STATurday: My Journey with 3 Day Refresh and Shakeology

Okay, so here I am, about to be very vulnerable.  Due to a recent development with my lower back, I have had to cut back on my PiYo Workout schedule.  I am making my back, but am really bummed about it.  This doesn't mean however, that I am sulking and pigging out on the couch at home.  I have been doing something to help me still reach my weight loss goal!  

I spent the early part of last week doing the 3 Day Refresh program!  I have to tell ya, I am typically the kind of girl that is a skeptic when it comes to stuff like this, but I really was shocked at how easy and effective it was.  This is coming from someone who has tried so many different kinds of programs, this is the ONLY one that I'd recommend.  Period.  It's healthy and effective.

In just 3 Days of the 3 Day Refresh, I lost 3.2 pounds.  You can clearly see that when I started I was quite puffy around my waste (super bloated and not regular...yes...I said it).  This morning when I went to weight myself, to my pleasant surprise - I was down, no bloat and REGULAR!  LOL.  

I am proud of the results and where I'm at at the scale right now.  It is amazing to see hard work pay off even when you're lower-back isn't up to par for exercise (other than walking).  No matter the circumstances, NUTRITION makes up 80% of weight loss!  REMEMBER that the next time you go for a bag of chocolate or CHEETOS!  

So what did the 3 Day Refresh Program come with you may ask?

The 3-Day Refresh Complete Kit includes:

• SHAKEOLOGY for breakfast – Packed with potent super foods, Shakeology starts each day of your Refresh with Your Daily Dose of Dense Nutrition to help improve and support all your body’s vital functions, while also helping to maximize energy and maintain healthy blood sugar levels (available in your choice of 6 flavors,including vegan options-recommended).*

• VANILLA FRESH shakes for lunch and dinner – This patent-pending, delicious, and protein-rich formula helps curb your hunger with more than 20 grams of wholesome plant-based protein, 22 essential vitamins and minerals, pro-biotics for digestive health, and a patented potato protein extract clinically tested to satisfy your appetite.*

• FIBER SWEEP drink as a mid-morning snack – Gently and naturally eliminates waste from your digestive system with its patent-pending blend of whole ground flax, chia, and psyllium seed husks.* As part of a healthy diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, Fiber Sweep can help lower cholesterol, support healthy blood sugar levels, and may even reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.*

• PROGRAM GUIDE – This comprehensive guide walks you through how this program works, what to expect, and how to prepare your shopping list, as well as your body, for the 3-Day Refresh. It also contains a menu planner with numerous easy-to-make, nutritious, and delicious meals, a list of fruit and veggie options, guilt-free flavorings, and recipes for fresh-pressed juices.

**

I really LOVE food too. What I REALLY loved about this program was that I was actually able to EAT during the program as well as learn some new yummy recipes. For instance, my first favorite, but very simple recipe was the Cucumber and Tomato Salad. This salad was delicious:

The simple mixture of lemon juice, balsamic and apple cider vinegar with olive oil on top is amazing. I am definitely making this again in the future.  

Needless to say, aside from the recipes, losing weight, and getting back on the right track - you should just TRY it.  Why?  Well - if you aren't happy with your OWN results, you can RETURN it and get all your money back.  It comes with a 30 Day Money Back Guarantee.  You can beat that!  :) 

If it can work for me, it can work for you though.  For more details, please feel free to contact me on Facebook or at coachmelissamckim@gmail.com.  I would be happy to send you further information as well as share how to save a few extra $$$ by just simply joining my team. I always love a good sale!

Yours in health and happiness, 

Coach Melissa

RECIPE WEDNESDAY: Portobello Baked Eggs with Sun Dried Tomatoes

Who doesn’t love a protein-packed, 20-minute egg breakfast?  I found this recipe on MyFitnessPal the other day and thought it looked delicious!  I can't wait to try it!  :)  

Ingredients 
2 Portobello Mushroom Caps (3 1/2″ in diameter) 
3 ounces Soft Goat Cheese 
4 Sun-dried Tomatoes, diced (8g) 
2 large eggs 
2 dashes salt 
Fresh cracked pepper 
2 torn Basil leaves for garnish 

Directions

Preheat oven to 400F.

Remove the stems from the mushroom caps and scrape out the gills with a spoon. Spray both sides of the mushroom with cooking spray or  a light brush of olive oil on a paper towel and set the mushrooms onto a baking sheet.

Spread half of goat cheese, and sprinkle half of the sun-dried tomatos into each mushroom cap. Crack one egg into each, centering the yolk in the cavity where the stem was to prevent it from moving around.

Carefully transfer the baking sheet to the oven and bake until whites are cooked through and the eggs are done to your liking, about 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and top with basil before serving.

Notes: Try to pick out portobellos with a wide lip to hold in the fillings. 

