A Fresh September

I can't believe September is already here. Only a few months left in this year, which I can easily say has been the craziest year of my life! I got married, became a Beach Body coach (literally two life-changing events), moved to a whole new city, started a new job, and am living with a man for the first time in my life. WHAT? Life has been turned upside down, and I think it's good to sit back and reflect on it a bit. 

September has always been back to school mode for me. Both my parents are teachers, and back to school time was so exciting in our house! New office supplies, new teachers, new clothes, new books; a fresh start. For me, September still feels like the"beginning" of something, even though it isn't technically a new year. With that mindset, I've decided to treat this time like a fresh start. Because why not? This year has been so incredible for me, and I in no means am trying to run away from the past. But I love the idea of a new beginning and setting some awesome goals for this time of year! And with that said...

September Goals!

1. Continue on with the Insanity program, while adding some 21 day fix workouts during the week! My husband and I will be doing some 21 day fix workouts when he gets home from work in the evenings, so I'm really looking forward to doing both these programs and seeing some awesome results!

2. Continue with 21 day fix container system. I stopped counting calories (yet again) in August, but felt that I was relying on too many random food groups to get through the day (toast 3x/day, nuts 3x/day...you get the idea). Doing a program like Insanity (and especially now adding the fix) requires a LOT more fuel, and not just random, empty calories. So I am using the container system to track my food groups and loving it! However, even though I am supposed to be eating the lowest calorie bracket, I've decided to alternate between the first and second bracket since I am doing 2 workout programs. I am building muscle and getting hungrier, so sometimes I'll need the extra fuel! But above all, I will LISTEN to by body by not forcing myself to eat containers, and at the same time, not depriving myself if I need a bit more! :) 

3. Play around with our fancy camera! On our honeymoon, Vasken and I got a nice SLR camera to take pictures, and it's been in our drawer every since coming home from Hawaii...in May. I think it's time I upload the honeymoon pics and start carrying that thing around and enjoying it!

4. Bake more. I LOVE BAKING. There were even times in my life that a goal of mine was to bake LESS because I would bake every day. But this summer has been unfortunately bake-less since it's been SO hot and turning on the oven turns our cozy apartment into a sauna. Well, this month, I want to bake more! I always make my treats healthified (search for recipes on my Joyful Harvest Blog tab!!) and I can't wait to get back into this hobby I have missed. Get ready for pumpkin everything!

5. Plug into a Bible study! Our church offers so many, so I am excited to get back into weekly Bible studies and fellowship with other believers. 

6. Read at least 10 pages/day of a growth book. This new habit in my life has been huge. It's been so motivating to read books that have expanded my mind and built up my confidence. So I definitely want to keep this up! 

7. And lastly...grow out my bangs. Yup, I went there. Can't wait till they are grown and gone! 

What are some of your goals for September? Share in the comments below!

INSANITY: Week 1 Results & Review!

For the past few months, I've been jumping between a few Beach Body programs. I've done PiYo, 21 day fix, CIZE, and some Beach Body On Demand (basically Netflix for workouts) programs. In the back of my mind though, I've always wanted to do the program I never thought I COULD do, which is the Insanity program.

My cousin gave this program to me a few years ago, back before I was a Beach Body coach. I couldn't even get through the warm up and felt so discouraged, so I just gave up and went back to my usual hour on the elliptical workouts. But, becoming a Beach Body coach about 6 months ago has increased my confidence levels SO much. I finally decided, on an impulsive whim, to take on this program, full speed ahead. And boy, am I glad I did! I am one week into the Insanity program and cannot believe the changes I am seeing and feeling in my body!

August 10th vs. August 17th! I see little abs popping out! 

Insanity is basically an INSANE workout of non-stop drills, plyometrics, and strength moves that use your body weight the entire time. No equipment necessary, and you get a total body, interval training workout. This means your heart rate goes up and down, which provides you with the maximum conditioning workout in a short amount of time. Doing this keeps your fitness levels high and your heart working hard and strong!

