Since becoming a beachbody coach, one of the main vital behaviors is read personal development. What is it? If you were like me, when my coach told me I had to read I just wasn't having it.
Don't get me wrong I like to read, but I had no idea what it was. You mean to tell me that I can read and my whole mindset would change...believe it when I see it. You can see I was very skeptical at first & I would do it here and there. I'm not sure I finished one single book at first, then when my coach asked if I was reading (she knew I wasn't) I had to say no. Then I kept hearing over and over again all the top coaches were reading personal development. It kept coming out up over and over again. And if they were successful I had to start doing what they were doing.
There are sooooo many personal development books out there that are great. But I highly suggest before you start picking the ones others are reading you evaluate yourself and pinpoint your weaknesses. When you find what those are look for books to help improve that area and then move on.
But there are a few everyone can start with.
1. The Slight Edge by Jeff Olsen
2. The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy
3. Break Out by Joel Osteen
4. The Secret by Rhonda Byrne
5. Eat that Frog by Brian Tracy
6. PUSH by Chalene Johnson
7. The Big Picture by Tony Horton
8. Motivation Manifesto by Brendon Buchard
Each book is targeted to something different, but each have contributed to teaching me something new. When you read something positive and uplifting your mindset instantly changes. It really makes you stop and think about what you read & puts a whole different perspective on things. The successes come from consistently overtime making sacrifices and doing the small tasks daily. It's the snowball effect, you start small til you get up the top of the hill and when you hit the peak , the snowball gradually starts to get bigger and bigger. Being successful doesn't happen over night, so when the going gets tough, if you really want it just keep going. Push through the tough times and know the better days are just around the bend.
If you read any of these please reach out to me, I would love to know what you think. Or email me - alyssayourish@gmail.com if you would like some more personal development books to read.
Sunday is the one day where the refrigerator is empty and that only means one thing... time to get to the grocery store and prep for the week.
BUT WHERE TO START?
I can tell you in the beginning meal planning & prepping was one of those things that stressed me out so bad that I just never did it, which made it difficult to stay on track. But I will say it really is not that bad, and when you do get it ; it says you all the trouble & stress in the world.
Step 1 : Decide what you will be having for the week
Step 2 : Write out all the ingredients under that day you will be having the meal
Step 3 : Go through your kitchen and cross off what you do not need
Step 4 : Get only what is on the list you made
Step 5 : Get to prepping
What does prepping include?
1. Cut all fruits/veggies bag them
2. Boil off eggs (for a snack or on top of a salad)
3. Cook off chicken for the week
4. Put your lunches for the week in to-go containers (this allows you to just grab right out of the fridge when you get home, instead of taking time to make your lunch for the next day)
5. Anything else you need for the week
This may take a little longer than expected, but like I said before it will save you so much time during the week. It will allow you to be successful without having the urge to make something quick/unhealthy or stop at a drive thru.
These simple steps have really helped me make meal planning & prepping "less" stressful than it really is and I hope they help you out too!
If you have any questions at all or need help meal planning feel free to reach out to me : alyssayourish@gmail.com
If you have been following me you know I have been struggling with a knee injury (IT band) for about two and a half months. I have been going to physical therapy to work on my flexibility and strength. I must say therapy has really helped, because my IT band no longer bothers me. I started swapping the bike for the treadmill as a warm up....one minute at 2.0 speed and 5 minutes (somewhere between 3.2-3.5) nothing higher. Just a light jog to get my heart rate up and making contact with my knee. Then up to a total of 8-10 minutes or until I no longer can. But let's be honest eight minutes is the max I can do! It is hard to listen to someone else when all you want to do is push yourself harder, but you know if you do it could not end well.
I started to be very cautious of how I run/walk. Because instead of my original issue it was as my right foot was landing my knee was going in, causing the inside to hurt & then I was feeling burning underneath my knee cap (tendinitis)
How are my feet landing?
Is it something I can do to prevent it?
Should I take bigger strides?
Come down softer on my feet?
