#TBT Weightloss Edition

Here's a little #tbt action for you guys! In my first picture I was prego with Grayson boy. My second pictures was prepregnancy and actually the day that my husband proposed to me!!! An my last picture is one of my more recent pics, on a side note I REALLY need to get my hair done haha. Anyways I hope you guys enjoyed this short and sweet post. I love reading/seeing weight loss transformations myself. 

Xoxo

Brittany Marie Powell

Post Thanksgiving Food Coma

   Hey Everyone! I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. I had a great time with my family and ate a lot of good food. Too much, in fact! Which is why I am writing this post. 

I think this picture says it all! Haha. I've been feeling really bloated and uncomfortable from over-indulging since Turkey Day, and I am now on a mission to get back to my routine and feeling better. My work outs have been consistent and good the only thing that is lacking right now has been my nutrition! Which is a pretty crucial thing when it comes to overall well-being.

 I really love pie. Like alot.... So much so, that post-thanksgiving,  I had it for breakfast, and then again for dessert that night! Now even though it was fun indulging... I'm now experiencing the consequences, not just in how I look but in how I feel too. Because it really is a two-sided thing. I think sugar cravings will always be a struggle for me. I told my husband that I honestly would be happy just eating desserts for Thanksgiving! But I need to get out of this slump and back into my groove and into a healthy, happy, positive place. 

So for the next few weeks, until Christmas, I am going to do my best to nourish my mind and body in a healthy and positive way. I think this time of year, our bodies will naturally become depressed...and because of this we may tend to over eat or eat for emotional reasons. I wish I wasn't an emotional eater but I am...and I am always curious to learn the habits of people who are not! So here are some habits I am going to be adopting for these next few weeks:

1. embrace personal responsibility instead of blaming other people or factors.

2. patience... stop feeling the need for instant gratification.

3. consistency instead of 'only when Im motivated' to do something.

4. diligence and a desire to understand what I am doing, and why.

5. self-awareness.

6. self-love and positive thinking.

I always feel better writing things out. I feel like now that I've put it all out there, it's more real. That because I took the time to type this out, my brain will remember it and my body will too. This healthy living and weight loss stuff is as hard or as easy as I choose to make it. And I think....no, I know that I have been overcomplicating things in my life lately. I want to be the happiest, healthiest "best-est" (haha) me, and I feel this way when I am healthy...inside and out. Xoxo,

Brittany Marie Powell

****And By The Way****

 I thought it'd be a fun to get together a Christmas nutrition and fitness motivation group! The holidays are especially tough to stay on track, so I want to invite anyone who could use a little boost in finding balance for a healthier lifestyle. It's totally free to join, and it will be held here on Facebook. Let's help lift eachother up and give ourselves the gift of health for Christmas! :-)

facebook.com/brittanymariepowell

#MIMM

  Today I got off to a late start. Planned on waking up early (5:30 am) to go to the gym, but I switched off all my alarms in a half sleep, half awake state. I hate when I do that. I ended up running during Graysons nap, just a 5k it felt good I could have kept going but I had to get ready.

 

  I had a Marvelous time at the Pinners Conference this weekend. I learned lots of good tips and met a lot of nice people. I also met up with my two friends from themumsyblog.com 😊 they are so much fun!! 

  I am currently trying to paint Lilly Pulitzer's First Impression Floral Print, I don't want to show it until it's done... But let's just say right now it does NOT look similar haha. Grayson got jealous though and had to join in on the painting. I like this little crayola "paint" set I had lying around because it's washable and it only allows you to paint on paper, so my walls and tables are safe #mommywin 

   For dinner I went out with my family, they all got Five Guys and I just couldn't stomache a burger tonight. I'm not really a beef person. So I walked next door to Which Which and got a "bowl which" which (haha) is basically just a salad.

  We then went and saw Hero 6 which was Graysons third time in a row of seeing it. He loves it. Grant bought him a Baemax doll at the Disney store, Grayson calls him IMAX though haha! When the movie was over Grayson kept saying "MORE" and crying. Haha he really loves this movie. 

