1. You don’t need to wait to become the perfect version of yourself to be happy.

Oftentimes, we prioritize reaching a goal so much so that we forget about our happiness in the whole equation. The focus centers on the weight we still have to lose or the definition we want to see, and we aren’t happy with ourselves until it happens. We close ourselves off to experiencing life and relationships around us so that we can finally get from point A to B—essentially, we equate our happiness with a goal. We spend so much time measuring ourselves up, punishing ourselves and feeling guilty for not being “perfect” when, in reality, you don’t have to wait to become this “perfect” version of yourself before you start loving yourself and truly enjoying your life. You’re allowed to be happy while you continue to evolve and improve. You don’t need a number on a scale, a number of reps, a number of miles or an amount of weight you can lift to feel validated.

Personally, I believe I’ll be the “perfect” version of myself when I am able to just enjoy exactly who I am in the present moment. This is the version of myself I am striving to become. Continue working toward your goal, but in the meantime, embrace, own, accept, love and just enjoy being who you are right now. There is only one of you and we have one life to live, so allow yourself to be happy!

2. No matter how far you still have to go, you’re allowed to celebrate how far you have come.

You’ve heard it before: “It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey.” When we focus too much on how far we have to go, we forget to realize how far we have come. We could be leaps and bounds further along in our journey than we were just a few months ago but not take the time to stop and celebrate all that we have achieved in the process.

We get this picture in our heads of exactly who we want to be, how we want to look and where we want to go. We work hard and we persevere every single day to get closer to becoming that picture in our head, but it’s not always about the end goal. There is so much to be proud of yourself for while you are on the way to where you are going. Take a moment right now. Look at yourself; look how far you have come. Remember that person who chose to start? You are that person. Be proud of that person. Celebrate that person.

Next time you get stuck thinking about how far you still have to go, challenge your perspective. Regardless of how far you are from the person you want to be and the place you want to go, you have come so far and that deserves recognition!

Don’t let the person you want to be stand in the way of celebrating the person you are now. Even though you may have more to go, your hard work is worth it, your hard work shows and your hard work has paid off!

3. You are your own kind of beautiful.

Stop comparing yourself to others. We are all guilty of this—I’ll be the first to admit that I do it too! Truth is, we were all born with different hair textures, eye colors, metabolisms and body frames, and every one of these things makes us beautifully unique. We are our own person. No one is just like you—how cool is that? You are you, and no one else can be you no matter how hard they try. We have to remember this when we find ourselves wishing we had what someone has or could do what someone else does. When we strive to be like someone else, it is a million more times difficult to be happy with who we were uniquely made to be.

If you take away anything from this blog post, I want you to know that who you are, every single part, is unbelievably beautiful. You are too pretty and too smart to act like you are not. You may look at yourself in the mirror and not think twice about the reflection you see, but what you aren’t seeing is the beauty others see in you. It’s time for you to look at yourself in a new way—we see it, now it’s your turn. Go ahead and tell yourself how beautiful you are! Do it today, and every day after that.

4. Who you are as a person is way more important than the way you look.

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that no one is going to love you more for losing 20 pounds or having a six-pack. Those things are great goals, but the things that have a lasting impression are your character, values, actions, positivity, happiness, love and everything that’s inside you.

That five pounds you gained or lost weighs a lot less than the smile on your face and the passion in your heart. People around you don’t care about the number on your scale and probably don’t even think about it. So, stop torturing yourself and letting the way you look dictate your attitude. It’s more important to live a life that keeps you smiling and keeps others smiling than a life that keeps you obsessing over your weight. Remember what really matters.

5. You are strong, capable, beautiful, significant and more than enough.

You are! Stop telling yourself otherwise. Even when it feels like you aren’t, I hope there is at least a small part of you that believes you are. You may not be able to see it today, but others see it every day. Others see every ounce of greatness within you—more greatness than you will ever know. Never forget that.

