"how did you do it?"

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I'm often asked "how did you do it?!" If your wondering this I have two simple questions for you! Do you believe in yourself? And do you love yourself? 

To be able to make a lifestyle change the most important step is believing that you can! Your mind is your most powerful weight loss weapon! Believe you can and you will! I don't mean dreaming about it I mean believing it and doing it!! You have to plan! Sit down on Saturday or Sunday and plan out your week! Plan your healthy meals, and grocery shop accordingly! (Do not buy junk!! Not even for your kids! Don't you want them to eat healthy too?) also throw away all the junk in your house! Once you've done that go through your schedule for the week plan around your daily routine and make time for your workout everyday! (Except your rest day) you have to believe you can do this and then follow through with the process if you do this every week you will succeed! 

You need to love yourself! You need to workout because you love your body and want to take care of it! We only get one body! Why not nourish it and take care of it! Let's stop just getting through life day by day and start loving every moment of your life! It's not easy to change your life but it's the most important and amazing thing you can do for yourself! We all have down days so it's so important to surround yourself with positive, supportive and loving people! Be selective!! Also I find it is so important to read a good book! Personal development and spiritual development are also extremely important!! I try to read 10 pages of my book every day! I also set time aside to meditate and pray! If you don't believe in God then just take time to be silent and be thankful for all of the amazing things in your life! If your ever struggling or need some tips and tricks please don't hesitate to message me! ardell23@hotmail.com or personal message me on Facebook! Have a great Thursday! Xo 

              Ashylla

The dreaded scale

Hello beautiful people today I am dedicating my post to the "dreaded scale". Through my fitness journey I have learned many important lessons, but this one is one of the biggest lessons I had to learn.

 In the beginning of my journey the weight was coming off pretty quickly on a consistent basis and I became very obsessed with the number on the scale! Eventually of course I hit a plateau and then I decided to push myself harder to see just how little I could weigh. To my dismay I started gaining weight!! I was so upset! I was working out even harder, pushing myself farther and eating the best that I ever had! I felt so lost, what was I doing wrong?

I completely stopped weighing myself!! I did some research and was so relieved to here that this is very common. That muscle weighs more than fat, and that I should not soul focus on the number on the scale but instead, to focus on the non scale victories!! How my clothes fit, how many inches I'm loosing and how great I feel!

 I've learned to be proud of my accomplishments and that I do not need to weight 120 lbs to be happy healthy and strong! If you've hit that plateau and are feeling discouraged you are not alone! The worst thing you can do is give up! Just avoid the scale and go by how your clothes fit, and how you feel because that is the most important part! Keep up the great work and always feel free to reach out to me for any tips, and knowledge I have learned along the way!!

 Xoxo.       Ashylla

Snacking, the art of snacking smart!

Hello all you beautiful people!

So lately I have been struggling with snacking! I know what I should snack on, I know that snacking is important but its so easy to get sick of a certain snack and to start craving something different!

I have come up with some snacking tips!!

1. don't buy snack you THINK you should eat, that you don't actually like, that's a waist of your hard earned cash! Because chances are you are not going to eat it! You need to enjoy your food!

2. switch your snacks up every once in a while so your not tempted to cheat on something that is NOT healthy!

3. Buy healthy snacks and snack in moderation! Don't over indulge. Do not buy the junk! keep it out of your house! Or you will eat it and you will feel awful about it.

4. Experiment with your snacks, try new things! Get on pinterest and find out what everyone is snacking on!

5. Make sure you buy things that are gong to fuel your body, not things that are empty calories and are going to leave you feeling awful and more hungry!

It is important to snack! You do not want to leave your body feeling empty! We need to find a balance in our meals! Practise portion control in your meals and snacks! Do not over indulge! I always eat 3 meals a day and have 2-3 snacks a day! its important to fuel our work, workouts, and daily activities! If we learn to eat healthy and meaningful calories we are going to feel amazing and have the energy we need to complete our days!

Some of my favourite snacks right now are;

roasted chickpeas, I LOVE chips and anything salty so this helps fill that void and is a healthy alternative to chips!

half of a grapefruit sprinkled with stevia: this helps stop your craving for sweets and is oh so good and good for you!

