Flexible Part Time = Full Time: Everyday to Extraordinary!

Good morning!!  Welcome to my blog!  My name is Jeanette.  I am a wife, a mom and a Coach with Team Beachbody!  I am currently sitting in our home in our suburban neighborhood here in Erie, PA.  Last week at this time I was in Nashville for our annual Coach Summit where 25,000 of us coaches had gathered for some incredible days together!!  Best part - I got to go with my sister Rachel!  She is the one who got me into all of this in the first place.  

In September of 2013, I got started in a Challenge Group that my sister Rachel was leading.  Rachel had become a coach the month prior, after having begun her own health journey that May.  I began with clean eating and home fitness and with the support of my challenge groups, I have gone on to lose nearly 60 pounds!  I feel better than ever and am just plain thankful to be where I am today!

In March of 2014, I became a coach myself!  Rachel had been asking me about it for MONTHS but I kept on saying "No!", "No thanks", "Not right now".  That stemmed from thinking that this was weird and might be some sort of scam and what if I was not good at it and what if other people thought it was strange and who am I to be helping others with their own health and what if I could just not make a go of it??????  These thoughts and many others held me back.  In the meantime, we were very, very close to selling our home and downsizing due to troubles in our family budget.  We had bought our current place when my husband had his previous job and his current job required that we make some adjustments here.  All of those concerns listed above - the things that kept me from saying "yes"?  Well, God's hand was in this.  From my very first MONTH, I was able to earn enough to cover the cost of our mortgage here.  A couple of days ago, I made a video talking about being able to do that this week with my earnings from one WEEK as a coach. As I shared in the video, why am I talking about all of this??  Well, you might be looking for something extra to help your own family and this could be it!  Seriously.  I currently work 20-25 hours per week with where I am as a coach. I began with this with 12-15 hours per week.  I look forward to really being able to dive into my business once the kids begin school next month.  I am truly just getting started!  There are so many more things I would love to do each day but have to work with the time that I have as a mom.

I host a regular coaching open house via FB group and I would be glad to have you there with us!  My sister Rachel and I lead our team together.  We are building successful businesses and are so happy to be helping our coaches to do the same!  And we are GROWING --- how exciting!!!!

Looking back through my photos from last week's trip to Nashville, I was reminded again of how much I LOVE this company!  I have gotten to know some incredible coaches who live all over this continent.  My sister Rachel's own coach Melanie is the #1 coach out of 360,000+ coaches and it is amazing to have the best support and tools right at our fingertips.  Summit was a big celebration for us as well as a top-notch learning opportunity!

 

Some begin coaching in the midst of their journey of significant weight loss.  Others do not need to lose any weight - they are looking to gain strength and energy.  Some are looking to get off of medications for an array of ailments.  Clean eating and Shakeology go a LONG way in this area.  After finding our own success and seeing this happen for others over and over again, it is too EXCITING not to share this with others! 

Some coaches work at the hobby level and delight in helping family and a few friends to reach their own goals.  Other coaches are building a significant business and are truly carrying the household budget based on their coaching career.  There are NO MINIMUMS and also NO LIMITS in what you can do with this as a business.  All of us are thankful for the quality people that we have met and continue to meet in this endeavor.  I have been part of many "groups" of people and quite a few initiatives throughout my life as a leader and person of action.  My coach friends are the best!  These are positive, caring, motivated people who are living proof that change is possible and we are done with the status-quo of our society.  Join us!

 

I remember how I used to worry over my declining health and I thought that at best I would maintain where I was... never mind the huge improvements that I have seen!  Motherhood is a great joy but I used to wonder if I would be able to find something of my own in the midst of it, without trading off too many things here. I LOVE that I can help others all over the country (and world, even!) to find the same success that I have had. Life change is POSSIBLE, REAL and NECESSARY! Time to change up the status quo in our society!

Being on my own journey of health and becoming a coach who helps others and leads my team alongside of my sister has been a surprise twist that I did not see coming at first! Now I can not imagine life any other way!  I was a SKEPTIC! My sister asked me about this sooooooooo many times and we were at the point of very nearly selling our home before I finally said yes. And you know what? This is beyond anything that I could have estimated for myself!

 

You are invited to join me in my next coaching info session to learn more about if coaching could be a fit for you!  Send me a friend request at https://www.facebook.com/jeanette.paradis and we will get started!

My View - Memorable Days!

 

Good morning and welcome to my blog!  My name is Jeanette and I am a mom of two early elementary age kids.  I am currently making my way through the PiYo program and those who follow me on FB are accustomed to seeing PiYo photos like the one above.  It is hard to put into words the increased flexibility, balance and range of motion that I have found with this one!  I have been a Team Beachbody coach for nearly 15 months now and I NEVER stop being amazed at the things that I see and hear in the course of a day or week.  I mean seriously.  So this blog entry is going to include some of the highlights of the past few days.  Some of this may surprise you!  

Last night there were three things that I came across within a 10 minute period that just resonated so much within me!  Here is the "what" and "why".

