Exercise

Saying Goodbye to the fake smile & social media image

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Some of you have noticed the change happening in my life & on my social media pages.
Others don’t follow close enough to notice….. but you should! 🙂 Keep reading for raw, sincere truth & the process of change.

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After 18 months, Im finally comfortable enough to start sharing my new life & I think you deserve the authentic ‘Lisa.’

I find it VERY important that I help you to understand this isn’t just a ‘feel good – motivate you’ health & wellness page.
At least not any more.  

This has morphed into a ‘get out of your own head & let’s get real’ health & wellness page.

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You see…… for years I lived in a marriage where we weren’t truly happy but made it look amazing to others. That’s not living a life of authenticity.

We were the perfect family with 1 son & 1 daughter, made good money, lived in a beautiful house, drove new vehicles, never had a bad reputation, kept discrepancies hidden, and had pretty yet fake smiles.

I wasa physical therapist & he an engineer & our children were attractive with good grades & natural athletes. (The kids still are exactly that but now getting pre-teen attitudes. Gonna be a rough next few years). 😫🙄

The truth was that was just the image we were portraying.

Why did I feel the stress to portray such a perfect image?

I have yet to figure that out… But i assume the pressure of society had a good deal to do with it. Yet… it was far from the truth.

Behind closed doors we were living a life of loneliness yet trying to raise our minis in a happy home. Kids are smart & have great intuition – they knew we weren’t happy regardless of the fake smiles.

Someone in the family once told me that our relationship was ‘doable’ so I should stay. I suppose it was……. but it wasn’t authentic & not how I was raised. I was raised in a home where you speak your mind, stand up for each other, learn to forgive, & love hard. My parents were always holding hands, dancing in the kitchen, & although they had arguments, I saw them love each other thru them vs ignore them. They taught us how to apologize & agree to disagree.

I found myself unable to forgive my husband for words & actions. I couldn’t move forward, I felt ignored and as if no one had my back, and therefore my relationships with my parents/siblings started to struggle too.
I became internally an angry, burnt out mom hiding behind a false image & pretty smile.

That’s when I began running.
It was my peaceful oasis – I ran to escape my feelings, reality, being a parent & then I found myself praying & crying during my marathon training runs.
Professional marriage counseling was a blessing & I learned a lot but making my body push hard & run long distance was my saving grace. It gave me a workout high & relieved stress not to mention strengthened my relationship with God on a few levels.

Yet….. home life continued to not be what I thought it should be. I wanted to hold someone’s hand & wake up to morning hugs. I wanted to be told I’m loved & felt appreciated. I wanted him to fear losing ME. I didn’t want ‘doable’…. I wanted more. I think he did too.

Then, dynamics changed (I’m not going to be an angry person & dish details) but I couldn’t handle it & filed for divorce. I kept it a big secret because I was embarrassed & felt like I had failed. Honestly…. I’m not used to failing at anything so it was very tough for me to admit I was going through a divorce. Much of my small home town & family didn’t realize what I was going through. I kept it very low key.

The divorce itself was easy. No lawyers. We met with a private mediator to have the paperwork drawn up. Emotionally I was a mess, but I’m good at compartmentalizing so only my inner circle of friends new my struggles. My parents didn’t even know when the divorce was finalized.

We lived together 2 months after the divorce to help eachother get our feet on the ground…..I wasn’t angry anymore & I knew I was going to feel freedom soon so it wasn’t that bad.

Since the divorce – my relationship with my Mom had gotten much better, my kids have been more open with their feelings & showing love with hugs & cuddles, I’ve found out how strong I am & that I can do all the lawn work & fix the garbage disposal on my own!!

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I struggle some days & fail often with words & actions. I cry more than I ever have but think of those tears as soul cleansers vs weakness. I’m not afraid to show the tears anymore.

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I’ve grown a lot & I now know that the actions & words I needed weren’t only dreams & wishes. People actually kiss, hug, talk about deep topics, & wake up happy!!

Long story….. but it leads me to this.

  • I’m authentic now.
  • No fake smiles but real ones.
  • I’m not afraid to cry or feel pain.
  • I got the tattoo I always wanted & live by my rules.
  • I curse. Im sassy. I love hard & care deeply —– and that’s ok!!
  • I have a dirty mind & don’t apologize for it.
  • I eat nachos & wings. I like beer & tequila.
  • I yell at my kids sometimes. (Bedtime when they won’t go to bed until they push my buttons every damn night).
  • I like my quiet days when the kids are with their dad.
  • I still workout nearly daily & eat well 80% of the time.
  • I have 10-12 more pounds I want to lose.
  • I’m not perfect & it’s ok.
  • I wake up with huge wild bed head & sometimes look like hell.
  • I make no apologies for being REAL these days & this page will reflect my real life & self in hopes of helping you to not feel pressured to live that ‘social media perfect life’ either!!

If you don’t like it….. I’m ok with that.
I’m a single mom doing it my way & working as a therapist, sports nutritionist, small business owner, & coaching others to be entrepreneurs with me so we can all succeed. I’m a successful Team Beachbody coach & did I mention I’m not afraid of hard work??

You’ll see my unfiltered thoughts & words….. I’ll probably offend some people & my mom will shake her head wondering what kind of woman she raised at times. Lol!!

But…. my social media biz pages are my life as a single parent succeeding through failing forward & teaching others the info & techniques I know to lose weight & be better athletes. I connect well with people of all ages & possess a lot of internal positive energy.

Above all……. my SMILE is genuine now.  Hence my new team & business motto:

Sweat, SMILE, Eat & Repeat. 💕

img_1757I hope you’ll appreciate the unfiltered authenticity & genuine person I am these days!!! If not….. so be it. I’ll still be A-Ok!

