P90X Day 90

Good afternoon Friends!

YAHOO!  Today is Day 90 of our P90X challenge that began the day after our coach summit in California.  This day is amazing on so many levels.  I believe in my heart of hearts that this is the first time that I've actually made it all the way to Day 90!  You know how there are many Day 1's and maybe even Day 30's, but how many times have you actually sought a program all the way through to the end?  Well, my friends, this would be the first time I've achieved Day 90!  AND, it couldn't have happened without all of you encouraging and motivating me to keep pushing play every day!

So, Day 90.  No, this isn't the end.  You just cannot stop!  So, Monday is the beginning of another 90 Day journey with Turbo Fire!  I am super excited!  I believe Chalene will be challenging me many mornings at 5am, especially for those HIIT's!  Yikes!  My body is definitely going to go into shock!  Alas, isn't that what this is all about anyway?  I mean, if we just kept doing the same thing over and over again we wouldn't ever get anywhere, right?  So, off to another program it is.  Please, come join us!

I started this 90 Day P90X challenge with one real goal in mind and that was to finish the program all the way through. (Not like that was an option...) But, I just wanted to use the program to get me more healthy, more flexible, increase muscle mass, just genuinely become better in my health and fitness journey.  I never went into the program with the mindset that I had "X" amount of weight to lose.  In fact, the scale stayed the same!  My body has began the sculpting process and I'm definitely fitting into smaller jeans than what I was 90 days ago.  I'm now in a size 8-10 whereas before I was in a 10-12.  Now, that may not seem like that big of a difference, but overall health has improved in strides!  Pictures will follow soon, I promise!  They don't lie!
Anyways, I wanted so share a bit of my joy today with you!  Not because I wanted to brag or even want the attention of finishing the program.  I wanted to share this epic milestone with you because you can do anything you set your mind to.  Think about it: if you want something bad enough you go get it, right?  Well, it's not that different in terms of your health and fitness.  If you want to feel better, look better, not be out of breath when you climb 4 flights of stairs, or even wrestle with your kids, make the decision to start paying attention to your health and fitness.  Make tiny choices every day and tell people what you are doing.  They will hold you accountable.  I will hold you accountable.  If you want it, go after it.

That's all for now.  Be sure you eat smart and get plenty of rest!  Your body will thank you!  "If you take care of your body, it will take care of you! Cuz time keeps tickin'...." -Tony Horton

Upcoming Labor Day Weekend

Dear Friends,

The year 2011 is, without any question, coming rapidly to an end.  Tomorrow is September 1, 2011.  Before long, we will be celebrating Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's 2012.  But, Labor Day has historically been the key indicator that summer has ended, school is now in session, and children wish they could start summer vacation all over again to avoid the havoc of doing homework and writing papers.

Growing up, I remember school starting Tuesday after Labor Day.  Let me tell you, that is definitely NOT the case here in TX!  Peter has been in school since August 17th!

Anyways, I really wanted to emphasize this upcoming holiday weekend as a time to really spend with your family and friends.  Let's face it, we work really hard so a national holiday is certainly the opportunity to sit back and relax for a bit!  I know I am!  BUT, it's no excuse to go hog-wild with your diet.  Remember all those weeks of busting your butt?  All the sweat you poured out in your garage or in your livingroom or in your spare bedroom?  Please don't blow it this weekend.  Be safe and enjoy yourself within reason. Exercise and remember to take care of yourself.

Tomorrow is Day 74 of this P90X program.  Man, only 16 more days of Tony Horton before we are going to tackle Chalene Johnson's Turbo Fire.  I'm so excited!  These past 73 days have been hard and have really pushed me to get outside my comfort zone, to really go after it.  I really don't have a magic number on the scale that I'd like to achieve.  And, I really don't have a specific pair of jeans or size of clothing I'd like to fit into.  Silly, huh?  Not so much in my head.  I just want to be the healthiest person I can be.  It wasn't a mere 2.5 years ago that I was a completely broken person who was struggling with self-image, confidence, and basically every aspect of my life.  That's because my mind was not healthy.  Let me tell you, if your mind isn't focused on the right perspective, your entire body will decline at a rapid pace.  You may not notice it, but those around you certainly do because they are watching you. Casting Crowns have a song entitled, "Slow Fade"...check it out.

So, have a safe and fun-filled weekend.  Take this national holiday as a time to regroup and refocus on those goals you set for 2011.  120 days.  That's what you have left to make them come true.  Go after it with all you have and you just might be pleasantly surprised when Dec. 31st rolls around and you have accomplished everything on your list. 

Let's go!

P90X Challenge Day 60

Good evening, Friends!

