TAG: Team Beachbody Coach Archives - Traci Morrow Fitness

Day 22 in my Insanity journey with Shaun T, and his Shaun T Birthday Challenge, in the ShaunTourage
Love this Casting Crowns song along with my Insanity Overview
Women want to know Is Insanity for Women? Is Insanity for Moms? Heck yes it is!!! So fun, and so empowering.
As an Insanity Mom, I get up early before the kids get up and get my work out in!

I Love Insanity, and would LOVE to be your coach! Follow my journey on Instagram and twitter (on both I’m @tracimorrow ) and here on my blog: tracimorrow.com/blog/blog

I’m a busy mom of six with a home based business – busy life, but I still make my health a priority so I can live health.

If you want to live healthy too, I can help. Hit the Contact Me button!

To our health – In Relentless Pursuit of Excellence!
~TRACI

When I’m doing a program, I like to look ahead to see what I’ll do next. Considering another round with Insanity The Asylum. (check it out here)

Here’s a snippet of my first go-around with it!

Always…In Relentless Pursuit of Excellence,

TRACI

Life is busy! As a mom of 6 kids, I get it. But day after day of wishing I was in better shape, wishing I could muster up the energy to workout never actually happened. I wish I could tell you how it works with that moment when you say to yourself “Enough!” and decide to do whatever it takes to make a change. It’s truthfully different for every person but the reality is YOU GET TO CHOOSE when enough is enough!

So IF YOU’RE READY, here are steps to take:

1. Get Accountability! As your FREE Team Beachbody Coach I can help you stay on track if you’ll let me!
I have a private facebook group that I can add you to when you COMMIT to your personal decision to Live Healthy!

2. Pick your Program! Plans fail for lack of counsel. I have a Challenge Pack that you can choose to fit your personal goals, which include – your workout, your personalized menu plan, our meal replacement shake Shakeology. It tastes like dessert, but every 8 oz serving of this meal replacement shake is like going to the salad bar and filling your plate 6 1/2 times!

3. Press Play. Schedule it, and just do it. Every day. One day stacked on top of another day, and with a plan in place, and with faithful execution of the plan – YOUR BODY WILL CHANGE!

So let’s go! Why not you? Why not now? I CAN HELP! Say yes,  give me a high five – and let’s get started TODAY!

In Relentless Pursuit of Excellence!

TRACI

A big piece of the equation of LIVING HEALTHY is eating well and supplementing what your body needs as you ask more of it in your workouts. Many people, my former self included, ask and wonder if supplements are unhealthy? And they wonder why, if they’re eating healthy, do they need to add supplements. Well, I’m not a Dr. or nutritionist so I’m going to encourage you to google and research for yourself, but I will tell you that after doing extensive research, talking with nutritionists & doctors, and reading for myself; I’ve changed my original opinion that I would live a healthy lifestyle without supplements. Which is saying a lot for a woman who used to gag at the mention of swallowing a pill.

So what will I be taking as I participate in 63 days of Insanity in the Shaun T Birthday Challenge? I’ve taken a photo (below)  to show you. But let me first say: I eat clean. I probably could use more fruits and veggies and definitely more WATER (part of my commitment) but I eat clean. I do enjoy treats every now and again but I don’t consider that a cheat. My calories are typically between 1700-1900 depending on the day and what I’m doing, and I always try to get at least 20 grams of protein in each of my 5 meals.  But that’s for another blog.

Here’s what I take, and the link to where to get them if you’re so inclined:

E&E: Improve your energy, endurance, strength, and focus with this NEW pre-workout drink. Its proprietary blend of advanced nitric oxide boosters, amino acids, natural energizers, electrolytes, and essential B vitamins can help you power through and maximize your workouts.*

Peak Health Multi-Vitamin: Get ripped with our most complete, high-end, high-potency multivitamin, specially formulated to boost your strength and energy!*

Joint Support Formula: Promote joint mobility with this high-quality formula designed to protect your joints and connective tissue.*

Calcium/Magnesium: Strengthen bones and teeth with the best calcium-magnesium supplement!* Made from pure milk, nature’s best and purest calcium source, but safe for those who don’t consume dairy.

