Say YES to life!

Last night when we were down at the point for the Regatta and the Smash Mouth concert (what's up, 1999?!), I casually said to my friend, Michelle, "Wouldn't it be cool to watch the concert from up on the ferris wheel?" I said this hypothetically, not for a second thinking we'd be moving from our spot in the crowd (not to mention our earlier conversation about how we all think it's a *little* weird how fast they put those carnival-style rides up). Without missing a beat she said, "That would be cool! Let's do it!" I think my response was something like, "uh, yeah, ok, really? Alright, sure, let's check it out!"

We ultimately ended up deciding against it after seeing the line, but this taught me an important lesson nonetheless. Why go through life robotically when we could be grabbing it by the horns? How many other times have I tossed out ideas off-hand without saying to myself, why NOT do that? How often do those trained patterns kick in that tell us that something is too hard, too inconvenient, or ask us why we should bother?

It is SO important to surround ourselves with the people who will challenge us to GO FOR IT when we have a small whim to do something fun or a big dream in our heart! I admire the people who QUESTION the things that others would just glaze over! We become like the people we surround ourselves with, so I don't know about you, but I will ALWAYS be surrounding myself with the people who SAY YES to life, who know how AMAZING of an experience and opportunity and gift it is, and who are going to APPRECIATE and LIVE UP every moment that life has to offer!!!

Thank you, Michelle, for always reminding me of this!! And to all of the other wonderful people in my life who do this too (if you're reading this, I'm talking to you!)- THANK YOU!! I love you all!

LIFE IS WONDERFUL! LET'S ENJOY IT!!!

Visit https://www.facebook.com/CoachKatelynLesk and http://beachbodycoach.com/katelynlesk for more info!

I would be honored to help you with your fitness journey :)  Here is a link to sign up for a free account with me as your coach: https://www.teambeachbody.com/signup/-/signup/free?referringRepId=183908. Or you can go to www.teambeachbody.com, sign up for a free account, and enter any of my info in when it asks if a coach referred you: screen name: KatelynLesk, coach ID: 183908

Disclaimer Copy: Katelyn Lesk is an Independent Beachbody Coach.

Country Heat Day 1

Can you relate to this? The past couple months, I've been feeling like I just can't get ahead. I've been fairly consistent with my workouts, but the summer brings a LOT of parties, get-togethers, and trips and I find that just when I start to feel like I'm getting back to normal, something comes up to derail my progress. Don't get me wrong, I am ALL FOR living life to the fullest and enjoying fun dinners with friends, some wine, and sharing in the joy of life that social activities bring, but sometimes it can be really hard to keep your health and fitness on track at the same time! This summer my clothes have been fitting tighter, my digestive system has felt off, and I just haven't been feeling as good as I normally do. It's hard to feel your best in LIFE when you don't feel physically as good!

Just to be clear, I am ALL about loving myself at every point in the journey. Even when my weight creeps up and my clothes are fitting tighter, I love myself for all that my body is capable of doing, I appreciate my health, and I remind myself that sometimes with all we have going on in life, it's just not possible to do it all (but I AM proud of what I AM doing)! But you know when you just feel yourself needing to reel it in a bit? Yep, that's where I am. I can still love myself and be gentle with myself, while DECIDING to focus more diligently on my fitness and nutrition. It's time to course-correct and improve in that area of my life. I was talking to my friend and coach, Nicole, yesterday and I told her I am feeling FOCUSED and DETERMINED! I'm ready to take this next 30 days by storm!!

Now some of you might think that a program like Country Heat may not be the best way to really crack down on your fitness and/or lose weight (that's what I thought at first too). WRONG! I have been seeing the test group results as they've become available and have been BLOWN AWAY! My coach, Jennifer, was in the test group and I got to see her go through her 30 day transformation. Not having a lot of weight to lose in the first place, I was amazed by how she still lost 7.5 lbs in the 30 day program! Then I just kept seeing result after result from the people I knew in the test group: 10 lbs, 18 lbs, 5 lbs, 17 lbs, 16 lbs, 7 lbs, 9 lbs, 13 lbs and the before/after pics looked amazing!! Autumn said there were even 3 or 4 people from the test group that continued on with 2 more rounds of the program and lost 60 lbs!!! 

