Please Be Weird

How does it feel to work with a $750+ million corporation with a CEO that encourages you to "be weird and love yourself for it"?

Awesome, that's how it feels. Check out Beachbody CEO Carl Daikeler's latest blog post where he encourages everyone to "be weird". CLICK HERE.

If you'd like to know more about what we do, why we do it, and how you can be weird with us and help make the world a better place, give me a shout or check out this link: http://opportunity.gettingfittogether.com/BrucetheCoach

Just Eat This: 5 Rules for a Healthy Diet

"Can't you just tell me exactly what I'm supposed to eat?" is a question I'm often asked. Today, we'll look at the answer that, incidentally, is "no." It's a good thing that there isn't one perfect diet because we don't all like the same foods. The world would be a pretty boring place if we did. It also means that you have many choices when it comes to eating healthy, so why is it so hard?

Eating well, for most of us, requires eliminating junk from our diets. Therefore, it's easier to tell you what not to eat. But based on the questions I receive, that's leaving you too much leeway. Since I can't tell each of you exactly what you individually should eat, let's have a look at what I eat, why I eat this way, and how you can alter my diet to suit your personality and lifestyle.

There are a few rules to achieving a healthy diet. These will give you a far greater understanding of why I do what I do. So let's look at them first.

RULE1: WE SHOULD NOT ALL EAT THE SAME DIET.
Humans are all different, even if it's only slightly. So when it comes to diet we cannot expect that foods will all work exactly the same for us. This is in contrast to what the myriad of diet books you can choose from will tell you. Most of those want us to think that there's only one way—theirs, incidentally—to transform and keep your body healthy. Of course, if this were true there'd only be one book to buy. So, just the fact that there have been hundreds of best-selling diet books is the best argument that there are many different healthy ways to eat.

There are many other scientific reasons for this as well. Some are proven, like allergies. Some are more speculative, like eating for your blood type, but all have some anecdotal evidence that they work, which is all the validation we need.

Dairy products are the best example to illuminate this point. There is plenty of science showing both pros and cons to consuming them. But regardless of what science tells us, some people do well eating dairy and others do not. When a food allergy is suspected, eliminating dairy is the first step most nutritionists recommend trying. It often yields great results, but not always. This makes dairy a food group that some of us can eat and others cannot.

Similar examples can be found within any food group. What it comes down to is that, no matter how you want to eat, you're going to need to evaluate your diet and see how it's working for you. This requires some trial and error. While that probably sounds daunting, read on and you'll see that it's not. By cleaning up your diet and eating for what you are doing, it becomes fairly easy to identify foods that agree with you and those that don't.

RULE 2: EAT FOR WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE DOING.
You've probably heard this before, especially if you're a longtime Beachbody member. Similar to not putting gas in your car when it isn't going anywhere, your body doesn't have the same nutrient requirements when you're sitting as when you're moving. Since it's simple to understand that you burn more calories attempting an Ironman than watching Oprah, it shouldn't be a stretch to understand that you have different nutrient requirements on different days.

Furthermore, most of us have different periods in our life where we not only do things differently on a daily basis, but have different goals. Some common goals, where diet and lifestyle are concerned, are:

• to lose weight
• to gain fitness (regardless of weight)
• to maintain weight
• to train for an upcoming event

For each of those objectives you will want to eat differently. We will discuss all of them.

RULE 3: THERE ARE THINGS YOU SHOULDN'T EAT.
Or, at a minimum, that should never be in your kitchen. These are items that, somehow, have made it onto our daily menus that we could easily live without and, at least, should be treated as desserts, anomalies, rewards, or emergency rations. For a more complete list, visit your local 7-Eleven. Let's look at the major offenders.

• Soda. How soda has made it into our daily lives is a testament to marketing. It's a dessert, at best, and when consumed daily makes it nearly impossible to have a balanced diet.
  
• High fructose corn syrup. It's not just for dessert anymore. HFCS is now found in bread, salad dressing, and probably 80% of the stuff at most convenience stores. It's not just that it's bad for you; it's also an indication that a food item is made using the lowest-quality ingredients possible. A 15-second label check can protect you.
  
• Trans fats. These man-made fats help foods sit on shelves longer but serve no nutritional purpose for you. They do, however, have a terrible downside. Fortunately, they're on the dangerous food radar and now much easier to detect.
  
  
• Alcohol. Again, it's not so bad in moderation but as a daily accoutrement to your diet you're adding a lot of calories and very little food value. While I'll be the first to extol its merits as a reward, it has no true place in your daily diet. This will also help to understand which alcoholic beverages are better than others.
  
• Splenda, aspartame, and Sweet n' Low. Calories aren't the only thing to worry about. These sweeteners have been proven safe enough to not kill you but have no place as a regular part of your diet. They also can lead to an enhanced sweet tooth, something that won't make your fitness goals easier to achieve.
  

