i did 1 min on:off intervals at 4,6,8, 10 mins and then ran steady for 5 mins to recover some- then did 4 more intervals at 16, 18, 20, 22 mins. A couple times I had to walk a bit in there…but ran for a total of 24 mins in all.

And then I came home had a half of a protein/carb bar and some preworkout drink called “RAPTOR” by NRG-X labs to fuel me for a good chest tri workout:

Warm up
Chest press
70×20
90×15

Bench
45×15
95×10
115×6
135×6 all me!!!
155×4 help for all
135×4 +2 with help

Incline flys
35′sx8
35′sx10

Dips
10
7

Bench dips
20, 15

sit ups- 1 set of 30 reps

We may play some tennis later…but for now I have some work to do.

I am happy that I got it DONE!

-Michelle

p.s. today is cday 2 and I feel so much better- I weighed 130 with all my clothes and shoes on this am- so I am guessing I’m at around 127-128

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Your invited to a BIG TEAM BUFFMOTHER GATHERING!! in Northern California- where Julie of CA resides- Livermore, CA!

Get read for some fun, excitement, celebration and relaxation!!! :bff:

We haven't made the schedule of events yet, but we do know official events will occur on at least 2 days out of the 4 I've listed – I am leaning toward the evening of Friday the 12th  and  morning of Saturday the 13th. But let us know what you think? What would work best for you??

If you think you will attend let us know that too- we'd like to get a rough estimate of interest.
I've already have at least 6 of our leaders who are highly interested in attending- You won't want to miss this event!!

I am so excited :cheer:

Be sure to chime in with your thoughts!!  and any ideas of what you'd like the event to include! We're all ears

p.s. spouses are welcome and so are your kids- they may not be able to participate in the actual "meeting" but we'll have tons of free/social time

**UPDATE-**

Location for main event on Nov. 13th is the Hyatt of Dublin/Pleaseanton and a special group room rate of $79 (each room is a suite that has 2 doubles and 1 pull out )- can easily room 3 women- we'll coordinate "roommates"

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I was introduced to BuffMother by my friend and fellow chiropractor, Lisa Staudt.  At that point in my fitness “career”, I had been doing Jazzercise 5-6 days a week for 6 years.  I was frustrated due to the fact that I was working out hard, yet getting nowhere.  I felt like I was losing muscle and shape and gaining weight.  Talking with Lisa about BuffMother just made sense.  I wasn’t sure if I wanted to give up Jazzercise, but my true love had always been lifting weights.  I liked the idea of being able to do whatever exercise program you wanted.  I was also intrigued by the thought of my hormones directing how I worked out.  I think everything in our body is connected in some way, shape or form. I am thrilled with my weight loss, inches lost/gained, the way I look and how my clothes fit.  But I’m more excited to know that I am STRONG!  It has given me the confidence that I had lost over the years.  It’s very intimidating to step into a gym after 18+ years.  Having the knowledge and “plan” from “Hormonal Timing” helped me ease back in.

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Have you ever been awe inspired by the site of very pregnant woman working out?  Well this story reflects just that!  Liz is a true success story in that she regained a great level of fitness during the third trimester of her pregnancy.  Here is Liz’s final summary for a contest we had in the Team BuffMother Rally Room starting May 2007~

at 29 weeks  At 39 weeks! NOW- 4 months later!

My Reflections on The 10-Week Quest for ConsistencyBy:  Liz of NJBuffMother! Since 2005

At the conclusion of this Quest for Consistency Challenge, I am about to deliver a baby any day now and I am in the best shape of my pregnancy! At the beginning of the QFCC I was at the beginning of my third trimester, not weight training or eating particularly well and had just returned to the Rally Room a couple of months earlier from a hiatus due to remodeling my home. Having been uprooted from my usual diligent routine of weight training 4-5 days a week, I had become complacent about exercise and lacked the necessary enthusiasm for this challenge. I had never participated in a challenge in the RR before and was not sure I was prepared at 7 months pregnant to do so, yet I attempted to “psyche myself up for it [QFCC].” Then fellow BuffMother!, Debra Golding, also pregnant and further along then I, posted that she was doing it and that I should too. I thought to myself, “Well if she’s doing it… how could I not?” She planted a seed and that was all it took. I decided to join in the QFCC and I am so glad I did because I accomplished more that I thought I would in 10 weeks!

My opening thoughts were (as per my blog):

Day 1: “…I’m scared. Consistency is not a strong point of mine: …any break down in my “scheduling” can frazzle or de-rail me.”

Day 2:  “I can do this!!! I feel GREAT! I wish I could bottle this [the excitement & energy]! Rather than worry too much about the outcome, I am just enjoying nourishing & energizing my body.”

What changed from one day to the next was that I walked into the gym with a plan and a mission. The QFCC was so well planned out with time frames, goals, mini-challenges and PMA (positive mental attitude) that it made it easy to “just do it!” I survived the first day back at the gym. My “test times” were not what they once were but I left the gym feeling GREAT!

And so as the QFCC progressed, I picked up steam. At first I was really tired and napped a lot! But as time went on I started feeling energized from my workouts. By week 4 I was hitting “pregnancy personal bests,” some of which exceeded numbers I hit BEFORE I was pregnant. Team BuffMother! encouraged me the entire way and by Week 8 I felt invincible even given “my biggest obstacle to overcome” over the 10 weeks: Almost constant lower back pain. Given this particular obstacle, the mini-challenge that I am most proud of, which I completed 100%, was the “100 lunges each day [for a] week.” I believe that was when I really picked up momentum.

