Turbo Fire Test Offer

Just in time for the holidays, there is another great deal on Turbo Fire. Here are the details from Beachbody:

What is the test price?

• $79.90 for customers
• $71.90 for Team Beachbody Club Members
• $59.93 for Coaches

When will the TurboFire deal be available?
You will begin to see the new offer in the Team Beachbody Shop starting tomorrow. By Friday, December 14th, all updates should be live. 

Where can I find it?

You can find the offers in the Team Beachbody "Shop" under TurboFire

What is included in this TurboFire configuration?

• 12 Smokin' Hot Classes on 5 DVDs
• Fire Starter
• Low HIITs: Low HIIT 20 & Low HIIT 25
• Fire HIITs: Fire 30, Fire 40, Fire 45, Fire 55
• Extreme HIITs: HIIT 15, HIIT 20, HIIT 25
• Abs 10
• Stretch 10
• Quick Start Guide
• Fuel the Nutrition Guide
• Class Schedule
• Instant Online Access to the first workout
• 24/7 Online Support

Is there anything different?
The workouts included in this offer do NOT require any equipment--all you need is a good workout space, quality shoes, a towel and water. 

How can I connect with the offer?

Same as always! Visit my coach website here

This is once again a great price on a wonderful, fun program. If you plan on making a New Years Resolution to get fit, TurboFire can help. As always, if you have any questions, just contact me through this site or at ogmommy10@gmail.com.

Black Friday/Cyber Monday Sale

At 9:00AM EST, Beachbody is offering you special Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals on select programs and products! The offers are available while supplies last. The sale officially will end Tuesday at 12:00 AM EST.

Below is a list of the programs that will be on sale. There are huge discounts on some great programs!

You will want to participate in these great deals! Best part? No lines and crazy crowds to fight to get the savings. Sit in the comfort of your own home and click here or follow this link to get the specials prices!

http://www.teambeachbody.com/shop/holidayoffer?referringRepId=130211


Give yourself and your family a great gift this holiday season: a healthy YOU!

And remember, contact me if you need more information or help finding the right product to reach your fitness goals.

Turbo Fire Sale!

Turbo Fire is $53 for today only while supplies last. There are a total of 5,000 copies for sale, so grab yours FAST!

This has been an update from your friendly Beachbody Coach! Go to beachbodycoach.com/angelicam88 to order yours now!

Shakeology vs Body by Vi

Don't shoot the messenger if you are a Visalus fan! I am just stating facts. This is all based on research and input from people who are far more knowledgeable than I. What I do know for 100% certain: Shakeology WORKS. And I'm about to share with you why it is an awesome choice. And remember, you can try Shakeology for an ENTIRE MONTH and get a 100% refund if you don't love it. You will love it anyway, but you have nothing to lose this way. Our bottom of the bag guarantee is a one-of-a-kind and a killer offer.

I also highly recommend checking out the "Food for Thought" at the bottom of this post. It has great information to consider on top of the comparison.

Shakeology VS Body by Vi

Cost

Body by Vi- $49.00-$249.99 per month, depending on which “level” of program you buy.

 

 Shakeology- $89.95-119.95 per month

 

Servings

Body by Vi-They recommend taking 2 shakes per day plus their brand of snacks (not included in price)

 

 Shakeology-One shake per day. We want you to eat real food.

This is not a “diet” but a lifestyle change.... “Real” food is important.

 

Cost per serving

Body by Vi-$1.50 each. $3.00 for two shakes daily. Up to $8.30 per day if you buy their higher end package. Remember-snacks cost extra.

 

Shakeology-$3.50-4.10 per day

 

Supplements

Body by Vi-20 supplements worth

 

Shakeology-38 supplements worth

 

Guarantee?

Body by Vi-30 day money back

 

Shakeology-30 day money back

 

Diabetic friendly?

Body by Vi-Yes but no evidence of low glycemic index mentioned

 

 

Shakeology - Yes. In addition to being lower in sugar, we are low in the glycemic index.

 

 

 

Artificial sweeteners? Refined sugars?

Body by Vi-Yes-sucralose. Google sucralose and the arsenic connection for more information about how bad this stuff is for you.

 

 

Shakeology - Not a one!

 

Multiple flavors?

Body by Vi- No, only their sweet cream flavor

 

 

Shakeology- Yes,Chocolate (my favorite!), Tropical and Greenberry

 

What can you add to it?

Body by Vi-Their brand of mix flavors plus milk, fruit

 

 

Shakeology-Whatever you want! Peanut butter, fruit, milk, almond milk. Soy milk, water, coffee, peppermint flavor, vanilla flavor, sugar free jello pudding flavors-the possibilities are endless!

 

What about digestive health?

Body by Vi- Prebiotics included. 100% dietary fiber included. (Just be aware that if you eat something later that is high in fiber, you may end up gassy with diarrhea as too much fiber can cause this, in addition to cramping.)

 

 

Shakeology- Prebiotics/probiotics included. 12% of dietary fiber included. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables to get your 100% daily fiber intake or if you have difficulty, you can add fiber to the shake.

 

 

Nitty gritty nutrition

Body by Vi- Fat in grams 1g

Sugar-

Carbs- 7 grams*

Calories-90 calories*

Sodium-75mg

Protein-12g

 

 

 

Shakeology- Fat in grams

Sugar-11 grams*

Carbs-19 grams*

Calories-140 calories*

Sodium-95mg

Protein-15g

 

Calories

Body by Vi-90 calories plus what you add

 

 

Shakeology-140 calories plus what you add

 

Caffeine free?

Body by Vi-Not sure sure as it depends on which level program you use/buy. The simple shale mix alone does bit include caffeine but if you are consuming/using everything in their $249.99/month package required to be an active BBV rep, you drink neuro formula which does have caffeine in addition to using other pills with caffeine that goes by the natural ingredient names.

 

 

Shakeology- Chocolate=18mg (found in the cocoa)/ Greenberry=None/ Tropical Strawberry= Gluten Free

 

Proteins

Body by Vi-“High quality” “Tri-sorb” protein

(This is a term that they invented. Whey protein is whey protein point blank. When you start changing molecules, you can no longer call it a protein. This is a marketing gimmick.)

