My Whole 30 Experience

I did it! I can't believe it! I honestly didn't think I would finish! Am I glad it is over? Yes and no. I will get into that later! I wanted to share the reason why I did the Whole 30, some things I learned about myself, and why I was able to finish!

I have been eating paleo for almost 3 years now, but mostly just 80/20. I eat a healthy diet, and by most peoples standards probably didn't need to reset with the Whole 30 but man I felt out of control. I was happy with my body and the shape I was in. My weight wasn't bothering me. I didn't feel the need to lose weight, but I didn't feel in control of my food choices. I am so busy these days with the boys, wifely duties, friendships, church, and It Works that I just let my food choices become unimportant. Basically I was at a content place with the way I look. So eating out a few times a week wasn't  a big deal!  But the problem with that, is one meal becomes two which becomes three. And before you know it you had donuts for breakfast and In and Out Burger for lunch, thenpizza for dinner. Yes, that actually happened. That is when I realized food was now in control. Sugar was now in control. I was no longer in control of my food choices. I wouldn't say I necessarily felt bad. I mean I was still exercising, still getting stronger, leaner, but I just didn't like the way I felt towards food. When you start to not care what goes into your body, the temple Christ gave you, it is time to re-evaluate. How can I be preaching to all of you to care about your temple when I had put mine on the back burner for the sake of everyone and everything else in my life?

What did I learn during these 30 days? First, that food is so addicting. Sugar monsters are a real thing. Food is a drug. A drug that is acceptable by everyone around you. A drug no one says anything about. And kind of a crappy one because the satisfaction you get from that Big Mac only lasts about 2 minutes. No one will call you out about your food habits. No one wants to hurt anyone's feelings and I get that. But my husband and I were stress eating. We were using food as an escape from the daily grind of life. Once you take that option away, you start to see your addictions very clearly. We learned we were going for convenience instead of nourishment. We learned we constantly said, "It is ok, we will do better tomorrow!" Only to go back to the same habits by Tuesday. We learned that the desire to just cheat with one bite is so strong it is scary.

But the biggest thing I learned is that I had realized how mindless eating can be. I ate when I was happy. I ate because I was sad. I ate because it was in front of me. I ate because Judah and Silas were eating. I ate out of boredom. Doing the Whole 30 requires work. You can't just toss some chips in your mouth. You have to prepare food. So when nothing is convenient and actual thought has to go into your meals, you realize just how often you ate for no reason. With absolutely no thought at all. To me that is a scary place to be. When habit takes over and we just eat without thinking. So I learned to think. I learned to stop and evaluate if I was actually hungry or just bored. I learned to not settle and to actually put thought into what went into my body. I learned to care again because once I detoxed from all the sugar and nasty crap, I felt great. I felt like I could conquer the next few weeks and months ahead. I am now in control, and feel that this way of eating is very easily maintainable and worth the effort again. I am worth the effort and so is my family!

Yes, we lost weight! Yes, we were both very happy about it! My husband lost 12 pounds and I lost 5 pounds. I was extremely happy with that number because I didn't feel like I needed to lose weight, but I could tell all that was sitting right in my stomach! So I am going to tell you the biggest reason why I was able to finish this whole 30. Accountability. If Hayden wasn't doing it with me, I would have given up. We constantly had to lean on each other. I went to a wedding, two baby showers, and a wedding shower in the month of September. Food everywhere. One wedding had chips, salsa, and guacamole right there in front of me! My favorite meal in the whole world. Hayden was at home and pizza was in front of him, and we both just said no! You can do it! We only have a few days left! I am glad I had him because I would have given up!

My advice? If you are going to do a whole30 or any diet change have an accountability partner. I didn't want to be the first one to give in. I didn't want to have to tell him I gave up before he did. My second piece of advice is to have aplan. You have to meal plan so that you know what you are eating at all times. You can't just wing it! I shop once a week, but usually had to go and pick up stuff through out the week because Iam not always the best planner! You can't really eat out, so try and plan 7 meals! My last piece of advice is that you are worth it. You deserve to feel and look exactly how you want. You deserve a life ruled by Christ and not by food!

I will be writing another blog post about some of my go to meals and snacks I kept on hand! I hope this helps! Thank you for all of your support!

Made to Crave - Chapters 1 & 2

I started reading Made to Crave at the same time as my Whole 30. I can’t even tell you how helpful this book has been to me while undergoing this Whole 30. Made to Crave “Satisfying your Deepest Desire with God, Not Food.” Let that sink it. The title says it all. How often do we use food to fulfill more than just a food craving? We use food for everything.

I am bored. Let’s eat.

I am happy. Let’s eat.

I am sad. Let’s eat.

I want to celebrate. Let’s eat.

I ate so well all week. Let’s binge eat.

You get my point, and Lysa’s. We were made to crave God. God created us to crave Him so much that our sole purpose becomes loving Him, and bringing others to Him.

Satan is sneaky though. He makes us think that food isn’t an issue. That God doesn’t care what I eat. Isn’t it silly to pray for God to help me not eat that doughnut? God has bigger things to do.

 So what happens is we keep God out of our struggles with food and Satan sneaks in. Food becomes something we keep from God. We don’t let Him into our struggles. Food becomes bigger than God to us. Food becomes our go to.

Then here is what happens. Lysa just nails it with this. We become overweight physically, and underweight spiritually.

Let that sink in.

Is this the case for everyone? No, but we all have that one thing we crave more than God. Money, success, sex, drugs, alcohol. Whatever it is. God wants you to give up the things you crave more than Him. Is food a sin? No, it isn’t. It becomes sin when you crave it more than Christ. When you go to food more often than you go to Christ.

The other thing she touches on in the first few chapters is that we can’t ignore the fact that the fall of man was when Eve was tempted to eat the apple. She ate something she shouldn’t have. Satan replaced her cravings for Christ. God cares about your struggles with food. It is His temple. He created it in His image. Of course he cares what you put in it. He cares if you train it and if you love it. He cares because it is His.

God gave us food to satisfy our hunger. To keep us fueled and healthy. What did Satan do? He took something we need, and turned it into an obsession. Something we think about constantly. Something we want more than Christ.

Overcoming Anxiety and PPD

I recently shared this week that I struggle with anxiety, and that I am using one of our It Works supplements, Confianza, to help me battle the physical symptoms. I wanted to elaborate a little bit about my struggles with anxiety and post partum depression just to give you a better idea of how I am fighting it with Christ, exercise, and supplements.

I didn't have PPD with my first son, not even a little bit. With Silas, things were so different from the very beginning. The first few times I nursed him in the hospital I noticed that I immediately felt sad. The second he latched I would feel this overwhelming darkness, almost like a cloud. I researched it and it was a normal side effect from nursing because your hormones go up and down in order for your milk to let down. I wasn't very worried but did not like it. I didn't think much about it, and just went on about my life.

Eventually, Silas got very fussy and I didn't know why at around 8 weeks. We went to the doctor and he had lost about 7 oz in a month. Basically, I wasn't making enough and he was dropping weight and starving. We were both a mess. I tried it all to bring up my supply and plump him up. I pumped after every feeding, I used an SNS in order to put weight on him without damaging our latch. I tried every supplement there was. I even got a prescription for Reglan, which was probably a very big mistake as my depression was already getting worse.

Basically, after 4 weeks of battling Silas' weight and my supply just getting worse and worse. I was down to pumping maybe 11 oz a day after 10 pumping sessions. Yea, it was terrible. I was a wreck, and my PPD was in full swing. I also had a 2.5 year old at the time, so I was sitting down to feed and pump, which was taking me between 45 minutes to an hour 8-10 times a day. Not easy, but I was trying so hard to keep breastfeeding because it was so important to me.

Finally, I decided to stop battling and put him on formula. Then I spiraled even farther down. I cried constantly. Like all of the time. Every time I gave Silas a bottle of formula I would cry. Every time. 8 times a day because nursing was so important to me and I couldn't do it. I felt like a failure even though I wasn't.  I didn't want to see anyone. I didn't want to talk to anyone. Which for me is weird. I wanted to be happy, but I couldn't choose it. I knew I should be happy but all I felt was this cloud of darkness. If you haven't ever had PPD this probably doesn't make much sense, but it was very real. I felt like I was constantly in a daze, and never really in the moment. Just lost. No one did anything wrong. I was going to church, I was praying, and I just couldn't climb out.

After another month, so Silas was around 4 months old, I told my husband I thought I needed help. That this was something out of my control. That I felt helpless and lost. I didn't feel like me, and I just wanted to be me again. I visited my doctor and I was prescribed a low dose of Zoloft.

Now, I didn't just feel better overnight. It all took time but basically what happened is one day a few weeks to a month later I realized I hadn't cried. That feeding Silas a bottle didn't bring me a huge sense of failure and resentment. I just felt normal. I felt joy again. I felt ready to focus on my health. I felt ready to join the real world outside of my home. I felt ready to talk about what I was feeling. I felt like me. No fog. No crying. I was able to finally be the mom I wanted to be to Judah and Silas. A happy one.

I was only on Zoloft a few months, and took myself off of it very easily. Of course with doctors orders. Why did I write this? Because PPD is normal, and we don't talk about it. We don't talk about it enough. It is a real thing that happens and is down right scary and for me it was debilitating. I was drowning in my own emotions. I am on the other side of it now, and soon after getting off of Zoloft I started exercising again. I found myself again. I lost the baby weight, and started using exercise a way to deal with the darker moments and day to day anxiety of being a mom. I was no longer depressed, but I definitely still struggled with mood swings, and extreme moments of anxiety.