So far, I am loving how I am feeling and what I am seeing. I've lost a few pounds, feel less fluffy, and am seeing definition in my abs for the first time since my wedding about 4 months ago. But what I love MOST about this program is that I am doing something that has always terrified me. I am terrified of failure, and I still remember that day a few years ago when I couldn't' even get through the insanity warm up and just threw in the towel. Today, I am up and doing this workout daily, and even though I am not getting through all of it, I am pushing through the fear of failure that I have had for so long. I get to decide to use that fear to FUEL me, and not to hold me back. I can't wait to see what these 60 days will hold for me! And don't worry, I will keep you all in the loop as I progress in this program! 

If you are looking for a workout program to conquer, I'd love to help you find one that is meant for you! We all have our soulmate workouts, and I firmly believe that any program will work, as long as you love it enough to stick to it from beginning to end! Shoot me a message through my Contact Me tab and we can get started on a free consultation to see which workout program would work best for you! DOn't let the fear hold you back, decide to USE that fear and show it who's boss! :) 

How has fear held you back in the past? What do you think you can do TODAY to take the first step in using that fear for your betterment and not your detriment? 

Mixing and Matching! Weekly Food & Fitness Plan

Hello people!! I am back from a much needed weekend of no phone service and no electronics, out in the wilderness enjoying God's creation. My husband and I went camping with a few people from his work association this past weekend, and it was quite an adventure to say the least! It started pouring rain on Saturday and ruined our beach plans, but we did get some campfire time and braved the storm to enjoy a wonderful evening and Sunday morning! It was my first camping experience and while I enjoyed it, I have never been more thankful for my shower and bathroom than I was this morning! 

This week will be a busy one, but I am ready to take it full steam ahead! I really am excited to get back into my healthy eating routine after a chips and salsa and s'more filled weekend! I started the day off today with my Shakeology and planned an afternoon workout so that I could get to work earlier.

After work, I'm planning on heading to the gym for a run/walk interval workout on the treadmill. I am driving STRAIGHT to the gym, because I just know that the minute I walk into our apartment, I will be faced with piles of laundry and unpacking and my OCD tendencies would make me pick cleaning over exercise. I want to get my workout out of the way before stepping foot in our apartment! Even though life can get busy, I always make sure to get my workout in during the day (preferably in the morning), because I just know I am a better version of myself when I workout. 

This week, I am mixing and matching some workouts and changing up my routine. I restarted the 21 day fix last week, and I am still going to incorporate those workouts, but I am going to add a few runs, and some more beach body workouts from beach body on demand! I know I haven't talked about on demand much, but it's basically a Netflix streaming version for fitness programs. All of the P90x workouts are on there, plus Chalene Extreme, Insanity, and so much more! I have grossly underutilized this amazing feature of being a part of the Beach Body family, so I want to play around with it a bit this week and see how many different workouts I can try!  Let me know if you are interested in trying out their different programs! It's such a great tool to get variety into your workouts! 

Here is my plan for the week!

Monday: run/walk at the gym

Tuesday: 21 day fix total body cardio

Wednesday: Chalene Extreme workout

Thursday: 21 day fix lower body fix

Friday: P90x3 workout 

Saturday: Beach body Super Saturday event! WOOHOOOO I can't wait!

Sunday: 21 day fix dirty 30

I am so excited to try the new workouts this week and keep to my tried and true 21 day fix workouts as well. Keep up with me on my Instagram to see how these workouts go and what I think of them! @tveen.verano 

As far as meals go, I am going to keep them nice and simple this week. I am planning by food group this week to make sure I get all my food groups in, while keeping my meals as healthy and EASY as possible. Healthy eating doesn't have to be complicated, and for that, I am grateful!

Proteins:

Shakeology

Cilantro Thai Garlic Chicken (recipe on my blog)
Grass fed taco meat

Eggs

Fruits/vegetables:

Salads

Grilled asparagus

Carrots/cucumbers/tomatoes

Frozen berries

Apples

Bananas

Carbohydrates: 

Roasted potatoes

Rice

Oatmeal

Fruits/veggies count in this group as well!  

