80 Day Obsession : Week 1

Can I be completely honest?  I've NEVER completed a program from start to finish.  I've NEVER been 100% on point with my nutrition or workouts.   (Insert gasp...  ha!)   But look, I've achieved and maintained some amazing results.

My 2017 was pure hell.  I started the year off being very sick and after $20,000 in medical tests, including an $823.19 stool sample test that wasn't covered by insurance at all, I had ZERO answers.   I lost 10lbs and couldn't workout for months.  I constantly felt nauseous and had zero energy.  I could barely care for myself, let alone my family.
The first week in May, I found out that our rental home wasn't closing on time, my dad's cancer was growing and I found out that I was losing my job of 6 years due to a company merger.   We ended up moving our entire family from Iowa to South Dakota.  This meant two new jobs, a new place to life, two new daycares, and a new school. The sale of our house in Iowa fell through twice.  Needless to say, I felt completely broken for most of 2017.

Insert the announcement of 80 Day Obsession.  Deep down, I knew this program was something that I NEEDED.   Is it going to be easy?  No.  I'm not going to lie, I'm nervous for this program.

80 Day Obsession Overview:

• Release Date: January 15, 2018
• Difficulty Level: Intermediate - Advanced
• Program Length: 13 Weeks, 
• Workouts: 6 Days/Week (Rest Sundays), 45-60min
• Combines Cardio & Strength
• Required Equipment: Weights, Slides, Loops & Mat
• Meal Plan: Timed-Nutrition using Portion Fix Containers

I plan to document my entire journey on Instagram, my Facebook page and here, via my blog. I am leading a group of women in my challenge group too!  If you are interested in learning more about joining my group, fill out my application HERE. 

Each week I plan to document:

1. What went well & not so well
2. What to work on for the coming week
3. Meal plan & prepping
4. Workout schedule
5. Daily plan
6. Photos
7. Measurements

Meal plan for the 1st week will look like this...

Here is what my schedule will look like for this first week...

Before photos and measurements. They were hard to take, but I'm ready for tomorrow!

Happy Holidays Meal Plan

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

This week will be a little different than most weeks.  With the Christmas holiday this weekend, we will be traveling and spending time with family.  I'm certain most of you will as well.  I hope you have a safe and happy holiday season!

I am trying a couple new recipes this week because I'm off work for a couple days.   I will be writing up the ones that we like and adding them to my blog soon!

You will notice that I have three slow cooker recipes on the menu this week.  Tis the season, right?  :)

Below is a simple meal plan that we will follow this week too!  Enjoy!

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Monday -  Slow Cooker Honey Garlic Chicken & Veggies**

Tuesday -  {Taco Tuesday}  Taco Cups**

Wednesday -  Easy Chicken Parmesan Bake **

Thursday -  Kodiak Pancakes + Oven Bacon

Friday -  English Muffin Pizzas

Saturday -  {Appetizers for Christmas}  Crock Pot Pizza Dip

Sunday -  Slow Cooker Pineapple Ham, Mashed Potatoes & Corn

** New recipe

What is 80 Day Obsession?

Beachbody is preparing for the launch of the newest program, 80 Day Obsession with celebrity trainer, Autumn Calabrese.  Autumn is best known for the 21 Day Fix, 21 Day Fix Extreme, Hammer & Chisel, and Country Heat

I will be honest, I don't necessarily love the word "Obsession".  By definition, obsess means to preoccupy or fill the mind of (someone) continually, intrusively, and to a troubling extent. 

I didn't like the connotation it may have for my customers and people I am trying to help have a HEALTHY relationship with nutrition and fitness. However, after listening to Autumn share her own thoughts on the word, I realized it is up to ME to teach others that it is OKAY to be obsessed with being HEALTHY. With taking care of the one BODY you have with to MOVE, FUEL, AND LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE. 

Let's face it! When we take care of ourselves first, it impacts everyone else around us!

Your family, your friends, and everyone else around you will be happiest if YOU are happy and take some time to care for yourself. I've had the chance to check out 5 of these new workouts, and I love the challenge of working new muscles, and focusing on gaining strength- not so much about weight loss.  But its definitely going to be a great benefit!

What can you transform most with a program like this? What could you gain from 80 days of focus and dedication? 

Look at these jaw dropping before and afters!

So, what is 80 Day Obsession?

This program is not only going to help you shed pounds, but it will also help you build lean muscles and going to tone your entire body.

 Workouts: There are 3 phases of workouts over the course of 13 weeks. In total there are 97 days of workouts because you get Sundays off as a rest day.   The workouts range from 45-60 minutes, and as always, there is a modifier.  The workouts will only be available on Beachbody on Demand (BOD).  

Nutrition: This program uses the portion fix containers for measurements but is totally different than the 21 Day Fix or other program. Autumn introduces timed nutrition, which is a macro-nutrient plan that is timed to produce amazing results. She walks you through the meal planning part and the fitness part of the journey. And as your coach, I will be there every step- right along with you!  I will be using Energize (pre-workout) and Recover (post-workout) along with my Shakeology to get the best results available.

My 80 Day Obsession Test Group will be starting workouts on January 15th.  Beginning January 8th, I’m going to help you out with the timed nutrition, designing meal plans, sticking with your workouts, troubleshooting, and focusing on YOURSELF!

Who is the 80 Day Obsession for?

This program is for anyone who wants to literally get strict with their nutrition and see how far they can go with results.  You do need to have a base level of fitness and an understanding of the portion fix and clean eating nutrition will help.

• Those that want a leaner, firmer, more sculpted body.
• Women looking to add some curves WITHOUT bulking up.
• Anyone who wants more definition.
• Fitness fans looking for an intense, holistic workout that they can do at home.
• People who love a challenge!

