60 day Max out! (1st two weeks)

I am so stinkin' excited to report that I have been getting better and I am already seeing the changes, not to mention feeling stronger, after just TWO weeks of Insanity Max:30!
This program is incredible! I enjoy so many things about it but one thing that I can truly testify to is that the 30 minutes fly by. While you are so focused on your form and maxing out before you know....it's over. I think that the "max out" method is genius because you are so focused on being better than yourself. I love this program, I have never been brave enough to try anything like this, other than 21 day Fix Plyo, but this is nonstop sweat-drenched, heart-pumping action. I can't get enough. I will report my weight loss and inches at the end of month one. I love that it has a feature to be able to lock the modifier on the screen the whole time. Basically, how it works is you give it your all either go full force with Shaun T or follow the modifiers and when you just can't go anymore, when you need a break you stop and take a rest.....that's your Max out time. Then you jump back in when you're ready. 

My favorite workouts are the Tabata ones. 20 seconds hard core pushing and 10 second rests. Amazing. 

If you are interested in this program, let's have a chat. Get more info here or to join my team and start working out today apply here.

Here are my MAX out times for Week 1:
Cardio Challenge - 19:57 (mostly modifying)
Tabata Power - 12:21 (mostly modifying)
Sweat Intervals - 11:50 (no modification until after max out)
Tabata Power -10:20 (no modification until after max out)
Friday Fight - 11:03 (mostly modifying)
Pulse - 13:00 (no modification until after max out)

A little sweaty selfie for ya! 

Here are my MAX out times for Week 2:

Cardio Challenge - 17:30 (full force)

Tabata Power - 27:34  (full force) AMAZING! I more than doubled previous my max out times.  

Sweat Intervals - 7:50 (full force)

Tabata Power - 11:15 (modified)  I was very sore this week it was hard to keep up.

Friday Fight - (full force) 8:50

Pulse -12:45 (full force) & Ab attack - 6:22 (full force)

If you love the idea of being a better, stronger YOU then join me and my team as we MAX OUT!

Let's do this! 

Max out!

Good morning! I hope you all are starting your day right. I got my workout in! I did Insanity Max:30 Tabata power for the second time and love it, the first time I did it I maxed out at 12 minutes & 21 seconds while modifying, but today I didn't modify until 10:20, not bad!! I'm loving the intensity of it. I'll be blogging more about it later this week to share my progress with you all. Make today awesome. #iMaxedOut #teamFitforGlory #coachMelissaIvette #musclesareagirlsbestfeature 

If you ever want more accountability and my free coaching, I invite you to join my team anytime. Fill out this form (link below) and join me!

I believe in YOU!

melissaivette.wufoo.com/forms/lets-get-fit/

B R E A K through

Some time ago, at church, my pastor preached about knowing God. I always take sermon notes crazy fast then I have to piece it all together to make sense of it later on. Anyhow, he shared some points that I loved and also realized that I could apply them towards my fitness and health life:

"Small steps create a large effect."

"Breakthrough is a result of constant pressure on something." 

"Rejoice with each step."  

"Full effort full results." 

As I looked over these notes again, I couldn't help but share them with you all. It's inevitable that we will have to overcome things in our life. Obstacles come in all shapes and sizes. But one thing remains true. We can overcome. Through consistency we see the results that we want and we learn the discipline of self - control. I don't know about anyone else out there, but I could use a lesson or two on self-control in a few areas of my life....

Just like when you workout you don't see results overnight but rather overtime. So why do we so often expect life to change so quickly? We give up on ourselves or others too soon. 

Are you trying to achieve some things?

Give it time.

Are you working on fixing some relationships?

Give it time.

Are you trying to make changes? 

Give it time. 

After all, every step closer is just that...a .... step....closer. So rejoice and be grateful through each step, I'm sure that you will find you are becoming better & stronger. 

You may not always like the process but I am certain you will like the results. 

Thanks for letting me get this off my chest. You Rock!

I am excited to start a new fitness program called Insanity MAX: 30 and I am thrilled to see the new results that will come along with the struggles. Because lets be honest, you can't have results without a few struggles, right?

Follow my journey here or on my FB page H E R E

   

New level, new devil. 
Don't be intimidated, go on and get your BREAK-THROUGH!

So this new year, what are you willing to endure in order to grow?

Please share below.

How to be successful during this season!

Hey there!! The season of holiday parties is upon us so I wanted to share some tips with you to help you stay focused and not lose sight of your goals. 

