APP REVIEW : Cozi: Family Life. Simplified.

Cozi Family Organizer.

The #1 organizing app for the modern Family.

Review

There are a few apps that I use daily on both my iPhone and iPad, but there is only one that my entire family uses, husband and children alike. Best part, it isn't a game!

The Cozi Family Organizer lives up to it's name. It keeps the family life in sync with each other and is available as a desktop app and available in the Google Play Store and the Apple Store!

Seriously, it is set up for a color coded calendar. Choose a color for each family member and then it makes to seeing who is where and when at a glance. This is especially helpful for parents who need to know when doctors appointments and play-dates are.

When you add appointments, you can designate which family members are involved. Once you add in the appointment is it added into the "family calender". Everyone will have the option to see it once it is added.

Additional features in this app are to-do lists, shopping lists, and even a family journal that you can include text and photos that you can share certain posts over the internet as a "family blog".

The account and apps are free, however these are ad-supported. If you choose to pay $5.99 to upgrade to CoziGold you get the ad-free apps and many more features. Best part, everything works cross-platfrom...meaning, it works on the iPhone, iPad, Android phone, Android tablet...

Personal Opinion

I personally have found this app to be a life saver for both my family life and my business life. Being new to the business world and starting a new business, keeping appointments, to-do lists, and shopping lists in the same place as I keep everything for my home life is a lot simpler then keeping different apps or calenders for everything. 

I personally keep multiple to-do lists: my husband's home projects, my to-do list, my work to-do list, and even my "house-cleaning" lists. 

Multiple shopping lists: Husband's Project shopping list (with headers for different projects), my business shopping list, and household/grocery lists.

I dont use the journal all too often, but when I do it is for major events like holidays or fun little bets between me and my husband. :-)

Conclusion

Try this app out! It is worth the time and effort. I have been able to relax knowing that my family's schedules are all in sync. Have you already tried it? Comment below and let me know what you think?

Link

http://www.cozi.com

Winter-Prep Fitness Challenge

Hello All! Welcome back! 
If you live in Alaska, then you know that winter is not that far off. A few more months and snow will be back on the ground, the sky will stay darker longer, and that cold will chill to the bone. Let's prepare for the winter by teaching our bodies how to create more heat for itself all the time. Many people have heard me say that building muscle burns more calories, even when you are no longer working out... well, in doing so, you body creates more heat internally and externally... keeping you warmer longer! (No, it isnt going to make it to where you dont have to wear that down feather parka. There isnt much that will prevent that at -60.)

The Challenge Group starts September 7th and will end 60 days later. There is a second group, same challenge group and everything, but this is for the "late bloomers". It will start on the 22nd. Here is how it will work.

1. Sign up for your Team Beachbody Account. Again this is a Free Account.
1. For Danielle as your coach CLICK HERE.
2. This Challenge Group is a "Pick-Your-Poison" Group. I will personally be doing Insanity. Order your choice program AS A CHALLENGE PACK. (If you already have Shakeology on HD, then just order the program). 
3. Make sure to choose your flavor of Shakeology. It is a must for this challenge group!
4. Fill in your body stats in either your Team Beachbody Account or your 411Fit Account (exclusive to members signed on with Danielle Montoya). Make sure to take before pictures as well. These are a great motivator and actually SHOW you the results from all the work you will be doing!
5. I will have a PRIVATE group on Facebook (if you don't have Facebook, have no fear, I will also have a group set up on 411Fit for my members). This is where we are going to be posting our motivation and accountability posts. You must check in or your coach will be checking in with you!
6. From the day you receive your Shakeology, start replacing ONE MEAL a day with it using only WATER and ICE. We will get to the good recipes as soon as you know you are following your meal plans properly!
7. The day you receive your workout program, watch a couple of the DVDs and even try some of the workouts. This will help you guage how hard you will need to push, and will show you when you need to rest. Remember, "Do your best, forget the rest."
8. September 7th, the Challenge Group begins. Daily reminders will be posted to do your workout and you need to let us know when you finish them. Remember to drink your Shakeology Every day!
9. September 22nd, wave 2 will begin. This is for the people who didn't order their programs on time, or who have skipped too many workouts during the first 14 days.
10. I will also start posting different Shakeology recipes for people to try.

This group is meant to help you achieve your fitness goals. Whatever they may be. If you are trying to loose weight, make sure to drink the Shakeology daily with as little of added ingredients as possible, this will keep the calories lower. Still make sure you are getting the recommended amount of calories and DO NOT GO TOO FAR BELOW THAT! Getting too few calories can cause you to go into "starvation mode" which can cause different health problems

Remember 

good nutrition = weight loss

Exercise = Sculpting/Toning

As always, thank you for stopping in! Come back and see us as there is a lot of new, fun, exciting things to come! Here is a sneak peak as to what is to come:

• Road-Trip workouts and Campground Fitness
• PumpUp App Review
• SAD to FIT
• Being a Team Beachbody Coach
• Carbohydrates, Why are they essential to fitness?
• Logo Design Competition
• Supporting the Local Community
• 411Fit Account Review
• S.A.D. Fitness - Services
• Team Beachbody - Free Account VS Club Account

Keep an eye out!

