If you have noticed, I have not been blogging alot as of late. That is because I have been busy completely revamping this community.

 Background

When I started my journey back in December 2009, I had no foresight into what impact it would have on me. Similarly, when I started coaching in November 2010, I looked at it as a casual hobby. When i was thinking up a team name, I thought about the Van Halen song that motivated me through the first 90 days, “Right Now”. So I created my 1 year transformation around that song.

Why Change?

As my focus has become more and more on the coaching aspect, I want to create a different kind of community. And I could not get the word “Thrive” out of my head. Days and weeks went by and just would not go away. So I knew this was the right name. And it was the theme that I wanted to embody us.

Stop Surviving. Start Thriving. 

 What Now?

I am in the process of bringing up our new website. So I am not ready to unveil it yet. Everything else remains the same and Mike is still here as he has always been!

I am excited to bring you my new vision, so stay tuned as I will be unveiling our new website shortly!!

JANUARY 7, 2013

What is the “Thrive in 2013″ Challenge?

This is not your run of the mill challenge. This is a true solution to being healthy and fit! And this will be the start of a lifelong journey no matter where you are today. The key is to START!

FITNESS + NUTRITION + SUPPORT

Take a look at the video to learn more about what this challenge! And…in case you haven’t guessed it…I am your coach.

Why use Beachbody Products for the Challenge?

You may or may not have heard of Beachbody. But you probably have heard of P90X and Insanity. Beachbody is a $600+MM company who produces the top fitness programs in America, along with world class nutrition. Additionally, they have over 94,000 (and growing) coaches who help people like you everyday.

Beachbody has a vast catalog of workouts that range from the beginner level to the extreme. However, what is most important about these programs is nutrition. This is the life changer. And this is where we need support the most.

Shakeology will be a critical tool that we will use to help you along your nutritional journey. It will be 1 of your 5 meals everyday. Here is a great video that talks about the 70+ ingredients in Shakeology, including many of the amazing superfoods from around the world.

Where will the Challenge Take Place?

When I decided to start my journey back on December 20, 2009, I was doing alot of International travel for my job. And I know many of you travel alot as well. Well, here is the great news. These programs can be taken anywhere you are. I got very creative at rearranging my hotel rooms.

You are all very busy people. In order for something to be sustainable in the long term, you need it to be convenient. And you can’t get more convenient than your family room, basement, hotel room, or wherever you are. You do not need alot of space and you do not need alot of equipment. In fact, many programs that use a bit more equipment show “minimal equipment” options.

How and When Will the Challenge Be Run?

I have a Facebook Group setup for everyone in the challenge to keep motivation flowing and to maintain accountability . Additionally, as your coach, I am 100% available to you over phone, text, email, or any other medium. I am here to help you achieve your goals!

As a member of the team, you will receive weekly newsletter and be plugged into this website for new blog posts and videos. There is wealth of knowledge on this site! From how to track to your calories to how you plan when you are traveling. It’s all here because I have lived it!

We will all start on Monday, January 7! I would like everyone to have their program in their hands on Monday, December 31 so we all have a week to get orientated and make our plans for the following week. Planning will be a critical component in your success. If you are a bad planner, don’t worry! I will help you! That is why I am here.

How Much Does the Challenge Cost?

A gym in my area was offering a 4-month Personal Trainer Package for just under $2,000. And that is not counting the gym monthly fee and a nutritionalist. The cost of these programs are extremely reasonable and range from $160 to $310. All of the details on cost and what the Challenge Pack includes are at the bottom of this page!

Which Program Is Right For Me?

These are all great programs and Beachbody has a terrific tool that compares all them. You can access it by clicking on the picture below. They highlight the workout times, benefits, and how the program works.

While I can teach anyone to modify even the hardest routines, starting out at an extreme level can be discouraging if you have not been physically active in a long time. Additionally, you need to look at what workout suits your tastes. Dance, Cardio, Boot Camp, Resistance, Variety of Workouts?

I have done ~80% of these workouts, so here is my personal take in terms of difficulty and what category they fall in. All Highly Recommended programs are in Bold Blue

Beginner to Intermediate

• Power 90 (90 Day program) – The predecessor to P90X and a great 90 Day program filled with cardio and resistance. Many people who aren’t ready for P90X start here and then move into P90X for their next 90 Days. Highly Recommended

• Hip Hop Abs – Focuses on Abs/Core set to Hip Hop Dance.  

• Brazil Butt Lift – Specialized workout focused on your butt. 

• Slim in 6 (6 week program) – I Highly Recommend for those new to fitness or have not worked out in a while. Very popular for women. 

• Turbo Jam – Cardio Burning set to music. More dancy, but popular with woman. 

• Body Gospel – Faith-based program. 

• Tai Cheng – Learn 18 Tai Cheng Movements. This program is geared for ANY Level. 

• 10 Minute Trainer – The ultimate time buster. Great cardio and resistance workouts. Highly Recommended.

• Rev Abs – Focus on Abs / Core

• Chalean Extreme (90 Day Program) – Muscle burns Fat! Geared towards woman for resistance training, with some cardio as well. Highly Recommended

• Les Mills Pump (90 Day program) – The at-home version of “Body Pump” that is offered in gyms. Barbell based using the Rep Effect. Fun and great workouts. Highly Recommended. 

• Les Mills Combat (60 Day program) – The at-home version of “Body Combat that is offered in gyms. Minimal to no equipment required. This is the latest program from Beachbody! Highly Recommended. 

Advanced to Extreme

• P90X (90 Day program) – There is a reason it is the #1 Fitness Program in America. It is hard, but it works! Great versatility with strength, cardio, and yoga. It was the start of my transformation. I am now a P90X Certified Trainer so  I specialize in this program. It is still my favorite program. Highly Recommended

• P90X2 (90 Day program) – For those who have successfully completed P90X! Awesome program for those well on there fitness journey. Get ready to take instability into your workout! Push-Ups on 4 Medicine Balls anyone?

• Insanity (60 Day Program) – All you need is a good pair of shoes to get Insane. Boot Camp Style Program that gives killer results, but you need to work for them. There are High Impact moves so if you have bad joints, I don’t recommend it. For those who are in decent shape, get ready to feel what being in shape really means. Highly Recommended. 