The PT asks how I feel as I'm winded (since its the only cardio I have done in 2 months). I tell him I try to consciously make an effort of thinking how to land and he says stop, don't do that. Because this simple motion should be natural. So my next step is to ask, "how does this get fixed?" it all comes with practice, working on my at home exercises, and having someone watch me/video tape me as I'm doing my agility work to see what I'm doing.
The struggle is real. It's difficult to be told no. It's hard accepting you are limited to exercises you should do. No one wants to be told don't push yourself to hard. And everyone wants to be fixed, but QUICKLY!
But how do your struggles become your successes?
Every struggle pushes you to your limit. You listen to your body and understand exactly what you need. This diagnosis may seem so little to some, but to others it may be a different story. But we all have two choices: you can either accept it & push forward doing all the things you can to make yourself better OR you can throw your hands up &give up....the choice is always yours.
That is EXACTLY what I did. I could have told the therapist no, I don't care about never running again. Is it a life or death situation? No, but it would be nice to run when I can. But I choose to fight. I choose to do whatever it takes to be able to jog or sign up for another 5k. And in the process I grew my muscle strength, flexibility, and overcame it. But it is nice to enjoy your hard work for just a little while.
Only for a little while? YEP! Because in the middle of fixing my IT band (which it is strengthened) it has brought out another issue....not because of fixing it, but because my IT band has never been properly functioning neither have other parts of my knee. I now either have a stress fracture or petula tendonitis. How fun right?
So now that physical therapy has come to an end, what does that mean? Do I stop and quit doing all the exercises that were given to me. NOPE! I still continue to do them. Practice makes perfect and I have to continue to build up that strength & I have to continue to work on getting my knee straight. If I stop doing what I have been doing for the past two months all my hard work is going to get thrown out the window and honestly it will all be for nothing. That first time I run; I will be right back where I started. So even though we have overcome the first issue (success) we now have another issue on hand (another setback). And that is just okay. Because every little setback makes up for a bigger & better comeback.
When you receive bad news, get diagnosed with a health issue, or you become injured...YA it is never fun & you may not know what you are going to do, but you have two choices when this happens. You can either throw your hangs up & give up before the journey starts. Or you can choose to fight this battle full force and give it everything you have got.
Your setbacks make you into the person you are today and the person you will be down the road. The choices you make today help determine your future. Like the book "the slight edge" says stay consistent over time, there may be things you do not always feel like doing, but do them ANYWAYS.
Consistency is KEY!
And that is what is going to make you stronger. That is what is going to allow you to overcome your struggles and your setbacks!
Know you are meant for something greater out there?
A daughter?
Teacher?
Nurse?
Busy Mom?
Have a FT job?
Believer?
Dedicated?
Goal Driven?
Want to "fit in" just by being you?
Beachbody may just be the perfect fit for you! Truth be told, beachbody is NOT for everyone. And that is perfectly okay, all you have to do is have a passion for helping people!
What you don't have to be:
- you don't have to be at your goal weight
- you don't have to be a salesperson
-you don't have to reach a certain number each month
- you don't have to be anyone but you
Share your journey. Share your story. People want to connect with the real you. Be truthful. Be honest. And show what you love.
Have you been thinking about becoming a coach, but you just weren't sure if it is right for you. Do you need a little more information to see exactly what Beachbody is and what we are all about? Check out this webinar we recently just had; explaining the company, what it is we do as a company/team, & how you can make this a career (if you wanted) just by helping people.
Are you interested in Becoming a Coach on my team?? I am going to host a 5 Day Sneak Peek into Beachbody Coaching on August 11th!! And my Coach Apprenticeship Program will start one week after that (August 18th) l If you would like more information on becoming a coach please complete the application below to be considered for a space on my team!! Do you get a feeling that you know you are meant for something more? You are tired of heading to your 9-5 desk job not getting anything out of it? Why not act on your feelings? You never know until you try?!
