This is me. 35 years...young. Yet old enough to officially run for president of the U.S.A. Laugh away...but seriously this was my journal entry in 3rd grade that I wanted to be the first female president of the United States. Everyone else wanted to be a princess. I wanted to change the world. And I have realized that I really have made my mark in just 35 years. And that is my mission...my mantra...my calling...simply to inspire people every day to know that they can be whoever they want. You don't have to be a child to have dreams. You just have to believe. You have to believe that there is no one quite like you, that you embody so many gifts, and you that are destined for greatness...if you will open your eyes to the world around you & truly let it into your soul.

And so where do you begin? You start now, not tomorrow, not next week, certainly not later. You decide to start living now.

As many of you know, I am a history teacher too. In fact, you might be amazed at the level of nerdiest I live in daily and how I can breathe the past into life each day. When I look at the last 35 years of my life, I figured I would parallel it to a historical era or two. If you get lost, you may need to google some of this...but you should be able to follow this story. I just came out of a dark age. You see, in order to have a Renaissance or rebirth, you must first have a death or dark age or period, if you will (my students tell me that this is my favorite clause). I have experienced a lot of darkness over the last 3 years. Loss of lives dear to me like my grandpa and father. The end of my 8 year marriage. Financial turmoil. Back surgery. But through all of this, I was able to hold onto a glimmer of hope, a voice inside inside that said don't throw in the towel. Just hang on.

And that spark was the beginning of my rebirth. I moved to a new town home, closer to school and my best friends. I got a new car (interestingly, the one my Dad really wanted to get for my Mom before his passing). I saw a personal team of 15 coaches on my Beachbody team recently surpass 50. I saw my oldest daughter embrace her new school, try out for new sports and clubs, and post motivational sayings all over her room. And my youngest hasn't skipped a beat...she still wants to conquer the world and challenges this impossible every day by saying, "look what I did Mom. Can you believe it?!"

And me. My eyes are wide open and my soul, although not healed, is ready to live again. And 2016 is going to be my rebirth. An awakening, if you will. I am going to be adventurous, love whole heartedly, continue to believe in the good of everyone I meet, and be open to what life has to offer.

And so while we may learn from our past, we must begin to focus on the present because that is creating our future. And that is where the magic happens.

Believe and achieve,

Natalie Rene

Three years ago this year I took a chance on me again. I originally thought this was selfish because we as moms build up in our minds that any time away from our kids is somehow denying them our time. But it's the quality of time that is important and how can we feel fully present without energy and self-love? How can we be a role model if we are not happy in our own skin? And so my transformation began. It started off as physical...then came the emotional hurdles of self-doubt and trusting the process that health and fitness is not a quick fix but a series of small changes that will add up to big results. And then came the spiritual because that is truly our everything. And from all of these changes, we start to emerge into a new person. We then start to look at the world around us differently...our jobs, friendships, relationships, and just life. And we realize we want more. And that we deserve more.

What I know for sure is that the last three years have been marked with ups and downs and moments that I would never change regardless of the pain because they were shaping me into the person that is emerging right now. God had a lesson for me. And no matter what has happened or who was a part of it...the lesson was only for me. It was never about anyone else, it was about who I was destined to become. And I can now see that more clearly than ever. In fact, I feel like my eyes are wide open.

I have lived out my truth. I have been honest. I have been vulnerable. And I have always been real. No facade. No games. I have not done it perfectly, but I have done it in true faith. And that is enough for me to be ok now.

I look into my girls eyes and I see love, comfort, and trust. Even though they have lost a grandpa, watched their mother mourn her dad, saw their parents separate and divorce, and moved to a whole new city and life, they still saw strength in me. And if that's the summation of all the heartache and pain I've endured, then my will has been done.

And so as I close this year, I am saying good bye to things lost and past, but I am saying hello to new moments, adventures, and opportunities. And I will only be seeking that in which strengthens me and lifts me up.

