10 Things Only Other Beachbody Coaches Will Understand

Woah!  So I came back from Beachbody Coach Summit in Nashville on Sunday, but man, was I exhausted!  This is really the first chance I've had to write a post between catching up on sleep and catching up on some things that need to be caught up on after you've been out of state for five days!
First let me just tell you that Summit was an AMAZING experience.  I made great new friends, learned SOOO much, had dream-come-true workouts with celebrity trainers, and savored some of the delicious cuisine of downtown Nashville.
It is SO WONDERFUL to be around other coaches.  Coaches GET IT.  This is a lifestyle, a culture.  Even though I have been a coach for over a year, I don't think I truly appreciated all that being a coach MEANS until I went to Summit.  So  today, I present my list of things only other Beachbody Coaches will understand:

1.  Taking a road trip with other people you may have never met before in real life.  On my trip, there were four women riding in my car to Nashville.  One of them was one of my personally sponsored coaches whom I used to work with.  I haven't seen her in person in YEARS.  Another woman was another coach on my team who I've met in person ONCE, in January when we flew to Pittsburgh for a Super Saturday.  The other woman was one of HER personally sponsored coaches, who I had never met at all.  Was it weird?  For maybe five minutes.  Just let me tell you:  these women are INCREDIBLE.  No wonder people say their coach friends become their best friends.  We have similar lifestyles, goals, and attitudes.  These chicks are FIERCE.

2.  The surreal feeling you get when you finally meet people in person that you've only talked to online.  You feel like you are meeting for the first time, but you aren't!  And you aren't sure at first if they know who YOU are (but they always do).

3.  No one in the car drinks soda.  No one.  Not once, in the five days we were there, did any of us.  I cannot imagine myself in a group of any other four people in my normal life where I can say that.

4.  The only new clothes we bought for our big annual convention trip were new workout clothes.  All.  Four.  Of.  Us.  Isn't that funny?  I threw together dresses I've had for awhile and some cool, comfortable clothes, but I just HAD to have some new workout pants and a snazzy new tank.

5.   Workout clothes, by the way, are perfectly legitimate outfits for the training sessions for said convention.  I'm not sure there are other conventions where this is true.

6.  It's pretty funny when the local Panera runs out of egg white and avocados.  Only sort of - that's what I was going to order!  This was on the second day of Summit.  True story!  Next year we should call the week ahead and warn them we are coming so they can be better prepared.

7.  We can identify other coaches by their toned and sexy arms!  It is true that coaches come in all shapes and sizes, but we could definitely tell other coaches by their shapely arms and comfort wearing workout clothes just about anywhere.

8.  Getting up at 5:00 AM to go STAND IN LINE for a workout.  Now, I wouldn't do this for just any workout, but I would do this for a CELEBRITY workout, say with Shaun T or Chalene Johnson.  And I did!  I would do it again!  Working out with Chalene LIVE has been an item on my bucket list for a LONG time.  She is MY HERO!

9.  Packing a cooler with lots and lots of water and lots and lots of healthy snacks.  I'm glad we did, because let me tell you - Beachbody kept us SO BUSY between workouts, general sessions, training, and parties, that there was NOT much time to eat or sleep.  Having cheese sticks, fruit, carrots, hummus, and healthy sandwiches in our mini fridge at our hotel SAVED OUR LIVES.  Packets of Shakeology helped a ton, too!  At least we knew we were being nourished.

10.  Feeling like you've found your TRIBE.  Some people just don't get the whole working out thing.  It's hard.  It's boring.  It's drudgery.  They would rather have their entire body waxed.  Not coaches.  Coaches have pushed through that point and CRAVE movement.  Sure, there are days we just don't wanna, but we know if we do we won't regret it.  Coaches are people just like you who have made a commitment to be the best version of themselves, and they love to help others do the same!  While we are all different, we have different lives and personalities, we are SO alike in that we love what we do.  We LOVE being a part of those after pictures.  We LOVE being a part of helping people to find their confidence, and then passing it on.