I have to be honest, I have been lazy with my blog posts. I haven't been keeping you in the loop with my progress, my life, recipes, tips, etc. LAZY is all I can say. And I was slacking because I was looking for that perfect topic and I didn't want it to be a dead end. But you know what...my personal development for the month - John C. Maxwell "Failing Forward." has really kicked me in the butt. This book is teaching me to fail, it is teaching me to take bigger risks, and never gives up. So, if one person reads this blog or 150 people read this blog I am happy.
Where have I been, well let me just start by saying February was an EPIC month with beachbody. They released the 21 Day Fix and this program did so well that they just couldn't keep the program on the shelves. I decided that this was going to be my first challenge group where I joined the challengers! The results were AHHHHH-MAZZZZING!! I had great results, i lost six lbs and i didn't even think i needed to lose weight. And as much as this program is awesome I needed something else, because I was just going for the ordinary. (which BTW is NOT okay).
So now what? Where do I go what program do I start. I highly believe you have to love what you are doing or why do it. But then I got to thinking, not everyone loves to workout. BUT if you want to lose weight, tone up, etc. You have to put in the work CORRECT.
But you also can not look for that "perfect" program. Your journey in life just begins....it starts with decision of you putting one foot in front of the other. Maybe you know where you are going & maybe you don't but all that matters is you just START!
Don't look at where you need to go, look at it as a new journey. A new start to your new beginning.
Don't get discouraged when you fail. Failing is part if the journey, embrace it & soak it all in.
Well everyone it is officially spring and has been for a week or so. Did you know summer is just three months away. And although it may seem like is far away now, it will sneak up on us before we know it. It is about time to bust out the tank tops, shorts, and bathing suits.....are you ready to put on your swim suit and soak up the sun. I know I certainly am, but I just don't feel like I am at my best and really need to step up my game. So I have holding myself accountable with weekly progress pictures, because I honestly have not stepped in I don't know how long. I am giving myself extra accountability and hosting my next challenge group & YOU are invited. Are you in ??
You have more than one option, so we want to find the best program for you. I have done each of these programs & love each one.
1. The 21 Day Fix : The newest program to the Beachbody Family which is just going to ROCK your socks off. So what is it??
It is simple nutrition with simple exercise to get the rapid results in just three weeks. There is no guessing games on what to eat and how to eat. You follow the color containers and there literally is a list of food that tells you what color it belongs too. If it fits in that container you eat it, if not you have to adjust it. You are burning a TON of calories in thirty minutes. The workout program is designed for anyone, they are easy moves but if you have never worked out a day in your life this is for you, if you are a fitness expert this is for you, if you have 10-15 pounds to lose this is for you, are you catching my drift....THIS PROGRAM IS FOR EVERYONE! No starvation diet, the containers seem small but it will really open your eyes that you are still eating a lot of food and how much you have over ate. This program is simple...the guess work is OUT. End of story.
So what's T25? This program came out last year and was a massive hit because it is ten short weeks with the workouts being twenty-five minutes. Everyone has time for that!!! Shaun T the creator of Insanity is behind this bad boy 100%. You are receiving the same type of results (if not better) than an hour workout. The result is focus T25-and the name implies the intent: if you focus your intensity for 25 minutes, and you do it 5 days a week, you WILL get results. Did I mention it is on SALE the whole month of April??
3. Brazil Butt Lift: Which is also on sale this month !! Woooohoooo!
What is it?
Brazil Butt Lift uses cardio, dance, and a unique training method to work your rear end from every angle. You'll shape your gluteal muscles into that perfectly round Brazilian bum bum (that's Brazilian for booty). You'll lift your butt to look great from every angle, and you'll firm your butt and thighs and melt away those stubborn saddlebags. A native of Brazil and a former ballet dancer, Leandro Carvalho developed his signature training techniques to help sculpt some of the world's most beautiful bodies. Top supermodels count on him to get their bum bum in shape for lingerie photo shoots or a revealing runway show. Now women everywhere can firm and perfect their derrieres, just like Leandro's clients do. Based on his wildly popular New York fitness classes, Brazil Butt Lift will show you why Leandro is known as the Brazilian Butt Master.
