New Year's Resolutions? Try Goals in Motion!

MAKE HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CHANGES IN A VERY MOTIVATING AND SUPPORTIVE ATMOSPHERE!!!

January 7~March 10, 2012

9 Week Total Body Fitness Challenge

INCLUDES:

Kickboxing   •   Resistance   •   Nutritional Guidelines

Starting Date: Saturday, January 7, 2012 for initial testing

     Classes begin on Monday, January 9

_______________________________________________________________________

**New Program**

Gettin’ in Motion

January 15~February 23, 2012

6 Week Fitness Session

INCLUDES:

Low Impact Exercise   •   Resistance   •   Nutritional Guidelines

Created especially for those who are not ready for high impact group exercise

 but who want accountability and a fun social environment to get in shape

Group discounts available!!

For more information call 233-3186 OR email Kim@goalsinmotionfitness.com

This is why I do it!

I woke up this morning to an email from a 9-week, GIM challenger, that speaks to the very reason I coach and instruct at Goals In Motion in Ames. Following are the words of a successful challenger and new friend:

"So as my 5 week holiday challenge goal I said that I wanted to attend the Christmas party wearing a size 12 dress (I was wearing size 16 when I started my challenge).  So I've been kind of putting off dress shopping because in general I hate trying on clothes and realizing they don't fit, don't flatter, etc, etc.  Other than buying a couple pairs of used jeans I haven't done any clothes shopping since starting my challenge...until last night....wow...what a difference 7 weeks can make.  I still tried on things that didn't fit or didn't flatter, but I was amazed with the number of things that did fit.  It used to be that I would try on stuff until I could find one thing that didn't look terrible and that would be what I bought.  Having multiple things that fit and look good and having to make a CHOICE is something I haven't had to do in a LONG time.  I tried on about 20 dresses last night...some that fit were size 12, some were 14 but some were 10! And I was even more shocked to learn of the dresses that ran S-M-L...I could fit into the mediums almost as often as the larges...this from someone who doesn't have anything in the closet that isn't XL.  I think I have it narrowed down to a little black dress at Express (haven't shopped there since 1998) but I couldn't make up my mind.  I'm out of practice with this whole shopping thing.  Looking forward to doing a lot more of it in the future.  :)

Thanks Goals team!" 


It is stories like this, of people who've gained new-found confidence and joy in life that make me want to show up to class every day, work hard, eat well and be the best coach that I can be. I hope that challengers realize the part they play in inspiring and motivating those around them.  Thank you Challengers!!

Family Photo Session

For Mark's birthday this year, I organized a family photo session. Mark's birthday fell on a Sunday so we were lucky to find Jacquelyn's Photography available to take our pictures that afternoon. The weather turned out beautifully, as did the photos. Check out the video below to view a selection of the fantastic work of JP.

Kaylen H. from Jacquelyn's Photography on Vimeo.

A Few Favorite Recipes

Yesterday, I attended a Food 101 Class at Goals in Motion. Kim hosts one of these sessions during each challenge. It's a  great time for challengers and even maintenance folks to come and learn a little more about food choices and share food hurdles and ideas for meals and snacks. 
In that light, I thought it would be a good time to share a couple of my favorite recipes. Here they are, hope you enjoy!

Banana Bread Protein Pancakes
(I found this on a blog called Peanut Butter Fingers)

Serves one

• 1/2 cup old fashioned oats
• 1/2 banana, mashed
• 1/4 cup cottage cheese
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1. Spray pan with cooking spray, heat to medium. 

2. Combine all ingredients and blend with an immersion blender (or a blender) until batter is relatively smooth.

3. Pour batter in warm pan to form about 4 pancakes. Allow to cook until edges start to harden, then flip.

4. Serve with (just a little bit) real maple syrup, bananas and pumpkin spice

Crock Pot Chicken Taco Chili

(My  sister found this one on a blog called Gina's Skinny Recipes). I love it because it makes such a big batch, plus can be in the crockpot all day (I leave at 5am and get home after 5pm)