 

 

Shakeology-High quality whey protein

 

Ingredients

Body by Vi-“not as many, sometimes less is more”

**The above quotes are from link #2 below.

Contains Milk and Soy

Lactose and Gluten free

23 vitamins/minerals

Vitamin A Vitamin C Calcium Iron Vitamin D Vitamin E Vitamin K thiamin Riboflavin Niacin Vitamin B6 Folate Vitamin B12 Biotin pantothenic acid Phosphorus Iodine Magnesium Zinc

Selenium Copper Manganese Chromium Molybdenum, FibersolTM, AminogenTM, Soy Protein Isolate, Digestive Resistant Maltodextrin (from FibersolTM),Whey Protein Hydrolysate,Whey Protein Concentrate, DiCalcium Phosphate, Sunflower Oil, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Medium Chain Triglycerides, Maltodextrin, Gum Arabic, Xanthan Gum, Sodium Caseinate, DiMagnesium Phosphate, Magnesium Oxide, Soy Lecithin, Mono and Diglycerides, Patented Protease (from AminogenTM), DiPotassium Phosphate, Sucralose, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin E Acetate, Chromium Amino Acid Chelate, Molybdenum Amino Acid Chelate, Selenium Amino Acid Chelate, Biotin, Vitamin A Palimate, Niacinamide, Potassium Iodide, Zinc Oxide, Copper Gluconate, Calcium Pantothenate, Cyanocobalamin, Manganese Sulfate, Cholecalciferol, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Thiamin Mononitrate, Riboflavin, Phytomenadione and Folic Acid.

 

 

Shakeology-70+ high quality ingredients

 

 

23 vitamins/minerals

Various fruit extracts (acerola, camu-camu, pomegranate, bilberry, blueberry, acai, Goji, Cordyceps, Rose Hips, Maitake, Reishi, Citrus bioflavonoids, Gingko), Whey protein, Chromium, Hydrilla, Apple pectin, Flax seed meal, Chia seed meal, Blue green algae, Spinach powder,oatgrass, wheatgrass, Barley grass, Grape seed extract, cinnamon, natural vanilla flavor, chocolate powder, cocoa powder, xanthum gum, ,guar gum, pea fiber. Also contains an enzyme blend to assist digestion (amylase, papain, cellulose, lactase, lipase, protease, and bromelain)

(Greenberry)

Vitamin A (as beta-carotene) 5000 IU 100%

Vitamin C (as ascorbic acid) 180 mg 300%

Vitamin D (as cholecalciferol) 200 IU 50%

Vitamin E (as d-alpha tocopheryl succinate) 15 IU 50%

Vitamin K1 (as phytonadione) 40 mcg 50%

Vitamin B1 (as thiamin HCL) 1.5 mg 100%

Vitamin B2 (as ribofl avin) 1.3 mg 77%

Vitamin B3 (as niacin) 5 mg 25%

Vitamin B6 (as pyridoxine HCL) 2 mg 100%

Folic acid 200 mcg 50%

Vitamin B12 (as cyanocobalamin) 6 mcg 100%

Biotin 90 mcg 30%

Pantothenic acid (as d-calcium pantothenate) 5 mg 50%

Calcium (as dicalcium phosphate) 500 mg 50%

Iron (as ferrous fumarate) 4.5 mg 25%

Phosphorous (as dicalcium phosphate) 250 mg 25%

Iodine (as kelp) 52 mcg 35%

Magnesium (as oxide) 80 mg 20%

Zinc (as zinc oxide) 6 mg 40%

Copper (as copper oxide) 0.8 mg 40%

Manganese (as manganese amino acid chelate) 2 mg 100%

Chromium (as chromium amino acid chelate) 60 mcg 50%

Molybdenum (as sodium molybdate) 30 mcg 40%

Whey protein (isolate) 15 g †

PROPRIETARY SUPER-FRUIT BLEND: 2075 mg †

Acerola powder (fruit), Camu-Camu powder (fruit), Pomegranate

powder (fruit), Bilberry powder (fruit), Blueberry powder (fruit),

Lycium (Goji) powder (berry), Açai powder (berry), Cordyceps,

Maitake powder, Reishi powder, Citrus biofl avonoids, Rose Hips

powder (fruit), Schisandra powder (berry), Suma powder (root),

Gingko powder (leaf).

Amount Per Serving % Daily Value**

PROPRIETARY FRUIT POWDER BLEND: 1500 mg †

Banana powder, Carrot powder, Orange powder,

Pineapple powder, Raspberry powder, Strawberry powder.

Maca powder (root) 1000 mg †

Sacha inchi (Plukenetia volubilis) meal 1000 mg †

Yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) powder 1000 mg †

Flax (seed) meal 700 mg †

Chia (seed) meal 500 mg †

Chlorella 350 mg †

Spirulina 350 mg †

Hydrilla 300 mg †

Apple fi ber powder 250 mg †

Astragalus powder (root) 200 mg †

Blue green algae 200 mg †

Spinach powder 200 mg †

MSM (methylsulfonylmethane) 150 mg †

Pea fi ber 150 mg †

Quinoa (sprouted) 150 mg †

PROPRIETARY NONDAIRY 150 mg †

PROBIOTIC BLEND:

Bifodobacterium longum, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus

acidophilus DDS-1, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Lactobacillus casei,

Streptococcus thermophilus.

PROPRIETARY ENZYME BLEND: 130 mg †

Amylase, Papain, Cellulase, Lactase, Lipase, Protease, Bromelain.

Ashwagandha powder (root) 100 mg †

Barley grass 100 mg †

Kamut grass 100 mg †

Oat grass 100 mg †

Wheat grass 100 mg †

Stevia 75 mg †

Amaranth (sprouted) (Amaranthus hypochondriacus) 50 mg †

Grape seed extract (seed, 95% proanthocyanins) 50 mg †

Green tea decaffeinated extract 50 mg †

(leaf, 50% polyphenols)

Holy basil powder (leaf) 50 mg †

** Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

† Daily Value not established

OTHER INGREDIENTS: Fructose, xantham gum, natural strawberry and raspberry fl avors, guar gum, natural vanilla fl avor, and cinnamon powder.

Shakeology is gluten free and caffeine free.

 

 

 

 

Links to check out:

 

 

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20071226172658AAlRm88

 

 

http://my-body-by-vi.com/weight-loss-product-comparisons-to-the-body-by-vi-challenge/weight-loss-protein-shakes-challenge-beachbody-shakeology-vs-visalus-body-by-vi-shape-nutritional-shake/

 

The first link brings about some great points, whereas the second link is full of opinions of that person who also happens to sell Body by Vi.

 

 

**Food for Thought:

FACT: The RDA for calories is 2000kcal/day. We all know that in order to lose weight you need to burn more than you take in. THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU GO EXTREMELY LOW IN YOUR CALORIC INTAKE! When you go below 1200-1300 calories per day, you put your body into starvation mode, thus shifting your metabolism to SLOW DOWN and burn calories more slowly. If you were to take in just two “Body by Vi” shakes (without additives) daily plus a regular meal (let’s assume that meal is around 350 calories), plus two 100 calorie snacks, you’ll only be taking in 550 calories. Why is it so low in calories? They simply aren’t offering you the fuel you need to get through the day. By skimping on glucose (essential for your brain to function) and other carbohydrates (4 calories per carb), they can offer you lower calories. Offering a 90 calorie shake sounds good on paper, but in practice this simply does not make sense. By reducing your carbohydrate intake, you will essentially cause your body to begin burning proteins instead of carbohydrates like it is supposed to. Why is this bad? The main source of protein that your body will have will not be an adequate amount of protein found in a BBV shake. Instead your body will begin to degrade the proteins in your muscle. Because your body is not supposed to use its own proteins for fuel, large waste protein byproducts are made which must then be flushed out of your body. These waste protein byproducts are known as “ketones” and require a great amount of water to be flushed out. Because of this fact, you will start to urinate a lot, excreting a great amount of water weight. If you do not properly hydrate, then you will easily become dehydrated. After a few days, you’ll be fatigued and cranky. This is because: 1. Your body won’t be getting the energy it needs to run properly. 2. You’ll be dehydrated. (Fatigue is a symptom of dehydration.) 3. You’re in starvation mode.

