I have been finding more recently that working for a more socially just, nurturing, and compassionate world is not something that is divorced from our own personal balance and well-being. I created this page to provide a place for conversation, dialogue, and exploration of the connections between creating a better world in relationship with improving personal wellness. Creating a more peaceful and balanced world seems to go hand-in-hand with having a balanced mind-body-spirit.
Showing posts with label beachbody coach. Show all posts
Showing posts with label beachbody coach. Show all posts
Monday, June 18, 2012
Amazing BeachBody Stories of Health and Wellness Transformation
You can reach your health and wellness goals, too! BeachBody programs are just that good, plain and simple! Contact me at drkurtlove@gmail.com or go to http://beachbodycoach.com/drkurtlove to get amazing programs like TurboFire, Insanity, and P90X!
Labels:
beachbody coach,
being happy,
earning income,
exercise,
Insanity,
inspiration,
losing weight,
P90X,
wellness,
workout
Saturday, June 16, 2012
BeachBody's Ultimate Reset: A 21-Day Cleanse Experience - And What A Great One It Is!!
Is a 21-day cleanse right for you? If you're not pregnant or breastfeeding, chances are that this is the best thing that you can do for yourself to regain energy, feel balanced, and clean your body of toxins -- the healthy way!
This is not a cleanse where you eat only one kind of food or go hungry. Yet, it's a cleanse, so it's not exactly a walk in the park either.
After doing this cleanse, I can say that I definitely feel so much better. Here's the quick breakdown of the days:
Day 1 - No sweat! Just eating some healthy food, taking some natural supplements (similar to those found in Shakeology...but amped up a bit and reformulated for the purpose of a cleanse)and...oh, and drinking a lot of water! I peed like...well, I peed a lot, my friends.
Day 2 - Not bad, but I was noticing a slight headache coming on later in the day. Something tells me I was beginning to do a sugar withdrawal. Still drinking a lot of water (yes, distilled as per the instructions) and peeing like a madman...but hey, it is a cleanse! I noticed, by the way, that there's still some of my wife's birthday cake sitting on the counter. Yummy, yummy cake, but I was good -- not a lick! Traded the leftover cake for kale...I'm so proud of myself.
Day 3 - Ah, the sugar withdrawal has set in. The headache, somewhere in the neighborhood of a 4 or 5 on the Richter scale, is fairly constant, so I know that this cleanse is doing it's job. It's all good, though. My body needs to do this. The food is good, the water is plentiful (I'm drinking about 96 ounces or so every day -- basically my weight divided by 2 which determines the number of ounces), and I'll be honest, at night I had the world's worst craving for that birthday cake. Seriously, it was a ridiculously strong craving -- an 8 or 9 out of 10 kind of craving. Have mercy! I managed to drink some water and get my butt to bed before my hands reached out and made the move to cut a piece or three. Oh, I totally crashed for a nap in the late afternoon. Haven't done that in a while, and man oh man did I need it!
Day 4 - Woke up, still with a slight headache -- probably a 2 or 3 -- and made my way to the kitchen to get some water and start the day. The birthday cake was there, and maybe it was because it was morning, but I felt only a small craving for it. I managed to eat some eggs, toast, and spinach to keep my mind off of it. The rest of the day was totally uneventful if, of course, you pay no attention to the fact that there was an 80th birthday party for a family member that included pizza from my favorite pizza place. Ugh! Yes, I was good and ate none of it. The family was supportive even though I could see a little bit of "poor guy" vibes here and there. That was a tough day. Oh yes, still drinking and peeing. Anyone notice a difference in the levels of the ocean over the last four days? Don't blame me...blame the cleanse!
Day 5 - I ate everything I was supposed to today, but at the end of the day, I was really hungry for some reason. I allowed myself to eat an egg salad sandwich at the end of the day. Sue me, ok! ;-) As I knew that this was almost the last day of the cleanse where animal foods were going to be present, I didn't feel so bad eating it. All things considered, I am doing really well, and I can see that my body is adjusting.
Day 6 - Oh, that birthday cake! Why is it still in my life stalking me? I want a restraining order on this thing! Somebody please chuck this thing!! My cravings aren't bad, but yep, there still there. I'd love to say that I'm not peeing as much...really, I'd love to say that. Wait a second, I have to go pee...I'm back. Where were we? Oh yes, let me just warn you about this peeing thing. It creeps up on you. One minute you're vacuuming the house, all is good, and the next minute the pee monster residing in your bladder decides that only emergencies are allowable, and you moan all the way to the bathroom. Trust me, if you're going to go drive anywhere, pee before you leave, and bring an empty bottle from the recycling bucket just in case. Food was good. I ate it.
Day 7 - Food is tasty, love all the salads, yippee ;-) Wouldn't mind a cupcake every once in a while, but hey, it's a cleanse, right? Remember that advice to pee before you go driving somewhere? Totally, totally listen to that advice. I was running late for work (my modus operandi) and while I was sitting in the car...in traffic...my bladder monster arose from it's slumber. In a matter of a mere 15 minutes, I went from a twinge of "Oh, I must tinkle" to "Holy crap, there must be a 4-alarm fire somewhere that I can put out right now!" Ran (gently...gently) down the hall to the restroom at work. My boss probably thinks I'm doing drugs in the bathroom because I went there at least 7 times more before the day was through. Do I feel lighter and more balanced? Um, yes. Is the cleanse working? Yes, but trust me, peeing is the most important thing I care about at this point.
Day 8 - I made it to the second week! I've lost about 3+ pounds or so since I've started the cleanse. I started at 195 lbs, and I'm down to about 192 lbs. I'm making progress. This week, the fun really begins because when I looked at each day's menu for the week, I had to chuckle. I'm not kidding when I say that there's about as much food on there for the whole day that I would eat for dinner and still be hungry because there's no meat. Am I hungry, though? Yes, of course, but it's reasonable, especially if I stick to the schedule of eating every couple of hours or so like I'm supposed to. It's not an easy cleanse...but hey, it's a cleanse. Honestly, I'm doing pretty good with it, and mentally, emotionally, I feel like there's some clearing going on. I notice that my attention is not nearly as distracted as it generally is. My emotions are much more even and balanced, and I feel a whole lot lighter and fresher, if that makes sense.
