What is your WHY??

In light of the things I’ve been working toward lately, I have been faced with a question that I think is often overlooked before people dive head first into making their dream a reality!

There is a process that you should follow in achieving your goals. A KEY element in achieving your desire is setting your goal! In the famous words of the great Wayne Gretzky, “ You miss 100% of the shots you never take!” And oh how true that is!!

But once you’ve established your goal, you need to determine your WHY! Why do you want to……insert your dream here…….??? Is it because you want to help people, is it because it’s something that you enjoy doing…..what is YOUR why??

Along the road in my fitness journey, my original goal turned into a PASSION and from that passion a dream was birthed! I have surpassed every fitness goal I set for myself at this point, so where does that leave me NOW?? Empowered! It just motivates me to set higher goals and achieve greater accomplishments in my life. Have there been bumps in the road along the way? Sure. But I’m not going to allow it to KEEP me down. No, I use those bumps as learning experiences and GROW!

My dream is to share my passion with others and improve their lives through health and fitness! I KNOW it’s hard, I KNOW it takes work, I KNOW it takes pain…..but I also KNOW how great is the reward!! And I want to be there for other people to encourage them and help them achieve their goals!

The opportunity that I have with Beachbody is making my dream a reality! I have the opportunity to coach, encourage and motivate people who aren’t even in my zip code! :) It gives me the opportunity to reach MORE people than I could if only reaching out to the people around me! (I do have plans to reach the people in my community as well, in a different way)

So in light of that, what are your dreams, goals and what is your WHY???

Why Moms Need a Little “ME-time” In Their Day

(I borrowed this blog post from one of my good friends, Suzy, over at www.beyondthebusstop.com ….check it out!!)

We all hear this daily-Mom? Mom? Mom? Would you like to add a little Me! Me! Me! in your day? This is not a luxury but a necessity to have a little time for you---Your health is very important to take care of along with a venue for your self expression. We are talking about taking a half hour a day to exercise. You don't need to spend hours at a gym to get healthy. Just be consistent with that half hour daily and your commitment to your health will add up to success long term. Also, it is critical you find a venue for your self expression. If you have an outlet for what interests you----most likely you will come home full of energy and fulfillment. This positive energy will carryover to your kids. Our kids need us to role model self expression and finding passion in life. What do you enjoy doing that expresses who you are as an individual? Do you like to dance, sing, bake, crafts, swim, ski, volunteer, hike, work, entrepreneur, fitness etc? Make a little time each week for you and I promise your kids will take notice and learn self preservation too as they grow up.

Share some things that you enjoy doing and offer some self-expression!

Flipping the Switch: Turn Your Motivation On

I received this in an email this morning and thought it was so good I had to share! Enjoy!!

Have you ever wondered how some people are able to maintain amazing bodies while you struggle with your weight?
They make it seem so easy to achieve and maintain results. What do they know that you don't? When you boil it down, the answer is quite simple.
The missing link between you and your ideal body is good old motivation.
A healthy dose of motivation coupled with determination will get you almost anything in life. So how do you know if you're genuinely motivated?

• Motivation will tell you to get out of bed for an early workout.
• Motivation will nag you to put down the doughnut.
• Motivation makes passing on fries a reflex.
• Motivation makes a sweat drenched workout exciting.
• Motivation constantly reminds you why you do what you do.

If your motivation levels are lacking, read the following four steps to turn on your motivation.
Step #1: Pinpoint Your Motivator.
Motivation stems from having a goal. What is your goal? Why do you want to get into great shape?
Once you uncover your personal motivator you'll find that motivation flows quickly your way.
Take a minute to really uncover the reason that you want to lose the weight. Don't say something vague like you want to 'Be thinner' or 'Look more attractive.' Dig deeper – there is a very specific motivator in your life, you simply need to uncover it.
Here are some possible motivators...

• I want to have more energy to keep up with the kids.
• I want to improve my health through weight loss to extend and improve my life.
• I want to lose 15 pounds before my vacation.
• I want to restore my confidence to wear sleeveless shirts.
• I want to regain my figure to impress and attract my significant other.

Step #2: Make It Official.
When you write something down it suddenly feels official, doesn't it? Write down your motivator for getting into great shape, and post it where you will see it often - next to your alarm clock, on the bathroom mirror, or in your car.
Each time you see your written motivator take a moment to visualize yourself accomplishing your goal. Try to make the scene as clear in your mind as possible. This is a powerful tool for maintaining your focus and direction.
Step #3: Be Practical.
It's game plan time. You know what you want, and now you need to map out exactly how you'll achieve it. It is important to be practical in your planning, rather than throwing out ideas that you know you won't stick with.
With any weight loss goal it is important to 1) maintain a healthy low-calorie diet, and 2) participate in a consistent and challenging exercise program.
Plan a routine that will fit into your schedule and you'll be more likely to stick with it. Also choose an exercise program that you enjoy - don't force yourself to jog everyday if you hate jogging.
Step #4: Call For Backup.
Enlist the support of your friends, family and co-workers. Tell everyone about your goal to lose weight and get fit, you'll be surprised how supportive most people will be. By being open about your goals you'll likely be an encouragement to others to make healthy changes in their own lives.
The most effective way to ensure that you meet your goal is to enlist my support, your Beachbody coach. Together we will identify what really motivates you. Together we will design a workout routine that fits into your schedule and into your life. And together we will see it through until your goal is met.

