What a difference 6 weeks can make

That girl in week 1, she had no idea how much she would GROW. She looks scared- ha! She was scared. She wanted to see changes so badly and she wanted to be able to be a good example to as many people as she could be. 

That girl in week 4, she thought she was doing awesome. She had seen some results, she had stuck to the plan, and was pretty proud of herself.

The girl in week 6, she has been humbled. She has experienced some freaking HARD workouts. She has faced her fear of group exercise classes. She has learned that she is more than a number on a scale. She can see the light at the end of the tunnel. 2 more weeks and she will be an Insanity Max:30 graduate!!! She CAN push through and Max Out! She KNOWS that things she never thought she wanted are possible. 

When I started doing Beachbody programs (T25 to be exact), I wanted to be able to tone up a little bit, and I did. Max:30 has taken my toning to an entirely new level. It has taken it to a level that I didn't even know I wanted. I didn't know that finding abs would push me to want to see what other muscles were there. I didn't know that I could actually enjoy (gasp!) push ups! I didn't know I was capable of some of these things.

I am not posting this to make anyone feel badly. I am posting and sharing myself like this because I want you to see the possibilities. If you want to be a runner, go outside and run (even if it's just 100 yards) you have to start somewhere. If you want to learn about nutrition, start researching!!! All the answers you need are available- all you have to do is find the one that you are looking for.

2 more weeks and then I will be starting a new program, I will be committing to the 21 day fix Extreme program for 3 weeks and most likely I will then start another round of Insanity Max. If you are wanting some direction...ask me!!! I want to help you start your journey. It won't be the exact same as mine but it will be an adventure that I would love to go on with you :)

Coach Basics- Day 5 (part 2)

Day 5 (2 of 2) – Let’s talk PEOPLE:
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WHAT DO I SAY TO PEOPLE?
When you meet new people here’s an easy way to remember how to connect and build strong relationships— always follow the F.O.R.M. process.
F = Family: Does your prospect have kids, siblings, a spouse, etc
O = Occupation: What does your prospect do for a living?
R = Recreation: What does your prospect do for fun? Do they play sports? Are they in a club? Dothey go to the beach or go camping with their family?
M = Message: After you get to know your new friend by asking questions about their family, occupation, and recreation you can tailor your invitation for them to get their free Team Beachbody membership and join your general health and fitness Facebook page or your nextChallenge Group. We all know where it can go from there! So, get out there and F.O.R.M.
Goals: Make it a goal to F.O.R.M. with at least two new people via social media today. You can do this simply by having a conversation with a fellow member of a group that you belong to. Remember F.O.R.M.ing is all about sincerely wanting to get to know people, so always be sincerein your conversation and intent. Make it your goal the next time you are there to F.O.R.M. with at least one new person.
EXPANDING YOUR NETWORK:
One of the things I hear OVER and OVER as a Coach that has been in the business for over 3 years is - I just don't know enough people! WRONG. And if you have that mentality, then you willnot put the effort to find people to join you. Consider that MANY of YOU were not my personal friends before you and I met - we met through Facebook, my fan page, a referral and the list goeson and on! RIGHT?!?
Oh, and I guess the 430853408345 people on Social Media today aren't enough! I am being sarcastic but it is TRUE! My sister and I have independently built two 6-figure incomes with theSAME circle of friends. If you think there aren't enough people - think again. You just need to find them. HERE IS HOW:
By now, you have already told your family and friends that you are a Coach. Now what? Are you wondering how to keep the momentum going? Our most successful Coaches are always looking for more people to help and making new friends wherever their lives take them, as well as on theinternet. Always keep your eyes and ears open and don’t be afraid to just talk to people! Here are some great ways to expand your list:
1. Social Media – We’re doing it right now. You’ve gothundreds, possibly thousands of friends on Facebook, Google+™, LinkedIn®, Pinterest—plus they have friends you could friend!
TIP: Go to your friend's pages (THAT ARE NOT COACHES) and go to their friends list. You might find old friends from Elementary, Junior High School, etc. Send them friend requests. Do about 5 per day. Do not go crazy doing this as you can be thrown in Facebook jail. Skim YOUR friends list and make the day of 3 people each day. What do I mean? Private message 3 people each day simply to put a smile on their face.
"Hey Monica! I saw your daughter did awesome on her ballet performance. Just wanted to congratulate you. That is so great! I hope you have a fantastic day my friend!"
That is it. It will probably get a simple, un-intentional conversation going. Remember, NEVER assume it will end in a sale immediately. That is not the point. The point is to expand your Network and develop relationships. You never know if Monica has a friend that has mentioned she needs to lose weight. Now you are on Monica's mind.
2. Wear & Share – Wear Beachbody gear with pride (T-shirts, hats, etc.). Keep your ears open, and you’ll start to hear people mention that they’ve heard of, or done “that program.”
3. Are you a parent? Do your kids play sports? Are your kids in school? Are your kids in clubs? Every child has parents; connect with them!
4. Are you a member of any networking groups? If you’re not, join some.
5. Do you buy groceries or do any kind of shopping? People are everywhere; be friendly, SMILE, and people will want to talk to you!

