New Health Challenge

After taking a month off from doing a health challenge, I'm ready to get back into the swing of things.  I've tried to be cautious of what I eat and drink but I'm only human and I do splurge every once in a while.  A challenge tends to hold me more accountable to my goals.  I hope after reading this post that you decide to join me.

After a lot of consideration, I've decided that my next challenge will come from Tony Horton's Bring It!  book.  (See the link for more info.)  If you aren't familiar with Tony Horton, he created the workout program P90X. 

This will be a 30 day Challenge that begins on Monday, June 27th.  The purpose of this Challenge is to promote a healthier lifestyle through clean eating.  There will be 3 different cleanses that are outlined in the book based on YOUR comfort level.  One of the things that I like most about this cleanse is that it's a gradual cleanse.  I know for me when I was just starting out, to quit something "cold turkey" made me frustrated and unsure about doing it.  This cleanse takes it week by week.  You can also choose to do it for just 30 days or extend it even more so.

So, you're probably wondering what you are giving up.  Well, here are the changes that you will be making....

-  NO Alcohol or Caffeine
-  NO Dairy products
-  NO Refined sugars or flours
-  NO Gluten products (wheat products; whole grain wheat or otherwise).
-  NO Meat or animal products (this also includes eggs & fish)

Now remember, YOU can choose the cleanse that works for YOU and you are eliminating a product week by week.  For example, in one of the three cleanses, eliminating caffeine is in week 1 and alcohol is in week 2 and so on. In my opinion, you will need this book so that you have access to complete cleanse information.  Bring It!: The Revolutionary Fitness Plan for All Levels That Burns Fat, Builds Muscle, and Shreds Inches plus, there is a workout plan included if you chose to use it.

Bob, my husband and I, have decided that we are doing the Cleanse as a family.  We are going to do the Cleanse that best works for us.   You do the same.


Okay, so now that you know what you are giving up, you're probably wondering what the challenge details are.  They are:


1. Take your before and after measurements and weight and email them to me. 
2.  Monday's will be reporting day.  Email them to me weekly.
3.  Be accountable in my Facebook group.  Post daily to keep yourself accountable.  Post your meal plans, your workout of the day, your measurements and weight if you feel comfortable.  No one will judge you on what you are doing.  We want the best for you!
4.  Workout a minimum of 5 days per week or what your workout schedule indicates in your guide book.
5. It's okay to use Shakeology for the cleanse.  Tony uses it!  Just remember that at some point, dairy will be excluded.


So, now that you have the info, I need for you to email me with a response as to if you are participating.  This cleanse should be a life changer for you.  Are you ready???

Listen to TONY HORTON LIVE!

I'm passing this info along that I received earlier this weekend.  If you are into health and fitness, you will not want to miss this call where you can listen to TONY HORTON LIVE.

If you haven't heard of P90X^® by now, you've probably been frozen with the GEICO^® Caveman for the last 30,000 years. That or stuck on an island with a volleyball and Tom Hanks. After all, it's the top-selling fitness program of all time!

Regardless, the man behind it—Mr. Tony Horton—will Bring It!^® to the Coach Call tomorrow. And for the first time ever, we've opened the lines to EVERYONE. So invite your family, friends, neighbors, cats, dogs, etc. They're all welcome!

WHAT TO EXPECT
Tony means business. He'll be talkin' about the many pluses of P90X, his personal journey as a fitness trainer, his recent tour around the globe, and finally, why the Coach Business Opportunity is changing the health and fitness industry forever.

We're expecting record attendance. In case the first number's busy, please dial in to our overflow line at (712) 432-7620 / Password: 90405#

WHEN: Monday, May 23rd
TIME: 9:00 AM PT / 12:00 PM ET
WHERE: (605) 475-4408 / PIN: 90405# OR
(712) 432-7620 / PIN: 90405#

Want a FREE Beachbody account to log your workouts PLUS have me coach you for FREE?  Click here.