To My Faithful Five……

…..whom I’m oh so thankful for, I apologize for the lack of content this week on my blog!! This week has turned out to be quite a busy week and I’ve had no time to sit down and pen my thoughts! I promise to be back next week with a blog you won’t want to miss!!

Are you doing anything this week to improve your health? Let me leave you with some statistics to marinate on until my next blog:

“Obesity has risen to epidemic levels in the United States. Almost one-third of the adult population in the U.S. (32%) is considered obese.1

Obesity's impact on health can't be underestimated. It is associated with shorter life expectancy: both men and women living with obesity generally have 50% to 100% higher mortality rates than those with a healthy weight.2 It can also lead to serious health conditions, often referred to as comorbidities or comorbid conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cancer, and depression. And as you probably know, it interferes with your quality of life. Beyond the physical implications, there's often a stigma associated with being obese. And that can take an emotional toll as well.

Many people assume that the cause of obesity is a lack of willpower or laziness, and that dieting and exercise are all you need to overcome it. That's simply not true. Obesity it is a disease—not just a result of overeating. Research has shown that, in many cases, an underlying cause of morbid obesity is genetic. Other causes may include metabolic disorders and hormonal imbalances.3” (healthcentral.com/obesity)

Often times, people who suffer with obesity have deep-seated emotional issues. Once those issues have been brought to the surface, the healing is much easier to attain. So if you find yourself in a place where you are dealing with issues…or NOT dealing with issues… from your past or possibly in the present, reach out to someone to help you deal with these issues and put them to rest.

I am available and willing to listen, offer my support and encourage you to begin your journey to healthy living TODAY!!

This is YOUR opportunity of a lifetime!!!!

Sometimes we all need a little encouragement, a gentle shove or even a  heave-ho to get up and do something we’ve been contemplating doing for a while. One of the hardest parts of losing weight and changing our eating habits is just getting started! So, here’s some motivation for you !

I am having 2 different contests, each are 90 day challenges and here’s how it will work. You choose one of the 2 programs I’m featuring and order your program from here. Take your measurements and body fat before you begin the program and be sure to get a before photo. At the end of each round (every 30 days), we’ll take new measurements, which you’ll submit to me and the person with the highest percentage of weight and body fat lost will receive a prize. As an added bonus, track your workouts in the WOWY Super Gym and be entered in their weekly $1000 giveaway.  Also, at the end of your 90 day challenge submit your success story with before and after pictures to the Million Dollar Body Game for even more chances to win!

Basically it’s a win-win situation. All it takes is for you to do it and the results will be amazing!!

So here are the two different programs/challenges:

ChaLean Extreme:

Get ready to burn fat, boost your metabolism, and get LEAN with ChaLEAN Extreme®, my new workout system that transformed everyone in the test group with 3 simple words:MUSCLE BURNS FAT®. It's a fact. The more lean muscle you have, the more fat you burn. You can burn up to 60% of your body fat in just 3 months and see visible results every 30 days—GUARANTEED!

P90X:

P90X is a revolutionary system of 12 sweat-inducing, muscle-pumping workouts, designed to transform your body from regular to ripped in just 90 days. You'll also receive a comprehensive 3-phase nutrition plan, specially designed supplement options, a detailed fitness guide, a calendar to track your progress, online peer support, and much more. Your personal trainer, Tony Horton, will keep you engaged every step of the way, and you won't believe your results!

Shoot me an email at michellewhitley@gmail.com letting me know which program you choose and I’ll give you more details of when the challenge will begin! Let’s do it together and then relish in the results in 90 days when we are feeling and looking better!!!!

DON’T PUT IT OFF ANOTHER DAY! GET STARTED ON THE ROAD TO A HAPPIER, HEALTHIER YOU…….TODAY!!!

“Get off the couch and start right now……

…because you CAN do this! These were the sage words of advice spoken by one of the season 8 contestants on The Biggest Loser as he addressed America to show how his weight loss has continued to progress at home after being eliminated from the show. While addressing a packed auditorium full of teenagers, he says to them, “Most people think it can’t be done if you’re not on the ranch, but I’ve done most of it at home.” He’s now lost 120 pounds, and the majority of that at home.

I share this with you because there seems to be a lot of talk about what you’re going to do but not enough doing. The obesity rates in America continue to climb higher and higher and we could make a difference in those statistics if we just DID it and quit talking about doing it!

For some, it’s not knowing what to do, how to get started. I can help you with that. I am a fitness coach with a great company-- Beachbody. They have some of the greatest training programs available with amazing results!  But not only do they have training programs, they have an online support community with over a MILLION others who are committed to getting in better shape and improving their health! Join the Beachbody community and you have access to a nutritional planner that will create a weekly menu for you, complete with grocery list based on the information you enter about your likes/dislikes, AND SO SO MUCH MORE!!! This is just the tip of the iceberg!  They have great supplements, one of the biggest growing supplements right now is Shakeology. This daily nutritional shake helps your body gently eliminate toxins more efficiently while allowing for better absorption of the essential nutrients you need.

Helping others improve their health is something I am passionate about, so I speak this in love! It helps to have a partner to encourage you, motivate you, someone you can ask questions or just give you that extra push you need to keep going. I want to be that for you! So check out my site today and let’s get started on the road to a healthier YOU!