Healthy fats:

Avocado

Grass fed butter

Nuts

Sunflower seeds

Olive oil

Snacks:

No-bake Shakeology energy balls! This is a recipe I am experimenting with...coming soon! 

I am really looking forward to making this week a healthy one! My goals are to stick to my daily workouts and shakeology, keep working on being the best coach possible for my clients, cleaning my house, and staying connected to Jesus every day! :) 

What are some of your goals? Comment below, I'd love to hear! :)

Facing Your Passion: Why I Became a Beachbody Coach

I don't even know how to begin this post expect for saying that my heart feels SO full. I am full of hope, fear, excitement, gratitude, and faith. This Saturday will mark 5 months of me becoming a health and fitness coach. I run online accountability groups to help people feel motivated and reach their health and fitness goals. This decision was a scary one, but I can honestly say that it is one of the best decisions I have ever made. 

I have never felt so full. I have never felt so close to God's plan and purpose for my life than I do right at this very moment. And it scares me like no other. But I'm deciding to face the fear and do it anyway.

Working and hustling to build this coaching business has been so rewarding. Don't get me wrong, it is stressful, provokes anxiety, sometimes keeps me up at night, and always has me questioning what I am doing. But, when it all boils down to it, the people I have come into contact with, the clients who have finally reached their goals with help and accountability, and the confidence I have found in myself to share my story, have been worth all of the anxiety attacks and all of the sob sessions I have had with my mom and husband over the past few months! (right guys??) 

Truth be told, I am a big talker. I used to talk about my hopes and dreams, but then sit back and stay in my comfortable little bubble while I watched other people reach for the stars, become successful, and actually fulfill their passion in life. On February 18, when I decided to be a beach body coach, I finally popped that safe bubble of mine and decided to step out into the world and face my passion head-on.

I have always known that I have a passion for good food, good health, and good movement. For goodness sake, I have a home video of when I was 3 years old doing my mom's aerobics workout videos in our living room! I used to wake up every morning and ask my mom what we were having for dinner because I. LOVE. FOOD. I know that God has given me this passion and He is finally giving me the strength, confidence, and opportunity to share it with others As a registered dietitian, my goal is to help those around me have a healthy relationship with themselves and with food, and to reach their health goals. With this coaching gig, I am finally doing what I am passionate about in an outlet that works for me. I have become passionate about making this fitness journey as easy and supportive as possible for people, while giving them the encouragement, the tools, and the community to make their dreams possible.

Have you let life go by without facing your passion? Don't live in that bubble anymore! I am so glad I got out. I am so grateful that I am able to serve people and be used by God, as imperfect as I am. If you have a passion for helping people find their health and have ever considered becoming a coach, please contact me! I would love to have you join my team and inspire you to inspire others. 

What do you need to be a coach?  

1. a passion for health 

2. a love for others  

3. embracing your imperfections  

4. a mind that wants to learn and grow 

That's it, right there. I would be honored if you contacted me to learn more about what I do, and about what YOU can start doing to begin living out your dreams! Email me at tveenRD@gmail.com, or use the "contact me" tab above to get in touch! 

 

PiYo Review: Sticking to something till the end!

I have been filled with such an incredible sense of accomplishment these past couple days. Yesterday I completed the two month PiYo program. I have never ever completed a workout program from start to finish. Even though there were ups and downs throughout the past two months, I did each workout every day and completed the program! 

I am so grateful to God that, even though these past two months have been nuts, He gave me the motivation and determination to finish this program!! I am definitely going to incorporate PiYo into my weekly workout schedules because it has been the best thing I have ever done for my mind, soul, and my body. 

Let me first say that I used to hate anything low impact, and I especially did not enjoy yoga or Pilates. This program completely changed that for me! I looked forward to pressing play every single day, and I felt amazing during PiYo. So if you think you are not a yoga person, you should try this program because you may surprise yourself!  

I also got great results! The left photo is from week 3, and the right is from my final week, week 8! 

I have never had definition in my abs, let alone the confidence to post my abs! This workout gave me confidence in so many aspects of my life. I finally completed a program in its entirety, which is such a huge confidence boost! I also became a beach body coach in the process, because I wanted to be able to coach others through this program so they can experience what I have. Now, I feel like I can do anything I set my mind too! 

