Team Call with Darin Olien

Last week I had the extreme pleasure of being on a live call with the co-creator of Shakeology, Darin Olien.

I was not super familiar with him before the call, aside from the fact that I knew he helped develop the formula for Shakeology and travels the world looking for fresh new products to add to it.

After the call though I really had a new appreciation for all of his hard work.

I am certainly no expert at Shakeology or all of the all nutrients that go into it, but here are my takeaways from his call!

But first, I'd like to share a few articles that I find really helpful for those who are new to Shakeology.
How We Find the Ingredients for Shakeology

5 Shakeology Myths Debunked!


Okay... back to my takeaways!!!!!!!

Big Takeaway #1:
I really liked what he had to say about Super Foods healing your body. We aren't technically allowed to say Shakeology can help you get off medications... BUT... Darin did a really amazing job of explaining how our body craves whole, nutritious, super foods! Consistent behaviors can warrant positive results... so a consistent behavior of feeding your body super foods with help it function the way it was built to move.

He also said that medications are not designed to make us better but to just sustain our health. They are there to function as a way to get through out day an suppress any illnesses or ailments.

Super Food Nutrition is designed to make your body better and to HEAL it from the inside out. Not just to mask the pains or illness, but to get rid of it and move forward.

Big Takeaway #2:
The cost objection. I get it a lot! "I wish it wasn't so expensive." I know, $130 for anything is a lot of money. But I think it is all in how you look at it. Some people who see the BIG PICTURE only see that large amount. However, you need to switch your thinking! That $130 (which if you buy a Challenge Pack, like the 21 Day Fix, you are getting a workout program and the Shakeology for that one price, everything you need in 1 box!) divided by 30 days in the average month is a little over $4 a day. I don't have to go into what costs $4 for you to figure out that really... it's not a huge expense!

People will always need food. We will never skimp on food. It is always a must. So why use that money that we set aside for food each month, and throw it away on junk, processes, microwave stuff?? Going back to #1.... why would you want to skimp on something that can HELP you body run more efficiently and keep you off all those extras by feeding your body things that will reverse that process?
If you aren't going to skimp on food, then why not spend that money on something with value?

You will either pay the farmer, or you will pay the doctor.

Big Takeaway #3:
I am so beyond impressed with this guy. He gets to travel the world and discover new super foods to put into this nutritious shake that gets to be shipped directly to your home for you to enjoy.
A lot of other companies have come knocking at his door, offering tons of money for him to work there and make them a big success. But he says no every single time, because he believes in Shakeology and he believes in Beachbody as a company. I love that we can say that this guy works with us!
Take everything that we love about our company and just amplify it!
Most products do not even come close to what Shakeology can offer and they price they offer it. The costs are low on those other products FOR A REASON! Again, why skimp on your HEALTH?
There is so much research (he spends months in the jungle learning about super foods and finding the next big thing that will make us happier and healthier!) and knowledge and protocol that goes into Shakeology, that you should feel super confident that you are getting a quality product!

Big Takeaway #4:
It's a supplement that contains some of the greatest nutrient dense super foods in the world carefully formulated to give your body life enhancing potential for a longer stronger performing life.
I love the way he describes it in a few words! Wouldn't you want THAT in your life??? I would! Sign me up!

Shakeology is GREATER than the SUM of all its parts! And it has TONS OF PARTS... but by COMBINING it together... you are getting some amazing nutrition for your body!

God Sized Dream: Fear of Failure

Welcome back for yet another peek inside the book, You're Made for a God-Sized Dream by Holley Gerth.

Today I wanted to touch on FEAR and FAILURE. This is a major topic in my team page and I know it is on your mind... it is always on mine... when creating and going after your God Sized Dream.

Hey, going after your dream is certainly not easy. I run into it all the time... I am chugging along and then BAM, something comes up in my life (illness, wrench in the plans, my day getting away from me with my kids) and completely derails me from my path. It is funny how it can sneak up too. It may be something small, and you say, "I'll take care of it tomorrow." and then suddenly you keep putting it off and putting it off. Before you know it, that amazing pace you had going has become a complete stop.

