health

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

 

 

 

Who is YourFitness-411? (A woman worth meeting!)

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I think it’s time you learn a little more about my personal journey so that you can understand how I got to where I am today.
Lisa's phone July 2014. Adult family night and beforeafter pics 184 

I was a very active high school athlete.  Back then, there were no ‘travel teams’ and coaches actually wanted you to participate in different sports to stay active (I still believe this is a good thing and am disappointed when children are told to focus on 1 sport at too young of an age).  Don’t get me wrong…I understand in today’s world the importance of honing in on a sport and becoming good at it in order to make HS teams.  I came from a small Ohio town where there were only about 10-15 girls trying out for the teams….so the chance of making it was fairly high.  
I played volleyball, basketball, and softball.  I was the starting setter for my Volleyball team (very successful team: State Champions 1992 and returned to state but lost 2004), starting varsity pitcher for the softball team all 4 years of HS, and a forward in basketball.  I am still very active in Volleyball and have been playing for almost 26 years!  I now play on co-ed indoor leagues even though it takes me longer to get off the floor after a dive.  😛
HS volleyballAfter high school, attended the University of Cincinnati and graduated as a Physical Therapist Assistant.  I worked in Cincinnati, Ohio with TriHealth Pavilion who treated some of the Cincinnati Reds players.
It was the best job ever!  (I was too young to realize that at the time).  

I continued to stay very active and enjoyed my workouts.  I’ve always had a ‘gymnast’ build and have learned to love it.  I had a very good core region and once again…. Didn’t appreciate it in my 20’s! 

At the age of 29, I became a Mom.  My baby boy surprised me and decided to enter the world at 32 weeks (2 months early) and he lived in the NICU for 5 weeks.  During those 5 weeks, I emotionally and physically went to hell.  I sat by his ‘glass box’ staring at him for 5 weeks, watching the monitors and praying I would get to plan many birthday parties for him. He gave us many scares during those 5 weeks and the following couple of years were rough with him being ill often.
nicu jake and me
I rarely went home unless it was to sleep during the time he was in the NICU. I partially dislocated my hip during those 5 weeks and was on crutches. I was having an awful time.  I drove past a Zestos ice cream shop going to and from the hospital and fell in love with their black raspberry smoothie.  That ended up being a big mistake.  I justified it because it seemed ‘healthier’ than other options at the time and I wasn’t eating normal food patterns.  I came home after being in the hospital all day and ate whatever I could…. I was a train wreck, but kept telling myself I was ‘fine’ and could handle it, when I should have leaned on others for support. 
Jacob came home from the hospital and within 1 week I was very ill with vertigo.  That is when I Iost the hearing in my left ear for reasons the doctors cannot explain.  I went through numerous tests to rule out brain tumors and such, and more doctor appointment trying to fix the problem.  Seven cortisone shots in my ear drum later and no significant changes. 
To this day, my hearing continues to decrease and I wear a hearing aid in my left ear. 

Over the next couple of years I tried to lose weight but never got back to my 125-130lbs. in which I loved my body.  I then suffered 2 miscarriages and the last one was diagnosed as a ‘partial molar pregnancy’ (http://www.webmd.com/baby/tc/molar-pregnancy-topic-overview) and I miscarried at 12 weeks.  Once again…. Emotional overload.  Losing a child is the most pain I can ever imagine.  What do we do in times of emotional stress?  We turn to food.  So, there I was…. With more pregnancy weight on top of the 8-10 lbs. I didn’t lose from the first pregnancy.  To top it off, my 2.5 year old son had a minor heart surgery to repair a structure.  AAhhh!!!  Six months after my second miscarriage, I was cleared to get pregnant again and so I did.  Lydia was born at 38 weeks and a healthy baby girl!! 
Pretty Lydia
A few months after her birth, my sister in law told me she was going to run a 5K.  I had thought about doing that also, but 3.1 miles seemed like a forever distance.  I’m competitive and decided I could run it too, so I trained for about 10 weeks and ran my first race.  I crossed the finish line at 34 minutes and my sister in law beat me…… did I mention she was pregnant?  Yep, a pregnant woman beat me!!!  That fueled my fire and here I am 6+ years later having ran 5 half marathons, 2 full marathons, and bunch of 5K & 10K races.  I also was on a team of 12 for a Ragnar race which ran from Miami, FL to Key West in February.  I LOVED it and am running an ULTRA Ragnar race (team of 6) this fall in Vegas.

