Merry, Merry Shakeology

Wanna spruce up your chocolate Shakeology? Here are a few tasty recipes:

Chocolate Minty
Add a tsp peppermint extract

Pumpkin pie
1/2 cup unsweetened, canned pumpkin
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg

Chocolate-covered strawberries
1 cup strawberries

Chocolate Twilight
1 tsp vanilla extract

Easy add-ins that give it a whole new taste!

Holidays!

The holidays are here! How the heck did that happen?? My kids were just out for the summer, and NOW i'm wrapping Christmas gifts? And, along with gifts, you know what else is coming...the yummy food! Nom nom nom.... I've never been one to say 'no' to a cheesecake!

This is my plan: The days before I KNOW i'm going to indulge--let's be real, people, you KNOW you're going to indulge--push my workouts hard. HARDER than usual. Eat super clean. Drink all my water. Then, you know what? When I do splurge a little--it's not going to feel so bad. The extra cals won't affect me, either. That next day--hop right back into your workouts! It can be done! :)

The hardest part for me is not actually the DAY of the event, but the entire season! (How's that for pinpointing?) There are always sweets around during the holiday season. Just keep telling yourself NOT to eat them now--wait for that ONE day. Then eat whatever the heck you want. Hey, it may not be GREAT, but like i said, i'm being REAL.

If you don't ENJOY yourself, then your healthy lifestyle isn't going to stick. You're not going to be successful if you're constantly feeling like you can't enjoy "naughty" food once in a while!

Have fun! AMP up those workouts!

The results are in...

And...over the course of a year--Oct 09 to Oct 10--these are my new stats (before/after):

• Weight: 165/127
• Waist: 31/26
• Hips (at fullest part): 43/37
• Chest (at fullest part): 37/34
• Right arm: 12.5/11.25
• Left arm: 12.35/11
• Right thigh (at fullest part): 24.5/21.75
• Left thigh: 24.25/21.5
• Body fat: 26%/16% (caliper measurements)

WOO-FREAKING-HOO!!!!

It's not about how old you are...

It's about how FIT you want to be! More proof that anyone can do this program! You can be young, old, or anywhere in between! Fitness is a lifestyle change--anyone can do it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGw8uqrRkiQ

New Years resolutions...coming up quick

Like i said in my previous post--it's almost that time of year. Not only for going overboard on food, but the time of year when people start making resolutions (and not sticking to them). I mention this for two reasons:

1. This year, you're going to make some resolutions, and you're going to stick with them.
2. If you're interested in becoming a BeachBody coach, then THIS is the time to do it!

Let's hit #1 first:
For how many years have you said, "I'm tired of being overweight!" "I'm tired of having no energy!" or, simply, "I'm just tired." How many January's have you started a 'diet,' an 'exercise program,' a 'new and improved you' program?? If you're anything like me, you've started quite a few. It seems that every year, I start January with a new vigor for life. I decide, like 90% of the population, that THIS year i'm going to lose weight--THIS year, i'm going to take better care of myself--THIS year, i'm going to make some "me" time. And by the end of February (usually sooner), I'm back to my December self. I get it. I've been there, and i've done that.

It really is time to take control. It's time to make YOU time. It's time to improve your self-esteem, your health, and your life. It's time that you throw the excuses aside. I've heard them all, because i used to say it, too: I'm too busy, I have no time, I'm just so tired. Listen: what do you hear? I hear EXCUSES. MAKE the time. MAKE. THE. TIME. If you don't know me, let me fill you in: I work full-time as an account manager for a marketing firm. Because I have a smartphone, I essentially work 24/7. I am at my desk from 7am-5pm. I usually don't take lunch until 2 or 3pm. At 5pm, we start our running around.

