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Well looks like it has been awhile since I made notes on my progress. I've been dedicated to my cause and then I just let life take over...(sigh) sometimes that just happens. Guess I am not Wonder Woman afterall. I've just gone through a series of life changes and hit the ultimate on stressing myself completely out.

First, I sold my family home. The end of my divorce journey. Not that it was a bad thing. It was time to move forward and after being on the market for almost a year...definitely a well anticipated day of arrival. But the kicker to this was the new owners didn't give me much time to pick up 8 years of my life and box it into new beginnings. Two weeks to be exact. But it can be done...I'm living proof.

Second, along with this move came saying goodbye to a position I held at my job. Yes, I moved 2 hours away and decided it was time to make a career change. I'm not very good at commuting, especially a 2 hour drive one way. So along with packing a house, I also had to give a 2 weeks notice to a job that really could have used more warning. They will survive without me, but it really made me feel extremely guilty.

Third, I moved in with my boyfriend whom I love with all my heart. The real stress there comes from combining households. I was in for a real awakening to discover he owns just about as many clothes as I do. Here I am three weeks later and STILL living out of boxes because I simply don't know where to put things. Yes it is that crazy.

Fourth, having to re-establish an office at home. Oh where do I begin on this one. I am now setting in the beautiful country. The nights are amazing and my days are filled with rolling hills and spectacular countryside. I enjoy it, even the small patch of dirt road I have to travel to get to my front doorstep. But being this far out does present it's set of problems for the new 4G world. I have found, however, that if I set in the recliner in the livingroom and hold my phone "just right" and try not to breathe...I may be able to have a conversation for all of 10 minutes before my network decides to drop your call. So I have learned to be brief and to the point...definitely a new challege for me. Thank goodness for "texting."

Fifth, if I thought having a cell phone was a challenge...establishing an internet connection has been even more crazy. Who knew, right? All this modernization and being able to reach anywhere in the planet and I find the one spot that seems to be way behind the times. Now my boyfriend did his duty...he promised me an internet connection and he got me one. We started out with one of those hotspots. And I have to admit, even with one bar we were able to zip around pretty well on our laptops. Trouble with these plans...they don't give you enough of a data plan. So if this is your situation, take words of advice this will not be your option. Within 8 days we managed to use 3 GB of data usage...and that was with me barely into my normal routine. Ok, I will admit it, it was mostly facebook. But come on, modernization at its finest. So we had to bundle that package back up to the supplier and we have now moved into the satelite networking. I have to admit it is a step above dial-up, but does get some getting use to. Their ideal of "high-speed" is not exactly what I recall. Yes, it is frustrating when someone asks me to email them something in 5 minutes (trust me this has already happened) and I set fussing at the screen to turn to the next page. But I am adjusting.

Sixth, entering the job hunt journey. Why did I think the world had somehow changed when it comes to endeavors of searching for employment? I have filled out more applications that I care to look at. And though I have to admit it is exciting not knowing where my life will take me on the career front, it is a bit overwhelming at the same time. Oh, I have been privileged to the "head hunter" games. But after weeks of resumes and applications, I am starting to enter the interview world. So time to sparkle and shine and do what I do best...whatever that may be. I will keep you posted. But this is also a good time to re-establish my coaching skills. And that is where I am right this moment.

Now there are many other obstacles I am trying to hurdle over during this transition as well. But just hitting those top six will tell you that life is changing for me. And with change, even positive changes, there definitely comes stress. So I would say for probably the last 5 weeks my discipline when it comes to diet and exercise has been less than stellar. I do so much appreciate my coaches, Shelli and Jeannie, who have kept me focusing and pushing play. They have made this journey a much better experience for sure. I am very proud to have such a marvelous team and they beam with all the right stuff. Definitely everything I had hoped for when I started the Cinderella Pact for our Team Beachbody thread.

Well, that is my explanation of my crazy life. And now that I am finding myself once again settling into routine and normalcy...it is time to sparkle and shine with my progress and transformation. Being out of the loop for 5 weeks has come with it's own set of setbacks. Like how the heck did my waistline pick up those inches. UG! Now that is a stress nobody wants to see. So I am back at it and this time with the LesMills Pump. This girl is going to lift her way back into the body she wants. Ready to feel the burn and live the "REP EFFECT."

Still here and new journey is beginning...I will not give up!

Pushing Play!

AnLee ~ AKA Coach Equildottsin

Wow! If you have not heard the Enrique Iglesias song, "I Like How It Feels" you have got to listen to it. I think if ever there was a song that hit home with me, this would have to be it. I have to sit and think about my life and how I have always been just one step behind everyone else...their dreams, thier plans, their life. Have you ever just sat there and wondered "what is my purpose?"

