Do what it takes, right?

What is it that you want to do? What do you really, really want to do? Then DO WHAT IT TAKES!

I am the 'idea- person'...I get a great idea to do something, then I figure out what it takes to get there...and sometimes, it's a little more than I can take on, and sometimes there's only 1 or 3 steps to making the idea a reality.

Sometimes people don't know where to start with an idea that they have. Or maybe they set a goal, and say, "Now what". Or when asked, 'What are your goals?' - their response is, 'Goals...what's that?'

Wherever you're at, start somewhere. Figure out what your goal is. Is it get out of debt, lose weight, mend a relationship, get on a budget, move up in the company, take on a new opportunity? What is it?

Are you just plain bored in life? Then take on a new opportunity. I have one for ya! :)

Are you 10 lbs. - 100+ lbs. overweight?  Then get a workout program & some help. (I can actually help you with that one too.)

Are you in debt? Swimming in credit card bills? (Read 'Total Money Makeover' by Dave Ramsey. The book is cheaper at http://www.daveramsey.com/. And apply what it says.)

Are you completely unorganized with your time/home? (Sign up at http://www.30daypush.com/ to get going w/ your to-do list.)

Are you depressed? High Anxiety? (Make an appt. with a doc to get some direction, meet me at church on any given Sunday.)

Are you lonely? (Post on FB that you want to start having coffee on Saturday mornings with someone different every week...reach out to those who are in your 'network' - no one thinks people are lonely these days, since we are so 'connected'. However, the internet, while it connects us thru messages & posts...it's disconnected us emotionally & face-to-face. Call a friend today & say, "I want to see you this week - when can we meet?"  JUST REACH OUT!)

Do you want a great marriage & wonderful kids? Read some books (or THE BOOK) on the topic, meet me at church on Sundays, join a 'parenting support group', go to a marriage conference, take your spouse out of the day-to-day hustle of life on a weekend getaway & focus on romance.)

Told you I was the idea person, huh? Whatever it is that you want in life, there is a way to get there. There are resources out there at your fingertips. Heck, just 'google it' - right? Or email me, jennifermorin@beachbodycoach.com.

Whatever it is you want for your life, only you have the power to get it.

Nacho Libre was so profound when he said, "You are the gatekeeper of your own destiny". 

A GLIMPSE INTO MY KITCHEN!

As a result of chatting with a friend this week in regards to what we eat, I realize that most people have a kitchen full of 'goodies' that do not set them up for success. And your meal preparation is a little 'old skool, w/ all the butters, gravies, a starch for EVERY meal. Here's a glimpse into my pantry & fridge this morning:

Few things to point out in my pantry that I hope you can see in the pic: It does NOT have sugary cereals, in fact the only cereal we buy is oatmeal and Cheerios (which we're out of today). And I only put a little bit of honey on the oats, no sugar on the Cheerios for my kids. I use Pam spray to cook with no oils/shortenings. You can see some tuna in there, black beans, and dressings. We use salad dressings w/ 50 or less calories per serving - preferably 35. Dave and I drink Almond Milk (40 cal./cup). Not sure if you can make out the mini-bagels. These things are 110 cal./bagel....a lot less than a regular one that is about 300 cal. or more. When we have rice, we have the brown rice and always measure out 1/2 cup cooked. (MEASURE YOUR FOOD.) The noodles and potatoes in the picture - those are for my boys. They are not on a diet. In fact, I feed Daniel fattier foods just to keep him at 32 lbs. You'll also notice: NO CHIPS. No way! For a snack, we may have pretzels from time to time, or popcorn (not the 'movie - buttery - high calorie' kind, but the light). We eat carrots sticks or pickles w/ our lunches for that little crunchiness that we want.

Here's my freezer & fridge. Let's start in the freezer, I've got skinless/boneless chicken breast (10 lbs. for $19.99 @ Costco), frozen veggies (broccoli medley, corn, peas, etc.) frozen blueberries, and some ground beef for the boys. And those popsicles are Chocolate Shakeology pops (only 30 cals. each).

In the fridge we have fresh veggies (asparagus, tomatoes, salad mix), nonfat plain yogurt (that we use as sour cream, or mix w/ stevia & the blueberries for a dessert). I try to keep boiled eggs handy for a quick protien snack (minus the yolks). Not sure if you see the cottage cheese - lowfat, always measured out. We use turkey lunchmeat, low-carb high fiber tortillas for wraps (throw in tomatoe, lettuce, pepper rings, pickles - a flavorful alternative to a reg. sandwich). And then you see my door full of sauces. I try to find sauces that don't have a ton of sugar and I measure most of these out (especially salad dressings) to give our lean food some variety, flavor, and to change it up. Teriyaki, bbq, salsa, low-cal balsamic, low-cal italian, and good 'ol Cholula. (Love Cholula on a quick cottage cheese wrap for a pre-workout meal (only 180 cal.), or something to eat before I head out the door.)

I always have fruit handy. Right now our peach tree is giving scrum-dum-delicious peaches. I have a banana before I work out. Just can't seem to make it thru one w/out a snack. Apples are easy to slice up and take on the go for the Daniel. When I come home from the grocery store, my fruit bowls also has some pears, plums, and there are grapes on the counter. I always come home w/ strawberries, but we eat those the day we buy 'em (WinCo's have been sweet lately.) Fruit is a great healthy snack.