Week 8 was a monumental one during the QFCC because at that point I was gaining in strength beyond what I thought was possible and realized my body’s capabilities were tremendous. I can only relate it to having attained a “runner’s high” because I was going into the gym and stacking on weights with such ease and determination that it was blowing my mind.  Then at the beginning of Week 9, I found the balance that ultimately I am always striving for in my life. I was determined to finish out the QFCC while enjoying the last few weeks before I gave birth.  I intuitively knew I had achieved a powerful lesson regarding my body, its capabilities and my attitude regarding CONSISTENCY: If I could be consistent, realizing that in doing so that my goals are attainable with such a natural flow that do it any other way was an injustice to myself, I could accomplish anything! And that my body is a powerful tool designed by nature to function optimally when nourished and strengthened properly and its driving force is determination and positive mental attitude!!!

Again, what changed my initial attitude regarding this challenge was a BuffMother!, who simply planted the seed of PMA that the QFCC could be done even in our third trimesters. If one simple statement could have such an impact on me that it changed the course of my pregnancy in such a POSITIVE direction, imagine the possibilities of encouraging other women. It is that simple! Michelle Berger has always said,  “The Key to your Motivation is to Encourage Others.” Well the dynamic of what occurred in the Rally Room to encourage me to follow through with this challenge clearly proved that point! I sincerely hope that my involvement in the Rally Room has had even a small positive impact on others compared to the tremendous positive impact the women of the RR have had on my life! Thank you for the 10 most energized & empowered weeks of my pregnancy!

Weekly Consistency Report Final Summary

How many weight/strength training workouts did I complete: average 4 per week

How many cardio/interval training sessions did I complete: average 2 per week

How many days of the week in total did I workout: average 4 per week

What obstacle did I overcome in order to get it done? Lower back pain

Who did I encourage?  BuffMother friends

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I spent most of my 20′s yo yo dieting, trying the latest fads and gimmicks. In December 2004, I realized how out of control my weight had gotten, weighing in at 204lbs. I didn’t want to be fat anymore. I was depressed, had no self esteem, self conscious and hated the way I looked. So I embarked on a journey to change my life. I needed something long lasting this time. I began researching fitness and nutrition. I started changing my eating habits and exercising. I did very little weight training however, until I found Michelle and the Buffmother girls! I had always thought weight training was for guys and I didn’t want to get bulky. It changed my life. My goals and focus shifted and I ventured into a new journey, to be a BuffMother! I wouldn’t have made it this far without the inspiration and direction from Michelle and the Buffmother team. I lost a total of 76lbs and went from a size 18/20 to a 4/6. I am stronger, more confident and healthier than I have ever been. I am still a work in progress, but look forward to what the future holds! Thank you Michelle!

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Children: 6 and 4

Age: 34

Date 9/14

Age: 34

Height: 5’8.5”

Weight: 137-132 (-5!!)

Bust (around the biggest part, women only): 33 – 31.75 (-1.25)

Chest 33- 32 (-1)

Waist (the smallest part): 27.5 -26.25 (-1.25)

Hips (the largest part): 36- 35 (-1)

Shoulders (around the outside of your shoulders with your arms at sides): 41-39 (-2)

Biceps (relaxed at midpoint of upper arm): 11-10 (-1)

Thigh (8” above Knee cap): 22-21 (-1)

Calf (7” below knee joint): 14 
- 13 (-1)

I entered the Super Star Success contest because I was ready for a true change. I have weighed the same almost my entire life (or since high school anyway) but I have never lifted weights! I have run several half marathons, spent hours on end in cardio classes at the gym and never seen a difference in my body! It was time for a change. Michelle was so inspiring knowing she has had 4 kids including a set of twins! I love the strong lean look and I could never get there. I was always so fearful of bulking up because that is what we are taught as little girls!

The tactics I used were for starters THE RALLY ROOM! I could not have done it without that accountability! I blogged a ton and that helped me so much to stay accountable! Everyone was very helpful and encouraging through both good and bad times! The second tactic was my Buff Trainer-Deb Gray! SHE WAS AMAZING! She was very patient as she tried to explain the different things she wanted me to do and how to do them. She was truly excellent—thanks Deb! I feel like she was a great trainer but also a great friend! We got to talk and pray for each other which was such a blessing!

I feel REALLY GREAT about my success. I think images and stats show the changes I have made in my body. For someone who has been a workout freak her entire life and NEVER seen a difference—this was so huge for me! I truly feel great about my accomplishments! I worked out 5-6 every week (except my trip to NYC) and I totally changed what I ate but didn’t have to starve myself! I actually felt more full with all the protein!

I had one big obstacle and that was my breast lump. I went thru a painful biopsy but with good results!! Again, I had the RR and Deb to pray me through it and encourage me to stop and smell the roses in my life.

Buffmother is a true inspiration to me! I tell EVERYONE about Buffmother and the changes I have made in myself! It is crazy to have a friend walk up to you after not seeing you in 4 weeks and ask “What are you doing—you look amazing!” I always just say, “You have to go check out Buffmother—she is my true inspiration.” The thing that I like most about Michelle (besides the fact that she has truly discovered the secret to a great body AFTER KIDS) is the fact that she is real! She has good days and bad days…she has sick kids..she makes mistakes..but she is just so real about it all! You can tell she is close to God and very content with where He has placed her and the job he gave her to reach as many women as she can! Thanks Michelle.

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Then once I got up I got another gift- the scale said I was another pound down

So today is cycle day 20 and I weigh 123…that’s 6 full pounds down since cycle day 4 and the start of the “30days to Buff”~ wild!! I know that I’ll be gaining some water weight over the next week as my body preps for TOM but for now I am at my goal for my Anniversary weekend!! YIPPIE!

