Journey to the Stage: April 12/15

It's LATE. But here it is. My accountability for the day. I did combat, which is one of my chosen forms of cardio. I don't really do much cardio. Right now my plan doesn't have much cardio. But something every so often hits me saying, "girl, you should do some cardio". Usually the thing hitting me is that winded feeling, or my pants feeling too snug. So I did some cardio.

Combat is pretty fun. I am picky with my cardio choices so fun has to rank pretty high. I like kicking and punching the air. Visualizing certain people I'd like to cause harm to. There aren't many. Also, a girl can never be too tough, just sayin'.




So here is the breakdown for today:

Workout: Less Mills Combat Power Kata 30

Post Workout Fuel: Vegan Chocolate Shakeology with chocolate almond milk and banana











Food: Not so great. See. This IS going to be the hardest part of all. I did fairly decent all day. Then it was time to go to grammy's birthday party. It was potluck. I took tortilla chips and con queso and it was down hill from there. I am stuffed to the brim that my stomach actually hurts. Like, no joke, it hurts to breathe deep. It's funny though (but not funny haha) I used to eat WAY more than I did tonight on a typical binge. My stomach just isn't used to that kind of torture anymore. I'm going to do the typical woman thing and say, "my diet starts tomorrow" because I hear Rock warming up the leftover con queso.

What I Need To Work On: The Damn Macros. That is all. No wait, that is not all. I just want to say that I had a wonderful friend give me some freaking awesome macros. I should NOT complain at all. I should be nailing them no prob. I'M the prob.






Speaking of my macros, I mentioned yesterday that I would let you in on them. Read them and weep my friends. THIS is why I lift. This is why I sling around weights like a bad mofo. So I can EAT!!! I did the huge deficit thing. I have done the cardio and 1200 cal thing. Ain't nobody got time for that. Lifting and Fueling my friends. That's what life is all about.

Total Cals: 2039 

Protein: 168g

Carbs: 152g

Fat: 84g

Like how freaking amazing is that. I love my higher fats. And my high carbs. And my high protein. I honestly have trouble meeting the protein needs. I'm going to have to figure out some hacks for that (egg whites in your Shakeology anyone?)

And that is pretty much what my cutting numbers are going to look like for the next couple months. They will drop just a smidge in there as my body fat goes down. Then I'll be doing another full round of Body Beast (including a bulk and cut) leaving me with roughly another month after to extra cut and peak week (the week before comp).

Haha, look at me, talking like I know this shiz. But I sort of do. And everyday I am learning more. I get jazzed about it. I'm excited to be the Obese to Beast woman.

Anywho…there ya go. Today's update. This week I'm going to BRING IT and do WHATEVER IT TAKES.

Till next time,

Rock. Lift. Love.

Best Deal on P90X3 EVER

Have you ever wanted to try P90X3? But you are afraid of the program? Or you are afraid of the investment? Don't Worry!!! I got your back!! 

Every month Beachbody puts a couple of their TOP fitness programs on special. This month is brought to us by the letter P. Haha. Both PiYo and P90X3 are on promotion. Now, I'm not much of a PiYo fan (don't get me wrong, it is a great program, you'll get great results, just not my type of workout) BUT P90X3, OH YEAH!!! That one I am SUPER excited about. 

Sometimes I can't believe that I actually finished a Tony Horton program but I did AND YOU CAN TOO!!! It really isn't as hard as you might think (it ain't easy but it's not impossible). There is TONS of variety and my favourite part is that it is only 30 minutes a day!!! EVERYONE has 30 minutes, and if you don't then you have bigger problems than just physical fitness.




And here is the PROOF that I finished!!! When you complete P90X3 (or any Beachbody program that is) you submit your before and afters and they send you a FREE shirt (way cool). 






One of the biggest roadblocks people have though is actually buying the program. For whatever reason we will drop $100 on a purse or shoes or lululemon pants. Well how about investing in something that will actually make you rock those pants??

Now, both my husband and I got GREAT results from P90X3. I put on 7 lbs of lean muscle mass WHILE losing fat. You can check out our results in this post HERE.

And feel free to check out my little video:

But if you are like me I know that you are itching to know what it costs. Well, like I said, it is the April promotion so it has never been so affordable before!!! Let me break it down for you here:

P90X3 Challenge Pack (which includes Shakeology) is: $160 US or $176 Canadian. This actually a savings of $130!!!!!!!! Than if you were to buy it them separately. Crazy savings!!! Which to me as a stay at home mum is super important. 

