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Start Something and Finish It

Summer has officially begun here! There is a whiff of “what-ifs” and I think I cans swirling around. We talked about staying motivated the other day, but what should we be motivated to do? Only you can decide what is important to you but the greatest thing is that you actually have the ability to choose! So, how about making a plan to fit your goals? Here are a few steps to create your own plan.

Decide what it is you want to accomplish
Do you want to feel healthier or get in shape for the swimsuit season? (Nothing like the glare of fluorescent lights bouncing off dressing room mirrors to motivate you onto a new meal plan!) Do you want to be able to swim across the lake or hike through the trails this summer? Decide what is important as a priority to you, not just “oh it would be nice if…” kind of thing, but something that really hits you deep that you would love to accomplish.

Reverse Engineer Your Goal
Take whatever it is that you decided was your priority and figure out the things you would need to do to be able to reach that goal. Make a list of the necessary things and steps. Your list may include things like buy new hiking boots or invest in a set of weights or Beachbody On Demand.

Create your Plan
You can create a plan on your own or seek the help of someone who has experience in your particular goal. If you don’t know how to swim, you would obviously start with finding an instructor to teach you lessons. If you want to become more healthy and fit you could ask the help of a coach, like me, to help create the plan that would provide the best path to reach your personal goal. This is a great step because coaches also provide accountability which is part of the next step!

Share your goal with someone who will help you be accountable.
Accountability really works! Find someone or join a group that understands your goal and will help keep you motivated and on track. Having to “check in” or tell someone else how you are doing creates a sense of consequence to go with your choices, both good and bad.

Start your plan and follow through to the Finish!
Start strong. Take each day one step at a time. Focus on your desired outcome, not the obstacles and you will find that you are fully capable of reaching your goal!

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Becoming IntentionallyFit

The Intentional Habit of Using a Meal Plan

Welcome to week 2 of the Habits of the IntentionallyFit. Last week we talked about creating measurable goals. What kind of goals did you make? I decided to create a goal for my business IntentionallyFit. I will offer two accountability groups every month those people I coach.

Today we are talking about the Second Habit of the IntentionallyFit…

Create or Use a Specific Meal Plan

One of the most important things in learning to take care of your body and it’s health is nutrition. Fueling your body with the essential vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and knowing how much of each of those things you need will determine your body’s total health. Nutrition affects your immune system, your sleep cycle, your hormone cycle, your thought processes, and all the other physical and emotional aspects of your life. It’s a huge thing! So, why do we leave it to chance?

Choosing the right meal plan can be difficult. I was at the library the other day and noticed that there are literally hundreds of books on what to eat, most of them focusing on a “diet” or how to lose weight. Healthy fit people know that you must fuel your body well to have it function at it’s best. Remember you can look fit, but not actually be healthy on the inside!

What are some important things to remember when choosing a meal plan?

First, what are your goals?
Your meal plan should work with you to reach your desired health and fitness goals. If you want to build muscle, then your meal plan will need to account for the extra protein and calories you will need to do so. If you are looking to lose weight, does is have a calorie deficit that allows you to work out and not starve?

Does it Include All Food Groups?
I might step on some toes here… does it include all sorts of different colored foods? Does it vilify certain food groups? While there is nothing wrong with eliminating things like processed foods and sugared sweets, there is a danger in saying you need to eliminate all carbs or all fats. We need those kinds of foods for our bodies to work correctly, the important thing is to choose the HEALTHY amount and versions of those food groups. You may need to do research or talk to a nutritionist in some cases.

Is the plan realistic long term?
This is super important! No matter how effective a meal plan is, it won’t be if you can’t stick to it. If it calls for drastic measures or super expensive food, most people won’t be able to follow it for life. A meal plan should move you into a healthy lifestyle that is sustainable for your life. Most diets don’t work because people return to unhealthy lifestyle eating after they have “finished” the diet. People who are intentionally fit do so for the long haul, not just the short term.

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Becoming IntentionallyFit through Healthy Habits:

The Intentional Habit of Creating Goals

Welcome to the first week of our Habits of the IntentionallyFit series! I’ve spent a lot of time trying to figure out what it takes to become healthy and fit. In fact I’ve been working at it for over eleven years! So, I thought it might be helpful if I shared some of the things I have learned over the years. Over the next ten weeks we will explore the habits or fundamental activities that successfully healthy people incorporate into their lives. Please do not think of this list as an exhaustive blueprint, but more of a helpful guideline.

The first Habit of the IntentionallyFit is to create measureable goals to challenge yourself and create a plan for the life you want to live. Goals give you a road map to help make decisions about what is valuable and important to you and those you love.

Goals should have a time limit on them. I once heard someone say that goals without a completion date are just wishes. Break them down into “Long Range Goals” and “Short Range Goals.”

Jim Rohn gives the following questions in his book 7 Strategies for Wealth & Happiness, as a way to start figuring out what you want.

  • What do I want to do?
  • What do I want to be?
  • What do I want to see?
  • What do I want to have?
  • Where do I want to go?
  • What would I like to share?

All these lead into the primary question he states is, “What do I want within the next one to ten years?”

Have you thought about that question? Chances are somewhere at sometime you played around with the idea, but did you really dig in and think it through? Honestly, I had not until I read this and I’m still weeding through the possibilities, but can you see where this could create a habit of success? If you know what you want to do or experience within the next ten years you can devise a roadmap to follow straight towards achieving those specific things!

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Budget Friendly (and healthy) Carb Choices

Hey everyone! If you have just joined us, you are just in time. We have been talking about budget friendly ways of filling our 21 Day/Portion Fix colored buckets. I’ve saved everyone’s favorite yellow bucket for last! Most people I talk to have no difficulties getting all their yellow buckets in, but I still want to help you find the most economic way possible. So onward to the yellow bucket!

