20 Week Bumpdate

Symptoms: This week I have felt really good. I have found that laying on my back is a serious no no especially laying on the floor. Go ahead call me hardheaded and stubborn because I wouldn't disagree with you :) I have not felt that tired or without energy I feel pretty normal.

Weight/Belly: I am up 10 -11 pounds depending on the day. I still manage to eat pretty good food for the most part 4-5 out of the 6 meals I eat are in the healthy range. Today I had fish tacos for lunch they weren't that great so I ate all the fish and left half the taco. Yesterday I had pancakes for dinner and ate two of them.....I wasn't too hungry last night. I can say that I am not ravenous that's for sure. No guilt here I just try to do the best I can but I am pregnant and this will be the last time so you will find me splurging here and there mostly on decadent foods ;)

Maternity Clothes: I am wearing maternity jeans when I go out to church but I am 95% using my clothes or I have bought a bigger size in 2-3 things. All my shirts are non-maternity though. WOW I can actually say that this pregnancy. I am still wearing my regular work uniform, I have the maternity ones ready to go but I am not big enough for them yet.

Movement: Everyday!!!! After I eat mostly. She is such a doll. It's starting to feel real now and believe me I can't believe it has taken me half this pregnancy to come to the reality of my baby in there!

Sleep: Like a CHAMP! I can proudly say that this being my third pregnancy I RARLEY wake up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom.

Cravings: This week.......cake pound cake with strawberries to be exact, raisins, and peppermint gum.

Workouts: Chalean Extreme is still going strong. I am finishing up the first month.  I am also adding Turbofire in there on that additional rest day and some weight days on the weekends when I have more energy.

Best moment of the week: My husband got to feel the baby move on Sunday. It wasn't the moment we wanted as we looked at each other in shock that he felt the baby my son started jumping all over my husband.......ruined moment for sure LOL 

Goals for next week: To finish every workout and manage to bring my lunch to work for the rest of the pregnancy......

Thoughts: I can't believe I am having a baby in 5 short months! I am so anxious and excited and ready to hold my little one. I day dream about her daily and I think about what type of person she is going to be and how her brothers are going to LOVE her. It makes me smile. I am also ready to get outside and take some walks instead of being cooped up in the house all evening. I am very very excited to get out there and walk during my lunch breaks and be out in the fresh air oh yes and to wear some dresses and skirts!!!!!

A day in my life........

I am a curious person and often times that can also be seen as nosy ha ha. I do share parts of my life openly on social media but like most (I hope) it's positive and I want to be able to inspire others or let family that is far away know a little bit more about what I do and who I am. So, I purposely took pictures of my day because I often read blogs and watch vlogs of a persons day. I don't know why it intrigues me so much.....maybe it's to see if we are the same or how people spend their time.....who knows I like it! Ha ha!

I usually start my day with God. I pray, do my devotional, read the bible and complete my bible study

Workout time! Must always workout it is good for my mind body and soul. It is not a part of my day like a shower it just gets done.

Lunch Time!!!!!

The comes chores, I mean who loves this part of their day? BLEH

Then I end my day with my kiddo. One of the BEST blessings I have received!

My life is pretty routine and boring. There is an occasional trip to the stores or the mall but I spend most of my time at home with my husband and child. I wouldn't change my life for the world. I have truly been blessed as boring as it may be most times :)

Snack Ideas for on the go

This is probably the easiest but most challenging meal of my day.......snacks. I mean there are so many things that you can eat but at the same time holy crap what the heck do I eat? SO I am dedicating this blog post to snacks! The tips on what to eat when you are stumped or on to go! I am also going to provide a recipe or 2 :)

Fruit - I mean it's pretty obvious, you just either cut it up or throw a piece of fruit in your bag and you are ready to go out the door and on your way I usually buy a bag of grapes take them off the stem and bag them individually. I don't count them I just throw enough in the bag to carry me over to my next meal. Typically though I eat a banana or an apple because they are so portable.

Nuts- These are great to have you can put them in the car already portioned out in a bag or you can buy the 100 calorie packs (they are never enough) I don't usually do nuts though because I tend to over eat them and then hate myself afterward so I usually don't do this but hey, it may work for you.

Yogurt - This is pretty portable too but you need to keep it cool so if you are in a rush this may not be the best option

Vegetables with hummus - This was one of my go to snacks for a long time. I would bring my cut up vegetables and my spicy hummus and would just eat it up at my desk. I REALLY enjoyed having these around and didn't feel guilty at all. Carrots, peppers, broccoli, snap peas. I mean you could also bring veggies only with you and those are a great filling snack without the hassle!

