2018 BodyJoy Slim Down Challenge

I hope your holidays were full of fun, family, friends and great memories.  It's 2018 and that means it's time for YOU to make your health a priority.  

Last year I did a little segment with KSL featuring my online BodyJoy Slim Down Program. Sarah's  featured journey is so inspiring.  Back then she had dropped 85 lbs. and over this past year she's made even more progress.  I'm excited for her to hit her overall goal size, and at the rate she's going I think she'll do it before the 7-week New Years challenge is over.  

https://www.ksl.com/?sid=42714430&nid=148&title=find-a-doable-fitness-program-to-meet-your-health-resolutions

The only difference between you and Sarah is that she applies my simple strategies and adapts them to fit her life on a daily basis. YOU too can see results by deciding that NOW is YOUR time and begin,  just like Sarah did!

There's only 3 more days to register for my 2018 New Year BodyJoy Slim Down Challenge since we start Monday, January 8.  You can participate from any location since it's Facebook-based!  Use the next 7 weeks following my simple, doable strategies to make your 2018 the healthiest year yet!  All ages, genders and fitness levels participate.  

The program has two options this year.

1.  Participating in the challenge program.

OR

2. Participating in challenge AND including my exclusive Silver Fern Brand probiotic bundle (over $160 savings vs. buying the products elsewhere).   Participants who used these last year dropped an additional 2" above the  those who didn't use the probiotic.  

My winners lost around 20 lbs. AND 20 inches, and as a group  (100 people), the overall average drop was 7 inches and 7 pounds!  If you're interested in more  details or would like to see the Silver Fern Brand bundle they're found at www.mindybuxton.com under the "learn more" button.

You can register at www.mindybuxton.com as well!   The deadline is this Friday, January 5 so you can get all the program information before our start date.  Space is limited, so I'm happy to add you to the spring challenge once this one fills.

The Facebook LIVE Kick Off Meeting will be Saturday, January 6 in the private group feed.   I look forward to helping you achieve results and experiencing BodyJoy in 2018.  Give me 7 weeks, and I'll give you RESULTS!

Here's to a year of progress, success and joy!

Accountability Determines Your Success!

Thank you to all who attended my BodyJoy Wellness Retreat at La Costa Resort a few weeks ago.  It was a fabulous weekend of celebrating the 3 main BodyJoy principles: Mind, Movement & Meals.  These principles are the foundation of my book and have turned into the successfully proven strategies I use in my Online BodyJoy Slim Down Challenges.  

Now that we’re heading into the heart of the holidays be sure to create a solid game plan and way to hold yourself accountable so you avoid the typical 7lb. gain between Halloween and New Years.  

Do you have a Halloween game plan?  Will you limit your celebration to just 1 day?  What's your plan for keeping your environment full of foods that give you results?  Where will you store all that Halloween candy come Nov. 1 so it doesn't find it's way into your mouth every time you look at it?

If you do great at making your game plan, but then after one week give up on it because you haven’t stuck to it the way you hoped---you're a perfect candidate for my Holiday BodyJoy Slim Down Challenge.  Take the stress off yourself and let me coach you to a successful, healthy body while you celebrate this holiday season!

Starting Monday, Nov. 6 my group will spend 6 weeks checking in daily to the private Facebook feed which has a meal strategy that keeps you full and off sugar because you’ll be eating foods that not only kill those cravings but satisfy you mentality.  

Why will you be so satisfied?   Because it’s not DIETY, no-calorie foods!  You get real food, real flavor, really simple!  I have recipes, a Thanksgiving menu, workouts and best of all, you get to customize the strategies to YOU and what YOU love and what YOU know gives YOU results! 

The daily check-in is THE greatest factor to keeping you on track.  My community of participants shares tips, tricks, meal pictures, food suggestions and support for when you need it most.   Participants are from all over the states, not just from Utah where I live!  

It’s not your ability that determines success; it’s your accountability that determines success!  This is why most of my online participants are going on several years of either maintaining their lost inches and fat or continually dropping inches and fat.  They are accountable to me and this awesome support group on a DAILY basis.  It's simple but so important to achieving results!