This is my prayer for all of you. You matter. You are a different. You are someone's light. Always remember that.

Xo, Natalie Rene

Rainbow mountain. It sounds so delightful and happy, doesn't it? After hiking Wolverine with up to 65 mph wind gusts and in gnarly weather (as my bro calls it)...I was thinking, one more mountain climb before leaving Alaska...perfect. It was all going well... sun shining, fresh clean air, and I am going to summit today. But then we start a direct incline up, my brother is far ahead, and I have no idea what I am doing. We get into what I would call straight rock climbing...on scree (loose small rocks) and a couple larger stones to put my feet on. Evidently it's called scrambling. Are you kidding me? I didn't sign up to scramble or question if I was going to fall off a cliff. I could make up some story about how the conditions weren't right or that I still wasn't strong enough from back surgery, but the truth is I was down right scared. My brother called down to see if I was ok and I said that I just didn't think I could do it and I had no idea where to put my feet. He came back down to meet me. 

And then the melt down began...tears streaming down my face & he asked me what I was scared of. Was it the height, what it going up the mountain? I replied, "yes." And it truly was all of the above. As I laid there hugging the side of a mountain...seriously I was hugging it and trying to hold onto any vegetation (think small plants and scruffy weeds) as if it was stronger than me, and with tears streaming down my face, I realized how badly I wanted to climb that mountain because I wanted to prove that I could do something hard again. And than I yell out as if the mountain cares about my feelings, "why does it have to be this hard?? Why does everything have to be SO hard?? Can't something just be easy for once? I just wanted to climb this mountain!" After regaining some composure...or what I had left, I told my brother that I didn't know what to do, where to put my feet, how to keep my balance, and honestly my left leg is a lot weaker still from having a pinched nerve in it. I had to admit that I just couldn't do it, not because I didn't want to, but I just didn't have the experience or the knowledge yet. And maybe even the strength. And so we decided to go back down. My brother comforted me a lot. He realized it was pretty steep, especially for a first time. But then he offered me a second chance and asked if I wanted to try another trail. He also said "let me guess, your life flashed before your eyes and you thought you were going to die?" How did he know, but yes in fact, I saw myself falling to my death. I am a bit dramatic....sigh. He told me that I have to get used to slipping and falling. It's part of the process. Makes sense enough, but I wasn't willing to take that risk yet. 

I honestly considered throwing in the towel and saying screw it! (I was told by my brother than my usage of f bombs needs to be toned down...he suggested I replace it with fluffy...) I realized that I did a lot more on Rainbow mountain than I ever thought I would. We got up about 1000 feet and saw some epic views. And I am actually scared of heights too...but we will get to that later. And so we then went to Bird Ridge and began another adventure. And that's where the soul searching began. Nick was further ahead of me and this was no piece of cake either. Steep incline the whole time, but a different environment. A lot more around: trees, boulders, things that made me feel more secure as opposed to just scree, seriously who names this stuff? I was more comfortable and loosened up. My brother told me to just watch what he was doing and follow his lead. And I realized that it was never that I didn't trust him. I didn't trust myself. And isn't that just how life goes. We often survey scenes so much and make a decision on whether or not we want to go all in or not. Sometimes it's lack of experience....or maybe it's a previous experience that's holding us back. In this case, I was happy that I didn't give up and at least tried. I dusted myself off because I wanted to see the mountains at their eye level. We ended up climbing 3000 feet on this mountain. 

So I came wanting to climb a mountain & I actually climbed three. And it was never about the peak but rather the climb or journey. And the overcoming. And we can all overcome if we just decide to face things head on. 

So maybe my mountain meltdown was really just a breakthrough. A breakthrough that some things are worth it and some are not...but the journey is pretty awesome on the way up...and back down. And so is life. 

