Life isn't always peaches and creme

You all know I am a photographer, a mom of five beautiful girls, a wife of a very loving husband, and a beachbody coach.

One thing I have learned is that life is not always what you want it to be..we get busy, things come up, dreams are taken away, and life happens. I promised myself that I would not let some things get to me but honestly they have my mind clouded to where I have NOT been working out, I have been in "angel world".

I love being a mom of my five girls and who knows maybe we will expand our family one day and maybe we won't. I had the dream of having a boy taken from me and yet some think it is "just a name". This was not taken by just some stranger or a friend but by my own sister. This name I have had picked out for MY SON if I ever had one has been taken.

I know once this gets out many will think I am throwing the pitty me party but keep reading until the end!

I was told it was something my Grandma told my sister to name her kid because they didn't have a boys name picked out. However, that to me is no excuse when you know that it has been picked out forever. Some say hers is Parker Alan not Alan Parker so you can still use the name...honestly NO I cannot because that would just be STUPID! Some may say I am being selfish but honestly I DO NOT care if I am.

This is for all those out there that think I need to "get over it", "move on", "it's just a name", "just get along", "forgive and forget", or "find a new name". I am sorry but see it is not that easy. I have tried to just find a new name but that doesn't bring back the dream of my only son having the name I picked out when I was little, the dream of my only son having a name picked out after my father and my Grandma. That doesn't make it any easier to sit and listen to you all say this because in the end I keep my mouth shut, I let it build up, I have to be the good girl. I am sick of being the one to forgive and forget and do it all over again.

In the end I know that many people fight battles like this and who knows I may get to have my son with a different name. Although, nobody should constantly be forgiving their family for doing screwed up stuff and trying to forget their dreams that they have had for a lifetime. Don't pitty me because I was screwed over but learn from me.

Keep your names for your potential children to yourself
Do not let people walk all over you for life because it's too short.

Today I am holding my head high and making sure to reach for the stars while I finish my 3 year old's room with my husband for his vacation, while I get ready to start Core de Force Monday (want to know about it just ask), and while I enjoy the life I have been given!

Letting Go..Stress

One loving family

 
I learned recently that sometimes you just have to learn to let go. When I say this I am not talking about of your kids, your family but just of stress or those who cause the stress in your life.

I learned that letting go of some of the people I have known for a while whether in person or online made my life so much easier. I can sleep better not knowing their every move, how much someone is annoyed, whether or not people are together or apart, if their kids are doing good.

Why am I saying this?

happy go lucky

I have to get this out!! I want to scream it from the mountains, run through the woods, swim across the ocean just to let people know it is okay to let go of those that bring you into a world you don't really know.

I was putting my marriage on wits end and for what?

I thought a few people I met back in school were worth it. I thought they'd be my friends. When in reality they were some of the first to leave when I had more kids. They were the first to try to but in when their relationship was bad but got upset mine was good.

Even worse were the ones I met online and that is the only way I knew them. They would call we would trade stories but in the end it was me constantly trying to help with their problems. They needed someone to vent to about how their lives were not going the way they wanted them to. Sometimes I would vent like any friends do but it just got old.

I walked away from it all. I walked away from relationships whether they were 5,7,12,17,25 years long. I left them because sometimes that is what you have to do to move on.

Having the time of our life

Since I let go, since I chose to just go be on my own with just us 7 A's it has been a lot easier. The life of my own has gotten 10 times less stressful. I can go to bed knowing I am going to wake up to 5 beautiful girls who count on me, I'm not on my phone as much so I can actually spend time one on one with all of them, I get to do more/see more, I get to have fun without feeling like I am rubbing it in anyone's face.

We get to have fun, we get to talk, we get to be us.

So letting go of those things that cause stress can be one of the best things you could do for your body, mind, and soul. It is the best thing you can do for your family because it lets your children, spouse, and everyone around you feel so much more at ease.

Now I work out daily, help others working out, sell books that children love and want like no other, photography because it is my passion. Sometimes letting go actually brings a whole lot more in for your family, your life, your future!!

