PiYo - it's pretty awesome

PiYo!!!! 

I am about a month into PiYo and I gotta say....I'm surprised! The first couple of weeks seem kind of easy...they're still great...but they seem easy if you are used to working out frequently. 

Well now I'm starting to see why!!! The first few weeks are all about getting down the moves, perfecting your form and getting used to the routine. I'm in week 4 and I am now seeing that not only are those routines effective...but thank God I did them!! I am so sore this week in all of the best ways and it seems like with every workout I'm seeing more and more definition and tone...and Im getting stronger. There is a method to the madness!!!

But enough about me...you probably want to know what PiYo is right???  

 



Here's what I know...
Have you been hearing about this new workout program that Chalene Johnson was just released?! I'm in the midst of doing PiYo and I am really enjoying it. I have always enjoyed extreme workouts - but I see the best results from the yoga and Pilates routines that go along with those workouts...(Hello X3 yoga and isometrics!) so I am really really excited about PiYo!!!!

Who will benefit from PiYo?

 EVERYONE!  It is a high intensity low impact workout that can be modified to meet everyone's needs.  It is meant to improve flexibility, torch calories and get you in the best shape of your life!
 
There is no jumping in this workout so it is great for someone who needs a low impact option.  It will overall give you a toned, sleek, and complete body transformation.  PiYo is inspired by Pilates and Yoga and was developed by Chalene Johnson who is also the creator of two of Beachbody's most popular programs Turbofire and Chalean Extreme.  There are no weights required for this workout. 

 

What PiYo Workouts are included with the program?

 

 

•  Align (46 mins): The Fundamentals (46 mins)
• Upper Body (35 mins): this focused workout will strengthen and stretch your entire body, while building on the movement patterns you have learned in Align.
• Define: Lower Body (25 mins) will shape and tone everything from your glutes, hamstrings, quads and calves gently, yet effectively to help you get sleek and lean legs.
• Sweat (35 mins) is a traditional PiYo Workout that is fast paced with body weight strength training and ab work!
• Core (30 mins) an ab-centric workout that targets every angle of the abdominals and back. I’ve read this will be a calorie-torcher too!
• Drench (45 mins) is a total body workout to get you sweaty, burning calories, and going to have your metabolism on fire!
• Strength Intervals (25 mins) designed to tone the whole body and burn tons of calories with no weights required!
• Sculpt (30 mins) no weights are required for this intense, full-body workout either!
• You’ll receive 9 workouts total including a Bonus DVD when you order through a coach...like me! ;)

 The PiYo kit also includes a really detailed and simple nutrition guide and calendar that tell you WHAT to do and WHEN to do it in terms of your fitness AND nutrition to get the very best results from this program. 

Does PiYo sound like something you might be interested in??? Do you need a little more info before you can decide? Message me on Facebook, comment on this post or email me at: CoachMegReed@gmail.com and I'll be happy to help. 

Healthy Comfort Food Part 2....Zucchini Lasaga and Eggplant Parm!

I love comfort food. Especially pasta!!! Unfortunately most of the pasta you find at the store is full of empty calories, chemicals and processed crap we don't really need. When you're trying to live a healthier lifestyle, a big bowl of pasta just isn't gonna o help you reach your goals. 

I've posted about healthy comfort food before...spaghetti squash with home made basil pesto (paleofied).....and Zoodles - I've been peasantly surprised (ok shocked) about how these go to comfort food staples without pasta are not only super EASY to make....but they taste better and are just as filling!!!

Both of the recipes below use my Easy, Fresh, Homemade Sauce. Next time you are at the store...check the sugar content in a jar of spaghetti sauce...and the ingredients....

This sauce tastes better to not just me, but my husband AND little girls, and it's clean. I know every single thing I put in it and I can feel good about giving it to my family.

I eyeball everything when I cook and I encourage you to do the same - these recipes are approximate because I adjust as a I go based on how it's tasting...this is a good base line to work from though to make your own specialtiy ;)

Meghann's Easy, Fresh, Homemade Sauce:

Ingredients

4-6 Tomatoes chopped

Garlic - I usually use the garlic in the jar that's already minced, I've been into the roasted garlic lately and I throw in 1-2 spoonful

Italian Seasoning - check your labels, you want to recognize the names of everything in that little jar

Fresh Basil

Olive Oil

Tomato Paste (the small can...I need to be better about writing these things down!) check the label here too! The only ingredient should be "tomatoes"

To make...

