Tough Mudder Jacksonville 2013

  Another great race weekend!! Yesterday I completed by 2^nd Tough Mudder near Jacksonville, FL.  Tough Mudder is an 11+ mile obstacle course that is “probably the toughest event on the planet”.  Yesterday’s race lived up to that claim for me for sure.  The course was full of running through thick sand and mud, plus all the obstacles.  I’m not the greatest runner (I’m working on it though!) so this was pretty rough for me. 

I felt really strong in the beginning and then we got to the Wounded Warrior Carry.  In this challenge, you pair up and carry your partner roughly 1-200 feet.  I paired up with a guy on my team and he carried me first.  At the halfway point we switched.  We were in that damn sand again but I carried him on my back for close to 200 feet.  My team was cheering me on the whole way. That’s when I think a lot of my walking started.  

The next tough obstacle was called Mud Mile.  You have to run or walk through mud that is like quicksand.  Not gonna lie, the Mud Mile felt like the Mud 25 Miles.  My legs and hips were on fire by the end!

Other obstacles, like the Berlin Walls may need to be done with the help of your team.  I struggled with these because I had a really tight shoulder and it made me feel weaker in term of upper body strength. I've also noticed I have a kind of selective fear of heights.  When I am up high I don't get scared until I have to rely on my own strength to keep me from falling.   But I can jump off of super high platforms into dark, muddy water

Since I conquered Colossus at the Savage Race a few weeks ago, my next goal is to get all the way across the monkey bars.  I’ve been practicing at a park and can make from one end to the other.  OCR monkey bars are quite a bit different.  The ones at Tough Mudder go up at an angle and then come back down.  I made it to the 2^nd or 3^rd bar before I fell in the water below.  Not what I wanted, but definite improvement.

The next obstacle was Everest.  It is a ½ pipe that is very similar to Colossus without the ropes to help you climb up.  I made it up the last time so I was pretty sure I could do it this time.  My legs were toast so I couldn’t run as hard as I needed to.  I tried 3 times and each time almost got to my teammates holding out their hands.  After the 3^rd attempt I looked at my coach and said I couldn’t do it.  He looked me in the eye and said something like “you are going to do this”.  So I tried one last time.  I got to the top and grabbed the hands of my teammates.  I tried to use my feet to climb up, but I was beat.  The guys pulled me up and I made it.  I was so tired, I almost fell off the ladder coming down one the other side, but I caught myself.  If a blooper video ever gets done, I’m sure that move could have made the cut!  Thanks to my coach and teammates for not letting me quit.

The last obstacle at any Tough Mudder is called Electroshock Therapy.  Take a look at this picture.  See all those strings hanging down? Yeah, some of those are electric.  If you listen closely while people run through you can hear the zaps as 10,000 volts of electricity goes through the bodies of those unlucky ones who got the right (or should I say wrong?) string.  Last December I got shocked, but I was able to keep going.  This time, I was shocked so hard that it threw me to the ground…3 times.  It was crazy!  After we  crossed the finish line I got my hard earned orange headband, T-shirt and a cold beer.   After 5 hours, it was a very good moment!!

I’m feeling pretty sore and have some bruises, cuts and scrapes, but I wouldn’t take back a single moment of this challenge.  I had to remind myself many times that my mind was going to give up before my body did.  I'm going to be doing a couple of new BB challenges over the next few months, so I think that is going to help a lot.  I'm sure I'll write a blog about those so stay tuned!

  I am SO GLAD I was introduced to the sport of OCR. My first year will end in September 2013.  I’m planning on running my first competitive race in August.  I’m not focused so much on time (only for a baseline), but rather being able to do all the obstacles on my own.  I plan to ROCK year 2 of OCR!!

If you are interested in running your first OCR, feel free to respond to this blog or connect with me on Facebook at  www.fb.com/erinkterry or www.fb.com/coacherinsmotivationstation.  You can also check out www.ocrchallenge.com

As always, thanks for reading and….HOORAH!!

Fit Friends

Another Sunday Funday!!  I love working out at home with Beachbody DVD's.    It saves me time and money and I know exactly what to do with the help of the trainers like Shaun T, Chalene Johnson and Dan and Rach from Combat.  But I also love group workouts.  I feel motivated by others around me and like to help motivate others.  One new way I get to buddy up with others that are trying to live a fit lifestyle like me is Sunday Funday.   A group of friends and I get together every other Sunday at Al Lopez Park to run the park and stop at different "obstacle" stations.  Today was an awesome workout and we had a lot of fun!

We started off with a short run to the first obstacle.  Jenny O, the organizer of this group decided that at every obstacle today we would do 10 burpees.  The first station was a pull up bar.  Each of us is working on improving our upper body strength.  However, we all struggle with the pull ups.  Instead of skipping them because they are too tough, we pair up and have one person help support another.  While some were doing pull ups, the rest were knocking out their burpees. 

We took off again and stopped at a angled bar that we jump over.  You can see several of us do these in the pics at the top of the post.  The goal is to get 10 jumps back and forth.    Oh yeah, did I mention those 10 burpees again?

Another short run onto the next obstacle.  Again, 10 burpees for everyone and a "wall sit" for 2 min.  After running and doing burpees, these wall sits are no joke!!  We each make it 2 min and take turns.   My quads were on fire, but that's how ya know you are doing work!

Off to the next station.  This one had a lot of different things going on.  10 burpees for everyone, 15 pushups and 15 crunches or sit-ups.   Even though there was a lot going on, everyone got to work and figured out a rotation without even really planning it.   As a group, we work really well together. 

The next station has 2 bars that we do incline push ups and pull ups on.  The burpees were getting a little rough at this point, not gonna lie!

