CIZE: The end of exerCIZE

I wanted to give my honest opinion on the sneak peak program I have access to on Beachbody on Demand (basically a live stream of many workout programs!)--- CIZE. 

Before I dig into the workout details, a little history on the program, CIZE. It's created by Shaun T, the creator of the famous workout Insanity. It's a dance based program for all fitness levels from beginners to advance. It hasn't released YET, but it will be available mid July after our annual Beachbody Summit in Nashville! 

So, here's my opinion::: 

I was PUMPED to see the sneak peak in my Beachbody on demand catalog yesterday! I immediately switched my workout plan for the day to fit this in. The workout was around 42 mins, which actually flew by. Shaun T starts the workout slowly and teaches you moves that you continually add on throughout the workout. 

I felt "lost" a few times but that is to be expected. I feel like when I do it a few times, I'll have everything down pat. I did sweat, although not as much as some of the other workouts I'm used to doing! But, this was just 1 workout of the program. 

The verdict? LOVE.  I can't wait to get my hands on a copy in July!  Let me know if you want to get on the wait list for the program or if you want deets. Save the date for a CIZE online fitness group in August! We are going to end exerCIZE and get our groove on while having fun! 

// high five! it's friday //

Hip! Hip! Hooray!

So much has happened this week and there's so much I'm thankful for!  Josh and I are having a weekend get-a-way to a place we've both never been before, that's practically right in our backyard..... Beaufort, SC.

Anyone have any tips on Beaufort?  What to see?  Places to eat?  Things to do?  It will be a short trip, but one much needed and well deserved.

5 FAVS for this beautiful Friday:

1. Hudson and Stella were both groomed this week.  This was LONG overdue and they both look adorable in their fresh summer cuts.

2.  Josh took me out to Santa Fe... our favorite local Mexican restaurant.  I've been wanting Mexican for a while, so it was delicious and lived up to my expectation.

3.  I started yet another fitness CHALLENGE group on Monday!  I learned that a challenger from my last group lost 7 lbs and 16.5 inches in just 30 days!  THAT, my friends, is why I am a beachbody coach.  The workouts WORK and they cannot lie... ;) HA

4.  I had a follow up appointment with my Orthodontist since I've had my braces off.  Everything looked great, so I got a good praise report.  I go back in 6 months just for another check-up.  Hallelujah.

5.  Josh and I are OFF for a weekend get-a-way.  I don't even know how I'm at work today and focused, actually getting a few things done.  Take THAT haters. 


SO, what are your favorites from the week/weekend?  What are you thankful for?

XO,

5 CLEAN EATING tips for beginners!

Today is Tuesday and it's not just ANY Tuesday. Today starts the first of many great things to come...  

Today is TIP TUESDAY! 

I'm here to talk about 5 tips to help a beginner start implementing and incorporating CLEAN FOODS into their diet! 

So, I started a 75/25 clean eating lifestyle just about two years ago. Although I strive to do my best day in and day out, I still LOVE what I call 'dirty' foods. That sounds so wrong, doesn't it!? Oh well. 

So, these are a few things that worked for me and that were EASY things I could do without too much work. Here they are! 

#1- STOP eating plain white bread. Choose 100% whole wheat OR whole grain. 

#2- REPLACE regular pasta with, again, whole wheat or whole grain pasta. 

#3- KNIX the soda. It's bad for you. You'll thank me later. Try flavored water with real fruit or try La Croix water if you need the carbonation 

#4- when grocery shopping, shop the perimiter of the store and not so much in the food aisles. This is the veggies, fruits, meats, and dairy. 

#5- when in doubt, if a food has over 10 ingredients or it has something you can't pronounce, just drop it. Don't waste your time, money, or health on it. 

Maybe you've already heard or read these before, maybe it's new to you. I hope that at least ONE thing I've mentioned is helpful. And for goodness sake, if you're just starting off and you drink 12 cans of coke a day, then please ease into this lifestyle. No one says you have to cut cold turkey (unless YOU want to, of course). This is a lifestyle change, not a fad. So, do what you can in your time. 

