TurboFire Week 1 Results

The results are in!  

After my first full week of TurboFire, I am down 1.6 pounds!  I'm having so much fun with these workouts!  This is my first experience with a cardio kickboxing type of program and my first experience with HIIT workouts, and all I can say is wow, it really works!  Even though I haven't lifted a single weight this week, I am feeling stronger.  It's Crazy!  I am following the 21 Day Fix meal plan with this program currently, because I love it so much.  TurboFire comes with it's own meal plan too, which I will be adopting during my second month of this program, so by the end of month #2, I will be able to give you guys a good comparison between the 2 eating plans.  I really like the the TurboFire schedule.  i feel like it is well thought out.  The HIIT workouts, are spread out throughout the week. The rest day comes at the perfect time, right when I needed it most.  There is a good balance between cardio, HIIT, and core/sculpting workouts and plenty of opportunities for stretching.  I enjoy the way music and some dancing is incorporated into the workouts. It's a lot of fun!

Last night, I participated in Beachbody's January Surge event.  It is live-streamed event in which Beachbody shares important information and incentives, recognizes top coaches, and builds excitement and momentum for the coming quarter.  I am so proud to be able to say that 4 out of the top 10 coaches are members of the Bombshell Dynasty.  Our team has some tremendous leaders to look up to and everyone is so kind and willing to help other coaches succeed.  In a couple of years, I hope to hear my name announced as one of the top 10 coaches in the organization!  

The yearly Success Club trip was also announced during the surge last night.  This trip is attainable for any coach in the organization.  This past year, my upline coach earned her trip in less than 6 months.  She is getting to go to Cancun FOR FREE in April! I started as a coach in October, and was not able to get in on Cancun, but this year, it is GAME ON.  I will be earning the 2016 success club trip, and you can too! Want to hear where we will be going together?  The 2016 Success Club Tip is...... A CRUISE.... to.... JAMAICA..... and.... the private island of Labadee!

Want to ride the high seas and kick back with me in Jamaica next Spring?  Fill out the form below and let's get you started with helping others on their fitness journeys and earn your own free trip in the process! 

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Unboxing TurboFire

I am so excited to be starting a new program on Monday, TurboFire.  I've been doing 21 Day Fix first on my own back in October, and then with a couple of challenge groups.  It's a highly effective program, easy to maintain, and I've gotten great results, but I'm a bit of a program hopper.  I like to do a program start to finish, and then move on to another program.  It helps keep my motivation up and keeps me focused.  I could tell my motivation was starting to decline the last couple weeks.  It could be the holidays, or it could be that I'm just ready for something new.  I'm ready to change my routine up, and I figure, since I start my day with a workout, the easiest way to mix things up would be for me to start a new program!  

I could have waited until the new year to start a new program, but I've got a couple of great challenge groups all starting at the end of December and beginning of January, so I wanted to have my new routine down before my groups start. That way I can devote much more focus to my challengers and help them get started towards their own fitness goals.  I also have a big Beachbody Coaching event coming up in 3 weeks called Super Saturday. This will be my first time going to a coach event, and I want to look my absolute best.  My goal is to lose the last 7 pounds I need to lose to get back to my pre-baby weight.

As far as my eating plan goes, TurboFire provides an eating guide, but I will be sticking to the 21 Day Fix eating plan.  It's so easy to follow, and the balance of macros is spot on for what my body needs. The TurboFire eating plan looks awesome, and I'm sure it would give me great results too, but I'm not going to change my whole eating plan just yet.  I will revisit the idea of switching eating plans after the holiday craziness dies down.  

Tonight, I unboxed my TurboFire and took a look at all the program goodies.  I love, love, LOVE getting into a new fitness program, and I wanted to share the experience with you!

So when you get your TurboFire program in the mail it looks like this:

Then you open it up and see a stack of program materials:

When you unwrap the stack of printed materials, you will see that you have been provided a workout schedule, a program overview that explains how the program is designed, the science behind HIIT, and how to maximize your results, the eating plan (with recipes!), and a special 5-day Inferno plan (a specialized 5-day strict eating plan designed to accelerate your results).  

Underneath the printed materials is your set of workout DVDs.  There are 11 DVD's in the base kit of this program.  There are also open sleeves for the 5 advanced workout DVD's should you choose to buy them as well.  I may just have to do that after I complete my first round!

