Caterina's Blog

Turbo Fire !

2011-03-16T08:38:00.001-04:00

Accomplish your GOALS!

2011-02-25T06:29:00.001-05:00

I keep wanting to call this "Chalene's 30 day challenge" but to many, that doesn't mean much.

So what's this challenge I keep talking about?

For 30 days you will push yourself to write down your goals (yes on paper), list your priorities and then ... MAKE THEM HAPPEN.

Every day Chalene Johnson will send you a quick video to explain the challenge of the day that's all based on YOUR goals.

No this isn't some crazy fitness thing (I know that's what you're all thinking because it's coming from me!) this is honestly whatever YOU want to make of it.

So try it out, I promise it will help change your life (or at least the way you view your future).

It works or your money back... (it's FREE!)

Click here to see what it's all about!!

A Few Good Movies

2011-02-22T01:24:00.006-05:00

I'm a big time movie goer, I love being at the movies! But lately I feel like everything well... sucks. I've seen plenty of movies that were true letdowns, so the ones that are good need to be honored.

Here's a few good ones that are worth seeing:

And out on DVD:

Enjoy the show!

Stay Healthy on Valentine's Day

2011-02-11T18:57:00.000-05:00

If you can't see the video, here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiXQtoDjbIo

Happy Valentine's Day Sweethearts!
<3

College Students & Network Marketing

2011-01-13T12:37:00.004-05:00

Disclaimer: I don't really like the term "network marketing" personally I don't feel like it give justice to what I am doing. I am involved in ending the tread of obesity. But for the purpose of this blog post, I'll refer to it as "network marketing" because I'm not going to name any specific company.

Why I Think College Students Make Great Network Marketers

1. We rock at Facebook – come on, have you seen “The Social Network” … the power of college students! I don’t know any college student who isn’t on Facebook or at least doesn’t know what it is. So you spend your time checking your Facebook status, posting fun pictures, sharing links and keeping up-to-date with your friends/family, that’s awesome! I do the exact same stuff but I make money doing it.

2. We have time to give – I don’t know mean we have hours & hours to add into our day. No, in that sense I mean the exact opposite, we are extremely busy. What I mean is we have YEARS to give to let a foundation build. If someone told you that in 5 years you could make a six figure income, would you do it? I know I would. In 5 years I’ll be 27, that’s nothing!

3. Passion – Try and tell someone under 30 that they can’t reach their goals. What will they do? The go-getters will get in your face and prove you WRONG. Why? Because passion is flowing through their veins. When you LOVE what you are doing, you will ROCK at it.

4. Use your hobbies - I'm sure you have plenty of hobbies but they might not be right up the alley of your major/minor. I used my passion for health/fitness to do Network Marketing and I went to school for English/Jounalism.

I’m not telling you to run out and join just any Network Marketing company. Heck no! Here’s some advice if you are thinking about it:

Do your research – PLEASE! You wouldn’t go to just any college, you’d research it first. If someone wants you to give hundreds of dollars to join their business opportunity, TRIPLE check what there all about. Also, read their compensation plan. What exactly do you have to do to get paid? Know the facts before you sign up for anything. If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is, and its probably illegal.

Talk to people already involved. See what they say, what are their challenges, what are the upsides. What do they have to offer you and others.

I'm involved in my own network marketing company that is ending the thread against obesity. Its my personal passion to help others lose weight, get fit, change their lives and have amazing success stories. I can talk to you more about that if you're interested. But if your passion lies elsewhere, that's fine, just GO FOR IT!

Have a great day!
Caterina

How I'm Changing My Life

2011-01-04T19:35:00.003-05:00

2011 is going to be different than any other year before. I vow NOT to make any of the same resolutions in 2012. Why? Because I plan to accomplish them all. =)

I started off the year doing a "30 Day Challenge to Master Organization and Achieve Your Goals in 2011."

What do I do?

Everyday I get an email from Chalene Johnson with a short video and a PDF "worksheet" to go along with the video. Chalene shares her own goals, to-do lists and priorities that have helped her grow her 15 year business.

Today is day 4 and so far I've already - determined my top 3 priorities & rated them in order of importance, listed 10 goals (on paper) that would be kick ass if accomplished in 2011, and picked a "push" goal that drives all other goals. And its only day 4!!

Her advice has helped me already change my life by losing 15 pounds, inches & body fat. But don't be fooled, this isn't about fitness (unless you want it to be) its about living the BEST life you can and accomplishing everything you want, whether its financial, spiritual, family, business..whatever!

Accountability partners are encouraged but not needed. There is an entire Facebook group of people looking for partners. Or look within your own circle of influence. I've shared & discussed everything with Mat and I have accountability partners as well. They all keep me on track!

Here is the link if you'd like to sign up to get the daily videos & tips -

http://www.chalenejohnson.com/30daychallenge/

Also, it's all FREE! :)

"It's time to live the life you want to live."
-Chalene Johnson

"Goodnight Tweetheart" Book Review

2010-12-31T08:44:00.006-05:00

I only knew two things when I picked this book up – it was about Twitter and it was a love story – that’s all I needed to know!

This was such a quick read. Even if it wasn't easy to fly through on its own, the fact that I really liked it would have still made me read it in only a few hours (which I did).

“Goodnight Tweetheart” is a love story in 140 characters or less.

If “140 characters” means NOTHING to you…we need to talk after you get out from under your rock!

Okay, it’s actually the limit Twitter gives you to make a tweet, or tell others “What’s happening?”. It’s similar to a Facebook status but much shorter and brighter. The book is told in tweet form, one of the reasons it’s so fast to read.

It’s a story (or conversation) about two strangers who chat on Twitter, and it’s not creepy (which you might have thought like I did before reading it), instead it’s really cute! I'd also say its funny & flirtatious.

In my opinion, this couple is hilarious, extremely witty and two smartasses who know a lot about pop culture. The woman is an author trying to write her second novel, which has to compete with her first novel that made it to Oprah’s book club. Her agent makes her a Twitter account and BAM the magic starts...or maybe it takes time & Tweetdeck. The man is extremely mysterious, never revealing his location. It's a book that will lift you up and touch your heart, maybe even make you shed a tear!

Now go read the book!

And of course you can follow me on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/caterina88

Goodnight Tweethearts! <3

What Could Ruin Your Relationships?

2010-12-26T12:29:00.004-05:00

An excerpt from "Who You Are When No One's Looking" by Bill Hybels:

Most people have no idea how much their physical condition undermines their attempts to love other people. They fail to realize that it takes physical energy to listen, to serve, to confront and to encourage people who need help sorting out life. Not only are physically run-down people short on energy; they also tend to be easily irritated, critical, short-fused, defensive and negative. (Any names coming to mind?) It is hard for them to love others, and it is equally hard for others to love them.

You and I both know the three rules for staying fit: eat right, sleep enough and exercise. Most Americans eat far too much sugar and fat; consequently, many are overweight. It is also why people suffer from sugar highs and lows, and it has a lot to do with the high rate of heart disease. It is impossible to maintain good physical reserves on a junk-food diet.

In addition, some people add insult to injury by being careless about sleep. If you don't wake up reasonably refreshed, you're probably not spending enough time in bed. Or maybe the time you spend there is less than refreshing because the coffee you drank all day or the greasy slice of pizza you ate at midnight is keeping you awake.

But the real kicker is exercise. Here's a good clue: If your only form of physical activity on a typical day involves walking down the hall to the next meeting, you're missing the exercise boat. I know, I know, there's not enough time to exercise. Trust me, either take the time to workout or you'll be spending all of your time cleaing up the relational messes you make because you're always wiped out.

I know when I think of exercise I think in terms of health conditions, maintaining a certain weight, looking my best, etc. but this page really jumped out at me of why so many people might be so darn crabby. They aren't moving enough!

I've seen it happen in my own life. I remember a point last school year when I took about a week off to write papers, study for exams and make sure everything was turned in. That week was HELL! I remember thinking to myself, "Why the heck are you SNAPPING at EVERYBODY!?" Omg I was a bitch.

And I didn't realize I missed working out until I did it. I decided one night that I would wait to write the paper and go do a 45 minute workout dvd, I felt SO much better!

But there are so many people who have never tried to exercise - meaning they don't know what they are missing out on. I've personally seen it, someone's personality will do a 360 once they start working out. The crabbiest person can transform into the one with the most spirit! That person becomes the one attracting people instead of pushing others out with their off-personality.

Don't let something like exercise ruin your relationships with others. You never know who you could be sending the wrong message out to!

How To Make A YouTube Video

2010-12-15T08:41:00.011-05:00

I’ve gotten many messages lately about creating Youtube videos. I figured I might as well put the information I knew into some place handy!

First off, if you haven’t made a Youtube video before, TRY IT. It’s actually a lot of fun (and kind of addicting)!

Here we go...

1. Record yourself! Just about everything can record a video now-a-days, from your cell phone, digital camera, webcam, computer, flip camera, etc.
Since you’re going to ask, I’ll let you know, I started with my basic Sony Cyberspot digital camera (in pink!!) to make my videos & I’m still using it! One day I’ll upgrade but it hasn’t steered me wrong yet! You can get cameras that will record in HD & do all kinds of fancy stuff for you – do your research & you’ll find one!

^^I'm not saying run out & get this one - I'm saying to use whatever you've got handy!

2. Make your video! Keep it under 5 minutes, ideally under 3 works best! Remember, most people aren’t just focused on one thing and you want to make sure you hold their attention. At this moment, I have Microsoft Word open along with 4 web browsers.

“Nobody wants to watch long videos, so keep it short, simple and to the point. I follow the two-minute rule. You should come up with a similar rule for yourself. If you have to create a longer video, consider dividing it into parts that make it easier for your viewers to digest.”
Ryan Paugh, co-founder of Brazen Careerist

When you are making the video, remember to look into the camera! Pretend your talking to your best friend or your mom.

3. Edit! Many computers come with their own editing system. If yours doesn’t have one, Youtube has a basic one in place for you! Windows offers “Windows Movie Maker” and Mac has “iMovie.” Also, many cameras come with a program you can use to edit your photos & pictures, check to see if you have one!

When you are editing, that’s the time you can add music (make sure it’s ROYALY FREE MUSIC), text, pictures to spice it up! You can also edit to trim down your video or cut out any distractions.

4. Upload. Head over to Youtube.com (or a website that will upload your video to MULTIPLE sites: facebook, youtube, twitter, myspace) and click “Upload.”

Make sure to give your video a title, description and tags.

After UPLOADING - you can pick between 3 thumbnails to be the photo that viewers will see when your video comes up. To learn how to do that go here. If you're looking to beat the YouTube system & pick any picture you want...go somewhere else!

5. Share!! Best step of all! Post your video on Facebook, Twitter, your blog, emails to friends, where ever your heart desires!

And I'll leave you with my YouTube channel that I'd love for you to subscribe too!
http://www.youtube.com/coachcaterina

I'll subscribe back!

I'll Be Your Accountability

2010-12-08T11:25:00.004-05:00

Working out with a friend is truly a great tool for losing weight. I read an article that said when you workout with someone else you are 3 times more likely to stick to the program.

Now, you might be thinking, “but I don’t have anyone to workout with!”

Let’s change that!

Losing weight is about accountability – to YOURSELF and to OTHERS.

If you told me that you were going to workout 5 days this week but never had to tell me if you actually did it… would you? My guess is probably not (depending on the kind of person you).

If you told me that you were going to workout 5 days a week but at the end of each week you had to report back to me – would you get your workouts done?

My guess… you would.

Why?

I’ve noticed that when I have to report in to others (personal trainer, business advisors, professors) that I don’t want to let anyone down…including myself!

So let me help you!

I want to create an accountability group. What this includes is SIMPLE and will take 5 seconds out of your day, just once a week.

I’m willing to collect emails (or do this through facebook) where whoever wants to report in how they are doing on their fitness program – whether it’s a DVD program like P90X or you are hitting the gym – can easily contact me!

We come up with what’s the best day for you to “report in,” figure out your workout goals and then start right up! Along the way there will be recognition & motivational prizes. :)

Think of me as your online accountability buddy!

My hand is reaching out to whoever wants it! Just send me an email or a facebook message & let's get started.

Yours in health,
Caterina
xoxo

What Can We Learn From Victoria's Secret?

2010-12-01T15:08:00.004-05:00

Last night was the annual Victoria’s Secret fashion show. During, immediately after and still today there’s an explosion of talk about the models. Twitter freaked out and of course it was a treading topic.

There were the expected comments that the models are too thin, they don’t workout, they’re anorexic, whatever. You can have whatever opinion that your heart desires. But that’s not the point of this blog post.

What I did notice during the brief hour the show was on TV, many real-life women & girls started talking about their own bodies. “Thanks a lot VS, now I’m just going to starve myself” – what WAIT?!

Watching tall, beautiful women strut their stuff in only lingerie will make the most confident person feel inferior. But that’s also not the point of this blog.

So what’s the point?

The point is… if you watched and wanted to make a change (an HONEST change), what’s stopping you?

There’s a few options when watching something like that… either use that new “motivation” you found, forget you ever watched it (Victoria who?) or continue to hate on your body.

Why hate on yourself? The way you treat yourself is the way other people will treat you.

Maybe you’ve hit the “enough is enough” point in your life and now you’re ready to do something about it. Let’s GET MOVING. Don't sit and hate on them or yourself - instead put in the work. Hit the gym, sign up for a race, press play on the workout dvd, do something!

This isn’t about Victoria’s Secret, models, bikinis, Katy Perry, whatever. It’s about YOU being the BEST version of yourself.

If I can help you do that, let me know. I'm happy to help!

Yours in health,
Caterina
xoxo

You Are What Your Friends Eat: How Social Networks Affect Our Health

2010-11-12T03:02:00.003-05:00

By Stephanie S. Saunders

Everyone knows that you are what you eat. But what if you actually are what your friends eat? What if obesity was not hereditary, but contagious? Sure, it's easier to blame your parents for that sort of thing. After all, why wouldn't the size of your hips be the result of bad genes? But a few years ago, two scientists published an extensive study of 12,067 people in the New England Journal of Medicine that seems to prove that we are directly affected by the habits of others.

Nicholas Christakis and James Fowler theorized that weight gain in an individual is associated with weight gain in his or her siblings, spouse, and neighbors. The phenomenon is called a "contagion" and can be described as a kind of social virus that is transmitted by proximity. It seems a person is 57 percent more likely to become obese if they have a friend who becomes obese. If a sibling becomes obese, the other sibling has a 47 percent increased chance of having the same thing happen to them. And a person has a 37 percent chance of serious weight gain if their spouse starts tipping the scales. No one is exactly sure how it occurs, but our social environment seems to infect us, and we in turn, spread it.

Yes, you read it right. It seems weight gain and the flu have a lot in common, except Walgreens® isn't doling out shots to keep you thin. Many public health leaders, including the National Institute of Health, now believe that this growing science of social networks can be used to improve health on a huge scale. By either creating new social networks, like a dieting group, or by influencing the leaders of already-existing health-related groups such as the Team Beachbody® Message Boards, positive health messages will become contagious. But how can we affect those we care about, and not be affected by unhealthy behaviors?

"Be the change you want to see in the world." —Mahatma Gandhi

The first thing we can do is be an example. You're reading this newsletter, so you already have some interest in your health. It's more than likely you're also on a kick-butt exercise and nutrition program that's altering your appearance. You're already creating the change in yourself, and that will, in turn, have an effect on others. If you want to make a real difference, stay on the path. It is quite easy to reach our goals, only to let them slip away over an extended vacation, holiday season, or traumatic event like a breakup. What this says to an outsider is: "If Tom couldn't keep the weight off, how is there any hope for me? Why even bother?" If you want to inspire others, continue to be an inspiration.

"The greatest good you can do for another is not just to share your riches but to reveal to him his own." —Benjamin Disraeli

Who really has time to talk anymore? We have emails, IMs, and text messages that have pretty much replaced verbal communication. We're all running around trying to accomplish things, which will fall behind schedule if we meet someone for coffee. Yet, sometimes just talking to people about their health and encouraging them to change can be the difference between being healthy and having a lifelong struggle with obesity. You've gone from a size 8 to a size 4, or from a beer gut to a six-pack. People around you will most likely ask how the heck you did it. When they do, ask them to grab a nonfat latte and sit down, because you have something to share with them.

"Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher." —Oprah Winfrey

Removing yourself from every situation that has unhealthy people in it is impossible and unnecessary. We're all tied into our friendships, jobs, and families by many threads, most of which we couldn't sever if we wanted to. You know your best friend from junior high would hunt you down if you moved to a small island off the coast of Madagascar. So instead of losing your relationships, make it a point to tip the scales and add a few more. Finding like-minded people—be it at a gym, a cooking class, a yoga studio, a fitness retreat, or a well-known local hiking spot—can open you up to new ideas and new positive influences. As your resolve becomes strengthened by your new friendships, you will be that much more able to assist your more established friendships.

"Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared." —Buddha

If you truly want to create a change in the health of others, there are thousands of programs out there that need volunteers. From the national organizations designed to raise money for diseases, to the local car wash that supports the high school athletic program, there's always someone who could use your assistance. Or better yet, create your own network of people making a difference, in whatever way you feel driven. Organize that 10k to benefit the YMCA, petition your state school board to increase physical education and remove vending machines full of sugar from your schools, or create a foundation to bring food to famine-stricken parts of the world. Making a big difference in the health of others can begin with one person, and it could be you.

Conclusion

Why we are so susceptible to the influences of others remains a mystery. From the time we are babies, we learn to mimic gestures and language. As adults, we still mimic yawns, laughs, and often aggression, as the mob after a recent NBA playoffs game proved. And now it seems we can mimic weight gain or loss, along a host of other behaviors. Before getting swept up in the crowd, take a moment and decide what you want for your life. You can choose your own destiny, and maybe help shape the lives of others in the process.

References:

Christakis, N. A. and J. H. Fowler,. "The spread of obesity in a large social network over 32 years." New England Journal of Medicine 357 (July 26, 2007): 370-379.
Eric Jaffe, "The 'contagion' of social networks," Los Angeles Times, September 13, 2010, http://articles.latimes.com/2010/sep/13/health/la-he-social-networks-health-20100913
Clive Thompson, "Are Your Friends Making You Fat?" New York Times, September 10, 2009, http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/13/magazine/13contagion-t.html
R. William Doherty, "Emotional Contagion and Social Judgment," Motivation and Emotion 22, No. 3 (1998), 1-2.

Here's the link if you want to see the article!

Why am I NOT losing weight?

2010-10-21T14:09:00.000-04:00

here's the link if the video doesn't show:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrQZSUL5iuc

Anti-Aging Secrets From The Dollar Store!

2010-10-21T13:25:00.002-04:00

Dr. Oz is at it again! I remember the day when Pamela, Mat and I made fun of my mom for loving Dr. Oz…I’m following in her footsteps I guess!

How many women spend too much money on their beauty products? Here's a good article for you!

A Dermatoligst came on one of his shows & gave some great Anti-Aging products that you can get from the DOLLAR STORE!

1- Exfoliation mitts & canned pumpkin pie filling (PLAIN, not flavored!)
-Pumpkin filling contains a fruit acid which helps smooth the skin as an exfoliator!
-If you have time, let the pumpkin pie sit for a few minutes & then just scrub it off

2- Moisturizer with Vitamin C: keeps the skin from sagging
-Look for the ingredient: ASCORBIC ACID

3- Lip Plumper: maintain those kissable lips. ;)
-Read the label for Tribehenine which plumps & restores volume
-Traps the moisture

4- Ginseng Tea Bag: relaxes the muscles & limits lines
-Take the tea bag & moisten it in water (not dripping wet!) & then lay it across the crows feet area of your face & if you want on the bags under your eyes.

If you want to watch the video & see Dr. Oz put on some lip plumper, here it is:
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/dollar-store-anti-aging-secrets

Balancing School, Work, Family & Owning Your Own Business

2010-10-18T22:13:00.006-04:00

I’ve gotten this question many, many times & as more and more students (and people with multiple jobs) join my team (which EXCITES me!!) I want to explain how I balanced being a full-time student, having a part-time job and owning my own online fitness business (Beachbody).

(If you aren’t a student you can still use these guidelines for work or taking care of your kids, etc.)

First thing I did was invest in a DAY PLANNER. I had to have everything in one central spot so I could easily flip through it. This eliminates the PANIC that comes from having things on many pieces of paper.

Then after the first couple days of classes I’d sit down with my syllabi and put everything into the planner:

-Homework
-Test
-Quizzes
-Papers
-Midterms/Final exams

Not only did I put that information on the specific days but I’d include the TIME of each class,”ENG 270 1-2:47 – Paper 1 Due.”

