Why I Became A Beachbody Coach

As most of you are aware, I've been on a journey to get fit. Even just a year ago I never would have believed those words were to come out of my mouth. It happened out of nowhere. One day I decided to finally join a friend at a local "boot camp", after quite a few months of saying "no, thanks" about a hundred times. I don't know what made this day any different, other than my slight curiosity. Boot camp sounded scary, but I wanted to give it a try. I'll be honest. The first day I nearly threw up - 3 times. I would have quit if it weren't for my friends pushing me and encouraging me. I was 37 years old and had literally NEVER exercised a day in my life. I thought I was going to die by the end of the hour. But something else happened, I felt proud of myself. I felt motivated and challenged. Why was I telling myself I couldn't do it for so many years? That was IT I was doing this. I was gonna make a go of it and see if I could actually get results. I stuck with the boot camp, tweaked my diet a bit & cut out soda and drank only water - and I lost I think 2 pounds the first WEEK!  Yeah I was in this now. Except...boot camp wasn't easy for me to do with my husbands work schedule and two littles. At the same time that I started this journey, my husband started doing the Insanity workouts at work with his co workers. He would come home and tell me how it was kicking his ass. I'd say "I want to try" (still can't believe those words came out of my mouth). I was feeling strong by this time and I wanted to take him and Insanity ON!  He brought home the DVD for me and that is what REALLY started my Beachbody journey. A few things happened after my first day of Insanity 1) I almost died. Like I thought I was going to literally die after the first fit test ha 2) I didn't die, but I gained an immense sense of strength and empowerment. 3) I made a commitment. I promised myself I would complete the program.   And I did! Sure, I hit a few bumps in the road, missing a workout here and there, but 95% of the time I pushed play. My husband never completed it, he never even made it to the second phase! Ha! This just added fuel to the fire. I WILL DO THIS!  The day I finally completed Insanity was honestly one of the proudest days of my life.  By this point I had heard about Shaun T's (who my son calls "mamas boyfriend") new workout Focus T 25. My obsession with fitness has now been established and my love for Shaun T carried me to the next phase. I started T25. I LOVED IT. I was used to 60+ minutes every day, but this one was only 25!  Done. I continued to stay committed to myself and my health. I was officially addicted to the results I was seeing. I am now 38 years old and in the best shape of my life. I look better than I ever have. Yes, EVER. More importantly, I feel better  I feel strong, something I never have felt. I've lost 16 lbs, so far. But I've gained confidence and a sense of self I've never had. Now it's just part of my life. My kids know "mommy has to exercise, let's move the furniture" I'm setting an example. And something else happened, literally just this week. And this is where it gets emotional for me.  For those of you who don't know, my youngest son has Down syndrome. With that comes low muscle tone and some delays in gross motor skills. He is 27 months old and cannot yet crawl, pull to stand, cruise or walk. He gets physical therapy once a week, along with 3 other therapies to help his development. I decides this week to let Eddie hang out while I workout, instead of waiting for his nap. And something amazing happened. Watching me is motivating HIM. He gets up on all fours, gets in plank position and tried his hardest to stand and crawl. I am crying as I write this. To think I could be that kind of motivation humbles me and also inspires me to keep going. If I can do it, of Eddie can do it, please believe that you can do it too.

Now, onto the reason I am blowing up your Facebook page with Beachbody information and programs. I want anyone who is watching my journey, saying to themselves "wow, she looks great, but I could NEVER do that" "I don't have the commitment she has" "where do you find the time and energy" to know that YES, you CAN do this. I was you. I let that little voice inside me have too much power. I want to help any and everyone I can to reach their fitness goals. To be that friend who is constantly pushing and encouraging, until the one day you say "FINE! I'll do it if it'll get you off my back". Because that is all it takes. I will nag and brag and promote and continue to blow up you Facebook feed because I believe in you! 

I Hate Down Syndrome

Yes. I hate it. I'm sitting here looking up the definition of IEP's. Thinking about having to take little
Eddie in just a couple months to be evaluated by the district for placement in the preschool at three.  Picturing him going through this process, physically makes me want to vomit. I had Dominick evaluated last year, so I know the process. That's the problem. I. Know. The. Process. I watched Dominick ace all the "tests". I will have to watch Eddie ... Watch him not even understand the questions. It's just so easy to be home with him, to keep him in my safe bubble. Out in the world, no. I'm not ready for that. I don't know if it's because I know I won't be able to be there at all times to protect him, or if it's because it will bring to the forefront how delayed he is. I'm so torn. Torn between worlds. My comfortable, safe world, where Eddie is just Eddie. And the scary real world where Eddie has Down syndrome.  Of course, Eddie always has Down syndrome, but Down syndrome in the real world is way different than Down syndrome in OUR world. Maybe that's just because neither Eddie nor I have been out in that scary real world yet. The world of IEPs and labels. The scary world of SCHOOL. I don't want him to be different. I don't want him to be judged. I don't even want IEPs or evaluations. I want him to be my baby Eddie and stay with me where he will always be safe. With me, he doesn't walk yet and it's ok! With me, he doesn't talk yet, and I don't care! With me, he's just Eddie. Out there. Out there he's a diagnosis. He's a list of things he's unable to do. So. Yes. I hate Down syndrome. But not the Down syndrome that lives in my house. The one that lives in the big scary world, full of labels, judgement and sometimes, ignorance.

I have a few months to mentally prepare for this next step in our journey. But for now. I'm not letting this angel out of my sight!!