September Life Updates & Goals!

Is anyone else relieved that August is over? I don't know about you, but August was one of the hardest months of my life. We went on vacation at the beginning of the month, and just a few days after I was starting back up at work. Even though I am only working three days a week, those three days are filled with tears and so many emotions. I speak regularly about wanting to be positive about this experience and returning to work with being a new momma, but it has been SO hard to leave my sweet baby. I feel like a piece of my heart is left behind every time I leave.

So even though I wallowed and threw myself a lot of pity parties in August (and unfortunately, Oreos were involved), I want to still work towards being strong and brave throughout this experience. I know that everything happens in life for a reason, and I know God is trying to teach me patience and TRUST throughout this whole process.

My phone background is this quote, and it's been really helping me focus on being kind, fierce, and brave. Our thoughts impact our behaviors SO much. Having a fierce mind means being strong to whatever negative thoughts come my way. My favorite Bible verse always pops into my head when I remember how powerful our thoughts can be:

2 Corinthians 10:5

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Making my thoughts obedient to Christ is something I want to work on this month. I want to surrender all of the noise, fear, and anxiety to Him. I am starting a 30 day Miracle Morning challenge with my friend where we spend the morning time in prayer, in God's word, journaling, visualizing, and of course, working out! I am looking forward to really focusing on the positive and all God has done for me in the morning time and hoping that sets the tone for the rest of my day! Practicing Miracle Mornings is one goal I have for September (and comment below if you want to know more about this and do it with me too!)

Another goal I have for September is to continue on my plant based diet experiment. I am cutting out beef, chicken, pork, etc this month (still eating eggs and occasionally, fish!) and really focusing on getting as many whole, PLANT foods into my body as possible. I started this past Monday but have not been as plant-heavy; carbs have been the easy option this week. So I plan on meal prepping this weekend and making PLANT foods the easy option, aka prepping and planning my meals out so I stick to my goals and nourish myself fully!

I also want to be blogging more, but I need your help! Tell me, what do YOU want to see more of on the blog? Recipes? My weekly meal plan? Workout updates? Mom-life updates? Day in the life posts? Nutrition research and summaries? Comment below or email me (tveen.verano@gmail.com) and let me know what YOU want to see more of in this space.

Workout wise, I am finishing up two rounds of a strength and agility program I started back in July. I loved doing this program, but I am SO ready for a change! I am starting a week long program next week focused on heavy lifting, then doing my favorite, 8 week toning program for the rest of September and October! I am so excited for this program and saw amazing results back when I did in last year. If you'd like to join in and be my workout buddy, fill out this application and I will get back to you!

Lastly, I am now taking on new clients for my private nutrition counseling practice! September is almost like January, right? School is starting, it's back to routine and a fresh start...so why not jump into taking care of yourself and learning how to properly nourish and fuel yourself? If you want to lose weight, get your cholesterol or diabetes under control, GAIN weight, or just learn how to prepare healthy meals for your picky family, I can help! I focus on individualizing nutrition for each of my clients, so if you want some additional support and guidance as you embark on or continue on a healthy lifestyle, feel free to check out my services and book your first session with me! I plan on taking on only 5 new clients this month, so be sure to reach out so I can save you a spot and we can get you started!

So happy September and almost fall, everyone. I plan on buying a few cans of pumpkin after work, because it's never too soon to start baking up some healthy fall treats! Hope you all enjoy your weekend and stay tuned for my plant based diet meal plan for next week!

The Truth about Breastfeeding Hunger

I have never known hunger until I started breastfeeding Emma 8 weeks ago. I thought running gave me an appetite back when I ran and trained for half marathons. I even thought, towards the end of my pregnancy, that I was getting hungrier and hungrier and it would be the hungriest I'd ever be. But that hunger is NOTHING compared to the hunger that I have felt the past 8 weeks. 

I eat more than my husband and still have room for seconds. I'm always up for a snack, and the worst is that I am always wanting more and more food. It's a crazy hunger, and I can easily say I am hungrier now than I was when I was pregnant. 