Have you ever wondered EXACTLY what it is that I do as a coach?  Have you wondered how I make money, or how much I make?  How much time or commitment does it take to be a coach?  You can have all of these questions and more answered in my 5 Day Coaching Sneak Peek that begins on Monday!  Just shoot me a message and let me know that you are in!  No pressure or obligation; just information.
Are you ready to BE FIERCE?

Where have you been, Julia?

I know, I know; it’s been awhile.  Several weeks, actually.  I haven’t been posting much, or blogging, or advertising for challenge groups.  

I have been taking some time to care for myself.   You see, before now, I’ve been too ashamed to talk about it much, but I have a disease.  It affects 121 MILLION other people around the world RIGHT NOW (Healthline).  

What is that disease, you ask?

It is depression.  And people don’t talk about it.

Depression has this stigma.  In fact, in my first major depressive episode as a teenager, I BEGGED my mother to take me to a psychiatrist or to put me on medication; she FLAT OUT refused.  She told me that the stigma of depression would follow me for the rest of my life and ruin any chances I would ever have of getting a good job.

She wasn't completely wrong. While it hasn't hindered me professionally, it has kept me from purchasing long-term disability insurance since I had EVER in MY LIFE been treated for depression. That was years ago, too.

Mind you, this is a hereditary disease; she’s not here for me to ask, but I am fairly certain my mother suffered from depression herself.

Anyway, with this most recent episode that began last fall, I did seek help, but I hid it from everyone.  I was ashamed; what was wrong with me that I just couldn’t SNAP OUT OF IT?  Was I crazy?  Psycho?  Was I worse because I needed medication to deal with it?

It is difficult to hide an elephant the size of major depression.  People who didn’t even know me that well could tell that something just wasn’t right.  I told everyone I was fine, but only if they bothered to ask.

I was not fine.  I am still NOT FINE.

Once I finally started opening up to close friends, I received amazing support; that is not surprising - I have amazing people in my life.  But overwhelmingly, what I started hearing when I would tell people about my anxiety and depression is this:

“Me, too.”

I thought I would hear “oh, you should just cheer up!  You have nothing to be depressed about!”  I did hear that, too.  The “me too” people said it quietly, under their breaths, and I would have NEVER known if they hadn’t told me.

Why are people with this disorder are treated as though they have done something wrong?  They haven’t; it is both chemical and genetic and absolutely no one’s fault.  If someone with leukemia were treated the way people suffering from depression were treated, the world would have something to say about it.

For the last year and some months, I have had the honor of being a Beachbody Coach.  I have helped countless people get fit, lose weight, and change their lives.  I have been doing my part to #endthetrend of obesity in this country.  Now, I’ve decided to use coaching as a platform to change something else:

I’m going to talk about depression.  Openly and honestly.  I want other people, especially women, to know that they are not the only ones.  I want to help them find healthy ways to deal with their disease.  I want to help them to find resources to seek out the roots of their problems instead of hoping for a magic pill to make it go away.

I am not a doctor or a therapist.  I cannot diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. But what I can do is talk about it - all of it.  I’m going to talk about what I have done that helps, and what doesn’t.  I’m going to talk about how I feel, even on the bad days, and I’m going to talk about what I am learning about myself and the world.  I want other people to join the conversation.  I want others to know that they do not have to fight this battle alone.

I want to #endthestigma of anxiety and depression.  I hope you will join me.

Be fierce!

CLX Week 10 Update and Meal Plan

FINALLY!  Finally, I feel like I am back on track.  I never thought it would have been my birthday week, of all weeks.
I dug in, I had my Shakeology every day, I got my workouts in, and I ate according to my meal plan.  After several weeks of feeling frustrated and constant failure, I am BACK, baby!
This last week, I ONLY had ONE cheat meal (at the Melting Pot; yum!).  On my actual birthday, instead of giving myself the go-ahead to pig out, my gift to myself was to allow myself to go to bed a little early (big party, I know).

