Do you count the calories in your drinks?

Frequent Friday
Hangout

Do you work out hard throughout the week, or when you can? Diet all week long? And then what is your fave activity on the weekends?

I myself, frequented Bar & Grills, restuarants, and clubs on the weekends many years ago. I did this routine...gym Monday thru Friday, parties Friday & Saturdays...hangover on Sunday...only to beat myself up at the gym the following week with no real progress. Totally counterproductive for my goals of weight loss.

With a little help from some bartender friends, I've come up with a list of common alcoholic drinks & their calorie content.

• Bud/Coors Light Beers: 99-110 cals.
• Bud Select 55: 55 cals.
• Glass of Red Wine (3.5 oz = 1 glass) 120 cals.
• Glass of sweet/dessert wine(3.5 oz. = 1 glass) (ex: Moscato): 165 cals.
• Chardonnay: 120 cals.

• Martini: 150 cals.
• Appletini: 160 cals.
• Sangria: 190 cals.
• Hard Lemon Zima: 231 cals.
• Bloody Mary: 140 cals.
• Bicardi Breezer (Berry):  220 cals.
• Margaritas (depending on flavor/on the rocks): 300-520 cals.
• Pina Colada: 320 cals.
• Jigger (1.5 oz) of Gin, Rum, Vodka, Whiskey (before adding juice/soda): 97 cals.

Now, looking at the calorie count, 1 drink ever so often is not going to send you over the edge of calorie counts. However, I remember, when I went out to dinner I had at least 2 margaritas at Que Pasa (that's anywhere from 600-1000 cals.) What about when you meet people for a drink after work? A couple glasses of wine: 300 cals. And what about a big BBQ where there is an ice chest of Coors lights & you have at least 3 (300 cals.), but more like 4-6 right? That's 400-600 calories of beer & this is before you started eating the chips, dips, ribs, macaroni salad, chili beans, etc.

No wonder we struggle with our weight, huh?

Here's where it gets scientific. There are words like 'lipid oxidation' and 'acetate' used in the explanation of how your body's ability to burn fat is slowed down/decreased/hindered by alcohol consumption.

Check this out if you want the whole story: http://www.fitnessquestonline.com/EffectsofAlcoholonFatMetabolism.pdf. Basically, ALCOHOL SLOWS DOWN YOUR METABOLISM!!!! You can't burn fat efficiently!

Infamous for Beer Belly!
Do you have Homer's Physique?

So in addition to dumping in 300-1000 calories or more into your body of stuff that blocks your body's ability to use needed vitamins & minerals...it slows down the body to burn fat!

No wonder people get a 'beer belly', huh? Remember Homer Simpson? He loved his beer!

With this info, you have to do something about your consumption. Some reading this have no goals to lose weight and may not see the point of limiting their intake of alcohol...google 'effects of alcohol on liver'...that's a sobering thing.

If you feel you 'just gotta have something to relax'...limit it to one. If you have a problem, seek help. I have someone dear to me who got help through AA. There are resources for you if you have a problem.

If you need motivation, think about how much money you will save each day/week/month/year if you kicked the habit all together. And then think how productive all that sweat & labor at the gym, working out would be! Some of you are trying to figure out what to give up to drop that last 10 lbs.

Voila - here's your answer!

Do yourself a favor & give up the alcohol...

your body, your liver, your family

will greatly benefit from it!

You can do it!!!!!

My Personal Workout Update

This Monday marks Day 1 of my 4th week of Insanity. I am finally shaving off one pound at a time and held at 131.0 today.

I have a ton of people asking me, when are you going to stop losing weight? And here's my thoughts on that question. It's easy to reach a goal weight...and be done, and then just 'maintain'. However, the last time I was 'maintaining', by doing my routine workout, my routine 'eating'...3 lbs. creeped up on the scale. My goal at the first of the year was to continue to weigh in from 130-134.

Last month, I hit 136 while 'maintaining'. I guess you can't call it 'maintaining'...but gaining, right? I know some of you think I am being rediculous, but if you seen how hard I was working out, my 4 days a week, you would understand my frustration with a 2 lb. gain.

The truth was that my eating was getting out of control. I was cheat eating. I was eating a few bites of the kids' noodles/spaghetti, I was having 2 Fiber 1 bars/day, I was having the last bites of basically anything that was on the kids' plate - AGAIN. This is a consistent area that I struggle with.

