Month: March 2015

Why should you buy through a Team Beachbody Coach?

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Right now we are facing a huge issue when it comes to people being overweight or obese in North America. This is a problem that needs to be addressed now to prevent further generations from falling into the same food trap.

We are surrounded by fast food, and we are constantly faced with advertising for junk food. It doesn’t help matters that the product marketers are evolving with the times and catching on to the health-conscious shift. They realize that a significant amount of people are trying to make healthier choices, and are now finding new ways to dupe customers into believing that their JUNK products are actually healthy. This leads to confusion and frustration among many people new to health and fitness. They try to buy what they believe to be healthy foods and avoid the obvious junk foods, but they still are unable to achieve the results that they were hoping for.

One of the primary reasons that it is important for people buying Beachbody fitness programs and/or products to purchase through a coach is that you receive their guidance. Team Beachbody coaches are FREE to customers. You do not pay for the support of your Team Beachbody coach. When you order through a coach, it means that you will gain access to their knowledge about Beachbody programs and products, as well as health and fitness in general. You always have someone at your disposal to contact if you are struggling with something, or if you have any questions.

Furthermore, purchasing through a coach solidifies your spot in a challenge group! What is a challenge group? Challenge groups are private Facebook groups for coaches and clients of coaches to interact on a daily basis. This was absolutely instrumental to my success when I first began this fitness journey, and it is a CRUCIAL element to any weight loss journey that is often overlooked. These groups provide you with a support system of individuals going through the same process as you and who understand the struggles that accompany this journey. You can post about your progress there and find encouragement and praise from others, or you can sit on the sidelines until you become more comfortable and simply use the others’ posts as motivation to keep on track with your own journey.

In addition, when you purchase directly through a Team Beachbody coach there will be a record of your purchase. This means that if, for any reason, you need a replacement DVD for a program or you have some kind of issue that needs solved by support, it will be far more easier to rectify with a valid record of the purchase. Beachbody is very good with doling out replacement disks when they get stolen or broken, but only when they are able to verify the purchase. Otherwise, people could take advantage of their generosity and simply pretend they purchased the program in an attempt to get a few free disks.

Can you get a number of Beachbody fitness programs online via Ebay or other similar websites? Sure. Can you get them from Wal Mart and other third party stores? Of course. Can you download them for free online via pirating websites? Absolutely!

This is why you SHOULDN’T:

  • You do not get the support of a Team Beachbody coach to answer any questions that you may have about the programs that you are about to do, any nutritional questions that may come up, any tips you may require to help you master the workouts, et cetera.
  • You do not get the support of a team Challenge Group and all of the motivation and accountability that they can provide. You also miss out on a wonderful sense of community with a group of like-minded individuals embarking on the same type of fitness journey as yourself.
  • You do not have the benefit of receiving replacement disks for any lost or damaged items.
  • You will not have a Team Beachbody Coach to consult in the future if you consider getting another program, which may end up costing you more money. As coaches part of what we do is directing our clients to the best value AND price to suit their individual goals and needs. Without the guidance of a coach that understands the company and current promotions, you may end up missing out on some savings by being uninformed about current specials.
  • You miss out on the FREE Bonus workout that typically comes with any fitness program purchased through a Team Beachbody coach!

It definitely makes a difference to have a coach, and I can say that from personal experience. I started with Team Beachbody as a customer almost two years ago now, but that was NOT my first attempt. I had tried P90X many times before, and I could never manage to make it past the first three weeks. By a stroke of pure luck, I came across a coach on Twitter in the beginning stages of this latest attempt. I connected with him, made the switch, and I immediately felt the difference.

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Fitness + Nutrition + Support = Success

When you buy Beachbody fitness programs you get the fitness and nutrition areas of that equation covered. You get the full fitness program on DVD’s or On Demand, plus a nutrition guide and meal plan equipped with recipes and all of the information that you need to make smart and informed decisions in the kitchen. The only missing element is the support, and that is exactly what you get with a Team Beachbody Coach.

