How to Become a Morning Workout Person?

How many of you have a hard time getting up in the morning? Have you ever wanted to become a morning person? How many of you want to become a morning workout person but can't seem to not snooze that alarm? I know it truly is difficult to become a morning person if you aren't one. I have always been a morning person! Growing up, I think I had such anxiety over being late that I would get up ahead of time and make sure that everything was just right. Even now, I am still a morning person. I would rather wake up and start my day off at the crack of dawn and get a full day in of productivity. I mean don't get my wrong, I do love to sleep in once in a while but lets be honest, that isn't very often. 

I know so many people that want to workout in the morning, or wake up earlier to get a jump start on their day. I wanted to share a few tips and tricks to becoming a morning person and achieving that dream of being a morning person. It is possible for you to transform yourself into a morning person. 

1. Get more sleep. I mean really?!?! DUH Nicole!! Just like we make time to schedule in meetings, workouts, nail appointments, lunch dates, etc. we need to schedule our sleep time. It is so important to get 7-9 hours of sleep. For example: tomorrow, my schedule changed for work...I now have to be in before work at 7am. I have to leave no later than 630am for work. I know that I have a 40 minute workout tomorrow for insanity the asylum: vertical plyo workout and 20 minutes before my workout I need to chug my pre-workout formula C4 to maximize my workout. I need at least 30 minutes to decompress after my workout, pack my lunch bag for work, shower, get ready, and have enough time for my morning post workout post on instagram and facebook. In order for me to be 100% on time, my alarm will be set for 4:30am. Which means that I need to be in bed going to sleep at 9pm tonight. I know that really early. But in order for me to get at least 7 hours of sleep, I need to be in bed, decompressed and ready to sleep by 9pm. Moral of the story, Schedule your sleep just like you schedule your appointment with your boss,

2. Stop pressing snooze. I am not going to lie, This is something that I struggle with on a daily basis. I normally snooze my alarm once! I literally hate the sound of the alarm and get angry when it goes off. What I have been trying to do and I need to do a better job of it now is that when that alarm goes off, I need to get right up and tell myself "I am up! I am up! I am up!" and then get up! 

3. Have your clothes laid out already. I find that if the night before, I set out my workout clothes for the next day, right next to my bed and it is one of the first I see, I am more likely to get a faster start to my day!

4. Get moving as quickly as possible. When I get up in the morning, the first thing I do is open the blinds, even when it is pitch black out. I go to the bathroom, brush my teeth, try to wake up. 

5. Make your bed. One of the first things that I do in the morning after I leave the bathroom, I make my bed. When you make your bed first thing in the morning, you don't want to go back to bed in bed that is already nice and neatly made. 

6. Workout in the morning. Now that you got a great night of sleep, you are up, your bed is made, you brushed your teeth, your dressed, now it is time to workout! If you workout at home like me, the night before, I always make sure the following days workout dvd is in the xbox and ready to go. I have all the equipment ready for me, and all I have to do is push play! You just have to do it, even thou you might not want to. I don't always want to workout in the morning. Some days I would rather lay in bed and get that extra hour of sleep in before a full day of work. But snoozing that alarm and that extra hour of sleep might be a short term satisfaction but a long term disappointment when you don't achieve your goals

7. Have an accountability partner. I have many different accountability partners, depending on where I am in my own health and fitness journey. Currently, I am doing Insanity the Asylum with one of my good friends. Depending on who gets up first, we always send a early morning motivating text! It starts our day off right, having that extra accountability early in the morning, really helps, especially since we live in different states. Having not only an accountability partner who is doing the same program as you are but also having the support of others who are on their own health and fitness journeys through our private facebook accountability groups really just seals the deal! 

8. Remember to have fun. It is so important to have fun when you workout no matter the time of the day. Especially in the morning when your tired and don't want to do it. Make sure to smile, enjoy the workouts that you do! Love what you do and have fun with it.

When I workout in the morning and get an amazing workout in, I tend to set myself up for success. I love setting myself up for success and to have an amazing day! Use these tips in your day to day life and you too could become a morning workout person! Don't forget...NEVER GIVE UP! It takes 21 days to form a habit. So commit to spending the next 21 days to waking up at the same time, getting into a routine, and learning to become a morning person! Who is ready to become a morning workout person?!?! 

If you are ready to make a healthy change and need that extra accountability to become a morning workout person...fill the form out below and I will contact you! :) 

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Insanity: The Asylum...am I crazy?

