Healthy Snacks for the SUPERBOWL

What are you planning to make or eat on Sunday for the big game?

I thought I knew, until I came across this post on another blog I follow.

25 Healthy Big Game Snacks

"Snacks" and "healthy" are in the same sentence. Really?!?!

You have to check out the ideas they offer. I don't think I can choose 3-4 because they ALL look SOOOOOOO GOOD!

I cannot wait to try the sweet potato skins, shrimp ceviche, spinach dip with baked corn tortilla chips and, well, many of the others. But I better limit what we make that day, lol, because it will only be me, my husband and the boys (although our sons can eat more than we think ;) )

Do any of the recipe ideas stand out to YOU?

What will YOU be preparing for the big day?

What are Challenge Groups?

I'm so excited for next week because our next Facebook Fitness Challenge Group starts!!

I LOVE my challenge groups. They are the prime spot for motivation and support and success stories at their finest!

For this upcoming one, I have 9 participants and I cannot wait to see their transformations.

Have you heard of a fitness challenge group?

Do you want to know more?

I made a short video explaining a little more about them.

If you want motivation to reach your fitness and nutrition goals, join a challenge group.
If you need support to help you stay motivated, join a challenge group.
If you need a source of accountability to stay on track, join a challenge group.

I host groups monthly. You can always find one of my FREE groups that last 7-10 days, but if you're looking for a long term commitment, I recommend my 60-90 day groups. In those groups, you will receive the tools and training to stay committed to reaching your long term goals and maximizing your results.

If you have questions or want to know about my upcoming groups, email me (hlwithb@gmail.com) or find me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bfarfan82

Get it!

B-Band Tutorial

I’m a runner.

Runners don’t always wear jewelry to add some “flare” to their outfits.

I wanted some “flare”.

Two years ago, when my friend got our Ragnar team matching headbands, I decided that was going to be my “flare” for future runs.

So, I now have a collection of, what I call, B-BANDS.

My name starts with a “B”….hence the name of the bands.

They are SUPER easy to make and SO fun to accessorize your running gear with. However, I must add that I do wear these for kicks even when I’m not running!!

These measurements are for based on my 22” head circumference, so adjust accordingly.

I cut an 18” X 4” rectangle of [strong] spandex (mine was a cotton form, but I’ve used polyester as well) material. Think stretchy, but not the kind that loses it’s elasticity with one pull…bad.

The edges are raw, and on most spandex material there won't be any fraying, so that's another reason this is such an easy thing to make! No hemming!

Fold it in half, with right sides touching. Stitch about ¼” seam to close.

Lay it flat.

Bring in both sides to the center of the band. 

Stitch to close. 

After the stitch, this is what it look like lying flat.

Fold in each side AGAIN to the center. 

Now, you have a smaller version of the first folding step. 

Stitch closed. This might be bulky for some machines, so you can also hand stitch it if you have to.

After stitched closed, here's what it looks like. 

Voilà

Now, go out and get your sew-on!!

Share a pic of your choice of material!!

My "Transformation" Story

Ok, this post is something I feel like I need to do…even though it is hard for me to post certain pictures. (But I think you should still keep reading!) I want to share with you a few photos that I collected from the past 10 years.  I call it “My Transformation”. But it’s not a transformation, in the general sense…you see, what happens with me is I “transform” to a thinner self (hold on….this makes me sound like a transformer…but, you get what I’m saying!) and then to a not-so thinner self, and it goes back and forth like that. 

Does anyone else live in this cycle? 

I call it the “yo-yo effect”.

As you can see in my fancy collage, just out of college, in 2004, I didn’t really exercise and I pretty much ate whatever I wanted. I remember in high school, playing sports, I was able to eat that way and not worry about weight. Well, it doesn’t work that way when you are not constantly playing sports/exercising. 

I obviously didn’t get it. 

Fast forward to 2008 just after I got married (not pictured). My doctor tells me she wants me to lose 20 pounds….what, say what?! 

STOP THE TRAIN!!! 

You want me to do WHAT? 

Am I overweight? 

Well, in the medical sense, I was. 

Hmmm…ok…

What did I do? I changed my eating habits. I ate smaller meals, more often. That was my technique…and I lost that 20 pounds, and 10 more. So, I lost 30 pounds after my doctor said that. BUT!!! (here’s the kicker!) It took me almost a year and half. Ya! I know! It didn’t come over night (shocker). It took a LONG 12-16 months. And that was just from changing my eating habits. Imagine what I would have accomplished if I had exercised regularly in that time.

Keep that fast forward button pushed and let’s head into 2010, and two kids later. I don’t look half bad.  I was exercising a bit more and probably eating almost whatever I wanted because, well, I was exercising. I could do that now…or so I thought.