See more at: http://blog.myfitnesspal.com/2014/08/portobello-baked-eggs-with-sun-dried-tomatoes/?utm_source=email&utm_medium=email_2&utm_campaign=ROD12_20140807&mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRonuK%2FMZKXonjHpfsX57OQlUaK%2BlMI%2F0ER3fOvrPUfGjI4AScRrI%2BSLDwEYGJlv6SgFSrTFMblm0LgLXhM%3D#sthash.NEnf3Y4s.dpuf 

STATurday - My Journey with PiYo and Shakeology

Well, it is now week 4 since I began PiYo!  This past week has been a challenge for me - as the office was stressful and I found myself breaking back into old habits to cope.  In other words, while I was still exercising every morning, I wasn't eating very well at during the week.  As a result, I knew that when I got on the scale and measured myself this weekend that I would not expect much of a result.  And sure enough, no change, not even a budge. Not even an inch.

Now, I will NOT let this get me discouraged, as all changes must take place in small ways over a long period of time.  Most people give up when they don't see instant results - but I know what I did wrong last week and this week I'll focus on being better.  It's all about your mindset and PLANNING.

So this next upcoming week, I am going to be doing a mixture of PiYo and T25 moving forward.  I have a fun group of girls that are in my T25 Challenge group starting on Monday and I think that the PiYo stretching and training will really help keep my muscles from getting too stiff.  I will try this out this week and see what happens.  WISH ME LUCK!  :)

Another thing that I am going to focus on this week is TRACKING my food - I mean EVERYTHING.  I have MyFitnessPal.com - so I plan on using it this week to hold myself more accountable.  Last week I didn't do a good job of prepping all of my meals throughout the day - which gave me the mental excuse to eat a candy bar here or there, throughout the day at work.

I think that with all of the above focuses this week, next week is going to be a BIG number and I will feel 100% better.  Stay tuned for my results next STATurday!

Cheers to a healthy happy pure life - it's all a journey... and it won't take 24 hours to change 28 years of old habits... little steps each day will add up in BIG ways over a long period of time.  So, if you're listening out there and you're like me... don't give up!  Let's do this together.  If I can do it, YOU can do it.

SWEAT SHOT!!!!! :)

Some Reflection Over My Last 7 Months as a Beachbody Coach

***GETTING REAL HERE***

December 30th, 2013, I made a promise to myself to make a change to my health and habits.  This was at a time when I was nearly 25 pounds overweight and mentally/physically/emotionally very unhappy with "letting myself go".  While everything was going right in the world around me on the outside, on the inside I wasn't feeling very good about myself.  I knew I needed to do some work on Me.  It was this promise to myself that has been my reason to keep on this journey these last 7 months and continue on this path for the rest of my life.  What was that promise?  My promise was simply this:

"I promise to lose the weight I've gained, get back to my healthy & fit self, and help others on their journey to live a healthy and active lifestyle."

By making this promise and constantly reminding myself of it every morning, the universe continues to open doors for me and every decision and opportunity I've taken and continue to take, has allowed me to move forward and hold me to my promise.

As some of you may or may not know, I began my fitness journey with Shaun T's FOCUS T25 program, got a great Coach (thank you Lisa!) ordered Shakeology, joined a FB Challenge Group, and stuck to a great clean eating nutrition plan!

It was because of the support I had with my challenge group and coach, that after completing FOCUS T25,  I lost 13 pounds during the 10 week program. The little voice inside my head that kept telling me to stop or quit, was certainly there throughout the entire thing and even today, I have off days where it decides to pop in from time to time.  But, no matter what, I continue to pull through because of that PROMISE that I made for myself.

I continue to still workout at 5am every week-day morning.  This time I'm doing the new program, #PiYo.   And what keeps getting me motivated and pushing through is that I keep reminding myself that 28 years of bad habits can't be broken in just 7 months.  However, making small changes and working towards being a little better each and every day will help get me closer to my goals and the promise that I made for myself.

So what have I learned so far these last 7 months?  What I can tell you is that I have learned a lot about myself - my strengths, my weaknesses, my motivations, my failures, my stressers, etc.  I've learned and read so much on personal development, health and nutrition that I dream about it.  I have even learned from all of you that have joined in on my challenge groups this year!  I've learned that I absolutely love coaching and working with others to help them achieve their health and fitness goals.  But most of all, I've learned that I love supporting and teaching (I even got Yoga Teacher Certified).  It is so important to me to pay it forward in life and I love being a part of something bigger than myself.

So that's my story and my moment of reflection as I look back over the last 7 months of this year.  I'm still continuing down this path and working things out.  I'm not perfect by any means.  But I keep learning.  I keep growing.  I don't quit.  I don't give up.  I made a promise to myself and I don't break my promises...

So, I have a question for you...

What promise would YOU make to YOURSELF right now?  Will you keep it?