I have 2 little girls. We have piano on Mondays, gymnastics on Tuesdays, theatre on Wednesdays, gymnastics on Thursdays, and Fridays are our "free" evening--which usually turns into the "let's run all the errands we couldn't run during the week" day. Oh, and let's not forget the regular stuff too: laundry, cleaning, making dinner/lunches, etc. It's all there--you do it, I do it. This is what mom's do. We juggle constantly. But, when you look at all we do, there's ONE thing we leave out of our hectice schedules. ONE thing. Can you guess what it is? It's US. We leave OURSELVES out of our schedule. You know, I don't even get to take a SHOWER by myself. For the sake of time, the girls shower with me--one at a time. I'm used to shaving my legs over a 7-year old's head. So, where is MY time?

Last October, I just decided that I had had enough. I was sick and tired of letting MYSELF go for the sake of my family. Believe me, running myself ragged wasn't doing them any favors. I was never "put together," I wasn't healthy, I always felt short-tempered and, to be honest with you, bitchy. And i just felt like....well, crap. I wasn't eating--i honestly didn't have time--or, I wasn't MAKING time. I was running on Diet Coke and granola bars. Seriously--i'm not kidding. My daily diet was 2 cups of coffee, 1 Diet Coke, and 2 granola bars. WOW. I look at that now and think, "HOW did I function?"

I wasn't functioning, really. I was just going through the motions.

I ordered P90X, and started the first week of October. It hasn't been the same since. I MADE time for myself. Even that--that 1 hour a day--improved everything for me. Working out--getting my body moving and my blood flowing--improved everything for me. If you didn't get it: EVERYTHING IMPROVED FOR ME. All of a sudden, I was thinking about eating. I was HUNGRY. What did I WANT to put in my body for fuel? I started making wise choices--eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Drinking more water. Fast forward to August of this year--I made a HUGE change: I started eating "clean." No more Diet Coke; no more enriched, white flour; no more preservatives. I allow myself 1 cup of coffee a day. And you know what? It was easy. It's because my body didn't/doesn't need that stuff to survive any longer.

I'm happier, my kids are happier, my husband is happier. Starting Beachbody has not only changed me and MY life, but it has changed the lives of my family. Cheesy? Yes. True? Absolutely, 100%. My kids see me healthy, energized, and happy. My husband sees me healthy, energized, and happy. :)

Wow...nothing like telling a long story long, eh? :D

And now, on to #2:

If you're interested in becoming a Beachbody coach, now is the time to sign up. I spent so many years wanting to do something that made a difference, but didn't know what. THIS is it. Now, i make a difference! I'm helping people to get fit! I'm offering them support, encouragement, and a pat on the back! It's an awesome feeling; I love it. And, the bonus....you can bring in some extra cash doing it. What does it take? A great attitude, and the willingness to share and talk about what you do. I have NEVER made a "cold sell" to anyone. All of my sales have come from people asking me about P90X/Insanity/Shakeology. I simply tell them what these things have done for me. That's it. You don't HAVE to sell this stuff--it sells itself. Have I made thousands of dollars off of being a Beachbody coach? Nope. Do I want to? Eh, it would be a nice bonus, but it's not my goal. It CAN happen though! My FAVORITE part of being a coach, is helping people to acheive results they didn't think were possible. I think that's awesome. I'm my own client, for goodness sake! I'm a picture of the results you can get if YOU make the time for yourself. In essence, i'm my own advertisement. If you use BeachBody products, sign up to coach! You get a discount, and you're sharing the wealth of health. http://bit.ly/FitWisdom

Take care!
Steph aka Coach FitWisdom

Almost a year...

It has almost been a year since I started my lifestyle challenge. It's almost been a year since i decided I didn't want to carry this body around with me--i wanted a NEW body, NEW health, and a NEW life.

