Let's BET on a NEW YOU in 2017!

Can I ask you a question?

>>>>> Have you gone overboard this holiday season? Are you ready to get back on track and take charge of your health?  

Join the 2017 New Year New You Challenge Group to kick off the New Year right!  

Plus Beachbody is doing their Health Bet Challenge where they have put in $2 million to a pot reserved just for people who commit to a fitness program, drinking Shakeology 1x daily and logging into the support group daily for 4 weeks.
How sweet is it that you can get a reward for improving your health & fitness.

Reserve your spot now to guarantee you are in my group to start January 2nd.


A rare opportunity to win cash for getting fit! Anybody need a do-over? A fresh start? Or just a good kick in the pants? Ready to rock your health and fitness goals AND win some money at the same time?!
Beachbody is SO committed to help people reach their health and fitness goals, that they are giving away money to every single person who commits from January 9th till February 5th!
There will be AT LEAST $2 million in the pot and it will  continue to go up to possibly $3 million!

My next online challenge group is designed to help you re-establish a routine to help you live a happy, healthy lifestyle. We’ll be focusing nutrition and fitness and HABITS. You’ll have EVERYTHING you need to be successful! PLUS for the first time EVEN in one of my groups, you’ll have the chance to win money!
You’ll be using a fitness programs and Shakeology. To be eligible for prize money, just check in with your workout at least 3 times a week and with your Shakeology 5 times each week.
If you don’t have a program help choosing the best one for your goals I’d love to give you guidance based on professional experience as a personal trainer and my personal experience with these programs.
When you enroll you’ll recieve:
1. Workout program DVDs
2. Detailed workout Schedule
3. Nutrition Guide and Recipes
4. 30 day supply of meal replacement/protein/ vitamin/ superfood shake
5. 30 day free trial to a more advanced meal planner and hundreds of streaming workout videos including the FULL P90X and Insanity programs with downloadable schedules and nutrition plans!!
6. Free Coaching in a private accountability group
7. Full month of meal plans
8. Accountability and Support Group
9. Free lifetime membership into teambeachbody.com
10. Free extra bonus workout
You’ll be coached DAILY and have support from 20+ others on the same journey as you!
So how do you win?
Simple!
Our group will be taking place in our Challenge Group App where you will get an invite to from me. Log 3 workouts and 5 Shakeology’s every week for 4 weeks! If you do that – you automatically get a portion of the pot! It could be $5, it could be $20, shoot, it could be $100!

Fill out my online form.

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Lasagna dinner!

This lasagna was the bomb.com and healthy too! My boys gobbled it up and there was plenty for left overs which is a win in my book!

Heres the recipe:

Melissa Lasagna

1 box of ready to bake whole grain lasagna

1 pound of lean ground beef, turkey or chicken

1 package of chopped frozen spinach

1 pound of low fat mozzarella (I used half provolone half mozzarella and used the slices from the deli)

1 1/2 jars of organic low sugar tomato sauce

low fat ricotta cheese

1 egg

parmesan cheese

garlic

italian seasoning 

1.Brown the meat in a pan and season with garlic powder and Italian seasonings.

2. Mix ricotta cheese with 1 tablespoon of italian seasoning, some garlic powder and an egg. Also add 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese.

3. Add frozen spinach (drained) and tomato sauce to meat.

4.Layer lasagna in the following order- sauce, noodles, meat, ricotta, noodle and repeat.

5. Bake covered at 375 for 1 hour and then let it brown for 15 minutes.

Enjoy!

Butternut Squash Soup

Put a spicy twist on butternut squash soup. A little bit of crushed red pepper gives it just enough kick to wake up your taste buds without setting them on fire. This recipe makes enough for a family dinner or a week of meal prep, and it’s a great way to warm up on a chilly day!

