What's Really in Shakeology???

So being sick with some virus flared up my Ulcerative Colitis (AGAIN) and I have not been able to workout all week because of this. So, I really wanted to be sure to build my body up again but I do not want to have too many calories since I am not working them off. So I have to make the most of what I put into my body. Of course, I still drink my Shakeology everyday for energy and nutrition. But what am I really drinking to gain this energy in this feel good drink???

Once you order Shakeology home direct you receive a Shakeology Journal which tells you so many interesting things about how the ingredients were found and what they do. So, I want to tell you about a few that I am fasinated by in a few different blogs because I feel each ingredient deserves the spotlight.

So feeling sick and knowing that Shakeology has prebiotics, digestive enzymes and super foods was perfect for my system to get what it needs to be able to heal and get what it needs. After reading I found out about Astragalus plant which is found in china.  I found that it is used in Shakeology because the plant is shown to "strengthen muscle mass and helps improve your metabolism, circulation, and breathing while it helps speed up healing too". In China, they have been using this root for centuries because "it helps strengthens your immune system, increases energy and vitality, and helps you young for what seems like forever". According to the Journal of Rejuventation Research it shows that Astragalus extract can help enhace telomere strength (telomere loss is the primary cause of aging).

I was sold!!! I went online last night and ordered Astragalus Tea....if it helps rebuild my immune system while also keeping me look younger....why not drink more of it!!!

So getting this ingredient alone is worth Shakeology but wait until I tell you more about the other wonders that make this shake so beneficial....know I know why some people call this Amazing Shakeology.....because it really is amazing to see the blend of ingredients that make up this shake and the benefits of each.

Want to buy Shakeology for yourself??? www.beachbodycoach.com/FitwithMeliss


Here is something I found on the internet on it:

Also Used For:

Orally, Huang Qi/Astragalus is used for treating the common cold and upper respiratory infections; to strengthen and regulate the immune system; and to increase the production of blood cells particularly in individuals with chronic degenerative disease or in individuals with cancer undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy. It is also used orally for chronic nephritis and diabetes. Astragalus is also used orally as an antibacterial and antiviral; a tonic; liver protectant; anti-inflammatory; antioxidant; and as a diuretic, vasodilator, or hypotensive agent.

http://tcm.health-info.org/Herbology.Materia.Medica/huangqi-properties.htm

Every mom goes through this at least once in a lifetime.....

After a long day of feeling under the weather and a long day of work/kids, I craved my bed more than anything in this world. I wanted to recharge my body to wake up a workout and get ready to conquer a new day. As I lay down and melt into my bed almost instantly falling asleep my dreams and hopes of a good nights sleep is broken by the sound of my daughter crying.

It was downhill from here on in....she spiked a fever and complained that her stomach hurt so besides Tyneol and Motrin all a mother can do is confort her child until the baby falls asleep in my bed. And she did... finally... and at 11 pm I think, ok my turn to sleep as I hit the pillow with the countdown of 6 hours of sleep to wake up and do P90X and conquer my day seems like a doable plan when I hear my son crying. So I jump out of bed to see that he is a little warm and the need to care for him kicks in and I give him some Tyneol just in case he is not feeling well too and then I hit the hay. As I lay there again my neck is killing me sending a wave of pain to my head into my eyes. So I get up again to get myself something to take the pain away, grab a cold eye mask and shoot for now 5 hours of sleep....still doable to get my workout in a conquer the day???

I feel the cold settling in and I start to drift off as my daughter moans and wakes up crying that she has to go to the bathroom. Ok, really!?!?! So I take her (why she can not go by herself I am not sure but her legs must not work in the dark or something) so with my neck and head pounding in pain I carry her to the bathroom then tuck her into bed. ok....4 hours of sleep....can I really attempt to conquer anything nevermind a tough workout....but I am determined!!! I lie down again when yes my son starts crying why....I have no idea but I refuse to get out of bed and he gets it and falls back to sleep with no trouble. Now, I am just lying there waiting for the next cry or moan for me to react to and there was nothing. Ahhhhh.....sleep....nope my husband's alarm clock goes off. So now I know it is 4:30 and I wonder if I even had 15 mins of sleep.

I turn over and shut off my alarm which was set to go off at 4:45...no way I can do P90X with 15 mins of sleep and a pounding headache. So I finally fall asleep when I hear the cries of my son....I jump out of bed hoping to sooth him so I can get back to bed when I realize that it is 6:30 and he is up and ready to go.....so I guess I am too??? I am so tired and I can not wait for nap time today because yes I am going to take one with them!!!

