Flabby Mom to FIT Mom: Surviving Hormonal Imbalance

Phew!  Well, that was quite the break from blogging, huh?  I've had a lot going on since I last wrote on here so I'll fill you in quickly...

So, you see those photos up there?  Well, I don't really look JUST like that anymore...you see, 2015 wasn't exactly *kind* to me...

Following my hysterectomy, things were going really well until I hit a wall at 6 months post-op. I was still doing all of the right things, doing the 21 Day Fix workouts, following the eating plan, adding in extra cardio 2-3 times per week to help really shed fat...but, instead of losing, I started gaining in a BIG way.

For the whole of 2015 - I put on 45 pounds...45 of the total of 90 lbs that I had lost since having my second son in May of 2011. I was devastated, frustrated, ashamed, guilty, you name it, and I had felt that way at some point about the weight gain. The most prevalent feeling was frustration though. I was doing ALL of the right things, WHY IN THE WORLD was I gaining weight?!

Finally, in October 2015, I sought out the help of a bio-identical hormone therapy specialist. She ordered an insane amount of bloodwork. (That, if I'm being real here, I'm still paying for. CHECK YOUR INSURANCE to make sure these types of tests are covered. They don't believe that pre-menopause and menopause should be treated.) She tested my reproductive hormones (estrogen, progesterone, testesterone), my adrenal hormones (DHEA, pregnenolone), and my thyroid (T3, T4, Reverse T3, and TSH). Since I had my uterus removed, we knew that the progesterone would be non-existent - what we didn't expect was for my estrogen to be SO HIGH and testesterone to be SO LOW. I was estrogen dominant - which can cause extreme weight gain, as well as, make it difficult to lose. What we also found was that my DHEA and pregnenolone were that of an 85-90 year old and that my Reverse T3 was off the charts...from STRESS.

I was started on a thyroid supplement (Cytomel), as well as, progesterone, a low dose of testesterone, as well as, DHEA and pregnenolone. I started these at the end of November and it took a good 8 weeks before I started to FEEL better - having more energy, a sex drive (thank GOD!), and started to notice the scale creeping back down, instead of UP.

It's been a long road back to feeling like myself, but here I am, 38 lbs of the 45 gone - and feeling MUCH BETTER!  Check it out -- the aqua dress photos...the before was taken on January 9, 2016 - the after on March 18, 2016. That was after I had lost 30 lbs. The bottom photo was taken on April 17, 2016. 36 lbs lost in that one and wearing a BIKINI!  Something that I never expected to be able to do again!

                                          

So, in closing, you CAN get your body back after a baby (or two, or four, or eight...), after a hysterectomy, and after a devastating hormonal imbalance. Seek ANSWERS - seek support - find others going through the same journey and love on them!  You can do this!

(NOTE: I am still drinking Shakeology daily, following the 21 Day Fix eating plan - mainly with a Paleo/AIP Paleo leaning, and working out daily - I switch between doing crossfit and 22 Minute Hard Corps for workouts currently. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to reach out to me at candacebeachbody@gmail.com!) 

Looking for friends to choose grace with me...

Just doing a little reflection and thinking about my business with Beachbody, as a coach.

I've always known the level of success that could be achieved and that I *wanted* to achieve but I have yet to be able to reach. I'm not a top 10 coach, I'm not even a top 100 coach. I have made a really great income, but not six figures. (which is totally okay!) I haven't been able to reach my desired level of success, not because I haven't had the drive or surrounded myself with the right people...but because of my internal "fear of success".

I know you're thinking 'fear of success'? What? How can someone fear SUCCESS???

I was afraid of losing myself in this business, in the numbers and the constant of running a business. I was afraid of being tethered to my business, instead of living the freedom of time that I was pursuing (and have, personally, for the most part - but I also want it for Kevin, too.)

I have been too wrapped up in my fear to really see my success thus far. And, to see that when I slip up and get lost (because I will - I'm not perfect, by any means) that I can choose to give myself the gift of grace...and keep going.

