Transformation Tuesday: Jennifer O.

Transformation Tuesday: Jennifer O.

When I became pregnant with my son I suffered from morning sickness 24/7. And being as nauseous as I was, you’d think I would have lost my appetite. But NOOOOOOO! Instead, I gobbled up everything in sight; justifying it by saying, “I’m pregnant! I can eat anything I want!” And 9 months later, a beautiful 8 lb. 9 oz. baby boy was born and I was left carting around 60 pounds of excuses.

Two months had passed and I was still wearing my maternity pants, trying to hide my gargantuan size. But after a while I was tired of my stomach hanging over my waistband and feeling like a slob. Not only did it look bad, it was the most uncomfortable feeling in the world. More than not wanting to end up overweight for the rest of my life, I really wanted to be able to keep up with my son as he grows up and starts running around. So I dug out my set of INSANITY DVD’s (I did it two years ago and got pretty good results) and pressed play. But this time, I told myself I’d push myself even harder as well as be super strict with my diet. And in 6 months, I went from 198 lbs. down to 153, lost 11 % body fat, and shrunk from a size 16 to a 6. Turns out, it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be to find the time to exercise daily or to eat healthy.

For starters, I had Shaun T. on my side. I won’t lie, there were PLENTY of times when I wanted to fall down and eat cake, but I didn’t. I just held onto his “keep going”, “don’t give up”, and “digging deeper” attitude. And I love the fact that the people in his videos didn’t intimidate me. They were as exhausted as I was and it felt great when I was actually keeping up with them. It felt even better when they’d fall and I was still going!

And since I was exercising daily, I figured I might as well start eating healthy daily as well. So I pulled out the nutrition guide and read through it with an open mind. From the very beginning I told myself, no more cheating, no more excuses, no more “EWWW-ing” new foods. And to my surprise, I liked a ton of the recipes. Not only was I saving calories by eating healthy, I was saving big bucks because I was no longer eating lunch out.

But the real life changer for me was Shakeology. Once I started drinking it daily, my fat literally melted away. I felt more energized, a lot happier, it improved my digestion, and I stayed fuller much, much longer. Once I had my shake for breakfast, I was set up for a day of eating well. I’m addicted to this stuff—but in a good way!

So many people from my hometown ask me how I did it. So I tell them. And now that I’m a Coach, I can pay it forward and help change their lives too. I’ve never been fitter, healthier, or happier. Thanks Beachbody!

You can change your life, too. Take The Beachbody Challenge™, for the ultimate motivation to get fit! Select any Beachbody® program and once you complete it, share your results for your chance to win cash and prizes.

Feel free to message me at cgranberrytaylor@gmail.com anytime with any questions that you may have!!!

 

Tasty Thursday: Sesame-Seared Tuna

Tasty Thursday: Sesame-Seared Tuna

 

 

By David Rocco
Serves: 6
INGREDIENTS

• 3 large carrots, peeled and shredded
• 10 leaves fresh mint, finely chopped
• Juice of 1/2 orange
• Sea salt, to taste
• 1/4 cup plus 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, divided, plus additional oil as needed (NOTE: CE recommends using coconut oil, safflower, sunflower or grape seed oil for high heat cooking.)
• 1/8 tsp red pepper flakes, optional
• 6 tbsp sesame seeds
• 24 oz skinless, sushi-grade tuna fillets (TRY: ahi tuna)
• Fresh ground black pepper, to taste

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. In a medium bowl, combine carrots, mint, orange juice, salt, 1/4 cup oil and pepper flakes, if desired. Mix well and marinate at room temperature for 5 to 10 minutes.
2. On a large plate, spread sesame seeds. Season tuna with salt and black pepper, to taste. Press both sides of each tuna fillet into sesame seeds.
3. In a medium skillet,  heat 1 tbsp oil on high. Add tuna fillet and cook undisturbed for about 2 minutes. Turn and cook for an additional 2 minutes to desired doneness. (NOTE: The USDA recommends cooking tuna to an internal temperature of 145˚F.) Repeat with remaining fillets, adding additional oil if needed. Let tuna cool slightly; then slice.
4. To serve, divide carrot mixture among serving plates and top with tuna slices. Drizzle with additional oil to taste.

