Motivation Monday! Natalie's Transformation Story

I'm SO EXCITED to share Natalie's transformation with you!

Natalie's Before & After using 21 Day Fix & Shakeology

Natalie is a busy teacher who has a passion for helping young women gain self-esteem and self-awareness through The Kind Club. 

Here is her transformation story:

I started the 21 Day Fix program about four months ago. I've never enjoyed working out. However, I was tired of feeling exhausted all the time. I had also put on about 10 pounds in the last two years. Since starting the program I have learned healthy eating habits and I have lost all the weight I gained. I'm starting to see definition around my waist. I'm so thankful for Laura. She is an amazing coach. She is always available to answer questions, support you, and push you to your full potential! Thank you, Laura. I couldn't have done this without you.

Natalie's Before & After using 21 Day Fix & Shakeology

Natalie has been an amazing support & motivation in my challenge groups. Her participation has helped others in my group stay accountable to their program and see results! Her new healthy lifestyle has also made a positive impact on her family & friends.

Congrats girl! I'm so excited to be a part of your journey

If you're interested in participating in my next motivation & accountability group (Challenge Group) please complete the following FORM and I will get back to you with all the fun details!

xoxo Laura Jayne

Lentil Lime & Quinoa Salad

I've been following the Ultimate Reset this week and it's forced me to get out of my comfort zone and try new recipes. 

Lentils are filling because they are packed with protein and fiber. This Lentil Lime & Quinoa Salad can be eaten as is, or served atop leafy greens.



Ingredients:

1 cup cooked green lentils

2/3 cup cooked quinoa

1 medium carrot, shredded

¼ cup finely chopped fresh parsley

1 green onion chopped

1½ tsp. sesame oil

2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice

Braggs Liquid Aminos 

Himalayan salt (to taste; optional)

¼ tsp. ground cumin (to taste; optional)

Ultimate Reset herbal seasoning blend or fresh herbs like basil and oregano (to taste; optional)

Directions: 

1. Combine lentils, quinoa, carrot, parsley, green onion, oil, lime juice, Braggs Liquid Aminos, salt (if desired), cumin (if desired), and seasoning blend (if desired) to lentils; toss gently to blend.

2. Let salad marinate, covered, in refrigerator for 2 hours before serving.

Enjoy!!

xoxo Laura Jayne ♥

Do what you LOVE; LOVE what you do!

As I sit here on this beautiful night in SoCal I can't help but reflect on the last year of my life and how BLESSED I am to be here. Not only have I FINALLY found my passion but I've been given the opportunity to turn it into a business through Beachbody! All my life I never realized that was possible, now it is!

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In 2014 I was told about a program called T25. That was the beginning of a journey I NEVER thought would turn into my passion.

After a year of testing Beachbody programs on myself I saw that I had a natural instinct to want to help those close to me achieve their fitness goals.

In February 2015 I finally gained the courage to sign up as a coach. Not only did I want to help myself stay accountable on my own fitness journey I quickly realized that I have truly found a passion in helping others. I consider myself very blessed to have a stable career in Accounting but I am even more blessed to find something that I feel extremely passionate about. You know the saying when you find something you love you’ll never work a day in your life. Well up until this opportunity I thought that saying was a LIE! Well friends I'm here to tell you it’s true. Oh and wait for it….. I GET PAID FOR THIS!

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This BIG PASSION of mine has given me so many opportunities I never dreamed could be possible! I can start listing them all but today I want to share 2 of the biggest ones to date!

1. I'll be going to Nashville in July to a BIG event and will meet all the talented trainers & creators of this AMAZING company called Beachbody ---> THE BIGGEST AHA moment for me was when I bought my mom and I round trip tickets to go without worrying about how the cost will be covered!

2. I get to plan an all inclusive vacation to a tropical island for 2 and I get to say IT'S MY TREAT!

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Whether you want to get in the best shape of your life, to help others be inspired and motivated on the path to health and wellness; Or to earn enough money to have your car payment covered, be able to save up for the vacation you never had. What about simply being able to see something on sale at store and know you have the cash to pay for it... All these are possible! If any of this is sounding good to you & you are ready for change, you are an energetic, optimistic person, you enjoy helping others, you are looking to improve your life, you want to get healthier & you are looking to grow as a person for the better, then please feel free to complete the form in the "JOIN MY TEAM" tab above and I will get back to you with all the exciting details on how to get started on my team!

