Yummy Clean Chicken Salad

Seriously, how good is chicken salad?
Every time I am in the grocery store and pass by that section of the deli with salads I have to grab some. And take it home to eat right out of the container with a fork. No shame!

But guess what, that deli chicken salad is so bad for you. Shocker right??? They use dressings and mayo and all sorts of yucky ingredients that taste good, but go straight to those problem areas that you work SO HARD to get rid of. (hello love handles)

Well today I went to the store in search of  CLEAN chicken salad to satisfy my craving but less guilty.

Here it is!

Ingredients:

• 1 can of organic chopped chicken (or you can cook your own chicken and shred, be sure to use SALT FREE seasonings)
• dash of garlic powder
• dash of Himalayan salt
• 1/3 cup of Greek Yogurt (0% Fage)
• lemon juice from 1/2 a lemon
• optional crushed walnuts
• optional chopped avocado (pictured)
• steamed bib lettuce (or boc choy)

Directions:

• in a small sauce pan, boil about 2 cups of water, enough to steam the lettuce
• add in lettuce and let steam down until soft, drain
• mix all other ingredients together in a bowl, add in the lettuce and stir
• top with avocado
• place in fridge to cool, then serve

Hope you enjoy it!

My kids ate it for lunch today wrapped inside wheat pitas with a little feta cheese!

Makes a good DIP for crackers too!

Insanity Update: Week 6

Holy moly I have been doing Insanity for 6 weeks!!!

Quick recap: I never did Insanity prior to these 2 months, I did Max 30 through the winter, which encouraged me to try the longer workouts of Insanity. 

I had a pretty bad attitude towards a cardio based workout, I thought it was just something that was NOT for me. Seriously, I was a weights and "take your time" kind of girl.

But I decided to stop being a baby, and turned on Insanity by using my Beachbody OnDemand feature on my laptop.

From day one this workout seemed to just be what I needed at this point in my life. I get results FAST, and that was something that I really liked. Whereas the weight based workouts tended to get slower results, I leaned out really quickly with Insanity.

So how did week six go?

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I have fallen into a routine of following the calendar, and incorporating my classes into the week. So Monday and Tuesday are my really difficult days because I workout at home, teach a class (Piyo and P90X) and workout a little at the gym after my class.

~ if you workout more than once a day, for whatever reason, be sure to ADD calories into your diet for the day! ~ 

~ I eat an extra meal after I get home to supplement the extra calories burnt during class and hitting the elliptical ~

Me after teaching my P90X class this week!!!!

This week was a little different because I had the opportunity to sub for a Beachbody Master Trainer, Kam, while she was away in LA filming for an OnDemand feature that will be released soon! 

I was so excited for this opportunity, and even though some things went wrong (the music was not working for me) I made the best of it and pushed through.

As Kam would say, I wore my rubber band that day! (being flexible!!!)

Me before subbing for Kam!

By Thursday my legs were on fire, and I could barely walk. Seriously, after doing Insanity Sunday - Wednesday plus a Piyo workout and 2 P90X workouts... I was jello!

So Thursday I decided I need to stretch, and did Piyo Sweat from the OnDemand feature (it is seriously wonderful having all of these workouts at my finger tips, especially for moments like these when I need to switch things up and just STRETCH)

Friday and Saturday I went back to my regular schedule. By Saturday my legs were feeling a lot better (I could actually walk down the stairs like a normal person) and I powered through my workout! I felt good today, and even worked out with the kids playing in the basement and my dog parking at my from the top of the stairs. Distractions everywhere but I got it done and even pushed myself beyond what I was able to do last week.

Here are some pictures and video!

A little preview of P90X Live!

Warming up today! 

Check out Charlotte playing so nicely!

Progress!!!!!

Invite Training... FAQ

This morning I asked my AWESOME TEAM in the Invite Club training group to throw out some questions they have about working their business, centered around INVITING.
I wanted to take the time to compile useful info based on their questions, and have it readily accessible to EVERYONE! So here we go!

How can I get BETTER at recruiting/inviting to the coach opportunity?

