READY TO PAY IT FORWARD with TURBO

READY TO PAY IT FORWARD with TURBO

The day that I had waited for had FINALLY arrived!  

Since I had started this blog late last fall my goal was to accomplish one thing...become a bonafide, certified TURBO KICK INSTRUCTOR.  So much ended up coming along with it, but my DREAM of being able to Pay it Forward by teaching Turbo Kick to help people increase their fitness and wellness, has been realized.

Carolyn, Michelle and myself EARLY in the AM
before training!

January 30th at Boston College I attended the Turbo Kick Instructor Training.  I was a ball of nerves, but there was no going back.  I can't remember the last time I had wanted something so much (after marrying my best friend, of course!)!!!  To think that I could help others achieve their fitness and wellness goals in a fun and exciting way just got me so PUMPED.

I had a great time!  Embedded in the training was a workshop on Round 38.  The day was long, study sessions, followed by drills, the worshop, more drills, testing and testing.  There were group drills and the individual practical test.  It was work, but SOOOOO worth it!

During the workshop I got to see a few Turbo Friends from Master Classes I had been to before!  It's great to be recognized and remembered.  Joie from Presenter Camp came!  It was great to chat and catch up with her.

 Christine Dwyer (center) once again rocked out an awesome training!

 

CHRISTINE ROCKS! (I have learned SOOO much from this woman)

Fellow TBB Coach, Lauren, and myself

 

Michelle, myself and Carolyn after being TURBO-CERTIFIED!! WOOT!!

So much has happened since!  I studied and took my AFAA Primary Group Fitness Certification exam.  That was a totally different experience.  I'm still waiting on the results but should know soon.  

I've also managed to book one-time classes at MIT and Broad (where I work).  It'll be really fun to bring Turbo to the workplace.

I interviewed at Mike's Fitness JP and plan to teach Turbo Kick there...waiting on the word for the Spring Schedule.  If you're in the Boston-area, I'd love to have you as a student!

In the meantime, I'm just practicing my MAD SKILLZ and booking one-time events. 

I am grateful to God everyday for this opportunity to pay it forward.  I hope to continue to grow and learn from this experience and bring hope to people with a goal to be fit and well.  

Till, next time...

KICK IT!!

When My Lungs Begin to Fail Me, I Prevail!

So, I've been battling something bronchial since Thursday night. Was that going to squash my enthusiasm for the opportunity to take a Turbo Kick Master class scheduled for Friday evening?

HECK NO!

BUT........I think I was in a little bit of denial as to the severity of the ailment.

First, I will say that I was so incredibly BLESSED by the turn out. Christine Dwyer came from Upstate NEW YORK to teach the class. My coach, Hillary Kelley, drove from CONNECTICUT to participate. My buddy from work came and A TON of ladies from my church also attended.

THANK YOU Michelle, Maria, Beverly, Rose and Iris for giving Turbo Kick a try. When I become an instructor, I will do my best to give you the best exercise experience I can.

All that is to say that TK Round 39 is KILLER! And my phlegm-filled lungs were letting me know. So, I moved my body to low-impact modifications of some of the moves.

Did that stop me from sweating enormously?
NO

Did that stop me from working every muscle in my body?
ABSOLUTELY NOT

Did it dampen my enthusiasm while doing it low-impact?
NEGATIVE, CAPTAIN

Did it mean I wasn't working to my MAX at that particular moment in time?
NOT A CHANCE!

Just because you are keeping your feet on the floor during the plyometric Turbo section doesn't mean you aren't working to your max.

Be real with yourself--ask yourself: "Can I give more to this??" If no, that's OK! You are getting the full benefit of the move because you know you have pushed yourself as far as you can.

If YES, consider--within your physical means--how you can take it to the next level.

YOU CAN! BELIEVE IN YOURSELF.

Does this mean just because my lungs wouldn't allow me to take it to full, high-impact that I am a weak individual?

NO WAY!

Everyone has a maximum level at a given point in time. Next time, when my cough has subsided, I KNOW I can push harder and DO MORE.

In your journey, realize that you can do the same. And that you don't have to beat yourself up mentally if you're not at the same level as someone else. Everyone has their own maximum level.

So, for today...

ROCK ON, Fitness Buddies, ROCK ON at your MAX.

<3
EMS

A recent note from *my* coach.

I am an Independent Team Beachbody Coach. I'm sure that is old news by now.

BUT did you know that I, too, have a coach? And *my* coach has a coach?

In this picture: Hillary Kelly, myself, Christine Dwyer (Hillary's coach!)

Effective coaches are not born, they're made.

(In my opinion) ;-)

Here is the most fantastic and motivating note, from my TBB coach, Hillary Kelly.

