Motivation is Garbage

Are you spending your life on automatic pilot?

You have all these aspirations in your life about what you WANT and who you want to be, but you’ve let months go by without taking any action...

I was watching this amazing video with Mel Robbins this past weekend all about why it’s so hard to be motivated to do the little things to improve our lives and it got my wheels turning.

Here’s the thing: our brains are designed to protect us -- going out of our comfort zone and deciding to make a change literally makes our brains send stress signals to our body telling us to retreat and get back to our comfy cozy zone.

So  literally, our bodies are programmed to keep us from going out of our comfort zones and leaping. And it’s up to US to take the leap of faith and dive in. Trust our gut and tell our brains to eff off.

Here's the real-freaking-deal.

You need to stop waiting until you “feel like it”.

You are ONE decision away from a 100% different life.

A different job. A different relationship. A different life. A different outlook.

It may not feel that easy, but it IS. You literally have that power because YOU are in control of your life -- and as Mel so poignantly says: “If you change your decisions, you change everything.”

The timing of shit in your life can be SUUUPER MESSY.

And game changing opportunities don't just knock on your door once the "timing is right" or "you're ready".

Because, let's be honest: there is always something making it the "wrong time".

And if there's anything I've learned it's that those life changing magical opportunities tend to knock on your door at the most inopportune times.

---

I launched my business right after my wedding, having just quit my job and having the roof of our new house leak, causing major water damage.

Not ideal to say the least. But I jumped ANYWAYS.

I decided to crash into the fear, trust my gut and say YES to the life I had been dreaming of for years but never took any action on.

And that's what I want you to do. To jump in with everything you've got.

Right fucking now.

Not:

"when you have the time"

“When the motivation strikes”

"when the timing feels right"

"once you have the perfect body"

"once your busy schedule opens up"

"once you pay off all your debt"

"in a few months"

"when you feel ready"

"when everything lines up so perfectly that magical unicorns and rainbows fall from the sky"

Truth bomb? If you’re waiting for those things, then you’ll be waiting for the rest of your life. Because life just doesn’t happen that way.

You are WORTH putting your dreams into action right now.

So quit delaying your happiness.

And take f*cking action.

---

I want you to take the next 5 minutes and just write the answer to this question --

“Where have YOU been holding yourself back? If you could have the courage to make a change in your life right freaking now, without any “repercussions”, and what would you do?”

And once you've spent some time thinking on that, I want you to think of ONE way that you can take action on that RIGHT NOW. 

It's time to jump in. With both feet.

And decide to live that f*ck yes life you and I both know is there waiting for you.

I'm with you. I'm going. Who's coming with me?

Xo Amanda

p.s. my weekly love bombs have even more amaazeballs tips, tricks and truth bombs coming atcha every single week --- click the button below to get the weekly goods!!

What I wish I'd known...

This week marked the anniversary of my wedding day.

The entire day was a dream. Having my family and friends all in one space was seriously the fucking coolest. And sharing mine and Kev's love with everyone was so wonderful. We danced the night away, drank beer (we got married at a brewery in Chicago!) and had truly the best night of my life.

BUT, I wasn't happy.

YES I was ecstatic when it came to my love life. Kevan and I were in a wonderful place and so happy to be finally sharing a little piece of our lives with the people closest to us. I was on cloud nine to be around all of the people that I love most in this world.

But a year ago, I felt more lost than I ever had in my life. 

 

Let's rewind a little...

I graduated from college with a Bachelors degree in musical theatre. And while I LOVE acting and know it's something I'm supposed to do for the rest of my life, we were never really taught in school how to actually manage life in a practical sense (i.e. pay the bills, find work outside of acting, etc.)

So I did what all of my actor friends did. I found a job (well, multiple jobs really) just to get by. I worked at a call centre, I was a segway tour guide, I nanny-ed my butt off and I taught. All of that ON TOP of rehearsals in the evening for the various shows I was doing. At one point a year and a half ago, I was working six different jobs.

To say that I was burnt out is putting it lightly.

I had my wedding to look forward to and our mini moon to St Lucia but as soon as we got back to "reality", I came crashing down HARD.

 

You know that whole quarter life crisis thing? Well, let's just say I know allllll about it. I was a mess. I kept asking myself  "What am I doing with my life?" ... "Is this how it's going to be forever?"  ... and about a week after getting back to Chicago, I broke. 

I quit almost all of my jobs and spent a month soul searching. 

(I don't recommend this, by the way, but you know I will always tell it how it went down and well, that's what happened)

I was scared shitless. But I knew that I needed to take a strong hard look at what the hell I was doing with my life because I knew I was meant for so much more than the anxiety ridden, overwhelmed and exhausted version of myself that I had become. 

And I'm so glad I did. Because a year later, I'm in SUCH a different place. I've found I'm finally actually happy. I’ve found a career path outside of acting that actually LIGHTS ME UP. I’m calm. I’m happy. I wake up every morning and I’m so grateful for the world I’ve created for myself.

I feel FREE. And I get to spend my days working in little coffee shops like this, going for long walks with my dog and connecting with some of the most incredible women I've ever known.

How did I get here?

I asked myself three super simple (but crazy important) questions. And if my story has resonated with you at all, take a moment in your week and sit down and answer these questions too...Just write. Don't edit yourself. And you'll be surprised what you learn about yourself and what you really want.

Question 1: What makes you feel most ALIVE?