I know every mom and even most dads have to deal with this at one point in their life. It is not fun or easy and the best thing to do is rest whenever you can. I know if I would try to workout in this form I would hurt myself so instead of beating myself up over something that is not in my control; I change the way I think of things. I am lucky to have 2 babies, I am blessed that they are healthy for the most part....an occissional sicknesss is not nearly as bad as what some parents have to face and deal with, and I am lucky that my body is strong enough to get me through nights like that. I will rest today and do what my body needs and I will wake up and do P90X tomorrow and conquer the day???? I hope so:)

Family vacation fantasy vs reality

So we went on our first mini family vacation with the kids and what I thought it would be vs what was were two completely different things....sometimes fantasy is much more fun!!!

Fantasy: We would drive down and spend a few hours in Sesame Place with the kids go to the water park then have lunch. Go to the hotel take a nap then gear up for an evening of fun with dinner and rides. Go back to the hotel because we are so tired from all of the fun and just crash while me and my husband watch a movie. The next day wake up, I work out in the gym then go meet my family back in the room and get ready to enjoy another fun filled day of laughter, giggles and more magical memories:) Ahhhhh.....

Now let me tall you what really happened!!!

Reality:  We leave the house a little late because I have to puke my brains out due to a stomach virus....right then and there I should have cancelled the whole trip. But I didn't because I could not bear to let my kids down when they (well Olivia) was looking forward to it all week. As we are driving down I feel the whole world moving so fast around me spinning and spinning and yes I get sick again. No biggie we are almost there....what......no what seemed like forever was 10 mins and we were not even on the major highway yet. ok ok I can do this!!! We keep going and the feeling comes back this time we can not just pull over so I grab a bag which I see has a huge hole in it so I fold it in half to get sick on top of it....as Tim is trying to find a spot for me to have some privacy a woman runs into the street without looking so we stop short and yes my face is smashed into the bag of vomit....as I cry and yell at my hubby (like it is his fault for not killing the lady) we decide to keep going.

So, now we are at the park and I have a fever...Ben and Olivia both are cranky but I think it is because we were in the car for so long. So we "have fun" bearing through the heat and the crowds but really I am wishing the day away and just following Ben around while Tim takes Olivia on fun rides....as I  pick Ben off of the floor I realize that Ben has a fever. Great!!! So cranky baby is also sick baby. I suggest we leave to go to the hotel to have a little bite to eat then all take naps in the room. Hahahaha....joke on me for thining of bed and rest.

We get to the hotel and of course our room is not ready....ok wait about 15 mins no biggie. We are waiting as the whole room is spinning and I think my fever is def at its peak when my daughter is telling me her head hurts so I tell her to rest her head on my lap and I feel she has a fever too....omg...all 3 of us are sick as dogs....BUT I WILL NOT GIVE UP WE WILL HAVE FUN!!!

So, Tyneol for all and I go to check on the room hoping for some good news because I so need to lay down or just pass out (yes, I got sick and stayed in 90 degree+ weather with no food I really thought I was going to pass out). Finally after 2 hours our room was finally ready. I had no fight left inside of me to argue with the front desk so I took the key and went up stairs and went to sleep....we all did. Ahhhh we wake up a new and refreshed family with the acetaminophen running through our system we were ready to have FUN at Sesame Place.

We get there in time to see Elmo's World Show which the kids LOVED....clapping, dancing and laughing....I felt semi human and seeing the smiles on my babies faces we priceless and washed the whole horrible day away....oh but the fun did not last long. We get out of the show and it was pouring rain. ok....dinner time...no biggie. So we look at the menu at it is one fattening thing after another. So we got a pizza, salad and blueberries (ps salad and blueberries were the only healthy choices) and split a semi healty dinner. So the rain stopped and I tell the kids....let's go on some rides....yippy they cheer as we get to the first ride I notice we are the only people there...so I ask the guy what is going on to find out they closed the park early due to the weather. OMG....no rides....here comes another breakdown. So after bribing the kids to quiet down with a new toy we head back to the room to call it a day.

The next day was not as bad...we had the normal melt downs, the poopy diaper that leaked everywhere and tired and over stimulated kids who just needed a nap....but the fun and laughter was there and we do have some good memories of the trip. But what I hoped and thought the trip would be was not our reality....but our reality was just as good as my fantasy just with a few bumps along the way!!!

So I am just me a Beachbody Coach, a mom, a wife just trying to make it through another day:)

www.beachbodycoach.com/FitwithMeliss

PS.....I am def going to write a blog about how to eat healthy when there are limited choices....yet again I was shocked on how many people were over weight at the theme park and seeing the food choices there did not help the situation.....but that is another topic for another day....stay tuned.

Benefits of working out at home

After speaking with a friend about working out with a group of people I came to realize that a lot of people may feel the way we do. So I thought I would share some of the resons I think at home workouts are the way to go....