Well we all know I am a little crazy and love a good challenge! I love to see how far I can push my body and this time, I think I might be biting off a little more than I can chew! Tomorrow, I officially start day 1. Today, I started at day 0 with the fit test. And let me just say, if this program is anything like what I experienced with the fit test, I sure hope that I can walk, let alone I am living after 30 days.

I am taking this challenge with a good friend of mine. We both needed the extra motivation, accountability, and just change in our day to day routine. We live healthy lives but we just kind of feel stagnant in our workouts. She has done Insanity: The Asylum before and saw amazing results. Well now the time has come for me to pick up the pace and get my summer body! I mean really, summer is almost here and I want to look good when I am lounging on the beach! 

This past week, I barely worked out. I quit round 2 of the 21 Day Fix Extreme at day 14 because you know what I just got bored. The workouts are great and all but my soul workout is Insanity Max 30. I had pulled my left quad and I just wasn't feeling good but needed the break. I took a few spin classes. It was great to get back into cycling. My nutrition was off, I cheated, aka rewarded myself, with all the delicious foods and really did not care about what I was eating, just that I wanted it. You know what, I AM HUMAN TOO! I LOVE FOOD! I LOVE TO EAT! Okay, now that we cleared that up, that I am not a machine and I am not like this super human who eats salads all the time. I love chips and bagels and other unhealthy things like ice cream and Chinese food. With that being said, I woke up this morning, feeling like crap! I could totally see how the unhealthy food that I was eating this week, had affected me. I cannot wait to get back on track tomorrow and really focus om cleaning up my nutrition again. I am not going to say that I am not going to cheat or reward myself because I would be lying. I just will be extremely strategic about when I am going to balance out my nutrition. 

Nutrition is all about the 80/20 rule. 80% of the time your nutrition is clean and healthy. 20% of the time, you are splurging. I know next weekend, since it is Palm Sunday, we have a traditional Italian feast. I plan on working out in the morning, drinking my shakeology and being focused with drinking enough water and staying super active. I already have everything mostly prepped for this week except a few dinners which I will make on the go. You know what it pays off prepping your meals and staying focused on your goals. My goal for the next 30 days is to stay focused, do my best, and never give up! 

Insanity: The Asylum Meal Plan Week 1

I will be following the 21 day fix extreme meal plan somewhat. I have changed a few things up but I am really going to be focused! You know as I am sitting here getting my thoughts out on this blog, I got a call from my friend touching base on how we are going to do the next 30 days, what meal plan we are following and what we are doing. I really took it as a sign that this is such the right timing and the right course. God places things in your life at the time in which you and others need it. I know I am going to need the support and help from her just like she is going to need it for me. We don't live in the same state any more but the beauty of cell phones and social media is that we can stay on track with each other and stay focused and hold each other accountable! I am so excited to take the journey with her, I can't wait to see where we are 30 days from now! 

Take a peak at what the next 30 days are going to be like for me. I am not going to lie, I am seriously scared and I am going to give it my all! I mean it is 30 days.

Challenge yourself to new things everyday! 

Have a Happy and Healthy Day!

~Nicole

Chicken Fajita Lettuce Wraps

These are deliciousness! They are from the 21 Day Fix Extreme Meal Plan book. They are simple yet so filling. I changed the seasonings up a little bit from the recipe in the book. These really were so delicious and I cannot wait to make them again.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper garlic
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 grilled boneless, skinless, chicken breast
• 1/2 pepper slicked
• 1/2 onion chopped
• 2 large romain lettuce leaves
• 1/2 medium avocado, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup salsa
• 1/4 cup black beans
• lemon wedge for garnish 

Directions: 

1. Grill chicken and cut up.
2. Combine salt, pepper garlic seasoning, onions and peppers and saute with olive oil in a saucepan. Add lime juice. cook for a few minutes until onions and peppers are starting to brown
3. Wash black beans and add to saucepan with the onions and peppers .
4. Cut up avocado
5. Clean romaine lettuce and place on a dish.
6. Once onions and pepper melody is cooked, Place mixture over lettuce and add chicken on top
7. Add salsa, and avocado to the top.

21 Day Fix and 21 Day Fix Extreme Approved Container Equivalents:

• 2 Green
• 1/2 Purple
• 1 Red
• 1/2 Blue
• Optional: 1 Yellow (added black beans)

Hope you all can enjoy this as much as I did! 

Have a Happy and Healthy Day

~Nicole

Make Yourself Proud

Today I had the honor of chatting live on The Mickey Ellison Show. It is something that when I tell you is completely out of my comfort zone and so not something I would normally do, it absolutely is. But I love a good challenge and when Mickey reached out to me about sharing my story, I may have been a little nervous but I took it as a sign that I needed to break out of my shell! I am such a introvert and talking about myself and being in front of a lot of people scares me. I mean technically no one saw me and Mickey and I were just talking but it still freaked me out a little. I mean once I am doing it, I loosen up and get in the groove of the conversation. 

