An AMAZING and INSPIRING transformation

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES! Meet one of our AMAZING and INSPIRING challengers - Melinda. This pretty lady has completely turned her health around in a year and is just such an inspiration. Hear what Melinda had to say about her inspiring journey!

"A year ago I was in a really bad place with my health and fitness. I was 160 lbs. and at 5ft 3in I was overweight according to all the health charts. - (I have never in my life been overweight, much less this big) My BMI was 28.3 - I had two abdominal surgeries in 2013. Three months after my first surgery I was down again having my second surgery. This surgery was more involved and the doctor told me 6 months for total healing. I was in considerable pain and discomfort for the first 4 months. Walking, sitting, bending, and even sleeping was painful. I found the best pain medication for me was comfort food. (aka - processed, sugary, junk food) I started outgrowing my clothes. Special events that came up during the year required shopping. I was buying larger sizes with each trip to the mall. My son experienced fatherhood with the birth of his first son just prior to my second surgery. I became a Grandmother! AND I felt my "WHY" holding my grandson the day he was born.

In December of 2013, I was 6 months post-op and cleared for exercising. (I was only allowed to walk up until this time, but did not even do that until 5 months post-op.) I was ready for a change. I was sick of feeling bad, looking horrible, and being overweight. My diet and inactivity was definitely a contributing factor. I began to evaluate my health. I have bad knees, osteoporosis of the spine and hip, lower back issues plus 2 surgeries in one year. I was done with all the bad feelings. My body was begging me to get rid of the excess weight, change my diet, start exercising and living! My fitness journey began in December with a 10-Day Shakeology challenge.  I began the "Slim in 6" program after the Shakeology challenge. In January of 2014 I started off the year with a 30 day Sugar Detox program. Mid February I began 2 Rounds of "The 21-Day Fix" followed in April beginning with "The Brazil Butt Lift" program. For the first time in my life I now feel in control of my health and fitness. I now exercise and eat healthy on a regular basis, with very few special occasion cheats.

My weight is now 122 lbs and my BMI is 21.6 - I have recently started my 4th and 5th programs with "PiYo" and "LM Pump" to help build strength and flexibility in my body. AND........ My son is getting married this October! This is such a special event that I have been looking forward to. I am now ready to go shopping with confidence for my "Mother of the Groom" dress! My journey is not ending with an event. It's just beginning! It's now for Life!"

Salmon with Asparagus, Bok Choy, and Red Pepper & Almond Sauce

Salmon with Asparagus, Bok Choy, and Red Pepper & Almond Sauce 

I made this for our dinner last night and it turned out really yummy! It is also a paleo friendly recipe (I will need to check if the vinegar is paleo approved, not sure). 

{INGREDIENTS}

1/4 cup roasted almonds
3/4 cup roasted red peppers
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 TBSP white wine vinegar
1 tsp paprika
1/4 cup olive oil
Salt and pepper
2 salmon steaks (about 2 lbs total)
1 bunch asparagus trimmed
2 bunches bok choy, trimmed and sliced crosswise



{DIRECTIONS)
1) Heat oven to 425 degrees with the racks in the upper and lower thirds. Pulse the almonds in a food processor until finely chopped. Add the red peppers, garlic, vinegar, paprika, 2 TBSP of the oil, and 1/4 tsp each salt and black pepper. Pulse until a smooth sauce forms (about 20 seconds).

2) Season the salmon with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper on a large rimmed baking sheet. Roast on the bottom rack until opaque throughout, around 15-18 minutes.

3) Meanwhile toss the asparagus and bok choy with the remaining olive oil and 1/4 tsp each of salt and black pepper on a large separate rimmed baking sheet. Arrange in an even layer. Roast on the top rack, tossing once, until crisp-tender, around 6-8 minutes.

4) Divide the salmon into 4 portions and serve with the bok chou, asparagus, and top with the red pepper-almond sauce. Garnish with slivered almonds if desired.

PiYo!

I have finally have my hands on Beachbody's newest workout program:  PiYo!  It is a Pilates and yoga inspired program that is high in intensity, but low in impact.  My body certainly could use the improvements in strength, balance, and flexibility without being hard on my joints.  I couldn't wait so I went ahead and did a workout tonight!   Here's a little snippet ;-)

Paleo Stir-Fry w/ Chicken, Mushrooms, and Asparagus

We try to eat a mixture of the Paleo and Mediterranean diets at out house.  So I am always looking for or creating fairly quick and simple recipes with clean ingredients.  Here is what I made the other night that is like stir-fry sans rice.  You could serve with rice, quinoa, or cous-cous by all means, but we kept it Paleo ;-).  It would also be good with shrimp I believe.  