Why I don't like Gyms
I personally do not enjoy working out with a bunch of people I do not know, especially when I was heavier because I felt like people were looking at me, or judging me and with my lack of talent with some of the moves I know that some people were judging me. I also got confused on how some of those machines worked and a few times I had no idea even how to take the pin out. Working out in a gym can also be a little yucky being that someone was just sweating all over the machine/mat/ball you want to use (hopefully they wipe it down) which leads to another point: waiting on line for a machine. I would think that most people would just skip that machine all together if the wait was too long....I know I did!!

Money
The financial aspect is another reason why gyms can not compete with a solid at home workout program like P90X, Slim in 6, Insanity, Trubo Jam or whatever other program fits your schedule and needs. These prgrams run about $120 or less and you buy it once and it is yours and you get the same (for me better) results as the gym. Some gyms are now also charging more to get into the more popular classes. The average gym per year is about $280 and you have renew this every year so even if you want to get 2 quality Beachbody products you are still saving money in the big picture.

Time
I am a busy SAHM running this house, caring for the kids and working 2 part time jobs that running to a gym and spending extra time away from home and responsibilites was just not an opition. I mean I would love and I use any excuse to get out of the house but a 30 min drive to the gym then 1 hour+ workout then a 30 min drive home was too much for me to be away. So for 3 years I did nothing...I was in the mindset that I guess that this is what I have to accept now that I had kids because I do not have time to go to a gym. Now I go downstairs, pop in my DVD for that day....work my butt off and sweat off a few gallons of "goo" then go and shower and start my day with the kids....commute time 0.

So, if you have a lot of weight to loose and do not know where to start Beachbody has a program for you. If you are crunched on time because of work, kids or other obligations, beachbody has express workout programs that will fit into your daily routine. If you are worried about costs, you can join beachboday through my site and get 10% off anything you order and you get a full workout program that I know and stand behind will get you in the best shape of your life (only if you commit and put the effort in). If you are done making excuses....then email me or visit my website and get moving...you no longer need to go to the gym in order to get a great body and be healthy!!!

www.beachbodycoach.com/FitwithMeliss

Today I don't feel like doing anything.....But tough S@#t....I have too

I so did not want to get out of bed today....I wanted to stay in my cozy bed snuggled up in my blankets when 4:45 my alarm reminds me of the million things I haveto do today. But today I do not feel like doing anything and the Lazy Song popped into my head by Bruno Marz...I really never knew all of the words and my comments are in blue:

Today I don't feel like doing anything (This guy does not have kids)
I just wanna lay in my bed (I really really do but that will be short lived when the kids wake up)
Don't feel like picking up my phone, so leave a message at the tone (Yeah right....if Jen calls she will not stop until I pick up....lol...love you girl!)
'Cause today I swear I'm not doing anything (This guy clearly does not have kids, a puppy or a real job nor does he have much motivation about life)

I'm gonna kick my feet up then stare at the fan (I don't have a fan so I guess I can skip this part)
Turn the TV on, throw my hand in my pants (Hehehe....yeah I will leave this one alone)
Nobody's gon' tell me I can't (Again....does not have a kid, a boss or a wife who would be telling him to do at least take out the garbage)

I'll be lounging on the couch just chilling in my Snuggie (I did not think anyone really bought snuggies)
Click to MTV so they can teach me how to dougie (Maybe I should turn on the MTV because I have no friggin clue what the hell a Dougie is)
'Cause in my castle I'm the freaking man (This guy may not even have a girl...beacuse lets face it...the woman rules the house....sorry babe if you read this but you know it is true:)
Oh yes, I said it, I said it
I said it 'cause I can (You can say whatever you want doesn't mean anyone will care)

Today I don't feel like doing anything
I just wanna lay in my bed
Don't feel like picking up my phone, so leave a message at the tone
'Cause today I swear I'm not doing anything
Nothing at all, nothing at all (Ok he is annoying me now....I get it you are a lazy guy....maybe I am getting angry because I am totally jealous....I mean breakfast, clean up, entertain the kids, shopping, work, call a million people....yeah I def jealous of this guy)

Tomorrow I'll wake up, do some P90X (Unless it is your day 7 off day, you should not skip a day..as a beachbody coach I have issues with this one!!! I got up today by 5:10 doing shoulders and arms and I feel great maybe you should do P90X now and you will not feel so lazy)
Find a really nice girl, have some really nice sex (Now you are being cocky...yeah a girl really loves a man who lies around the house all day with your hands in your pants)
And she's gonna scream out....This is great (lol....omg....you really think you are the man....hummm now I am curious as to what this guy actually looks like....brb....I am going to google him...ok...he is not bad looking....nevermind....I will not trash him on this point)(Oh my god, this is great)

Yeah, I might mess around
And get my college degree (ok...dude you sound flighty now.)
I bet my old man will be so proud of me
But sorry pops, you'll just have to wait (I am sure your pop is proud that you are making mad cash with a hit song)
I deleted the chorus...
No, I ain't gonna comb my hair (aka dirtbag)
'Cause I ain't going anywhere (Let me guess because you are staying the house you are not brushing your teeth???)
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no