To close, I know you all are interested in details. So here is it. I lost 10-12 lbs during PiYo, I stuck with the workout calendar, and I also added about 2-3 cardio days consisting of slow run/walks ranging from 20-40 mins. Most importantly, I stuck to a mostly clean eating lifestyle. I never starved myself, I did indulge on Easter and a few other occasions, and for about 80% of the 8 weeks, I ate whole, real foods, lean proteins, tons of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and a good amount of healthy fats. Nutrition is the most important part of the entire equation! We cannot workout enough to outweigh a poor diet...that's for sure! 

If you would like me to coach you through this fitness program and help you get on your way to living a healthier lifestyle, please contact me! I have a passion for helping people reach their health and fitness goals and would love to work with you. Email me at TveenRD@gmail.com to get started! 

PiYo 1 month results: More than you think!

Good morning everyone, and happy Friday! We made it through another week, praise the Lord! I am so excited for this coming weekend! Tomorrow is my bachelorette party so I get to spend the day with some of my favorite ladies! And today is exactly 30 days away from my wedding, AHHHH!!!! I can't wait, I am just so excited!! Today, I thought I'd share my 1 month PiYo results. As many of you know, I started PiYo a little over a month ago, and it has completely changed my life and the way I view my body and my capabilities. I am going to share a before and after (something I have never done!) but I'd like to focus on more than just the physical/weight differences that I have experienced.

The first picture was taken February 16th, my first day of PiYo. And the second picture was yesterday. I've lost 10 lbs and my smaller jeans zip up perfectly, but the biggest difference to me is that look on my face. The girl in the first picture was tired, run down, and felt like she couldn't move her body like she used to. You can just see it on her face. I was dealing with my knee injury and feeling slightly depressed that I wasn't able to run anymore. I felt lost when it came to workouts and didn't know what would be effective for me anymore.

The girl on the right is BEAMING with happiness. Look at that smile! I have seen such changes in my body, from my physical appearance to my abilities. I am able to do the moves in PiYo now and feel strong and beautiful while I do them. I've never experienced anything like that! I never thought yoga or pilates would be something I am so passionate about, but it's completely changed my body and my confidence in what my body can do. I just can't stop smiling.

Now, as a dietitian, I have to mention that nutrition is 80% of the equation when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle! I've really been eating healthier the past month and incorporating as many whole foods as possible. I've also been drinking shakeology every day for the past month, and it has completely changed my life as well! See my previous post "A Dietitian's Take on Shakeology" for a more detailed review. All I can say is I feel like I am having brownie batter every day, and I'm losing weight. Win-win in my book!

Lastly, I have been filling my belly with whole, nutritious foods. I am craving vegetables and big 'ol salads! Last night, I made a yummy tuna salad in a huge mixing bowl with arugula, kale, spinach, tomatoes, and bell peppers! It was DELICIOUS! The more whole foods you eat, the more on top of the world you feel. Having whole fruit, vegetables, proteins, healthy fats, and whole food carbs make a world of difference when it comes to your health, weight, and energy levels.

I'm so excited to see what this second month of PiYo will bring me. And I will end the program 3 days before my wedding...PERFECT! I will definitely post those results too. If any of you are interested in doing PiYo, please contact me at TveenRD@gmail.com! I would LOVE to be your coach and help you get the results you want. I can't keep this workout to myself and would love to see everyone experience the changes and confidence I have experienced in the last month. So don't hesitate! Email me and we can get started together!

A Dietitian’s Take on Shakeology

As a dietitian, I get asked countless times what I think of certain products. If I've tried this bar, that protein powder, this frozen meal, etc. It can get overwhelming, and I always first and foremost promote eating real, WHOLE foods. Packaging just makes things complicated. And can I just start by saying how much I used to hate shakes? Drinking your calories just seemed ridiculous to me. I mean, why would you drink, if you could chew? And all those protein powders out there just seemed crazy unhealthy with the who-knows-what ingredients they pack them with. And all-fruit smoothies? Don’t even go there…so much sugar in just a few gulps, sending your blood sugars skyrocketing and leading to the inevitable crash about an hour later. But, this past week, I started drinking Shakeology, a super-food shake made from whole foods, to understand what all the hype was about. As a dietitian, I was intrigued by the fact that this shake is not just protein, but contains antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, superfood, and probiotics (my best friends). The fact that it is made from high quality ingredients motivated me to try it. As a Beach Body coach, I wanted to be informed about the products that Beach Body endorses to form my OWN opinion of them before I start recommending them to my clients.

