My name is Jason Allred and I'm a Coach with Team Beachbody. In January 2010, I went on a journey to live a healthy lifestyle with Beachbody. I loved the process and products so much, I decided to share my experience with others and get a check for doing so. I love what I do and I feel I've found the secret to true happiness. Join me, and you will too!
Join me on my journey and get the kind of results you've always dreamed of! Whether you're just out of shape or really overweight, being a Beachbody Coach is for anyone! Get in the best shape of your life and share it with your friends! You could even make a living at it. It's that simple. To learn more, click on "Become a Coach" below.
I noticed a lot of people are angry and upset today. I wonder if it has to do with the overload of bad food they had yesterday? Yesterday was, of course, Super Bowl Sunday and most of us ate REALLY BADLY. I ate healthy but ate a few, small things I shouldn’t have yesterday, and my mood wasn’t as great as normal.
Bad food definitely has an effect on our seratonin levels, which control how happy we are. A good example is how a car’s engine runs. When you put low grade, crude, dirty gasoline into your engine, you can’t expect it to perform at the top of it’s capabilities. The engine might misfire, ping or just stop working all together. Now when you put premium grade gasoline with engine additives, the engine runs strong, smooth and lasts for a REALLY long time.
Our bodies aren’t that different. When we fuel up on junk, we are crabby, irritable and rather negative people. We see someone who is running on all cylinders and can’t stand the sight of them because we’re so frustrated with ourselves. Unfortunately, we can’t change what kind of fuel someone else fuels up with. We can only change what we put in our tanks.
Are you one of those crabby people today? Do you find yourself saying, “it’s just one of those days” or, “why is the world against me today?” It’s easy to blame the world and everyone else but if you really are ready for a change, it’s time to look in the mirror. My change happened last month and I’ve never looked back. I enjoy the change so much, I’m willing to help others make the change too. But I can’t do it for you. You have to want to make that change. You have to be ready. Are you ready?
We all know that being fit and healthy is something that we should all be and strive for. I think everyone truly knows that! Healthy people are happier, smile more, lead more fulfilling lives and generally have more fun. Have you ever seen someone really mad as they exit the gym after a hard workout? I sure haven’t!
Unhealthy people, on the other hand, are the complete opposite. They’re usually mad at the world, spiteful towards others, bored a lot of the time and depressed. Have you ever noticed how most overweight people are fighting and giving dirty looks to people as they order their double quarter pounder with cheese? (I’m not saying all overweight people are like this. Some are trying to change their lives. Rome wasn’t built in a day. I applaud those people.) So why is it that the latest statistics show two-thirds of our country as being overweight and half of them are in the obese range? Do you think they want to be this way? Do you think they want to be depressed? Does this have to do with the amount of prescription drugs being prescribed going through the roof?
I think many of us think it’s too hard to change our lives. We think health food tastes bad, health food is too expensive or working out is hard. We don’t want to be hungry while being on a “diet.” Many of us see these “challenges” and just give up. We succumb to the tv, wish we were happy and stuff our faces as we say, maybe I’ll start tomorrow… next week… next year… I give up!
I used to see why it is hard to change. Most people don’t like change. They fear it. They are happy in their bubble because they know what is coming next. Change means stepping out into the world of the unknown. It’s a fear and it scares the bleep out of them! I was there at one time. I was the guy on the couch eating chips and cookies. I would have days where I would watch movies all day… and I mean ALL DAY. I would stay on the couch because I wasn’t happy with me.
I always knew I wanted to change. Deep inside, I knew I was a healthier person but I didn’t know how to get there. I didn’t want my kids to grow up with me like that. I didn’t want to get the “beer belly” that is so famous on guys where I live. It was time for a change.
I had been doing a lot of research on what would work for me. I had tried dieting in the past and was hungry a LOT. I had tried workouts in the past but would stop after a few days. I needed something that was full proof and that’s when I heard about P90X. This was a 90 day program that promised major results if I just did it. Every video starts with the quote “Bring It!” and that’s what I did. When you can’t do a move, Tony reminds you that it’s ok… “Just do your best, and forget the rest!” and that’s what I did. This wasn’t one video that I would get tired of, it was something new and exciting every day. I also knew it was for 90 days. This wasn’t forever. I can at least stick to something for 90 days!
