Decide! Commit! and you will SUCCEED

Decide!  Commit!  Succeed!   Often these three words are said over and over again without a firm understanding about the hard work that is required within these steps.   That is not the case with Crisha House, who became a customer in August of 2009 and by February 2010 had lost over fifty pounds.  Crisha was just like each one of us.  After high school and the first years of married life, she stopped watching what she ate, was no longer getting any form of exercise and her overall health and well-being took a back seat to the rush of daily life.  She enjoyed high sugary foods with her kids and didn’t think her health would be compromised as such an early part of life.   Then, while looking at picture of herself at a family reunion, she was astounded and perplexed.  She thought to herself, “What had happened?”  Turning to fad diets and exercise gizmos over the next few months, she wasn’t getting any results.

Seeing the popular Ten Minute Trainer infomercial on Television at the time, she reached out to me, a high school classmate to ask some questions and ultimately bought the program.  She had DECIDED!  I helped coach Crisha for the next seven months on the proper aspects of dieting which is really changing lifestyle habits.  Eating 5-6 times a day, food logging and making better food choices over time were the foundational pillars that make any eating lifestyle change successful.  After seeing the sciences behind a premium health shake, SHAKEOLOGY!  She begin changing out any one of her daily snacks with a shake and immediately could tell a difference with her body when she ate healthy foods versus eating junk foods.   Now, becoming the SHAKEOLOGY guru of concoctions and making her own recipes for others including me to test out, she was making the lifestyle change fun too.   Crisha was seeing that when you eat healthy foods will begin to enjoy life at higher level because her body is getting its nutritional needs met and the mind and body are working with greater efficiency.  By the way, she will tell you that “Reece Piece” Shakeology is the best tasting shake EVER.

So over the course of seven months she had COMMITTED to these changes and began the Ten Minute Trainer program quickly moving from 10 minutes to 20 and then ultimately 30 minutes.   She then moved onto a very popular program called TURBO JAM and was hooked by the music from the upbeat trainer, Chalene Johnson.  And her exercise periods grew longer to 40 and 50 minutes.    Yes, she will tell you there was weeks when the weight wouldn’t come off but she believed in the program’s philosophy after seeing results over the course of eight weeks; she had built a solid foundation of knowledge and fitness.

In February 2010, her confidence growing, she had lost a total of 50lbs. Currently, she has passed the 70 total pounds lost mark.   YES, SEVENTY POUNDS!!  She had SUCCEEDED and accomplished one of her goals.   By helping herself, she has now set the example and is helping her family getting fit and healthy.  Her husband is working thru the mega hit program P90X and her kids see the importance of moving the body and getting daily physical activity while eating healthy.   She has started her own business helping others to follow her path while pursuing her dreams.   

So when you DECIDE, and COMMIT, you will SUCCEED and Crisha has set the example we can all learn from.  Congratulations, Crisha! 

Shakeology is the P90x of nutrition!

BRING IT! We have all seen the infomercials for p90x and that phrase that it is echoed many times all over the world, BRING IT. Now, what you might not be as familiar with is Team Beachbody's own premium nutrition and super-food dense health shake, SHAKEOLOGY! With a low glycemic index rating of 24, this shake packs a huge amount of what is most healthy in the world. The company has searched high and low to find the healthiest 70 ingredients from everywhere and anywhere in the world. Its complete nutrition, formulated for maximum cellular availability. This ultra-premium shake is only 150 calories and blends the perfect combination of enzymes, prebiotics, antioxidants that you can't get from the average diet. Even eating the recommended serving of fruits and vegetables every day won't give this much nutrition.

My own use of Shakeology for the past two years has yielded some remarkable improvements. I have lowered my total cholesterol by 95 points, improved my mental clarity and increased my energy and stamina during my workouts. The program asks you replace one meal a day with a shake and with many recipes developed over the last two years from fanatic and a very loyal fan base, most will find their favorite two or three recipes. Yes you can combine it with fruits, milk, almond milk, water or other protein powders. My favorite is chocolate covered Strawberry.