Question 2: Describe your perfect day, from the moment you get up in the morning to the minute you go to sleep.

Question 3: What do you VALUE most in life?

I know these may seem simple, but trust me when I say that if you take the time to sit down and get really clear with yourself on these answers, you will all of a sudden have a whole new world ahead of you. A potential world that is actually in line with what you need/want/crave. 

And though it may not be 100% feasible to just up and quit your life like I did, it IS possible to slowly start moving towards the quality of life you want.

You just have to decide you're worth it and take the leap.

So I guess all of this is to say that it's never too late to take a second chance on yourself. To live the life you crave. It's not going to be easy, and it's definitely going to be scary as all hell but from the gal who'se on the other side, I can promise you it's worth it.

(And if you wanna chat more about this with me, I'm always here for you. This is something I'm super passionate about. I'm an open book and happy to share, always.)

Xo Amanda
 

Tone It Up Girl turned Beachbody Coach

I've been wanting to share this for a while now. It's been on my heart but for some reason I have been holding off doing so -- but here's the thing. I always say that I'm going to be 100% HONEST with you guys and so not sharing this with you would be me not being true to myself so I say FUCK THE FEAR and here goes.

Hi, my name is Amanda Loy. I'm a Wifey, a dog mom, an actor, a Tone It Up Girl & a Beachbody Coach with #TeamInspireJoy , and THIS is my story. 

When I started my health & fitness journey in 2012, I had no idea it would lead me to where I am today. That it would be such a vital part of my day to day.

All I knew was that I was desperate for a change. Tired of feeling like who I was inside wasn't being reflected on the outside. Tired of looking in the mirror and not liking what I saw. Tired of going into store after store and just settling for clothes because "well at least they sort of fit" or  with the "well this covers up my tummy, so I'll wear it" mentality. Most of all, I was just tired of being tired. Tired of being the unhappy and uncomfortable version of me.

So, I started looking around for something -- anything -- that could help me.

And that's when I found Tone It Up on Youtube.

I was immediately attracted to Karena and Katrina's energy. They were silly and the rays of light that I needed and they reminded me so much of the version of me I hadn't seen in years. I wanted to be just like them. They had just started Tone It Up (yup, I was an Original TIU gal), and all I could think was -- if I could look just like them, I will be able to get my groove back.

I mean, have you seen them? They're freaking bombshells.

So that's how I got started. I started picking one of their workouts and doing it every single day. A month later, I purchased the nutrition plan, officially became a part of the community, and decided to go in full force.

And man oh man did I do that. I stuck to their workout programs and their meal plan to a tea. As in, I never ONCE "fell off the wagon".

For those of you unfamiliar with Tone It Up, their nutrition program focuses on eating mostly lean proteins and vegetables, with some fruit and healthy fats sprinkled in there. Carbohydrates were occasionally incorporated, but the serving size was usually pretty small and often it was optional. So for 6 months, I ate, as my husband likes to say, bunny food. And their daily workouts usually incorporate a cardio start to your day and then a toning workout in the afternoon -- so I started running every morning (for those of you who know me now know how much I hate running hahaha, but I thought I needed to be a runner to be fit!) and I would do their badass super fun toning workouts in the afternoon. 

And 6 months later, I had gone from 172 lbs to 145 lbs (this coming from a 5'10" girl).

WOOOHOOOO, right?! Well, my EGO said HELL YES. I was growing out my hair, abs that I never thought could possibly appear were starting to show up and I was finally going to get to be skinny, just like K&K! That was the goal, right? To lose the weight and be happy!! 

But here's the thing... I wasn't happy. 

Sure, I was skinny. (And now that I look back on it, I can honestly say that I was too skinny, although at the time I wouldn't admit it) And I was sooo excited to be a part of an amazing community of women (some of whom are some of my best friends now) and to have the bright energy of Karena and Katrina in my life. But I was so focused (read: obsessed) on BECOMING THEM that along the way, I lost myself. And I went so extreme in one path that I went from being slightly overweight and unhappy to underweight and unhealthy.

And the summer of 2013, everything that I thought I knew came crashing down around me and within two months, I had put back on all the weight that I'd lost and then some. I spent my days binge eating pints of ben & jerrys half baked, double stuffed oreos, jars of nutella -- you name it. I couldn't control myself. 

And once it was time to pick up the pieces, I knew that I had to figure out what would work for ME.

I tried joining a yoga studio, which really helped combat my anxiety.

I connected with TIU girls in the Chicago area and on Instagram who are truly some of the most gorgeous souls I have ever met on the planet -- and who just GET me. 

I stopped running and stuck to doing workouts that made me HAPPY, like the TIU toning routines, dance based workouts and strength training.

I started trying to reframe my mind that healthy didn't have to be an all or nothing mindset and that carbs were good for me :) 

**Picture from my first TIU Chicago meetup**

I LOVE Tone It Up, for so many reasons. It introduced me to some of the best women I know. It empowered me to take a step towards my own health & fitness journey. And holy balls am I obsessed with some of their recipes. Nomz. And I continue to do their workouts because I loooove them and their energy! And I have finally figured out what works for me and am in a GOOD place :)

But for so long, I would tell people that I owed all my success to Tone It Up. That if it weren't for Karena and Katrina, I wouldn't be where I'm at.

So often in life, we attribute our own success to other people.

Do you ever catch yourself doing that? I know I do.