Nutrients per serving (1 sesame-seared tuna fillet and 1/2 cup carrot mixture): Calories: 267, Total Fat: 16 g, Sat. Fat: 2 g, Monounsaturated Fat: 9 g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1 g, Carbs: 5 g, Fiber: 2 g, Sugars: 2 g, Protein: 23 g, Sodium: 158 mg, Cholesterol: 83 mg

(Recipe from cleaneatingmag.com)

Worship Wednesday: Our New Home!

Worship Wednesday: Our New Home

Joshua 24:15 "...As for me and my house, we shall serve the Lord."

 

    The Lord just continues to bless our family!  One thing that has been on our hearts (and minds) and in our prayers as of late was to be able to find our forever home. We've been living in my in-laws vacation property for the last four years and to be honest, it was just time. So, my husband and I first set about deciding what area would be best to move...somewhere larger? Somewhere smaller? Stay near where we are? Move farther away?  Well, we decided to move closer to where he works and to a slightly larger city.

 

    I am so proud to announce that the Taylor family will soon be residents of Dothan, AL! 

 

    After touring numerous houses and nit-picking them to death, we decided on the first house that we went to see. Our wonderful realtor, Brett (of Heisler Homes & Realty, HIGHLY recommended if looking in the area), said that the first house you look at usually is the house you end up buying. I don't know if that's true or not, but it was for us.

Our New Home!

    I'm excited for the opportunity for Kevin and I to re-connect with old friends and make new ones, as well as, spending more time with family that live up that way. I am also excited for the boys to have the opportunity to meet other children that live in the neighborhood and make friends, as there are few children their age that live near our current home.

   May I ask that you say a small prayer for us that the closing goes smoothly and there are no hiccups along the way?  We appreciate the prayers and know that the Lord is by our side during this new chapter in our lives.

 

God bless you and your family!

 

Transformation Tuesday: Migdalia G.

Transformation Tuesday: Migdalia G.

    Having a heart attack at the age of 33 wasn't exactly on my bucket list. But my body couldn’t handle the 215 pounds it was carting around, so it crashed. I wasn’t ready to die at 33. And my two daughters and my husband weren’t ready for me to leave them either. So you’d think going into cardiac arrest would be my big wake up call, but it wasn’t. I still ate like crap, I still made excuses why I had no time to exercise, and I was still fat.

    Fast-forward to a short time later…I was driving my two daughters across town when I had a high blood pressure episode so bad that I passed out. Lucky for everyone, I pulled over just in time. My girls were hysterical and thought I was dying. After that, the doctor put me on high blood pressure meds—FOR LIFE! That was it. I knew if I kept up my current lifestyle, I’d be dead in no time. And my family deserved more from me.

    So when I say that Beachbody saved my life, I mean it literally. 10-Minute Trainer was fast, easy, and effective. And in only 10 minutes a day, not only did I become stronger and thinner, this program left me begging for more! Pretty soon, I worked my way up to exercising 30 minutes a day and felt amazing.

    And in two short months…15 pounds, gone. Depression, GONE! Blood pressure, back to normal. And my HDL and LDL levels are better than ever. But the result I love the most is how my belly shrunk. Being able to wear skinny jeans again is the best feeling ever!!! Plus, my arms are showing some definition and I no longer feel tired all the time. My girls now work out with me and are my biggest cheerleaders. I’m so energized every day that after work I play with them and still have enough energy to PUSH PLAY!!! Finally, I feel strong, sexy, and healthy.

    But exercising daily was only part of my success formula. The other half was learning how to eat right and drinking my Shakeology daily. When it comes to a clean, healthy diet, here’s the deal: (1) I don't like vegetables, (2) I’m addicted to chocolate, and (3) I have no time to cook breakfast or stop for lunch. So the combination of Shakeology and ActiVit Multivitamins solved my three problems and made me not only lose weight, but also improved my regularity, my focus, and got rid of my depression in the FIRST WEEK.

