paychecks, it shows the individuals who are choosing to live a healthy lifestyle. They are eating well, exercising, and enjoying life. (Seriously... they tell me they this!) 

If you have a passion for health and fitness and want to change lives, Beachbody is the company for you! Take control and be your own boss! I promise, you won't regret it!!

Apply here to be a coach on my team!

Reality Check

So here's the deal. I've been MIA. So much for being a source of motivational support. If I couldn't motivate you via Facebook, it wasn't going to happen. How crappy of me is that?! Then I realized…

My reality check was like a kick to the head. How am I suppose to be the best person of influence/coach/source of accountability if I'm not present? NOT POSSIBLE! But here's what's going to go down in the next few paragraphs: updates about how I've been, what I've been doing, and my promise to NOT be a slacker. Sound ok?



1) The 21 Day Fix while pregnant: I SUCKED at it. Yup, totally admitting it. My intolerance for a lot of foods took control over me. Pregnancy is HARD. I never expected it to be like this. I thought I would be able to continue eating right, working out, and keeping slender while ONLY my belly grew. Why didn't anyone slap me on the forehead like they do in the V8 commercials?  I honestly try my hardest, but man, sometimes a girl just needs a bowl of honey nut Cheerios! I also am unable to exercise daily, especially now towards the end. Some days after being on my feet for 8-10 hours , wrestling giant dogs and grumpy cats non-stop, I would just shut down. On the other hand, I consider all the walking I've done while at work to have helped GREATLY!

How I felt during every workout

2) Pregnancy status: At almost 36 weeks pregnant, I am still feeling pretty decent. I tend to get swelling in my feet if I sit for too long (they look great when I'm up walking/moving!). Today marked the day where I officially had to remove my wedding and engagement rings. I think I did pretty well with that one! The baby has been trying to bust out via elbowing and kneeing my sides. That's fun. Not. We are getting to the point where the baby's room is almost done which is exciting! The best part was doing all of the laundry. That smell + a room full of clean diapers = heavenly :)

An awesome onesie a fellow coach sent me. Couldn't be any more perfect!

3) Beachbody business: A couple of weeks ago I officially made the status of One Star Diamond. What does that mean? It says that not only am I helping individuals achieve their health and fitness goals, but I am also helping other coaches grow their businesses. It's a HUGE accomplishment that makes me SO proud to have such an amazing team. Definitely couldn't do it without them!!! I'm getting ready to start another 21 day challenge group on Monday, as well as a coach basics group. What is a coach basics group? It is a close Facebook group where myself and a few other coaches teach new coaches how to be rockstars. I've never hosted with other coaches before, so I'm loving the prep for it in the mixing of different mindsets and leadership skills. We are going to produce some STELLAR coaches!

Two One Star Diamond Coaches + Two Diamond Coaches = Kick Ass Coach Basics Group

4) Why I'm not going to be a slacker anymore: I realized that more than even though I'm pregnant, I'm still a coach! I still REALLY want to inspire, motivate, and help people achieve their health and fitness goals. Even though I feel like I'm being pulled a million directions at once right now, nothing is more important than making people feel better about themselves. I can put my emotions on hold to help people realize that achieve their dreams IS possible, and I SO look forward to being someone's positive role model. My goal for the month of July is to help at least 15 people start with their journey towards a healthier lifestyle. Want to help this mama-to-be achieve her goals? Shoot me an email, comment below, or find me on Facebook! I'd LOVE to help, but remember… no quick fixes, no magic pills, no weird wraps. It's all about hard work and dedication, but I PROMISE to keep you on point :)

Mid-Week Update

A few days ago I wrote about how I was planning on doing a modified version of the 21 Day Fix to avoid excessive pregnancy weight gain. I made some changes based on how my pregnancy has been going, as well as to keep myself sane. So how have I been doing? I'd give myself a 5. That's right, a 5. 

Before the tiny human started growing inside of me, I was on point with my nutrition about 90% of the time. My husband and I would always have one date night a week where all rules went out of the window, and then we would go get ice cream! I stuck to my exercise plan and made no excuses. Sure, I'd have slip ups, but I had pretty good willpower for being a self-diagnosed emotional eater with absolutely NO control.

Now that the tiny human has taken up residence in my abdomen (sometimes it feel like it's sitting on my bladder, other times it feels up in my ribs…), it's like all of my willpower has evaporated. There's no better word to describe it.

So here's what's gone down:

Monday was great. Stuck with the meal plan 100%. My only probably was choking down the vegetables. Since Day 1, the tiny human has not approved of plain vegetables or chicken. If the veggies are on a sandwich or covered in ranch dressing, it's happy. If the chicken doesn't taste like chicken, it's happy. Otherwise, the gag reflex is on point. So I choked down the veggies and made the best of gagging through my meals.