I'm so happy to say that my husband, Chris (MrFitWisdom on the bbboards), is now in Round 2 of his P90X journey--i'm so proud of him. He was in great shape before, but now, he's off the charts! I also just want to thank him for the awesome support he has given me through all this. There's not a day that goes by where he doesn't say he's proud of me, or mentions how great he thinks I look. He's so supportive of the workouts I do, and of the way i've changed my eating habits. I couldn't ask for a better partner in all of this. He defends me and my choices, and it makes my heart swell. This past weekend, a member of my family said something along the lines of, "Don't mention P90X to her, she'll try to sell you something!" Chris jumped in and said, "No, she won't!" And went on to tell that person that I talk about it because i'm so happy for what it's done to my life! He mentioned how i'm so dedicated to this program, and I share it with people because I know of the amazing changes it can make for ANYONE! THAT, my friends, is undying support.

And he's right--I'm NOT trying to sell anyone anything! I became a coach because these products are something that I believe in. I've made such amazing and significant changes in my health BECAUSE of these products! Why the heck WOULD'NT I share that information?! Besides, I don't HAVE to sell anything--people make their own decisions. Anyways--this husband of mine is such a blessing! I'm so lucky to have him and his support!

I can't wait to share with you my "Year Anniversary" pictures and measurements!


Take care all, and keep pushing play!
Steph

Things I'm teaching my daughters

Raising children to be aware of the food around them is tough these days. They're swarmed by junk food, fast food, and images of unhealthiness. Case in point: My oldest daughter has been begging to go to Burger King. Why? Because she wants the toy that's in their kids meal.

I've made a point to RARELY take my kids to fast food joints. Why? Because the healthy food choices are limited. So many people say, "But we HAVE to--we have no TIME to eat at home." Listen, I work full time, and the chicks are involved in something every day of the week--we MAKE time. When parents say that, I hear, "I don't have time for my child's health." Hey, I'm not saying i'm perfect. My kids have eaten a McDonald's chicken nugget before. But to be 100% honest with you, I can say we've been to McDonald's (or any other fast-food place) LESS than 5 times this year. Next time your kid wants you to take them to McDonald's, how 'bout you hand them a can of Crisco. Maybe a bottle of vegetable oil. Same difference.

In our home, we always have a stash of kid-friendly snacks: cereal bars, low-fat granola bars, nilla wafers, to name a few. Yep, i know we're looking at enriched flour products, but those options are a LOT better than french fries and chicken(?) nuggets--both deep fried. We also always have an assortment of fruit.

I'm NOT a health "nut," but I AM a health addict. I choose to be healthy both for myself, and my children. I want to set a good example for them. I don't always know if I'm doing it right, but there are little things that lead me to believe i'm doing a pretty good job:

• Clairey's homework was to discuss, with me, a book her teacher read in class. "What DIDN'T you like about the book?" I asked. "That the mommy was on a diet," she said. "Diet's aren't good for you--she should just eat healthy food and make good choices."
• Jenna had a friend spend the night last week, and as they were snacking, I was drinking a Shakeology. "What's that?" Jenna's friend asked. Jenna looked at her and said, "That's a Shakeology drink. It's 'the healthiest meal of the day'! That one drink has so many good things in it, it's like going to the salad bar FIVE times! It's good stuff."

Yep. Being healthy is GOOD STUFF. So do it. Do it for you. Do it for your kids.

Stay Motivated (from Tony Horton)

 How does anyone accomplish anything without staying motivated?

Getting from A to Z only comes with commitment. Everyone who has bought Power 90/P90X is committed to making huge changes in their lives. Being committed is one thing, but for many of us, staying committed and motivated at times seems impossible.


It is easy to think of many valid and legitimate reasons why NOT to do Power 90/P90X on any given day. We get sick and tired and overwhelmed and discouraged and overworked and stressed out and travel too much and undersleep, and well, the list goes on. So what do we do about it? QUIT! Some of us do. What about the people who don't quit? What the hell makes them so special? Why are some folks successful and others aren't? The answer is that the successful, committed, and motivated people have tricks. They have found a way to do it anyway. Here is my list that will help keep you motivated:



1. Stop beating yourself up if you miss a workout! It is OK to miss a workout once in a while. It doesn't mean the whole thing has gone to hell in a hand basket. Life happens. Priorities shifted that day. So what. Start where you left off. No big deal.




