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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Solution for Migraines?!?!

Hello!  Thank you for stopping by my blog!  My name is Jeanette Paradis and I am writing this evening about migraine headaches.  I just put together a YouTube video with some of my own story and history with migraines.  After many years of dealing with these awful headaches, I am SO AMAZED, thankful and honestly thrilled to say that I have not had one in the past 14 months!  Seriously???  I know that this is awful, but I used to have 2-4 days a week where I would take 6-9 ibuprofen in order to attempt to keep a migraine at bay.  That worked most of the time, but not always!  Now, for the past 14 months, I have had 1-2 days a month (hormones!) where I take 2 ibuprofen and my headache is gone!  Here is a recap of my transformation as I reached the 1 year mark!

Something happened today which prompted me to write this blog entry... I am a health coach with Team Beachbody and I am a member of Melanie's Dream Team.  We have a coach group on Facebook and a fellow coach had posted there this morning, asking if anyone had experience with migraines and had overcome them while adding Shakeology?  She was asking for the sake of a family member who deals with them.  I of course commented with my own story.  Throughout the day today, more than a dozen other coaches from my team went on to comment with their own experiences of how their lives have changed now that they are free from the hold of the migraines!  CRAZY!  And INCREDIBLE!  As someone who knows the way migraines can ruin your day/week or whatever, I just had to share this via my blog.  I tagged the girls there and asked if I could share their stories?  I am going to paste in their words below!

I was saying this as I wrapped up the video posted above - please, please know that this is NOT some big sales pitch for a product!  I am also not publishing a scientific study here.  :)  What I did want to accomplish with writing this blog entry is to spread awareness of an alternate way to change our lives by ditching those nasty headaches!  Clean eating, drinking enough water, 30 minutes of daily exercise and Shakeology have been life-changing for me.  Shakeology is NOT just a "weight loss shake" or a "protein shake"!  It is dense nutrition filled with super-foods and it is a complete meal replacement that I happily drink each morning.  If you are dealing with migraines, this is worth exploring!  I am not saying that everyone who drinks Shakeology never suffers from a migraine.  That is just not true!  I am not a medical expert and therefore I am not making a blanket statement that this is the cure-all for anyone and everyone suffering from migraines!  We all know how complex the human body is and although we may share similar symptoms, the cause could be entirely different from one person to the next!  

So, this is not a general prescription for all of us!  Read these stories with an open heart and ponder what could be possible for you?  Please feel free to contact me with any questions!

"I used to have severe migraines. I had to take a daily medication trying to keep them at bay, and imitrex for the onset. I was still getting a migraine weekly so they were going to add shots on top of the meds. Since starting Shakeology in December of 2013, they became less frequent and less intense! I am happy to say that I no longer need any migraine meds! I didn't think that it was all due to Shakeology, but I missed my shakes for a week and then spent the next four days in bed with a heavy migraine. I will never miss my shakes again, lol. Now, I may have a headache one a month and Advil takes care of it nicely. It's great having a life again!" ~ Angela T

"I have always suffered from migraines, like weekly and have been down for the count. Since I have started Shakeology, I have had like 2 or 3 (since April).  And my eating has always been good, so I totally attribute it to Shakeology." ~ Jaime G

"I have suffered from migraines for years!! They got worse after my assault about 4 years ago I had to take nortryptiline 3 times daily and would still end up in the hospital at least once a month I wasn't really sure how much the Shakeology helped until I took a break from it!! Needless to say I'm back on Shakeology for the last couple of months and I have had NO migraines!!! If I don't do my shakes every day I definitely can tell!!!" ~ Sarah T

"My doc is talking about taking me off my migraine med, topomax, at my next visit because of Shakeology!!" ~ Tara H

"I used to have really bad migraines daily and since I started Shakeology I hardly have any." ~ Erica B

"I am...scratch that...I was a severe migraine sufferer. Like 2-4/week since the age of 16, and I'm 33 now. I had to take preventative meds daily and onset meds which really just made the migraine weaker, but never reduced frequency. I've been drinking shakeO since July 1st. Within 2 weeks I could feel the difference. By August 1st I stopped all migraine meds and I have only had one migraine since August...which I attribute to using too heavy of weights in an upper body combat workout since I could feel it stemming from my neck. ShakeO is a life changer for me without a doubt." ~ Kristalyn T  

"I'm living proof!!! I started Shakeology and clean eating in April and haven't had a migraine since then!!!!! They use to try every medication with me and next up was Botox which I opted not to do. I had them bad for 2-3 days at a time and would lose peripheral vision and vomit. Little did I know this magic happened. Now I no longer struggle thanks to Shakeology!!" 
 
"I was on Nortriptyline for migraines and I just stopped taking it a few weeks ago and feel so much better off of it. I still got one around my period but over all I FEEL SOOOO MUCH better since Shakeology!"

"In April 2005 I had a head injury in the military. I have TBI (traumatic Brain injury). Since starting Shakeology I have had no migraines. I did run out of Shakeo and had a migraine."

"I was taking RX meds 2-3 times a week for mine. Started taking Shakeology and in 4 months I think I've used it twice. Migraines are gone." 