The same idea went for:

-Going to work
-Teaching Turbo Kick
-After school clubs
-Hanging out with friends & family
-Workouts (which one's & when)
-Beachbody

When it came to Beachbody I would write down SPECIFICS too!

-I would plan the TIME OF DAY when I would be working on my business
-I’d also plan what I’d be DOING.

What that means is I would make a list (on a separate sheet of paper) of where I’d spend my time:

-Facebook – what will I be doing? Expanding my network, replying to e-mails, etc.
-2 expos
-Send my weekly email
-Make a YouTube video
-Listen to the team calls (recorded or live)
-Read 15 minutes of personal development books

You get the picture.

Don’t make excuses for not getting your homework done, doing your daily reading or not working on your business. You're only hurting yourself.

I don’t always have a set schedule (other than classes), so the days CHANGE, and that’s okay, just figure it out and PLAN!

10 Most Effective Workout Videos Of All Time!

2010-10-15T23:15:00.004-04:00

I found this list on www.livestrong.com & would you look at that 4 out of the 10 are Beachbody! ;)

Workout DVDs overrun the shelves at the store. There are DVD routines that tone abs, rear end or whole body. These videos can be an efficient workout for busy people, who don't have time to make it to the gym. With so many choices, however, it is not easy to pick the right video. With a little help, the perfect workout video can be at one's fingertips; these top 10 stand the test of time.

10 Minute Solution
This DVD allows you to choose from 5 different programs. You can either combine the five programs for a 50 minute workout, or just work on one area for a 10 minute workout.

Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Amped
Billy Blanks provides the most successful workout for burning calories. Blanks was a pioneer in the Tae Bo workout video field. His Tae Bo Amped five disk set combines Tae Kwon Do, Kickboxing and aerobics. According to Consumer Search, this video set will get your heart rate up and burn calories.

Brazil Butt Lift
Leandro Carvalho shares his secrets on sculpting the butt. Super models use this video to avoid surgery. It is effective for creating a firm rear end.

Denise Austin: Boot Camp Total Body Blast
This DVD is perfect for the time-crunched individual. According to Fitness Magazine, each workout burns approximately 350 calories. It provides three workouts in 30 minutes or less, including cardio, strength and stretching. The short sessions, in this video, are just enough time to burn fat and see results.

Insanity Challenge
This DVD provides drills, intervals and strength training in one-hour increments. Shaun T utilizes MAX Interval Training so that the participant can get an awesome body in 60 days.

Jane Fonda: The Workout
The Workout works your whole body, by combining low impact and high intensity movements. According to the Jane Fonda website, it is the highest-selling workout video of all time.

Jillian Michaels: The Complete Workout for Beginners
According to "Fitness Magazine", Jillian Michaels created the most efficient back to basics workout. This program focuses on circuit training and toning the body. The format is facilitative and easy to follow.

Richard Simmons: Sweatin' to the Oldies
Richard Simmons' video Sweatin' to the Oldies is the best video for making you sweat. The video features classic music that you can enjoy while working up a sweat.

Tony Horton's P90X
The P90X is the greatest workout for building muscle mass. It is a 90-day extreme challenge. By never allowing muscles to get used to a workout, it builds muscle. An intense and highly recommended workout to bulk up.

Turbo Jam
Turbo Jam is the most effective video for having fun. According to Beachbody, it blends cardio, kickboxing, body sculpting and dance so that you can enjoy working out.

It makes me smile to see that TURBO JAM made the list. That program changed my life! :)

Shakeology No Bake Cookies

2010-09-15T20:05:00.002-04:00

You've all been asking.. here's the recipe:

Chocolate Shakeology® No-Bake Cookies

How did cookies become the Healthiest Meal of the Day®? When an enterprising Team Beachbody® chef figured out how to have their Shakeology and eat it, too. Simple to make and delicious to eat—you'll never guess how healthy you're being.

1 cup of raw almond butter
1 cup of organic oatmeal (quick)
1/3 to 1/2 cup of organic honey (according to desired sweetness)
1 cup of Chocolate Shakeology

Combine in bowl and mix well. Roll into balls (about a heaping teaspoon). Makes 10 cookies.

Optional: Roll the balls in crushed nuts or unsweetened coconut flakes before serving.

Nutritional Information (per cookie)
Calories Carbs Protein Fat Saturated Fat Fiber
249 22 grams 10 grams 15 grams 1.5 grams 2.5 grams

What Did I Read This Summer?

2010-09-02T00:42:00.006-04:00

I’m looking over at my bookshelves and realizing that I have a huge pile spilling over… how many books have I recently read? Recently means in the last few months. Let’s take a look through some of my summer reads…

I started the summer with Chelsea Handler’s three books:

1. “My Horizontal Life: A Collection of One Night Stands”

2. “Are You There Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea”

3.“Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang”

4. “American Wife” by Curtis Sittenfield
This book is loosely based on the life of a president’s wife, which president is never named BUT she gets in a car accident and kills someone AND the war on terror begins… I think we can all agree it’s Laura Bush. Strong start but at the end I felt like I was forcing myself to finish it.

5. “Twenties Girl” – Sophie Kinsella
Another classic Sophie Kinsella book – London girl meets guy, lots of humor but this one is different in that the main character, Lara, has the ghost of her dead great aunt, Sadie, following her around. It’s cute! Many things were predictable along the way but there was a twist at the end even I didn’t see coming.

6. “A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Future: Twists and Turns and Lessons Learned” by Michael J. Fox
After reading this book, I realized I really didn’t know much about Fox. He doesn’t set it up in a preachy, lecture way instead he talks about starting his acting career off and things he did that taught him lessons. It’s a very short read; I started and finished it quickly in the car on the way to South Carolina. I even read some parts to Mat out loud because I thought they were funny or interesting! (I did that with “American Wife” too!)

7. “Think Big” – Donald Trump
I flew through this book! I loved it! Again, I realized I didn’t know much about Trump. Other then he has a ton of money, loves real estate, has his own TV show, says “you’re fired” and has bad hair. His book is no bullshit, tell it like it is, truth hurts and I was pumped up after reading it.

8. “Ten Stupid Things Couples Do To Mess Up Their Relationships” – Dr. Laura
I wanted to throw the damn book across the room! She gets on my freaking nerves. I can’t listen or take advice from anyone who “blames” feminism for ruining relationships. I think my Women Studies professor would be extremely disappointed in this book. A lot of the ten points were common sense and true! Don’t get my wrong, stupid things ruin relationships, but her advice and two-sense along the way actually made me put the book down fuming at certain times. Ah!

9. “Vows, Vendattas & A Little Black Dress” – Kyra Davis
If you haven’t noticed I was really hitting up the “New Author/Chick Lit” section at Target! This is the first novel I’ve ever noticed by Kyra Davis but apparently there are other novels in this series about Sophie Katz and I wish I would have picked one of those up firsts. I didn’t feel like I was missing out but there were some interesting things brought up, that I’m sure came from the other books, and I’m nosey! Overall, it takes the cute chick lit book and adds a murder mystery to it.

10. “Developing The Leader Within You” – John C. Maxwell
Makes you think a lot about the people you work with and the person you want to be. There is a different between a “manager/boss” at work and a “leader” at work – BIG difference.

11. “Start Late, Finish Rich” - David Bach
Even though I’m start EARLY therefore finishing RICHER. ;)

12. “The Ultimate Sales Machine” – Chet Holmes
Saw it recommended in a blog by Chalene Johnson, enough said.

13. “Facebook Marketing: An Hour A Day” – Mari Smith & Chris Treadaway
After finding Mari Smith on twitter, then watching her youtube videos, I really enjoyed her content so when she published a book about one of my favorite things… FACEBOOK… I knew I had to read it.

14. "Summer At Tiffany" - Marjorie Hart
This is a memoir about Marjorie's summer of 1945 - she's a student who goes to NYC during her summer break & becomes one of the first female floor sales pages at Tiffany & Co. She also recalls the news of the atomic bomb & being in Times Square after the Japanese surrender. I liked it! That could be because I love anything that has to do with that little blue box and I have an idealized, romantic view of the 1940s & the war. Quick, easy read!

I feel like there was more but I just can’t remember.

Now that it’s “back to school” time, even though I’m all done… I think I should reread a classic, just so I don’t let chick lit consume my life (even though it’s fun)!

I'll take recommendations at any time!

Project 31 minus 1 = Project 30!

2010-09-01T09:01:00.002-04:00

I saw this idea on Tonya Lewis' facebook profile & thought it seemed like a lot of fun! She wrote that she saw several other coaches doing it & I want to try it out too!

Tonya's calling it "Project 31" and you document one new picture a day of what you are doing for a month. Since I'll be starting today on September 1st, I've only got 30 days so I'm doing "Project 30"... for some reason 31 sounds better?

Follow along on facebook! :)

And fellow reality show junkies, like myself, do it with me! ;)

The first time I watched "Entourage"

2010-08-09T11:46:00.002-04:00

was because I heard SHAKEOLOGY made an appearance!

Yes the delicious shake I talk about 24/7 was just sitting on the kitchen counter during the most recent episode of the HBO show "Entourage"!

Here take a look:

Not only is that Greenberry Shakeology but it's also a Beachbody shaker cup! ;)

Shakeology - It's Kind Of A Big Deal

Fun Summer Read

2010-07-28T07:23:00.003-04:00

DISCLAIMER: Don't look past this post because you aren't a fan of Chelsea Handler -- I wasn't either! I used to change the channel because I just wasn't amused... but there I was standing in the Target book aisle, waiting for Mat to return from either looking at video games or Blu-Rays... I picked up her book "My Horizontal Life: A Collection One-Night Stands" and I literally LOL-ed.

Chelsea can write!

I finished this book in probably less then 2 days.

The book starts with her being a little kid and her older siblings daring her to walk in on her parents having sex & take a picture....and that's where it all began!

She's ridiculously random and I'm really surprised she didn't talk about getting an STD (she's had to have gotten something with that crazy lifestyle!). She talks about midgets, skid-marks and her love for black men.

But if you aren't a fun of lude humor, don't get the book!! You'll probably hate it. If you want to get a good laugh, get it!

I did go on to read her other books, "Are You There Vodka? It's Me Chelsea" and "Chelsea Chelsea Bang Bang" but I would have to say the first one is my favorite!

Hungry Girl on "The View"

2010-07-27T02:54:00.000-04:00

We all know that I love Hungry Girl's tips & tricks...

Stop DRINKING your calories!

2010-07-20T07:15:00.002-04:00

Don't get me wrong, I drink coffee and sometimes I cave into the energy drinks (especially working midnights now) but you have to know the amount of calories it is and you have to ADD it to your food journal.

Can't figure out how many calories are in your food/drinks -- google search it. It's that simple, "how many calories in sugar?" You'll find it.

Good sites:
www.dailyplate.com
www.calorieking.com

Droid App: Calorie Counter by FatSecret

Yummy Shakeology Recipe

2010-07-13T13:50:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone! I'm drinking a Mocha Frap Shakeology at the moment and thought I'd share the recipe. I got this recipe from Healthy Chick AG aka Ashley Grimwade, a fellow Beachbody coach & cousin to the fabulous Chalene Johnson & Jenelle Summers. (Follow her on Twitter by clicking her name!)

Mocha Frap Shakeology

*8 oz ICED coffee (never want to put HEAT in Shakeology)
*6-8oz milk
(I use unsweetend vanilla almond milk- only 40cals)
*1 scoop chocolate Shakeology (140 cals)
*About 1 cup ice cubes- more or less for the consistency you want
*1 packet of Splenda or sweetener

This contains my daily vitamins/minerals, antioxidants, 17 g of protein and 3 g of fiber, all for less then 200 calories! :) And hello I love love love coffee so it's a good mix for you coffee lovers too!

Still don't know what the heck this Shakeology stuff is, that's okay, click here.

Holy Crap! Amazing Grocery Store Shopping List

2010-06-26T14:13:00.003-04:00

Here's a GIANT list that was put together by Hungry Girl! I get her helpful emails and when I saw this one I couldn't help but want to share it with all of you:

Take a look, she's even got it in PDF format!
http://www.hungry-girl.com/girls/biteoutdetails.php?isid=2115

It's the Summer 2010 edition of The Official Hungry Girl Supermarket List!!!

Has options for DAIRY, MEATS, CEREAL, SEAFOOD, VEGGIES, FRUITS, BREAD, the list goes on and on...

ENERGY! (Article by TONY HORTON)

2010-06-09T21:42:00.003-04:00

Words of Wisdom: Energy
By Tony Horton, creator of P90X

So you bought P90X off the tube and you're all pumped up to kick some butt. Do you remember that shift in ENERGY the day you picked up the phone and started dialing? Any number of thoughts could've been racing through your mind at the time—fear, doubt, excitement, hope, anticipation—you name it.

Then the DVDs arrived.

Some of you ripped the package open, read all the material, and got started that day. Some of you looked at the box as if it were filled with anthrax—keeping it sealed and placed on a shelf for some future investigation.

You're all at different stages of the program: newbies, start-agains, and even round 5-ers. I'd like to reveal four key components for success with P90X, and quite possibly other aspects of your life.

Have you ever noticed that some days just flow? Even on days when you have tons of things to do, you seem to have all the ENERGY in the world to handle anything. Yet other days feel like you live on Saturn. The weight of the world feels 10 times heavier than normal.

It comes down to the amount of ENERGY you have on any given day. Your ENERGY always dictates your REALITY. When you're filled with ENERGY, you're sharp, ready, enthusiastic, and willing. When you're pooped . . . forget about it! Organizing a sock drawer feels like climbing Mt. Everest.

So what causes these shifts? The big four are:

1. Food and supplementation. I know, I know. Here I go again. Hold on to your hats! There's no way on God's earth you can maintain a consistent level of ENERGY and enthusiasm for any 90-day program by eating the same old crap. You must . . . you have to . . . you need to make "The Change." Proper ENERGY levels only come from eating the right food the right way at the right time of day. If you don't know what that means, then you haven't read the material and you're doing this program the wrong way.

You are what you eat! If you eat the same old tired food that put you in this mess in the first place, that's just what you'll get. Tired and old before your time. You know what to do, so do it! It's not Atkins® or Slim-Fast® or fast food or soft drinks or fried food or candy bars or doughnuts or liquid diets or any panoply of misleading ways of consuming food. Get your mind right about what goes in your mouth or continue to live in the land of the wannabes!

2. Sleep. This probably seems like the most obvious and simple component of the four. But it's often the most abused. Recent statistics have shown that the leading cause of traffic accidents in this country is NOT alcohol, but sleep deprivation. If we don't have enough ENERGY to stay awake while driving a car, how will we have enough ENERGY for a 6-day-a-week workout program?

We're not sleeping enough hours at night, and even when we do, they're often filled with so much mind chatter that we don't get the proper rest we need. My new Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary defines "sleep" as follows: "the natural periodic suspension of consciousness during which the powers of the body are restored." In Taoist philosophy, there's the yin (not ying) and the yang. These are opposing ENERGIES that create balance. P90X is yang ENERGY. Sleep and rest are yin ENERGY. There must be proper balance between vim and vigor (yang) and inward calm (yin). If you don't get enough sleep and rest, your body will not receive the proper restoration it needs to complete or succeed with this program, or anything else in life, for that matter.

3. Stress management. Do you realize that if you took the fear, worry, and anxiety out of every "stressful" situation in your life, the end result of that situation would still occur? You can panic and freak out all you want, but time will still pass and the end of that moment will still happen, whether you freak out or not. So why not choose something different? When do fear, worry, and anxiety ever really help a situation?

So what is stress? It's the inability to move through a situation logically, peacefully, positively, productively, and gracefully. To be stressed out takes lots of ENERGY. Being stressed out can severely affect how well you'll sleep at night. Stress is when you assess blame and don't take responsibility. ("I'm stressed out because of______, and that's why I can't______.") Don't let stress be your scapegoat.

There's a story about 10 people in line at a bank when three armed robbers come flying in, screaming and yelling and pointing guns. They terrorize everyone and steal all their money. The moral of the story is that these 10 people will be affected by this experience in 10 different ways. The two extremes range from one having a wild story to tell at work the next day to another being severely traumatized for the rest of his or her life. Where would you fall in that spectrum?

There's a saying that there are three kinds of business: "God's business"—things that happen in this world that are out of my control; "their business"—the choices other people make based on their life experiences so far; and "my business"—the choices I make that shape my life. If I focus on what I have to do to make my life the best it can be, and NOT on God's and everyone else's business, I will have less stress, which in turn will give me the ENERGY to live the life I've always wanted.

Don't waste your time on gossip, ridicule, envy, self-pity, anger, guilt, arrogance, need, impatience, regret, manipulation, jealousy, fear, worry, and anxiety, because they'll zap your ENERGY and cause you stress!

Choose understanding, truth, clarity, patience, devotion, gratitude, vulnerability, acceptance, wisdom, hope, forgiveness, empathy, discipline, perseverance, community, and peace. Because if you do, you will gladly kiss stress goodbye and say hello to all the ENERGY you'll need.

4. Purpose. Purpose is the driving force to get you from here to there. If you don't have purpose, all the best food, supplementation, sleep, and stress-free days won't help you one bit. You have to have a powerful burning desire to want it.

My dictionary tells me that "purpose" is "seeking resolution." Searching for answers to solve a problem. An intention. This all goes to the core of . . . why? Why do I want to spend the next 90 days turning my life upside down, maybe even for the second or third time, or more?

You're looking for resolution. You're searching for answers to help solve this problem. And most importantly, you must be clear about your intention. No one ever does anything just for the heck of it. There's always some intention behind everything we do. Different kinds of behavior have different levels of intention and purpose. Eating fast food and leaving the DVDs on the shelf is one level. Following the program the way it was designed is another.

I know I've said this before, but if your intention and purpose are based exclusively on esthetics and bragging rights, you miss the whole point of P90X. If your intention and purpose are based on good health, quality of life, athleticism, flexibility, strength, and cardiovascular endurance, you're doing P90X for all the right reasons. If your intention and purpose are based on lifestyle, you will have plenty of ENERGY to succeed with and complete P90X. You will also have the ENERGY to be everything you always knew you could be.
May the Energy Revolution begin!

Peace,
Tony Horton

What I know about Turbo Fire...

2010-06-07T17:31:00.003-04:00

I know I keep updating TURBO FIRE this and TURBO FIRE that. But if you aren't familiar with what's behind all that I figured I should let you know what it is I'm talking about.

What is TURBO FIRE? It's a workout DVD program that has amazing cardio HIIT workouts, the kind of music you blast in your car or around your house when you just want to MOVE, hands down my favorite instructor ever, Chalene Johnson and the best spot in class. This workout dvd is filmed with you standing in class, the camera is a class member! You really feel like you are there!! (Wow now I'm quoting myself from the infomercial? dorky...)

First let's take a look:
http://beachbodycoach.com/esuite/home/caterinapass?bctid=82703972001

The BASE KIT will come with 12 classes on 10 DVDS: Fire classes, HIIT classes, Core/Scuplt/Tone Classes, Stretch classes, instructional dvd, fitness guide, 5 day inferno guide, nutrition guide & much much more.

The DELUXE KIT will come with 5 more classes and 4 more dvds including Abs. You also get a 30 day supply of the recovery formula, bands and a turbo tracker.

You DO NOT need to have done any other kind of TURBO workout before to try this. If you have done a Turbo workout then you already know how fun it is and you'll definitely love the program too!

I'm currently making a big list of everyone I know who is interested in ordering the program when it comes out and if you want to know ASAP then send me your email address so I can add you to that list! Whatever I find, I pass along to YOU!

Strengthening your Relationship

2010-05-22T14:03:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone! I wanted to share this article with you written by the inspirational Chalene Johnson. You can find her on facebook, here! That's where you'll find many more gems of advice, like this one.

7 day To-Do list to Strengthen your Relationship

Sometimes we spend so much time working on our business, our body, our image, our clean home that we forget to put the most important thing first!

