8 Bad Habits Broken By Drinking A Meal Replacement Shake

Sometimes its hard to see the value in things when we first hear about them. When I first came across Beachbody, I hesitated with Shakeology. I wasn't sure how it would taste or if it was something that I would really want to drink everyday. Since there is a money back guarantee, I would try it out. It was only 30 days and after that, I wouldn't order it again. Then the package came and I tried it. It was delicious! After a few days of taking it, I could feel a difference and  realized how beneficial it was to my body. It gives me all the nutrients that I was lacking with just a normal diet.

We all have bad habits. Whether it is eating lots of sweets, staying up to late, smoking, or drinking, we have all fell to these at some point in our lives. Although Shakeology can't break all the bad habits in the world, I can help with several of them. Here is a list of eight bad habits that most of us face and how Shakeology can help to combat them.

1 - Eating too many calories. Many people eat way more calories then they need. Its amazing how fast they can add up. Like grabbing a small candy bar from a bowl you have sitting on the table. Its only one right? Then later you grab another as you walk by and maybe another later that evening. You are now up to three candy bars without even realizing it. With Shakeology, you are less snacky between meals.

2 - Skipping breakfast. This is so me. I have never been a breakfast person. Don't have time to make breakfast in the mornings? It takes about two minutes to blend a glass of Shakeology. You can even just dump the ingredients into a shaker cup and shake it on your way out the door or in the car.

3 - Not getting enough vegetables. Shakeology is a great way to sneak some veggies into your day. Just add some to the blender with your other ingredients. Spinach and kale are very beneficial greens and they wont change the taste of the shake. Even a little carrot will sweeten it up.

4. Forgetting a multivitamin. I have a hard time remembering to take a pill every day. Shakeology takes care of that for you. Its super packed with vitamins and minerals. It has prebiotics, probiotics, antioxidants, 23 vitamins and minerals, plus much more!

5 - Grabbing fast food. Keep Shakeology at work or carry a packet with you. If you find yourself rushed for lunch or a meeting, mix up a drink instead of stopping at the drive thru.

6 - Not exercising regularly. Some days its hard to find the motivation to exercise, especially if you are lacking energy or you just ate a heavy meal. Shakeology give you energy and also promote weight loss and lean muscle development.

7 - Eating a late dinner.  Its better to eat 5-6 small meals evenly spaced throughout the day. This helps keep your metabolism high and controls hunger. You don't have to put much thought into planning your shake.  Its the one meal you don't have to plan ahead.

8 - Over-indulging in sweets. Eating foods high in sugar contributes to diabetes, obesity, and other chronic diseases. This is a hard habit to break. You can sweeten your shake with some honey or maple syrup to help your sweet tooth. There are even desserts you can make, such as Shakeology oatmeal bars. They taste like no bake cookies!

Clean Crock Pot Chili

Who doesn't love curling up with a hot bowl of chili on a cool day? I know I do! I made this recipe and no one realized I switch up a few of the ingredients to make it cleaner. It has all the taste of homemade chili we all know and love but its healthier for you.

Makes 6 servings

2 tablespoons coconut oil
2 medium onions, diced
1 medium red bell pepper, diced
3 medium tomatoes, diced
6 gloves of garlic, minced
1/4 cup chili powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
2 lbs ground turkey
1 14oz can organic tomato sauce
2 15oz cans organic kidney beans

Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Once melted, add ground turkey breaking into pieces. When no longer pink, add onions, bell peppers, and garlic. Cook until softened. Transfer mixture to the crock pot. Add the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, beans, chili powder, and cumin. Stir to combine. Cook until the chili thickens and the flavors blend together. 8 hours on low or 6 hours on high.

If you have time to use dried beans, that is the better option. I also add about a teaspoon of cayenne pepper. I like a little kick to my chili.

Avocado and Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad

Chicken salad and tuna salad sandwiches have always been a staple in our home. With the mayonnaise in it, they weren't a very healthy choice. I found this recipe and it is de-licious! It is a great alternative to the traditional chicken salads out there and an easy recipe for left over chicken. Check it out!