Now, this brings me to Confianza. I still struggle with anxiety. I have always been an anxious person. Once I had two kids, the juggling act of it all gave me some anxiety but I have always just felt it was something I had to deal with. I did with exercise, prayer, and constant communication with my husband.

But there are still physical symptoms that hold me back. I get a tightness in my chest, mood swings, and just over all "blah-ness". About a month ago, I had a few really bad days. My emotions were all over the place. I was struggling to balance it all. Confianza was right in front of me the whole time, and I didn't see it. Finally, I decided to try it three weeks ago. I can honestly say it has helped. Dinner time was always hard for me, and I have been able to stay calm and collected at our toughest part of the day. I feel myself getting worked up but it doesn't get out of control. I stay calmer, more focused, and able to think my way through situations instead of being overwhelmed.

I am thankful that I have found a way to manage my anxiety symptoms without medications, even though I think there is a place for them having been through PPD. I also try to keep boundaries in my life, and keep a schedule. I am also learning to say no, which is very hard for me!

Anyway, if you have any questions about how I use Confianza to manage my anxiety please leave a comment or shoot me an email! I think exercise, prayer, and Confianza have made a world of difference so I wanted to share!

Amber's Results

I am so excited to bring you yet another It Works' success story! Amber joined my team in May, and has earned herself not only a $1,000 bonus, but also an average income of $500 a month! She is such a wonderful woman, and I am lucky to not only be her leader but her friend! God knew what he was doing when he brought us together!

Amber was looking to put her health first, and change her financial future when she joined my team! She recently shared her 30 day result pictures with me, and my jaw dropped! Seeing success stories never ever gets old! I love every single one of them, and I know the people in them are equally as excited!

Amber used 4 body wraps, Greens, and Ultimate Thermofit to see these results! She was also running three times a week, and eating clean with treats on the weekends. So nothing extreme, but basically just incorporating It Works supplements into her every day routine! We don't sell a magic pill, but what we do offer are tools to help you achieve your wellness goals!

Our Ultimate Body Applicator is a woven cloth with a botanical lotion that can be applied anywhere from the neck down, and it tightens, tones, and firms in 45 minutes! You wrap every 3 days, since the lotion on the wrap continues to work even after you take it off! The body absorbs the lotion, and the lotion gets to work detoxing those stubborn and swollen fat cells! The more water you drink the better since that water is helping to flush that built up toxins! By flushing those toxins, your body tightens up allowing inches to be lost in as little as 45 minutes! Super hydration is also delivered in the lotion so stretch marks fade, skin becomes softer and more tones, and loose skin becomes tighter! Magic right???

Greens is 8 servings of fruit and vegetables all GMO free in a handy dandy powder that you mix with water or juice! Taking in this kind of nutrition flushes the body of toxins, improves immune health, aids in weight loss, curbs cravings, and it is just so good for you! Also since the Greens is all GMO free you are getting better quality ingreidents than you are buying at the grocery store! Greens also aids in weight loss since it helps you flush toxins and curb cravings!

Finally, Amber used Ultimate Thermofit which is a natural metabolic booster! Ultimate Thermofit helps you burn extra calories, boosts energy, and curbs cravings! My energy has never been better since implementing Greens and Thermofit!

Now, what you have all been waiting for! Here are Amber's results and a few others from our wraps, Greens, and Thermofit! If you are interested in how you can start implementing these supplements into your wellness routine at a great cost, I would love to help you!

Pretty amazing right! 30 days of consistent exercise, diet, and It Works! So proud of you my sweet friend!

If you have any questions about It Works, and how I can help you reach your wellness goals click the It Works tab and send me an email! I would love to chat with you!

Kun "Pao-less" Chicken

Kung “Pao-less” Chicken

Back in the day, Panda Express was my jam. When I was pregnant with Judah and working full time as a teacher and coach, Hayden and I ate there at least once a week. Remember, this is before I cared very much about food quality. I was still very much a quantity driven person. A dear friend of mine, Amy, introduced me to her homemade Kung Pao Chicken. She came over to my house and even made it for me while pregnant with Judah, and I was in homemade take out heaven! Paleo? No. Not in the slightest. Delicious? Yes. We made homemade chow mein and everything.

Sadly, I now know better so I decided to paleo-fy my favorite recipe from my friend Amy for you! I even measured, and wrote it down! It actually got thrown away for a second because I wrote it down on a Geico bill…whoops. I quickly scooped it out, even though it was covered in food! I hope you love it! I call it “pao-less” because my kiddos ate it too, and I didn’t want it to be too spicy for them! You can totally add crushed red pepper, and be good to go!

Kung “Pao-less” Chicken

Ingredients

2-2.5 pounds of chicken – sliced on the diagonal thinly

½ of a cabbage (purple or green)

2 cups of peeled and diced carrots

1 cup of diced celery

1 large red bell pepper

2.5 cups of broccoli florets

½ of a white onion

2 tbsp Tapioca starch

Sesame Seeds – for garnish

Green Onions – for garnish

For the sauce:

½ cup olive oil or avocado oil

¼ cup coconut aminos or gluten-free soy sauce

¼ cup coconut sugar

1 tsp toasted sesame oil

Garlic powder to taste

Onion powder to taste

**add up to 1 tsp of crushed red pepper depending on the heat level you want

Directions:

1. Chop all of your vegetables. Try and get them all about the same thickness so it all cooks evenly. You can place it all in a bowl as you chop, except for the cabbage. Keep it separate!

2. Mix all the ingredients for the sauce and set it aside.

3. Slice up your chicken and place it in a bowl. Dump in a 2 tablespoons of tapioca starch(like corn starch), and mix the chicken and the starch together. You want just a light dusting! So don’t be tempted to add more!

4. Heat a skillet up with your frying oil of choice. I used olive oil but avocado oil works great too! Medium-ish to medium high. Place your chicken in the skillet in batches, browning both sides until you have cooked all of your chicken. Place it on a paper towel lined plate to drain as you finish them.

5. In a separate skillet, heat up some oil for your veggies. Add all of the veggies listed except the cabbage. Cook until the veggies begin to soften but not all the way because the sauce will steam them a bit too, so you don’t want everything all mushy! Maybe 5-8 minutes or so. Then add the cabbage to the veggie pan. Cook 3 more minutes.

6. Pour the sauce you mixed up before into the veggie pan. This will steam all the veggies since the pan is still hot. Turn the heat down. Stir in the chicken until everything is evenly coated in the sauce.

7. Transfer to a dish, top with green onions and sesame seeds.

8. Enjoy your homemade takeout!

I hope you guys love my fake out take out recipe! Let me know what you think!

Paleoslacker Chicken Tenders

I know what you are thinking! Whitney, are they breaded in ground up tree bark? No! You can have amazing chicken strips without all the nasty oils, gluten, and other hidden ingredients! Don’t get me wrong, I love chicken nuggets from good ol’ Chick-fil-a, but I like knowing exactly what my kids are eating! I made these the other night for my sister, my niece, and brother-in-law and they got rave reviews! The best part is that they are super simple to make!

Ingredients

1 pound of Chicken Breast or Tenderloins

1.5 cups of Almond Flour/Meal

2 Eggs

Garlic Powder

Onion Powder

Salt

Pepper

Avocado Oil/ Coconut Oil/ Olive Oil

You may notice there are no measurements…I don’t measure but I am trying to get better about measuring and writing things down for you guys! I just go by what sounds good, and add a little more of each thing depending on how I feel! I know…I am working on it for all of you “measurers.” I am a paleo-slacker so I just kind of go with it. See what I did there? Yea, you will get it in a second.

Paleoslacker Chicken Tenders

Step 1: Cut chicken breast into tenders, or buy tenderloins. Whatever floats your boat. I don’t like to buy tenderloins because they have that nasty tendon in them, and I don’t like cutting it out. Makes me want to gag. Just sayin’.

Step 2: Crack eggs in bowl or shallow dish. Whip those up a bit.

Step 3: Pour almond flour/meal into a bowl and add spices. Be creative. Sometimes I add oregano, thyme, and basil. Sometimes I make them spicy for the hubs and I. Sometimes I add Dijon mustard to the egg mixture. Whatever you feel, do it!

Step 4: This is where it gets tricky so pay attention. Dip the chicken in the egg. Then dip it in the almond flour. Place on plate.

Step 5: Heat up your oil of choice. I have all of these on hand, so it just depends on what I have the most of. But I use them in that order. If I don’t have avocado oil, I use coconut oil, and so on. Why? Because when you heat up olive oil it releases chemicals that aren’t so great for you. Avocado oil has a really high smoking point, so it is perfect for this!

Step 6: Place chicken tenders in hot oil. Flip after 5 or so minutes. Place on baking rack to drain.

Step 7: Make paleo ranch for dipping and go to town!

Don’t have a ranch recipe?

You are in luck!

Here is basic one I use!

Paleoslacker Ranch

¾ cup light olive oil (it must be light or it will be nasty)

1 egg

2 tbsp Red Wine Vinegar

¼ coconut milk

Salt

Pepper

Garlic Powder

Onion Powder

Dill (don’t forget this part, and don't use alot. It is strong)

Cilantro or parsley

Step 1: Place all ingredients in a blender except fresh herbs, or get a fancy schmancy Immersion Blender and you can throw it all in a bowl!