I think that I've searched for that my entire life...just where do I belong? What is it that I can do to make a difference? You know I don't believe there are any random acts in our universe. Everything that happens to you is part of the person you are and the person you are meant to be. Every experience from the exhiliarating highs to the crashing lows. It all makes you so unique. Every person is a story just waiting to be told.

I know that many of you are coming to this site because you have a story. Some of you will do this journey on your own and others will reach out across cyberspace and meet people sharing the same experience you are. You know we may come here for different reasons, but we are all heading to the same destination - we are looking for a way to be healthier and happier.

For those of you struggling with self-esteem issues because of where you are right now, I want to say YOU CAN CHANGE IT! I don't care if you have 300 lbs to lose or if you are so skinny the wind could blow you into next week...you can change it. The only thing in life that has an ironclad guarantee is death. Other than that, everything is possible. But the only person that is going to get you there is YOU!

Now I can come in here and tell you night after night exactly what I am doing to change my life. I can stand behind you and encourage you. I can support you and guide you. I can even inspire you. But when it comes to making it happen...IT'S ALL YOU! You have to reach down inside yourself and want it so bad that you will be willing to do whatever it takes to get there.That means when you have a setback, and you will, you have to have the courage to keep getting back up and pushing forward. For every person that says "you can't" you have to say "you can!"

I'm just very happy to have finally reached my goal weight and now changing to "toning" instead of "weight loss" for my goal. I can't even begin to tell you how much "I LIKE HOW IT FEELS!" It was a lot of stumbles to get here, but I was determined someday I would be here. And now, me the girl that was afraid of P90X is fighting like heck to do Asylum and LOVING IT! Am I perfect? Heck NO! But it doesn't matter...what matters is I keep raising the bar. I keep telling myself I can do better and I know I will.

I became a coach because I love it! I love how exciting it is to see people transform themselves. I love being there when they tell their story and then watching them come alive with their success. I'm a coach because "I LIKE HOW IT FEELS!"

We are all doing a "Holiday Fat Blaster" on the Cinderella Pact thread over on the P90X Programs Message boards. We would love to have anyone that wants to join us, jump over and just get busy with us. I don't care what program you are doing, the girls in there have tons of experience and great information to share. So if you are looking for a group of really motivated people...we are definitely where you want to go!

See you in the WOWY Super Gym!

AnLee ~ Coach Equildottsin

I just finished doing Asylum Vertical Plyo. Talk about a sweat. Absolutely LOVE starting my morning with a good heart pumping workout. I am one of those people that if I don't hit the WOWY Super Gym first thing in the AM, it just isn't going to happen or my workout won't be a good as I would of hoped. So I make it a point to get in here everyday and get that workout done.

This has been a real up and down journey for me. When I started my journey with Team Beachbody I was at a point in my life I had all but given up on myself. What I found here were real people with real struggles just like me. I can't even begin to tell you how much the support has really meant to me. The message boards have been a constant inspiration. For every time I thought I just can't do this, I was always able to find someone that was there for me to push me further and harder. Someone that believed in the end the journey would be worth it.

I started in 2007 as a customer and by 2010 had become a coach. I was encouraged many times to help coach others. But I just didn't feel that I had "arrived" just yet. You know, why would anyone want me to be there coach when I was struggling myself. But I don't think that being the perfect size 2 is what really makes a coach. I think being a coach is about being that one voice that when all others are telling you that you can't - they tell you that you will.

That is why I started the Cinderella Pact. The women in there are true inspirations. They understand what it feels like to fall off the wagon, to struggle with all life's other issues, to have to deal with a budget and try to eat healthy...they are real people living through real life, but making a committment to be the BEST they can be for their families.

I have had my own share of ups and downs, but I never stopped believing that one day I would get there. I once wore a size 18 and literally couldn't bend over to tie my own shoes. My journey has been a long and slow journey of losing just 1 or 2 pounds here and there. I won't lie, there are times I just wondered "what was wrong with me" and had several "pity parties" along the way. But I didn't give up...BECAUSE I'M WORTH THE EFFORT!

This week while cleaning out the basement I came across a box of clothes that I wore when this journey began. I wanted to make one of those cheesy photos holding my pants out. Imagine my surprise when I could get my entire body into one pant leg. WOW! That was my wake up call. It's like the changes have been happening all along the way. So my message is now matter how hard it gets, know the struggle is worth it. It doesn't matter how long it take to get there...YOU WILL GET THERE! Just keep pushing play and keep eating healthy! Your destiny awaits you!

