The Art of Rubbing Off

In the past year and a half, my husband has lost 20 lbs and gained back 25 lbs due to stress.

In the midst of this transformation, he encouraged me to become a Beachbody Coach.

See, he believes I can do anything.

Thanks, babe.

So, here I am this past March.  I'm out of shape and yet choosing to become a Beachbody Coach so that I can hold myself accountable to whipping my booty back into shape. I embark on a 90 day fitness journey. On the way, I grab everyone I can and encourage them to join me.

However, the one person I wanted by my side during this fitness commitment wasn't ready to commit. He too became a Beachbody Coach with the hopes of it fueling him to start anew. He began Shakeology. He started, and stopped, and started, and stopped RevAbs.

And then?

Light.  A glimmer of hope.

A race.

The CARROT.

A challenging, colorful, rocky, muddy, grueling, sticky hot and humid 13.1 trail race in the middle of August.

He began training. Running. First day out? 4 miles. He started strength training and abdominal work. He. Started. Moving.

Joyfully.

We slapped money down on the race and new trail running shoes.

No turning back.

I chose ChaLEAN Extreme - a program that would be completely out of my comfort zone. He chose a half-marathon through the woods - no pavement. Completely out of his comfort zone.

Chuck the comfort zone.  I am convinced that we all need to chuck the comfort zones in our lives if we HONESTLY want to make lifestyle changes.

I think my stealth plan of just sticking to ChaLEAN and hoping he'd be moved enough by my personal results to make changes in his own life is finally working.

I'm so slick.

Nearing 90

One more week of ChaLEAN Extreme.

One. More. Week.

Have I really committed to this journey for 90 days?

Yes.

There have only been a few other instances where I've tackled a fitness commitment like I have here. The first was in 1992. Ballys Fitness actually became my friend and I whipped my tiny frame back into shape after the college years.

Then there was the Atkins diet, which, yes, (and shhh about it), worked for my body in 2000. I watched my body transform before my eyes. I kept that weight off. My body type responded beautifully to this way of eating. But, upon having a family, I realized that the grocery bill just couldn't hack it.

I also had the same dedication and fire upon training for each of my half-marathons.

But none of those experiences compare to this. Those were all "chunks" of a commitment to fitness.  None of them lead to a lifelong habit.  They were the means to a goal - but once the goal was reached, I fizzled out.

I think I have finally surpassed living in "chunks". This is my life now. It's habitual. It's natural. Quite simply, it's what I do.  It's not just a goal to go after - like running 13.1. It, and I know this sounds dramatic, has become a part of me.

ChaLEAN may end one week from today, but working out and challenging myself has not.  I have already committed to take some outdoor boot camp classes between ChaLEAN and TurboFire, which I will begin on July 12.  By the time winter rolls around again, I will have a library of incredible workouts in my home-gym - there to help me keep on track during those cold/snowy months. This year, winter won't get me as it has in the past.  I will be prepared.

90 days.  A few of you have come along with me.  A few of you are still moaning about bathing suit season.  A few of you are attempting a workout program that is completely out of your comfort zone.  A few of you are still complaining about not getting results from your regular exercise regime.

Chaleans says something similar to this in Lean Circuit 1.  "I've been telling you that lifting heavy helps you burn body fat.  If you haven't gotten that by now, I'm not sure you ever will."

Check your motivation.  Do you WANT physical transformation?  If yes, how much are you willing to change in your life to get there?  Do you NEED physical Transformation?  I think your doctor can help you answer that one.  What must you do  to get you over the hump and begin?

I told you, I got over my hump by becoming a Beachbody Coach.  It was a risky leap.  But, 90 days later, I am leaner, AND . . . yesterday I watched my husband rise at 5:30 to go for a 4 mile run with our Pastor as both of them are now training for a trail half-marathon.  THAT is a miracle.

Ask him.  He'll agree.  My personal choice to become a Coach, the execution of ChaLEAN Extreme, and the transformation he has seen in me, have served as a motivator for him.

Is trail running in his comfort zone?  Will it be easy?

Excuse me, but HELL NO!

When you are ready, I am here.

Stop giving up on yourself.

Next!

I'm in Week Two of the Lean Circuit of ChaLeAN Extreme and am already planning for my next program.

I have made so much progress in the past few months that I wouldn't dare end ChaLEAN and walk away from the habit I've worked so very hard to create.

So, here's the plan for my next 90 days, once I graduate from ChaLEAN Extreme:

TURBO FIRE! Oh yeah. TURBO FIRE! It will most certainly challenge me.

