A Package Full Of Grace

Today a package showed up on my doorstep. It wasn’t unexpected. I had placed an order for it just last week so there shouldn’t have been any surprise when the mailman rang my doorbell this morning.

About 3 years ago, after a casual invite I decided to try a new church. It wasn’t super close to our house and I wasn’t really looking for a church but something made me go. Over the last 3 years, that church has become our second home. That casual invite led us to some amazing friends who have stood by us, held us when we cried, prayed over us, and loved us through so much over the last 3 years. What seems like such a short time, feels like decades. 

In that short time, we’ve lost 3 precious babies and the range of emotions we’ve dealt with have wreaked havoc on us. I’ve struggled so much with other people sharing news of their pregnancies. I’ve had breakdowns in the baby aisles at Target trying to by a baby shower gift. I’ve cried at church more times than I can count. And I’ve been the friend that broke down in front of a beautiful friend that had just announced her pregnancy. Y’all, I’ve been a hot mess of emotion when normally I’m made of steel. I’m not used to needing a shoulder to cry on, that’s generally the role I play for others.

But in all that, two of those amazing friends we met we’re walking an eerily similar road. We’ve each walked that road in our own way, her probably with at least a little more grace than I have, but thanks to an amazing group of friends, we never walked alone.

So today when that package showed up, full of baby shower invitations for that sweet, precious friend of mine, I found myself in a puddle of tears again. But for the first time, they weren’t tears of hurt and anger. They were wholehearted tears of praise that this beautiful boss babe is pregnant with a beautiful baby boy. God is good, y’all!! 

I don’t know if I’ll ever see the miracle she’s experiencing in my own story, but right now I’m just so thankful that I get to celebrate her!! 

Instant Gratification vs. Delayed Gratification

Yesterday, I shared on my Facebook and Instagram (@alinamfthompson) my results for week 1 of SHIFT SHOP. They were a little less stellar than I had hoped, but I wanted to share a little more about what happened last week and the changes that have been made for this week.

For the last several months, shoot probably more like the last year, I have been on this workout/clean eating roller coaster. Every time I started a new workout program something would happen, an injury, an illness, or straight up laziness and I would quit. Every time I would plan a week of clean eating a party would be added to my calendar, a new restaurant would open, or a billion other excuses would present themselves and I would quit.

{Photo Cred: Pinterest}

In the past I've also shared that I'm an all-in or all-out kind of girl. I don't understand less than 100%. But in all honesty, sometimes that is my downfall. I dump so much on my plate that it becomes overwhelming and all of a sudden I'm drowning in too many commitments and I'm all the balls I've been juggling come tumbling down right on top of me. That's just #momlife right??

This time around, I knew I needed to make a change. Instead of changing every single aspect of my life in one fell swoop, I decided to make one change. If I could make it one week and maintain that change, then the next week I would add another change. And so on and so on.

So, while week one of SHIFT SHOP meant some seriously hard workouts, I also did not dial in my nutrition...like, AT ALL! Wine? Yes! Burgers? Yes! Mac & Cheese? Of course! You get the picture. Each time, I enjoyed any of these (or so many other treats) I felt instantly happy. Ordinarily I later would have experienced a feeling of guilt that I had traded the choice to have a nutritious meal for the instant gratification of an unhealthy treat.

{Photo Cred: Pinterest}

Last week was a little different. Since I went into the week knowing that I had 1 goal and simply needed to make that happen, I never felt deprived and it was a lot easier to get through that first week. But as I stood on the scale yesterday, there was still that feeling of disappointment. What would that number have looked like if I had eaten clean? Would it have been a drastic difference?

{Photo Cred: Pinterest}

Let's take a second to be real...obviously losing 2 pounds in a week is AMAZING!! That's definitely a healthy weight loss goal and nothing to be bummed about! I think my perception of what that first week would look like were altered by seeing other fellow coaches losing crazy amounts of weight and getting super toned in only 3 weeks.

So, as I sat down to set my goals for this week I knew I would keep my workout goal and I would commit to workout every day for 7 days, with one double workout day, for a total of 9 workouts. I also planned to add a second goal and that would be focusing on my nutrition. I committed to follow the SHIFT SHOP meal plan EXACTLY. No cheats AT ALL!!

That's where I am today. The fridge is stocked and ready to go. My hubby has agreed to follow the meal plan with me and the recipes look fantastic. But even seeing how delicious everything looks, I know going a week without a burger or a glass of wine isn't going to be easy. I know there will be a day that everything will seem to go wrong, I'll be stressed to the max, and I'll either be craving some comfort food or wanting some quiet time to read with a glass of pinot grigio. This week I'm committing to not chase instant gratification. I'm looking ahead to the delayed gratification of climbing on the scale in a week knowing that I've completely eaten clean and showed up for every workout and I know those results will be there waiting for me.

{Photo Cred: Pinterest}

Do you struggle with fitness or is nutrition harder for you? Do you struggle to do both at the same time? You are not alone!! You can follow my SHIFT SHOP journey on Facebook and Instagram (@alinamfthompson) and please feel free to reach out to me if I can encourage you on your own journey!!