Reflect & question yourself….. are you being authentic with yourself? Your family? Your life?  Why not?

Leave a comment with your authentic feelings regarding what’s holding you back from showing your genuine self to the world!!

Gym Memberships – Are they worth it?

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one choice away from changing your lifeIt’s not rocket science.
We all know that fad diets are only short term (if that) and in order to lose weight and create sexy curves, you must exercise.
Here’s the thing…. research is showing us that workouts don’t have to be 1-2 hours long at the gym in order to see progress and healthy eating does not mean you must never eat chocolate or drink wine again!  If you don’t know this, then you must be living under a very heavy rock.  🙂

Workouts and Eating have come a LONG way.  Problem is, there’s so much contradicting information out there that it’s confusing and people give up vs. research and find what works best for their body.

When it comes to changing the body and adhering to a healthier lifestyle, going to the gym appears to be part of the process.  Did you know that the real changes are made in the kitchen?  True story!!  Food is the hardest part because that is a decision we must make repeatedly throughout the day whereas getting a workout in is a one-time-per-day choice.
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I have many clients and over the past 6 years, I have spoken to many who sign up for gym memberships thinking this is the key to success.  They are spending $240+ per year on gyms, another fee for personal training sessions/classes, and still not sure what to eat at home!  That’s a lot of money, time, and energy wasted.  No wonder why today’s society believes workouts and healthy eating is expensive and not worth the time!

**  The gym’s BEST clients are those who never show up!! **

Life happens.  I get that.  Going to the gym requires you to get into the car, drive (pay for gas), find a locker, wait for equipment, & touch sweaty handlebars/machines.  Maybe you are a single parent and then you need to consider child care too.  Maybe your schedule only allows you to workout in the evenings and what if the weather is bad??  I’m in Indiana and in the winter, I rarely want to travel in the snow/ice to the grocery let alone the gym.

Does this scenario sound familiar? —> Come home from work, help kids with homework while your cooking dinner, give baths, do a couple house chores, and now it’s time to get the kids to bed — driving to the gym is just not feasible at this point and your membership may not even allow you to show up later in the evenings!

I read a stat on StatisticBrain.com that says the average amount of money being wasted with gym memberships is $39/month and 67% of people with memberships don’t use them!!  W-H-A-T???   Even if you are the 33% that uses the membership, without making changes in the kitchen, you won’t find the success you want to see and still get frustrated!

This is why I was SUPER excited when Beachbody released the ’21 DayFix’ program.  I knew that my clients were going to find more success at a faster rate because of the easy container system.

  • This program teaches you how to make healthy choices and advocates a way to control portions via color coded containers.
    Purple container = Fruit 
    Green Container = Veggies
    Red Container = Proteins
    Orange Container = Oils and dressings
    Yellow Container = Complex carbs
    Blue Container = Cheese & nuts

This isn’t a 21-day program and you’re done —– this teaches you how to eat smart for the rest of your life!!  Priceless!!! 
21 day fix containers listed
Also, when you choose an at-home program, you can workout ANYTIME you want.  For me, this is a game changer.  I’m a busy Momma, so having the flexibility of a workout anytime works well for me and eliminates my excuses.  You only need 30 minutes for your workouts with this program and it’s VERY effective — I bet you spend 30 minutes a day looking at social media, so you can squeeze in a workout in that amount of time!  🙂

Let me guess…. your next thought is “It’s too expensive.”  But is it??

I’ve already pointed out the gym membership and then added costs of personal trainer and classes. Not to mention the gas and drive time.
Let’s say that’s about $300-400/yearly average and you still aren’t factoring in the food/eating side of losing weight (important part!)

The ’21DayFix Challenge Pack’ costs $160 and includes a nutrition plan PLUS 30 days of Shakeology (highly nutritious meal). I’ll even throw in my meal plan sampler document, grocery list, sample meals, and weekly container tracker which I personally created.
$160.00  for all of that!

AND — often times this challenge pack is on sale for $140!!!! 
You are essentially getting a quality workout in your home at any hour, a trainer, a dietician, and a personal coach (me) for one low investment!

Consider this…. gyms have a capacity of people allowed into its facility at one time.  Yet, it has thousands of people with memberships.  They KNOW you won’t be showing up! Now, they are offering messages, bagel breakfasts, spa treatments, popular classes, supplements, tanning, and when we try to stop paying the $20/month fee, there’s a cancellation fee.  Our brains are locked into thinking this is ok and that it’s the only way to try to be ‘healthy.’   Long contracts are scary for most of us….. we don’t like the commitment.  However, gyms are different because you envision the ‘new you’ if you sign up.  We forget that the ‘new you’ comes with actually consistently going to the gym!

Some people tell me “If I have to pay, I’ll be more inclined to go to the gym regularly.” 
Maybe for a little while you will, but then you’ll start to realize that the gym doesn’t care if you are there or not and not one is holding you accountable.
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All my customers have the opportunity to join my free facebook fit club meaning there are over 200 people just like us who have busy lives, but are trying to make our bodies a priority too.  Over 200 people supporting one another, swapping recipes, and myself being very active in the group sharing tips for success.  As a physical therapist, I also can provide assistance with sore muscles and aches/pains.  This level of accountability cannot be matched at the gym or with one gym buddy!  Why have one when you can have an entire community of support and positivity!

If you decide that you would like to continue with Shakeology because of the nutritional gaps in today’s daily food intake and it makes you feel better, I promise you it’s more affordable than you think.  At only $4/day your Shakeology cost is less than most fancy coffee drinks and processed fast food stops.