Xo, Natalie Rene 

I am a work in progress...but I've decided that I am just fine with that. I want people in my life who see me for what I am...and that's going to come with heartache, loss, and some obstacles. I cannot fix things that happened to me and I'm starting to see these wounds as badges of courage. I will NOT carry the weight of the world on me nor someone else's burden any longer for it is not of my doing. But I do know that without these trials, I wouldn't be who I am. And I'm stronger, more vulnerable, more connected to the world around me, and feel so much more present than I ever have. I have given myself permission to feel again and I am not going to be afraid. I am going to take risks, I am going to be adventurous, and I am going to fall in love again one day, but I am not going to worry about when. Because time really doesn't matter when you are living in the moment. Now is the time to just be brave. And I realized for years I was living only for others. 

Our imperfections shouldn't be a sentence, but do we realize that we condemn ourselves? No one gets to decide but YOU what you deserve. You decide when you want to live again, you decide who you allow in your life, and you decide when you are ready to move on. And if something didn't work out, you dust yourself off and let the wind carry away the humiliation, shame, disappointment, and fear. Those are not your burdens. You do not have to wear a Scarlet letter. Let them go.  

I am going to continue to make mistakes because I am human, but I am also going to begin living and loving every day...no matter the risk because God has a plan for me. And I believe that those who deserve our time will have to accept us imperfections and all. And if we are waiting to be perfect versions of ourself before living...then we will be waiting a life time. And life is about moments. And that's what makes life real. And that's what makes it so perfect...flaws and all. 

Are you ready to live again? I know I am. 

Xo, Nat

We cannot be everything to everyone. But I grew up thinking I could or I should. I think a lot of my self-worth actually came from what I could do to help others rather than what was best for me. I listened to a very powerful Joel Osteen podcast called the "Right People" and it gave me a lot of clarity. Giving to others is an absolute blessing and is a calling, but it can also be a detriment to who we want to be. We often spread ourselves so thin trying to be everything to everyone including jobs, family, friendships, and relationships...that we are never really all in to anything. I am guilty of this and battle guilt of not being able to do it all. 

Perhaps I've changed since my Dad passed, but I always had thought that I had some gift of saving people. Whether it's my students, health and fitness team, relationships, friendships... I thought I had the power to do this. That is a heavy burden to carry and one that I know a lot of my friends and family carry too, especially as parents. We try to be super parents and never want to let anyone down. 

After my Dad's first stroke in August of 2013, he was in Alaska. I was certain that he just needed to see me face to face and he would muster strength from me to beat it. I would be his saving grace. My Dad and I were always on the same wave length and were motivated in the same way to take obstacles head on. My brother actually called me ahead of time to warn me of what I would see and to expect. I heard him, but I was certain that it was ME that would turn this around. I would help my Dad have the strength get through OT and PT and we would be fighters together. But it was not up to me. God had other plans and I did not have the power to save him no matter how much I thought I could. This changes a person. I could either succumb to the fact that life was in God's hands no matter what or I could try to fight it. When my Dad passed, I surrendered that day rather than being angry. And I came to understand that I can only do so much each day. I realized that I want to live and inspire others each day. But I can NOT take this on as being able to save everyone in my life. It truly lies within their heart and I can only lead by example and live out my truth. 

So my truth is letting go of what I cannot control and finding people who can fill my cup. Even some of the people that have touched our lives the most may not be the best people to have closest because they burden our hearts and souls. And we can still care for these people, but we need to let them go. We need people who pick us up unconditionally and we naturally do the same for them. I want to be in the present. I have always been touched by Tim McGraw's song "Live Like You Were Dying." I'm done with the past & worrying about the future serves no purpose for my growth. We are creating a future each day by the decisions we make. And I won't be everything to everyone, but I will certainly be everything to those who matter the most. 


Xo, Natalie Rene

Vulnerability is not weakness, but I think we are ingrained to believe that it is. If we expose too much of ourselves, what will people think of us? If we admit that we need help, we believe that we will be judged. Where does this come from? I believe it stems from fear. And fear is paralyzing. It prevents us from fully living, loving, and being present in the now. But we are the creators of fear. So we also have the power to extinguish it. 

