One Year

I was looking over my "On This Day" on Facebook. A picture came up from a year ago, with my coach announcing how I was starting on my own journey as a Team Beachbody Coach.
This last year has been such a blur! Working through 21 Day Fix...realizing I am not a fan of 21 Day Fix Extreme...taking a HUGE step and discovering how much I LOVE Body Beast...attending my first SUPER SATURDAY...meeting and working out with supertrainer Chris Downing...making it through two rounds of Shift Shop...starting a program that utilizes ONLY body weight on Core De Force...
I am still working towards my goals...dropping inches...building muscle...I'm even getting ready to train for an amateur physique competition, something I NEVER thought I'd even consider going for...
I also know I am still learning...about building a business...building my character...building up others...
There are days when I wonder if I made the right choice last November...if I have what it takes to be a successful coach...if I will see a slight glimmer of hope that the work has not been in vain...
And then there are the days when people have told me that I am inspiring them...days when people ask me what I'm doing on this journey...days when people inspire me to keep going...keep pushing...those are the days that I really live for...
Even though I am still working on building this business, and that my hopes and dreams for my future have not yet been actualized, I have no doubt that they will come to fruition. Because of I've learned anything over this past year, it's that the very best seed will never come to maturity if you never plant and cultivate it.
If you'd like to find out more about being a Team Beachbody Coach, click the JOIN MY TEAM link...

What's Different?

Well, as much as it pains me, I'm still not ready to put additional stress on my ankle by working out for now. This is still a great opportunity for me to work on getting my eating habits more focused.

Previously, a situation like this would mean I'd be eating waaaaaay too much, and foods with a nutritional value similar to packing peanuts. One of the best choices I ever made was to make sure I don't have that stuff in the kitchen.

One of the surest ways to avoid sabotaging your fitness goals is to make sure your kitchen is stocked with items that are reinforcements to your mission.

Update

Well...it looks it's been awhile since I made an entry in my blog...

A few things have happened...

I completed 2 rounds of Shift Shop, which thoroughly kicked my BUTT...and I'm looking forward to doing it again...

For the first time, I completed 21 DAY FIX EXTREME, and I can honestly say, it will be the LAST (OY VEY!)

And on October 3, I started doing my first Beachbody program utilizing  NO DUMBBELLS! It came out late last year: an MMA--inspired program called CORE DE FORCE.

I was really enjoying the punches, kicks, knees, and elbows. I was plugging right along until...

I woke up on October 18, couldn't put any weight on my right ankle. After about an hour of perfecting my zombie walk, I got a ride to the local emergency room. After some x-rays, I found out my right ankle has some "erosive damage." As it turns out, my right ankle is pretty much missing that nice squishy cartilage to cushion it.

I'll find out on October 23 what the next steps are: medication or some sort of surgery.

In the meantime, I've been using this as an opportunity to get my eating habits dialed in, as well as refocusing my mind and spirit...

I know I'm still working on being the best coach I can be...on building my business...on improving myself...on inspiring others to achieve their own goals...

Why...

I am a Beachbody coach. I'm a Beachbody coach to provide a better income. I'm through with "robbing Peter to pay Paul." I will be able to give more, and to be able to be a blessing to others. I will be able to show my kids how it is possible to achieve any, and all, of your dreams.

I am a Beachbody coach. I will be my own boss. I will see MY dreams being fulfilled. I will work the hours I have set for myself. I will no longer follow the status quo of working my butt off to achieve someone else's goals. Stays quo is a Latin phrase, and Latin is a dead language!

I am a Beachbody coach. I will inspire others. I will show the world that goals are set to be DEMOLISHED! I will demonstrate the "good enough" will NEVER be good enough!

I am a Beachbody coach. I will spend time with my children. I will not have to use a vacation day to attend a band concert. I will be able to meet my son in Akron for coffee on a Tuesday afternoon. I will be able to have dinner with my kids on a Wednesday evening.

I am a Beachbody coach. I will invest the Saturdays I need to in order to attend Super Saturday. I will invest the time and money to attend Summit starting in 2018. I will give up trips to the coffee shop and mindless entertainment in order to build a successful business. I will be comfortable with being uncomfortable when sending invites on Facebook and Instagram. I will invest in print materials, including brochures and business cards to build my business.

I am a Beachbody coach. I am a part of a community of coaches. My team helps me by asking if I've sent my invites. My team helps me by asking how I'm implementing the personal development literature I'm listening to. My team helps me by asking where my daily posts are, particularly my workout, Shakeology, Challenge Group, and coaching opportunity posts. My team helps me by making suggestions on improving my posts.

I AM A TEAM BEACHBODY COACH!

Helpful hint for coffee drinkers...

If you have a goal to live a more healthy life, and you enjoy a cup of coffee, I would like to make the following recommendation...

DO NOT DRINK GAS STATION COFFEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The issue is not the beans or anything like that. The issue is how much crap you need to put into it to make it even halfway drinkable!

Can't Wait For Shift Shop!

This past Saturday, Beachbody's newest supertrainer hosted the first Coach Day at his facility in Canton, Ohio. (Being a Beachbody coach has so many benefits. Click on the JOIN MY TEAM link to find out how you can be one.)
This hour-long workout included a couple of exercises from Chris Downing's upcoming program, SHIFT SHOP.
I cannot WAIT for July when I'll be able to do the full workout!

Build Block done

Well, my first block of Body Beast has been completed.  The first four weeks of the program (it's actually 3 weeks, but a stomach hug put me out of commission for a week) challenged me. This is my first experience with a body building program. I learned where some of my preconceived limits were far too restrictive, and some were far too ambitious.
I know this was the foundation of what's to come...