Corn tortilla
Tortillas are a staple in my home, in fact they have replaced bread entirely. Whole wheat ones, while they are not extremely pricey, do tend to creep up in price when you only get 8-10 in a pack. Corn tortillas can come in stacks of thirty while being under $2 and even at two per serving that’s quite a bargain.

Beans
There are so many varieties of beans out there and they are full of fiber! It is so good to add these little carbs into your meal plan. You can find cans of beans for under seventy cents, but the real budget cutting ones come dry and in a bag. They require a little extra work but if you are serious about cutting costs this is a big help!

Brown Rice
Another cost saving gem is brown rice. You don’t have to pick the fancy stuff, the unbranded or store brand works just as well for a side of rice, unless of course you’re making sushi, but that just doesn’t fit with the cost cutting budget.

Lentils
Another great “dry good” that saves you money! Small batches really last and you could easily have a bag that lasts two to four weeks that costs you under $3!

Potatoes
Okay, I might be pushing it here, but based on the size of the yellow bucket, I feel like you can get a lot of servings depending on the type of potato and the season. My favorite is a sweet potato, but those little red new potatoes can be pretty cost effective during the right season.

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Core de Force: MMA Speed

 

Doing a little testing of the new Core de Force program today. I tried MMA Speed. I really like it, the instruction is clear and the moves are complex but not complicated. There is even a learning version of the workout you can do first.

Next week we have a challenge group that is going to go through Core de Force through December. If you are interested in joining us, sign up today!

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Core de Force is Here!

Are you someone who loves MMA or a good kick boxing workout? I am and I’m super excited to let you know about this new program that is available. I just got mine and will be offering two different challenge groups. One, small personal group of very determined people for my test group starting December 5th and another group for people of all fitness levels starting January 2nd.

What Is Core de Force?

It is a 30 Day MMA style workout program created by Beachbody Trainers Jericho Mathews and Joel Freeman. The workouts alternate boxing, kickboxing, and Muay Thai combinations, cardio spikes, and bodyweight training to define and sculpt your body without needing any equipment. The workouts are broken down into 3 minute rounds at a time for a total of between 27-47 minutes total. The moves are designed with something called 360-degree Core Training that works your core from every angle to really target that bulge and belly fat. Nutrition is what makes a big difference in any program so Core de Force includes an eating plan with recipes, food lists, and sample menus to help you stay on track.

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The workouts are challenging and are recommended for intermediate to advanced fitness levels. There is a modifier for each workout, so even if you are a beginner and an MMA style workout excites you, you can go for it! This program is not “dancy” or a set of choregraphed moves to music. If you are interested in that kind of program, something like TurboFire might be what you are looking for. This is good solid punches, kicks, blocks, and elbows in your own time for the allotted set count.

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What comes with the Core de Force Base Kit?

8 workouts on 3 DVDs

  • 4 MMA-inspired workouts, each with a step-by-step breakdown of all the moves
  • 2 bodyweight resistance workouts
  • 1 CORE DE FORCE Relief workout
  • 1 Active Recovery stretch workout

The CORE DE FORCE Eating Plan with food lists, recipes, sample menus, and more so that figuring out what to eat is never a battle.

A Quick-Start Guide with 3 simple steps for starting CORE DE FORCE strong.

A 30-Day Calendar includes your daily workout schedule.

PLUS 2 FREE BONUS WORKOUTS

  • 5 Min. Core on the Floor: 5 challenging plank movements to help burn the belly and define, flatten, and tone the tummy.
  • Core Kinetics: Strengthen your core with  moves designed to help carve flat abs and tight obliques.

You will get a FREE Bonus Workout—MMA Mashup. A mix of the best moves all in one workout!  A $19.95 USD value, you get it FREE when purchased from me as your Coach.

How much does CORE DE FORCE cost?

Base Kit: $59.85; Club member: $53.87
Deluxe Kit (Base + Deluxe): $119.70; Club member: $107.73

https://youtu.be/BQHjbItlwE8

CORE DE FORCE and Shakeology® Challenge Pack

The Challenge Pack contains the CORE DE FORCE Base Kit, your first 30-day supply of Shakeology, a 7-piece color-coded portion-control container set, a Shakeology shaker cup, and a 30-day trial to Beachbody On Demand so you can stream CORE DE FORCE and hundreds of additional Beachbody workouts.

Challenge Pack price: Normally $160, but on SALE now for $140 (which is like getting the entire program for only $10 with your Shakeology purchase!)

* NEW Digital CORE DE FORCE and Shakeology Challenge Pack

The Digital CORE DE FORCE and Shakeology Challenge Pack is great for  anyone who prefers to stream their workouts. It includes unlimited 90-day digital access to CORE DE FORCE on Beachbody On Demand, where you can also try some of Beachbody’s most popular programs. Your Digital Challenge Pack also includes your first 30 days of Shakeology* and Portion Fix (includes 7-piece portion control container set, Portion Fix recipe book, large blue container, and Shakeology Shaker Cup.) CORE DE FORCE DVDs are not included.

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What Is a Challenge Group and How Do I Join One?

A challenge group is a small group of people that I personally coach through a specific program or “challenge” like a clean eating group. We meet through a free app where we support and encourage each other in a private, judgement free, safe environment. I provide recipes, help with questions, motivational tips, and sometimes even prizes.

To participate in one of my challenge groups, you’ll need to:

*If you already have a Team Beachbody Coach please contact them first to see if they are providing a group for you.