How I afford Shakeology as a Single Mom?

I always thought because my money was so tight that the best I could do was make my own smoothies.  I did this for awhile and although I really love making my own from scratch, they were lacking in nutritional value.  During this time that I was making my own smoothies, I was also going through difficult times.  I was getting divorced and I was stressed out to the max.  I put on 18 pounds which is a lot on my frame.

Then one day a friend told me about Insanity and what it did for her.  I needed a change BIG time in my exercise routine and my nutrition.  I was in a rut and couldn't find my way out.  I purchased Insanity and within a few weeks of cleaning up my food and doing the program, I started seeing results.  I kept seeing all this information on Shakeology and new I needed to try it...it was the last piece of the puzzle.  So I signed up as a Coach and got the biggest discount you could get and ordered my Chocolate Shakeology.  I have a HUGE SWEET TOOTH.  In just 3 days I felt like a new person!

Now not only do I get one bag of Shakeology, I get sometimes get two so I never run out of it.  I use it for sweet tooth recipes as well!  I know what you're thinking: It's expensive, so how can I swing it?  I took a look at my spending habits and with just a few tweaks in what I was buying, I found it very doable!  Here's how I did it...

How I afford ONE to TWO bags of Shakeology every month.

Things I no longer buy:

• I DO NOT buy bottled water.  The price of bottled water is insane.  I have a filter and I use my own water.
• I DO NOT buy fancy coffee.  Starbucks admits they have an 80% markup.
• I DO NOT buy TV Channels.  You can watch just about anything online these days.
• I DO NOT eat out very often.  I have my kids every other weekend and we pick one night to go out, otherwise we eat in and have a lot of fun making dinner together.  We sit down as a family and catch up.  This is priceless as these days are numbered with them!
• I DO NOT buy candy, gum, desserts, cookies or non-essential items.  It makes no sense at all to me to spend my money on junk food and crap when I buy best nutrient dense shake there is with 70 superfoods to nourish myself with.  What would be the point of filling myself with crap...all I'd be doing is a disservice to myself.
• I DO NOT have a gym membership.  Instead, I work out right in the comfort of my own home.  I pop the DVD in and do many different Beachbody programs that were created by some of the best trainers.  Plus I save money in gas by not driving back and forth to the gym everyday.
• I DO NOT take any extra vitamins or supplements.  Shakeology contains over 70 dense superfood ingredients and therefore I don't need any additional supplements. Food in its synergistic form works together to keep my body healthy and full of energy as well as keeping my cells fed.

Why I think Shakeology is a great deal:

• Shakeology is the only thing that get's rid of my sweet cravings.  Shakeology gives my body what it needs because it's so nutrient dense and fills me up like nothing else ever has.  I mix it up with 1/2 banana, 1/2 almond milk and PB with lots of ice and it's like drinking a milkshake and tastes like a bite of heaven!
• Shakeology is so easy to make and convenient.  You can make it anywhere and it takes under 5 minutes to mix up.
• Shakeology is packed with Superfoods.  I use to buy a bunch of superfoods separately and add them to my shakes and then I realized how much money it was adding up to and it didn't make any sense.  I was actually spending more than I do now.  Therefore, I actually SAVE money by drinking Shakeology every day!

Why my body loves this stuff..........

I had tried so many other shakes before I became a Shakeology advocate and none of them compared or came even close.  They all had ingredients in them that I just wasn't ok with.  I will only consume food that I can understand, read and that has some kind of nutritional value for me.  I have an auto-immune disease and I need to keep an eye on what I eat.  The healthier and fitter I am, the longer I can stave off my PolyCystic Kidney Disease.  Shakeology is the first shake with ingredients that are ALL the ones that are actually good for me.  I drink the regular Chocolate Shakeology and LOVE it.  When I first started with Insanity, I did it for the first 30 days without the shake and didn't think I needed it.  It wasn't until I tried it that I realized what my body had been missing and how much of a treasure it really was.  I have never looked back.  I've been drinking it every day for 2 1/2 years and plan on drinking it every day going forward.

One shake a day keeps me feeling healthy in every way!