All the time, the amazing women in my Live Your F*ck YES Life Challenge tell me things like "You're the reason I feel so amazing." or "Because of you, I'm at my goal weight for the first time in 5 years." and I always step back and say -- no, it's because of YOU. YOU are the one who got your butt up every morning and got your workout in. YOU are the one that made healthy nutrition choices. YOU are the one who did the work. 

And when I hit my quarter life crisis a year ago (yuppp that shit is REAL haha), I kept thinking to myself -- how can you pay everything you've learned on your OWN journey forward? How can you help other women show up for themselves in the way that works for THEM? How can I do what K&K are doing for other women but on my own terms?!

And that's when I thought of my TIU gal pal Anna.

I officially met Anna at a TIU Chicago meet up in February 2015. We had been friends on Instagram for a while, and I had been loving on her blog posts. She was so REAL and not scared to just SHARE her heart and I found that so fucking inspiring.

I didn't even realize for the first 6 months of our friendship that she was as Beachbody Coach and I will never forget my first thought: "How can this amazing, super real chick be a Beachbody coach? They're scammy and superficial and just not genuine people."

And I realized that I must be missing something, so I asked her to coffee (because I'm the kinda girl that just needs to hear it from someone's mouth directly) to basically sit her down and be like how can you be doing this thing when you're so .... normal? And nice? AND A TONE IT UP GIRL!?!?

(To say that I was confused and suuuper skeptical is putting it nicely.)

And that's the day when my entire life shifted. 

Ask Anna, and she will tell you that I put her to the test. I asked her every fucking question under the sun. She's probably laughing reading this right now because I was a SHIT HEAD, you guys. To say that I was skeptical is putting it suuuuper lightly. 

And the more we talked, the more I thought to myself, wow, this is really cool. You mean becoming a Beachbody Coach would help me share my passion for health & fitness with others and actually be a BUSINESS? Like a my OWN version of K&K? I could slowly start to fade out my 5 super draining day jobs and actually spend time doing things that light me up? I could have a job that allowed me to work from home, work when I chose, post inspiring things on social media and empower others to be the best version of themselves?!

I was stunned. Why had I been so RUDELY opposed to Beachbody for so long? Because associating with another company would make me a traitor to Tone It Up? Because I had built up this notion that Beachbody coaches were terrible people?

Well, let me tell ya, was I ever fucking wrong.

My gut kept telling me that this was the right step for me and so I took a leap of faith and I said YES.  And it's hands down the best decision I've ever made in my entire life (except marrying Kevan, that was a pretty stellar choice.)

Am I still a TIU girl? Heck yes.

But I can also add Team Inspire Joy Leader, Girl boss and Beachbody Coach to my resume and I am SO DAMN PROUD of it. 

I've spent almost a year of my life doing this. I've worked with some of the most incredible women who inspire me on the freaking daily, I've built a team of women (aka my TRIBE) who have become like family to me, I've seen the company up close and personal and am more sure than EVER that this is exactly where I'm supposed to be, I've traveled to beautiful retreats and I've become my very own Entrepreneur, building a path to financial freedom for my family.

Everything is piecing itself together. I am quickly and gracefully and fiercely building a business, supporting women to rise into their role as leaders and supporting people to improve their physical and emotional health with state of the art workout programs, Shakeology , accountability groups and some major self care and daily 1:1 coaching with me.

So from this super grateful gal, here's what I have to say:

Don't judge a book by it's cover.

And just SAY YES to the the things that light you up AND THEN FIGURE IT OUT.

Please. For the sake of your soul. Even if it scares the shit out of you. Ok?

---

And one more thing:


I am so deeply passionate about what these programs and Shakeology.

Over the past almost year, I have watched myself become the healthiest and happiest version of me that I've ever been and my anxieties have completely disappeared. 

If you're curious about what I do and would like to learn more about how to become the healthiest and happiest version of YOU, just click here to schedule a chat with me. I would love to support you. 

Here's to Living Your F*ck YES Life. 

Xo Amanda

How the eff to figure out what path to take?

Doesn't it feel like this is just the question of the century?

We're in a "what's my purpose" trend of life right now. In the past year, sooo many of my friends are having quarter life crises (me included you guys), and the question we are all battling always seems to come down to what the hell we're going to do with the rest of our lives.

And I get it.

I mean, if you're anything like me, you spent your younger years going to an intensely academic school where everyone and their mother were lawyers, doctors, biz peeps, you name it.

Entrepreneurs? Girl bosses? Creatives?

Not so much.

So, I just figured that was my path too. Gonna go and get my major in English lit and be a lawyer just like my Mom. Because that's just what you do!

Well, I am SO grateful I had parents who encouraged me to look to my passions and my heart before making a decision like that because chances are, this Health Coach entrepreneur creative artist would not be writing you gorgeous babes this blog post. 

And here's the thing, I have a bunch of friends who are doctors and lawyers and who truly LOVE it. It's what lights them up and that's AWESOME. I am by no way saying that it's not a valid path. But it wasn't right for me.

And what I've been hearing from sooo many of my friends is that they're miserable in their jobs. They spend their days exhausted, burnt out and doing something that is unfulfilling. And I TOTALLY get where they're coming from. After I graduated from acting school, I had to find a "day job" -- aka, in the world of an artist, a job that will pay your bills so you can continue to live out your dreams of being an actor because, newsflash, acting jobs don't pay so well. Wompidy wompidy.

