Made To Crave: 40 Day Challenge

Months have passed since my last post. Life has gotten in the way and I've let my focus be taken elsewhere, but that ends today. If you want to know the truth, I've been struggling big time to stick to regular clean eating and exercise. I've struggled to pick a workout program and actually make it to the finish line. For weeks things are going well and then it's like I've run face first into a brick wall...WHAM! And just like that I'm back off track, back to old eating habits, and skipping workouts. It's this crazy never-ending cycle.

So for the last couple of months I've been contemplating why it was so easy to find success in 2013 and why I just seem to be chasing it now, but always coming up short. I'm tired of the back and forth, the inconsistency, and of hearing myself use the tired excuse that I'll start tomorrow. Enough is enough, today is the day. But this is definitely not a journey I want to take alone, so I'm challenging you to join me.

If you're tired of getting on the scale in nothing but your skivvies and still cringing at the number staring back at you...If you're waking up each morning regretting food choices from the day before...If you've tried every diet or workout program you can find and still nothing works...If you're ready to take your life back...then this is for you.

Starting July 31st, the doors are opening to my exclusive 40 day "Made to Crave" VIRTUAL GYM. 

Why 40 days? Throughout the Bible, God uses 40-day periods to orchestrate life changing events, like:

• Moses presented the 10 Commandments to the Israelites after spending 40 days and nights alone with God on Mount Sinai.
• Elijah spent 40 days with God being refreshed and renewed after his standoff against the prophets of Baal.
• After his baptism, Jesus spent 40 days in the desert fasting and praying, preparing for His mission.
• Jesus appeared to believers over a period of 40 days after His resurrection.

During the 40 days of this group, we will read through Lysa TerKeurst's "Made to Crave" while tackling a workout program and getting our food in check. We will learn to break the cycle of "I'll start again on Monday," to stop agonizing over numbers on the scale, we'll reach our healthy goals and grow closer to God through the process, and we will replace rationalizations that lead to failure with wisdom that lead to victory.

I am opening this group to 10 amazing women who are ready to link arms with one another, cheering each other on as we grow closer to God and take back our lives from the unhealthy habits that are ruling them today. It doesn't matter where you live, how in shape or out of shape you are or how crazy your schedule is...WE CAN DO THIS TOGETHER!

It's time to take our lives back from all of the excuses we con ourselves into believing, from jam-packed schedules, and from unhealthy food cravings that are ruling our thoughts and causing constant regret and poor food choices. YOU ARE NOT ALONE!! 

So, how to you join?

• You invest in your CHALLENGE PACK (the most bang you can possibly get for your buck) which includes:
• A FULL DVD workout package (comes with a calendar so you know what workouts to do each day and always has ways to modify)
• A complete nutrition guide and meal prep booklet customized for YOUR journey on this program
• A 30 day supply of the best health shake on the market to FUEL your body
• Purchase "Made to Crave" by Lysa TerKeurst, so you can follow along with each day's reading
• You'll also receive:
• Access to this exclusive Made To Crave Challenge Group which is full of healthy resources!
• A positive and uplifting community that will keep you excited and accountable
• A coach (ME!) to help you along the way and keep you accountable
• A 30 day trial of Beachbody on Demand which includes a TON of different workouts to stream online AND  a clean cooking show to help you make some awesome recipes and meal prep.

I truly believe this is exactly the group you've been waiting for. This is exactly what's going to help you bust through that plateau and finally put down every single excuse you've been holding on to. This group is what is going to help you CRUSH YOUR GOALS!!

I'm beyond excited for this group to begin and I hope you'll join me on this amazing journey!! Comment below with your email or hop on over to my Facebook page, Get Fit with Alina, and message me to get signed up.

September Health Bet

My September Challenge Group is getting a little more exciting with a HEALTH BET…NEXT MONTH ONLY! I’ll be using a new app that is designed to help track your workouts and nutrition PLUS you have the chance to get PAID to workout!!! It doesn’t get much better than that, y’all!

How does it work?

-The HEALTH BET is September 5 – October 2

-Beachbody has put together a $1+ million  cash pool to award challengers that consistently workout and drink their Shakeology throughout the month of September. PLUS, they’re adding an extra $5 to the pool for each challenge pack ordered from our August sales! Each challenger has the potential of earning a portion of the pot, which could reach up to $3 million!!

-There is no fee to enter, but you will need a program, or access to multiple programs through Beachbody on Demand, and Shakeology to be eligible.

-You’ll use the app to log at least 3 workouts/week and a photo of your Shakeology 5 times/week

-Plus you’ll have all the benefits of a regular challenge group, meal prep, eating plans, recipes, accountability, and motivation, as well as fun prizes!

Interested in joining? Email me for more information and we'll get you set up on a program tailored specifically to your needs!