Serves 10

• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 16-oz can black beans
• 1 16-oz can kidney beans
• 1 8-oz can tomato sauce
• 10 oz package frozen corn kernels
• 2 14.5-oz cans diced tomatoes w/chilies
• 1 packet taco seasoning (or homemade - less sodium in homemade)
• 1 tbsp cumin
• 1 tbsp chili powder
• 24 oz (3-4) boneless skinless chicken breasts
• chili peppers, chopped (optional)
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Combine beans, onion, chili peppers, corn, tomato sauce, cumin, chili powder and tacoseasoning in a slow cooker. Place chicken on top and cover. Cook on low for 10 hours or on high for 6 hours. Half hour before serving, remove chicken and shred. This recipe is hearty with  all of the beans and chicken, so be cautious of serving size)


Yesterday, a challenger asked what to do with quinoa, as she'd heard it was good for you, but wasn't sure how best to eat it. Following is my favorite quinoa recipe:


Quinoa Cakes

(I found this in Oxygen Magazine)

Makes 4 servings

• 1 cup dry quinoa
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 yellow onion, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup grated carrots
• 1/2 cup red pepper, finely chopped
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp ground flaxseed mixed with 6 tbsp water
• 1/2 cup whole grain flour
• 1 tbsp red pepper flake (adjust to taste)
• 1 tsp curry powder
• 1/2 tsp sea salt
• 1/4 tsp ground black pepper

1. Preheat oven to 350'F. Cook quinoa according to package directions.

2. Heat oil in skillet. Saute onions, carrots, red pepper and garlic for 8 to 10  minutes. Place veggies in large mixing bowl to cool.

3. Add cooked quinoa and all remaining ingredients to the bowl and mix well.

4. Use clean hands to roll the mixture into small balls, placing each one on a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Use a spatula to press balls into patties.

5. Bake for 15 minutes per side.

Excitement of a New Group

Every nine weeks or so, we welcome a new group of 9-week challengers to Goals in Motion. This morning, we tested in a great group of people, about to embark on a journey that could change their lives forever.

The energy in the room when we test in new group is exciting to be a part of. Coaches and instructors sit at the front of the room, ready to share their history and success stories at Goals in Motion. As we look out into the crowd, we see people of all ages abilities, shapes and sizes, all with different individual goals, yet sharing the common goal of improving their health and fitness.

The sharing of our stories is my favorite part of initial testing. We hope that by showing the newcomers how far we've come and telling them how Goals in Motion has positively impacted our lives, that it will help to motivate and empower them to work hard and make similar changes to their lifestyles. Stories shared included one of a breast cancer surviver of two years recognizing obesity as a risk factor, a radio show host who's lost over 50 pounds since May and a busy mom who uses GIM workouts as her time "me-time". The passion in people's voices is evident and the energy is contagious.

If I could break down my advice to new challengers to three simple points, here's what they'd be:

• Read labels and eat clean. As a society, we've become accustomed to packaged, convenience foods, at the same time as being barraged by marketing and sales strategies targeting those who are trying to lose weight or "diet". The simple fact is that you can't trust the headlines you see on food packages or splashed across your tv in commercials. Packaged foods claiming to be "healthy" may contain high amounts of sodium, sugar and empty calories. Learn to eat prepare your own clean, "convenience" foods and your waistline, blood pressure, cholesterol, etc, etc, etc, will thank you for it. 
• Come to class. Come to class every day and workout to your level 10. Pair intense workouts with eating well and you will see results. It's that simple.
• Involve a support/motivation system. If you can take this journey with a spouse, sister, brother, mother, father or good friend, it is always easier. Share your goals and achievements with your support group. Don't be afraid of sharing your new food choices with them as well. Healthy and clean food is not bad food or boring food, it's just likely different from what you're used to. Your family members will benefit from these changes too. Motivation can also be drawn from magazines (Clean Eating, Oxygen), the Goals in Motion- Ames Facebook page and of course always look to your coaches, instructors and teammates.

This caption sums it up for our challengers today. Congratulations for  taking the first step!

Something for Everyone!

Busy schedule? Don't think you can fit a workout in?  Goals In Motion - Ames recently announced NEW class times and some brand NEW classes for members and even non-members to try out.

Following are the GIM class times in Ames. With all of these choices available, there should be one that will fit into your schedule. Remember - someone busier than you is working out right now!

Kickboxing and Resistance Classes:

Monday - Friday 

4:55am, 6am, 8:45am

NOON (Starting Oct. 10)

4:15pm,5:30pm, 6:00pm (starting Oct. 3) 

Saturday

6:00am, 7:15am and 8:30am

New Classes!!

