Jelly Arms Not Conducive to Yoga

Started my morning strong. 

First up was ChaLEAN Extreme Push Circuit 1.

I was supposed to do Circuit 3, but I can't find the remote to my DVD player. So, I'm stuck doing the first workout on any DVD I play. I'm pretty sure a cat stole the remote just so I wouldn't be able to choose the workouts I want...because that's something a cat would do.

There is a lot of arm work in this particular workout.

After my ChaLEAN Extreme workout, I had to get in my push ups and planks for our Monthly Challenge. This month's focus is, of course, the arms.

I'll admit, there was some whining. Maybe even some tears. A LOT of shaking arms. 

And guess what I've got on schedule for this afternoon? Yoga. I committed to that last night before I realized what I had in store this morning. I'm pretty sure I won't be rocking the Chaturanga move today. In fact, I may spend the majority of the time in Child's Pose. Jelly arms just aren't conducive to yoga.

Don't judge.

Are You An Extreme Warrior?

Do you wanna be?

On February 3rd, we have an Extreme Warrior Challenge starting. Perfect for those looking to get ready for an obstacle race, like me. 

A few of us will be doing one of the Spartan Races this year and we're getting started on our training so we can smash it. 

The Extreme Warrior Challenge combines my two favorite programs, ChaLEAN Extreme and Les Mills Combat. ChaLEAN Extreme gets you lean and toned through strength training. Les Mills Combat increases your fat-burning and cardio fitness through mixed martial arts workouts. Ready to take your fitness to a new level and get in the best shape of your life? Now is your chance! We'll provide support and motivation along the way. (You can choose to do one or both programs. Either way, you'll see amazing results!)

Are you ready? Email me for more info!

Extreme Combat Elite Group

Extreme Combat.

Need I say more? Ummm, ok. Yeah, I should probably elaborate.

Ok, well during my time with Beachbody, I have tried several programs, all of which I have enjoyed. I have found two, however, that I am absolutely and totally head over heels in love with.

ChaLEAN Extreme provided me with fast and effective weight loss and overall toning. Seriously, my legs and arms have never looked so badass as when I was doing this program.

Les Mills Combat provided me with fun and powerful confidence, plus some really cool moves that would no doubt come in handy during that street fight that I may find myself engaged in someday. I have never felt so badass as since starting this program.

So, I said to myself, what could be more badass than combining these two programs? Right? Pure genius.

I challenge you to join me in what I'm calling the Extreme Combat Elite Group. Make no mistake. It will be a challenge. This is not for the uncommitted. You will push your body and your mind to new levels of endurance. You will experience muscle soreness and fatigue. You will want to give up. You won't. I won't let you.

You think you got what it takes? I do. Join the Extreme Combat Elite Group on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/events/171731276347143/

Just Do What You Love

"Don't aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally." - David Frost

"The beauty of direct selling is that you join a team of people who have similar interests and dreams to do and be more." - David Bach

A few months ago, I made a decision that would change the course of my life. (Yes, I'm getting dramatic here. Let me have my moment.) I chose to invest $180 to purchase what's called a Challenge Pack. It included a workout program that helped me transform my body and a meal replacement shake that helped me transform my eating habits.

*Disclaimer - This is where I tell you I have never been truly overweight. And while I used to joke about wanting to be called Big Momma when I finally become a grandmother (a loooooong time from now), I'm not sure that my body is made to ever really be obese. So, yeah, sorry about that. It is what it is.

My body is, however, fully capable of getting flabby and unhealthy and no longer fitting into the jeans I have owned for years and can't afford to replace. This is where I was back in March, 2013. The Challenge Pack I purchased (ChaLEAN Extreme for those who don't obsessively follow my every blog and Facebook post) helped me shed the flab and tone some serious muscle.

Yeah, I look amazing. It's true. (I have no time for modesty, people. I'm a Leo.)

The other thing purchasing that Challenge Pack allowed me to do was enter the world of Beachbody coaching. It's part of my plan to improve my financial situation. I am tired of living paycheck to paycheck. I am tired of deciding which bills get paid this month. I am tired of talking to Joe at the bank. (Joe's nice and all, but he keeps asking me for things I don't have, like money.)

So, I invested in myself which also allowed me to become an independent Beachbody Coach as an added source of income. Here's the deal. Not everyone will get rich doing this. MOST people won't get rich doing this. And while it would be nice to get rich doing this, that's not the point. I don't need to be rich. I just want to be able to pay off my debt and give back to my children and community. I want to be able to save for retirement and donate to charities regularly. And dangit, I want to be able to go to the store every now and then and just buy something pretty.

