Become a Phoenix Dynasty Coach!

Are you usually skeptical when something seems TOO good to be TRUE? I know I am… I’m always wondering ‘WHAT’s the CATCH???’

Proof: I just talked to AT&T about our U-Verse and they offered us 3 extra months of HBO/Starz/etc for FREE. My first reaction when she told me that they were doing it as a good deed because I’m a long time customer of theirs was, “So there’s NO strings attached? Are you SURE?” You know what I’m talking about right? 

Here’s the thing… I realize that a lot of these companies come off as a TOTAL scam at times!  Over the years I’ve been coaching I’ve seen companies BOOM then FADE, make BIG promises, promised it was EASY, PUSH to SELL rather than ASK ‘HOW CAN I HELP?’

But Beachbody coaching has never made ONE promise of the glitz and glamour if I didn’t put in the work. And let me tell you, putting in the work for the last 3.5 years has paid me in 100 fold, not just financially so that I can support myself completely on my own, pay off 20k in debt, and live comfortable (and not paycheck to paycheck FINALLY!) but in my personal day to day life.

And I can imagine that for you reading this (if you follow me at least) you’re probably wondering, “what the HECK does she do ALL day?!” besides blog, edit pictures, workout and drink Shakeology ;-) 

Well here’s your opportunity to find out… the whole REASON I’m doing this is because I know the personal impact of what the coaching opportunity has done for me. I WOULD DO THIS WITHOUT THE MONEY.. WHY? Because it’s impacted my life so deeply that I’ve had the BLESSED opportunity to impact others lives for the better! & I can guarantee that you have that same opportunity RIGHT NOW. 

& Right NOW, I’m looking to grow my circle of ‘DOERS’ and ‘LIFE CHANGERS’ 

Imagine how SELFISH it would be for me to hold back an opportunity thats done a 180 for my life? #Icanteven ;-)

I don’t need a fancy commitment from you! It’s an OPEN HOUSE for any *NON* coach, customers of mine, friends and family <3 If this sounds like something you want to learn more about and see if it would fit your lifestyle, CONTACT ME NOW! << that's where you will fill out a quick form and how I will get back in touch with you! Can't wait! <3 

“The only POSSIBLE journey is the ONE you BEGIN!”

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August Drug Store Beauty Haul - Review on NYX products!

EEEEEK! Ok, so my new found obsession with Ulta (like Sephora but carries 'drug store' brand makeup lines like Maybelline and Cover Girl) has just sky rocketed.

I LOVE NYX -- its an awesome 'drug store' makeup line that border lines being professional in my book! I love makeup, but I don't always feel like spending a fortune on something I will wash off at the end of the day.

So when I went to Ulta this last time I was fully prepared to get in and get out... well you ladies know how that goes right?

I purposely went in to grab my It Cosmetics! brow pencil BUT, after I saw that they carried NYX and they were STALKED to the brim with makeup, well, like any self respecting frugal fashionista I headed on over to see what I could score.

And I did just that, I SCORED.

For a long time I've been searching for NUDE and WHITE eyeliner. I LOVE the nude eyeliner on the bottom water line to create a very FRESH looking face.

The white I LOVE to outline a dark cat eye liner. White on top of black just looks classy to me, and it keeps things simple and your natural features front and center.

So the total haul were the following AMAZING products:

• NYX Retractable white eyeliner - AMAZING. Goes on smooth and is a crisp white!

•  NYX Shine Killer - AMAZING - I have normal to oily skin (much more oily in hot weather) and I'm always trying to kill the shine. I don't like the 'dewey' look on me when my dew is a little too natural, know what I mean?!

• NYX Pore Filler - AMAZING.Literally filled my pores/minimized the look and create a very beautiful matte look! 

• NYX Brow Marker - GOOD, but I would make sure that your face is completely dry, especially if you apply a moisturizer because wet won't go on top of wet very well. I def love the precision of this marker and the color (I bought DEEP brown) 

• NYX Brow Pencil and Pushup Bra - if your eyebrows need a push up bra then this is it! If you want to highlight your brow bones and make your eyebrows stand out, you need this pencil. Hands down, amazing. 

