​Did you pack on some pounds during quarantine? Have you been emotionally eating and avoiding exercise?

I’ve got a step-by-step plan to help you bounce back from those quarantine pounds and get you into your best body ever…

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Step #1: Program Your Mind
Your mind is your number one ally when it comes to achieving your goals. However, until your mind has been programmed for success, it will do more to derail your efforts than to help you.

• Take a few moments each day to visualize yourself at your ideal weight. Imagine how it feels to look the way you’ve always wanted.
• Protect your mind from any negative self-talk. If a negative thought comes to mind, immediately reject it.
• You want to be thin and fit, and yet you think of yourself as out-of-shape and fat. Re-program your mind to think of yourself as fit and attractive, and you will be well on your way toward achieving your goal.
• Give up the belief that you can’t achieve the body you’ve always dreamed of. See it first in your mind, and then in the mirror.

Step #2: Conquer Your Fear
Change makes most of us nervous – even if it is a change in the right direction. You may not be consciously aware of the fear you have of getting into shape. Until you conquer this fear, your best body efforts will be blocked by self-sabotage.
Professional speaker and author, Anthony Robbins, has outlined three specific beliefs that you must have in order to conquer your fear and instantly create a lasting change.

• Believe that something MUST change. You can’t be wishy-washy about it. You can’t be considering it. You can’t even be pretty sure about it. You’ve got to be rock solid.
• Believe that YOU must change it. You can’t pass the buck of responsibility and expect to lose weight. It’s on your shoulders. Other people will prove to be great assets in your journey, but in the end you are the one who is going to make it happen. You have to want this weight loss enough to make it your personal mission.
• Believe you CAN change it. You may have failed in the past, but that doesn’t matter. When you put your mind to it, you’re able to do amazing things. Do you believe that you are capable of losing weight? Once you own the belief that you can, you’ll be unstoppable.

Step #3: Lose Your Excuses
Your excuses for being out-of-shape are getting old. An excuse takes less immediate effort than an action, but in the long run the action taker always has the advantage. Don’t allow excuses to ruin your life any longer.
Don’t skip out on your responsibilities with excuses, instead expect more from yourself.
Focus on the big reason why you are losing the weight. Make a list of the benefits you’ll enjoy once you achieve your goal and read them first thing each morning.
Remember that you can only have two things in life: excuses or results. Which do you want?
Step #4: Strengthen Your Commitment
How many times have you tried to lose weight, only to give up a week or two later? We live in a commitment-phobic world, so it’s no wonder that you routinely abandon your goals. If you truly want to lose weight, then your commitment to the process is a must.

• The margin between success and failure is bridged by your commitment. Don’t give up until your goal has been achieved.
• Treat exercise with the same importance as a work meeting, and you’ll never skip it at the last minute. Find three available 30-minute time slots in your schedule and mark them on your calendar. Now stick to your schedule.
• If you don’t give up, then you’ll never fail.

Step #5: Control Your Diet
If you consistently eat the wrong food, then your weight loss efforts will all be in vain. To put it bluntly, you need to stop eating junk. Processed foods, refined sugar and high fructose corn syrup do not belong in your diet if you want to be in great shape. Cut these items out of your diet and replace them with real whole foods like lean meats, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and fruits.
Don’t eat processed foods. Even though processed foods are accepted by our society, they contain tons of chemicals and empty calories that will make you sick and fat.
Fat contains twice the caloric density of protein and carbohydrates, so make sure to limit the amount that you consume. Eat lots of lean proteins and wholesome carbohydrates from plants and whole grains.
Vegetables, whole grains, fruits, nuts and seeds are filled with fiber and antioxidants which are vital for healthy weight loss. Snack on these instead of packaged treats.
Step #6: Utilize Your Patience
It takes time to transform your body from fat to fit, even though you want it to happen overnight. Remind yourself that it took time to put the weight on, so it will take time to take the weight off. When you find your patience wavering, or when you encounter a frustrating plateau, do the following:

• Review your goal. Is it specific and measurable? Is it small and attainable, rather than monumental? Focus on your goal when the going gets tough.
• Make each workout a new experience. Challenge your body with different resistance, new exercises and a varied pace.
• Remember that anyone can have one great workout, but that won’t get you the body you want. The only way to achieve your goal is by consistently exercising and eating right, plain and simple.

Step #7: Build Your Support
People who exercise alone are less challenged, less accountable and are more likely to fail. It makes sense. Who would rush to the gym if no one is was waiting for them? Who would push themselves if no one was paying attention? Exercising solo is a recipe for disaster.

