Thank you to Denise Lombardo for sharing her personal story. "Kudos, Jenna, for adopting a healthy “real food” diet and for passing on your knowledge. At the age of 40, my body shut down. I had over 25 symptoms ranging from migraines, backaches, vertigo, bed wetting, chronic pain, yeast infections, hot flashes, and the list goes on. I refused to take anti-depression pills and instead spent 8 months researching all health issues from a natural perspective. It didn’t take long to realize that being fed “processed/canned foods” from birth and throughout my growing years had greatly damaged my body. As a child, I suffered from canker sores in my mouth, I walked in my sleep, was often sick, and wet my bed (just to name a few); symptoms that continued in my adult years. I threw away all boxed food/sauces that contained sugar, caramel colouring, additives, preservatives, MSG, etc.  Within three weeks of eating “real food,”my symptoms began disappearing and my energy level skyrocketed. The transformation was astonishing. I can truly say that "we are what we eat" and eating the wrong foods is definitely the cause of the many illnesses plaguing humans today. With each generation, the populace is getting sicker at a younger age as parents pollute their bodies, pass it on to their children at birth, and continue to feed them chemicals throughout their growing years; and these individuals continue the cycle with their children." 

Denise's experience is clear proof that improper nutrition at a young age can negatively affect your health in the future years and long-term. I hope after reading this, you can encourage mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, grandparents and godparents - to take better care of the kids, for they are our future. Feed their growing bodies with real foods, pack healthier lunches, and try to cook fresh, home-made meals rather than processed or canned foods.

Thanks for reading!

As an Everyday Health expert, Jillian Michaels will be contributing regularly to the #1 online health destination-- www.everydayhealth.com --and I think the readers of JennaYvonne.com would love to read about it!

I wanted to share this article with you, my clients and readers.  It is an exclusive interview with the one and only- Jillian Michaels, regarding her health, family, and career with Huffington Post’s newest editor-at-large: actress, producer, and writer, Rita Wilson. 

http://www.everydayhealth.com/healthy-living/jillian-michaels-interviews-rita-wilson-on-her-career-and-family.aspx

I see I haven't posted a blog on my website in quite some time!  Since becoming a sponsored athlete with Magnum Nutraceuticals, I have been quite busy with new projects and clients.  Some of my most recent blogging is now done at www.hardmagnum.com.   I will continue to post blogs (on occasion) here that are unique, relevant and cover a broad range of topics regarding women's health, lifestyle and success.  Thanks for stopping by and let me know your thoughts!

Jenna Yvonne
Lifestyle Consultant, Online Trainer & Coach
Fitness Model & Sponsored Athlete

Okay ladies... when I weighed many more pounds than I do right now (18 months ago) I truly wished that one day I would wake up and magically look like one of the many amazing Fitness Models in Oxygen Magazine. Looking back now, I knew that this goal of mine would not be easy. However, I decided to do whatever it takes to get in that magazine. When I was beginning my journey I needed to choose a role model or physique to work towards. I think all of the models in Oxygen are incredible, but I chose the "Yummy-Mummy" Columnist, Kim Dolan Leto as my goal to help me get back in shape.  I aspire to become a super-fit-healthy-active-hot-momma just like Kim currently is (no babies for a long time, I mean one day far down the road).  Another one of my many long-term goals is to become a great-grandmother one day. I want to have Christmas at my home each year and spoil all my little grand and great-grand kids rotten. Is that an odd goal at only 24 years old?  I know I think too far ahead at times... 

It took a while for me to get to where I am today, but goals are dreams and dreams can become your reality if you want it bad enough. The point I am trying to get across is... Never be afraid to set your goals extremely high. Every step I took in my journey was specifically to bring me closer to my end-goal, which was to become the best version of myself possible (I am still working on this by the way!) and one day become a successful fitness model and role model in hopes that I can empower other women to reach their full potential as well.  

I have learned that anything is possible with a positive mindset, proper goal-setting, organization, self-discipline and most importantly... self-confidence. These are  a few of the fundamentals that I teach my clients. If you are interested in finding out how I got to this level of clarity with my mindset, fitness and nutrition, then message me about my Online Lifestyle-Improvement Programs and let me help you get on track to reach your goals. If you want to meet me in person, then you should join me at my upcoming JYM Lifestyle & Success Workshop July 17th in Hamilton. This is where we focus on YOUR goals, YOUR mindset, and YOUR lifestyle.  We also discuss the importance of nutrition and supplementation for women. We cap off the seminar with an open session ofYour Questions & My answers!  All of my guests will receive free goodie-bags full of samples, coupons & some amazing quick-easy recipes for the busy women that I know we all are!  We play so many job roles in our everyday lives and sometimes we just need to have a little "ME time."  What have you done for yourself lately?

You deserve to give yourself the gift of health and success. 
If I can do it, you can too! - JYM

A young lady from my recent JYM Lifestyle & Success Seminar mentioned that she has a problem with healthy snacking throughout the day. Don’t we all have this problem from time to time? I was happy that she asked, and I thought if I shared a few of my faves perhaps a few others would benefit.

