Lifestyle Change!

I'm really excited to share on how much my life has changed recently!

Several months ago, now, I started my journey on the 21 day fix from Beachbody.


I was so tired of hating how I looked, how I felt, and how tired I was. I needed a change. My friend/coach started the journey last year and I did a week trial, but my heart wasn't in it and I didn't want it bad enough. After seeing her transformation...I was jealous. I ended up trying those wrap things in hopes that would help me, but so I didn't have to change my habits. Well that was stupid. I know that company does say that results are much better with diet and exercise, but it comes across that they are an easy fix. I just swallowed that up and wasted money on it...all because I didn't want to do the hard work and put money into another program. It made no sense. However, after watching my friend, I finally wanted to do something and decided to put my all into changing my self. So it began...

Now around 3 months later I've lost like 7 lbs and around 10-15 inches... but it looks like so much more. I feel better. My energy is better... I'm still tired, but I'm also a mom of 3, so that's to be expected some. I'm still working on motivation in other areas, but slowly but surely I'm changing my self into what I want to be.

You'll see my pictures below and that's not even recent, but the difference says a lot. I'm so much happier too. I look at these pictures right now and its a great reminder of how far I've come and that I can keep going. I'm determined to get rid of my gut! The joy of non-scale victories is amazing! I mean when you can finally touch your toes... that's a great feeling or when you go down a pants size or shirt size... that's an awesome feeling! When you get heavier weights.... I mean its so great to conquer yourself. 

I love how this program has changed me and I absolutely just love this program! Autumn designed a perfect program and I'm so glad I started this journey. I even signed on as a coach. My mindset has changed completely. I want to be more active and I actually enjoy working out, not always, but I love what it does for me and how each day I can tell a difference in myself when I workout. I can reach further... I can run longer... Its exciting!

I also love how much healthier I want to eat... sure at times I crave bad things and may even eat it, but I'm not stuffing my face full of bad things for my body. I've become more healthy conscious. When I get food... I think how much sodium is in this? How much sugar? How many ingredients I can't pronounce? Does it have added sugar or salt?

I actually care now and that says a lot. Fries don't taste the same any more and healthier food options taste great! My taste buds have adjusted so much. I don't even drink cow's milk anymore! and I don't even eat sour cream anymore!! I mean that really says a lot!

It has also affected my family because I cook healthier most of the time for them. They don't eat exactly the way I do, but each time we're getting closer and closer and I'm learning more and more.

My life has changed drastically and I love it! I'm losing weight and inches and feeling better and better about my self.

I also drink Beachbody's Shakeology and love it... the difference in what it has done for my hair is amazing! After 3 kids and breastfeeding them, my hair was seriously wasted.... I mean I felt like I was going bald. It was depressing and I just hated everything about my self. Shakeology has helped cravings, but it gives lot of nutrients and those really helped thicken my hair back and made it much healthier. I actually like my hair again. Just yesterday... I was looking in the mirror and thought how much I liked my hair right now. I mean that hasn't happened in a long time!

Along with this program I started working out. Now lets be honest, I've never worked out. The last time I did any sort of activity was when I did cheerleading in 10th grade, so its been a while. :) I certainly never went to a gym to workout or did anything at home to workout, so that was a really big step for me! I was definitely scared of it, but I was also very determined.... for one thing to not give up, to lose weight, but to not WASTE my money! haha...

The workouts are tough, but anyone can do them! I'm currently still doing these workout... although right now I'm on the 3 day refresh, so I'll just be doing yoga for right now. I've also upped my weights after 2 months, so I'm quite excited about that. Its all about pushing yourself harder to lose weight, but to get fit! This has caused me to want to push to new workouts that are probably harder, but I want to keep going.

Honestly I can't believe how much this program has changed my thinking. They weren't kidding when they said its a lifestyle change. Literally a month ago I was thinking that I'll just stick to this program... I don't need or want to try harder ones, because I know I can do this, but now I want to try other ones and I want to conquer them! I mean... WOW! It has changed me so much! :)

What I've gotten most from this program is how much I honestly want to share this with others and help you become healthier and happier. I want to change your life!  Feel free to ask me about it, but I just really want to help you get healthier with food and fitness. I'm also looking at doing an event where you can try the program for your self. I think I'll also put together a free challenge group as well. So let me know if you're interested.

Thanks for taking the time to read my journey. I've changed so much and just realize that its a journey! It doesn't happen over night, but its a process of changing your self. You won't regret it!

Tiffany Girl

Finally... I have finished my book!

I pushed off my cleaning of the house, which is badly needed, and let the kids run wild, so that I could finish my delightful story. Boy, am I glad I did that.

Now I am hear to share this beautiful story with you.

I received the book, Tiffany Girl, by Deeanne Gist in the mail a week or so ago as a gift for a launch party to read and review. I was so very, VERY excited about this, because I fell in love with Deeanne's books many years ago. You see, I always look to see when her next book is coming out. I was quite excited to sign up for this opportunity and even more so to get to be a part of it. I read the book in 3 days, but if I had no distractions it would have been done in 1 day. Deeanne's books never disappoint and this one was filled with even more details and story!

