Category: Health

Solutions Not Resolutions

It’s been a minute since I have started a fitness/health/wellness program in the new year and failed at it or quit. I am not saying I have never but as of last 10 years or so I have not. As I coach, mentor, train, and support others through their own journeys the following is some of the plan and vision I give myself and others before starting.

Feel free to email me or message me on my social media with any questions as I am happy to answer in an email or voice note you back.

SOLUTION SUCCESS WITH YOUR WELLNESS PLAN

Define your Goal:
What do you really want to achieve. Take the time to be honest with yourself.

What will you need to achieve it?
Rank These
Fun
Results
Easy to follow system
Budget
Community
Time (a day, a week, a month – total time it will take)

Achieving Your Goals
How important are these 3 things?
Which ones are more important than others?
1. Internal Drivers – Tolerance & Motive
2. External Drivers – Social & Accountability
3. Health Drivers – Mind & Body

Knowing what actually drives you and what you are willing to do to achieve your goals will help you achieve the success you want with your wellness.

Knowing and defining exactly what you goal is will help you be more successful

Set goals with proper expectations: they should be challenging but attainable

– Most people set goals that only involve the big picture and get overwhelmed. Majority of the time this create massive stress and high failure/quitting rate. The final goal is best handled for success when it is broken down by week, then weeks and months.

I suggest you set a goal with an expectation that fits the plan that will most likely produce results. This will involve you choosing a plan you can be consistent with. Not one you will grow to despise.

However if you are person you loves a challenge – challenge yourself.

For whatever reason there is a tendency for people that set goals in health and wellness to look for reason to stop a plan rather than stay on one. Be aware of this before beginning.

The System aka YOUR PLAN

My advice is to take your time in the selection process of which plan and system you will follow to achieve your goal. Keeping on mind the points above.

A great plan is not a great plan if you require fun and it is not fun at all.
A great plan is not a great plan if you require an simple plan to follow and its complicated
A great plan is not a great plan if you require results and it does not produce them

I think you understand what I am getting at.

Your job is to be a fact finder and a question seeker. I would start with finding people who were in the current place you are now and have gotten the success you want.
What did you do?
How long did it take?
What was the hardest part?
What did you struggle with most?
Why would you say the program worked?
How much do you think it costs, food, supplements, time? Let them know youa re trying to put together a budget.
Did they have any injuries or limitations?

Now don’t forget this – It is your first job to do some research and work, just popping u pin a DM is not going to get you a valuable response, if any. – people’s time is valuable. Be kind and courteous, especially if you are even consider purchasing from them. And if you are not – follow on their social media and repay by being an active supportive interactive follower.

There are plenty of blogs, YouTube videos etc out there. Find someone credible, certifications, accreditations, testimonials, how do they communicate? Vague or with specifics? Do the walk the talk or are they telling you do something while do another?

Someone that has a lifestyle you approve of. I look up any one I want to work with across all platforms to get a good feel for them, their products and services. Someone leveraged too much might not be the flexibility you need, not many people count everything always, not have an off plan meals, are constantly hyper fit. A system or plan from an over committed expert may prove to be more unattainable and damaging in the long wrong as well as a waste of money. For those that need an expert; go with one, all others will frustrate you – just please be coachable. Remember who the expert is.

Last tip: be weary of trends. Trends are like emotions they disappear as quickly as they appeared, leaving you without money and empty and looking for the next one. Science always wins.

We all have an identity that we created. You have to ability to change where you are to where you want to be.
Bring the healthy visions you have of yourself into reality.

From Thoughts to Action To Life

Giving Your Healthy Visions Life = FIT IDENTITY

Thoughts for You – Ending 2022

Helpful Thoughts and Reflections From 2022

It’s the end of year, 365 days ago we started out a new year with a new opportunities, a blank slate an entire year to create, fail. learn and have fun. Below I put together some of the thoughts I had at random times through out the year. I suppose as you read through some will hit harder as some will mean nothing at all.

