Startin 'em young!

This is Grant, my 5 year old, P90X'er. He is a chin-up pro! He LOVES to do them and can do about 5 at a time now. Then he'll take a break for a few minutes and do 5 more and so on! He's gonna be one strong little dude!

And just a little "MERRY CHRISTMAS" picture to you from me and my little girlie-pup Kinley!

My "drug" of choice...

pumpin' and jumpin'.

There is nothing like pumping some iron and doing some good old jumping to give you an all-natural high!
I've been in a complete FUNK for the past several days. Just moody and whiney and overall---just way more negative than my normal self. Today is the day I teach classes at the gym and it dawned on me while I was preparing for class, that DUH!!! I'm probably feeling this way because it's been an entire WEEK since I've worked out!
Sure enough...not long into my first class (weight-lifting) and I could feel the difference. My blood was pumping, my heartbeat was dancing and my mood was lifting by the moment! By the time I was done with the 2nd class (bootcamp), I felt like a whole new woman!
Call it crazy, call it impossible...whatever...but I felt like the whole world was against me before I walked into that gym and when I walked out...I felt like I could CONQUER the world!
Now why in tarnation wouldn't EVERYONE want that?
Not only is exercise a total mood lifter and energy booster, but plus it keeps you healthy on the inside and SUPER-PLUS---makes you look fabulous on the outside!
If you aren't in some sort of regular exercise routine, I really hope you'll give it a try and just see if I'm right about this. Test me. Tell me you don't feel better after putting in a good work out. I dare you!

Tick, Tick, Tick...

The clock is ticking...time is running out. Yes, we're all focused and excited about Christmas right now, whihc is only 2 days away---but---what I'm talking about is the NEW YEAR! We are only 9 days away from 2010! Can you believe it?
I was just sitting here paying bills and several of them had due dates in 2010. It just seemed strange to write/type that new year in-as it does every time the year changes.
Anyway, a new year brings so many new opportunities for a fresh start-a new beginning. We're done with all the holiday eating and cookies and most of us, feel a renewed sense of determination and willpower towards our fitness goals and healthier eating.
I wanted to take a moment to put a bug in your ear to think about pursuing a new fitness program for this new year. Maybe you're a fellow P90X'er but are really ready to take things up a notch, or just switch to something different? Then it's time to try P90X+ or Insanity.
Maybe you're a P0wer 90 user or Slim in 6 and think you might be ready to try P90X now...???
Or, maybe you've done P90X, done Insanity and are wondering what's left? It's time for you get RevAbs or Brazil Butt lift!
I am not saying all of this because I want to SELL it to you (although of course that is nice!) but more importantly, I know that feeling of the "same old, same old" when it comes to work outs. Believe me, until I found P90X, I had been doing the same exact workout routine for nearly 3 solid years- day in and day out. BLECK! Thank GOD I saw the P90X infomercial because it really pulled me out of the gutter I was in and gave me a new excitement (and the results I'd been trying to get for years!) Then after almost 3 rounds of P90X, I knew things were getting "stale" again, so I ordered Insanity. I only got about half of it done before I had to put it aside for a bit, but beginning in January, I am Totally STOKED to start it back up and really do it right--the whole 60 days!
What's special about TODAY is...that if you order now, you can have your new program in your hands by January 1st and be ready to start!
I know, money is probably tight for all of us, so let me give you a quick run down of what some of these programs cost. It's surprising that some of the "next level" programs really aren't that bank-breaking at all!
Power 90 In-Home Boot Camp is $59.60
Power 90 Master Series is $59.85
Slim in 6 is $59.85
10-Minute Trainer is $79.90
Turbo Jam is $59.85
Hip Hop Abs is $59.85
P90X is $119.85
P90X+ is $59.90
Insanity is $119.85
RevAbs is $79.90
Brazil Butt Lift is $59.85
Tony Horton One on One is $19.95
Shakeology: The Workouts $29.95

In addition to these awesome programs that not only help you get fit but also tell you what foods to eat, you get an awesome coach to guide you through every step. Me! :o)

2010 has the potential to be one of the best years of your life! It's all up to you how good it's gonna be!

Short on time?

How many of us (me included) complain that we are too short on time to get in a workout?
(I'm throwing both hands up into the air right now!) Even on the days that I get in a good, long workout, that means I've just taken time away from other things I could have been doing. It's a matter of priority for me most of the time, but there are just some days when priority bites the dust and there is just no way on EARTH I can fit an hour-long workout and then a shower afterwards into my day.
Well, there are no excuses now. I'm letting you in on a secret: You can get in a major-good workout in just 10 minutes. At your house. Whenever you want.
Tony Horton's 10 minute trainer package is awesome...but now there is an even better option. It's the 10-Minute Trainer Upgrade Pack! Now instead of just 5 workouts, you get 9. It comes with everything you need to do them including the 2 professional-grade resistance bands. They even give you an "Advanced Workout Calendar" to show you how to rotate these 10-minute workouts for maximum resistance. Here is a description of the workouts that are included in this set:

Total Body 2. Tony layers this total-body workout with fat-burning cardio and moves to sculpt your entire body in no time! (10 minutes)
Core Cardio. Think you don't have enough time to burn some fat? Think again. Tony's got the key to tightening your midsection and shedding fat to reveal your six-pack abs. (10 minutes)
Upper Body. Tony's innovative moves will tone and shape your entire upper body, giving you the shapely arms and shoulders you want. (10 minutes)
One on One Lower. Follow Tony as he powers through a different move each minute to firm and strengthen your quads and glutes. (10 minutes)
Plyo Intervals. This plyometric workout will dramatically enhance your athletic performance in only minutes! (10 minutes)
One on One Upper. You'll beg for mercy in this fast-paced upper-body blowout that further defines your shoulders, arms, and back! (10 minutes)
Cardio Intervals. Go all out with Tony in fat-blasting, high-intensity drills that will kick your metabolism into high gear while you burn calories at the rate of an athlete. (10 minutes)
Chest & Back. Unique moves engineered to max out these two major muscle groups and get you strong FAST! (10 minutes)
Friday Night Arms. Tony's favorite Friday night workout since his teenage years—and still just as effective.

The cost is $79.90. If you pay $30 a month for your gym membership like I do, that is about 2 1/2 months worth. This is something you will own forever and be able to implement into your busy life for years and years to come.
And, if you decide you just don't like it, they offer a 30-day money back guarantee!
Place your order now and you'll be ready to go by January 1st! Just click here to order or read more!

Know your WHY

Over lunch with a friend today, I made this statement: "You have to know your "why" when trying to lose weight." If you don't know WHY you're doing it, chances are you won't succeed. Not only do you need to know your "why", it also needs to be something important to you.

If I were to ask myself "why am I trying to lose weight right now?" My honest answer would be "so I can look good up in front of my class--set a good example that they want to learn from". The truth is, I'm already doing the best that I can right now. Not perfect, but for me, I'm giving my best. Knowing that, deep down in my heart, that I really don't NEED to lose weight---is probably the reason I'm NOT losing weight. My really good reason "why" just isn't there right now.

However, when I first started losing weight, my "why" was VERY CLEAR and VERY IMPORTANT. (therefore, I was very succesful!)

What I'm getting at is---you've gotta really have a good reason already established if you're gonna accomplish your goals. Because when the going gets tough and the holiday cookies and eggnog are begging for your attention, that "WHY" has to be speaking louder in your ear than the cookies.

Today I am asking myself "why" did I become a Beachbody coach? That is really where this whole "why" concept originated. When you sign up to be a coach, one of the first things they tell you is "Know your why."
My "why" is: Because I want to help others get healthy and in-shape and open up opportunities to tell people about Jesus!
And it is about time that I start making it happen. Not only am I in between a rock and a hard place where income is concerned, I am also ready to either give it my all or give it up. Coaching, that is. I haven't had a chance to give it my full attention because I've been busy with my other job as well as instructing these fitness classes, but that is all coming to an end in just a couple weeks and so this is a great opportunity to get this ball rolling. People everywhere are becoming succesful and finacially secure through Beachbody coaching and I might as well be one of them! Anyone wanna join me? A team is so much stronger than an individual!

CUH-RACKED me UP!

Watch this and get your giggle on!

Video Recaps | Full Episodes | Webisodes

I LOVE this guy!!!

On Monday Matt did something I NEVER thought he would EVER do. He came to my classes at the gym! I knew he didn't want to, but I've been begging him to come ever since I started instructing and for some odd reason, he decided to do it! He told me as we were walking into class, "This is your Christmas present!!!" and I said back to him, "No, this is YOUR Christmas present!" ha ha

Long story short, he did AWESOME and I was on Cloud 9 having him there with me. I love working out...but I LOVE my hubby...so if you put the two together...it's like a LOVE explosion! ha ha (don't roll your eyes!)

Anyway, later that night I asked him what he thought about it. He replied, "The only thing I regret is that I ever missed a class. I should have been going from the very beginning!"