2. Don't freak out if you don't see results in the first 30 to 50 days. What! No results in the first month and a half! See, I knew you'd freak out. The point I'm trying to make here is that we all have a different starting point. Some will see results the first week. Others will have to wait a little longer based on age, body weight, how out of shape they were when they started, flexibility, athletic background, etc. Power 90/P90X means 90 days, not 90 minutes.





3. On your most exhausted, overwhelmed, lackluster days, stick the DVD in the player (or tape in the VCR) and see what happens. Be fully committed to having a lousy workout. You must be OK with the fact that you will be weak and puny and rotten at it. Because any workout, no matter how bad it is, is always better than NO workout at all. You just can't feel bad after a workout. Ever! If you've got good energy and you do the best you can, you'll have a great workout. If your energy and motivation are in the toilet and you do it anyway (even poorly), you've had a great workout!





4. Buy a calendar and a big fat red marker. The Power 90/P90X program has everything you'll need to rock your world. But for those of you who are having trouble with motivation, I want you to place this calendar where you see it all the time—on the front door, bathroom mirror, refrigerator, next to the TV or VCR, etc. For every day you do Power 90/P90X make a big fat red X. You might also want to write down if it was a Resistance or Cardio day. I still do this after 20 plus years of training. X means I showed up. No X means I didn't.



5. I want you to write this on your calendar: THE JOY OF DISCIPLINE OR THE PAIN OF REGRET. WHICH WILL IT BE TODAY?





Well, I hope that keeps the fire burning. We have this powerful temple called the human body. If we treat it right, the world is our playground.

It's that time of year

It's that time of year--the kids are back to school, the leaves are starting to change (well, not in Texas--YET), and the holidays are upon us. Have you seen Christmas stuff in the stores? Isn't that crazy! I'm already starting to think of Christmas shopping...ugh.

With the holidays comes food. A lot of good food. A lot of food that we don't have on a daily basis, so we think, "Oh, it's a holiday--it's a special treat; YUM!" and before you know it, it's January and you've gained 10 lbs.

It's also the time of year when a lot of people slack off on their workout programs. There are tons of excuses, one being the types of food we "allow" ourselves to have over the holidays, and the other is that we get to wear bulky clothes that hide the result of our crappy eating. Then we have the "it's so cold outside--i don't want to go walk/run," or "it's no longer bathing-suit season!" (i've been known to use that one.)

This year--NO MORE EXCUSES. Why use the season to dictate your health? It just makes no sense. Why undo all your hard work because of a few tasty treats? WHY?! It's not worth it. Don't lose your new lifestyle choices because of the holidays. "GIFT" yourself with a continuation of your healthy lifestyle! It's the best gift you can give yourself AND your loved ones!

If you need support, let me help you. You can contact me at beachbodycoach.com/FitWisdom or FitWisdom@beachbodycoach.com

Sleep it off

by Tony Horton

One of the best things you can do for yourself is to make sure you get plenty of sleep each night. A minimum of 7 hours of shuteye makes a big difference to your brain and your heart. A lack of sleep makes you more fatigued and less mentally acute, which puts you at a greater risk for poor decision making and accidents.


A few things that can help you get those zzzzz's:

1.Get on a schedule. Try to go to bed and rise about the same time each day. Your body functions best when it’s on a regular sleeping routine, just like a baby. On the weekends, try to get up within an hour of your regular “school day” schedule to keep you on track.

2.Eat foods that contain melatonin. Foods like sweet corn, rice, and oats or complex carbohydrates with serotonin (like veggies, whole-grain bread, or pasta) in the evenings. Avoid anything with caffeine after dinner and save your workouts for earlier in the day. High activity and/or eating within 3 hours of your bedtime can keep you from falling asleep.