Are you ready for the SHIFT?! Check out this video to here more about the program from trainer, Chris Downing. If you're as excited about this program as I am, COMMENT and let me know!! You can find all the information to purchase the program HERE.

{Video Cred: Beachbody}

You Just Have To Want To...Right?

If you want it bad enough, you'll work for it...right? It seems simple enough but for a busy mom, it's just not true. How many days do you tell yourself you're going to eat right or squeeze in that workout you've been putting off? How many times do those clean eating habits get derailed by a school party, a church potluck, or temptation staring at you on the grocery store shelf? How many times do you put off a workout because the kids just won't go down for their nap today, you've just got to be at the school to volunteer, or you just want to enjoy the five minutes of peace and quiet you have without being covered in sweat? 

{Photo Cred: Pinterest}

I get it. And let's be real, every single day you're wanting to achieve this goal. You're staring at those old jeans you just refuse to get rid of, because one day you're going to wear them again. You're standing on the scale shedding every ounce of clothing hoping the number won't make you want to cry today and when it's still more than you expected you're balancing on one foot and taking out your hair tie praying it will budge. You're feeling frustrated that everywhere you go you're confronted with unhealthy food choices and friends that justify the excuse that "it's a special occasion" or "you deserve to treat yourself" or any other number of things.

It's not that you don't want to. You definitely want to. I mean the desire to lose weight is on your mind EVERY. SINGLE. DAY. There is no lack of want to. So what's the problem?

You want to know what the problem is? It's the WILL TO...not the want to. You can want something all day long but I can promise you that's not going to bring you success. That's not going to make those skinny jeans fit over that muffin top and zip all the way up. (Please don't read that as judgmental...know this...the muffin top game is strong with this one!!) 

{Photo Cred: Womanista}

Having the will to reach that goal, to lose that weight, to eat healthier means making a game plan and STICKING TO IT. It's easy to be jealous of the friend who can eat whatever they want at the numerous events y'all attend together and never gain a pound. It's easy to convince yourself that you work so hard and you deserve that cupcake at the 17th birthday party you've attended this month. And your girlfriends are going to back you up...because they feel the same way. We're all stuck in this same neverending cycle of wanting to lose weight and falling victim to our own excuses and validations.

Certainly moderation is good and had we budgeted for a cupcake at the most recent birthday party, so be it. But if you're like me with an endless string of kids' birthday parties on your calendar, there aren't enough calories in your budget to have a cupcake at every single one. We've got to have the will to decide ahead of time whether or not a cupcake fits into this week's plan and we've got to stick with what we've decided before the moment of temptation strikes. 

If you're still stuck in the want to phase of this cycle, please know you're not alone. Most likely almost every women in your circle of friends is there too. But if you're ready to put down those excuses and pick up the WILL to finally do something about your health and maybe even get back in those jeans collecting dust in the back of your closet, I would challenge you to do something today to get closer to that goal.

{Photo Cred: Pinterest}

Take it day by day. Minute by minute. Make a plan for your day and STICK TO IT. Don't let anything get in your way. If you feel a craving coming on, use that time to call and check up on a friend you haven't talked to in awhile. If you don't feel like getting in a workout, turn on some of your favorite jams and dance around your house...I bet you won't mind a workout so much after a song or two. Still struggling to find your motivation? Read a book that encourages a healthy lifestyle like "Push" by Chalene Johnson or "Made to Crave" by Lysa TerKeurst. You can also find motivation, recipes, and more on my Facebook page, Get Fit with Alina.

Today's the day!! YOU CAN DO THIS!!

Do I Really Need One More Book?

Since posting yesterday's challenge group announcement, I've been hit with tons of questions about what exactly this whole "Made to Crave" thing is all about. Why do I want you to add one more step to the already ridiculously hard process of trying to lose weight and get healthy? I mean how in the world are you supposed to cram even one more thing into your schedule?

Trust me. My schedule is as busy as yours. I mean my calendar has scribbles all over it and papers sticking out all woppy-jawed (yes, that's a word...at least here in the south). My calendar is such a hot mess that looking at it would give very little indication of just how OCD I really am. But trust me, this book is like the secret sauce, let's call it the BOOM SAUCE, that little extra oomph that's not only going to help you reach your goals, but help you tackle the demons that will drag you back to your starting place if you're not careful.

{Photo Cred: Lysa TerKeurst}

Why this book? Well, Lysa won my heart within the first few pages of her book when she confessed a secret love of Cheez-Its, which I've shared many times is my kryptonite. Hi, my name is Alina and I'm addicted to Cheez-Its...you think I'm joking, but I'm not!! And neither is she. She confesses that she hates working out and has never craved a carrot stick. She would happily chow down on any junk food you put in front of her, as would I, but she also battles the guilt that comes in the morning.

But I'll leave you with this quote from Lysa that perfectly sums up why I feel like this book is the BOOM SAUCE you need on this journey, because I could never word it as beautifully (or as hysterically) as she does.

"...I am well acquainted with the words muffin top and cellulite. Muffin tops and cellulite with stretch marks, thank you very much and have a nice day. I also know what it's like to feel sad and powerless in this battle to get healthy.