I know my calling and that is to encourage, inspire, and equip other women - that are also entrepreneurs and moms and that share in my passion of health, fitness, and whole self wellness. I have been in the depths of depression, self-loathing, self-doubting, low self-esteem and self image. I have seen the darkness that can easily take over our lives when we allow that darkness to be all encompassing.

But, I have also been blessed to find an opportunity that has allowed me to live my calling, that helped 'save' me from myself, that helped give me a sense of purpose again, beyond being a mom and wife. It has allowed me to encourage, inspire, and equip other women. It has allowed me to live out my calling and marry it with my passion.

And, I want to help you do that same thing and to build a business from home that you can be proud of and live out your calling.

I am looking for 5 FRIENDS to join me on this journey in living out our passion and calling to help others live healthier, more fulfilling lives.

If you believe that you are missing the mark in living out your calling and believe that this opportunity may be for you, please fill out the application below. <3 

The Master's Hammer and Chisel TEST Group! Starting January 4th!

What is the Master's Hammer and Chisel?
It is a new resistance-training system that incorporates three muscle-sculpting phased- Stabilization, Strength and Power- or SSP Training. This is how co-creators and expert trainers, Autumn and Sagi help efficiently build, chisel and refine a masterpiece physique in just 60 days!

Is this program for you?
If you are looking for a comprehensive resistance-training or muscle-sculpting program.
If you crave a simple, flexible nutrition plan to help you reach your unique goals.
   
Check out these AMAZING results from the original test run! I personally know most of these coaches and they have just RAVED about how PHENOMENAL this program is!

You WILL need some equipment for this program with all the weight lifting. It is totally worth it to create an awesome home gym in your living room ;).
REQUIRED EQUIPMENT:
Dumbbells, workout bench OR stability ball, chin-up bar OR resistance band with door attachment (not included in base kit).
RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT:
Yoga Mat or Beachbody Core Comfort Mat are helpful but not required.

Check out these AMAZING results from the original test run! I personally know most of these coaches and they  have just RAVED about how PHENOMENAL this program is!

If you are looking for a comprehensive resistance-training or muscle-sculpting program.
If you crave a simple, flexible nutrition plan to help you reach your unique goals.
I am hosting a ONE TIME ONLY Test group. The official start date is January 4 to make sure you are 100% COMMITTED when the time comes! I will open the group in December for us to get prepared and get to know one another so we totally ROCK this group! I am taking applications NOW to make sure this is the right group for YOU. Complete the application below to grab your spot!

Drop a TURKEY by Thanksgiving!

I know I know it's not even Halloween yet, and here I am talking about Thanksgiving!! BUT we aren't far from turkey day, and I want to help you LOSE A TURKEY before thanksgiving!!!!

The average american gains 8-12 lbs over the next 3 months, but NOT US, NOT YOU!! With our accountability challenge groups you could LOSE 8-12 lbs this holiday season!! What if i told you, you can still enjoy all your holiday favorites and STILL lose weight!?! It is possible and I am here to help you!!!

Imagine walking into your family thanksgiving day and your family noticing the big changes you've made and the results you've earned over the last 21 days?! You will be feeling confident, healthy and actually be HAPPY on thanksgiving day!!! And no worries, The challenge will end right before thanksgiving day so you can enjoy the day!!

Our ‪#‎dropaturkeybythanksgiving challenge group will focus on healthy tips to surviving the holidays, teaching healthy habits that you can make into a LIFESTYLE change, and get you the results you want!!!! Best part is the program we will be doing is ON SALE this month, when you purchase Shakeology, you get the ENTIRE program for only $10! What do you have to lose?!? Other than weight and inches of course! ;)

You can get signed up here ---> SIGN UP FOR THE DROP A TURKEY CHALLENGE! 
(This link will take you to purchase your 21 Day Fix Challenge Pack - I will contact YOU after your purchase to get you set up for the group!)