Wow! What a compliment! I am SO STOKED that he's going to start joining me! This literally is a 'dream come true' to me. I know you might think I'm a bit nutsy--and I probably am--but I really hate being away from him...and now we have another opportunity to be together, doing something we love AND...what's sexier than seeing your husband all hot and sweaty, muscles popping, veins bulging....yummm!!!! :o)

Christmas Countdown Tip of the Day

persist–verb
to continue steadfastly or firmly in some state, purpose, course of action, or the like, especially in spite of opposition.

What one of us doesn't face opposition when it comes to eating right and working out? So why is it that some of us succeed and some fail? It comes down to this: Some of us choose to PERSIST and some of us choose to QUIT.

That reminds me of something God said in Deuteronomy 30:19. He said, "I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life!"

It's like: Here you go--here are your two choices. Now, I'm going to tell you which one to pick so you'll be sure to get it right.

So this is what I'm saying to you today: Choose to PERSIST!

I've never met a person who regretted being persistant towards having and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. You never hear people say, "I just wish I had given up and quit working out." But how many times do you hear people say, "I just wish I would have stuck with it and kept exercising." ????????
Can I get a resounding "DUH!!!" This isn't multiple choice y'all. There's only one answer and it's not a pill or a diet--it's Eat Clean/Work Out. Period.

Okay, I'm done being harsh....hope you all have a wonderful, happy, blessed, joyful, Jesus-filled day!

Christmas Countdown Tip of the Day

So, with today being Day 1 in our Christmas Countdown, I wanted to pass along a very important tip to you all. It is:
ALWAYS PACK A SNACK!!!
or even your lunch...but never leave home empty-handed.

I try to keep a baggie of almonds or a trail mix/protein bar in my purse or car at ALL times. I also make a point to bring a bottle of water (reusable of course) with me everytime I leave.

I can't tell you how many times I've ended up being out and about longer than I had expected and having this snack/water has saved me from the dreadful drive-thru! Not only that, it keeps your money in your pocket rather than wasting it on some nasty, greasy, not-gonna-benefit-you-in-any-way stuff from a fast-food restaurant.

I would confidently say that this is a MAJOR KEY to improving your eating habits, especially if you do a lot of running. Not running like marathons...running like library, school, church, shopping, etc. :o)

Sometimes I even pack my whole lunch. On days that I go to the gym and I know it's gonna be 11 a.m. before I get home, I bring along a PB&J and apple. Sure, I could wait until I got home to eat....BUT....by that time I'm in "starvation mode" and I won't think rationally. I might end up eating something because of impulse instead of intentionally.

EAT INTENTIONALLY--NOT IMPULSIVELY!

Specifically choose the foods you are going to put into your body to fuel it with. Ask yourself, how is this food going to nourish my body? Is it going to provide me with important nutrients and give me energy? Is it going to repair and rebuild my muscles?
You can eat a 100 calorie pack of Doritos or a small baggie of Almonds with 100 calories. Either way---you consume 100 calories. But the Doritos are not going to do a THING for you nutritionally. They are going to sit in your body and turn to sugar=fat. On the other hand, the almonds offer the same crunch and are PACKED with things your body needs.
Make the smart choice. Please, people, PLEASE....America needs to make these changes desperately! It starts with you and me!

84%--Time for the 25's Days till Christmas Countdown!

I'm giving myself an 84% for my effort at our 10-day Challenge. I started out strong...had a few weak days over the weekend and on Tuesday...but overall, I'm satisfied. I ate way better, I worked out on 7 of the 10 days, which is more than usual AND I got my hubby back into the swing of things, so it was certainly worth the effort!
How'd you do?
Even if you didn't do everything you wanted, did you at least still do better than you would have if we hadn't done this little challenge? I know I did.
So, are you ready for the next one? ;o)

You see...Tomorrow is December 1st...so....we MUST do a 25 days till Christmas Countdown!!!

Here's our 3 goals:
*Work out 5 of 7 days each week.
*Eat consciously and health-fully at least 80% of the time. That means you can have about 2-3 "cheat" meals/foods (ie. desserts) per week.
*Weigh yourself at the beginning (Dec. 1st) and at the end (Dec. 24th). Goal is to not gain ANY. You don't have to lose...but don't let that scale creep up!

I will post this on Facebook too, so we can hopefully get a big group doing this! I would LOVE to have people post their progress on my blog so we can all see how each other is doing. If we all work together and hold each other accountable, we can all get through this Holiday season without having to loosen up our belts! Then come January 1st, we can work on bringing up the intensity (and tightening up our belts!). Right now, let's just focus on being diligent, consistent and dedicated! Leave me a comment if you'll at least give it a try! There is no way to "lose" except for those who won't even TRY!

Happy Holidays!

I know....it's not often you wrap up the holiday season with a 6-pack and bulging biceps...but it is POSSIBLE! I want to help you start 2010 off looking and feeling your best! Just give me a holla if I can help! XOXO!

Challenge? What challenge? Eeeeek!!

So, do you want me to tell you the truth? I have COMPLETELY forgotten the challenge the past 2 days. And when I say forgotten, I don't mean "put out of my mind" I mean seriously forgotten!
I've been eating good still, but it never even occurred to me all day yesterday to work out. I got up and played with the kids, made blueberry muffins with them and then we worked on making homemade Christmas cards. Then we got cleaned up and went Christmas shopping all afternoon. We came home, ate dinner and watch Christmas movies all evening and went to bed. This morning we got up super early, went to church, came home ate lunch, took naps, did some paperwork and then went to my parents for dinner and we just now got home and I sat down to check my e-mail and I was like OHHHH MYYYY GOSH!!!! I forgot to work out the past 2 days!

Oh well. Give me a B-, I guess. I sure didn't mean to not work out, it just completley slipped my mind--which is actually practically a miracle seeing as how I think about exercise just about constsantly. Anyway, tomorrow will be "back to work" with my classes at the gym! Hope you are all doing well and hanging in there!

Day 5--HALF WAY

So, it's Friday and we're halfway done with our challenge. I've succeeded at working out every day for the past 5 days, which is an improvement because Wednesday is typically my "rest day". I decided to do P90X Cardio X that day and wow! I was stunned at how (dare I say....) EASY it has become! Don't get me wrong...you can certainly intensify it by jumping higher, squatting lower, etc. but I remember a time when I would be drenched with sweat and huffing and puffing at the end of that video, and this time, it just felt like a warm up. It has taken me a year and a half of doing P90X to get this point, so if you're still on your first round and think Cardio X is a tough work out, don't let this discourage you. It should ENCOURAGE you...that as you keep going and working at it, eventually it will be come much easier! I honestly think that doing Insanity has completely transformed my idea of "cardio." When you first start doing Insanity, you'll probably think it should be called "Impossible" instead because it pretty much is impossible at first, until your body becomes conditioned to that kind of outrageous intensity for lengthy periods of time. It takes unbelievable endurance to complete an Insanity workout without breaks (which I've never done).
Anyway, got side-tracked there. woops!
What I was trying to say is that the challenge is going well. I don't feel like I've done as good as I wanted to with the food aspect, although I have eaten WAYYYY better in the past 5 days than I would have if we weren't doing the challenge. I made a banana cake the other day and I've had a few small peices of it over the past couple of days. It is soooooo good. Not real sweet and it seems like I'm the only one in our house who is really crazy about it. It practically KILLS me to see it sitting there getting "old". :o)
My workout yesterday was FANTASTIC. I taught classes at the gym. First was 45 min. of boot camp and then 45 min of weights. We did circuits again and we did stuff like burpees and floor switch kicks and frog jumps, etc. After that, I gave them the warning that we were going to be doing some serious weight-training today. I have pretty much decided that my "style" is to multi-task during work outs. I like to work arms and legs at the same time, if possible. So, instead of just standing to do bicep curls, we did wall squats while curling! It certainly took your mind off of the burn in your biceps! I've been trying to encourage people to go up on their weights some, so I've been bringing my own weights from home (10#'s and 15#'s) and I did my bicep curls yesterday with the 15 pounders. Yowch! :o)
The people in my classes are starting to open up a little more and talk to me, which totally boosts my confidence, which inturn boosts my performance (or instructing). I need interaction. When it's silent in the class and I am the only one counting down or talking or making any kind of noices, it feels sort of lonely and I begin to wonder if they all really really dislike me. Thankfully there is one guy, John, who has been friendly and supportive from the first day and he really helps to make me feel comfortable. If you're reading this: THANK YOU JOHN! I hope that by the end of my time there, I will have them all moaning and groaning and counting and grunting! ha ha
Today is Friday and is typically a busy day for me as I always attempt to fit in a MILLION things I want to "get done before the weekend" but some of it will just have to wait today because I AM working out. I wish I had someone to work out WITH because I really don't love doing it all alone in my living room....but unless any of you want to drive to my house today, it'll probably be just me and the dvd player. I think I'll do some Insanity today.
I hope you are all doing good and keeping focused. We only have 5 more days left! YOU CAN DO THIS! Prove it to yourself!