Here is to hoping some help, some will make you laugh and some will not hurt too much.

My Random Thoughts and Reflections(2022)

I have been writing these things down randomly that I learned and witnessed in 2022 
Thought I would share for your benefit 
I can’t promise they are all good ones though 

– Don’t hold yourself accountable to people who don’t pick up the phone for you
– People have moral high grounds that pertain to you not them
– Friendship is a two way street
– Forgive, you can not get back lost time
– Take more risk
– Action is something taken, not spoke of
– Less consumption more action
– Stay far away from people that hold you to a standard higher then they hold themselves
– If you are good at something accept you will be copied or duplicated and not thanked
– Imitation is the highest form of flattery, its also the sign of a follower not a leader
– Build bonds not brands: too many people building brands without a single bond
– Orators over customers
– People with excuses will never blame themselves
– Anyone who says “I know” was never listening and deserves to be punched in the face – they did not know, they just wanted you to shut up
– Don’t wait for others to do something you can do yourself
– Complaining never solves anything
– Be happy for other people’s success and happiness
– I always have a choice
– I envy people who can put themselves first
– I don’t care about your views – just don’t push them on me. I push back
– Health is not to be taken lightly
– I don’t take friendship or loyalty lightly
– Love can evolve, it’s not going to stay the same. Doesn’t mean you love less, just differently
– The sun is guaranteed to to come up tomorrow, with or without you
– People are too soft
– Fedex, ups, usps, etc is not going to deliver you your success, happiness, wellness, fulfillment or enjoyment.
– Its ok to be single
– Anyone who picks up a phone when you are talking to them doesn’t value what you have to say, please walk away. Set the set standard
– I’m not an affirmation factory. I am the honest factory
– People that tell you they think you often but don’t call – are calling someone other people.
– Stay honest to who you are, what you represent.
– You don’t have to help everyone or add to every environment
– If you care about someone: LISTEN TO THEM
– Don’t put your expectations on others, they will not live up to them, nor do they have to
– Everyone is selfish – just except it
– People who run companies; run companies, not your life. Its the company first then you
– Watch people’s actions, words are deceptive
– Learn to stop opportunists
– It’s ok to disagree with people. What’s not ok is too always disagree
– If you re in business with someone – Its business, not friendship. Business decisions will be handled for the most part by business standards. Friendship is handled by different standards.
– Many people are strategists, and have alternative motives. Guard yourself
– Beware of people and their feelings because it matters, they matter
– A posers biggest fear is being found out. They often give vague answers or attack and tell you what to do
– Evangelist marketing prays on and sells hope – not products
– No one wants to feel excluded
– You cant make anyone do anything, you can provide support and guidance, what they do with it is up to them
– People expect everything for free. Doesn’t mean you have to provide it for free
– Not everyone is a bad person
– People need help, not all help is free, some is, some is not
– Most ungrateful people are upset at themselves and their environment not at you
– When it comes to money people will do shady things
– Online is: Content – Gap – Content – Its amazing what other people can make up to fill in the GAPS.
– Money doesn’t lower people’s values and character, people do that on their own
– Everyone is not suppose to like you
– Anyone buying your products and services has a story. You will contribute to that story whether you want to or not.
– People will dislike you and not even know you
– The only way to have good people in your life is be one
– Fear is being afraid of the outcome, not being afraid of actually doing what needs to be done
– Stop pretending to like people you don’t – there is a reason you don’t like them 
– Experts are people who are passionate and tell you what you should be doing. Experienced people explain to you what you could do.
– You will not be rewarded for what you did not do – Get to doing
– If you don’t mean it, don’t send it
– You can make great content, control how you send it, you can not control how it gets received. That is a reflection of them
– Change your beliefs, raise your standards, use good systems

Any of these hit home? Have any to add?

We all have an identity that we created. You have to ability to change where you are to where you want to be.
Bring the healthy visions you have of yourself into reality.