The last station are the monkey bars.  The first few times we went I wasn't able to make it across, but the last 2 weeks, I've made it fairly easily.  Jenny likes to show off :) and do the bars backwards and sideways.  I made it all the way across going forward and about half way going sideways.  The rest of the girls made it across at least once.  We had an audience of a mother and daughter (who looked like she was maybe 11-13) at this one.  They cheered us on and when we got done, they had to take a turn.  We stuck around and watched.   The mom was a beast and made it almost all the way across doing pull ups at each bar.   

Next step, running to the finish.  It is maybe a 1/4 to 1/2 mile back to the beginning of our loop.  Once we got there it was time for a quick ab workout.  Each person picks an exercise and leads the group.  We always finish off with a 1 min plank and some supermans. 

Sticking to a healthy diet and workout plan isn't always easy, in fact, sometimes it is downright tough.  But having friends that are interested in the same things you are makes all the difference in the world.  If you live in the Tampa Bay area and wanna join us, let me know!  If you have a park or trail around you, grab some friends and go for a run or walk.  You don't have to go crazy, just get moving.  You'll be glad you did!

Thanks again for reading.  If you have any questions or want to start your own fitness journey, please respond to this blog or connect with me on Facebook at www.fb.com/erinkterry or www.fb.com/coacherinsmotivationstation

Have a healthy and fit week!!

Meal Prep Tips

Awhile back, I wrote a blog about planning ahead and the food options I had for that week.   But I didn't go into a lot of detail about how I plan and what my process looks like.   So, for today's entry, I'll explain in a lot more detail. 

Since I have completed a few BB programs now (Insanity, ChaLEAN Extreme, Combat), I take some of my favorite meals from each of these plans.  All of these programs encourage clean eating so there are very little processed items in my diet.  After I pick the meals and snacks I want, I make a list and head to the grocery store.  (Just a few tips on grocery shopping!  1. NEVER go hungry.  All kinds of extras will end up in your cart.  2. Stick to the perimeter of the store.  The more processed junk is located on the inner aisles.  3.  Come prepared; have a list and stick to it.  Your butt and your wallet will thank you!)

I use a calendar/meal planner to plan out what meals I'll have each day.  I just got a new planner that I love from May Designs.  This company has tons of personalizing options for planners, notebooks, calorie and exercise trackers, etc.  SO CUTE!  Here is a picture of the inside of my calorie/exercise tracker. 

I have a pretty big collection of Tupperware containers.  These are a must if you want to meal prep ahead of time.  You can stock up without spending a ton of money.  I recommend getting a big basket or box to store them in so you can easily match containers and lids.   I keep my stored like this. 

Before I get started, I get the box out with all my Tupperware containers.  I also make sure all my dishes are clean and put away and clean my kitchen counter.  Now that I have my plan, groceries and a clean kitchen, its time to get to work!!

One of my staples is chicken.  For me, the easiest way to prepare it is to use a crock pot.  I use an entire bag of frozen tenderloins, throw them in the crock pot with a little water and what ever seasonings I decide to use that week.  I usually shred the chicken and use it in salads, tacos, paired with veggies, etc.  

Salads are another regular meal, so I make 4-5 small salads at once.  If you make 1 big salad it will probably only last a few days.  But if you use the smaller containers, a salad can last up to a week.  I also make a balsamic vinaigrette dressing that is amazing!!  You can find the recipe on the "Healthy Recipes" page on this blog. 

I'm not a morning person AT ALL, so breakfast usually has to be something I can eat in the car on the way to work.  I like to hard boil a carton of eggs and use those for breakfast.  I can also use them on salads or as snacks.  Turkey bacon is also really good and can be made several days in advance. 

I wash and cut all veggies and fruit I can.  If you can, invest in some Debbie Meyers Green Bags (you can find them at grocery stores, Target and Walmart).  These bags keep your produce fresher for longer.  I've used them with whole veggies and fruit and produce that has already been cut.  They are amazing and work like a dream!!

If I have almonds, cashew, etc.  I always separate them into serving sizes bagged up in snack bags. Makes it so much easier to stick to a portion.  I can throw a bag of almonds in my purse just in case I can't get to what other foods I packed. 

For this week, I have eggs/bacon for breakfast, almonds, apples and yogurt for snacks.  Lunch will be chicken or turkey tacos, tempeh stir fry and veggie burgers.  My sweet tooth has been acting up at night lately, so I'll be having Shakeology for dinner with a small side salad. 

One last tip.  Again, if you can invest, get a good lunchbox and some ice packs. I take my food to work everyday and I don't have easy access to a fridge. However, I have good healthy food to eat because I have the lunch box and ice.  I've thought about getting a bigger back so I can pack for an entire day, but so far, I don't have a need to pack dinner too.  

This is just the plan that I use.  I have made changes and learned faster ways to do things each week.  It is definitely a work in progress, but it makes choosing healthy options so much easier.   I recommend coming up with your own system that works for you.  If you are interested in learning more about how I meal prep or want some assistance in getting started yourself, please feel free to respond to this blog or contact me on Facebook at www.fb.com/erinkterry or www.fb.com/coacherinsmotivationstation. 

Have a great week!!

Savage Race Spring 2013

Yesterday was an AWESOME day!!  Savage Race has been one of my favorite OCR's so far.  I'm not sure why, but I really like the course and the obstacles.  The last time I did Savage was in the fall of 2012.  I did good, but there were a few obstacles I wasn't able to finish.  A balance beam called Nut Smashers and a half pipe wall called Colossus.   The balance beam got me last time, but this race, I nailed it.  As soon as I finished I did a little happy dance and that pumped me up for the rest of the course.

