Day 287 Progress Update!!

Good afternoon!  As I finish up my four months of the 21 Day Fix and prepare to jump into PiYo, it is time for a progress update!  As always, I am very thankful for my husband and his encouragement with all of this.  He is also my photographer and the one who tracks my measurements.  Putting together this collage was a bit emotional for me.  It is hard to believe all that has changed during the past 9.5 months!  I actually had to "photo shop" some shorts onto my Day One photos.  That is all that was photo-shopped in these transformation photos!  Thinking back to that photo day in mid-September 2013, I am reminded of how I did not have any shorts that fit me last summer.  I had some denim capris that were comfortable but I knew that they would not be helpful in taking my "before" photos.  I am glad that we took these photos, minus proper shorts and all!  So many times I have challengers tell me that they are uncomfortable while taking and viewing their "before" images.  For many this experience serves to become part of their "why" and a factor which propels them forward in making the change!  But without a "before" you are not able to fully appreciate and celebrate the "after".  

September 16, 2013 was my own Day One.  I began with Clean Eating, drinking Shakeology and doing a daily workout with Chalean Extreme.  Being a member of a challenge group where my sister Rachel was our coach was instrumental as I jumped into this new lifestyle.  I would have been lost without the encouragement, tools and the "how to" for everyday life. For more on my first five months of this big change, check out my blog entry that I wrote as I finished up my first 173 days.

I began with the 21 Day Fix at the beginning of March 2014.  This was also when I became a Team Beachbody coach!  I have greatly enjoyed these past four months.  It is so neat to run my own challenge groups where I am able to help others with their own progress.  Plus I am continuing on with my fitness and nutrition adventure!  For more details on the 21 Day Fix and my own results after my first round, check out my blog entry where I review the 21 Day Fix. 

So what is next?  PiYo is my upcoming workout program!  PiYo was just released ten days ago and I received my copy this past week. I have begun previewing some of the workouts and getting a feel for the flow of things.  This is a 60 Day program.  I will do my next progress update 30 days from now.  For more info on this brand-new, see my blog entry on PiYo.  I look forward to pushing ahead with my own progress as my body and health continue to change.  There is nothing like feeling so much better than I did at this time last year.  Whatever your fitness and nutrition goals, I would be glad to be your coach as you work towards reaching them!  I have a PiYo group beginning on July 7th and a Summer Sizzle challenge beginning later this month.  Contact me for details!

 

  

Overweight and Healthy?

I was messaging with a challenge group participant earlier this morning and was so excited to hear that she has now lost 12 pounds!  I shared how the first time it really hit me that I was literally losing weight was when I picked up a 10 or 12 pound weight one morning during my Chalean Extreme workout.  This was at the end of September 2013.  I felt the weight of it in my hand and pondered how I was no longer carrying around this exact amount that had been attached to me just a few weeks prior! 

So much has changed for me in the past 9 months!  If you had told me a year ago that I would now be a Team Beachbody coach, I would have laughed!   I have lost now lost 50 pounds and have another 30 or so to go.  My health has really improved.  Things were not super-awful last year but I knew it would be a slippery slope as I crossed over into the second half of my 30's and beyond!  

I was reading my Beachbody newsletter this evening and an article caught my eye!  I am going to share it below.  I am now nearly 2/3's of the way to my own long-term target range.  And this life change IS about way more than the # on the scale!  I am happy to be headed in the right direction and look forward to changing up my workout routine to keep my body guessing!  PiYo begins this week!  PiYo is low-impact but still high-intensity.  Your body will thank you!  I would be more than happy to have you along for the adventure.  :)    

Ask the Expert: Can You Be Overweight and Healthy?

By Denis Faye Issue: #315, June 23, 2014

The Short Answer:

There are always anomalies, but generally, the answer is no. The laundry list of ailments that accompany excess body fat grows every day: type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, and on and on.
Mind you, I'm not talking about a few extra pounds. You can be healthy as a horse without a six-pack or that little gap skinny women have between their thighs when they wear boy shorts. If you eat a nutritious, varied diet and exercise regularly, you may not be as thin as the bikini model who lives across the street, but you're fine. Healthy comes in all shapes and sizes—except maybe XXXL.

