BEFORE photo... AFTER baby

THIS is my BEFORE. It will NOT be my AFTER. This is me 8 weeks postpartum. It looks pretty good when I'm wearing clothes that fit well, but I will NOT be buying an entire wardrobe to fit my post baby body.

I started Insanity MAX:30 one week ago and I WILL have my body back! I was in great shape before my pregnancy and will be in even better shape soon!

I LOVE what my body has done for me which means I am going to treat it with RESPECT. My before picture reminds me where I've been. It reminds me of all those craving I've given into, the exercise I chose not to do, but also the beautiful baby I brought into this world. This photo is not just about showing all my flaws. It is to remind me to make an effort EVERY day to be BETTER and STRONGER than the day before. I am sharing this picture to show you that it is not just the ENDING that matters but the JOURNEY. We ALL start somewhere. This is my beginning AGAIN. You are not alone! Begin NOW. I can't wait to share my journey as I work toward my AFTER!

And here is why my body looks like it does and why it's OK, even wonderful to look like this...

Miss June was born on October 15, 2014 at 9:48 AM after about a 12 hour labor, 8 of those being in the hospital. After just five pushes, we welcomed our 8 lb 4 oz, 21 inch princess into the world to complete our family.

Thanks to Lindsey and Ryan at Pure 7 Studios for the beautiful photos of June.

Insanity MAX:30

So, I am 6 weeks postpartum now and READY to get my body and my confidence BACK! I have decided to start with Insanity MAX:30. Created by the same awesome trainer who brought us Insanity and T25, it promises to be AMAZING and the results I'm seeing are stellar! Insanity and T25 both brought me amazing results after my first baby so I trust Shaun T to get me back there again! If you are wanting a new program or ready to start your fitness journey, this just might be PERFECT for you! There is a modifier for every move and you can see him/her the entire time!

What is INSANITY MAX:30?
INSANITY MAX:30 is a 60-day in-home workout program that will push you to your personal max in just 30 minutes a day without equipment for jaw-dropping visible results. INSANITY MAX:30 will make you push as hard as you can for as long as you can until you MAX OUT- the point when you just can't do any more or you begin to lose good form. You will note your MAX OUT time, recover, and finish the rest of the workout. Every day you'll push to increase your previous MAX OUT time so you constantly progress, improve your fitness, and get the full body results you've always wanted. The program includes a low-impact modifier for EVERY move so, regardless of your fitness level, you can MAX OUT without the impact to your joints.

Who should buy the program?
INSANITY MAX:30 is for anyone who is looking to lose weight, tone up and get the best body of your life! It's perfect if you're short on time and want a jaw-dropping body in just 30 minutes a day. The low-impact modifier makes it approachable for people of all skill levels. It's great if you want a flexible eating plan or if you don't want to use any equipment.

To join the challenge, you will receive INSANITY MAX:30, 30 days of shakeology, a free club membership and ME as your free coach!

Are you READY to CHANGE your life? Apply here to be in my next accountability and support group!

Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Gluten-free, 5 ingredient YUMMY cookies? YES please!

The main ingredient in these EASY cookies is almond butter. If you haven't tried it before you should! My favorite is MaraNatha brand, all natural with no sugar added or you can always make your own, but I haven't tackled that yet!

I adapted this recipe from one I found on Sally's Baking Addiction.

Ingredients:

• 1 large egg
• 1 cup almond butter, at room temperature or cold (not warm)*
• 1/2 cup coconut sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350F degrees and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats.
In a medium bowl, beat the egg. Add the almond butter, baking soda, and brown sugar. Mix everything together very well. Depending how thick and/or cold your almond butter is, you'll have to use some arm muscles. Fold in the chocolate chips until combined.
Scoop the dough, about 1.5 Tablespoons each, onto prepared baking sheet. Bake two batches - 6 cookies on each baking sheet each. Gently press down on the dough mounds with the back of a spoon, as pictured above. If you find the cookie dough balls are oily-looking from your almond butter, blot each with a paper towel.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. The cookies will look very soft and underbaked, but that's ok. I baked mine for 8 minutes. For crispy cookies, bake for up to 12 minutes. Allow the cookies to cool for 10 minutes on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.
Cookies stay fresh stored covered at room temperature for up to 7 days. Cookies freeze well, up to 3 months.

Nursing a Toddler and Fellow Moms Support

Especially for all my AWESOME mommy friends!

