*HATERS GONNA HATE*

What’s the point of having a blog if you don’t speak your mind from time to time for hundreds to see? 

It’s no secret that I like to live a rather healthy lifestyle but don’t deprive myself either.  With ANYTHING in life I have learned there will always be haters and naysayers out there. 

So I decided to address the topic and how it relates to the new opportunity that I have taken on in my life.  It’s something I always just shrugged to the side, but recently I have decided to take a step back and look at it all as I continue to post my positive quotes and pictures everyday hoping that I reach people like how I was reached.  Sure, not everyone drinks the Beachbody juice, but guess what?  That’s OK.  I am more than fine with that.  I don’t really care to be honest.  Some people just don’t give a rat’s ass.  It’s not for everyone.  It's exercise and healthy eating just in a different form and with a twist and some kick ass support, that's all it is.  Generally, it’s a no brainer that those 2 factors are important; exercise and healthy eating.  I have always had an interest in fitness because of my athletic background and all around way of life so this isn’t anything new to people.  The nutrition is what I needed the most help with and to be honest, the positivity too.  I wasn’t looking to make drastic changes, I developed an interest in eating better so that I could lengthen my life and feel better inside and out and help the people in my life make better decisions along the way too.  After all, I want those people to be around for a long time.  Not a crime or an obligation, but a CHOICE.  I made this choice to make the changes I needed to and continue to make (and even often struggle with) in an attempt to improve my life and those around me.  If something helped me for the better why would I not want to share it?  That’s selfish if I don’t.  I shouldn’t be hiding it.  I shouldn’t be ashamed. 

We, as Beachbody Coaches, are a group of people looking to help others reach their goals and reach ours along the way too.  We don’t force anything down anyone’s throats and if you think our positivity is being forced down your throat I suggest you take a long look at yourself and your attitude in general.  It’s actually what I did at one point in time.  A few things happened in my life that caused me to take some big steps back and do some reevaluating.  You can actually delete me if you don’t like the positivity, which wait a minute, doesn’t really make sense to me now that I think about what I just said.  Someone doesn’t like to kick start their day on a positive note?  Hmmm.  Anyways…I’m not rail thin and I don’t want to be because HEY! - I’m not made that way!  It’s just not in the cards for me.  The Doctor said I would grow into my size 10 shoes and be taller, well….he was wrong.  I have been there; killing myself day in and day out and being miserable and beaten down emotionally and mentally not being good enough for some.  The fact of the matter is, I have accepted my body for what it is.  

It took me one hell of a long time to get here through thick and thin with NO SUPPORT at first when the times were the hardest, but I am proud to say that I am finally there.  I work damn hard and the rewards are worth it.  I have reached the point where I am maintaining so that when I do get blessed with children I can recover faster, have a (hopefully) speedy and healthy delivery, have a healthy baby, and ultimately instill my good habits onto my family and friends.  Just because I post every day about working out, clean eating, healthy living etc. doesn't mean I am unhappy with my body or depriving myself or judging.  It simply means I am trying to encourage, guide, assist, and help any way that I can.  *Side note - I probably should have been a teacher.*  

So I know it’s the easy way out to blast us as Beachbody Coaches or even as people who participate in all things Beachbody but might not be a Coach.  It’s a shame that people are criticized for doing something that they love even if it ISN’T health and fitness related.  Some people are so quick to judge and think they are some super hero/cool person for doing so, ultimately bringing down the person who has made a change in their life.  People are choosing to make themselves better and they get criticized for it.  As Coaches, we are trying to help others and make ourselves better as well during the process.  Hell, you don’t even have to be a “Coach” to do that.  

