5 Legit Ways to Lose Weight...and Keep It Off.

If I see one more article on "10 crazy ways to lose weight fast" I'm gonna lose my mind. Ladies stop depriving yourself of vital nutrients, wrapping yourself in cellophane,  and drinking hot sauce. (Seriously some of this stuff is ridiculous.) What good is it to get lean if you don't have a sustainable way to stay lean. Here are 5 legit ways to loose weight and keep it off. 

1.) EDUCATE YOURSELF

The more aware you become of the dangers of a sedentary life or the risks of obesity, it'll be easier to make a decision to change. There are a lot of documentaries on Netflix that will unveil exactly what's on the shelves at your grocery store and how it's killing you. Most people have no idea that your favorite breakfast cereal may share ingredients with heavy duty cleaners. Or that the FDA approves a certain amount of bugs in your food. Not kidding! 

Want to jump all in to food education? THIS. o_O
Warning: May keep you awake at night.

2.) EAT CLEAN, REAL FOOD

I've done Atkins. I've done weight watchers. I've done cereal diets. Nothing has helped me to stay lean AND full of energy like clean eating does. It's a simple concept that involves trying to eat food as close to the source as possible. 5 or fewer ingredients in pre packaged foods and an emphasis on lean meats, lots of produce and whole grains. You're immune system will soar, your energy will improve and your waistline will shrink. All without any crazy deprivation. 

I run a FREE Moxie Mom Challenge each month that can help you better understand who to start this sustainable lifestyle. Email me at moxiemaefitness@gmail.com if you want in the next one! 

3.) FIND A COMMUNITY

I run monthly virtual bootcamps because the thing that is missing for a lot of first timers is accountability and support. Something amazing happens when you know someone is waiting for you to show up and is cheering you on to succeed. We were designed by God for connection! A certain amount of obligation is healthy, otherwise we would never do anything. A community will help you push when you just want to binge on cereal and Netflix...not that I know about that or anything. 

4.) MOVE CONSISTENTLY

1 Zumba class a month does not a slender physique make. Make sure you are finding a way to move 3-5 days a week. It not only is good for your jean size but it could be the difference between a long life and a heart attack. For maximum results mix up cardio and resistance training. Weight training burns calories for up to a couple days. Muscle takes more for your body to maintain, so step off that treadmill drop and give me 20. 

5.) COMMIT TO A PLAN

Your goals need to be specific, measurable, and attainable. "I'm gonna start working out." Isn't going to work out. How many days a week will you exercise? What exercises will they be? What do you need to be eating for results?What's on your meal plan for the week? If it's not scheduled and planned it'll be the first thing to go. Overwhelmed and don't know where to start, it's okay I can help! 

And here's a bonus have some flippin' fun! Don't love running, than dance. Hate to lift, get your yoga on! As the old adage says do what you love and it won't seem like work!

I hate meal planning. There I said it.

Cleaning eating, fit mom, health coach surely I meal plan and do so like a boss. Surely not. The thought of locking myself into food choices for the week?? I was having commitment issues. But I knew I had to figure something out, the grocery situation was getting freaking ridiculous. The bill was climbing, I was there 3-4 times a week, my meal planning anxiety was totally cramping my style. I knew I couldn't plan every meal and snack for the week, not I couldn't, I just wouldn't. So here's how me and meal planning made a compromise.

Before April started I planned only dinner for a week. Then I made a list of breakfast, lunch and snack options. That week and those options will repeat itself for the month. We have the same thing every night of the week for the entire month. So for April, Mondays are tacos, Tuesday is spaghetti, Wednesday is breakfast, Thursday is chicken, rice and veggies, Friday is turkey burgers, Saturday is leftovers, Sunday is crockpot pork tenderloin. (Remember those are all clean, whole foods versions of those things!) I break down those meals into the ingredients required and hit up the big box store and stock up on everything I need for 2 weeks worth of meals. (Save the receipt!) On Sunday I cook chicken for lunch salads, prebag snacks for easy grabbing, make meatballs, bake oatmeal cups, etc. If it can be done ahead of time, it's done now. Every night before bed I prep the hubby's work food and take meat from the freezer to thaw for the next day. You can get a better idea of how I prep for the other meals HERE.

