Powerful Transformations Are Not Just Physical

I'm a Beachbody Coach. 

Wait! Just wait. I'm not here to sell you anything. I have a point. A good one. Just hear me out.

So, as a Beachbody Coach, my newsfeed is filled with other fitness-minded folks, many of them also coaches. And most of them have these amazing transformation stories to share. Their before and after photos are amazing. I have long been a fan of those stories of physical transformation. Of people that challenge and push themselves to become stronger, healthier, fitter.

I don't have one of those. I mean, I've gotten stronger, healthier, and fitter through Beachbody Coaching. But a 10 pound weightloss and more toned muscles does little to inspire when you have those amazing folks with 50, 100, 150 pound transformations. In comparison, it just doesn't seem that hard to tone up and drop a few pounds.

Seriously, this was a big deal for me.

But it is hard. Or, rather, it is so easy to just live with those extra 10 pounds, weak, unhealthy, and cramming bags of Doritos into my mouth every night. (Like, every. single night. Bags of them.) I mean, it's not like I look unhealthy. Because the unhealthy is on the inside, where you can't see it. But I could feel it.

You can't see my transformation as easily as a great weightloss story, but it's there. My clothes fit better. I feel stronger. I run faster, longer. Nothing you would really notice in a before and after photo. I haven't lost 50 pounds or dropped 3 sizes. 

But my transformation has been just as dramatic. 

I've lost self-doubt and gained self-confidence. A lot of it.

I've dropped negativity and replaced it with goals. Positivity.

I have vision, focus, determination, motivation, and a huge heart filled with gratitude. 

So, you see, just because someone can't take a photo of it doesn't mean your transformation isn't very real and very powerful. You don't have to have some amazing weightloss story to inspire others. The inspiration is inside of you. And really, if one looks closely enough, they can see it in your eyes, your smile, and the way you carry yourself a little higher. 

Click here to learn more about starting your own transformation.

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!!***

One Simple Free Step Towards Health

Losing weight is hard. Getting healthy is hard. Staying motivated is hard.

It's harder when you try to do it alone.

In the United States today, more than 68% of adults are overweight. More than 35% are obese. Aside from the pain, shame, discomfort, and feelings of judgement that come with being overweight, there are very real life-threatening health concerns to consider. Heart disease. Stroke. Type 2 Diabetes. Certain types of cancer. These are among the preventable diseases associated with obesity. These diseases are among the leading causes of preventable death in the United States today (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2014).

Preventable. That's the word I want you to focus on. Death from these diseases is preventable. 

I want to help you prevent these diseases in your life. If you already have one or more of them, I want to help you reduce your risk. 

All you have to do right now is take one simple step. Sign up for a free Team Beachbody account with me. That's it. You don't have to commit to purchasing a program. You don't have to join one of my challenge groups. You don't have to do anything else right now except take that one simple, free step towards health. Just sign up here: http://bit.ly/1ujBM3S.

That's all it takes to get on the road to health. 

We'll worry about the rest later. For now, make a commitment to yourself and sign up. I'm looking forward to working with you.

References:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). Adult obesity facts. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html.

Fitness Tricks & Nutrition Treats!

Finding Financial AND Physical Fitness

Are financial and physical fitness on your list of goals? With the launch of PiYO this month, I am looking for 4 people to work with to take on the massive surge in business that will happen starting in a few weeks. Fill out the application below and see if being a coach on our team is right for you.

Summer Vacation. Summer Chaos. Summer Workouts.

With summer here and all of my sons' friends fully mobile with their beat up cars and driver's licenses, my house is never empty.

I love this. I love having a constant flow of kids moving through my house. I love that they want to be here. I do.

BUT, this constant flow also means that I do not get the house to myself...ever. And the very open floor plan means that my workouts are on full display. 

It has taken me some time to get fully comfortable with this concept. I mean, the kids that come and go from my home are athletes. They are in what may be the best shape of their lives. I anticipated ridicule. Laughter. Pointing. Mean tweets. A few smirks, at the very least.

Here's what happens instead. They join me. Maybe not for the whole workout, but they join in. And they see how challenging these programs can be. And, more and more, I hear them doing the workouts even when I'm not. Seriously. There are times when I have a basement filled with teenage football or soccer players doing some Les Mills Combat. 

These are kids that whine and complain about summer two-a-days and suicides and Saturday soccer practices. And here they are spending their down time doing High Intensity Interval Training. By choice. 

It is, in a word, awesome.

So, all you moms and dads out there, don't let the chaos of summer vacation throw you off your game. Keep getting those workouts in, kids or no kids. 

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!