If you know someone who needs to hear one of these reminders, share this post with them. If you’re more of a podcast person, you can download the podcast episode that goes along with this post and listen to it on those days when you need a pick-me-up.

Also, if you didn’t know, I have a cooking show called Morgan Makes It where I show you how cooking and eating healthy can be simple, quick and still so delicious. I release a new recipe every single Monday, which can be found on Burn Boot Camp’s YouTube channel. Go check it out if you are ready to start eating healthy and don’t know where to begin or if your diet is feeling stale and you are looking for new, fun and healthy ways to change it up!

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We are constantly surrounded by social media, TV, magazines, friends, family, actors, influencers—you name it—telling us the next best thing we should be hopping on the bandwagon for, promising results. But which trending diets, foods and supplements are the real deal?

Well, the truth is, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Luckily, we know a few people who can help us get to the bottom of this. Our trainers are experts in their field—each one is certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine, after all. Needless to say, they have been around the block a few times and have tried a lot of these fitness trends themselves. So, who better to ask about which trends are worth the hype and which ones you should steer clear of? We asked our trainers what they think, here’s the inside scoop!

Let’s start with the diets that are better left on the trending page. Most of the nearly 600 trainers we asked agree that these top health trends are not worth the hype.

1. FAD DIETS

Keto, paleo, low-carb, Mediterranean, juice cleanses—they all have one thing in common: They are fad diets. Trainer Megan Vinyard of Burn Boot Camp Kennesaw, Georgia puts it best: “Burn focuses on long-term results. I always say that your relationship with food should be a long-term relationship as well. Keto and other fad diets, most of the time, will show results—but never long term. I always ask, ‘So you are never going to have pizza again?’ or ‘What do you do for Thanksgiving?’ or ‘Why deprive yourself when you can learn balance?’ And usually they end up losing all their progress when they come off these fads and go straight back to bad habits. Learning healthy habits and [having a] healthy relationship with food is so important. You should never single out carbs, fats or proteins but instead have a balance of all. Food is energy—especially carbs—so learning those healthy relationships is key. We focus on a 80/20 lifestyle and it works! You can be human and realistic without hurting your progress toward your goals.” 

2. FAT BURNERS

A product is claiming to be a “magic pill” that will do all the work for you without you lifting a finger—really? Yeah, we laughed too! Trainer of the Year Cody Burns of Burn Boot Camp Verona, Wisconsin has seen people looking for a “quick fix” time and time again. He says, “Most believe that if they take this magic pill or drink, they will instantly shed the unwanted fat off their body. That’s not exactly how your body works. The best way to lose body fat and gain lean muscle is by eating clean and training. A better approach is to save your money and invest in healthy whole foods and a clean pre-workout, like Ignite, to get you energized for your next workout.” 

3. SWEAT GELS

Don’t sweat it! This fitness trend goes right along with the quick-fix schemes that just don’t add up. Burn Boot Camp HQ Training Manager Jamal Gibson compares using a topical sweat gel to buying a car and car insurance—and then expecting the same car to go faster because you have insurance. The truth is, sweat gels don’t burn calories like you may think. Jamal explains the science behind the myth like this: “Sweating burns calories but doesn’t require rebuilding and repair, which continues to utilize energy for days after the incident for a workout. It feels great to sweat, but sweating is an accessory result of working out. There are many people who sweat in atypical patterns naturally. My wife doesn’t sweat nearly as much as I do when we work out together. The reason I burn more calories is because she weighs 100 pounds less than me. Stick to what you know to be true: Consistency is only beneficial with intensity. Work hard enough to get the results you desire and avoid the gimmicks.” 

