Not ready for P90X? Where should you start...

P90X and Insanity infomercials can have you riveted to the TV while you sit on the couch eating your ice cream... sometimes they inspire people to pick up the phone or get on the computer and order, other times they send you running for the hills thinking that you could never do those crazy things!!!

Which one are you?

P90X, Insanity and TurboFire are considered graduate programs. Sure you can start them from any fitness level but in reality you aren't going to be able to get ripped in 90 days if you have 100 pounds to lose or if you aren't physically ready to really BRING IT!!! That said, some people have been able to get amazing results in 90 days - some dropping over 60 pounds and finding the body of their dreams! In all reality it is usually best to find a workout that you will enjoy, that will boost your confidence and that will inspire you to plug in to 5+ days a week!

• A good place to start is walking. Go for a walk every morning, at lunch time, in the evening... whenever you can regularly plug it into your schedule! If you don't schedule it though, you won't do it!!!  Change it up with bike rides and jogs.
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• Pushups! Start with 5 in the morning, increase regularly and before you know it you will be able to do 20... on your toes - just remember to make a straight line with your body from your shoulders to your ankles (or knees), abs and glutes tight! 

• Tricep Dips on the side of the coffee table or on a chair edge. Face away from the chair, put the heel of your hand on the edge of the chair, bend legs as you lower your body while bending at the elbow.  As you get stronger, move your feet further away from the chair so they are supporting less of your weight!

• Squats and lunges are great for your legs and glutes!  Any time you are lowering your body just make sure that your knees don't shoot out over your toes... 
• For Squats-sit your booty backwards like you are sitting into a chair, chest raised and tighten those muscles on the way down and the way back up... hold and repeat!  If you look down you should be able to see your toes and make sure your knees are pointing the same direction as your toes!  
• For Lunges- step forward far enough so when you lower your body your front knee stays over top of your ankle with weight on your front heel and back toe.  Raise and lower or do walking lunges!

• Pick up a resistance band from Target, a sporting good store or my Beachbody site and start doing some resistance training for other body parts! Add resistance to the moves above or throw in some bicep curls, shoulder raises and rows!

So you have tried a few of these ideas and you are ready for a program?  Try Power 90 - the predecessor to P90X, 10 minute trainer, Slim in 6, Turbo Jam, Brazil Butt Lift, Hip Hop Abs, RevAbs or ChaLEAN Extreme.  Also check out the "Shakeology Workouts" that come FREE when you order Shakeology on Autoship (Shakeology is a great way to get your eating in line as well)!  These programs are great for people at all fitness levels but are definitely better choices for those of you just starting your fitness!

If you are just starting out and want some inspiration, check out this "Pay it Forward" workout with Tony Horton!  Do you have 30 minutes?  Give it a try!!!!

Alyssa lost 30 pounds - are you ready to join her?

Accomplishments like this make me even more excited about being a Beachbody Coach!  Helping people help themselves on the road to getting fit and healthy!!! 

Alyssa has lost 30 pounds in 3 months of Power 90 because she decided it was time to make a change and help herself!!!

Alyssa graduated from college and wanted to make some changes so she did!!!  She ordered Power 90, she saw that Beachbody had "given" her a coach, she contacted me and told me she needed to get in shape and feel good about herself and was looking forward to the insane journey!!! 

We also connected on Facebook, I added her to my Fitness Accountability group and we, along with another 30+ people, have been motivating and supporting each other almost every day!  Posting our workouts, asking for advice on how to get motivated on a bad day, what to do when you feel too tired to push through, should you stop when you are nauseous... PLUS how great we feel after an amazing workout, the good choices we made with food, the weight loss that we are seeing!!!  A little motivation goes a long way, especially if you work as a team!

Alyssa is not finished by any means.  She is almost half way to her first weight loss goal but she is gearing up to push hard right now.  Along this journey she realized that "post college life" was not going as she had hoped so she has found a new job, a new place to live where she feels more support and is setting herself up for success!!!   Life doesn't always fall into place by itself, sometimes you need to kick it in the butt and steer it to where you want it to be!  I am so excited for you Alyssa and look forward to seeing you reaching all of your goals!!!