It's been SO hard to stick to healthy choices with raging hunger like this, as well as the stresses that come with being a new mommy. I am embarrassed sometimes about how much I can put down at one meal. I've been trying my best to fuel my body and stick to healthy options. Thank GOD for my portion control meal plan I follow because it helps me choose a variety of foods, not just carbs (which is what I would like...all the time). Using these portions helps me snack of fruits, vegetables, nuts, and other foods that I need to nourish myself, not just crackers, chips, and cookies. 

I've talked about my binge eating past a ton on this blog. I'm pretty open about my struggles. And let me tell you, this hunger that I feel, and then the fluffiness and bloat I feel after a big meal, have been HUGE triggers for me. I haven't binged, but I am battling some intense temptations. The guilt is there, even though I know my body needs the extra calories right now between working out and breastfeeding. I'm working out, plus breastfeeding burns about 500-600 calories per day. That's a heck of a lot of food. But, my body and my belly still feel bloated after meals, and that bloat reminds me of binges, and that guilt makes me want to binge. It's crazy how our brains get us into a vicious circle, isn't it? We feel guilty about something, and that guilt makes us want to do that "thing" even more. 

BUT, I don't want to binge and I am not going to binge. I am not living for myself. My body is not my own. My body is first and foremost, God's. It is to HIS glory that I care for it. My body is also my daughter's right now. My body is FEEDING another human being. How amazing is that? I've learned that if we view our bodies from a place of appreciation, it helps us care for them even more. No matter what size you are, your body is amazing! It was carefully created and functions to keep you alive. Our bodies are precious, and we should care for them! 

Which is why I'm going to keep chugging along with my meal plan. I'm going to make sure I am getting the right portions of vegetables, fruits, carbs, proteins, and healthy fats. I'm going to keep running my accountability groups for my clients, and also for myself. Accountability is everything right now, and I want to ensure that I am treating my body well and checking in with others to do the same. 

If you are having a hard time too, you should definitely join my accountability groups! We can keep each other focused and stay true to our goals. Whether you are breastfeeding, trying to lose weight, wanting to tone up, or want to clean up your eating habits, this group will fit your needs and help you get not track with your goals, workouts, and nutrition! I'd love to have you, the more the merrier in my opinion! Apply here for my next group and we can journey through this whole healthy-living thing together! 

Until then, I'm going to keep snacking on my veggies, fruits, peanut butter, shakeology energy balls, and the occasional pizza and burger. I'm going to appreciate my body for what it has done and what it is currently doing. I'm going to nourish my body and soul, and of course, baby Emma!

Emma's Birth Story: April 29, 2017

Hello world! Please excuse my absence this past month, as I've been a little preoccupied with our little pink bundle of joy! Baby Emma was born Saturday, April 29th at 3:04pm, and both her daddy and I are completely in love with her! 

I still can't believe how it all happened, and it took me a while to process everything since it all happened so fast! I know that I enjoyed reading birth stories during my pregnancy, and wanted to chronicle ours so I can look back and remember :) I'll try to keep it brief, but here it goes! 

I had my (little did I know), last check up on Friday, April 28th with the doctor. 3 days prior, I had a check up that showed that Baby Emma was about 1 month behind in her measurements. My doctor expressed his concern, and stated that on Friday, we would make a decision about whether or not to induce the following week. 

When I went in on Friday, the baby's stress test was still normal, and they did a check to see how "ready" I was for labor. To my surprise (and the doctor's surprise!) I was already 3 cm dilated and 70% effaced. After a few phone calls, the doctor got me in that evening at 10pm to be induced at the hospital! I called my husband, and we prepared ourselves to head to the hospital that very evening to get induced! I couldn't believe it was all happening so fast, and I was scared but also excited to see how it all would unfold, and to finally meet and hold our sweet baby! 

We got our things ready and were at the hospital by 10pm. They checked me again, and I was 4 cm dilated by this point, 80% effaced, but still not "in labor." The doctor was surprised that labor hadn't started on it's own considering how ready I was! They started me on a pitocin drip at 11:30pm, and I felt minor contractions all night, but nothing too crazy. By 5:30am, my doctor came in and broke my water. Then, it was a WHOLE different story. 