Thoughts On My First Super Saturday

Got home a little while ago from my first Beachbody Super Saturday event. It was great meeting other coaches, hearing about what's coming up regarding Shakeology and new programs, and seeing how others are building their own Beachbody coach businesses.
However, the biggest takeaway for me was that this business is more than having an income. It's more than posting selfies. It's more than reading personal development. It's really about helping people. It's about meeting people where they are. It's about looking back and seeing how I've changed. It's about life.

The Beast Is Here!

Got my next Beachbody workout program in the mail yesterday. I'll be following Israeli bodybuilder Sagi Kalev though the Body Beast program.

It includes:
12 workouts on 4 DVD's. The workouts are in 3 phases:
Build- includes workouts for chest/triceps, legs, back/biceps, and shoulders. These workouts are the focus of the first 3 weeks of Body Beast.
Bulk- the BULK phase is 5 weeks. The workouts in this phase will be comprised of chest, legs, back, arms, and shoulders.
Beast- the last 3 weeks of Body Beast will include workouts from the first 2 phases, with the addition of a cardio workout, an ab workout, and a total body workout.
A workout calendar: This gives the workout schedule for both the HUGE BEAST plan, for adding muscle mass and the LEAN BEAST plan for definition. For this first round, I'll be following the LEAN plan.
The Book Of Beast: this program guide goes over recommended equipment, expectations, and safety tips. It also contains THE BODY BEAST EATING PLAN. It provides the formula for knowing how many calories you'll be consuming each day (3143 for me), as well as a breakdown of how many servings of veggies, proteins, fruits, carbs, healthy fats, seeds & dressings, and oils & but butters you'll need to succeed. It also shows how to incorporate the FIX PORTION CONTROL SYSTEM (you know I love my containers).

I'm looking forward to March 20 to start my journey to BEAST UP!

Veggie Scramble

Anyone who follows me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram have seen pictures of my veggie scrambles. I have these for breakfast because it's a great way to incorporate a few Fix containers into a meal. The recipe here can be adapted to fit your own fitness goals and tastes.


1 tsp coconut oil
1 green Fix container chopped tomatoes, topped off with pepper stir fry mix (ifound this at Save-A-Lot)
1 green Fix container pepper stir fry mix
1 green Fix container raw spinach
2-3 large eggs (each egg counts as .5 protein on the Fix Eating Plan)
1 orange Fix container milled flax seed
1 blue Fix container shredded cheddar cheese

1) Heat skillet over medium heat. Add coconut oil.

2) Add tomatoes, stir fry mix to skillet. Once they are tender, add spinach until spinach is wilted

3) In a small bowl, whisk together eggs and flax seed.

4) Add egg mixture to vegetables in skillet, mixing together as eggs cook

5) when eggs are almost done, add shredded cheese, folding into scramble.

Cin-illa coffee Shakeology

1 packet/scoop vanilla Shakeology
8 oz chilled coffee
1 tsp ground cinnamon
Ice

Blend until smooth

Peanut Butter Pumpkin Spice Latte Shakeology

8 oz chilled coffee
1 packet Café Latte Shakeology
1/2 cup pure pumpkin puree
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 Tbsp natural peanut butter
Ice

Place ingredients in blender until smooth.

295 calories
21.5 g protein
9 g dietary fiber
12.5 g sugar
9.5 g fat (0 trans fat)

If you're on the Fix Eating Plan, this would count as 1 Red, 1 Purple, and 3 teaspoons.

Peanut butter coffee Shakeology

Unfortunately, I could couldn't cone up with a better name...

Ingredients:
8 oz chilled coffee
1 serving (scoop or packet) vanilla Shakeology
1 Tbsp natural peanut butter
3-4 cubes of ice

Place ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth (Ultra Blend on my Nutri-Ninja works well)

This Shakeology beverage provides 19.5 grams of protein (16 from Shakeology and 3.5 from peanut butter) and 4 grams of dietary fiber (3 from Shakeology and 1 from peanut butter), while containing 225 calories (130/95), 5 mg cholesterol, 1.5 g of fat, and 240 mg of sodium...

My go-to cooking oil

Over the summer of 2015, I started blending coconut oil into my coffee each morning. Since that time, I still follow this practice. I also use it as a cooking oil, from my veggies scrambles to making homefries to cooking a chicken or pork stir-fry...

What you CAN do...

I'll be honest...

I'm terrible at pushups on my toes...

I'm not good at burpees...

I'd rather not do Pilates and yoga...

BUT...

I CAN do pushups on key knees...

And I CAN do burpees at a slower pace...

And I CAN lengthen and stretch my muscles out...

One of the best things about the programs I promote are the MODIFICATIONS

If you struggle with running a mountain climber, then you can step it out...

If your triceps don't allow you to do a straight-leg chair dip, bending your knees can help...

Through the end of February, Beachbody is offering a FULL YEAR of streaming their workout plans...

This allows you to try ANY of their workouts from your home, tablet, laptop, etc...

With the All Access Challenge Pack, you also receive...

Your first month's shipment of Shakeology, a superfood shake powder...

A set of Fix Eating Plan containers and guide...

All of this is available for $199 through the end of February...

It's not a diet!

I have had people ask me how my diet is going. I tell them I'm not on a diet. I just eat good real food in the proper portions.

That is one benefit to the Beachbody All-Access Challenge Pack! In addition to being able to stream ANY Beachbody workout and getting you first month of superfood shake mix, you get a set of Fix Eating Plan containers.  These containers help you show the proper portion sizes for vegetables, fruits, proteins, carbs, healthy fats, and seeds and dressings. It takes the guesswork out of making sure you're eating the proper portions.