Coming in to this race, I didn't care what I did on any other obstacle, I WAS going to get to the top of Colossus if it killed me!   Last fall, I tried 4 times to get up and couldn't grab the rope.   Leading up to the race I visualized myself going up that wall a million times.  As my team approached the wall, several people started encouraging me and said "this is it", "you are getting up this wall".   Again, I visualized myself climbing the wall and celebrating at the top.   Finally it was my turn.  I ran as hard as I could and got the rope.  I remember thinking, "I'm really gonna do this!!".  I pulled myself up as far as I could and then told the guys standing up at the top that I needed help.    Well, they weren't all that much help and I fell all the way back to the bottom.    I waited a few minutes, caught my breath and tried it again.  This was going to be the last attempt, so I had to do it this time.  I got the rope again and started to climb.  This time I was a little more "stern" with the guys up at the top and said "I need you to pull me up NOW!".  The lead guy was telling the others to "go slow".   I was not going to the bottom of the damn wall again so I yelled "PULL ME UP NOW!!"  Needless to say that got their attention and the next thing I knew I was standing at the top of the wall!!!!!!!   I have not felt that much relief and pride in awhile!   My team was yelling and cheering me on the entire time!

One of my teammates and partner Kirsten, made this for me and posted it on my Facebook wall.  I LOVE IT!!

As always, I could not make it through these races without my friends on Team Dynasty!!  Everyone works together and makes sure we are all finishing together.  I wish a I had a pic of all of us, 

but it can get a little crazy after a race and we couldn't find everyone.

If you are interested in getting into the best shape of your life, running your first OCR or starting a fitness journey, I would love to help.  Respond to this blog or contact me at www.erinkterry@hotmail.com, www.fb.com/erinkterry or www.fb.com/coacherinsmotivationstation

Thanks for reading and have a great week!!!

Staying Motivated

Changing lifestyle habits can be difficult and overwhelming.  Here is a list of 10 ways to stay motivated and on track to reaching your goals!  They work for me!

1. Set Goals
Goal setting is powerful.  However, make your goals realistic.  Instead of focusing on the big picture, think about smaller goals you can reach.  For example, if you want to lose 20 pounds, set smaller 5 pound goals.  You can also set goals to try new things with the increased health and physical fitness you are achieving.  Find a 5k or Obstacle Course Race around you and sign up.  Remind yourself of this every time you feel like cheating on your diet or skipping a workout.

2.  Make it FUN!!
Having a healthy life is supposed to be fun.  Find your "soulmate" workout, the one that you look forward to doing every day.  Look for new and exciting ways to stay in shape.

3. Reward Yourself
For every goal that you reach, give yourself a reward. Been eyeing a new pair of running shoes?  What about an outfit that might have been too tight before?  Make a list of things that you want and treat yourself!

4. Track Your Progress
This can get tricky.  Most people see progress as the weight they see on the scale.  There are SOOOO many other ways you can see the improvements you are making.  For example, take monthly pictures of yourself to compare.  You will see change that you might not see on the scale.  Track how many workouts you complete in a month.  Do fit tests.  In the program Insanity, fit tests are a huge part of the plan.  You will be amazed at how many more globe jumps or switch kicks you can do each time!

5. Remember Your Why
We all have reasons for getting in shape...losing weight, feeling better, buying smaller clothes, playing more with your children, etc.  Every time you get discouraged or want to quit, remind yourself why you started this process in the first place.

6. Ask For Help
There are so many people that can help encourage and support you, especially when you are feeling stuck.  Look at inspirational pictures on Pinterest or Instagram.  I check these both out regularly and they give me the kick in the butt I need sometimes.

7. Think About Consequences
What if you don't stick to your goals?  Where will you be in 5 years? 10? 20?  Will you be a happy person, or stuck in a rut?  How will you feel about yourself if you give up on your goals and dreams?

8. Put Your Goals Out There
Let the people in your life know about your goals and why they are important to you.  Post them on Facebook or other social media sites you use.  Once you have made your goals public, it's harder to back out.

9. Accountability Partner
Find someone that will not only hold you accountable, but will also encourage you along the way.  Find a friend that will workout with you.   Share your why with them.  Plan your meals together.  Plan a fun activity for the 2 of you to do together to celebrate your successes.

10. Plan Ahead
Life gets in the way.  Sometimes it is easy to let other obligations get in the way of taking care of yourself.  Plan your weekly meals and prep as many as possible.  Schedule your workouts like any other appointment or meeting.  What would happen if you skipped a meeting at work 'cause you "just didn't feel like it"?  Take your health and fitness as seriously as you do the other things in your life. 

Ready to commit and make some changes?  I would love to help you reach your goals!   Respond to this blog or follow me on Facebook at www.fb.com/erinkterry or www.fb.com/CoachErinsMotivationStation.   I'm also on Instagram at instagram.com/erinkterry# Thanks for reading and have a healthy and fit week!!

Fun Day at the Park

Today I did a new workout and had a lot of fun.  I met up with a friend (and made some new ones!) for a Fitness Funday Sunday.  We met at Al Lopez park in Tampa and spent almost 2 hours running and doing workout stations set up along the course.  I had heard of this park and a lot of my friends from 813 Fit Club have gone for workouts there too, so I was excited to check it out.  It is pretty much like any other park, but it has a 5k trail around the perimeter with workout stations set up throughout.  It was really good training for obstacle course races.  I've include some pics below of several stations. 

I definitely do better when I have a schedule.  I am able to stay on task better, get more accomplished and stress less.  At the same time though, I can get bored.  I'll never stop my Beachbody workouts because they work and they're fun, but it's also good to switch things up and try new activities.   Now that summer is getting closer I'll be looking for more fun stuff to incorporate into my regular workout schedule.