1) I was scrolling FB last night and WOW - there was one of my FB friends who is a coach on our larger team and she was the $1,000 winner of the Beachbody Challenge!  Ashley's story really just says it all.  It is not just the losing 76 pounds after a devastating miscarriage.  It is not just getting her thyroid balanced despite hypothyroidism.  It is gaining a new outlook on life.  Wanting to leave the house again and being ready to embrace life. Reading about her coach and being in a challenge group... so neat!  This is a snapshot of why I love what I do each day!  Check out Ashley's story and photos here!

2) I hear ALL THE TIME how it "costs too much" to eat healthy.  This discussion was even a feature story in our local news page via FB just yesterday.  It makes me sad that people don't necessarily see the high price they are paying big picture when NOT eating healthy.  As I was thinking about that last night, this video made by Autumn Calabrese (mom and creator of the 21 Day Fix) popped up in my news feed.  Here you go - Check out Autumn and her little guy on video here.  Her video description: The number one reason I hear why people don't eat healthy is that it is too expensive. Here is my comparison of McDonalds meals vs a home made meal. Home made meal wins! You can find the recipe for the chicken nuggets that I made on autumncalabrese.com

3) And finally, last night I came across this article and it was an EXCELLENT summary of the "what" and "why" this is all coming together!  Do you want to change your life?  Do you feel like it is going to be too expensive?  How does Shakeology compare to other things out there?  Take a LOOK AT THIS INFO!!! 

I currently have two challenge groups running ("secret" accountability groups on FB!) and these groups are on Day 6 and Day 20 today.  Plus I have other challengers who began earlier this year and have since become coaches on my team.  Now that I have personally been at this life change since September 2013, it is encouraging to always be hearing the perspective of those who are not so far from the starting line.  My next group will begin on June 1st and you are invited!  See details at the end of this blog entry.

Some things that had me cheering the past few days??

A friend who began as a challenger and is now a coach shared how she bought new bras yesterday - band size is down 4" from where she began this past February!!!

Challenger sharing with me that since starting Shakeology and clean eating, her almost monthly yeast infections have vanished!  Tested sugar and cholesterol and they are both down these days!  Shakeology is proven to lower cholesterol (my own dropped 44 points!) and is also known to be effective in really shifting PCOS, Crohn's, IBS, Inflammation and a bunch of miscellaneous things!  This is NOT some "magic powder".  It is truly top nutrition and when we fuel our bodies well, it is AMAZING what we will see change along the way!

New challenger sharing how she now feels that it is actually possible to get into shape!  That realization is priceless and will take someone far! 

ANOTHER coach on our team shared yesterday that she is expecting!  It is no coincidence that this keeps happening.  Myself, my tubes were tied 6 years ago.  But when I began my lifestyle change in September 2013, I was amazed at how out of nowhere, after 22 years of an irregular cycle, it was "suddenly" regular that first month and has been ever since.  Another challenger shared last week that she has experienced the same!  It is amazing what great nutrition can do when you are incorporating Shakeology along with clean eating.  My migraines also disappeared! 

Brand new challenger who can't believe that her old cravings have disappeared and she is following the plan 100%.  When asked what is making the difference?  "1. Shakeology. I've tried other protein powders before and not had this kind of success. It's yummy and satisfying. The other kinds I've bought I would try to choke down and they left me hungry. And I mean well-respected brands like "Garden of Life." 2. That I paid a nice chunk of change for the program. Buying a DVD for $10 and don't use it? No big deal. Buy 21 day fix and don't use it? Ouch. Haha. Those are two things making the difference I think.  Shakeology has immediately taken away my carb, sugar, diet soda and sugary coffee drink cravings. I don't even understand it! But I like it!  I think Beachbody is really a cover for Willy Wonka. He's finally perfected that gum that tastes like a whole meal (remember that scene in the old movie?) but used the technology for Shakeology. Hahaha"  Here is a blog entry of mine on "Breaking the Diet Cycle".  I see this OVER and OVER and am still captivated with how it works!

Challenger/New Coach who shared yesterday how she hasn't felt this good in 4 years!
"I'm starting to get some of my flexibility back doing yoga and Pilates again.
My marriage has a spark again and that's hard with babies around.
I have tons of energy and I'm still NOT getting sleep.
My heart and body just feels healthier.
I'm generally happier in every aspect of my life just because I feel good?"

A challenger who has become a coach shared this on her page the other night and I just loved it!  "This is why I am a Beachbody Coach: I know DMV are not the best photos, but neither is the comparison. I have really struggled with my fitness journey because I feel great, but the scale hasn't moved as much as I wanted and I know I need to take off a lot before someone notices. But tonight I pulled out my license & was shocked. That was just about a month & a half ago. By George...it's working!"

  

SO, can you even believe that all this is part of my job????  And I get to work from home?  I shared this on my own FB page yesterday morning:

Rest day today on the PiYo calendar and I fit in some extra "work" time this morning. 

Why the ""????

Because this truly does not feel like work yet it is my job!

Being able to work from anywhere, when it is convenient for me is such a benefit!
This morning I am checking in with current challengers and we are keeping each other accountable on the journey. These women become friends and I love that!

I am in conversation with those pondering "if" this is the time to make their own life change and could it work for them? That is a vulnerable spot to be in and I remember it well. 