• NYC Wonder Pencil - WonderFUL is right! I LOVE this pencil, I got it in Light and I absolutely love it for the bottom waterline of your lid. Great for highlighting! 

Honestly, I LOVE them all. They're all great products at a great price. So if you're into saving money, but also looking like one sophisticated gal, then these are all great finds! Check them out and let me know what you think! <3

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T25 on SALE - T25 Womens Results

It’s prettyyyyy crazy to look back at what I accomplished about this time last year with T25… I certainly had my reservations about whether or not a 25 minute workout program would deliver results. When it comes to fitness, I’m skeptical first and then ‘show me’ next. I know a LOT of you are probably like that. You want to KNOW it works before you invest right? Heck, we ALL want that.

But… sometimes you have to INVEST first, and find out NEXT. For a while there, I was WAITING for things to happen. Waiting to see if my stomach would go back to how it was in high school (the good ole days of fast metabolism and burritos are long gone), waiting to see if my lower body would shape up, waiting to feel more energized, waiting… waiting… and waiting.

Sometimes you have to leave the waiting room and go into the operating room. You gotta get down to business and identify what you NEED to MAKE happen in order to get the results you’re looking for.

And at the point the tool lying on the ‘surgical table’ so to speak was T25. I wanted to see if a 25 minute cardio/body weighted resistant program was going to get me from where I was to where I wanted to be. I KNEW ShaunT would deliver a great program because I had done Insanity before (and loved it but couldn’t hang with the high impact and bad knees).

I think MOST of you know what happened after that… but if you don’t — it reignited my passion for fitness, it centered my vision on what I could do and wanted to accomplish, it made everything else seem POSSIBLE.

I started to see myself in a new light, more confidence, I became happier, more energy, and finally… EXCITED!

I don’t know where YOU are at exactly in your journey… but if you ARE ready for a change, I want you to know, you can’t WAIT for it to happen, you have to MAKE it happen! && lucky for you T25 and Shakeology are on sale till the end of August, which just so happens to be the cut off date for….

“LOOK at that BODY” (I workout) Challenge  And it only took 25 minutes a day, sometimes the difference between ordinary and extraordinary is just that LITTLE extra!

If this sounds like something you would want to check out, please don’t hesitate to fill out this APPLICATION RIGHT NOW (or at least bookmark it for later — I know that I forget it easily if its not done asap)

I cant wait to see YOUR results. I’ve seen mine, they’re great but its 100x more exciting to see new ones! Will it be you?

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Spinach and Asparagus Cheesy Stuffed Chicken

Fun fact: I stopped eating meat for about 5 months after watching a lot of those food documentaries on Netflix (Food Inc., Forks Over Knives, Sick, Fat and Nearly Dead, Food Matters, Farmageddon, pretty much every single one they have had). 

I'm secretly obsessed with those documentaries, it baffles me what kind of bullshit goes on within our country and food. Geez ok.. thats another blog article in itself. 

So let me ask ya...

Why did the chicken cross the road?

Well in my book, to get stuffed, seasoned, and baked! I'm back to eating meat, and I see it like this: live life with balance. I TRY to balance all things -- food, alcohol, workouts, relationships, etc. and even, MEAT. I try my best to find range free, organic, local grown, hormone free, etc. products. 

To be honest, its an internal battle whether to be vegetarian at times when you know only half of the bad things that go on behind closed doors (cough Monsanto cough). 

AH back to that! Ok, focus! 

