Mommy-To-Be Hospital Bag Must Haves

A MOMMY-TO-BE HOSPITAL BAG MUST HAVE!!!

Another good mail day--- my pretty delivery/nursing robe! I had a plain black cotton one with little man. While it was functional, there's something about wanting to feel pretty and alive during your stay in the hospital! I saw these beautiful colors and had to have this robe from PinkBlush Maternity/Womens!😍 I love it..and love that I can use it after I have no belly! They have so many cute things!!!

THINGS ARE GETTING REAL, YA'LL! I'm going to pack my bags soon.😳 I have a list of must haves but would LOVE to hear what your suggestions are! Here are mine below...

-Hair ties

-Fuzzy warm socks

-Slippers

-Affirmations printed out

-Bible/Books

-Speaker for music (and soothing play list)

-Essential oils (lavender for relaxation and jasmine for speeding up labor!)

-Peppermints 

-Lip balm/Chapstick (your lips will get dry!)

-Snacks

-Coconut oil or lotion (for partner giving you massages)

-Flip-flops for shower

-Any toiletry items you prefer (I'm picky)

-Tooth brush and toothpaste

-Makeup (bc I like to feel fresh and alive)

-Baby coming home outfit

-A couple outfits for you to lounge in at hospital (I wanted to get up and move around when I could)

-Boppy (for nursing and resting your baby in)

-Phone charger (and phone!)

WHAT ELSE WOULD YOU ADD TO THIS LIST? 

TRANSFORMATION TUESDAY: DIY FURNITURE STYLE

A little different Transformation Tuesday than usual but one that excites me SO MUCH! This dresser was sitting on the side of the road for trash pick up in my brother's neighborhood a few weeks ago. FREE!!! George and I scooped it up to turn it into our baby girl's changing table....and HERE IS THE FINISHED PRODUCT!

One of my FAVORITE things to do is take someone's trash and turn it into a TREASURE. I can't help but think how God does the same thing for us over and over as many times as we need. Just when we think we aren't worthy, aren't good enough, aren't "fixable", aren't pretty enough, aren't nice enough, aren't wealthy enough, aren't ________ enough (fill in the blank)...if we ask, GOD SCOOPS US UP and goes to work! In all of our imperfections, He cleans us up, sands down our rough spots, paints over our sins with His blood, and turns us into something BEAUTIFUL that can be used in ways we never imagined!

A lot of people don't understand why I share my before/afters -- physical, spiritual, emotional, financial, professional, etc. What I've learned is it's SELFISH not to. So many people go through life feeling alone in their mess until someone is brave enough to share their transformation story of grace. Embracing the opportunity to turn my messy life into a MESSAGE for others is something I never thought I'd do...especially not on social media. I was so ashamed of many things in my past (and still struggle with some things) but I am so thankful for God's grace, love, and goodness. Like this dresser, God has turned a HOT MESS into something usable again and for THAT I am forever grateful.

"Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

#MessintoMessage #TransformationTuesday

3rd Trimester Workout: Preparing for Labor

**3rd Trimester Workout**

With less than 7 weeks to go, I'm focusing the next month and a half on PREPPING FOR LABOR. I have loved my low impact dancing workouts but it's time to switch it up. I'll be sharing some workouts you can do to prepare for a healthy and quicker labor!

Did you know women who workout during pregnancy have less time to push in labor than women who don't?👊🏻 #signmeup I did not at ALL with my first pregnancy.

TRY THIS ONE (complete circuit 2-3x) and be sure to share it with other mamas!

FOR MORE WORKOUTS, HEALTH/FITNESS TIPS, & MOM LIFE SUPPORT - connect with me on Facebook at HEATHER BURNS!

THROWBACK THURSDAY: 30 Minute Workouts vs. 1+ Hour Workouts = BETTER RESULTS

THROWBACK THURSDAY

I used to be a gym rat. I loved the social aspect and there was something about "checking in" that made me feel like I was a total BOSS BABE.😜 The reality is, I wasted a lot of time and saw very little results. I spent my 20's yo-yo dieting, taking pills, battling bulimia, and being so far from "healthy". I have spent hours on the treadmill and elliptical and walking aimlessly around the gym trying to figure out how I could get "that girl's" body.🙈

WHAT I HAVE LEARNED SINCE TURNING 30...

-Health is so much more than a pant size or number on a scale.
-30 minute workouts ARE enough.
-You can NOT outwork a poor diet.
-Working out at home saves so much time.
-Nutrition is KEY.
-Spiritual, mental, and emotional health are VITAL to achieving physical health.
-Health is a journey and something we have to continue to work on EVERY DAY.
-The 30's are SO MUCH BETTER than the 20's.
-Motherhood does NOT have to mean losing yourself...it actually has helped me FIND myself.

On average, how long do you workout?