Ragnar team at finish line
Let me backtrack….. After that first 5K I decided to get fit.  I was getting very short of breath with the running, so I went to the doctor.   I was diagnosed with Asthma and EIB (Exercise Induced Bronchospams).  I got treatment and my running became easier.

 newspaper article on me

I saw a ‘Slim in 6’ infomercial while unloading the dishwasher one day and I decided to call and order it.  I got bored with that after 4 weeks  and needed more.  My friend was a Team Beachbody coach and so I purchased P90X from her website.  A few weeks later, I bought Shakeology in an effort to speed up my results and for nutrition reasons.  I completed the program and my speed increased and I was down 12lbs.  After 2 months of debating & praying, I became a Team Beachbody coach in October 2010.  I purchased the Insanity program with my discount and completed it, which helped me to build a strong lower body base and drop another few pounds.  Not knowing what to do after that…. I repeated the Insanity program again. 

People took notice of my results and started purchasing the programs from me and that fueled my fire to be more than just a Team Beachbody coach but to actually train people.  I started my own little company called “YourFitness-411.” I wanted a company that would allow me to focus on providing others with fitness information (411) that could help them without feeling as though I was only interested in ‘selling’ them a product.  True coaching is so much more than helping them with the products!!  Accountability and support are key to success and I knew I needed to offer that. Even with all my current clients, I still pride myself on the fact that I offer personalized assistance for people who come to me wanting help. 
By the way…. I now own 15 of the Team Beachbody home programs!  #AddictedtoHomeExercise
cropped-logo411.jpg one star diamond lisa pic
With my therapy knowledge, I was doing well, but we all know that food is the #1 problem, so I decided to get a nutrition education too.  After MANY research papers and chapters studying, I passed my test and became an ISSA Specialist in Sports Nutrition in early 2013.  I have now mentored many challenge groups and personally assist many towards weight loss and muscle building.  I was also quoted in the “Max Sports &Fitness” – May 2014 issue regarding supplements for the athlete!  I’ve helped people lose hundreds of pounds over the past 4 years and am very proud of my growing team of Team Beachbody coaches and their success not only regarding their own body, but also creating income. 

Over these years, I have also written an essay on my life with EIB which I submitted to a competition and it made it to the top 10 in the country!!  I almost won a dinner with my favorite athlete, Apollo Ohno, but I fell short on votes.  Sigh….
I am proud to say that my work as a fitness coach has introduced me to people all over the world & I’ve built some amazing friendships.  I am the coach for Shinedown’s drummer, Barry Kerch, and got to meet him backstage at a concert and hug the entire band!  I still check in with him from time to time and am very proud of the band’s accomplishments.  They used the Insanity program and it literally saved the lead singer’s life. 
barry's tweetsbarry kerch and me~
I still have about 10 lbs. I want to lose and I will.  However, more importantly, I am a Mom who is leading by example for her kids.  My kiddos know what a protein/carb/fat is and they are learning when to eat what to help them feel better during the day.  I’m giving them information that they will use forever!!  And….memories!  They were able to watch me cross the line of my second marathon in Columbus, Ohio and I was overjoyed at seeing them post-race.  They spent 5 hours chasing me around that course and were amazing troopers! 

I’m thankful that I have the opportunity to affect lives in a positive manner and create opportunities for others.  Thank you for believing in me and trusting me with your success!!  Now…. Go make your own story!  I can’t wait to hear it!  (I only hope you’ll allow me to be a part of your journey!)  
love followers
Please feel free to contact me at Bashford.Lisa@yahoo.com if you would like to discuss your fitness options or would like the supportive community of me and my team.  
You can also find me on all social media outlets listed on my webiste:  YourFitness-411.com

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

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

email seriously

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.  

I waited 6 months before I told anyone of my symptoms thanks to Fear.