Dude! The baby slept through my haircut, and both stores!!! God is good...all the time!

Let's fast forward. 2 weeks have gone by and supplies are low. If your store has shop online, pick up in store like our Sam's Club you're about to change your life. Because you saved the receipt you know exactly what you need whether you shop online or in the store you should be done in no time. Today with baby in tow I was in and out of the big box store in 20 minutes. You're not shopping this time, you did that at the start of the month this time you're grabbing and going. I had to make a second stop to Wal-Mart to get party supplies for my son's birthday this weekend and was still done the whole combined trip in an hour and for less than $300. That's right party supplies and 2 weeks worth of food for $300. And not just any food but lots of fresh, organic, real food!!

Before May we'll sit down as a family and decide what meals we loved, what new recipes we want to try and make our new dinner plans for the month.

Go connect with me on FB and leave your email 

and I'll send you my FREE printable to help you 

go all moxie on your meal prep!

Or email me at moxiemaefitness@gmail.com to snag one! 

3 Day Refresh, Is It Worth It?

That's it we had decided and committed March 21st my friend Mindy and I would take on the 3 Day Refresh. A 3 Day Cleanse that is designed to help your body make a clean break from bad habits which I totally needed coming off a 6 day cruise. Mindy did the smart thing, while I was on the boat drinking coffee 6 times a day and having dessert every night, she was weaning herself off of processed foods and sugar. Oh how I wish I had done what Mindy did, but I did not and I suffered gravely for it. Here's how my 3 days went down.

DAY 1
Off to a great start I was worried about having my Shakeology without almond milk but with half a frozen banana in it, it was just fine! I wasn't even really feeling much from going without my normal morning coffee. Lunch was a vanilla protein shake half an apple and cucumbers with hummus. Thanks to the fact that you can have real food during this detox at no point was I starving. Around dinner I felt a headache coming on. By the kids bedtime I was in full blown break down mode I had chills, my body ached, and my head throbbed. Upon a little research I discovered that when you detox if you have a flu virus or some such mess in your system that your immune system has been staving off it will bubble right up to the top as your body gets rid of toxins. So now I am dealing with major caffeine withdrawal and the flu...awesome.

DAY 2
I woke up feeling like garbage, all of the symptoms that come with the flu were reigning down upon me. I sat and thought for a while, am I going to bail or am I going to stick with it? Even if I went back to my normal clean eating lifestyle it wouldn't get rid of the germs any faster than the cleanse would so it was time to embrace the suck. If repenting from sin felt like detoxing from sugar and caffiene it'd be the straight and narrow for all of us from here on out. Sheesh! Thank goodness you can have hot herbal tea because the chills had me wanting soup or coffee real bad. That day for lunch I had grape tomatoes with avocado, seasoned with a pinch of Himalayan salt, cracked black pepper and garlic powder. This is a cold salad I make in the summer with mozzarella and it is amazing! Went to bed feeling a little bit better, thank goodness the clouds were parting.

3/4 cup of halved grape tomatoes, 1/4 of an avocado diced, sprinkle himalayan salt, cracked black pepper and a pinch of garlic powder

DAY 3
Oh my gosh, am I dying?? If you have the option to do a detox when you are not sick, take that option!! Had my Shakeology at breakfast with frozen blueberries for a vitamin C boost and that delicious avocado and tomato salad for lunch. After lunch my parents watched the kids while I took my first ever detox bath. I went in feeling like death but I must have dipped myself in that healing water 7x cause I came out feeling brand new. lol I still had a little bit of a headache but the chills and body ache were gone! Praise the Lord. Dinner was a recipe for lemony green beans that comes in the booklet and they are delicious! I still wasn't hungry but man I sure was missin normal food. I told my husband after dinner "Can I go to bed now so I can wake up and eat?" hahaha

For a simple detox bath add 1 cup epsom salt and 2 cups baking soda as you draw a hot bath. Soak for at least 30 mins.

