What is a Beachbody Challenge Group?

Check out this video I made about Challenge Groups!!! Let me know what you think:)

What is a Beachbody Challenge Group?

MY Story.

I'm a Beachbody Coach on a fitness and health journey! And this is my story. I was always about a size 4 and 120 lbs. in High School and College and up until I had my first baby at age 23. I never worried about my weight, or even exercised regularly. Sometimes I'd workout or go running, but very casually, maybe 3 times a week but not consistantly. I always felt I looked good and was confident with my body. I ate whatever I wanted, I was young!! Ok then I had baby #1....and I became a size 12. BOO!! I was determined to get back to my original size...but I honestly didn't know how. I tried running. Didn't work. I never got a gym membership cause I felt I couldn't afford it. Then I'd try running again...and I'd get shin splints really bad. Then I'd quit again. I tried going Gluten free. That didn't last long but it was a good learning experience. I tried limiting calories and calorie counting...that lasted about a week. I felt I was a good cook (I loved to watch Food Network) and I knew a lot about health and nutrition. I like fruits, veggies, grains and healthy foods. Then 3 years went by....and I was still a size 12 and not happy about my body, and still holding on to all my cute size 4 clothes from my single/college days wishing I'd fit into them again. 

I was ready for another baby! Baby #2....I had a healthy pregnancy, and watched what I ate during pregnancy. I am 5'5" and I was 145/150 lbs. before getting pregnant the second time. At 9 months pregnant I weighed 181. Not too bad...normal pregnancy weight gain right? (about 35 lbs). About 2 weeks after baby #2 was born, I was back to 150/155 lbs. So I only really gained like 5 lbs! I thought that was great since after baby #1 I had gained like 25-30 lbs!! I guess watching what I ate and staying active during pregnancy was a success! But now I was a size 14:( I had had it. I was so sick of it. I HATED going out and buying clothes in a size 14 so I had something to wear when all I wanted to do was get back to those size 12 clothes and even better...my size 4. I didn't agree with my husband when he told me I was sexy. I hated what I looked like in pictures. I avoided buying clothes cause I didn't want to invest money in my size 12/14! I bought clothes at second hand stores cause they were just temporary clothes till I got to wear size 4 again. Therefore I felt even less proud of my appearance. I always felt frumpy and overweight. I didn't like looking in the mirror. I complained all the time to my husband and friends about my weight. I'm sure they hated that. But they always told me I looked good (which gave me less motivation to do something about it). 

So after baby #2, I was DETERMINED to DO IT. WHATEVER IT TOOK. WHATEVER IT COST. I was gonna finally do something about it. My brother had signed up as a Beachbody coach a few months earlier and started posting on Facebook all about fitness and these Challenge Groups he was running. He always invited me to do it, but I was pregnant at the time...so I waited till I had the baby. Then I went gym shopping. My options with a baby and a 4 year old were limited...I wasn't a big fan of going to the YMCA cause I just didn't feel comfortable leaving my newborn in the child care there. It looked like a dreary facility and not very clean, so that wasn't motivating me to join there. The other Rec Center we lived by and would get a discount at didn't take kids under 2. Great. Then I looked into Beachbody. I decided this would be cheaper in the long run than a membership at a gym, and an investment. AND as a COACH I could even potentially EARN money. AND I'd have a Challenge Group for support, motivation, and accountability, which I knew I needed! THAT is the part I valued most!! So I signed up. I knew I had the motivation to do it! I knew I was committed to this program!! And I'd never really tried to lose weight before or followed a diet plan, so I was faithful that putting it all together would work. I trusted my brother that it would work! And it began. 60 days of Insanity;) I drank Shakeology daily. I followed the meal plan that came with Insanity. And although I was in sad shape, I did my best, EVERY DAY! 6 days a week, 45 minutes a day. I lost a total of 18 lbs and 18 1/2 inches in 60 days. I was SO HAPPY!! My goal was to lose 30 lbs, so I wasn't done. But I had seen progress and results since week 1, so that kept me going!! I kept doing Insanity and eating healthy, but I toned it down a bit. My metabolism was higher than it had EVER been. When I woke up in the morning I was STARVING!!! That had never happened to me before. I continued to workout 6 days a week and eat healthy till I got to my goal. I ordered another workout program, Hip Hop Abs and followed that. I reached my goal weight, 120 lbs. And I can't tell you how good I felt and how good it felt to wear those size 4 clothes again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have been working out 5-6 days a week now since September. It's my lifestyle now. It's a habit I won't quit. I drink Shakeology daily. I love it!! I now weigh 110 lbs. I know, I can't believe it either. I don't think I've weighed that since I was 12 years old. I am lean and mean and swimming in my size 4 clothes!! I really should go and buy some size 2 clothes...;) I feel better than ever. I've never eaten so healthy in my life. I've never known how!! I've never realized how good you feel after a workout, that's why I continue to do it!! I've never felt more confident about my body, and more proud of myself. I had no idea about a lot of things, and those are the things I want to share with you in this blog!!! I've learned so much!!!   

Thanks for reading my long story! If you have a reason to get into shape, please reach out to me! As a Beachbody Coach my mission is now to help others do as I have done and lose weight for good and be happy about your body!!  This first picture was taken one week after I started Insanity. The second picture was ONE MONTH into Insanity or half way through and I was PUMPED that I could even get those pants over my hips and bum! And this last picture is NOW! Size 14 to a size 2. Those pants I'm wearing were the size 4 pants I REALLY wanted to fit into again. My 'GOAL PANTS'. Now they're a bit big:) I'm OK with that!! :) I feel amazing!!!