​Welcome to Fall! This is a month of change and good vibes and I am so excited to invite you to my Autumn Skies & Good Vibes Wellness Community! Why is this challenge the best 30 day challenge for you to jump into? September can be the busiest season with the most change for a lot of us. I know for me, September brings new routines, busy schedules, and the start of school. I am more excited than every to build routines that stick through any season, and am committing to falling 🍂 into my best self through commitment, consistency and a wellness revamp! Why wouldn't you want to join us?
 
Here are some daily themes to get excited about!
 
🍂 Leaf It Behind - letting go of something negative to your wellness or mental health,
 
🍂 Health is Wealth - building a wellness routine outside of your workout,
 
🍂 Falling into Good Vibes - a weekly reminder to note the good things around you, and
 
🍂 Make It, Take It - recipes that are great to prep + grab n’ go, all week!
 
What plans do you have for this September? Can your personal health & wellness be one of them? 

Ingredients

• 2 whole-wheat graham crackers (1 cracker sheet each), broken into large pieces
• 1 large ripe banana, mashed
• ½ cup all-natural almond butter
• 2 Tbsp. unsweetened cocoa powder
• 4 scoops chocolate Shakeology (divided use)
• ¾ cup part-skim ricotta cheese
• 1 scoop vanilla Shakeology
• 2 to 3 drops marshmallow flavor (optional, available at specialty baking stores)
• 3 Tbsp. extra-virgin organic coconut oil melted

 
Instructions

1. Place graham crackers in a food processor (or blender); process continuously until crackers are crushed into fine crumbs. Set aside.
2. Line an 8 x 8-inch pan with plastic wrap (or aluminum foil). Evenly sprinkle ⅓ of graham cracker crumbs in the bottom of the pan. Set aside.
3. Combine banana, almond butter, cocoa powder, 2 scoops chocolate Shakeology, and ⅓ of graham cracker crumbs in a medium bowl; mix well with clean hands or a rubber spatula.
4. Press chocolate mixture into the prepared pan. Cover with plastic wrap and press down to flatten into a pan. Refrigerate for 1 hour to set.
5. Place cheese, vanilla Shakeology, and marshmallow flavor in a food processor (or blender); process until smooth and well blended 
6. Evenly spread cheese mixture over chocolate mixture. Set aside.
7. Combine remaining 2 scoops chocolate Shakeology and oil in a small bowl; mix until smooth.
8. Evenly spread mixture over cheese mixture. Sprinkle top with remaining ⅓ of graham cracker crumbs. Lightly press graham cracker crumbs into the top. Refrigerate for 1 hour, or until set. Then, cut into twelve bars and serve! Enjoy immediately, or store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.

 
Servings: 12
Container Equivalents: ½ Red, 3 tsp.
2B Mindset Plate It! Enjoy as an occasional treat.

Whew! Well July flew by..but I kind of knew it would! Disney, St. Louis, Vermont...We had all of our vacations, and work trips booked early in the summer so we could all get into a better routine before we all head back to school.
Now that the fun is done...here is where I can take a deep breath. I always find August filled with anxiety - I describe August as "the Sunday of the Summer!"
Routines always help me set those negative feelings aside as well as get me back on track to achieve my health and fitness goals. Summer is my reason for "letting go!" 

Here are three tips for creating healthy routines:

• Make it fun. If you're having fun, you're more likely to stick with it, whether it's going for a jog, lifting weights, or meditating every morning before work. It's all about finding something that works for you and making it into a habit.
• Don't take it too seriously or make it too complicated. It's all about building good habits over time so they become second nature (or first nature) for you. Don't stress about doing everything perfectly and don't beat yourself up if you slip up once in a while either! Just get back on track as soon as possible and keep going!
• Be patient with yourself. Everyone has their own pace when it comes to developing new habits or re-establishing old ones, so be kind to yourself if something doesn't seem to be working right away; just keep trying until it does!

I'd love to hear your healthy routine! Either comment below or feel free to send me an email by clicking below!

If you have been following along on Instagram, you have seen some sneak peeks of my next program and how amazing it is! (And if we’re not connected there - follow me here: @meredithmperry for recipes, inspiration, and okay-ish mom advice.)  This program is all about learning how to lift, gaining strength, and going back to the basics!
 
My friends in my VIP group finished week 1 last week and are loving it SO MUCH! Here are some of the things we are obsessed with…

💪 Simple workouts- this is back-to-basics lifting
 
💪 Focus on protein and carbs to make sure we have the energy to lift!
 
💪 Calorie burn that lasts long after the workout is over!
 
Ready for MORE? Let’s finish this summer STRONG! If you want more details on my next group starting August 8!!!