I got to talk to Deb this morning- MAN she ROCKS!!! Be sure to cheer her on and keep her in your thoughts as she competes at the Bluff’s Classic- this will be her 3rd year at that show   And I am certain she’ll rock it again!!

I’ve got loads of stuff to get done- so I’ll be back tomorrow to catch up more with you all.

Love and hugs,
Michelle

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Number of children and ages (it’s okay if you have 0): 7, 4
Age: 32

Today’s Date:____11/21___ height:____5’3”______ weight:__110 —106.4___ age:____32_
Today’s cycle day-1

Please list the following measurements:
Bust (around breasts the biggest part): 33—34
Chest- relaxed (just under armpits above breasts with arms down at your sides):34—33 ½

Chest- flexed back and chest (just under armpits with arms down at your sides):35–341/2

Waist- relaxed (the smallest part): 28—26.5
Waist-sucked in (the smallest part): 26—25
Hips (the largest part of your butt): 35—35
Shoulders (around the outside of your shoulders with your arms at sides): 37 ¾—38
Biceps (relaxed at midpoint of upper arm): 10—10

Biceps (flexed at midpoint of upper arm): 10 ¾—10 3/4
Thigh-mid (about 8” above knee cap): 19—19
Thigh- upper (about 12” above knee cap): 20—20 1/2
Calf (about 7” below knee joint): 11 ¾—11 3/4

Why did you enter the SSS contest by BuffMother?

I entered the SSS contest for 2 main reasons.  First, I want to win.  I’ve discovered through my time in the Rally Room that I am extremely motivated by contests. I find that I am challenged by seeing what others are doing to accomplish their goals.  In addition, the desire to finish well and accomplish my own goals is an overwhelming motivator for me.  Second, I entered the contest so that I could accomplish super-star success.  I want to get better and be the best that I can be, whether I win or not.  I feel like if I win, that’s super.  However, if I don’t win, I have learned and improved from trying my best.

What tactics did you use to stay focused and engaged for the entire 70 days?

I made a habit of blogging and commenting as often as I could.  I know I missed days here and there, but I aimed for being active daily in the Rally Room.  I also tried to set attainable goals for myself as well as using the weekly mini-challenges to start new and better habits.  Third, I made up a chart that I could use to easily record and track my food, workouts, supplements, cycle days, and hormones all in one place.  The chart helps me see how I’m progressing and how food and hormones play into my progress.
How do you feel about your success?

One of my goals was to reduce my body fat.  I used a hand held body fat calculator at my gym and was pleased to see that it said that my body fat was down to %17.3.  A year ago, it was %22.  It’s not a tremendous drop, but it did go down.  My other goal was to get more definition in my arms and legs and stomach.  While my legs don’t show too much change, my improvements are showing on my upper body.  I’m excited to see my fat loss continue to progress to my lower body.
What obstacles did you have to overcome in order to attain your goals?

I’ve struggled with stress and sickness during this contest.  Both me and my family have had multiple sicknesses continually repeating and recurring in our household.  I’ve also had tremendous stress.  I’ve had a huge ordeal with my dad that our family has been dealing with.  He is a difficult person and seems to thrive on attacking and emotionally destroying his loved ones.  In addition, homeschooling has been tough this year.  The contest started at the beginning of the school year and the stress of getting into the routine has been difficult.
What would you like to tell the world about BuffMother ?

I tell my friends all the time about the wonders of hormonal timing.  Women don’t realize how simple it really is to reach their goals when they understand how to work with their hormones instead of against them.  The more in-tune I am with how my body responds to my hormones and to certain foods, the more I can succeed at reaching my goals.  I will never go back to floundering in the physical and emotional defeat that comes from not understanding my female cycle.

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“NO!”

All it does is make things worse~ giving that kind of energy to the negative doesn’t solve anything! It only makes the problems bigger and more complicated and more damaging etc….

RESIST the urge to fall into the pity party trap!!!! If you feel one coming on- STOP it and do a 360 degree turn around by listing all the positives you can focus on instead. Get your mojo moving in the right direction.  If you can master this one thing you will move forward towards an excellent life!

“Blessed is the WOMAN who perseveres under trial, because when she has stood the test, she will receive the crown…” ~James 1:12

Don’t think I am preaching at you- I have to remind myself of these same concepts too~

Time to get to accomplishing for the week:

Plan of ATTACK:
M-steady run outside”day 15 of 30 day GET BUFF”- day off, but I’m gonna make up day 13′s workout- I missed it.
T-day 16 workout with extra emphasis to glutes- add butt squats
W-run buffing intervals (Day 17) and couple sprints at the end
Th- day 18 lifting heavy day
F-run SPRINTS!!!
Sa-our anniversary 17 years!! OFF??
Sun- off

see ya later babes!!

-Michelle

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Name: Janienne K
Number of children and ages (it’s okay if you have 0): 3 boys. Ages 13, 4 and 2 (2 by c-section.
Age: 33

Before       After

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Tomorrow is the DAY! that I will send my son off to 5th grade!! YAY!! then all 4 will be back in school! It’s been a fun time having just Gunner home~ He’s such a great little man!

Tomorrow is the DAY! that Bus Service STARTS!! YAY!! I won’t have to pick up the girls from school every afternoon!!  It will give me 1 more hour of freedom each day!!

Tomorrow is the DAY! that Travis and I will have a DATE! We have not had kidless time alone in the recent months~ so it’ll be our day to go out and play while the kiddos are in school!!  I’m excited!!  We want to go out for breakfast or coffee and do a bit of shopping!

Tomorrow is the DAY! that I get to talk with the contest team again!! We skipped our July conference call due to “SUMMER” – so it’s been a couple months! I’m FIRED UP to connect again and get our ladies on the STAGE!