You might also get overwhelmed with how hard your Dream is. Holy moly... do I know this! If I knew it was going to be THIS HARD I may not have even started! This is taking a lot longer and a lot more effort than I thought. I should stop.

If either of these things come up, there is only one thing you are responsible for... never giving up.

 



You have probably heard of this many time... "light at the end of the tunnel" or "when one door opens, another opens" or "just over the next hill, just around the next bend, is the breakthrough you have been waiting for."

Those aren't just sayings because they make you feel better. They are SO TRUE. Did you ever have a really bad day, and everything seems to be piling up on you and then you open you texts and you see an "I love you" or "Thanks for being so helpful" from a friend or family member in your message box? This happens to me all the time, I am just about to throw in the towel and God says, "WAIT A SECOND, GET BACK HERE!"
The book then moves on to something that I touched on before....

Here's a really good example:
Say you have a team of people who are told they need to build a ladder to the top of a building. No boundaries, just get to the top. You hurry up and build your ladder, start to climb, and suddenly one of the steps snaps and you go crashing back to the ground. It didn't work. A few other people fell, and a few are racing to the top.

What do you do?

Just because the first attempt at your God Sized Dream did not work, does not mean it is WRONG or that you need to give up. It just means that you need to find a new way. A lot of people mistake a wrong answer or a door that leads nowhere as being a sign that their dream is not meant for them, when in reality, it just means you need to rethink how to get up there.

 



 

A huge part of overcoming this hear of being on the wrong path, or that you may fail, is to constantly keep your dream in front of you. Keep it present in your life, in everything that you do. A big thing that happens, as we discussed earlier, is that LIFE gets in the way of your dream, when life should share an embrace your dream!

 

We often take for granted that a God Sized Dream will just happen, because it is so big and scary, we think that we just have to wish really hard and it will fall into our laps. Dreams are awesome, but they are not the end of the story. Those dreams and emotions need ACTION! Find an action step each day that will move your dream forward, and keep it in the front of your mind. That does not mean completely disregarding your daily activities in order to survive, but being mindful that you have goals to go after and need attention.

 

Something that happened to me a while ago, when I hit Diamond rank for the first time in August 2014 was that I never took time to celebrate. I saw the next goal and started to run after it. I really should have stopped and taken in the scenery for where my legs were currently planted. I never fully appreciated it, and therefore, lost it all.

It is okay to take time to celebrate. Sure the end of the journey is super rewarding, but it is rewarding because of all the hard work you put in to get there. So stop and really take note of that, and pat yourself on the back for sticking to it.

 

Can't wait to discuss more of the book later!!!!!

 

 

xoxo 



My Coach Story

So what good is it to have a blog and talk about health, fitness, and motivation without knowing a little bit about me??

I wrote a short "about me" on my blog before, but it really didn't get to my WHY. Why coaching? Why Beachbody? Why now?

Well here it goes.... grab your popcorn and some Shakeology... you're in for a story!

Let's go way back shall we??
When I was in high school I was the type of person who trusted anyone. I had lots of friends, was involved in lots of activities, and just really enjoyed life. I had ZERO clue where I wanted to be, what I wanted to do, or what my future held... I just sort of went with the flow of life.

I became friends with a teacher who wanted to help me with athletics, and I was pretty set on going to a school that would have been a typical choice for me. I never though too far out of the mold, I just did what I was told or what I thought would make everyone proud.

That teacher ended up not being the person I thought he was, and before the end of my senior year, he took advantage of me. My world was crushed. I was only 18 and suddenly I had to grow up and be an adult. I didn't want to be an adult, and I certainly did NOT want this unfortunate event to define me for the rest of my life. I really kept it to myself, because I was afraid if people know what happened, I would be labeled as a certain type of girl. I just wanted to go to college and forget about everything.