Here's What You Need: 

• 2 chicken breasts (or 1 if your cooking for one)
• Seasoning of your choice for the chicken -- I used Mrs. Dash Original blend and Chicken 
• Olive oil
• Spinach
• Asparagus
• Himalayan salt
• Pepper
• Low fat or whipped cream cheese 

Directions:

*Pre-heat the oven to 450 degrees

1. Butterfly (or cut in half like I did) the chicken, add a little olive oil and seasonings. 
2. Season the asparagus (I used some of Mrs. Dash original and pepper) and coat lightly with olive oil, place in the oven for 12 or so minutes, then set aside. 
3. Sautee the spinach with a little olive oil and Himalayn salt, then set aside.
4. Cook the chicken for a few minutes (not fully cooked), pull out and add 1 tbsp of cream cheese per chicken breast. Add spinach and asparagus, and put back in the oven for 6 minutes.

Then...

Chow Down. 

Bon Appetite <3

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3 Day Refresh Review Women's Results

Welp! Here we are the day after Day 3 on the Refresh and I feel FAN - FREAKIN - TASTIC!

Honestly, I LOVE coffee and the crazy jittery energy it gives me (does that sound bad??) BUT this is like stable sustained energy all day long!

AND the best part, I can still fall asleep at a decent time and not be up for hours OR crash during the day.

So last week I gave you ALL the details of The 3 Day Refresh, but now I've actually experience it FIRST HAND.

And what an experience its been the last 3 Days.

Here are my results! I can honestly tell a difference in my stomach, I could barely "suck it in" AKA flex the first day. EEK!

Here are the things I felt:

• hungry
• energized (weird that you can be energized and hungry right?)
• light (I mean its all veggies and fruits!)
• a little frustrated  (I love food) 
• Determined (to finish)

BUT I made a quick video for you guys and gals to explain a BIT more what I experienced through the 3 Day Refresh ... check it out: 

If you're ready to REFRESH with me and want to experience a more focused, energized and lighter YOU, then PLEASE fill out THIS FORM 

And I will get back to you!

OH, and a HUGE thank you to my wonderful, amazing boyfriend who DID NOT let me cheat, and kept me on track! I could NOT have done it without him, we can play by the rules and we also love to break the rules, right darling? You're the BEST accountability partner I've ever had <3 Love you!

I look forward to hearing from you!

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Body Beast for Women - What is Body Beast?

So ladies, lets talk WEIGHTS. And not the number reflected on the scale, but the ones on the barbells and dumbbells.

I never really lifted weights until I tried P90X... I kindaaaa had no clue as to what I was doing... and I had NO IDEA that there was a rhythm and method to the madness.

And ya know? I always saw those REALLY in shape girls and I wondered, "WHAT the HECK is SHE DOING?"

So I decided, "I'll join the YMCA.. and lose at least 20lbs!"

MHMMM. AND then I realized, I had no idea what I was doing at the gym. I would do workouts with weights, ya know -- the usual shoulder presses, bicep curls and chest presses. I went to ab classes, zumba, spin. I tried it ALL.


To be like those TONED girls I saw, and to really shape my muscles two things needed to happen and they were this:

1. I needed to get SERIOUS about nutrition 
2. I needed to get on a program of some sort program or schedule

But...

I wasn't on a schedule.
I didn't have much accountability, I was flying solo.
I wasn't really sure what to do with nutrition... count calories? portion control? paleo? vegan? WTF?

Sound familiar? I'm sure there's a few of you reading this going "uh huh, been there, done that!"

Well lets fast forward a few years later to NOW -- after doing Body Beast on and off for over a year (and completing it last year) I realize how uneducated I was about lifting. It's much more than bicep curls here and there, and ab classes.

P90X taught me a lot, don't get that wrong, BUT something about Body Beast two years later got me really into lifting weights and learning about the different sets (read the difference between Body Beast and P90X )

 I feel it accelerated my results AND once I started seeing PROGRESS, I got ADDICTED.

Body Beast. Intimidating name, and at first I thought, "that is such a dumb name" HA! I swear I'm the most skeptical coach sometimes, but I always going, "I really like what you did there" later on (cough T25 cough, I totally thought 25 min wasn't that great of a workout BUT here's my honest review HERE)

BUT don't let that name fool you, there's nothing more satisfying knowing that you're increasing body strength, and the word "BEAST" becomes your best friend.

