weight loss

How I’m Getting Ready for Swimsuit Season

April 29, 2016 · by Tiffany Merritt · 20 Comments

Disclaimer: I am sharing my own personal experience, but I am not offering medical advice of any sort. Please take great care when deciding whether or not to ingest essential oils, and if you decide to do so, carefully research the brand you choose. Please consult your physician should you have any questions or concerns. Essential oils have not been tested by the FDA. Affiliate links included. I love promoting what rocks my world!

I’m 21 days away from spending an entire week pretty much only in a swimsuit.

Yup. 21 days.

I prefer to spend my time daydreaming about how much fun my family is going to have and minimizing the amount of time I spend feeling uncomfortable about how my body currently looks in a swimsuit (it looks like it needs a lot more exercise, to put it simply). I’m not going to look like a cast member of Baywatch three weeks from now, but I am taking steps to shed a few pounds by making some healthier eating choices between now and then, by upping my water intake and by doing some exercises that offer maximum impact in mimum time.

Additionally, I’m making good use of my essential oils to help me feel energized and to offer support for healthy metabolic function. I have a pill I take every morning that makes a BIG difference in how I feel throughout the day (see ya later, 2 o’clock slump!), and for me at least, in how tempted I am to reach for snacks mindlessly. That might be one of the areas where this trio of oils that I use makes the biggest difference. I simply don’t feel as tempted to snack, which means I’m not loading up on pointless calories. I wish I could credit my awesome discipline with my habit change, but I have no discipline when it comes to snacking. I’m a grazer, people. It’s what I do. So the whole not snacking thing is a pretty big deal.

So let’s take a closer look at this powerhouse trio of oils that helps support a healthy lifestyle regimen and helps kick cravings to the curb! I take this trio of oils in a pill form, and I make a fairly large batch in one sitting to be efficient with my time. Here’s how it works!

How I Mix My “Swimsuit Ready”Trio

Ingredients

Young Living Lemon Vitalityessential oil
Young Living Grapefruit Vitality essential oil
Young Living Peppermint Vitality essential oil

(Here’s more about why I use and trust Young Living essential oils. And here’s a direct link to the website to purchase them, though we’ll talk more about ordering later on. ) Please know that I would personally never recommend ingesting any other brand of essential oil, and that 98% of essential oils on the market are not safe to be ingested. Putting something in your body is serious business, so I don’t recommend choosing something based on the cheapest price, folks.

1/2 Oz Amber Glass Bottle with Glass Eye Dropper. I bought the 2 ounce size (too big!). Go for 1/2 ounce linked here or 1 ounce.
Stainless steel mini funnel
organic coconut oil
Veg-Capsules Double “00” Empty Capsules

The ratio of coconut oil to each essential oil is 2:1. So for every drop of essential oil, I need 2 drops of coconut oil. One capsule needs 2 drops of lemon, 2 drops of grapefruit, 2 drops of peppermint and 12 drops of coconut oil. If I were to make every capsule by measuring out each oil, I would want to hurt someone. But there’s an easier way! 🙂

Since I already knew the ratio of essential oils to coconut oil, I started measuring by glass dropper fulls of oils. In a small glass container I added 2 dropper fulls of lemon vitality, 2 of peppermint vitality, and 2 of grapefruit vitality (and a dropper full for me is when you put the glass dropper into the essential oil container with the top of the dropper squeezed, then let go so that it naturally fills…that point at which it fills on its own is 1 dropper full. Make sense?).

Now that my essential oils are all combined, it’s time to put them together in the amber vial. I didn’t make very much since I wasn’t sure if I would like it or not, but next time I will make a large amount so that I have my essential oil blend mixed and ready in this amber vial any time I want to make a new batch!

The next step is to heat the coconut oil to the point of melting. This time of year where I live, you can accomplish this just by putting your container of coconut oil outside for a bit (I believe the melting point is somewhere around 82 degrees). I don’t recommend using the microwave because many folks contend that the microwave zaps the health benefits of the oils. A stove top will work just fine and should not take long. No need to measure the amount of oil right now; I’ll do that when we add it. And whatever you don’t use you can pour back into your container, as it will become a solid again in a few hours. Here’s what melted coconut oil looks like:

Since coconut oil is solid at room temperature, I did not add it to the essential oils blend that I put in the amber vial. That would result in quite a mess later on! So best to keep the carrier oil and the essential oils separate for storage.

