Wake up, it's........Monday!!!

Have you ever gotten out of bed after the weekend and thought, "OH CRAP. It's Monday again." I have. Even as a stay-at-home mom. There's just something about the weekend that gives you a free(ish) pass to neglect certain things. Maybe it's the dishes or perhaps folding a giant mountain of laundry that you meant to fold during the week. Or maybe it was your workout. Maybe you stuffed your face full of delicious treats and gorged on nachos and margaritas all weekend. Then, Monday rolls around and you're feeling it. YEP.

Been there. Done that. Still am there, still do that. (Only not as often as I used to).

Moms, we ALL have woken up on Monday and wanted to close our eyes and curl back into a snuggly ball under mounds of blankets and piles of wonderful, fluffy pillows. Which, by the way, my husband hates that I have SO many pillows. But I can't help it! Having like ten pillows under your head and all around you is equivalent to sleeping atop a cloud of pure bliss! (Raise your hand if you're a pillow junky...me! me!)

Okay, back to Monday. Here's the thing about Monday. You don't have to hate it! Really. It's a mindset, and if you wake up with a POSITIVE attitude about Monday, you won't hate it. This past week, for my #healthyto30 project, I decided to do an experiment. Before I fell asleep, I would play through my mind a list of things that I was excited to wake up for. I have to be honest; the first couple of nights were easy but by the time the week was wearing thin, I had to force myself to stay awake until I could think of something. But, I would wake up and that thing(s) that I had thought of, would be the first thing(s) on my mind and it was easier to get out of bed (without having to tear myself away from my luscious pillows)! I faced the day with a POSITIVE mindset and got a POSITIVE outcome from my days.

Here's what I found doing this every night for a week:

I was more productive with my time during the day.

I was more creative and open-minded.

I got a lot more stuff done.

I became more focused with moving my business forward and even made small changes/steps toward that.

This is something YOU can do too. It's never too late to change your mindset, and focus on things that are positive. The sky is the limit for you. The sky is the limit for me! I just needed to focus on the things that make my heart skip and jump enough to get me out of the bed in the morning! Maybe that's what you need too. Today, let's make a promise to NEVER wake up on a Monday with an "OH CRAP" feeling. Being healthy is about ENJOYING life, FEELING great, and being EXCITED for things.

Challenge ACCEPTED? Good. Now GO for it! :)

Make today GREAT!

<3, Brittany

#healthyto30project

Here's what's been happening in my little world:

I started the #healthyto30 project. Healthy to 30 is just me saying I'm getting old and I want to be in the best overall health of my life by the time I turn thirty! (which is just about 6 months away.) This means I am working out daily, eating clean 80% of the time, reflecting on who I am apart from wife and mom, and finding time for hobbies and fulfilling some dreams of mine. I am so excited about this little "project" of mine! Every week, I post my failures, my discouragements, and my accomplishments via my FB page, Get Fit with Brit. Click Here for my page.

Here is last week's accomplishment! Enjoy, and do something positively healthy today!

<3, Brittany

Nooksack Cirque Trail

My sidekick and I decided to take the kids on a hike. Of course, we needed an easier one that three kids ages 5, 3, and 2 could do. We chose Nooksack Cirque Trail. It's just about an hour and some drive on Mt. Baker Hwy. Quite easy to get to, although at one point there is a turn off and you do have to be careful to look for the signs of the road you need. Other than that, it was a piece of cake and a beautiful drive. We went on a sunny day and it was perfect. When we got there, we discovered that the bridge to cross the river to get to the actual trail had been washed out. In its place was a log. If you aren't comfortable with semi-dangerous situations, I wouldn't suggest you take little "littles" until the bridge is fixed. But if you are up for an adventure and either carrying or holding your child's hand, it can go quite well. (or just let daddy take care of it like I did!)

After you cross the first log, there is another log that you cross and then you are to the trail!

Time to start the hike!

It wouldn't be a hike without stopping to explore lady bugs...

...and BIG leaves!

Nathan is a natural guide!

