TIP of TUESDAY: Stock your kitchen for success!

Losing weight is simple math, burn more than you eat, we hear it said all the time. Hopefully by now, you have an exercise program, if not, stay tuned, I'll introduce you to one tomorrow. Many of you however, feel that losing weight is not simple...it is...it's just not easy.

Deciding to lose weight means you have to pull yourself up by your bootstraps, break old habits, get disciplined with laser-beam focus on the goal. It means you are going to need to exercise (unless you like that skinny flabby look and you might, but if you want toned, defined arms, abs, legs, you're going to want to work out...and it's worth it.)

It means you have to plan ahead and follow through with great lean, healthy choices. One way to really set yourself up for success is to have your kitchen stocked for success.

I challenge you, get a bin & fill it with all the foods from your cupboards/pantry that are high in fat and sugar. Yes, throw the Kool-Aid packets away, get rid of the chips, the candy, the sugar-covered cereals, the cookies/cookie mix, etc. GET RID OF ALL THE FOODS THAT TEMPT YOU. Bag up all the stuff in your fridge, regular soda, ice cream, cheeses, bacon, etc. and take it to the homeless shelter. (They're starving, they need the extra calories, right?)

Now, go shop for healthy foods. What is 'healthy'? Buy stuff that is around 100  a serving. Find some whole wheat bread that's not loaded w/ nuts and fat. Buy 2 cases of water, your body needs it!  Here is a quick list of the foods I buy at Costco every 2 weeks:

• Water
• 4 - 10 lb. bags of chicken (2X/mo.)
• mini-bagels (use as toast, w/ my sandwiches - only 110 cals. per bagel)
• sandwich THINS
• 3 - 18 pks. of eggs (always try to have an 18 pk. boiled up to snack on, no yolks)
• light tuna (hold the mayo)
• almond milk (40 cals. per serving)
• low-fat cottage cheese (I use mine as spread on my toasted bagel, sprinkle some paprika...yum)
• frozen & fresh veggies (broccoli, green beans, spinach salad, mushrooms, baby carrots, etc.)
• apples, bananas, pears, strawberries
• brown rice (eat only 1/2 cup cooked rice to stay around 150 cal./serving...not a full bowl of rice!)
• low carb, high fiber whole wheat torts (one of my faves: 80 cal. per tort.)
• 4 lb. bag of blueberries

(Costco is where I shop, they are not paying me to say this. Although we watch what we eat, I buy it in bulk because we eat a lot.)

Take this list, go to Costco and you'll have food for weeks (depending how many in the fam eats this stuff). But this list is our staples in my home. Sometimes I find something else that's fun and healthy to try, but hopefully this list can help you.

So with a pay day on the horizon, create your list (or use this one) and plan to go to Costco and buy up some healthy foods to stock up your kitchen for success!

What does your day look like?

I was thinking about life yesterday, as I watched my family outside playing in the mud. And I thought to myself, "how do I do what I do now, when a year ago I had way less commitments?" Then I thought, 'wow, 2 years ago, I had 1 less child and was overwhelmed then'. What has changed?

The first year or two of life with Daniel, my first son, I was unorganized. I had no goals written out. Never used a to-do list, was always feeling like I was behind with chores. And this was before I was ever on FB. I hated feeling frazzled. Then a light bulb went on, 'why not use a to-do list like you did when you worked?' That was the problem...the 10 years prior to having a child, I used lists. My lists had lists, but staying home was such a culture shock I lost sight of things that worked. So immediately, I implemented a daily list of things I HAD to get done that day!

Then comes my second son, and life...well, it got harder again, it seemed. When Jacob was 5 months old, I was told of this Beachbody coaching opportunity, I signed up, then canceled, afraid that I could not handle it. Oh, if would've just hung on for a minute then, how much farther along I would be...errrrrr. Ever feel like you missed an opportunity? I felt like that for a few months following...I could hear Cher singin'....'if I could turn back time'...But I can't.

Fast forward to now. What does my day look? I have things to do...but I don't appear 'soooooooo stressed out'...(Unless of course I drink too much coffee in the a.m. Then my heart is racing in my chest, and it can get pretty ugly.)

But here's how my days seem to go:
I get up as early as I physically can. Some mornings 5:30 a.m., some may be 6 a.m. This is my chunk of time for the computer (FB, blog, BB stuff). Trying to remove the image of 'mom at the computer' from children's memory. Then in the Word before they wake up...or even after. (I'll admit, missed a lot of devotional time in the beginning with Daniel, but I've realized 'apart of Jesus, I can do nothing'.)

Upon my kids' rising, I feed them & myself, dress them, do the needed asthma stuff, get their teeth brushed...and then it's on like donkey kong.

Then, I blast my Turbo workout and burn a ton of calories (and any pent up stress) while my kids play together and amuse themselves. I will admit I have to pause my workouts for a diaper change or to check on them, but I don't think those quick interruptions are really interfering with my results.

Once I'm done working out, it's shower for me, snack for the kids and errands time. Or on some days, time for the park, play outside. I've learned that because of my 'task-oriented' nature, it is best for my kids for us to get OUT of the house. We'll do lunch wherever we are, most times I pack a lunch to go for us.

Nap-time comes....Somewhere along the way, Jacob falls asleep, and I try to devote this time to reading to Daniel, flashcards, painting, and fun stuff for just him. Some days, it's me racing the clock to fold some laundry, clean some restrooms, or mop floors...and a couple minutes to check my email stuff.

Afternoon arrives and by now, we're outside playing. Or if we didn't get out of the house in the a.m., we run for some last minute groceries.

By 4 p.m. my attention is focused to prepare dinner. This is engrained in my head. My kids are hungry by 5 p.m. and my husband is ready to eat around 6ish. So to avoid melt-downs, I am ready to feed them when the the hunger pains strike!

This is key. A lot of families I've learned recently, eat out for dinner most nights a week. I eat out when on the run & stuck away from house when we get hungry, but hardly, hardly ever dinner...any day of the week. Not condemning you for eating out, but for many of you who know that my husband lost 200+ lbs. - this I believe is why he's been so successful: WE EAT AT HOME/HOME-COOKED MEALS 99% OF THE TIME!

After dinner, the kids are outside playing while I clean up the kitchen.

Then it's nightime routine of asthma meds, baths, teeth brushed, and to bed. If I'm wide awake when everyone else is sleepy, this is when I've been taking time for some FB time and some googling (like 'children and bad dreams', 'pre-k material', 'boost metabolism', etc.) But this week, I decided, I really want to finish my 'life-changing' book, so I'm going to bed at 9 p.m., when everyone else does, and then reading until my eyes are too heavy to keep open.

THIS IS KEY HERE: During the evening or right before bed, I write out my list of to-do's for the next day. I take note on calls I have to make, errands I have to run (included is the list of things for purchase @ what stores), chores I need to do, and usually toward the bottom I have '4 p.m.: Make dinner' there. This helps me know that I have to get it all done by a certain time, I have to be home by 4 p.m. in order for my family's dinner to be ready when they are hungry.

It's my list that keeps me organized. Just like a written out budget keeps my money organized and devoted to where it needs to go, a list of to-dos keeps my time organized & devoted to where it needs to go.

Two years ago, I made a 'Goals Board' for our family...and we reached some of those. In December of 2010, I made a new goals board and I have it hung in my office, over my computer...and I look at it daily. This keeps me mindful of where I want to go, which keeps me focused on where I want my time to go too. This helps tremendously when making my list of to-dos.

