Depression is an isolating experience to go through. Oftentimes, it can take you away from doing the things you once love or enjoyed. And as Dr. Susan George, MD, says, that is the time to seek professional help. But along with that step, discussing depression with your family, especially your parents, is also important. So, it is crucial to emphasize the value of confiding in people you trust about it. It can be difficult to overcome and for many, sometimes it can be hard to admit to even themselves that they have it, let alone to people they are close to and love. However, it is important to seek support and after all, those who love you are the best for the job.

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Remember, there is nothing to be ashamed about

Do not take away from your feelings, emotions, and hardships. Don't pepper your feelings with lightness. Everyone is entitled to feel a certain way, and though depression is something to notice and help fix, there is still nothing to be ashamed about. The beginning to healing is acknowledging, so instead of feeling embarrassed about it, be proud of yourself for taking that step forward to positive change. After all, depression and anxiety often root in perception, so starting to change detrimental patterns of perception can be the beginning to feeling better!

Give an overview on your emotions

If giving too much detail about what you are going through seems too overwhelming at first, don't feel the need to divulge all the dirty details - that is what professional therapy is usually good for. But do your best to explain why and how you feel the way you do. Practicing this monologue first to yourself will give you a little extra prep and the necessary confidence.

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Depression Looks Different to Everyone, So Here's What You Need to Know About It

Be open to their thoughts

Sometimes it is hard to absorb other people's preconceived opinions on something like depression, but be patient. Remember, that your parents love you, and their thoughts only come from a place of sincerity. So they might be grappling for solutions that can help. Also, depression affects around 40 million adults in the United States alone and is increasingly less taboo to discuss, so odds are they have had some experience going through it at one point or another or know someone who has. Don't discredit their experience.

Resolve in seeking help

If medicine or therapy has always been something that you have strayed away from when feeling depressed, it is likely time to move on from that. Discussing such things with your parents will automatically put them into the mode to help, so already being willing to agree to that will make the process easier. It's for the best.

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Be prepared

For those of you who perhaps come from a family where such emotional topics aren't always discussed or understood, explaining such a thing in your life to them will seem even more challenging. Oftentimes, families who do not divulge in such personal details consist of people who are more comfortable with facts. If this is your scenario, bring facts about depression to the table, so they can see from a medical standpoint how common it is and what is needed to make a positive change. Do your research to help them help you.

It's OK to cry it out

It's OK to feel vulnerable, so let those tears flow. Sometimes a good cry is therapeutic in and of itself, and since you are confiding in the people who you love and trust, they will be there to help support you. Be open in your feelings, and it will give some insight into your inner struggle. Again, don't stray from being authentic. There is truly nothing to be ashamed about.

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If it's not your parents, you need to confide in someone

Everyone's relationships are different with their families and friends. If you don't think your parents are the audience, it is absolutely necessary to your health and well-being that you share your depression issues with someone you trust. Dr. George also recommends that to help a person with depression, "be a supportive and nonjudgmental listener." So, to that sentiment, pick a person in your life you feel comfortable with who would approach your needs with those qualities. You don't need to go through this alone, so protect yourself and find the support you need.

All in all, remember this: you are not a burden. You are a special and important person going through something. It is human to need help sometimes, so let those who love you have their hand in it.

If you're the kind of person who thinks any savory dish can be improved by a bit of garlic - fresh breath be damned! - then you're going to feel great about recent research highlighting the possible benefits of a garlic-heavy diet. In fact, before you read this quick synopsis about garlic's purported health benefits, you might even want to grab one of your favorite dishes: garlic bread, garlic fries, or even a head of roasted garlic. (Yum!) OK, now that your pungent snack is in hand, here's what you need to know.

University of Nottingham researchers published a narrative review - in other words, an in-depth analysis of a collection of related studies - in the Trends in Pharmacological Sciences scientific journal, which surmises that because garlic and its close family members are sulfur-rich, it likely possesses many benefits for people who consume it regularly. "Major roles for garlic and its sulfur constituents include the regulation of vascular homeostasis and the control of metabolic systems linked to nutrient metabolism," reads its summary.

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The narrative review analyzed recent studies about garlic, highlighting the fact that it (and other members of the allied plant species) affects levels of specific gases "associated with the cardiovascular system, inflammation, and neurological functions." The studies analyzed in the new review expand our knowledge about the biological benefits and effects of garlic and its edible, sulfur-rich cousins in the allium family.