The Long Answer:

Before considering the science, consider the common sense. Being overweight or obese means you're lugging extra pounds around. If it's just a matter of five or six lbs. over your ideal weight, then it's not that big of a deal. It's kind of like spending all your time with a backpack filled with textbooks. But once you go beyond that, you're putting a lot of strain on your body. Imagine carrying around a 50-lb. dumbbell all day, every day. It's almost as though you're forcing your body into a perpetual state of overtraining. That extra weight puts pressure on your joints, which can lead to arthritis. It also puts extra pressure on your cardiovascular system, which can lead to heart complications.
Then, there's the question of diet. Overweight people tend to eat too many calories—and those calories are often heavy on the refined carbs and "bad" fats. Both of these substances can cause a buildup of plaque on arteries. Refined carbs can also cause insulin resistance, leading to type 2 diabetes.
There are also the other illnesses that, according to the National Institute of Health, are statistically higher in heavier people, including colon, breast, endometrial, and gallbladder cancers, sleep apnea, and gallstones.
The "fit and fat" debate hit the spotlight last January when a meta-review in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) came out claiming that overweight people lived longer than skinny people. Advocates of the overweight lifestyle, or "fatvocates," took to the streets singing the praises of the study.
Much of the media glossed over the fact that the JAMA study made a distinction between "obese" and "overweight." Overweight people with a body mass index (BMI) between 25 and 29 were the ones who supposedly lived longer. "Grade 1" obese people with a BMI between 30 and 34 fared the same as normal-weight people. People with a BMI of 35 or more had the highest risk of death of anyone.
Unfortunately (for overweight people), the review turned out to be flawed and spent the rest of 2013 being roundly criticized. The Center for Science in the Public Interest reported on a number of flaws in their newsletter Nutrition Action. The study didn't account for smokers, who tend to be thinner. It didn't account for people with cancer, dementia, or emphysema; all who tend to lose weight. It also didn't account for age, and people tend to lose weight before they die of old age–related illnesses. So people can become thin—too thin—when they're sick or dying, but that doesn't mean being thin was the cause of death. Not accounting for this threw off the numbers.
Next, the Canadians jumped into the fray, releasing their own meta-review that accounted for people with metabolic syndrome—a group of conditions that includes high blood pressure, high blood sugar levels, dodgy cholesterol, and excess abdominal fat. These put you at higher risk for heart disease and diabetes. They found that metabolically unhealthy people were at risk regardless of weight. However, when they looked at people without metabolic issues, they found that obese ones had a higher risk of death.
Healthy overweight and healthy normal-sized people had the same level of risk. However, overweight people had slightly higher metabolic markers (for instance, slightly higher blood pressure) and this indicated a greater chance of complications down the road.
And, of course, there are other studies such as the National Cancer Institute's research in The New England Journal of Medicine, which crunched its own numbers and discovered that, among nonsmokers, normal-weight people had a much better chance of living when compared to even mildly overweight people.
To sum all this up, if you're obese, you should really do something about it because multiple studies have confirmed that you're more susceptible to the shopping list of sicknesses listed above. But if you're just a little overweight, you may or may not be in trouble; it depends on who you want to believe.
But as much as I'm a crusader for wellness-inspired weight loss, one flaw with all these studies is that they're based on BMI, which is a faulty measurement. Given it's a simple height/weight ratio, most bodybuilders—not to mention athletes in other sports requiring serious muscle—would be considered obese.
Or take me. I'm 5' 11", 160 pounds. My BMI is 23, which puts me right in the middle of "normal." However, I also have about 9% body fat, which is considerably below "normal." According to the American Council on Exercise, 14–17% is a "fitness" level and 18–24% is "normal." If I'd added that amount of fat to my frame, my BMI would classify me as overweight, maybe even obese.
So you need to take all this science with a grain of salt.
If your BMI is 30+, your waistline is on or near to 35 inches (for women) or 40 inches (for men), and you don't know a barbell from a kettlebell, then you're probably obese and headed for trouble. Otherwise, use your common sense as a guide.
Does your blood work come back sparkling? Do you eat a diet that's primarily veggies and fruits, followed by whole grains, lean proteins, and good fats? Do you eat little or no added sugar, processed food, and fried food? Do you work out or get some serious exercise at least 4 times a week? Do you feel good in your body? If you can answer "yes" to these things, you're probably at a good weight—and if you're not, you'll get there soon enough.

Where Do You Live?