The funny thing is, it didn’t take 90 days for me to be committed to a healthier lifestyle. It only took me about two weeks. The great thing about the human body is it’s HIGHLY adaptable! You can go from not exercising for years, like I did, and start to be REALLY fit in a few weeks. Was I sore for the first week? HECK YES! Did I stick with it and the soreness went away? Absolutely! Now I look forward to my workouts! I’m a little tired in the mornings and sometimes don’t feel like doing much for the day but once I do that workout, I’m pumped, energized and ready for the day!
When I started working out, I also went on the meal plan that comes with P90X. The great part about this meal plan is that it’s not your typical “diet.” In fact, they don’t call it that at all. Beachbody teaches you that food is not the enemy. Food doesn’t make you fat. In fact, food is now your fuel. It’s what gives you that energy for an amazing workout and a fantastic day. When you fill your car with gas, would you rather fill it with crude oil or with high octane premium fuel? Which do you think it will run better on? Which do you think will extend its’ lifespan?
Basically, I learned how to take what I was normally eating and substitute it with healthy, delicious alternatives. I didn’t feel deprived at all. In fact, I ate more often on this diet! I ate six times a day; breakfast, lunch, dinner and three snacks. The only thing I needed to really complete my diet was a complete nutrition package. I wasn’t getting that through diet, and it was nearly impossible to do. Luckily, I had heard of Shakeology and did a little research on it and found it to be the perfect solution! It got me totally healthy and picked me up even more in the energy department where I would start to crash later in the day. It’s like drinking ten cups of coffee that last all day, but without any side effects or caffeine!
So what is the point of being fit and healthy? LIFE!!! It is absolutely the secret of life and the fountain of youth! Are you depressed, upset, angry and have bad mood swings? Are your serotonin or hormone levels out of whack? Is something just missing in your life? Do I have your attention, even just a little? If so, do yourself a favor. What is 15 minutes out of your day? If it’s too much, then you’re probably reading the wrong blog. Make sure you have some uninterrupted time to take a look at the videos below. After you’ve watched them, leave a comment on my blog about what you liked best. It’s time to change your life! It’s time to be happy!
This week is my first recovery week. As you know, I’m doing P90X. Basically the way it works is in 3 phases. Each phase is broken up into a month each. The first three weeks of the month are intense, muscle building and fat burning workouts. The fourth week is a recovery week. It is during this week that your muscle tissue repairs itself and gets ready for the coming weeks. The workouts are still really intense, they’re just mostly cardio though.
The weird part about it is that I had my eating plan down. I would eat a big breakfast, workout, have a recovery drink, have lunch, have a protein bar as a snack, have dinner, and have a snack later on. I was always full and a lot of the time, I had a hard time eating all of my calories.
Then recovery week started. I still was eating the same things but my appetite is ramping up more often. I thought, maybe I wasn’t eating enough over the last couple of days, which could be the case, but I also think it’s because I’m burning more calories with these workouts. I’ve been estimating the calories, from my heart rate monitor, to be at 600 – 1000 each day, depending on the exercise!
It seems I need to pay a little more attention to my eating habits. I’ll start tracking exactly what I’m eating over the next few days and see if that resolves my problem. This did start up a day before I started drinking Shakeology, so I know it’s not that.
The good news is that my energy levels are sky high. I could have just finished an intense, hour long workout, and I still have all the energy in the world. I think Shakeology is really doing what it’s supposed to.
When I first ordered P90X, I was pumped up to workout! Like many guys, I thought I could workout so hard, I wouldn’t need to worry so much about diet. When I received the program, one of the first things it said was that nutrition is just as important as fitness. You can get results without following a diet plan, but they won’t be nearly as visible!
At first this put a small wrinkle into my plans. I’ve been on Weight Watchers before and was ALWAYS hungry. Luckily P90X comes with a great nutrition guide. I didn’t have any trouble changing what I ate and I really enjoyed the meals! I was always satisfied and NEVER hungry. There was only one thing missing… I wasn’t really getting the required amounts of vegetables.
I’ve never been very big on veggies. Like so many Americans, I’m a meat and potatoes kind of guy. I do like some veggies but never came close to getting what I needed. After some research, even if I do get all of my veggies in, the nutritional value is sub-par at best. I figured there was no point with the quality of vegetables that can be found at the supermarket today.