Consider this wise investment today!
Ask me about ways to save money (if it’s on sale this month) and how to get Shakeology for 25% off too!

LIFE VALUE of COMPLETING the 21DayFix:

  • Personal Coach for support and tips. (ME!)
  • Group of supportive folks (facebook fit club) just like you and me!
  • 30-35 servings of a superfood protein shake to fill in the nutritional gaps.
  • 21 Days of focus for changing your lifestyle food habits.
  • 30 minutes of exercise/day to brighten your mood, get a handle on stress, and tighten those jiggly areas.
  • Easy to follow workout & food program.
  • My YourFitness-411 documents created for this program to make it even easier!
  • Weight loss and family meals made easier/healthier!

21 day fix

logo without BELIEVE

 

 

 

Choose your “Difficult.”

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Nearly 12 years ago, I had a new little 3lbs. 15 ounce baby boy who was fighting for a normal life at 32 weeks old. I had no control over what was happening to him.
As I sat next to his little ‘glass box’ for hours at a time staring at him breath with wires and machines surrounding us – I was also thinking about my body and if I was ever going to get it back. I felt horrible….emotionally and physically.

Jacob preemie pic

Over the next 5 weeks of going to the NICU I hated my new ‘Mom’ body yet stopped by the Zestos seasonal ice cream drive-thru to get my daily blackberry smoothie to calm my nerves.
Does that make sense??
No – but at that time nothing made sense.
Why would God allow my baby to come early and create this fight for him, for us, and make me so worried/sad that I wanted to vomit everyday? I had no control over what was happening to my son, so I controlled my ‘wants’ with a blackberry smoothie. Damn, they were really good too!!
And, I’ll usually get one a summer because they are tasty, but they always remind me of those scary times. I don’t know why I still do that to myself?
Maybe it’s to remind myself to be thankful because Jacob survived those days and the ONLY reminder is a coil in his heart which does not limit him from activities. I’d like to think it’s to remind myself to be thankful.

jacob preemie with me

I really hated my body then and sometimes I still get irritated when I look in the mirror.  It never seems to change fast enough!!!  I hated how I felt in clothes and how I tried to conspicuously camouflage my stomach. I hated how I felt jiggly and was not the tight and toned athlete I used to be.

Then I had 2 miscarriages and my body seriously went to hell. I was envious of the other Moms who didn’t have pregnancy issues and looked amazing 12 weeks after delivery. I got pregnant a fourth time and ,y baby girl, Lydia, entered my life.
A full term gorgeous baby girl with dark black curly hair, full lips, and big blue eyes.
I knew then that I was done having children. I wasn’t pressing my luck any more!

AND….. therefore it was time to get my body back.

I wanted my husband and children to be proud of me and how could I allow them to be if I wasn’t proud of myself?  I do not believe in the “I’m a Mommy now so I must look like one” theory. I wanted to be a fit and feisty mom that was active and my kids could brag about.

I tried joining the YMCA and fad diets, but all I ever got was frustrations and disappointment. At first I thought if I stopped taking in so much food that the fat would melt off.  I was wrong.  I had no one to help me through it and was too embarrassed to talk to my friends about my weight. Can you relate? Is that normal?

I saw an infomercial on TV and quietly ordered the workouts. I did a few weeks of them without much success and frankly…..it bored me.
So, time to try something a little more challenging. I needed solid motivation and to start a real weight loss program. I ordered P90X , started using Shakeology for a quick nutritional drink, and joined Team Beachbody so I had a free coach who knew what she was doing to push me and answer my questions.
On my bad days, I reached out to her.
On my good days I reached out to her.

Beachbody before after

 

I lost 15 pounds and more importantly, FELT BETTER.
I’ve learned that self confidence and having energy without making poor food choices is the BEST FEELING EVER.
I started running, joined races, ordered more Beachbody home workouts (I now own over 16 programs) and even when I fail …. Which I do daily……. I fail forward.
I had knee surgery last spring which despite my best efforts created a few extra pounds that I’m struggling to get off. Stress and lack of sleep are the culprits —- I know that for sure!

Lisa Phone September 2014 soccer, family picnic, class reunion 2076

My fate was NOT to be a “typical Mom” who complained about her body and was jealous of others. It sucked many days but I had to choose my ‘DIFFICULT.’
It is difficult to: be fat and it’s difficult to workout each day and eat better.

—->> But one difficult is worth it and the other is just a waste of time and annoying for others to hear you talk about wishing you were smaller.

Some things in life we have NO control over —- such as a preemie baby or miscarriages.
Other things we have ALL the control over — such as what you’re putting in your food hole each day.

** Reminds me of this sweet little prayer I have plastered all over my house:
Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.

Create your change. Change your difficult. 
Do it now before it’s too late and do it so you love yourself for fighting each day to be better than yesterday. The fight is worth it.
IMG_3463My son and I running his first 5K a couple years ago. 🙂

The million dollar question…

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“What if I squeezed myself into any shape
And I still don’t fit?
What if I bend myself so much that I break
And I can’t mend it?
What if I burn so bright that the fire goes out
And I can’t stay lit?
What’s the point in it?
I could get good at crying crocodiles tears
Just to get along.
I could carry on telling you what you wanna hear
Till my voice is gone.
But if I finally get to the place that I think is home
And I don’t belong.
What’s the point in it, where’s the benefit
When I’m gaining all but I’m losing it?”
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This is a powerful song by Natasha Bedingfield that has helped me through many tough situations in my life. A friend introduced me to this song years ago….and it makes me re-evaluate my choices and thoughts and helps to re-direct my mind to stay on the path I want to be on.