Total Time: 1 hr.
Prep Time: 15 min.
Cooking Time: 45 min.
Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients:
2 Tbsp. olive oil
3 medium onions, chopped
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 medium butternut squash, peeled, seeded, cut into 1-inch pieces
5½ cups low-sodium, organic vegetable broth
1 tsp. crushed red pepper
3 fresh thyme sprigs, leaves removed and chopped, stem discarded, divided use
Sea salt and ground black pepper (to taste; optional)
6 tsp. nonfat plain yogurt

Preparation:
1. Heat oil in large sauce pan over medium-high heat. Add onions; cook, stirring frequently, for 8 to 10 minutes, or until translucent.
2. Add garlic; cook for 1 minute, or until tender.
3. Add squash, broth, and red pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; gently boil, covered, for 25 to 30 minutes, or until squash is soft. Remove from heat.
4. Place soup in a blender or food processor, in 4 or more batches, if necessary; cover with lid and kitchen towel. Blend until smooth.
5. Return soup to sauce pan over medium heat. Add 1 tsp. thyme; cook, stirring constantly, until soup is hot.
6. Season with salt and pepper if desired.
7. Ladle soup into 6 serving bowls. Garnish each with 1 tsp. yogurt, and sprinkle all with remaining 2 tsp. thyme.

Last week of Core de Force and Holiday Survival Tips!

Week 3 Update

This week I am entering my last week of Core de Force! It feels so good to be ending 2016 feeling healthier than ever!  In the past I would say "whats the point of starting something now...why not just wait till January". But I realize now that being healthy and feeling great is not just a phase but a lifestyle. I do fall off track sometimes but I always jump right back on!

This week I have noticed some HUGE changes in  my endurance and flexibility. My ability to push through the workouts and my kicks are definitely improving. I can also see some big changes in my abs which I thought were about as good as they would ever be after having two kids! Im sure that the added 5 and 10 minute ab workouts they have on the calendar have A LOT to do with it!

Having a Hard Time Staying Motivated?

Many people have asked how I stay motivated through out the holiday season and the truth is, I am just like anyone else. I have days where I just don't want to and would much rather sleep in but I know that those are the days that count the most!

Here are some tips to help you get through this season and stick to your goals.

1. Lay your workout clothes out the night before or sleep in them!

2. Create a calendar of what your workouts will be and stick with it!

3. Plan your meals ahead for the week and post it on your fridge to help you stay on track.

4. Reward yourself with something other than food when you reach your goals.

5. Grab an accountability partner and have them check in with you to stay on track!

6. Take some before pictures to track your progress.

7. Pick three weekly goals you would like to work on each week and put them in a place you will see them daily such as your bathroom or computer screen.

8. Make sure to drink your daily water intake--most people confuse thirst for hunger!

9. Allow yourself to cheat on that ONE special holiday in moderation of course!

10. Celebrate each success!

If you wanna join our upcoming #girlgang this holiday season and bring in the New Year feeling your BEST, lets chat!!

Thanks for signing up!

Yes, I wanna know more about the #GirlGang!

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One Pot Chicken Primavera

Okay I wanted to share with you some of the amazing food I have been eating on Core de Force. I love that we get to eat so much yummy food on this program:)

Enjoy!

• we did modify the recipe a little, so I will tell you what I changed in the recipe as we go!

  

Chicken Primavera

Serves 2 (with leftovers)--I doubled the recipe

Ingredients

2 tablespoons cooking fat-we used coconut oil

1/2 C diced onions

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon minced fresh oregano

1 teaspoon fresh thyme

3 cups diced seeded tomatoes (about 3 large tomatoes)

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, 1 inch diced

2 cups green beans, cut-* didn’t add in my dish

1 1/2 cups medium diced zucchini-*

1 1/2 cups medium diced yellow squash-*I added butternut squash

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes- I didnt add any

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon black pepper

1 to 2 Tablespoons minced fresh basil leaves

I served it over spaghetti squash and the boys had it over brown rice.

Preparation

1. In a large pot, heat the cooking fat on medium-high heat and swirl to coat the bottom of the pan,

2. Add onions, garlic, oregano, and thyme to the pot and cook until the onions are translucent and the garlic is fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes.