But instead of focusing on 'not eating' their food, I focused on eating 'my food' while they ate. My tummy was full and it was easier to just toss what they didn't eat in the trash. And then, I focused on the exercise component. Although they say it is 20% - exercise and 80% - food in losing weight, I knew in addition to stopping the cheat-eating, I had to step it up with my exercise program as well.

As a result of get stricter with my food (the 80%): measuring out my servings, cutting the kids' food out, cutting the bars out, adding more water, fruit, lean meats - I've dropped weight.

Getting more consistent with my workouts also helped do the trick. I went from working out consistently 4 days, maybe 5, to working out daily - 6 days a week. I'm still only working out around 45 minutes. (It's the most intense 45 minutes of my day, by the way.)

I did what I needed to do. I was honest with myself and admitted where I was slacking off in my eating, I confessed that my workouts were not priority. I basically identified what I needed to change.

Then, I came up with a new goal. My goal wasn't necessarily to "LOSE WEIGHT". I set a measurable goal of "Complete a workout program, start to finish". With the exception of missing 2 days due to a serious sinus infection/bronchitis last week, I have not missed any workouts.

The results: Down 5 lbs. in 3 weeks! I have this week to finish out, then a 'Recovery Week'...and then the Insanity get's even more insane for the last 4 weeks. I'm hecka nervous, the titles of each workout on the calendar have the word MAX in them. Yikes is right!

Going back to the word maintaining...I don't think for me that the goal of 'maintain' is good. "Maintain" means: to keep in a specified state, position (as per dictionary.com). But when it comes to weight loss, I feel like 'maintain' becomes stagnant. You are no longer challenging yourself, so you get lazy. When you miss a workout, it's easier to not be focus on eating good. So my advice: Never just maintain.

If you get to a weight that you are happy with, then set a goal of running in a 5K/10K, complete a workout program, take a karate class. Set a goal of something that has exercise at the center, something that will keep you focused on training your body. So my advice:

Don't maintain, don't gain - just keep training your body!

Don't know how to step it up & train?

Commit to this:

Losing Weight isn't hard - it just takes some PREPAREDNESS!

I've been reflecting over what I've shared with you since I've started this blog. A lot about exercise, I've offered workout solutions, programs. I've talked a lot about food, measuring food out, avoiding 'killer-foods', but one thing I haven't pounded into your heads is the serious need to 'BE PREPARED'.

And maybe it was my one day this week that I was totally unprepared that made me realize this: a lot of people aren't losing weight because they have (multiple) days like this one.

Here is what my unprepared day looked like.

1. I woke up late since I had tea the day before at 4ish p.m. & could not go to sleep at 9 p.m.
2. I had a list of errands to run, but needed to fit in my 55 min. workout. And I had a meeting that night. Needless to say my time was OVERCOMMITTED.
3. I got on the computer before I ate breakfast.
4. Did not eat enough to begin my day.
5. Packed a very lite lunch to take with me.
6. Made my kids their own single cheesy quesadilla to go.
7. Ran my errands.
8. Visited a little longer here & there than planned.
9. Cleaned my house (while my boys napped) upon arrival at home (later than I planned).
10. Went to my Fit Club meeting that eve - hungry.

Where's the 'sabotaging unpreparedness' your asking?

• I didn't eat breakfast when I woke up (I could at least drink my shake, right?)
• I didn't eat enough before or after my long workout.
• I overcommitted my time, should've spread my errands out over the next couple days.
• I packed my kids' too much food that I'm not supposed to eat.
• I did not pack enough fruit or healthy snacks for ME on the go.
• I ate their leftover quesadilla as I drove home from all my errands.
• I didn't fix a healthy dinner for myself, while they were napping, instead I cleaned.
• And to top it all off, I ate their leftover home-baked chicky nuggets once I got home from my meeting.
• Long story short: I did not enough at the onset of the day & was famished, so I ate what was in front of me...my kids' food!

There you have it folks. I am normal. I do slip up. I do not bat 100% - 100% of the time. But do you see the things I should've done differently?