So I did that. I worked so many jobs that I didn't love. And I became that girl that I always told myself I would never be -- the girl who isn't living and breathing her PASSIONS.

Cue: quarter life crisis

And you know what I did? I quit all my stupid jobs and I gave myself a few months to figure it the eff out. And that's what brought me here. To Beachbody Coaching. Because I was able to sit down myself and ask myself some really tough questions that helped me decide what path I wanted to take.

Now I'm not telling you to go and quit your job. Hell naw. I mean, by all means, if that's what you wanna do, I'm not going to stand in your way.

BUT, I am going to share with you some of the tools that I used to get there.

---

I want you to sit down with a pen and paper -- JUST trust me on this, ok? And for the next 15 minutes (or when you have a break in your day, COME BACK TO THIS), just write and don't edit yourself.

And answer the following questions...

What lights you up? 

Ex: For me? The list includes... snuggles with my hubby, long walks with my dog, morning me time, pancakes for breakfast, dancing in my kitchen, singing at the top of my lungs, being surrounded by incredible empowering women, climbing trees, spending time at my cottage

If you could create your perfect day, what would it look like? 

Ex: For me, I would be at my cottage, with my family and my hubby Kevan and our dog Toby. I'd spend the morning on my dock, alone, doing yoga and reading some personal development book & journaling. Then breakfast (my dad's pancakes, duh!), followed by lake time adventures and lots of canoeing. After lunch, we'd play board games and drink tea and have good conversation and for dinner, we'd bbq and sit outside and watch the stars. Followed, OF COURSE, by snuggles.

What do you NOT want in your work life?

Ex: I do not want a 9-5 schedule. I don't want to have a boss. I don't want to have to commute in my car to work. I don't want to be restricted to vacation time to go on holidays. I don't want to work with lazy, needy people. 

What DO you want more of in your life?

Ex: Freedom, Joy, Energy, Laughter, Time with my family & friends, Travel

**Share your answers to these questions in the comments!**

What did answering these questions reveal to you? Are you living a life that's in line with what you really want? What you value most? Or are you just doing something because it's what your degree happens to be in?

It's time to start aligning your LIFE with your VALUES.

I know it's scary to realize that you're not leading the life you want. Truuuuust me. But isn't it better to take ACTION towards leading your dreams than to sit there, year after year, watching them fade away?

I dare you to start getting REAL with yourself and stop settling for a lesser life. You deserve it.

Oh, and p.s. for some extra goodies...if you haven't watched our first episode, it's alllll about this topic ;)

Find your Tribe, Love them hard

I am bursting with Joy from every single ounce of me.  

I've been seriously trying to write this post all day, but you know when your heart is SO FULL and you have SO MUCH TO SAY that it feels impossible to say anything at all? That's where I'm at. But I'm gonna give it a go anyhooo because I just can't hold any of this in anymore. (Ha! Dorkazoraus. Deal with it!)

This past week, I got to spend time with some of the amazing gals on my Coaching team, Team Inspire Joy, at Beachbody's annual convention in Nashville. Most of these gals are ladies I'd never actually met in person (although we have weekly conference calls -- aka live video chats with wine -- yup, being a Girlboss is kinda the bomb.com) but from the minute I bear hugged them and we had our first night in our house, it felt like I'd known them forever.  

For a little less than a year now, I've been pursuing a dream that I never imagined I would ever see come to fruition -- a vision that I always KNEW was possible but for so long never had the COURAGE to say "Yes I can" and fucking go for it. I always thought that being a health & fitness coach would be an amazing career path. I'm an actor, and while I am sooo blessed to be working as an actor in the city of Chicago, it's the unglamorous but sad truth that I need a day job (or many) in order to pay my bills. When I graduated school, I found whatever job I could get. I worked at call centres, found nanny gigs, dog walked, taught theatre classes, gave Segway tour guides -- you name it, I did it. And most of the time, I had 5 day jobs going at once, and it was EXHAUSTING.

And the worst part? I wasn't happy.

Enter the amazing Anna Locke -- the gal I stalked from afar for too long (she blogged OK?!? It's okay to stalk a blogger....haha) and the gal who had all the things I wanted (aka the freedom to be her own boss and live a LIFE BY DESIGN). After months of knowing her from afar and meeting her a couple of times in group settings, I finally had the courage to talk to her.

I NEEDED A CHANGE. I wanted to Be more. Do more. But I was scared shitless. Sound familiar?

I've been super transparent about my issues with feeling enough -- ahhhh that word -- you feel that way too?

Never good enough? Pretty enough? Smart enough? Capable enough? 

It's something soo many of the ladies that I work with deal with (and girl, it's still something I still deal with), but here's the thing I've learned -- if we let this FEAR hold us back, we will never be able to access our BEST SELVES.

Is it scary to jump? Hell yes. It's curl up into a ball-ahhh-what-if-i-fail-my-heart-is-going-to-explode feeling. But isn't it SO much better to FEEL THE FEAR and do it anyways than to just float on by with the status quo and never realize your TRUE POTENTIAL? I say FUCK YES.

In fact, I am living a FUCK YES LIFE every single goddamn day because I faced my motha-fucking-fear and said YES to putting myself first. To a life of FREEDOM, LIGHT and COMMUNITY.

I'm not gonna lie, it was not an easy decision for me to make. I had seeerious reservations about Beachbody and wanted to be pursuing something that felt 100% authentic to me. Because, here's the thing, with me? What you see is what you get? I will tell it to you straight. I'm honest to a fault and I value INTEGRITY. So I did my research and I took the leap of faith, still honestly terrified.