Avocado and Greek Yogurt Chicken Salad

1 ripe avocado
1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
2 cups finely chopped or shredded cooked chicken breast
1/2 red onion, finely chopped
Pepper and garlic powder to taste

Mash avocado and mix with Greek yogurt until smooth. Stir in seasonings. Add chicken and red onion, Stir until all ingredients are combined. Serve on whole grain bread, wrap, pita, wrap in a lettuce leaf, or for a cute twist, serve in the avocado skins.

Enjoy!

Roasted Red Pepper Hummus in Cucumber Cups

This is a great way to change up the way you eat hummus. It would be so cute as an appetizer at a family get together or party.

Red Pepper Hummus in Cucumber Cups

1/2 cup diced jarred roasted red peppers
1 tablespoon tahini
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
pinch cayenne pepper
1 - 15oz can of garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
1 large garlic clove
2 cucumbers, preferable English

Hummus:
In a food processor, combine peppers, tahini, lemon juice, cumin, salt, cayenne pepper, beans, and garlic. Blend until smooth, scraping the sides of the bowl.

Run the tines of the fork down the length of each cucumber several times. Cut cucumbers into 1 inch rounds. Using a small melon baller or a round measuring spoon, scoop out the center of each cucumber round to form a hollow. Fill each cup with hummus, mounding slightly over the top. Garnish with a couple small slices of red peppers.

Enjoy!

CIZE

Shaun T is introducing a new program......CIZE!

 

Are you tired of the same ol' cardio?

Not a big fan of squats, lunges, or using weights?

Do you love to dance?

 

Then this new program is for you!

 

Here is a short video showing what it is all about:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYC2JpMJJFY

 

 

And if you think you can't dance, don't worry. Shaun breaks down the routines, step-by-step, move-by-move, and builds them into a full dance combo. And at the end, you'll get to CIZE IT UP to songs from Shaun's playlist. You'll be so focused on mastering the moves that for 35–40 minutes you'll forget you're actually burning fat and calories, and getting in the best shape  of your life.

 

This programs looks like so much fun you wont even realize you are getting a great cardio exercise. I am not the greatest dancer but I LOVE to dance. Learning a few new moves would be awesome. Losing weight and burning fat and calories is just an added bonus.

 

CIZE is "The end of exercize"

 

 

 

Coming your way in July 2015!!

 

Sign up to win a FREE copy of this new program and be one of the first ones to own it. Click the link below to enter!

 

https://rhondamerritt.wufoo.com/forms/m1pqauwx0gprm90/

Chocolate Oatmeal Cookie Shake

 

 

Who wouldn't want to eat cookies or breakfast or lunch? Lets be honest! We have all done it, either eating cookies or donuts or some other kind of sweets. We just grab something quick because we are in a hurry or just craving that sweetness.

 

This Shakeology recipe take care of all that plus it is good for you! Try it out. You will love it!

 

1 scoop/packet of chocolate Shakeology

1/4 cup rolled oats

1 Tbsp peanut butter

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup water

A couple pieces of ice



Blend and enjoy!

To try Shakeology, contact me by clicking on the button below!
https://rhondamerritt.wufoo.com/forms/m1pqauwx0gprm90/

Beachbody On Demand

Are you like me and travel a lot? Do you like the idea of being able to have access to your workouts any time, any where with high speed internet? Beachbody on Demand is for you!! This is a new feature of the Team Beachbody Club. You have unlimited access from a computer or mobile device connected to high speed internet. I was one of the coaches selected to test it out. It was pretty neat!

You will have access to Beachbody's most popular programs such as:

- Insanity, Insanity Asylum Volume 1

- P90X, P90X2, P90X3

TurboFire

ChaLean Extreme

Brazil Butt Lift

Ten Minute Trainer

Hip Hop Abs

Also included are sample workouts from the newest programs. Have you thought about trying 21 Day Fix, 21 Day Fix Extreme, Body Beast or Piyo? Now you can!

The program and nutrition guides for these programs are also available to view and download. Plus, all programs you have already purchased and any future purchases will be available to stream as well. I think that is awesome!

In addition to Beachbody on Demand, you will also enjoy these benefits:

- 10% discount on purchases

- Live trainer chats

- Recipes

- Meal planning tools

- Support

So, what's the cost of this amazing new product?

- $2.99 a week!!! It is billed quarterly at $38.87.

If you are drinking Shakeology or would like to try it, Beachbody on Demand is available this month as a challenge pack. The challenge pack is $140 and includes:

- 3 month Team Beachbody Club membership

- 30 day supply of Shakeology

- ME as your free coach for support and motivation

Thin Mint Shake

Thin Mint Shake

1 cup almond milk
1/4 tsp mint extract or to taste
1 scoop chocolate Shakeology
Ice
 
Add all ingredients in a blender and mix until smooth and creamy

Why should I have a coach?

Coach

 

 

What is a coach? How will having a coach benefit me? These are some typical questions that may people have when thinking about starting a new program.

 

To me, a coach is a person that inspires you to do better. They are there for you to help through struggles and to celebrate your successes. I never thought about myself as being coach material. I've had many interactions with coaches throughout my life. I played softball growing up. My children have all played sports. You can always tell who the great coaches are. They have such a passion for whatever it is that they coach. It means something to them. They swell with pride when someone on their team does well. I came across the coaching opportunity in April 2014. I wasn't sure if I could do it. It scared me a little bit. I didn't want to fail myself or anyone else that picked me to coach them. I really wanted to give it a try though. I thought this would be a great way for me to get my health and fitness on track and stay there. In the process, I have fallen in love with Beachbody, their products, and what they stand for. I became passionate about coaching. I absolutely love what I do. How many people can say that?

 

As a customer, you may be wondering what a coach will do for you and how will this help you? I did my first YouTube video on coaching. Its a short video. Talk about stepping out of my comfort zone on that one! But I did it and I guess it turned out pretty good. Check it out.

 



 

So there it is. That is what you can expect from me as a coach. Here is a recap.

 

Goals: figure out what your goals are. How much weight do you want to lose? Do you want to gain muscle? Maybe somewhere in the middle and just need help with nutrition. Then break them into smaller steps to get you there.

 

Challenge group: a challenge group is just a closed Facebook group. Only the people in the group can see what is posted. Every person in the group has decided to make changes to themselves as well. I check in with the group several times a day.

 

Motivation: I will do everything I can to keep you motivated and on track. Most people in the group with us will. We become each others own cheerleaders. I will share my struggles and experiences and how I have overcome them.

 

Support: I am here for YOU! Anytime you have questions or concerns, you can always ask. You will have many different ways to contact me and I am just about always available.

 

I will do my best to tailor the experience to fit YOUR needs. What worked me may or may not work for you. But we will figure out what does together. I want to see you do well and will do everything I can to make that happen. I have passion for this and I think everyone can benefit from having a coach. Honestly, I don't think I would have stuck with my health and fitness if it wasn't for my coach. I believe its a key to success that many are missing in their lives.

 

If you are interested in having me as a coach, please fill out the short form below and I will contact you shortly.

https://rhondamerritt.wufoo.com/forms/m1pqauwx0gprm90/

Good luck with your journey!



Sausage and pepper spaghetti

This recipe was a big hit with the family and even some guys that work with my husband. My 4 year old daughter said it was the best dinner in the world. That's pretty good coming from her. Try it out!

1 package sweet Italian turkey sausage, sliced
1 red bell pepper, julienned
1 green bell pepper, julienned
1/2 medium onion, diced
1 small package sliced cremini mushrooms
1 package whole grain thin spaghetti
Clean pasta sauce(ex:Mario Batali's Arrabbiata Sauce)

Sautee red bell peppers, green bell peppers, mushrooms and onions over medium heat until the peppers are softened and the onions are almost clear. Add in sliced sausage and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Add the pasta sauce and reduce heat to low. Prepare pasta according to package directions. Drain pasta and add to the sauce mixture. Serve and enjoy.