For the first time in a very long time…..I’ve found myself in an unwarranted emotional situation. The details aren’t important….but the emotional rampage my mind & soul have been going through is taking a toll on my daily routine. I haven’t experienced this emotional roller-coaster since beginning my fitness journey about 5 years ago.

gym - emotionsAs a coach, when people tell me they have fallen off the fitness train because of a tough situation….whether it be a death in the family, house fire, divorce, ill parent, loss of job, or just life in general —— I would respond with “Exercise increases your mood and helps to beat stress – you can do this!” And I still believe that and stand by those words.
Honestly…… that’s why I do a lot of running. I started running because I found the therapeutic aspect of it to be attractive. I felt better, I looked better, it was time to myself, I could work out my problems and pray during those long miles. The endorphin rush after a long run was powerful (Either that or I was just too damn tired to care after a long run!) But, it’s well known that running is a natural antidepressant, and I found that to be true. It helped me beat the stresses of being a Mother, Sister, Daughter, Wife…….and allowed me to focus on ME.

I tell you this because the past 10 days have been absolutely insane in my world. New information about health and relationships have left me feeling lost and broken.
Because of this, I have missed many workouts this week and lost my appetite. That alone speaks volumes because I love to exercise!!  I’ve gotten my workout clothes on, drank pre-workout beverage, and just couldn’t do it. The thought of food made me want to vomit and I wasn’t hungry. Can you relate to this?? I surely cannot be the only one!
As a therapist and nutritionist, I KNOW my choices were not healthy or helping me to heal in any shape or form mentally, emotionally, or physically.

The million dollar question I get asked is = “If I don’t feel like it, how do I do it?”
That’s a pretty general question and I typically say….. “You just do it. Dig deep and tell me when the workout is completed because I cannot wait to hear how it went and how you feel after!”

But there’s a difference between that question and “When you don’t emotionally feel well and can’t find the motivation from within, how do you do it??”

This is a question I will now be answering differently. I’m learning from experience the deep gut feeling where you REALLY don’t want to (or just can’t) from emotions. I’m not sure all the answers and because it’s not a black/white problem with black/white answers……..it’s going to be different for everyone.  I will be able to pull from my experience and understand my clients better!  And….that will continue to make me a coach worthy of helping others because I can relate on many levels and am very realistic to today’s busy family lifestyles.

I used to find motivation in my Instagram feed because it is filled with workout pics and bodies getting stronger. That’s all it used to take to make me think, “Hell, if they can do it then so can I!!”
But…. My mind has been saying this week,  “Good for them….. Screw it.”  (Once again, I know some of you are relating to me!)

I have missed about 4 workouts this week and that is 4 too many. The workouts I have done are only 2-3 miles at a time on the treadmill in my basement and half-assed. I have lost 4-5 lbs. and I am NOT happy about it (even though my goal is a total of 10 more).

What’s my point to all this?? Just to let you know experience is teaching me to be a better fitness/health coach and showing you that life happens to all of us. Stress and heartache happen to everyone, no one is superhuman.

Today’s Goal: I WILL actually go to the gym today and get a workout in which includes cardio and weights. That FREE tanning bed is sounding pretty nice right now too!

love myself enough to exercise

I know I am strong enough to get through this, although there’s a little voice in my head questioning it. It’s not pretty, but I have some amazing friends that support me and my faith is a blessing. I truly believe everything happens for a reason…and right now that reason is something only God knows. But, if I’m not going to help myself, I cannot complain about it either.
I’m learning to not allow negativity (situations and people) stop me from doing what I love to do.

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“Don’t wanna end up like pirate bones
What I thought was treasures is just a pile of stones.
I might have to judge it, better be lying alone
Pirate bones.
If I forfeit my soul it ain’t worth having.
If it’s something I stole, it ain’t worth having.
It’s not worth that much to me
If losing out is what it means
This way means shallow victory
Is empty, empty.
It’s just not worth the prize
It’s only a fool’s paradise
If it’s draining every drop of lies
Till I’m dry, lie, pirate bones.”

Natasha Bedingfield – Pirate Bones

If you are struggling with your weight, food, or exercise routine…. I urge you to contact me.
I’m a fitness challenge Specialist and love it!  30 minute workouts, nutrition plan, shopping list, motivation, support group ………everything you need to see positive changes.  Find me & send me a message at www.facebook.com/YourFItnessInfo

Don’t say ‘farewell’ to cupcakes… Wait, what?

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Seriously?? I open my email to find this message.

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I had to read it a couple times and allow it to whirl in my brain for a bit before deciding that it pisses me off.  Is ‘slenderer’ even a word?? Don’t give up cupcakes?? Because they are a superfood that creates a better body right?? (Note sarcasm.)  An occasional cupcake is fine but if you are eating them so much that you must ‘give them up’ then that tells me you need a complete overhaul and to pick your train wreck of a self-up off the floor and throw away the empty cupcake wrappers too.   

Why would you NOT give up cupcakes?  They make your body feel like junk and are only good for the tastebuds.  That ‘goodness’ only lasts a few seconds before you swallow it and then allow it to jack up the rest of your body. 

Moving on….if a product ‘guarantees’ that you will lose weight while eating simple carbs and not exercises then guess what……. You are probably going to need a lot of toilet paper because it’s going to clean you out.  And that, my friends……. Is not a healthy ‘cleanse.’ Not to mention you will gain it back.  It’s not changing your bad habits, teaching you to eat well, helping you to learn more about your body and the cravings, or promoting healthy digestion. Now, as nutritionist, I can go on and on about how poor eating leads to diabetes, amputations, heart disease, poor morale, bullying, depression, GI issues, brittle bones, decreased rate of healing, and much much more….. But we will save that for another blog. 

