2B Mindset is live!!!

If you could do a program that fixed your emotional eating and workouts were EXTRA CREDIT, would you try it?  

No food group restrictions.  Yes, eat the bread.  Carbs are not the devil!

No measuring!  No portion control containers, no point system, no macro or calorie counting. 

NO STRESSING!  We have you covered and are launching an entire Nutrition channel and app so you'll have just as much support over this program as you do over fitness...and we have 6,000 fitness videos so that's saying a lot.  let me know if you're ready to get started and GET YOUR LIFE BACK!  

Foodies UNITE!!!  2B Mindset has LAUNCHED!  I got a "lets get started" email right away, don't delay.  And $20 off in May, but order before my challenge group starts so you're prepared. 

Day 35: Total Body Core / Refeed Day

Mmmm.... so good!

IT'S REFEED DAY!!!!!! No, not excited at all.  ha.  This is your first modified Refeed Day and we are still working out. Get ready for 60 minutes of Total Body Core, bring your weights, Beachbody Strength Slides, mat, and chair.

TIPS ON REFEED DAY: Remember to eat off your Supplemental Yellows list today. These are the high-glycemic, fast-absorbing carbs your tired muscles need. THIS IS NOT A CHEAT DAY! The rest of your diet is filled with balanced, healthy nutrition.

BUT if you're craving it, today is a great day for a Fixate yummy sweet recipes. See the dessert section on Autumn’s cooking show FIXATE on Beachbody On Demand or tasty “no-bake Shakeology” recipes.  (make sure they match up with your container program) What are you making today?

Here is my favorite no-bake Shakeology recipe: Frozen Shakeology Chocolate Bars.

How do determine if food is clean or processed

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NOT CLEAN!

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My favorite starches to buy.  Flatazza is great for so many things and vacuum sealed so they last a long time. 

If you want to sweeten coffee use Stevia or this creamer, drink it black or with cream, regular milk, almond milk, or half and half.

I love talking about this topic because it's an easy concept, but hard to grasp because manufactures want to trick us!!  Just kidding, sort of.  To attract MOST shoppers, the key words to use are "low fat," "light," "reduced fat," "low sugar," "low sodium," "natural," and "sugar free." It used to work for me y'all! COMPLETELY!  And that's why I had awful sleep and the afternoon slump from 2-4pm.  The only thing that would got me through was grazing on whatever was ready for quick consumption.  This is where processed food creaps in before we notice it and our plans are derailed AGAIN.  This is a never ending cycle unless we take charge and change it.  Watch this video to understand the most common items I buy (yogurt, milk, peanut butter, etc) and how to know if it's clean or processed. 

Look how tricky this is..."The Good Nut" and "never oily"  When I looked at the back of the jar it read... SUGAR, CANOLA OIL, PEANUTS, SALT.  Sugar and added oils are what you want to RUN from!  I prefer to buy Peanut Butter, Almond Butter and Sunflower Butter (best for school allergies) at Costco because they are clean and a super deal.  I will let you down easy...Nutella and Trader Joe's Cookie Butter ARE NOT CLEAN. Google how Nutella is made... you won't want it again, but here's an overview :) 

So, I bet you're thinking, "I'm not a stay at home mom Stephanie, how do I have food ready and available when these hunger fits come on?"  My answer is...MEAL PREP!  When I first started this journey, I rolled my eyes too, go ahead, but now I'm a firm believer that 1-2 hours of focused time in the kitchen on Sunday makes me week much easier and I don't get in a jam anymore and grab chips, goldfish or pretzels.  I can grab sliced cucumbers / carrots / peppers, boiled egg, fresh fruit, string cheese, pumpkin muffins, oatmeals balls, etc or I have cooked pork chops, chicken breasts or leftovers in the fridge so I can make a quick salad.  Boiled eggs are easy to use in anything.  Everything I listed keeps me on track with my goals and what I worked for all week and not cause me to throw in the towel and start the sleepless, low energy, cycle again.