In a large frying pan or sauce pan, heat about 2 tablespoons of olive oil on medium heat....I just drizzle it around the pan once...it could be way less oil than that, but I drizzle it around the perimeter of the pan then move the pan around a bit so it spreads....

Add chopped tomatoes, garlic, a few basil leaves and seasoning (again...the seasoning just do to taste...I give it a few good shakes)

Cover and let simmer for about 10 minutes - during this time Im usually prepping my veggies for the "pasta" part

after 10 minutes take the lid off, you'll notice that a lot of liquid has formed from the tomatoes. stir it up really good....I "press" down and the tomatoes to get them to be more "saucy"

Add the tomato paste, mix it all up and let simmer another 10 minutes.

Annnnnd that's all I do! Im sure there are fancier ways to make sauce...but this is my way and it turns out great every time...it's simple and clean and we all like it!

I do make Meat Sauce too - I posted that recipe awhile back when talking about Healthy Comfort Food so you can find it here!

 I use this sauce with the Zucchini Lasagna and Eggplant Parm recipes below :)

Zucchini Lasagna

This is literally Lasagna...made with Zucchini....that's the only major difference from traditional lasagna. So if you have a lasagna recipe that you LOVE...try it with Zucchini instead! 

To prep the Zucchini I use a kitchen gadget called a mandolin that I found at Big Lots for less than $10. It slices the Zucchini super thin. The Zucchini retains a lot of water so what I do is slice it (as seen below) and sprinkle with salt. Then I let it sit for 10 minutes or so and then I put it in a strainer and press the pile with paper towels. I'm sure there is a better method with these has worked well for me! I've also prepped the Zucchini in the morning, and put the salted bowl into the fridge before work. Then strain it and you'll find the salt has already pulled post of the liquid out.

Next, you want to cook the Zucchini briefly. The best method is on your grill, about 2-3 minutes per side. I've also used an electric griddle though. This helps with the firmness of the Zucchini, the taste and makes the moisture less of an issue too.

After you've done all of that you use your Zucchini strips just like you would pasta.

For a pan of 13x9 pan of lasagne 4-6 Zucchini should be plenty!

I layer mine with sauce (for the pic below I used meat sauce), fat free ricotta cheese and low moisture part skim mozzarella.

The cheese obviously isn't the CLEANEST thing in the world, but by switching from the full fat stuff I used to use to the Fat Free Ricotta and Part Skim Mozz I save a lot of calories and fat & I cant taste a difference.

I cook the assembled "lasagna" in a pre-heated oven at 375 for 20-30 minutes...until the cheese looks slightly browned on the top.

Seriously freaking delicious and I swear you wont miss the pasta one bit!!!!

Eggplant Parmesan

Until I made this, I had never had Eggplant in my life. My husband mentioned that I should try making it though so I gave it a go. All of the recipes I found required breadcrumbs...which I didn't have and didn't want to buy...and frying the eggplant. So I made up my own recipe that I felt a little better about.

I used...
3 large Eggplants
3 Eggs
Half a container of Parmesan Cheese

I cut up the Eggplant into slices...maybe a 1/4 inch thick. Again, moisture becomes an issue, so I put the slices in a bowl and salted them to draw out some of the liquid...it worked well.

I let them sit in salt for about 10 minutes (while I prepped the "dipping station")

I got 2 bowls. In the first I mixed 3 eggs with a little Italian seasoning in the second I dumped about half a container of Parm cheese.

I dipped each Eggplant Slice in the egg, then in the parm and set it on a baking sheet that I had prepped with some olive oil...just enough so they wouldn't stick.

I cooked the Eggplant in a preheated 450 degree oven for 10 minutes, flipped them all and then put them back for another 10 minutes.

The turned out PERFECT.

