I LOVE this picture my friend had on her Facebook page!

Hello Fit Moms Fit Kids Club readers. I hope all is well! Life for me has been, well, busy! I hope you’ve noticed that I haven’t been blogging as much.    Did you miss me?? In fact, I’ve slowed way down on blogging.  This was not on purpose, life has just been happening at a rate in which I haven’t been able to keep up.  I have some new and exciting things going on which I’d like to share with you below.  And, I also have a special request that I’d like to ask from you.

First off, what’s been going on with me?  This year has been quite unique in that I’ve been training as if I were going to play professionally this year, but I have yet to play in an event.  This is due to quite a few reasons that I won’t go into right now. But, I’ve actually enjoyed NOT traveling.  And, I’ve been OK with not playing.  Yes, I get a little itch to play now and then, but I really think that this really may be my final year of playing beach volleyball professionally. (I know I say that every year..lol)

The exciting thing that’s happened though this year is that I’ve become a fitness adviser or “coach”!  Last month I launched my first online accountability group! My participants can live anywhere in the USA or Canada. It’s been a blast! I have 2 small groups going on simultaneously.  Each group has a max of 5 people.  July 3rd will mark 30 days since this group began and I’ll have all of their new measurements and new weights, and I’ll share their progress (not telling you their names of course).  I’m so excited to find out how everyone is doing.  But, I can tell you this, one of my ladies lost 12 lbs in 2 weeks, and in week 3, she was 16 lbs down!!! I am so excited for her!! Also, one of my guys at the week 3 mark was down 10lbs!!

Not everyone in my private accountability group is trying to lose weight.  In fact some, like me, are just trying to get into the better shape, or to be more toned and fit. In my private groups my participants can ask me whatever questions they like anytime. They have full access if you will.  We have some live conference calls (about once a month) to answer any questions as a group. Other than that, everything is done online via, video, and our private online page where  I give them inspiration, and encouragement, and help them reach their health and fitness goals. Each group lasts 60-90 days. A lot of my participants hadn’t worked out in years! Others had just began by themselves and realized that they needed a coach and accountability to push and encourage them.

We are not meant to walk through life alone.  Many of us, myself included, have had to learn this lesson the hard way.  Being a “Lone Ranger” most times costs us more than we thought.  Also, surrounding ourselves with people who have bad habits can cause us to go down the wrong path. This is why coaching and accountability is so important. We all need someone to push and encourage us, and we need to surround ourselves with like-minded people to help us to stay on track helping us make better choices.

This group has been teaching me so much personally.  I’ve become more optimistic about the health of America, and have faith that people with a heart to do something with the right tools and support can do ANYTHING.

For more info on my private accountability groups, and how you an have an Olympian (me) help YOU reach your health and fitness goals go to my Facebook page Get Fit With Annett and message me for more information.  My July group is FULL… But, I will have a new group starting August 6.  All participants must contact me for consideration to join the group, and must be registered through me by July 25.  The group is first come first served, and I only take 5 people in a group, so contact me ASAP ONLY if you are ready to let ALL excuses go and are SERIOUS about becoming healthier.

NEW GROUPS FORMING EVERY MONTH! So Contact ME!!

Annett Davis, Olympian & Founder of Fit Moms Fit Kids

If you went through the 28 day “A Better Me Challenge” with us, you are familiar with our “secret weapon.”  I call him the secret weapon because he brought us encouragement and challenged us every week to go further, dig deeper, and to be better.  I’m talking about the dynamic motivational speaker and life coach Byron Davis. The sad truth is most people will spend more time planning for their vacation than they will ever spend planning for their life. And we all know that those who fail to plan, are just planning to fail. Today your assignment is to listen to Byron as he teaches us in just 6 minutes about Unleashing Your Heroic Self! Not only do you get a “power shot”, but you also will get the chance to download a FREE copy of “Your Epic Life Plan” which was written by Byron Davis!!!   Listen to the video for more information.

After you watch the video click here to get your FREE no strings attached copy of Your Epic Life Plan! He’s not even asking for your email. Don’t get caught living someone else’s dreams. Journey through this FREE workbook and learn to live your passion, play to your strengths, and take hold of dreams, NOW!
What you waiting for? Get “Your Epic Life Plan!”

FINAL Step- Day 28

Physical

Congratulations!!!! You made it!!

What a wonderful feeling to know that today you are further along than you were just 28 short days ago.  This challenge has taken you through so many things.  I’ll just name a few of the physical steps you’ve taken if you followed along with us faithfully.  You added juicing to your diet (or homemade smoothies), and possibly completed a 3 day juice cleanse.  You started to drink your recommended daily intake of water.  An exercise routine was established.  You’ve incorporated more whole natural and real food into your diets.  Your pantry should be cleaned out, as you dump the junk, and more!  I’m so excited for you.