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Intermittent lower abdominal cramping, diarrhea, blood in stool, frequent trips to the bathroom……. I didn’t know what was causing this for almost 6 months and I was fearful of telling someone and finding out the truth.  The symptoms were embarrassing and I didn’t want anyone to know.  Thankfully, I wasn’t suffering from weight loss, so it wasn’t too obvious and I became real good at controlling ‘diarrhea’ – sounds crazy, but true!
Finally I blurted it out to a co-worker while we were working on our daily patient progress notes, “Do you ever have blood in your BM?”  He looked at me and slowly said, “NO….. Do you?”   Once I told him my symptoms had been occurring for 6 months, he strongly urged me to see a doctor.  That was in 2003 and I made an appointment with my family physician that week.  That appointment was awful.  I was embarrassed and he wanted to do a rectal exam looking for a fissure.  I refused and agreed to try more fiber in my diet. A week later when I was getting worse and fatigued, I called again and reluctantly allowed the exam.  NO FISSURE.  He then referred me to a GI doctor and I quickly had my first colonoscopy.
The colonoscopy revealed a disease called ‘Ulcerative Colitis.’  This was one of those days that my life forever changed.  I was informed that I had a disease that would never truly go away.  I would take meds the rest of my life and the goal was to remain in ‘remission’ or ‘symptom free.’  I also experienced my first introduction to prednisone, a drug that I quickly learned to love and hate.  Love how it calms down the flare quickly; hate all the symptoms & how slow the weaning can be from the drug.  I was young at that time (28 years old) and did some research, thought I had it all figured out and followed the Dr’s orders.
Then I had another flare-up the next year which meant more prednisone.  Within 2 years, I had another colonoscopy and was on more prednisone.  My bouts with Prednisone were 4-12 weeks in length and I cried every time I was told I’d have to take it.
Prednisone is a steroid.  My symptoms are horrible on this drug:
achy joints
little sleep
jittery/wired
hungry/thirsty
water retention (especially in belly and face)
hot flashes
nightmares.  My nightmares are always the same.  I’m at a random person’s funeral and the cadaver sits up and stares at me.  It’s horrible.  I can’t sleep and when I do…. That is where my brain goes!

I had an argument with my first GI doctor after the second colonoscopy and more prednisone.  He told me there were no other options for treatment.  I actually woke up while they were taking a biopsy during a colonoscopy!  OUCH!  I didn’t know much about nutrition at that point, but was able to control the disease with meds and lower stress levels. (I’m a Type A personality….. decreased stress levels rarely occur!)
I switched doctors and am pleased with my current GI doctor.  His goal is to keep me off prednisone and gives me a lot of freedom when it comes to my prednisone dosage and weaning.  As a means of learning more about my body/disease,  I received a certification through the ISSA as a ‘specialist in sports nutrition’ and that education greatly helps me with my disease, family nutrition, and assisting clients towards weight loss/muscle building.  I have also spoken many times to a friend of mine who is a doctor and he helps me determine my next step.  I have considered becoming part of a university study to find more treatment options.

Lisa's phone early May2014 371

Now-a-days, I control my colitis by limiting my gluten intake, exercising, proper fluids, meds, vitamins, and making sure to eat plenty of fruits/veggies.  Many folks with GI disorders are malnourished, so it’s important to eat well.  Also, green leafy veggies act as little scrubbers in the intestines.  Great for most people, bad for those of us with ulcers in the intestines!!  I have found that too much fiber makes my GI tract VERY angry VERY quickly!  I’ve also found that artificial sweeteners make me bloat and look 5 months pregnant. Ain’t nobody got time for that!  

Fast forward to the past few months —-> I had probably my worst flare up this past November while on vacation in Alabama.  I struggled to walk along the beach, go on adventures with the kids, and eat.  I was trying a new drug that was not working and my energy level was the lowest it had ever been.  I had more energy after running marathons than I did in November!   (Marathons aren’t great for colitis either…. But I’m NOT going to allow this disease to boss me around!) Needless to say, I went back on prednisone.  I was told to start a more intense level of drugs, which I refused based on research and probability of skin cancer.  I tightened the diet, focused on de-stressing, focused on my running/fitness, and was diligent about my daily meds.  I had my 4th colonoscopy in late February 2014.  This week was the post-exam appointment.  What would they tell me?  Did the disease progress?  Were the polyps cancerous?  Do I need the more intense meds?