Good evening!  I have been reading a couple of Psalms that are so close to my heart.  I am talking about Psalm 91 and 121.  They both talk about looking for our help in life and how to maintain peace in the midst of it all.  Life is sometimes just plain crazy, right?  I remember back to three years ago at this time.  My husband was between jobs and the uncertainty had me on the verge of a meltdown some days.  One day I was going through a box in the basement and came across a gem while looking for something else.  It was a little cross-stitch bookmark from my childhood.  It said, "Sometimes God calms the storm and sometimes He lets the storm rage and calms his child."  I was frozen upon reading that and then began to weep.  Those words did not mean much to me in my childhood but finding them at this exact moment was EXACTLY what I needed.  This piece hung in my kitchen for 2 years.  Then last summer I had a friend here to visit.  She was in the middle of many awful storms in her life... battling cancer for the 5th or 6th time, dealing with a disintegrating marriage, trying to make decisions with how to approach her son's needs, etc.  I took this bookmark out of my kitchen and handed it to her.  She took it home and keeps it in a special place.

Back to Psalm 121.  My Mom painted these words on a rock when I was a teenager.  Ever since that time, I have always loved pausing to read this scripture on my way over to the barn. The text is especially meaningful since their farm is nestled within the side of a hill.  

Psalm 121

 "I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
² My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

³ He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
⁴ indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
⁶ the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

⁷ The Lord will keep you from all harm—
    he will watch over your life;
⁸ the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore."

Psalm 91

^"Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
² I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”

³ Surely he will save you
    from the fowler’s snare
    and from the deadly pestilence.
⁴ He will cover you with his feathers,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
⁵ You will not fear the terror of night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
⁶ nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
    nor the plague that destroys at midday.
⁷ A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand,
    but it will not come near you.
⁸ You will only observe with your eyes
    and see the punishment of the wicked.

⁹ If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
    and you make the Most High your dwelling,
¹⁰ no harm will overtake you,
    no disaster will come near your tent.
¹¹ For he will command his angels concerning you
    to guard you in all your ways;
¹² they will lift you up in their hands,
    so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
¹³ You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
    you will trample the great lion and the serpent.

¹⁴ “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
    I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
¹⁵ He will call on me, and I will answer him;
    I will be with him in trouble,
    I will deliver him and honor him.
¹⁶ With long life I will satisfy him
    and show him my salvation.”

Something that always comes to mind whenever I ponder these Psalms is that we spend our time anxiously looking around for our help.  Meanwhile, if we will just stay close to the Lord, we will be in his shadow and THAT is where we find rest.  Why do I so frequently head out on some safari while looking for solutions in my life?  The key is to keep myself in a place where I can say what I find in Psalm 91:2 ~ “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” This past Sunday I heard something at church that has been on my heart these past few days...

 This connects with one of my all-time favorite Scripture passages.  It also reminds me that God is seeking us.  We just have to PAUSE and reach out for Him.  There are many times in my life where I have been asked how I keep my perspective and find meaning in the midst of it all?  When you break it all down, what really matters?  And how do we approach everyday life with this in mind?  Read through these words.  Once we had the kids in bed this evening, I made myself STOP and read through this passage a few times.  How amazing is this??  THIS IS IT!  This is the story of our lives.  There IS a master plan. 

Acts 17:22-31

^"Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. ²³ For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you.
²⁴ “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. ²⁵ And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. ²⁶ From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. ²⁷ God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ²⁸ ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’
²⁹ “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill. ³⁰ In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. ³¹ For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead.”

 

There is one blog that I read often.  Ann Voskamp has the gift of helping us to PAUSE long enough to take in His grace in the midst of our everyday life.  The entry from this past Friday was about "Why Your Heart Really Needs the Practice of Pondering".

 

My biggest takeaway from this entry is the following:
"Jesus took a body: “The Word became flesh” (Jn. 1:14). Now He calls us to let the Word of Christ be incarnated in us. The Word of Christ living in us reminds us that we are forgiven and must forgive others; that Christ lives in us to express His life to us and through us; that we are new creatures, beloved of God, bought with a price and not our own.
This indwelling Word keeps setting the trash by the door, keeps throwing open the windows to let in fresh air, and keeps leaving notes on the bathroom mirror—reminders to love, to trust, to give generously, to speak kindly. The effect of Scripture is not distant, abstract. It is personal and deeply relevant: “in you.”

In closing, I wanted to share an OLD photo!  This was taken many years ago.  This cross is located up near the corner of one of the pastures at my parents' farm.  Dear family friends (the Mosebargers and Matangelos) who greatly impacted my youth had come for a visit to the farm.  I will never forget the experience of growing up in an environment where real conversation took place.  The adults in my life shared their lives and faith with one another.  These are people who were living Psalm 91:1 ~ "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty."

 

 

There is NO Magic Pill!

