Body Beast for Women

So today I am stepping completely out of my comfort zone and taking on a new program that combines heavy weights with some intense lifting sets - Body Beast. Body Beast is designed to build muscle through and bulk with Dynamic Set Training (ladies, keep in mind our testosterone levels are not he same as men, therefor the bulk for us will be more a strong, lean look and not Barbie's head on GI Joe's body). The program runs for 90 days and was developed by champion body builder, Sagi Kalev (and ladies...he's not too shabby to look at, either).

So many people are asking me why I have decided to do a body building program when I am typically a cardio junkie, and that's just the problem - I'm a cardio junkie! I am a big ball of energy housed in a little body, so I love letting loose and dancing, or kicking, or punching..and sometimes I'll even take a break to just swoon over Shaun T and his abs...but cardio is only going to get you so far. If you want FULL results, if you want to reach your goals, if you want to kick a plateau's ass...then you gotta throw in some weight training.

I am a lazy weight trainer. I am. I'll go for about 3 days, it will last a week, I'll quit and just go back to cardio so I NEEDED a change. No..not even a change, a challenge. One thing that always keeps me on my toes is a good challenge and I think Body Beast is going to be perfect.

I'm also setting out to prove the myth that women will bulk with this program as being false. My friend did this program and had amazing results as well. Check out her Beast transformation here he

The bottom line is: I want what is best for my body. Clean eating, proper cardio, and weight training are the three of the best things you can do for your body, in my opinion.

Do you have questions about trying Body Beast? Feel free to shoot me an email nik4213@gmail.com or you can check out my site for more information regarding the product www.beachbodycoach.com/Nik4213.

Why Focus T25 is Awesomesauce

So for the past week or so, I have been posting on Facebook, Instagram, and on my blog about Shaun T's newest workout Focus T25. This program is seriously so amazing in so many ways.

You would think that 25 minutes a day would not do much, but Shaun T knows how to work you and when to work you in order for you to achieve maximum results. While some of the movements are more slow and controlled than your typical Insanity movements, they target the muscles to strengthen them and give you the biggest boost in short amounts of time.

I also want to mention that with any program, this program is what you make of it. If he says, "Punch like you are punching through a wall" and you are doing little wimpy punches, then that's on you .You have to TRY. You have to FOCUS. That's the point :)

So this week being my first week has been so much easier than weeks past, which is great because my job has had me working late due to things going on there, it is mid term week for school, and I'm trying to pack and clean the house to get ready for vacation. Simplicity (and a glass of wine or two) were DEFINITELY necessary this week in order for me to keep my sanity. Here are some of the ways T25 has helped me simplify my life:

I have been able to sleep in a bit longer

I have not had to rush around the house with the fear of "being late", as I have extra time since the workouts are shorter

I have enjoyed a cup of coffee, every morning with the sun rising and my pups on my patio (my 10 minutes of peace haha)

I've been able to straighten my hair! and actually DO my make up BEFORE work, rather than in the bathroom at work

Meal preparation has been so much easier with the extra time I have in the mornings

I come to work feeling happy as the morning workouts give me a great endorphin boost

My diet has been more on track due to everything else in life becoming more simple

Sometimes doing a double, it has helped me relieve any stress that I DID have built up from the workday

Those are just a few of the ways in which T25 has helped me during this crazy, crazy week. I'm very excited to test it "on the road" as I will be taking it with me to the beach. 25 minutes a day on vacation?! You've got time for that..

Keep in mind that the challenge pack is only on sale until July 31, 2013; after that it jumps up in price to $205. There is a free gift for my challenge pack purchasers that will help you to speed up your results, too!  Not only will you save money, but you get the full spectrum: Fitness, Nutrition from the 30 day supply of Shakeology, and Support and Accountability from me as your coach. If this sounds like a good deal, head over www.beachbodycoach.com/Nik4213  and click on the link on the right for the T25 Challenge Pack. Have questions? Contact me at nik4213@gmail.com  I'd love to hear from you!

Focus T25: Cardio

Today was my first day tackling Beachbody's newest program, Focus T25. This program was created by Insanity originator, Shaun T and has been said to be "the next big thing".  But is it?