3 days in-7 to go

So, we are on Day 3 of the 10 day challenge...how're you doing?
Monday was great for me. Tuesday was ROUGH. I was hungry ALL day and even though I went to 2 classes at the gym, I seriously drug-butt the entire time and probably only gave it about 75%. All I wanted to do all day was sleep and eat. Ick. I did skip my coffee yesterday, so maybe that is what the problem was?!?! I didn't think I was that reliant on my morning coffee..but maybe I am and didn't know it.
Anyway, today is day 3 and I feel back to my normal self. I have a lot to do today, but I am going to fit in a work out this afternoon while the kids are at school. I'm thinking about possibly doing P90X Yoga even though I really don't like it...I need some stretching. Or maybe I'll do Cardio X...that'll give me a little yoga but still gets some calories burned off.
No matter what, I'll be doing something and YOU BETTER TOO! Keep your eating clean. I ate a LOT yesterday, but for the most part, it was fresh veggies and fruits.
For those of you who asked about my physical I got done the other day....I got the report back. My weight has gone down by 2 pounds (since last year) but most of my other numbers went up--which I thought was weird. My cholesterol, tryglycerdes, glucose--all that went up a few #'s. All I can figure is that last year when I did my physical I had just finished P90X and was eating a VERY VERY clean diet. For the past several months I've been pretty lazy with my choices of foods and maybe that is why the #'s went up? Still, I am within the Excellent range of all of them so I'm not worried...but I am glad that I am getting back on track with my food choices again. It's amazing how relaxed you can get so quickly. It's like one cookie here, one burger there and the next thing you know you're having fries with every meal! Eeeek! (and drinking pop again!) Double Eeeek!
I'm excited to see how AMAZING I feel (and all of you) at the end of this 10 days. Our bodies will SOOOO be thanking us! (and maybe we'll even be able to push away from the Thanksgiving table a little sooner than usual!)

Trendy or Trashy?

I wore this shirt to the other day and I really had a battle within about it.

I saw someone wear a shirt like this to work out in a few months ago and I thought it was so cute. I found one really cheap at Ross and bought it. When I put it on though, it felt really nakedy. I wasn't sure if it was because I have NEVER worn anything see-thru before (and have never worn just a sports bra and shorts) or if it truely was inappropriate.

What does it say to you? Does it say "Look at me! I'm wearing a see-thru shirt!!!" or does it just say "trendy and keeping cool while working out?"

The shirt is extremely thin and soft and comfy...but that isn't why I bought it....I bought it because I thought it was cute. I do NOT, however, want to look like I'm trying to draw attention to myself (or my body) by wearing it. I know I'm probably making way too big of a deal about this...but I just wanted to see what ya'lls opinions are.

Oh great! Now I just thought about the fact that I am posting it for you all to see--so if you decide its "trashy" I've just shown it to everyone! wonderful...:o)

10 day challenge---can you handle it?

So maybe you're not up for a 90 day program right now (or maybe you're smackdab in the middle of one and are starting to slack off some)...whatever your current situation, I have a challenge for you:
There are 10 days until Thanksgiving. I propose that for the next 10 days we will:

1.)Eat clean with EVERY bite. No cheating. NO JUNK. Just high protien, good carbs and lots of fruits and veggies. My main hurdle with this will be not having dessert. I've gotten back into that awful habit of eating something sweet after every meal. Ugh!

2)Work out every day. I know that is a lot to ask...but we're only talking TEN days here. SURELY you can swing that for just 10 days right? (or at least that is what I'm asking myself!)

Matt and I are doing it as well as my mom. I want to see how many more people are on board???
Challenge yourself. See what you're made of. Prove it once and for all that YOU are in control..not your appetite, not your mood, not your surroundings! One thing that fires me up more than anything is thinking that I have "lost control". Maybe I'm a bit of a control freak..I don't know..but I will not be ruled by anything (other than God) and I will CERTAINLY NOT be ruled by my feelings or by my mood.
Reward yourself for accomplishments and happy times during these next 10 days by doing something GOOD for you body...like a invigorating work out rather than weighing it down with a big serving of sugar (cupcake/cake/cookie).
Who can argue this: You'll feel a heck of a lot better after that work out than you will after downing that bowl of icecream!!??!!

If you are a follower of my blog and you read this post and you don't leave me a comment and tell me that you are joining me, that's fine....just know that I will know that you are a WUSS! ;o)

Falling in love all over again!

Have you ever fallen in love with something (or someone) again? Maybe you were passionate about it at one time but things got in the way, the hecticness of life, and before you know it, the fire has dwindled? Not that you don't still "love" it...you just haven't made it a priority for a while?
There are SO many things that have fit into this category at one time or another for me (scrapbooking, daily Bible Study, cleaning house, exercise, disciplining my kids, eating healthy...etc...)
Well, this weekend, I fell in love again...with P90X and Insanity.

It all started with a FB post that Demi had put up--something about her abs being so sore it hurt to cough or laugh.
Call it a sickness if you want...but when I read something like that, it makes me say "ooohhhh I want to do whatever she did!!"
So, I found out what it was and I did it PRONTO. Turns out, it was Insanity's Max Interval Circuit.
I knew I was "in for it" when I put the DVD in and saw that it was 59 minutes long! DAAAANG! That is the longest workout I've seen in the Insanity program! Eeek!
I actually updated my FB status all thoughout the workout...(everytime he gave us a water break). Here is what I posted:
#1: Max Interval Circuit = Easy Peasy! Although for some reason I can't breathe! 51 min to go...
#2: Oh Ya! I'm killin' it-38 min to go!
#3: Oh my Gaw-ud!!! 29 more min...
#4: man this is about as fun as childbirth...14:43 left...
#5: not sure HOW I'm gonna teach kickboxing at the gym tomorrow if I can't even move!...4 min left...
#6: can it be true? I'm done...and I Lived!!! if I can do it--you can too!!! (well maybe...;)

Ya'll....if you are addicted to working out....and especially if you've done P90X...you really need Insanity. It is the most fun I've ever had doing something so painful! I can't believe I shelved this program instead of finishing it. I thought that it was too much to do it AND teach my classes at the gym so I put it aside for now....but after doing that workout, there is NO WAY I'm doing that again! Besides the fact that I burned 459 calories in that one hour (which is the most calories I've burned in an hour in a loooong time) I also learned LOTS of new, fun, cool moves to teach my class!
Speaking of...my poor kickboxing class on Saturday!...I don't know what they thought about me. I came in there with all kinds of crazy stuff like floor switch kicks and those oblique burpee things and jump tucks. I think they were in for a shock.
Anyway, then last night (Saturday night) Matt and I got in bed and were scrolling through the channels for something to watch and we ended up stopping on "Get Ripped in 90 days"--the very infomercial that we saw and ordered P90X from. Even though I've seen it at least 15 times, we sat and watched it again and with every minute that passed...the fire was stoked inside of us! Oh how I love P90X and seeing those little snippets of the workouts on the infomercial made me realize how much I have missed it!!
Just like a good old friend...you forget how much you love them till you spend some time together and then you wonder how you EVER let them get away.

Anyway, that's what's been going on with me this weekend. I love my group fitness classes at the gym and they are the foundation that my success has been built on and I would NEVER want to be without them. But as we all know, there comes a point when we have to move out of the comfort zone if we want to see more drastic, more serious results...and Beachbody did that for me---and it will do the same for you, if you want it. I would love to help you re-ignite that fire!

Right On!

Whether you think you can, or you think you can't---either way---You're right!

When I heard this quote the other day (by someone famous but I don't know who), I fell in LOVE with it. It is SOOOOO right on.
The only thing limiting you is your own MIND. What you believe you can do. Sure, you can't fly...that's the law of gravity. But I'm talking about perserveance and determination here.
If you're a fan of Biggest Loser, think about Dina with that dang box she "couldn't" jump onto. Sure she could have done it...EASILY...but she didn't THINK she could...so she couldn't.
Don't limit yourself. Dream Big...then KNOW you can DO IT!

I've learned something about this Beachbody coaching....I can cheer you on and send you recipes and e-mail you every day and ask how you're doing ...but you have to WANT it for yourself. You have to have the DRIVE within...because I can't be there to physically get you off your couch and make you move. I hesitate to even try to talk someone into buying a program like P90X or Insanity when I can hear it in their voice that they really aren't committed. I know this one person...they want to be fit and to lose weight so bad....and they are always asking for my help...but everytime I tell them what to do, they don't do it. A few weeks will go by and they'll get miserable again and then ask me to "PLEASE HELP ME" again. There is only so much I can do for you. I wish I could come to your house and work you out every day...but that's not realistic.
There were years that I "wanted to lose weight sooo bad" but I didn't want to actually DO the work to get the results. Then one day I woke up and I had had ENOUGH. Like seriously, I was TICKED OFF and I had a FIRE inside. I put on my shoes, drove to the gym, signed a contract and the rest is history. From that very day on, I have worked out consistently and regularly and that's been over 5 years now. I'm not exactly sure what flipped my switch. I just know that I was at the end of the rope. I had to change and it had to be NOW.
When you get to that point and you know--that you know--that you know--that this is IT.
Call me. :o)

Headaches are such a PAIN

So...I've been having headaches for about 2 weeks straight now. Nothing horrible or major...just enough to make me take Tylenol 2 or 3 times a day EVERY day. It's getting really irritating now though and I've been trying to think "outside the box" or the tylenol bottle--and see if there could be any explainable reason for them. I've come up with a few:
1. Dehydration. Not sure about this...but I know I am drinking wayyyyy less water than I was during the summer. I'm lucky if I drink 1 bottle of water a day, maybe 2 on workout days....so I'm trying to increase this.
2. I have some really tight muscles in my neck/shoulders that bother me a lot. When Matt takes 15 seconds and rubs them, I can feel the tension just MELT out of that area and my headache seems to go away temporarily. After talking to some friends about this on Sunday, I'm thinking about scheduling an appointment with a chiropractor...??
3. Not enough stretching/too much lifting heavy weight. I do a lot of heavy lifting preparing for my classes and instructing my classes but I don't do nearly enough stretching. On Sunday I did P90X Stretch X and WOW! Besides the fact that it had a very peaceful calming effect on me, I also felt MUCH better afterwards and so much looser and less uptight. That P90X...they have a video for EVERYTHING! :o)
Anyhow...I really hope this ceases because it's beginning to really wear me out. I wake up with a headache and go to bed with a headache. And for those of you who saw where I posted about the miracle-working Peace of Mind that Origins sells...it does help relieve the pain "on the spot" like it says. It just comes back within about 15 minutes...so I know I need something more.