Day 34: Cardio Core

Who’s ready for Cardio Core?  Well if you're not, time to shift that mental block and get ready because we are going to S-W-E-A-T and work our abs.  Abs are made in the kitchen, and in this program!!

Remember, we alternate one cardio interval, one HIIT interval, one core move for about 30 minutes and then do one more ALL CORE round and stretch to end.  Total time = 40 minutes. You need your Beachbody Resistance Loops Strength Slides.  No weights are needed for this, but I'm doing Round 2 now and found adding 3 lbs weights in made a huge difference in sweat for me.  I went from red faced, to water all over the mirror and wall.  If you feel like you're there, try it, but watch your form closely. 

Please give me feedback on how you’re doing so far. Are you modifying the moves? How are you adjusting to your nutrition plan? Are you seeing changes in your body? Clothes fitting differently? I'm all ears and would love to hear it!

Booty gains!! Truth bomb!

It hurts. MY BOO-TAY HURTS! Confession...my whole life, I could sit on concrete or wood and be totally comfortable where all my friends were like "this is so uncomfortable", "why do we have to sit on something so hard" etc. 😮 and I'm like...Girl, I brought my own cushion in the back. I don't even feel the ground 😂🤔🤣
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But thanks (I *think*) to 80 day Obsession, my booty is shrinking and I'm finding myself complaining now that the ground feels hard. 🤗 My lulu shirt is too big and I used to have rolls over it. I haven't stepped on the scale since my 3 day refresh last month because I'm not focused on scale goals, I'm working on toning, building strength and endurance (non-scale victories).  
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I have 2 boys that I need to keep up with and beat in soccer ⚽. Soon they'll run circles around me. Autumn is working me hard so that doesn't happen! Who else wants to see some booty gains, fat loss, lean muscle and learn how to eat! I thought I knew already when I was living by my Fitbit and Garmin steps counters and my, My Fitness Pal calorie tracker and I just can't even.  
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Y'all, get your life back! Life is too short to not maximize your efforts in the time you have! We all have a few minutes and that's all it takes! Promise, I'm busier than a one-legged man in an as$ kicking contest, and I don't find the time, I MAKE THE TIME. 😍👩‍🎤

Day 33: Booty

Week 2 of Phase 2!  We’ve got Booty on tap today. We’re using weights and Beachbody Resistance Loops and are changing it up to 3 sets of 10 reps. So you’ll be doing each set of exercises one time through, then repeating that twice more. You’ve done the moves already, and we are doing 10 instead of 15, so this week you can pick heavier weights and push that much harder! #ResultsBaby

MOTIVATION MONDAY: A lot of people asked Autumn how she stays motivated to keep working out day after day. Watch this video. I find when I look back at how far I've come, I don't want to give up.  Also, LISTS, omggggg y'all, I love lists. So I made a checklist with 80 days on it and literally as soon as I finish, a big X goes on that day. Done, not coming back to you, See ya; goodbye :) 

What do YOU do to stay motivated? Share some of your best motivation strategies ; you never know who you’ll inspire!

2B Mindset is a game changer!

Okay friends, how many of you can relate to any of these statements?

✔️ I HATE measuring my food.
✔️ I HATE counting portions.
✔️ I REALLY don't like to exercise.
✔️ Calories are my enemy.
✔️ I HATE food prep.
✔️ Did I mention that I don't want to exercise??

OUR BRAND-NEW EATING PROGRAM IS LAUNCHING ON WEDNESDAY!!! And if you answered "YES" or "HELL YES" to any of these, you will want to know more! I promise.  