Well, today is Day 60 of this awesome P90X Challenge.  I went the entire day just marveling in the fact that we are 2/3 of the way done with the program.  No, this doesn't mean we are done, done.  It just means that we persevered, we survived, we fought to keep pushing play when the world around us kept throwing obstacles in the way to distract us from accomplishing a goal.  Believe me, there were plenty of times when I would rather have not pushed play to work my machine than lace up the shoes and beat myself up.  But, the rewards are astounding!

I read today, "People are opportunities, not distractions."  What does that mean to you?  Really, think about that for a minute.  Do you go throughout the day with tunnel vision, with your eyes set only on the next task where you miss opportunity after opportunity to engage those around you?  Are people just strangers who are out to get you for what you're worth so you just hang your head low and not say a word as you pass by?  I used to be that person and I fight to open my eyes and pay attention to those around me every day.  You never know what is going on in the life of that person sitting next to you on the bus, or standing in line at the grocery store, or sitting next to you in the church pew.  Just say, "Hello!" and smile.  See what they say.  Be nice.  You might be surprised when you make a new friend.

I've noticed a few things about myself throughout the past 60 days during this challenge.  Chances are when you don't like a particular exercise, it is because your muscles aren't developed enough to perform the exercise as it should be done with proper form and you are uncomfortable.  It is hard!  It pushes you to your mental limits.  All forms of pushups, back flys, crouching cohen curls, flip-grip twist tricep kickbacks, banana's, 50% of Ab RipperX, pike presses, floor flys, single-leg wall sits, and crane are just a few examples of the exercises which push me to the limit every time they come across the TV screen.  I'd rather poke my eye out with a dull spoon than do those...yes, it's that bad.  BUT, I have learned to endure and to modify.  To my surprise, I've gotten better at them each time and actually have increased weight and/or reps with each one.  Stick with the program, never give up, and the results will come.  You just have to make it up in your mind that you are going to do it, then go do it.

For the past 2 weeks I've been waking up at 5am to workout in the morning.  What a switch that was!  I used to be the afternoon/evening workout kind of girl.  Now that Peter is playing football and 2nd grade has began, there's zero time to workout at night.  So, morning it is.  Once you make exercising and taking care of yourself a priority, there really is zero time to make excuses about when you are going to workout.  It's that simple.  I know that it's impossible to workout in the evening now, so I must wake up early and knock it out.  You know what?  My workouts are just as intense as they were in the evening.  It was just a mental hang-up that that time of the day was my prime.  Not so much the case anymore.  The perfect time of the day to workout is the time you schedule.  There isn't a magic time.  It's when you schedule it into day and then you get it done.

Even though today is Day 60 for me, it doesn't mean that it cannot be Day 1 for you.  Please join me on this health & fitness journey.  Take charge of your life.  You can have a healthy fulfilling life.  The only obstacle  preventing you from having all your dreams come true is YOU.  Take the first step.  We are here for you.  Now, let's to make a difference.

Go After It

Good Evening Boys & Girls:

I found this image while paging through a magazine during lunch and was inspired.  No, you don't have to be a runner to see the depth of the message.  Actually, this goes out to all the winners out there, who know that it isn't about luck, fitness, or sometimes even destiny.  It's about passion, purpose, and listening to that voice inside your head to do what is right. It's not how you start, it's how you finish.

Today is Day 39 of the P90X Challenge that was set forth into action on June 19th in Los Angeles, CA at the Beachbody Coach Summit.  Coach Tim and I decided to complete a full round of P90X in preparation for P90X MC2 that will be released later this fall.  Actually, we have approximately 37 people who are participating in this challenge via Facebook.  It's really neat to know that you are not alone in this fitness journey.  Actually, this is what separates Beachbody in the marketplace.  We have a proven system of accountability with Coaches to keep you motivated.  You are not alone. Decide, Commit, and you will Succeed.

So, as mentioned previously, today is Day 39.  It doesn't matter where you are in your fitness journey.  Perhaps you've been distracted lately and know in your head that you need to start again but just don't know where.  Or, maybe you've been working out faithfully every day to your program and haven't missed a beat.  Even further, maybe you've had your battles of ups and downs with food and making healthy choices.  It doesn't matter what the circumstance is.  You can always do better, you can push harder, you can take it to the next level.  Run like you've never run before.  Step it up.  Set goals and work towards them.

I haven't really been a fan of Yoga in the past.  This morning I knew my coach was going to be doing P90X YogaX at 5:30am.  There was no room in my head for excuses.  I rose to the occasion and pushed play at that time as well.  I know that my prime time to work out is in the afternoon/evenings, but something has clicked during the past couple days.  It's just nice to have it out of the way early in the morning.  It provides a guilt-free evening with Peter and even more time to reach out and help others on their journey.  Slowly, I am adapting to a new schedule.