 

Wtf does “disgusting hours in the gym” mean?? My mind can’t even comprehend those words all put together. All gyms I have been in are pretty pleasing to the eyes, but I assume they are talking about sweat and exercise.  Exercise is crazy amazing for your body and brain.  I LOVE to sweat (especially if it’s a hair washing day) and I feel powerful, sexy, determined, and unstoppable when I have a hard workout.  BOOM!

Lisa's phone July 2014. Adult family night and beforeafter pics 216

I need a Xanax just to calm down from all that nonsense talk. 

  • Aching muscles are proof you are changing them and had a good workout. 
  • You shouldn’t be having hunger cramps if you are eat well. You can eat a LOT of food when you make wise choices.   What is a hunger cramp anyways?  I thought it was called ‘hunger pains.’
  • Everyone knows that exercise and better foods aid in sleeping!! Cupcakes and all that sugar cause poor sleep, but hey…… go ahead and eat it according to this email. 
  • I don’t know about you, but I eat all my favorite dishes because they taste amazing!!! Since when was a steak, baked sweet potato with cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice seasoning, fresh green beans, and a no cook PB cookie a bad meal? (Maybe you aren’t sleeping well because your body doesn’t like you ‘favorite’ dishes and it’s causing nightmares).
  • “Get hotter wisely and effortlessly” – WHAT?? The chemical shit storm that this email is promoting is not wise.  Not to mention, are they saying that you are only ‘hot’ if you are a size 2??  I was always taught that nothing is worth it if you don’t work for it.  And, I teach my clients that the journey is the best teacher.  You learn a lot about your mind/body/soul on the journey.                                                                                                                         This is the problem with society….. too many people have no idea how good their body could actually feel and how easy it is to lose those unwanted pounds because they keep eating chemicals and making lazy food choices.  Instead…people just want the easy way out with a product that will eventually ruin them.  Guess what?  Skinny people can be unhealthy too!!  You need to fix the problem from the inside out. 
    Seriously…… don’t waste your hard earned money on something like this.  Spend it on products that you can use over and over again and encourage wellness along with a support system from others like you who have been there/done that.  I don’t care what you choose to do…….whether it’s going to the gym, attending fitness classes, get a home workout program from me, or lace your shoes and hit the pavement.  Just do SOMETHING!

Take care of your belly with good food and stop the notion that healthy food tastes bland.  Learn to love spices/seasoning and get creative in the kitchen!!  The possibilities are endless!!  
Easy food rule I teach:  IF your Great Great Grandmother wouldn’t recognize the items on your plate….. you shouldn’t be eating it.  She wouldn’t recognize the chemical shit storm on many plates…. I guarantee. 

If you need genuine assistance and a healthy outlook on weightloss /building muscle……. I can teach you how to get started and push you to success.  Contact me at any time!!  Bashford.Lisa@yahoo.com.  

 

You can follow the sassy fitness coach, Lisa, with YourFitness-411 on social media via Facebook or Instagram.  (Click on those highlighted words to be directly connected to her social media pages. 

100% honesty about being a Team Beachbody coach on my team. 411 exposed.

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When I believe in something…. I throw 100% of myself into it.  Whether it’s a child’s birthday party, the perfect Christmas gift, preparing for a race, running a fitness booth at an event, cyber coaching an accountability weight-loss group, or mentoring a group of people who have trusted me to teach them how to make an extra income by becoming a Team Beachbody coach on my team.  

Sometimes, my 100% intimidates people.  They feel that’s what they have to do also, and although I greatly appreciate that thought and the effort…it’s simply not true.  My passion for helping others to learn more about health through proper food choices and exercise seeps out my pores.  Is it a great thing or a fault?  Probably a little of both.  Don’t allow my passion to stop you from taking a leap of faith!

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I want everyone to enjoy the perks of being a Team Beachbody coach on my team and helping others to get healthy!  The more people I talk to, the more I hear people say “I don’t have time for it.”  So, I feel it’s time to be 100% truthful and speak clearly about this gig that makes me an extra $1000+ a month which will continue to grow.
Here are some things you do NOT need in order to be a successful coach on TeamBelieve (my team’s name).

  • Age doesn’t matter unless you are younger than 18 years old. 
  • It doesn’t matter what physical shape you are currently in.  Waiting until you are ‘the right weight’ is a complete mistake.  You may not get there anytime soon and others NEED to see your journey!  Your journey is what helps others.  You respect someone when you’ve seen the dedication, discipline, and struggles they are practicing in order to achieve those goals.  Don’t use that excuse anymore.
  • More than 15 minutes a day. 
  • Educated on food/fitness.
  • A lot of money.
  • Place to store products because you don’t store any!  People place orders and the company does the rest for you!
  • A monthly order.  To be a baseline coach, you do NOT need a monthly product order! 
  • A lot of fitness loving friends (although it helps).
  • No evening ‘parties’ to host.