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...And because I have so much love for our legal team I didn't forget to give them a SHOUT-OUT!
{ Beachbody does not guarantee any level of success or income from the Team Beachbody Coach Opportunity. Each Coach's income depends on his or her own efforts, diligence, and skill. See our Statement of Independent Coach Earnings located in the Coach Online Office for the most recent information on our Coaches' actual incomes}

Strawberry Fruit Leather Roll-Ups

One of my favorite junk food snacks as a kid was always fruit roll ups. I can literally go through an entire box or 2 in one sitting... and I probably did when I was a kid and my mom wasn't watching (sorry mom!) lol 

Now that I've learned to look at ingredients and nutrition labels I realized how much JUNK there is in JUNK FOOD! 

Here is a HEALTHY, ALL NATURAL, 3 INGREDIENT, HOMEMADE version of fruit roll ups that tastes even better than the store-bought ones!

Ingredients:

- 10-12 oz Fresh Strawberries

- 1 Tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice

- 3 Tbsp Raw Honey

Directions:

• Pre-heat oven at 170 F
• Blend all ingredients in a blender. (I use a Vitamix and like to  blend on low at the number 4 so it has a puree consistency.
• Pour the puree on parchment paper
• Spread evenly on the parchment paper (make sure it's not too thick or it will take longer to dehydrate in the oven)
• Place it in the oven for at least 3 hours.
• Check regularly to make sure you're not over-dehydrating the roll-ups (unless you want roll-up chips!)
• Once you're done take it out of the oven and let it cool
• Cut into long strips, roll them up and enjoy your healthy homemade snack!

I hope you enjoy this healthy & sweet snack and don't forget to drop a comment below and share this recipe with friends & family!

Enjoy!!

xoxo Laura Jayne ♥

Kitchen Sink Salad

Hey Everyone! It's been a while since I posted a recipe so I have quite a few lined up from my talented cuzzie Taleen.  

So without further ado... I present to you The Kitchen Sink Salad!


It has basically everything in the fridge in one bowl...it's AMAZING trust me. Tangy, sweet and savory all in one bite! 😋
👍🏼
Ingredients:
🔸3/4 c chicken, shredded or thinly chopped
🔸2 handful of chopped romaine lettuce
🔸1/2 small apple
🔸1/2 small pear
🔸1/2 c cherry tomatoes
🔸1/2 c chopped sweet peppers
🔸1/4 c red quinoa
🔸1/4 c mixed chickpea, pinto and kidney beans
🔸1/3 c plain goat cheese

Dressing - Home-made Dijon vinaigrette:
🔸2 tbsp red wine vinegar
🔸dash of Himalayan salt
🔸1/2 tbsp dijon mustard
🔸dash of pepper
🔸juice of half a small lemon

This recipe is 21 Day Fix APPROVED!
1Y 1B 1P 1R 1G

Enjoy!!

xoxo Laura Jayne ♥

Glowing Green Smoothie Bowl

When I think of a smoothie I usually think of fruits combined with protein. Here is a great way to add some veggies in the mix!

Total Time: 10 min.
Prep Time: 10 min.
Cooking Time: None
Yield: 1 serving

Ingredients:
¾ cup almond milk
1 scoop Vanilla Shakeology
1 cup raw spinach
1 cup ice
¼ large banana, cut into thick slices
1 medium kiwi, peeled, cut into thick slices
2 Tbsp. unsweetened shredded coconut

Preparation:
1. Place almond milk, Shakeology, spinach, and ice in blender; cover. Blend until smooth.
2. Place smoothie in a medium bowl. Top with banana, kiwi, and coconut; serve immediately.

If you're following the 21 Day Fix containers this is 1 Green 1/2 Yellow 1 Purple 1 Red and 1 Orange!

I found this recipe on the Team Beachbody Blog!

Enjoy!!

xoxo Laura Jayne ♥

Chia Seed Pudding

If you're short on time, this is a great grab-and-go breakfast you can make the night before so you can get a few more minutes of beauty sleep in the morning!

Total Time: 4 hrs. 10 min.
Prep Time: 10 min.
Cooking Time: None
Yield: 2 servings, about ¾ cup each

Ingredients:
1½ cups unsweetened almond milk
1 Tbsp. raw honey
⅓ cup chia seeds
½ tsp. pure vanilla extract (optional)

Preparation:
1. Combine almond milk, honey, chia seeds, and extract in a medium bowl; mix well.
2. Cover bowl; refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight, mixing after 2 hours.
3. Divide evenly into 2 servings.