Hello Friends!  Tonight I am writing about something that has been on my mind lately.  Surprise, right?  I realize that this is how most of my blog entries begin!  Anyways, there is a saying that I hear often in Beachbody.  "There is no magic pill".  This is one of those summary statement sort of things.  Meaning, you are going to have to do the work!  For example, check out Bebe in the photo collage above!  

Bebe works full-time and is a mom of three children who are ages 23, 20 and 18.  Her youngest son just graduated from Cathedral Prep here in Erie.  She is five years post-early menopause and thought that it was just too late to change.  Bebe will be turning 50 this summer and decided to give all of this a shot!  Bebe found me through my dear friend Claire.  Claire was drinking her Shakeology one day when Bebe was in her home to provide speech therapy for Claire's daughter.  Bebe had noticed the changes that Claire had been making in her own life.  Claire was happy to share a sample and also told Bebe how much she was enjoying the 21 Day Fix workouts and being part of a challenge group.  Claire put us in touch via FB and the rest is history!  And since then Bebe has also sent other friends and family in my direction!  I loved reading the words of hers that are included in the collage above.  Bebe shared those words along with her progress photos earlier today.

 

One of the challengers in our Summer Challenge posted the above photo in our group the other day and it is just SO true!  These words have helped quite a few of us as we work to stay on track this week!  I remember back during Bebe's own week one.  She was having a hard time with changing her old evening snacking habits.  Her strategic approach was to "save" one of her fruit serving for the day and use it for enjoying some frozen blueberries during her evening routine.  This is what it is all about!  I saw her dedication and knew that she was going to be successful with this.  You can not just eat the random stuff that you have always eaten, workout out once a week and "add" Shakeology and expect to see results!  From time to time, those who have never tried Shakeology say "Isn't it some sort of gimmick?"  Nope!  Not at all!  Shakeology is a great boost of nutrition and is a meal replacement shake.  It is not a "protein shake" or a "weight loss shake".  For a list of ingredients and nutrition facts, click here. 

What I love about Shakeology is that it is convenient AND somehow manages to be my highest-quality meal of the day from a nutritional standpoint.  I began with Shakeology in September of 2013 and paired it with clean eating and daily Beachbody workouts while being an active participant in a challenge group.  Shakeology provided my body with the super-foods and dense nutrition that had previously been lacking.  I will NEVER forget the feeling of going that entire first month without eating a single doughnut, muffin, cookie, slice of pie, brownie, etc.  That was CRAZY to me.  And I knew that it was because something within me had physically changed. I had always been a sweets person and had never had a prior time in my life where I went for more than three days without some sort of sweet snack!  A college professor of mine used to say "When what you want is not what you need, you will never have enough".  I think that this applies to so many areas of life!  All of the times that I had the urge to just eat something (beyond munching due to boredom or stress!) my body was sending a signal that I was in need of something else. I just don't feel that way anymore!  Sure, there are certain times where a shadow of that feeling crops up but I have gained the tools that enable me to work constructively to stay on course.  Shakeology tastes great and I do look forward to it each day.  I know that it is an expense.  But it is replacing a meal and keeps me from stopping for other costly (and unhealthy!) convenience foods throughout the day.  All in all, it is a great value to me!  Twice within the past week a friend has seen me approaching from a distance and commented that they did not even recognize me!  One time I was wearing sunglasses... but I know that it is more than the sunglasses and I am thankful for this change.  I would love to help you or someone in your circle get started!    

The Potential of a Circle Approach

Earlier this afternoon I recorded a YouTube video about something that I have been thinking about these days.  Check out "Why Do Circles Work Better".  Okay, so I now realize that is a rather cryptic title!  Here is where I am coming from with this line of thought... I will expand a bit more here on what I shared within the video.  

When I think of a circle in life, a few things come to mind.  One is that we each have circles which make up a certain rotation within our everyday life: Friends and family plus co-workers, neighbors, contacts from our past, parents of our kids' friends, church and community connections, etc.  We were not designed to function in isolation from everyone around us!  God created us for relationships with one another, as messy as that can become from time to time.  What you and I decide to do has a ripple effect that flows out to those in our circles.  

The second thing that I picture when I think of circles is that this is one of my own favorite approaches to learning.  Being able to experience something with those around you is oftentimes much more meaningful than hearing something from a distance and then going on your way without any real reason to apply what you have heard.  There is a lot to be said for accountability!  Even when this simply comes in the form of a follow-up discussion and on-going exchange of ideas in relation to a given topic, you are in a position to really put into action what you have heard.  While recording that video earlier this afternoon, one example that came to mind was from my time as a MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) Coordinator a few years ago.  So often we come away with more after hearing from someone who is present within our circle rather than someone we know only from a great distance.  There are of course times to learn within a large group setting and the energy there can be indescribable!

