Stay at Home Mom, Get's Paid to Get Healthy & Help Others

Ok, I know some people think it's distasteful to boast about money and income or whatnot, but I have to just throw this out there to the universe. I received my 1099 from Beachbody for taxes. I am very impressed with how much a 'Stay at Home Mom' can make in a year just by helping others get started on the right track towards health & fitness. I'm not saying it was enough to make any really large dreams come true (yet) but the extra money brought in from this little side job, this business that I'm building helped pay for school clothes, kids' sports, shoes, extra groceries, date nights, camping trips, weekend getaways and many other things we've gotten to do the past year that wouldn't have happened without my 'Stay at Home Mom' pay. I'm very confident that this year, 2013, I will have DOUBLED my income and many more 'extras' will be affordable for me and my family. So what I'm saying is: If you've been thinking about becoming a coach but you just haven't taken that leap yet, what's holding you back? There will NEVER be a "perfect time"... sometimes you just gotta GO FOR IT! What would you do with a little extra 'change' in your pocket?

The Half-Hearted Hero

To kick off the month of February and the start of Heart Health Awareness I am doing a special story about a little boy with a big, half heart! Meet Owen Jones...

Owen Jones is a 10 year old boy who was born with a congenital heart defect called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, essentially half a heart. Owen had the odds of life stacked against him as he had to undergo four open heart surgeries before the age of two. Owen is a fighter and has never given up. For the last few years Owen has become determined to fight back by raising money for the American Heart Association. This money helps educate, raise awareness and provide life saving research. Owen is determined that one day, no one will have to die of a broken heart. Owen has affectionately been called The Half Hearted Hero for his efforts in helping others. Owen has never had an easy path to walk but he has never stopped walking it. He has never had self pity over his limitations or doubts in his ability. What Owen has is faith and determination that one day he can make a difference.

If you would like to learn more about Owen and his story click this link The Half-Hearted Hero and read his inspiring story. There is a way you can help him in his fight to raise money for the American Heart Association as well. You can go to this link Team Owen to donate. 

Stay healthy. Be healthy.

Year 2012 in Review

This past year has been life changing and eye opening. We bought a house, after so much struggle with job loss and losing our home in Florida, we were able to move into a home of our own again. I was accepted into and graduated from a prestigious Business Bootcamp! That was mind blowing what I learned and how much I grew during that time. I earned a Success Club trip to Disney World. My husband and I went to Vegas for Coach Summit -- It was an experience that will forever be one of my top 10 favorites in my life. I met new friends, I met celebrities. It was amazing! My marriage has gotten stronger. My husband & I have really built an incredible relationship and it's all built on a foundation of trust, hard work, health and fitness. We are slowly learning how to become debt free. The financial freedom once we pay off our last bit of debt will be indescribable! I've done a lot of personal growth: I'm overcoming anxiety and learning how not to care what others think of me. I'm learning how to be a successful business woman. I'm learning how to be the best leader for my team and help others have a more fulfilling life of their own. 

It hasn't been all roses & balloons though. For 2 months we weren't sure how we'd buy groceries or keep the house heated. Work was slow. Money dried up and things got real tight. And it's still very hard financially for us right now. We had some ups & downs with our children and even moving into our new home had some trial & error moments. Our life is far from perfect! But we strive every day for progress and keep moving forward one step at a time. We've learned that nothing God puts in our path is meant to break us, it's meant to strengthen us and keep us pointed towards our goals. Many people give up in the face of adversity and say it's just too hard, it's impossible. That is the wrong attitude! We may get pushed around and tripped up by life, but we damn sure will fight to stand back up and keep pushing forward. That is the right attitude!

What many people don't realize is that we can change our attitudes about life. It takes some work, but it can be done. The more we accept other people and their faults and quirks, the less judgmental we become. The more we decide to share the goodness that's within us, the less selfish we become, and the less likely we are to hang on to material things. The more we learn about other's emotional or physical problems, the more understanding and compassionate we become. YOUR attitude is one of your gifts to the world, all day, every day. What kind of gift do you give? And is it a gift that remains strong, steady & true no matter what happens to you?

Would You Do This?

Would you be willing to live like no one else?

 We have made a big decision. This is something that's important to us and I felt it was something different to share with my Facebook "framily", y'all mean a lot to me and I love each of you, all for different reasons. So I feel it's ok to share this. It's nothing bad and nothing to feel bad about. We are happy with our decision :)

Ok let me explain. We may be crazy and going against the norm, but we've decided to have Christmas different this year. Every year so many people go into debt or spend money they don't have to buy stuff they don't need because they've lost sight of what the holiday is all about. Christmas comes with or without a tree or gifts. It's December 25th, every year, regardless if we have a tree up & gifts under it. Every year we bend over backwards and stress out trying to make sure we get our kids & everyone else the stuff (they don't need) to make them happy and in the process we end up not paying bills or scrimping on groceries or maxing out credit cards to have the money (we don't really have) to do it. NOT this year... We don't have the money! We've had some financial trouble, so things are worse than tight. BUT - We aren't stressing or worried our kids will be scarred for life because they didn't get to open any presents. They will be fine! We have already talked to them about this and they understand (having good kids is a blessing). We don't have a tree either... This year will be focused on what matters: family, having a warm, safe, dry home. Electricity, running water. Food on the table (we will have a nice Christmas dinner), love, community and being together. Those are our gifts.