Power 45

This class is HIGH intensity, incorporating cardio and resistance into several stations, including TRX, plyometrics, battle ropes and much more!

Advanced sign up is required and the fee is $8/class. Maximum class size -12. Members only. Check out the GIM - Ames Facebook page for the October Power 45 schedule.

Zumba!

What could be more fun than getting your groove on for a little cardio workout? This class is open to members and non-members. 

We will be meeting October 2,5,9,11,13,16,20,23,27,30. Week days are at 7pm, Sundays at 4pm

Sign up not required, but you will need to fill out an information card at your first class.

Sign-in and payment at the door- $5/members $6/non-members per class.

"Your body wants to be healthy..." Bob Harper

I just read an online interview with Bob Harper of The Biggest Loser and really liked a couple of things he said. I'll be honest, I don't even watch The Biggest Loser, but this article came up on my Google Alert set for "food animal health" (I work in the veterinary industry), and was intrigued by the snippet I saw. Here is what caught my attention:


A: "I still believe that a plant-based diet has tremendous health benefits but I have incorporated more animal protein into my diet. I found that my body personally got to a point where I needed something more. I used to yell at people who said that, but now all of a sudden, my body just kind of went, 'I need something.'"


Bob gave this answer in response to being questioned why he stopped being a vegan.Yay Bob!! Being a born and raised farm-girl with strong ties to the beef industry, I'm a believer in a body's need for animal protein. With my background in the beef industry and my new found love of health and fitness, this article interested me from two sides, so wanted to share a couple of the question/answers with you:

Q: Is there a common mistake you see people make when trying to lose weight that frustrates you?

A: "When people work out hard, but not smart. I see people trying to go as hard as they can at the gym because they made poor choices of eating the night before and they're thinking, 'I gotta pay because I played.'"

Q: What's the better solution?

A: "If they can rein their diet in a little bit more, focus on a healthy lifestyle, then it can be a lot easier. Our bodies want to be healthy. I see that on my show all the time with people who are morbidly obese. When they start to make changes, their numbers start changing."

I love the quote "Our bodies want to be healthy". We may not always believe this as we battle with cravings for chocolate or chips or cake, but this is right-on. The fitness studio I coach at, Goals in Motion, constantly emphasizes our need to listen to our bodies. We encourage our members to eat clean and use food as fuel to sustain workouts and daily life. Everyone is an individual, so we can't tell them exactly how many calories to eat in a day or how many minutes per day to workout to see optimal results What we can tell people is to pay attention to your body and it WILL work for you.

Fall is in the air!

I've always had mixed feelings about fall-time. The thought of the long days of summer, giving way to the short, cold days of winter can be depressing; however the fall weather we experience in Iowa  may be the most beautiful we see all year. The humidity starts to subside, making way for crisp mornings, turning to warm afternoons. There is something refreshing about stepping outside, taking a big, deep breath of cool, fresh air, and getting to put on a sweater that you haven't been able to wear since April!

Fall also means football season is here. The high school teams have been playing for the past couple of weeks; college ball started on the weekend and we'll see the first NFL regular season game being played on Thursday. I've always enjoyed watching all kinds of sports, but truly turned football fan when I moved south. On Saturdays, you can find me rooting for the Iowa State Cyclones; Sunday afternoons, I'm a Vikings fan; and now, Thursday afternoons, I'll be cheering on the Nevada Cubs 7th Grade football team.

Football isn't the only sport that we're gearing up for though. Now that school is back in, it's time for soccer, volleyball, dance and cross country. Kids activities, in addition to a couple of trips for work will make the season fly by far too fast. Before we know it, the beautiful colors of fall will give way to Christmas lights and falling snow. Good thing I bought my first Christmas gift on the weekend!

Recommitting to Clean Eating

What gets you out of bed in the morning? For me, it’s looking forward to my 6am workout at Goals in Motion.

My alarm rings at 4:50am; I’d be exaggerating to say that I hit the floor running, but I do get up without hitting snooze and head to the kitchen for some breakfast. I’ve been dedicated to my 6am workouts for over a year now, but for the past few weeks I’ve had a little extra incentive to be sure I'm there and setting a good example. I started coaching at GIM on August 6^th, welcoming in the newest group of challengers to the program.