Vulnerability is about realizing that we are imperfect and we are enough no matter what has happened to us or the decisions we have made. Since becoming a coach, I have seen people opening up and being vulnerable about their health and fitness. Stories about body image, eating disorders, health conditions, anxiety, depression, challenging childhoods, grief, and just pain. When we release it into the universe, we free ourselves and can start living for the now...not in the past. 

You must find your truth through embracing your story and knowing it's not who you are but rather events that have shaped you into the person you are now. You also have to let go and take risks. It's scary, but when you shoot for the moon and miss...you still fall among the stars. 

Being vulnerable is to live your truth with courage. I was moved this week when I watched a video by Brene Brown and realized that we are enough just where we are in life. We are never finished with the desire to improve ourselves, but we must find peace along the journey. 



And I will no longer live in fear because life is short. I will be brave. I will live according to my truth. And I will be vulnerable and let God show me the way. And that is truly freedom.

Xo, Natalie Rene

I'm about to get real and I feel compelled to do this blog today. After having several people reach out to me lately, I realized I needed to share what I've come to learn. This is coming from my experiences as a girl, a woman, a mom, a teacher, and a coach.

We are in a constant war with ourselves and it's about body image. And there are so many factors that play into it that we really have to find out where it's coming from and be at peace with ourselves in order to be fully present each day. 

When someone reached out to me recently and thanked me for being a positive role model for women, I was taken aback. She thanked me for not making health and fitness about being skinny but about being healthy. This really touched my heart. I saw so many people battle body image issues growing up. As a competitive swimmer, I saw friends battle with eating disorders and it's heart breaking. I remember as a high schooler being confident in who I was but I never considered myself to be "pretty." I was a tomboy most of my life and it always seemed that my girlfriends had the guys all about them. Plus there were a lot of people I knew who developed at a much younger age than I and what I saw as "beautiful" in the media did not match up with what I looked like. When someone told me I was beautiful recently, those feelings of disbelief surfaced. I just have never put myself in that category and it's very humbling. But it stems from experiences growing up. Instead, shouldn't I take that as a compliment? I still struggle with this because of my experiences growing up. 

As a teacher, I see first hand what high schoolers are battling. The strongest and most confident of girls have battled body image issues their whole lives and many feel like it's trying to personify an image that society says is beautiful. Instead of embracing their own beauty, they feel boxed into what someone else thinks is "true beauty." I always tell them that high school is not real life and there are so many experiences awaiting them and they will find out so much more about themselves within the next couple of years. The biggest problem for them is that they are trying to find acceptance in the opposite sex. If a guy isn't interested, they take it as a lack of worthiness or beauty. The thing is...guys have the same insecurities and high school boys face the same pressures to fit in and are hurt when someone isn't interested in them too. But self-worth IS NOT what someone thinks of you at any age. It is about being true to yourself, embracing your inner and outer beauty, and then finding someone who sees you for what you truly are. When you do find someone they should be an addition to your life, not the completion. 

As a mom, I am a protector, a guardian of my girls. I want my girls to understand healthy, but not EVER see it as a size or number on a scale. I want them to feel confident, strong, and present in their own skin. I see women's bodies objectified all the time & many women do it to themselves because they are hurting. They want that attention from showing off their bodies. And I am a believer in showing outer beauty...this tomboy LOVES to get dolled up for a night out on the town...BUT I do not want my body to be more valued than what is on the inside. Call me crazy, but what happened to "my body is a temple?!" 

As a coach, my calling has been reaffirmed over and over. Women are hurting, men are hurting, we all are hurting. Why? Because we have built up an idea of what we are supposed to look like or set these unattainable goals in our minds about what we should weigh on a scale or the size of our clothing. Take the numbers out of the game...what are you left with? For me, it was a feeling...a true desire to just feel healthy again. I want to go outside and hike. I want to run around with my girls and not be out of breath. I want to live life to the fullest because my Dad was taken too early and he had gotten back into the best shape of his life. I want to inspire others to see that they are worthy and beautiful. At the end of the day, that is what is what allows me to be at peace. I hope you all find comfort in this too, know that you are not alone, and give yourselves some grace. You are beautiful. Period.

