Why order from a Coach?

I originally read this from my support team, and it is so true! These are very important points to consider, so the next time you're thinking “Why should I buy my Beachbody product through a coach when I can just order off the infomercials or pick it up off of Ebay (or Craigslist, etc.)?”

Great question! And here’s 10 answers that will likely have you making sure you ALWAYS order through your coach rather than that operator who’s “standing by” or the random person trying to make a buck (possibly illegally) online:

1: When you order from TV, you are charged an additional “handling charge” that you won’t pay through a coach.

2: You don’t have to worry about the dreaded “up-sell”. Buy through your coach, and don’t worry about getting charged for those vitamins you don’t remember ordering! As a coach we're looking out for your best interest with our desire to help people - not "the sale."

3: Order from the TV and you get assigned a random coach (you may, or may not hear from them). Order from a coach and YOU picked your coach (much more likely to establish a supportive relationship).

4: What about the “payment plan” offered on TV? The coach network doesn’t offer me that! No, but it’s most likely that you’re paying with a credit card. You already get a payment plan with your bank. And remember, you’re paying less overall, so even if you take 3 months to pay off the balance, you’re likely to come out even!

5: You get more!! Did you know that many of our top-selling programs come with additional “network only” exclusive workouts when you purchase through a coach? (ex: Order Insanity from a coach and get 1 free workout, order P90X from a coach and get 2 free workouts!)

6: “What about Ebay or Amazon Marketplace? I’ve seen Beachbody programs super-cheap there!” Yes, it’s likely you have, but know that neither coaches nor Beachbody sell through these sites. Truth be told, it’s very likely that you’re buying a counterfeit product. These rip-offs are never perfect copies, and often times the disks function poorly, if they function at all, and you’re not going to get any help from Beachbody when your fake disks won’t play! Some have even been known to carry viruses! Many of the counterfeits out there are sold without the food plan or suggested schedule. If you think you’re going to get the same results without the meal planner….you’re sadly mistaken! Besides that, counterfeiting is a crime, and so is purchasing counterfeit goods! Spend the few dollars more and support the people and the company that brings these amazing programs to market for you. Don’t support “black market” goods! (People have been charged hefty fines for counterfeiting Beachbody programs.)

7: You are likely to seek out a coach for support and advice once you get started on your program anyways. Why not pick the one you want up front?!?

8: There’s a good chance you may decide that you, too, want to be a Team Beachbody Coach once you’ve begun to see results with your program. Who better to work with than the person who’s been supporting you in your fitness journey?

9: Buying from the infomercials feeds the corporation. Buying from coaches feeds families. Coaches offer their support and services free of charge. We are private contractors earning only when products are purchased through the coach network. If you’re going to be buying a program anyways, why not say “Thank You” in advance to the person who will be there for you as you go on this journey together.

10: Finally, you’ll just be glad you did, and your coach will make you glad you did! :)

Childhood Obesity

I wanted to share this information by Steve Edwards because it is SO important! It is an ever growing problem, and it is a problem I am passionate to bring awareness to! The examples being set for our children are scary! Fundraisers abound full of sweets and processed foods. They say it works for raising money - but at the risk of our children's (and our own) health? I encourage everybody to read "The Slight Edge" by Jeff Olson. It really talks about how small decisions you make every day affect your entire life. Small decisions we make for our kids every day also affect their lives! I know it seems like "no big deal," but it is. If this is the only option that is available it will continue to influence what will be available in the future! Instead of offering cookies and candies for fundraising let's work together to change the "norm!" For information on a healthy alternative to fundraising that includes ways to get kids moving (as exercise and activity in general seems to be decreasing) please Contact Me

Five Tips to Fight Childhood Obesity by Steve Edwards By far, the most prevalent health and fitness headlines concern obesity, mainly the rise of childhood obesity. Here are a few facts and figures to help keep your kids fit and trim.