An awesome group of 6am challengers weighed in, did their push-up, sit-up and mile-run tests. Being involved with this new group of challengers has been a great energizer for me. I will admit that I had become somewhat complacent with some of my food choices over the summer. Seeing their dedication to food journaling and making good choices has lit a fire under me to do better as well.

As our challengers participate in week 3 of their program, the common theme I’m hearing among them is that they are getting bored with their food. It is normal for people who begin down a path of healthy eating, to think that chicken and salad are their only options. Although good options, yes, they are not the only ones.

Our fitness studio stresses clean eating for better health and weight loss. We don’t use gimmicks or pills or fake food. We tell our challengers that 80% of their success will be attributed to good, clean food choices. If you're stuck in the chicken and lettuce rut, I’d like to share with you an excellent resource for recipe ideas:

Clean Eating Magazine

The folks at Clean Eating Magazine do a stand-out job of presenting healthy meals that use “normal” foods and are easy to make. I recently picked up the July issue with a scrumptious looking pork and papaya dish on the front cover. In this issue there is an entire grilling section, a cheeseburger pizza recipe AND a blueberry ice cream recipe. Now who can say that is boring?! 

In addition to the magazine, they also have a website: http://www.cleaneatingmag.com/ and several recipe books.

4-H Lamb Show, Biggest Boar, Super Bull.....

Last Friday, the girls’ lambs came home after a successful FFA show at the State Fair. We had one day of “rest” before Jack’s lambs had to be checked in on Sunday. We hauled 4 lambs down for Jack and made it through the vet inspection with all of them. Sunday afternoon, he competed in Showmanship, where he placed 5^th in a tough group of intermediate show people, receiving a purple ribbon.

Monday was the 4-H market lamb show, where Jack showed all four of his sheep. The competition in the 4-H show is as tough as you’ll find anywhere in the country, so he didn’t come away with any class winners but did a great job in the show ring. Jack’s lambs made the trip home last night, putting to bed a satisfying show season.

While at the fair, I did get to take in a few of the sights outside the sheep barn. I will admit that I participated in some fair food – pork chop on a stick and a bucket of cookies being highlights; and also checked out the “biggest” competitions, including the Big Boar, Super Bull, Giant Ram and the Big Pumpkin.

See the pictures below of the 1,196 lb boar, the 2,768 lb bull, the 483 lb ram and the 1,295 lb pumpkin!

State Fair Update

Just a quick update on the FFA show at the State Fair yesterday...

Chloe, Maddie, Kaylen, Morgan, Jack and Mark

First of all it was a BEAUTIFUL day! On the way to Des Moines in the morning our car thermometer was reading 56 degrees! Yes, 56 degrees, in August, in Iowa - unheard-of, but totally welcome! With weather like this it could be nothing but a good day ahead.

Morgan and Maddie each showed two lambs in the FFA market lamb show yesterday. They are excellent show-women, so did a fantastic job of displaying them to the judge. Morgan showed two wethers, that placed 5th and 7th and both earned purple ribbons. The lambs looked excellent! Maddie also did a great job, showing her two ewe  lambs and placed 5th with a purple ribbon and earned a blue ribbon with her second lamb. There were about 20 lambs in each of these classes, so they were definitely up there with the top-end sheep.

We were lucky to have purchased excellent lambs from even better people at Friest Club Lambs of Hubbard, IA and Kelly Cox of Sioux City, IA.

Iowa State Fair – Nothing Compares!

Where can you and one million of your closest friends, go to see thousands of sheep, pigs, cattle and goats; a cow made of butter, and eat nearly anything you can imagine, on a stick? I would have struggled with this answer a few years ago, but since meeting and marrying an Iowan, I can confidently answer – The Iowa State Fair!

Growing up in Canada, the “State Fair” was not a totally foreign concept to me.  We lived close enough to the North Dakota border that friends often traveled to Minot for their state fair, mostly to take in the grand stand shows, as there seemed to be excellent entertainment every year. I personally had never attended, as that fair was always the same weekend as our local 4-H show and town’s fair. It wasn’t until I was in my 20’s that I attended my first State Fair in Iowa and haven’t missed one since.