Coach Basics- Day 4 (part 2)

Day 4(Part 2 of 2) 
Challenge Groups: A good coach starts a Challenge Group, a GREAT Coach starts a Challenge Groups and converts all of its participants to Coaches because they had such a GREAT experience. They keep things fresh, engaging and EXCITING. They also personal message their participants to check in with them on a more personal level. A good coach, does one group every couple of months. Or gives up because no one joined. BOOOO! A great coach, starts at least 2 Challenge Groups a month and even if they “fail” THEY KEEP GOING. You need to gain traction with challenge groups. Keep pushing! A good coach will post once about the start of a new group. A great coach will be persistent and consistent about sharing the new group, will personally invite people to join, will start multiple conversations with people on a daily basis and will team up with another coach if needed to make the group a success! Are you worried about leading your own Challenge Group? Don’t be! Beachbody has youcovered! They created Challenge Group Guides for every program! They are all located in the Coach Online Office and all you do is copy and paste the daily posts into your private Facebook group page. They are located in your COO, Sales and Marketing, Beachbody Challenge. Also, the FITNESS JUNKIES always have coaches running challenge groups. If you want, you could always team up with other coaches to help make your Challenge Group ROCK!!

Max Out- Month 2

Week 5 of Insanity Max:30 is in the books and I have to say, it may have been the hardest week of workouts that I have EVER done. They are completely doable, but your mind can't win!!!! You must not give up. Shaun T talks about how he is scared in some of the workouts.. DON'T LET HIM GET INTO YOUR HEAD!!!!
One of the things I really liked about Month 2, is that it isn't just a harder Month 1. There are new moves (that I had never done before), there are CRAZY push up sequences, and through every since move, if you perform them with purpose you are sculpting those abs!
In Max Out Cardio, you have to move quick but you also have to pay attention. A lot of the time in month one, I just focused on what I was doing and never looked up. This isn't the case for month 2. I had to focus on and watch the moves because I had never done them.

Max Out Power should just be called Beat Down Day! By far the HARDEST workout I have EVER done. The moves are 45 seconds on 15 seconds off unlike month one 20 seconds and 10 seconds. Shaun says, "Now you have found the power - you have to let your power take over - not an option to not max out- now you let the power from within take over'" and it's so true! I wanted to actually turn off the workout and give up and I have never felt that way before. It pushes your most and mind to the limit and then gives you a little shove over into feeling a bit defeated. You have to go down to be able to get back up though right??

Max Sweat Intervals helps you redeem yourself after Max Out Power. So, after being beat down, you will do Max Sweat and feel like you can conquer the world. Don't get me wrong, you are going to max out, and much sooner than you did during month one. Don't hold back and don't be afraid. I was feeling very humbled after Max Power but as I went through Max Sweat, my confidence in the fact that I COULD do this came back in full force. I was also super sore by this workout and I was feeling muscles I didn't even know existed!

Max Strength would have to be the exact opposite of how I felt during max power. By the end you and the floor will be best friends because it should just be called make them do push ups. I have never done so many variations of push ups and up until I started T25 almost a year ago, I had never even done one push up! I modify them but I am strong enough (from month one) to push myself through. I can visibly see a difference in my arms and that is all due to my BFF the push up.

By Friday, you are ready for the week to be done. You are sore and tired but then it's time for Friday Night Fight Round 2. Out of month one, Friday fight was my favorite one, so it wasn't a huge surprise that it is my favorite in Month 2 either. I like knowing I only have to do that exercise one time and being able to give it everything I have. Shaun says, "It's about going beyond your max! You will max out but because you got this far - you know how to go more! Pull it together and you fight!! Do what you need to do to get through." He has a way of pushing you to go just a little bit farther than you really thought you could go.