SUBJECT: Some thoughts for the New Year

Hey Team!!
As we approach 2010 please consider the following: You can succeed at anything..if you believe in yourself and your abilities. Over the years we get bombarded with negative messages, negative feedback and along the way one can lose their confidence, we lose our desire to succeed and we stop believing in ourselves. Over time the negative thinking can expand to the point we do not feel that there is anything positive in our lives. Always remember this, you are a spectacular human being capable of achieving and doing anything you desire--all you have to do is believe in yourself and then start doing the right things to succeed. It may not seem easy right now,but once you get your mind and subconscious mind working for you, once you change the way you think, change your beliefs, change your attitude and change your actions--success is automatic. So let's make 2010 our best year ever!! Focus on what you want! Believe in yourself! Believe that you can and will succeed! Get rid of the negative thinking that holds you back! Get your mind and subconscious mind working for you by constantly reminding yourself that YOU ARE GREAT!!!! Wishing You A Fit Day!

I wanted share with everyone because I feel that "paying it forward" really does, and genuinely, exist in this world. In the short time I have known and worked with Hillary, I have learned so much about how her life has been transformed through this business and how much she wants to see the same for me and all those she touches.

The part that stuck with me was "Focus on what you want! Believe in yourself! Believe that you can and will succeed!" (Another blog will address the goals she encourages us to put forth...)

I guess I'm just so blessed to know so many amazing people and continue to meet people to whom I can "pay it forward" to. I really do get such a huge thrill out of seeing others succeed at achieving their goals.

What do you want to focus on this new year?

How can I help you succeed?

"What moves me..." PART 1

Not long ago, I was asked to offer some tips on staying motivated through this lifestyle that is the fit and well life. My very first response was GOALS! You gotta have a goal if you want anything in your life to change. I think setting goals is the obvious first suggestion that motivational experts default to--and justifiably so. It WORKS!! However, I'll save that sentiment for another blog.

I realized that the best tip (while not new by any stretch) I could possibly offer was the one that I most often followed myself--submit yourself to the music.

Let music MOVE you.

I meant this not only as a physical means of motivation, but also an emotional, mental and spiritual one. Naturally, if you're looking to be physically motivated, there is music that is so very good at getting you there. Now, I'm a rock and roll gal all the way, but there are some majorly awesome dance tunes that stir me and get me moving--as well as other genres of music. IT'S ALL FAIR GAME! Some music is ideal for running or walking; some dancing; some just jumping and being a total spaz. I will mention that a lot of these songs are ones that were on my Boston Marathon Training Playlist...so they're ideal to run at varying paces. And don't laugh! I love every single one of these songs...even if they date me a little bit!

RAWK MUSIC THAT MOVES ME --(in no particular order)-- PHYSICALLY

1. "Skeptics and True Believers" --The Academy Is...
2. "Holiday/Boulevard of Broken Dreams" --Green Day
3. "Packt Like Sardines..." --Radiohead
4. "The Procession" --The Dear Hunter
5. "Muse" --Hysteria
6. "I'm Your Destiny" --Edna's Goldfish
7. "Atomic" --Blondie
8. "Dancing with Myself" --Billy Idol
9. "Sweetness" --Jimmy Eat World
10. "You Don't Wanna" --Tricky (This song transcends genre!!)
11. "Song 2" --Blur
12. "Can't Wait One Minute More" --Civ
13. "Coffee Mug" --Descendents
14. "Love Like Winter" --AFI
15. "Swagger" --Flogging Molly
16. "Sound System" --Operation Ivy
17. "And it Rained All Night" --Thom Yorke
18. "Eye of the Tiger" --Survivor
19. "I Ran" --Flock of Seagulls
20. "Mass Pike" --Get Up Kids
21. "Frustrated Unnoticed" --Damone
22. "Neighborhood #3" --The Arcade Fire
23. "Such Great Heights" --The Postal Service
24. "True Believers" --The Bouncing Souls
25. "C'Mon, C'Mon" --The Von Bondies
    
26. "I'm Walking on Sunshine" --Katrina and the Waves
    
27. "She is Beautiful" --Andrew W.K.
28. "15 Steps" --Radiohead
29. "Bad Reputation" --Joan Jett
30. "Jane" --The Loved Ones
31. "Love Type Thing" --Tegan & Sara
32. "Dr. D" --The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
33. "Out Here All Night" --Damone
34. "Looking for a Song" --Big Audio Dynamite
35. "Linoleum" --NOFX
36. "Dogs and Chaplains" --The Mighty Mighty Bosstones
37. "Roots, Radicals" --Rancid
38. "Upward Grind" --Avail
39. .............

OK, you get the picture. This is just a flavor of what I mean.......put on your favorite tunes and

M O V E!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

<3

One of the most PHENOMENAL weekends of my life!