From Thoughts To Action To Life

Giving Your Healthy Visions Life = FIT IDENTITY

How to Be More Consistent With Your Health During the Holidays

Be More Consistent With
Your Health During the Holidays

I wanted to share as I wondered the same thing as I sat with a feeling. I just came off being sick. Sick for several weeks. Exhausted and tired, I had a fever, then bronchitis symptoms, adding in sore throat, more coughing, and more phlegm, and it stuck with me for weeks. But I got better once I saw the Dr, and she yelled at me for having it go “untreated for weeks” – I just hoped it would go away, ha, I guess not. I did not know what the feeling was. Still, I was not in my standard headspace, feeling inspired, lacking motivation, and frankly, I had zero motivation towards anything—basically, lacking consistency.

I talked to a friend who explained this feeling is quite normal at this time of year. You might be feeling this way too. I know I am. Year-end brings on a ton of known and unknown emotions. During this time of year, we experience the emotions of closing out a year. We look back on what we did or did not accomplish, whether it was a good or tough year, all the events the year contained and did not contain, along with the entire year’s emotions. All while a new year, new opportunities, vision, strategies, plans, and the pressure to successfully plan and kick off the new year (correctly). At the same time, balance everything that goes along with the holidays, shopping, parties, traveling, expenses, and closing out year-end finances. That’s enough to make anyone confused, stressed, numb, and inconsistent without understanding the why or how.

For whatever reason, that is me this year, all of it. I am trying to find consistency for my health in the chaos, and I wanted to share some of the things I am doing/using to manage the year’s end and my health in hopes if you are feeling the same, it helps you too.

My Core 10 For Consistency

1. Making sure I recognize the place I am in and giving the conversation with my friend value. It’s an honest admit.

2. Picking a process, habit, or pattern that doesn’t set me up for failure. I am not doing anything too difficult to stick to. Something too tough this time of the year only adds stress and has a high risk of failure. I don’t need a momentum stopper.

3. I am accountable to only myself. If I give my word, I honor it. My father told me two of the things no one can take from you are your education/experiences and your word. They are a piece of your identity and character. When it comes to your word, only you can give it up. Under no circumstances are you to give up your word; that will change your character.

4. Do Enough. Do not do too little or too much, do enough. That pertains to my nutrition, my workouts and anything for that matter. Too much and too little will add stress and create patterns/results that must be undone or corrected. That is not the way to end and go into a new year. Do enough for me, not what others are doing, but what I need to do specifically for ME.

5. Mindset: I am different and a leader. Because others are doing it doesn’t mean I need to be. I have my own standards by which I live. I stand out more because I concentrate on what is important to me rather than fitting in.

6. Control what I can control. Commit to thinking positive thoughts. Immediately catching negative thoughts and making them positive, eating to create results; negative or positive, and moving to stay strong and healthy.

7. Commit to 8,000 steps daily and 4 to 5 workouts weekly-not high stress workouts. I want to feel good about completing them rather than annoyed to start. Any workouts-I am doing total body workouts and some spinning. I am not on a plan.

8. Make an effort to deepen relationships that are important to me, that help build the momentum of positive energy and focus on the habits as well as patterns that are important to me.

9. When in doubt about my food, choose a single ingredient to eat.

10. Don’t be weak. Don’t complain and handle the end of the year like a champion. I understand no one will do anything for me. I know what I need to do-do it. Take action-move on. Inconsistency is an act of weakness, not strength. Be strong.

As you close out your year, while chaos surrounds you, have success in your search for consistency to your wellness fulfillment. Don’t be too rough on yourself; we are all in the same boat; managing year-end chaos while trying to have some level of a Fit Identity.

3 Major Ways to Prevent Cravings

People with all of the discipline in the world can sometimes be out-powered by their cravings. This is why it is important to understand why you crave certain foods and what you can do to prevent them or manage them when they do occur. This will help set you up for a more successful journey to optimal health and wellness.