• Insanity – The Asylum (30 Day Program)- After you have graduated from Insanity, get ready to enter the Asylum and take your sports performance to the next level. 

• Turbo Fire (90 DayProgram) - A graduate program for Turbo Jam. Very popular with ladies. High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) takes your cardio and your body to the next level! Highly Recommended

• Body Beast (90 Days Program) – There is one mission for this program…build muscle mass! Heavy Focus on Weightlifting and Muscle Hypertrophy. 

Nutrition Only

• The Ultimate Reset (21 Day Program) – A phenomenal program to start. The Ultimate Reset will allow you to focus 110% of your energy on what you put in your mouth. The Ultimate Rest is an oil change for your body. This program is a great predecessor to ANY program. Take 21 Days to reset your body and learn how to fuel it correctly. Then you will be primed and ready to go to add in a workout program! Highly Recommended

Shakeology

Today is a very special day for me. On December 20, 2009, I pressed play for the first time on P90X. Now I had been an active person for most of my life up to this point. I enjoyed playing around with weights in the gym , going for runs and signing up for a race or two. But I had fallen far away from the quasi active / healthy lifestyle I had always maintained.

I started by buying a treadmill and then purchasing Bowflex’s SelectTech 1090 Dumb bells. I tried the workouts that came along with the SelectTechs, but it just didn’t keep me motivated. So I went onto Bowflex’s website to look for some other workout DVDs. And it was there I stumbled upon P90X. I had never heard of it. I never saw the infomercial. I didn’t know anyone doing it. It was completely foreign to me.

So I clicked on the link. I liked that it had fitness and nutrition. I liked that it had a varietyy of workouts (cardio, resistance, yoga, kickboxing, etc). So I spent $119 and hoped for the best. I didn’t even get a coach until 6 months into my journey because I didn’t know they existed!

Here was my first day of pressing play on Chest & Back. The parenthesis were when I needed to do an assisted move. (Chair Assist for Pull-Ups, Knees for Push-Ups). For those not familiar with this workouts, you have 2 rounds of the same 12 exercises so the second line is the second time through.

It is hard to believe it was 3 years ago. And as I look back on the video I created capping my first year, it does seem like a long time ago. But I remember this. It was NOT easy. Change is NOT easy; particularly when you are changing life long habits.So my biggest challenge was still staring me in the eye! I was always a fast food junkie. And being an ectomorph body type, I was able to get by with still being pretty skinny. At 6’1, my heaviest weight was  200 lbs. Even my cholesterol only peaked at 200. I say “only” because by American standards, that isn’t too bad.

BUT…and here is the but. I was sick…alot. I was sluggish. I was tired all the time. The list goes on and on.

So what was the hardest part of my journey, but also the most life altering? Changing what I put in my mouth. This was a pretty regular meal for me. Portillo’s is primarily a  Chicago-based fast food chain and one of my favorite places. I used to order (2) Jumbo Dogs, a Large Cheese Fry. a Large Chocolate Shake, and a Large Coke. And occasionally  I would switch it up and get an Italian Beef (Dipped). Italian Beef is another Chicago thing but it is roast beef in au jus and then I would have them to dip the whole sandwich in au jus (which is straight fat).

Changing what I ate scared the hell out of me. And it took time. It took months of work. It took determination and a maniacal focus on keeping my goals in the forefront of everything I did.  So as I reflect on my last 3 years, this is what I am most proud of. Because real health…true health…comes from fueling our bodies properly. And now, my food habits are just as natural as my old ones.

I have so many people to thank.  Too many to list. So I will just say that you know who you are. I would have never guessed where a simple act of pressing play would have brought me 36 months later. If I had to sum up what i have learned, I would say this.

“Be the best version of you that you can be.”

“Live clean.”

“Live with humility, gratitude, and compassion.”

“Do things that help you thrive!”

“And always remember  that ‘With God, all things are possible.’ 

Stay Tuned Tomorrow! If you want to take that first step, what we have coming tomorrow will help!

I appreciate all your comments. The dialogue is why I write. So please leave a message below!

Make Me Your FREE Coach.Just click the “Free Coach” logo

*Note – If you have a “dud” coach and would like to change coaches, the process to do so is very simple. Simply email  coachrelations@teambeachbody.com and tell them that you would like “Coach Mike Roberts (Coach ID #64523) at TeamRightNow@gmail.com” as your coach. Please CC me as well so I can ensure to follow-up.

Volume 2, Issue 40

- Week of November 18. 2012

Team,

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day. I am working on gratitude becoming a daily practice. As we become thankful for the blessing around us, we have less focus on what we “don’t have”.

I am very thankful for this team and for each of you that listen to my rants and crazy sayings. This team was built to help each other in all ways: physical, emotional, spiritual, and even financial.

Black Friday Through Cyber Monday Deals

Beachbody is having a blow out sale on many of their popular workout programs for the annual Black Friday Sale. However, this sale goes from Friday, November 23 ~12:00pm EST through Monday, November 26 ~12:00am EST,

There are limited qualities and when they’re gone….well…they’re gone. So here are the deals this year!

• P90X + 3 Shakeology Packets = $99 (27% Discount)

• Turbo Fire = $53 (55% Discount)

• Power90 = $44.90 (25% Discount)

• Body Gospel = $24.95 (68% Discount)

• Hip Hop Abs = $24.95 (58% Discount)

• Ten Minute Trainer = $59.90 (25% Discount)

• Squishy Ball = $3.95 (69% Discount)

Click HERE to Order!

Challenge Group – December 5

We are still having our CRAZY Challenge Group starting December 5. Yes, you probably need to have a screw loose to start a challenge group in December, but for those who are willing to join us, we are starting! By the New Year, you will be well along your journey!

Just shoot me an email if you are interested in starting on December 5.  Whether that is with “The Ultimate Reset” so you can just focus on nutrition or  a workout + nutrition you just bought from the Black Friday Deal we are here for you every step of the way.

I hope everyone has a GREAT week! As always, I am here to support you by living Beachbody’s Core Purpose:

And, as always, there are 2 favors that I ask:

1) If you like the hard work I put into writing my articles and videos, PLEASE help me out by sharing them.  Click the share links below them and share them on FB, Twitter, etc.  It really helps me get more exposure and grow TeamRightNow!