RULE 4: YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT.
Or even close to it. In fact, there are times when you should relax and let yourself eat whatever you want. I can even come up with a scenario where junk food is what you want to be eating. But we'll get to that later.

Your body is very resilient. Your mind, however, can be the opposite. A constant client excuse is to quit a program due to some type of misstep that they've stigmatized as "I've blown it." That's not how it works. As long as the big picture is better than what it was before, you'll be making progress. One bad meal, day, week, even month doesn't matter. All that matters is that you're moving in the right direction. As long as you're doing better than you were before, you'll feel and look better than you did before. And the fitter you become, the more your body programs itself to toss out those bad days.

Translation: the more fit you are the more you can cheat. It's one of the best examples of being rewarded for your work in the natural world.

RULE 5: IF IT'S PROCESSED, DON'T EAT IT (well, sort of).
Your diet should consist of as much whole food as you can fit into it. This means vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, and meats that have been processed as little as possible. If your diet consists mainly of these foods then you're on the right track. Whole foods are also more regulating than processed foods. Eating them causes your body to respond in a natural way. It's pretty much exactly the opposite of what happens with soda and candy.

But you don't have to avoid all processed foods. As we learn to read ingredients and understand what types of nutrients our body needs we'll see that not all processed foods are evil. Look for processed foods with whole food ingredients. An easy guide to processing is the fiber content on the label. The more processed something is, the less fiber it usually contains. And fiber is your friend.

by Steve Edwards, Beachbody

5 Life Lessons from Bruce Lee

"If you always put a limit on everything you do, physical or anything else, it will spread into your work and into your life. There are no limits. There are only plateaus, and you must not stay there, you must go beyond them." —Bruce Lee
While some might hesitate to consider Bruce Lee's films works of art, there are few who will deny the beauty and grace of his physicality. Standing at 5'7" and weighing 135 pounds at his peak, the renowned martial arts master was a temple of muscle. As Chuck Norris put it, "He had muscles on muscles."

Of course, to reach this point took devotion, perhaps even obsession, which few of us are willing to put forth. That said, there's still plenty to be learned from the man whose short life—he died at 32 of cerebral edema in 1973—has influenced thousands of bodybuilders, action heroes, and martial artists.

In the book Bruce Lee: The Art of Expressing the Human Body, author John Little parsed through a vast amount of material on or about Lee to come up with a concise interpretation of the master's fitness regimen. At its core, Lee's plan consisted of anaerobic work—weight training and isometrics—balanced with aerobic work. Given Turbo Jam® had yet to be invented, his preferred form of cardio was running. He combined all this with a clean diet. No surprises there. However, when you look into the details, you'll find some interesting things.

On circuit training
Lee's devotion to what would eventually be known as circuit training started when he read a series of articles in Ironman magazine by bodybuilder Bob Gajda about The Peripheral Heart Action (PHA) System. Like Tony Horton does in his Power 90® routines, the system moves from body group to body group instead of focusing a long time on one particular group. The benefit of this is that blood flow continually flows from muscle group to muscle group, thus increasing muscular endurance and delaying fatigue. It also works the cardiovascular system. Lee loved the multiple benefits of this technique.

On Lee's abdominals
The man had amazing abs, but he had to work hard to get them. His five basic stomach exercises were sit-ups, leg raises, twists, frog kicks, and side bends. He also understood that while you could do crunches until you were blue in the face, it wouldn't matter unless you ate completely clean, avoiding sugar, starches, and excess fats. Yes, there are people to whom a six-pack comes naturally but, according to his journals, Bruce Lee, owner of one of the most amazing six-packs in history, was not one of these people. So next time you're pushing through Slim & 6-Pack, thinking about that grandé mocha latte you skipped this morning, just remember that Bruce Lee made the same sort of sacrifices.

On stretching
While he believed in stretching every day for at least 15 minutes, his regimen was basically to limber up at every available opportunity. He'd do it watching television, reading, even in the sound studio while dubbing his films. While few of us are in the movie business, that doesn't mean we can't work a few thigh stretches into our coffee breaks, or work those shoulders and neck while watching American Idol.

While he was a man of extremes, Lee understood the importance of moderation in the stretch. Never bounce-stretch or stretch too hard because overaggressive stretching can actually send a signal to the brain to tighten up the muscle to protect it from damage.

On Asian food
Of the various aspects of fitness, diet was the one Lee studied least. As his wife, Linda Lee Cadwell put it, "He couldn't boil water" and therefore left culinary responsibilities to her. He did, however, understand "junk in, junk out." Mealtimes in their household weren't much of a focus—more of a time to fuel up.

He also preferred Asian-style cooking because it offered more variety in a meal and a healthier ratio of veggies to protein. Keep in mind that this was over 30 years ago, when American cuisine meant a potato and a hunk of meat, as opposed to an Asian meal which could consist of shrimp, chicken, veggies and tofu all on the same plate. He felt this variety led to a more complete nutritional profile. While American cuisine has since diversified, the message is the same, keep that variety up. Eating the same thing every day probably means there are vital nutrients that you're skipping.