To those with an appreciation for agriculture and youth activities, the Iowa State Fair is a must-see. Thousands of 4-H and FFA chapter members descend on the State Fairgrounds in Des Moines for 10 days of competition, camaraderie and corn dogs. To give you an idea of what entries are like for the youth livestock competitions at the State Fair, I pulled together some exhibitor numbers for you:

FFA Beef Cattle – 366

FFA Dairy Cattle – 121

FFA Dairy Goats – 31

FFA Horse – 265

FFA Meat Goats – 143

FFA Sheep – 970

FFA Swine – 1521

4-H Beef Cattle – 1003

4-H Dairy Cattle – 400

4-H Dairy Goat – 137

4-H Horse – 299

4-H Meat Goat – 361

4-H Sheep – 1731

4-H Swine - 1694

These numbers represent exhibitors, so just think of the number of animals shown by these kids. The numbers above are staggering and don’t even include the open show exhibitors.

In addition to the youth livestock exhibits, the Iowa State Fair boasts competitions ranging from the Biggest Boar, to the Super Bull to the Biggest Ram; not to mention the turkey calling, mom-calling and fiddling contests! I can hardly do justice to the extent of all there is to see at the fair in my short blog post, but invite you to experience it in person.

The fair this year runs August 11^th – 21^st in Des Moines, Iowa. Our kids will be showing lambs in the FFA and 4-H sheep shows. The girls show on Thursday, the 11^th and Jack shows on Monday, the 15^th. The girls’ sheep will be getting baths and “hair-cuts” tonight, in order for their trip to town tomorrow. Oh yeah, I think we also have a veterinarian visit to arrange, in order to get health certificates for entry to the show. I sure hope Mark found a GlobalVetLINK, participating veterinarian to issue those health papers!

Do something for yourself today!

I truly believe that in order to be the most productive at work and at home you must take care of your health and well-being first. One year ago I started out on a journey that led me to discover the benefits a regular workout schedule and improved eating habits would have in my life. I’ve always thought of myself as an active person, playing sports from softball to curling to figure skating in my youth and then attempting to keep up a gym schedule, and sporadically running as I got older, and less involved in organized activity. Never though, have I been in better health as I am now.

Last spring, after an unusually difficult winter, I had a melt down over a pair of pants that no longer fit. At that point I was determined to do whatever it took to get back in shape and back into those pants! It took me a couple of months to find the fitness program that would work best for me and my schedule. Through a co-worker I was introduced to Goals in Motion (GIM) - Ames. GIM offers a full body workout, alternating between kick-boxing for cardio and resistance training using bands, core balls, kettle bells and bodyweight exercises.

GIM introduces people to their program through a 9-week challenge that includes fitness and nutrition coaching. At the beginning of the challenge you weigh-in, take body composition measurements and do fitness tests, including push-ups, sit-ups, sit and reach and a mile run. These may seem like daunting challenges all on their own, but none were as humbling as the “before picture” that had to be snapped prior to starting the program. Of course, you’re not required to strip down to your skivvies in front of anyone but the owner of the studio, but still, just knowing those images would be permanent record of the state of one’s physic at a particularly low time of self-appreciation is nothing short of terrifying.

Once the initial testing was over, the real work began. I was lucky to have my husband join me in this adventure, which made it much easier to get up at 5:00am, to work-out each morning at 6:00am. I will be honest; I used to scoff at the idea of getting up at that hour to workout. I swore I was not a morning person and could NEVER make that happen. I believed the only thing people should be doing at 5:00am is sleeping. Turns out - people can change. For over a year now, I’ve been getting up at 5:00am, six days a week to get my workout in. It is so much easier to do it at that time of day, than try to fit it in after eight hours at the office and between kids’ activities.

The first workout was grueling. It didn’t help that the first week of our challenge fell right in the middle of our county fair and that the first day was actually the day the kids showed their lambs in the 100+ degree heat and humidity. Because of the busy day, we had elected to work-out that evening. My husband and I are both very determined and committed and would not think of missing the initial work-out, regardless of the tough day we had put in. To put it gently, that workout kicked our butts. Mark was nearly incoherent for an hour afterwards! Well, we survived that day and pushed through to the end of our challenge, thanks to excellent instructors, coaches and the sense of accountability that comes from the group fitness setting.

