The first time I watched "Entourage"

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

Hungry Girl on "The View"

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

Yummy Shakeology Recipe

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.

It's a FIYA!!

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

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

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.

The Facts behind the Shakeology 3 Day Cleanse

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!

MY SHAKEOLOGY APOLOGY

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!

What a Fitness Expert Says about Shakeology

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!

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

SHAKEOLOGY!

^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! :)

It's time to party, move your body!

I figured that my first blog should be about something I love. Immediately, I knew I wanted to write about Turbo Jam. I know when people hear I do workout DVDs they get skeptical. They probably picture Richard Simmons rocking his afro to a mix of “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” in his ‘80s style leotard. But Turbo Jam is nothing along those lines.

Turbo is a unique mixture of kickboxing, dance and martial arts, all put together by a fabulous lady named Chalene Johnson. I started doing Turbo 3 years ago when I found it sitting in our family DVD collection. From the outside of the “5 Rockin’ Workouts” box I figured I should give it a shot it looked fun, I fell in love! I am 100% addicted to Turbo. I refuse to answer my phone when I’m working out to it and get crazy voicemails from friends, “Cat stop doing Turbo I need to talk to you.” I hear Turbo music on the radio or even in a club and I freak out, I find myself upper cutting everyone I know and I notice I have a giant cheesy grin on my face when I began rolling my shoulders because I know what is in store for me.

Other than the awesome moves that leave me feeling powerful, strong, breathless and drenched in sweat, I walk away feeling like the people in the videos are my friends. Chalene reaches out and encourages you to keep going! She is truly inspiring. I would love to know that I can inspire someone like she has done for me and other people around me doing Turbo. There are many other remarkable people in the videos as well. When I see a 50 year old woman shaking it faster than me, I know I need to step it up. Or a mother of triplets or a mother of 7 kids throwing punches like it’s no big deal, I push harder!

I have tried other programs and have never gone back because I have never made a connection with the instructor, Chalene is a keeper! My family and friends don’t think twice when I talk about what Chalene said that day; her name is common in my house.

Sharing Turbo with my close friends has also been amazing. I think that being able to workout with your friends is not only healthy for your body but for your relationships. When I heard that my best friend, Pamela, ordered Turbo I was ecstatic! I couldn’t wait for her DVDs to arrive and for her to call me after her first workout. I have not met a person with more desire to accomplish what she puts her mind to then that girl. Dang, she is powerful! Not only have her looks changed but she just radiates pure energy. I have a blast having Turbo Parties with you Pam.

I also Turbo Jam every Monday with my coworkers Kathy, Jola and Erika (fix that ankle girl and get back in the game.) We definitely shake that house up and even though they yell at me, deep down I know they love it! And I love getting messages from them the next day crying about how sore they are. That’s when you know you’ve worked hard. My boyfriend, Mat, sucked it up and tried Turbo (Punch, Kick & Jam) with me one time! I know he did it so I would stop bothering him but I was proud of him. I have also Turboed with some other great people- Jill, Cortney and Caitlin. When Turbo sparks in interest in someone I am immediately happy.

So you’re probably thinking, okay so how much weight did you lose? I immediately lost 10 pounds from doing Turbo Jam, at really good moments it will be 15 pounds, but let’s remember I’m not a big girl. However, I have changed the way I look and feel about myself. I have muscles that I’ve never seen before, I feel toner and stronger. And I’ve maintained this difference over the last 3 years.

Workout DVDs should not be associated with middle aged women anymore, there are so many great videos out that are just waiting for our young generation to give them a try! Workout DVDs are also beneficial for most of us who have a lot on our plates. With just a quick 30-45 minutes we can burn 500 calories within the privacy of our own homes without rushing to and from a gym. And when you order the Turbo Jam packages you not only get the DVDs but off the top of my head I know I’ve gotten resistance bands, thigh toner, weighed hand gloves, an exercise ball, books on eating healthy & changing your life, and so many other things.

My advice to any and everyone- TRY IT! I wanted to share my great find with everyone I know!

Turbo will be a big part of my future blogs so I just wanted to get my love out there now!