New Year's Insanity 60-day and beyond Challenge

I am going to start this challenge on January 14th. It will go for 60-days and beyond. I say beyond because we will grow a great support group in hear and keep holding each other to our life style  change!! After you follow these steps to get into the challenge, please comment on here or send me an email to lexisleanmachines@hotmail.com. So I can be sure to get you in the group.

Here are the rules:

 

1.     You must have an account on TeamBeachbody.com and I, Alexis, must be your coach. If you haven't made an account, you may do so by going to www.beachbodycoach.com/lexislnmachines and clicking "join." A basic free membership will do. If you are a member and have a different coach, please email coachrelations@teambeachbody.com and ask them to set your coach as LexisLNMachines, coach ID 136180 Thank you!

2.     Challenge packs aren't required, but having Shakeology in your court does help. If you need/want a challenge pack, check 'em out here: http://teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/BCPSAN205?referringRepId=136180 Challenge packs get you a 30 day supply of Shakeology, Insanity program and 30 days VIP access to the message boards where you can get free workouts, a meal planner and you get in on live chats with the trainers which is pretty sweet.

3.     Insanity by itself can be purchased here: http://teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/InsDeluxeReco?referringRepId=136180

4.     ACCOUNTABILITY IS MANDATORY! This challenge is centered in my Facebook group which is secret so your friends can't see your posts or even that you're in there. Post about what you ate, what you wish you could have ate, how your workout went, any struggles or questions you have with diet or exercise. Just make sure you check in EVERY SINGLE DAY! This is how we stay on track and the support we can give each other is one of the best motivational tools you can get.

5.     Nutrition is half of this! Make sure you break open the nutrition guide and calculate your calories!

6.     Keep track of what you eat! You bite it? You write it! That goes for what you drink too.

7.     Take a before pic! When you're done with the 60 days, submit that pic with your after photo to the Beachbody Challenge and you get a free t-shirt. Your before pic is a great motivational tool. Especially if you put it in places where you're forced to look at it. Don't want to workout? Look at yourself in your underwear. It works!!!

New Year's 6-week Nutrition Makeover Rules

Are you making your New Year’s Resolutions to get on a diet and lose that weight you told yourself last New Year’s you were going to get rid of? Well let me help you. Have you taken the time to evaluate your nutrition? I had an eye opening experience when I first took a look at mine. Not only was I not getting enough calories in to support my calorie burn from working out, but I was not getting any of the correct food. Take my 6-week nutrition makeover challenge and let me help you get on the right track.  This does NOT mean you will be on a diet. This is a makeover to start your lifestyle change. This does not mean you have to give up your French fries or favorite dessert, it just means you need to learn moderation and to eat well overall. Starting on January 14th we are going to start learning how to do this.

I am putting together an online nutrition makeover challenge group. This group will not meet in person, but will meet in a private Facebook group. In this group I will provide mini realistic challenges, direction, support and motivation. Let me ask how comfortable are you in your own body right now? Before I figured out the better side of nutrition, I was completely uncomfortable with my own body. I ask you this question because this challenge may take a toll on you emotionally and make you a bit uncomfortable. But remember the big picture, we are doing this makeover to help you get comfortable in your own body.

Here are my Rules: (After you follow these steps to get into the challenge, please comment on here or send me an email to lexisleanmachines@hotmail.com. So I can be sure to get you in the group.)

1.      You have commit to do this. I mean truly be committed to doing this with me and learning this lifestyle change. I want people who are serious about getting on the right track. We will be a group that will be keeping each other up and positive during this process and if someone drops out on us, you will be hurting the support system. Please think hard about this.

2.      For the entire 6-week you MUST check in daily. At the very least once a day, but everytime you eat would be ideal. The more you post, the more you are holding yourself accountable for what you put into your mouth. And this in turn supports others and helps motivate them.