Xo, Natalie Rene 

4 months ago today I was in surgery to repair a herniated disc that was pinching a nerve in my left leg. I went from the intensity level of double workouts to laying on the floor of my family room questioning why things happen. I've pretty much learned that God has a plan for everything and my thoughts today are focused on my physical wellness...something that I had stopped appreciating. I was consumed with wanting to push my fitness to the next level but why? I had a Spartan race in mind, but I was also masking a lot of pain in my life. I thought I could out-fitness everything. I wasn't guarding my body and recognizing the limits.  And I over did it and compromised my physical health. 

While lying on the floor, all I could think about was wanting to hike a mountain in Alaska again. I have only done one with my brother & it was life changing. I almost didn't get out of the car because we saw a bear on the way up to the trail. My brother Nick told me to suck it up and that bears are afraid of noise and he had the dogs. Although I wasn't comforted, I can never say no to an adventure. Sigh...We climbed several thousand feet to the peak of Dome mountain. It was epic, the world melts away, and it's just the peacefulness, the one with nature, and the ability to exhale.

On the day of surgery I didn't care about getting back to high intensity workouts, my body image, or the scale. All I could think about was how I wanted to climb another mountain and get outdoors. And I honestly did not know how I would ever get back to the old me. Then again...I don't think I want that old me. The new me appreciates the ability to walk every day, to be an active mom & taking the girls to a park, hiking a trail, swimming for leisure not competition, and just the ability to be physically healthy.

That is what it is all about. It's about a feeling, an energy, confidence, comfort in your own skin, and just feeling physically emotionally and spiritually present. Wherever you are in your health and fitness, just begin again. Treat each day as a fresh start & new adventure. I hear another mountain calling my name and can't wait to add another memory to this journey called life.

Xo, Natalie Rene

I have been quite conflicted with the idea of time since experiencing some loss in my life. There are people who recommend being patient and that time heals all things. Then there is this overwhelming feeling to hurry up and get out there & enjoy life because it will pass us by. So what is the answer? I am not certain there is a perfect answer to this. But I do know that what's most important is what we do with our time and to make sure that we are most present in each moment that is given to us. And I believe that it must be lived to the fullest so there are no regrets.

With health and fitness, I have several people who have approached me lately and said I was the reason they were ready to start their journey. They told me that they saw how I never gave up & had stuck with my goals no matter what. They said I was relatable and knew I worked hard and so they knew in time, it would come for them too.

This makes my heart so happy because what I remember most profoundly from three years ago was saying, "It's now my time again."I woke up and just knew that I was not living to my full potential. And day by day, the small changes became the big results. And thus came new healthy habits which are now part of my life. But it took time.

We cannot overhaul everything in one day. My biggest struggle was always nutrition. I thought I could "out-workout" my diet since I was a fitness girl. It doesn't work when you are rehabbing your back for 4 months. I had plenty of time on my hands to refocus my energy on researching and learning more on nutrition because I was physically limited with exercise. And with that came a new outlook and appreciation for clean-eating. And now I can pay it forward to others, which only came because time slowed down a bit.

Sometimes we are given time by God because we are moving too fast and he wants to slow us down. Things happen that stop us in our tracks because we are missing the importance of a lesson. Other times we feel that nudge that it's time to step it up and get out there because it's time for us to achieve something bigger than we are. So we must listen to that calling. Whether it is a soft whisper or a deep roar from within, we have to be willing to hear it.

Are you moving too quickly or not fast enough? Whatever it is, just know that it's time to decide what is best for you. And you only live once so make the most of what is given to you. 