All I can say now is…WOW. This drink is FABULOUS. It tastes amazing, fills my chocolate cravings to a "T", and keeps me full for hours. I could spout off all the ingredients beside protein that it has (vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, probiotics as discussed above), but instead, I’d like to talk about how it makes me feel. This is a subjective post, but I believe in being real with people and I want to provide as honest a review as possible about my experience with this drink!

1. Energized! Shakeology makes me feel so energetic and ready for my day! I look forward to drinking it and can’t wait to slurp it on my way to work. It gets me geared up for my day, which definitely takes a lot of energy from me. I don’t know what it is, and it could very well be the fact that I am having chocolate in the morning, but I feel great after drinking my Shakeology and am ready to attack the day!

2. “Regular.” This part may me a little TMI, but as some of you know, I’ve had tummy issues for my entire life. Since drinking Shakeology, I have been scary regular, with no issues! That has never happened to me before in my 26 years of existence. Shakeology contains probiotics in a super-food form, which has helped my issues in that department. I have never felt this good taking OTC, super expensive probiotics. That alone is a reason enough for me to keep drinking Shakeology!

3. Cravings be-gone! I have experienced little to NO cravings since drinking Shakeology. The fact that it is the chocolate flavor, and actually takes like a chocolate chip brownie mixture, helps me feel like I am treating myself BIG time, while not feeling at all guilty for having my chocolate. My cravings have been almost nonexistent, and it is so much easier to make healthy choices throughout the day without those naggy cravings getting in the way.

4. Chocolatey goodness. Have I mentioned, it’s chocolate? Yea? Well, I wanted to say it one more time. This thing tastes AMAZING. One sip and I was hooked.

5. Versatile. It’s SO versatile. You can just blend it with some ice and almond/cashew/whatever milk and call it a day. The other day, I added peanut butter. Yesterday, I added half a banana. You could also add frozen strawberries, coffee if that’s your thing, or really anything you want! There are so many variations that it will never leave you bored and will always leave you satisfied.

6. Lastly, it is so convenient. I now know the desire to want to be able to drink something on my way to work. I've felt SO rushed in the mornings, especially this week with our time change. It's been such a relief to know that I have a healthy option waiting for me. Just some almond milk, ice, and a packet of shakeology blended up in my magic bullet, and in 5 minutes, I'm headed out the door! And I am confident that my meal choice is healthy and something that, not only I will enjoy, but that will fuel me until my next meal.

That's how I feel about my Shakeology. I never thought I would find a shake that I loved this much. I feel like I'm having dessert every day, and I could live with that! If anyone wants more information about Shakeology, leave me a comment or email me at TveenRD@gmail.com! I'd really love you all to feel as amazing as I do!

PiYo Meal Planning: Portions, NOT Calories

If you have been following my blog for a while now, you'll know that I have struggled with calorie counting. I decided to give it up a few months back, but have missed the structure of it all. I'm a huge planner and organizer, so when I feel kind of "on my own" about something, I tend to get anxious. While I have dabbled with counting calories again recently, I still stand by the fact that I don't like the effect it has on my brain! I'm not going back there, no matter how much I love to micromanage my life! That's where PiYo comes in.

I'm ending my third week of PiYo workout program and loving every minute of it. I also have LOVED the food plan that it comes with. I tend to follow my own kind of meal plan, but the fact that the PiYo plan counts portions and not calories is huge. The PiYo eating plan places you in a calorie bracket based on your starting weight, but after that, you don't need to count calories. You just tally up how many portions of each food you have for the day. It tells you how much of a certain food counts as a portion, and makes sure you are balanced and well fed throughout the day.