Let me explain.  If you have social media – you have the ability to grow an amazing business and make extra money right at your fingertips.  Thanks to social media, small businesses continue to grow and are very successful.  All you need is 15 minutes a day thanks to social media.  I will send you a checklist that I have created to help you if you only have 15 minutes a day.  A quick email, a post on social media, answering a client’s questions (which there aren’t many) only takes a few minutes.  You don’t need time, you need consistency.  You don’t need to have an educational foundation in nutrition or fitness to do well at this business.  Did you know that Tony Horton (Creator of the P90X workout line) never graduated from college?  He went to college and did normal college things like drink beer and chase girls, but he never actually graduated.  Thankfully, I have a nutrition background (which I acquired in 2013 specifically so I can help my team better) and have been a Physical Therapist Assist. For 17 years so I know quite a bit about weight-loss, muscle building, injury prevention, and rehabilitation of injury/surgery/disease.  I’m also a runner, athlete, and have my own weight loss story >>> experience is the best teacher.  As your upline sponsor, I will help you with your client’s questions, your questions, and educate you at the same time!  Win/Win/Win! I’ve also purchased social media courses which have taught me quite a lot about social media/small businesses.  Trial and error has taught me a lot too!! I’ll teach you everything I know! 

Unlike other home businesses, you do NOT NEED a monthly order placed or a set amount of money made per month.  All you need is $15.95.  Let me repeat that in case you missed it…… All you need is $15.95.  That is the price for owning your own business each month!  You get 3 beautifully designed websites for only $15.95/month!  If you have a friend that purchases the new 21DayFix challenge pack from your site, you earn $40. That means 2 months of your monthly fee is taken care of! 

A basic coach gets the 25% discount and 25% commission just like the rest of us.  Many people like to be a basic coach for the discount and option to make money if they choose to.  Other coaches want to expand and see what income they can generate.  I like either kind of coach on my team!
If you want to grow to the next status which is called an Emerald coach….all you need to do is sign up 2 coaches onto YOUR team!  Once all 3 of you are ‘active’ (meaning you have accumulated 50 volume points either through your orders or a client’s orders), then you are an Emerald Coach!  Emerald coaches get some amazing perks from Team Beachbody! You get a FREE client assigned to you almost weekly from the infomercial orders, you earn free prizes when you make success club, and you get to earn money with cycle bonuses ($14.00 per cycle).  I’ll explain that when you get to that status!  Just know that you can cycle numerous times in one day (I’m talking around 90x!)
I always send a little ‘Congratulations’ give to my coaches when they advance ranks too!  You may be thinking…. “Yes, Lisa, but how hard is it to get 50 volume points?”  One order of Shakeology is 90 points, so it’s pretty simple.  All supplements and programs have volume points and it’s roughly $1.00/point as a coach.  Coaches would get Shakeology for $97.50 whereas a non-coach has to pay $130 for 30 meals.  There is a HUGE variety of energy drinks, recovery drinks, protein drinks, meal replacements, workout programs, workout equipment, vitamins, and much more to choose from!! And, did you realize I said that those volume points can come from a client too?  So, if you have a client who purchased Shakeology, then you are qualified as an ‘active’ status and don’t need to worry about it!  It’s great having a few reliable clients!

The various ranks of Team Beachbody coaches are:

  1.  Basic
  2. Emerald
  3. Ruby
  4. Diamond
  5. Star Diamond (I am currently a 1-Star Diamond coach)

Each rank has various perks and income opportunities.  Many Emerald coaches are making more than Diamond coaches!!  In my opinion, rank doesn’t matter as much as your income.  You’d rather have a fat check than a lot of people clapping for you because you advanced in rank, right? 

“But Lisa, I don’t want to be responsible for my customer’s or have the time to ‘coach’ people.”  Do you know what I say to that??  “Awesome, because you can add your customer’s to one of my many facebook groups and I will coach them!!”   The same goes for your new coaches too!  Add them to my facebook group called ‘Team Believe’ and I will coach them for you!! 
Seriously….. how could I make it more simple for you?? 

 Being a Team Beachbody coach holds you responsible for your own weight-loss/fitness goals and allows you the opportunity to get a discount on quality products along with providing you the chance to make some extra spending cash!  Best part is that there is no termination fee!  I only ask that you give it at least 6 months so that you can let everyone know you are a coach and they can order from you!  Plant the seed and wait for it to grow!  If it’s not for you, simply quit.  I won’t hold a grudge or take it personally.  Even if it’s not for you….. ya know what?  You still tried it and added a new chapter to your life of things you have tried!  It’s a Win/Win!!  I have a coach that stopped coaching & then came back to my team 1-2 years later and now she’s very successful!  She just earned a FREE ticket to next year’s Team Beachbody convention in Vegas next year that’s worth $295!!! 

I could go on and on about some of the Superstars on my personal team (not to mention Shinedown’s drummer, Barry Kerch).  I have some coaches making more in 1 week than they make in 2 weeks at their normal 40 hour/week job!  I have other coaches who simply want the discount and no interest in making money.  Regardless, they are a part of a huge supportive fitness family that has a HEALTHY addiction!  Amazing people from all over the country are bonding because of Team Beachbody.  My team is growing….now is the time to join! 

I’d love to hear your fears now that I’ve killed some of them for you.  I love to put excuses out of their misery!! Join my team! Now is the time to hold yourself accountable, lose the weight, have a strong fitness family behind you, and make money for that summer vacation.  Why are you hesitating?? 

Surprise me by going to www.beachbodycoach.com/LisaBashford and clicking the COACH button.  I can’t wait to welcome you to Team Believe and get you started!!!  That $32.50 savings on your monthly Shakeology is waiting for you!!!!  
ImageYou can always contact me at:  Bashford.Lisa@yahoo.com if you have more questions/concerns.  

Late night workout done. ROLL TIDE.

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It has been a LONG day with the kids on Winter Break. Today was full of errands with the kids on very snowy roads and a trip to the theater to watch the movie ‘FROZEN.’  I highly recommend this movie! 
(It’s more about sibling love vs. prince/princess romance.  Make sure to chat about that aspect with your kiddos post movie! Good lesson!) 

