It's almost 2013! I've got some big goals next year, mainly racing in a triathlon in August. Not sure what I was thinking committing to that, but I've told too many people to back out now!
With my triathlon in my mind, a bunch of us are hitting the ground running with the New Year, New You Fitness Challenge. For 60 days beginning January 7, 2013, we will be doing a Beachbody program, drinking Shakeology and reporting in via Facebook for daily accountability.
It's going to be fun! That's what we tell ourselves: fitness is FUN! Say it with me...and we'll all believe it. No seriously, it's all better when we suffer together. Suddenly it's not suffering anymore. It's results.
This challenge works just like the one a group of us finsihed in the fall, and are doing right now to keep ourselves accountable over the holidays with nutrition and exercise.. So if you already know the drill, you can stop reading now. If you need the scoop, here it is:
New Year, New You Fitness Challenge
This challenge will be run via Facebook. I'll set up a private Facebook group for all paticipants so we can communicate without the world seeing what we're saying. Some of the fall challenge people are staying on so we've got a good-sized group!
This challenge will also be Beachbody program specific. Why am I making you buy something to take part? In short, because their programs work when you follow them. And they offer a 30-day money back guarantee. So I guarantee that if you follow them, you will see results, but if you're not happy, Beachbody will give you your money back. This is a win-win situation. Yes, I sell their products. Yes, I use their products. I think they are that good. And trust me, I have tried so many different fitness/weightloss products, I am a walking infomercial.
But, the point is, we're going to work together, and you are going to see the results you want. Period.
What you need to do:
1. Confirm to me that you're in so I can add you to the Facebook group.
2. Go to my Beachbody website and choose a Challenge Pack, which bundles the fitness program of your choice and a 30-day supply of their protein shake together at a discount. I can help you if you want advice on what program to choose (you'll recognize some of them, like P90X). I own and have done many of them. (I know some of you who have done these challenges before also already have a Beachbody program on hand to use. In that case, just get yourself on Shakeology, the protein shake. I explained about Shakeology HERE.)
3. We'll start Monday, January 7, 2013. Every single Beachbody program comes with a schedule and an eating plan. I can help you determine how many calories you should be eating if you need help with that.
4. Post at least once a day in our Facebook group for accountability. Post how your workouts are going, how your eating is going, any questions, etc. The support from the group is huge part of our success. It will keep you motivated and accountable. I discover the importance of this myself on a daily basis!
5. Follow the program of your choice and drink Shakeology, the protein shake, once a day for the duration of the challenge(Important Note: Shakeology isn't a "diet" shake designed like Slim Fast. This is a full on nutrient-rich shake to boost your nutrition, not starve you to death. I drink it, my husband drinks it, our dog drinks it. Just kidding. We don't have a dog.
I will be taking part in the challenge right along with you. I'm planning a combination of workouts for the challenge. I just informed Santa he's bringing me Les Mills Combat for Christmas, so that will be my primary workout, with a little bit of ChaLEAN Extreme (to me, it's like P90X for women) thrown in.
We'll officially run the challenge January 7 - March 7, but I'll leave the Facebook group open for as long as the group would like it to be open. That way, if you're doing one of the longer programs, you'll have support the whole way through!
Let me know if you have any questions. And if you’re weirded out about the whole "buying from me" thing, no big deal. I just want everyone to reach their goals, and this is what works for me.
I say this every time we do a challenge: This isn't a short-term fix -- it's a lifestyle change. I am a big, big believer in Beachbody and their products. I would never sell you guys crap. It works. And if you decide it doesn't work for you, you'll get your money back. Period.
OK, let's do it.
Showing posts with label Accountability. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Accountability. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Monday, November 26, 2012
Don't You Be Eyeballin' Me!
Portion control is my nemesis! I'm here to tell you right now, I'm bad at portion control. It's what got me into trouble over time.
When I really committed to getting fit and losing weight, I began to weigh and measure all of my food. I know, I know, what a hassle, right? Who has time to do that? Who WANTS to do that?
You do.
Seriously. If you are as lame as I am about eyeballing your portion size, you need to weigh and measure your food to "get your eyes right."
After many years of eyeballing my food, I'm BETTER, but I'm definitely not perfect. Case in point: 10 minutes ago I was having a morning snack. I had 3 dried figs (not hard to eyeball), and then was adding some walnuts. I looked at the bag and thought, "That looks like two tablespoons." I started to pop a few in my mouth and then decided to measure the bag first. FOUR TABLESPOONS. I was totally off. Had I logged the two tablespoons, I would have been as much as 110 calories off.
So what's the big deal? And what is my point? My point is that we can't always trust our eyes. And the big deal is that if you're in weightloss mode, those 100 calories (and the 100 calories you missed at another meal or snack) could, especially over the course of a week, truly make a difference. You hop on the scale at the end of the week expecting to see a one pound loss. But it's not there. You might be close, maybe you just needed another 100 calories per day gone out of your diet this week. Where was it? For me, it would have been in that bag of walnuts.
This happened to me over and over again before I really knuckled down and consistently tracked my food (and ramped up my workouts). Those hundred calories here and there can make a difference if you're trying to lose.
Is it as big a deal if you're maintaining? No, but weighing, measuring, and tracking my food is what keeps me in check and keeps me from mindlessly tossing things into my mouth when I'm cooking or packing lunches. It all adds up!
So don't be eyeballing it! Do some measuring and find out how accurate you are. Make it a game. It's really not that bad -- in fact, it may just grow on you!
When I really committed to getting fit and losing weight, I began to weigh and measure all of my food. I know, I know, what a hassle, right? Who has time to do that? Who WANTS to do that?
You do.
Seriously. If you are as lame as I am about eyeballing your portion size, you need to weigh and measure your food to "get your eyes right."
After many years of eyeballing my food, I'm BETTER, but I'm definitely not perfect. Case in point: 10 minutes ago I was having a morning snack. I had 3 dried figs (not hard to eyeball), and then was adding some walnuts. I looked at the bag and thought, "That looks like two tablespoons." I started to pop a few in my mouth and then decided to measure the bag first. FOUR TABLESPOONS. I was totally off. Had I logged the two tablespoons, I would have been as much as 110 calories off.
So what's the big deal? And what is my point? My point is that we can't always trust our eyes. And the big deal is that if you're in weightloss mode, those 100 calories (and the 100 calories you missed at another meal or snack) could, especially over the course of a week, truly make a difference. You hop on the scale at the end of the week expecting to see a one pound loss. But it's not there. You might be close, maybe you just needed another 100 calories per day gone out of your diet this week. Where was it? For me, it would have been in that bag of walnuts.
This happened to me over and over again before I really knuckled down and consistently tracked my food (and ramped up my workouts). Those hundred calories here and there can make a difference if you're trying to lose.
Is it as big a deal if you're maintaining? No, but weighing, measuring, and tracking my food is what keeps me in check and keeps me from mindlessly tossing things into my mouth when I'm cooking or packing lunches. It all adds up!
So don't be eyeballing it! Do some measuring and find out how accurate you are. Make it a game. It's really not that bad -- in fact, it may just grow on you!
Monday, November 12, 2012
Finding the Time and Inspiration
I'm busy. You're busy. We're all busy. But we've all got the same 24 hours in the day. How we decide to use them is up to us.