The trail is about 3.5 miles so we only made it halfway before we decided to turn around, head back to the river, and eat lunch. There is a nice bank where the river is shallow so the kids could run around without me freaking out too much. And the water is SO clear. It was a beautiful spot. And sunny!

The woods make a great place to explore and look through binoculars. Buddy was looking through those things all through lunch!

All in all, it was a very enjoyable day, the trail was easy going, and the kids had a blast! I think Nathan and I decided we will be going back to hike the whole trail. I really wanted to see the end of the river!

Rank Advancement: Emerald!!

I have a very bad habit of sabotaging myself. I sabotage my "happy thoughts," my dreams, my reality. It's just something that do. I think it stems back from some point in my early adulthood, because I don't remember doing it before then. Now, it's gotten to be a habit. I can't possibly be happy or deserving of something because someone somewhere is suffering or is definitely more deserving than I am. This has even started rearing its ugly head in my business opportunity, which has led me to finally acknowledge and see the problem, which is allowing me to now fix the problem. It's going to be a long journey; I can tell. BUT. Well worth it so that I can graciously and humbly accept my part and acknowledge that I do indeed deserve the things that I work hard to get, and become more motivated to work harder! While I'm talking about working hard and receiving the fruits of my labor, may I just show off my first rank in my Beachbody business?!

There it is, my official first rank advancement!! I was giddy with delight when I opened the envelope that contained my certificate and a pin! All this week, I was trying to sabotage my business by thinking that it isn't going to work for me; I will never be successful; I may as well just give up. Then Beachbody sends this today, and I am NOT allowing myself to think myself out of this! I worked hard for this advancement and I'm seeing the rewards! Honestly though, I think the greatest reward for me is the ability to help others, and I just I don't think there is any reason I could justify to quit doing that.

Big news in the Beachbody community...Coach Summit is NEXT MONTH and guess who got a FREE ticket!! I have to tell you a little secret though. Getting this ticket, as free as it was, didn't feel very free. I worked hard for this. What did I have to do to earn this free ticket to Summit? Beachbody has a Success Starters club, which gives you a chance, in your first 3 months in the business to earn your free ticket by making success club each month. That means you are selling challenge packs (2 sc pts) or signing people up for Shakeology HD (1 sc pt), or signing new coaches (1 or 2 sc pts). If you make success club 5 or higher in the first 3 months as a coach, you get the free ticket. And...I DID IT! It wasn't easy. I may have had to pull a favor or two from some very lovely and helpful people. I had to think outside of the box, and get out of my comfort zone. But the fact is, I'm going to Summit. A lot of successful coaches have said that being at this three day conference changed their business and their lives. This will be my first one, but I am anxiously waiting for the day I board that plane to Las Vegas so that I can soak up everything Beachbody has to offer! And I get to stay at the MGM Grand!!!! If that's not SUPER EXCITING, I don't know what is! However... Being in this business is not easy. Especially for me. I am shy, kind of quiet, I have a bit of low self esteem at times. I tend to compare myself to how well others are doing and don't look enough at my own strengths and accomplishments. I like to think that there is a formula and a right way to achieve my goals in this business, and that is almost always not the case. The truth is, I am being stretched to the limit. Sometimes I question my validity as a coach. Do I have what it takes? Can I truly help others reach their goals? Am I giving 100% to reach my own goals? It is daunting at times. Not everyone understands the business, or why I am in it. Then it can seem lonely. The one thing that will drive me to keep moving forward is my own self telling me to not give up. People are counting on me. And believe it or not, there are those who look up to me, who come to me for advice! Being a part of this business allows me to be there for people who don't have anyone else to turn to. I can inspire, and get inspired. And I get to do that from the comfort of my home surrounded by my sweet children! It is an ordinary opportunity that I have as a coach, and I do LOVE my job!! This is what I want to do for the rest of my life! It is all about helping others while helping myself. Isn't that what life is all about in some way or another? And heck, if I can go to Las Vegas every year for FREE, why wouldn't I LOVE this job?! If you want to know more about the coaching opportunity through Team Beachbody, contact me! brttn.smith@gmail.com or find me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/beachbodybybrittany or leave a comment! I would love to chat!

