Getting Ready for a New Journey

I am about to embark on a new journey for 80 Days with my trainer Autumn Calabrese. I have been looking forward to this and envisioning this moment since last summer when I was pregnant with Lexi. 

Since last year, I knew that Autumn was releasing a new program in January 2018 and even though I had no idea what it was all about I knew I was going to do it. So even though I was pregnant at the time I never lost focus of that. 

I am now a little over 4 months post partum and I am feeling amazing. When I got cleared to workout again at the 6 week mark I was super excited and I could not wait to get back at it. I began my post partum journey with T25, it was the first time I have ever done T25. I knew that it was a great "get back into it" program. It helped me build my endurance & my strength with little to no weights. I had amazing results and it got me ready to go a more intense program.

As I said I had everything planned out so I knew I was scheduled to finish T25 just before Christmas. My original plan was to do a round of 21 Day Fix Extreme in between T25 and the launch of 80 Day Obsession BUT as amazing as Beachbody is they created a week long program called A Little Obsessed to get you prepared for 80 Day Obsession. So I decided to do that instead and it has been great!

This is my third and last week of A Little Obsessed and its been a journey. The first week I spend figuring out the equipment and where my strength was with for them. For A Little Obsessed and for 80 Day Obsession the equipment needed are 3 resistance loops, sliders and weights.

Each loop is a different resistance for from easiest to hardest the colours go yellow, green & blue. For the first week I did not touch the blue but for the second week and this week I was all about the green and blue and trying some double loops. I know it might sound crazy but if I am not pushing my limits then I am not growing or getting stronger. 

So now I am more prepared for the 80 Day Obsession because I know where to start with my equipment. I know there will still be some guess work as I start these more intense workouts but I am so excited!

The other piece of the puzzle for this program is the time nutrition. This is something I have never done before but I am looking forward to the journey. Autumn has given me EVERYTHING I need to know for this program. My container, my calculations, my meal plan and most importantly what to eat and when to eat it. 

So now it is is up to me to do the work and make sure I follow the meal plan to the T. This piece for me is going to push my out of my comfort zone again. I use my containers but I am not getting all of them in most days. As a mom who is breastfeeding I need to make sure that I am on top of my meals. I need to EAT and eat properly in order for my milk supply to be constant.

So weeks 2 and 3 of A Little Obsessed I was me trying out timed nutrition. I have not found that rhythm with it as yet but I do have some tips and techniques to implement to help me. For example setting alarms when I have to eat. 

I am also going to switch my workouts to 5/5:30am just after my first breastfeed. I love working out in the mornings, I have more control over my day and I feel less anxious and stressed throughout the day. I have been working out in the mid morning since my scheduled changes with 2 kids but now that Lexi has a better sleep pattern I should be able to go back to morning workouts.

I am super excited for this new journey and everything it is going to bring. All the changes, all the obstacles, all the growth and all the experiences. I have never done a program of this length before but I know I can do it there is no doubt about that. 

The best part is that I am not doing this alone. I am doing it with some other women in my virtual fit club. We are totally excited to start this journey together. 

I will be sharing my journey and my experiences with 80 Day Obsession on my blog. I am starting on Monday 15th January. Stay tuned! ;)

xoxo 

Kars

PS: If you want to learn more about A Little Obsessed or 80 Day Obsession I am a message away. Comment on this blog or send me an email to kariluequifitness@gmail.com

Let Go, Take a Breathe & Listen

Not everything on life will go the way you want it to go, I learned that the hard way. Now I approach everything in my life from a new perspective. I expect the complications/hiccups or as my family refers to them, sand bunkers. And if I am being 100% honest I want them. Why?

Because I am open to growth and change. I am open to learning new ways of figuring out a problem and when I do the AMAZING feeling to ACCOMPLISHMENT is unexplainable.

I mean everything I do, I run into these sand bunkers and looking back at my life journey there were always sand bunkers. At first I used to have the Why me? approach, but at some point something changed and with it came a new understanding for life and all its challenges.