3. Add the tomatoes and chicken to the pot (we didn’t add until later) and cook, stirring occasionally, until the tomatoes have softened 3 to 4 minutes. IF you use can diced tomatoes- don’t drain them just throw in and stir.

4. Add in vegetables -green beans, zucchini, and squash.

5. Cook and stir until the vegetables are crisp-tender and the chicken is cooked through (no pink in the center). I grilled my chicken and added the chicken in now.

6. Add spices- red pepper flakes, salt, pepper, and sprinkle on the basil. Stir in spices for about 30 seconds to incorporate, and serve immediately.

Side note: I had to pick up my boys from CCD so I put the pot with the lid on (oven safe) into the over at 375 and left the house for about 25 minutes and when I came home it was done and SOOO good!

Day 4 Core de Force

Hey friends!

Im on day 4 of Core de Force and LOVING it! I seriously thought when I first heard of this prgram it would be lots of kicking and punching {which is not my fav} but to my surprise I was wrong!

The Workouts

So far I have done 3 workouts and I am waking up SO sore! I am currently doing the regular version of the program.  There are two other options, which I plan to do after the regular version.  You can add in the deluxe workouts or do a hybrid version of the program, which add in workouts from Beachbody On Demand from workouts like Insanity, P90X, and T25.

The Meal Plan

So let’s get to our favorite part – FOOD!! You have to fuel your body right.  Week 1’s meal plan is similar to that of other Beachbody programs that follow the Portion Fix plan. If you wanna check out one a yummy recipe I made head on over here.  In Week 2 and Week 3 you increase the amount of food you eat as the workouts increase in intensity!

For Week 1 I get, 4 Red (protein), 3 Green (veggies), 2 purple (fruit), 2 yellow (carbs), 1 orange (seed/dressing), 1 blue (healthy fat), and 2 tsps (nut butters, oils) per day!  This is according to the color coded system with different sized containers, thought the meal plan tells you what amount of each food equals a container.

My Core De Force #girlggang is also kicking off the 28th of November and I can’t wait to get started!! These ladies are gonna crush it!  If you wanna save your spot click here!

Wanna join our #GirlGang?

Heeeeeeyyyyy Girl!!!

Are you ready to join this awesome REVOLUTION we are starting??? It's called the #girlgang. 

Its an online fitness community and it comes JAM packed with everything you need to stay on track to wear that little black dress at your holiday parties this season! 

Complete with a local LIVE workout, there's many ways to join us (even TOTALLY FREE)...drop your email below and I will reach out and fill you in on the deets!

Thanks for signing up!

Yes, I wanna know more about the #GirlGang!

Drop your name and email below and we'll get back to ya with the deets!

Email Address

First Name

Last Name

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My Ultimate Reset Results!!

I made it to Day 21 and I have to admit I cheated a little on the last day....I was SOOO over veggies and I got the results I was looking for and felt amazing. But--I was craving some balance. (AKA cheat meal)

I honestly had the same meal for the last few nights because I was getting lazy so the thought of preparing another veggie made me not want to eat, so day 21 came around right at the perfect time!

So, what can I say?

This plan made me ready and excited to start a regular and normal balanced meal plan. It made me excited about working out!

It helped be break through bad habits of snacking and also helped me break through that plateau which was just what I needed to start my new program...and THAT was EXACTLY what I was looking for!

It showed me that I CAN commit to something and the sense of accompishing this is like no other!

I really learned a lot about different foods and how they make me feel and I also enjoyed all the new recipes I got to try out like this quinoa pilaf.

So I got the weight loss results I was looking for. The scale hadn't budged in a really long time.
I got the improve sleep I was looking for.
My energy is back.
My skin is clear.
And over all I am one HAPPY mom!

I'm pretty proud of myself for accomplishing this...and I look forward to starting my new program, following a balanced meal plan and to keep this weight off as we bring in the new year!

I've done lots of other cleanses before and there have been NONE that I could honestly say I would ever do again but I could totally see myself doing this as a tune up once or twice a year!

I loved that you aren't starving yourself but actually eating healthy meals through out the 3 weeks!