I am brainstorming ideas with my team and these are some INCREDIBLE women. We are in a variety of places this morning - in the hospital with a newborn, on a road trip to see family, getting ready to go to a regular job, feeding babies, getting kids prepped for school. Everyone connects and it is amazing to hear of the progress that is taking place. 

All in all, I am just plain thankful!

Last night at dinner I was able to share with my husband some exciting things that are happening in my business. Do you know how much that means as a mom who is juggling lots here at home? I thank the Lord that I can contribute here and invest in others whole investing in our own future!

If this sparks your interest, let's talk!

There is an anthem type of song that I first heard this past week and it instantly clicked with me - everyone mentioned here in this blog entry is fighting the status quo of what is acceptable as "normal" in our society these days. 

If you would like to begin your own adventure with personal health and fitness and then who even knows what could happen next - complete the form below and we will get started!

On June 1st I will be kicking off my 60 Day "Summer Challenge" group and I just know that this is going to be a great one!  I am enrolling there now and am excited about the potential of those who have already committed to joining me!  Here is more about what goes into being a challenger.

On June 1st I will also be starting my monthly Smart Start Coach Basics training.  We are hosting a 3 Day "Coaching Open House" later this week - May 27th through 29th.  This all takes place in a closed FB group and it is a great place to explore coaching as an option without any sort of obligation to do more than explore the idea.  Friend request me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/jeanette.paradis for more info! 

 

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Why Now?

Doesn't this look AMAZING?!?  Just looking at this photo makes me think of when my husband I went to Tahiti on our honeymoon 10 years ago!  I would absolutely jump at the chance to go on a trip like this with him again!  I was expecting our daughter by our first wedding anniversary and then we added our 2nd child a couple of years later.  Needless to say, a trip like this has not been in the picture for us.  We have been a single-income family much of the time while I have been at home with the kids.  They are both school age now but we are a homeschooling family during this time in life.  So... I am still at home with the kids!  Last year at this time I was driving 50 miles round trip, 5 times per week to work as a horseback riding instructor during the evenings and weekends.  I really enjoyed the work itself, but being out the house for 25-30 hours per week just was not a good fit for our family.  Due to a job change that happened for my husband several years ago, it is important that I also do something to contribute to the family budget.  

I became a Team Beachbody coach in March of 2014, just after having resigned from my position as a riding instructor.  I had first joined a Challenge Group in September 2013 and this was the start of my own health transformation where I went on to lose 50+ pounds over the next year.  But by March of 2014, I was more than ready to lead others!  I hit the ground running and have truly enjoyed building my business ever since.  It is amazing to see the transformations in my challengers.  People are changing their lives and I get to be there to help them!  I also love the team that I lead with my sister Rachel.  We coach together and work closely with the members of our own team.  Plus I deeply appreciate being part of Melanie's Dream Team where our lead coach Melanie Mitro is currently #1 in all of Beachbody!  We have some incredible elite coaches on our team and working frequently with them goes a long way in really making a go of things as a coach myself!  

My sister Rachel was my own coach and she had been telling me for months that I ought to consider coaching.  I was finally ready to take the dive in late February.  One of the first things that I did was to get on the waiting list for Cancun 2015!  Each year Beachbody offers an incredible trip that coaches are able to earn for free!  A spouse or whomever is also included in the arrangements of the trip.  Perfect, right??

Well, guess what?  Not so perfect, after all!  Remember how I had decided in late February to begin coaching.  Even though I put my name on the waiting list ASAP, I am still on the wait list.  As of this weekend, I am number 780 something.  But here is the crazy part!  I will have earned enough points this year (even with not having started in January!) that I could have gone on the trip for FREE!  You earn points by supporting your customers and helping them with their own transformations.  Coaches who sign up for the trip at the beginning but then do not earn enough points during the year are still able to go - they just pay for the difference.  I am unfortunately in the other boat!  The trip would be free BUT since I enrolled in late February, I am down on the waiting list and most likely will not get to be there in Cancun with everyone in April of 2015.

So why am I sharing all of this?  Well... because if you are thinking of potentially getting started as a Beachbody coach, NOW IS THE TIME!  Reservations for the 2016 Success Club trip will begin in early January.  If you have the potential of earning the trip for free, it just makes sense to be able to sign up for it right away so that you are able to go once the time comes!

 

Coaching is really all about helping others!  You are offering support, tools and connections for those who are working hard to make healthy changes.  This is a legitimate business and I am excited by the potential as a coach.  It would be so good to have you partnering with us as we work to "end the trend" of obesity here in the United States!

Beginning on Monday, December 15th my sister Rachel and I are hosting a 3 day "Open House" via a closed group on Facebook.  You are invited to join us!  This will be a no-strings-attached time to ask questions and check out the YouTube videos that we had made while together over Thanksgiving.  We talk about some of the common questions that people have as they consider the idea of coaching.  Let me know if you would like to be included!  Even if you are just curious if this could even be an option for you, it is definitely worth exploring.  I am so glad that I got started myself and I really enjoy helping others to reach their own goals with fitness and their own business building.  Plus we have a super-fun team, of course! 

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!