Here are 3 major ways to prevent cravings

Stay Hydrated

If your body is in a dehydrated state you could be craving food when you’re not hungry, especially sweets. How can you tell if you’re dehydrated? Very simply, if your urine is yellow you’re on your way to dehydration. The clearer it is the more hydrated you are. Drink about half of your body weight in ounces every day and more if you workout hard and sweat a lot. Therefore, if you weigh 200 pounds, you should be drinking about 100 ounces of water daily.

Balance Out Your Gut Flora

In our guts we have good and bad bacteria, both of which we need, but the balance of the two dictates the health of our digestive tract. With years of eating processed foods, foods filled with sugars and foods that immediately turn into sugar when we start to digest them like breads, cookies, and alcohol, the bad bacteria start to overcome the good bacteria. When this imbalance occurs, sweet cravings ensue. This is because those bad bacteria literally feed off of sugar.

To start, remove most processed sugars from your diet. Then start to add fermented foods to replace probiotics, healthy bacteria. These foods include tempeh, miso, sauerkraut, pickled veggies, kefir, and Greek yogurt. Figure out what sensation you are craving and find a healthier option.

Are You Craving Crunchy Foods?

Maybe you are stressed and could use another outlet? Or try chewing on foods like celery or baby carrots versus chips or pretzels to get that crunchy sensation.

Are You Craving Sweet Foods?

Cookies, ice cream and candy are filled with sugar and will send your blood sugar on a roller coaster ride. Instead, eat fruit filled with fiber to slow down the insulin response. Berries are a great option because of their low glycemic properties. You can also try eating roasted root veggies, like sweet potatoes or carrots and sprinkling them with cinnamon to bring out their sweet flavor. Sometimes having a cup of herbal tea with a spoonful of raw honey is sweet enough to do the trick as well.

Are You Craving Salty Foods?

Processed chips and salty junk foods are loaded with sodium, unhealthy fats and artificial colorings. Kale chips are a great alternative and you control the salt that goes on them. Seaweed snacks are another great option and they also have a healthy dose of thyroid helping iodine.

Healthy Detox Options

Detoxing your diet can be beneficial to increasing your energy, release water retention, increasing your quality of sleep and even help you kick-start a weight loss program. Below are eight steps to creating your own healthy detox.

Remove processed sugar

If you can do this one not-so-simple step, your body will benefit more than any of the others. Sugar ruins the body in so many ways like zapping your energy, robbing you of minerals and creating AGE’s (Advanced Glycation Endproducts) which damage collagen fibers and lead to less elastic skin.

Quit alcohol

Taking time off alcohol helps lower acidity in the body, curb cravings and will increase your energy, especially in the mornings and lead to a more productive day.

Avoid caffeinated drinks

Caffeine from excess coffee, soda and “energy drinks” can wear on our adrenal glands and set you us for adrenal exhaustion. If you are addicted to caffeine and can’t go a day without it without experiencing fatigue or headaches, then it’s definitely time for a break. Stimulants place a demand on the adrenals and therefore cause the production of the stress hormone cortisol. Increase levels of cortisol lead to poor sleep quality and the accumulation of body fat. Drink more pure water instead.

Remove dairy

Dairy causes excess mucus in the body and for that reason should never be consumed when someone is sick. Remove it from your diet for the length of your detox and see how your body responds.

Remove wheat

Like dairy, many people have intolerances to it. Not to mention the foods made from it are usually high on the glycemic index and should be reduced anyway, like bread, pasta, pastries, boxed cereals, cookies, etc. Replace wheat with whole grains like quinoa, brown rice, oats, faro or barley and eat them in moderation.

Go meat-free

All meat is acid-forming in the body and takes a lot of energy to digest. By going meat-free not only will you free up that energy, you will do your share of helping out the planet too.

Eat more raw foods

Raw foods have not been cooked over 118 degrees Fahrenheit, and their live enzymes help you digest food. We also make digestive enzymes but when we eat foods that contain them we get to free up the energy that our bodies usually have to use when digesting cooked and processed foods.