2) Also, as always, remember that the way I benefit from being your coach is that I earn a commission from any Beachbody products that you purchase, as long as you buy them through my site, www.TeamRightNow.com, or by logging in to www.teambeachbody.com to do your shopping (If you buy from the plain beachbody site I get no credit). It helps with the amount of time I spend answering all your questions and helping you out. Thank you! I really appreciate it

Volume 2, Issue 39

- Week of November 11. 2012

 Team,
We are  coming into the holiday season. The average American gains anywhere from 6 – 20 lbs during this time of  the year. And then comes the ever predictable “New Years Resolution”. And it concludes with falling away from our resolution shortly after we just started our journey. It is a cycle many of us know all to well.

Instead of having this cycle take us for a ride again, join me in taking control of this holiday season. Why let (2) holidays and all the food that surrounds them ruin your goals? Why let those things ruin what you deserve?!

We all too often let food control us and we allow it to stomp out our goals and dreams of a healthier lifestyle. So, I am going to do something crazy.

Challenge Group – December 5 

I am hosting a Challenge Group in December! What?! Mike, who would want to join a health challenge in December? Its such a crazy time of the year! Nobody starts a new journey in December!

Well, maybe for some. My journey 3 years ago started in December. And for those who want to break the cycle, I want to be here to offer a Challenge Group and the support that goes with it!

So if you are game for a start date of Monday. December 5, just shoot me a reply to this message so we can talk!

Insanity Asylum – Volume 2 Review

I started Week 3 of Asylum, Volume 2 this week. This is only a 4 Week program so it is hard to believe I am half way through. We have a tight nit group of 50 people going through Volume 2. If you have never gone through a workout program with an online support group, it is simply the best. We talk about our daily challenges, temptations, successes, etc.

I have written a comprehensive written and video review of Volume 2. I answer the most common questions I get. And of course I have created my custom worksheets for every workout!

Just click HERE to get the whole scoop.

The Power of The Ultimate Reset

The longer I have been on this journey, the more I realize that my success has really been with how I fuel myself.. You don’t need to do P90X or Insanity to be healthy. In fact, if you did those workouts and still ate processed foods filled with fat, sugar, and salt, I would tell you that are only slightly better off.

The real journey is in what we put in our mouth. And it is a really tough path to start down. The reason I like “The Ultimate Reset” so much is that it really does teach you how to eat properly. It teaches you how to fuel yourself with REAL foods from MOTHER EARTH. Is it hard? Absolutely!

But before anyone starts a journey of a workout program, I think this is the BEST way to really commit to your health because you focus 110% on what you eat for 21 days. You give your body an “oil change” and rid yourself of your bad habits while creating new ones. You realize what substances you are dependent on. (i.e. Caffeine Withdrawl headaches are the #1 side effect in Week 1).

So think about doing “The Ultimate Reset” starting December 5. There is incredible support from me and this team as well as broader forums and groups.

I hope everyone has a great week! As always, I am here to support you by living Beachbody’s Core Purpose:

“Help people achieve their goals and enjoy a healthy fulfilling life”

Stay Positive and keep the questions coming. 
And, as always, there are 2 favors that I ask:

1) If you like the hard work I put into writing my articles and videos, PLEASE help me out by sharing them.  Click the share links below them and share them on FB, Twitter, etc.  It really helps me get more exposure and grow TeamRightNow!

2) Also, as always, remember that the way I benefit from being your coach is that I earn a commission from any Beachbody products that you purchase, as long as you buy them through my site, www.TeamRightNow.com, or by logging in to www.teambeachbody.com to do your shopping (If you buy from the plain beachbody site I get no credit). It helps with the amount of time I spend answering all your questions and helping you out. Thank you! I really appreciate it

As of today, I have finished Day 12 of  Insanity: The Asylum, Volume 2. While Volume 1 is entitled  ”Sports Performance“, Volume 2  is entitled “Elite Training Series“.

If you have not downloaded my CUSTOM Insanity Asylum, Volume 2 Worksheets, you can do that HERE.

I think the best way to do a review this program is to start with some Q&As. Then, I will go through each workout.

Question: Is Volume 2 harder than Volume 1?

Answer:  In Yy Opinion, No. In fact, many of the workouts are a bit easier. However, it is different and the focus on agility and footwork will keep your brain churning during the workout!

Question: Do I need to do The Asylum: Volume 1 before  Volume 2?

Answer:  You definitely do not need to do Volume 1 in order to do Volume 2. It is not as if they build on each other. In fact, they have a great 60-Day Hybrid schedule for Volume 1 and Volume 2 if you wanted to do both at the same time.

Question: Do I need to do Insanity before  The Asylum: Volume 2?

Answer:  While I wouldn’t give an unequivical YES, it probably is a good idea for most people. If you are in good shape and have done High Intensity Interval Training, then you may be able to step into the Asylum without Insanity as a base.

Question: What equipment do I need?

Answer:  You use the same equipment as The Asylum Volume 1: Speed Rope, Agility Ladder, Strength Bands (I suggest Red and Green), and dumb bells or resistance bands. A Pull-Up Bar is optional as in Volume 1. You can go to the Equipment section of my website HERE to check stuff out. The pricing is very reasonable and Insanity remains to be one of the lowest cost equipment programs.

Question: Are The Asylum: Volume 1 and Volume 2 really different?

Answer:  What I like about The Asylum series is that each workout is different and there is some great variety. After 60 Days of Insanity, I started to feel all the workouts where the same basic moves. After all, there is only so much you can do with no equipment. So there are some parallels to Volume 1 and Volume 2 that I will highlight below. But I will say that there was not one workout where I felt I got a Volume 1 workout that was just “redone” .

X Trainer

X Trainer is 49:09 and while I expected “Speed And Agility - Part 2″, it is much more diverse! It will get your brain moving as much as your body. Definitely do the Agility Tutorial first! I am not coordinated and I have no rhythm, so I needed to really concentrate on these moves. But unlike Speed And Agility, this is not all footwork. ShaunT throws in alot of push-ups in this one. And these aren’t just standard push-ups: Moving Matrix Push-Ups, Leaping Push-Ups, and Single-Arm Assisted Push-Ups. He also has a “Pyramid Weights” sequence that works your chest, back, and shoulders.

X Trainer brings it to you. You just need to keep up!