The name may be fun, but the results are serious. The secret of Brazil Butt Lift is Leandro's proven Triangle Training method. Triangle Training works the three major muscles of the buttocks- the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, and the gluteus minimus- to reduce the hips, slim the thighs, and lift, contour, and shape the perfect behind. "It's all about the angles", as Leandro likes to say. Triangle Training works the butt muscles from multiple angles, including your hamstrings and the "heads" of the muscles, the parts that attach to the pelvic bone (which provides support between the upper and lower parts of your body). This is what gives the lift and curve that every woman wants. And unlike other exercise programs that develop the butt muscles, Leandro's won't bulk up your thighs.
There are so many programs to offer but I wanted to make sure you knew the Beachbody's April promotions. Two of the three programs are on sale this month and even the one which is not on sale is still at a really good price for just three short weeks. If you have any questions about these programs or any other program at all please do not hesitate to contact me. But if you would like to be apart of my upcoming online accountability group, please do me a favor and fill out the challenge application below.....are you ready for the summer slim down??
How many of us have hit a goal; whatever it may be and we it hit? We get so excited and happy that we worked hard and we achieved it. We want to be proud and brag to everyone around. First, if you have hit your goal...Congratulations! You earned it and you should be proud. But what happens when we do hit this goal, we start to slowly back off & give ourselves some slack. And before you know it we are just getting to comfortable.
You don't want to get too comfortable and let your results go. What determines our success and the results we get....YOU are. You are in control of how hard you push yourself and work. The food choices you make. And if you will hinder your results. You have the choice to decide what goal you want to hit, and when you want to hit it by.
Once you see results, I always tell my challengers to celebrate, but celebrate in a way without food. Go buy a new workout outfit, get a maincure/pedicure (for the girls), treat yourself to a massage, plan a trip...anything you want it to be.
But the more you stay comfortable with your results and where you are now, the more you are hurting yourself. You will not change yourself & you will have to start all over. One bad week can ruin all your hard work.
Set a goal and make it public. Never stop pushing yourself. Find a success partner who will push you to meet your goals. Surround yourself with positive uplifting people. It is so easy to get comfortable and stay inside your comfort zone, but if you stop stepping outside of your comfort zone you are never going to go. You are going to become content with where you are and not push harder to your ability. You should never stop dreaming and setting goals.
STEP OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE! Look to dream bigger. Do not get comfortable. For awhile there I was staying inside of my comfort zone. I stopped reading my personal development which ultimately effected how I thought about every second through out the day. You hit a goal and you slack, you have a piece of candy (here & there), you start picking at food (when you know you shouldn't), maybe slack off in your workouts, or in your business have you stopped asking people to join your team/challenges? You live and you learn, but you have to remember this is your life and you are in control. No one can do it for you, you have to wait it bad enough to get it!!!
Let's take a minute and recap...it is a new month. A time to set new goals, wipe the slate clean, and accomplish something major this March. But not before we just sit down and talk about February. During the beginning of the new month I always like to sit down and see where I need to improve, what good happened, how I met my goals, etc. (I know we are already a week into March) I'm a bit behind but it is better late than never right?
So, February was HUGE in the Beachbody world. Seriously just out of this world and I don't even know where to start. First we kicked it off with the Beachbody Cup Challenge. This is meant to push you out of your comfort zone and build your business. You pair up with four other coaches of your choice, come up with a team name, and for the entire month you put your head down and get to work.
Here was my team :
I never really knew any of these women before we started, but I am so glad they asked me to join their team. You have no choice but to get to know your teammates (if you don't know them already) because for the cup you are working so closely with each other. You need to know what motivates, drives them and brainstorm together. And although you are growing your business you are there to always cheer on and support your team members. I loved every moment working with these ladies, we totally stepped out of our comfort zone and crushed our goals we had set for ourselves. Way to go ladies!!! Can't wait to see what this month brings us! On top of the team cup myself and other ladies paired up together and decided to donate $5 per every success club point to the American Heart Association. I ended the month with 25 success club points so, me personally I donated $125 and I am so glad I have been able to give back & help out in any way that I can.