On a side note...for those of you following me on my fitness instructing journey: Things are getting SO MUCH easier. It is starting to come more natural now. YAY! I wondered if it would ever feel "second nature" to be up there in front of the class talking over the microphone but yesterday I strayed from my notes and just did what came to my mind and it went really great. I hope (and plan) that by the end of this temporary job (ends in Dec.) that I will have a clear sight of what I really want from this--whether I want (or God wants me) to pursue instructing further...or if it's time to move in a different direction. I really think this is preparing me for something bigger...something more powerful in the way of ministry. Only God know's right now....!

P90X, Insanity, RevAbs...

What will they come up with next?

I almost don't want Beachbody to develop any new programs because how can you improve on perfection? Plus, how can I give up P90X to do Insanity? and how can I give up Insanity to do RevAbs? Before Insanity and RevAbs came out, I was totally planning on getting P90X+ next and maybe even ordering Hip Hop Abs or Turbo Jam for some variety and fun....but now...there's just too many to choose from!
See...most people appreciate variety and options...but not me. I like to keep it simple. Give me one, maybe two, programs that work and I'm good to go. Give me 10 different fabulous choices and I'm likely to sit there staring at them all trying to decide and never really do any!
(hmmm...sounds a lot like what I do when I have a hundred things to do around the house and I can't figure out where to start!)

Anyway, I think I may have come up with an idea that will let me dabble in many of these different programs without having to commit to all of them!
If I order all the people in my family a program from Beachbody for Christmas (even some as a 'family gift') then I can borrow a dvd from them every so often to see what that particular work out is like.
Plus, what better gift could I buy at Wal-Mart or the mall than one that will give them a healthier, longer life?

Besides giving them the program, I am also giving them my promise to coach them the entire way and see them through the journey. The way I see it...that's a pretty great gift. I would have loved for someone to have done this for me 5 years ago when I was 60 pounds overweight and miserable with no idea of what to do to change it.

To be bluntly honest with you, I need to start strategizing ways to build my Beachbody coaching business. It started out slow, began to boom and be succesful and now it seems to have come to a screeching halt. No new customers, no new sales, no business. Hmmph!
If I am your coach and you feel that I am a good one, please spread the word to your friends and family. This coaching thing is an amazing opportunity and I love, love, love helping people and encouraging them --- but it does cost me $$ monthly to be a coach--and right now, I'm paying out but not making anything. If I can't figure out a way to reverse that, I don't see how it is wise to continue. I will never stop LOVING Beachbody and their products and spreading the word about them...but I can't send them money every month and get nothing in return.
I am going to get more serious about advertising and getting my business cards circulating. If you're reading this, maybe you would consider passing my name on when you hear of someone looking to start a program..!?!
I appreciate all of you--my readers and friends and teammates! You are as much of an inspiration to me as I could ever be to you! Many days, it is YOU that I think of when I don't feel energy to workout or motivation to eat right, and suddenly I can do it! This blog and meeting all of you, getting all your wonderful comments, has been such a blessing and I look forward to many, many more sweaty workouts, healthy meals and fitness talk with you in the future!

Owwwwwch!!

So today I had my first visit with a dermatologist. It wasn't as bad as I had expected. I just knew I was going to get a major scolding for all the "sun damage" to my skin. For those of you who may not know this...I am covered in freckles from HEAD to TOE and according to doctors...freckles = sun damage.
Anyway, she did tell me that I had considerable sun spots...but the main reason I went in is because I had two "odd" spots on my face that my mom has been pretty concerned about. Skin cancer is very common in my family so to ease her mind, I went. Turns out they were both little harmless lesions called actinic keratosis. I opted to have them frozen off with liquid nitrogen just to get rid of them. OUCH! Now I have two yucky blisters on my face that I'll have to doctor until they heal but at least I can be done with the whole thing. I have to say though...after talking to her, I seriously don't know if I can get back in a tanning bed. I'll spare you the speech...but just imagine what you'd tell someone who still smokes after half of their family has died from lung cancer....well....that's about the same as me tanning. Ugh!
Those of you still fake baking...think about it. You won't be young forever and even if you don't get skin cancer....you WILL get wrinkles and tanning just speeds up the process!
So now I'm on the search for sunless tanners. I want to find something that doesn't stink and that doesn't turn my ankles orange. Anyone have any suggestions?

do I dress too young?

So I did a post on my other blog this morning and then I thought...aww man!-a lot of the people who I want to comment on that don't read that blog. So....I'm putting a link here to that post. I'm just curious to hear if you guys think what I have on in this picture (and wear) is "too young" for my age...??
click HERE to read.

Building my Repertoire

So last night after an AWESOME boot camp class (we did circut training--So Fun!) then I taught 45 minutes of Pump. Instead of trying to hit every single muscle in the entire body, I decided to pick a few and just really max out. It felt so good to feel that burn to the point of exhaustion. One of the guys in my class told me that since I've been teaching (2 1/2 weeks) that he has lost 16 pounds!!! WOW! I'm not saying that is entirely due to my classes, but I like to think that I have played a little part in it. I really think (hope) that I am helping to push this group past their current fitness level and take it up a notch. Last night was, BY FAR, my best night of teaching yet. I had one of my good friends, Mandy, there which totally helps! The class was completely full which adds more energy to the room and I decided to bust out some Zumba moves on them during the warm up which was a lot of fun and I got to show them my less-serious side. (and how jiggly my butt is during hip-hits!) Anyway, after class was over I was DRENCHED. No exageration there folks. I'm pretty sure even my socks were wet! The next class after mine is Yoga and all the people that come to it were sitting around waiting as I gathered up my equipment and began to make my way out. It was about 6:08. As I started to walk out they said "Are you our teacher tonight?" To which I was like "OHHH NOOO....I don't teach Yoga. Let me go check and see where your teacher is." I called the lady who is in charge and she said she hadn't been able to get a sub for that class and could I do it!!!
OMG! I am sooooo not into yoga. I think it's good and important and yada, yada, yada...but I just don't do it. Now I was going to have to teach a whole class of it! Seriously ya'll...my mind went BLANK! All I could think of was sun salutations, downward dog and the crane. Crazy combination of yoga moves there. Thank GOD (literally--thank you LORD!) I prayed as I went and things started to come back to me. I could hear Tony saying "Step back into plank. Push up if you want. Push back into downward dog. Float your right foot up into the sky and swing through into runners lunge." GLORY HALLELUJAH! I worked them through that sequence and then we did a few balance poses and a little strengthening (plank/side planks). I ended up finishing 15 minutes before they were scheduled to be done, but my poor kids had been in the nursery for 3 hours already and I HAD to go... Besides that, I hadn't eaten since 11 am and it was now going on 7 pm! I was shaky and getting light headed.
Anyway....so...now I have successfully taught Pump (weights), Boot Camp, some Step, Kickboxing and now Yoga. I hope Zumba is next. It really is my favorite as far as fun workouts go! We shall see!!!

To all my Beachbody teammates out there---I haven't forgotten about you. I know I've been a bit preoccupied here lately with all this instructing stuff...but you are always on my mind and in my prayers! Keep pushing play guys! I am only a mouse-click away if you need me! If you want me to check in on you more often, just leave me a comment and I'll do it! Being a new-ish coach, I'm never sure how much people want me to "bug" them...so you just tell me okay?!?

Love you all! God is GOOOOOOD! Have a FANTASTIC weekend! Let Jesus SHINE! P90XOXO!
J.

I like big butts and I cannot lie...

as long as they belong to an elephant and not me!

We went to the circus a couple of weeks ago and while I took lots of pictures of the elephants...this is the only one that wasn't too dark. Ha ha! LORD help me if my rear ever starts to resemble this one!

Ps. I posted LOTS of family pics today from the last month on my other blog if anyone is interested. Hate to double post.

Trying something new today...!!!