Many of you may not know but I nursed Benton until just about a month ago. It's something that many women don't talk about because nursing a 2 year old is not exactly popular here in the U.S. I'm sure a lot of people thought I was crazy too ;) I say this because I am so PROUD that we made it that long and I was able to nourish him and have such a special bond. I STRUGGLED for at least Benton's first 6 weeks, having to pump and feed him a bottle, listening to him scream, being in extreme pain and just being so anxious, frustrated and sad about it not just coming naturally to me and him. And I cried A LOT. I felt rejected and deflated, but I WORKED every day to make it happen and luckily NEVER GAVE UP. I never set out to nurse him until he was 2- in fact my original goal was 6 months, but after having such a hard time (and him getting teeth at 4 months old) I decided I was going to let him make the decision and guide me when he was ready. It has been a beautiful journey that I would not trade for anything. Having it come to an end was EXTREMELY emotional for me! I felt that we were losing something that we'll never have again, but I know that it is for the best as I will be able to devote that special bonding time to his new little sister when the time comes. Any of you moms relate?

This is a picture of me shortly after delivery. I was in labor for 27 hours and pumped full of fluids so check out that nice puffy face! This was before I realized how difficult nursing would be for us and truly thought we would just catch right on!

I support and love all you mamas, whether you nurse for 2 weeks, nurse for 5 years, never try to nurse, or formula feed your kids. I have no judgement because I know how DIFFICULT it is to make these choices and figure out what is best for you and your family. I just want to say to ALL of you moms out there that you are doing an AMAZING job, regardless of what decisions you make and how easy things may or may not come to you with having little ones. It is a beautiful time but it can also be stressful and overwhelming (people usually don't tell you that part). I want you to know that you are NOT alone! We all go through so many ups and downs and do the best we can. Reach out to your fellow moms, your lactation consultant, your doctors, online support groups, anyone. I love meeting new moms and hearing your stories! If you ever feel like you need an empathetic ear, I'm here! That is why I've started my New Moms Support Group, not only for healthy and fitness, but just as important, for bonding and support for us all to come together and lift each other UP instead of tearing each other down!

Snickerdoodle Shakeology

My favorite vanilla shakeology recipe! Craving some sweetness? Try this!

New Moms Support Group

So... I have been completely inspired lately by the number of pregnant women coming to me READY to get healthy NOW and not waiting until after the baby is here to get started with something new. These women want to be HEALTHY, not just to look good. Whether it's just a walk around the block or a full workout, we're gonna be active and encourage each other to NEVER GIVE UP.

A bit about myself... I am currently 27 weeks pregnant with a little girl and have a 2 year old little boy, Benton. My goal is to continue to stay active and healthy for my baby and for my delivery. For me, Benton's delivery and the few months after were VERY hard! We struggled with nursing, but I was DETERMINED to make it work. I could not have done it if I had been alone. I let my health and fitness take a back seat until Benton was 8 months old, and I only wish I had taken control of my life before then! It took me realizing that I was going to be the biggest influence in his life for me to get on track. Supporting other moms is one of my passions, not just in health and fitness but in every little part of the motherhood journey that can make you second guess yourself.

My goal for this group is to show support, help and motivation for all the new moms. It can be a scary time and you can feel very alone. Whether you're expecting, have a newborn or think you have this mom thing down, I am forming this group with the purpose of supporting each other and making sure none of us feels alone on this crazy journey.  It is easy to forget about yourself and just let yourself go. I completely understand. What I want for each of you is for you to take charge of your life and health and fitness so you never feel lost. We will all be in this together.

Does this sound like a group for you? Apply here. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1rlPqbmo8834GdqDUyJ31G8B_r4zXop7mFIdS-BH48QI/viewform?usp=send_form

Lemony Green Beans

This recipe is from the 3-Day Refresh, but is great as a side or anytime!

Ingredients (makes 1 serving):
6 oz       fresh green beans, ends trimmed
1 cup     water
1/2 tsp.  extra-virgin olive oil
1 tsp.     fresh lemon juice
1/4 tsp.  finely grated lemon peel
              Himalayan sea salt to taste

Directions:
1. Place green beans and water in medium saucepan over high heat. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to maintain a gentle boil. Cook, covered, for 3 to 4 minutes, or until tender-crisp. Remove from heat. Drain
2. Combine green beans, oil, lemon juice, and lemon peel in small bowl. Mix well. Sprinkle with sea salt if desired.