Hope to see you tommorrow!

August 6th (2:30pm 4:00pm)Join Grand Champion Michelle Lee at eq-life Southdale Square.eq-life Southdale Square is located at:2900 West 66th Street Richfield, MN 55423(952) 548-9530

If you are anywhere near the Twin Cities on Saturday, I hope you can join me at Eq-Life in Richfield, Minnesota. I'll be sharing my BFL story and I hope to hear about yours! If you can't make it I hope to meet you soon.
How about the Tennessee event in October? Or the Champions for Life cruise in 2006? For details on those events please check out the events page on the Body for Life website!

Now on to my topic for today. Our personal "larders."
If you've reached your Body Fat goal---you can skip today's topic. Go out and have some fun.
But if you have been struggling to get off dead center--please take a moment to read today's ramblings!

"Larder" is an old fashion word that isn't often used today. It means a place to store food.
I've been thinking about them lately. Especially when it comes to my body fat percentage. My goal at the moment is to reduce that percentage. Right now I need to remove about 10 pounds of fat for ultimate mental, physical and spiritual health. Not to mention that that fat is hiding my six pack, my rock star arms...and those lovely leg muscles I have been working so hard to develop!

I figure that fat would equal two, five pound bags of sugar....or ten, one pound cans of shortening.
Basically I have been carrying these cans of "lard" around on my body instead of placing them where they belong...on a shelf in a larder! (or better yet, left on the shelf at the grocery store.)

If your BF percent isn't where you want it to be for optimum health---consider how much "lard" you need to stash in a larder. Imagine each day as you eat balanced meals, drink your water, take supplementation, and work out that you are removing that excess baggage and putting it where it rightfully belongs.
Your heart will thank you!

Why are some of us so afraid to put this lard where it belongs? We live in a world where food is plentiful...we don't have to carry around our own very personal stash strapped to our bellies and butts! The fact is if we do make the decision to put away these extra fat stores where they belong.... we won't starve. The fact is we don't have to feed our faces with all the wrong foods...just in case there's a famine or depression here in the US or because there are people starving in other countries. ( Read message from childhood here.)

The fact is---we can do this together---by working the Body for Life program each and every day!

Hope you have a great weekend.
Your buddy,
Michelle

New EAS Magazine....

EAS has just published its first (and I hope not the last) edition of its LeadingEdge Magazine. The magazine contains facinating profiles on pro-athletes, tips for a knock out cardio training, fat loss and weight training....and more.
Pro-football player, Ronnie Brown graces the cover of this slick, guide to fitness. I'd sure hate to meet face to face with this guy on the football field come fall...this guy is ready for the new season!

I must admit, when I first received my copy of LeadingEdge in the mail and saw Ronnie I thought...oh, this magazine is a "Guy Thing."
Well after reading the articles I was pleasantly surprised. This magazine really has something for everyone...guys and girls.

I was especially delighted with a feature on pro-competitor, EAS fitness model and athlete Jan Awad-Kelly.
In the article I learned how Jane wins. There are breakouts on her weekly workouts, a sample diet, supplements used and other valuable tips on how we all can turn up the heat to get Lean and Mean.
--What are the four bodybuilding secrets for melting the fat while maintaining the muscle?
--What is the secret to fueling our fat burning?
Those are just some of the questions that are answered in this intelligent and thoughtful segment on Definition.

If Preformance, Endurance, or Gain is what you are looking for...there are segments devoted to those goals as well.
--Read how former hard gainer, Abb Ansley continues to pack on the muscle.
--Read how endurance racer, Mark Tarnopolsky trains allowing him to win victory after victory.
--When it comes to Preformance---you can read how Seattle Seahawks quarterback, Matt Hasselbeck prepared for the season ahead.