 

So in order to be prepared for a successful EATING day, here's what I need to do:

1. No caffeine in the late afternoon. Ever. It doesn't set me up for success for the next day.
2. Wake up early, eat upon rising. (I made sure to have my shake first thing today, even before my coffee).
3. Eat enough before my workouts.
4. Eat a filling lunch, include a nice portion of protein to fill me up.
5. Have my fruit, healthy snacks (a bag of baby carrots) nearby at all times.
6. Make sure I drink a ton of water on the go & at home.
7. Plan a filling, lean dinner.
8. Eat more veggies w/ lunch and dinner.
9. And don't make TOO MUCH food for the kids. (That's my struggle already....)

I am big on saying that there is "Power in Transparency" (maybe I should write a book w/ that title...hmmm, don't steal it okay?) But no really. The irony is, on Tuesday, before I ate all that food that's on my 'do not eat' list, I reached out to someone, who is where I want to be, for accountability. Then, isn't it Murphy's Law that I eat the foods I advise others not to eat?

Here's the next thing that I did, that was GREAT actually: Wednesday morning, I said - "It's a new day"...just because I made a couple bad choices the day before, I refused to get all down, depressed, & discouraged (in fact all those emotions can make you want to eat more/worse, right?). I just sucked it up -started my day off with a positive mindset - did my intense workout - AND controlled what I ate better. (Did not want to report to my accountability partner of another slip-up, right?) The result: down 1 lb. in 4 days.

THE MORAL OF THE STORY: Set yourself for success with enough sleep, eating healthy food regulary, and don't overcommit your time to run yourself ragged...only to leave you time-deprived & famished!

Notice I italicized 'EAT' above. If you are eating healthy foods, regularly (being sure to AVOID hunger pains), then you're less likely to binge eat the foods that are full of fat & in the 'no-fly zone'!

Be prepared! Need some tips on being more prepared on what foods to stock your fridge, pantry with, email me: jennifermorin@beachbodycoach.com

Get your body in shape w/ the Gospel!

So some of you think that you have to forsake your devo time to get in shape - no you don't! Watch this!

I have a ton of God-loving friends for sure! There is a workout for you all too! And the focus is on the Lord - buffeting your body as well as you spirit!!! Who wants to transform your body & worship at the same time? What a great way to follow your daily devo time!!!!

Email me at jennifermorin@beachbodycoach.com to find out you can get this comprehensive program!!! I don't believe it's God's will that you are overweight, fatigued, tired, sick with high blood pressure. Why not encourage your soul & improve your cardiovascular health at the same time!

God bless you all!!!!

Tuesday's Tip on Dropping the Weight!

In my mind, the simpler something is the more likely you'll do it, right? I know a ton of people who want to lose weight, yet they don't know where to start.

First, you can start by NOT eating the bad foods. You know what they are: fried foods, sugary drinks, sugary/dessert foods, empty carbs (chips, a ton of bread out to dinner), and super fatty foods (pizza, buffets, burgers (double double cheesy heart-attacks to go), and the giant burritos filled with sour cream, cheese, rice, beans). These are just a few things to eliminate at the start. If you stop eating these kinds of food (stop eating fast foods so much), you'll start dropping weight immediately.

Let's say you've done this part. Let's say that you have eliminate the obvious bad food from your life. But the scale is no longer moving. What do you do next?


MEASURE OUT YOUR FOOD! This is so easy. It's easier than you think. Get a 1/2 cup, and 1/4 cup measuring cups, as well as 1 tablespoon & 1 teaspoon.  These are the ones you will use most often. Most beans, rice, cottage cheese, yogurts can be scooped out w/ the 1/2 cup since that is the typical serving size. (Nonfat plain yogurt is 1 cup for 120 calories.) You've got to scoop the food out anyways w/ something, right? Just read the 'Nutrition Facts' and scoop out your food to what the label says is a 'serving size' with your measuring cup.

MEASURE OUT YOUR CONDIMENTS! Yes, mayonnaise, bbq sauces, salad dressings - look at your labels, you'd be suprise at how much of that stuff you are actually using. When you start measuring it out, you will immediately begin to use less right from the start. Most condiments have a 2 tbsp. serving size. When was the last time you measured out Peanut Butter? 2 tbsp. of PB = 190 calories. Wow, huh? And you know you ain't only been eatin' 2 tbsp. :)

READ THE LABELS. Read the labels of food you eat at home. Look at the Nutrition Facts and start measuring out the food to the 'serving size'. And for now, just make a mental note of the calories you're eating. Also pay attention to the fast food menus. They are now posting the calories to meals. Pay attention that they will read something like: 450-990. The 450 is the sandwich only, the 990 is the meal. 990 calories in one meal? Wow, stop eating that, and you'll change your life!