Tomorrow is the DAY! that I will get my AC fixed, I hope!! It will be NICE!

Tomorrow is the DAY! that the girls get to “try” gymnastics class~ they all can be in the same group- so that’s good!! It should be fun!

Tomorrow is the DAY! I get to start the 2nd third of our “30 days GET BUFF” contest!! I’ve had great results to this point and plan to PUSH HARD toward the finish!! 1/3 done, 2/3 to go!!! LET’S GO!!! “30 days to Buff”- Day 11

~~~~~~~~~

To keep you up to speed- my last 3 days have panned out as follows:

Monday- cday 10-Weight 126-Tennis for 1.5 hours with Travis

Tues- cday 11-Weight 127-mish mosh workout with some squats in the early afternoon- late afternoon run 10 mins then lower body @gym

Wed-cday 12-Weight 127-I met a friend for a workout at 8:30am!~ can you believe that I did it that early??  LOL! we did upper body- chest press, lat pulls, incline chest press, seated rows and abs- then at 11 Travis and I played tennis for 2 hours- I was killing it!! LOVE IT!!

I feel really great and have been eating very well- my favorite eats have been: egg whites with pico, frozen blueberries/water and natural choc protein powder in a shake (thank you magic bullet), pickles and peanut butter, green beans with garlic, broccoli slaw salad with turkey and cashewes and some dressing, carrots…

I ovulate around day 10-12 each month- so the weight being up to 127 from 126 is totally NO BIGGIE!! I know I am working hard with stellar focus and within 2 days I’ll see NEW LOWS on the scale!! I love Hormonal Timing!!!

anyhow~ Have a super night and an even better TOMORROW!!!!

love,

Michelle

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Kermane has an amazing testimony; she is a true NO EXCUSES kind of a gal!  You name the obstacle, she’s overcome it.  Now with the support of the Rally Room and with Hormonal Timing she has built herself the best body of her life.  She never ceases to amaze me with her progress and her determination to be a GREAT example for her son.  She is on fire to build a legacy of health for him and is currently attacking a new goal to run a 5k race in the near future!!!  Kermane just celebrated 6 years cancer free last Friday~ NOW !! that’s something to celebrate!! I am so, so happy for her and blessed that she’s have shared 5 of those past years with TEAM BUFFMOTHER !! ♥ I love you!

You can follow Kermane on her AWESOME blog: KERMANE THE FIGHTER

www.kermanethefighter.blogspot.com/

Kermane’s thoughts on Hormonal Timing– as a Mother and Cancer survivor:

This is a picture of me AFTER I came home from having my son.  I was sleep deprived, fat, depressed and miserable, plus I had a little one who was depending on me for everything and I could barely take care of myself at the time.  It was my worst picture, because during my last trimester I just ate whatever I wanted and didn’t work out at all.  After fighting breast cancer, chemo and reconstruction surgeries I was ready to take care of me again so I decided to go for my goal.

The Hormonal Timing System helped fill in the missing pieces when it came to diet and exercise for me.  For too long I was getting discouraged when I would fall off the wagon, not realizing my hormones had a lot to do with that.  From tracking my cycle with Hormonal Timing I realized I am full of energy the first two weeks of it and start to feel less energetic the closer my period comes.  I realized about two days before my period I was zonked and should not try to kill myself working out then.  It helped me gear my exercises towards my hormonal cycle in a positive way.  I think the key point of Hormonal timing is that we have to realize that our bodies are ruled by hormones, like it or not and that we should allow our bodies to follow our natural cycles and not try to push ourselves beyond that because that makes us more prone to failure.

Why Kermane LOVES the Rally Room!

I have always been interested in exercise.  As a child I had excess babyfat to go with my glasses and long hair resulting in some self esteem issues.  By the time I hit fifteen I was what you would call a cardio bunny.  Also I was skinny fat, I had no muscle tone but growing up in a household where my Mother was obsessed with cardio I didn’t realize at the time there was other types of exercise.  Cardio was great for sweating but I still wanted to eat like my friends and ended up battling bulimia for about three years in the closet.

About the time I married my husband I realized I should be lifting some weights and bought 6.6lb dumbbells thinking I was the bomb!  Ten years into my marriage I had dumbbells up to 10lbs and did all kinds of Jane Fonda type weight lifting.   My Mother passed from breast, liver, colon cancer 3 days prior to my son’s birth, depression hit hard but I lifted myself out of that for my son and husband.  When my son was about two years old I started the Atkins diet and lost some weight only to be diagnosed with breast cancer. I was depressed. I was 34 years old and afraid my 35th birthday would be my last.  I gained about 25lbs thru the long process of recovery and reconstruction.  After my main battle was over I realized I felt sluggish and I wanted to lose the weight I gained.

While reading a website I found an article by Michelle about why muscle burns fat. Something clicked in my head. I went to her Buffmother website and read all the articles, I joined her Michelle Berger group. I was embarrassed to post my workouts because my weights seemed small compared to everyone else’s.  Then Michelle started the Rally Room site for women only which I joined and my love of strength training began. I joined contests on the Rally Room site to motivate me and they did.

I’m addicted to it now, I like how everyone encourages everyone and if necessary tries to get someone to see it is necessary to eat, you got to feed those muscles.  I have made so many friends here. If you’d asked me a year ago if I would be friends with people living in Canada, Texas, Florida, Tennessee and Michigan I would’ve said you were crazy. But I have.  There are women on here that know more about me than my best friend, I am that close to them.  If they needed me I would fly there in a heartbeat to help the out with any struggles they might be suffering.

When I joined the Rally Room I was depressed and my body image was low, I struggled with self-doubt and had to fight the urges of bulimia.  Now I realize that though my body became sick it is a miraculous thing. It has recovered and rebounded.  I can bend in some amazing yoga poses that normal people probably could not do. It gave life to my son and he is a beautiful creature. My body is strong, stronger than I ever gave myself credit for. My Mother was not the most positive role model and delighted in bringing my self image down and I am proud to say if she was alive, no matter what she could not bring me down right now.