I'll just strut in my birthday suit
And let everything hang loose (Great...a visual most people do not need of you...and yuck if your company needs to sit on your couch after your nude butt and other things were on it all day)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Oh, today I don't feel like doing anything
I just wanna lay in my bed
Don't feel like picking up my phone, so leave a message at the tone
'Cause today I swear I'm not doing anything

Nothing at all
Nothing at all
Nothing at all
ok....so I woke up singing this song in my head but I never really knew the words and I am not jealous because if I had to do nothing all day....and big IF...I would still do P90X and I would shower get dressed and read a book on the deck gettting some sun and just relaxing. I guess my idea of not doing anything is different then Bruno Mars but the truth about it is that I would miss my kids running around and being the little mosters that they are. I would not do nothing at all because what a waste of a day....so do SOMETHING today because you never know what tomorrow will bring. Be thankful that you are able to live your life to the fullest!!!

I am am spoiled and I know it

I am spoiled and I know it. My hubby lets me sleep in on the weekends then when I do decide to stroll out of bed I work out while he feeds the kids, cleans up after them, vacumns the house, does the garbage, and brings down the dirty laundry and brings up the clean baskets. He lets me do whatever it is that I need to do to be happy. I love that he spoils me but when he goes back to work is when I really appreciate the things he does for us.

So today was my back to 5am workout, 2 loads of laundry, change the kids, feed the kids, clean up breakfast, make beds, pack snacks, and write this blog all before 8:45. We are in a routine that works well for our family but when my hubby is home I think it is nuts and a free for all but I miss that craziness and not knowing what is next when he goes back to work. I mean as I am writing this, I had to let the dog in beacuse she is barking at 7am at every bird that dares to fly across our yard. I had to get Ben out  of his chair because he was throwing his food on top of the dog. I had to stop writing because Olivia spilled her yoguart all over her shirt. And omg Ben stinks...I will be right back I have a poopy diaper to attend to.
I'm back:) Yes, my day is crazy and when my hubby comes home for the day I will be spoiled again when he takes over for me. But, I love that I take the time for me everyday to workout. I feel better about myself inside and out plus it helps me to be able to keep up with these kids. Every mom out there goes through this or even more than I do. But, don't use you being busy as an excuse not to take time for yourselff. So, spoil yourself and take that time to workout....it really will change all aspects of your life.

Be Proud of your Accomplishments

We went to the Lake today and it was packed....I mean that litterally; there was not a stop left on the beach to put your blanket down!!! At first I was a little imtimated to walk around in a 2 pieace suit but I did and I felt like I accomplished so much in the past 5 1/2 months....I can not wait to see what my body will look like this time next year!!! But as I stood there and looked around I was so upset by the level of obesity and how many people were so out of shape: Kids, Men,Woman...young and old. I was most upset by the babies who were so heavy that thay could not run around and play! Out of the whole Lake I would say that maybe 5% of them were fit.

Please do not get me wrong I was not nor do I not judge anyone, I just wanted to help each one of them!!! I know that they do not feel good about themselves and have aches/pains and sorness from the extra weight. I have been there too! But there has to be a way to change this dilemna....but how can I help people on a bigger scale??? For me that is why I do what I do....to start to get the word out about health and fitness. I am starting small but my plans are for this to grow into something that will help so many people!!! Towns and communities need to help each other and get involved. But for now, I will just post this to my sites and hope that others will read this and want to change their own life.


So, If I did not start on this journey in February there is no way I would have been able to hold my head up high today feeling good from the inside and out! Being a Beachbody Coach allows me the oppturnity to help people transform people's lives for the better and that to me is so rewarding....makes me feel good on the inside. Drinking Shakeology changed me from a sick Ulcertaive Colitis suffer to a med free and healthy life! So this really is the start of my journey to help myself and hopefully others too!!!

beachbodycoach.com/FitwithMeliss

Yo-Yo Diets: Stop the fad diet cycle and change your lifestyle

For years I have lost weight to gain it back plus a little and I was so tried of the trend of up and down weight loss that I knew I had to change the way I thought about dieting. I am no longer on a diet nor will I ever go on one again....cutting out food groups, never eating my favorite snack, skipping meals, cutting too many calories out of my diet. Getting into a diet only mindset is setting your self up for failure. You fail because you let yourself down when you "cheat" on your diet and getting back to that mindframe of diet is so hard and tiring. So just stop playing mind games with yourself....stop dieting!!! Start living....a healthy and fit lifestyle; it is so much easier than you think!

