So the holidays are right around the corner. I mean Thanksgiving is practically a week away. And are you one of those people who just keeps saying,
"well I am just going to wait until the New Year rolls around."
"it's too hard during the holidays to lose weight."
"to much temptation, travelling, visiting with family."
I know, I have heard it before and honestly I was one of those people who gave these excuses. I would work hard all year round & then as soon as it would start to get cold I would just stop giving my all in exercises, quit watching what I ate, and just let myself go. I was that girl who always made the New Years Resolution to lose weight & clean up her diet. And can I let you in on a little secret..... Eric said some of these "excuses" this past weekend. I had to stop for a moment and really let it sink in what he had just said. I mean people really wait until after the holidays are over to change themselves....why?
I looked at him and said why wait? It's to hard was the response I got. I said no it's not, I'm about to prove your wrong. And that is exactly what I tend to do. I am planning on starting a three week, Prove YOURSELF wrong group. I'm going to continue my routine til after thanksgiving and then December 1st I am going to open it up to ANYONE who wants to lose /maintain weight before Christmas. We will end 4 days before Christmas....are you IN?
- 3 weeks
- 30 minute workouts
- 30 day supply of shakeology
- colored containers to portion your food out
- simple nutrition / meal plans
- accountability
- myself as your coach
All you need to do is COMMIT! Decide that you don't want to be a year you gain weight. Feel better than ever this holiday season & let's work together. Who's in to prove yourself (and your significant other) WRONG?? Take a moment to fill out the challenge application.
**spots are filling up fast & I'm only accepting ten applicants**
When you think of a cleanse you think of starvation diet, liquid diet, or some crazy concoction that makes you want to gag and throw up right? I know I do, because I have done one of those crazy cleanses. The ones where you think you can function on pretty much no calories at all.
The 3 Day Refresh is more than one of those "types" of cleanses.
I was ready to go when my package arrived, because I sure did need it. I was a little nervous because the last go around with the Ultimate Reset was difficult and I struggled really following the plan 100%. With that said my eating has been struggling a little and I have been feeling bloated. I bought a dress for an upcoming wedding..
Now the dress fits or I would have never of bough it, but I feel like I can look a little bit better so I had to step up my game. The 3 day refresh I just had to give it a try to get me back on the right path. I wanted to get rid of the bad habits, the food cravings, pop (which I never ever crave), chips, etc.
I like the set up the Refresh because it breaks it down into breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It gives you all the shakes, mid morning tea, but the nice part of it is that you get to choose which vegetables, fruit, healthy fats, and dinners you want. It doesn't break it down and say, "you have to eat this at this time and on this day." The picture below is a lunch I had one day, I know it is going to see like a weird combination & I am basically eating nothing but I was honestly full. The vanilla fresh was one of those things that kept you full & not to mention it tasted like cake batter... YUM!
My thoughts and overview on Day 1 :
Day 2 & 3 were a lot better. I knew what to expect. I felt full the entire day. I drank a TON of water since I was slacking on day one. I can't begin to explain how "light" I felt. To be honest I really got off track from eating veggies, it was something I just slacked on. And when you fill your body with the proper nutrients, vitamins, and right foods how amazing you feel. It is true when they say fuel your body with crap and you feel like crap.
There is nothing much else I can say about this program..if you are looking to kick the bad habits start the program. Just came back from vacation, start the program. Have a wedding/special event to attend, start the program. This is a program to jump start your weight loss journey and get you started on the right path.
So, now are you ready for results? In just 3 days.. I lost 6 pounds and 2 inches off my weight. Can I even begin to explain my excitement? I never in a million years imagined to lose that much, I was thinking about 3, but 6!!!!
I feel great I'm ready to go, and I am kicking of my exclusive 3 Day Refresh/30 Clean Eating Accountability group. If you are interested in finding out more about this program then please feel free to reach out to me : alyssayourish@gmail.com
Or if you would like to join please fill out the challenge application below & we will get you started!
I just have to give a quick shout out to my girl/fellow coach Haley. I first met her friend through Instagram she joined & said her roommate may be interested. Haley emailed me a few days later and the journey began. At the time she was working out to Focus T-25 abs said she wanted finish it all the way through and the do the 21 day fix. So that's what we did.
And let me tell you from day one I knew this girl was going to be a rockstar and she totally KILLED it in the challenge group. Not only did she get herself motivated, but she was a huge motivator to all the other girls in the group. She was engaged daily, keep the group fun/exciting, and really cheered the girls on when they felt like they were struggling.
