"Elevate Your Fitness" Elf Challenge

This one is going to be FUN! As always adjust to your fitness level, if what is listed above is too difficult cut the reps/time in half. If it seems to easy you can do more than one round!

Remember, this shouldn't be your only workout - you still need to keep up your weight lifting! Use one of our workout plans, our 4-Week Busy Body Plan would be perfect this time of year! You can read all about those here.

Not only does this challenge include what you see listed above but I'm working with Moms RUN This Town to bring you an extra "secret" challenge each day! You will be able to view the extra challenges on our Instagram page!

We have even more secrets in store for you including an entire YEAR worth of challenges to keep you motivated and inspired for 52 weeks straight! To be notified when more information is available please fill out this form.

Interested in more challenges? Try our Santa's Sprint Challenge and Santa's Step-Up Challenge! We also have our Healthy Living Challenge {Holiday Edition}! This is another completely FREE challenge to join where you will have the support of numerous trainers and coaches to help you stay on track over the holiday season! (If you are already in the Healthy Living Challenge Group on Facebook you do not have to request to join again!)

Six Quick & Easy Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes

I know I have a ton of recipes on this website but I actually don't like complicated recipes or spending all day in the kitchen - and that applies to the holidays too! I'm not even a fan of your typical Thanksgiving food (never have been!). I do love the holidays but I think that more focus should be on spending time with the ones you love and less on elaborate cooking, cleaning, and shopping (unless that's your thing!).

I wanted to bring you some delicious but also very easy to make side dish recipes that you could use over the holidays or even just during your normal food prep! Also, don't forget to get your FREE copy of our Fit Festive Foods eCookbook! Enjoy!

Six Quick & Easy Thanksgiving Side Dish Recipes

Balsamic Garlic Asparagus

Fall Cauliflower Quinoa Salad with Raisins

Cinnamon Roasted Butternut Squash

Creamy Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese
by Hettman Homestead

Pomegranate, Butternut Squash, & Wild Rice Power Salad
by Hettman Homestead

Maple Acorn Squash
by Hettman Homestead

Looking for a Cranberry Sauce recipe? We have one in our FREE Fit Festive Foods eCookbook!

How to Stay on Track Over the Holidays

It's hard to believe that it's already November! I know I say that every season but it's true. I feel like yesterday was June! The question that always comes up this time of year is "How Do I Stay on Track During the Holidays?". The answer is actually quite simple - we suggest that you try and keep your routine as normal as possible. We know the holidays are filled with food, family, friends, parties, shopping, etc. We want you to enjoy the holidays but also keep your sanity and avoid the dreaded holiday weight gain. One of the most important things to remember is that this is YOUR life. If you want to eat the piece of Red Velvet Cake - eat it! But don't eat it just because someone is pressuring you to!

We are sharing some of our best tips below and we also have some BIG NEWS too!

How to Stay on Track Over the Holidays

• Don't Skip Meals - A BIG mistake people make is skipping meals. It seems to be an even bigger issue over the holidays. Whether it's intentional (thinking that you will "save" calories) or if you just get busy and forget to eat, this cycle will lead you to over-indulging. Stick with your normal eating schedule and don't let yourself get too hungry. Pack your food or at least take protein bars or protein powder packets with you while you are out. Going to a party? Take something with you to share!
   
• Stick with Your Routine - Write down all of your commitments (parties, shopping, etc.) on a calendar ahead of time. After you have all of your commitments written down schedule your workouts for the days that you have free.
   
• Make Time for Food Prep - Your crock pot will be your best friend over the next few months. It seriously only takes a few seconds to throw some stuff in a crock pot and you can have a full meal waiting on you when you are ready. Continuing to do food prep will be a life saver for you! It's amazing what doing one small thing to stay in a routine will do for your motivation!
   
• Start/Continue with a Detailed Workout Plan - Having a workout plan in place will take any guesswork out of the equation and save you time trying to come up with workouts on your own. You could start any of our workout plans but our Busy Body 4-Week Workout Plan is great for this time of year. You will only spend 3 days a week in the gym (or your home workout space) for 40 minutes or less! Even if you can't workout for 40 minutes, we have a solution - simply eliminate the suggested cardio at the end and be on your way in 20-25 minutes!

Exciting H&S News

We are releasing our very first cookbook and it's FREE!

This cookbook is called Fit Festive Foods and includes the recipes listed below. We will also be releasing a series of cookbooks next year, the first one will be crock pot recipes! We are so excited to be working with Kenzie from Hettman Homestead to bring you these cookbooks!

UPDATE: The FREE cookbook is now available! You can learn more here! Also feel free to fill out this form if you would like to let us know what you are looking for in future cookbooks!

Fit Festive Foods

• Sugar Cookies
• Gingerbread Muffins
• Gingerbread Smoothie
• Cranberry Sauce
• Pomegranate Mojito
• Cherry Almond Shooter

We also have our Free Healthy Living Challenge that will be continued through the holiday season. You will have fun challenges each day, get a "behind the scenes" look at what we eat and what our routines look like, and receive support from numerous coaches and trainers! Click here to sign up for the FREE Challenge!

We also will be starting another 21 Day Challenge! Get a jump start on your goals before the new year! Click here to receive more information.

Why join the 21 Day Challenge?

• Lose weight
• Peer Support
• Boost your metabolism 
• Kick your cravings
• Bust out of your plateau