Oatmeal energy balls! These are my fav go to snack they are loaded with healthy ingredients and are super easy to make. They taste like a delicious no bake cookie!

Sugar snap peas! They are so Delicious and crunchy!

bananas and cottage cheese! This helps with the sweet and salty and cravings and is such a delicious combo!

Yogurt sprinkled with shredded coconut and handful of almonds! Dessert!!

What are you some of your favourite snacks?! Be sure to have healthy snacks on hand!! It is so important to eat enough calories in your day! Comment with your favourite snacks! I am always looking for yummy healthy snacks! Have a great weekend xo     Ashylla

Why I decided to become a beachbody coach

The day I decided to jump in with both feet to the beachbody team was a day I will never ever forget or regret! I have already learned so much through this ongoing internship and I would recommend this to every single person I know!! This internship helps you become better in tune with yourself and with what you want out of life and it is so inspiring to listen to and share in everyone's success and journey! I learn something new and am forever growing in this company!!
I decided I wanted to embark on this new journey because it is something I can do while staying home with my son, I dedicate 2 hr of my day to this business and I am already seeing a profit! I decided I wanted to do this because I want to help contribute financially to my family. But most of all I decided I wanted to do this because I truly want to help people!
I recently just started my first challenge group and for those of you who don't know what that is, it is a place filled with motivation, inspiration, love, knowledge, and all the support needed to reach goals you only dream of! I am absolutely loving planning out my challenges and helping my friends and family achieve there goals!
By becoming a beachbody coach it has helped me feel needed and appreciated. It is slowly starting to change my life for the better! I enjoy my life so much more now! If you are ever interested in talking health or fitness with me please do not hesitate to message me! I genuinely want to help others become the best versions of themselves!

Embarking on a new fitness journey

I am very excited to embark on a new fitness journey with you all! I have been thinking long and hard about this and IT just feels right! I really want to help inspire others and to continually be inspired by others! I have truly found a love for my health and fitness and it I'd extremely liberating!

An opportunity has come up for me to be a beach body coach. I have looked into it and decided that I am going to jump in with both feet and not look back!
Matt and I did p90x before we got married we ordered the shakeology, the prep workout drink and the post work out drink and we were diligent and we absolutely loved it! We were both in pretty good shape by the end of it, but we didn't feel like we achieved the results we so desperately wanted. We were working out an hour plus every single day! We were drinking out shakes and taking our supplements?! Why were we not ripped?! So what did we do? We quit, we gave up, through in the towel. I now know we were missing the most important step! We never changed out eating habits!!

What we eat and our portion sizes are the most important thing in fitness and in health! If you are not willing to change your eating habits you will not reach your goals! Sure you will lose some weight and feel better because your exercising BUT I promise you if you don't eat healthy and fuel your body you will not feel good and you will not reach your full potential!

I am beyond excited to share my experience with you guys this time around! Now that I am mentally, physically and emotionally on board with this journey! I know the results will be amazing I know I will feel amazing and I promise you that I will be open and honest about every single step of my journey.

My husband asked me why I was being so public about my lifestyle change and I've really been pondering that a lot lately and the answer is because I want to help each and every one of you! I want you to feel good, look good, to be healthy, happy and strong! I want to build you up and make a difference!

Matt and I are doing the p90x 3 right now and are loving it!! It's 30 min hard core amazing work outs! The kind of workout that your dripping from sweat every single beautiful time you do them! And BONUS they are only 30 min and you do them in the comfort of your own home!! I am a big supporter of at home workouts! You do not need a gym! Once your kiddos are sleeping or once your home at the end of the day make the time! Make your health a priority! All you need is the desire to want it! Make it a routine! Take care of yourself! NO appearance is not everything I KNOW that! BUT your health should be!!

Follow me on Instagram @ashyllasmith and follow my blog for this new chapter in my lifestyle change!! Xoxo.   Ashylla

P90x3 sure why not?!

So Matt and I decided we are going to do p90x3! Me thinking oh ya I'm in great shape this will be easy peasy.... Yaa not so much!! Lol I am loving it though! I love pushing myself!! Setting goals and pushing my body to it's limits is quite liberating!! We still go for our morning hike and I still throw in my m5 work out 2-3 times a week but instead of my regular circuit work out I'm substituting it with p90x3! I needed this change! It's easy to get comfortable in your daily routine and just do the minimum but I don't want to do that! I always want to be striving for more!