Halfhearted

Good advice from Tony Horton and worth sharing.  Take a look at his message below.


by Tony Horton

We live in a society where being number one is all that matters. No one remembers the guy or gal who comes in second place. This mentality wiggles its way into everything we do. We have become perfectionists who hate to fail. We'd rather do nothing as to avoid doing something poorly. Frustration with our fitness plan occurs when we decide to skip workouts because we feel like we can't match the performance or level of earlier workouts. This is crazy because it will prevent you from obtaining anything. The hell with perfect. Do it wrong (not bad-form wrong) and halfhearted once in awhile. Half of a workout done with tons of modifications beats the pants off of the thought of a perfect workout.

Tony Horton talks about whats next....

P90X One on One is here!

Learn more about this program as well as MANY others here.

Turbo Fire Preview!

From May 3rd through June 2nd, we will feature a special subscribers-only preview of the hottest new Beachbody^® title, TurboFire^®.

New and existing Tony One on One subscribers will get a full sample workout from TurboFire, the new High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) program. If you've been looking for a killer cardio program, this is it. High-impact interval training has been shown to rev up your metabolism and keep it revved up, long after your workout is finished. In fact, a TurboFire workout can burn up to 9 times more fat and calories than a traditional cardio workout.

TurboFire is a great idea for P90X^® users who want to add more cardio to their regimen and an excellent "graduate" course for Turbo Jam^®, Hip Hop Abs^®, or Slim in 6^® enthusiasts.

Click here for more information.

2010 Beachbody Summit

I have to tell you that I am sitting here, in total awe.  This weekend, I had the pleasure of meeting some of the greatest people in the health and fitness industry at the 2010 Beachbody Summit.  These people aren't just the trainers but other coaches who are working towards their own goals too. I thought I would post a few pictures of those folks that inspire me to keep working towards better health!

Tony Horton - Ten Minute Trainer is the program that started it all.  Tony's motto: "Do your best and forget the rest!" helped me keep going on days that I wanted to quit. 

My Coach, Rochelle, Chalene Johnson and fellow Coach Hope.  These girls inspire me every day to be the best that I can be.  Chalene is the trainer in my all time favorite workout, Turbo Jam!  Rochelle and Hope have listened to me during the good and the bad times.  Thank you ladies for being my sounding board and support system.

Debbie Siebers - This lady knows her stuff.  I love her Slim in 6 product and it is such a highly effective cardio workout.











Along with meeting all of these great folks, I was able to learn more about Beachbody and what a great company it is to be a part of.  Beachbody is truly focused on eliminating obesity and strives to reverse the trend through our network of coaches and products.  I really feel blessed to be a part of something so amazing!

Tony Horton goes Prime Time with Kirstie Alley's Big Life

Guess who is coming to Prime Time?  Tony Horton will make a guest appearance on Kirstie Alley's Big Life.  If you haven't seen the show, Sunday is a pretty good time to tune in.  You can catch the master of P90X^®Tony Horton in a premiere episode this Sunday, May 2nd, at 10:00 PM ET / 9:00 PM CT.  Check out your local A&E channel for further listing information.

Tony Horton's One on One and Shakeology Special!

I love sharing specials with you all so that you can save money.  Here is one that I think you will be pleased with and should take advantage of if you order between April 5, 2010 and May 3, 2010.  Any new or existing subscriber of Tony Horton's One on One program will get a Shakeology gift package in their April shipment.  Your package will include the following Shakeology items.

• Shakeology Chocolate packet
• Shakeology recipe card (yum!)
• Shakeology "Breakthrough" DVD

While you are waiting for your DVD's to arrive,  click here for a FREE 30 Minute workout.

What to do after P90X...

Folks will ask me what to do after they've completed P90X. My answer is Tony Horton's One on One series.



From March 2nd through April 5th, Beachbody will be running the One on One with Tony Horton Penny Promotion. For just one cent, you can sign up for this ever-expanding series. This is a HUGE opportunity to get your first DVD plus a signature DVD wallet for just a penny. You can view more information about the product or place your order here.

Snowed in and want something to do?

