Hi family and friends! 👋

I can't believe it, but my little site just hit over 10,000 views!!! When I started this journey 16 weeks ago, I honestly didn't think 10,000 views was possible in the first year (even 100 people viewing it within the first year seemed like a lot). 😂 

Thank you for supporting my journey, and for proving me wrong in the best possible way! 

 *This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon affiliate, if you purchase a product through one of them, I will receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you). I only ever endorse products that I have personally used and benefited from personally, so I know you'll love the product(s). Full terms can be found here.

Hi family and friends! 👋

I've done some fun "getting ready for summer" purchases lately on Amazon, so I wanted to share them with you! Click on any of the photos below to read reviews and shop! 

Crop Tank

 

Outdoor Chair

Another true favorite lately, as I'm spending more and more time outside at the kids' sporting events! I originally purchased a small chair that was incredibly hard to put together and take apart, so much so that I didn't- I just carried it a couple of weeks put together to and from the field. Let me tell you, this chair is the complete opposite! One, it rocks. Two, it has a movable cover to hide the sun from your face. Three, it folds so easily and four, the bag it comes in is oversized, so you're not trying to squeeze it in and out of the bag each time. Also, the blue is beautiful. I'd purchase this one over and over again. Click the photo above to add one to your shopping cart.

 

 

Burger Maker

Another easy thing that I'm just LOVING right now! I originally purchased this for my husband, but let's be honest, I'm the only one using it. It makes burgers the right thickness and perfectly portioned. It's the most simple contraption, but it works! Also, extremely easy to clean. I plan on using this all summer long! Click the photo to learn more.

Tanning Lotion

There are a plethora of tanning lotions out there, and I'm sure they all work well. However, this keeps being my go-to! I've tried the drops in regular lotion and have had streaks on my legs for a week. I've tried brands that turn me orange. This one is fool proof. It gives me a little shade (so it doesn't look like I work inside an office all day!) and never has given me anything other than a glow. And you can't beat the price! Click on the photo above to shop.

 

Bikini

Since my before and after photos with RP, this may be one of the questions I've received the most, "where did you purchase your purple bikini?" Who would have known that me pulling out the top swimsuit in my drawer for a photo 'for myself' to track progress would have gone viral. However, here it is, and it's under $25! Click the photo to purchase one of your own in a color you love!

What summer finds are you shopping for right now? Share with me in the comments below! 

*This post contains several affiliate links. This means that I receive a small commission at no additional cost to you when you make a purchase through a link. Read my disclaimer here.

Hi family and friends! 👋

I hope you all are having a great week. This post is probably LONG overdue, as I get so many comments on Instagram asking how I spice up my meals, since you all know I tend to eat a lot of the same things over and over. This one is so important, as it keeps things interesting, but doesn't add extra calories to your meal so you stay on track. Although this list isn't the full list of what I use, it definitely includes the ones you see most often. Let's dig in!

Cinnamon Bun Seasoning

• Greek Yogurt
• English Muffin
• Pita Bread

Chocolate Donut Seasoning

Bacon Flavor Seasoning

Ranch Seasoning

• Crockpot Crack Chicken Recipe

Taco Seasoning

• Crockpot Chicken Recipe

Garlic Salt

• Homemade Pizza
• Hamburger
• Pita Bread

Salt & Pepper

Truffle Salt

• Eggs

Everything But The Bagel Seasoning

• Eggs
• Homemade bagels
• Any type of bread

This is a very universal seasoning, and another one that I think is so great to have on hand. I like it for homemade bagels or bread primarily, but it really can be used on almost anything. 

Cinnamon Seasoning

• Pita Bread
• Tortilla
• English Muffin
• Oatmeal
• Yogurt
• Pancake/Waffle mix
• French Toast

Cinnamon is a wonderful staple to have on hand. I generally use it on bread, but it could be used for a variety of things, so definitely make sure you have this one!

Don't Forget to Pin for Later!

 *This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon affiliate, if you purchase a product through one of them, I will receive a small commission (at no additional cost to you). I only ever endorse products that I have personally used and benefited from personally, so I know you'll love the product(s). Full terms can be found here.