And you know what happened? All those fears went away.

And going to Nashville confirmed EVERYTHING for me. THIS is where I'm supposed to be. Surrounded by a community of likeminded gals who just GET ME. Getting to be my own freaking CEO and live life on my terms. And above all, getting to help other women find their FUCK YES lives too. Because we all deserve to do more than just dream -- we deserve to be LIVING OUR DREAMS. And to be happy and healthy from the inside out. 

And now? Now I'm not crying at night because I'm tired. Exhausted. Burnt out. And I'm just trying to get through the day.

Now? I'm crying happy tears because I am just so dang grateful.

**and there I go, being a blubbering mess AGAIN **

Ok, ok, get it together Amanda. Your people need you!!!!!

All of this is to say: You know that saying "Find Your Tribe, Love them Hard"? Well, there's a reason it's in the universe because it is SO key. Because the second you surround yourself with gals who are just like you -- who you don't have to explain yourself to because they get it -- who will dance with you in the aisles of a conference centre because that's just how you do -- who you can spend HOURS laughing with -- gals who RAISE YOU UP and constantly inspire you to be the BEST & BRIGHTEST version of you? There is nothing better in this world.

So find your tribe.

And don't be afraid to LEAP. You deserve to feel this amazing.

And if you've been watching me from afar and keep thinking to yourself, "Damn, these are my kind of girls" or "I just want MORE with my life" -- then this is your sign. I double dog dare you to face your fears and message me, The worst thing that happens? You say YES to opening a door to your best life and your best self. 

You are so loved. And you are so shiny & bright.

Xo Love love love, Amanda

My Latest Obsession

If you follow my Facebook page, you know that I've been doing something a little different with my workouts for the month of July. Normally, I need a super specific schedule for my workouts -- working through a complete program (like the 21 day Fix!) has been the only way I have been able to fully COMMIT to something so the idea of switching things up for me was suuuuper scary and intimidating. 

That being said, I am always up for pushing my boundaries and after completing 22 minute Hard Corps, I decided I would do the Beachbody on Demand Challenge du Jour. 

What's Beachbody on Demand? Only the greatest thing since Netflix.

But for realsies. It's basically like Netflix for Beachbody on Demand...what?! Crazy sauce. And every day, there is a Challenge of the Day posted that you can join in on the fun with! So, I figured I'd check it out and you GUYS, it's been such a fucking blast. 

I figured I'd share a sneak peek of what my first 5 days looked like!!! I will say that not every workout was my favorite, but I really liked getting to check out different programs and while I thought the element of surprise would stress me out, I actually liked getting up every morning and going OK, what do you got for me today, BOD? 

Awesome. Sauce.

_____________________________________________________

Day 1: Cize Live

Workout style: Hip Hop Cardio dance FOR THE WIN. This shit was SOOOO MUCH FUN. I was laughing, I was making weird faces & I didn't care that I probably looked ridiculous because I was getting such an amazing workout and having FUN while doing it. That's what it should be all about, am I right?!

Info: 30 minutes, no equipment needed

Verdict: LOVED it, so so much. Got SUPAH sweaty & burned a solid 300 calories. What whaaaat.

Day 2: Hammer Power

Workout Style: This was a really solid strength workout and holy shiiiit could I feel it the next day. This particular workout was all about a small amount of reps with heavier weights. If you're looking to really sculpt your bod, Hammer & Chisel is definitely where it's at. Can't wait to try this program in full :) 

Info: 40 minutes, a set of lighter weights (I used 8-10 lbs) and a set of medium weights (I used 12.5-15 lbs) and a resistance band or towel for the warmup!

Verdict: Other than Sagi's annoying voice (HA!), I really loved pushing myself. I used to be sooo terrified that working with heavier weights would make me bulk up, but after starting to up my weights, it's only helped me tone up, get leaner and above all, get stronger! Really think I'm going to have to give this program a whirl.

Day 3: Rev Abs

Workout: Usually ab work is not the toughest for me, but man oh man did I LOVE this one. My abs were being fired in places they don't usually feel it and I also really loved that there was some cardio mixed in to keep it interesting. A solid ab workout FOR SURE.

Info: 40 minutes, one medium weight needed (I used 10 lbs)

Verdict: If you're looking for something that's focused on core work, this one's pretty good. I will say that I liked the Core workouts from 22 minute hard corps much more and those were significantly shorter workouts so overall, not my favorite, but it was fun to checkout!

Day 4: 22 Minute Hard Corps

Workout: Short, intense and holy balls was I SWEATING by the end of it. Never thought 22 minutes could give such a solid workout. This one was Cardio 1 from the program (which I have done before!) and I still love it as much as I did when I started it. Bootcamp feel, military inspired, FAST.

Info: 22 minutes in length, this particular one you didn't need any equipment but for the resistance workouts, you need a set of weights (I used 8/10 lbs) and a resistance band.

Verdict: Still love this program as much as I did when I started it. Definitely going to keep it in my repertoire :)

Day 5: PiYo Lower Body

Workout: High intensity musically driven workout, using the fundamentals of Pilates and Yoga but with dynamic movements to get your heart racing! (Aka definitely NOT yoga -- you do burpees and shit in Piyo! Haha)

Info: 30 minutes in length, all you need is a yoga mat and yourself!

