January = A New Start

Hello everyone! Its been a about 5 minutes since I last posted. Haha!

I can't believe 2017 is already in full swing and January has come and gone! I hope it has been a fantastic month for you all!
I just wanted to send out a reminder that even though today is the last day of the month, it is not too late to still get a chance to earn our awesome promotions for January.

If you have any questions with how you can get all of these oils for FREE, please don't hesitate to let me know. I'd hate for you to miss out on these amazing promotions!

Lastly, with the start of a new year, a lot of us make new weight loss goals, and Young Living has an incredible program and products to help you achieve those goals! Check out our Slique in 60 challenge and let Young Living help you surpass those weight loss goals in 2017!

Are you ready to kick off February? I am! Let's go!!

Call Me Crazy, Call Me a Runner

It all began one evening

I remember hanging out at my friend, Shellie's, around May or June of 2013. The subject of running came up, as it tends to do when you're surrounded by runners. 

I was an occasional runner. I had run several 5k races up to this point. I didn't make running a priority, or a true part of my life. I wanted to, though. And I had a pipe dream... to run a half marathon at one point in my life. 

I made mention of that last one, to my friends that night. Shortly after that, I was tagged in a post on Facebook. It was from my friend, Thelma. It was time to sign up for the Chevron Houston Marathon for 2014. Seven months away. 

I thought about it. Could I really do this? It would require major training, commitment, and discipline; something I really struggle with. 

I debated. I was crazy to think this would happen! 

I signed up. For my first half marathon.

Training

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Creative Commons

I'd like to say I started up training immediately.

But that's not the case. 

It was summer and blazing hot. Plus, I went to worship school in California for two weeks, shortly after signing up for the half marathon.

It wasn't until around September or October that I got serious about training. (I don't recommend waiting that long to start when you're basically starting from the beginning.) 

To my complete surprise, a small group formed. I found other friends of mine who wanted to run. And so, Misty, Mikella, Bobby, Brenda, and I started off.  Slowly, but steadily.  Without meaning to, they all started training with me. Which meant, when mileage increased for me, it did for them as well.  

Our support system was and still is amazing. It kept us going. Kept us encouraged. 

We battled obstacles: shin splints, feet issues, breathing, husbands working shift work, children, cold weather, holidays..... but we persevered. And refused to give up. 

And before I knew it.... it was time.

Race Day!

I was a complete bundle of nerves on race day. I attempted to go to sleep early the night before, but failed. My mind just wouldn't stop. I had one of my running buddies, Mikella, and my best friend, Brittany come with me. They prayed over me and gave me a hug before I got in my corral. 

And then I waited. Waited until the start of the race. And then until my corral was released. 

My GPS watch was primed and ready. I had my belt on with all my essentials that I'd need. My playlist was already running and my headphones where in place.  My nerves were starting to calm down and in its place, adrenaline came rushing in.

 I could DO this! I was ready. I had trained the best I could. 

           and off I went! 

I kept a very steady pace. I enjoyed the crowds. People shouting my name (Because it was on my bib) telling me to keep going. The signs people held up. They were hilarious. 

I loved every minute of it. At my halfway point, I felt amazing. I grabbed my phone and texted my husband, Brittany, and Mikella to let them know.  Even when I started getting tired, I pressed on.  

I was amazed at all the runners around me. Old and young. People from different states and countries. All of us, running together. With one goal: to finish.

And Finish I did!

I completed my first half marathon in 2 hours and 49 minutes. And I couldn't be more proud of myself. 

And its not just about the running. 

Like I said earlier: discipline has been an issue for me for a long time. And still is. I'm getting better, day by day. By signing up for this race and seeing it through to completion, without throwing in the towel, is a huge step in the right direction. 

It proved to me that I CAN do something if I believe it. If I make it a priority. If I discipline myself to get out there and do what needs to be done in order to achieve what may seem like the impossible. 

And 8 months ago, completing a half marathon did seem impossible. But with the help of my family, friends, and the Lord, I did it. And that is something I will never forget. Its something I will remember the next time something feels like its too much to complete. 