    Shakeology’s so convenient and so delicious that I don't even feel like I am on a “diet”—I absolutely love this stuff! Now I’ve lost my cravings for sweets and chocolate, and feel confident that my nutrition is the best ever. So far I’ve lost 15 lbs., my pulse went from 110 at rest to 60, my blood pressure went from 150/100 to 110/70, and my iron levels rose from 9 to 14. Everybody asks me what I've done! So I tell them—with a huge smile.

You can change your life, too. Take The Beachbody Challenge, for the ultimate motivation to get fit! Select any Beachbody® program, contact me for placement in an exclusive challenge group and once you complete program, share your results for your chance to win cash and prizes! 

Shoot me a message anytime with any questions that you may have! cgranberrytaylor@gmail.com



Transformation Tuesday: Susan O.

Transformation Tuesday: Susan Ohling

I was only 39 and was so incredibly unhappy with life. My negative attitude about how I looked and felt was taking a toll on my 4 kids, my marriage, and myself. I hated putting on a bathing suit to go out on our boat or to the beach, so I always came up with an excuse. I was becoming a hermit—all because of how I felt about myself regarding my weight gain and muscle loss. I used to be an avid gym goer; it was my home away from home. But as the years passed and life got busy, I put exercise on the back burner and I royally paid for it. 

I knew I needed to lose weight, but how? Doing what? Then one day I saw my friend, Kelly R., transformation photos on Facebook and thought…hmmm, I can do that! And next thing you know, I WAS doing that. I joined her virtual Fit Club and less than a week later, we were taking a road trip to Miami to meet Carl Daikler—CEO of Beachbody—for a Team Beachbody event. When I saw the people there and heard their stories, I knew this Beachbody thing wasn't a joke. If only I had found Beachbody years ago.

The first program I chose was Brazil Butt Lift® but quickly realized I wasn’t ready for all the squats, so then I turned to ChaLEAN Extreme, which was a perfect match. Chalene is so motivating that it's like having a personal trainer in my home. I love this program so much that I haven't missed a workout yet. So not only did I start exercising again, I completely revamped my diet. Now I drink Shakeology every morning and am a firm believer that it truly is a miracle potion! Every morning I wake up it's there on my counter top with a big beam of light around it. Shakeology has boosted my energy, improved my digestion, and has made my hair and skin look so much healthier. This stuff’s amazing; I don't know what I'd do without it!

I also don’t know what I would have done without my amazing Coach, Kelly, or my super supportive Challenge Group. I asked God to put new people in my life to help me get out of this rut, and 3 days later I joined TBB. And in just 3 short months I lost 15 pounds and can finally do real pushups! Plus, I have a much better outlook on life and am always in a good mood. I’m also now very conscious about what goes into my body, which means no more coffee or sodas—and the funny thing is, I don’t miss that stuff one bit. And slowly but surely, I’m weaning my kids and my husband off that junk, too. 

I can't wait to go to my annual doctor visit next month so I can show her how much my body has changed. I’m so proud of what I’ve accomplished, but this is just the beginning. And what a great beginning it has been!

If you're looking for results like Susan's and need someone to help YOU, contact me TODAY at cgranberrytaylor@gmail.com !! 

House Hunting: Fun or Headache??

House Hunting...

Fun or total headache???

 

 

    If you know my family personally, you know that we've been house hunting...for what seems like forever. A lot of people that I spoken to think that the hunt is the most fun part about finding your forever home, others believe that it's a total headache. So far, I'm in between those extremes. We've found a few homes that we really love, now it's time to make the BIG decision! And, trust me, it is a huge decision -- my husband and I have very different design and décor ideas and to find more than one home that we both agree on incredible.

 

 

    Here is a shot of the outside of the two homes, what are YOUR thoughts? Which home would you choose if it were up to you and your family?  (Based on the exterior only...the interior of the homes are both very similar, one has a basement, one does not.) Let me hear YOUR opionions! 

