New Year New ME in 2015 Health and Fitness Group

Get Ready, Here it comes...

soon we will be saying goodbye to 2014 and welcoming in 2015!!

No matter what happened over the last 12 months of 2014, it is time to put it behind you. The New Year is a time for New Beginnings. In my opinion every day is a time for new beginnings but the New Year gets us all excited to do better and become better. Whether we are looking to make a career change, buy a house, have a baby, save for a special vacation or home project, quit smoking, or my favorite LOSE WEIGHT and EAT HEALTHY most of us come up with our List of Resolutions for the New Year.


Well I want to help you in 2015 with those resolutions of yours!! 

Anyone have Lose Weight or Eat Healthy on their New Years Resolutions list?

What if I told you 2015 could be your last year for those 2 resolutions? 

REALLY!! I am serious and I am proof it can happen!! 

Here is the proof...

2012 I made a resolution to feel like myself again which included exercising and eating healthier. I also took it a step further and said I wanted to teach my children to do the same.

I started off 2012 with this intent of exercising and eating healthier and I did good for about 2 weeks into January. Guess what happened next?!?! LIFE!!

Something came up, I was tired, I didn't have time, Eating healthy is too expensive, blah blah blah. You know all the excuses creep in and then we are left where we began!! Well I sunk back into my old bad habits until later in February 2012 when I was reading a friends' post on facebook. She was talking about exercising and eating healthy but she was also talking about accountability and motivation. I thought - really? how the heck can I get all this and not have to pay out the wazoo....well I didn't have to pay out the wazoo and by signing up for this group she was talking about I have now been living a healthier lifestyle almost 3 years later!! 

The missing piece for me was Support and Accountability!! These Health and Fitness Groups offer these two pieces plus so much more and that my friends is how myself and many others have now been able to stay on the Healthy Living bandwagon!!

20 pounds lighter and 20+ inches lost
but feeling fit is the best Reward of all!!

I am proof my friends 

YOU CAN TAKE LOSE WEIGHT and EAT HEALTHY off 

those New Years Resolutions lists....

It is totally possible but YOU have to be COMMITTED to making a few changes!! 

Trust me I am one who does NOT like CHANGE!!

The way I work when change is necessary is taking it one step at a time and slowly integrating the change. This way of making a change is more successful because over time you build HABITS and in this case HEALTHY HABITS!! 

So how exactly am I going to help you do this?
Keep Reading...

This group will be the way of making a change that you stick with long after the first two weeks of January are over!

Often you will see Fitness equipment for sale on the Internet by either the end of January or beginning of February. People want to make the changes but unfortunately most do not because they lack the two key pieces I spoke of before....Support and Accountability!! 

Many feel they can do it all themselves but the reality is when you have someone by your side supporting you, motivating you, inspiring you, holding you accountable you are much more successful. Don't believe me? Don't worry I didn't believe it at first either. I was a skeptic but here I am living proof almost 3 years later that these health and fitness groups are the way to go. I lost 20 pounds and 20+ inches and I have kept it off. How? by being a part of these challenges! No joke, this is what I do and I love it. No more yo-yo dieting, no more starving. 

SUPPPORT & ACCOUNTABILITY...
As your Beachbody coach (a.k.a Health and Fitness coach) I will help you set realistic and measurable goals and we will work together to achieve them one day at a time. As a member of the group I will mentor you through a Beachbody fitness program and help you transform your life into one that is healthier, more energetic and confident. You will be surrounded by other people who want to do the same and never feel like you are alone in your struggles. You will have the ability to workout on your own in your home. No gym, no drive time, no working your schedule around the gym's schedule - it is all about YOU!! You get to decide when and where and I will hold you accountable to getting it done so YOU can achieve amazing results. 