Last winter/spring/summer and into the early fall, I was so dedicated, getting up at 4:45am to get my workouts finished before anyone else was awake. That still needs to happen -- if I start work, I KNOW I won't stop to workout -- but I've definitely been pushing the limits, staying in bed just a little bit longer, running just a little bit later, having to fast forward through some parts of my workout. I hate that. When I commit to something and put a workout on my schedule, I like to follow through. Plus, when I don't get up and get moving, the whole day feels rushed and running a little behind.
I've talked about how I'm training for a triathlon, and now I realize it's time to recommit to my goals. Over the past few weeks, sports channels have been running recaps of the Ironman that took place in Kona, Hawaii. The Ironman is a triathlon on a HUGE scale. I always enjoy watching it, but this year I've watched with greater interest because next summer, I will swim, bike, run, but on a much smaller scale.
The professional Ironman athletes are amazing, but it's the everyday citizens who are INSPIRATIONAL. Twice I've sat through the show that follows some of the "normal" people who choose to compete in the Ironman. There are cancer patients (yes, patients!), cancer survivors, a fire fighter who ran the marathon portion in full gear in honor of comrades killed on 9-11, people my age (which makes me think I need to ramp it up!), and even people in their 60s and 70s! Each time a competitor crosses the line, the announcer welcomes them saying, "You are an Ironman!" How cool is that? From the first person to the last.
If you're a P90X aficianado, you know who Tony Horton is (P90X creator). But what you may not know is that his sister, Kit, is a Beachbody coach. In a recent blog post, she wrote about all of the excuses about exercise she'd had in her head over the years. How familiar do these sounds? So familiar to me!
-I work long hours, I can’t get the workout in
-My travel schedule makes it difficult to eat healthy on the road
-My family won’t eat what I make and I’m tired of making two separate meals
-P90X workouts are an hour long, most days, I just don’t have an hour to workout (or 90 minutes for Yoga !!!)
-The holidays are coming and it’s challenging to eat well this time of year with all the temptations around
-It’s just not normal to eat healthy all the time, you should be able to indulge once in a while
-Before I know it, the day gets away from me and I haven’t got my workout in
-Cooking healthy meals takes too long and it’s so expensive
-Or how about the infamous, "I'll start on Monday."
When you watch the Ironman, you realize it's time to throw all those excuses out the window. The Ironman competitors made a choice to take on the most difficult athletic challenge and many other daily choices to commit to their training and fuel their bodies in the best way to be able to compete. Plain and simple: this race became their priority.
Do we all need to start training for the Ironman? No, of course not. But it's time to start making our own choices -- nutritionally, physically, mentally.
What does making exercise and healthy eating a priority really mean? It means more than doing the workout when you really don’t feel like it and saying no to the birthday cake at the office. It means getting back on track the day after you’ve had a bad day. It means feeling good and feeling good about yourself and your accomplishments for the first time in a long time. It means saying no to crappy food not because you have to talk yourself into it, but because you truly don’t want it AND because you've learned how badly you'll feel afterwards and you're tired of digging back out of that hole! Making conscious, consistent good decisions about your nutrition and fitness will give you the strength, perseverance and determination to make the right choice every time you’re faced with one.
You'll be surprised how quickly it will be a good habit. You'll soon wonder how you ever lived any other way!
Last winter/spring/summer and into the early fall, I was so dedicated, getting up at 4:45am to get my workouts finished before anyone else was awake. That still needs to happen -- if I start work, I KNOW I won't stop to workout -- but I've definitely been pushing the limits, staying in bed just a little bit longer, running just a little bit later, having to fast forward through some parts of my workout. I hate that. When I commit to something and put a workout on my schedule, I like to follow through. Plus, when I don't get up and get moving, the whole day feels rushed and running a little behind.
I've talked about how I'm training for a triathlon, and now I realize it's time to recommit to my goals. Over the past few weeks, sports channels have been running recaps of the Ironman that took place in Kona, Hawaii. The Ironman is a triathlon on a HUGE scale. I always enjoy watching it, but this year I've watched with greater interest because next summer, I will swim, bike, run, but on a much smaller scale.
The professional Ironman athletes are amazing, but it's the everyday citizens who are INSPIRATIONAL. Twice I've sat through the show that follows some of the "normal" people who choose to compete in the Ironman. There are cancer patients (yes, patients!), cancer survivors, a fire fighter who ran the marathon portion in full gear in honor of comrades killed on 9-11, people my age (which makes me think I need to ramp it up!), and even people in their 60s and 70s! Each time a competitor crosses the line, the announcer welcomes them saying, "You are an Ironman!" How cool is that? From the first person to the last.
If you're a P90X aficianado, you know who Tony Horton is (P90X creator). But what you may not know is that his sister, Kit, is a Beachbody coach. In a recent blog post, she wrote about all of the excuses about exercise she'd had in her head over the years. How familiar do these sounds? So familiar to me!
-I work long hours, I can’t get the workout in
-My travel schedule makes it difficult to eat healthy on the road
-My family won’t eat what I make and I’m tired of making two separate meals
-P90X workouts are an hour long, most days, I just don’t have an hour to workout (or 90 minutes for Yoga !!!)
-The holidays are coming and it’s challenging to eat well this time of year with all the temptations around
-It’s just not normal to eat healthy all the time, you should be able to indulge once in a while
-Before I know it, the day gets away from me and I haven’t got my workout in
-Cooking healthy meals takes too long and it’s so expensive
-Or how about the infamous, "I'll start on Monday."
When you watch the Ironman, you realize it's time to throw all those excuses out the window. The Ironman competitors made a choice to take on the most difficult athletic challenge and many other daily choices to commit to their training and fuel their bodies in the best way to be able to compete. Plain and simple: this race became their priority.
Do we all need to start training for the Ironman? No, of course not. But it's time to start making our own choices -- nutritionally, physically, mentally.
What does making exercise and healthy eating a priority really mean? It means more than doing the workout when you really don’t feel like it and saying no to the birthday cake at the office. It means getting back on track the day after you’ve had a bad day. It means feeling good and feeling good about yourself and your accomplishments for the first time in a long time. It means saying no to crappy food not because you have to talk yourself into it, but because you truly don’t want it AND because you've learned how badly you'll feel afterwards and you're tired of digging back out of that hole! Making conscious, consistent good decisions about your nutrition and fitness will give you the strength, perseverance and determination to make the right choice every time you’re faced with one.
You'll be surprised how quickly it will be a good habit. You'll soon wonder how you ever lived any other way!
Monday, October 22, 2012
Getting Motivated, Staying Motivated!
Like everyone else, my motivation to exercise waxes and wanes. I'm waning right now, for sure. For the last few years, I've tried to pay more attention to how I feel at certain points during the year, and Fall to Christmas is always hard for me. I think it has to do with the change of seasons, the fact that it's dark so much more, not to mention getting colder. In the summer, I have no problem hopping out of bed, walking in the early dawn hours and then coming home and doing some resistance training or heavy duty cardio.
But when it's cold and dark? Not so much.
I do try to think about ski season and conditioning for that, but since we're at about the furthest point in the year from bathing suit season, and right now I could hide any extra LBS under heavy ski clothes, again, not hugely motivated.
So this is when I've got to dig deep and really keep my act together. I came across a really good list of ideas for staying motivated regardless of the time of year. I pulled out some of my faves to share to keep us all thinking about staying on track:
1. Remind yourself how you feel after a workout. Endorphins, baby!
2. You time. This is when you make YOURSELF a priority. Not your husband, not your kids, not your extended family, not your job. It's about you. And trust me, you'll have more to give back if you take this time for youself.
