EmpowerMoms

Just finished a conference call with my regional @noexcusemoms group and I am so excited to get started with my local #noexcusemom fitness group! I get to do all three things that I love to do at the same time!

1. Exercise.
2. Spend time with my boys.
3. Help others stay active and make new friends.

My local group will meet once a week alternating Saturday mornings and Tuesday nights. I’ve picked some great areas so the kids can play on the playground while we workout, or they can workout with us!

I know my 4 year old is super excited to meet some new play friends.

I still plan to become a certified personal trainer; but for now I’m going to concentrate on my family, church, work, and exercising with others.
I believe it’s so important to keep our bodies strong and fit so we can take care of our families and our kids every day.

I can’t tell you how much joy I feel when I am able to try new things, like the zip line and rock wall, because my body is physically in shape because I have been able to lose most of the baby weight (100 pounds I gained)!

It is so fun to be able to be physically active with my boys with playing sports and running around in the backyard with them. I was not able to do that very much when I was heavier. I was miserable and I knew that I wanted to change and lose weight but didn’t know where to start.

My goal is to be able to encourage and support other moms to become or remain physically active with their kids and family.
It does not mean that I am obsessed with exercise or nutrition every minute of every day. But I do intentionally make efforts every day to become a better and more fit mother.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/noexcusemomroanoke.va/

The purpose of this group is to serve as an inspiration and motivational hub for women who want to be healthy in Roanoke, VA.

We are based off of Maria Kang and her No Excuse Program. For more info please visit her website: www.mariakang.com

We encourage a healthy lifestyle approach to fitness. There is no quick fix, no one-size-fits-all approach. We do not endorse any specific products, only clean eating in moderation, enough workouts to challenge your body and finding a balance in your personal life that is sustainable over the long haul.

Please visit us at www.noexcusemom.com/locations for information on local No Excuse Mom groups.

“No Place to Hide” by Lynette Eason is book 3 of her Hidden Identity series.

“No One To Trust” is book 1 and “Nowhere To Turn” is book 2 published previously. I have read all three books but I feel like this book can be read as a stand alone book. From the first chapter it jumped right into the action with the characters and story line.

I love Lynette Eason’s writing! These series of books are fast paced and intriguing, that are clean (free of sex and language) with some christian elements. I liked the main characters Jackie and Ian, and I loved how they worked together to stay alive and had to depend on each other and God for help. I kept holding my breath wondering what would happen next.

I would highly recommend this book! You will not be able to put it down-it’s that good! This is a book that I will keep on my bookshelf so I can read it again.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Books, a division of of Baker Publishing Group, in exchange for an honest review on my blog and social media-all opinions are my own.

Amazon Book Description:
It’s not every day you see your childhood friend and one-time crush on national news. Jackie Sellers just wishes it were under different circumstances. She can’t believe that Ian Lockwood is wanted in connection with a terrorist plot, and she’s determined to find him and help him clear his name. But she’s not the only one looking. The FBI wants him captured. The bad guys want him dead. Ian just wants to stay alive long enough to save thousands of innocent lives.

Lynette Eason throws readers right into the action from page one, propelling them along a dangerous road and asking the provocative question of how far we’d be willing to go if we were up against a wall.

About the Author:
Lynette Eason is the bestselling author of the Women of Justice series and the Deadly Reunions series, as well as No One to Trust and Nowhere to Turn. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. She lives in South Carolina. Learn more at www.lynetteeason.com.

You can buy it here:

I haven’t posted my weekly fitness recap in a couple of weeks, so I wanted to update you with what program I’ve been doing.

I decided to sign up for a 6 week online summer slim down program with trainer Amanda and nutritionist Christy and I just ended week 3 of 6.

http://fitpregnancyandparenting.com/2015/04/10/6-week-summer-slim-down-register-today/
and
http://tinylittlechef.com/

Every week Amanda and Christy email me a new weekly menu for days Monday thru Friday and exercise schedule for days Monday thru Saturday. I wanted to share a couple pictures and thoughts about both aspects of the program since I’m halfway thru the program.

FITNESS:
Every week I have 2 rest days, leg circuit, abs, arm circuit and cardio. She rotates what I’m doing every week so its been different all three weeks.

On the first week I could tell she ment business because the schedule called for 10 sets of 10 burpees= 100!! ummm what??!! seriously though, it’s been hard but every day I’ve stretched myself and made it happen. I’ve done HUNDREDS of pushups, tricep dips, burpees, calf raises on the stairs, etc. I’ve used 15 and 20 pound hand weights-I never thought would be possible for me! For my cardio I’ve been doing alot of my indoor elliptical and some walk/jogging intervals at the park in the evenings.

Here’s some pictures from the last couple of weeks:

NUTRITION:
The weekly food plans and cookbooks provided are awesome! On week 1 I had to buy alot of spices because we don’t cook with many; but other than that, all the food is “normal” healthy, food. We buy alot of meat, fruits and veggies every week. There’s only been 1 or two things that I didn’t care for which isn’t bad after 3 weeks! All the recipes are easy to follow and my kids love the food too. Christy is also a chef so she uses spices and seasonings that compliment the food and make them taste yummy, but are still kid approved.

One of my favorite breakfast dishes now is the overnight oats. I’ll share more about that in another blog post.

Here are some pictures of some of my food I’ve eaten:

I have really enjoyed the program so far! I paid more for this bootcamp than I typically would, but I feel like it’s worth it because you are getting the fitness AND nutrition part of it-and both are professionals!