Instead of reaching for crunchy chips, grab an apple. Get some carrot sticks out of the fridge to eat. Pop up the light popcorn.


It's not hard to eat healthy. You just have to buy the healthy stuff. If your family usually goes w/ you to the store - next time, make them stay home so that you can control what goes in the cart. Don't let that sugary, high saturated fatty, junk food junk in the cart & your family won't have it to eat. If you keep providing healthy choices, they'll have no other choice. The one who does the shopping and cooking is really in control of what goes in the mouths of the family. Just say to them, "We're going to start eating healthy so that we can have a better, longer life". Who doesn't want that?

Been wondering what it is that I eat? Here it is!



Here's what logging your food &
counting calories + exercise does for ya!

In the last month, I've talked about measuring out your food as per serving size, and logging it. Another component to losing weight is counting the calories. With my workout program, I was given a worksheet to help me figure out how many calories I need for my size. So often we try to do a 'one-size-fits-all' regimen, and I don't think that's realistic for us to try. So often are people deprived, which sets them up to binge eat and this starts the crazy cycle all over again.


Last week, I was asked what I eat throughout the day, so I thought I would share what my food log looks like with you today. Note: I am 134 lbs. If you are heavier, you will need a little more calories, if you are smaller than I, you will need less. However, NEVER GO BELOW 1200 CALORIES. I've seen a 'cleanse formula' recently that gave you 1000-1200 cals. per day, but it is made to do for 2-3 days ONLY, not a long-term regimen of less than 1200 calories.

Below is my message that I sent to a friend:

My days are like this:
first thing: coffee (2): 20 cals. total (was 40, but started using 1/4 cup. almond milk for crmr.)
breakfast: mini- bagel w/ 1/4 cup cott. cheese:160 cals. (or 1 cup cheerios + 1/2 cup milk: 120 cals.)
after wkout: shakeology 150-190 cals. (Depending on whether I use almond milk or water.)
lunch: salad w/ chicken & very low-cal drsg. & apple or banana: 270 cal. (or a wrap w/ the lowcarb ww tort: 230 cals.)
snack: carrot sticks dipped in cott. cheese (w/ spices), or 5 prunes, apple wrapped in ham lunchmeat = 100 cals. or a fib. 1 bar (but trying to give those up- 140 cals)
dinner: 1-2 pc. ckn breast, 1/2 cup beans or rice, ton of veggies: 450 cals. (You can make this stir-fry ckn bowl, or fajitas, or in a salad, or just plated up.)

and if there's room in the cal. budget & I need a little something else, 1/2 cup of nonfat yogurt w/ 2/3 cup of blueberries =120 cals. Or a shakeology pop = 25 cals.
Grand total is: 1330 (without the yog.) - 1450 (with yog.)

I use a lot of the same foods and eat diff. ways. I try to avoid diet sodas, but usually drink tea w/ stevia in the early afternoon for a little caff. boost. But only 2 cups of coffee in the early a.m. (which I'm trying to cut back on) and then some early p.m. tea...water the rest of the day, with dinner, all day running errands.

I love cheese, but cannot lose weight w/ it in my diet. I love bread, but have to sub the mini-bagels or mini sandwich thins in for it.

I watch the sodium for the most part. The thing we're cutting back on is the BBQ sauce, we haven't been measuring this out and I'm sure I'm over my cals by at least 100 on bbq sauce alone. We sub bbq sauce w/ spicy salsa too! We use black beans a lot, instead of pinto, great on a salad...mix 'em w/ corn - YUM!

You have to eat to lose weight. You have to get rid of that borderline starving-mode of eating. It will keep your metabolism stagnant if you don't put in more. You cannot be afraid to eat. You just have to eat good, nutrient dense foods...add a ton of veggies. When I have a wrap, I have a ton of tomatoe & greens. And one thing I don't do is count my lean green veggie calories. Those are free to me, because the more I eat, the fuller I am and the less likely I am to reach for the cheese or fiber 1 bars....my biggest hurdles.

Another tip: Drink water like there's a water shortage coming! Try hard to stay away from a bunch of diet sodas and other fake sugary drinks. Do your own research, I've heard it keeps you from losing weight. Plus, most diet sodas have sodium, which leaves you looking puffy.

You've got to look at the long run. PERMANENT weight loss is a marathon...no shortcuts, just adapting to healthier foods and getting super creative with them. It took you how many years to gain weight? So many people want to lose all the weight in a few weeks/months, when it took years of bad habits to get to where they are. You have to stick to eating healthy for a long time and it's worth it. You WILL get an acquired taste for the veggies and less fat in your diet. Just give yourself a chance to break the bad habits of eating bad.

All you have to lose from this commitment is weight and health issues...what you have to gain is a healthy body, more energy, good sense of well-being, and a slimmer body. It's a WIN-WIN when you give up the BAD! You can do it! Hang in there...it's going to be worth it. Just commit at least 6 months to see what kind of results you get. And when you are feeling better and looking better, it will be easy to commit to doing it for a year...and then you'll want to eat this way for the rest of your life!

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!

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?

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!

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!!!!