What I like about the shakeology is the design of the program. It’s easy. You drink one shake a day and make healthy choices. You can make the shake how YOU like it. You get to eat REAL FOOD-not a processed snack made by a company to sell. Fruits and vegetables are encouraged. It’s up to YOU. You are encouraged to exercise while on shakeology. THERE IS NO MAGIC PILL OR POWDER THAT CAN TAKE THE WEIGHT OFF! It comes off with hard work, behavior modification, and patience. Any program that promises you instant results may cause you to initially lose a few pounds, but as time goes on you’ll gain the weight back and only end up losing money.

 

 

Again the choice is up to you. If you do not wish to use Shakeology in your plans to lose weight, then that’s ok. Beachbody coaches are not here to “push” products. We inform you of what we have available which has helped us and may help you. You make the choice that best suits your lifestyle and goals. Please contact me for more information! I look forward to hearing from you. 

Update on My Routine

Just came back from our apartment complex gym! With the weird weather I didn't want to do my usual walk in the park. So after Hubby came home and while Little Bit was sleeping, I went to walk

I feel great! My usual walking track isn't that strenuous so I pushed up the incline today and really felt the burn in my upper thighs. I did since light arms after my walk to end my workout. Just because I can't do Insanity or P90X doesn't mean I'm not going to try to stay on track and motivated to be healthy!

Sorry about the jiggly camera I was still waking when I took the picture!

COMBAT! Pre-Order

I must admit, even though my favorite program is Insanity and I am looking forward to getting back in to that routine post-baby, I would love to try the new program that is coming out from Beachbody. Les Mills COMBAT is now available for Pre-Order! 

So first of all, what is COMBAT?

-This is the ultimate mixed martial arts-inspired workout program! Get ready to punch, kick, block, and strike your way to an outrageously shredded body with 7 calorie-blasting and muscle-defining workouts. 

How will it help your body?

-COMBAT combines calorie burning moves and sequences from six different martial arts disciplines with High-Intensity Interval training. It will help give you a lean chiseled look but not a bodybuilder physique. (I don't know about you, ladies, but I don't exactly want to look like a body-builder. 

How long is the program?

-LES MILLS COMBAT is a 60-day program that like P90X can be followed with three different calendars. There is the Introductory Combat Warrior Calendar, the Intense Supreme Warrior Calendar, or the Ultimate Warrior Calendar. There are seven different workouts, each lasting approximately 30-60 minutes. 

Find out even more here and on Facebook from this link. 

If you are interested in trying the program, I definitely recommend pre-ordering it via my Beachbody site. If you pre-order by December 3, 2012, you receive FREE shipping! You also receive free gifts when you order through me. You receive a free bonus workout--LES MILLS COMBAT 30: LIVE. If you pre-order, you will not be charged until shipment. If you order by December 13, 2012, you will receive your order on Christmas Eve, just in time to put it under the tree!

Remember, coaches receive all products for 25% less! And Active Duty Military can become a coach absolutely FREE! Contact me for more info on becoming a coach.

Give it a shot! Email me today!

What's Your Excuse?

This is going to be a short post, but mostly just to give you some food for thought! I am pretty sure I have said some of this before. There are so many reasons to become healthier and improve your quality of life. But why wouldn't you?

I have a whole list of reasons I could decide not to work out right now:

• Pregnant
• Deployed Husband
• Two science classes
• Toddler
• Tired
• Have housework
• Still feel sick some days

I'm sure if I sat here longer, I'd have more excuses as to why I could skip working out. For a while I did take a break. But now I am back on the wagon! Most days I park as far away from my class building as possible. I have started minor weights again. On sunny days, I am going to start taking my daughter to the park in her jogging stroller and walking a few miles each day.

Instead of focusing on the excuses to not exercise, I choose to focus on the reasons that I should! 

• Prevent certain ailments later in life, like heart disease
• Stay at a healthy weight, even during pregnancy
• Boost endorphins. As the chick on "Legally Blonde" said, "endorphins make you happy! And happy people don't kill people!" 
• Keep metabolism going strong
• Have a healthier pregnancy, and hopefully a quicker recovery after delivery

So really, what is your excuse to not work out? Instead of choosing your excuse for the day, chose to be healthy in spite of your reasoning! If you can say " I had a busy, tiring day, but I still found time to workout and do something for me!" then the feeling of accomplishment will be almost as uplifting as the exercise itself was!

So go ahead, get out of your chair and go pick a workout. Remember to send me a message if you need a suggestion for a program to start. 

Shakeology Recipes

One of the wonderful things about drinking Shakeology every morning was that it never had to be the same twice. It comes in powder form, so you can put it in a variety of liquids and ad a lot of different ingredients to make it interesting! After just a few weeks, I had favorite "formulas" I had tried. I could make it like a milkshake, a dessert, or even a fruity combination with chocolate.

Now mind you, most of my experience is with the Chocolate Shakeology. I didn't get to try Strawberry for long before I was pregnant, and Greenberry is not my favorite (it is all a matter of preference, of course. Some people love Greenberry).

My personal favorite was simple, and it is what I tell everyone to start with. I get about 12 ounces of milk (for me, it is Lactose Free Skim Milk), some crushed ice, and a scoop of Shakeology. I mix it all in a blender and to me it tastes like a milkshake. Simple, easy, and delicious. You can also try adding some Sugar Free, Fat Free Vanilla Pudding mix in with your shake. It makes it extra creamy and smooth.

Another favorite of mine has to be with bananas and peanut butter. I would cut up a banana and freeze it in a Ziploc bag when they were nice and ripe--not like getting black kind of ripe, but the nice pretty yellow color that means they are just right. In the morning for my shake, I would break out half of a banana, and throw in a tablespoon of all natural peanut butter. Don't use Peter Pan or Jif, please! Those have a lot of sugar and additives. I mean get the stuff that you have to refrigerate after opening and use before a certain date. I added those to the milk and Shakeology scoop. It was definitely thicker, but it was like a sort of banana split.  You can totally do banana split, by the way.

I loved adding Strawberries to my shakes when they were in season. You can freeze them if you want. I would forget to freeze my strawberries. Go figure! I remembered to cut up and freeze bananas but never the strawberries. Maybe because the bananas sit on the counter to ripen and I put strawberries in the fridge. Anyway, I digress. The strawberries and chocolate shake were perfect together.