*please note that I'm not a nutritionist, expert, or a dietician. I am just a human who makes mistakes (ouch, that was hard to admit) 

The 21 Day Fix Extreme

Here's Folks, tomorrow is the day! 

My 21DF Extreme arrived Friday and I am starting tomorrow, Monday February 9th and for the next 3 weeks I'll be sticking to the FIX eating plan and workouts. 

I'm going to keep things real with you. I plan on following the program to a T, but if I don't, I will be open and honest about my journey. 

I completed the original 21 Day Fix and absolutely loved my results. Even after the first week, I felt lighter, more energized and saw the lbs fall off. 

I'm expecting the Extreme program to give me even better results (and I hope to lose my muffin top and flatten my tummy for GOOD). It's my trouble area (poo!) 

Here's me holding the new FIX EXTREME Workouts. There are 7 workouts (Plyo, upper, lower, cardio, Dirty 30, Pilates and yoga).  All workouts are 30 minutes and il be eating about every 2.5-3 hours. 

Stay tuned for more updates! 

Tomorrow night I'm fixing a healthified pork roast, so I'll let you know how that turns out! 

XO,

Food is my weakness

Have you ever been KILLING it at the gym or doing your own workout program and you wonder WHY you haven't been getting SUPER AWESOME results like you feel you should?  Like, every workout is a full out sweat sesh where you feel like you can take on the world.

welllllll... I'm here to tell you that if you haven't changed your nutrition, then that's probably your problem.

At least, for me, it is.  The first step to fixing a problem you have is admitting to the problem.  I eat junk foods.

You know, I actually do pretty well for the most part.  I eat my fruits and veggies (most of my veggies everyday) but those damn carbs and sweets are what gets me EVERY.TIME.  I don't need sodas.  I can do without fried foods.  I love whole wheat and whole grain anything, so that's not my problem.  It's just I like the carbs too much and instead of getting my suggested 2 servings a day, I can easily eat 5-6 servings.

I'm human, so before you say OH MA GAH, I can't believe you do that.  It's so easy.  If you aren't sure how easy it is, take a food journal of everything you eat daily for a week and you will probably be in for a rude awakening.

So, HOW do we FIX this?  How do we get the AB definition we want, the tummy and arm fat to FINALLY be gone from our bodies?

We HAVE to change our nutrition.

SO, the thing that's helped ME is having an accountability partner.  This can be a friend or family member you've known all along that is RIGHT there with you and needs to change their habits just as bad as you.  OR, it could be through an accountability group, either in person OR online.  You know online is all of the rage now, because it helps connect people from all over the globe who WANT the SAME EXACT THINGS... so in return you get super awesome accountability and supports and then in return, you get the results you wanted.

So, go GRAB an accountability partner!  They help.  I know it, because I've been there.  I NEED accountability partners again.  My family and friends aren't really supporting me to the point they are doing it with me, so I rely on my accountability partners via FaceBook!

I'm about to go back to the basics with my clean eating and nutrition.  Results are 80% nutrition, 20% exercise.  That's CRAZAY!

October Fitness Tips

October is MY FAVORITE month (well, one of my favorite months).

It's officially fall season, filled with pumpkins, cooler weather, football, pumpkin spice lattes, and tons of other goodies.

Also with October is Halloween.  Candy, Costumes, Craziness. 

I don't know about you, but when it comes to chocolate, I'm ALL OVER IT.

How can you resist (even if you aren't that BIG of a fan?)  It's all around you and you just HAVE to eat it!

I get stressed around the Holiday's because of my love of food, and wanting to continue to eat it, and worrying about gaining tons of unwanted lbs. 

What's a girl to do?

I'm so glad that I have my fitness accountability groups online!  They help keep me focused and sane when all I want to do is raid the pantry of all candy and watch re-runs of Halloweentown!

Because of my fitness groups and helping me SO MUCH, I am definitely having them throughout the Holidays.  JUST because we are coming up on Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas does NOT mean you should throw your health to the side! 