3. I must be your Team Beachbody coach to be in on this challenge! If you do not have a Team Beachbody account, you can sign up through my site at beachbodycoach.com/lexislnmachines and click join. A free membership will suffice. If you do have an account, you can set me as your coach by emailing coachrelations@teambeachbody.com and asking them to set your coach as LexisLNMachinesl, coach ID 136180.
4. I am requiring Shakeology on this one. Now I know, it's expensive but I want you to think about something before you say you can't afford it. Is that really true? Is there something else you are spending money on you probably don't need to be that you could put that money toward something that is so incredibly good for your body? If it’s you daily morning Jamba juice or Starbucks, knock it off. I can show you have to make an amazing recipe to replace either one!! Having ShakeO in the mix makes this SO EASY! That's your breakfast right there! BAM! One less meal to have to think about. I absolutely recommend ordering HD (monthly autoship) Shakeology BECAUSE a. you get free shipping so you save some money. b. You're going to be on this challenge for more than one month so you are saving shipping 2 months in a row and c. WE WILL BE DOING A SHAKEOLOGY CLEANSE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS CHALLENGE so this ensures that you have enough. Also - you can cancel the HD any time with an email to customerservice@teambeachbody.com no questions asked. It does not matter what flavor you get, but I would recommend getting the bag over the packets - you get more servings. You can get Shakeology from my site: beachbodycoach.com/lexislnmachines or my ShakeO site: myshakeology.com/lexislnmachines OR from the Team Beachbody store. Shakeology seriously changed my whole world. (I am a stay at home mom and I found myself always snacking because food was staring at me, but once I started Shakeology I no longer am hungry. So if I look at food when it’s not a scheduled time to snack I walk right by it.) And if you are thinking, but if I absolutely can not stomach Shakeology and then I am out the money. First off, I think you are going to love it. Second off, they have a 30-day money back guarantee!! (There is also a way to get a way to get a discount, if interested send me a message.)

5.      In this there will be absolutely no negative talk, not even about yourself. This group is here to support each other and that also means supporting yourself. If you are an emotional eater, part of beating that is learn to talk and treat yourself positively!!!

So if you want to join me on this, please email me at lexisleanmachines@hotmail.com with the subject reading "July Food Challenge" and I will tell you how to join. I am limiting the amount of challengers to 10 and it is first come, first serve but PLEASE, I ask again: MAKE SURE YOU ARE WILLING TO COMMIT 100%. This is serious business and we all make ourselves vulnerable by entering into a challenge like this. Your being there is a link in the chain of support. So let's help each other be strong, stay on track and do this.

Cleaning out food before the holidays..

Whose cupboards look like this:



First off, I can't find squat when it's time to go make some supper. Second off, look at the junk food in there. And when I say junk food, I mean crap that is not healthy or me or my family. I have tons of Ramen noodles, Jingos crackers, tons of pasta, tons of different full of salt sauces and much more.

Plans for bringing in the New Year are to make over my entire families eating habbits and organize my cabinet space. Ha.

Let me start with organizing. For me organizing my cupboards makes it easy for me to open the cabinet and grab exactly what I was looking for. This in turn helps me avoid finding some junk food, when I was reaching in for an ingredient to add to my shakeology.

Next, I am going to get rid of the processed foods or at least the white pastas. I will fill the cupboard with wheat pasta, brown rice, quinoa, and sweet potato chips.

As for the sauces, I am going to make every sauce I want homemade. Then I know exactly what is in it. I have recipes for homemade sweet n sour, homemade ketchup, and homemade mustard.

Check back after the 1st for an organized picture of my cupboards.

Day in the life of toddlers...

A day in the life of toddlers... Should be written as a day in a house full of toddlers.. My days start at six in the morning with the two year old girl screaming for me to come to her. I ask her to come to me, but no she just keeps yelling for me (she isn't in a crib so she can escape.) Then when I get to her she just wants me to carry her back to my bed???? For the love of sleep child please.

So now I am up, guess I will go make up some coffee. Meanwhile, said two year old is in my bed supposed to be watching SpongeBobSquarePants. But she is finding a sharpie and coloring pretty pictures on my nice Egyptian cotton sheets. Really all that coloring before the coffee is done dear??

Then the three year old boy wakes and he is a cranky cranky cranky morning person. He cries and yells at me that he wants a different shirt and doesn't want this shirt then not that shirt then not that shirt. Literally 5 shirts to end up back at the very first shirt I gave him?? Ummm, coffee is still not done, dang I need a Keurig or a chef???

We got to take the nice, extremely hormonal, eleven year old daughter to school and the three year old boy stands at the end of the driveway screaming bloody murder that he didn't get to shut the door and he wants a different coat. At this point I might be hoping someone will call child services just so I can have a cup of coffee in peace???? Finally get him in the car and start driving to the school and the two year old decides she needs to have a breakdown because she didn't remember her doll to bring with her. It's okay Nat, we will be home in five minutes and you can play all day with dolly. This makes her scream louder, so I turn up the music just a tad bit louder. Finally breakdown is forgotten and we are all singing the current song.