Next up the newest Beachbody program hit the shelves on February 3rd. The 21 Day Fix by Autumn Calabrese.
This program is designed for anyone. Someone who has not worked out in a while to the fitness guru. The moves are simple exercise, but with added weights. And if you need modifications you can always use one . I can not say more than good things about this program. You have to figure out nothing but your calorie intake or what you will have for the weeks. Figure out your calories and then you follow the chart on how color containers you are allowed to have for each day. If it fits into the containers you can eat it, if it does not it is not allowed. Plain and simple. Portion control is the #1 reason why people can not lose weight. This is not a starvation diet, you are eating real food just not as much as you are used to. This launched the first week in February and they literally SOLD out in an 8 hour day what they thought they would do in a week. I think Beachbody really nailed it on the head with this program. And it is still on pre-order, this program is really a game changer and for anyone who is looking for those rapid results in a short period of time.
Lastly, I am so excited to say that my team is starting to take off . My team is growing and people are ready to make a difference around the world. Introducing my team :
Let me just begin to say you can be on my team and we can be miles away. Our team is focused all through social media. We are dreamers, believers, part of the Air Force, moms, daughters, full time workers, students, wives girlfriends, and the list continues to go on. We may be all different individuals, but we all have one go in mind. And that is simple, we want to help end the trend of obesity & help as many people as we can reach their help and fitness goals. Each one of my coaches has a different reasoning for signing up, and that is what I love about my team. We are all different, but we strive to make ourselves better and each other better. We are all in this together & help each other grow & bounce ideas off of each other. We want to help each challenger reach their goals they set for themselves right from the very beginning. We are not personal trainers or nutrition experts. We are just your normal everyday people who have dreams & goals. We are fun, positive, uplifting people who love health & fitness. I don't "coach" people for the money, I truly joined as a coach to help as many people as I could achieve their goals. I have a passion & a drive to touch many lives and this is how each one of these special ladies came into my life. This opportunity has allowed me to work on my own health & fitness transformation. I have been able to kick my stomach problems to the curb. I have never had so much natural energy. I feel comfortable about myself & I am not always worrying about how I look or what people think. The people you surround yourself with on a daily basis is uplifting and they make you want to be a better person. Have a positive mindset and really allows you to view life differently and you can achieve anything you want too. My life has completely changed and have never felt more blessed than this. I can only begin to tell you my journey. We are looking to expand our team and add new members to it.
You do not have to go at this alone. You won't sign up and be expected to learn everything by yourself and no help. I will mentor you one on one in my next Coach Basics Group giving you all the training and tools I received from TOP coaches. This is your business; however you want to work this I am here to guide you and give you new ideas.
I am looking for people who are passionate about helping others and love working on their health & fitness. I want people who are outgoing and fun. Up for new ideas and working together as a team. This may be YOUR business but we all succeed TOGETHER. Are you goal-driven, looking for something more, and want to find your passion in life. Are you meant for something more? Do you want to inspire those around you? If you are answering YES, to ANY of these questions I want YOU on my TEAM! I am looking to add five more people at this time. If you are interested please take a moment to fill out the application listed below.
Applications MUST be filled out and turned in by March 16th. At that time I will review all applicants and interview you for the process. **please note if you turn this in after the deadline you will have to wait until my next coach basics group to start**
Think back to when you were a little kid, honestly. What did you always tell yourself you were going to grow up and be? A police officer. A teacher. A fireman. An astronaut. Now where are you exactly today. Are you what you always wanted to be when you were dreaming big when you were just a little kid and anything was possible. If you aren't there, why not? Why did you never pursue your dream you had.
What if you dropped all fear you have ever had. Why can't we as adults dream just as BIG as we did when we were once little. Does reality sink in? Are we afraid of rejection? Are you having self doubt? Stop listening to the negative thoughts and the someday I will's...... You have to believe in yourself NOW! If you are not happy then why are you still living a life of day to day. If you believed you could do it once before you can do it again!!!
Vacation Paid in FULL!!!
