That's life...that's what all the people say

Wow, do I apologize for my absence.  It has been a crazy couple weeks.  I recently found out that my parents are losing their house.  I moved in with them two years ago to help them with bills and such and any other expenses they may have.  They took some but clearly didn't want to take too much, probably felt bad and they shouldn't have that is what I was here for.  Any who, they have decided to just put the house up for sale and they are purchasing another home under my step dad so they will be alright.  I in the meantime had to fast find somewhere to live and still make sure I had a way to work since I don't drive.  I kind of fell ass backwards into an apartment in a good part of Lancaster city.  I am so excited to be moving back on my own.  I have also committed to two weight loss challenges.  Beachbody has a national challenge where you can win a daily prize of $500 and a possible grand prize of $100,000.  If you are interested in more details about the Commit to get fit challenge email me: parisngrace@gmail.com.  Along with that my good friend and I at work decided to join a weight loss challenge with each other.  We both have a 30lbs more to lose so the first one to their goal by the end of the year will win a prize.  We don't know what it is yet, our friend Sean is being the mediator and keeping track of all our numbers week by week.  This is all so excited I love competition it helps me stay focused on my goal.  I will lose this last 30lbs there is no way that I can't I have four months to do it and it will happen.  Even with everything else that has been going on I am still making sure that I stay focused on my heath and fitness, it is the one thing in my life I know I can control and control it will.  So be sure to keep your work outs dirty and eating clean.

Peace. Love. Fitness

Paris N Grace
Independent Team Beachbody Coach

Game changer

Life has thrown a curve ball at me but I'm still smiling.  I won't let anything that happens in life create a roadblock or a setback.  I hear Oscar winning Actress Marlee Maitlin speak at the 20110 Beachbody Summit and she spoke about overcoming roadblocks.  It was an emotional moment for me because I find myself constantly giving in to the barriers and letting them win.  Well let me tell ya not this time, no way...no how.  My full-time is currently in jeopardy, I need to find a place to live and purchase a car for transportation to and from said full-time all within roughly 6-8 weeks.  Not the most pleasant of circumstances but I know I will overcome.  It's time that I start standing up to these barriers and believing in myself that I can do anything.  I'm one of those people that can preach but will never take my own advice...ever.  People tell me time and time again, learn to take your own advice.  I'm good at helping others...that is what I've always been good at.  I enjoy spending my time helping the ones that I love, my friends and even perfect strangers.  However, in all that time I have never taken the time to help myself.  I sacrifice a lot of my dreams and goals and ambitions to aide others.  So I guess what I'm trying to say that I will begin taking my own advice and making things happen.  Nothing is impossible, if I can tell others than can do anything that they can put their minds to then why can't I...right.  So with small baby steps and taking each day one at a time I know that I will accomplish everything that I need to set out to do to better my life and well being.  Nothing I do will be done in vain.  This is my year, this is my day and I will succeed because I decided to and committed to it.

Peace. Love. Fitness

Paris N. Grace
Independent Team Beachbody Coach
parisngrace@gmail.com

Decide. Commit. Succeed.

Well I have stayed diligent in my fitness ventures and have lost a total of 7.5lbs in the last 6 days.  It is becoming easier to maintain my drive and determination through simple steps that I should have been using this whole time.  I keep track of everything that I eat using the smart phone app MyFitnessPal.  They also have an online website of the same names.  I absolutely love this app and I use the site as well every once in a while.  I put it everything that eat (it even has my shakeology in the search criteria).  The app also allows you to enter your workouts.  I use Beachbody in home fitness programs so I am able to create my own workouts and enter the number of minutes and the calories burned.  It makes it easier to understand how many calories I need to intake and how many I am saving.  On average I save about 800 calories a day and by the end of the week that resulted in a 7.5lb lose which is amazing.  I'm at a lower weight now than I was when I left for LA a month ago.  I am now weighing in at 164lbs and it feels great.  The programs I am using currently to help me get to my goal weight of 130lbs is RevAbs, TurboFire, and Brazil Butt Lift.  If you're wondering if I use a BodyBugg to track my cals you would be incorrect.  For me I don't have the money to spend for that but you can get a cheap version of heart rate monitor/calorie counter that is quite reliable and accurate you can go to WalMart and purchase this watch in the sporting goods section for only $27.  I love it, you enter your weight, height, age, and sex and it determines your calories burned by the speed of your heart rate. On average during my workouts I can burn about 700-1000 calories.  It's great when you can keep track it helps keep you on target so you know what is going in and out of your body.  I am so pleased and ready to continue my journey.  I am hoping to be in the 150's soon, I only have four more pounds to go.