It was just at about this time that I learned of Skakeology. It’s 70 ultra-healthy ingredients in one shake! It includes all the veggies, antioxidants, phytonutrients, fiber, prebiotics, digestive enzymes, vitamins and minerals you need for the day. To get the equivalent of all these nutrients by buying the ingredients in the store, it would cost you around $50 per day! That’s just insane! Instead of having to choke all of these things down, I can drink them in a delicious shake! Best of all, it costs less than a Starbucks. I knew there was no other way I would even come close to getting this kind of nutrition elsewhere so I went ahead and ordered it.
Today I received my Shakeology and had my first shake. I’ll be experimenting with different recipes and posting my favorites. I had the shake with some strawberries and bananas today and felt I needed to tweak the recipe a bit but it was still tasty. I don’t know about you, but any time I get a health drink I have to choke it down. This is the first time I could drink one and enjoy it.
I was just thinking about how much the Team Beachbody Super Gym has helped me, so I wanted to share it with you. If you go to teambeachbody.com, you will find a huge array of tools that can help you succeed in your workouts. The first tool is the Super Gym and I use it every day. Here, you can schedule your workouts that you plan on doing and track when you do them. This definitely holds you accountable since you aren’t going to want to look back at the calendar for the month and see a bunch of red highlighted days where you missed your workout. In addition, you can schedule to workout with friends at the same time, check on their progress and go to the Cool Down Chatroom afterwards to chat with others that just finished their workouts! It’s a great motivator! You can track ANY workout here, not just Beachbody workouts, so if you don’t have a Beachbody workout program yet, that’s ok. It’s a free tool for everyone!
Team Beachbody has many more amazing great features! There are thousands of posts in the message boards to help you with any question on nutrition and exercise. There are many fitness tools to help you get the most out of your workouts. You can sign up for newsletters, if you like, to help keep you on track. You can also get together with “workout buddies” to workout together, share tips or just be part of a team. Beachbody is really one of the premiere sites dedicated to helping you get fit and healthy.
These are just the free features and if you want, there are even more in depth options. Personally, I like the personalized menu plans I have access to.
When you sign up on the site, you will be given the option of getting free Coaching. This is like getting your own personal trainer for free! A Coach helps motivate, guide and answer any questions you may have. Since I enjoy helping others get fit so much, I’ve become a Team Beachbody Coach. If you select me as your Coach, I am on board with an amazing team that can help you in any way that you may need! You can find me by username, which is “fitjay” or by my full name of Jason Allred.
If nothing else, the Super Gym and the message boards are a must have so I highly recommend joining the site. I entered in that I am doing P90X and what day I started, and all I have to do is login to my Super Gym each day and it tells me my workouts for the day. I log them and if I have any questions, all of the answers are right there on the message boards.
I hope this inspires you to join the Gym and to join my team! I will help you to be successful in any way I can. This will give you no excuse! Are you tired of always saying you’ll start tomorrow, after the party, after the next holiday or next month? It’s time! Invest in the most important asset in your life, YOU! I’ll see you there.
One more note: Beachbody.com is completely free but you will see some amazing products there. When you’re interested in any of the supplements or workout programs, let me know. I will show you how to get 25% off on all of your purchases. Just shoot me an email at fitjay@beachbodycoach.com and I’ll send you the info.
My goal is to write every day in this blog. I want to offer tips on workouts, nutrition and anything else I can to live a healthier and more fit life. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to do that over the last couple of days because of painting! I promised my wife I would have our kitchen painted before we have a Super Bowl party so I’ve been doing that, pretty much since Sunday.
As you know, I’m doing P90X, one of the most intense workout programs on the market. The funny thing is that I find my workouts to be an escape over the last couple of days! Painting a kitchen takes a TON of time when you have to strip everything out of the area, tape everything, paint the walls, do another coat, tape again for the cabinets, sand them down, paint them a couple of times, drill new knob holes for the cabinets, install knobs, turn off the power to install new outlets and clean up a HUGE mess! A big mess can accumulate over the coarse of three days!