This is probably one of the most FREQUENTLY asked questions by coaches... how do I recruit new coaches? Especially business builders!
Well, sorry to say, but there is no secret formula. There is no ONE SPECIAL INGREDIENT to "getting" a bunch of people to sign up under you.
How to GET Coaches
But you can put out the good vibes to ATTRACT people to you, and then to the opportunity.

Be proof the products work!
This is the BIGGEST form of advertising that you can do. Whether it is recruiting a new coach, or recruiting for your challenge groups. Nothing speaks LOUDER than your own transformation story. It does not have to be dramatic, it just has to be YOU and your story!

Lead KICKASS Challenge Groups
The challenge group is your BREAD AND BUTTER to achieving success in this business. This is where you can groom and search for new coaches, without having to "cold call" them through a random message asking if they want to learn more about coaching. Run a kick butt challenge group, and you will see rising stars who stand out to you. These are the people you need to message about coaching.... "Have you thought about doing what I do? You are such a natural at sharing your story and your workouts, you are basically doing everything that I do as a coach."
Challenge Group Training

Be Bold
The only true failure is failing to ask. Failing to invite someone is the only surefire way to get a "no" answer. Opportunity will not knock for you, you have to build that damn door and bust through it.
Too often I see people on friends list who sign up as a coach with someone else, and I think to myself... "oh gee why didn't I think to ask her!"
Don't be that person... INVITE INVITE INVITE... be bold! When in doubt, just be honest...
"Hey girl, I am spending my weekend working on new recruits for my Beachbody business. This might seem weird that I am messaging you out of nowhere, but when I think of my DREAM TEAM you honestly come to mind. We are so alike (working mommies!) and I love your posts about juggling work and motherhood. I wanted to reach out and see if you were interested in hearing more about what I do. I appreciate it!"
BE BOLD!
Define your FUTURE


Additional Recruiting links......

Master the POWER HOUR

Invite Training... Sharing Your Story

Probably the biggest struggle for a coach, especially a new coach, is the INVITE part of our daily activities.
Something about having to message someone, or talk to them in person, about joining a challenge group, or purchasing a challenge pack, is just TERRIFYING to most people.
I get it, I struggled pretty hard with it at first too! I never messaged people, I waited for them to come to me, and lord knows that will never happen if I didn't establish a little credibility first!

After a lot of missteps and mistakes, I finally discovered the GOLDEN TICKET to inviting and conquering that fear.

Share your story.

And share it often.

That may seem like a totally off topic concept when it comes to inviting, but trust me, there is a compound effect that occurs when you share your story often.
And it makes INVITING a heck of a lot easier!

Sharing your story....

First you need to craft your story. There might be a clear starting point, or it might come to you in waves of ideas.
Take out a notebook and just jot down pieces of your past and present that blend together to create you, and where you are today.

Follow this guide....
1. What in your background did you not like?
2. How did Beachbody swoop in and save the day?
3. What is in store for your future?

When crafting a post about these pieces of our past, you want to answer all three of those questions to give your audience a clear perspective of where you were, where you are now, and where you are going.
You also want to include them in the story... a sort of CALL TO ACTION... at the end. It does not have to be a direct message or direct action for them to take, but they should feel a calling from inside themselves to want to keep watching you and wanting more pieces of your story.

BREADCRUMBS!

You don't want to give your audience your ENTIRE story all at once. That can be a bit overwhelming and long right?
And you want them to keep coming back for more! Checking your page or blog.

So when you tell your story, you want to leave breadcrumbs, not dump an entire loaf of bread in their lap!

What this means is, give them pieces of your story so that they can connect with you, but leave them hanging on for more.

For example... I have been telling my story about how I gave up on Insanity after one workout 2 years ago, but recently picked it back up to give it a try.
I did not go into how I was a swimmer in high school and hated cardio and did P90X then the Ultimate Reset and all of these crazy ideas.
I shared the important parts of the story, and updated them on where I am today.
This causes my audience to wonder where I may be going with it in the future, and hanging on to hear more little stories about my past that may surprise them.

Examples of stories...