Also, if you want more of these tips daily I'll be sharing them on my FaceBook page. Would you mind checking it out, liking it and sharing it with others?

www.fb.com/coachmelissaivette 

Thank you all so much for your support. I love helping you all reach crazy goals. 

 

Love, Melissa Ivette

reflections

A few weeks ago I posted this on my Instagram but now I wanted to re-visit it.

What do worship and working out have in common?

Focus. Perseverance. Commitment. Outcome. 

"Thinking about the story of Joseph in the Bible, he truly faced adversity. His brothers were jealous of him when he shared his dream and they wanted to kill him, instead they sold him as a slave, talk about betrayal by ones you love. Later, his boss' wife tried to get him to sleep with her and he refused yet she set him up as if he tried to take advantage of her, talk about being lied on. Then he was thrown in jail, talk about injustice. But even still, while, in jail he helped others out by interpreting dreams and doing what God called him to do. He wasn't focusing on himself and how he had been wronged, he focused on others and went about his business.  Even as one of the inmates that he helped out was leaving he told that friend of his to not forget him, and guess what? That man forgot about him...quickly. Then one day, (when it was his time to rise) because of his gift to interpret dreams, he was let out of that jail and placed second in command over the land, talk about favor and wisdom from God! From the prison to the palace, Just. Like. That. 

When we surrender our lives to God and stop focusing on the negative going on around us, putting our efforts into what we're supposed to be doing we can find the benefit from every bad experience. Nothing catches God by surprise, He knows all things and He's always working things together for our good. We can also rise from the prison to the palace. #itsnotover #yourdreamsareAWAITING 

#stayfocused

I'm excited for you dream chasers out there! Let's partner together to hold each other accountable to our dreams. 

A quick yummy snack!

I love these yummy energy bites! I’m a chocolate lover with a major sweet tooth. This is a great way to satisfy the sweet tooth with some good stuff. 

I used:

1/2 cup of almond butter 

1/2 cup of peanut butter (I personally like using both but you could use one or the other)

1 cup of oats

1/4 cup of ground flax seed

1/4 cup of raw sunflower seeds

A dash of pure vanilla

2 tbsp of honey

1 tbsp of chia seeds

Coconut flakes (optional) 

1 scoop of chocolate Shakeology or 1/2 cup of chocolate chips  

Mix all ingredients in a bowl, then form into individual bite-sized pieces and refrigerate, then snack as needed. Enjoy! 

my very own gym!

This is my space, this is where I spend my alone time. It's just me competing against myself. Making myself better every day. Here you'll find me pushing play & yelling at my personal trainer on the screen, haha, yup it happens.  Everyone needs their own personal space to develop, to be creative, to express your passion and, most of all, to grow. If you want to be a better person you've got to dedicate time to work on Y O U. That's it. 

Anyhow, my basement was the perfect room to transform. I fought it for a while but then I embraced it.  

This was the before process....my clean up crew ;)

And this is the "after" yup that's a Christmas tree you see there! 

I have a place of my very own that I am so proud of. 

Where do spend your "me" time?

be proud of your failures

Let's talk about failure....

It's rough.

It's tough.

It can beat you down.

It makes you feel weak, unworthy, incapable and washed out.
That is N O T true.

On the opposite side it means that you have tried.
Failure doesn't feel good but it sure means something good.
It can build us up stronger, tougher and bolder than we have ever been.
It is not just a setback, it is a reminder that what you tried didn't work...BUT...don't give up.
Don't give in to the false satisfaction of mediocrity.
You were created to shine, so do just that.
Be bold.
Laugh at your past failures.
Thank those experiences for showing you that you were capable of trying.
Then, crush your goals and create the future that you really want or need.
Try harder.


Did you know:
-Oprah Winfrey was fired from one of her first jobs because she was "unfit for TV."
-Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor because "he lacked imagination and had no good ideas."
-Before J.K. Rowling had any "Harry Potter" success, the writer was a divorced singled mother on welfare struggling to get by.
-The first time the young comedian, Jerry Seinfeld, walked on stage at a comedy club, he looked out at the audience, froze and was eventually booed off stage.
-Before landing "I Love Lucy," Lucille Ball was widely regarded as a failed actress.
-Fred Astaire was noted, "Can't act. Can't sing. Slightly bald. Can dance a little."

