Year END Resolution: Finish STRONGER than You Started

*These are my REAL 4 week progress photos from last fall in my very first accountability group, y'all!*

#YearEndResolution ..ever heard of it?

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Well, it's how I'm helping my fellow ladies stay on track during December. Did you know that during the holiday season, 75% of annual weight gain occurs? Are you going to be part of that icky statistic or prove it wrong with me?

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Beginning December 2nd, I'm committing (again) to 30 minute daily workouts, simple nutrition with easy meal plans & group support to stay strong against egg nog and peppermint galore ... I want to feel PROUD of myself when 2016 rolls around- not like I have to "fix" the repercussions of my choices in November and December.

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Are you at all curious? Want to end this year and START next year differently than you have in the past? 

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I'm enrolling FIVE applicants thru November 24th and would love for you to be considered to take part in this Resolution challenge with me! Make this year different and be PROUD of yourself.

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Apply HERE to be considered & to reserve YOUR spot!

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Have questions?

lindseykollar@yahoo.com //or// fb message (FB.com/LindseyKollarGhoens)

Healthy Sweet Potato Puppy Treats

The wait is over...

My puppies are my babes (for now) & while I love giving them treats, I want to keep them as healthy as possible. My husband and I feed them certain SAFE fruits and veggies all the time, depending on what we have in the fridge. But I wanted to come up with a snack for them that was more like a crunchy treat! So I checked out pinterest, but wasn't feeling spunky enough to make my own dough. SO I decided to make baked chips of one of their FAVORITE "table scraps".... SWEET POTATOES. Here's how I did it!!

Wash a your sweet potatoes WELL if you're planning to keep the skin on like I did.

Cut thick slices.. maybe 1/4" or more and place on a cookie sheet or stone, like I used.

Decide what temperature you'd like to cook them at, depending on how much time you have available. I've heard some people will cook these around 100+ degrees for 8 hours. I simply didn't have that kind of time. I ended up deciding to cook these at 225 degrees for 3-4 hours. 

*Go off your visual and how they feel for doneness*

Watch them while they bake, this is what ours looked like about half way through- notice the corners are curling up a bit. I decided to flip mine halfway through so they'd cook evenly!

Don't freak out, some pieces will end up darker than others but for the most part, they'll look like this! Be sure they cool completely for the pups and give them maybe half so they can explore the crunchy texture!

I hope your babies are as happy as mine with this recipe & give it two paws up.

Find me on Facebook and share a photo of your happy pooch!

Caprese Chicken: A Simple, Monday Night Meal

Yesterday I created a meal plan for the week & then broke it down into my grocery list. The hubby & I ran to the store and were out in a record breaking time of about 30 minutes- it's amazing how quickly you can shop when you mostly avoid the center isles! #truth

One of the recipes on our weekly meal plan is from a cook book I have called "Fixate," which is a compilation of 101 recipes that follow the nutrition plan I'm using with the 21 Day Fix (read more about that here). This super easy recipe is called "Caprese Chicken" and got two thumbs up from the hubby & myself for both flavor and quick preparation.

The recipe was simple. Fully cook two seasoned & trimmed chicken breasts. Top with pesto, sliced tomato & fresh mozzarella- allow some time over heat for the cheese to begin to melt. Serve with veggies &/or a healthy carb (like quinoa or brown rice). Yummmmmm!

Bon Appetit, friends!

The year I QUIT leggings

Okay, opinions aside with all this ‪#‎leggingsarenotpants‬ talk... let me take you back a to a few years of my life when I LIVED in them all winter long.
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After Nate and I got married, I started a slow & steady weight gain.. we'll call it the "newly-wed 15," but honestly it was more like 20 pounds- and on a 5'3" frame that was pretty significant. But this post-white dress, newly wed bliss weight gain is something I think a lot of women can relate to.
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I became so ashamed at how I neglected myself that I began to use my clothing to HIDE... the weight... the expanding curves.. and ultimately, my insecurity.
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I had tons of pants sitting in my closet that I didn't wear because either they wouldn't fit over my butt/hips (hello, hour glass frame) OR because I was so self conscious about my muffin top. -----> In came the "leggings phase" of my life.... I wore them initially because they were trendy and comfy, but eventually they became my method of concealing & all I wore...
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Last fall, I took charge of my health, fitness & over-all wellness.. I made the DECISION to try something different. I was NERVOUS that it would be too hard. I was nervous I would quit. I was nervous I'd waste money. BUT, I needed SO desperately to find my confidence again. I NEEDED to get rid of the sick-to-my-stomach feeling I had on occasion when I was intimate with my husband (keeping it real, girls). I wanted to go in my closet and throw on my PANTS for goodness sake!
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So, I got T25 and shakeology, I synced up with a coach and joined an online accountability group. I checked in with my coach every Sunday & STUCK WITH IT for 8 weeks ----> through early morning work outs.. through traveling ... CHOOSING to saying NO to dinner party food and wedding reception snacks and weekend drinks.. I ENVISIONED what sticking with it would look and even FEEL like & that's what fueled me!
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Nearly 60 days later, I finished T25/shakeology/healthy eating... and I lost 3.PANT.SIZES. I cried when I tried on pants that STILL didn't fit.. because they were too big. I felt SO healthy, STRONG and confident.. I felt proud of myself ---> and that meant so much to me.
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So yes, leggings are great & I wear them [[the right way wink emoticon kidding.. ]].. but I'm not TRAPPED in them.. I'm not HIDING anything..
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This may not speak to the masses, but that's okay. My hope is to be a LIGHT of hope and promise to a FEW. You CAN change your circumstances.. and I'd like to help you. Be free, be proud ladies. Love yourself

Click here to learn more about my health & wellness accountability groups!