What I do around my home isn't heart surgery, and it doesn't take a degree in 'rocket science' to figure out. However, if I want to be successful at home and manage our lives with meaning, I've got to be a great 'life manager'. I've got to be responsible with my time, my money, and my loved ones.  

MY KIDS ARE PRIORITY - I HOPE MY LIFE REFLECTS THAT IN THE END!

It's only because I chart out where my time is going to go that I can do all that I do in one day. Waking up before my family and falling asleep after them is what gives me the extra time to pursue my dreams and manage my Beachbody business, all while devoting time to them when they are demanding it! :)

I think it's John C. Maxwell that my husband has forever quoted around our house, 'In order to be more, you have to become more'... and in my mind, 'in order to be more, I have to do more'. But how would I do that without my 'handy-dandy' notebook of lists????

So this week, I challenge you: sit down and make a list of goals you want to reach by the end of the year (set some to complete by the end of your life). Make them realistic, achievable, measureable goals. And then, put 1 thing on your calendar - daily - to do to get you there. It can be as simple as 'Read 5 pgs. in my life-changing book'. 'Get transcripts from junior college to go to the 4 yr. university', 'fill out job application', 'exercise for 20 min.', 'call a relative I haven't spoken to for...too long'. When you start making time (by managing it) to reach your goals, you don't have to feel this giant pressure of 'achieving something huge'...you just have to show up daily with your list of telling your time where to go!



Losing Weight isn't hard - it just takes some PREPAREDNESS!

I've been reflecting over what I've shared with you since I've started this blog. A lot about exercise, I've offered workout solutions, programs. I've talked a lot about food, measuring food out, avoiding 'killer-foods', but one thing I haven't pounded into your heads is the serious need to 'BE PREPARED'.

And maybe it was my one day this week that I was totally unprepared that made me realize this: a lot of people aren't losing weight because they have (multiple) days like this one.

Here is what my unprepared day looked like.

1. I woke up late since I had tea the day before at 4ish p.m. & could not go to sleep at 9 p.m.
2. I had a list of errands to run, but needed to fit in my 55 min. workout. And I had a meeting that night. Needless to say my time was OVERCOMMITTED.
3. I got on the computer before I ate breakfast.
4. Did not eat enough to begin my day.
5. Packed a very lite lunch to take with me.
6. Made my kids their own single cheesy quesadilla to go.
7. Ran my errands.
8. Visited a little longer here & there than planned.
9. Cleaned my house (while my boys napped) upon arrival at home (later than I planned).
10. Went to my Fit Club meeting that eve - hungry.

Where's the 'sabotaging unpreparedness' your asking?

• I didn't eat breakfast when I woke up (I could at least drink my shake, right?)
• I didn't eat enough before or after my long workout.
• I overcommitted my time, should've spread my errands out over the next couple days.
• I packed my kids' too much food that I'm not supposed to eat.
• I did not pack enough fruit or healthy snacks for ME on the go.
• I ate their leftover quesadilla as I drove home from all my errands.
• I didn't fix a healthy dinner for myself, while they were napping, instead I cleaned.
• And to top it all off, I ate their leftover home-baked chicky nuggets once I got home from my meeting.
• Long story short: I did not enough at the onset of the day & was famished, so I ate what was in front of me...my kids' food!

There you have it folks. I am normal. I do slip up. I do not bat 100% - 100% of the time. But do you see the things I should've done differently?

 

So in order to be prepared for a successful EATING day, here's what I need to do:

1. No caffeine in the late afternoon. Ever. It doesn't set me up for success for the next day.
2. Wake up early, eat upon rising. (I made sure to have my shake first thing today, even before my coffee).
3. Eat enough before my workouts.
4. Eat a filling lunch, include a nice portion of protein to fill me up.
5. Have my fruit, healthy snacks (a bag of baby carrots) nearby at all times.
6. Make sure I drink a ton of water on the go & at home.
7. Plan a filling, lean dinner.
8. Eat more veggies w/ lunch and dinner.
9. And don't make TOO MUCH food for the kids. (That's my struggle already....)

I am big on saying that there is "Power in Transparency" (maybe I should write a book w/ that title...hmmm, don't steal it okay?) But no really. The irony is, on Tuesday, before I ate all that food that's on my 'do not eat' list, I reached out to someone, who is where I want to be, for accountability. Then, isn't it Murphy's Law that I eat the foods I advise others not to eat?

Here's the next thing that I did, that was GREAT actually: Wednesday morning, I said - "It's a new day"...just because I made a couple bad choices the day before, I refused to get all down, depressed, & discouraged (in fact all those emotions can make you want to eat more/worse, right?). I just sucked it up -started my day off with a positive mindset - did my intense workout - AND controlled what I ate better. (Did not want to report to my accountability partner of another slip-up, right?) The result: down 1 lb. in 4 days.

THE MORAL OF THE STORY: Set yourself for success with enough sleep, eating healthy food regulary, and don't overcommit your time to run yourself ragged...only to leave you time-deprived & famished!

Notice I italicized 'EAT' above. If you are eating healthy foods, regularly (being sure to AVOID hunger pains), then you're less likely to binge eat the foods that are full of fat & in the 'no-fly zone'!

Be prepared! Need some tips on being more prepared on what foods to stock your fridge, pantry with, email me: jennifermorin@beachbodycoach.com

Get your body in shape w/ the Gospel!

So some of you think that you have to forsake your devo time to get in shape - no you don't! Watch this!

I have a ton of God-loving friends for sure! There is a workout for you all too! And the focus is on the Lord - buffeting your body as well as you spirit!!! Who wants to transform your body & worship at the same time? What a great way to follow your daily devo time!!!!

Email me at jennifermorin@beachbodycoach.com to find out you can get this comprehensive program!!! I don't believe it's God's will that you are overweight, fatigued, tired, sick with high blood pressure. Why not encourage your soul & improve your cardiovascular health at the same time!

God bless you all!!!!

Tuesday's Tip on Dropping the Weight!

In my mind, the simpler something is the more likely you'll do it, right? I know a ton of people who want to lose weight, yet they don't know where to start.

First, you can start by NOT eating the bad foods. You know what they are: fried foods, sugary drinks, sugary/dessert foods, empty carbs (chips, a ton of bread out to dinner), and super fatty foods (pizza, buffets, burgers (double double cheesy heart-attacks to go), and the giant burritos filled with sour cream, cheese, rice, beans). These are just a few things to eliminate at the start. If you stop eating these kinds of food (stop eating fast foods so much), you'll start dropping weight immediately.

Let's say you've done this part. Let's say that you have eliminate the obvious bad food from your life. But the scale is no longer moving. What do you do next?


MEASURE OUT YOUR FOOD! This is so easy. It's easier than you think. Get a 1/2 cup, and 1/4 cup measuring cups, as well as 1 tablespoon & 1 teaspoon.  These are the ones you will use most often. Most beans, rice, cottage cheese, yogurts can be scooped out w/ the 1/2 cup since that is the typical serving size. (Nonfat plain yogurt is 1 cup for 120 calories.) You've got to scoop the food out anyways w/ something, right? Just read the 'Nutrition Facts' and scoop out your food to what the label says is a 'serving size' with your measuring cup.