• Share a transformation picture and give a brief update on where you were, where you are today, and what you expect for the rest of our journey
• Maybe Beachbody has allowed you to purchase a new couch for your livingroom, something that was such a luxury a year ago. Do a side by side of the two couches, old and new, and talk about how because of your little hobby job you were able to splurge on that nice couch from Ikea.
• Taking your kids on vacation and being worry free of the expenses like dinner our souvenirs. 
• Share how you have grown from a party kid in college to someone who loves to workout and invest your time researching clean eating to feed your body the right way.

Just a few ideas to get the wheels turning!

I say this all the time to my coaches.... start to write out your story, it will change over time, and little pieces of your past will start to come back to you as they become relevent to where you are today.

Things may occur in your life now that may jog a memory from your past.

You may come across a picture that takes you back to a time when you were less confident.

The point is.... SHARE YOUR STORY, AND SHARE IT OFTEN.

You may think you don't have a story worth sharing, but we all do. 

In the book The Go-Giver a woman wonders what is so special about her. What can she give that no one else can give?

The answer: Herself.

No one can duplicate your experiences or feelings, so share that!!!!

What is a Challenge Pack?

So we have been chatting for a bit, and I say to you, "Alright, let's get you set up with a challenge pack!"
And you think to yourself... "What the heck is she talking about?? A challenge pack? I just want a fitness program and your help!"

I get it, Beachbody has a lot of terminology that is pretty confusing, and challenge pack is definitly one of them. And what exactly it entails for the long run for your goals.

So in this post I want to break down what a challenge pack is, why is it important to your success, and I will answer a few questions that commonly come up about purchasing.

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Example of a Challenge Pack

What Is Included?

• set of dvds that go with the program
• workout calendar
• meal plan guide
• bonus dvd for buying through a coach
• getting started guide
• Shakeology flavor of your choice, month supply
• Shakeology cup (21 Day Fix and Extreme)
• 3 Day Refresh (for Kickstart Challenge Packs)
• equipment, if it is listed with the program

Why Should I Purchase a Challenge Pack?

A challenge pack seeks to combine all of the important pillars of success....

Fitness + Nutrition + Accountability = Success

Fitness: Program of your choice with the help of a coach to find what will work best for your goals.

Nutrition: Shakeology, healthiest meal of the day, and a complete nutrition guide with recipes.

Accountability: Free access to online tools, and free entrance into a challenge group run by your coach.

No other company does all of this, for a discounted price. You can go to the gym, hire a trainer, hire and nutrionist, and still not get the deal and the quality that you will find in that box that comes to your doorstep once you order the challenge pack.

Once you purchase, you are now on a journey that is LONG LASTING. We will seek to make long term changes to your lifestyle, and show you how to incorporate these changes into your life but still let you live! I have kids, so I understand the juggle act of taking care of children, making meals that everyone will enjoy, getting in my workout, and making sure my nutrition is on point. It is hard, but it is doable. 

I will not stop being your coach after my challenge group ends. I will not stop being your coach if you decide to stop getting Shakeology for a month. I will always be there, and keep you in line for your goals. I do not just sell a product and hope that you use it and get results, I will guide you to finding the tools to get you to your ultimate goals, put you in a group that will help you succeed, and continue to check in to make sure you are remaining motivated!

Success in a box!

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Commonly Asked Questions:

How am I saving by purchasing a challenge pack?
A challenge pack is designed to help you save a bit of cash when you combine the purchase of Shakeology and a workout program. Shakeology is $129 plus tax and shipping by itself, and most challenge packs run around $140 - $180. So by adding in the program, you are saving, and setting yourself up for success by having EVERYTHING you need ready to go. The guess work has been figured out!

Do I have to get Shakeology?
The challenge pack has Shakeology built into the price, sorry it is not a restaurant where you can substitute hehe!
And here is the deal, I understand fully that people tend to get a little weird about purchasing shakes and the whole deal. They just want a meal plan to sort of follow and some work out dvds.
But we probably talked already about those goals of yours, and honestly, the only way to get there, and stay there, and do it the right way, is to at least give the Shakes a try. Unless you have a medical reason NOT to drink them, they are only there to benefit you.
You are probably looking at it at face value... $129 for a shake??? But broken down, it is about $4 a day. That is the cost of a Starbucks drink! And it replaces a meal a day, and gives you over 70 different vitamins and essentials all in one glass.
So here is my deal..... TRY IT! If you hate it, we can return it and try something else that will benefit you!
Want to learn more about Shakeology and price? Go here.