Now it is time to fill the capsules! I removed the small end of the capsule, and took the glass dropper and filled it with my essential oils blend. Each capsule should have 6 total drops of essential oils added. Then I took another glass dropper (I bought a set of vials and just borrowed one) and filled it with coconut oil. Each capsule should have 12 drops of coconut oil added.

I was able to make 25 capsules with this amount of essential oils. I put the capsules in the freezer. I don’t fear them going bad, as Young Living essential oils (other than citrus) don’t go rancid, and even that takes a long time. It was more about safe keeping. Also? I think they go down easy when they are cold! But perhaps most importantly, I’ve learned that if the capsules aren’t frozen once made, they will quickly start to break down the veggie capsule shell and leak. So if you want to make a large batch ahead of time, freezing them is a must. The other alternative is to keep your essential oil blend on hand and make your capsules every day. The only pain point there is ensuring that you have melted coconut oil daily.

How to Order The “Swimsuit Ready” Trio

The best way to get all 3 oils is by ordering the premium starter kit from Young Living Essential Oils. I can only speak to the effectiveness of Young Living Essential Oils. That is what I choose for my family! Lemon and peppermint essential oils both come in the premium starter kit, which I talk about in detail here. It is the VERY best value in the entire catalog, and purchasing gives you automatic wholesale customer status, which means you can order anything else for a 24% discount (now, later, whenever!). The grapefruit oil is not in the kit, but if you have a wholesale member discount, you can get it for $7.50 plus tax and shipping. I also like to gift my new members a 15ml bottle of grapefruit oil (retail value $20.77!) when they sign up under me, so reach out if you’d like me to do that for you! 🙂

If you aren’t ready to commit to the premium starter kit, I do offer folks new to Young Living the opportunity to try it out by joining in on the order I place for myself once a month. The downside to placing an order as part of my monthly order is that it will take a bit longer to get to you as it will ship to me first, and then come to you later. But I am totally happy to do it for you, if you like. Email me at stuffparentsneed@gmail.com if you want in on my monthly order, or if you need help getting signed up as a wholesale member!

Before I Commit, How Expensive Is It Per Capsule?

So glad you asked! I’m not a big math person, except for when it comes to figuring out how much stuff costs, and then I whip out the calculator with glee! $23.75 gets you 3 bottles of oils that each contain 85 drops of oil. Each capsule requires 2 drops of each oil. So you have enough oils in each container for 42 days of weight loss capsules, which is almost 6 weeks. This breaks down to just .56/day. I think that’s a smokin’ hot deal for a natural, drug-free source of support for your energy and your cravings. Please note that this figure does not take into account tax, shipping or any other supplies you may need beyond the oils.

If you are looking to make a few lifestyle changes to help you feel more confident before you hit the beach or the pool this summer, I think you might really love what this trio can offer. Always keep in mind, of course, that essential oils are amazing, but not magical. They don’t take the place of making healthy choices like drinking your water, moving your body, and fueling up with good foods.

What About Cellulite?

As you get toned up for swimsuit season, are you also struggling with cellulite? (Who isn’t? I hate that person, whoever it is!). I’ve got some great solutions for getting rid of cellulite naturally, too. Combine those 2 secret weapons with this trio and get ready to shine from the inside out!

Cheerios, a Weight Loss Secret and a #BetterBreakfast ($15 Paypal Giveaway!)

March 18, 2015 · by Tiffany Merritt · 95 Comments

Last week I wrapped up a 10-week exercise and weight loss challenge with a group of people at my local workout facility. Most of us were not exercising at all at the beginning of the challenge and by the end, we were working out an average of 5 times a week, doing a combination of cardio and strength training activities.

The participant who lost the most weight during the challenge (it was a man…of course…) shared about how he got over a plateau in his weight loss journey that happened about halfway through the challenge. It really struck me as something to take to heart, because he made a change that few people would expect to be the key to losing more weight: he started eating breakfast.

