TAG: Tony Horton Archives - Traci Morrow Fitness

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

People ask me about how often they should weigh or measure when doing programs like Insanity, and I say HIDE THE SCALE! Don’t weigh in every day because everyone loses weight at a different rate. People can become obsessed with the scale, and if they don’t see what they think they should see it can do a number on your mental focus!

A couple years ago I did a video that seems appropriate to share here, now. It’s kind of funny, but my advice still stands! (be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel and Follow Me on InstaGram: @TraciMorrow

In Relentless Pursuit of Excellence….as an Insanity Mom!

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.

I spent the weekend in Nebraska (man, it was cold!!!) and some time with Shaun T. He’s the creator of the workout in the number one infomercial spot for several weeks running called Insanity, and Insanity Asylum, & Asylum 2 and a dear friend. Well, Shaun T is starting a round of Insanity (his first, start to finish !) this Monday March 4, 2013, and invited me and my friend Doug Fitzgerald

to start with him & a huge group of others who are doing it with Shaun! They’re calling themselves the ShaunTourage and you can follow along on the “how to”‘s at Shaun T’s FB Like page.

But like Shaun T invited me, I’m inviting YOU to join ME! If you hit any of the links above you can purchase your Challenge Pack – I’ll add you to my Private Facebook Group where I coach people through their weight loss journey for free! You’ll be a part of a great group of people wanting to LIVE HEALTHY – and I CAN HELP! I know life is full – I’m a busy mom – a mom of 6 – but life is too short to not join the fun and live a healthy, active lifestyle! No matter your age! There’s no time like the present!!!

I hope you’ll choose to join me, and when you do – shoot me an email so I can add you to my private, exclusive group! We’re going to get you fit, and earn you an INSANITY GRAD t-shirt!!

Always - In Relentless Pursuit of Excellence!

TRACI

I was out of commission for 7 weeks and even still I’m not sitting exactly right yet at nearly 9 weeks post injury. Breaking my tailbone was quite the experience, but at the end of the day, it was SUCH a blessing! Well, the time off was, the broken bone part; not so much. Back in, oh, 2003-2006 Beachbody and their celebrity trainers Tony Horton and Debbie Siebers used to promote “the rest week”; the week after completing a program to rest and reset the body so you dont burn out or get injured. You were encouraged to take a week off before even taking your AFTER photographs, and getting outside to put your fitness to use (bike riding, taking a walk, going for a hike, rock wall climbing). I dont know how or why, but somewhere along the lines we stopped talking about the rest week, and consequently people stopped taking them. People started feeling guilty about time off and of course, more people continued working out through injuries and possible injuries not wanting to miss a day for fear of I dont know what. I guess fear of going backwards, falling off program, being viewed as not really being committed – all things that have, I think, set us back as a community.

And so…..I’m bringin’ it back! I’m telling you, after 10 years of home fitness programs, participating in new workout series, running fit club, running a marathon & several half marathons, leading a test group, training people out of my home, and in their homes, appearing on QVC several times in a 24 hour period, month after month, year after year, it took its toll. Falling off my horse was a blessing thinly disguised to me. I needed the time off and I realized it quickly. It was a wake up call to say “BE STILL”. And so I was. Oh at first I tried a few workouts with weights, but my tailbone, at the base of my core, would throb and ache and I couldnt sleep that night without prescription strength Advil. No, this rest time was going to be a FULL REST. (are you reading this thinking “oh I could NEVER do that!!”? if so, keep reading) I was going to listen to my body, listen to my doctor, and ignore the voice in my head (which sounds suspiciously like Tony Horton sometimes ) that told me I needed to find *some way* to work out and just HEAL.

Because I was taking the time off my body was naturally less hungry, so I ate less, though still healthy. I enjoyed the foods of the holidays but didnt overdo, so my weight went down (loss of muscle) and maybe put on a little bit of body fat but not enough that it showed up in the way my clothes fit. I was injured on Nov. 15 so this was through all the holidays. I say this not to brag (shudder at the thought) but to show that IT CAN BE DONE. And without bitterness, or grumpiness. It was A NICE BREAK for my body and for my mind. I suddenly had an hour more a day, and I enjoyed books and movies and healing the slow, unrushed way. It was heavenly!

And then……I was ready to move. I dont know what day, or what it was that suddenly clicked, but I was ready to move again. Looked forward to it, like a kid waiting for a birthday party or special event. I missed how I felt after a workout and how my body feels when I’m whooped post workout, and yes, even the sore. As the tailbone continued to heal and the anticipation grew, my first workout back at it approached. I opened my Private Challenge Group on Facebook (I invited other people into my comeback!) and the participants started commenting on the programs they were picking and how they were waiting for Day One. My people. My program. My plan. The perfect trifecta.

I will go back to coaching my friends and teammates to take a week off at the close of one program and before starting another. I have found it to be the PERFECT way to maintain focus and commitment and love of “the game”. When does YOUR rest week start?

