Beachbody Challenge Groups: Everything You Need to Know

Have you seen those social media posts by Team Beachbody Coaches promoting better health and fitness in just a few weeks?

If you’re curious what they’re about, they’re talking about Challenge Groups, online fitness groups run by Coaches to support people through programs like 21 Day Fix, P90X, INSANITY, and 80 Day Obsession. And, they’re gaining in popularity because they work!

That’s because camaraderie, goal-setting, and daily support all play a huge role in helping you stay accountable and ultimately reach your goals… whether your goal is eating better, working out more, losing weight, or a mix of all three.

That’s why Team Beachbody Coaches invite you to their Challenge Groups — they want to help! That’s their job. Whether you’re thinking about joining a Beachbody Challenge Group or even leading one, here is the 4-1-1 you need to get started.

What is a Challenge Group?

The #1 secret to success with any fitness and nutrition program is staying accountable to your health and fitness goals — and that’s exactly what Challenge Groups help you do. Challenge Groups are led by Team Beachbody Coaches and are comprised of people just like you who all have committed to getting healthy and fit.

“Challenge Groups are where we have the opportunity to make a major impact on peoples’ lives. [They help] people develop healthy lifestyle habits,” says Team Beachbody Coach Micah Folsom.

These groups are most often hosted on Beachbody’s exclusive My Challenge Tracker app or on Facebook and focus on three main areas:

1. Nutrition

Ever heard the phrase, “results are made in the kitchen?” It’s true. To lose weight or build muscle following any workout regimen, it’s important to dial in your nutrition, and drinking Shakeology — Beachbody’s superfood nutrition shake — can help.

Most of us don’t eat in a way that allows us to get the nutrition we need just from our food, and new changes to our diet or exercise habits can increase the demands on our bodies.

That’s why Shakeology is so critical to your Challenge Group journey. It helps to address nutritional gaps in our diets and builds the strong nutritional foundation we need to feel better. And when we feel better, we do better, making smarter choices and taking on bigger challenges. And, you can track it through the My Challenge Tracker app too.

Whether you’re a meal prep pro or you’ve never cooked a thing in your life, your Team Beachbody Coach is there to answer any questions or concerns you may have about the nutrition part of the challenge. And if you hate kale, they won’t make you eat it, we promise.

2. Fitness

Challenge Groups often focus on one Beachbody fitness program at a time such as P90X or 21 Day Fix. All Beachbody fitness programs include a workout calendar developed by certified fitness professionals. The goal of the program is to help you get the best results while also building in recovery time.

Your Team Beachbody Coach will guide you through the workout calendar, show you how to stream your workouts instantly on Beachbody On Demand and check in on your progress throughout your journey.

3. Support

Support is key to staying accountable. That’s why Team Beachbody Coaches, and often, your fellow challengers, play a major role in helping you reach your health and fitness goals.

Throughout the duration of the challenge, your Coach will check in on you daily, start conversations, and share tips to help you make it to the end.

Why Challenge Groups Work

Studies have found that weight-loss programs that involve a third party that holds you accountable, as opposed to you going it alone, may significantly improve your chances of reaching your goals.

Research by the International Journal of Consumer Studies also found social-networking groups provide four main types of support: emotional, instrumental, informational, and affirmation.

Emotional

Trust and empathy are often huge factors in a person’s weight-loss journey. Team Beachbody Coaches can help create a safe, non-judgmental environment for you to ask questions and provide emotional support along the way.

As a result, Challenge Groups are great for both beginners as well as those who never miss a chance to work out.

Instrumental

Coaches provide their challengers with assignments, worksheets, and tools to lead them to success. Challengers are encouraged to actively engage with the group on a daily basis by uploading post-workout selfies, meal prep photos, and more.

Informational

There are more than 30 Beachbody workout programs, and there’s sure to be at least one that will fit your fitness needs and preferences. Team Beachbody Coaches are there to give you the information you need to not only understand the program you’re using but also to help you select the program that’s right for you to reach your specific goals.

Affirmation

Sticking to a challenge takes dedication and participating in a Challenge Group gives you the affirmation you need to keep going. Missed a workout? Didn’t stick to the meal plan for a few days?

Your Challenge Group and your Team Beachbody Coach can help give you the motivation you need to pick up where you left off. Once you’ve completed the Challenge Group, your Coach can help you choose your next program so you can maintain your results.

In a world with countless distractions, a Challenge Group is a place where you can focus 100 percent on your goals and feel supported as you strive to reach them.