Who Doesn't LOVE Food??

Food...the definition: any nutritious substance that people or animals drink, or that plants absorb, in order to maintain life and growth.  That's a good definition but I like this one better: something I can't live without because I love it so much, especially chocolate or anything sweet for that matter!  Ok, yes I have a SWEET tooth and a very big one at that.  I'm a big foodie in general but I'll eat dessert over meals any day of the week and it must consist of chocolate and I'd take peanut butter with that as well.

So how do we balance that out when we try so hard to eat well?  Do we forgo sweets altogether?  Do we never go out to dinner or eat really great food?  I think not because depriving oneself of these things we love will only make us want them more.  First and foremost, everything in MODERATION is how I try to live my life.  Second there are so many ways to have your cake and eat it too.  You just need to find healthier versions of those foods you love.  And yes sometimes we do need to just eat that Reese's Peanut Butter Cup...but I digress!  And Halloween is just around the corner as well as the holidays.  So we are heading into the "season to be jolly."

Food will always be social and even more so around the holidays.  This time of year is a time for family, fun, food, entertaining and enjoyment.  Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.  I LOVE anything pumpkin (again there's the sweet tooth).  And we're all going to indulge as we should but let's try to keep our day to day eating on spot the best that we can.

Here's a great recipe for that SWEET tooth.  A nice healthy alternative where we get that little something yummy but don't sacrifice a lot of sugar, fat and calories!

SWEET TOOTH SOLUTION! Simply Delicious Chocolate Shakeology Pie

2 scoops of Chocolate Shakeology
1 tsp of pure vanilla
1/2 c. unsweetened chocolate almond milk
4 oz plain Greek yogurt
4 oz plain reduced fat cream cheese
1 gluten-free pie crust (home-made or store bought)

Topping
coconut cream (whipped) or low-fat cream whipped with truvia
cocao (not cocoa.. you will find in this in health section)
dark chocolate chips

Blend first 5 ingredients, and pour into a pie shell, top with coconut whipped cream, or low fat truvia whipped cream. Sprinkle cocoa and dark chocolate chips on top. Set for 3hrs; So freaking good for the sweet tooth and a much better alternative.

Your Money Mindset

What do you think of when the word money is spoken to you?  What's the first thing that comes to your mind?  Is it buying a new car, a house, going on a vacation, new clothes, shoes, jewelry and the list goes on.  Something tells me you're not thinking paying off debt or putting that money away.  Maybe saving it to make sure you have a nest egg just in case something comes up out of the blue or investing it wisely.  I know that's not what I think of doing.  As a matter of fact I'm up to my ears in debt.  But I've had enough and have finally decided it's time to start thinking about just that.

We spend our money instead of saving it because we're taught by the media that our money is meant to be spent and we also buy things to make ourselves feel better, don't we?  I know that I was a huge participant in this for many years.  I was a shopaholic (mostly clothes) but honestly it could be anything as long as I was shopping.  I thought this would make the unhappiness in my life go away but I found out that high only lasted for so long and then the bills came.  After going through my divorce, I had to learn not do that anymore but I also found I didn't need to do it anymore. As hard as my divorce was, I was no longer feeling weighed down and unhappy.  Spending is all psychological and the media knows that.

But I'm still in debt over whole bunch of other things and I need to stop the cycle.  What would happen if I could no longer work or if something major came down the pipe?  Would I find myself in big trouble?  The answer is yes!  Would you?

But I have figured out by doing a lot of reading that the people who have debt, living paycheck to paycheck and those who are debt free or bank their money into savings has nothing to do with how much money they make and everything to do with their mindset.  People who are debt free have several things in common.

* Debt free people spend a lot less.  Again it's not about how much money they make, it's about how much they keep.
* Debt free people have financial goals.  If you don't have a goal for your money, you will see it get sucked into other things and it will disappear.
* Debt free people believe in personal responsibility.  I think most of us always have an excuse (I know I do) and blame others or circumstances on why we're in debt.
* Debt free people see debt as being in prison.  Debt is like a modern day slavery...it's a mortgage on your future.