Verdict: I am a PiYo Junkie, so I knew I'd love this one. I actually got certified a few months ago to teach this as a fitness class because I love the program so much. It's amazing because it's a perfect balance of stretch, strength and agility, and you don't need any equipment to do it so I can literally take my workout to the park with me if I want (which I do!!)

 

Wanna join in on the fun with the

Challenge du Jour?

CONTACT ME and say "Hey girl! Let's be Challenge Du Jour accoutability buddies!" and I'll hook you up with a link to get started for free! 

From Insecure to Scary Skinny to Strong & Happy

If there's one thing I've learned on my health & fitness journey, it's THIS:

Focus on how you want to FEEL, not how you want to LOOK.

When I started out on my path to a healthy lifestyle, I wanted results FAST. I was a size 10, felt perpetually sluggish and I kept thinking: "If I could just be skinny, then I would be happy." So I started a quick fix slim down program (you can read more about my thoughts on Quick fixes HERE) & I became a cardio junkie, started counting my calories (pretty sure I spent more time on that calorie counting app than I did texting my friends), deemed any type of carb completely off limits and my entire day/ emotional energy revolved around my 2 hour long workouts & figuring out what I could eat with my limited meal choices.

In about a month, I started seeing weight come off faster than I ever have (little did I know at the time that it was because my body wasn't at all getting what it needed to function!) I felt "good" that I was seeing changes, but my energy was at an all time low and I didn't have much of a life outside of my fitness world because it took up so much of my freaking time.  Between working out for at least an hour and a half every single day, taking two showers because I would get two workouts in and then drinking copious amounts of water to curb my grumbling tummy and running to the bathroom every half hour, I didn't have time to enjoy my life. Plain and simple, I was not happy.

Fast forward to a year later -- I had gained all that weight back, and then some. The summer of 2013 was the worst summer of my life. You know when you are SO overwhelmed with life that all you can do is cry and eat your feelings? Well, that pretty much summed up my summer. I literally would spend every day crying. I felt worthless and I didn't recognize the person that was in front of me. And, since I still had such a negative relationship with food, I resorted to eating everything and anything in front of me because that was the only thing that "made me feel better". Pints of Ben & Jerrys half baked, a pan of brownies, a bag of peanut m&ms, an entire bag of Target trail mix -- you name it, I ate it.

But with the help of my now husband Kevan, I got help. I started seeing a therapist and I slowly but surely came out of the deep dark hole I had been living in. I started working out again, and this time, I knew I had to come at it from a different approach. I never wanted to feel like that weak girl again - I needed to feel strong. 

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The past six months, I have learned SO much about how to not only feel confident in my own skin and look the way I always wanted, but how to FEEL AMAZING from the inside out. I've learned to Love my Body. And through my journey with becoming a Beachbody coach, I've gained so much freedom. 

Freedom to make choices that LIBERATE me instead of LIMIT me.

Freedom to eat so many incredible foods (carbs included) and knowing that indulging is okay!

Freedom to become the strong, beautiful woman I always knew was inside of me.

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Do you ever feel like...

• You are tired, sluggish, and drained.
• You’re uncomfortable in your own skin.
• You struggle with consistency and having a routine.
• You’re sick of depriving yourself of food for results.
• You’re done feeling guilty for that extra glass of wine on girls’ nights, or that beer watching football with your man, or that juicy steak you want! 
• You’ve hit a plateau in your fitness journey and need an extra push. 
• You’re frustrated with what the number on the scale is telling you.
• You are ready to LOVE your body instead of being ashamed of it, but don't know where to begin.
• You want to be supported by a group of like minded women that just "get" who you are?

And you want to...

• Feel confident and comfortable in your own skin
• Make healthy living a FUN adventure
• Finally PUT YOURSELF FIRST
• Find FREEDOM from restrictive diets that cause you anxiety and make you feel deprived

Then girl, you are just like me and holy balls, you were meant to read this. And guess what? I created this experience just for YOU so that we can share in this journey together :)

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THE LIVE YOUR F*CK YES LIFE CHALLENGE

WHAT TO EXPECT

• Group + individual online accountability in our private Facebook community to share your journey with ladies on the same path!

• A community of badass, supportive women who will become some of your bestest friends.

• Daily check ins with ME as your coach. I'll be there for you to help keep you feel inspired and motivated!

• A resource vault with recipe e-books, meal planning strategies, and all the information you need to feel successful and prepared.

• A real food nutrition plan and workout strategy that’s customized to fit YOU. Whether you’re a single girl in the city, a busy working mom, want to lose a few holiday lbs, get over your sugar addiction, or just feel great in your skin -- I've gotchu girl.

• 30 all-natural superfood shakes to cover all your nutritional needs, give you energy, and help curb cravings.

• A membership with Beachbody On Demand. Aka Netflix for workouts -- it's AMAZEBALLS, and you don't have to leave your house to get an amazing group fitness workout, right in your living room!

• Lifetime access to me as your coach, because girl, once you're in, you're in FOR LIIIIFE.

 

Beautiful girl, it's time to invest in YOURSELF. 

To put yourself first & find your HAPPY. If you choose to join me, I will be your LADY FOR LIFE. Changes don't happen overnight (and I'm the first to admit that!), but TOGETHER, I promise you will get to feeling like the confident, strong and GORGEOUS GAL you crave to be.