How to Join a Challenge Group

There are several ways to join a Challenge Group. The most important step is to message me, to be your Team Beachbody Coach. A Coach is a customer just like you who got great results with a Beachbody program and wants to help others. 

If you don’t have me as your Team Beachbody Coach, here are two easy ways to have me as your coach:

1. Message me who post About Shakeology, a Beachbody Program, or a Challenge Group

I am always posting about Shakeology, a Beachbody Program, or a Challenge Group, reach out to me! (email below)

Even if you haven’t spoken to me in years, or someone you don’t know but have been following on me on Instagram, I’ll gladly guide you to a Challenge Group that’s right for you.

2. Purchase a Challenge Pack

Another approach is to get a Challenge Pack: The Annual All-Access Beachbody On Demand and Shakeology Challenge Pack provides you with all the tools you need to crush your goals.

It includes a full year of unlimited workouts on Beachbody On Demand, a 30-day supply of Shakeology to help you build a strong nutritional foundation, and of course, me as your Team Beachbody Coach. Click here to get a Challenge Pack and get started!

Join my next Challenge group!

Email me: Aixifitnessxi@gmail.com

OR both Join my team!

Find out how Beachbody Coaching can really help you get fit, lose weight, inspire others, and make money!
Becoming a Beachbody coach isn't about pushing products. If you focus on sales, you won't' actually build a successful business.

This opportunity is perfect for those who want to start their own business in fitness without the risk and responsibility of a startup.

No Inventory required. No huge start-up fees. 

What is a Challenge Group

If I had to describe my first experience with a Beachbody Challenge Group in one word, it would be LIFE-CHANGING.

Let’s start at the beginning. What is a Beachbody Challenge? A Beachbody Challenge is a combination of purchasing a Beachbody fitness program and Shakeology. Lucky for you, these programs/shakes come in one neat little Challenge Pack. Challenge Packs are extremely discounted packages of a program and your first month of Shakeology and they are offered for any Beachbody program!

Once Challengers purchase and receive their Challenge Pack, they are asked to join a supportive and motivational accountability group on Facebook organized by Beachbody Coaches who will help guide you through your journey. You will not only see that the coaches support you, you will receive support from your fellow Challengers who are experiencing the same struggles and successes as you are.

In simple terms, here is what a Beachbody Challenge Group provides:
– Motivation
– Accountability
– Peer Challenger Support
– Coach Support
– Recipes
– Results

OWN YOUR OWN ONLINE FITNESS BUSINESS

I'm looking for 10 men and women to be part of my team who want to be paid to live a healthy & fit life 🏼while sharing their journey on social media. Reach YOUR fitness goals and help other men and women reach theirs. You do NOT need to be in perfect shape, just have a ️for helping others. 🏻‍You MUST be hardworking, self-motivated and focused to make a difference in your own life and the lives of others. 🏼Potential to earn a part time or full time income--results are based off of your efforts.

These 10 will work with me on a daily basis and learn the ropes on how to create a successful coaching business from home while getting in the best shape of their life!  cOACH

This is NOT a quick fix and NOT FREE there is value to what I do! It WILL require hard work and dedication but the payoff will be so worth it!!! If that's you, like this post or message me to secure your spot!

📩Message OR email me at Aixifitnessxi@gmail.com to start the conversation. Non coaches only and those not working with a coach. 📩Serious inquiries only.

Must be 18+ U.S, UK & and CANADA only!

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Do you want to lose weight, build muscle, or feel more fit? 

***Enrollment is OPEN for my October group Are you Ready??? Invite some friends and make sure to fill out the application below!!! Or email me at aixifitnessxi@gmail.com

Apply Here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/19_4H1AYgPLuccSPho-nHBmPSUeLBKb3lYEWpJsmMDWk/viewform?edit_requested=true

I will be in contact with you within the next 24hrs with all the details.

COACH INTERNSHIP! JOIN THE TEAM! WE ARE HIRING!

DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO WORK WITH ME ON MY NEXT BIG PROJECT?!

Have you ever considered wellness and fitness? Want to get paid to work out or for living a healthier life? Or even better....Want to help change others lives?

Now accepting 5 applicants to mentor for my✴NEW Coach Internship✴ If you have been looking for a opportunity to make a positive change in your fitness, your relationships, and your financial situation then continue reading below...

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This is perfect for:

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Want to meet great new people and help others achieve fitness goals all while earning Great income and staying accountable to your own health and fitness?? Well this is what its about!!

If you are ready to get Fit 🔹Physically 🔹Emotionally and 🔹Financially! I rarely offer this outside my circle.