EASY & QUICK SNACK IDEAS:
·      Raw Veggies + Hummus (red & green pepper, celery, cucumbers, broccoli)
·      Greek yogurt + berries, kiwi or navel orange + 2 tbsp chia seed or hemp hearts
·      Cottage cheese (low sodium) with berries + 2 tbsp flax seed
***Use small amt of natural honey as sweetener if needed with greek yogurt or cottage cheese)
·      Brown rice cakes with peanut butter + apple slices on top
·      Apple + handful of almonds (raw, unsalted) is super easy if on-the-go
·      High quality protein bar (look for high protein, low sugar, low-carb) 
***I don’t eat these daily. Keep them in hidden places like your purse, work drawer, gym bag etc. so if you forget to pack your lunch your not in a crunch!

Jenna’s Home-Made Trail Mix:
·      A huge mixture of many of my favorites (I buy them in bulk at bulk barn or grocery store and make a TON and store it in little containers or plastic baggies)
·      E.g. Raw unsalted Cashews, Almonds, Pecans, Walnuts Macadamia nuts, Pumpkin seeds, Sunflower seeds
·      Dried cherries + dried sultana raisins

***Snack serving should no more than ½ cup maximum! Nuts are super high in fat but great for you in moderation.

Hello everyone and thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy day to visit my new website and read my very first blog! 

I just began reading a book yesterday on Life's Transitions, and its about how changes in one's lifestyle or habits, are simply a natural part of human nature and we have to learn how to embrace change, deal with the past and move forward with the future.  It has really clarified a lot for me because there have been many changes in my life (in the past month especially)  I'm not talking about my physical transformation, I'm talking about my-life-taking-a-360-transformation!  
  
The biggest change in my life recently? I am no longer working as the Human Resource Manager & Head of Administration at SpringMasters Niagara (Hamilton franchise of SpringMasters Canada.) After 4 years of being a part of the fastest growing businesses I have ever witnessed, I decided it was time to leave the company to start my own business - bettering people lives and living out my dreams. For any of you who know me personally, the job was not your typical office job... it was more of a lifestyle - and it was certainly not 40 hours per week, weekends off, etc. I never even knew holidays existed! I used to eat-sleep-breathe SpringMasters. I remember at one point, my family and friends called it an obsession because I never shutup about it.   My nickname quoted by Mr. Ben Stewart at the Management Bootcamp, was 65hoursaday@hotmail. I'll never forget that moment. That's when it hit me though. Was it an obsession or a passion? Perhaps passion and obsession are intertwined when it comes to something you love... 
Reflecting on all the amazing memories and wonderful people I met, my heart was torn right down the middle when I decided to leave.  I learned so much about the adventures and challenges of running a successful business, networking with purpose, positive persuasion, management, sales and customer service, organization, dealing with obstacles & flying by the seat of my pants. Not to mention working 14+ hour days... but that was really the easy part!  I know that the skills and the knowledge I gained at SMC will carry with me wherever I go in life. I want to say thank you to Joshua Lombardo-Bottema and Ben Stewart, for always pushing me to be the best I could be, inspiring me to work my butt off (literally), and proving that you can accomplish any goal in life if you work hard enough for it.  I will continue to do my Scholarship Award $500, that was advertised on FaceBook and at SMC.  It's still available to all the SMC workers and managers! (Available only to those who qualify and actually do what is advertised on my criteria.) 

So, rather than saying the words I QUIT, which sounds a little negative, and is not in my vocabulary at this time... instead, I am going to describe the "life transition" as taking a long vacation so that I can follow my dreams and live the life I have always imagined.  I am confident that I made the right choice with my career change and there is no looking back now.  NO REGRETS.  I am excited to be starting my own business, something new, something challenging, taking a risk, and devoting all of my efforts into it. That seems to be an ongoing trend with me though, wherever I go and whatever I decide to do - it's all or nothing. 120% effort is how I roll. 

I have a big weekend planned (July17th) with my JYM Fit-Lifestyle & Success Workshop.  I am so excited to be hosting the event, to educate women about my story, positive lifestyle changes, mindset, goal-setting, proper nutrition and supplementation. My mission is to help women everywhere, gain the self confidence and the tools to make healthy choices and want to live longer to be there for the people that matter most. I truly believe that all people should live to watch their children grow up, get married, become adults, parents, heck, even grandparents. Well, let me tell you.... Not everyone has that luxury.  Life is precious and time is short. After all, what on earth would the world do without strong women? There would be no one to give birth to the god forsaken-man! lol.. So, ladies. Let's learn to love ourselves & our lifestyle.  Let's decide to live longer & keep men alive while we're at it!

I am looking to find as many Mother-Daughter duos as I possibly can, so please spread the word if you are reading my blog.  After my first successful weekend in Hamilton, I will consider hosting seminars, presentations & workshops in other cities in throughout Ontario. I'm thinking big here... because thats what I do. Go big or go home, that's my motto! 

Thanks for reading my first blog. Sorry for the novel everyone! 
Love the life you live <3