Getting Lean the PiYo way!

My fitness journey really kicked in to gear in January of 2015. I was pretty unhealthy. I was struggling with severe digestive issues and this lead to feelings of both increasing depression and anxiety. I spent a year and a half sick, depressed and anxious about when I would be sick next and even worse WHERE I would be when it happened. It wasn't a good time. But I am a firm believer of reason and today I am beginning to see the chain of events that have lead me to where I am now.

Through all of the sickness, depression and anxiety I was able to say to myself "this is it!"
I was DONE feeling sorry for myself. I was DONE letting this unknown cause of ailments control my life and every aspect of it! I was DONE being miserable! That wasn't me and it didn't reflect well. I didn't want to be angry anymore. I didn't want to be tired. I needed to heal myself in as many ways as I could.

I made 5 major changes in my life.

• I found a therapist.
• I started eating healthier and followed a Low FODMAP diet. Suggested for people with IBS.
• I had previous experience with pilates, so I took up Yoga. 
• I incorporated mindfulness practices; meditating, the chakras, LOTS of personal development, mindful of my body and my personal hormonal cycles, stress triggers. 
• I joined a fitness accountability group of total strangers on facebook (This was a leap!)

I have made so many improvements this past year I could go on for paragraphs! But I won't do that just now! What I want to focus on in this post is the fitness aspect! 

I DO NOT have a big fitness background in my past. I was the skinny, lanky, dorky kid that grew up with braces and glasses and SUCKED at sports and gym. I found pilates a few years back and loved it, but only really did it here and there. But I knew that I needed to exercise. Exercise helps you in so many ways. I took up yoga about a month before I joined the accountability group and it was in that group that I found this motivation and confidence I didn't know I had when it came to fitness! 

So my go-to's were pilates and yoga. I love yoga. Its calming and relaxing. It helps build strength and flexibility. But sometimes it is just too slow. There were days that I felt I needed more UMPH. Know what I mean? 

I decided to give this program, PiYo, a try! 

What is PiYo? PiYo was created by Chalene Johnson and is literally the PERFECT combination of pilates, yoga and cardio! It is low impact but man is it intense! You are gaining strength and flexibility while burning some SERIOUS calories! 

With this program I have gained stability in certain yoga poses and strength in areas of my body that did not have the strength I needed. I have become more flexible, I have gained balanced and I have become more mindful of my posture. And I have fallen in love with exercise and it's benefits!

However, I didn't take the PiYo Challenge! The amazing thing about Beachbody programs, like PiYo, 21 Day Fix, Insanity, P90x, is that when you purchase through your coach or teambeachbody you don't only get just the program! You get a schedule, a coach, a support system, an eating guide and whole slew of other things! You get every ingredient you need to get results! With the BeachBody Challenge you get all of those and more + a free t-shirt for completing the program of choice AND entered into some drawings to receive some $$$$. Your success story could even be one of the many that is shared throughout our company. 

Since I didn't enter into the challenge the first time around (nor did I stick to the schedule or the eating plan) I am going to be doing it right this time around and getting MORE results! 

Starting February 1st, I will be entering into the BeachBody Challenge for the PiYo program and I am looking for others who want to change their lives. With the program, you're not just improving your fitness. You're learning how to eat right and what to eat, you're learning self-discipline. You are putting yourself first and doing something entirely beneficial for YOU as a person! How can you know what success feels like until you are at the very end of your goals and you get to look back and say "WOW, I did this!" You gain confidence and pride! And we can't forget, with this program, you'll also get lean and toned.

        

Whether you are looking to lose weight or seriously tone up your body, this program could be great for you! It's total-body workouts using your OWN resistance! No weights! No crazy workout equipment! A yoga mat is recommended however! It's awesome for men and women alike, beginners in fitness to those fitness extremists! And it is So. Much. Fun. 

If you're a facebook go-er  you can find more information on this PiYo event challenge Here, just click interested for the event and I will be in touch!  

Also check out my Wellness Page on facebook to follow my journey and get some daily tips, motivation or inspiration! I have a FREE accountability group on facebook for those interested in really getting serious about making health, fitness and over-all wellness goals in their lives, just shoot my Wellness Page a message!

For more information click any of the links on this page or email me at rachelina2317@gmail.com.