That's the benefit of direct selling. I keep my day job, which is my mostly secure source of income, while also building a business on the side to bring in additional income. An extra $500-$1000 a month would make life much more livable.

It has taken time and it has and will continue to take hard work. But it's doable and I love it. There are a lot of opportunities out there and I say find one that reflects your goals and priorities and go for it. You will find a whole new group of friends that share your interests and goals. You will develop yourself beyond who and what you are today. And you will get the opportunity to add to your income by doing something you enjoy. You may even be able to fire your current bosses someday!

The bonus of Beachbody, incidentally, is that I get to watch the people around me become healthier and happier. It's a powerful feeling.

So, this is not me saying "Join my team so I can make more money!" This is me saying I never realized direct selling could be fun and inspiring and didn't have to involve me booking parties and trying to pretend I knew anything about cooking or makeup; which I don't. Clearly. There are opportunities out there that don't require you to make a heavy up-front investment or maintain inventory. There are opportunities out there that don't require you to host parties if you're not comfortable doing so. There are opportunities that you can have fun with and fully believe in. I have friends and family involved in several different businesses that they truly enjoy and I'm sure they'd be happy to talk to you about them.

However, if you want to know more about Beachbody, I am more than happy to share with you what I have learned. You can send me a quick email at sunshinestrongbb@gmail.com or message my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/SunShineStrongNow.

Want to see one of the websites Beachbody created for me? Check out www.BeachBodyCoach.com/SunShineStrong.

BB Ultimate Reset: Day Nine

Day nine of my Beachbody Ultimate Reset and everyone around me survives despite my complete breakdown last night.

I ended up huddled on the couch, blanket pulled up over me with my arm flung across my eyes in true Scarlet O'Hara fashion. Ok. I've never seen Gone With the Wind. That admission may get me kicked out of the south, which is a shame because I've grown fond of using the term "y'all" without getting weird looks. Anyway, this is the image I have in my head of Scarlet O'Hara. "Oh, Rett. Ma head is positively aching." Dude's name was Rett, right?

So, I've spent most of my life believing I have a very high threshold for pain. Nu-uh. Untrue. I am a pansy. I am a little poo poo crybaby. I was pretty sure I was dying last night. There was a moment when I thought some long-dormant creature might actually have been awakened by a lack of processed sugar and was trying to burrow its way out of my head. My parents told me about this show they watched about strange illnesses where this woman had worms living in her scalp and none of the doctors would believe her until one finally saw them moving under her skin. Ok. Now I'm creeped out again.

At any rate, I managed to get to sleep at some point last night, or maybe it was this morning. But I woke up headache-free. Like all the pain never even happened.

Last night I was vowing to quit. However, having several people ask me about it today made me realize that I've made this commitment way too public to stop now. Whatever.

I'm officially declaring that Beachbody was WRONG about which days are usually the worst. Day 8 totally sucked. Actually, it was evening 8 that totally sucked balls. I'm better today, though I am starting to feel the nudgings of another headache, so we'll see what 8pm brings. It better bring sunshine and daisies because my Hoosiers Will Sheehey and Yogi Ferrell are representing in the World University Games. I need to be alert and pain-free to enjoy it.

On a bright note, I was reminded how badass I am for completing my ChaLEAN Extreme challenge last month:

BB Ultimate Reset: Day Eight

My first day in the Release Phase of my Beachbody Ultimate Reset Challenge. Yep. That's what it is.

The foods in this phase are more restrictive, focused primarily on fruits and vegetables with some soups mixed in.

Definitely more tired today, although that could result from the very few hours of sleep I have gotten over the past few days.

I also have a slight headache for the first time in this challenge. I'm not sure what that stems from, but it is not unbearable, so I'm not whining about it. Yet.

What I am whining about is my irrational mood. It would seem that the Release Phase has actually unleashed PMS-like mood swings for me. So, that's fun for everyone around me. Luckily my kids have been spending most of their time at work, sports, or friends houses (where the parents actually cook) lately, so only the ultra-forgiving dog and cats have to endure my b-wordness.

On the bright side, this appears to be the week where I'm going so see the most health benefits through weight loss and toxin release. And I learned that I love baked sweet potatoes. Who knew? I mean, I find baked potatoes to be boring and gross, even when smothered in sour cream. But baked sweet potatoes are perfection. Or that may be the severe lack of processed foods talking.

On another positive note, I received my free Beachbody Challenge t-shirt for completing my ChaLEAN Extreme program. It's super cute, even if it is a crew neck. And covered in cat hair.