Forward or Backward?

Depends on how you look at it, I suppose.  When you're anticipating a certain date, do you look ahead or do you look backwards?  If something is a week away, do you look back at a week ago?  I do this.  So, Christmas is 5 months away (I know, I know...sorry!).  To check my perspective, I look back and realize that 5 months ago it was February and we were freezing.  I don't really know what purpose this serves other than to look at it from a different point of view.  Or maybe I'm just a little 'off'...could be.  Really---it's possible!

Are you still with me, or have I lost you to memories of those crazy lady in a track suit commercials from Target and ideas on how to make the perfect tree skirt out of your children's old winter coats (yeah, I saw this on Pinterest once and scrolled right on past!).  

You know what, maybe it's alright if your mind is on holidays.  And here's why.  This week, we will flip the calendar to August (again, I know...and again, I'm sorry).  So three months from now, we'll be staring down the barrel of a loaded November (see parenthetical apology above--and by the way, if you're going to be mad at me for pointing it out, could you share a little anger with your favorite retailer that's already selling turkey yard signs and pilgrim door decor?  Thanks!).  Speaking from experience, I know how overwhelming that can be to have the holiday season bearing down on you.  And the thing of it is, it comes at us every year.  Like a grown up version of hide and seek, the holidays taunt us. "Ready or not, here we come."  And, as in the game, we can't really ever hide all that well---we are, inevitably, found!  Ready or not, right?  How about like it or not?

I choose like.  And I'd like to help you choose like as well.  This year, when November rolls around why not stare it down and let it know that you're in charge?  Becoming part of a 90 Day Challenge Group NOW will set you up for a successful run through the gauntlet that is mashed potatoes, holiday happy hours, Christmas cookies, hot cocoa by the vat and a dessert buffet to rival that of a cruise ship.

Last year, I began my journey on August 6.  I wrapped up on November 3.  And man was I stronger---not only physically (praise the Lord above I can do proper push ups!) but mentally.  I noticed changes, others noticed changes, and I realized how hard I had worked for those changes (10lbs and 11"?  Yeah..gone!).  Let me tell you something...when I thought about all that work, that huge slice of pumpkin pie with a mountain of whipped cream on top seemed far less appealing.  A sliver and a dollop would suffice.  The pile of mashed potatoes?  Smaller and less smothered.  I didn't feel like I was missing out---I felt, instead, determined to treat my body well and maintain the habits I'd worked so hard to develop.

If you're up for similar success and similar results, we should talk.  I'd be more than happy to share more of my experience and help you write your own.  The decision is yours--are you going to look forward to the changes you'd like to see or look backward at the choices you've made that you wish you hadn't?  How about we compromise; look ahead at what you'll do and, in 90 days, look back at this date as the one on which you started to change.

  

Cous Cous with Herbs and Fruit

In this house, we're big fans of cous cous.  We mix it up with veggies, make it in broth or apple juice, add almonds and even sometimes crumbled feta and olives.  It's a diverse little dish, is it not?

This is another favorite way that we've made it recently...

Cous Cous with Herbs & Fruit
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups Cous Cous
4 cups low sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup flat leaf parsley; chopped
1.5 tablespoons fresh rosemary; chopped
1 tsp fresh thyme; chopped
1 medium green apple; diced
1 cup dried cranberries
1/ cup slivered almonds; toasted

Vinaigrette
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 tablespoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup olive oil

For the cous cous, heat the olive oil in  medium pan over medium-high heat.  Add cous cous and cook, stirring occasionally until slightly browned and aromatic (3-5 minutes).  Add broth and bring to a boil.  Simmer 10-12 minutes or until liquid has evaporated.  Transfer cooked cous cous to a bowl to cool.  Add parsley, thyme, rosemary, apple, cranberries and almonds.

For the vinaigrette, combine the vinegar, syrup, salt and pepper.  Whisk in the olive oil until smooth. Poor over cous cous and toss to coat.  

We serve this chilled, although I suppose you could warm it if you'd prefer it that way.  Enjoy!

Dump Cake

Family reunion time....I scan the invitation to see that most folks asked to bring a dessert will not be attending.  This is blasphemy, pure and simple.  And it must be fixed.  Cannot have an empty (or even nearly empty) dessert table.  So, I decide that I'll do my part and make something.  Something....but what?!  Brownies?  Easy enough, but already being made.  Cookies?  Yeah, but what kind?  I could buy some, right?  But then it hits me...DUMP CAKE!