Ready to join my next online Boot Camp so you can achieve YOUR health & fitness goals? Fill out this quick form so we can connect: 

https://coachheathershriverburns.wufoo.com/forms/qqjsrk70tz5fm0/

XO
Heather

The Truth About My 3 Hour Gestational Diabetes Test

3-hour gestational diabetes test.😭 

Can I be honest with y'all? This kind of rocked my world 2 weeks ago on top of everything else we have on our plates right now. I haven't talked much about it because I felt a sense of embarrassment and shame that I failed. I'm a health & fitness coach! I've done this pregnancy SO MUCH HEALTHIER than my first and to find out I failed my 1 hour test really got me. There was a part of me that felt like a failure...like I could have and should have done better.

Here's the truth about it. It rocked my world but it's not the END of my world. I don't normally eat breakfast at 7:00am but when you're told you have to fast and not eat, YOU'RE HUNGRY! haha! Why does that happen?! The drink itself was SUPER SWEET (2x as sweet as the 1 hour -- but same amount of liquid). It reminded me of a defrosted Icee popsicle -- super sweet liquid sugar. I drink SO much water as it is, so not being able to guzzle a bunch of water after drinking it was hard but I chose not to focus on it and tried to keep busy for the 3 hours. I did take my FAVORITE tumbler from RTIC so I had something to sip on. I also took my laptop to do some work so the time went fast and I was able to be productive (perk of having a mobile business!). If you're a reader, take a book! I already did my personal development for the morning, so I opted for work time. I also opted to have my blood drawn from different arms every other time (4x total). My last tip is to take food with you so you have something to eat before you leave! You will be hungry (possibly hangry!).

On a more sympathetic note...what I learned (through a number of sweet mama friends who also shared they failed their test and some have/had gestational diabetes), there really isn't anything I could have done different. My mid-wife reassured me IT IS OK and I'm doing great and we will deal with it if I have it to make sure me and baby girl are healthy. But I still had the question WHY? WHY ME?

I have learned instead of asking God WHY He has allowed something to happen, ask Him what He wants me to learn from it. Easy? No. Easier than beating myself up and having a pity party? Yes.

This morning my devotion was about God not making mistakes. While sometimes that's hard to accept in the midst of chaos, uncertainty, pain, sadness, anger, confusion, and hurt...it is the truth.

God always has a purpose for our pain, a reason for our struggle...AND A GIFT FOR OUR FAITHFULNESS!

I'll just be sitting over here for the next 3 hours...waiting for my gift.

XO XO 

Why I LOVE Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar

YOU GUYS! Y'all know how much I LOVE coconut oil. I use that stuff for just about EVERYTHING!!!! 

But I just discovered coconut oil's cousin!

BRAGG'S APPLE CIDER VINEGAR!

I have always used this to cook but I had NO idea it had SO MANY OTHER USES!

It helped cure my allergies/sinus infection that was dragging on for 3 weeks (I will share more of my holistic solution for that later) and when I was researching it, I discovered it has SO MANY OTHER USES!!!

I've been drinking 1tbsp every morning with 8oz of water and putting it in little man's water/juice. I SCORED THIS GIGANTIC 1 GAL JUG TODAY since I plan on using it for SO MUCH MORE...

-Allergies
-Acne
-Arthritis
-Asthma
-Blood pressure
-Candida
-Sinus infection
-Yeast infection
-Soar throat
-Skin problems
-AND SO MUCH MORE!

Here is a great blog with 101 uses for this all natural GOD-SEND!🙌🏻

http://www.mamanatural.com/apple-cider-vinegar/

Anyone else use it?! What for?!

HEALTH BET: Win Money While Getting Healthy

HEALTH CHALLENGE TO WIN CASH!!!!

Um, say what?! YES PLEASE!

As a former teacher, back to school means getting back into a routine and preparing for the fall & winter months (usually when people pack on the pounds). This 30 Day Boot Camp will help all of us stay accountable to our health & fitness goals while having FUN playing a game to win CASH! We will workout and drink our superfoods daily to win!

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS:

➡ We start September 5 and will go for 4 weeks through October 3!

➡ Beachbody has a FREE pot of money ($1M-$3M) up for grabs ready to split with EVERYONE who enters and does those two things listed below!

➡ No fee to pay to enter! Your payment is your choice of workout program and our superfood protein shake (Shakeology) - the same tools that have helped me CHANGE my LIFE and are keeping me on track this pregnancy!

➡ You will keep an official log of your workouts/shake in our convenient My Challenge Tracker app and will have access to our private group on FB for extra support!

➡ You must log at least 3 workouts per week!

➡ You must log at least 5 Shakeology's per week and share a photo of your shake!

➡Win and share equally in the final cash pot! (Currently at $1.5M and can go up to $3M)

HERE IS WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM ME:

➡ Daily Support & Accountability check-ins!

➡ Fitness Inspiration and Motivation to help YOU achieve YOUR goals!

➡ Recipes, Meal Plans, Videos, and Tools from our team to help you succeed!

➡ Safe and Secure place for us to meet and support each other!

➡ As part of our Fit Fam Tribe, we will become lifelong fit friends who continue to support each other beyond these 30 days!

ARE YOU IN?! If so, click this link HEALTH BET CHALLENGE and send me a message OR EMAIL me (bbcoachheatherb@gmail.com) Subject Line: HEALTH BET and I’ll get you all set up to MAKE SOME MONEY & GET HEALTHY!!!