Optimize: Promote an optimal immune system and manage your body’s natural inflammatory response with our proprietary blend of systemic enzymes and added camu camu.*

Shakeology: Simplify your nutrition with Shakeology^®, the Healthiest Meal of the Day^®. Replace one meal a day with Chocolate Vegan, Tropical Strawberry (Vegan), Greenberry, or regular Chocolate to increase your energy, reduce cravings, lose weight, and feel great.* When you choose Home Direct, our monthly autoship program, you get FREE basic shipping every month, plus a FREE gift.**^†

WATER: I am in general not a thirsty person. I bought a water bottle at Target that marks how many ounces I drink, and I’m committed to drink my 24 oz bottle three times a day! …glug…glug….glug…….

So there ya have it. My weapons in this battle against apathy and laziness and boredom!

Its not too late to JOIN the fun!

Why not YOU? Why not NOW?

Always…in relentless pursuit of excellence!

TRACI

**These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

*Products may contain equipment with natural rubber latex which may cause minor to life-threatening allergic reactions.

Bears lining a wall outside of Sandy Hook Elementary. One for each sweet victim.

The Connecticut shooting has been shocking, disillusioning, and many of us have been left grieving for children and adults we don’t know, with the emotion one might expect to feel if the same thing were to happen to a dear friend or family member. I, and the members of my family, are no different. We randomly tear up at the thought of little 6 & 7 year old children dying such a scary, horrific death while at their safe school with their friends and teacher. We are interested in the news of the gunman and are left just as confused as everyone as to how this happens.

Like many others, I pray those families are being comforted in the deepest part of their beings in a way that only God can meet in a grief that’s too deep to fathom. We want to help them, in some way; extend our compassion in a tangible way. Well, there IS a way.

A former student at the Sandy Hook Elementary School, and the gunman’s former babysitter Ryan Kraft has set up a NPO Victim’s Relief Fund. Please read up on it, and if you’re looking for a way to reach out with love to strangers this may be what you’re looking for!

May we all reach out to the God of love, as we try to comprehend the depth of evil that’s a direct result of the absence of God’s love.

In Relentless Pursuit of Excellence in the midst of evil events,
TRACI

We unpacked the Christmas decorations last night while watching “Elf”. Decorating the tree is an activity that kicks off the Christmas Season for our family, as I’m sure you have traditions that do the same. And there, in the box, lay our tarnished, silver star (in the photo, top left). This little star brings back so many memories – sure, we all do nice things for one another as a result, but oddly it brings up the funny memories of when it got stuck on someone’s bed for too long (usually Dad or one of the teenagers) and after nicely trying to nudge that star to move, the ridiculous comments that I’d find myself making to get it moving again.
“C’mon, it’s ruining it for everyone!”
“Can you not think of ONE nice thing to do for someone?”
“That star had better move by the time you go to bed tonight!….and….uh….do it with joy!”

LOLOLOL Seriously….it sounds all Pollyanna that we do it, but truth be told, the REASON we do it is because we, like many other families, need to work on the concept of doing kind things for other people WITHOUT getting “credit”, or even a “thank you”. THAT’S truly giving. This is one of those traditions that is fun when they’re little kids, more trying when they’re teens, and “lame” to older teens, but God-willing I hope to hear from my grandkids one day that the tradition is continuing in my grown kids’ homes. THEN….I believe is when those life lessons really and truly make a home in their hearts. So we invest in the lessons now in hopes that they’ll “get it” when they all choose to embrace those important life lessons taught to them as children, and weathered through the teen years.

So as we look to show LOVE & KINDNESS to others this holiday season, and MODELING it – won’t you join us?
In Relentless Pursuit of Excellence~
TRACI, for all the wacky Morrows

This time apart has been DIFFICULT to say the least. You never realize how intertwined your life is with your spouse until they are removed for a time.

I am not very good at down time. It’s why I speak so much on balance. Because I know I need to intentionally pursue it. If you’ve ever heard me speak, I’ll often refer to my husband KC as “the calm to my storm”. He is chill, easy going, fun, funny, and is not a fan when I leave too slim a margin for rest. And while keeping a fast, kick tail pace in this world is championed, it leaves one feeling worn out and run down if rest is left out for too long. That’s my greatest struggle. I want to do it all, see it all, try it all, and experience as much as I can. KC balances me out. So imagine removing that calm voice of reason for 2 weeks.