December 5 & 6 marked a rather huge turning point in my journey to becoming a fitness instructor. I attended a training called "All Star Presenter Camp." The idea is to allow fitness instructors of any and all formats the opportunity to improve on their presentation, teaching, motivation, etc. for their classes. There is nothing like this training anywhere else in the fitness world. Even though I am not yet an instructor and have never taught a fitness class before, I thought taking this class would give me, if nothing
else, a sense of the expectation--not only from potential students, but also from people within the industry.

It was an incredible eye-opening experience. I got to teach 3 minutes of a Turbo Kick class--wearing a mic and everything! I learned SO many skills that I think I would not have otherwise known were important aspects of teaching a group fitness class.

The coolest part?!?! I made friends from around New England and the Mid-Atlantic states who I know I can count on for encouragement and support. We were all coming from different walks, and that's what made every person's presence there special.

It was definitely the most phenomenal weekend of my life.

If I knew then, what I know now...

Being a Team Beachbody Independent Coach was bound to happen as part of my journey to become a group fitness instructor. It was Turbo Jam, a Beachbody-released program, that got me started on my journey in the first place. It was what got me LOVING fitness. So, naturally, in my own transformation process, it made sense for me to position myself to support and encourage others, too.

What I didn't expect was all of the support I would recieve in the process as well! I am an active part of Team Beachbody!!

Being a Club member allows me to customize a meal plan to accomodate my fitness regimen. Including a shopping list for all the meals designed for me.

I log my workouts in the SuperGym and have workout buddies from all over the country and Canada! It allows me to be accountable to them when they invite me to workout with them. There's a cool down chat room and support message boards galore! I'm so blessed to be a part of this community.

But I think the thing that suprised me the most was Shakeology.

I was absolutely floored when I tried Shakeology. I first tired the Greenberry flavor thinking I was going to dislike it. I had been told it had a "wheat grass" flavor to it, so I was expecting it to be kind of bland. I remember thinking, "Thank goodness they have a chocolate flavor!" But I LOVED IT! Not only was it flavorful, but it was filling!

What the heck is Shakeology?!?!?!?

Check it out for yourself! Believe me. It's amazing.

If I knew when I joined the Club how amazing Shakeology was, I wouldn't have waited until NOW to get it! (But it doesn't hurt to have the coach discount to get it home direct!) :-)

I plan to use one shakeology shake a day in place of either lunch or dinner. A month's supply saves me anywhere from $2-$7 for that meal. Generally, I spend anywhere from $7-$12 on lunch everyday. Shakeology works out to be $5 a lunch! Woot!


STILL don't believe me? Read a recent blog from a straight-up fitness expert:
MY SHAKEOLOGY APOLOGY

The Conclusion to....My life as a Turbo addict

Conclusion: To understand how my Turbo addiction came about, I must first take you back a few years...

Some time in 2008--I think it was April--I remember the day clearly....just...not the exact date :-)

The couch in my living room was/is a sofa bed. I had actually pulled out the sofa bed to watch TV one morning because, well, I'm beyond lazy. Maybe? I was literally channel surfing. Which, was so unlike me, really.

This is the moment when I mention to my readers that I very much believe in God's Divine Hand in my life. I don't think I was channel surfing on accident. I don't think that this infomercial (who watches infomercials?!?!?!) came on coincidentally. I think this is what God had in mind for me all along...the decision was easy...as if it was already made. :-)

Returning to my story...

I also happen to have my laptop handy whilst lounging on a full size sofa bed in front of the TV, watching nothing in particular.

And there it was... an infomercial for a home-based workout program called Turbo Jam. It was produced and released by the same group as my first fitness hero, Kathy Smith. So that alone was enough reason to continue watching.

This was the start of something beautiful. Chelene Johnson, creator of Turbo Jam(R), had me beyond captivated. It was the first time that, in my opinion, an infomercial actually had valuable information.

So I immediately went to the website and ordered the Maximum Results collection. I even upgraded to priority shipping! I wanted to transform my body and my life that instant.

Now, while my story is probably like so many who watched that infomercial that day. I can only speak for myself when I say that I truly remember thinking that "this was it." I knew that this was the door that I was to open to begin changing my life for the better.

And you could tell almost immediately that something had changed in me. Even though my physical composition was yet to transform, I had a joyfulness in my spirit that I hadn't had since college. I had a sense of hope again.

Me and my friend, Mai, in the Summer of 2008

Dancin' makes me tired. :-)

To hear about the rest of my TRANSFORMATION STORY, visit my Team Beachbody Profile. It will take you through my start with Turbo Jam and describe the struggles I had with a meal plan. My hope is the post that here soon, but for now, follow me there.