Lately, the weather has caused some problems with trying to get out of the house. If you would like something different to do, try this FREE, Full length workout.

Body Fat Testing

Just as we round out the first month of the New Year, One on One with Tony Horton's "Iso Abs" comes with a gift that's sure to help us all reach our 2010 goals: a body fat tester. A $14.95 value, body fat testers are the key to inching your way to better health and fitness, and since washboard abs require low body fat, you'll want to monitor your progress and hit weekly goals. This nifty little tool will help you stay on the right track.

More on the February One on One with Tony Horton Gift

The Skinny on Body Fat
A body fat tester is easy to use and is an essential tool for monitoring your health and tracking your fitness progress.

Excess body fat is associated with an increased chance of heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, stroke, and some cancers.
Emotional health and well-being can also be at risk due to societal pressures to be thin.

Just as with having too much body fat, there are health risks associated with having too little body fat! Some of these include hypothermia, vitamin toxicity, and cessation of menstrual cycle and osteoporosis in women.

Tony Horton's "The Zen of Fitness"

FREE Tony Horton workout.....

Feel like you are TOO overweight? TOO out of shape? AND have no clue where or how to start to improve your life? Watch this! Beachbody isn't just about getting super fit, it's about meeting you where you are at...helping you improve your health and fitness at any point.

Get a FREE Jump Rope!

Fitness is freedom. At least Beachbody thinks so. That's why they're giving a free hi-speed pro jump rope to everyone who signs up for the One on one with Tony Horton subscription workout program in October. If you're already a subscriber, no need to do anything. We'll automatically include your free jump rope with your October DVD shipment. The offer runs from October 2 through November 2.

Why Jump Rope?

Burning up to 1,000 calories per hour, jumping rope is one of the healthiest aerobic workouts available. It increases your heart rate and metabolism while helping you lose weight—quickly. Other benefits include improving your physique, agility, endurance, and helping prevent osteoporosis.

Hi-Speed Pro Jump Rope Features

- Ball-bearing handles that allow smooth rotations and reduce wrist fatigue
- Molded handles with foam grips for comfort and safety
- Rope made of extremely durable polypropylene
- Adjustable rope length
- Comes in blue

Click here to begin your One on One Subscription.

Your Brain on Exercise

by Tony Horton


There was an astonishing article in Newsweek a few weeks back that just blew my mind/brain/cranium/noggin. Here's what I've learned from this article and further research. We all know that working out and exercising do amazing things for our body, and the benefits, other than weight loss and getting fit, are endless. Most of us also know that when our hearts, legs, and lungs get pumping, we feel much better than if we did nothing. Turns out that doing 20 minutes or more of cardiovascular and/or high-paced resistance workouts affects every aspect of our lives. The great thing about the Newsweek article is that it really laid out the scientific findings over the last few years. Here's the scope. When you're forced to pull more oxygen into the body through exercise, you break what's called "the blood-brain barrier." It happens when you climb a long flight of stairs and when you're busting through any kind of workout that gets your heart rate pumping. This oxygen-filled blood makes its way into the temporal lobe of the brain. Inside that temporal lobe is an area called the hippocampus. Inside the hippocampus lies the seahorse-shaped area known as the dentate gyrus. As you exercise, these oxygen-filled blood cells rush into this area of the brain. A chemical/protein called IGF-1 is formed and released inside the dentate gyrus, which ramps up another chemical/molecule called BDNF; both IGF-1 and BDNF are "Miracle-grow" for the brain.

