Looking Back at My Life ~ Crazy How Things Have Changed!

Let me be real and open up a little with you today about my past and how my life used to be....

I was thinking back over the year and then I thought back to about 5-10 years ago when I was a stay at home mom with absolutely no vision and no purpose for my life. I was simply existing and getting through each day. Many days would be spent crying due to my struggle with depression, or just sitting on the coach watching tv and eating junky foods that made me feel even worse. 

I used to love watching Days of Our Lives and some of those famous talk shows, but what kind of life is that? What kind of passion could i possibly have to get up and just watch tv, cook, clean and take care of my 2 girls? I know for many taking care of kids is their passion and they love it, but let's just be honest, for many moms -- we want more -- we want purpose -- we want to provide financially for our family. 

Our life was very simple back then and we were a one income family which meant I used coupons (and for a few years I became the crazy coupon lady you saw on tv - yep! that was me with the binder! Hahaha!) we never ate out, we went on one trip a year if we were lucky and it was usually camping or my mom helped foot the bill because we could not afford it. My mom would help buy the kids clothes and shoes because we were just barely getting by, so this is one of the reasons I long to pay her back someday and spoil her rotten because she has always been so giving to us.

My husband and I would fight often over money and many times we almost divorced because of big purchase decisions that were made without consulting one another. Any added debt would mean we had even less to live on. And we did have debt. At one point it was pretty bad. I am not sure of the amount, but my best guess is it was over 10 k of credit card debt. Not sure how we got to that point, but it felt like this weight that was suffocating and again I felt hopeless. I saw our lives being meek, broke and I felt myself just dying inside because I knew I was made for more. I knew God had planted a seed of entreprenurship in my heart. I wanted so badly to own my own business and had many ideas along the way, but my lack of focus and belief in myself plus lack of funds kept me from ever getting started. I remember crying so many times. Crying out to God on my knees for direction and guidance. For God to show me his purpose for my life. To give me joy and meaning. To give me a job to provide more for my family. In 2007 I finally reentered the workforce and had a full time job and i finally had purpose! I loved my job. I loved my coworkers. It was a really good environment and the job was perfect for me. My biggest issue was balancing my emotions due to the stress of balancing 2 jobs (I would get off at 3 or 4 and my day would start with my 2 young children). I also have a special needs child who exaserbated me daily with her emotional outbursts. We are still not sure, but the diagnosis is leaning towards bipolar with adhd (which breaks my heart because no mother wants this for her child). But, every day was a battle with emotional outbursts, arguments, i mean the kid was 9 and she wanted to move out. It was so draining. So, I wanted so badly to have this carreer, but my kids needed me too and it was a lot for me to handle. I have depression that is triggered by stress, so you can see how this would be a very hard thing to balance. I also have that "want to do it all" mentality and you just cannot do it all. It's impossible and it will stress you out.

After one year of working my husband, who was currently serving in the Army, was transferred to Maryland and I had to give up my job which was heart breaking because I really loved feeling worthy, like I was contributing and like i was no longer what some call a "dependa-potamus".

Those years we were stationed in Maryland were hard for me. Being home and really not having a huge purpose, nor providing extra income for my family. I honestly felt like a complete failure and a loser. Sad. I know.

Fast forward to 2012 when my entire life changed. This is when I said "YES" to becoming a Beachbody Coach. I did not realize it at the time, but I had been praying that God would guide me and provide a part time job so I could have purpose and contribute to my family. This came at the perfect time. My husband was deployed to Afganistan when I started and we were both getting back into fitness and working on living a healthier lifestyle. I dove in about 5 months after I started and I just never looked back really.


Free Beachbody Cruise 2013 ~ SS Beachbody Oasis of The Seas

Owning my own business as a Beachbody Coach was exactly what I needed to help me be more accountable to my own fitness and health goals and provided me with purpose and an income to provide more for my family and myself. I wanted more -- let's just be honest here. Living a life of scraping by is not fun. But it was not an easy road. I have grown and been emotionally stretched like never before. I have cried. I have laughed so much. I have been blessed to travel to so many places for "WORK!" in just 3 years: Palm Springs, Nashville, San Antonio, Austin, Orlando, Miami, DC, Las Vegas, Cancun, Jamaica, the Cayman islands, and Fort Lauderdale. I mean, pinch me for real! How did I get this job?!?