Xo Natalie Rene

I think there comes a time in our lives when we need to take a full inventory of what is important to us and what is holding us back. This applies to family, friendship, work, and relationships.

I was asked a question this summer about "what do you want out of life Natalie?" I started talking about my girls, my job, my team and they stopped me. "No, I mean for you." At the time I said, I don't know. Because I really didn't. I think I was living for everyone else around me because I thought that was my purpose. What I was doing was filling up my days and calendar with a ton of things and I felt like I was in a daily rat race. "Me time" also felt selfish to me, but now I realize how important it is for growth. I have found time for me physically with working out and focusing on nutrition, spiritually through devotion and my church family, and emotionally by figuring out what I want in my life with friendships and family.

And with this process comes a detoxification. I have really had to sit back and think about what is holding me back or preventing balance in my life. The first thing I realized is how bad I am at saying no to things. I over-volunteered for everything because I wanted to be a super mom. But I am also a teacher to over 150 students a day and that is a big responsibility and calling. I also have a personal team of over 50 coaches now. They deserve the best of me and so do my girls when I come home. I was spreading myself too thin and not giving 100% to anything.

Second, relationships. When talking friendship and as we get older, we gravitate toward people who are like us and going through the same things. My Mom always told me friendships have phases, although true ones never leave. And we meet up again at times when our lives intersect, but sometimes we are just in different places. It's true. While I have a 10 year old & 4 year old, many of my friends are just getting started with their families. But I know we will all stay connected with the time we do have and treasure that. But I had to stop beating myself up about not having the same time I did before my responsibilities increased.

Love...not sure I have much clarity on this one yet. But I can tell you as you get older and more experienced, it's a lot easier to know what you want and settling isn't an option. It all has to be there physically, emotionally, and to me, the most important is spiritually connected. And life is too short for games, comparisons, or jealousy. As a mom of two girls, I want them to see healthy relationships and find the freedom to live and love freely, with nothing holding them back.

Third and lastly, detoxing involves change on our part. We have to look inward and outward and find what is holding us back. There also has to be a conscious effort to let certain things go. I have removed myself from environments that are not healthy for me, let go of people who are holding me back, and I'm working on giving my full trust to God and His plan for my emotional & spiritual growth. I say "working on it" because it's a lot easier said than done when we want to control every circumstance in our life.

I can honestly say everything I have been through over the last 2 years has given me more clarity on who I am and what I want out of life. But it is still a work in process. And I'm very blessed to be surrounded with such incredible family and friends.

My hope for you today is to let go of whatever is holding you back, detox those things that are keeping you from achieving the best you, and live each day to the fullest. It's not easy, but it's certainly worth it in the end.

Xo,
Natalie Rene



Sent from my iPhone

I have had some interesting conversations recently with both students and friends about social media. Rather than being seen as a means for more communication and connection with friends & family, it has actually heightened insecurities about who we are. People look at someone on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. and they only see a snapshot of that person's life. They presume that their life is perfect and do not see any struggle a person may be enduring because it's a highlight reel. And why wouldn't it appear that way? At the end of the day, we all want to focus on our blessings, the high points of our day, and who doesn't want to be hopeful?

The real issue comes down to self-confidence and self-worth. If we cannot find joy in someone else's excitement, success, and happiness... or we are trying to compare ourselves to them, then we need to look within and strengthen our spirit and start by appreciating what value we bring to others. Because we all truly do. There is no one made quite like you. And it is also about perspective. I can tell you that I made a decision in January 2014 after my father's death to see the world for what it still had to offer, rather than what it lacked. And trust me, the sunrise didn't have the same brightness or sense of hope that first year. I didn't laugh...like really laugh for about a year either. But it didn't mean that I was still not looking for the best in each day. I owed that to myself because there was too much living left to do. And I also found strength and hope in celebrating in my friends' lives, their excitement of having a first child, getting married, and family milestones.

