Transformation Journey: 80 Day Obsession

This transformation and this program is where I realized that abs truly are made in the kitchen!

This program was 80 days. I will be honest and say that I did not plug into the nutrition plan 100% until a few weeks in. I kicked myself for that. I was eating what I thought was healthy, but realized when I properly fueled my body, I had more energy and my body responded and rewarded me for my efforts.  The first two pictures are only two weeks apart. TWO WEEKS! Nutrition plays a HUGE role in your results. You can’t outrun or outwork your fork.

I know how difficult and how daunting clean eating can be at first. It gets easier as you do it. Take it in steps and make small changes. Remember, you’ve got this. If you ever need support, let me know. I’ll be your biggest cheerleader. 80 Day Obsession is a step-by-step fitness and nutrition program designed to get you flatter abs and a toned bum. What's unique about this format is that it includes 80 different workouts so you never get bored. It also completely overhauled my view of nutrition. This program included a nutrition plan based on the Timed-Nutrition theory, so you're fueling your body strategically pre and post-workout to burn fat, build muscle, and keep your energy up... which leads to incredible results! The workouts are a little more intense, but if you're a beginner there's a modifier for you! Each workout is anywhere from 30-60 minutes long, with most averaging 45-60 minutes in length.

If you are interested in hearing more about this program or more about the accountability groups I run each month, fill out this form and I'll get back to you soon.

Transformation Journey: Insanity Max: 30

This transformation is near and dear to my heart. It's a HUGE deal for me. This was after having Gabe. Prior to pregnancy I was the healthiest and fittest I had ever been. A short 4 months after I had gotten my results from T25 I got pregnant with Gabe. While I made a conscious effort to stay active with prenatal workouts and walks around the neighborhood, I gained quite a bit of weight. My weight had reached 170 when I had Gabe.

I will be honest. I wasn't worried about trying a million things to fit back into my pre-pregnancy jeans. I had something that I knew would work because it had worked for me a year before: an at-home fitness program under the guidance of a superstar trainer with a simple-to-follow nutrition plan paired with an online accountability group full of supportive people reaching for the same goals.

The program is by one of my favorite super-trainers, Shaun T. This time it was Insanity Max: 30. 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week with NO equipment needed. You use your body weight to get insane results.

These were my results:

Insanity Max: 30 can help you get ridiculous results in just 60 days thanks to Shaun T's MAX OUT training. You work as hard as you can during each workout for as long as you can until you "Max Out" (when you just can't do anymore or begin to lose form). You get to log your Max Out time, and when you come to the workout again try to crush your previous week's time.

These are total body workouts that feature some killer cardio with tabata-style strength workouts. They help you lose weight and sculpt and tone your body.

Believe me when I say this program wasn't the easiest thing I've jumped into. There was a lot of sweat and (some) tears involved.  BUT! I made it through and lost 45 pounds in 60 days. If I can do this, you can too. There is a modifier for every single work out, so everyone can push to their max.

If I can do this, you definitely can too.

If you think this program might be the right fit for you, you can grab the challenge pack here. The challenge pack comes with an insane value. With it you get one year of access to ALL of the programs Beachbody has created, plus anything released within the year of your subscription. So when you're done with Max: 30, you can jump into another program. You also get a month of our superfood shake (I have it every day for breakfast--vanilla is my favorite!), as well as all of the materials you need to get your nutrition started off on the right foot. If you decide to join, you will also get access to all of my support and accountability groups for free for the year. I'd love to be your biggest cheerleader! It's a wonderful community.

If you're interested in joining an accountability group and starting or continuing your own health and fitness journey, but don't think Max: 30 is the right program to start, fill out this form. I'll be in touch to chat with you so we can find the best program to fit your needs and start you on your own transformation journey.

Transformation Journey: T25

I want to take you on my transformation journey. This is the first post in a series that will be coming out each week on Tuesday. You'll get to learn a little more about me and why I fell in love with health and fitness. 

I started my health and fitness routine a LONG time ago. These pictures were taken before I got pregnancy with Gabe. They are from January, February, and March 2014. 

You see, I was never comfortable in the gym. I didn't know what to do. Weights? Heck no. Treadmill and ellipticals were the only thing I could muster up the courage to do. I used to call myself a treadmill rat. While I was still burning calories, my body wasn't changing and toning how I wanted it to. Not to mention, unless I had a groupon for a deeply discounted month at the gym, I couldn't afford it. It was EXPENSIVE to be a gym member in Chicago. 

This is when I reached out to a friend and joined an online community. I completed my very first at-home workout program from start to finish. I cleaned up my eating and found a love of cooking and healthy foods. Nate was there with me every step of the way. Sometimes he takes an extra gentle push to get going, but as soon as he jumps in he's ready to go and crush it right along with me.

We were busy teachers with a puppy and a busy social life at the time. We didn't want to spend an hour working out. It just didn't fit well with our schedule. In reality, it was an excuse. But when this program was brought to our attention, we knew we had no more excuses. The program we chose to start our journey with was Focus T25 by Shaun T and Beachbody. The workouts are only 25 minutes a day. They were perfect for our schedule.
Focus T25 is a ten week program split into two cycles. Each cycle lasts five weeks. In 25 minutes you get everything you need for a transformation and nothing you don't. If you focus your intensity for 25 minutes, and you complete the program as it is laid out (5 days per week), you WILL get results. Our photos are proof of that.

30-40 minute workouts are our sweet spot. When we found out we could workout in under 30 minutes and get insane results it was hard to say no. Major studies have shown that 30 minutes of exercise can be just as effective at burning fat and even MORE efficient than 60 minutes of exercise. The fast-paced workouts of T25 are jam-packed with dynamic, high-intensity moves that are designed for maximum effectiveness. Every minute of this workout counts! This workout is perfect for busy people who want to work out for less time but still get in the best shape of their lives.

Shaun T will be your trainer for this program. I'm sure you've all heard of Insanity. Shaun T is my FAVORITE. He's tough, but it's tough love. He is so motivating and inspirational, that you'll be happy to crush the workout like he expects you to. 

This program changed our lives. It changed how we view at-home fitness programs. It made me a believer and we have never looked back. This is how I do what I do. It's how I've learned to LOVE health and fitness and it's why I love to pay it forward to others. 

If you think this program might be the right fit for you, you can grab the challenge pack here. The challenge pack comes with an insane value. With it you get one year of access to ALL of the programs ever created. So when you're done with T25 you can jump into another program. You also get a month of our superfood shake (I have it every day for breakfast and it has completely changed my digestion), as well as all of the materials you need to get your nutrition started off on the right foot (Hello, nutrition plan!). If you decide to join, you will also get access to all of my support and challenge groups for free for the year. I'd love to have you join! It's a wonderful community. 

If you're interested in joining a challenge group and starting or continuing your own health and fitness journey, but don't think T25 is the right program to start, fill out this form. I'll be in touch to chat with you so we can find the best program to fit your needs.