I haven't really publicly, verbally shared my story. I mean don't get me wrong, I share my story all the time through social media but to actually talk to someone about my story...eeks that scares me but it also excites me. 

Sharing my story is a very personal thing and sometimes I am ashamed of where I have come from but at the same time, I am so proud of how far I have come. Sharing my story today has been an absolute blessing. I listened to the recording and I have to say that I had to stop it about a quarter of a way in. I seriously had a moment. I couldn't believe that I was actually sharing my story on a live podcast. I thought back to the girl who was 220 pounds, overweight, unhealthy, unhappy, not loving of herself and most of all broken. But as I listened to this confident person who was speaking her story, I for a second, had tears in my eyes. It was one of those moments where I still can't believe how far I have come and how many lives that I have changed.

I have lost 70 pounds, maintained my weight loss, competed in two triathlons, a half marathon, a 65 mile bike race, countless other shorter running races and I continue to strive to be better everyday than I was the day before. It truly is amazing to me how far I have come. I am not writing this to toot my own horn but to share how proud I am of myself. Never in a million years did I think that I would be where I am today. 

You never really embrace the journey or celebrate it, well at least I never did. But today listening to the recording and even when we ended the show, I was fired up. I was proud of myself. I was proud that I did something that I never thought I would do. I was proud that I overcame an obstacle. I was proud that I never gave up. I am proud of who I have become. But most of all I am proud to be me! 

I tend to overlook my accomplishments, chalk them up to happening but it's sometimes nice to share how amazing the journey has been. The struggles, the accomplishments, how I plan on helping others. I want you to MAKE YOURSELF PROUD everyday! I know today, I can truly go to bed completely and wholeheartedly proud of myself. Embrace the journey and NEVER GIVE UP!

Check out the recording below and hear my journey! 

Recording of My Weight Loss Journey on The Mickey Ellison Show

Shakeology and Weight Watchers

As some of you know, my weight loss journey started almost 4 years ago with weight watchers! With weight watchers, I lost 70 pounds in about 9 months! My goal after that was to maintain my weight loss. In the past, I had lost weight and then gained it back. I hit a serious plateau while I was training for my second triathlon a year after I had lost lose 70 pounds. My fear of gaining weight back was crazy and when I wasn't getting the results I wanted, I needed to make a change. Weight watchers had taught me portion control and how to eat in moderation!

You know how you see those infomercials on tv about p90x and insanity, etc. well one night, I was channel checking and I saw both infomercials. It caught my attention with the transformation stories and pictures. Since I felt like I was in good shape, I did my research about each program! Don't get me wrong, I was scared to do a crazy hard workout at home. I was introduced to something called shakeology. For those of you who don't know, shakeology is a healthy meal replacement that has super foods, vitamins, and so much more! It has become a staple in my life. I have never missed a day of drinking shakeology.

When I first started drinking shakeology, I was still doing weight watchers, I was following the point system which was so amazing! Like I said before, it taught me everything in moderation, portion control, and ultimately a healthier lifestyle....the best part about it is shakeology is only 3 points for the healthiest meal that you could have. That 3 points for a scoop of shakeology (1 meal). You can mix it with anything you want. The options are endless! You could add water or almond milk & water, orange juice and water or you could blend in frozen fruit, and so many more things. You can keep it s low point meal but it's truly the healthiest meal you could feed yourself.

Chocolate  = 3 points
Greenberry = 3 points
Tropical Strawberry = 3 points
Chocolate Vegan = 4 points
Vanilla = 3 points
Strawberry= 3 pounts

Looking back, on my own weight loss journey, I really wish I could go back in time and could have learned about shakeology and started drinking it from the beginning! I think it would have been such a significant change in my overall health and well-being. I mean 3 points for the healthiest meal of the day...sign me up!!

I wanted to give you a few examples of recipes and how many points you could make your shake:

Chocolate Peanut Butter Shakeology

1 scoop Chocolate Shakeology (3 points)

8 oz. unsweetened almond milk (1 point)

2 tbsp. PB2 (1 point)

1 medium banana

6 ice cubes

Blend together until smooth.

Total Points Plus value……….5

Pineapple Mango Shakeology

1 scoop Vanilla Shakeology (3 points)

8 oz. unsweetened almond milk (1 point)

1/2 cup pineapple

1/2 cup mango

6 ice cubes

Blend together till smooth.