[Ok, I need to interject here…I understand completely how having children can take a toll on a woman’s body and it totally varies for each woman. I get that. This is just how my body responds! I put on a few pounds during pregnancy, and after baby, while I’m nursing, and then I still have to work to get back to my pre-pregnancy state—whatever state that was when I first got pregnant!.....Ok, I’m done]

Now, let’s take a gander to July of this last year. Ya, it’s that cute picture of me on the bottom left! Cheeky! Baby boy #4 was just shy of a month old. I didn’t expect much different for myself, but I still was not content with my “status”. I believe, for myself, I need to feel good about myself before I am truly happy. The only way I get to that state of happiness is when I am exercising and eating right. Don’t get me wrong I believe in the motto “Love the skin you’re in” and I do love my skin I’m in, but, for me, I’m only happy with myself when I’m taking care of my body! I also believe in the adage, “Our bodies are God’s gift to us, and what we do with them is our gift to Him.” But, I digress….

My transformations happen with varying lengths of time and depend on the circumstances at those times. But if you remember my initial transformation just after getting married and the length of time it took to shed those 20-30 pounds. Now, look at my most recent picture…July to October; 3-4 months. I took the two important factors of 1. Exercising and 2. Eating “right” (eating healthy, eating clean, call it whatever you want) and performed them At. The. Same. Time. 

MAGIC!

In fact, there is one more step to this equation, and it’s SUPPORT! I’m telling you that having some kind of support, whether it’s face-to-face or through FB or texting, or whatever, makes all the difference. I cherish having “workout buddies”, but when you don’t have them for whatever reason, I think support from other avenues is key.

Alright, I could keep going on, but you get it. I just want to say one more thing. I really believe in the formula I mentioned and not just because it helped me lose weight, but because I am a happier person when I am taking care of my body. I want to instill these behaviors in my children so they develop healthy habits. I want to keep my family away from certain diseases (diabetes) and ailments that actually run in both Bernie’s family and mine. I know that we can make that happen by making smart and healthy choices and teaching our kids to do the same.

If you are ready for some CHANGE in your habits, and need some SUPPORT and MOTIVATION, and if you just want to be HAPPY, I would love to help you start YOUR transformation. And maybe you already have a transformation story of your own and just want some motivation…I’ll be doing another fitness challenge group on Facebook, starting in February! 

It’s my way to pay-it-forward. 

Who's in?

Success.

Success.

Accomplishment.

Gain.

Progress.

Win.

I started coaching because of my financial goals for our family. But when asked the question, now 2 months into it, “What are some small successes you have seen so far as a coach?” my answer is not financially related.

Not what I was even expecting as I sit here pondering my answer to that question.

Have I benefited financially since starting the business? Yes.

Is that a success? Technically, yes.

I guess I want to focus away from the financial side and highlight 3 successes that are of greater importance to me, as a person.

To start, my time management skills have been fine tuned. No, I’m still not perfect at managing my time, but they have dramatically increased since becoming my own boss and having to organize my to-do-list and my to-done-list and my do-I-really-need-to-do-this list. I am finding cracks in my day to build my business and I’m finding even more cracks in my day to be present with my children. It’s amazing how, before coaching, I would have a lot of free time in my day, but it was not free time well spent. Does that make sense? I’m not sure how else to explain it, except that I feel like I am making more of an effort (and obviously having success) to strengthen my relationship with my young children. Score!

Second, I have increased my exposure to Personal Development, which, in turn, has helped me develop some qualities I didn’t know I possessed. I have “gotten out of my shell” a little more as I try to reconnect with those I have lost contact with. My spirituality has deepened as I have set goals to edify myself each day with doctrine and uplifting articles. I have been able to choose from podcasts, books, webinars, and other means of publication to strengthen my resolve to accomplish some pretty big business related goals this upcoming year. All of that exposure to personal development keeps pushing me to become a better version of myself—a better wife to my husband and a better mother to my children. What greater success is there?

Lastly, when I look around me, I have a newfound sense of charity in that I repeatedly have a strong inclination to help others achieve a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle. No joke. When I look around me, I think to myself, “How can I help that person?” The funny thing is, it’s not always about Beachbody and how I can help them attain their health and fitness goals, but more often it starts as “How can I help this person today, right now, in this moment?” Maybe it’s a mother struggling with her younger kids and I can totally relate, so I want to help her appease a screaming child. Or, maybe it’s the sister in the ward who often sits alone, so I want to sit near her instead of with my regular group of friends. My mentality of seeing others in a whole new light is a success that I will gladly take from my experience thus far as a coach.

Win.

Progress.

Gain.

Accomplishment.

Success.

How to Balance Motherhood and Pursuing Financial Freedom.

There is a lot of work and dedication that is put into making a dream come true. It means making difficult choices and having a willingness to believe in yourself when few others do.

As excited as I am about building my own business, as a mom of four young boys, there is an unspoken question that often nags me, "Does wanting financial freedom for our family make me selfish?" Moreover, am I selfish for dedicating hours to a business that I don't really know the outcome to?