What happens after the group is finished?
So once you purchase your challenge pack you are then entered into my Facebook accountability group. Just a group of other men and women (usually my groups are women) who are doing the same program as you, and probably have similar goals. It is a closed group so no worries about EVERYONE knowing your business. We post about our workouts, recipes, and have fun!
Anyway... these groups usually last 21 days. So what happens after we are done? Well if you feel like you want to keep going, you are more than welcome to join my NEXT group, I have one every month! We can talk about using the same program, purchasing a new one, or working one on one instead of in a group through texts or email.
Again, I am your coach, I am here for YOU! So let's get you results the best way possible for YOU!

Do I have to stay on Shakeology HD after I receive the first bag?
Short answer, and honest answer, NO.
Longer answer.... YES. lol Okay let me elaborate. Of course I want you to stay on Shakeology with the monthly program. I want you to stay committed to your goals, living a healthy lifestyle, and moving forward... not staying stagnant!
What is the best way to move forward? Stick to the PLAN STAN!
Shakeology is not a weightloss shake. Shakeology is not a protein shake. It is both of those things, but most importantly, it is a meal replacement shake that is the healthiest meal of the day. Regardless if you need to lose weight or not, you literally cannot create anything healthier than Shakeology. So do not think that just because you hit your goal weight, you do not have to drink it anymore. Only all the more reason to KEEP GOING!
So no you do not have to keep the HD but know that there are options.
1. You can change your flavor from month to month
2. You can pause your shipment for 1 or 2 months up to 3 times a year

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I aim to give you best quality service possible, and do it honestly. Hopefully this post was helpful in your decision to get a challenge pack and join my next accountability group.
Even if you do not choose to gt the combo pack, and only get the program, you are still a priority and will be placed in a group. But I do try to give everyone level playing ground, and only want you to feel amazing about yourself. So lets work together to keep YOUR goals in mind, and do what is best for YOU!

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PreSeason Part Two: Accountability Pictures

How easy is it to rely solely on the scale when you are going through those hard times and good times with your diet and exercise routine?
We either hop on to reaffirm that YES we are doing something right or to let us know that we are on a downward spiral and need to make changes.
What an emotional ROLLERCOASTER?!!!??

I cannot tell you to completely step away from the scale, but I can encourage you to adopt other means of gauging your progress.

My favorite way to do this? Take pictures!

This part of pre-season is us discussing how to take your BEFORE and AFTER pictures to document your journey, and how they will be used later for PRIZES!

More on the prizes later... first, let's dive into HOW to take those pictures!

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Well lit room, same clothing

Not the BEST but this is a great way for you to look back and see how far you have come!

I love digging up OLD pictures where a memory is attached... 

like a friends wedding or family vacation, where I remember feeling uncomfortable in my clothes.

I then put it next to a recent picture where I feel sexy and confident!

What a difference!

Hands on hips

Same clothes

Plain background

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• Use your phone or camera with a timer, set it up on a table or shelf where it can get you at a straight on angle, not from below.
• Stand against a door or plain wall
• Be sure the lighting is right, no shadows. Everything should be clear in the picture.
• Wear the same clothes... bathing suits, or shorts and a sports bra (for women)... gym shorts (for men) are the best option
• Take three different pictures... front, side (arms slightly back and straight), and back (I like to clasp my hands together behind my head)

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Here is an example of one of my progress pictures so you can see arm placement

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So what about those prizes????

There is a reason, other than to WATCH your progress, that you take these pictures. I don't want to just sit around and look at pictures of you half undressed lol I want you to be able to submit them for prizes and cash!

Yes you read that correctly... CASH!

There is this thing called the Beachbody Challenge, and everyone can enter, as many times as they want. There is no limit!