You may find my posts to be annoying.  I apologize for my positivity.  Wait, actually, that’s a lie, no I don’t.  For so long I have been drained with negativity and this is what makes me happy and makes me feel good so why should I apologize?  Why apologize for wanting to help people?  Why should I be embarrassed that I enjoy fitness and living a healthy life?  It’s preposterous.  Am I 100% perfect all of the time?  Um, hell no….have you ever tried Kribel’s cake?  Reese’s peanut butter cup pie?  Yeah, exactly.  When I feel better about myself, everyone benefits.  I am living life….my life.  I don’t deprive myself, but rather make conscious decisions that will affect my body long term and my future.  I no longer beat myself up and down when I eat something “bad” for me every once in a while.  I have developed a healthy relationship with health and fitness.  I am here to tell you and show you that it is possible to do so in a success manner! 

   

2 OF MY BIGGEST FANS! :)

Everyone has their own form of exercise or healthy living or actually maybe they don’t.  That’s fine; to each their own.  All I simply do is provide help, guidance, assistance, advice, tips, and support any way that I can to the people who want it and to the people who ask for it.  Am I a know-it-all?  Nope.  Don’t want to be.  I have been on the other side of the fence and it was a very dark place so why go back?  Some people might be too scared or nervous to reach out and ask for help and that’s fine that is actually very normal.  That’s where I come in.  I am there to help people get to where they want to be and don’t judge.  If that means losing weight, good.  If that means maintaining your weight and just making a few tweaks, good.  If that means eating healthier, cool.  The list goes on.  I’m not a model, personal trainer, professional chef, or anything like that.  I am just a normal girl who likes to stay in shape (always have been, I’m an athlete) and I love food…who doesn’t?  I am just trying to find that healthy balance.  The food I make is good, healthy, and is eaten by others who typically eat fast food or very unhealthy food and they enjoy it.  (Yes, those people are in my life and I don’t force anything upon them.)  I found my passion and I encourage you to as well.  I am approaching 30 (yikes) and have had some major eye opening experiences over the past year alone.  I love what I do and I encourage you to find that for yourself too whatever and wherever it may be and don’t be ashamed of it.  

So if you are scared.  There is no need to be.  If you are nervous or scared of failure.  Don’t be– there is no such thing as failing.  If you are in denial and feel the need to trash talk and be negative, I (again) suggest you take a look at yourself and what you think you are getting out of it by doing that.  This lifestyle isn’t for everyone.  Everyone has their own journey, their own path….not everyone is the same.  If you hate my positivity and the fact that my goal is to help others, then delete me from Facebook, don’t look at my blog…whatever, I won’t be offended.  If you hate the pictures of other people’s transformations that I share, then delete me or keep ignoring them.  I do this because I care.  I do this because I want to spread the knowledge and joy of living a healthy lifestyle and not having to kill yourself in the process or deprive yourself of life to get there.  I want to help others and I wish I had this support 6 years ago when I needed it MOST.  All I can do is move forward and hope that I help others just like me. 

If you have been on the fence, I ask you…what is holding you back?  Fear?  Anxiety?  Pride?  Embarrassment?  If you want to learn more, let’s talk.  If you want help, guidance, support, extra motivation, or accountability, I invite you along for the ride and let’s do this together.

THE RESULTS SAY IT ALL!!
(Fellow Coach & Friend - Brittany!)

*BENEFITS OF HAVING A HEALTH COACH*

Well, it’s pretty obvious that I am very passionate about living a healthy lifestyle and still love my occasional piece of cake, ladylock, or icing cookie (Shout out to Kribel’s Bakery!), but I still manage to stay on track and see results!  So here are a few reasons why I think everyone should have a Health Coach.