Week 5 was mentally challenging. You have started to master month one and feel really confident and then you fail (a lot). I am so happy that I can do it in my home where no one can see my uncoordinated movements and my near face plants. I'm really starting to see more definition in my abs (hallelujah). I've never had abs before, so being able to see some has been a highlight for me. I used to be afraid of gaining muscle, but the truth is, I would rather be strong with some muscles than weak. My shoulders and arms are definitely getting defined (thank you push ups) and I think the exercises this week are really helping to define my inner thighs (at least that is what hurts the most). The soreness is worth being comfortable in my skin and knowing that no matter what he throws at me, I can push though it.

Are you curious yet??? I will have round 2 of Insanity Max:30 starting February 9. Join me, you will not regret it!

Shakeology v. Advocare (the opinion of a meal replacement pro)

So, if you didn't know, about 2 years ago, I used to drink Advocare meal replacement shakes. I didn't eat ... Well I didn't eat and I knew I needed protein so, I drank the meal replacement shakes. I drank them honestly because they tasted good and they were easy, just add water/milk and shake, no blender required. At that time in my life I didn't really care much about what I was putting in my body, I just wanted it to taste good and be easy.
About a year ago, I really started to look at what was in the food (and I use that term loosely) that I was eating. I took the packages and really compared the difference and I found that Shakeology was more than just a protein shake. I also decided to give up dairy because I was having some tummy issues and I wanted to phase out certain things and see if it made a difference.
If you read the ingredient list on the Advocare meal replacement the first ingredient is a protein concentrate with milk protein isolate. The second ingredient is chrystalline fructose, and the third ingredient is a vitamin/mineral mix.

I recently wrote about my first experience with
Shakeology, and it was a failure! But it was my fault- operator error! The first ingredient in Shakeology is whey protein with pea protein. No Dairy! The way that they sweeten it is with the Stevia plant and not fructose. Then we come to the major reason why I love Shakeology and it is because of the superfoods- no vitamin mix- you actually have vitamins.

It’s hard to eat the recommended daily servings of fresh fruit and vegetables every day, especially with today’s busy lifestyles. Shakeology ingredients contains over 70-plus superfoods.
The other thing that Shakeology has that Advocare doesn't is probiotics and digestive enzymes. Probiotics help promote better intestinal health. Stimulate growth of friendly bacteria for better digestion.
Shakeology is made from whole ingredients that help the body break down foods and increase absorption of nutrients.Whenever it’s possible and sustainable for the formula, the superfoods in Shakeology are preserved in their whole-food state to retain maximum nutrient value. It’s a very difficult process to use whole, plant-based ingredients so that the formula retains as much nutritional value as possible, but Shakeology has a whole team of scientists whose mission is to maximize the nutrition in every ingredient in Shakeology.

For me the choice was simple. I was trying to focus (and I still am) on nourishing my body in the best way possible. Do I like salad? Yes, but I don't want to eat 7 of them per day and that the number vitamins and minerals you can get from one serving of Shakeokogy. I wanted clean and natural ingredients and Shakeology was the only meal replacement that I found that has that!

It is an acquired taste and you HAVE to find the recipe that works for you. Once you have trained your taste buds and your body starts craving all the goodness Shakeology has to offer, you will never want to be without it. It's about value to me! I value my health and my nutrition. Do I still like a doughnut now and then- yes I do, but I don't crave them like  I used to. Your taste buds are trainable and when you drink Shakeology daily, you are training your taste buds to crave things that your body actually NEEDS.

Humbled- Max Out Power

You think you know... You think you push.. And then you find out what pushing really is! I am humbled, that's the only way to describe how I feel a after today's max out power. I have never once contemplated quiting. Not when running for 4+ hours but after 7 minutes of this workout, I seriously contemplated turning it off. I was tired from the previous day, and around minute 7 my legs were about ready to give out on me! I was so proud of myself last week for getting to 30 minutes and I couldn't get past 7!

In these moments you really start to question your ability to push through. I looked at my computer and was so happy when he finally said it was time for push-ups. Me, I was so happy to sit down and do push-ups. These workouts are meant to test your strength and you will! No matter what I will NOT give up. I absolutely LOVE the ab segment! When I first started doing at home workouts, we would get to the ab portion and they would say tighten your abs and I would think " what are they talking about, I don't have any". You do though, even if they are buried right now, they are in there just waiting for you to do the work to set them free!!