⬇⬇Requirements⬇⬇

✔ Be positive
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✔ Believe that you can succeed
✔ Have a desire to get healthy/fit
✔ Be serious about changing your life and others around you.
You do NOT have to be a personal trainer or an expert…You must LOVE taking an interest in people's lives by connecting them with ideas, resources & other people that can help them!

Enrollment is OPEN for my monthly group Are you Ready??? Invite some friends and make sure to fill out the application bellow!!! Or email me at aixifitnessxi@gmail.com Serious inquiries only please!

Apply Here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/19_4H1AYgPLuccSPho-nHBmPSUeLBKb3lYEWpJsmMDWk/

I will be in contact with you within the next 24hrs with all the details.

What are you doing today to be in a much better place tomorrow?

10 BEST REMEDIES TO REDUCE WATER RETENTION

Water retention can be painful and it usually doesn’t look pretty. The truth is, many of us suffer from this condition, if only temporarily.

The usual suspects are a lack of physical activity, poor diet, and medications.

There can also be internal considerations at play, such as thyroid issues, liver disorders, poor circulation, high blood pressure, and heart and kidney problems.

Here Are the 10 Best Remedies for Water Retention

Remedy #1: Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar is abundant in, which lowers the sodium levels in the body. As you already know, sodium retains water in the body, so vinegar is excellent in this case. Just add a teaspoon into a glass of water, and drink the remedy twice daily.

You can boost the effectiveness of the drink if you add an extra tablespoon of organic apple cider vinegar (we recommend this) per glass. You can also soak the feet in a hot bath with vinegar for 10 minutes.

This will soothe the swellings and also treat bad foot odor.

Remedy #2: Dandelion

Researchers have found that dandelion supports the urine production in the body. It also lowers the sodium levels, as it is high in potassium. Dandelion is also rich in magnesium which reduces premenstrual bloating.

You should make organic dandelion tea (we recommend this) several times daily.

You can also use dandelion pills, but make sure you consult your doctor before you take them or start consuming the tea, as dandelion might interfere with certain drugs.

Remedy #3: Cranberry Juice

This juice accelerates the production of urine in the organism and is high in calcium, potassium, and magnesium. You should drink a cup of unsweetened cranberry juice daily, or you can take cranberries in pill form.

Remedy #4: Onion

Onions purify the blood and stimulate the urine production, thus preventing kidney stones. Peel a few onions, add them to 4 cups of water and boil. Add some salt, and drink this remedy three times daily for a few days.

Remedy #5: Parsley

It is one of the most powerful water retention natural remedies. You should add a few teaspoons of dried parsley in a cup of water, and boil. Then, leave it to cool for 10 minutes and drink this tea three times daily.  You can also add some lemon juice to the tea for even better effects.

Remedy #6: Fennel Seeds

This potent diuretic increases the production of urine in the body and supports the ability of the kidneys to process more water and sodium. It prevents toxic buildups in the body and helps digestion.

You should add a teaspoon of fennel seeds in some hot water and boil it. Then, cover the cup and leave it to cool for 10 minutes, strain, and consume this three times daily.

Remedy #7: Epsom Salt

An Epsom salt bath reduces the bloating of the tummy, as well as water retention issues, through a process known as reverse osmosis. This process involves removal of all excess fluids in the body, as well as toxins.

The bath is relaxing, soothing, and calming. All you need to do to enjoy these benefits is to add two cups of Epsom salt in a warm bath and soak in it for 15 minutes. Repeat three times a week.

Remedy #8. Stinging Nettle Root

It efficiently stimulates the urine production and helps in the case of water retention. Just add a teaspoon of nettle root in a cup of warm water, leave it for 10 minutes to cool down, and drink several times daily.

Remedy #9: Lemon Juice

Lemon juice eliminates the excessive fluids from the body, as well as the accumulated waste and toxins. Just add a few of tablespoons of lemon juice in a cup of warm water. You can sweeten with honey. Drink this remedy on a daily basis for several days.

Remedy #10: Essential oils

Essential oils can be of great help in the case of water retention. Aromatherapy stimulates the drainage of fluids by triggering the lymphatic system.

Add 20 drops of your favorite essential oil to a hot bath and soak in it for 10 minutes, three times a week. For best effects, we recommend geranium, cypress, and juniper essential oils.

In case you face water retention issues, we suggest consuming more diuretic foods, such as celery, cucumbers, cabbage, watermelon, bananas, pineapples, and watercress, as they also boost the production of urine.