The really good news is this...  You have lots of time to get ready for 80 Day Obsession which is why I am hosting a “Prepare to Be Obsessed” Facebook Group to help you get your nutrition in check and your fitness up to speed.

Are you ready to get started?   

Fill out my application HERE  (or below!) to reserve your spot! I only have 20 spots available for this new challenge group!  Get ready to be in the absolute best shape of your life!

Still have questions?

Contact me via email at FierceRepublicFitness@gmail.com

Or send me a message on my Facebook or Instagram

**please note**

My job as a coach is to support you through the process and provide daily accountability and we work through this program together. My job is NOT to make you obsessed with your body but to help you focus on feeling your best. This program will require a shift in mindset as we start seeing food as fuel. 

I will not obsess over my body image but focus on preparing to look and feel my personal best.

Julie's Meatloaf

This was my mother's meatloaf recipe she gave to me.  It is simple and delicious.  And a bonus, its great as a leftover!

Ingredients:

• 1 pound hamburger (preferably 93% or higher)
• 1 egg
• 10 saltine crackers smashed
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 tbsp minced onion 
• Salt & pepper

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease glass loaf dish with cooking spray (I prefer olive oil cooking spray).
• Combine all ingredients in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper if desired; mix well with clean hands.
• Place mixture in loaf pan. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until cooked through.

Slow Cooker Ham & Potato Soup

This Ham and Potato Soup is a hit at our house.  Its an easy winter meal that's pretty much set it and forget it!

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 8


Ingredients

• 8 cups russet potatoes , diced
• 1 yellow onion , diced (not an onion fan?  Use 1 tbsp of minced onion!)
• 2 large carrots , peeled and chopped
• 1/2 cup chopped celery
• 16 ounce diced ham
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
• 1/4 cup flour
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• ½ cup plain greek yogurt

Instructions

• Add the potatoes, onion, carrot, celery, ham, salt, pepper chicken broth to your slow cooker and cook on low 7-8 hours, or high 4-5 hours.
• After potatoes are cooked through, use a potato masher, mash about 1/3 of the potatoes (don't worry the ham won't really mash that much)
• Add the flour, milk and plain greek yogurt and stir everything together.
• Cover and cook on high for an additional 15 minutes.

Mexican Lasagna

Ingredients:

• 1lb lean ground beef
• 1 cup of shredded cheddar or Colby jack cheese
• 1 cup of cottage cheese
• 1 cup of clean salsa
• Frozen corn
• 1 pkt taco seasoning
• 5 whole wheat tortillas

Create:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. In a skillet pan sprayed with nonstick spray, cook the ground beef until brown. Drain if necessary. Turn to low and add salsa, and taco seasoning and mix together. Set aside.
3. In a bowl, combine 3/4 cup of the cheddar cheese and the cup of cottage cheese.
4. In a baking dish sprayed with nonstick spray, line the pan with one tortilla shell. Scoop 1/4 of the meat mixture on top and spread out, covering the tortillas. Then add ¼ of the cheese mix on top of the meat and spread. Repeat the layers again with remaining tortillas, meat, and cottage cheese. I sprinkled frozen corn. Top with remaining cheese.
5. Cover and bake for 40 minutes and enjoy!

Shift Shop - Week 1

A new program was released just a few weeks ago.  It's called the Shift Shop with Beachbody's newest trainer, Chris Downing.

Meet the Trainer: 
Chris Downing is a proven personal trainer who has just one goal in sight: to help you accelerate the change you've always wanted. As creator of the Shift Shop fitness program, Chris’ engaging, motivation-based approach helps you grow stronger both physically and mentally. It's about so much more than helping you just get fit and lose weight. It's about shifting your body and mind to a place that allows you to reinvent yourself. Chris encourages you to envision what you want to look like and accomplish THAT. He takes the most results-driven training methods—effective for everyone from pro and amateur athletes to the everyday gym-goer—and tailors them to help you achieve a significant total-body transformation. This includes shorter workouts with exercise intervals that help you burn calories fast, and lose fat, while still increasing your strength. Whether it's agility training, premium weight-loss moves, or the ultimate abs workout—prepare to burn fat and reshape your physique at lightning speed—all while being powered by Chris' personal philosophy: Love. Empower. Inspire. 

Why the Shift Shop works:

WEEK01

Using his cutting-edge ramp effect, Chris starts you off with shorter workouts to help you stay focused and committed—without burning you out.

WEEK02

Just as your body adapts, Chris ups the level of activity and intensity just enough to continue to accelerate your endurance and your results.

WEEK03

Chris cranks up everything for the last time, ultimately shifting your body from the one you had 3 weeks ago to one that’s significantly faster, stronger, and leaner.

Because the program is just 3 weeks, you can easily fit it into your schedule. This is your shift. The one you’ve been talking about. You can do this.

My menu:

Shift shop follows the same container system for the 21 Day Fix.   I was on Plan A, which meant I had 4 Protein (red), 3 Vegetables (green), 2 Fruits (purple), 2 Carbs (yellow), 1 Healthy Fat (blue), 1 Seeds & Dressings (orange) & 2 Teaspoons.  

Knowing that I will be at work all week and home most of the week and weekend, I created a meal that would fit our lifestyle and budget.

For the first ever, I meal prepped.  I didn't want to find any reason for an excuse to throw me off my plan.  It will make everything SO easy in the mornings!  And yes, my husband is doing this with me.  He doesn't get a choice.  Haha.


Monday morning came and it was time to take measurements.  I hopped on the scale and recorded a 143.9.   My ultimate goal has always been to be at 135, but I've learned that its not about the scale, its about the photo transformation and my measurements.  



Time to make the shift!  Let's do this!