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Tuesday, June 26, 2012

News from Summit

Last weekend Zach and I went to Team Beachbody's annual conference in Las Vegas. It was a whirlwind trip with so much information to absorb it was like trying to take a sip from a fire hydrant.

I'll detail all the exciting announcements below, but the main things Zach and I gleaned from the conference were:

1) A renewed, strengthened confidence in Beachbody as a company, the Team Beachbody network of coaches, and the urgency of the cause that we're undertaking. The irony of holding what is essentially a health nut/fitness junkie meeting in the heart of Las Vegas was not lost on me, and walking down the strip it couldn't have been more apparent the path that this country is going down is not a good one.


Team Beachbody offers the total package solution: world-class fitness programs, solid nutrition plans, peer support, and monetary rewards. I held back tears as I watched 27-year-old Richard N. win $100,000 for losing 200 pounds with Power 90 and P90X. He lost the weight in 13 months. 13 MONTHS. Before his weight loss he and his wife were unable to have a baby, and now she is pregnant. He is healthy for the first time that he can remember. Read his story here.

2) A determination to help more people find their way to fitness and in turn succeed in this business. As I've heard Craig Holiday say in countless Beachbody meetings, instead of saying "Why Me?" start saying "Why Not Me?" and see what happens.

The other great thing about this meeting was to be around like-minded people. It was comforting to be around 4,998 other coaches who would rather wake up at 6am to work out with Shaun T instead of down free whiskey and Cokes till 3am. For better or worse, we dropped not one single nickel in a slot the entire trip. We were determined to soak up every single experience and learning opportunity from this trip, and we did.

Now the announcements:


1) BODY BEAST (This program's name must be said in a deep, growly voice.)
Want to get big and muscley? This is the program for you. Trainer Sagi Kalev was at the meeting, and his bicep was as big as my head. No joke.


2) VEGAN Chocolate Shakeology!
A new formula of my personal favorite chocolate Shakeology. I tasted it at Summit and it is goooood. None of the graininess that some people notice with the Vegan Tropical formula, and more of a dark chocolate taste -- not quite as sweet.

Also includes five new super foods, including moringa and Himalayan Sea Salt. So jealous of the Ultimate Resetters who will be able to use their chocolate vegan Shakeology during the cleanse!

As always, there is a 30-day "Bottom of the Bag" money-back guarantee on Shakeology!

3) Insanity: Asylum 2 available for pre-order this fall!
During Summit they showed a preview for the Asylum 1 infomercial, which spotlights Olympian Apolo Anton Ohno's use of the program. It also shows a short clip of Zach working out with Asylum last summer in our garage! We don't know if it will just be the short clip or if they will include any of Zach's testimonial, but regardless it was stinking exciting to see Zach and our shop up on the big screen at Summit! We were pumped up.

And speaking of Pump:

4) New Les Mills Pump COMBAT program coming out this fall!
It will include seven workouts and is hosted by Dan and Rach, two of my favorite Pump trainers. Pump is such a popular program! We were turned away from the workout last weekend because the room was at capacity. I can't wait to get back to it once we're done with P90X2. (Aw, who am I kidding? On the off days of P90X2 I sneak in some Pump workouts. They are just too addicting!)


5) Derm Exclusive offering


Beachbody has always had a separate offering through another division that focuses on skin care. Don't know much about the products, but an infomercial featuring Minnie Driver is slated to come out in coming months. I may have to buy a pack and see what it does. I will report my findings.

Those were the main announcements from Summit. It was a great weekend, and I can't wait to do it again next year.

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Workout of the Day
P90X2 Plyocide

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Where did "Smells Like Fitness" come from?

Just in case you ever wondered...


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Workout of the Day
P90X Plyometrics. Old school goodness!

Two days till we're in Vegas working out with the real deal: Tony Horton, Shaun T, and about 5,000 other coaches at the annual convention, Beachbody's "Summit."

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

iPhone Phobia


Last week Zach and I finally pulled the trigger on something we'd been considering for a few months. We bought iPhones! I know, I know. We're a little "2000 and late," but we're not exactly early adopters when it comes to technology.

Despite their popularity, I was nervous about ordering them. We had nothing but regular old mobile phones up until now. Couldn't even receive pictures, as a matter of fact (much to the chagrin of people who regularly tried to text us pictures of our kids at various school events, etc.). But it was kind of blissful ignorance. When I left home, I also left behind my email and my Facebook account. I left behind my calendar and my "Teux Deux" list.