Hench, LADY BEAST.

I'm always looking for women, who either love to lift or want to learn. Maybe you're the type going, "yeah I have no idea what I'm doing" or you're a seasoned vet and you like Arnold as much as I do.

If that sounds like you, I would LOVE to hear from you. You can easily contact me HERE.

So let's get onto the goods, shall we?

What's included in Body Beast:

12 workouts:

• Build: DVDs 1-4 Lay the foundation for a huge new you. Give every muscle in your body a major pump with Super Sets and Giant Sets.
• Bulk: DVDs 5-9 Force Sets, Progressive Sets, Combo Sets, and Multi-Sets build on the size you gained in Phase 1. Now the focus shifts to muscular hypertrophy, the technical term for the muscle cells enlarging, bringing about explosive muscle growth.
• Beast: DVDs 10-12 With fat-burning cardio, relentless circuit-training, and intense core work, you'll be amazed at your increasing capacity to lift heavier weights and grow bigger, more defined muscles.

You'll also get these valuable tools:

• The Book of Beast. Get huge without wasting a second. This info-packed program guide gives you tips on proper form and safety, explains the science behind growing your muscles, breaks down the nutrition you need to reach your goals, and even boosts your motivation.
• "How to Eat Like a Beast" Eating Plan. Exceptional bodies are made in the kitchen. This comprehensive guide provides a calorie calculator, portion charts, food lists, and suggested supplements to help you bring out your inner Beast.
• 90-Day Daily Workout Calendar. We've done the work for you, so you always know which exercises to do, when. Just follow along and chart your progress.
• When you order through a coach (like me) you will also get Lucky 7, a BONUS workout DVD ;-)

So you're probably wondering, "WHY Body Beast? What makes this difference than the other programs?"

Glad ya asked ;-)

And I'll be straight forward with you. Doing a little of this and that once in a while won't get you results. Going to the gym and walking around from machine to machine without a plan won't get you results. Running 30 mins a day on the treadmill won't get you results. Just working out and not eating good won't get you results. Just eating good and NEVER working out will keep you healthy, but soft. 

I know this because I DID IT. I speak from experience, not a soap box. I want to help you see results. But the excuses gotta go! 

If you're tired of wondering "what the heck am I doing? Why am I not getting results? What's the deal, how do I get toned?" 

then I've got your answer. Get on a workout schedule. Get on some type of nutrition plan. Push yourself, grab heavy weights, DO BODY BEAST.  Try something NEW. *the photo to the right is my current transformation from 2010-2014

 They say INSANITY is doing the same thing and expecting different results.

So let's do something about it! Let's PROVE that lifting weights makes women strong, sexy, toned! That it's not about bulking, or looking manly. Years of rumors just being passed on, and its time to put it to end. 

I touched a bit on nutrition earlier, and expressed how important that is. If you are wanting my help, I host monthly challenge fitness groups on Facebook for women. It's one of the BEST parts about my job, watching women (like you) reach their goals and find CONSISTENCY and accountability.

The challenge groups are 100% FREE, the three things you need to invest in is

1. A program (like Body Beast) 
2. Nutrition (like the REAL DEAL -- we'll talk more about this when we talk about your current nutrition)
3. Yourself -- you need goals, you need a reason to do it even on days you don't feel like doing it 

To get more information about my monthly From Flab to Fab Fitness Challenge Groups, click HERE. 

I hope to hear from you soon!

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Will lifting weights regularly make me BULKY?

Well today won't be your usual recipe post, sorry gals.. after multiple mishaps in the kitchen trying to master sweet potato pancakes that ACTUALLY rise... well I'm going to take a hiatus and try again another time because at the rate I'm going, I just found about 5 ways to make really crappy ones!

So let's talk about a different topic today shall we?