I believe you should do something good for yourself and start healthy habits NOW so that they will get you through the Holiday's without gaining 15 lbs!  If you start NOW and rev-up your metabolism and get in the habit of working out regularly, then you will be A-OK to have the Halloween candy, Pumpkin Pie, cheesecake, and cookies during the Holidays (all in moderation---OK, somewhat moderation!)

SO, I'm taking on 5 girls who want to join me on a 30 day journey to jump-start their clean eating and fitness program before we hit the Holidays full force!

My next group starts November 3rd!  Yes, it goes through Thanksgiving, but like I said we will get through it and be FINE!! Trust me!  You'll be glad you did it!

Comment BELOW or add me on FB and send me a message if you are interested in the online fitness accountability group!  I look forward to hearing from you!

Call with Beachbody CEO, Carl Daikeler

Oh EM GEE!

I'm on a call RIGHT now with the CEO of Beachbody, Carl Daikeler!

This company is amazing and has changed my life in so many ways.  You know, it's a normal Thursday night when you get to chat with the CEO of one of the top direct selling companies!

I might not be an elite top coach, YET, but they still treat all of us like royalty!

I could never soak up enough information about Beachbody and growing my business!

Have you heard of Beachbody?  Do you know how big of a deal this is?!


Talk to you soon.  I've gotta CEO to chat with!

XO,

My WHY for being a Team Beachbody Coach

Why would anyone want to be a Team Beachbody Coach aka FITNESS Coach/Mentor if they don't LOVE fitness?

Well, I can't speak for everyone, but I will definitely tell you WHY I chose to be a Team Beachbody Coach and WHY I'm going to be a successful one.

When we talk about our WHY's, whether it be for Beachbody, another job, a fitness routine, or school, we talk about what it means DEEP DOWN in our souls our reasoning for doing what we do.  On the BAD days, the HARD days, and the day's you want to just GIVE UP, your WHY will be the reason why you keep going!

So, take a look at this short video I put together.  It explains PERFECTLY what being a Beachbody Coach means to me, my GOALS, and my WHY for being a Team Beachbody Coach!

 



 

Let me know what you think!

XO,

The 3 reasons why YOU should have a Beachbody Coach!

Hey, loves!

There are so many people who are confused as to whether or not go through a Team Beachbody COACH to purchase Beachbody products OR to order on their OWN through beachbody.com's website!

I put together a short video on my 3 reasons why you SHOULD have a Beachbody Coach!

As an outsider, or someone who has never purchased or used Beachbody products, it IS confusing as to which site to go through, how to order the products, and WHY you should go with a certain one.

I hope this video helps YOU make your decision and let me know if I can help with anything!



XO,

Simple Things in Life

What makes you happy in life?

You could answer this with: family, friends, money, your spouse, children, etc.  OR you could answer with all of the above.

I tend to get so focused on the BIG PICTURE that I don't sit back and think about the small things, the SIMPLE things in life. 

For instance, last night, I decided to take a WALK around the neighborhood.  I wanted to get out and exercise.  I wasn't focused on running or jogging (something that is NOT my favorite), but rather on soaking up the outdoors. 

I LOVED it.  It felt so relaxing.  I listened to music and just took in the sights from around the neighborhood.  An older gentleman was out front taking in some fresh air and cars were coming in from their evening festivities.

Like I said, I tend to think about the BIG things in life--- how I will be able to provide for my future children, how I'll be able to purchase my dream home,  how I'll retire.

These things are all GREAT and I believe in dreaming BIG and mapping out a plan for your future.

But... we must take in the simple things NOW before they are gone! 

Today, I encourage you to....

 

XO,

The 3-Day Refresh

If you follow me through Facebook, you will know that for the past 3 days I've been doing what is called The 3-Day Refresh.  It is a new program that is designed to remove toxins from your body to either cleanse you, jump start you on a diet, or to get rid of unwanted vacation lbs that were gained.  For ME, it was indulging in too much "bad for you" food and I NEEDED and WANTED to do something about it.

So... I've never done a detox or a cleanse before.  I jumped in blind, not having the slightest clue what to expect.  It was 3 days.  I could do it.

