I’m just sitting here reflecting on the last 4 years of my life, how I ended up here, and what I’d miss desperately if I hadn’t taken a little leap of faith.
I hung out with these beauties last weekend. We laughed our asses off. We cried our heads off. We did some hiking, played games, went for a run, ate delicious food and sat around soul-searching, planning and strategizing how to reach our goals and learn how to help more people find a path to health and financial freedom! Not necessarily a typical ‘girls weekend’, but these are my people and I can’t imagine my life without them.
Four years ago I was struggling. Physically I just wasn’t where I wanted to be. I hated looking in the mirror. My clothes weren’t fitting and I was at a loss! I was working out almost daily. And eating what I thought was ‘pretty healthy’ food. Well…it wasn’t working. Not only was I not making any progress, I was steadily gaining weight and I was getting desperate! I even found myself lingering by the diet pills at the store, looking for a quick fix – though I knew better.
I called my friend who was a Beachbody coach, because I wanted to try a new workout program – and P90X had worked for me in the past – so I was ready to recommit and give it my best effort to see if I could make some changes and finally get results. That included Shakeology. Nutrition was key, and I knew it. I had done a LOT of research and as a busy mom, I just needed a quick, healthy meal that I could grab on the go. I justified the expense by giving up soda, fast food and fancy Starbucks. I saved even more money by signing up as a “coach” so I could save 25% on my Shakeology and any other programs or products I wanted. (I’m a lifelong Beachbody fan…so I knew I’d use it!)
I really had no intention of “coaching”, I just needed to work on myself first! Well, then I got plugged into a challenge group, and found myself surrounded by other moms and women working on goals of their own. I found it very motivating and I had GREAT success with it! Meanwhile… people were asking my what I was doing and I was sharing a little about my journey on social media. I had enough interest to put together a group of my own. And that started my coaching “career”. I’ve run at least one group every month since then, met hundreds of women in my challenge groups, networked with amazing ladies like these and found my true passion through helping others!
And now four years later, I make more than I did as a full-time teacher. I’ve lost 24 pounds and kept it off through my monthly accountability groups. I would NEVER ask people to do something that I wasn’t doing myself…so it’s amazing accountability! I’ve traveled to Las Vegas, Nashville, South Beach, beach house get-aways and in just a few months my husband and I will be heading on an all-expense paid vacation to Punta Cana! All for doing something I LOVE to do! Working part-time hours, from home, where, when, how and with whom I want! These ladies are just a few of the amazing women I’ve had the privilege to get to know and work with every day.
We have so much stinking fun together…it’s CRAZY to me that I didn’t know any of them just a few short years ago, and now I feel like we’ve been bff’s!
But don’t just take it from me! You know I’m a fan! This has changed my life and my families lives in more ways than I can count! I’m happier, healthier and wealthier!
I asked these ladies to share their experiences, too. Here are the questions I asked them.
1) 50lbs, size 14 to 4 (idk how many inches bc I wasn’t in the measuring habit pre-BB)2) Self doubt!
![friends_michele](http://angieinprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/friends_michele-150x150.jpg)
The love
![💜](https://www.facebook.com/images/emoji.php/v5/z35/2/16/1f49c.png)
The growth
![🌱](https://www.facebook.com/images/emoji.php/v5/z8/2/16/1f331.png)
![🌿](https://www.facebook.com/images/emoji.php/v5/zbd/2/16/1f33f.png)
![🌳](https://www.facebook.com/images/emoji.php/v5/za/2/16/1f333.png)
The new excitement that comes w a new group every month.
All the things
![😉](https://www.facebook.com/images/emoji.php/v5/zf6/2/16/1f609.png)
25 pounds lost and went from size 10-6 no clue on inches.
![🙂](https://www.facebook.com/images/emoji.php/v5/zeb/2/16/1f642.png)
![friends_jodi](http://angieinprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/friends_jodi-150x150.jpg)
![❤](https://www.facebook.com/images/emoji.php/v5/zed/2/16/2764.png)
![friends_jen](http://angieinprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/friends_jen-150x150.jpg)
1) Actually gained 15-20 pounds since I spent a couple years really UNDER weight (at least for me) due to unhealthy habits and behaviors.
![friends_karen](http://angieinprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/friends_karen-150x150.jpg)
1) I have lost 100 lbs and went from size 24 to 14
![img_3719](http://angieinprogress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/IMG_3719-150x150.jpg)
2) Something I have overcome… I get to talk about fitness without annoying people now
![😂](https://www.facebook.com/images/emoji.php/v5/z6f/2/16/1f602.png)
![😜](https://www.facebook.com/images/emoji.php/v5/zbf/2/16/1f61c.png)
I love being a coach because it’s a never ending journey of striving towards something bigger than yourself. I have a community of people who are (as I described to a friend today) “just BETTER people than me”. My community calls me HIGHER. I don’t get to stay stuck or become passive because there is always something to work towards bigger than myself!