Wow, I think this may be the longest I have ever gone without posting on my blog! (maybe not...but it seems like it's been forever!)
I only have a few minutes this morning, but let me give you a quick run down of what's been happening in my (fitness-related) life.
As you all know I began instructing at the gym on Oct. 5th. It's been going well with the exception of last Monday's class which was a complete disaster. I wasn't feeling well OR energetic and I kept losing my balance and my train of thought. I tried very hard to maintain composure though and hopefully the struggle I was having inside was NOT showing up on my face to everyone in my class. On the way home the devil had a party in my mind telling me all kinds of discouraging things ("they hate you, you aren't qualified for this job", etc.) but thankfully I have such an intimate relationship with my Heavenly Father that I can instantly recognize the voice of satan and tell him where to "stick it" with his stupid lies he was trying to feed me. I wallowed in self-pity for a few minutes but as soon as I got home I put on some praise & worship (love Kari Jobe!) and then got in the Word for a while before I went to bed. One of our favorite songs from our old chuch goes like this: "When I think of His goodness and what He's done for me, when I think of His goodness and how He's set me free, I could dance, dance, dance, dance, dance, dance, dance, dance, dance!" Yah---that's pretty much what it's like when you stomp on the devil's head and put God back in 1st place in your life!
(sorry ya'll---I can get to preachin' when I get excited these days!)
The next time that I got up to teach, I prepared more for my classes and then gave it to God--which basically means I reminded myself that it is HIM doing this--I am just the vessel. The classes went great and I think it was the best I've ever done as far as instructing. It just felt easy and comfortable this time. Praise the Lord!

TODAY.....Augh! I am teaching a new class--Kickboxing! Eeeek! It's a little nerve-wracking just because I don't know all the technical terms for all the various punches and kicks NOR do I know perfectly correct form on all moves....but...I have been taking kickboxing off and on for many years and more consistantly for the past 2 years, so I think I'll do just fine subbing the class today. Besides, it's God, not me! (I need to write that on my hand and look at it every few minutes!)

I found out that I was doing a no-no by saying things like "this is one of the moves from Insanity" during my classes. Apparently (if you read the coach rules) I am not supposed to mention Beachbody programs during a class. I can say "this move is plyometrics inspired" but not "this move came from P90X". Hmmm...woops! I only did that on the very first day...glad I read the rules before I got in trouble!

It's kind of crazy though because I was really hoping that by being an instructor, I would have more opportunity to tell people about Beachbody and P90X and Insanity. I guess I'll just have to wait until they (the people in my classes) start talking to me more before and after class and then I can bring it up. Since I'm still new to the gym, I don't want to start handing out my BB business cards just yet.

Okay, well, I have exactly 1 hour until I need to leave the house for the gym...so I'm gonna get off here and go get stretched out and ready! I hope you all have a wonderful Saturday!~

Meet my newest Beachbody Sales Rep!!

About 2 weeks ago Brooklyn told me she was in the library at school and she overheard two ladies talking. One of them said, "yah, I've been wanting to buy this thing called P90X." Of course, that caught her ear and she came right home and told me about it. JOKINGLY, I gave her one of my business cards and told her to give it to the lady (she's like a teacher's aide or something). I never really thought anymore about it. Anyway....yesterday while I was up at the school working at the Book Fair a woman came over to me and said, "Are you Jennifer Jones?" I said "yes." She said, "Are you the P90X Jennifer Jones?" and I said, "YES!" She told me about how some cute little girl had given her one of my business cards and that she thought she recognized me from my before/after pictures on the back. We got to talking and she told me that she has already decided she is definitly going to order P90X along with the resistance bands, but that she also wants to order Hip Hop Abs as well because she hates doing abs on the floor and that it just looks like so much fun! She plans to buy these items next week.

Wow!

I explained to her about how Beachbody works and how if she goes through my site to purchase her items, I will get to be her coach. She asked, "What do I need a coach for?"

Ohh...my favorite question!

I believe so much in the coaching aspect of Beachbody's programs that I decided to become one, despite my extremely busy life. I knew it was something I wanted to do. I explained to her that a coach is your 24 hour/365 day support center. Besides holding you accountable and cheering you on...I am also here to provide you helpful recipe ideas, training tips and help you find solutions to any problems that may arise. Before you begin a program, you might not see the importance of a coach...but I guarantee you...once you get going, at some point you'll have a question you need answered or come across a recipe you just can't figure out....and it's AMAZING to be able to just pick up the phone or type out a quick e-mail message and get your answer. It's not some computerized auto-answer that you get from big companies---it's a flesh and blood human who has "been there and done that" who GENUINELY cares about you, answering your questions and helping you. That is priceless. (and it is literally priceless--meaning it doesn't cost you a thing!)

Anyway...I left out of there yesterday with a big smile on my face and I couldn't wait to give Brooklyn a big hug! Who'd have thought that my CHILDREN would be helping me with this business? ha ha

On a different note...but kind of the same. (ie. eavesdropping again!)

On Tuesday after my classes at the gym I stopped by Ross to look for something and I could hear a lady talking on the phone an isle over. Whatever....I didn't think anything about it until I heard her say "Yah, we've been working out like crazy. Jillian has us doing 4 hours a day." THAT caught my ear. I peered through the racks to see who it was and it was Danny's wife (from BL!) I know this is probably bad and I shouldn't admit it to the entire world...but I hung around then to hear more. She said "we're just really nervous about the weigh in. He's down to 234 right now but we're hoping to lose more. We are just really ready for this whole thing to be over with."

I thought about saying something to her...but honestly I couldn't think of ANYTHING to say....and on top of that, she never did get off the phone before I left...so oh well. Anyway, I thought that was really cool! It's almost like I was standing next to a celebrity! ha ha

Ps. To all my buddies who are also Biggest Loser fans..I just have to set one thing straight.

At no time in my life, while dining at a Mexican food restruant, will I decline my free chips and salsa. Nope. I have to draw the line somewhere and that is DEFINITELY crossing the line. :o)

Tony Horton eating Doritos?

So, I had this very vivid dream last night. I walked into some kitchen and there at a round wooden table sat Tony Horton himself. He had a Family Size bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos open in front of him and his hand stuffed full of them and he was cramming them into his mouth...crumbs falling everywhere! Instantly I began digging through my purse for my camera so I could catch this on film and show the whole world what our "hero" is doing in the privacy of an empty kitchen.
HA HA HA HA
What in the WORLD?
The night before that I dreamed all night long about possible catastrophes that might happen while I was up instructing (people fainting, me forgetting my routine, forgetting the music, etc.)
Seriously, exercise and nutrition is taking over my life!
Even at the circus last night, all I could think about was how FIT those people must be to be able to do these amazing stunts and how when the elephants put their front foot up on the little stool thing that it looked like they were doing lunges. When I told Matt that he said, "Does everything have to be about exercise?"
hmmm.....how am I supposed to turn that off? If I'm not working out, I'm cooking. If I'm not doing either of those, you can bet I'm thinking about them...writing my next routine, planning my next meal.
I actually have begun to really try to "rein it in" when I talk because I know people get sick of hearing it all the time. ESPECIALLY people who aren't into "IT".
Ugh! I know how important balance is in life. I know that anything (even good things) in excess can become negative. Where do I draw the line?

My cup runneth over!