Matt and I did p90x before we got married so over 3 years ago now and we had a love hate relationship with it! By the end of it we were happy we did it but the hour workout every day just wasn't feasable for our lifestyle. As soon as we were done we completely stopped working out. We also never followed any kind of meal plan so we were in ok shape but definitely not like we are now! We are so excited to see what our results will be this time around, now that we are both in good shape and are eating healthy and want to work out! Couples who work out together stay together right?!? Lol but in all seriousness I am so happy that Matt and I are in this fitness journey together! We both feel so fantastic there is no looking back from here!

We are on week 3 of p90x3 and are sore but feeling great!! I actually love feeling sore it means that I am truly working my body and that means RESULTS!! If you are getting tired of your same old work out routines I strongly reccomend trying the p90x 3 they are amazing at home workouts that are only 30 min!! They will kick your but every time and leave you wanting more!!     Xoxo Ashylla

An important lesson I learned on my fitness journey

We cannot change genetics! We are born with a certain body type! Learn to embrace it and love your body! Learn how to properly work out your body to achieve your ideal physique! No you cannot get taller, longer legs, longer torso ect but yes you can perfect your beautiful body and be proud of every inch of it! I'm a hair stylist by trade and this applies to my line of work also! Often times women come in with a picture and say this is EXACTLY what I want my hair to look like and I say ok honey well you do not have the same face shape as this celebrity, you don't have the same hair type as this lady, you don't have the same, thickness, the same extensions ect ect but yes I can give you a version of this hair style! Tell me what you like most about the hair not the celebrity but the hair. They often change there mind completely and we decide on something suitable for there face shape and hair type! The same applies for your body and your fitness and diet routine! I am personally very short I am 5'1 so any weight I gain is extremely noticeable! I have a short torso and short legs so I really do not want to add any bulk to my physique I just want to tone and tighten to create an illusion of height! I do not use weights I do all of my exercise just using my own body weight. I do use a medicine ball for my Russian twists and for one of my squat circuits but other than that no weights at all. You need to figure out your body type set reasonable goals and make a plan of how to turn those goals into reality! We have to truly know and understand our bodies if we want to get accurate results! 

I have truly learned to love my body. I embrace being short! Good things come in small packages right! 😜 I have embraced my tiny boobs and learned to appreciate them! I've learnt that the best thing we can do for our mind body and spirit is truly love ourselves and take care of our selves! Life is beautiful start living it to the fullest! What is stopping you? Fear? Kick fear in the but and prove it wrong! You won't be sorry you may be sore! But you will never be sorry!! Xoxo 

 Ashylla

How I stay motivated

I have been asked a lot how I stay motivated. So this week I have been thinking about this question a lot and I decided to blog about it!

I am so very thankful for my body! My body has been through and done so many incredible things. The most amazing being carrying my son for 9 months and giving birth! What an amazing experience that was! We have to love our bodies and give ourselves credit for the amazing things our bodies do for us every single day! I can honestly tell you that I love my body! No it is not perfect, but it brought me my pretty close to perfect baby boy and for that I will always love my body!! We have to love our bodies and our selves through every stage of life! If we don't love ourselves how can we expect others to love us? I keep motivated by loving my body, pushing my body and seeing just how far I can go to reach my goals and live this beautiful life.

I stay motivated by challenging myself! Weather it's going an extra 5 min on our morning hike, pushing myself a little harder on my bowflex or adding an extra 5 minutes to my circuit workout! We have to push ourselves and challenge ourselves to keep motivated and from getting bored! The worst thing you can do is compare yourself to other women!! Just don't do it! It's so easy to get caught up in the "I'll never look like her" "my boobs will never look like that" "she's never had a kid" "she's so tall" ect ect ect you should only ever compare yourself to yesterday's self! Just try to improve your health and fitness one day at a time and the rest will come!