We will always be one!

6 weeks gone and I am still pushing on!

You know they say that FAT people shouldn't show themselves or their bodies. I find this as wrong! I am a mom of 5 working to better myself while helping others better themselves. In the past 6 weeks I have accomplished so much more than I could have ever thought I could do without the support of My Husband first and foremost, My kids secondly, My coach, and Shaun T's CIZE Challenge Group!

All of these people helped me but like I said my husband did the most. He made me want to find the ME I want to be, he supports me daily telling me how great I am doing, he supports me by showing me and telling me the changes I have made, he makes me believe in myself, he makes me love who I am inside and out because he loves me inside and out! He has even surprised me with coming down to workout with me knowing he isn't big on dancing!!! Now that; all of that is support!

My kids have helped me find the child in myself again, they have gotten up and done my workout with me, they tell me how beautiful I am, and they are so much happier.

My coach reaches out to me, interacts with me, does challenge groups, and keeps me on my toes.

Shaun T's CIZE Challenge group is full of people doing the same program I am so it makes it easier, to have him at out finger tips is amazing, for everyone in there to be like-minded and nonjudgmental is amazing.

Honestly, I couldn't be where I am today if it weren't for all of these people! So, thank you for believing in me and trusting that I can and will make the right decisions. Thank you for putting up with me when I didn't even know who ME was.

So here is what I accomplished in 6weeks.

Completed Shaun T's CIZE Challenge Group
Lost 35in and 27.4lbs
Found the me I once used to be!
Became happier, more outgoing, more patient, and more caring.
I have became an Independent Beachbody Coach
I have helped a young man start his journey again(best feeling ever)
I have started helping others on their journey through life
I have seen the difference in my home and when I am around others
I am motivated

However, one thing is missing and that's YOU because YOU are not on this journey with me yet!

What are you waiting for? Why haven't you pushed play? What are you eating? What is your go to for yourself?

When should you work out?

I think this chart definitely shows when it is best for someone to workout! The one thing I have always done is workout after my three oldest girls get on the bus and then I work out at night when they are home after dinner but no closer than 3 hours before I go to bed. I have learned if I work out within that 3hours my mind and heart are going so I want to be up doing something..Want results find out a time that works best for you. However, before you do that you must find what program works best for you!

You like to dance: CIZE, Hip Hop Abs, Brazil Butt lift, Rockin' Body, Turbo Jam

You like specialty programs: Body Beast, Tai Cheng, P90X2, Insanity Asylum

https://www.beachbody.com/category/fitness_programs/compare_fitness_programs.do#6

Go to that link it gives you all the differences!

Need someone to talk to about what would be best for you? Contact me!!

Need motivation, a coach, someone to teach you how to eat right? Contact me!!

It doesn't matter if you are in IL, CA, or NY or anywhere what matters is that you take that first step in bettering yourself.

Why we shouldn't drink..

If you think that drinking and workind out are working for you then you haven't committed yourself!

 Do you really love working out so much that you haven't opened your eyes to see that you cannot defy the odds?

 What is holding you back from giving it up?

Sometimes you have to just stop! Stop the bad habits. Stop the drinking..partying really isn't as cute when you are older! The partying has it's time and well if you are committed to a better lifestyle then this is not the time. The time for the drinking, partying, acting like you don't care has to be done. You have to care, you have to make the time, and you have to stop the drinking! You are not only ruining your work you are ruining your body!!! Why put something in that is going to make you sick, waste your money, and give you a headache the next day just to feel "good" for an hour? Stop it go work out you will feel great without the alcohol in your system, you will have energy, you will be able to get up without feeling crappy!

CIZE week 6 day 2

Check out all that sweat!!! That is me glowing for my spotlight on the dance floor with Shaun and his group! I loved my workout today which was followed by running around outside with 3 of my girls. Yes we enjoyed it and the baby even got to swing outside for the first time at 8mths old!!!!