In an effort to start a new lifestyle that will snowball us out of debt, this is our first step. We will live like no one else, so later we can live like no one else. 

Priorities

As a Health & Fitness Consultant it is my job to promote a healthy lifestyle, fitness, a better way of life. I show people how to incorporate fitness, cleaner eating and personal growth into their daily lives which teaches them how they can live a happier, more fulfilling life. I love teaching this to others. I've learned so much about myself along the way.

Today is Black Friday. There are tons of people all over the U.S. swarming the retail world for all the 'great deals' on tv's, gadgets and well...in my opinion...JUNK! Useless crap that no one NEEDS. What has become of people's priorities? They can spend hundreds of dollars on JUNK, yet they claim they can't afford to eat nutritious food or afford a fitness program that actually costs LESS than the crap they're standing in line for or camping out for days to buy. What is WRONG with this picture?

People have become so distorted in how they view their priorities. THINGS have become more important to them then their health or the health of their family. It's really a shame and very heart breaking.

If only they would see that if they would invest their money wisely...so many more rewarding things would happen for them. I do my best to show them, lead by example. Sometimes I don't feel like I do enough. But I am only one person and I do what I can. It's up to them to make the changes. To decide to make better choices. If they don't, that's not my fault...it's on them when they don't feel well or end up in the doctors office for an illness or disease that could have been prevented.

I pray for these people. I pray for them to change their priorities and choose HEALTH over JUNK!

Who Am I?

I am such a complex person. I love to learn new things. I'm teachable! I like to give and because of that, I get taken advantage of a lot. I'm often taken for granted and many don't take me seriously. That doesn't stop me!

I have so many interests and things that excite me. From my passion to live a healthy lifestyle to my obsession with living a simple, country life to being frugal to learning about farming and homesteading. My fetish with shoes and purses and having my own 'fashion' sense. My love for the arts. Many more things that make me, ME!

I need to find more like minded people to talk to and share with...Are you out there?

The Compound Effect

A few weeks ago a friend commented on a Facebook status I wrote, that said 'Where did Amy Leever go?' You see, in the last 3 years, I've done a lot of changing. The most changes have happened over the course of this last year. I've been doing a lot of Personal Growth and learning about myself.

I've been reading a lot. Books like "First Steps to Wealth" by Dani Johnson, 'Money Makeover' by Dave Ramsey, 'The Slight Edge' by Jeff Olson and most recently I started reading 'The Compound Effect' by Darren Hardy. These books have given me some really interesting insight to my life.

I know, I know -- these 'self-help books are a bunch of hogwash', 'these things are a scam. They only want your money', 'these so called 'experts' don't understand my situation', etc. I have had the same exact attitude once. But that's the point! The only way to change your life is to change your thinking. Step outside what you've been taught to believe in and try something new. Open your mind and grow up!

My daily choices have gotten me where I am today...If I gain some weight it's because of my daily choices, if I am tired and cranky, it's because of my daily choices. If I am out of money and can't pay my bills, it's because of my choices...see where I am going?

What I'm learning is this: I am the only one responsible for how things are in my life. I am responsible for how I act, how I feel and how I think. No one else is to blame. It's the same lesson I've been reading in 'The Compound Effect'...

"No Man's Land"...

This is described as the place where you aren't really unhappy, but you aren't really happy. It's the place where we numb ourselves to our dreams, wants and desires to fit into the time, energy and money we currently make or have.

Complacency is what it's called and something we should all fight against. Fear of being uncomfortable has gotten us a life full unmet dreams, expectations and never reaching our potential. Sometimes it happens so subtly we don't really notice until years later, but all the small, seeming insignificant decisions we made each day over the years have gotten us to the point where we are now.

Our choices, behaviors and habits will determine our future and are an accumulation of our life as we know it now. The good news is that we can always start making better choices, create better habits that create different behaviors and the beauty is, it does not have to be one big change...small steps will make a HUGE difference in the long-run.

The Compound Effect is always in motion, positive or negative - we are either Moving Forward or Sliding back.

THERE IS NO STANDING STILL
(Thank you Darren Hardy! - The Compound Effect)

Isn't that eye-opening? When I read that, my heart skipped a beat and it really had me thinking about all the choices I've made throughout my life. And I started thinking wow...so all this time I thought it was the governments fault I've always been poor. It's the way life is, and I'll never expect anything different because I was born to a life of hardship and poverty. When all along it's been ME. My choices that got me where I am.