Run like you've never run before.  There's something that I really like about that.  It pushes me and it makes me evaluate where I am in this health and fitness journey.  I do not have a magic number in mind for the scale.  To date it still reads 170lbs.  I'm 5'8" and 170lbs.  That's 15lbs lighter than what I was when I enlisted in the Navy 12 years ago.  Since then I've had my series of ups and downs with my weight.  I've overcame a lot of demons in my head, specifically eating disorders.  I've come to peace with my body and food isn't an obstacle anymore.  I'm fighting every day to make healthy decisions, to push play and to workout, to be a great example for Peter on how important it is to make physical activity an integral part of your life.  It's tough, but that's not an excuse to NOT fight.

Run like you've never run before.  Funny thing, I never thought of myself as a runner.  As I look back on this journey that started January 2009, I've completed around 10 5K's.  That's a lot of T-shirts!  I've committed to a 10K on September 10th, and won an entry to a 1/2 Marathon in March 2012.  If I'm not a runner, I must be one crazy woman running away from something chasing me!  Alas, I run as a form of freedom.  Out there on the trail it is just me and nature.  I do not listen to any music, but I sing my prayers to God.  I find myself singing in worship more and more as the miles accumulate.  It's the strangest thing I've ever noticed before.  I don't like to carry anything in my hands, and I really don't like to have a water bottle strapped to my waist.  The longest run I've completed recently was 10 miles in PA 3 weeks ago.  Nobody can just get up and run 10 miles without dying if they haven't practiced.  So, I guess I must be a runner.  I am a runner.  Wow.  That's pretty awesome!

So, my heart is calling each and every one of you to take a look at  your goals.  Re-evaluate and chase after them with the desire to finish strong.  I know you can do it.  Just put the plan into action and stick with it.  Before you know it, you'll accomplish something that you never thought you could do before!  THAT is what it's all about! 

Hugs.
-Angela

Now What?

Good afternoon Friends~!

The title of this post is called 'Now What?' because what do we do when the excitement is over, when the party is complete, when the vacation has ended? Ultimately, the answer is, "Get back to work!"

I spent this past week (June 15-19, 2011) in Los Angeles, CA attending the annual Team Beachbody Coach Summit. There were 2,500 of us "coaches" who traveled from all over the United States to engage in the company, to network with other coaches, to learn & grow personally and professionally, to recognize & celebrate achievements of the top performers, to recapture the feeling of why we are coaches in the first place. There are so many reasons why people go to Summit. These are just a few of mine.

Beachbody's mission is to help people achieve their goals while living a healthy and fulfilling life. When it comes down to business, it's always about people. People helping people get what they want. Fortunately for us all, every active coach has a specific drive and passion for helping people. It doesn't stop with getting fit & healthy.

In 2010 Beachbody donated a total over $500K to a variety of charities. Raincatcher is a non-profit organization that’s committed to providing clean drinking water for those who go without. We were fortunate to donate over $280K to this charity by our hard work and dedication to people. It feels great to give back! Go to: www.raincatcher.org for additional information.

So, how do we help people? We listen with our ears to those around us. We actively engage and react to things such as, "I'm so tired." "I'm so tired of being sick and tired." "Where do you get all your energy from?" "Does that stuff really work?" All we do is share our stories and tools. And, YES, they do work!

Now that the Summit is all over, we have marching orders. Our orders are to help end the trend of obesity one person at a time. This can be done in a variety of ways: starting fit clubs, inviting people to workout with you, educating people on how to eat healthy, teaching the importance of rest and truly listening to your body, committing to a healthier lifestyle. But it doesn't end there.

This past Sunday I casually mentioned to my coach that I was going to start another round of P90X so that I can be ready for the new P90XMC2 that's coming out later this fall. Little did I know that he was going to join me. Furthermore, I had no idea that there was a higher level of accountability attached to this commitment. I am posting videos to the Facebook page, I am keeping track of calories consumed and burned, I am stepping outside the realm of comfort into a whole new level of accountability. But, isn't this what it's all about? To get something you've never had you must do something you've never done. Well folks, I never completed a full round of P90X before. Even though I've lost 40lbs with the program, I never finished. This time is different. When you partner with somebody, it makes it fun and enjoyable because you can share your experience. That's the Beachbody difference. We are here for you to support, mentor, and encourage. You just don't get that personal one-on-one when you buy a fitness DVD off the shelf.

Let's get to work. Let's help some people realize they were destined for greatness. Let's remove the blinders from their eyes so that they can dream again. I truly believe you can do anything you want to if you share your dreams with people and work for it. You have to believe in yourself that you can and will achieve success. Tell the whole world what you want to do and let them tell you that you can't. It will only make the fire within rage with hunger to prove them wrong.