I just finished Insanity last week. I went through the entire program, so coming into a new program that promises results in only 25 minutes a day, 5 days a week, I was skeptical. I mean, there's no way, right?  Well, that's to be determined but I can tell you that Day 1 was no joke.

The program starts off just like Insanity does with a gradual increase in your heart rate. Unlike Insanity where Shaun T really pushes you to move, Focus T25 is up to you. It's like the program where you put on your big girl (or boy) pants and decide: Do I want it?

If you do, you PUSH. You don't go as fast as they go on the television, you go faster. You don't take a breather when you get tired, you push through! And you keep telling yourself, "Just 25 minutes, just 25 minutes". All in all: You Focus.  You focus on your end results that you want. You focus on whatever exercise you are doing during that 30-45 second block, and you focus ONLY on that exercise and cranking it out the best that you possibly can.

The great thing about this program is it makes the muscles BURN. Woo! Did I feel the burn! But because Shaun T is wonderful, he knows just when to switch it up and focus on a new muscle group. He always knows the perfect time!

Similar to TurboFire's "Firedrills", T25 Cardio has speed sets as well where you really push yourself for about a minute and a half.  During that time period, you suck it up, and you push forward with more intensity than you have the entire workout. Checking my heart monitor, I was up around 165-178 for the majority of the workout. It said  I had burned about 247 calories, which I think is great first thing in the morning!

Now, some of you might be saying, "That's not enough calorie burn", okay, so add in something else. It's not like you don't have the time now! Personally, I am going to be pairing my Focus T25 with Les Mills PUMP 3 days a week (Tues, Thurs, Sat) to get some weight training in there and burn a bit additional.

So have you tried T25 yet? What do you think? Interested in trying? Give me a shout on my e-mail and let's see if it will work for you! www.nik4213@gmail.com

"Secrets" of Fit People: Part 1

Have you ever found yourself in a rut where whatever you are trying, isn't working out? Maybe you were on a roll and then all of a sudden, you sputtered and eventually came to a screeching halt. This happens to all of us, and sometimes the only thing we find ourselves doing is standing their asking, "WTH?!?!?"

Truth is, fit people have fit habits. For many of us, the habits are so regular that we do not even realize we are doing them. It's like brushing our teeth!  Now, as you can see it sounds like I am referring to myself as a fit person with fit habits...and I have quite a few, but there are some I could improve upon which would probably make my life easier.

Taken from one of my favorites, Chalene Johnson, here are 5 of my favorite habits of fit people. Check back next week to see the other 5! How many of these are missing from your routine?

1. Look at exercise as a pleasure: What you think something is, is what it is going to be. Our mind does what we tell it to, so if we are constantly saying we hate working out guess what? You will NEVER like it! Look at the positives of working out prior to lacing up your sneakers: weight loss, stamina, energy, and most importantly getting healthier for yourself and your family. Also, find a workout that you will LOVE. Every person has a different workout personality, so it is important that we do what we will actually enjoy. Want to figure that out? Contact me!

2. Focus on short term fitness goals: It's not about losing 20 pounds your first week. It's about short term goals, and I MEAN short term goals. One of them could be "Do today's workout" and then, "Do tomorrow's workout". Maybe by the end of the week your goal is to do 5 push ups, or just get in 5 workouts. Focus on those short goals and once they are attained, then set your sights higher. When we make our goals smaller, they are more manageable and easier to achieve, thus giving us some gratification which is the fuel to move on to tackle our bigger goals.

3. Always upping the In10sity (shameless plug!): Or intensity..however you prefer to spell it. Leandro says it best in Brazil Butt Lift, "Don't settle for less!"  Your body is a machine. If you are properly fueling it, you can make it do AMAZING things, so always be looking to progress! Always challenge yourself with your workouts: do one more rep, go a bit harder than you did last week, throw in an extra workout if you are feeling froggy. Always set your bar for yourself higher than it was the week before, and therefor you will always be getting better and better. Soon it will become addicting!