3.Keep it cool. The ideal environment for sleep is a cool, dark room. If you’re tossing and turning, try removing a layer of clothing or turn down the thermostat.

4.Keep your bedroom a sanctuary. Limit your bedroom activities to sleep and sex. If you don’t associate your bedroom with other stimuli like work, TV, or the computer, it’ll be easier to crash out once you snuggle in

Why do i like Beachbody products?

Because they work. They are REAL. They're delivering a hard message: you need to commit to a lifestyle change. P90X/Insanity/Shakeology, etc. are not easy. You have to work.

There IS a solution for you to get fit--both physically AND financially (THAT'S a bonus!). I became a Beachbody coach NOT because i wanted to make money from this, but because i LOVE what Beachbody has done for my health and i want to help other people feel this way, too.

If you need support, you can find it at Beachbody! Go to http://bit.ly/FitWisdom Chat with people, message people--there is someone that can help you get to where you want to be!

Confessions

I cheated on my rant diet this weekend--I had a slice of pizza on Saturday night! I'm a real person; I admit it, and i'm going to fall off the wagon, so to speak, at some points. Important thing: I got right back on.

It WAS delicious pizza, though. :D

The "Rant Diet"

Here's the diet i'm following:

#1 FOR THE NEXT 30 DAYS I WILL NOT EAT WHITE BREAD OR ANYTHING MADE WITH ENRICHED FLOUR OR PROCESSED FLOUR.

#2 I WILL GREATLY REDUCE MY DAIRY INTAKE.

#3 NO MORE CARBONATED BEVERAGES.

#4 WATER AND TEA ONLY!

IF YOU'RE A COFFEE PSYCHO, 1 CUP A DAY.

#5 AT LEAST 2 OF YOUR MEALS A DAY THERE'D BETTER BE VEGETABLES ON YOUR PLATE.

1 MEAL A DAY, THERE'D BETTER BE FRUIT.

#6 HERE'S HOW YOU'RE GETTING YOUR PROTEIN.

NUTS, BEANS, FISH, TURKEY, AND CHICKEN.

THAT'S IT!

#7 FOR THE FIRST 2 WEEKS OF YOUR 30 DAY PLAN

WRITE IT DOWN!

WRITE IT DOWN!

EVERY MORSEL!

GreenBerry Shakeology

I have to admit--the first time i tried it, I didn't like it all that much. It tasted...HEALTHY. Now, i crave it for that very reason. It's really a "you like it or you don't" type of taste. It has 70 good-for-you ingredients in it (http://bit.ly/shakeItup), so it's not going to taste like candy. But, in order to GET those 70 ingredients, i'll take it in a "healthy" tasting shake. Plus, if you throw in a banana with it--it's actually pretty darn tasty.

The chocolate one is just delicious. It's healthy chocolate. It doesn't get better than that.

Almost there!

This weekend, Chris and I began the task of turning our formal dining room into our workout room. SO...we sold the family room furniture, moved the FORMAL living room furniture into the family room, moved the dining room into the formal living room, and now have an empty formal dining. Catch all that? :)

This week also begins an eating challenge set by my home thread in the beachbody.com forums--no more caffeine for me for THIRTY days. This is a tough one, as i'm a Diet Coke junkie. But, if i'm going to be fit on the outside, i need to be fit on the inside, too.

Come on and join me in getting healthy! www.beachbodycoach.com/FitWisdom

Fit Wisdom is here!

Hello, and welcome to my page. You've most likely arrived here by searching for P90X or Insanity. If so, you're at the right place!

Background:
I am Stephanie Wisdom, 35 yrs old, married, mother of two young kids. I started P90X in October of '09 because I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. I work full time, so once 5 o'clock hit, i felt like i was in the tedious and tiring schedule of making dinner, playing "mom taxi," doing laundry, etc., etc.... After I got the kids to bed and I showered, I would easily (and gladly) fall asleep on the couch by 930pm. Do you hear me? Been there?