Hi friends! 👋

This post is long overdue, as I have five foundational items that truly made me successful on my 100% compliant fat loss phase, and I'm eager to share them with you! I'm not saying that this is the end all list or that I know everything there is to know about a fat loss phase. I was just very successful and completed the entire 85 days on track, and this is my personal recommendations of what helped me to get there. Excited that you're here, let's dig in! 

WHAT IS A FAT LOSS PHASE CUT?

If you're focused on body composition goals, there's three different phases to choose from: fat loss, maintenance and weight gain. You're either sticking to your current size, or you're going up or down in weight. Those are your options! 

I wish the fat just melted off me (I can dream, right?) so I tend to go between maintenance and fat loss. I'm guessing that if you're reading this, you probably have dreamt about this too. The goal is to be in maintenance for the majority of your life, and to do a fat loss phase when needed. However, I know when I got started, I had my eye on the prize and already had it mapped out my maintenance, cut, maintenance, cut (which I'm currently on today). If you're doing it right, this is a slow process, so make sure you're enjoying the process of becoming the very best version of you at the same time.

WHERE TO START IF YOU'RE NEW

This is such a great question, and one I wish more would ask. If you're wanting to count macros (or calories), most already have a goal of losing or gaining weight. I know I did! I would be lying if I wasn't ready to get in and get going. But here's the thing, most aren't eating what they should be on maintenance. Meaning, your body needs a starting point. Especially if you're like someone like my husband who drinks an energy drink in the morning and can be fine without a meal until dinner. I personally can't function without food, but I know plenty of people who can. Yes, you're in a calorie deficit, however, you're fluctuating so much that there's no true base for your body to start with. Although hard, I always lean towards starting in maintenance. Get comfortable with the process of counting carbs, mixing different foods.. and yes, losing a bit of weight. Get comfortable with eating more, and feeling how your body responds when you're eating the right way. Let your body have a starting point, and then cut. This honestly is one of the hardest things for people to do when they are motivated and ready to lose weight, but I promise you it's the best thing you can do for your fat loss journey. I lost weight starting in maintenance, I could see my performance improving in the gym and it gave me that little boost of "this is working" that I needed in order to continue.

FIVE FOUNDATIONAL ITEMS FOR SUCCESS WITH A FAT LOSS PHASE

2. Meal Prep Containers

I have a million of these! Okay, maybe like 10-15. I have a variety of sizes (we bought the combo pack) and use them for everything. They work great!

3. Crockpot

I cook chicken in my crockpot weekly! It's easy, allows me to mix up the flavor and the chicken always comes out perfectly. 

3A. Crockpot Liners (Optional: Makes clean-up incredibly easy)

Cleaning a Crockpot is daunting. So is leaving it on the counter with soap and water. I promise you, once you use a Crockpot liner there's no going back. They make the whole clean up process a breeze!

4. Bodyweight Scale

A body weight scale is needed on my program to check in a couple times a week so the algorithm can determine what my following week will look like. It's not the only way to track progress, but in my opinion one of the easiest.

5. Pocket Scale

My previous food scale died on me mid-fat loss cut. I was so thankful for my pocket scale that I was able to use in its place until my new one arrived. This is also good to have on hand for eating out or at someone else's home.

DO I NEED A SPECIFIC APP OR PLAN?

Another great question! There's a million options out there, and I believe as long as you are following their specific guidelines you'll probably be successful. I partnered with RP (Renaissance Periodization), because this is the best plan for me. Here's the gist of what the pocket diet coach can do:

Plans Your Meals

The RP Diet App tells you the macros for your upcoming week's meals and you get to choose your favorite foods that fit. You can also make meal prep easier with the auto-generated grocery list feature.

Keeps you Accountable with Alerts

There's notifications on what, how much and when to eat based on what you inputed. The app also reminds you to weigh-in so that the app and you can track and review your progress.

Adapts to Your Life and Goals

Every body is different, and what it needs throughout your specific fitness journey can change. This is why the app will review your progress every week and will give you the option to adjust your diet if you need to.

Gives You Total Control

The app guides you, but you actually have complete control- starting with your fitness goal to whether or not you want to tweak you diet based on their weekly recommendations.

CLICK HERE to try the app I use for 33% off for the first six months.

Code "JERICKA" works on their website as well for any ebooks, cookbooks, apparel and more! 

I hope this post was helpful! The best compliment is to comment, shop, share and/or pin my posts. Thanks in advance for helping my website grow.