Based on their analysis of modern garlic studies, the University of Nottingham researchers believe that the sulfur-rich food's benefits could help reduce the risk of certain cancers, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. While their review didn't reveal anything groundbreaking, as it isn't an actual scientific study in its own right, its excellent synopsis of other study findings is garnering plenty of buzz from garlic-lovers.

So next time somebody drops a passive-aggressive, "Do you want some pasta with that garlic?" when scoping out your office lunch, just send them the link to this full narrative review and keep on eating your delicious, oh-so-stinky meal. It could really benefit your body in the long run!

I was forced to become a morning person. Not because I'm a mom or because I work full-time, but because I needed to make exercising regularly happen. My mindset used to be "Oh, I'll work out later," but later got pushed and pushed into never. With work and family responsibilities, the time to work out never magically fell into my lap.

I knew I had to make a serious change, so about two years ago, I decided to try CrossFit. The only classes I could fit in were before the family was awake, before work, at 5:45 a.m. It took about a month for my body to settle into this new routine, but here are five things that made it easier.

I Prep the Night Before

Laying out my workout outfit is a no-brainer. I keep everything I need to wear in the bathroom so I can easily slip it on. I also keep my sneakers and coat by the front door and my gym bag packed with my keys, fitness journal, a jump rope, and a filled water bottle.

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At my CrossFit box, the owner posts the workout the night before at 8 p.m., so I always look at that to prepare for my morning workout. If there are exercises I've never heard of, or techniques I want to learn, I google it and watch a few videos while making the kids' lunches for the next day. If I'm not going to CrossFit, I'll plan out my trail run route or find a YouTube workout video I want to follow. Knowing what to expect from the next day's workout helps give me that little burst of energy I need to wake up.

I Connect With My Fitness Buddy

"Class tomorrow?" I get or send this text just about every night with my CrossFit buddy Meghann. We keep each other accountable and exchange comments after looking at the workout like "looks brutal," or "that's a lot of wall balls!" It makes me feel better knowing she'll be there sweating it out, too, and it makes it much harder to skip out after I already committed to go. When I walk into the gym, I'm always greeted with "Hey Sugar!" by the other 5:45 a.m. regulars. Feeling part of a community and knowing that other people care about me makes it easy to stay motivated to get up that early.

I Set 2 Alarms

I'm a snoozer, which means I don't just set my alarm for 5 a.m. and perkily hop out of bed, ready to do burpees! I need to ease into waking up, so for me, setting two alarms is a must. One goes off at 4:42 a.m. (I know, it's frickin' early!). I named that alarm "Kick Ass!" to start getting psyched for my workout. I tap the snooze button so it'll come on again at 4:50 a.m. I have a second alarm set for 4:54 a.m. that says, "Wake up, be AWESOME," just in case I accidentally shut off the first alarm or sleep through it (it's happened!). Naming my alarms really does get me psyched.

I Keep Track of My Morning Workouts

Like I mentioned earlier, I keep a fitness journal where I write down all of my workouts. It's inspiring to look back and see all the workouts I've completed and also helpful because I add little notes to help me with future workouts like "use the heavier kettlebell next time." I also track my progress, taking detailed notes about PRs (personal records) I've made with heavy lifts, or how many strict pull-ups I was able to do. There's something truly satisfying about documenting my efforts, and it motivates me to wake up so I can track another workout!

I Say No When Necessary

This is a tough one, but in order to wake up superearly in the morning, I have to miss out on doing things the night before. I usually get in bed between 8:30 and 9 p.m., so I can hopefully be asleep by 9:30 the latest. But with kids to put to bed, lunches to makes, dinner dishes to clean, and other household chores, I don't get to stay up late every night reading charming novels or cuddling on the couch losing myself in Netflix with my husband. Since getting up this early is just a weekday thing, Friday and Saturday nights are devoted to doing all those things I didn't get to do Sunday through Thursday, so it it feels balanced.

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You've heard the saying, "I don't have time to work out, I MAKE time," and that's the truth. I pencil it into my schedule like an important meeting or appointment I have, which means it's non-negotiable, and I have to sacrifice at other times. For me, it's worth it though. Making me a priority is imperative because it's one of the most effective things I can do for self-care. If I don't get time every day to move my body, to connect with like-minded people, and to push myself, I don't feel good, and that affects every aspect of my life.