Over the past year I have had SO many of you (women) ask me EXACTLY how I got my transformation...

from cardio queens, to those who NEVER workout, to those who do just yoga...

One thing is pretty clear, muscle is SEXY and especially on women!

I'm not a HUGE fan of super intense bulked up muscles, but its TRUE that the only way to get THAT bulky is to EAT A LOT, TRAIN A LOT HARDER, and take supplementation that will help increase your muscle mass.

BUT, I'm not all about that, and my guess is you aren't either.

If you're looking for a slimmed, toned, and defined look, read on girlfriend. 

See there's this program called Body Beast -- sounds intense right? When I first heard of it, my first reactions was this:

HELL to the NO. 

I liked lifting weights here and there, but I wasn't on an actual LIFTING schedule.

Why? Because like most of you reading this, I thought it was going to make me a SHE HULK.

EEK pass right?

Well, turns out I was WRONG. Like most of my favorite programs, I start out VERY skeptical and think that it more than likely won't help me achieve the results I'm looking for, especially with a program called BODY BEAST.

But you know what? I turned sexy lady beast and I'm stronger than ever and know how to actually LIFT weights and follow a schedule BECAUSE of this program!

BUT.

There's a little butt in there (and a big ole one on the other side ;-)) -- the only thing I didn't jump for joy about was the lack of cardio training in Body Beast for women.

Besides that little tid bit, the program itself is GOLDEN. It actually teaches you the importance of being on a schedule, the different types of sets you can do during your workouts, isolating body parts on different days to increase recovery and change/growth of muscles.

The reason this program works SO well for women is this, its a SHOCKER!!! It literally SHOCKS your muscles.. you're lifting weights heavier than your body is use to, so of course your muscles are going to be confused and start changing to be able to support your new workout.

To read more about Body Beast click HERE.

But let's get to the CORE of this post.

I'm looking for FIVE women between the ages of young 20 somethings to early thirties who are looking to TRANSFORM their bodies. I need 5 women to TRUST me and JOIN me in our own Lady Beast Fitness Challenge (via private FB group for accountability).

Details: 

This challenge will begin September 1st 2014 and will continue for 13 weeks long

You will need:

• Weights ranging from 5 pounds to 30lbs+ (depends on your strength, but I range between 5 pounds and 30-35lbs depending on which muscle group we are using), 
• a bench or stability ball
• Body Beast (@ home Beachbody DVD workout program purchased HERE)
• Shakeology 
• Enthusiasm
• REAL commitment to your goals and the group! No one gets left behind! And since there's only 5 spots available, I'll notice if you're missing #ImwatchingYOU haha JK! BUT I will be checking in individually through out the week. 

How to Join:

• First, fill out this FORM HERE. 
• THEN, just to be sure EMAIL ME HERE. 
• If you contact me twice, I know you want in BAD. 
• Then, WAIT and I will get back to you! 

BUT. If you're hell bent on getting your Body Beast Challenge Pack NOW, go HERE. OH and did I mention its also $60 OFF right now? Yes, yes it is. 

I can't wait to hear from you and work on your goals! Let's do this lady beasts! 

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13 Week Women's Fitness Challenge -- Are you a LADY BEAST?

Three thoughts came to mind when I looked at my before photo this morning and compared it to now... ready for this?

It's about to get H O N E S T

Thought #1: What's up with those beat shoes? AHAH jk. Sorta. It was more like, "how did you NOT noticed you gained 20lbs?" I think for a while I was a bit blind to my new curves. And by NO MEANS am I calling myself fat, I realize that I wasn't very overweight. But when you're vertically challenged at 5'2" every 5 lbs translate as 10 instead. Short girls understand what I'm saying. It's my "dog years theory" for short people gaining weight. It wasn't until I actually took my BEFORE PHOTOS I noticed just how curvy I really got 

Thought #2: I will NEVER go back to that if its within my control. WHY? Because I remember not fitting in clothes I wanted to be able to wear. For some reason this really just drove me crazy, maybe its because I love fashion (except now, my 'fashion sense' consists of spandex, sports bras and pony tails) and I was never confident enough to wear what I wanted. I remember the dissatisfaction, and that is just not a feeling I'm ok with on a day to day basis.