4. WAIST TRAINERS

Another glamorized trend in the fitness world is waist trainers. We’ve seen the Kardashians promoting them on social media, swearing by their results. Red flags start popping up for us with the guarantee of a smaller waist just from wrapping a band around your abdomen, and our trainers are on the same page. Although waist trainers can help with posture and may make you eat less frequently due to the compression of your organs, many fitness trainers believe you’re better off keeping those bands and belts off your waists. There haven’t been enough studies about waist trainers to conclude any long-term results. What does deliver long-term results: consistently eating right, getting rest, staying hydrated and exercising.

Got all that? Great! Know that you know which fitness trends aren’t worth your time or money, here are four that you should consider.

1. SUPPLEMENTS

A whole foods approach is a great place to start to make sure you are getting all the essential vitamins and minerals from natural sources. But you may need to supplement your diet to keep your body functioning in top condition, especially with an active lifestyle. Here are two our trainers love to include in their own diets and encourage clients to try for themselves: 

COLLAGEN POWDER— Collagen is the most abundant protein in your body. Think of it as one of the major building blocks of bones, skin, muscles, tendons and ligaments. We know that what we put in our bodies has external effects, so adding collagen is a great start to glowing from the inside out. Trainer Jessi Drayer of Burn Boot Camp Bethel Park, Pennsylvania says, “Ever since I started taking a quality collagen protein on a regular basis, I have noticed that my complexion is much clearer, and my skin feels like it glows! On top of that, my hair, skin and nails are much healthier, and my joint pain is gone! It’s such an easy way to take care of your skin when you have limited time for skincare products.”

PROTEIN POWDER— Adequate protein consumption is truly a key to building and sustaining muscle mass. Don’t think of this as being “bulky.” Maintaining muscle takes work and is beneficial to any fitness journey. Lean muscle mass allows you to burn more calories at rest, so hitting your protein goal daily is incredibly important. Having a quality protein powder at hand allows you to ensure you hit that daily. This will also help with muscle soreness and a faster recovery time.

2. VITAMINS

Like Trainer Danielle Miller of Burn Boot Camp Gilbert, Arizona says, “Even if you eat balanced, it’s so difficult to get all of the micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) your body needs. We often stick to the same fruits and veggies we enjoy, which can allow for a gap in important vitamins.” Before we dive into some different supplements, it is important to remember that quality is key here, so be sure to check your supplements for high-quality, clean ingredients before buying! 

MULTIVITAMIN— Taking a daily multivitamin along with eating a variety of fruits and veggies will set you up for success to give your body everything it needs!

VITAMIN D— We get it—you are stuck at a desk, have errands to run and can’t just sit outside and soak up the sun. Neither can we! The truth is, we don’t get enough sun in our modern-day lifestyle. So, it only makes sense that we are missing out on some good old-fashioned vitamin D. But that doesn’t mean we should forget about it! We need it to absorb calcium and promote bone growth. Too little vitamin D can result fragile, misshapen bones in adults and other health problems like breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, heart disease, depression and weight gain. Trainer David Rhodus of Burn Boot Camp Evanston, Illinois adds, “There have been multiple meta-analyses that have concluded supplementing with vitamin D can reduce the chances of catching the flu, improve bone health (and reduce the incidence of fractures) and decrease overall mortality rate in adults.”

MAGNESIUM — Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in your body. You’d be shocked to know that it is involved with over 600 cellular reactions, including regulating muscle and nerve function, blood sugar levels and blood pressure, strengthening bones and creating protein and DNA. Yet up to 68% of American adults don’t meet the recommended daily intake! Low levels of magnesium have been linked to many negative health outcomes, including overall weakness, depression, high blood pressure and heart disease. Trainer Yonit Arthur of Burn Boot Camp Apopka, Florida  adds, “It’s incredible for helping people who have sleep issues and for people who are prone to constipation.”

