Challenge Groups!

What's a challenge group, you might ask?  A challenge group is how I first got into Beachbody programs and shakeology.  I started out doing a short 10 day challenge.  I loved the support and accountability I received from the people in the group and my coach.  It's a closed group on Facebook where we talk about working out, healthy eating, and just every day life!  I LOVED it.  I loved the program I was doing (T25 by Shaun T) and I loved the shakes (still do).  I moved from the 10 day challenge group into a longer one.  By the time I had finished T25, I had lost 30 pounds and was feeling great!  In the challenge groups, we drink shakeology daily and focus on exercise.  It's changing a lifestyle or being consistent in the good habits you've already made when it comes to clean eating and fitness!

Currently, I'm doing Shaun T's Cize program which I LOVE.  You all remember the video I posted of me dancing around like a lunatic, right?  That's Cize.  I'm not gonna lie.  It's kind of hard.  It's a great workout....that means it's a little bit of a challenge but it's worth it!

Have you ever wanted to do a challenge group like this?  Where you jump in and make instant friends who are all at different stages of their fitness journey?  Where you receive support and accountability from your coach (me:) and friends?  Where you would find ideas for healthy meal planning?  These group challenges would be perfect for you!  Head over to my Facebook fitness page and shoot me a message!  https://www.facebook.com/wonderwomanfitness

My next challenge group (30 day) starts September 30th!  If you want more details, let me know! I only have a few spots left!  It's time to let yourself focus on being healthy! :)

Tuesday's Tip!

What's my tip for Tuesday? HYDRATION!! This is HUGE and it used to be soooooo hard for me! I don't love water. I DO love Diet Coke! But guess what? I gave up soda, got a couple of cute Tervis cups, and started drinking 96 oz of water a day. Guess who feels better? Me!!! I feel a TON better! Need to know how much water you should be drinking in a day? Take your weight and divide it in half. For example, if Steve weighs 180 pounds and you divide 180 in half, you know that Steve should be drinking 90 ounces of water a day. Side note: Steve isn't real. And I don't weigh more than "Steve." My goal is simply to refill my 24 oz Tervis cup four times a day! So I drink a little more but it's because I'm starting to really like water. Also, I'm an overachiever! So get your hydrate on! You won't regret it! Here is a little chart to remind you of the perfect times to be drinking water! And then just something to boost your spirits! You're welcome! :)

Sensational!

Why did I name my blog Steps to Sensational?  Let me explain.  Sometimes I feel like I'm taking baby steps along my journey.  I feel like sometimes I'm not even doing that....it's more like crawling along and gasping for air!  Sometimes I'm taking giant leaps into the land unknown.  Whichever way it happens, at least I'm still moving.  That's what matters, right?  I'm learning how to be sensational (which to me is the very best I can be).  I'm crawling, walking, and running in the right direction.  I'm starting to understand things more clearly.

I have an intense love for health and fitness.  And I have an intense desire to share this with and help others.  We are all at different stages of our journey but that doesn't mean we can't help and support each other along the way!  I honestly never thought I would jump into being a Beachbody coach.  But I'm loving every second of it.  Who wouldn't want the opportunity to share their story with others? To help others? I want to build a relationship with everyone who seeks my help!  I feel like we all have a connection because we all share common ground...not only a love for exercise, but a love of taking care of ourselves....of being the best WE can be!

I hope that I can influence people in a positive way.  I want people to see the passion and drive I have.  Even on days when I'm barely crawling myself, I want to be there for others.  Because guess what happens?  You guys lift ME up!  I try to inspire others, but in reality, my followers inspire me.  Let's take steps together so we are all sensational!  Don't get me wrong. I think we are all sensational just as we are.  But I want us to take the steps to be the BEST sensational we can be!  You can always find me on my Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/wonderwomanfitness or you can comment below. I would love to hear from you!

What's in Shakeology?!?

If you've been following me on my fitness page https://www.facebook.com/wonderwomanfitness, you know I've been posting once a week about the ingredients in shakeology.  I've been drinking shakeology for the last couple years.  It has cut down my craving for sweets....like BIG time.  While drinking shakeology, I've been able to do several 21 day sugar cleanses.  This is kind-of a big deal because I LOVE sweets!  I've also lowered my blood pressure.  Annnnnnnd I hardly ever get sick.  When I first started drinking it, my family had been passing around a cold for what seemed to be months.  Guess who never caught it?  ME!  So since I love this daily meal replacement so much, I decided to learn about ALL the ingredients in it.  I'm sharing that with the world!

-camu camu-It's also known as myrciaria dubia.  It's grown in the Amazon (Peru and Brazil).  I attribute part of my health and wellness to this little gem. Camu camu is one of the richest sources out there of natural vitamin C.  It contains (depending on the ripeness) up to 460 times more vitamin C than in one orange.  AMAZING!

-sacha inchi-This is another plant that grows in Peru.  It produces a nut-like seed that contains huge amounts of omega fatty acids 3, 6, and 9.  These are essential fats that only come from food.  They can build healthy cells which can help maintain brain and nerve function!

