3 month transformation

AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!! You guys, this is a HUGE HUGE HUGE step out of my comfort zone. I have ALWAYS been extremely self-conscious of my belly. No matter how thin I've been, it's always got extra fluff and is just not my favorite feature. Be kind! ;)

These pictures are of my 3- month transformation since I started eating clean and doing my at-home workouts. I have been struggling this whole time with balancing trying to cut calories and maintain my milk supply for my nursing baby. It has been very challenging to find the balance and the weight has been coming off very sllooooooww! But, in actuality, "safe" weight loss is 1# per week, so I am pretty much on par!!! I know y'all feel me though...when you're trying so hard day in and day out, you expect to see a new pant size every week! ;)

Even though I'm terrified of sharing these pictures, I wanted to challenge myself and put myself out there for YOU. If me putting myself out there can motivate even ONE person that YOU CAN DO IT, then that's what I will do! I have felt an outpouring of support from you guys (THANK YOU!) and I feel like my journey is not just for me....it's for you too! If me putting myself out there motivates you in any way, shape, or form to create your own change....then I will stand on a dang pillar in the middle of Times Square to get you there! 

I will tell you this again. I know what it feels like to be unhappy in your own skin every day. I also know what it feels like to feel pretty happy with your body. I WANT THAT FEELING FOR YOU!! No good comes from feeling bad about yourself. Feeling discouraged every time you catch a glimpse in the mirror. Tugging at your shirt so it's not clinging to your belly. Making sure your bra is positioned just right to minimize back-fat rolls. STOP! Time to make the change!

Seriously you guys, people always say this, but if I can do it...YOU can do it! I mean it. I want this for you so bad!!!

I'm not at my goal yet, but I wanted to show my progress so far! 

Are you ready to create your own progress pictures????

Ok, I've even sitting here for 25 Minutes not pushing "publish"....aaaah, here goes nothing!!!

Meatless bacon bits?

Jigga what? Yeah, I went there. meatless bacon bits! Sort of seems sinful to label something to be glorious bacon when it totally isn't! I thought this was one of the most interesting recipes I've tried, though!

"Bacon bits" 

-3 cups unsweetened flakes coconut

•     2 Tbsp Soy Sauce
•     2 Tbsp Molasses
•     2 Tbsp Liquid Smoke
•     1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
•     1 Tbsp Cider Vinegar

Directions
Step 1
Preheat oven to 325°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper, a silicon pad or spray with pan spray.
Step 2
Whisk together soy sauce, molasses, liquid smoke, olive oil and vinegar. Add Bob’s Red Mill Coconut Flakes and mix well. Let sit for 10 minutes so the coconut absorbs all the liquid.
Step 3
Spread coconut in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet.
Step 4
Bake at 325°F until deeply toasted, about 15 – 20 minutes. Stir often! (About every 3 – 5 minutes.)
Step 5
Let “bacon” bits cool completely then store in an airtight container. They can easily be re-crisped in a low oven for 5 minutes.
Great for salads, baked potatoes, mixed with popcorn or put into snack mixes!

That girl

Have you ever been "that girl?" 

You know, the one who is constantly sucking in her stomach when around people? Things can look okay, except, of course, when you have to sit down, and your stomach billows over the top of your pants like a busted can of biscuits.

You always want to get a booth at a restaurant, because it feels like you can hide your body better. Clearly, a chair is way too exposing! And at that restaurant, you're conscious of what you order. You really want a cheeseburger and fries, but you're sure that the waitress would be saying in her head, "oh honey--you should just get a side salad."

 But maybe you DO order a side salad. When you place that order, you're convinced the waitress is saying, "who is she kidding with a side salad?" You convince yourself that everyone in the restaurant is picking apart what you are or are not eating just because you're overweight. If you give in and order what you really want to, they're judging you. If you try to "be good" and order a healthy option, they're judging you, figuring that you've probably got a tube of Pringles and a Snickers bar in your purse. And definitely, even if you are super hungry, do NOT finish all of your food. That would be piggish. Always ask for a to-go box.

When you're in public, you're constantly adjusting and pulling at your shirt. You're pulling down at the back of your bra to try your best to minimize the back fat rolls that bulge out. Maybe you even try a 38B, even though you're a 36B...just to see if the band cuts in less.

So, have you been "that girl?" Does any of this sound familiar to you? I didn't get this from a collection of women's insecurities I pulled from somewhere. This is me. I'm "that girl." I've been her for as long as I can remember. Even a little over a year ago, when I was at my smallest, I still did some of these things. 

Many of these thoughts are gone but I still have to fight them from time to time.