There is no magic pill when it comes to losing weight and getting fit.  It requires dedication, hard work, a big commitment and SUPPORT!!!  If you want to be successful you need to make goals, share your goals with others and rely on the support of others.  If you don't have an inner network that you know will be there for you then you need to find someone!!!  I am here for you, other Beachbody coaches can be there for you... even your friends.  I bet if you ask them, they will help too.  Just make sure YOU are your biggest supporter and fan as well!!!  You need to be positive and plan for success each day... it won't be easy but little by little, you will get there!

www.GetFitWithNicola.com

What is your biggest challenge with your fitness?

I love to exercise!!! Sometimes I let life get in the way and I miss a few days... which can turn into a few weeks and I wonder why I feel so lazy and lethargic... then I usually kick myself in the butt and get back on track!  I am lucky as I enjoy to work out and I KNOW how much better I will feel after than initial shock to the system of exercising regularly again.  The crazy thing is... you TOO will feel better after that initial shock!  It is just getting through those first few days of sore muscles and keeping at it!  Energy will increase, body will respond... you will feel great, I promise!!!  What do you enjoy doing?  Find a way to turn it into a workout.  Let me help you find a program that will work for YOU!  Take a look at this link and let me know what looks FUN to you. 

My area of weakness though is eating!  I LOVE cupcakes!  A few years ago when I lost 30 pounds I used amazing will power and through healthy eating, portion control and restricting calories - along with exercise- I dropped the weight pretty quickly!  Now I am trying to lose a little body fat, find my six pack and feel comfortable in all of my clothes, but I am not approaching it with the same passion I did when I "needed" to drop the weight!  Now it isn't so much for health but for vanity... and my passion for food is pretty strong too!  So is the calling of the glass of wine at the end of a long day :)

I have been planning, on and off for 6 months, to search for that hidden six pack again.  I have taken on the challenge of a new program, ChaLEAN Extreme, and am feeling my muscles getting stronger, but I need to take a few more steps with my nutrition.  I eat healthy food, I limit my treats, I only have a few glasses of wine a week, but I eat often.  Eating often is good... they recommend 2-3 hours between snacks/ small meals but I tend to grab a piece of fruit, a handful of almonds, a hunk of protein bar... pretty much whenever I walk through the kitchen! So guess what... Tomorrow has arrived!!!

My Challenge to myself: To actually reach that 2 hour mark between eating!  To resist snacking after dinner and instead make myself a cup of tea!  To make a small meal rather than standing at the counter eating out of the bag and consuming an unknown amount of calories!  To only have 2 cups of coffee a day!  To chew on a piece of gum instead of another handful of almonds!  To appreciate the phenomenal nutrition in my daily Shakeology and enjoy every last drop!  To enjoy my workouts and help as many people learn to love theirs too :)

What is your biggest challenge and how can I help you find a way to conquer it?  I would love to help, just sign up for the FREE membership at www.GetFitWithNicola.com OR select the club membership with some great features including nutrition tools and meal planning.  Learn more about it here.

P90X:2 ... Are you ready?

Yes, the sequel is almost here!  Did you know that P90X has been around for over 6 years?  It is still one of the most popular at home workouts and is used by celebrities, professional athletes, and regular people like us! 
A lot has changed in the past 6 years though! 
Athletes are accomplishing crazy things so the research that has gone into improving those athletes has gone into improving P90X!!!
Cardio recommendations have changed from keeping your heart rate steadily elevated to HIIT workouts, or High Intensity Interval Training!  This involves intervals of working REALLY hard and boosting your heart rate intermixed with either lower intensity cardio or weight lifting!  This keeps you burning calories for longer after your workout... while you are no longer doing any exercise!!!  Sounds good to me!
There is a lot more total body work with an emphasis on the core.  This is done using the stability ball and balancing on one leg!
Check out the X2 Core workout preview - Note the warning ;)
Not far from this is the X2 Total Body preview
AND of key importance are those vanity muscles in X2 Shoulders and Arms

So, what do you think?  Are you ready to take on the challenge?  If you aren't ready yet you have time!  The program is set to release in December.  If you order ASAP there is still a chance you will get it in time to begin on January 1st, 2012.  Once the pre release sales have finished there may be limited supply until March of 2012.

If you order now you will not be charged until the program ships in December, so sign up and use it as an incentive!  You will also get FREE shipping, 2 FREE extra workouts, plus a chance to win weekly prizes!!!  Train to be ready to take it to the next level!!!
Let me know what you are going to do to prepare for P90X2!
I am hitting it hard with ChaLEAN Extreme and Shakeology!


Contact me through my website or for more information go to www.GetFitWithNicola.com

Here is the preview video