3. Calories burned. If you count calories, which I do most of the time, and let's face it, doing so is really one of the most effective ways to lose weight, you know that the more you exercise, the more calories you burn — and the bigger your calorie deficit. So this is just one step closer to your goals.
4. Having fun. Exercise should be fun (and to me it is, except for running days which I would only define loosely as fun!). If it isn’t, try a different kind of activity that you enjoy. As long as you’re moving, it’s good for you.
5. How you’re going to look. Imagine a slimmer, fitter you. Now let that visualization drive you. My vanity is a BIG motivator!
6. Health/fitness magazines. It motivates me to read fitness magazines. I see what exercise does for others and I find that motivating.
7. Blogs. I enjoy reading blogs about people who are into running, or losing weight. It can show the ups and downs they go through, and you can learn from their experiences. I hope people learn from mine, too :)
8. Success stories. I find the success stories of others incredibly inspirational. If a fitness website or a magazine has success stories, I’ll almost always read them.
9. Forums/support groups. Get with a group of people (message me if you need one!). I have challenge groups on Facebook that help me keep on track, and I have a whole group that I call my Fit Friends who I swap info with all the time. Find a group that works for you, and then make it a point to check in daily. It really helps.
10. Rewards. Set a goal for yourself and when you achieve it, reward yourself in a non-food way. I like to go to my friend's day spa. She really spoils me!
11. New clothes in smaller sizes. I love it. My husband who monitors the budget -- not so much.
13. Feeling strong. When I'm having a really good workout or run (yes, sometimes I have a good run!) I envision myself kicking ass and taking names!
14. Stress relief. Mad about something? Get out and work off that stress. It makes a world of difference. After you're finished, you'll be calmer and possbly not even remember what was annoying you!
15. Time for contemplation. Mostly this is when I walk. I love having time to mull things over or just listen to music I enjoy. When I lift or do HIIT workouts, I do try to concentrate. Science shows concentrating recruits muscle fibers more effectively.
16. Get a workout partner. There is nothing better for accountability than having someone to report in to or to serve as your cheerleader. In grad school, when I first lost a significant amount of weight, my friend Marci and I worked out together every day. As I lost weight, she'd cheer me on and leave me little notes and cards to celebrate my success. That was way cool.
17. An exercise class. Sign up for a class, perhaps with a friend, and you’ll be motivated to get there and work out.
18. A coach or trainer. I can coach you for FREE :) Message me!
19. Keep track. I log my workouts through Beachbody's WOWY.com and it keeps me accountable and motivated. You wouldn't believe what I'll do to make sure I get a scheduled workout done. I take DVDs with me when I travel and make sure I find an empty room to jump around in.
20. Compare. Take photos, measure, weigh. Give yourself several yardsticks by which to track your progress. I've completed programs where I didn't lose a lot of weight, but I lost a lot of inches and I could see results in my pictures (and how my clothes fit).
21. Train for something. Whether it's a 5K race or triathlon, just signing up will keep you motivated. I'm doing this now, and I'm already panicking on how I will keep up with my running in the winter. I don't want to re-learn to run in the spring, so I'm working hard to keep up!
22. Avoiding feeling like Jaba the Hut. That's how I feel when I take more than one day off a week. Obsessive? I don't know, but I do know how great I feel when I DO stay on track. That's what gets me out of bed on those cold, dark mornings. For me, exercise is non-negotiable. It's going to happen, I just need to figure out create ways to do it sometimes.
23. A healthy future. I want to be a good role model for my kids AND be healthy for when I do finally get grandkids (although I probably should have started having kids earlier).
24. The scale. Some people hate it, but to me, it's just another tool to see how I'm doing, even for maintenance. It’s not motivating to weigh yourself every day, as your weight fluctuates. But if you weigh yourself once a week, you’ll be motivated to have it keep going down, instead of up.
25. Achieving my goals. Whether it's weight, running a certan distance/time, completing a workout program -- whatever -- set realistic goals and be specific. Do it. Track. And then celebrate your achievements!
26. Go public. Talk about your goals, programs and progress publicly. Post it on your blog or Facebook page. Tell people you’re going to lose weight or exercise daily, and report to them. You’ll make it happen when people are "watching." AND you'll be surprised how supportive people are. Suddenly, YOU'RE motivating someone else, which is way cool.
27. Motivational quotes. Maybe it's cheesy, but I like to find them on the Internet and post them on my Facebook page. It lets people know what my mindset is and why I do what I do.
28. Compliments. When someone notices the changes in your body, it feels good. And it makes you want to work out more. Again with the vanity!
29. Beach vacation or high school reunion. Eeeeeek! There's a hilarious line on one of my favorite workout DVDs. Chalene Johnson shows a move and for encouragement she says, "Imagine you're walking away from your friends at your high school reunion, IN A BIKINI!" Yes, the thought of that drives ME to the basement to pump some iron!
What motivates YOU?
But when it's cold and dark? Not so much.
I do try to think about ski season and conditioning for that, but since we're at about the furthest point in the year from bathing suit season, and right now I could hide any extra LBS under heavy ski clothes, again, not hugely motivated.
So this is when I've got to dig deep and really keep my act together. I came across a really good list of ideas for staying motivated regardless of the time of year. I pulled out some of my faves to share to keep us all thinking about staying on track:
1. Remind yourself how you feel after a workout. Endorphins, baby!
2. You time. This is when you make YOURSELF a priority. Not your husband, not your kids, not your extended family, not your job. It's about you. And trust me, you'll have more to give back if you take this time for youself.
3. Calories burned. If you count calories, which I do most of the time, and let's face it, doing so is really one of the most effective ways to lose weight, you know that the more you exercise, the more calories you burn — and the bigger your calorie deficit. So this is just one step closer to your goals.
4. Having fun. Exercise should be fun (and to me it is, except for running days which I would only define loosely as fun!). If it isn’t, try a different kind of activity that you enjoy. As long as you’re moving, it’s good for you.
5. How you’re going to look. Imagine a slimmer, fitter you. Now let that visualization drive you. My vanity is a BIG motivator!
6. Health/fitness magazines. It motivates me to read fitness magazines. I see what exercise does for others and I find that motivating.
7. Blogs. I enjoy reading blogs about people who are into running, or losing weight. It can show the ups and downs they go through, and you can learn from their experiences. I hope people learn from mine, too :)
8. Success stories. I find the success stories of others incredibly inspirational. If a fitness website or a magazine has success stories, I’ll almost always read them.
9. Forums/support groups. Get with a group of people (message me if you need one!). I have challenge groups on Facebook that help me keep on track, and I have a whole group that I call my Fit Friends who I swap info with all the time. Find a group that works for you, and then make it a point to check in daily. It really helps.
10. Rewards. Set a goal for yourself and when you achieve it, reward yourself in a non-food way. I like to go to my friend's day spa. She really spoils me!
11. New clothes in smaller sizes. I love it. My husband who monitors the budget -- not so much.
13. Feeling strong. When I'm having a really good workout or run (yes, sometimes I have a good run!) I envision myself kicking ass and taking names!
14. Stress relief. Mad about something? Get out and work off that stress. It makes a world of difference. After you're finished, you'll be calmer and possbly not even remember what was annoying you!
15. Time for contemplation. Mostly this is when I walk. I love having time to mull things over or just listen to music I enjoy. When I lift or do HIIT workouts, I do try to concentrate. Science shows concentrating recruits muscle fibers more effectively.
16. Get a workout partner. There is nothing better for accountability than having someone to report in to or to serve as your cheerleader. In grad school, when I first lost a significant amount of weight, my friend Marci and I worked out together every day. As I lost weight, she'd cheer me on and leave me little notes and cards to celebrate my success. That was way cool.