EXERCISE and HEALTHY EATING...
We will not only exercise but we will learn how to eat to fuel our bodies properly. Did you know 80% of weight loss and maintaining your weight comes from your nutrition? You can workout like its your job but if you are not eating and drinking properly then all of that hard work may well be not worth it. I am NOT talking about dieting, I am talking about changes that will last a lifetime. So my job is going to be to teach you how to not diet, but how to create a healthy lifestyle with whole nutritious foods. 

SHAKEOLOGY...
Not a protein shake or a weight loss shake or a temporary fix. I will be honest, I was skeptic! I had never drank a protein shake or meal replacement before Shakeology. I didn't see the value or the investment in my health as necessary. But I gave it 30 days and much to my surprise I had more energy, I didn't have my mid afternoon slump, I had less cravings for sweets and I was staying on track because it was 1 meal each day I didn't have to think about. Plus I am now saving money by not having to buy food for one particular meal!! Sometimes I even have 2 Shakeology's a day!! Shakeology was quick, convenient, easy to grab and go and I was having more success with my nutrition because if I was out and about instead of grabbing fast food I had my shake. If I was running late in the morning instead of a coffee and muffin at the gas station it was Shakeology! I was saving myself from all the little things that previously threw me off!

Plus it was nutrition that I wasn't getting before. I was healthier, I performed better with my workouts and now it's my daily multivitamin. Truly my mindset has changed to a health shake and never a weight loss or protein shake!

Lots of yummy recipes to make with Shakeology

Ready to make the commitment to yourself that you are worth it?

I invite you to join my New Year New ME in 2015 Health and Fitness Group where we will focus on YOU by providing 

Accountability, Motivation, Support, Fitness, Meal Planning, and Healthy Tips.  The group will be held in my online Facebook group. This is not a public group so you have to register in order to join!! 

Make 2015 your best year yet!!

Welcome in 2015 knowing this is your year to get healthy and fit.  

If you have questions about the New Year New ME in 2015 Health and Fitness Group, I encourage you to contact me. It's okay if you ask questions and decide it's not your thing! At least you will know that you explored your options!!
Otherwise for those who are ready to make the commitment to themselves please register below 
and then get ready for an adventure like never before because this time you are saying goodbye to those stubborn pounds and bad eating habits!!

Now is the time to learn how to live a 

FIT, HAPPY, and HEALTHY Life 

and we will do it 

TOGETHER!!!!

Fill out my online form.

Online contact and registration forms from Wufoo.

alysonhorcher@gmail.com
teambeachbody.com/alysonh
myshakeology.com/alysonh
facebook.com/alyson.horcher

Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup

Like I've been saying I Love sharing healthy recipes I find and today is one I tried previously and well it was good but I knew I needed to make a few adjustments.

So back to the kitchen I went!! Made a few adjustments to the original recipe and I am quite happy with the turnout this time! The family loved it too which is a bonus so this one goes in the recipe box.

Soup is ALWAYS a favorite of mine but now that the days are colder, darker a good bowl of hot soup really does wonders!! This Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla soup will be a new one in the rotation on our meal plans!!

I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!!

Here you go....

Ingredients...

2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast

1 28 ounce can of diced tomatoes (no salt added)

2 cups frozen corn

1 bag of frozen green peppers, red peppers, and onions 

4 cloves garlic minced

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon oregano

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

2 cups organic, low sodium chicken broth

Greek Yogurt - 1 teaspoon for each bowl served

Optional if you want some added spice 1 14.5 oz can of diced tomatoes and chiles

Directions...

Place all ingredients, except Greek Yogurt, in your slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4 hours. 

Once you are ready to serve to take forks and break apart chicken so you get the shredded look for some. I did this right in my crock pot.

Serve in bowls and top with a teaspoon of Greek yogurt per bowl. 

What I also like to do is mix the Greek yogurt around and it gives you that creamy soup base look!! 

OOOHHHH Soooo Yummy!

Note: You can do fresh veggies instead of the frozen. Right now those veggies are more expensive so it is cost effective to get the frozen varieties on sale. 