Tuesday wasn't so bad. My coworker turned 50, so another coworker brought in her famous homemade cake. I ate a piece. Yeah, remember me talking about my willpower evaporating? While most folks went back for two pieces, I stuck with my one. That has to count for something, right? 

Wednesday was TERRIBLE! Absolutely nothing sounded good to eat. I had my meal plan sitting in front of me, food already prepared, and I gagged at the thought of it. Seriously. What the heck?! What did sound good? Hummus. I ate small portions of hummus throughout the day and survived. For dinner, I had some oatmeal with cinnamon and a glass of milk. 

Today? Well, today isn't quite over yet, but I'm still in the phase where nothing sounds good. I thought pregnant woman were suppose to be wanting all kinds of awesome food? For me, it's racking my brain for something that the thought of doesn't make me ill. I'm calling bullshit…

So what would you do in this situation? Choke down the foods or find something relatively healthy that is tolerable? I'm at a total loss!

As for my exercise schedule, it's been pretty good! On Tuesday, I crashed as soon as I got home from work, so I made Wednesday a double day. The modifier with the program is excellent! I try to keep up with the trainer as best as I can, but I don't have the stamina to be hardcore 100% of the time. I'm chalking that one up to decreased lung space and 20 extra pounds lingering kind of all over. At least that's one thing that I KNOW I can finish every day. Or at least have a double day if I accidentally miss a day.

Post workout glare

Since I am still struggling with eating well, it makes me beyond thankful that I no longer have to take heparin injections so that I may now enjoy a daily Shakeology. I pair one shake a day with some extra folic acid, and I'm set! This way, I know I'm getting one AMAZINGLY healthy meal that's like eating SIX salads. Choking a salad down is tough. There's no choking Shakeology down. It's liquid gold!! (But not like that crap they talk about in the Velveeta commericials.) Shakeology is a huge blessing for me right now, and I am so thankful that I found it six months ago!

Enjoying snuggles and Shakeology

Pregnancy and the 21 Day Fix

Let me just stop and take a moment to reflect on how HORRIBLE my eating habits have been for the past month. 

It all started when I went to Florida to visit Mike's dad. Talk about amazing food! I let everything slide and ate whatever I wanted. Returning to Indiana meant coming back to reality, but now I had tasted the sweet, sweet temptations… and all hell was about to break loose!

Huge Ice Cream Sunday in Florida

So after we got home, Mike went right back to his healthy eating of loads of veggies, fruit, and protein. I, on the other hand, kept wanting all of the yummy splurge meals we had while away. Sure, I'd snack on fruits and carrots while eating a turkey sandwich. Those healthy meals weren't as frequent as they should have been, though! Indulging in pancakes, ice cream, pizza, and french fries got pretty common!

Healthy vs. Unhealthy Dinner

Realistically, I'm pregnant. Who cares if I gain weight?

Umm… me?!!!

I had been on a gradual incline at all of my previous OB appointments. I felt ok but large in the belly. Go figure! Now I am getting to the point where my face looks fuller, my arms aren't as tone, my pants are tighter in my thighs, and I'm getting my saddlebags back. Oh hell no! This has to STOP before it gets any worse!

This ridiculous weight gain is what lead me to do the 21 Day Fix while pregnant. While the program is a diet and exercise plan, it's main focus is helping folks deal with portion control. Basically, it's screaming my name! I have been doing some of the workouts on my own (pretty much when I'm not exhausted) but thought the nutrition portion should best be left until post-baby. I mean heck, this is my time to let loose. 

21 Day Fix Program

Except I let loose a little too much.

Therefore, tomorrow I will be diving in to this awesome program! 

So how does it work, especially considering I'm pregnant? When you purchase the program, you are given an exercise schedule to match up with the dvds that you received. You're also given an eating plan that tells you how many containers you can eat per day based on your caloric needs. The containers are color-coded which makes meal planning super easy. 

21 Day Fix Containers

After calculating how many calories I should be eating a day, I figured out how many containers I get. It really is WAY less intense than it sounds.  For the program, I get to eat between 1800-2099 calories a day. That's right, loads of HEALTHY calories to help this tiny human grow! 

This means:

5 Green containers

3 Purple containers

5 Red containers

4 Yellow containers

1 Blue container

1 Orange container

5 Teaspoons (for oils, peanut butter, etc)

That is a LOT of food folks!! Plus, it's all nutritious… something the tiny human will thank me for!

I made my weekly meal plan to help break it down even more.