All of us need assistance on our fitness path.  Even trainers use trainers to keep us accountable and on track to improving.  There’s no shame in needing accountability or someone to help keep you moving in the right direction.  We’re in this together and I’d love to personally work with you!

Join me to end 2017 on a success!  You’ll be so empowered knowing that if you can drop inches and fat during the holidays, you can do it any time of year!  Registration closes November 2.  The group goes live that weekend and we begin tracking Monday, Nov. 6.   If you have any questions about the Challenge, you can watch an informative video and register at www.mindybuxton.com.  

Here's to a fit and fabulous holiday season!

3 Tips to a Healthier Summer

I love the fact that school's out, but summer can be challenging in keeping needed structure when it comes to our health.  Here's 3 tips to help you stay healthy and happy as you enjoy the sunshine, freedom from carpools and being outdoors.  

Keep a regular sleep routine as much as possible.  If sleep is out of wack, expect your body and life to be out of wack!  Do what you can to get your rest by having a summer bedtime schedule.  Our kids need this too!  Perhaps the weekdays can be set at a reasonable bedtime rather than treating every day as if there's no curfew.  Aim for a minimum of 7 hours of sleep so your hormones can balance, your body can repair and burn fat to help you feel and look your best.  A great day begins with a great night's sleep!  In The BodyJoy Plan I list 5 major things that can negatively affect sleep.

• Caffeine after 2pm
• Sugar
• Alcohol
• Brain stimulation from electronics or any stress
• Eating too much food in the evening

Workout at least 4 days a week.  Get outside and be active with you friends and family.  Use your BodyGym when you travel.  I take mine everywhere I go!  It's the best for having a strength training option.  I've mentioned before how I think strength training is THE most important form of exercise!  You NEED it to shrink inches and fat.  To order your own BodyGym or to see some exercise ideas go to their website www.bodygym.com .  Be sure to follow them on Instagram @thebodygym too.

Make meals simple and easy.  A few tips I shared earlier this year can be found in this post http://www.mindybuxton.com/blog-collection/2017/1/17/keep-it-simple!  Eating healthy doesn't need to be time consuming and high maintenance.  Eggs, vegetables and fruits can be simple and filling.  They're even portable to take to the pool, work or in the car running errands.  

Focusing on a few manageable actions will improve your health, decrease your inches and give you greater BodyJoy!

Giveaway Time...

For a chance to win a FREE BodyGym and FREE The BodyJoy Plan book, share this post on your Facebook  or Instagram today!  Tag your friends to sign up for my FREE recipes on www.mindybuxton.com and I'll announce the winner this weekend!  More tags give you more entries!  I did restock more copies of The BodyJoy Plan for those of you wanting a helpful but light summer read!  They're in the Proshop at the LifeCentre Athletic Club.

La Costa Resort Update...

Rooms are already being booked and flights are being reserved so I wanted you to know a few more details...

You reserve your room directly with the hotel.  

LaCoasta's PHONE # is: (760) 438-9111. Just say you're with the BodyJoy Wellness Retreat and they'll book the discounted room rate for you.  Email me at www.mindybuxton.com once you've booked your room and let me know,  I'll add you to the retreat communications so you get the latest updates and information.

When it gets closer to the retreat I'll invoice you for the retreat fee since I don't have to pay for meals and spaces until then. The schedule is outlined and is available if you'd like to see it! My last BLOG post http://www.mindybuxton.com/blog-collection/2017/5/16/did-you-hear-the-big-news has all the retreat details incase you missed it!

We'll be starting around 6pm Thursday evening and having activities through Saturday night.  Check-out is around 11am Sunday but feel free to extend your check out or stay as long as you'd like using the amenities until your flight!

I'm so looking forward to this get away and would love if you get to come too!  People are coming as couples, mom & daughter groups and neighbors. Participants have mentioned they're finding great deals on SouthWest and Alaska Air into San Diego for this particular weekend!  

Mindy's Simple & Healthier Nut Butter Cups

It's no secret how much sugar affects our health and body goals.  The hardest part of staying consistent with a healthy lifestyle is giving up "treats".  What if you didn't have to give up treats?  What if you swapped out just a few ingredients so your treats support your goals rather than sabotage AND they still taste great?

By swapping out sugar for ingredients with flavor and nutrients, you'll have an easier time making and keeping results that you've worked so hard for.