Thanks for reading!  If you are interested in learning more about what you can do to get in shape, feel free to respond to this blog or contact me at erinkterry@hotmail.com, coacherinterry@gmail.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/erinkterry

Plan for Success

Today was food prep day for the week.  I'm making this a Sunday activity every week from now on.  It took me a LOT of time today, but it will all be worth it.  Above are a few pictures of meals (or parts of meals) that I'll have this week.    On the menu is 2 servings of jicama and avocado salad, 4 microgreen salads with tons of veggies and homemade greek dressing, 2 servings of moroccan carrot salad, a frittata with red pepper, tomato, asparagus and a sweet potato, 2 servings of baked tempeh, 1 serving of roasted beets and 2 servings mashed chickpeas.  I also had a ton of veggies left over so I chopped them all and will use them to fill out individual meals.   I've got fish, chicken and veggie burgers that I can use for dinner each night.  For snacks I'll have Shakeology and fruit.

For those of you that know me really well, this won't be a surprise.  I tend to over think and over plan for just about every situation.  I tend to get anxious and stressed if I don't follow some kind of schedule or daily to do list.   One area of my life that I haven't  always given this kind of attention is what I eat.   Which, if you think about it is not very smart.  There are few things in life that we have any control over.  We can plan and think ahead all we want, but life is always going to throw curve balls.  But, we have 100% control over what food we put in our bodies.  I've learned that no matter how much I plan ahead or how strong my resolve is to eat healthy, I let life get in the way.  If I'm tired or had a bad day it's so much easier to slip and eat something that isn't good for me than to come home and cook something that is.  But if I know that everything I need is in my fridge and will take me 10 min or less to complete a meal, I am much more likely to stick to my original plans.   So, if making good food choices is something you struggle with too,  think about setting aside a few hours to prepare everything you can for the coming week.  Not only will it save time, energy and money in the long run, but it will dramatically increase your chances for success.

Thanks for reading and have a great week!  If you are interested in getting started on your own journey to a healthy life, get in touch with me...I would love to help!  Feel free to respond on this blog or contact me at erinkterry@hotmail.com, coacherinterry@gmail.com, erinkterry@beachbodycoach.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/erinkterry.

This is SPARTA!!

This was another weekend of racing for me.  I am proud to say I am now officially a SPARTAN.  Team Dynasty and I went to Miami and did the Super Spartan, an 8+ mile race with over 25 obstacles.  I wasn't at my best on this race and I know where I went wrong.  While I haven't gone back to horrible eating (fast food and processed junk), I wasn't  at 100% in the nutrition area leading up to this weekend.  I REALLY struggled with the running.  I felt good in the beginning, but lost steam after I failed the monkey bars obstacle and had to do 30 burpees.  For those of you that have never heard of a burpee, let's just say they are no joke!!  You crouch down, jump back to a plank, do a push up, jump back to the crouch and jump up in the air.   After all that craziness, I had a hard time getting back into a groove.    There was  A LOT of trail running too.  I'm not a great runner, so the up and down, uneven ground and dodging branches made a difficult workout even tougher.  I had to do another 30 burpees when I couldn't get up the rope climb (noticing a trend here? I need more upper body strength!). 

Even though this was not my best race, I still had a great time.  I realized if I want to continue in this sport I have to really take it seriously.   I don't want to continue spending my time and money on racing if I am not performing.  So...since quitting isn't an option, it's time to step it up!  I will be continuing my workouts, adding some running on strength training days and eating clean.  I still some work to do before I feel confident enough to run a competitive heat on my own.   But I will get there...

I've added a few of my favorite pictures from the race below.  As always, if you are interested in learning more about how you can change your life, both inside and out, feel free to respond to this blog or contact me at erinkterry@hotmail.com, coacherinterry@gmail.com, erinkterry@beachbodycoach.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com.erinkterry.

Hog Wild Mud Run 2013

This weekend I did another obstacle course race and I am super sore today!!  I have bruises up and down both legs and one arm.  Most people probably wouldn't want to be covered in marks and unable to move very quickly, but I see all of this as proof that I did something pretty amazing.  This race was tough, but I am really seeing a difference in my upper body strength and did obstacles completely unassisted.  Obstacles that on my first race I needed several people to literally lift me over.  At almost every race I've done there are these walls that you have to climb/jump over.   The ones at this race were about as tall as my shoulders.  I have always struggled with this because they take a lot of upper body strength, which I don't have.  But yesterday, I was able to get over all of them on my own.  Another obstacle I struggle with are the walls you climb up with ropes attached.  Again,  mostly upper body strength.  I got over this wall all by myself too.   That was my favorite.  It was really simple compared to other obstacles, but conquering it made me really proud of myself.   I am getting closer to my goal of running a competitive heat in an obstacle course race.  I think if I continue going the way I have been I will be able to check this goal off my list by the end of this summer! 

My team, Team Dynasty did amazing at this race too.  Several of the girls ran the competitive heat and placed in the top 50 out of all racers.  Our coach, Arnel, got 3rd place overall!!  Here are a couple of before and after pics.  We went out to eat on our way home and I'm sure we were a sight...all covered in mud (that stuff is like glue and you pretty much have to remove a layer of skin to get it all off!) and looking rough!  But again, I love every dirty, gross moment of these races!

