Well, summer is just around the corner. Can you believe it!?

Are you out there really watching what you are eating to get that summer body ready?

There are two things I hate about this question. ONE: Who wants to deprive themselves and not eat your favorite foods just to be able to look ‘perfect’ in a suit or summer tank top? TWO: Why just a summer body? Why don’t we want to feel amazing and look good all year round?

When I kept getting heavier and heavier, the thought of what I would look like in a suit never crossed my mind. I loved food and had no intentions of changing my ways. Swimsuits consisted of longer skirts, and whatever kind of top would hide my fat well. I enjoyed burgers on the grill, hot dogs over an open fire, and plenty of s’mores stuffed with peanut butter without any guilt on summer days. Hot days were my excuse for ice cream. Hey, I had a very good-looking husband who loved me. Why would I want to change? I was eating anything I wanted when I wanted. Life was good.

Life was good until I decided to weigh myself one day. How did I gain 20lbs so fast!? (If I didn’t weigh myself, I didn’t know, which couldn’t hurt me.)

I was shocked, embarrassed, and disappointed in myself. How did I let it get this bad!?

I was never going to let myself hit this dreadful number that I was six pounds away from hitting.

I knew I had to make some serious changes, but I loved to eat!! I am such a foodie; how was I ever going to do this and succeed?

I dieted and dieted on so many different weight loss programs. They never worked. Well, they did at first. But it wasn’t sustainable, and I was always hungry. I had to figure out a way that I could go by for the rest of my life and not gain the weight right back. This was in August of 2018.

Let’s jump to now, on May 12, 2022. I’ve lost 67 lbs. and over 30 inches off my body in that time. I have kept it off all these years, and each year my body still does some amazing changes. My body comp is changing because I feed my body everything it needs while still enjoying all the foods I love! If you follow me on Instagram at Andrea’s Country Home Cookin, you will see how good I eat. Over these past four years, I have never felt deprived.

People who watch my Instagram and personal Facebook page enjoy my food posts. I get messages with questions like, “You look amazing! How do you eat all this delicious food and desserts and still lose weight?” My answers are always the same. Everything in moderation. It’s a lifestyle change, and I refuse to deprive myself. Life is too short; you gotta eat dessert!

They always want all the tips to help reach their goals, and I’ve helped do that with many of them. Taught them that they are worthy! It felt so good to help people see that they don’t have to give up the things they love. It’s a learning process, and the more you learn, the more it helps you reach those goals. Whether it’s losing weight, gaining muscle, or even gaining a little weight. Everyone has different goals for their body.

This led me to want to learn more and help as many people as I can full-time. If I can do it, anyone can. I struggled for so many years with dieting until I finally got it right.

I decided I would do online schooling to be a FITNESS & NUTRITION COACH! I couldn’t wait to share this with you all. I am weeks away from my final exam and graduating with my coaching certificate. I am so beyond excited about my future and the future of others. These courses were absolutely incredible! I never dreamed I would ever go back to school, much less being anything that has to do with fitness or nutrition! It’s so wild to me.

Are you struggling, or do you know someone who is? Are you one of those who yo-yo diet or someone who wants to build muscle but has no idea where to start? Do you want to know your macros or know how many calories you should be eating in a day? Are you scared to start because you are afraid of failing? Let me help you!

I still enjoy burgers over the grill and honestly have fallen in love with a turkey burger every now and then. I love those hot dogs over the fire at the river, and guess what!? I still enjoy s’mores and ice cream without ANY GUILT! It’s all about balance, and I want to teach you. I go out to eat at least once a week, don’t kill myself in cardio, and turned a nasty relationship with food into something amazing.

If you are interested and would like more information, pricing, and all the extras that will come with it, please email me at lifestylefitnesscoach@yahoo.com. I’ll only be taking on about a dozen clients to start, so I can give them all my attention they deserve. I promise I will be an awesome coach, help you reach the highest goals you’ve ever imagined, and be there every step of the way. Let’s crush your goals together!

This is a sample of one of my breakfasts in the mornings. As you can see, it’s not small portions. It kept me full and satisfied. Less than 450 calories, and 22 grams of protein, it was a perfect balance of fats, carbs, and protein.

Baked oatmeal with ½ cup milk poured over it, Chai tea with 2 Tbsp. natural creamer, blueberries, and 1 oz. of cooked sausage, peppers, and onions on low heat, heated, though, then add one scrambled egg mixture and cook until it is ready to flip.

Eating healthy doesn’t have to be hard, and there is no reason to ever feel hungry by depriving yourself. Stick with me; we got this!