A few great things about this recipe:
- you can make it mild or spicy
- it is a clean eating recipe
- great for lunch or dinner
- great as leftovers
- can be frozen for later use

xoxo,

Homemade Vegetable Soup

Ahh the season of Sickness!! 

It doesn't have to be all that bad!! Not when you have good food to warm your belly!!

Well I missed you all last week!! Sorry no post from me!! I was down and out with bronchitis!! Never had it before and never want to have it again!! Unfortunately it is that time of year of runny noses, coughing, Flu, stomach bugs, etc. It is up to us to arm our bodies with the best defense and well if that doesn't work hopefully you have a great support system who can help you nurse yourself back to good health!!

I was fortunate and had my husband and 2 kids! My daughter is like a mini me and was always making sure Mommy and the boys were taken care of...goodness at the age of 3 she quite a fine job too!! The only downfall for momma be down and out is that we were low on homemade foods (I do the cooking around here). So that meant a few nights going out to eat and my husband would bring me food home, pizza (not the clean eating kind), and thank goodness for leftover I had previously frozen - MEATBALLS to the rescue!! As soon as I was  feeling a bit better I knew I had to get in the kitchen and made me some SOUP!!

Soup always makes me feel a ton better when I am not feeling well. Maybe it is the Soup warms the soul or quite possibly the fresh and yummy ingredients. Either way SOUP was calling my name!! I didn't have much of an appetite or many fresh veggies so I used what I did have and made an awesome Veggie Soup!! It was a little of this and a little of that and thank goodness it was edible and now it is a keeper in the recipe box!!

If you enjoy Vegetable soup then be sure to give this one a try!!

Ingredients...
2 tablespoons EVOO, divided
1 small onion, sliced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 pound carrots, diced
1 stalk celery, diced
1 cup green beans, either chopped or left whole
4 cups organic vegetable broth
3 teaspoons 21 day Fix All Purpose Seasoning

Directions...
1. Add 1 tablespoon EVOO to large cooking pot, heat on medium high heat.
2. Add onion and sauté until translucent and then add in garlic and 1 teaspoon 21 day Fix All purpose seasoning.
3. Next add in carrots, celery, and another 1 tablespoon EVOO - stir
4. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon 21 day fix All Purpose Seasoning - stir until veggies are soft ~5 minutes
5. Add in green beans and vegetable broth - stir
6. Sprinkle with remaining 1 teaspoon 21 day fix All Purpose Seasoning and stir again.
7. Bring to a boil and then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.

Veggie Soup

Serve immediately or let cool and store for another day!!
Also I like to add on top a tablespoon of shredded mozzarella cheese - YUMMY!!

If you are following the 21 day fix nutrition plan this meal would equal 1 Green and if add in the cheese 1 Orange.

ENJOY!!

Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup

Ever heard SOUP is liquid Comfort? 

On those cold days a bowl of soup sure does warm my soul!! 

Soups can be quite involved though when making from scratch although that won't stop me! Some though for the time involved it will stop them from making homemade soups and instead they will opt for the store bought canned varieties. I use to eat those too until I looked at the ingredients and realized there is a whole lot more JUNK in there than I would prefer and the canned varieties are a TON more expensive!! So to lessen the amount of processed food I eat and save some money I now make my own SOUP!!

I am here today to help you do the same!
One of the all time favorite soups is Chicken Noodle!!
It is also the #1 go to soup when you or others are sick!!

A while back I came upon a chicken noodle soup recipe that you could make in the crock pot.
Well if you are short on time the Crock pot by far is a great kitchen tool that can help save you time!!
The recipe though when I tried it didn't taste quite right so I have been working on it and the recipe I made last night was spot on DELICIOUS!!

This recipe is super easy to make, you can prep all the ingredients the night before, and all you need to do is remember to turn on the crock pot before you leave the house in the morning!

Simple enough right!!
Oh and don't forget this will save you money too by making your own SOUP!!

Another WIN in my book!!

So here it goes....