There are so many things you can try. Some people add honey in to their shakes. For a seasonal drink, try adding pumpkin. There are a lot of different recipes on my Shakeology Site. You are getting nutritional value, a healthy start to your day, losing weight, and drinking something enjoyable. 

Take the New Beachbody Challenge!

Before today, you might have heard of the Beachbody Challenge. If you haven't, you have a chance to submit a before and after picture on the Team Beachbody site for a chance to win $500 in a monthly prize. Well now Beachbody has announced that they are saying goodbye to the old program, and ushering in a new contest!

Instead of a weekly challenge, you now have the chance to win in a Daily Beachbody Challenge Contest. Here are the details:

What 's the difference?

No more random winners. With the new contest, our expert panel of Beachbody Challenge judges will select an "inspirational story of the day" to win the $500. Real people. Real results. Real winners. How awesome is that?

What does it mean for you?

The new contest gives you more incentive to submit your results. It also means you'll have a new success story to share on Facebook, Twitter, and beyond every single day. You'll never run out of inspiration (or chances to win).

What are the benefits and opportunities?

You can win $500, be recognized on a major Web site, and inspire thousands of others just for reaching your own goals. It will also help you stay motivated and on track!

Want to see the winners from July? Click here to be inspired!

I hope to see some of you on there in the future! Contact me for Shakeology, Workout Programs, or a Challenge Pack to get started. (I highly recommend a Challenge Pack if you are just starting out, by the way!)

And sorry about the odd formatting folks! Blogger doesn't seem to like it when I copy and paste from the Beachbody Coach page. It tends to do funny things to my text.

Shakeology Change

If you have tried Shakeology before (or even if you haven't) there is some news! The company wants you to stay informed of these changes, so below I will have copy and pasted the release from Beachbody regarding the changes. Since my current doctor told me to not drink it during pregnancy, I haven't tried the new formula yet. But rest assured, if I have the opportunity to try it once I get a new doctor, I will update you on what I think of the new formula. OR you can try it yourself, there is always the "Bottom of the Bag Guarantee"--In short, if you don't like it, even after you have consumed the entire bag, you can still get all of your money refunded to you.

So without further ado, here is the information:

Why did they change the formula?

We decided to upgrade the formula with 4 new superfoods and a whole host of other improvements. The original chocolate launched 3 years ago and development started 2 years before that. In the past 5 years there have been a lot of discoveries of new superfoods and improvements made in sourcing key ingredients. We wanted you to have the very latest, healthiest shake possible. We’re in the business of making health shakes not liquid candy.

What exactly did they change in the new formula?

• LESS FRUCTOSE-Yes, fructose is natural, but bottom line: it’s sugar.  We reduced the fructose and added the sweet Superfoods Coconut Flower Nectar and Luo Han Guo. 
• MORE FIBER-Fiber increased from 3g to 6g due to the addition of pea protein
• More fiber is good news:  will help you feel full even longer, better for digestion and can also help with cholesterol
•  4 NEW SUPERFOODS-
• Moringa is rich in Vitamin C, Calcium, Vitamin A, Protein, Potassium and Iron. Moringa has antiPinflammatory and anti bacterial properties and is known to promote energy, vitality, athletic performance, and weight loss while boosting the immune system, and protecting against disease.
• Coconut,Flower,Nectar and Luo,Han,Guo are superfoods that are naturally sweet and lend natural sweetness to Shakeology.
• Coconut Flower Nectar is high in potassium, magnesium, zinc, and iron and contains 17 amino acids plus is a natural source of B vitamins.
• Luo Han Guo has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for more than a millennium due to its antioxidant properties and immunePsupporting benefits.
• Himalayan,salt is a healthy salt, containing more than 70 trace minerals
• Plus we incorporated the improvements we made from Tropical:
• More concentrated grasses. We’re using grass juice powders. The grasses are first pressed  into juices—which allows us to concentrate the nutrients more—then the juice is dried down to a powder.
• Better strain of probiotics
• No suma root or blue-green algae

Why is there brown rice protein and pea protein?

It adds fiber and helps ease digestion of protein.

The new formula has less sugar. Will it still prevent my junk food cravings?

Yes, it’s not just the sugar that kills your craving it’s feeding your body with all the right nutrients.

Why is there more sodium? What is Himalayan Salt? Why was it added into the new Chocolate Shakelogy formula?

Salt and sodium are necessary in our diets. Unfortunately, common table salt has been stripped of its natural minerals and only iodine has been added back in. Himalayan salt is completely natural, relatively  untouched, and as a result, still contains over 70 trace minerals. All these natural minerals found in Himalayan salt actually make this salt healthy for you. Keep in mind that the RDA is 2400 mg. People who follow a low sodium diet generally restrict sodium to as low as 1500mg/day. So at 150mg, Chocolate Shakeology only represents 10% of the recommended daily intake.

Is the new chocolate superfood formula gluten-free?

Just like the original formula, the new Shakeology chocolate superfood formula does not contain any Gluten-based ingredients and we make every effort to prevent any ingredients with gluten from coming into direct or indirect contact with our products.  However, because of our high standards we do not feel it is appropriate to make a gluten-free claim since Shakeology is produced in facilities that also handle gluten-based ingredients.  If you have a concern about gluten it is best to consult your doctor before making any dietary changes

Confession Time!

Well the first thing I need to do is tell some wonderful news. You probably already know this news if you know me. I am 12 weeks pregnant with our second baby! Yay for R&R babies!

So my idea during this pregnancy was to stay fit. I received the all-clear from my doctor to continue Insanity as long as I was able to do so. And for the first six weeks, it was pretty easy. I wanted to be one of those pregnant women who could say "I was active my entire pregnancy." or at least her legs and arms still looked toned! I worked so hard to get here, and while I am not in denial and know that I am going to gain about 25 pounds (if not more) while pregnant, I wanted to do it the healthy way. The doctor told me that I had to give up my Shakeology (boo!) but hey, at least I could work out and hopefully eat decently.

Well after six weeks, I started getting dizzy if I did the quick bending down motions of Insanity. So I switched to P90X--still intense, but not as much and nothing like suicide drills. Then morning sickness began to rear its ugly head. At first it was just in the day time. By evening I could eat dinner, so I at least tried to continue with my weight routines from P90X. The fatigue that occurs with the first trimester was slowly starting to hit me as well, and that did not help me to keep up like I wanted to.

Finally, two weeks ago, my nausea started lasting all day long. No sea bands, ginger gum, or lemonade could make it subside enough to eat a decent meal. My morning sickness would ebb at 9PM, meaning that is when I would finally be able to eat. Other than that, there was just no fuel in my tank to get started in a workout at any point in the day.