One of the coolest parts of the race was our newest racer and my partner, Jessica.  Like I mentioned before, my first race was hard.  I had no idea what to expect and I had never done anything even close to one of these races.  But...Team Dynasty made sure I felt supported and encouraged and helped me every step of the way.   I was nervous pairing up with someone who had never done a race before, not because of how she would do, but how I would.  I wanted to make sure that I helped her have an experience like mine.  One where she felt like she had accomplished something she might have never thought she could have.  She made it through almost all of the obstacles, ran a lot and conquered her first obstacle course race.  We will be partners again at our race next weekend, the Spartan Race in Miami.  SUPER PROUD OF YOU JESSICA!  You did amazing!!

Thanks for reading!  If you are interested in training for an obstacle course race or running one with Team Dynasty, let me know!  I would love to help you out!  Feel free to respond to this blog, or contact me at erinkterry@hotmail.com, erinkterry@beachbodycoach.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/erinkterry.

Have a great week and stay tuned for my blog next weekend on the Spartan Race!!

My First 10K!

This weekend I did something I never imagined I would be able to do.  I ran 6.2 miles all at one time without stopping.   I was really nervous going into this race because I haven't been running lately.  I've been struggling a little with time management by adding working out back into my day.  During the Ultimate Reset, I wasn't able to workout so I did maybe a week of training for this race.  I told a friend earlier this week that I wasn't looking forward to it and thought I would probably end up walking a lot of the race.  She hasn't been feeling running lately either, so she wasn't too sure how she was going to do.   My friend and I agreed to start off together, but I made sure to let her know that when she wanted to take off to just go and I would be fine.  At about mile 2, I knew I wasn't going to stop.  I didn't care if I was the slowest "runner", I was going to run the whole race...no walking allowed.  My friend told me the same thing.  She wasn't going to let me walk.  We ended up making the perfect running team.  She said she tends to run too fast in the beginning then struggles to maintain her pace and ends up having to walk.  Since I was a slower runner than her, I kept her from burning out.  But she pushed me to run faster than I probably would have on my own.  We kept a pretty steady pace of around 11:30-12 min/mile.   Towards the end, my friend sped up and finished about a minute before I did.  I felt amazing as I rounded the corner lined with people watching and cheering and saw another friend holding up one of the signs in the picture above.  I saw the finish line and ran as fast as I could.  I'm pretty sure there was lightening come out of my feet! ;) 

The whole experience was a lot of fun.  The run was in perfect weather (cold to start off, but once we got going, it was really nice), running along the bay, past gorgeous (probably million dollar) homes and a perfect (totally by accident) playlist to keep me motivated.  My friend had also signed up for the 5k that started a little later.  So in between races, we hung out, got some food, and listened to an awesome DJ.    After the 5k started, I held up signs and cheered in runners at the finish line.  My friend PR'd in the 5k.  Overall, it was a great way to spend a Saturday morning!!!  Next goal is to run another 10K and see how much time I can shave off.  My official race time was 1 hr and 13 min.  I've got some work to do, but I will get there!!  Thanks to Jenny and Nicole for a great time!! 

If you are interested in setting new records and doing things you never thought possible, let me know and I can help!  As always, feel free to contact me on this blog or at erinkterry@hotmail.com, erinkterry@beachbodycoach.com on or Facebook at www.facebook.com/erinkterry 

Thanks for reading and have a great week!!

Beachbody Workouts

Hi Everyone!
I thought for today's blog I would write a little about the Beachbody products I use (or have used) and what I've thought of them.  I also wanted to add this as a page for my blog, so instead of doing both this is a quick entry to let you all know that you need to check out the new page at the top of my blog called Beachbody Products!!!  I'll be adding links to videos so you can get an idea of what each program or product looks like.  Enjoy!!

Beachbody Coaching

For today's blog, I want to tell you about what being a Beachbody coach means to me.  I have found a new passion that I never thought I would have.  I LOVE HEALTH & FITNESS!!  I have learned that I can push myself to try new things and that if I keep working at it, I will acheive any health/fitness goal I set for myself.  I have also started to work more on my inner self too.  Trying to change years of negative self talk into something more positive.  The changes I have made in a little over 6 months are amazing to me.  I honestly believe none of these would have happened if I hadn't made the choice to become a coach.   Being a coach not only means you help other people make changes in their lives, but you also have to work on yourself to be the best you can be.   The support this company provides in helping you be a sucessfull (whatever your definition of succesful is) coach is amazing.   You can make this job what you want it to be.  For me, my ultimate goal is to make this a full time job.   I love helping and inspiring others.  The coaches I work with are amazing and motivate me to keep pushing on to reaching this goal.  I could talk all day about how much I love this company and what it has done for me, but for now,  I will ask you to watch the video I have posted below.   Hopefully, it will inspire you the way it did me!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEEU082UlEg

If you are interested in coaching or have any other questions, please feel free to respond to this blog or contact me at erinkterry@beachbodycoach.com, erinkterry@hotmail.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/erinkterry

Personal Development

What is personal development?  According to Wikipedia Personal development includes activities that improve awareness and identity, develop talents and potential, build human capital and facilitate employability, enhance quality of life and contribute to the realization of dreams and aspirations.

 

Basically, I see personal development as working to make yourself the best you can be.  As a therapist, I work with clients everyday to help them build skills that will not only help them cope with life's stressors, but to also help them reach their full potential.  Personal development isn't something you just do one time and you're good to go.  It has to be practiced everyday.  It will seem weird and foreign to many at first, but as you continue to learn new things about yourself and start to see improvements in your life, it gets much easier.  