Upper Elite

There has been a lot of debate as to whether “Upper Elite” is harder than “Strength“ from Volume 1. One major difference is that “Strength” had lower body work as well. And for anyone who has done that workout knows that the 3 Rounds of Progressive Dumbbell Rotations is a tough bar to beat in terms of difficulty.

My initial impression that “Elite Upper”  was in fact easier then “Strength”. However, as I kept increasing my weight on Elite Upper, I may be reconsidering that opinion. This workout is a full 60 minutes long and has 6 rounds plus a 5+ minute burnout sequence at the end. ShaunT starts each round with some kind of push-up and then moves into a Chest Press, Bicep Curl, Shoulder Move and finally a Tricep Move. Some rounds he will through in some agility moves as well.

He then finishes you off with a burnout consisting of 9 exercises. Upper Elite is true resistance circuit training. Be forewarned, it will bring you to your knees by the end!

Power Legs

Shaun T called “Power Legs” his least favorite workout in Asylum, Volume 2. So how does this compare to “Vertical Plyo” from Volume 1? Well, in my opinion “Vertical Plyo” takes the cake of one of the hardest Insanity workouts. And while “Power Legs” is tough, “Vertical Plyo” still wins in my books.

In this 49 minute workout, you will be tested by using a strength bands around your ankles. If you really dig deep, the burn will come really quick. In the second half of the workout, ShaunT introduces dumbbells in the form of Kettlebell Swings and Weighted Squats.

The last 5:30 minutes is reserved for true craziness. ShaunT takes you through 11 moves each lasting 30 seconds long with a weight of your choice. By the end of 5.5 minutes, my legs are literally shaking and sweat is stinging my eyes from pouring off my forehead.

Strong Legs are critical to any athletic activity. They are tough workouts and they are not easy to build up. BUt if you stick with it, you will find that
“Power Legs” helps you with every other activity you do!

Ab Shredder

A dedicated Ab routine was missing from Volume 1. However, Insanity had 2 of the best ab routines around: “Cardio Abs” and “Insane Abs“. So how does “Ab Shredder” stack up? This is a 20 minute workout with 9 moves. But dont think this is easy! A couple of the moves last almost 4 minutes and 2.5 minutes each.

I look to ShaunT and tony Horton to bring me the best Ab routines and this one will be a keeper in my repertoire! Is it ShaunTs hardest Ab routine? I still feel “Insane Abs” is his toughest clocking in at 33 minutes and keeping in you in plank for way too long! But make no mistake, Ab Shredder will get those abs burning. And ShunTs challenge at the end? Do it twice through! In his words, “Good Frickin’ Luck!”

Back & Six Pack

The core is more than just your abs on your front. Your back is just as important, especially with all the plyo moves in The Asylum. I felt “Back to Core” was a really great workout in Volume 1. It was low impact, but high intensity. Who’s back was not on fire during the “Rotator Splt Lunge” or the “Swimmer Band Exchange”.

Well,ShaunT switches between back and ab moves in this workout. His back exercise of choice is pull-ups. However, he does have an alternative move for those without a pull-up bar. One of the hardest sequences is a 3:30 minute “Pulse-Up / Mountain Climber” sequence. I am literally pouring sweat at the end of that.

Now here is my challenge. Do “Back & Six Pack” and “Back To Core” Back To Back (Pun Intended)!

Championship + Sudden Death OT (FIT Test)

Championship in Volume 2 is the pinnacle of the program just as “Game Day“ was the pinnacle of Volume 1. And while I feel Game Day is harder (especially if you add OT), what makes Championship unique is that the FIT test is at the end of the workout. ShaunT’s motto in Volume 2 is that “The work doesn’t start until you get tired.” So putting your FIT test when you are 48 minutes into the workout is a bit sadistic. But in reality, if you are an athlete, this is the time that matters on the field.

What makes this FIT test unique is not just the 3 minute physical push, but also the mental clarity that it requires throughout the sequence. Each “round” is comprised of an Agility Sequence that is not short and not easy to remember, along with (4) Power Jumps and (2) Burpee’s into X Jumps. in my second week, i got through 9 rounds, although my form was faltering in the last 3 rounds. My goal is 10, which would be one round every 18 seconds. Yikes! We will see if I can get there!

Off-Day Stretch

Off-Day Stretch is your rest for the program. It was called “Relief“ in Volume 1. This is a true somewhat relaxing stretch workout. Recovery is critical in a high impact, high intensity program like this. However, I feel that Tony Horton has mastered recovery and I like his routines better. Between his Yoga routines and X2 Recovery + Mobility, I am set. (I love the Rumble Roller!) So while Off-Day Stretch is nice, I know some other routines work better for me.

Pure Contact

Pure Contact is the Bonus Disc when ordering through your Team Beachbody Coach. This is a 22 minute routine that puts you through 4 rounds of Agility and Pike-Up moves. This is a great supplemental workout. Additionally, it could work great if you are short on time!

Make Me Your FREE Coach.Just click the “Free Coach” logo

*Note – If you have a “dud” coach and would like to change coaches, the process to do so is very simple. Simply email  coachrelations@teambeachbody.com and tell them that you would like “Coach Mike Roberts (Coach ID #64523) at TeamRightNow@gmail.com” as your coach. Please CC me as well so I can ensure to follow-up.

A new Asylum requires new worksheets! Insanity – The Asylum, Volume 2 is HERE and this one is just as much fun as Volume 1.

There are obvious workouts like Elite Upper where a worksheet is a necessity. However, others like X-Trainer may not be as obvious. However, I am finding that tracking my Reps on all exercises is helping me push the next tie to beat my last number. Crazy? Yes. Effective? Yes!

You can download the entire Insanity: The Asylum – Volume 2 Worksheets on my Ultimate Worksheets Page HERE. Look under Shaun T Workouts.

Enjoy!

Make Me Your FREE Coach.Just click the “Free Coach” logo

*Note – If you have a “dud” coach and would like to change coaches, the process to do so is very simple. Simply email  coachrelations@teambeachbody.com and tell them that you would like “Coach Mike Roberts (Coach ID #64523) at TeamRightNow@gmail.com” as your coach. Please CC me as well so I can ensure to follow-up.

