I'm a 44-year old mom of 2 boys that are 10 & 7. I built my business while working full time and have my own business with Beachbody...a company that changed my life for the best. I love to point out the obvious. People amuse and amaze me. I have a cape and tights that I typically misplace but I'll leap from the tall building anyway, and figure it out on my way down. The joy in life is the journey.
Imagine my shock when one day I woke up depressed. In case you didn’t know, I am a superhero in my own mind. I often claim I own a pair of tights and a cape–even though I’ve usually misplaced them. Hence my complete confusion when I was sitting in my living room on a Sunday night and realized I’m deeply depressed. My surprise comes from the fact that I had no idea. I was truly shocked. I’m a mom of two amazing kids, in a wonderful relationship with a man so perfect for me that I regularly pinch myself, I have a wonderful business as a Beachbody Coach, have over 15-years in my profession, have a collegiate degree in my profession from Michigan State University , and sit as President of a Board of professionals in my area. My life, overall, ROCKS.
What the heck is depressed?!?
I really just thought I was stressed out. I figured my oh-so-crazy life was just taking over and I needed to suck it up and push through. But, as the days went on, much was left undone but depression never occurred to me.
Body Beast FAQs: Most women don’t want to look like dudes. Let’s talk about this because this belief means many women won’t lift heavy weights because they are fearful of looking like men, looking too manly, or that their main squeeze won’t find them as attractive anymore. I just finished 90-days of lifting heavy–body builder style–and want to talk to you about what my concerns were and how they played out. If, after watching the video, you still have questions hit me up. I’d love to help clarify.
Part of my inspiration for this video and blog was the occasional reaction to my before & after pictures as some people found them to be “too much” for them. The video is longer than I prefer them to be–but I think you’ll find it interesting and useful–so go ahead and give it a try.
Collage of my Body Beast results
Areas that I struggled with and address in the video: eating enough calories, my relationship with my scale, how having muscle and adding mass effected my daily life, how my body responded to the additional muscle, how I feel about my new physique, what I’m doing next (and why).
Body Beast is meant for anyone who wants to add mass and muscle. It’s meant for people that have a relatively healthy relationship with the scale and with food. It’s meant for people that may have perceived themselves as a body builder in a previous life or have just wondered what in the heck lifting was all about. It’s meant for current and former gym rats (you can easily plug the DVD into a laptop/player and take it to the gym).
Especially considering ALL of the reservations I held going into this program–I found it to be a great program and meant for men, women, athletes, body builders, skinny dudes, buff dudes, women that want to be able to eat more and not freak out about their body burning the calories, women that have kids, women that buy groceries, and women that have dogs.
Finding a purpose that is greater than me is important. Getting around the other leaders at Beachbody helps me rediscover my purpose and remember that there are things far greater than just me in play. This was clearly the case yesterday when I attended Beachbody’s quarterly corporate meeting: Super Saturday.
It reminded me…this is MUCH bigger than me. Greater than I. My fears are insignificant in the big picture which is that PEOPLE NEED HELP. They need hope. They need solutions that actually work. They need a guarantee that, if they do the work, they will get the results. They do not need platitudes (or B.S.)–they get that from their boss, peers, and “friends.” They need the truth. Purpose. They need to be inspired. They need to know that where they are today–where they have already been–DOES NOT LIMIT THEIR TOMORROW. It’s what they are willing to do right now. Today. What they are willing to DO that determines their tomorrow. Many come from a history of disappointment that is cluttered with the debris left behind by discouragement, failed attempts, and uninspiring results. Living in that emotional chaos can lead a person to believe that will be their future, too. Take heed, my friends. This is not the automatic truth so long as people are careful to avoid a self-fulfilling prophecy by listening to those negative voices in their head. Today can be different than yesterday–if they choose to make it that way and go after it with purpose.
People need to know that if they show up–even when it is hard–and do the work they will get the payoffs.
*If you are willing to put your heart into helping yourself by losing the weight, gaining the muscle, improving your health; I am here to show you how. I am looking for people to join my team that are committed to getting results from their workout program and Shakeology.These programs and products are guaranteed to work (30-day no questions asked guarantee) and I am committed to helping you change your health.
If you have the heart and passion to commit to making a difference in other people’s lives and using Beachbody as a vehicle to make that happen–I’m looking for 7 people that I will mentor, train, and guide through the process and set them up for financial success–and change some lives along the path. If that’s you–hit me up. Let’s get you started on a new path to a new tomorrow. I only will work with those that are SERIOUS about learning, growing, sharing, earning an income and changing lives for the better..