Day 9 - I can't believe I didn't learn from the other day...BRING A BOTTLE FROM THE RECYCLING BIN!! You guessed it, the pee monster was on the warpath, and yet again, I was stuck in traffic!! Take the bus people!! Ran to the bathroom, past my colleague, shouted some words about being right back, but I'm sure it was not clear and sounded more like a train going by with the doppler effect on the sound. No? Doppler effect? Anyway, I think today was a break through day. I'm pretty used to eating quinoa, salads, and various fibrous veggies. I actually look forward to the meals, and I'm not thinking about that birthday cake, which is still in my house. Ok, for real? That thing is dead. Bury the sucker, already!
Day 10 - Halfway through the cleanse, baby! Amazing to have gotten this far, but here I am. I'm eating probably about 1/4 of what I would eat on a normal day, and I'm basically good with that. Granted, I'm not exactly doing Insanity workouts or busting out the pull-ups with P90X, but it's all very good at this point. If I follow the schedule I'm supposed to for food and water, I am not hungry. I'm liking the food. I'm well past the sugar withdrawal. I can't complain at this point.
Day 11 - I felt good yesterday, and today I feel great! For lunch, I realized that I didn't have the right combo of ingredients, so I ate some leftover soup and quinoa with pine nuts, and I have to tell you that I was actually stuffed. It was weird, to be honest. So, my stomach has shrank, I take it. Amazing! Really amazing! I feel great! Before the cleanse, I felt pretty awful. I was tired. I was totally sluggish and slow. I was addicted to sugary and fatty foods even though I was doing Shakeology every day, which I know was keeping me in somewhat of a balance. I was stressed out from work, and life in general. Today is the real first day of the cleanse that I can begin to see how much good it's doing for me. I feel really good, and I know it's going to get better. I'm starting to really understand the power of healthy, whole foods and the overall impact that it has on one's health and wellness. If you haven't seen this video, it explains why cleansing one's body and eating properly is so very important. Here's a person who recovered from Multiple Sclerosis simply by eating healthily:
More to come on the rest of the days...stay tuned!
Want to get this BeachBody's Ultimate Reset cleanse? You certainly can at: http://beachbodycoach.com/drkurtlove or contact me at drkurtlove@gmail.com
Is a 21-day cleanse right for you? If you're not pregnant or breastfeeding, chances are that this is the best thing that you can do for yourself to regain energy, feel balanced, and clean your body of toxins -- the healthy way!
This is not a cleanse where you eat only one kind of food or go hungry. Yet, it's a cleanse, so it's not exactly a walk in the park either.
After doing this cleanse, I can say that I definitely feel so much better. Here's the quick breakdown of the days:
Day 1 - No sweat! Just eating some healthy food, taking some natural supplements (similar to those found in Shakeology...but amped up a bit and reformulated for the purpose of a cleanse)and...oh, and drinking a lot of water! I peed like...well, I peed a lot, my friends.
Day 2 - Not bad, but I was noticing a slight headache coming on later in the day. Something tells me I was beginning to do a sugar withdrawal. Still drinking a lot of water (yes, distilled as per the instructions) and peeing like a madman...but hey, it is a cleanse! I noticed, by the way, that there's still some of my wife's birthday cake sitting on the counter. Yummy, yummy cake, but I was good -- not a lick! Traded the leftover cake for kale...I'm so proud of myself.
Day 3 - Ah, the sugar withdrawal has set in. The headache, somewhere in the neighborhood of a 4 or 5 on the Richter scale, is fairly constant, so I know that this cleanse is doing it's job. It's all good, though. My body needs to do this. The food is good, the water is plentiful (I'm drinking about 96 ounces or so every day -- basically my weight divided by 2 which determines the number of ounces), and I'll be honest, at night I had the world's worst craving for that birthday cake. Seriously, it was a ridiculously strong craving -- an 8 or 9 out of 10 kind of craving. Have mercy! I managed to drink some water and get my butt to bed before my hands reached out and made the move to cut a piece or three. Oh, I totally crashed for a nap in the late afternoon. Haven't done that in a while, and man oh man did I need it!
Day 4 - Woke up, still with a slight headache -- probably a 2 or 3 -- and made my way to the kitchen to get some water and start the day. The birthday cake was there, and maybe it was because it was morning, but I felt only a small craving for it. I managed to eat some eggs, toast, and spinach to keep my mind off of it. The rest of the day was totally uneventful if, of course, you pay no attention to the fact that there was an 80th birthday party for a family member that included pizza from my favorite pizza place. Ugh! Yes, I was good and ate none of it. The family was supportive even though I could see a little bit of "poor guy" vibes here and there. That was a tough day. Oh yes, still drinking and peeing. Anyone notice a difference in the levels of the ocean over the last four days? Don't blame me...blame the cleanse!
Day 5 - I ate everything I was supposed to today, but at the end of the day, I was really hungry for some reason. I allowed myself to eat an egg salad sandwich at the end of the day. Sue me, ok! ;-) As I knew that this was almost the last day of the cleanse where animal foods were going to be present, I didn't feel so bad eating it. All things considered, I am doing really well, and I can see that my body is adjusting.
Day 6 - Oh, that birthday cake! Why is it still in my life stalking me? I want a restraining order on this thing! Somebody please chuck this thing!! My cravings aren't bad, but yep, there still there. I'd love to say that I'm not peeing as much...really, I'd love to say that. Wait a second, I have to go pee...I'm back. Where were we? Oh yes, let me just warn you about this peeing thing. It creeps up on you. One minute you're vacuuming the house, all is good, and the next minute the pee monster residing in your bladder decides that only emergencies are allowable, and you moan all the way to the bathroom. Trust me, if you're going to go drive anywhere, pee before you leave, and bring an empty bottle from the recycling bucket just in case. Food was good. I ate it.
Day 7 - Food is tasty, love all the salads, yippee ;-) Wouldn't mind a cupcake every once in a while, but hey, it's a cleanse, right? Remember that advice to pee before you go driving somewhere? Totally, totally listen to that advice. I was running late for work (my modus operandi) and while I was sitting in the car...in traffic...my bladder monster arose from it's slumber. In a matter of a mere 15 minutes, I went from a twinge of "Oh, I must tinkle" to "Holy crap, there must be a 4-alarm fire somewhere that I can put out right now!" Ran (gently...gently) down the hall to the restroom at work. My boss probably thinks I'm doing drugs in the bathroom because I went there at least 7 times more before the day was through. Do I feel lighter and more balanced? Um, yes. Is the cleanse working? Yes, but trust me, peeing is the most important thing I care about at this point.