Before the end of my senior year I went to check out my school, and my dad took me to see another school down the street. This school was an all women's college. Small. In the city. And really just not what I wanted. But it was pretty!
I got out of the car and instantly felt welcome. Have you ever stepped foot somewhere and instantly felt at home? Like a peace just overwhelms you and you know you are at the right place at the right time.
That day I decided to heck with that other school, I wanted to go here! So that is how I ended up at Chatham University.

I went to study English but somehow found myself in a few art classes and feminist theory classes, completely out of my comfort zone but they seemed "easy" enough to get my credit.
Those classrooms completely changed my life. I went from being the girl who pleased everyone and never had an original thought, to being someone who CARED about things and felt energized about learning. I really loved the atmosphere at school and how it taught me to be an empowered, thoughtful, intelligent woman. I made true friendships with other women and found my role models.

I left school not really knowing what to do but knowing that life was going to take me somewhere pretty amazing.

Fast forward a few years... and life taking me in a direction that I really did not see coming... enter the curve ball!

A few years after graduating, and after really enjoying my 20s, I met my husband. After we got engaged I got pregnant, so we really had to fast forward our plans to start our family. This was not a part of my plan... I wanted a career and to travel and learn more about myself. Instead I partied and made bad decisions, met my husband, got pregnant, and found myself fully submerged into mommyhood!

To help bounce back after having my first born, Kirsten, I started going to the gym. I got pretty good results but really barely used any equipment other than the cardio machines. One day while cruising Facebook I saw my friend Kati post about her P90X results. And they were awesome! I had to do what she was doing. So chatted for a bit, she convinced me to give Turbofire a shot and try Shakeology... and boom... my Beachbody journey officially began. I thought I was doing really well so I ordered P90X.... but it sat in my closet.

I got pregnant 2 years later with my second daughter Charlotte. This time around I was pretty determined to stay healthy, but as a lot of pregnancies go, I made excuses and still gained a lot of weight.

I was 150 lbs when I had Charlotte. A lot heavier than I was when I had my first child. But I knew in the back of my head that I had the tools to get back in shape waiting for me in my closet...

After I was released to workout I was so excited to start P90X, I knew it was going to be the answer to my big weight gain problems. The same day I signed up as a coach. I watched for a year as these other coaches formed bonds and moved their businesses forward. It was a like a club and I could not get in. I wanted to be a part of it and I wanted to really succeed at my goals.

As hard as it was to workout every day for over an hour with a toddler and an infant, I somehow made it work. I dedicated myself to the 90 days and promised that I would make it work. I knew that if I could make it through these days I could literally do anything. It's funny, because when you just had a baby and you are trying to please them and work on yourself, your mind starts to play funny tricks on you. You go from being really determined to hitting really bad lows. But I used my dvds as my therapy and finished! I was 45 pounds down and felt pretty amazing. I looked like my happy and healthy self again.... all because I stuck to the plan and never gave up.

I thought this was the momentum I needed in my Beachbody business, but found that because I was never really in touch with WHY I wanted to be a coach, I pretty much failed.

Fast forward to the following year. I saw all of these posts from people saying they were going to Summit, Beachbody's annual conference in Vegas. I had one of those moments, like deciding on college, and felt like I was in the right place and the right time again. I was determined to get to that event. I took out a credit card without telling anyone, and charged the whole trip. I knew what I was doing wasn't really great, but I had a one track mind.

I flew to Vegas by myself, with a dream to discover my WHY. I roomed with girls I never met but quickly became my best friends. I met people I only barely knew from Facebook and fell in love with their ability to accept someone no matter what. I was getting those feelings I had in college... female empowerment, amazing relationships, and feeling like I was somewhere that mattered.

During the opening event, I was about to hear the CEO of the company talk and the #1 coach in the entire company... when I got a text from my husband and it was pretty life changing. I knew deep down that this was a moment where I had to decide what to do. Even though I knew I had to talk to him, I also knew that I needed to be present in this moment. I put the phone away, and listened to the session. I learned so much from the people who spoke and suddenly, after hearing their WHYs, mine started to take shape.