3. APPLE CIDER VINEGAR

This is the product of adding yeast to apple juice, which turns the fruit sugars into alcohol—otherwise known as fermentation. Although highly acidic in this state, vinegar has chemicals known as polyphenols, which are antioxidants that can curb cell damage that can lead to other diseases. More studies are needed to determine its effectiveness, but Trainer Christen Jackson of Burn Boot Camp Mt. Juliet, Tennessee says that taking a tablespoon of ACV every morning “helps aid in digestion and promotes a healthy complexion, amongst other health benefits.” This definitely isn’t something you want to drink copious amounts of. In fact, drinking more than a tablespoon or two of apple cider vinegar can damage your teeth, hurt your throat and upset your stomach. Our trainers like to cut the acidity by taking it with a bit of honey and a dash of lemon juice right out of a shot glass, or adding it to a tall glass of ice water and using a straw so the acidity doesn’t harm your teeth. Trainer Jordan Riding of Burn Boot Camp Exton, Pennsylvania says, “I make mine as a tea with warm water, blue agave and apple cider vinegar. I also add some cayenne pepper to help with dehydration and throat sorene­­ss.” As with anything you are putting into your body, it is important to consult your doctor to make sure adding ACV to your diet is right for you, as it could interact with certain medications or medical issues.

4. SLEEP

You can eat clean, train hard and supplement your diet with the nutrients your body needs, but without sleep you are basically a walking (healthy) zombie. But really—our trainers agree that you aren’t doing all that hard work justice without giving your body the rest it needs to recover. Sleep is the prime time for the body to get its hormones back to a healthy level. Need proof?

Sore muscles? Sleep! Your brain releases the hormones that encourage tissue growth to repair blood vessels, which restores sore or damaged muscles.

Feeling under the weather? Sleep! Your immune system relies on sleep to produce more white blood cells that can attack viruses and bacteria that protect the body from infection.

Inflammation? Sleep! Your heart rate naturally slows when you are asleep, letting it take a well-deserved break so that hormones can be used to relax other muscles in the body, which leads to reduced inflammation.

Cravings? Sleep! Poor sleep patterns can impact the level of the hormones that make you feel hungry or full. If you don’t get enough sleep, your “hunger hormone” (ghrelin) levels go up and your “full hormone” (leptin) levels go down. So you may experience cravings for sugar or salt instead of the nutrients your body needs. 

Feeling down? Sleep! After a good night of sleep, hormone, energy and stress levels are all back on track. Your body has the amazing capability to adjust and restore all of these while you’re in dreamland so that you can start your day on the right foot! A healthy amount of sleep (the National Sleep Foundation recommends seven to nine hours a night for adults) helps your body feel refreshed and more prepared to face the challenges of a new day instead of feeling defeated and stressed. (Warning: A positive mood has been associated with boosted recovery outcomes and better overall well-being!)

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If ANYONE knows how difficult it is to constantly eat a clean diet, it is me! As you may know, I have the pleasure of instructing the most motivated people in the world and sometimes my nutritional motivation suffers. So, I am going to let you in on a little secret. I have the sweetest sweet tooth you could possibly imagine. Every time I see a chocolate chip cookie my will power kicks in to over drive!

I tell you that to tell you this, you are not alone. Ultimately, Everyone has urges and everyone gives into those urges. Overall, it is the kind of habits you practice 98% of the time that truly matter. So here is a list of 5 nutritional rules to live by that will help you practice healthy habits the critical 98% of the time.

1. The Half Plate Rule – 1/2 your plate consists of veggies and fruits and the other half is split between 1/4 healthy carbs and 1/4 lean protein.

2. 5 ingredients or less – Check your nutrition labels for ingredients. If your food has 5 ingredients or less you are definitely good to go!

3. Calories to Fat Calories Deficit – Look at not only the calories but more importantly calories from fat on the nutritional information label. If you can consistently eat foods that have a difference of 100 between the two numbers those food choices are very healthy.

4. 6 inch plates – Most of us were brought up to clean our plate. If you have a giant 10″ plate you are more likely to demolish every bit of food on it. But if you clean a 6″ inch plate you are still satisfying that habit while taking in half of the amount of calories.

