21 Day Fitness Transformation Group Starting Soon!

I'M LOOKING FOR 10 LADIES that want to completely TRANSFORM and tone their bodies. And you don't even need to leave your house!! Sounds AMAZING...right?
Commit to just 30 minutes a day for 21 days. We'll eat clean and tone our bodies. NO counting calories! NO counting points! NO starving yourself! We'll focus on EATING CLEAN for maximum results!
All workouts are done in the comfort of your own home on your own time. You'll have ME as your personal coach...walking you through every step of the program on a daily basis!
If you can commit to changing your life...and making this holiday season your healthiest yet.. I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!! I'm looking for 10 Ladies who are SERIOUS about changing their life… who want to get stronger...healthier...and feeling better than ever!

This program is NOT free...but includes:
-A complete 21 Day home workout kit with DVDs
-Custom clean eating meal plan designed for your challenge
-Portion control containers and shaker cup
-30 healthy meals! ~ A 30 day supply of Shakeology!
-Measuring tape to track all those inches lost
-ME as your personal coach
-Access to my private, lifetime support group
-A free 21 Day Fix T-shirt when you finish and send in your results!
-30 day trial to *Beachbody on Demand* - Stream $3000 worth of workout programs right from your phone, tablet, laptop, etc!

Please email at sunshinestrongbb@gmail.com if you would like to hear more details and I'll connect with you.  ... these groups fill fast and space is very limited!!

***Ask Me About The November Promotion!!***

Lose Weight on Your List of New Years Resolutions?

Lose weight and improve fitness on your list of New Years Resolutions?

You could pay $50 a month plus a sign up fee for that gym membership you'll only use once or twice. I mean, we've all done it, right? 

OR, you could invest that money in a challenge pack that includes a fun and effective workout program you can do from the privacy of your own home, daily nutrition to help you beat cravings, support from a community of coaches invested in your success, a free t-shirt, AND a chance to win cash prizes. You won't get all of that from a gym membership.

Check out January's Challenge Pack promotions and message me for more information!
http://bit.ly/1xzYfds

The Perfect Program. Period.

The perfect program for runners. The perfect program for those seeking strength and flexibility. The perfect program for those needing low-impact (NO-impact) exercise. (It's like yoga, only better.)

The perfect program. Period.

Our online accountability and support group starts tomorrow. There's still time to join us!

Comment below or join on my Facebook page today: https://www.facebook.com/events/1510517262528210/

Fitness Tricks & Nutrition Treats!

Free Online Fit Challenge

Do you have an old Beachbody workout program collecting dust? Or maybe you saw an infomercial for Shaun T's new Max 30 program and want to challenge yourself. 

What better time to make your DVD player work for you and get back to fitness than the New Year?

Join our online Fit Challenge using any Beachbody program and we'll get fit together.

Get stronger. Get fitter. Get healthier. And have fun doing it.

By committing to our online Fit Challenge, you get...

Daily Fitness Schedule
Daily Nutrition
Support & Motivation
A Chance to Win Up to $100,000 in the Beachbody Challenge

Join the group by clicking here or email SunShineStrongBB@gmail.com for more information.

Need to order your program? Click here!

Focusing on Body AND Mind

If you follow me regularly, you know I hold free online challenge groups each month. We focus on basic fitness moves or full fitness programs. Sometimes we just focus on defining and reaching our goals. I love running all of these groups, but I am particularly excited about the two groups I'm running this July.

Mind

I am a book junkie. And since becoming a Beachbody Coach, I have become a Personal Development book junkie. I can't even begin to explain all of the powerful ways that reading these books has changed my life. And often the information contained in their pages is not revolutionary. Most of it is really just common sense. But they are lessons and concepts that most of us, despite the very basic common sense behind them, do not apply in our daily lives. These books have a great power to change.

In July, we'll get started on Stephen Covey's The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Click on the picture below to get started.