I lowered the heat on the oven to 375, and assembled the cooked eggplant in a 13x9 dish with my home made sauce, ricotta cheese and skim mozz....just like I do the lasagna. It turned out great

The finished product looked great, it tasted great and we had plenty for left overs.

 

NOW - is the cheese the BEST option....well, no, it isn't the BEST option. 

But sometimes you just want comfort food and making it with veggies, clean ingredients, no added sugar and real food.......not chemicals you're gonna find in so much of your regular comfort food...IS definitely a healthier option.

A serving of each of these dishes is gonna run you  about 350 - 400 calories...which is perfect for your main course for dinner...it has a good amount of protein and lots of veggies. 

I hope you can use these recipes to create your own Healthy Comfort Food for your family! If you have any questions leave them in the comment section below :)

Showcase Challenge Pack

 Have you been interested in trying 21 Day Fix, P90X3 or T25 but don't know WHICH program is right for you?

Beachbody has just come out with this brand new Showcase Challenge Pack...and it's a pretty crazy deal!! 

It includes...

• Three 30-minute or less programs: 21 Day Fix^®, FOCUS T25^® and P90X3^®
• Shakeology! Delivered on Home Direct
• 30-Day FREE trial membership to Team Beachbody Club
• Business Starter Kit
• Popular Coach tools including a Shakeology^® Taste Sampler, Shakeology Tote Bags (5-pack), Shakeology Welcome Guides (10-pack) and Team Beachbody Product Catalogs (5-pack)

When you purchase this program you are enrolling as a Coach. They are giving you everything you need to start a successful business in one pretty little package. If you want more information about Coaching I did a detailed post about the opportunity here: 

Do you have zero interest in Coaching? Coaches get a 25% discount, so many people enroll as a "Discount Coach" for just that...the discount. Or...you can always cancel. (although once you use this stuff you wont wanna!)

This is a great opportunity to get in the best shape of your life and get healthier than ever before (thank you Shakeology!) 

Interested? Have questions? Email me for more info at coachmegreed@gmail.com 

or leave a comment below and Ill be happy to get in touch with you.

PiYo!

PiYo!!!! 

 

Here's what I know...

Have you been hearing about this new workout program that Chalene Johnson was just released?! I'm in the midst of doing PiYo and I am really enjoying it. I have always enjoyed extreme workouts - but I see the best results from the yoga and Pilates routines that go along with those workouts...(Hello X3 yoga and isometrics!) so I am really really excited about PiYo!!!!

Who will benefit from PiYo?

 EVERYONE!  It is a high intensity low impact workout that can be modified to meet everyone's needs.  It is meant to improve flexibility, torch calories and get you in the best shape of your life!
 
There is no jumping in this workout so it is great for someone who needs a low impact option.  It will overall give you a toned, sleek, and complete body transformation.  PiYo is inspired by Pilates and Yoga and was developed by Chalene Johnson who is also the creator of two of Beachbody's most popular programs Turbofire and Chalean Extreme.  There are no weights required for this workout. 

 

What PiYo Workouts are included with the program?
 

 

•  Align (46 mins): The Fundamentals (46 mins)
• Upper Body (35 mins): this focused workout will strengthen and stretch your entire body, while building on the movement patterns you have learned in Align.
• Define: Lower Body (25 mins) will shape and tone everything from your glutes, hamstrings, quads and calves gently, yet effectively to help you get sleek and lean legs.
• Sweat (35 mins) is a traditional PiYo Workout that is fast paced with body weight strength training and ab work!
• Core (30 mins) an ab-centric workout that targets every angle of the abdominals and back. I’ve read this will be a calorie-torcher too!
• Drench (45 mins) is a total body workout to get you sweaty, burning calories, and going to have your metabolism on fire!
• Strength Intervals (25 mins) designed to tone the whole body and burn tons of calories with no weights required!
• Sculpt (30 mins) no weights are required for this intense, full-body workout either!
• You’ll receive 9 workouts total including a Bonus DVD when you order through a coach...like me! ;)

 The PiYo kit also includes a really detailed and simple nutrition guide and calendar that tell you WHAT to do and WHEN to do it in terms of your fitness AND nutrition to get the very best results from this program. 