21 Day Fix Meal Plan

You might notice this doesn't follow the allotment to a T. While I do get 3 Yellow containers a day, one is to limit their milk intake to three times a week. The tiny human has me going through about a gallon a week, so I had to be realistic. I am knocking it down and replacing some with water, but I want that daily milk intake. If my body says I need it, I'm going to listen! That's why I'm mixing it with my Shakeology every day.  The orange containers are dressings, nuts, etc. Three times a week, you are allowed to replace them with something small and sweet, like chocolate covered raisins. Since the tiny human has intensified my sweet tooth, I'm allowing a small daily snack to keep myself at bay. I would much rather allow myself a small splurge than go nuts and eat a pint of ice cream. Which has been my usual routine. I am also not eating all of my teaspoons, as I usually never cook in oil. (Mike hates it, but I throw that stuff in a dry skillet and pray for a small amount of smoke!) 

So there you have it. That's how a pregnant lady plans on doing the 21 Day Fix! I will also add that most of the exercises will have to be modified, as I cannot do any ab work. If it calls for me to lay on my belly, I'll do some yoga stretching instead. That should help me in a few more months!

I will definitely be sure to keep my progress updated. And just to avoid confusing/criticism, I am NOT doing this program to lose weight! I am doing this program to get myself back on track, watch my portions, limit my sweets, and eat more veggies! What I've put on is what I will have to deal with until post-tiny human. However, if I can keep it from piling on, I am sure as hell going to try!

20 Weeks and Counting!

A lot has changed since my last post! First off, I'm getting bigger! The tiny human can officially be felt externally when it kicks. It also REALLY likes to punch/kick my bladder. We've had some serious discussions about how Mommy doesn't appreciate those particular movements. Secondly, I visited a neurologist who said I no longer need to do heparin injections. The neurologist did a complete exam (along with some bloodwork), stating that if he didn't know my history, he never would have guessed that I had a stroke 3 years ago. Score! He also noted that I do not need a scheduled c-section due to increased risk for having another stroke. This little lady is super pumped! 

20 Week Belly

So now I get to "enjoy" the rest of my pregnancy. Today was my 20 week appointment, which means I had my anatomy scan ultrasound. Mike and I decided to wait until d-day to learn the gender of the baby, but it was still fun seeing it on the screen! My tiny human is already pretty stubborn. It refused to slip over so the ultrasound tech could get a good view of the spine. At one point, the tech pushed the probe on my belly to get it to move… and we watched the little stinker use both legs to forcefully kick where she was poking. "Bug off, lady!" is totally what it was saying! I can already see our stubborn personalities colliding one day… 

The doctor did mention that everything looks great. The tiny human is weighing in at 11oz, and is in the 61% grouping for size. Average is 50%, so it's a little bigger than average. With parents like Mike and me, I wouldn't expect any less! There's no way this kid is going to be small! Since everything with the tiny human (and me) looks so good, along with the neurologist taking me off heparin/stating I don't need a scheduled c-section, I officially got moved from a high-risk pregnancy status to low-risk! I even watched him mark it on the paper!! Super fabulous news :)

Tiny Human

My growing belly is still leading to some body image issues. I know, I know… it's suppose to be growing (especially with it being 11 oz!!). Now that I'm starting to look a little more pregnant it's getting better, but I still hate wearing anything other than my scrubs or sweatpants. Plus, maternity pants just aren't that comfortable! 

I've also started discovering how difficult it's getting to move around while working. Bending and twisting in to weird positions to restrain animals isn't as fun as it was a few months ago! I also get out of breath walking from one side of the clinic to the other. It's nuts!

Toes!

Since I've noticed some problems with my breathing, I've started exercising more. While I do have to modify some, I'm amazed at how well I can usually keep up! Thirty minutes a day is totally doable, especially when my cravings tend to get the best of me regarding my diet. I'm also trying to encourage others to join in with me. As a Beachbody coach, I'm always trying to get others on track with their health and fitness, but this month is a little different.

One of my fellow coaches was recently diagnosed with stage four Hodgkins Lymphoma. She is an awesome coach, mom, teacher, and overall person, so I'm going to do anything I can to help. That's why, for the month of March, I am helping raise money to help contribute to her charity of choice (the Mario Lemieux Foundation). Whenever someone signs up with to participate in one of my challenge groups with the purchase of a challenge pack (an exercise program + 30days worth of Shakeology), I am donating some of my commission in her honor. 

A couple other coaches and myself are hosting a challenge group that starts March 24th. I'm really excited about this group, as I want to get TONS of people involved so I have more to donate in her honor! So you might be wondering what exactly a challenge group entails. Well, it's a 60 day group that takes place from the comfort of your own home. You will be added to a closed Facebook group (meaning only the folks in the group can see what you post) where you are given daily assignments that will keep you motivated and on track during the challenge. We focus on balancing daily life, fitness, nutrition… all while making it as fun as possible! I love these groups because they give you a place to go for support, motivation, and accountability.  If you're interested in learning more about joining the March 24th group, please e-mail me at k.pivowar@gmail.com  

Great cause for a great gal!