A post shared by Rachel Paul RD • Dietitian (@collegenutritionist) on Apr 29, 2018 at 1:54pm PDT

Weight-loss journeys do not have to exclude eating out! Although it can be a challenge when ordering food at a restaurant because you don't have control over the amount of oil, butter, cream, sugar, or other high-calorie ingredients being used, you can still enjoy your favorite foods. Just follow these three tips when eating your main meal:

1. Cut portions in half. Registered dietitian Rachel Paul, known as collegenutritionist on Instagram, posted these comparison photos to show that restaurants often give insanely huge portions. Just because it's on the plate doesn't mean you have to eat it all! Share it with a friend, or before you even take your first bite, have half wrapped up for tomorrow's lunch.
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2. Load up on the veggies. Certified dietitian Leslie Langevin, MS, RD, CD, of Whole Health Nutrition says one of the best things you can do to lose weight is to "eat more veggies." Choose a salad as your entree and add lean protein on top. Or if you're ordering lean protein such as salmon or roasted chicken, opt for a bed of spinach instead of a bed of rice. When ordering pasta, stir-fries, or burritos, always ask for added veggies (and no, French fries don't count!).
3. Go open-faced. For sandwiches and burgers, ditch the bread on top, and enjoy it open-faced, with a fork and knife.

So you’re having an emergency taco craving? Totally normal. But, what happens if, for some reason, you’re avoiding tortillas? Don’t panic. You’ve still got options, even if you have to ditch the shell.

While some claim tacos without tortillas are no tacos at all, we think it’s OK to love them for who they are on the inside. Though a far cry from traditional tacos, these healthy taco recipes take inspiration from the flavor palate and good vibes of their flawless predecessors. The tacoway is this: You can shed the shell like a molting hermit crab and still get your taco fix. All it takes is a little creativity... and some vegetables.

1. Taco-Stuffed Peppers

When boiled, roasted, or grilled, whole red bell peppers become sweet and smoky, making them the perfect vessels for this deeply savory and spicy taco filling. This recipe keeps it simple when it comes to spices, but you can always add more chili powder and paprika to add some extra heat. Top with cheese, sour cream, and cilantro, and serve as an appetizer or main course.

2. Keto Cheese Shell Taco Cups

If you’re ditching the shell, you might as well make up for it in cheese! These taco cups are nothing but cheese. All you need is a muffin tin and five minutes of cooking time, and voila—you’ve got the perfect armor for an army of tiny tacos. These little guys make great appetizers, potluck material, and fiesta-themed party snacks.

3. Chicken Taco Lettuce Wraps

Romaine lettuce brings spicy chicken, fresh tomato, and creamy cilantro sauce into a warm embrace in this keto and Paleo-compliant recipe. A lighter option, these lettuce wraps are perfect for summer lunches or dinners—for a more filling option, toss in a little extra avocado and, unless you’re on the keto diet, grilled corn. The best part? The zesty cilantro sauce makes a great summer salad dressing, so make extra.

4. Taco-Stuffed Sweet Potatoes

Traditional tacos are tasty, but this clean iteration ditches the gluten, keeps the flavor, and brings the bulk. If you’re really hungry for a taco-inspired dinner that avoids any processed ingredients (including sugar and dairy), this "potataco" will definitely hit the spot.

5. Harissa Portobello Mushroom Tacos

If you’re on the Whole30, vegetarian, or maybe both, these portobello tacos are great options. Meaty portobello mushrooms marinated in a spicy harissa sauce come to life, creating a satisfying, light summer dish. Basically, you get all the taco gains without meat or grains.

6. Mexican Cornbread Casserole Taco Bake

It’s hard to believe this is a low-carb dish, but with a “cornbread” base made from almond flour, eggs, and mozzarella, it brings the thick, fluffy texture you’d expect in a cornbread bake—but without the carbs. This is a heartier take on the taco and a great dish to bring to a summer cookout or winter potluck.

7. Taco-Stuffed, Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeño Poppers

If you’ve been trying to spice up your taco game, these poppers might offer a good place to start. Sure, you could just stuff these peppers with cheese to make a traditional popper... but why not throw the whole taco in there too? Easily portable—and easy on the eyes—these bacon-wrapped jalapeños make a great celebratory snack or game-day app.

8. Fish Tacos With Peach and Strawberry Salsa

This isn’t your typical fried fish taco. These lettuce wraps combine fresh cod with a sweet summer salsa. Chop up strawberries and peaches, and garnish with some lime, salt, and cilantro. It’s a flavorful, summery option when you’re looking to keep it light.

