I have finallyyyyyy done what I have wanted to do for about a year now! 

I'm a Beachbody Coach!!

Why did it take me so long?? 

Well,  at first I just assumed that Beachbody was just another fad-diet trend where you had to drink protein shakes and you did some fitness videos.. whoopdedoo. BUT then I saw friends result pictures and lifestyle changes! I still thought there had to be something gimmicky about it, but I did my  research and read blogs and read dietitian reviews.. and there is honestly absolutely NOTHING gimmicky about this company! I don't even want to call it a company because that's not what it represents.

Another reason was, I had this idea that because I was going to school to be a dietitian that I couldn't be apart of some other modern/holistic nutrition program. The classic dietitian it pretty traditional and doesn't believe in things that aren't science approved or considered a national guideline. So I just kept thinking I couldn't be a dietitian and be apart of Beachbody. But guess what.. I'm still going to school for dietetics (which I love!) AND I'm going to be a Beachbody coach!  I kept making excuses.. "I don't know if I like shakeology... I don't know if I want to promote all of these workout videos.." Well I don't have to do any of that if I don't want to! I don't know those products enough to promote them anyways and like I have said before, I will never promote something if I know nothing about it. It will just sound like I'm selling a product and that is the last thing that I want or believe in. I want to be apart of this for me and for anyone who wants to make a change in their life as well!






Why Beachbody?

When I first became interested in nutrition and dietetics, I always thought that I would have my own business and my own clients, and that was going to be my career as a dietitian. Now that I am a few years into my degree, I realize that there are sooooooo many other options out there! I am becoming very passionate towards pediatric dietetics, renal dietetics (working with ill patients)  and possibly even doing some research! But guess what!? I get to have BOTH.. because of Beachbody!! I get to have MY OWN BUSINESS , MY OWN CLIENTS even while I go to school to further my nutrition education! I have felt this need to share what I am learning with people and I'm pretty sure my boyfriend is sick of me telling him whats good and bad about everything he eats... Beachbody is giving me the opportunity to use my education to the absolute best of my ability until I decide to go further.

We're human.. we want to get in shape but sometimes we fall of the wagon and we try to get back on, but it's hard to do..especially alone. I know!! I was in the best shape of my life and then got lazy and now I'm playing catch up. But I want a change! I knew that I wanted a program that was NOT a diet, NOT a quick-fix,  andddd NOT something that I will quit a few days in.. I want a permanent lifestyle change and I truly believe Beachbody is exactly that! They are full of coaches who have been exactly where I am and where so many of us start or where we quit. I am sooooo excited to FINALLY be apart of something that I know will change my life and help me change other peoples too! It's scary and it's unfamiliar to me but like I've heard so many times from this company "If your dreams don't scare you, they aren't big enough"

I have ALWAYS hated diets and "quick fixes" to health and weight loss (like Dr. Oz.. yuckkkk.). They just simply do not work. I've realized that Beachbody is finally a program of coaches... NOT sales people.. who work one-on-one with clients who want to make a lifestyle change, not just in weight loss but in every aspect of their lives. These coaches are not hired by Beachbody to promote products, they are real everyday people, with stories and passions who want to share their journey and help others who are just like us!







What is going to be my goal #1 ???


Start by just being a Beachbody customer!

I'm kind of in a unique place .. most Beachbody coaches started their journey by using a program from Beachbody and getting amazing results or they just really wanted the discount for shakeology.. I've never used anything Beachbody but I DO know nutrition and DO know how to push myself to reach goals and I believe that is what will make me a great coach.

I want to use Beachbody as my pathway to really commit to a healthy lifestyle and see where it takes me!


I'm starting with the 21 Day fix! I'm going to have a challenge group in about a week and if anyone wants to join please feel free to email me OR if you just have questions!

http://www.beachbodycoach.com/esuite/home/LAURENMAYNARD

It's been awhile!

Ahh! So it's been QUITE some time since my last post ..


What have I been doing? School, school, school, and more school.

This past semester I took 19 credit hours and almost lost my mind during finals week. Not only did I take this many classes, but I joined 2 clubs, worked on the weekends, and tried to find time to workout AND see friends and family! It was one of the most challenging things I have ever done.

But I am proud to say that after the longest semester of my life .. I was on the Dean's List AND am was asked to be in TWO honor societies!!

I was so unbelievable proud of myself and I feel like I grew so much as a dietetics student.

SO, what am I doing now??
I'm into my second semester at Buff State now and I can say that I just absolutely am in love with my major. I don't know how other people feel about school and what they are studying but I 100% KNOW that I picked the field I am supposed to be in. I learn new things every single day and I am like this little kid who has just learned something amazing that they just can't keep to themselves.

But…..
It challenges me and scares me every single day .. my professors expect professionalism at class,  every quiz and test counts more than you want to think about.. there are no more blow off exams.. every volunteer opportunity you are given is expected to be taken, your peers are people who in the end you are competing against for limited spots in the program. Overall there is no such thing as a fun-easy college life when you're a dietetics student. Like I have posted before, this is the 3rd school I've attended and my 3rd year in college.. I should be graduating next year.. Will I be? No.

