Believing in You!

How many of you can relate to constantly comparing yourself to others?! Guilty as charged!! Not something I am proud of but honestly, I am growing out of that stage! Slowly but surely. It is so hard to understand the value of your own self because the media, friends, acquaintances or maybe even family members are simply saying, "I wish I was more like so and so, or my life is never going to be like that."

SERIOUSLY, I did that my entire teenage years even into my late 20s, and it got me absolutely nowhere except for self loathing. I hated the living situation I was in, I hated my figure. I hated my freckles. My wavy hair. I always criticized myself because I wasn't like others and I never thought I could be like them, pretty much like there was NOTHING in this world I could do to change any of that. These people had lots of money. No worries in the world. Gorgeous hair. Beautiful home. Supportive family. They were thin. I could seriously go on... but here is the thing I didn't realize.

No one could ever be me. No one could ever offer the advice like I do. No one has the same thoughts as me. No one could put up a fight like I did to change ALL OF THE ABOVE! No one will EVER be ME! I am unique. I am special. I am beautiful in my own special way. It is extremely important to understand the value of self love and to realize you are God's gift to this earth... and you are truly amazing!

Now I never always believed in myself, and it honestly wasn't until just last year (yep, that's right.... 27 years old) that I really got a grip on self confidence, self love and being thankful for being myself. Actually it was only a short 7 months ago that I began to understand how much of an impact I am making on this world. How did I do it?

Personal Development?! What the heck is that, you are probably asking.... It is INVESTING IN YOURSELF! Reading self help books, learn ways to improve your life. Learn ways to believe in yourself. Learn ways to become better at a certain skill, etc. I know you are probably thinking I am crazy, and those books a bunch of crap, but seriously it helps... WHY DOES IT HELP? Because you realize, that your life is typically no worse than some of the greatest leaders and entrepreneurs in this world. You realize that maybe they even had it worse off than you did and are doing INCREDIBLE things. You realize that you are absolutely strong enough to be exactly like them and create a happier lifestyle!!

Another tip I want to share with you to believe in yourself and be more confident would be to surround yourself with positive, uplifting people! People who always are telling you to keep your head up. To keep fighting when you want to give up. People who are making this world a brighter place! They say that you are the average of the five people you hang out with the most.. Sooooo, if you are surrounding yourself with self-loathing, lazy, miserable people, chances are that is exactly how you will become!! You have to cut your ties with these people who bring you down. Surround yourself with people who lift you up and want to help you become this amazing person who understands that he/she is absolutely amazing!

Now this doesn't happen overnight and it is a long road to recovery, and I know that it will be hard... but when you look back a year from now and say "wow, I never really noticed how negative I was and I am so thankful for this life I wake up to EVERY SINGLE DAY now..." your ENTIRE LIFE has changed. You will be thankful for every rain drop, every sunny day, every person that comes in and out of your life, and EVERY SINGLE STRUGGLE you've gone through because it helped you get to this exact moment!

I want to leave you with a quote from a "self-help/confidence booster" book that I am reading, and I want you to really think about this!


"If you base your self worth on what everyone else thinks of you, you hand all your power over to other people and become dependent on a source outside of yourself for validation. Then you wind up chasing something you have no control over."


Realizing how amazing you are and what you have to offer to this world is truly something special. Know that I think you are such a wonderful gift to this earth & people who have you in theirs are extremely lucky! You are absolutely amazing! Never forget that!





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Fitness. Nutrition. Support. Rewards! To keep you going strong!

So here I am, sitting and thinking about my New Year's Resolutions, I am pretty much right on target with them. Can you say the same? What did you commit to this year? Be more financially responsible, spend more time with your kids, reduce the technology use, or how about one of the top five and almost everyone's #1 resolution, TO LOSE WEIGHT....

How is that working out for you? Gyms too crowded? Personal Trainer isn't working? You can't cook "healthy" food because your kids and hubby/wife doesn't like it? Not seeing results quick enough? Every excuse under the sun right, every excuse except you might just not be giving it the 100% you said you would on January 1, 2015?

Did you know that I can offer you a proven system that will assist you in being successful in your health and fitness journey? It isn't rocket science, it is just a system we put into place... something that we spend a lot of time tweaking and ensuring the best possible outcomes and we basically wave it in your face like a million bucks! IT IS SO EASY!!! Are you ready for it? Hold on to your seat, it's that good...

PROPER FITNESS + PROPER NUTRITION + SUPPORT + REWARDS!!!! = SUCCESS!!


If you cut out any one of these above, there will be that missing puzzle piece!!

You can start a gym, get a personal trainer but you don't have a nutritional guide to help you figure out the proper diet or someone to keep you motivated. You could start a diet, but not have a solid fitness plan and lack of motivation to keep going, and so forth.

The reason why these four factors are so important is because you really need them, you need to understand what is the proper way to do certain workouts and when you only meet your trainer once a week, you are kind of left in the dark the other 6 days. When you are starting a diet, and you think eating a cheeseburger three times a week from Burger King is ok, then you are probably not going to see much results. You will just be sweating, just to sweat! And with lack of support or rewards, you get hung up on all those excuses you used above and fall flat on your face again... am I right or am I right?