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I became a coach because these fitness programs and products have helped me to lose 60 pounds, and I would love to watch them do the same for you. Click Here to make me your Team Beachbody Coach, and I will work with you to find the perfect program to suit your individual goals and needs.

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I look forward to coaching you, and seeing your epic transformation!

What was your excuse again?

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As I was catching up on the Dancing with the Stars premiere show, I was absolutely dumbfounded by one of the performances. Noah Galloway is a true inspiration for people all over the world. Not only is he a true hero, but he shows us all what it means to persevere through hardships and do things that nobody ever thought possible.

This performance actually made me tear up, and it really made me appreciate everything that I have taken for granted. It is a true blessing to be able to exercise on a daily basis, and he has had to learn how to do it without two of his limbs. If he can do that, the majority of the people out there saying “I can’t do that” for whatever reason – can do it too.

“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t – you’re right” Henry Ford  

I love this quote, and I think it is perfect here. Noah says in his highlight reel that what he lacks in limbs, he plans to make up for with hard work and determination. THAT is what it takes. Stop thinking you can’t do things, and start telling yourself that you can do things if you work hard enough! It might take a lot of practice, but eventually you can get there.

Bikini Bootcamp!

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Sometimes when I talk to people about my free Bikini Bootcamp they seem surprised. I’ve had people ask me “Why do you do it if you don’t make any money off of it”.

Well, pictures are worth a thousand words in this case. That photo right there is the reason that I do it without being paid. It is a truly amazing and humbling feeling to help people lose weight and feel better about themselves. I love my Bikini Bootcamp challengers, and I can’t wait to see their final results in two weeks!

I have another one starting April 6th, so fill out the form below if you would like more information. Spots are limited, and registration ends on March 27th. This is free – BUT – I do expect a full commitment to both the meal plan and the workout program for the entire month.

“You got hot!”

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Believe it or not, the changes in your physical appearance only represent a small percentage of the positive effects that you experience from regular exercise and clean eating. More important than appearance is the improvement in your health, self-confidence, self-worth, self-esteem, and a shift to a more positive mindset in general.

However, it does feel REALLY good to run into someone that you knew before you lost the weight and hear them say how great you look. Getting that positive feedback from someone who actually knew you when you were heavier really reinforces all of the hard work that you put in to lose the weight in the first place. You will then be motivated to continue on with whatever it was that you were doing to lose weight!

Click Here if you’re ready to maximize your weight loss potential and commit to a program!

I need your input!

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This is why I am content with my two businesses! First I have my regular in-person job for money, and then I make money on the side with my two businesses. My Beachbody business has the health and fitness avenue covered, because I drink my Shakeology daily and get my workouts in from various Beachbody fitness programs! I also have the benefit of being creative through Younique in experimenting with makeup and creating different looks. I absolutely love fooling around with different pigments and trying to create something new!

There is one more passion of mine that isn’t represented here though – TRAVEL! I adore what I do as a Beachbody Coach and a Younique presenter. I get to make money for working out, staying active, and playing with makeup! I joined both of these companies out of love and appreciation for the products, and a desire to share that love and appreciation with others. I had zero intention of joining any other company, but recently I was approached by someone in the travel industry.

I need advice!! I am strongly considering taking the plunge with a travel company to take care of that third passion I have for seeing the world. I have been itching to get back out there ever since I got back from Europe last summer, and the only thing that is stopping me is the money. I now have an opportunity in front of me to earn super cheap rates for travel all over the world, and to make money with the company at the same time as a travel agent.

My question for all of my followers is this: Do you think that I should take a chance on another business to satisfy my travel urges, or do you think that I should stick with what I’ve got? Sound off below on this thread with your opinion!

Are you a yo-yo dieter?