Shakeology - I usually use this as a snack replacement not a meal replacement so it is quick all I have to do is add water shake it up and drink it. It can't get much easier than that can it?

Energy bites - These are great and they are super easy to make and very portable. To make them all you will need is

1/2 c nut butter
1 tsp vanilla
1/3 honey
1 scoop of chocolate shakeology or chocolate protein
1 cup coconut flakes
1/2 c flaxseed
1 c oatmeal
3/4 water

Mix all together roll into a ball and refrigerate. 

1/2 cup peanut butter (or other nut butter) 1 tsp vanilla 1/3 cup honey 1 scoop chocolate Shakeology 1 cup coconut flakes 1/2 cup ground flaxseed 1 cup oatmeal 3/4 cup water - See more at: http://iva-young.healthcoach.integrativenutrition.com/shakeologyno-bake-energy-bites#sthash.SDSlFaqF.dpuf

1/2 cup peanut butter (or other nut butter) 1 tsp vanilla 1/3 cup honey 1 scoop chocolate Shakeology 1 cup coconut flakes 1/2 cup ground flaxseed 1 cup oatmeal 3/4 cup water - See more at: http://iva-young.healthcoach.integrativenutrition.com/shakeologyno-bake-energy-bites#sthash.SDSlFaqF.dpuf

Hopefully these options will make things a little bit easier for you to make some healthier choices this year :)

Struggles with being healthy, I'm human too!

When it comes to leading a healthy lifestyle it is pretty easy overall once you get the hang of it but it's not always the easiest to maintain when there are "normal" people around you. I call them normal because they are the people that consider healthy eaters the "other" for example, oh YOUR healthy?? Um yeah thanks I didn't even know that was a category ha ha. I digress......

It's really hard for me to see my skinny husband eat a burger and do 5 sit ups and lose the bloat or not gain a pound. Going out to eat is also a struggle for me because as a child I never used to go anywhere and the thought of steak and potatoes sounded classy to me for I don't know how long. That is usually what I order which isn't terrible but isn't great either and I eat ALL the bread. Ha ha.

I also gauge what I eat to what other people eat because yes I am one of THOSE people that doesn't want to get criticized or made fun of because I am "Healthy" needless to say I don't go out to eat much because I am trying to save money and everything is far from me anyway BUT eating out is STILL something that comes as a problem to me because I want to be able to eat what I can't cook at home.

I also don't feel like working out every day. Not only because I am pregnant but there are days where I just want to be in lazy mode and the motivation for me to get up and move is terrible. Often times it is on the weekend that I don't want to work out. Now that I am pregnant it is Monday's but I just make that my rest day and move on. Waking up at 5:30 AM and then working all day doesn't make it fun to workout at 5 in the evening. I do my workouts because I know that once I am done I feel great!

I also deal with the struggles with time. I sometimes feel that I don't have the time to workout for 30-45 minutes all the time. I just think about the time that I would be sitting in front of the television and just go and get it done so I can stop obsessing about it. Before I was pregnant waking up at 5 to workout out and get it out of the way was super ideal for me because it was done before my real day even started but, you have to find out what works for you.

I am just like you. Working out isnt the most fun thing that I could be doing with my time but I get it done. I know that it is great for my health and will give me the health that I need for a long life. Sometimes I take a week off and there are times when I overindulge. The point is, I don't let that define me and my journey with my healthy life. It's simple really if I eat healthy more than I eat like crap and work out more than I won't eating unhealthy one time or twice a week isn't really going to ruin anything if I don't make the unhealthy living a habit.

I am here for you if you ever need help to get on the other side or you come to a crossroads where you are struggling! :)


Have a great day!

My pregnancy must haves SO far

I think every woman has their set of things that they NEED and enjoy using while pregnancy. This is what I have consistently been using since I have been pregnant and it has helped me feel as close to normal as you can while carrying a little nugget. So here we go! 

