You Are Stronger Than You Think You Are.

You are stronger than you think you are. You are capable of more than you think. Both Tony Horton (Power 90/P90X) and Lance Armstrong both promote these to be truths and I believe them.

This weekend I went with coaches Lynn and Deborah to walk at Stone Mountain. Normally when any of us walk there we do the nearly five mile loop. On Saturday, we decided to take a different route that David (Summer of Support participant) told Lynn about that is seven miles. Since we had worked up to walking the five miles and although challenging have no problem doing it now, we decided to further challenge ourselves and tackle the seven mile loop.

By the end of the loop it became clear that something had gone wrong as it certainly felt like we were doing more than seven miles. We had to keep going though to get back to the car. Incredibly Deborah ran part of the way back, further challenging herself. At the end of the two hours and 34 minutes, we got in the car and rode the course, only to discover that it was 9.2 miles the way we walked the loop and seven miles if you started in the opposite direction.

We still enjoyed our walk and at the end of the day were actually glad that we had done the 9.2 miles. Although, we probably won't do the loop that way for quite awhile, it is a very good feeling knowing that because we have been conditioning ourselves and getting into shape that we are capable of rising to the 9.2 challenge. If you had asked any of us before Saturday to do a 9.2 walk, we probably would have said that we are not ready for that yet - but we were and we are. We are capable of more than we thought and we are stronger than we thought we were.

I have people call and email me that say that they can't exercise at all because of any injury. I understand how defeating having an injury can be. I have a heirniated disk, knee pain, ankle pain, and tendonitis. I still found something I was able to do that did not exaserbate my pre-existing conditions. I modified my movements, but I kept moving.

Look at wheelchair atheletes. Some of them don't even have legs and they are in excellent condition otherwise, with amazing looking arms, abs, and chests. They found something they could do despite their physical limitations.

Check with your doctor, find out if there is some excercise or movements he or she would prescribe or recommend. Perhaps ask if you could go see a physical therapist who might work with you on some exercises/movements.

Tony Horton says that if a part of his upper body is hurting or injured he works his lower body. If a part of his lower body is hurting or injured, he works his upper body. Don't do anything that is going to aggravate your injuries and do seek medical treatment. However, if you really want to get in shape and be fit, chances are that by working with medical professionals and others, you can find a way to do so despite any limitations you may have. You are stonger than you think you are. You are capable of more than you think.

Here is to another day of transformation!

Shawn Marie

Know an organization looking for a fundraiser? Family Fitness Fundraiser may be the answer.

Do you know a school, church, sports team, YMCA, or other non-profit organization looking for a way to promote good health and raise funds at the same time? Here is a way to do just that which would allow the organization to raise money throughout the whole year. Instead of selling items that do not contribute to good health such as candy bars and chocolate chip cookie dough, the organization could sell fitness and weight loss products, exercise DVDs, vitamins, and online health club memberships by a company with whom many people are already familar.

All the organization would have to do is fill out two forms and post a link on their webpage or direct their members or target audience to a website that would be established for them. There is no cost to the organization other than the printing of any flyers they may want to distribute announcing the fundraiser. All sells would be made online and the organization would not have to collect any money themselves.

Benefits of a Family Fitness Fundraiser:

• Profit to School: 40% on Shaun T’s Fit Kids Club DVD ($8.00 per DVD ordered) and 25% on ALL other products ordered through the organization's Family Fitness Fundraiser website.·
• Cost to School: None.· Ongoing Fundraiser: Continual residuals are paid weekly for orders placed.·
• Limited School Involvement: Distributing flyers home with students or members is all that is required.·
• Turn-key opportunity: All orders placed via the organization’s Family Fitness Fundraiser website are billed and shipped directly to the customer.·
• Support: Support will be provided for the organization including a coach with a dedicated e-mail account to answer questions parents or members may have.

If you know an organization that might be interested, please contact Keith at 404.372.9023 or firstkwlyr@gmail.com or Shawn Marie at 404.218.0699 or shawnmaries@bellsouth.net.