4. Enjoy a weekly "unhealthy" treat: THIS IS MY FAVORITE RULE! Okay, so if you follow me on Facebook or Instagram (facebook.com/Nik4213 and @Nik4213) you KNOW that I am not someone who preaches about eating healthy 24/7, etc. I love pizza, I love cookies, I love cake, etc. and I am not afraid to shout it from the mountain tops! However, if I ate that stuff every day I'd be as big as my house not to mention doing some MAJOR damage to my body that could cause risk to the longevity of my life.  As a treat, I do one "unhealthy" meal a week, and eat balanced the rest of the time. Lots of veggies, lean proteins, no dairy (I use almond milk), very little bread if any at all, fruits, and of course, Shakeology. When you are eating good 90% of the time, that bacon cheddar burger isn't going to kill you (Disclaimer: It MIGHT give you a stomach ache)

5. Move beyond weight loss: Weight loss should not be your only goal when working out. There are so many more benefits out there than just the weight. Dropping your body fat percentage (to a health level) allows your organs to function more effectively and efficiently. Losing weight can help you to breathe better, sleep better, and have more energy..not to mention be more mobile in general. It's not about the number on the scale, it's about how you feel, too! Aren't you proud of your progress? Hasn't that upped your self esteem? Doesn't it make you feel good to know that you can do something today that you previously hadn't? Look beyond weight loss as your only reason for working out and it will become much more enjoyable for you.

All About Insanity: Pure Cardio

Insanity Pure Cardio is one of the workouts within the first half of the program that I have a love/hate relationship with.  I love it, because it seems to go by much faster than the other workouts; I hate it because it kicks my ass every.damn.time! I always find myself breathless within the first few minutes of the workouts, but at the same time I always find myself fighting to push through - after all, that's the point, right?

Pure Cardio starts off the same way as the other Insanity workouts with a 10 minute cardio warm up. Now, for many people the warm up in itself could be considered a workout!  Jogging in place, Heismans, 1 2 3 Heismans, butt kicks, high knees, jumping jacks, power jacks....all of these are done within the first 10 minutes getting faster and more intense as you near the end of the time period. But the reward comes after: the stretch.

The stretch is a little slice of heaven for your muscles, lungs, etc. At this point, your muscles are nice and warm so you can really get deep into the lunges, making the whole first ten minutes totally worth it. It is during this time that Shaun T politely comments that he's actually afraid of the upcoming workout. Awesome. This should be good.

You start right off with suicides for about 60 seconds, and then head into switch kicks. The majority, if not all, of the exercises are done for 1 minute periods before you switch to the next challenge. The entire circuit lasts about 16 minutes with exercises taking you to the ground, in the air, and side-to-side. Insanity Pure Cardio is just that: PURE CARDIO.  Unlike the other Insanity workouts, water breaks are not provided during the pure cardio portion; however, Shaun T is always one to remind you to never sacrifice form, and to take a break when needed. You never stop moving and sometimes, once it is all over, I ask myself if I actually BREATHED during the workout, haha! As soon as you start, you blink your eyes and you are at the cool down (another amazing stretch). 

Every single time I find myself reflecting during the cool down saying, "That wasn't so bad...", yet every time I push play I still find myself saying "WTF Shaun T!" a few times during those 15 minutes haha. Insanity Pure Cardio definitely packs a punch and can make any athlete feel a little bit humble at the end, but it really is something that anyone can enjoy. From beginners to the advanced, Pure Cardio continues to offer challenges and rewards. Shaun T encourages taking breaks if your form is off, getting water when needed, listening to your body, and checking on your heart rate. For this reason, anyone can do this workout and feel comfortable going at their own pace.

Always a great reminder: Insanity is nothing but a challenge against yourself. No one else.

Interested in seeing if this program is right for you? Shoot me a message to the right, or simply email me at nik4213@gmail.com  After a proper assessment of your current activity level and interests, I can recommend something that will fit your schedule and needs perfectly.

Thanks for reading!

Insanity: Why You Shouldn't Fear It

Before I start, this is not to discredit the Insanity fitness program. It is to do much the opposite!