I motivate myself by setting goals! I usually set a goal for the day, the week and the month! It's s good way to keep yourself accountable. Star small, set reasonable goals it can be fun! Start challenges with your friends family! It helps to have a good support system! The girls and I in my family have our own personal fitness Facebook group to help motivate and challenge each other! It's a great way to stay motivated and brings a bit of a competitive edge to the group.

The biggest and I think most important way to stay motivated is to just MAKE exercise and healthy eating a part of your daily routine! You'll get so used to it that it won't even seem like work anymore! It will become easier and you will crave it and want to do it!

Did you know that almost every restaurant has a calorie wise part of there menu now! So you can still enjoy going out to eat and maintain your health lifestyle! That sure keeps me motivated!! Everyone likes to go out to eat once in a while! Now a days there really are NO excuses for not making the healthy choice! So if you really want it bad enough it is all yours!

You have to make healthy eating and working out a priority! If you have time for social media, watching tv, ect you have time to work out!! Even if its just getting out and going for a walk! Start small and you will work your way to a happy, healthy, and strong you, inside and out!

Only you, and you only can make the change you have to want it so bad that your not willing to let anything stand in the way! I cannot do it for you! That's what makes exercise and healthy eating so rewarding you have to work for it! Push yourself and never look back! Your body will do anything you have to get your mind in the game and believe in yourself! 

You can do it! Xoxo.      Ashylla

The 3 D's

    It has been a year of many hospital visits for us Smiths! I'm hoping we are good for a while now!! It started with Lane getting RSV, Matt's health scare and then a week ago I was hospitalised with a horrible kidney infection! We are all doing great now! I am so thankful for our amazing health care and more specifically Pincher Creeks hospital! They have always taken such good care of us and I am so very thankful for that!
    Because I was so sick I had to have lots of fluid and antibiotics intravenously, which resulted in A LOT of bloating and I was not supposed to work out. This was extremely hard for me! It was extremely discouraging looking in the mirror and all of my hard work had disappeared. I knew deep down that it would go away but it was still terrifying there was that shred of doubt in me that I could not seem to shake! after 2 nights in the hospital I was able to go home. I took it easy for the first couple of day just went for walks and listened to my body. It has been a week and half since this happened and I am so relieved to say I am back to where I was before and I am feeling happy healthy and strong!
   During this lifestyle change I have learnt a lot about my body, soul, and mind. I have learnt that your body will do pretty much anything you want or need it to do. Our bodies are simply amazing. I have learnt that feeding your body healthy food and cleansing your body helps it to work better and perform better! I have learnt that living a healthier lifestyle has made me so much more happy! It has helped me to destress, and to live my life to the fullest. It has helped me think clearer and see things I never did before! I am so happy and I am so proud of myself for truly making this transformation and working every single day to stay happy healthy and strong!
    I have been asked a lot what I am doing, eating, what work out plans I am doing etc. Here is the biggest piece of advice I can give anyone looking to change there life for the better. To be happy healthy and strong.
#1 discipline
     you have to be willing to discipline yourself and follow through! You HAVE to start small and work your way there! If you cannot discipline yourself and follow through than you will NOT see results its as simple as that. You have to want it, nobody is going to do it for you.
#2 dedication
     you have to be dedicated to your lifestyle change. You have to jump in with both feet and not look back! You have to push yourself to get results. If you are not willing to dedicate your time to working out regularly and dedicate yourself to eating healthy you will NOT see results!
   # drive
        you have to keep yourself motivated. Take before and after pictures, weigh yourself, drive yourself to your goal. You are the only person who can do it. You have to make a choice to be happy healthy and strong and you have to keep yourself motivated and continue to drive yourself to set and achieve goals!

    I am in no way perfect or a fitness coach I am just a stay at home mom who has fallen in love with fitness and health! It is so liberating to take control of your life and push yourself and see yourself exceed your expectations! We need to build each other up! Cheer each other on and help each other feel good! I am taking this day by day and it feels so great!! I am currently doing my third skinny mint tea tox and feeling amazing! Go get it! Be the best you and never say never!! xoxo
                                                                                                Ashylla