Studies with kids right up to seniors have proven that high-paced workouts (www.milliondollarbody.com Power 90®, Power Half Hour®, Power 90® Master Series, P90X®, Tony & the Kids!, etc.) cause the release of these chemicals into the brain. Combine this with even more "brain drugs" like dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine and you've got yourself a feel-good party in your head. Aerobic physical movement causes the release of these chemicals, and they all help you focus and give you energy when you need it. They also help you relax and rest properly. It's like a homemade chemistry set inside your skull that produces a cocktail that simulates the effects of Prozac and Ritalin. Children who play outdoors more often score better on tests than kids who don't. Regular physical activity improves memory, mood, and problem-solving abilities. Consistent exercise raises self-esteem and decreases anxiety. Study after study has proven that people who exercise 5 to 6 days a week greatly decrease their need for psychotherapeutic drugs. If your brain goes without regular bouts of exercise, the hippocampus will shrink and erode, which can lead to neurological illnesses such as Alzheimer's disease. When the dentate gyrus is stimulated, neuro-genesis or neuro-plasticity occurs. I'm not talking about just slowing the aging process, I'm telling you that the brain creates new cells through exercise—brand new cells that assist in the reversal of aging. If you're looking for the fountain of youth, you can find it inside your head every time you exercise for more than 20 minutes. TMT X 2 anyone?

Grand Plan Stan/Stella

By Tony Horton

So you want to be fit and lean and you want all the news on how to get there. Well, I'm your plan man. Your plan must be simple. Exercise and eating right do not have to be convoluted. You just need a philosophy for getting there. Here are a few tips to help you on your journey:

1. Know ahead of time when you're going to work out. Write it on a calendar (I'm old school . . . that's what I do) or in your PDA and get into the Beachbody® virtual gym, WOWY® (Work Out with You), to be with a group of committed people. Schedule out the whole month in advance!

2. If you really want results, you have to stop with the FOOD PORN. Remove the porn from the house and buy fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. If switching over makes you feel deprived, then do what I do—I call it the 90/10 Plan. Ninety percent of the food I eat is in the top two tiers of Michi's Ladder. The other 10 percent of the time I dip into Michi's basement. I stay away from grease, fat, and salt, but I do relish in the sweet side of life. Can you say chocolate chip cookie? Another plan is the 50/50 plan. This is for people who have been eating poorly at every meal for years. Your job is to clean up your act just half the time while sticking with the old ways for the other 50 percent. You have to decide ahead of time which meals are clean and which are PORN. Three meals a day, seven days a week makes for 21 meals. Make 11 of them healthy (you know what that looks like) and keep the rest ugly. This plan will improve things immensely for many of you. The hope is that over time, the 11 good meals become 12 and 10 bad become 9, etc.

3. If you really struggle with your healthy diet, start writing down what you eat. Try this for just three weeks. Buy a small note pad or some 3" x 5" index cards and start keeping track of every morsel. Grade yourself at the end of each day. Healthy foods get no grades while junk/porn gets a negative number. That blue cheese dressing in your healthy salad gets a negative 1. Add bacon bits and you're at a negative 2. On a 1 to 10 scale, 8, 9, and 10 are best. Below 5 means you've been cheating all day long.

Self-improvement doesn't have to be complicated. Your simple plan is to schedule workouts so that you can stay consistent and find a food philosophy that works for you.


*Tony reference Michi's ladder. If you need a copy of this, you can join the Beachbody commnuity for free at my website, www.exercise2day.com or shoot me an email.

Master Secrets

Master Secrets
By Tony Horton

What makes Tiger Woods different from you and me? Naturally gifted? Maybe. The guy shot a 48 for nine holes when he was three years old. But then how do you explain child prodigies who fade into "average" adults? Or how did Michael Jordan go from being a junior varsity "flunky" to a superstar? In any endeavor, there are plenty of "naturals," but far fewer "masters." So what sets masters apart from the merely talented?

Simply put, masters work longer and they work harder. Working longer means showing up—which is half the battle. But the other half is how they work.

When masters practice, they are intensely focused. Let me repeat—intensely focused. They’re not chatting away on the cell phone while on the treadmill. Their goal is not just to get the job done, but to get better at doing the job.

The big secret is that mastery is a habit. And habits grow. Just ask a three-pack-a-day smoker.

So I’ll take the person who can master a single push-up over the person who can crank out 10 sloppy ones any day of the week. Because the master of one today will be the master of two tomorrow. Turn that kind of focus into a habit that stretches over years and you’re beginning to see what makes a Tiger Woods . . . and why he was already a master at the ripe old age of three.