I can. And YOU can. Be it a race or something else completely. 

Many may say I'm crazy for running. I say, I'm only half crazy. 

21 Day Fix: New Beachbody program launched!

As a Beachbody coach, I'm super excited about this new fitness program that Beachbody launched today. For both myself and for others wanting to meet their fitness goals.  I'm going to be starting up as soon as my order gets here! So, I wanted to share what the program is and what makes it special.

What is 21 Day Fix?

21 Day Fix is a nutrition and fitness program that makes losing weight so simple,

anyone can do it. Easy-to-follow portion control and 30-minute workouts take

the guesswork out of losing weight to help you see results fast—up to 15 pounds

in just 21 days!

Whether you want to lose a few pounds before your next vacation or jump-start a

bigger weight-loss goal, 21 Day Fix is the program for you. It’s simple, it’s fast, and

it works. If you’re ready to get serious, 21 Day Fix can help you lose the weight.

Why is 21 Day Fix effective?

Because it’s so simple! You don’t have to count calories, points, or log your food

into diet software. With 21 Day Fix, everything is laid out for you. All you have to

do is use the specially designed portion-control containers and do one 30-minute

workout per day. Commit to it for 21 days, and you’re going to love your results.  

What makes 21 Day Fix unique?

It’s the only fitness and nutrition program that combines portion-control

containers and world-class workouts. By placing equal emphasis on fitness and

healthy portion control, 21 Day Fix can help anyone lose weight—and keep it

off—in a way that’s simple and sustainable. Whether you want to lose 10 pounds

or 100 pounds, you can do it with this program.

How does 21 Day Fix work? 

With the 21 Day Fix container system,

you’ll learn how to create healthy portions

simply and intuitively. It shows you how

to eat whatever you want, in the right

amounts, so you can reach your goals fast.

No guesswork, and no calorie counting!

The 21 Day Fix workouts are designed

to burn a lot of calories in only 30 minutes.

Any fitness level can do them. If you’re a

beginner, follow the on-screen modifier.

And if you’re an advanced exerciser looking

to shed those last few pounds, dial up

the intensity and challenge yourself to

push harder.

Autumn Calabrese is your personal trainer

Autumn Calabrese is a celebrity fitness trainer, busy mom, and national-level bikini

competitor. She came up with the idea of a portion-control container system

after watching a client eat an entire 1,300-calorie salad in one sitting because it

was “healthy.” Autumn realized that supersized portions were hurting her clients’

weight-loss success because they were eating too much without knowing it. So she

developed portion-control containers to help people see how simple it is to eat the

right amounts and lose weight easily. And as a single mother, Autumn understands

how hard it can be to fit exercise and healthy eating into a jam-packed schedule.

So she created short but effective workouts that take only 30 minutes a day, along

with a simple eating plan that doesn’t require you to spend hours in the kitchen.

What do you get with 21 Day Fix?

Essential Package:

• 7 color-coded portion-control containers

• Shakeology® shaker cup

• 6 easy-to-follow 30-minute workouts

• 21 Day Fix Start Here quickstart guide and workout calendar

• 21 Day Fix Eating Plan that shows you exactly what to do

• 3 Day Quick Fix Guide, Autumn's secret weapon for fast weight loss

• Dirty 30 bonus workout

 Equipment needed

• Dumbbells or a resistance band are used in some workouts.
• A yoga mat and the Beachbody® miniMAT are helpful, but not required.

Do I have to do the workouts, or can I just follow the portion-control Eating Plan?

• Both the workouts and Eating Plan are essential to get the best results in 21 days.
• If you're worried about being out of shape, we suggest you follow the modifier and do
what you can, rather than skipping the workouts entirely. You'll feel stronger in no time.

Can I use other containers I have at home?

• No, these are custom-designed for 21 Day Fix. Other containers may have the wrong
 proportions and you will not be successful unless you follow the Eating Plan using
 these containers.
• Very few (if any) other containers come in the variety of sizes needed for 21 Day Fix.

Can I eat out at restaurants when I do 21 Day Fix?