You just need your before and after pictures, and then fill out a short survey about your experiences with the Beachbody products. They are looking for the next big success story, and that can be YOU!

Everyone gets a free tshirt just for participating, they are really nice shirts, and who doesn't love FREE SWAG???

But you are also entered to possibly win CASH PRIZES that are given out weekly, monthly, and yearly! I know several people who have won $500 for just submitting their pictures and story... why not you?

Check out this video for more info....

Pretty sweet right???

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Go ahead and start snapping some pictures. It will seem really weird at first, but I promise, it is so worth it in the end. You will really wish you documented you journey as you move further and further down the road. I honestly cherish the pictures I took years ago when I was at my lowest point, because it shows me as a daily reminder of how strong I can be when I put my mind to something!

Good luck!  

21 Day Fix PreSeason

Welcome to the 21 Day Fix Challenge Group!

I am so excited that you want to start your journey with me, and with this wonderful program. I have A LOT to share with you about it, but first, let's get down the basics!

So you already have your Challenge Pack box, it should have arrived in the mail before the start of the group, but if you are still waiting, no problem, you can catch up pretty quickly. 

Official 21 Day Fix Check List:

• set of two dvds with the 21 Day Fix workouts
• bonus dvd for purchasing through a coach
• meal guide/container guide
• Shakeology shaker cup
• Shakeology flavor that you chose
• set of portion control containers
• 3 Day meal guide
• Getting Started Guide

If these items were missing from your box, please contact me ASAP so we can straighten it out! No worries, it will get to you in time! 

After you unbox everything, read through all of the materials that they send you. Do not worry about understanding everything just yet, because that will come later, but it is good to at least get an idea of what we will be doing for the next three weeks.

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The Meal Guide

You probably will spend most of your time sorting through the meal guide. This is your tool where you will find what calorie bracket you belong in, which foods fit into which containers, and some example recipes. She will explain how to plan your day around the containers, so you aren't eating them all at once, and how to still have a little treat while working through the program.

Let's take a look at the calorie categories!

You will follow the simple calculation at the beginning of your book to find out what bracket you are in. Be sure to stick to your bracket... there are a few exceptions (breast feeding) but it is important that you stick to the plan! They give you a pretty good amount of wiggle room, so don't worry!

Once you find out your category, you can then start planning your containers for the day!

I personally fall into the 1200 to 1499 level, so I follow the top line on this chart.

Do not get intimidated by these numbers and colors, it is a lot easier to plan out your meals and day than it looks.

I tell everyone, make BETTER choices at the grocery store than you normally would (take the meal guide with you, and when choosing meats, fruits, veggies, grains... look at the list she gives you for each, and stay around the top 1/4 of the list. Those are your BEST options! The closer to the top, the better.

Then go home and make dinner as usual, keeping a balanced meal in mind. Simply put each food item into their container, then dump onto your plate for a perfectly portioned meal. Save the rest for leftovers later!

This is where PLANNING and PREPPING ahead really help out. You are more likely to stick to the plan if you have the options ready to go in your fridge. 

We will talk about those two P words later in the pre season!!! 

Before we move onto the other parts of pre season, I want you buys to be ready.

And with that come CHARTS!

Start printing the ones that speak to you... that you feel you can follow easily... and have them handy for our prep and planning period. 

I like to keep mine clipped to my fridge for easy access and so I can clearly see where I am at for the day!

Here are a few of my favorites!

Save the image, then put into WORD so you can expand it and make copies!

Whatever you do, do not feel overwhelmed by this information! We are in this together! I promise to be there every step of the way. There will be a huge learning curve, and it may take longer than the 21 days to fuller grasp how to use this system effectively in your life. But the process does not STOP after this group... I am your coach FOREVER! I will keep at it with you until it is a lifestyle, not just a DIET!

Stay tuned for the PREP and PLANNING section of our pre season! Until then, read up!!!

Beachbody Summer Sale

Oh it's the most wonderful time of the YEAR!!!!!!!!

Seriously who loves a sale? I know I do!! One of the best parts of summer are the clearance sales! And Beachbody has some REALLY GREAT stuff going on right now.