-Steven Spielberg was rejected from the University of Southern California School of Theater, Film and Television three times.
-After being cut from his high school basketball team, a young Michael Jordan went home and cried in the privacy of his bedroom.
-Steve Jobs was a college dropout, a fired tech executive and an unsuccessful businessman.
-Jimmy Denny, manager of the Grand Ole Opry, fired Elvis Presley after just one performance telling him, "You ain't goin' nowhere, son. You ought to go back to drivin' a truck."
Read more here


Sometimes it's a matter of the right timing, but failure is not final. 
It is a refiner. 
What have you failed at that you believed you were supposed to do? 
(wow! as I wrote that last sentence I was literally reminded of something that I gave up on) this is a challenge for me too.
I'd love to hear how this post inspires you.
Contact me and tell me.
Can I help you meet a goal? Email me at coachmelissaivette@gmail.com, I want to hear your story.

                                           

Try it! 

I dare you to go out and fail. 

I guarantee it will bring you one step closer to your desired goal.

Want to chat about this more? Message me.

You are a winner that was created by the hand of the Master. 

Let His light shine through you.

-Mel

What can 3 days do for you?

                           

What can 3 days really do for you?

I'll tell you.

It can help you break some bad habits.

It can put you in the right direction towards weight loss. 

It can help you drop some pounds and even some inches.

I tried this 3 day refresh last week and was impressed with the results. 

I lost 3 pounds and 3 inches. I definitely was encouraged to drink more water (I am always working on that). 

I liked that, literally, every hour your eating, drinking tea, or having a shake. 

The average that people have lost on this program is 3 lbs but some people have lost even as much as 9lbs! That was enough to convince me to try it. Plus, I've never done anything like this and really wanted the first hand experience.

It's definitely not a starvation diet/cleanse. 

It alkalinizes your body and rids your body of toxins.

It rids your body of the acid and that's why people lose weight.

It sets you up for your next phase.

It's a quick fix to kick start you in the right direction.

With this program you can customize it to you. (Pick the recipes you like, the flavor of Shakeology that you want and your options of tea or coffee.)

You don't need any other vitamin supplements because it literally has all the vitamins you need with the vanilla refresh that's included. 

There is a fiber sweep included but it's not one of those dangerous ones that you have to hang out by the toilet (hehehe!) but its gentle and it tasted good. 

Even now after I've done the refresh I'm still using the recipes with my meals. 

I recommend it.

I think it works just like it says that it should.

It's not long and drawn out either, it's short, sweet and to the point.

It was so worth it. 

It's a great price. 

Now I want to try the Ultimate Reset which is a 21 day body reset program. 

Beachbody seriously amazes me with their products all the time. 

If you're interested just ask me how! or just click here

*also Beachbody has a money back guarantee with all of their products. That speaks volumes for me!*

Just try it!

Thanks for taking some time to read my thoughts.

XoxO

Why Shakeology?

I began drinking shakeology 2 months ago!

At first I complained about the price.

Then I became a coach and I must say that as a coach I get a generous discount. 

Anyhow, I thought I'd share my results thus far.

- my face looks the best it has ever looked

- my hair looks better than ever

- I have had the most energy that I've ever head E V E R! (that makes sense just go with it)

- my nails are long and strong

- my body recovers from those difficult workouts faster

- my body just feels better

- I definitely don't crave all the junk that I used to

- my body literally wants more nutrient rich food (seriously, who am I?)

- it fills me up for a good 2-3 hours or so (that's a miracle for me!) 

So what's Shakeology you ask? It's only the healthiest meal of my day. If I read off the ingredient list to you and told you everything that was in a single delicious shake you would not even Bellevue me, also the fact that there are NO artificial sweetness in it. I mentioned earlier that I complained about the price. I thought I could outsmart the system and find a shake that was just as great but cheaper (as you can see I didn't succeed because it lead me right back to ShakeO) and I even bought one that was on sale at GNC for $13. I thought it was a score. Then I read the label and saw that sucralose was on the label. Just a quick side notes sucralose is chlorinated sugar, your boy doesn't even know what to do with it and those are the things that can turn into to cancer within our bodies and there are other ingredients in it linked to cancer (for more details you can read about it in this article). Anyhow, back to my story. Once i discover more about this dangerous chemical I instantly threw that bag of powder away! It's not worth it.

One of the major reasons why I began drinking Shakeology was to get my husband on board with it. He doesn't eat veggies, he doesn't like them and he won't budge on that. Now in the mornings when I make my ShakeO I will fix him one too and I feel better knowing that he has so many delicious nutrients (and veggies) going into his body.

I'm a believer. I drink my ShakeO daily. No question about it.

Here's a fun video to help you understand a little bit better! 

Make today great!

gym vs at home workouts...which do you prefer?