The contractions were SO painful. I originally wanted to do labor naturally, without an epidural. But my doctor warned me that induced labor is more painful than going into labor on your own, and to show myself some grace. I endured the contractions for a few hours, but by 9am I was crying and asked for the epidural. I am SO happy with this decision! The epidural only kicked in on my left side for some reason, but it still took the edge off my pain and I was able to sleep for a few hours! At 1pm, the nurse woke me up to check me and stated I was 10 cm and 100% effaced, and that I was ready to push! I was SO ready to meet my girl! 

Looking back, I'm happy that the epidural only kicked in 50% because I was still able to control my pushes and feel our baby come out. But, pushing was pretty traumatic. Things started to get a little risky, because with every contraction and every push, the baby's heart rate was dropping dangerously low. They put me on oxygen and had to remind me to breathe so that the oxygen would reach the baby. I also had to push lying on my right side (my doctor said he was so happy I worked out during my pregnancy because he was amazed at how I could hold that position!) because her heart rate wasn't dropping as much when I was on my ride side. After 2 hours of pushing, the doctor said the baby's heart was still dropping too low and we would have to do an emergency c-section or use a suction vacuum to get her out. We decided to go with the suction vacuum, and with one push from me and pull from the doctor, Baby Emma was born! 

And then I burst into big ugly tears. I guess it was the rush of the baby coming out, exhaustion, and relief. But I was so happy she was here! The NICU team was in the room to check her real quick, but after a few minutes they said she was healthy and placed her on my chest. There are no words to describe how we felt at that moment. We were so happy and thankful to God that she was here and healthy and in our arms. 

The rest of our hospital stay was a whirlwind of visitors, eating (I was HUNGRY), and learning how to breastfeed. As a certified lactation educator, I was the most excited about being able to breastfeed my daughter. Breastfeeding has been challenging, amazing, and rewarding all at the same time. We are in the processes of weaning off our pesky nipple shield, but Emma is eating like a champ and I love the moments we spend together while she is feeding. She lost a little too much weight in the hospital so we had to supplement with formula for 24 hours at the hospital until my milk came in, but once it came in, we stopped the formula and thank God I've been able to exclusively breastfeed her ever since! My goal is to breastfeed her for at least one year. It is an amazing feeling to be able to nourish your baby, and I am so thankful that God created our bodies the way He did. Ladies, we are pretty amazing! 

Being a mommy has been incredible, challenging, exhausting, and pure JOY all at the same time. All my life, I wanted to be a mommy (probably because I have an amazing mommy myself!) and I feel so thankful to God that He blessed us with sweet Emma. She makes silly faces, loves to stretch before waking up, and hates getting her diaper changed. She loves hearing her Daddy's voice and calms down when she ears the water running for her baths. She hates being swaddled and is always trying to get her hands free to sleep with them raised up. She is absolutely adorable and has stolen our hearts. 

**I just wanted to say thank you to ALL of you who prayed and showed us amazing love and support throughout this pregnancy. It was tough not knowing what would happen with our baby and the risks we had with our umbilical cord, but the comments and emails I received filled me with such gratitude and joy! Thank you all for praying, and praise the Lord that Emma is here! 

As I finish typing this, Emma is stretching and getting ready to wake up, so I should go! I hope you all have an amazing Tuesday, and thanks for reading!

Friday Favorites

Is it weird that I am still SO happy it's Friday, even though I've been home all week? There is just something about the energy on Friday that makes me so excited for the weekend! Tonight, we have youth group, and then NOTHING ELSE planned except for church on Sunday morning. Ohhhhh glorious....

Tomorrow, hubby and I are planning on working a bit more on the baby's room (just a few more finishing touches!) and then I really want to go to a local salsa night, but I'm not sure how conducive my 36 weeks pregnant bump will be to salsa dancing. We might just enjoy a quiet night in or a movie! Either way, I'm super excited for the weekend. 

I had so many favorite moments this week, it's hard to pick just a few! 

1. Childbirth classes. One highlight of this week was attending our first of two childbirth classes! We went to our local hospital for the classes since the hospital we are delivering at was already full. But the class was so great and full of amazing info for both hubby and I! 

