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Here is a small list of things I can't live without these days...

1. Shakeology
Shakeology is my best meal of the day. If I can't get my daily's allowance of nutrients from eating fruits and vegetables, I at least know my Shakeology makes up for it. In fact, I now feed it to my 9-year old twin girls at breakfast along side their meal. I know that they are getting something healthy in their bodies first thing in the morning! It gives them added nutrition, energy, a brain boost, everything they need to insure a great day at school. And it tastes great! The girls especially enjoy chocolate Shakeology mixed up with a little skim milk and frozen tart cherries! They don't have to know what is in it...they just need to know that they love it! Shakeology comes in two flavors; Chocolate, which speaks for itself, and Greenberry, which has a tart berry flavor. The Greenberry can be mixed with water, juices or milk.

2. Skecher's Shape Ups
These shoes are all they are hyped up to be. I wouldn't necessarily equate them with walking on sand, but for sure, it takes a little extra effort to work out in them. I have noticed the extra work it takes to balance on one leg, do lunges, calf raises and other exercises. I own three pair. One for walking on the treadmill, one for working out, and one for everyday activities. I have the black pair (my fave!), the blue and white pair, and the grey and pink pair. They are the most comfortable pair of sneakers I have ever owned, they are stylish, and, they add a few extra inches to my 5'4" frame! Get Free Shipping on your purchases and no sales tax (except in CA). Click Here!

3. Bow Flex Select Tech Weights
These weights are the best! With the turn of a dial, the weights will change from 5 lbs to 50 lbs! They can be used by both men and women and they take up much less room than you think! I actually have two sets. One set goes from 2.5 pounds to 20 pounds. I used these to begin my ChaLEAN workouts. Then I upgraded to the larger pair which go from 5 to 50 pounds. Shop for Bowflex® SelectTech® dumbbells here!

4. Bodybugg
This is the niftiest little gadget! If you ever wondered exactly how many calories you burn at your office job, this will tell you! It can let you know at the touch of a button how much more exercise you need to reach your weight loss needs. Just enter what you have eaten throughout the day on your computer, through their program, and it is all calculated for you! Bodybugg Calorie Management System Plus Digital Display now $249. Expires 2/28/10

5. P90X Protein Bars in Peanut Butter and Chocolate Fudge
These little beauties are great in a pinch. You can take them anywhere...in your purse, gym bag, backpack, car...and they taste great and are full of protein! I eat mine for breakfast before a workout or as a midday snack. P90X Bars are available through my Beachbody Website store.

17 Reasons You’re Not Losing Weight | Mark's Daily Apple

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"Do your best, and FORGET the rest" - Tony Sawyer Horton

The single, most heard phrase I hear when introducing people to something that will literally change their lives is "I can't do it."

"I CAN'T DO IT!"

My question to them is "How do you know that? Have you even tried?"
"HAVE YOU EVEN TRIED?"

My husband told me he couldn't do it. He told me he didn't have the time. He used all his former surgeries as his excuses. Yet, here he is in week 4 of P90X. Sure, it is slow going, but he tried it...and it is working.

So, my question to you is "HAVE YOU EVEN TRIED?"

Now, I know you have tried MANY new things in your life. You have tried on new clothes, you have tried out a new product in the grocery store. You have tried a new restaurant in town. I know you have tried a new recipe, a new ice cream flavor, or you have tried watching a new TV series. It is funny that you can TRY all these things, yet not even attempt to try a new workout. How do you know you can't do if you haven't even tried?

And to me, the answer "I can't do it" means you HAVEN'T tried. Because if you had, you'd see that you CAN do it. You are capable of incredible things. But you can't possibly tap what it is you can do if you don't try.

The human body is an amazing thing. If you treat it with respect, it will respect you back and it will give back to you twice as much as you give to it. Losing weight will lower your blood pressure. It will lower your cholesterol. It will cure you of certain types of diabetes. It will strengthen your heart. It will allow your body to continuously burn calories that you can't burn sitting on the sofa, eating Hagen Daaz in front of your favorite TV show. Building muscle will help strengthen you for everyday tasks. It will give you more energy. It will allow you to sleep deeper and longer giving you what you need to tackle the following day. Heck, it will even allow you to burn more calories while you sleep! WHILE YOU SLEEP!! Building muscle burns fat. Don't you want your body to help in burning the fat for you? Don't you want it to happen now? Why don't you try it! Why don't you DO it?