If this sounds like something you'd be interested in, message me on Facebook or 

email me at coachmegreed@gmail.com!

Shakeology 💚💚💚

I freaking love Shakeology. Love Love Love it. 

Since I've started using Shakeology I've noticed that I'm less bloated and I have more energy...plus my skin looks AMAZING...can't get over how bright my face looks with NO Makeup on...I didn't expect that! My fingernails are shiny too...I don't know how else to describe it...my finger nails look shiny when they're naked....random!


How crazy is this???? It makes me laugh now, but this is is my daily regimen before....and it doesn't even show everything!

There's a multi-vitamin, several superfood powers, whey protein powder, chia seeds, green superfood powder, kale, frozen fruit, fresh fruit....

This is my regimen now. It's all there. And then some!

 

I hear people talk about how expensive Shakeology is....but no joke, I am saving money now! 

 Need more info?? Watch this! Tony Horton "Checks Out" Shakeology! Love it!!! http://bit.ly/1gGd5Eu

I'll be posting my favorite Shakeology concoctions here...so make sure to subscribe for the newest updates. Want more information about this super food, all natural, vitamin loaded shake of amazingness? Comment below with your emails & Ill be in touch...or email me at coachmegreed@gmail.com.

 Cheers!

Yay for May Challenge Pack Special offers!

So this is pretty exciting!!! For May, Beachbody is running a special on P90X3 & Turbo Fire Challenge Packs....

 
















I'm excited about P90X3 being one of the discounted Challenge Packs for May, because it's my favorite program, the program I am currently doing, and getting pretty crazy results from! Some reasons I'm obsessed with X3....

• I have never gotten muscle and definition so quickly before. I'm not losing a lot of weight...in fact I've gained some muscle...but I can see my body changing. 
• I have definition in my abs for the first time in my life. 
• My arms are looking more toned. 
• My legs look leaner.

The most exciting part? I haven't even gotten through the first of the 3 "blocks" yet! It's exactly the kind of program I needed after losing weight by overhauling my nutrition.

P90X3 workouts are only 30 minutes long. That's perfect for me because I try to do my workout before my family gets up for the day...so I'm up around 5am. Knowing it's only 30 minutes long makes it a lot easier (for me anyway) to get up and get it done. 

I would recommend P90X3 to anyone who is looking to build muscle or significantly tone their body. It's intense, I wouldn't recommend it to a beginner just starting out. However, it would be perfect to someone who frequents the gym but wants to add something new to their routine, or someone who doesn't have much weight to lose and wants an intense program to help them reach their goals.

TurboFire is an Intense Cardio Conditioning Program. High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) burns up to 9x more far and calories than traditional cardio.hese HIIT moves are known as “Fire Drills.” Unlike traditional cardio, HIIT means working out at your max in up to 1-minute intervals. As a result, your body burns up to 9x more fat and calories. Even after you’re done with class, your body continues to burn calories for up to a 24-hour period.

TurboFire features upbeat music that motivates you to dial up your intensity levels, doing
kickboxing drills and aerobic exercises mixed with dance moves in a class setting. The program is fun and upbeat with music you'll recognize and have fun working out to.

I would recommend TurboFire to anyone looking to lose weight first or foremost due to the HIIT Cardio. This program is also pretty low impact, which makes it perfect for anyone who has had an injury or hasn't worked out in a long time. The program has a Prep Schedule which allows you to gradually ease into the high intensity of the program and learn the routines before going all in, that's a great feature too which makes TurboFire ideal for beginners as well as anyone looking to mix up their cardio routine.

So there you have it - all of our Challenge Pack's are great deals. It's just nice when you can get them at an even GREATER deal right?

Whenever you order a Challenge Pack you receive...
-The Fitness Program
-Nutrition Guide
- SHAKEOLOGY (it will change. your. life.) 
-Coaching & Support from yours truly
+ Incredible Results!

Remember...the program you choose is all about your, personal, health and fitness goals. Let's talk and figure out what you best version of you looks like, and how I can help you get there!

Comment below with your Email or Email me (coachMegReed@gmail.com) for more info - I would love to help you reach your goals...and it's almost Summer...the time is now!