2. Our 2 year anniversary! We celebrated our two year wedding anniversary on Wednesday, April 19th. I can't believe it's been 2 years since we got married! My husband took the day off and we went to our prenatal check up, then went to Huntington Gardens and frolicked in the pretty flowers! Followed by an awesome dinner at a restaurant by our house that we've been dying to try. 

But the highlight of the anniversary was definitely the surprise Vasken planned for me. I woke up to petals of roses leading me downstairs to the kitchen. By each petal there was an index card of qualities he loves about me (my top love language is word of affirmation, so this made my heart explode), and the final card was a picture of eggs and bacon (we are true foodies). He also cooked me a pancake breakfast before our prenatal appointment. I've got a keeper, folks!

3. Strawberries. I have been all about the strawberries this week. Pretty sure I've gone through 4 cartons by myself. I really should just go get a big flat of them from the local farmer's stand we have. That's going on my to-do list for the weekend. 

4. Resting. Ok even though this isn't necessarily a favorite of mine this week, it is a concept that is growing on me. At our prenatal check up, Baby Emma was measuring a bit smaller than what my OB was comfortable with. She had caught up with her growth a few weeks ago, but is falling behind again, especially in the belly. So I am now going in for NST tests 2x/week (non stress tests for the baby) on top of weekly ultrasounds to check on her growth. My doctor also recommended that I take it easy and lay down more often throughout the day on my left side. He said walking is fine, but he definitely wants me to rest. So I have embraced some new Netflix/Amazon prime shows (thankful to friends for the suggestions!) and have parked myself on the couch for most of my days. I'm not on strict bedrest or anything, but I know that I have to slow down on my movements (our 3 story townhouse is activity enough, those stairs are getting tougher and tougher!) I plan on going on walks to enjoy the weather and resting; a balance that is OB-approved! :) 

For now, I am finishing up an episode of the Royals while sipping on some coffee, then am headed to my first NST appointment! The rest of the day may consist of a mani/pedi, getting some work done at a Starbucks for my private clients, and of course, resting on the couch! I hope you all have a fabulous Friday! Share some of your favorite moments from the week in the comments below, I'd love to hear! 

Maternity Leave: Day 1!

Yesterday was my first day of maternity leave, and to say that it was busy is a definite understatement! My husband has demanded me to nap every day until the baby comes, but I'm starting to think that may not happen considering all that needs to get done before she arrives! I'm definitely in "nesting" mode and wanting to do "all the things" around the house (cleaning, decluttering, washing all the baby clothes, reorganizing her room over and over again, etc). It's so hard to just relax. I am SUCH a planner and the fact that I can't write on my planner "Baby Emma is born" on any day in the next few weeks kind of terrifies me. God is definitely teaching me how to let go of my plans and let Him take control. This is something I 100% canNOT plan, so I am definitely having to roll with the punches and give over every anxiety and worry to Him!

But, needless to say, there are still things that need to get done, and yesterday my lovely mama and grandma came over and helped me a ton! But first, I made a quick trip to the new Sprouts by our house. I usually don't shop at Sprouts because $$$, and our bill definitely was higher than usual, but I loved perusing around the new store and buying some goodies for our meals this week!

It felt so good to get fresh produce! I got zucchini and bell peppers to make a beef stew for dinner tonight, plus some gluten free products that I can't really find anywhere else. I usually stay away from gluten free processed foods (a cracker is a cracker, a cookie is a cookie, etc) but I wanted some quick things I can grab and go at home when hunger strikes! I got two kinds of crackers and some waffles for easy breakfasts. I also got some fruit, larabars, and nuts from their bulk bins! Overall, I spent $85, and I usually spend $50-$60 per week. So even though Sprouts won't be my go-to grocery store, I defintiely will visit it from time to time! 

I made a quick breakfast when I got home of 3 scrambled eggs with some coffee! I haven't had much protein the last few days, and knew I need a good dose. These eggs hit the spot!

Around 11am, my mom came over and we washed some baby clothes, picked up my grandma, and headed out! We went to Babies R Us and Hobby Lobby for some baby stuff, and I found this super cute sign that made me cry. I didn't get it though, because I think that it might me too mushy for my husband haha but I just cried in the aisle for a little bit, then walked away. Ohhhh hormones....