If you are thinking about something that you THINK you SHOULD do, you should probably chase after it. Why live a life of regrets and what ifs. Go chase after your dreams. Dream bigger than you ever thought possible, BECAUSE YOU CAN DO IT!!!!
Two years ago I signed up as a Beachbody Coach strictly for the discount because I loved the products so much. I said I was never ever going to do anything like this, but then as time went on and I was hearing all the success stories people were having and how this opportunity has changed their lives, I instantly was like okay let's do this. If anyone knows me, you know you don't have to twist my arm to get me to do anything...literally you could tell me this was an amazing opportunity and whatever else you wanted and I would say, "how do I sign up." Before I think the answers just come out of my mouth, and which ever way you look at it, it can be good or it can be bad. And ever after I signed up, I was like, "oh no, Lyss what did you just do." (this is where it gets me into trouble)
- I had no idea what I was doing - I was still working on my own health and fitness journey - Were people going to actually take my advice - When would I have time to work "my" business when I had a full time job
These questions started to circulate around my head and I had to just stop for a second. I did this for a reason....
1. I love health and fitness 2. I love helping other people 3. I have a drive and passion to succeed 4. My heart was telling me to go for it
There is no doubt in my mind I have made the best decision ever. Joining this company and being apart of the #2 team in all of Beachbody has been an absolute blessing. And although, I am not working this business full time yet, I have had some other success instead.
*I have met some pretty strong minded, determined, motivational, and inspirational people along this journey. *People I look up to and ask their advice on things I am struggling with. *I am dreaming bigger than I ever thought possible. *I surround myself every day with the positive ones. *I believe in myself more NOW than I have ever in my life. *I GET TO BE IN THE BEST SHAPE OF MY LIFE *I am inspiring others around me to make a positive healthy change in their life. *I have been able to pay for vacations, bills, shopping trips with my beachbody earnings without worrying about putting it on a credit card. *I get to help MY team grow into the leaders they want to become and how they want to grow their business.
This business is truly my passion. And when you find something you are passionate about you just go for it, no questions asked. If you love what you do, you never end up working a day in your life. I love waking up in the morning and seeing messages from my challengers thanking me for getting them started. For helping them find their confidence again. Fitting into a pair of jeans that have been tight and uncomfortable on them for years. And just seeing their energy level & how happy they are now vs. how they were feeling about themselves even before the challenge group started. This is why I do what I do. It honestly is not about the money, yes it is nice to get paid for doing something you love, but I love my challengers so much I would honestly do this for free if that is how this was.
I am passionate about helping others. I am determined to lead by example and put my whole heart into my business. Are you?
Sit back and think for a second....are you happy with where you are at right now? Are you happy living someone else's dream instead of your own? Are you tired of taking orders from other people? Do you want to be your OWN boss and make hours that work for you? Do you not want to have to worry about if you will have enough money to cover all your bills for the month? Do you believe you were destined for something great and something bigger than the life you are leading now? Then I have an opportunity for you to consider.
March is coming up shortly and I am so so very excited to be kicking off my next Coach Apprenticeship Training.
If I told you, that you would have an opportunity to take back your life and do something for you. Something that would make you happy. Find your passion. Would you do it?
What if I told you I would be hand selecting a few applicants and mentoring a small group to live out their dream. Would you do it?
What if I told you that you have the potential to make this business how big/how small you want it? I will not push you, I will just help you along the way to get you to where you want to be. Would you do it?
Would you want the chance to make a 6 figure income?
You must be ready and willing to do the work. This opportunity is only going to work if you are willing to put in the time and effort.
Are you looking for more freedom, financial stability, to make a difference and making lasting friendships with those around you. This just may be the opportunity you have been looking for.
You will never know until you take the risk and just JUMP!
Are you interested? If you are, please take a moment to fill out the Coach Application listed below to be considered for my March 3rd group. I will be reviewing the applications over the next couple of days and if you are accepted you will be hearing back from me NO LATER than Sunday February 23rd.
**maybe you know someone who you make a great candidate, please feel free to share with anyone!! Looking forward to this amazing group and working with you!!