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog entry!  Feel free to share it with a friend or family member who suffers from migraines.  We have options on methods of attacking those dreaded headaches.  :)  And you could find yourself feeling better than ever along the way! 

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!    

Q&A: Breaking It Down Four Ways!

I have been thinking about this blog entry over the past several days.  Recently, more than ever, I am getting so many questions on "how exactly are you doing this?" or "so what is a challenge group anyways?" or "did you have to stop eating all carbs?" or "what is in that Shakeology drink?" and "you must workout for at least an hour everyday?"... you get the idea!  I pretty much look back on the past six months (TOMORROW is my exact 6 month mark!!!!) and there are four areas that have made the biggest difference for me.  I have said before that I never would have been brave enough to jump into this lifestyle change if it had not been for my sister Rachel as my Team BeachBody coach.  That particular aspect of my own on-going transformation plays a large role in why I decided to become a coach myself!  I know that some of you are wanting to make a change but are not sure where and how to begin?  And from there, how to keep it going to the point where all of this just becomes your "new normal"?  

1) What is a Challenge Group?

A challenge group is typically a 60 day group. This all takes place through a closed facebook group. Only the members of the group can see what is being posted.  NONE of this comes up in your newsfeed!!  What I do is help you to customize your health and fitness goals to meet your needs. Then I help you to select the best Beachbody workout to get there based on your ability level. You replace 1 meal a day with Shakeology for the next 60 days to give your body 1 meal that is supercharged with ingredients that will give you natural energy.  Your cravings will be curbed, you will stay full for at least 3 hours.  Then, I am going to teach you how to plan the other meals of the day. I will help you create a customized meal plan, give you recipes, snack ideas, tips, motivation and keep you accountable. Every day I post in the challenge group a daily mind-set, tip, encouragement or challenge! You check in and rate your date and read what is posted. We all keep each other accountable!  We will address emotional eating, eating out at restaurants, going on vacation, temptations, cheat meals, body image and more! I have an entire curriculum for my group!  Does this sound like something you would like to do?

2) What is Shakeology?

 

Shakeology is not just another protein shake. This is actually a meal replacement which means that it has the proper carb to protein ratio that you need in a meal to keep you full for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Shakeology combines the fast burning complex carbs and the slow burning fuel. Together they are what make a complete meal. Also, Shakeology is equivalent to eating 6 salads in one meal.  70 super-foods all in one delicious serving! I will be honest I was a little skeptical at first and was certainly not looking to add any expenses to the budget!  But now that I have given it a try, I will never go back. I no longer crave sweets, I have SO much more energy in general.  As a mom, this is VERY helpful!  Shakeology is quick and easy for when I'm busy and don't have time to make a meal! It has saved me in so many situations. Honestly it really is worth it.  I oftentimes suggest to people that you could use Shakeology to replace whatever meal of the day is your own "weakest link".  You will be AMAZED at the results!

3) What is Clean Eating?

Clean Eating may be described differently by different people.  But here is the gist of it! 

What to Avoid:

• All over processed foods particularly white flour and sugar
• All chemically charged foods
• Food containing preservatives
• Artificial Sugars
• Artificial foods like sliced cheese
• Saturated and trans fats
• Sugar loaded beverages(juice)
• Alcohol intake(very limited)
• All calorie dense foods containing little or no nutritional value
• super sizing your meals

So, what DO you eat AND perhaps prepare for a family while "eating clean"?  Basically, we keep it simple!  The recipes are not complex and the foods are not hard to find!  Here is a sample of my own menu plan for the week of March 17th.

4) What kind of workouts do you offer? 

BeachBody truly has a workout that would suit anyone who is interested in pursuing fitness!  No matter your starting level!  You can check out my site at http://www.beachbodycoach.com/JEANETTEPARADIS and there you will find all sorts of

descriptions on the workouts that are currently available!  I did Chalean Extreme for my workout during the first five+ months of this lifestyle change.  I switched to the 21 Day Fix not long ago and am greatly enjoying that as well!  Both of these programs involve workouts that are typically 30-35 minutes in length.  I had hit a plateau with my recent regime and it was time to make a change.  The past 10 days have been fantastic!  I am working different muscles and learned quite a few things about my own nutritional needs.

Not everyone in the Challenge Group is doing the same workout.  But we are all able to support one another and oftentimes it is interesting to hear what others are doing as you

file away ideas for what may be of interest to you in regards to future workouts!  The best way to begin is to order a "Challenge Pack", which will include your DVD-based workout, a few accessories and one month supply of Shakeology. 
 

So now you have a better idea of the tools that I have used in order to make a change in my own life!  This journey has been so worth it.  In fact, earlier today we were celebrating my son's 5th birthday with all of my family.  We were at this nifty place called "Fun Central", located in Clearfield, PA.  They offer this amazing climbing course/soft play area.  I was talking with my husband during our drive back to Erie this evening and was telling him that six months ago there is no way that I would have had the strength, agility or confidence to enter into that climbing area.  The kids enjoyed having me alongside of them and this is just one little gem that I treasure as I look back on "why" this is all worth it!  Where would you like to be six months from now?  With the right tools, you can get started in that direction!  My next challenge group begins in a few weeks.  :)  YOU could be there with me!