Body

I am also a yoga junkie. I LOVE yoga. So, I simply cannot wait for the release of Chalene Johnson's new program, PiYo. PiYo combines Pilates and Yoga and so much more for a phenomenal workout that will help you not only increase your strength, but also your flexibility. With it's low-impact design and modifications built in, it is perfect for all fitness levels. This is also HUGE for someone like me who loves to run and strength train. Even better? This program is low-cost. You can get this 60-day program for less than 2 months at the gym.

Interested? Click on the picture below to get started.

You Want Results? Go Get Them!

You want results? You've got to go get them. True.

And if you want help getting those results, you've got to get signed up with me. (Seriously, it's free and I'm all about commitment, accountability, and motivation, so sign up here.)

Even better than getting me as your coach...for free? Getting Les Mills Combat for next to nothing.

No, really. For less than you would spend on a month's gym membership, you get a 60-day program that you can do from the privacy of your own home, complete with an online support group and ME as your free coach.

This is one of my all-time favorite programs that I go back to over and over to help me continue to build:

strength

stamina

confidence

power

and a lean, toned body (which is really kinda nice this time of year...)

But you have to hurry! This sale ends June 9th and other programs are already selling out. Order here!

Power 90 In-Home Boot Camp Challenge Group

New Power 90 In-Home Boot Camp starting soon. This is a perfect program for those getting started with fitness. You can achieve great results in this 90 program, but it is also perfect for beginners.

If you'd like to join us in our upcoming fitness support group or just want to know more, complete the form below and I will follow up with you!

Do You Think 6 Miles Are Easy?

I do...now.

Runner Girl posted this on Facebook last night. And nothing could be more true.

I remember the first time I decided to become a runner. I laced up my new running shoes, told the guy I was dating at the time that I was going out for a run, and then bounced happily out the door. I might have made it around the block. It took me at least 10 minutes to do that and I thought I was going to die. I literally thought my heart was just going to stop in protest. 

When I stumbled back through the front door a quick 10 minutes after I'd gone, my boyfriend said, "I thought you were going for a run." I should add that he said this while reclining on the couch with a beer and a bag of chips. The man had never done anything physical in his life. So I would have been totally justified if I had gone to the kitchen, grabbed the rolling pin, and beat him repeatedly about the head with it. That's what I would have done if I hadn't been crumpled in a weeping pile of sweat by the front door. Of course, if I'd managed to crawl to the kitchen, I wouldn't have even found a rolling pin because I don't bake. Whatever.

Here's my point. That's where I was when I made the decision to become a runner. It was not a great place to be and certainly didn't feel very promising. I never thought I'd say "easy" and "6 miles" in the same sentence. But I committed to it anyway. And I never looked back. Last weekend, I made it onto the podium at a 10 mile trail run. We all have to start somewhere. 

Running may not be for everyone, though I really think it is the most natural thing in the world and should be for everyone that doesn't have some injury or disability keeping them from it. But if you've ever thought about it, try it. Just go ahead and do it and keep doing it until it makes you happy. 

Because it will make you happy. 

I mean, first it tries to kill you, but then eventually it makes you totally happy.

Walk This Way

Our free monthly challenge group has decided to embrace the final arrival of spring and take on a walk/run challenge for April.

We are committed to walk or run (or both) at least one mile a day for 30 days. A walk challenge is such a great way to begin to incorporate fitness into your life.

And while we all have a pretty good grasp on walking, it turns out there are some things to keep in mind in order to ensure the best calorie burn and muscle conditioning.

So, if you're planning your own walking challenge this month (or want to join us by submitting your info in the contact form to the right), keep these tips in mind to ensure good form.

• Walk straight, but not rigid. You want to be relaxed with good posture. Avoid hunching your shoulders or tensing your back.
• Keep your head up. Some say to keep your vision focused on a spot several feet in front of you. As a trail runner, I have a bad habit of looking down at my feet when I run or walk. (It's a survival skill in trail running. Otherwise, those roots will get ya!)
• Bend your arms. You'll burn more calories that way.
• Keep your core tight. What the heck does that mean? It means pull in those abdominal muscles. It will help strengthen your core and burn more calories.