Beachbody has so many options for so many types of people. There are workouts for those who are already fit. There are workouts for those who want to get seriously fit. There are workouts for those who have certain characteristics and symptoms that make working out challenging. There are workouts for those who only have 10 minutes a day. Do you have 10 minutes a day to devote to you? Are you ready to try? Beachbody has products that can help you lose weight. It has products for people like us who DO NOT have the time to eat properly.

Trying is everything. Talking about it is nothing. If you try something, but find that is too difficult, then change it and try something different. Beachbody allows you to do that. If you try something else and lose 5 pounds your first week, would you then agree that you CAN do it? Wouldn't you continue?

I can help you find the workout that is right for you. I can even send you information in the mail if you are the shy type and don't want to call me. Just contact me! Ask me what I think may work for you.

Don't just SAY you are going to try it. Try it.

Then you can say you DID it!

This is an article by writer Mark Foo, author of The 77 Traits of Highly Successful People.

There’s nothing wrong with a little bit of chaos in your life. As Albert Einstein once stated, “Three rules of work: out of clutter find simplicity, from discord find harmony, in the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.”

Unexpected challenges are what make us stronger, so don’t avoid them. Keep in mind the following 50 tips and you’ll be able to streamline your life and get back on track in the New Year.

1. Recycle old papers that are filling drawers in your house. If you’re anything like me, you have drawers overflowing with old receipts, junk mail, records, and notes to myself. Get rid of all of this. Invest in a paper shredder to reduce clutter and maintain privacy.
2. Mentally prepare yourself for change by visualizing your ideal self. Who do you admire the most? How do you envision yourself in the future? Who do you want to be? Visualize yourself to be that person.
3. Realize that unexpected events can be a good thing. As the Dalai Lama once said, “Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.”
4. Ask people you admire how they got where they are today. I’ve always admired my grandfather. Learning more about how he started up his business, dealt with difficulty throughout his life, and maintained grace throughout it all has helped me in my personal endeavors.
5. Cut back on alcohol, cigarettes and other vices. These can be crutches that cloud judgment. The money saved by not purchasing or cutting back on this type of material can then be put into something rewarding such as a vacation.
6. Remove elements of negativity from your life, be they people or a job you don’t want to do. If you have friends who are bringing you down, there’s no need to keep hanging out with them out of obligation. Cut your ties and cut your losses.
7. Start each day with a clear to-do list along with your cup of morning coffee. Knowing what you need to do in the day ahead helps keep you on track.
8. Clean your house from top to bottom and throw away anything outdated. Not only receipts, as mentioned above, but any old junk that should be donated to charity or sold in a garage sale.
9. Institute a clear filing system for your personal records. Investing in a simple filing cabinet and folders with labels is something you don’t need a personal secretary for and makes your life much easier when you are looking for a specific item.
10. Do your grocery shopping for the week on the day it’s most convenient. Make a list, budget, and get only what you need to save time and money.
11. Take a career test that will help you identify your strengths. If you are unhappy with your career but don’t even know where to begin in the process of moving on, this can be a good way to identify strengths and new possibilities.
12. Meet with a professional counselor if there are issues you need to discuss. Many people are struggling with dead weight from the past or emotional baggage that is holding them back. Deal with them and move on with professional assistance.
13. Go through cabinets and throw out expired medications or food items. The last time I did this, I found everything from 3-year-old curry powder to 5-year-old aspirin. Throw them out.
14. Make a clear diet plan with an emphasis on whole grains, fruits and vegetables. A healthy diet plan has a tremendous effect on your overall energy levels.
15. Add vitamin pills to your daily diet. Vitamin supplements can help reduce the possibility of cancer and osteoporosis, among other disorders.
16. Work out a clear exercise plan with an activity that you enjoy such as dancing or biking. My girlfriend loves yoga, and I am a soccer enthusiast. As long as it’s active, it counts.
17. Set appointments you’ve been putting off. It’s easy to put off going to the doctor or dentist until we are sick, but preventive care is extremely important in overall health levels.
18. Take up a mental exercise. Crossword puzzles, Sudoku, or other word games along these lines are more than just a good way to pass time. They have been shown in studies to help improve overall mental capabilities.
19. Publish your own book. This is easier than ever before with Internet publishing. You can get your ideas out there and start making money from them. I’ve published my own eBook, The 77 Traits of Highly Successful People, check it out.
20. Make a reading list and join a book club. Most people state that they want to read more, but without an actual plan you may not make the time to do this. Joining a book club not only serves as a social activity but also keeps you up to date with your own reading list.