As I apply this circle idea to coaching and my Challenge Groups, I think of how we each have to opportunity to influence those in our circle.  This is not necessarily through one big, grand moment complete with drum-roll!  Rather it is through the consistency of everyday life and how we are approaching it.  In the video I was sharing a bit about a recent conversation that I had with a friend as we were facing a buffet table during a "bring a dish to share" sort of event.  Pretty AMAZING to pause and picture the ripple effect of my own learning and decisions!  The other thing with circles is that THIS IS WHY Challenge Groups WORK SO WELL!!!  Back to that idea of a community where there is on-going discussion and putting it all into practice together.  Accountability can be the difference between what we plan to do and what we ACTUALLY do any given day.  For example, today is Day One in my Summer Challenge Group.  Part of today's assignment was to take and then share within the group a sweaty, post-workout photo.  I oftentimes do my workout early in the morning.  But today my five year old son was in our bed at 5 AM and it was my husband's early morning at work.  Plus we have been preparing for a big adventure that begins tomorrow morning and my mind has been between five lists and I was chomping at the bit to get started with all of that.  So... my workout??  Hmm... I am not at all opposed to working out later in the day.  I just know this: if I do not begin around the time planned, my likelihood of completing said workout drops lower and lower as the hours pass.  BUT, wait!  I needed to share a post-workout photo within the group today.  And my goodness, Total Body Cardio Fix from the 21 Day Fix is only 30 minutes long PLUS it is one of my favorite routines.  SO, time to push play!  My 7 year old daughter joined me for the entire thing.  She was using 2 and 3 pound weights and I had the 12's today.  She even wanted to snuggle in for that sweaty photo at the end!  One thing I have learned is that even on the days I may drag my feet with getting to the point of actually pushing "play", I NEVER regret having done so by the time that I finished!  And today is was the accountability to my fitness/nutrition circle (aka my challenge group) that made all the difference.  Thank you friends!

 

Comfort Zone? Friend and Foe...

Oh yes... the comfort zone! This means something different to each of us.  When it comes to me and my daughter and the way we feel at home in our space, we are OPPOSITES.  Check out the collage above.  Living with college roommates almost prepared me for living with a seven year old who is so very different from me!  The above photos were taken a while ago.  We have since redecorated her bedroom.  As I think of how we are so individually wired, an contrasting like this comes to my mind.  I am happy to say that her room no longer becomes THIS much of a mess.  Sigh of relief from me!  But to be honest, room cleaning with her in her own space is still one of my least favorite household tasks!  Who is with me on that statement when it comes to your own kids?!?      

In some ways, I crave this space where comfort reigns.  In a cozy socks and favorite old cardigan sort of way.  Other times, it is literally a caution sign of potential danger up ahead of me!  Lately there has not been much risk of remaining too long in one place.  Life is filled with variety these days and keeps me on my toes!  I think back on the times that I have become complacent with any area of life.  This typically creeps up on me when I spend too long in a cozy socks/favorite cardigan frame of mind.  I have come to realize that I really do enjoy the thrill of the unknown and the necessary push of trying something new!  

The key for me is to have the cozy socks sort of PEOPLE actively present in my life.  When I feel that comfort zone in my key relationships I am much more likely to really go for it with something new.  And as with anything, balance is so helpful.  If I burn through all of my energy in pursuit of the next thing, I am missing out on the simple everyday pleasures and people that surround me right now.  Is there an area where you have felt the nudge to branch out but are just not confident that this adventure will be a positive experience for you?  

Right now I am gearing up to attend a three day practicum next week.  The kids and I have joined a homeschooling community called "Classical Conversations".  We will meet weekly on Fridays beginning after Labor Day.  I have agreed to become a tutor for Nathan's age group.  This means that I am currently learning LOTS as both a parent and a tutor.  Next week we will be headed down to the Pittsburgh area where we will camp out for two nights at a home with three other Erie families.  Us moms will attend the practicum and our kids will attend the on-site educational day camp.  It is going to be an adventure for sure!  I am appreciating the detailed emails that I have been receiving from those leading the event.  But I am also a bit intimidated.  Time to start a master packing/planning list tomorrow.  THAT will help me to return to a bit of my comfort zone!

When I feel rattled, it is a great time to remember this truth:

The one that I HAVE BEEN WAITING for!!

