New Year New You!!

In 5 short days we will say goodbye to 2013 and hello to 2014. Did you accomplish what you wanted to? Do you look back on the year happy with what you did and how you lived? Not to get too personal, but I look at my blog partially as a journal or dairy so here it goes......I feel like I finally woke up about 3 months ago. I was living life in a daze before, going from day-to-day, no self-development, no drive. There were several moments and days where I felt like I was living life in the third person, not present, not experiencing- just existing.  I was in a deep depression and I needed a big wake up call. I found life again through several things - trusting in God, finding my passion in fitness and health, connecting with family and friends, connecting with strangers. My goal in 2014 is to help others with their struggles and help them feel good about waking up in the morning, so I will be hosting a 90-Day fitness and health program starting on January 6th: New Year, New You! 

In 90 days you can truly transform your habits, temptations and addictions to foods. These types of lifestyle changes take time – this is not a quick fix - lose 30 pounds in a month type of program. We will work on developing daily habits and tweaking your food choices to create long-lasting weight loss results. You will be forced to focus on yourself, your habits, what's driving those habits. Weight loss is very much an emotional and mental thing as much as it is physical. 

Let’s face it, accountability is essential when it comes to health – that’s why Challenge Groups are really the magic solution for a lot of people who struggle with their weight. Knowing that others are going through it with you and that they have the same struggles is a huge motivator! I am truly a fan of each person I am in a Challenge Group with. I feel connected to them, and many I keep in contact with and use as accountability partners in the future. 

So, here are the guidelines for our challenge - and yes, I will be doing this with you!

•          Workout using a Beachbody program 5-6 times per week. We can talk about the best program for your schedule, physical condition and needs. 

•          Replace one meal a day with Shakeology. Shakeology is not a protein shake - its a meal replacement with dense nutrients that is equivalent to 6 salads in one glass. It tastes delicious and is worth every penny. 

•          There will be daily posts and assignments in a closed Facebook group that will have exclusive members. Meal plans and recipes will be shared and discussed.  You will be asked to check in at least daily, rate your day, post your successes/struggles - simply engage!

If you are ready to commit to the new YOU in 2014, visit www.beachbodycoach.com/marisfit and sign up for a FREE Beachbody customer account with me. From there you can order a Challenge Pack and I will get you access to this exclusive group. 

The group begins on Monday, January 6th so don't delay. It's limited availability! Don't let 2014 slip by - go big this year!!!!!

How to Survive the Holidays

Enjoying time with family, opening presents and eating lots of homemade baked goods is what we all look forward to on the holidays.  There are a few small adjustments you can make that will help you avoid the sugar-overloaded, bloated, painfully-full feeling that many of us experience around this time of year.

Here are 10 tips to get through the holidays without completely derailing your nutrition:

1. Skip the Doggy Bag - 
What I mean by this is, don't bring home the leftover tin of sweets or the full fat mashed potatoes your Aunt made. Enjoy yourself on the holiday, but don't set yourself up for sabotage by taking home temptations.

2. H2O Please!!! - 
Drink LOTS of water. Spice up your water with lemon, orange, mint or strawberry. Drink an 8-ounce glass of water before you eat and it will help you feel full faster. Lemon water helps with digestion and supports immunity as well.

3. Make your Plate Green -
Eat lots of greens and salad if at all possible. Leafy greens take longer to digest so you will feel fuller longer. Also, filling up on this will prevent overeating.

4. Use a Plate -
Do not eat out of the appetizer bowl  - always use a plate, so your are portioning out your food.

5. Eat, Drink and Be Mindful -
Be aware of what you are eating, enjoy the food, chew slowly and focus on the conversation you are having. It takes around 20 minutes for your stomach to tell your brain its full, so take your time!

6. Pre-Workout - 
Get a high cardio workout in the day before the event, this will be sure to increase your metabolism so you can splurge a little on the holiday.

7. Grab a Glass of Vino - 
Skip the high calorie, sugary, processed drinks and go for red wine if you are going to drink alcohol. It is high in antioxidants and helps lower cholesterol. 

8. Bring the Health -
Always try to bring a healthy option to contribute to the food, but also as a sneaky way to make sure you have a good choices to add to your plate.

9. Hot Tea -
Drink a glass of hot tea before you eat dessert - this can help cut down on sugar cravings.

10. Eat Before you Eat-
Eat a snack or a serving of Shakeology before you head out to the holiday event, this will be sure to prevent over-indulging. 

I hope you are able to apply a few of these tips to your holiday get together. Happy Holidays everyone! Stay safe, stay warm, enjoy time with your family, splurge (in moderation) and be mindful of your health.