21 Day Fix Extreme Meal Plan Week 2!!

I'm so excited the kids are finally sleeping so I can write!  Where my parents at?!  Nap time is a sweet thing. ;)

So I made it through week 1 of 21 Day Fix Extreme with lots of motivation.  I was excited to be starting a new program.  Then my nemesis... Sunday.  Its only my nemesis- in terms of eating.  I love Sundays, I love church, I love teaching children music (that's where I volunteer).  I just never get to eat on Sundays.  No matter how much I plan, I'm always rushed for time and I feed everyone else, and leave myself to starve.  All Day.  Its something I am working on.

Since I didn't eat on Sunday I was sluggish and not feeling well Monday, which led to a missed workout.  Then Tuesday I was still recovering and I missed another workout!!  I'm terrible I know. ;)  So Wednesday I did two workouts, and Thursday I did two workouts.  Just ps... on this program... Doubles are rough (for me at least).  But now I am caught up with workouts, and ready to tackle the weekend.  And Spring Break Baby!!  My husband informed me its this next week...this morning because I apparently know nothing.  Lol but thats okay.  On to planning some fun activities!

This last week, also, my children decided not to nap, and I feel like my week fell apart in a sense.  BUT I am happy, and moving forward, and looking forward to a great week.  Here is my meal plan (which actually started 2 days ago, but I was unable to post.)  I plan almost 2 weeks ahead because of my grocery shopping being so sporadic based on when I can get help, but here is just this weeks.

A couple of things:
1.  We drink Shakeology 2 times a day, because we have some extra and are trying to catch up, plus its delish and we love it.
2.  I'm also taking dairy out of our diet because we think my youngest son has a dairy allergy (like my daughter did at this age.)  So there is hardly any of it on my plan.
3.  Anything in parentheses is extra food that I eat.  I am currently eating more than my husband is.  So the parentheses help me remember what he doesn't get. (I plan and prep food for him and I.)

If you want to see my calorie amounts, or his calorie amounts here is my first 21 Day Fix Extreme Meal Plan.

Want more help with your meal plan?!  Email me!  laurenjanu@gmail.com  :)

Where is the Motivation?!

Where do you find your motivation?!  

As a stay at home mom of 3, there is no shortage of things to do.  What there is a shortage of?  Energy, and time. 

 So where do you find your motivation for things that are outside of the "scope"  of being a stay at home mom? We all have to do dishes, laundry, cleaning, cooking, wipe noses, clean hands, entertain children...etc.  The list really goes on.  So where do you get the motivation to do things like working out?  Something that is really hard, but enriches your life and make you sigh with happiness as you lay in bed exhausted...

A.)  You need to plan. Even if your day does not go as planned, at least you have a blueprint.  Something guiding you towards your next task. And your plan needs to include your workout!  If you don't schedule a time to workout, you are less likely to workout!

B.)  Get a coach.  Someone who is tuned into your needs, and can help you when you lack the motivation.  Because working out is hard.  And when your significant other looses motivation, and you lose motivation.  Who is going to push you?!  Your coach!!  Why?!  Because they have your health in mind and they know what your goals are.  If you feel like you are alone in your fitness journey, reach out to me or another coach- you aren't alone!  

C.)  Find motivation in the progress pictures, in the changes in your diet.  Find motivation in clothes fitting you in a new and better way.  You can also find motivation in the change in the scale (not my preferred method, but we all check!).

I am going through my own fitness journey, but I need motivation as well.  I have my own personal coach, who pushes me and helps me to be better (and guess what... we have never even met in person but she pushes me to be a better person).

Everyday is not lollipops and rainbows in the land of spandex and sports bras.  It is hard work.  But the hardest work gives the greatest satisfaction.

Life is hard, but we can choose how we view it, and whether we sit by and watch everyone else be happy.  Everyone can be happy, everyone can be better, and we can do it together!

I would love to be your coach! email me: laurenjanu@gmail.com

If you are wondering what this whole coach thing is about, my coach and mentor is hosting an online call. (More like a presentation, with a lots of other people)  No oligations, just to listen in, email me and ill send you the link.   I'll be listening in tonight as well. :)

  

Mid-Week Meal Plan

I know I'm a little unorthodox, but I meal plan on Wednesday.  It really works for me.  We grocery shop Thursday, Friday, or Saturday (depending on my husbands school schedule and if he has a test nearing).  I'm not a big fan of doing a ton of shopping with three kids by myself, so I generally shop with my husband.

 Here is the info everybody is probably interested in:

~I plan by calories for myself and my husband separately.
~My kids don't eat exactly like my meal plan, they eat the dinners I have planned, but their food during the day has a little more variation.  Still generally healthy, but not such a strict regime.
~I do not mass meal prep (only the afternoon snack).  I mostly prep in the morning for that days meals.  I tend to not eat the food if I have it sitting in the fridge prepped for the week...  I know I'm strange.  Also I just have a hard time carving out hours to meal prep and do the dishes.