Since joining my hips went from about 43 inches down to 37inches, I have lost 3.5inches off my waist.  My strength has increased tenfold. I can leg press a 380 pound man if I wanted, and squat a 180lb person. My chest which was ravaged thru surgeries and reconstruction is becoming stronger everyday and it will be only a matter of time before I can bench press 100lbs.  My arms used to look like chicken wings, they now look like my arm idol Jennifer Aniston.

I realize that cardio is not the only type of exercise.  I strength train my body 4 to 5 times a week now and delight in my strength increasing. I realize its ok to have a day off from working out now, in fact it is good for your body. I love encouraging people to realize that no matter your age or current fitness level you can achieve your goals.  If people can look at me and be encouraged from my struggles in life then I am willing to tell my story to any woman who wants to listen.

I’ve discovered that my body needs extra supplements that I am low on them and when I take them my mood swings improve tenfold.  I’ve also discovered cardio doesn’t have to be hours but can be as little as 20 minutes if you do interval training.

The Rally Room has given me great support and all the wonderful ladies in in encourage me when I am depressed and lift my spirits to get back on the fitness wagon. More than anything it gives me the spirit to continue when the body is weak and I thank you for it Michelle!

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April of  Virginia

Your Age: 27

Number of Children: 1 boy

Ages of Children: 2

April’s thoughts on Hormonal Timing:

“Hormonal Timing is a blessing in disguise.  Michelle’s ground-breaking technique is going to revolutionize the way women workout because it really works. There’s no gimmicks, or expensive shortcuts, just real results that are life changing.  She teaches you how to be in tune with your body.  I never would have thought it help cure my long-term, annoying health issues on top of regulating my cycles, moods and energy levels.  It’s also improved my skin’s appearance, libido and stress levels!  It’s amazing and it honestly works and I shall use her methods for the rest of my life.”

April’s essay about Why She loves the Rally Room ~2007:

From Strangers to Family

How do you thank someone for changing your life?  How do you thank someone for being your rock, comedian, your friend, coach, mentor, or even your shoulder to cry on?  What’s the answer?  You can’t.  There is neither word nor abundance of words that can ever express the love and gratitude I have for the Rally Room.  The Rally Room – a wonderful blend of women from all walks of life.  Who would’ve thought you could find something so amazing that you just have to believe there was some divine intervention taking place?  In cyberspace for that matter?

Before I found the Rally Room, I was a new mother with low self-esteem and little confidence in myself who had just gotten out of the military to be a stay-at-home mom.  I’ve always been a happy person who loved life, but underneath it all, I was a scared, naïve mother who before her son, had three miscarriages and couldn’t stand her body, could care less about her appearance, and put her son above everything else in fear of losing him.  After I joined the Rally Room, I felt like this huge rush of overwhelming love and friendship had hit me.  It was just the support and love I needed being away from all family and no friends to lean on.  I’m so happy when I log into the Rally Room to see what my fellow BuffMother! teammates doing with their lives and their workouts.  You learn so much from these women that you can utilize in your own life.  You end up evolving and changing for the better.  Your whole mental attitude on life changes.  You feel more confident, empowered, and just ready to take on the world!  You say to yourself, these women did it, why can’t I?

What makes the Rally Room so special?  You may think it’s the pretty colors of the website in all it’s pink and purple glory that make you smile.  But it’s not.  It’s the pictures of all those wonderful women replying to your posts.  It’s the challenges and competitions we all share to better ourselves and each other.  It’s the love we feel for complete strangers that we’ve never met, but somehow become so emotionally connected to one another.  It’s all this and so much more.

I was in the Air Force for 6 and a half years and never have I seen such unity and harmony between so many strangers in one place.  Not even the military!  The Rally Room makes me feel that I belong.  Belong to something so wonderful that you want to share it with the world no matter how crazy or obsessed you sound!  I love the feeling I get when I read responses to my posts.  That feeling is accomplishment, pride, happiness, and just plain love.  So many feelings intertwined together that make you want to spread that love!  How?  By responding to others’ posts to tell them how wonderful they are and how great they’re doing!  This leads to their happiness and confidence so they respond to another woman’s post and the beautiful cycle continues.

The Rally Room has given me my self-esteem and self-respect back.  It’s even improved my relationship with my husband.  I learn something new every time I log into the Rally Room.  It’s just a wealth of knowledge coming from real women and real

experiences.  I know when I need advice; I’ll ask the Rally Room before even looking on the Internet!  I feel such a strong connection to these ladies.  They’re my family.  They’ve helped me push myself out of my comfort zone and it’s given me the courage to start the business I’ve always dreamed of having but was afraid to try.  They’ve made me find a love for lifting and being healthier in general.  I’m beyond convinced that the Rally Room has changed my life.    Michelle’s motto says it all.  “The Key to your Motivation is to ENCOURAGE others”.  How unbelievably true!  Even if your friends or family do not support your decision to live a healthier and fitter lifestyle; you can always count on the Rally Room to be there for you rain or shine.  And that’s a great feeling.  A feeling that I don’t ever want to lose.

April’s website: www.toffeecreations.net

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Meet BuffMother! Dayle of ID!