I'd like to help you achieve your goals. This is what I desire, this is where my passion lies.

Thank you,
Angela

Compliments of Dawn Kingren

Portions! Portions! Portions!

One of the key elements to losing weight and keeping it off is practicing portion control. You can eat the best food for your body, but if you are intaking too many calories daily, you will not be able to lose weight. Here are some easy tips for keeping your portions in check to effectively lose weight.

Portion Control Tip #1: Don't Leave Food in Sight

Eating meals family style (where the dishes of food are in your sight) can make it much easier to reach for seconds. If they are not in the same room, you are much less likely to want more. Leave the pots and dishes in the kitchen, and fix yourself one serving. Let it settle for at least 20 minutes so that you acquire the feeling of being full.

Portion Control Tip #2: Use Meat as a Side Dish

Don't make meat the main course of your meal. Load up on healthy grains and vegetables instead, and have meat or a meat-based side dish. This way you will feel full faster and pack your diet with more vitamins and fiber, which is better for you in the long run.

Portion Control Tip #3: Split a Serving

When eating out, try splitting a meal with a friend or taking half of your meal home. Most restaurants provide more than one serving in a typical meal. By splitting it up, you can save money and save on the extra calories.

Portion Control Tip #4: Learn Serving Sizes

By learning to visually identify some simple serving sizes, you can better control your portions. When eating a typical serving size of meat, it should be about 3 ounces or the size of a deck of cards. A standard serving of grains or raw vegetables is about the size of a tennis ball or your fist.

Portion Control Tip #5: Eat Small Meals

Keep your blood sugar even throughout the day by eating small meals. You can keep your energy up and eat less overall because you do not get ravenous and overeat. People who eat 5 to 6 small meals a day are much more likely to maintain portion control because they never become too hungry.

Portion Control Tip #6: Portion out Food

When you are having a snack, be sure to divvy up your portions before you begin eating. It is quite difficult to eat just one portion of any snack food when eating straight out of the bag. By separating out one portion, it is much easier to stick to it, and not eat too much without even thinking about it.

Portion Control Tip #7: Break Down Leftovers

Instead of storing leftovers in a big container, separate them out into single servings. Then you can easily reach in the fridge and pull out one single serving to reheat. This will help you limit how much you are eating with very little effort.

Have a fit & healthy weekend!!

Thank you very much, Dawn! You're awesome!

Shakeology: Love Potion!

You've Got To "Move It-Move It"

Good afternoon All!

Your body craves movement! Think about it for a minute. Whenever you stay immobile for too lengthy of time, your brain sends a signal for you to MOVE your body!

This tiny revelation came to me today when sitting in the cube. Now, I don't really sit in a tiny cube at work. But, I spend a large portion of my day staring at a computer screen. If I don't get up and take a little walk to the opposite side of the building, to the restroom, or randomly make a reason to get up and stretch, my body pays the price.

Movement should be considered "therapy" for the body. Not only is it good for the brain, it is good for ALL of you. Movement equates to exercise. So, if movement is good for the entire body, wouldn't exercise be as well? And, if that is true, why do so many people dislike exercise? Why is exercise such a chore? Why do people get bored? Simply, it is because people haven't found the right type of movement they enjoy.

Remember when you were a little kid? Perhaps your mom would say something like this to you, "If you have that much energy, go outside!" or "No running in the house!"or "Keep the noise down!" I don't know about you, but I heard those phrases quite often growing up.

My point is simply that we cannot allow life to get in the way of being active. If you work in an office setting, go for walks on your breaks or stand up and stretch at your desk. Just move your body and it will like you.

I encourage you to find an activity that you enjoy! Perhaps, it is playing volleyball, softball, swimming, outdoor walking/running, basketball, football, kickboxing wrestling, dancing, etc. Whatever turns you on, just do it! Find at least an hour in your day to dedicate to YOU. Maybe it's 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes at night. That part doesn't matter. The more you move your body at an intense rate will ultimately change who you are. It's like the curtain will be removed and you'll be able to see more clearly, think sharper, focus, and have a sound state of mind. You will actually be more HAPPY and pleasant to be around and your confidence will increase. Don't trust me? Just try it for a month. Purposefully move your body at least 5 times a week and tell me I am wrong.

You've Got to Move-It, Move-It...just like the song in Madagascar!

Yoga Socks & Gloves

Whew! I just completed a full session of yoga and I feel compelled to tell you how I finally did it! The key for me was a tiny investment in yoga socks and gloves. I know that sounds really silly and twisted, however, I always became frustrated when I'd slip & slid all over the mat. These tiny tools enabled me to stay with it and complete the poses. Now, I'm not going to lie to you and pretend like I didn't fall a time or two because I did. BUT, I could go deeper in the lunges, float my heels higher into the sky while in downward dog and not slide. To me, this is huge!