We got a ton of shopping done, then headed to Souplanation for lunch (MY FAV!) I wanted to go back for seconds, but got nauseous just after this much food as my belly is slowly running out of space. I'm having to eat less and less food, but more often throughout the day I am also kind of sick of eating and have way less of an appetite than before, but I read that's totally normal. We go for our next ultrasound tomorrow and I hope baby girl is still growing strong! This mommy is trying to eat eat eat! :) 

We came back home after lunch, packed up the hospital bag a bit more, and then I hopped into the shower to get ready (finally...it was 2pm at this point). My belly felt so big yesterday! 

After this point in the day, I totally spaced and forgot to take pictures! BUT, I went to the mall with my mom in the afternoon, had dinner with my parents and my aunt, uncle and cousin (I split a pasta and chicken dish with my mom), then went to the hospital I am delivering at with my husband for an orientation/tour in the evening! It was nice seeing to see the hospital and hear what to expect when we check in, how labor and delivery looks, and where we will be staying once our baby is born. It is feeling more and more real as the days go on! We are so excited! 

I'd say maternity leave is off to a great, yet busy start. I'm hoping to incorporate more rest and relaxation in the days ahead! I am SUCH a busy body sometimes, and now with all this nervous and anxious energy, it's even worse! 

Today has been great so far though! Did my workout, finished up a meal plan for my client, and now about to fold some laundry and head to Target to print some Easter pictures! I am hoping a nap happens in the afternoon (right, Vasken?)

I hope you all are having a great start to your week. If anyone has tips on keeping anxiety at bay while you get closer to your due date...I AM ALL EARS! :) 

Why I'm a Beachbody Coach as a Dietitian

I became a dietitian on December 2nd, 2013. After 5 years of undergrad, and 2 years completing my Masters in Public Health in conjunction with my dietetic internship, I felt so accomplished that day as I walked out of the testing room. I am so giddy about being an RD. I can't believe I get to talk about food all day with people and get excited talking about how different foods effect our moods, our weight, and our overall health. I feel lucky to be able to do something that I love as my full time job...many people don't get that pleasure, and I know it's something I will never take for granted.

My dream job as an RD has always been to work one-on-one with clients. I love seeing the progress someone makes as they reach for better health, more confidence, and vibrant energy that the right foods can give. I started my private practice shortly after passing my RD exam, and it's been a steady source of joy for me to see the clients that I get to work with.

However, amidst my career as an RD, I still struggled with my own health and eating habits. Many of us become RDs because we struggle ourselves! We want to help others reach health because we know what it's like to be struggling with our food choices. Well, as an RD, I was still struggling and wanted to find motivation and accountability to treat my body well and honor the health that God had given me. It was 2 months before my wedding and I wanted to not only look great (let's be honest, we all want to look amazing on our wedding day!) but I wanted to FEEL great. I wanted to feel confident and vibrant on that day and for the rest of my life.

Enter: Beachbody

I started the PiYo program exactly 9 weeks before my wedding. I loved the results I was seeing and was telling everyone about this program. Little did I know that I could become a Beacbody coach and my job would basically be sharing with people what I am doing for my own health and fitness and inviting others to follow along with me. I signed up to coach at the end of February 2015 with Team Inspire Joy, and since then I have been sharing my journey with others in the hopes of showing them what has worked for me in my own life.

My results from PiYo! I had never had abs before, or felt as strong or capable. It was the first program I finished from start to end which was pretty amazing to me!

I became a Beachbody coach because I love the Beachbody programs, meal plans, and Shakeology. As a dietitian, I am very skeptical of EVERYTHING on the market, and actually became a coach not planning on drinking Shakeology. But after giving it a try and doing extensive research on the ingredients, I haven't found a better, more wholesome, or more nutritious shake out there. Plus, it's delicious and serves as a quick breakfast option, so that's a win-win in my book! Here are some more detailed thoughts on Shakeology from a dietitian's perspective!