Add vegetable juices

Add a green juice to your daily routine. Foods like cucumber, kale, broccoli, and celery are great alkaline-forming foods to use as bases for juices. Be careful not to use too much fruit. The point is to cut back on sugar.

Sweet Potato Salad

Sweet Potatoes are one of those staples that can be made in so many ways. One of those ways is to add it to your salad. Warm sweet potatoes give the salad a crunch along with the combo of green apples and pumpkin seeds. This salad is a great fall dish you can add anytime of the day!

Note: Avoid over cooking your sweet potatoes by cooking them at 450 for about 30 to 35 minutes. Its best to test them by piercing the sweet potato with a fork.

Ingredients

1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1½ tsp. red wine vinegar
1 tsp. fresh lemon juice
½ tsp. raw honey (or pure maple syrup)
1 dash Himalayan salt (or sea salt)
1 tsp. chopped fresh herbs (like basil, oregano or parsley) (to taste; optional)
1 medium baked sweet potato, peeled and cut into ½-inch cubes
1 medium green apple, diced
½ medium red bell pepper, diced
1 stalk green onion, finely sliced
2 Tbsp. fresh cilantro, finely chopped
4 cups fresh arugula
2 Tbsp. pumpkin seed kernels, toasted (or chopped raw walnuts)

Instructions

Combine oil, vinegar, lemon juice, honey, salt, and herbs (if desired) in a medium bowl; whisk to blend. Set aside.
Combine sweet potato, apple, bell pepper, onion, and cilantro in a large bowl; mix well.
Drizzle dressing over sweet potato mixture; toss gently to blend.
Place even amounts of arugula on two serving plates; top each with sweet potato mixture and sprinkle with pumpkin seeds.

Meditation

Chaos, stress, craziness. You have it, So do I. 

At one point it was far too much for me to handle. Not that I did not think I was handling it, which I thought I was, my body reminded that I was not. I found myself in the living room one night watching preseason football years ago with a small pain in my left arm. That pain seemed to not go away and draw more of my attention. I noticed I was starting to have a shortness of breath, clammy pins and needles like hands, unable to focus and tunnel vision which lead to pulling the medicine cabinet off the wall hunting for aspirin and passing out. Which you guessed it landed me in the hospital for an evaluation for possible heart-attack or stroke. 

Luckily for me, none had happened and after months of tests, MRIs, and countless blood tests with amazing physicians and nutritionists they could not find a single thing wrong.

 Each doctor said the same thing to me: 

“You are one of the healthiest patients I have seen. It’s rare to see someone with such great test results. But I  got to ask one thing, how is everything else in your life? Do you have any stress?”

I knew what they were asking, and what they were suggesting. These episodes were stress induced, anxiety and panic attacks.  Each time I lied to them and said, I was fine. As they then said I could prescribe to you a low dose of… I RESISTED! 

If you know me, you know I am a control freak, Its’ why I never got into drugs. I can’t imagine not being in control or worse becoming addicted to one. I wanted nothing to do with their suggestion of a low dose of feel good, mask the problem or symptom control your thoughts pill. NOTHING!  

For some these medications are essential and work wonders.   For me it was a hard NO.

Unfortunately, I continued to have a few episodes, one on a plane, which I thought I was going to die and divert the plane, another at a celebrity client’s new house party, in Vegas at a club, in the gym, and at a music concert. They were not stopping. 

My first steps to fix it was to control what I could. After the first one, I went vegan, stopped eating sugar and quit alcohol all in the same day which lasted for 2 years. It’s amazing what you will do when your health and life are involved. As you can see it did not work. 

Six months into my quit everything found out what’s wrong because the Doctors were not finding any answers to why I was going through these episodes, I had one other thing I had not attempted: Meditation.   I was fully against sitting legs crossed, fingers and thumbs together saying ohhhmmmm to fix my shit stuff. Let alone adding in some incense of lord knows what burning in a room of other people or even in my own home.   Was not happening – BUT again it’s amazing what you will do when your health and life depends on it. 