Total Points Plus value………4"

Have you ever wondered about shakeology? Is it something that you may have wanted to try but just aren't sure?? Have you been questioning how shakeology can be incorporated in with your weight watchers points program. I want to help you see the amazing benefits that you can gain from shakeology and doing weight watchers, both at the same time!

If you are interested, fill out the form below! I will contact you on how I can help you along in your weight loss journey! 

Hope that this helped to clear some questions some of you have on shakeology and weight watchers points! Have a Happy and Healthy Day!!

Nicole <3

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Turkey Meatloaf: 21 Day Fix Extreme Approved

On Sundays, I meal prep and this past sunday, I wasn't sure what I wanted to make for dinners this week. I was browsing through the 21 day fix extreme eating plan guide when I came across this recipe and decided to give it a shot. I was able to prep it in advance and after work, I was able to just put it in the oven and everything I needed to done! I have meals for the entire week and yes it might be a little redundant but you know what anything to get me closer to my goals!

Ingredients:

• 2lbs raw 93% lean ground turkey
• 1 cup all-natural salsa
• 1 cup cooked quinoa, cooled
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten 
• 3 cloves of galic
• 1 tsp sea salt or himalayan salt (mineralized)
• 1 tsp ground black pepper 

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375
2. Combine turkey, salsa, quinoa, eggs, garlic, salt and pepper in a large bowl; mix well with hands or a spatula 
3. shape mixture into shape of a loaf and place on ungreased 13 x 9-inch baking pan
4. bake for 60-70 mins or until center is no longer pink and meat is cooked through
5. let stand for 10 minutes before serving

21 Day Fix / 21 Day Fix Extreme Container Equivalents:

• 1 Red
• 1/2 Purple
• 1/2 Yellow

I served this with a side of spaghetti squash and mushrooms with some homemade marinara. (2 Greens and 1/2 purple).  This was absolutely delicious and I really cant wait to make it again! :)

Hope you enjoy this delicious! 

Nicole <3

21 Day Fix Extreme RESULTS

It really is crazy how fast time flies. I feel like it was yesterday that I started 21 Day Fix Extreme and finished 60 days of Insanity Max 30. I am so excited with my results. I have to say this is the first time that I have 98% stuck with my nutrition. I did not cheat other than day 13 when my cousin got married. but hey the rum punch was amazeballs and I of course had to try the cake!! 

Even if I didn't lose a significant amount of weight, I will have gained so much more these last 21 days. The growth and progress that I have made in such a short time really has set me up for amazing success.

For starters: I AM COMPLETELY COFFEE CREAMER FREE! Like not even a drop of coffee creamer at all! Today being that I am on day 22 and no longer am doing round 1, a friend of mine asked, girl did you have your coffee with creamer today...my response was absolutely not! you know what it wasn't worth it!I actually started liking my coffee black! I never in a million years thought that I the coffee creamer addict would actually kicked of her delicious addiction!

Here is how I want to break down how amazing the last 21 days were:
✔down 8 pounds 
✔lost 5.5 inches
✔feel healthier
✔my skin feels better 
✔22 days with no coffee creamer
✔more confidence
✔tighter and toned, I feel leaner and just overall amazing!
✔I do have a ways to go but this is just round 1...round 2 starts tomorrow!
✔super proud of myself for only cheating one day out of the 21 days...I know my results could have been better if I didn't, but hey, my cousin got married and I had some rum punch and cake! It didn't kill me, it make me happy!
✔I completely cleaned up my nutrition and I think this program and its values will stick with me forever! I feel amazing and why would I want to change that?
✔I never thought I would be able to do a program like this and completely dial in clean eating nutrition!! But you know what I accepted the challenge and surprised myself at how well I did! Was it easy...heck no! was it worth it...heck yes! 

So you might be asking, what is next for me? well I am so glad you asked! today I had what I like to call a "reward" day. so like a cheat day or cheat meal, I am rewarding myself for the hard work. I have been craving a big burger and french fries! I have to say that I don't normally have hamburgers! So tonight, I treated myself to Red Robin and had a delicious whisky bbq burger with french fries, and on my way home, I stopped at Friendly's and had some ice cream! Go big or go home right?!?! thats my theory! 

Today was amazing to splurge a little but hey its time to get back to work and get my butt in gear! Cant wait to start round 2 tomorrow and completely kill it! :) No excuses, just results!

Have you ever considered working hard and seeing amazing results! Join my next accountability group, it starts march 9th! Dont miss out!! Fill out the application below! I am choosing 10 beautiful ladies to join us! will you be on of them?

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