Why yo-yo Diets are Bad:

Yo yo dieting can lead to a shortened lifespan, diabetes, liver problems, loss of muscle, metabolic disorders, stroke, high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer and a number of other issues- and, many of those actually will cause the dieter to end up more overweight to say the least. When you lose weight without exercise, you lose both muscle and fat, but when you gain weight without exercise, you only gain fat. It's much easier to gain fat weight than it is to gain muscle weight, which is one of the reasons why yo-yo dieting fails so miserably: When you continually gain and lose and gain and lose, you end up gaining proportionally even more fat—because of the muscle loss that takes place every time you lose.

 

You see when you "diet", the body goes through an adaptive process when it is exposed to chronic long term dieting without exercise. This process is called “the starvation response,” and it’s how our ancestors adapted to chronic food shortages. In short, our body has a built in mechanism of lowering our metabolic rate (the amount of calories we burn daily) to cope with “starvation”. Diet alone will not cut it to loose weight and maintain any type of REAL weight loss!!!

 

So, how do you make these changes that can last your whole life???
Here are a few tips:
1. Get rid of your bad food: Come on you know what they are: cookies, chips, cake, candy
2. Shop smart: You want chips; get baked chips. you want carbs eat healthy carbs like sweet potatoes, whole wheat pasta, soba noodles, quieona
3. Portion control: Read and learn what a serving size consists of.
4. Workout: Get at LEAST 30 mins a day/6 days a week of  (Walking, lifting weights....P90X, 10 Minute Trainor, TurboJam)
5. If you want to indulge in your favorite food....then go ahead...Once a week...then make good healthy food choices the rest of the day/week.

So stop the yo-yo diet cycle and looking for instant gratification....it did not take you a month to gain all of your weight so do not expect to get it off that fast. Setting too high of expectations will lead to another let down to yourself.

Get a workout system that works.....www.beachbodycoach.com/FitwithMeliss

Do people who workout really have Happy Hormones??

I have noticed that I have been in a better mood and feeling good lately so I was wondering do people who exercise really have happy hormones??? I think about a qoute from the movie Legally Blonde that Elle said "I just don't think that Brooke could've done this. Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don't shoot their husbands, they just don't." So I wanted to read and share more about why/how working out makes you happy:)

Like Elle says when you exercise you release Endorphines into your body. Endorphins are natural hormones that your brain releases when it senses happiness. These endorphins give you a sense of happiness, satisfaction and well-being; they tell you all is well with your body. If you feel happy then you think differently about life. Exercise does a body good but also it promotes a healthy mind.

The Cochrane Review has produced a landmark metaanalysis of studies on exercise and depression. They picked 23 rigorous studies out of a pool of more than one hundred. The conclusion was that exercise had a “large clinical impact” on depression. Among the studies that support the theory that exercise directly causes improved mental well-being (as opposed to vice-versa) is one that looked at the effect of exercise on older adults with clinical depression (Blumenthal et al., 1999). The authors compared exercise to a commonly prescribed anti-depressant medication (Zoloft), and found that both were equally effective in reducing depressive symptoms. So, workout or take meds to feel better???

So it is shown and proven that working out makes your body and mind happy but how?

1. Exercise will tone your body.  Therefore you will begin to feel better about the way you look.
2. Your brain chemistry changes while you are working out; leading to feeling calm.
3. You will feel a sense of accomplishment after each time you exercise leading to improved self-esteem.
4. Exercise can be a healthy means of distracting yourself from your emotional pain.  Exercise can also be a means to face your emotional pain because the increased confidence will allow you to deal with internal traumas in a bold, self-assured manner.
5. Exercise by itself is known to improve depression and anxiety.
6. Exercise can help prevent illness: Heart disease, osteoporosis, and even cancer may be prevented through a good workout on a regular basis. Your circulatory and lymph systems benefit greatly from exercise and they are mostly responsible for your health. The blood carries nutrition to your cells and the lymph carries away waste. And your increased breathing oxygenates all the cells in your body. Additionally, your immune system is strengthened to prevent common colds and other illnesses.

So, I guess I found an answer to my question....do people who workout have happy hormones and the answer is YES!!! So do something good for yourself and make exercise a part of your daily life and change the way you look, feel and think!!!

www.beachbodycoach.com/FitwithMeliss

A whole new world.....I think I miss the old days

It is a whole new world out there and I am not sure if I can keep up....come on I am in my mid thirties I wonder what people older than I think and feel about the new age where computers rule the world. I think I miss the old days where if you needed to write someone a letter you take out a pen and paper and....well....write a letter. I mean do kids even pass notes in school anymore or do they just text message that the teacher has a booger or IM their girlfriend that the boy sitting next to her is cute. So, where is this coming from??? I was up very late trying to create a website....note I am not even creating it I am having a friend do it for me and I was still overwhelemed by how but much I really do not know about computers, the web, and how much I need to learn.... I am not sure if I can keep up.