I guess I was kind of nervous about becoming an iPhone Zombie. Someone who doesn't look up from their phone to see what the heck is going on with....with anything.

The phones arrived, and like 99.9% of the rest of iPhone owners, I was enamored within about 2.3 minutes. Words With Friends! Draw Something! Facebook for Mobile! Email anytime I wanted!

And yet...the nagging feeling. Don't become a Zombie!

This article was posted by a Facebook friend, and it couldn't have been a timelier knock upside the head. For the record, I was on the laptop when I read it, not my phone. But that still qualifies as a time-sucking screen in my life, and it made me think about putting boundaries on the screens that take me away from the important things in life. It's from www.HandsFreeMama.com, and it's a message that we all should take to heart.

For all the wonderful things technology brings us ("Facetime" comes to mind...I think it was invented by a grandparent), it is also a very insidious stealer of actual human interaction.

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How to Miss a Childhood


Each minute of every day, we are presented with a choice on how we spend our moments. We can either miss the moments or grasp them. This photo was taken at a time in my life when I was missing the moments and in doing so, I was missing more than life.

By sharing my own painful truths when it comes to the distractions of the modern age, I have gained an unexpected insight. In the 18 months this blog has existed, I have been privy to a new distraction confession every single day.

Up until now, I never knew what to do with this unusual collection of painful admissions from an overly connected society. But today, in a moment of clarity, I knew. And a woman with 35 years experience as a day care provider held the key.

It came as a message in my inbox after the woman read my post “The Children Have Spoken” which included heart-breaking observations from children themselves about their parents’ excessive phone use.

As soon as I read the first sentence of the caregiver’s email, I knew this message was different than any I had ever received. The hairs on my arms stood up as I absorbed each word that came uncomfortably close to home.

It was a voice of heartache, wisdom, and urgency speaking directly to the parents of the 21st century:

“I can recall a time when you were out with your children you were really with them. You engaged in a back and forth dialog even if they were pre-verbal. You said, ‘Look at the bus, see the doggie, etc.’ Now I see you on the phone, pushing your kids on the swings while distracted by your devices. You think you are spending time with them but you are not present really. When I see you pick up your kids at day care while you’re on the phone, it breaks my heart. They hear your adult conversations. What do they overhear? What is the message they receive? I am not important; I am not important.”

In a 100-word paragraph this concerned woman who has cared for babies since 1977 revealed a disturbing recipe … How to Miss a Childhood.

And because I possess hundreds of distraction confessions, including stories from my own former highly distracted life, I have all the damaging ingredients.

All it takes is one child and one phone and this tragic recipe can be yours.

How to Miss a Childhood

*Keep your phone turned on at all times of the day. Allow the rings, beeps, and buzzes to interrupt your child midsentence; always let the caller take priority.

*Carry your phone around so much that when you happen to leave it in one room your child will come running with it proudly in hand—treating it more like a much needed breathing apparatus than a communication device.

*Decide the app you’re playing is more important than throwing the ball in the yard with your kids. Even better, yell at them to leave you alone while you play your game.

*Take your children to the zoo and spend so much time on your phone that your child looks longingly at the mother who is engaged with her children and wishes she was with her instead.

*While you wait for the server to bring your food or the movie to start, get out your phone and stare at it despite the fact your child sits inches away longing for you talk to him.

*Go to your child’s sporting event and look up periodically from your phone thinking she won’t notice that you are not fully focused on her game.

*Check your phone first thing in the morning … even before you kiss, hug, or greet the people in your family.

*Neglect daily rituals like tucking your child into bed or nightly dinner conversation because you are too busy with your online activity.

*Don’t look up from your phone when your child speaks to you or just reply with an “uh huh” so she thinks you were listening.

*Lose your temper with your child when he “bothers” you while you are interacting with your hand-held electronic device.

*Give an exasperated sigh when your child asks you to push her on the swing. Can’t she see you’re busy?

*Use drive time to call other people regardless of the fact you could be talking to your kids about their day—or about their worries, their fears, or their dreams.

*Read email and text messages at stoplights. Then tell yourself that when your kids are old enough to drive they won’t remember you did this all the time.

*Have the phone to your ear when she gets in or out of the car. Convince yourself a loving hello or goodbye is highly overrated.