A new movie was released this year called “Hungry For Change“. (See their website HERE.) Now I have to admit that I love these kind of documentaries. I have done reviews on Food, Inc, Killer At Large , and Forks Over Knives. I have done some reviews on Jamie Oliver’s “Food Revolution” as well. And while “Hungry for Change” hits on  many topics about our food, I believe what sets it apart is the discussion about the mental and spiritual aspects of our health. How body, mind, and spirit do work as one!

The agenda of this movie (and it’s website) is clear. To educate us on why all the diets, weight loss strategies, and fads DON’T WORK! It educates us to go back to the basics of what our bodies really want and that is what nature provides us. It definitely takes big hits at the food industry and frankly, I am okay with that. I am fed up with the flat out irresponsibility of multi-billion dollar corporations putting multi-million dollar ad campaigns out on food that is not only bad for us, but toxic and addictive.

I also really liked that this film addressed what is REALLY happening inside us: the mental games we play. For example, the constant negative self talk we give ourselves. And at the end of the day, the mandatory requirement that remains is to LOVE OURSELVES!

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND watching this movie! No matter where you are in your journey, this movie is a must see. And I believe it will really shed a light on the reason why really smart people cannot seem to eat right even though they know what they are eating is not good for them.

If you really want happiness and health and a positive YOU, it starts with what you put in your mouth and what you say when you look in the mirror at yourself. This is it. It is not about P90X, Insanity, or looking like a fitness model. I believe this film does a great job addressing both of those things.

Take 90 minutes some night and sit down and really watch this movie. Be open minded and absorb it. I thought there were so many good nuggets in this film, I took notes and have posted them below. (They are rough.) Enjoy!

10/10/12 – Hungry For Change – Mike’s Notes

Intro

“One third of all woman and One quarter of all men in the US are on a diet.” – Colorado University

- We live in a World of Abundance and an Attitude of Lack.

- We are not eating food anymore. We are eating food-like products.

“More than $60Billion is spent each year on diet and weight loss in the US” – Marketdata Report

 “Up to Two-Thirds of those on a diet regain more weight than when they started.” – UCLA

- Diets are temporary, which means they have failure built right into them.

- Why are highly intelligent people doing this? They dont know the nature of the trap.

- It is not our fault! As mammals, we are programmed to put on fat whenever there is food available!

“The average American consumes more than 150 pounds of sugar and sweeteners each year.” – US Department of Agriculture

- Sugar is the cocaine of the food world! It is in everything. We eat 22 teaspoons of sugar a day!

- People are overfeed today, but also starving to death…nutritionally

- It’s not just what your eating, but also what is eating you!

How We Are Wired

- As a specieis, our body is biologically adapted to find calories (i.e. sugars / fats).

- If we eat something sugary, our brain says, “Yes, I want more of this!”. This was for survival when we were living in hunter / gatherer societies. But back then, the  food was HIGH in nutrition and LOW in calories. Today, we have HIGH calories and LOW nutrition.

- You can eat 10,000 calories a day and still starve yourself nutritionally. As long as cells don’t get nourished, you are still hungry because your body is asking for more nutrients.

Famine and Stress

- In the past, when we had famine, the body held onto fat to help it survive.

- Famine = Stress. So as we are stressed, the body does the same thing!

- So we are programmed this way and today we have feast like crazy, but there is no famine.

How do I take of myself?

- What do I put in my body that is compromised at this point?

- How do I boost my immune system?

- How do I increase my longetivity?

- Its all in What You Eat, What You Think, and What You Drink!

Food-Like Products

- We are not eating food anymore. We are eating food-like products.

- Food is adorned. It looks better, smells better and is presented so people are attracted to it.

- They are made so they have long shelf life. The objective is not to give you a healthy product. It is ito give you a product that will make you buy it, make it last long on the shelf, and make alot of money for the company.

Chemicals , Processed Food, and Addiction

- Processed Junk Food diets combined with indoor lifestyle. Our bodies were not designed to do this! Way too many caories, not enough nutrients, and not enough use for those calories.

- Obesity. Low Energy. Fog Incognition. They refuse to take responisbility for it and they leave it to a doctor who gives them medication which doesn’t address the real issue.

- The biggest case of obesity is addiction. People can understand addiction to tobacco and alcohol. The way cigarettes and nicotine is addictive is the same way certain fods are addictive. People know they shouldn’t do it, but have no idea why they are doing it.

- The food companies engineer addictions. They identify what appeals to the avergae consumer and use chemical derivatives to addict them.

MSG

“MSG and free glutamates are used to enhance flavor in about 80% of all processed foods.” – Raymond Francis M.Sc MIT

- MSG and Free Glutamates can be hidden behind over 50 different names.

- MSG not only wants to make you want to eat more, it excites the brain to make you want to eat more. It activates the fat program in our brain.

- Google “MSG-obesity induced mice” When studies are done on obesity, they use MSG to make mice fat!

- Processed Food or Diet Soda will make you momentarily uplifted or happy. But then that feeling drops away and you feel empty. The food companies want you to go buy another can or another bag.

- If I am in the food industry, I want to sell you more food! I can manipulate the chemical structure of the food to make it not fulfilling so you buy more, but that when I eat it, it tastes like the most fulfilling thing!

Aspartame and Artificial Sweeteners

- Diet Cola (Asparthame and Caffeine). These 2 ingredients together create an excitotoxin that kills off brain cells. But before they die, they have this excitement (like a buzz). A diet cola addict will drink 1-2L a day. And woman in particular, stop eating. and use diet coke as their way to get through the day!

- Look at all the foods that contain aspartame

-Aspartame causes formaldihide build up in the brain. It causes frontal lobe inflamation, Migraines, Visual Disturbances, it mimics symptoms from MS, Headaches, Neurologic Problems, Cognitive Problems. It leads to different kind of cancers.

Studies that exam the toxicity of Asparthame

- 90% of studies funded by industry show that there is NO problems with aspartame

- 90% of studies independently funded show that there ARE problems.

“Research studies suggest that artificial sweeteners contribute to weight gain” – Yale Journal of Biology

- Some of the artificial sweeteners have been proven to cause cravings of carbohydrates.

- Unfortunately, when an artifical sweetener is manufactured, the manufacturer funds the study and sends to regulatory agency (FDA). The FDA only evaluates the studies that the manufacture submitted (and they funded).