DAY 4
WOW!!!! Just call me Lazarus y'all! I was worried that being sick would mess with the results in my energy. All the clients I have that had finished the cleanse boasted of increased energy the next day. Even with the baby waking up at 2:30 (not normal for him) I woke up feeling awesome. And as a bonus I was looking awesome...well my hair was a hot mess but all of my nasty boat bloat I had acquired on the cruise was gone! I lost 4lbs (157.5 to 153.5) and 3 inches off my waist!

GET REAL ALERT

A detox will not give you abs. All it did was reveal all the hard work I've been doing in my workouts 

by trimming the bloat and some fluff. 

If you are thinking about doing the detox I would HIGHLY recommend working your way up to it! It shouldn't take long Mindy started the Wednesday before eating better and did well with it, I had a Cadbury cream egg and a cup of coffee the night before and knocked on deaths door. Obviously if you aren't fighting off the flu you'll also handle it much better.

If you are interested in more information or want to take advantage of this system while its on sale email me at moxiemaefitness@gmail.com or check out the 3 Day Refresh at my virtual store front.

How You're Ruining Your Day, Maybe Your Life

3:45pm it is the hour of my salvation. Its the time my husband walks through the door and I claw against the mat towards the ropes to tag him in. "How was your day?" Here it is my opportunity to let him know just how real the struggle is and banish any ideas that I might be sitting around here eating bon bons...I don't even really know what those are, but they sound good!... As I relive the spills, fights, and missteps I feel even worse about my day.

Today as we stood in line at SAMs Club I was trying not to lose it. They were snappin out and there were 2 out of 20 lines open. They had just done so well at the hair dressers what was going on!!! What about a grocery cart makes every body loose their mind. As I plopped down in the drivers seat after we loaded our industrial size bags of produce I heard the Lord say to me "so what part are you going to let define your day?" I was like the mainstream media (and I am not a fan). Every day Matt comes home from work and I relive the horrors and neglect the highlight reel. With every negative story I retold I was making myself feel worse about the job I had to do. Not to mention they deserved more grace. What would I say about a boss who only ever pointed out my mistakes and never my achievements? I'll tell you it probably would require some editing.

The negative is going to scream in your face momma, you've got to choose to shout the joy louder. Don't ruin your own day! You don't have to pretend like you've had flowers coming out your butt all day, but before you is life and death...chose life!

The Thing About Homeschooling

Here's the thing about homeschooling...sometimes it sucks. Yeah that's right I said it. For all of the homeschool magazines and how-to books no one ever seems to cover the fact that some days the washer will over flow in the middle of math. That some days your...passionately, independent child will shout out random words as he stares off into space instead of willingly reading the words you know that he knows. At mommy school you are the janitor, head master, teacher, plumber, coach and oh yeah, Mom! It's a lot. Like just being a mom is hard enough. It's amazing and fulfilling and important, but its hard. If you don't think it is you're either better than me or taking something and not sharing.

This is our new Bible practice. Be still and know,
lying and listening to scripture quietly.

And here's the other thing, its not for everyone. Some of these homeschool moms get it mixed up like this is our only mission ever in life. Well I'm sorry I just don't agree. I believe we are called for more than just motherhood. The Bible says we are to go into all the world and preach the gospel, that starts at home but it does not end there. If being who you're called to be means they have to be at school that's okay. You may not be able to be a good mom and a homeschool Mom at the same time. If you are called to homeschooling and it is hard, than you have a responsibility to take time to fill your cup. This is not purgatory you are not stuck here. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom (2 Cor. 3:17) and don't you let any uptight, Abeka lovin mom tell you any different. (If you love Abeka don't get your three ring binder in a knot its just an example.)


These are your responsibilities momma.
1.) Get with God and go where He sends you.
2.) Be a part of your child's education whether it be at home or away.

Notice the laundry in the background...the janitors off today.

You cannot be the best for them, if you are not willing to hear His best for you. For me, right now, I am called to be here. But I like to ask Him every few months whether I'm still supposed to be here. So if you're here with me in the trenches, keep up the good work and cultivate thinkers! If you're hearing this and realize you need to hand them over to Him and send them to school, God speed and I am praying for your momma heart! You will find no condemnation here!