21. Spend time with yourself each day. Susan Taylor states that “spending quiet time alone gives your mind an opportunity to renew itself and create order.”
22. Practice breathing exercises or meditation. Stress can have an overarching effect on our overall productivity levels. When stressed, I personally forget to breathe at times. Take the time to take deep breaths and improve oxygen flow to the brain.
23. Speak and act with honesty. Are you able to stand by what you do and say? If not, it may be time to reexamine your own words and learn to articulate your thoughts in an open, honest way. This helps eliminate mistakes down the road.
24. Learn from past mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes. Usually, we make a lot of them during our lifetime. As long as they aren’t repeated too many times, and are looked at as a learning experience, they can in fact be a good thing in the long run.
25. Volunteer to help others in your community. Helping others is a rewarding way to get your own life together.
26. Take up a new language or hobby.
27. Read inspirational biographies. For new ideas, find out how others got their lives in order.
28. Talk to a stranger. Unplanned conversations can be surprisingly inspiring.
29. Reconnect with friends and relatives who live far away. Call those people you miss but keep putting off calling. With the Internet and Skype at your disposal, even an online chat can help you reconnect.
30. Change your toothbrush. It can be a hotbed of bacteria.
31. Take more naps. Sleep is often sadly underrated in its ability to boost energy, mood, and keep reaction times sharp.
32. Drink at least 6 cups of water per day. Staying hydrated helps keep energy levels up.
33. Organize your photo collection. Get both digital files and physical printouts in albums. If you’re anything like my family, your photographs could be sadly sitting tucked away in shoeboxes in the closet, taking up space.
34. Take an interest in art in your community. Visiting galleries can help introduce you to the artists in your community and help stimulate thinking.
35. Join a hobbyist club. My friend decided to learn more about building model airplanes and was so deeply into it that he recently obtained his commercial pilot’s license. You never know where a simple hobby can lead you in life.
36. Keep a calendar with commitments. Having a visual reminder in front of you can be extremely helpful. We are all different types of learners.
37. Don’t put off difficult conversations. Deal with problems directly and immediately. This will result in a much lower level of anxiety for all involved.
38. Make a list of priorities and do what makes you happy. If you have lost touch with your own priorities lately, it can be beneficial to take the time to sit and think about what actually makes you happy. Work toward achieving this as much as possible.
39. Spend more time outdoors. Nature has an ability to help soothe a troubled mind and clear your thoughts. Taking a walk in the woods or climbing a mountain, at any level of difficulty, gives a sense of pride and accomplishment.
40. Attend lectures. These could be science lectures or other types, but it’s helpful to keep up-to-date on what’s going on in the world and plan accordingly. Keeping the mind active helps you in all aspects of your daily life.
41. Take the time to stretch muscles. Get a massage to improve muscle tone and circulation, then use this new energy and apply it to your work routine.
42. Make laughter a priority. Hang out with some of your most entertaining friends for a good laugh, or simply sit back with some favorite old comedies. Laughter counts as exercise and has been shown to expand your life span.
43. Clear some time each day to do nothing. As a child, I remember that we had “free time” scheduled into our school activities every day. This could be used for reading, drawing, or simply staring into space if that’s what we felt like doing. What a novel idea, and one that keeps the brain at ease.
44. Schedule a much-needed vacation.
45. Learn new tips for entertaining. You don’t have to be Martha Stewart to throw a great dinner party, and learning how to be a host or hostess with minimal effort can give a big boost to your confidence levels.
46. Throw out old clothing that doesn’t fit. Too many of us are squeezing into outdated clothes that are doing us no favors. Look and feel your best with clothes that are tailored to fit.
47. Live in the present, not the past. The past is over. Move on and enjoy every moment as it occurs. Take stock of what needs to be accomplished and move forward with this information.
48. Learn from past mistakes and move forward with your life. Get your life in order by looking forward, not back.
49. Get your car checked up. You go to the doctor to have your body checked up. Don’t wait until it is too late to perform maintenance on your car. I once got stuck on a road trip to Ipoh (Malaysia) as a result of this oversight, and it wasn’t pleasant.
50. Budget for possible home repairs. Set aside some money in the proverbial cookie jar to keep home maintenance within the realm of possibility in this coming year.

Workout 911: How to Exercise with a Chronic Condition

It is crazy, but given the choice on how to lose weight, it is the costly weight loss programs which prevail. I'm not sure why this is...because it can be done more effectively and for much MUCH less money with a program like Beachbody.

Let's look at some popular weight loss programs and how much they cost.