Step 2: Blend until thick consistency.

Step 3: Add in cilantro or parsley. Blend again.

Step 4: Boom. Paleo Ranch. You are welcome.

These were gone before I could even take a picture, but I remaking them soon because I am working on a 30 day meal plan for all of you! Complete with 6 dinners a week, with recipes, and sides! Get ready!

Enjoy!

Change is a Good Thing

Some of you may have noticed that I am no longer posting on my wellness page or my wellness Instagram, maybe not, but either way I have decided to make some changes! I feel like I have been battling this change for the past few months! I know when I have taken on too much, and lately I have definitely felt that way! So, yes, change is coming but I am confident it is what is best for my family and for all of my followers.

When I began my wellness page, I had so much more time than I do now. I wanted a place to share my food, workouts, and It Works journey without annoying people who were really just following me to see pictures of my kids.  I was okay with that, and excited to have a platform to share some of my passions. I was equally as excited about having my wellness website, and being able to share more detailed content for my followers there.

I also started my wellness page and site before I really knew what I was doing with It Works. Meaning I wanted to share supplements with people that had worked for me, and I really didn’t think I would ever build teams. I just didn’t know! I didn’t know the potential of the company I had signed on with! I am so glad I was wrong, and because of that I have decided to scale back in order to bring me back to a less chaotic place, and provide good content for you! It Works has become a huge part of my life, and I am so excited for my future and my teams future with this company. I love my teams, I love my clients, and I especially love that I am able to help other men and women realize the potential they have to drastically change their lives with It Works.

The downside, all of that takes time and time I really want to give but in all honesty I have felt stretched thin! So I have decided to take down my wellness page and my wellness Instagram and keep everything streamlined and simple. I realize people may unfollow me because they don’t want to see It Works, or what I ate for dinner that night, and I am okay with that! This is the direction my life has taken, and I know this is where God wants me. When I was posting in two separate locations, I felt like I wasn’t sharing my whole life with my followers. I don’t work out every day, and I certainly don’t eat perfect and that is the impression you got on my wellness page. I am also a mother, a wife, a Christ follower, a friend, and all around goofball. I want to bring it all together, so that you see exactly who I am and what I am doing every day. Not just bits and pieces.

I also want to bring much more content to my website, so by cutting out a few things I am creating time for the website. I wasn’t fitting it all in, so when something is important we make time. To make time we must prioritize. I will continue to bring you great meal ideas and quick workouts. As well as, great information on this incredible company I am a part of, just all in one place. I am also working diligently to bring you some awesome information to the website! Meal plans, meal prep, devotionals, workouts, and tons of other great things! Stay tuned! I am working hard for you, I promise!

Thank you for those of you who have followed every social media profile I have. I am so grateful for your support, and grace as I navigate this new journey!

Multi-Level Marketing - You think you know, but you have no idea!

I am seeing a trend lately, and I wanted to put my two cents in!  I know that everyone and their dog are selling something these days, and you never know their intention. I know you see multiple companies promising things, and you aren’t sure whom to believe. I wanted to put your mind at ease, most of the health companies you see all are trying to do the same thing. We all love our products and the companies we represent.  We have seen it change people’s lives. It has changed our lives, and all we are doing is sharing something we love. We should not be talked down to or scolded for doing something we love. Especially when most people have never been a part of our companies in the first place.  I’m just sayin’.

I realize we have been grouped into all being “scams.” I get asked that all the time, or I get told it is a scam. I am like, really? If all of these companies are scams, why are we still around 14 years later? Why do you keep seeing us grow? Why do you keep seeing people come home to their children, or pay off debt? Where do you think all the transformation stories come from? Real people with real results. No scamming. No scheming. We are real people. So, I am here to tell you, you think you know but you really have no idea!

 Is that one of those pyramid things? What do you mean? Do I have people working underneath me? Yes, I have 10 wonderful ladies working WITH me. Not UNDER me.

We are on the same team. We all want the same thing. I work with them closely every single day. I want them to succeed. Probably more than their bosses do at their 9-5 jobs. Here is what you don’t know about MLM companies and It Works specifically. I am rooting for them every single day. I am praying for them every single day. I am working with them every single day to ensure and encourage their success. I can’t go anywhere without my team, and I wouldn’t want to. When they succeed, I succeed. How many of you have bosses who will be your cheerleader every day, even if it is at midnight? How many of you have bosses that will brainstorm with you every day about how you can reach more people, and change more lives? I am on call 24/7, and I do it with a smile because that means they are succeeding and they are changing not only their lives, but the lives of others.

So you think you know, but you really have no idea. We are a family. We have one purpose. To share a company and products we love. It Works supplements have changed me as a mom and wife. I am a better person now that I have the energy to accomplish everything I need to in a day. I am a more fun mom because of It Works. I am more confident in my own skin because of It Works. I have met so many wonderful people, and my cup is full because of It Works. So when you see my post twice a day, or I message you, or any other wellness company reaches out. Please don’t roll your eyes, or delete the message. We are just sharing what we love, and we are trying to improve our lives and the lives of our teams and customers. Do we make money? Sure we do. Don’t we deserve the chance to better our lives financially? How lucky are we that we get to share a company we love, and bring our families more financial freedom? Darn lucky. That is for sure. Just because we go about it differently, doesn’t make it wrong. We get to work in our own time. Our own hours. No one to tell us when and where we have to be. Yea, you could say I feel pretty lucky!

I feel lucky to be a part of It Works. I feel lucky that after months of rolling my eyes, and deleting messages I gave Mandy a chance to share what she loved. I have found my passion, and so I will keep posting, sharing, and messaging. I won’t stop, and my prayer is that this shows you that maybe you should stop and click those links we share. Or stop and actually take the time to chat or talk on the phone. You don’t know unless you listen. We are not con artists. We are not annoying sales people. We are people with drive and passion, and all we want to do is share it. I haven’t lost a single friend because of what I do. I haven’t lost any family over what I do, and if you stop following me or block me because of what I post that is just fine! I feel it is your loss anyway, and it won’t stop me or my team or any other wellness company from pressing on! We keep going for the people we know we have helped, and for the people we will help in the future.

I hope this gives you some insight into multi-level marketing companies. I can’t speak for all of them but I know that regardless if we are selling shakes, patches, supplements, or wraps, we all want the same thing. We all want to help first and foremost. Secondly, we all want a chance to help while achieving financial freedom. You go to work every day and sell something. A service or a product. That is what we are doing! We are selling wonderful products that help people. My prayer is this finds someone on the fence. Someone that cannot stop thinking, “What if?”. What if I am right? What if I can help you achieve your wellness goals? What if I can help you make that $500 a month to pay for a car or bills? I am here to say I can. I hope you put the stereotype aside,  and stop wondering.

My Favorite Appliances

When I first got into paleo cooking, I literally had a set of knives from Wal-Mart. I acquired all of these over time, but I do use all of these pretty regularly! Having appliances does make things easier, but you don't have to have them! Here are some suggestions to make your life easier in the kitchen!

Griddle

I cannot live my life without my griddle! I make pancakes or bulk protein every week, and the griddle saves my life! With the boys at home, I don’t always want to stand out at the grill for protein prep, so my griddle is what I use. I keep it out at all times!

Waffle Iron

I got a second hand waffle iron from a thrift store a couple years ago and I love it! Super fun for the boys, and I love how easy it makes food prep! Makes breakfast feel special!

Spiralizer

The spiralizer isn’t a necessity but I love it! I make noodles out of sweet potatoes and zucchini. Makes it easy, but I know there are other hand held appliances like the Vagetti that make it easy too!

 

Cast Iron Skillet

Life changing! I love having a cast iron skillet, and I use it just like the griddle but on a smaller scale. It gives veggies such great flavor, and you can transfer it so easily from the stove top to the oven! I love frying eggs in it as well!

Ninja/Food Processor

Hands down my favorite appliance! Eating paleo requires a lot of meal prep, and the ninja makes is super easy. You can make rice out of just about anything with it in about two seconds! My favorite thing to do with the Ninja s make cauliflower rice or sweet potato rice. I also use it to make huge batches of pancake or waffle mix. I make smoothies for me and the boys in it. It basically sits in on my counter!

Crock Pot

This goes without saying, but the crock pot is a necessity when feeding a family of four!

Dutch Oven

Perfect for the days when you forget the crockpot! I use my dutch oven for pot roast, pork shoulder, and whole chickens.  You can also use it for soups and chili in the winter! Makes it super easy and provides even cooking! Mine is red from World Market and I love it!

I hope this helps you guys get excited about being in the kitchen! I love having just the right appliance for what I am making! It does make for alot of dishes, but it is so worth it! Happy cooking!

Whatcha got cooking? 7/5/2015

I have been traveling for what feels like months, even though it was basically just the month of June. I always enjoy finally being home long enough to plan a week of meals! We went to Cape Cod, our lake house, a funeral in Wimberly, and then back to the lake for the 4th! I am exhausted, and so glad to be home for the foreseeable future! Planning my meals is the only way I will stay on track. I even prepare my breakfast and the boys for the week, and it makes my life so much easier! I cooked mostly from The Paleo Kitchen and Meals Made Simple this week!