1 Read or listen to at least one book or CD on how to improve your relationship

2 Greet your partner as if it's the happiest moment of your day!

3 Start having more sex tonight! Not in the mood? Tired? Too bad! Just start!

4 Set a non-negotiable date night each week.

5 Figure out your partners desired expression of love.

6 Plan to deliver your partners desired expression of love 3x this week.

7 Write your significant other a quick "I love your because" note.

8 Ask your partner for one thing you could be doing to make them happier

9 Tell your spouse or partner all the things you find "sexy" about them.

10 Work to improve something you know drives your spouse batty

11 Tell your partner how important their support is on your fitness journey.

12 Figure out a way to spend more time with your spouse and less time apart

13 Ask your partner to set a 5 year list of goals for your family.

14 Do/say something to make your partner feel like the center of your universe

15 Listen with your full attention

16 Compliment your partner on something you know they take pride in

17 Do something care taking, but unexpected for your partner

18 Vow to join your partner doing "their favorite" activity

19 Commit to spending less time consumed by media when your home

20 Write a long love letter to your spouse.

21 Remind yourself daily of your blessings.

How to Change Your Youtube Thumbnail

2010-05-20T20:50:00.002-04:00

Or you can watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qxnAfgUPHD8

If you have any more social media questions...let me know!

Exercise & Skin Care- they go hand in hand!

2010-05-17T02:44:00.002-04:00

This article came from Yahoo! Shine, click here to see it.

Why Exercise is Good for Your Skin
Working out is fantastic for firming up flabby areas and losing weight. As if you needed another excuse to get your fitness on, it's no secret both your inner and outer health improve when you exercise. Proving that glowing skin not only comes from a bottle, jar or a tube, here are four ways that getting physical can pack amazing results for your skin.

1. Sweating clears out your pores. But let everything stay on your skin and it could have adverse effects. Be sure to wash your face post-workout and shed your workout clothes to avoid chest and back breakouts.

2. Exercising will firm you up, making your skin look toned and firm—doesn't a set of toned legs or strong arms always look nicer?

3. As Elle Woods in Legally Blonde put it, "Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don't kill their husbands. They just don't." Rising stress levels can cause trauma to the skin in the form of wrinkles, acne or breakouts. Any physical exertion will reduce the level of stress you have.

4. When you work out, you should be drinking more water. Although your body is using that to hydrate itself as it sweats, it's also nourishing and cleansing to the skin.

How to start a workout journey

2010-05-07T16:03:00.003-04:00

If you'd rather skip the video and just read:

Before you start exercising, whether your doing a DVD program, hitting the gym or you just downloaded a running schedule from Google, you should know there is one BIG step you need to take before you dive in!

What are you going to need for this BIG step?
-A camera
-Scale
-Tape measurer
-Notebook

You figure it out yet?

You've got to TRACK YOUR PROGRESS. When the pounds and inches starting melting off your body, how are you going to know what you've accomplished without tracking from DAY ONE?

So before you PRESS PLAY make sure you take your before pictures and make sure you track often- day 1, 30, 60 (this could change depending on your program). Also get your before weight and before measurements (biceps, stomach, chest, thighs)- sometimes you won't lose weight right away from you'll notice a different in your inches. If you can figure out how to calculate your body fat that is something equally, and sometimes MORE important, to know.

It's a FIYA!!

2010-05-06T12:47:00.003-04:00

Alright Turbo peeps! The time has come to announce the ETA of TURBO FIRE...it's the day after my birthday & yes you can send me presents..."alright alright enough already" is that what your yelling at me? It's....

JUNE 18th!

And that date is *ONLY* for the fabulous Beachbody coaches! You really really want to get your hands on all that is TURBO FIRE...sign up to coach, duh! ;)

Coach Price: $89
Retail Price: $119.85 for the Base kit- and you have to wait 2 weeks for it to be released to you.

Deluxe Kit comes with 8 more workouts!

Want a sneak preview:

Yes, that is me in the preview. So you know what that means...I've done TURBO FIRE! So you can take my word for it- it's an insanely FUN yet SWEAT BREAKING workout! I was drenched in sweat after each workout but I had a blast doing them which made me want to keep PRESSING PLAY!

You don't know where to sign up to coach- click here! And click on "Coach" or you can shoot me a message and I'll give you more details!

Shakeology Cleanse: Day 2

2010-05-04T21:38:00.004-04:00

Hey all!

Today is day two of the Shakeology Cleanse. I'm happy to announce that I am still alive and that today was WAY better than yesterday. :) I reminded myself to drink more water, I think I didn't have as much yesterday, so that's one tip I have- don't be afraid to drink up!

I've gotten a lot of emails & facebook messages about what kind of green tea and fruit I'm eating. I just picked up an organic brand of green tea at Meijer and called it a day. And for the fruit I'm eating organic apples. But whatever fruit works for you is fine.

As for lightheaded-ness or hunger, that improved so much from yesterday. I think that previous to starting the cleanse I was putting too much caffeine in my body and I was craving that.

Also its great to have other people doing this with me. Being able to text and talk to Kathy, Jola and Jamie to see how they are doing and what they are feeling is GREAT. I recommend doing this with a friend if you are going to try. Makes you feel like you aren't alone. :)

I've also had a lot of people ask me for the schedule & for more details, here you go.

One more day to go! I'll let you know the details tomorrow! :)
If you have questions, feel free to ask!

Shakeology Cleanse: Day 1

2010-05-03T20:44:00.003-04:00

Today is day one of the Shakeology Cleanse. A cleanse is something I have NEVER done before, I was scared and intimated. It's 8:45 p.m. and day one is almost over and all I have to say is THANK GOD.

In the "Shakeology 3 Day Cleanse" webinar it was said that the first day would be the hardest, well if that's so, then it won't be SO bad. I can do this!

I woke up, weighed myself and then started the day with a cup of green tea, which is probably one of the worst parts, I'm not a big fan of tea. I pretty much wait until it cools down and then I chug it. Next I drank my chocolate Shakeology with water/ice and 1/2 cup of fruit, lunch again was Shakeology with water/ice ONLY followed by dinner which was the salad with 4 oz of chicken and vegetables. I saved my last shakeology snack for after dinner, I haven't had it yet because I know that I get really really hungry in the evening.

I have been hungry several times throughout the day which made me realize how much I eat within a day and I'm not going to lie, normally I eat A LOT. Also my house is FULL of temptations. In the kitchen at this moment there are three different cakes and brownies just staring at me. Why oh why!

I have energy, that is not a problem. I did get a little light-headed but again let's remember I normally have a lot more food in my system. I can get light-headed easily, so that wasn't something that worried me.

I'm off to hang out with Mat and drink my last Shakeology snack for the night! Tomorrow I will update you all on how day 2 goes.

Decide. Commit. Succeed.

2010-04-29T21:43:00.003-04:00

DECIDE.COMMIT.SUCCEED.
http://www.cardiopartycat.com

The Facts behind the Shakeology 3 Day Cleanse

2010-04-25T21:25:00.005-04:00

A week or two ago I saw on every one of my Beachbody friends facebook statuses mention of the infamous "Shakeology 3 Day Cleanse." A cleanse...which to me sounds a little intimidating and kind of scary, intrigued me because I love Shakeology. So I jumped at the chance to listen to the Shakeology Cleanse experts when they put on a Beachbody webinar all about it! I figured I'd share what I learned with all of you!

What is the Shakeology 3 Day Cleanse?
It's a 3 day calorie restrict nutrient-dense eating plan that acts like a cleanse to flush out toxins and help get your body running more efficiently.

You can use it as a JUMP START to a new program or during a recovery week. You can also use it as a PLATEAU BREAKER! Remember, this is a PERFORMANCE cleanse, so it's different from many other cleanses, like the Master Cleanse, were you aren't getting hardly any calories, no nutrients and those last anywhere from 7 to 30 days. And you should be able to maintain light exercise during the Shakeology Cleanse.

Goals:
-Rid toxins
-Nutrient efficiency
-Reduce bloat/weight loss
-It will bring you hydration levels into homeostasis (which if you remember from health class is your HAPPY place!)
-Renewed engery

Results:
A lighter, cleaner and healthier YOU! :)

HOW DO YOU DO IT?

Here is the 3 day cleanse schedule:

All 3 days-

Start: 1 cup of green tea (no milk or anything extra in your tea!)

Breakfast: Shakeology with water, ice and OPTIONAL 1/2 cup fruit

Snack: 1 piece fruit

Lunch: Shakeology with water & ice ONLY. Followed by 1 cup green tea.

Snack: Shakeology with water & ice ONLY. (You can have this snack AFTER dinner if you want, it's up to you)

Dinner: Salad with greens, 3 servings of vegetables and 4 oz grilled white meat.

**Drink plenty of water
**ABSOLUTELY NO DAIRY OR SUGAR!

Potential negatives to be aware of:
-Headaches: If you are normally a caffeine drinker you might be experiencing some withdrawals.
-No weight loss: Measure your inches too!
-Hunger
-Lack of energy
-Light headed: modify the exercises you are doing, keep them light! if you have to add a small snack (5-10 almonds, 1/2 banana)

So who is in it with me to do a SHAKEOLOGY CLEANSE...I mean what have we got to lose but some weight! ;)

Let's see what we can do in 3 days!

I've been talking to Kathy about this and we figured we would do it on MAY 3rd, 4th and 5th that's MONDAY, TUESDAY and WEDNESDAY! If you want to join us, LET US KNOW! =) We are going to be relaying on each other for motivation & support, so you might as well do it with a group!

What do you need: Green tea & Shakeology. If you don't already have some Shakeology you can get it here: www.cardiopartycat.com

If you don't have the slightest clue what the heck Shakeology is, check out my youtube video from inside my kitchen:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSJ_2Kr-0us

Questions? Let me know!

Shakeology Series- Does it really make you feel full?

2010-04-20T15:43:00.000-04:00

Want to get your hands on SHAKEOLOGY!? Go to my site: www.cardiopartycat.com

Want to compete in the SUMMER SHAKE DOWN and WIN PRIZES!

For the month of MAY I will be drinking Shakeology for 30 days along with a bunch of others who want to change their lives too! ;)

Questions? Contact me!

MY SHAKEOLOGY APOLOGY

2010-04-16T19:31:00.001-04:00

HEY! I just wanted to share with you a blog post from the fabulous CHALENE JOHNSON which she did a year ago (dang shakeology has been around that long already!) about her love for it! You all know that I drink it EVERYDAY for lunch but if you want a fitness professional's advice, read her blog post:

MY SHAKEOLOGY APOLOGY

I’m a pretty humble person. I don’t ask for favors, or special treatment. I don’t name drop or expect that people should treat me like a VIP. I won’t cut in line even when a friend waves me up. I play by the rules and know that everyone is important. I think it’s rude when people act like they are entitled or that people should help them out because of their name, or who they are, or what they’ve done, their money, their status, whatever. One of my biggest pet peeves is my fellow fitness instructors who think they’re “all that” and the “club” owes them something because their classes are full. Get over yourself! In my book, the grocery store CEO is just as important as the kid who bags your bread and milk.

Which is why today I an apologizing. Publically.

The truth is in a moment of weak desperation, I pulled a “J.Lo” on Wednesday. Well I didn’t request white M&M’s and all white flowers in my dressing room. Nope. Just a little help in the Shakeology department. And I know an apology with an explanation is not really an apology, but I believe my Shakeology Apology warrants a teeny tiny explanation. You see…ever since Shakeology arrived at our door step, things in my household have changed.

Now before I go further.. know this. I’m not paid to endorse Shakeology. I have no stock in the company. No one at Beachbody has ever even asked me to “try it” let alone to talk about it. I have no relationhip with Shakeology, other than we since we met, I have fallen madly in love. First I fell head over heels which peaked Bret’s curiosity. Skeptical, Bret was a “believer” after two shakes. Next, my 11 year old (who refuses to eat anything green or that comes from nature), then my 9 year old, my father-in-law, my Mom, and all my exercise partners all fell under the spell of Shakeology. I admit when my bag of shakeology was full and heavy, it felt like it was last forever. I shared my bag of shakeology readily back in those early days of this month. I passed around my Shakeology like MC Hammer shared his money in those early days when record deal money was plentiful.

I’m a “pusher”. When I find something that’s amazing, whether it’s a new push-up bra, the worlds greatest George Foreman Grill, self-tanner, whatever it is that works like a charm, I tell the world. I push it. I like things that work! I share my findings.

So, naturally I grabbed my bag of Shakeology to pack for our upcoming family vacation (8 days in Maui, Hawaii.) If felt light. Panic overcame my being. A wave of hot blood rushed into my face. I thought, “Oh my gawd! We leave in 3days. This will NEVER last and I don’t have time to order more!!!” I freaked. There was only one thing to do.

I puffed my chest up and decided to see if I could pull any strings at Beachbody. I’ve sold ‘em a couple of million videos. That should be worth a favor or two.. right?? “May I ask whose calling?” the receptionist asked. “Yes, Chalene Johnson of Turbo Jam and ChaLEAN Extreme” I announced proudly. She was unimpressed. Probably President of the Shawn T fan club. Next, I found my go-to-girl, the gal with the beautiful smile who always says, “of course! What else can I do to help”, The lovely Leili in the production department. I pleaded my case. I told her how I had been to generous with my monthly supply and now I was nearly out! I begged her to ship me two bags…FedEx..priority am delivery. I didn’t expect it for free or anything. I mean, come on. I’m not a mooch. “Lieli, I don’t expect it for free. Just charge it to my friend Tony Horton’s account (I mean come on… P90X is on tv all day everyday! He can spot me on this one… right???)

She did. It worked. Leili came through! It was mid afternoon the next day when the UPS man drove up. I sprinted to his truck, my eyes bulging, body bloated and weak. Digestion irregular and blood sugars all a skew. I was panting, shaking and foam was frothing from he corners of my mouth (I was 4 hours past my daily scheduled Shakeology). He started to dismount his truck, box in hand. “Give it to me!” I shouted as I grabbed the package from the man dressed in brown.

I apologize for my behavior. With blender whirling and smell of chocolate with a hint of wheat grass, I felt the anxious excitment that a drug addict must feel when they score another hit of heroine.

Beachbody has several protein and meal replacement shakes. I’ve tried and used them all. You’ve never seen me blog about them. I’ve been in the fitness profession for 20 years. I’ve tried every shake, vitamin and protein suppliment. You can imagine because of the huge network of intstructors and customers of my company http://www.turbokick.com, on a monthlly basis I’m sent samples of every miracle nutrient, drink, vitamin, water, protein source, and shake you can imagine. I’ve tried them all. You’ve NEVER heard me encourage people to try them. I’ve talked about things I find yummy or tasty with decent nutrients. But Shakeology is in a class of it’s own. Period.

Unfortunately you can only get it from a coach. Some say it’s expensive. I say… DO YOUR RESEARCH! It’s cheap! You show me a meal with this many veggies, protein, enzymes, fruit blends, probiotics and vitamins that is this low in calorie and I’ll show you something much more expensive or that doesn’t have as much ! it can’t be done. It’s less than a cup of Starbucks. Get a clue! It’s cheap. Sure it’s more than what you’ve been paying for your normal meal replacement, but this is a total health drink. It’s super cheap if you become a coach. Don’t quote me here, but you get it about $30 cheaper if your’e coach with http://www.TeamBeachbody.com Now I am ineligible to be coach (because I’m a trainer with BeachBody) so I’ve been ordering it from my coach as customer. (Well, except for in this recent tantrum!)

BeachBody has just come out with Shakeology and it is truly amazing. Not only does it have all the great stuff I just mentioned but it tastes really really good (I have some GREAT recipes to really make it taste like a dream! Don’t just mix it with water and shake it. Boring! Visit my blog later this week for my fav recipes!

It really does take great! You don’t have to just take my word for it, take the word of a “very picky eater!!!”, my son 12 year old son Brock. Now let me tell you about my sweet son Brock, he HATES vegetables. I understand. I hated veggies til I was an adult. For years my Mom tried and for years, I found creative ways to dispose of the green stuff on my plate without her knowing. The other day Brock and I had a very touching moment. I made him is afternoon protein shake. He gulped it down, commenting, “That was good, but it tasted different today. Did you put something different in it?” I sat down next to him and broke the news to him. “Son, you just had your daily serving of veggies!” For the first time in his 12 year life, a complete days serving of fruits and vegetables and he liked it! Now granted… I needed his shake to taste a lot like what he’s used to, so I added the same stuff I always put in his protein shakes, a lil peanut butter and some fat free frozen yogurt. But it was the most nutritious meal he had probably had in his life. I felt a tear roll down my face. ( oh come on! Not really, but it makes the story). Seriously as a mom it gives such peace of mind knowing I can whip up a yummy shake hand it to my child and know he is getting so many great things his growing body needs.

Learn more… http://www.milliondollarbody.com/shakeology/

More details

WHATS IN IT

More than 70 different ingredients were chosen from around the world for their potency and bioavailability (the ability to deliver the nutrients your body needs). Here are the key nutrient groups that these ingredients deliver:*

Protein and Essential Amino Acids to help build long, lean muscles and reduce food cravings

Prebiotics and Digestive Enzymes, which aid in improving digestion, regularity, and nutrient absorption

Antioxidants and Phytonutrients to help counteract free radical damage that can lead to degenerative diseases

Vitamins and Minerals your body needs to function for optimal health.

LOVE IT!
If you want to check out Shakeology you can look at one of my two sites:
My Beachbody Site

My Shakeology Site

Do you have any questions? Get at me!

Insanity: Behind the Scenes

2010-04-16T18:59:00.002-04:00

Are you ready to put your body to the test? Get at me!

TURBO FIRE

2010-04-02T19:27:00.002-04:00

^^Can you spot me?

GET READY for the BEST workout around.....TURBO FIRE!

But guess what? You have to be a Beachbody Coach if you want to save 25%! OR if you want to be one of the first to purchase then you better make sure you are send up through a Beachbody Coach. Create a free account on my website- www.cardiopartycat.com simply click JOIN then create the FREE account and I'll let you know RIGHT AWAY when TURBO FIRE is released and you can purchase that second!

Don't miss out on transforming your life!!

Congress is doing P90X!

2010-03-23T22:26:00.001-04:00

From athletes to actresses and now even CONGRESS! Everyone is doing the X!

I'm giving away a FREE P90X shirt!

2010-03-22T20:41:00.002-04:00

^I always CHANGE the video still that youtube picks because it makes me look ridiculous but guess it didn't work yet! ER!

Contest ends NEXT MONDAY- March 29th!

Communicate to Motivate by Chalene Johnson

2010-03-17T22:03:00.001-04:00

Words are a powerful thing. Be careful what you say and who you say it to. With a word or certain tone of voice you can lift someone up or rip them down.

Why are you exercising?

2010-03-13T01:46:00.011-05:00

Recently someone asked me, "How long are you going to do that Turbo thing?" I of course immediately replied, "Forever!"

Then I thought about it...I don't ever see a point in my life where I wouldn't be working out. Why would I stop? It's something that I LOVE to do and I'll continue it until I possibly can not move my arms and legs, I hope to be sporting a leotard & rocking out with my walker in the old folks home! There are so many health benefits to working out, but on top of all that, it's a passion, habit and way of life.

Caterina's Reasons to Exercise (I feel like this will be a currently updated blog with more & more reasons)
-I love the why it makes me feel during & after a GREAT workout.
-I love working up a sweat and then jumping in the shower because I know that I earned it.
-I love to eat, trust me I'm Italian! So what better way to get to enjoy delicious foods then to workout to avoid putting extra calories into your body?
-Superficial alert: I love cute workout clothes & new shoes (and they aren't just for looks you have to USE them).
-I would not know what to do with myself/my time. Everyday I plan what my day will consist of, if I go a couple days without a good workout, I feel like my life is upside down. No not because I beat myself up over the guilt (even though I do feel guilty) but it's more of disrupting my pattern. I have made exercise a part of my life. I can't go back now, not even if I wanted to.
-I think it's fun! :)
-I like to feel good about my body.
-I want to live a long life.
-I know that in my family there is a big history of every kind of illness you can think of- I don't want ANY of that!!
-This one is a no brainer and I can't believe I didn't think of it sooner- I enjoy losing weight/inches! It makes me happy to see my hard work pay off.
-I like working out and hearing that other people are interested in doing the same workouts as me.
-It brings me closer to my friends! I love working out with my close friends and meeting new friends along the way on my fitness journey! :)
-I get paid to do it! ;) That's always a nice bonus.

So what about YOU? What are YOUR reasons?! Let's make a BIG list!

Extra, Extra Read All About It!

2010-03-07T00:55:00.003-05:00

My Current Top 3 Personal Development Books

1. Goals!: How to Get Everything You Want-Faster Than You Ever Thought Possible - Brian Tracy

2. Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion- Gary Vaynerchuk

3. The Slight Edge: Secret to a Successful Life- Jeff Olson

$$$

2010-02-25T22:36:00.005-05:00

For starters, I'll let this article by Matt Morris "The Unemployed Millionaire" speak for itself...