Needless to say, I’m exhausted… not from working out… but from painting. I’m finally done though! Being exhausted, it’s made me REALLY look forward to my shipment of Shakeology that’s coming in the mail. I’ve heard SO many good stories from others that are drinking it! They say it fills in the gaps of what your body is missing from your diet and will give you a major boost of energy. They also say it’s the nutrition in it is like taking five trips to the salad bar! If you know me, I’m not a big veggie person so if this helps me get those in, that’s great! Naturally I can’t wait to try it and I will report back my results here!
Well it’s time to relax for the night. I’ve got The Biggest Loser on tv tonight and a sore back from painting to relieve. I have so much to share on this blog that I’ve learned recently! Stay tuned!
I guess I should start out with a little background on myself and how I came about writing this blog. I am a 29 year old, happily married, father of three. I live in the VERY cold Northern Minnesota. My life has been pretty good. We live in a small town, with a low cost of living, so we’re afforded the ability to focus on family and life a lot more than most people I’ve met. Recently there have been some tragedies in my life, as well as hardships and medical problems. These things, combined with the bitter cold outside, have made life quite stagnant.
I have a great metabolism, or so I thought, and I’ve always been able to eat and do pretty much what I wanted. I’ve been on a diet before so I always knew that if my weight got too high that I could just do that again and lose the weight. I’ve done Weight Watchers, as well as calorie counting and they do work to help you lose weight, so in December, I decided it was time to make a change. My current weight at the time had gotten up to 209 pounds, which is about 30 pounds heavier than I’ve been in the not too distant past. I started using a program on my iPod Touch to track my calories and I lost about 9 pounds in 2 weeks! This was really great, but there was only one downside. I have lost weight like this in the past but still was without energy, completely out of shape and no muscle definition. Besides, I was so unhealthy that I was tired throughout the day and felt like I needed naps.
At that moment I decided I wanted to make a REAL change! I had seen the P90X infomercials in the past, and thought they sounded really good, but just never pulled the trigger. I knew it was what I wanted so I jumped online and ordered it from their website. I was really excited and tracked the UPS order online impatiently until it arrived!
It was finally here!!! I could start! Well, I thought I could. I read the materials and one thing that the nutritional information said was that if you don’t follow the diet, you won’t get the results like you should. I knew I didn’t have the right ingredients to start eating healthy so I waited another day. The next day came and after breakfast, I just decided there was going to be NO MORE EXCUSES! I started that day and went to the grocery store later in the day, after I did my first workout.
Day One: BRUTAL!!! Can you say COMPLETELY EXHAUSTED? I knew I was out of shape but never realized how badly. That workout kicked my butt and that was just a strength training day! I still felt ok since I was hyped up on adrenaline, but I didn’t realize how hard that day was until day two…
Day Two: I woke up on day two, COMPLETELY feeling day one. I was sore from head to toe! Wow was I out of shape! Even with the soreness, I loosened up and did the day two workout. It was the hardest cardio workout I’ve ever done! I was TOTALLY EXHAUSTED and the dvd said I had 33 minutes to go! How was I going to make it through? I kept pushing and pushing and made it through, though and realized I could do any of the exercises. When you hear Tony say, “Just do your best and forget the rest,” then you know to just do what you can.
I was sore ALL OVER during that first week but after it was over, I noticed a lot of the soreness was going away. During week two I started getting more energized! I realized I was doing more reps, with heavier weights already! This was exciting!
Currently I’m in week three. I know it sounds crazy but I already feel like my body is changing. I can feel muscles popping out and I’m pretty sure my jeans are getting looser. I haven’t measured yet but I will at the 30 day mark. I’ll post pictures at that time too. The amount I can do in workouts keeps getting better and better and I have tons more energy!
Instead of wanting to just get in shape, I’ve changed my goal to getting totally healthy and ripped in just 90 days. I don’t know how the results will turn out but I’m going to journal everything along the way on this blog. I’ll do this through P90X and if I inspire others along the way, that would be great. This blog is about that progress as well as anything else I want to post on what’s going on in my life. If you find it interesting, come back often! You can get notified on when I update by following my blog from the widget on the right. If you’re reading this anywhere other than http://www.fitjay.com please come over to my blog and follow me there.
For more information on P90X or any other Beachbody products, check out my Team Beachbody Profile page here. This is where I track my workouts, but it has all of the information on P90X.