And no, Bruce Lee wasn't a saint. From time to time, he'd indulge in steak or even McDonald's, keeping in mind that super-sizing did not exist at the time.

On opportunities for everyday exercise
In much the same way he stretched whenever possible, Lee felt it important to shove exercise into his day as much as he could. Here are some of the tips he'd offer his students:

• Walk whenever possible. Park the car a few blocks from your destination and walk the rest of the way.
• No elevators. Take the stairs whenever possible.
• Practice balance by standing on one foot when putting clothes or shoes on—or just stand on one foot whenever you choose to.

Fitness doesn't come from 60 minutes a day. It's a lifestyle thing. Whatever workout you're doing now is great, but take a look at the rest of your life—when can you walk instead of driving? When can you hand-whip instead of using a blender? When can you run around with your kids instead of watching television with them? Bruce's son Brandon was no slouch himself. His dad clearly had a huge influence on him.

Bruce Lee accomplished an amazing amount in his short life. Even if you follow his path, odds are you won't accomplish as much as he did. On the same note, you probably won't win the Tour de France even if you train like Lance Armstrong and you don't stand much of a chance winning the California governorship, even if you lift weights like Arnie.

But then again, maybe a defeatist attitude like that is just the kind of "limit" Bruce Lee was talking about.

BONUS! The Bruce Lee Protein Shake
According to John Little, up to two times a day, Lee would make a drink consisting of several of the ingredients listed below. Unfortunately, he left no instructions for his magic elixir. We can tell you this much, however—he did use a blender.

• Non-instant powdered milk (which, nowadays, he'd probably replace with whey protein powder)
  Water or juice
• Ice cubesM
• 2 raw eggs, occasionally with shell*
• 1 Tbsp. wheat germ or wheat germ oil
• 1 Tbsp. peanut butter
• 1 banana
• 1 Tbsp. brewer's yeast
• Lecithin (in granular form)

* Eggs are healthiest when eaten raw, but poor-quality commercial eggs carry a risk of salmonella infection. Unfortunately, these are the majority of eggs on the market. The USDA does not recommend eating raw shell eggs that are not cooked or undercooked due to the possibility that salmonella bacteria may be present.

- Denis Faye - Team Beachbody Newsletter

Will Turkey Make You Sleepy? Check Out 10 Urban Food Myths

There have always been rumors spread about food. Remember the one about the Kentucky Fried rat or Mikey, the kid from the Life cereal commercials, who allegedly expired after washing down his Pop Rocks with a Coca-Cola? These, like so many, turned out to be apocryphal, but now in the age of the Internet, it seems like there's always some story making the rounds about a grocery item that will poison you or a food that will miraculously cure what ails you. Here are some myths we were able to dismiss.

1. Eating carrots improves night vision. This rumor apparently was started by the British during World War II, after a new British radar device began greatly assisting in the shooting down of German bombers at night. Not wanting to alert the Germans of the new technology, the government spread a disinformation campaign that the British pilots' love of carrots was the cause of their keen night vision. It spread like wildfire and it has become a staple in parents' arsenals for getting kids to eat their veggies. Carrots are generally good for your eyes, though, as studies are beginning to show a link between increased beta-carotene (carrots are loaded with it) consumption and a decrease in macular degeneration.
   
2. Turkey makes you sleepy. It's true that turkey contains tryptophan, the amino acid credited for the poultry's alleged soporific effects, but beef, chicken, meat, milk, and beans also contain tryptophan and they don't seem to make you pass out on the couch after dinner. Turkey's bad rap probably comes from the famous post-Thanksgiving food coma, which was probably not induced by trace amounts of an amino acid, but more likely by consuming vast quantities of carbohydrates like potatoes and stuffing, washed down with a couple of glasses of wine.
   
3. Caesar salad was created by or for Julius Caesar. Actually, despite what they might tell you at the Olive Garden, the Caesar salad is not Italian food. It was created by Caesar Cardini, a restaurant owner in Tijuana, Mexico less than a hundred years ago, not in ancient Rome. The recipe includes romaine lettuce, olive oil, garlic, coddled eggs, and Parmesan cheese, among other ingredients, but the original recipe does not contain anchovies—another myth debunked.
   
4. Mentos and Coca-Cola, combined, will explode your stomach. As any YouTube connoisseur can attest, dropping a Mentos candy into a two-liter bottle of Diet Coke can create an effect that will give the fountains at the Bellagio a run for their money. However, despite rumors of Brazilian youths dying of burst abdomens, this myth seems to be another of the endless variations on Mikey and the Pop Rocks. There seems to be little evidence that eating any combination of anything generally considered edible will make you explode. (Although that Chinese food I had for dinner came pretty close around midnight.)
   