“Your colonoscopy revealed that the polyps were not harmful and your test results looked BETTER than they did in 2009!  That’s not common, so whatever you are doing is working!”

Whoo-hoo!!!  I was certain that last flare-up had ruined me!!  Once again, my life proves that a healthy lifestyle involving better food choices (not perfect because I LOVE my PB M& M’s and tortilla chips) and exercise = a healthier mind, body, and soul.  I’m embracing my body the older I get and I am fully aware that with age comes more health issues.  I feel as though I am fighting hard against that though!  My fitness level is better now than it was as an athlete in high school.  I am educated on food and how it affects the body.  I live with asthma and ulcerative colitis, yet I have accomplished marathons and running events that only a few people EVER attempt in their lifetimes.  I continue to build muscle in my body.  I don’t have the typical joint aches that many my age have after playing recreational sports or doing new activities.
The moral of my story?
Listen to your body and treat it well.  Don’t be shy about your symptoms!  Go to the doctor and get educated about your body and diagnosis!  Just because you are diagnosed with an autoimmune disease (or anything else) does not mean that your active life has come to an end.! Learn how to stay active with the disease and when a doctor tells you that you should decrease your exercise without solid reasons….. tell him “Hell NO!”  My asthma and GI doctor both understand that they are going to have to work with me vs. tell me what to do, because I am NOT slowing down.  They and I work together to find solutions that I can live with and that benefit my body. That’s why I love them so!  I have goals and children that need an active Mom & I love setting an example for others.  I realize that my chance of Colon Cancer is higher than the average person and that I’m going to have more flare-ups in my lifetime.  I’ll probably once again be on prednisone at some point and get frustrated with my swollen face.  But for right now…. My colon looks better than in 2009!  I couldn’t be more pleased!
Each person’s body responds to treatment differently and I am NOT a GI doctor.  But, I listen to my body, read the research, experiment with food, pray for health, and stay active.  If there is any way I can help you along the journey of Ulcerative Colitis, please contact me.  I mentor many weight loss accountability/support groups via social media and have many clients who have found success.  I’d be honored to help you too.
Find me on Facebook at:  www.facebook.com/YourFitnessInfo
Find me on Instagram at:  www.Instagram.com/YourFitness411

#21DayFix is the newest program from Team Beachbody.  It teaches the person food portion control & proper eating habits along with 6 workouts that are 30 minutes in length!!  Most people struggle with proper food intake….but this program is the first of it’s kind to help you with your food!  No calorie counting, no weighing your food.  If it fits in the containers, you eat it!  Great results! Contact me if you want to try this program!  It’s only $60!  Bashford.Lisa@yahoo.com

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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

Knowing When To Eat What

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Before you eat, ask yourself “What am I going to do for the next 3 hours?” 
That will help you decide which foods are best for your body in the immediate future.
Foods effect our bodies differently, so listen to your body, learn its cues, and follow its lead!If you are going to workout…… you will want to choose some healthy carbs. (Not candy, chips, high fat foods, or foods with white flour/sugar).  Honestly, grains work awesome.  Before I run more than 5 miles….I ALWAYS have 2 pieces of whole grain toast with PB and honey…. sometimes sliced bananas on top. It provides sustained energy for a long run.  It provides my liver with glycogen so that my body uses that for energy instead of protein.  YOU DO NOT want your body using protein for energy…..this means that it’s using muscle.  YOU WORK HARD FOR THAT MUSCLE.
For hard, long workouts….. you want your body to use CARBS/GLYCOGEN.  (I could talk about this forever and if you are interested, let me know and I will go …on).

If you are going to sit at your desk….. carbs (think pasta, breads, crackers) will make you fatigued.  Don’t fall into this trap!  You will want more protein, dairy, fruit to help keep you awake and alert.  Don’t ramp up your blood sugar with candy and soda, crackers or fruit juices!  You will pay for it later with a big ol’ sleepy crash! (And, protein should be a part of every meal/snack).