So I made a change...

Thought #3 Thank You Past SELF! For having the GUTS to take those photos because if it had not been for THOSE photos, I would not know NOW how far I've really come. I'm certainly not the same girl, I'm better. I don't half ass my efforts because I have progress to show what I'm capable of. So thank you Abby at 21 years old... thank you for taking those pictures (and totally not smiling) even though it SUCKED looking at them. But today, I look at them with PRIDE, with SATISFACTION and HUMILITY.

What a journey guys and gals. I'm SO grateful I fell into Beachbody... I'm not sure if I would have done this on my own without it.

So here's YOUR call to action, yes you reading this... are you seeing whats also possible FOR YOU? Because I didn't think way back then I was going to get this far.. I had no idea I could transform my body and confidence the way I have.

I want that for you. But I'm going to be 100% SELECTIVE with who I help in this VERY SMALL INTIMATE CHALLENGE. *no coaches, sorry

I want to prove a theory... that lifting weights makes women sexy, strong and confident. But I REALLY want to focus on just 5 ladies who are FREAKIN' SERIOUS. I don't want to hear any excuses. I don't want, "I'm too tired" and I sure as heck don't want any QUITTERS.

I want some LADY BEASTS in the MAKING! Is that you? If so, RIGHT NOW is the time to fill out this form and message me.http://abbymaried.blogspot.com/p/join-bombshell-challenge.html

Im expecting spots to fill quickly because this is an opportunity to see yourself completely change.

*I also do T25 so if you have that for cardio, well you're gana love the way you look after day 90 -- and T25 is on sale this month as well.

Just a heads up if you are applying and need Body Beast -- its on sale as well  Like I said, now is THEE perfect time to change.

* I realize I look very different from my BEFORE photos, but I did a lot of change -- internal, external, hair, weight, attitude... that whole sha-bang! It was a great growth spurt 

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How to GET Motivated and STAY Motivated

One of the most commonly asked questions I get is, "how the heck did you stay MOTIVATED after all this time?" (in regards to working out and making healthy food choices)

Let me make a few things clear first...

• I'm not P E R F E C T -- I slip up too. Sometimes those slip ups are too many stops at Rubio's for a tilapia burrito (have you had them? good lawwwdd those are amazing)
• I don't bask in G U I L T trips -- most people guilt trip themselves SO hard they don't really see the point in starting again.
• I give myself P EP talks -- I frequently talk to myself -- "come on Abby. You said you wanted this, how hard are you willing to work for it?" 

Now you're probably wondering, whats the secret sauce to making motivation last? 

From what I've experienced over the years as a coach is this, everyone has their own ingredients to a great recipe for change and success. 

But you have to figure out what those ingredients are that work FOR you. 

For me personally, I don't W A I T for M O T I V A T I O N to hit me! Shoot, if I did, I would NOT be where I am now. 

If I'm having one of those mornings where I just can't get myself there mentally, I have a few things that have worked for me that MAY just work for you.

CREATE SELF ACCOUNTABILITY

VISUAL:

I'm a visual peson, I need the goal to look and feel as real as possible -- when it feels tangible, it makes it that much more REAL, even if it hasn't come to fruition yet.

• Create a workout and progress picture album in your phone. This is a GREAT place to store your personal photos of how far you have come, goal bodies, workout tips, motivational quotes and pictures. Don't skip your BEFORE photos, if you don't know where you started, you'll never know how far you have come! 

• Leave yourself notes -- Sometimes even I have to put sticky notes on my fridge "Eat for the body you want!" Look, we all NEED accountability and pep talks and if no one is around, you have to start doing it for yourself. Woman up, its time to get responsible. 