LET'S MAKE 2016 OUR BEST YEAR YET!! #GETRESULTS 

The Beginning of My Adventure in Wellness Coaching

Here I go! It is December, the last month of 2015. The time of year where we gear up for the holidays, reflect on the year passed and think about what goals we may or may not keep in the New Year. Well, I'm doing things a little differently this year! Of course I'm gearing up for the holidays and I'll be reflecting on the year passed in a moment the one thing I'm doing differently... I've already made my goals for the New Year. 

Better yet, I've already committed to them and began working on them and transitioning my lifestyle to work for them. I have made choices to change and for the better. I am officially (in-training) a Fitness and Wellness Coach for the company BeachBody. And holy crap am I excited. It's crazy! And a year ago, this is so not where I thought I would be right now. 

Let me back track a bit, especially for those who don't know me. I was diagnosed with IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) when I was 15 (almost 12 years ago.) It disrupted life here and there but otherwise it wasn't much of a concern, until I had my second child two years ago. Then everything took a turn for the worse. I was having severe digestive problems and they were getting worse everyday. I ended up having to lessen my hours at work and then ultimately leave my job a year ago because I was in no fit state to be able to work under the conditions I was facing. It was tough. I ended up jobless and depressed. Since I was still under the impression that I had IBS I realized I needed to make some seriously life changes. (I have since been diagnosed with Crohn's as of November 2015.)

IBS can be triggered by the foods you eat, so I was on my own experimental elimination diet for about a year and a half. 

IBS can be triggered by stress and anxiety, so I contacted a counselor, was prescribed anxiety medication, but also knew I need to come up with my OWN mental toolbox of sorts of ways to practice living a calmer life. One of my ways to relax was to practice yoga, which ended up making me realize I liked and felt my bodies need to be active. 

The 3 Things I needed to work on at the beginning of 2015:

• Eating Healthier
• Stressing Less, Practice Mindfulness Techniques
• Exercising

And then one day a Facebook friend, shared a post by this wonderful woman who coached a fitness and health accountability group. You know that Law of Attraction thing??! Yeah, this was it for me! The universe was basically screaming at me "Rachel! Right here, this is exactly what you need!!" And I joined, I was so scared because I only knew literally 1 person in this group, but I did it! I joined! I knew that if I had a group of people or even this one coach who was there to support or cheer me on, people that were on somewhat of the same level of wanting to better themselves, that I would stay accountable with my actions! Honestly, the more I shared with the group, or even just checked in to see how others were doing the more I became motivated and inspired to keep growing.

Growing! That's what we do in life right? In childhood our bodies grow. After our bodies grow, we have to not only maintain them but allow our minds to grow as well. That is what I'm doing in life. I want to grow as a person, mother, friend, motivator. 

After a year of growing with this group of ladies and my amazing coach; after being on the fence about so many at-home job opportunities since I still can't work outside the home; and after realizing how happy I feel about the choices I am making I decided it was time to share it with others. 

I am officially a BeachBody coach!! I am a fitness and wellness coach!!

It is so exciting when you take the reins, take control of your life. Only you can create your own happiness, you know that right? And if you forgot, this is your reminder!! 

I want to share my story and my growth with everyone who wants to make changes in their lives. Be it mentally, physically, or nutrition! Motivating and inspiring others not only feels amazing, it is amazing. Something changed my life, someone stood by and gave me their support and wisdom and inspiration to keep going and to make those changes. That someone was my coach and she has become a friend that I am more than blessed and thankful to have made. 

I want to be that someone for someone else. I want to inspire those who want to make changes, I want them to believe that they can do it, to motivate them. To see them achieve their successes, while still also achieving mine in the process. I think what we can do to help other people just surpasses so much of the wrong in this world. 

I finally found something I am passionate about and its this! It's living a healthy and well life. It's engaging with others and helping them overcome their obstacles. It's about growing as a person and inspiring others to grow as the human beings that we were made to be. We were given such an amazing opportunity, being born into these amazing human bodies. Why not live them to our fullest and try to better these lives we were given as much as we can! That is what I am passionate about. And I hope that in your own way you are too! 

I am so excited for this new adventure. I can't wait to connect and reconnect with the people that I already know and meet new people along the way. 

Are you ready to make your goals and lifestyle changes? 

On Facebook?

Check out my Wellness page here

If you would like to become a member of my accountability group you can message me on the wellness page above or email me at My email

Not on Facebook but interested in joining? Click the email link above :)

Interested in becoming a BeachBody member: Click Here

Interested in Shakeology: Click Here

(Pidgeon Pose: One of my favorite)