Just to Clear Things Up

We live in a world full of opinions, misunderstandings, misrepresentation, and a bunch of multi-level companies. We all have that friend that blows up your Facebook feed about their awesome products and how much they love working from home on their own schedule. I am that friend. I know! I totally am! And I have tried my darndest not to be too annoying, really I have. But I have heard and seen things that made me want to explain a little bit.

The other day I was with my children at the library and I overheard two women discussing health and fitness. I tried not to listen in on their conversation, but they were sitting literally two feet away from me and speaking quite loudly. It's cool.

One was a personal trainer at a local gym and the other was a nutritionist. They were talking about how hard it is to motivate people to make healthy changes and to really convert to a healthier lifestyle. The personal trainer expressed how she has to explain to her clients on a daily basis, that she can only give them the tools they need to get the results they want. She can't physically make them do anything.

The nutritionist expressed the same concern. She can help people recognize the foods and portions they need to eat to obtain a healthy weight, but she can't prevent them from binging on donuts and cake. To both of them, it almost seemed impossible to really make a difference that would be long lasting for their clients.

I completely understood where they were coming from. I have been that client. I have been that person that has met with a personal trainer. I have been that person that was consulted by a nutritionist/dietician. I have also been that person that listened to what they taught me, then went to the store to buy food to indulge in and chose not to work out. I have been that client that failed them. It's nothing new. We all know that being healthy isn't quite as easy as we expect it will when we make our New Year's Resolutions.

But then they both got a little fired up about this whole "Beachbody business." One of them said "They drink this special shake that is supposed to make all of their weight drop off and it's pretty much a cure-all. Of course that can't be the case!" "And to really stay motivated to workout at home? Give me a break!" the other said.

I almost defended it. Almost. But then I chickened out. I wish I wouldn't have. I wish I would have said:

"Actually, the 21 Day Fix is a clean eating, healthy portion-size meal plan that encourages adequate hydration and conscientious eating. Shakeology is a nutrient dense protein powder that tastes great and helps you manage your cravings. Not only that, it helps to regulate your digestion and gives you lots of vitamins and nutrients. It's not a cure-all, just something that helps you to stay on plan. It's not the end-all be-all magic pill that makes the weight fall off. And the variety of workouts you have access to helps to keep your workout routine new and challenging. And the best thing about Beachbody is the opportunity to coach. It provides accountability and a enormous support group of people trying to be healthier and trying to help others on the same journey."

I will say, that I have fallen off many wagons in the past and I can't quite put my finger as to why. Maybe I wasn't motivated enough. Maybe I just didn't want it enough. But I do know that being a coach has given me the accountability I needed to stay on track. I still eat delicious, "unhealthy" food. I still eat out and enjoy treats. I still miss days of working out, but for the first time since high school, I have stuck with the same thing for more than three months and I feel hopeful that I can stay on track.

I don't want to seem like I am on my soapbox and I would never say that I know more than those women who studied and have ample knowledge in their respective fields. Believe me, I will not die for Beachbody. I would die for my children, my husband and to defend my beliefs, but I wouldn't die for Beachbody. It's not perfect for everyone and it honestly probably isn't a good fit for a bunch of people, but it is a good fit for me and it has helped me to change into more of the person I would like to be.

Say what you will about the multi-level marketing that is happening on your news feed. I promise I get it! I have a million friends who are Beachbody coaches, Younique reps, IT Works reps, LulaRoe reps, so on and so forth. I see their feeds too! And it's cool. We are all trying to succeed at different things and doing whatever we can to make things happen for ourselves and our families. We are progressing in some way and that is amazing!