Combining Faith & Fitness

Body Gospel is a great fitness program that combines the power of faith with effective exercise to help you lose weight and get fit.

This program is only available through Feb 19th and then it will be discontinued to make room for new fitness programs.

I'm thankful to already have my copy of the program. I do a Body Gospel workout at least once per week, usually more often. You still have time to order your copy before it goes away forever.

Order the base kit for $24.95 by clicking here.

Order the deluxe kit for $39.90 by clicking here. The deluxe kit includes additional workouts and additional resistance bands.

Or, for the best results, order a Challenge Pack for $140 by clicking here. Challenge Packs include the program, a 30-day supply of Shakeology in the flavor of your choice, Club membership (gives you access to recipes and other benefits), access to the Beachbody Challenge contest, and me as your coach!

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. 

Creating With Race Bibs

We all have a pile of them somewhere in our house.

You can't just throw them away, right?

You worked hard for those race bibs, so display them proudly.

Here are some creative ideas:

Race Bib Coasters. 

I love this idea. You can have them created for you through a website like goneforarun.com. For the more talented among us, you can create your own with some tiles, modge podge, and brush on glaze. 

(Check out The Creativity Experiment for step by step directions: http://www.thechasinghappyblog.com/2013/06/the-creativity-experiment-diy-race-bib.html)

Race Bib Tote Bag. 

This would make a great bag to carry your race gear in. Again, you can have one created through a website like mile22bags.com. But, if you lean toward the more creative side, make your own. 

(Melissa Schweisguth walks you through it on her bog: http://livingacoustically.wordpress.com/2010/02/12/making-race-bibs-into-a-tote-bag/)

Race Bib Quilt.

What a great way to keep warm on a cold winter day after running the Frozen Toe 10k! Campusquilt.com will scan your race bibs onto material for quilting or even create the quilt for you. 

Apparently this is not a popular option, as I had a hard time finding a photo of one. Most folks go with the race shirts rather than bibs for this option.

Race Bibs Framed.

Frame 'em! That's simple enough. All you need is a frame. Of course, if you're my mom, you will also need clear tape to hold each bib in it's place perfectly aligned to every other bib. If you're me, you'll just throw them all in there and they land where they land. Either way, it's a quick and easy way to display them. 

Race Bib Holders.

While I'm sure the more DIY among you will figure out a way to do this yourself, you can order these through a website like runningonthewall.com. The adventures of Z&K walk you through the DIY option here: http://theadventuresofzandk.com/2012/11/23/diy-race-bib-holder/

Race Bib Wallpaper.

Or just paper up your basement, office, or workout room. Probably don't use those mud run bibs, but, hey, its your house!







Have other ideas of your own? Share them in the comments! 

Tips For Snow Runs

Make Sure You're Prepared

Some people hear a forecast of 6-10 inches and think snow day. I think snow RUN. I LOVE to run in the snow. But it's important to be safe out there, so here are some tips I've learned along the way.

Run with friends

Seriously, this is my number one tip. I used to have two friends that I ran with back in PA. We had so much fun running together that I would drive 30 minutes in snow and sleet just to meet up with them for a 5 mile run. I have since moved to a new state and no longer have those running buddies. It’s a struggle just to get out the door on a cold day, even without precipitation.

Dress appropriately

Layers are best. A moisture-wicking base layer will keep sweat off your skin. A top layer that blocks the wind and maybe a fleece mid-layer to insulate when it’s really cold. It’s also important to protect your ears and your fingers in the cold. Just remember that you will warm up quickly as you run, so don’t overdress unless you’re in an area where you can remove a layer along the way if needed. 
For a review of some specific cold-weather running gear, check out my post Staying Warm on a Snow Day Run.

Warm up

Your muscles may need more time to warm up in the cold weather. It’s good to start out walking briskly before jumping into your run. If it's really cold out, consider doing some jumping jacks or burpees (yes, the dreaded burpee) inside before you head out.

Hydrate

You don’t get as thirsty during cold-weather runs, but that doesn't mean you don’t need to hydrate. It's always a good idea to carry water with you on runs longer than a few miles. If it's below freezing, try to carry your water bottle inside your jacket so it doesn't freeze.

Watch for ice

You may need to shorten your stride when running over slippery surfaces. I like to seek out fresh snow, which I find provides better traction. Plus it’s fun. Snow running is not a time to get in your speed work. 

Make sure you are visible! 

If you’re running on roads, drivers will be more focused on avoiding black ice than on you. Run against the flow of traffic and be prepared to dive into the closest snow bank when the oncoming driver doesn’t make room for you. Better yet, stick to the trails. They’re more fun, anyway.

Or just stay indoors

I hate treadmills (HATE them), but some find them to be a great option when it’s just not safe to run outside. Myself, I will just pop in my favorite exercise DVD and push play. (Contact me for some suggestions of fun and effective at-home exercise programs.)

Caring For My Freddy Krueger Yoga Mat

Yoga mats get dirty. Who knew?

I've had the same yoga mat for seven years. This is largely because, until recently, I'd never actually used it for yoga. It has been my stretching mat and my floor work mat, but not so much my yoga mat.

I hadn't really given much thought to cleaning it...until Yoga Heat.

Believe me, you do not want to be sitting in child's pose in the middle of a Yoga Heat session and start to wonder what that smell is.

So, I did some research on how to clean a yoga mat and how often to do so.

• Clean your yoga mat after every use. Every use. Especially if that use is hot yoga.
• Use a combination of hot water and a few drops of liquid soap.
• Wipe down both sides, rinse, wipe dry, and allow it some additional air dry time.
• Yoga mat towels are another option to keep your mat clean.
• Replace your mat every so often.

There aren't any clear guidelines on how often to replace a yoga mat, but I think I've got a pretty good indicator when it looks like Freddy Krueger has been practicing his Downward-Facing Dog on my mat. See, I have cats. And cats like to do this.

(This one is a foster, by the way, available for adoption. She comes with her own yoga mat.)

Namaste.

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.

21 Days to Make a Healthy Habit

That's the idea behind the 21 Day Fix. 

Establish your fitness and portion control habits in just 21 days. And get some amazing results while you do it.

This program sold out in 36 hours.

Yeah, it's that good.

Look, sometimes my budget does not allow me to purchase things right when I want to. I have a financial plan and I stick to it even when something I want as desperately as the 21 Day Fix comes out.

But here's the good news. Beachbody has an exclusive offer for those of us that didn't get our order in before it sold out.

When we place our order today, we get the FREE bonus workout DVD - Plyo Fix. This will reserve our 21 Day Fix package which is estimated for delivery in late March. We will not be charged today. Our credit card will be charged upon shipment. That works perfectly for my budget plan! How about you?

Retail Price for the 21 Day Fix is $59.85.
Club Members can get it for $53.87.
But if you're a coach, like me, the price is just $44.89.

Want to know why? Because coaches not only earn commission and bonuses for retail sales. We also receive a 25% discount on all Beachbody products. Click on the What is Beachbody Coaching tab at the top of this page to learn more.

Reserve your program today by clicking here.

Want your 21 Day Fix NOW? You can still get the full program as a Challenge Pack that also includes a 30-day supply of Shakeology in the flavor of your choice, a 30-day Beachbody Club Membership, and ME as your coach. I'll even throw in a free online accountability group to keep you going through the entire 21 days.

Want to go that route? Click here.