I've been watching the test group results for MONTHS and I'm floored with participants that couldn't get results with any other program; this being their "ah ha" moment.  Month over month their testimonies are tearful praising Illiana for designing this program that GIVES YOU YOUR LIFE BACK!  Once they learned the 2B Mindset Principles, the pounds seemed to melt off and there is NO RESTRICTIONS.  Stop ruining from calories, carbs, whatever your nemesis is and learn how to respectfully "plate" your food in a balanced way.  And guess what...exercise is "EXTRA CREDIT," but never required. There are 22 videos that really get at the heart and soul of overeating and teach you how to WANT to manage your food intake!

If you want more info and would like to be in my 20 person TEST GROUP, email me at stephanie@eatsweatpray.com to save your spot!  

Seriously y'all, lets rethink about food and put the love back in the kitchen!  

Rest Day

Rest days make good meal prep days. Have you done your shopping yet? What are you making this week?

How is everyone feeling after the first week of Phase 2? For me, having all-new workouts makes this program feel fresh and new. I’m definitely feeling a change in my body, and the new moves are keeping things exciting!

Now that you’ve tried all the workouts from this week, don’t forget your self-care. I look forward to this all week long and lay on the roller some nights through the week even.  Do the Roll & Release or Stretch & Release workouts, get a massage, or whatever you have to do to prepare for next week.

Also, now’s a great time to recommit to your goals. You’ve put in so much work to get here, so don’t forget why you started and watch this week’s Weekly Obsession episode on Beachbody On Demand.

Day 32: Cardio Flow

Get your flow on…Cardio Flow!

In Phase 2 Autumn takes us from 4 reps to 6 reps in this workout! It’s only 35 minutes, but it moves fast because you’re already familiar with the pattern. I won’t lie—this one’s challenging, but do your best, take a deep breath, and you’ll be so proud of yourself when it’s over! If your kids are interested, see if they want to join you!  My 9 yr old starting doing this one with me, all of his own free will. 

A NOTE ABOUT NEXT WEEK’S REFEED DAY: Our first modified Refeed Day is next Wednesday. If you’ve never done this before, Autumn adds a few extra, targeted carbs to the plan. The goal is to replenish your muscle glycogen—which can help you work harder and have more energy. Some people wake up the day after looking and feeling leaner and tighter too! The other benefit is that a refeed gives you a little mental break from being 100% on with your clean nutrition. So relax and enjoy it!  DO NOTE that there is a rhyme and reason for this - IT IS NOT A FREE FOR ALL!

I’m bringing up the Refeed Day now because you’ll want to use this weekend to decide what you’re going to eat and do your shopping. For Refeed Day your yellows will all be from the Supplemental Yellow List in your Food Lists. So check out that list, buy what you need, and get ready!  I found in round one that I did better with desserts from Fixate which were still "clean" because going with starchy carbs after not having them for so long, hurt my tummy.  Other reason is I couldn't stop at 1-2 pieces of pizza so I had to make sure I didn't binge on Refeed Day. that's not what this is for.  It's always before Leg Day, even in Phase 3.

Banana pancakes

Pancakes = 1R, 1P, 1Tsp
Sweet pot !Y, Rocket 1G (you can combine all these ingredients into pancakes as well and you don't notice the carbs or veggie, but use spinach not rocket...it's too strong in flavor).

I know I have a few versions of pancakes on my blog...banana pancakes, sweet potato pancakes, green pancakes, etc but y'all...I LOVE PANCAKES.  Like, LOVE!  My favorite are lemon pancakes my hubby makes, but they are not clean and it will cause all kinds of drool on my computer, so for now, I'm not blogging about them.  Mother's Day is coming up, it might be on my list.  Seriously though, I'm so obsessed with sweet potatoes, not sure I can leave them out of my breakfast every again as long as I live.  haha

Ok, super easy.  Grab a Ninja / Magic Bullet blender, doesn't need to be fancy and throw all these ingredients together. 

Ingredients:
-1/2 banana
-2 eggs

Directions: blend, pour in pan sprayed with Olive Oil and cook.  Enjoy!  1 serving size and 1R & 1P.  Top with 1 tsp PB if you wish (it's still delish without it) for 1Tsp if you need / want more containers. 