Then again, does any entrepreneur know where his or her business will be in a few months, 2 years, 10 years? I don't think so.

But my dream to become financially free is one that won't come over night AND I don't think I'm alone in this dream.

Regardless, there is the ultimate question for my entrepreneurial spirit: How do I balance my ambitions with my responsibility as a wife and mother? When is is acceptable to push toward my goals and when should I hold back? Is what I am doing--what I am trying to accomplish--selfish of me?

If only there was an easy answer.

The truth is that motherhood comes with certain, most times, sacred responsibilities to nurture their children at all times, and in all things and in all places. With those responsibilities, come a strong dose of guilt if I don't live up to my calling. I feel guilty when I spend too much time trying to build a business and too much time attending to housework or meal planning, and not enough time with them. Worse than guilt is looking around and comparing myself to other mothers who might be doing the same thing and thinking I'm not living up to a certain standard.

But here's a little secret I often need to be reminded of: I am not Superwoman. You are not Superwoman. We are mothers. Each of us is in a different time and place and there is not one standard for such. However, we all have the same underlying responsibility to nurture our children.

So, how do I know this is the right path for me? How do I know if my priorities are in line with what God wants me to be doing?

My path is not the same as the mom down the road or the mom across town. Individual circumstances vary.

I suggest 3 things that have helped me find balance and know if the path I'm on is the right path for ME:

Start with prayer

God is aware of us. He knows us. Go to Him in prayer and talk to Him as you would your earthly father. Express to him the desires of your heart and He will guide you. One thing I've come to learn is that His ways are not my ways, BUT He will listen and then guide us to where He would have us go...guide us to become the person He would have us be.
Most importantly, after you have prayed, LISTEN. Often we forget that He wants to teach us, but if we are not willing to listen, we cannot be taught. So, listen. Take 10 uninterrupted minutes to pray and make time to listen.

Take time each day to be present

When I get stressed about work and think the boys are always wanting something from me, I have to stop and recalibrate the situation. Have I spent enough one-on-one quality time with the young people in my life who are dependent on me for their well-being? They appear needy, but that's because they are! I recall a day, just last week that I deliberately got down on the floor and played trains with #2. Then I sat at the kitchen table with #2 and helped him put together a puzzle. You know what? That was a day I felt content, less stressed and ultimately ACCOMPLISHED. I knew that sense of accomplishment came from being PRESENT in the lives of my children. I feel less stressed on days like that. So, take time to be present.

Take time to for YOU...dive into personal development

I use the word dive because I don't want you to tiptoe, or step down stairs into, but DIVE into personal development. The resources available to you are endless from webinars, podcasts, and ebooks, to library books, dvds, seminars, etc. etc. Personal development is an opportunity for you to find out who you are and what drives you. It is an opportunity to grow spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and any other -y's that work for YOU. My challenge to you is to take at least 20 minutes each day to work on your own personal development. You will be amazed at the difference your life takes when you spend time to build yourself up and educate yourself.


You know how experiments work. I recommend you try this experiment and try these 3 things out. See if you can find balance in YOUR life, as you pursue your dreams.

What? You're a mom of 4 boys AND work at home?

I know, I know.
Some would call me crazy for having 4 boys.

But add a job to that lineup and that's just insane!

Ok, maybe not.

I know there are many more moms that can balance motherhood with managing a business at home.

For me, this balance had to start 2 months ago when I realized I had found something that I was passionate about. Something that motivated me enough to pursue it and start supplementing my husband's income.

Coaching for Beachbody is not even a "job" in the common understanding of the word. I help change people's lives! No, I'm not a fitness guru or a nutrition expert, but I educate myself and turn around and help educate others! That's it! I love it!


But I will admit...it's not easy.

I get up at 5am to work until 6:30 when I exercise. By 7 or 7:15 I have to be done because I have to get showered and ready to get my 1st grader out the door and be ready to teach preschool (on T, W, TH) by 9am.

Oh ya, I have to get 4 mouths fed in the middle of all that. Yes, I have a supportive husband to help me...no worries there, but I still feel frazzled by the time the 3 other children enter my home on those 3 days.

So, yes, I also teach preschool. Partly because I have a preschool age son whom I already planned to teach--I just thought I'd try to bring in a little extra income.


So, I technically have 2 jobs, plus being a mom.

That doesn't sound fun, haha!

In all honesty, I love what I do. I love my life. But, I've learned (and am still learning) that it takes balance. I need to remember what's important and make sure my priorities are in line.

Lately this quote has been on my mind. No joke, I recall it at least 3 times a day.

Because of this, I KNOW it's a gentle reminder that I need to remember where my priorities are. I have to have success with my family. Any success I have in my business will be for naught if I've neglected my role as a mother.


What do YOU do to stay balanced in your life as a mother or wife or business woman?