Weight Watchers
Cost: Choose the $39.95 monthly pass, which includes unlimited meetings and online support. If you won’t go to meetings, the best online-only deal is the three-month $65 plan (with automatic monthly renewal at $16.95 thereafter).

Jenny Craig
Cost: $20 for 10-week membership, plus $84 to $126 a week for Jenny Craig food. One-year premium membership is $359.

Bistro M.D.
Cost: About $180 per week plus $25 FedEx delivery

eDiets
Cost: For the support-only plan, about $18 per month, billed to your credit card (with a $25 fee if you cancel within three months). The optional meal delivery service, eDiets Fresh Prepared Meal Delivery, costs about $100 per week plus $20 shipping, and includes the online service.

Southbeachdiet.com
Cost: $65 for three months ($5 a week); minimum commitment of four weeks.

In the Zone Delivery
Cost: About $40 per day plus $3 to $10 delivery fee

Nutrisystem
Cost: About $333 for four weeks of meals, plus $20 shipping; $148 for 14-day starter program purchased through Walmart

Medifast
Cost: About $300 per month or $80 per week

It is ironic, because the biggest factor that overweight people claim is holding them back from losing weight is the COST involved in a weight loss program. Yet, they will turn to one of these programs out of futility, which cost WAY MORE than a BeachBody workout plan, and ultimately will end up dropping out, or succeeding just to regain the weight they lost!

The reason for that? Convenience and laziness. Let's face it. Most American's are overweight because of convenience. Our foods have been packaged to make life easier and give us "more time" to do other things. But, the packaging of meals means that the food is less healthy and more fattening. It takes a lot of chemicals and preservatives to give that food a long shelf life. Obviously, you can't put broccoli in a box and have it last more than a few days without going bad. So, because we think we don't have the time to shop "healthy", we load up on the stuff we shouldn't be eating.

These weight loss programs that ship you food do basically the same thing. Sure, their foods are lower in fat and calories than the normal boxed food items, but they are still the same old stuff. And they just give you less of it for more money! Think about it! Can they really send you fresh fruits and vegetables? Are they teaching you how to eat healthy? Or are they just selling you a quick fix? Not only this, but many of them claim you can do it without exercise! Really?!?

The fact of the matter is that many people can't afford to do these plans forever. So they reach their goals, they quit the program, then they go back to their old eating habits because they haven't learned what it really takes to eat a healthy diet and live a healthy lifestyle! The only program which teaches a healthy lifestyle is Weight Watchers. But again, exercise needs to be a factor.

The key to losing weight is CHANGING YOUR LIFESTYLE. Exercise is a factor in that. Building muscle is crucial to burning fat. Eating a certain number of calories a day and burning a certain amount of calories a day is the only way the pounds will come off and stay off. You need to shop the produce dept, the meat dept, the dairy dept, MORE than you shop the center isles. Yes, you will need to make more trips to the grocery store...yes, you will need to put a little more time into preparing your meals, and YES, you will have to do this forever. BUT IT CAN BE DONE! In the end, think about how much more healthy you will become. Think about how much more healthy your CHILDREN AND SPOUSE will become by default! Think about how you are teaching your children GOOD HABITS by paying close attention to what you put in your mouth.

Exercise is a must in any weight loss program! You must be active! You must find a way to burn the calories that you consume, otherwise, your body will want to consume itself. It takes what it needs and leaves everything else behind...cholesterol, fat, etc...all the bad stuff that YOU DON'T NEED.

For the money you put into these fly-by-night programs, you can invest in a muscle building workout program from Beachbody (a one-time cost), meal plans and recipes included...you can get yourself a BodyBugg device from 24 Hour Fitness so that your calories eaten and burned are monitored every minute of the day...and for a few bucks more ($2.99 a week), you can join the Beachbody club and get all the added support that you need...FOR LIFE! These are lifestyle changing programs. They aren't meant to be done for a year...lose the weight...then go back to your old habits that got you to where you are now. You will learn how to shop, what to stock your kitchen full off, what to eat, when to eat, how much to eat...you will learn what you need to keep your body LEAN and how to maintain once you reach your goal weight. This is a LIFESTYLE change. And it can be done for way less than any of these programs can offer.

Here's to your new lifestyle!

by Brett Blumenthal - Sheer Balance

You may be making a New Year’s Resolution to diet in 2010. Let me stop you there. If you are planning on losing weight in 2010, save your money and time, and instead, resolve NOT to diet. No, I’m not kidding.