TRUST ME... I was there. It wasn't pretty when I started. I had no support system, I never knew about clean eating and I learned everything for myself!

But you ask, "how do you get all four of these things in one place?" -- SIMPLE --- Join our upcoming Lifestyle Change January 26th Fitness Accountability and Support Group! :) We go over all the basics and teach you the what clean eating actually means, offer you a fitness program, daily motivation and support, as well as the awesome rewards that come along with it.

Here are all the incentives and so much more to getting into our upcoming group.

  • Learn why nutrition is so important during this journey. Like the say, there is no such thing as poor fitness, but there is such thing as poor nutrition! You could spend hours in the gym on those cardio machines and see absolutely no changes if you don't eat properly!
  • Support will add so much value to the group. A community of like minded people who you can chat with 24/7 in a private group, offering their tips, knowing they are all willing to help you! If at any time you found yourself struggling, you could easily go to the group and see that everyone else may be struggling but are lifting each other's spirits and rooting you on so you keep going! You will be able to connect with many new people and maybe even create life long friends. You are all taking on an incredible journey together and all creating a happier lifestyle! This will help YOU create your SUCCESS STORY! We're rooting for YOU!
  • Ever find that you can't stay on track, because you don't have a meal plan and you don't have time to research all that nonsense. What if you were handed a super easy schedule to follow, a meal plan to duplicate and proven results for you to believe in. I know for a fact when I started, I was so lost, didn't know what types of foods to eat, what to avoid and what was ok to have in moderation. All Beachbody programs come with that nutritional guide that you can follow along with and ensure you are eating correctly throughout the entire workout program. They also offer food storage containers that are based on proper portion control! It takes AWAY ALL of the guesswork to ensure you are getting the best nutrition possible! This is what most people struggle with!
  • Shakeology! Shakeology is not your protein shake because it offers so much more than that. I was skeptic at first like many others and I didn't see the need to invest in this stuff if I was "eating what I thought was healthy". But after I committed to the 30 days, I realized I had so much more energy. I was able to get up in the early AM to get my workout done, no mid-afternoon slump and how about this one, LESS CRAVINGS FOR SWEETS!!!! It was so simple, so easy, and so delicious! It takes less than 5 minutes to make so if your are in a hurry, this is a great alternative to stopping at the local gas station for coffee and a muffin! In all honesty, it will save you TIME & money, both which are extremely valuable to you, I am sure! And for my last point about shakeology. It offers proper nutrition that I was never getting before. I am healthier, performing better with my workouts and now I use it as my daily vitamin. It is not a weight loss shake or a protein shake, it is simply a healthy, nutritional shake! EASY. SIMPLE. GRAB & GO FOOD CHOICE!
  • ACCOUNTABILITY is what every person needs when beginning a workout program and/or diet! They need someone who is going to keep them in check, and someone who is leading by example! I as a coach know that my challengers are watching me, asking did I workout today, did I eat healthy all day, did I have my shake today. These are the lives of people who want to be better and want to live a happier and healthier life, so if doing what I love is enough to help change people's lives, I am all in! SIGN ME UP!

So here's the great news: I am hosting a 45 day fitness support and accountability group through my online Facebook private page.

Here are the requirements:

  • You make me your coach by going to my site and creating a free profile, which makes me your COACH! :)
  • You contact me by completing the application below to be considered for a spot in the group.
  • We then decide what type of fitness program will best fit your needs. You will be required to do a Beachbody Fitness Program. (We will obviously discuss which program best fits you and your health & fitness goals!)
  • You will be required to replace 1 meal a day with Shakeology to receive the very best results. My goal is to assist you with meal planning and how to prepare the other meals of the day to ensure you are getting the best results. When the 45 days is over, it is your choice to continue with Shakeology or not!
  • You must check in daily to the closed group to rate your day, be accoutable and engage in the group discussion of the day!

That is it! You will be able to get a workout in from the comfort of your own home all the while being connected to me 24/7 for the support, fitness, recipes, nutrition and tips that will drive you to be successful!

I am committed to help you get the very best results possible. Let's do this!! Are you ready to go ALL IN!




Super Foods Salad Recipe

How many of you eat SuperFoods? Do you even know what SuperFoods are? There are so many types of Superfoods and are great ingredients to incorporate diet when beginning your health and fitness journey.


Some of the benefits of SuperFoods are strengthening the immune system which the end means, SICK LESS or a shorter duration of the sickness. They also help repair and restore the GI system which means you can become more regular, digestion improves as well as your body is able to absorb more nutrients!! Lastly, superfoods also help reduce chronic inflammation, which is the #1 cause of nearly every disease! Chronic inflammation destroys cells and your immune system.

Check out this Superfoods Salad and comment below when you've tried it! :)

Superfoods Salad
Makes 4 Servings

1/2 cup raspberry vinegar
2 tablespoons snipped fresh mint
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon canola oil
1/4 teaspoon salt

6 cups baby spinach
3 cups chopped cooked chicken (breast or purchased roasted (about 1 pound)
2 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
1/2 cup fresh blueberries
1/4 cup walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped
1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese (chevre) (1 ounce)
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1. For Vinaigrette, in a screw top jar combine vinegar, mint, honey, oil and salt. Cover and shake well.