Heyyy Pregnant Ladies and Baby Mamas! I've got a program for YOU!

Hey Pregnant LADIES...& Baby Momma's!!!!

This one is AWESOME and all for YOU! heart emoticon

Check out this amazing new program exclusively available on BOD - that's Beachbody On Demand for those of you that don't know!

Autumn Calabrese creator of the 21 Day Fix & Fix Extreme and Co Creator of Hammer & Chisel (to be released this December) went back to her Maternity/Postpartum Workout ROOTS!

She started her personal training work early on helping moms have fit pregnancies & reliable postpartum routines that got their pre-baby bodies back in no time!

I know I am trusting my body with Autumn with the 21 Day Fix and would have loved to have had this at my fingertips a few years ago!

Message me for more info on how to get access to ‪#‎BOD‬ and Active Maternity. I mean come on...who wouldn't love a catalog of over 100 streaming workouts??? YES PLEASE!

Message Me at Flabby Mom to FIT Mom TODAY (or if you don't have Facebook, email me at candace.g.taylor@comcast.net) !! 

If you're ready to get started with BOD - use this link to get signed up and have me as your personal coach! ** #BOD Sign Up **
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Flabby Mom to FIT Mom: The Hormone Reset Diet Group!

Hey guys!  I hope you watched the above video, but if not, here's a brief synopsis...

A few weeks ago, I opened up about my struggles since my hysterectomy last year. In an attempt to help alleviate some of my symptoms up until my BHRT (bio-identical hormone replacement therapy) appointment on October 16th, I will be following The Hormone Reset Diet by Dr. Sara Gottfried for 21 days starting on September 28th. 

I will also be continuing to do the 21 Day Fix workouts, the 21 Day Fix containers. and utilizing Shakeology daily as the hormone reset diet says to use a protein powder/shake supplement to help prevent muscle wasting by providing extra protein while you eliminate certain things from your diet to reset your hormones.

I would love to have a group of 3 to 5 women that would like to join me in this group, so for every woman that purchases the 21 Day Fix challenge pack (which includes your first month of Shakeology, your workout program, the container system, etc...) I am gifting them with the Hormone Reset Diet book so that it is not something extra that you need to purchase. 

You can purchase your 21 Day Fix kit by clicking the picture above - I will be notified that you ordered and contact you directly! 

If you have any questions before ordering, please don't hesitate to reach out to me at candace.g.taylor@comcast.net ! I would love to hear from you!

Transformation Tuesday: Jaclyn lost 102 lbs in ONE year!

Jackie K lost 102 lbs in 1 year with FOCUS T25, PiYo, and INSANITY MAX:30. She entered her results into The Beachbody Challenge, and won the $500 Daily Prize for September 15th!

Tell us about your life before you started the program. How did you feel about yourself and your body?
My entire life I have been overweight. I remember in middle school hating gym class because we had to wear shorts, and my legs would rub together, and I was always embarrassed. I remember always having the highest number in softball because that was the largest size. I remember in high school hoping someone wouldn’t walk up the stairs with me because I would be out of breath at the top. In college I remember having to scope out restaurants and theaters to make sure I’d fit in the booth or the chairs beforehand. Even worse I had to make sure that they weren’t the cheap plastic seats that I could break! Even as an adult, a wife, and a mother I was still avoiding life. My husband wanted to go to an amusement park and I kept making excuses because I was scared I wouldn’t fit into the rides or I would be too tired from all the walking. Finally I realize that I wasn’t living. I was hiding and making excuses and worst of all, I wasn’t being a good role model for my son, I had more to give. He needed more. He deserved better!

What inspired you to change your life and begin your transformation journey?
My son was my biggest motivator. I want to be a very present mother and be involved in all his activities. I didn’t want to worry how far the playground was from the parking lot, or if I could climb up the playset to help him down the slide. I want him to know what a healthy lifestyle looks like and have a healthy role model. I never want him to feel trapped inside a body he didn’t have control over. I wanted to teach him how to be healthy so he won’t go through the pain I did growing up. I also want to expand our family and in my past pregnancies I was always considered high risk and a large part of it was due to my high weight. My weight was a factor in my fertility struggles and I was to blame, that was a hard pill to swallow.