The other thing I LOVE about this program is that it's FUN! There's no equipment, no burpees, no extreme workout. I can work up the motivation to do just about any workout but I didn't have to go through that mental process this morning when I geared up to do it because I was actually looking FORWARD to it!! I tried 2 of the sneak peeks recently and already knew how much the music in the program motivated me to go all-out with the moves (and I would all of a sudden notice I had been SMILING the whole time)!!

Here's my day 1 "before" picture! I am ready to rock and roll and see what I can do over the next 30 days! More importantly, I'm excited to get back to feeling GOOD and have FUN in the process!! I will keep you posted- you'll certainly be along for the ride with me! Clip from my first workout will be posted shortly :) AND, if you'd like to join too, I would love to have you in on the action!! We have a Country Heat group starting next MONDAY!! 

Visit https://www.facebook.com/CoachKatelynLesk and http://beachbodycoach.com/katelynlesk for more info!

I would be honored to help you with your fitness journey :)  Here is a link to sign up for a free account with me as your coach: https://www.teambeachbody.com/signup/-/signup/free?referringRepId=183908. Or you can go to www.teambeachbody.com, sign up for a free account, and enter any of my info in when it asks if a coach referred you: screen name: KatelynLesk, coach ID: 183908

Disclaimer Copy: Katelyn Lesk is an Independent Beachbody Coach.

A reminder about course-correction and not being able to do it ALL

I posted these 2 pictures on social media recently. The picture from the Ab Challenge post (left) was from about a year ago. The picture in the blue sports bra (right) was from a few days ago, and whether you can tell or not, I’m actually about 10 pounds heavier currently than I was in the Ab Challenge picture.

Here’s the thing. I often hear people talking about how they’ve gained weight as if they’ve somehow “gone backwards” in their life progress. My philosophy is this: YOU HAVE NEVER GONE BACKWARDS! Impossible! I CHOOSE to believe I’ve never been better than I am today. And neither are you! And you know what else? We just keep getting better!!! With each new day comes more experience, wisdom, memories, and life lessons!

I might not be quite as fit as I was at this time last year but we HAVE to stop looking at this as an isolated category. I’ve grown light years in my own personal development, my business, and new friendships. I’ve gone on several amazing trips and made AMAZING memories! I saw 2 new countries in this past year. I joined a leadership group, a toastmasters group, and a business mastermind group. I’ve made incredible new friends and built upon the friendships of the awesome people already in my life. I’ve learned some good lessons and some tough lessons and I’ve GROWN because of it. I’ve been exposed to new experiences, connections, and opportunities. I’ve been able to coach more people than ever and hopefully have helped them see their OWN WORTH (which means more to me than anything)!! I’ve watched the Pens win and Stanley Cup and got to celebrate with the whole city! I’ve spent time in nature! I’ve spent quality time that I wouldn’t trade for the world with my family! I’ve tested my limits physically and tapped into my adventurous side. I’ve made mistakes, I’ve failed, I’ve learned, I’ve succeeded, I’ve EXPANDED! I’ve met new people who have given me new perspectives of life and what’s possible! I’ve done lots of great work on my health and my digestive system. I’ve read books and listened to countless hours of motivational personal development! I’ve expanded in my meditation and prayer practice and grown my faith because of it. I’ve laughed, I’ve cried, I’ve had fun, I’ve made incredible memories, and I’ve been grateful about ALL of it!!

If you aren’t exactly where you want to be in your health and fitness, I want you to take a second to think about all the EXPERIENCES you’ve had, what you’ve LEARNED, and what you’re GRATEFUL for! A number on the scale pales in comparison to what really makes up a LIFE WORTH LIVING!!