Are you excited? Nervous? WITH ME? Because I am here with you, every single step of the way. I’ll not only be participating in this Challenge right along-side you, but I will be your one on one personal coach, encouraging, guiding you and constantly reminding you that you are worthy of your dreams.

I know it's scary to make a change. And the first step is always the hardest. But I promise you that it is worth it. YOU ARE WORTH IT. 

I believe in you -- now it's time for you to believe in YOU too, lady love.

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After you submit your application, I'll be in touch with ya via email to chat about your goals, make sure that I'm the right gal for you to help you on your journey & create a bangin' plan that meets your needs! No upfront commitment expected at all ;)

I cannot freaking wait to get to know you!

Xo Amanda

What is Beachbody Coaching?

If you’ve spent any time with me in the past few months, you’ve probably been subjected to a non-stop gushfest on Beachbody, Coaching, and Shakeology. I can't help it you guys, I'm just too stinkin' happy not to share!

I am literally so freaking happy with my decision to become an independent Team Beachbody coach. It has truly changed my life in just a few short months. I am happier. Healthier. And more in touch with what I want out of life than I have ever been. So I thought it was high time I shared a little more about what it’s all about!

I came into this opportunity knowing five things about myself:

1. I am hugely passionate about health and fitness.

2. Nothing makes me happier than using my life experiences to help other people make positive changes in their lives.

3. I love sharing my passions and connecting with others.

4. I am motivated by a challenge.

5. If there is a way to make a hobby or passion into a side business, I am ALL ABOUT THAT.

Since December, I have led dozens of amazing, motivated women through the 21 Day Fix, and everyone who has committed to the program has seen REEEEDONKULOUS results! And not JUST physically, but also mentally. It's been SO FREAKING INSPIRATIONAL. And I am am completely in love with running Challenge Groups, sharing my experiences, and motivating others to help take the first step towards their fitness goals!

 

The company

Ok, so I am extremely skeptical of "get rich quick"/ "too good to be true" schemes and am majorly turned off by hard-sell tactics and the network marketing model in general because, let's just say I've have had some super uncomfy experiences in the past where people have been incredibly pushy and scammy and I'm just NOT ABOUT THAT. So you can imagine I did a shit-ton of research before signing up, just to make sure that there weren't strings attached to this coaching business. 

My Conclusion: Nope, no strings attached. No overhead. No requirements to buy OR sell anything. Basically no risk, but unlimited potential for growth if you really want to take your business to the top. The structure and tools are there, you just get to plug in and see where you want to take it with the time that you have to set aside. And when I saw that what I'd get to be doing is building relationships with genuine, like minded women and helping other people achieve their goals and enjoy healthy, fulfilling lives, I was IN. 

The more I learn about Beachbody as a company, the more confident I am in this organization. Not only are the products incredible and actually WORK, but the integrity of the company itself is unreal. Founded in 1998, Beachbody at its core is an American health and fitness brand that is famous for its renowned and results-oriented at-home fitness programs created by celebrity trainers. Have you ever seen an infomercial for P90X or Insanity? Yup, that's Beachbody. 

And the best thing?!?! Anyone can sign up to be a coach. Whether you are a complete fitness newbie or a freaking personal trainer, doctor/lawyer/teacher/actor (*cough* me *cough*), if you have lost 50 pounds or have 50 pounds to lose, if you want some extra accountability, want to help others, want some extra income to supplement your full time salary, or want to be the Girlboss of your OWN biz and work on your OWN terms.

What do Beachbody coaches do?

-They love Beachbody products (Shakeology and fitness programs) because the products work. And Shakeology is addicting...Seriously, I call it my magical unicorn shake. It deserves its own blog post.

-They use their STORY to share with others who might also benefit.

-They run these super FUN online Challenge Groups -- aka support and accountability groups with likeminded peeps that GET YOU.

-Coaches are committed to building relationships, and making sure that each client has the most successful experience possible and moves at least one step forward towards reaching their ultimate health goals -- whether that is to simply gain a little muscle tone, lose 100+ pounds or is wanting to develop a healthier relationship with food. There is LITERALLY a program for everyone, no matter your fitness background or level!

-Coaches do some sort of "personal development" every single day, to make sure they are constantly striving to become the best version of themselves possible in every aspect of life. We're not just working out robot machines! We also spend time every day working on buidling a positive inner relationship with ourselves! 

The only actual financial commitment? A $15/month coaching fee to maintain your websites/so you don't have to do all the super boring and taxing shit like shipping/packaging/etc. And then you get a 25% discount on anything, and get all the incredible opportunity for support, love & accountability!

When you become a coach, you are essentially starting your OWN health and fitness-based business. You're not an employee of the company, but you become an independent distributor, which is kind of like being a contractor. You get to use the Beachbody as a PLATFORM to launch YOUR dreams of becoming a Badass Girl Boss, just by sharing what you LOVE and helping others make positive changes in THEIR lives. It's freaking awesome.

And the best bonus of all? You get to join our goofy #TeamInspireJoy Family and have an immediate community of gals who just GET YOU and will become your best friends. 

What I’ve gained through becoming a "coach":

-The confidence to OWN who I am.

-Motivation to stick to my own workouts and nutrition.

-Friendships with authentic and amazing women around the country who are just like me.

-The ability to believe that my dreams ARE possible.

-The ability to help women to gain confidence, feel strong and empowered, re-define their relationship with food, and to be able to be that tiny burst of light and support in someone else's life.

-A FAMILY of gorgeous gals on my team who share my exact same values and passions.