I was up late the other night thinking about my workout routines. I have been trying to be consistent for YEARS and always failed. 2014 was a year of change for me, a year of double. Let me share with you why. So I was the girl that would go to the gym and literally stare around asking myself "where in the world am I going to start?" I always felt so out of place and out of my comfort zone. I hated the drive to the gym and couldn't wait for my workouts to be over. I realize that not everybody feels this way, this is just my story, and that is ok. So fast forward to 2014. I joined an accountability group with awesome ladies and felt so right. I just made myself work harder because I didn't want to fail on my commitment to them. I started with Beachbody's 10 minute trainer and that worked well for me. Then I sort of hit a plateau and needed to be pushed more. I actually needed to get my eating under control. That's when I started with 21 day fix after 2 rounds of that I was feeling better and eating even better. I wanted to challenge myself even more and I realized that this was my new lifestyle not just a temporary fix. That's when I signed up as a C O A C H and I started using Turbo Fire I love this program, it is fun and furious. My legs have never looked so good. I am getting ready now to do the 3 day refresh & then try the brand new program PiYo I cannot wait to share my results with you all! 

I am all in. 

I believe in Team Beachbody but more importantly, I believe in ME! 

Anyhow, I was thinking about the reasons why gym workouts failed for me & why home workouts were much better. There are a ton of benefits for either path you choose but these are the benefits for me.

home workout pros:

-convenience (no need to travel)

-24 hour access 

-price (I pay once for a workout program & get unlimited use)

-privacy (no weirdo creeper men bothering me)

-accountability (my husband or friends can workout with me & it's free for them)

-being part of a group (we log our before and after stats & share progress with each other)

-no need for a babysitter

-lots of floor space

-no need to worry about sweaty germs from other people b/c all equipment is your own

-one on one trainer (with my videos I have my own personal trainer)

-no volume control (I can yell or scream at the tv as I fight my way through the workout...believe me it helps)

-I can win money!!! If I log my workouts with teambeachbody I have a chance to win money. Who doesn't like that?

I hope that you can find this useful or even inspirational. 

It's been a journey for me and I am so glad that I started. 

Now I am on my way to becoming physically and financially fit.

Would you like to join my journey and have success of your own?

Decide. Commit. Succeed. 

Push harder for what you want!

Let's chat! I'd love to help you out with your fitness goals. So tell me what are your biggest obstacles/challenges in losing weight?

Let me help you through it. 

You can succeed.

Are you the commitment type?

Hi there! I have some exciting things going on lately, like, recently becoming a Beachbody coach! YAY! So that means lots more healthy recipes, ideas, posts and info on how to change your life for the better. 

Regardless, this is my space to talk about everything I love.

I have just been thinking about how easy it is to say "YES" but how hard it is to actually commit to a routine. It's almost like marriage...you have your future all mapped from the start. And so, your happily ever after begins. You're so certain that everything is going to be smooth sailing, I mean, really what could go wrong when you are madly in love? But when hard days come, and indeed they will, what will you hold on to? Some people choose to cling harder to their partner and persevere together, while others choose to give up on their parnters altogether. Likewise, when it comes to working out....get EXCITED, but please STAY EXCITED! Remember why you started. Don't ever let a busy week or a bad day deter you from continuing on. Don't give up! The harder you push the more you'll see that you want to be better and stronger than you have been. I have always tried to commit to a workout routine and eventually fell off but this year that changed. Since January of this year (2014) after responding "yes" to an nvitation from a dear friend of mine, I joined my very first challenge group and that is where it all began for me. It's been a rough 6 months but I love it and now I am a coach, inspiring others daily. I never thought this would be a journey that I would be excited for but I believe in it, I believe in BeachBody and now I believe in myself. All it takes is a little bit of commitment and a whole lot of consistency. You can be the greatest you that you have ever been.

I made a decision.

I am commited.

I am succeeding.

Are you ready to decide, commit and succeed?

eat well, live well

I'm part of a 30 day Beachbody challenge and I am so proud of myself for sticking to it and pushing through. I'm actually making better choices willingly and not just because "I should" or "I have to" but because I want to. Soooo this salad here was clean & yummy. I made my own delicious salad dressing, which was adapted from this pin and loaded the salad with all the veggies I could find then added this homemade topping. This was too easy not to. I'm finally putting my pinterest account to use (which is also a goal this year...to actually try the things I've pinned). 
Baby steps! 
This year is off to a great start. 

What changes are you making in 2014?

even baby girl is eating "clean"  heeheeheehee! 

that's a veggie straw in her hand, a favorite snack these days.