We are the owners of our own finances and I know that I need to take responsibility for mine.  I've gotten myself into this and I'm going to get myself out by practicing the examples about and reading a lot of books so that I'm more knowledgeable.  And I'm starting now, today...I don't want to wait for everything to come crashing down or to hit rock bottom to make a change.  So the change is happening TODAY!  My new vision for money is to be debt free, everything paid off and savings in the bank.  What's your new vision?  Comment below and share this with anyone else that's going through this just like me.

Peace out
Jenz

How to Eat Healthy on a Budget

Are you struggling to eat healthy but your money is tight and it's way too expensive to do this??  I know I am but in order to build muscle and lose fat, you need lots of healthy foods. So I do my best to cut back where I can and make healthy eating a priority!  We need proteins to build and maintain muscle. Carbs for energy. Fruits & veggies for vitamins, minerals and fiber. Water for hydration and recovery. And healthy fats to help fat loss. 

Unfortunately, the rising food prices make it hard to eat healthy. Your paycheck is most likely not rising as fast. And if you're a single mom or student it makes it even harder.  Here's 10 great tips that I've implemented to help myself and you eat healthy on a budget. 

1. Buy Whole Foods. Unprocessed foods are cheaper and more nutritious than processed foods. They also give you total control over the ingredients. Avoid anything that comes from a box 90% of the time. 
     *Proteins. Ground beef, frozen chicken breast, tuna cans, calves’ liver, cottage cheese, plain yogurt, eggs, milk, whey, … 
     *Carbs. Pasta, rice, oats, potatoes, beans, apples, bananas, raisins, broccoli, spinach, cabbage, …
     *Fats. Olive oil, fish oil, flax seeds, real butter, mixed nuts, …

2. Buy Cheap Proteins. You need 1g protein per pound of body-weight per day to build and maintain muscle. Eating whole protein with each meal also helps fat loss as protein has a higher thermic effect than other foods. 

Keep the steaks & salmon for special occasions. Buy eggs, milk, whey, mackerel, tuna, calves liver, frozen chicken breast and cottage cheese.

3. Buy Frozen Fruits & Veggies. Unfreeze berries in microwave and eat warm with cottage cheese. Frozen spinach is great.  Also try frozen beans & broccoli. Here's your benefits:
     *Save Money. Often half the price of fresh. Almost infinite shelf life when kept in freezer. And you can buy in bulk to get more discount. 
     *Save Time. Frozen fruits & veggies are pre-washed and pre-cut, which saves preparation time. Time is money. 
     *Nutrient Dense. If frozen right when picked, frozen fruits & veggies can contain more nutrients than fresh ones.

4. Buy Generic Food. And store brands. Raw foods like rice, pasta, eggs, milk, cottage cheese, frozen fruits/veggies, … taste like brand name foods once you get used to them. But they’ll save you money on packaging & advertising.

5. Buy in Bulk. Especially when you have promos running. Foods like pasta, rice and oats are easy to stockpile. If they’re on sale, buy as much as you can afford & store to last you until the next sale.

6. Buy In Season Fruits & Veggies. Food grown in season tastes better and is cheaper. Root vegetables in the Winter. Apples & squash in the Fall. Broccoli & berries in the Summer.

7. Buy Calorie Dense Foods. Whole milk, potatoes, rice, pasta and oats are filling, healthy and easy to stockpile. They’ll help you get your daily caloric needs in fast and cheap.

8. Drink Tap Water. Get a brita pitcher and filter your tap water. It’s cheaper than bottled water, soda or orange juice. One $8 filter cleans 40 gallons water and makes it taste a lot better.

9. Avoid Impulse Buying. “Failing to plan is planning to fail”. The best way to avoid impulse buying is to prepare yourself before you do the grocery. 

     *Makes a List and Stick to It. Plan your meals ahead, including portion size. List all foods you need for the next 7 to 14 days. Go the grocery store, get what’s on your list and get out. 
     *Eat Before You Go Shopping. This prevents buying foods not on your list because you’re hungry. Eat a solid meal before doing the grocery. 
     *Shop Alone. Prevents impulse buying from wife/husband and/or kids. Leave them home. Take them to more fun places when you get back.