Day 1---  Interesting.  I had to drink a fiber sweep mid-morning.  The flavor and texture was unlike anything I'd ever had before.  It was citrus-y to a certain degree and wasn't AWFUL.  I got it done.  The rest of the day went as planned.  I DID feel hungry towards the end of Day 1.

Day 2--- I KNEW what I was doing.  I was in a rhythm.  I started to get tired of the same ole' hummus and veggies so I knew I wanted to pick up some almond butter to substitute on the 3rd day.  I was almost halfway through and KNEW I could do it.

Day 3--- I was ready for it to be over.  I was hungry.  I didn't want anymore veggies (and I usually LOVE veggies)! BUT, I stuck by everything even while my sweet soon-to-be hubs grilled TWO cheeseburgers!  Thanks, HUN!

And nowwwww for the results.  Dun Dun Dun.....

I lost THREE lbs!!

I am NO longer BLOATED-- bye bye bloat!

I DO have more energy!

I truly feel accomplished for not only doing something I didn't think I could stick to, but for doing something AMAZING for my body.  My body sure needed a great detox!

You can't tell much by the picture, but I do feel like I've lost the puffiness around my tummy.  I actually weighed in this morning the lightest I've EVER been in my life!  

SO--- how do you think I did?! I want to know!

XO,

Weekend Recap

I meant to write a post yesterday, but I haven't had the greatest weekend.  It seems all to common for me to get sick on a Friday night, which means my weekend is spent laying around feeling yucky.  I felt fine during work Friday, but that night I came down with a terrible headache.  That turned into a sore throat Saturday and I'm still trying to get over this mess.  I'm thinking it's just sinuses and that it will clear up soon.  I don't like being sick because there is a million things that needs to be done around the house and unfortunately not much was done.  Humph..... there is always next weekend!

I do have something on my mind and it all stems from this picture:

I remember the picture on the left being taken.  We were at my sister and brother-in-laws church for a surprise anniversary party (I believe!).  It seems like yesterday.  It's hard to believe that I look like the person in the right photo from July.  Have you ever had to do a double-take to see if the person you are really seeing is you?

All I'm used to is the person who is in the left picture.  All of my life I lived, felt, and looked like I did in that picture.  I never knew what it felt like to be healthy.  I didn't know what it felt like to feel like I had all of the energy in the world.  All I knew was how it felt.  At that time, I felt okay.  I felt like I was good enough.  I saw people who weighed more than me and thought I was "skinny" compared to them.  I almost felt like I was giving in to that way of life because I thought that was who I would always be.  

I would always stare at the fit and skinny girls and wonder what I would look like if I had their body.  I wondered how hard it was for them to be that way, or if it came easy.  Some people don't have to workout or worry about what they are eating.  For me, I needed that.  I needed to workout and eat healthy, but yet I wasn't really doing either.  I knew that, but I figured "What is the point?"  I didn't know that I could ever look like I do now, like in the picture from July 2013.

I am so thankful for my Beachbody family.  I am thankful for my coach, Liz Horne.  I am so thankful that she was there when I was about to hit rock bottom as far as my attitude and happiness with my own body was concerned.  I learned how to workout.  I pretty much have my own personal trainer with my DVDs that I get to do AT HOME on my OWN TIME!  It has been a lifesaver for me.  I learned what good foods are and the importance of having them versus the bad stuff.  To be honest, I still have A LOT of days where I eat things that I know I shouldn't.  I do limit myself to those foods and I am getting better everyday.  Baby steps are good steps.  

I still have moments when I look in the mirror and think that I am SO fat and that I need to lose weight.  It's tough because I think about how I used to be and I had those feelings back then as well.  It's amazing how you perceive yourself.  It's true when they say you are your own worst critic.  But, I have to remind myself of how far I've come.  I am a work in progress and I'm okay with that.  My story is nowhere near finished.  I am thankful for y'all for going with me through my journey.  It would be possible without you, but it sure is better having a few people cheering me on!  

I hope you all had a great weekend and I hope you have a great week! XO,

Looking for: LADIES wanting to lose weight!