5. Forks down rule – Put your fork down between every bite, chew the food completely, swallow, and then take another bite. Eating slower will allow your nervous system to tell your brain when truly have had enough to eat. If you eat too fast your nervous system lags behind!

I’m always on Facebook, doing cool stuff and posting tricks and tips like these! So follow along!

Devan Kline, Founder and CEO of Burn Boot Camp, speaks with the 3 Transform Challenge contestants on their journey thus far and their goals for the future. The challenge is a year long, beginning in March 2016 and ending in March 2017. Nina, Christina and Jen came to Burn Boot Camp in hopes over creating an all new, healthy lifestyle for themselves and their families.

Who They Are

Nina and Jen are both mothers with busy lives, but say they have learned to put themselves first for 45 minutes of every day and practicing good nutrition habits. They have began to understand the value of the right nutrition and working hard in the gym to create a healthy lifestyle for themselves and their families. Despite the challenge, they continuously push themselves!

Christina works a challenging job helping patients who suffer from mental illness. She spends weeks on end at her job and for the longest time, couldn’t seem to build up the energy she needed to stay motivated. Since coming to Burn Boot Camp, she has given herself a whole new lifestyle that helps her feel stronger, interact with her patients daily, and influence others.

Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop

They all have accepted this challenge with strength and determination. They have gotten both physically and mentally stronger in reaching their goals, and none of them intend to stop.

Here at Burn Boot Camp, we work with each client to build up strength in all aspects of their lives. We offer a second home to our clients.

We congratulate these women who are taking this challenge with the best mental attitude. They will continue to dominate their goals and won’t ever stop! Continue to follow Burn Boot Camp to see their transformations and hear their stories.

Carolynn Pierce, October 2013

“I started boot camp late summer of 2012 on a 30 day Groupon.  I was skeptical because I have always been afraid of lifting weights.  I always thought lifting weights caused weight gain which I now know is a common misconception!  I have for the most part been active and worked out doing different programs over the years.  I knew I wasn’t in the shape I was in before children but I didn’t realize how out of shape I was until I started boot camp!  After I had my second child, I had a really difficult time motivating myself to be consistent with working out.  I was disappointed with myself for not pushing myself the way I used to.  I started going 2-3 times per week and eventually worked myself up to 5.  I was so sore in the beginning and didn’t expect to stick with it.

But here I am over a year later at boot camp and I still attend 5 days a week.  Boot camp has significantly improved my biking, running and overall fitness level.  I have lost over 30 pounds and 14 percent body fat.  In addition, I have dropped 3 clothing sizes.  I have never felt healthier or stronger.

Devan is amazing; I could not made it to where I am without his nutrition advice, killer workouts and encouragement.  You will not find a trainer who cares more about their clients than Devan!  All of the women that go to boot camp are very supportive.  My daughters even love boot camp and it’s important to me knowing that I am setting a good example for them.  I would be lying if I said it was easy but it is definitely worth it!”

Carolynn Pierce, Iron Station, NC

1. Raw Almonds 

Not only does this serve as a great on-the-go snack, but this protein packed nut is loaded with Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant. Almonds will give you energy with its magnesium component, help build and maintain muscle and regulate blood sugar. *Avoid salted or roasted almonds due to sodium content.

Serving Size per day: Stick to a handful (23 almonds) or 2 tablespoons of Raw Almond Butter

2. Apples

Apples have so many health benefits including weight control. Apples are a great source of fiber and made up of 85% water to help you keep that full feeling *Red Delicious & Granny Smith are best!

Serving Size: An apple a day keeps the belly fat away

3. Avocado

This healthy fat fruit is not only packed with nutrients, but it has anti-inflammatory properties and keeps that blood sugar in check throughout the day! Add avocado to any salad, use as a spread to your lunch wraps, or top you eggs with it!

