And The Winner Is....

Emily Horsfield!!! Congratulations, Emily! I have already sent an email to you. Please keep a lookout for more giveaways as well as reviews in the future!

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How To Eat Healthy... On A Budget

One of my friends recently asked me how to eat healthy when you have a small food budget. I realized that a lot of the people who follow me on Facebook are going through the same things I am, so why not share with everyone?

-Read!

I recently purchased a book called America's Cheapest Family Gets You Right On The Money. The authors tell you how they manage to feed and cloth their family of seven while still saving money. While it doesn't talk specifically about health foods, it does provide amazing tips about getting the most out of your money.

-Buy In Season

Produce is going to be more expensive if it is out of season. It is harder to come by, and the transportation and preservation costs show up in the price. Find out when produce is in season here.

-Make A List & Stick To It

This may seem like a simple thing, but I have found myself slipping from time to time. When you make a list, you don't have to worry about other items being on sale, or those impulse buys that end up costing you way more than you intended to spend.

-Shop Around Part 1

Do not buy the first thing you notice in the supermarket. I have noticed that some stores split up their produce so that you see the most expensive items first. Walk through the whole department before touching anything. That way you can see sale prices and compare.

-Shop Around Part 2

I have found that Target and Save-A-Lot have amazing produce departments with decent pricing. I used to shop at Shoprite and Walmart. Shoprite has fresh produce with steep prices, Walmart has limited selection (and not as fresh) for okay prices. This may be different depending on your locality, so shop around, and don't be afraid to buy from a few different stores. It may take a little more time, but the savings will be worth it.

-Shop Sales

Most supermarkets will send sales fliers out every week. LOOK AT THEM. Make your list based off of who has the best prices for each product. Also, invest in coupons. You don't have to be an "extreme couponer" to save money. Many places will allow you to use a coupon even if the item is on sale. Check your local stores for their rules. Here is a video that helps you learn more about couponing. (I love Sara's videos. If you have time, check out some of her other ones, she's awesome)

-Blogs??

There are so many people who have blogs about saving money and eating right. You just have to know where to search. One of my favorites is Blissful and Domestic. She talks about meal planning, couponing, as well as buying in bulk. You can also do a Google search for "saving money blog", "healthy eating blog", etc.

-Buy In Bulk

I highly recommend becoming a member at a wholesale club. You can buy produce in bulk and freeze it or can it to make it last. I buy meat, milk, bread, and freeze it all for later use.

-Shop The Perimeter

Avoid the inner aisles as much as possible. They are loaded with junk and impulse items.

-Search For Recipes

Buy things on sale or in bulk, then find recipes to fit what you have. Don't shop for specific recipes, or you will end up buying stuff for only one meal

-Do Not Indulge a Picky Eater

I know numerous parents who will make separate meals for their family because they don't like certain things. STOP IT!! It's a waste of money, and not helping anyone. My daughter eats what everyone else eats. I try to make things she will enjoy, but if I find something on sale, her butt will eat it. (To be fair, she's only really picky about mushrooms... I fed her EVERYTHING at a young age.)


I hope this list helps at least a little. Please check out the links, they have way more than just shopping advice.

Work, work, work!

Today is my day off from my "for now" job. So what am I doing? WORKING! But in this case, working is fun and awesome.

Here's how my day has gone so far:

1. Wake up
2. Eat while watching the best webinar ever
3. Touch base with people in my accountability group
4. Post to Instagram
5. Eat lunch while posting of Facebook
6. Surf the web for fitness related posts
7. Look up recipes (yum!)
8. Contact a few friends I haven't talked to in a while
9.Look for workout videos for my customers
10. Write blog entry!!!

Later, I will work out and talk to a few more people.

And I get paid to do this? Really?!?!

I love my job, I love my business, and I love my coworkers. I could not be more blessed to have been given this opportunity, and be able to share it with others. Plus, I get to help people lose weight and eat healthier.

I CHANGE LIVES.

That is amazing. Beyond amazing. It is a beautiful gift. I change lives, but I also have been driven to change my own. I have goals and dreams now, which before I would have never thought possible. In my mind, I was stuck where I was, and might as well not even try to move forward. With the help of Beachbody. I have discovered the potential to grow, and learn, and be truly happy. Now, I get to offer that same possibility to you, my readers.
 