It's scary and disappointing that I won't have my degree in four years and I tell myself a lot that I have wasted money and time, but when it comes down to it, I don't want any other career path. So it's okay that it's going to take me a couple extra semesters and a little (a lot) more money.


On the Bright Side!!
I am so so sooo very happy that I transferred to Buffalo State!! I may dislike being away from home all the time and not being a social butterfly BUT I have met some AMAZING professors and students. I have the incredible opportunity right now to be working with one of my absolute favorite professors on creating handouts for graduate students on healthy eating. Through this I am creating such an amazing relationship with her and if anyone knows anything about dietetics.. connections and building relationships like this are KEY for a successful future.

What's in store for my school future??
I am currently sitting in a sophomore-ish standing and need to do very well for my next couple years.
I have two options that I need have to think a lot about and either one of them will be the next step to my career:

1. You need an internship after graduating with a dietetics degree before you can sit for the RD exam. Internships are usually 6-12 months long, UNPAID and cost the tuition of where ever you go. ONLY 1/2 of the applicants get computer matched to an internship.. yikes. So, you have to be an outstanding student to be selected (did I mention this is a nationwide selection process). This internship is very hard to get and once you're matched, the internship is no joke.. After that year is done you sit for your RD exam!
2. Buffalo State offers a DEP program where your internship is joined in with your junior and senior year curriculum. It saves you A TON of money, the time of an internship and you have professors still that can guide you! The issue is.. this is also a selection processes. You still have to be an amazing student to be selected.

My dilemma .. I am definitely going to apply for the DEP program and if I don't get in then I will apply for an internship.. BUT if I decide I want to go the DEP route if I get accepted, it will be another 3 years of school from now because of the way they offer courses ( I have to take certain classes that are only offered in the fall/spring before I can apply so it's pushing the time I can apply back a year). If I go the internship route, It will save me a semester to a year.. so it's a lot of big decisions I have to make it is veryyyyy stressful.

Even though I might be ranting and scaring some people away from the dietetics field, when you're passionate about what you do, you forget things like that when you get to do this..

I volunteered in 1st grade classes at my old elementary school and got to teach the kids about nutrition and a little about MyPlate! It was such and amazing experience!! I was able to work on my speaking skills, I got to share my love of nutrition with fun little minds, and I was finally able to put my education to good use.

Hopefully I will stay on top of my blog a little better this semester and get to share a ton of new things!

Stay warm and healthy!

:)

Lauren

Have lots of tomatoes left from summer??

Hey all!

So, for the past few weeks my parents have been pawning off tons and tons .. and TONS of tomatoes on me from their garden. I've been constantly trying to use them up before they start to rot, in salads and pizzas, etc. BUT yesterday I decided I wanted to do something different and since it's fall and I am a soup fanatic .. you guessed it I made Homemade Tomato Basil Soup .



Now, I did not use exact measurements since I was not following a recipe but I will write about what you'd need to make 4 servings

Ingredients
6-10 medium tomatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 cups vegetable broth(roughly)
1-2 cups low-fat milk(depends on your preference)
2 tablespoons basil, again depends on preference
salt
pepper


*I season after every time I add something(except basil) so I won't say add salt and pepper after I say it in the second step.
Directions
1. In a medium sized pot, add oil and turn heat to medium.
2. Cut tomatoes in half and remove the stem end by cutting it out. Then add tomatoes to oil and season with salt and pepper. Let cook (covered) for about 5 minutes until that are broken down a little.
3.Add vegetable broth. Turn down heat to medium low and cover and let stew for about 30 minutes or until tomatoes are broken down completely and it starts to bubble. Stir occasionally.
3. If you'd like more broth, since some may have cooked down, add another cup of vegetable broth. But if you are content, then add milk, stir and let cook for another five minutes.
4. Add basil and stir.
5. Now if you have an emersion blender I am very jealous first off and second now you can use it to make the soup smooth. If not, blend use blender and BE CAREFUL! I exploded hot soup everywhere and it was terrible haha.. My suggestion is to let it cool and blend it later on if you are okay with waiting.

Now time to chow down and enjoy with a nice low-fat mozzarella grilled cheese sandwich and marvel at your healthy cooking skills!

I usually like to ad spinach to my grilled cheese but I didn't have any in the kitchen this time!

For those of you who want a calorie/fat count, I do not have the exact numbers calculated but you can go online and look up each individual item and it will tell you so you can figure out a rough estimate to calculate into your diet! 

Again, I legally cannot give you these numbers since I do not know them EXACTLY.

Enjoy and please leave comments if you try it and love or hate it! I'd love to know!

Have an awesome day!

The Start of Something Great ..

Hey everyone! 

This is going to be such a great experience for me and everyone involved in my blog!

My plan for this blog is to get you guys to know a little about me, so you understand where my passion and heart comes from and to make you better educated about today's changing nutrition and health!

So, please read, read, read and comment if you would like to know more about anything!

P.S. not every page is done as of right because I am in school and am quite busy trying to learn stuff to help you guys!

Enjoy:)