I just kept telling myself that there should be more. I should feel better. I shouldn't be so tired. Plus, I was a good 30lbs overweight, and because of that, felt frumpy and unattractive. I can easily think of a handful of women that are in the same boat. I want to tell you that i just said, "Okay, i'm going to do it." Got off my couch, did P90X for 90 days, got fit and thin, and that was it. But it's not. There's a lot more to it.

If you're anything like me, you've tried a million things before--every workout and diet under the sun. What do they all have in common? YOU DON'T STICK TO 'EM. You just don't. You get bored/life gets in the way/you don't have time. Well, here's the kicker: You have to MAKE time.
I know you don't want to get up earlier: Suck it up and do it.
I know you don't want to have to workout after the kids are in bed: Quit your whining, and do it.
But you LIKE going out to lunch with your coworkers!! Forget it.
But you like to hang out with the guys and stuff your mouth full of trash and work on that gut: JUST STOP NOW.

Do something for yourself. Quit making excuses.You have one life; one body. You can be single, a parent, married, divorced, an empty nester--it doesn't matter. It's YOU time. I had a HUGE issue with this. I am one of those crazy, over-dedicated moms. I work fulltime, so i feel like i have to make it up to my kids somehow. I know--issues, right? However, me not being in the best shape I can be, and in optimum health is a total smack to my kids. How can I sit there and tell them not to sit in front of the tv/computer when i'm doing the same thing? How can i tell them they need to go outside and play, when I only run 20 yds and am out of breath? How can i tell them that junk food is bad for them, when i would sit there with a Diet Coke and a bag of chips? I made the decision: I CAN'T, I WON'T, AND I'LL NEVER DO IT AGAIN.

I basically got so fed up with myself, and so pissed off at myself, that i said, "Screw this," and bought P90X--off of an informercial. AN INFORMERCIAL. Do you know how sad it is to buy stuff off of an infomercial?! I was there, people. It was sad. But i had to do something about the way i felt and looked.

The first day of P90X, i thought i was going to die. DIE, i tell you. It was hard. Difficult. Horrible. And it irritated the crap out of me. I hated that the people on the video were doing everything so easily, and i couldn't. That motivated me. I kept going. I made it through the first week. I made it through the second week. I made it through the third, and you know what? I. LOVED. IT. You know what's better? I saw results. Yes, already! No special diet--just watching what i was eating. Doing P90X everyday. NOTICEABLE RESULTS IN 3 WEEKS. How's THAT for motivation?! By day 90, i was down 24lbs, and tons of inches. I decided to go an additional 30 days. :)

After P90X, I had people stopping me asking me what  I did to stay in shape. I got the ever-so-lovely, "What?! How do YOU have kids?!" a lot. For all you moms out there--that's awesome. At that point, I knew that i had done more than get my body fit--i had gotten my mind and my life fit, too. It's a total lifestyle change. Next up, i ordered Insanity. Holy freakin' goats, people. This workout is crazy. It's 60 days of hardcore kicking your a$$ all over the place. And I LOVE IT. I did that for 60 days and lost another 6 lbs--anyone counting? That's 30 POUNDS. WOO HOO!!

Now, and for the past 3 months, i've been doing my own hybrid of P90X and Insanity. I've lost more inches than ever imaginable. My waist is 26". I can't even remember the last time i saw that number in relation to my waist...

I am SO excited and so pleased with how my life has made a complete turn, that i decided to join Beachbody as a coach. Now, in my spare time, I get online and help people who were once just like me--looking for a way to make that life change. It's that easy. It really is.
YOU can do it! Take control of your life and make it happen!

I can help you. Email me at FitWisdom@beachbodycoach.com, or go to beachbodycoach.com/FitWisdom to learn more.