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Dayle of ID

I wanted to see where I could take my body and mind with a more committed mindset. I wanted to lower my BF% and lose 10 lbs. I also wanted to show ladies that they CAN fit fitness into their busy schedules (and even at home) whether they are a stay-at-home mom, single mom, working mom…whatever. I reached all but 1 of these goals (I only lost 7.5 lbs.) I proved to myself that when I set my mind to something that I CAN DO IT no matter what life stresses come my way.

This challenge underlined the fact that achieving a healthy body is not all about vanity; it can benefit you in more ways than one can ever imagine. This challenge showed me just how powerful my mind is. I was determined to be both mentally and physically strong during my time spent in Oklahoma. When my dad was still alive but was quickly deteriorating, I told myself that I HAD to continue to workout and take care of myself so I could physically help my mom with housework and physically help my dad if he fell or needed help walking or if he needed to be moved in his bed. When I went back for the second time I told myself that I HAD to continue to workout to keep me mentally strong and to channel my feelings into my workouts in order to keep me sane and keep me strong for my family.

My girls saw me continue to work out no matter what was going on. They were able to see me fit my healthy habits into my daily grind just as I would any other daily task. Now after they wake up and get dressed, part of their before school tasks is to do 5 minutes of exercise!

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RECENT 10 WEEK SSS results
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Name: Dayle S
Number of children and ages: 4 and 9
Age: 36

Today’s Date: 9/14/09…11/22/09
Height: 62 inches…same
weight: 131…129
Today’s cycle day-CD 29…CD37
Bust (around breasts the biggest part): 37…36.5
Chest- relaxed (just under armpits above breasts with arms down at your sides): 36…35
Waist- relaxed (the smallest part): 29…28.5
Hips (the largest part of your butt): 37.5…36
Shoulders (around the outside of your shoulders with your arms at sides): 39.5…38.5
Biceps (relaxed at midpoint of upper arm): 11…11.25
Biceps (flexed at midpoint of upper arm): 11.5…11.75
Thigh-mid (about 8” above knee cap): 20…19.5
Thigh- upper (about 12” above knee cap): 22…21.75
Calf (about 7” below knee joint): 13.5…13.75

Why did you enter the SSS contest by BuffMother?
To get back on track…I had been getting the workouts in but not as consistent or as INTENSE as I used to and it shows!!  Not only was I feeling sluggish and non-motivated but my lack of BUFFNESS had resulted in a loss of muscle tone and a gain of about 10 lbs. since December ’08!!  I joined the contest because I needed the committment to accountability and the support of the RR to achieve my goals.   This was also my first challenge BC *FREE* and I was excited to see what changes were ahead of me…good or bad.

What tactics did you use to stay focused and engaged for the entire 70 days?
KathyK and I either texted or emailed our POA’s to each other daily.  I returned to more consistent blogging and changed the tone of my blogs to document more of my eating plans.  I had my DH join me for the first half of the SSS and I loved the support and the togetherness.   I also fed off of the new energy!  There are many new RR members that are in their BuffMother “honeymoon” phase and it was energizing!

How do you feel about your success?  I feel great!  I did not make much physical change (and actually suprised that I did actually go down a few inches) but I am super excited about the other changes…my consistency was back and my eats had a major shift!  I went from working out off and on to scheduling it into my daily life again.  It also seemed like all of a sudden the eating part just clicked!  I was choosing foods because I wanted to, not because I felt like I had to buckle down because of a contest.  For several weeks I ate 90% clean every day with only 1 big cheat meal for the week!  That is *HUGE* for me.  The eats clicked mentally for me this time!  WOOHOO!

What obstacles did you have to overcome in order to attain your goals?
Can you say FT job, 2 kids and a husband?  I am not special in any way…I am not unlike any other woman, but I do have a lot to juggle and the inconsistency with balance, lack of energy and overscheduling myself contributed to why I lost the muscle and gained the 10 lbs. over the past year.  Jeff worked out with me for the first few weeks of the SSS.  I used to always workout on my own so this gave me a different kind of motivation.  After about 5 weeks Jeff got really sick and had to take some time off…he never really got back in.  I never realized how much I depended on his presence during workouts until he was gone.  Honestly, I think that was when my workouts got a little sluggish.

What would you like to tell the world about BuffMother?
I would like for women to know that HT is the key to unlocking their potential!  You ARE different and that is alright!  With HT you learn to listen to your body and respect your hormones!  Stop looking for quick fixes, the pills and the surgeries.  YOU can do this! YOU can make these changes and you want to tell people that YOU did this!  Earn this!  This is why I love BuffMother.  It is something you can put hard work into and earn all on your own!

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I have already seen nice results on my scale- man I love BUFFING hormones!!

Wed- cycle day 5-129

Thurs-cycle day 6-127.5

Friday-cycle day 7-126.8!!

Okay, so my diet yesterday was not as good as Wednesday’s but I didn’t do horribly either- Contest day 4′s Diet focus was to have no dairy and I had more than ususal, lol~! I bought some Greek yogurt to try for the first time- had it and got a bloated belly ache- STUPID me~ that’s what always happens when I have dairy, lol!

Today’s diet plan is to be perfect!!

Ill keep a running tally:
2 cups Coffee- w/ half & half and a tsp of sugar
some white tea as Iced tea

Egg whites- from a carton (never really had these b4)- cooked them for 1 min in the micro- stiring 3-4 times in the process- good!
+pico

I will go run my sprints in about 10 mins, then I hope to play some tennis later!!!

Gunner started football yesterday, he’s on a the RAVENS- anyhow he WON the 3 kid tug of war tournament!! He was pumped!!  I am excited for him this season!!  I’ll be praying for no injuries!!

k- gotta go get running and running FAST!! I am a speeding bullet