17. An exercise class. Sign up for a class, perhaps with a friend, and you’ll be motivated to get there and work out.
18. A coach or trainer. I can coach you for FREE :) Message me!
19. Keep track. I log my workouts through Beachbody's WOWY.com and it keeps me accountable and motivated. You wouldn't believe what I'll do to make sure I get a scheduled workout done. I take DVDs with me when I travel and make sure I find an empty room to jump around in.
20. Compare. Take photos, measure, weigh. Give yourself several yardsticks by which to track your progress. I've completed programs where I didn't lose a lot of weight, but I lost a lot of inches and I could see results in my pictures (and how my clothes fit).
21. Train for something. Whether it's a 5K race or triathlon, just signing up will keep you motivated. I'm doing this now, and I'm already panicking on how I will keep up with my running in the winter. I don't want to re-learn to run in the spring, so I'm working hard to keep up!
22. Avoiding feeling like Jaba the Hut. That's how I feel when I take more than one day off a week. Obsessive? I don't know, but I do know how great I feel when I DO stay on track. That's what gets me out of bed on those cold, dark mornings. For me, exercise is non-negotiable. It's going to happen, I just need to figure out create ways to do it sometimes.
23. A healthy future. I want to be a good role model for my kids AND be healthy for when I do finally get grandkids (although I probably should have started having kids earlier).
24. The scale. Some people hate it, but to me, it's just another tool to see how I'm doing, even for maintenance. It’s not motivating to weigh yourself every day, as your weight fluctuates. But if you weigh yourself once a week, you’ll be motivated to have it keep going down, instead of up.
25. Achieving my goals. Whether it's weight, running a certan distance/time, completing a workout program -- whatever -- set realistic goals and be specific. Do it. Track. And then celebrate your achievements!
26. Go public. Talk about your goals, programs and progress publicly. Post it on your blog or Facebook page. Tell people you’re going to lose weight or exercise daily, and report to them. You’ll make it happen when people are "watching." AND you'll be surprised how supportive people are. Suddenly, YOU'RE motivating someone else, which is way cool.
27. Motivational quotes. Maybe it's cheesy, but I like to find them on the Internet and post them on my Facebook page. It lets people know what my mindset is and why I do what I do.
28. Compliments. When someone notices the changes in your body, it feels good. And it makes you want to work out more. Again with the vanity!
29. Beach vacation or high school reunion. Eeeeeek! There's a hilarious line on one of my favorite workout DVDs. Chalene Johnson shows a move and for encouragement she says, "Imagine you're walking away from your friends at your high school reunion, IN A BIKINI!" Yes, the thought of that drives ME to the basement to pump some iron!
What motivates YOU?
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
Healthy for the Holidays Fitness Challenge
Note added 10/19: I originally said this challenge would be Nov. 8 - Dec. 28, but the 8th is a Thursday. We'll start Monday, Nov. 12! Be there!
It's that time of year -- you know, that time when holidays collide. Halloween candy and Christmas cookies sit side by side on the store shelves. Man, I love this time of year. And I hate it.
Every year I say the same thing -- I'm going to be really disciplined about what I eat this year. But let's face it, that's no fun! Last year was miserable in terms of fitness. I had surgery on Dec. 9 and was banned from working out until after the New Year. So I sort of gave up. I ate gluten, dairy, sugar -- OK, I really ate EVERYTHING -- and I felt so bad by the time the last Christmas cookie was gone that I swore I'd never do it again.
This year will be different. For reals! Because I know, madness! Why are we doing a challenge that encompasses the holidays? No, we're not going on some crackpot starvation diet over the holidays. The point here is to set some personal goals and keep ourselves somewhat on track. Frankly, I am so, so relieved that I'll be able to exercise this year. But through our online Facebook support group and our Beachbody programs -- yes, you know I sell them and that I love them! -- we can perhaps keep ourselves from straying too far from our norm and then feeling like we wished we'd asked Santa to bring us liposuction instead of a new sweater.
This challenge is just like the one a group of us just finsihed this fall. So if you already know the drill, you can stop reading now. If you need the scoop, here it is:
Healthy for the Holidays Fitness Challenge
This challenge will be run via Facebook. I'll set up a private Facebook group for all paticipants so we can communicate without the world seeing what we're saying. Some of the fall challenge people are staying on so we've got a good group!
This challenge will also be Beachbody program specific. Why am I making you buy something to take part? In short, because their programs work when you follow them. And they offer a 30-day money back guarantee. So I guarantee that if you follow them, you will see results, but if you're not happy, Beachbody will give you your money back. This is a win-win situation. Yes, I sell their products. Yes, I use their products. I think they are that good. And trust me, I have tried so many different fitness/weightloss products, I am a walking infomercial.
But, the point is, we're going to work together, and you are going to see the results you want. Period.
What you need to do:
1. Confirm to me that you're in so I can add you to the Facebook group.
2. Go to my Beachbody website and choose a Challenge Pack, which bundles the fitness program of your choice and a 30-day supply of their protein shake together at a discount. I can help you if you want advice on what program to choose (you'll recognize some of them, like P90X). I own and have done many of them. (I know some of you who have done these challenges before also already have a Beachbody program on hand to use. In that case, just get yourself on Shakeology, the protein shake. I explained about Shakeology HERE.)
3. We'll start Thursday, Nov. 8. Every single Beachbody program comes with a schedule and an eating plan. I can help you determine how many calories you should be eating if you need help with that.
4. Post at least once a day in our Facebook group for accountability. Post how your workouts are going, how your eating is going, any questions, etc. The support from the group is huge part of our success. It will keep you motivated and accountable.
5. Follow the program of your choice and drink Shakeology, the protein shake, once a day for the duration of the challenge(Important Note: Shakeology isn't a "diet" shake designed like Slim Fast. This is a full on nutrient-rich shake to boost your nutrition, not starve you to death.).
I will be taking part in the challenge right along with you. I'm planning a combination of workouts for the challenge. The Beachbody program I'm currently following is ChaLEAN Extreme (to me, it's like P90X for women). I'm also training for a triathlon, so I'm doing some running and swimming, too.
We'll officially run the challenge Nov. 12 - Dec. 28, but I'll leave the Facebook group open for as long as the group would like it to be open. That way, if you're doing one of the longer programs, you'll have support the whole way through!
Let me know if you have any questions. And if you’re weirded out about the whole thing, no big deal. I just want everyone to reach their goals, and this is what works for me.
I say this every time we do a challenge: This isn't a short-term fix -- it's a lifestyle change. I am a big, big believer in Beachbody and their products. I would never sell you guys crap. It works. And if you decide it doesn't work for you, you'll get your money back. Period.
And an important note: We're not going to starve ourselves over the holidays. Will we eat Christmas cookies? If we want to! Will we drink egg nog? I hope so! My personal goal is to enjoy in moderation, do some kick ass workouts (which is what keeps me sane), and not wake up on January 1, 2013, unable to button my pants!
Who's with me?!
It's that time of year -- you know, that time when holidays collide. Halloween candy and Christmas cookies sit side by side on the store shelves. Man, I love this time of year. And I hate it.
Every year I say the same thing -- I'm going to be really disciplined about what I eat this year. But let's face it, that's no fun! Last year was miserable in terms of fitness. I had surgery on Dec. 9 and was banned from working out until after the New Year. So I sort of gave up. I ate gluten, dairy, sugar -- OK, I really ate EVERYTHING -- and I felt so bad by the time the last Christmas cookie was gone that I swore I'd never do it again.
