Birthdays, Easter Parties, a Challenge & More!

So, this last week started out pretty good!  I had my meal plan; I was armed and ready with healthy snacks; I had my mind set for a good week!  And it really was until Thursday. I had a luncheon at work where I indulged a little bit. Which isn’t so bad, but it kind of went down hill from there.  Part of it is that my monthly cycle is coming, so my cravings are worse.  I kind of used that as my excuse to keep from getting back on track.

Now trust me, I know better than anyone how viscious and overwhelming hormones can be!   But God has taught me that even when that rolls around, I can trust Him to help me overcome those emotions and cravings and make GOOD CHOICES!!!! I have shared before about my struggles with PMDD and how clean eating has transformed my struggles!  Putting good food into my body…food that God created to fuel it and make it strong…has improved my PMDD by leaps and bounds!  I am so grateful that God led me to this lifestyle. It has changed not only my life but also my family’s who has had to deal with my raging hormones in the past!

And I can always tell when I’ve consumed too much of things that are NOT good for my body.  To be specific, my PMDD is directly linked to too much sugar and aspartame.  So when I let my sweet tooth get the best of me or I drink Diet Cokes, my next cycle is so much worse!  And this week has been no different. I indulged in sweets a few times last week and had Diet Coke…failed that resolution…

Now, I see NOTHING wrong with a cheat meal or indulging here and there. But I began this journey of fitness and clean eating to improve my quality of life and thereby discovered that I didn’t need to take medicine to control my hormones and help me enjoy life more.  I found out that eating clean and working out improve not only my physical health but my mental health as well! And there is no going back for me.  My family needs me to be strong for them in both areas.  A healthy and happy mommy makes life so much smoother!

So, yesterday, I committed to stick with my plan and stay on track.  I spent some time in prayer with God asking for His help, and boy did I need it!!! We went to Memphis for Henry’s birthday and ate at Huey’s AND stopped at Gigi’s cupakes!!!!! Talk about temptation…whew!  But God didn’t let me down.  My temptation to chow down on a greasy cheeseburger or eat a Wedding Cake cupacke  (my favorite) from Gigi’s was very minimal.  Was it completely easy to pass up???  No!
But it could have been so much worse. I had my snacks packed and ready for me when I got hungry.  That way I was satisfied and not as tempted to cave when I felt the urge.

And today I am meal planning for the week ahead and prepping.  This week will be full of Easter parties (four to be exact!), Easter dinner, and Henry’s birthday!  Oh my!  So, I am going to have a plan, be prepared and stay focused.  Now, I will probably eat some of his birthday cake, I’m not going to lie! And I will probably allow myself a Cadbury Egg or two… but I commit to NOT going overboard.  And I am planning to start my 3 Day Refresh on the Monday after Easter!

I have done this a few times now, and find that it goes a long way in helping get my body back to the point where it craves the good stuff again! The refresh is not a liquid diet or one that leaves me stuck in the bathroom… Instead, I get to eat real food in addition to my shake at all three meals!  I get snacks! It’s three days without sugar, and that works in ridding my body of the cravings.  Not only that, but my mind is so much clearer after all that junk is out of my body!!!

I am doing the 3 Day Refresh with my coaches and some challengers who are committing to clean up their diet for 30 days after Easter and replacing one meal a day with Shakeology.  We are going to be in a challenge group together, where I will be:

1. Sharing my Meal Plans
2. Sharing Ideas & Recipes
3. Offering Support & Accountability
4. Sharing Scriptural Encouragement
5. Offering fun challenges and giveaways

Challenge groups are WHY I became a coach!  Without the support and accountability my first challenge group provided, I am SURE I would have given up.  I would have failed once or twice and reverted back to my old way of eating.  But not anymore!! I know now that just because I had a bad few days, that doesn’t mean that I’m done.  Instead, I pick myself back up.  Refocus. And get back on track!!!

If you would like to be a part of my 30 Day Shakeology and Clean Eating group that begins on April 6th, please just leave your information below. The group already has challengers signed up, but I am taking three more. If you want to join us, let me know so you can get your challenge pack ordered to begin with us on the 6th!

I am actually giving the 3 Day Refresh away for FREE when you buy a 30 day supply of Shakeology!!!! And not only that, when you purchase this challenge pack, you get a free 30 day trial to Beachbody on Demand…and incredible deal!!! Beachbody on Demand has access to 11 Beachbody workouts that you can stream from any electronic device! So, you get a free 3 Day Refresh, free access to some incredible workouts for 30 days, AND Shakeology.  Honestly, it’s an awesome value!  But you have to order by March 31st.

Please join us!  With warm weather and summer quickly approaching, you will not regret it! You will feel better and stronger!

xoxo,
Rachel