*update* Ran in the 100+ degree heat!  10 mins + 6 X100 meter sprints + 5 min fire hot cool down in it~ I just did and thought I was going to com-bust!~

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Leslie’s fitness goals and challenges are a bit different than many of myclients. She wanted to have more curves and add some muscle to her “skinnyfat” body. Being a mother of 2 daughters, one of them being diabetic, Leslie knows the importance of being a good example to her kids. Leslie worked out for years without getting the results she desired but now on Hormonal Timing,Leslie is finally seeing the progress she craved. Utilizing the power of the Boosting phase has enabled her to finally regain her youthful shape. She is very excited to have her best body ever !

Leslie’s Testimony:

I have always known that I get PMS symptoms every month. Cramps, bloating, irritability,sleepiness, you name it…It was responsible for sabotaging my fitness efforts.Hormonal Timing, along with the supplements that Michelle recommends, have dramatically improved how I feel and how I perform. I think my “light bulb moment” was when I started counting my food portions. To my surprise, I was way low on portions and calories.I think the key point about Hormonal Timing is to get women to recognize the pattern of changes that our bodies go through during our cycles and to work with that pattern to maximize our results from our fitness routines/diet. It is so much easier to work/achieve our goals when we “give ourselves a break” when our bodies need it. We don’t need to deprive ourselves for the rest of our lives to look great! Hormonal Timing is something that is possible to do over a lifetime. I’ve broken plateau that’s been lingering too long!My results have been great!

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of Energy!! Brenda is a mother of 2, a Nurse Practitioner and a DIE HARD BuffMother!! She is stepping on stage again on the 28th of August at Bluff’s Classic in for the second year in a row!! WOW~ she’s been on quite the journey since joining our TEAM in May of 2008! From the moment Brenda joined I KNEW she was special and so Special in fact that she won our SuperStar Success Contest last year! The prize was to be a SUPER STAR in my hormonal timing infomercial so in Dec of 2008 she was flown to LA for the shoot!! It was a blast seeing her in her new SUPER STAR body! She’s keep strong and kept pushing hard and has inspired thousands of women in her journey. Brenda is a TRUE All Star! I am so proud of her!!

Please follow her jouney on her blog:

http://brendaherrod.blogspot.com/

Here’s part of her SSS contest entry from last year:

***SUPER STAR SUCCESS CONTEST – Before and After Stats:***
Date: August 31, 2008
Height – 5’4″
Age- “39″ and holding!!!
*Beginning weight – for Buffmother – 15 weeks ago – 141 lbs
*Beginning weight for SSS Contest – 10 weeks ago – 136 lbs
*Ending weight for SSS Contest – 118.5!!!!! (today 118!)

*Total loss = 23 lbs

*TOTAL inches lost = 36.25 inches!!!!!!! (gained ONE on calves)
*Body Fat % – 28.9% – 20% and NOW 16.3% at the END of SSS Contest!!!!!!!!

*Total Body Fat loss in 10 weeks = 12.6%

*Was wearing size 8-10 in clothing (pants, jeans…now can fit into size 4′s, 3′s and 2′s!!!!!) I love this change!!!!!

*Where are you in your journey?

I am very pleased with where I am at now. I want to MAINTAIN where I am at and continue to build muscle too. I plan to work on sculpting my abs, quads, glutes and hamstrings more now since I’ve lost the weight. I am just so happy to have lost so much body fat SO QUICKLY and become more lean. It is only 41 days until I turn 40 and I want to be in the best shape ever – fit and 40!!!

*Did you reach your goals and aspirations?

Yes I did! At first my goal was 125 pounds, and then 120 – which I reached in the last few days of the contest! It is very empowering to be in control and to know you reached your goals. Buffmother and hormonal timing has made such a difference in my life! I will continue to set new goals and always be focused! This will help me so much through my last year of graduate school.

*Where do you see this challenge brought you?

I had PERFECT timing for this challenge….I had just joined Buffmother five weeks before the contest started, so I had enough time to begin to understand the program and had lost five pounds before the contest began. It helped me learn how to have a clean diet and effective workouts. I kept my focus because I am motivated by turning 40 soon and the contest was big motivation too!

*Do you have any lingering concerns?

My main concerns right now are maintaining the level where I’m at, continuing to improve and staying healthy. I feel very fortunate not to have any ailments or body parts that cause pain or bother me! I know I’m in for a busy year with my final year of graduate school, teaching full-time and being a mom! But with the confidence I have gained with the Buffmother program, I know I can do it!

*Do you feel you made an impact on your legacy during this contest?

Definitely! I have showed my family, and especially my daughter – that you can do whatever you set your mind to and you CAN transform your body through making healthy food choices and working out. I’ve always tried to help my kids eat healthier and now since I am leading the example, it is working better. I’ve actually gotten more interested in cooking now too! I want to show them how great it feels to be fit and healthy for life!

*What is your REASON for doing this, your WHY?

I wanted to make the commitment to myself for better health and longevity. I am a happier and more complete person when I look better and feel better! I want to instill these values in my children and be an inspiration to my nursing students that I teach and patients that I care for. My parents both died from cancer and my brother had two types of cancer, so I hope that by choosing a healthy lifestyle I can decrease my chances and be around for my children a lot longer!!!! The 40th birthday coming up was HUGE motivation too!

*Did you feel the support group helped you stay on track?

YES! I loved our group, the Buff and the Beautiful! I am SO PROUD of how everyone did in this contest and really enjoyed getting to know them better! I was a co-leader with Dayle and tried to keep everyone motivated by checking their blogs and posting replies. We had a conference call that was good – even though we all were not able to get on! Dayle was awesome as a co-leader – I learned a ton from her experience in the Rally Room and she is SO motivating!

*What tactics did you use to stay focused and engaged for the entire 70 days?