So here I am, twelve weeks pregnant, and my workouts have temporarily stopped. I say temporarily because once this period of extreme morning sickness finally leaves me, I am going to start exercising again. I can't get back into P90X and Insanity is definitely not going to happen for the next 28 weeks, but I do want to doing a workout routine again soon. The muscle tone in my arms and legs has greatly diminished the past couple of weeks. I have lost more weight, but only because the morning sickness has been so terrible that I have lost weight unwillingly due to my inability to eat anymore. (Not a great way to ever lose weight!)

I would be lying if I said I didn't feel like a failure at the moment. I had become so healthy, lost so much weight, and had become involved in a great routine and a wonderful program. I know that when you are pregnant, your body doesn't always cooperate with your desires. But I am so disappointed that I couldn't live up to my own expectations on this round.

So wish me luck. Hopefully the morning sickness has only gotten temporarily worse and will subside in the next couple of weeks. I am hoping to at least start Tai Cheng and walking to start getting back in to a routine. If anything else, I know that once I have this baby, I am capable of getting back in shape. I have done it once before, and I can do it again. I won't let myself reach the point I had before, where I was overweight and in desperate need of a lifestyle change, so at least I can be thankful for that. 

Beachbody Challenge Trial

So admittedly, the programs and the products with Beachbody can be a little pricey. To me, it is worth it for the results that I have seen. But to someone who is hesitant about trying it because other products have failed them in the past, the price is a good reason to hold off on trying it. And if you want to try Shakeology and P90X at the same time, well the price can be a bit daunting

But for the rest of the month of July, you can try Brazil Butt Lift, P90X, or Turbo Fire in a challenge pack for just $14.95. In a Challenge pack, a month of the Shakeology flavor of your choice is included in the shipment. You also get 30 Days VIP membership to the Beachbody site. After 30 days, you can return it if you don't like your results (which I can guarantee you will).

You have THIRTY days to try it for a low price. If you want to return it, then you have spent less than a gym membership on a month's worth of Shakeology and the ability to use a program for a month.

There is pretty much nothing left to lose. In fact, you have so much to gain. You can take back your body and improve your health.

Contact me to find out more. You can either click one of my handy links, send me a message, or comment below on this thread. I will get in touch with you ASAP.

What is Shakeology?

So if you are my friend on facebook, you have seen my statuses about Shakeology. I also have a shirt I wear that advertises it as "The Healthiest Meal of the Day." Both of these conversation starters lead to one main question: What is Shakeology?

Basically, Shakeology is a meal replacement shake loaded with essential vitamins and minerals. You drink it in place of a meal and workout three times a week at least with a healthy and balanced diet. Shakeology eliminates toxins that are in your body and at the same time helps your body to more effectively absorb needed nutrients.

Basic Nutrition

• Protein and Essential Amino Acids
• Build and Repair muscles
• Reduce hunger and cravings
• Prebiotics and Digestive Enzymes
• Aids digestion
• Increase absorption of nutrients
• Antioxidants
• Boost immune system
• 23 Vitamins and Minerals
• 100% of your daily intake of Vitamin A. Vitamin A is important for our immune systems, vision, and cell growth. It also makes an individual more energized, one of the many benefits of drinking Shakeology.  
• 300% of your daily requirement of Vitamin C! Don't worry, Vitamin C is water soluble, so any extra your body does not need it will get rid of easily. 
• 50% of your daily requirement for Calcium. Let's prevent that osteoporosis ladies!

Personal Experience

So now I can tell you what other people say about Shakeology, or even what Doctors have said about it. But you can find all of that just by looking at my Shakeology link on the top of this page. Instead, maybe I should tell you what Shakeology has done for me personally.

Before January, I was losing weight. I was doing P90x four or five times a week and losing weight. But I still felt bloated most of the time. I wasn't eating like I should have been as often as I needed to. In January, my Beachbody coach Kari got me to try Shakeology for a month. (After all, there is a bottom of the bag guarantee, so what do I have to lose?) In just one month, I noticed a huge difference.

I lost a lot of the bloated feeling that I had before. Ladies: That pooch in your tummy that just feels like it won't go away no matter how hard you try? Mine became smaller.

I was more energized. It is hard to get up and workout when you don't feel like you have the energy. Yes, exercising itself helps to give you some energy. But I just felt like it gave me the extra push I needed to work out.

I ate breakfast! Okay, I am going to confess that I hate breakfast, usually. I wake up and I just don't want to eat. Eggs make me feel nauseous. And how many breakfast foods are loaded with sugar and bad carbohydrates? So first thing in the morning, after I have gotten my daughter's breakfast ready and fed the cat, I put 12 ounces of milk, crushed ice, and the shakeology in a blender and mix it all together.  It tastes like a chocolate shake. And it's light. I think that is my biggest problem with breakfast food. I wake up and I do not want a heavy meal first thing in the morning. 

I lost a lot of my cravings. Somehow, I don't want an unhealthy snack the rest of the day. It's like somehow, the cravings for things like chocolate and snack cakes was just gone.

I lost weight more efficiently.  Maybe it was the increased energy that let me work out as often as I should have. Maybe it was the reduced cravings. But somehow, I was steadily losing weight. And people noticed! It was amazing how well it worked for me. I didn't need the bottom of the bag guarantee: I wanted to keep using it. Even though I had lost 12 pounds already, I lost about 15 more from January to May.

Every morning, I know what I am having for breakfast. I might not always make it the same way. Sometimes I throw in some strawberries and banana. Other times I can put in some Fat Free and Sugar Free pudding mix to make it extra creamy. There are so many recipes that if you want, you can have it a different way every day.

If you want to order it, visit my Shakeology site and put in an order. There is also a lot more information on the site that I cannot even begin to explain to you. It really does work and is worth every penny. If all else fails, there is the bottom of the bag guarantee. That means if you have it and drink it for the full month and do not get good results, you can contact Beachbody and let them know, and the will refund your money.

So what do you have to lose? Try it! I'm down to a size six for the first time in five years.

For People on the Go

I mentioned in a previous post that a big obstacle to people desiring to start a workout routine is finding the time. Finding an hour to fit in a workout is not always possible if you have kids, a job, and a house to take care of as well.

So what do you do if you don't have much time to exercise?

There are programs out there that can fit into as little as ten minutes of your day. Yes, Beachbody is known for its programs like Insanity and P90x. But there are a lot of other options that I would like to show you:

• 10 Minute Trainer This one is the shortest workout program available through Beachbody. Ten minutes! No matter how busy you are, you can fit in a ten minute routine.  The workout has cardio, body-sculpting, and abs all in a ten minute span. And of course, there is a specialized meal plan that you can follow to get the best results 

• Slim Series Express Some of you may have heard of the Slim in 6 series with Debbie Siebers. A great routine, but those exercises last 60 minutes or more. In the Slim Series Express, you can great slimming results, but in less than 35 minutes. Siebers combines cardio and resistance in her routines. 

• Yoga Booty Ballet Master Series  So what if you love Yoga instead of cardio or resistence? Then Gillian Marloth and Teigh McDonough have a great 20-35 minute routine for you. With a combination of Yoga and Pilates, they will target your abs and butt. 