10. Buy From Local Farmers. Or farmer’s markets. They aren’t always cheaper, but you get tastier & better quality food and they often give you free stuff when you buy a lot. Find local farmers in your area.  This is one of the most important things that we should all be doing...buying locally!  Supporting our local farms :-).

I know how hard it is to eat this way and stay on your weekly and monthly budget for food.  I'm a single mom with two growing boys (who eat a lot) and it's not easy to make this happen every week.  But I do my best and I hope that these 10 tip will help you be able to save some $$ and make eating healthy a priority in your life.

Peace out,
Jenz

It's the Weekend!

It's the weekend!  Time to relax, sit back and not be on a "schedule."  Well yes and no, especially if you have kids and if they have sports.  I'll be heading to a hockey game this afternoon and then my boys and I are going to go out for a nice dinner.  We may still be busy but it's a different kind of busy.  No homework, no doctor's appointments and no trying to fit a whole other day within a day at 3PM.

I like the weekends with my boys even when were busy.  It allows all of us to really spend time together.  In today's world with all the activities, sports, social media and appointments we have get to during the week, it's really nice to sleep in (if we can...sometimes there are early games), make a really nice nutritious breakfast and talk to one another.  I have a teenager and an 11 year old and I MUST keep the lines of communication open.  Someone once said to me when my boys were really little, "little kids...little problems, big kids...big problems and I have never forgotten that.

When your kids get older and especially when they become teenagers you start to lose the control you once had.  And really you have to start letting go.  They are becoming there own individuals and need to make their own decisions as well as their own mistakes.  This I'm finding is very hard for a me as a mom.  On one hand you want them to grow up and become men and woman but on the other hand you want that cute, pudgy kid with the dirty hands that always looked up to you to never go away. It's a struggle but we all make it through and we watch our children become men and woman who can offer something to the world.

...and this is why I try to spend as much quality time as I can with them over the weekends.  Sometimes we sit around and do nothing, watch TV together or a movie or grab a bite to eat.  I will always cherish these moments because soon enough they'll be gone.  I know I need to stop and smell the roses occasionally and I find that the weekends help me do that.

How about you?  What do you all have planned for this weekend?

Peace out,

Jenz

Building a Business One Day at a Time

Nobody ever said that Rome was built in a day.  As a matter of fact the actual saying is "Rome wasn't built in a day."  That being said, I've been building my home business for just about 2 years now.  It has not been an easy feat.  There's been a lot of ups and downs and I've wanted to quit more than a few times.  I recently watched a video about this woman who had a start up business and was on the verge of quitting and spoke with her mom on the phone.  She told her mom that she was going to quite and go find a "real" job and said her defining moment was when her mom said back to her "how do you know you're not quitting 5 minutes before the miracle begins."  And this woman said back to her mother, "I don't know" and her mother said, "well than honey you can't quit."  I listened to that video over and over again.  It resonated so much with me because it's the absolute TRUTH.  How do you know??  How do you ever know??

You don't ever know and that's why I wake up every day and press on because my business has grown a lot since I first started.  I don't always see that on a day to day basis but when I sit down and I look at the big picture, it has grown and it will continue to do so as long as I put the necessary work in.  I can't expect this business to take off on luck, it's a work in progress and I must work hard everyday at it so that one day it will be successful and I will have financial freedom.

When I went through my divorce and all these life changes 5 years ago, I wasn't left with a lot.  My security, my finances, my house and my cushy life were gone just like that.  In a matter of seconds my whole life changed from what I had known for the last 16 years.  That's a hard pill to swallow.  I had know idea what I was going to do with my life.  Here I was 40 years old, out of work for over 10 years and a stay at home mom who had been very busy raising two boys.  I was paralyzed for some time and did nothing.