The Lowdown on Clean Eating

Earlier this week, I wrote a post about how to eat clean on a budget and after it posted I got a lot of questions asking me to really dive into what clean eating really is. (If you missed that post, you can check it out HERE.) So today that's what we're getting into. You already know how to work your budget around it but today we're going to discuss specific foods you can eat and what those foods do for your body.

Clean eating isn't a diet in the traditional sense. It's not about counting your calories or cutting out carbs, but rather paying close attention to the where the food comes from. You're looking for unprocessed, or at least minimally processed, REAL foods. These are foods that are as close to their natural form as possible. In my other post this week I used the illustration of a strawberry , to minimally processed all-natural strawberry jelly, to a highly processed strawberry Poptart. The strawberry would be a great example of clean eating, the Poptart would be an excellent illustration of what to stay away from. 

A healthy diet consists of a wide variety of foods including vegetables, grains, fruit, lean protein, and healthy fats. And plenty of water, of course. In order to live a truly healthy lifestyle we need to be hitting each of these groups and getting the freshest food, in its most natural (or closest to natural) form. So let's dive into each of these groups and see how they benefit our overall health! 

Kale:

Of all the healthy greens, kale is the superfood king! It is one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet! Two of the most impressive antioxidants in kale, quercetin and kaempferol have been found to have blood pressure lowering, anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, anti-depressant, and anti-cancer effects. It's also an excellent source of vitamin C, so much so that 1 cup of kale contains more vitamin C than an entire orange! A recent study even found that steamed kale is 43% as potent as cholestyramine, a cholesterol-lowering drug! I know you're thinking, wow that's awesome, but there can't possibly be more...but you'd be wrong. Kale is also the best source for vitamin K, which is critical for blood clotting. In fact, 1 cup of raw kale contains 7 times the recommended daily amount! It doesn't end there, kale is a good plant-based source of calcium, important for bone health, and a decent source of magnesium, which may protect against Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Y'all this stuff is incredible!! I could seriously keep listing the amazing qualities of kale, but I feel like you get the picture. Kale is just one of the amazing foods on this list and it's full of all these amazing things!! It should already be easy to see what incorporating foods like this into your diet can be life-changing, but let's check out some of our other food groups. 

Quinoa:

It seems like quinoa is all the rage right now and it's popping up in recipes everywhere. There's a great reason for it, it's awesome!! It's gluten-free, high in protein and it's one of the few plant foods that contain all nine amino acids. It's also high in fiber, magnesium, iron, potassium, calcium, vitamin E, and various antioxidants. That's all well and good, but what is it? Well, it's a grain that is grown for its edible seeds so it's basically a seed that is prepared and eaten like a grain. A little confusing, but when prepared correctly, it's delicious. Quinoa, like kale, is also a great source of  quercetin and kaempferol.  

Blueberries: 

Blueberries are low in calories but high in nutrients and are actually one of the most nutrient-dense fruits. It is believed that blueberries contain the highest antioxidant capacity of any fruit. These antioxidants can help lower blood pressure and can have beneficial effects on insulin sensitivity and glucose metabolism, which is excellent news for diabetics. Like cranberries and cranberry juice, blueberries can also be helpful when battling a urinary tract infection. And my favorite, they even been shown to accelerate muscle recovery. Blueberries...the official fruit of leg day!!

Eggs:

Eggs are one of the most perfect foods. They contain a little bit of almost every nutrient we need!! While eggs are high in cholesterol, it's important to remember that cholesterol in the food doesn't necessarily raise cholesterol in the blood. In fact, eating eggs is a great way to raise good cholesterol, or High Density Lipoprotein (HDL). Eggs are also an excellent source of choline which is used to build cell membranes and has a role in producing signaling molecules in the brain, and most people don't get enough of it in their regular diet. A single egg contains 100mg of choline. Eggs contain Lutein and Zeaxanthin, both of which build up in the retina and are great for eye health. These antioxidants can help reduce the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration, two very common eye disorders. And of course, eggs are a terrific source of protein with a single egg containing 6 grams!!

Avocado:

Ok, first off, who knew that an avocado was a fruit? I was certain it was a vegetable, y'all. And as if that wasn't enough, did you know that avocados have a nickname? They're referred to as the alligator pear due to their shape and their bumpy, green skin. I know that seems like enough brand new information about avocados but I can top that. Did you know that they contain more potassium than bananas?! This is huge for me since I despise bananas even though their considered one of the bes things to eat when you have calf cramps. High potassium intake is also linked to reduced blood pressure. I didn't think I could love avocados more, but my love is growing with everything I learn!! They also contain 20 different types of vitamins and minerals. They do not contain any cholesterol or sodium and are low in saturated fat. 77% of the calories in avocados are from fat, but not just any fat, it's a fat called oleic acid. Oleic acid is a monounsaturated fat that is also found in olive oil and has been linked to reduced inflammation. Avocados are an excellent source of fiber, with 7 grams of fiber found in a 3.5oz serving. They can also lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, which are both linked to heart disease. 