And hey, if the mood hits ya, don't be afraid to pick up the pace a little very now and then. That's how runners are born. 

It's My Coachaversary!

Summer bodies are made in Spring.

Today is the first day of Spring.
Today is also my Beachbody Coachaversay.

Coincidence? I think not.

To celebrate my coaching anniversary and the first day of Spring, I am kicking off a Bikini Ready Booty Anniversary Challenge starting, you guess it, today.

The program? Brazil Butt Lift. The goal? Bikini-ready butts.

Click on the photo to order your Brazil Butt Lift Challenge Pack today...

or complete the contact form on the right side of this page for more ordering options.

This program works. It's why I became a Beachbody Coach (that and the Shakeology discount).

Don't worry, it's never too late to join us!

This Week is All About the Glutes

What a week!

Today's the day I get my email. Today's the day I find out if I made it into the Marine Corps Marathon. I haven't opened my email yet. I'm too nervous. What if I didn't get in?!? ... What if I did? Gah! Am I really ready to commit to this training? 

Yes. Yes, I am because committing to training is what my life is all about now.

Tomorrow our Bikini Ready Booty Challenge starts and I will commit to training my glutes and legs. (There's still time to join us by clicking here.) We're doing the Brazil Butt Lift program and I'm super excited about it. Love how much fun that program is. The perfect mix of dance and strength training. And it is so effective for lifting that butt and toning those legs just in time for bikini weather. It's that special triangle training Leandro does.

And Saturday is the Montvale 10 Miler. I FEEL ready for it, but who knows if I'll meet my goal pace until I'm out there on the trails.

So, really, this week is all about the glutes. I'm going to need them to power me up the hills on Saturday. 

Falling Off The Fitness Wagon...Again

Let me get real for a minute. (Nah, for real, I'm always real. But that sounded like a good opening line.)

Recently my workload doubled. Literally. It literally doubled. This is mostly a good thing. I mean, more income is always a good thing, right?

But time wise, my life went a little out of control. I was unprepared for the chaos that ensued with such a sudden and drastic increase in my work. My once focused and intense workout schedule became random, sporadic. I began eating whatever fully processed crap I could find sitting in the back of my pantry. I spent 90% of my day sitting at my desk staring at a computer mindlessly cramming food into my mouth.

It doesn't take long for those types of habits to catch up with you.

I ran a 10k trail run on Saturday. That was my wake up call. Carrying an extra 12 pounds up and down the slippery trails was difficult. Add to that the fact that my body was not fueled properly and I had lost some muscle tone, well, it was a poor and painful performance. I finished through sheer will and stubbornness (largely thanks to my good friend cheering me on at the finish), but I was miserable. I did not enjoy it. Not even a little bit. 

It happens. We fall off the fitness wagon. What do we do when that happens? (This is where you pump your fist in the air and yell, "GET BACK ON!") Yep. I'm recommitted.

So, my work schedule may not always allow me to get out for a long run or fit in a 30 minute fitness program, unless I become that chick that forces herself out of bed at 3am to fit it in. And that's probably never going to happen. I need my sleep to keep from hurting all the people.

Still, I CAN use my monthly fitness challenges to squeeze in some basic exercises between classes or even while on a conference call (yes boss, I'm grunting because of the squats not because of the new class schedule). And I CAN refocus my eating habits. It's all up to me. 

And it's all up to you, too. Though, if you need a little support, I can help with that. Just check out the Free Fitness Group Schedule.

Push Up Variations by a Small Chick

I host a free monthly fitness group through Facebook. We focus on a different area each month.

February was arms. We followed a 30-day calendar that told us how many push ups to do each day. How long to hold our planks each day. How many tricep kick backs to do each day. So simple.

The results? Phenomenal. Many participants have shared their successes through loss of inches and pounds. Some are showing off their guns by posting pics. They are all rock stars. 

I am sharing my successes visually with the moves I am able to do that I have never been able to do before.

These are the hardest push up variation that I've tried.

So, it may be time for a new medicine ball, but the move was still quite challenging.