Its been almost 5 years I have been approaching life with this mindset and even though that seems like a long time there is always room for growth and new lessons to be learnt. Like this one below. 

This weekend was a crazy one. Last night I was at my wist end. I felt like I got NOTHING done and I was overly stressed about it. I saw the clock ticking away and I was making myself more anxious because I did not get everything that I want done. We did not go to church, I had more loads of laundry to do, we have an overflowing sink, we have no meals cooked for the week, the house looks like if it has been through war, I could not find a book I was looking for and the list goes on. Oh and on top of that add a sick baby to the mix who can't sleep! Talk about emotions everywhere.

I feel like Mickey in the picture below. 

Image taken from a google search

I decided to let go! I asked Adam to take Honey and put her to bed and I just took some time to breath, think and try to catch myself. After he got her to bed, Adam and I finished watching Fool's Gold (we have been watching this movie for 3 days now) and I took some time to cuddle up on the coach and just be in the moment. It was the BEST thing I could have done at the time. Again, something I learnt and continue to learn. In moments of complete anxiety and chaos, let go, breathe and just be.

I set my alarm for 5am of course I snoozed until 6am because I was EXHAUSTED. After the movie Honey woke up and I was between feeds from about 3am to 5am. But I crawled out of bed and spent time with the boys as Seth got ready to go back to school. 

A bit of panic started coming back as I watched the sink full of wares and the other things that I have to do. So I made a cup of coffee, grabbed a blanket and opened a the book, You are a Badass by Jen Sincero. 

I read this book before but I felt like I had to open it this morning. 

So I opened it to Part 2: How To Embrace Your Inner Badass. OMG! Message alert! 

Everything in that chapter was a message for me today. I cried as I read through the chapter knowing and believing that God was talking to me and letting me know that everything is going to be and is GREAT! 

I want to share this message with you, it struck me to my core and I balled as I read it. It is an excerpt from the book.

"APPRECIATE HOW SPECIAL YOU ARE

There will never be anyone exactly like you. You were given special gifts and talents to share with the world, and even though everybody has special gifts and talents, nobody will use theirs quite the same way you do. You have a way of being in the word and a perspective that's unique to you. You are the only one who thinks your thoughts the way you think them. You have created your own unique reality and are living your life according to your own unique path. You are the only you that will ever be. You are kind of a big deal."

After reading this and being open to the message that was directed at me this morning I feel so much better. I am ready to seize the day and tackle every task one at a time. 

After I finished reading this chapter and just before I started writing this blog post I realised that I got way more done over the weekend than I thought. Only until I took myself out of the situation I was able to realise that I only have about 2 loads of laundry left from about 10, Adam did the groceries yesterday and even though we did not get to meal prep yesterday we have everything we need to do so today. Seth went took a nap yesterday and he went to bed on time, I checked into my virtual fit club more than I thought and I was able to spend some quality time with Adam last night even though I was exhausted.

On top of that Seth woke up and did his morning routine as seamlessly as possible. He woke up super early, cried a bit to bath but that is normal, he got dressed went downstairs drank his up up, cuddled with me on the couch as I fell back asleep. He ate his breakfast filled the house with laughter before he left. He put on his snow suit, hat, gloves, balaclava and boots with no fussing or crying and he left the house with a smile. 

I was so proud of him and I am so beyond blessed and grateful to have him in my life. Another message to me to not stress be anxious or focus on the uncontrollable and to stay focused on everything that brings love, joy and eternal happiness in my life. 

  

In sharing my story my hope for you that you are able to use some of my experiences to help you through yours :) Remember there is no one else in this world like you. You are the only and most amazing you there is! EMBRACE IT!

Cheers to a brand new week and a brand new day! 

Day 1 of our Journey

Ok so here is what Day 1 looked like for us :) I told my mom what I was doing and she is joining us so now the whole house hold is on board. Yay!