MEASURE OUT YOUR CONDIMENTS! Yes, mayonnaise, bbq sauces, salad dressings - look at your labels, you'd be suprise at how much of that stuff you are actually using. When you start measuring it out, you will immediately begin to use less right from the start. Most condiments have a 2 tbsp. serving size. When was the last time you measured out Peanut Butter? 2 tbsp. of PB = 190 calories. Wow, huh? And you know you ain't only been eatin' 2 tbsp. :)

READ THE LABELS. Read the labels of food you eat at home. Look at the Nutrition Facts and start measuring out the food to the 'serving size'. And for now, just make a mental note of the calories you're eating. Also pay attention to the fast food menus. They are now posting the calories to meals. Pay attention that they will read something like: 450-990. The 450 is the sandwich only, the 990 is the meal. 990 calories in one meal? Wow, stop eating that, and you'll change your life!

Last week I talked about a food log - a log of what you're eating. I didn't want to overwhelm you with too much at once. Hopefully you started writing down what you ate. Did you do it? Did you become aware of what you were eating? That's what a simple food log does. Writing down what you eat helps you see what you are putting in your mouth. I want YOU to know what you are eating. This alone will make you conscientious and you'll probably start making better choices!

Now this week, I want you to start eating a 'serving size' of your foods! This is where 5th grade math is important! You will be doing fractions, adding them, cutting them in half. But I want you to get over it & just start eating the 'serving size' of food! Can you do it? If you have the goal to "Lose Weight", then this is a great way to start controlling the amount of food you eat!

Write your current weight down on a calendar and then start measuring your food right away. If you begin to eat a regular 'serving size' of your foods and condiments, (minus the fatty fast food type meals) - you WILL lose weight!

My Boys...

My focus is shifting,
My time is running out,
Soon they will be grown,
I've got to make it count.

So many hours lost to "just a minute",
Have quickly been slipping through my hands.
I can't get them back, and I just can't forget it,
I don't want to lose these last moments that I have.

They are why I am here,
Not to the save the world, yours and mine,
But to provide them with warm hugs, love & care,
They're only mine for this short length of time.

Finding that it's my 'distractions',
That run my patience thin,
It's not their interruptions,
They just need my time & attention.

So I make the needed adjustments,
Making them my priorities,
Yes it will take better time management,
After time w/ the Lord & Daddy.

I only get one shot at this,
So I better make it count,
Soon they'll be grown & I will miss,
All the days I could've made it count.

"I just give up!"

"I just give up"...this is one of my 4 year old's favorite lines when he doesn't want to do what he's told and he knows it will get a rise out of me.


My response to him is always: 'You can't give up now, you have too much life left.' Or, 'You can't give up now, you'll just be bored out of your mind'. 'That's no fun, what are you going to do for the rest of your life if you give up now?'


Do you ever feel that way? Like just giving up? What's it worth, right? All the hardwork? You set out to do something, you don't get the results you intended, so you just want to throw in the towel. But that's no fun, what are you going to do with the rest of your life?
If it's not working out, figure out how to make it work....or go a different direction. But whatever you do - DON'T GIVE UP!

Life is great if you focus on others. Making life a little easier & better for another person is so rewarding. You will find joy inside, you'll feel energized, and then you might just go out and accomplish something!


So my words to you - You have too much life left to give up now! Go out there and be the best YOU you can!

Budgeting Revisited!

I got some amazing feedback from some folks re: my post on PayDay = Budget Day. Well, it's nearing another pay day for us, time to bust out the calculator. But I thought I would check in to see how many of you have either gotten your written budget done or how many got the book of Dave Ramsey's ("Total Money Makeover")?

This stuff will change your life. Maybe before you're comfortable with writing out a budget, you need to face why you don't want to do it. I think that before I was on a 'written budget' I did okay w/ the money. However, I was uncomfortable with the thought of that immediate/microscropic accountability I thought I was going to be under with my husband. But, my assumption of what it would be like didn't happen.

I observed something this week in conversation with a friend, she feels like living on a budget makes her feel 'broke'. And she is not broke by any means. And so maybe for some, the word budget is controlling, takes away power, brings back memories of when you were broke....but a budget really gives you so much.

The end result of a budget will leave you with money to save, put toward retirement, pay off a big debt. That's sounds great, right? A budget will give boundaries for us to be good stewards of our money, that's great right? We will have to make wiser decisions at Target and we may have to decline a few lunches 'out'. But for some, this will ultimately please our spouses by having better spending habits and more money in the bank - WIN-WIN! And if you're single, more money in the bank = more security. That's what I always wanted when I was flying solo!

Is it difficult to give our money boundaries because we want everything we see? Should we get everything we see? We don't do that with our kids. We don't receive everything from the heavens above, so why should we satisfy our hunger for 'instant gratification' just because we have the cash?

Yesterday, I was at the store, and I need a clock. I want a chrome, shiny chrome one. I saw one that was kinda like what I wanted...but told myself, "no, I'll wait 'til pay day and put it in the budget". I realize that when it comes to stuff on the walls, an upgrade in clothes/shoes/purse/accessories, or toys/stuff for my kids - then they can wait until I budget it!

Maybe we can lasso in our impulsiveness by implementing a budget. I'm coming to an obvious conclusion here...managing/following a budget builds character. It creates humility (when you tell yourself or others no), it creates contentment (no, I don't need a 4th pair of black sandals), it creates self-control (who cares if this is on sale - I DON'T NEED IT!)  Read my post on the 'power of telling yourself no'. Try it, you might grow. ;)

A written budget will be good. Now, a budget does not mean that you can't ever buy any new clothes, plan for a bbq, go out of town. A budget is the place that you write in the dollar amount you will spend on that item/catagory. And be realistic. Don't budget $40 to go Pismo (that's just gas)...unless that's all you have and you pack a lunch to eat for free, then that's brilliant & have fun. But plan to spend another $20 on fish & chips if you have it. Really, you don't need a lot of money to have fun on (that's another day's post...hmmm). But put in a responsible amount into a catagory that you frequently spend in. You can live - when you are on a budget.

Try it. You will find that you have more money than you thought. You may even have some extra to give to the local Rescue Mission, charity. Check out PayDay = Budget Day Post. That's the one that really got people thinking. Email me at jennifermorin@beachbodycoach.com if you have trouble finding my list of catagories in original blog I refer to. Have fun budgeting!!!!

Working it out...

Don't you just love transparent people? I think transparency is wonderful. It's liberating for the transparent person, and it's empowering for those around 'em.

You ever feel like you just 'gotta to do something'...and then you do it. And then it's not what you quite expected? Me too. However, I'm learning and accepting that I'd rather step out and try something, and be a little disappointed, then be stuck feeling miserable in my lack of adventure. Does that make sense?

My life takes this turn quite often. I get excited, step out and do something, find that it's a little bit of what I want to do, my dreams morph into something bigger, then I feel overwhelmed and have to make adjustments. Do you ever feel like that?

It's okay. It's life. It can be worked out.

One of my biggest struggles is balancing it all. And my 'all' is different than your 'all' and we'll both handle our 'alls' differently. But one place I can always turn to is the Word of God when I need to make an adjustment. Like today, I took these feelings of overwhelment to the Lord and here is what I got for a word: God wants us to help the needy, but not to the point that our family suffers.

I am not good at balancing it 'all' right? Here's why: I'm a very, very task-oriented person. I love to-do lists and when I get going on a project, you better watch out because I might run you over.  This is a great characteristic to have. My previous employers have loved this about me. But, it's not so good for my kids.