Anyways, I tried to stay up late last night to skype with Shaun but I past out a little after 1am...my rest was down the drain and I blame myself for not staying up another hr to be able to skype with him! Anyways, I woke up this morning with my mind set to give it my all because if I don't how can I expect others to?

Oh MY GOSSH!!!! I learned there is a new program coming out! Have you seen it?!? I am so waiting for it..if you want to please feel free to use this link to be one of the first to find out! http://www.countryheattbb.com/?referringRepID=1022151

You can get a short view of what we will be getting through here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9CzP4piXvQ&feature=youtu.be

SO, go sign up and remember to push play daily! Much Love, Sweat, Healthiness, and Fun!!!

Week 6 of CIZE

Okay so I was so awesome not "Bragging" about the fact I got in to Shaun T's private 6week challenge group. Well, this is the last week of the group and it kinda bummed me out because I feel as if the family I have made over this time is just gone and falling away. I am hoping that we all stay in touch like we are right now in another group. However, a bigger side of me really hopes that Shaun keeps this group going.

Anyhow, I want to let you know what I have become because of Shaun and this group that I am working with. So here is a run down of what I did for my workouts not including the different side challenges Shaun gave us. I know it was amazing to work with someone that has their stuff together and yet isn't too busy to help those of us who really want the help and committed to doing what was right.

Month 1 I done the advanced calendar which if you own CIZE you know what that is, last week and this week Shaun decided what we are doing for the weeks. Are you ready?!? He skyped with some very lucky people. However, I was not one of them which is okay because there is always another time. Who knows I may run into him one day since I am a beachbody coach.

So here is a run down of our last week:

Crazy 8's and CIZE it up 3 times
You got this and CIZE it up 2 times
Full out and CIZE it up 3 times
In the pocket and CIZE it up 3 times
Go for it and CIZE it up 2 times
Living in the 8's and CIZE it up 2 times

Remind you I am a stay at home mom of  kids and I am having fun doing this with my kids! So I will let you know that in this time I have lost 30in.

So today I went through emotions that were all over the place and came to the conclusion that life is too short for emotions to go everywhere.

I will reflect on what I went through the past 6 weeks when this week is over but for now push play.

Set aside the wants

Set aside your wants of junk! That means instead of the soda, coffee, tea, and sugar before your workout try Shakeology! There are plenty of flavors for everyone. I learned that the one I love is Cafe Latte! I love this because I can just add some milk and go with it. This replaced my wants for the "junk" listed above and in the end gives me so much more energy!! Yes, there are different recipes to try! There are different ways you can get energy and curb these wants but most if not all of those will not give you the proper nutrition that you need like Shakeology. Plus this isn't one of those nasty drinks....it tastes good like an actual shake!!!

If you give it a try or want to go to www.beachbodycoach.com/wilkin7 and you can order a 7 day sampler. That will give you the opportunity to try EVERY flavor!! I know awesome right.


You could also decide to join our APRIL CIZE challenge group

https://www.facebook.com/CIZEapril/

There is also a group page for this challenge which a select few will get in to so make sure that you are watching closely.

The challenge pack you see is all you need to get your groove on and you can get that at www.beachbodycoach.com/wilkin7 if you would like to join us!!


Hurry do not wait to get your groove on or just try some of the Shakeology. Save your nutrition, get your needs in a shake and have fun with it!

Interview Potential coaches!

Yes, you read that right! You need to make sure your coach meets your personal needs. This means knowing quite a bit. In fact this idea was given to me by an individual that was looking for a coach and it was too good not to pass on.

Here were the answers I have given the amazing individual:

1) I do hold accountability groups monthly. (I just became a coach so it is building daily)

2) There is no requirement to purchase anything to receive my help as I believe health is more important than money!

3) I check in with my team daily on facebook in our health/fitness "group" page. I check my beachbody daily and make sure that my team is working toward their personal goals.

4) My team affiliation is Erin, Kimberly, & Carly. I know Erin (My coach) is from California.

5) I do not have any coaches under me as of right now but when I do they will all be treated equally because one is not better than the other as long as they are doing what fits them best!