I want to lead Jesus girls on a journey that will help them find a stick-to-itiveness and a lasting want-to that taps into something much more powerful than the surface desires of wanting to weigh less and wear a smaller size. We need to tap into this power because the battle we face isn't just with sugary, fatty, or salty foods. There is a spiritual battle going on. It's real. And it's amazing how perfectly the Bible gives us specific ways to find victory with our food struggles.

Even for girls like us who don't crave carrot sticks." - Lysa TerKeurst, "Made to Crave Devotional"

{Photo Cred: Lysa TerKeurst}

Girl, if you're tired of trying to hide that muffin top with loose flowing tops, if you can't stand the thought of squeezing into a pair of jeans, or if you're avoiding stepping on the scale because you're just not prepared for the number staring back at you...YOU ARE NOT ALONE!! This group, complete with workouts, nutrition, and the secret BOOM SAUCE that is this book, is going to change your life in so many ways.

Are you ready to put down your excuses and finally commit to getting healthy? Today is the day!! Comment below with your email or head over to my Facebook page, Get Fit with Alina, and shoot me a message.

You can also learn more about my exclusive 40 day Made to Crave Challenge Group HERE.

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.

Crock Pot Chicken & Rice Soup

A few months ago, my husband mentioned how one of his favorite meals growing up was chicken and rice soup. He carefully dropped a truckload of hints that he'd really like me to make a batch. Considering I'd never made it before, I really had no idea how it would turn out but I told him I would give it a whirl. I mean, I'll take any excuse to throw together a new crock pot recipe! 

This soup is full of shredded chicken, plump wild rice, tender veggies, and a savory broth. It's a super simple recipe and so, so yummy!! With a sick kiddo this week, it seemed like the perfect time to whip this tasty recipe out again and as long as I'm making it, I might as well share it with you too.

Ingredients:

1 lb chicken breasts

6 c chicken broth, divided

1 c white cooking wine

1 c water

3/4 c wild (or white) rice

3 carrots, slice (or use frozen for even faster meal prep)

1 1/2 c celery, minced

1 small onion, diced

2 tsp minced garlic

2 bay leaves

Cumin, Salt & Pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. Add 2 c chicken broth, white cooking wine, water, and chicken to your crock pot. Cook on high for 4 hours or on low for 6 hours. (You can add all of your ingredients to the crock pot at the beginning but I have found it's not as easy to shred the chicken, so I prefer to do it in 2 steps.) 

2. When chicken is cooked through, use a fork to shred in crock pot. It should come apart easily. 

3. Add remaining ingredients to your crock pot and cook on low for 4 hours. Serve and enjoy. If you're feeling a little adventurous, try adding a little chipotle Tabasco sauce for a little heat and a nice smoky flavor. 

**Update, the mini has informed me that the soup is great, but I must have forgotten that she doesn't like rice. Apparently her favorite is chicken stew, so prepare yourself for that recipe soon. Who would have thought I would be making this many batches of soup/stew when it's 80 degrees outside!! #momlife

Consistency is Key

You want to know a secret? I struggle BIG TIME with consistency. That's right, I'm a fitness coach who managed to lose almost 150 pounds and keep the majority of it off. We'll call that my "claim to fame." But let's be real, that was a journey I started in 2013 and by the end of 2014, I'd hit my goal and you want to know the scariest part of the story. By the spring of 2015, I had slipped back into dangerous habits.

I was no longer working out regularly, somehow I no longer had time. Funny, since I'm pretty sure I had been operating with the same 24 hours all along. I was no longer eating like food was fuel, I went right back to emotional eating and enjoying way too many treats. I mean, let's get real, it's only a treat if it's an occasional thing. That's what makes it a TREAT! If we're enjoying a cookie every single night before bed, that's routine...not a special treat.

By the end of 2015, guess what? Those jeans I had been so excited to fit back into didn't fit. They wouldn't even button. By 2016, I was working out again, but sporadically. I'd dive full force into a workout program and go full force for a week or two, but then I was right back to zero motivation and compiling my list of epic excuses. And the pants still didn't fit.

In July of 2016, I decided becoming a Beachbody coach was the perfect solution. Encouraging other people to get healthy would be the perfect motivator for me. And initially it was. But here's the thing, motivation is fleeting and it always will be. You're never going to find one thing that motivates you from now until the end of time. I know I've said that in a million other blog posts, but even I struggle to truly accept that. I'm constantly letting lack of motivation rule my life.

So 2016 continued with moderate success.By January of 2017, I knocked 12 pounds off the scale, but after that the dang thing wouldn't move another ounce!! I would fluctuate within a pound or so and nothing more. One day it had gone down, the next day back up, and on and on.

This could have been the perfect "motivator" to launch me full force into a workout program that I already know is effective. I know it works, because I've seen it work. Do you think that's what I did? Of course not!! Common sense went out the window and self-destructive thoughts and eating habits crept right back in. How does this happen to someone in the position to help other people set and crush their own health and fitness goals?