Above is the complete list of SALE items.
This is a super popular event, so expect most of this to sell out BEFORE the end of the sale.

JUNE 10TH TO JUNE 17TH

Some of my PERSONAL favorites from this list include
ANKLE WEIGHTS {a great add on for Brazil Butt Lift or 21 Day Fix}
Jump Mat - we have 5! The are super cushy!
Stability Ball + Medicine Ball Combo

Great opportunity to add some equipment to your home gym.

THIS IS THE LINK YOU WILL USE TO SHOP THE SUMMER SALE:
https://www.TeamBeachbody.com/Shop/summer-sale?referringRepId=216467

Go ahead and click or copy+paste into your browser to take a look.


I hope you find something today that will help you take steps toward healthier living + saving a little money!

Reach out for anything you need!

HAPPY SUMMER SALE,
Erika

mommyburgh@gmail.com

Power Breakfasts!

Resist that tempting box of donuts at the office and stop making poor meal choices at lunch by starting your morning with a nutritious, high-protein breakfast. Your body needs protein to build and repair muscle, so if you’re exercising, it’s important to get enough of it! These high-protein breakfast recipes are easy to make and will keep you feeling satisfied for hours. Not sure how much protein you should be eating? Find out here.

Spinach Omelet with Gouda
How Much Protein? 21 grams
Try something a little different with this spinach and corn omelet sprinkled with flavorful smoked gouda cheese. Get the recipe.

Greek Islander Shakeology
How Much Protein? 28 grams
This smoothie’s vibrant color comes from antioxidants in pomegranate juice and blackberries. Get the recipe.

Egg White Scramble with Chicken
How Much Protein? 52 grams
This satisfying scramble is a great choice to start the day with plenty of protein. Get the recipe.

Turkey Sausage Muffin
How Much Protein? 21 grams
This turkey sausage patty on an whole-grain English muffin is a great, grab-and-go breakfast. Get the recipe.

Power Yogurt Breakfast
How Much Protein? 29 grams
Power up for your workout, or your day, with this Greek yogurt recipe with fresh fruit, wheat germ, and toasted coconut. Get the recipe.

Herbed Poached Egg Whites on Wheat
How Much Protein? 16 grams
Add some tarragon to your egg whites for a more savory breakfast. Don’t be intimidated by poaching eggs, it’s easier than you think! This light breakfast contains only 157 calories. Get the recipe.

Overloaded Oatmeal
How Much Protein? 25 grams
This oatmeal recipe is topped with your choice of nuts, dried fruit, and a dash of cinnamon. A scoop of whey protein powder makes it an even more satisfying breakfast. Get the recipe.

Scrambled Egg Whites with Steamed Sweet Potato
How Much Protein? 22 grams
By adding sweet potatoes as a side to your scrambled eggs in this P90X3-inspired recipe, you add even more nutrients to your breakfast plate. Get the recipe.

30 Days of Insanity

I have talked about this before, but as a refresher, here is a little back story about my journey with Insanity.

Two years ago I was finishing up 90 days of P90X. I just had my second child, and gained a lot of weight with the pregnancy... even though I did try my best to be as healthy as possible. 
I had a lot of weight to lose, so I pulled out my dusty old P90X dvd set and got to work. The same day that I started the program, I became a coach, for extra accountability and a sweet discount on Shakeology :)

After completing the program and losing a good bit of the baby weight, I wanted to try something different. Back then there were really only a few popular workouts that people suggested. I wanted something new, and decided I would try Insanity. I heard amazing things, and figured I was in enough shape by now to get through it.

It came in the mail

I popped in the dvd

Made it through the warmup... sort of...

Turned off the dvd

Put it in the box and shoved it in a closet.

I was so mad that I bought this stupid cardio based dvd set. Who in their right minds could do this garbage? Not me. So I sulked and floundered a little bit until I decided to try Body Pump and Turbofire for a while... never to return to Insanity. I gave up.