I know, I know…you want to lose weight. You want to have the body you had 5, 10, maybe even 20 years ago. Your skinny jeans are folded neatly under piles of clothes, just waiting for you to squeeze into them. Sound familiar? Many of us at some point have gone through this. But I’m going to tell you a secret…dieting doesn’t work. Sure, these diets work in the short term, but after a dieter stops dieting, they most likely put back on some, if not all of the weight.

In 2010, I’d like you to resolve not to diet. Here's why they don’t work and what are better solutions for 2010:

1. Malnutrition: Contrary to popular belief, most diets are not healthy and may actually border on malnutrition. Many urge us to do extreme things, forgo our favorite foods or cut major food groups in order to lose weight. Healthy eating requires ALL nutrients (carbs, fats and protein) and a minimum number of calories in order to maintain health and proper body function. FOR 2010: Eat foods that are nutrient rich and provide balance to keep you feeling satisfied.
2. It is Unsustainable: Depriving your body shocks your body into losing weight, but once it gets over that shock, it adapts. How? By slowing down your metabolism, going into unhealthy physical states (such as ketosis) or stopping weight loss. Even if you have the mental willpower to diet forever, your body doesn’t. FOR 2010: Eat healthy as a lifestyle, not as dieting. This will help you to lose excess pounds and maintain a healthy weight for a lifetime…not just for bikini season.
3. The Pendulum Factor: When you deprive yourself to an extreme, you end up craving to an extreme. The pendulum swings from “being extremely good” to “being extremely bad” to compensate. You may have heard this called “yo-yo dieting.” FOR 2010: Indulge in moderation. Enjoying the foods you love and the treats you crave once in awhile will help you to crave foods less overall.
4. Life Happens: Diets often require us to change our eating habits in such a way, that normal life gets in the way. Eating out, going over friends houses for dinner, special occasions all become “problems.” These things, however, are the very things that make life worth living! Further, most of us are busy and may not always have the time to shop, cook and calorie-count the way many diets require. FOR 2010: Fit healthy eating into every day life so that you can enjoy life AND be healthy. Discover which nutritious foods you love that make healthy eating delicious!
5. Energy Loss and Metabolism: Dramatically reducing your calorie intake can result in reduced energy levels and fatigue. Instead, it is important to understand which foods provide you with quality nutrition. FOR 2010: Eat small meals often which will stimulate weight loss, keep you satisfied and make you feel energetic.
6. Quantitative versus Qualitative: Dieting doesn’t really teach you how to eat for the long term. You may be counting calories while eating foods that actually make you hungrier or cause you to crave more. FOR 2010: Learn what foods are the most satisfying and most nutritious. The more nutritious the food you eat, the less hungry you will be. You’ll make smarter choices and lose weight without focusing on every calorie you ingest.
7. One Dimensional: In order to truly lose weight, you have to eat well AND be active. I’m not saying you have to run a marathon, but as we get older, our metabolisms NATURALLY slow down. The more active you are, the more calories you burn and the higher your metabolism will stay. FOR 2010: Be active. Even if it means taking stairs instead of the elevator, walking at lunch hour, walking to work instead of taking the train…just move.

Get real in 2010! Change your life by changing your mentality towards health, nutrition and wellness. Stop dieting, start eating and start seeing the results that you want…for the long term!

MY SHAKEOLOGY APOLOGY

From Chalene Johnson and worth the read!!

Learn more… http://www.milliondollarbody.com/shakeology/

More details

WHATS IN IT

More than 70 different ingredients were chosen from around the world for their potency and bioavailability (the ability to deliver the nutrients your body needs). Here are the key nutrient groups that these ingredients deliver:*

Protein and Essential Amino Acids to help build long, lean muscles and reduce food cravings

Prebiotics and Digestive Enzymes, which aid in improving digestion, regularity, and nutrient absorption

Antioxidants and Phytonutrients to help counteract free radical damage that can lead to degenerative diseases

Vitamins and Minerals your body needs to function for optimal health.

"In reading the lives of great men, I found that the first victory they won was over themselves… self-discipline with all of them came first." Harry S. Truman


Realizing what keeps you from becoming who you want to be is HUGE. Overcoming it, well, that is another thing entirely. Let's start with the realizing. Let's list things which you believe keep you from becoming who you want to be...

* lack of time
* lack of money
* lack of energy
* lack of motivation
* too embarassed to try
* believe that your goal will take too long to reach
* believe that your goal is unattainable
* believe that you won't have the stamina to finish
* believe that everyone else can do it except yourself
* believe that you can go it alone
* don't know when is the right time to start

Ok, this is a pretty good list and are the excuses I hear most from people who want to get fit, but don't want to put in the effort.