It was amazing to see the improvements we had made in our strength and endurance, and those “after pictures”, although still humbling were not nearly as scary as the “before pictures”. The change in weight, body composition and fitness level were awesome and even better was the impact the increased activity had on my overall health, including state of mind, cholesterol, triglycerides - you name it, and it was improved.


Everyday, it becomes more apparent that most things in life are out of our control, but eating well and being physically active are two things well with-in everyone’s power. It is up to me and me alone if I decide to get out of bed in the morning to work out. Once I get there, I decide how hard I’m going to work and how far I’m going to push myself that day. I know the positive impact GIM has had on my life and I encourage you all to take the initiative to do something like this for yourself. If you live in the Ames area, feel free to come to GIM this week for a free, 6-day trial before the next challenge starts on Aug 6^th. If you don’t live in the area, find something in your community that you love to do that keeps you active and engaged. Do it for you; do it for your family; and do it for your professional life; you’ll be glad you did.

Fair Time!

Those of you who don't know me personally, may have wondered why I included "sheep" in the title of my blog. Even those of you who know me from years ago, may wonder, why I included "sheep" in the title of my blog. Sure, I work in the veterinary industry, so that is a tie to the woolly little creatures, but read on to learn more about my personal stake in the sheep business.

I grew up a farm-girl in southwestern Manitoba, Canada. There, I was active in 4-H, the Manitoba Junior Angus Association and the Canadian Junior Angus Association. It wasn't until my involvement in the cattle business led me to my husband and my life in Iowa that I became involved in the sheep business. My husband (Mark), also a born and raised farm kid, grew up on an Angus farm, however, he also raised purebred Suffolk sheep.

Our paths in life have led us away from the farms, but we've been fortunate to stay involved in the agriculture industry, me with my job at GlobalVetLINK and my husband as the managing partner of the CUP Lab (centralized ultrasound processing). Although we no longer live on a farm, we still believe in the values and lessons that can be learned from involvement with livestock projects through 4-H and FFA. It is for this reason we've given our kids the opportunity to be involved with sheep.

I will admit, the sheep thing was foreign to me. There really weren't any sheep shows or even many sheep flocks where I was from. But, once I convinced myself to see them as miniature steers, I started to develop my eye for lambs. I must say, they are pretty fun little animals, and great for kids to show.

Our county fair lamb show was yesterday so I'd like to take this opportunity to do a little bragging about the great job the kids did. I'm entitled, right? It's my blog! We took 10 head to town, between the three kids that are of age to show. It was hot and it was humid. It's Iowa in July, so we expect nothing less. We were so proud of the job the kids did showing their lambs. We live in one of the toughest counties in Iowa for sheep shows, so were very happy to come home with a couple seconds, a bunch of thirds and a whole lot of purple ribbons. Even better than the ribbons was the time we got to spend with the kids at the show. With all the hustle and bustle of daily life, juggling 4 kids, baseball, soccer, dance, sheep, school, the list goes on and on; the sheep are an activity we can all enjoy together.

I am thankful for the time and effort my parents put forth to allow me to be involved in 4-H and the junior cattle activities. I realize the opportunities these activities presented for me and the life lessons I learned. My hope is that we can provide some piece of that for Morgan, Madeline, Jack and Chloe through their involvement with sheep.

My entry into the world of blogging...

Well, here it goes! My very first blog post. Many of the marketing books and articles I've been reading encourage the use of blogs. Since I hold a Marketing Coordinator position, I feel it's important to stay current with all types of marketing outlets, including social media.

If you've already read my Profile, you'll know that I work for a company called GlobalVetLINK, or GVL for short. I've been with the company for nearly 4 years now, holding positions including Customer Support, Sales and Marketing Project Specialist, and most currently, Marketing Coordinator.

Our company offers online software to veterinarians for creating and distributing digital paperwork, such as Coggins and health certificates. For those unfamiliar with the veterinary world, a "Coggins" certificate is proof that a horse has been tested for Equine Infectious Anemia. Regulations differ from state to state, but proof of this test is often required when transporting horses. Health certificates, or more correctly - Certificates of Veterinary Inspection, are issued by veterinarians as proof that they have inspected an animal or group of animals prior to shipment. We offer these products, plus others, to veterinarians across the country.

Through my blog, I plan to keep you up-to-date on the happenings at GVL, share veterinary industry news and mix it up with some personal experiences and stories. I hope you enjoy!