But it is a business. It requires working and investing in growing your skills so you can help lead and mentor others more effectively. It requires sacrifice and showing up even when you don't feel like it. It requires growing in areas where you are weak. It requires learning how to deal with difficult people who hurt you emotionally because they have their own emotional trash. It requires trusting those who have gone before you to guide you. It requires being teachable. It requires having perseverance. It requires believing in yourself or at least pretending to while you grow your belief -- I always said "fake it until you make it" and that is exactly what I did.


On Stage at Coach Summit 2015

My self esteem and belief in myself was not always there and to be honest I am still extremely self conscience about what others think about me. But, I do hold my head up and pretend to be confident even if inside I am afraid of failure. At one time I was even afraid of success. Afraid I would never measure up and be the leader God called me to be, but I realize now that I will never have it all figured out. God will guide me and give me the wisdom I need for the path he has placed in front of me. But, the accomplishments, the consistency, the triumphs I have had with my business have helped me to feel alive and like I am finally fulfilling my life goals! I have always been a quitter until now. I am no longer a quitter and I set goals and I achieve them. This year at our yearly conference in Nashville -- which is amazing BTW -- I was honored to walk across the stage as a 2 Star Diamond Beachbody Coach, which means that our Team is a 2 star team (we have more diamonds on the Team, but that is a whole n'other explanation because I teach my team to build for wealth and not for rank). I would not be here without my Team. They are the reason I am where I am and I love love love them all! They are my fit family and they have been with me through some really tough seasons in my life. I don't know how I would have gotten through those tough times without them. So, another perk with the biz is you will make the most amazing friends ;) and have a place to belong.


Part of Team Push Revolution in Nashville 2015

So, if you are struggling to find purpose in your life and want to earn some extra income, please consider learning more about what we do as Coaches. It has changed my life, my families lives, and many of my friends lives who came on our Team and have now paid off debt, gone on vacations, saved money, and so many more amazing things. I host a sneak peek into coaching once a month, so reach out to me or one of my amazing Teammates for VIP access to this 5 day group to learn more. Contact me via email at jenniferwoodfitness@gmail.com







Beachbody does not guarantee any level of success or income from the Team Beachbody Coach Opportunity. Each Coach's income depends on his or her own efforts, diligence, and skill. See our Statement of Independent Coach Earnings located in the Coach Online Office for the most recent information on our Coaches' actual incomes." 
 Statement of Independent Coach Earnings,http://tbbcoa.ch/TBB_SOICE.

Skinny Cranberry Cherry Cosmo ~ Holiday Drink




Skinny Cosmo Holiday Drink Recipe

Try this tasty alchoholic adult beverage using vodka, lime, orange, and cranberry juice. It's super easy and tastes great.

1/2 cup ice
1 oz vodka
2 tbsp no sugar added cranberry cherry juice (or cranberry)
1 wedge orange (quarter orange, and cut in half)
1 wedge lime (cut in half and half again)
1 tsp sugar or agave syrup

Place everything in a shaker cup and shake to combine and dissolve the sugar. Enjoy!

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10 Reasons a Woman Should Lift Weights to Lose Weight

Many women are afraid of lifting weights because they think they will get bulky, but truth be told, you WON'T unless you are using steroids or have a HUGE amount of testosterone. Weight training has many benefits to changing the way your body looks, weight loss due to increased fat burning, bone density as we age, balance and stability, health and so much more. And let's not forget, muscle burns more calories which means you can eat MORE food! I love food and would like to eat more. How about you? After 30 our muscle declines and that means our calorie intake needs to go down or we will gain weight. UNLESS, you do weight training. 
A few reasons why weight training is the BOMB....
1. You will burn more fat 
2. It will change your body shape.
3. Increase your Metabolism
4. You will stand taller and feel more confident!
5. It helps prevent osteoporosis because weight training strengthens your bones too!
6. Helps fight those winter blues and depression due to the endorphins that your brain releases after a workout. 
7. Helps you fight diabetes because the more muscle you have the more efficient your body is at balancing blood sugars and processing glucose. 
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