"Social" Network - Yeah Right!

Ok - I've sat on this long enough! I'm usually pretty docile about speaking out about things pertaining to rules and regulations and law - so I didn't feel I had a right to go off on this subject. But, you know it's suppose to be a "free" country right, freedom of speech. So I'm not going to keep quiet any longer.

How the heck is a person suppose to network, meet and make new friends and expand their horizons when the leading social network around the world BANS them from sending friend requests? Can anyone seriously, calmly and rationally answer me that question?

I'm sure you've realized I'm talking about Facebook. I love my Facebook and I would never do anything to get kicked off or cause other people harm or be rude to them. That's just stupid any way. And I'm not that kind of person. I'm on Facebook to reconnect with old classmates, family members long ago lost or not seen since I was a kid, other friends from other social networks and groups I've "met" over the years and to meet new people, make new friends and grow my new business. Isn't that what "social networking" is suppose to be? I really am curious about the answer because I guess I really don't know. I always thought that's what it was for...

It all started mid-January, I'd been sending requests to people from other social networks, one in particular is my weightloss site SparkPeople. They have a Facebook page and I'd been adding various people from there to add to my weightloss support. No harm, I thought. The people will accept my request if they want or not, up to them. One day I sign in to Facebook and I get this annoying popup that says I've been banned for 7 days for sending friend requests to people I don't know. WTH? Really? Isn't that how you get to know people...by "friending" them and getting to know them? Again - the question, isn't that what a 'social network' is about?

So 7 days later I get my "privileges" back and I was a bit more careful. I only added a few new people after that. 3-4 requests in a weeks span, ALL accepted. Yet, one morning I log in and another annoying popup telling me I'd been banned for 14 days for sending requests to people I don't know. OK now I'm getting flipping mad! I'm a good person, I'm a nice person and it's not like I'm stalking people or spamming them. I am truly looking to meet new people and make new friends. So why the heck is that so wrong?

Anyway - I go the 14 days, get my privileges back again. So I'm a little more cautious I only send out 3 requests to people who ASKED ME from another site to send them a request. I even sent them a message along with the friend request making sure they knew it was me and that they asked me to friend them. Two of them accepted right away, one I was waiting for when ... Yep, you guessed it ... ANOTHER annoying popup; this time telling me I'd been banned from friend requesting for 30 days! A whole freaking month! Facebook grounded me for a month I'm livid! Anyway - the next day after that, the one request/message I was waiting for responded/accepted. I'm really really confused - yes, I will admit there were some requests sitting out there in cyber-space that hadn't be accepted. I chalked it up to "live and let live" they didn't want me as a friend or weightloss support person. No big deal. Not everyone has to accept a friend request if they don't want to.

What I don't understand and I guess probably never will, is why the heck Facebook powers that be, would take away my ability to add new people to meet, mingle with and grow my network and support system. I just don't!

Yeah yeah, I know there are more fish in the sea. Twitter, Google+, Yahoo, blogs, YouTube etc, but my social network preference is Facebook. I'm loyal, I'm honest. I try to always follow the rules and never make waves. I hate confrontations. I hate causing a scene. And I really don't want to debate or be controversial. Like I said, I'm usually pretty docile and just go with the flow. But, this time I just had to speak my mind. I'm really ticked off!

I've been told to reach out and get people to come to me vs going to them. So maybe in retrospect this blog post is doing that. If you are reading this and we haven't "met" online before...Would you be my friend and send me a Facebook friend request please? You can find me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/amy.leever

Was that begging? I don't beg...much!

What are You Willing to Give Up?

WARNING: This article will contain blunt and brutal honesty.

I'm no stranger to living on a tight budget. My family and I have lived on one for 99.9% of our lives. Even before the economy tanked, we were always on a strict budget, always wondering how we'd pay for this bill or that bill, how we'd put gas in the car or food in our cupboards. Scraping by, pinching pennies, clipping coupons and sacrificing our wants for our needs and even sometimes our needs would be sacrificed as well. We are no strangers to going without.

Now during this time I started my weightloss journey. I lost over 50 pounds and I did it on a strict budget and I did it healthy. I exercised, I changed my eating habits and I really learned that you can afford to eat right and exercise when you are poor. No it's not easy! Nothing in life worth doing is easy. But if it's important to you, you find a way. Simple as that. You make a choice and you just do it.