What is the greatest challenge you faced before beginning the program? How did the program and Beachbody® help you overcome that challenge?I was worried about failure. What if I didn’t lose weight and everyone knew. I have tried all different types of diets and the lasted maybe a week or two. I would get frustrated and give up and then I would gain even more weight and feel like a complete failure. I had to change my mindset too. My family is on the larger side so I was just trying to accept I would always be large. Being overweight was my destiny. Beachbody changed everything. Beachbody made it easy to follow a routine and results were inevitable. When you stop with the excuses and just put in the hard work results will come; there’s no getting around it! I owe Beachbody my life! Beachbody handed me the tools to change the path a was cruising down.

What in particular did you like about the program you chose?
It was fun, energetic, thrilling and yet it was challenging and pushed you to your limits. I didn’t feel like I wasn’t getting a good workout because I couldn’t do all the regular exercises and had to modify a lot. I was really out of shape after having my son and even though I have finished T25 twice and PiYo I still needed some of the modified moves. I really like the strength and endurance I gained with this program! I never felt strong until I completed this program! My push-ups have gotten better, my flexibility has gotten better, and my life has gotten better!

Describe the results you achieved with your Beachbody program. Which achievements are you proud of?
I have more energy, confidence and most importantly I am happy! I have my life back. I don’t want to take a nap every time my son does, I can chase him on the playground, I get right up on the playset and run around with him, I can go on family walks, I don’t have to worry about not fitting into chairs and booths, I don’t dread clothes shopping because every store carries my size, and I can accomplish so much more. I haven’t lost all the weight I want to, but I feel great about my progress and I know with the help of Beachbody I can accomplish anything!

How has your life changed since completing your Beachbody program?
My confidence has come back! I am happy with what I see in the mirror! I am proud of my hard work and for the first time I am proud of myself! I no longer hide from pictures, avoid stairs, pray the chair doesn’t break, or avoid living life! I don’t live my life with constant fear of my weight getting in the way! My weight no longer holds me back! I am happy, healthy and I can’t wait to see where my next program takes me! I am a better wife, mother, and human! There’s no stopping me!

How did participating in a Challenge Group help you reach your goals? How did your group support you and keep you accountable?
This was my first time being in a Challenge Group and it changed my whole dynamic of Beachbody workouts. All of a sudden I had people holding me accountable and encouraging me to push harder. I was getting praise and constructive advice one what and how to improve! I absolutely loved my Challenge Group and can’t believe I waited so long to join one.

How did a Beachbody Supplement or Nutritional Product or Program (such as Shakeology® or Beachbody Ultimate Reset®) support your transformation? What are the greatest benefits you gained? Did you see benefits to your energy, sleep, mood/mental clarity, digestion/regularity?
Shakeology is a game changer! I cannot stress that enough! I always wanted to try it but the price tag was scary. I went ahead took the plunge by ordering the challenge pack with INSANITY MAX:30 and got the chocolate Shakeology. I don’t know why in the world I waited so long. My husband calls it my “mommy crack” because I live for it now! I drink it everyday and I think it’s 100 times better than coffee! I drink it in the afternoon around 3 o’clock as a pick me up, and it powers me through the rest of the day. My headaches have gotten better, my hair is stronger, my skin is clearer, I have energy and my chocolate cravings are completely satisfied! I love Shakeology and I don’t plan on stopping drinking it anytime soon!

You can change your life, too. Take the Beachbody Challenge for the tools you need to Decide, Commit, and Succeed! Complete any Beachbody program, and enter your results for a free gift and a chance to win cash and prizes.

Want to start the Beachbody Challenge with any of the programs discussed above?  Click on the pack you want to get started with and let's get you on the road to healthy! 

Article originally published on teambeachbody.com and can be found here!