Do you want to change your life? Do you want to help others do the same? Email me, and I will tell you how.

Giveaway Time!!!!

Good morning everyone!!!! I am so excited today, because....

It's time for my giveaway!!!

For those who are not on my Facebook page, my goal was to get 100 likes. Once I did that I would have a giveaway. Well, I reached it yesterday! YAY!!!

So, without further ado, the awesomeness.

For this giveaway, you will have a choice of to Beachbody programs. If you are trying to lose weight, gain muscle, or even maintain what you have now, this is the best giveaway ever for you!

Here are the choices:

21 Day Fix

This is a BRAND NEW program. It's coming out in early February. It is created by a brand new trainer to the company, and is completely different than any of the other programs we offer. It is only 21 days long (hence the name). Unlike our other programs, instead of a meal plan, it comes with color coded portion control boxes. If it fits, you can eat it!

Les Mills Combat

Combat is a GET UP AND FIGHT kind of workout. If you are trying to get some frustration out, this is the way to go. It's like kickboxing on steroids. It's hardcore, just like your body will be when you are done!

(The links are so that you can see the videos and info for the programs. If you are interested in ordering a program or Shakeology, please contact me directly.)

Requirements: You must be subscribed to my blog, as well as like my Facebook page. Please go through the Rafflecopter box to do so.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Giveaway ends on February 5th. Please leave a comment below saying which steps you have done, as well as which program you would prefer. 

My 2014

Happy new year!!!! Yes, I know, it's already the 6th. Better late than never. Which seems to be my new motto.

I am a horrible procrastinator. I have been putting tons of things off lately. I was supposed to start an early morning workout routine today. I pressed snooze and said I'll do it tomorrow. Same thing with my sugar detox. And cleaning. Not a good thing for me to do. So I decided that as extra accountability, I will list my goals for 2014, as well as a few small things I should be doing. This way, any of you can email me (pcruse55@gmail.com), hit me up on Facebook or on my page and yell at me for not doing what I am supposed to.

For my small things, I want to start my early morning exercise regimen, do my sugar detox, and reorganize my game room. I will check in daily on my fb page with my progress, and post pictures on instagram.

Now the list of my yearly goals!

-make Beachbody my main income source
-become personal trainer certified
-pay off student loans
-pay off credit card
-consistently make $4000 a month
-become Piyo or P90X certified
-get another tattoo
-create a working budget
-renew my Shakeology autoshipment
-complete Focus T25
-pay off gas and electric bill
-learn to hoop with one leg
-go to 5 new restaurants
-go to NYC

Obviously some of my goals are easier than others. However, if you only set small goals, you will only get small results. As I make it through this list, I will post updates. Hopefully I will inspire at least one person to push harder towards their dreams!

The Hazards of Cleaning

I have noticed a lot of posts online about cleaning products and how hazardous the ones supermarkets sell are.

I already knew this. Anyone who is on my Facebook or Pinterest also knows. But, I wanted to share my feelings on the subject in this week's post.

For the past year, I have been trying to take a more natural approach to life. Less fast food, more homemade products. Less pharmaceutical medicines, more herbal remedies. However, I always thought I was stuck with chemical filled cleaners. Nothing I tried worked well, cut grease as good.

Eventually I came across a "recipe" for an all natural citrus cleaner. Super easy to make, so I decided to try it. It works amazing! I use it in the kitchen and bathroom, to clean windows and dust. It doesn't leave residue, and cuts through grease as good as any heavy duty degreaser. I will share it at the end of this post.

The reason I am trying so hard to be more natural about my life is for a few different reasons. When I was a child, my family had a large backyard filled with fruits, vegetables, and a variety of herbs. Most of the meat we ate was hunted and fished out of nature. It was rare I ever took medicine for anything. We even made our own cleaners. I was healthy.

When I became a teenager, that changed. My mother and I moved to a small apartment, and we started eating fast food, and I became depressed. (Part of the reason was environment, part was diet. If you havent thought about how your diet affects you, please contact me.) I ended up on antidepressants which only made things worse. At 18, I got pregnant and moved back with my dad. I went off my medication, ate better, and felt better. I moved out and went back to the same diet, same depression.