This would generally be the part of the story where I would tell you some magical solution and eagerly share that I've lost every pound I wanted to lose...this is not that story. Instead, this story is my attempt to be as authentic and open with you as I've ever been. My hope is that authenticity will help you do some soul searching too and not be afraid to step out in the direction of your goals, no matter how scary and no matter how many times you've tried to reach them before.

So, if I'm not going to tell you a success story, what the heck am I writing for?! Well, I started 2017 by reading Chalene Johnson's book "Push." My hope was that it would be the "motivator" that I needed. You can't see me, just know that every time you see that dang word, it's complete with an over-exaggerated eye roll. Let's be clear, the book is awesome. And what should have taken me 30 days to read took closer to 75.

I still had 2 days left to finish in the book when I finally realized I was just spinning my wheels. I was reading all the awesome things she had to say, but I wasn't fully putting them into action. Knowledge without application is completely wasted!! So, in an effort to say that I wasn't a quitter, I quickly read through the last 2 days and moved my bookmark back to day 1.

This week has probably been one of my most productive all year. I've done some major soul searching to figure out why I'm struggling, what things are working and what's not, and how to change it. So, I reevaluated my 10 goals for 2017, decided which ones needed to be altered, not because they're easier to achieve (because they're definitely not), but which ones were more on target with my priorities. And then I needed to evaluate my progress so far this year...it wasn't good.

Essentially, I've been wasting my time for most of 2017 up until this week. That's a pretty crappy feeling, but an excellent wake up call. It's clear as can be now that motivation isn't my problem. My problem is consistency. I make this excellent plan to help me reach my goal and I kill it for up to 7 days and then it all falls apart. So here I am, starting a new plan...again. Have I mastered the whole consistency thing? Not yet, but I'm sharing this with you for my own accountability. In the next few posts, I'll be sharing 5 of my goals with you, my plan to reach them before the end of the year, and my progress.

I hope that my vulnerability will help you realize that you're not alone. You're not the only one struggling to drop those extra pounds but finding your hand back in the cookie jar over and over. You're not the only one wanting so badly to complete a workout program only to find yourself plopped on the couch or going for coffee with your girlfriends instead. Whatever it is, YOU'RE NOT ALONE!!

2017 Goals:

1. Lose 40 pounds

2. Be COMPLETELY debt free

3. Read 24 books (I upped it from 12!)

4. Study 4 books of the Bible

5. Complete 90 days of TurboFire

The plan for today is to set goals for the next 30 days and to focus on them one day at a time. So these goals have been set, a plan has been made, smaller weekly goals have been set to reach within those 30 days to get me closer to these BIG goals, and those weekly goals have been broken down farther into daily goals.

Will this wake up call be as successful as the one I got in 2013? Who knows, but today is a new day and I'm focusing on the 24 hours in front of me and making sure that every step is a little bit closer to crushing every single one of these goals. Here goes nothing!! I'm diving in, how about you?

Day 5: Show It Off

You made it!! It's the final day of the Closet Clean Out Challenge and I am so proud of you!! I hope you're already enjoying how easy it is to find what you're looking for and rocking some of the great pieces you discovered hiding in your closet!

Today, we're pulling together some outfits and we're showing them off! That means we're going back to the pin board you created on day 1. I want you to take a moment to refresh yourself with what's on there and then I want you to take some time pulling together 5 different outfits. Put them on. How do you feel in them? 

Don't be afraid to experiment and don't worry about how others will think you look!! Be you, bravely and rock whatever makes you feel amazing!!

Alright, now you've got several outfits that you know look great and I'm sure you're wondering where that super time saving tip is, right? Well, do you remember the photo I posted of my closet yesterday? Don't worry, you don't have to look for yesterday's post, I've put it below for you. 

On the right hand side you'll notice an outfit hanging up that matches the pin board I shared with you. As I finished my closet, I installed 3 hooks. One at the top where I hang this super adorable, Mrs. Thompson hanger, and 2 on the bottom. One for my purse and the other for any accessories I may need. With this particular outfit, I just had a necklace so it is actually hanging with the outfit on the hanger.

Y'all these hooks have been what takes my morning from chaos to calm. My outfit is picked out the day before and it's ready and waiting for me the next morning. And I don't have to wonder if it looks good, because I already know it does!

Girl, you did it!! You completed all 5 days of the Closet Clean Out Challenge and along the way found your own style and created some amazing outfits! I would absolutely love for you to share your favorite(s) with me on Pinterest! Head over them and send me a pic!

Thanks so much for taking this journey with me. If you've enjoyed this group and would like more content to help make your life more organized, healthy, and fun, please be sure to follow me. My Facebook page, Get Fit with Alina, is a great resource for recipes, workouts, and inspiration and you'll find my favorite meals, motivation, Scripture, and more on my Instagram page, @alinamfthompson .

Day 4: Organize & Repurpose

Y'all, I know yesterday was not easy. I hope you managed to find some pieces that you absolutely LOVE and jammed out to some awesome tunes while you were trying on all those clothes! The good news? The hard part is over.