Times have changed so much even from when I was younger....we were so excited not to have to play pong anymore because Atary came out and PacMan and Donkey Kong was the new craze. I remember if I wanted to talk to someone I would pick up the phone (yes we had a roterary) and call not turn on the computer and see that person to chit chat....if I wanted to see you I would walk several blocks and ring your bell. I mean so now you have to look your best to make a call??? I remember that if you wanted to go out and play you would open the door and just go "call" for your friend to come out to play...no more play dates via texting....the play date is set up between mom to mom....why can't the kids do it anymore??? If you ring the bell and the kid was there...you play together, if not you go to the next friends house. I remember a new technology where if you were out and someone had to reach you they would beep you and yes you had to get out of the car or store to find a pay phone (better have lots of change on you) to see what was up....ok....so I am not complaining about cell phones I love them!!! I am horrible with mine keeping it charged or on me....hey cut me a break I have enough responsibilites when I go out:)  But times even a few years ago were so much easier....a little more personal and there is a part of me that misses a simpler time in life. I think a lot gets lost in posting your whole life on FB or putting every thought that is in your head on Twitter. How do you get to really know someone...go to the FB page??? Also, there is no tone, facial expression so a lot of what you read is wrong because you misinturpt the message. I miss when you wanted to tell someone off, stand your ground, comment on some gossip, you did it to their face not on the computer!!!

So yes, I am bloggin instead of writing in my personal journal...well of course....times have changed. Ok...yes, I am texting and Instant Messaging and having my own website. I am "a social butterfly" trying to keep up....yet another aspect of how I am growing and changing....my health, my happiness, my fitness and now my knowledge of technology and how to do business???

Wow this really is a new time for me.....working out and focusing on my body, having kids, and expanding my mind and accepting this new cyber age. Times have and continue to change and I am going to try to reap some benefits from it and grow my BeachBody Businss!!!

Motivational Speaker.....Nah I am just me

Yesterday is gone....today is a new day for you to become a better you!!! I am sitting here at 6:15 am writing to you and I have already completed Cardio X (which is a P90X program), I took a shower, got dressed, cleaned my bedroom, and wrote this blog.....all before most of you have gotten out of bed. So, why am I telling you this??? So you can stop making excuses that you do not have time to workout....yes you do....MAKE IT!!

I am not claiming to be an inspirational writer or speaker.....I am just a mom who is running around nuts, always taking care of someone or something else and I was just so tired of putting myself last and you should not either...wether you have kids, a demanding job, or both....you are worth 60 minutes of a day for you. Ok....yes you can use that time to veg out/watch tv, talk on the phone, surf the web but are you using those minutes in a positive and healthy way??? I want you to know that if you change your mindset from "I can't" to "I can" you will benefit your body, mind and soul in so many ways that you will never go back to that old you. That person of "I can't" will become the you of the past and you will not even recongize that person when you see and feel the new you....the you that eats healthy because you worked so hard that do not want to put in all that work and blow it by eating "bad" foods, the you that has more energy, the you that feels more confident, the you that your kids can look up to and admire, the you that feels sexy, and the you that is HEALTHY!!

Everyone loves a makeover....why not do it from the inside out??? So, when you are ready to stop making excuses and want to change your mindset to "I CAN" and "I WILL"....let me know and I will help you reach your goals!!!

http://www.beachbodycoach.comfitwithmeliss/

Have a Great Day!!!

Sometimes life gets in the way....

Sometimes life gets in the way of working out and feeling great. Some days you just should have stayed in bed.

The other day I went to bed with a headache and got sick several times throughout the night. So after a night with my head in the bowl there was no way I was able to wake up at 5am to workout!!!

So I do not work out and I someone stumble out of bed, feed the kids drive Liv to school and I am like ok....I can deal with this day with as little as 4 total hours of sleep. I need to go to the store to pick up a birthday present and while I am looking (ok at a cute pair of flip flops for me....) Ben wiggles out of the seat and jumps to me...whao....thank god I see him and catch him before he falls to the floor. Phew....that was a close one....my day had to get better from here....right??!??!

I get Olivia from school then I go home to do lunch and then run out the door again to take Liv to a swim birthday party. Knowing I had to get back home to work and do the night routine I had to get going a few minutes before the party ended....oh no....melt down!!! Liv was so upset that she cried all the way home. Ok...we're home...things can only get better here....right???

With in the first hour we were home Liv being in a bad mood fought with her baby brother and was in time out at least 3 times...screaming at the top of her lungs because Ben was playing with her car.....things can only get better from here....right!?!?!

We sit down to a quiet diner to have Benjamin take his plate and throw it across the room and bounce off the wall and food is everywhere. ....Time out number 1.....clam him down, make a new plate, which he again trhows across the room....Time out number 2....clam him down, make another small plate and open some baby food so I can just feed the litlle monster. As I am walking to the table I drop the baby food all over myself and the floor and wall.....things will get better from here...right...PLEASE!?!?!?