It takes WORK!

I know you don't want to hear that because it requires action and time but if you really want to see some changes you have to do some work. I'm not telling you to go to the gym every day and spend 3 hours lifting weights and then another hour running on the treadmill, because who really has time to do all that? I sure don't. But if you consistently put in the time DAILY... Your body and your mind will start to change. Changing the way you think is way harder than changing the way your body handles the stress you place upon it. Muscle matters and I never truly understood that before. I just thought that if I was thin enough then I would look ok. I have to say that once I started to gain muscle (not weight!) that my mindset towards myself began to change. Bring on tomorrow because I survived today!

Do you really want to change the world???

This weekend I had to opportunity to attend one of Beachbody's regional events called Super Saturday. These events are held all over the country and I was lucky enough that I had one 10 minutes from my house.
I was very nervous because I was going by myself and situations where I have to social can be awkward for me.
I pulled up and gave myself a little pep talk and walked inside. I think when you try new things, you really just have to keep telling yourself what you want to believe, so I just kept saying- you are confident!! Ha!
I was really looking forward to the training video and hearing about all the new products! But when it started and people started sharing their stories, I was overwhelmed with emotions!!
I know that I can come across sometimes as intimidating and I have really been working on that. I am introverted and I don't want people to think I don't like them just because I'm shy at first!
So.... The people who spoke were FREAKING AMAZING!!!! .

I  didn't become a coach to make millions - I know that in the future that is a very real possibility but that isn't why I chose to become a coach. If it's your reason then that is awesome but it wasn't mine. I became a coach to help people feel like they aren't alone. We moved away from everything and everyone I knew and for all intensive purposes I was alone. I had my family (hubs and kids) but I felt like I was on Mars when we moved here. Part of it was definitely my perception of the people who live here and part was my unfair bias but I was not happy and I felt like no one could possibly understand. When I found started FocusT25! I went through it by myself. I didn't know that there were challenge groups to help keep me accountable and encourage me when I didn't "want to" workout. I didn't know there were groups where I could learn about how to eat clean and fuel my body with better options than Diet Coke and Cheddar popcorn (true story!) I felt like I had to do everything on my own and since I didn't know anyone, I was lonely (by my choice). So, when I decided to finally take the plunge and become a Beachbody coach it was for that reason... To help people know that there is at least one person who really wanted to help them- not because you are a sale but because you are a soul!! I'm sharing this today because I don't want anyone to feel like they have to do this alone! Change is hard! I'm learning how to "eat clean" and it's HARD!! The easy route of prepackaged meals and drive thrus are what I have known and that's on me! I have been too lazy to learn about choosing what to eat and when there are so many easier ways is a fall back for me but with change there is struggle. Don't take the easy way!!! Just know you aren't alone in your struggles and that there are people (perfectly good strangers even) who truly care about you :) I choose to change daily! Every day I wake up and focus on the things that I know I need to be better at. Somedays go better than others and there are plenty of days where I still feel alone but it's one of the reasons I LOVE social media so much! Anytime I start feeling like no one understands, I click on my Instagram and comment on someone else's picture- I offer some type of motivation or just a note of encouragement - even though I don't "know" them, I relate to them and by doing that I don't feel so alone:) We all have a bigger purpose and I don't want anyone to feel like they aren't important or that they don't matter. Even though we may have never meet in person- you matter to me! I know that I can't change the world, but I can sure try to :)

It's All about that Shake(ology)

The Best Shakeology Recipe is the easy shakeology recipe!  Beachbody has done all the work for you.  They have truly created "Nutrition Simplified" by packing in the nutritional value.

If you didn’t know…I didn’t always love Shakeology. My hubs wanted to try it and we bought a bag. He loved it and I was stuck at, “we are spending how much per month on one bag of a protein shake?” I didn’t get it but I also wasn’t looking at the overall benefits of Shakeology either. I was uninformed about what it actually was and just looking at it as a protein shake, which lets be honest IT IS NOT!!! I had been drinking meal replacement shakes from a different company because I wanted something to help my nutrition and I ran out one day. So of course I went over to our chocolate bag of Shakeology, grabbed a room temperature bottle of water, dumped a scoop in, shook it up, and GAGGED!! One sip and I had judged it awful, poured the rest down the drain and said never again.

I think about that day often now that I have been drinking Shakeology consistently for a YEAR!! I guess what really sticks out to me is that there are SO MANY options and I wish that it had come with some better instructions. If you make chicken wrong would you want to eat it every day? Nope!