Breakfast: 

Seth's Breakfast:

Rolled Oats mixed w/almond milk, hemp hearts, maple syrup, cinnamon and a few dried cranberries. 1 cup of berries 

My Breakfast:

Rolled Oats, 1 tsp almond butter, hemp hearts a sprinkle of cinnamon and a drizzle of maple syrup.

1 cup of berries

Then it was off to school for the day. On our way to school we chat and listen to music and on my way back home I listen to some tip of personal development of training to get my mind ready for the day.

When I came home Lexi was still asleep so I was able to go get my workout done quickly. 

After that it was time to feed Lexi as she woke up before I could shower. Then we all got ready and rushed to an appointment at the apple store I had at noon. I made our shakes to go and we were off.

The appointment ended up taking much longer than we planned and because of poor planning we did not walk with our lunch or snacks and we were on a mission to stay on track and have no cheats. Mom and I bought teas (mom had a chi tea and I had a Peach tea with no milk or sugar) at Starbucks for the drive to pick up Seth and on the way home I grabbed some spring greens and a rotisserie chicken for dinner. 

I pay for a meal plan for Seth at school. It is an organic program and he gets his lunch along with snacks (fruits and veggies).

When we got home we had a turkey patty and a cup of veggies while Seth had a afternoon snacks; 2 yogurt and berries. 

Once I had some food in my body I was able to think and prepare dinner. I made quinoa with carrots and sweet potato and mom steamed some veggies (broccoli, cauliflower & carrots). 

Seth does not usually eat the broccoli stalks on his own and part of this journey I am going to work on him eating more of his veggies. Without even telling him anything he decided he wanted to eat one piece :) yay! Proud mom moment.

Dinner:

Seth: Quinoa w/sweet potato and carrots with broccoli and a drum stick 

Mom and I: Quinoa w/sweet potato, veggies & chicken  

Oh and with regards to beverages I drank water all day (I need to drink more though), Seth gets a juice when he comes home from school (if he asks) and I also drink peppermint tea with no milk or sugar. 

The Beginning of our Cleaning & Eliminating Journey

This past weekend I had a reality check with myself about my family's nutrition. I made a post on my Instagram that I was going to go on a nutrition journey with Seth. I found that since I came home from the hospital with Lexi our nutrition took a hit.

I mean a new baby, a 4 year old toddler, my mom coming up to help us, Adam did not arrive as yet, my sister-in-law coming up, my emotions all over the place .. Sigh! I mean that was more than enough to deal with at the time. 

Looking back on it now both my husband and my mom had to remind me to eat. I felt like I was in mom survival mode trying to figure everything out. Hmm I think I will do a separate blog post about that story, What do you think?

Ok now back to the nutrition. For the whole time I was pregnant I paid close attention to what I ate. Yes I indulged now and then, not nearly as much as my first pregnancy but I did. The difference this time was that is it was a decision I made. I never blamed it on the fact that I was pregnant. Yes that is a thing, I had someone tell me, "Your pregnant you have an excuse" Ah no I don't and its even more important for me to think carefully of what I choose to eat when I am pregnant because I was fuelling my baby.

So when Honey our nickname of Lexi Grace, and my nutrition went all over the place I started to feel very unhappy and guilty. I felt out of control and guilty because I was not the one cooking, I was extremely grateful for all the help but I just could not find the time to figure out a meal plan in the middle of figuring out how to be a mom to two kids. 

So the first few weeks were rough but as time passed it got a little easier everyday. The one thing that I made sure I had though was my Shakeology. I made sure that no matter what I drank it so that my body could be fuelled and get the daily nutrition it needed to push through.

Its been almost 3 months and I am finally feeling like I am in control again. This weekend I decided that I HAVE to make a better effort to clean out both my diet and Seth's diet. The other big think that I was totally consumed with was trying to figure out how to help Seth through all these transition stages and all these changes. It was and is not easy and it was something new for all of us but that part is definitely another blog post. 