 I know; it doesn't sound super yummy, does it?  Trust me on this one---it's so easy, so delicious and you'll have people asking you how you made it.  Up to you if you let on just 
how simple it is!!

So Abby and I got to work!  When I tell you this is so easy a 4 year old could do it, I'm not lying.  Kiddo made this from start to finish with a little assist here and there from Mama.


Tropical Dump Cake
2 20 oz cans of crushed pineapple; 1 drained, one not
1 package of cake mix (I use yellow; you could use white, vanilla, pineapple...)
1/2 cup of butter cut into pieces
2 cups of toasted pecans
Ice cream or whipped cream

Dump both cans of the pineapple and spread it on the bottom of a 9x13 pan
Sprinkle with the dry cake mix
Top with pieces of butter
Sprinkle with pecans
Bake at 350 for 45-50 minutes until golden and bubbly
Serve warm with ice cream/whipped cream

The result is somewhere between a fruit cobbler, a fruit crisp and a fruit bar.  And one of the best parts (besides the fact that the dish you bake/take this in is totally cleaned out by the time you're ready to leave the party!) is that you can put your own twist on it.  Use apple pie filling and a spice cake mix.  Cherry pie filling and a chocolate cake mix.  Go for it!

What's In a Date?

Some dates hold a significance that we all know; December 25.  February 14.  October 31.  Some dates hold a significance that's unique to you; October 11 (my wedding anniversary), December 10 (my husband's birthday), July 21 (the day I became a Mommy!) and July 28 (my HALF birthday...what?!  Don't judge!!).        

And then there's August 6.  It's a pretty basic day.  No one I know celebrates a birthday on that day.  No one I know has an anniversary.  It's not a holiday.  Until now.

I've decided that I will celebrate August 6 as my own personal holiday.  August 6, 2013
marks one year since I started a Challenge Group.  I purchased TurboFire.  I bought Shakeology.  I begrudgingly took my pictures and wrote down my measurements.  I talked to my Coach.  I talked to my Coach again.  And again.  Hey, what can I say--I needed a little reassurance.

You can say it sounds cliche (it does, I know!), you can roll your eyes if you want to, but August 6 is the date that I look back on as "the date things changed for me in a significant way."  I guess that's kind of obvious--why else would I be writing about it if it wasn't significant!?

In any event....August 6, 2012 was the day I first pushed play.  It's the day I began my 90 day commitment to Turbo Fire, Shakeology, my group, my Coach, my family and myself.  It was the day I stopped talking about change and starting CHANGING!

I pushed through bad days, busy days, cranky days, hot days, I-don't-wanna-do-it days and I-don't-know-if-it's-working days.  I faithfully checked off the days on the calendar that came with my workout and relied on the occasional wake up call from my Coach (Opening my eyes and functioning at 5am doesn't always come easily!).  I made time each morning to whip up my Shakeology before Abby and I hit the road--the whirl of the blender making Abby clasp her hands over her ears and shout at me, "Mama, is it shake time?"--and checked into my Challenge Group on a daily basis, finding that by adding my voice to the mix, I was getting so much out of it.

The workouts got easier---or more to the point, I got better and stronger---and I found myself actually looking forward to them.  That time I spent in the basement kicking, punching, stretching, and sweating---that time became MY time.  Time to focus on my health, my peace of mind.  It was fantastic.  Through it all, my Coach and I checked in with one another to be sure I was on track.  Days checked became weeks of check marks and eventually, the entire calendar was filled...success!

I suppose that if I'm going to celebrate August 6, I might as well celebrate November 3 too.  November 3 was the 90 day mark and the day I "graduated" from my TurboFire Challenge Group.  This time around, taking my pictures and recording my measurements wasn't such a chore; I was proud of the changes and excited to share the results with my Coach---10 pounds and 11 inches GONE! 

As I approach August 6 2013,  I'm taking stock at how far I've come.  At this point, I've lost 16 pounds and 14 inches overall.  I've become a Coach and helped others through Challenge Groups of my own.  I've helped nearly 2 dozen people improve their health and I've gained another source of income. 