Happy healthy and strong

.    I have really flip- flopped on blogging about this but I decided if it can help even just one person out, then it's worth putting it down on paper.
     Since starting on my journey to a happy, healthy lifestyle I have received a lot of positive feedback! And I am so thankful to all of you for that! But that's not what I'm blogging about today. Today I am blogging about the overwhelming amount of NEGATIVE feedback I have received.
      NO I do not have an eating disorder! I am 5'1 and I weigh 122 lbs, my bmi is 107! I count my calories, and cook healthy and clean! I have done 2 teatoxes that have aided in weight loss and help cleanse my body! I have talked to my Dr and he approves of my calorie intake and routine. I do not take any diet pills or anything harmful to my body. I am healthy, happy and strong!
     Since my husband had his health scare a few months ago we have both really made an effort to be our best selves! We inspire each other and build each other up and that's really all that matters! If you find yourself so inclined to talk about me in a negative manor or to criticize my lifestyle, maybe there is an underlying issue you need to work out with yourself. I post progress pictures of myself to help inspire other people and because I'm dam proud of what I've accomplished!! Yup that's all!
                         Xoxo Ashylla

I want to inspire and be inspired

  Lately I have been told that my lifestyle change is inspiring. I am so happy that I can help others achieve their goals and become healthy, happy and strong! I honestly just feel so amazing every day! It is intoxicating! I look forward to my life! I feel liberated and I want others to feel that way too! I want you all to know that your likes, messages, comments, texts and kind words inspire me! They motivate me to keep on eating healthy, working out and being happy! So thank you for all of your love and support!! We need to build each other up! Share in one another's successess and try not to compare ourselves to any one else! I will keep on living this beautiful life and challenge myself everyday! Follow me on Instagram @ashyllafitness, on Myfitnesspal pal ashyllasmith and we can keep on inspiring one another!! Here's to us living our lives to the fullest being the healthiest, happiest Us that we can be! 😘❤️😍
 

Achieving a goal

    For as long as I can remember I have lied about and been in denial about my weight! I can honestly say I never thought I could weigh 125 lbs but now I know I was just hiding behind fear of failure and holding myself back from truly fulfilling my potential and being happy and healthy!!

      I am so proud of myself for pushing myself to be better and for achieving a life long goal of mine. It feels pretty dang good!!
     Now to maintain and grow healthier and stronger and push myself to be my best self always! I am so excited to continue on this journey of health and fitness! I hope I can inspire you to want to be your best selves! I know that looks don't mean everything! We live in a vain world where it is easy to get caught up in the superficial ness of it all! That's not what I am promoting in any way!! I'm promoting health! Feeling good and nourishing your body! Yes looking good is w nice perk to it all, and I have always been the type of girl to take pride in my appearance. It feels great to feel as good on the inside as I do on the outside!
      I am so happy with my lifestyle change and I am just so excited to keep at it and challenge myself and take care of myself! xoxo

My fitness Journey

           I want to start this blog off with the BEST news. My Matthew had his follow up appointment with his doctor following his MRI scan on the 5th and I am so happy to report that they did not find anything. I feel such a peace knowing that he is going to be ok. Of course we are still going to monitor his health and if anything suspicious or of the same nature happens again we will be seeking medical attention ASAP. I am feeling extremely blessed and such a peace with this news and I am so ready to continue our beautiful life together!

          I have had a lot of people asking me and commenting about my lifestyle change! I wanted to answer some questions and just share some information on what has been working for me, and about how amazing I feel! I wanted to write a bit about why I decided to make this change. The biggest reason is because of Matt's health scare. We both decided we needed to make some changes and be the healthiest that we could be, to further prevent any issues with our health. I also really wanted to do something for ME. Being a mom is the most amazing thing I have ever done! But being a mom can consume you, and take away pieces of you, and make you wonder who you are sometimes. I really wanted to have some ME time and I dedicated this me time to making myself feel better and to relieve some stress and feel good about myself. I have found myself in working out, and I have bettered myself and become someone even better then I ever knew I could be.