Last week I talked about a food log - a log of what you're eating. I didn't want to overwhelm you with too much at once. Hopefully you started writing down what you ate. Did you do it? Did you become aware of what you were eating? That's what a simple food log does. Writing down what you eat helps you see what you are putting in your mouth. I want YOU to know what you are eating. This alone will make you conscientious and you'll probably start making better choices!

Now this week, I want you to start eating a 'serving size' of your foods! This is where 5th grade math is important! You will be doing fractions, adding them, cutting them in half. But I want you to get over it & just start eating the 'serving size' of food! Can you do it? If you have the goal to "Lose Weight", then this is a great way to start controlling the amount of food you eat!

Write your current weight down on a calendar and then start measuring your food right away. If you begin to eat a regular 'serving size' of your foods and condiments, (minus the fatty fast food type meals) - you WILL lose weight!

Tuesday's Tip: USE A FOOD LOG

Just this week alone, I've been in touch w/ a handful of women who were awesomely humble enough to share what they eat with me. And then I have questions, of 'how much', and 'how often' to add to my inquire of 'what do you eat?' and 'when?'

All of these things matter. Remember I mentioned last week in weight loss, exercise is 20% & EATING is 80%. But what are you eating? Don't know log it! Look at Weight Watchers, they are successful because they have their clients keep a food log. My husband who had a personal trainer, kept a food log of everything he put in his mouth. We measured it all out...we still do. In fact, last night, there I was measuring out his 1/2 cup of steamed brown rice for dinner.

The point of food logs is it makes you mindful of what you are eating. Do you keep a checkbook? It keeps you mindful of what you're spending, right? You see where you went over, and where you did great.

A food log is the same. Think of calories as cash. What do you want to spend your calories on? Knowing that the less you spend, the better shape you will be in. This is true for us financially as well right. If you are on a mission to lose weight a food log is a must - keeping track of what you eat is a must! My friend just passed on a free one at http://www.caloriecount.com/. You can enter the food you ate, see the 'grade' it gets, and tack it onto your food log. You want to watch your calorie intake, especially if you're on a mission to lose weight!

When I start talking with people who want to lose weight, I first ask them what they've been eating. You can easily spot the sabotaging foods right off the bat by just rattling off your list. Does this sound like your food log: skip breakfast, doughnut when I get to work, coffee, cheeseburger and fry for lunch w/ a DIET soda (love the irony in that), and then late dinner of chili cheese fries, coney, w/ milkshake. What? I know someone very close to me who ate like this and it's more common than not. (Check out his story at http://www.thislittlepiggywenttothegym.com/ to read his amazing story of losing 200+ lbs.)

So if you're one of those people, "I know I need to lose weight, but I don't know where to start"...here is your starting point. Here is your assignment. Start a food log today! Write down everything you eat from now until Friday. And then on Friday when you're full aware of what needs to go. Spend the weekend cleaning out your fridge & cupboards & buy some lean, healthy foods! It will change your life.

Need some ideas on what lean, healthy foods to stock your cupboards with, let me know. Email me at jennifermorin@beachbodycoach.com!

Inferno Results, what's next? 90 days of TurboFire, maybe more!

After 5 days of intense workouts, I dropped 2.5 lbs. That's great for me, it usually takes 2 weeks to do that at this point in my mission. Here's a pic to keep you up to date of where I'm at w/ my physique:

I'm just not brave enough to post swimsuit pics...this is a little bold for me now. I'm taking today off from a lot, because I'll tell you, those TurboFire workouts wiped me out. Couple things I will do different in the future, if I do the 5-day Inferno again. I will eat the 1 tbsp. of PB allowed, I will eat the rice prescribed in the eating plan, and I will drink the recovery drink each day.

I don't typically eat/drink those foods and feared the added calories would mess me up...but these workouts require you to be fueled. And now I realize why...I was tore up from the floor up because I didn't fuel myself properly.