We had this thing with Seth that when we picked him up from school, we would take him to the Starbucks around the corner and sit with him and have, special time with him.

We meaning my husband, my mom and or myself. We love this outing with him, it did not happen everyday mostly once a week while I was working. After Adam left I tried to use this time with him as bonding time. I would pick him up with out my mom or Honey and take him there. While there I allowed one to many cake pops (something he never ate before but now devours). It hit me this weekend that I need to stop, assess and fix and control what was happening to Seth's "diet". 

As Seth grew up I paid so much attention to what he ate, he never had chocolate before he was 1 year old. He has never drank a swee drink (the Trini was of saying soft drink) aka pop. I give him water, juice and milk. The artificial sugars were very very minimal and only came in the form of ice cream oh and a surprise egg now and then. He was more interested in the toy than the egg at first but as he got older he wanted the whole egg.

We always made the effort to cook his food for him at home. Take out was always hard for us if we got trapped out because I would never buy him oily or fried foods. But even though it was hard I loved that because I was doing his body good by being so focused on what he ate. 

Now don't get me wrong Seth does not have the worst diet ever; its not like I feed him McDonald's eww I never will. He is actually a great eater, he has a very hearty appetite however, the snacks just became too much of a normal treat. 

So I decided that I have to fix what can be fixed before I do to much damage. So I am on a journey of cleaning and eliminating sugar and other "snacks" from his diet. Argh I do not like the word diet, let's use meal plan, so much better! 

Of course I am not going to do this for him and not do the same for me. So we are both on this journey together. I just finished 5 weeks of my workout program and it was a huge and happy accomplishment. However, I wanted to do better and by that I mean I want to dial into my nutrition more. 

So there is no better time than the present to go on this journey. I am going to share my preparations, the ups the downs the good and the bad times. Everything about the journey I am going to share here on my blog and on my Instagram stories.

So come follow along with us :) and if you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out to me.

My CONFIDENCE Transformation

This is me wearing my Heart on My Sleeve!

I have experienced many transformations over the years. Today I want to share with you my CONFIDENCE transformation. 

You see where I am now but you have no idea where I began and I want to take you on a little journey with me to that very point. 

When I was a teenager I was very negative and I had no self confidence at all. I went through my teenage years believing that everyone else around me was prettier, smarter, funny or more talented than me. I felt like I was not good enough or pretty enough to attract any of the boys and I felt like I was secondary. 

I remember my parents constantly telling me, "Kari stop being so negative!" Because the first thing out my mouth was a negative comment. It took me many years to figure out WHAT was making me feel so negative and to truly understand what that meant.  

Being negative attacked my confidence in everything that I did. Instead of taking on a task with the belief that I truly excel at whatever I was trying to do I always had a negative thought, a limiting belief that I was not going to do it well. Basically, I set myself up for failure before I even began doing what I set out to do. 

Crazy right?! But this was how I felt and loved for many years. I always remember when my 4 girl cousins used to come visit me I wanted to be like them and I compared myself to them in ever possible way. They were and still are such AMAZING & BEAUTIFUL souls and I wanted that for me.

To me they were funny, GORGEOUS, loving life, spoke Spanish and successful. I remember always wanting my hair to be straight like theirs and always wondering why I had to have crazy curly hair. 

These things may sound silly to some of you but for me this was the life I grew up in and it took a lot of hardships, obstacles and personal growth to get me where I am today. 

Speaking of today, I am happy to share with you that that negative, self conscious and self doubting Kari no longer exists! I have said goodbye to her and I have allowed a new CONFIDENT, BEAUTIFUL & INSPIRING Kari to be born and thrive in the world today. What is easy? Hell no! Was t worth it? Hell yes! 