I feel silly even blogging about this because it's so stinking easy.  But, after I made this I thought about sweet potatoes and spinach...they both are 2 ingredients that can do undetected in most foods (yes, spinach might change the color, but not the taste).  So, I tried it again adding in 1G of Spinach and 3 slices of previously cooked sweet potatoes (1Y) and I got the perfect post workout meal in just pancakes.  Feel free to top with PB if your containers / plan allows.  

My kids like these with just bananas and eggs, but you could throw in sliced bananas also for texture, or chocolate chips for a treat! 

These last in the fridge a few days so I usually make 2-4 days worth at a time if I have 2 over rip bananas.   Let me know what you think! 

Day 31: AAA

TGIF!!  it's Fri-Yay y'all and we are back to AAA.  Grab all of your equipment, because you’ve got 60 minutes of intense work using your weights, Beachbody Strength Slides, and Resistance Loops. You may also need a mat if you work out on a hard floor and a chair for balance, or if you're modifying. Choose your weights carefully, and consider going a little lighter until you get used to the moves.  If you find you're ready to move up, I'd consider buying the adjustable set weights. I didn't do this early on and spent money on dumbbells and then kept moving up and it would have saved me a lot had I done this early on.  Learn from my mistake :)

As we head into the weekend, let’s talk meal prep. Are you doing it? Finding it hard or easy?  What do you love / hate about it? Share your thoughts below so I can help with any challenges you might be having.

MEAL PREP TIP: Have you guys seen Autumn’s video on meal-prepping her Shakeology? She creates “smoothie bags” that she fills with fruits and veggies and keeps in her freezer so she doesn’t have to wash or chop on busy days. It’s pretty genius and so easy!! 

Day 30: Legs

Work those Legs!  That’s right, it’s leg day AGAIN. How does this one creep up on me so fast?!?!  It's one I love to hate which usually means I need it the most. We have 50 minutes of weights and Beachbody Strength Slides and will knock out 2 sets of 15 reps.

SELF-CARE REMINDER: I know I talk about this a lot, but Autumn has made it very clear that self-care is a huge part of this program. Especially after hard workouts like Legs, it’s really important to stretch, relax, use a foam roller, take a bath, or whatever you need to do to help your muscles recover. For those of you who have Beachbody Performance Recover, are you still taking it after your workouts? Do you notice a difference?

Day 29: Total Body Core

Total Body Core is here! Two sets, 15 reps, 60 minutes and uses  weights, Beachbody Strength Slides, and a mat. These are all-new compound moves, which means you’re working multiple body parts at the same time which means faster results. Heck YES, PLEASE!  Start with slightly lighter weights until you feel comfortable to move up.  You do not want to hurt your back!

Day 28: Cardio Core

Who’s ready to get sweaty? MEEEEEEE!!  I love Cardio Core day! Today we need Beachbody Strength Slides, Beachbody Resistance Loops, and a mat for this 45-minute workout. Remember, this workout alternates one cardio interval with one HIIT interval followed by a core move. Then at the end we’ll do all the core moves in a row. IF YOU CAN, do one extra core set. It's not very long, shorter than 10 min abs and it's such great lower ab work.  This is optional of course, but I encourage you to push yourself. 

Did you remember to recalculate your container bracket at the end of Phase 1? (see your Starter Guide under Program Materials on BOD). You need to be sure you’re eating enough to get through these workouts, and burn fat, not muscle.  Timed-Nutrition is important to give your body what it needs, when it needs it. So make sure you’re eating in the right plan. I can help if you have questions.

Speaking of nutrition, are you getting bored yet? If so, check out Beachbody On Demand for some FIXATE recipes, the Beachbody blog, or HERE for 80 day obsession approved recipes.  Remember you need to check containers first to make sure it works with your customized plan.  I’ve used this article many times when I need some different lunch ideas.

The easiest way to make an ice cream cake!