2. In an extra-large bowl, combine spinach, chicken, strawberries, blueberries, walnut, and cheese.

3. Shake vinaigrette. Pour of salad; toss gently to coat. Sprinkle with Pepper.



Loaded with lots of nutrients and delicious foods, hope you enjoy!

Finances & Creating a Life I Can Be Proud of!

Let's go way back to day one... April 17, 1987... Day 1 of this crazy thing called life. The first day I was welcomed into this world with open arms. Bringing so much happiness and joy to the world, but (obviously) little did I know life was about to get super crazy!


I come from a family where success means so little. Working hard was frowned upon, and well if you had a different vision than what my family believed, you were "acting like you were too good for the family." In my opinion, that was not the case in my situation. I saw my family struggle, the arguments, the lack of money, living in a homeless shelter, it was not your picture perfect family. I had a different vision... I wanted more out of life -- something more than blaming the world for my problems, running scared when things got tough, working at minimum wage jobs, having no clear vision of where I wanted life to take me.... I wanted more, so much more and so I put my head into the game and I was on a mission.

I never really had much of a clear vision of where I wanted to see my life until just last year... I saw so many successful business owners, who worked from home, got to enjoy spending time with their children and never missing out on life. I was (still am) super envious of that.. I wanted that and to be honest, working always had to be an option for me. I never had any real role models growing up or someone who taught me the importance of your finances, college, and a career so I had to take it upon myself to teach myself.

After graduating high school, I was already in a hole, felt like I was falling right into the same footsteps as my parents.. I had maxed out my first credit card, over drafted a bank account and really had no money to pay these collection agencies who would call non-stop call all hours of the day. This is embarrassing, but I want to be real with you. These struggles have helped shaped me into the person I am today. It took me probably about 2 years to get rid of my credit card debt the first time, as well as my over drafted bank account.. but I was getting back on the right track, or so I thought.

Round 2 of getting caught up in credit card debt which occurred about 2 years later, wrecking my car, working at a minimum wage job, and attending college living in the grand city of Pittsburgh..... it was too much. Overwhelming would have been an understatement. I wanted to run away from life, racking up student loan debt, becoming delinquent on credit card payments, and just feeling like I would never amount to anything, my life became a black hole. I never saw a way out.

I had officially graduated with a bachelor's degree in December 2010 from Robert Morris University (first one in my entire family to do so). I was thousands of dollars in debt due to not making much money and putting myself through college, so my last resort was credit cards and that was all I had until I had 4 credit cards at the max and no way to pay them (AGAIN). I couldn't sleep at night, I saw no sign of a light at the end of that tunnel...no help from my parents, no nothing.... I was on my own. Once I started making a decent salary at my first "Real World" job, I finally decided to come up with a budget. Really focus on trying to get my life back on track. It wasn't easy, and to this day, I am still working on ridding my life of credit card debt.


Beginning last year, I was determined to get rid of this credit card debt after my wedding... it was haunting me, and I knew the only way I could stop stressing so much about it was to take charge of my finances. Buying a house was at stake due to my debt to income ratio, so it was a must. I knew that the only way I would feel successful would be to rid my life of this mess I created. I made a better budget plan, sacrificed many of the pointless shopping trips and things I knew I didn't need and soon, I saw a light. I finally had some breathing room, and 4 months later, we were approved to purchase our first home! It was the most amazing feeling ever!

I committed to having all my credit card debt gone by December 31, 2014 - but I fell short with just one credit card (this had the largest balnc). With buying a new house and all the things we needed for it right away as well as Christmas, there wasn't much wiggle room, so I made smaller payments for the last two months but am determined to hopefully have it gone, no later than May of this year!

To give you a better view of what I did over the last 7 months...


In May of 2014, I had almost $10,000 in debt.
With the commission I earned from Beachbody, as well as the practices
of strict budgeting and sacrifices, my husband and I have eliminated almost
$5,000 in credit card debt. CRAZINESS! Even after paying for our
wedding in the Outer Banks, NC!! 
Trust me, It can be done!


If there is one thing I have learned through this entire process, YOU ARE IN CONTROL of your life. You make the calls, you determine the amount of success you have and you make the calls. Everyone is given the same amount of time everyday, some people may make more than you, some people may make less than you, but it is your choice to be successful. It is ONLY your choice.

Even with no guidance, no leadership, no handbook, I committed to creating a life I could be proud of.. and yes it is true, Beachbody gave me this vision. Beachbody gave me the opportunity to find out that I was meant for great things. It may have taken me quite a few years to believe that, but now that I see the endless possibilities, I know that the sky is the limit. This is just the beginning.



If you are having trouble with your finances, or would like help creating a vision of what you want your life to look like. Email me at tbbcoachsteph87@gmail.com! I am here to assist you in all areas of life. Remember, your dream life doesn't exist... you create it!