Day 8 - I made it to the second week! I've lost about 3+ pounds or so since I've started the cleanse. I started at 195 lbs, and I'm down to about 192 lbs. I'm making progress. This week, the fun really begins because when I looked at each day's menu for the week, I had to chuckle. I'm not kidding when I say that there's about as much food on there for the whole day that I would eat for dinner and still be hungry because there's no meat. Am I hungry, though? Yes, of course, but it's reasonable, especially if I stick to the schedule of eating every couple of hours or so like I'm supposed to. It's not an easy cleanse...but hey, it's a cleanse. Honestly, I'm doing pretty good with it, and mentally, emotionally, I feel like there's some clearing going on. I notice that my attention is not nearly as distracted as it generally is. My emotions are much more even and balanced, and I feel a whole lot lighter and fresher, if that makes sense.
Day 9 - I can't believe I didn't learn from the other day...BRING A BOTTLE FROM THE RECYCLING BIN!! You guessed it, the pee monster was on the warpath, and yet again, I was stuck in traffic!! Take the bus people!! Ran to the bathroom, past my colleague, shouted some words about being right back, but I'm sure it was not clear and sounded more like a train going by with the doppler effect on the sound. No? Doppler effect? Anyway, I think today was a break through day. I'm pretty used to eating quinoa, salads, and various fibrous veggies. I actually look forward to the meals, and I'm not thinking about that birthday cake, which is still in my house. Ok, for real? That thing is dead. Bury the sucker, already!
Day 10 - Halfway through the cleanse, baby! Amazing to have gotten this far, but here I am. I'm eating probably about 1/4 of what I would eat on a normal day, and I'm basically good with that. Granted, I'm not exactly doing Insanity workouts or busting out the pull-ups with P90X, but it's all very good at this point. If I follow the schedule I'm supposed to for food and water, I am not hungry. I'm liking the food. I'm well past the sugar withdrawal. I can't complain at this point.
Day 11 - I felt good yesterday, and today I feel great! For lunch, I realized that I didn't have the right combo of ingredients, so I ate some leftover soup and quinoa with pine nuts, and I have to tell you that I was actually stuffed. It was weird, to be honest. So, my stomach has shrank, I take it. Amazing! Really amazing! I feel great! Before the cleanse, I felt pretty awful. I was tired. I was totally sluggish and slow. I was addicted to sugary and fatty foods even though I was doing Shakeology every day, which I know was keeping me in somewhat of a balance. I was stressed out from work, and life in general. Today is the real first day of the cleanse that I can begin to see how much good it's doing for me. I feel really good, and I know it's going to get better. I'm starting to really understand the power of healthy, whole foods and the overall impact that it has on one's health and wellness. If you haven't seen this video, it explains why cleansing one's body and eating properly is so very important. Here's a person who recovered from Multiple Sclerosis simply by eating healthily:
More to come on the rest of the days...stay tuned!
Want to get this BeachBody's Ultimate Reset cleanse? You certainly can at: http://beachbodycoach.com/drkurtlove or contact me at drkurtlove@gmail.com
Labels:
beachbody coach,
being happy,
exercise,
fitness,
goji berry,
health,
home business,
Insanity,
inspiration,
losing weight,
nutrients,
nutrition,
P90X,
profit,
Shakeology,
Turbo Fire,
wellness,
workout
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Is P90X or RevAbs for Everyone?
If a 400+lb person can do it, so can you.
The simple answer is yes, P90X and RevAbs is for everyone who is able to exercise.
Let's Be Honest...This is More Than Just Not Liking Exercise
I hear all too often people saying things like, "I am too out of shape to do P90X," "It's for young people only," or "I can't do pull-ups." It's one thing when somebody says statements like these because they are just looking for excuses to not exercise. That person should be honest with him or her self and just say, "I don't want to work out because I like sitting on my big butt way better than getting healthy and in shape," or something to that effect ;-) In a way, I get that. Not everyone is ready to commit to taking care of themselves, and in a society that's inundated with cheap, superficially entertaining and addictive foods that have a firm grip on us. So, even though people who are choosing that path CAN do a challenging, structured workout program, in their own heads the answer is still "no," which is very, very sad to see when it happens.
If you find that you're constantly giving yourself reason after reason to not do a higher quality workout program, then ask yourself if those reasons are just because you don't want to lose certain parts of your lifestyle (i.e. comfort foods, emotional eating, daily routines that you may not readily see alternatives for, etc.).
This is Bigger Than Just Deciding To Be or Not To Be Healthy
Problem #1: Knowledge
A lot of fitness people will just say to make the commitment to being healthy, and that's going to be the most important first step. On some level, I can agree with that because ultimately we do have to make that decision, but there's more to it than that. People can say to themselves that enough is enough and that they want to be healthy, but getting there is often a very difficult process with lots of questions of how to do it. If you don't know how to cook well, don't have a decent bank of recipes where you can afford the food, or don't know how to create a structured work out program that will appropriately challenge you, it's going to get frustrating. It's no wonder that so many people start up at the gym at the beginning of the year (for their New Year's resolution) and by March are pretty much giving up. So, problem #1 is having the knowledge.
Problem #2: The Large Hyper-Consumer and Addictive Food Culture
For us, in the United States of Obesity (2/3rds of all states have 25% obesity rates or higher), excuses are a big part of our plus sized developments. To actually address a problem like this is not as easy as eating cheesy poofs and watching Desperate House Wives or Fear Factor. The dumber and fatter we are, the more profits the big corporations such as Pfizer, Altria (formerly Phillip-Morris), Unilever, Kraft, General Mills, Nestle, and Wal-Mart make. From the perspective of the food and pharmaceutical companies, the fatter we are, the more big box stores, pharmaceutical companies, and large food companies profit. Conversely, the more we are in shape, use locally grown foods as part of our diets, and avoid foods that come in cans or boxes, the healthier we are, and the more we are empowered to shape the issue of nutritional food accessibility issues (aka food security issues). Foods are often made with the intention of creating addictive behaviors, which equals bigger profits. The right combination of sugars, fats, and salts is well known by food companies and they exploit the crap out of it. This is very predatory on their part, and the first step is us having that level of awareness.