This year will be different. For reals! Because I know, madness! Why are we doing a challenge that encompasses the holidays? No, we're not going on some crackpot starvation diet over the holidays. The point here is to set some personal goals and keep ourselves somewhat on track. Frankly, I am so, so relieved that I'll be able to exercise this year. But through our online Facebook support group and our Beachbody programs -- yes, you know I sell them and that I love them! -- we can perhaps keep ourselves from straying too far from our norm and then feeling like we wished we'd asked Santa to bring us liposuction instead of a new sweater.
This challenge is just like the one a group of us just finsihed this fall. So if you already know the drill, you can stop reading now. If you need the scoop, here it is:
Healthy for the Holidays Fitness Challenge
This challenge will be run via Facebook. I'll set up a private Facebook group for all paticipants so we can communicate without the world seeing what we're saying. Some of the fall challenge people are staying on so we've got a good group!
This challenge will also be Beachbody program specific. Why am I making you buy something to take part? In short, because their programs work when you follow them. And they offer a 30-day money back guarantee. So I guarantee that if you follow them, you will see results, but if you're not happy, Beachbody will give you your money back. This is a win-win situation. Yes, I sell their products. Yes, I use their products. I think they are that good. And trust me, I have tried so many different fitness/weightloss products, I am a walking infomercial.
But, the point is, we're going to work together, and you are going to see the results you want. Period.
What you need to do:
1. Confirm to me that you're in so I can add you to the Facebook group.
2. Go to my Beachbody website and choose a Challenge Pack, which bundles the fitness program of your choice and a 30-day supply of their protein shake together at a discount. I can help you if you want advice on what program to choose (you'll recognize some of them, like P90X). I own and have done many of them. (I know some of you who have done these challenges before also already have a Beachbody program on hand to use. In that case, just get yourself on Shakeology, the protein shake. I explained about Shakeology HERE.)
3. We'll start Thursday, Nov. 8. Every single Beachbody program comes with a schedule and an eating plan. I can help you determine how many calories you should be eating if you need help with that.
4. Post at least once a day in our Facebook group for accountability. Post how your workouts are going, how your eating is going, any questions, etc. The support from the group is huge part of our success. It will keep you motivated and accountable.
5. Follow the program of your choice and drink Shakeology, the protein shake, once a day for the duration of the challenge(Important Note: Shakeology isn't a "diet" shake designed like Slim Fast. This is a full on nutrient-rich shake to boost your nutrition, not starve you to death.).
I will be taking part in the challenge right along with you. I'm planning a combination of workouts for the challenge. The Beachbody program I'm currently following is ChaLEAN Extreme (to me, it's like P90X for women). I'm also training for a triathlon, so I'm doing some running and swimming, too.
We'll officially run the challenge Nov. 12 - Dec. 28, but I'll leave the Facebook group open for as long as the group would like it to be open. That way, if you're doing one of the longer programs, you'll have support the whole way through!
Let me know if you have any questions. And if you’re weirded out about the whole thing, no big deal. I just want everyone to reach their goals, and this is what works for me.
I say this every time we do a challenge: This isn't a short-term fix -- it's a lifestyle change. I am a big, big believer in Beachbody and their products. I would never sell you guys crap. It works. And if you decide it doesn't work for you, you'll get your money back. Period.
And an important note: We're not going to starve ourselves over the holidays. Will we eat Christmas cookies? If we want to! Will we drink egg nog? I hope so! My personal goal is to enjoy in moderation, do some kick ass workouts (which is what keeps me sane), and not wake up on January 1, 2013, unable to button my pants!
Who's with me?!
Monday, September 17, 2012
Where the Rubber Meets the Road: Knuckling Down and Getting it Done
I have made a personal choice for fitness to be a big part of my life. Part of that has to do with where I live now - Colorado - where I'm surrounded by athletes, both amateur and professional, on a daily basis. Part of that also has to do with vanity -- I like the comments I get from my current level of fitness. Another part has to do with the example I want to set for my kids.
When we first moved here, I was intimidated. I come from the Midwest, Ohio specifically, where all of our family events revolved around food. I look back at pictures of my heavier self and I see "soft." I would go through times of better and worse fitness, better and worse eating, weighing more or maybe a little less. It was a back and forth I was constantly battling, and I wasn't at all sure how to break the cycle. I just knew I didn't like feeling soft. I didn't like being out of breath by just dashing up the stairs for something (an effect that was magnified a zillion times when we moved to high altitude!). That was not acceptable to me.
So I started by not wanting to huff and puff going up the stairs. Now I'm doing things for fitness I swore I'd never do (yes, I do remember that I said -- probably somewhere on this blog -- that I'd NEVER run, and now I am).
The bottom line is deciding what's acceptable to you. If you're OK with how you look and feel, that's great! I wasn't.
If you're not happy with it, what sacrifices are you willing to make? Because it will require sacrifice.
Have I gone to an event and not eaten what they had there? Yes. Have I gone to someone's house for dinner and taken my own food? Yes. Have I eaten nothing when everyone else around me is eating cake and ice cream? Yes.
How did I feel when I did these things? Did I feel deprived or sad or sorry or embarrassed? I really didn't. I thought about my long-term goals and where I'm trying to get to. People had/have a lot of questions and comments: why are you doing that; that seems extreme; do you have an eating disorder; oh, you can relax and eat this just once; come on, just try it. But in the end, many ended up being intrigued by what I was trying to do.
Does everyone need to behave like this? No, but you do need to understand that if you have goals, especially weightloss, it's going to take longer to reach your goals every time you make the conscious decision to eat more calories than you burn. I was bummed when I found that out -- haha!
I want to empahsize that it's OK to have a cheat meal, even when you're trying to lose weight. In fact, you SHOULD have a cheat meal once a week. If you try to be so restrictive, you'll rebel eventually. Trust me on that one.
But have the cheat meal in a controlled manner. Prepare for it earlier in the day, or week even. If you're headed out to a party or event, eat very, very clean earlier in the day -- veggies, fruit, lots of water -- so you have calories to spare when the time comes. And don't make it a no-holds barred cheat. Put some parameters on it: take small portions of everything you want to try ONCE. Don't keep going back. Step away from the table. And definitely make a point of burning some calories through exercise when you know a cheat is coming!
I try to eat super clean six days a week and leave myself room for "cheats" on Friday. When I first adopted this system, I literally binged on Friday. In the end, that didn't work for weight loss, and I felt like crap on Saturday.
Ultimately, I had to decide how I would spend my calories. These days the things that I save for Friday cheats are chips and guac (measured out, not eaten in a binge like I used to do) and popcorn. Again, an enjoyable amount, not enough to make me feel horrible.
Now, I will tell you, as I got further along towards my goal weight and I was trying to drop the last few, tenacious pounds, it got harder. And to get to the bitter end, I had to drop all cheating completely for a few weeks to get to my goal. For me, it was worth it.
You'll need to answer for yourself what you're willing to do to get there.
And yes, we can work out like maniacs, but if we're undoing our good intentions with poor eating, it's not going to happen. Weight loss is at least 80% of what goes in your mouth. I know. That sucks. But it's a fact. Once I got that dialed in, the weight started to come off.
Other basic tips:
-Learn to listen to your body. Stop when you're satisfied and before you're full. Portion control will always be a big problem for me so I weighed and measured my food for a LONG time into correct portions to teach myself what it felt like to eat the right amount. I still do it on occasion because I'm just that bad at it. I've accepted that this is part of my makeup and I've moved on.