My decision to begin Insanity was largely based on an upcoming trip: Vegas, baby! And this isn't just any old trip to Vegas - this is to participate in Beachbody's annual Summit! And what happens at Summit? Live workouts with the trainers. And who is going to be there? Shaun T.  If there is one thing I didn't want, it was for my first Insanity workout to be in front of the man himself. I didn't need him seeing me cry, or vomit all over his squeaky clean sneakers.

This fear sort of lingered deep within me about a week before I started the program. I was getting ready to run a half marathon and I'm not sure what I was more nervous about: the race, or the Insanity workouts starting the day after the race. But that fear quickly dissipated as I began further reviewing the product. I knew it was awesome, I knew it worked, but reading more and more testimonials from others just solidified it in my mind that this was what I needed to go to that next level and get in the best shape of my life. EVERYONE was doing it! New moms, college students, middle-aged individuals, and even senior citizens! Insanity was positively affecting the lives of not just people like me, but everyone that surrounded me.

The first time I pushed play, I was already sweating with anticipation prior to doing ANY movement. Looking back on it now, that was so stupid of me! I mean, it's a workout, come on! There is NO reason to be afraid of a little Insanity!

When you begin to feel discouraged about this program, remember this:

(1) It's YOUR program. You do it at your home. No one is witnessing you if you have to take a break. No one is screaming at you or giving you the stink eye if you feel challenged one day. There's no judgement from others. Do it for you. Do it at your own pace. Set out to impress yourself, and don't allow yourself to let you down.

(2) Insanity is more mental than physical. Again, it is physically challenging and you WILL be tapping out if you are saying, "I hate this" "I can't". You need to think positive the entire time: "Just go! Just go! Just go!", "Don't you quit! Don't you quit! Don't you quit!" Those are my favorite phrases to say when the going gets tough

(3) When you do tap out, remind yourself it's okay. Think about it: If you spent the money on this program and could do it the entire way through at first wouldn't that be a waste of your money?? It's not meant to be easy! It's not meant to be able to be followed along right off the bat. It is meant to challenge you physically, teach you to break past barriers mentally, and get you to work your ass off! If it didn't do that, I'd say go get your money back. This isn't one of your old school programs used "to get you moving". This is in a class all its own. So if you tap out, praise yourself for how far you came, and go further next time.

The things in life that give you the best feelings, are the ones that include some work to achieve. You are worth your results. You are worth the sweat, the struggle, and the time for these workouts. Don't let it beat you up. Show up every day, push play, and get it done.

Questions? Comments? I'd love to hear them! Feel free to send me a message and I'll respond within 24 hours! Thanks for reading!

Turbo Kick vs. Turbo Jam vs. Turbo Fire - What's the Difference, anyway?

I get asked this question ALL the time. There IS a significant difference and that difference falls in what you want to get out of your workout.  Chalene explains to us the real differences between the workouts, but below I have listed some common denominators that make each workout WORTH your time, effort, and money. Enjoy!

• AMAZING soundtrack
• Kicks, punches, booty shaking
• Feel like a badass when you are done
• SWEAT!!
• Elevated mood as soon as you start (thank you amazing instructors!)
• Something for everyone
• HIIT (High intensity interval training...break your plateau!)
• Lean, toned body
• Weight loss..and FAST
• TA TA LOVE HANDLES!
• Learn while you burn

If you are interested in purchasing Turbo Jam or Turbo Fire to add to your in-home fitness library, then please visit my site www.beachbodycoach.com/nik4213 to do so. I am also available, as always, via e-mail to answer any questions that you may have about the programs: nik4213@gmail.com

Sharing a gift with YOU!

Woohoo! It is an exciting day!

I am officially opening my 2013 health & fitness challenge groups today! Many of you are probably asking, "What the heck is a challenge group?" Well, I am here to tell you!

A challenge group is a small group of individuals who are dedicated to a common cause. In my case, the cause is health and fitness. My start came from a challenge group, and not only did I get great results during that time that I was in the group, but the results carried me on to new and exciting aspects of health and fitness.