The *other* option, if you are all digital and tech savvy, is to get BBOD. Which is kind of like the Netflix of of workout programs. P90X3 is included in the lineup along with a whole ton of other programs. Great way to try it out. The BBOD Challenge Pack (includes Shakeology again) is only $140 US or $154 Canadian. 

Either way you are going to get results. WHY? Because when you order through me you get me as your personal coach. Why is that so awesome? Because I am awesome of course, lol. But seriously, I lost 100 lbs, I AM a P90X3 Grad, AND I am currently working towards my very first body building competition. You could say I know my shiz. 

How do you get this awesome deal?? Find me on Facebook of course!! Just click here and send me a friend request.  Then send me a message saying "I want to be a P90X3 Grad". And then we can chit chat about getting you started on this freaking amazing journey. 

Hope to see YOU at the other end of X3

Rock. Lift. Love. 

Journey to the Stage: The Beginning

Every day when you get up you are given an opportunity to make that most of that day. What we choose to all do varies so much. We all have dreams we want to accomplish but very few of us do anything in our regular to actually make those dreams come true.

For the last almost four years I have been working my butt off in the weight loss department and in January I decided that to take it up a notch that I wanted to work towards a figure competition. Talk about a lofty goal eh? From over 250 lbs to strutting in a sparkly bikini and heels? But here I am. Still working out steady with Body Beast and starting to get more and more dedicated in the nutrition area (where so much of our results actually exist).

I was doing some googling the other day and have a few actual competition dates in mind now. Which means that I have real dates looming over me. Dates that are roughly six months away. The local competition is in October as is the WBFF competition in Edmonton. So I suppose that is what I am shooting for.

I AM doing this. I AM preparing for competition. I AM a body builder. That in itself is pretty crazy to say. From Obese to Beast YO!!!

Every rep I take is working towards an overall goal of baring almost all. OH, not to mention that I am also preparing for a dragon boat race in June (but I'll toss that in another blog post).

SOOOOO all of this to say that I am going to be blogging a whole lot more. I need the utmost dedication and for me dedication comes with putting things out there. By sharing my daily exercise and activity, and macros and meal plans (URGH) I will stay that much closer to my path. #accountability

Each post won't be long. Most will just be to document what I did that day, how my nutrition was, any PRs I made. I'll maybe throw in some family stuff along the way. Some days there will be pix, some days no. Maybe I'll even do a vid here and there.

So in honour of this documentation I will begin today. Because there is no better time than the present.

Food: today SUCKED. You can check out how badly it sucked by finding me on MFP . It includes me packing away 1/2 a 1 lb chocolate bunny. See, this is EXACTLY why I need to document for accountability.

Work Out: Here is where I usually nine times out of ten kick ass. Today was Back and Bis. 50 minutes. And kick ass I did. I moved up to 20s on my reverse rows and 20s on the one arm rows. Also went up to the 20s on the seated bicep curls. Great workout overall.

Post Workout Fuel: Today was chocolate vegan Shakeology with chocolate almond milk and a banana.

What I Need To Work On: Not eating chocolate bunnies. Drinking more water. Drinking less coffee.

So there you have it.

I'll let you in on some more of my plans tomorrow, mwahahahaha. I'll tell ya what is the scoop on my Macros and what my Body Beast plan is.

Till next time,

Rock, Lift, and Love

Jessica

Easy Loaded No Bake Granola Bars (AKA everything but the kitchen sink…)

Confession: I love granola bars. So I don't buy them because I could plow through an entire box of them no problem. But every so often I WILL make some. To the delight and joy of my kids of course. 

This recipe went over well, really if you throw cocoa powder into anything it will go over well. So here is the recipe. Enoy. Feel free to fiddle with your ingredient choices to customize them up for yourself. 

EASY LOADED NO BAKE GRANOLA BARS

Mix together your DRY ingredients in a big bowl:

2 cups large flake oats

1/2 cup almond flour

1/4 cup pumpkin and sunflower seeds (feel free to use one or the other or both)

1/4 cup little seeds mix (I used Q'ia but feel free to use chia, or hemp, flax, or buckwheat or a combo)

1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

1/2 cup raisins (you could use craisins or dried cherries or small cut dried apricots)

1/4 tsp salt

2 tbsp cocoa powder

Melt together your WET ingredients in a small pot:

1/4 cup coconut oil

1/4 cup maple syrup

1/3 cup creamy natural peanut butter 

1 tsp vanilla 

Mix your melted ingredients into the dry ingredients. Mix well. Then press well into a pyrex dish. 