If you are interested in any of the programs I mentioned or any others that Beachbody has to offer you can visit my site www.beachbodycoach.com/pearbear.  You can also visit myshakeology.com/pearbear to learn more about the product Shakeology.  As always you can always email me if you would like to know any more information parisngrace@gmail.com

Peace. Love. Fitness.

Feeling great

Alright I've made it through three days of workouts and staying focused on with my clean eating.  It feels like I have found my focus again and I am loving it.  I haven't had this feeling for awhile and I'm glad that I'm back again.  It happens every so often where I will go off course for a few weeks and just binge and slack on my workouts.  In a way though it works out because I've probably plateaued any way and going astray will kick my body into burning more calories and losing more weight.  I am now keeping my weekly weight goals written with a nail art pen on my fingernails to remind me of the goal I want to set.  It keeps my mindful of the foods I put in my body and also keeps me working hard on my fitness.  I am 35lbs away from reaching goal and nothing is going to stop me from reaching it.  I really hope to reach my goal by the end of the year.  It will be life changing for me and lets be honest just feel damn good lol.  Here's to another day down of staying accountable to myself, no one is going to do this but me so I better start helping myself.

Keep your workouts dirty and your meals clean.

I swear I'm going to finish something

How many of you start a project based on an incredible idea, get so far into the project and then find that you have given up? I'm sure that most of you will probably raise your hand if this were in a class room setting lol.  I have done this at least a dozen times.  An endless cycle of beginning and never finishing.  I'm pretty sure that I am not doing it consciously, I soon realize after a few weeks have gone by that I have lost my dedication to the project and then I waste another week sitting, brooding, and reflecting why I am not able to finish anything.  This cycle needs to end and it needs to end today.  No ifs, ands, or buts...I am going to complete the things I want to work hard to finish.  Things I have slacked on the last couple weeks: fitness, nutrition and blogging (go figure).  It's Monday and I plan to get back on track I am not going to let myself down like I usually do.  I'm going to improve myself (I read enough personal development books I should at least start utilizing the information that I read).  Therefore, today I have worked out twice, stayed healthy on my nutrition for the day and I am currently back to blogging.  For the work that I have done I have been called a motivator and role model, people are looking up to me on a daily basis and it's about time that I show them the real role model I can be.  Being a product of the product in all aspects of my life.  I actually had a client tell me the other day that she was happy to see that I have my flaws because it showed that I was human.  She thought I was Superwoman.  I want to be that Superwoman again and show my clients and customers that anything is possible if you want to achieve it and when I am not achieving I am not showing others that anything is possible.  Getting back into my Superwoman costume :)

