It's So Much More...

I was inspired to write this post after reading something my upline coach wrote. She says "It's so much more than just a box of DVDs and a bag of powder." And what she had to say was so powerful about that - I just had to share as well.

So many people see before and after pictures posted on Facebook and they think "wow, that's awesome - what an inspiration"...but not very often do they think it's possible for them to do the same thing. I remember I used to look at all the pictures and think about how nice it would be if I could ever have a transformation like that. But I really had no idea how to get there. I was too lost on where to start and more importantly I was way too lost in my pile of excuses to do anything about it. Couple things that used to run through my head when I saw a great transformation story:

1. They must have a lot more time than me to devote to working out.
2. I wonder what special pill they used to lose that weight.
3. I bet you they have a personal trainer that helped them to figure it all out and to push them. I have no idea how to shape my body and get ripped like that.
4. There's no way those results are that real - I'm sure the pictured are altered somehow.

Then I started to see people I knew posting their transformations. Not only their transformations, but their progress and sharing what they were doing. This is when I started to get interested. If these people, who I knew were regular people like me....who worked full time like me, and could have the same excuses as me could do it - WHY wouldn't I be able to do it? A girl I used to work with had posted something about an online accountability group and it peeked my interest. I was not very good about going to the gym because I had a new baby and a small toddler and there was never a great time for me to head off to the gym. At the time I was working full time and only had a few precious hours a day with my babies anyway. The last thing I felt like doing was heading to the gym after we put them to bed. I was way too exhausted by that point and wanted to spend time with my husband too!

So I knew I wanted to try an at-home work out program and decided T25 would be a great one to start with. The price tag on the challenge pack which included the program and Shakeology seemed very expensive to me at first. I remember going back and forth with it wondering if I would really do the program and if a shake could really be worth that. I wasn't thinking of the investment...I was thinking of the cost.  So I totally understand the initial feelings of my prospective customers and challengers....you just don't fully understand the incredible investment right away. But I knew that I wanted to change my body and something in my gut told me to go for it and give it all I've got by diving right in. I'm SO glad I made that decision.

The beauty of it is, when you buy a challenge pack - you're not just getting a pack of DVDs and bag of powder. free shipping and a discounted price! You actually have someone on the other end who is going to be there for you to push you through, to help you through your struggles, to make sure you open that pack of DVDs and press play. Someone to help you to believe in yourself and to be there on the bad days to lift you up and to praise you on the good ones. This really was priceless to me. It made me want to push play every day because I felt accountable to a group that I committed to. I had other people that were expecting me to check in daily with my progress and that made me work harder every day. I also have a Type A personality, like to stick to something I say I'm going to do and don't like disappointing people - so this accountability group was perfect!

Not only did it provide the accountability that was priceless - but I also finally learned how to eat clean and completey changed my eatings habits. I had no idea just how important nutrition was to any progress you expect. I always thought that especially if you worked out - you could kind of eat what you want still....wow was I wrong. So much of it happens in the kitchen and that's where real discipline comes in. Shakeology was a life saver for me.  I knew I had one extremely healthy meal taken care of that I didn't have to plan or think about. I have been drinking Shakeology every day since because it has been a HUGE part of my health overhaul and I completely believe in the value of it with all of my heart.

So couple questions:

**When you go to the gym - do you have someone there to hold you accountable? To make sure you show up every day?
**Who is helping you with your nutrition to make sure you're eating properly for the workouts you're doing?
**How do you know if the work that you're doing at the gym is going to produce the results you desire?
**Who is going to hold you accountable at the start and end of your goals?

If you're like me - you will think about those questions and answer them as truthfully as you can and then make a decision to get the best bang for your buck...the one that is going to give you the results you so desire. The one that could change your life and let you have your own transformation story like the ones you see posted by others who inspire you!