Fast forward to last summer.... I was talking to a friend about workouts and she mentioned wanting to try Insanity.
"I have that dvd, do you want it? I won't use it."
I gave away my dvd set, for free. That is how much I hated the program, and the type of attitude I had towards my failure. I wanted all traces of evidence GONE!

That following winter we got word that Shaun T was coming out with a new program... it was supposed to be shorter workouts (he had massive success with T25 at this point) but the same intensity as Insanity. I had a poor attitude about it, and wondered how I could sell it if I didn't believe in it.
After going to the Diamond Coach winter retreat, put together by my coach, I saw a group of coaches doing a preview of the workout, and sort of felt jealous that they were giving it a try, and ashamed that I had such a bad attitude. 
On the way home, I secretly made a pact with myself to give it a try. I will buy it, try it out, and see how it goes.

I posted on my Facebook wall about wanting to try Shaun T's newest program, and 5 of my friends said they wanted to join me. Okay... no backing down now.

Thankfully I had that awesome group of people, because it made the program fun. It was HARD and it took everything I had not to quit, but the shorter workouts really helped me push through. I used this program through the winter, and switched to the 21 Day Fix in the Spring.

But there was always something in the back of my mind nagging me about giving up on Insanity. It is crazy to say, that you feel guilt for giving up on a dvd workout video... but it just shows that really do care and want to try your best. I didn't want to be a quitter, I wanted to show my friends that I could push through barriers too, just as I encourage them to do each day in our challenge groups!

So I started Insanity one month ago. I took it one minute, one workout, one week at a time. 
I was sore. I hated it. But I refused to give up AGAIN on this journey. I wanted to prove to myself that I could make it through at least 30 days of this workout.

So here I am.... 5 weeks later and a full month into the program....

In April I got into okay shape for my trip to Cancun... I was looking good but not in the best shape of my life. I could stand to eat better and focus on my workouts. I got by with the minimum, because my goal was to just look good in a suit.

Stats....

- 6lbs
- 3 inches off hips
- 2 inches off waist
- 1 inch off chest

Increase in muscles in my abs, arms, and calves.

I feel LEAN! I really focused on my nutrition (I used the 21 Day Fix and Piyo meal guides to help me through these 30 days) this time around, because I knew if I wanted to see my muscles pop, I needed that boost you can only get in the kitchen.
Plenty of cheat meals, but never going overboard.

I cannot wait to show you my 60 day photos!!!!!

Skin Masks and Glowing Skin

I grew up with OKAY skin. I broke out. Had marks on my face. But nothing so crazy that I felt self conscious about it.

As I got older, it sort of stayed the same. I thought it would naturally go away with age, but found out that I am probably a lifer with OKAY skin. Break outs were just going to be apart of my life.

So I had to start getting creative to make my skin look naturally healthy, and at least try to prevent the break outs. I tried going to a doctor, but really disliked the medicines I was given, my face always got very painful if I exposed it to the sun at all. 

I then started to seek natural remedies like making my own masks and researching foods that help your skin glow. And honestly, the break outs are much better and my skin is starting to look healthy on its own, without the need for foundation or thick powders!

Homemade Face Masks

Avocado Mask
To soothe or heal skin irritated from sun exposure, try this avocado mask.
• Mash one whole avocado.
• Add 1 tsp. flaxseed oil and 1 tsp. honey.
• Mix together until smooth and creamy.
• Apply to face and let sit for 15 to 20 minutes.
• Rinse clean with warm water.

Oatmeal/Egg White Mask
This mask exfoliates and removes dead skin and blemishes, leaving your skin feeling soft and smooth.
• You’ll need: 3 to 4 egg whites and 1/3 cup oatmeal.
• Mix ingredients together.
• Apply and rub mixture onto skin. Oatmeal will exfoliate the skin. Allow for mixture to sit for 5 minutes and let egg whites dry.
• Rinse clean with warm water.

Cucumber Mask
This mask purifies and cleanses the skin, leaving your face feeling cool and smooth.
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt
• Cut a cucumber into thick slices and place in a blender. Set aside 2 thin slices of cucumber for the eyes.
• Throw 3 mint or parsley leaves into the blender. Puree to a paste.
• Mix the cucumber puree with the yogurt in the bowl.
• Cover your face with the cucumber mask. Place thin slices of cucumber on the eyes and let sit on the skin for 15 minutes.
• Rinse clean with warm water.