If you're following the 21 Day Fix containers this is 1.5 Yellow and 1 Orange!

I found this recipe on the Team Beachbody Blog!

Enjoy!!

xoxo Laura Jayne ♥

Chocolate Ricotta Protein Pancakes

So here's another beautiful creation from my amazingly talented cousin Taleen!

Ingredients & Directions:

Pancake Ingredients:

2 eggs

1 banana

1/2 scoop chocolate Shakeology

2 tbsp low-fat ricotta cheese 

Coconut oil cooking spray 

Toppings (Optional pick as many toppings from the list below):

Sliced Strawberries - 1/2 cup
Unsweetened coconut flakes - Sprinkle
Agave Syrup - Drizzle
Walnuts - Sprinkle
Pecans - Sprinkle
Organic peanut butter -2Tbsp 

Mix all the pancake ingredients in a blender or bowl 
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Spray flat pan or griddle with Coconut Oil.
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Pour the mixture on the flat pan or griddle and start cooking.
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Flip the pancake over after a few minutes. 
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Make sure the pancake is fully cooked!
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Top with strawberries, unsweetened coconut flakes, agave walnuts and pecans and organic peanut butter 

Enjoy!!

xoxo Laura Jayne ♥

Nutrition: Mind Over Matter

As many of you know, I run an ongoing health & fitness accountability group on Facebook with my fellow coaches for new and existing customers who are doing Beachbody programs. Earlier this week my cousin, who is also a coach and is known for her amazing recipe blog Taleen's Kitchen, posted the following in our group. I was so incredibly proud of her for sharing something that is often times the sad reality of how people believe they can "lose weight" or "get in shape". If you haven't seen Taleen's Before & After please take a look after reading what she shared. This is coming from someone who had an amazing transformation not just from the outside, but also from the inside and most importantly her thought process. 

Now that the holidays have come and gone, I'm looking forward to getting back on track with my nutrition. People have asked me, "are you still on your diet?" "Do you eat?" "Aren't you hungry all the time?" I've also heard people say, "I lost weight by starving myself." All of these statements are seriously flawed. When it comes down to it, our mindset about food and healthy eating needs to change.

Here are some ideas to keep in mind:

1. Everyone is on a diet. Either it's a healthy one that will fuel your body, or it's one that will slow it down and dismantle it.

2. When you eat with portion control, you're not only making sure that your metabolism is stable, but you're also giving your body exactly what it needs throughout the day, no more, no less.

3. Starvation doesn't work.

4. Cutting carbs for the sake of losing weight won't last long. Realistically, you're going to eat bread and grains (unless you have a gluten intolerance.) Instead of cutting it and depriving yourself, eat the right kind in the right amount.

5. Crash diets are a temporary fad. Eating clean is a lifestyle change.

Finally, just to prove that eating clean does not mean starving yourself, I've attached a picture of tonight's dinner. I had smashed sweet potato (1 yellow), lean ground chicken seasoned with low sodium guacamole seasoning...it sounds weird, but it was SO GOOD. I couldn't find a low sodium taco seasoning, so I settled for guac seasoning (1 red) and a broccoli/squash medley (1 green).

Change your mindset about food and I promise you it will change your life.

Healthy Chocolate Covered Banana Bites

So last week I tried these chocolate covered bananas from Trader Joe's and they were pretty good so I thought I CAN MAKE THIS with LESS ingredients and HEALTHIER!

So here goes....

Ingredients:

4 Tbsp Coconut Oil

1 Banana

1 Scoop Chocolate Shakeology ( I used Chocolate Vegan)

Ice cube tray 

Directions:

1. Slice the banana into small circles enough to fit in the tray. 

2. Melt the coconut oil in microwave for about 45 seconds.

3. Mix the Shakeology and coconut oil. Stir until it look like chocolate syrup.

4. Pour the chocolate mixture in each ice cube tray enough to cover the banana slices.

5.  Place the tray in the freezer for about 20 minutes or longer. 

6. Enjoy you healthy creation!

Hope you enjoy this recipe.
Like, Comment & Share this recipe with friends!
xoxo Laura Jayne ♥

Healthy Tuna Salad

After all the Thanksgiving feasting on Thursday and the leftover meals I had, I was craving something simple and light on Sunday for lunch. I hadn't gone grocery shopping yet and I did not want to eat out! Luckily I always have some canned tuna for emergency healthy meals when I run out of groceries!

I quickly made this little salad and it was SO DELICIOUS!