Crock Pot Chicken Noodle Soup

Ingredients...
2 pounds raw cut up boneless, skinless chicken (choose your size, I like smaller pieces but some prefer larger)
4 cups low sodium chicken broth
1 cup celery, diced
4 carrots, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 small onion, sliced
1 tablespoon 21 day Fix All-Purpose Seasoning
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
8 ounces whole wheat spaghetti cooked
Parmesan cheese, optional

Directions...
Add chicken to bottom of crock pot
Add celery, carrots, garlic, onion on top
Sprinkle with 21 day fix all-purpose seasoning, parsley, sea salt, & black pepper
Add olive oil over top
Add chicken broth
Cook on low for 6-8 hours or 3-4 hours on high
Right before you serve the soup add in the cooked spaghetti (I did this as I will filling everyone's drink glasses)
Serve with optional parmesan cheese sprinkled on top and last but not least
Enjoy!!

This recipe makes ~ 6-8 servings.
If you follow proper portion size then you should measure out 1 1/2 cups (not including broth) for an adult serving.
If you follow the 21 day fix Nutrition plan then this would equal 1/2 Green, 1 Red, and 1 Yellow
(if adding parmesan cheese add in 1 Blue).

My family normally finishes this meal within a day or two but if you don't like leftovers this recipe after made can be frozen as well. This is a great way to fill that freezer with healthy meals so when in a pinch you can always defrost and enjoy the yummy goodness of homemade soup!!

I love sharing healthy recipes with you and I hope you enjoy them too!! If you have a family favorite meal that you need help making healthier let me know! I will be happy to help!!

Until then, enjoy a bowl of nice warm soup!!

xoxo,

My Baby Steps with FOOD

I've been all about taking baby steps when doing most things in my life. I have never been one to jump in with both feet and be successful. When I have jumped in with both feet - one it doesn't feel right and two whatever I am attempting to do either does not last or I fail miserably. Failing is not always a bad thing I get that. We need to fail in order to succeed. I have seen many others jump in with both feet and be successful. I have tried it over and over again and yet failure is always my outcome. What I have learned is stick with what has worked best throughout my life and where I have learned the most - Baby Steps!!

A few months back a friend of mine introduced me to a woman named the FLYLADY!! (if you have not heard of the FLYLADY I highly recommend checking her out and following her ASAP!! www.flylady.net)

She had mentioned her to me before but I never looked into who this person was. Well one day I was so fed up with not making progress I decided to check out the FLYLADY. Her first task was to shine my sink. WHAT?!?! I have a messy house including a sink full of dishes and you want me to shine my sink? YES, that was the first task. Being that I was at a loss for any further steps in life I decided to do it...I shined my sink!! It was from that moment on I started to understand the FLYLADY.  I continued on with the tasks, routines, and I read her book. Let me tell you I have started MANY books over the past years and very few I have finished - SINK REFLECTIONS I finished!! I feel one of the many reasons why I connected with the FLYLADY was because she too believes in Baby Steps. Take those BABY STEPS and they will lead to those bigger accomplishments without the overwhelming feeling.

As I continue to follow the FLYLADY's system and incorporate it into my own life I realized something very critical to my success. For quite some time now I have been trying to be like other people. I have been doing what they are doing to be successful, I have be
en drinking their kool aid, I have been keeping up with the Joneses. Well guess what all of this is not true to who I am. How did I let myself fall into this? I saw their shiny success and I wanted it for my own. How they got there though was their journey not mine. I have finally come to an understanding of this!!

Back to babysteps....
when I first started a life change a few years ago I took on learning how to lose baby weight after my second child was born. That led to learning how to eat healthier, incorporating exercise into my daily life, and best of all being happier. I lost the weight, I got fit, I got healthy, and got happy...FINALLY!! RIGHT?!?! Well when I came the realization I was back to being a person that wasn't happy (the keeping up with the Joneses person) I reflected back to what I did in the beginning that helped me progress...FOOD!!