80 Top Network Marketing Companies

"My list of the most popular network marketing companies is back and bigger than before! I had my team increase our previous list of 50 network marketing companies to include 80 of today’s most popular network marketing companies for February 2010.

In my December 2009 edition of Most Popular Network Marketing Companies, I mentioned that I would share a few criterion to consider when you or anyone you know is considering a new network marketing opportunity. My recommendations are below the list!

The criteria for making the list remains the same: each network marketing company on the list has been in business for 3+ years (no fly-by-night companies) and is well known online (based on Alexa.com’s website traffic rankings)…

1. Avon
2. Global Domains International
3. Oriflame Kosmetiek B.V.
4. Natura Cosmeticos
5. Melaleuca
6. Team Beach Body www.teambeachbody.com 13,755
7. Usana
8. Pre-Paid Legal Services, Inc.
9. Amway Global/Quixtar
10. Market America
11. Mary Kay

And the list goes on and on until 80...

Now Avon was no surprise to me, that company was founded in 1886...hello they should be billionaires! Now Team Beachbody started the 41 founding coaches in 2006. I am so IMPRESSED (yet not surprised) to know that this company is ROCKING IT! I think what I am the most surprised about is the companies that I figured would be high up...aren't.

The business is simple with “The Beachbody Revolution-Turn Your Weight Loss into Profit” system . . . the breakthrough income opportunity that’s perfect for YOU!

*Earn money while losing weight and helping others do the same.
*Be your own boss, work from home, part-time or full-it’s up to you!
*Get started for only $39.95 and no inventory costs.

You ready? Let me help you!

And I'll leave you with the rest of Matt Morris' post (with some modifications from myself)-

What To Consider Before Joining a Network Marketing Company…

Products. Look for the product that gets you most excited and that’s the best product for you. The key to success in network marketing comes from keeping yourself excited and bought-in psychologically to the product you’re selling.

Leadership. I once walked away from a six-figure income solely because I lost faith in the company’s leadership. A foundation of integrity is the bedrock of success for any network marketing company. When you promote a company, that company’s reputation and integrity will be a direct reflection of your reputation and integrity.

Sales and Marketing Programs. Make absolutely sure the company you are considering has a strong sales and marketing program in place. That way, all you and your organization will have to do is use the tools (i.e. CDs, DVDs, brochures, magazines, web sites, etc.) to do the presenting for you.

(A simple tool like the video I posted above? I think so!)

Mentorship. Is there someone in the company with a track record of success in building his or her income who is also able to assist others in creating success as well? Your chances of success will sky rocket if you can work with someone who has experienced success and wants to help you become successful. Most importantly, your mentor should be someone you trust and believe in.

(The entire Platinum Presenters team, www.platinumpresenters.com A GROUP OF TEAM BEACHBODY LEADERS!)

Timing. Timing is not going to make or break your success but it’s something to consider. I’ll share more on timing following the next list of top network marketing companies.

I hope you enjoyed this month’s list of the top network marketing companies! If we left your company off (and they match the criteria I previously listed), please let me know in the comments section below.
P.S. For more information about network marketing, get your copy of The Unemployed Millionaire: http://www.MattMorris.com/book. Be sure to check out Chapter 10: The Ultimate Time-Leveraging Business!

And please please please never be shy or hesitate to ASK ME QUESTIONS. No matter what your question is, reach out to me!

Find me on facebook or on twitter!

Have a GREAT day,
Coach Caterina

What a Fitness Expert Says about Shakeology

2010-02-22T20:09:00.007-05:00

I just finished reading this blog that was sent to Carl Daikeler, the CEO of Beachbody. It's GREAT and definitely worth reposting!

I read this post below the other day, written by a professional who teaches for one the most respected kettlebell training communities in the country. It was written by Dr. Mark Cheng in response to some of his students and peers who were questioning his vocal support of Shakeology. He gave me permission to reprint it here:

Shakeology (R) - A shake that's too good to be true?
Lately, I've made mention about my use of the nutritional product, Shakeology, and some folks have been questioning if I've abandoned the RKC ranks and gone "P90X" on them. So let me set the record straight... definitively... once and for all.

I heard about Shakeology before there WAS a Shakeology directly from the mouth of its inventor - Isabelle Brousseau. The wife of Beachbody CEO, Carl Daikeler, Ms. Brousseau is a singularly talented coach and highly educated researcher. She's spent years studying the advanced principles of elite human performance from authorities around the world, and I was honored to have the chance to share Pavel Tsatsouline's Hardstyle RKC kettlebell training method privately with her. As adept student, she was on the fast-track to preparing for her RKC instructor certification when she decided to take time off upon learning she was expecting her first child.

During the times I spent training her, Isabelle and I spoke about Chinese herbal medicine, and she mentioned she was researching ways of combining all-natural foods with the highest possible nutrient values into a meal-replacement shake designed for athletes and people on-the-go. When she mentioned wanting to put in high quality Ayurvedic herbs, Chinese herbs, antioxidant rich fruits and vegetables, prebiotics, and a host of other vitamins and minerals, my initial reaction was.... "Yeah, right!"

My doubts were not unfounded. Having spent years studying (and consuming) Chinese herbal medicines, I had a familiarity with a good deal of what Brousseau was talking about. The ingredients she'd mentioned sounded like a wishlist that only insiders would know of and only the filthy rich and well-connected could afford. On top of that, the taste of such a mixture, I surmised, would probably make even the least sensitive tasters wretch with disgust. To make a mixture that would contain the type of ingredients she mentioned, be stable enough to ship & store, and not taste like the bottom skim of a Los Angeles sewer was a pipe dream as far as I was concerned. So I filed the conversation away in my mental round file. A couple of years later, when I met with Carl to discuss a project idea, I saw the finished product on his shelf. Eager to see how far from the initial ideal the finished product had to compromise, I was in for a shock.

Not only did Shakeology have EXACTLY the type of ingredients that Isabelle had mentioned during our training sessions, but it had MORE!

Some notables...

- Astragalus: widely used in Chinese medicine as an immune system regulator
- MSM: one of the most popular supplements for joint health
- Chia: the Mayan super-seed with more calcium than whole milk, more Omega 3 & 6 than salmon, and more protein than kidney beans
- THREE different proprietary blends and some vitamins & minerals that actually exceeded the US RDA.

This stuff looked like it was fit for a king for sure. So I was damn curious to put it to the final 2 tests - taste & performance. I wanted to know if it smelled or tasted anything like what I thought it would and was damn curious if it'd make a difference for my high-velocity, high-output, high-mileage lifestyle.A little background... I'm a caffeine junky by virtue of workaholism. Ever since discovering the "joy" of all-nighter homework sessions in high-school, I became keenly aware of the value of being able to work harder and sacrifice sleep. So when the No-Doz, Vivarin, & Mountain Dew lifestyle needed an adult turn after I'd graduated & started writing, teaching, treating patients, travelling, training, and trying to spend time with my family, I dove hip deep into energy drinks like Red Bull & Monster and caffeinated energy bars like Pit Bull. When I speak well about a nutritional product, it's for one reason - it helps me get my work done while keeping me healthy. Another bit of background... I'm a glutton. I love food, especially food that tastes good. I never met a filet mignon that I didn't like, and never met one that I didn't like better wrapped in bacon, with a side of bacon-wrapped scallops, and mashed potatoes... topped with bacon. If it doesn't taste good, I don't care how good it is for me. I'll STILL probably not like it well enough to be disciplined about taking it.

The Shakeology greenberry bag that Carl gave me turned my ball of preconceived notions and stood it on its ear. From the moment I opened the bag, the scent was wonderful, like a dessert that you're eager to tear into. So I dumped some ice & water into the blender and dropped a scoop of the bright green powder in with it. I didn't add juice or other fruits because I wanted to know exactly how this taste by itself, unadulterated. The next sound I heard after taking my first sip was, "Yum!" It passed the taste test.Next was the travel test. I wanted to see how it kept me going while travelling, so instead of my usual chain-drinking habit of Monster or Red Bull, I tried a shake or two during the day, usually with one in the morning. I brought Shakeology with me to New York, New Mexico, & most recently to Australia to see how I'd do with it, and the results were remarkable. I had sustained, stable energy, but without the jitters, aggression, and hard drops afterwards. When I travel, I travel to teach, and I have to be up, energetic, strong, and focused. My days here in LA revolve around teaching, training, treating patients, and trying to steal moments with my family. So if something doesn't give me the energy to do what I need, I can't waste my precious time or hard earned money with it. Shakeology has proven itself to be able to give me all of that on multiple occasions, both while travelling and here in Los Angeles. You can draw your own conclusions about any product you want, but I'm sharing my experiences with Shakeology here openly. And if you think I'm endorsing it only for financial gain, you couldn't be more wrong. I signed up as a "coach" so I could buy the product for myself! If you want to try it, you know where to find it, and get ready to be surprised how little such high quality nutrition costs!

Interested in Shakeology, click here, to read more! Or message me with your questions, I'm happy to answer! :)

If you want to read more from Carl's blogs, click here!

When I say HEY, you say HO! HEY HO HEY HO!

2010-02-16T19:46:00.004-05:00

If you are a Turbo Jammer then you probably just sang that title line (or screamed it in my case). But no matter what you know what I'm talking about.

One of my friends just recently bought Turbo Jam and I wanted to share with you all the AMAZING facebook message I got after her first workout:

"I just finished my first Turbo workout, and HOLY CRAP am I sweating. I LOVE IT already and can't wait until tomorrow so I can do it again. This is the first workout dvd that I've bought that actually works! I already feel the lbs melting away lol. Thanks for recommending this workout!"

No problem girl! Thank you for trusting my advice and taking a giant step towards a better, healthier YOU! :)

This is one of my main reasons for being a Beachbody Coach. I don't do it to turn people into Turbo Jam addicts like myself (that is a bonus!), I do it because I LOVE getting messages like the one above. I love knowing that someone else is doing the same workouts as me and having a great time. They are changing their bodies and GETTING EXCITED about it. Honestly, that excitement and that PRIDE is the best feeling and sharing it with someone else is truly indescribable. You can see it in someone after they've had a great workout or measured themselves and seen that they lost inches. You can see it in the glow of their face, how straight they are walking with confidence and the words that they are saying sound so POSITIVE and HAPPY. I LOVE THAT!

Honestly, about an hour ago I was at working complaining and dreading my scheduled Insanity workout for the night. After writing this I am READY TO GO! Just expressing my opinions about how excited I am for other people, I got myself PUMPED UP. Time to stop blogging and starting sweating!

Talk to you soon!
Coach Caterina

Like-Minded People

2010-02-08T18:43:00.006-05:00

I spent last weekend in Chicago for a Beachbody meeting and to have a mini vacation with my boyfriend. It was awesome! :)

Beachbody's Game Plan Training
Can you imagine what it's like to be in a room with 200 people who have similar passions as you do? Just envision the energy flowing through our veins and bouncing off the walls during the 7 hour event...or maybe that was too much Shakeology during the sample tastings! It is truly GREAT to be surrounded by like-minded people. If your passion isn't fitness or health go out and find people similar to you and MEET THEM, talk about what you do and what you like. You'll see the feelings I'm describing here.

Not only did other people understand my LOVE and PASSION for Turbo Jam, Chalean Extreme and Insanity but they had similar(and BETTER) stories to share.

We talked about all kinds of things ranging from the concept of having your own Beachbody business to how to grow it successfully!! :) Our main speaker was Larry Zimberg, National Game Plan Director of Beachbody! Who is one of the BEST public speakers & motivators!

I also got to meet several facebook friends, like ALLYSE, who I've talked to for so long over the internet and finally got to meet in person!!

One of the things that have stuck with me all week and probably will forever was a success story from 10 star Diamond Coach, Pete Pena. He told us how his daughter retired at 23 years old from having her Beachbody business!! 23 years old, holy cow!! Well guys I'm 1.5 years away from that age myself, let's see if I can make it happen!

Let me leave you with an equally inspiring slide-
There will never be a perfect TIME in your life to start something, you'll never have that extra money to try this or that, don't sit around waiting for it to be "right." Listen to Nike and JUST DO IT. No matter what your dreams is, no matter how BIG or small it may be, GO FOR IT.

So-
WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME TO IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH?
WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME TO IMPROVE YOUR FINANCES?

Don't wait for TOMORROW because TODAY is the TOMORROW you're looking for.

Coaching 101

2010-02-02T22:24:00.003-05:00

I think the video speaks for itself! :) Here's what it's like to be a Beachbody coach- what do you "do"? How do you help people? Do you REALLY make money?

Interested in joining, click here and read some more info about it!

"How Hot Can You Be?"

2010-01-25T00:55:00.007-05:00

Multiple times tonight I have seen the commercial for Jillian Michael’s latest Weight Loss products. I’m not sure how I feel about this. A top trainer for the hottest weight loss show, The Biggest Loser, known to kick her contestant’s butts and make them cry on air while they lose hundreds of pounds and transform their lives is selling products promising quick results. Of all people, a personal trainer should know better than to promise quick results- weight loss is NOT a quick process.

How about Quick Trim with the newly fit and trim Kim and Khloe Kardashian? The girls who claimed they loved their curves. I’m actually a big fan of these fun sisters and from watching their show and from reading their blogs and tweets they have admitted many, many times that they workout. Kim even has her own workout DVDs, “Fit in Your Jeans By Friday.” So what are they truly promoting? Working out to fit in your jeans or drinking some cleanse that probably tastes awful to make yourself feel sick. Stop promising instant results.

Rumor has it, Heidi Pratt is going to come out with a fitness DVD? The woman who just had 10 plastic surgery procedures in one day is releasing a workout DVD. Are you serious? Why would I want to use her workout DVD? Obviously she thinks nipping and tucking is the easiest answer. From someone who swears by workout DVDs, that’s NOT the type of trainer I want to have encouraging me in my living room.

So what happens now? Many people are going to see the same commercials that I did and they are going to think, “Hey take this quick 14 day cleanse and detox and bam I’ll look great!” So not true!

It takes planning, of your meals and your workouts. It also takes commitment, of putting in the time at the gym or at home and sticking to your healthy lifestyle habits. Know that if these quick results sound skeptical it’s because they are. There is no way you are going to drop 20 pounds in 14 days, unless you are obese and on a vigorous training program. Don't be hypnotized by the glitz and glam, remember people they're airbrushed.

**If anyone out there has actually used these products I would like to know- how do they make you feel? What have your results been like? Opinions people, I need honest opinions.

It's that time of the year again!

2009-12-31T16:07:00.002-05:00

With the hours ticking away, now is the time when many people are making their New Year’s Resolutions. People are frantically thinking about creating a fresh start for themselves. However, year after year they continue to make the same resolutions without ever achieving any success.

When you think about the most common resolutions, what comes to mind? Losing weight/getting fit, saving money and stopping a bad habit; I can make a bet that a majority of people have at least one, if not all, of those resolutions on their mighty lists.

That same majority of people look at their wish lists all wrong, no wonder they can’t accomplish anything. If you want to achieve all of these things you are going to have to change your lifestyle but not just for a limited amount of time, you are going to have to make changes forever, don't worry they aren't huge changes, just simple small steps.

To get started, you will need to plan ahead! Many people skip this very important step. How can you get something done if you don’t have a plan of action? So create one! Take out a pen and piece of paper, yes those gadgets you used before Microsoft Word, and write down each one of your goals and at least three steps you can do every single day to get you closer to achieving that goal.

Now put in the work! It’s not going to be easy, but if you can commit, you will succeed. (Sound familiar fellow Beachbody fans- Decide. Commit. Succeed) If you want to lose weight you are going to have to plan to workout, whether at home with a DVD program, at the gym or by taking group exercise classes, or all three! You are also going to want to make small changes in your diet as well, start off by counting calories and not eating processed foods.

You want to save money? Plan ahead how much of your checks will go into your savings account each month or week. Simply putting away $50 a month will end up saving you $600 in a year. Try for a week to keep track of where your money is going. Do you notice any patterns? If your money is headed in the wrong directions, say buying a latte every morning, cut out those purchases and that will save you too! If you are buying a $4 iced coffee each morning at the end of the week you just wasted $28, money that could easily be used to help you pay off those student loans.

So as you are writing out your New Year’s Resolutions this year don’t just stop after the list is complete, add on your plan of action so that those resolutions will no longer be merely dreams and wishes but become part of your reality!

So what are a couple of my goals?
1- To become a 2 Star Diamond Coach
2- To graduate on the Dean's List in May
3- To learn Italian
4- To pay off my loans
5- Complete a round of Insanity

Plan of Action:
1- Read at least 1 personal development book a month
2- Listen to 15 minutes a day of Italian audio & learn 5 new words a day
3- Get a 4.0 this semester
4- Set aside $150 a month to pay off loans

If you'd like to share your goals with me, please feel free too! I would love to help coach you and keep you on track! :)

How to prevent SORENESS after a tough workout

2009-12-20T23:06:00.002-05:00

P90X® Results and Recovery

What Beachbody has to say:
"Refuel, re-energize, and reduce muscle soreness with this after-workout shake. Four parts carbs to one part protein ensures speedy muscle repair after intense workouts!

Recover faster and see better results!
Studies show that with proper nutrition during the first hour following a workout you can increase your body's ability to recover more than 100%. The key component to maximizing this "window of opportunity" is a formulation of approximately 4 parts carbohydrates to 1 part protein.

P90X Results and Recovery Formula is a state-of-the-art, great tasting, body-shaping cocktail that's guaranteed to take your workouts to the next level."

What I have to say:
When you order the Deluxe edition of INSANITY you get the P90X Results & Recovery formula. I had never drank a Recovery formula before, ever, so I was kind of nervous to give it a go, but Beachbody has yet to fail me so I went for it! After my first Insanity workout I made Mat & I our recovery drinks. The powder tastes like an Orangesicle!! Mat, who is the PICKIEST person, even loved it! I was shocked by that.

But the real shock came the next morning when I woke up and I could actually move! I wasn't in pain, which Mat and I joked about because we figured we wouldn't be able to walk the next day because Insanity kicked our butts! So from then on out I've drank my formula after each workout, it truly helps your body recovery!

The tub suggests 2 scoops, which equals 220 calories, I however just put 1 scoop in my drink, which has proven to work for me! yay!

So how much is the P90X Results & Recovery Formula & where can you get your hands on some??
Price: $43.95
Your Price: $32.96 (This is the BEACHBODY COACH price)
^^Being a Coach does have it's benefits, 25% off EVERYTHING! ;)

You can order some HERE, if you have ANY questions, please feel free to ask me!!

Caterina's Week 2 Insanity Review!

2009-12-18T13:13:00.006-05:00

So I bought Insanity during the middle of this semester and sadly I didn't give it the attention it deserves until NOW! So here I am ready to give you a little review of what I have been through so far in just 11 days.

Before I review I should tell you what Insanity is all about for those of you who don't already know.

This is the message that comes with Insanity-

Warning: We believe this is the HARDEST WORKOUT ever put on DVD. If you can get through it, it will get you into the BEST SHAPE of your life. But you must check with your physician before starting this program.

So what do you need to know about it?
-Insanity is a 60-day cardio-based total-body conditioning program. 60 days people, that's it!! Many of the other Beachbody programs, such as P90X or Chalean Extreme, are 90 day programs. Just think of what you can accomplish in 60 days. We'll I'm ready to do it!

Month 1:
-Workout 6 days a week for about 30 to 40 minutes a day

Month 2:
-Add 4 new workouts into the mix, doing about 45 minutes a day

Just like with any other Beachbody program, you get a complete guide telling you what workouts need to be done on what day, they take out the guesswork! I love that. My Insanity calendar is hanging right next to my bed. First thing in the morning and I know what will be in store for me.

Why kind of workouts do you do in Insanity?
"The method behind this madness is called "MAX Interval Training." You may have heard of interval training, but this is different. Most interval workouts are moderate cardio-based exercises with short, high-intensity intervals. But in MAX Interval Training your moderate-intensity exercise, and your short intervals of intensity get replaced with a short period of rest. So you are working harder and longer and resting less. And when we say MAX, we mean MAX."

Now enough of the technical stuff and on to my opinions!
On day 1 you are scheduled to take your FIT TEST. There are 8 moves that you are given about a minute to see how many reps you can accomplish in that alloted time. Now every 2 weeks I will be retaking my FIT TEST. This coming up Monday will be my second one so I will post my results and see if I'm progressing!

After my first FIT TEST, I was drenched and out of breath just as if I did any other type of crazy workout! I thought, okay if this is just the test BEFORE the workout, what did I get myself into!?