-Log your food. I say it so often and it's so true. If you aren't losing weight, write it down and look at your food in black and white. It's usually staring you in the face.
It always sounds like so much when I'm telling people, "Exercise! Eat clean! Log your food! Count your calories! Come to the Facebook page and report in for accountability!" The goal is to get you in the habit of these things so it's no longer work -- it's just something ingrained that you do without thinking or adding extra complexity to your day. Automatic is the goal. You exercise, you eat clean, you log your food and workouts. I don't even give it a second thought anymore.
Ultimately, you need to decide when and if you're ready to dig in and go for the results you want. I had to have my own personal wake up call, which was really about seeing others who were emulating what I wanted and then taking the steps to get there. I'm not getting any younger! Are you? I believe you can be in the be shape of your life at any age, and I believe it because I have felt it for myself and I have seen it in countless others who I connect with through my own Beachbody coach. Yes, even I need support and motivation so I have a whole group of people I rely on in addition to you guys!
OK, so what are you going to do now?
When we first moved here, I was intimidated. I come from the Midwest, Ohio specifically, where all of our family events revolved around food. I look back at pictures of my heavier self and I see "soft." I would go through times of better and worse fitness, better and worse eating, weighing more or maybe a little less. It was a back and forth I was constantly battling, and I wasn't at all sure how to break the cycle. I just knew I didn't like feeling soft. I didn't like being out of breath by just dashing up the stairs for something (an effect that was magnified a zillion times when we moved to high altitude!). That was not acceptable to me.
So I started by not wanting to huff and puff going up the stairs. Now I'm doing things for fitness I swore I'd never do (yes, I do remember that I said -- probably somewhere on this blog -- that I'd NEVER run, and now I am).
The bottom line is deciding what's acceptable to you. If you're OK with how you look and feel, that's great! I wasn't.
If you're not happy with it, what sacrifices are you willing to make? Because it will require sacrifice.
Have I gone to an event and not eaten what they had there? Yes. Have I gone to someone's house for dinner and taken my own food? Yes. Have I eaten nothing when everyone else around me is eating cake and ice cream? Yes.
How did I feel when I did these things? Did I feel deprived or sad or sorry or embarrassed? I really didn't. I thought about my long-term goals and where I'm trying to get to. People had/have a lot of questions and comments: why are you doing that; that seems extreme; do you have an eating disorder; oh, you can relax and eat this just once; come on, just try it. But in the end, many ended up being intrigued by what I was trying to do.
Does everyone need to behave like this? No, but you do need to understand that if you have goals, especially weightloss, it's going to take longer to reach your goals every time you make the conscious decision to eat more calories than you burn. I was bummed when I found that out -- haha!
I want to empahsize that it's OK to have a cheat meal, even when you're trying to lose weight. In fact, you SHOULD have a cheat meal once a week. If you try to be so restrictive, you'll rebel eventually. Trust me on that one.
But have the cheat meal in a controlled manner. Prepare for it earlier in the day, or week even. If you're headed out to a party or event, eat very, very clean earlier in the day -- veggies, fruit, lots of water -- so you have calories to spare when the time comes. And don't make it a no-holds barred cheat. Put some parameters on it: take small portions of everything you want to try ONCE. Don't keep going back. Step away from the table. And definitely make a point of burning some calories through exercise when you know a cheat is coming!
I try to eat super clean six days a week and leave myself room for "cheats" on Friday. When I first adopted this system, I literally binged on Friday. In the end, that didn't work for weight loss, and I felt like crap on Saturday.
Ultimately, I had to decide how I would spend my calories. These days the things that I save for Friday cheats are chips and guac (measured out, not eaten in a binge like I used to do) and popcorn. Again, an enjoyable amount, not enough to make me feel horrible.
Now, I will tell you, as I got further along towards my goal weight and I was trying to drop the last few, tenacious pounds, it got harder. And to get to the bitter end, I had to drop all cheating completely for a few weeks to get to my goal. For me, it was worth it.
You'll need to answer for yourself what you're willing to do to get there.
And yes, we can work out like maniacs, but if we're undoing our good intentions with poor eating, it's not going to happen. Weight loss is at least 80% of what goes in your mouth. I know. That sucks. But it's a fact. Once I got that dialed in, the weight started to come off.
Other basic tips:
-Learn to listen to your body. Stop when you're satisfied and before you're full. Portion control will always be a big problem for me so I weighed and measured my food for a LONG time into correct portions to teach myself what it felt like to eat the right amount. I still do it on occasion because I'm just that bad at it. I've accepted that this is part of my makeup and I've moved on.
-Log your food. I say it so often and it's so true. If you aren't losing weight, write it down and look at your food in black and white. It's usually staring you in the face.
It always sounds like so much when I'm telling people, "Exercise! Eat clean! Log your food! Count your calories! Come to the Facebook page and report in for accountability!" The goal is to get you in the habit of these things so it's no longer work -- it's just something ingrained that you do without thinking or adding extra complexity to your day. Automatic is the goal. You exercise, you eat clean, you log your food and workouts. I don't even give it a second thought anymore.
Ultimately, you need to decide when and if you're ready to dig in and go for the results you want. I had to have my own personal wake up call, which was really about seeing others who were emulating what I wanted and then taking the steps to get there. I'm not getting any younger! Are you? I believe you can be in the be shape of your life at any age, and I believe it because I have felt it for myself and I have seen it in countless others who I connect with through my own Beachbody coach. Yes, even I need support and motivation so I have a whole group of people I rely on in addition to you guys!
OK, so what are you going to do now?
Monday, September 10, 2012
Fall Back Into Fitness Challenge: It's On!
Yes, today is Day One of our Fall Back Into Fitness Challenge. There are nine of us who are communicating via Facebook to keep ourselves accountable and movitated to get back into fitness over the next 30 days.
Research shows that there are three components to a successful health/weightloss program: a workout program, an eating plan, and support. We're getting all three through this challenge!
For me, having other people along for the ride is key. I love knowing that there are other people out there suffering with me!
Personally, I'm doing a Beachbody program called ChaLEAN Extreme. It has been ages since I've worked out with free weights versus resistance bands. My rear end is KILLING me, people. I bumped up my weights on Saturday and I'm still feeling it.
I have hit some personal milestones. First and foremost, I'm happy to announce that for the first time in my life I can do a pushup. A real, honest-to-goodness man pushup. Can I touch my nose to the floor? No. But can I be on my toes and dip down more than a millimeter and actually a truly respectable amount? Yes! Nevermind that I can't use my arms later in the same day. Not important.
The other milestone is that I am in my eighth week of running. I'm following the Couch to 5K plan (the app I use is 5k101). Technically, I should be at the end of the program in this, the eighth week, but suffice it to say that I'm not the world's most natural runner. I repeated one week and then did an interim week because I was sure that if I went from 4 minute intervals to 8 minute intervals, I would expire on the spot.
Happily, I did not and am now up to 12 minute intervals. Yes, you heard that right: I can run for 12 minutes straight. That means I don't stop! Then I walk for the required 3 minutes. AND THEN I DO IT AGAIN! Crazy, I know.
I'll tell you what is crazy: how loud I huff and puff and how loud my feet are when they hit the ground. I'm certainly not going to run quietly up behind any wildlife. No, indeed, the quiet stillness of the early morning in my neighborhood is shattered on my running mornings. I hope no one is planning to bird watch.