I was teaching fitness classes which is something that I really love doing.  I thrive on helping people, motivating and supporting them to reach their fitness and health goals.  Getting them to that point where their fulfilled and on that road where their improving themselves and living a healthier lifestyle.  Who doesn't want to be around for their grandchildren?  So when I was introduced to Beachbody, Shaun T, Insanity and finally Shakeology...I knew it was an opportunity I had to take.  It fit right in with everything I was already doing, I was already pretty much a health coach and now I could earn income doing what I loved doing.  The road is never about being straight, it's about taking veering off to the left or right because if you're always on a straight away, how will you every know what's around that corner?

So I'm building my business one day at a time.  It's stressful and exciting all at the same time.  But one thing I've learned is I CAN, I WILL AND I MUST.  Rome wasn't built in a day!

Busy Days!!!

Hi All!  Sorry I neve posted yesterday but my day was crazy and that's what we're going to talk about today.

BUSY DAYS.  Raising children, running a household and working are not easy.  The definition of MOM: Noun, a woman in relation to a child or children to whom she has given birth.  Verb, bring up a child with care and affection or give birth to.  Hmmm...ok but where is "a woman who has to be everything to everyone, who sacrifices more than any other human being, who rarely leaves any time for herself, who's a taxi driver, who's a mediator, who somehow has super human powers where everyone around her thinks she can be in two places at once and so on...."  Aaah, motherhood!

I posted on my Facebook feed last night: Does anyone else feel like the hours between 2:30PM and 10PM are like a whole other day within the day . Crazy, insane, busy, driving all over the world to name just a few !! Because this is how I feel everyday of the week including weekends when I have my boys.  And I know from the response that I got on my Facebook post that I'm not alone.  My boys are getting older and every year we get busier and busier and this year is the busiest!  Between hockey practice (they both play and I have 5 practices a week to get them to), orthodontist, allergist, haircuts and the list goes on...my head is spinning.  I feel like a run a marathon everyday but there's no FINISH line!  And that can make us all nutty!

So what do we do for ourselves to make the day to day craziness bearable?  For me it's fitness and health.  I teach classes in the morning or train and lift weights and then I get down to working on my business.  This all helps me with my stress.  As well chatting with some close friends or meeting up with a friend here and there for lunch.  But for the most part I'm busy when there at school and busy when they get home.  As moms, we need to make sure we do for ourselves or we get lost in just saying yes to everything and doing for everyone else.  Make it a priority to do one thing a day for YOU...whether it's big thing or small thing as long as it's SOMETHING :-).

Peace out!

Jenz

Hi all!  I'll be blogging mostly about being a single mom.  The day to day things, my wow moments, budgeting myself, finding a new career, raising two boys who are becoming men everyday and so much more.  If you find what I write interesting and it brings you some joy to read it, then I've won on so many levels!

I'm a fitness instructor as well as a Health Coach.  I work for a company called Beachbody and I teach group fitness classes.  I absolutely love what I do.  Helping people on their health and fitness journeys brings so much happiness in my life.  I've a had a few careers in my life but I've finally found the one that suits me the best.  I've realized that I'm actually really good at it!  It took some time, it didn't happen over night but what I've learned about myself in the last 5 years since my divorce is irreplaceable.  It wasn't always easy, it still isn't...everyday brings new obstacles and also new beginnings.

Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom, climb your way back up to realize you're so much stronger than you could've ever imagined.  Miley Cyrus has a song that resonated so much with me when I was going through this.  The chorus says "Aint about how fast I get there, Aint about what's waiting on the other side, it's the climb" and that's the honest truth.  That's what I try to remember everyday.  That I have been to hell and back, that I made it out and that I'm a true warrior.

I struggle with money every month.  I'm teaching classes and I'm building my own business with Beachbody so that I have financial freedom one day soon.  I'm learning to budget myself to make sure that I don't live month to month, check to check.  It's not fun and it's really stressful.  I want to be able to give my boys everything they want but I can't and that's a tough one.  But I'll be passing along tips to you guys so that we don't have live this way anymore!

I will be posting a lot about my own journey as well as what I love to do!  I'm so passionate about living a healthy and fit lifestyle (it's my biggest outlet) that you will see a lot of posts about my workouts and nutrition but also about me and my life.  It's a roller coaster but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Peace out,
Jenz