You also receive some equipment. No need to go out and buy your own!  You get a measuring tape to track all the inches you will be losing, a resistance band and set of resistance band handles, and a sculpting band to use during leg and bun sculpting workouts.  I don't know if you have ever used one of these bands, but I have.  They look so innocent until you use them in a workout. Then it's like your buns are on FIYAH!

Tomorrow I will dig deeper into the program materials and get myself set up for Monday, Day 1 of TurboFire!  I will be documenting my weekly progress with this program on my blog.  I'm so ready!

Motivation Monday: New Month, New Week, New You! + Insanity MAX 30 Launch!

Today is a great day! It's the start of a new week and the start of a new month!  It's the perfect opportunity to start something new, change a habit, or make some new goals!

For me, I reset my internal clock and forced myself to get up early, despite going to bed later than I had planned last night.  This month, I will get up and get my workouts in, every morning, so that I am set up for success the rest of the day.  It was Day 1 of my current 21-Day Fitness Challenge Group.  I have a great group of ladies that I am working with this round that are just as excited as I am to change their habits and their bodies.  Working with challenge groups is probably the most rewarding part of my job as a Beachbody Coach.  I get to work directly with motivated individuals to help them better their lives through fitness, which in turn, improves more than just their health and bodies, it helps their confidence, self-image, and self-worth.  Just thinking about it makes me smile!

I also took some time today to make some new goals for my business.  I really excited about these new goals and where my business will be when I achieve them!  When I formulate my goals, I write them as if I have already achieved them.  Do you ever use that trick?  Using positive, forward thinking helps you in your day to day motivation.  It allows you to more easily see what it will look like when your goals are achieved.   Don't ever say "if I achieve..." always say "when I achieve..." or "I will be...".  Also in writing our your goals, make sure they are measurable and give yourself a time limit.  If you are working on a deadline, you're less likely to procrastinate. Here are my two goals for December:

By December 31st, I will have:
     (1) achieved the rank of emerald coach (meaning I have expanded my team of coaches)
     (2) earned Success Club 5 (expanded my client base)

You might not understand what each of those goals means unless you are also a Beachbody Coach, but you can see the language and format I used.  Now, the day's not over, take a moment and make some goals for this month!

With a new month, comes a new free 30-day Fitness Challenge in my Facebook Group, Achieving a Fitter Life with Heather Hope!  This month we are doing a Push-Up Challenge.  Like I mentioned above, this is a completely free group.  If you want to join us, shoot me a message or join our Facebook Group and I will add you to our challenge!

Now, I've saved the best for last!  Where are all my Insanity peeps and Shawn T lovers at? Shawn T's newest fitness program, Insanity MAX 30 is launching TOMORROW!  I have a couple of friends who were part of the coach test group for this program, and let me tell you, it is off the hook!  The workouts are hardcore and so are the results!  It's only available to coaches and their customers tomorrow, and will become available for the general public next week, so if you want to get your hands on this program first, I can help you do that!  Message me or email me for details and pricing on this amazing new program! 

Why I am a Beachbody Coach

I'm participating in a fabulous coach training right now with my upline coaches and one of our assignments was to share my "why", or my reason for becoming a coach.  I jotted down a bunch reasons that came to my mind, and it occurred to me, that this opportunity I have been given is just too great not to share with others.  Hopefully my "why" will hit home with some you and I will get the chance to share this opportunity with you.

When I reread all of the reasons I became a Beachbody Coach, I found that I could group my ideas into three big reasons: Helping others, Financial Freedom, and Flexibility.

Helping Others

I am a third generation teacher.  My great Aunt was a 5th grade teacher for her entire 30+ year career.  My mother is an elementary school teacher, currently 5th grade as well. I was an 8th grade teacher until the birth of my daughter.  Teaching, helping, and uplifting others is in my blood, and it is what I love to do.  I am very thankful I had the ability to stay home with my daughter after she was born, but I missed teaching.  I missed seeing the light bulbs going off when my students got it.  I missed celebrating the victories, big and small, when my students reached their goals.  I missed coming up with new ideas to engage and figuring out how to reach the tough kiddos.  I just missed teaching.  