For example, I count on Jacob taking a nap at a certain time and I plan my chores & stuff around it. Now, when the 4 yr. old jumps in the crib w/ the baby, keeps him awake, I get a little frazzled. Now, I have to rearrange my day, that errand I was going to run when the baby woke up, has to wait until later, which if the baby sleeps longer than 2 hrs. it's going to have to wait until the next day, because for me, once 4 p.m. rolls around, I need to be at home. Certain things need to happen at certain times. So, I become frazzled over the monkey wrench thrown into my day.

But mommyhood is teaching me that 1) being a mommy is top priority over being the janitor, running errands, and emails and 2) mommyhood is priority over the whole list of things I want to pursue.

I'm a dreamer. I'm always thinking, dreaming, journaling, brainstorming. And for me, I have to turn that all off because I need to read to my kids, color, play, cuddle, etc.

People look at me like I'm crazy when I say it's hard for me to be a stay-at-home mom. Because, for me, being a 'stay-at-home' mom seems to be that. I'm at home to be a mom - first! This BB biz, helping everyone in the world that I can, has to come second to me being a mom. (And I'm I speaking to the hours that my husband is not home. I have an audience that will remind me my husband is first...and he is...but when he's not home, the other 2 men in my life come 1st).

So what is my post about today? Me sharing life with you! Me just 'working it out'. I find that when we share what's "REALLY" going on with in our lives, life is so much easier. (I can't stand fakeness. Fake smiles, fake conversations, fake hugs...you can fake it w/ everyone else, but don't fake it with me! Neither one of us will grow & benefit!)

I always appreciate insight from others. We need eachother. So if you are a person who prays, pray that I will do what God wants above what I want to do. My wants don't always line up w/ His initially. However, through prayer, the track I'm on usually merges onto the track He has for me. And I want what He wants for my life. He has and wants the best for me! Thanks.

Tuesday's Tip: USE A FOOD LOG

Just this week alone, I've been in touch w/ a handful of women who were awesomely humble enough to share what they eat with me. And then I have questions, of 'how much', and 'how often' to add to my inquire of 'what do you eat?' and 'when?'

All of these things matter. Remember I mentioned last week in weight loss, exercise is 20% & EATING is 80%. But what are you eating? Don't know log it! Look at Weight Watchers, they are successful because they have their clients keep a food log. My husband who had a personal trainer, kept a food log of everything he put in his mouth. We measured it all out...we still do. In fact, last night, there I was measuring out his 1/2 cup of steamed brown rice for dinner.

The point of food logs is it makes you mindful of what you are eating. Do you keep a checkbook? It keeps you mindful of what you're spending, right? You see where you went over, and where you did great.

A food log is the same. Think of calories as cash. What do you want to spend your calories on? Knowing that the less you spend, the better shape you will be in. This is true for us financially as well right. If you are on a mission to lose weight a food log is a must - keeping track of what you eat is a must! My friend just passed on a free one at http://www.caloriecount.com/. You can enter the food you ate, see the 'grade' it gets, and tack it onto your food log. You want to watch your calorie intake, especially if you're on a mission to lose weight!

When I start talking with people who want to lose weight, I first ask them what they've been eating. You can easily spot the sabotaging foods right off the bat by just rattling off your list. Does this sound like your food log: skip breakfast, doughnut when I get to work, coffee, cheeseburger and fry for lunch w/ a DIET soda (love the irony in that), and then late dinner of chili cheese fries, coney, w/ milkshake. What? I know someone very close to me who ate like this and it's more common than not. (Check out his story at http://www.thislittlepiggywenttothegym.com/ to read his amazing story of losing 200+ lbs.)

So if you're one of those people, "I know I need to lose weight, but I don't know where to start"...here is your starting point. Here is your assignment. Start a food log today! Write down everything you eat from now until Friday. And then on Friday when you're full aware of what needs to go. Spend the weekend cleaning out your fridge & cupboards & buy some lean, healthy foods! It will change your life.

Need some ideas on what lean, healthy foods to stock your cupboards with, let me know. Email me at jennifermorin@beachbodycoach.com!

Inferno Results, what's next? 90 days of TurboFire, maybe more!

After 5 days of intense workouts, I dropped 2.5 lbs. That's great for me, it usually takes 2 weeks to do that at this point in my mission. Here's a pic to keep you up to date of where I'm at w/ my physique:

I'm just not brave enough to post swimsuit pics...this is a little bold for me now. I'm taking today off from a lot, because I'll tell you, those TurboFire workouts wiped me out. Couple things I will do different in the future, if I do the 5-day Inferno again. I will eat the 1 tbsp. of PB allowed, I will eat the rice prescribed in the eating plan, and I will drink the recovery drink each day.

I don't typically eat/drink those foods and feared the added calories would mess me up...but these workouts require you to be fueled. And now I realize why...I was tore up from the floor up because I didn't fuel myself properly.

Today, I will be reading up on the class schedule for the next 90 days, in addition to the 'Fuel the Fire' Nutrition guide. That's the beauty w/ these workout dvd programs. They come complete with the dvds, a guide on the workouts, a schedule to get the best results, a food guide of what to eat, and bonus stuff like bands or gloves. No guess work! (Just to warn you, you may get some of the dvds off ebay, or even burned, but you're likely to not get the guides. Those are essential to getting the results. How can you do the P90X & get P90X results if you don't know what week to do what for the muscle confusion? Just sayin')

I bought the basic TurboFire program, which comes with a ton of stuff, you saw the pic, but there are a few other dvds that I can add that are longer workouts at the end of the 90 days to extend it 8 more weeks. That's what, 6 mos. Great! Six months from now puts us at Christmas time! I like having a plan already set to stay in shape - no guesswork!

Personally, I'm hoping to get some friends hooked on the Turbo workouts so I have some buddies to work out with. Want to check out TurboFire, here ya go!

Compassion is where it's at!

I am in an interesting season in life. I'm at home with my kids, but I long to help others. I have such a heart for people and just struggle when I see others struggle in life. And this makes sense when I come across the verse of Galatians 6:2: Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

Bear one another's burdens.....What does that mean to you? For me, it means make yourself available to help others. Listen to others' struggles in life, whatever they are. Be compassionate toward others' who have less,  and who have made mistakes.

What's interesting is, we have the internet. The internet fascinates me in how much we can do and how much info we have access to. Yet, somehow the internet as much as it can connect us (thru FB, Twitter, blogs, email, Skype), people seem more lonely than ever. Perhaps, so many sit behind their screen, typing out things they wish were true, yet if they were more transparent, you would hear their burdens. Then we would experience deeper relationships.

We have to take time for others - face to face. Not FACETIME...but real life, in the same room kind of face-to-face time. This is when we bear eachother's burdens. When you see me face to face, you may see worry on my brow and I can't hide the anguish. I'm forced to share how "I'm really doing". However, I can type out positive slogans all day on FB, and you're convinced I'm great, right?

See, I want to do so much more for others than this blog. I am passionate about helping others. I love encouraging others...but I'd also love to help someone clean their house if they were down sick & couldn't. I'd love to pick up my friend's kids, if she had a doctor's appt. and couldn't. I love being available for others. Not sure why I am so passionate about it. Perhaps it's the cry of the Spirit in my heart to help me stay focused on others & not myself.

I came across a book about Mother Teresa. This woman was amazing. Her compassion towards others supercedes any human I've ever seen. In my mind, of what I know, she fulfilled what Jesus taught. She was not rich by the world's standards, but her rewards in heaven outweigh any riches one can have on earth. Mother Teresa teaches us that 'human beings, when given the most basic kinds of love and attention, find significant transformation and discover their humanity, dignity, and at last momentary happiness'.