- Food companies know that if you addict a customer, you have them for life. And they do this with MSG, processed sugar, aspartame, etc.

Marketing

- Marketing lies to you and says that this can of soda (or whatever) will bring you certain bebefits by association (have friends, look great, etc).

- The reality is that you will lose bone mineral density because of the phosophic acid in soda, you may surfer nurological problems due to the chemical sweeteners. If it is not a diet soda, it is probably made with HFCS which will promote diabetes and obesity!

Marketing of Zero Calaories, No Fat, No Sugar 

- Labeling is very deceptive.

- Name of foods is what the company hopes you might imagine you are eating (Example: Total Blueberry and Pmogranite)

- There are things that are not on the label, like Propylene Glycol (C3H8O2)

- Used in Blueberry Muffines. Makes the “blueberries” along with partially hydrogenated oiks, liquid sugars, and artifical colors.

- Also used to winterize your RV

 - Also used to clean out your colon before a colonoscopy

FAT FREE

-America has choosen FAT as the enemy! So everything became FAT FREE!

- FAT was replaced with Carbohydrates and resulted in the fattest coutnry in the world

“68% of US adults are overweight or obese.” – the Journal of The American Medical Association

-Fat Free means it is loaded with sugar. A 2lb of sugar is 100% fat free. But once the sugar is injested,what happens?

- The sugar sends your sugar levels sky high.

- The pancreas produces insulin in order to bring that level down so you dont die.

- Insulin is the fat producing hormone!

- All this excess energy comes and the body says, where do we put it? Short Term? Liver?

- Where do we put the rest? Fat Cells and we will use them later. The problem is that there is never a later.

Healthy Fat

- Your body needs fat! It needs to get the right kind of fat.

- A Low Fat diet makes you constantly hungry. You need healthy fats to make you feel satiated.

- Low Grade Fats – Soybean Oil, Canoloa Oil, Corn Oil

- Worst Fats – Partially Fats (Partially Hydronated Oils)

- Health Fats – Avocado, Chia Seeds, Flax Seeds, Wild Caught Salmon

 High Fructose Corn Syrup (HFCS) and Sugar

-HFCS – There is danger in refining and concentrating ingredients! Scientists learned how to separate fructose from corn. It is an isolated nutrient! Think of cocaine vs. having tea from the cocoa plant.

- White sugar is the purified sucrose extracted from sugar cane.

- White flour is pharamacutical version of grain

-Cocaine , White sugar, and white flour are similar in that they are whitened, extracted, and ioslated substance that is pulled out from the plant.

- #1 source of calories in the US is fructose (fruit sugar)

- 1900s – 15g per day

- Present – 70-80g

- Many kids – 120-150g per day

HFCS is in so much food we eat- salad dressing, pasta sauce, pizza sauce, juices, sodas, everything!

- Stay away from the isolates! Stay away from things that are not natural , isolated. and should be consumed as its full bioavailable nurietnt complexity.

- Nutrient Complex is how things should be consumed.

- Fluffy Carbohydrates and Poor Breads. These carbs are immediately converted to sugar.

-When you are thinking about what to eat. You need to think about sugar in different forms.

Americans are eating 150lbs of sugar per year and 70lbs HFCS per year. That is 22 Tsp of sugar a day!

- Sugar increases beta endorphins in the brain (natural opiate). When you are stressed or depressed, you want to eat comfort foods. Foods that make sugar directlty into fat.

- Its about getting that sugar high, getting that beta endorphone rush.

- Once you understand that sugar is a drug just like alcohol, you will look at it differently. You become habituated to the effect. Need more and more and more to give you the same effect.

- Walk the aisles in the average grocery store and look at how much sugar is in our kid’s breakfast cereals!

- It is illegal to give alcohol and cigarettes to a child, but it is okay to give white refined sugar or refined fat. Food kills more people than drugs combined.

The ruth is premature death is coming from sugar, alcohol, and cigarettes.

Diets

-Diets love to take one of the macronutrients (carbs, protein, and fat) and they are eliminating one. Weight loss is temporary, but true health is long term. You borrow from Peter to pay Paul with a diet.

- Every time you lose 10lbs, your body wants to protect you from famine again and puts back on 15lbs.

- We are barking up the wrong tree. We are loooking for superficial results. Many dont realize that that can be achieved from the inside out.

- We go to all these fads. They dont work and we wonder why.

- We are violeting our basic survival laws. Everytime you force your body to lose weight, your body will gain weight

- You can manipulate ratio of macronutrients and calories. (Atkins – No Carbs. Pritikin Diet = All Carbs)

- A diet’s defintion is the foods that an organism eats to sustain itself! A real diet is something a species eats! We are eating a diet that no longer resembles food that we are biological adapted to.

- The mental part of a diet! Don’t focus on diet.

“I want that, but I CAN’T have it. I CAN have it, but I don’t want it.”

- Add in the good stuff and it will crowd out the bad stuff. Add in cucmbers, apples, plant-foods, vegetables, animals food of high quality.

Ask yourself, “Could I replace this food with a better ingredient?” Can you move towards adding things to get back to your natural diet?

Recovery and Healing

-We decided to create chemicals many decades ago and they  have contaminated everything. We need to move away from better living  with chemistry and more torwards living better with nature!

- There are 2 ways the body protects itself

- Mucas

- Retains and generates more fat

-Toxins are left in your body unless you can make them water soluable so they can sweat off / peed off.

- You have to address the fact that you are being assaulted by toxins.

- The body wants to naturally detoxify, providing there are no toxins coming in!

- Foods that detoxify the boDy are green vegetables (ChlorphylL-rich food), gelatinous plant foods / fibers (chia seeds), parsley, and cilantro.

- Put in gentle foods and be out in nature, and your body will detoxify.

- The simpler the foods, the better you will feel.

Juicing

- Vegetables are the most beneficial food groups!

2 Important Reasons for Juicing

1) Most peple dont consume enough raw fruits and vegetables.

2)  Most people are overfed, under nourished, and thier digestive system is beaten up!

- Its easy to absorb! Fresh extracted juice is a 15 minute nutrient express to health. You will consume far more fresh vegetables.

- Removed refined sugars, refined fats, and replace it with organic vitamin rich fuels in the easiest, most digestible form!

Cleaning and Detoxification

- Side Effects – It will make you lose weight,  make your eyes white, and make your skin glow.