I was given the opportunity to teach Zumba at a local gym a few months after my daughter was born, and I jumped on it.  I had taught Zumba as a second job before I was too pregnant to do so, and I welcomed the opportunity to teach again.  As a Zumba instructor, not only did I guide my students though an hour of fun, fabulous, dance fitness, but I was also able to help them with their health and fitness questions.  I would share the importance of stretching, proper warm-up and cool-downs, water consumption, perceived exertion, suggestions for cross-training, and many other topics that would come up in casual conversation before and after class.  I was back in my element and happy.  Then my husband's work schedule got more demanding.  I wasn't going to be able to continue teaching at the gym because I needed to be home with my daughter.  Family will always come first, and my job did not give me the flexibility I needed in order to keep doing it.  That's when I met my coach, Stacy, and she introduced me to the coaching opportunity.  I now help others reach their health and fitness goals as a coach, and I am able to reach many more people than I was ever able to as a fitness instructor or school teacher. 

Financial Freedom

I had always wanted to be a stay-at-home mother, but I didn't know if it would be financially possible for us to do.  After a stroke of luck with my husband's job, and researching the cost of daycare versus how much I was being paid as a teacher, it was a no brainer.  Daycare would have cost us half my paycheck, and knowing I wanted more than one kiddo, it didn't make sense for me to go back to work.  Our finances took a hit when I left and we had to do some creative budgeting to make ends meet, but I know it was the right decision.  We still have some debt, mostly student loans, but as my coach business is growing, I can see how quickly we will become debt free and it is exciting!  

Flexibility

I mentioned earlier that I had to leave my fitness instructor position because I was needed at home.  I needed a job that gave me flexibility.  I run my coaching business from home, at whatever time of day I have time, usually around my daughter's sleep schedule.  Nearly everything I do is through social media, so I can do it on my laptop, tablet, or phone, so I can work my business anytime, anywhere.  The flexibility is amazing!  It removes so much stress out of my life.  No traffic, no deadlines, no what the heck do I wear today? In fact, right now, I'm writing this blog post wearing flannel pj's and listening to Grey's Anatomy in the background while my daughter sleeps.  Sound nice?

Now that you have read about why I became a Beachbody Coach, are you at all intrigued? Wondering if this opportunity could be right for you too?  My team is holding a Sneak Peak into Coaching where we will be sharing what it means to be a coach, what we do everyday, and the benefits of becoming a coach, including the financial compensation plan. We will also answer any questions you have about coaching.  If you like what you hear and want to become a coach, we will help you do that, if you want to wait, or decide coaching isn't for you, no worries.  This is a no obligation, no risk, no stress opportunity to see what we do and see if its right for you!

Want to join our free Sneak Peak into Coaching? Fill out the form below, and I will be in touch!

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What exactly is Beachbody?

The last couple of days have been crazy hectic.  My husband's work schedule has been more demanding than normal, by toddler is sick, and I have my first two vendor events this week.  I've been running around like a crazy woman, staying up late, not taking care of myself.  I can proudly say that I have gotten my workouts in. I really do depend on my morning workouts to start my day off right. As far as the rest of the day has been concerned the past couple of days, all I can say is thank goodness I have my Shakeology. It really is the healthiest meal of the day, and lately its been one of the only meals I am consistently getting.  You know when you are so busy you just forget to eat? Yep, the last two days I have been guilty of that.  I try to eat six small meals a day, but the last couple days I have only been getting two or three meals in. Not good for my metabolism and certainly not good for my mood either. At least I know that I am getting the nutrients I need, and I have the energy to get through these crazy days.  And I can't forget to mention my amazing husband!
He is doing his best to be my fitness accountability partner in the mornings before work, devoted daddy when he gets home, and business assistant after the little one is in bed.  I am so thankful to have him in my life. 

I did my first vendor event last night.  It was a fun, and surprisingly, eye-opening experience.  I was surprised at how few people I spoke with had even heard of Beachbody or Shakeology.  Of the few people that had heard of either, even fewer actually knew anything about either.  I took this as an opportunity to share about how many programs Beachbody has to offer.  There really is a program for everyone.  If you are new to fitness, there's 21 Day Fix or P90.  If you love cardio, there's Insanity, T25, or Turbo Fire.  If you are trying to build and tone muscles, there's P90X, Body Beast or Chalene Extreme.  If you like to dance, there's Hip Hop Abs or Rockin Body.  Like low-impact? Try PiYo or Tai Cheng.  I could go on and on. Last I counted there were 24 Beachbody fitness programs, and I know of 2 more coming out in the next few months!  For anyone who says that Beachbody is not for them, or there is no way they could complete a program, I can tell you with complete confidence that they just haven't found the program for them.  That's where Beachbody coaches, like myself, come in.  We can help you find the program that fits your current fitness level, lifestyle, and goals best.  Don't have a coach yet? I would love for you to give me the opportunity to help you on your fitness journey.  At the top of this blog page, there is a "click here" button that will take you to the free sign-up.  Fill that out, hit submit, and bam! I'm your coach!  Super simple right?  So no more excuses, stop your dilly dallying and just do it!  I'm here to help, and my services are free!  The only thing holding you back is you!