The first 2 workouts I tried with Mat I thought I was going to die. Okay, maybe not die, but definitely run out of breath and fall over. But I didn't and finishing each workout I felt PROUD. I had never done anything like this before.

The warm up alone is enough to get you out of breath and dripping wet with sweat but luckily after each warm up there is about a 5 minute stretching period, which is MUCH needed! Then it's time to hit it hard, GET FIT OR GET OUT!

Yesterday after I finished the Plyometric Cardio Circuit I was talking on the phone with Pamela and I was explaining to her that I actually felt FASTER during the moves. I realized that my feet were moving quicker, my arms were pumping harder and my mind was focused. I was still about to collapse in the end and I was out of breath, but the program is doing what it says, it's improving my cardio endurance & strength and it's only been 11 days!!

And this workout requires NO EQUIPMENT yet my arms and legs are sore just as if I lifted weights because of moves like push ups, suicide jumps and power jumps! I'm going to say, so far so GREAT. I love it! During the first couple workouts I was taking frequent breaks and complaining but once I got the hang of Shaun T's style, moves and routine I LOVE it! I've even got Jola & Kathy to try Insanity with me twice, maybe I can get them to write me a review too. ;)

Here's a preview of what INSANITY has to offer:

So let's remember, If I can do this, YOU can do this too!

Down my Beachbody Memory Lane

2009-12-15T19:40:00.005-05:00

Since I started my Beachbody Fitness Journey I have not actually taken the time to sit down and track what I have done over the years...wow, years. I feel like it was just yesterday when I stumbled upon TURBO JAM at my house, but actually it was at the end of my senior year in high school, which was in 2006. I honestly fell in LOVE with that program from the minute I tried it, I can not praise it enough or even find the right words to describe how I feel about it or Chalene. For many years, I would try and get as many people to give the workout a go with me. And thank you to everyone who has!

Now I know that people like to SEE for themselves before they'll agree the program des work. So here's some pictures and numbers:

Right before I started TURBO JAM:
April 2006
My highest:
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 144 lbs

^I guess I never really noticed that I had that pooch & my face seems much chubbier. At that time, I would not have said, "oh yeah I could lose 10 lbs" BUT I did!

Within my first 3 months of Turbo Jam, I lost 10 lbs. I was so excited!! I even made the nurse at the doctors office check to prove that I had lost weight. ;)

Over the years, I have done PLENTY of Turbo Jam's. I started off doing the Maximum Results package and then for my birthday in June I got the Fat Burning Elite package, then when the Chalene Johnson Get On The Ball! set was released after that, I bought that one too! :) I couldn't wait to try ANYTHING and EVERYTHING!

Then last Christmas in 2008, I heard they were going to release Chalean Extreme. Which was unlike anything I have ever done before. Lift weights? Me? uh...no thank you. The most I had lifted was probably 5 lbs doing Turbo Sculpt but I got my first weight plate set and was ready to get extreme! I have completed 2 90 day rounds of Chalean Extreme and can not rave enough. Who knew that I would have MUSCLES? That I would feel STRONG? Even other people have commented on how firm my body has become. YES! During CE, I did not see a big jump in weight loss but the inches were coming off! That was a pleasant surprise. I know many people judge their weight loss success entirely by the number on the scale, well if you are going to go by that then you aren't going to notice the AMAZING changes your body is making! Losing inches and body fat is MORE rewarding and beneficial then dropping pounds.

This summer, 2009:
Weight: 129/130 lbs

Currently I am doing Insanity, which is a 60 day program, I am in week 2. I also love Turbo so much that I have become a TURBO KICK instructor as well as a HIP HOP HUSTLE instructor.

If there is something you are skeptical about or you think that it's not for you, just try it!! What have you got to lose? Maybe a few pounds. ;)

Shakeology Challenge!!!

2009-11-06T18:06:00.004-05:00

Shakeology Challenge!!

Starting: Dec 1st- Dec 30th

Rules:
1. Replace 1 of your meals for 30 days with SHAKEOLOGY!
2. Before the challenge starts send me your weight & your measurements (tricep, waist & thigh)
3. Every MONDAY send me your new weight
(Don’t worry everything will be kept confidential)

**The last day I want your WEIGHT and MEASUREMENTS again! (Before and after pictures are not required but they would be GREAT to have)

Whoever improves their numbers the most in the 30 days will win:

1. $50 visa gift card
2. Shakeology The Workouts
3. P90X Peak Performance Bars- The flavor of your choice or the variety pack!

If you have ANY questions about the challenge or SHAKEOLOGY please send me a message! :) If you want to purchase Shakeology (remember do it in time for the 1st), do it HERE!

COMMIT TO STAY FIT CLUB

2009-10-09T19:03:00.002-04:00

I’m sorry, I haven’t been updating as often as I’d like to! I seem to write “blog” on all of my to-do lists but somehow that gets put off until the end. Well…here I am today baby!

What I’ve been up to:

I recently started an exercise group with my fit and fabulous coworkers called Andreas’ Garden Commit to Stay Fit Club! We have ROCKED it so far and I am extremely impressed with how the group is going. Our first day (last week) we met at a local park at 5:30 AM, yes you read that right, I woke up before the sun came out! For those of you who know me, that’s an impossible task. But I knew that as their trainer, I needed to be there, so I did it! Our group consisted of me, Kathy, Jamie, Jola, Ilda and Spiro. Many others said they would be there but didn’t show, weak!!! Rain or shine, we would be there! (And it was drizzling)

Day 1 we took our FIT TEST, which was to determine how long it would take for us to run a mile, see how many pushups we could do in a minute and how many crunches we could do in a minute. So we put our bodies to the test!!

This week, again at 5:30 am, I put the girls (Spiro didn’t show!) through a boot camp session with yours truly! The workout consisted of a bunch of different drills I made up which was sprinting, lunges, mountain climbers, jumping jacks with our thigh toners, pushups, Turbo skis, standing abs, you name a body part and we worked it! I'm proud to say they all passed. I loved going to work the next day and seeing that none of them could work! ;) That means I did a job well done!! Right ladies?

I’ve also been working out every Wednesday night with Kathy, Niki and Jola at Kathy’s house. We do a mix of Turbo Kick, Turbo Jam and Chalean Extreme. I can’t believe they put up with me 2 days a week working out!

Next week I will be TEACHING my first Turbo Kick class, ever!! I can’t wait! I’m super excited and nervous all at the same time. If you want to take my class here is the information:

Where: Roseville Rec Center
When: Wednesday nights starting Oct 14th- Nov 18th (6 weeks) from 7pm-8pm

You have to PRE-REGISTER so head over to the Rec one day anytime before 6 pm, it takes like 2 minutes! :)

I'll let you know how the Commit to Stay Fit clubbers are doing along the way! We are all going to complete a 4k on Nov 8th when we finish. I already know certain ppl can't make that one so it looks like we will be doing 2 races, join us!! :)

Reward Yourself

2009-10-05T12:30:00.002-04:00

Here is the Bally Total Fitness Weight Loss Tip for the day!

"Reward yourself. You deserve it! Make a list of things you'd like to have (like a new CD, massage, shirt, or bike) and a list of places you want to go (like the theater, on a cruise or to a spa). Use these as incentives to accomplishing your goals. Note that these rewards are not food related, but will help give you the momentum you need to keep going."

I thought that was a good tip because we put so much pressure on ourselves to lose weight that we forget we are doing something good for yourself and that we need to have treats during the experience.

Here would be an example:

"If I lose 10 lbs in 2 months I will buy myself 2 new workout outfits."

Something that will keep you motivated! Something that you really want!! You could even cut out a picture of your "reward" and hang it up places to keep you on track.

And don't give in! If you give in and get it for yourself early you'll never know that rewarded feeling of doing something for yourself that you said you were going to.

You can also look at this for other areas of your life also, doesn't have to be a fitness thing. You can reward yourself when you do good in school, complete a goal on your goal list, save a certain amount of money, whatever you think is important.

SO TRY IT! What have you got to lose?!

Let's Talk Numbers

2009-09-26T23:30:00.004-04:00

Lots of people message me daily asking about the Beachbody programs. I love getting those kinds of messages (so keep them coming)! But immediately when people start talking numbers, they get freaked out. I completely understand, when I use my hard earned money towards anything, I want to be sure of what I’m purchasing.
You want to pay for something that is really going to benefit you. When it comes to Beachbody these programs are no joke, if you are willing to COMMIT and put in your time, YOU WILL SUCCEED. Hands down, guarantee.
DECIDE. COMMIT. SUCCEED.

I wanted to show you a break down of the numbers here:

I have a membership at Bally Total Fitness, I’m in a three year contract and I pay $44 a month. I know, ridiculous. Roll your eyes at me, it’s okay!

TURBO JAM MAXIUM RESULTS package which includes:
6 Workouts
•Learn & Burn
Chalene shows you the "Elite 11" moves you'll use to blast pounds and inches!
•Turbo Sculpt
A 40-minute tighten-and-tone session to reshape, trim, and flatten those problem areas.
•20 Minute Workout
For when you're short on time.
•Ab Jam
A 20-minute ab routine that attacks your core for lean, sexy abs.
•Cardio Party
A turbocharged, 45-minute dance fest!

Plus 3 FREE gifts worth $70!
•Turbo Sculpting Gloves
Scientifically proven to increase muscle activity by up to 96%, so you get ripped even faster.
•Punch, Kick & Jam
Advanced workout specially designed to tap into the power of the Turbo Sculpting Gloves! (50 minutes)
•Turbo Slim® diet plan
An easy-to-follow meal plan to help you lose up to 10 inches in just 10 workouts! Includes a measurement card for tracking your progress.
•Tape measure
Eliminates guesswork and shows the inches melting away.

Tools
•"Elite 11" flash cards
To teach you the signature moves!
•24/7 Online Support
Access live chats with Chalene and an amazing online community.
•Turbo Results fitness and nutrition guide
All the information you need, plus Chalene's favorite meals!

All for $59.85, ARE YOU SERIOUS?!
For $60 you will have enough workouts to last you months, even years!! I still continue to do the workouts in this set and it’s been almost 4 years later. It’s up to you if you want to buy more Turbo workouts after this, but you could continue to rotate these ones if you want.

So for $44 a month I get to drive to Bally’s (which is more money spent on gas) and then I have to pick my own workouts and motivate myself by running on the treadmill, which after about 30 minutes is BORING. And for a one time buy of $60 I get to have a Cardio Party in my basement of bedroom, get to fall in love with an awesome workout program and become a complete Turbo addict. Turbo Jam all the way baby!!

Now if Turbo isn’t your cup of tea, don’t worry, Beachbody has A LOT more to offer!!

PS- I WILL BE STARTING INSANITY IN ABOUT TWO WEEKS, JOIN ME!!

Let me know if you have ANY questions about ANY of the programs Beachbody has to offer, remember I'm here to help you!! :) If you are interested in purchasing a program, go to my website!

Follow up- Lift Lift Lift!

2009-09-03T11:02:00.006-04:00

I found this great article in the Beachbody Newsletters about women and lifting weights and wanted to share it with!

10 Reasons Why Women Need to Lift Weights
By Whitney Provost

Many women believe that the only way to lose weight is to do cardiovascular (aerobic exercise). So they jog or take aerobics classes five times a week. Eventually, though, they notice that while their bodies are a little smaller, there are still a lot of flabby and jiggly bits. Sound familiar? Aerobic exercise is important for good health, but it's only half of the equation. Keep reading for the other half.

For optimal fitness, longevity, and a lean body, weight training is essential. If you avoid pumping iron because you're afraid of getting "bulky," then you're missing out on one of the best fat-burning methods around.

When you're weight training, you shouldn't rely exclusively on the scale to gauge your progress. You can use a body fat tester or a tape measure to track how many inches you're losing. The size of your body will shrink as you shed fat and build muscle, but your weight may not change as dramatically as you expect. Besides, what's more important, the number on the scale or how you look in your skinny jeans?

If you're still not convinced that you need to lift weights, here are 10 reasons why you should reconsider.

1. Burn more fat. Researchers at Tufts University found that when overweight women lifted heavy weights twice a week, they lost an average of 14.6 pounds of fat and gained 1.4 pounds of muscle. The control group, women who dieted but didn't lift weights, lost only 9.2 pounds of fat and gained no muscle. When you do an intense weight-training program such as ChaLEAN Extreme®, your metabolism stays elevated and you continue to burn fat for several hours afterward. During regular cardio exercise, you stop burning fat shortly after the workout.

2. Change your body shape. You may think your genes determine how you look. That's not necessarily true. Weight training can slim you down, create new curves, and help avoid the "middle-age spread." Just look at the amazing body transformations of the women who've completed P90X®. Dropping only 3 percent of your body fat could translate into a total loss of 3 inches off your hips and thighs. And no, you won't bulk up—women don't have enough muscle-building hormones to gain a lot of mass like men do. If you keep your diet clean and create a calorie deficit, you'll burn fat.

3. Boost your metabolism. The less muscle you have, the slower your metabolism will be. As women age, they lose muscle at increasing rates, especially after the age of 40. When you diet without doing resistance training, up to 25 percent of the weight loss may be muscle loss. Weight training while dieting can help you preserve and even rebuild muscle fibers. The more lean mass you have, the higher your metabolism will be and the more calories you'll burn all day long.

4. Get stronger and more confident. Lifting weights increases functional fitness, which makes everyday tasks such as carrying children, lifting grocery bags, and picking up heavy suitcases much easier. According to the Mayo Clinic, regular weight training can make you 50 percent stronger in 6 months. Being strong is also empowering. Not only does it improve your physical activities, it builds emotional strength by boosting self-esteem and confidence.

5. Build strong bones. It's been well documented that women need to do weight-bearing exercise to build and maintain bone mass, and prevent osteoporosis. Just as muscles get stronger and bigger with use, so do bones when they're made to bear weight. Stronger bones and increased muscle mass also lead to better flexibility and balance, which is especially important for women as they age.

6. Fight depression. You've probably heard that cardio and low-impact exercises such as yoga help alleviate depression, and weight lifting has the same effect. The endorphins that are released during aerobic activities are also present during resistance training. Many women find that regular strength training, in conjunction with psychological treatment, helps lessen their depression symptoms substantially.

7. Improve sports fitness. You don't have to be an athlete to get the sports benefit of weight training. Improved muscle mass and strength will help you in all physical activities, whether it's bicycling with the family, swimming, golfing, or skiing . . . whatever sport you enjoy.

8. Reduce injuries and arthritis. Weight lifting improves joint stability and builds stronger ligaments and tendons. Training safely and with proper form can help decrease the likelihood of injuries in your daily life. It can also improve physical function in people with arthritis. A study conducted at the University of Wales in Bangor, United Kingdom, found that mildly disabled participants who lifted weights for 12 weeks increased the frequency and intensity at which they could work, with less pain and increased range of movement.

9. Heart health. More than 480,000 women die from cardiovascular disease each year, making it the number-one killer of women over the age of 25. Most people don't realize that pumping iron can also keep your heart pumping. Lifting weights increases your "good" (HDL) cholesterol and decreases your "bad" (LDL) cholesterol. It also lowers your blood pressure. The Journal of the American Medical Association reports that people who do 30 minutes of weight lifting each week have a 23 percent reduced risk of developing heart disease compared to those who don't lift weights.

10. Defend against diabetes. In addition to keeping your ticker strong, weight training can improve glucose utilization (the way your body processes sugar) by as much as 23 percent. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 weeks of strength training can improve glucose metabolism in a way that is comparable to taking diabetes medication. The more lean mass you have, the more efficient your body is at removing glucose from the blood, which can reduce complications from diabetes or even help prevent type 2 diabetes in the first place.

To see the article and many other great ones you can click HERE.

In my personal opinion, I feel that since I've begun ChaLEAN Extreme I have muscles and definition I never knew about! :) I am typically a cardio junkie, I love me some cardio!! When I do cardio workouts, such as Turbo Jam/Turbo Kick or running, I feel thinner and I notice my clothes fit better. When I do weight training workouts, like ChaLEAN Extreme or with my personal trainer, I feel strong and lean and I can visibly see the change my body. That's why I personally think it's great to get a mix of both workouts in. I love doing Turbo and I love doing Chalean Extreme, so during my week I'll find time to fit them both in! :)

The KEY to burning FAT...

2009-09-02T17:43:00.004-04:00

Do you ever notice when at the gym that women tend to stick to the cardio machines, like the treadmill and the elliptical, and that the men are just about always in the weight room? That’s because somewhere along the line women got the idea that lifting weights would “bulk them up.” I am here to break that myth. Ladies, have no fear, that’s not true, you CAN lift weights! In fact, you should be lifting weights because the key to burning fat is by gaining muscle.
By lifting heavy weights you can improve your resting metabolism, which means you will be burning more calories when you are just hanging out than you normally would. According to Chalene Johnson, the creator of Turbo Jam and ChaLEAN Extreme, “Muscle is the fountain of youth. It’s what makes you look younger, it’s what makes you feel younger and it’s what makes you leaner.” When women reach their 30s it’s natural for their muscle strength and their metabolism to decline. To stop this decline you just need to add muscle to your body.
Fitness Magazine said, “Since muscle burns an estimated three times more calories than fat, adding two to four pounds of muscle can translate into an extra 100 calories burned each day. A high-intensity strength routine has been shown to bump metabolism by 20 percent for several hours post-workout.”
There are many other great benefits to adding strength training to your cardio routine. Fitness Magazine said, “Some of the benefits, like improving muscle tone, bone density, athletic performance, and strength (about 30 to 50 percent more after three to six months of training), are obvious. But there are a few surprises: Resistance training helps women fight the aging process by maintaining lean muscle tissue. Women who regularly lift weights have better self-esteem and get sick less often. Others have found weight training improves the way the body processes sugar, reducing the risk of diabetes.”
So why won’t women get bulky muscles like men? Here is the shocker, men and women are different! Women do not have the same kind of testosterone to get big muscles like the men do. Men will get bigger and stronger muscles while women get stronger and leaner. Chalene repeats this throughout the ChaLEAN Extreme DVDs as she points to one of the fabulous looking ladies on set to show that they lift heavy weights and they are not bulking at all.
Next time you are at the gym pick up a weight or two and try adding strength training to your routine. And don’t be shy about using the machines either, ask someone for help on how to use them, that’s what they are there for. Remember the key to burning fat is by gaining muscle.

If you would like to try strength training I would recommend P90X or ChaLEAN Extreme. Let me know if you have any questions. :) You can order both programs HERE.

Live in the NOW

2009-08-18T12:09:00.002-04:00

I'd like to share another great positive momentum e-mail I got from Bally's this morning:

Positive Momentum
Brought to you by Bally Total Fitness
http://www.ballynutrition.com

"Bogged down by heavy thinking? You're not alone. Many of us spend so much time looking back to our "thin" days, or forward to finally fitting into a smaller size, that we lose sight of the here and now. When you stop to think about it, you can't lose weight in the past or in the future, only in the present. So focus on today! Start by creating some positive thoughts about yourself as you are now. These thoughts will serve as inspiration for the journey ahead."

The other day someone was telling me that they are ready to lose weight and that "that's it, I'm going to start tomorrow!" Well...that is wonderful to hear, positive thinking and it's headed in the right direction, but why can't you start TODAY?! Tomorrow is never going to get here and it's never going to be the "perfect" day to start something new, something always will get in the way. So what you've go to do is JUST DO IT! You want to go on diet? start a workout routine? live a healthier lifestyle? Let's go...So what if your breakfast wasn't the healthiest, that doesn't mean that you have to eat an unhealthy lunch and dinner to follow.

Sometimes I used to check myself thinking like that too, "tomorrow I am going to eat so clean!" Okay, get real, TODAY I need to be eating clean too.

Let's all make it a point to live in the NOW. I'll end on a quote from the book, "A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose" by Eckhart Tolle,

"Life is always now. Even past or present moments only exist when you remember or anticipate them, and you do so by thinking about them in the only moment there is: this one."

10 Things Women Do Better Than Men

2009-08-13T21:29:00.004-04:00

So I just read this article from Cosmo & wanted to share it with the ladies to make us all feel a little better about yourselves! :)

10 Things Women Do Better Than Men
Here at Cosmo, we love men. But we kept coming across tons of studies proving women have some amazing abilities that men lack. So, we rounded up some of our favorites. Hello, ego boost!

1. We evolve hotter.
A recent study revealed that women are getting better looking through evolution; meanwhile, men are staying the same. After following more than 2,000 people through four decades of life, the study showed that attractive women had 16 percent more children than average-looking chicks and that beautiful people are 36 percent more likely to have a daughter as their firstborn. All those gorgeous daughters mean more beautiful women than in past generations.