So, when she sent me her results in just three weeks I had to share her results & what she thought out the whole process.
Congrats girly!!! In so proud of you! You are proof that this system works & with hard work/dedication you can see the results!!!
Haley:Here are my before/after pics! I decided to use my new bathing suit as my modeling outfit hehe I started the program at 135.7lbs and ended at 128.0! I lost 7.7 lbs :D Inches I started at 165.2 in. and ended at 155.6 inches, I lost 9.6 in. :) I feel amazing. and I learned so much about how much what you are eating really affects your progress. I am in love with this program and I am definitely going to repeat it in a couple weeks. In the mean time I will continue to eat clean best and I can, I am still using my containers to get portion sizes. ;) I think I was stuck at a plateau when I was doing T25 and what I really needed was this eating plan. It just made everything so simple and easy (and delicious). I can't say enough about this program. Thank you for all of your help and inspiration through these past 21 days :):)
1. Describe yourself before the 21 day fix? I thought I was happy with were I was fitness wise. I had just completed T25 which I liked a lot but I noticed after the first month or so I had hit a plateau with my results. Nothing was really changing, I was fine with where I was, but I was not at my goal. I assumed I would just continue on to another program and the results I wanted would come eventually? I also thought I was making decent choices food wise and that I was doing well enough.
2. What made you decide to sign up for the challenge? I had seen some other people's results which was intriguing. But I also really wanted to see what this whole eating plan was about. I wanted to see if the way I was eating was really impacting my progress, so I decided to give it a shot.
3. What were you expecting at the end of the 3 weeks? I was expecting to see some sort of change in my body, I wasn't sure how much or how little but I was hopeful. A small part of me was also expecting to be hungry haha I thought at the end of the 3 weeks I might be starving and just stuff my face with everything (that didn't happen thank god!)
4. How did you feel after week 1? At the end of week 1 I was feeling pretty accomplished. It went by quite fast and I LOVED having my food already prepared where I can just grab it or pack my lunch box and head to school for the day! I was also sore (in a good way!) I was a bit tired but after a good nights sleep over the weekend and yoga on Sunday I felt rejuvinated and ready to see what week 2 would bring.
5.Was this program anything like you expected? Yes and no. Yes in that it gave me results and helped me to understand what proper nutrition REALLY is and how much it does affect your progress. No, in that I thought I would be hungry. Those containers look so small, but it is a lot of food. I was hungry the first day or two but my body adjusted and I am so happy I didn't cave in and have an extra snack :)
6. What were you first thoughts on this program? My first thoughts were that it sounded so simple. Something I could do with my busy schedule. I was a little intimidated to have to prep my entire meals for a week at first (it got easier as I went on). Also, the fact that the workouts were only about 30 min each sounded perfect.
7. If you could give advice to others considering it what would you say? It is so worth it! I think this is the best program I have completed. Don't get me wrong I love the other Beachbody programs, but this one really simplified the whole eating and nutrition part. It also helped me break alot of bad food habits I had. If that is something you struggle with or are curious about, definitely try it. I have finished the program and I am still using my containers and making choices that reflect what I learned while doing the program. The results are addictive. Stick it out and you won't regret it.
Interested in learning more about the 21 day fix or what a beachbody challenge group is? Ready to join my next one? Please take a moment to fill out the application below and I will get back to you as soon as possible! If you have questions feel free to e-mail me: alyssayourish@gmail.com
Beloved Pinterest how I am ever so grateful for you. Ever have a place that you just always go to & maybe you just like to browse? Pinterest is that for me, it is truly like a gold mine!
I was never really a cooker/baker, but I have been going there just to get some new ideas when I stumbled upon these.....
Brownie Kabobs!
What you need:
-brownies
-melted chocolate chips
-sprinkles (if you want to make them pretty)
-toothpicks or cake pop sticks
-wax paper
-cookie tray
Brownies:
* 1 (16 oz) almond butter
* 4 egg whites
* 1 cup of honey
* 1 tablespoon vanilla
* 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 cup grain sweetened chocolate chips
Directions:
* Preheat oven to 325 degrees
* add each ingredient, in the order listed to a large mixing bowl, one at a time. Whisk each ingredient completely before adding the next.
* pour into a baking pan & bake for 35-40 minutes.
You will pretty much make these like cake pops. If your brownies turn out dry & crumbly , you can add a little frosting until "mushy" mixture til it's easy to form the balls.