   I am thinking of signing myself up for another half marathon for thanksgiving. My cousin is doing it and even though I am not in racing condition for a half marathon race I do think it would be fun to walk run it. It will probably be the last  one for a while. 

   I uploaded a review of what I think about P28 Foods Company's products. They were kind enough to send me a package, with tons of goodies to review. I especially love their nut butters, with added protein. The White Chocolate Flavor is my favorite. I still think it's such a great idea to put protein in bread #mindblown. 

   Well that's all for now. Thanks for reading my friends! 

     XOXO,
Brittany Marie Powell

Nerium Giveaway

Before

After

I was given the opportunity to try out an age-defying Day and Night face cream called Nerium. My lovely friend Briana Johnson is the one who told me all about it and once I saw the before and after pictures, I knew it was something I wanted to give a try. To be honest, I am pretty low maintenance when it comes to my face care routine, before if I had taken my makeup off and washed my face that day, then that was a success for me! I am horrible at taking my make up off sometimes. So Nerium was a helpful little reminder for me to stick to a regimen, and I'll tell you what it was worth it! My skin looks brighter and more vibrant, I feel like before my skin had a little bit of a "dull" look to it. And even though I am 25, I have noticed some wrinkles/lines on my forehead (probably from worrying haha) and I didn't even realize it until I saw Briana's before photo close up of my face but I have/had laugh lines!I also feel like my makeup looks better, I think when you have better skin it's easy! I've noticed an improvement in these last three weeks, and I feel like the skin under my chin has tightened up. The night cream is my favorite because I feel like it really tightens my face. So 2 lucky readers or subscribers will get the chance win Nerium Age-Defying Night Cream!! 
 1. 'Like' Briana's FB page, Independent Brand Partner for Nerium International: https://www.facebook.com/mikeandbriana.nerium?sk=app_228910107186452 
2. Share this giveaway on any of your Social Media Sites a Rafflecopter giveaway
And if you would like to try out both of these products for yourself: http://www.nerium.com/mikeandbriana/Customers 

 XOXO, Brittany Marie Powell

this giveaway will close at midnight on Oct 21st MST
this giveaway is opened to US residents only
the winner will be chosen using Rafflecopter 
they will have 48 hours to respond to the winner notification email. after 48 hours another winner will be chosen
2 winners will win 1 Nerium Age-Defying Night Treatment valued at $110

Guest Post I wrote for themumsyblog :)

My name is Brittany Powell 
and I am a married 
mother of a two year old boy. 
When Michelle and Natashia asked me to write a guest post, I was
delighted, but nervous. I think I've always felt overweight
and insecure. Losing weight is HARD. One of my favorite quotes is, 
"We either make ourselves miserable, 
or we make ourselves strong. 
The amount of work is the same."  
HOW TRUE THAT IS!  I don't know about you, but I
can spend a day feeling bad about myself, my food choices, being lazy… 
Or, I can spend a day putting GOOD foods into my body, moving, and feeling GOOD.

My hope has always been that I can inspire
someone so much that they can say, 
"Because of you I didn't give up."

I think for me, losing weight was just the tip of the iceberg.I don't know if anyone can really embark on a weightloss or fitness journey and still stay the same.  It's from the inside out, your own personal health is an overall thing.  It all started from a remark I received from an acquaintance, she had told me I needed to be careful kneeling since i was pregnant, when I WAS NOT PREGNANT!  Then, shortly after that incident, a co-worker at work had said something to the effect of, "Oh that stocky girl?".  They were talking about me.  That made me think. I knew I had a weight problem, I knew I needed to be healthier, eat less junk, and think happier thoughts. I was tired of being tired, tired of not liking what I saw in the mirror, tired of being insecure (which by the way has NOTHING to do with weight)! So one day, I just decided I wasn't going to be this anymore. I was going to change for ME; to become someone I love! To become someone I love, because I loved myself enough to TRY. It is, however, the act of doing it that determines the difference between who you are, and who you want to become.