A photo posted by Tiffany (@stuffparentsneed) on Mar 18, 2015 at 7:12am PDT

He was in a long standing habit of just having coffee for breakfast, and even though he knew what we have all heard time and time again, which is that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, from his perspective, it was tough on his crunched morning schedule and since he was trying to lose weight, it was just more calories, so why bother? But our nutritionist encouraged him to give it a try so that his body wouldn’t think it was starving and needing to hold on to any fat already stored. And guess what? It worked!

Historically, I have always been a BIG fan of breakfast. In fact, for many years of my life I had to eat within 15 minutes of waking up or I would feel physically ill. I think my coffee habit has put a damper on my appetite first thing in the morning, and as a result, I haven’t been skipping breakfast, but it is not uncommon for me to be awake 2-3 hours before I eat breakfast. This is not good, friends! My body needs some water and some good nutrients right off the bat in order for it to not be out of whack and to assume that it isn’t getting fed and therefore needs to hold on to what I’ve already got.

A #BetterBreakfast Routine

Inspired by my workout buddy’s great success with a good breakfast, I headed over to Publix to pick up a winning combination: Cheerios and 100% Florida Orange Juice. They actually have a SWEET coupon in their Lucky Saving flyer right now(which you can find at the front entrance of your local store OR at the customer service desk). If you purchase both of these products, you can take $2 off the total bill. You can also find a Cheerios digital coupon for $1/2 boxes at ReadyPlanSave.com. Awesome! So why this particular combination? Well, Cheerios makes for a great choice because it is made from whole-grain oats and it does not have artificial flavors or colors. Those are two things I’m trying to eliminate as much as I can from our diets because they sort of freak me out. It is also a low fat and cholesterol-free choice. Finally, in case you haven’t noticed, boxed cereals can be absolutely loaded with sugar, but Cheerios has just one gram of sugar per serving. Nice!

Pairing cheerios with an 8 oz glass of 100% Florida orange juice will give you lots of vitamin C (100% of your daily need, in fact!) and vitamin C helps maintain a healthy immune system. Orange juice also contains potassium which is great for heart health. Also? It’s delicious! 🙂

I personally like my Cheerios best with sliced bananas. And for an extra special treat, try it with a small drizzle of honey!

Win it!: I want you to get to experience the super fast, super simple and super awesome breakfast pairing of Cheerios + OJ (and don’t forget that $2 off coupon!), so I’m hosting a giveaway for $15 PayPal so you be on your way to a #BetterBreakfast routine, my treat!

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Let’s Lose the Baby Weight Together! Mommy Group Forming September 5th!

August 22, 2012 · by Tiffany Merritt · 1 Comment

Special thanks to Christi Williams for sponsoring and writing this post. Please check out her moving story, and think about if you are ready to get fit with other mommies!

If you are a new mommy like me, you might also be learning that shedding pounds isn’t as easy as it used to be. Pregnancy (at least for me) stretched, pulled, and expanded things that I never dreamed possible. There are many beautiful things and miracles that pregnancy and a baby bring to our lives. There is nothing more perfect than holding that sweet baby in your arms, filling your heart with more love and joy than one can imagine. The miracle that my little boy has become in my life is worth every pound and inch I have obtained along the way. However with that being said, losing those extra pounds has become a priority for me and for my son. The healthier I am, the better mom I can be for him.

Before I explain why I am calling on all mommies, let me tell you a little about myself. I have always been into health and fitness. However, it wasn’t a consistent thing in my life until 6.5 years ago when I lost my 52 year old mother to Colon Cancer. Before her untimely death, I worked out as I wanted and would go on health kicks. However, one bad food choice would send me off the wagon. I was never really “overweight” during those times but I definitely did my fair share of the yo-yo dieting. I decided after my mom passed, that I needed a lifestyle change and not just a quick fix to look great for some event I was planning to attend. I wanted to be fit and healthy all the time. My mother lived a very stressful life working two-three jobs at a time to take care of us. My father was not present in our lives, leaving her very little time to care for herself. I feel that years of stress, a poor diet, and lack of exercise were a huge contributor to the cause of her illness as Colon Cancer does not run in our family. My mother made many sacrifices in her life but her health didn’t have to be one of them. My mother had such incredible strength and I hope to be the mother to my new son that she was for me. However, there is one thing I want to do differently than her and that is I want to be healthy. At the end of her life, her biggest regret was not having more time with us. I wish I could grant her that wish. I can’t bring her back, but I can choose to be the kind of mother that makes healthy choices giving me the energy I need to life to the fullest with my family. This is the point that I made a permanent decision to “have a good diet” and not to just “be on a diet.” I also started working out 6 days a week with at home workouts. Working out from home was the easiest way for me to fit it into my very busy schedule.