I know that most pregnancy is hormonal  but you can't help but want to do something about it so I did some internet research and I found this stuff. There IS some stuff out there that is VERY expensive, sorry I am not going to be paying no $119 for something I am going to put on my face for 5 seconds to then rinse down the drain. This stuff costs $22 you can order it online and you can also pick it up at Ulta. I also got the blemish cream and it has helped tame the hormonal acne as well and diminish some of the marks. The best part is, is that this stuff is all natural. :)

This is by far my OTHER favorite. I bought this a few weeks after I was able to start moving again and it is showing me how active or unactive I have been. The first few weeks I had it I was doing Turbofire and hit my 10,000 steps but sheesh it is really hard to get them. On a regular day I get between 5-7,000 steps. I am doing Chalean Extreme now with a little bit of Turbofire in there now. My body is actually telling me to slow down so I think the elliptical and I are going to be having 30 minute dates in the future......NOT my idea of fun, maybe Zumba? LOL All I know is that I need to get those 10,000 steps in there :)

I don't think I need to say more about this, I am not using this brand but a probiotic has been my LIFESAVER with this pregnancy! :)

I can't say enough about this stuff I LOVE it. I get all my vitamins and minerals and I am GOOD with that! I really love my shake I have been using it for the past 3 years and I am glad that I can continue to use it.

Oh hey! 5 days a week 30-45 minutes long and I get to keep my muscles? Need I say more?? NAH! You get the point!

Tummy butter, boobie cream and a leg cream i mean this combo is great they have a pregnancy combo pack for $30 and you can't beat that price considering these products are a bit on the hefty side. I do use as little as I can but it sure does go a long way. It is super moisturizing and super creamy I love love love this stuff!!!!!

That is pretty much all I have for now. I don't want to over do it with products anyway. But this is what I have been up to on the pregnancy front. One of these days is pregnancy brain will remind me to take pictures I will do a What I Ate Wednesday :) That way you can see what my "typical" diet is!


ENJOY :)

 

21 Day Fix FAQ

Recently I posted on my Facebook page about a 21 day program to lose 10 pounds. Here is what it said; 

If I could provide a 21 day workout program that's 30 minutes long, a meal plan with a way to deal with portion control so that you know what you will and won't be able to get away with, and in turn you lose 10 pounds would you be interested in doing it?

The response was overwhelming and I was totally surprised that so many people responded to my post that I had to take a minute and write a post about it so that I could answer general questions about the product! First here is a short video on the program! Check it out!

If you are interested in joining my support group on either Feb 10th or 17th or buying this program please click HERE to sign up and receive an email notification when it becomes available for purchase.


All about the 21 Day Fix Workout and Eating plan due out 2/3/14

Background:
The 21 Day Fix is a Beachbody program created by Autumn Calabrese. She is a Mom, fitness model, blogger at modernmom.com, and is a quadruple certified fitness trainer. She created the program for people that are struggling with their weight no matter what they do. It is a 21 day straight program that focuses on portion control. The best part is that you can essential eat whatever you want….the catch? It must fit in the appropriate container. You must workout 7 days a week for the 21 days and her tests groups the average weight loss was between 10 and 15 pounds.


It is bundled so that anyone can do it. I am pregnant right now and I am going to do the food part of the 21 Day Fix so that I can be the healthiest I can for me and my child. I know the workouts aren’t tailored for pregnant women but I will take a look at each one to see if I can manage any of them   I love love love that things are portioned out. This can be used by ANYONE men, women, breastfeeding moms, vegetarians; there is something in it for everyone!

Packages:
The challenge pack that includes Shakeology and the program is bundled at $140 with $2.00 shipping a savings of about $70 if bought and shipped separately.
The Base package itself is $60 with shipping.
The Ultimate Package is $119

In the base package you get;
2 DVD’s with 7 workouts that are 30 min each. They include pilates, circuit training, yoga, upper body circuit, lower body circuit. Most of these are made with a 60 second blitz and a 10-20 minute break which is pretty different.
Color coded Tupperware
Guidebook
Meal planner and food list

The Deluxe package includes everything in the base package PLUS;
2 additional workouts,
Resistance band
A bag to carry your meals if you are one that is on the go like I am



Additional Details:
The beauty of this plan and why I like it so much is you get a list of foods for each thing like carbs, proteins and such. If it fits in the container than you can eat it no guilt allowed and NO CALORIE COUNTING! You can even have wine and chocolate. I mean come on! This is the easiest plan I think I have ever heard of I haven’t seen it yet!

 You will get a daily limit of how much of each food you can get based on your activity level which is genius because I won’t be eating the same as you. It’s totally individualized and I love that!!! While I don’t know exactly what the food lists look like I know that there is and will be something there for everyone.

For equipment you will need either dumbbells are best but resistance bands will work too.