Ingredients:

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast (cut into 3/4 in. chunks)
1/4 C almond meal
1 C chicken stock
2 TBSP honey
1/4 cup coconut aminos
1 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp crushed red pepper
2 TBSP olive oil, divided
1 lb. asparagus (trimmed and cut into 1 in/ pieces)
1 small onion (cut into thin wedges)
16 medium shiitake mushrooms (sliced)

Directions:

1) Coat the chicken with almond meal in a medium bowl. Remove chicken and set aside.

2) Add stock, honey, soy sauce, ginger, garlic powder, and crushed red pepper to remaining almond meal in the bowl, stir until smooth.

3) Heat 1 TBSP of olive oil in a wok or large skillet on medium-high heat. Add chicken. Stir-fry 5 minutes or until browned. Remove from wok.

4) Heat remaining TBSP of olive oil in wok. Add the asparagus, mushrooms, and onion. Stir-fry 5 minutes or until tender-crisp.

5) Stir the stock mixture and add to the wok, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil on medium heat and boil 2 minutes until thickened. Add chicken and stir-fry until heated through. ENJOY!

Pilates Move

I am so excited for Piyo to arrive that I made up a few Pilates inspired moves to do after my run today.  Here is one of them that I felt worked my core, balance, and strength:

Try it out!  I am still taking challengers for my upcoming super awesome PiYo challenge group!  Let me know if you want to join in!

God is Good!

Celebrating our baby girl on a very personally meaningful day. Happy 4th of July! Grace and I had an active morning between a long walk and long workout (she napped). Now I am obsessively taking pictures and videos of her in her holiday outfit - she is the biggest, most precious distraction ever! 

I normally am a very private person and don't share much about my faith via social media, because I feel like that needs to be shared face to face, yet it is heavy on my heart to share today so maybe someone else will feel encouraged . . .

I am feeling so blessed today. Today would have been the first birthday (if born on his/her due date) of our first child that we lost at 14 weeks due to a miscarriage. But today, holding our sweet baby girl, I am reminded of God's goodness and providence. I remember breaking down last Fourth of July and crying in my husband's arms over the reminder of the loss of our first baby on their due date and still having an empty womb despite almost 7 months of trying to get pregnant again. I kept thinking that I should be in labor right now, about to hold our precious little one.  I remember getting teary eyed seeing moms with their children or pregnant women, having to fight envy.  But then I was reminded that nothing is ours, we are fallen sinners, and that we control nothing.  God is sovereign, we are not.  Depraved sinners like me are not in control.  And thank goodness He is in control, not me.  I find great comfort in knowing who God is and that nothing happens outside of His control.  So although this time last year I was discouraged and battling sorrow, I found great hope, joy, peace, and contentment in knowing who God is, His sovereignty, and His goodness.  My greatest joy is Him, not my family, nor nothing else.  And my greatest purpose is not being a mother, but bringing Him glory.

And now, one year later, I sit here holding Grace, who is just unbelievably precious. But even if we were still trying to get pregnant or had lost Grace too, I find so much strength, peace, and comfort knowing that God is sovereign, and He is good. We don't "deserve" anything, yet He redeems. I can't begin to explain what joy, fruit, and growth came out of such loss and sorrow with our miscarriage. God truly works ALL things for our good. It is only by His Grace (why we chose that name for our daughter) that my heart can resoundingly say "The Lord gave, and The Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of The Lord". ~Job 1:21

Body after Baby Progress

So, if you follow my blog, website, or FB page, you know I recently had a baby girl.  She is 2 1/2 months old today, which means I am halfway through the allotted time period of 5 months that I have set a goal to have my body back.  I felt like 5 months was a realistic goal and expectation to have my body back and hopefully some muscle definition and maybe even a 6 pack - eek!  I am encouraged by the progress so far, but do know I have a ways to go.

I cranked out an Insanity workout this morning while my 3 babies (2 furry) napped.  It was tempting to lay down with them, because, let's face it moms - you are super sleep deprived at the 2 1/2 month point and need to take advantage of your baby napping.  But, I thought of my goals, my responsibility to practice what I preach as a Beachbody coach, and how to see the change I want I have to commit to consistent effort every day.  And I think I may see some ab definition, just maybe if you squint really hard ;-).