Let them set in the fridge for a couple hours then cut and serve. The kids also liked them crumbled over their yogurt. 

3 Day Refresh: Coming SOON to Canada

The 3 Day Refresh is coming BACK TO CANADA!!!! 

And I can't wait so that I can do it after my current round of Body Beast. 

These are MY results from the 3 Day Refresh

One of my highest read posts on this little blog of mine is the one on the 3 Day Refresh. Why? Because so many people are looking for that one thing that is going to kick start them into their weight loss. Because so many people return from vacations feeling just a little bloaty and a few pounds heavier. Because so many people are intrigued by something that can give you even 5 lbs of loss in only 3 days!!


I had the opportunity to the 3 Day Refresh before Beachbody launched in Canada and I REALLY enjoyed doing it. My husband and I did it together and both of us had great results. It helped with bloating. It helped reduce some water weight. It also helped to snap us back to healthy eating after a summer of enjoying some little extras in our regular diet.












BUT when Beachbody launched in Canada the 3 Day Refresh was no longer available. Due to all kinds of technicalities from Health Canada that I do not understand. And that gave coaches Canada wide a major case of the sads. We saw our fellow American coaches doing it. We all felt the lull between Thanksgiving and Christmas. And now here are many of us feeling like a 3 Day Refresh is exactly what the post holidays calls for.

After what seems like an eternity of waiting the time is coming

SOON!!!!

The 3 Day Refresh IS coming back to Canada. And sometime in March before the Success Club trip to Cancun. I am SO excited about this.

We have not been given an exact date of release but as more details come out I'll post about it for sure.

Can't Wait to Rock the Refresh AGAIN! 

To find out more about the 3 Day Refresh you can check out THIS POST.

If you are reading this post from the United States aren't you a lucky duck and the 3 Day Refresh has always been available to you (since it came out of course). If you'd like to lose 3-5 lbs in 3 days message me on FACEBOOK for more info or go HERE to order. 

Staying Fit Through The Winter

Winter can either be a time where you indulge over a two month span (because really that's about it), make a resolution to lose weight, and then rely on bulky winter clothing to cover up your lack or results

OR

Winter can be the time where you focus on yourself. Where you can create some goals for yourself and get working on them.

But what usually happens? 

We slow down. We get even more sedentary before. Because really…who wants to go outside when it is minus 30 FREAKING CELSIUS. I get it I really do. I am not a fan of the cold. As long as I get a white Christmas the rest of the snow can bugger off. But alas I live in the middle of Canada where the winters are long and hard.





Do I let that stop me? Well, I used to, lol. But I don't anymore!! It's been three years since I committed to myself and lost 100 lbs FROM THE COMFORT OF MY HOME! No time in a gym. No weekly weigh ins at uncomfortable meetings.

-Works out at home 30 minutes daily

-Drinks Shakeology daily

-Eats 80% clean daily

-Journals food daily










So just because you don't want to go to the gym. Just because you've struggled before. Just because going out in the dark to a weigh in sounds like the last thing you want to do when the wind is howling unless you get hot chocolate after which does defeat the purpose…

where was I… oh yes just because you have had failures in the past DOES NOT mean that you can't get incredible results this winter.

So if you, like me, have any intention of fitting last years summer wardrobe you've got to get a handle on things NOW because if you're like the average person you'll be dropping bucks on new everything come spring.

People who don't make changes to their general health and wellness 

by simply eating healthier and getting daily exercise add an average of 

close to 8 lbs each year (women) and 5 lbs each year (men). 

So what do we do about this little problem? 

Join my February Beachbody Challenge Group of course 

While everyone else has already jumped ship on their 2015 goals you will be surging ahead with a plan of action.

Weight loss is the #1 resolution every January 1st

Only 8% of people that make New Year's resolutions actually achieve them. 

A whopping 80% of those who get a new gym membership in January quit going by the second week in February. 