AnLee ~ Coach Equildotttsin

Ever feel like your life is moving at a faster pace than you can keep up with? I think I'm running on stress overload. I know how important it is to eat properly and keep "Pushing Play", but dang...when the wind gets knocked out of your sails it's so hard to pick up and move on...UG! Like could a brick just fall down and strike me on my pumpkin head!

Today I finished Game Day with Overtime!!! FIRST TIME EVER made it to overtime. I think I just let my stress level PUSH me through it. I also video taped some of the strength yesterday. Trying to get ready for my December 31, 2011 meltdown coming out New Year's Eve! No more "fat" me...I want that little backless black dress. I'm going to unleash my results on the world...I won't quit till I get EXACTLY what I want..ME FIT & HEALTHY!!!

I hit a bit of a dilemma...the scales jumped up to 140!!! I was like "WHAT THE HECK". I don't know what's going on there. Sometimes I guess the body just does strange things. I've been really watching the sodium...and drinking TONS and I do mean literally TONS of water.  Ug! Frustrates me to know end when that happens. So may have to regroup here.

I don't get the stomach thing...how the heck to you get that flat and tight when you have so much loose skin. It's like half the battle is getting to your goal weight...the other half is just liking it. YUK is there a way to make that get tight again? The cellulite is slowly but surely getting better and I can feel the muscles and see definite lines in my legs, arms...but again ALL this loose skin...FRUSTRATING...anyone else dealing with this or is it just me?

I know first hand this is such a process. Especially when everything in your personal life seems to be going to the wayside. Just trying to figure life out sometimes. You know all my life I think I've been looking for that one purpose...like what is my significance to the world here. I wake, walk, talk, eat, sleep like everyone else...but still there is something else waiting to emerge.

"Every single one of us can do things that no one else can do - can love things that no one else can love. We are like violins. We can be used for doorstops, or we can make music. You know what to do. Barbara Sher"

Waiting for my music within...think I'm getting closer.

Got to keep pushing forward and upward. Let's keep PUSHING PLAY! THERE IS A NEW DAY DAWNING!!!

Yesterday I celebrated my 48th birthday! And like I do on most of my birthdays, I have to reflect from where I've been and where I'm going. I can definitely say this past year has been a year of growth for me...both spiritually and in body.

It was this time last year that I came to the realization my marriage was at a point that I could not continue the path it was on. We separated in September and attempted several months of marriage counseling. As hard as the months ahead of me were, I kept up with my fitness routine and eating properly. I realize now just how important that was to keep me focused and healthy during those stressful months ahead. After the efforts, we finally made the decision to move forward with our lives separately.

So being suddenly single in a world where I have been a couple has been a new experience for me. There are many other stresses that have come on during the year. Wanting to sell our family home, trying to build a new relationship, looking at the possibilities of another career path and relocating to another town to pursue those career options. Those are probably the most stressful. There have been days I've experienced a renewed hope and days that I crash and cry about "what direction" is it I need to take now.

The highlight of all the chaos, is slowly but surely a new, confident and very optimistic person has started to emerge. I'm getting up in the mornings "pushing play," eating what I know is good for me, taking my supplements (vitamins, flaxseed oil, fish oil, glucosamine chondroitin, and my SHAKEOLOGY). I'm starting to see I'm not drowning in fear of the unknown, I'm embracing the opportunity of a world filled with possibilities.

So for those of you that are facing struggles in your life, whatever they may be, I just want to tell you it is these moments in our life that we have to dig deep and keep reaching for that brass ring. We may not always get what we want, but if we are wise we will soon realize sometimes losing is the best way to win. There are always going to be challenges in our lives...the only thing we can hope for is to put on our best face and handle our situations as we believe. Because in the end, we are all the ultimate controllers of our destiny.

I think real courage and strength comes in everyday people just living their lives by doing the right thing because it is the right thing to do.

That being said...I became a Team Beachbody coach because more than anything I wanted to be there for others just like me. I wanted to be there to encourage and support in anyway I could. There is a better day ahead. No matter what brought you to this site. There are real people here, with real struggles, trying to get to the person they really want to be. I have found more inspiration in others journeys, while moving through my own. I hit my goal weight this year after a long 4 year journey of ups and downs...so know one thing, whatever it is you want...YOU ARE WORTH IT!

That being said...it is time for me to go "PUSH PLAY"! So another year for me begins and I have a feeling this will definitely be my YEAR TO SHINE!!!

Let's Do This!!!