So now it is bath time which is always a fun and good time with the kids....as Ben is playing in the tub looking so cute now that the monster is clam when all of a sudden the water is dark....WTF is that....OMG he just POOPED in the tub......AGGGGGGG!!!!!  This day/night can not get any better.....

But it did....the kids went to sleep, I got some work done then vegged on the couch and fell sound asleep. Today is a new day....today will be better then yesterday....the sun is shining and the kids are in a good mood...so far. I am going to workout to get my happy hormones going....things will be better right???? And the answer is YES.....when there is a storm bright skies are not too far behind:) I know that in the big picture of life this was just a crazy day....I am lucky that my family is healthy, that I have kids, that we have a home and food to put on the table. I was just venting to you...that's it!

Have a good day everyone:)
www.beachbodycoach.com/FitwithMeliss

Woke Up Sore and Stiff: To do P90X or Not to Do P90X....That is the Question

The alarm goes off at 4:45 and I realize that reaching over takes extra effort to hit the snooze button. As I am waking up, I feel sore and my back is so stiff that I feel like I am like 80 years old (not that I really know what that feels like) so I talk myself into and out of doing P90X.....so To do P90X or Not to do P90X....that is the question.

I am sitting here and I recall so many mornings feeling aches and pains and I would take Tyenol all day just to be able to move. I felt bad so I used food to comfort me and naturally they were all bad food choices. But that was then and this is now....

So today, being with a new mindset and outlook on my health and fitness, I knew I had to get out of bed no matter how hard that was and do my best at Cardio X. And that is exactly what I did!!! The first part of Cardio X is a yoga warmup and by the end of that part of the workout I felt so good streatching everything out and moving...getting the blood flowing!!! So at this point I was ready to work hard and "burn off some goo" then as usual when I need to work out most....Benjamin is screaming at the top of his lungs for me to come and get him. Aggggggggg....I was feeling so much better and to cut off the workout because of the baby was not going to happen....not today...not when I needed it most!

Again, in the past I would use any excuse to stop so a crying baby was perfect....not today!!! I changed him, got him some milk and took him downstairs to workout with me....and that is exactly what we did. I wish I had a video of this kid doing Ball kicks and Superman Bananna....hahahaha....he was so cute and funny but I as I was working out with my little man I knew that times have changed and I am so proud of myself for not giving up and I know that I am teaching him to be fit and healthy....so to do P90X today was the best thing I could have done for my body and for my son:)

So do something good for yourself and your family today....take care of your health and get fit!!!

www.beachbodycoach.com/FitwithMeliss

Buying P90X for Cheaper Prices..... Is It Worth The Savings???

As a savoy shopper always looking for the best buy and bargin, I know you can find P90X and other BeachBody workouts for a cheaper price....but is it worth it???

The P90X prograns that you are finding on eBay and other website are frauds that are bought over in China and listed for sale. Most of the programs that you buy through another site may not come with the Nutrition Guide, Workout Sheet, or the Fitness Plan which are all essential to get the best results with the program. Also, you do not get a beachbody coach. A beachbody coach is someone who will motivate you and help you through your fitness journey and I think can be essential to your results. Yes, it is up to you to put the work in but your coach may give you the extra little push here and there when you need it most and help you to succeed and reach your goals.

BeachBody stands behind the intergerity of their programs and know that if you put in the work that you will see results!! So BeachBody offers a 90 day money back guarantee if you are not happy with your results or if there is an issue with a DVD....can you get your money back from a no name website who you do not even know??? Do you really want to give these people your credit card information???

I just want to note that nobody who is affiliated with the Beachbody Company is allowed to sell the programs on eBay, Craigslist or any other website. Coaches will and are permitted to sell these products via their own personal website but if you notice the actual purchase is done via their Beachbody Website. Beachbody does have a merchant account with Amazon and sells on there but the prices are the same there as at the Beachbody Store.  So really getting one of the programs cheaper is you purchasing an illegal product. These people undermind and cut the profits from those who work hard to build a ethical business.

Sorry to go on about this but I was really upset to see what people do to make a buck.....if you want to sell these programs to people because you truly care about fitness then you should become a coach!!!

www.beachbodycoach.com/FitwithMeliss

Do Moms Really Know Best???

You always listen to your mom and grew up with the idea that mom knows best....but does she really???

I always questioned my mom and argued when she would push her ways on me but I most often gave in because mom knows best. Did she really know what was best for me when I needed to decide on my college education where I had to choose a major...."go into business becuase those are where the jobs are" when I really wanted to study criminal jutice. Why did I listen...because she was helping me pay my tuition or because mom knows best? Did mom know and have the right to tell me she did not like the boy I was dating and why she did not want me with him. Did she really know and understand why I was friends with all different types of people...was it her place to tell me not to play with a certian "type" of kids? At the time no way....looking back at it now... ok maybe she had a point being they all ended up in a pretty messed up situation in life. So how do you decide and figure out what is valid vs what you need to learn/decide on your own??