Any time I feel a little too far off track with my health and fitness, I remind myself of these things that I’m grateful for. I also remind myself that it is OK TO NOT BE ABLE TO DO IT *ALL*!  We HAVE to stop holding ourselves to that impossible standard then crumbling under the pressure then feeling guilty if we don’t succeed at being EXACTLY where we want in ALL areas of our lives. Let’s start being gentle with ourselves and loving ourselves right where we are! Then, once we are in that space of love, we can evaluate where we want to COURSE-CORRECT! In my book, it’s not about perfection. Sometimes I need to reel things in a little in certain areas of my life, let go of things in other areas of my life, and remind myself that I’m doing the best that I can. For example, after the Pens playoffs, I had to let go of eating at restaurants (and drinking wine) so frequently and focus a little more on my workout routine. Was it an extreme, drastic change? No. Just a little course-correction! If we’re gentle with ourselves, we can make this whole “life” thing EASY!

No matter where you think you’re at in life, remember, you’ve never been better! Keep on shining, rock star!!!!!!

Visit https://www.facebook.com/CoachKatelynLesk and http://beachbodycoach.com/katelynlesk for more info!

I would be honored to help you with your fitness journey :)  Here is a link to sign up for a free account with me as your coach: https://www.teambeachbody.com/signup/-/signup/free?referringRepId=183908. Or you can go to www.teambeachbody.com, sign up for a free account, and enter any of my info in when it asks if a coach referred you: screen name: KatelynLesk, coach ID: 183908

Disclaimer Copy: Katelyn Lesk is an Independent Beachbody Coach.

What I love about our Health & Fitness Online Challenge Groups

The online challenge groups that our team runs are honestly SO much more to me than just health and fitness. I LOVE the incredible friendships we build in these groups- we get SO much inspiration from each other. I always feel like I'm on a TEAM that's rooting me on and supporting me no matter what (even when I miss a workout or slip from my eating plan). I love knowing I have a place to share my successes and ask for help when I'm struggling. I love the FUN we have (seriously- believe it or not, these groups make working out and eating well FUN!!)- we joke about the not-so-fun parts of the workouts and laugh at ourselves when we can't do all the moves (like the time I accidentally shot a resistance band across the room trying to get into an all-4s position during the pilates workout of 21 Day Fix Extreme)! We share health tips (it's SO helpful having a ton of creative minds to pull from- TONS of good ideas for how to stay on track). All around, these groups are one of my FAVORITE parts of my coaching job!! Couldn't be happier or more honored to be a part of these groups every month with some absolutely incredible people. If you want to know how to get involved, PLEASE- just ask!! I love talking about these groups, I will NEVER pressure you into anything you're not ready for, but I want to make sure everyone knows and understands what they're all about so that you're not missing out on something that might bring you a ton of joy (not to mention health improvements)!! Let's chat ;-)

Visit https://www.facebook.com/CoachKatelynLesk and http://beachbodycoach.com/katelynlesk for more info!

I would be honored to help you with your fitness journey :)  Here is a link to sign up for a free account with me as your coach: https://www.teambeachbody.com/signup/-/signup/free?referringRepId=183908. Or you can go to www.teambeachbody.com, sign up for a free account, and enter any of my info in when it asks if a coach referred you: screen name: KatelynLesk, coach ID: 183908

Disclaimer Copy: Katelyn Lesk is an Independent Beachbody Coach.

This is what a challenge group feels like!

I have a lot of people that still ask me what challenge groups are all about and what we actually do in these online (Facebook) groups. It's a difficult concept to explain and a lot of people have misconceptions that we meet in person or that there are calls involved or that it's something where you REALLY have to be committed 100% to a fitness or nutrition plan in some kind of extreme way.

If you follow me on Facebook and saw my posts on Friday when I was running the buffalo hill in South Park, that might give you a better idea of what the challenge groups are all about because the interactions were very similar in a lot of ways.

The groups can be utilized in any way a participant pleases but I like to utilize them for encouragement and motivation to get my workouts in. When I was posting about my hill workout, I was LITERALLY posting DURING the workout (mainly when I was recovering walking down the hill). It gives me accountability to continue when I put it out there what my goal is, and the huge amount of encouragement I received during my workout really kept me going. I probably would not have even done half as many hill repeats without all of your support!