Get home and let kids in and sit them down with breakfast. I take the bills to the mailbox. I walk back in and the two year old has emptied the entire box of kleenex onto the floor (120 or whatever 100 # of kleenex on the floor) and the three year old has emptied the brand new loaf of bread onto the floor with the kleenex. My dang mailbox is seriously right at the end of my drive way which is the normal small walk to the mailbox driveway. How did they do that?

Day goes on and I walk back out to the mailbox to get my mail this time and this is what I walk into:

Do you see what is missing in this picture??? The lovely table leg is MIA?????? It was so there when I walked out to the mailbox?

I am so taking a 6 month deployment when the hubby gets back!! He says it's easier now because they are older. BLEEEEEEPPPPP THAT!!!! When theywere babies they just rolled everywhere, not took entire house apart in a minute flat???

Lasagna soup, it's a keeper

With the hubby away, I am making at least a soup a week. He doesn't like soup unless it is extremely thick. This one thickened up enough at the end and tomorrow that I am sure he will love it.

Lasagna Soup Ingredients
Pasta (cooked as directed on package)
1 lg onion, diced
1 green pepper, diced
1 red pepper, diced
1 1/2 lb ground beef
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 tsp italian seasoning
28 oz diced tomatos
12 oz tomato paste
2 beef bouillon cubes
10 cups water
3 oz mozzerella cheese
Seasoned cottage cheese:
Cottage cheese
1 oz parm cheese, grated
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp italian seasoning
pepper

Directions:
Saute oil, onion, green pepper, and red pepper about 5 to 7 minutes until soft.

 

 

Then add in the ground meat, garlic, italian seasoning and brown for 5 to 7 minutes until all browned.

Add in the rest of the ingredients up to the cottage cheese mixture. And bring to a boil. Then simmer on low and cover for 15 minutes.

Then put into bowls and top with the seasoned cottage cheese.

And serve, my kids at three bowls a piece and they are very picky eaters!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!

Easy light supper

Tonights supper is a salsa chicken salad. You put the chicken breast in the crockpot and let it cook for 5 hours on high. Then put your salad on your plate and toss a chicken breast on top and then top with a corn and black bean salsa, DONE!!! YUMMY!!!

Even my kids licked the plate clean tonight. And it didn't take much of my work at all. These type suppers are the best when the hubby is away with work and the kids are crazy. HA!!!

mom time!!

Today I had a friend from high school come up. We live about an hour and twenty minutes from each other. She has 4 girls and I have 3 children (1 boy and 2 girls). You would think this would make the house twice as loud and crazy and want to pull our hair out, but it actually relaxed both of us. We sat and ran over our memories and shared new stories about our girls. We walked to the park and played volleyball and played on the playground with our kids. The best mom time in a long time!!!

I learned this week that life is just to short and you have no clue what will be in 5 minutes from now, so hug those around you and take time to enjoy the moment.

Kids school schedules???

Daughter came home on Weds night and said mom spelling bee is Friday at 9 and I am in it. Be there or be square???? What??? This Friday?? Like one day to practice and one day to clear schedule?? Why, why must they tell you at the last second?? I mean yes a lot of parents won't have time to leave work anyways, but I DO AND I WANT TO BE THERE!!!!

Anywho, I made it in just enough time. She got 8th in the whole school, SO PROUD!!!!

That is Kaela on her first word. Love her to pieces!!! And I don't know whose heads are in front of me, ha!!!

Crazy Child!!

So yesterday was a HARD HARD day for me. I found myself just randomly crying at odd times and staring off into space. Well my youngest daughter took full advantage of the mommy has gone looney and I can do anything situation. HA.. Here is a picture of her redressing herself, got herself a ring pop sucker, and she threw dog food everywhere and I am pretty sure she ate some of the dogfood? I love her!!!

Best snack ever!!!

I have had a week from you know where. Kids sick, hurt foot, and to top it off I lost a very dear friend this am. To comfort myself I wanted to grab a gallon of ice cream and lock myself in the bathroom, so I wouldn't have to share with the sick kids. So I went to find my gallon and in it's place was this:

Snickers mini ice cream bars and they are only 90 calories a bar. Just enough to get me through two hours and then I can have another. :) Makes for a very happy momma!!

Healthier Jalapeno Poppers

Jalapeno poppers are our favorite snacky food. We have found that making them at home is a much healthier menu item. Here's how we do it:

You need:
10-15 fresh jalpenos
Neufchatel cheese
Turkey bacon

 

I cut the jalapenos in half and then I take the veins and seeds out. Then I slice the cheese into pieces and place them inside each of the pepper halves.