Am I telling you this so you think I'm a huge flake? Absolutely not.  Am I telling this to get attention? Absolutely not. So, WHY am I telling you this?.... I'm sharing this because I want YOU to know that if you can relate to any of this, you don't have to. It can change! You CAN feel more confidence, give less care to what others are thinking of you and order whatever the hell you want at a restaurant (80/20 rule!)! Going from a girl that always thought people were looking at me thinking how fat I was, to a girl that feels pretty okay in her skin is so uplifting. I have good days and bad days, though. I'm still working to get back to where I want to be after my second baby, but I know what it feels like on the other end and I WANT YOU TO ALSO!! And also to know that I GET IT. I can relate. I feel ya!

Are you ready to make the change??

Contact me on my Facebook page, Fit 4 You or Kate Brown. I'm here for ya!! ❤️

So....why Beachbody??

Since I jumped on this crazy ride of coaching, I've had a few people ask me "Why Beachbody?" I thought I would give a little insight as to why I chose to work with this company versus all the other "health" lines out there. No....it's not because I have a "beach-body," not because I have dreams of moving to California and getting a blonde wig and sporting an endless summer tan. It is not all about vanity and trying to look like a Barbie. This is about taking control of my health and well-being and having the blessing of helping others do the same. Truthfully, I actually used to hate the name Beachbody and in my past life didn't like the company even though I knew nothing about them! I just thought they were promoting everyone need to look like a Victoria's Secret model doing a beach shoot with her "beachbody." SO untrue! Health and vanity are not the same thing.




Let me start by re-touching a little bit on my past. After I gained 50+ pounds in college, I began my cycle of yo-yo dieting. I've run the gamete of exercise and calorie counting, diet pills, paleo, cleanses, and commercial weight loss programs. I have A LOT of experience trying to lose weight. I have dabbled in many products from the other popular companies under the Health and Wellness umbrella. I was an expert yo-yo dieter desperate to find anything "quick" that would work. Some things temporarily did and some things didn't. Even though I've gone up and down on the scale and spent countless amounts of money on weight loss attempts, it wasn't all for naught.  This has all given me so much knowledge of what works, what doesn't, nutrition, exercise, etc. My dad also passed away at a very young age from a heart attack, so maintaining my own health is always something in the forefront of my thoughts! So after experimenting with many other programs and attempts to be healthy, why Beachbody?......




1. Beachbody is NOT a quick fix. Let's be honest, it'd be great if there were just a magic pill you could take to lose weight, get that 6 pack and be the picture of health. But, there isn't. I've tried. Yes, initially, I did lose weight taking some crazy stuff, but it NEVER stayed, I felt awful and I was damaging my body. THERE IS NO QUICK FIX. I repeat, THERE IS NO QUICK FIX. Okay, ya hear me on that yet? :) You're crazy if you think you are going to find it and maintain it without sacrificing your health in some way. So, you need to put the work in and eat healthy and EXERCISE. Which leads me to....




2. The exercise programs are LEGIT! Some people see the "before and after" photos and call B.S., but these programs have been tested and proven to be effective if they're followed. There's a ton of money put into ensuring they work. You put the time in, you get results. Simple as that. Many of the other popular companies that are "competitors" to Beachbody do not have this to offer. It seems to elementary to me that if you are going to be a company under the health umbrella, exercise would be a part of it! It needs to be. I honestly used to HATE exercising. I'd go ramble around the gym, aimlessly doing some reps on different machines, hopping on the dreadmill for awhile and was frustrated I wasn't seeing results. The whole time I was there, I was also self-conscious, assuming everyone was looking at me thinking, "yeah, chubby, good thing you're here---you need it." It took until after my dad passed from a heart attack for me to really buckle down and realize I NEEDED to exercise. And if you want to lose weight and keep it off, you do too!




3. There is a team aspect. Yes, this is a multi-level marketing company like many others, but it is SO different and stands apart from the others, in my opinion. I NEVER, EVER envisioned myself doing this. In fact, I will fully admit, I occasionally still squirm when I mention it to certain people (because I'm afraid they'll associate it with all of the marketing companies out there that just want to take your money), but I believe in the products and mission of this company SO much, that I'm willing to squirm. I'll get over it! With Team Beachbody, work together and support each other. It's not just about the person on top doing well from all of the people under them. We are in teams, so we are connected to other people who help us succeed. Because of this, there is a TON of support and camaraderie within your group! And the CEO of this company is the most down-to-earth person you'd care to meet. He is honest, real and genuinely cares about ending the trend to obesity.




4. The coaching. This company isn't just about buying and using a product. It's not about pushing sales. You get a FREE coach to guide you, answer questions, support, motivate and keep you accountable. Where else can you find that for FREE???  People's level of success is so much greater from having the support of their coach and like-minded individuals.




5. Shakeology. 'Nuff said. I am a freak about ingredients. Yes, I do occasionally eat stuff I know is bad for me, but the point is, I know it's bad for me. I have that knowledge base to know what is good and what is bad, and Shakeology is like the nectar of the Gods. It's like oxygen. The ingredients in this nutrient-dense superfood shake are second to none. I have tried shakes from many other companies and never felt totally great drinking them because of the ingredient list, but like I said, I was looking for that "quick" fix and at the time, being thin was more important to me than being healthy. Oh, the young, vain person I was! Even after I had my son and tried a few different shakes, I NEVER felt okay giving him any, even though he'd always ask for a little sip. It got me thinking, "if I wouldn't give this to my son, why am I drinking it?" Thank goodness I got introduced to Shakeology! Jonah, my son, gets 1/2 a shake every once in awhile and I feel 100% okay about it!! No fake ingredients!