Summit was truly a life changing experience for me. I met Tony Horton, the guy who kicked my butt and helped me lose 45 lbs... I got to be front and center at one of his workouts. I got to hear from top coaches and keynote speakers. I met and connected with amazing people. And I learned how to grow my business the right way. I left feeling very grateful that I was able to go, and fully understanding how to fix things at home.

The old me held information from people and only thought about herself. The new me puts others first, with me still in mind, and seeks the best solution to every problem. The old me judged others, and the new me sees the beauty in every person and situation.

My WHY that I discovered last summer was that through my life experiences, I was given the gift to help empower women and make them feel like they matter in the life they are in. To never settle for the ordinary, and always strive for that bit of extraordinary that lies within us all. And lastly, to have a voice. To be passionate about something and be unapologetic about it.

xoxoxo
Erika

Yummy Healthy Chili

I have a sweet spot for chili! I'm not really a sweets person, I'm a FOOD person. Especially classic homemade dinners! I grew up in a big Italian family where we were expected to all get together at least 3 times a week.... and food was always the center piece to every visit.

I'm pretty skilled in making my own pasta and sauce. And I have zero limits. We always went big! Sunday dinner was..... salad, bread, spaghetti or gnocchi, roast, potatoes, hot peppers, and veggies.
My Nono (Italian for grandpa) was a very strict, old fashioned guy. I remember they had a big meat cellar where they stored meats and cheese, and sliced it fresh, our own personal deli!!!
After that big dinner, he would nap and watch the game, then announce he was ready for pizza. I was his personal chef assistant and would help cut fresh pepperoni and roll out the dough. More carbs for everyone!

Since hitting my late 20 I've since learned healthy versions of my favorite family recipes, my metabolism isn't what it used to be!

One favorite: chili!

Here's a really yummy and satisfying alternative to the usual chili we all know and love! Best part.... make a huuuge batch and freeze for later!!
》》》》》》》《《《《《《《《

INGREDIENTS >

2 lbs 99% fat-free ground turkey
1 yellow onion, chopped
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes, no-salt added
1 (15 oz) can petite diced tomatoes, no-salt added
3 Tbsp tomato paste
1/2 tsp. hot sauce (I used Texas Pete)
1 (15 oz) can kidney beans, no-salt added, drained and rinsed
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 green bell pepper, chopped
2 jalapenos, chopped
1 1/2 tsp. sea salt
Pinch of pepper
1 packet Stevia
3 Tbsp chili powder
2 tsp. oregano
1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper

NSTRUCTIONS >

Drizzle olive oil in a large pot and saute onion and garlic until fragrant, about 3 minutes.

Add ground turkey and cook until crumbled and brown, draining excess liquid as necessary.

Add all the rest of the ingredients and cook on medium/low heat for about an hour.

Enjoy!

You Might Have a God Sized Dream If...

I am reading the book God Sized Dream by Halley Gerth and there are so many amazing lessons that come from it... so I wanted to share a really great, thoughtful chapter with you all. Plus it includes an assignment!

You Might Have a God Sized Dream If...

... it fits with your strengths.

... if your skills and experiences have prepared you for it.

... if you can't think about anything else.

... if you are scared silly.

... if people think you're crazy.

... if it's bigger than you are.

... if it aligns with God's purposes.

... if it's harder than you thought it would be.

... if it leads to joy.


First thing's first... how do you find your strengths??
"You are who you are for a reason. Customizing you wasn't a challenge. So why would He create you in a way that didn't match up with the biggest dreams he has for your life?

Take 10 minutes and write down your strengths. Use this picture for a few ideas, but really dig deep and try to find what drives you.