It's amazing how powerful your compassion & desire to bear another's burdens can be! Today, ask someone, 'how are you REALLY doing?' And then listen. Don't offer solutions, but offer compassion, a listening ear, and love.  Fulfill the law of Christ today and bear someone's burdens today!

My Heart is to help YOU - You're not alone!

I have such a burden to reach out to people who struggle in life. This is what I wanted to share yesterday, but during my a.m. time slot to blog, blogger was down. So instead of featuring a Success Story, I want to share my heart today.

I love you. Really. Most people reading this know me, and some I may not know at all. But I know me, and I know I have a deep, genuine concern for people and my heart is for you to be successful.

Since becoming a 'coach', I have had so many people reach out to me and share their struggles with me. Struggles about weight loss and the 2 components: food & exercise. Too much food, and not any exercise. If that's you, I want you to know that you're not alone.

You're NOT ALONE in this struggle. There is a ton of people who have the same struggle as you. And if I let myself get into the habit, I have the struggle too. (I'll address this word habit next week in the context of diet & exercise).

What helped me is realizing that I didn't get overweight - overnight. It took a few months, a year or so to pack on some weight. It started by me allowing myself to eat what I WANTED, not what I should. I gained weight because I ate the pizza that was at the birthday party, followed it with some cake. I gained weight because I gave in and had the bacon egg biscuit to-go. I gained weight because I continually ate foods that were not lean or healthy. They were high-carb & fat-laden foods.

I gained because I did not exercising consistently. I was taking my son for walks. And I thought they were really burning calories, yea, I don't think it was enough. I stayed big. And finally, after being miserable with myself, I decided I had to take drastic measures. I had to exercise with more intensity...and I could not eat whatever I wanted, or whatever was there.

That meant, if I was going to a party, if they didn't have some salad without drsg. or any lean meat, I would not eat. I (like my husband who lost over 200 lbs.) typically ate our healthy meal before, showed up to the party and declined eating. "Proper etiquette", I don't know. I didn't care. Maybe the chili dogs was the only thing in the budget & that's okay. But I'm not going to scarf down 1,000 calories in one sitting to 'not hurt the host's feelings'. I would just politely say, 'no thanks, I already ate'. I had goals and the only way I was going to reach them is if I took drastic measures.

This also meant I had to plan ahead. I needed to have healthy choices ready to eat. I had to cook up extra chicken breast, boil up eggs (to eat the egg whites), have fresh produce ready to eat, and I had to try to find ways to avoid wanting to raid the cupboard.

One that I found was that working out crazy hardcore helped me in 2 ways. One, it burned a ton of calories to get to that stored fat that just loves staying glued to my hips off...and it made me think twice about what I put in my mouth. I would tell myself & others, "I work out too hard to eat that". My philosophy is/was: Why am I going to push myself sooooo hard to turn around & eat that? Most people's philosophy is: Oh, I worked out so I CAN eat it! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO that's why you're not losing weight & getting results...you're not creating a calorie deficit.

The key to losing weight is simple math: Create a deficit. Burning more calories than you eat = Results. So, example, yesterday, I burned 805 calories, I ate around 1200-1300, so really my body received only 500, but because I was eating healthy foods, often throughout the day, I didn't feel hungry, my metabolism stayed revved up. Now, if I was to not eat but only 500 calories/day, without working out....well, I'd sabotage my body - period. See that is the beauty of working out! In fact, I've already burned over 3500 calories this week & I have 2 more days of my INFERNO to do!

I went off on a tangent about working out and eating good, because that's what many of you are not doing. And that's why you struggle with your weight. I think it would be safe to say that many are addicted to food.

Now before you get defensive, I want you to do an experiment. Answer this: What is your favorite food? What do you just love to eat? Now, when you eat it, do you eat just one or 2 bites or it until you are stuff? Do you smile and moan when the food is in your mouth? If it's around, and you just got done eating, do you want to eat that favorite food? Now, what is that favorite food? Is it healthy? Is it fries, pizza, candy bars, cakes, ice cream? If you think you are not addicted...I have a challenge for you. Whatever that 'fave food' is - give it up for 1 week. If you can do that, give it up for 1 month. See how your attitude is without it. See how your attitude is when it's in front of it and you don't eat it. (Email me if you do this, I'm interested in your results.)

I have a heart for food addicts because I've experienced addiction before. Addiction is crazy. Shoot, my addiction to home-brewed Starbucks coffee is what got me out of bed today (yes, I'm already planning to address it). But addiction is real, and addiction to food is real. And if we don't start addressing it as an addiction, I'm not sure we can conquer this obesity epidemic.

My heart is to help people who feel powerless against food. It's a real feeling that many experience. If you want help, email me at jennifermorin@beachbodycoach.com. Find me on FB - Jennifer Morin....and I will help you the best that I can!

Working This Out - This Wednesday

I love pairing up words that start w/ the same letter, like 'Workout Wednesdays', or 'Success Story Saturdays'. Weird I know, but it gives me a starting point.

Last Wednesday I featured Chalene Johnson's latest release: TurboFire. I gave the breakdown of what the workout will do and why you would want it in your workout repetoire (check it out). After doing the research about the HIIT workouts, the way it boosts your metabolism, and how effective it is to help drop the weight, I had to have it myself. I ordered it last Thursday & it arrived yesterday:

Do you see the 5-Day Inferno Plan booklet? What is this exactly right? This 5 day plan is an eating and workout plan "designed to cleanse your body and change your daily eaitng habits, so you're ready to take on TurboFire with more energy". It's a great plan to follow M-F, if you have a special event on Saturday. Results always vary, but at the back of the booklet, they feature 4 people who used it. One gal lost 5 lbs. & 8 inches, the other 9 lbs. and 11 inches, and the last gal lost 7 lbs. and 10 inches. The guy lost 14 lbs. & 10 inches. (Can I just say I envy how quickly men can lose weight?)

Pretty much what you see in the pic is what you get in the $119 program. (There's a big daddy one for more that comes w/ 60 min. workouts - I'll purchase the 4 seperate & later to add to my collection. It also comes with a month supply of the P90X recovery drink, which Dave loves, won't live without it.) 

The best part about these dvd programs from Beachbody is that they lay it all out of what you need to do. I received a schedule of when to do which workout for the best results. I also got an eating guide to follow so I don't have to do the guess work on what to eat or get bored w/ the same 'ol chicken & broccoli diet. Which, I don't think that crazy restricted regimen offers my body the right kind of fuel for this workout program anyways.

This is so cheesy, but of all I got in my box (the bands are pretty cool too) - I'm excited about the free tank top I get when I send in a before & after pic to them. When they see 'my transformation', I'll get a free tank top (which I love tanks by the way). And better yet...drum roll....I could possibly get a chance to appear in an infomercial.

Okay I know, I said it was cheesy. But if you knew how long I've been doing Turbo Jam, how much I love that program. How I went to get trained to teach Turbo Kick, and how I am hoping to be an instructor. If you knew how much I adore Chalene Johnson because of her amazing character, integrity, motivation, love to help people lose weight, passion to help others change their lives...then you would totally understand how excited I am that that is an actual possibility. And for those who know me, you know I am going to push myself sooooooooooo hard to try to make that possibility a real-life event for myself.

I'm going to kick off my '5 day Inferno' today! I'm not a person that 'waits 'til Monday' to start changing my life. I've done my own observation and I the best time to start something new, a diet, a new program, is the day you decide/receive it/figure out how. Before & afters pics of the Inferno will follow in 5 days. And then before & afters will follow in 90 days. Stay tuned!!!!