The food choices are endless, and the lists have actually helped me see how many different vegetables, fruits, or proteins I could be eating! I've been looking at my meal plans through this lens lately and it's helped me still have some structure (type A personality anybody?) without getting fixated on the numbers. It's also easy to plan my week by knowing how many portions of each food group I'll need to plan for the day. Usually, I'll plan breakfast, lunch, and snacks, and whatever portions I have left over, I'll have as my dinner. I also don't restrict my vegetable intake. My new mantra: Vegetables make us feel like Wonder Woman....so eat those babies up!

Veggies and berries have been my go-to snacks lately.

I also LOVE that Shakeology counts as a protein. Sometimes, I just can't handle having chicken, turkey, or eggs at every meal. It's just too much protein and chewing, and frankly is not fun 4-5x/day! Shakeology is delicious, chocolately, and jam-packed with nutrients and superfoods, NOT just protein. I usually have this as my mid morning snack (which is 9am for me haha morning person over here!) and it really helps keep me full while allowing me to slurp on delicious chocolate.

As a disclaimer, I am not crazy strict on these portions either. Being too intense about something is not a way to live a lifestyle. I am all for following a plan to a T for a few weeks, but always keep the fact in that back of your mind that you WILL have to go back to normal life, filled with healthy food choices as well as special events and splurges now and then. If I don't have enough protein portions in one day, too many fruits, or a double serving of my gluten-free toast, I don't freak out about it. I just continue with the day and keep on making healthy choices. I just love the framework of the PiYo eating plan and think it is GREAT for people who are trying to get their nutrition in check.

I'll end this post with my meal plan for today, and how I tally up my portions PiYo-style! Again, I'm not being too strict on myself, just trying to see where my portions lie in relation to the recommendations in the eating plan, and use up whatever food I have in the fridge for this week.

Breakfast: Shakeology, blueberries (1 protein, 1 fruit)

Snack: hard boiled eggs, sliced cucumbers (1 protein, 1 veggie)

Lunch: beans and rice salad (2 grains, 2-3 veggies)

Snack: nuts (2 healthy fats)

Dinner: toss up!

Total without dinner: 2 proteins, 2 grains, 1 fruit, 3-4 veggies, 2 healthy fats

I know I have 2 protein portions left for the day, veggies, and fruits! So I will probably try to have a combination of protein and veggies for dinner and eat till fullness, NOT stuff my face with 8oz of steak just to reach my goal. That is why this plan is helpful; you can tally your portions and see where you are for the day, but you DON'T have to ignore fullness or hunger cues. If you want that extra scoop of rice, have it! If you don't feel like having protein yet again, don't worry about it! It's good to be aware, without being too hard on ourselves. As long as our food choices are healthy and mostly vegetables and whole foods, we are well on our way to nourishing our bodies.

BIG Announcement & Stepping out in Faith

It's so crazy to me how often we fear ourselves. What we are or are not capable of. Our story. How we got to where we are. I was having a phone chat with someone yesterday who encouraged me to "share my story" and not be afraid of it. In the moment, I didn't think much of it and thought "oh yea, sure, I can do that," but the more I thought about it, the more scared I became. I don't like being vulnerable (ask my fiancé, he will attest to that!) so the moment I feel that I am going to put myself out there with the possibility of failing or getting hurt, I run and hide, or I just shut down entirely. Call it a self-protection mechanism, but I am always trying to protect myself. I realized that, while there are always boundaries which how much you share on social media or to the internet world, being real is the most impactful way to inspire and reach those around me. Shutting down or separating myself causes me to remain stagnant, to stay where I am, to cease growing, and to stop being effective.

Action is required to step out of fear and step into faith. I am a follower of Christ, and I believe that I was  made for more than fear and timidity. God calls us to power, not fear. 2 Timothy 1:7 states "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."