Are you ready to join us? Apply here to save your spot! Or head on over here to see what its all about!

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Flourless Brownie Cupcakes with PB Frosting

The key to these brownies is the “flourless” part: Instead of processed white flour which has a high glycemic load and can spike your blood sugar, we use chickpeas as a binder. The bonus? Chickpeas are rich in protein, fiber, and iron. So these brownies taste like a decadent treat and they’re packed with nutrition.

Flourless Brownie Cupcakes With Peanut Butter Frosting

Ingredients1 (15-oz.) can chickpeas (garbanzo beans), drained, rinsed
3 large eggs
⅓ cup + ¼ cup pure maple syrup, divided use
⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp. baking soda
3 Tbsp. coconut oil, melted
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
¼ cup all-natural peanut butter
¼ cup unsweetened almond milk
⅔ cup Vanilla Shakeology

Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
2. Prepare 12 muffin cups by lining with muffin papers or coating with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
3. Place chickpeas, eggs, ⅓ cup maple syrup, cocoa powder, baking soda, coconut oil, and extract in blender or food processor; cover. Blend until smooth.
4. Divide batter among 12 prepared muffin cups.
5. Top each cupcake with about four chocolate chips; push into batter.
6. Bake for 17 to 20 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
7. Cool completely and enjoy!
8. To make frosting while cupcakes are baking, whip peanut butter in a medium bowl; beat on medium speed for 1 to 2 minutes, or until creamy.
9. Add almond milk; beat until well blended.
10. Add Shakeology; beat until well blended, scraping bowl occasionally.
11. Slowly add remaining ¼ cup maple syrup while beating on medium speed. (If frosting is too stiff, add 1 to 2 tbsp. additional almond milk.) Set aside.
12. Once cupcakes are cool, evenly spread with frosting.

For my fixers: 1 yellow, 1/2 red, 1 tsp

Three Cheese Macaroni Casserole

Three Cheese Macaroni Casserole

You could technically make this dish on the stovetop, and serve it right away, but I highly recommend baking it in the oven. The oven helps get the noodles piping hot, and makes the cheese turn golden brown and bubbly. You won’t need to call your family down to the table, because the smell of melted cheese is enough to make anyone’s mouth water!

Total Time: 1 hr. 18 min.
Prep Time: 20 min.
Cooking Time: 58 min.
Yield: 10 servings, about 1½ cups each

Ingredients:
1 lb. dry whole wheat macaroni (or penne pasta)
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 medium red bell pepper, chopped
1 medium yellow bell pepper, chopped
2 cups chopped broccoli
2 cloves garlic, chopped
2½ cups part-skim ricotta cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
¼ cup Parmesan cheese
¼ cup chopped fresh basil
Sea salt (or Himalayan salt) and ground black pepper (to taste; optional)
Nonstick cooking spray

Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 375° F.
2. Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain and set aside.
3. Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
4. Add onion, bell peppers, and broccoli; cook, stirring frequently, for 4 to 6 minutes, or until onion is translucent.
5. Add garlic; cook, stirring frequently, for 1 minute. Remove from heat. Set aside.
6. Combine ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese in a large bowl; mix well.
7. Add macaroni, onion mixture, and basil; mix well.
8. Season with salt and pepper if desired; mix well.
9. Place macaroni mixture in a 13 x 9-inch ceramic (or glass baking dish) that has been coated with spray. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until cheese is bubbling.

For all my fixers:

Containers
½ Green
2 Yellow
1 Blue

Half Way Through My Cleanse!

Half way mark for the Ultimate reset!

Can't believe how fast the time is going by. When I first started this cleanse I was going back to my old habits of too much sugar, snacking and nightly glasses of wine. A little bit of these things here and there have become more of a nightly habit and I knew it was time to commit to something new.

So here I am more than half way done and I cant believe how great Im doing! I haven't had any sugar and feel great! This we we have eliminated all dairy and meat. The recipes I have tried have been delicious. We have a lot of meals that include Miso as an ingredient. Miso is a type of fermented soy which is great to have while cleansing. Its filled with probiotics to help replenish and restore your gut. Many people confuse the type of salt in Miso with the table salt but its actually a different type of salt that helps lower cholestrol.