So simply put, I became a Beachbody coach as a dietitian because I love the company, the products, the workout programs, and the overall team culture of the team that I joined! I wanted to have a space to share what's working for me in my own journey. I love running both businesses: as a dietitian and as a Beachbody coach, because I feel doubly blessed in how God has equipped me to serve others!

Lately, I've had some confusion on what I "do" as my business. Do I coach? See clients one-on-one? Create programs as a dietitian? And honestly, I do it all! I see one-on-one clients through my private practice, creating my own programs and meal plans for my clients, and I also do group coaching as a Beachbody coach with Beachbody workouts, meal plans, and Shakeology. Each client that comes to me is different, and based on what they need, we assess which route would be best for them!

So, IF you've been wanting to work with me (which I hope you do, because it's so fun!) here's what I offer:

Nutrition counseling: my nutrition counseling services would best fit your needs if

• you struggle with knowing what is "healthy" and what kind of eating plan would best suit you
• you want a customized, easy to follow meal plan specific to YOU
• you want to work one-on-one on your personal health and nutrition needs
• you want a health routine/plan created by me, the dietitian, and focused on you, my rockstar client!

My nutrition counseling services would be perfect for you and help you feel confident, guided, and supported throughout your health journey! Click here to learn more and to schedule your first session with me!

Group coaching: my group coaching services would best fit your needs if

• you struggle with follow through and chronically start and stop programs and diets
• you struggle with portion control and could use some tools to help you keep yourself in check!
• you want to be in a community with others that are also striving for health and wellness
• you want a fitness program designed for your activity levels and focused on your goals 
• you are independent and just need someone to guide you through a program and motivate you to press play! 
• you are curious about what I do as a coach and want in on Team Inspire Joy!

I offer group coaching via my Free Fit Club and my paid Joyfully Fit Bootcamps. Both offer the motivational community and accountability that will help you gain confidence, get in shape, and finally finish what you started! Join my next group my contacting me and discovering which group would work best for you!

As a dietitian, I am proud to be a Beachbody coach because I have seen a transformation in my life since becoming a coach and doing these programs. I can't help but share what I do with others! My heart's desire is to serve others in the ways that God has placed on my heart: by sharing the message of living a joyfully healthy life.

If you are wanting some more support in your own health and fitness journey, please reach out to me! We can start figuring out which of my services best fits your needs, and we can begin transforming your health and your life from the inside out!

Pregnancy and Body Image

It is freaking crazy to me how big my belly is getting. Being 32 weeks pregnant, it literally feels like there is a basketball in there. It makes me SO happy because it reassures me that baby girl is growing, and feeling her little kicks and rolls excite me every single time.

But a fresh outlook on body image is needed in pregnancy. I always knew that I'd be okay with the weight gain that comes along with pregnancy (and thank GOODNESS that I am finally gaining weight now; didn't start till the third trimester!) but even when you know you are gaining weight for the right reasons, it is hard sometimes to get used to your growing body and the escalating numbers on the scale.

I love my growing baby bump, it's my favorite part of pregnancy! I love that people notice and ask me about my baby, and I loveeeeeeeee the sweet lady at Panera who gave me free coffee and a cookie the other day in the name of "feeding the baby!" It's so fun to be growing and feeling the baby move. But it can also be taxing on your body image, especially if you are a gal like me who has struggled with body image and weight her whole life.

Pregnancy is such a delicate time when you are gaining weight and WANTING to gain weight. My doctors (both my OB and my high risk perinatologist) both want me eating lots of proteins and nourishing foods to support Baby Emma's growth. So that's what I've been doing! I am always one to listen to my doctors (expect when my doc diagnoses me with a gluten allergy and I still eat gluten....but that's another story for another time. Still working on that one!).

But I won't lie and say that I am totally cool with not being able to flip around in bed easily, go on a run when I'm stressed, being told how "huge" I am, and seeing those numbers creep on the scale. On top of that, with my history of binge eating, a LOT of my pregnancy symptoms are similar to my post-binge episodes such as heartburn, nausea, burping, and indigestion. It is so hard for me to experience the symptoms of a binge, but know deep down that I haven't binged! By the grace of God I have been binge-free throughout the pregnancy, but these symptoms can mess with your head! When I look down and see a big belly and am struggling with heartburn and nausea, I can't help but feel "guilty" even though I've done nothing wrong.