Creator of Body Beast Sagi Kalev got to meet the Things! Thing 1 is totally star struck by Sagi and is a complete fan!!
Today we traveled to Alpena, MI for Beachbody’s Super Saturday event where Sagi got to meet the Things! This was quite an adventure, to say the least. There were film crews, photographers, Top Ten coaches, Leaders, the CEO of Beachbody (Carl Daikeler), the trainer for Body Beast (Sagi Kalev), and 230 coaches in the room for the business meeting and the live workout after. Gregg, the kids and I packed into the car at 7:30 am and man-oh-man I was impressed with us. We had to be there at 10:30 am (Gregg had an interview with Carl before the event) and our departure time put us in Alpena at 9:45. Perfect!!!!
Until we got about 25 minuets into our drive and realized I forgot my purse and Gregg forgot the card we put the room on. I was nauseated. My forgetfulness was going to cost Gregg his once-in-a-lifetime interview with Carl. I felt like I was going to cry. My 7-year-old son (Thing 1) was crying. He did NOT want to do the drive again. My 5-year-old son (Thing 2) began crying shortly after–mostly cuz the emotions were at an all time high in the car as we raced back from where we had just left. We flew into the driveway, grabbed our forgotten items, ran back to the car and hit the road again.
I said a silent prayer thanking God when the GPS displayed we would arrive in Alpena at 10:33 am. When Gregg had me pull up the itinerary via his cell phone and it revealed that 10:30 was a “soft” start time, I broke down and cried. Thank you, God, for somehow allowing my human error to be a mild inconvenience and not derailing the whole day!
After a few emergent stops on the side of the road (a boy’s gotta go when a boy’s gotta go and it’s not like we were traveling a heavily populated area) we finally arrived at our destination of Alpena Community College at 10:42 am. WHEW! I dropped Gregg off and took the Things to the babysitter’s house, exchanged cell numbers, said a silent prayer that this was the right thing to do (I have never just left them like this before…it was uncomfortable for me), got back into the car and arrived on time for the event kickoff. The meeting was amazing for me. I learned much and was once again reconnect with my passion for why I am a Beachbody coach–ever watching the clock knowing I wanted to pick them up in time for us to do the group workout with Sagi.
I got to the sitter’s to retrieve the kids and returned to the event. We were walking down the halls of the college when we heard Sagi on stage. Thing 1 stopped dead in his tracks and the dimples were flashing. His eyes, dancing and bright like I usually only see them after Santa arrived, turned to me and asked who that was. When I told him what he already knew a soft smile crept on his face. We meandered through the hallway and stood in the back of the room to hear this unusually muscular man speak in a very soothing tone and share some incredibly powerful thoughts, concepts, beliefs, and ideas. I snuck Thing 1 quietly down the aisle and let him take my seat next to Gregg then went back up to hang with Thing 2, who was in a riveting game of Angry Birds on my cell phone.
Words of encouragement from Sagi Kalev
After the event concluded, we all hurriedly changed into workout clothes and went to the gymnasium. Thing 1 was actively engaged and cheering us on most of the time. Thing 2 continued his riveting game of Angry Birds on the side of the gym floor. Sagi CRUSHED us with his live workout!!! The photo at the top of this blog was taken post workout and Thing 1 was beyond excited when Sagi pointed to Thing 1’s bicep and exclaimed in amazement how big his bicep was. That. Made. His. Day. The joy in Thing 1’s face made mine.
Sagi joined the Beachbody crew for dinner after and my son continued to circle Sagi and watch him from afar. He was joyous when Sagi gave him a high five, low five, and a knuckle bump out the door. It was so cool to watch!!!!
Here’s the deal. I know I love Beachbody. I know how it has deeply and permanently positively changed my life and am forever grateful for that. That said, watching how Beachbody has rippled through to my children leaves my heart touched. My eyes teary. My smile soft. I know I’ve made huge mistakes with the boys and that I’ve many more to make in their lives. I cannot change that. I can, however, take tremendous pride in what I do well with them. Teaching them about food. Encouraging them to exercise in a way that’s fun for them. Sharing the personality types with them and teaching them their own style as well as those around them. Pointedly giving them lessons in tempering their own personality style to match those around them and how to speak the other’s language. Life changing stuff here, people.