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I was one of those people who started and stopped repeatedly before something finally clicked in my head and I actually stuck with it . There comes a time when you realize that you just have to suck it up and work your butt off for what you want! For me, that time came when I was finishing my third year of university. I realized that I was about to enter into another graduating year. and I was quite a bit heavier than I had been in high school. I was miserable the year I graduated high school, and I spent much of the year by myself because I was too self-conscious about my weight to actually go to any of the events. I did not want to go through that again, so I decided to put my foot down and make a change.

Changing your habits isn’t easy, and I am not going to lie to you and tell you that it is. It is hard work physically, it is hard work in the kitchen, and it is hard work mentally and emotionally. You need to exercise regularly, eat clean 90% of the time, and deal with the mental battles you will face when it comes to temptation. You will also need to deal with the emotional ups and downs that comes along with a fitness journey. You are going to give in to temptation at some point, and you’ll feel guilty. You’re going to see progress and feel great. You’re also likely going to hit a plateau at some point or maybe even gain a few pounds back, and you’ll have to deal with the negative emotions that come along with that.

The important thing is not how many times you slip up or make a mistake, but in how many times to get back up and keep fighting. One bad day is not going to destroy your progress, but one good day is not going to help you achieve your goals. You just need to keep fighting the mental and emotional battles, keep on track with your nutrition 90% of the time, and keep working out regularly.

Slow progress is progress, so don’t give up! Each time you give up, you will just put the weight that you lost right back on. Then when you decide to get started again, you’ll have even more weight to lose. You need to remember that the time is going to pass regardless, so you may as well keep pushing toward your goals.

If you are ready to make the commitment to yourself and a healthier future, we should talk. Send me an email to hfmxj@stu.ca with the subject line “I’m ready to transform” to discuss the opportunity to be a part of a challenge group of individuals going through the same process!

Which body type do you prefer?

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Personally I am aiming for my own version of C! Tons of muscle definition, less body fat, but not too much muscle. This is my own personal view on what I want MY body to look like.

Every body is different and has different capabilities, so it is okay to visualize a certain goal, but you should not get caught up in looking exactly like that goal body type. Everyone can achieve great results and get fit bodies if they work hard with their workouts and in the kitchen, but your body type may give you a bit of a different look than the one for which you were aiming.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with any of these body types. These women all look great, and it is just a matter of personal preference. As women we need to support one another, not try to bring each other down. For example, I would not like to have as much muscle as the woman in photo D. That is something that she worked her butt off to accomplish, and it is something that she can be proud of.

Whatever your goal may be, just remember that everyone has their own personal preference for how they want to look. Someone else might want to look like the woman in photo d, and just because I personally would not like that on myself doesn’t mean that I respect her decision any less. Or maybe your preference is to look like the woman in photo b – others who prefer to look like a c or d should respect that personal choice.

As long as you are happy with your body, you shouldn’t allow the opinions of others to dictate your personal choice. Don’t change your goal based on what other people think! Those who matter don’t mind, and those who mind don’t matter. At the end of the day, just be yourself!

Click Here if you would like to make me your FREE Team Beachbody coach. I would love to work with you throughout your health and fitness journey!

Do your relationships hamper your progress?

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Don’t let other people tear you down. There are going to be people out there that are going to try to discourage you from making positive life changes and/or tell you that you can’t do it. This may even come from someone close to you, like a friend or family member. This hurts, but you can’t let them beat you down to their level.

If you’ve watched Extreme Weight Loss with Chris Powell over the years like I have, you’ll have learned that sometimes the people closest to us will try to prevent us from being successful on our journey simply because they aren’t ready to make those changes themselves. Sometimes they do it without even realizing it, and though they would never intentionally do something to hurt you, their subconscious wins the battle and they say or do things that can set you back.

Making the shift from junk food to healthy food and from inactivity to activity on a regular basis is not easy. It takes hard work and dedication. This process is made much more difficult if you don’t have a support system to lean on. For example, if you live with a spouse or significant other that doesn’t want to make healthier choices, or if your friends constantly invite you out to places where you’ll be tempted to eat poorly.