Today, I will be reading up on the class schedule for the next 90 days, in addition to the 'Fuel the Fire' Nutrition guide. That's the beauty w/ these workout dvd programs. They come complete with the dvds, a guide on the workouts, a schedule to get the best results, a food guide of what to eat, and bonus stuff like bands or gloves. No guess work! (Just to warn you, you may get some of the dvds off ebay, or even burned, but you're likely to not get the guides. Those are essential to getting the results. How can you do the P90X & get P90X results if you don't know what week to do what for the muscle confusion? Just sayin')

I bought the basic TurboFire program, which comes with a ton of stuff, you saw the pic, but there are a few other dvds that I can add that are longer workouts at the end of the 90 days to extend it 8 more weeks. That's what, 6 mos. Great! Six months from now puts us at Christmas time! I like having a plan already set to stay in shape - no guesswork!

Personally, I'm hoping to get some friends hooked on the Turbo workouts so I have some buddies to work out with. Want to check out TurboFire, here ya go!

Working This Out - This Wednesday

I love pairing up words that start w/ the same letter, like 'Workout Wednesdays', or 'Success Story Saturdays'. Weird I know, but it gives me a starting point.

Last Wednesday I featured Chalene Johnson's latest release: TurboFire. I gave the breakdown of what the workout will do and why you would want it in your workout repetoire (check it out). After doing the research about the HIIT workouts, the way it boosts your metabolism, and how effective it is to help drop the weight, I had to have it myself. I ordered it last Thursday & it arrived yesterday:

Do you see the 5-Day Inferno Plan booklet? What is this exactly right? This 5 day plan is an eating and workout plan "designed to cleanse your body and change your daily eaitng habits, so you're ready to take on TurboFire with more energy". It's a great plan to follow M-F, if you have a special event on Saturday. Results always vary, but at the back of the booklet, they feature 4 people who used it. One gal lost 5 lbs. & 8 inches, the other 9 lbs. and 11 inches, and the last gal lost 7 lbs. and 10 inches. The guy lost 14 lbs. & 10 inches. (Can I just say I envy how quickly men can lose weight?)

Pretty much what you see in the pic is what you get in the $119 program. (There's a big daddy one for more that comes w/ 60 min. workouts - I'll purchase the 4 seperate & later to add to my collection. It also comes with a month supply of the P90X recovery drink, which Dave loves, won't live without it.) 

The best part about these dvd programs from Beachbody is that they lay it all out of what you need to do. I received a schedule of when to do which workout for the best results. I also got an eating guide to follow so I don't have to do the guess work on what to eat or get bored w/ the same 'ol chicken & broccoli diet. Which, I don't think that crazy restricted regimen offers my body the right kind of fuel for this workout program anyways.

This is so cheesy, but of all I got in my box (the bands are pretty cool too) - I'm excited about the free tank top I get when I send in a before & after pic to them. When they see 'my transformation', I'll get a free tank top (which I love tanks by the way). And better yet...drum roll....I could possibly get a chance to appear in an infomercial.

Okay I know, I said it was cheesy. But if you knew how long I've been doing Turbo Jam, how much I love that program. How I went to get trained to teach Turbo Kick, and how I am hoping to be an instructor. If you knew how much I adore Chalene Johnson because of her amazing character, integrity, motivation, love to help people lose weight, passion to help others change their lives...then you would totally understand how excited I am that that is an actual possibility. And for those who know me, you know I am going to push myself sooooooooooo hard to try to make that possibility a real-life event for myself.

I'm going to kick off my '5 day Inferno' today! I'm not a person that 'waits 'til Monday' to start changing my life. I've done my own observation and I the best time to start something new, a diet, a new program, is the day you decide/receive it/figure out how. Before & afters pics of the Inferno will follow in 5 days. And then before & afters will follow in 90 days. Stay tuned!!!!

Shop by Fitness Programs at www.beachbodycoach.com/JenniferMorin for your own!

Exercise is only 20% - but it's key!

I've heard it said over and over and over again: Diet is 80%, exercise is 20% of losing weight. I talk a lot about losing weight thru diet and food choices. I can be a broken record sometimes on it, so I thought I would talk about exercise and highlight somethings to really zero in on to fully maximize your weight loss efforts.