Should yield 6 servings.

To learn more about clean eating, please fill out the form below.
https://rhondamerritt.wufoo.com/forms/q1aw26651x3r701/

Emerald Coach

 Emerald Coach

I started this journey in April 2014. I came across an ad where I could make money from home helping people with health and fitness. At the time, I was feeling a little lost. My husband works in the oilfield so I wanted to help bring income in for our family so when thing got slow for him, we had something to fall back on. I also hated to work at a traditional job because I liked being able to travel with my husband and I didn't want to put our daughter in day care. I had never been completely comfortable in my skin. I always wanted those nice, toned legs but never had them. I would try exercising but would soon lose interest and stop. I never really watched what I ate. I have a fast metabolism so I didn't really gain weight no matter what I ate. I didn't know the other benefits of eating clean. So when I saw that ad, I thought why not. If I can get myself on track with exercising plus make some money, that would be great. I ordered the 21 Day Fix and Shakeology and I signed up as a coach.

I joined a 30 day challenge group. I did really well with the Fix. I lost 5 pounds and 7 1/2 inches in the 30 days. But then after that I faltered a little. I would miss workouts or not drink my shakes. We started traveling a lot so I stopped bringing my weights into the hotel. I fell in love with the products, what being a coach was about, and what Beachbody stood for but I lost track of my motivation for starting it in the first place. As the holidays started approaching I sat down and re-evaluated whether I still wanted to continue coaching or give it up. I felt so strongly about helping people get healthy, I knew I wanted to keep going. So, I set some great goals for myself this year. Wrote them down and shared them so that I can be held accountable.

Because I was able to reset my focus and I feel strongly about what I do, I was able to move my business forward and advance up a notch. I am now an Emerald coach. I was so excited to see that on my Beachbody site. I logged into it as soon as I woke up and I think I even squealed a little when I saw it. I am so proud of myself that I was able to do that. I hope to be able to continue to help people with their health and fitness goals. I love seeing others succeed and feel better about themselves.

This has been such an awesome journey so far. I have really learned a lot about myself and what I am capable of. I can not wait to see what the rest of 2015 holds for my family and I.

 

 

 

If you are interested in learning more about the coaching opportunity, please fill out the form below. I look forward to hearing from you!

https://rhondamerritt.wufoo.com/forms/m1pqauwx0gprm90/



Super Bowl 2015

Its Super Bowl time!

 

                                                   

 

I don't know about you but I am a huge football fan! My three boys play and I was fortunate enough to take them to an NFL game this year for Christmas. They loved it. It was such a great experience to share with them. Something I will never forget!

 

Unfortunately, my team didn't make it to the Super Bowl this year (fingers crossed for next year). I am still going to watch the big game. Be on the look out for deflated footballs. Just kidding! One of the best things about watching football? The FOOD!! So how do we stay on track with our clean eating but still enjoy the game and great food? I'm glad you asked!

 

Here are some tips:

1. Drink plenty of water. You should be drinking 1/2 your body weight in ounces every day. If you get bored, drink a glass of water instead of munching.

2. Don't leave food sitting out. It is so easy to grab a bite every time you walk by. Before you know it, you have eaten 20 bites. Plus it is so much more tempting to snack on things when they are right in front of you.

3. Plan ahead. If you are going to someone else's party, eat something before you go. Take healthy snacks with you.

4. Just about every game day food has a healthy, delicious alternative. Try them out!

 

Instead of deep frying French fries, bake them or try sweet potato fries. If you are thinking chili, try a chicken chili. Instead of buffalo chicken sliders, try buffalo chicken lettuce wraps. One of my favorite things to eat is pizza. This is the recipe I will be following for pizza this year. http://www.heandsheeatclean.com/2014/01/clean-cauliflower-pizza-crust-recipe.html

 

 

So which team are you cheering for this year? GO SEAHAWKS!!!!

 

Enjoy the game!

 

 

For more information on clean eating or recipe ideas, please click the link below!