2. We survive car accidents more often.
This is sad but true: Men are 77 percent more likely to die in a car accident than women, according to a study done by Carnegie Mellon University. Our boyfriends should be thanking us when we nag them to "Wear your seatbelt!"

3. We're better at seeking comfort.
A Mind survey of 2,000 people revealed that women are far more likely than men to talk through their problems. Fifty-three percent of women talk to their friends about what's stressing them out, as opposed to 29 percent of men.

4. We're more recession-proof.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 80 percent of those who have lost their jobs since December 2007 have been men. Ouch. This could be because male-dominated fields have been hit the hardest, like manufacturing and finance. That really sucks...but hey, maybe it's time more men became nurses and educators.

5. We graduate college more often.
We already know that female enrollment is higher than male, but the Department of Education's statistics reveal that men are also less likely than women to graduate and get their bachelor's degrees. Men are also more likely to take longer than five years to complete their degree.

6. We eat healthier.
A survey of more than 14,000 people, conducted by the University of Minnesota, showed that women choose far healthier foods than men. While men are more likely to chow down on frozen pizza and red meat, women are piling fruits and veggies onto their plates. It all sounds pretty obvious, but we get so much grief for our chocolate addictions that we just had to point this one out!

7. We have stronger immune systems.
No wonder men act like such babies when they have a sniffle — women really do have stronger immune systems than men! If there are little battles going on in our bodies, women have a secret weapon: estrogen. A study done by McGill University indicated that estrogen gives women an edge when it comes to fighting off infections. That's because estrogen confronts a certain enzyme that often hinders the body's first line of defense against bacteria and viruses.

8. We live longer.
Among the world's population of those who are over 100 years old, 85 percent are women, according to the New England Centenarian Study. In general, women continue to live five to 10 years longer than men as well.

9. We're better managers, especially in this economy.
This one is a little controversial, but a slew of experts are confident that women make greater bosses because they are better listeners, mentors, problem solvers, and multitaskers than their male counterparts. In a recent Daily News article, management expert Jay Forte said, "It's a very service-oriented economy [right now], so you need employees to be motivated. Women are better connectors than men and more astute about knowing how to activate passion in their employees."

10. We invest better.
A study of 100,000 portfolios showed that women's investment returns outperform men's, 18 percent to 11 percent. This could be because women are typically more cautious with their investment decisions and think longer term.

And the ultimate GIRL POWER supporters:

NEW VIDEO!!!

2009-08-07T15:04:00.003-04:00

HEY EVERYONE! :)

I realized I've done videos on ChaLEAN Extreme and Shakeology but not TURBO JAM!! What the heck was I thinking?? Turbo Jam is my EVERYTHING. Seriously, I love it more than I would my first born child (if I had one)...okay maybe that's a little much??

So here is a preview of one of the TURBO drills during the workout video FAT BLASTER. Fat Blaster is in the Fat Burning Elite package and it's one of my favorites! It's a 30 minute video (I know, that's it!) and Chalene takes you through 4 Turbo drills but you do them 2x each, so that's 8 TURBOS!!! Turbos are higher intensity drills than the rest of the workouts, when you hear the siren you know what's up!

Click HERE if you want to see me get my butt kicked! I wish I could have talked a little more during the video but I was out of breath!

PS- I just realized how many exclamation points I used in this blog, dang I am on an endorphin high right now so excuse me! ;)

REMEMBER that I am a BEACHBODY COACH, which to clear up any confusion, that means I can sell you TURBO JAM or ChaLEAN EXTREME or p90x or Shakeology or ANYTHING beachbody related. It also means that you if you need some motivation or want to talk to someone else about working out that you can sign up to have me as your coach, which is for FREE. :)

Here is a link to MY beachbody website (where you can $hop or just sign up if you want a coach)- www.cardiopartycat.com

Use your head

2009-08-06T11:28:00.002-04:00

Easier said than done. It's common sense not to eat sweets at night (or really at all) however I still find myself doing that. Someone recently told me that I look like I can afford a treat every once and a while. Well...yes that is true. And that's what I tell myself too, "You worked out all day, you can eat this and nothing will happen to you." Yes, that's true. Nothing does happen to me. BUT...NOTHING is not what I'm looking for. I want to see some progress here people! I know that by just cutting out some of this junk, I would quickly see some results.

So...what am I going to do? First, I'm going to stop bitching. I'm already sick of listening to myself complain about myself. Second, I'm going to make some rules.

1- Allowed ONE cheat snack/meal a week. Once I've had that one, that's it! If I go over I'm going to put $5 in a jar. That $5 will go straight to my savings account and from there it's bye bye money. :( I know that my money can be used in better places, so let's not screw this up!!

2- Everyday I'm going to post what I ate using my team beachbody blog. I figured I shouldn't do it here because these posts are exported into facebook and I don't want to fill up everyone's news feeds with what I ate that day.

Next it's back to those handy dandy little post-its I leave everywhere. This time, they aren't going to be full of smiley faces either. I'M GETTING SERIOUS HERE PEOPLE!!

I'll let you know next Thursday how this week went and hopefully I didn't lose any money!!

And if you see me, ask me how I'm doing! Keep me on track. :)

What's your goals?

2009-08-04T11:49:00.004-04:00

Everyday I get a Bally's Nutrition tip e-mail and a Positive Momentum e-mail. This was the Positive Momentum e-mail for the day:

"Setting goals and recognizing achievements is important to weight loss success. It is important to set long term goals while using short-term goals to get you there faster. Keep track by WRITING DOWN your goals and logging your progress. Use logging to help you troubleshoot problems that may arise. If you don't meet a goal, reassess, change it and move on!"

I agree that is it sooooo important to have goals in your mind at all times, what's important to achieving those goals is WRITING THEM DOWN! Get your goals down on paper and look back at your goals often.

If you have to create a big goal and need sub goals to follow them up do that too.

Here is an example:

1- To weigh 125 lbs and have a body fat % of 15.
-Complete 90 days of ChaLEAN Extreme
-Drink Shakeology everyday for breakfast
-Log my workouts into WOWY
-Workout with personal trainer, Megan, 2x a week for 2 months

Brian Tracy's advice is to ask yourself, "What is the most valuable use of my time, right now?" If whatever activity you are doing (or not doing) isn't going to help you reach your goal then you need to prioritize better.

You might think you do not have enough time in your day to write out goals or to accomplish what needs to be done but I bet if you sat down and thought about what exactly you do and at what time you would see where a majority of your time was being wasted. You have time to sit on facebook, eat dinner in front of the TV while watching the latest episode of “Daisy of Love”, or spend extra time getting ready for school or work. Prioritize.

I'm a person naturally driven to making lists, all kinds of lists! But if you aren't you can always learn that skill. :)

So get out your notebook and a pen and start writing down your goals and the steps you have to make to achieve them. Also write out your daily to-do lists so you stay on top of things and don't end up wasting your valuable time!

What the heck is Shakeology?

2009-07-28T20:24:00.003-04:00

Hey everyone! I made another vlog to let you know a little more about how awesome Shakeology is!

To watch, click here
I'll explain the product and show you how quick and easy it is to make my favorite recipe!

If you are interested in Shakeology then click here and read more. :)

First VLOG!

2009-07-22T17:13:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone!

I made my first vlog about 5 minutes ago so go check it out! I was nervous and I've watched it about 123 times trying to put it up on youtube that I can't stand the sound of my own voice anymore! ahh! (Hopefully it doesn't irritate you that much). Anyway let me know what you think! :)

Click HERE!

Is it OK to LIE to uncover the truth???

2009-07-21T14:56:00.003-04:00

DECEPTION IN JOURNALISM

Hey everyone! I need your help for a paper I’m writing for my journalism class. ANY and ALL opinions are welcome! :)

Here are some things I want you to think about.

Deception represents a collision in journalism’s values –

Is it OK to tell a lie to uncover the truth?
Is it OK for reporters to go undercover?
Is it OK to use hidden cameras?
Is it OK to pretend to be someone you are not?

Some journalists say we should NEVER use deceptive tactics because we hold public officials to high standards of conduct and should hold ourselves to those same standards. Other journalists, weighing the potential benefits of the reporting to consumers, might conclude that a small crime is acceptable if it allows you to accomplish a greater good.

So what do YOU think about all of this?

Now let me see if I can give you an example of when this was used-

Asylum exposé

Nellie Bly (May 5, 1864 – January 27, 1922) was an American journalist, author, industrialist, and charity worker. She is most famous for an undercover exposé in which she faked insanity to study a mental institution from within. She is also well-known for her record-breaking trip around the world.

Burdened again with theater and arts reporting, Bly left the Pittsburgh Dispatch in 1887 for New York City. Penniless after four months, she talked her way into the offices of Joseph Pulitzer's newspaper, the New York World, and took an undercover assignment for which she agreed to feign insanity to investigate reports of brutality and neglect at the Women's Lunatic Asylum on Blackwell's Island.
After a night of practicing deranged expressions in front of a mirror, she checked into a working-class boardinghouse. She refused to go to bed, telling the boarders that she was afraid of them and that they looked crazy. They soon decided that she was crazy, and the next morning summoned the police. Taken to a courtroom, she pretended to have amnesia. The judge concluded she had been drugged.

She was then examined by several doctors, who all declared her to be insane. "Positively demented," said one, "I consider it a hopeless case. She needs to be put where someone will take care of her."[3] The head of the insane pavilion at Bellevue Hospital pronounced her "undoubtedly insane". The case of the "pretty crazy girl" attracted media attention: "Who Is This Insane Girl?" asked the New York Sun. The New York Times wrote of the "mysterious waif" with the "wild, hunted look in her eyes", and her desperate cry: "I can't remember, I can't remember."[4]

Committed to the asylum, Bly experienced its conditions firsthand. The food — gruel broth, spoiled beef, bread that was little more than dried dough, and dirty water that was undrinkable. The dangerous inmates were tied together with ropes. The inmates were made to sit for much of each day on hard benches with scant protection from the cold. Waste was all around the eating places. Rats crawled all around the hospital. The bathwater was frigid, and buckets of it were poured over their heads. The nurses were obnoxious and abusive, telling the patients to shut up, and beating them if they did not. Speaking with her fellow residents, Bly was convinced that some were as sane as she was. On the effect of her experiences, she wrote:

"What, excepting torture, would produce insanity quicker than this treatment? Here is a class of women sent to be cured. I would like the expert physicians who are condemning me for my action, which has proven their ability, to take a perfectly sane and healthy woman, shut her up and make her sit from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. on straight-back benches, do not allow her to talk or move during these hours, give her no reading and let her know nothing of the world or its doings, give her bad food and harsh treatment, and see how long it will take to make her insane. Two months would make her a mental and physical wreck."[3]

After ten days, Bly was released from the asylum at The World's behest. Her report, later published in book form as Ten Days in a Mad-House, caused a sensation and brought her lasting fame. While embarrassed physicians and staff fumbled to explain how so many professionals had been fooled, a grand jury launched its own investigation into conditions at the asylum, inviting Bly to assist. The jury's report recommended the changes she had proposed, and its call for increased funds for care of the insane prompted an $850,000 increase in the budget of the Department of Public Charities and Corrections.

^^All of the information I posted on Nellie was taken from Wikipedia and more can be found here.

So in this case a journalist found herself creating a new identity (a lie) to uncover a greater truth. How do you feel about this? Do you think she could have gone a different way to uncover the same story? Why or why not? Do you think this kind of practice is ethical? Any final opinions?

Thanks for your help everyone!

8 reasons to start loving your body today...

2009-07-16T23:00:00.004-04:00

HEY EVERYONE! :)

So I just finished reading Shape and there was a little column called "8 reasons to start loving your body today"

"Life is short; why spending it bashing your body? If you need help jump-starting your self-acceptance, just read our list of reasons to embrace yourself- from head to toe.

1- BECAUSE it's unique; no one else has the same one.

2- BECAUSE it's capable of extraordinary feats, enabling you to run, climb, jump, lift, squat, snuggle, and spoon.

3- BECAUSE no matter how badly you treat it, it's willing to give you another chance.

4- BECAUSE it's expressive, telling you how it feels (pay attention!) and broadcasting to others how you feel about it.

5- BECAUSE, let's face it, confidence is pretty sexy.

6- BECAUSE your daughter must learn to love hers.

7- BECAUSE somebody out there (or many somebodies!) admires, covets, and adores it.

8- BECAUSE you'll regret not loving it more later."

Summer Favorites (so far!)

2009-07-15T12:24:00.002-04:00

Movies!
The Hangover

I saw it twice and it was hilarious both times, maybe even better the second time! :)

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Again I loved the book much more but for a movie it was awesome! I thought that it wasn't the best movie in the Harry Potter series though, I think my favorite might be "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire". But I saw the midnight showing and I would definitely recommend the movie (and the book of course) to EVERYONE! :)

Book
"L.A. Candy"

I was really surprised that Lauren Conrad could write, okay that was mean, but yes I was skeptical of it. I finished this book in about two nights and was ready for more!! Come on Lauren write some more! :)

TV Show

Weeds

Mat and I have watched all 4 seasons of Weeds for far and we were left in yet another one of Nancy Botwin's cliffhangers so I'm excited for when season 5 is over and released on DVD so we can buy it!! :) This is definitely a super funny show.

I Eat 33,000 Calories a Day!

2009-07-12T21:57:00.004-04:00

So week 2 of ChaLEAN Extreme is coming to an end and I must say I ROCKED the workouts!! Okay I’m never (almost never) a whimp when it comes to the workouts so the big question is... how was my eating?? I had great meals through the day from breakfast to dinner but then….later in the evening after dinner I’ll crave something sweet! So one night it was a Blueberry lemon square the other night it was Hershey pie from BK and another it was an iced capp from Tim Horton’s. WHAT THE HECK!!! I’ve never really had a week like this before, almost each night there was some kind of sweet snack.

I think I’m going to go back to the “Challenge” rules when I was allowed one cheat meal a week. Maybe with my thinking along those lines, instead of the normal “you can’t have that stuff at all”, I’ll do better. Putting restrictions on the sweets makes me want it more than just knowing that I can have it once a week.

My trainer is going to kick my butt tomorrow when she sees my “Weekly Diet Tracking” sheet. Right now she has me on a no bread or processed food plan, so far I’ve had no bread!

Tonight I came home from work and TLC’s “I Eat 33,000 Calories a Day” program was on. It definitely made me a bit grossed out watching that much food consumed in a day by a single person. But while watching it, it made me realize- wow my calorie worries are NOTHING compared to what some people have to go through. Putting stress on myself over drinking an Iced Capp is the least of the worries to the man in the show who said food was “better than sex” and that he’d rather have a carry out than a relationship! Food is meaningless when it compares with relationships, family & friends are much more important.

This man pays $28-$38 A DAY on chocolate bars! He ate a total of 36,902 calories a day which is what an average man eats in 2 weeks. This show also made me realize that I appreciate the way I look and that I am glad that I am healthy! I’m also glad that I have the ability to work out. I know what food is healthy and what is not. My body works the way it should- let’s me know when I am hungry and when I am full. To the super morbidly obese people on the show, their bodies got to a certain point that being “full” was not really an option.

One of the things that was said on the show was that these people did not realize or even think they were eating that many calories. This brings me to Chalene Johnson’s tweet from a couple days ago, "Can't lose weight but doing everything right? 80% of the time it's becuz ppl overestimate what they burn & underestimate what they eat." I think that is VERY TRUE. Most of the people were guessing they ate about 3,000-4,000 calories a day when it was actually 20,000, that’s pushing it people.

Okay so I'll be back next week to tell you how things went with me.

Here is my goal and yes I've written it down and I'm sharing it with you--

OKAY OKAY! I thought I was done with this post... but I'm not!

I found this article on Yahoo! Shine's Healthy Living section & figured I needed to share it-

User Post: Today's Meditation - Stop Criticizing Yourself
By Jane Powell - www.MeditationsForWomen.com

“Be your own unconditional friend.”

Are you your own best friend?

Sadly, most women are their own worst enemy. Who needs enemies when you can consult your harshest critic anytime you glance in a mirror? Logically, we should all be our own best friend, but it often isn’t the case. We reserve our harshest criticism for ourselves.

Learn now to be gentle with yourself. You deserve special treatment simply because you are special. Who best to comfort you, but you? Who best to compliment you, but you? Learning to love yourself is the greatest gift that you can give yourself. No expensive cosmetics, no retail therapy can deliver the inner warmth of knowing that you are happy being you.

When we love ourselves, it is no longer important that our hair is not perfect or that our thighs are a little dimpled. We don’t beat ourselves up for imagined imperfections anymore. In fact, we embrace our imperfections.

Today, look in the mirror and smile. The person there will smile right back. She loves you. Love her, too.

Are you passionate about something? Want to earn some cash? Let's go!!

2009-07-06T11:34:00.006-04:00

Hey everyone!!

I’ve been getting a lot of questions lately about the business that I am in and what my job is (I LOVE THESE KINDS OF QUESTIONS!). :) So I am an Independent Beachbody Coach.

Let me answer some questions:

What is a coach?

Beachbody refers to their reps as “coaches”. They call them coaches because they are more than just “distributors” or “reps”. Yes, they have the ability to sell and suggest fitness products and workouts, but they also have a vested interest to “coach” the people they are in contact with into a better way of life. Look at it this way…I’ve thought of myself as a coach for many years while working in the fitness industry or just by working out in the gym and offering advice to my neighbor. Now I can make it official and start earning money to do what I’ve been doing passionately for all those years.

Who can be a coach?

ANYONE! You do not need to be invited; you can make this decision yourself and sign up today! We strongly encourage those to join in the coaching business who have a strong desire to reach their deepest goals. This is a home based business working as the “go-to” person, for helping people get fit! You do not need to have certifications, degrees, or years of experience working in the fitness industry to do this. All you need to do, is to continue to be an example yourself and share your successes with others! You can be a fitness professional, in the best shape of your life, or working your way to the best shape of your life….as long as you are committed and dedicated to staying accountable, you can help others become accountable in their goals too!

What do I “do” everyday as a coach?

Depending on where you want to take your business or the direction of your goals, this answer can be different for everyone. But primarily the common answer is to – Share your Story! As a coach, you have the ability to sell any Beachbody item from their nutritionals all the way to their workout videos. Just start telling your story and letting people know of your new business venture. The word will spread! You may also spend your time getting in touch with your network and circle around you. You will have the greatest gains in your business if you build your down line team of coaches.

What are the fees to join?

Beachbody really wants to make this as affordable as possible, so that we can make a HUGE difference in our direction to change one person at a time in becoming more fit and healthy!
Initial Join in Cost: $39.95
This includes your:
• Business Kit which will be shipped to you (s/h extra)
• Your FIRST month’s fee of your personal Coaching Webpage
Monthly Webpage Fee: $14.95
Your webpage will serve for multiple purposes. Beachbody automatically updates and maintains your webpage! They build it for you! All you need to do is personalize it with your photo and bio! Your page will be used for:
• Your customers to make purchases from your virtual store!
• Those interested in getting into the CLUB MEMBERSHIP so they can receive 10% discount on any item they buy
• Signing up your coaches!
• COACHING BACKOFFICE- this is your business center for your coaching business. You will securely access this to build, maintain, and watch your business grow from your down line coaches to your weekly pay checks.

Club Membership: $38.87 (OPTIONAL FEE: 4 times a year total- billed quarterly)
• As a club member, you will have access to additional fitness and nutritional programs available to you on your webpage. BUT the #1 reason to be a part of this is Beachbody’s LEAD GENERATION PROGRAM!
• As an active Emerald coach, you will be GIVEN FREE CUSTOMERS from Beachbody! Beachbody spends over 100 million dollars each year in advertising. When those customers contact Beachbody to purchase something or to get more involved, Beachbody assigns those contacts to ACTIVE EMERALD (or higher) coaches!

Beachbody actually GIVES me customers?

YES! Just reach the basic level of EMERALD and maintain and active status, and you will receive customers in your database possibly everyday! Beachbody receives about 20-30,000 customer leads a week! Those come in and get assigned to the next active emerald coach (or higher) in line. You will earn commissions from these customers REPEAT business! You will also earn BONUS Commissions off of their CLUB MEMBERSHIP dues! (billed and paid quarterly) Just for being ACTIVE!