-chia seed-Now I had heard of the chia seed and I had dabbled in a little bit of the hype.  Guess what?  I don't think it's hype.  It is a small superfood that packs a big punch!  There are so many benefits from the chia seed that it will be hard to touch on all of them.  I'm sure you know where it's grown:  South America.  It is packed full of antioxidants.  They have a lot of carbs and almost all of the carbs are fiber.  Therefore, it aids in digestion.  They are high in quality protein.  They are high in omega-3 fatty acids.  They are high in calcium.  They are a natural energy booster.  Shall I go on?  Chia seeds are pretty darn awesome! 

-maca root-It is native to.....PERU!  But you probably would've guess somewhere in South America, right?  You're good!  Anyway, the root has so much nutritional and health value!  It is rich in vitamins B, C, and E.  It supplies iron and helps restore red blood cells.  It can also increase energy.  And it could help alleviate stress.  We all want that, right?

-yacon root-Of course it's native to South America.  Yacon root is proving to be helpful with weight loss because it aids in digestion (prebiotic effects) and also helps you feel full after eating.  Something else?  It can lower levels of tryglycerides and lower levels of bad cholesterol.  It can also be used as a natural sweetener!

Interested in trying your own shakeology?  Let me know in the comments below.  Or head over to my Facebook page and send me a message!  You won't regret it!  Happy Wednesday, my friends!

Cize for Dummies!

I know you guys didn't like only seeing FIFTEEN seconds of my husband dancing on my fitness page (Sarah Jane Fitness on Facebook)! So here's his routine! Yes, it is shorter than mine. The end of the dance gets more complicated and he was working on dinner. Sure, he cooks dinner. He can dance, cook, you name it! I've got a keeper! I think he's pretty cool. I had to share him with all of you. So without further ado, I present Billy doing the Cize (Shaun T workout program) routine You Got This. Then I had to make it a contest to see which one you guys like better. In case you missed my routine on Facebook, I am also including the video of me doing the same routine! So who did it best? Me? Billy? Comment below! And if you have any questions about how YOU can get into this program, email me or let me know in the comments! I promise, you will love it! Make sure to check out my page on Facebook and if it is something you enjoy, give it a like! 😄 https://www.facebook.com/wonderwomanfitness

Introduction to SARAH JANE!

Why do I have so many blogs? Well, I guess because I love writing and I love sharing my journey with all of you!  This blog means a lot to me and I hope it will mean a lot to you! I have shared this story over on my Facebook fitness page: https://www.facebook.com/wonderwomanfitness  It took me a while to share this with all of my followers.  But I would like to share this with you from the very beginning. You will get to know much more about me as this blog continues!  This is my fitness journey.  It is very important to me.  I call it a journey because it is something I still am and always will be working on.

I have always been very active.  That love and desire to exercise has never been a struggle for me.  Do I get lazy and skip workouts sometimes?  Sure.  Don't we all?  But I still love exercising (especially running) and trying new programs to challenge myself.

My (big time) struggle comes with diet.  I remember as a young child thinking that I was chubby.  I totally wasn't.  But I see my body differently than other people do.  Because of this and many other insecurities, I developed an eating disorder (anorexia) after I got divorced in 2005.  I used to walk 6 miles a day and consume 300-500 calories a day.  Yeah, you read that right.  And sometimes, I wouldn't eat anything or I would eat LESS than 300 calories a day.  This went on for years.  Anorexic tendencies are hard to break.  I still find myself struggling to this day.  Anyway, I was happily remarried to the love of my life.  But being extra thin was something that was so important to me.  I was in control of that (if I didn't feel I could control anything else).

Circumstances in my life changed and my husband and I ended up living apart for four years (not by choice).  He worked in Louisville and I lived in the Indianapolis area with our two children.  He couldn't find a job in Indiana and we couldn't sell our house to move to Kentucky.  So that is how we had to live.  He came home most weekends.  But life was rough for me.  I started to yo-yo diet.  I still struggle with this.  The last year I lived in Indiana (about two years ago), I was introduced to Beachbody and shakeology.  Shakeology made me feel better physically...which made me feel better mentally!  And I loved (still do) the workout programs.  I realized that I had to take control of my diet and exercise so I could live a long life with those I love! 

This is all a part of my journey.  I still have huge struggles.  But what I'm realizing is that if I can help myself, I can help others!  We can all be cheerleaders for one another!  I'm not trying to be the thinnest person I know anymore.  I'm trying to be the healthiest!  And healthy isn't a number on the scale!  If you are wanting to make lifestyle changes, I am here to help!  I promise we are all in this together.  We all need support and encouragement and I'm here to offer that!  Are you ready to make yourself a priority so you can be a good example to your family, friends, and everyone around you?  My family is MY why!  They are the reason I want to be healthy and happy!
What is your why?  What is your motivation?   E-mail me now so we can work on YOUR goals and commitments!  Keep reading my blog!  I promise we will have fun! Stay happy and healthy, my friends!