Friday, August 6, 2010

"I love this ..." with thanks for Toby Keith

A few months ago we were at breakfast with a very dear friend of the family. He is in tremendous physical condition, has exercised all his life, been active in sports and very disciplined in his approach to maintaining his fitness program. That's why our jaws dropped when we heard him say, "I hate every minute of exercising and always have!".

You have to tip your hat to a guy who can persist in a lifetime of workouts that are to be avoided at all cost. His determination and results are very very rare.  The fact is it is no wonder why so many people are in the midst of a fitness meltdown because they share that attitude but unfortunately not that willpower and level of commitment. I understand. I remember the "old school" of fitness and dieting like everyone else, and I can empathize with his sentiments and those of the majority of potential fitness lovers. 

And I suppose I'd be in the majority camp of people we just talked about and not in his camp right now, except for the fact that

LOVE exercising !
 I look forward to the next workout, and I can't wait to find out how much progress I've made.

I LOVE mealtime!
I can't wait to try out a new recipe for supper and share ideas with friends and the rest of the community.

LOVE my "gym"!
My "gym" is a work in progress and constantly changing as my needs and abilties change, and I'm always finding new ways to challenge myself and move forward.

LOVE the motivation !
Great trainers like Tony Horton and Chalene Johnson and Debbie Siebers keep everything so fresh and in focus that it's more like visiting with a best buddy than a coach.

I LOVE my  fitness community!They are always there for support, to share ideas and to work out with either live or in the WOWY Online Supergym.

I LOVE my fitness program!
Simply put I am grateful that I can tap into the positive side of motivation and utilize these newly learned skills to help me maintain this wonderful new lifestyle I have been blessed with. I feel very very fortunate, but I am neither unique nor gifted nor unaware of the contrary feelings of many others.

If you have found a program that gives you this same sense of satisfaction then I applaud you and welcome you to the fitness community. 

If on the other hand you have no idea what I'm talking about , are skeptical or just plain convinced it isn't for you and that you're somehow different all I can say to you is you are entitled to an opinion but NOT the facts.

Everybody can attain this same level of enjoyment and everyone can learn good habits towards a brand new fitness outlook and everyone can experience at their own ability level a rewarding fitness environment.

You are no different than I am.
I know you can do this.
Deep down you know you can too.

Now repeat after me:

I LOVE my gym!

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

A Night Out on the Town- How to enjoy yourself our and live to fight another day!

How to Party Like a Rock Star (the Beachbody® Way)


To some degree, everyone wants to be a rock star. Seriously, who hasn't had at least a passing temptation to throw a television out the hotel window because, you know, Led Zeppelin did it? Especially when you're young, being the wild and crazy party animal among your friends seems like an instant way to gain popularity and adoration. The problem is, not all rock stars have the luck and longevity of Keith Richards, and if you try to emulate his lifestyle, you'll probably end up dead like John Bonham instead. Or Jimi Hendrix. Or Janis Joplin. Or Kurt Cobain. That's not to say we all need to live like the Jonas Brothers and abstain completely, but it's worthwhile to realize that those special nights out are best remembered for the company and camaraderie you shared, rather than forgotten as the result of chemically-induced amnesia.
Rock Concert

The Opening Act

So you've nailed down the perfect outfit, got your new 'do, and smell like a million bucks. But don't head out on the town before your body is as finely tuned as Clapton's Fender® Stratocaster®.
  1. Rest! If you get less than 4 hours of sleep per night, or you've been up for 16 hours or more, you're probably already acting drunk, even before you've had a drop of alcohol. This is because not getting enough REM sleep negatively affects your body's motor functions, blood sugar absorption, and immune system. You'll be friendlier, wittier, and more sociable with all your friends when you're rested, and this might come in handy if you're looking for a new type of friend (or two, if you really want to love like a rock star...).
  2. Eat well! Van Halen ate M&Ms® (except the brown ones, according to their notorious concert contract rider), Busta Rhymes eats KFC®, and Meat Loaf, circa 1970s, ate pretty much everything under the sun, except his namesake. If you want to eat right, you probably want to follow another direction. Ideally, you should eat healthy meals that include a balance of carbohydrates (from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains), protein (from lean meats and fish, legumes, nuts, soy, and dairy products), and fats (avoiding saturated and trans fats). A solid meal will help stave off the urge for that 1 AM pilgrimage to the taco truck with your less-well-fed friends.

    Healthy MealAnd remember, eating right doesn't need to be a solo venture. If you really want to seem hip and in the know, bring your friends to the latest trendy "foodie" haven before hitting the bars and clubs. That way, you'll all spend a few hours focused on cuisine instead of cocktails. Know that thrill you get from discovering a new underground band? Well, most people feel the same way about finding a great new restaurant before the masses, so choose wisely and your friends will bestow upon you admiration comparable to what Justin Timberlake receives in a room full of Hollywood starlets.