6)We have a private group that we have training videos and there is also the fact you will always be able to contact myself and those higher up than me for help. I will be making videos to talk to my team to let them know that there are struggles in daily life, how to overcome them and so much more that Shaun T has taught me in his group this past month.

7) I have my facebook, the beachbody websites, my personal blog, instagram, and my photography website.

8) As a member of my team I will expect you to do your daily workout of your choice even if it is walking around the block and I will expect you to eat healthy. As a coach I will expect you to be able to support your team, keep confidence in yourself, and do what makes you happy!

9) I just became a beachbody coach 3 weeks ago so I am still learning and loving every minute I put into my job and put into myself. 10) I love the fact that beachbody has people that are all working toward one goal which is to better themselves for themselves. I have always loved helping people because it is something I was given the heart for and it makes me feel balanced. Hands down CIZE is my favorite program; I have done this for the past month and a half and have lost 26in!!


Maybe before just taking on the first person that comes your way! Coaches are supposed to check in on you, challenge you, and do whatever they expect you to be able to do!!

Working out with kids!

Have you ever tried to workout with kids? They are running around in your workout area, climbing on you, even asking you 5thousand questions...Yep this is my daily routine of working out.

Doing CIZE with 5 kids is like crazy right. WRONG!!!!! Doing a workout or multiple workouts with your kids present makes them want to get up and try, it makes them see that you have to work for what you want.

I actually stopped doing my workout at night with all my kids home because it seemed like hell! I was constantly telling them to move so they didn't get kicked, hit, steped on, or bumped out of the way. Well, with having young kids like I do I had to talk to them and teach them that this is MY time for ME!

My kids are 9 (loves to workout with me), 6 (loves to laugh at me when I workout), 4 (tries the workout then plays), 3 (tries workout for a few sec then runs around me), and 7mths (wants anything and everything while I am working out)...Take all these scenarios...I let our 9yr old do it with me, our 6,4,&3 yr olds get told to play, color, or watch quietly, and the 7mth old normally ends up being worn by me.

Yes this is crazy, insane, but you know what it gets the job done. Today while doing my workout the older two were at school, my 4yr old was brought home from getting sick on the bus, my 7mth old and 3yr old were wide awake. Well, the 4&3yr old wanted to play outside so I took the baby put her in the stroller, let the other two play while I brought my laptop out with me to do my workout! Yes, people could have seen me, yes I could have messed up (I did), and yes my anxiety was through the roof. However, all that is okay because that is what parents do!!! I would do it all over again for my kids to be happy and me to have MY time!

Therefore, kids are not an excuse not to get up and workout they are the reason to push play. Remember we set the examples for our kids with our actions. That means what we eat and what we do! So are you ready yet?

Giving it your all!

I know plenty of you say you do like I did for the longest time! You want to really know what it means to give your all?

That means there are no excuses to why you just cannot start! The only excuse you really have to use is because you aren't ready to start clean and new..It means you are ready to give half but not all.

What I mean is I have been that person. I done the workouts, lost inches and thought that meant I can keep the soda, cookies, ice cream, chips, and other junk I was putting in my mouth to eat and drink. Guess what I was eating a lot of alreay preparred food from a box rather than homemade from scratch. That I learned is NOT putting your all. Don't get me wrong I am not saying you cannot have any of this but I am saying you have to learn to have it in moderation.

Also, the oh I will start tomorrow card. Yep I have used that too and next thing I knew it had been almost a month and a half before I was ready to really start. I got chosen by Shaun to be in his challenge group for CIZE!!! I can honestly say without him and my team I would still be eating junk and just losing the minimal.

Now I am losing inches and I am unsure about weight because I learned how to throw out the scale and just live. Live in the moment, dance to the routines, hope they never stop, and push play daily because I am worth it. I am worth every minute I tell my kids I have to do my workout. I am worth the time I give myself to be better for myself. I am doing this for me the rest just benefits.