I've always known that being flexible is important. Some people are extremely flexible while others are not quite that advanced. It doesn't matter what category you fall into, the bottom line is that you need to work at your flexibility. The best time to stretch is when your muscles are warm. So before you start static stretching, run in place, do some jumping jacks, or some squats. The objective is to get some blood pumping into your muscles before you stretch them. This will prevent injury and tearing of the muscle tissue.

How do they feel? Warm, especially if you sweat a LOT. The cotton will absorp the water so don't worry about it. Clear your head and stick with it. The socks are toe socks so each individual toe has it's own slot. This can feel uncomfortable at first but doesn't last long. The gloves are like weight lifting gloves with the finger tips exposed. They have tiny rubber grips on the soles and palms which enable you to grip the yoga mat and not slide. Very cool.

Give 'em a try and let me know what you think!

Live the Dream | Joe Markiewicz

Live the Dream Joe Markiewicz

Please take a moment to listen to this video clip. Many of you may not know Joe. He is a man of passion. He is a man of purpose.

Just listen to his story because it is much like mine...don't let anybody stop you from pursing your dreams. If you have ambition, don't let corporate america frustrate you.

I have a solution. Ask me what I do to pursue my dreams. Don't be surprised when I tell you it's helping other people accomplish theirs...just ask me and I will share with you how.

Let's go 'Live the Dream'. It's real. It's out there. Let's go for it!

The Typical Noell Weekend

Hello World!

My mom made an observation today that I haven't been on Facebook all weekend! She became all concerned because this obviously isn't my style. So, where have I been and what have I been doing? Well, let me share...

Friday evening. I got off work at 4:45pm and drove 10 miles to pick up my 5K Santa Scurry run packet. Then, I drove back home to pick up Peter, made dinner, and then dropped him off at the babysitter so that I could go run that 5K. On the way there I was a little upset at myself for eating my dinner super fast and not allowing enough time for it to settle before running this race. I knew it was going to be ugly, but hey, I did it anyways. It was a gorgeous evening at 67+ degrees on Dec. 3rd in Texas. It was awesome!

The race was suppose to start at 7pm...it ended up starting at 7:30pm because apparently there was horse poop on the trail that had to be cleaned up. Go figure?! I found that kinda funny in the middle of the city there was horse poop. Anyways, I decided to start talking with people. I was at the end of the line and met Zach Olson from Rochester, MN! What are the chances of two Minnesotans running a 5K in Keller, TX on Dec. 3rd? It was just neat.

This race was kind of different because 1) it was at night, 2) it was lit by Christmas lights and lanterns, and 3) there was all kinds of Christmas festivities going on throughout the town square. It was a great start to the Christmas season!

Saturday rolled around really quickly! I started out by going to the post office to mail out Shakeology samples. I stopped by work for 15 minutes to pick up some forgotten items. Then, I made a grocery store run for bananas for the Shakeology Home Party I hosted from 11-12:30pm. I got home and did a massive clean up-everything from laundry, dishes, vaccuming, setting up the display, etc. It was a busy morning!

My first guests arrived at 11:30am. They were my neighbors beneath me in the apartment so it was great to get to know them. They seemed genuinely interested in the product so that made me somewhat pleased. Admittedly, I was a little disappointed that only 3 people out of 300 households showed up to my Home Party! This past Monday I printed out over 300 flyers announcing my party and posted them on all the doors within the apartment community. I didn't know what to expect but was overall pleased with the activity.

Saturday afternoon Peter and I went toy shopping. Peter picked out this construction set with "kid wood". It has a saw that is designed for safety, nails, everything you could ever want! So, we became creative! We built a house for Pengui...his pet penguin. Then, we made a chair, a car, Woody's pants from Toy Story, you name it...we built it.

Before I knew I realized it was 4:20pm. I had a small groups orientation meeting at Gateway at 5pm! Yikes! I got changed really fast and then made Peter change his clothes and just like that we were on our way to church!

The meeting lasted until 6:15pm. Whew! I was ready to go home. BUT, halfway home I realized that I failed to drop off some more Shakeology samples at my old work. So, I turned around and drove halfway across town (30 minutes in the opposite direction) to deliver samples and remain accountable. Any way you look at it, I had to deliver because I said I would!

I got to the store and ended up making another 3 exposures! Who would have thought?! So, after an hour of visiting and sharing, it was finally time to come home. Whew, what a day!

Sunday. Today. I felt the urge to go to church even though I was there last night. Peter was a little confused because he went to kid's church two days in a row. Try explaining to a 6.5 yr old why he has to go to kid's church twice...saying I had a meeting and now I was going for food just didn't cut it! It did help that Saturday evening he got to go to the jewel store and today we went to a different campus.