The Headliner

This is it. The main event. The moment the crowd has been waiting for all night. It's time to shine, so here's how to ensure the lighters (or iPhones with lighter apps) come out, and you walk off stage a legend:
  1. Dance, dance, dance! We all know that half an hour of cardio per day is an essential component of staying healthy and fit, so combine it with your night out and kill two birds with one stone! Dancing is wonderful exercise, and is sure to work up a sweat. If you're worried your moves are less Michael Jackson and more Elaine from Seinfeld, why not try joining a group hip-hop class, or try out Hip Hop Abs® to learn some funky, fresh moves you can bust out for your friends? (But if you really want to impress them, you should probably never utter the words "funky" or "fresh" in the same sentence.)
  2. Moderation! If moderation isn't a scientific law, it really should be, because there's almost no situation where it doesn't work. Many rock stars may overdo it with the partying every night, but they have expensive publicists to explain away their stints in rehab as "exhaustion." To increase your shelf life as a party animal, stay properly hydrated. Every great rock song has a memorable chorus, so when you head out for a night on the town, keep this little ditty on repeat in your head: "Drink, water, drink, water, drink, water." If it helps, just hum that Chumbawamba "Tubthumping" song and substitute water every other line (i.e., alternate your cocktails with water).You might think that getting drunk early will make you seem cool and fun throughout the night, but in all honesty, you're only becoming that guy or girl.
  3. "I'll have a soda and soda, please." The great thing about spirits like vodka or gin is that they look like water. So the next time your friends are urging you to catch up or it's your turn to buy a round, slow things down by sipping on a soda water—just let everybody think it's liquor. You can even wince when you take a sip if you really want to crank up the illusion that you're hitting the hard stuff. No one will be the wiser, and you'll save a pretty penny too! Little-known fact: The original title of Snoop Dogg's "Gin and Juice" was just "Juice," but the record label urged him to change it for fear it would lower his "gangsta" cred.
  4. Soda WaterEnergy doesn't come in a can. If you're looking for "wings," don't go for a Red Bull®, just buy a Paul McCartney album. Avoid the temptation to use energy drinks as fuel, because "energy" is a complete misnomer here. The caffeine and sugar hit'll just leave you jittery and nervous, after which you'll risk pulling a Lindsay Lohan and crashing hard before the end of the night.

The After Party

It's the next day, and you're not sure how to follow up that awesome night you just had. Here are a few suggestions for how to get your groove back:
  1. Rest! Again! Whaddya know, we're right back where we started—your own cozy bed. Hopefully, you spent the night with the Captain to your Tennille. (A dated reference, I know, but who doesn't sing along to "Love Will Keep Us Together"? Admit it.) Anyway, if all went according to plan, you spent the night dancing, romancing, and, well, other things, so now it's time to rest up. Don't worry about your workout today, because trust me, you did enough of that last night. If you're feeling extra sluggish, some light stretching or a leisurely walk should do the trick.
  2. Recovery! Eminem's new album is called Recovery, and we don't think it's a coincidence. He's giving you a hint, so take it! Buy some of Beachbody's own Results and Recovery Formula™. Designed for use after workouts, it will get your body back in tour shape in no time.
There you have it, the official guide to living a Beachbody-certified rock 'n' roll lifestyle. If you heed our advice, both your body and your mind will remain solid as a rock for quite a while, and you won't get caught rolling onto the floor.

from the P90X Newsletter #040

Sunday, August 1, 2010

Wondering if you should just get a copy of P90X?

Are you wondering whether or not you should just use a burned copy of P90X or buy it from a source other than Beachbody or a Beachbody Coach? You're not only doing yourself a disservice, giving up the 90-day guarantee, purchasing a product that may not necessarily by complete or even in English, and others, but there are legal ramifications as shown below.  If you're ready to commit to your Self, your health, and your fitness with something that unquestionably will help you reach your goals, I will get you started and coach you through it (and can even legitimately help you save the $20 or $30 you think you're saving by buying a counterfeit copy).  Aren't you worth more than the $20 or $30 bucks you might save on counterfeit, non-guaranteed, and/ or incomplete copies if you really are deciding to commit to YOUR success? Maybe, maybe not.


Beachbody® Assists in Convicting Importer of Pirated Goods 

Santa Monica, Calif, – July 25, 2010 – Beachbody®, the nation’s leading provider of in- 
home fitness, weight-loss, and wellness solutions and creator of the famous P90X®
Insanity®, Brazil Butt Lift®, TurboFire®, and other fitness programs, has good news to 
share on the antipiracy front. 

About 1 week ago, a local woman involved in importing counterfeit Beachbody and 
other products was convicted by a federal jury, and now faces up to 90 years in 
prison and fines of up to $12.5 million. This is the result of a multiyear 
investigation Beachbody has been actively pursuing. 

Beachbody’s dedicated legal team has been working with the Office of the U.S. Attorney 
and with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in their efforts against this 
individual, and we are proud that justice has been served. Both the Department of 
Justice and ICE have released some of the details relating to this conviction—the 
individual was caught importing multiple container loads of counterfeit product and 
attempting to bribe a Customs officer to get it released. (Press release from ICE: 
http://www.ice.gov/pi/nr/1007/100715losangeles.htm)  

This is just one of several criminal counterfeiting investigations that Beachbody is 
involved in with law enforcement.  Indeed, as Beachbody’s legal team continues to 
meet with members of Congress, government officials, and agencies in Washington, 
D.C., and continues its nationwide efforts to meet with and provide anticounterfeiting 
training to Customs officers and agents, these criminal investigations and prosecutions 
will likely only increase.   

“Counterfeiting harms not only Beachbody’s ability to sell genuine products and create 
new, world-class fitness solutions, but it also specifically harms the businesses of all our 
dedicated Independent Team Beachbody® Coaches,” notes Senior Vice President of 
Business Development and General Counsel, Jonathan Gelfand.   

“While no company or government agency has a magic bullet to stop all piracy in this 
global economy, we will continue to fight the counterfeiting epidemic each and every 
day, pursuing those dealing in counterfeit products and making them pay. We truly 
appreciate all the support we receive from Customs, ICE, the Department of Justice, 
and each one of our Coaches.”  

If you ever see something that you think is counterfeit or illegal (including any 
Beachbody products for sale at a price lower than we offer it, for example), please 
submit it to us at piracy@beachbody.com.