Here are a few of mine...
Adventurous Caring Funny Kind Integrity Hardworking Honest Helpful Energetic Flexible

If you are wondering if your strengths are RIGHT FOR YOU then put them through the STRENGTH test:

SERVICE (does it help me serve others)
TIME (has it bee present through much of my life)
RELATIONSHIPS (do others see it)
ENERGY (do I feel energized when I'm living this way)
NATURAL (does it come naturally to me, most of the time)
GLORY (does God get glory from it)
TRIALS (even in hard times, does it usually come through)
HEART (does this really feel like a core part of who I am)




Do you have experiences in your life that seem to be pointing you towards your God Sized Dream? If you look really closely at your life, there might be a lot of crazy things that happened to you, and they may all seem unrelated, but in reality... they are God speaking to you about your dream. You have to find how they weave together to really find the message in your dream.

For example... never in my life did I think I would be a health and fitness coach. I went to college for English and Art History... how in the world does that equal a Beachbody coach??
But when I look back at my college experience, everything I did was shaping me and giving me strength for what I was meant to do later.
I took quite a few feminism classes that really spoke to me at the time, I ended up getting a Minor in it!
I'm not here to give you a big long rant about women's rights... BUT it is a pretty big part in WHY I became a coach. I saw in myself after I had my second baby a woman who forgot what it was like to be herself. I dedicated myself to a fitness and nutrition routine that helped me not only shed some pounds, but get my confidence back.
Suddenly those classes in college really came back to me about empowering women and having a voice.

So that is a big part of my WHY... helping women feel empowered through health and fitness and self confidence.


Take a few minutes to write down a few experience in your life that seemed to be pretty significant and might be a part of your why. What was the major lesson you learned? How did it make your stronger to get through that experience?
Would sharing that experience help others?

Create a time line of your life and pin point those experiences.
Being a Beachbody coach means that we have to share our story. Sure you might get a few sales here and there from just advertising that you sell their products... but when it comes to really wanting to SHARE our experiences, we need a clear outline.
No one wants you to dump a ton of crazy info on them, or dump a crazy story out there on Facebook.
By creating a timeline you can have a point of reference when crafting posts where you want to share your story. Leave breadcrumbs. Little bits about yourself that keep readers wanting to come back for more!


Now that you SEE your God Sized Dream, or at least see it starting to come together through things in your past... it is time to write down the things you need to do to keep moving it forward. You looked into your past, time to start mapping the future!
Write down 3 action steps that will move you forward from where you are now (growing where you are planted) to where you need to be!

xoxoxo

Master List of Product Links

If you are anything like me, you're super lazy. lol No seriously... Mrs. Lazy Pants over here!
So to help perfect my laziness, I decided to start compiling a list of all the codes you would need for products when sending a customer to your site.

The codes all say YourID at the end, that is where you will enter your specific coach ID #

Enjoy and Share!

Your personal Beachbody Page:
www.beachbodycoach.com/YOURUSENAME 

Main Shop Page:
http://teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping?referringRepId=yourID

21 Day Fix and Extreme Challenge Packs:

US 21 Day Fix Challenge Pack (English)	http://teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/BCP21D160?referringRepId=yourID
US 21 Day Fix Challenge Pack (Spanish)	http://teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/BCP21D160SP?referringRepId=yourID
US 21 Day Fix Extreme Challenge Pack	http://teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/BCP21E160?referringRepId=yourID
US 21 Day Fix Kickstart Challenge Pack	http://teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/BCP21D3DR205?referringRepId=yourID
US 21 Day Fix Extreme Kickstart Challenge Pack	http://tembeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/BCP21E3DR205?referringRepId=yourID

21 Day Fix Extreme Base Kit:
http://teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/21DFEXTREME?referringRepId=yourID

21 Day Fix Extreme Base Kit (no containers):
http://teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/21DFEXTBasicPkg?referringRepId=yourID

21 Day Fix and Extreme Combo Kit:
 http://teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/21DFEXTComboPk?referringRepId=yourID

Insanity Max 30:
Challenge Pack:  http://teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/BCPIM205?referringRepId=yourID

Insanity Max 30 Base Kit: : http://teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/MAX30Base?referringRepId=yourID

Insanity Max 30 Deluxe Kit:  http://teambeachbody.com/shop/-/shopping/MAX30Deluxe?referringRepId=yourID

Piyo:
Challenge Pack: