Featured!

Wow! The Huffington Post has featured one of my smoothie recipes! So honored!!

Check it out!

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/5193023

You! Lingerie Maternity & Nursing Tank & Bra Review

Hi ladies! I'be got some fun, playful, & flirty maternity/nursing lingerie for you! I had the chance to review You! Lingerie. This company began when it's owner became pregnant and could not find anything cute to wear underneath! So, she decided to do something about it and You! Lingerie was born! Their mission is to make breastfeeding mommies & mommies to be feel confident and look beautiful everyday. Love it!

Here is why you should wear You! Lingerie.

I had the chance to review the Sydney Maternity & Nursing Tank. This was my favorite nursing tank ever (and I own a few!). It was so cute for a tank and didn't look frumpy as it fit with my figure pretty well. It was comfortable and I would definitely buy more nursing tanks such as this again!

The tank features:

• Chic black & white stripes pattern with red combination
• Built-in nursing bra provides support, comfort, and discretion
• Breathable, absorbent, stretchy cotton/elastane blend to accommodate your changing breasts (it grows with you!)
• Easy, convenient and discreet one-handed maternity nursing clips with pretty bows in our signature hot pink color
• Wear strap classic or cross back
• Adjustable satin straps for additional support without compromising the overall appearance
• 90% Cotton, 10% Elastane, machine washable
• Easy sizing – S, M, L, XL

I also had the chance to review the Paris Maternity & Nursing Bra. This bra also comes with matching undies, which I did not review. I had a blast trying it on and my husband thought it was super flirty and cute-just as the rest of their nursing bras are! It truly made nursing a breeze, though the only thing that I would have improved about the bra was the flexibility of the cup when you pull it down to feed your baby.

The bra itself feaures:

• Softcup (no underwire)
• High 3/4 molded drop cups, perfect for low-cut necklines
• Smooth microfiber cup, great T-Shirt bra
• Wide underbust band & wide adjustable straps
• Signature Hot Pink nursing clips with one handed access
• 4-hook back closure
• Imported cotton/spandex
• Lining: 100% Cotton
• 32 B - 40 F (DDD)

I am so excited to have been able to try You! Lingerie. They have the cutest and most fun maternity and nursing wear around! Overall, I was very happy.

For a chance to win your choice of a Sydney tank or Paris bra, please enter the Rafflecopter below! We will be selecting not one, but TWO WINNERS! Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

To view more of You! Lingerie's collection, visit their:

Main Site
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Instagram

Disclaimer: I was given a cami & bra to test, at no cost. All opinions are my own.

Have Fun, Lose Weight, Win Money!

Hi ladies, I am not sure if you have heard of Dietbets, but I am starting a fun

 game for us all to join in! 

You've got 4 weeks to lose 4% of your starting weight. To begin, everyone puts money into the pot. After four weeks, whoever's hit their 4% goal is a winner and splits the pot.

You can join the game here: http://diet.bt/1gX7cCV

4 Moves to Target Your Mommy Tummy

Having a baby is such a wonderful experience, but sometimes we are left cringing at what we see in the mirror when we do not recognize ourselves. No postpartum body is the exact same-some women may bounce back perfectly while others generally require a good bit of time. After all, your body did take up to 40 weeks to change, stretch, and grow! Don't worry though-with time and hard work, you can get your sexy back in no time.

If you need tips to getting started on a clean diet, visit my eBook store and check out my Clean Eating Guide!

The best and number one thing that you can do for your postpartum body is to start a clean eating regimen by staying away from sweets, alcohol, and refined carbohydrates.

Practicing perfect posture and walking can do amazing things for your postpartum body as well! Unfortunately, there is no way to spot reduce your mommy tummy, but you can wake up those dormant Transverse Abdominus muscles to help flatten your tummy pouch.

Your transverse abdominal muscle, or TA,  is the most neglected muscle in your abdomen. They are the deepest core muscles and they form a natural girdle to support your entire middle section. Their main function is to stabilize your spine. They help to keep your organs in place, while putting pressure onto your abdomen. The development of the transverse muscles helps to tone and flatten your belly. You also can try wearing a postpartum girdle to support those muscles to get the same effect and to shrink your uterus back to its original size. Girdles also help heal diastasis recti; a condition in some postpartum women that involves the separation of the rectus abdominus muscle into right and left halves. However, there are some exercises that can help build those muscles back up from going dormant for so long.

Here are 4 abdominal moves to help activate those deep core muscles:

Plank

1. Start off on a yoga mat in the pushup position. Starting with the pushup position is the easiest way to get into the plank.
2. Lower both your forearms to the ground so that both your elbows and fists are flat to the ground. Your palms should be balled up, and directly underneath your shoulders.
3. Curl your toes under and engage your abs by tilting your pelvis and pulling your belly button toward your spine.
4. Straighten your body but keep your neck and spine neutral. Imagine that you’re a plank of wood, and that you’re straight as an arrow.
5. Flex your abdominals and squeeze your glutes. These are the two major muscle groups you’ll be working out in this exercise.
6. Hold this position, also known as the plank, until after the burning begins. Keep your eyes on the floor in front of you. Avoid raising your behind. Your body should make a straight line from your heels to the back of your head.

Leg Lift

1. Lie flat on your back with your legs stretched out in front of you. If you feel uncomfortable, try lying on carpet or on a yoga mat. If you have back problems, fold a towel and put it under the curve of your back, just above your hips. Keep your hands flat down on the ground.
2. Bend your legs and raise them, keeping your toes pointed. Your thighs should be perpendicular to your body, while your shins are parallel.
3. Straighten your legs so that they’re pointed at the ceiling. Keep your toes pointed. For a harder workout, skip Step 2 and slowly raise your legs to the ceiling without bending them.
4. Slowly lower your legs to about an inch off the floor. Don’t just let gravity work for your – make sure you’re in control. If the exercise feels too easy, try to lower more slowly.
5. Slowly raise your legs back up to the ceiling.
6. Repeat 5 times, then rest for 30 seconds. Try to do 3 sets for now – you can add more later on.

Reverse Ab Curls

1. Lie flat on your back with both hands behind your head, legs extended out with your heels lifted about six inches off the floor, toes pointed.
2. Contract your abs, bend and draw your knees into your chest, and raise your hips slightly off the floor.
3. Slowly lower back to the start position.
4. Repeat 8 times, for 3 sets total.

Scissor Lifts

1. Raise both legs toward the ceiling.
2. Keeping them straight, lower your left leg until it’s about six inches off the floor.
3. Lift your head and shoulders off the floor and grasp the back of your right leg, gently pulling it toward you.
4. Switch legs and repeat on other side.
5. Quickly complete 10 reps (no pausing!).

Congrats to all the new mommies out there and good luck on your journeys! 

DISCLAIMER: All content here should be considered as opinion only. Always seek the direct advice of your own doctor in connection with any questions or issues you may have regarding your own health or the health of others-especially if you think you may have Diastasis Recti. These exercises could potentially worsen your condition.

Want to build a better body in just 12 weeks? Check out my Fit Mommy Workout Bundle!

Buy now

Bundle & Save BIG!

In this bundle, you will receive:

-Butt & Thigh Blaster 4 Week Home Workout Program

-Armed & Fabulous 4 Week Home Program 

-Ab & Core Attach 4 Week Home Program

-Eat Clean, Get Lean 4 Week Meal Plan

All programs are bodyweight exercises only-NO GYM REQUIRED! You can simply do these at home within the comfort of your own home. 

Features 4 weeks of high-resolution step-by-step pictures and an exercise directory.

*The Armed & Fabulous program does require one set of dumbbells only.

Jumpstart your weightloss with this 4 week clean eating meal plan! With over 60 easy-to-make recipes, you are sure to enjoy the world of clean eating while losing those few extra pounds.

"Can I do all 3 workout programs together?" Absolutely! You can actually alternate them and do your butt program one day, arms the next, and then abs. Then start over! 

8 Tips to Beating Your Sugar Addiction

Sugar cravings are no joke. Whether you have developed a taste for the sweet stuff after eating it for so long or you are stuck smelling the aroma of the delicious bakery next door, sometimes there is little that you can do to control our sugar cravings-or so we make ourselves think! My weakness has always been cupcakes because I am addicted to the icing on top! I tingle just thinking about one! However, the day I cut cupcakes out of my life, the better I felt. And I can tell you-it was not easy.

It is true that sugar can get you addicted! It produces the same effects on the brain such as drugs like cocaine or heroine. Scary, right? White sugar is chemically formulated to make us love the taste and then keep us coming back for more. This is why we do not think twice about saying no to a birthday party! Think about it. When you taste the cake, donuts, ice cream, whatever sweets you may choose- it sends these signals to your brain that makes you feel so happy and energetic inside (endorphins)! Let's say you drink one soda. After an hour or so, you tend to feel worse than you did before drinking the soda. So, what do you do? You reach for another soda for that energy and happiness again. Crash. Repeat.

Instead of using sugar to trigger those endorphins or good feelings, try exercise or even a hot steamy sexual session! Both will give you the same exact effect-and even help you burn some calories in the process. Luckily, it IS possible to break the vicious cycle of sugar addiction. It is never easy and withdrawals can and will happen-just as with any addiction!

Here are 10 tips to get you headed in the right direction of breaking the sugar chain:

1. Wrap your mind around the idea.

Quitting an addiction is a very mental process because you must be mentally strong enough to stop giving in. Basically, you must teach yourself to break a bad habit, here. Find whatever motivates you or inspires you to quit sugar and stick with it. Educate yourself on why you want sugar out of your life and write those reasons down so you will not forget why you are doing this.

2. Use more natural sweeteners.

To help you in your journey to beating your sugartooth, ease away from white or granulated sugar by slowly replacing it with more natural sweeteners such as raw honey, maple syrup, coconut palm sugar-the list goes on! There are a large variety of alternatives that you can choose from to substitute the yucky white stuff. Here are 5 of my personal favorite sugar alternatives to try!

3. Get more rest

Sleep is the divine healer of all things. No, really. When you are fatigued, you will do anything to feel better and to get your energy levels back. Before reaching for an energy drink or Frappuccino, try taking a nap and see how you feel afterwards. Sleep deprivation can cause your stress levels to rise which in turn, makes you crave sweet crap even more-not to mention it also causes weight gain. So get your zzzz's!

4. Drink water

Water fills your tummy and makes you full. We all know that. However, so many of us tend to enjoy something with a little more pizzazz or taste to it. I am guilty! I hate the boring taste of water. Instead, I love to add a few slices of fresh lemon to my waters or even infuse fresh fruits as well. This helps to give the water a more natural, fun flavor and spice things up,

5. Brush Your Teeth With Minty Paste or Chew Mint Gum

Other than keeping your mouth busy, studies have shown that brushing your teeth and chewing mint gum helps bust a craving. Nothing tastes worse than eating something sweet (or any food in general) after brushing your teeth or eating something with a minty flavor to it. I even hate eating food after sucking on peppermints- it gives the same effect. The stronger the mint, the more you are unlikely to reach for sweets.

6. Read Your Labels

Know your nutrition! This is very important because if you are truly trying to bust your sugar habit because you do not want any sugar lurking around or hiding in your favorite foods. Always read your labels and sugar/carbohydrate contents on your food when grocery shopping. Do not forget to read the ingredient list either! If you see an ingredient ending in -ose, take a second look.

7. Choose Fruit Instead

Fruit, though it sometimes can have a high natural sugar content, is a better option to your sodas, pies, donuts, ice creams, etc. If you are concerned about the amount of sugar in your fruit, aim for better fruits such as strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries. Natural sugars always trump processed sugars.

8. Drink Water & Eat frequently

This is obviously another no-brainer, but many fail to abide by this rule. By keeping your tummy satisfied, there is usually little to worry about. When you crave something sweet, grab a bottle of water, drink it, and re-ask yourself the question of whether or not you want the cupcake. Make sure you are eating 5-6 small meals a day so that your body never goes too long without something fueling it. This cuts down on cravings drastically.