• Turbo Jam LIVE! Chalene Johnson is most known for Turbo Jam and TurboFire! Each are great programs, but can be 45 minutes. If you only have 30 to workout, try Turbo Jam Live! Johnson uses a dance party atmosphere to make a fun workout experience. 

• Power Half Hour Tony Horton targets abs, arms, buns and thighs in this 30 minute exercise routine with cardio and body sculpting. 

• Great Body Guaranteed! In under ten minutes, Tony Horton and Debbie Siebers target abs, arms, buns and thighs. Another great routine if you have a very limited time to fit in your workout.
  

So even if you have just a few minutes to spend exercising, you can find a routine to fit your busy schedule. And the Team Beachbody site has great nutrition plans to aid you with your weight loss. How do you get started? Visit my site at http://beachbodycoach.com/esuite/home/ANGELICAM88 and pick out your program. All it takes is making the commitment. You no longer have the excuse that they don't have the time, so what is stopping you?

My Healthy Eating

I actually love exercising. Once I get in to a routine, it's fun and I feel so accomplished after I work out. Even with my hardest programs that I have done, I love doing them. I look forward to it. I get antsy and a little grumpy when I don't make my work out for the day.


But the hard part, at least for me, is eating right. I love food. And I mean I have an inner chubster. Cake, chocolate, nacho cheese, alfredo sauce--Oh dear I'm making myself hungry. Point is, the more unhealthy it is the more likely I was to like it. I've gotten better.


The simple fact is, you can out-eat any good exercise routine. You'll still be building muscle, of course, but you won't lose the fat. And that was something I had to learn the hard way. I was doing P90x religiously, at least 5 times a week, but I was not eating right. I would still sneak out and get something or make any of the numerous unhealthy meals that you can think of. Cooking cream? Oh yes, very tasty, makes cooking easy, but trust me when I say it does not make a healthy meal (110 calories a serving for just the cream is a lot)! Food was my enemy.


When I had almost finished P90X and yet quit losing weight (hello plateau) I realized that my eating habits needed a change if I was going to succeed.  I became a coach in January, along with starting Insanity, and noticed something I had never really paid attention to before--the meal plan. Whoa, every Beachbody program comes with a meal plan! Okay so I had seen the books before, but I never really tried to follow it before. Now was the time to start, though!

The Insanity book had a great selection of recipes for the five meals a day. And yes, I said five. Instead of eating three larger meals a day, something that I noticed consistently with the P90x and Insanity meal plans was five meals of about 300 calories each: Breakfast, Snack, Lunch, Snack and Dinner. So I decided to follow the suggested meal plans as closely as possible this time. I also had the meal planner on the Team Beachbody site to follow.

I could say making the change was difficult and make a bunch of excuses for why I had failed in the past, but honestly it was so easy to start making the right choices. There are plenty of foods out there that are healthy and yet delicious and filling. My breakfast mostly consists of Shakeology (most of the time with milk and crushed ice, sometimes I throw a banana or strawberries in there). I had totally avoided breakfast in the past--definitely a no-no when you are trying to eat right. I always said that breakfast was too heavy or that I hated breakfast foods like eggs. And honestly how many easy and fast breakfast foods are healthy? The Shakeology was easy and light, so I never felt full after I had finished it.

My first snack was often times yogurt or cottage cheese (if I woke up in time to eat a snack between breakfast and lunch!) Something still small and not filling, but in my handy little book. 


Lunch had a variety of choices for me! A turkey BLT?? Yes, you can have a Turkey BLT. To me it tastes just as wonderful as a regular BLT. Two slices of whole wheat bread, 3 slices of turkey bacon, tomato, and lettuce. Or maybe I had a deli sandwich on half of a whole wheat bagel with sliced turkey breast, swiss cheese and dijon mustard. 

My second snack would be something else simple like a hard boiled egg. Or whole grain crackers with a slice of tomato.

Dinner is admittedly a little more difficult. I live in a house with other people who are picky and might not be as willing to commit to a healthier lifestyle. I've made Chicken Stir-fry with vegetables, Steak with a side of broccoli, and Dilled Salmon among other delicious meals. None of these meals took very long to prepare, and they were filling and tasty. 
                                                 

I can still love food, I have just learned to be smarter about how much I love it. Of course, I still have cheat days. After all, who can go to Easter dinner at their grandmother's house and resist the dessert table?

Part of my being a Beachbody coach is that I can help other people discover what I found out--that eating healthy is essential to good, steady weight loss. No crash diets, no giving things up completely, just balancing out what you eat and how much you eat. 

My Stats!

One of the great things about the Beachbody site is that I can go on there and keep track of my measurements.

I must say, I wasn't feeling too great about my progress these past few days. It's like I have hit a wall I am very slowly trying to climb over, and occasionally I get slapped off of it. But looking back at my progress even since February, I must say I am impressed.

   
 
Sometimes it really pays to record your measurements and watch what is happening when you make an effort to be healthier. And I'm not talking watching your weight. Weighing yourself can drive you nuts, especially if you do it every day! (Seriously, don't do it every day). The scale might say you have gained if you are retaining water; ladies you know what I am talking about. How about the first week or so after you start a new work out program? The scale is not going to be your friend. And when you have reached the point that you are really building muscle, you might not see the scale move for a while.

But how about breaking out that tape measure? Or even the body fat tester. I personally stick with the tape. I haven't jumped on the scale in a couple of weeks, but I do break out the tape and measure the target areas of my body. You might not know it, but I am actually about the same weight right now that I was on March 25! I've lost inches, but not pounds.

Honestly, I don't care about the pounds so much anymore. I focus more on how my clothes fit. I spoke of that the other day. I am now smaller than I was before I got married. I think ignoring the scale can be a great thing when you are making your best efforts.

So to sum it up: Don't let the scale rule your life! You can be making great progress and the scale will beat you down. It has done that to me before. I felt amazing, was on an exercise high, and brought the scale out to find that the number had either not changed or gone up.

I encourage you to go to Team Beachbody and register. Put me as your coach! (If you send me an inbox message I will tell you my Coach ID number to list me). It is a great resource for keeping track of your numbers and also has many great features.

And Happy Birthday Beachbody!! 13 years old today!

My Ultimate Reset

Okay so this post is mainly my shameless advertising.

Beachbody has a new reset out and it is called The Ultimate Reset.

What is the Ultimate Reset, you ask?

Imagine that your body can be reset like a computer to "factory settings." You can detox and flush out all of the bad things that are lingering in your body to make way for healthier nutrients. It can help you lose weight, have more energy, and improve your digestion.

The way it works is in three phases:

• Reclaim
• Release
• Restore

Do you want to know more? Click the link above and my site can explain it much better than I can hope. You won't have to starve yourself on this Reset, and you won't be depriving yourself of nutrients essential to your health.

Just think, in 21 days you can have a noticeable difference in the way your body looks and works.