5. Beware of flesh-eating bananas! There was an email forwarded by many well-intentioned people not too long ago that asserted that the FDA was covering up the fact that several thousand bananas covered in germs causing necrotizing fasciitis (the flesh-eating disease) had entered the country. This turned out not to be true. A reverse rumor, that humans were killing bananas, also has circulated. This one says that due to varying explanations, such as climate change or genetic modification, bananas will be extinct in less than a decade. This also is false. So, eat your bananas. They're full of potassium, won't make your skin fall off, and there are plenty more where they came from.
   
6. McDonald's uses kangaroo meat in their burgers. This is one that's been around since I was a kid. Common sense can answer this one. While we wouldn't put it past the Golden Arches to put anything in their food, kangaroo meat seems an unlikely beef substitute as it costs much more per pound than actual beef. Although adventurous eaters might consider adding 'roo meat to their diet, as it has more protein and about half the fat of beef.
   
7. Chocolate milk is tainted with cow's blood. This is a popular playground myth that milk too contaminated with blood to sell as plain white milk is colored brown, flavored, and sold as chocolate milk. Chocolate milk and all dairy products go through the same rigorous FDA testing process that regular moo juice does. However, the added sugar isn't doing you any favors.
   
8. Aspartame causes multiple sclerosis and lupus. Aspartame, often branded as NutraSweet, has been rumored to cause many serious diseases. While we consider the jury to be out on whether aspartame is completely safe, there have been no reputable scientific studies linking the sweetener to MS, lupus, cancer, or any other life-threatening illnesses. However, it still can't claim to be totally healthy.
   
9. Canola oil is toxic. It's been rumored that canola oil contains the same toxins found in mustard gas. Canola oil is made from oil pressed from the seeds of the rape plant, a member of the mustard family. There is actually no such plant as the canola, but it's easy to see the marketing problems that would result in calling it "rape oil." This may have been one of the reasons scurrilous rumors have circulated about this noble oil, which is perfectly safe and rich in monounsaturated fat, the best fat, also found in olive oil and avocados. As for the mustard gas claim, while it is true canola oil is made from mustard plants, mustard gas is not. It's called that because of its acrid smell, not its ingredient list.
   
10. Red Bull causes brain tumors. As a favorite beverage of Britney Spears and Paris Hilton, it's easy to make a case based on anecdotal evidence, but there actually is nothing in Red Bull that has been linked to brain tumors. It has been banned in some European countries because of its high caffeine content (a can has about as much as a cup of coffee), but aside from the typical health concerns regarding any sugary, caffeinated beverage, Red Bull appears safe. Claims that it will give you wings seem unfounded, however, and when mixed with vodka, it has been rumored to make underpants disappear.
    
    - Joe Wilkes, Team Beachbody Newsletter

4 Hearty and Healthy Dips

When aren't we going on and on about how you need to eat more vegetables? They're full of fiber, vitamins, antioxidants, and low in calories and fat. And one of the best ways to eat them? Raw. So you're trying to be a good camper, with your bowl of broccoli and cauliflower florets, baby carrots, and celery sticks, crunching your way to a leaner (and probably gassier) you. You know what would really make these veggies sing? Some dip! French onion dip. . . or guacamole . . . or hummus . . . or nacho cheese. Ha! Guess again! Nothing can make your healthy vegetable snack descend the rungs of Michi's Ladder faster than a few dunks in a bowl of fatty, salty, delicious dip. But we're not completely heartless. Here are some variations on some old favorites that are actually pretty good for you!

1. Hummus. It's a perfect dip. Made primarily of creamed chickpeas, it's like dipping your vegetable in another vegetable! But not all hummuses (or is it hummi?) are created equal. Many are loaded up with tahini (the sesame paste that gives hummus it's nutty flavor) and olive oil, which are almost pure fat. Granted, they're both healthy fats, so a little is OK, but too much will pack on the pounds. Try making your own from scratch. Just puree a can of chickpeas in a food processor or blender with lemon juice, garlic, and cayenne pepper to taste. You can add as much tahini or olive oil as you think your diet can handle, or none at all. If the hummus is too thick, you could thin it with a little vegetable broth or water instead of oil.
   
2. Guacamole. Avocados? They're in the Pious Tier of Michi's Ladder. And guacamole is just mashed avocados, right? Right, but as with olive oil and tahini, avocados are full of calories. One avocado has 227 calories, and 21 grams of fat. Instead, how about an easy-to-make avocado dip? In a food processor, combine one avocado, one cup of nonfat yogurt, and one cup of nonfat cottage cheese (all top-tier ingredients from Michi's Ladder). Blend until creamy and no lumps from the cottage cheese remain. Add cayenne pepper and ground cumin to taste. For extra flavor and texture, mix in some chopped fresh cilantro and onion before serving.
   
3. French onion dip. OK, nothing made of instant soup (essentially flavored salt) and full-fat sour cream is going to pass Michi muster. But onions are in the top tier, so that's a start. Instead of sour cream, how about tofu? It's not just that white brick that sits in the back of your fridge after a well-intentioned impulse buy. Puree 2 cups of extra-soft tofu in a food processor with a couple of tablespoons of white wine vinegar and Worcestershire sauce, and garlic cloves to taste. Meanwhile sauté some chopped onions in a little bit of olive oil until caramelized. Mix the onions into the tofu mixture and deglaze the pan with a little white wine and add that to the dip as well.
   