To take a look in the bag, you will find Adaptogens like Ashwagandha, Summa root or Maca root that are plant-derived agents that help protect the body from stress and help balance endocrine hormones and the immune system or Prebiotics like Yacon root which help to improve the digestive process. Digestive Enzymes like Promelain from Pineapple and Amylase which help the body break down foods and increase absorption of nutrients. Many will try Shakeology at a taste tasting and like the taste and flavor but to get the real power of the product, I would recommend a one to two week trial because with these products comes a gentle cleansing of the body. Let's face it, we all have had too many cheeseburgers from McDonalds and fried foods from every fast food place known imaginable. Our bodies are a temple and we only get one body to live with in this life. In one to two weeks, Shakeology will cleanse your body and allow these precious nutrients to be absorbed. Then Protein and Amino acids like Camu-Camu and Goji berry will help build lean muscle improve moods and reduced cravings and will begin to make you healthier by lowering the chances of high blood pressure and degenerative conditions, like dementia and arthritis. What other health drink has very little sugar (MOST our FULL OF SUGAR) and has Barley grass, Chia seeds, and Wheat grass and can actually slow down the aging process by detoxifying the body with its alkalizing properties not to mention the Shake ACTUALLY TASTES VERY GOOD!

Speaking of flavors, WOW! Our newest flavor, Tropical is coming out very soon. I have had the opportunity to taste it and WOW it might just beat our other two flavors, Greenberry and Chocolate! And I just learned that we don't spot check the product as it goes out the door. For efficacy standards, we check every bag. That is real commitment to health and wellness and standing behind the product.

If you want to BRING IT, then I would recommend to take your nutrition to higher level with Shakeology. After all, Shakeology is the P90X of nutrition. The healthiest meal of the day!


 

Beachbody--An All-American and Exceptional Company

For the last two weeks since my 37th birthday, I have been reflecting about where I have been and where I am going. Where have I been?? Upon graduating from Ohio Northern University in political science with a minor in history, I spent the next two and half years in Washington DC working for our nation's political leaders which gave me a great deal of pride and knowledge about this country and its place in history. Part of my duties and my most memorable times were giving the tours to constituents who for the first time came to see and experience their nation's capital. After Washington DC, I spent another 6 months on a presidential campaign traveling all over the state of Ohio greeting and spending time with common folk that wanted to make and leave the country in a better place. It was a richly rewarding period spent working for and with our government because you begin to fit together the puzzle pieces of America when you are meeting people from the big cities and in the little towns from all over the state. But I yearned for more. In April of 2000, I took a medical sales job with worldwide company selling into the long term care marketplace. So day-in and day-out, I saw up-close the greatness and the areas of opportunity of our healthcare system. During that time, my mother and father had both suffered heart attacks and survived of which I'm very thankful, but I understood that I had to improve my health and wellness. One night I was watching an infomercial and this guy was doing crazy jumps and weight training and the promise was "follow my program for 90 days and you will get in the best shape of your life." It sounded compelling. Having always been athletic and always up for a challenge, I bought the program. Since that day, p90x has changed my life. I lost 25lbs the first cycle I did it. My second cycle another 20lbs and I'm in the best of shape of my life.

After 8 years in the medical industry, I was let go in my position and was forced to find another job. With the inspiration, motivation and self -confidence that p90x gave me, I got my certification in personal training with the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and quickly there-after became a Beachbody coach in April 2008.

I have been around Beachbody as a company and making friends with many of the coaches for the last three years. The people I have had the honor of meeting and getting to know are some of the most motivating, inspirational and dedicated people in the world. They come from different parts of the country and from different cultures and ethnicities. They represent what is best about humanity and about our country. They are non-judgmental but yet push you to reach and exceed your goals every day. I am very thankful to call many my friends. All this is to lay a foundation and background of where I have been. Where am I going?