So why am I reaching out to other mommies? I am reaching out to you because after losing my twin sons in July of 2011, I wanted to follow my passion of helping others. My heart and my world were shattered after their premature birth. I could have easily thrown in the towel and let it ruin me. About a month after their passing, I got back on the health track and was able to lose the 45lbs I gained in just under 5 months. Working out helped me to overcome the daily grief I was feeling. I decided that it was time to quit being scared to leave my corporate job and follow my passion of helping others and my passion for fitness. I decided to become a fitness coach. I wanted to do something that would make my twin sons and my mother proud of me. Since August of 2011, I have helped many people to lose weight, improve their energy and lives, and boost their confidence. To be able to help others overcome their inner battles and struggles with their weight has been one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. Transforming the lives of others has made me truly happy and made be a better person.

And so my story continues and the third part of the story is a very happy one. In December of 2011, we became pregnant again with another sweet baby boy. On July 25th, 2012, the sweetest boy, Cooper Williams was born making me the happiest mommy in the world. During this pregnancy, I was unable to work out, leaving me with 50lbs to lose. I am inviting and calling on mommies all over the country to join me in shedding baby weight. With a well planned diet, I have already been able to lose 25lbs in just under 4 weeks. I want to help you do the same!
I am working to return to my fit state and become a fit mommy we all dream of so I can chase Cooper around for many years to come. To help myself and mommies like me, I have created a group called “My Fit Mommy.” I am calling on all mommies to join me in a revolution to get healthy for our little ones. On September 5th, 2012, I am starting a weight loss challenge group full of mommies. It will be an online based group filled with accountability, support, and motivation. I will be providing daily coaching to all the mommies that join. As a new mommy, I am quickly learning how hard it can be to work, take care of the little one, find time for other family and friends, keep the house in order, plan a good diet, get enough sleep, and still make time to eat right and workout. I have created the mommy group to create a huge network of support to us mommies that want to be healthy. I really look forward to a group of like minded ladies with the same goal to be healthier. I will be right alongside of you the entire time doing a plan as well. The group isn’t just about working out and eating right. It will be a place for us moms to help out one another and offer advice on managing life and being a mommy. How fun is it to have a group of women coming together to sweat together and keep each other on track? I feel that I can help so many mommies meet their goals as I have already fought the battle of losing baby weight once and it is a battle I won. I want use my own experience to help all mommies all over to be fit and healthy.

So how does it all work? The idea here is to sign you up with a program catered to you and your goals that you can do at home. I have created a questionnaire to help to get to know each of the mommies on an individual basis. I will then set up a call where we can discuss your goals. I will help you to choose a program that will best help you meet your goals. The program will be one that you can enjoy and stick with. We will find a workout schedule that you can manage and fit into your life. I will plan and incorporate a diet that is manageable for you to maintain forever, not just for a few weeks. I want to teach you how to make smarter choices for a lifestyle change. I will also be creating meal plans that come along with grocery lists and recipes to make your life easier. The hardest part of eating right is planning and I am doing that for you.

Again, the first group is forming and I am reserving slots for the September 5th start date. I will add new groups every month. I am really looking forward to this group and all the benefits of a group of mommies coming together to improve their health. So if you are a new mommy or a mommy veteran that wants to improve your health and get the accountability and support you need to do it, please contact me ASAP to get further details on how to join. Please contact me by email at Christi@christiwilliamsfitness.com.You can also join me on Facebook and start getting motivated right away!

Thank you for allowing me to share my story with you. I look forward to embarking on our new journey together as Fit Mommies!!

“Motivation is what gets you started, Habit is what keeps you going” – Jim Rohn