Lately, I've been trying to embrace that natural approach for the sake of my daughter. I have seen what chemicals do to a growing child. And that goes for household cleaners as well. Everything you touch gets absorbed into your skin. All chemicals have some type of airborne fumes. They make you sick. Some are toxic. So why would I use that on surfaces that touch our skin or food?

I won't post my research on here, however I do invite you to do your own. Grab a bottle of your favorite stove cleaner, and look up the ingredients. Even better, read the WARNINGS on the label. Anything that has warnings on it is dangerous and had no place in your home.

My home cleaner

In a glass container, fill halfway with citrus (I use some used peels, as well as pulp and some fresh). Fill the rest of the way with white vinegar. Close container and leave for at least two weeks, shaking every few days. The longer you leave it the stronger it becomes.

After the two weeks, throw into a blender and blender until only small pieces remain. Pour back into container, straining through a cheesecloth (I use a square of an clean old shirt). Mix 1:1 ratio of mixture and water in a spray bottle.

New Year, New You

Unless you have been living under a rock for your whole life, you know what a New Year's Resolution is. You make a list of goals for the upcoming year. I love this idea. You should have goals. However, there is a big problem with it. Most people write down the goals... and nothing else.

Examples:
I want to lose 20 pounds.
I will make more money.
I still make a career change.

Have you spotted the issue??

HOW DO YOU PLAN ON DOING IT?

If you don't make a plan of action, you will most likely give up. You will get frustrated that you aren't getting results, and quit. But you can't get those results you long for I'd you don't have a plan.

So, two things to help.

Push by Chalene Johnson

If you are a subscriber, you have seen this book mentioned before. I love Chalene. She is such a successful woman. And the reason she is so successful and amazing is: she plans. Simple as that. This book is a day by day layout of what you need to do to achieve your goals. Totally worth the read, and re-read.

Next...

For those of you who are planning on making weight loss or health resolutions, I am offering personal assistance. For the month of January, I will be running a fitness "challenge" through my Facebook page. You will have three workout programs to choose from (TBA) & all three come with a month supply of Shakeology and a meal plan. You get amazing structure, a top of the line program, and accountability from myself and your teammates, all in the comfort of your own home. No gym memberships or nervousness about being in public!

I highly recommend doing BOTH of these options. By doing so you have a greater chance of success, and you are investing in yourself. If it seems daunting, remember that I am following the same advice I am giving you right now. I will not just be running the challenge, I will be living it.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to email me or like my page.

Share The Love

I've noticed that since this month is Thanksgiving, many people are doing daily posts about what they are thankful for. So I wanted to share something I am thankful for, as well as proud to be a part of.

This month, Beachbody is running a "Give and Receive" special. For every challenge pack sold, they are donating $20 to Feeding America, as well as giving the customer $20 towards their next purchase. They are donating a MINIMUM of $250,000. That is amazing! I'm so happy to be part of a company that gives back.

I have also decided to do an "Open Campaign" til December 31st. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns for me (health and fitness related only) please email me at pcruse55@gmail.com with your name,phone number, and best time to call, and I will call you within three days. If you are not comfortable with giving out your number, I will absolutely answer any questions by email as well.

I want to help as many people as I can. So please share with people you know. You never know who is struggling. Thank you.

Changes!

For the month of November, I have decided to push myself to make some changes. Some will be small, others not so much.

Some small changes: revamping my website, making a to-do list every day, and meditating daily.

A few BIG changes: reaching out to at least 2 people a day about Beachbody, doing more challenging workouts weekly, and creating a monthly meal plan.

All of these are focused on growth, both for myself and my family. I need to make changes if I want to go different places, as we all do. People wonder why they aren't getting the lives they desire. It's because they are afraid of change. I was there too. But, I have realized fear is just worry... about things that may never even happen. If you keep living in fear, nothing will happen, good or bad.

So, I have decided to take a leap of faith. Just push harder and see where it takes me. And when I begin to feel nervous our afraid, I can meditate to regain my center and realize there's nothing to fear.

If you have been thinking about doing something, but are afraid what may happen, DO IT ANYWAY! Something bad may happen, sure, but something amazing could happen as well.