In 1835, the French historian Alexis de Tocqueville described the United States as an "exceptional" country with "a special role to play in human history" For the last two hundred plus years, our country has been demonstrating that "exceptional" nature. And so it is from that fertile soil that businesses and enterprises have begun and have grown and matured. Beachbody began and holds as its mission to "Help People Achieve Their Goals to Lead Healthy Fulfilling Lives" and by doing so will end the obesity epidemic that is plaguing the United States of America. Their first success is to have created an exceptional line of DVD workouts with meal plans that have been on the infomercial top 10 list for the last 5 years running. P90x was and is there most popular program garnering a cult-like status. As a result of those workout programs we have thousands of success stories with people losing weight, getting off of medications, improving their health and their mental well-being. Then, Beachbody created an exceptional nutrition shake, Shakeology, that without a doubt, hands down is the very best on the market and I believe in the world. Finally, in the spirit of that Great Buckeye, Woody Hayes, who was always known for encouraging people to "Pay it Forward", Beachbody rolled out a world-class business opportunity for those people and customers who love to encourage, help motivate and live by example in making healthy choices every day in life. The result has been the outpouring of dedicated customers turning into coaches and getting financially rewarded for helping people take the same steps they did. The phrase "people-helping-people" couldn't describe it any better. With the workouts, the nutritional products and the support of the coaching and customer community, Beachbody has changed and frankly saved many lives. Thus it has truly earned the title "Beachbody--An All-American and exceptional company"

 

--This is part one of an ongoing series titled an introduction to Beachbody--

The Boogie Babes turn One year old!

While having Breakfast, in June 2009, seven women began a conversation that would change their fitness lives and would create inspiration and hope for myself and many people. They agreed to working out twice a week with me to improve their health, flexibility & endurance. So one year ago, the Boogie Babes were born and what a fun time we have had. Now, the Boogie Babes are not just any ordinary women. The makeup of group is quite unique. They range in age from sixty-two (62) to eighty-nine (89). Most have ailments: Sore shoulders, osteoarthritis in their joints, two are Cancer survivors; some are diabetics, and most use many medications, but the one commonality is they show up each and every week. They are a true testament of hope that despite your age, physical condition and/or physical limitations, we can all improve our fitness levels in one way shape or form.

Much of the credit goes to my friend A J who began the conversation over Breakfast (most likely Coffee and doughnuts, sorry ladies) a year ago encouraging her fellow condo members to begin a fitness routine of some kind and make a change to their lives. My reason for my beginning this blog is because it takes only one person. One person to set in motion what can help a few friends, or a condo association or literally thousands of people throughout our country and millions around the world. Exercise doesn't need to be all grunting, grueling workouts alone where no one smiles, laughs, or jokes. Often when working out with friends, workout buddies, coworkers, or to workout videos, you will find that hidden element that allows you push harder, dig deeper, try to match the other persons intensity, range of motion or repetitions. And that is a beautiful thing. Perhaps what is wrong in this country is we put on headphones, don't workout with any intensity and don't encourage any of our friends to come get healthy with us. This might be the reason why we are continuing to see a growing obesity problem in our country that is now a full epidemic. We have taken the fun out of working out and allowed our egos, our ipods and selfishness to come in.

With the Boogie Babes, often our time spent working out together isn't grueling or difficult by most standards but are simple functional movements to keep their most used ligaments, tendons and muscles in top shape. But the real magic is the friendships that have grown between the group and sometimes the banter that comes too. As a personal trainer, it is wonderful to see when groups of people share, embrace and support each other through difficult periods like keeping a commitment to exercise twice a week. If given a chance, I'm sure most of the women would have not kept up with the training regiment if they were doing it on their own or going to a gym. But what makes it work is the friendships and fun that flows naturally while you are getting healthier.

Many improvements have resulted from the workouts that I should mention. Martha's grandchildren continually "say Grandma you got muscles" and Ethel remarks "I had issues with my left shoulder but over time it improved dramatically" Everyone can perform their daily routines a little easier especially standing up from a seated position and sitting down in a chair or booth. Even a walking program has begun on the off days not to mention nutrition tips and recipes that are given out weekly.

So, I ask you to think about what you can do to change the lives of your friends, family members, and the people around you just by beginning that healthy conversation and staying committed to your fitness journey.

At this writing, we are half way thru year two and are still reaping wonderful results. As we finish up year two and move on to year three of our fitness journey together, the workouts might get a little tougher and the bantering back and forth might increase but then again, I'm sure the Boogie Babes are ready to handle it with a lot of laughs, a lot of smiles and a lot of good times had by all. Great job ladies!