Shop by Fitness Programs at www.beachbodycoach.com/JenniferMorin for your own!

Exercise is only 20% - but it's key!

I've heard it said over and over and over again: Diet is 80%, exercise is 20% of losing weight. I talk a lot about losing weight thru diet and food choices. I can be a broken record sometimes on it, so I thought I would talk about exercise and highlight somethings to really zero in on to fully maximize your weight loss efforts.

1. EXERCISE. Seems like the obvious, right? But how many try to lose weight withOUT exercising? Just start moving. Figure out what you really like to do & do it. If you enjoy your workouts, you'll do them. (How often have you seen people at the gym, w/ frowns, on a machine, not even into it? No intensity? Yea, don't do that.) Find a class, a program, or something you can't wait to do the next day. I found what I like and that's how I lost my weight and keep the weight off!
2. SET GOALS. Most know the story of my husband (http://www.thislittlepiggywenttothegym.com/). His goal was to lose weight, not be a 400+ lb. man, and not die young. My goals have always been little increments of weight. For example, when I was 159 lbs. (after my 2nd born son), I said, "I'm going to get down to 155"...then it was 149, then I said, "I can get down to 145". And when I reach that I said, "If I work out a little harder, kick up the intensity, I can get under 140". Now I'm about 134.
3. CHANGE IT UP. I know I said, find what you like...but you still have to change it up. If you like the treadmill. Go from walking to jog...then jogging to running...then sprints w/ jogging. Then try to tackle 5 mi. then 10 mi. Like the stairclimber...turn up the intensity, increase the level, increase the speed.
4. USE WEIGHTS. This may take a little homework or you asking someone to help, but you gotta have resistance training. (If you're a woman, resistance training helps prevent osteoperosis.) Weight-lifting/resistance training revs up the metabolism, builds muscle, and gives you that toned, defined look. It's a win-win!

These are just some things to get you started. After you've lost those initial pounds, go thru the list and re-apply them. Somehow, some way, we easily steer off course. Reminding ourselves of some of the basics, helps us get back on track.

A couple of observations I recently made and my husband and I have talked about, that may help if you consider. You've heard it said, 'get a workout buddy'. And that's great if you find someone who has the same schedule as you, but that can be difficult. But here's the thing: don't make your weight loss success dependent on that person showing up. How often do things come up & your 'workout partner' flakes out or gets sick? Then how easy is it for you to miss when they've called in advance and told you they won't be there? Don't put your success in someone else's hand. If you need accountability, get someone to hold you accountable. Find someone to text your weight to every Monday. Find someone to call you and check in with you. But don't make your attendance to the gym or your workout dependent on someone else showing up. Get yourself there and workout to your fullest potential - when you clock out from work, drive straight to the gym. Have you gym bag in the car & just get yourself there. Or set your alarm, drag yourself out of bed and get yourself there. Turn on that dvd. Whatever you do, just get yourself dressed & show up. Then apply the tips above. Heck, use me as accountability. Beware though, I'm a little diehard and can come across as a drill sergeant sometimes, so you may get results if you ask me!!!!

All this to say, if you have weight loss goals. Don't depend 100% on dieting....get yourself moving & grooving at least 3-5 times a week for 30-60 minutes each time & you will lose!

Benefits of exercise:

1. Metabolism boost
2. Encourages body to burn calories
3. Revs up your heart & lungs to work at maximum capacity
4. Healthier bones
5. Increased stamina & energy
6. Lowered risk of heart disease
7. Overall improved health
8. Body transforms & leans out
9. Improved self-esteem/lessens stress

EXERCISE - it will change your body...it will change your life!

Baby Steps or Giant Leaps

How do you reach your goals? By baby steps or giant leaps?

My husband and I recently bought a house. The idea had been discussed for nearly a year. The decision to do so in a night. We took a giant leap toward the goal of moving out of our neighborhood and across town.

Last fall I took baby steps toward a goal. The first goal was to lose the last 10 lbs. of baby weight. So I made the decision to go to a Turbo Kick training in Laguna Hills. This deadline to get fit and lose weight was just what I needed to push myself to lose those 10 lbs. and reach my primary goal. Receiving the certification to actually teach a Turbo Kick class gave me a new goal to consider. It made me think & consider whether or not I wanted to be a group exercise fitness instructor. Never had considered it before in my life. But all of the sudden it was an option. And it would be instructing the most fun workout I had ever done in my life - Turbo! But I wasn't sure. I still some steps to go. I had to learn the workout, know the routine by the music, remember each move...and then be able to confidently lead a group through a round of Turbo Kick. (A little intimidating, right?)

Fast forward a few months, I'm a Beachbody Coach (which that was a giant leap I made in a day, something I had considered before, but with the right, fresh business-minded approach I was given, I knew I had to leap out & do it!) Now that I'm a Beachbody Coach, I am starving to be around goal-oriented, fitness-minded people. And what a better place to meet them than the gym, right?

So with incentive of a free family membership, the passion to get out of my momma-cave and meet like-minded people, I said, "I should be a fitness instructor - I should go for it". So the last 2 weeks, I really paid attention to the sequence of the workout...and completed it, to the music (no aid from a dvd), and nearly have the cueing down.

So what is the next baby steps to take? Fill out the application for the position, deliver it & wait for a call back. Thinking about it gives me butterflies. Not sure why. But, I know that once I hand that app over, I am going to work out harder, count my calories more accurately, and be so excited on the inside that I took the last steps IN MY CONTROL to be a fitness instructor. Even if they never called me back, I feel successful! I completed my list of baby steps in becoming a fitness instructor. Perhaps, completion = success...for me!

What's great is I will drop off the application and then leave it in God's hands. If I get the position as a group X instructor, I will have yet a couple other baby steps: get CPR certified & my AFAA group exercise certification. But that's the easy part. I can pass a couple more tests, right?

See, reaching goals and having success in our lives doesn't have to be these huge monumental moments printed on the front page of a newspaper. It's consistently taking baby steps or giant leaps...depending on your time, resources, or faith. It's making your mind up that you're going to do something, figuring out what it takes to get there, then checking each step off a list with persistence. My list is nearly checked off to be a fitness instructor. First thing this Monday morning, I completed the application. This afternoon, I am dropping it off. It really can be that easy.

Need some assistance with setting some goals? Coming up with an action plan to reach them? Email me at jennifermorin@beachbodycoach.com - I would love to help you! Take the first baby step of reaching out and I'll help you take a leap!

Celebrating Servanthood! Happy Mother's Day Moms...

In Matthew 20:26 Jesus said, "....whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave, just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom for many".

Jesus is the greatest example of servitude, servanthood, and putting others first. As a mom, this is the tlife. My aunt (who never had kids) will come over and just watch. From time to time, she says, "Why don't you sit down and rest?" "Don't you ever sit down?" I do. When I eat or check my email. Or when I sit down to color w/ the kids, read, etc. But to just sit down for the sake of 'giving my feet a rest', what's that? That's what Nikes are for, right? :)

Is there really time to just sit down? Not really, there are clothes to wash, dry, fold, putaway. Dishes to wash, dry, putaway. Mirrors, toilets, tubs, floors, bed sheets to be cleaned/washed. Nooks & crannies to declutter. There are groceries and household items to purchase, money to be budgeted, checkbooks to be balanced, patios to sweep, toys to pick up...and really the list goes on and on.