This Silver Fern Brand Kakato Sweetener is the only sugar replacement that my body loves.  I hate the way sugar alcohol's, agave, and many of the other replacements taste, affect my recipes or make me feel.  Research now shows most of those are unhealthy!  Even though they don't contain sugar, their highly processed ingredients affect gut inflammation due to aggravating chemicals.  

Kakato Sweetener is a mix of pre and probiotics, stevia and monk fruit extract.  I love it because it doesn't change the way my recipe is meant to taste and it doesn't affect my stomach the way those other replacements always have!  

Mindy's Simple & Healthier Nut Butter Cups

Makes 24 mini muffin tin sized cups

Calories 60, Carbs. 2.6, Fat 7.5g, Protein 1.8g *

Ingredients:

2 scoops Silver Fern Brand KAI Meal Shake Chocolate Flavor

8 Tbsp. Coconut Oil

1 Tsp. Silver Fern Brand Kakato Sweetener

8 Tsp. Any Nut butter (I used my cashew/almond butter )

Directions:

Spray mini muffin tins with non-stick spray

Microwave in a glass bowl 1 scoop of protein powder, 4 Tbsp. coconut oil, 1/2 tsp. Kakato sweetener until just melted.  Stir and spoon out a little melted chocolate into the muffin tins--this amount fills all 24 tins.

Freeze for 1-2 hours.

Remove from tins from freezer and using your Tsp., scoop out and add 1 tsp. of nut butter into each tin.  Microwave the remaining 1 scoop of protein powder, 4 Tbsp. coconut oil, 1/2 tsp. Kakato sweetener until just melted.  Stir and top off a little melted chocolate onto the  nut butter.  

Freeze another 1-2 hours, remove from freeze and pop out the nut butter cups by turning tins upside down on counter.  Store in a baggie in the freezer.  (They're a bit softer and separate a little when stored in the fridge.)

*Calories based on an almond nut butter

If you need just a little treat that can help you stay on your healthy lifestyle plan give these a try!  

Silver Fern offer's my clients a discount by using the code Mindy10 or BODYJOY10.  I've linked the ingredients so you can easily find them on the bottom of my home page www.mindybuxton.com. Thank you Silver Fern for giving us the best pricing compared to amazon or their direct website!

They're a Utah based company who uses quality ingredients and cares about helping other's improve their health.  That's why I use Silver Fern Brand items to create healthier swaps for my family!  

Tip #2 of Top 3 for 43!

Number two of my 3 Best Tips series is Strength Train!  If you only have time for one type of exercise, do Strength Training!   Did you know your metabolism shifts in springtime and is managed by the hypothalamus, which is the brain region that chooses where energy should go and how much? In spring, energy supplies are sent to the more active areas of the body like the muscles, so this is a great time to devote yourself to strength exercises. 

Strength training can increase how many calories you burn at rest, it helps you shrink inches, it strengthens you inside and out and can even help you get a cardio burn if done with little rest.

It’s the best return on your time spent exercising and can be done anytime, anywhere with just body weight.  My favorites are push ups (you can do them off a wall or floor), squats, lunges, triceps dips (off floor or a chair), planks and lunges. 

I challenge you to get in these exercises at least 2 times in your day over the next few days so you can feel the positive benefits.  Do them in the middle of your day when you hit a slump, Do them when you think you’re hungry to distract you from eating out of habit.  Do them outside or in the office or kitchen.  There’s no need to even change into workout clothes—just start and do as many reps as you can at the times of day which work for you!

Know that small bouts of exercise like these few strength moves will help you look and feel your best.  That’s what BodyJoy is all about!

Registration for the May BodyJoy Slim Down Closes Friday, April 28!

"Fun Fact: I was not loving how tight my jeans were today, until I realized I had thrown on the smaller size I couldn't wear last month. That was better than finding $20 in my pocket."