For breakfast every day we have a delicious fruit salad and after not having any sugar my taste buds are already back to normal!

I do miss my regular intense workouts but I am loving starting my day off with yoga. I love how its teaching me the basic foundations of yoga and I can see my self getting more flexible and improving my balance already!

If youre ready to change up your routine and would like to join my next group, fill out this application to get started!

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Ultimate Reset Day 3 Update

 I started my cleanse this week, snapped those before pictures and wanted to give you all an update! Im on day 3 and in Phase 1 and I have to say, I am surprised with how good I feel so far. I am not starving like I thought I would be either. The amount of food you get to eat is unbelievable. I love that I am trying so many new things too.

 It isn't recommended to drink coffee but it does say if you absolutely must have coffee than you can....well, I DID!! I only had 1/4 of a cup and that seems to be holding me off just fine. I am missing my morning pre workout drink but I honestly dont feel like I am going through any type of withdrawal from not having my normal coffee or pre workout drink. I love that the guide tells you exactly what to eat and on each day!





Right now I am in Phase 1 where we begin to alter our diet by slowly removing dairy and meat. We are also rehydrating our body with a ton of water to reactivate sluggish cell function along with shifting our bodies Ph level which can weaken your body's functions.

I start my day off with water and two pills that is a blend of enzymes with camu camu, vitamin C and aminos which help your immune system and all around body functions. When I first started I was feeling like I was getting sick and one day in, and my cold is gone! Im pretty sure it had to do with all these natural supplements! Through out the day we take a few more supplements and drink something to help with the process..and no---this is not the type of cleanse where you are constantly heading to the bathroom!

There is a set menu to choose from but they also give you the "Reset in a Crunch" menu for people who are busy on some days and you can also swap out any of the meal options you dont like as long as you do lunch for lunch and stay within the same phase.

I really loved this Creamy Garlic Dressing! 

Its not recommended to do heavy lifting or intense workouts so I started the 3 Week Yoga Retreat and am loving the feeling of starting my mornings off with a nice stretch!




I'm in private group on facebook with a bunch of other ladies that help with tips, support and motivation! So any time we have a question, we are all here to help! I love the accountability and support we give one another!

If you youre ready to get started on your transformation or want kick things up a notch I'm putting together my next Virtual Online Gym! 


Save your spot here by filling out the application below or head on over here to learn more about the Busy Mom Challenge!

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Take the #teachermom Challenge!

It's overwhelming being a mom...handling day-to-day responsibilities of a mom while balancing after school sports, dinner, leaving our own children to take care of others, waking up every day at the crack of dawn and leaving our children in the hands of others can be frustrating beyond belief! And don't get me started onto the fact that we are over worked and under paid...

Dealing with the feeling of having to work when all you want to do is be home with your children is HARD and then coming home and finding the time to take care of yourself can seem impossible.

Sometimes working full time is the only option we have so finding the time to exercise and eat healthy can seem close to impossible but we manage to get through the days.

As a fellow former teacher, I get it! I worked for 8 years and after having two boys of my own, all I wanted to was be home to watch them grow. At the time I didnt have that option so after working all day I would come home and the LAST thing I wanted to do was eat healthy and exercise. All I wanted to do was take a nap...

After I was sick and tired of feeling uncomfortable in my own skin I learned to meal plan with fresh ingredients, committed to working out at home for 30 minutes, and joined an online accountability group for support and motivation.

Now, I feel stronger, healthier, and happier than ever AND have the energy to keep up with my two beautiful boys!

A workout plan with daily workouts that are 30 minutes or less that you can do all from home!

An easy-to-follow nutrition plan with meal planning guidance and recipe ideas based on your individual goals~

One-on-one coaching!

Access to online accountability groups filled with other teacher moms working toward similar goals!

We start January 2nd!!

Just fill out the simple form below to join this community of women who are striving to be #teachermomstrong and I'll contact you right away!

Fill out my online form.

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