 

https://rhondamerritt.wufoo.com/forms/m1pqauwx0gprm90/

 

 

 

 



Change

CHANGE. It's a scary word to a lot of people. There are many out there that may even fear the word. They are content to stay on the same track they are currently on. At work, people don't like new policies or procedures. They have the same routine at home every day. Many have their whole day planned and get upset if something unexpected come up and throw off their schedule. People get comfortable doing what they have always done.

Life is all about change. From the seasons and the weather to your kids growing and changing. Even changing something as little as changing your hair style or color can be fun. In just about every job, there is always something new to learn. Studies are constantly being done to find the best way of doing things.

I've had many change over the course of my life. I have 5 kids. I became a grandma almost a year ago. I became a stay home mom with my last child. Something I never in a million years would've thought I would enjoy. Another change was becoming a Beachbody coach. I have never struggled much with my weight. I count my blessing on that. But I also never really felt that comfortable in my body either. There were some summers I wouldn't even wear shorts. Nine months ago I made the decision to change. I started exercising, drinking Shakeology, and paying more attention to the things I was eating. I have never felt better in my life. I am so thankful that I stumbled upon Beachbody. I lost a little bit of weight. I have toned up more. I have more energy. I am a better mom and wife.

To make change happen, you must first decide what it is that needs to change and why you want to change it. Your "why" is what will keep you motivated to stay on track. Then put in a plan of action on how you are going to get to your goal. Check yourself every day to make sure you are doing things to make your change happen. It's little things you do every day that will add up over time.

So what about you? Are you ready to take the first step toward change? It can be scary and the road may be difficult. Aren't the best things in life the most difficult to achieve?

If you are ready to start your health and  fitness journey, please fill out the form below. I would be honored to help!
https://rhondamerritt.wufoo.com/forms/m1pqauwx0gprm90/

Goals for 2015

Everyone has dreams and goals they want to accomplish. Without a plan for reaching those goals, they will always be dreams. I have set a few goals and a timeline for when this year I would like to accomplish these goals. I want to share them with you to keep myself more accountable. This will help me stay on track to get them done. I may add some more as the year goes on but this will get me started right. Here they are:

 



The first goal is to reach Emerald by March. This is a stepping stone in the Beachbody business. It is helping two people get started right coaching, either as a coach just to get discounts on products or someone who would like to earn some extra money. It is such an honor helping others. It is one thing I have always loved doing even when I worked at the bank.

 

The second goal I set is to read five new personal development books this year. We work out our bodies and try to do things to take care of them but what about our minds? People can always learn new ways of thinking, new techniques of doing things, or how to handle different situations. I love learning and growing.

 

Blogging is my next goal. I was really nervous when I first starting blogging. Would people like reading what I have to say? What do I blog about? It is getting easier. I still struggle some. I would like to do a new blog every week about anything I may be So bare with me. I am still learning and I hope you enjoy what I talk about.

 

We were able to take a vacation in 2014. It was wonderful. This year, I would like to take all the kids with us. This is a difficult feat. James and I have eight kids together and they are starting to spread out since they are getting older. There is two in Texas, one in Florida, and the rest in Pennsylvania. I don't know what we will do. Maybe take another beach vacation or to a theme park. It would be great to have everyone together.

 

My last goal for 2015 is to lose 10 more pounds. I have never really struggled with my weight. I am very fortunate to have been slim all my life. I can thank a fast metabolism for that. I have gained a few pounds over the years and having five kids hasn't helped that. Now that I am getting older, I realize that the things I have been eating all these years hasn't been the best. I want to be more healthy and feel better every day. Eating clean, drinking Shakeology, and doing some kind of exercise does that for me. I want to tone my body as well. I have always wanted to have rockin, muscular legs.

 

Well, there you have it. Those are my goals and a little bit about what they are and why I want to reach them. I can use all the support I can get so keep me accountable! Thanks for checking out my goals and I would love to be able to help you with anything you have been dreaming about.

 

 

For more information on Beachbody or coaching, please fill out the short form below.

https://rhondamerritt.wufoo.com/forms/q1aw26651x3r701/