Today, we're going to start reassembling that closet of yours, make it user friendly, and display your clothes in a way that makes you want to wear them. Finding your outfit each day should be fun, not some time consuming hot mess that ends up in tears and a huge pile of clothes on the floor. No, I'm not speaking from experience...cough, cough. Let's just hope my husband doesn't actually read my blog or he'll be posting to the contrary. 

An organized closet is literally a welcoming space. Your clothes should be easy to see because items that you can see are 80% more likely to be worn!! That's why that shirt wadded up in the bottom of your closet hasn't been worn in the last year...you didn't even know it was there!

It should be really easy to look at the piles we created yesterday and determine what needs to be hung up and what goes in drawers. Obviously we won't be hanging your underwear in the closet and cramming your dresses into a drawer just isn't functional. 

Keep like items together. In my closet, I keep all of my shirts together. They are separated by color and flow from short sleeve to long sleeve. I suggest organizing colors from lightest to darkest. Visually it's just beautiful, but it also makes it super easy to find that specific top you're looking for. I do the same thing with my pants. Jeans first, then my colored pants, all hung together. 

Once you've hung everything that needs to be hung, on to the drawers. Try to be very intentional about what goes into the drawers. These items aren't seen like the ones in your closet, so they are less likely to be worn. I like to limit my drawers to pj's, underwear, socks, workout clothes, and scarves. If I had the space to display the ridiculous amount of scarves though, I definitely would. 

Mamas, I know it is super easy to get carried away and run off to Target to pick up all the totes and organizational goodies we think we need. But, don't!! I don't want you to purchase a single thing. Organization isn't about tools, it's about habit. Need something to organize your scarves? In the picture above you can see what I've used. It's a hideous green thing with 3 drawers that used to have art supplies in it. At some point I may replace it with something a little prettier, but this works just fine and didn't cost me a penny. Empty paper towel rolls work great as drawer separators. You can even cover them in leftover fabric or wrapping paper if you can't stand them plain. If you maintain the system you've created, then invest the money if you want. But wouldn't you hate to spend all that money only to let it all become a cluttered mess all over again?? I know I would!!

Alright girls, get to organizing. When you're all done, I would LOVE to see your handiwork! Take a second to hop over to Pinterest and send me a pic!!

And yes, there is a reason to tune in tomorrow!! I'm going to share my time saving tip to take your organized closet from good to great!! You won't want to miss it!

Day 3: Try It On

The last 2 days have been spent pinning some awesome threads and pinpointing your own personal style. But today, we're finally opening the closet door. 

Before we actually turn the handle though, I want you to pull up that amazing pin board you created. We're not adding anything to it today, but I want it in front of you. Turn on some awesome tunes, some that make you feel good and maybe even make you want to shake your groove thang all over the house. 

Ready...open the door. Beware of anything tumbling off the top shelf and all those woppyjawed hangers.

The most important thing right now is not to be overwhelmed. If you're anything like me, that closet is packed to the brim with clothes. Clothes you've spent hard earned money on and aren't looking forward to parting with. You're not alone. But remember, those clothes you spent all that money on...that you never wear...are just taking up space in your closet and in your brain. THEY'VE GOT TO GO!! 

Ready to get started?

1. Don't hate me...you're going to pull everything out of your closet (and your drawers). Every. Single. Item. NO EXCEPTIONS!! Yes, your underwear too!

2. Try it all on. Yep, every single piece. (See, why I was worried you were going to hate me?) And yes, the underwear too! 

3. Every time you put an item on, I want you to ask yourself if you would pin that item to your pin board? Does that item make you feel the way you told me you want to feel every single time you get dressed?

**Side note, I don't care what size is on the tag and neither should you. Girl, sizes vary everywhere!! You might be a large in one store and a small in another. If it looks good, who cares what the tag says?! Yes, a fitness coach just said that to you!! If the number bothers you enough that you would get rid of a piece you love, cut that dang tag out!!!**

4. Now it's time to decide what to do with those pieces. Does it match your style board and make you feel AMAZING? Keep pile it is. Do you love those jeans, but they're in desperate need of a hem? Alterations pile! Maybe it's a great piece that just doesn't fit the style you're trying to create. Maybe it even still has the tag on it. Donate or sell it! 

So, how many piles do you need?

KEEP | These are clothes that perfectly fit into the style you're creating. You would pin them to your own pin board and they make you feel like the #girlboss that you are!

ALTER | These are pieces that would easily fit into the KEEP pile if a little tweak was made. Maybe they need to be let out, hemmed, or mended in some way. 

SELL | Let's be realistic, when your closet purge is done, you're most likely going to convince yourself that there is some magical piece from that pin board that you absolutely must purchase. For me, it was that yellow blazer!! If the items are in good condition (and you genuinely have a few items to purchase) consider putting them here first. Sell what you can and donate the rest. Use whatever money you can get, to purchase the items you need to complete your closet. But remember, the items that you purchase should fit into your style board (you would pin them to the board) and they should make you feel amazing...and not just because they're new or were on sale!

DONATE | Maybe you're uber awesome and you're perfectly content with the items left in your closet. In that case, find another awesome mama or charity to donate to. Just remember, these clothes should be in good condition. Don't donate junk full of holes that no one can reasonably use. 