If you have any questions, contact me!

My Clothing

About seven months ago, I abhorred clothing shopping. I say abhorred because it is a much stronger word than hated. We use "hate" so much in our vocabulary today I feel it has lost its effectiveness. So to effectively demonstrate how I really felt about going shopping for clothing, I shall use words like abhor, detest, loathe, and the like.

Seven months ago I was wearing my maternity clothes most of the time. I was struggling to get my size 10 jeans on and I refused to buy size 12 unless I had the absolute need. And yes, I am sharing my sizes with you. I am an open book here. Ask me anything about my numbers and I'll tell you! (Well, almost anything). A shopping trip to purchase new clothes almost always resulted in kicking myself for gaining so much and buying either no clothes and insisting I would lose weight, or just buying one necessary pair of pants. I loathed buying a pair of pants when I had convinced myself I would lose the weight--I just hadn't committed to exercise and eating right yet.  My shirts were larges and rarely had much shape.

In December, after having been on P90X for about two months, I finally was in a solid size 10, which was pretty awesome. No more muffin top! (As a side note, remember, wearing clothes that fit you is much better than wearing clothes too small. No one will know what size you are wearing, as long as you get clothes at fit you properly. So if you fit well into a 10, don't squeeze into those size eight jeans until you are ready.) My large shirts were a little looser, but I was not yet ready to downsize until I lost a little more.

As Spring started approaching, I knew that my summer clothes from last year would not fit anymore. I went clothing shopping in March once again. By that point I was well on my way with Insanity and has lost over 20 pounds. I was down to an 8 in jean size! And I finally bought shirts in Medium. Needless to say, I was ecstatic. From being a large to a fairly average, healthy size was absolutely amazing. Trying on clothes in the dressing room didn't make me want to cry. As every woman knows, some brands make clothes of the same size that fit differently, so not every size eight jean was a perfect fit, but I could easily slip in to most of them. I remember last summer when I couldn't get a size 8 halfway up to my waist.

So today I went back. My medium shirts weren't fitting so well anymore and I only had three that I kept washing and wearing over and over again (yeah, I tend to buy a couple things at a time because I'm a penny pincer. I will own up to that label), and my size eight shorts kept trying to slide off of my waist. For kicks and giggles, I grabbed a few small shirts and a size 6 shorts and squeezed myself and the jogging stroller into a dressing room.

I am so proud to say that seven months after starting to be faithful to my exercising, I can wear small shirts! And I don't mean that I squeeze in to it. I FIT! I had to give my 18 month old a high five since she was the only person I had with me, but needless to say I felt so accomplished. The size six jeans were a "Squeeze in to," but I'm not far away. I bought a size 8 short that fit better than my others. (Remember, different brands, different fits!) As for what the number on the scale is, I don't know. And frankly, I don't care. The number on the scale doesn't matter as much as the size of the clothes I wear and how I fit in to them.

My Incentive

So this is a good time to mention I haven't worn a bikini since like Junior year of high school, if I remember right. It's not that I didn't have the body for it back then, it was the simple fact that I am entirely too shy and too modest to wear one. Most of the time... And anyone who really knows me can attest to that.

So with my husband's upcoming R&R and our reservation at the beach, I realized I needed a new bathing suit. The one from last year will be a little too big to wear again. (Queue silent cheer!) We went to JCPenny's because frankly, they never disappoint me with their clothes. Of course up front when you first hit the swimsuit section were the friendly suits. The tankinis resided in this area, perfect for covering bellies all stretched out from having babies or having eaten too many sweets prior to swimsuit season. That was what I originally went for. I didn't want a one piece, of course! I absolutely hate it when you have to use the bathroom and you are wearing a one piece. Even worse if you have just been in the pool and you have the sudden urge to "go." Nothing like the bathroom dance to get a wet one piece off! But I digress.

On the back wall were these cute little suits. Solid colored, mix and match tops and bottoms to wear. As I said before, I haven't worn a two piece actual bikini since I was in high school. I have lost a good deal of weight, and I knew I could lose more before my husband's vacation came up, so for the heck of it I decided to try some of them on. I chose yellow, grabbed the two types of tops and the two types of bottoms and carted them off to the fitting room. I first tried on the tankini top and bikini bottom. Cute, covers everything. Love!

Then I got a little braver. I put on the bikini top and the cute little skirt bottom. Okay I'll admit, a little flabby in the tummy still, and those stretch marks are never going to fade (at least not on their own). But considering where I was last year, it was a huge difference. And I realized--with my mom's help, of course--that in the time frame I have left until R & R, I could make the bikini even hotter.

So I did the impulsive thing. I bought the bikini.

The way my thinking goes is this: If I buy the tankini top, I won't do as great with my eating habits. My brain will think along the lines of "well, I have a top that covers my tummy. I'll just eat ONE doughnut at church." Instead, I bought the bikini top and now have the mindset of "Oh dear, I can't eat that at all. I have to lose these last few pounds before my time is up!"

                                       

                                       

So that is it up above. That's the bikini I have pictures of now to remind myself what I am working for. That's the bikini I think of every time I head to the fridge. And ever since I have bought it, I've been pretty religious about what I have eaten. Let's hope it pays off and I can stick to my eating plan. I would hate to have to go back to JCPenny's the day before my husband's R&R starts and switch out the top. Not to mention I do want to look nice when he comes back.

What about you? Do you have that bathing suit picked out for this summer? Are you going to be brave and daring, or safe?

My Inspiration

Besides motivation, I think everyone needs inspiration! And what do I mean by that, you ask? Someone or something that makes you realize that you can do it. You can workout, eat right, and lose weight. It might be a family member, your best friend, or even a story you read in a fitness magazine. For me, inspiration came in the form of my mother, Mary.

My mom had three kids by the age of 26. Afterwards, she was starting to become overweight and unhealthy. So she took the initiative, went out, and bought her first set of work out tapes. I even remember those tapes 19 years ago. "Buns of Steel", "Abs of Steel" and that whole series. I don't really remember the workouts themselves, but those are the tapes that my mom got her fitness journey started with.

After the "Buns of Steel" series, Mom started working out with Bodies in Motion. That's the workout program that had Gilad on the beaches of Hawaii doing aerobics. While doing that program, she decided to add in Step Aerobics. I still remember that step that came with the workouts. My brothers and I thought it was kind of fun to step on. It was purple and felt funny on your bare feet. Even my dad would do the Step Aerobics with her on the days he was off of work.

After 5 years of exercising, my mom decided that the weather outside was too pleasant to keep missing by being stuck inside doing her exercises. She decided to start running! To start, she just ran twenty minutes. When twenty felt easier, she increased to thirty. In not too long, Mom was running 40 minutes. She stayed at that time for about a year. She says "I was determined I was not going to run for more than 40 minutes." But eventually she realized she had a desire to see if she could run a full hour. It wasn't easy at first, but it wasn't as difficult as she thought it would be.