Like I said before I'm not a newb to this weight loss thing. I do have tricks up my sleeve. I'm no expert, I still have little ups and downs but I like to think that 100 lbs of lost flab experience has to count for something!!

I have helped other women just like me, just like you, get the results they are looking for. Some have even gone on to change lives of others as well. It's pretty awesome really. Helping other women gain confidence and feel better about themselves is a blessing.

Now you're probably wondering what is exactly is a challenge group…

Hey, are you on Facebook? Perfect. Because that is where all the action goes down. Every month I create a private Facebook group for my challengers, where I can motivate you, answer questions, and everyone is there for support.

Challenge groups are also a major get what you give type experience. The more you engage, the more you invest yourself into this the better. Share struggles. Share successes. Share sweaty selfies. Share food pix. Yes we share a lot, because as we learn when we are young, "sharing is caring".

Joining a challenge group is easy

All you have to do is get a challenge pack. Which is cheaper than a gym membership and going to weight watchers (been there done that). You get an amazing at home workout program, you get a 30 day supply of Shakeology, you get a workout guide, a food guide, and depending on which workout you get extras too (like weights, or resistance bands, or these adorable little portion containers)

But really I like to look at it this way. The REAL value is the group. It's the support. Having ME as your coach. So really the challenge pack cost is like paying admission to a life changing event and the Beachbody products you get to help get you those results are like the swag at the after party.


To get ready to set some goals and commit to your transformation find me on FACEBOOK and send me a message OR you can fill out an application HERE.

Even MORE Perks

One you have completed one of my groups there are a few perks!! Because not only is it my goal to help get you your summer body it is my objective to get you to an every day every season body. Because consistency and creating the healthy lifestyle takes time. 

-You immediately get to be in my Challenge Graduate Group where my previous challengers continue to work towards their goals as well as inspire those that are earlier on in their journeys. 

-You are able to be a part of any standard future challenge group I open up.

-Because you're getting killer results and friends WILL ask how you are getting them I can tell you all about how you can get your own ripple effect going. 

-I can also let you in on how to save 25% every month on Shakeology.

Zuppa Toscana

I used to make a knock off version of Zuppa Toscana from Olive Garden for my husband. I hadn't made it in over a year though because in my quest for eating healthier and less processed I had turfed chicken oxo to the curb.

It is a favourite and I hadn't really tried to mess with a good thing. So we just didn't have it. But that kind of sucked. So a few nights ago I decided I would try to hack the recipe to suit my cleaner eating ideals.

SUCCESS!!!

I really wasn't sure if I could because that chicken oxo flavour IS pretty distinct. But I'm not without a secret weapon of my own, mwahahaha.

Getting back on track…

Zuppa Toscana

6-8 slices bacon chopped small
1/2 lb ground pork
3 tsp breakfast sausage spice blend (Find Recipe HERE)
1/4 tsp cayanne
1/2 tsp fennel
1 onion chopped
2 gloves garlic crushed
2 cartons organic low sodium chicken broth
4 cups water
1/2 tsp herbamare (aka secret weapon)***
3 russet potatoes chopped
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 bunch kale washed and chopped in whatever size you like


In the bottom of your soup pot start browning the ground pork and sliced bacon, sprinkle in the breakfast sausage spice, cayenne, and the fennel.

Remove cooked ground pork and bacon from pot (set aside in fridge). Drain some of the fat leaving a few tbsp in the bottom of the pot. Brown up the onion and garlic IN the bacon fat (yes, it's true).

Once onions and garlic are smelling lovely add in the 2 cartons of chicken broth and 4 cups water. Mix in the 1/2 tsp herbamare *** Add in the chopped potatoes. Let the soup simmer until the potatoes are soft. Turn down lower. Add the cream. Add the pork and bacon back in. Add the kale.

Once the kale has wilted you can serve the soup. Usually I chop the kale into bigger pieces and then take a scissor to it in the kids' bowls. I also like to put some shredded parm on top if I'm feeling saucy.


***A note on herbamare: okay this stuff is pretty awesome. In short it is a sea salt that has been infused with all things lovely and savoury. In reality it is sea salt that has been infused with cress, parsley, thyme, rosemary, and MORE…so it is a perfect sub for chicken oxo in the recipe, it brings all the flavour without the NASTY! I use it in soups, sprinkled on veggies, roast potatoes, etc. It is quite salty so use sparingly.