I've never made an ice cake before, but my son really really wanted a Baskin Robbins Ice Cream cake and I didn't feel like paying $69.95 for it, so I decided to make it.  All in, the ice cream cost me $16 and the cake mix $4, candles $3, and icing ingredients (because my hubby CANNOT buy store bought ice cream - whatevs) $5.  So $28, vs $70 and my son was so proud because we "made it".  We will take that win to the bank any day :)  

For the record, I believe some things are better from a box.  This isn't clean eating so buying a cake mix causes me no guilt or uncomfortable feelings, I secretly do a jump in the grocery aisle thinking (1) it will turn out and (2) I'm glad I'm not THAT MOM that has to make homemade cakes from scratch because see #1 above.  It won't turn out, I. Just. Know. It.  I digress.  

Here's what I did and the beauty of this is you can do it days ahead, it actually turns out better so no stressing the day of the party (as long as you have a freezer handy. if not, stress away and think of Plan B). 

Step 1: Chose your favorite ice cream and partially defrost it.  Line the pan you chose to use (I'd stick with brownie plan 8x8 or 9x9, or a round pan like this, similar size).  Line with parchment paper or seran wrap so you can easily pull it out without cracking or breaking the layer.  I had 2 pans so I made both ice cream layers at the same time.  As you're spooning the ice cream into the pan and pressing it down, it will smooth out and fill in all the holes. If it still seems lumpy, maybe you have too much and need to eat some.  I kid.  Not.  When finished, put in the freezer and let re-freeze for a day

Step 2: Make your cake.  I wanted to do 2 layers ice cream and 2 layers cake, but that would have just been too much cake and we'd have it leftover for months, so I stuck with 3 layers total.  the top looks thicker because of the vanilla frosting.  Once you make your cake as instructed, let it cool completely and put it in the freezer.  I lined the pan with aluminum foil so I could take it out easily and it could go in the oven.  Parchment paper would work too, but I find it crinkles in the oven sometimes and I wanted my cake smooth. Once completely cook, put in freezer for a few hours, or up to one day.

Step 3: Remove all layers from their respective pans and stack together.  You need to use freezer-friendly icing which is really hard to find in here, so we made whipped cream frosting and it was perfect!  Ice it VERY QUICKLY, remember you're dealing with ice cream here and it's no longer in the mold and will lose shape and form fast!!  Put in freezer once you're done and let it all come together.  The icing can fill in any defects so no pressure to have each layer perfect. You could ice between the layers, but for my first cake, I didn't want to risk timing and the ice cream melt on me.  That experiment is for cake #2 :) 

Step 4: Add any toppings and store in freezer till ready to serve.  At this point, I'd put it on your fancy cake platter and be ready to serve it.  We have 3 of these and have moved them from CA, to TX, to Australia and used them NEVER!  NOT ONE SINGLE TIME. We forget and this happens and we are screwed!  Thus, remember to transfer before the party starts. You're welcome :) 

This served 8 boys and we 12 pieces still leftover!  It makes a lot!!! To store leftovers, slice it completely and put in freezer-safe tupperware and you could enjoy for weeks to come. My family will eat this in 4 nights (3 people * 4 nts = 12 pcs) GONE!  

Day 27: Booty

Welcome to Phase 2 of 80 Day Obsession! We already have 1/3 of the program behind us y'all!  And in 2 weeks we will be 1/2 way there! Does it help you to count down like that?  haha, it totally helps me. I do all kinds of crazy math in my head when I'm working out... ok 5/8 done, I got this.  Maybe that's the previous CPA coming out in me?! 

But, there's no boredom or plating going on here!  New moves to work our bodies in all-new ways and build lean muscle! Phase 1 started the fat burn, and this phase will build in intensity, so your results aren't stopping. The moves might be more complex, so feel free to pause and try it first and then un-pause.  DO NOT QUIT, but make sure your form is right so (1) no injuries and (2) you target the area Autumn wants us to work.