I am looking for YOU.... IF:

-You are a female
-You need to lose 5+ lbs
-You need more energy
-You need help with your nutrition
-You want to start working out
-You have a desire to better your lifestyle!

I am starting an ONLINE fitness group Monday, October 14th for WOMEN only who have either never workout in the past OR who have lost sight of their fitness and need to get back in the routine. I don't care whether you need to lose 50 lbs or 5, this group is for YOU!

You will:

-Complete a beachbody workout program of your choice
-Drink Shakeology once a day for 60 days
-Plug into a PRIVATE fb group daily for accountability and support
-You will get my support, leadership, and tips on nutrition and fitness
-You get the support from other challengers and coaches in the group!

Check out my video for ALL of the DEETS and message me ASAP if you want to claim a spot!

XO,

Les Mills Pump

I don't think I've been this excited about starting a new fitness program until now.  What has gotten into me?  I NEVER thought I would be excited about working out! 

I've done Insanity from start to finish, Slim in 6, Focus T25, and now I am starting Les Mills Pump.  I actually bought LMP for Josh when we signed him up as a Coach and he has only done a couple of workouts.  Granted, he is VERY busy and travels A LOT for work, I was tired of seeing it sit on the floor.  I never did weights when I did go to the gym.  I was mostly cardio (either the treadmill or elliptical) and then I would do a few ab exercises and maybe a few leg and arm ones, but I NEVER knew what I was doing!  I would get on a machine and pretend like I had everything figured out.  Honestly, I couldn't even adjust the seat to get in the correct position/form! HA 

SO, I've been thinking a lot about lifting weights and was really excited that we got Josh LMP.  It comes with the barbell and a 5 lb and 10 lb weight set to use.  It has everything you need, which I loved. 

What is Les Mills Pump?  It's a barbell-based workout set to fun up-tempo music.  I REALLY like it!  The workouts can be modified depending on your fitness level.  So, for people like me (beginners) you can either use the barbell with no weights, or it shows options for no barbell.  For the body builders and guys (and gals!) who can lift a lot of weight, you can add as much as you would like!

Les Mills Pump is effective because it uses the REP EFFECT.  This means you use light-to-moderate weights at a higher rate of repetition versus using heavy weights.  This pushes your muscles to fatigue by changing up the tempo, speed, and position of your movements.  This gets you lean and strong instead of big and bulky.  PERFECT for me!

Yesterday was Day 1 of the 90 day program.  This means I'll be doing this well into the new  year.  I am really excited about it and I'm excited to see my results at the end.  I've taken my weight and measurements and will post the results mid-way and when I finish the program!

It's not too late to join me on this journey!  I have a fitness group via Facebook starting Monday, October 14th and would LOVE to have you join.  Working out is so much fun and easier when you have others join you for the ride.

I KNOW I will get amazing results and I can't wait to see them!

Message me today or friend me on Facebook if you want more information! 

Before/After my 1st workout!

 

 

 

XO,

October Fitness Support Group

It's time again for another online fitness support group.  I have these EVERY month and the next one starts October 14th!

All you need is a Beachbody workout program, Shakeology for 60 days, and your game face!

If you are feeling in a funk and don't know what to do about your fitness.... this is for YOU!

Our judging shoes are OFF and we are ready to ROCK the next challenge!
If you plug into the group daily, workout as your program is laid out, and drink Shakeology once a day, you are almost guaranteed to lose weight! 

I thought I would NEVER be in a size 4/6 pant and Y'ALL I am in it!  Beachbody has proven to be amazing and has shown me that anything is possible if you plug into something and if you have the support system around you to help bring you back on your feet when you fall down.

We aren't perfect.  No one is.  But, we will be perfect together!
Message me or comment below if you want more information about this group!  I only have TWO spots left! 

The following video is my Star Diamond Coach, Kati Heifner's P90X Results!  How inspiring is she?





 

XO,

It's Fall, y'all!