Guess what?  It is almost time for me to start a new workout program!  PiYo!!  And this is literally one that I cannot wait to purchase!  This is a program that uses your own body to strengthen, sculpt, and increase flexibility. I LOVE the idea of low impact and no extra equipment needed!  Plus, what could possibly be bad about mixing Yoga and Pilates?!

 
This program isn't available yet, but will be on June 23rd. Initially PiYo will only be available through a coach (like me!).  Please contact me for information on how to get this program before it is made available to the general public, as it will sell out FAST!!!

Here are some of the things that have intrigued me as I contemplate my own beginning with this new program...

The trainer for this program is Chalene Johnson.  I love Chalene.  I really, really do!  She is the one who created Chalean Extreme which is the program that got everything started for me.  Chalene has a fun sense of humor but is also no-nonsense with her approach to fitness. Through her instruction I found this reassurance that if I would follow what she was telling me to do with my body position, I would get results.  It just works!

Here are some details on the program that are available to me through my coaching office page:

"Carve an intensely defined physique-without jumps, without weights, and without joint strain. Using body weight, PiYos uses low-impact, high-intensity movements inspired by Pilates and yoga. The result? Long, lean, muscles, a high, firm booty, and tight, flat, sexy abs. PiYo will work every single muscle to stabilize, stretch, and strengthen every inch of a body."

Workout Length 25-46 minutes

Workouts Included in PiYo:

Align (46 mins): The Fundamentals 

Upper Body (20 mins): this focused workout will strengthen and stretch your entire body, while building on the movement patterns you have learned in Align.

Define: Lower Body (25 mins) will shape and tone everything from your glutes, hamstrings, quads and calves gently, yet effectively to help you get sleek and lean legs.

Sweat (35 mins) is a traditional PiYo Workout that is fast paced with body weight strength training and ab work!

Core (30 mins) an ab-centric workout that targets every angle of the abdominals and back. I’ve read this will be a calorie-torcher too!

Drench (45 mins) is a total body workout to get you sweaty, burning calories, and going to have your metabolism on fire!

Strength Intervals (25 mins) designed to tone the whole body and burn tons of calories with no weights required!

Sculpt (30 mins) no weights are required for this intense, full-body workout either!

Check out this PiYo Preview Clip.

At the end of this month I will be launching a challenge group that will run for 60 days.  This is the length of the PiYo program.  We will begin with preseason on June 30th and our actual "Day One" will take place on Monday, July 7th.  Would you like to join me?

This past week...

We are having another beautiful morning here in Erie!  I was just out walking our little dog and was thinking about this past week.  We made a bigger loop since it is Saturday and we don't have to be anywhere until a lunchtime picnic with our small group.  As I reflected on the past week it was interesting to see a common theme and to settle in my heart the things that I am learning.  So I decided to think as I type and put the pieces together via blog entry.  :)

Last Saturday we had gone to the beach.  The lake was still quite chilly but my seven year old daughter and I were in the water for a little while, of course!  We couldn't resist!  The sand was hot and the day was beautiful.  And something kind of crazy happened to me!!!!!  Both kids were contentedly playing in the sand for quite some time (maybe due to the COLD water factor??) and my husband was good with manning both of them.  I stretched out on the hot sand and took some time to "just be".  For those who typically go to the beach with kids, you know how RARE this is!  Check out this hilarious (and all too true!) perspective that my friend Claire had shared on her FB page earlier this week.  Back to me on my own 30 minute mini-vacation last Saturday... I could hear the nearby voices of my family but if I focused my hearing I was more aware of the sound of the waves.  I love that sound.  I drifted into a peaceful sleep while listening to it.  When I woke up and heard it again I was reminded of how we can choose to tune in to God's love and hand on our lives.  He IS there but we don't always stop and hold still long enough to recognize Him.  So many other things (and people!) literally clamor for our attention. 

Fast forward to Thursday... One of those afternoons where feeling overwhelmed was about to take over!  Many of us wear several (or more!) hats in life.  Most of the time it is all fine.  But sometimes you find yourself in the middle of a ten day period where all of the "things" that are usually on more of a spaced rotation have suddenly crowded into one block of your calendar.  I realize that at times I do this to myself.  Here is my worst thing.  When someone is trying to schedule something that involves me as an active participant, I feel ridiculous saying that I best could fit that in 3-4 weeks from now.  I realize that there is a balance and I am getting better with this.  When I stop and look at the bigger picture, it is all fine.  It is just that in the midst of it I hate the feeling of temporary claustrophobia on our schedule but honestly don't know where I would make cuts.  I was prepping lots of veggies Thursday afternoon and cooking for my own family and preparing a meal for another family.  I was on the verge of tears and my college friend Laurie posted something on her FB page that was JUST THE THING I needed to hear.  Guess why?  Powerful melody is one part but words straight from God's Word is the biggest part.  