• Yes! The Eating Plan includes a restaurant guide that shows you how to practice portion control at your favorite restaurants.

What does it mean when you say "no off-limit foods"?

• The 21 Day Fix Eating Plan shows you how to incorporate treats (like chocolate and wine) into the plan . . . and you can still lose weight.

What makes the 21 Day Fix workouts so effective?

• 21 Day Fix takes all of the guesswork out of working out. You know which workout to do
 each day and can be confident you're working your whole body efficiently in just 30 minutes a day.
• The workouts yield consistent calorie-burning results, unlike a treadmill workout that can have very inconsistent and inaccurate calorie counts.
• The 30-minute boot-camp style workouts keep your heart rate up throughout, so you have an effective and efficient workout that burns maximum calories.
• There's a modifier in every workout to show you how to take down the intensity while still getting awesome results.
• Trainer Autumn Calabrese created a 7-day-a-week schedule to give you the best results
 in just 21 days. Each day of the week is a different workout, all perfectly designed to avoid overtraining and keep you injury-free.

Interested?

I hope this has sparked some motivation in you! I know that it sure has for me. I can't wait to get started. If you'd like to join me in this, please contact me! We can get you set up and we can do this together! 

Contact Me

Email me at: lauraleigh80@gmail.com

Message me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laura.hargrave

Or order directly from my website: www.beachbodycoach.com/lauraleigh80

It's gonna be worth it all.

This Is It!

Photo Credit: Creative Commons

The end of 2012 is here, which, for many people, means new year's resolutions. Weight loss is usually a top resolution, isn't it? 

This is the year! I'm going to go to the gym and eat right! This weight is coming off! 

Sound familiar? 

This was my resolution for 2012. And I was determined. And motivated. I meant business. After giving birth to my third baby in May of 2011, I was ready. It was time. I was finished having babies and nothing was going to stop me from reaching my goals. I was so tired of looking in the mirror and absolutely hating the girl staring back at me.

My husband was tired of the way I would basically refuse his compliments. It'd go something like this:

Nathan: "You look hot!"

Me: "No I don't! I'm fat. I'm disgusting. I look ugly. How could you possibly find any of this (motioning frantically to pudgy parts of my anatomy) attractive?! You can't!"

To which, my husband would finally say, "If you don't like it, then do something about it." 

Ouch.

Truth can hurt. 

So, It was December of 2011 and I was more than ready. I got a membership at the gym and started going. I was committed. I had friends that had memberships there so that helped. I quickly made new friends there too. I went anywhere from 2-4 times a week on average. I went to the spinning class, HIIT class, Body Pump, and Bootcamp. I felt amazing after finishing each workout. 

After several months, I noticed that I was trimming up slightly, but no weight was coming off. I started being more aware if what I was eating. Still nothing. Now, let me say this..I had realistic expectations. I didn't expect that I was going to start dropping weight right off the bat. It took a long time to accumulate. It was going to take some time. In fact, I had read that weight that comes off slowly, stays off. I keep pushing on. 

I started running. I'm not a runner. I always hated it in elementary and junior high. But I started to actually enjoy it. I got fitted for thee right running shoes and that made a huge difference in my performance. 

In June of this year, I kicked my soda habit...which was HUGE for me. I'm a big Dr. Pepper fan and could easily put away 5 or more in a day. I didn't go a day without one. After almost 3 months of no soda, and all the exercise, still no weight had come off. I was starting to feel extremely tired. And depressed. I would start to crash around 3:30-4pm and my energy would completely drain. Which is not good when you have 3 kids to take care of. I was depressed because nothing was happening. With all the work I was putting in, I thought that SOMETHING should be happening. I remember crying to my husband while getting ready for the gym (when I found the energy to go). I was losing the drive. Why bother going? Why bother cutting soda? Why put myself through that if I had nothing to show for it? 