4. Spinach dip. Nothing's a bigger hit at a party than that hollowed-out sourdough boule full of mayonnaise-y goodness. Instead of mayo though, try pureeing some nonfat yogurt and cottage cheese. Thaw out some frozen chopped spinach and mix that in and add some chopped water chestnuts and scallions for crunch and flavor. For extra zip and color, try mixing in some curry powder. With all that going on, you'll forget the mayo's gone! And don't forget to use whole grain bread.
   
   - Joe Wilkes, Team Beachbody Newsletter

Beachbody Literally Saved Janice's Life

Beachbody home exercise programs helped Janice lose weight and get in better shape than when she was in the military! Along with Shakeology her doctors credited her exercise with saving her life from dangerous blood clotting.

In Janice's own words:

"They say that once you get married you’re supposed to live “happily ever after.” Well, after getting pregnant soon after tying the knot, gaining 60 lbs., and ballooning up to 200 big ones, I was the farthest thing from happy. But thanks to the inspiration from a late night Brazil Butt Lift infomercial, I lost 45 pounds. Then I got pregnant again and gained it all back, plus 10 more.

I was so depressed that I wanted to cover all the mirrors in the house and barricade myself inside. Nothing fit, my joints hurt, and I kept my husband away from me with a 10-foot pole. All I did was sleep, eat, and mope around. But when my son was 3 months old I decided that enough was enough. I was tired of being the lazy mom whose kids had to stay inside all the time. I wanted energy. I wanted to look and feel great. And I wanted them to look up to me and realize that exercise is good, and being healthy is the right choice in life! So I dusted off my Brazil Butt Lift DVDs, added Shakeology to my diet, and pushed harder than I ever had in my life.

But I gotta say, sticking to a daily exercise routine and eating healthy was a huge challenge. So I used my anger of being overweight to push myself, and soon I really started to like the burn and soreness from the routines because I felt like I was doing something right! Brazil Butt Lift was great because it shaped and toned my thighs. Plus, I lost a LOT on my arms and waist. The program was super easy to follow, even for someone who weighed 186 lbs.

After Brazil Butt Lift, I moved on to P90X, which gave me abs as well as some nice arm muscles. Next up was Turbo Fire, which significantly decreased my “Mommy Pouch.” These programs have changed my life and made me feel extremely proud of myself and helped me love my body again. It's been awesome to hear compliments on my transformation after being in a dark depression from being overweight. But I can’t give all the credit for my transformation to the workouts because Shakeology played a HUGE role in my success. It gave me energy, lowered my cholesterol, decreased my chronic migraines, made my hair and nails stronger, and fixed my chip and sugar cravings. Now I wake up before my kids and complete my To-Do list twice as fast as I used to.

Even though I’m so thankful that I lost 58 lbs., I’m MOST thankful for the fact that Brazil Butt Lift and Shakeology saved my life—literally. One day I ended up in the ER due to chest pain and shortness of breath. After a few tests they discovered blood clots in both lungs and said that if I wasn't in such good shape and hadn’t been getting all my vitamins and minerals from Shakeology that I could have been the “one in three people” who DIE from this! But I was in such great shape that I fought off what could have killed me. So Beachbody, you really did save my life. Thank you!

In about a year and a half, I went from a 38” waist to a 26. Lost 4” in my chest, 3” in my arms, and 8.5” in my thighs. My body fat dropped from over 35% down to 16%, and I’m in better shape now than when I was in the Military. I’ve exceeded every expectation and feel great! "

For more info about Beachbody home exercise programs and Shakeology, CLICK HERE.

Jessica lost 45 pounds in 3 months with TurboJam and Shakeology!

In Jessica's own words:

"Teenagers should NOT weigh 180 pounds. Especially girls. But I did. I wasn’t happy about it. I just accepted it as who I was, and who I’d always be. I figured that I couldn't lose weight even if I tried—so I didn’t try. Instead, I laid around, ate junk, and avoided exercise. I was hiding from the world, didn’t want to talk to people, make friends, or express my opinion. I felt like a prisoner in my own body and hated it. I absolutely hate it!

But then I got tired of not being able to fit into clothes. Nothing in my closet fit anymore and when I did go shopping, all the sizes were too small. I so badly wanted to look good in clothes so I could feel like myself and have my own style. I wanted to be skinny and have abs like the fitness trainers on TV. But I knew that the longer I waited to lose the weight, the harder it would be to get rid of it. Then one day I flipped the channel to a Turbo Jam infomercial and instantly became inspired. I heard the testimonials and thought: They did it, so why not me?