As for my workouts this week, I was a little surprised that on some exercises, I had to go down on the weight or the number of reps.  I think that is because when I make an increase in one place, my muscles are too exhausted to make increases later in the workout.  That's okay, because I still feel stronger!
My effort is paying off!  I can already feel it in my pants; they are fitting the way I like them to, and the way I am most comfortable.  I feel comfortable in my own skin.  I'm not starving nor constantly craving.
Now, the plan is to KEEP IT UP this week!  There is still a little birthday celebrating going on, so I still need to be careful and conscious, but I am confident I can do it!
Here is my meal plan for this week:

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Meal Plan for 3.30
Workout	Lean Circuit 1	Rest	Lean Circuit 2	Get Lean Intervals and I’ve Got Abs	Lean Circuit 3	Fat Burn Challenge and Recharge	Rest
Breakfast Protein, CCFV, protein	Shakeology, almond milk, and frozen fruit	Shakeology, almond milk, and frozen fruit	Shakeology, almond milk, and frozen fruit	Shakeology, almond milk, and frozen fruit	Shakeology, almond milk, and frozen fruit	Greek yogurt pancakes, eggs, bacon, and fruit	Shakeology, almond milk, and frozen fruit
Snack Protein, CCFV,	Apple and peanut butter	Apple and peanut butter	Apple and peanut butter	Apple and peanut butter	Apple and peanut butter	Apple and peanut butter	Apple and peanut butter
Lunch CCFV; protein; CC-S; HF	Leftover turkey burger and salad	Steak fajitas w/ onions and peppers, corn tortillas, and salad	Steak fajitas w/ onions and peppers, corn tortillas, and salad	Cod, Baked potato, veggies	Chicken spaghetti and salad	Cheat – family birthday party (Mexican food an CARROT CAKE!)	Leftovers
Snack Protein, CCFV,	Blackberries, greek yogurt, and honey	Blackberries, greek yogurt, and honey	Blackberries, greek yogurt, and honey	Blackberries, greek yogurt, and honey	Blackberries, greek yogurt, and honey	Blackberries, greek yogurt, and honey	Blackberries, greek yogurt, and honey
Dinner CCFV(2); protein; CC-S(2); HF(2)	Steak fajitas w/ onions and peppers, corn tortillas, and salad	Birthday dinner @ Tucano’s – eat clean!	Cod, Baked potato, veggies	Chicken spaghetti and salad	BBQ Pork Steaks, grilled corn, mashed potatoes	Leftovers	Grilled steaks, zucchini ribbon salad, steamed potatoes
Snack Protein, CC-S,	Celery and almonds	Celery and almonds	Celery and almonds	Celery and almonds	Celery and almonds	Shakeology and almond milk	Celery and almonds

What is YOUR plan?  Besides to BE FIERCE, of course :)

CLX Week 9 Update and Meal Plan

Forgive me if I have several typos, as my arms are sore and feel a little shaky!  I just completed week 9 of ChaLEAN Extreme.  This is the first week of the LEAN Phase, and let me tell you, my body KNOWS I'm doing something new.
The Lean Phase focuses on working multiple parts of the body simultaneously; for example, you might be going into a forward lunch while lifting one arm into an Arnold press with a weight(!).  A move like this works your whole body - arms, legs, butt, and core.  This month also has you doing breakdown sets from the very first to the very last exercises in the workouts for maximum effectiveness.  After each strength session this week, my arms were TREMBLING in the shower while I was washing my hair!  I've also noticed that my legs and abs seem tighter, and if I remember correctly from the last time I did this program, this is the month  where I saw the biggest changes to my body.

I don't know if it is the weather FINALLY breaking, or just my body craving what is good for it, but I have been yearning for HEALTHY YUMMIES!  I cannot wait for local fruit to be good and sweet! Lately, egg white omelettes, spinach salads, and oatmeal seem to be haunting my dreams.  I can definitely tell you that this is a good thing!