And then there's the fun things that aren't totally number-related---I've puchased shorts and I actually wear them!  I wore a bikini this year at the beach.  I eat breakfast every morning, now.  I have encouraged family members to drink Shakeology--and they're seeing benefits, too!  All in a year's time!   

While Hallmark might not make a card for this specific occasion, I'd like to think that, if they did, it'd feature a picture of a very happy girl and words like EMPOWERED and PROUD and INSPIRED and GRATEFUL.  Inside, there'd be a message about accomplishing goals, setting new ones and being brave enough to leave your comfort zone and reach for greatness.  And I'd like to think I'd send it to myself as a reminder.

And you know what?  I'll send one to you, too.  Because you can have your own date.  What date will you choose to be the one that you look back on as "the" date?  I had no reason to start on August 6; I wasn't waiting for a perfect date or a date that was somehow already significant.  I simply made the decision that I'd was ready.  Are you?  Let's push play!
    


 

That Needs Water

Like a plant that needs to be watered (at any given moment in my house, I have at least 3 of these green buggers in need of some H2O--why would I water them all at once and make life easier), this blog needs a little attention, I know.

I've been blogstipated lately--and it's no fun.  I want to write.  I need to write.  But write, I cannot.  Oh, I have 4 or 5 draft posts saved, waiting patiently to come back to them, finish the thought and click PUBLISH.  And they've been waiting.  And waiting.  And waiting.

So in an effort to "Just Do It" today's post is going to be potpourri-style.  A little of this, a little of that...toss it all out there.  Get something out there.  In no particular order and with no real format.  You up for it?  Okay, let's go.

Last Monday evening, my husband, daughter and I returned from a nice, long vacation in North Carolina.  Many hours in the car, arriving in the wee hours of the morning and no expectation of Abby being willing to lay down and go to sleep for a few hours all to be able to exhale, unplug and simply BE.  And what an incredible feeling it was.

Our visit consisted of--among many other things--lazy breakfasts, hours of Abby and Aunt Jen Jen (my sister) playing, playing games, cooking dinners for one another, visiting with my Sister in Law, niece and nephew, hitting the aquarium when Mother Nature served up WAY too much rain to stay outside, turning the bottom of the steps into a stage and lots of time by and in water---pool, ocean, river and even rain.  We shopped, we laughed, we took long walks and runs, we caught a baseball game, we built sandcastles and we drank Gin & Tonics with lots of lime and ice.  We celebrated lots of July birthdays and pinched ourselves at how quickly time is flying by.  It felt like, smelled like, sounded like summer.  And I took it all in, knowing that all too soon it'd be over and we'd be packing the car with the precision of building a jig-saw puzzle and heading north.

On the way north, we made a couple pit stops.  One stop was to meet up with a dear friend of mine and her family---haven't seen this girl in at least 4 years (which is just wrong!) and it was so special to spend some time with her---and laugh!  We both acknowledged that we would have never been able to plan something to work out as perfectly as this impromptu visit did; couple of texts, checking a map to find a meeting spot and getting her Mom's 2 cents on where to eat---all the pieces fell into place perfectly.

And just as perfectly executed was our next pit stop at Elon University (College!) to visit another dear friend of ours; the former Chaplain for the school.  He agreed to meet with us and capture Abby's 4th Birthday portraits on campus.  I had more than a few "goosebump moments" as I watched my little girl walk along the very same bricks I walked day in and day out during my time at Elon.  To see Abby on the floor of the gym where I participated in several special occasions and to take her to my old dorm...it was surreal.

We stayed the night, making a special trip to Cook Out (you can't be in NC and NOT go to Cook Out!) and a trip to the campus shop in the morning.  One more walk around campus and it was time to head home. 

You know that point when you're away from home where you're enjoying your time, yet sort of missing home?  Yeah--we were all there at that point.  Thankfully we arrived home safe and sound--no major incidents, and only about 45 "are we there yets" from the backseat.  I'll count that as a win. 

And what was waiting at home?  A cool new workout called Focus T25 and delicious new Vanilla Shakeology.  It was time to get back at it and re-enter life in reality mode.  Vacation Amy no more---this Amy means business!

If you've read other posts or even noticed the title of my blog, you know that life is hectic on a good day, crazy on a, well, crazy day.  And, by way of a disclaimer, I'm not suggesting I'm any busier than anyone else or that I'm special in some way.  Nope, I'm busy.  Like you, and you, and you over there. 