Tonight was dinner and baths before getting them to sleep so I could watch someof the Oklahoma/Alabama game.  I had yet
to do a workout, so decided to use part of the third quarter for a 30 minute workout.  I drank my beverage to get the body ready and opened up my BRAND SPANKING NEW workout program that arrived today. 

—-> P90X3  <—-

It’s NOT necessary to do P90X & P90X2 prior to doing P90X3.  Which is good…. Because even though I
completed P90X, I didn’t make it through P90X2. Honestly, I didn’t like it. Enough said. 

Yep, it’s 11:30pm and I just completed the first workout called ‘Core Synergetics’ and I have a nice little muscle quiver happening in my arms/legs.  Know what I love MOST about the P90X workout programs?  The fact that the exercises use MANY muscle groups at ONE TIME to get the most out of limited time (vs. the machines at the gym that typically work one major muscle group at a time). 

  More bang for your buck. 

Example:  standing on one leg (balance) while doing hammer curls with 10lbs. dumbbells. 
Another Example:  planks which progress to a side plank and oblique crunch. 
**BOOM**

Overall body exercise, baby.  Another thing I like about these workouts is that you go at YOUR pace and there’s plenty of
time between exercises to write your stats & get new weights/water.  It’s NOT like the Insanity program where it’s
fast, fast, fast…… go, go, go.  P90X3 is more about the quality of exercise and….. we all know the slower you do a
weighted exercise, the more the muscle burns. 

If you are one of the people who don’t like to listen to Tony talk or tell jokes, then simply mute it after you learn the moves.  Yes, I was a bit clumsy since this was my first time doing the workout.  But, if it were easy, I’d be disappointed in the program because it wasn’t challenging me.  Challenge = body changing.

Contact me if you are using P90X3 to change your body too!  I’d love to swap notes and push one another!!  I will need to deviate from
the program somewhat since I am continuing to increase my running mileage in prep for the Florida Ragnar Race next month, but I’m hoping to stay as close to the schedule as I can. 

Hey…. And check that out —- the football game is in the 4thquarter.  Sweet Nectar!! I like shorty
workouts that still create muscle burn!  I didn’t miss much of the game and still can watch the end.  ROLL TIDE! 

www.YourFitness-411.com

I teach my folks ——> ‘small changes = big results.’

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As this year winds to a close….. please re-evaluate your health & body image.  If you are not pleased with either, then it’s time to put the excuses away and start to focus.

I would STRONGLY suggest joining me or someone you trust (& knows their information) for accountability & support.  Don’t ask the random guy in the gym!  I am always accepting new folks onto my coaching team and will personally help you learn the products, figure out what works best for you, and help you to make some extra cash if you wish.  Please join me!! Stay on as long as you want/need……but let’s work together to make 2014 your BEST year yet!

Too many people believe that in order to get healthy they need to clean out all cupboards, eat food that tastes like cardboard, be miserable, and do cardio for an hour a day.  I’m here to tell you …… that’s WRONG & you are setting yourself up for more disappointment.  I teach my folks ——>  ‘small changes = big results.’ 

I’ve been helping others through a legitimate company (Team Beachbody) for 3 years, and it motivated me to study sports nutrition so that I had a background in nutrition to further help others.  I’ve also recently become a distributor for Advocare because I believe in their supplements & nutritional teachings.  I believe a person needs to understand their body & why it’s behaving certain ways….. otherwise you will never know which avenues to take that lead you to overall better health.

Weight loss without the journey will teach you nothing and you WILL return to that ‘old self’ again.  You must LEARN a few tips, tricks, and knowledge to figure out what the key is for YOUR body and then unlock it!  I’m ready to be your assistant…… but are you ready to try?  Are you tired of being disappointed when looking at yourself naked in the mirror….or do you avoid mirrors in general?  That’s no way to live.

Let’s start 2014 off well… mind, body, and spirit.

Contact me so we can get started!!  Bashford.Lisa@yahoo.com

OBESITY – such an ugly word.

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The term ‘obesity’ is an excess proportion of total body fat.  “Morbid obesity” means that a person is either 50%-100% over normal weight, more than 100 pounds over normal weight, has a BMI of 40 or higher, or is sufficiently overweight to severely interfere with health or normal function.  There are many reasons as to why/how people become obese.  One of the most obvious causes of obesity is simply overeating. When you eat more food than the body requires then the excess is stored as fat. This can occur by eating too much or eating foods that are high in fat and calories. 

Other common causes for a person being obese are age, gender, genetics, environmental factors, physical inactivity, illness, psychological factors, and medications.

When it comes to my scope of practice, environmental factors and physical inactivity play a significant role. Environmental factors include lifestyle behaviors such as what a person eats and how active they are.  Physical activity or inactivity is self-explanatory.  Active individuals require more calories than less active ones to maintain their weight. Additionally, physical activity tends to decrease appetite in obese individuals while increasing the body’s ability to preferentially metabolize fat as an energy source. Much of the increase in obesity in the last 20 years is thought to have resulted from the decreased level of daily physical activity.  For those individuals struggling with these causes of obesity, the treatment I would recommend would be to educate yourself on proper food choices and exercise regimens that suit your lifestyle and personality.  Then, incorporate what you have learned into your daily life.  Some important factors would be proper water intake, carb/protein/fat intake, food proportions, limiting the processed ‘unhealthy’ carbs and replacing them with better choices of foods, knowing the proper caloric intake for your body and activity level, and of course, beginning an exercise program that you can maintain.  Too many individuals find excuses as to why they cannot make healthier choices and stick with them, so I would also recommend an accountability group or workout partner and help to hold one another accountable to a healthier lifestyle. 
For those causes of obesity which are outside of my scope of practice, I would recommend proper treatment by a medical professional.  Some of those treatment options are gastric bypass surgery, stomach size reduction, prescription weight loss medication, and behavioral changes (support groups/counseling).  These options are to be used after a healthy effort has been given to weight loss programs which include diet, exercise, and accountability. 