Monday

Buffalo Chicken Pasta

1. Bake a Spaghetti Squash

·         Cut in half length wise

·         Bake seed side down for 20-25 minutes at 350

2. Grill up some chicken while that is baking. I buy chicken cutlets and season them with whatever sounds good! With this I used Flavor of the Gods Everything Spicy seasonings.

3. In a saucepan combine all ingredients and let simmer until thick.

·         1 can of coconut milk

·         4 tbsp of butter

·         ¼ cup Franks Red Hot

·         4 tbsp of Coconut Flour

4. Once the spaghetti squash has cooled go ahead and shred it. Toss with the sauce, but save a little to top the dish with.

5. Put down the pasta, add chicken, top with sauce, and green onions.

Tuesday

BBQ Salmon

Smokey Sweet Potatoes

Green Beans Almondine

Meals Made Simple

Wednesday

Marinated Steak and Pineapple Kabobs

Grilled Asparagus

The Paleo Kitchen

Thursday

Baked Chicken Thighs

Leftover Smokey Sweet Potatoes

Friday

Mongolian Beef and Cauli Rice

The Paleo Kitchen

Breakfast for the Week

Freezer Waffles – Meals Made Simple

Breakfast Casserole – Meals Made Simple

Full Body Home Workout

I know many of you work out at home, and I did too for the first year of Silas’ life! I am a gym person though, and love the little break it gives me during the day. The gym is my time, and I am thankful that I am able to afford to go and take that much needed break! I first want to say that I am not a trainer. I have worked out for the past 5 years consistently, and I am working with a trainer online. I was an athlete most of my life, so I know a thing or two by now about lifting and what works for me. Am I a professional? No, and I don’t pretend to be but I know how to get in a good workout at home!

My best friend had a baby a couple of months ago, and wanted something easy to do while her little man was asleep. She hadn’t worked out in some time, and wanted to tone and tighten everything! She is nursing, so we kept this to just strength moves. Doing high intensity workouts while nursing can be difficult and effect your milk supply if you are not eating and drinking enough to compensate for the calories burned. I experienced this with Silas, and I kick myself to this day for not waiting to get back to working out, so learn from my mistakes and listen to your body. Don’t push too soon!

This workout can be done with cardio moves as well, and I will add those in as an option! You can also use your baby as added weight and resistance either in your arms or in a baby carrier. Please be safe, we don’t want anyone dropping their little ones!

Full Body Home Workout

Use your baby, or whatever weight you feel challenged by. My friend used candles until she felt strong enough to move up to weights!

Circuit 1

Do each exercise for 45 seconds with no rest in between the 3 exercises. Complete twice before moving on to second circuit.

·         Squats with a Shoulder Press

(great way to incorporate baby)

o   Hold weights towards the ceiling with arms at a 90 degree angle with feet hip width apart

o   Squat down until hamstrings are parallel with the floor. Like you are going to sit in a chair

o   As you go down into the squat press weights towards the ceiling

o   Come back up bringing arms down to a starting position

o   Repeat

·         Lunges with Side Raises

(wearing baby while holding some small weights would be an added challenge)

o   Hold weights at sides with palms facing the body

o   Step out into a lunge position, careful not to put the knee over the ankle

o   As you lower down into the lunge, bring your arms up parallel with your shoulders

o   Step back out of the lunge to starting position, bringing arms to your sides

o   Do one leg for 45 seconds, switching legs your second time through

·         Push-Ups * Modify as needed

·         1 Minute of Cardio – 30 seconds each

1.       Jumping Jacks

2.       Bicycle Crunches

Circuit 2

·         Straight Leg Dead Lift into a Hammer Curl

o   Stand with feet a little closer than hip width with weights in hands in front of the body facing the stomach and hip area

o   Keep your legs straight but not locked at the knee

o   Keep back flat as you slowly reach the weights towards your ankles

o   Keep the weights close to the legs on the way down and on the way up

o   As you come back up, at the top do a hammer curl to work the bicep

·         Sumo Squat with Skull Crushers

o   Feet should be placed wider than hip width with Toes pointed out

o   Weights over your head with biceps close to your ears and arms fully extended

o   As you lower down into a squat, lower the weights towards the back of the head

o   As you come out of the squat, bring your arms back up to your starting position

o   Keep elbows close together to really isolate the tricep

·         Chest Press while Holding a Bridge

o   Lay down flat on your back with knees bent and feet by your butt

o   Keeping your shoulders on the floor, raise your butt towards the ceiling.

o   Hold that position the whole time

o   Press weights towards the ceiling, squeezing at the top to work the chest

·         1 Minute of Cardio – 30 seconds each

1.       High Knees

2.       Plank

Circuit 3

·         Supermans

o   Lay on stomach with arms stretched out in front of you

o   Slowly raise arms and legs towards the ceiling contracting the back and glutes

o   Hold for a beat

o   Lower back down and Repeat

·         Bent Over Rows

o   Bend at waist with weights in hand and thumbs pointed towards the ceiling

o   Elbows should be facing the back of the room

o   Bring weights towards your stomach, keeping elbows close to your sides and pushing towards the back of the room

·         Renegade Rows

o   Hold weights in your hands

o   Get into a plank position.

o   While holding the plank position with one arm, do a row with your other arm as described above.

o   Switch back and forth

·         1 Minute of Cardio -  30 seconds each

1.       Static Squat with Alternating Punches

2.       Flutter Kicks

Let me know if you guys give this a shot! I hope you like it! It follows the sequence that I have always loved from Jillian Michaels. Enjoy!
 

Whatcha got cooking? 6/15/2015

I am back from vacation, and I am so ready to eat clean and get cooking in my kitchen! I know many of you struggle with planning meals, so I wanted to share my week with you! I don’t have recipes for these because they aren’t mine to give! These authors work so hard on the recipes, and they should be given credit for them! I promise you, if you go buy the cookbooks I mentioned you will not be disappointed! I am always inspired and never lacking on ideas!

Monday

Beef Stir Fry

The 30 Day Guide to Paleo Cooking

Tuesday

Garlic Ginger Chicken with Asparagus with Gremolata

The 30 Day Guide to Paleo Cooking

Wednesday

Maple Dijon Pork Tenderloin with a Spinach and Kale Salad

Meals Made Simple

Thursday

Spaghetti Squash with Kale and Parmesan Meatballs (Costco) and Marinara

·        Cut spaghetti squash in half, place flesh side down on a baking sheet

·         Bake for 20 minutes on 400 degrees until skin is soft

·         Brown meatballs on medium heat with coconut oil

·         Add a clean marinara sauce

·         Simmer until meatballs are warmed through

·         Take out spaghetti squash, once cooled, scrape noodles into bowl.

·         Top with meatballs and marinara

Friday

Fish Tacos on Butter Lettuce and a Mango Pineapple Salsa

Meals Made Simple

There you have it! My week of meals! This weekend we will probably make steak or one of the meals we didn’t get to this week! If you are curious about cookbooks, check out my post on My Favorite Paleo Cookbooks!

Have a great week!

My Favorite Paleo Cookbooks

When I first started following the paleo way of eating 3 years ago, I spent countless hours googling recipes. Is "googling" a word? If it isn't, it should be! Anyway,  I came across so many paleo blogs while searching for paleo-fied foods, and couldn't believe the amount of information out there. I have learned so much, and I am still learning every day. I had no idea about food sensitivities, or how processed our food was until I started searching for a way to eat fried chicken and still be healthy!

Really, my whole life has changed since going paleo. I wouldn't have this blog,  and I definitely wouldn't know how to cook! I am so thankful for this way of eating, I can't even begin to express how life changing it has been. I would probably still be eating low calorie Lean Cuisines, and fat-free, sugar-free, and taste-free everything!

I often get asked where to start when trying to find paleo recipes, so I thought I would put it all in one place for you! I follow all of these authors on social media, and have their cookbooks. I love flipping through cookbooks and being inspired. I love the internet and it makes it so easy to find recipes quickly, but I am still obsessed with cookbooks. You get a sense of who the writers are, and their passion for food shines!

Danielle Walker - Against all Grain and Meals Made Simple

Blog: Against all Grain

I cannot say enough good things about both of these cookbooks! Danielle Walker was the first paleo blogger I started following, and I quickly fell in love with her recipes. She has a son around Judah's age, and is pregnant. She has been through so much, losing a set of twins and most recently a little girl who was born and passed away shortly after. She is a Christian and has a beautiful spirit. She has healed her body with food. Almost dying from an autoimmune disease called Ulcerative Colitis, and she has taken control of her health when doctors told her it wasn't possible.  Her food is simple, and kid friendly. She is an expert baker, and in her first cookbook she has dozens of desserts and a kid section! You cannot go wrong with these cookbooks!

Some of my favorites from Against all Grain is the Pot Roast, Granola, Banana Porridge, The Real Deal Chocolate Chip Cookies, oh, and the waffles! I have made the waffles more times than I can count! Too many amazing choices!

Meals Made Simple is so great for beginners and really anyone trying to change their food choices. She breaks down how to shop, appliances, and give you meal plans! This cookbook also offers ways to use leftover ingredients, like the second half of a can of coconut milk or left over seasonings!  She makes it easy, hence the name!  From Meals Made Simple, I am obsessed with the Beef Stroganoff, Slow Cooker Thai Beef, and her make ahead fluffy pancakes! Oh, and she has amazing salads in this cookbook as well!