 

Over the last several years, I've been on a journey.  I thought that if I made my outside the way I wanted, my inside would just naturally follow.  Well....it didn't quite work that way.  I have struggled to figure out why weight loss wasn't happening as fast as I wanted it to go.  I have finally realized that I have to "workout" my brain as much as I have been my body.  I am a pro at negative self-talk.  Some of the things I say to myself I would NEVER dream of saying to anyone else.  I try my hardest to be polite and kind to everyone.  Why wasn't I doing the same for myself?  After I became a Beachbody coach, it was made very clear to me that if I was going to help anyone, I had to help myself first.  So...I have been working on me, from the inside out.  For a minimum of 10 minutes everyday, I really focus on myself.  I've read several books, practiced positive affirmations (thinking kind, encouraging things about myself) and examined some of my core beliefs about my life and the way I see it.  I have noticed some changes already.  I am starting to catch myself when I think negatively and I'm able to re-frame those thoughts into something more positive.  I still have my bad days where I get easily stressed, beat myself up and see the world as a big, mean and scary place.  But I have committed to making this the year I finally do what I've been trying to teach my clients since I became a therapist.   This is the year I will LOVE myself and BELIEVE that I can do ANYTHING that I decide to do.   I still have a lot of work to do, but I will get there.  I will be adding to a new page on this blog a list of books I have read and books that are on my "to read" list.   I would suggest any of them as a way to get started on your own journey to reaching your full potential.

Thanks for reading!  If you are interested in learning more about the steps I'm taking to change my life in positive ways, feel free to respond to this blog or contact me at erinkterry@beachbodycoach.com, erinkterry@hotmail.com, coacherinterry@gmail.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/erinkterry

Ultimate Reset Results!!

Yesterday was the last official day of this program.  I have learned so much over the last 3 weeks and can't believe it's done.  So, here are my results:

Day 1: 12-16-12
Weight: 198.2
Waist: 35
Hips: 42
Right Arm: 14.5
Right Thigh: 26
Chest:42

Day 22: 1-6-13
Weight: 180.6
Waist: 32.5
Hips: 40
Right Arm: 13
Right Thigh: 23
Chest: 40

Total lost: 17.6 pounds and 11 inches!!!!  I am so excited and proud of what I have accomplished over the last 3 weeks.  I have not only reset my body, but my mind.  I don't see me going back to unhealthy eating again.  Not saying that I will be perfect, but this Reset has been exactly the piece of my journey that I have been missing.  I have a better understanding about food, how to cook,  and how to plan my meals around possible obstacles or set-backs.
So, I'm reset...now what?  The program suggests that you slowly start to re-introduce foods you eliminated during the Reset (dairy, animal protein).  I have decided the easiest way for me to do this is to just repeat the plan in reverse.  Today I re-started week 3 and will go from there.  I haven't been able to work out during the last 3 weeks and it has been hard.  I miss my workouts.  I've had Combat for about 2 weeks now and it has been killing me not to do it.  So, starting tomorrow, I resume my workouts.  However, I plan to take it slow.  If I have to take breaks, I have to take breaks.  If I don't work as hard in the beginning, that's ok.  I can gradually get myself back to the intensity I was at before I started the reset.  I would recommend this program to anyone that is struggling with losing weight, has low energy or feels run down emotionally.  It has totally changed how I think!

One last thing before I go.  You might have noticed some changes to this blog.  I have added some extra pages  with healthy recipes and goal setting guides.  If there are things you would like to see added or want to learn more about, let me know and I'll get to work!!

If you are interested in changing your life in 2013, feel free to contact me and I will be your personal coach and cheerleader.  You can respond to this blog, or email me at erinkterry@hotmail.com, coacherinterry@gmail.com, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/erinkterry.

As always, thanks for reading!!

See ya 2012!

As I sat down to write this blog, I realized it was the last one for 2012, so I decided to look back at the last year and think about all I've done and what I have to do in 2013.  I started out 2012 about 20lbs heavier and pretty miserable.  I had no friends here, all of mine are still back in Indiana.  So most of my evenings and weekends were spent sitting on my couch watching tv waiting for my life to start.  I was sad a lot and felt like things were never going to work out for me the way that I wanted them to.  Then in the spring, I decided I would try Insanity by Beachbody.  I had worked out with a trainer and thought I could handle it.  I did ok the first month, but quit at month 2 because the workouts became even more INSANE.  I doubted myself and let that doubt keep me from accomplishing a goal.  At the beginning of the summer, I thought I would try again and promised myself that no matter how many breaks I had to take, no matter how much it hurt, or even on some days how much I hated it, I would finish Insanity.  During that time I also joined Meet-up.  A way to find people interested in the same things I was so I could finally (after 2 years of living here) create a social life for myself.  I went to a few events, but none of them really clicked.  I kept looking at 813 Fit Club and thinking, "maybe one day I can try that".  I finally got the courage after about 2 months of looking at the site to try it out.  That one decision, I TRULY believe has been a life-changer.  I went to a few workouts and met my coach Arnel.  I'm sure I've talked about this before, but explaining how motivating this group is nearly impossible because there aren't enough words.  I was welcomed from day 1.  In July, I decided I wanted to be a coach like Arnel, because I wanted to pay forward what this group had given me in such a short time.  Beachbody coaches are meant to be your greatest encouragement and give you a kick in the ass when you need it.  Arnel has pushed me to do things I have never dreamed of doing.  I started this blog, I FINISHED Insanity and ChaLean Extreme and ran 8 races (most of the obstacle course races).   I've been busier than I have ever been in my life, doing things I enjoy and meeting some AMAZING people.  I've still had my ups and downs and there are some regrets about not pushing myself as much as I possibly could to reach goals I set for myself. 