1. Eat More Veggies! - antioxidants in veggies work to get rid of free radicals that damage skin. They help prevent wrinkles and dry skin... two things I am really interested in! Best veggies to fight wrinkles... cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, and tomatoes!

2. Vitamin C!!! - your body cannot store Vitamin C, so it is up to you to keep the supply replenished throughout the day, for ultimate wrinkle fighting benefits!

3. Go Green!!!!!! - Vitamin A is essential in keeping your skin healthy... and one of the best sources for it are green veggies! Best options... spinach and broccoli! Vitamin A helps with renewing cells to create new healthy skin!

4. Green Tea! - This one was an eye opener for me. Green tea helps prevent the stuff that creates acne under you skin. I drink one before bed every night with some lemon... for digestion!

5. Fish!! - Fish is packed with Omega-3 fatty acids, which help prevent sun burn and inflammation (wrinkles!). Top picks for fish... salmon and tuna. 

Made for More

I tend to get inspired to write these types of posts like once a month. Like everything, this Beachbody business has its ups and down, and those ups certainly remind me of why I love doing this, and work so hard during the downs.

Today I opened up my office to check out my pay for this week. And I had to refresh my screen a few times to grasp what I was staring at!

My WEEK paycheck SURPASSED what I was getting paid weekly at my last job. And not by just a dollar or two... but by a lot. Enough for me to sit back and say.... "this was all worth it."

To rewind....

I worked retail for about 12 years. While I was in college and after college, it was just the easiest work I could find, and truthfully I was really good at it (toot toot lol).
But as you move up the ladder of success in retail, you begin to understand that you are living someone else's dream, and those warm and fuzzy feelings you had for being able to help ladies pick out outfits, quickly goes away.

But I was very disillusioned into thinking this was the perfect career path for me. I had a lot of people telling me I was a natural and good at my job, which I was, but as I moved up, I found that I did less of what I enjoyed, and more work for the sake of helping those above me.

My last retail job reflected that a lot. It started out as the perfect job, with flexible hours, and casual atmosphere. But we got a new district manager that was only out for herself, and was not shy about firing someone just because she did not like them. I watched as every single one of my coworkers were fired for silly small reasons, and feared that I was the next one to get the boot.

I put in my two weeks notice and asked to be transferred to a store closer to my house.... a month later that still never happened, and I was pressured into working because my store had no employees.... gee I wonder why!!!

Finally I had enough, no more working towards someone else's dreams. I wanted to work towards mine.

The day I left and decided to go with Beachbody full time was scary. I have two kids at home that rely on me to provide for them, and I was scared that I would fail miserably. 

But each day home with them only strengthened my reasons to keep working harder. I busted my butt these 3 months since quitting my job, and finally... can say that it is starting to show.

I do not work for Beachbody just to earn the paycheck. Honestly, I worked for less than $100 a week for them, but loved every single second of it, for over a year. And I'd gladly go back... even though I know my efforts are worth way more now!

I have made friends that will last me a lifetime, and encourage me to be a better person. I was never that girl who had a ton of friends... I always kept my distance and figured I wasn't good enough to fit in because I wasn't cool enough or interesting enough. 
Now I have really amazing relationships that are uplifting and a true blessing in my life. There is no competition, just love and trust. 

I do this because it makes me happy, and in the process I make others happy... because they are discovering their self worth, while I discover mine too.

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So why not you?
What is holding you back from doing more with your life or leaving that miserable job... or at least cutting down hours to stay home with the family?

I am no fitness expert. 
I am not a nutritionist.
I am not the most athletic or the most in shape person.

I am me. Erika. A 32 year old mom of two girls. Just wanting to do better with each day that God gives me on this planet. And I won't waste that working towards someone else's dream.

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I'd love to chat with you about how Beachbody can better your life!
Find me on Facebook www.facebook.com/erika.levarse
or email me at mommyburgh@gmail.com