I just jumped in and tried to get really involved in the Rally Room and looked at everyone’s before and after pics from previous contests, and learned as much as I could about HT, eating clean, and a variety of workouts. I loved reading everyone’s blogs and become super motivated by reading them. I felt like I had a whole team of awesome women behind me cheering me on – you know those BUFFMOTHERS!!! Lisa was the best resource ever too! I read Michelle’s incredible HT Book and After Baby Abs, and RE-read them – they was like my “Bible” that I lived by this summer! I spent a ton of time reading magazines like Oxygen and M&F Hers as well as Tosca Reno’s Eat Clean Diet Book and the Butt Book. I loved those too! Reading about fitness and nutrition inspires me A LOT and keeps me very focused.

*Did you reward yourself when you hit certain goals along the way?

I did recently by buying myself some new, smaller clothes that actually fit better! My absolute favorites are my Lucky jeans and capris – size 4!!!!! (also splurged on some new PINK Asics running shoes since I’ve been running so much!)

*What other thoughts are in your head at the moment?

I just am SO thrilled with my results and couldn’t be happier right now!!! I haven’t been in this good of shape since I was maybe 20 – okay – that’s almost 20 years ago now! WOW – I’m going to be 40 in about 40 days and feel in the best shape I have been since I was a teen! UNBELIEVABLE!!!!

*Did you GET to know your body? Did you learn about your good c-days, your bad c-days, your weight fluctuations, etc…

Oh yes and I loved figuring it out! It is truly amazing how HT works. It totally makes sense. I was surprised to see my cycles get so much shorter, menses last a shorter amount of time, and less cramping! Learned to not worry about the bloating weight gain, and know that if I want to take off a couple pounds, I can do it! I’m a nurse and studying to be a nurse practitioner in women’s health more specifically, so this really intrigued me and is something I hope to help patients with someday. SO many women come in and want to lose weight! It is a common problem I will likely be dealing with a lot.

*Did anything surprise you?

Yes – that I actually could do it! And love it! I did it the RIGHT way too! NO starving myself or just eating salads all the time. I ate a ton this summer – every 3 hours – just more nutrient dense and clean eating foods that my body needs. It was not really that hard to stay away from the bad foods because I had a goal and was feeling SO good! I quit drinking Diet Dr. Pepper and drink a ton of water now – which I love! I used to drink several pops a day and even first thing in the am! I am also surprised at how much I absolutely love the Rally Room and what a great support that has been. The friendships made there are just very special and we all have something in common – the quest for fitness and healthy living. It’s enriched my life a ton by knowing all these incredible women, their trials and tribulations!

*Did anyone else’s impact you along the way?

Definitely!
Michelle – aka Buffmother – Need I say more? She is ONE superstar and is always so upbeat and full of fire! She is so smart to have figured this HT all out too!

Lisa – She is amazing! I so respect her for all she has done transforming her body and competing in figure! She introduced me to this, afterall. And she is just the fun, awesome same Lisa that was in my wedding and my college buddy!

Annie – She joined shortly after me and we figured out things together. We texted each other and talked a lot too! I learned a lot about clean eating and changing my diet as well as getting a lot of motivation from my friend of 14 years! Love all the NEBRASKA TEAM BUFFMOTHER girls!!! Looking forward to meeting more of them soon!

Dayle – She was the best co-leader I could have EVER have had on the Buff and Beautiful team. She was so energetic and positive all the time even having such a devastating loss in her family. She just amazes me!

Kermane, Linda, Leslie – Always blogging everyday and so good about sharing great information as well as cute and motivating comments!

Carrie Peck, Trish & Julie in CA – AWESOME! These girls are the BOMB to me! SO fun and positive all the time. They are inspire me! I love reading the competition stuff too.

Deanna, both Kims, Monica, Colleen (fitnblond5), Jessie, Karen in NJ – and other members of the Buff and Beautiful team – we ROCKED!!!! SO MANY others that I hope to get to know better soon as we continue on our fitness journey!!!! GOOD JOB BUFFMOTHERS! WE ARE ALL SUPERSTARS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HERE IS MY BEFORE – 136lbs…Many more pics in my gallery and I did a photoshoot in a studio and will get those pics hopefully soon!!!!

Brenda of NE – I am very pleased with where I am at now, but I continue to have goals. I want to maintain, continue to build muscle, and increase my level of fitness. I am sooo proud to be 40 and in the best shape of my life!! Read My Story

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Teresa is has has a huge impact on me over the past 5 years.  Her determination and vision have inspired me time and time again.  She BELIEVED she could be Buff~ and guess what happened?? She attained her goal!   Her hard work and determination to succeed is so fun to see…I am very blessed to have her in my life!  Each day I get to witness her learning more, loving life more, and sharing more of herself with others.  She is impacting lives on a daily basis!!  It is fun to see how success is contagious~ Teresa,  YOU my friend are an All-Star for SURE!! Love you! – Michelle

“HI!! I’m Teresa!!

I am BUFF!! I am  50!!
…and I’m not finished yet!!

I am married to the most wonderful man in the world. He has always supported everything I do.
He has given me the strength to become the best I can. I have the 3 best kids in the world. I am just proud of them.

I stumbled across the website of Buffmother.com.  I think my positive vibes connected me to the Buffmother website.  There appeared this beautiful, buff women who was also a Mom.  At that time I was  a 46 year old mother of 3 and I wanted what was right in front of me.  So, I began reading the Buffmother website and blogs everyday. I emailed  and she Michelle set up a workout program for me.
I couldn’t have achieved my success this far without the “Buffmother” website, the Rally Room”, my cool Buffmother tank!!”

PLEASE follow here blog 

Download her Success Story PDF here~ Teresa Williams All Star!!

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