If you are going to sleep – think protein, easily digested healthy carbs, warm calming drinks……… junk/sugar won’t let the body rest because it will pump up your blood sugar.  Skip the ice cream and sugary cereal.

Post workout – you want protein & carbs.  A nice little mix of protein to rebuild the muscle and heal it, while carbs replenish what your liver used for energy.  If you are working out hard and feeling sluggish, have a headache, or nauseous all day……chances are it’s because you aren’t eating enough or the right foods to restore your system.  Possibly dehydrated too!

Remember:  You aren’t eating enough to keep you full ALL DAY.  You are only eating enough to fill your belly for the next 2-4 hours until the next meal/snack.  (Another reason why a healthy meal replacement like Shakeology is worthy!  It’s super healthy, fights cravings, aids in digestion/regulation, and keeps the body full for 2-4 hours.  Shameless plug, I know.)

Pack healthy snacks in the car, your purse, and at work so that if you start to get hungry, you have good options.  Hunger is often disguised as thirst; so try drinking water when you feel as though you are ‘hungry.’  You may simply be dehydrated!Follow me on Facebook so that you see a little of me each day! >>  www.Facebook.com/YourFitnessInfo 

Have questions about Shakeology?  I’ve been using it for 3 years!  Ask away….. Bashford.Lisa@yahoo.com

My first H.E.A.P. 8 (Healthy Eating Accountability Program 8 day Challenge) is coming to an end and it’s been a success!!  I look forward to mentoring another one!  Be the first to know by finding me on social media.  Limited Availability so that I can offer personal assistance. 

My personal journey towards a fit lifestyle. **BELIEVE**

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Lisa mug shot

As a child… I was always active and had a ‘gymnast’ build.  I was an athlete….. Who am I kidding…? I am still an athlete!

I participated in sports year round….and tended to lean towards team sports.  I was the starting volleyball setter and softball pitcher in high school.  I have won many awards and set records, yet I was NEVER the smallest on the team.  I was a muscular 125 as a senior….and I loved it.  That body was rockin!

Then, I left the safe zone of high school and went to college. I had 2 colleges ask me to try out for their volleyball team, but they didn’t have the degree I wanted.  So, I studied physical therapy assisting at the University of Cincinnati.  After the first college quarter, I pulled my act together and was a good student.  I graduated with a 4.0 GPA.  However, that first year of college was not pretty.  I am from a small country town in Ohio.  I graduated with 49 people and I knew most of their parents.  People knew my name (from a large family & sports) and I was very comfortable, but really wanted to leave that little town.  College was my opportunity, and I didn’t waste any time throwing myself into big city life.  My new found independence also included making my own meals…. or, ordering them.  Pizza and Chinese carry out were popular among dorm life (I think we kept “Red Pepper” Chinese restaurant in business)!  I never drank in high school, but I quickly learned that I loved the taste of “Boone’s Farm Strawberry Hill” – cheap alcohol.  I didn’t gain the freshman 15 because I cont. to stay active with exercise and playing Volleyball on intramural teams.  However, my body did change in college.  My breasts decided to start growing & my metabolism slowed and I went up a size.

Post college, I joined a gym and got fit again.  I wanted my therapy patients to respect me and believe in me, and I felt like if I was young & overweight, then they would wonder why I didn’t exercise like I was asking them to do.  I remember doing a kickboxing workout and seeing my abs. I was about 22 years old.  I LOVE defined abs!!

Then, I met a boy, moved to Fort Wayne, got married, and my life changed yet again.  I was making meals for 2 of us on a budget while working long hours as a therapist (12 hour days).  We ate out often.  The bartender at Applebee’s knew our drink order when we walked into the door!  Because of my age, my metabolism was still clicking away (mid-late 20’s) and I was still working out at the gym, although I always felt a little lost…. as in ‘Well, what do I do next?  I did the treadmill and elliptical… guess I should lift some weights….. But I don’t want people to think I’m an idiot because I’m doing it wrong.” (Sound familiar??)