So when Thing 2 was struggling to buckle his seat belt and Thing 1 leans over, smiles, and says, “C’mon! Beast Up! You gotta have FUN with it!!” it helps me remember that I’m putting forward a great example for them. That, my friend, is good enough for today.
Regret can be a beast. It can consume a person. “If only. ” Think about it–our athletes, politicians, employers, employees, teachers, police officers, first responders, parents, siblings, children, friends and more–all have had moments they wish they had a “do over.” Even the Star Wars Storm Trooper probably had a moment of reflection mixed with regret. And, heck, they aren’t even human! My point? We all generally do the very best we can with the knowledge we have at the moment. That said, what do we do with those moments that beckon; if only?
If only…if only I had been a better student in high school. If only I had focused and created better study habits. What would my professional career had been. If only….
If only…if only I had tried harder in sports. If only I had treated practice more as preparation for the big game day than an excuse to fluff off. If only I had shown up to each practice and given it everything I had instead of being bitter cuz I was benched during last week’s game. If only…
If only I had dated better in high school and/or college. If only I had taken the time to truly interview the person who was applying for the role of my partner. If only I had taken the time to truly scrutinize and determine what qualifications my partner NEEDED to have prior to allowing them full access to my life. To my heart. To my future. If only…
If only…I had applied myself more at my last job. If I’d have shown up on time, worked a full day, not gossiped, and paid attention to the training I received I might have been able to keep the job. If only…
“If only” moments happen to all of us in one form or another. I imagine when American rapper, song writer, and producer Eminem takes the stage, when Dallas Cowboys Quarterback Tony Romo takes a field, when U.S. President Obama takes the podium, when US Olympian swimmer Michael Phelps takes the water, when fire fighters don their gear in the middle of a night and unite at a blaze, when police officers respond to a domestic dispute at a home and children are present….I imagine they all have their best plan in place. They all have their best game face on. And, I hazard a guess: when they’re done, they all have their own level of regret. Their own level of “if only.” The point is that life is NOT perfect. It is incredibly messy. It is haphazard and we’re often thrown into the position of choosing the blue pill/red pill much like in the movie Matrix where we’re presented with an impossible choice and expected to make the right choice the first time around.
At the beginning and end of any day, life is meant to be messy. Life is meant to be lived. It is meant to be riddled with mistakes, errors, and moments where participants scratch their head in wonder of, “Why did I do that?!?!?” Life is not meant to be perfect. It’s meant to be colorful. It’s meant to be emotional. It’s meant to be unique. MOST OF ALL…LIFE IS MEANT TO BE LIVED. Not existed. Not tolerated. LIVED. Go out there and grab what you want with the passion a child clutches a recently found but formerly lost favorite stuffed animal. Life is meant to be LIVED. So…to hell with the “if only” and embrace the concept, “I’m gonna try…”
Instead of being paralyzed by, “if only” be enabled and freed by “I tried.”Spending our time and energy trying to think inside the box, trying to be what the world thinks we should, trying to take our own personal dreams and goals and forcing them into the back seat cuz they may offend someone is just downright silly. In the words of Eminem in his song Lose Yourself (explicit);
“You better lose yourself in the music, the moment
You own it, you better never let it go
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime.”
My point? LIFE IS MEANT TO BE LIVED. Go out and mess it all up. Go out and do it perfectly. Whatever. JUST GO LIVE IT!!! My Great-Aunt lived to about 93 years of age–and did so without regret. Does that mean she didn’t royally jack some stuff up? HECK NO!!! Her mistakes topped the charts for some. She was an amazing woman that I loved, honored, respected and emulated. And (holy cats) she was human. She made so many “mistakes” in her life but, at the end of her life, she was satisfied. She didn’t bemoan what didn’t work–she celebrated what DID. That is my wish for you.
Often, at the end of any day, we focus on the risks we didn’t take. The chances we passed over. Allow me to hand you a hall pass to life wherein you just go after it and live you life to its fullest–to the utter dismay and undulated joy of those around you. Think about it–you’re living you life for you. GO LIVE IT.
My ego kills me every time. And, the kicker of it is I used to think I didn’t have an ego to battle. I mean, not really. I figured since I wasn’t an ego maniac that meant that I didn’t have the troubles that many did. WRONG. Then, with some pushing from my Beachbody peeps, I attended a Dani Johnson event and my ego