• Follow your favorite fitness gurus and health fanatics on Instagram and Facebook -- I'm a HUGE fan of Michelle Lewin, Hunnybunsfit, and Caitlin Rice -- I love checking out other women who have my goal body and great mental attitude. I THRIVE off happy people who work hard and exercise the BEST muscle of all -- CONSISTENCY. 

GET CONNECTED:

•  Get a FEW workout buddies! No one said you have to do this alone, so why would you? I have several girls I keep in touch with about my workout progress (Jessica Beck, whats up girllll!!!) and we share workouts and our goals. Not only that, but I participate and keep connected with my fitness challenges online (to learn more about that, fill out the form on "Get Fit and Healthy Now!" tab at the top) 
• Say it LOUD say it PROUD: Nothing creates accountability like saying it out loud to your friends and family, and sure as heck puts you on the hot seat. I guess a lot of people DON'T do this because they're afraid if they fall short, everyone will think they're just talk. But here's how I see it, if you're doing something about it -- you're half way there. Time will pass anyway right? May as well use it to YOUR advantage. And who are you doing it for anyway? THEM or YOU? 
•  STOP thinking, START doing! Those weights won't lift themselves and that T25 DVD won't work unless you do. When I have mental blockage, I leave it at the door. The BEST way for me to clear my head is to STOP thinking and START doing! I can't sit around forever and hope that motivation will hit me so I can get a good workout in. Often times I get a good workout in and motivation hits me AFTER. 

AUDIO:

• Music- VERY obvious right? I personally love Sound Cloud the BEST. But the genre of music you listen to could be very different from what I listen to. When I workout I need upbeat music like House, dirty dutch, or even 70s Funk! My taste in music is pretty extensive, but you need to prepare yourself with you're "get up and feel good" playlist! I also have ONE or TWO songs that are my GO TO 'get up and dance' so I can get myself in peak state to be excited to workout! 
• Youtube -- Ok, don't laugh but I LOVE listening to old Arnold Schwarzengger speeches, CT Fletcher, Will Smith, and motivational mash ups on 8Tracks (app) and whatever I can find on Youtube. Sometimes when you feel that the STRUGGLE is REAL -- you need some bad ass dudes to shake you up and get you going. I personally LOVE a little tough love when it comes to fitness because TOO many people make excuses, and when you let those take hold, its easier to choose the couch instead of the gym or a workout DVD. 

DIG DEEP:

I think one of the MOST frustrating, yet LIBERATING epiphanies was that I was the KEY to reaching my goals and also the demise of it all, and it all lied in the choices I made daily.

I had to ask myself some harder questions, I had to DIG a LOT deeper if I wanted to reach new HEIGHTS. 

I encourage you to ask the same:

• How committed am I to reaching my goals? What will it mean when I reach them? How will I feel? How will it change ME all around?
• WHY am I doing this? Who am I doing it for? 
• If I continue to use the same excuses, how is it going to effect my future? 
• What am I doing now that is holding me back from my goals? 

I don't have all the answers, nor do I try to. Sometimes we don't get answers right when we want them, sometimes the things you want most take MORE time than you thought. 

But that's another key ingredient -- PATIENCE. Too many people give up because of the time it will take to get there, and MOST of those people were just an inch from success. 

Often times a break down can be life preparing you for a BREAK through. 

So don't give up. Had a bad cheat day? You can start with the next meal. 

Haven't worked out in months? Years? Today is a GREAT day to make a change. Today is a GREAT day to start a new habit. 

There's two things you MUST have if you want to be successful in just about ANY area of your life

PERSISTENCE and PATIENCE. Without those, you will be constantly battling yourself. 

Be persistent in your efforts, don't give up. Work harder than you ever have, when you feel like throwing in the towel, use it to wipe the sweat off and keep going. 

Be patient, this isn't a sprint. It's a marathon, and there's no finish line. Accept that this is a lifestyle change -- fitness and health are a corner stone of thriving vs surviving. 

I could go on and on... but Ill let the video speak for itself. 

Ciao fitness family!

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