Sunday service started at 9am. The title of the message was, "Idiots for Christ". What an awesome message! Idiots for Christ obey irrationally, give extravagantly, and do what others believe cannot be done. The message focused around Acts 4. Seriously, we all need to be like idiots in our faith journey.

After church, Peter and I went out for breakfast/lunch at IHOP. I am a huge fan of their Tomato/Spinach/Mushroom/Onion Omelet! For 330 calories and a little hot sauce = delicious!

I was able to knock out an hour Turbo Fire workout in the afternoon and then we went to Bethesda's Christmas production at Peter's school. It started at 6pm but we arrived at 5pm just for seating! I was a little concerned on how Peter was going to act because he never sits still. Well, that was alleviated when Santa arrived on the scene and ended up sitting right next to him! Talk about a blessing! Peter's eyes were super huge and I could just see the excitement on his face! It was just great. The performance was amazing and we were so glad we went!

To end the night/weekend, we always have our Beachbody Just Show Up Team Call at 8pm. It lasts an hour and tonight Coach Tim just rocked the call! We are growing our team with more and more people joining us to learn about how we are helping people with their fitness and nutrition journey. It's just awesome!

So, this was just a taste of a weekend in the life of the Noell household. I left out that I cooked every meal, went to the park/playground, and had loads and loads of one-on-one time with Peter. This is why I was absent on the computer over the past couple days. I love giving my boy all the mommy-time he can stand!

Last night was pretty cool on the car ride home from church. He picked up a plastic recorder from the jewel store and started to play. Well, I didn't say a word but he DID! The sound that came out was somewhat obnoxious and was just loud with no tune. Out of his mouth came, "Man, I have to practice!" Thank God he recognized that! I just smiled and encouraged him. It was cute.

Lastly, we have 20 days until Christmas. When you are out shopping, please consider giving your family and friends the gift of health this year. If you truly love them, encourage them to participate with you. Be their accountability partner and help them get started with their fitness and nutrition. You can do it! All it takes is a little discipline and an hour each day to move your machine and the results will come. Let's "Bring It" in 2011.

Huggs :-) Over and out.

Type 2 Diabetes...a solution!

Type 2 Diabetes...A solution!

As we approach 2011, a lot of people are thinking of making New Year's Resolutions. A lot of the time these resolutions include making better health decisions and usually involve weight-loss goals.

I was intrigued by this 1 minute video tonight because it shows that you have to start somewhere...even if you have Type 2 Diabetes. I think a lot of people (I sound like a broken record!) think that skinny people have always been skinny and bigger people have always been big. But, what we often fail to realize is that thin people are not always healthy, yet so many of us strive to be thin! And, if we've fallen off the wagon and totally let ourselves go at some point we start to believe that we are destined to live unhealthy, unsatisfying lives.

I'm here today to tell you that it's not true! I used to believe that I was destined to be bulimic my entire life because of my struggle with food. I allowed myself to become so emotionally bound to food that it literally consumed me to the very pit of my soul. It was a nasty, hidden part of my life that I was ashamed to be me.

What I'm trying to get across is that I have a special calling to help people get their lives back. I believe that every one of us has the ability to make changes regarding our health and fitness, AND, it doesn't matter at what point you begin.

Kathy Smith's Project You: Type 2 and the American Diabetes Association have developed this amazing program in conjunction with doctors this all-in-one solution to help manage diabetes, reduce your risk for diabetes complications, and get you back in control of your health!

I want, so badly, to help you get your life back! Please check out this 1 minute video via this link: http://beachbodycoach.com/esuite/home/sota?bctid=10131284001

Thank you,
Ang-

What are you thankful for this Thanksgiving?

November 25, 2010. Thanksgiving. Day 329/365 with 36 days remaining in 2010.

Thanksgiving is typically the turning point in the year which marks the beginning of the holiday season. Families gather together over the traditional turkey, mashed potatoes 'n' gravy, stuffing, ham, cranberries, pumkin pie, etc. meal. It's a time to reflect over the past 328 days of the year and then plan out the next 365.

This year, I am extremely grateful for my health and fitness. I work out like an animal and have lost a solid 35 pounds in the past 18 months. This is huge in my world because I've always been a yo-yo dieter. I found the link that prohibits that from happening which is consistency. I've paid extreme attention to the number of calories entering my body and have fought like hell to work out at least 5 times a week.

As some of you know, I decided to challenge myself in a series of 5K races between September 25th and December 3rd for no other reason but to race against myself. I wanted to challenge myself to see where I rank amongst my peers and to take my fitness to the next level. As an inexperienced runner, I was pleased to consistently place within the top 1/3 of my age group. Perhaps when I turn 30 I'll be #1! LOL!