How do I earn income as a Beachbody coach?
• There are several very detailed ways of earning income and the many ways to really make a significant income. But in general, here are the basics:
• Any sales to customers of products from your website or directly from yourself- 25% commission
• Customers who join the CLUB MEMBERSHIP- you earn 50% of their quarterly membership dues
• Personally sponsored coaches who are in the CLUB MEMBERSHIP earn you 50% commission
• ADDTIONALLY- Your Downline TEAM CYCLE BONUSES can pay out when you bank a certain amount of points.
• Customers in the Club Membership- you receive 15% commission on any of their purchases
• As a Beachbody Coach, you get a 25% discount on any item you personally want to purchase as well!

Do I have to stock inventory?

No, you do not. This is a virtual business. However, you can purchase items in greater amounts and sell them at your leisure or as drop shipments.

How can I fit this in my daily life?
I’m already way too busy!?If you are involved in fitness already, this will be MUCH easier for you! This will be natural and follow what you normally do already! Opportunity always presents itself, now you’ll just have a way of earning commissions on the programs you’ve already been suggesting. The extent to which you develop your “downline” is up to each individual. You can be very aggressive to create a long downline of coaches and retail sales. As someone involved in fitness, you’ll find yourself having the same conversations you would naturally when people ask you the many questions they often do about “getting fit” and losing weight.

Can I cancel anytime?

Yes. You can cancel in your first 30 days, and be completely refunded the first months fees. Thereafter, you can cancel at anytime and only be out, the amount of time you were in the business. However, if you decide you want to rejoin, you will lose your seniority position and level you were once in the company as well as have to wait a 6 month period from cancellation before you can re-join.

Do you have more questions about coaching?

Contact me! I'd love to talk to YOU about coaching. It has been a GREAT experience so far and as my business continues to grow it gets better & better! :)

You ready to be a coach?
Click here!!

Feel free to leave me a comment, e-mail me or facebook me! :)

IT'S TIME TO GET EXTREME!

2009-07-02T13:30:00.007-04:00

Hey everyone!! So yesterday was July 1st and I started my ChaLEAN Extreme Challenge with Lisa. I made my lovely sister take my “before” pictures and then did the fit test, which I am proud to say I did better than when I took it the first time in December, and I also retook my measurements and I was surprised to see I LOST 2” IN MY WAIST! :) Who knew??!

Here is a BEFORE pic (give me 30 days & I'll post a new pic):

I made a little calendar of all my planned workouts and I printed out the handy CE worksheets that are on teambeachbody.com. I did not know about those worksheets the first time around so I was PUMPED when I saw they were pre-made for me. Then what next? I worked out! I did Burn Circuit 1 and was shaking like a scared Chihuahua! It was so much fun though and I definitely was lifting heavier weights then when I did it the first time too. I tried to match whatever Chalene was lifting but for a couple workouts I had to take it down a couple notches.

Now here is the fun part, food! Ah!! Right now I have these “Weekly Diet Tracking” worksheets from Bally’s that I’m recording what I eat all day and then next week I’m going to go over that with the trainer. For the most part it’s looking good, 1 meal a day is Shakeology, plus chicken breast, protein plus special K cereal, egg white omelets, fruits & vegetables but then Tuesday and last night I sadly gave into my sweet tooth cravings. :( AH! What is my deal?! I had 2 pieces of fudge (my sister brought it home from Mackinaw Island) and then the next day I had a brownie (I always find treats at Mat’s). So I am making a PROMISE to myself and to you, no more late night snacks for this week. I really wish I could detox my house of that crap (you are lucky if you live alone or are in control of the food where you live!) so then I would have no problems. But what I’m going to do is if I know I’m going to be hungry after working when I’m hanging out with Mat I’m going to eat a sugar free 60 calorie jell-o pudding cup (that’s chocolate!) or I bought Kettle Korn from Trader Joe’s the other day with Pamela that is only 110 calories for 2 ¾ cup serving.

I can’t wait to tell you guys how I’m progressing! Today is a scheduled REST DAY which normally I throw in some kind of crazy workout and defeat the purpose but I’m actually extremely sore from the last couple days and I think I’m going to use that rest day. Okay never mind that, I just got an idea, I’m going to practice Turbo Rd 36. I’ve been trying to practice more often so I’ll feel really comfortable doing the class and then I’m going to practice teaching it to Kathy & Niki, my first students! Yay! :) They are going to like getting done to BABY GOT BACK! ha.

PS- This is a little Shakeology note- I am a nail biter and from having acrylic nails for so long they are kind of weak. Since I’ve been drinking Shakeology my nails are SO STRONG and they are actually growing! I am excited!!

No such thing as MAGIC PILLS!

2009-06-30T15:08:00.005-04:00

So I wrote another blog for OU's Health & Wellness and figured I needed to share it with you lovely followers too! :)

Magic pills no replacement for workout or healthy diet

By Caterina Passarelli
Guest blogger

I’m sorry to say but there is no magic pill, quick fixor crash diet out there in the health and fitness world that is going to solve all your problems. Just look at the words magic, quick and crash– do they sound like something you really want to put in your body?

In today’s society, we want everything fast and simple; there is no time to wait around for results to happen. Losing weight and becoming fit won’t happen in a quick week or with the pop of one pill, it’s going to take time and hard work.
Diet pills, weight-loss pills and appetite control pills are all designed to help someone lose weight. The problem with these pills, other than their numerous amounts of dangerous side effects, is that you can not take them forever. Diet pills are meant to be taken only for a short time span. At some point you are going to have to stop taking the pills and the weight that you just took off is all going to come back. I know people who have gained back all their weight plus more. Rather than promoting quick fixes to consumers, there needs to be a push to promote healthy living.

Have you ever heard that saying, “Hard work never killed anybody?” That’s exactly it. To lose weight and get healthy it’s going to take hard work on your part. But that hard work is going to pay off in the long run and you are going to feel proud with what you have accomplished and the body you have. Instead of taking the easy yet unhealthy road, you will create healthy habits that will stick with you for life.
And we all know the necessary steps to achieve this healthy lifestyle — exercise and nutrition. These two go hand-in-hand. Working out and eating healthy foods have many great benefits, not only for your body but for your mind as well.

Askmen.com put an article together of the “Top 10 Benefits of Working Out.” Working out: helps you sleep better; slows the aging process and reduces the risk of premature death; builds and maintains healthy bones, muscles and joints; strengthens and boosts your immune system; improves mental acuity; improves confidence; increases energy and endurance; improves sexual performance and restores libido; reduces stress, depression and anxiety; and reduces the risk of many diseases.

So let’s promise ourselves not to opt for those “easy” options. Those quick fixes do not come with such an impressive list of benefits; actually they come with no benefits at all. Just remember to work out and eat healthy and then you will reap the rewards.

:)

We all know it's true, if you put in the WORK then you will get what you want!

Tomorrow (July 1st) starts my ChaLEAN Extreme Challenge. I'm getting everything ready. I went grocery shopping with my mom yesterday and got a lot of stuff to make some of the recipes in Chalene's Fat Burning Guidebook. I'll also be taking my pictures tomorrow before I work out and redoing my fit test.

Today I went to workout with a personal trainer at Bally's. I signed up to workout with her for the next 2 months so she is also going to try and help me reach my GOALS. GOALS, people, they are one of the most important things you can do for yourself! And a bigger tip than just having goals, WRITE THEM DOWN! You are more likely to accomplish your goals when you have them on paper and you continue to see them. Anyway the trainer said since I don't have really any body fat (yes! lol) that if we workout intensely for that hour, 2x a week I'll be seeing results because my body can take it. :) I'm excited. I get nervous when I have to spend a great deal of money at one time, but it's for my body and my body is what keeps me going so why not give it the time and respect it deserves?

If you aren't a gym member, don't forget there are plenty of other options for working out. MY FAVORITE WORKOUTS ARE TURBO JAM AND CHALEAN EXTREME! And you know what? I do them in my own room (or at Pamela's or Kathy's). If you are interested in checking out Turbo Jam or ChaLEAN Extreme, click here or let me know if you have any questions. :)

What are you listening to??

2009-06-20T15:07:00.003-04:00

Music not only is a fun expression of who you are and a fun way to have a good time, it is also therapy and has health benefits. Research has shown the music connects with brain waves, breathing, heart rate, state of mind, and lowering high blood pressure. Music is one of the key traits behind Turbo Jam and Turbo Kick classes. What other than awesome music would want to make you PUMP IT and SHAKE IT!?!

I’m always looking for new music to put on my ipod, so that’s where you come in. Tell me what you’re listening to, anything! One song, two, top ten, whatever. It will be greatly appreciated.

Here’s a current list of some of my favorites in return for yours:

Caterina’s Shake Your Booty Playlist!!

1.That’s not my name- The Ting Tings
2.Bad Girlfriend- Theory of a Deadman
3.Birthday Sex- Jeremih
4.Blame It- Jamie Foxx and T Pain
5.Eyes on Me- Celine Dion with Will I Am
6.Love Game- Lady Gaga
7.I can walk on water, I can fly- Basshunter
8.Imma Be- Black Eyed Peas
9.Jump- Flo Rida ft. Nelly Furtado
10.Here comes the boom- P.O.D
11.Fuego- Pitbull
12.Radar- Britney Spears
13.Sex on Fire- Kings of Leon
14.Push- Enrique Iglesias ft Lil Wayne
15.Defying Gravity- Wicked the Musical

:)

Healthy choices for summer

2009-06-11T13:10:00.004-04:00

Hey everyone! :) I was super excited when Katie asked me if I was interested in blogging for Oakland! I just wrote a Health & Wellness blog about smart decisions to make during the summer and I figured I should put it on here too!

Here goes:

Now that summer is here and classes are over we tend to have more time to spend with family and friends. That time is spent doing fun activities such as going to baseball games, seeing one of many new movie releases or heading to the park for a barbecue. What all of these activities have in common is the unhealthy potential of eating and drinking high calorie, fatty foods. What are some tips to stay in shape this summer while still having a good time?

Hungry-girl.com suggests that if you want a beer, try to stick to a light kind because that can save you up to 50 calories a pint. She also advises sports fans to roam the entire stadium to find the best concession options. “Soft pretzels are better than nachos, veggie dogs are better than regular ones, and a grilled chicken salad with salsa is one of the best finds ever,” according to the web site. Walking around is an exercise bonus instead of relying on the vendor to bring you that unhealthy cotton candy.

When going to the movies, try to avoid adding butter and salt to your popcorn. We tend to just keep pouring without consciously realizing what we are doing to our bodies, adding a lot of unwanted fat. If you can, try to order a kid’s size popcorn or drink. Sorry to those who work at the theaters, but my next tip is to bring a granola bar or snack pack for your purse. Since these snacks come from home you know how many calories they have.

When heading to the park or a family barbecue, think of putting lots of colors on your plate. Throw some vegetables in foil and put them on the grill or try fruit kebobs. Also, be sure to pack your cooler with lots of water and low fat snacks so that you can avoid junk. Hungry-girl.com recommends loading up on “light string cheese, sandwiches (toasted light bread equals non-soggy stuff,) salads (dressing packets on the side) and cut-up veggies.”

Use these tips to make smart and healthy decisions this summer!

http://oaklandpostonline.com/blog.php?p=145

Turbo for a Cause

2009-06-08T11:58:00.005-04:00

^^That's Jenelle who is in all the Turbo Jam and ChaLEAN Extreme videos!! :) She is also Chalene Johnson's sister!

So this Saturday I took a little road trip with Kathy down to Toledo for TURBO FOR A CAUSE which raised money for the Autism Society! What a fun class!! I am a Turbo Jammer so this was my first experience as a Turbo Kicker and let me tell you it was such a blast! We worked out at the Rec Center in the University of Toledo and we filled a basketball court with happy, fun, energetic people. When you work out in a setting like that how can you not want to push yourself to your max? We also got to meet some great Turbo Kick Presenters who taught our class- Jenelle, Angie and Janet! :) I was like a star struck little kid waiting to approach Jenelle and ask her to take a picture with me! I needed a little push from Kathy, “don’t be shy”. ha Everyone was so nice it made for a great experience. I can’t wait for Turbo for a Cause 2010!! Recover now Kathy because we are going back for more! I'm proud of Kathy & I for doing well & kickin' butt! :)

Turbo Kick was so much fun! I can’t get over how much I loved the music and how well it fit with the workout/moves! At all times I wanted to dance party. They also sold some really cute workout clothes!! ;) I can’t wait for next Sunday when I take my Turbo Kick Instructor Training, which if I pass (let’s all cross your fingers for me, please!) I will be a certified Turbo Kick Instructor and YOU need to come take a class with me! ;)

PS- Shakeology is still delicious!

PPS- The Turbo Challenge is still going good!! When I finish it up I’ll restart ChaLEAN Extreme on July 1st with Lisa. :]

SHAKEOLOGY!

2009-06-01T15:24:00.008-04:00

^My nosy cat Charlie wanted to see what was so exciting! :)

I'm a super excited to report that after I arrived home from the gym this morning my beachbody package with my SHAKEOLOGY was inside!! So since I already ate breakfast I decided that would be my lunch/post workout meal. I finished Turbo Sculpt up and then made my first shake and I'm drinking it as we speak. :)

I ordered the chocolate kind because I was a little nervous about greenberry, even though I have heard A LOT of great things about that flavor too. So my shake has the Shakeology (140 calories), a small banana (60), 1 tbsp peanut butter (90) and some ice cubes & water, which totals out to be around 330 calories, that's a good lunch I think. I took a sip and it was GOOD! YAY! I was kind of nervous that I wasn't going to like it because other than protein shakes I've never really done anything like this before. But I like it and I'm going to use it for the next 30 days in place of one meal, I think it will be my breakfast from now on. I'm going to see how long it takes me to be hunger again and then I'll let you know those details too.

So what the heck is Shakeology?

shakeology.com

^There are great videos and information on that site but I'll tell you some things myself.

Shakeology can help you:

-Lose Weight
-Feel Energized
-Improve Digestion and Regularity
-Lower Cholesterol1
Tastes Delicious, too! :)

70 INGREDIENTS in this ONE SHAKE!

How is works:

This daily nutritional shake helps your body gently eliminate toxins more efficiently while allowing for better absorption of the essential nutrients you need. A proprietary blend of digestive enzymes and prebiotics helps your body progressively eliminate the toxins that build up over time from eating today's highly processed foods.
At the same time, whole-food ingredients deliver the essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals your body needs to curb cravings, allowing your body to shed stored fat while the more than 20 different antioxidants and phytonutrients help reduce free radical damage that can lead to heart disease, heart attacks, high blood pressure, and stroke.

What's in it:

Even if you searched all over the world, you probably wouldn't be able to find all of the 70-plus, ultra-high-quality ingredients we've included in Shakeology. Not only do you get a wide range of essential nutrients, from the fruits and vegetables you should be eating more of every day, you'll also get the benefits of important foods from all around the world—foods that the latest scientific research has shown to be highly advantageous to your well-being.

As the days progress I will keep you updated, tell you whatever recipes I find/like and let you know what is happening to my body.
If you have any questions about Shakeology or any other beachbody product, please ask me, I'd be happy to help! :)

Post workout glory!

2009-06-01T00:49:00.007-04:00

I took this picture the other day when I finished Fat Burn Challenge. It was a little more than 30 minutes (maybe 32? I can't remember)!! I was drenched man, but it was awesome. If you can get this sweaty and work this hard in only 30 minutes, then why not do it! ChaLEAN Extreme rocks! :)

Update on the Turbo Challenge- Today was Day 7 and I've been going strong! My sister & Lisa also joined me in this exciting challenge. Tonight after work I did Cardio Party 3 and had so much fun. I tried to concentrate a lot on my form, keeping that hand up by my face at all times. Tomorrow at 7 am I'll be hitting the gym with Ilda and Jamie, can you believe I agreed to a 7 AM workout?! holy cow. But it'll be fun to workout with them because I never have before. After that I'll going home to Turbo. ;)

I'm also (patiently) waiting on my Shakeology to get here! HURRY UP!! I actually just ordered it the order day, so I should calm down, but I'm really excited. I ordered the chocolate kind and plan on drinking a shake everyday for a month to replace a meal. I need to look up all those recipes I've been seeing on Chalene's blog and in the beachbody message boards.

TRAINING IS THE OPPOSITE OF HOPING!

The Turbo Challenge

2009-05-24T20:11:00.011-04:00

^Pump it!! lol

I’ve decided since I finished ChaLEAN Extreme I would go back to my first true love, Turbo Jam! I was still doing Turbo at the same time as Extreme (weekly with Kathy & Jola), yet I couldn’t give it the full attention it deserves. I wish I could find the notebook that I used to write my exercises/food journal in because at one point I had done Turbo for over 30 days in a row one summer. :( man I want to find that sucker so I can beat it. Oh well, 30 days will be my goal, hopefully I can pass that. I think I’m going to throw into the mix of Turbos- Burn Intervals, Burn it off, Get Lean Intervals and the Fat Burn Challenge. Those are fun/intense workouts that are not strictly weight lifting. And of course I’ll have to hit up Ballys as well because they do get 44 of my hard earned dollars every month. :( Then around July I plan on starting a new round of ChaLEAN Extreme.

Anyone can join me on this challenge if they’d like! I love company.

What I’ve got to work with:

20 minute
AB Jam
Cardio Party 1
Turbo Sculpt
Total Body Blast
Kickin’ Core
Cardio Party 3
Punch, Kick & Jam
Booty Sculpt & ABS
3T
Fat Blaster

Plus I hope I can get Pam to let me borrow Cardio Party 2 and Lower Body Jam whenever I get bored with what I’ve got. ;) wink wink Pam.
I also have the Slim in 6 workouts and Power 90 (not the extreme one) but I think I’ll save those for another challenge, they just don’t get me as excited.

And I’m really excited for whenever TURBO FIRE comes out. That’s going to be amazing. :) I was in a live beachbody chat with Chalene and heard her describing it. I can’t wait!!

IT'S TIME TO PARTY, MOVE YOUR BODY!!
Leaving you with some turbo pride-

^post workout

Pam & Cat Do Turbo Episode: 2 million

2009-05-22T22:40:00.000-04:00

Mt. Everest Turbo Climb

Yesterday Pamela & I had a fun workout together and I’d thought I’d share our journey! We haven’t Turboed together in quite awhile, well actually we did Kickin’ Core the night before around 11pm but before that it was a longgg time. I got to Pamela’s house and she wrote out our workout on the dry erase board and then our adventure started…

The Game Plan:

20 minute Turbo Workout
20 minute Run
5 minute cool down walk
10 minute lifting with the bands
Extreme Abs
Recharge

The 20 minute video was fun start, we rode that party train and then ran outside right when we finished. It was 85 degrees out and I was burning up! But Pamela kept talking to me through it so I lasted. She even said, “If Chalene told you to push harder, would you?” Of course, so I pushed harder. Lol

When we got back to her house we did endurance with the toning bands, I tried to remember the routines from PK & J and 3T. We looked like Turbo Puppets :)

Next it was time for Extreme Abs which is a killer, I love that AB routine!! Then we cool downed and stretched to Recharge, which I admit I don’t do often enough. It was a lot of fun, a good mix of both Turbo & ChaLEAN Extreme and of course it's great to workout with a friend! :)

Movie Review for "Angels and Demons"

2009-05-20T01:47:00.001-04:00

I just came back from seeing the movie with Mat and I have mixed opinions. I understand that books need to be changed to fit into the wonderful world of cinema; however, this one was changed a lot. Within the first five minutes key actions/characters/relationships (in my opinion) were completely different, not developed whatsoever, or entirely left out, MAJOR characters. Even major themes were hardly touched on or explained for the viewing audience, like the conflict of science and religion.

I think that for someone who has read the book, which was great, very suspenseful, dramatic and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time, the movie will be a letdown, I’m sorry to say that. For someone who has not read the book, the movie might be a better experience.
However, it was really cool, both when reading & when watching, to know that I have been to many of the places in the film!

HAPPY 21st BIRTHDAY KEV!!

2009-05-19T14:10:00.000-04:00

Since you can't get on facebook (which is almost a crime) I figured I would post you a birthday message here.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KEV!!

Miss you buddy. :)
It's sad having "Kev & Cat" days with only Cat... :( boo. It's not so exciting doing the rounds at Target or watching movies by yourself. But keep up the good work!

5 Star Day

2009-05-18T14:48:00.000-04:00

I found this article last night on Lucy's Blog on self.com. I think that it's really interesting & motivating, I'm going to give it a shot! Here is the article:

Lose Weight Without Even Trying

The idea is so simple and yet it's helped me lose 25 pounds and get in the best shape of my life after decades of dieting: I finally took the broad strokes approach of thinking healthy. Just like SELF tells us all to do.