I have learnt to use every single obstacle (sand bunker as my dad would say) as an opportunity to grow, learn something new and to be a greater me. This of course takes practice but I know that everything good and bad that is placed in my path is for a reason bigger than me. It is placed in my path as an opportunity for me to grow and to help serve others. 

So in the case of a negative experience I allow myself to feel the "bad" emotions at then I sit and I figure out two things. 1. What does the other side feel or what is their perspective 2. What is the best possible solution I can come up with to solve the problem. Sometimes there are more than one but you get the idea. 

From doing this multiple time I developed a sense of understand and patience for all obstacles I encounter and taking a step back to look at the other perspective gives me clarity on the situation. 

Through personal development and surrounding myself with positive and uplifting people I have also learned to LOVE myself and truly LOVE myself for who I am, what I stand for and what I believe in. I am know who I am now more than ever. I know that I am beautiful inside and out and I have no doubt about that! 

I approach every task with a positive thought even if it takes some extra effort to do so. 

I am grateful to have gone on this journey of finding myself, my confidence and my positivity. Now everyday I can be an example to Seth and honey and show them what it means to grow up confident, positive and filled with self love 💕💛 

If you have read my whole story my wish for you is that you are able to find your confidence & positivity and to know that you are not alone on this journey. 

 If you ever need support I am just a message away! 

Love Kars 

3 Reasons why you do not want to drink Shakeology!

• I am not a shake person

That is just an excuse that you use to not look into something that can better your health and heal your body. If you are saying I am not a shake person then you have are making a decision before you even open yourself up to making a positive step in the right direction for your nutrition.

• It is too expensive

Nope that is just another excuse you make for yourself. Shakeology costs $4 per shake and it is the best $4 you will spend every day. You can spend $4 easily in Starbucks or any other coffee shop and you don’t think twice about it and the nutritional value does not even compare.

So the next time you spend $4 ask yourself is this purchase helping my body or hurting my body?

• I don’t drink protein shakes and Shakeology is a protein shake

OMG! If I had a $1 for every time someone told me this I would be a millionaire by now.

Again another excuse!

Shakeology is a MEAL REPLACEMENT which was formulated to fuel your body with all the vitamins, minerals and nutrients it needs per day that it cannot possible get through food. It is made with all natural ingredients and no artificial ingredients.

I have been drinking Shakeology for 2 plus years and it has helped my body is so many ways. I have balanced my sugar levels, gained energy, diminished my cravings and more. It has become an integral part of my daily meal plan.

I know it is scary starting something new and it is easy to make excuses out of fear as to why you should not try Shakeology. Trust me I know, I had all these excuses also but I did not let them paralyze me. Rather, I did my research and I was open to changing my lifestyle because before I started my Shakeology journey I was not living a good lifestyle. My nutrition was shot and I was feeding my body tonnes of crap, way too much sugar and not giving it what it need to function properly. But I knew that I had to change something and I was determined to become a better me.

So even though you are afraid be open to change because if you aren’t then you will never see the results you are looking for. Your desire to change has to be GREATER than your desire to remain the same.

If you would like to kickstart your nutrition and start your shakeology journey with me click the link below.

https://goo.gl/forms/3hllWZu10NkfeEI42

How to use the Portion Control Containers

Every wonder what these little containers are used for? Or what I really do with them in the kitchen?

WELL ... In this post I am sharing exactly how to use them and why I use them.

I have been using these portion control containers for about 2 years now and they have drastically changed my perspective on food portions! Thanks to these containers I am more mindful of my portion sizes.  This was something I did not even realise I needed help with until I start using these containers. 

Here is the breakdown. There are 7 colour coded containers and each colour represents a different food category.

Green - Veggies 

Purple - Fruits 

Red - Protein 

Yellow - Carbs

Blue - Healthy Fats 

Orange - Seeds & Dressings

Here is a video where I explain how to use the containers and how many of each colour you should eat per day.

If you have any question comment below or feel free to shoot me an email at kariluequifitness@gmail.com