This week, I am on spring break from teaching, so I know I need to stick to a meal plan!  But also, since I have more time this week, there has been some recipes I've been wanting to try, so I am enjoying my time off by getting playful in the kitchen!  I will blog about the ones that turn out well.
The downside (well, sort of) to having ten days off is that there are so many people I want to catch up with, because honestly, when school is in, it is just so hard to find the time!  I'm having lunch at Crown Candy Kitchen with my BFF Rachel and her youngest son; there is no way I'm going there and not ordering a shake and a BLT!  But I'm going to see if Rachel and Cameron will split a shake with me because they are HUGE!  On Thursday I'm having lunch with my friend Kim at Panera, which is awesome because I know I can always find something healthy there (that power salad I had last week keeps coming to mind - YUM!).  On Friday night, date night, Handsome Hubby and I have been wanting Fish Fry.  Even though we aren't Catholic, it IS the season for fish frys, so it will definitely be a cheat meal!  But I have made it something I really want, so I'm okay with it.
Notice I am having TWO cheat meals this week.  I don't usually do that, but considering I am on vacation (and can get in a extra workout or two ;)) and I am maintaining my weight, not trying to lose, I am going to be flexible and let it happen, but I am not going to make a habit of it.  The rest of this week I am STRICTLY sticking to my plan.
Speaking of, here it is:

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Meal Plan for 3.16 Meal Plan
Workout	Lean Circuit 1	Lean Circuit 2	Burn Intervals and Extreme Abs	Lean Circuit 3	Burn it Off and Recharge	Rest	Rest
Breakfast Protein, CCFV, protein	Shakeology, almond milk, and frozen fruit	Shakeology, almond milk, and frozen fruit	Shakeology, almond milk, and frozen fruit	Shakeology, almond milk, and frozen fruit	Shakeology, almond milk, and frozen fruit	Shakeology, almond milk, and frozen fruit	Shakeology, almond milk, and frozen fruit
Snack Protein, CCFV,	Halos and cheese stick	Halos and cheese stick	Halos and cheese stick	Halos and cheese stick	Halos and cheese stick	Halos and cheese stick	Halos and cheese stick
Lunch CCFV; protein; CC-S; HF	Asparagus and White Bean Pasta	Clean Orange Chicken and fried Brown Rice	Cheat – Crown Candy Kitchen with the Leals	Bread Co – Power salad and apple	Leftovers	Leftovers	Leftovers
Snack Protein, CCFV,	Apple and almonds	Apple and almonds	Apple and almonds	Apple and almonds	Apple and almonds	Apple and almonds	Apple and almonds
Dinner CCFV(2); protein; CC-S(2); HF(2)	Clean Orange Chicken and fried Brown Rice	Shredded Beef Crockpot tacos	Clean chicken fettuccini alfredo, salad	Leftovers	Cheat – Fish Fry	Leftovers	Mexican Chicken, salad
Snack Protein, CC-S,	Mini Peppers and hummus	Mini Peppers and hummus	Mini Peppers and hummus	Mini Peppers and hummus	Mini Peppers and hummus	Mini Peppers and hummus	Mini Peppers and hummus

What is YOUR spring break plan?  How are you keeping yourself accountable?  

If you would like to learn how to make your very own meal plan, consider joining my upcoming "Spring into Fitness" support and accountability group!  It begins March 23.  Fill out this application:

Online contact and registration forms from Wufoo.

Oh, yeah:
BE FIERCE!

ChaLEAN Extreme Week 7 Update and Meal Plan

Do you ever feel like the Universe is just trying to tell you something?  Like you are trying to force something that just isn’t meant to be?  Maybe sometime in the future, just not right now?

This is me and the 21 Day Fix Extreme.  I cannot adequately explain to you the frustration I have experienced with the USPS since February 7th, when the program was supposedly delivered to my house.  I have spent at least an hour and a half on hold with USPS corporate offices.  They even closed the inquiry once (Why?  I have no idea because it certainly wasn’t resolved and they never contacted me about it).  But alas, I do not want this sort of negativity in my vortex, so I am taking it as a sign from the Universe that this is not a good time for me to attempt the 21 Day Fix Extreme.  And you know what?  That’s okay because I am enjoying the HECK out the ChaLEAN Extreme (CLX) (again!).  I just finished week 7.  So, instead of fighting what is happening, I am embracing it!  I AM GOING TO COMPLETE CHALEAN EXTREME!  And then, if I have received my 21 Day Fix Extreme by that time, I will move on to that.