Mom really is my inspiration. She challenged herself to run an hour, and she did it. For most of my life, she has been exercising and pushing herself. She always sets new goals for herself. For a while, she started running two hours at a time once a week. Although she has cut down, she still makes other running goals. My mom decided that she wanted to run a 5k last fall. So of course I trained with her, even though I am not really a runner. She ran a good time of approximately 30 minutes (I came in about 44 minutes--I alternated running and walking). Now she is training to run a 10k! At the age of 45 my mom has decided to run a 10k, and from my experience, when my mom sets a fitness goal, she is going to achieve it!

I hope I can be more like her. She is dedicated to her routine. She does what other people think they can't. And there is nothing about her that causes her to be more athletic or for exercising to be easier for her. She just set a goal, motivated herself, and she did it! Mom is proof that the only limit to achieving your goals is YOU!

For My Friends Who are In the Armed Forces or Married to Someone Who Is...

You should read this. I'm about to tell you the best thing about my being an Army wife AND a Beachbody Coach.

So to be a Beachbody coach in most cases, you have to pay a monthly administrative fee. They give you four total sites, after all, and you get some killer discounts on the products from Beachbody. It's totally worth it for anyone, in my opinion, especially if you are interested in getting Shakeology each month.

BUT--and here is the great part--if you are a military member or the spouse of someone who is active duty military personnel, you get to sign up and be a Beachbody coach for absolutely nothing. No charge. At all.

Now what does it mean to be a Beachbody Coach? It can mean a wide range of things, depending on who you are. Some people sign up to be a coach just for the discounts offered. Keeping up? That means you register to be a coach and you get a discount on the products for nothing. And yes I said for nothing. I know a lot of military wives are big on saving money. If you want to find a program to lose weight and want to save money on it, then there you go.

For me, being a coach means I am more motivated to actually do my exercise. I say I am a coach knowing that people are watching to see what happens, and that makes me less likely to slack off. I eat better and work out harder because my results will show. It also means that I can help other people to achieve their goals, and I have always loved to help people. Oh yeah, the discount is definitely an advantage.

Other people become a coach to make money. And hey, if you aren't losing any money, then why not go for it?

In short, my point in sharing this to you is to show you what advantage you get for being either in the armed forces or being married to a member. You have nothing to lose, but a lot to gain. So go ahead, send me a message and tell me you are willing to be a coach. And then send this page to any of your friends to whom this applies. Even if you don't sign up yourself, send this link onward! You might be surprised at who is interested.

Finding the Time

So one of the big problems that I have heard with people and working out is "I just can't find the time." Especially for those of us who have little children. I know for a while I was one of those people. It seemed every time I thought I'd be able to work out, something would happen to throw me off for the day. My daughter would wake up early from a nap, lunch would be late and heavy, I had a huge exam coming up in a difficult class, and the list goes on.

So what happened to change that? Well let me back track just a hair.

In October, my husband left to go overseas for a year. That's when my workout journey really began. I'm basically a single-mom while he is gone. While I live with my parents for the security and the occasional assistance, I really do most of it by myself. So you would think that being alone with a toddler would make it harder to find time to work out. But one of the things that Spousal support information tells you is that if your spouse is deployed, you need to stay busy and have a routine!

First off, decide that no matter what, your exercise is going to be in that routine at least 5 days a week. If you make it a "must" on your To-Do list, you are more likely to find time to do it. Heck, put it before cleaning dishes. Those dishes will get done, trust me. You are far more likely to skip out on your routine if you don't put it on the top of your priorities.

Next, find a time when you are the least likely to be bothered. Since I have a one year old, I am entirely dependent on her nap times and bed time to get my exercise in. Every day I make sure she goes down for her nap by 1 or 1:30pm, and then my workout can start at 2pm. My lunch has time to digest so I'm not choking up food while working out (I hope you appreciate that visual) and someone is by that point sound asleep. I can do dishes while my daughter is awake. Heck, I can do laundry, fix dinner, even take a shower while she is awake. But exercising while she is awake is a near impossibility unless I have someone else to watch her (which doesn't happen that often). If for some reason I can't get my workout in during nap time, like for instance on Thursdays when I am in my Anatomy lab for 3 hours, then I put it off and pop in my DVD after bedtime, which is 8:30 to 9pm. The television is usually free at that time anyway. I have other things to do in my day that need my full attention, like working on my Beachbody business and studying for my classes, but I can fit in an hour of exercise. I honestly believe that it helps me think, too.

Finally, don't beat yourself up if something happens and you can't make a workout. While it is important to stay consistent and keep up with your exercises, missing one day because you were waiting in the doctor office with a sick kid is not going to make or break your fitness journey. You don't have to try to make it up the next day, you may just burn yourself out or injure yourself. Just let it go and move on!

And hey, maybe even get an accountability buddy. You can have someone work out with your or even just have someone to talk to to keep you on track. Be honest with that person. Having someone to keep you on track may just give you the pressure you need to press play today!

The Moment of Realization

I think anyone who starts a workout program with motivation and dedication has that moment of "Oh crap, I'm THAT big?"

For me, it was after my trip to Myrtle Beach in August 2011. I definitely knew I was not as healthy as I should be, but it wasn't until I saw pictures of myself that I realized I was letting my weight get out of hand.

Yeah, that's me back in August...

For me, that picture was a rude awakening. For someone who had been in her 120s in high school, hitting the 160s was a sad realization. Unfortunately I didn't jump right on to the weight loss bandwagon at that point. I waited until my husband left to start going to training and deployment. We ate out quite frequently to spend time together. This might be a good point to bring in the fact that my husband can eat whatever he wants, and he averages about 128 pounds at 6 feet tall. It also might be a good point to mention that I have no willpower.

If the picture was not enough to make me realize that I needed to make a change, a woman at church came up to me and told me that she heard "that [we] were expecting again." Well, no one had ever said that. Come to find out, my tummy was big enough that people thought I was pregnant. Ouch. 

Anyway, come October, during our daughter's first birthday party, I was about 165 pounds. I was depressed and obsessed with my weight. In no way did I feel attractive, no matter how much my mom and my husband told me I wasn't "fat" (because I constantly asked that question). 

When my husband left for Texas to get ready for deployment, I became serious about losing weight. My dad had been insisting that I try P90x, but I had resisted for a long time. I had done the Ripped in 30 off and on for a few months and I rather liked it, even though I was not nearly consistent enough to get real results. In October though, I finally wanted real results, and I wanted them now!

All it takes to get motivated, though, is that moment of realization. Whether it is a picture of you at the beach that makes you want to cry, or the woman who makes you realize that you are starting to look pregnant again, we all need one to get on the right track. It's that motivation that gets us going and makes us have the desire to lose the weight!

I can happily say, the 165 pound-Angelica is long gone. She is about 25 pounds gone, in fact! I hope I never see her again. 

And that is me like two weeks ago. I think it's a very big improvement. (Not to mention I'm in a sweater dress!)