INGREDIENTS: (for 2 people)

Tuna

2 canned albacore tuna in water

1/2 cup shredded carrots 

1/2 fresh lemon juice squeezed

1/3 cup diced red onions

3-4 diced pickles

1 tsp Pink Himalayan salt

1 tsp ground black pepper

2 tbsp mustard

Salad

1 bag mixed greens

1/2 cup shredded carrots 

1/2 fresh lemon juice squeezed

1 tsp Pink Himalayan salt

1 tsp ground black pepper

pinch of paprika

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 tbsp red wine vinegar

Directions:

Tuna:

1. Drain water from the canned tuna and place in bowl
2. Add onions, pickles, carrots and mix
3. Add salt, pepper, lemon juice, mustard and mix
4. Taste and see if it's to your liking. If you need you can always add more mustard and lemon juice since they are considered to be free items on the 21 Day Fix meal plan.

Salad:

1. Empty mixed greens into a large bowl
2. Add carrots and mix
3. Add all the seasonings and mix
4. Taste and see if it's to your liking. If you need add more lemon juice.

** You can always turn this recipe into a health tuna sandwich & salad, just make sure to select a healthy toast bread. I made my boyfriend a sandwich with this recipe using Eureka! Bread Sweet Baby Grains. **

Hope you enjoy this recipe.

Like, Comment & Share this recipe with friends!

xoxo Laura Jayne ♥

Beachbody Black Friday Sale!!!

It's that time of year again! Beachbody is having their Black Friday Holiday Sale! 

For a limited time only, you can get select Beachbody programs like P90X3, LES MILLS COMBAT, RevAbs and INSANITY, equipment, and supplements for the lowest price of the year!! 

BONUS - When you use the link below for your purchase you can get me as your FREE coach to help ensure you reach your health & fitness goals!

http://ow.ly/UZq9M

(If you need help picking out the right program please feel free to email me at LauraJayneFitness@yahoo.com and I will be more than happy to go over the best program that will fit your needs to reach your goals)

xoxo Laura Jayne ♥

21 Days of FITMAS!

Not sure what to do after you enjoy your Thanksgiving meal? Join me for 21 days of eating healthy balanced meals along with a short 30 minute workout in the comfort of your own home to help you shed some of those Thanksgiving treats and prepare for Christmas!

Here's what you will need to do to join the group:

1. Purchase your 21 Day Fix bundle program (Challenge Pack), that comes with a super food meal replacement shake (Shakeology).
2. Once I confirm your purchase you will be added to the group.
3. Purchases must be made by Friday November 27, 2015. 
4. Preparation days November 27-29
5. Start date: Monday November 30, 2015

Please feel free to contact me via email at LauraJayneFitness@yahoo.com or Facebook if you have any questions or would like to get more information about this group or any other health & fitness, motivation & accountability groups I run.

Note: This will be a very small group, 1st 5 people will be added to the group. This is to ensure that everyone gets to focused attention they need to reach their goals. 

{cannot be a coach or have a coach currently}

Transformation Tuesday! My Mom

Hey everyone! I want to celebrate a very special transformation today... MY MOM! I'm so proud of all her hard work, she looks AMAZING and SO YOUNG, I mean we could pass for sisters, RIGHT??

BUT that's NOT what I want to highlight today... today I want to highlight that this transformation DID NOT COME OVERNIGHT! Often times we get caught up in the end result and see all these before and after photos of people and what we don't see is all the hard consistent work, PLATEAUS, cheat meals turning into cheat days and sometimes weeks... I’m sure some of these hit home for you. This transformation did NOT happen after 1 round of 21 Day Fix, NOPE this happened after 13 ROUNDS of 21 Day Fix, after 9.5 MONTHS of 21 Day Fix, and she worked REALLY HARD!!! My parents were remodeling their house and in the middle of all the dust, minimal space, and 8+ hours of work SHE MADE TIME to get her 30 minute workout in. She didn’t have a kitchen to meal prep so she made healthy choices with the options she was given. Were there times she slipped up? YUP! Were there times she didn’t follow the containers because she thought she got it down? YUP! But guess what… she reeled it in and got back on track… SHE NEVER QUIT! You know why? BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A DESTINATION! She is learning NEW HEALTHY HABITS and when you change your focus from DESTINATION to JOURNEY then you will NEVER QUIT!

Mom, I’m so proud of you, you’ve truly shown me what it means to never give up!

Check out her story in the link below.

Before & After