 



 

 

Then I don't even open the bacon and I cut it down the center, so I know have two halves of bacon. I take a slice of bacon and wrap it around each cheese stuffed pepper and place it on a baking sheet.

 

 

 

Then I turn the oven on and to 375 and I bake for 15-20 minutes, depends on your want for crispy bacon. These are amazing!!! Even the kids can't get enough.

 





From Momma to MILF!!!

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Bumps in the road to super fit..

Why, why does there always have to be bumps in the road to getting super fit?? My first time through Insanity, I got knee pain so bad that I would wake up at night from a dream that seemed so real. The dream was that I was having surgery on my knee and it was going wrong and I was actually in pain when I woke up. I went to the doctor and he told me I had the start of tendonistis in my knee. He suggested I take a joint supplement pill and then to take a piece of ice massage my knee for 5 minutes. I was also suggested to get cross trainer shoes. All of these things helped, but I lost almost 2 weeks before I could go back full force, hence the bump in the road.

When I started P90X, I got horrible wrist pains with the push-ups and pull-ups. I had to try to modify the moves but no matter what I did after about 4 of the moves I was in to much pain to do anything. I had to try to keep modifying and limiting the amount I did, this put me back a couple weeks and even made me want to stop the program. I thought man if I just changed to a different program I could be doing something and possibly seeing a change. Yet another bump in the road.

My list goes on and on.. Sickness, family issues, (I am a military spouse w/3 kids) deployments come up, school functions. My point is you may have a bump in the road, but please push that voice of that little guy sitting on your shoulder telling you that you are to busy to do any workout or to sick to move. Push that voice WAY AWAY!!! Stay on it, push to that goal, and last but not least ASK FOR HELP to stay on track. Ask me or any Beachbody coach, we all have the same goal to get you to your fitness or health goal!! END THE TREND!!

Stop the excuses...

Today my thoughts run to the excuses I am getting left and right from just about everyone I speak to. Not just with fitness, they give me excuses for anything and everything. I got an excuse as to why the biscuits were expired on the shelf at the store and why the woman was not going to remove them because she didn't know where to put them???? Um, on the manager's desk for all I care get them off the shelf.

My children are starting the excuses of my toe hurts I can't put that back on the table mom. Ummmm, what you are 2???????? I am pretty sure even the dog barks an excuse at me as to why he can't go outside right this moment........

But the excuses that get under my skin the most are the ones that people give me to not exercise. I know I used to be the queen of excuses, but STOP!!!!! You can't whine to me that you want this sooooooooo bad and then start out your sentence with, "Well, I should be able to but......." I may make a rule that you CAN NOT say "but" or "can't" in my challenge groups. I do not want to hear that out of your mouth. You can do anything you put your mind to, you just have to fight the guy wearing the devil suit sitting on your shoulder saying I am to tired, I did to much already today, and so on.... MAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF!!!!! You will appreciate it much more in the end!!

And the excuse of it costs to much, something that could save your life should not have a price tag on it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Exercising can save your life and the dvds that I have to offer you, you can do in your home at lunch time, before bed, when you wake up, or heck, when you wake up at 2 am and everyone else is asleep but you can't sleep PUSH PLAY!!!!!!!!!!! I wouldn't back these up if they didn't work. Look at my picture on beachbodycoach.com/lexislnmachines, if you go into my profile it has before and after pics and you can see a big difference. That was Insanity at it's best!! P90X and Les Mill's PumP is helping with my arm flab that flops in the wind when I wave hello to someone.  Plus I can now carry my 2 and 3 yr old, at the same time, for quite a distance and not whine about my arms hurting. And best of all when they run, I CAN CATCH THEM and not be so out of breath that I pass out and they get away again. ;)

Okay, enough ranting and raving today!!! Please if you want help message me and I will help you!! I needed help once and someone took my hand and helped me see the ways. I love paying it forward!!! I have nutrition challenges and workout challenges and challenges that involve both nutrition and workingout!!!

Happy DAY!!

What's your why for wanting to get in shape??

What's my why for wanting to get into shape and stay in shape? This something that I keep a personal journal about almost everyday. I sit and think why do I want to lose these last 30 pounds? I am married for 8 yrs now and we have been together for almost 12 years, I am not looking to impress anyone new with a smokin-hot body?? I am not really really sick with anything that is making me lose the weight?? Hmmm???