 On January 1, I will be starting Chalene Johnson's 30 Day Push Challenge.  This program is about setting goals and priorities and making the life that you dream of.  It is about taking the time to really think about what you want for yourself and taking the steps to make it happen.  I can't wait for this program to start.  I have a REALLY good feeling about what it will do for me. 
 As I sit here writing this, I am PROMISING myself and everyone reading this that 2013 is Erin Terry's year.  I have 3 fitness goals that I will reach (meet my goal weight of 165, run a competitive heat in an obstacle course race and restart and finish P90X).  But I also have some goals that aren't necessarily fitness related.  I WILL continue to grow my Beachbody business so I can help people like me figure out a better way to live.  I WILL continue to work on expanding my social life instead of waiting for it to come to me.  But most importantly, I will be working on training my mind as hard as I've tried to train my body.  I'm a therapist that works with teenagers and I try to help them change the way they see life so they can be successful and overcome any stressors or hardships.  Well...I haven't been doing the same for myself.  I am easily stressed and let my anxieties and worries get the best of me.  I am far better at this than I was several years ago, but I have a long way to go.  I still have a voice in the back of my head that tells me "you can't do this", "nobody cares", "you are SO gonna mess this up", etc, etc, etc.  I still let that voice rule my life.  By the end of 2013, that voice will be so small that I won't be able to hear it.   I know that I will still have bad days and doubt myself..that is a part of life.  But I WILL NO LONGER ALLOW those bad days and doubts to be WHO I AM.   This will probably be the hardest thing I have ever tried to do, but I WILL DO IT.   So, bring it on 2013, I'm ready for ya!!

As always, thanks for taking the time to read my blog.  If you are interested in joining me on your own journey to a healthy life (physically and mentally), then feel free to comment on this blog or contact me at coacherinterry@gmail.com, erinkterry@hotmail.com, erinkterry@beachbodycoach.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/erin.terry.3956.  Looking forward to hearing from you!

Merry Christmas!!

Early Merry Christmas to everyone!  Hope you all get to spend the holidays with the people you love the most.

This will be a very different Christmas for me this year.  Usually, I splurge and eat anything (and everything) in sight.  I always end up feeling sick and gross because of all the candy and other goodies I overindulged in.  The holidays are a time full of food.  I can remember as a little girl my Grandma Wilma would cover her washer and dryer with a pretty Christmas tablecloth and COVER the top with all the candy she had made.  My favs were Buckeyes (balls of peanut butter dipped in melted chocolate, OMG, they were AMAZING!).  I would spend most of the day when I was little going back and forth to that room to grab as many pieces of candy as I could.   Even after my grandma passed, I still gorged...

 My weight has always been an issue around Christmas.  Some years I would be very excited and would ask for tons of new clothes because I was feeling thin that year.  Others, I spent thinking I didn't deserve cute or pretty clothes because of how fat I had let myself get.  I remember some years that I got clothes that were too small, but my mom would always tell me to keep them and when I lost weight (I've been on and off diets since 5th grade) they would fit.  Sometimes that happened, others, it didn't. 

This year, things will be as they never have been before.  I am starting a new tradition for myself and hope to maintain it for the long term.  I've been on Beachbody's Ultimate Reset, for a week.  It's a cleanse that gets your body back to the way it should function.  I've been eating tons of veggies, fruit, whole grains and proteins.  At this point in the cleanse I am eating a vegetarian diet.  By the end, vegan.   I feel REALLY GOOD!  I have stuck to the plan perfectly and I am happy to say I've lost 8.2 lbs and 6.25 inches.  IN ONE WEEK!!!  I know a lot of it is water weight, but dammit, it's 8lbs in a week!! :) I fully intend to stick to the plan on Christmas day.  There will be no candy, starchy foods filled with butter and no drinking.  I know it will be hard, but I have made a commitment to others and most importantly, myself, that I will see this through. 

I think the most important thing I'm getting from this reset is I am finally learning how to eat.  I know that sounds crazy.  31 years old and doesn't know how to eat...really have you looked in a mirror, pretty sure you know how its done!  What I mean is eating to live, not living to eat.  I have started to feel a shift in my brain over the last almost 8 days.  I have had times when I wanted something sweet or off of the plan, but the craving went away really fast.  I'm trying (and liking) foods I've never had before.  Perfect example...one evening for dinner I had what was called the Roasted Root Medley with Toasted Millet.  WHAT??  Never before would I have even tried something like that, let alone really like it.  I'm noticing the tastes of food like I never have before.  When I eat junk, I just shove it in and don't really pay attention.  On this reset, I literally feel my taste buds changing.  

There are some downsides to the cleanse.  It is pricey and time consuming.  However, what I am gaining from it is worth every penny and every second.  The supplements that come with it don't taste that great, either.  I told one person it tasted like taking a bite out of my front yard!   But....again, I know that the supplements are adding things to my body that have been missing for a long time.  So I chug the green stuff and move on, knowing what it is doing for me.

So again, thanks for reading and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas!!!

If you are interested in learning more about this cleanse or any other Beachbody products or if you need a coach to help you through your journey to a healthy life, feel free to contact me at this blog, erinkterry@hotmail.com, coacherinterry@gmail.com, erinkterry@beachbodycoach.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/erin.terry.3956

Ultimate Reset Day 1

This will be a shorter entry so I can really focus on how I think the Ultimate Reset is changing me and my body next week.  Today is day 1.  So far I've had some really good food.  However, I learned that garlic and cilantro together can make me cry!!  I had a big salad for lunch with things I NEVER eat (peppers, tomatoes, SPROUTS, cucumber, etc).  I didn't chop up the cilantro into small enough pieces and the dressing I made had a bit too much garlic.  Needless, to say I learned my lesson and will adjust next time!!.  I am looking forward to dinner, it sounds really good.  Fish, baby potatoes and fresh asparagus. 