Gwen S., BodyJoy Slim Down Challenge Participant

Don’t forget to register for my May BodyJoy Slim Down challenge!  Registration is closing so the information can go out to participants to get YOU ready for Monday’s start date.  www.mindybuxton.com

Elevating Your Treats

My online BodyJoy Slim Down Challenge includes 7 simple strategies. I don't believe in extreme rules or restrictions, just smart concepts that've been proven to help you hit your goal.  One strategy I focus on is eliminating processed sugar & artificial sweeteners.  I encourage participants to aim for 6 or less grams of sugar so they can eat it more mindfully.  We avoid sugar alcohols and look for stevia, monk fruit extract or other fruit as a smart alternative.

Use these tips taken from my  Recipe E-Book.  

Make your own homemade ice cream by doing ½ the sugar amount the recipe calls for. Use coconut sugar rather than white sugar. You'll love the flavor it adds not to mention the nutrients!

Try using in-season fresh fruit chopped or sliced as a simple, fast, delicious dessert.  Think fruit bowl once in a while!

I enjoy slicing fresh apples or pears in a bowl.  I sprinkle them with cinnamon and a little Silver Fern Brand vanilla protein powder, adda bit of vanilla or almond extract and microwave for 2 minutes.  Sometimes I add just a pinch of sea salt.  You can drizzle melted peanut butter, sprinkle with chocolate protein powder or melt a little chocolate over yours as well.  That leads me to my favorite option...chocolate!

Sometimes we just need a taste of something intense to get satisfaction.  Think quality of flavor vs. quantity!  I love great quality chocolate such as Cenavi Chocolate Bark or the Theo Organic Mint Chocolate bar.  Just a piece or two can satisfy my craving for something sweet.  

You have to try the Cranberry, Blueberry & Ginger Cenavi bark!  It's my absolute favorite.  I love how I don't even need a full serving, just a small piece to get the sweet fix I need so I can keep my cravings under control. I love that these barks have probiotics and fiber in them but taste like "regular" chocolate.  They offer 3 delicious flavors!  Treats should be savored with each taste and enjoyed without guilt, right?!?!

When you ELEVATE your idea of treats, you find you can enjoy them without sacrificing your goals.  Remember it's not about perfection, deprivation, or being extreme. There's room for treats in moderation.  

Through the month of January, use the coupon code SIlverFern10 for a discount on any protein powder or chocolate bark items found by clicking the chocolate above. I bet these chocolate barks will become your new favorite!  I've added a link to my website on the bottom right  just to make it  easier for you to find.  Watch for my upcoming FaceBook LIVE for more ELEVATED treat ideas!

7 weeks to ELEVATED Results with my BodyJoy Slim Down Challenge!

I hope your holidays were full of fun, family, friends and great memories.  It's 2017 and that means it's time for YOU to make your health a priority.  

Incase you missed it, here's the KSL link that aired last weekend about my online BodyJoy Slim Down Program. Sarah, who you see above, dropped 85 lbs. and will continue to participate n BodyJoy as she plans to hit her overall goal in 2017.  The only difference between you and Sarah is that she knows my simple strategies and how to adapt them to her life. You can see your own results, all you have to do is decide that NOW is your time and begin, just like Sarah did!

https://www.ksl.com/?sid=42714430&nid=148&title=find-a-doable-fitness-program-to-meet-your-health-resolutions

There's only one more day to register for my BodyJoy ELEVATED Slim Down Challenge.  You can participate from any location since it's Facebook based!  Use the next 7 weeks following my simple and doable strategies to make your 2017 the healthiest year yet!  All ages, genders and fitness levels participate.  

The program is only $129 for the 7-week program which includes 1 protein powder and probiotic from Silver Fern Brand (a $70 savings over buying the products elsewhere).   You can participate in the private online group for $79 without the supplements.

Register at www.mindybuxton.com by Wednesday, January 4.  Space limited to 70 participants.  

Please specify which option you'd like to participate in and which flavor of protein powder flavor you'd like:
Chocolate
Vanilla
Banana
Cookie & Cream

More challenge details are found at www.mindybuxton.com under the "learn more" button..  Weigh In Kick Off Meeting Date: Saturday January 6 at 9:30am at LifeCentre Athletic Club (for Utah participants).   For those of you outside of Utah, you can get on FaceBook and see the meeting!  I look forward to helping you ELEVATE your results to find BodyJoy in 2017.  Give me 7 weeks, and I'll give you RESULTS!

Here's to a year of progress, success and joy!