Tomorrow, Thanksgiving Day, I will be participating in the Fort Worth, TX Turkey Trot 5K. Afterwards, I am volunteering to deliver turkey baskets to those less fortunate so they have something to eat on this special day. As I reflect upon this venture, I am really thankful that I have a home, food in the cupboards, blankets upon the bed, money in the bank, etc. But, it isn't the tangible things that bring me the most joy. It's the smiles and graditude upon people's faces when you truly give of yourself to make their day.

I think that's why smiles are referenced as part of the universal language. When I look into the eyes of a person, I see their soul. I see behind the curtains. When they smile, I see for a split second true happiness because nobody smiles just for fun.

So, this Thanksgiving, I challenge you to make a list of things that you are truly thankful for. Share them with your family and do not ever be ashamed. Take the time to reconnect and to share stories. Shoot, you may even make some 2011 goals as a family! Who knows?!

Live the Dream | What is "Wealth Mentality"?

Live the Dream What is "Wealth Mentality"?

What's All This About??

One of hardest things I had to get under control when I started my health and fitness journey was feeding my machine. I get asked all the time: "What do you eat?" and "Am I allowed to eat (fill in the blank)?" and "How do I get started? This nutrition stuff is confusing!"



As you can see in the picture, I feed my machine with a lot of "stuff" daily. So, let me break it down why I eat what I eat and how it's helped me in my journey.



The first thing I started consuming on a daily basis was Shakeology for my breakfast. Shakeology is a nutritional protein shake that provides a wide spectrum of healthy nutrients in a low-calorie formula. Whether you use it as a meal replacement for weight loss or simply to ensure your body gets all the nutrients it needs for optimal health, Shakeology takes the guesswork out of nutrition.

What's in Shakeology? It contains over 70 ultra high-quality ingredients conveniently located in one glass, to deliver nearly all the nutrients you need to maintain a healthy diet. It's good for you- and good for everyone- because everyone's diet is deficient in some of the key nutrient groups packed into just one Shakeology serving.

Shakeology helpes me lose weight, increases my energy and stamina, reduces my cravings, and helps keep me regular.

Before I started consuming Shakeology on a daily basis, my lab results were as follows:
August 26, 2009 (205+lbs)
Total Cholesterol: 134 (Reference range: 125-200 mg/dL)
HDL Cholesterol: 69 (Reference range: > or = 46 mg/dL)
LDL Cholesterol: 58 (Reference range: < 130 mg/dL)
Triglycerides: 35 (Reference range: <150>)

After 3 months of working out with P90X and consuming Shakeology daily:
May 21, 2010 (195+ lbs)
Total Cholesterol: 116
HDL Cholesterol: 74
LDL Cholesterol: 36
Triglycerides: 31

I am uncertain what my lab results reflect now that it's October 5th, however, I'd be willing to bet that they are way better than what they were back in May!

Typically, my breakfast consists of the following shake: 1 scoop Chocolate Shakeology, 1 scoop Vanilla Whey Protein, 2 Tblsp PB2, either 1 cup Almond Milk (unsweetened original 40 calories) or 1 cup skim milk, 1/2 cup water, and lots of ice all blended to perfection for a delicious chocolate shake to start the day off right! (140 + 110 + 45 + 40 (or 80) = 335 to 375 total calories)

I've recently discovered PB2 and I think it's the greatest thing ever made! It's powdered peanut butter that has 85% less fat calories than traditional peanut butter because there isn't any oil in it! 2 Tblsp only has 45 calories vs. 190 of regular peanut butter. In my world, this is huge! Also, there are only 1.5 grams of fat in PB2 compared to 16 grams in regular pb. Talk about an enormous difference! If you are a peanut butter junkie like me, I highly recommend this because it will change how you view peanut butter! Go to: http://www.bellplantation.com/ to locate stores that retail it or order it directly from that website. It's the greatest thing!

I've also become a really big fan of the Chocolate Meal Replacement shake. For essentially $40 a tub, I can drink a shake that's good for me AND it's only $1.33 per meal. Where else can you satisfy your appetite, get all the essential vitamins and minerals and a proper balance of carbohydrates, fats, and high-quality proteins to provide sustained energy? I'm telling you, you can't find it elsewhere!