I finally went to the doctor in August to see if I could find out some answers. I had blood work done to check my thyroid. That came back clear. So next, we did blood tests to check my hormones. My results said that I had extremely low progesterone. The doctor put me on a prescription of progesterone and assured me that was why I wasn't losing weight and why I was depressed and tired all the time. She wanted to see me after several months to reevaluate. I started taking them as I was directed to and I really did start feeling better. But still...no weight loss. Of course, at this time, I wasn't working out as much. 

During this time I joined a BeachBody Challenge group. I started ChaLean Extreme. I love Chalene Johnson and was familiar with her Turbo Jam workouts. I did some of those years prior. I felt like I slimmed up a little but I didn't lose anything. I missed quite a few of my workouts in that month as well. I knew I wasn't at 100%. 

Ok, we are now up to a little over a month ago. 

I got connected with a friend, and she encouraged me to join a challenge group that she was about to start. She became my coach through BeachBody and I actually signed up as a coach myself. I got my challenge pack of Brazil Butt Lift and my first month of Shakeology. I started eating clean. While I haven't been 100% every single day, I'm quite proud of myself for what I've been able to do.

I went back to my doctor to follow up. She ordered labs for bloodwork to be checked. But, instead of doing it, I made an appointment with an endocrinologist that was recommended to me by several friends. He was very thorough and checked my thyroid which came back  normal. He said I'm a little anemic. He also said I'm not getting near enough sleep. I've been averaging around 4-5 hours a night. Not good. At all. And also ordered another round of blood work to specifically check my hormones. I'm waiting on those results now. 

At my 30 day mark, I'd lost some inches over my body. I was able to put on some pants that had been too tight before. Even though they don't fit perfect (and I would rather they be too big..thereby forcing me to go shopping for smaller pants), I started to cry. Slowly, my body is changing. And I'll take it!          

I've just started to add in some Turbo Fire into my routine and I'm loving it. I really want to amp it all up. 

So...that's my story up to now!

It's now January 1st, 2013 and I'm excited about the goals that I AM going to reach! 

It's hard work, it's slow.  

It's frustrating...but it's gonna be worth it. 

It's gonna be worth it all. 

Blogging and Vlogging and Bears, Oh My!

Photo Credit: Creative Commons

Another Blog?

So, if you've just happened to stumple upon this blog, well...you are in for a treat! Ok, maybe not. 

My first order of business will be me telling you a little about myself. I'm going to keep things fairly simple as not to bore you. My name is Laura (as you probably noticed from the blog title) and I am a 32 yr old wife to my amazing husband, Nathanael. We actually have our 7 year anniversary coming up in January. I'm also a stay at home mom to three beautiful children. Noah, my oldest is 9. Preston will be 4 on Sunday, and the baby of the family is Imogen (pronounced like Emma-gin) and she's a year and a half. The keep me very busy to say the least! 

I'm one of the worship leaders at my church. I sing and play the keyboard. Music is definitely my passion and its what God's called me to do. 

I've been a Scentsy consultant since January of 2010. So...if you need any..look no further! 

Visit my Scentsy site here.

And I've recently signed up as a coach with BeachBody and I'm loving it! 

My websites there are: www.beachbodycoach.com/lauraleigh80

                                         www.myshakeology.com/lauraleigh80

                             and     www.myultimatereset.com/lauraleigh80

Some hobbies that I love are writing, reading, singing, playing keyboard, home decorating, DIY projects, shopping, and Pinteresting (haha!). I love everything about makeup and have an obscene amount! I also love accessorizing and my jewelry collection is expanding far quicker than my husband is comfortable with. I'm a total girl! 

I've entertained thoughts of starting a blog before but my lack of knowledge about the blog world stopped me. Like I mentioned, I love writing, and a goal of mine is to eventually write a book. I've worked on a couple before through out the years. Maybe one day!  What brought me here today was actually my friend (and coach from BeachBody), Marlena. She encouraged me to start this blog to track my fitness progress to help inspire and encourage others. (There will be another post coming that specifically addresses my fitness goals, progress, and so forth). So that's what I'm doing. But I plan to post other things as well, not just fitness. 

So, with that, I invite you to come on this little journey with me as I share with you little pieces of my life! 

Until my next post..... Peace out!