Below is the summary of the book listed by Deeanne Gist:

As preparations for the 1893 World’s Fair set Chicago and the nation on fire, Louis Tiffany—heir to the exclusive Fifth Avenue jewelry empire—seizes the opportunity to unveil his state-of-the-art, stained glass, mosaic chapel, the likes of which the world has never seen.
But when Louis’s dream is threatened by a glassworkers’ strike months before the Fair opens, he turns to an unforeseen source for help: the female students at the Art Students League of New York. Eager for adventure, the young women pick up their skirts, move to boarding houses, take up steel cutters, and assume new identities as the “Tiffany Girls.”
Tiffany Girl is the heartwarming story of the impetuous Flossie Jayne, a beautiful, budding artist who is handpicked by Louis to help complete the Tiffany chapel. Though excited to live in a boarding house when most women stayed home, she quickly finds the world is less welcoming than anticipated. From a Casanova male, to an unconventional married couple, and a condescending singing master, she takes on a colorful cast of characters to transform the boarding house into a home while racing to complete the Tiffany chapel and make a name for herself in the art world.
As challenges mount, her ambitions become threatened from an unexpected quarter: her own heart. Who will claim victory? Her dreams or the captivating boarder next door?


I'm not one for giving spoilers, so I will be simple in my description. 

I fell in love slowly with Flossie and Reeve. I quite enjoyed the changes that they went through in the story and the things that they learned. I could quite relate to Flossie, being that I was so naive when I was in high school. I'm not entirely like Flossie, but I could relate to how she was thinking. Reeve's struggles were interesting to read about and at times pulled at my heartstrings. I could see why Flossie wanted to help him so badly. There were times when I wanted to yell at Flossie about something stupid she did or Reeve over some mistake he made. I adored Reeve's journey and progression and would love to have a Reeve all to myself, but I enjoyed the fact that Deeanne showed this journey for this man. Sometimes girls fall in love with a man and marry them and later on might not like them much, but its all about the journey. We change over time for good or for bad, but its the matter of realizing that change happens and asking yourself what you're going to do about it. It gives hope that people can change in their time for the better and to just show them love. There was another scene that about broke my heart and others that caused the hair on my arms to stand, but in a good way. ;) I quite enjoyed the love that came from this book. I hope that many girls will enjoy this beautiful romance. Many smiles formed on my lips as I continued the story and how I wish that I could continue on with it, but alas all stories (at least in book form) must come to an end. 

I loved learning about this history during that time period and try to imagine myself in that life. Trying to gain independence for women had to have been such a tough journey for many and I applaud those women for their efforts and success! Even though, I live the life of a stay at home mom, those women helped shape the future ideas of many men to where its common for women to work. Women are capable of doing many things these days and reading Tiffany Girl causes you to realize how fortunate women of today are.  

I also quite enjoyed learning about Tiffany glass and how it was made. I have to say that after being a part of this launch and reading this book I now want something that looks like Tiffany glass and I would love to visit somewhere that has the true Tiffany glass. Also I thought if you might like to look into Tiffany glass and Tiffany himself, then visit this link: Louis Comfort Tiffany

On another side note this book also caused me to want to paint and write again. So hopefully I can pursue those loves once again.

Along with that I really felt Flossie's struggles when it came to how she felt about herself and her talents. I know I struggle a lot with this feeling of that I'm not amazing or my talents aren't good enough to be published or loved by others. It was good to read about how Flossie dealt with it and it helped me realize that its okay to not be the best, but to just enjoy. 

I do hope you will check out Tiffany Girl. It is available to buy today, so I will post an Amazon link for you to go to. Amazon-Tiffany Girl 

You can also visit Deeanne's website. I'll link it to her book page. Check out her other books and the other fun features on her site. She also has a blog where you can learn more about her, her books, and her research. Please share her books with others and make sure you #TiffanyGirl Deeanne Gist website 

Thank you so much for joining me in this review and please go dive into the story yourself. It won't disappoint!


Now I guess I better go clean my house... I really deserve a wage for this.... :) 

Opportunity

I signed up to be a part of a book launch and figured that I missed out. A couple of nights ago I was checking my email and I saw that I got into the launch group. This means that I'll receive the book earlier than anyone else to read and review it! I'm so excited!

First of all, I absolutely love this author, Deeanne Gist, so I'm super excited to get to read her book.
Second of all, I get to read a book early!
Lastly, I'll be reviewing it on here and sharing it like crazy.

If you look to the right side of my blog you'll see a picture that says "Deeanne Gist Launch Team", click that picture and it will take you to her website to check out the book!

I will obviously post a review of the book, but I wanted to start out by saying how much I love this author. I began reading her books many years ago. I always look to see if a new one is coming out soon and make sure I put it on hold at the library. She's amazing and I highly recommend checking out her other books as well. I now own several of her books and can't wait to share them with my daughters one day. :)

So keep a look out for my review, but in the meantime check her out for yourself. Deeanne Gist