9. Loaded Taco Sweet Potato Skillet

It's time to taco-bout brunch. This sweet scramble is a great grain-free alternative to the traditional breakfast taco. If you want this to really hit the spot, add a fried egg, avocado, and crumbled bacon to really beef it up. If you’re not Whole30, get that cheddar involved (try queso fresco or sharp cheddar.)

10. Taco-Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Stuffed with beef, salsa, cheese, and all the seasonings, these refreshing zucchini rafts are the perfect summer snack. If a little extra flavor floats your boat, top with some cilantro. Light but packed with protein, these zucchini boats can be kept in the fridge for great on-the-go snacks and lunches.

11. Mexican-Style Pizza With Sweet Potato Crust

This genius Frankenstein-ian recipe takes the best part of the taco and slathers it on top of a pizza. We’re talking bell peppers, smoked paprika, black beans, cheddar, avocado, and cilantro piled on top of a crispy sweet potato crust. Sure, it might sound like a second-grade science experiment, but it tastes like a culinary arts thesis. Serve it up at the next pizza party... or Taco Tuesday!

     

 

 

A post shared by Susan Niebergall (@susanniebergallfitness) on Apr 30, 2018 at 5:39am PDT

When weight loss is your number one goal, it's easy to get caught up in all the calorie counting and carb tracking. But oftentimes, it's as simple as knowing how much to eat and burn. Instagram account susanniebergallfitness posted a handy breakdown with the message: "Burn more calories than your body uses. It's simple. But it's not easy."

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If you consume a total of 1,700 calories in one day, you should be shooting to burn 2,000 in order to lose weight. This is what Susan calls a "modest calorie deficit." Eating more calories than you burn will result in weight gain, while eating as much as you burn will keep you at the same weight. A calorie deficit combined with protein, strength training, cardio, and a little patience are key to seeing results!

This Winter lasted a lot longer than we'd hoped. We get it. You need to hit those legs and get results - fast! You've probably already turned to the old standard cardio you usually do and maybe even amped it up a notch. Good thinking, but results are coming slowly, right? Running alone isn't going to make your legs look awesome, but knowing how to enhance your next cardio session with walking lunges, leaps, bounds, and side steps will. Here's the drill you'll hate at first but love for life when you see the results!

Let's get the bad news out of the way first: this is going to be intense! But with any bad news, there's also good news, and in this case, the good is actually great: do these drills and results will definitely follow. Let's get started.

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The Plan

Before you begin, ditch all ideas of low-intensity steady-state cardio. This still is composed of some intense minutes and some very focused and slow moments. The key actually is the variety and one more thing: doing a whole lot more than just running!

According to personal trainer Kendall Wood, CSCS, "Typical cardio does work your legs, but it isn't enough to truly build up lean muscle mass or shape your lower body into that shapely and superfit look." Wood advises the following plan with alternating minutes of "walking lunges, leaps, bounds, side steps, and sprints." By performing moves like lunges, you'll "activate muscle fibers in your quads and hamstrings far beyond a static run," Wood told POPSUGAR. "Alternating between sprints and steady jogs will fatigue your muscles, while side steps, leaps, and bounds will force stagnant muscles to grow," Wood concluded.

Here's the drill - literally. "Perform each of the tasks on this list for 60 seconds each with no more than a 30-second break between intervals," Wood said.

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Step 1: Jog

This is your warmup, so don't use up all your energy here. Get your body moving and primed for the rest of the drill - you'll need it. Wood advises that if you don't want to actually jog, any light cardio machine will do here.

Step 2: Sprint

Time to go all out! Set a pace you can keep, but be sure to not hold back. This is a sprint, and you have to treat all 60 seconds with that same high level of intensity. Like with the jog, you can also do this on a cardio machine.

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Step 3: Walking lunges

Lunges are a staple of any solid leg workout. From a standing position, take a step forward with your left leg and let your body follow, keeping your spine straight (no leaning forward) and leaving your right leg at the start position (with your right foot being balanced on your toes). Hold the position where your left hamstring is parallel to the ground for a one count and return to the starting position. Perform the same move with your right leg and alternate for the whole 60 seconds.