At 29 years old, I was blessed with a baby.  My son was a preemie, born at 32 weeks.  I spent my days sitting beside his tiny glass incubator, watching the machines that monitored his body temp, heart rate, breathing….. And prayed they kept moving.  It was rough… I won’t lie.  My body went through some horrible stress problems…..it was ugly.  I wasn’t eating well at all and would make myself feel better by getting a black raspberry smoothie from Zesto’s on the way home from the hospital…. at least 4-5x/week.  I thought…. “I need the calories and its milk/berries, so I’m doing something good.”    (OMG!)

Over the next 3 years, I suffered 2 miscarriages and had gained 15lbs.  I belonged to a local gym, however my son always cried and my name was announced on the loud speaker to please come get him within 15 minutes of getting on cardio equipmemt. I soon quit the gym.  I pushed the stroller 2 miles almost daily and did some home workouts, and did exercises with my patients to lose some of the baby weight.   Almost 3 years later, I got pregnant for a fourth time.  Once again, symptoms of miscarriage & high risk pregnancy wreaked havoc on me.  My highest weight was about 175lbs when pregnant.  My daughter was born at 38 weeks and very healthy!!  That’s it… we were blessed with two and I was content.  Now that I had my family and was done having babies….it was time to get that rockin’ body back!!  I started running because my SIL wanted to run a 5K.  It was a perfect time for me to run with her & I didn’t want her to beat me.  She still beat me… and she was in her first trimester of pregnancy at that time!!  AAh… embarrassing!  That led to me wanting to become a stronger runner.  I realized that ‘speed’ wasn’t my thing…however,  ‘endurance’ was, so I focused on that and am now a marathon runner.  I will be running another marathon next month!

Running alone will not cause much weight loss.  I needed something to help me with my diet as a full time Mom and part time therapist.  I needed a structured exercise/strengthening program too & didn’t want to join the gym.  My friend was a Team Beachbody coach, and so I tried the ‘Slim in 6’ program, and got bored.  I wanted more, but didn’t want to pay full price, so I became a Team Beachbody coach!  Helloooo discount!!!  I then completed the P90X program, which led me to the Insanity program.  During this time, I did a timed mile run each week and my speed was increasing…. Without actually running!
I began drinking Shakeology and lost 10 pounds with P90X, but more importantly, gained back my muscle!!  Insanity helped me to lose another 5lbs. and I felt great.  More energy, better patience with the kids because my frustrations were being put to use during a workout, mentally I felt better, and I wanted to shout it from the rooftops!!  I decided at that time to ‘pay it forward’ and share my journey with others.  People believed in me; realizing I was a typical Mom & if I could do it, others could too.  So, I went big and started my own company that I use as an umbrella for all the other fitness/nutrition work I do…it’s called “YourFitness-411.”  Have you heard of it?  (coy smile)  I have about 40 coaches on my team at this time and we are always looking to grow.  These people have some AMAZING s journeys that will inspire even the couch potatoes who get tired walking to the mailbox!  I’m excited about the diversity of people on my team & how truly inspiring/caring they are for others.  It makes my heart smile to think about them and see what a difference they are making in people’s lives, but more importantly… in their OWN life.

I decided that if I wanted people to trust me and choose ME over all the other Team Beachbody coaches, I needed to have a great team & I needed to be a successful leader.  I already had the therapist degree under my belt which was marketable, but I needed more and becoming a personal trainer didn’t interest me too much.  Therefore, a friend whom I met through Team Beachbody and I took online courses together through the ISSA to become specialists in sports nutrition.  Writing those papers and doing that research ate up a lot of my time & created sleep loss/frustrations!  Thank goodness running helps my brain/emotions in tact!  During all this, I completed my first marathon….and quickly added that to my resume.  Who wouldn’t want a coach who has her own company, nutrition certification, therapist degree to assist with injuries and muscle building/body knowledge, has experience in weight loss, has people with AMAZING personal journeys on her coaching staff/team, and is completing marathons?  #LeadByExample

I still have 10-15 pounds I want to lose!!  I’m still on my journey!!  And I’m ok with that. I’m built like a rock….I do not feel as though I look like other women who are my weight and I’m proud of what my body can accomplish.  Did I mention I ran 20 miles recently and my only pain is a little ITBand tendonitis and mild quad muscle soreness??
I’m not going to allow that weight goal to stop me from accomplishing other fitness goals or helping others.  I know that once this marathon is over (all this running does NOT create much weight loss, don’t let anyone fool you) that I will lose the weight because I will be doing much more strength training.
Now, you know my journey.  You know more about me as a person, and not just a cyber-fitness coach.