Ok I will give it a shot, anything to do away with having an episode. 

What I found was I was not admitting to myself; I was a mess. 

I was underperforming in my business, my finances and in my personal life. No goal was getting met and I was barely holding it together. I was in chaos 24/7. Basically, the control freak was not in any type of control.

What I found is I was waking up into a world I had no control over, where the world was existing, moving, causing havoc and thriving without me for the hours while I slept. My chaos was meeting chaos head on all day every day.

Which meant, the world was in motion, while I laid motionless. I needed to enter the day on my terms not on the world’s terms. With a good mindset, a prepared mind, not a stressful chaotic one. In the past I was entering a world where garbage has been picked up, people where driving to work, jogging, there are traffic reports, news happens and people are already sending me messages; email, text, social media. I was always at 100 mph, entering a world in the fast lane and getting nowhere.

When I should be entering from an on ramp I choose, on my terms, at the time I choose at a safe speed. What I learned when I began this process was, If I do not begin to set my mind right, I will be meeting chaos with chaos producing chaos. Rather than entering the world’s chaos clearly and in control. 

What I found was subconsciously I was thinking about the chaos that was waiting for me to enter when I woke. What I needed to do was to set my mind up to receive the day, to be focused and to achieve my goals. By doing so I would help me manage episodes and achieve success. Rather than waking up into chaos and entering the world, my goal was to wake up and empty my mind, then and only then could I be in a position to benefit in my health and my life. 

The only way I could be empty was to have ME TIME: time dedicated to calming myself, consciously detaching from the world. Simply put, I needed to mediate. I began to meditate for 10 mins. Yes, just 10 mins to start. Asking a dude, a non-believing DUDE to meditate for me was like asking me to shop instead of going to drive fast cars. 

How did I go and how did I do it? 

I started small and with no expectation. I set up a quiet place for me to lay down on the floor, the night before. This means a place with the least sounds you don’t want to be distracted. I even have a pillow for my head and place my hands and feet would touch nothing. No distractions were key. Even though I said I had them, I learned it’s all part of the process of getting better at meditating. It was rough at first, I thought of everything and anything the 10. Min timer would go off before I knew it. 

Each day I got better. I began to learn to breathe. In on 1 out on 2. All the way to 10 and then back down over and over. IF I ever got lost in count or my mind wandered, I would just restart the count. No harm no foul. 

I began to feel better, I also started trying additional steps to develop a morning routine. Affirmations, journaling, cold showers, visualizations and more to see what worked and fit in my routine. Eventually I came up with a routine that worked for me. That supercharged my day, my goals and my life not to mention I never had another episode. 

Do I meditate every day now? No, only when I feel out of control, unfocused or in a push phase. I use it as a valuable tool to stay in control in our daily chaotic world.

Do I suggest it? 

Yep, especially to lose that lack of control, have goals, are feeling stuck or unfocused. 

Spicy Butternut Squash Soup

School is in session and the cooler weather is starting to roll in. This is a great recipe to make in bulk for lunches or quick dinner options!

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil
3 medium onions, chopped
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 medium butternut squash, peeled + seeded, cut into 1-inch pieces
5½ cups low-sodium organic vegetable broth
1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
3 fresh thyme sprigs, leaves removed and chopped, stem discarded (divided use)
6 tsp reduced-fat (2%) plain yogurt

Instructions

Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat.
Add onions; cook, stirring frequently, for 8-10 minutes or until the onion is translucent.
Add garlic and cook, stirring frequently, for 1 minute.
Add squash, broth, and red pepper flakes; bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and gently boil, covered, for 25-30 minutes or until squash is soft. Remove from heat.
Place soup in a blender or food processor in 4 or more batches, as necessary; cover with lid and kitchen towel. Blend until smooth.
Return soup to saucepan over medium heat. Add 1 tsp thyme and cook, stirring constantly, until soup is hot.
Season with salt and pepper if desired.
Ladle soup into 6 serving bowls. Garnish each with 1 tsp yogurt and sprinkle all bowls with remaining 2 tsp of thyme.