It's the fact that I have three amazing children and I want to teach them that even though I do not want to do something I still have to. I want to install in them that eating nutritously and doing exercise is a way of life and part of your everyday life. I mean, it is so easy to come up with a reason to not to do it. I am tired, I have to do so much with the kids (and they come first before anything for me), or I'll do it later......... I DON'T want them to learn these easy habits. I want them to always always make time for themselves in this matter. And for them to still have junk food once in awhile, but to know what the healthiest choices are and how to basically have control over your own health.

All the above is my why!!! My why I push play on my dvd's everyday. My why for me coaching beachbody, this way I can not only help my kids and myself, but I can help anyone and everyone.

So tell me what is your WHY???

Shrink you waist with Nutrition

When I started this weight lose jouney, I heard the exact words "You can shrink your waist with nutrition." Well my idea of nutrition was eat less junk food and eat less food period. So I got to chatting with my challenge group at the time (I was in an Insanity challenge group) and they were all talking about counting calories. WHAT??? Who does that, to much work if you just stop eating as much you'll be fine. Well I got one month in and I had no changes. I mean NO CHANGES.. So I spoke up and asked do y'all count your calories on paper or by computer. They suggested I use myfitnesspal.com or livestrong.com. On these sites you can put in what workouts you have done and the site not only gives you the recommended calorie intake before workout, but gives you back more calories to eat for what you burned. Really??? Gives you back more calories. This is nuts, but okay everyone else is doing it so it must be okay.

So my first day of tracking calories. I got in 800 calories I was supposed to have at least 1500 without working out and 1800 because of workout?? What?? I can't eat that much it will just keep the weight on. So I talked to coaches and finally a couple nutritionist and they all stated, stop thinking eating nothing is going to help you. They told me give it a try at very least the 1500 calories.

Ok fine, how am I supposed to get that many calories in? I was pretty full feeling at 800 calories?? So I took the 1500 calories and I divided it by the number of meals I can fit in during the day. I decided if I eat every 2 1/2-3 hours I can do 6 meals in the day. So I went for the 1800/6= 300 calories at each meal. Ok that is a much easier number to keep in mind at every meal then the overall picture of 1800.

So now what is going to fill me up and equal that amount. I ordered the Shakeology from beachbody, when I add in the fruit and such to the recipes, BAM 1 meal filled. Next meal I got turkey sausage patties and they are 150 calories per 1 patty, add in a slice of cheese, 1 egg, and possibly half an english muffin and bam another meal filled up. I took veggies with hummus and a cup of popcorn and bam another meal pretty close to the 300. I made a sandwich with wheat bread, 3 slices of lunch meat, slice of cheese, condiment, couple pieces of lettuce, and add in a piece of fruit and bam another meal filled in. I made up pudding and had a cup and another fruit. Dinner was easy!!! Chicken breast, veggies, and half a cup of rice. And for dessert I made up Shakelogy into ice cream, I was in heaven and hit my goal.

This went on for 2 weeks and then I did my fit test and I felt more energy in powering through it. I jumped on the scale and down 8 pounds. I measured my waist and hips and I am down 2 inches in each place. I am a firm firm firm believe now that at least hitting an amount of calories helps out amazing!! Try it and let me know your thoughts.

6-week Nutrition Makeover Challenge Rules

Have you been working out and wondering why is my body not changing? Have you taken the time to evaluate your nutrition? I had an eye opening experience when I first took a look at mine. Not only was I not getting enough calories in to support my calorie burn from working out, but I was not getting any of the correct food. Take my 6-week nutrition makeover challenge and let me help you get on the right track.  This does NOT mean you will be on a diet. This is a makeover to start your lifestyle change. This does not mean you have to give up your French fries or favorite dessert, it just means you need to learn to eat well overall.

I am putting together a nutrition makeover challenge group. This group will not meet in person, but will meet in a private Facebook group. In this group I will provide mini realistic challenges, direction, support and motivation. Let me ask how comfortable are you in your own body right now? Before I figured out the better side of nutrition, I was completely uncomfortable with my own body. I ask you this question because this challenge may take a toll on you emotionally and make you a bit uncomfortable. But remember the big picture, we are doing this makeover to help you get comfortable in your own body.

Here are my Rules:

1.      You have commit to do this. I mean truly be committed to doing this with me and learning this lifestyle change. I want people who are serious about getting on the right track. We will be a group that will be keeping each other up and positive during this process and if someone drops out on us, you will be hurting the support system. Please think hard about this.