But I am running. RUNNING. OK, jogging is probably more accurate, but I've always wanted to say I'm a runner.
And now I'm running off to bed.
Research shows that there are three components to a successful health/weightloss program: a workout program, an eating plan, and support. We're getting all three through this challenge!
For me, having other people along for the ride is key. I love knowing that there are other people out there suffering with me!
Personally, I'm doing a Beachbody program called ChaLEAN Extreme. It has been ages since I've worked out with free weights versus resistance bands. My rear end is KILLING me, people. I bumped up my weights on Saturday and I'm still feeling it.
I have hit some personal milestones. First and foremost, I'm happy to announce that for the first time in my life I can do a pushup. A real, honest-to-goodness man pushup. Can I touch my nose to the floor? No. But can I be on my toes and dip down more than a millimeter and actually a truly respectable amount? Yes! Nevermind that I can't use my arms later in the same day. Not important.
The other milestone is that I am in my eighth week of running. I'm following the Couch to 5K plan (the app I use is 5k101). Technically, I should be at the end of the program in this, the eighth week, but suffice it to say that I'm not the world's most natural runner. I repeated one week and then did an interim week because I was sure that if I went from 4 minute intervals to 8 minute intervals, I would expire on the spot.
Happily, I did not and am now up to 12 minute intervals. Yes, you heard that right: I can run for 12 minutes straight. That means I don't stop! Then I walk for the required 3 minutes. AND THEN I DO IT AGAIN! Crazy, I know.
I'll tell you what is crazy: how loud I huff and puff and how loud my feet are when they hit the ground. I'm certainly not going to run quietly up behind any wildlife. No, indeed, the quiet stillness of the early morning in my neighborhood is shattered on my running mornings. I hope no one is planning to bird watch.
But I am running. RUNNING. OK, jogging is probably more accurate, but I've always wanted to say I'm a runner.
And now I'm running off to bed.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Fall Back Into Fitness Challenge Starts Sept. 10!
Fall is here. I am looking forward to it because:
1. I love the cooler weather
2. The kids are going back to school (that sounds terrible, but it has to happen so we all might as well soldier on and make the best of it)
3. I can reduce the amount of trigger foods in the house that the kids like to have as treats but derail me personally
4. I can ramp up my workouts without anyone asking when I'm going to be finsihed
5. The kids are going back to school
I may or may not have repeated some of the items I'm more excited about.
The other day I read a statistic that the average person gains 8 pounds on vacation. 8 pounds! Eeek!
We have our work cut out for us. Because I did go on vacation this summer. True, it was to Ohio. It's not like I spent three weeks traveling around Europe, drinking beer and eating cheese (flashback to summer '93 when I came home not being able to get my jeans over my knees). But Ohio definitely had its temptations (Donato's pizza, Graeter's ice cream, Grandpa's homemade ice cream, Marie's candy...).
Anyway, I've decided that when the kids go back to school, it's a great time for parents to band together in celebration and fitness.
This challenge will be similar to one a group of us did last winter. So if you already know the drill, you can stop reading now. If you need the scoop, here it is:
Fall Back Into Fitness Challenge
Just like last winter's post-holiday challenge, this challenge will be run via Facebook. I'll set up a private Facebook group for all paticipants so we can communicate without the world seeing what we're saying.
This challenge will also be Beachbody program specific. Why am I making you buy something to take part? In short, because their programs work when you follow them. And they offer a 30-day money back guarantee. So I guarantee that if you follow them, you will see results, but if you're not happy, Beachbody will give you your money back. This is a win-win situation. Yes, I sell their products. Yes, I use their products. I think they are that good. And trust me, I have tried so many different fitness/weightloss products, I am a walking infomercial.
But, the point is, we're going to work together, and you are going to see the results you want. Period.
What you need to do:
1. Confirm to me that you're in so I can set up the Facebook group.
2. Go to my Beachbody website and choose a Challenge Pack, which bundles the fitness program of your choice and a 30-day supply of their protein shake together at a discount. I can help you if you want advice on what program to choose (you'll recognize some of them, like P90X). I own and have done many of them.
3. We'll start Sept. 10. Each program comes with a schedule and an eating plan. I can help you determine how many calories you should be eating if you need help with that.
4. Post at least once a day in our Facebook group for accountability. Post how your workouts are going, how your eating is going, any questions, etc. The support from the group is huge part of our success. It will keep you motivated and accountible.
5. Follow the program of your choice and drink Shakeology, the protein shake, once a day for the 30 days (Important Note: Shakeology isn't a "diet" shake designed like Slim Fast. This is a full on nutrient-rich shake to boost your nutrition, not starve you to death.).
I will be taking part in the challenge right along with you. I'm planning a combination of workouts for the challenge. The Beachbody program I'm currently following is ChaLEAN Extreme (to me, it's like P90X for women). I'm also training for a triathlon, so I'm doing some running and swimming, too.
We'll officially run the challenge for 30 days, but I'll leave the Facebook group open for at least 120 days (or for as long as the group would like it to be open) for those of you who choose longer programs. You'll have support the whole way through!
Let me know if you have any questions. And if you’re weirded out about the whole thing, no big deal. I just want everyone to reach their goals, and this is what works for me.
This isn't just as a short-term fix. I am a big, big believer in Beachbody and their products. I would never sell you guys crap. It works. And if you decide it doesn't work for you, you'll get your money back. Period.
What have you got to lose? It will be fun, I promise!
1. I love the cooler weather
2. The kids are going back to school (that sounds terrible, but it has to happen so we all might as well soldier on and make the best of it)
3. I can reduce the amount of trigger foods in the house that the kids like to have as treats but derail me personally
4. I can ramp up my workouts without anyone asking when I'm going to be finsihed
5. The kids are going back to school
I may or may not have repeated some of the items I'm more excited about.
The other day I read a statistic that the average person gains 8 pounds on vacation. 8 pounds! Eeek!
We have our work cut out for us. Because I did go on vacation this summer. True, it was to Ohio. It's not like I spent three weeks traveling around Europe, drinking beer and eating cheese (flashback to summer '93 when I came home not being able to get my jeans over my knees). But Ohio definitely had its temptations (Donato's pizza, Graeter's ice cream, Grandpa's homemade ice cream, Marie's candy...).
Anyway, I've decided that when the kids go back to school, it's a great time for parents to band together in celebration and fitness.
This challenge will be similar to one a group of us did last winter. So if you already know the drill, you can stop reading now. If you need the scoop, here it is:
Fall Back Into Fitness Challenge
Just like last winter's post-holiday challenge, this challenge will be run via Facebook. I'll set up a private Facebook group for all paticipants so we can communicate without the world seeing what we're saying.
This challenge will also be Beachbody program specific. Why am I making you buy something to take part? In short, because their programs work when you follow them. And they offer a 30-day money back guarantee. So I guarantee that if you follow them, you will see results, but if you're not happy, Beachbody will give you your money back. This is a win-win situation. Yes, I sell their products. Yes, I use their products. I think they are that good. And trust me, I have tried so many different fitness/weightloss products, I am a walking infomercial.
But, the point is, we're going to work together, and you are going to see the results you want. Period.
What you need to do:
1. Confirm to me that you're in so I can set up the Facebook group.
2. Go to my Beachbody website and choose a Challenge Pack, which bundles the fitness program of your choice and a 30-day supply of their protein shake together at a discount. I can help you if you want advice on what program to choose (you'll recognize some of them, like P90X). I own and have done many of them.