Step 4: Leaps and bounds

Jumping isn't an exact science. In fact, how you jump, leap, or bound is less important than the intensity that you do it for this particular plan. Be sure to have a lot of space available to you, and keep those jumps simple to start to save the impact on your ankles.

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Step 5: Side steps

Much like with the previous step, how you sidestep isn't the biggest issue here. Form isn't as important with this as it would be with a lunge. However, you'll see the most impact on your legs if you do your side steps in as close to a squat position as you can. As Wood told us, "this will engage more muscles in your lower body and really force those dormant muscle fibers to wake up!"

Step 6: Sprint

You're almost home free, but this step could very well be the hardest of the entire drill. "At this point, your legs should feel like jelly," Wood said, "but if you push yourself on this last sprint of the drill, you'll be seeing your leaner legs faster than ever."

Step 7: Jog

Time to cool down, and not a moment too soon! Take this jog slow and easy, but be sure to keep a decent pace. This isn't a free 60 seconds, so be sure not to lose your focus.

Your workouts are very personal. They need to be tailored to your needs, goals, schedule, and preferences. Some people crave the long miles of an outdoor run. Some like the pounding beat of a Tabata workout. Whatever it takes to get us moving. But how much cardio should we actually be doing? Before we dig into this question, let's start with the facts. Every five years, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) jointly release physical activity guidelines as part of their overall dietary recommendations. Here's the skinny on their findings related to active adults:

• Recommendation of 150 minutes a week of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity in order to receive health benefits.* (~25 minutes a day, six days a week).
• Increase to 300 minutes of moderate activity (or 150 minutes of vigorous activity) for additional/meaningful health benefits. (~50 minutes a day, six days a week).
• To prevent weight gain, some active adults may need to engage in up to 60 minutes a day of moderate-intensity exercise, and for those who were previously overweight, up to 90 minutes a day to sustain prior weight loss.

*Health benefits: decreased risk for heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and osteoporosis. My trainer additions would include improved mobility, flexibility, agility, and balance maintenance.

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What does all this mean for you? Look at your current activity level, see how it matches up with the recommendations, and then adjust your cardio allotment accordingly. Finding the right amount, type, and frequency of cardiovascular activity is highly individualized. You may be an elite athlete and need to do more than 300 minutes a week to achieve your training goals. You may be starting on your fitness journey, and the idea of 150 minutes a week might feel overwhelming.

If I was your trainer, we'd talk about your particular fitness goals. Do you want to lose weight? Get leaner? Stronger? Faster? Do you want to run a marathon or do an obstacle course like a Tough Mudder or Spartan Race? Do you simply want to move more and sit less? All of these are amazing goals but have drastically different training regimens associated with them.

Finding the right amount of cardio requires a little self-knowledge. Do you like 45-60 minutes on a treadmill or elliptical three times a week, or do you want to bang out 20-30 minutes of much higher-intensity work at that same frequency? Maybe a combination of both?

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To lose weight, you are going to need to put in the time - five to six days a week for the active weight-loss portion. Always allow a recovery day, but that doesn't mean you have to be sedentary. Keep moving with a walk or restorative yoga, but allow your muscles time to repair and your energy system to rest. Constant demands on both lead to injury, overtraining, and mental fatigue; you will lose interest in continuing. Pair your work with smart eating, and you'll start to lose what you don't want and gain a lot more confidence and fitness along the way. And according to the recommendations, to maintain that weight loss, you will need to stay on your fitness path, so find something you enjoy that can become a lifelong fitness tool.

For higher performance goals, expect to put in more time and more intensity in your workouts. The recommendations also include two days of strength training a week, which you will need for any worthwhile cardio improvement. The more muscle mass you have, the more efficient you become. So lift your way to better cardio!

Whatever your particular metrics, an active lifestyle is the key to aging well and staying healthy as long as possible. Use these guidelines as a starting point. Adjust upward or downward depending on where you are now, and always give yourself room to grow. There is no magic formula, other than to get moving and stay moving, your way, every day.

We're partnering with CALIA by Carrie Underwood to celebrate Mother's Day all month long with our new Get Strong With Mom series. Grab a pair of weights and get ready to work with this bootcamp workout. We have Savannah to demonstrate the advanced version and her mom, Heidi, showing the modifications. No matter your fitness level, press play to get a killer workout!

To shop the looks in the video, visit the new arrival's section of Calia Studio website.

