Here we are, it's August and already the craft stores are setting up the Christmas displays! Like it or not, it's back to school month and our summer is coming to a close. So here's what I'm thinking...

Let's make August a happy ending to a new beginning!

Back to school time is bitter sweet. As much as I hate to send them back, I have to admit, I feel a little selfish and relieved because I can finally find some time for myself. Who's with me?! Not a lot of time, as little as a half an hour a day is just enough to enjoy some quiet time and to refocus on my health and well being. It's easy to get off track with eating healthy and working out in the summer, and August is a great time to start thinking about turning it all around and making some lifestyle adjustments to put your health at the top of your to do list again. Let's face it, you can do a much better job of parenting when you are in good mental and physical health.

Whether you are starting a new health and fitness program or just getting back into the swing of things after the summer, it helps when you have the accountability of some friends who are going through the same journey. Kicking those bad eating and lifestyle habits is not easy, that's why having friends to workout with or someone who's there for you just for support is really important. Having an accountability partner can really help to keep you going on those days when you feel like throwing in the towel. An online challenge group is a great place to go to find accountability and support. It's a virtual group where we exchange recipes and meal plans, tips and advice on how to work fitness and good nutrition into your busy schedule, and share our struggles and accomplishments. It's a great way to socialize and meet some new friends and have a lot of fun too!

Here are 3 more challenge groups coming up in August! If you want to focus on nutrition, start with our 21 Day Fix group, if you're looking for something fun and energetic give Country Heat a try or if you really need something calming and refreshing join our 3-week Yoga and PiYo retreat at the end of the month. There really is something for everyone and all levels of fitness. A challenge pack is required for most challenge groups. It provides you with all the tools you need to complete the challenge and reach your goal. Beachbody gives us their best promotions in August so it's a great time to purchase a challenge pack or add on Shakeology to your program.

August Schedule:

• August 8 - 21 Day Fix/ 21 Day Fix Extreme 28-day Super Group (free group)

• August 15 - Coach Open House

• August 22 - Country Heat Country Cooking & Dance Fitness Throwdown!

• Serenity NOW! 30-day group (session 1) featuring 3-week Yoga Retreat & PiYo plus Shakeology

Check out this list of special offers for the month of August!!! Get a head start on your health and fitness before the kids go back to school, and be ready to look and feel your best by the holidays.

Offer #1

Buy a one month supply of Shakeology and get one of the following fitness programs for free:

Offer #2

Commit to buying Shakeology for 3 months and enroll as a preferred customer and get one of the following fitness programs plus 4 months of Beachbody On Demand free

Free fitness program offer includes: 21 Day Fix, 21 Day Fix Extreme, Country Heat, PiYo, Cize, 22 Minute Hard Corps, 3-Day Refresh and Beachbody Club.

In addition, when you purchase a challenge pack you will also havae unlimited enrollment in our online challenge groups at no additional cost. Join as many as you'd like for free!

There are tons of Wufoo features to help make your forms awesome.

Brenda

The Best Shoe for Every Workout

Odds are that you own more than one outfit; after all, you’d never wear a suit and tie to a tailgate, or a T-shirt and jeans to an important client meeting. But we’re also willing to bet that you have only one pair of shoes in your gym bag. Here’s why that’s a problem: What you put on your feet can determine how fast you see results, and when it comes to training, one size doesn’t fit all. To maximize your performance and optimize your gains, you need to match your shoes to your workout.

Pick the Right Tool for the Job

If you’re doing Body Beast in your living room, you probably don’t want a pair of high-top basketball shoes, which can restrict ankle mobility and reduce range of motion. Likewise, you won’t do yourself any favors by wearing running shoes (their elevated heels can sap power and strength). Instead, invest in a pair of flatter-soled athletic shoes.

“For Beachbody programs, court shoes are best because they’re made to support multi-directional movement, whereas running shoes are only designed for moving forward,” says Beachbody Vice President of Fitness and Nutrition Steve Edwards. “Cross-training shoes also work well.”

Ideally, you’ll have a different pair of shoes for each type of exercise you do (basketball, running, strength training, etc.). “But unless you have an injury, you should never allow a lack of the ‘right’ shoes to prevent you from working out,” Edwards says. Bottom line: If you don’t have enough dough to expand your training shoe quiver, sweat in whatever you have.

Bare Your Sole

Another option: Go barefoot. “First-time exercisers should generally wear shoes, but once your feet become strong, it can make sense to train barefoot, especially if you’re doing non-explosive training,” says Edwards.

Here’s why: The soles of your feet are packed with microscopic sensors called “proprioceptors,” which provide feedback about joint angle, muscle length and tension, and body position and alignment. Optimizing that feedback by putting your feet in direct contact with the ground can boost muscle activation, mobility, and coordination, ultimately leading to greater gains in strength, stamina, and performance. “Barefoot training became popular on the heels of the exact opposite craze, in which people were wearing over-supportive shoes that actually made their feet weaker,” says Edwards.

If you’ve never trained barefoot before, begin with low-intensity activities to help your muscles, joints, and connective tissues warm up to the idea. “Yoga and Pilates are good places to start,” says Edwards, adding that as your feet become stronger, you can build up to more demanding exercises and workouts. “While your feet can get strong enough to handle plyometric (ballistic) training, I would rarely recommend doing it barefoot.” The increased risk of injury isn’t worth the potential gains.