Why do I consume all these shakes? Truth be told, I am a lousy cook! Or, shall I say lazy? I am always on the move and it's so much easier for me to blend up a shake and go vs. spend time in the kitchen figuring out and planning meals. I hate going to the grocery store. I spend way too much time reading labels and it's just too busy. I only visit the produce department, dairy, and outside aisles when I do go because everything else is just pointless and unhealthy. (or so I think)

The multi-vitamins, calcium, and omega-3 supplements are amazing! The vitamins are essentially "insurance" for my diet just in case I'm not consuming enough quality foods with proper nutrition. I take calcium because I rarely ever consume a glass of milk by itself. The only time I drink milk is in my shakes and it's only 8oz a day. And, omega-3 fatty acids help maintain healthy blood triglyceride levels and support healthy cardiovascular, cognitive, and joint function. They also support healthy vision and youthful skin. All of these together provide the core pack of nutrition that my body needs to be fueled properly every day.

Currently, I am experimenting with myself. By this, I mean that I am toying with total calorie consumption; keeping a close eye on my ratios of proteins, carbs, and fats; and eating every 3-4 hours for a total of 4-5 meals a day. With all of the training for 5K's lately, it's really ignited my metabolism and I can see my body composition shifting again. That's a beautiful thing! I started this journey at 205+ lbs and am now 165-170lbs.

If you feel compelled to check out any of the products depicted, go to: www.beachbodycoach.com/sota or www.shakeology.com/sota Feel free to contact me if you have any questions: noell_angela@yahoo.com I've struggled a long time with my health and fitness. I've come a long way but I also have a long way to go. I feel great and that's the most important thing. Once I started exercising regularly and started feeding my machine accordingly, it was amazing how the inches fell off and my energy sky-rocketed! My confidence soared through the roof and my life did a complete 180 right before my eyes. Don't get me wrong, it didn't happen overnight. There were a lot of struggles and setbacks, but I kept pushing through. That's the key: Don't ever give up on yourself...EVER!

Accountability in the Numbers

I can't help but get a little excited when I look back over my race results for the past 2 weeks! On Sept. 25th, I ran the first of seven scheduled 5K's up until Thanksgiving. I was pretty pleased with my overall time, but I never looked at where I stood overall. So, tonight I did a little research and here's what I found:

Sept. 25th: Candlelighters Night Run 5K
Females 25-29: I placed 9 out of 27 participants
Overall: 131 out of 311 participants
Chip time: 30:33 (30 minutes and 33 seconds)
Gun time: 30:51 (30 minutes and 51 seconds)
Pace: 9:49/M

Oct. 2nd: Trinity Bright Halloween 5K
Females 25-29: I placed 6 out of 19 participants
Overall: 46 out of 137 participants
Chip time: 29:51 (29 minutes 51 seconds)
Gun time: 30:07 (30 minutes 7 seconds)
Pace: 9:36/M

I must confess that between Sept 25th and Oct. 2nd, I only ran 4 miles. I did not get those longer runs in like I know are so important! I noticed again today that right around the 2 mile mark I needed to distract myself to keep pushing forward. The majority of my training has been 2 miles at a time. I must find a way to get those longer runs in!!!

Today was pretty neat! Again, it was a very positive experience! For the first time, my son was with me at the race! He cheered me across the starting line and was there to cheer me on as I came upon the finish line! Just seeing him there waving and yelling, "Come on mom, you can do it!" was so touching! It gave me that extra kick to just floor-it those last 50 feet. He took pictures and was so excited! :-) While I was running, he got his face painted, played the ring toss, jumped in the jump house, played with water balloons, got lots of treats and goodies, and even harassed the geese at the duck pond! He barely noticed that I was gone! (Thanks Heather for watching him!) He couldn't stop talking about how much fun he had! So, that got me thinking about getting him started in the 1 mile fun runs. Perhaps after my series of 5K's we'll start working on the 1 mile runs so that we can do that together!

Another really cool thing I noticed were two teenage girls, age 13 and 14, running together. The 14 year old ran track and cross country and was in really great shape. The 13 year old was still in really great shape yet ran at a slower pace. The two of these girls kept each other accountable! They would run really fast and then walk to catch their breath. Every time they passed another runner they would count, "1, 2, 3" and so on. They also did that whenever they were walking and another participant passed them up. I remember hearing, "that's 1" as they just started walking and I ran past. I spoke words of encouragement to these girls because we passed each other up at least a half a dozen times! It was very clear that the 14 year old could have ran ahead and left her friend behind. BUT, she didn't! Clearly, she wanted to encourage and inspire her friend to keep pushing when the temptation to slow down and walk set in.

For some reason, that really hit me today. Having an accountability partner doesn't mean running ahead and leaving your partner behind. It means sticking beside them and speaking words of encouragement to keep each other on track, always striving to push forward. To sum it up, both of these girls placed #1 in their age groups! I couldn't be more proud of them! I'll probably never see them again, yet they reminded me of a very valuable lesson today and I can never thank them enough!

Stay tuned for more of life in the fast lane....