Staying consistent

Alright, after what seemed like weeks of not being consistent with my workouts I've finally worked out two days in a row lol.  My workouts have been so sporadic, almost and every other day thing.  I went from being religious with my fitness to nearly non existent.  I felt guilty but at the same time deserving of the time off.  I have been working out nonstop for over a year with no let up except for the typical slack of a week where my body was just too tired to keep going.  Unlike other times however, I was extremely tired.  I'm not a person that naps, I just don't like taking them.  Usually I wake up feeling crappy than I did when I fell asleep.  But these last two weeks everyday after I would take a nap.  Sometimes they would last for a couple hours and other times almost the other half of my day was gone because I slept it away.  Today I felt good, didn't feel like napping and aha...I didn't nap.  I felt good and decided to work out.  Two days back to back, that's a record for me these last couple of weeks.  I feel good though and have more energy now than before my workout.  I feel like I've accomplished something and I'm ready to tackle the rest of my business ventures for the evening.  I need to get back on track, but the good thing is that I've learned to not feel guilty about missing a day or two or three.  I've learned that if I mentally can not get over the hurdle to get my body moving to work out, there must be something else wrong.  My body is clearly out of shape again lol...it doesn't take long for your body to weaken.  After today and yesterdays workout though I feel back on track and ready to stay consistent...I have a $100,000 prize to win.  I think I have a good chance if I just keep up the hard work.

Hope to hear from you soon

Peace. Love. Fitness.

Paris N. Grace
Independent Team Beachbody Coach

Succes Club Team Challenge

Today starts the kickoff for Team Beachbody's Success Club Team Challenge.  Groups of five coaches gather to create a team and work their business to get points for their team.  The top teams win prizes and also get to see their business grow.  Being a Beachbody Coach has been one of the most rewarding experiences I've ever had the pleasure of being a part of.  I get to make my own hours and be my own boss.  It's a second income without a second job, I get paid to workout...it's that easy.  I also have the pleasure of helping others reach their health and fitness goals.  It's that easy, I mean who wouldn't want to be a part of this.  Right now I'm looking for 4 people to sign up as Beachbody Coaches and when you sign up you get a free basic fitness program of your choice to help you start your business and your weight loss journey.  The goal is to be a product of the product...that's how you make your money.  I've made a substantial income just by working out...people see my success and want to have the same.  I love this business and it is real, no gimmicks...just amazing people helping others.  We are all on a journey to help "END THE TREND" of obesity.  Are you strong, motivated, ready to change your life and the lives of others?  Please don't hesitate to contact me for further information, I'll be more than happy to help you...whether you think you might want to be a coach or you are ready to start your weight loss journey.  I'm looking forward to hearing from you, contact me at: parisngrace@gmail.com.  I'll be waiting for your email.

Peace. Love. Fitness.

Paris N. Grace
Independent Team Beachbody Coach

I made a promise

I've made a promise today to my upline coach that I would not snack for two months after today.  Therefore, he took me to go get ice cream as my last hoorah.  I've lost 70 pounds so far by using in-home fitness programs like P90X, Insanity:The Asylum and Turbofire.  I've worked very long and hard to achieve this goal an lately...I've been slipping on my nutrition.  However, from now on I will be thoughtful about the foods that I put in my body.  I have a goal to lose another 30 pounds and enter the Beachbody Challenge.  This challenge gives me the opportunity to possibly win $100,000 just for making an incredible body transformation and I'm not going to sabotage myself...no not this time.  I will let be defeated and I will not let anything stand in my way.  I haven't gotten where I have in life just by sitting by and watching it happen.  I've taken control everything in my life because it was something that I wanted to happen, something that I manifested for myself.  I also make this promise to you.  I will not snack and eat junk food and jeopardize or sabotage myself and those who look to me for motivation and inspiration.  Happy healthy eating everyone!!!

Peace. Love. Fitness

Paris N Grace
Independent Team Beachbody Coach

When motivation slips

The past couple weeks I have been fighting to force myself to work out.  Typically, I have all the energy in the world and never have to fight this lack of motivation.  I keep on trucking and pushing myself to push play and work out.  I owe a lot of my push to my upline coach and success partner Sean Black.  He keeps me going everyday and pushes me to do my best everyday.  His daily motivation keeps me going through my RevAbs workout.  I've lost 71lbs so far and have about 30 more to go, if it weren't for him I'm not quite sure where I would be with my health at this point.  Beachbody programs have also made a huge impact on my life.  P90X, Insanity, Asylum, and Turbofire have all helped me lose the weight and RevAbs is going to help me get leaned in toned.  I may not want to work out everyday and I may want to cheat on my diet but this is a lifestyle change.  This is something that I will do for the rest of my life.  To be perfectly honest, getting started with the workout may suck sometimes but I feel great during the routine and even better afterwards.  Here's to another 30lbs!!!!!