Serving Size: Depending on the size, you will want to keep your intake around 1/2 avocado a day (about 4oz)

4. Soy Beans

Soy helps build muscle and burn fat. This source of protein regulates digestion, regulated blood pressure, and keeps your blood sugar in check. Since genetically modified (GM) soybeans have reached 90% market penetration in the United States select organically grown soy products to avoid GMO. Shaklee 180 Protein contains Non-GMO soy and is a great source of liquid protein to re-fuel those muscles after a workout.

Serving Size: 1/2 cups soybeans a day, or 1-2 protein shakes depending on your goals.

5. Egg Whites

Full of protein, low in calories, and one of the best absorbed type of protein. Egg whites will help you recover from your workouts, build lean muscle, and reach your fitness goals! Egg whites are great for omelets, smoothies, protein pancakes/muffins, and quick meals on the go!

Serving Size: Depending on your caloric needs, 1 cup of egg whites yields 26grams of protein and only 133 calories!

6. Quinoa

This super-grain is another great source of protein, with a complete 9 essential amino acid profile. High in fiber to promote healthy digestion, and keep you full which decreasing appetite. This food is great as a replacement of pasta, in salads, stuffed peppers (replacing rice), or just served cold with some olive oil and spices!

Serving Size: 1 cup a day

7. Grapefruit 

High in enzymes, helping you burn off that fat, Grapefruit is high in water and low in sodium to speed up your metabolism and flush excess water weight.

Serving Size: Try eating 1 grapefruit a day and see the inches come off!

8. Plain Greek Yogurt

All yogurts are excellent sources of calcium, potassium, protein, zinc, and vitamins B6 and B12. What distinguishes Greek yogurt is its thicker, creamier texture because the liquid whey is strained out. Also, it contains probiotic cultures and is lower in lactose and has twice the protein content of regular yogurts.Be sure to select the plain and add your own fruit to it. Most pre-packaged yogurts with fruit in them are loaded with unwanted sugar.

Serving Size: 6-8oz a day with 1/2 cup fresh berries

9. Salmon

Full of Omega 3 fatty acids, boosts metabolism so body burn fat faster and more efficient. Stay away from farm raised fish and choose wild-caught salmon.

Serving Size: 4-5oz for your source of protein

10. Water

Last but certainly not least, WATER! This is your best tool to fight body fat. Drinking an extra 2 glasses a day will boost your metabolism by 30%! Drinking water on an empty stomach first thing in the morning will purify your colon, helping you absorb nutrients throughout the day.

Serving Size: 1/2 your body weight in ounces

Foods to Avoid

1. Salty Foods– the high sodium content will cause your body to retain more water and bloat. Stick to under 2,000mg of sodium a day

2. Soda– Diet, Regular, Grape, Orange, you name it…STAY AWAY! Soda is empty calories that aid in weight gain and is high in sugar. Stick to your water and mix it up by infusing your H2O with a lemon!

3. Sugar (Both Refined & Artificial)- Sugar is bad for us for many reasons, but just to name a few, it suppresses the immune system, promotes inflammation, raises insulin levels, and serves as empty calories in our diet. The World Health Organization recommends we only consume 10% of our daily calories in sugar (about 50 grams). We recommend swapping out your sugar in baked goods with a natural plant based sweetener such as Stevia or Raw Honey.

4. Refined Carbs

Refined carbs are white flour, boxed cereal, cookies, cake, chips, canned fruits, and anything with added sugar. It is best to stay away from these foods because they have been stripped of fiber and act as a simple carb to the body, which causes a spike in blood sugar, followed by a crash. Don’t be afraid of carbs, just be sure they are complex carbs that digest slower and are used as energy such as sweet potatoes, oatmeal, fruit, veggies and natural sugars.

5. Alcohol

Sorry to break it to you, ladies! That glass of wine at dinner each night could be the cause of your unwanted belly fat. Alcohol is metabolized differently than other foods we consume because our body recognizes it as a toxin. When your body draws all its attention to that glass of wine you are consuming with dinner, your body will not have the capacity to break down your food properly, therefore, converting those calories as fat. Stick to 1-2 glasses per week!