Danielle M. Montoya

S.A.D. Fitness - Fit, Healthy, and HAPPY

24-day Shakeology Picture Challenge Group

Hello my fellow-fit-friends. Welcome to the new blog. To jump start this blog, I am going to invite everyone to join me in a 24-day Shakeology Picture Challenge Group. 

The Challenge Group starts August 1, 2013 and will end on August 24, 2013. Here's how it works... 

1. Sign up for your FREE Team Beachbody Account
1. For Danielle Montoya as your coach CLICK HERE.
2. Order your choice of Shakeology in the 30-day Bulk Bag. You don't have to order on HD, but if you do there are more incentives (FREE STUFF) for you.
3. Fill in your body stats in your very own 411Fit account (this will be set up as soon as you order your Shakeology and is exclusive to members with Danielle Montoya as your coach)
4. I will set up an exclusive PRIVATE group on Facebook (if you do not have Facebook, have no fear, 411Fit will also have a group) where we will be doing our picture posting. There will be rules for this in the group. 
5. From the day you get your Shakeology, start replacing ONE MEAL a day with Shakeology using ONLY WATER and ICE. (we will get into the good recipes I promise, just bare with me). 
6. On August 1st, the challenge group begins. Daily guidelines will be posted in the group and here on my Blog. 
7. On August 2nd until August 4th, we are going to start the Shakeology 3-day Cleanse. Below is a basic guideline on how the meals will go for those days. You will also receive this in an email. Also, on these three days there will be 3 pictures due a day. This is because there will be THREE Shakes made.
   
8. Starting August 5th, will start the last portion of the Picture Challenge. This is the part where you will be able to make the shakes however you would like. Personal Favorite recipe for me is the Chocolate Banana-Nutter with Vanilla. I will share recipes in the groups daily for you to try. 

This group is meant to help jump start your nutrition and weight loss. 

The 3-day cleanse is OPTIONAL. You do not have to participate in the cleanse if you do not want to. You are also welcome to cut the cleanse shorter to 1 or 2 days. During the three days we are doing the cleanse, drinking a LOT of water is REQUIRED! The cleanse is a LOW CALORIE cleanse that rids your body of toxins that cause fatigue, headaches, body aches, and all digestive complications.

I will post a list of the daily photos. Each photo you take MUST include your Shakeology in the photo. Some of these will have to be unique but this is meant to be fun. On the days of the cleanse, there will be a single theme for the day, however, you will need to submit three photos for each of those days because you will be drinking three shakes each of those days.

The following month we will be starting a 60-Day Summer-Fit Challenge Group of with you are all welcome to join in. The program will be of your choice. Shakeology is NOT required for this challenge group, however, it is recommended for the best results. 

Remember Nutrition is where weight loss comes in, Exercise is where you body sculpts itself to look good.

Thank you for stopping in, and I hope you come back and see us. I have a lot in store for you in this blog. Everything from Fitness App Reviews, to information about personal training, to information about health and fitness in general. I will be posting about more Challenge Groups that will be coming up in the future (like the Summer-Fit Challenge) as well as competitions and FREE-STUFF!

Danielle M. Montoya
S.A.D. Fitness from S.A.D. to FIT

Daily Life.

How does your day normally go? Do you have a lot of down time? Are you busy from the time you wake to the time you drop? Do you go by a schedule or do you do more of spur of the moment?

I am normally busy from the time I wake up, to the time I pass out. You see me on FB a lot, I do my occasional blog, I know but with the help of a smartphone and tablet, I can take it with me anywhere.

So how do I find time to do fitness or health related things? Well, right now, I'm not working out. I am in the process of refining my daily schedule. This is everything that I do each and everyday. Cleaning, cooking, pumping milk for the baby... Everything is planned. With three kids, routine and structure is a must. Their days are currently pretty spur of the moment but as time goes, this will change.

I have always struggled to keep up with house work because I focus so much on one thing and neglect another. I never thought to use the tools that my iPhone and iPad had in them. I use the calendar occasionally but that was it.

Here's where I WAS:
You know that feeling of complete and utter chaos? The feeling you don't want ANYONE near you but you have to because you are a wife and mother? Yea, that has been me. I can't seem to find time for the things I need but manage to still do nothing all day. People tell me, 'welcome to motherhood'. But I can't believe that motherhood is nothing but messes, chaos, and anger. So I ended up getting in a depressive rut. I couldn't seem to get out of it. The deeper in I got the worse it got. Housework was being neglected, my diet was done for, exercise, HA!, what's that?

Here's my turning point:
Got to my lowest around Christmas. I had to do something. So I got online and start researching different things that would help me. Of course, my searching brought me to something that I knew very well... FLYLady.org. An amazing site and full of great tools for time management, housecleaning, decluttering (both mental and physical)... I sat there and read page after page, bought her books on my NOOK, and decided to try some of the tactics she teaches... With my own spin.