Staying focused on my health

I've been trying to make a commitment to myself to cut some unhealthy habits out of my life.  I'm noticing how difficult this actually is.  I have a weakness for salty snacks (chips are the snack of choice).  I wake up every morning thinking ok, this is the morning I'm going to stick to my guns and choose healthy choices.  I started this mentality on Sunday and I have snacked the last two days.  I've learned to not beat myself up about it however, failures happen and I can always reverse the next minute or the next day and make a healthier choice.  I'm going to have a good day tomorrow and not snack on chips :), I know I can do it.  Tomorrow I will get on this blog and tell the world, "I did not snack, I stuck to my guns and kept my diet healthy".  I know I can do it.  I also have a great support team through my upline coach from Beachbody and the support of the Beachbody community on the message boards and the friends I've made on Facebook.

If you are having similar issues or just want some support on your health and fitness, please feel free to contact me.  I'll be more than happy to help you through and give you advice on healthier alternatives.  I'm great at giving advice, one of these days I will learn to utilize the advice I give to others for myself heehee.

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Peace. Love. Fitness

Independent Team Beachbody Coach
Paris N. Grace

AHA momen #3...I actually am using my degree

People always ask me, "You graduated from college, why aren't you using your degree and working in retail"?  My response would always be, "There's no market for mass media arts in this town".  I would leave it at that and feel slightly bad about myself that I wasted five years in college and have nothing to show for it but a piece of paper that says "YOU GRADUATED".  It wasn't until roughly a week ago while I was at a Beachbody Coaches Summit (new product updates and training seminars) that I realized, "Hey I am using my degree".  I got my bachelors in Mass Media Arts Journalism and Communication Studies.  My job as a Team Beachbody Coach, requires that I use my communication skills and Internet savvy.  Wow, can't believe I never thought of this before.  I've been utilizing everything I learned in college towards starting my own business.  My business has been flying now, I love being my own boss.  I am meeting new people, making new connections and getting customers left and right.  My business hasn't really gone anywhere until recently because I didn't know where to start...when AHA, I had the tools all along.  This has been a great experiencing sharing my AHA moments with all of you.  I hope that some of you will be able to take a little away from this and realize that what you think you might be missing has been there the whole time :)

Peace. Love. Fitness.
Paris N. Grace
Independent Team Beachbody Coach

AHA moment #2...I wanna be a Team Beachbody Coach

It was December of 2010 when I had AHA moment number two.  I was at work running the self check out station (hating my life btw lol) when my friend Sean who worked in the garden center called me on my work phone.  He and I were talking about the company Beachbody and the coaching opportunities.  I was very hesitant at first but realized that it was a good opportunity to save 25% on my P90X program and Shakeology (The Healthiest Meal of the Day). So I told him I'd sign up as a coach with him just to enjoy the discounts.  I was slowly starting to become obsessed with health and fitness and thought why not kind of get into the industry.  I paid no attention to the business for a couple months and just enjoyed my coach discount, which was fine to me.  Then I start hearing about all the opportunities that came with being a Beachbody Coach and I was slowly finding myself feeling left out of all the fitness fun.  I wanted more and a lot more, so I started to get a little more involved.  I found myself immersed in all that was Beachbody and had the brilliant idea that I love helping others.  I always am the one that spends the time others rather than myself and pride myself on that.  I have always enjoyed helping others and helping them achieve mental health and clarity.  I am positive and happy nearly 100% of the time and I wanted others around me to have the same outlook on life.  Then I realized I could take me caring nature one step further and go to school to become a personal trainer.  I loved fitness, health and helping others...it seemed like the perfect combination.  I'd be crazy not to jump on this.  Thus started AHA moment #2.  I'm still in the process of finishing my certification and believe it or not, learning about the body wasn't really that hard.  I'm finding everything I'm learning so very fascinating...including the biology part of it all.  Now, I'll be able to help people in a more knowledgeable way.  It's one thing to be a Beachbody Coach but now I have smarts to back it up and prove that the programs work, I mean I did only lose 70lbs doing nothing but drinking Shakeology everyday and working out to my DVD's in my basement :) Now I only have to wait three more months before I have AHA moment number three.  Looking forward to sharing it with you tomorrow.