    I have two beautiful girls, 5 and 3.5, and a wonderful husband. I work a full time job and taking care of my young kids doesn’t leave me much time myself. Having “guilt-stricken” working mom syndrome was one of my biggest excuses not to work-out and take care of myself.  I was putting my family before my own health, body and needs not noticing that I could be a better mom and wife creating a happier family life.
I found out about Burn Boot Camp through a newspaper article. I was very skeptical about joining the program. I really did not want to commit to something that I truly could not keep up, because I was very good at that My “donations” to various gyms were very well-known.
A few days later, while looking at one of my daughters 4th birthday party pictures I found myself staring at one particular picture which just struck a nerve and made me feel unhappy about myself. That was an eye opener for me.  I knew I had to do something for myself and and decided to try the 14 Day Test Drive. It was very hard at the beginning, but Devan kept motivating me each workout. After 14 days I was addicted.
Overall I lost 28 LBS, 5% body fat. I feel great getting up and being at Bootcamp by 5:30am every morning (This is a big lie, I still hate waking up that early), but it is a great feeling to know that I do something about myself each morning and continue to feel great especially in front of the mirror and any picture I have taken since. I also developed some wonderful friendships through Bootcamp!
I am in better shape now than when I was playing college volleyball! Since I signed up for bootcamp, I ran many races, including my first half marathon, first Spartan and first Warrior Dash and now I am training for my first triathlon. Devan believes in me and pushes me to be a BETTER ME every day!

      Last but not least, I would like to thank my husband for all of his support.  He has helped take over some of the role with the kids and he has been verbs supportive of my self-change program.  Without his support I think I would have reverted to my old ways but here I am – and here to stay.

Ozlem Canturkaran – Fit Mom of the Month – May 2013

Together the duo has done a fantastic job staying committed to 7 workouts per week , a strict nutrition regiment, and strict accountability rules. Thus far both ladies have exceed their own expectations and are extremely proud of themselves. Myself, as their transformation coach, am proud as well but I know we are only half way and I am never completely satisfied. I recently had a talk with both Michelle and Brandi and explained to them that Phase 2 of their journey will undoubtedly bring harder challenges. I was happily surprised with what they both had to say.

My Thoughts Thus Far…

On Michelle

Michelle has found some motivation in her husband J. For the first 4 months of Michelle’s transformation J was by her side every extra workout. I would be pushing their adorable little children in then “dream flyer” red wagon as we ran around Huntersville. J and Michelle were very consistent and each had dropped over 30 LBS . Unfortunately  J suffered an injury to his Achilles tendon and was sidelined for about 45 days. J’s injury combined with death in the family caused Michelle’s full steam ahead momentum to slow. Now that J is healed they are re motivated together and Michelle even asked me if she could do hill sprints after a boot camp work out!  The old Michelle would never WANT to do hill sprints after a workout and that really shows me her mentality moving forward.  Michelle’s mindset has been put to the test 100 times over and she continues get mentally stronger with every challenge. Successful people understand that failure is necessary to recognize victory and no matter how many times you fall you’ll never lay down. I can guarantee you that Michelle will be a complete success in the end!

On Brandi

Brandi has simply had an unreal journey. If you thought finding someone who is mentally and physically capable of dropping 113 LBS in six months is tough, you are right. Brandi is doing an extremely rare thing and making it look easy. But she would stop me right there, and say “Whoa, easy is the wrong word to use!” Let me put this into perspective for you to let you know how extremely mentally tough Brandi Parker is. Out of 168 possible workout sessions Brandi has made it to all 168. Out of 30 weeks of extremely detailed meal logging, Brandi has turned in all 30. Out of 12 weigh-ins Brandi has been to every one not to mention she won $1,000 at a regional Shaklee Weight Loss Contest. Through Thanksgiving, Christmas,  and New Years and all the temptations that come with in Brandi has been virtually flawless. As her trainer, I am NEVER satisfied and there is no such thing as complacency in my world. I have a feeling Brandi feels the same way as she recently accepted a challenge to switch to a full on Paleo Plus Diet and take her nutrition to the next level!