Laurie typed this with a link: "ever felt like God doesn't hear your prayers??? has forgotten about you??? yet His word says He never leaves us, never forsakes us,never gives up on us because His heart is toward us...this is an awesome listen, w the goodness really kicking into gear @ the 3:32 mark".  

Well, I listened to this FOUR times through while finishing my kitchen work.  Major exhale and things came back into focus.

Thursday evening we took the kids up to the Peninsula to ride their bikes on the wide part of the trail that begins at the Stull center and goes out for 1.5 miles with that same width.  This part of the trail is on the "lake side" rather than the "bay side".  There were LOTS of waves Thursday evening and as my husband and I walked along I was reminded of the time that I spent reflecting while relaxing on the sand over the weekend.  There are times in life where we can experience God's love so easily.  We see it everywhere.  Then there are other times where we really, really have to tune in and be extra-vigilant in quieting our hearts to focus.  As we walked on Thursday I would pause every now and then to just hear the waves and think of the game-changer Scripture verses that I had heard via my friend Laurie's song link from earlier that afternoon.  We have someone who will teach us HIS ways if we are willing to learn.

Yesterday morning I woke up and read the chapter surrounding the Bible Gateway verse of the day.  The excerpt below is from Ephesians 3:16-19.    

"I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit.  Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.  And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God."

I have read these verses many, many times in my life.  But what jumped out at me yesterday is that what we really need is to experience the Love of Christ, even though we can't fully understand it.  Living in the light of his love is what makes life different for me.  

This morning I was reading Psalm 90 which is the chapter where today's verse of the day is found. I have Bible Gateway as an app on my phone and read the verse of the day (plus surrounding chapter) before getting out of bed each morning.   

Verse 14 says "Satisfy us each morning with your unfailing love,
    so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives."

While walking the dog this morning, I was thinking about how it is His unfailing love that satisfies us.  We can try and try to fill in the gap with other things but it just does not work!    

In closing, here is the song that I am going to remember when I look back on this time in my life.  Check out "I AM" from David Crowder Band.  "There's no space that His love can't reach
There's no place where we can't find peace
There's no end to amazing grace"

 

Celebrating 10 Years Since the Night We Met!!!!!!

Oh my goodness!!!!  We met 10 Years ago!  Our first date was on 6/5/04 and I just have to say that I LOVE our love story.  There are many times that we reminisce about that first date and our summer of dating.  I was living in NY at the time and Sean was about 6 miles away, just over the border into CT.  I was 26 years old and was working as an Instructor and Rider at my most-favorite horse job ever.  Sean was 29 and he was working at South Kent Prep School where he was an Athletic Trainer, Instructor, Dorm Parent and many other things!  We found one another on match.com!  Sean "winked" at me and then messaged me.  We wrote back and forth for a while and then eventually had our first-ever phone conversation.  Shortly thereafter was our first date.  And it was MAGICAL!!!!!!  Sean was my 26th first date through match.com!  Ummm, I was rather idealistic, perhaps??  The other 25 had taken place over a 2.5 year period, beginning in Rochester, NY then the DC area, then the Eastern Shore of MD an finally NY/CT.  He had been out with just a handful of other match.com dates before meeting me.  And right from the start we CLICKED!  We met up at the Dover Plains train station, since we both could picture the location and I was in the habit of meeting my dates in public places!  The plan was that I would then follow him to dinner, driving separately.  Well... that didn't happen!  I pulled in to the parking lot and spotted his Trailblazer but could not yet see his face.  He watched me pull in with my little 3rd door Saturn.  He notes that I "bounced out of the car with a big smile" and he just couldn't wait to talk to me.  We greeted one another and I immediately felt at ease and got into his SUV with him (totally breaking one of my own "rules"!).  I remember how on our short ride south on 22, I just kept wanting to touch his arm!  We went to dinner at "The Country House" in Pawling/Brewster.  We talked and everything just seemed to sparkle.  After dinner we wanted to continue the conversation and there really isn't much out that way.  So we went to "Clocktower Commons" in Brewster.  It was a little village of shops where I used to get my hair cut.  They offered nice lighting, park benches and even some music via speakers!  It was a beautiful evening and we sat on a bench and continued getting to know own another.  Eventually Sean asked if he could kiss me!  I said yes.  :)  Towards the end of the evening he said something like how he could spend his summer getting to know a few girls but he really would rather just spend all of that time with me.  If I was okay with that?  (Of course!!!!  I felt the same way!!!)  And then he made the bold statement that we would always be able to remember the day we met, since the numbers are 6/5/04.  We both just knew from that first evening that we had found our match!