The groups are very similar. Even though we are working out at home, on our own time frames, we post when we need motivation to get started and the whole group cheers us on virtually in the Facebook group (just like you may have seen people doing on my buffalo hill posts). We share healthy recipe ideas, tips for how to make healthy decisions at restaurants, motivational stories, our goals and reasons for wanting to hit them, and more. The feeling of being on a TEAM is what keeps us all going- and more importantly, in a way that feels GOOD! I WANT to get my workout in and eat well when I know I have other people supporting me and trying to do the same. It's amazing what that can do psychologically for motivation.

The Facebook groups (aka challenge groups) are all private meaning that the only people who can see your posts or see that you're even in the group are the other people who are in the group as well. It's important to me to create a safe environment where everyone feels comfortable to share openly.

Even if you don't think you like to workout or don't believe you have the motivation to eat a little more healthily, you may be surprised what these groups can do! If you have any interest in trying one out, contact me or your coach! We have new groups starting every month and our next 3 week group starts tomorrow, May 9th!

Visit https://www.facebook.com/CoachKatelynLesk and http://beachbodycoach.com/katelynlesk for more info!

I would be honored to help you with your fitness journey :)  Here is a link to sign up for a free account with me as your coach: https://www.teambeachbody.com/signup/-/signup/free?referringRepId=183908. Or you can go to www.teambeachbody.com, sign up for a free account, and enter any of my info in when it asks if a coach referred you: screen name: KatelynLesk, coach ID: 183908

Disclaimer Copy: Katelyn Lesk is an Independent Beachbody Coach.

Leadership and character is caught not taught

Not much sleep and I've got a packed weekend but I was up bright and early this past Saturday morning because there was no way I was missing Doug Smith speak on leadership at the inaugural L3 Leadership- Beaver meeting! One of my biggest take-aways was that *Leadership and character are CAUGHT not TAUGHT*! It is so important to me that I'm constantly surrounding myself with people who are better than me in various ways so that I can learn and grow as a person. THAT is why I'm willing to drive an hour out of my way for an early Saturday morning meeting when it would have been very easy to sleep in. I am so grateful for L3 Leadership (these breakfast meetings and our small group mastermind sessions). I love that the people I have met are willing to lead by example of their high character, support me in my growth, generously pour into me, challenge me and call me out ("feedback is the breakfast of champions!" - Doug Smith), stretch me, and give me loving encouragement the whole way. For example, Pastor Larry Bettencourt who had just met me today spent lots of time before and after the meeting answering my questions and speaking to me about how to handle certain leadership challenges that come with managing a team of people with varying levels of readiness to move up and even gave me useful, practical examples of ways in which he has dealt with that. Doug Smith gave a phenomenal amount of value in his talk today. And I got the privilege of meeting new leaders and connecting with some of the incredible people I have gotten really close with over the last 6 months who are always so caring and supportive.  That is the value that can come to your life when you are WILLING to go all-in! Be fearless in pursuit of your own growth!!

I feel the same way about friendships! One of my best friends, Nikki Watson, has been a great partner in my personal and spiritual growth over the past couple years. In this video, we talk about how to cultivate intentional, expansive relationships like this in your life!

How a "Treat-free Challenge" Facebook group HUGELY helped me during the holidays and beyond!!!!!

When my team decided to do a 10 Day Treat-Free challenge leading up to the holidays, we were all a bit nervous about it!! We weren’t sure if or how we’d be able to stick with it! But we rallied together all our best strategies and more importantly, we rallied together as a TEAM (both coaches and our clients)! We created a Facebook group and all shared progress, tips, things we were struggling with, and daily successes in the group. It was SO FULL OF INCREDIBLE ENCOURAGEMENT!! We tackled treat temptations at the office, holiday parties, and social events head-on!

