Brazil Butt Lift & Rockin' Body Reviews

Originally, I was going to complete my Brazil Butt Lift / Rockin' Body hybrid program for 6 weeks. After 4 weeks I started to get bored with the schedule, and I was itching to start my Hip Hop Abs routine. Here's what I thought of the programs individually:

Brazil Butt Lift
Although the name suggests this program is solely for the tush, Brazil Butt Lift is definitely a full-body workout program. After completing all of the exercises in the series, I could definitely tell a difference in my waist, bum bum (butt), tummy, and thighs.

My favorite workout from the BBL series is Cardio Axe (pronounced ah-shay). It's an upbeat, Brazilian dance workout that will have you sweating and rocking your hips like a tornado. My least favorite workout was the High and Tight. Although I didn't enjoy this workout at all, I'm sure this is the workout that lifted my bum bum and thinned my thighs. It's important to note that this workout requires ankle weights (that weren't included in my purchase) and a strength band (that was included in my purchase).

Trainer Leandro Carvalho is great at giving direction and explaining what part of your body you're working out, but his smile irritated the heck outta me. How could someone smile so hard while torturing me with crunches, planks, and strength exercises that make my inner thighs scream?

Despite the cons I mentioned above, I would definitely recommend this program to anyone. Leandro will get your booty into shape and you will look great in your skinny jeans! Also, Brazil Butt Lift has different schedules you can follow depending on the problems you have with your booty (i.e. too big, too flat, etc).

Rockin' Body
I absolutely loved Rockin' Body!!! Shaun T is my new bff in my head. He is fun, energetic, hilarious, and so down-to-earth. I honestly felt like he was more of a friend instead of a trainer during the program. Even my daughter enjoyed these dance workouts and she tells me every day, "Mommy, I want to rockin' body!!"

The only cons I noticed in Rockin' Body were the music, the cheesy raps, and the lack of intensity. I expected some cool pop tunes when I ordered Rockin' Body, but instead I got made-up raps by Mr. Shaun T. Before completing Rockin' Body, I did Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred, which is super intense. I won't say Rockin' Body is easy because cardio isn't easy for everybody, but it's not as intense as a high intensity interval training workout. Although Rockin' Body never left me sore like BBL or 30 Day Shred, I still burned a lot of calories.

I would definitely recommend Rockin' Body to anybody looking for a fun cardio workout.

Results
I only completed 4 weeks (about 24 days) of the BBL/Rockin' Body hybrid but I still saw some results in that very short amount of time.

• I lost 3.4 lbs (initially I gained 2 lbs when I started then I lost those 2 lbs and an additional 1.4 lbs).
• I lost 1" off my waist. 
• I lost 0.5" from my hips. 
• I lost 0.5" from each thigh.
• I can now pass the "pencil test." (Before you start Brazil Butt Lift program, you're suppose to complete a pencil test to see if your booty needs to be lifted. You place a pencil in the crease where your butt meets the top of your thigh. If the pencil stays put, your booty is hanging too low and you need to work that on out. When I first took the test I failed, but after completing my hybrid program I passed.)

 Here are my before and after photos:

If you can't tell from my cell phone photos, my tummy is a little more flat and my abs near the top of my tummy are a little more defined. Hopefully Hip Hop Abs and cleaning up my diet a little more will help me rid myself of my c-section pooch. Stay tuned for that review in the future.

Both Brazil Butt Lift and Rockin' Body are Team Beachbody products. If you are interested in trying out any Team Beachbody products and don't know a coach, please visit  Coach Alfreda McMillan's website. She's my personal Beachbody Coach and she will get you squared away.

March Madness: Coaching

March Madness is in full effect. I love college basketball, so March gives me life!!!

I pay attention to the craziest details during college basketball games, especially the attire of coaches. The coach of my favorite team, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Roy Williams, is the best-dressed coach on the bench, hands down. I always notice his suits and I'm constantly comparing the outfits of other coaches to his outfits.

Another thing I notice about college basketball coaches, is their demeanor. Demeanor is something I try to observe in all types of coaches on all types of levels.

My older sister always played basketball growing up, so I always paid attention to her coaches throughout the years and they all had different approaches and attitudes. My daddy coached church league basketball back in the day and as a child, I would always pay attention to what he was doing. My husband coached elementary school basketball for a couple years and there were times I'd pay more attention to him during games, than I would the kids.

I have a Team Beachbody Coach, the fabulous Mrs. Alfreda McMillan (please click her name to visit her Beachbody site to order terrific products that will get you fit), and I know a few other Beachbody Coaches and they all coach differently.

When I decided to become a Certified Stress Management Coach this month, I started contemplating my attire and my attitude. I've been working on two websites for my coaching career for the past couple of weeks, and one of the biggest things for me is deciding on the look of the sites and the look I want to portray in my pictures for the sites.

The first site will be launching sometime next month, and I hope I give the impression I'm intending to give, and I'd love feedback once it's up and running.

NC NO MORE Day

Today, March 13, 2013, is NO MORE Day in North Carolina. 

What does that mean? It means that I am standing with many other people across the state to say NO MORE to domestic violence and sexual assault. According to the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence, this campaign was created to "galvanize change and radically increase the awareness of domestic violence and sexual assault in our communities." 

I survived sexual assault at the ages of 16 and 19, and my aunt lost her life to domestic violence on March 14, 2012. I have a daughter, nieces, and nephews, and I don't want them or anyone else to suffer the pain of sexual assault and/or domestic violence.

This movement is sponsored by the North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic Violence and the North Carolina Coalition Against Sexual Assault. Please visit their websites and Facebook pages to see how you can join the campaign. Tweet #NCNOMORE and tell the world why you say no more.