I hope this answers most of the questions that you may have been curious in regards to this epic program. I think that overall this is going to be a game changer. I plan on doing this after I have my baby as well to help me lose the weight which hopefully isn’t too much but I want to get back into my pre-baby shape as soon as possible as I have a weight standard to uphold in the military. I will have more information on Jan 30th about the complete program and will be able to help more.

I will be hosting a Challenge Group on Feb 10th and the 17th and hope that you will allow me to assist you in meeting oyur health and fitness goals! 



If you want to receive an email when the 21 Day Fix is released please click  HERE

Turkey sausage, pepper, and potatoe

There are times when I cook dinner and I come up with a recipe well, not really I scour the internet for something and then make it my own or put my own spin on it. That's pretty much how I cook. I love mixing flavors and trying new things. Sometimes it doesn't work out but more often than not BAM I make my husband happy and as a chick who cooks healthy and can make her husband happy then you know very well that you have hit the jackpot right?!?!?! 

Photo courtesy of Hillshire Farms

So here it is! 

Turkey Keilbasa (the whole thing)
1 green pepper
1 red pepper
Garlic minced (as much as you would like) 
2 tsp Cajun seasoning
2-3 potatoes depending on the size


I first boil the potatoes. Once those are done I slice the turkey keilbasa and the vegetables. I get the keilbasa going and then throw the peppers in and lastly the potatoes and seasoning with garlic. I toss that around and put it on low heat and let all the flavors meld together. After about 8-10 minutes I take it out and BLOOP you have a one bowl meal! I loved it and I will def add it to my rotation. I mean, it's not the HEALTHIEST thing that you could eat but if you want to make it healthier you can add some real turkey sausage in there or add chicken to it and you should be pretty golden!

I hope you enjoy!!!!

February 3-27th Fitness Support Group Details

I am starting a new challenge group this month and will continue to have one monthly. This challenge group is going to be 21 days in length and help you begin your healthy lifestyle. You will be with me long enough to be able to create a habit of healthy eating and exercise in addition to being motivated by seeing your pretty AMAZING results! 

You HAVE to be willing to keep an open mind and follow the rules of the support group. Please remember what your goals are and allow me to help you!

 Here is what you have to do! 

EMAIL ME jeannettealverio(at)yahoo(dot)com   and let me know that you are interested in the group.

I MUST be your assigned coach, so if you don't have a coach, click this link and create a FREE ONE!

If you have an assigned coach, you have two options! 

Reach out to your current coach and see if they run their own challenges

or 

If you are not working with your assigned coach and would like to switch, you can do so by writing coachrelations@beachbody.com and requesting to have your coach changed to Jeannette Alverio #112419.

I do not charge anything extra for you to be a part of my challenges… I require is the following:

1. You must choose a Beachbody at-home fitness program. If you own one and that is the one that you want to do I am totally okay with that. If you need to purchase a program, make sure you ask me how you can save between 25-30% OFF by ordering your Shakeology and program together! I can also assist you in finding a program that meets your goals and lifestyle challenges. Just because for example, P90X worked for me, it may not work for you because you don't ave or want to make 1 and 1/2 hours to workout.

2. You must be willing to replace one meal a day with Shakeology for the 21 days and follow my nutrition guide. This is going to ensure you get the results you desire within the 21 day period of the challenge. Your nutrition  makes up 70% of your results… Therefore there will be a major emphasis on teaching you how to eat to FUEL your body during the challenge! With what you will learn from me in your challenge you will be able to carry it forward through out your fitness journey.

3. You must be open-minded and open to sharing & participate in the group DAILY. We have assignments/check ins that will help you overcome obstacles and grow as a person so you can see this as a lifestyle change and not a quick fix. That is not what myself or Beachbody is all about. We want you to be the best you that you can be and to achieve your goals! It will require approx 5-10 minutes of your day, if you are already on Facebook it should be a cinch!

I have seen SO MANY women bounce from diet to the next with little results... THIS IS NOT A DIET, THIS is a LIFESTYLE. If you are ready to rip of the bandaid and do what it takes to live your best life... THIS is the challenge for YOU!

Clean eating while pregnant

Eating clean while pregnant has been a serious struggle for me. This pregnancy has turned me into a carb loving machine. I am talking pancakes, French toast, potatoes, rice, pasta. I love it all and if I could bathe in it I would….kidding! I have a plan to eat more REAL food and less stuff that comes from a package!

