What is a challenge group?

So a lot people ask me what a challenge group really is.  Honestly, without my challenge group, I wouldn't be where I'm at today.  I honestly can not afford a personal trainer to right beside me while I workout. I need that motivation and support to push through or I'll give up when I feel like I can't do it anymore. This time of year everyone is rushing to the gym and buying a yearly membership...but after a few of weeks of being committed to going there, they stop. I was one of them!  Even though I knew how great it felt to workout, I still quit.  With the challenge pack, you're going to stick with it and get results!  This is a side by side comparison of the 2.  Monthly fees can range anywhere over $20 a month, plus your joiners fee.  With a challenge pack, you'll receive a DVD workout and Shakeology for 1 month.  There's workouts at all levels of physical ability and price.  So there you go - you're getting the workout and 1 meal a day for that price!  The amount of time yous spend on your workout varies.  I usually would spend at least an hour at the gym working out, plus my drive time and having to go out in the cold and finding a babysitter!  Now I can do my workouts at home while my kids are around or sleeping whenever is convenient for me that day.  Mostly I just do them in the mornings before everyone is up.  But my kids actually love watching me...making fun of me. :)  But I like that they can see I'm working my butt off for what I want and I'm showing them how important it is to be healthy!  They even get in on the action at times!  The other thing I like about the DVD's is that the week before I started my program I watched each one just to figure out the moves-I stopped and went back and redid things to get the hang of it.  So along with that challenge pack you're able to be a part of the challenge group.  It's a closed Facebook group so no one sees what's posted except those in the group.  We check in everyday and rate our day on a scale of 1-5.  Did we have a treat?  Did we stay on track?  How was the workout?  Did we give up on it or push through?  What kind of Shakeology recipe did we use?  We post of meals, recipes, and lift each other up.  I had no idea people would be so nice to me about things!  It seems like we live in a world that where so many people just care about themselves.  This support group seriously wants everyone to succeed and we push each other through our struggles and successes.  It's amazing how one motivating or uplifting comment on a bad day can completely turn your day around!  I've made some great friends just through these groups!  At the beginning of my working out, I had absolutely NO SUPPORT from anyone physically close to me besides my group.  I did have my mom whom I check in with daily who lives in another town.  She was and is still great support...although she's actually killing her own workouts now!  I'm constantly surrounded by junk food!  My support group helped me turn away from it...amazing!  And I love that we share our recipes and meals...so many ideas!  Then when the transformations start to come...oh my!  If you're not comfortable sharing pictures it's completely fine, you don't have to.  But some do and WOW.  If that isn't motivating I don't know what is!  I'm so proud of everyone in my challenge groups and I'm proud of myself for sticking to it!  You can do this too!  Let me help you get started!  Next challenge group now forming and starting February 3, 2014!  Join us and get the results you've been wanting to see!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Balls

I'm a sucker for cookie dough!  I used to just make cookie dough to eat it and not even bother making the cookies!  This recipe is yummy and healthy at the same time!

Ingredients

2/3 c raw cashews or almonds?!
1/3 c rolled oats
2 Tbsp Agave
1 Tbsp Natural Maple Syrup 
1 Tsp Vanilla Extract or Almond Extract?  I'm crazy for almonds!
1/4 c chocolate Chips 

Directions

Blend the cashews and oats in a food processor or high speed blender until they resemble a fine powder. Make sure not to over blend.

Add the agave, maple syrup, and vanilla and blend. Blend in several short spurts until it's combined; you don't want to over-process it.   

Stir the chocolate chips in by hand.

Form into balls and serve. If the dough is sticky, chill it in the refrigerator or freezer for a bit so it's easier to work with.

Freeze them for later or enjoy once you're done!

Here's to getting fit in 2014

Where did the year go?  2013 has been a challenge for me.  I've struggled with my weight for the past few years and finally in August of 2013 I had my "Ah-ha" moment!  I was looking online for different workouts; mainly a quick fix!  I stumbled across several sites on Facebook about clean eating and strength training.  So I thought why not?  I've never succeeded at anything before so what would it hurt right?  In 1 week of clean eating only, I dropped about 3 pounds.  I thought to myself, I can keep doing this!  So I did.  Sure I'd have a cheat here and there, but mainly I stayed on track and even added a little weight lifting a few days a week.  I lost about 10 pounds total in 3 months and I was stuck there.  I was getting frustrated and ready to throw in the towel until I came across a site on Pinterest for a Team Beachbody coach.  I went to the website and signed up for my free account with my free coach...little did I know how much I would fall in love with this company.  I joined a 7 day challenge group with my coach and sampled Shakeology for the first time...I fell in love with the shakes immediately!  I decided to order a workout and a month's supply of Shakeology.  T25 was a perfect fit for me...25 minutes a day and an AWESOME workout!  I incorporated clean eating along with the workout EVERYDAY!  It was a challenge at first because I wanted to do my workouts in the morning-I'm so not a morning person!  But I only had to wake up 30 minutes earlier, so I knew I could do it if I wanted it bad enough...and I did!  I started getting up every morning to workout.  After about 4 weeks it definitely became a habit for me.  I even wake up before my alarm now!  I have energy to start my day and I feel amazing.  I'm down a total of 17 pounds so far since August and I'm really noticing a difference in my body; especially how my clothes are fitting.  I've lost several inches since starting my Beachbody routine.  I can't wait to continue this into 2014.  I have about 2 and a half weeks of my Beta phase in T25 and I can't wait for the final results!  I'm armed and ready to bring on 2014.  I'm going to work hard eating clean and working out 5-6 days a week.  Hoping to become more organized in the process to help me through it!  I hope to be at my goal weight by January 2015!  Bring on the new year!