What I would recommend that you do moving forward is to start analyzing the people in your life. Think about the people that mean the most to you, and the people you spend the most time with. Once you’ve figured that out, you should then have an open and honest conversation with each of those people. Say, “listen, I have decided to start eating better and working out because it is very important to me that I get healthy and/or lose weight. As my family member/friend, I was really hoping that you would support me on this journey.”

If they are the type of person that says or does things that bring you down and work against your health and fitness goals, you can add something like “You are very important to me, and I don’t want to damage our relationship. However, I feel like you sometimes say and/or do things that make it more difficult for me to stick with my positive life choices. I would love for you to join me on this journey, but if you aren’t ready, I at least need that discouraging behaviour to stop. Otherwise I might have to take some time away from you for a while until these new life choices have had the chance to become habits”

This isn’t always an easy conversation to have, but it is important if you want to be successful. If you’re open and honest with them about what you want and how you are feeling, they will likely be open and honest with you in return. It may be just the push they need to agree to these changes themselves, and it could really strengthen your relationship. However, if they refuse to join you and they continue the negative behaviour, you really should consider taking some time away from that person to work on yourself. You need to surround yourself with positive people that support you and your health and fitness goals, otherwise your chances of being successful tend to dwindle.

As for household relationships, like children and/or spouses, think about who does the grocery shopping. Is it you? If so, just gradually start reducing the amount of junk food you have in the house! Your family might not like it at first, but if you replace the junk foods that they enjoy with some healthier options, they will get used to it over time.

You need to be a positive role model for your friends and family. SHOW them that it is possible to make these life choices and what kind of results can come from making those choices. Invite them to join you on your workouts. Talk to them about how you are feeling now that you have started this awesome journey, and make them want to join in.

If you have children, this is more important than ever, because children will model after you when it comes to food choice in most cases. If you constantly eat junk food and allow them to eat junk food, they are going to learn that junk food is good. If you don’t eat junk food regularly and you don’t keep junk food in the house or allow your kids to eat it regularly, they will learn that junk food is not good for you and that they can only have it as a treat once in a while. The problem is that many people are eating junk food ALL DAY every day. For example kids get sent to school with chips, cookies, fruit roll ups, lunchables, gummies, etc. Instead, send your kids to school with healthier snacks like fruit and veggies.

If you teach your children healthy habits early in their lives, they are less likely to become overweight or obese going into adulthood. I wish that I had been forced to learn healthy habits when I was a child, because I could have avoided all of the years that I spent depressed and in self-imposed isolation because of my weight.

Send me an email to hfmxj@stu.ca with the subject line “I’m ready to transform” if you would like to make me your free Beachbody Coach. I look forward to speaking with you, and I can’t wait to watch your mind and body transform over the course of your health and fitness journey.

Discontinuation Blow-out!

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Hey everyone! I just wanted to bring these two awesome programs to your attention. I am very sad to say that these two programs will no longer be produced by Beachbody. Unfortunately, this includes Beachbody On Demand. These programs will only be available as long as product already made are in stock, but once we sell out, both of these programs are gone for good. Take advantage of the discontinuation pricing and get these while you can!

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LES Mills Combat is honestly an amazing program. This is one of my go-to workouts if I am upset or angry about something. Maybe it is all the kicking and punching, but for some reason, I always feel so much better by the time I finish one of these workouts! One of the things that I love most about this program is that it is 100% gender-neutral. I find that some programs do tend to be more targeted toward one gender than the other, but this program has a perfect balance that I feel would be a great fit for both men and women. Click Here if you would like to watch a video preview.

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The results don’t lie! This program is awesome, and it really does get results. Combat is not for everyone though! There is a lot of jumping around, balancing, and core work in that fitness program. If you have any injuries or joint issues that keep you from doing that kind of high impact activity, LES Mills Pump could be more your style.

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This program includes the barbell and weights that you need to complete the program. Honestly when I first watched the preview for this program, I thought that there was no possible way that I could ever do that! After being involved with Beachbody for over 6 months, I decided to give it a try based on high rep/low weight fat burning method. I found that it is actually very doable, and the instructors show you how to modify every move so that you can gradually work up to doing it the way it was intended to be done. My mom struggles with knee and back pain, so she absolutely loved this program. It allowed her to get a great full body workout in without doing damage to her injuries from high impact activity. Click Here to watch a preview of this program.