2.      For the entire 6 weeks you MUST check in daily. At the very least once a day, but everytime you eat would be ideal. The more you post, the more you are holding yourself accountable for what you put into your mouth. And this in turn supports others and helps motivate them.

3. I am requiring Shakeology on this one. Now I know, it's expensive but I want you to think about something before you say you can't afford it. Is that really true? Is there something else you are spending money on you probably don't need to be that you could put that money toward something that is so incredibly good for your body? If it’s you daily morning Jamba juice or Starbucks, knock it off. I can show you have to make an amazing recipe to replace either one!! Having ShakeO in the mix makes this SO EASY! That's your breakfast right there! BAM! One less meal to have to think about. I absolutely recommend ordering HD (monthly autoship) Shakeology BECAUSE a. you get free shipping so you save some money. b. You're going to be on this challenge for more than one month so you are saving shipping 2 months in a row and c. WE WILL BE DOING A SHAKEOLOGY CLEANSE IN THE MIDDLE OF THIS CHALLENGE so this ensures that you have enough. Also - you can cancel the HD any time with an email to customerservice@teambeachbody.com no questions asked. It does not matter what flavor you get, but I would recommend getting the bag over the packets - you get more servings. You can get Shakeology from my site: beachbodycoach.com/lexislnmachines or my ShakeO site: myshakeology.com/lexislnmachines OR from the Team Beachbody store. Shakeology seriously changed my whole world. (I am a stay at home mom and I found myself always snacking because food was staring at me, but once I started Shakeology I no longer am hungry. So if I look at food when it’s not a scheduled time to snack I walk right by it.)
4. I must be your Team Beachbody coach to be in on this challenge! If you do not have a Team Beachbody account, you can sign up through my site at beachbodycoach.com/lexislnmachines and click join. A free membership will suffice. If you do have an account, you can set me as your coach by emailing coachrelations@teambeachbody.com and asking them to set your coach as LexisLNMachinesl, coach ID 136180.

5.      In this there will be absolutely no negative talk, not even about yourself. This group is here to support each other and that also means supporting yourself. If you are an emotional eater, part of beating that is learn to talk and treat yourself positively!!!

So if you want to join me on this, please email me at lexisleanmachines@hotmail.com with the subject reading "July Food Challenge" and I will tell you how to join. I am limiting the amount of challengers to 10 and it is first come, first serve but PLEASE, I ask again: MAKE SURE YOU ARE WILLING TO COMMIT 100%. This is serious business and we all make ourselves vulnerable by entering into a challenge like this. Your being there is a link in the chain of support. So let's help each other be strong, stay on track and do this.

What's my transformation story????

I know I should have started my blog with this, but I truly had to think about it. I don't want to forget details and I want you to know the real me and how much I hurt and went into my shell before I was able to stand tall. Here it goes.
When did my transformation begin?? I have to say my transformation has been starting over and over again since my car accident December 7, 2007. On that day I was in a very depressed place, my husband was in Iraq and I was for sure I’d never see him again. I was trying to sell our house because we needed to move if he returned (we got orders to New Mexico from Colorado Springs). And I was at least 30 pounds overweight and I had never ever been this heavy, if the husband did comeback he was not going to want me, I was sure of it. Then BOOM, a guy runs a stop sign and t-bones my vehicle and due to the ice he bounced and spun and hit me 2 more times. When I was able to step out of the vehicle (THANK MY LUCK STARS, that I was able to step out) I started to cry and pray and say I am so sorry that I have not been beliving in myself all this time and thank you for sparing me and I made that famous deal that I was going to take control of my life.

I did my physical therapy every day (man that stuff can get your core in amazing shape) and I ordered Yoga Booty Ballet (I had a torn rotator cuff and this set worked good with this injury) and I did this set every day for the next four months, until my husband returned. Yay, he really returned!! And I was down the 30 pounds. I was in size 8 pants and was able to wear the cutest clothes to pick him up from the airport. And a month later, I find out I am pregnant with my son. YAY, but boooooo because after I had him I was back where I started a bit depressed and tired from a new baby, husband deployed again, and I am 30 pounds overweight from having a baby. Blahhhh.. HA.. Only this time it didn’t take an accident for me to realize snap out of it woman.