Clearly, I'm speaking from a deeper place of frustration, but our dramatic recent increase in rates of obesity (in 1991, there were no states with obesity rates at or above 20%) in the US is deeply alarming and is most definitely a social justice and civil rights issue at this point. The only ones who have access to healthy foods are those who can afford them, which is tied to issues of transportation, education, and socioeconomics.
Problem #3: Mindset
So many people are basically backing up this system of injustice when they say that they aren't willing to do a strong, well-structured fitness program. Have you ever said any of these: I'm too old, too much overweight, too busy, or too injured. There are answers that can address every singly one of these issues, but these become mental blocks for people that they hunker down on. Don't be stubborn. You owe it to yourself to say, "Even though I am _________, I can still do an appropriately challenging and well-structured workout program to get me into amazing shape and be healthy."
Problem #4: Money
The one excuse that can be a real barrier for some people is not having enough money, especially if we're talking about purchasing a program like P90X. If you're struggling paying for food and keeping your home, clearly this may not be the right time to spend money on a fitness program. Once again, accessibility becomes an issue for the same reasons as food insecurity issues. It cannot be overstated how much health/wellness and socioeconomics are tied to one another. There are some simple ways around that which are mainly resolved by people working out together in spaces that do not require memberships, dues, or buying equipment or, yes, DVD workout programs like P90X. Access to exercise, in my view, is relatively easier and seems to have less challenges.
However, there is a group of people who are spending their money on superfluous things and could easily afford a fitness program that can have a huge impact on their personal health, happiness, stress level, and relationships with food. This is the group that needs to take a second look at how money is influencing their long-term happiness. You know who you are! Going out to over-priced dinners, crappy movies, and buying things you know you don't need at the mall (not to mention the fact that those things were mostly likely made with child labor and sweatshop labor in a country most people probably can't find on a map). You know you can put your money into something much better for you and something that will give you much more balance in your life. Take a moment and ask yourself what you really want in your life, and I'm sure your answer will include deeper levels of health, balance, and happiness. Eating better, exercising, and having real meaningful relationships in life are pretty much the basic ways of doing that. Everything else either enhances them or distracts us from them.
One more thing about money...and this you'll never find from any gym on the planet. You can make totally legit money by working out with a program like P90X and sharing it with friends and family who are interested. You can get fit and healthy, help others to get fit and healthy like me, and money doing it. So far, I've made about $400 since September doing this. It's not a gimmick, or a racket at all. So, I've actually earned money working out with P90X. No gym is going to do that for me, even if I refer people to the gym. I know it might sound different, and I know you may have never considered doing it, but why not? Here's more information...click here.
Simple Answers
"Soul-ution" #1: Modify Your Exercises
It can seem really quite intimidating at first to anyone who is not terribly knowledgeable about exercise and good nutritional practices...BUT, anyone can do a challenging fitness program like P90X and RevAbs and take back their health if they are willing to commit to the process and modify exercises. Whether you think you're too old, too overweight, or too weak, modifying exercises it the answer you're looking for. If a 400+lb person could figure it out (click here for an amazing story of how someone lost 233lbs using P90X), then you can do it. The biggest trick is sometimes figuring out how to modify an exercise. Fortunately, this is why P90X and RevAbs are so good. They instructors give modifications for every move. And yet, there are more modifications that can still be done if you have a basic understanding about exercise. I am going to be posting several blogs on this topic very shortly. Keep an eye out for them.
"Soul-ution" #2: Make a Schedule
This is key. I am an assistant professor (untenured), so I have such little time in the day to do anything besides work. After about a year and a half of not working out at all, I did final say to myself that enough was enough. I'm not on this planet to work myself to death and be in constant imbalance with my mind-body-spirit connection, which is exactly where I was up until July 2011. I reset my priorities to put my health and happiness first (which also meant spending more time with my beautiful wife and daughter). As part of that resetting of priorities, I made getting in shape and reclaiming my health an important part of it. As a father and husband, I want to be happy, healthy, and full of energy for my family. I found that I was getting more and more cranky, and more and more unhappy. That was totally unacceptable, and I started by simply finding time in the day to work out by making a schedule. That was the start of everything for me. I spent less time working, getting more done because I was using my time more wisely, and I was generally feeling much less stressed about work. By taking the simple step of looking at how I was using time in my days and making a commitment to having an hour everyday to do a workout (still less time than I was spending with going to the gym when travel time was factored in), it made it possible for me to do a high quality workout. My mind is less stressed and so much happier, my body is already so much healthier, and I feel much more connected to my spirit and soul. I've even found time to meditate more often...something that is central to my spirituality. This is probably too much information, but sex is better, too!
"Soul-ution" #3: Mo' Money is Mo' Money!
In late August, I decided that I would become a BeachBody Coach, and it has been such a great decision. I'm a professor, so it's not like I needed a second job, to be honest, but it's provided another outlet to connect with and support people, and even another income source. If you don't think you can afford this, give it a second thought. I buy Shakeology monthly at $90 for us Coaches (rather than the regular $120), and I pay $12 monthly for an online membership at TeamBeachBody.com, which is a great resource for person-to-person support, meal plans, and charting my progress. That's the "cost" of being a BeachBody Coach. The startup fee is $40. So, I've made back all that money so far, every month is growing a little more and more, and I'm even more focused on having good health and wellness because it's part of how I earn some extra income. I've lost 26 pounds so far, I eat healthier, I'm far less stressed, much happier with life, and I'm earning an extra income. After signing up two other coaches, I have BeachBody sending me customers now. I'm loving this!
So, these are 3 easy "soul-utions" that have made a hugely positive effect on my life.
The simple answer is yes, P90X and RevAbs is for everyone who is able to exercise.
Let's Be Honest...This is More Than Just Not Liking Exercise
I hear all too often people saying things like, "I am too out of shape to do P90X," "It's for young people only," or "I can't do pull-ups." It's one thing when somebody says statements like these because they are just looking for excuses to not exercise. That person should be honest with him or her self and just say, "I don't want to work out because I like sitting on my big butt way better than getting healthy and in shape," or something to that effect ;-) In a way, I get that. Not everyone is ready to commit to taking care of themselves, and in a society that's inundated with cheap, superficially entertaining and addictive foods that have a firm grip on us. So, even though people who are choosing that path CAN do a challenging, structured workout program, in their own heads the answer is still "no," which is very, very sad to see when it happens.