Julie Bauer- Omg? That's Paleo? and The Paleo Kitchen

Blog: PaleOmg

Juli is probably the funniest person ever. I came across her blog three years ago, and have loved it ever since. She has a hilarious sense of humor, and writes like you are her best friend. Her blog has hundreds and hundreds of amazing recipes. I cook from her blog all the time, and her baking is super simple. She keeps food very simple and clean. No fancy machines, no gourmet ingredients, and the steps and directions are short.I went to her book signing for her second cookbook and she was asked what her favorite cooking appliance is. Her answer, "Um, I pretty much just use big cereal spoons!" Hilarious!

Her first cookbook, "Omg, that's Paleo?", is wonderful. I cook from it all the time. Again, simple and easy. I love her style! Her second cookbook, with George Bryant who runs a blog called "The Civilized Caveman", is stunning! I actually went and met both of them at their book signing last year! They are both hilarious, and this cookbook is a combination of Juli's simplicity and George's creative style. My favorites from her first cookbook are her Blueberry Muffins, Broccoli Fritters, Cinnamon Plantain Pancakes, and her Barbacoa.

From The Paleo Kitchen, the Asian Marinated Bacon Wrapped Asparagus, Lemon Blueberry Pancakes, and the Avocado Mousse. Seriously, go follow her on Instagram and follow her blog. She is the best!

Bill and Hayley Stayley-Make it Paleo, Make it Paleo II, Gather, The 30 Day Guide to Paleo Cooking

Blog: Primal Palate

Bill and Hayley are pretty much the top dog in the paleo world in my opinion. Their blog is such an amazing resource. You can filter recipes based on your food sensitivities! I follow them both on Instagram and I follow their blog. They are both hilarious, and on a journey to better health. Hayley is striving to heal her body through food, and has been so open about her struggles. I love following their story! I have Gather and The 30 Day Guide to Paleo Cooking. I haven't picked up their other two cookbooks, but I have heard amazing things. Gather shows you how to throw parties the paleo way, and it is simply stunning. They do all their own photography, and they are amazing at it! The 30 day Guide to Paleo Cooking has 4 weeks of grocery lists, recipes, and it lays out exactly what you will cook for breakfast, lunch, and dinner each week! They did all the work for you! Pick up this cookbook! You will not be disappointed in anything they write!

I hope this helps you get started on your journey to better health! Fueling your body with whole foods is so essential to our health. The less processed the better! It may seem overwhelming at first, but you will so realize that anything worth doing takes time and effort! Take the time to plan your meals, and shop. Take the time to prepare healthy meals you not only want to eat, but feel good about! I am working on a meal planning post for you guys, so stay tuned for that!

Weight Loss - Where do I start?

Taking the first step on a new journey can be difficult and scary. Each time I have had to lose weight, the end goal seemed too far away. When I first changed my eating habits and exercise routine in college I was so overwhelmed at first. I felt I had too much weight to lose, and I was scared I would just give up like I had so many times before, but I just did the next right thing. I chose the right meal for breakfast, and chose to exercise that day. I tried to not look ahead. To not get overwhelmed by the long journey I had ahead of me. I just did the next right thing. That is something my dad always says to me. “Whitter, just do the next right thing.” I know that sounds too simple, but it really is true! But to help you guys out, I sat down and really thought about how I got started, and some things I missed along the way. I didn’t always include God in my health, so that is a new addition, and I hope these help you!

1. Ask God for Help. Give it to Him.

This may sound silly to you, but I assure you it isn’t. We pray for everything else, why not this? Why are we so hesitant to ask God to help us lose weight, to eat right, or to exercise? He gave us life. He gave us this body to serve Him fully. Ask for his guidance. Ask for his support. Ask him to give you the determination to not give up on this journey. Ask, and he will answer. That you can be sure of. Without a shadow of a doubt. God hears us, and he knows our hearts desire. He wants to hear from you, and he wants to know your struggles. Ask and you will most certainly hear from him!

2. Support from Spouse or Friends

Accountability is essential. Ask friends, family, or spouse to support you on this journey. My family knows how I eat, and has always been so great about making sure I can eat wherever we go. My husband eats what I cook. I don’t make him anything special. We are on this journey together. If your friends know you are trying to get healthier, and drop some bad habits I am sure they will step in and support you. If they don’t, well you probably don’t need them anyway!

3. Diet is Key

Clean out your pantry. Clean out every cabinet, and drawer. Set yourself up for success. Diet is key. You cannot out train a bad diet.  You can be in the gym every day and never see change because your diet is not where it needs to be. I have tried to exercise and not change my diet, and I got nowhere. The body needs to be fueled and nourished properly in order to perform properly. Pick up some cookbooks, paleo if possible, and start reading. Arm yourself with knowledge about what a great diet can do for you! I have so many cookbooks to draw inspiration from, meal planning is fun because I love looking through all of these beautiful books!

4. Exercise

Don’t set a crazy goal of working out an hour a day every day. It won’t happen. Set tangible goals. Set goals that challenge you but don’t overwhelm you. I am not saying to not challenge yourself, I just think we shouldn’t set ourselves up for failure. If you have never had a consistent workout schedule, 7 days a week is going to be very hard. I tell my clients to start off with 3 times a week. 30-45 minutes if possible. Weight training for 30 minutes, and cardio for 15 minutes. You don’t need a gym. Walmart weights, and You Tube will be sufficient. Make time to be active. Maybe it is throwing the kids in the stroller and doing squats at every stop sign, or going for a jog after work with your friends. Whatever it is, just set an attainable goal and go for it!

5. Proper Supplementation

We are all busy. None of us eat exactly how we should. None of us take in as many fruits and vegetables as we should. We don’t sleep as much as we should. Me included. I don’t sleep enough, and even with my best efforts, I don’t eat as well as I should. Supplements have significantly changed my health. I never knew how much better I could feel until I incorporated them. I am still astounded at my energy level, and how quickly my body recovers now. I am in the best shape of my life, and I lived a very balanced life. Eating and working out is not my entire life, nor should it be but I have achieved amazing results because I incorporated supplements into my routine. I am taking care of my health with Greens, I am building muscle and recovering faster with New You, and I am leaning out and boosting my metabolism with Ultimate Thermofit. If you want to know more about the supplements you can visit the It Works tab on my blog, or click Products and you will be directed to all of our It Works products!

I hope this helps you get started on your weight loss journey! If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Good luck!

Breakfast Quiche Made Easy

I don't know about you guys but my mornings are busy! I start every morning with two little boys begging for milk, two different kinds because we like to be difficult, and then they need a show so momma can finally make some coffee. Normally in there somewhere someone has pooped, fallen down, or they are fighting. Oh and let's not forget the dog who is scratching at me to let her out. Can you say crazy?

A few months ago a light bulb went off that if I made breakfast before hand maybe we could eat before 9:30 a.m., and actually get things other than breakfast accomplished in the morning. Really, I am just lazy and I am picky and don't always want what my boys are eating. That is when breakfast quiche entered my life! Sometimes I make little muffin cups, sometimes I change the ingredients, but either way it is easy, filling, and delicious. Did I mention easy? I also prep my boys breakfast now too! I will be sharing that in a later post. They don't like quiche...weirdos.

Bacon Breakfast Quiche

• 6 Eggs
• 8 pieces of Bacon
• 1 cup shredded of Brussel Sprouts
• 1 cup diced Red Bell Pepper or what you like
• Salt
• Pepper
• Square Baking Dish

Step 1:

Preheat oven to 375

Step 2:

Heat skillet on medium, add bacon. Cook until crispy. Give it a rough chop once cooled. Set aside. Keep skillet hot with the bacon grease.

Step 3:

Dice veggies. Add in diced veggies to bacon grease cook until soft but not smushy. No one likes smushy veggies.

Step 4:

Beat eggs. Add salt and pepper. Or favorite seasonings. When I am feeling crazy, I like to give it a Mexican flare and add salsa. Go with what you feel!

Step 5:

Grease a baking dish. Combine eggs, crispy bacon, and cooked veggies. Pour into baking dish. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes.  

Here is where I messed up because I am lazy and my small pan was dirty. Normally I make mine in my square brownie pan. 9 x 9 I believe because I like it to be thicker. I used my large baking pan, and they were super thin, but still delicious and I was able to feel better about eating more squares.

My husband doesn't like veggies in his eggs, but I am working on converting him! I just try to keep mine to one side, and I put the rest in Tupperware for him to take to work with avocado and berries!

See, super easy! No excuses on missing breakfast now! You do have 30 minutes to start every day full and satisfied! Fuel that temple!

It Works Transformations

 I have been using my It Works supplements over 2 months, and I wanted to not only share my personal testimony and transformation, but I also got testimonials from some of my clients! I hope these words and pictures show you that we are all on a journey. We may be at different points, but that is the best part about It Works. We have something for everyone! Below I will share some personal stories about our wraps, defining gel, lip and eye cream, and my personal transformation!

Courtney Winn used our wraps and defining gel before her honeymoon! She follows a paleo diet, and just wanted to tone everything up before vacation!

"I went into vacation much more relaxed/confident person knowing my diet had paid off and the It Works products made it even better!"

Hillary Kelso used our wraps to help get her to a more comfortable place post baby!

"The wraps helped me feel normal again. After you have a baby, you feel so different. Not only has your life changed but your body has too. The wraps helped me with that. They gave me a start! My stretch marks were lighter, and I felt skinnier. They gave me the motivation I needed!"