Julia Todd, Moxie Mom

How I'm Getting My Ish Together In 2016

I am really creative! Food, graphics, events, you name it I am a never ending stream of ideas! I'm not bragging I swear just stick with me. I am telling you all this in hopes that it will garner me a little empathy when I tell you that I am a TOTAL SLOB! Or at least that is my natural inclination. My college apartment would have you gladly opting to stay at the frat house. When my husband rode in my car for this first time, his advice was to just send it over a cliff and start fresh. I've gotten much better over the last couple of years. With prayer and sheer will power I have been digging myself out of the clutter infested pit! But I have MAJOR plans for 2016 and so major breakthrough is required! I knew I could do it. After all we serve a God who paints the sunsets and schedules the moon phases, surely I could be both creative and productive. So if you are fellow hot mess like myself allow me to share with you my simple grace filled plan to get my ish together! 

STEP 1: GET A PLANNER 
Last year I started brain dumping. This is a process where the night before I sit down and write down all of the things I need to do the next day. No item is too small. Then I organize them so that the biggest, least pleasant sounding task is first. Now I needed a place to keep my new method, my calendar, my meals, my brain basically all in one place instead of thousands of pieces of paper adding to the mess. I looked at a few and stumbled upon the Emily Ley Simplified Daily Planner. Not only is it sooo pretty, which my creative heart loves, but its simple. It doesn't have a thousand bells and whistles that make me think "should I be keeping track of every time my child has peed??" So now that you have a planner its time for a plan! 

STEP 2: GET A PLAN 
Freakin' laundry y'all!! With 6 people (5 dudes, 1 projectile vomiting baby, and 2 fitness freaks) we have laundry for days!! We been had laundry, you know what I'm sayin? If you want to see the light drain from my eyes plop an over flowing basket of laundry at my feet. I am not exaggerating in the least when I say it is a joy stealing, soul sucker!!! woosa, breathe But unless we want to be the smelly family it must be done! After pouring over a myriad of pins this is the simple plan I created to make progress and not die inside. 
disclaimer: For this to really be effective you first need a full overhaul cleaning, so that you have a clean slate! 

• MORNING: 1 load of laundry in wash (Thats it, just 1! You have no idea how incredibly freeing that is.), 30mins team cleaning one room with worship music on
• LUNCH: 1 load of dishes, put laundry in dryer, have boys do a quick pick up (I advise music and a race for time!)
• WHEN HUBBY GETS HOME: This is the magic part. Stand at the dryer and fold and sort as the clothes come out. Call all responsible parties to put their clothes away. 
• EVENING: 1 load of dishes, wipe down kitchen counters and stove top. 

BOOM! Done. My house looks worlds better, it doesn't stress me out and my oldest son is actually enjoying the worship cleaning sesh. 

STEP 3: GET A GOAL

"no, it’s not your willpower. it’s your “Why Power.” This kind of power will drive you to move mountains, swim oceans and walk through fire to accomplish your goals...The person who has a clear, compelling and white-hot burning reason why will always defeat the best of the best at doing the how. We see this reality played out repeatedly. it’s where greatness and extraordinary achievement comes from." - Living Your Best Year Ever by Darren Hardy No matter what you do or who you are you must have vision. Habakkuk 2:2 tells us to "write down the vision, make it plain." Enter the vision board. This is a great and simple way to really visualize you why. Every time I want to be lazy or procrastinate or get fearful about making a move I picture holding the little girl we'll adopt from overseas. I visualize the sign on the building or the new house big enough for them to run wild through without clipping a table. If I had a nickle for every time... Get a vision of what you want for yourself and for your family. Make it personal, make a plan, pray for it daily and watch things start to shift! 

If you want even more help getting your ish together this year I highly recommend Eat that Frog by Brian Tracy and Somer Dawn's Productivity Academy 

Keep fighting the good fight mommas!! 

P.S. none of these people are paying me or any of that I just think they rock and that you should know. ;)