More than once, I've wished for extra time in each day and the patience/wisdom to use the time I do have to the best of my ability.  Not alone here, either--right?  I'm beginning to wonder if Shaun T can read minds.

When he created Focus T25, it was with people like us in mind.  People who could really get into a workout that's 25 minutes 5 days a week.  Yeah, 25 minutes 5 days a week.  To flip that around, that means you have 1415 minutes a day and 2 whole days to do other things.  You know, like LIFE!

It's an intense 25 minutes; I can't lie.  But it's TWENTY FIVE minutes and you're done.  And feeling pretty damn satisfied and proud by the way.

And then there's Vanilla Shakeology--what can I say about that?!  It's so yummy!  As with the other flavors, there are a zillion options for how to mix it and make it your own.  Taste aside,  this stuff packs a nutritious punch.  And who doesn't need a little more nutrition in a day?

I would be happy to share more details on the workout and Vanilla Shakeology if you'd like.  Feel free to reach out.

Wow, that feels good...it's out there!  Thanks for coming along for the ride.  I'll update it with pictures soon too.  I suppose I'm really pushing my luck to expect both a blog AND pictures.  Baby steps, right?!
 

N. E. W.

N.E.W.--Now Everyone Works!  Not that we weren't working before, but there's a decidedly different feel to the start of this month.  Maybe it's because it's a new day, a new week, a new month...it all feels very clean-slateish.  And it gets me super excited.

What's more, there's a new program and a new Shakeology flavor, too.  So, you see...there's a lot to get you super excited to.  Let me explain.

Six months ago was New Year's Day (no, really!).  People were waking up (some more slowly than others) and making lists of resolutions (some longer than others) over coffee (some stronger than others).  Stop using credit cards, get a new job, reconnect with an old friend.  Eat better, exercise more, make more time for myself.  You know the lists. Some of these may have been on your list.

And now here we are, six months later.  Who's looking at their list today and seeing things crossed off?  Who even knows where their list is today?  Yeah, that's what I thought.  And you know what?  I'm not here to shame you about that or lower my eyes and give you the old wagging finger tsk tsk tsk.  Nope.  I'm here, holding out a new sheet of paper and a pen (yes, I know most people do this sort of thing electronically these days, but whatever!) so we can make a new list together.

This new list is going to include specific goals.  What the heck does "eat better" even mean?  How about  a goal of "I will plan and prep my meals on Sundays and eliminate fried foods."  Or exercise more.  What's more to you? How about "I will incorporate a workout into at least 5 days of every week and I will take the stairs at work and anywhere else that it's feasible."  Specific goals combined with a disciplined approach and an accountability partner will help reshape your list (and your body!) and get some things crossed off!

What's that accountability piece, you're asking?  Well---I'll tell you.  It's ME!  It's others in a Challenge Group.  It's people with like minds working together to achieve similar goals.  And you can be part of it.

Starting next Monday, I will be launching a brand new Challenge Group dedicated to the exciting new workout Focus T25.  Shaun T takes you through an intense 25 minute workout 5 days a week.  Read that again....25 minutes a day, 5 days a week.  EVERYONE can make that kind of time available to get in great shape and kick some unhealthy habits to the curb.

And the new Shakeology flavor?  Vanilla.  Yep...we've now got Tropical Strawberry, Chocolate, Greenberry and Vanilla.  We thought there was something for everyone before; now there really is a flavor for everyone to love.  The product has been available for less than a month, and already there are posts upon posts from people wanting it, people who've tried it and people who've sold out of their samples.  It's that good.  And really, who wouldn't want to start their day with a milkshake for heaven's sake?  Especially when you consider that milkshake is the healthiest meal of the day? 

To be part of this Challenge Group, you need 3 things:  Focus T25, Shakeology and determination.  I can help you order the first two and find the third. 

If you're ready to own the second half of 2013, to make this your "New Year" email me today and we'll get started.  Think about it this way; in 60 days (which is essentially Labor Day by the way) would you rather look and feel stronger and be better armed with tools to help sustain your new lifestyle or are you okay heading into fall and winter still needing to take that first step?

Email me today at amyjumba@yahoo.com
and let's write your new list!