What Team Beachbody Has Done for Me

From my teenage years, I have always been into exercise programs. My favorite fitness "guru" was Richard Simmons. His programs were fun, and fairly simple. And they worked. So it really didn't surprise me when I fell in love with the Beachbody programs. The first one I ever did was Insanity. It was, like the title says, INSANE. I did it for three months and lost 12 lbs! I was hooked. After I had my third and last baby, I decided I would try T25. LOVE that program. I can't tell you how only working out 25 min a day felt. It is an intense 25 minutes, but the feeling you get afterward is like you have been at the gym for an hour. By the end, I was sweaty, out of breath, and my legs felt like jello. But it was a GREAT feeling. Then, I was introduced to the Team Beachbody Coaching Opportunity. I became a coach, and started drinking a dense, daily, dose of nutrition in the form of Shakeology®. I love that I can healthily replace a meal, take it with me on the go, or drink it before/after my workout and in between meals. But the best thing about it for me is that it took away my cravings for cake, pie, candy, cookies, anything sweet!!! I am healthier because of it, and I know that when I drink it, I am getting all of the nutrition I need, as well as much needed energy for chasing my three little ones around! When I signed up as a coach, I decided to try the newest Team Beachbody program, the 21 Day Fix. I was drawn to the idea of a three week program that mainly focused on portion control. Clean eating is not my strong point, but after doing the Fix, it is quickly becoming a lifestyle. And the workouts are only 30 minutes. As a busy wife and mother, I have no time to devote 1 or 2 hours working out. The best part is, in only 21 days, I lost 3 lbs (which doesn't sound like a lot, but when you plateau for 3 months and then are finally able to lose those last few lbs those lbs become a celebration!) and I lost a total of 7 inches. Think about it, in less than a month I lost that. And I didn't starve. I will keep the weight and the inches off because I lost them healthily!
As a coach, I am able to stay at home with the kids and still contribute to the family. I work from my home computer, and help others decide on a program that is right for them, commit to it, and then succeed in reaching their health and fitness goals. It is truly inspiring the people I talk to, the groups I am part of, and the coaches that help me. Team Beachbody is like a big family full of ordinary people wanting to help others while still on their own fitness journey. I am truly thankful for everything that Beachbody is and that I am a part of it!

Do you want to be a part of it too? Message me and let's talk! Whether it be through committing to a program to reach your goals, or joining the Coaching Opportunity, Team Beachbody has something for you.

Find me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/beachbodybybrittany or email me at brttn.smith@gmail.com.

Let's make some magic happen!

Sprinkler and Races!

Today was so warm and beautiful that I decided to not let the kids play video games and watch movies (as much as they wanted to) and instead I "threw" them outside this afternoon to play in the water! They had so much fun running around, chasing each other they forgot about wanting their technology. Phew!

I mean, how cute is she?! Maybe I'm biased, but she's the most adorable little person in the world. Besides my other two most adorable little people:) 

So as far as me being active, I have to admit today wasn't one of my most super active days in the world. I wasn't feeling that great, and we did run errands this morning which wears me out more since I have to lug three kids in and out of their car seats everywhere we go. However, I did make it a point to park extra far away from the Costco entrance so that I would have further to walk. It might not sound like a big deal, but anyone who knows me knows that I will circle for fifteen min if I have to just to get a super close parking space! With three kids and a very full and very heavy cart, I was working up a sweat by the time I made it back to the car. I then realized, that's why I will circle the parking lot for a close spot a bazillion times if I have to! I did also chase the kids around the yard a few times and had some races. They like to race! 

My sweet boy stopping for a rest after a good run! 

Tomorrow will be a better day of pictures, as I will hopefully won't be as busy. What did you do today to get your heart rate up and your blood pumping? Feel free to leave a comment! 

Happy Workout!