I will be doing the fit test at the end of the 6 weeks as well as measuring, so I’m excited to see my results. I post daily on Instagram if you want to check out more pictures. #6weekSummerSlimdown

http://www.walkathome.com/

Click on SHOP on the top right corner.

Don’t delay if you want to order something! Code expires TOMORROW May 10th to save 50% off everything in her store! Use code momdiscount

I must admit, although I have alot of her products, I couldn’t turn down an awesome 50% off sale. That’s unheard of!

I got 2 “kits” because it was just as cheap to get the dvd/walking belt and dvd/fit cuff than it was to just get the dvd or the accessory.

I also got replacement tubes and her soft hand weights. I LOVE her soft hand weights!! I got another pair of 2 pound ones because they are my favorite and a pair of 1 pound weights. She recommends that you don’t use more than 3 pounds when doing her dvds.

I’ve also been wanting a tshirt for years. I got a size Large and I think its unisex so its going to be big-I should have gotten a medium.

The last thing I’m really excited about was JUST released this week.
Walk to the Beat MP4 Player $39.00
Looking for a new walk option? Take our pre-loaded MP4 Player outside and walk to the beat! We have 21 songs engineered at the perfect pace for fitness walking…that’s 7 miles of walking! Mix and match your favorite songs to motivate your outdoor walk!

http://store.walkathome.com/product/walk-to-the-beat-mp4-player?product_id=WA229B-01
and
http://www.walkathome.com/mp4/

I got it for 50% off using the mothers day code. I will be trying it out this month and will do a separate blog post about it.

Comment below and let me know what Leslie Sansone dvds you enjoy.

“Be The Friend You Want To Have” on the cover of the book really caught my eye.

I have a hard time making friends and also making the time to do things with girlfriends. I work outside the home; so in the evenings and weekends I like to spend time with my 2 boys playing, doing chores, and staying at home. I also have my blogging and church responsibilities to do, and because my husband works nights, our only times together are Saturday and Sunday. Which obviously doesn’t leave me much time to go out with girls at work or church. I also struggle with a little mommy guilt with doing things during the week for myself since I’m not around my boys during the day. But with all that being said, I completely agree with the author that it’s important to seek out good women friendships and I need to do a better job with making the time.

She points out in chapter 1 that “when we expect our husbands, or any man for that matter, to fulfill all our relational needs, we are placing an enormous amount of pressure upon his shoulders. If we keep expecting him to fulfill the role of girlfriend, husband and in some cases, God, we are setting that man up for failure. It’s just not realistic nor is it fair to expect him to be able to meet every one of those needs.” I personally have got to work on this more in my marriage. I expect my husband to want to listen to my day, frustrations, feelings, all the time; and then I’m sorely disappointed every time he’s not listening or doesn’t remember what I’ve said.

I love that at the end of each chapter, Natalie has included thought provoking questions that you can discuss out loud or use for journaling.

I especially liked the forgiveness chapter (chapter 5) and Blurred Lines/Boundaries chapter (Chapter 6). I felt like those chapter really helped me the most. Because I’m a health and fitness blogger and advocate; I completely agree with “Take care of ourselves” on page 93. It’s talking about eating the right foods, exercising and spend time with those who encourage and love you for who you are.

She even has a chapter about friendship etiquette in a digital world. She shares, “Before you speak, T.H.I.N.K. Is is TRUE? If it HELPFUL? Is it INSPIRING? Is it NECESSARY? Is it KIND? These same criteria should be met when posting to social media.” She then lists the pros and cons of using technology to connect with others and gives some good advice for setting technology rules.

I found this book very thought provoking and well written. She uses personal examples and bible scriptures through out the book which I really liked.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from LitFuse Publicity in exchange for an honest review on my blog and social media-all opinions are my own.

About the book:
Heart Sisters is for women who want to both be and have better friends and want a helpful guide to take them through the process.
Author Natalie Chambers Snapp uses her own and others’ stories of successes and failures to illustrate what she has learned about girlfriend relationships. Healthy boundaries, honesty, tact, sharing, and agape love all play a part in being and maintaining a circle of close confidants. She also deals with the inevitable challenges that face many relationships including how to handle conflict; life changes like a new baby, move or divorce; and when it is right to “break-up” with your friend.
Discussion questions, space to journal, photos, and quick interviews of healthy female friendships are included within each chapter.

About the author:
Natalie Chambers Snapp is first and foremost a follower of Jesus, then wife to Jason, and mom to one spunky daughter and two spirited sons with a crazy amount of energy. Choosing to follow Jesus at 27, Natalie is passionate about sharing the grace, mercy, and truth of God’s love. She lives in the Midwest with her crew and tries to keep it simple by writing about the faith found in the everyday mundane. The outpourings of her heart can be found at www.nataliesnapp.com in the fleeting moments between being a wife and mother.

You can buy it from amazon here:

Want to be a better friend and have better friends? Natalie Chambers Snapp wrote Heart Sisters just for you! She uses her own and others’ stories of successes and failures to illustrate what she has learned about girlfriend relationships. Discussion questions, space to journal, photos, and quick interviews of healthy female friendships are included within each chapter.

Help Natalie celebrate the release of her new book by entering to win goodies you’ll need for a girls’ night out with your heart sister!

• A $100 Visa cash card to put toward a nice dinner or lodging
• A copy of Heart Sisters
• A manicure kit
• A summery polish
• A disposable camera (to document your fun)
• A clutch

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 17th. Winner will be announced May 18th on Natalie’s blog.