Get Shakeology by 8/31 and score a FREE bonus

Order Shakeology on Home Direct (HD); visit www.mariashealthymeal.com to learn more and receive TurboFire® Keep on Burnin DVD ($29.95 value).

Turn up the burn with three of our hottest classes.
Even if you belong to a gym, having this DVD with the following workouts is great addition to integrate into your routine.

You get 3 classes to help you scorch even more fat and calories.  

Greatest HIITs
We've remixed Chalene's hottest Fire Drills from all your favorite HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) classes so you can burn up to 9x more fat than with traditional cardio. You'll perform bursts of cardio at your highest intensity level to ignite your metabolism.
 

Ab Igniter Class
Work your abs like crazy in this seriously intense 10-minute workout filled with advanced options. You'll perform core isolation and resistance moves to build a strong six-pack. 

Stretch 10 Class
Help elongate your muscles from end to end and increase your flexibility through special stretching techniques. 

Send me an e-mail at maria365@aol.com with any questions or instructions on how to place your order.

Tips for getting lean

If your goal is to lean out, then follow these tips:

• Eat at least 5 times per day
• Stop eating 3 hours before bed
• eat lots of lean protein and veggies (minimal starches)
• drink plenty of water
• avoid soda and similar junk
• enjoy healthy fats like nuts, seeds, olives and avocados
• when dining out, if you don't see it on the menu, ask to have it your way

Is it worth it to go organic?  Well it can't hurt, especially when it comes to soy and dairy.  Organic crops, including soy, cannot be genetically modified.  This means that by paying a little more for organic tempeh, you're avoiding those weird GMOs, not to mention pesticide residues.

With organic dairy, you're avoiding all the hormones and antibiotics they feed conventionally raised cows.  And a recent English study shows that not only is organic milk more nutritionally consistent, but contains higher levels of omega-3 fatty acids.

As for organic produce, science has yet to determine how much more nutritious it is, think about this, you're still avoiding all the chemical pesticides and herbicides they load on conventional fruits and veggies.

Eat well-balanced meals and remember that excess calories, even if they're from food that's fat free and high in protein, will turn to excess weight. No matter what the latest fad diet says, extra calories equal extra weight!

Stick with eating plans you can maintain indefinitely. Remember that no matter how hard you're working out, if you're consuming too many calories, you'll never see the muscles that lie beneath layers of fatty tissue.

To get my FREE weight loss secret that has helped me shed 30+ pounds click
Simple No Brainer Food Guide

Countdown to Summer is on!

I don't know anyone who is NOT looking forward to the Summer.  Lazy days, warmer temps, fresh seasonal fruits....BATHING SUITS!  

Maybe you're not quite beach-ready.  Don't worry.  There are less than 30 days till Memorial Day weekend.  Did you know you can accomplish alot in a short amount of time?I am doing a FREE clean eating challenge for 14 days starting May 6th and it's for those who need a jump start to clean eating. Its a private Facebook group with only 5 members. This is for those who are NOT part of my current group and who DO NOT currently have a coach or have done a challenge with me before. Message me I will give you the details. ***3 spots left*** Wednesday 5/1 is the last day today to join.

Get focused, be determined and commit to yourself.

4 weeks ago, I led a small group who consistently posted their nutrition (meal plans were given) and reported their workout of the day.  Rules were given, strict accountability was enforced and they got RESULTS.

I personally lost a whole size and fit back into my favorite jeans!  Just losing 7-8 pounds can make a huge difference to your mental, physical and emotional well being.

Connect with me on myfitnesspal/maria365 and check out my diary.  What made a difference for me was replacing one meal a day with Shakeology.

Message me at maria365@aol.com and put "Summer Challenge" in the subject line.

Remember, if you want something you've never had, you've got to do something you've never done.

6-week slimdown Challenge

Getting and staying fit seems like a difficult task - but all it requires is a simple basic commitment to yourself. I invite you to join me in getting in the best shape of your life.  

Is your goal to fit into a smaller size in jeans?  Maybe get a 6 pack?  Anything is possible if you put your mind to it and stay accountable to yourself. 