T25...P90X3...21 Day Fix...oh my!

I have been getting a lot of questions about what makes one Beachbody program different from another. It's understandably confusing to someone who is looking to get in shape, and get healthier, but hearing all of these different programs thrown around.

Basically it's all about your goals! 

Different programs have different objectives and will get you different results.

I'm going to break down the 3 programs I've been getting the most questions about. I think these are the most popular at the moment because they are all 30 minutes or less. Study after study shows that the most dramatic results happen in the first 30 minutes of a workout. You can get REAL results in 30 minutes a day just as effectively as you can in a longer workout. This is perfect if you find it hard to make the time to workout. I know that's the case for me....it's much more doable to get it done when I only have to commit a half hour...in my own home.

So T25 is the same guy who made Insanity. Insanity is know as the most intense workout program ever put on DVD. The biggest reason people gave for having a hard time sticking with Insanity was the length of the workout. I struggled with that when I did Insanity...the workouts were 30-60 minutes long, which doesn't SOUND much longer than 25 minutes, but it was hard for me to stick with it...I did, and I got great results, but I totally understand why they needed to give a shorter alternative!

T25 gives you an hours worth of results in 25 minutes a day. This program is High-intensity, nonstop 25-minute workouts that give you everything you need, nothing you don't. 25 minutes. 5 days a week.The beauty of it is that it's condensed and effective. It wont be easy though. THAT's the catch. You will feel like you are killing yourself...but its 25 minutes a day...it's definitely doable for anyone at any fitness level who is ready to commit and get big results.

21 Day Fix is Beachbody's newest program. The premise is that simple fitness combined with simple eating helps you see results fast. The program features an Easy-to-follow portion control based nutrition guide. It's all color coded, and it even has containers which literally take the guess work out of what to eat and how much to eat. It also has 30-minute workouts which are challenging and effective, but not super extreme. I like this program for anyone looking to make a lifestyle change. If you know you need to clean up your diet and don't know where to start...this is perfect for you. Also the shorter commitment time of the schedule...21 days...is great because the finish line is clearly in site. 

The nutrition component is definitely a very attractive part of this program. It's very structured and will teach you a lot about what your body needs. A lot of people who are serial dieters, aren't getting enough calories, which wrecks their metabolism. Some people aren't getting enough of the right kind of calories. My sister is doing this program now and realized she wasn't eating nearly enough protein for example. I wrote a post about this program a little while back, it explains how this program works in a little more detail: http://bit.ly/1rkQjab

P90X3 is a 90-day extreme fitness program designed to get you ripped in 30 minutes a day. Each one of these accelerated 30-minute workouts has been uniquely developed to produce the greatest physical change in your body, in the most efficient way. Tony Horton's breakthrough Muscle Acceleration system combines a highly structured, plateau-busting schedule with an unprecedented variety of moves that keep every muscle challenged every day for 30 minutes of full-throttle intensity.

 

This program is what I recommend for someone who doesn't have a ton of weight to lose, but wants to build muscle and tone. I'm doing this program right now and I LOVE it. I have seen definition so quickly.  I don't have much weight to lose, I'd like to lose like 5 more pounds. However, I had basically no muscle, or definition, and of course I want the fat from my stomach gone! I will post my results when I complete the program, but so far I really enjoy the workouts.

It comes with 4 "Tracks" which again are based on your goals. "Classic" is similar to what you could expect with the traditional P90X. "Lean" will still build muscle, but the will keep you lean without significant muscle growth. "Mass" is for people who are looking to build major muscle...a lot of men like this track. "Doubles" is a more intense schedule with 2 workouts a day. This would be ideal for someone looking for extreme results, that doesn't mind the 2 a day schedule....which is still only an hour. 

Each track has 3 "Blocks" so your schedule changes ever 30 days. I like this because it keeps things interesting and helps you to avoid a plateau.

 

So....LONG STORY SHORT.... ;)

T25 - intense workouts, with intense results if you are ready to commit

21 Day Fix - simple nutrition and fitness, great for a lifestyle change

P90X3 - extremely effective workouts, which will build muscle and tone your entire body