Go from Flab to FAB with Shannon

I've been slacking on this page, much like my diet this past week. Damned hormones, making me want all of the salt and all of the chocolate. The good thing is, that it's Monday and it's a chance to start fresh! On the docket tonight, some sculpt and tone, followed by some Zumba if I don't feel like I'm going to die. Share some of your favourite healthy meals with me, I feel like I'm eating the same things over and over again, and need to shake things up a bit!

C'mon Monday, let's do this!

Zumba tonight! New choreography, new uncoordinated Shannon to laugh at! LOL

This made me laugh SO hard. Maybe it's because it's Monday morning and I'm still half asleep, or maybe it's because I just LOVE raccoon's. True story, I want a pet raccoon! I hope everyone had a great Easter, and didn't over do the chocolate! ;) I'm actually quite proud of myself on the chocolate front. Yes, I may have had chocolate eggs for breakfast yesterday morning, but I didn't continue the trend during the day! I'm definitely going to have to get Logan to hide her stash though, because chocolate IS my weakness!

Happy Monday!! Fresh start, new week!! Whats on your agenda for this week!? Any goals you want to meet!? I meal prepped like a boss yesterday, and my goal is to stick to my meal plan for the week! I also want to clean my room. It's the room that ends up being the catch all for all of the crap that no one put away! My room should be my zen, and relaxing space. It's not. It's pure chaos!

Yesterday I took the day off and spent it at the Children's Museum with Logan. Let me tell you, we did A LOT of walking. It only dawned on me nearing the end of the trip, that I had an hour buttcamp class to give that evening! As of right now, at 3:16pm...my legs are dead! Hamstrings...dead. Quads...dead. Calves...clinging to life. But it was all worth it for such a wonderful day!

A new banner. I have decided to take a break from my Beachbody coaching for a while, but am still keeping up with my fitness journey! I hope you will all still follow along and help keep me motivated and accountable, and maybe it'll help keep you motivated too!

I'm really trying to teach myself to not just live for weekends. But to enjoy every day, EVEN Mondays *shudder*. So far today, not loving Monday! HAHA! I'm off to a great start. The time change is messing with my brain! Gym tonight, and I'm almost falling asleep at my desk! Yikes.

I made these last night! SO good, and so simple! Logan HATES sweet potatoes, which I don't get because they are sweet. Loved them as a baby, but hates them now. Do you eat sweet potatoes, and if so do you have any special ways you make them! Share with me!!!

http://www.teambeachbody.com/teambeachbodyblog/nutrition/sweet-potato-bites-recipe

Sweet Potato Bites - The Team Beachbody Blog Sweet potatoes are an easy side dish that taste great with almost any meal. This simple recipe speeds up the cooking time so you can make them on a busy weeknight.

So I took Meg's advice and threw some parsley and corn into my salad today, and YUM! Good call lady!

Happy International Womens Day!

This is what happens when I try to have a shake in front of Logan! She thinks it tastes like a milkshake! If only she knew how healthy this "milkshake" was!

What are you having for lunch today!? I have been slacking on the nutrition these last 2 weeks. I don't know if it's hormones, or the stupid weather, or just lack of willpower. Time to whip my ass back into shape. I hate looking in the mirror and just feeling defeated, and that's how I've been feeling! So for MY lunch I made a protein packed salad! Quinoa, avacado, chick peas, grape tomatoes and cucumber!! Super good, and super filling!!

I feel this picture is an accurate depiction of how I feel today. The good thing about Monday is that I feel that I'm back into my routine. I'm anxious to get to the gym tonight, even though I feel like coffee is the only thing keeping me upright today!

It`s the weekend! As much as I love the weekend, I hate it. During the week, I have my meals planned out and my workouts lined up. On the weekends I know I don`t eat enough, and I am more prone to skipping a workout. THIS is my weekend workout. What are YOU doing this weekend!É

This is so true. Stop existing, and start LIVING! :)

Did you know that holding onto anger and hate is unhealthy!? I know it sounds like a no brainer, but it really is. Not just bad for your mental health but your physical health. Anger and hatred ages you, thanks to an increase in the stress hormone cortisol. It also hurts your heart, in more than just a heart breaking way. Studies have found that angry, bitter people have higher blood pressure and heart rate and are more likely to die from heart disease. Not to mention suffer from anxiety, stress, and depression. One thing I am trying SO hard to do is to forgive. Forgive those who have hurt me the most. Not put out hate into the universe for them, but forgiveness and love. Forgiving someone doesn't mean you accept what they did, it means that you are allowing yourself to let it go! Hate takes up WAY too much space and weighs too much. Why let someone unworthy have that much free rent in your head and heart!

Gearing up for Insanity and yoga! Healthiest meal of my day right here!!

Very much looking forward to some yoga this evening. Worked out at home last night, because of the crappy weather. Kicked my own ass pretty hard! Anxiously awaiting some serious stretching!

THIS! SO much! I remember the day I decided that enough was enough, and I needed to do something to change my life. I wasn't happy in my skin, I didn't like the way I felt. I didn't feel like I was setting a good example for my daughter. I saw an ad on FB for Piyo classes given by a woman who has become one of my dearest friends! I took the plunge, and I commited to taking the classes. The first class, scared me. I remember laughing because I didn't think there was any way in hell I would EVER be able to do what this crazy woman wanted me to do. In fact, halfway through my very first class I thought of quitting. I couldn't breathe, I felt ridiculous, I was sweating and I felt like I was going to puke. But I ignored the saboteur in my head and I just kept with it. I went to the 2nd class, and the 3rd and a year later I haven't quit.

Now those moves she taught, I can do! And when I see someone struggle and want to give up, I tell them that they CAN do this! She told me I would love push ups one day, I laughed at her. Guess what!? I friggen love push ups! Burpees....well I don't hate those AS bad as I did. ;)

The point of my post is that, although it hurts now and you feel like giving up...one day it WILL be your warm up! I still struggle, and I look forward to the struggle! It means I'm getting stronger, and that I'm making changes!

What exercise did you struggle with, and now own it?

I'm having a bad day. Just an emotionally exhausting day. I am swaying in between wanting to punch stuff, or sitting in a corner and crying and feeling sorry for myself. Both are useless. Both are not going to help me feel any better. Instead I'm going to take this time to think of all of the things in my life that I have to be grateful for. I have SO much to be grateful for. I have a beautiful family, and wonderful friends. I have a roof over my head, food in my belly and an overwhelming amount of love in my heart. I have the most amazing daughter in the entire world, who never fails to amaze me with her kindness and her warmth and her compassion for all people. I have a partner who at times makes me want to rip my hair from my head, but at the end of the day has my back, no matter what. Who supports me, and loves me and is always in my corner cheering me on,even when I feel like I have no reason to cheer for myself. With all of those reasons, and so very many more, I'm going to pick myself up and dust myself off and change my mood. In the grand scheme of things, what's one stupid little sh*tty day worth when I've had a life time of great days!

Your mind is so much more powerful than you know. If you believe it, you WILL achieve it!

Monday already! We went to visit the inlaws this weekend. I didn't get ANY workouts in, AND I ate like crap! SO happy to be home, and back on track! GYM TONIGHT! Zumba and then a stability ball work out! I can't wait! Hope you all had a good and more healthy weekend than I did!!!