These are my favorites. Workings arms, core, and glutes all at once!

I'm not sure I can technically call this one a Superman Push Up since I stayed on my knee, but I'm calling it that anyway. It's my blog. I can do that. Besides, I tried it the real way...I fell on my face. 

March's focus will be the legs. Oh yes. Bring on the tank tops. Bring on the shorts. We're ready!

Wanna join us? Complete the Contact Form on the right and I will get you signed up!

Finding my Running Weight

Ask a runner what the best day of the year is and most of us will tell you, it's the first day you can run comfortably in shorts.

Today was that day here in VA. Normally my first run in shorts will leave me feeling light and free. 

Not so much today. I'm carrying an extra 12.2 pounds of winter weight. (I'm like a bear. I need to make sure I can survive the winter.)

So now the work begins to get back to my ideal running weight. I've got a 10k trail run on Saturday and at this rate I'll be lucky to finish last in my age group. I might end up so slow that they move me into an older age group just because. 

I've got the exercise piece down. I'm continuing to build muscle with my fitness programs and flexibility with my yoga. Now it's time to refocus on nutrition. 

Need to find your own running weight (or just looking to drop some pounds)? Join the Monthly Fitness Challenge under the Free Support Group Schedule tab. We'll focus on creating one new healthy eating habit each month. 

And just so I'm clear, I'm quite happy with how I look. This is not about trying to be skinny. This is about being a better athlete. Stronger. Faster. Leaner. 

Legs and Zombies

Preparing for the Zombie Apocalypse

Thirty-Day Leg Challenge

These two things are totally related. Just read. I'll get you there.

I was going to run a Zombie Run last fall.

I love a challenge. Running through the woods with zombies chasing you trying to infect you? And, dude, there was a Twinkie station. An entire station dedicated to TWINKIES. Yeah, seriously good times. Plus, who couldn't use a little practice for the zombie apocalypse? I want to know what to expect when the undead eventually take over the world. Wait. Undead. That's vampires. You can't train for vampires. You ain't outrunnin no vampire no matter how hard you train. I guess zombies are just dead-dead. And you can totally outrun that.

I didn't though. I didn't run the zombie run. Mostly I didn't run because all of my friends are pansies. They were to scared to run from the zombies and this concerns me. I mean, I've surrounded myself with a bunch of pansies. Who will have my back if I need to start throwing some bows? Admittedly, I'm not swinging on too many people these days, but I like to have the option of running my mouth knowing I've got people to back me up. But clearly I don't have people.  And, for real, I am NOT running from zombies alone.

Whatever. New plan. Since I will obviously be the last of "my people" left on earth when the zombie apocalypse does hit, I have decided that I need "new people." So I'm taking applications. We're in training, people. And we're starting with our legs. If we're going to outrun the zombies, we need strong legs. You know what that means. Thirty-day leg challenge! Yep. Who's with me?

We're starting March 1st. Click here to join or email me for more information: sunshinestrongbb@gmail.com.

Personal Trainer or Online Coach?

Should you pay for a personal trainer or try a free coach?

Which is better?

The answer to that question will be different for each of us. Some folks need to be face to face with a personal trainer to keep them motivated. They need in-person assistance with proper form and technique. They need the social atmosphere of a gym. They want that in-person interaction. If that's you and you can afford it, then do it. Don't sacrifice safety to save money. Do whatever it takes to stay healthy and fit.

But some of us simply don't have the time or money to invest in a gym membership or personal trainer. Some of us don't like the gym atmosphere. We can develop our form and technique by watching others. We prefer the flexibility of working out at home and the convenience of online support. We prefer some privacy when we're busting out those awkward cardio moves that we're not quite coordinated enough to do yet.

A free Beachbody Coach can offer you support and motivation without the cost or long-term commitment of a gym or personal trainer. We can suggest at-home fitness programs that meet your personal fitness goals and interests. And we give you access to regular accountability groups to challenge you to stick with those goals. (Check out the Free Support Group Schedule tab at the top of this page.)