I had grand designs to overhaul my house, clean out cupboards, and organize everything so the time would pass more quickly and I wouldn’t have time to miss him or waste a moment. It sounded good. In reality it hasn’t exactly played out like that. Picking up the things he does for this family alone has filled my time to capacity. I barely can do the things I normally do let alone organize my house. Oh, the things one learns about herself when life presses in.

For starters, I learned that I need to slow down my pace when I’m going it alone. I was thrilled to be reminded that taking on the world is not my job (said tongue in cheek, but embarrassingly an actual realization). The other thing I’ve learned is that time can be spent on lots of unimportant time filler activities but it doesn’t mean it SHOULD be. When the going gets tough, the tough need to be smart about how we use our time.

I miss that man of mine. But in the process I’m learning a lot about what it is God means when He says to “Be still..and know that I am God.”  Resting in that today.

A bit run down, but always….
In Relentless Pursuit of Excellence,

TRACI

KC is leaving me. No, our marriage isn’t in jeopardy, but he’s been invited to leave our family for two weeks and head to Guinea, West Africa with a design team coordinated by my brother who is on full time staff for eMI (engineering ministries international). They will be working with another ministry called Mercy Ships, and will spend 12 days (+2 days of travel) there helping assess a hospital that has e coli-positive water, no sewage drainage, and poor electrical service, as well as analyze the structural adequacy of the facility. They’ll then create a plan to make this hospital perform better for the people of Conakry, Guinea, and surrounding communities. (there are more than 10,000,000 people in Guinea – and only 7 hospitals in the country)

I’m so excited for him to have this opportunity to serve these people in such a tangible way. We have financially supported eMI for a number of years (highly educated men and women who choose to give their lives to serve the poor of third world countries fully supported by “senders” instead of being highly paid for their education by a traditional engineering firm in the U.S.). God calls some to “send” and some to “go”. We have been senders for most of our marriage. Now I’m not knocking that role, because God calls who He wants to play the roles He sees fit for us and how He gifts us. But always…always is the struggle that we should be doing more. That sending isn’t enough. I know its a lie from the enemy, but its still a struggle at times. Well, now…now one of us has been called to GO, and I could not be more excited to “see” Guinea and love the people there through KC’s eyes and pen. I bought him a journal to write his thoughts and what he sees while there. KC is a great writer – its the way he best expresses himself, so needless to say that journal will be such a blessing upon his return. With his permission I may share some of it here.

It all comes back to being faithful to what God calls us to, and with the resources that He blesses us with. I’m so glad didn’t allow our business to become successful overnight. I’m glad He took years to allow us to try, fail, try again with our finances until we got disciplined and learned how to be faithful with managing little, before He put us in charge of managing more. I dont think a young me was mature enough to “get” that having a successful business doesn’t mean shooting the wad on all of our wants, but learning that “to whom much is given, much will be required”, both in saving and in giving. If it weren’t for this Beachbody business we would not be able to support eMI in the way that we do with God’s money that He entrusts us with. KC would not be able to take 2 weeks off of work with no pay to go and use his time to contribute to helping the poor – those God speaks so much of in the bible, calling us to serve them.

Back here at home it will be quite the undertaking to run this family without the dad, my partner in every aspect of life. I will miss his face, his humor, the time of evening when his motorcycle rounds the corner and I see him getting off his bike. That’s the emotional side of it. The logistical side of it is that I am ON full time to deliver our kids to their various events, practices, games, races, meetings, field trips, etc., not to mention that good ol’ Beachbody business I mentioned before! Pray for me. God has called us to this and I love this saying: “God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called”. And so I send off my favorite person to serve the One worthy of our separating for a time, and step into these next two weeks praying God uses me and my open attitude, not just to “get through” the days. I trust I’ll find a deeper faith and hope in Him as I find He really does supply all we need, and never leaves our side!

In Relentless Pursuit of Excellence~
TRACI

As of October 1, 2012 Team Beachbody Coaching is coming to CANADA!!!!!

Please email me at CanadaFounders@tracimorrow.com if you are interested in joining my team – my assistant Brittany is compiling my list of Canadian Founders and will add you to the list for all up to date information. Check back here often as I will be launching my Founding Team on that day, and want to have many of my team ready for launch by then so we can expand quickly! I am so excited as this is something we’ve been saying for the last 6 years: “Be Patient, Canadian Coaches!” Our patience has delivered us to this day!