So I am going to step out and announce that last week, I officially became a Beach Body coach! AHHHHHH!!! I can honestly say that this decision has been life changing for me, even thought I am in a basics training program at the moment with the awesome Inspire Joy team run by the lovely Anna Locke. I am just getting my hands dirty in all of this, but ever since I signed up to be a coach, I have felt this wave of energy, excitement, and...what's the word...RIGHTNESS. I just feel so RIGHT about this decision, that it is what I was called to do, and that I WILL be able to achieve my goals.

Beach Body has done so much for me over the years. I have done workout programs like P90X and Insanity, and now my current favorite, PiYo. These PiYo workouts have changed my life the past couple of weeks. Not only do I feel myself growing longer and leaner, my posture has improved dramatically, and I have more confidence as an overall person. 3 weeks into it and I am already seeing improvement on many of my yoga poses and sequences. And, it's INTENSE work. I am dripping at the end of each workout and enjoying every second of it.

I can't wait to share my journey with Beach Body as I grow more as a coach and as a person. For the first time in my life, I am stepping out of fear and into faith and following my dreams. Motivating and encouraging people to live a healthy lifestyle is the top reason I became a Registered Dietitian. This new adventure with Beach Body will help me combine my passions of fitness and nutrition, while motivating, encouraging, and inspiring those I connect with. I can't wait to see where God takes me with this journey. I have surrendered my goals to Him, because, as I always say, His hands are the safest place they could be!

If anyone has any questions about Beach Body, please don't hesitate to email me at tveenRD@gmail.com. Also, you can follow my journey on my Instagram: @tveen_RD

Now I am off to do my PiYo workout for the day! Have a happy Tuesday everyone, and try to do one thing today that scares you, by stepping out of fear and stepping out in faith!

PiYo Review Week 1

I am so excited to be writing this post. In the past 7 days, I feel like my life has turned upside down in the best way possible. After weeks and weeks of researching the PiYo workout program, I decided to finally give in and order it 2 weeks ago. It finally came on Monday, and I began the program immediately. I can honestly say that this was one of the best decisions of my life.

This workout is unlike any workout I’ve ever done before. It has a Pilates and yoga feel, but is SO intense and pushes my limits each time. And the plus side? My knees and hips aren’t sore afterwards.

Here is the schedule for the first week:

The first day was the Align Fundamentals workout, which isn’t exactly a workout but more of teaching you the correct positions and postures for each move. This DVD is crucial to making sure that you are doing the workout right. I highly recommend doing this DVD before starting the program!

The next few workouts were the define lower and upper body workouts. These workouts were each about 20-25 minutes and gave me such a good workout in a short amount of time. Short and sweet is definitely what I need these days! I'm doing early shifts at work, as well as planning a wedding and trying to maintain some kind of sleep, rest, and relaxation! I loved the length of these workouts because I still finished them feeling like my arms and legs were on fire, but didn't have to drive anywhere or do anything else. Just popped in the DVD and that was it!

Next, on to my favorite workout of the week, SWEAT. This workout was crazy. I was dripping all over my yoga mat! This workout was 35-40 minutes long and all I can say is...wow. After this workout, I became fully convinced that PiYo is the program for me. I loved the intensity of it, without all the jumping and smashing my joints.

Some added benefits to the program is that I have already felt it improve my posture. I am a big sloucher, and this program has helped me with my flexibility, strength, and just being more aware of my body's alignment. In just one week, I feel more flexible and am sitting a little straighter. This program just goes to show that you don't need to run 6 miles a day to get strong and fit. Granted, I DO love to run, but I also love the change that this program has brought into my life. I am challenging myself daily with endurance and pushing my boundaries. I have never had much confidence with yoga, but now I am willing to try harder every day.

As always, nutrition is a key component to any health and fitness journey. What you eat is about 80-90% of the equation. I have kept things pretty healthy his week, but still delicious. Meals ranging from eggs to oats, to thai green curry to sweet potato fries. I've been able to eat healthy and in moderation and really fuel my body. I love the saying that you can't outrun your fork, and this is so true. No matter how much you workout, be sure to be feeding your body good, whole foods that you energize you and bring health to your body.

I really hope you all get a chance to try this program. I will keep you posted on my thoughts as the program progresses, and I can't wait to try some of the new workouts on the schedule for this coming week!