Many nutrients including vitamins A, D, E & K, are considered fat soluble which means they need to be combined with a healthy source of fat to be properly absorbed. Because of their high fat content, avocados can dramatically increase the nutrient value of other plant foods that you're eating. Like eggs, avocados are also packed with Lutein and Zeaxanthin, which are excellent for eye health. 

I'm not going to dig into the benefits of these foods, but these are your guilt-free options. There is no shame in their game!! Enjoy them to your heart's content. 

Y'all this post just gives you information on one food from each group and they all had amazing health benefits. And that just ONE FOOD PER GROUP!!! Y'all these foods can change your life!! Eating clean can still be delicious but it's also the best thing you can do for your body!! 

Want to learn more about how to eat clean and stick to it? Join me for my August Challenge Group and you'll learn all that and more!

Why I finally gave in and ordered Shakeology...

Y'all I hate spending money. I hate spending on things I need and often won't even spend on things I really want. I'm frugal to a fault. I've been called cheap and while I'm always so ready to give all of my time to someone, I really struggle when it comes to giving my money. I will spend countless hours researching a cheaper option or putting off a purchase as long as possible simply because I don't want to see that money disappear out of my bank account. I imagine that comes from years of being dirt poor, but regardless, that's me. I'm a cheapskate...and I'm ok with that.

I have so many amazing friends who have many different home-based businesses. From Mary Kay and BeautyCounter to Mary & Martha and ThirtyOne. Their businesses are awesome, between all of them, you'll never need to go to a store for more than just groceries. They sell it all and the products are awesome!!! They have these great socials and show off all of the awesome new face washes or kitchen gadgets that they offer. The socials are fun, the products are great, but usually I'm still the one that walks away without purchasing a single item. They all know this. They all expect this. I'm the girl that won't buy it unless I desperately need it. And as much as I love that Pampered Chef chopper, I'm not going to pay $34 for it. I'm just not.

So when my sister-in-law reached out to me about Shakeology, I wasn't even listening to what was in it, why it would be good for me, or why I just had to try it. Nope. No thank you. I'll stick to my $17 protein powder from Wal-Mart, thank you very much. That reads harsher than it sounds in my head, so just take it with a grain of salt and know that I'm not coming from a place of negativity. I wasn't interested in paying more than I already was. To me $17 for a jar of protein powder was already more than I wanted to spend. My husband is most likely rolling his eyes at this point, just like he does anytime I get crazy about not wanting to spend a small amount of money on something we regularly use. I mean have y'all seen how much toilet paper is?! Or milk?! What a racket!!

But in May I signed up to participate in one of her FREE challenge groups and the prize for completing the group and checking in each day was a shaker cup and a sample of Shakeology. Now y'all, I'm not going to pay for this magical shake she's told me about, but you better believe I'm going to be on that challenge group every single day doing whatever crazy thing she tells me to do, to get that free sample. That's just me and I'm owning it loud and proud for all of you to see.

{Yes, y'all, that is me, planking on a monkey, 

at the zoo for one of her challenge groups! 

There's no shame in my game!!}

And that's exactly what I did. And I earned that free sample, 1 scoop of chocolate Shakeology. But y'all, for real, I'm cheap so I made that sample last. I wasn't about to waste the whole scoop on one drink!! I split in it half and made a chocolate cherry shake, with half a scoop left over. Some would say that's where I went wrong. I tried it. Y'all it was incredible! It tasted just like a milkshake!! And that was with only half a scoop!!! I just kept thinking it must be even more delicious with a whole scoop!

The next day I made another shake, but then my sample bag was empty. And I'm not going to lie, I was bummed. On the third day, I had to go back to my Walmart protein powder, and y'all I didn't even want it. Nothing has ever tasted so bland and so boring. It did nothing to curb my sweet tooth and yet I still didn't order Shakeology!! I still waited almost another month before I finally gave in and ordered it!!

It's now been a week since I placed my first Shakeology order and I've been drinking it every day since it arrived. Y'all my sweet tooth is gone!!! I haven't had a single craving since I started drinking it. NOT ONE!! 

Y'all I have seriously been blown away by how incredible this stuff is. I still find it hard to believe that anything this healthy could be this good and even my husband agrees. He compared my S'mores Shakeology to a Cookout milkshake!!! So while I'm still not rushing out to buy that $34 chopper, you can bet that I'll be ordering my Shakeology every month.

And before I sign off, I just want to give a HUGE shout out to each one of my amazing friends that has one of these incredible home-based businesses. I know I'm always the one to leave without a purchase and I know y'all understand why, but I just want to take a second to tell each of you how proud I am of you and how lucky I am to call you my friends!!! Love you girls!! 

***Emma has informed me that I'm not actually planking on a monkey in the picture above. Apparently chimpanzees are apes and you can tell because they don't have tails. My 6-year old may be smarter than I am...***