You want to know the best feeling of giving your all? You feel accomplished, you are happier, you know it is all for yourself!! Giving it your all is that moment you can go out to eat and actually order foodd the way you want it, it is knowing your body, it is accepting who you are right now and loving yourself enough to better yourself.

So I just have to know are you giving it your all? Are you telling the kids/spouse you have to work out? Are you doing it for yourself? Are you eating the way you should be? Are you taking in HALF of your body weight in water? If not then why aren't you? What is stopping you? When will you? Where will you say you want that life?

Listen...to what you may ask!! YOUR BODY

Yes, you read that right. Listen to your body and I am not talking about the little voice that says eat the candy bar or have a bag of chips. In that fact you have to tell your body clean eating 80/20!!

What I mean by listen to your body is when it says to rest that means just that or it may just tell you that you have to stop for a bit! I had to listen to my body when I was doing Insanity and instead I pushed myself every time my Achilles tendon started to feel better. Guess what that put me out a few weeks doing no workouts!

Well this time I listened to my body because I woke up after going to bed last night without stretching and after my cat tripped me on the stairs...while I was walking up them.
Though the not stretching could have made me a little sore the tripping done me in a bit. I woke up barely able to move wanting someone to just lift me out of bed. I am needing to see a Chiro and until I can I am taking it easy and doing what I can as I knocked my pelvic out of place again. I thought about just pushing play and working through it as I am in a challenge group with Shaun T but I know he'd tell me to rest.

I have hope, pride, and a need to my daily workout. All day today has been thrown off from waking up in pain, not able to do the one thing that makes me happy go lucky (my routines), and then two kids not feeling well after two nights with 2hrs of sleep, and then yes the school calls another kid is sick! I can now see WHY my body told me to rest. I need it and my body needs it. I am grouchy because I couldn't workout but my body will thank me better.

In the end your body will tell you when and what it needs you just have to listen so that it doesn't tear you up and spit you out unable to do what you want. So push play and listen if it tells you to take something easy, to rest, or to take a day off as long as you go for it with 100 percent when your body says to go for it!

Clean Eating-What is it to you?

So the past few weeks I have been learning what clean eating really is. For the longest time I thought it was just making sure I ate the foods to their portions when in reality that isn't what it is about! I remember hearing from Shaun T to order the food how I want it when I go out because I am allowed to be picky about what goes in my body!

Well, today is your chance to learn to be picky about what goes in your body! I am not here to tell you or make you follow this but I am here in hopes that this will help you as it helped me. I did a bit of research trying to help me prepare for what I wanted to do. I found a couple of websites that just didn't explain why it was important.

At this point I kept searching and learned that the number one thing is to DRINK HALF your body weight in water. I am 263.2lbs so I drink 131.6oz in water daily!! This will help you lose the water weight, cleanse your body of toxins, and make you feel better!

Next, I found a website that let me learn about Shakeology and made me realize it isn't for everyone but everyone should at least try it! I personally like the Cafe Latte because it reminds me of my mocha moolatte's I have chosen not to consume any more.

Then I found a site that said "clean eating snacks" who would think that there are actually snacks to this progress. These are not the sugar, chips, chocolate, or whatever your go to is these are healthy! I remember seeing on here "it is better to consume small meals/snacks then it is large meals" http://homemadeforelle.com/clean-eating-snacks/

Then there was an even more amazing site I found that showed me what not to eat and what to eat! I know I really didn't think to look this up sooner because I wasn't all in to the eating portion and thought I could just do the programs! Ummm news flash that does not work. Any ways, check out this site too http://thescienceofeating.com/food-combining-how-it-works/tips-tricks/clean-eating-101/

After looking through both of those, make your commitment to yourself to make yourself healthier in every aspect! If you are jump on it and run with it like I am!

Why Work out in a challenge group?

     However, throughout this journey with my coach and the team I have come a long way not just with myself but because of the programs of Hip Hop Abs for 4 weeks and CIZE for the past 2 weeks. I have lost a total of 20inches all over my body. I cannot tell you about my weight as I do not own a scale to check it because I would live on it and those numbers don’t tell me the fat I have lost. I have gained so much more though which I will get to at the end!
    