A Message from Tony Horton himself

For those of you participating in Summer of Support on Capitol Hill who are using the Power 90, 10 Minute Trainer, or P90X videos to reach the goals you have set for yourself, you already know who Tony Horton is since he is the one on the DVD telling you what exercise to do next. Fitness expert, Tony Horton, has spent the past 20 years establishing himself among the elite in the world of personal fitness training. From Hollywood celebrities and recording artists, including Tom Petty, Shirley MacLaine, Billy Idol, Sean Connery, Annie Lennox, and Rob Lowe, to the average person looking to lead a healthier lifestyle. His expertise includes circuit, cross, and interval training, post-rehabilitation, advanced stretching, yoga, and kickboxing.

Shawn Marie had the opportunity to attend Tony Horton's Fitness Camp this weekend in Las Vegas. Each day she worked out twice with Tony and attended two of his workshops. Keith also had the opportunity to work out live with Tony earlier this year.

Shawn Marie told Tony and others at camp about what we have been doing as a group as a part of Summer of Support on Capitol Hill. Tony sent the following message back:

Check back here and on Shawn Marie's blog http://www.shawnmaries.blogspot.com/ later this week and in the coming weeks for fitness and nutrition tips she learned while attending the Fitness Camp.

What is WOWY?

WOWY (Work Out With You)is an online buddy workout system where you get to workout with other people from all over the United States and beyond for FREE.

First you sign up for FREE (there will never been any charge and they will not spam you) as a member at Team Beachbody where you can not only use WOWY but also the message boards. The message boards are where you can find lots of other people who have the same goal as you and can motivate and encourage you to continue on your health and fitness journey.

You and your family and friends can sign up for free by clicking here . You can also get signed up by contacting Shawn Marie at 404.218.0699 or shawnmaries@bellsouth.net.

Then you log into the WOWY gym, pick a workout (it can be walking, jogging, biking, tennis, golf, lifting, yoga, etc.), pick a workout time, and then pick your buddy. Start your workout and now you are not working out alone.

You even get to post a message of encouragement before and after the workouts. You will also see whoever else is working out at that time. You can schedule your workouts ahead of time for the month or just schedule your workouts day to day. Even if you can't workout in WOWY that day, you can go back and add your workout later to help you keep track of your progress.

Other people will also be able to pick you as a workout buddy. You can workout with up to three buddies. Plus, you can invite unlimited friends to workout with you too so you will have buddies and friends to workout with.

WOWY, along with the Team Beachbody message boards, is such a powerful support system. Why do it alone when you can get so much support for FREE?

In addition, you can win up to $1,000 daily just for logging on to WOWY and working out!!!!! You don't have to pay anything or purchase anyting to be eligible to win.

WOWY is just one of the FREE tools that we are providing you with as part of Seasons ofSupport to help you meet and exceed your health and fitness goals. We hope that you and your family and friends will join WOWY. And we hope to see you at the next weekly Seasons of Support meeting!

Weekly Meetings

The Summer of Support meets weekly. However, you can come to as few or as many as you would like and if you can't make a meeting, no worries just attend when you can.

To find out what you missed at a meeting, you can give Keith a call at 404.372.9023 or Shawn Marie a call at 404.218.0699, send an email to summerofsupport2009@gmail.com, or check back here as we will be updating this site with new information each week.

Summer of Support

Finding it hard in this heat to work off those extra pounds? Want to tone up? Ready to be in the best shape of your life? Don't know where to start?

Summer of Support is all about helping each other reach our goals, providing inspiration, motivation, accountability, and information - everything you need to get started and reach your goals. Come join us in a relaxed and nonjudgmental environment and get started making this year one of your best yet.

The Summer of Support on Capitol Hill is FREE and without any obligation to you. Anyone can participate. There is no cost to you. You could, however, win $300, $1,000, or other great prizes daily just for working out. Come to a meetig at the State Capitol Building to find out how.

Through participating in the Summer of Support on Capitol Hill, you will have the following benefits:

1. A support system of coaches and other individuals who want to support you in setting and meeting your health and fitness goals. They will provide encouragement and accountability without judgment and be there for you to keep you on the right track.

2. Valuable information and tools to help you set and reach your goals in a healthy and an effective manner.

3. The chance to win $300, $1,000, and other great prizes daily.

4. Free access to online tools that will help you track your progress. You can even meet workout buddies across the country that are available to work out with you most any time of day or night.

5. The opportunity (but no obligation) to have before and after photos and measurements taken to help you see and document your progress.

6. The chance to finish this year knowing that you are healthier, more fit, more confident, and ready to take on the fall, winter, summer and next Session!