Did you see that one coming? Yep, I didn't either!! FOOD for so many of us is yes how we survive but to others FOOD can also be an ENEMY.  We eat food to make ourselves feel better, we eat food because of the chemicals that keep us coming back for more, we eat food socially....The food we eat can either help us or hurt us. I use to eat healthy but for one reason or another I got away from it. When I started my healthy lifestyle journey back in 2012 I had to deal with FOOD!! I read about clean eating, I read about what foods are good and bad to eat at certain times of days, I read about this that and the other. I have always LOVED learning. This time I was learning about FOOD is a different way. How the very foods I eat every day can either hurt or help me.

I learned when  I eat healthy foods I feel a thousand times better, happier!! I learned I have more energy when I eat healthy foods. I learned the pounds and inches fall off when I eat healthy foods. This all lead to my quest to find healthy meals that mimicked some of mine and my family's favorite meals. As I was searching for new recipes I came to another realization I was having fun COOKING!! UM, this was a surprise to me and even more of a surprise was the food I was making was so ridiculously yummy!! Yes, I am patting myself on the back here!! Not only was I enjoying it but also my family was too. As I realized how much fun I was having and the food was turning out well I decided to start sharing those recipes with others. I enjoyed this too!! A ton of the recipes I have tried and shared so many have loved. Not only have they loved them but these simple recipes we are all making in our homes have also helped many of us adopt healthier eating habits!! Win win for many of us and so after my LONG story today I am finally at the point of sharing, one of my baby steps I am getting back to is sharing recipes that my family and I try and enjoy with YOU!! My hope is for the same thing to happen as it did before - WE BOTH BENEFIT!

Eating healthy does not have to be a chore. Instead it can be great fun!
Ready to take Baby Steps with me?
Ready for some new recipes? I have a ton I can't wait to share with you!!
Be sure to check back later this week!! and please if you have a family favorite meal that you want to make healthier send it my way!! I would love to help you!!

XOXO, 

A New Month and working on a New ME...again!!

WELCOME BACK!!

I am saying this to YOU and to ME!!

It has been quite some time since I last wrote here...DID you miss me?

Well I am not sure if you gathered from previous posts during the end of summer up until my recent hiatus but I have been going through a tougher time in life. I won't get into all the details here yet but the short story is this - I felt like I have been in a life funk for quite a few months. It was like a roller coaster...things were good, things were bad, things were okay, things got worse. It took me quite some time to come to this realization and with professional help and the help of my dear friends and sister I finally found out what was going on and now I am on the road to making it all better!!

The question I keep asking myself is WHY did I let myself get into this funk and then why did I let myself stay in this funk? I often talk about taking the time for ourselves to exercise so why oh why would I not take the time to take care of myself in other ways as well? I don't know the answer to that question, all I do know if moving forward my mental and physical self are being taken care of!!

It is really hard for me to share my struggles publicly and I am doing so in the hopes that if there is someone out there going through a time of life like I am that I can be that helping hand!!

Helping others is something I have always done! Ask my friends from way back when and they will tell you the same. I have always been the listener, the advice giver, the shoulder to cry on, and I also like to think I have been there to give the needed boost so many of us need!!

An example of how I choose to help others is back in 2012 when I decided to become a beachbody coach. I went through a different struggle after my second child was born and through beachbody and the health and fitness groups (a.k.a challenge groups) I took part in I too was able to get myself back on track. Here's my story from then MY STORY...

I feel if we have struggles and we learn ways to get through them then we should share them with others.  Not everyone feels this way but I do and so I plan on sharing more of my continued journey through life.

Taking time away from certain activities in my life was a crucial step in my "recovery". I took time away from Facebook (except my personally run groups),

this was my FB profile pic while on my hiatus :)

growing my business, outside activities, and more. Where I focused my time was getting my life in order, spending quality time with my family, and focusing on my faith.  I got a lot of slack from others about doing this but I knew it was what needed to be done. One of the priests at my church said this quote one "It is none of my business what others think of me" and that quote has helped me through MANY tough times when people were doubting me or pushing me down in life!! I have been reminded that we are on this Earth for a reason and only a certain amount of time. WE should all be going forward knowing we have a specific purpose and it is up to us to carry it out. Making the most out of life is important and I don't know about you but I want to be my best self so those shiny gates of Heaven will be open for me. HIS thoughts matter!!