         As most of you know I am a big supporter in the Skinny mint teatox! The reason I decided to do it detox is because I really didn't feel great about my post pregnancy body. I will admit I am one of the lucky ones who looses there pregnancy weight (or most of it|) by breast feeding. But I knew once I stopped breast feeding I wouldn't be burning those extra calories and I was terrified of gaining it all back. So I started looking into detoxes and I stumbled upon the skinny mint teatox. This specific teatox caught my eye because of it's natural ingredients and because it is NOT a meal replacement you simply drink it in the morning before or with your breakfast, and every other night after your last meal. The morning boost tea is a great way to kick start your day with extra energy! it has Green Tea which boosts your energy, improves immunity and burns calories. Yerba Mate which boosts metabolism, and curbs your appetite. Nettle Leaves which is a natural diuretic and antioxidant. Dandelion which improves digestion, detoxifies, and cleanses your body. Guarana which increases physical endurance and alertness and stimulates your digestion. It also contains a hint of grapefruit, strawberry, and pineapple to make it taste even yummier! It is a scientifically developed herbal blend, its fresh and tasty and it is such high quality! Obviously if your doing a detox you also want to eat a healthy diet to help the detoxing process and to get your maximum results. I absolutely love my morning boost tea. I find it really does give me that extra boost in the morning and it just makes me feel so great!

The night cleanse helps to reduce bloating, improve digestion and lose weight! It has Ginger root which is for anti bloating and detoxifying. Orange Leaves that improve digestion and promotes good sleep. Lemon grass which is anti-microbial, anti-bacterial and also enhances complexion. Senna Leaves which acts as a natural laxative, anti bloating, and helps reduce appetite. Licorice Root that relieves cramping and constipation. All mixed together with a hint of peppermint, hawthorn berry and psylium husk to make it even more effective. I love the night time cleanse it helps me wind down at the end of the day and it truly does make me feel so great! I do not sell this product, they are not paying me to give them good reviews, although I did get a free tea tox for sending before and after pictures so if you decide to try this out make sure to take before and after pics and send them to them so you can also receive a free detox! I just love this product I am currently doing my 2nd detox and feeling amazing!

     I have always been a visual person. The myfitnesspal app just works for me. I like being able to see how many calories I've eaten, how many more I can eat, and track my workouts to see how many calories I've burned. I am a FOODIE I love food! this has always been my biggest down fall. I had to really make a choice and decide if I wanted to eat what I wanted all the time, or if I wanted to be healthy and happy and look great. I finally decided after many years of yo yoing with my weight that I would try something different in my eating habits. IT WORKED. And I could kick myself for waiting this long to change. It helps so much that Matt is on board with our lifestyle change. I am always buying calorie wise and low sugar, low fat ect of everything, and cooking clean, and smaller portions. We are always trying new recipes and broadening our horizons! It is lots of fun! I recently made Matt homemade protein bars and energy balls. (I feel like martha stewart) haha It is so fun to watch both of us change and become so much more happy and confident in our own skin! I find that counting my calories has worked wonders for me! If you want to try out the myfitnesspal app add me and we can motivate each other! ashyllasmith

     Can I just say I am in love with my bowflex m5 and I am so spoiled that I get to work out in the comfort of my own home!! The bowflex m5 are 15 minute workouts they are freaking HARD but they are so great! This just works so well with my stay at home mom lifestyle! I am able to put Lane down for a nap and head to my basement and get on my bowflex machine and get an amazing workout in. I usually throw in a circuit workout afterwards, some sit ups, weights, squats ect. And Wala its a half hour tops and my workout is done! How amazing is that?! I still have time to shower, get ready for the day and have lunch on the go by the time Lane wakes up! Its fantastic. Since the Weather is beautiful we usually also get a good hour morning walk in with the puppy so that keeps me exercising as well. I find if I don't exercise now I get cranky! lol I never thought I would ever be that kind of person but I truly look forward to working out and challenging my body to see its limits and to strengthen myself.

      If you are struggling with your fitness, or just don't know where to start, or don't think you can, I've been there and I just want to say you CAN do it. Start small! I started by ordering a detox, and then by going on short walks, and then I expanded it to much more. Just start! Go slow you can do it. Start eating a bit less or making healthier choices its as easy as that. If I can do it so can you! There is no time like the present, Take control of this crazy beautiful life! Your body is yours machine! Be the best you. I have found that I have got just as much negative feedback as I have positive. Crazy right? I am happy healthy and making the best life for me and my family and I know that. I am so happy for this lifestyle change and I can hardly wait to see what I future holds! xoxo

here are a few pictures from my fitness journey...