Makes 6 servings.

Portion Fix Containers: 3 Green, 1 tsp.

2B Mindset Plate It: A great FFC as part of lunch

You Have to Start Somewhere

It’s got to start somewhere and someday.

It starts this week.

It starts today.

It’s starts with a cast on.

It’s starts smaller weights.

It starts with mobility.

It starts with feeling weak.

It starts with being out of shape.

It starts with feeling tight.

It starts with self judgement.

It starts with inability.

It starts with frustration.

It starts…

It starts by being focused

It starts by showing up.

It starts when you get out your way.

It starts when you believe in yourself.

It has to start in order to get better.

For me: it starts today – welcome back to doing some strength training, core and mobility.

I have had sooooooo many messages of do upper body.

I’d just like to clarify. Workouts are TRAMA to the body, not a participant muscle but to the body. I did not need additional stress on my body as it repaired.

A body at rest has its highest ability to repair. I was resting, recovering and repairing. Also my ankle required constant elevation to to reduce swelling, chance of infection and heal quicker. ANY workouts would not have allowed for this.

The goal was to comeback to be bigger, stronger, faster and champion life over and over- not win at proving I was the fastest at recovering or tough enough to push through and workout while with a cast – those things are check points not the destination.

For now it will be all functional movements for upper body strength and core.

It starts when you start.

It continues as you show up.

You are start too, you can even join me if you need my support, lord knows I probably could use yours.

How to Take Your “Before” and “After” Photos

FIRST LETS TAKE MEASUREMENTS!

You’re about to embark upon a journey that will change your body and your life, and nothing captures the results of this experience (at least the visible part of it!) quite like a set of “before” and “after” photos.

Whether you just want to keep them as a personal reminder of how far you’ve come, or if you want to shout it from a mountain and share your story with the world, prepare to get your Ph.D. in transformation photography!

Camera, Photographer, and Location

It’s best to use a digital camera so you can take high-resolution photos.

If you have a camera tripod or something similar, that’s great; otherwise, try and get someone (perhaps a Challenge Group friend?!) to take your photos — don’t worry, they don’t have to be a pro photographer!

Choose a well-lit area in front of a plain wall or door. The less clutter in the background, the more attention on you and your transformation.

Dress Code

A swimsuit or form-fitting workout clothes work best. You should show as much of your body as you’re comfortable with, but please keep it appropriate for public consumption.

You might be tempted to take your transformation photos in your undies; after all, they cover the same amount of skin as a swimsuit, right? True, but would you wear your undies out in public? Probably not.

Photo Composition

Take high-resolution full-body photos — or at least from head to hip — and make sure your face is clearly visible.

Try to take the photos from different angles, i.e. a front view and a side view. And remember to include your face in the photos so that we can easily identify you! Make sure each photo doesn’t exceed 20 MB.

Whatever you do, consistency is key! Ideally, your “before” and “after” photos will show you doing the same poses, wearing the same clothes, in the same place both before and after your transformation. That way, your body is the only thing we see changing.

And don’t “suck it in” or “push it out” — just flex if you feel good and let us see the REAL YOU!

Timing

Make sure to take the photos at the beginning, during, and end of your program so that when you’re done you can submit your photos to the Beachbody Challenge for a chance to win big cash prizes.

If you’re doing a 90-day program, for example, you could take photos on Day 1, and then again every 30 days thereafter (on Days 30, 60, and 90) until you’re done.

To qualify for the Beachbody Challenge, send single unedited photos — please don’t submit collages, altered, or Photoshopped photos; even adding filters is a no-no!

Here are some examples of good “before” and “after” photos:

Once you’ve completed at least one Beachbody program and you’re ready to share your “Before” and “After” photos, enter and submit your results to the Beachbody Challenge Contest.

We’ll send you a free gift (while supplies last), and you’ll be entered for a chance to win big cash prizes!