I am convinced that with better food choices and exercise, other common causes of obesity such as age, genetics, and illness can be controlled too.  Many illnesses such as diabetes can be controlled with diet and exercise, and then the person may be able to decrease their medication per physician.  I believe that our food choices can be what make us ill as well as what can heal the body.  The number one way to combat obesity is education.  To educate the individual on obesity, the cause of their obesity, and then to seek the right treatment to help them lose the weight and become a healthy weight. 
If you are ‘obese’ and looking for some personal assistance, contact me.  Even if you have just a few pounds to lose.  Gaining control of your body, your cravings, and your life will create joy, satisfaction, & you will be a role model for others. 
I can’t help if you don’t ask.  I have access to hundreds of home workouts and nutritionals to help you along in your journey.  Simple changes = big results.  *BELIEVE*
Email me at Bashford.lisa@yahoo.com or learn more about me at www.YourFitness-411.com

Gettin’ Fit & Fiesty

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I’ve been wanting to blog for a couple of weeks now.  But, it always seems to be the last thing on my list of 20 ‘to-do’ things every day.  I’m always too tired by the time I get to it! 
*  Spend time w/ kids = Check
*  Workout = Check
*  Errands (mail out samples, bracelets, grocery, dog’s nails clipped, etc.) = Check
*  Laundry and Vacuum = Check
*  Answer emails & do a little marketing on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram = Check

You get the idea.  Tonight is different. I completed a 9pm – 3 mile jog after a stressful day (which included a flat tire at the ball park).  It was refreshing.  NEVER did I EVER think that I would say a 3 mile jog was refreshing!  Running is my time to reflect, talk to God, think about problems/find solutions, and remind myself of my personal goals and what brings me satisfaction.  Helping others to their goals makes me internally satisfied.  I want to beat the trend of obesity!!  (such an ugly word!)  But, I can only do it with a few souls at a time.  The BEST way I can help more people at once is by creating a team of people like myself and through them, we can help many more folks.  So, I have a nice little team of like-minded people on my Beachbody team under the “YourFitness-411” umbrella.  Some are there for the discount only, yet others are wanting to grow a biz and help others too.  I’m proud of all of them, because in each person’s own way, they are beating the trend of obesity!  I try to work personally with many of them to help them succeed with their health/fitness and to make extra money.  It can be difficult at times, but everyone knows someone who could lose a few pounds, and Beachbody offers tried and true successful programs, and being able to recommend a program that suits someone’s lifestyle & taste, then watching them succeed is truly gratifying.  My coaches (teammates) come from all over the country and have all kinds of different backgrounds.  Some are athletes, others are not.  Some have established careers, and others are getting educated.  I have people who have met their weight loss goals, and others who are just beginning.  Some have been my friend for years, run marathons, have injuries, are parents, new brides, bravely starting new careers, or even in the “INSANITY” workout infomercial!  We build one relationship at a time to help others.  I am proud of each of them. 
I wanted to share Tera’s story.  She’s been on my team for a while now, and I’ve seen her struggle in business and personal life, live in pain, raise a son, and yet through it all she smiles and has a passion to help others.  She’s honest and ready to teach others her strategies and bring them aboard our team! 

This is HER story, in HER words……

My story started a couple of years ago. I can’t remember exactly why, but I wanted to start running and to lose a few pounds. My sister told me about Lisa Parrish Bashford being a Beachbody coach, and since I knew who she was since she went to my high school, I decided to talk to her about it. Let me just say that Lisa rocks! She doesn’t just rock, but she IS my rock. I know this isn’t supposed to be about Lisa, but without her I honestly wouldn’t be where I am. Ok…back to my story. I had neck surgery 2 1/2 years ago, and was having trouble recovering those muscles in my neck/shoulder area.  I started with PT…but that wasn’t helping on its own, and I ran out of cash to pay for more.  I then found an awesome Chiropractor, who finally got me on my way to less pain.  Once I started talking to Lisa, I learned much more about strengthening my shoulder/neck muscles, and along with my Chiropractic treatments I started to feel human again.  I still have some pain, but I don’t let that stop me because I know now that the stronger I can make those little muscles in my shoulder/neck area, the better I’ll feel. 🙂   Then, Lisa told me about Shakeology and I wanted to try it, but couldn’t make myself pay that much money. I’m a single Mom, and extra money is hard to come by. So, when Lisa said she was having a 7 day Shakeology challenge I couldn’t pass that up. I absolutely LOVED Shakeology! I decided I had to find a way to get it each month. I adjusted my budget and the rest is history. I can’t live without it now! I continued joining Lisa’s challenge groups to keep myself on track. Then, last February I decided to save a little cash by joining up as a coach.  Now I just can only hope to inspire and help as many people as my own coach does.  We are all part of a great team, and a great company. It’s win-win all the way!!

Tera pretty picTo join Tera’s team or simply learn more about her, visit her Facebook page called “Gettin fit and feisty” at http://www.facebook.com/TeraShull24        She’s an amazing coach & leader.  Allow her to help you too!  Experience is the best teacher. 🙂