Also, you can make a powerful essential oil blend to drink in a tea, here’s the recipe: 1 drop of rosemary, 3 drops of geranium, and 2 drops of fennel.

Source: www.top10homeremedies.com

6 Proven Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar

For centuries, vinegar has been used for various household and cooking purposes.

It is also an ancient folk remedy, claimed to help with all sorts of health problems.

The most popular vinegar in the natural health community is Apple Cider Vinegar.

It is claimed to lead to all sorts of benefits, some of which are supported by science.

This includes weight loss, lower blood sugar levels and improved symptoms of diabetes.

Here are 6 health benefits of apple cider vinegar, that are supported by scientific research.

1. High in acetic acid, which has potent biological effects

Vinegar is made in a two-step process, related to how alcohol is made (1).

The first step exposes crushed apples (or apple cider) to yeast, which ferment the sugars and turn them into alcohol.

In the second step, bacteria are added to the alcohol solution, which further ferment the alcohol and turn it into acetic acid… the main active compound in vinegar.

In French, the word “vinegar” actually means “sour wine.”

Organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar (like Bragg’s) also contains “mother,” strands of proteins, enzymes and friendly bacteria that give the product a murky, cobweb-like appearance.

This is what it looks like:

Some people believe that the “mother” is responsible for most of the health benefits, although there are currently no studies to support this.

Apple cider vinegar only contains about 3 calories per tablespoon, which is very low.

There are not many vitamins or minerals in it, but it does contain a tiny amount of potassium. Quality apple cider vinegar also contains some amino acids and antioxidants.

Bottom Line: Apple cider vinegar is made by fermenting the sugars from apples. This turns them into acetic acid, the active ingredient in vinegar.

2. Can kill many types of bacteria

Vinegar can help kill pathogens, including bacteria (2).

It has traditionally been used for cleaning and disinfecting, treating nail fungus, lice, warts and ear infections.

However, many of these applications have currently not been confirmed by research.

Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, used vinegar for wound cleaning over two thousand years ago.

Vinegar has been used as a food preservative, and studies show that it inhibits bacteria (like E. coli) from growing in the food and spoiling it (3, 4, 5, 6).

If you’re looking for a natural way to preserve your food… then apple cider vinegar could be highly useful.

There have also been anecdotal reports of diluted apple cider vinegar helping with acne when applied on the skin, but I didn’t find any research to confirm this so take it with a grain of salt.

Bottom Line: The main substance in vinegar, acetic acid, can kill bacteria and/or prevent them from multiplying and reaching harmful levels. It has a history of use as a disinfectant and natural preservative.

3. Lowers blood sugar levels and fights diabetes

By far the most successful application of vinegar to date, is in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by elevated blood sugars, either in the context of insulin resistance or an inability to produce insulin.

However, elevated blood sugar can also be a problem in people who don’t have diabetes… it is believed to be a major cause of ageing and various chronic diseases.

So, pretty much everyone should benefit from keeping their blood sugar levels stable.

The most effective (and healthiest) way to do that is to avoid refined carbs and sugar, but apple cider vinegar may also have a powerful effect.

Vinegar has been shown to have numerous benefits for insulin function and blood sugar levels:

• Improves insulin sensitivity during a high-carb meal by 19-34% and significantly lowers blood glucose and insulin responses (7).
• Reduces blood sugar by 34% when eating 50 grams of white bread (8).
• 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar before bedtime can reduce fasting blood sugars by 4% (9).
• Numerous other studies, in both rats and humans, show that vinegar can increase insulin sensitivity and significantly lower blood sugar responses during meals (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15).

For these reasons, vinegar can be useful for people with diabetes, pre-diabetes, or those who want to keep their blood sugar levels low to normal for other reasons.

If you’re currently taking blood sugar lowering medications, then check with your doctor before increasing your intake of apple cider vinegar.

Bottom Line: Apple cider vinegar has shown great promise in improving insulin sensitivity and helping to lower blood sugar responses after meals.

4. Helps you lose weight by making you feel full

Given that vinegar lowers blood sugar and insulin levels, it makes sense that it could help you lose weight.

Several human studies suggest that vinegar can increase satiety, help you eat fewer calories and even lead to actual pounds lost on the scale.

Vinegar along with high-carb meals can increase feelings of fullness and make people eat 200-275 fewer calories for the rest of the day (16, 17).

By reducing calorie intake, this should translate to reduced weight over time.

A study in obese individuals showed that daily vinegar consumption led to reduced belly fat, waist circumference, lower blood triglycerides and weight loss (18):

• 15mL (1 tablespoon): Lost 2.6 pounds, or 1.2 kilograms.
• 30mL (2 tablespoons): Lost 3.7 pounds, or 1.7 kilograms.