Those are my 5 main reasons for "why Beachbody." In NO way am I intending to bash any other company or product, which is why I didn't list any specific names! I'm also not trying to "convince" anyone to use Beachbody products or services.  These are just some of my reasons as to why I chose to company with Beachbody to #endthetrend of obesity, get myself healthy, and hopefully inspire and help others along the way!!!! Bottom line, I decided to improve my health and become the person I want to be, and Beachbody is the tool I use to achieve that!




As always, let me know if you have any questions!!! :)

Another Fix!

Okay, y'all said you would help me choose on my latest Stitch Fix! It was a busy weekend and I wasn't able to get this post up before I had to return the things I wasn't keeping. But, I promised you a fashion show, so here you go!!

What would you have kept? (Hint:I only returned 1 item!)

Here's an upside down pic of everything from the box:

Can't really tell, but this has gold

Buttons down the back:

My Fix!

So, have you guys ever heard of Stitch Fix?? This is not a pitch on them, as I am not paid to say anything, but this company ROCKS my world!!! Like, for real. I don't mind shopping, but don't love it. I also have no free time to just go hit the mall, so this box coming to my doorstep is usually accompanied by choirs of angels singing (or maybe that part is just in my head?!)

For those who haven't heard of it, in a nutshell, you fill out a style profile, tell them your sizing, and set up to receive a Fix! You can get tops, bottoms, jewelry, outerwear, purses, etc! You will never really know what is coming in your box though, it's like a personal shopper who ships a neatly packaged box of 5 items right to your door! They will link to Instagram or your Pinterest if you wish to get an idea of your style, or just go by your style profile you fill out. They will even challenge you to step out of your comfort zone with clothing and send you some things that may not be totally typical for you. It's pretty damn rad, if you ask me!

You can set up to receive these Fixes on a regular basis, or just as you wish. I had stopped mine while I was pregnant, but have an occasion coming up, no time to shop, and am SO out of the loop on what's trendy, so Stitch Fix to the rescue!!!

So here are the 5 items that came in my latest box....

Here it is all in it's pretty mint and white packaging.....

Everything that came in my little delivery...

1st top...

A floral keyhole blouse. I love, love, love the pattern and colors!

Paired with one of my own cardigans...

Top#2--sheer blouse with lace print

It's supposed to fit sort of loose, but was much too big and blousy :(

Top #3-- a SUPER soft coral heathered cardigan

Top #4--a SUPER comfortable asymmetrical cardigan. Not a huge fan of it zipped...

Same cardigan unzipped. It's a beautiful cobalt color and has some pizazz with the zipper and the asymmetricalness (whoa, check that word, Webster's!)...

Item #5--gold "feathered" earrings

So, those are the 5 items in my Stitch Fix box this time!

What do you think I kept??????

Fat a**!!

Let me tell you a little story.....


About 6-7 years ago, my husband and I went to a MN Twins game with another couple. After the game was over, we began the 7 block trek back to our respective cars. We were standing at the street corner, waiting for the little "walk" signal to pop up so we could cross the busy street. When the little walk signal finally popped up, we started across, when some jerk yelled out of his car window, "Hurry up, fat ass!" Sadly, I instantly knew that he meant me. Nobody else in our group of 4 was overweight...except me. The other girl we were with sweetly yelled back, "Oh yeah? Fat ass?" trying to make it seem like they meant her. They didn't, though. She knew it and I knew it.
We all were kind of quiet for the rest of the walk back and pretended like that hadn't happened. It was too uncomfortable to talk about. I was holding back the tears and could feel my cheeks throbbing from embarrassment. My husband and I rode home and didn't say anything about it ever again.


My point of sharing this story is to say, first of all, if you've ever experienced one of those moments where you can no longer deny you're overweight and it's thrown in your face like that....I get it. I understand. I had my own personal "a-ha!" moments of realizing I needed to change, but having a stranger call you out on it is on a whole different level.


I also share this for myself. Even though it may sound like kind of a dumb thing, I will likely never forget that moment. It broke my heart at the time, but was WAY too embarrassing to talk about with anyone...even my husband. So, now that I am no longer unhealthy and greatly overweight, sharing this story out loud feels like a little release for me and I can let it go and imagine myself giving that jerk a piece of my mind! People can be awful sometimes. If that guy knew how much he hurt me, well actually, I doubt he'd care. Someone who would say that out loud to a stranger doesn't have much of a soul! So, even though this is horribly embarrassing to share, I'm glad to release this from my "baggage!" Thanks for listening! :)