It is probably for the better, anyway.  March in my birthday month, so I will want to take my weekly cheat meals.  I will also want my wine and chocolate, and wine, chocolate, and cheat meals are not a part of the 21 Day Fix Extreme.  Perhaps this is Providence.

I will tell you that since I am lifting so heavy I feel like I CANNOT FEED MY BODY ENOUGH FOOD!  In a way, it is a nice feeling!  I know I am hungry because my body is building muscle! So this week I am going to add an extra serving of protein to my three meals to see if that helps with the feeling of being so hungry that I could eat my own arm.

I KNOW I am getting stronger; seriously, check this out!  

I have upped my weights nearly every week on nearly every exercise.  On some exercises, I am even matching Chalene’s weight!  The stars are to remind me to increase my weight next week. I’m almost finished with the PUSH month and I am super excited about the LEAN Phase; I remember the last time I did this program, that was the Phase when the magic happened.  Since I already have a baseline of fitness, I am curious to see what will happen this time.

My meal plan was sort of difficult this week.  Many meals are repeated from last week because schedules between myself and my husband didn’t go as planned, and I ended up eating a lot of leftovers; therefore, meals that were on last week’s plan are now on this week’s.  Then this week is tough, too, because on Tuesday I have parent teacher conferences (it just makes for an extremely long day); then on Thursday, I am getting a root canal after work, and then on Friday, I am accompanying the student Equity Team to a Middle Eastern restaurant and a Jewish Temple (I am incredibly excited; it is going to be so much fun!).  I know that because I am so busy, I need to plan well and pack my snacks in order to be successful.  And just because this is the way life works sometimes, I have to have THREE rest days instead of TWO, and I have to double-up workouts on Sunday to stay on track.

Life happens when you are trying to be fit and healthy!

Anyway, here is the plan:

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday	Sunday
Meal Plan for 3.2 Meal Plan
Workout	Push Circuit 1	Rest	Push Circuit 2	Rest	Rest	Burn Intervals and Extreme Abs	Push Circuit 3 Burn it off and Recharge (doubles)
Breakfast Protein, CCFV, protein	Shakeology, almond milk, and frozen fruit	Shakeology, almond milk, and frozen fruit	Shakeology, almond milk, and frozen fruit	Shakeology, almond milk, and frozen fruit	Shakeology, almond milk, and frozen fruit	Shakeology, almond milk, and frozen fruit	Shakeology, almond milk, and frozen fruit
Snack Protein, CCFV,	Blackberries, greek yogurt, and honey	Blackberries	greek yogurt	and honey	Blackberries	greek yogurt	and honey
Lunch CCFV; protein; CC-S; HF	Leftover taco casserole, salad, dressing	Chicken, spinach, and mozzarella roll ups, cous cous, veggies, salad	Chicken, spinach, and mozzarella roll ups, cous cous, veggies, salad	Salmon, steamed veggies, baked sweet potato w/ olive oil, bread, salad, dressing	- soup	Leftovers	Leftovers
Snack Protein, CCFV,	Carrots  and hummus	Carrots  and hummus	Carrots  and hummus	Carrots  and hummus	Carrots  and hummus	Carrots  and hummus	Carrots  and hummus
Dinner CCFV(2); protein; CC-S(2); HF(2)	Chicken, spinach, and mozzarella roll ups, cous cous, veggies, salad	Parent-teacher conferences – EAT CLEAN!	Salmon, steamed veggies, baked sweet potato w/ olive oil, bread, salad, dressing	Root canal - soup	Petra field trip with students; cheat meal	Leftovers	Spaghetti and Turkey meat balls; salad, dressing
Snack Protein, CC-S,	Apple and almonds	Apple and almonds	Apple and almonds	Apple and almonds	Apple and almonds	Apple and almonds	Apple and almonds

I hope you have an amazing week!  If you have any questions or need help, shoot me a message on the ol’ Facebook; that’s what I’m here for ;)

BE FIERCE!