However… keep in mind that this study went on for 12 weeks, so the true effects on body weight seem to be rather modest.

That being said, just adding/subtracting single foods or ingredients rarely has a noticeable effect on weight.

It’s the entire diet/lifestyle that counts… you need to combine several effective methods to see results.

Overall, it seems like apple cider vinegar may be useful as a weight loss aid, mainly by promoting satiety and lowering glucose and insulin levels.

But it won’t work any miracles on its own.

Bottom Line: Studies suggest that vinegar can increase feelings of fullness and help people eat fewer calories, which can lead to weight loss.

5. Lowers cholesterol and reduces your risk of heart disease

Cardiovascular disease (heart disease and stroke) is currently the world’s biggest cause of death (19).

It is known that several measurable biological factors are linked to either a decreased or increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Several of these “risk factors” have been shown to be improved by vinegar consumption… but all of the studies were done in rats.

These rat studies showed that apple cider vinegar can lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels (20, 21).

Apple cider vinegar may also contain the antioxidant chlorogenic acid, which has been shown to protect LDL cholesterol particles from becoming oxidized, a crucial step in the heart disease process (22, 23).

There are also some studies showing that vinegar reduces blood pressure (a major risk factor) in rats (24, 25).

Unfortunately, what works in animals doesn’t always work in humans.

The only human evidence is an observational study from Harvard showing that women who ate salad dressings with vinegar had a reduced risk of heart disease (26).

But this type of study can only show an association, it can not prove that the vinegar caused anything.

Bottom Line: Several animal studies have shown that vinegar can reduce blood triglycerides, cholesterol and blood pressure, but this needs to be confirmed in human studies.

6. May have protective effects against cancer

Cancer is a terrible disease, characterized by uncontrolled growth of cells.

There is a lot of hype online about the anti-cancer effects of apple cider vinegar.

Some studies have shown that vinegar can kill cancer cells and shrink tumors (27, 28, 29, 30)

However, all of the studies on this were done in isolated cells in test tubes, or rats, which proves nothing about what happens in a living, breathing human.

Additionally, most of the studies were done on rice vinegar, not apple cider vinegar.

That being said, some observational studies (which don’t prove anything) have shown that vinegar ingestion is linked to decreased esophageal cancer in China, but increased bladder cancer in Serbia (31, 32).

Overall… it is possible that apple cider vinegar may help to prevent cancer, but it is definitely premature to make any recommendations based on the current research.

Bottom Line: Some studies in test tubes and rats have shown that rice vinegar can slow the growth of cancer cells and shrink tumors.

Side Effects, Dosage and How to Use it

There are a lot of wild claims about apple cider vinegar on the internet.

Some say that it can increase energy levels and have all sorts of beneficial effects on health.

Unfortunately… many of these claims are not supported by science.

Of course, absence of proof isn’t proof that something isn’t happening and anecdote often ends up becoming supported by science down the line.

That being said, I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for more studies, since research on natural health products like these are both few and far between.

From the little evidence available, I think that apple cider vinegar may be useful and is definitely a good candidate for some self-experimentation if you’re interested in it.

At the very least, apple cider vinegar seems to be safe. There are no side effects noted with normal consumption.

The best way to incorporate it into your diet is to use it in your cooking… for salad dressings, homemade mayonnaise and that sort of thing.

Some people also like to dilute it in water and drink it as a beverage. Common dosages range from 1-2 teaspoons (5-10 mL) to 1-2 tablespoons (15-30 mL) per day.

Definitely don’t go above that, because excess consumption may have harmful effects.

It is also possible to take it in pill/tablet form, but I don’t recommend that because a 2005 study showed that the true vinegar content of these supplements was highly questionable (33).

There is also a report of a woman having an apple cider vinegar tablet stuck in her throat, which led to esophageal burns.

It is recommended to use organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar with the “mother.” Bragg’s is by far the most popular option.

Apple cider vinegar also has various other non-health related uses like hair conditioning, skin care, dental care, pet use and as a cleaning agent (to name a few).

These can be highly useful for people who like to keep things as natural and chemical-free as possible.

At the end of the day, apple cider vinegar appears to be very healthy.

It’s not a “miracle” or a “cure-all” like some people seem to believe, but it does clearly have some important health benefits, especially for blood sugar and weight control.

Source: https://authoritynutrition.com/6-proven-health-benefits-of-apple-cider-vinegar/