So in 2009, I did my yoga booty ballet again and hit the base gym hardcore. I got with a friend and we lifted weights everyday together until our husbands returned. I had done it again, I was in amazing shape and the hubby returned and bam I am pregnant with my third and last (I swear last) child. And in 2010 I have her and I am now in horrible health situation. My weight is horrible, I have diabetes from pregnancy, post-eclampsia from pregnancy and I can’t stand for very long or things go blury and I have a major migraine for 2 complete weeks. It was horrible!! All of these symptoms stayed with me for half a year after she was born and now I am depressed that I didn’t get to bounce back after the pregnancy and how am I going to be able to help my kids or am even going to be around for them as they grow??? All these questions have turned me into a severe anxiety person and I become afraid to leave the house or something is going to happen to me.

So it’s now July of 2011 and I see Insanity on TV and I chat with a girlfriend that is doing it. So I order it and it sits on my shelf for another month. Then I get on TBB message boards and I start to type stuff about how sad I am and how I really really want to get back into shape and get better mentally. And I got an email from my now coach telling me she was so sorry to hear about my problems but that she would so listen to me and help push me to meet these goals, if I really wanted her to. I jumped on her offer, but it was not until October when she started a challenge group that I signed on and opened the dvds and started pushing play. 2 weeks in and I am down 8 pounds and have lost 2 inches on my waist and 2 inches on my hips and an inch on my thighs and an inch on my arms. And BEST PART (drum roll please) my anxiety is at an all time low and I am not taking any meds. I can go out and talk to people and I can take the kids to playdates and I can go out and eat with my family. And I can now pass on my knowledge to others to push them to keep pushing play and that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, I know I see it now!!

It is now June 2012 and I am just inches from my goals. I have hit my goal on measurements for my waist, thighs, and chest. I am 1 inch from my hips goal and 1 inch from my arms goal. I still have about 10 more pounds to melt off, but this lifestyle change I am sure I will hit that goal soon.

Breakfast today.

I didn't get much sleep last night. That made it really hard to find any energy to roll out of bed at all, let alone to push play. I decided this morning was a day to have the energy and endurance drink!! I had this about 20 min before doing TurboFire's Fire 30. WHOOOAAAAA, I was running through this workout and I still had energy to clean and take the kids to a 3 hour playdate. YAY!! I followed up my workout with my favorite Shakeology Recipe. You take half a banana, 1 tbsp of peanut butter (I use pb2, it's a powdered peanut butter) and 1 scoop of chocolate shakology. Heaven in a cup!! And I am a stay at home mom and being home all day makes me want to snack all day, unless I have had my shakeology and then I honestly do not snack at all. I love it!!!

Hope your day is amazing!

P90X 90-Day Challenge Rules

Here are the rules:

1.     You must have an account on TeamBeachbody.com and Alexis must be your coach. If you haven't made an account, you may do so by going to www.beachbodycoach.com/lexislnmachines and clicking "join." A basic free membership will do. If you are a member and have a different coach, please email coachrelations@teambeachbody.com and ask them to set your coach as LexisLNMachines, coach ID 136180 Thank you!  

2.     Challenge packs aren't required, but having Shakeology in your court does help. If you need/want a challenge pack, check 'em out here: http://teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/BCPP90X205?referringRepId=136180 Challenge packs get you a 30 day supply of Shakeology, the P90X program and 30 days VIP access to the message boards where you can get free workouts, a meal planner and you get in on live chats with the trainers which is pretty sweet.

3.     P90X by itself can be purchased here: http://teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/P90XDeluxe?referringRepId=136180

4.     ACCOUNTABILITY IS MANDATORY! This challenge is centered in my Facebook group which is secret so your friends can't see your posts or even that you're in there. Post about what you ate, what you wish you could have ate, how your workout went, any struggles or questions you have with diet or exercise. Just make sure you check in EVERY SINGLE DAY! This is how we stay on track and the support we can give each other is one of the best motivational tools you can get.

5.     Nutrition is half of this! Make sure you break open the nutrition guide and calculate your calories!

6.     Keep track of what you eat! You bite it? You write it! That goes for what you drink too.

7.     Take a before pic! When you're done with the 60 days, submit that pic with your after photo to the Beachbody Challenge and you get a free t-shirt. Your before pic is a great motivational tool. Especially if you put it in places where you're forced to look at it. Don't want to workout? Look at yourself in your underwear. It works!!!

Insanity 60-day Challenge Rules

Here are the rules: 

1.     You must have an account on TeamBeachbody.com and Alexis must be your coach. If you haven't made an account, you may do so by going to www.beachbodycoach.com/lexislnmachines and clicking "join." A basic free membership will do. If you are a member and have a different coach, please email coachrelations@teambeachbody.com and ask them to set your coach as LexisLNMachines, coach ID 136180 Thank you!