So, if you're not sure which approach is best for you, go ahead and sign up for a free Team Beachbody account and try me out as your free coach. You've got nothing to lose except pounds and excuses. And, if you find that it doesn't work for you, you're not stuck in a commitment you can't get out of. And if nothing else, you'll meet some cool new people along the way...like me.

If you're tired of the gym, but struggle to keep yourself motivated to workout from home, consider trying a Beachbody Challenge Pack.

Why Challenge Packs? Simply put, they offer the “complete solution.” Fitness + Nutrition + Support + Rewards = Success. When you purchase a Challenge Pack, you receive:
Fitness – Any Beachbody fitness program
Nutrition – Shakeology
Support – Me as your coach and access to online accountability groups to keep you going
Rewards – The Beachbody Challenge contest
Success – Achieving your goals in one of my Challenge Groups

You can’t get all that at the local gym for the cost of one Beachbody Challenge Pack! Plus, you get the added benefits of FREE shipping and Team Beachbody Club membership.

Bikini Ready Booty

Bikini bodies are made in the Spring.

The first day of Spring is March 20th.
My Beachbody Coaching Anniversary is March 20th.

Coincidence? I think not.

To celebrate my coaching anniversary and the first day of Spring, I will hold a Bikini Ready Booty Anniversary Challenge starting, you guess it, March 20th.

The program? Brazil Butt Lift. The goal? Bikini-ready butts.

Click on the photo to order your Brazil Butt Lift Challenge Pack today...

or complete the contact form on the right side of this page for more ordering options.

This program works. It's why I became a Beachbody Coach (that and the Shakeology discount).

Consumer Reports agrees:
Bottom line. Strength training with heavy weights is a better way to target your glutes, but that’s not something most people will do. The program includes low- and high-impact routines, so you don’t need to be extremely fit to start. If you don’t mind doing lots of squats and lunges and you like the idea of dancing your way to fitness, this may be good for you. The Brazil Butt Lift eating plan includes basic recipes with easy variations.
http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2014/01/exercise-dvds-that-promise-to-get-you-in-shape/index.htm

Even Runners Can Have Saggy Butts

I know. It seems unfair. 
We're runners, after all.

One year ago, I was out for a run and noticed something hitting against the backs of my thighs. It took me a moment to process that it was actually my butt. My butt was bouncing off the backs of my thighs as I ran. How was this possible? I am a runner. Things shouldn’t be sagging. At least, not yet.
As I sat on the couch that evening eating my Doritos and indulging in a beer, a cute little Brazilian dude on tv caught my eye. He kept saying “bum bum” in his adorable accent. He was talking about a butt lift. Not a surgical butt lift, but a program he called the Brazilian Butt Lift. Apparently there are no saggy butts in Brazil.

I ordered the program. When it arrived, I put in the DVD and it told me to go to the Supergym to log my workouts. I did that and created my free Team Beachbody account at the same time. A few days later, another Team Beachbody member invited me to join her Brazil Butt Lift (BBL) challenge group on Facebook. So I did.

It. Was. Phenomenal. I had so much fun in this group of people that I had never met. It felt like they were right there with me doing the same workouts and sharing the same experiences...because they were. We had a blast! And most of us continue to be friends today. We continue to workout together, virtually. They continue to be my source of inspiration and motivation. 
Halfway through the program, the coach that invited me suggested I look into Beachbody coaching myself. After watching the introductory video, I knew this was something I had to do. So I did. And it has been one of the best decisions of my life.

So, to celebrate my one year Beachbody Coaching annivesary, I am inviting each of you to join me in a new BBL challenge group. In fact, I’m so stoked about celebrating this anniversary that I’m offering special incentives for you to join me!

The first three people to purchase the BBL program by clicking here will receive a nutrition gift pack.*

The first three people to purchase the BBL Challenge Pack by clicking here will receive a $25 gift card to my Team Beachbody online shop.* 

Want to know more before deciding? Contact me. You won’t want to miss out on this fun and effective celebration!

*Incentives only available to customers not already working with another Beachbody coach. 

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.