Last Sunday was the official start of Fall.  I absolutely LOVE fall and everything that comes with it.  I love the crisp, cool air in the mornings.  I love the warm, breezy air in the afternoons.  I love the pumpkins.  I love football.  I love candy corn.  I love pumpkin spice lattes from Starbucks.  I love pumpkin bread.  I love pumpkin pie.  I love pumpkin cheesecake.  I love apple pie.  I love Halloween.  I love CANDY.

Okay, okay.  Do you get the gist of how much I love Fall?  Along with the things I love, I always seem to find myself CRAVING the bad things (most of what's mentioned above and MORE!). 

When you think of getting healthy and losing weight, most people either jump on the bandwagon after the Holidays (January 1st to be specific) and around April or May, since bikini season is right around the corner.

I started my fitness journey last April, much like many of you.  I want to continue through my journey even during Fall season and the Holidays.  I KNOW how hard and tempting it is to say NO to the cake and fudge (see, I LOVE all kinds of sweets!).  For me, I am not dedicated enough to completely say NO to all of it.  I do eat it and I try to limit my portions and not eat 1/2 cake in one sitting!  Don't judge me. 

But, the biggest thing I want to do is to keep myself on track.  I know I will have slip ups.  I know I am not perfect.  Having others surrounding me who are positive, inspirational, and who will hold me accountable to my actions will help me survive the upcoming Holiday Season.

If you need some help and accountability, let me know.  I have an online fitness group starting October 14th! This is a 60 day group for WOMEN only looking to lose 10+ lbs.  You must have a beachbody workout program, Shakeology, and your GAME FACE!  This group is for serious people, only!  Please reach out to me and let me know if you are interested.  I only have TWO (2!) spots left!



What is a Challenge Group?

Okay, so if you are a friend of mine on Facebook, you are well aware that I've been advertising for a Beachbody Challenge Group.  So, what exactly is it?  Is it free? What do you do?  I get SO many people who are interested in it and aren't so sure what it all entails.

I will be doing a video within the next week and will be posting that as well about challenge groups. 

So, what is a Challenge Group?

My Challenge Groups consist of a small group of girls who are all looking to achieve the same things.  We want to better our lifestyle by eating healthier and by exercising.  We interact on a daily b basis through a private FB group.  We post fun pictures, complete little assignments, and really we just talk about how our day went: how was the workout? have you completed your workout for the day? what were some things you are proud of?  Also, we talk about some of the negatives going on in our lives... about the piece of chocolate cake we ate and shouldn't and how you will prevent that from happening again.  Also, your coach (which would be me) would start discussions about certain topics, I will provide information about eating clean and healthy.

What will I do as your coach?

I will say this again and again and if you know ME you know this is TRUE! I am NOT a personal trainer (people would probably laugh at me if I ever said I was) and I am NOT a fitness or nutritional expert.  But, I do have resources and the knowledge to share with you information that I've received and that I've implemented in my lifestyle to help me change for the better.  I will also support, encourage, motivate, and help keep you accountable throughout your WHOLE journey to reach your goals (whether it takes 60 days or 2 years).  I am SO passionate about this and I am so inspired by this company, I will and I WANT to help YOU accomplish and achieve ALL of your goals!

 

What do you need to get to be a Challenger?

 

In order to be a challenger, you must do 2 things: Commit to a Beachbody workout program of your choice (P90x, Insanity, Focus T25, Slim in 6, Turbo Fire, etc.) and drink Shakeology once a day in place of a meal.

 

So, yes you must INVEST in this.  You must INVEST in yourself!  Challenge packs start at $140 and go up from there.  It just depends on which workout you choose.  Also, if you have a workout, the Shakeology starts at $130/30 day supply.  



How often do I hold Challenge Groups?

 

I  have a challenge group once or twice a month, depending on what I have going on and how many challengers I have that are ready to commit.  My next challenge group will be starting July 15th. 

 

How do you get into a Challenge Group?

 

Are you ready to commit to a Challenge?  Find me on Facebook and send me a message OR e-mail me at ashworth_laura@ymail.com and let me know why YOU are committed to a challenge.  Hurry, spaces are limited!  If it happens to be full, I will get you set up on my next one.  I look forward to working with you to achieve all of your goals!