You people are just the BEST! Don't ever let me hear anyone say that on-line friends aren't "real" friends. I can't begin to tell you the amount of support I felt yesterday and the confidence boost you all gave me with all your sweet comments, FB posts and text messages! Starting Sunday night all the way through 9:30 pm last night, I was receiving messages from you all wishing me luck with my classes, building up my faith and then asking how it all went!
Since Matt isn't into computers and he has nothing to do with e-mail/FB/blogging/texting and such, I thought I'd show him some of your messages. He was very impressed, to say the least. Not only did you guys think about me and pray for me, but you genuinely care and that came through very clearly in your messages! THANK YOU SO MUCH!
So...many of you are wondering how it went. I'll just give you the minute-by-minute scoop. It may be long...so feel free to skip ahead if you want!
3:52-OMG! I meant to leave at 3:45! Now I'm running 7 minutes behind already! Off I go.
4:01-It's too quiet in the car. I need some jammin music to get me pumped up for this--however--I refuse to listen to anything that doesn't glorify God...so I grab Brooklyn's Hillsong United "Tell the World" CD. I sing along and pray in the Spirit whenever the music breaks.
4:14-Arrive at the gym. Stop at the bathroom first to pee for the millionth time and then off to the aerobics room. Wow! There are already like 10 people in there and they are all talking about "I wonder who the new instructor is going to be." I announce--"It's ME!"
4:22-A man in a uniform shirt comes into the class room and hollers out "Is there a Jennifer Jones in here?" I raise my hand and he looks at me with this really confused look on his face (because I'm wearing my mic at this point) and he says "Ummmm....you're not a member here...!!??" I explain to him that I am a member of the sister gym and that I am the new instructor. He apologizes for the confusion and I proceed to get everything ready for class.
4:28-I decide its close enough to starting time to go ahead and push play on the cd player and make sure my mic is working. It's NOT! AUGH! Panic!
4:30-(when class is supposed to be starting) I holler out to the FULL classroom now--"Does anyone know how to work this stereo system" Thankfully a friendly guy comes over and together we figure out the problem. Whew!
4:33-Class begins. I tell them my name and explain that although this used to be a Step Aerobics class, we will now be focusing mainly on weights instead. I watch a good 3/4th of their faces drop. One lady says, "WHAT? You mean this isn't going to be a step class?" I say "No. We will use the step, but we will mostly be doing weights for this first class because the next class (Boot Camp) will be entirely high intensity cardio. She says, "But this class is called STEP." At this point I really didn't know what to say. I told them "I'm sorry. I've never taught a step class and I was told that we could switch this class to weights since we do cardio afterwards. I am more than happy to learn some step moves though and add them in next time." Finally we begin exercising.
5:15-The first class is done. It went really well, I think, except for their dissapointment about the class change. I took a 3x5 index card with my notes on it and I managed to work out every body part adequately in 45 minutes. yay! I tell them to go ahead and put away ALL their stuff (step, weights, etc.) because we won't need anything for boot camp.
I watch every. single. person. walk out of the room and I freak out for a second thinking that NO ONE is going to stay for boot camp! AUGH!
5:16-It dawns on me--oh yah! The water fountain is outside of the room....they just went to get drinks! Whew! About half of them come back for boot camp. We get started with a light jog.
5:17-I turn to face the group and ask if any of them is familiar with Beachbody, P90X or has ever heard of Insanity. They all look at me like they have no idea what I'm talking about (except for one man). I explain that I work for Beachbody and am currently in the middle of a fitness program called Insanity, and that our Boot Camp is going to be a lot like that. (they have no idea what this means....)
5:18-We begin sequence #1: Jog, Jacks, heisman, 123 heisman, football run, high knees, kick butts, jump tucks and then DRILLS (plank, 8 push ups, 8 running man, jump back up).
5:40-OH MY GOSH! I totally underestimated how hard it was going to be doing this kind of intense workout AND having to talk through it! I am doing everything in my power to control my breathing and get legible words out. I look at the clock and tell them to Push Hard--this is our LAST DRILL!
5:41-We finish up and begin our cool down/stretch.
5:45-Class is dismissed.
5:54-I'm finally back in my car, safe and sound, ready to head home. I glance over at the clock and OH MY GOSH!! WHAT????? 5:54??? Class isn't supposed to be over until SIX!?? I realize...I let them go 15 minutes too early! OOOOOPS!!

I was kind of bummed out that NO ONE I knew was there...which means I have no one to ask what they thought about it. But overall, I am VERY pleased. I kept cool and calm the entire time, I don't think I made any big mistakes. I think the worst thing I might have done is got off beat a time or two. I kept a smile on my face, and made every effort to crack jokes when it was appropriate and to encourage them to "come on!" and "a little lower" (squats) and "get it up" (high knees) and "push hard! We're almost done!" (toward the end of a move).
I'm already thinking about the fact that I have to do this all over again in just 2 days! Augh!
Right now...this just seems like SUCH a headache...but I think it will get better after a few more classes.

Okay...I gotta get up from here and get ready for the gym. (man it feels good to just be going to work out and not having to teach! :o)

Peace! Be Still! (Mark 4:39)

I know Jesus was talking to the wind and the waves when he uttered this command....but today I need it to apply to the butterfly's in my stomach.
October 5th is finally here. I've known for about 2 months now that today would be the day that I would start "officially" teaching classes at the gym.
In August I told myself "oh don't worry about it until September. You have plenty of time to prepare."
In September I told myself "it's okay....don't fret. You have an entire month to get ready for this."
On October 1st I said "you still have a full 5 days...you'll be fine."
On October 3rd I said "just enjoy the weekend, you can spend all day Monday getting prepared."
On October 4th at 9 pm I said "OH CRAP! I HAVE LESS THAN 24 HOURS TO PREPARE!"
And now...here we are on the morning of October 5th and I feel like I'm shaking from head to toe. This can't be happening. I can't be allowing myself to get this nervous.
I've bought my microphone, I've ordered my music, I've written my routines down and I've prayed myself up. The only thing left to do is practice my routines once today and then TRUST GOD to do this. It was by HIS leading that I even pursued this....so why I am freaking out about it?

Time is running out!!!

News Flash: Today is September 30th. That means that if you start today, you can be finished with any of Beachbody's 90 day programs by the end of 2009! Or, if you've been thinking about ordering Insanity (a 60 day program) , NOW is the time to do it so that you can be finished by the end of the year. 2010 is right around the corner! You might as well start the NEW YEAR out with a NEW BODY!
Also, keep in mind that the products that Beachbody sells make EXCELLENT Christmas gifts. Pricey maybe...but just think...you'll be giving someone the gift of HEALTH and a longer life! That is PRICELESS. I am very seriously considering ordering my mom Slim in 6 for Christmas and my brother Power 90. Neither of them exercises currently but both of them want to get started. These are more like "beginner" programs than some of the more extreme ones like P90X and Insanity (although they will DEFINITELY still get the job done!)

Anyway, I am realizing VERY QUICKLY that the cooler temperatures are on their way and sadly, my jeans aren't fitting quite the way I want them to. It's time to turn up the heat a little. My "problem" is eating right. I LOVE to exercise (most days) ...so that's not an issue for me...but food (DESSERT!) is just the thorn in my flesh. I crave something sweet after EVERY meal (including breakfast and snacks!) If I actually indulge myself...I end up eating sweets 5-6 times a day! NOT GOOD.
Anyway, join me in a quest to look HOT in our jeans this winter. There is no good reason (and no dessert yummy enough) to be miserable the whole fall/winter season with pants that are uncomfortable and tight! Just think about how that feels for a second and that should be all the motivation you need!
Who's in?

Facebook Sucks

Sucks my time away, that is!
Anyway...I just wanted to give a little explanation to a Facebook rule I have, for any of you who might wonder about this.

I don't accept friend request from guys.
It's just a simple way I show respect to my husband. He's not a computer kind of guy and it's not fair to him that I might be chit-chatting with other dudes by way of Facebook without his knowing. Even harmless chatting is not in the best interest of my marriage

Of course there are exceptions to every rule.
The exception for this rule is: Men who are 1/2 of a married couple that we are both good friends with or people in my family. That's all. So...if you send me a friend request and I don't accept...please understand that I have nothing against you...but I just want to always honor my marriage first.
If you're a guy and you want to say something to me, you can always feel free to post on my blog, where my husband and I both love reading all the comments.

Thanks for being cool about this! Y'all are such an awesome group of people!

wondering if this stuff really works?

So, if you're one of those....who wonders if this whole P90X thing works....well....decide for yourself:

My hubby Matt before P90X:

My hubby Matt after P90X:This is ALL from P90X. He hasn't set a foot in the gym in years. AND---he is still a work in progress! Just check back in a few months when we're done doing a mish-mash of P90X and Insanity!

Crick

That is a funny sounding word if you say it over and over, like I have recently to describe why I can't turn my head more than a few degrees to either side. And I actually wondered if it is even a "real" word. Here is what I found:
crick: \ˈkrik\: a painful spasmodic condition of muscles (as of the neck or back)

On Friday morning I woke up feeling fine, had my prayer and Bible study time and then decided to take a short little 15 minute nap on the couch before I had to make breakfast. Sometime during that 15 minutes, I majorly messed up my back and neck. I woke up and it was like next to impossible to turn my head from side to side or look up or down. OUCH!

I mean...I've had plenty of "cricks in my neck" before and they usually wear off with time.
But I am going on the 4th day here of this. On Saturday morning, after having tried Tylenol, Ibuprofen and Aleve with no success, I decided what I needed was a good, hard core work out to knock the stiffness out of me. So I went to kickboxing, zumba and abs at the gym (a full 2 hours) and while I didn't notice that the "crick" held me back any from my workouts....I did recognize that the pain hadn't lessened ANY when I was done.

So, I'm wondering if any of you have any suggestions? It seems like the only time this isn't bothering me at all is when I lay down on my back with my head in a perfectly straight position. Very irritating.....

Glamourous

So...ya'll remember back to last August when I got some "special" pics done? Well....I finally figured out how to crop them to where they are modest. Can you believe all that eye makeup the MAC girl put on me? It looks pretty in the pics...but I could NEVER wear that much glop on my face on a normal day.

The Healthy Choice

Lunch today:
hot dog and chips? (mmm...that sounds DELICIOUS!)
sauteed zuchhini and onions (hmmm...that sounds..........healthy.)

In the end, turkey dog sliced up into sauteed zucchini and onions.
Took an extra 2 minutes to prepare, but soooo good and for once (in the past couple of weeks) I can say I made THE HEALTHY CHOICE!

How about you? How's the eating going? You know it's time to make your game plan because fall is here and that means warm apple pie and all kinds of pumpkiny goodness. Hot cocoa with loads of marshmallows and creamy, alfredo-y soups.