Here's what I did:
I journaled my daily life at the end of every day. I looked at how much time I spent doing, well, nothing. I looked at how much time I spend cleaning, cooking... Anything that I did, I logged. I wanted, no NEEDED, to know where all my time was going. After I saw how unorganized and chaotic my life was on paper, I decided to start a routine. Nothing too crazy, just made a cleaning routine. This made it to where I can literally clean the ENTIRE house in 3.5 hours. But with three kids, this was a little redundant. I then started planning out my days.

Here is where I am today:
Though I am not 100% on where I want to be with my daily plans, I am getting closer. I currently have a day planned out from the time I wake up to the time I got to bed. You may think that this is a little over board, but if you struggle with everyday life as I do many days, this is a necessity. I have it now where I cook three meals a day for my whole family, I am awake before my kids to take care of me, I am making time to pump milk for my breast feeding daughter. I am able to clean the house to where it works for my children and husband.

With planning like this, I am able to enjoy my family at the end of the day. I am able to enjoy meals together at the dining room table as a family. I am able to know that at the end of the day I have accomplished SOMETHING. Which is something that I need.

If you are wondering what kind of tools I use for planning. It's all in one app which is for apple and android and even works on your computer. It is called Cozi. With it you can make to-do lists, shopping lists, post appointments for the whole family. It really is a life saver for an active family. Check it out at www.cozi.com

Laughter is the BEST medicine.

Laughter... truly the best medicine, EVER! Yes, fitness has gotten me through some of the hardest times of my life and continues to help me with Postpartum Depression, S.A.D., and my everyday stress, but when I do get into those deep ruts, laughter is my savior.

That being said, I must also say my family saves my life each and every day. 

So, let's get to the point...

This morning, I ask my husband to feed the kids while I clean up the kitchen and such before we head out for the day. He gladly agrees and decides to make eggs. I make them for the kids pretty much every morning, it is something the kids will eat... right?

Nope! Arianna decides she's going to climb out of her high chair and RUN from her eggs, begging for apple sauce. My son, who normally eats enough eggs for 3 people only eats his toast and then begins to plead for applesauce. I'm not going to complain, apples are healthy.

My husband asks if it's -ok- to give the dogs the eggs that the kids don't like. I normally give them to him when he's sick or when he's been really good, so sure, why not?

The dog eats them then gets sick and throws every single bite back up... 

It is at this point that my husband has now sworn off making eggs or cooking for the kids ever again!

Yes, it gets even better... My husband, just to see what the kids will say, asks if they want him to make them more eggs. Before he finishes asking, almost in unison, they both say NO! So I ask if they want me to make them some eggs... They both start, almost in a cheer, "Yes! I want mommy's eggs!"

Yep, I think today is the last time my husband will ever cook eggs.

Do you have any stories like this? Please feel free to comment and share! :-)

S.A.D. Fitness November Drawing!

Thank you for again visiting my blog and if this is your first time here, WELCOME! I am very happy that you have come to bless my page with your presence! This blog, Fitness, and Beachbody have been three major factors that have helped me through hard times and I am very please to say that from my blessings, I have decided to give to you!

That's right, I'm holding a drawing on November 1st. Not that far away, but don't worry, there will be another one coming soon after!

The drawing is for a 7-Day Chocolate Shakeology Trial pack. 

Unsure as to WHAT Shakeology is? CLICK HERE to be transferred to my Shakeology Website. 

To enter for this drawing

1. Go to Team Beachbody, and sign up for your own FREE Team Beachbody Account.

2.Go to my S.A.D Fitness Facebook Page

3. Read the first post on the page and follow the instructions.

It's simple and easy. Feel free to share the page because more drawing are coming up and some of them will be by referral!!!

Thanks for stopping by and like always, feel free to comment or question!

Danielle M. Montoya

It's not everyday...

I know I post about fitness a lot and I push how much it helps with stress, anxiety, and most importantly DEPRESSION. I use it to manage my own depression. I cant stress enough how important it is for me to workout.

When I miss workouts, especially multiple days in a row, I have bad days. I'm not talking about cranky, I'm talking about crying my eyes out kind of days...

This entire week, I haven't been able to find time to workout at all.

Really it is my own fault. I have been far too lazy to get out of bed to do it. I know the benefits out way the cost, but I have just not been able to do it! 

The cost... A complete cry-fest. 

It never really lasts long. The "crazy spell" ends about as fast as the climax arrives. It's just that I do NOT like being this way and the only way to avoid it completely is to workout.

Today has just reminded me that, even if I don't WANT to get up and workout, it really isn't a matter of what I WANT to do... It's something I NEED to do. 

Is there something in your life that you NEED to do in order to keep from those "crazy days"? Remember, everyone is different and everyone deals with stress differently. Sometimes a good cry can help, sometimes you can workout to make all the problems a little less stressful... Maybe a day crafting with friends is what you need. 

Regardless of WHAT you do, just DO IT! Don't get yourself into the mucky-muck if you can avoid it. Appoint your husband or boyfriend, a friend, or a family member to keep you accountable. The best medicine is one that works for you... Mine just happens to be Fitness... 

Like always, thank you for reading. Please feel free to comment or post questions!

Danielle M. Montoya