Today we will be wrapping up our physical part of the challenge with one of my favorite things… SLEEP.  Normally we don’t think about sleeping as something that will help our health and fitness goals, but let me tell you it is extremely important.  The following is taken from a previous post on our site by trainer Nikki Steven (one of our blog team members).  “The National Sleep Foundation reports that fewer than 7 hours of sleep each night is associated with increased risk for obesity, diabetes, and numerous additional health problems. Most doctors and trainers recommend 8-9 hours of sleep per night. Sleep is one of the most important things for muscle growth and tissue repair. When you get at least 8 hours of sleep your body produces the hormone leptin, which regulates your appetite and makes you feel satisfied after a meal. Enough sleep also regulates the hormone ghrelin, which increases your appetite. So skipping on your zzz’s will leave you feeling less satisfied and hungrier for high carbohydrate junk food. When you’re tired your body is more likely to want a quick boost of energy from sweet or starchy foods.  Lack of sleep will also increase your cortisol (stress hormone) levels and may result in an over production of insulin, leading to the storing of unwanted body fat, an interference in carbohydrate metabolism, reduced muscle size, impaired memory, sluggish immune system, and increased belly fat to name a few.”

Need more proof?  Here’s another study about why you need sleep to help you reach your fitness goals?  “According to a study done by Harvard Women’s Health Watch chronic sleep deprivation may cause weight gain by affecting the way our bodies process and store carbohydrates.”  Who wants that?? I love our writers here at Fit Moms Fit Kids Club, one of them in particular always makes me laugh out loud.  Read this short fun and funny post by our writer Wendy Hagen, author of Totally Desperate Mom- Keepin’ it Real in the Motherhood about sleep.  She has some good ideas for you to reach your sleep goals.  (FYI if you want a great deal.. Wendy’s having a special Valentine’s book sale going on now.  You can get  books to give to your girlfriends who need encouragement and laughter in their experience of motherhood… Click here!)

Your action step is to get some sleep.    Your body needs it.

Here are some tips to make sure you meet your sleep goals.

1.  Don’t exercise too close to bed. Instead exercise at least 3 hours prior to bedtime.
2.  Don’t drink caffeine close to bedtime.
3.  Find things to do that help you wind down like taking a bath or reading a book.
4.  Plan your day to get you to bed early enough to get 8-9 hours of sleep.
5.  Don’t take naps in the day if you have trouble sleeping at night.  If you do nap, 20 minutes max.
6.  Don’t eat sugary food. Eat clean and balanced.

Bonus Tip: Ever since I’ve been juicing regularly (which started with this challenge) I’ve bee sleeping soundly, and not waking up during the night.  It began after I did the 3 day juice cleanse.  One night my alarm was going off at midnight,  I was sleeping so heavily I didn’t hear it!   I usually wake up about 3 times a night, and am a pretty light sleeper.  Juicing has changed my life as far as sleeping goes.  I highly recommend adding juicing into your life.  I drink one green juice and one fruit juice a day using my Breville juicer.

If you have benefited from our challenge please let us know in the comments, and tell your friends!  They can start at Day 1.  Send them the following link, or paste it to Twitter or your Facebook page!  http://www.fitmomsfitkidsclub.com/2012/01/a-better-me-challenge-day-1/

Thanks again for joining us on our A Better Me Challenge!

Tomorrow you will hear a short inspirational video from life coach Byron to help you continue your journey beyond this challenge. If you didn’t see the video yesterday from fellow challenger Unitha Muhammed, please take the time to listen to what she learned from our challenge.  Her video was a complete surprise to me! I didn’t ask her to do this, she was just inspired to do it.  If you have a video you’d like to share with us about the lessons you’ve learned let me know. 

Blessings-

Annett Davis

Annett Davis, Olympian & Founder of Fit Moms Fit Kids

Baby and Big Step 27

Spiritual

What a journey we’ve been on right?  Today I’d like to share with you a video by one of your fellow challengers. I had NO idea that she was going to do this. It was a blessing to see how much A Better Me Challenge has touched her.  The reason I want you to see this is because you can tell she really poured herself into this challenge, as I hope you did. It shows that if you put your mind, body, and spirit into something you can go far.  I hope you enjoyed A Better Me Challenge as well.  Your action step today is to watch this short video by Unitha Muhammad.  After the video read the rest of your assignment below.

Part two of your action step is to write in your journal the lessons you have learned over the last 28 days. It may take a few days for you to complete all of this. Take your time, don’t rush this. This is very important. Taking note of where you have come from and where you are going is extremely important. Give thanks for your growth, for what you’ve accomplished. Accept grace for where you’ve fallen short. If you stopped the challenge at some point, start back up again. In a few months, revisit your journal entries to see how far you’ve come.

We’d LOVE to hear from you. Please share any lessons you’ve learned with us below in the comments, and/or on our Facebook page.

Annett Davis, Olympian & Founder of Fit Moms Fit Kids