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Get Strong With Mom: 15-Minute Cardio Workout

Image Source: POPSUGAR Photography / Kathryna Hancock

If you're even remotely interested in health and fitness, you've probably heard of the Tone It Up girls by now. They've been around quite a while (they even had a little reality show, Toned Up, on Bravo in 2014), but their visibility has BOOMED lately, especially since the release of their products in Target.

Tone It Up is essentially a fitness community, and there are many facets to what its founders, Katrina Scott and Karena Dawn, offer to their followers. For one thing, they have an app called Studio Tone It Up that offers live workout classes you can stream online. For another, they do an annual Tone It Up tour, which is essentially a fitness festival that travels to all the major US cities. They also have workout DVDs (you can buy the actual DVDs or stream the videos online) and fitness equipment. But the most expensive product on offer is membership to the Tone It Up Nutrition Plan (it offers regular, gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, and pescatarian plans) which is $170, a one-time fee.

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I joined the TIU Nutrition Plan and have been following it on and off since completing my keto diet experiment a few months ago. Here's what you need to know before signing up.

What You Get With the Plan

When you sign up for this expensive membership, you actually get quite a lot in return. I received a Lifestyle Kit in the mail, which contained a hardcover edition of the standard Nutrition Plan, as well as access to all of the challenges.

The TIU ladies release "challenges" - essentially, complete meal plans with corresponding workouts, all in line with their Nutrition Plan guidelines - every few months or so. These are all complete meal plans in ebook form, and you get access to more than 10 of them. Each challenge is extremely in depth, with colorful coordinated pages that tell you what to eat each day, what workout moves to do, and tips and tricks for meal prepping and staying motivated.

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With membership, you also get access to the general Nutrition Plan, which explains the framework and reasoning/rules behind the meal plans. The Nutrition Plan reveals TIU's "secret sauce" for their nutrition guidelines. Essentially, you eat three small meals and two snacks per day, and the TIU girls tell you at which meals you should have carb-heavy foods, where to add in healthy fats, and what ingredients to avoid completely.

Oh, and arguably the best part of the nutrition plan membership is the RECIPES. I haven't actually counted, but with all the ebooks you get access to, you probably get more than 200 recipes. And they are GOOD.

A Week in the Life

So, what does it actually look like to follow the Nutrition Plan for a week? I've tried a lot of different eating styles, and I have to say, TIU is probably the most reasonable, balanced eating plan I've ever tried.

Morning Workout: The TIU ladies recommend a morning workout first thing to get your metabolism revved up. I haven't purchased the Studio Tone It Up app membership, but I did the free Toning Moves that are posted every day on the Tone It Up website. Supposedly, these free moves take into account which muscle groups you're working each day, so you don't theoretically need to take a rest day. The daily moves were a lot tougher than they looked and definitely got my heart pumping!

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Breakfast: Each day, I cooked myself a healthy breakfast after doing the Toning Moves fasted. Usually this meant a protein pancake made with Tone It Up protein powder or an egg scramble with veggies.

Image Source: Maggie McCracken

Snack: My first snack of the day was usually fruit, a protein smoothie, or the Tone It Up Blueberry Muffins.

Image Source: Maggie McCracken

Lunch: Lunch was either a wrap, a salad, or a stir-fry with rice and veggies.

Image Source: Maggie McCracken

Snack: At this point, the TIU girls recommend limited carbs, so I usually reached for a lean meat Epic bar for my afternoon snack. I especially love the chicken ones!

Image Source: Maggie McCracken

Dinner: The TIU ladies tell you to keep it lean, clean, and green for dinner, which usually means lean meat plus veggies on the side drizzled with healthy fats (hello, olive oil!).

Image Source: Maggie McCracken

The TIU Community

One of the coolest things about joining the TIU Nutrition Plan is the amazing community of women who you can connect with. There are Tone It Up member groups for nearly every large metro area. I live in Chicago, and after joining the plan just two months ago, I've already met up with tons of cool health-focused ladies. Everyone inspires each other and shares ideas about health and wellness, and the community's language is always inclusive and body-positive.

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Would I Pay For It Again?

So, would I recommend shelling out the $170 for the Tone It Up Nutrition Plan? I'd say yes - if you're sure you'll commit! But even if you don't, it's not like you lose access to all these meal plans and recipes. Getting access to so many gorgeously designed, uplifting, and fun ebooks complete with meal plans, recipes, workout ideas, and other fitness ideas is totally worth it if you want something fun and interesting to keep you motivated in your fitness goals.