You can tell that her skin is so much smoother in both pictures, and her stretch marks are lighter! She feels so great, and it shows!

Debbie Slack is using our Lip and Eye Cream, and our supplement that combats anxiety and stress called Confianza.

"The Confianza is awesome, and the Lip and Eye cream is making a big difference!"

Kristen Seals is my neighbor and the busiest lady I know! She has a 1 year old, and is using our Thermofit and wraps.

"My energy is better, and I am not snacking as much! I did my first wrap yesterday, and I lost 2 inches with one wrap! I am so excited!"

I love hearing my clients successes. It is the best part about what I am doing. It makes me giddy! I love that they allowed me to be a part of their journey! It means so much to me!

I have been using New You, Greens, and Ultimate Thermofit for two months. I also have done one box of wraps which is 4 wraps! I have shared this before but I can't believe the difference in my energy level! I have gone from a tired and run down mom, to a much more energized and happier mom! I have two little boys, and I was just dragging. Physically and mentally! I am now in the gym more often because the New You helps my body recover faster! My digestion has drastically improved with the Greens and my allergies have been so much better! The Ultimate Thermofit has helped me with energy, and to help me lose these last few pounds and inches!

I have lost 2. 5 inches in my waist, and 2 inches in my love handles area! With the wraps I lost 1.5 inches in my waist, and 1 inch in my love handles. My supplements have helped me with these last few inches! Overall, I am insanely happy, and can see huge changes! My clothes don't fit, which is okay with me because I love to shop! Here is my transformation!

I look at these photos and I know that to some this may not seem extreme enough. But I don't live a life of extremes. I am all about balance! I am in the last phase of my journey, I have lost all the weight I want to lose and I just want to add muscle and lean out. My supplements have helped me achieve those goals while staying balanced. I didn't have to cut water, calories, or do anything that I could not maintain!

I can go on and on! I have tons of testimonials and pictures, and I am just ecstatic! I would love to help you start your wellness journey! Email me today! Don't wait another minute!

My Paleo Pantry - The Basics

I get approached all the time about how to start the Paleo way of eating. I think all too often we get caught up on these blogs and beautiful cookbooks, and we stop before we even start because we get overwhelmed. Believe me, I get it! I used to kill myself in the kitchen making bread from scratch, and trying to mimic all those comfort foods but then I realized that I was making it too difficult. I was supposed to be embarking on a new relationship with food, so why was a slaving away in the kitchen making all these paleo-fied comfort foods. I think it is okay to do that, and I do it more now, but at first the best thing to do is keep it simple. Don’t overwhelm yourself with homemade paleo bread, homemade almond milk, or pasta from scratch. Again, all great things but your goal is to establish a healthier relationship with food. So keep it simple, and at first don’t try to recreate those old foods.

To make it easier, I decided to share my staples. What I keep on hand at all times. For the most part, I eat leftovers for lunch but when I don’t I have things on hand that I can whip up in a pinch. Believe it or not, you can be paleo and not be in the kitchen 24/7. Step one, make sure you cook dinner that way you have leftovers. Step two, prep your breakfasts a few days in advance. I shared some tips on how to do that in my post Paleo Pantry-Breakfast Basics. Step 3, keep a well-stocked fridge and pantry!

Ready? Here we go! First piece of advice, READ YOUR LABELS. All too often, I see something that says “gluten-free” which in fact it is, but it has sugar, starches, and a ton of other ingredients you cannot pronounce. If you cannot pronounce it, do not eat it. It is that simple. Kid snacks are so bad about this. Gluten-Free chocolate pretzels, but the first ingredients is high fructose corn syrup. Just because it says gluten-free does not mean it is healthy. Start reading your labels. Take charge of your own health, don’t take the company’s word for it!

Pantry Staples

Oils

The cooking oils I keep on hand are listed below. I buy my olive oil, avocado oil, and coconut oil at Costco. The light olive oil and spray at Wal-Mart. Avocado oil has a really high smoking point of 500 degrees Fahrenheit, so you can fry with it and it won’t release a ton of nasty chemicals like most oils when heated to high. You can fry with it which is great for sweet potato chips. Coconut oil just has amazing health benefits, and is almost tasteless. So great for baking and breakfast items.

• Avocado Oil

• Olive Oil

• Light Olive Oil (for making ranch, duh!)

• Coconut Oil

• Coconut Oil Spray

Flours

I did not bake a lot at first because I don’t like to bake at all really. It is way too tedious for me! But, you can have all your favorites and do it the right way with no fillers, sugar, or nasty additives like Bleached White Flour. Bleach is in the ingredients…just saying. These three flours are the basics to pancakes, waffles, muffins, and anything else you want create!

• Coconut Flour

• Almond Flour

• Tapioca Flour

Dairy/Non-Dairy Substitutes

My kids still take in some dairy, we are in the process of cutting it out completely for them because they struggle with chronic ear infections. I do keep milk in the house but always organic. It is one thing I will not budge on. Organic milk, butter, and eggs. All the dairy we take in is organic because I feel it is what is best after my research. Again, my decision. I buy all my dairy at Walmart or Costco. I also try to buy dairy in its natural state. Whole. No chemical processes to remove fat or sugar. Just eat it as nature intended it, and eat it in small amounts and you are good to go.

• Organic Whole Milk

• Almond Milk

• Organic Half and Half (coffee)

• Eggs

• Grass-Fed Butter (Kerry Gold from Costco)

• Greek Full-Fat Yogurt (Stoneyfield from Wal-Mart)

Sweeteners

No need for white cane sugar here! You won’t even miss it I promise. Sugar is like a drug. The second I have a non-paleo treat, I am off to the races just trying to stuff anything and everything in my mouth. Sugar is addicting. It creates an addictive response in the brain, and boom you are on a roller coaster. Eat sugar and carbs, your blood sugar spikes, then you crash, then you take in more sugar and carbs…you see where I am going with this. Cut out sugar and carb loaded foods, and your blood sugar will start to stabilize. When your blood sugar is stable, cravings diminish, and you are on your way to a much healthier relationship with food. When you are craving a sweet treat, but don’t want to create that domino effect, try these alternatives! Perfect for coffee, baked goods, and on fruit!

• Stevia

• Honey

• Molasses

• Coconut Sugar

• Dates

Condiments

Alright, moving on to paleo approved condiments! Again, read the labels! So many things have added sugars. That is why for the most part I make my own dressings, and marinades. Super easy, and no additives. I get asked what I eat on salad all the time. I usually do a little olive oil and vinegar but if I have ranch on hand I just throw that on there. Salsa works great, or put some olive oil, honey, and some lemon juice together and shake it up. Boom, salad dressing.

• Fish Oil

• Gluten-Free Soy Sauce (Wal-Mart) or Coconut Aminos (Sprouts)

• Sesame Oil (Wal-Mart)

• Ranch (make my own)

• Mayonnaise (make my own)

Dry Snacks

You will notice as you make changes, that you don’t snack as much but I still do and so do my kids. I listed below what I almost always have on hand in my pantry for snacks, as well as in my fridge. Try to keep snacking to a minimum. Take in full meals 3 times a day, and keep these on hand for when you are running out the door and want to stick to your goals!

• Lara Bars (Costco)

• Wella Bars (Costco)

• Quest Bars (Amazon or health food store)

• Dates

• Plantain Chips (Wal-Mart or Sprouts)

• Boulder Brand-Potato Chips in Avocado Oil (Wal-Mart)

• Organic Raisins

• Organic Fruit Snacks/Fruit Strips

• Nuts

  • Almonds

  • Cashews

  • Walnuts

• Homemade Granola-Recipe from Against All Grain

• Beef Jerky (Costco-read labels)

• Non-GMO Popcorn (Costco)

Stocked in my Fridge at All times

• Milk

• Eggs

• Almond Milk

• All-Beef Hot Dogs

• Chicken Sausages (Adelle’s Brand, Costco)

• Vegetable Broth or homemade chicken broth

• Bacon, Bacon, and more Bacon

• Ham

• Turkey

• Salami

• Hummus

• Guacamole

• Avocados

• Broccoli

• Carrots

• Celery

• Bell Peppers

• Tuna

• Butter Lettuce (best for using in place of bread or wraps)

• Apples

• Raspberries

• Pineapple

• Cheese Sticks

Quick Snacks or Lunches

• Almond Butter-I put this on everything! But here is a quick list of my go-tos!

  • Bananas

  • Dates

  • Strawberries

  • Brown Rice Cakes

  • Banana Chips

• Fruit

• Fresh Raw veggies with homemade ranch

• Organic Hummus and Carrots

• Guacamole and Plantain Chips

• Salsa and Plantain Chips

• Tuna Salad with homemade mayo and veggies

• Wraps with the butter lettuce, ham, salami, and tomato with ranch or mustard, whatever floats your boat.

Alright, beautiful people. I hope this helps get you started! I don’t even think you need to label yourself as paleo. Just strive to make better choices. It is not rocket science. If it can sit in your pantry for months, don’t eat it. IF it has a ton of chemicals and additives, don’t eat it. If you can’t pronounce the ingredients, don’t eat it.

When I cook and meal plan, what I strive for it a protein and two vegetables. Does it always happen? No, but I try. So burger patties, with some roasted veggies and baked sweet potato is a staple around here, and we love it. Easy, and effective. Don’t complicate it. Chicken, broccoli, and a baked potato is wonderful balanced meal. When you haven’t’ cooked, keep these staples on hand so you can whip something up that is not only good for you, but tastes delicious! Being paleo is not about depriving yourself, it is about fueling your body as nature intended. Whole and healthy. Enjoy!