Know Your Tread Life

The life cycle of running shoes depends on a number of factors, including workout intensity and frequency, as well as gait and body type. But as a general rule, you should replace them every six months or 500 miles, whichever comes first. Wait any longer, and your risk of knee and ankle injuries increases as your shoes’ shock absorption and stability control deteriorate beyond safe levels.

As for indoor training shoes, pay close attention to your tread. Over time, the rubber on the bottom of your outsoles — where your shoes make contact with the ground — will wear away much like the treads on your car’s tires. That can ultimately translate into reduced traction and stability, and an increased risk of injury. “Flimsy shoes will also blow apart on the sides, especially in programs like P90X and INSANITY MAX:30, which have a ton of explosive lateral movements,” says Edwards. Investing a bit more money in footwear upfront can lead to a stronger, fitter body down the road.

Need some help getting back in shape? Join our next challenge group and get 24/7 personal coaching and support, meal planning ideas and recipes, fitness tips and advice and more. Best of all, it's just a fun way to meet some new friends, get fit and stay that way!

Ready to join us:

Online contact and registration forms from Wufoo.

Brenda

Like Dance Fitness Classes? You'll LOVE Cize!

No burpees, no squats - Dance your butt off with Cize!!!

What is CIZE?

CIZE is a dance program for everyone and makes exercize something to look forward to! Professional choreographer and trainer Shaun T breaks down dance courses step-by-step, move-by-move, so that anyone can dance their way to fit in just 4 weeks.

Why is CIZE effective?

CIZE may be the end of exercize—but it’s not the end of hard work! CIZE keeps you moving the whole time by constantly introducing new moves that give you cardio training, strengthen your core, and tone every muscle—all at once! You’ll be so in the zone mastering the moves, you’ll forget you’re working out—and getting in the best shape of your life! The more you get into it, the more you get out of it! Plus, as the courses progress, they get more challenging. And that means more moving, more sweating, and more calories burned!

Are you sick and tired of feeling sick and tired?

Dreaming of fitting into those favorite old jeans again? Just imagine how good you feel when you wank into all those holiday parties and people comment on how great you look! Ladies, it's time to focus on YOU! Time to look and feel better than ever and have Fun getting FIT with CIZE!

The is the end to exercise as you know it! No equipment. NO weights. NO lunges, burpees or surrenders!  Dance your butt off and get fit in just a half an hour each day. And believe me, if I can do this anyone can!
Just 30 minutes of simple dance moves, follow a clean eating meal plan for 4 weeks and replace one meal each day with Shakeology to ensure proper nutrition. NO counting calories! NO counting points! NO starving yourself!

The next group is starting soon and you can be anywhere in the US or Canada to join. All workouts are done in the comfort of your own home on your own time. New to fitness? No worries, I'll walk you through every step of the program!

Ready to CIZE it up?  This time last year I was 30 pounds heavier so I know how you feel. Joining a challenge group last fall changed my life in SO MANY ways! Make a commitment today to get stronger.. healthier.. and feeling better than ever!

This program is NOT free but comes with a lifetime of benefits! The program includes:

• A complete home workout kit with DVDs
• Custom clean eating meal plan designed for your challenge
• A 30 day supply of Shakeology - the healthiest meal of the day!
• 1:1 personal coaching 
• Access to my private support group
• A free T-shirt when you finish and send in your results!
• A 30-day money back guarantee

Ready to get fit and have fun with CIZE? Join our next challenge group and learn about clean eating, make a few friends and get fit having the time of your life!

Use Wufoo integrations and get your data to your favorite apps.

Brenda

Dance like no one's watching!

Go ahead...
Dance like no one's watching
and get in the best shape of your life!

Dance - Get Fit - Have Fun!!!!

Tired of boring workouts?
Have you tried other fitness programs only to lose interest after a week or so?
Think dancing isn't a REAL workout?

Tired of squats, lunges, push-ups, and boring cardio? Then pay attention because you're about to look
forward to working out! Shaun T goes back to his dancing roots and makes losing weight an "experience."You'll be LIVIN' and SWEATIN' to hot new moves and great music!

And if you think you can't dance, don't worry. Shaun breaks down the routines, step-by-step, move-by-move, and builds them into a full dance combo. And at the end, you'll get to CIZE IT UP to songs from Shaun's playlist. You'll be so focused on mastering the moves that for 35–40 minutes minutes you'll forget you're actually burning fat and calories, and getting in the best shape of your life.

Get into great shape at home with Shaun T's newest, intense dance fitness program. You'll have so much fun challenging yourself to master the dance choreography during this 4 week program that you won't even realize you are getting a great cardio workout. CIZE truly is "The end of exercize."
In each routine, Shaun breaks down challenging moves step-by-step, and builds them into a full dance sequence in just 35-40 minutes. So, while you are mastering the dance moves, you'll also be burning fat and calories.

Want to be the first to know when CIZE is available?

ENTER for your chance to WIN CIZE for FREE!!!

Want to know more?
Let's connect:
brendalajay@gmail.com

Brenda