So I have made the conscious decision THIS week to start eating cleaner and letting my old carb ways fall to the wayside. I am not going to give up carbs, that would be silly but I am going to try to portion them out better instead of having meals consisting of nothing but carbs! I am also going to incorporate vegetables into our daily meals.

So this week I will post my meal plan and what I plan on eating so that you can catch a glimpse into what it is that I eat. I try to K.I.S.S (Keep it simple stupid) but there are times when I crave flavor and umph (Top Chef style cooking) and chicken broccoli and brown rice is JUST not cutting it. It’s bland and it is “diet” food if I must say so myself. 

When I was losing the baby weight after I had my son chicken, broccoli, and brown rice was a staple in my home as well as

*baked chicken with sweet potatoes and green beans

*foil wrapped tilapia with broccoli and spray butter

*baked chicken with a salad.

It worked and it did the job but damn was my palette craving more. Especially now that I am pregnant my body just wants an explosion of flavor and I am not going to skimp on that. Granted, when I first gave birth to my son was when I was REALLY unknowledgeable about health and nutrition so I ate the easiest things but they weren’t always tasty. Actually my husband now refuses to eat chicken brown rice and broccoli ever again. Not to mention my husband kind of hates chicken because we ate it so much LOL. I digress.

I have started drinking green smoothies lately because my vegetable intake is really low. I mean I went from eating the stuff every day to maybe eating a vegetable once a week…..sad I know. How I have been able to keep my weight down is a mystery to me, I will say that we can thank the workout gods for that one.

I am also going to start packing my lunches. In the beginning of my pregnancy I could not tell you what I wanted to eat so my husband and I spent a ton of money on eating sandwiches and Chinese food because I clearly had no idea what I wanted to eat. Now that I am okay and not so sick anymore packing a lunch seems more attainable than it did before. Part of me can’t wait to be “normal” again.

My meal plan for the week:

Grilled steak with green beans and a chimichurri sauce

Grilled chicken with balsamic roasted kale

Turkey sausage with peppers and potatoes

Breakfast for dinner

“Chipotle” steak bowl with rice, beans, lettuce, salsa, and guacamole.

Janurary 21 Day Challenge Group

I have done challenge groups before and I have noticed a trend in the participation and excitement happening in about the first 30 days of the challenge. It happens, life gets in the way and it challenges you and either you push through or you don't and sometimes having a 60 or 90 day challenge is HARD to commit to. I mean who knows where you are going to be in 90 days or what is going to be happening. SO I am going to start monthly 21 day challenge groups to help people who want to start their health and fitness lifestyle and stick with you long enough to make this a habit for you!

The challenge starts on January 20


So what do you get?


21 day meal plan
Grocery list
Recipes
Tips/tricks
Motivation
Support Group 
Free coaching by me
Private group to voice all your concerns, ask questions, and communicate with others with the same goals as you.

Here are some pictures of people that have participated in challenge groups 

If you are interested in joining a challenge group please email me at jeannettealverio@yahoo(dot)com and I will email you with more information! I only have 5 spots available and they fill up fast so don't wait!! 

The resolutions

Well it is now 2014! Welcome!

I have been seeing things around me pointing to me living a happier life. Don't get me wrong I am happy but I think that anyone could stand to be MORE HAPPY. I find myself living this life in my imagination a life that is AWESOME but I am too shy to make that happen. I am still a little reserved in my little life and I want to be that person that I am in my mind. So this year my resolution is to live a happier life. I am currently into The Happiness Project and I am going to read that and get more into detail with that later but that is my go to when it comes to this little resolution that I am doing :)

I spoke about adventure so this year I also resolve to ;

1.) Run the Disney Wine and Dine half marathon

2.) Fly in a hot air balloon

3.) Run 1 challenge group every month and get at least 5 people help with losing weight.

4.) Finish paying off my debt.

5.) Get all the baby weight off by Christmas.

6.) Complete a Beachbody program.

7.) Enjoy life and laugh more.

8.) Learn that my job now is a stepping stone to get the other things I want in life.

9.) Pay off all the credit card debt.

10.) Start a mutual fund putting $250 per month away in it.

11.) Give my tithes to church.

12.) Climb a mountain.

I hope that i can resolve to get all of this done by the end of the year. There is more than enough time I just have to be focused on these goals and make it a priority because in the end I am going to be better for it and I can't wait to begin!!!!!

Happy New Year to you!!!! Share your resolutions!!!!