I've done good with cravings today too.  I think it has helped to keep myself busy.  A couple of times I thought a big glass of iced tea or water with Crystal Light would be good, but I refrained and I've only had good 'ole H20 all day.   Thought about sweets earlier too.  Interested to see how this evening will go, 'cause that's usually when the worst cravings are.

So, stay tuned.  Next week, I will have lots of pics to share of meals I've had and will be able to report on one full week of the reset!! If you are interested in the Ultimate Reset, check out this website.
http://www.MyUltimateReset.com/erinkterry

If you are interested in joining me on journey to a healthier life, feel free to contact me at erinkterry@hotmail.com, erinkterry@beachbodycoach.com, coacherinterry@gmail.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/erin.terry.3956

Dreams and New Beginnings

This is my Dream Board for 2013.  I feel a little vulnerable sharing this, but I think it is important.   I think we all have goals and dreams that we keep hidden away because we are afraid of what others will think of us if we let them be known.  This exercise was strongly recommended by one the top coaches in Team Dynasty (my Beachbody team).    I have done one of these before, but for this one, I decided I needed to dig deep and figure out what I REALLY want.  After much thought, the above is what I came up with.  I have printed out several copies and have them hanging around my apartment (and even made it the desktop pic for my laptop).  These are goals and dreams that I know I can accomplish and when met, will change my life.    I REALLY THINK EVERYONE NEEDS A DREAM BOARD.   There are tons of sites, but I made this one on Oprah.com.  It is actually kind of fun to make because you get to mess around with different themes, add pics and make truly your own.  Making a dream board for yourself will help you focus on what you REALLY want in life.  As I've said before, I am a recovering all or nothing thinker ;) and I tend to get overwhelmed when I think about all the things I want to do and accomplish.  This board helps me see it all at once and helps me remember the important things in my life.  Try making one for yourself, you might be surprised at what you come up with. 

As some of you know I have been doing the P90X program.  After much thought, I have decided to put it on hold and focus 100% of my attention on nutrition.  I struggled with feeling like I "failed" P90x.  However, I WILL restart it and FINISH it.    I have worked hard over the last several years to make physical activity a daily part of my life.  I have also worked hard to change my eating habits.  While I have made HUGE STRIDES I still have some work to do.  I want to be at the place where I EAT TO LIVE, rather than LIVE TO EAT.  So...I'm investing 3 weeks to the Beachbody Ultimate Reset.  I will be taking these 21 days to learn how to eat and feed my body with the nutrition it needs.  It feels very strange to say that I am going to learn how to eat, but truthfully, I still struggle with making good choices and still use food as a coping skill rather than fuel for my body.  I am making this commitment and will be starting next Sunday.  Yes, that is right, I will be on a strict cleanse over Christmas and New Year's.  No holiday candy, fancy Christmas dinner or drinks on New Year's.  Someone asked if I should wait until the new year to start.  I seriously considered it.  However, I have been waiting for my life to be what I want it to be for way too long.  I can sacrifice one Christmas dinner and one night of drinking if it will get me closer to my goals.  I am nervous, but I owe this to myself.  I  have been on this journey for 4 or 5 years now.    I know to stay fit, this will have to be a lifelong, lifestyle change.  I'm ready for that.  I think I've proved how badly I want this over the last few years.   But, I am ready to cross the "finish line" and be at my goal weight.   I'll keep you posted on how it goes.





If you are interested in learning more about the Ultimate Reset, need an accountability partner or coach, please feel free to respond to this post or contact me at erinkterry@beachbodycoach.com, coacherinterry@gmail.com or erinkterry@hotmail.com.  You can also find me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/erin.terry.3956

TOUGH MUDDER...HOORAH!!!

So this entry will be all about one of the most AMAZING experiences of my life...TOUGH MUDDER!!!  This was my 5th obstacle course race, but this one was by far the best.  It was around 11 miles of running, climbing 200 ft walls (not really, but at the top of those bad boys, it sure seemed like it!!!), jumping into ice baths, climbing through mud, and getting literally electrocuted!!! It was brutal but I have never been so proud of myself and a group of my friends EVER.  TEAM DYNASTY CONQUERED that BEAST of a challenge.  To my partners and teammates, Kris, James and of course Arnel (one of my heroes) and all the other Team Dynasty Mudders...HOORAH!!!  I am so proud to know each and every one of you.  I think each one of us brings something to this team and together, we were unstoppable yesterday!!!

I was terrified that I was going to not make it through.  This race is NO JOKE and I knew it was going to take every ounce of grit I had.  I'm proud to say I was able to keep up with my team and felt SO STRONG the entire time.  I even remember when I saw the mile marker for I think mile 10, I literally got sad because if was almost over.  SERIOUSLY???  We had been out there for around 3 hours.   I wanted MORE.  Don't know if my body could have done more, but my heart wanted more.   As I'm writing this I feel that burn in the back of my throat.  You know the one you get right before you burst into tears?  I've had some definite ups and downs over my journey, but yesterday ranks in the top 5 of my best days ever.  I'm not a religious person at all.  But I know I am exactly where I am supposed to be.   God, the universe or whatever it was, sent me to this amazing team and group of people.  I've only known most of them for about 6 months, but what they have given to me in that short amount of time...I will be forever grateful.  I hope each and every one of you reading this has that kind of support group around you.  It truly is life changing. 

If you are interested in learning more about me, my team or how we train for these BADASS challenges, feel free to contact me at erinkerry@hotmail.com, coacherinterry@gmail.com, erinkterry@beachbodycoach.com or respond to this blog post.  I'm also on facebook at www.facebook.com/erin.terry.3956