Why? To serve and provide for my family's needs. To serve. Today is Mother's day, "Momma's Day Off"....Yet at 7:30 a.m. I was mopping today. What is rest? What is a total/complete day off?

(I say that, but don't receive that I'm a matyr against rest all together, for the Lord declares to have a Sabbath/Rest day...I'm speaking more in the direction of being a worker of the home daily to provide for our home (just as our husbands are workers in the workplace daily to provide for us). Rest/Sabbath day: yes! Day-to-day laziness: no!)

There's no idleness in the life of the Proverbs 31 wife, right? Read that passage. It's a great reminder of what to shoot for. As I just read over it, I circled the things I need to work on. It's good to be a hardworker, to be kind/good to your husband, to remember the poor/needy...verse 27: She looks well to the ways of her household. I have the word 'order' resinating in my mind.


I live for God's kingdom and the way His economy works is when I serve and put others first, thru my servanthood to my family, I shall be first. That's not my motvation by any means, but I never have an unmet need or want usually. My husbands is so generous and gives and gives because I give. It's a great cycle of selflessness. As soon as you drop the greedy/selfish/self-serving/self-centered way of life, give, and pour your life out for others, all that you could ask for is abundantly provided. (Ephesians 3:20 - that's how it operates for us...).

I get so much peace and pleasure in seeing my boys cared for & having fun. It makes all the serving it worth it!

Have a great Mother's Day moms...spend this special day with the ones that make is so special! As for me, I'm going to wrestle in the floor w/ my boys, chase them around the yard...and put them first!

Success Stories of Others INSPIRE Us!

Here is a success story of a woman who used the 90-day program of ChaLEAN Extreme! It takes some 'extreme' measures to get the extreme results you want. Click to watch:

http://beachbodycoach.com/esuite/home/JenniferMorin?bctid=7035601001

I love Chalene Johnson. She's an amazing motivator, fitness trainer. She's got a muscle building workout that gets your metabolism revved up. MUSCLE BURNS FAT! Check out what this fat-blasting workout does to your body:



I've done her Turbo workouts for nearly 4 years now and lost the baby weight from both of my pregnancies. I know that what she brings to the table is the best!


Sometimes at the gym we don't know what machines to use, how intense to push ourselves, when to add weight, when to add reps. Sometimes, we get focused on weight-lifting & forfeit cardio, or vice versa. This is why these programs work. All those things have been figured out & packaged for you! These programs work when you use them! And if you keep in touch with me, I will definitely hold you accountable! Who is ready to transform their physique?

Flex Yourself!: Pay Day = Budget Day

Flex Yourself!: Pay Day = Budget Day: "Yes, a budget! What is that? Do you have one? We do. We got it from a powerful/life-changing book and APPLIED IT! The book is: Total Money M..."

Pay Day = Budget Day

Yes, a budget! What is that? Do you have one? We do. We got it from a powerful/life-changing book and APPLIED IT! The book is: Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey. (You can get a copy for $10 @ www.daveramsey.com). (Young people get this book, you need it now, not later. Retirement is a real thing to plan 40 years in advance for!!!)

Here's the routine for our pay day here in our home: I get my husband's payroll check, STRAIGHT to the bank, deposit it, WITHOUT cashback at this point. Next, I go home, and double check my budget sheet that I created a couple days prior to pay day (just in case something has come up).

Here's what I do to prep for my budget:
Step 1: Gather up all bills from my special "Current Bills Due" folder at my desk.
Step 2: Fill in the dollar amounts in these catagories:

First are the things we pay by check:

• TBBC (money insurance, first right?...for some who don't know what this is: tithe)
• Additional Giving
• Life Insurance
• Mortgage pmt.
• PG&E
• Gas Co.
• Water Co.
• ATT
• Gardener
• Car Insurance
• Gym fees
• Debt (which we've wiped 1/2 to 2/3 out in the last couple years by sticking to a budget)
• Shakeology/BB Biz (now paying for itself, I may add)

These are the catagories that I get cash out for. The thought Dave Ramsey has is, take the cash out, don't use your debit card because, when you walk into Target w/ only $40 for the baby's diapers & formula, there's no cash leftover to buy that cute tank top 'on sale'. If it's not budgeted for, then don't buy it. Now if you NEED clothes, make a catagory & give yourself a budgeted amount & STICK TO IT! Here are the catagories that we pay cash & avoid debit card use on:

• Gas (a certain amt. for me/a certain amt. for husband)
• Groceries
• Toiletries
• Jacob's needs
• Daniel's meds/needs
• "Allowance for husband"
• Jen's phone (I seriously live on a pay-as-you-go phone. I use my home phone 99% of the time & save)

And that's it. There are times like this week, we have to add: Car Maintenance, and Clothing for Daniel. And month to month, there may be a Kaiser catagory, or a special thing like: Air Duct Cleaning, like we did this week.

The beauty of a budget is that you can start a catagory for an expense you know is coming in a month or two. Like this month, I'm saving for my suburban tags for July. I haven't received the bill, but I quickly look at my tags to see that they expire in July. So, I plan. This way a bill that is expected, is NOT a financial emergency.

I add up all the expenses, minus it from the income to confirm that I have enough. I always know what we have left over after all our needs are filled in. What to do w/ this money? Throw it at the debt, save for something you're going to need like: car, appliances, furniture. Why finance those things, when you can save & pay cash, get a better deal because people make deals for cash...and save yourself a ton on interest right? (GET THE BOOK & READ IT!)

So the budget sheet is filled in & the check is in the bank.

Step 3: Balance checkbook before I even begin paying out.
Step 4: Write out/pay bills.
Step 5: Make 'cash item list'.
Step 6: Go to bank for cash.
Step 7: Go shopping with my lists for Target/Walmart, Costco, etc!
Step 8: STICK TO THE LISTS! :)

This is how we live. Pretty simple & basic math. You don't need a BS in Accounting to live on a budget.

Now the key is to NOT spend all my grocery money at the store the first day I get paid so that in a week when we need fresh produce, I have CASH for that. There will be times that there's a little miscalculation in what I need, but I try so hard to NOT use my debit card.

The philosophy behind using the card is 'it's unlimited'. Oh, I have the extra $50 in the bank so I can buy this - thing I absolutely don't need & will only use/wear once.

If you do this budget, you will find that you DO have the money you need for the month typically. You tell your kids/employees what to do, why not tell your money where to go & what to do so that you control your spending!

I might point out that I am strategic w/ my bill paying too. Say we get paid the 1st, so the bills due from the 9th thru the 23rd, I pay the first week of the month. The bills due from the 23rd to the 8th of the next month, I pay at our mid-month pay day. This way my bills are ON TIME. The wonder of this is, I only sit down & balance my checkbook 2X/mo., always aware of what I have - this avoids ISF fees, right? And I only pay my bills 2X a month, never wondering when a bill is coming in or if I'll have enough. This provides me peace of mind, and more time w/ my kids. I avoid: paying as I go, trying to always find time every couple days to sit alone & scream at the kids as I try to crunch number to make sure some money is there for this one bill, right? Who wants to do that 2-3 times per week? This budget system keeps my time managed better too. I know what days are pay days, so I build time into my schedule to do all this in advanced.

This is how we live and we live pretty stress-free over finances. We know we make enough to live on. Now, if we are broke & in a bind, who's responsible? It's easy to figure out in a quick discussion :) So I try my hardest to tell myself & KIDS "NO" so that we can have some peace & liberty in our lives.