Peace. Love. Fitness.

AHA moment #1...I'm fat!

I've had three AHA moments over the past three years, each one has been more eye opening than the last.  My first one came about in February of 2009.  I had graduated and been out of college for about a year with a Bachelors Degree in mass Media Arts Journalism and Communication Studies.  I had no idea what I really wanted to do with my degree because it could take me in so many directions.  The biggest obstacle that I could not hurdle over was my weight.  I felt that my weight kept me from pursuing my ultimate goals.  Working in the entertainment industry was my die hard dream but I just knew that my outward appearance would hold me back.. Instead of trying to do anything about my weight, I gave up on myself thinking that I was just going to be fat and that was who I am.  I let my weight define me, I was 23 years old weighing in at 235lbs at only five feet tall.

Around this time I had met someone at my current place of employment who has become my best friend as a result.  He is a health and fitness nut and listening to him talk at the time was quite confusing...health and fitness were not words in my vocabulary.  After a few months of working with him I noticed that I had dropped 20lbs.  I secretly took in things that he said and changed my eating habits (becoming vegetarian within the last year).  That 20lbs was easy to lose, it was as if I never had it on my body.  Then Halloween was creeping around the corner (my fave holiday) and I wanted to lose some more weight to fit into a costume that I wanted to make.  He is a Team Beachbody Coach...innovators of in home fitness...creators of programs such as P90X and Insanity to name a couple.  He suggested I start out with Slim in 6 to help me lean out, burn some fat and murder some inches.  Within the first three weeks I had lost 11inches on my entire body, it was incredible and so was the feeling.  I may have only dropped a few pounds but inches are just as important.  From there I grew addicted, I wanted more...I wanted to move onto my next program.  I was ambitious, I saw Insanity in my future and I attempted it.  It was insane, hard work, painful, sweaty but I pushed through and made it a month and half into the two month program.  Still not seeing much weight loss I tried to not get discouraged.  I thought okay how about another, I soon found myself on a fitness high.  All I wanted to do was work out, seek results, change my body.  It was a high that I would never in a million years think that I would be addicted to.  Thus came about AHA moment #1...I love to workout...I'm still on my weight loss journey but proud of what I have accomplished.  I'm down 70lbs since then...weighing in at 165lbs.  I still can't believe it myself, I recognize what I've done but like some others who can relate, it's hard to imagine myself as "used to be fat".  I still struggle occasionally with not being the fat girl anymore.  People want to see my before picture and I am utterly embarrassed to show anyone.  Mentally when I look in the mirror I'm still that fat girl.  It's hard for me to see what others see but I know in time I will learn to love the new me.  I've been overweight nearly my whole life due to dramatic life changes during my childhood.  Seeing myself as being anything other than fat is new to me.  I take it one day at a time and live through my AHA moment and embrace my new found love for fitness and in home fitness programs.  I've gone on to lose this total 70lbs so far by using the following programs: Slim in 6, Insanity, P90X, Turbo Jam, TurboFire, RevAbs, Brazil Butt Lift and Insanity: The Asylum.  I would like to inspire anyone interested in making a lifestyle change such as improving your health or fitness to contact me.  If I can do it...so can you.  Feel free to email me with any questions, I'm here to pay it forward and help anyone achieve their life goals!!!

Email     spngrace@gmail.com

I look forward to hearing from you.  Don't hesitate...I'm listening!