The first time I did Turbo Jam it was so much fun that it didn't feel like exercise at all! And sticking with the workouts was easy because I didn't have to go to a boring gym and could do it in the privacy of my own home. I also liked how the program incorporated dance, fitness, punching, and kicking—which made me feel powerful and strong. The music matched the workouts and Chalene’s energy gave me energy. Her tips were useful and she was so motivating that each time I worked out, I was inspired to do better than the last. With Turbo Jam, I had found my soul mate. But it wasn’t just exercise that helped me shed the pounds, it also had a lot to do with Shakeology. Because Shakeology is sweet like dessert, it curbed my cravings and helped me put down the junk. Plus, it’s so nutritious that my body finally got what it needed to function properly.

I’m so proud of myself for losing 45 pounds when I was so young. Turbo Jam completely toned my body and gave me more muscle than I ever thought was possible. And the best part—I entered High School with a new body, tons of confidence, and a wonderful wardrobe. Because of everything I learned, I now make healthy food choices and don't miss eating junk food one bit because it makes me feel gross (and I’d rather feel light and fantastic).

I started working out to lose weight and to fit in clothing, but now I do it to have energy, feel confident, and get pumped up for the day. Now, I truly believe that I can do ANYTHING and nothing can stop me. Since completing Turbo Jam in ‘08, I’ve done Turbo Fire, INSANITY, and P90X and can’t believe how much my life has changed. It makes me feel so good knowing I’ve inspired friends and family to become healthier, too. It just goes to show you that anything is possible if you're determined to get there! Thanks Beachbody—for the new me."

If you'd like to try it yourself (with a 30-day money back guarantee), Beachbody offers a TurboJam Challenge Pack with both TurboJam and Shakeology at a discounted price. For info, CLICK HERE.

Get Back to Pre-Baby Weight!

Would you like to get back to your pre-baby weight? Kattlaya did just that with TurboFire and Shakeology. Real people, real results with Beachbody.

In Kattlaya's own words:

"After I first got married, every night became date night. We had so much fun, but that’s when the weight started to pile on. By the time I got pregnant with my first baby, I was at my heaviest—167 pounds. But I wasn’t worried. Everyone said nursing would take care of the weight.

But it didn’t. And by the time I was pregnant with my second child, my husband and I were living in Okinawa and I was a mess. I shot up from a size 4 to a size 12 and I felt horrible, sick, embarrassed, ashamed. Even worse, I felt like a bad mother because I was too obese to do anything. I was living in paradise, but too fat to enjoy it.

When my child’s teacher took maternity leave, I friended her on Facebook and watched as she shared her post-baby TurboFire® transformation. I was amazed. And so inspired, I decided to give TurboFire a try.

And am I glad I did! TurboFire is SO fun and addicting, I can’t stand to miss a day. Chalene makes it so much fun. Every time I was ready to quit, Chalene would say, “YOU’RE NOT TIRED!” and I would just keep going. But the best part is the “after burn effect”—it felt like the weight was just melting off. And it was. I lost 29 pounds and 25 inches! I went from a size 12 to a size 4. I never, ever thought I would be that size again.

My life is so different. At one point, I was eating fast food once—okay, maybe two times a day. But Shakeology changed that. Shakeology curbed my cravings for sweets—especially chocolate.

Losing the weight was great. Dropping sizes was awesome. But here’s the best part of my transformation—before I started, my doctor said I had to make major changes if I didn’t want to go on cholesterol medication. That was a real wake up—at 27, I didn’t want to be on medication for the rest of my life.

Thanks to TurboFire and Shakeology, my cholesterol levels drooped so far my doctor is amazed. At my last checkup, he said to keep doing what I’m doing.

And that’s exactly what I plan to do. As a TurboFire fanatic. As a Beachbody Coach. And as a mom who’s so thankful she can now be the kind of mom she always wanted to be—active, healthy, and fit enough to play with her kids. Thanks Beachbody!"

For the best deal on a Challenge Pack including TurboFire and Shakeology, CLICK HERE.

Save Big on Combat! This month only

Les Mills Combat home workout program from Beachbody is one of the newest exercise programs and already one of the most popular. From the awesome variety of martial arts moves and routines to the great music Les Mills Combat rocks!

Check out this sale, available for this month only!

Check out this sale, available for this month only!

Act now to take advantage of our best offer ever

on the LES MILLS COMBAT Challenge Pack!

This is everything you need to achieve your best results:

7 calorie-blasting and muscle-defining mixed martial arts workouts. A 30-Day supply of Shakeology®, the Healthiest Meal of the Day®, delivered through Home Direct, our monthly autoship program. A FREE 30-day VIP Trial Membership to the Team Beachbody® Club. FREE SHIPPING

For more info, or to order, CLICK HERE.

Body Beast Success Story - Rui

Rui went from mush to ripped with Beachbody's Body Beast.

In Rui's own words:

"My days of eating whatever I wanted and it NOT impacting my body are long gone. At 29, my metabolism is very different now than what it was even a few years back. Not wanting to let my body turn into complete mush, I decided it was time to clean up my eating as well as adopt a fitness routine that would give me that extra edge. I hunted around for a while and was bummed that I couldn’t find a workout that gave me the kind of results I so badly desired. Then one day an old college buddy (who’s now a Beachbody Coach) showed me his Body Beast® transformation video and I was hooked—he looked AMAZING! The second I saw his results I said, “That's EXACTLY what I want! And I’m going to get it, no matter what. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING, is going to get in my way.”

I chose Body Beast because I really wanted to bulk up, not slim down. And unfortunately, it’s really hard for my body to gain muscle; but when it comes to packing on the fat, I gain that like nobody’s business. Early on in the program I quickly realized that my biggest hurdle was making the right meals choice to support my workouts. Nutrition, nutrition, nutrition—it really makes you or breaks you—and I wanted it to make me. So I joined Coach Charlie’s Body Beast Facebook Group where we shared recipes that are guy-friendly, as well as shared ideas on how to prepare our meals by doing things like cooking in bulk on the weekends so you have healthy options throughout the week.

The other key player in my transformation was drinking Shakeology® every single day. And since I'm always on the run in the mornings, instead of grabbing some empty calorie junk at a deli on the way to work, I drink my Shakeology and it sets me up for success throughout the rest of the day. Shakeology’s awesome. It’s fast, it’s healthy, and it fights off hunger between meals. I’m hooked.

But the best part of Body Beast is its overall mentality of BEAST UP! That attitude really gets me going. Plus, Sagi’s a great trainer. He's motivational and he has the perfect beast mentality. Overall, I feel so much better now that I beasted up with this program and changed my diet. I have so much more stamina, and feel healthier and sexier. You name it, I feel it. To sum it up, I feel like The Terminator: Stronger, faster, smarter! Before Beast, I hadn’t seen my abs since I was in high school. I thought it was a lost cause. When I started seeing them again I was super proud of myself. I still can't believe it. Are they still there? (Checking now) OK. They’re still there—WOW!

When I look in the mirror and see the way my clothes now fit, I know I lost a ton of fat; I just replaced the flab with a ton of rock-solid muscle. I even beefed up my biceps by 2 inches and my body fat went from 13% to the single digit of 9%.

But I couldn’t have done it without my amazing Coach, Charlie. He’s been there for me every step of the way. From motivating me to do my workouts on days I felt lazy, to driving home the point that the nutrition is the MOST important part of the formula. Charlie has definitely played a huge role in my success—thanks buddy. And thanks Sagi and Beachbody. Because of you guys, I am now—The Beast."

For more info on Body Beast, CLICK HERE.

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How to Choose a Challenge Group

So you've already heard about Beachbody Challenge Groups, either from a Team Beachbody Coach, another Beachbody customer, or perhaps you orginally heard about them on Facebook, YouTube.com, or other social media. Perhaps you saw the cool little video that sums them up:

Ever Feel Like This?



The idea of Challenge Groups is appealing to you and it makes sense. Combining nutrition, exercise, support, and incentives is a killer combination to reach health and fitness goals.

There's a still a question in many minds, however, (and perhaps yours), and that is, "Which Challenge Group should I join?"

The quick answer, and the longer one, too, is it's all about the fitness program. Now, the success of any group is based on the strength of the members - the more people participate in a group's private Facebook page, the more powerful the support component of the group will be, and that's key, but otherwise, all things being equal with nutrition, support, and incentives, the choice comes down to which exercise program do you want to do now?

Your Team Beachbody Coach is the best person to help you make the decision about which fitness program to select, assuming of course that there is a Challenge Group available for the program you eventually pick. If you want to a program and there's none going on when you want to get started, consider asking your Coach if s/he will host the group if you recruit a half dozen or so of your friends to join with you. Chances are pretty good your Coach will be delighted to host a group you build - it's not essential that the host does the program along with the group, or even has ever done it, since Beachbody provides Coaches with a wide array of support materials for running Challenge Groups with more than 20 of the most popular programs.

So what factors do you consider in making your exercise program choice? There are three primary factors:

1. Overall fitness level
2. Past experience, skill levels, and ability
3. Personal Preference

Fitness Level: If you're currently in great shape or in pretty poor shape, your choices are easier. If your already very fit you'll likely want to do a Challenge Group based on one of the more extreme programs like P90X, Insanity, TurboFire, Les Mills Combat, Less Mills Pump, or maybe even Body Beast. If you haven't worked out in a long time and especially if you have lots of weight to lose, Slimin6 or Power 90 would be better choices.

If you're somewhere between being in very poor shape or awesome condition, let your Coach be your guide. She or he can ask some questions to help you choose.

Past experience, skill levels, and ability - If you were a college jock or used to run until just a few years ago, those both can give your Coach clues to which programs would fit. While you should always check with your doctor or other medical professional about any new fitness program, some of our workout programs were designed specifically for people with limited abilities due to various conditions - for example Tai Cheng is an awesome program that stresses balance, flexibility and strength building that, while it's great for golfers and surfers and anyone for whom body alignment and control is important, it's also often a great choice for people in rehab from surgery or implants (knees or hips, for example).

Personal Preference - What do you like to do? It's important that you enjoy your workout program. If you like going full-tilt cardio, that gives your Coach some suggestion, like possibly Insanity, Turbofire, or Les Mills Combat. If you like to dance, give Brazil Butt Lift or Hip Hop Abs some consideration.

What's Next? - There is one other consideration when choosing a Challenge Group fitness program, and that's when you're about to finish one Challenge Group and then want to try something different the next time around. Some people will go from P90X to Insanity then back to P90X, then Body Beast, and then back to P90X again. People who like Power 90 and want to stick with Tony Horton can choose to 'graduate' to Ten Minute Trainer or P90X and then after that jump up to P90X2.

So there are several factors in choosing the best exercise program for you next Challenge Group. The important thing is to decide, commit, and then succeed! That's the path to health and fitness with Beachbody Challenge Groups!

Success!! We Finished the Beachbody Ultimate Reset

What a great feeling of accomplishment! Yesterday was the last day of the 21 day Beachbody Ultimate Reset program for Marge and I and today we took our 'after' photos and measurements.

I did reach several of my goals, though the greatest gains for me were the new foods, recipes, and ways to cook (and eat!) that we learned and practiced during the Reset.

I lost 4 pounds and 1% body fat. My original goal was to get down to 135, but that clearly would have been too extreme (losing 8 pounds in 3 weeks). I'm very happy to be at a consistent 139 (over the last few days) and also I did get to my 12% body fat goal.

It seemed like my weight was shifting during the Reset and the measurements bore that out. After the Reset I measured 1/2 inch less around neck, 1 inch off my waist, and a surprising 2 inches off my hips. Everything else is about the same.

I hoped to increase my sleeping duration, but there was no change there, my average for the 21 days prior to the Reset was 7 hours a night and during the Reset it was 6.95 hours, so no significant difference.

We were wondering if the Reset would be challenging. Everyone else we know who's done before it reported that they weren't hungry and if they finished they were happy they got through and felt energetic and happy. Most people also said they found the middle week, which is the detox week, challenging, with a variety of physical and emotional symptoms. I'm happy to report that not only were we satisfied by and happy with the meals and our results, but also we had no discomfort or emotional drama during the detox week - so that's a win.

We did find that, like other people before us, we spent more time preparing meals and shopping for fresh ingredients than we were used to. We also realize you can never have enough refrigerator containers, so that goes on the list.

So we feel good, we're both very happy to be able to get back (gradually) to our exercise programs. We have agreed that we have irrevocably changed our eating habits and going forward we're going to incorporate several of the recipes, new foods, cooking methods, spices, and even our eating behaviors because of what we learned during the Reset. And that's something we have in common with everyone we know who has done the Reset - everyone raves about the food and most even don't want to stop eating following the Reset menus and programs.

So yay! We're done. But yay!, we're not stopping or forgetting what we learned. Thank you, Beachbody.

My Next Challenge - the Beachbody Ultimate Reset

Stay tuned as I'm embarking on a new challenge starting today, the 21 Day Beachbody Ultimate Reset.

The photo on this post was my original Challenge in 2011 when I started having Shakeology for Lunch for 100 days and then added P90X for another 90 Days. In that time period I started at 181.5 pounds and 25% body fat and ended up at 146 pounds and 13% body fat - oh, and along the way my doctor took me off cholesterol medicine I'd been on for 11 years. My weight hasn't fluctuated too much in the last 14 months (this morning I was 143 pounds and 13% body fat), but I still have some goals.

I'm going to re-weigh myself and take some new pics in the morning but here are my goals for the 21-day program: I'd like to get back to my high school weight of 135 pounds (very healthy for my 5'8" height and I'd also like to get my body fat down to 11 or 12%). I also have some trouble spots I'd like to reduce, namely some stubborn belly fat and back fat (what people usually call 'love handles').

Since my system will be detoxing along the way in the 21 day process while I also learn to eat a whole lot of new foods (it's not a starvation diet by any means, lol), I'm also hoping to maybe sleep better. I'm the original I-don't-need-much-sleep guy, have been since college and in all those years I had averaged 4-6 hours per night. Now I'm realizing if I want to get stronger and healthier, and this last year I've been working at getting my sleep time up to 6-8 hours but it isn't always easy - I'm hoping by the end of the Reset I'll be sleeping like a baby for a full 7-8 hours every night.

I don't intend to keep a running commentary here about my experiences and progress (we have a Challenge group of 6 for that plus we're part of a group of 2,400+ around the country doing the Beachbody Ultimate Reset at the same time in a Challenge called Lean and Clean by Halloween). I will report back at the end, however, with before and after photos and data on weight and body fat changes, body composition alterations, and how the sleep thing goes.