The same applies to Shakeology. First you have to recognize what it truly is and that it’s a MEAL REPLACEMENT!! Shakeology is a very nutrient-dense shake that can be used for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. You’d have to eat a whole lot of fruits and vegetables to equal the nutrition in a single glass of Shakeology—and you probably couldn’t do it for less than 170 calories. Shakeology makes it very easy to cut your calories without substantially cutting down your daily volume of nutrients needed. Truth be told, the majority of people are WAY MORE nutrient deficient, than they are protein deficient. This is the reason why I love Shakeiology so much! I am not the best eater (which I am learning about every day!) so Shakeology was an easy way for me to get my nutrients. I love Shakeology because I am a busy parent and it is a quick and convenient way to get complete nutrition.  It supplies me with the energy I need to help keep up with the kids and my hectic lifestyle.  It is also easier to make and tastier than a salad, and it is an excellent way to eat healthy when eating a full meal is not possible.  If you don't like eating fruits and vegetables then this is a great way to get all the benefits of eating a full bowl of fruits and vegetables without having to actually eat them.

The other issue that you have to truly understand is the #1 reason that people don’t want to try Shakeology , love it, and then want to continue drinking it month after month and that is …the price!! That is beacause you are still looking at Shakeology as something that isn’t of value to you. Most people will agree that they would spend an average of $3 to $7 on a HEALTHY nutritious meal. I know most store-bought salads cost even more than that, and don’t contain nearly the dense concentration of nutrients. But on average, I think we can all agree healthy meals run between $3 and $7. Shakeology, at $4.33 per shake, comes in on the LOW END of average. (You can make Shakeology into a breakfast or lunch that you’d be buying anyway.) Not only are you spending less than you normally would, you’re also getting vital nutrients your body needs, that you just can’t get from your run-of-the-mill salad, plus the normal range of vitamins and minerals. So you can replace your VITAMINS, too. Sure, you may need a specific vitamin, based on your conditions, geography, or age—but in general, Shakeology will provide you with a solid base of your whole-food nutrients.

When was the last time you went to your grocery store and bought THIRTY meals all at once? Not often!!Typically, I’m guessing, you buy a few days’ worth each time. When you buy a bulk bag of Shakeology, you are buying 30 of your shakes up-front. That means you’ll spend less money at the grocery store. For the price, I cannot duplicate its vast quality of ingredients and nutrients.

Now let’s get into my tips for HOW to make your Shake!!!

Here are a few tips that I wish I had known the first time I ever tried Shakeology…

1. Do not mix with water!!!!! You can, if you are wanting to be hardcore, but if you want to enjoy the taste, I recommend mixing it with Almond or Coconut Milk!!!
2. ADD ice!!!! Shakeology definitely tastes better when it’s cold J
3. BLEND IT!!!! 99% of the time I use my blender to mix up my Shakeology. Even if it’s just milk, shakeology and Ice, using a blender brings it ALL together. If you use a Shaker cup, add milk, shakeology, then Ice and shake WELL!!
4. ADD IN’s!!! Shakeology is a MEAL Replacement, not a Protein Shake! My go to shake is 8 -10 oz. Almond Milk, Chocolate Shakeology, 1 tbs. PB2 (powdered peanut butter) and half a banana. I drink this combo at least 5 times a week! The ingredients are ALWAYS in my home and I could not go a day without.
5. BE Creative!!! Although I am a chocolate fan, I have found that trying different recipes makes drinking my shake every day more enjoyable. You have to find a recipe that YOU like!!!!

If you find a recipe that works for you…stick with it!! I’m not saying don’t experiment because I do that from time to time but I have had some epic fails along the way and you don’t want to be pouring your shakes down the drain every time you don’t like them.

Have I given you enough reasons to give it a try??? If so here are some ways that you can do so.

Ways to try Shakeology:

1. Message me for a sample of Shakeology. This is a perfect way to try the flavors and figure out which you like best.
2. Join one of my 7 day Shakeology Challenges:

It’s a way to try Shakeology for a week without making any commitments. It is $30 and with that you get 7 days of Shakeology (I suggest the combo pack so you can try all the flavors and see which you like best) and a premium Shaker Cup (for shakes on the go!).