You may be thinking, “Great, how much does that cost?”  So before you start the Negative Nelly talk, let me get into it and explain myself.  Before Beachbody entered my life, as many of you know, I was a gym rat to a “T” and spent a lot of time and money there!  I even worked at one on the weekends!  If I wasn’t there killing myself, I was running outside killing myself.  I ran races, trained until I was in a walking boot for 2 weeks, and woke up at the crack @$$ of dawn to race to the gym to make sure I got the machine I wanted.  WHEW!  Looking back, it makes me angry how much time, emotions, and money I wasted day in and day out.  Now I do still run, but just not every day for miles and miles with pain and misery every step of the way.  I do it when I have some extra time and not trying to lose 5 pounds in a month just to feel good about myself.  It was a bad relationship I had with my old ways.  Very bad.  Things got ugly.  I was trying diet pills, I tried to cut my caloric intake tremendously, I was running in the snow, and I would be on machines for hours….yeah…ugly! 
          
*The fact of the matter is:

1.  I am not a personal trainer.
2.  I am not a nutritional expert.
3.  I do not know a lot about the 3 million type supplements and diet pills sold at Health Stores across the country.  I do know that some of the pills that I have tried were a temporary fix and more harmful then helpful!

*This is what I do know:

1.  What works for me, my body, and my way of life.
2.  Attitude is everything.  (I am an ex-Negative Nelly)
3.  Accountability is the missing puzzle piece.

Life happens.  It happens to all of us whether we like it or not.  There are disappointments, successes, struggles, and accomplishments.  Through the ups and downs of my life, I have maintained a workout schedule that has been hard and challenging, but successful and has improved my life 100%.  Yes, I will always be a work in progress, but I like that and wouldn’t want it any other way!  I feel that it should be that way for everyone because perfection just doesn’t exist!

My Favorite Meal of the Day!

Wait, Dana, I thought this post was about the benefits of having a Health Coach?  Yes, my blog post friend, yes it is.  So here we go…here are the benefits.

1.  IT’S FREE:  Say what???  As a Health Coach, I am not an expert (at anything) but a woman who has helped a slew of people lose weight, keep it off, eat healthier, and pay it forward.  I am given the tools by Beachbody to help others.  Simply put- if you follow my advice, tips, and guidance, IT WILL WORK.  There is no if, and, but, or maybe.  There is no guess work, only results.  The testimonials you see on the infomercials, before or after the workout videos themselves, or on Facebook, are indeed real.  Why?  Well, because of the simple fact that there is no magic pill.  It's hard work, but anyone can do if they are willing to do it.  Here's my transformation after my first round of INSANITY!  Not only were there physical transformations, but mental and emotional ones too! 
 

My First Transformation pics - INSANITY

2.  IT KEEPS YOU MOTIVATED:  Why do you think that most diets fail?  Think long and hard about it.  You start a new routine and you are pumped and ready to go.  You read the directions, you look at the testimonials, and you know it's your turn to see those kinds of results and be successful.  Well, diets aren't meant to be permanent.  Diets are meant to provide temporary results and usually through a cut in your calories which then result in a cut in nutrients.  I hate to break it to ya, but your body needs these nutrients!!  Eventually any temporary results you experienced from the diet come creeping back.  You gain it back, fall backwards, and that cycle begins yet again!  Being part of a challenge keeps you motivated because there is no diet, it becomes a lifestyle.  There is only REAL food and that food gives you natural energy and ignites your system into naturally wanting more REAL food.  This doesn't change.  This is long term…a lifestyle.


3.  IT KEEPS YOU ACCOUNTABLE:  An Accountability Group (aka Challenge Group) consists of a group of participants who "meet" online in a closed, private group to achieve their own personal weight loss goals.  Through the help of the coach, each day they are motivated to achieve real results because they are surrounded by others who want the same thing.  Everyone in the group works out on his or her own and report to the group for daily tips, motivation, and recipes.  This is how I got started with Beachbody and since September of 2012, there has not been 1 month where I have not been a part of an Accountability Group.

My Furry Accountability Partner!

When you follow the meal plans and workout schedule provided by your Beachbody program, participating in the Accountability Groups, and listening to your Health Coach, you will not only see results, but you will become the lifestyle behind these results: FOREVER.  So with that said, I would love to be your own personal Health Coach! 