- A flexible schedule to run my own business on MY OWN TERMS, and make a side income through doing what I love.

-I'm living and breathing my philosophy every single day: Eat more, eat better, ENJOY life, “treats not cheats,” Balance is key & that the key to JOYFUL LIVING is to do something that lights you up inside, every single day.

I have also been able to meet ladies who are just like me and mentor them as coaches on my own team, and it feels like going into business with my best friends. It's incredible how you just feel that CLICK when you put your heart out there. You end up crossing paths with people who just get you. I don't even know how to really describe it. I've never experienced something like it before.

Coaching is that “thing” that I didn’t even know I was missing. A path that is bringing all aspects of my life into one clear focus. I guess you know that you’ve found your passion when you're doing something that you literally can’t stop thinking or talking about. That lights a FIRE in your soul. 

If your soul is CRAVING something more out of life, or you're just looking for a COMMUNITY of genuine and loving ladies who will support you along your health & fitness journey, this opportunity might just be for you.

And if you're still reading this, well, GIRL, this is clearly a sign and what the heck are you waiting for? 

Wanna get join in on the fun?

I would be STOKED to chat more with you about your health & fitness (heck, and LIFE) goals and help you take the first step! Whether it's losing those pesky last 5 pounds, feeling confident in your own skin, learning how to fuel your body through healthy eating and proper portion control, do a full fledged push up, overcome your emotional eating habits, or being able to finally truly LOVE yourself from the inside out. You are NOT alone. I've been there and I've had so many ladies in my Groups who have dealt with ALL of these things too. 

If you wanna join in on my next Challenge Group:

If you're super passionate about Healthy living and want to learn more about how you can pay it forward and create a side business through helping others (and yourself!), please don't hesitate to reach out! I'm obviously so freaking stoked about this opportunity and would LOVE to chat about it with you some more. You can learn more about our mission HERE! 

Xo Amanda

My Story

Up until early 2014, I had a really strange relationship to food & fitness.

When I was younger, I was picked on a lot because I was a chubby kid. You know the awkward stage that most kids go through? Well, mine lasted about 6 years. I couldn’t fit into clothes because I was always in between sizes. From a very young age, I looked at myself in the mirror and I didn’t feel that my body reflected who I felt like I was “inside”. I had a vibrant personality. I loved to laugh. I was a total dork. BUT behind closed doors, I was insecure and ashamed and, as a result, I became a super bossy kid to overcome it.

Fast forward to the end of high school and I had gotten much taller (and thus my weight had distributed pretty nicely). My family always ate healthier than all of my other friends families and I felt that I could go into college with an understanding of how to treat my body. And all through college, I thought I did just that. But looking back, I have no idea what I was thinking. I was a cardio junkie. I would do at least an hour of cardio a day (ah, gag me) and then I would have dessert from the cafeteria every day and chocolate milk with every meal and think that it all evened out. Before I knew it, I got to be the heaviest I had ever been in my life, and I certainly was the unhealthiest. I looked in the mirror and didn't like what I saw but I kept telling myself that I was doing everything that I could to lose the weight and nothing was working. I remember telling my roommate in college, "Well, this is obviously the weight that I am supposed to be. My body must not be able to look any different". It's incredible what we can tell ourselves to not take accountability for our choices.

Here’s the thing - I’m an actor and although I wish it weren’t the case, the acting business is largely about looks.

Do you look the part to play this role?

Do you have the STAMINA to sustain 8 shows a week?

Can you handle this five minute dance number and not be so out of breath that you can’t sing the rest of the song once it’s over?

And I realized by my Junior year that come graduation, if I kept things up the way I was, I would not make it in this business. I hit a breaking point and new I needed to DO something. 

And that’s when I found Tone It Up. I was 172 pounds that July when I joined Tone It Up and with a lot of hard work, by that next February, I was down to 145 pounds. Now here’s the thing. What Tone It Up promotes is EXTREMELY AWESOME. I truly believe in what they are putting out there and the plan itself. It works and it’s a lifestyle that you can adapt forever. But I was so DESPERATE for a change that I took things too far. I wasn’t eating enough and I was overdoing it on my working workouts. I went from one extreme to the next and I didn’t understand the idea of a happy medium. I’m 5’10” and 145 pounds is just too small for my body frame . Or at least, it was for me. All of my friends were concerned that I wasn't treating my body well and they were right. I wasn't. 

That next summer, I had a very difficult time and I gained all the weight that I had lost back. I essentially had to start from scratch again, but this time, I took control of my physical AND mental state and I slowly have made positive changes to my life that have led me to where I am today. I’m not perfect (and to be honest, I think perfection is overrated and unattainable), but I am willing to learn and be the best version of myself I can be. For me, this means FEELING HAPPY. And while that definitely includes sweating and keeping fit and eating consistently well, it also means that I will let myself LIVE and have a glass of wine when I want to, eat that dark chocolate and hell, I will treat myself to a burger with my husband every once in awhile because goddamnit I just want a burger.

So that’s my story, so far. And what has led me to find my TRIBE and to pursue self love & health coaching as a career. I believe that no matter where you are in life, it is possible to make a positive change TODAY. It just takes a little bit of courage, a whole lot of love and a leap of faith.

What are you waiting for?

                           2011`                                                               NOW

Wanna Live Your F*ck YES life and heal your relationship with food and fitness once and for all? Join our next challenge HERE!