- When we are healthy inside out, there is a deep richness in our hair and skin and a luster in our nails. A feeling… a shine and glow. This is possible through natural foods.

- The skin is a true symbol of our health because it is the last place to get nutrients. So if you can drive those nutirents all the way to the skin, then you know it has gottne everywhere else too.

Skin, Hair, and Nails are all clear signs of health.

What is Eating You?

- The Adverse Childhood Experiences Study says that obesity is not the problem. Its the solution! Its a solution to chronic stress, sexual abuse, dysfunctional family, etc.

- Where are you not satisfied? Are you in a dead end job? Too much pressure in your life? Old / residual Tramas / Dramas?

- If you are upset , “Don’t Eat”! When we are upset, we have no connection with whether we are satiated or not.

- Sleep Deprevatation, Dehydration, Mental / Emotional Stress – Chemistry changes and is very similar to a famine.

- Stress Hormones – Cortisol and Epinephrine.

- Prednisone (Steroid Medicine) – You will gain 20/30lbs regardless of what you eat.

- #1 Best Way to digest stress hormones is to sleep. Deep Sleep with metabolize excess Cortisol and Epinephrine better than anything else.

- If you have been under stress and sleep for 3-4 hours a night, you will gain 2lbs just from that. This is fluid retention.

- #2  Best Way ot digest stress hromoenes is exercise. It is as good as any antidepressants for mild to moderate dperessions.

- #3 Laughter decreased stress hormones. Improves immunity. Decreases Pain

Power of Visualization

This is so powerful for transformations and body changes because it is like the language that you can use to talk to your sub conscious. Your sub conscious is responsible for how much oxygen you get, how fast your heart beats, how fat or thin you are. Visualization / Symbols is the universal language.

“Whatever you hold in your mind on a consistent basis is exactly what you will experience in your life.” – Anthony Robbins. 

- Are you happy with what you see in the mirror? Most are! And they pound themselves that they are not any good, they cant believe what they have done to themselves.

- Group – Let us love you until you love yourself!

- When you take care of yourself, you realize you are precious. You give others the permission to be in love with themselves and in love with life.

- Love is safety. This is engrained in us from when we are a baby When you feel you are not being loved, then your primal feeling of safety is gone.

- The concept of loving yourself is key to all of it. If you have message in your head that you are a worthless piece of crap, I’ll never be good enough, no one loves me, etc, you need to take this prescription…

- For 30 days, tape a note to your mirror that says “I accept myself unconditionally RIGHT NOW”. Twice a day look into your eyes and say this. Wait for the messages to arise. You look like crap, you have cellulite, etc. Do it for 30 days and your thoughts will become more positive.You are planting a new affirmation. When you start to do thins, you develop a muscle. You become a witness to yourself.

” I am by nature a dealer in words and words are the most powerful drug known to humanity” – Rudyard Kipling

- Self-Love improves your hearing, your eye sight, lowers blood pressure, cardiac output, increases pulmonary function, helps with wiring the musculature.

~You can improve your life and your mind and outlook on life by asking 3 questions

1) Where does my food come from?

2) What went into the food in terms of attidue, love. care, or compassion?

3) What is my intention to do with the food? Is the food to support me for a good purpose? Is it for entertainment?

Your body is designed to be healthy!

I appreciate all your comments. The dialogue is why I write. So please leave a message below!

Make Me Your FREE Coach.Just click the “Free Coach” logo

*Note – If you have a “dud” coach and would like to change coaches, the process to do so is very simple. Simply email  coachrelations@teambeachbody.com and tell them that you would like “Coach Mike Roberts (Coach ID #64523) at TeamRightNow@gmail.com” as your coach. Please CC me as well so I can ensure to follow-up.

10.11.12 – Mark it as a cool date and more importantly the release of more craziness! That’s right!  Insanity: The Asylum Volume 2 is now available to order. 

You can order it when you click HERE. I have already ordered mine. I did Insanity: The Asylum, Volume 1 and recently found out I made the infomercial.

You better believe I plan on digging deep again. We have already started a Facebook Group but we are working on the start date. However, I can tell you it will be soon! So if you want to be the first, order and get ready!

Get Competition-Crushing Results in Just 30 Days with INSANITY: THE ASYLUM^® Volume 2

In THE ASYLUM Volume 1, Shaun T trained you inside the Athletic Matrix to amp up your agility, speed, and power. Now Shaun takes your skills to the next level with his INSANITY: THE ASYLUM Volume 2 workouts—the next 30 days of pro athlete training designed to get your body leaner, faster, and stronger than ever. So you not only defeat the competition. You CRUSH IT!

By entering the Athletic Matrix.

Shaun T takes you far beyond your competitive limits by cranking up the intensity of the Athletic Matrix—his breakthrough pro-athlete training model that uses dynamic multi-directional movements to activate multiple muscle groups at the same time.

How is this so different from other programs? Sports-performance moves work your muscles at angles and velocities you can’t simulate with static exercises. The Athletic Matrix’s system of max muscle recruitment can get you the same results in 30 days that it can take years to achieve in the gym. But that’s just the beginning.

“The work doesn’t start until you get tired.”

Shaun says, “How you perform after your body is shaking, begging, and screaming for mercy is what separates the winners from the losers.” That’s why each of his 7 new ASYLUM workouts gets progressively more difficult—testing you, motivating you, skyrocketing your game to its highest level when you need it most . . . Crunch time.

And you get game-changing tools.

To accelerate your results, you’ll also receive THE ASYLUM Volume 2 Calendar to track your upward progress, Shaun T’s Get Shredded Volume 2 Nutrition Plan, The Playbook, your 3-Step Quick-Start Guide, and invaluable 24/7 online support.

Over the next 30 days, your entire body will undergo a maximum transformation.

Enter THE ASYLUM Volume 2 now to get the mindset, skills, and physique to dominate any challenge that comes your way. This is the training of the future.

CRUSH THE COMPETITION. THE NEXT 30 DAYS.

In THE ASYLUM Volume 1, Shaun T trained you inside the Athletic Matrix to amp up your agility, speed, and power. Now Shaun takes your skills to the next level with his INSANITY: THE ASYLUM Volume 2 workouts—the next 30 days of pro athlete training designed to get your body leaner, faster, and stronger than ever. So you not only defeat the competition. You CRUSH IT!