The occasionally cookie and cake craving will still creep in and by all means, you should listen to that.  There will come a time where those sweets cravings that were once frequent will start to subside and you will start to crave the good things just as much…the veggies and fruits.


I look forward to working with you and helping you with your own personal journey to a HEALTHY and FIT life.  If you would like to participate in the next Accountability Group, please complete the application below.

If you aren't quite ready for an Accountability Group but you would like to participate in a small, motivational Facebook group, there is a place for you too!  All you have to do is complete the free online account at: http://www.beachbodycoach.com/esuite/home/dmvoit.  

If you are ready to get down to business, let’s get this party started!  

Fill out my online form.

HTML Forms powered by Wufoo.

Cauliflower Crust Pizza

I was never a big fan of cauliflower unless it was drenched in Ranch Dressing.  However, cauliflower seems to be the "new thing" these days and I will just say that this is seriously amazing and it gets bonus points for being healthy!  I have since then changed my tune about cauliflower!!  Trust me, you must try this!

Ingredients

• 1 cup cooked, riced (*see below how to rice) cauliflower
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon crushed garlic
• ½ teaspoon garlic salt
• Olive oil (optional) 
• Pizza sauce, shredded cheese, and choice of your toppings
• My choices have been; mushrooms, peppers, onions, turkey pepperoni

Instructions

To "rice" the Cauliflower: Take 1 large head of fresh cauliflower, remove stems and leaves, and chop the florets into chunks.  Add to food processor and pulse until it looks like grain.  Do not over-do the pulse or you will puree it. (If you don't have a food processor, you can grate the whole head with a cheese grater).  Place the riced cauliflower into a microwave safe bowl and microwave for 8 minutes.  There is no need to add water, as the natural moisture in the cauliflower is enough to cook itself.  One large head should produce approximately 3 cups of riced cauliflower.  The remainder can be used to make additional pizza crusts immediately, or can be stored in the refrigerator for up to one week.

To Make the Pizza Crust:

1.    Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick cooking spray.

2.   In a medium bowl, stir together 1 cup cauliflower, egg and mozzarella.  Add oregano, crushed garlic and garlic salt, stir.  Transfer to the cookie sheet, and using your hands, pat out into a 9" round. Optional: Brush olive oil over top of mixture to help with browning.

3.   Bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes.

4.   Remove from oven.

5.   To the crust, add sauce, toppings and cheese. Place under a broiler at high heat just until cheese is melted (approximately 3-4 minutes).

*Note: Toppings need to be precooked since you are only broiling for a few minutes.

*GETTING MOTIVATED TO WORKOUT & EAT HEALTHY*

Are you having trouble trying to get motivated to workout or eat clean and healthy?  Yeah?  Well, join the club.  It can be a difficult thing to do!  I have heard a few of these one liners many times and actually have used them a time or 2 myself!

“I just can't get motivated to workout!”

"I'm too busy."

“How do you stay so motivated?”

“Fast food is just so easy and convenient.”

So I wanted to share a few tricks on how to get (AND STAY) motivated to workout and eat healthy because we all know this can be very hard to do sometimes!  It's definitely natural to have breaks and down time in workouts and healthy eating.  One of the keys is to view it as a lifestyle change, and do not put an expiration date on it.  Sure, I know that term is over used and kind of cliche, it’s the truth…you are altering your lifestyle. (For the better!)  This is not to be misunderstood as being perfect.  I myself, as a health and fitness coach, have times that I'm not doing my best.  I delay workouts.  I hit snooze.  I don't always resist food temptation.  But as soon as I realize I'm totally off track, I jump right back on whether it happens the next day or in a few days.

So here are some tips to get you motivated!  You can use these if you have fallen off the wagon or if you are already on the right track, but you need an extra push on your “off” days! 

1.  Determine your “WHY.”  (Here's mine) If you don't know WHY you want to do something, it will hold no value to you.  Ultimately, YOU have to want it.  I can help you get motivated and help you along the way, but in the end it has to come from WITHIN, no one can do it for you.  You have the power to change your future and create your path.