Going forward I have slowly started to integrate myself back into LIFE!!
I am back on facebook, I am hosting more groups, I am building my business, and this month I am back to blogging and focusing on my team. I took these baby steps because I knew jumping all in was not going to be the best decision. My head is more clear now and I can devote the time that is needed to each area of my life with greater focus. For this I am a stronger, more determined, and more wise person and leader!!

Welcome Back ME!!
Welcome Back YOU!!

21 Day Fix Transformations

21 Days, 30 minutes 

Simple Fitness, Simple Nutrition, Real Results

The 21 day FIX

Let me ask you this...

Have you ever used the excuse I don't have time to workout? 
or Eating Healthy is too complicated or too expensive?


I challenge you to give up your excuses for 21 days and I will help you do it!!




See there is this program called the 21 Day Fix that makes losing weight simple! You don't have to starve yourself either!! oh and if you love chocolate and wine like I do have no fear you can still have it (all in moderation of course)

and let me tell you if results are what you are after this is for you!! 

Results come from a combination of three things  

EXERCISE, NUTRITION, SUPPORT!

The 21 Day Fix program and I give you all three of those things!! Pretty cool right?

If you want to hear all the juicy details regarding the 21 day Fix - CLICK HERE!

If you are more of a visual person and wants to see what the 21 Day Fix actually does keep on reading...

I have for you, Transformation after Transformation here for you to see the real deal.  

Real People, Real Results

Some of the individuals were even featured on the 

Teambeachbody.com website!! 

Woo hoo - way to go!!

Lynn G. lost was 7 pounds, 4 inches!

Rachel lost 6 pounds and 14.5 inches

Sarah K.  lost 13 pounds and 17 inches

Candi D. lost 10 pounds by only following the 21 Day Fix
Nutrition Plan and drinking Shakeology daily!

WOW RIGHT?!?!

and Men I didn't forget about you...
Check out Carl B. down 16 pounds in only 21 days

and our CEO at Beachbody Carl D. lost 11 pounds and 3 inches

What are people saying...

"...the fix has completely changed the way I ate. It was the missing puzzle piece to my journey. I've always been able to work out but I needed this simplified meal plan to help me get the results I was looking for." - Sarah K.

"...I went back to size 4 jeans! I dropped time in my 5k and my b/p is back to 99/50 from 120/90!!! I feel more my age now and have energy to chase two little boys!!!" - Alli S. 

"So I did the fix because I was totally off track with my eating and was having way too many carbs and not enough protein. I was not seeing results for my hard work I was putting into working out. The fix helped me get back to where I should be and helped me realize portions of each kind of food." - Lynn G.

Well there you have it, 21 day Fix Transformations to show you that YES this program does work! 

Whether you are a beginner or you consider yourself an expert this program has something to offer everyone! Where I found it most helpful is controlling my portions. Believe it or not, it is possible to overeat on healthy food too and that is exactly what I was doing!! I personally learned a lot from the 21 Day Fix and I continue to follow the Fix Nutrition plan. Here is my meal plan for the week and you can see I use the color coded containers at each of my meals.

If you are interested in getting started with the 21 Day Fix I invite you CONTACT ME and become a member of my next 21 Day Fix Challenge Group! or better yet fill out the form below and I will contact YOU!!

Fill out my online form.

Online contact and registration forms from Wufoo.

Now is the time to learn how to live a 

FIT, HAPPY, and HEALTHY Life 

and we will do it 

TOGETHER!!!!

~Alyson

alysonhorcher@gmail.com

teambeachbody.com/alysonh

myshakeology.com/alysonh

facebook.com/alysonhorcher