Now onto the fun part!!!!
1. Take small portions of your baked brownie & 'squish' them into small ball shapes.
2. Put 2 balls side-by-side and gently insert a toothpick through them.
*may break: once toothpick is through just shape them again.
3. Melt chocolate slowly. Once melted pour chocolate on brownie kabobs.
4. Place the kabobs on a cookie tray, lined with wax paper.
5. Throw sprinkles on them
6. Place in fridge to allow chocolate to harden.
You can see mine are not on toothpicks/cake pop sticks because we were having too much trouble making them stick and hold. Next time I think I am going to try a different way to make my brownies.
And it is here!!!! The moment you all have been waiting for (or maybe not). Last week, week #4 was the transition phase which is to sort of be what we like to call a "stretch" phase because you have been pushing hard and going further than use to. At the end of the phase marks 30 days since starting P90X3. The dreaded thirty day pictures, but to me I see it as progress a way to re-evaluate my goals I set for myself from Day 1.
I have to admit, I was starting to get a little frustrated with Tony because I felt like I truly was not making any progress. And I know towards the end of the week I wasn't giving my all because I was mad at myself and to be honest I am not really sure why. I started off strong day one because of the new program and I was excited and when I started to feel blah by the end of week four my mindset was just not with it. I was there, BUT really wasn't "there".
SO......
P90X3 Day 1
DUN DUN DUN........
P90X3 30 Day
To be honest I have not stepped on a scale. I did not even step on a scale when I first started, because I HATE seeing the number on the scale. Not because I think I am heavy or the number is too high, but because then I start to measure my progress by that instead of all the progress I have made or how I feel. I would rather have three pounds of muscle vs three pounds of fat. I can see my abs slowly starting to creep their way in on the top, the bottom part of my stomach is being a little stubborn, but nothing a little hard work & dedication can't fix. Also, I can see a difference between my side view picture. This is the reason why before, during, and after pictures are important. Because I was getting frustrated for not feeling progress but seeing it makes it that much more real you are!
Block two is by far really exciting.... I am not sure if it is because it is the start of a new phase or if it is because of the workouts. But none the less it's fun. It's exciting and another 30 days are about to start. I may not always feel 100% but I can feel my arms getting stronger. I am able to more push-ups in full rather than breaking down to my knees, and my muscles are starting to tone up. It was nice to start a new week, which meant a new group of workouts, a change of pace and a way to keep you on your toes. And so far I have to say I like what I am doing. This block is a little more challenging than the first which I like. I want to push myself more, try different exercises.
Week 5: Block 2 Schedule
Monday- Eccentric Upper : you are slowing down each move, really focusing on the muscles. Upper is obviously all your upper body strength.
Tuesday- Triometrics : Old school plyo. This is far beyond just the jumping part, you are exploding into each move. Speed and power is your focus.
Wednesday- X3 Yoga : (still lovin' the feel good stretch in the middle of the week)
Thursday- Eccentric Lower : Lower is the same idea and concept behind it just like upper, but this is more focused on the lower half of your body; squats/lunges
Friday- Incinerator : BURN YOU OUT. You want to fail when you do this exercise, that means you pushed yourself to where you need to be. It determines your limits. Failure is the only option.
Saturday- MMX : You want the ultimate fighter workout?! Well you get it right here...thirty minutes of straight cardio, fighting, punching. Increase your heart rate and focus on your upper body strength, core, leg endurance, and even flexibility. But when I say you are going to fall right on the ground after this you will. And will you feel sore soon after and the next day...YES!
Sunday- Rest or Dynamix
I can't say I have been 100% on track with meal planning. I will be honest it is actually difficult. I really do make my food list and go to the store and buy all that stuff for the week. But it is hard because when I get home it usually is just me and the pets (because of the boyfriends work schedule). And I am not using that as an excuse, but I am only cooking for myself which just doesn't seem as "fun" for me. So I do make some recipes I have a game plan for here and there. But sometimes I want something healthy but quick. My go-to literally is my own version on stir-fry (brown rice, chicken/shrimp, load up on the veggies, and a little soy sauce for taste). Cheese makes me feel really bloated and blah so I tend not to eat it, but it literally is my weakness and this week I struggled with it....so next week I must try to kick it out of the plan. After dinner snacking is another thing that has really snuck up on me lately. I blame it on the cold weather and dreary days, although I know I can't it is my fault and easy to say no. I use to have a cup of tea when I started to get hungry and I have strayed away from that. I find that drinking a warm cup of tea: relaxes me and makes me sleep which in return I had to bed. So, I will have to start that back up again. Also, someone else mentioned brushing your teeth after eating...which I may just have to try.