Now that I am married with children of my own it has been a constant battle of what is best for my kids. Sleeping on stomach vs back?? Using a sterializer or boil the bottles (it does the same thing...right??), spoon feed baby earlier vs later as they recommend now?? I give lots of Omega 3's...why??? we never did that" I now need to rationalize every decision even if it goes against what mom says becaue does mom really know best?? I mean not for nothing but when my mom was pregnant with me smoking was not a big deal, driving with your kids in the front without a seat belt was legal, the doctor told my mom to have 3 drinks a day when she was pregnant with my brother so she would not go into early labor. So with the age of computers and more research on well just about everything....does mom know best???

It is hard to go aganist the grain especially because my mom is a doctor but I have learned to drop and not argue over every little thing I do not agree with. It is not worth a battle over my kids wearing socks and sneakers to go play even if it is 90 degrees (I would have them in open sandles like most people), it is not worth the fight over the little things. But, I will stand my ground when I know in my heart something is worth a day or so of arguements....eg: I want additional food allregy testing done on my daughter (she believes it is not worth the pain to get it done).

So does mom know best.....ok....most of the time:) Mom knows does know best in the sense of love, life, to keep kids out of trouble, to raise a child with morals, manners and respect. All of a moms decisions are for what she really thinks is best for her baby. But mom(s) also need to listen to what is in their child's heart. Going against mom is not easy but it is necessary sometimes for you being your own independant person!

Negative People=Negative Life

Good morning friends:) I have been hearing and seeing so many people ask "Why Can't We All Just Get Along" the truth is because certain people feel that they can judge you and throw stones but in reality it is that person judging themselves but it is too hard to look inward to fix it so instead they cast their inscurities on others to relase the hurt and blame they truly feel. It is so easy to get wrapped up in it and let that person hurt/affect you, cause fights in other relationships.....don't give this type of person so much power over you. It is your life....take back control!!! Easier said then done sometimes.....I know....but ask yourself what benefit does this person bring to my life??? Picture life without the person(s) creating drama/fights; is it better without them.....if so, why not let them go???

From my expierence (and trust me with a certain person it has been a lot of problems), negative people, negative thoughts make you live your life in a negative way. It is hard to be happy and positive when hurt, arugments, judgement, anger plays a vital role in your house. You eat more, you feel like you are in a funk, you double guess yourself as to who you really are as a person, you do not feel like working out, you get so wrapped up in the negative that it is so hard to see the positive!!!

I said this on my Facebook page last night because a family member was stabbing me in the back (again) so I wrote this after I took the knife out: "When people talk about you and create negaitivty in your life (especially when it gets back to you) do not get upset or let it affect your life because people who truly know and love you do not listen to what these people say since they love and already accept you for the person you are...."

Focus and gain strength from the ones who truly accept you and love you for all of the good you do. Surround yourself with others who pick you up not trip you and want to see you fall.....I know it is so easy to fall back into the web that these people make but rip through the web and change the way you think/feel and react.....No action or having an indifference to what these people say takes back your control....your power!!!

The Choice is yours

This weekend maybe full of BBQs, get togethers, parties and a lot of food....but the choice is yours as to what you are going to put into your body. Just because it is a holiday weekend does not mean you can use it as an EXCUSE to eat bad and not focus on your goals.

I am not saying not to enjoy a little splurge on someting at a party but if you know that you are going to do that make sure all of the other food choices you make are healthy ones. You have control over the food you eat...do not let the goodies, carbs control you!

So here are a few tips to help you stay in control with a huge spread of your favorite foods in front of you:
~ Bring a healthy dish: Your host will appreciate the gesture and you know that you can eat something healthy. I am bringing a vegi platter, fruit salad and cole slaw made with a very little light mayo, mustard, vingar, fat free milk, and olive oil....much better than store made.

~ Drink lots of water: Most of the time when you think you are hungry your body really craves water...so hydrate.

~ Drink a Shakeology or have a healthy snack before you go.

~ Chew gum instead of picking at chips, prezels or other snacks.

~ Fill your plate with lots of lean protein (chicken) and vegis/salad instead of the hot dogs and hamburgers....if you do choose to load up on the potato salad skip the bread on the burger/hot dog...too many carbs in one sitting.

~If you blow your diet 1 day get back on track the next....being healthy and fit is a life long journey therefore there should be no guilt involved, no excuses to keep making bad choices (oh I ate bad on Sat I will start my "diet" on Monday....come on I did that too)

~Work out the next day....you will burn those extra calories and you will feel so much better that you did!

So, have a great weekend everyone....stay focused on your goals and no more excuses....live your life for a better you!!!

www.beachbodycoach.com/FitwithMeliss