Did you also know that my favorite word in the dictionary is ‘BELIEVE?’  It represents many things for me and makes me smile when I read it.  I believe in each person on my coaching team and my clients.  I believe there is a greatness inside each one of us.  Thank you for believing in me!  I believe in you too!  Question is:  Do you BELIEVE in yourself?

For more information on my company, how to join my team, & where to follow me on social media – Click **HERE** YourFitness-411

A little “Zig-Zag Method,” anyone??

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A little ‘411’ on the the Zig-Zag method of fat loss –

BMR = Basal metabolic rate: the rate at which your body burns calories while a complete rest, not sleeping, but laying down over a 24 hour period.  (You want that number to be HIGH! 🙂

You want the body to lose fat and still maintain a high BMR without worry of plateau.  This Zig-Zag method can be permanent if you cont. to eat 5-6 meals per day and exercise regularly. Now, if you have been in my accountability groups, I’ve taught you the importance of eating well, shown you how to do it, and helped to teach you proper nutrition.  And, YOU have experienced how good exercise makes you feel, so these 2 things should be a part of your lifestyle by now.

You will notice that when you reduce your caloric intake and increase your caloric burn, your body fat % drops accordingly.  But, so does your BMR.  Then, to force the BMR back to a normal level, you begin eating normally again for a brief period.   What happens is that your body fat level again begins to climb, but not as high as it was in the beginning.  Then you lower the caloric intake again, and down goes the body fat.  Eat normally; the body fat goes up….again, not as high as it was before.  This process continues until your body fat% is at a healthy level.

By zig-zagging your caloric intake like this, you allow periodic BMR adjustments to take place, bringing it back to a level with is corresponding with your new (lower) bodyweight.  Then, it’s easy to begin losing fat again – and again.
If you simply try going down, down, down, with your body fat, your BMR never has a chance to adjust and your fat loss becomes harder and harder until, in frustration, you binge and then gain fat again….forever because you’re messing up your metabolism.  The Zig-Zag method is supposed to stop the plateaus.  When most people hit a plateau, what do they do?  They reduce calories…which is wrong.  (You all should know that by now too, otherwise, I have not done a good job teaching you!).  Reducing calories only adds to the problem because it drops your BMR.  Zig-Zag your calories and your BMR will readjust to the higher level to burn more calories.

An important part of this is weight training.  Without weight training, your lost weight will be from lean tissue, not fat!!!!  And, don’t try to do it too quickly……. Even w/ weight training, starvation diets will cause too much muscle loss rather than fat reduction.  Walking and cardio exercise is ok, but weight training is the single best method for ensuring that gradually lost weight will come from fat stores and not muscle.  WHY?  Because aerobic training alone will reduce your lean body mass and drop your BMR.  Remember…. Muscle burns more calories at REST.  So muscle increases your BMR.  Did that all come together nicely for you??

The ‘down zag’ should last about 3-5 days, and the ‘up zig’ should be a day or two.
I bet your next question is:  how many calories should I add and how many should I decrease?  I would recommend knowing how many calories your body needs for a typical training day (this is another reason why daily exercise is important for an accurate/consistent number)…….and then decrease that number by 600-800 calories for fat loss.  That new number is your daily caloric goal.  I’d start with using that number as the lower one for 3-5 days and then increase it by 300-500 calories for the ‘up’ 1-2 days.  But, it’s something you may need to play with in order to see what works best for your body.  Remember:  you never want to cut your calories and keep them low in hopes of losing fat.  It will not work for a long period of time, messes up your metabolism, and the body starts losing lean muscle vs. fat.
Look me up at YourFitness-411.com and find me on social media for more tips, techniques, and motivation!

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. 🙂