My Paleo Pantry- Breakfast Edition

The transition to Paleo/Gluten-free was not overnight. I made small changes to get where I am today. The first thing I did was eliminate bread, pasta, cereal, and oats.  Over the next few years,  I slowly let go of other things like fast food, coffee creamer, and sweet tea. Once you eliminate processed foods, and then go back, you quickly realize how much your body hates them. My stomach would immediately bloat up, or I would get heartburn and headaches. These are symptoms you don’t realize when you eat them daily. Give it a shot if you are experiencing extreme fatigue, headaches, stomach aches, inflammation, or any other ailment. Food is the source of it all! You will be so surprised how much better you feel when you are fueling your body with clean and nutritious food!

I know at first you are thinking, “What will I eat?” The answer is simple to me, but I know it is overwhelming for you, so I wanted to make it simple for you! I will list some non-paleo meals and then some great ideas on a paleo alternative! Also keep in mind, that all paleo really is, is eating real food. Food naturally occurring. You cannot grow cheese-itz, oreos, or pasta. Paleo eating is actually very simple when you think about trying to only eat things that go bad! If it can sit in your pantry for a month and be fine, probably not the best idea! Anyway, I hope this helps, and if you need any more ideas please don’t hesitate to ask.

Breakfast is my biggest meals most days. I try to take in protein and good fats. I stay full longer, and my energy is much better when I take the time to prepare a breakfast. Every morning I eat eggs, bacon or some leftover protein, and some veggies. If you would have told me three years ago I would be eating raw spinach with my eggs, I would have laughed in your face but now it is one of my favorite breakfasts. I cook bacon, fry up some eggs, and put it all over spinach. Seriously, yummy! You can achieve the body you want and eat bacon. Remember moderation. I don’t eat 8 slices. I eat two ok maybe three. Below I have listed some great swaps, and then some bulk breakfast items you can prepare when you are on the go!

Quiche-I love eggs, and I love mixing anything into my eggs, so a quiche is a match made in heaven for me! The best part is you can make the quiche tailored to your favorite foods! I make mine in a muffin tin, and that way I can grab and go!

Pancakes and Waffles- I make my kids paleo pancakes and waffles in bulk and keep them in the fridge for the week! My favorite pancakes are from Nom Nom Paleo called Cinnamon Coconut Flour pancakes. You can find them on her website. My favorite waffles are from Against All Grain. You can find the recipe on her website! They are made with ground cashews and super simple to blend up and pour in the waffle iron. Then my kid’s breakfast and sometimes mine is already made and our day is off to a good start!

Boiled Eggs-Hey, don’t turn your nose up at me! Sometimes you have to eat for fuel! Eggs are the perfect food, and so good for you. Boil them up, and eat them with some hot sauce and an avocado. Boom. Perfect breakfast.

Breakfast Veggies- My favorite breakfast veggies are kale, spinach, sweet potato, brussel sprouts and cabbage. Again, try before you judge! I usually make these veggies during the week for dinner, so I just double up and have them with eggs the next morning!

Paleo Muffins- Again you can make these in bulk and keep in the fridge. Take them to work with a boiled egg and a banana and you are set! I have so many favorites but I am going to tell you the best and easiest baking ideas are on a blog called PaleOmg. Juli is amazing, and hilarious. I love her blog, and she keeps cooking so simple! Try blueberry muffins, hidden veggie muffins, or my family’s favorite Banana Nut!

Bacon and Breakfast Sausage- Sometimes I make a ton of bacon in the beginning of the week, then I toast it up in the toaster over or on the griddle. Breakfast sausage is hard to find with clean ingredients, but it is so easy to make your own. Ground pork with some spices is all you need!

Paleo Breakfast Swaps

Coffee Creamer-I held onto this one for the longest time. I actually just gave it up last summer. Now I use organic half and half because I can tolerate dairy, and liquid stevia which is the only paleo-approved sweetener besides honey. You could also do bulletproof coffee which is insanely delicious it just takes a few more steps! It is coffee, grass-fed butter, and coconut oil Sounds gross but it is like a cappuccino. Sometimes I add coconut milk, and it is so good!

White Flour-The three flours I use the most are almond flour, coconut flour, and tapioca flour. Most cookbook authors are using these three now, and you can achieve and identical and in my opinion better tasting baked good!

Syrup- Please stop buying Aunt Jemima and use Grade A Maple syrup (you know it is real maple syrup) or honey. Low glycemic index and REAL FOOD.

Cereal-Paleo Granola with Almond Milk is just as good! Making your own is simple with nuts, dried fruit, and spices. All you need is an oven and a blender. Cereal is usually all grains, which means it is hard to digest and it spikes your blood sugar. Both things you do not want!

Oatmeal- Steel Cut Oats are gluten-free if you can tolerate them, but I like Danielle Walker’s Banana Porridge Recipe in Against All Grain. Basically a blend of soaked nuts, bananas, almond milk, and spices.

Yogurt- My kids like yogurt and so do I. We all tolerate dairy fairly well, so I just buy a really good brand. I purchase Stoneyfield Greek Yogurt. It has no additives and it is organic. Then I just add what my kids want to it. Usually cinnamon and honey. I also use it for homemade ranch, a substitute for sour cream, or to thicken sauces.

Alright, I hope this helps you get your day off to a good start! Breakfast really is so important. You are starting your day off fueled up and focused. I promise you if you struggle with binge eating or constant snacking, eating a big breakfast will help. You might say you aren’t hungry in the morning, but it is because you have trained your body to not be hungry. You have told your body by skipping meals to go into starvation mode, storing all your food as fat in order to sustain itself through missed meals. You aren’t doing yourself a service by eating twice a day. Intermittent fasting can be helpful for your metabolism, but not every single day. Take care of your temple. God gave it to you to be cared for, not mistreated. It all starts with food guys! You can work out all you want, but if your food isn’t where it needs to be, none of that will matter!

My It Works Experience

I started this blog and with It Works not really sure what the outcome would be. I didn’t know if I would be successful, all I knew was God was pushing me. He was pushing me to step out and one, start a blog which I have always wanted to do, and two, find a way to reach people. I actually had a blog before but never kept up with it. I wasn’t sure what to write because it didn’t have a very clear direction. Lately, as I have grown not only in my physical journey but in my spiritual one, I just felt that I had something to share. That I could help people. That I could make a difference. That I could show people how to let Christ into their physical health.

A blog was step one, and more of a personal thing for me. I wanted a hobby, and a place to share my thoughts. I also wanted to help people, but I knew that I would need a way to reach the people. I looked at several different companies, and thought about and researched essential oils, advocare, and herbalife. None of them pulled at me. I just knew that those companies weren’t for me. That does not mean I don’t think highly of all of them because I do. I think they all have great qualities, but I just hadn’t found my spot yet.

 I can’t tell you exactly why It Works stuck. All I know is that I couldn’t shake them. It Works was the perfect combination for me. Great, healthy, and natural products and a way to make extra income easily. With It Works I am not selling, I am sharing. I am a product of these products. Before starting this blog, and using It Works products I was a tired and honestly felt isolated. I was fueling my body, and I was training it but I was still tired. I couldn’t wait for my kids to nap, and when they woke up from their nap, I couldn’t wait for them to go to bed so I could sleep. I just wasn’t the mom I wanted to be or the wife I wanted to be. I was so tired by the end of the day, I had nothing left for Hayden.

When I started using It Works supplements, my entire day started changing. I use New You which helps with muscle recovery, deep sleep, and memory. I sleep better, and I am not as sore when I wake up, so I wake rested! Not hobbling around, not angry because I have another day ahead of me, but excited to get up and get going! I also use Thermofit, a natural metabolic booster. I have energy now. Not like the crazy energy where your eye twitches, you get itchy, and you can’t sit still. I don't crash either! The natural energy that just gets you through the day. I also drink our Greens drink daily. It is a powder with 8 servings of fruit and vegetables, green tea, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and a probiotic. Seriously Greens is a life changing product for me! My digestions is better, my skin is better, and my energy is so much better.  I am a different person. A different mom and spouse. I can say that 100% without a doubt in my mind, that using Thermofit, New You, and Greens has made me a better mom and wife. I have energy. I want to go to bed at 10 pm or 11 pm not 7 pm. I want my kids to wake up, so we can load up and get out of the house. No more tired mom and wife here! Do I have moments still? Of course I do, but the overwhelming evidence points to increased energy, leaner muscle, better digestion, and an all-around happier, healthier woman!

Another thing I really struggled with was feeling lonely. I felt very isolated from everyone. I am home all day every day with two tiny humans and a crazy old dog. I go to the gym, but that is kind of my time. I need to branch out more there for sure, but at the end of the day I also kind of resented Hayden because he got to leave every day. I realize these emotions are not always valid. It is not Hayden’s fault that he gets to talk to people all day long, and I don’t. I didn’t treat him differently because he did, I am just being honest with you guys and saying being home all day long without a break can sometimes be hard on your mental and emotional state. Don’t get me wrong, I chose to stay home and I love it but all jobs come with some negative aspects. The positive aspects definitely outweigh the negative, but I am just sharing with you the reality. I get lonely. I get tired. I get frustrated. I am human. Just like anyone else does in their job.

