As a coach I help people break away from bad eating habits, right? Well sometimes, even as a coach, I fall into bad habits again. It's never long term. But it's always enough to remind me why I started eating healthier in the first place.

The first thing I notice is that my clothes feel a little more snug than I would like. And living in Florida, the last thing you want in the summer is for your clothes to be clinging to you - holding on for dear life.  The humidity does a pretty good job making them stick to you as it is.

The second thing I notice is that I feel kinda "bleh". And nobody likes that feeling.  The old me would look for some quick fix, wreak havoc on my system, cleanse.  Yep. I've done them before and felt horrible the entire time. No energy. Fast results (b/c I was starving myself). And a quick regain of all of the weight I lost.  Good thing I'm much wiser now and have resources that teach me the healthy way to "cleanse".

So what exactly is the 3-Day Refresh?

It's a 3 Day program of specially formulated shakes, healthy snacks, and yummy easy-to-prepare meals that have been scientifically designed to help you lose weight and break the cycle of bad eating while dramatically improving the way you feel.

How is it different from other cleanses?

Unlike juice fasts or liquid cleanses that are high in sugar and low in protein (which can leave you feeling weak and sluggish), the 3-Day Refresh is scientifically designed to help support your metabolism while nourishing your vital organs.* Plus, you actually get to eat delicious, real food during this program.

Why Refresh?

•  You need a clean break from a period of unhealthy eating. 
• You used to eat pretty well but have recently fallen off the wagon and need some help getting back on. 
• You want to jump-start healthy eating habits for a new workout program. 
• You want to quickly lose a few pounds for an upcoming event. 
• You’ve never been a healthy eater, but are ready to kick-start better nutrition for the first time. 
• You want your clothes to fit better. 
• You want more energy. 
• You love food and want to be satisfied while you lose weight and get healthier. 
• You’ve tried liquid fasts or other fad diets and they simply don’t work.

What's Included?

Chocolate may be my favorite flavor, but every now and then I have to have some Vanilla. When I used to eat ice cream on an "every other day" basis (yep, that was me), Vanilla was my flavor of choice.

So having an ice cold Vanilla Shakeology helps give me the same satisfaction as those ice cream binges, without all of the calories and sugar. So I came up with a list of great recipes for you.  I hope you enjoy them as much as me.  And if you have something you've tried and absolutely love, please feel free to share it in the comments below.

~ Coach Brandy

No, a challenge group is not the small children and animals roaming around your house, going room to room and destroying everything in their path. Although that does present a challenge most days.

In the world of fitness and nutrition, a Challenge Group is a secret Facebook group where you and others who are doing the same program (sometimes different programs) and starting on the same day can come together without being in the public eye. These groups can run anywhere from 30 - 90 days, depending on the need.  Below is an example of one of the groups I'm currently running with 2 fellow coaches:


This particular group is for Focus T25 and is coming up on day 90 since it is a 90 day program.  So, as you can see, there's a theme for each day that helps keep everyone in the group motivated and on track.  It's a safe place to ask questions, share your frustrations, and help cheer on others who are in the challenge with you.  I know that when I started my health and fitness journey in April of 2014, I never would have stuck with it if it were not for the Challenge Group I was fortunate enough to be a part of.  The sharing of ideas, our struggles, and our triumphs is what kept me going.  I didn't want to let myself or anyone else down.

The value of being in a challenge group is really something you have to see for yourself. So if you or someone you know has been struggling with getting started or staying committed to getting healthy or fit, I would love to help. I've been there before and am forever grateful that my dear friend reached out to me.

You can email me at vidaliagirl@gmail.com, comment below or use the "Comment" pop-up tab on the bottom right of your screen.

~ Thank you for stopping by,
Coach Brandy

Chocoholic, Chocofanatic, Choco Loco. I am a full-fledged Chocolate Maniac!

I love my chocolate and it's one of the things I crave the most when I'm bored, hungry, on my period, and well, just about anytime.  I do not discriminate. I love all kinds of chocolate. Milk Chocolate? Duh. Chili Chocolate? Yes, please. Dark Chocolate? Don't mind if I do.

So when I was first introduced to Chocolate Shakeology I was more than happy to give it a try. And wouldn't you know, I was hooked. I can drink it by itself with just a cup of water blended with ice cubes. But every now and then I like to mix things up. Here are a few of my Favorite Chocolate Shakeology Recipes. I hope you enjoy them. And if you have any go to Recipes you absolutely love, please share them in the comment section below.  I'm always looking for new ways to Shakeo.

This is a question I come across quite frequently.  And there are 2 ways for me to answer this.

Here is the technical answer:

• Shakeology is more than a protein shake or a meal replacement shake. It's a delicious, nutrient-dense, superfood-packed protein shake. It's made with all of the healthy foods you should be eating every day, but usually don't have time to or have access to. It's the perfect combination of proteins, phytonutrients, antioxidants, enzymes, prebiotics, and probiotics. Plus, it contains many rare ingredients, including adaptogens, camu-camu, and maca root - things we can't get from an ordinary diet. So whether you use Shakeology for weight loss, or drink it to optimize your health, this powerful and delicious shake is Your Daily Dose of Dense Nutrition®. 

Here is my personal, unadulterated, from experience answer:

• For me personally, Shakeology has changed so many things in my life. Before drinking Shakeology I had a ton of cravings that I had absolutely no control over - chocolate being the biggest one.  Not only that, I was having a lot of anxiety and unexplained dizziness. But when I started working out and including Shakeology in my daily nutrition my anxiety went down and my dizziness went away. And if you have any problem at all in the "going to the bathroom" department, Shakeology will help you with that.  That's a fact Jack.  It keeps you regular, that's for sure. But like I said, this is my personal experience. (*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.) Shakeology made it easier for me to get the nutrition my body was so desperately in need of. Combined with exercise and changing the foods I was eating, I was able to become a much healthier and happier version of myself. It's the one meal of the day that's a no-brainer for me. I have a hard enough time planning other meals. Having my shake for lunch is the easiest and healthiest meal of my day. And it's also too delicious to be called a meal. It really should be called dessert ;).

You're welcome ;)

What is Focus T25?

• Workouts that you can do at home designed to give you an hour's results in only 25 minutes a day.
• Workout program designed by fitness expert and former track star Shaun T - who brought you Insanity, Insanity Asylum, and Insanity Max:30.
• Fast-paced routines that are jam-packed with dynamic, hi-intensity moves designed for maximum efficiency and effectiveness.

It's hard to believe that we are already in the 2nd month of 2015! Where did January go? The past month was a bit of a struggle for me. I guess the Holidays really did a number on me and it took me a month to recover.