And isn't that just the way of the devil? To get us living in regret and guilt even when God has purified us and made us whole? It's terrible and I hate it. I am praying for God to renew my mind and take ownership of my thoughts. Because all I can say is pregnancy does funky things to your thoughts and moods.

All I know is that I am proud of every pound I've gained because I know these pounds are nourishing my sweet baby girl. And the heartburn and nausea and ickiness will pass, it's temporary and oh-so worth it. And I am excited to be looking pregnant because hellooo I get free cookies! And I know that I am doing my best to nourish my baby while giving myself grace for the occasional sweets and treats. I appreciate my body and love that God has given us women this gift of growing a child inside of us. I mean if you stop and think about it, it's pretty crazy! And no bad thoughts or negative body image can take that crazy miracle away from me. I have 8 more weeks (or maybe less depending on when she makes her debut!) of being THIS close to my baby girl and sharing my body with her. And I'm going to enjoy it!

My body has gone through many changes over the years, but hands down, this is the best change of all.

Why I returned to Beachbody Coaching!

I am bursting at the seams (literally since I'm pregnant haha) to share with you all that I am BACK to being a Beachbody coach as of last week!  This decision was a LONG time coming, and I'm so happy I was brave enough to join back into the community that I love so much. 

As many of you know, I became a Beachbody coach back in 2015 and loved it! I was helping people lose weight, get healthy, and find the strength within themselves to finally live the healthy life they've always wanted. But by summer of 2016, I let life and other stresses get in the way. I also wanted to focus more on my private practice as a dietitian (which I'm still doing!) so I decided to step back from Beachbody. Within a month, I immediately regretted that decision! There is just something about the community I am a part of (shout out to Team Inspire Joy!) that I loved and missed. Those ladies strove to be better people, and encouraged me to a be a better person as well. ​We were all still friends outside of coaching, but I missed doing Beachbody life with them (i.e. workouts, shakeology, motivational talks, inspiring books, and business trainings). 

I thought long and hard for MONTHS about joining back, and then got pregnant (wooo!) and has a rough first trimester of pregnancy. My hubby and I made a deal that I'd wait till I was feeling better to make a final decision. And on January 4th, 2017, I rejoined my teamof  Beachbody coaches and am officially ​open for business again! 

Being back in the beach body world has taught me two things: one, that I have so much potential inside me that I should not waste. God has gifted us all with special abilities and I firmly believe that my career as a dietitian plus my passion for health and fitness have brought me to the very place. I won't let fear or anything else hold me back from my bigger purpose! 

Two: being a part of a community of women that are striving to make themselves better physically, spiritually, and emotionally is what I need. I needed that boost of motivation to choose healthier foods for me and my baby, to work hard at my business, and to surround myself with women that I know will empower me to just be BETTER...to be ME. Life is short and we only get one, so why not do the things that make us happy? 

So what ​does life look like right now for me? Well; I am still taking private clients through my practice as a dietitian (see above for more info!) BUT I will also be starting up my free accountability groups and longer challenge groups (my bootcamps!) that I ranmonthly  as a Beachbody coach! To kick off my business, I am hosting a FREE 5 day healthy eating challenge staring next Monday, the 16th! This is what it entails and all you will receive, for free! 

If you are interested in joining; or have any questions on how you can work with me, fill out the form below and I'll get back to you! I'm planning on making 2017 an amazing year and I'm hoping you will do the same! Don't sell yourself short on what you are capable of or what you are worth! Fill out the form below and we can start brainstorming ways to help you reach your goals and get healthier and happier! 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving is upon us and I couldn't be more excited! This time of year is my absolute favorite! More time with friends, family, food, and fun. My four favorite things! 

To be honest, these past few weeks have been tough for me. Work stress + feeling exhausted all the time have not been the best combo. Plus, even though I'm 15 weeks pregnant, my nausea is still coming and going, and some days I don't want to eat a thing. Which I know is not good! So these past few weeks, what has gotten me through is focusing on what I am thankful for, and also looking forward to this long weekend! 