Tasty Thursday: Clean Eating Danish Meatballs

TASTY THURSDAY

(recipe from the Gracious Pantry)

 

Clean Eating Danish Meatballs

(Makes 40 meatballs)

Meatball Ingredients:

• 1 package ground turkey meat (about 1 1/2 lbs, give or take.)
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon dried onion
• 1/4 cup non-fat Greek yogurt
• 1/2 cup bread crumbs
• 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 whole egg

Sauce Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour
• 2 cups chicken stock 
• 1 teaspoon salt (omit if you use prepared stock or broth)
• 2 teaspoons dried dill weed
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 cup non-fat Greek yogurt

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. If you want to have a grain with this dish, put on a pot of brown rice or some whole wheat noodles while you make this recipe.
3. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.
4. Place all the meatball ingredients in a mixing bowl and mix with your hands until well blended.
5. Roll the meat blend into small (about 1 inch in diameter) balls and place on your cookie sheets. You can place them somewhat close together. They don’t spread during baking. Just be sure there is some room between them so the heat can circulate well around them. On a standard cookie sheet, I got about 20.
6. Bake for 20-30 minutes, or until they reach at least 170 degrees F. I baked mine a little longer just to get a nice golden “glow” to them.
7. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly. (Enough so you don’t burn yourself!)
8. Once the meatballs are in the oven, move on to making the sauce. Both should finish about the same time.
9. While the meatballs are in the oven, place your olive oil and flour in a medium-sized pot.
10. Warm this mixture over medium-high heat. It will be “paste-like” at first. But then it’ll get a little “crumbly”.
11. Once you have crumbs, slowly add your chicken stock/broth stirring vigorously with a whisk. The idea is to get the crumbs to dissolve into the broth. Once dissolved, add your salt (optional), dill and garlic. Allow the mixture to simmer slightly until it has thickened a bit.
12. Once the sauce has thickened, remove the pot from the stove. Whisk in your yogurt, and the sauce is done!
13. Combine the sauce and meatballs and you’ve got a fantastic meal!

Worship Wednesday : Are you blessed with certain talents?

WORSHIP WEDNESDAY

 

Romans 12: 6-8    

"Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness."

Are you blessed with certain talents?

 

   Some would say that I am blessed with the talent of art. I've always enjoyed drawing, painting, crafting, and most other artistic endeavors. Some could even say that using that gift or talent, if you will, was my release. I could be in my own little world while painting and it was something that I could do at ANY time before I had children.

 

   After having my boys and really, after going to work full time, I traded my talent for that of stability. When I was working, I didn't have time because I was working all..the..time. Since trading a full time job for full time parenting, I have traded my talent for that of an orderly house and well behaved, well loved, well educated children.

    And, just when I thought certainly that I would never get to use or exercise my talent again, my mother's decorating and design business took off. And, she wanted to have an added value that she could give to her clients. I immediately offered to paint something for her. How cool to have an original piece of artwork in your home, right?  Right...I think.

    It was only after I got home that it really sunk in what I had offered. I had not painted ANYTHING in well over 5 years...much less a large piece to be featured in someone's vacation home. Oh goodness...

    She requested a blue crab. She was decorating a beachside condo. So, I went to work...the piece ended up around two feet high by three feet wide. This is where I started.
   

 

And, this is where it ended. It was a fun, colorful piece and my mom loved it. I'm waiting to hear what the client thought.

                                   
    And, during the time I spent on the painting...I reclaimed my love for art. I remembered WHY I enjoyed it and it wasn't just for ME.  It was because I enjoyed seeing and hearing others reactions to my artwork. It may not be incredible or breathtaking to a lot of people, but it may make others stop and wish that they could share a talent like mine.

 

    Then, I read my daily devotion -- the scripture at the top of this post -- and it hit me that I should continue to share my talent with others. It is a God-given talent and one He instilled in and trusted ME with and THAT is pretty awesome. So, even if YOU don't necessarily enjoy it, I will continue to use this blog as a medium to share my talent with the world. (Although, I do hope you enjoy it and are INSPIRED to share YOUR talent with ME and OTHERS!) <3 

 

 

God bless ya'll!