1. EXERCISE. Seems like the obvious, right? But how many try to lose weight withOUT exercising? Just start moving. Figure out what you really like to do & do it. If you enjoy your workouts, you'll do them. (How often have you seen people at the gym, w/ frowns, on a machine, not even into it? No intensity? Yea, don't do that.) Find a class, a program, or something you can't wait to do the next day. I found what I like and that's how I lost my weight and keep the weight off!
2. SET GOALS. Most know the story of my husband (http://www.thislittlepiggywenttothegym.com/). His goal was to lose weight, not be a 400+ lb. man, and not die young. My goals have always been little increments of weight. For example, when I was 159 lbs. (after my 2nd born son), I said, "I'm going to get down to 155"...then it was 149, then I said, "I can get down to 145". And when I reach that I said, "If I work out a little harder, kick up the intensity, I can get under 140". Now I'm about 134.
3. CHANGE IT UP. I know I said, find what you like...but you still have to change it up. If you like the treadmill. Go from walking to jog...then jogging to running...then sprints w/ jogging. Then try to tackle 5 mi. then 10 mi. Like the stairclimber...turn up the intensity, increase the level, increase the speed.
4. USE WEIGHTS. This may take a little homework or you asking someone to help, but you gotta have resistance training. (If you're a woman, resistance training helps prevent osteoperosis.) Weight-lifting/resistance training revs up the metabolism, builds muscle, and gives you that toned, defined look. It's a win-win!

These are just some things to get you started. After you've lost those initial pounds, go thru the list and re-apply them. Somehow, some way, we easily steer off course. Reminding ourselves of some of the basics, helps us get back on track.

A couple of observations I recently made and my husband and I have talked about, that may help if you consider. You've heard it said, 'get a workout buddy'. And that's great if you find someone who has the same schedule as you, but that can be difficult. But here's the thing: don't make your weight loss success dependent on that person showing up. How often do things come up & your 'workout partner' flakes out or gets sick? Then how easy is it for you to miss when they've called in advance and told you they won't be there? Don't put your success in someone else's hand. If you need accountability, get someone to hold you accountable. Find someone to text your weight to every Monday. Find someone to call you and check in with you. But don't make your attendance to the gym or your workout dependent on someone else showing up. Get yourself there and workout to your fullest potential - when you clock out from work, drive straight to the gym. Have you gym bag in the car & just get yourself there. Or set your alarm, drag yourself out of bed and get yourself there. Turn on that dvd. Whatever you do, just get yourself dressed & show up. Then apply the tips above. Heck, use me as accountability. Beware though, I'm a little diehard and can come across as a drill sergeant sometimes, so you may get results if you ask me!!!!

All this to say, if you have weight loss goals. Don't depend 100% on dieting....get yourself moving & grooving at least 3-5 times a week for 30-60 minutes each time & you will lose!

Benefits of exercise:

1. Metabolism boost
2. Encourages body to burn calories
3. Revs up your heart & lungs to work at maximum capacity
4. Healthier bones
5. Increased stamina & energy
6. Lowered risk of heart disease
7. Overall improved health
8. Body transforms & leans out
9. Improved self-esteem/lessens stress

EXERCISE - it will change your body...it will change your life!

Baby Steps or Giant Leaps

How do you reach your goals? By baby steps or giant leaps?

My husband and I recently bought a house. The idea had been discussed for nearly a year. The decision to do so in a night. We took a giant leap toward the goal of moving out of our neighborhood and across town.

Last fall I took baby steps toward a goal. The first goal was to lose the last 10 lbs. of baby weight. So I made the decision to go to a Turbo Kick training in Laguna Hills. This deadline to get fit and lose weight was just what I needed to push myself to lose those 10 lbs. and reach my primary goal. Receiving the certification to actually teach a Turbo Kick class gave me a new goal to consider. It made me think & consider whether or not I wanted to be a group exercise fitness instructor. Never had considered it before in my life. But all of the sudden it was an option. And it would be instructing the most fun workout I had ever done in my life - Turbo! But I wasn't sure. I still some steps to go. I had to learn the workout, know the routine by the music, remember each move...and then be able to confidently lead a group through a round of Turbo Kick. (A little intimidating, right?)

Fast forward a few months, I'm a Beachbody Coach (which that was a giant leap I made in a day, something I had considered before, but with the right, fresh business-minded approach I was given, I knew I had to leap out & do it!) Now that I'm a Beachbody Coach, I am starving to be around goal-oriented, fitness-minded people. And what a better place to meet them than the gym, right?

