Life is an adventure, takes risks.

There is nothing greater than the feeling of pulling up to the airport, checking a bag, and being handed your boarding pass. Whether it be an amazing tropical paradise, or maybe even your hometown, traveling is the most exciting thing.

I’ve recently been blessed to take not one, but four trips in the last month and a half. Crazy, right?! When I look back at the opportunities I’d been given, I’m very grateful that I was able to take full advantage and see the things I did. Traveling gives you a sense of excitement and allows for new things. You can meet new people, try a new dance you’ve never done before, go to a concert in w new place, the list is endless!

My favorite part? Trying new food, or going back to some of my favorite comfort foods in my hometown. Sure, things may not always be the healthiest, but I typically live in the moment when traveling. As a fitness enthusiast, I try my best to watch what I’m eating, and pack some foods to bring with me, but it’s hard to eat every single meal in. Who knows the next time you’ll have an opportunity to try New Orleans Cajun or a bagel in NYC?!

Sure, go ahead and tell me traveling is irresponsible. Maybe. Could my money go towards paying off more debt, bills, you name it?! Absolutely, no doubt. But, why should I have to keep giving my hard earned money to banks, when I could be out LIVING? There is a quote, “I would rather own little and see the world, then own the world, and see little of it”. This is so incredibly on point!! If I said no to some of my recent trips, I would have been able to see two amazing couples get married, learn from my mentor and trainer Chalene Johnson in Texas, go back to the 80s for a hip hop/pop party with my team, or be able to run in the beautiful fall weather of Buffalo, NY.

NOTHING will ever compare to traveling, experiencing different cultures, or even just being 30,000 feet above ground, high in the clouds away from it all.

Do you travel?! Where are some places you would like to go? For me, I would love to go abroad, partially to Dublin, London, and Greece.

Wake Up Early + Workout

There’s something about waking up early for a run that makes it all worth getting out of bed, even if you don’t want to.

Which is your favorite aspect of getting in a workout early?
– sense of accomplishment
– getting the workout done early
– cooler temperatures
– amazing views
– lapping everyone still in bed

Protein Brownie Bites

I can’t believe this week is the last and final week of the 21 day nutrition plan I’m doing. With traveling to Buffalo this weekend, the nutrition plan was a little off balance. I noticed how much easier it is to overdose on carbs(yellows), rather than get in protein, healthy fats, and vegetables. All of these together are what allows us to get the results we want. Anyways, back on track! I wanted to share with you a healthy little treat I found earlier on another website: Protein Brownie Bites!

What you need: – 1 chocolate shakeology – 1 tsp coconut oil – water until properly mixed – stevia (not required) I used skinny girl

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and place onto cookie sheet into about 6 tbsp size balls. Bake for 5-8 minutes at 375!

For my plan, this counts as – 1 red – 1 tsp

– xoXO

Apple Pie Oats: Day 3 #feelgoodblogging

As the weather starts getting cooler, the more I want comfort foods. Although Florida is still pretty warm out, there is nothing that makes me happier than feeling the crisp fall air, rumbling of the leaves on the ground, and of course, everything pumpkin!! I am even lucky enough this fall to experience the northern version twice this year, by going to Grand Rapids Michigan last weekend, and then my hometown, Buffalo NY, next weekend! Who doesn’t love to go pick some fresh apples to enjoy in your breakfast oatmeal?

Sticking with the fall theme, I want to share with you my breakfast of the week, because let’s be real, everyone loves a simple breakfast!

So, let’s get started with what you need:
– 1 small-medium apple, preferably McIntosh or granny smith
– 1/4 cup steel cut oats, or old-fashioned oats work as well
– 1 tbsp cinnamon
– 1/4 cup water
– 1/4 cup almond milk
– almond extract
– chopped walnuts(optional)

Directions:
1. Cut apple into cubes, leave some of apple cut into thin slices, about 3-4 will do.
2. Place oats, apple cubes, water, almond milk, cinnamon, and a dash of almond extract into bowl.
3. Place in microwave for 2-3 minutes to warm.
4. Once done, take out of microwave, and top with chopped walnuts and apple slices for a little fancy touch!
5. Enjoy your apple pie oats!!!

Looking to spice up this recipe a little bit? Swap the apples for 1/4 cup of pure pumpkin puree. Top with a little nutmeg and pumpkin spice and you have yourself some healthy pumpkin pie

– Courtney

Passion, My Why : Day 2 #feelgoodblogging

When I enter the gym, and head to the group fitness room, I get all jittery and the nerves start to overwhelm me. I sometimes second guess myself and thing, “what if I don’t have enough energy?”, “what if I don’t push the class hard enough”. These are just some of the many thoughts that I come across. Then, it all changes. The mats are rolled out, mic is turned on, and the music starts to play. As we warm up and progress through all the various sections, I remember why I LOVE doing this.

Let’s take it back a little bit! Growing up, I was always involved with sports and would do anything that I could from swimming competitively, cheerleading, track, you name it. I loved being active, never realizing that in reality I was working out, but in a fun way. Fast forward to junior year of college when I wasn’t doing a single thing. I wouldn’t grocery shop, I was eating out(almost every meal), and I certainly wasn’t working out. I actually did not like working out at all! Cardio just wasn’t appealing to me. At the time, I didn’t know there was so much more out there!  I noticed the scale starting to climb, feeling worse about my body, self esteem dropping even more. “When you eat like crap, you feel like crap” and boy was that true!! That summer, I had gained almost 20 pounds. Senior year, I started cheerleadling again and was dropping pounds but I wasn’t healthy by any means. I was not properly fueling my body. Heck, it was barely fueled by the way I was eating. There were also things going on emotionally that I was skipping meals, sometimes only eating once a day. BAD, Courtney!

A few months after graduating, in January of 2013, I K N E W it was finally time to make a change, and get healthy and not only look good, but also feel good. I started hitting up a local gym, meal prepping, avoiding meals out. I felt unstoppable. This whole process was starting to become addicting for me and I kept craving results. I had dropped 20 pounds since my heaviest, and my abs were poking through, something I thought I could only dream of! By tracking my journey through this blog, and on Instagram, I started to create a following. People were asking what I was doing, how to get results. I knew I had to take a leap of faith and P A Y  I T  F O R W A R D.  Because of struggling financially, and searching for the right team, it took a while for me to fully commit but once I did, I haven’t looked back. In May 2013, I decided to join Team Fight to Finish and work as a health and fitness specialist. I wanted to help others, like me, that were struggling with their weight and body issues but needed guidance and plans. Anyone can go to the gym but you really have to know what you’re doing there, and eating properly, to see results of the time spent there.

So why do I do this? Simple. I want to inspire others to get healthy. I want them to think, “if she did, so can I”. I want them to know they are strong enough to take on this challenge, and BE successful, to know they are not alone. There are so many others that can relate with gaining college pounds, having self esteeem issues, and even the emotional abuse. It is so nice when you have someone else there to relate to. It’s those little text messages from friends that say they’ve lost 15 pounds by committing, for those saying they have increased energy levels. Or, like last night, when people say “You kicked my booty in class”, “I’m already wobbling, tomorrow, i won’t be able to walk!” during my weekly PiYo class. Its those little things that mean the world to me. I am helping to change peoples lives, from them to being healthier, dropping weight, or even seeing financial success. It’s a feeling I would N O T trade for the world. Lastly, I want to inspire others around me to dream big, and never give up. Did I ever think in my 20s, when I was barely getting by financially, I would be able to start and run my own business? Definitely not! You can do anything you set your mind to!!