Follow this recipe and you will have:
• Missed opportunities for human connection
• Fewer chances to create beautiful memories
• Lack of connection to the people most precious to you
• Inability to really know your children and them unable to know you
• Overwhelming regret

If you find this recipe difficult to read—if you find that you have tears in your eyes, I thank you, and your child thanks you.

It is not easy to consider the possibility that the distractions of the modern age have taken an undeserved priority over the people who matter in your life. In fact, when I admitted this difficult truth to myself almost two years ago, I experienced an emotional breakdown. However, that breakdown became a breakthrough that propelled me to begin my life-changing “Hands Free” journey.

Here’s the thing: You don’t have to follow the above recipe. Yes, it is the 21st century. Yes, the whole world is online. Yes, the communications for your job are important. Yes, at times you must be readily available. But despite all those factors, you do not have to sacrifice your child’s childhood; nor do you have to sacrifice your life.

May I recommend this recipe instead?

How to Grasp a Childhood:
Look into her eyes when she speaks to you … Your uninterrupted gaze is love to your child.

Take time to be with him—really be with him by giving your full attention … The gift of your total presence is love to your child.

Hold her hand, rub his back, listen to her heart beat, and smooth his hair … Your gentle touch is love to your child.

Greet her like you missed her when she was not in your presence … Seeing your face light up when you see her is love to your child.

Play with him … Your involvement in his activities is love to your child.

Set an example of being distraction-free while driving … Positive role modeling behind the wheel is love (and safety) to your child.

Create a distraction-free daily ritual … Consistently making him a priority each day is love to your child.

Focus and smile at her from the stands, sidelines, or the audience … Seeing the joy on your face as you watch is love to your child.


The recipe for “How to Grasp a Childhood” requires only one thing: You must put down your phone.

Whether it is for ten minutes, two hours, or an entire Saturday, beautiful human connection, memory making, and parent-child bonding can occur every single time you let go of distraction to grasp what really matters.

The beautiful, life-changing results of your “Hands Free” action can start today … right now … the moment you put down the phone.
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My life changed the day I stopped justifying my highly distracted life and  admitted I was missing precious moments that I would never retrieve. I imagined my daughter standing on the stage of her high school graduation and asked myself: When she is 18 years old, will I wish I had spent more time on my phone/work/social life? Or will I wish I had spent more time investing in her?

The answer was simple.

My hope is that this post inspires one person to become aware of how often he or she uses the phone (or computer) in the presence of a child. Please help spread this critical message by clicking “share.” By falling into the right hands, it could be the best Mother’s Day gift ever received.

*For continued inspiration and tips about letting go of distraction to connect with the people you love please join “The Hands Free Revolution.” We are a growing community striving to grasp “the moments that matter” in our one precious life!

Monday, June 11, 2012

Beachbody Ultimate Reset: Final Results


 
An open letter to our Moms:

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Dear Moms,

Yes, we know. We're a little skinny right now. And yes, it seems like we've gone off the deep end, eating roasted fennel with a side of zucchini cashew soup. And enjoying it. 

We know we don't need to lose weight, and honestly weren't trying to. But 21 days of 100% clean eating of nothing but fruit and vegetables will do that to you. We went through 21 days of the Ultimate Reset because it was R&D for our little business. How can we recommend something to our customers that we haven't done ourselves? 

We promise to eat meat again. And we promise to eat cake and ice cream again. How can we not, when we know you're going to make Dad's super chocolate birthday cake, and homemade ice cream is about to make its annual summer debut at the pool?

The Ultimate Reset was just the latest in our series of fitness and nutrition adventures that kicked off four years ago with P90X, wound around the bend to Insanity last summer, went up the hill on the Ultimate Reset, and down the road this fall looks like we're headed for a half and full marathon.

We've started introducing meat back into our diet, and already feel back to normal, energy-wise. We've both sworn off bacon and hot dogs, but that's just common sense -- not Ultimate Reset propoganda.

Try to look on the bright side! At least we're health nuts, and not gamblers, drinkers, or drifters. Thanks for understanding, and have some of that cake ready next time we come over. But just a small piece. ;)

Love,

Zach and Susan


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Workout of the Day
Awww yeah! The workout of the day is BACK!
Another round of P90X2 for these Resetters - X2 Core was awesome this morning!
Feeling great!