A little about myself: I loved fast food. Loved it. I hated the way that I looked, though. I wasn't fat, but I was....puffy? Like, not fat but not toned, either. I would dabble around with workouts here and there. I got the gym memberships and would go and be a gym rat (see no results bc I didn't really have much knowledge at that time..just figured elipitcal and some weights here and there), did a ton of home fitness programs including Denise Austin, TaeBo, Carmen Electra...you name it, I probably have the DVD...but nothing ever really STUCK. I would always find myself hopping to the new trend, the new pill, the new WHATEVER and here I still sat...puffy and miserable.

My friend had asked me to join this accountability group and I figured, what the hell. It's January 2012..yet again, I'll try something new. This was a change! I got to be held accountable from my home office (no driving to meetings or embarrassing weigh ins), the accountability portion took me MAYBE 5 minutes out of my day, and these women were all so motivating and encouraging! There was no one watching me run in the mirror at the gym trying to be inconspicuous. There was no guy checking me out when all I wanted to do was work out. There were no time limits on machines, or now $39.95 each month for a gym membership that I stopped using. There was no driving to the gym after work, or on a Saturday morning. And there was no snarkiness from the members of the group.

This.Was. Awesome!

I was able to workout from home through a program that my coach recommended to me after I talked to her about my likes and dislikes..and what was great about that was that I actually enjoyed doing what I was doing. I wanted to pop in that day's DVD each and every day. And that kept me going. That mixed with the positivity from the group kept me going for ONCE in my life!!

Then I decided to do the same. I became a coach, and have been running fitness challenges throughout 2012 and gotten my challengers AMAZING results, and I take the challenge right along with you so it's not just you doing that workout that day..I'm doing the same one in my home!

So if you are READY to stop dabbling around and getting nowhere, if you are puffy, if you are unhappy with your appearance, if you are just looking for something that WORKS and somewhere where you can find all of the missing pieces to your puzzle, if you are looking for something that takes your time constraints into consideration...then please e-mail me (nik4213@gmail.com). I know, I know...you don't know me, it's weird emailing someone you don't know..but I swear to you I'm the most easy-going person you will ever talk to, haha, and I truly want to give everyone the chance that I got this time last year. My life has changed DRAMATICALLY and it all started from just making a choice to try a challenge group. 

I hope to hear from you! And if not, have the happiest of holidays, whichever one you might celebrate, and nothing but the best for you in 2013!

TurboFire Review (thus far!)

It really didn't surprise me the moment I hit Play on my DVD player and started to grin ear-to-ear. Something about a new workout DVD gets me super excited (I know, so lame!)  Now, I was starting my third workout program in Chalene Johnsons's workout series, TurboFire.

I started my little workout journey with her first series, TurboJam and quickly fell in love. TurboJam was like a workout class that I always imagined in my head. If I could take all of my favorite things and mix them into one workout, at that time it would have been TurboJam. It had everything: Great music, up beat/motivating instructor (sometimes I feel like she is speaking right to me!), and a mix of kick boxing and dancing as if you were the only one home and your favorite jam came on the radio. I was hooked.

After TurboJam I dabbled in a few other workout series and found myself back with Chalene in July of this year for ChaLEAN Extreme (see the tab marked Chalene Extreme for more info on that one). Yet again, loved it! Everything I could hope for and more!

Now it's TurboFire. I feel like TurboFire is the big sister to TurboJam. TurboJam is great for beginners because it starts off at a reasonable pace, and offers many modifications to up the intensity. TurboFire starts of high intensity and keeps getting more challenging, but with the same kickboxing, motivation, instructor, and dance-like-your-favorite-jam-came-on kind of feel.  TurboFire fuels my need for increased intensity and challenge as now various aspects of plyometrics are added into the mix to give you one hell of a full body cardio workout. You will be left breathless for sure!!!!

I would recommend this workout to people looking to lose weight FAST. This is a 90 day program, but with Chalene's motivation and the included workout calendar showing you which workout to do on which days, you are SURE to drop the weight that you are looking for. See the tab marked "Transformations" for some awesome TurboFire transformations. This product has been used by many moms looking to lose the baby weight and has been a huge success!

Interested in learning more? Head on over to my site to see the various purchase options and get started today! Pair it with Shakeology for an added boost and even better results! www.beachbodycoach.com/nik4213

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRGTuvoEgdA  <---CHECK OUT A PREVIEW HERE!