At a time when steroid scandals are rocking the world of sports--its gratifying to learn that there are many pro-athletes still doing things the old fashion way with proper nutrition, resistance training, cardio and supplementation. Supplementation that .is cutting edge and legal.
Were you aware that EAS products have been accepted by the National Football League's supplement certifcation program. In fact EAS is the first--and currently the only--supplement company to be certified for this groundbreaking program.

If you are among the thousands that lament the loss of Muscle Media you'll want to get your free copy of EAS LeadingEdge Magazine.
Reserve yours by logging on to eas.com!
It is a great read, and an even better re-read!
Your BFL Buddy,
Michelle

S.T.O.P.!

Today I'd like to congratulate a young couple I had the honor of meeting in June during a Body for Life gathering. Jeremy and Lexie just finished their first 12 week challenge this week and did they ever finish strong! Jeremy lost 60 pounds and Lexie removed 20 pounds of fat.
Most of us know just how hard they had to work to meet these goals. It took regular workouts, balanced nutrition, supplementation and determination. But they say they are not done yet. They begin their next challenge on Monday.
Job well done you two. Please keep us posted on the next leg of your exciting journey.

Now I'd like to talk briefly about something that may be holding you back on your own journey to mental, physical and spiritual health.
Are you having a hard time resisting those urges to plurge on all the wrong kinds of foods outside of your freeday?
Are you having a hard time getting motivated to go to the gym for those workouts and cardio sessions?

Next time that happens....STOP!
S=stop before you reach for that pint of your favorite ice cream or put your hand in the cookie jar...
S=stop before you miss the opportunity to hit those tens.

T=think what those actions or lack of action will do to your progress. Will that ice cream stop you in your tracks? Will those cookies help you reach that goal of uncovering your abs? Will blowing off that exercise session move you closer to your goals? Think about what is really bothering you. Are you angry? Tired? Sad? Frustrated? These are all valid feelings we have and we should feel them not feed them.

O=options. Examine your options. I know personally that ice cream may help me stuff my feelings for a moment or two. But I also know that I will feel worse after eating it. Instead..think about your options. Could you talk about your feelings to someone you trust. If you are angry about something someone said...are you able to discuss the situation with them? If you are sad---maybe you could talk about it. If you are tired...maybe a quick nap might help. Or you may just want to find a quiet place and do some deep breathing and meditation exercises.

P=proceed. After you have stopped, thought about it and examined your options then proceed....Choose the most positive action that you can think to take. Your health is at stake!

Sometimes breaking a negative cycle is as simple as using the word STOP!

Have a great BFL Day!
Your buddy,
Michelle

Goal setting...

If you have done several Body for Life Challenges and your progress has ground to a hault...you may want to take a day or two to review the basics. Review your Body for Life book. Put in a success tape. Find a BFL buddy to share your program.

And....don't forget to take a look at your goals.
If you answered, "what goals?"...that could well be the problem.

As you know BFL is all about goal setting and taking the action to make them real. But what you may have forgotten along the path to gaining that new healthier and stronger you is that once we reach our goals its time to raise the bar and set some new ones.
Believe me, its something I forget too!

Today when you have a quiet moment or two take a look at your current goals. Are they still valid? If you're already reached them...check them off your "To Do" list and add a few more.
Don't be afraid to reach for the stars...but be realistic.

If you are tall and now fit into a size four...and LOOK awsome...moving toward a size two is probably not a good goal. Instead celebrate what you have accomplished. relish your hard earned victory. Then move on. Maybe you want more muscle definition in your arms? Maybe you want to build up your calfs? Hey there are exercises for that!

If you already got that hard earned promotion at work...celebrate your victory. You might now want to consider a new goal within that victory? Consider becoming a mentor to that new employee...or develop a cost savings program for your department....or fill in the blank!

Goals are as individual as our DNA. Yet they must evolve when we evolve.

If you are struggling...it might be time to review your goals. If you don't have goals...its time to develop some. As someone one much wiser once said..."make it a game you can win!"
Your BFL Buddy,
Michelle