If you find that you're constantly giving yourself reason after reason to not do a higher quality workout program, then ask yourself if those reasons are just because you don't want to lose certain parts of your lifestyle (i.e. comfort foods, emotional eating, daily routines that you may not readily see alternatives for, etc.).
This is Bigger Than Just Deciding To Be or Not To Be Healthy
Problem #1: Knowledge
A lot of fitness people will just say to make the commitment to being healthy, and that's going to be the most important first step. On some level, I can agree with that because ultimately we do have to make that decision, but there's more to it than that. People can say to themselves that enough is enough and that they want to be healthy, but getting there is often a very difficult process with lots of questions of how to do it. If you don't know how to cook well, don't have a decent bank of recipes where you can afford the food, or don't know how to create a structured work out program that will appropriately challenge you, it's going to get frustrating. It's no wonder that so many people start up at the gym at the beginning of the year (for their New Year's resolution) and by March are pretty much giving up. So, problem #1 is having the knowledge.
Problem #2: The Large Hyper-Consumer and Addictive Food Culture
For us, in the United States of Obesity (2/3rds of all states have 25% obesity rates or higher), excuses are a big part of our plus sized developments. To actually address a problem like this is not as easy as eating cheesy poofs and watching Desperate House Wives or Fear Factor. The dumber and fatter we are, the more profits the big corporations such as Pfizer, Altria (formerly Phillip-Morris), Unilever, Kraft, General Mills, Nestle, and Wal-Mart make. From the perspective of the food and pharmaceutical companies, the fatter we are, the more big box stores, pharmaceutical companies, and large food companies profit. Conversely, the more we are in shape, use locally grown foods as part of our diets, and avoid foods that come in cans or boxes, the healthier we are, and the more we are empowered to shape the issue of nutritional food accessibility issues (aka food security issues). Foods are often made with the intention of creating addictive behaviors, which equals bigger profits. The right combination of sugars, fats, and salts is well known by food companies and they exploit the crap out of it. This is very predatory on their part, and the first step is us having that level of awareness.
Clearly, I'm speaking from a deeper place of frustration, but our dramatic recent increase in rates of obesity (in 1991, there were no states with obesity rates at or above 20%) in the US is deeply alarming and is most definitely a social justice and civil rights issue at this point. The only ones who have access to healthy foods are those who can afford them, which is tied to issues of transportation, education, and socioeconomics.
Problem #3: Mindset
So many people are basically backing up this system of injustice when they say that they aren't willing to do a strong, well-structured fitness program. Have you ever said any of these: I'm too old, too much overweight, too busy, or too injured. There are answers that can address every singly one of these issues, but these become mental blocks for people that they hunker down on. Don't be stubborn. You owe it to yourself to say, "Even though I am _________, I can still do an appropriately challenging and well-structured workout program to get me into amazing shape and be healthy."
Problem #4: Money
The one excuse that can be a real barrier for some people is not having enough money, especially if we're talking about purchasing a program like P90X. If you're struggling paying for food and keeping your home, clearly this may not be the right time to spend money on a fitness program. Once again, accessibility becomes an issue for the same reasons as food insecurity issues. It cannot be overstated how much health/wellness and socioeconomics are tied to one another. There are some simple ways around that which are mainly resolved by people working out together in spaces that do not require memberships, dues, or buying equipment or, yes, DVD workout programs like P90X. Access to exercise, in my view, is relatively easier and seems to have less challenges.
However, there is a group of people who are spending their money on superfluous things and could easily afford a fitness program that can have a huge impact on their personal health, happiness, stress level, and relationships with food. This is the group that needs to take a second look at how money is influencing their long-term happiness. You know who you are! Going out to over-priced dinners, crappy movies, and buying things you know you don't need at the mall (not to mention the fact that those things were mostly likely made with child labor and sweatshop labor in a country most people probably can't find on a map). You know you can put your money into something much better for you and something that will give you much more balance in your life. Take a moment and ask yourself what you really want in your life, and I'm sure your answer will include deeper levels of health, balance, and happiness. Eating better, exercising, and having real meaningful relationships in life are pretty much the basic ways of doing that. Everything else either enhances them or distracts us from them.
One more thing about money...and this you'll never find from any gym on the planet. You can make totally legit money by working out with a program like P90X and sharing it with friends and family who are interested. You can get fit and healthy, help others to get fit and healthy like me, and money doing it. So far, I've made about $400 since September doing this. It's not a gimmick, or a racket at all. So, I've actually earned money working out with P90X. No gym is going to do that for me, even if I refer people to the gym. I know it might sound different, and I know you may have never considered doing it, but why not? Here's more information...click here.
Simple Answers
"Soul-ution" #1: Modify Your Exercises
It can seem really quite intimidating at first to anyone who is not terribly knowledgeable about exercise and good nutritional practices...BUT, anyone can do a challenging fitness program like P90X and RevAbs and take back their health if they are willing to commit to the process and modify exercises. Whether you think you're too old, too overweight, or too weak, modifying exercises it the answer you're looking for. If a 400+lb person could figure it out (click here for an amazing story of how someone lost 233lbs using P90X), then you can do it. The biggest trick is sometimes figuring out how to modify an exercise. Fortunately, this is why P90X and RevAbs are so good. They instructors give modifications for every move. And yet, there are more modifications that can still be done if you have a basic understanding about exercise. I am going to be posting several blogs on this topic very shortly. Keep an eye out for them.
"Soul-ution" #2: Make a Schedule
This is key. I am an assistant professor (untenured), so I have such little time in the day to do anything besides work. After about a year and a half of not working out at all, I did final say to myself that enough was enough. I'm not on this planet to work myself to death and be in constant imbalance with my mind-body-spirit connection, which is exactly where I was up until July 2011. I reset my priorities to put my health and happiness first (which also meant spending more time with my beautiful wife and daughter). As part of that resetting of priorities, I made getting in shape and reclaiming my health an important part of it. As a father and husband, I want to be happy, healthy, and full of energy for my family. I found that I was getting more and more cranky, and more and more unhappy. That was totally unacceptable, and I started by simply finding time in the day to work out by making a schedule. That was the start of everything for me. I spent less time working, getting more done because I was using my time more wisely, and I was generally feeling much less stressed about work. By taking the simple step of looking at how I was using time in my days and making a commitment to having an hour everyday to do a workout (still less time than I was spending with going to the gym when travel time was factored in), it made it possible for me to do a high quality workout. My mind is less stressed and so much happier, my body is already so much healthier, and I feel much more connected to my spirit and soul. I've even found time to meditate more often...something that is central to my spirituality. This is probably too much information, but sex is better, too!
"Soul-ution" #3: Mo' Money is Mo' Money!
In late August, I decided that I would become a BeachBody Coach, and it has been such a great decision. I'm a professor, so it's not like I needed a second job, to be honest, but it's provided another outlet to connect with and support people, and even another income source. If you don't think you can afford this, give it a second thought. I buy Shakeology monthly at $90 for us Coaches (rather than the regular $120), and I pay $12 monthly for an online membership at TeamBeachBody.com, which is a great resource for person-to-person support, meal plans, and charting my progress. That's the "cost" of being a BeachBody Coach. The startup fee is $40. So, I've made back all that money so far, every month is growing a little more and more, and I'm even more focused on having good health and wellness because it's part of how I earn some extra income. I've lost 26 pounds so far, I eat healthier, I'm far less stressed, much happier with life, and I'm earning an extra income. After signing up two other coaches, I have BeachBody sending me customers now. I'm loving this!
So, these are 3 easy "soul-utions" that have made a hugely positive effect on my life.
Labels:
beachbody coach,
being happy,
earning income,
losing weight,
P90X,
RevAbs,
Shakeology
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Get Fit. Get Paid.
Many, many BeachBody Coaches are out there sharing their stories about why they became a BeachBody Coach, and the stories and reasons are very, very similar...and that's actually a good thing. I, like so many, decided that this was a great way to not only build a business, but get out into the community in a different way. My day job is as an assistant professor in a teacher education program at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain, CT. I already do quite a bit of work in the community supporting teachers, students, and families. However, I find that this is a very intense setting with tensions all over the place. Education is a very stressful place to be these days, and sadly, I feel like the reward of being a teacher is being lost so quickly. For me, becoming a BeachBody Coach was a great step! I am able to connect with people so quickly in our community through health fairs, road races, festivals, etc. when I set up my booth and talk to people. I love it. I also love writing these blogs on the off chance that someone might read them!
Here's my story...
Basically, my grandparents died in their late 60's because of very unhealthy practices. My wonderful mother, who I love dearly also, has struggled with being overweight, and she knows, as well as I do, how important it is for the both of us to take care of our bodies because of our family history. So, over the summer of 2011, I did INSANITY and lost 17 lbs, which for me, was phenomenal. I started drinking Shakeology, too, which was a tremendously positive effect on my nutritional habits and mindset. It literally stopped my cravings for junk food, sweets, and salt. It was amazing. My wife, Katie, who is also a BeachBody Coach, had a 30+ point drop in her cholesterol, which was a first for her! It's really amazing the kind of changes that happened to me and Katie, so for us, there was no question of whether or not we should do this business (by the way, she's also a professor...so if you're thinking that time is an issue, you don't get much busier than us two...did I mention we have a 1 year old, too?). Even if all that ever happened was to get our 25% discounts on Shakeology every month, I was happy. However, we're not stopping there...
Chalene Johnson Says It All
Below is a great video from Chalene Johnson, one of the fitness instructors with BeachBody. She has put together TurboJam, ChaLEAN Extreme, and TurboFire for BeachBody. Her enthusiasm for this company is contagious and truly insirational!
It's a business, but it's more than a business. If anyone thinks that this is a get-rich-quick process, they will be sadly disappointed. I work every day (happily, by the way) on building my BeachBody business, and if anything, it's a fairly slow building process that has long-term pay offs. You have to have the long view with BeachBody. The supports early on are very good, but it's definitely work for sure. What you sow is what you reap with this business.
That said, it's a passion of labor for me. I've seen a huge change in my own views and practices of health and wellness because now it's a business. I connect meaningful with strangers on a fairly regular basis, and it keeps me off the streets ;-) Okay, that's a lie...I'm actually on the streets talking to people more often! That's a good thing, though.
There's real meaning to this work because it is about helping people become healthier and healthier. There's a real reward to it. Contact me at drkurtlove@gmail.com any time if you'd like to do this truly inspirational work!
If you'd like to become a BeachBody Coach, go to: http://www.beachbodycoach.com/drkurtlove and click on "Coach."
Here's my story...
Basically, my grandparents died in their late 60's because of very unhealthy practices. My wonderful mother, who I love dearly also, has struggled with being overweight, and she knows, as well as I do, how important it is for the both of us to take care of our bodies because of our family history. So, over the summer of 2011, I did INSANITY and lost 17 lbs, which for me, was phenomenal. I started drinking Shakeology, too, which was a tremendously positive effect on my nutritional habits and mindset. It literally stopped my cravings for junk food, sweets, and salt. It was amazing. My wife, Katie, who is also a BeachBody Coach, had a 30+ point drop in her cholesterol, which was a first for her! It's really amazing the kind of changes that happened to me and Katie, so for us, there was no question of whether or not we should do this business (by the way, she's also a professor...so if you're thinking that time is an issue, you don't get much busier than us two...did I mention we have a 1 year old, too?). Even if all that ever happened was to get our 25% discounts on Shakeology every month, I was happy. However, we're not stopping there...
Chalene Johnson Says It All
Below is a great video from Chalene Johnson, one of the fitness instructors with BeachBody. She has put together TurboJam, ChaLEAN Extreme, and TurboFire for BeachBody. Her enthusiasm for this company is contagious and truly insirational!
It's a business, but it's more than a business. If anyone thinks that this is a get-rich-quick process, they will be sadly disappointed. I work every day (happily, by the way) on building my BeachBody business, and if anything, it's a fairly slow building process that has long-term pay offs. You have to have the long view with BeachBody. The supports early on are very good, but it's definitely work for sure. What you sow is what you reap with this business.
That said, it's a passion of labor for me. I've seen a huge change in my own views and practices of health and wellness because now it's a business. I connect meaningful with strangers on a fairly regular basis, and it keeps me off the streets ;-) Okay, that's a lie...I'm actually on the streets talking to people more often! That's a good thing, though.
There's real meaning to this work because it is about helping people become healthier and healthier. There's a real reward to it. Contact me at drkurtlove@gmail.com any time if you'd like to do this truly inspirational work!
If you'd like to become a BeachBody Coach, go to: http://www.beachbodycoach.com/drkurtlove and click on "Coach."
Labels:
beachbody coach,
fitness,
home business,
inspiration,
nutrition
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Finished INSANITY!!
This is my video of when I finished the workout program INSANITY. I've seen great results, lost 17 lbs, and I feel so much better. Still working on getting to my goals, but I am so excited about how far I've gone already. You can do this, too. You can be healthier and feel better about yourself, even if you're already in good shape. I'll be happy to help. You can reach me at http://beachbodycoach.com/DrKurtLove
Here is a video showing the amazing program that I used. IT'S INSANE!!
After watching this, you might think that you can't do this or any intense program. I do understand that. I did not start this program as the basic calendar that comes with it suggests. I took about 3 weeks to warm up to it. Can you do this? If you don't have serious injuries, you should be able to get into this program. Definitely check with your healthcare professional if you have questions, but don't get scared away. You do not have to be in good shape to do this. INSANITY will get you there. It's just like in yoga that you go to your own personal max and grow from there.
So, what did I use?
I used INSANITY, SHAKEOLOGY, and RESULTS and RECOVERY FORMULA, all of which you can find at: http://www.beachbodycoach.com/drkurtlove
Why Shakeology?
Shakeology is simply the healthiest thing you can put into your body. There are 70 ingredients that are deliberately chosen because they are the Earth's superfoods like sacha inchi, goji berries, cinnamon, chia, astralugis, and so much more. The point here is to start with a solid foundation of nutrients in your body, control cravings, decrease cholesterol, and keep increasing overall health. This is no joke the single healthiest meal of the day if you use it as a meal replacement. It has changed me, and Everyone should be thinking about and getting this level of nutrition into their body on a regular basis. Shakeology is the easiest way to do it, and easily the cheapest at $4/day.
Why Results and Recovery Formula?
First, what is the Results and Recovery Formula? When you work out, and especially when you max your muscles out like I did in Insanity, muscles exhaust and use up their supplies of muscle-based sugars called glycogens. Whereas most people think that adding sugar to one's diet as being bad and leading to the increase of fat, during and after exercise are the only times when those sugars are needed. When replenishment of sugars takes place quickly for exhausted muscles, they recover much quicker with much less damage...plain and simple. If you're thinking that no sugar intake is the only way to think about sugar, then think again. It's more about how and really when you go about taking in sugar.
What's Next?
There are many options for someone like me who just finished a program like Insanity. You might like to take it a step further and try INSANITY: THE ASYLUM, or you could do a hybrid program with P90X, which is what I am doing now (since making the video for YouTube, I decided to do the hybrid). You can sculpt your body with RevABS. There's nothing wrong with just doing another 60 days with INSANITY one more time, or two more times. Once you've figured out what you want your body to do, just go for it.
One other option, think about getting in P90X2. This is one of the most advanced, if not the single most advanced at-home DVD fitness program. http://beachbodycoach.com/drkurtlove
Lastly, if you love BeachBody products like I do...they are easily the highest quality workout programs on DVD coupled with the best nutritional supplements...why not think about being part of the business? Want to make some money while getting fit? Become a BeachBody Coach! http://tinyurl.com/3em5ln3
Here is a video showing the amazing program that I used. IT'S INSANE!!
After watching this, you might think that you can't do this or any intense program. I do understand that. I did not start this program as the basic calendar that comes with it suggests. I took about 3 weeks to warm up to it. Can you do this? If you don't have serious injuries, you should be able to get into this program. Definitely check with your healthcare professional if you have questions, but don't get scared away. You do not have to be in good shape to do this. INSANITY will get you there. It's just like in yoga that you go to your own personal max and grow from there.
So, what did I use?
I used INSANITY, SHAKEOLOGY, and RESULTS and RECOVERY FORMULA, all of which you can find at: http://www.beachbodycoach.com/drkurtlove
Why Shakeology?
Shakeology is simply the healthiest thing you can put into your body. There are 70 ingredients that are deliberately chosen because they are the Earth's superfoods like sacha inchi, goji berries, cinnamon, chia, astralugis, and so much more. The point here is to start with a solid foundation of nutrients in your body, control cravings, decrease cholesterol, and keep increasing overall health. This is no joke the single healthiest meal of the day if you use it as a meal replacement. It has changed me, and Everyone should be thinking about and getting this level of nutrition into their body on a regular basis. Shakeology is the easiest way to do it, and easily the cheapest at $4/day.
Why Results and Recovery Formula?
First, what is the Results and Recovery Formula? When you work out, and especially when you max your muscles out like I did in Insanity, muscles exhaust and use up their supplies of muscle-based sugars called glycogens. Whereas most people think that adding sugar to one's diet as being bad and leading to the increase of fat, during and after exercise are the only times when those sugars are needed. When replenishment of sugars takes place quickly for exhausted muscles, they recover much quicker with much less damage...plain and simple. If you're thinking that no sugar intake is the only way to think about sugar, then think again. It's more about how and really when you go about taking in sugar.
What's Next?
There are many options for someone like me who just finished a program like Insanity. You might like to take it a step further and try INSANITY: THE ASYLUM, or you could do a hybrid program with P90X, which is what I am doing now (since making the video for YouTube, I decided to do the hybrid). You can sculpt your body with RevABS. There's nothing wrong with just doing another 60 days with INSANITY one more time, or two more times. Once you've figured out what you want your body to do, just go for it.
One other option, think about getting in P90X2. This is one of the most advanced, if not the single most advanced at-home DVD fitness program. http://beachbodycoach.com/drkurtlove
Lastly, if you love BeachBody products like I do...they are easily the highest quality workout programs on DVD coupled with the best nutritional supplements...why not think about being part of the business? Want to make some money while getting fit? Become a BeachBody Coach! http://tinyurl.com/3em5ln3
Labels:
beachbody coach,
exercise,
Insanity,
P90X,
profit,
Shakeology,
workout
Why Become a BeachBody Coach?
There are many reasons why you might start a business, even if it's not something that you may have given much thought to. Before becoming a BeachBody Coach, I had never thought about doing anything like this. I am a teacher who went back to school and became a professor, and I currently teach at a university, publish my work, and support schools and teachers in my community through my work.
Why would I even consider starting a business as a BeachBody Coach? In the summer of 2011, I got to a place health-wise that began to scare me. I was defined as obese. I weighed 220 lbs at 5'10" and I was 34 years old. At the beginning of the summer, I decided that I needed to make it a top priority to be healthy again. I decided that going to the gym and going through the treadmill/elliptical machine experience was going to kill me if I tried that method one more time. To me, it's boring, and I've done that for years having very little, if any changes occur in my body.
In June, I started using the INSANITY DVD fitness program from BeachBody. To be honest, it was amazingly difficult at first. I couldn't finish the workouts, and it took about 2 weeks of working out before I finally started to feel like something positive was happening in me. However, by late July and early August, the pounds were just melting away, and by September, I had lost 18 pounds!! This was the first time in 12 years that I lost weight.
You're probably thinking, "That's great, but why turn this into a business?" For me, it was a no-brainer once I considered it as an option. Being a BeachBody Coach means having both health and wealth! That is not an exaggerated statement. I'm committed to being healthy, and now I am earning money because of it. Additionally, BeachBody Coaches get discounts on all BeachBody products. I figured that if nothing else, I could use discounts on any new fitness program like P90X2, INSANITY ASYLUM, Turbo Fire, or the nutritional supplements I use like Results and Recovery Formula and Shakeology. For example, I just purchased P90X2, which normally sells for $119.95. As a coach, I saved $30 on it. In addition to discounts, BeachBody offers 10 different ways of making money through them. What job does that?
I love talking about my transformation with others, and the high quality of the products speak for themselves. As I tell my new coaches, it's not like we're selling vacuums. P90X is an amazing program that many have used to transform their bodies, and ultimately the quality of their lives. And, that's just one of many amazing products that actually work. Why wouldn't I want to be part of the BeachBody business?
Should You Become a BeachBody Coach?
Being a BeachBody Coach is not for everyone. If you're looking for a get-rich-quick-scheme, this isn't it. This is a well run business (BeachBody was given an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau...see video at the bottom of this post) that requires real effort, time, and monetary investment (albeit very small in comparison to other businesses). However, you're the boss of it. You only answer to yourself. You can be very successful at being a BeachBody Coach, and many have done so. It takes time to build your business, but once the foundation is there, it does pay well.
BeachBody Coach Success Stories
It's important to sign up under the right person when you decide to become a BeachBody Coach. I am part of the Ultimate Fitness Team, which is the most successful team of BeachBody Coaches on the planet. If you decide to become a BeachBody Coach, we will provide you with a path for success by providing online support with a 5-step playbook that helps you set up your business, weekly conference calls with successful coaches, and weekly training sessions to help you to keep building a successful business. If you sign up with me, I will also provide one-to-one support as often as is needed to help you be successful, and you will have the amazing support of Ultimate Fitness Team available 24 hours a day/7 days a week.
Please contact me at: kurtlove01@gmail.com any time. You can also become a BeachBody Coach by going to http://www.beachbodycoach.com/drkurtlove and clicking on "Coach."
This is something that you can do! You can have both good health and increase your wealth! Looking forward to hearing from you!
BeachBody Receives A+ Rating From Better Business Bureau
Why would I even consider starting a business as a BeachBody Coach? In the summer of 2011, I got to a place health-wise that began to scare me. I was defined as obese. I weighed 220 lbs at 5'10" and I was 34 years old. At the beginning of the summer, I decided that I needed to make it a top priority to be healthy again. I decided that going to the gym and going through the treadmill/elliptical machine experience was going to kill me if I tried that method one more time. To me, it's boring, and I've done that for years having very little, if any changes occur in my body.
In June, I started using the INSANITY DVD fitness program from BeachBody. To be honest, it was amazingly difficult at first. I couldn't finish the workouts, and it took about 2 weeks of working out before I finally started to feel like something positive was happening in me. However, by late July and early August, the pounds were just melting away, and by September, I had lost 18 pounds!! This was the first time in 12 years that I lost weight.
You're probably thinking, "That's great, but why turn this into a business?" For me, it was a no-brainer once I considered it as an option. Being a BeachBody Coach means having both health and wealth! That is not an exaggerated statement. I'm committed to being healthy, and now I am earning money because of it. Additionally, BeachBody Coaches get discounts on all BeachBody products. I figured that if nothing else, I could use discounts on any new fitness program like P90X2, INSANITY ASYLUM, Turbo Fire, or the nutritional supplements I use like Results and Recovery Formula and Shakeology. For example, I just purchased P90X2, which normally sells for $119.95. As a coach, I saved $30 on it. In addition to discounts, BeachBody offers 10 different ways of making money through them. What job does that?
I love talking about my transformation with others, and the high quality of the products speak for themselves. As I tell my new coaches, it's not like we're selling vacuums. P90X is an amazing program that many have used to transform their bodies, and ultimately the quality of their lives. And, that's just one of many amazing products that actually work. Why wouldn't I want to be part of the BeachBody business?
Should You Become a BeachBody Coach?
Being a BeachBody Coach is not for everyone. If you're looking for a get-rich-quick-scheme, this isn't it. This is a well run business (BeachBody was given an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau...see video at the bottom of this post) that requires real effort, time, and monetary investment (albeit very small in comparison to other businesses). However, you're the boss of it. You only answer to yourself. You can be very successful at being a BeachBody Coach, and many have done so. It takes time to build your business, but once the foundation is there, it does pay well.
BeachBody Coach Success Stories
It's important to sign up under the right person when you decide to become a BeachBody Coach. I am part of the Ultimate Fitness Team, which is the most successful team of BeachBody Coaches on the planet. If you decide to become a BeachBody Coach, we will provide you with a path for success by providing online support with a 5-step playbook that helps you set up your business, weekly conference calls with successful coaches, and weekly training sessions to help you to keep building a successful business. If you sign up with me, I will also provide one-to-one support as often as is needed to help you be successful, and you will have the amazing support of Ultimate Fitness Team available 24 hours a day/7 days a week.
Please contact me at: kurtlove01@gmail.com any time. You can also become a BeachBody Coach by going to http://www.beachbodycoach.com/drkurtlove and clicking on "Coach."
This is something that you can do! You can have both good health and increase your wealth! Looking forward to hearing from you!
BeachBody Receives A+ Rating From Better Business Bureau
Labels:
beachbody coach,
business,
exercise,
fitness,
Insanity,
money,
P90X,
profit,
Shakeology,
Turbo Fire,
workout
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)