Simple Steps to Goal Achievement

Action Planning.

Goals are important. 

Writing goals down in clear, measurable, time-sensitive terms is important. 

Writing goals down in clear, measurable, time-sensitive terms EVERY SINGLE DAY is important. 

Writing short-term, actionable goals down in clear, measurable, time-sensitive terms EVERY SINGLE DAY is key to achieving long term goals.

Want to be healthier? Great! How will you make that happen?

Want to be financially secure? Yes! How will you make that happen?

Want to change the world? Absolutely! How will you make that happen?

Commit some real time to this process and you will start to see real progress. It won't happen overnight, but just stick with it. It WILL happen. 

Take some time right now to identify 3-4 basic goals you could achieve THIS MONTH that will bring you closer to your larger goals. Write them down, preferably in the current tense to get the greatest psychological impact. Do this at the start of EVERY SINGLE DAY. 

Then, at the end of EVERY SINGLE DAY, put a little check mark next to each monthly goal that you did any work on that day. 

It works.

And hey, did those three goals I mentioned above speak to you? If so, I've got some great news. I know a way you can achieve all three with one simple step. Just fill out the form below and I will follow up with you.

Creating Action for My Vision

On Friday, I passed my Personal Trainer Certification Test. Yep, I'm certifiable.

That little milestone (and let me tell you, it was not easy by any stretch of the imagination...) marked the completion of Phase One of my achievement plan.

That means it's time for Phase Two and I find myself needing a little more focus and guidance for my plan. Phase One took up so much of my focus for the last six months that I'm left feeling a bit out of sorts as to what to focus on next.

Enter the Action Board.

I'm working on my Action Board to help me clarify, define, focus, and guide my next steps toward my ultimate goal of financial freedom. 

Financial Freedom. 

*sigh*

Want to join me? Check out The Key To Achieve website for some helpful tips on creating a powerful action board for yourself. 

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!

Working Massage Into Marathon Training

If you follow me on Facebook, you may know I made it into the 2014 Marine Corps Marathon. 

If you've ever run a marathon, then you probably know that I am experiencing a bit of panic now trying to plan for training. Twenty-six point two miles is a lot of miles. A lot. *sigh*

So, I'm doing a lot of research to determine how best to avoid breaking down mid-marathon into delirium and begging random strangers for a piggy back ride to the finish.

At the top of my research pile is the impact of massage on runners. I could quote all of the medical mumbo jumbo, but I won't. It's boring, trust me. But the bottom line is, massage is good. Wait. Let me rephrase, GOOD massage is good. A bad massage can leave you injured. Believe me, it's happened. I once paid $90 for someone to decide partway through my Swedish massage that what I really needed was a deep tissue massage. I was not physically or emotionally prepared for a deep tissue massage. It took me two months to recover from that deep tissue massage. 

I have since found a phenomenal massage therapist that has a strong understanding of physiology and what my body needs to recover efficiently from my training. It's almost magical how she can find areas of stress and injuries that I've neglected to even tell her about. (I think maybe she's part witch - but the good kind of witch, like Hermione). 

For real, no one looks like that when they're getting massaged. But that's absolutely the way I feel like I look when I'm getting massaged.

So, I don't really have my mileage plan set up yet, but I do know that I will be working massage into my plan at least monthly over the next 7 months. Likely, I will increase that closer to marathon time. Luckily, my spa offers a wonderful club plan to help me afford frequent massage. 

Whether you're a regular runner or not, I encourage you to invest in regular massage. You will be happier and healthier for it.

Now, can I get a ooh-rah! (That's a marine thing, right?)

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.

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. 

Goals Are Tricky

Goals can be a tricky business. We have so many of them, but then life happens and goals fall to the wayside.

After reading about a million books (yes, I'm prone to exaggeration) on achievement and goal-setting, I've started this little daily habit.

Every morning - and I mean EVERY morning - while I'm enjoying my coffee, I write down my short-term goals. Currently April is the month I plan to reach these goals. I write them in the present tense, as though I had already achieved them.

Then every evening - and I mean EVERY evening - I go back and place a little check mark next to the goals that I feel I had taken at least one tiny step toward achieving. Even if it was only 10 minutes of writing, I place a check mark next to my goal of finishing my book by the end of April. (It's going to be a good one, too. All about my experiences as an animal foster. Told largely from the perspective of the animals. Because my animals talk to me.)

I started this process in December and it has made a huge difference in keeping me focused on my goals. Life still gets in the way sometimes, but much less often now.

Go ahead. Give it a try.

Need more help sticking to your goals? Head over to Facebook and follow me.