You tend to stay on track all week & then the weekends come and you throw in the towel. This is the biggest mistake. Just because you are good during the week, does not mean you can eat whatever you want and sabotage your progress for the weekend. Because if you do, Monday comes again and you feel terrible and sluggish because you had all those drinks and you ate all the food you have tried to take out of your life. I am not saying eating healthy 100% of the time, because I do not, so if I would tell you too why would you listen. Plan to succeed. This is why meal planning is so important, because then you can plan what I like to call your cheat meal during the weekend if you choose. Or during the week: which I like to do when it is a special occasion or a celebration.
Now it is on to Week #6 time to change things I didn't like about this week. This I need to work on and re-evaluate. How am I doing? Are you liking this program so far and love following my journey? Do you need a little extra motivation and support?? I would love to take some time to sit down with you and answer any questions you may have. Or if you are interested in joining/learning about my next online accountability group fill out the challenge application below to be considered. Feel free to also e-mail me : alyssayourish@gmail.com
Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas. TO YOU! It's time for celebration, cheer, and good time with family and friends. But let's face it the holidays are probably the hardest if you are trying to lose weight. If you love working out and eating clean 80% of the time there are still those holiday goodie temptations. Even if you come up with a game plan for the holidays, sometimes it is really hard to stick with it. You don't want to throw away your hard work, but the snickerdoodles just keep staring at you. To be honest, it's okay to have a treat and enjoy, it is your choice and you should enjoy the holidays. Don't make yourself miserable debating on having a cookie or not.
P90X3: 30 minutes a day
I am so excited I bought myself an EARLY Christmas present! Yes, ME! I bought myself something and that usually never happens. I love giving to the ones I love. But I decided to give myself a little something this Christmas go-around. P90X3 the newest workout from Mr. Tony Horton himself!! Now, this may turn you off a little if anyone has or has tried the original P90X. You all no the workouts are at least an hour long (maybe longer) but really who has an hour for a workout? I tried it for about a month and quit. Yes, I quit for a few reasons. 1. Tony Horton just couldn't keep my attention. 2. I love to lift weights but, it was just too slow for me. 3. I didn't have time for hour long workouts. I work early so for me to have enough time to get my workout in and get ready for work before leaving, this would require me to get up at 3:30am. I was exhausting myself and I wasn't even enjoying my workout. Can you honestly tell me you can take an hour out of your day to workout? It's hard. Life gets in the way, we have everyday normal errands to run, a house to clean, chores to get done, and the list goes on and on.
Well ladies and gents it is finally here!!!! And I have to tell you every single minute and hour for days I was tracking when it would get here. I was loving T-25; getting a workout in with the results I wanted in twenty-five minutes, but I needed a change up. I was like a little kid on Christmas Eve when it got here. I purposly slept in and skipped my workout in the am, so I could come home from work and try this bad boy out. T-25 was great...fast extreme cardio but there was not many weight lifting exercises. I was definatly loosing my muscle strength and muscles.
SO WHAT'S THE DEAL??
P90X3 is offically P90X cut in HALF. Thirty minutes a day for six days a week. You have no excuses now not to get a good workout in.
The base kit includes 16 workouts so you are never
going to get bored.Everything from cardio to strength, pilates, yoga and
MMX there is something for everyone!You may think P90X is a little extreme for you, but there is a modifier which will help you throughout the program. And even the modifier will still help you get great results.
What is it that you get?? Well, the P90X3 challenge pack is on sale the whole month of December if purchased through me. You will get me as your coach, receive an exclusive p90x3 baseball cap, free shipping, and a chance to win $500 for submitting your before & after photos.
You can now purchase P90x3 challenge pack for intro price of $180. After December 31st it will go up to a retail price of $205. You are going to get the full 90 day program, the nutrition guide, schedule of workouts, program guide, shakeology, a free 30 day trial of the club membership, free shipping, and the discounted price!!!
Or is you don't wantShakeology and don't think it's a good fit for you , just the program of $119 plus shipping & handling.
You have a few days to get your own p90x3 before the price goes up! If you are interested send me and email: alyssayourish@gmail.com and in the subject line put p90x3 information (lately thigs have been going in the spam folder, and I want to make sure I am getting them!) you officially have one week!!!