Taking it to the Next Level

I have extremely high expectations as we take our journey into the summer. Brandi and Michelle are more motivated than ever and extremely excited for what is to come. I will be keeping you updated once per month with a blog post on the ladies so make sure you stay tuned and continue to show their support!

If you think this is what someone close to you needs to get motivated, please send them this link to read!

In August of 2012 I approached Brandi and Michelle with a chance for them to change their lives forever. Since then there has been a series of stories on their progress. From Michelle’s amazing resilience to Brandi winning $1,000 and qualifying for a National Weight Loss Contest, you can catch yourself through the links below! If you up-to-date do not bother with the links!

1st Entry – How Brandi and Michelle Decided to Change Their Lives Forever.

2nd Entry – Bump, Bruises, and Burn Bootcamp

3rd Entry- Has Anyone Ever Lost Weight This Fast?

4th Entry -Exclusive Video Interview with Both Ladies

5th Entry – Brandi and Michelle Holding Out the Holidays

It Has Officially Been 5 Months – This is How They are Feeling

Today, I can tell you that both ladies feel amazing. I had a chance to grab them after bootcamp and ask them a couple of questions!

Devan (me): “What was it like staying clean through the Holiday’s?”

From My Point of View…

There is only one word that comes to mind; Incredible. The dedication, commitment, hard work, flawless attitude, and amazing progress is nothing short of amazing! I am so darn proud to be able to work with these two ladies on such a personal level. They teach me something every single day. When I do not feel like going to the gym on a particular day I think of the dedication of Brandi, Michelle, and all of our Burn Boot Camp and MamaBurst family. I am going to continue to push them and we will continue to crush any limiting self-beliefs they have in the process!

They have both sets goals for the half way point coming up in March. I would like to see Michelle hit 50 lbs and Brandi hit 112 lbs! With our encouragement, support and motivation they will undoubtedly succeed!

I know they are in it to win it…and I will be at the finish line as their biggest fan cheering them on!

Well, if you ask Brandi Parker, there is a better gift this year! If you have been following the transformation of Michelle and Brandi then you know they are doing EXTREMELY well. Both gals have put forth an outstanding effort thus far and they certainly  have results to show for it.

But if you ask Brandi Parker, there IS a better gift then fitness this year!

The transformation that is taking place here in Huntersville, North Carolina is being recognized nation-wide! The #1 Natural Nutrition Company in the world, Shaklee, has taken a keen interest in both Brandi and Michelle’s stories. Every year Shaklee holds a nation-wide transformation contest and the winner receives a $10,000 prize! Shaklee was VERY interested in both gals for the contest ,unfortunately, only one could go and they hand-picked Brandi for the Regional Qualifying event in New York this past weekend!

After telling her story in a one minute speech on stage in front of 200 people. Brandi inspired the crowd and won the Regional Qualifying event by a landslide! Brandi and Michelle will continue their amazing journey and Brandi will be headed to Nashville in 8 months for a chance to win the Nation-Wide contest and $10,000!

Whether she wins or not, our Fit Moms Forever community will continue to support both her and Michelle’s as their amazing weight loss journey continues!

If you would like to congratulate Brandi and give her some support you can post a comment on our Fit Moms Forever Facebook Page.

If you would like to find out more about the Shaklee Nutrition plan that Michelle and Brandi are using to allow the weight to fall off click the link below:

Shaklee Cinch Transformation Pack

If you would like to contact Michelle or Brandi personally to get an insight to their experience you can e-mail me at devanklinefitness@gmail.com