Along with TURBO FIRE (and yes, I am screaming it because I'm so excited about it), I'll be leading a fit club at our church once a week, where we'll be doing Body Gospel.

And then there's the desire to train for another half marathon. I'm telling you. I'm hooked. This is the most faithful I've been to any exercise regime since before having kids.

Many of you have made the decision to get started on programs that will challenge you.  Here's to the ChaLEAN Extremer's, P90Xer's, Brazil Butt Lifter's, Slim in 6'ers, and Body Gospeler's.  Others of you are still trying to make up your mind.  Let me mention that it's been over 60 days since I first shared with you about my new Beachbody business. What are you waiting for?

Do the programs look too hard? Well, yeah, they are difficult.  It's not chairaerobics.

Are they too expensive? Well, yeah, they are an investment that you can return to over and over and over again. How much is that gym per month?

Do you want to move "at your own pace"? Well, what IS your pace? If your pace is sitting still and doing nothing, then I'm sure you'll get results from that pace.  It's a choice.

I have a friend who just stepped waaay out of her comfort zone to begin Body Gospel. She took the last three days to do a Shakeology cleanse, and tomorrow is day one for the actual Body Gospel workout. She even had me measure her. That's friendship.  She is really going to give this her all. And I'll help.

Girl, and you know who you are . . . I'm sure we can work out that your kids vacate your place and come on up to Camp Jo while you "worshipize". Lame.

So here's the challenge. Remove this phrase from your list of go-to excuses: "I am going to try and workout."

I'm telling you, because I've been that person, that this statement reflects defeat. By making this statement you have already given yourself an out.

I want you IN!!!!!!!!!!

Say, I WILL workout. State it.  Like my other girlfriend who has boldly announced her commitment to Body Gospel to her entire Facebook family. And how have they responded? They are cheering her on!!!!!!!!!!

Step up. Or continue sitting down. Be assured, you'll get results with either choice.

The PUSH to Reach Day 60

Day 1-30 in the Burn Circuit Phase of ChaLEAN Extreme was fun, motivating, and just as exciting as opening that perfect Christmas present that you picked out in June.  I wanted a physical change so badly I could taste it. I followed everything Chalene told me.  To the letter.

Within 4 weeks, I had dropped 7 lbs and 9.5 inches.

I entered the Push Circuit pumped, ready to go, but a bit cocky.  The "toy" was still fun, and I was committed to playing with it, but this circuit proved more difficult, and thus, the challenge of it started to wane on me a bit. I let my guard down on eating well, sneaking in some old friends . . . buffalo wings, candy, drinks, Chicago-style everything while on a trip away from home. Figured that would be cool 'cause I was doing so well. I then got sidetracked for week due to a few angry muscles in my back that didn't care for the mattress I chose while on a weekend getaway with some friends.

Slip a little, Jo?

Just a tad.

Still, with the exception of the week off for the back, I kept with the exercise and dabbled in eating correctly.  I struggled through some of the workouts, not prepared for what Chalene really meant when she would quip, "Go heavy, or go home!"

Here I thought I was lifting heavy. Until this phase entered my life.

Today, marks Day 60 on the program. G'by Push Circuit. Hello, Lean Circuit.

During Push, even with occassionally falling off the culinary wagon, I have these results to report from Day 30-60 on ChaLEAN Extreme:

Weight: Down 3 lbs.  (officially down 10 lbs from Day 1)

Waist: Down 1/2 inch

Hips: Down 2 inches

Abductors, Chest, Right Arm, Left Arm, and Thighs all remained the same from Day 30 to now.

Body Fat Percentage: Down another 2%  (officially down 6.4% from Day 1)

Size 8 is too large.

I have nothing to wear.

So, despite my weaknesses in the eating department, I am still making progress. I am now just about 10 lbs. from my weight goal.

I've been going at this for 60 days, and have been inviting you to come along with me.  Time for you to share.

What changes have you made in 60 days?
What "risks" have you taken to jump-start a fitness journey?
What's the plan?  Or is the plan to just continue doing what you're doing because it's comfortable?

I don't normally use George Costanza from Seinfeld as a model for, well, anything, but in one episode, The Opposite, George makes the decision to disregard and ignore every instinct he's ever had, and chooses to do the opposite.

"Yes, I will do the opposite. I used to sit here and do nothing, and regret it for the rest of the day, so now I will do the opposite, and I will do something!"

Perhaps he had a point?

Think about it. And then get back to me when you are ready to get out of your own way.