One of the most irritating excuses I get from people is "I can't afford it" or "I don't have the money". Ok? I get that. But really ... is it that you CAN'T afford it or that you don't WANT to afford it? Let me explain what I mean.

What are you willing to give up? If it is a matter of CAN'T afford - what are you willing to give up so that you CAN afford it? Are you willing to give up the pricey coffee house drinks or the trips through the drive through at McDonald's or the take home from the local pizza joint? Are you willing to quit buying junk food and processed garbage that manufacturers are passing off as food from the grocery store? Are you willing to give up your weekly shopping trips to the mall or the manicure or the other "frivolous" stuff you shell out for?

It all boils down to this: What are you willing to give up and put that money towards your health?

In the case of WANT to afford it; Who WANTS to continue to be unhealthy, fat, unproductive and sick? Who WANTS to have heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and joint pain? Who WANTS to pay for doctor visits, prescriptions, hospital stays and diabetic supplies? If you WANT all those things, then by all means continue to NOT WANT to afford a healthy lifestyle. There is nothing I can do for you and that's so sad!

I made a choice 2 years ago that nothing would prevent me from losing weight and getting healthy. I spent a better part of 18 years with excuses and the unwillingness to change because I didn't know how! But when I made the choice to figure it out, nothing and no one could stop me.

I gave up soda, alcohol, junk food, potato chips, fast food, creamer in my coffee, processed foods that hold little to zero nutrition and I took that money I saved from all that and put it towards ME and my health and that of my family.

IT CAN BE DONE! I was willing to give up what was killing me and making me fat, so that I could afford a new lifestyle.

As far as exercise goes... I don't have an expensive gym membership, I never would have one because I prefer to work out at home where it's free. I walk. Walking is free. I hike. Hiking is free. I did invest a little money to have a few dvd's I could put in my dvd player and press play. And I invested some money in acquiring a treadmill and some basic at home equipment; dumbbells, resistance bands, yoga ball, jump rope and a medicine ball. Those were my basic, relatively cheap start to exercise. Because money was limited I'd buy one thing every couple of weeks to add to my library of workout equipment or dvd's. It took a while but eventually I had all I needed. Nothing extravagant, nothing outrageously expensive. The treadmill I had came from a friend and we paid them $100 for it. Just a plain jane treadmill, but it did it's job.

I think you get my point, but maybe not, some people are just way to stubborn and ignorant to understand the point. It is what it is... and yeah, I said it! I warned you I'd be bluntly honest...

Anyway - I worked my way to the point where I am now. A Team Beachbody coach. Was it cheap? No! I actually borrowed my start up costs from a friend. Some say $40 is nothing to start your own business. Well it is when you don't have it, right?! Like I said, I understand all to well about the limitations with money. And yes, there's more to it then just the sign up cost. You have to be a "Product of the Product" and use their workouts and use their nutritional supplements, all that costs money to get you started. No, it's not easy and it's not cheap! But you know what? Since I became a coach, it has changed my life. I am so proud of my job and what I do. Can I afford the products? Honestly - some days I'm not sure. I ponder every day if I'll be able to on the budget we are on but my faith in what I do and the products that Beachbody offers, see me through. I 100% believe in what Beachbody offers and what they stand for and I am very proud to be a part of it, therefore I will do whatever I have to do to afford what I know will save my life and keep me healthy.

Shakeology is priceless in my opinion. For those who say they can't afford it...revert back to my original question: What are you willing to give up? I scrimp and save and do all I can to make sure I can afford my supply every month because it is that important to me. It is that healthy for me. Shakeology doesn't compare to any other "shake" on the market! It beats the competition 100%, hands down! I'm willing to give up anything extra if it means having the money to afford my Shakeology, that is my choice.

So tell me, what are you willing to give up? Would you give up all the bad habits, all the unhealthy food and drinks in order to save up the money to buy a 30 day supply of Shakeology and try it for yourself? I'm telling you, this product will change your life and change your health, but you have to be willing to make a choice and give something up.

What choice do you make?