For 42 days, I will become your workout buddy and motivational coach. Whether your goal is to lose weight, eat better or simply improve your overall health, I will help you meet your goal. The program runs from Monday, Jan. 7 to Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013. Must register by 1/2/13. 

I am holding a small, exclusive group of people who are committed to getting healthy by participating in similar workouts for the next 45 days.

People helping and motivating each other achieve their health and fitness goals by sharing tips, accountability, and results.
 

You will get a ton of motivation, inspiration, and comfort in sharing struggles and successes; and, a new level of accountability to achieve your goals. 

Fitness + Nutrition + Support = Success

What is your WHY?

I had a conversation with someone today who was interested in doing INSANITY and she asked me how I stay accountable.  Over the years I will admit I have struggled with consistency.  Then it became crystal clear.  I wasn't going to get the results I wanted unless I focused on my WHY.

You see, when you have a strong “WHY” then you will stop at NOTHING to reach your goals.  If your why is strong enough, you’ll blow past all the excuses.  In fact, even when you face the most difficult of situations (whatever may be going on in your life) the person with a strong enough WHY will still make it happen!

So I ask you, what’s your WHY?  I’ve written and talked about this before, but I don’t think I could ever explore this topic enough.  If you want to motivate yourself to do something don’t think about all the logical reasons it’s good for you.  That’s not good enough!

If it’s losing weight and getting in shape, and your kids mean everything to you, then take out a photo of your kids and connect your WHY to them!  Now that’s powerful!  Hint:  that's mine!

See this image here below, when I look at this picture, I see the person I continually strive to become.  A fit, healthy woman who can stand up to any challenge.  I'm almost there!

I've been posting my accountability pics on Instagram and my Facebook page.  Follow the active links within this blog to access.

My current 30 day program.  I used this 3 years ago and shed 25 pounds while on Weight Watchers

My Plank Challenge

I don't exactly remember the day I started but I've been planking every day.  My goal is to add at least 10-15 seconds to the previous day.

I have a few of my favorite peeps that are checking in with me for accountability which makes it more interesting.  About a week ago I had gotten to 1:30 and planked on my elbows.  I put out a picture on my page.   One of my friends had texted me and said the girl in the photo's form was a mess.  Yup, it definitely was.  So I wanted to include a visual depicting incorrect vs. correct form.

 

The plank is an isometric core strength exercise that involves maintaining a difficult position for extended periods of time. Done properly, the plank exercise can be extremely taxing. In the top picture her shoulder blades aren't retracted and her hips are dipped. See the difference? The plank can be done anywhere and only takes minutes. Plus it's more effective than sit-ups and crunches because these work only the superficial abdominal muscles.

So now I am up to the 3 minute mark and I'm planking on my elbows just like the girl in the bottom image.  Oh my gosh the last 15 seconds were brutal. Lately, I've been listening to music to help pass the time and zero in on a spot on the floor to use as a focal point.

Today's music choice was "Titanium" by David Guetta and Sia! I love that song! Oh and I also squeezed in a 30 minute HIIT which was off the hook! Sweat city!  I've been logging my workouts in the Supergym and noticed I hit my 950th workout.  Did you know you are eligible to win money each day you log your workout in?  For more details go here:  http://bit.ly/tac9LM

So I love Mondays and I like to gear up on a Sunday night to plan out my workouts and just know what I'm up against so things can run smoothly.

Here's how my week will go down:

Monday, 8/20/12 Chalean Extreme Burn Circuit 3; plank challenge target 3:10
Tuesday, 8/21/12 TurboFire Fire 45EZ; plank challenge target 3:20
Wednesday, 8/22/12 Chalean Extreme Push Circuit 1; plank challenge target 3:30
Thursday, 8/23/12 Chalean Extreme Burn Intervals & Extreme Abs; plank challenge target 3:40
Friday, 8/24/12 Chalean Extreme Lean Circuit 2; plank challenge target 3:50
Saturday, 8/25/12 Chalean Extreme Burn it Off & Recharge; plank challenge target 4:00
Sunday, 8/26/12 REST; plank challenge target 4:05