When I weighed in at 220 pounds, lost, broken, sick, in pain, depressed, miserable and ready to end it all permanently...it was all because of my BAD choices that put me there.

My bad choices with finances and not having a solid plan in place has left us in debt and always struggling to make ends meet. We are always living hand to mouth because we've made poor choices with our money. We've let money enslave us, rather than making our money work for us.

When I decided to take control and fix all that. My choice to change helped me lose 50 pounds, change my body, change my life and change my mind. It had nothing to do with the economy, the government or someone else's choices -- it was all on me!

The economy still sucks. The government still can't figure out what it's doing. But me...I'm happy, healthy and building a business. I'm prospering. I'm successful. I'm learning new things and making new friends. That's all on me too!

My choices, my behavior and habits have determined my future. The small, insignificant decisions I make each day are accumulating. And one day they will all snowball into the vision and dreams I have set for myself and for my family.

The more I learn, the better I can put the lessons towards getting out of debt and make a better life. I will live like no one else, so then later I can live like no one else. That's all a mixture of the Personal Growth I've been going through. So 'what happened to Amy Leever?' -- I've changed my way of thinking, so I can change the way I live. I've stopped blaming other people and circumstances and have taken responsibility, put it where it belongs; on me.

I am the ruler of my own destiny!

A Plea to Thee

There are days, almost every day, I feel like people try so hard to jump on any quick fix to lose weight; Atkins diet, the South Beach diet, the Mega Green Tea pill, HCG shot - Really, hormones to lose weight? What?, the Ally pill (I tried it), the shake weights (Yeah, I have one! Silly, right?!), the ANYTHING OTHER THAN WORKING OUT and EATING CLEAN PLAN!

Really...I realize people struggle because believe me I have been there. I am still there!! I struggle every day to stay on track and do what is healthiest for my body & my mind. But before you think of taking another quick fix pill or some silly fad you see on an infomercial for $19.95...please ASK me for help! I LOVE helping people do things they never thought they could do. It brings me joy to watch their lives change with every small step they take towards their health goals.

Beachbody's products are LEGIT. They are the REAL DEAL. Shakeology has CHANGED my life. It has given me more energy, the best nutrition I can put in my body, and I feel fantastic. It's also given me clear skin, regularity, stopped the heartburn and so much more! ChaLEAN Extreme, Power90, Rockin' Body, Insanity, P90X are AMAZING, legit programs! All you have to do is push play every day and do your absolute best and you'll get results!

They are NOT too expensive! Look at how much money is wasted with these 'quick fixes' and yet you keep trying them over and over and over again...and NOT getting healthy or results that last! Beachbody programs and Shakeology work and therefore SAVE you money! So instead of continuously spending money on fake ways to lose weight, why don't you invest it in something that really works and will make you HEALTHY?

My husband and I just finished our Power90 program over the weekend (10/6/12) and I'll share our result photos so you can see for yourself that it's REAL --

I lost 11 inches off my entire body! 

He lost his spare tire and now has abs!

Who is ready to start trusting me and start stepping outside their comfort zones to see changes? I do monthly challenge groups because they work! I am always looking for teammates! Message me here or comment on my blog and let's start a conversation. That is it. Let's talk. I have helped many people lose weight and feel good about themselves. WHY NOT YOU? Comment and say ME! NOW is your time!

A Facebook Post by Carl Daikeler

The US Department of Labor reports that $1.5 trillion dollars of medical care is preventable and reversible without medical intervention. That's a lot of sickness and suffering - $1.5 trillion of it - which we have the tools to solve!

This presents an unquestionable opportunity for Team Beachbody. Now, more than ever, we are in a position to offer “preventative” type services to an overwhelming majority of the population. Statistics indicate that up to 80% of Americans do not exercise regularly and if nothing changes, only 10% are likely to begin an exercise program within the next year. 

Even more discouraging: Out of those who do exercise, half of them will stop working out within 3-6 months! And their diet choices deteriorate right along with their fitness habit. 

People need accountability coaches. They need to be invited to the Beachbody Challenge!

The U.S. Department of Labor reports that the fitness industry is growing. Employment in the industry is expected to increase by 27% through 2016, a figure that’s greater than the average for all professions, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Thinking of becoming P90X certified? You're smart. There's a lot of demand for it.

And fitness professionals who also offer convenient and effective resources for calorie reduction and real nutrition are making the biggest impact on the lives of their clients as well as seeing the most significant financial opportunity.

We are at the right place at the right time. Granted, not everyone will sign up, because not everyone recognizes how great life can be when they are healthy and fit. That's why you continue to INVITE INVITE INVITE! Be proof the products work and that it's worth it!

There are millions - yeah, millions of people - who DO want a better life, and Team Beachbody is paving the most powerful path to health and fitness in history!