150lbs

these top two phtotos are right before I decided to make this lifestyle change

140

these pictures were taken a short 28 days later..

130lbs

One of my goals has always been to look good and feel good in a bikini! 

127lbs

these two photos I took on Sunday night right before I started my skinny mint tea tox for the 2nd time

I love skinny mint

I am soo spoiled to get to work out in the comfort of my own home

Happy :)

Working on my fitness

Life is a beautiful gift. It's been an amazing and terrifying couple of months all rolled into one. It has been so amazing being fortunate enough to stay at home and watch Lane learn and grow! He is the sweetest, most content little man you will ever meet and I am so thankful I get to be his momma! We had a scare there with Lane back in the end of February where he had RSV but ever since then his health has been great! He's not even a bad teether! I swear I have the best kid around... I could talk him up all day buuut I think you get the picture!!

Matt just got his MRI on the 5th of June so I am trying to patiently wait for those results (not like I have a choice) I honestly don't really know what to hope for! I don't want anything scary to show up, but I also don't want  nothing to show up and we are left living in fear that this could happen again?! And maybe this time it doesn't just go away... I try not to dwell on these thoughts every single day but I cannot imagine a life without my Matthew. What I do know though is that whatever the outcome is we will face it together and love each other through it!

Latelty Matt and I have been really trying to focus on our health and our fitness. Since this health scare we have really sat down and realized that we need to take control of our health to try to further prevent any health problems. We want to be our best selves and to be a good example to our sweet Lane!

Matt and I have both lost over 20 lbs and we are both feeling fantastic! It is so nice eating healthy and working out together. We motivate each other and challenge each other on a regular basis! We are living each day to the fullest and enjoying every second we have together!! Life is beautiful!

          Xoxo

Faith

    I grew up in a small religious town. I had a great upbringing I always felt loved and I always felt safe. I learnt at a young age right from wrong and how to live a healthy life. I had great values and learnt a lot about God and faith. I was born into the BEST family! I'm The middle of five children and life was always great! I no longer practise the religion I was born into, that being said I have no bad feelings towards that religion! It had a huge impact on the woman that I am today.
     I believe in being happy. I'm Believe in being a good person and in doing things for others. I believe in love and in family. I learn more and believe in more things every day. I don't think I need to attend a church or be a part of an organisation to have faith or to be a good person. I spend my Sunday's making memories with my family.
    Life is about finding your bliss, chasing after what makes you happy and what makes you the best version of you! I'm happier now than I have ever been. I am so blessed, I have a husband who loves me and takes such good care of our family, I have an amazing one year old who makes every day great! I have the best fur baby and the greatest extended family and friends who love me and support me! Life is beautiful. Stand up for what you believe in, follow your bliss and enjoy your life.

              Xoxo Ashylla

Lifestyle change

               I have always been a person who had struggled with weight. I was always making excuses about
how I was big boned or how I don't have a metabolism like " those" girls. All of these excuses were standing
in my way of being happy. I have tried MANY diets, shakes, work out plans ect but I have always lost the
weight and then imediately put it back on. What I now realize is that if I want to be healthy, if I want to be
fit, if I want to be happy, I have to change my lifestyle FOREVER! Not just for 28 days or 90 days but for
the rest of my life.

        I want to feel this way and look this good Always so I am being my own inspiration and I am changing
my lifestyle and I can honestly say it's way easier than I thought it would be. And I'm so excited to continue
my journey to healthy living!

         Lately I have had a lot of people asking me about my routine and about the detox that I did and I
honestly think that THE most important thing is FOOD! I have always loved food! Anything and everything
but Matt and I have recently started buying calorie wise condiments and low fat, and just making those
healthier choices at the grocery store. We buy healthy yummy foods! I am always on Pinterest looking for
healthy recipes and I get excited to try new things! I am also a snacker so I have special K cracker chips
and special K treats and also did you know you can buy 100 calorie popcorn! Delicious!  It's just making
those healthier choices but still having treats that are better for you! I use the myfitnesspal app and track my
calories and my workouts and I love it!! Along with eating healthy I work out on my Bowflex machine 3-4
times a week and I chase my adorable one year old around! I did a 28 day tea tox and loved it!