3. You can sign up for Shakeology HD (home direct) which gives your free shipping and automatically ships your Shakes to you each month.  You can cancel at any time with no questions asked.  There is also a 30 day money back bottom of the bag guarantee.  If for any reason you do not like the shake you can return the empty bag for a full refund.
4. You can purchase Shakeology in the bag or 24 individual serving sizes, both are the same price.  With individual serving sizes you can have an assortment of Greenberry and Chocolate, Chocolate and Vanilla, and now Tropical Strawberry and Vegan Chocolate.

What do you get for your purchase of Shakeology HD?

Your first Shakeology order not only comes with a month's supply of shakeology.

You receive a calendar of 30 different ways to make each flavor.

You receive free shipping when you sign up for Home Direct.

You not only get a shake but you get a nutrient rich meal that you do not have to worry about creating yourself! How great is that?!?!

Shakeology really has changed my life! I know that sounds dramatic but it’s true. Not only has it helped to increase my nutrients but it has led me to a career as a Beachbody Coach. It has helped me to find a passion to help others and gave me a purpose greater than just myself. I have met some of my best friends through one little shake and it fulfilled a need in me to be part of a community of like-mided people, who encouraged me and made me feel a part of something. I needed that and I didn't even know it at the time I signed up.

So how can it change your life?? The opportunity is at your fingertips...all you have to do it reach out and grab it!

Progress

When you make changes in your life and you  continue to make them even though you may not be able to see them... They are there. Last summer, I decided to commit to finishing every Beachbody program that I started... I did 2 rounds of Focus T25, I did the 21 day fix and then I was stuck. I love Shaun T, his energy makes me want to MOVE, so when Insanity Max:30 was announced I was excited (nervous, but excited). I had seen my husband do Insanity and knew that it was just a bit too intense for me.
Max 30 came, I started and it was HARD! Every single day from the first time I pushed play was hard. I worked out through Christmas, I worked out through traveling, I worked out 30 minutes a day. When you see yourself every day, you don't see the small changes. You just do the work. Was my nutrition on point- NO! I wasn't ready then to portion it out (which is highly important because nutri to run for HOURS with no results, although when you are running for that long you "feel" like you should be eating all the food as a reward which isn't the case either. I digress...
I was feeling blue about having to not attend the Goofy Challenge and I decided to go get my hair done... Always a spirit lifter right? I knew that I would have to put on my jeans (I never wear them!). I go to a salon where it's really not acceptable to arrive in your gym clothes and I was nervous to put my jeans on. I knew that I have gained some muscle and I was so scared that they were going to be tight... And they weren't. 
NOT EVEN CLOSE!
My jeans were loose and not just a little. I didn't see the change but the change is apparent by those crazy jeans. The amazing thing is that the scale has not moved. You know I have issues with the scale and I dread getting on them... If it's too low then I worry that I am getting too extreme, if it's too high I want to just punish myself and limit my food and it lies... It really does.

But the jeans,thy don't lie!

I am constantly shocked that my body can do the things I am forcing it to do. That my waistline is more toned and defined after 30 DAYS (which I never would have thought possible after 3 kids!) That I am stronger and leaner than I ever have been without hurting myself in the process!
Change is happening but maybe you are just too close to the situation to see it!
I am proud of the hard work I have put in over the last 30 days. I begin the month 2 workouts on Monday (and yes I am nervous!) but I know I will make it through, I will give it my all and if I can do it... So can YOU!

Tabata- WHAT?!?!?!

Tabata... What the heck is that??? Well,   "Tabata training is one of the most popular forms of high-intensity interval training (HIIT). It consists of eight rounds of ultra-high-intensity exercises in a specific 20-seconds-on, 10-seconds-off interval."

Shaun T brings it in Tabata power! I knew going into the workout today that I was going to "max out" sooner and I was totally ok with knowing my limits and then pushing them. With that being said - I love the modifier version! I love seeing Danielle working hard and breathing hard and knowing it is OK to modify.

Tabata power reminded me a little bit like T24 Rip't Circuit but elevated if course.

It takes you through intense cycles for specific body parts.

You start out with a cardio hitt where some of the moves really are insane! I know that I will be able to do them to the max by the end of month one but it is a lot of jumping. Then you move on to the push-up portion (back,chest, and arms). You all know how much I LOVE push-ups (NOT) but I did feel strong getting through this section.

Next is a leg hitt and my legs were screaming at me! This is the part of my body that I really want to see improvements on during the next 60 days and I know that I will:)

My favorite hitt was the abdominals one! I LOVED the moves and this mommy is definitely getting some ABS for Christmas!