I remember driving home from the train station and listening to this song.  I called my family and close friends and told them that I had "finally met the right guy"!  They were excited and asked how long we had been seeing one another and which one is this?  Umm... TONIGHT!  I just met him tonight and it was perfect and I just knew.  We were engaged 2.5 months after meeting when Sean proposed to me on that same bench at Clocktower Commons. We were married 11 months later during the following summer.   

The past 10 years have gone by so quickly!  We moved to Erie on June 5th of 2006.  Kylee was born that December and Nathan arrive in March of 2009.  We have each been through a couple of job changes and have lost four of our grandparents since meeting.  Sean is so good to me and for me.  I am STUBBORN!  Others may not easily recognize this.  Just ask Sean!  Or my parents and sisters.  But Sean knows (most of the time!) how to finesse me and we still just click.  He keeps me on my toes and I oftentimes think of how much more stiff/straight-laced I might be without him!  We have NEVER been each other's "best friend" sort of partner.  We have our own interests and some of them overlap.  But while we may not spend hours discussing a topic together, I love that Sean gives me plenty of his trust in making decisions and keeping things running here at home.  We work well together.  And we are just plain GOOD together.  I am thankful for these past 10 years and can not imagine my life without him!  Here is to the next 10!  It is only through us staying plugged in to God's Word and His plan for our lives that we are able to really give our best to one another.  I am thankful for a man who shares my faith.  I had my own very solid spiritual foundation back when we first met.  Back then, Sean had recently felt as though the Lord was reaching out to him and he wanted to find a girl who was headed in the same direction.  I will always remember something that my Mom had said to me a week before my first date with Sean.  She had said that it is not so much about someone's knowledge and background and where they have been with their faith experiences.  Rather I should be looking more at where someone was headed right now.  Wise words!  And they also opened my heart to meeting someone much different than who I had ever imagined myself with in those days.  God sees the big picture and knew just who I needed!  I am thankful that He brought us together!

Here is one of my favorite love songs that almost always makes me cry!

While putting together these collages I realize that we are overdue for a new couple picture and a new family picture! 

Big Summer Sale on the Program that Changed Me + Other Specials!!

Hello!  Beachbody is running a BIG sale!  This is the first time that I have seen anything like this during my time as a coach!  The sale begins TODAY (Wednesday) at 3 PM Eastern Time and runs through Monday.  Items will be available during that time unless they sell out first.  It is anticipated that this will happen!

How do you take advantage of this sale??

1) Go to my page at www.beachbodycoach.com/JEANETTEPARADIS

2) Create a "free account".

3) When the sale goes live today at 3 PM Eastern Time, you will be ready to click "Shop" and make your selection.

4) You can look under "Shop" right now to view the details of ANY of the programs listed above.  The sale prices will apply later this afternoon.  But now is a good time to compare programs to get a feel for what catches your interest.  Please don't hesitate to ask me any questions!  

This comes at PERFECT timing!!!  My Summer Challenge group begins on June 9th!  Challenge groups are a free service that I provide for my customers.  It is while participating in a challenge group that customers receive the tools, support and general motivation boost that we need to really make a lifestyle change.  We talk lots about clean eating and how to incorporate this all-important facet of our general health.  See this post for more info on Challenge Groups.  

*Note that the sale workout programs are the workouts themselves.  These are not "challenge packs" which include a one month supply of Shakeology.  You do not have to be a Shakeology customer to join my Summer Challenge.  You may choose to add Shakeology if you would like to do so.  I do think that Shakeology has been absolutely key in my own success in losing 50 pounds and making this entire lifestyle change.  But I understand that the timing is not right for everyone to incorporate it immediately. 

Chalean Extreme is the program that I began with last September.  I really, really love this program and would recommend it to anyone who does not have physical limitations that restrict you from lifting weights.  Check out my initial transformation in the post: My Results with Chalean Extreme. 

I would love to have you as a member of my Summer Challenge group!  Take a look at these sales and let me know if you are interested.  We do of course offer more programs beyond what is on sale today.  A current favorite that is bringing about AMAZING results is the 21 Day Fix.  I hope to hear from you soon!