       I never knew I could feel this good, look this good, and be so happy! I never thought I could do it I
always made excuses and tried to convince myself that I didn't care but I decided to make a change and I
am so glad I did! I am my own inspiration and I am going to continue to be for myself and for my family! I
am now at 135 lbs only 10 lbs from my goal weight!! It feels great!
                       

     Xoxo Ashylla

Chipman Family Fairmont Trip

    For as long as I can remember my family has had a time share at Fairmont. I have so many great

memories going there. This year it was so great to be able to take Lane to Fairmont and share some

of those fun experiences with him! I have such a great family! We had so much fun and we made such great

memories together! Lane is going to think I'm so boring now without his fan club around! Here are some of

my favourite pictures from out trip!

Lane and Levi posing where hundreds of pictures of me and my siblings have been taken here!

Olivia and Lane

Lane loves his grandpa

me and my girl

Avery, Livi and Lane

playing at the park

my handsome boy

Lane and Liv

me and my sweet boy

me and my little fishy

silly faces with my Dexter

somebody loves watermelon

swimming

me and my sweet boy

swimming

hiking in fairmont

love these people so very much

all of us girlies

swimming at the natural hot springs

relaxation at its finest

me and my boy

The Smiths

my whole world

they love uncle matt

love

Our week in Fairmont flew by! We swam, played at the park, hiked, played games and much more, I am so 

very thankful for such a great group of people I get to call Family! They are truly the most loving, giving, and 

fun group of people I know! Lane is going to miss those crazy cousins soo much! 

     I finished my skinny mint teatox and I am feeling great! Here is my before and after pictures!

Life is great I feel great and am so happy to be on this healthy happy journey! xoxo

Ashylla

The Smith's

           Well I'm very happy to say Matt hasn't woken up numb again! SO we are really hoping he is done with all that crap! An MRI is booked for June 5th so we are (trying to) patiently wait for that day and are hoping that his numbness does not come back in the mean time! He is feeling great and we are thankful for all of your kind words, thoughts, prayers and energy we have truly felt it and we feel like we have the best family and friends in the whole world! We love you all!

          I am very happy to say that through the madness I have somehow still found the time to eat healthy and work out! (I think it helped keep me busy and it was something I could control through this crazy scary time) Have you guy heard of myfitnesspal? if not GET IT! It is the best app I have on my phone (okay after insta and facebook...and maybe pinterest) but its pretty dang good! You put in your goal weight, your actual weight, things about your lifestyle ect, and it calculates how many calories you should eat a day! You can scan the bar code of everything you eat or look it up (it has pretty much everything) I'll warn you it can be pretty mind blowing!! But I find it so nice to know what I'm actually eating and if its worth the calories! Also you can log your workouts and if you workout you get extra calories..so you pretty much love working out because that means you can eat more! OH and its FREE! Pretty great right!! If you don't have it get it! You will not be sorry!

          I have also been doing the skinny mint teatox. It is a 28 day detox you take your morning detox in the morning before or with your breakfast, and you take your night time detox every other night after you eat your last meal. I have always been a bit sceptical with detoxes but I am loving this one! I feel great and it tastes great! If your looking into doing a detox I would highly recommend doing this one!

          We recently purchased the Bowflex M5 and can I just tell you I am in love!! I am not a girl who has EVER enjoyed working out... I have always just done it because I should... But with this machine they are only... wait for it 15 MINUTE work outs!! I'm not going to lie to you Matt and I call it the 15 minutes of hell! But it is GLORIOUS! It is very hard BUT it is only 15 short minutes out of my day!! And it is such a great work out! It just works so well with my stay at home mom lifestyle! I put Lane down for his morning nap at 10 get on the bowflex and I still have time to shower, get ready, and get lunch ready before he wakes up! It is the best!!

     We are loving this warm weather because that means we get out for evening family walks with the whole family!! I am really enjoying this new healthier me, I feel great and I am very Happy! That's what life's all about right! I am probably the healthiest I've even been and that feels pretty great... I am now down to 140 Hooray just 15pnds till my goal weight!

                             
                                                                                                   XOXO Ashylla