TRASH | This pile is strictly for clothes that can no longer be used. If you're still hanging on to your jeans for sentimental reasons even though they have an enormous rip in the crotch...TRASH THEM!!

STORE | I'm going to need for you to be pretty strict about this pile. I would suggest storing clothes seasonally. So right now, leave out spring and summer clothes for us to organize in the next couple of days and store your fall\winter clothes. However, I'm going to give you an exception. If you are currently on a weight loss journey...like you've already lost 10+ pounds and you're getting close to those jeans that are a smidge too tight...you can store them. If you've been dreaming about losing 10 pounds for the last 5 years, but you can't even get a leg in those high school jeans, let them go.

Now, I want to be clear...I am not telling you to give up on that goal of losing 10 pounds. If you want/need to lose that to be a healthier, happier version of yourself, let me know. I will help you. But let's be real, that article of clothing isn't motivating you. Let it go and let's find something that will work.

?? | I feel pretty confident in saying that you're going to have at least a few pieces that you're not sure what to do with them. They're going in this pile, but here's the deal...you've got 30 days to wear them or get rid of them. You can hang them up with the hangers turned a different way or if you're OCD like me and can't stand them turned different ways, attach a small piece of ribbon to the hanger. I remove the ribbon when I've worn the item. Set a reminder on your phone or mark your calendar for 30 days from now. If the ribbon is still there or the hanger is still turned, let it go.

Lastly, before you get in front of that mirror and start criticizing yourself, I want you to remember that you are AMAZING!!! Absolutely, stunningly, beautiful and I want you to have fun with this!! Your fashion show awaits!!

Day 2: Back to the Pin Board

Welcome back, pretty lady!! Yesterday, we spent some time in the rabbit hole we know fondly as Pinterest. You took time to pin anything swoon worthy and I know you created an epic style pin board full of things you love.

Now, that you've got your board full of those beautiful outfits and pieces, it's time for us to make sense of it all. I mean it's great to throw everything on the board, but stopping there doesn't help us a bit. In order to purge your closet of the items you no longer need, we really need to fine tune your style and figure out what needs to stay. This exercise is the ultimate fix for that closet full of clothes without a dang thing to wear.

So, what exactly are you supposed to do? I want you to put that pin board back up and figure out what these items have in common. If you browsed through the pin board I posted yesterday, you'll find that I may have a love affair with blazers. I don't know why and my job as a fitness coach doesn't provide lots of opportunities to wear them, but oh, how I LOVE them!!! My biggest task as I was purging my closet was finding ways to work my blazers into spring outfits and incorporate them even into the hot summer months. Is that even possible? Apparently, yes.

So, I'm willing to bet that you'll also find a trend in the things you pinned. It may not be one particular piece, but I want you to ask yourself...

Is there a particular style that keeps popping up? Bohemian? Bold? Feminine? Glamorous? Rocker? Romantic? Seductive? Sporty? Whatever you're seeing, jot it down. It's going to come in handy later.

{Photo Cred: Ariana Ayutopia}

Alright, what colors are you drawn to? Is your board full of feminine pale pinks and pastels? Or maybe your an earthy gal with a board full of dark reds, olive greens, and burnt orange. You might be into bold and bright yellows, greens, reds, and blues. Or you might have a pin board full of different shades of black. My board was full of corals, pinks, and teals. Whatever you're seeing, jot it down.

{Photo Cred: Pantone}

Scroll back through your board. Are you seeing a certain fabric or pattern repeating itself? Maybe you've pinned several soft and flowy tops or dresses. Maybe rocker chic is more your thing and you're seeing lots of leather or you're so fabulous that everything you pinned has some sparkle! You may see multiple pins with floral prints, plaid, or gingham. Whatever you're seeing, jot it down. Loose, solid color tops seem to be pretty prevalent on my board and usually a necklace or scarf is added for a pop of color or pattern.

Alright, you should have a list going, something to help you pinpoint what you like about the things you pinned. Now, I want you to ask yourself if the outfits you pinned fit your lifestyle. As a fitness coach, blazers and flowy dresses every day aren't realistic. But they're perfect for church, dinner with the hubs or my girls. And considering that I spend the majority of my time in yoga pants and sports bras, it's a treat to get dressed up. So, even if what you've pinned doesn't perfectly meet the "requirements" of your lifestyle that doesn't mean you're back at square one. Be practical and be creative. I only want you to nix something off your list if it doesn't fit into your lifestyle at all. For example, if your a mama who doesn't go out and spends the majority of your time at the playground with your kiddo, those itty bitty mini skirts and 6 inch stilettos can probably be crossed off. Even if they're super cute, if they don't fit your lifestyle, they're not going to get worn.

Your last task for the day is the biggest and I want you to complete it by commenting below or in the Pinterest group...

How do you want to feel when you get dressed EVERY SINGLE DAY?

Day 1: Permission to Pin

Can I just say...I'm so glad you're here!! I know adding just one more thing into your schedule, especially for 5 days is no easy task so I'm super excited you've decided to join me for the next few days while we purge your closet, find some clothes you LOVE (and already own), and put together some pretty magical outfits.