About me:  I am currently at my goal weight, so I am eating for maintenance.  Also I am a nursing mama, so I added 500 calories to what I am supposed to be eating.  My current calorie bracket : 1800-2099

My husband:  He has about 20 lbs to lose.  His calorie bracket: 1500-1799

So we eat the same things, just in different amounts according to the program guidelines.

Overcoming Obstacles!

We've all had those face-palm days.  The days where we would love for it to be over, and to crawl into bed and just avoid the world.  Sometimes those days linger, where its not just the day, or the week, but maybe two weeks... heaven forbid longer.

Shoot.  I know some people have felt like they have had a bad year!  The question isn't WHY we have those bad days though.  Its how to we overcome.

I have been asked a lot recently how I overcome obstacles, like my abuse, or those hard days dealing with it.  So I thought I would share how I try and move past the obstacles in my life.  In thinking about it, I have come up with 5 things I do DAILY to help me not just have a good day, but to feel like I have a forward movement in life.

1.  I try and read something (at the very least listen to) 30 mins of personal development daily.  So this can mean scripture study or a personal deveolpment book.   But 30 mins of time.

2.  Write goals down.  I have yearly goals that I look at all the time and am continually working towards fulling every day.  When the day is hard I look back and see how much I have accomplished, because its all written down, there is proof that I have been working toward something.

3.  Tell yourself you are amazing.  I do this every morning.  I lay in bed and count as I tell myself that.  I don't do it so that I have an ego, I do it so that I get out of bed feeling great, not grumpy, and it gives me the boost to feel like I can accomplish anything.  I also do this mid-day if I am feeling down.  Its amazing what a little postive self talk does.

4.  Plan your entire day.  I have my goals for the day, and then I have blocks of time allotted to different activities.  I get distracted really easy, so its nice to have a plan of attack.  If I dont follow my daily plan exactly, its okay.  I have my plan so that I never have down time to feel sorry for myself.

5.  Write in a gratitude journal.  I write at least 3 things every night that I am grateful for.  This way I go to bed feeling happy, grateful and content with my day.

I still have bad days, and life is not perfect, but these are my go to ways of getting through the hard times.  Hope it helps!!

MUAH!  XO

Do You Write Your Goals Down?

I was talking to a someone once about writing goals down.  He told me that he doesn't write his goals down because it just reminds him how much he failed at accomplishing his goals.

Raise your hand if this is how you feel.  Yeah I did to.  Until I realized that I never really cared if I achieved them or not.  I would write them down and then "lose" the paper in the trash because Im not really that person.  This kind of stuff is only for those rich people who have everything handed to them on a silver platter.  Right?!?

WRONG!!

Last year i accomplished so many of my goals.  I know because i wrote them down.  Not only did I write them, I broke them down.  Into pieces.

This year I am so excited to actually be sharing my goals.  Actually Im nervous, terrified, and well I have the tinglies up and down my body because this is just hard.  Anyone else get the nervous tinglies?!  Just me? Huh.  Well my goals may not seem like much to you, and you may say, well you'll never get there, or those are too easy.  I dont care.  These are the goals that are going to move me forward.  When I accomplish one I will put another one more awesome and challenging in its place.  I know where I want to be in 5 years, and these are the stepping stones to get me there.

So here they are my 2015 goals (In no particular order of importance):

1. I AM HELPING 50 WOMEN/MEN THIS YEAR
2. I SPEND QUALITY PLAY TIME (1 HOUR) WITH MY 3 CHILDREN EVERY DAY
3. I GO ON A DATE WITH MY HUSBAND ONCE A WEEK
4. I HAVE COMPLETED CHALEAN EXTREME, LES MILLS PUMP, 21 DAY FIX EXTREME, and BODY BEAST
5. I HAVE STUDIED THE SCRIPTURES for 365 DAYS
6. I HAVE BLOGGED 2 TIMES A WEEK FOR 30 WEEKS
7. I HAVE SAVED $20,000
8. I HAVE PAID OFF ALL OUR MEDICAL SCHOOL DEBT WITH BEACHBODY
9. I HAVE BOUGHT A NEW CAR
10. I HOMESCHOOL THE KIDS

Do you write down your goals?  What would it take for you to organize your day, write down your goals, and work towards your future?  Life is all we have, there is no practice round.  So take charge and move forward!

What are your goals?!  If you promise to keep me accountable, I'll keep you accountable. :)  Id love for you to comment with one goal that you have.  And we will GO ALL IN to get it done.  You and me together.  Why am I doing this?  Because the first goal on my list is to help 50 people this year.  So are you gonna help me help you?