    I can tell you Hip Hop Abs is fun and engaging as Shaun is Ahmazing himself and makes all his dance workouts fun! I can also tell you this was great for me to start off with as I was not working out like I should have been. Yes, I had to start back from the get go but make sure you put your all in to each move and each beat!

      

      CIZE is AHMAZING and so much fun that I really do not feel as if I am working out. Yes, it has it’s frustrating times but it also has its times that you just get it on the first try. Remember not to allow yourself to get frustrated and to keep moving while having fun! This is one program that will make you sweat like crazy but want to keep going and never stop! So have fun and get your groove on!

      I was ashamed of my body when I took my before photographs no joke. However, 5 kids 4 back to back I know what I was eating and drinking wasn't the best. I was 125lbs at 5mths preg with my first baby when they put me on hospital bed rest. Then I had the next 4 and honestly after #2 I had severe depression and refused to look at myself at all. #3 made me realize what I done to my body. #4 I started working out and now that # 5 is here I have done HipHopAbs 2 times around and Insanity then took time off to heal some tendons in my ankle. Now I love my body because it created these 5 beautiful girls that I get to watch grow and teach them the correct way!! Today I love every part of my body because without it I wouldn't be able to be who I am today and knock out the things I can! This is why I was in the challenge group was to become more confident in myself, lose inches, and make my fat cry out because it is being lost in the most fun and exciting way!

Now if you'd like to be in a challenge group contact me to find out a way to do so!! Go to www.beachbodycoach.com/wilkin7

Having FIVE Girls

Having FIVE Girls

Let me tell you what this is like especially when we are out and about doing grocery shopping without my husband who is an over the road trucker.

1)   Are they all yours? Really, what do you think I do go out picking up strangers kids who all look like me and like each other? YES they are all mine and YES I enjoy it!!

2) Wow they are all girls! Wow you learned how to tell gender and realized that GOD didn’t sew dicks onto my kids’ congratulations your IQ has failed you again. YES they are all GIRLS and YES I enjoy it!!

3) I hope she’s not a single mom! Seriously thank you for only saying this to your significant other, friend, or to yourself because you are so narrow minded it is fucking ridiculous! NO I am not a single mom, YES my husband works his ass off to support our GIRLS!!

4) You must have your hands full! Um no really I don’t especially when my FIVE act 10 times better than the TWO you have in the store!! Please don’t think my hands are full because you don’t know how damn cool my kids are!!

5) Oh wow are you trying for a boy? I think you need to go back to school because you cannot try for a specific gender you idiot! I am thankful for each one of my GIRLS and love the fact that GOD made sure they are healthy!!

6) Are you done having kids? I really don’t think you want involved into my sex life! I love sex, I love getting laid by my husband and I do not plan to stop having sex any time soon so if a baby follows that is what was supposed to happen!!

The looks we get are just as bad as the comments!

7) That look you get when you go to check out! You are very self-centered if you think that just because I have 5 kids I am on state assistance. NO I do not get help unless you mean from my husband that works 70 hours a week!!
8) Oh your card didn’t work, I thought you were using LINK! Are you really that dumb that you cannot tell the difference between what a LINK card and a DEBIT card or did you just assume that I was poor because of my family size?! I think you as a cashier need to quit assuming and just ask if you don’t know.

Thankfully there are a few that understand what our lives are like and they do not judge in any way!!!

9) You have a beautiful family and your kids are outstanding! Thank you for understanding that just because I have what people nowadays consider to be too much used to just be a regular sized family!!

10) That is awesome we have 8 kids! You are amazing and I think you should make sure that people see big families are still okay not just out of the norm!!!

Remember that just because you see something that is not in the norm anymore doesn’t mean it is your place to meddle or to put in your two cents. I think many of us get enough crap about other things that we don’t need you asking questions, assuming you know the answer, or just being down right rude! I really hope my children learn that families are okay no matter if there are any kids to if there are 20 kids.