Today is going to be a pretty awesome, fun, and easy day. Why, you ask? Because I'm giving you PERMISSION TO PIN! That's right, day 1 is taking us straight to Pinterest!

Now, before I lose you and you get lost in the amazingness that is the never-ending supply of pretty things to look at, there are a few ground rules.

1. There is a point to this exercise. We aren't going to blindly post every single thing we see to a board already cluttered with pins we've been collecting for years. This is a FOCUSED time to really explore and figure out what our style really looks like. 

2. Even if you think you're 100% sure what your style looks like, you're going to want to participate today. I promise it's still going to be revealing for you and will be necessary for tomorrow's task. 

{Photo Cred:Who What Wear}

3. Even if you already have a style themed pin board...START A NEW ONE! You're welcome to move some of your older pins to the new board, but I want you to start fresh. 

4. I want you to pin anything that jumps out a you. If you love it, pin it. Try to pin at least 30 images. You definitely can't have too many, but this also shouldn't consume your entire day. 

5. There is absolutely ZERO self-doubt or negativity happening here. It's important that you get that now, because that is going to carry over during every single day of this challenge. We're not beating ourselves up if we're not a size 2. We're not stressing over that muffin top or wishing we could count our abs. NONE OF THAT!! You are absolutely fabulous and if you need to repeat that to yourself 100 times before we start, go ahead, we'll wait for you beautiful girl!! Shoot, make it your wallpaper on your phone. Whatever it takes. Just get it in your head now...there is only one of you and YOU ARE AMAZING!! Got it? Ok, let's move on.

6. Refer back to #5...YOU ARE AWESOME!!

Alright, I think you've got it! If you need some help getting started, feel free to check out my style pin board, created specifically for this group. You can also join the Closet Clean Out Group on Pinterest and feel free to browse and share ideas with some other fabulous ladies!

Ready. Set. Get to pinning!!

Upcoming: Closet Clean Out Challenge

Since getting back from an epic road trip to Texas and back (which I promise to share photos from soon), I've been spring cleaning in full force. And with the coming of a new season, that means it's time to pack up our winter clothes and bring out all of our warm weather clothes. 

{At the Alamo with Ma, the hubs, the mini, & GB}

Before we left for Texas, I had the hubs pull down our tubs of clothes down from the attic because our North Carolina winter clothes just weren't going to cut it in the Texas heat! We picked out the items we needed and then there sat the tubs, in the way, collecting dust, and definitely not getting put away. Y'all, I thrive on organization!! My schedule stays jam-packed and without being pretty ridiculously organized, it all falls apart.

Plus, for me, organization is just another part of my health and well-being. I struggle with some pretty intense anxiety and when I'm living in chaos, it means I'm also battling the anxiety demon too. I'll notice I'm feeling crabby and grouchy, and over the years my hubby has picked up on it too. 

Sunday afternoon when we got home from church, there were those dang tubs just staring at me and I had had enough!! But tackling these tubs is no five minute project. It means the complete disassembling of 3 closets, trying on last year's clothes to figure out what even still fits (or maybe if we're lucky, is now a couple sizes too big!) and then reassembling the closets...and drawers!! 

As I stared at those tubs and thought about the work ahead of me, I realized that I wasn't the only mama facing this spring project and I had some tips and tricks to share. In recent years, I've been asked to come to friends' houses to organize their closets and to bring some order (and hopefully even some joy) to a "room" in their homes that was bringing so much frustration. Clothes that don't fit, clothes we can't find, or clothes that just plain don't look good on us can make us feel pretty crappy. 

There's some sort of awesome magic that comes in putting on the perfect outfit. Think how you feel when you get your hair cut and you leave the salon feeling like a million bucks. Isn't that how you want to feel every single time you get dressed? Y'all even when I'm rocking my workout clothes at the grocery store, I still want to feel good in my clothes. I don't want to feel like I'm constantly tucking that pesky muffin top back in or even worse, see a photo of myself in an outfit I think looks good only to find out I was oh, so wrong!!

For the next couple of days we're going to be detouring from the world of physical health and fitness and into cleaning up a completely different area of your life. The best part? When you makeover your closet, that can be one of the most motivating things you'll ever do to encourage yourself to get healthy. I mean, what's better than the healthiest version of yourself smiling and rocking the awesome outfits you're about to put together?!

Over the next few days we're going to figure out what your personal style really looks like, we're going to purge that closet, re-organize it, and put together some really killer outfits!!

So, how does it work? 

Over the next 5 days, I'll be sharing some awesome tips and giving you a daily task to complete. At the end, you'll have a completely made over closet!!! 

How do you get all the info?

You can check here daily (or subscribe to get all of my new posts dropped directly into your inbox) and/or join the Pinterest group!! Within the group, you'll have access to even more fun tips and tricks, plus a direct link to each day's post!

If you love this challenge, I hope you'll check out my FB page for recipes, workouts, inspiration, motivation, coffee-related humor, and so much more!!