We're surrounded by fitness solutions at every turn, yet the obesity epidemic is still growing like mad. On a short trip to three countries in Europe last summer, I found an obesity feature on the cover of seven publications. While not nearly at U.S. proportions, there's an obvious "alarm" going off around the globe. For example, what's considered to be a high rate in
Europe is nearing 9%, whereas in the U.S. it's hovering around 30%. At any rate, the rest of the world is now scared enough by the problem that it's become major headlines. And an interesting fact is that in some countries where starvation is still a viable threat, obesity rates are still on the rise.

This leads to the main question as to whether it's due to poor diet or lack of exercise. There is no question about obesity following the pattern of fast-food restaurant dispersal; all you have to do is look at a map. However, the latest studies are showing that even with Big Macs and Big Gulps, caloric consumption among children is not going up as much as exercise levels are coming down.

Recent studies by British medical journal The Lancet, the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, and the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition have all consistently shown that exercise is the central determinant of whether kids are overweight. The figures show that kids are consuming approximately 3% more calories than they did in the '70s but getting a whopping average 20% less exercise!

Another interesting fact is that affluent society is now at just as great a risk as low-income groups. In the early 1970s, 22.5% of people with incomes below $25,000 were obese, while just 9.7% of people with incomes over $60,000 were obese. Today obesity is growing the fastest among Americans who make more than $60,000 a year. Since higher income groups tend to eat "healthier," or at least can afford to change their diets easier, this is another signal that exercise matters more than diet.

A good example of this is that only very low-income children tend to take themselves to school these days. Issues with safety now mean kids may have traded in a couple of hours of movement for time in an air-conditioned SUV. Mix in thousands of TV channels, the Internet, and video games and it becomes quite possible for a child's mindset not to include anything related to exercise at all.

But the number of obese children is still rising among all socioeconomic classes, and it will keep growing unless lifestyle changes are made and people become more aware of the situation. No economic class is immune from obesity. Especially hard on the lower classes is the fact that the least healthy foods tend to be the cheapest, making it very difficult for those children to eat properly.

All of this leads to a very serious situation. Obesity affects more than how you look. It increases the risk for a number of diseases, including diabetes, stroke, insulin resistance, and hypertension. Obesity carried into midlife may also have damaging effects on the brain.

Finally, all is not lost. It's not that hard to be fit and healthy. It just takes, more than anything, a change in mindset. Here are five tips to start you out.

1) Get with a program! I rarely toot our own horn but I'm about to, because home fitness is where it's at. If you don't want your kid to walk to school, where the amount of recess has probably been drastically cut, and at home they like to stare at the TV and the computer, a home fitness program is the easiest way to start your child on the road to proper habits. There are now many kids' programs to choose from, but really, other than heavy weight lifting (rare at home), there isn't much in the way of exercise that wouldn't be good for your kid. So get 'em on a plan and make them earn their TV time.

Obesity and Diabetes is on the rise in America. Get your kids on the right path to fitnesss now. Don't wait until they're already overweight.

2) Sign 'em up. Thankfully, there are still many extracurricular exercise options (dance, soccer, little league, etc.) available through schools and community centers, as well as private organizations. Many of these cost very little money and, compared to the health cost of obesity, even a private trainer would be a bargain. Plus, your child will learn how to do some cool stuff.

3) No soda! How soda pop has become a cultural mainstay as a refreshment item is a testament to clever marketing. Nothing could be worse for a growing body than a constant diet of sugar and phosphorus. If we did nothing but eliminate soda from society, obesity rates would plummet.

4) Limit fast food. These restaurants have also done a remarkable job getting into the child psyche. From clowns to playlands to strangely colored foods, they've been able to captivate kids all the way through adolescence. Think of how many high school hangouts are the local fast food place. And while they are starting to offer better options, how likely are a bunch of teenagers to sit around and gossip over salads? This is a tough one, but having a plan where fast food is a treat, and not a staple, would be a huge improvement.

5) Make movement a way of life. It's so easy these days to park yourself on the couch and not move for hours. You've got to be proactive about changing this. Whether it's limits on TV, forcing your kids outside for part of the day, or organizing family hikes, you should do something to instill a lot of movement as a daily habit. And not just for your kids; it won't hurt you a bit either!