Even us coaches were nervous for this! :)

The rules weren’t necessarily that you HAD to go treat-free for the full 10 days, but we had everyone at the beginning of the group state what their own rules for themselves were going to be for the full 10 days. My rule was that I was going to avoid any desserts, junk food, and alcohol for the full 10 days. To be perfectly honest with you all, I didn’t do it! I did manage to avoid all junk food and desserts (including some of the snacks available at my friends’ house when I went to visit them on the other side of the state)! But I indulged in a glass of wine while out to dinner with them, then later in the weekend on my trip, we went out for a night on the town with their friends and I had some drinks that night too.

Did I accomplish my initial goal? No. But I did WAYYYYY better than I would have had I not had this group and this challenge. And honestly, the group somehow managed to make it FUN!!! It felt like playing video games with a bunch of friends as kids! We all had a common “enemy,” we shared tips and strategies, we rooted each other on, we picked each other up when temporarily defeated, and we celebrated all of our wins together!

The even MORE phenomenal result was that by the end of the 10 days, it almost had become second nature to avoid treats! The sugar and addictive food substances were out of my system and I wasn’t craving any of it! The group ended the day before Christmas Eve but I went into the holidays with a TON of momentum and did not go overboard at all during Christmas! In fact, even a week after the holidays, I felt GREAT (this picture was taken on December 29)!! I felt healthy, energized, strong, motivated to stick with my workouts and good nutrition, and was able to continue my momentum into the new year (WAY beyond the initial challenge)! What a way to dive into the new year!!

If you’re interested in doing anything like this with us, please contact me!! Our team runs challenges and groups like this every month so there are always ways to get involved!! We’d love to have you on the TEAM!!



Disclaimer Copy: Katelyn Lesk is an Independent Team Beachbody Coach

Football or holiday party tips

For me, when I walk into a party and food is EVERYWHERE, that is the toughest situation for me. I easily get caught up in picking at things and going back and forth between salty and sweet (I can literally FEEL dopamine and other brain chemicals kicking in)! It's REALLY tough to maintain will power if the food is going to be out for an extended period of time. These are what I call "high risk situations". I still haven't mastered them but I have learned some tricks that have helped me in these situations:

1. Bring something healthy to the party (at least you know you'll have one healthy option!)

2. Sip on some coffee or tea- it keeps your mouth occupied

3. If I know I have a party like this coming up, I make SURE to do as much as I can around it to stay on track. I eat EXTRA healthy a few days leading up to it, I get my workout in that day so I go into it feeling good, and I have a plan in place to make sure I eat well in the days following (stocked up on healthy food, healthy meals already prepared, schedule a yoga class or other workout meet-up with a friend for the day after)

4. I use my client accountability groups (on facebook) to encourage me and help me devise a plan! Knowing I have to report back to them keeps me on track!

5. I find an accountability partner- preferably someone AT the party, but it also works to have someone on hand that I can text (I've even posted in my facebook groups FROM the party to ask for extra encouragement).

6. Wait as long as possible to eat. The later you start, the more will already be eaten and the less time overall you'll have to maintain your good decisions. Try eating something healthy before the party to keep you full and satisfied for as long as possible before digging in

7. I remind myself that I don't need to try EVERYTHING. Find the indulgences that look the most "worth it". There's nothing worse than eating junk and realizing it wasn't even that good. And by all means, throw away anything you take that ends up not being "worth it"! We don't need to go for clean plate club here.

8. Position myself as far away as possible from the food (preferably in another room)

9. Instead of focusing on what I'm missing out on, I focus on the good, non-food aspects of the party! Here's a perfect chance to get to know your friends and family on a deeper level! When was the last time you asked a relative what were some of their biggest lessons they've learned in life? When was the last time you got down on the floor to be in awe of a cardboard box with your little niece? I had a FANTASTIC business discussion with my mom's cousin's husband at our family reunion recently. Sometimes when you're around people from the time you're little, you forget that they have other interests and skills outside of the family. We both learned a lot from each other and it kept me engaged and not thinking about food the whole time we were talking!

10. Good or bad, don't beat yourself up for anything that happened haha. Guilt will only add to the stress that can trigger us to continue on an unhealthy track. Tomorrow is a fresh start. Get back on the wagon!

Any other tips to add?? I'd love to hear them!