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Ready to take advantage of the awesome sale pricing and start working on your health and fitness journey? Click Here to create your free Team Beachbody account, and send me an email to hfmxj@stu.ca with the subject line “LES Mills” for information on how to access the sale in either US or Canada.

I look forward to coaching you along this journey, and watching you transform!

Are you addicted to junk food?

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I saw a post from one of my challengers in my free Health and Fitness group yesterday, and I decided to make this blog post about it because I feel as though it is important. Anyone who has ever struggled with food addiction will understand this, and anyone who hasn’t, probably won’t. Some people may even find this notion completely ridiculous, but if you haven’t been through it, it would be hard to grasp. So, what is addiction anyway?

“A physical or psychological need for a habit-forming substance, such as a drug or alcohol” Dictionary.com

The idea here is that food can be an addiction much like alcohol, drugs, tobacco, gambling, etc. If you struggle with food addiction, chances are you have formed a habit of eating snacks as you watch television or movies. It can be so drilled into your mind that it is actually hard for you to sit through an entire show or movie without getting a snack of some sort. I struggled with this bigtime when I started my fitness journey, and I had to ease my way into eating healthy by still snacking at night with healthier options. It is not easy to change these habits, but just like any other addiction that is damaging to your health, you have to work at it to break these habits.

Maybe this kind of addiction isn’t as obvious or extreme as some of the others out there, but it is still detrimental to your health in the long run. From what I’ve read, it seems there are differing opinions on this topic from health professionals. However, having been through it, I strongly believe that eating can be a psychological addiction.

“A strong or harmful need to regularly have something (such as a drug) or do something (such as gamble)” Merriam Webster

In this case, the strong and harmful need factor would be applied to junk food, and the act would be considered eating. What a lot of people don’t seem to understand is that for many people struggling with weight issues, eating is more than fuel for our bodies. For some of us, eating is a form of comfort. We get sad, depressed, angry, frustrated, stressed out, et cetera, and we immediately head for the junk food. Sometimes this is completely subconscious behaviour, but we do it anyway. This ends up being a NEVER-ENDING cycle! You eat to make yourself feel better for negative emotions, and then you gain weight. The weight gain makes you feel even worse, so you go for the junk food again to feel better. You then gain more weight, eat more junk, and the cycle goes on and on and on until you put a stop to it.

“… most addictive behavior is not related to either physical tolerance or exposure to cues. People compulsively use drugs, gamble, or shop nearly always in reaction to being emotionally stressed, whether or not they have a physical addiction. Since these psychologically based addictions are not based on drug or brain effects, they can account for why people frequently switch addictive actions from one drug to a completely different kind of drug, or even to a non-drug behavior. The focus of the addiction isn’t what matters; it’s the need to take action under certain kinds of stress.” Psychology Today

What does this mean? Well, what this means to me is that it is possible for you to shift your “addiction” from food to fitness. It honestly worked for me, and I think it can work for everyone else too. Exercise releases endorphins into your brain, which ultimately makes you feel better overall! When I finish an intense workout, I usually feel refreshed. There have been many times when I’ve been upset or angry when I went down to do an intense cardio workout like Turbo Fire or Combat, and by the end of the workout, I felt a million times better than when I started.

If you start gradually decreasing your bad food habits and exercising on a regular basis, you WILL start to see results. You’ll start to feel better about yourself, you’ll sense the brain fog from all of the junk food start to lift, and you’ll start regaining your confidence as you lose weight from your positive life choices.

Are you ready to start working toward a happier and healthier life for yourself and your loved ones? If so, send me an email to hfmxj@stu.ca with the subject line “I’m ready to transform”.

I can’t wait to help you along your journey as your free coach, and I look forward to watching you transform!