I really had no clue where to start, so I did some research. I read running magazines, looked at pinterest for healthy recipes, and I turned to Youtube videos for help and inspiration.  I loved watching videos of others on their weight loss journeys and talking about it, or just giving motivational pep talks. I now have a Youtube channel myself, and my own weight loss video with over 100,000 views. I finally made my health and fitness a priority.  I literally had to tell myself, "I don't care how long this takes, I don't care if I'm 80 years old and still working at this I WILL do this because it matters to me!".  There is strength in the struggle, people!  It's crazy to me to think how different I am now from the woman I was. Sometimes I still feel like the "old" me, or let some of my past thinking patterns creep in; but I've ran two half marathons, I've lost 80 pounds, I am doing a body beast strength training program, and I'm a health coach, ME!

Being a health coach has given me a team to be accountable to, and without my team and challenge groups I know I would've slipped back into my old ways. If you're like me and NEED that support, accountability, and motivation DAILY, then please, feel free to contact me! I know how hard losing weight is, I would love, and want to help empower others. If you want to live this lifestyle forever, don't look for the finish line, run this race with a smile and you'll never stop winning!

XOXO,
Brittany Powell

Check out the mumsy blog, it is full of amazing, wonderful things, I promise! 
themumsyblog.com

Is Shakeology worth it?

   So as some of you may or may not know, I am now indeed a BEACHBODY COACH. Yes, I've joined the masses. Never in a million years did I think that I would be doing something like this. Some of the "coaches" I have come across have been so pushy that I think it turned me off to the idea of it. Also, my lack of ever completing P90x :-P But a close family member of mine convinced me to do it, so here I am. 
   I have chosen to do the program Body Beast. What I like about this is it's mostly lifting and that's what I aim to do/learn is how to lift weights. I am extremely uncoordinated so sometimes something like plyo can really challenge me and not end up being much of a 'workout' because I spend half my time trying to do what they're doing. haha! SO I think being a coach is going to push me to DO THIS. To see what i've made of so to speak. I also would love to get Grant on board, for him to get healthy and maybe gain some bigger biceps in the process ;-)
   I've wanted to try Shakeology for a while. It has loads of stuff in it. And I like feeling confident that I'm getting an adequate serving of veggies via a chocolate shake. I was SO skeptical that it would taste good. I thought for sure since it was "healthy" and had so many good things for you in it, that it wasn't going to be some delicious treat. BUT it actuallly is. Oddly, I get happy in the mornings when I get my shake ready, cuz its that good you guys. It's become something I CRAVE now. I'd have to say that Shakeology in and of itself is worth the investment. Even if you never plan on doing any of the Beachbody workouts I think Shakeology is something everyone should look into, young and old! haha I know that I'm not making this up in my head or trying to get myself to like it (which trust me I have done with certain foods throughout my weightloss journey) it simply isn't something that takes an acquired taste. I knew I wasn't fooling myself when my husband had his first shake and said "its pretty good, for a health shake."In fact, he even just the other day said "yeah, the shakes aren't bad." You guys, this is monumental for my red meat loving husband to like it.  And Grayson likes it. So yeah overall Shakeology is a win-win at our house. 
   To me it is worth it. I wasn't sure if I wanted to shell out the cash for it, but I'm honestly happy I did because of the energy and impact it's had on me, I plan to do a follow up post talking about body beast too. Don't worry just because I'm a Coach now I won't bombard you with Beachbody things. When it comes down to it you have to decide what you want. Not to toot my own horn, but here's my beachbody coach link, just incase you do decide to become a coach, buy a challenge pack or shakeology. Just so you know the challenge pack is the best deal, which is something I wish I would have known at the start! 

beachbodycoach.com/GBPOWELL
beachbodycoach.com/GBPOWELL
shakeology.com/GBPOWELL

my coach ID # is: 422548


P.S.- I've already lost 5 lbs since starting Shakeology!!!
Xoxo,
   Brittany Marie Powell.