My life may have seemed to stop for a moment in time or taken a drastic turn from what I envisioned over the last year...but I have faith that there is a lot more for me out there. But again...that is a conscious decision. And someone else's path is NOT my journey. So I am not going to compare, rather I am going to create my own highlight reel...one that is MINE and that I look back and treasure.

Xo,

Natalie Rene

When I was invited to join my first challenge group (AKA online health & fitness group) two and a half years ago, I had NO idea that my life would change forever. I had hit a point in my life where I was SO discouraged with my health and fitness because of the constant fluctuation in my weight and the stop & go "diet" fads. I had succumbed to the fact that I may never feel confident in my own skin again. It's not that I struggled getting started...I would get inspired & be ALL IN, but sticking with it was the hardest part. I was tired of falling off & just allowing the negative voices in my mind to set me up for another failed "diet." Then it takes a mental toll on you. First problem, I was trying to make quick fixes NOT life changes. And accountability groups changed it ALL for me. They TRULY work!

So what exactly is a challenge group? It's a POWER group of individuals who come together  to support each other in a private health & fitness group on Facebook. We support each other with our goals, cheer each other on daily, and pick one another up when we face struggles or obstacles. We tackle nutritional struggles, break down mental walls, and share in each other's victories every day.



It's my FIT family that has kept me going for SO long & keeps me on track. Here are some testimonies from my challengers:

"These groups help to strengthen will power."

"It's a voice saying I can do this."

"There's no judgment, we are all in it together."

"It made me realize that we are never in this alone & it gives me something to look forward to reading every day, a safe place."

" Its like FREE life therapy!"

"I finally have a group battling the same thing as me. I now find time to workout and strive for the best nutrition."

"These groups have taught me that it's OK to not be so hard on myself."

"I feel even more motivated to stick with my plans and reach for my goals because others have trusted me to help them with theirs."

"It's amazing to be in a place where people are supportive of each other. It's life changing."

These are all reasons why I joined my first challenge group & my WHY I get up early every morning to run them. Very often in life we can find ourselves in situations where we are surrounded by negativity and people tearing each other down. Challenge groups have been my saving grace, my happy place, and my own accountability to become a better version of myself every day.

If many of you are like me, you have probably spent years of exercise focusing only on cardio & not much recovery. I can tell you that I spent a lot of time warming up for sports, but as far as recovery after a competition or an intensive practice, it wasn't a priority. Our coaches never emphasized it & when I jumped back into my fitness in 2012, cardio and strength were my focus. I would soon learn a new appreciation for PIYO and its power for the body, mind, & soul.

As we age...and yes, it happens to all of us...the ability for our body to quickly recover slows down. I noticed that I had more tension in my neck, back, and my body didn't feel as good between workouts. That's when I started looking into PIYO. It is a blend of strength, sculpting, Pilates & yoga moves & incredible for core, especially for those who have had children or need to strengthen their back or posture. It combines moves in a continuous flow that also gets your heart rate up and provides a cardio-type burn... BUT without all the wear and tear on your body.



I got to hear an incredible call from the creator, Chalene Johnson, on how she studied with professional athletes and trainers to create a regiment that works for all body types and fitness levels. I love that it is also about using your own body weight to sculpt and tone rather than heavy weights or gym equipment.

PIYO will be my go to for post- surgery this summer & is a perfect way to restore your body & strength. Several close friends have used it for cross training in marathons, obstacle racing, & just pure recovery from other cardio exercise.

*Here's an incredible transformation by a wonderful friend and Soul Fit Nation Coach, Christine, who was recently recognized by her results from Team Beachbody!*




If you are ready to get your sculpt & tone ON, this is for you!

Let's chat soon,


Natalie Rene

You have the fight within...but sometimes it takes obstacles or life's challenges to find that inner strength.