I’m back with a vengeance; well rested, and always…..In Relentless Pursuit of Excellence,

TRACI

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

“I’m here if you need to talk, TRACI,” texted my friend Joey. “Stay away from In N Out. I’m an emotional eater and that’s what I’d do.”

“I don’t know what I am. I’ll let you know when I find out,”  I texted back.

I broke my tailbone almost two weeks ago and thus far I have not been an emotional eater, but I am pretty wiped out doing very little. I thought by now I would be edgy because of inactivity, but with this injury I’m finding even the most basic things I typically do when whole, leave me tired doing them alongside the discomfort and ache in my lower core. Laundry, running carpool, dishes, even sitting for a long period makes me achey and then tired. At this point its easy to listen to my body and give it what it asks for. Which is rest, typically.

My eating has been okay. Not as good as it should be, and by that I just mean not enough. My body is weird; when I slow down, so does my metabolism, so I’m not really hungry. And I’m not really a grazer. I like to have a hot cup of something in my hands in this weather, so I typically heat up the same cup of coffee or tea 1000 times and sip it sporadically. I still may need to call Joey to vent but as of now, I’m just taking it one day at a time.

Trying to get caught up on my emails, so if you’re waiting for one, know that you’re on the list.

In Relentless Pursuit of Excellence….

TRACI

The eMI Team; KC is on the far right, my brother Brad is third from the right

In Relentless Pursuit of Excellence. Finding Balance between what you knew with what you NOW KNOW.

Embarking on 26 hours of travel and two weeks away from home, and with Guinea being 7 hours ahead of California time, KC left Los Angeles Monday morning and arrived in Guinea on Tuesday evening. He’d followed my brothers advice and stayed awake most of his travel so when it was bed time he was appropriately tired. We’ll pick up in his journal after his first night in Guinea aboard Mercy Ships….

FROM KC: “I went to bed not worrying that I would sleep. I woke up at 5:30am. The bed on Mercy Ships was comfy and I slept great, which was great news. After breakfast we had a team meeting where everyone shared about themselves. I would never get to know people’s hearts at this level normally; its amazing when you put a diverse group together, all with Jesus as the common bond. You could see the missionary, the lay servant, and those willing to just come to try and give without knowing exactly what it would be, or how they would be effective. (me!) I really like everyone; I really tried to listen for each person’s heart so I could have an insight to connect with them.

After this meeting we met with the minister of health for the country; he was an engaging man who really seemed to care about how we could provide a better healthcare environment for his countrymen.

A huge part of the Guinea culture is to go around before any work is to be done, to meet every staff member. Even if they were in the middle of surgery - they'd stop to greet the team.

After lunch we went to the hospital. Its just sad, but amazing to see what conditions people can live in. Broken roads, broken buildings, and broken souls continuing on because that’s all they can do. I can’t imagine living in the same way these people do, but what else can they do? They don’t know the possibilities I do. Laying around is lots of

Family members of the patients camp out and live all around the hospital, right next to the piles of medical waste.

Appalling; this is one medical waste pile of many; out where the people/children are living, sleeping, eating, doing laundry.

trash, old medical waste, people milling about the campus, doing laundry, selling wares or food, and a car service area (not one you would want to rely on to fix your car). Everywhere we walked, more and more broken down, bandaged conditions. The people, incredibly, are always smiling at us, saying “Bonjour”. How can you not hope for them to have more?

After a couple of hours of assessment we returned to the ship. We won’t have interior access to the hospital today; we hope to start there tomorrow. I miss everyone [{family}] and was able to text each of you to tell you I love you. We have discussed our strategy for tomorrow, and its off to bed.”

TRACI again. As you can read, it was a real collision of how we know God by what we see in our own lives, and the very same God and how he interacts and relates to those in places like Guinea. Is it any wonder Jesus talks so much of the poor in his word? We are called to allow our hearts to be moved with compassion; to help those who cannot help themselves; with our time, with our resources, our education, career, and most importantly, do it all with God’s love. It really stands in contrast to the days when my to do list is about getting my car washed, getting my hair cut and colored, and vacuuming my house. Not to say God doesn’t want me to take care of what I’ve been entrusted with, but again; its a collision of the things that take up my thinking and time with the reality of millions of people waking up this very day in dirt and rubble wondering if they, or their child, or spouse will live or die, and whether or not they’ll find something edible to eat. REAL need.

I love God, and I love that he allows us to see people as he sees them; and sometimes that love makes me, you, all of us, really uncomfortable because we want to know how to help.

Be open and available. Its why as I re-do my blog I’m adding a new tab up top (if its not there now it will be soon) called Coaches Give Back.  So that as you look for a way to give with your resources, you can come here and find a very real need with a very tangible way to fill it.  Its why we’re on this planet.

In Relentless Pursuit of Excellence!

TRACI

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