Fall = Comfort food. Comfort food = pounds. Pounds = you too chunky to fit into your favorite jeans. You too chunky = discouraged, unhealthy person. And we know NO ONE wants that!

Just a FYI: There are LESS than a hundred days till Christmas! This is the PERFECT time to start a program like P90X or Insanity! Click HERE to order and get your life in ORDER!

Spacin' Out

Hey guys! It seems like I've been sort of "spacin' out" on y'all lately. I just can't seem to find the time to blog, read blogs and keep up with the rest of my life too. (I know you can all relate-as we all go through this at times).
Anyway, I just wanted to leave a quick note to let you know a few things:

*I think about you guys all the time--especially my close peeps and my Beachbody team! Keep pushing play y'all!!

*I do have things to blog about and pictures to post when I EVER get "spare" time. Ha ha...spare time. What is that?

*I am still working out daily. Going into my 3rd week of Insanity. Not losing any weight yet but that is because I'm on some kind of eating-like-a-hippo binge. Seriously, it's serious. I'm not sure what this funk is that I am in...but I am certainly in an I-don't-give-a-rip mode right now while I'm eating. Of course, when I get ready to put my jeans on and I can BARELY slide them over my thighs---I beat myself up mentally until the next binge begins! Augh! It's a vicious cycle!

*THANK YOU to all of you who left me such encouraging comments on my last post. I am not going to let this issue fall by the wayside. I am going to spend a little time this weekend thinking through and writing down some practical ways I can begin to turn the tables. You are such great friends--so thoughtful and encouraging!

*Beginning in October, I will be "officially" instructing at my gym. Every Monday and Thursday from 4:30-5:30 I will teach an interval/pump class and then from 5:30 till 6, I will teach Boot Camp. I can't wait to bring on the INSANITY to these people! They aren't gonna know WHAT hit them! (that is....if I can figure out how to work out AND talk...that is so much harder than it looks!)

*Just warning you now, as my calendar fills up for the remaining months of this year, it looks as though things aren't going to slow down much. On top of my instructing at the gym, I am also homeroom mom for Grant's class (and possibly Brooklyn's) at school. Matt and I have also begun volunteering in our church in 2 new areas (in addition to my teaching in the Children's Ministry).
I don't know how much time I am going to have to devote to blogging...but as it goes...that is not top priority right now. If you don't hear from me on your blog or my blog, you can ALWAYS feel free to drop me a line via e-mail @ jennimatt10@hotmail.com

P90XOXOXO!!
Jen

It's a thin line

As I washed dishes the other day, my 8 year old daughter came into the kitchen, wrapped her little arms around my waist, buried her head in my chest and began to sob. When I pulled her head back and gazed into her sad eyes, I asked, "honey, what's wrong?"
She looked hopelessly at me and said "mom, I've tried on 7 different shirts. Nothing looks good on me. I'm too fat."
[INSERT BREAKING HEART RIGHT HERE]
Ahhh....the words I never wanted to hear her say. The issue I never wanted her to have to deal with. The feelings I never wanted her to have.
Sadly, she inherited my figure instead of her daddy's. Not that I have an awful figure, but it's just not that lean, lanky look that her daddy's side of the family has. On my side of the family, we tend to be "solid". No matter how much weight I lose, I'll never have that teensy tiny petite look (that we girls LOVE) because I just have bigger bones and thicker skin, it seems. I know it sounds like I'm whining but I honestly think that people with genes like mine have to work twice as hard to have defined muscles and a lean look. It just doesn't come natural at ALL. Matt's side of the family on the other hand, its like their bodies were just born with great muscle fiber and a more "thin" skin that lets all the right curves and bumps show. (Grant got that body).
Anyway, I read an article the other day in a magazine about the fine line between modesty and shamefulness.
It's one thing to want to "cover up" because we want to respect God and our husbands with how we dress. But it's another thing entirely when we wear big moo-moo shirts because we are ashamed of our bodies.
As a mother, I definitely want to instill a sense of modesty in my daughter. It's important so that as she grows into a teen, I don't have to fight her about short skirts and low-cut shirts and belly-button rings. If I teach her now what the Bible says about modesty and how just the slightest bit of "too-much-skin" can affect boys, then she will desire it (modesty) for herself.
On the other hand, I definitely don't want her to feel shameful or embarrased about her body.
So how do you develop confidence and self-esteem without vanity and pride? How do you teach modesty but avoid shame?
Ugh! Parenting is so much more complicated than it looks!

On top of all of this, the sad thing is that she was right. None of her clothes do look very good. They make these clothes for these little girls to fit snug against the skin. That is not flattering unless you are a twig (and especially un-flattering if you are already starting to turn into a young lady up top).

So what do I do? Do I put her on a "diet"? Do I make her start exercising? Do I go out and buy her new clothes?
We already eat very healthy in our house and I have eliminated having junk food in the house at all. Obviously Matt and I exercise daily. The kids don't "exercise" but they run around outside and play, ride their bikes and do gymnastics so they're getting some activity.

Do I tell her "honey, you're not fat. You look beautiful." Or do I say (more honestly) "yes, you need to start watching what you eat and getting more exercise."
Even right now as I type this, I am watching her try on every shirt in her closet and come out with a hugh sigh every time because she hates the way she looks. This just shouldn't be something she has to deal with at age EIGHT!

I feel like I'm standing on a fence, walking a thin line and if I fall off to either side I'm going to totally mess her up. Anyone have any advise?

Most Embarrasing Picture EVER

I can't believe I'm doing this....but....in the hopes that it inspires someone out there...I am posting this MOST EMBARRASING picture. My mom found this picture of me right before I made the decision to get in shape. It is from my 26th birthday party (July 2004). I was up around 190 pounds then and MIS-ER-UH-BULL!!! My marriage was falling apart, my self-confidence was ZERO and I had to take diet pills to even make myself get out of bed in the mornings. It was really bad. I would go to a store to try to find clothes and just cry because nothing fit or looked good except "old people" clothes. I pretty much hated myself.

This is really my REAL "Before" picture because this was taken right before I COMPLETELY changed.

Not only did I start working out, I started tanning, getting my hair and nails done and as soon as I lost some weight, I bought a whole new wardrobe. Subsequently, my self-confidence started building, my marriage became passionate again and my energy was soaring!

Most of you know "the rest of the story" as far as how I got from THIS to where I am now...but I'm happy to share it with anyone who doesn't know. You can also go to my Beachbody coach site to read my testimony.

So...there you have it--a picture of me at the worst I'll ever look/feel/be in my entire life. I am so glad I made the decision to get fit and change my life forever!

one for fun

I threw on Matt's AE hat and snapped a pic. Man--my hair is like a wild mane!

"before" side pic for Insanity

Here is the side view. My tummy is not quite as toned as it was a few months ago when I finished my Round 2 of P90X. Thankfully Insanity is already in progress!!

"Before" pic for Insanity-Back

Here is the before pic-Back view. Here you can see the 4 butts I was talking about in my post. Lovely...

"Before" pic for Insanity

So..here is the "front view" before picture for Insanity.

Yes! This IS Insanity!

Can you see the sweat POURING into my eyes?

Insanity Pictures

So...I have like 3 minutes to do this post....so there won't be a lot of chit-chat. I took these pics of me during the 1st Insanity work out I ever did. It was nuts. I was pouring sweat. WHY I thought ya'll needed to see...I don't know...but if any of you are wondering if it's true what they say about "working out in a pool of your own sweat"--well....it is.

As for my "before" pics....I am going to post them but I am not going to post Matt's because I'm not sure if he'd want me to or not. (He's so much more modest than I am.) Anyway, I'll tell you the specific areas I am hoping to transform during this Insanity Journey. I'm hoping that by being so open and honest with you all---that this will hold me accountable!

First of all...there is that lower-tummy area--the part that stretches SO badly when you're pregnant--well, I'm sick of the blubber! I want to be able to wear a sports bra and shorts to work out and not have that flopping up and down. (sadly may need tummy tuck to really take care of it though---ie..may have to 'deal' with it.)

Secondly, the thigh issue. Ick. I don't want the "friction" when I walk-ESPECIALLY when I'm in my swimsuit.

Lastly there is the extra set of "butts" that I've got goin' on there. Uhh..no thanks! 2'll do.

So...there you have it. I'm not horribly dissatisfied with my body just the way it is right now...but if I'm going to go through this 60 days of PURE INSANITY, then I want to have some clearly defined goals for myself.
In terms of the scale-I am starting out at 134 and hoping to end up somewhere between 120-125.

Ps. Thanks to Rene for the cute suit! She gave it to me for my birthday!

***Okay-I've been trying to post this for DAYS and it won't let me upload pictures! I will try to post the pictures via a different host. Wish me luck!

Not exactly what I was hoping for!