2.  Don't overthink it, JUST DO IT.  What comes to mind when you hear that phrase?  NIKE, right?  Yeah, well, rightfully so.  Their brand is all about success and the drive to win.  The time you spend thinking about working out, you could have been done already.  The more you think about it, the more excuses you will come up with.  I workout at home so all I have to do is, JUST PUSH PLAY!

3.  Throw the fear of failure out the window.  If the big picture seems a little scary to you, you may have to set smaller goals.  Not all goals that you set have to be “scale” victories.  Set some non-scale victories.  They are just as awesome.  Celebrate every achievement.  Progress is progress and isn't just measured by numbers!!  Take small steps.  Take it day by day if you need to.  JUST COMMIT!

4.  Find something you'll enjoy doing and then buckle down and get serious about it.  Make it fun!  That is the key ingredient when it comes to fitness = FUN!  The more you enjoy your workout the more you will look forward to it.  However, just because you love it doesn’t mean it will easy.  Nothing good in life comes easy, it comes with hard work.  Do you want to see results?  You have to work for it and believe it or not….hard workout can be enjoyable!  When I first started INSANITY, I was not in love with it because I struggled and was pushed beyond my limits and outside of my “running and elliptical” comfort zone.  BUT, I LOVED the feeling that I got after each workout and as I saw amazing results and felt better than ever!

5.  Make a meal plan and schedule your workouts.  Seriously…I tell all of my challengers to do this.  I never did this until I joined my first Accountability Group in Fall of 2012 and despite my already OCC organized way of life, this has been game changing!  The ones that actually take a little time and follow through  are the ones who see the most success.  When you have your food planned and in the fridge there is no reason for you to not follow it.  Life happens and things come up unexpectedly so when there is a plan in place, things tend to go a lot smoother!  Schedule your workouts as if you were meeting with your boss.  You wouldn't ditch that would you?  Make it a PRIORITY.  This is YOUR time.  Your 30 minutes.  You deserve it.  That may mean you have to DVR your favorite show, wake up early, or skip a girls night out.  You have to ask yourself; how bad do you want it?

6.  When things get tough – you have to keep going.  The great Coach, John Wooden, once said, “The best competition I have is against myself to become better.”  You may have fallen off track because you started off strong, but as the weeks went by you slowly started to slow down and going back into the old bad habits.  Whether we like it or not, the time will pass regardless, so you might as well keep working towards your goal.  You have to give yourself enough time to see change.  You will hit a plateau, as most people do.  Re-assess your goals, re-focus on what is important and KEEP GOING!

7.  Questions?  Google is your friend.  Don't know what to make?  Don't know what workouts to do?  GOOGLE IT. YOUTUBE it. INSTAGRAM it. PINTEREST it!!!  Use your resources.  This BLOG.  ME.  I offer monthly online Accountaility Groups.  You have to start SOMEWHERE…just like everyone else.  If anything, get off the couch and start walking.  Too cold?  Jumping jacks, push-ups, squats and lunges.  Trade the chips for veggies.  Trade the soda for water.  Start making small changes instead of doing everything at once drastically because that can be overwhelming.  Usually we know what we NEED to do.  If you truly want to become a healthier person....Just. Do. It.

Still not motivated?  Well, do it anyway!  You will be amazed at what little time it took and how great you feel afterwards.  Or… you know what….don’t do it.  It’s up to YOU to do what needs to be done to be the healthier happier version of yourself.  No one can force you and no one can do it for you.  You bet it’s hard, but if it wasn’t hard then everyone would be healthy and fit and then I wouldn’t be writing this blog post on how to get motivated!  

Need that extra push with accountability and support?  Join my next Accountability Group and let's do this together!!

Fill out my online form.

HTML Forms powered by Wufoo.