I'm so excited for what is to come this weekend! Tomorrow, my hubby and I are splitting our time between my mom's house and my husband's aunt's house. Double the thanksgiving fun! I'm baking four batches of cornbread tomorrow so it'll be an early start to the day for me! But luckily when my motivation to get up early is to bake for the ones I love, it makes it a labor of love.  And plus, I loveeeee baking!

Then Friday, it's the GILMORE GIRLS revival! The day I have been waiting for for MONTHS! I am a huge Gilmore Girls fan and have probably watched the entire season 10 times. And I promise that's not an exaggeration. So after a busy Thanksgiving day, I'm looking forward to having a few people over and watching the new Gilmore Girls episodes! 

The rest of the weekend will be filled with more family time and I absolutely can't wait. It's so important to remember what we are thankful for, not only during Thanksgiving but every day of the year. I feel like it is impossible to have a grateful heart and at the same time, complain or feel bitter about anything. Gratitude puts us in the right state of mind and helps us appreciate everything God has blessed us with, no matter how big or small those blessings may be!

I am grateful for so many things this year. My husband and I had a wonderful trip to Paris earlier this year that we still talk about and remember. We bought our first home, and got pregnant shortly after! We also serve as youth leaders at our church and are blessed by our youth group daily. I am so grateful to God for giving us a wonderful home, a growing baby, and surrounding us with family and friends. 

What are you thankful for this season? I'd love to hear, so please comment below! Hearing what everyone is thankful for is the kind of positive and wholesome thinking we need in the world today, so share away! 

I hope everyone has a wonderful thanksgiving! Eat something yummy and enjoy your time with loved ones! 

May Goals & Motivation

Happy May everyone! (and May the 4th be with you...sorry had to)! This year has been buzzing by, and I can't believe summer is upon us! April felt like a blur as my hubby and I traipsed around France for two weeks. Then we came home, blinked, and BOOM it's May! I love the freshness of a new month and a new season, and I'm so excited to see what this summer has in store! I'm ready for sunny days, beach trips, shorts, and iced tea. Ya feel me?  

Since it's the beginning of the month, and I'm OCD like that, I'd love to share what my goals are for this current month! I loveeee setting goals and intentions, and actually writing them down, because it increases the chances that I will actually follow through and accomplish what I have set out to do! So here it goes!

1. Complete 21 day fix extreme with my Joyfully Fit Bootcamp group! My May bootcamp starts on Monday, May 9th, and I will be doing the 21 day fix extreme along with them! I absolutely love this program, and after 2 months of on-and-off weight training while training for my half marathon, I am so ready to get my muscle tone back and build up my strength again with this program! It's not too late to join in on this accountability group, so be sure to contact me for more info!

2. Spend time with Jesus daily. I think with the busyness of life, I can often wake up with every intention to spend time in the Word, then quickly get sidetracked into emptying the dishwasher or starting laundry at 5am. Quiet times are what I am craving lately, and I know that is just the longing in my heart for Jesus. I want to get back to having that time in the morning and really quieting my spirit before the Lord before the day gets away from me!

3. Containers containers containers! I am going to do my best to stick to the container meal plan system from 21 day fix because it WORKS and makes life so easy. My intentions are to feel vibrant, nourished, and free with my food choices, and this meal plan balancing all 3 of those beautifully. If you have no idea what plan I'm talking about, reach out and I'd love to chat with you about it! 

4. Artist time. I am an artist, and I think I've lost sight of that over the years as a medical/health professional. I want to get back in touch with my artist roots, and I think our time in Paris and Montmartre especially, sparked up my passion again! I want to spend more time sketching and painting and writing and really getting back in touch with the creative little girl I used to be! 

5. De-clutter my life! Whether that's clothes (I have stuff from high school!), papers that have piled up, or mail I need to sort through, I know that I function better in a tidy environment. I'm planning on some spring cleaning this month to declutter my environment as well as my mind!  

So so excited to attack these goals and get started on this month! What are some of your goals, hopes, and dreams? I'd love to provide you with support and encouragement to reach them! Always feel free to contact me through the link above and we can start chatting and seeing if working with me is a good fit for you! 

Have a great Wednesday everyone!