Hmmm....this is weird.
I am eating only mostly the foods that the Insanity Nutrition Guide says to. I am doing my workouts faithfully (plus adding in a few P90X workouts too)...and yet when I got on the scale yesterday, it said I had GAINED 2 pounds.
That is SO. NOT. COOL.
I'm banking on the theory from my "debits/credits" post I did a while back--and that the deposits I am making right now just haven't caught up with me yet. Yes...that must be it.
Surely I am not sweating gallons every night during these Insanity workouts only to be GAINING weight!!??!!!
The true "proof" will be when I weigh on Friday. I will have been doing the program for a full week and a half then and SURELY by that point, I will have had some success with the scale.
By the way, just FYI, my starting weight for this Insanity Journey was 134. Yah...I had gotten down to 129, so that means I gained 5 pounds over the summer, since I finished my last round of P90X. Bummer.
Anyway, my goal is to finally get down to the elusive 125. I haven't seen that number on my scale since high school, so it's about time.
I wish I could NOT be so hung up on the number that the scale says...but forgettaboutit. I care. It's like the only solid proof that what I'm doing is paying off. Yes...my jeans get looser and that could be an indicator---but not necessarily. Sometimes my jeans feel looser/tighter depending on the time of the month and whether I'm feeling thin or heavy that day.

I've learned a couple of things about doing Insanity I thought I would pass along to those of you who are about to start:
1. Don't wear any kind of jewlery--unless you enjoy having it slam against your skin repeatedly. I am an earring girl and I never, ever, ever take my earrings out (small hoops) but I had to break my rule and remove them because with constant forceful jumping, even those little hoops hurt.
2. Don't drink water. Yah, sounds weird...but I'm learning that it's much better to just wet the inside of your mouth and throat with DROP of water than to take a swig. Even though you're SO THIRSTY, if you take a big swallow, you WILL pay for it during the rest of the workout. The more liquid sloshing around in my stomach, the more likely I am going to be to barf.
3. Don't eat for 2 1/2 hours prior. Previously I had said to be sure and give yourself 1 1/2 hours between your meal and your workout--but--that isn't working for me. When I work out this intensly (to the point of almost ralphing) I burp a lot. A tasteless burp is much better than one that tastes like lunch.
4. Clear the room. During these Insanity workouts, you are doing some SERIOUS jumping, moving forward and back, side to side and you really don't have ANY time to check for objects in the floor underneath you. If you have dogs, kids or toys that are prone to getting under your feet---you really need to fix that for the time that you are working out. We have a 8 pound yorkie and she loves to come get under our feet while we're working out---and in P90X---we just step over her---but with these Insanity workouts that won't work. There is NO time between moves and if she's under there--there is a good chance we are going to stomp her guts out. Sounds awful-but I 'm just sayin'...
5. Use the bathroom first! Even if you don't think you need to---TRY! I know I sound like your dad before a roadtrip-but believe me when I say-you don't want to have anything sitting in your bladder when you start doing these jumps! (same goes for #2 too!)

Okay, that's it for now. I will keep passing along tips as I go.
One thing I can say FOR SURE....is that I LOVE the length of these workouts! Yesterday's (Pure Cardio) was 32 minutes long. We warmed up for about 6-8 minutes, worked out at MAXIMUM intensity for about 18 minutes, and then had a nice stretch/cool down for another 6 or so minutes. I know it sounds "too short for a good workout" but I promise you--it's not.

Today is classes at the gym, mowing all afternoon and then Insanity tonight--it's gonna be an EXHAUSTING day! Wish me luck (and loads of energy!)

Diggin It!

So...last time we talked, I was telling y'all about the Insanity Fit Test (that was on Wednesday). Thurday I did the Plyo workout after my class at the gym! Whew!! That was EXHAUSTING! I took some pictures of myself while I was POURING sweat...I know that's just what y'all are dyin' to see...so I'll try to download them and post asap! (hee hee)
Yesterday I did the Cardio Resistance workout while Matt watched from the recliner saying "that doesn't look too hard". HA!!! He had worked the previous 24 hours and was zombie-tired...so he couldn't do it with me...but I seriously considered flipping him off (haha) while he was sitting there commenting on how it didn't look THAT hard. (so easy to say when you're just a spectator!) I knew he was TOTALLY just giving me a hard time--and it was all in good fun--but I'm really not in that much of a jovial mood when my heart is beating at 189 beats per minute and I can't even see for all the sweat running into my eyes. Something about that takes the funny out of things just a bit. :-)
Today was Cardio Recovery which was still very hard...but way less jumpy. I decided do P90X Chest, Shoulders & Triceps today also so I can keep my muscle tone where I want it (not sure how much Insanity is going to do for building/toning arm, back & shoulder muscles???) Anyway, Matt joined me for today's workouts and he's really pumped about doing the Insanity program. Several of you guys have asked what he thinks about it---and so far---he is just as excited about it as I am. It's a very nice (and due) change from Tony Horton. The energy level (and music) is just so exciting and energizing! So far, there is nothing I DON'T like about it. And Kandy, you asked about the lengths of the work outs....well...that is the BEST part! The shorter routines are just over 30 minutes...and the longer ones are about 45. It's SO NICE to be done in UNDER an hour...and...no ab ripper to do afterwards either!
Man...I feel like I'm doggin' on P90X. I am SO NOT. I think it's just that I've been doing P90X now for over a year and it was time to mix things up a bit. Even still, I am totally planning on throwing in some of the strengthening/weights dvd's with the Insanity program.
Also, I don't know that I would have the endurance or stamina to do Insanity if I hadn't already completed P90X.
The time seems to pass so much faster with this program. (hooray! I hate watching the clock!)
The real proof will be when I weigh in next week!
Matt and I took our Insanity "Before" pictures last night. We were a tad bit disgusted with them...but I guess that's good since we're well on our way to losing the blubber!
Eating has been good. Not perfect, but very healthy and comfortable. Even though we've been eating out a little bit, we are being careful and concientious which is a big improvement for me. I usually go hog-wild when we go to a restaurant. It's like I think I'm on vacation because I'm not slaving over the stove in my kitchen! ha ha
I am so glad I didn't wait until we were done with this Round 3 of P90X to order Insanity. I think I might have burned out...but not now! We are on FI-YAH!!!
I also have to give a SHOUT OUT to my newest team member Coach Michelle!! YAY! Congratuations on becoming a Beachbody Coach! You are SUCH an inspiration!

Like Nothin' You've Eva Seen!

I hate to start a post with the letters OMG---but O.M.G!!!!!!!
Matt and I just did the Insanity Fit Test.
Let me just put this in terms you might understand:
The warm up was like my high-intensity boot camp classes at the gym--the WARM UP!
Then we began the actual "work out". It was (I think) 8 different moves--all for 1 minute each. Peice of cake, right? Uh...if you like eating brick-cake. Hard doesn't even begin to describe it. It's not that the moves are hard or complicated....it's that you're trying to do it as fast as you can--as many as you can get in durng that 60 seconds. I would always start out thinking "this isn't so bad" and then after about 30 seconds in...I'd be shaking and coughing and huffing with each breath! Good Lordy I am not nearly as fit as I thought!
I'm not sure how this information I've just discovered makes me feel about beginning the actual program. I know it's gonna whip me into shape--and that is AWESOME. I also know it's gonna be an ENORMOUS challenge for me to conquer the mental aspect of this.
I love my cardio---but I like it at the gym---surrounded by all my girlfriends.
Doing this at home--dodging dogs, toys and kids---on my living room carpet---ugh---not so fun! Of course, you all know I'm 'onetoughgirl' who is CERTAINLY not going to wimp out---NOR---am I going to let my money go to waste. If I shelled out the $$ to buy this program, you can bet I'm gonna do it and make every cent count.
I guess I just never realized, after 5 1/2 years of consistantly working out, that there are still moves out there that I haven't seen---and workouts that I can't do! I really thought "I can do anything" but after watching the "Dig Deeper" video and doing the fit test, I'm beginning to question my actual fit-level. The good thing is: There is always room for improvement!
I think I'm just rambling...
One thing I learned for SURE---DO NOT EAT for at LEAST 2 or more hours before doing any of these work outs. We ate about 1 1/2 hr. before and we nearly puked. Yuk! I still feel like my dinner is sitting in my throat. Gross!
Also, on the positive side---I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Nutrition Guide in this program. It is a million times easier to me than the P90X Nutrition Guide (but of course that is just my opinion). I am also thinking back to when I first started P90X and I didn't know how to cook/eat ANY of those foods. Now I eat very healthy anyway...so maybe that's why this new eating plan seems so easy. Either way, I am MORE THAN HAPPY to share the recipes with you all!
For any of you who are considering ordering Insanity...of course, I have a lot more to learn...but from what I've seen so far---I DEFINITELY recommend it. (maybe even over P90X!!!???) I can't believe I'm saying that because I NEVER thought I could love ANYTHING more than P90X....but....I also NEVER thought I could love my 2nd child as much as I loved my 1st--and then he came along and of course, I do! Well, it's kind of the same situation. P90X is my 1st baby---but Insanity is my 2nd baby and I am in LOVE already!
oh boy..have I gone off the deep end or what? ha ha ha
Give me a little bit of a break...I got my monthly visitor today, I have a huge zit on my chin, I'm moody and to top it all off, I peed my pants during the jump-knee-tucks in the fit test. Nice, huh?
I'm sure you all really wanted to know that about me. I am way too honest. Why am I still talking?
Okay...I really need a shower...really. Later y'all!