Lastly, you focus on your triceps and I WAS SHAKING for a long time after I was finished with this workout. I definitely pushed myself super hard today.

After you have completed all the HITT's separately, the ingenious Shaun T has you do one more from each - like and Ultimate Tabata set!

Carl said it best when he said "The point is, this mix of Tabata and Intervals will push you right from the start. So even if you can only go at the MAX for the first minute, and then you need to dial it back just to make it through the workout- YOU WILL GET BETTER RESULTS than good old steady- state aerobics."

When you push yourself, even if it is just for one minute out of every five, you WILL see better results because results come from your INTENSITY! You can have an hour workout at 75%intensity and get better results from a 25 minute workout with 85% intensity.

Tomorrow is Speed Intervals and I am nervous and excited at the same time!

 Bring it on Shaun! Bring it ON!

MAXED????

What do you do when you have already worked out and the Insanity Max:30 box shows up????

You drink some E&E (only my second time drinking it) and push play- OF COURSE!

I was nervous. I have done Insanity one time just last week to prove to myself I could make it through (I did :)) and I consider myself in decent shape with good cardio endurance, and still I was nervous.

I turned on the DVD and the intro almost made me burst into tears! Shaun T is talking to the people in the video and he says: I want you to inspire one person!

That is my goal- to inspire one person to try something they normally wouldn't. To push themselves one step out of their comfort zone and see what they are truly capable of. Had I continued to be "just a runner" I would be missing out on SO MUCH!! Not that just running is a bad thing because it isn't but I had gotten complacent and even though I LOVE running, I needed something MORE! I needed to be able to see results and challenge myself. I want to be proud of myself every time I look in the mirror and I want by hubs and kids to be proud of me too!

So...I pushed play and it was INTENSE but in a good way. The warm up was quicker than T25 and definitely got me WARM. Apparently the workouts are set  up like the traditional Insanity workouts where there are 3-4 exercises repeated 3 times with increased intensity and speed each time. The first set of exercises came up and I though ok...this isn't that bad, I am doing pretty good and feeling good, let me just say though that this is a cardio challenge dvd and I am strong in cardio. As we approached the 10 minute mark, I couldn't believe that I was still doing as well as I was! I hadn't maxed out yet and I was feeling rather proud of myself.

And then...I maxed out at 12:43!

Now, when I say that was my max out time, that was the time where my intensity dropped and I needed to take a moment and catch my breath. It does not mean that I stopped and turned off the computer...that isn't what this program is about at all. It means that I gave it my all and I had to take a second, recover, and jump back in. I knew that this was going to happen going into the program, so when I did, I didn't have the normal feelings that I would have heaped on myself.

Feelings like failure and disappointment. Instead of feeling those things, I felt proud that I had made it as long as I did and with 59 more days to go, I know that my time will improve and I WILL get to the 30 minute max out time by the end of the 60 days.

It's going to be a wild ride and I can't wait to see what tomorrow has in store for me.

Have you wanted to try something you have never done before? I would love for you to join me on this Insane journey :)

Are you ready to GO TO THE MAX???

Today is the day!!! Max:30 day!!! You are probably like why does she keep talking about this???

Well... It's because I know that EVERYONE can benefit from it!! If you are a tried and true fitness junkie like me or you have never exercised a day in your life, this program WILL WORK for you!! A key for me in an exercise program is RESULTS and you WILL get a years worth of results in 60 DAYS!!
In 30 days people will be making those "resolutions" to lose weight {again}. They will go out and join gyms that they will never go to because they are embarrassed and intimidated to work out in front of others! I have been there!!!!
Why not get the jump on those "resolutions" today and you will be 30 days ahead of everyone else??
I know what your next question is... How much?? Well that question is relative to what you want. The base package with just your DVD's and nutrition plan is 119.85 BUT why wouldn't you want to include your superfood nutrition... Your secret weapon SHAKEOLOGY!!!!
A challenge pack means you get your Shakeology AND your Insanity Max:30 for 180!!!
How much does a year at the gym cost again????
You have the opportunity to get a TOP of the LINE exercise program AND your Shakeology for less than 60 days at the gym!!
It's time to make YOU a priority!!! Message me at runcrazykyle@yahoo.com or click HERE to order TODAY!! I will have a challenge group exclusively for Max:30 so that you will have support and encouragement throughout your journey!