The life and times of Merry Khaos and her alter-ego, Kristie Grey. A romp through the inner workings of a mind in roller derby athletics, training, and business management.
I have to be honest, until I booked the plane ticket I didn’t even know where Big Bear was. I had associated with (don’t laugh Next Wave people) COLORADO. There was snowboarding and big mountains in the photos … it had to be in Colorado, right? California doesn’t have mountains like that! (Geography student FAIL)
Last February Kristen Adolfi qualified for Big Bear and I saw all these photos of one hundred Herbalifers on the same team in these amazing mansions in the mountains – they were drinking healthy cocoa and becoming friends and getting a boost for their business. All I kept hearing was “This is awesome. This is so amazing.” And I made the choice that I would be there in February 2014.
So I qualified.
I found out I qualified only about a month or so before I had to be there. So the plane ticket was booked, I realized my geographical mistake and I realized that 2 major goals of 2014 was going to be checked off the list: Visit California. Qualify for something huge.
This year we only had 24 people qualify and what you had to accomplish was different (though still challenging) and what it did is that it really brought the NEXT WAVE of leaders in the Addy Organization together (Jill and Mark Addy are my AMAZING upline). So instead of being overwhelmed by 100 people I’ve never met, which may have caused me to hide in a corner and not talk to anyone, there were only 20 people I didn’t know and we all got to be friends.
Hiking. Pool. Table Tennis. Food. Shakes. Even some wine. Lumberjack Fit Club. Hot Tub. Team call from the hot tub. Olympics.
I ended up being the Fire-Tenderer because for some reason this weekend, my fear of flames subsided and my excessive need for warmth took over. I also did Warrior Pose on the edge of a drop off this weekend with Krissy Krash- and for anyone who knows me, you know I have a pretty crippling FEAR of heights. I felt it start to go away now. Maybe before it just came from my complete lack of balance…
This weekend really solidified why I work with Herbalife. It’s not just for the energy I get from my nutrition plan. Not just for the amazing way I feel after I drink my shake. It’s not just because I can set my own hours, make full time money with part-time hours or because it’s a great excuse to be fit.
No.
It’s because of the relationships I get to build and the friendships I get to create. I get to work with my best friends and I get to have best friends from every part of the world and I love it. I get to help people change their lives. I get to help people live stronger and longer. I get to help people be healthy and independent. And through doing that, I get to live stronger and longer. I get to be financially independent. I get to teach and I get to be taught. BY MY FRIENDS. I get to dream about all the things that I can accomplish with my friends.
And I can’t wait to meet my new friends in the upcoming years. Who don’t I know yet who will be like Andrea Wright? Teri Bossard? Amber Butyn? These are ladies who I didn’t meet in person before they began their nutrition plan and now I can’t imagine not having them influence my life. They are the reasons I push on and I keep doing what I’m doing.
I’m going to continue my dream of coaching and training roller derby leagues (I’m booking now, actually). I’m going to start inviting people to work out with me when I’m in Baltimore (and when I’m anywhere else). This weekend in Big Bear with new friends who are all starting out their dreams like me – it made me realize that affirmations are amazing and useful. But only if you start doing the work. So now is the time to stop making excuses and start doing the work. Keep your eyes peeled! It’s time to DO stuff and BE awesome.
Yesterday was the day of turkey and stuffing. And mashed potatoes. And biscuits. And sweet potatoes. And pie. And wine and beer .. lots of it. And if your family is like mine, lots of canned vegetables. Thanksgiving is the kick off to Christmas and all the goodies associated with it. Though, we can’t forget that we’ve been battling the pumpkin pie, gingerbread frappaccinos and chocolate treats for almost a month already.
How do we win the battle against the holiday calories? It’s easy, if you’re willing to try. No, seriously.
MOAR WATER!
Yes. More water is STEP ONE!! Why are you not listening to me on this one?? Water does a lot of things: it keeps your cells hydrated so they can do their job. It flushes toxins from the body. It keeps your nervous system in working order. It also is what makes up YOU.
Your body has no way of telling you that it’s thirsty so your body will send the only signal it can. So when you’re thinking, “Wow I’m so busy and hungry.. weird I just ate lunch … oh well, a cookie will solve it.” NO! BAD! Put the cookie down and pick up your water bottle.
Remember: Your goal is 1/2 of your body weight IN OUNCES of water per day for health. For weight loss, or on work out days knock that up a notch. “But bottled water is expensive!” … Yes, but a water filter is not. You can even get one for your office and fill up your filter in the office bathroom.
There are solutions everywhere if you’re just willing to look.
PROTEIN POWER!
Take a look at the meals you’re eating. How much protein is in each meal? Protein not only keeps you full, but your body needs much more in a day than we usually like to recognize. Also, proteins take longer for your body to burn. So, if you eat a Greek yogurt instead of the cookie, than you are not going to have a spike and crash in blood sugar the way you will after eating a carb heavy snack or meal.
Need protein on the go? Herbalife Beverage Mix kind of tastes like jello and mixes with water for a quick snack midday.
Herbalife Beverage Mix is a great, quick snack for the middle of the day.
MAKE YOUR TREATS HEALTHIER
You won’t feel as guilty about grabbing that cookie if there is protein and fiber in them. When you make mashed potatoes, make it mashed cauliflower. Use stevia root as your sweetener instead of sugar. Crisp up kale or eggplant for your chip snack at night instead of potato.
This is just a small list of things you can do to make your daily consumption better. Something else that will improve your snacking habits? Get rid of the junk food. You’ve seen shows where they toss out everything that’s brown or high in fat. Yes. Do that. Trust me, it’ll be liberating.
Herbalife’s Personalized Protein Powder can be added to foods to increase the protein. Add the Active Fiber Complex as well to really pack a healthy punch.
SET SMALL GOALS THAT ADD UP & TELL THE WORLD
It’s very easy to set really lofty goals for ourselves. When we do that, it is very easy to become disappointed. Set small goals at first: To take your vitamins daily. To get in 20 minutes of cardio per day for 2 weeks. To do 10 push ups a day.
After you set a few goals, declare it to others! Post it on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr… If you are going on a journey of weight loss, start a blog (like this one!) so that you can keep an updated log of how you’re doing and what you’re doing. Take pictures, log your measurements and it will help keep you on track.
TRACK YOUR CALORIES
There are lots of great ways to track your calorie consumption or burn. I use iChange, and others use MyFitnessPal. There are lots of exercise sites too like Fleetly.com and Nike+. Whatever you want, use it. Not only will it give you a good idea of how much you are (or aren’t) eating, but it will show you your protein intake, fat and calorie burn. Also… you might think twice about that 3rd piece of pie if you know you’re going to have to tell the interwebs about it later.
Khaos Theory Derby 