Start gathering your team so when I come for training (very soon God willing!) we can huddle up a big team! WOOOT! (Do you say “Woot!” in Canada?? )

I’m looking for builders – people who want to build a lasting impact and business helping others reclaim their lives!!!
Gettin’ ready to build a lasting Team Beachbody Coaching Business in Canada, In Relentless Pursuit of Excellence ~ with YOU!

TRACI

I’ve been blessed to work with people in the Beachbody Community for nearly 10 years now. Hard to believe its been that long, but its like they say; time flies when you’re having fun. When I found this company I was 32 years old, a stay at home mom of 4 (I have 6 kids now and am 42), I was pretty active both in lifestyle, but also in my personal fitness. I faithfully did crunches at night as we watched evening tv, I ran 3-4 times a week and played in two different adult soccer leagues on the weekends. However, I never lifted weights, and had no clue how to eat other than looking for packages that read “low fat”. This was right on the cusp of the internet, full of education on matters such as this just a Google away, so information wasn’t at our fingertips as it is now. And even with that active lifestyle, my metabolism was shot from having 4 babies in 5 years, and pretty much slowed to a halt, which translated into a 15 lb weight gain.

When I first learned how to eat healthy with Beachbody, and while I was losing the weight, making exercise more of a consistent effort by following the lead of Tony Horton, my personal trainer on my vhs tapes (pre dvd) I felt like I was a bit obsessed with finding more information. I felt like the blinders had been taken off and a whole new world was open to me, and I was hungry to learn as much as I could! About that time, the internet was exploding – still pre-facebook – but information was more and more readily available. But with all things, as I learned more, my “obsession” changed from learning something new, to the battle to create personal accountability by helping others and putting it out there as much as I could that this was how I was choosing to live. No as much ‘obsessed’ with my personal fitness, I’d learned the bulk of new information, it now was about applying it consistently and inviting others to do it too. FUN!

The struggle tends to ebb and flow as it pertains to my enthusiasm level. I WANT to be healthy and feel fit. It feels good. But so does my bed in the early, cool, dark of morning when my alarm goes off. There is often an internal struggle to let myself off the hook, but I chose long ago to not allow my self in the moment to make a decision contrary to my self who made the commitment outside of temptation to excuse myself. Read that sentence again if you need to so you really get what I’m saying. (I read and re-read it many times to make sure I was adequately stating it) But after that workout, my day is off and running as I talk to people, answer their questions, and make personal connections with people. And though I am talking about exercise, I am NOT exercising or obsessing over exercise and my new routines anymore. Because exercise is meant to ENHANCE my life, not BECOME my life. I have a husband, a family, a community where I am active, and exercise just makes me better in all those roles.

I think a big struggle with people, as I’ve seen plenty of times over the years, is a trading of one obsession for another, or even trading of a bad habit or addiction for the addiction of exercise. And while it may feel good at first, addiction by nature is not a good thing, and it can begin to feel like a trap, a cell; something you HAVE to do (and for many, its a certain length of time each day that it MUST be done or it somehow doesn’t count). Only you can be honest enough with yourself to say whether or not fitness & healthy eating has become an addiction, but here are some things to look for:

Do you not allow yourself to eat certain things if you haven’t exercised?
If you work out for less than an hour, do you not feel like it ‘counts’?
Does your food intake consist predominantly of egg whites and protein shakes?
If you want to eat a certain food, do you make yourself work out extra to “earn” it?
Do you feel guilt or shame if you miss a workout?
If you go for a bike ride or a run or work out in the yard all day, do you still feel like you must do a dvd workout?

There are many more, but these are a few that I’ve found to be shockingly common with the people I’ve worked with over the years. For many, they ended up falling back to old patterns and addictions because the exercise/healthy eating ‘addiction’ wasn’t sustainable, or they got injured from over training, or both. If you notice any of these things in you, I recommend googling eating disorders and exercise addictions and if you fit the description, to get some help from a trained professional.

Life is about BALANCE, but some people have a harder time finding it. The comforting news is, you’re not alone. Let your coach know that you’re getting help and stay with the group for accountability, but by all means get some help. You’re worth it.

In Relentless Pursuit of Excellence~
TRACI