A Glimpse Into My Journey

This is a LONG POST ALERT...but I need to share my heart because I know there are others out there who are EXACTLY where I was back in 2012. You see, I was the heaviest I’d ever been and to be completely honest, every single day was a struggle. You know when it's just simply a struggle to get out of bed? That feeling like wow I want to play with my daughter, but it's a STRUGGLE to just bend over and stand back up. I was there. Unhappy and uncomfortable.

{2013}

{Photo Cred: Alexa Michelle Photography}

An ah-ha moment for me was when I saw a family photo we took. I felt ashamed that I had let myself get to this point. I mean I was sitting there with my 3 ½ year old…wearing maternity pants!!! Every part of the spunky, fun, happy, healthy me I had been in high school was completely gone.

I beat myself up for a couple of days and then while digging through our collection of DVD’s I stumbled on a copy of P90X that someone had given us. We’d never even turned it on. It had been easy to convince myself that I was too out of shape to do it, it was too hard, or even that it wouldn’t work.

That day, it was different. I stopped what I was doing and put in the first DVD I saw, Legs & Back. That workout is a solid hour of intense leg and back work and I had to fight for every single second of it. I cried, I got frustrated, I took little breaks, I modified, but I NEVER QUIT.

{2015}

Something changed in me that day. I stopped letting my excuses rule my life and for the next year I worked out religiously. I dropped nearly 150 pounds and was able to get into a size 2…even smaller than I had been in high school. I'm not going to tell you that it's all been EASY PEASY and that I haven't had my fair share of moments where I fall off, lose motivation and have to re-commit. But I've surrounded myself with a COMMUNITY of people that won't let me fail, my Beachbody Community is my life-line and everyday I'm just grateful that I'm not on this journey alone.

{2014}

So if you don't know...I hope you now by now, I'm a COACH. A Virtual Fitness Coach.

Why? Because everyday I want to help women JUST LIKE ME to find their version of happy. Everyday I want to help women just like me get comfortable in their own skin again. And the best part is that it's VIRTUAL. That means I get to help you regardless of where you live, how in shape or out of shape you are in or how crazy your schedule is.

{2016}

So just know...I AM HERE. The door is always open for you to ask questions, I'm going to be opening the doors for all of us to get together in an accountability group soon, so keep your eyes peeled. And never forget that YOU have the power to change your story, to rewrite your future, to find YOUR VERSION of happy!

Paleo Tangerine Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Ingredients: 

1 lb ground chicken 

1 tbsp avocado oil 

1 c mushrooms, diced 

1/4 c green onion, chopped 

4 cloves of garlic, minced 

1 tbsp white wine vinegar 

1 tbsp raw honey 

1-2 tsp cayenne pepper 

1 tsp ground cumin 

1 tsp black pepper 

1/4 tsp sea salt 

1 tsp ground mustard 

2 tangerines, peeled 

8 large romaine lettuce leaves 

Directions:

1. In a skillet, heat avocado oil on medium heat. Add ground chicken. Cook until almost done.

2. Add mushrooms and onions. Cook until onions and mushrooms are limp. Stir in garlic, white wine vinegar, honey, and seasonings. Allow to simmer 5-10 minutes on low heat.

3. Add tangerine sections and allow to simmer another 3-5 minutes.

4. While mixture is simmering, trim romaine leaves to use as the wrap.

*makes 4 servings*

Adapted from Emily Schromm's Asian Lettuce Wraps, be sure to check out her amazing Superhero Challenge!

We're one week into 2017 and hopefully one week closer to achieving our New Year's resolutions, but did you know that almost 90% of resolutions fail? That's a pretty scary statistic! Today, I'm sharing 7 steps to help you create good habits which will help make that resolution fool proof! 

Do you need somewhere to get the support and accountability mentioned in this infographic? An online accountability group might be the perfect solution for you. You can learn more about these group on my Facebook page, Get Fit with Alina, or email me and we'll find a way to help you knock those resolutions out of the park!

Paleo Cuban-Style Shredded Beef Skillet

Ingredients:

1 bunch collard greens or 4 c lightly packed raw spinach

2 tbsp avocado oil

½ c chopped onion

2 medium green sweet peppers, cut into strips

2 tsp oregano

½ tsp cumin

½ tsp coriander

½ tsp paprika

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 oz cooked beef, shredded (Leftover beef from this week’s Ropa Vieja recipe works well)

1 tsp finely shredded orange peel

1/3 c fresh orange juice

1 c halved cherry tomatoes

1 tbsp fresh lime juice

1 ripe avocado, seeded, peeled, and sliced

Instructions:

1. Remove and discard thick stems from collard stems from collard greens. Cut leaves into bite-size pieces, set aside.

2. In an extra-large skillet heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and sweet peppers; cook for 3-5 minutes or just until vegetables are tender. Add oregano, cumin, coriander, paprika, and garlic; stir well.

3. Add shredded beef, orange peel, and orange juice; stir to combine. Add collard greens and tomatoes. Cook, covered, for 5 minutes or just until tomatoes start to juice out and collard greens are just tender.

4. Drizzle with lime juice and serve with sliced avocado.