Challenge groups help busy people meet their fitness goals
By Polly Keary, Editor
Blair Morrow of Monroe never worried about her weight until after she had her first child. But when a year had gone and the 85 pounds she gained hadn't, she decided to make a change.
"It was depressing," she said. "I couldn't do the things I used to do and I'd never been at that level; my whole body was foreign to me. I didn't want to be that for my daughter. My mother was very overweight and we couldn't go do things as kids. I could already see I could barely keep up with my daughter when she started moving."
She didn't have money for a gym membership, though, so she started working out at home and gradually, the weight came off.
But it was hard to stay motivated, she said. She tried P90X, the popular and grueling at-home workout series. She kept up with it for six weeks, but then ran out of steam.
After her second child, with 45 pounds to lose again, she found a Facebook friend who suggested she try something new.
"She told me about Challenge groups," said Morrow.
Challenge groups are the brainchild of the fitness company Beachbody, which publishes such fitness programs such as P90X and Turbo Jam. The Challenge groups are made up of people who choose one of Beachbody's workout series, then sign up for 90 days of membership to a Facebook group which includes a coach who leads the group and holds its members accountable. The group members also get a month's free supply of nutritional shakes and a month's free access to the Beachbody company website, where they can track calories, workouts and more.
Morrow's friend told her that she could become a coach, and then she could earn a little extra money leading the groups.
She jumped at the chance, she said.
"I lost 30 pounds, and from then, I fell in love with it," she said.
So did some of the people who signed up for her first groups.
"I've had results like women who lost in a month close to 20 pounds, and say, 15-20 inches," she said.
Now she's looking for more people who want to make a change.
"The goal is to figure out what are the areas people are lacking in when they are trying to reach that goal," said Morrow. "The three most important things are a fitness program they like and want to do, and the nutrition is key, and then the support, and that's what the groups are for."
Those three things are all included in the Challenge pack.
For prices ranging from $160-$340 for a three-month program, Challenge group members get a workout series that works best for them, usually workout programs such as P90X or Insanity that have 6-12 CDs of workouts so that there is variety.
Then, along with trials of the company's website and nutritional shakes, they get Morrow as a one-on-one coach.
"I can help with any questions anyone has, help with a daily nutrition log and help with modifications that people need," she said.
And group members support each other on the group Facebook page, sharing successes, challenges and cheering each other on.
It's a great option for people who are busy but who want to stay in shape, Morrow said.
"The number one problem people have working out from home is they don't have that support system around them," said Morrow. "That's what the challenge group is all about, nutrition support and the workout and the support; those three things, together."
To learn more, visit facebook.com/fitwithblair.
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