2.     Challenge packs aren't required, but having Shakeology in your court does help. If you need/want a challenge pack, check 'em out here: http://teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/BCPSAN205?referringRepId=136180 Challenge packs get you a 30 day supply of Shakeology, the Les Mills Pump program and 30 days VIP access to the message boards where you can get free workouts, a meal planner and you get in on live chats with the trainers which is pretty sweet.

3.     Insanity by itself can be purchased here: http://teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/InsDeluxeReco?referringRepId=136180

4.     ACCOUNTABILITY IS MANDATORY! This challenge is centered in my Facebook group which is secret so your friends can't see your posts or even that you're in there. Post about what you ate, what you wish you could have ate, how your workout went, any struggles or questions you have with diet or exercise. Just make sure you check in EVERY SINGLE DAY! This is how we stay on track and the support we can give each other is one of the best motivational tools you can get.

5.     Nutrition is half of this! Make sure you break open the nutrition guide and calculate your calories!

6.     Keep track of what you eat! You bite it? You write it! That goes for what you drink too.

7.     Take a before pic! When you're done with the 60 days, submit that pic with your after photo to the Beachbody Challenge and you get a free t-shirt. Your before pic is a great motivational tool. Especially if you put it in places where you're forced to look at it. Don't want to workout? Look at yourself in your underwear. It works!!!

AWESOME MORNING!!!

What a great start to the day!!! I hopped on the scale and no change in weight (which yes, I want to see it go down, but it didn't go UP!!! YAY!!). I measured and my measurements went down in a lot of areas. I got the bodyfat percentage done for me and I thought I was way up there but I am at 8.52% I can handle that!! YAY!!!

Oh, the best part for the last. I had on a workout tank-top and the husband came around the corner (I wasn't working out nor had I started yet) and he says hmm, your arms are looking bigger. I said, hey now I am working on them (thinking he was being smart a@@ that he loves to be telling me to work harder). And he says, I know I can see it is showing in your arms. AAAHHHHHHHH YEAH BABY, he noticed an improvement!! That was the best part of my morning. I know I am doing this for myself but to hear him say something like that has sent me over the moon! So off to push play on TurboFire HIIT 25, I go!!

Eat 4 your blood type????

Ok, so one of my upline coaches mentioned to research your blood type because that can have a lot to do with your diet/weight loss and/or gain and even health issues. I have to admit, I was intrigued yet I was a bit standoffish to believe this. So I asked a friend of mine (who has a very very open mind and is very full of knowledge) and she said of course, Lexi, you must read the book, "Eat right 4 your blood type."

She brought me a copy of the book yesterday and I can say that I completely read the chapter on my blood type which is Type O. And I am a now a firm believer in this. I know, I haven't tried the diet that it suggests I do yet, but it talks about you as a person and what a person with Type O blood may be like or situations that may happen with you. Like with me certain foods that they name off completely affect my stomach and make me feel horrible and it gives you ways to make it feel better or tells you why these foods do not work for a person with this blood type. Also talks about your attitude and how you deal with stress and so on. Now I know reading what I am typing you may frown and say Lexi, anyone could have these issues. And yes you are correct anyone could, but if you pick up the book and read the chapter with your blood type, I truly think you will follow me on this and at least give the diet for your blood type a try.

So that leads me to my new nutrition plan the next month. I am going to follow the book to a T and see if I can't jump start more of this weight loss and tone up a bit more. The book even gives you the right exercises for your blood type and how many servings a week you should have of certain foods and such.

Again, I know not for everyone, but I am going to give it a try and see if this has been a problem that I have been struggling with for awhile.

Crazy life..

As you can see from my profile information. I am a military wife and today is one of those days that I just want to scream from the top of a mountain, when is our time to be a family.  Being a military wife means I get to play mom and dad most days, months, and/or years. We have been in for seventeen years (I say we because I am apart of this just as much as he is since I am the one left at home to take care of everything). He had to go in early and he had to stay late (Yes, I am grateful he is stateside at the moment, but...) and then he has to run around our huge (haha, not really it's very small) town and try to get things to hold a squadron picnic tomorrow. This leads me to the part that makes me want to scream today. It's my day to go out with the girls (adult girls) and workout and then follow it up with a drink and an appetizer and just chill. With the kids out of school I LOVE these days!!

All is well, I took my kids to the park and we did a workout together and went for a walk. And for our drink and appetizer the ding ding man (Ice cream truck) went by and we all got a snow cone. So all in all it turned out ok. And I did push play!!! Happy Weds!!