Let's start at the top.
No time? Wake up earlier. Stay up later. It won't kill you. It may even save your life. Workout during lunch and drink a shakeology afterwards to save time.

No money? Think about what you are spending your money on now. Stop eating fast food one day a week for a month. Or forget the expensive Latte. Give up that case of beer on Friday. Trust me. You can come up with the $100-$125 cost of a BeachBody Fitness routine.

No Energy? I guarantee you after two solid weeks of your workout routine, you will have more energy than you know what to do with

Too embarrassed to try? Beachbody allows you to do all of this at HOME...in front of NO ONE but your TV. Do you think your dog is really gonna care how you look in sweats?

Your goal will take too long to reach? Well, the longer you wait, the longer it will take. Why not start today? You will be there that much sooner.

Your goal is unattainable? Hogwash. You can do anything you set your mind to. Isn't this what you tell your children or your spouse everyday you send them out into the world? Take your own advice.

Don't have the stamina to finish the 90 days? After you see the results you will have after 30, you will not want it to end.

Think that you are the only one in the world who can't do it? Only the ones who are dead and buried can't do it. Think about your lifestyle. Can it afford to change? Can it afford NOT TO??

Think you can go it alone? It is hard to do it yourself...that is why Beachbody has thousands of members ready to help you. Better yet, find a friend, neighbor, sister, brother, spouse to join you.

Don't know when to start? NOW. Don't waste another moment. You will never know what you can do until you try. Slow and steady wins the race. You can't get there if you don't move in that direction. So move. Start now. This is your time to begin!

When I started this fitness journey, I didn't really make a big deal out of it. I didn't tell anyone I was starting it, except my Beachbody Coach. Maybe it was because I didn't know if I'd be able to even pursue the program. Maybe it was because I didn't expect to see the results I saw in just one month. Maybe it was because I was a little embarrassed. Why? I'm not sure. I mean, there you are, alone, in your basement or TV room, in front of the TV, working out to these DVD's with this incredibly fit woman inspiring you at every step. Maybe I thought I'd never look like her. Maybe I feared the flack I'd get from my husband for undertaking such a task. And sometimes, yes, he gave me flack.

I had a phone conversation with my wonderful sister a few months ago. I told her about my results and what success I was having...and how I thought it would be a great program for her to try. Her question to me was, "What was it that made you even start this workout in the first place?"

I had to think about it. In fact, to this day, I think about it. And everyday, I add another answer. To her I replied that I felt someone had to do something. My husband is 12 years my senior, and despite the fact that he is in pretty decent shape medically, he is in his mid 50's and he has a few pounds to lose to make his doctor happy. I'm in my 40's. We have three grown children but still have two nine-year old daughters who depend on us to be here. They depend on me to cook their dinner, wash their clothes, keep the house in order, help them with their homework. They depend on us to tuck them in at night and kiss them on the forehead. What the hell would they ever do if we suddenly weren't there? What if I had let my weight and bad eating habits spiral out of control? What if I continued to teach them these bad habits? How could I let that happen? So, my answer to her..."I had to do SOMETHING."

But the more I thought about that question, the more I thought, "Hey! What about ME?" I wanted to do something for ME! I wanted to be able to look at myself in the mirror and be proud of me. I wanted to sleep better at night. I wanted to be putting healthy food in my body so I wasn't horribly constipated all the time. I wanted to smile more. I wanted to be able to tolerate life's stresses better. I wanted to know, that for an hour a day, I was going to spend the time pampering MYSELF with something that did all these things!

But, thinking even more, there is another answer to the question of the year. "Why not?" Why wouldn't I do this? WHAT DO I HAVE TO LOSE AND WHAT DO I HAVE TO GAIN? What can be better than gaining self-confidence? What is better for my children then for them to see my self-confidence? What can be better for my husband and children than having me in great health and mind and spirit? Why wouldn't I?

So, my task for you is to ask yourself the question of the year. Let it sink in. Every day, write down an answer, and I promise you that you will not get to 3 before realizing that it is time to do this for yourself. It is time to do it for those you love. And when the workouts get tough, and they will get tough, ask yourself the question of the year. Ask it again and again.

Thanks Kathie, for asking me!

(*note: As of Monday of this week, my husband couldn't deny my results any longer. He has been joining me in my workouts. I couldn't be prouder of him. And I have accomplished something huge...inspiring the father of my children that he's gotta shed those pounds and get in shape for us!)