Quick workout ideas!

Need some ideas for quick workouts?! Here you go.

I want to help you out. 

I am a FULL TIME momma & housewife so you know what that means....I enjoy it all but don't get much 'me' time or time to workout for that matter so I HAVE TO get creative. I have  f i n a l l y  gotten back on a workout routine (gees my daughter is 8 months old already...it was about time!) any way, I'm loving it and feeling 'the burn' or that day after soreness reminds me of how much I loved working out.

I have a ton of workout videos (which are great b/c attending a gym now is out of the question) but they are all 30 - 55 minutes and I wish I had that much time to dedicate to working out, but I don't so I invested in some 10 min workouts and on a good day I'll get around to doing 2 at once. For now, it's the small goals and a 10 min workout is better than nothing.

So in the case that I really can't squeeze in the 10 min DVD (or decide to take a nap instead) I have other ways of sneaking in some effective workouts while doing the regular chores that I have to do:

While washing dishes I will do squats usually 30-45.

Or I will do a 3 set routine of:

15 calve raises

15 backward leg extenders on each leg (aka the butt lifter)

15 side leg kicks/raises 

You can also try this routine while cooking, brushing your teeth or folding laundry. 

Another good workout is doing lunges as you walk to another room to get something and then do the lunges on the way back.

Want a quick arm workout too?

Do 15-20 standing push-ups (that's when you lean up against the wall and push off) or regular floor push-ups while your waiting for that bottle to warm up, heating up that food, waiting for the coffee to brew or after a quick restroom run. 

All it takes is a little thought and you are on your way to a better looking you. 

Eat to Live, don't Live to Eat.

Workout to be healthier.

Keep pressing.

Just do it.

You'll thank me later. ;)

!love!

I work out....

Hahahaha! As I write the title of this blog post I'm singing that song in my head from LMFAO "I'm sexy and I know it" so silly!
Well as they say...new year, new you! I'm not one for making resolutions because I never keep them but I'm loving all the emphasis on working out that is everywhere and honestly I want to be healthier. As of now I have worked out almost everyday this year. Yay to me!
So I've been busy with a new obsession and that is with Pinterest! Ahhh I love it!
I love the workout inspiration, recipes, and DIY stuff especially!
It's so inspiring...if you haven't already done so then you should check it out! It's amazing!

So here are a few of the easiest workout routines that I've found on there that I've been doing! Try it out and let me know what you think! :)

Hello! Hello!

I realized that I haven't posted about my weight loss happenings since June or something. 

Ok so here is the scoop...I have been wanting to shed some pounds that have made there home on this body of mine...haha! Really, I just want to get back to my "normal" weight and be tone again!

I am mostly feeling the pinch because I have 3 weddings in the next 5 months and I am a bridesmaid for each of these...so that means I've got to fit into these dresses comfortably!

So I knew I needed some accountability. I found it in this handy lil app called My Fitness Pal and I just love it!! It figures everything out for me. I just put in my current weight, my goal weight and how much I would like to lose per week. I'm just trying to lose 1 pound per week....that's recommended for a healthy start ;)

So since about mid July I have lost 6 pounds.

I love the app because all I have to do is log what I eat at each meal as well as the portion size I had, and it even has a cool barcode scanner feature so it will instantly pop up.

You should try it out, it's AWESOME!

Also I can input my workouts and it will calculate how many calories I burned and all! 

I'll try to update on a regular basis so that I can motivate you & you motivate me....[PLEASE]! 

Thanks to Planet fitness & My fitness pal I am on my way to some shedding for all these weddings! 

Thanks and Good luck to you!

MUAH!!!!

“I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.” Psalm 116:1-2

The Battle is on!

Planet fitness is my gym! WooooHOOOO!!! But sad to say that until this week I had not been there in over a month....shame on me!!! So I got myself a hott trainer [my hubs! hehehe] and he is putting me on a workout routine. I need to do this because I have two weddings in the next 8 months and that means I have bridesmaid dresses to squeeze into. AaAaaaAAhhhhhHHHHH!!!!  Not only that....I have to lose the 25 pounds that have so happily made their home on this Puerto Rican girl since I got married 3 years ago. I'm not really a girl to obsess over weight but when my clothes barely fit, it breaks my heart! So here is the goal...7 lbs a month must be lost over the next few months! That's attainable right?! So hopefully I can give a good monthly update on this....here's to lots of hard work! [Pray for me!]

Happy Sweating & Shedding lbs!!!