My Thoughts on Thursday - "NO" buys you LIBERTY

I've met with a couple of very business-minded, financial planning individuals this week and we engaged in great challenging conversations. I thought for today I would throw out some of the things we discussed. Now, for the sake of my feelings, don't personally attack me, but just hear me out and then think about it for a day or two, and then email me your thoughts.

Now, in no particular order, here are taglines of conversation topics:
1. People are not planning for their retirement.
2. Healthcare WILL be the biggest expense when we retire (there will be no Medicare).
3. People are living longer. (Their meds are keeping them alive).
4. Most seniors are on blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetic meds. (These ailments are preventable.)
5. Young people do not realize they need to save a.s.a.p. for retirement.
6. Most people do not have money to save.
7. These people do not have a written out budget.
8. Most people spend their money unwisely & impulsively.
9. People want fancy things now and will live in debt to have them.
10. People do not have financial goals.
11. People do not have fitness/spiritual goals.
12. People glorify eating bad at buffets, drinking all night, hangovers.
13. When you talk about healthy eating/budgets/self-discipline, many react defensively.
14. 65% of Americans are obese/overweight - fact!
15. Healthy Eating and Exercise can change that fact.
16. All it takes is goals, self-discipline, and the right program.
17. It's necessary to tell yourself 'NO'.

This is just a brief list....and I'll expand on #17: It's necessary to tell yourself 'NO'....Think about it, our parents told us no, we tell our kids no, God tells us no...because if we/or our kids were allowed to do everything we/they wanted, where would that land us. Really, think about it.

Somewhere, when we grew into adults, we decided that doing whatever we wanted, buying whatever we wanted, and eating whatever we wanted was what being an adult was all about. "Now that I'm an adult, I can do things my way". And where has that got us? That's got our nation in debt, into foreclosures, 65% if us obese/overweight, arrested, divorced, etc. Isn't it time that we shift our own mental paradigm and began to say no to our appetites, spending urges, addictions and start making decision that move us closer to true freedom.

Are we really free when we need 3 meds to keep us alive? Are we really free when we have to work 2 jobs to just keep the lights on? There is freedom in the simple life. There is freedom in telling your impulses "no". Tomorrow, I'm going to give you our personal written budget catagories (minus the $ amounts). Use it as an example of how YOU, yes YOU can structure your finances in a way that's uses them wisely. This way you can afford freedom in your life!

Workout Wednesday - GET READY FOR SWIMSUIT SEASON!!!!

This workout is next to tackle on my list. And it makes sense. Yesterday, my post shared the importance of interval training...where here is the interval training of all interval trainings: TURBO FIRE. It's a HIIT program, High Intensity Interval Training.




Here are the details: "High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) ignites your metabolism and helps your body burn calories for up to 48 hours after your workout."  "Burn up to 9x more fat and calories than with traditional cardio...with Turbo Fire." Click "Try it now" and see all your options - now is time to get in shape once & for all....just in time for "SWIMSUIT SEASON".

From my favorite top trainer in the world: Chalene Johnson!

Metabolism - The rate of calorie burn!!!

Metabolism. We hear the word all the time, what does it mean. This is the rate at which your body burns calories. The higher your metabolism, the more calories you burn...the lower your metabolism, the less calories you burn. We all want to be at a healthy weight, right? You doing your part in getting your metabolism up and running at a speed that is healthy is key to you achieving this.

There are potions and pills that can temporarily boost your metabolism, no doubt. The downfall, when you stop popping the pills, your metabolism crashes & you gain weight - totally counterproductive, right?  After doing some research, here are some things that are natural that you CAN do to help your metabolism stay revved up:

1. Eat often. This means DO NOT SKIP MEALS. Somewhere we got caught up in thinking the less we eat, the less we'll weigh. I have experienced weight loss the first week or 2 of cutting calories drastically, however, my body is smart, so it goes into 'calorie-conservation mode' and stops burning as many calories as it was that first week, then I hit a plateau, then I'm stuck. I have to take drastic measures of exercise, while adding calories again...I have to be fine w/not dropping weight for the time it takes me to get my body back on track. It's a short-term fix, but the long-term effects are not worth it. Eat breakfast, lunch & dinner, w/ a couple snacks. Remember, nutrient-dense foods, lean & packed w/ nutrients are the best way to go!

2. Work out. Two types of training that will really boost your metabolim are: Strength training, which builds muscle and as fitness expert, Chalene Johnson says in her Turbo Sculpt workout dvd, "The more muscle you have, the higher your metabolism is, the more calories you burn when you're just chillin' out". Another style of training, (which is what Dave does at the gym each day) is interval training. This is where you run your fastest for 1 minute, jog for a minute, run your fastest 1 min., then jog...do this for your "20 min. cardio time" and you will see a significant change in the number on the scale. And then when you've got the stamina, step it up to 30 min. You can also use this idea on a bike, a stair climber, any machine. However, you don't even need a machine. Find a hill & run up as fast as you can, then climb down, run up, then down.

3. Other things. Other things that can help: sufficient water intake. Drink that water!!!!! Green tea has components in it that boosts your metabolism. It's also deliscious & a great substitute for coffees & black teas that are super high in caffeine (which can dehydrate you & leave you tired/lethargic). And make sure you're taking your vitamins. B vitamins pack a great boost for your metabolism as well as energy.

To sum up: Take care of your body, eat the healthy foods for proper nutrition & fuel and exercise. It really is that easy. If you want help with figuring out if you're eating the right foods, working out hard enough - email me at jennifermorin@beachbodycoach.com. I will help you. Sometimes, all it takes is a 3rd party's perspective to shed light on things that you can change!

Flexing my organizational skills!

Just relocated across the town I live in. Have 2 kids & a husband. Just launched my own home-based, internet-managed business. What does this all mean?

In RE: to my home:
1. I still have a little bit of stuff to put away.
2. I have a house to decorate, but need to paint before I do that.
3. Find a smokin' deal on some coffee brown, low-back leather sofas.
4. Keep my awesome kitchen counter (off from the garage) decluttered.

In RE: to my kids:
1. Need to plan out park days better.
2. Need to schedule daily story/activity time regularly.
3. Got to get more energetic & creative.
4. Get out of the house more (backyard, museums, playdates, etc.)

In RE: to my husband:
1. Schedule date-nights w/ him.
2. Continue our brainstorming mornings.
3. Work cooperatively w/ him.

In RE: to my Beachbody Business:
1. Listen to training calls & watch training webinars.
2. Place an order of marketing tools.
3. Find the health-oriented/desperate to lose weight people.
4. Execute my program & get in the best shape of my life.

Now, the hard part...I need/want to do all of the above NOW, and I still have things like laundry, grocery shopping, family bbqs, and day-to-day chores. All the while, I need and must keep my time with the Lord as the #1 priority to help everything else flow & happen. This week, I need to flex my organizational ability.

For me, this entry above has helped get it out of my head & in front of my eyes. Next step is to make a realistic list of things I need to focus on just this week. And then daily, put one of those items on my to-do list. For me personally, journaling and writing out all the stuff I need and want to do helps. Sometimes when I read what I've written, I am able to cross out the non-essential stuff & then highlight the high priority items.

I think it's Dave Ramsey who has coined the phrase "On Paper - On Purpose". I've lived like this for quite sometime w/out a catch phrase. But nonetheless, we all know that when we write down our goals, we are more likely to achieve them. So look at your everyday 'to-do' list as a 'List of Goals for the Day'. Try it yourself & see what you get done this week. Got my list going...now to get my time organized, my mind flexed & focused! Let's get 'er done!!!!