My table set up at my first vendor event.  So much fun!

Stay tuned for an explanation of the awesomeness that is Shakeology.  I will be sharing with you how it really is the healthiest meal you can consume in your day.  We will talk about the ingredients, how it is made, how it is metabolized and what drinking Shakeology everyday can do to improve your health.  There is so much great info, that I just had to make it it's own post!

It is the start of the weekend, so I wanted to leave you with some inspiration to keep you on track through, what I consider to be, the hardest days to stay committed: Saturday and Sunday.  Remember, results take time.  If it doesn't feel like work, it won't work!  Stay focused, amazing results come to those the are persistent and consistent!

  

Motivation Monday and the Final Day of 21 Day Fix

Motivation Monday

A mantra can be a powerful motivational tool.  I developed my own personal mantra when I was training for my first marathon.  I used it whenever I was feeling weak, or needed an extra push.  This came in handy during my long runs and especially during the marathon itself in the final miles.  My mantra: "you are strong, you are motivated, you will do this".  I found this little motivational gem while I was surfing Pinterest this morning:

I find this picture so inspiring!  I hope you do as well.  Take some time in the near future to develop your own mantra.  It doesn't have to be long, eloquent, or even grammatically correct.  It just needs to work for you.  It should be something that lights a fire inside you and helps you push past the wall or whatever is stopping you.  Find your mantra and use it whenever you need to dig deep and find that extra push!


21 Day Fix Progress:

I have officially completed my first round of the 21 Day Fix!  I didn't have a chance to take after pictures today, but it's on my to do list for tomorrow, so be on the look out for my official results!  For the last 3 days of the program, I decided to do the quick fix eating plan.  It is a much stricter plan than the normal fix plan, and is supposed to give you even more drastic results.  I'm going to be completely honest and share with y'all and that the quick fix did not work for me.  Part of why I am a Beachbody Coach is because I believe in the products. I have experienced great success and have helped others get fantastic results using the programs and nutritionals Beachbody offers. I speak very highly of these programs and products because they work, but I am also very open and honest about every aspect of these programs, so if something didn't work for me, I'll share that too.  

The first two and a half weeks of the 21 Day Fix worked great. I was blown away with the results I was getting.  They were as good or better than I had ever seen with other programs I have completed.  Whether it was on the scale, or in the measuring tape, I saw results every single day.  This is great motivation to keep going, so if motivation or consistency has been an issue for you in the past, I highly recommend the 21 Day Fix program.  I firmly believe that I would have continued to see the same level of progress the last three days of the program if I had continued with the normal eating plan.  

I think where I went wrong, was my calorie intake during the quick fix.  I followed the plan as written, but I think for my body, the number of calories I consumed for those three days was just too low.  I didn't gain weight or lose weight at all the last three days of the plan and I felt fatigued and bloated.  My body is exceptionally good at adapting to the situations I put it in.  Seriously, in the event of an apocalyptic disaster, I really think I would be one of the last people standing. I gain muscle quickly when I lift, my flexibility improves right away when I start stretching, and unfortunately, I plateau often when trying to lose weight, so I am constantly changing up my routine and calorie cycling to try to prevent/break those plateaus. I also can go in and out of starvation mode at the drop of a hat, and I totally know when that happens because of how my body feels.  This felt like one of those times.  Now that I know how my body responds to this program, I am eager to do another round and see how much better my results can be in another 21 days.  I had a "cheat meal" for my dinner tonight, and will begin with the plan again starting tomorrow. I'm only 9 pounds away from my pre-preggo weight.  My goal is to get there in one more round of 21 Day Fix.

I do believe the 21 Day Fix is a great program for people of all fitness levels, whether you are just starting out, or this is you second, third, or even fourth program.  The eating plan is solid in its foundation, easy to follow, and flexible.  The workouts are short, only 30 minutes, and very easy to modify up or down to give you the challenge you need to see results.  I will continue to promote this plan and recommend it to those I coach. In fact, I will be starting another 21 Day Fix Challenge Group starting December 1st.  Perfect timing to slim down before the holidays so you can show off your awesome new body to your family and friends. 

21 Day Fix Challenge Pack

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