Here’s what you get with INSANITY: THE ASYLUM Volume 2:

7 new all-star workouts and more:

• X Trainer. Challenge your speed, strength, power, and agility with this action sequence that will have you swimming in a pool of sweat.
  (50 minutes)
• Upper Elite. Develop a superior upper body with Shaun’s dynamic training sets—intimidating your opponents before the game even begins. (60 minutes)
• Ab Shredder. Leave your entire body trembling with this ab-torching workout. No sit-ups or crunches—just the insane shred moves of pro athletes. (20 minutes)
• Power Legs. Gain an elite competitive edge by punishing your entire lower body with this maximum muscle-recruitment workout.
  (55 minutes)
• Back & 6-Pack. Build a lean, strong center with this 360-degree workout. These core-crushing moves will help you blow past your limits. (40 minutes)
• Championship + Bonus! Fit Test (Sudden Death OT). Get ready to pursue THE ASYLUM Volume 2 Championship. And this time, get put to the Fit Test at the END! (60 minutes)
• Off-Day Stretch. Relieve your aching muscles, improve your flexibility, and refocus your mind—so you’re ready to crush it in your next competition. (30 minutes)
• Agility Tutorial. Get a step-by-step breakdown of Shaun’s 8 mind-twisting agility moves, so you’ll be a pro when it comes time to hop in the ladder. (25 minutes)

Plus, get these game-changing tools:

• The Playbook. Map out your next 30 days of extraordinary body transformation with this step-by-step smart guide.
• Get Shredded Volume 2. Don’t just train elite. EAT ELITE. Here’s more of what you loved about THE ASYLUM Volume 1 meal
  planner—Shaun’s favorite recipes.
• 3-Step Quick-Start Guide. This will have you jumping out of your seat to Push Play. It’s the fastest way to join Shaun T and the rest of Team ASYLUM.

And even more tools to accelerate your progress:

• 30-day THE ASYLUM Volume 2 Wall Calendar. Stay committed to seeing exceptional results by crossing off each day’s workout as you go.
• 60-day THE ASYLUM Volume 1/Volume 2 Hybrid Calendar. Double your championship efforts with this 60-day schedule of THE ASYLUM Volume 1/Volume 2 workouts.
• 24/7 Online Access. Chat with Shaun T and a motivating online community committed to helping you achieve excellence.

Exclusive FREE bonus workout:

• Get the free bonus workout DVD Pure Contact when you order through your Coach or Team Beachbody. A $19.95 value—yoursFREE!

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee:
Shaun’s so sure you’ll get elite results with INSANITY: THE ASYLUM Volume 2, he’s giving you a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you’re not completely satisfied for any reason, simply call Customer Service for a Return Authorization number, and return it within 30 days, and he’ll give you a full refund of the purchase price, less shipping and handling, no questions asked.

Volume 2, Issue 37

- Week of October 7. 2012

It’s October! The leaves are turning early here. I dont think we will have any left by Halloween! I know I can be a bit wordy in these newsletters so I apologize that the engineering background in me cannot help but be thorough! However, I try and make it easy to scan the topics I cover by making headers so you can read what interests you!

Les Mills Combat Pre-Order

For those who have done Body Combat in the gym or are simply looking for the next Les Mills workout, Les Mills Combat is available for pre-order exclusively through your Team Beachbody Coach (i.e. me) until the end of the month!

This is a 60 day program that mixes 7 different martial arts and sounds like a perfect way to get out any pent up aggression. LOL! You can read all the details on the program on my blog. Just click HERE

Insanity Asylum: Volume 2 – October 11

Say what? For those crazies out there who have conquered Insanity and the Asylum Volume 1, here is your next challenge. 

Shaun T was on the National Coach Call this week to talk about Volume 2: Elite Performance. This is a 30-day program, similar to Volume 1. There will be 7 workouts on 6 discs and it will cost $59.99.

I know we will be having a huge challenge group for this one, so stay tuned for me details. As usual, I will be posting all the details on the program this coming Thursday on my blog!

Did you know?
This is something Carl Daiekler shared with us. Insanity is having its best year ever! And this is even better than P90X’s best year. So there are alot of crazy people!!

Shakeology News

Given Shakeology is the #1 nutritional meal I recommend from Beachbody (and their top selling product), I want to provide a few pieces of news that coaches received from corporate. 

Modify your Shakeology HD Orders Online!

Shakes up! You now have a way to modify your existing Shakeology HD orders online—without having to call Coach Relations. The new interactive form allows you to switch flavors, go from bags to packets, OR modify your ship date (or shipping address).

It’s located in your Coach Online Office under My Business > My Forms and Documents. Check it out!

Or view the form here

NOTE: Modifications take at least 48 hours to process and Coaches cannot cancel HD orders via the form.

Chocolate Shakeology Superfood Formula
We have been hard at work updating the Chocolate Superfood Formula and wanted to give you an update on our progress!

In August, we asked for volunteers to be a part of our Chocolate Shakeology Sensory Panel and were thrilled with the overwhelming response. Over 5,000 Coaches and Customers applied and we accepted over 2,500 panelists to help us perfect the new formula! This month, we’ve been busy preparing samples and surveys for the panel, which are being shipped out this week. Panelists have been asked to keep the details of their panel experience absolutely confidential, so we will be updating all of you will developments as they happen. Stay tuned!
Body Beast – Final Results and Review

Another program in the books! I have completed Body Beast and have written up my final review on my website. If you are interested in Body Beast or want to see what results I had, check it out HERE. 

“Help people achieve their goals and enjoy a healthy fulfilling life”

Stay Positive and keep the questions coming. 
And, as always, there are 2 favors that I ask:

1) If you like the hard work I put into writing my articles and videos, PLEASE help me out by sharing them.  Click the share links below them and share them on FB, Twitter, etc.  It really helps me get more exposure and grow TeamRightNow!

2) Also, as always, remember that the way I benefit from being your coach is that I earn a commission from any Beachbody products that you purchase, as long as you buy them through my site, www.TeamRightNow.com, or by logging in to www.teambeachbody.com to do your shopping (If you buy from the plain beachbody site I get no credit). It helps with the amount of time I spend answering all your questions and helping you out. Thank you! I really appreciate it!