So with incentive of a free family membership, the passion to get out of my momma-cave and meet like-minded people, I said, "I should be a fitness instructor - I should go for it". So the last 2 weeks, I really paid attention to the sequence of the workout...and completed it, to the music (no aid from a dvd), and nearly have the cueing down.

So what is the next baby steps to take? Fill out the application for the position, deliver it & wait for a call back. Thinking about it gives me butterflies. Not sure why. But, I know that once I hand that app over, I am going to work out harder, count my calories more accurately, and be so excited on the inside that I took the last steps IN MY CONTROL to be a fitness instructor. Even if they never called me back, I feel successful! I completed my list of baby steps in becoming a fitness instructor. Perhaps, completion = success...for me!

What's great is I will drop off the application and then leave it in God's hands. If I get the position as a group X instructor, I will have yet a couple other baby steps: get CPR certified & my AFAA group exercise certification. But that's the easy part. I can pass a couple more tests, right?

See, reaching goals and having success in our lives doesn't have to be these huge monumental moments printed on the front page of a newspaper. It's consistently taking baby steps or giant leaps...depending on your time, resources, or faith. It's making your mind up that you're going to do something, figuring out what it takes to get there, then checking each step off a list with persistence. My list is nearly checked off to be a fitness instructor. First thing this Monday morning, I completed the application. This afternoon, I am dropping it off. It really can be that easy.

Need some assistance with setting some goals? Coming up with an action plan to reach them? Email me at jennifermorin@beachbodycoach.com - I would love to help you! Take the first baby step of reaching out and I'll help you take a leap!

Success Stories of Others INSPIRE Us!

Here is a success story of a woman who used the 90-day program of ChaLEAN Extreme! It takes some 'extreme' measures to get the extreme results you want. Click to watch:

http://beachbodycoach.com/esuite/home/JenniferMorin?bctid=7035601001

I love Chalene Johnson. She's an amazing motivator, fitness trainer. She's got a muscle building workout that gets your metabolism revved up. MUSCLE BURNS FAT! Check out what this fat-blasting workout does to your body:



I've done her Turbo workouts for nearly 4 years now and lost the baby weight from both of my pregnancies. I know that what she brings to the table is the best!


Sometimes at the gym we don't know what machines to use, how intense to push ourselves, when to add weight, when to add reps. Sometimes, we get focused on weight-lifting & forfeit cardio, or vice versa. This is why these programs work. All those things have been figured out & packaged for you! These programs work when you use them! And if you keep in touch with me, I will definitely hold you accountable! Who is ready to transform their physique?

STOP PROCASTINATING!!!

So the first half of 2011 is gone and are you where you said you would be? Have you got done what you set out to do?

Who of you said that you would lose weight at the first of the year?

Who of you said that come summer, you'd be in shape?

Who of you are tired of procastinating & just finally want to get w/ the program?

Stop procastinating! Some of you procastinate by avoiding work, avoiding chores, avoiding anything that requires effort or takes any kind of self-discipline. This is then followed by feelings of being overwhelmed, discouragement, maybe even depression. But you can stop this vicious cycle by taking action today!

Today, I want you to set 2-5 goals you want to achieve. Then brainstorm on how you can get there. Set some deadlines, and then start putting action toward those goals. You can do it! Make yourself do what is good for you so that you can have a life that is great!

Enlist me as your free coach! I will help you reach those goals you long for...especially when it comes to weight loss! I am diehard -  you will appreciate it when the inches come off, the lbs. are shed! Let's lose that weight once & for all! Email me at jennifermorin@beachbodycoach.com or friend me on FB.

I've done it!

Hey folks, I've got one too!

Not sure how many of my FB friends enjoy all my posts about diet, exercise, Beachbody, Shakeology, calories burned, eaten, etc. So I'm using a blog as my outlet for this. If you absolutely love this kind of info, then become a follower.

However, I think I'm going to ease up & use my FB to be my typical encouraging self, no doubt...but a little less intensity w/ less 'drill sergeant - lose weight, sir, yes, sir' posts...know what I'm saying?

Become a follower, and you will stay well informed on the latest stuff I'm doing & trying. Hey, we only get one life, right? And we all have something to contribute, right? So finally....I will entertain this fad & contribute by using a 'BLOG'.