It's 55 minutes, 2 sets of 15 reps and you need your weights and Beachbody Resistance Loops. Time to press PLAY!

Rest Day

WE MADE IT TO THE END OF PHASE ONE!!  Time to celebrate!!!  Grab some cucumber, lemon, lime, or herbs and have a mocktail!!!  Awesome work y'all!

Make sure to take your progress photos so you can see how far you came in Phase 1. If you’re willing to share your photos with the group, I highly encourage you to do so. It might be scary, but the affirmations and loving words are so deserved for your hard work and you might inspire a friend to join you! Also, take your measurements again so you can see how many inches you’ve lost. The scale isn't the only measuring device for results and often it's skewed so if you're not taking measurements, you might get deflated when in reality, there are a lot of positives happening!

Don’t forget your self-care today! Do Roll & Release or Stretch & Release, get a massage…whatever you can do to prepare yourself for brand-new workouts coming next week. And of course, watch the Weekly Obsession episode on Beachbody On Demand!

Day 26: Cardio Flow

Last hard workout of Phase 1! We made it y'all! 

It’s Cardio Flow and we're still at 4 reps, repeating for 30 minutes, so be thankful for that.  Next week we jump to 6 reps and I'm thinking "holy heck how will I do that?!". Set your intentions for the workout and press play. You can do this, we are already four weeks in.  This is nothing. 

DO YOUR CALORIE CALCULATION AGAIN BEFORE STARTING PHASE 2. The workouts are going to ramp up, so you will likely eat a little different than in Phase 1. Good news is, you might be getting MORE food! You need that fuel for your workouts so don't short change yourself.  I often hear women say they're just going to stick to a bracket...because...and that's not right y'all.  Autumn and dietitians spent hours upon hours writing this program, having coaches and challengers test it out BEFORE it even launched.  They know what works and what doesn't so don't become the personal trainer or dietitian here.  Stick with the plans to get results.  Food isn't bad, its fuel and if you want your body to work hard, you need to give it the proper amount and type of fuel!

We won't recalculate our brackets again till the start of Phase 3. People make the mistake of changing brackets every few days because they don’t see results fast enough and they're cheating themselves. They’re also cheating the plan by not following it to a T. Trust the process, do the work, and give it time!

Day 25: Legs

Whose got strong LEGS?  We do, we do!!!  Is leg day a love it or hate it deal for you? I personally love it (AFTER THE FACT EVEN MORE), because even though it’s hard it makes me feel strong. 

BEACHBODY ON DEMAND APP: Have you tried it yet? If not, do it today and thank me later.  Or don't bother, we can agree you'll be grateful :) I love it most because I can do my workouts wherever I am, whatever time, and chose a length video that works with the limitations I have. And if I don't have wifi, I can save workouts ahead of time to view offline later.  Yes, so I'm basically saying, no excuses missing a day of 80 Day Obsession, get er done :)  All you need is your phone, tablet, computer or smart TV and you can do your workout. 

Ok, we only need weights today for 50 minutes of fun, sweat and a few lunges.  2 sets of 15 reps...ready...set...go!

Day 24: AAA

AAA week 4 already, time is flying by!!  We’re back to 2 sets of 15 reps, so grab a variety of weights, Beachbody Resistance Loops, Beachbody Strength Slides, and mat for this 50-minute workout.  And then it's over, we can do this y'all! 

CONFIDENCE CHECK: Let’s talk confidence today. Having made it this far through the program means you’ve done a lot of hard work, both mental and physical. You should be so proud of yourself; are you? I know that I feel my best when I’m eating and exercising regularly, and that gives me confidence and the desire to keep pushing. Drinking Shakeology every day is not hard, it's delicious!  Make this a non-negotiable every day.  Remember, nutrition is just as, or more, important so tired, sick, healthy, energetic, whatever - DO NOT MISS YOUR SHAKE!  

What gives you confidence?