Here is how it works: You earn a star for every "good" behavior that day, and your goal is to earn five stars. It all starts with sleeping, since if you're tired, you much more apt to reach for the cookies and doughnuts in the afternoon for energy. Heck, if I'm tired I'm more apt to start my day with a sugary treat of pastry or starchy breakfast like a bagel, and that means sending my body onto a sugar roller coaster of highs and lows for the rest of the day.

So ...

Star 1: Sleep well. This can be defined however you like. Some people only need six hours to feel rested, others need nine. I find that it changes from day to day for me and I can be OK one night on less than seven and then whooomph! I crash and my body needs a good eight. So it's changeable, but be honest. Are you really rested? Did you struggle to get out of bed or bounce up and do a sun salutation? For me, that is my first sign that I got rest—I want to get out of bed and greet the day.

Star 2: Exercise. For me the morning is the easiest time to just get it done. Put on the sweats and the sneaks before I even think about it. I even lay out my gear the night before so I don't spend precious minutes searching for that other left sock, or my tunes, or my perfect top combo for the weather (I wear like four layers when it's cold out, from thermal to wind stopper) and the reason for laying it all out is to get out quickly, to suit up without waking the dog, the hubby or the daughter. Then I'm out the door to meet my running partner or teammates for an early bike ride.

Star 3: Eat healthy. Once you've slept and worked out, this is easier. Just reach for protein. For me that's a yogurt and fruit and granola...Then I am on my way to a five-star day. Halfway there, in fact, since as long as I eat healthy snacks (nuts, fruit, dried fruit and trail mix) and a healthy salad and fish and veggies for dinner, I don't want to "blow" it and dig into the ice cream late at night. Sometimes I do and then it's OK because you can't have a five-star day every day, but once I start building it I think, don't wreck it like some sand castle kicked over by a petulant child. Just keep building this five-star day.

Star 4: Stretch. This is very important for those of us who are either overtraining or injured or just sore from sitting at a desk and working. I am all of the above. So I need to stretch and also have a bath sometimes with Epsom salts or do anything to relieve the achy soreness. It can also be a massage (but I don't treat myself to those often) or a hot tub/Jacuzzi at the gym. I define stretching as anything I do that is nice to my muscles.

Star 5: Talk yourself up. This is very important for those of us who, sadly, get a little down on ourselves despite our best efforts to be positive. OK, that would be me. If I am slow on a bike ride or a little off in any way, like I got snappy at someone at work (sorry all you amazing people at SELF, I do sometimes show impatience when I don't mean to, usually when we are moving fast through a meeting-packed day and the deadlines are looming and the pages to ship are piling up and I am trying to accomplish it all in a very tight amount of time), then I feel I should take a breath and slow down and be present and instead I sometimes feel ungracious. I forget to say thank you for a great job well done. Consider this my mea culpa. Then I ruminate on what a bad person I am and the stress of that makes me want to eat...ice cream! Yes, nutty but true: I get down on myself and then reach for soothing carb treats. I have to not be down on myself and not be self-destructive, both. So when I manage to be nice to everyone in my world: my kids, my hubby, my mom, my brother, my dad, my coworkers, my friends, my teammates, the people I see as I go through my day, etc., then I feel like a good person and then I find I am more positive about...me!

These are all common sense steps for having a great day/living a healthy life yet the idea of achieving a gold star makes it sound more appealing! :)

Simple Smiles 2- A Good Book

2009-05-14T19:44:00.000-04:00

“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.”
-Joseph Addison

I think that quote says it best. We exercise our bodies in order to get stronger, energized and more in control. When you read a good book you doing the exact same things, but for your mind. Just like when you workout and get all your muscles moving, you get the brain to function in different ways also.
Why else would I be a dorky English major if I didn’t love to read? I don’t think I would be able to handle it if I didn’t find some passion in it.
I can already hear the excuses for not reading, “it’s boring” “I don’t have time” and a typical, “I hate reading.” Well then you aren’t reading what’s interesting to you! I know books are assigned in school, but outside of those readings you have to read what you enjoy in order to make the experience more worthwhile. If you find a book that you actually liked you would fly through it and make time for it. It doesn’t matter if it’s fiction, non fiction, cosmo magazine, biographies, sci fi, celebrity gossip, whatever! Just read something!
Reading helps to relieve stress, entertain you, let you escape from the commotion of everyday life into a fantasy, stimulates your brain, improves your vocabulary, improves your memory and your creativity, and teaches you life lessons.

Here are some that I’d like to recommend-

The Jessica Darling Series- Sloppy Firsts, Second Helpings, Charmed Thirds, Forth Comings, Perfect Fifths by Megan McCafferty

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

The Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer

The Harry Potter Series by J.K Rowling

Angels & Demons by Dan Brown

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

Wicked by Gregory Maguire

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Path

The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien

Run Like a Mother

2009-05-11T21:16:00.000-04:00

Saturday I completed my first 5k with Pamela and Jola. It was a lot of fun and I’m extremely proud to have completed it! :) The race was called Run Like a Mother and it was at Metro Park. I’m ready for my next one, Pam let’s sign up!
Props to Pamela she took 2nd in our age group!

Last Friday before the race I could not walk. I was in severe pain; I didn’t even go to work. Today Chalene Johnson’s facebook status was-

“Reading very interesting info bout 'overtraining'. Do u take at least 1 day a week and I mean zero exercise on that day?”

My answer would have been- no, not really. Even on a “rest day” I manage throwing in some turbo video or hitting the gym. That’s a bad idea I hear!

Overtraining is an emotional, behavioral and physical condition that occurs when the volume and intensity of an individual's exercise exceeds their recovery capacity.

I was talking to Kathy about this today before we did Punch, Kick & Jam and Extreme ABS. My mind tells me, “keep going, why should you stop a day?!” when my body starts to say “slow down, rest a bit.” Who do you think I listen to? My rude, pushy mind. I’m going to try and enjoy an actual rest day so that these painful leg days do not keep coming back.

Simple Smiles

2009-05-05T18:33:00.000-04:00

I was thinking that I’d like to blog each week about something that makes me smile, makes my life easier in some way or just something that I enjoy doing/eating/whatever! Since I’ve already wrote about Turbo and CX I think I’ll save that for a later, we all know I can go on and on and on about that. ;)

For my first week it will be something simple.

I love Orville Redenbacher’s Smart Pop 100 calorie bags of Kettle Corn.
They are quick to make (2 minutes or hit the popcorn button on the ol’ microwave) and enjoy! I have a massive sweet tooth or 32 of them, so I like the Kettle Corn brand, but I know they have regular butter popcorn too. It's a good snack to munch on because the bag is bigger than you'd think, very satisfying.

Here comes the boom!!!

2009-04-29T15:10:00.000-04:00

Famous workout words: If you look CUTE after your workout, then you WEREN'T working out hard enough. - Chalene Johnson

The challenge has begun! Kathy has joined me in a 4 week workout/eat clean challenge, I found the challenge while browsing on the beachbody message board but modified it a little bit to apply to us.

We started on Saturday April 25 and it will last until Saturday May 23. Our rules are that we have to work out 6 days a week, eat clean 6 days a week, and keep each other updated daily on what we are doing. We are allowed one cheat day/meal a week.

For my first day I did ChaLEAN Extreme (I just ended week 2 of the Lean Phase). My workout was the Fat Burn Challenge and then Recharge. I loved the Fat Burn Challenge! Coach Johnson kicked my butt!! The video was a little over 30 minutes and I didn’t realize until I was stretching that I was soaking wet with sweat, it was literally rolling off my face. I took a picture after because I am always proud when I’m drenched. :) That was definitely a good way to kick off this 8 days of straight workouts, Sunday is my first rest day.

Today is day 5. I did Lean 2 and then went over to Kathy’s house and did Cardio Party 3 with her and Jola. It was an intense day!! I’m proud I’ve stuck to all the workouts I wrote on my calendar, and let’s just say I did not go easy on myself whatsoever. But working out isn’t my problem, it’s the eating.

I did already eat my “cheat meal” for this week on Monday because Mat asked me to go to Applebee’s. I told him for the next 3 weeks he can’t ask me to dinner anymore. Other than my one allowed cheat meal I have been doing really well and sending Kathy my updates.
I’ll let you know how we do along this journey.

Give it a shot!

2009-04-28T19:27:00.000-04:00

Just give it a shot! Try everything once. Why not? That was what I told myself when I went shooting at the gun range for the first time with Spiro in December. It was fun! I’m not going to lie it was loud, which I shortly got used to. I still think, no matter how many times I go, I’ll jump on the inside when the people around me are shooting. My nerves will never completely go away; I think this is because I know in the back of my mind what guns are capable of doing. Anyway, the first time I went I was the only girl in the range and got a lot of encouragement from the old men around, I was “really good for a girl.” I’ll take the compliment, even if it was just for a girl. ;)

Today I went to the shooting range again with Spiro and this time Jola, this was my second time. My girl Jola has killer aim for the family jewels of our paper bully, so boys you better watch out! I’m proud of myself as well. :) You do feel like a badass when you are firing a gun, I'll tell you that much.

I don’t ever see myself as a girl owning a firearm; it still makes me nervous to see guns, even in the movies. But it’s something I can cross off the “to-do” list of life.

So try everything that comes your way! Whether it's shooting a gun, an exercise DVD, eating broccoli, whatever!! If you don't need up loving it at least you're left with a story to tell. :)

"Try everything once, except folk dancing and incest."
— Sir Thomas Beecham

Happy Anniversary!

2009-04-24T11:12:00.001-04:00

HAPPY 3 YEAR ANNIVERSARY MAT! <3

It seems like yesterday we were throwing marshmallows at each other across the table in Jill’s backyard or watching endless scary movies on the separate beds in my room. Now years later I count on him for more than he knows. Thanks for being my rock! He is one hell of a guy. I have forced him into watching 5 seasons of One Tree Hill and doing a Turbo Jam workout, and he stuck around! I am one lucky gal. Love you babe. <33

“To the world you may be one person but to one person you may be the world.”

Bye bye bad vices!

2009-04-18T12:19:00.000-04:00

Hello! I’m sitting at my house right now waiting for Pamela to come over so we can go for a run because it is beautiful outside! It’s currently 66 degrees, with a high of 73. It was snowing last week people, we need to embrace it! I just ran around my room taking pictures, I wanted to show you what I was working with.

I recently read somewhere that you have to equally BRING IT in the kitchen as you do with your weights, cardio, running, biking, whatever it is that makes you happy. Well this is a NO DUH moment for everyone, I’m sure. But really it’s much easier said than done.

This month in Shape (which I’m a faithful subscriber too!) there “Mantra of the Month” really hit me; I cut it out and put it up on my mirror:

“I won’t trade short-term pleasure for long-term gain.”- Deep down you know what’s best for you. But sometimes when a fudge brownie calls your name or Mr. Afraid of Commitment wants to give it another try, you act on impulse and make a not-so-good-for-you choice. This can leave you with a bulging belly or broken heart. The next time you crave something that could cause you grief, ask yourself, “Is this good for me?” as opposed to, “Does this feel good?” Remember that your happiness in the long run is what’s most important. – Jared Matthew Weiss

Okay I LOVE working out, yes I have my weak moments where I convince myself that I can take a day off, or two, or three! Ah!! But for the most part I am here at least five (normally six) days a week eeking it out. When girls ask me for advice on losing weight I tell them “keep a food journal.” I noticed that when Kathy & I share our food journals with each other (via facebook) I eat much better than when I keep it too myself. However, I’m not going to lie I will tell her when I screw up and eat three brownies & drink a small Iced Capp (such as last Tuesday). Now those definitely were short-term pleasures that did not help my long-term gain. :( Enough with the bullshit! I even have Mat in my life saying, “Now Chalene wouldn’t be happy with that!” Who the heck taught him to talk to me that way? Oh yeah, I did, bad idea.

I started reading Skinny Bitch by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin, I haven’t finished it yet, I didn’t know it was a completely vegan book so that caused me to slow down a little bit, but for the most part the ladies speak the truth:

“Okay. Use your head. You need to get healthy if you want to get skinny. Healthy = skinny. Unhealthy = fat. The first thing you need to do is give up your gross vices. Don’t act surprised! You cannot keep eating the same shit and expect to get skinny” (11).

Wow, simple as that. Bye bye gross vices!

Today I got sucked into Kim Kardashian’s blog when I saw a Yahoo! News story reporting that Kim wants a six pack by summer. But I saw that she posed “Muscle & Fitness Hers” and on her blog she said, “Why is it that the top part gets ripped first and the lower part is sooo hard to tone up!? I am determined to have a six pack by summer!” Ain’t that the truth honey! I hear you Kim. She seems honest about it so I hope she does it.

Okay enough random rambling, Pamela needs to hurry up and save me from myself over here.

Hope you have a great day!! :)

Results

2009-04-04T20:27:00.001-04:00

Like I promised I would give an update on the fasting. I’m sorry to report, I didn’t make it. :( I was doing great when I was at home (for two of the “meals”) but once I came home from work I was light headed and needed to eat.
In the Start Guide, which comes with the formula, they talk about what could happen if you exercise well drinking this stuff, “Take things slowly and relax. Keep in mind that you won’t have a lot of fuel and stand a very good chance of “bonking” (a term that describes what happens when you run out of blood sugar while exercising).” I think that working in the restaurant on a crazy Friday night during Lent would out-do some people’s exercise regimes!
I decided not to give up though and plan to retry when school gets out, which is in a couple weeks!
I got some really good questions about the formula from Shelly so I figured I would answer them here too-

How does it taste? It tastes okay, not as delicious as a chocolate shake but not as bad as a protein shake.

Do you mix it with milk or water? Water. Three times a day (replace breakfast, lunch and dinner) you mix one scoop with 8 oz of water. Between the shakes you can drink water also.

Does it make you poop a lot? I thought it would have a lot more considering it said that it was a cleansing & detoxification product. But again I only used it to replace two meals, so I’ll be able to answer that better next time. I did notice I peed more though, but that’s from all the liquids.

Does it make you weak or does that come from not eating? Personally, I think just because I went to work on an empty stomach that I felt weak. Otherwise I feel like I would have been able to do it with no problem if I just “relaxed” at home.

Also my order from Patagonia came in! I was so excited when I saw the UPS box on my front porch!! I got two pairs of yoga pants, one zip up fleece for Mat and I, and a skirt/dress. All the clothes are form fitting and all of their clothes are made from recycled products, thumbs up! :)

Remember to subscribe to my blog- caterinapassarelli.blogspot.com

The Scoop

2009-04-03T13:04:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone! I’m here to let you know what’s new right now.

I bought the 2 day fast formula in chocolate from beach body a couple weeks ago and decided today would be a good day to start. You are supposed to do it when you aren’t working out and just staying at home, yeah right, that would be never! So today and tomorrow I’m just going to drink the formula and go to work, no work outs. :( So far I’ve drank one this morning, I’ve got two more times to go. I also have some orange juice ready just in case I start feeling lightheaded. I’ll let you know how this works out tomorrow.

I just recently got to borrow Hip Hop Abs, which I was excited about. I did the first two workouts, AB Sculpt and Fat Burning Cardio, with Kathy on Monday. Shaun T. is a very entertaining guy but other than that the workout was not nearly as great as Turbo Jam. I did the moves full out, Tilt, Tuck & Tightening my abs as I moved, and was really anticipating the next day AB Burn feeling, but it was not there. The moves were not challenging, so anyone could do this program. They are more “dance-y” and in my mind geared towards younger people, but if you’re older and want to give it a shot go for it. My heart rate did increase and I did sweat but not like the drenched, out of breath feeling that Turbo Jam provides. So in my opinion, if you want to purchase a beachbody product that will work your entire body at the same time you are having a blast, TURBO JAM all the way!

Ipod Shuffle

2009-03-22T03:22:00.000-04:00

I love music! It makes everything in life much more fun and energized. So what I want to know is what are you listening to right now? What are your favorite songs to run or work out to?

I can’t leave you hanging without telling you some of my current favorites to shake my groove thing to, some are old and some are new-

1. I Know You Want Me- Pitbull
2. Right Round- Flo Rider
3. Move Shake Drop Remix
4. Poker Face- Lady Gaga
5. Gives You Hell- The All-American Rejects
6. Dance with Me- Drew Seeley and Belinda
7. Turnin’ Me On - Keri Hilson w. Lil Wayne
8. Kiss Me Thru The Phone- Soulja Boy
9. Krazy- Pitbull & Lil John
10. Jai Ho- Slumdog Millionaire Soundtrack
11. Boys- Britney Spears
12. A Little Too Not Over You- David Archuleta
13. Lollipop Remix- Framing Hanley
14. Supermassive Black Hole- Muse
15. Untouched- The Veronicas

Stop cooking your skin

2009-03-07T01:33:00.000-05:00

From a recommendation on Chalene Johnson’s blog I tried a self tanner. In the past I’ve used a couple other ones but did not see results like I did with this one. I bought the Loreal Sublime Bronze self tanner lotion at Target last week for around $8 and applied it about 5 times so far. Chalene recommends the Loreal Sublime Bronze Gublee but like she said it’s hard to find and I didn’t.
Now if you’ve seen me after using it and think “She doesn’t look tan to me!” Remember how pale I was to begin with. Casper the ghost looked tan next to me. I figured I would try it out in the winter so that if I screwed myself up too badly no one would have to know.
I put it on when I got out of the shower, waited a minute or so and then got dressed. After putting it on it leaves your skin slimmery for the rest of the day and I am glad that my hands were not stained, I was a little worried about that. But it did stain some of my nails but after a day or two that went away. It doesn’t have that strong “tan” smell, which if you’ve used a self tanner or any kind of tanning lotion before then you know what I’m talking about.

I know, I know you’d much rather go sit in a tanning bed which will provide super speedy results. I myself have been known fry my precious skin in the past (it’s been about a year since my last visit!) but no more. After taking HS 201 at OU last semester I learned that skin cancer is the number one type of cancer in the United States. NUMBER ONE PEOPLE! But on the bright, but not sun burning bright, side there are steps that can be taken to prevent skin cancer. Common sense and every doctor is yelling it, stop using tanning beds!

Some Facts from The Skin Cancer Foundation:

“Frequent tanners using new high-pressure sunlamps may receive as much as 12 times the annual UVA dose compared to the dose they receive from sun exposure.”

“People who use tanning beds are 2.5 times more likely to develop squamous cell carcinoma and 1.5 times more likely to develop basal cell carcinoma.”

“In 1994, a Swedish study found that women 18-30 years old who visited tanning parlors 10 times or more a year had seven times greater incidence of melanoma than women who did not use tanning salons.”

So cancer doesn’t scare you? How about aging? Everyone who uses tanning beds will in the end look much OLDER because their skin is aging. That does not sound nice to me.

If you are now wondering what your options are then I would say give a self tanner a try. Just recently someone recommended self tanning wipes to me, I am about to look into that now, I’ll let you know how it goes. If not, then embrace the beauty of your pale skin. Come on the sexy vampires in “Twilight” can rock it!

Here is a helpful link I wish I would have read earlier so I would have a couple less streaks-

http://skincare.about.com/od/sunkissedglow/tp/Tips-for-a-Streak-Free-Tan.htm

2009-02-25T15:40:00.000-05:00

I’ve decided to give up Iced Cappuccinos from Tim Hortons and fast food for Lent, Subway doesn’t count!

On Monday I put Kathy, Jola and myself on a 10 day weight loss challenge. I figured 10 days wouldn’t be too hard. However, I didn’t factor in Fat Tuesday. Sorry ladies, I had to sneak my last small iced capp in because come on it’s 40 days we are talking about here. Don’t worry I know its 150 calories.
For our challenge we are going to record what we have ate for that entire day and what work outs we did. It’s just an experiment to see what we can accomplish. I took our measurements on Monday so we’ll see what happens.

Yesterday was the beginning of week 3 of the Push Phase. I went out and bought some new weight plates with Mat the night before. So for all the lower body exercises I used 30 LBS!!! My arms were definitely shaking! I also bumped up the weights I was using for my bicep exercises, 15 lbs. YAY! :)

Today was my “rest day” from ChaLEAN Extreme so I went to the gym and used the cardio machines for an hour and then came home and did Fat Blaster. Right now I’m feeling pretty good! I’ve got energy but I know once I get to work I’ll somehow be tired.

If anyone is interested in websites I find helpful or just interesting to read when I get bored I would check out-

http://hungrygirl.com/

http://chalenejohnson.blogspot.com/

http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/health/;_ylt=ArJ1ewJn4mHDbuRHdhm8rW9abqU5

Alright time for work!