• Find a workout partner who is in better shape than you, or better yet, work with me, your local fitness expert, to guarantee your results.
• I am passionate about seeing you achieve results—don’t waste your time, energy and effort on mistakes.
• When you start a program with me, you suddenly have the upper hand on weight loss. I’ll be in your corner, coaching you each step of the way, keeping you accountable to workouts and giving you that dose of encouragement when you need it most.

Get serious about your results and begin the last weight loss program that you’ll ever do.
Call or email today to get started. 

If fat loss is your goal, then it’s important to keep your dinners light. Avoid eating rich, carb-filled foods at night and you’ll make steady progress towards your fitness goal.
Recipes like the one below will help you quickly reach your fat loss goal. The shredded cauliflower, rice and onions in this recipe make an amazing substitution for grain-based pilaf. With the addition of lean, ground turkey and lettuce this comfort-food tasting meal is actually quite lean and green.
It's also a fantastic recipe to enjoy for lunch too!
What you need
Serves 6
12 large Romaine lettuce leaves
For the Cinnamon Ground Turkey Rice:
1 Tablespoon olive oil
2 carrots, shredded
1/2 yellow onion, minced
dash of sea salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 lb ground, organic turkey
1 head cauliflower, shredded (To shred: cut into florets and run through a food processor with the grating attachment)
1/3 cup golden raisins
1 cup chicken broth
dash of freshly ground pepper
For the Quick Apple Chutney:
1 Tablespoon coconut oil
1/2 yellow onion, minced
2 green apples, chopped
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 Tablespoon coconut crystals
1/2 cup apple juice or apple cider
sprinkle of sea salt
Instructions
1. For the Cinnamon Ground Turkey Rice: In a large skillet place the olive oil over medium heat. Add the carrots and onions, cook for 3 minutes, until soft. Add salt, cinnamon and ground turkey. Cook until the meat is no longer pink. Add the head of shredded cauliflower, raisins, broth and pepper. Cook for another 4 minutes, until heated through.
2. For the Quick Apple Chutney: In a medium skillet place the coconut oil over medium heat. Add the onion and apples. Cover and cook for 10 minutes. Uncover, add the cinnamon, coconut crystals, apple juice and salt. Bring to a boil, then simmer for another 4 minutes until apples are tender.
3. Assemble Your Lettuce Wraps: Spread a generous spoonful of the turkey mixture along the center of a Romaine lettuce leaf, top with a spoonful of chutney. Enjoy!
Nutrition
One serving equals 248 calories, 9g fat, 156mg sodium, 25g carbohydrate, 5g fiber, and 17g protein
I hope that you get a chance to give this recipe a try this week. Remember that I’m only a call or email away to assist you in all things fitness. And if you are not yet one of my prized clients then call or email me now to set up your first workout – I’d love to help you achieve your best body ever! ​

You know the things that make you happy.
Your favorite foods, music, TV shows, movies and even people in your life that you can’t get enough of. This is the stuff that you really enjoy. It’s the stuff that makes your life worth living.
Somewhere on the list is your health and appearance. You know that looking and feeling great make a good life even better.
The interesting thing about your list is that without fail you’ll always make time for it.
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- When your TV show airs, you watch it or record it to watch later.
- When your favorite actor stars in a new movie, you do your part by going to the theatre.
- When you’re hungry, you turn to your favorite foods.
- When the weekend rolls around, you do everything you can to spend time with the special people in your life.
Yet when it comes to exercise you automatically say, “I don’t have time.”
Time for TV, but no time for exercise…
We live in an age where life is full. You don’t have extra time anymore.
You no longer have time. You make time.
- You make time for your TV show.
- You make time for your hobby.
- You make time for your friends.
It’s time to drop the charade of “I don’t have time to exercise” and call it what it really is.
An excuse.
You know how to make time for your favorite things. You know you want good health. You know you want to look great. You know you want more energy.
Exercise delivers all those benefits—and more.
I believe that exercise belongs on your list of favorite things.
Make It A Favorite: How do you turn something that you’ve dreaded into something that you enjoy?
1. Block the Negative: Your thoughts play a big part in determining your favorite things. Block out any negative thoughts you may have about exercise. Focus your energy on creating a positive attitude that will get you excited about hitting the gym, rather than dreading it.
2. Focus on the Benefits: With exercise you have so much to gain and nothing to lose. Exercise makes you stronger, sexier, happier, and gives you more energy. Pick the benefit that moves you the most and fixate on it.
3. Get Guidance: The easiest way to put exercise on your list of favorite things is to experience it at its best. Get onboard with one of my exercise programs and I’ll show you the most effective and enjoyable techniques that will get you into the best shape of your life. ​