3. We'll start Sept. 10. Each program comes with a schedule and an eating plan. I can help you determine how many calories you should be eating if you need help with that.
4. Post at least once a day in our Facebook group for accountability. Post how your workouts are going, how your eating is going, any questions, etc. The support from the group is huge part of our success. It will keep you motivated and accountible.
5. Follow the program of your choice and drink Shakeology, the protein shake, once a day for the 30 days (Important Note: Shakeology isn't a "diet" shake designed like Slim Fast. This is a full on nutrient-rich shake to boost your nutrition, not starve you to death.).
I will be taking part in the challenge right along with you. I'm planning a combination of workouts for the challenge. The Beachbody program I'm currently following is ChaLEAN Extreme (to me, it's like P90X for women). I'm also training for a triathlon, so I'm doing some running and swimming, too.
We'll officially run the challenge for 30 days, but I'll leave the Facebook group open for at least 120 days (or for as long as the group would like it to be open) for those of you who choose longer programs. You'll have support the whole way through!
Let me know if you have any questions. And if you’re weirded out about the whole thing, no big deal. I just want everyone to reach their goals, and this is what works for me.
This isn't just as a short-term fix. I am a big, big believer in Beachbody and their products. I would never sell you guys crap. It works. And if you decide it doesn't work for you, you'll get your money back. Period.
What have you got to lose? It will be fun, I promise!
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Ultimate Reset!
Anyone who wants to get in on a group support/challenge for Beachbody's new Ultimate Reset, this is your chance! You know I've used Beachbody DVDs for years (you’ve probably seen the infomercials for P90X, Insanity, TurboFire, Slim in 6, etc.) and whey protein shakes (Shakeology) and think they're the bomb. And you know how picky I am about making sure my food doesn’t have chemicals in it. The Beachbody stuff is the real deal.
Beachbody has just introduced something called Ultimate Reset. It’s a non-starvation (very important to me, personally, I like to eat), gentle cleanse designed to reset your body to its “factory settings.” The test groups had amazing results – weight loss, lowered cholesterol, increased energy, etc. Now it’s for sale to the general public and people are posting their results. I’m totally impressed with what I’m seeing.
I’m going to start it on May 31 and several people are joining me so we can have a support group. It’s 21 days long. You don’t exercise during it except for maybe some light stretching and walking. The focus is to let your body rest, cleanse itself of toxins, and reset itself. We would love to add a few more people to our group for support.
I feel really confident that we will ALL see great results, especially if we all do it together. I would never recommend something that I didn’t think was really amazing. And I’m spending my money and time on it just like you. I really think these programs are that good. I know some of you have wanted to get healthier for a while, so let’s do this together. I’ve spent a lot of years now researching diet and exercise and I think these programs offer an ideal way to jump start.
If you have questions, please let me know. If you want to go ahead and order:
This website is straight to the Ultimate Reset for more info and ordering:
http://myultimatereset.com/esuite/home/coachnatalie
This is my general Beachbody site for all of the Beachbody products:
http://beachbodycoach.com/esuite/home/coachnatalie
I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that I’m in pretty much the best shape of my life at 44. I’ve learned through all of this that you can be in the best shape of your life at ANY age and we can work together to help you be healthier, too. Tell me what you want to accomplish, and I can help get you there.
OK, anyone interested in joining us for Ultimate Reset, let's get going! I’ll be setting up a private group on Facebook so we can all communicate without the general Facebook world seeing it. If you have a friend who you would want to pull into the group, that’s fine. Just let me know and get your order placed TODAY so you're ready to go with us on May 31!
Beachbody has just introduced something called Ultimate Reset. It’s a non-starvation (very important to me, personally, I like to eat), gentle cleanse designed to reset your body to its “factory settings.” The test groups had amazing results – weight loss, lowered cholesterol, increased energy, etc. Now it’s for sale to the general public and people are posting their results. I’m totally impressed with what I’m seeing.
I’m going to start it on May 31 and several people are joining me so we can have a support group. It’s 21 days long. You don’t exercise during it except for maybe some light stretching and walking. The focus is to let your body rest, cleanse itself of toxins, and reset itself. We would love to add a few more people to our group for support.
I feel really confident that we will ALL see great results, especially if we all do it together. I would never recommend something that I didn’t think was really amazing. And I’m spending my money and time on it just like you. I really think these programs are that good. I know some of you have wanted to get healthier for a while, so let’s do this together. I’ve spent a lot of years now researching diet and exercise and I think these programs offer an ideal way to jump start.
If you have questions, please let me know. If you want to go ahead and order:
This website is straight to the Ultimate Reset for more info and ordering:
http://myultimatereset.com/esuite/home/coachnatalie
This is my general Beachbody site for all of the Beachbody products:
http://beachbodycoach.com/esuite/home/coachnatalie
I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that I’m in pretty much the best shape of my life at 44. I’ve learned through all of this that you can be in the best shape of your life at ANY age and we can work together to help you be healthier, too. Tell me what you want to accomplish, and I can help get you there.
OK, anyone interested in joining us for Ultimate Reset, let's get going! I’ll be setting up a private group on Facebook so we can all communicate without the general Facebook world seeing it. If you have a friend who you would want to pull into the group, that’s fine. Just let me know and get your order placed TODAY so you're ready to go with us on May 31!
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Fun Fitness and Nutrition Website: Slimkicker.com
OK, so you know by now how overly competitive I am. Set anything up as a challenge, and I'm all over it. I'm mostly competitive with myself, but I have been known to over-celebrate when I crush my kids at board games or air hockey. And don't ask Eamonn about the enduring grudge over Trivial Pursuit. (Nancy Drew's hair was TITIAN, not blond!) But I digress.
Anyway, the developers of Slimkicker, e-mailed me ages ago and told me that the site was underdevelopment and would I be interested in taking a look at it when it was finished.
I said yes.
Flash forward to a few weeks ago when they e-mailed that the site was up and running.
It's really fun! You create a profile and can track all sorts of things like your exercise and your food intake, but you can also participate in challenges, which appeals to my overly competitive self.
Before I had my Bodybugg, I used MyFitnessPal to track my calories, but Slimkicker is pretty slick and cool looking (yes, I'm shallow and love things for their looks), and I dig those challenges.
Please note, while the site developers did ask me to check out the site, I'm not being paid to promote it or anything. I just think it's cool. I just joined the Mix it Up Challenge to try something new each day for seven days. On Sunday I'm starting a raw food detox/15 day raw eating challenge so there will be lots of new things on my horizon in the next two weeks!
Anyway, check out Slimkicker if you're so inclined. I'm on there as Roontoo!
Anyway, the developers of Slimkicker, e-mailed me ages ago and told me that the site was underdevelopment and would I be interested in taking a look at it when it was finished.
I said yes.
Flash forward to a few weeks ago when they e-mailed that the site was up and running.
It's really fun! You create a profile and can track all sorts of things like your exercise and your food intake, but you can also participate in challenges, which appeals to my overly competitive self.
Before I had my Bodybugg, I used MyFitnessPal to track my calories, but Slimkicker is pretty slick and cool looking (yes, I'm shallow and love things for their looks), and I dig those challenges.
Please note, while the site developers did ask me to check out the site, I'm not being paid to promote it or anything. I just think it's cool. I just joined the Mix it Up Challenge to try something new each day for seven days. On Sunday I'm starting a raw food detox/15 day raw eating challenge so there will be lots of new things on my horizon in the next two weeks!
Anyway, check out Slimkicker if you're so inclined. I'm on there as Roontoo!
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