I'm in a predicament. This fitness girl got injured pretty bad in March. I was at the top of my game with my strength and endurance and was training for my Spartan race. One morning I woke up and couldn't stand and I mean laid out. It just happened suddenly and I found out that I have an L3/L4 bulging disc. Let me tell you friends, I've given birth to two children, have had surgeries, broken bones, but this is overwhelming. So I asked myself, "now what?" Where can I focus my energy? And I realized that I could throw my attention into nutrition and helping others fight through their injuries.

I also realized that I needed to slow down and just embrace my life & my health. Life is more clear to me now and it took an injury for me to see what I needed. Health and fitness is not a just being a certain size or comparing your body to what the media thinks you should be. It's about mind, body and soul. And there is an inner strength inside of each of us, but are we listening to it? I don't think I was until this injury.

I've decided I'm going to embrace my health, strengthen myself one day at a time, and I have goals already set forth in the universe. I am going to get my 3rd degree black belt and also get certified to teach combat classes. And that is what keeps me going each day.

I am also proud to say that since my injury, I have lost 10 pounds and a pants size focusing solely on the 21 Day Fix eating plan and drinking my Shakeology. I have Autumn Calabrese to thank for that and I got that chance to chat with her a few weeks ago at Beachbody's Super Saturday. All it takes is your inner fight and you will find your way again.







Believe & Achieve
Xo, Nat

This beautiful woman is my mom Carla and she is also one of the MOST in-shape grandmas I know! She has lost 13.5 inches and 3 pants sizes with Turbo Fire & the 21 Day Fix. She is also finishing P90 before kicking it up a notch with the 21 Day Fix Extreme! She is also the biggest nurturer in my online health and fitness groups. She supports everyone and lifts their spirits on good and bad days. And she loves the positive community of ladies motivating and inspiring each other.

Although my Mom is one of my Beachbody coaches now, she was NOT sold on any kind of shake or fitness DVD when I started my journey over 2 years ago. In fact, when I walked into my parents house all happy with my chocolate Shakeology, she said "don't even think that I'm going to do these shakes, been there, done that." I didn't even ask!! The next time I came over, she asked to try it & said, "that is actually quite good." I brought her a sample & she fell in love! She was also my biggest cheerleader & when she saw my transformation that I had, she said, "I'm in! I'm ready!"

My Mom, like so many I know, was tired of the up & down weight fluctuations and constantly gaining it all back after she tried other programs. But this time, it was about a life change and not just nutrition, but she also added in consistent exercise. The shorter 30 minute workouts fit into her schedule & she loves the modifications because of a bad knee. She also liked the ease of following a workout calendar each day. And she wasn't an athlete...unless you consider her Honey Bear cheerleading days in high school :) But this woman is an active hiker, camper, and Alaskan adventurer.

It is truly amazing to watch her transformation. I told her she is a walking success story and proof that at any age you can get into the best shape & be as present as you want in life. All she did was give it a chance and want to live her best life & share adventures with my brother, her grandchildren, and me. I am forever blessed that God chose her as my mom, mentor, and role model.

Believe & Achieve,

 Xo, Natalie Rene

First, it starts like this...one day at a time. And it has to so you can make life changes you can stick with. Too many times I got in shape or started a "diet" just for an event or vacation & then I was done. So you can't expect to make an entire life change over night. You have to be patient with yourself and you have to have a plan. That is why the 21 Day Fix changed my life last year.

I will be honest, I was pretty lost when it came to nutrition a few years ago. I am a foodie - I love to try new restaurants, previously worked as a restaurant manager, and love the social aspect of going out for dinner & drinks just because! All of the calories add up and can really take a toll on our health. The 21 Day Fix is the real deal because it's a simple formula.

Nutrition + Exercise = BIG Results!

Sounds simple but it really is because the program gives you everything you need to be successful. It comes with color-coded containers for each food group, a meal guide that you use to customize your meal plan, 30 minute workouts for every muscle group (even a Pilates  and yoga day) - one for each day of the week, PLUS Shakeology (amazing nutritional shake with over 70 vitamins and minerals). And it's only for 21 Days! You can even tie in some red wine and chocolate!