The first time I wrote a blog post those feelings started to subside. I was sharing myself and my talents with others. Even if no one read it, I was still getting them out there. I have grown even closer to Christ through the blog because I am praying even more for the words and direction of my posts to be pleasing to Him. The more I learned and researched It Works, and started to share with others, the less isolated I felt. I am now interacting with multiple people daily. Whether it is clients I am working with, or my team members who are helping others. I am no longer going entire days without talking to adults! Mommas and daddys know what a blessing that can be!

What I am trying to say, is It Works and this blog have been life changing for me. I can’t thank you guys enough for you encouragement through your words, and your support through your purchases. I am loving what I am doing. I love that I have a hobby, and a way to use the talents God gave me. I love you guys. I love people. I love helping and encouraging others. I love it all. I love that I can feel Christ moving even more in my life, and see Him working in my clients and team member’s lives.

If I didn’t touch on this last subject I wouldn't be sharing all the reasons why I started a blog and with It Works. We are a single income family. Do we struggle financially? No. We have everything we need or want. God has blessed Hayden with wonderful jobs that pay well. Is there room for lots of extras? No. Do you need those things to be happy? No. But man aren’t they fun! I hate spending money. I hate spending money on myself or the house. I cringe. I feel guilt because they seem silly. We both drove our cars into the ground because they were paid off and didn’t want a car payment. My point is, you give up the extras or when you do the extras you are a little more strapped that month. I wanted to find a way to have more fun. To provide our family with extra. To shop for my little people when I felt like it, or buy an ottoman for that spot in my living room that has been empty for over a year. A way to go on a vacation without it going on credit. Again, we have been blessed to travel and have had the money to do so, but it was always with sacrifice. Like Hayden working over-time, or us cutting back in places to pay it off. Is that normal? Yes, I know it is but I grew up traveling a lot. I want that for my little family. I have the desire to see the world, and show my kids life outside of Texas.

 I also wanted to do more for Christ. I would love to go on mission trips, and give to more charities. You might be wondering if I have achieve all of this. No, but I am on my way. I have made more than I thought I could. I hit our $1000 bonus in 6 weeks. I am already making enough to pay for our new to us Suburban every month. What a blessing that is! That bonus is paying for our trip to Cape Cod in June. I am on my way to a second $1000. I don’t mean to brag, that is not my intention.

My intention is this, if you have any interest in getting healthy, while helping others get healthy, and making extra income whether it be for fun or out of necessity, It Works may be for you. The past 7 weeks have been such a blessing. I can’t even tell you. My worth is in Christ. My purpose is to serve him to the best of my ability. I do that by staying home and raising loving Godly men, being a wife to my husband, and now by sharing Christ and my passion for wellness through this blog and with It Works!

Thank you for reading! Contact me today if you would like to learn more about Christ, health, or It Works. I would love to speak with you!

My Wellness Journey-Part4

I am so excited to finish this series with you guys! I love that I was able to really share my heart and my wellness journey with you. I think it helped me just as much as you! I honestly didn't even realize the obstacles I have overcome until I had to write it all out. I have really enjoyed it, and I hope you have as well! Below I am going to tell you about my transition to paleo and my final weight loss transformation after Silas! Thanks for following!

The final part of my wellness journey is mostly about nutrition. I honestly had no idea what was good for my body and what was bad. I really based all my food choices off of calorie content, not nutritional content. I think I just didn't care because I was achieving my weight loss goals, so what I was doing was working on some level. I was fit, but I wasn't healthy if that makes sense. I was a good size, and I looked good on the outside but my body was struggling. I struggled with chronic stomach aches, nausea, heartburn, and other digestive issues. I didn't even realize that I could control these symptoms with my diet. I just thought it was something I had to live with.

Then I learned about Paleo eating, or primal eating. Hayden came home one day and said the guys at work were talking about eating paleo. I said what the heck is that? He explained that it is basically going back to how the caveman used to eat. Eating foods in their natural state, and basically eating meat, vegetables, fruit and....here is where he lost me....no bread. I said, "shut your mouth I am not doing that." End of story. Mind you, my diet was cereal in the morning, sandwiches for lunch, and lean cuisines or rice something for dinner. So I blew him off, but when my husband gets something in his mind he does it. So he bought me "The Primal Blueprint" by Mark Sisson. I still said I didn't have any interest at all, but I started reading it.

The first few pages, debunked everything I thought I knew about food, exercise, and meal habits. For the sake of time, I am going to shorten this up to make it simple.

EAT.REAL.FOOD.

Fat is good for you, grains are not. I wanted to throw the book out right there. I can't be thin and eat bacon and eggs. I can't be thin and eat steak. Sure you can, and you will be healthier for it. Fat is fuel. It promotes a healthy metabolism, stabilizes energy levels, and helps you control your weight. I used to eat egg whites because I thought eggs were to high in cholesterol. Turns out eggs have little correlation to heart disease or cholesterol. An egg is one of natures most perfect food. High five to God because eggs are such an amazing food with so many health benefits. I was on board with the fat and protein portion of this thing, but no grains. What would I eat and aren't they supposed to be healthy for you? I mean we have been told our whole lives that whole grains is where its at. Turns out, that is a big fat lie!

"Worst mistake in the history of the human race" (UCLA evolutionary biologist Jared Diamond) [Grains] drives exce3ss insulin production, fat storage, and heart disease. Allergenic, immune-suppressing, nutritional value inferior to plants and animals. Whole grains possibly worse due to offensive pro-inflammatory, immune and digestive system disturbing agents-especially fiber. The Primal Blueprint

So this was about how my day would go. Eat cereal, get hungry 1 hour later, eat a rice cake, get hungry, eat a sandwich or wrap, get hungry eat some peanut butter and crackers, get hungry...you see where I am going with this. Constant spiking of my insulin levels and eating foods that were not naturally occurring. Grains were causing me major digestive issues, and once I stopped eating them they have completely disappeared.

I did not go all out paleo at first. It was small changes that led to a major change in lifestyle. It started with cutting out bread, which was so hard. Then I cut out oatmeal, cereal, any type of cracker. Now that I am two years in, I have completely changed the way I eat. I don't take in many grains at all, maybe once a week on a date and I try to make those good choices. Like gluten-free pizza. Over time I have seen that I have a major reaction to sugar, so I stay away from that as much as possible. I get headaches when I eat sugar, so I use things like honey, maple syrup and stevia. I used to think being bloated was normal but it isn't! That is your bodies way of saying, you are eating something I don't like. Something I can't digest.

I cannot digest grains, I get immediate bloat and stomach pain. Like I said, at first I didn't make huge change. Even now I am pretty much 80/20. I eat dairy, and the occasional treat or cheat meal, but now that I know how those foods make me feel, sometimes the indulgence isn't worth it.

Now that I start my day with healthy fats like eggs and other protein, I am energized and the leanest I have ever been. I don't eat 6 times a day. I eat 3 times a day with maybe a small snack somewhere in there before a workout. I fuel my body with healthy fats, protein, and vegetables. I honestly credit paleo to changing the way I viewed food. I am not afraid of food and calories. I am not afraid of what "fats" will do to my body. I welcome the calories and the energy food now provides me. My body has completely changed since going paleo. I weigh pretty much the same but the distribution is different. I am leaner. I am healthier, and most importantly I am happier. I don't count calories very often, and I don't obsess on every single bite. Paleo creates a healthy mindset. It is not a fad. Paleo eating will not fade into the background. I can give you countless success stories, including my own, of people who have cured themselves of ailments with proper diet. Almost every famous paleo blogger and cookbook author started because their health was in the trash and doctors couldn't fix it. Check out Against All Grain by Danielle Walker. Her story is on her website. Seriously wonderful stuff!

Below I shared some photos of my last weight loss transformation after Silas. I did this with exercise and paleo eating. No starving myself, no crazy fads. Just proper nutrition, and exercise. After I had Silas, I had post partum depression. I will expand on that later, but I didn't really get to start my weight loss journey until Silas was 9 months. I am goal oriented so I signed up for an 8 week challenge with a trainer named Ashley Nordman. Check her out! She changed my body with this program! I have found my stride with paleo and weight lifting with minimal cardio.

November 8, 2014 was a defining moment for me! I decided I was done with the baby weight, and I needed help! I did it on my own with Judah but I couldn't get the weight off with Silas. I asked for help and I am so glad I did! November 8, 2014 on the left and April 16, 2015 on the right. 3-5 days a week of working out most weeks, and 80/20 paleo.

Look at my face...obviously not happy!

Saying goodbye to that mom butt for good! Pretty excited about my results on the back side!

These pictures are 6 months apart. 15 pound difference. Tons of inches lost, and muscle built. I am happy with my body. I am proud of it. I worked very hard and it did not happen overnight. I put in the work and continue to do it. I hated it at first, but I love to exercise now. I love pushing my body mentally and physically. There are no quick fixes. There are no short cuts. I worked my butt off to be where I am. I want you to know that this is my life. I am not going to stop. I don't have an end goal. I do it because I love feeding my body the best I can, and training it the best I can. I believe that is what God wants for all of us. To feel our best, so we can serve him fully! I could go on and on about how being physically fit has changed every aspect of my life but this blog post is long enough! I now see exercise as a form of worship. I am worshipping God while I workout. I am training His temple!

If you need help with your wellness journey, I would love to talk to you! Email me today! Don't waste another minute!