My review of Beachbody On Demand

I was lucky enough to be part of the beta test group for the new online streaming service being offered by Beachbody.  I got to test out all of the features and make suggestions on the functionality of things before it was released to the public.

Accessing BOD is very simple.  You log into your Team Beachbody account and then there is a tab for it on the top left of the screen.  Once you are in, there is a menu button on the top left that can help you easily navigate through the workouts.  You can search by trainer or by type of workout. Or you can simply scroll through the Member Library which will list all of the workouts available.

These are the programs available for free with the service now. You not only get the workouts but you get the calendar, nutrition guide, recipes, basically everything you would get if you bought the DVD set:

Insanity
Insanity Asylum
P90X - 1,2 and 3
TurboFire
Brazil Butt Lift
ChaLEAN Extreme
10 Minute trainer

Now don't forget to check out the "Try Something New" section.  There you will be able to do one full workout from our newest programs so you can try them out before you decide to buy them.

These programs include:
21 Day Fix
21 Day Fix Extreme
T25
PiYo
Insanity Max 30
Body Beast
Slim in 6

They will be adding content to the library monthly, so your options will continue to grow.  

Now you may be thinking, but what about all of the programs I already OWN on DVD??  Well towards the end of March, they will be rolling out the capability to stream all of the programs that you have previously purchased.  And if you purchase any of the programs in the future you will also be able to stream them as well.

For me this part is a huge game changer.  We all have busy lives and aren't always home to do our workouts.  Now you don't have to stop your progress with your program OR have to lug around the laptop and DVDs.  You can do you programs anywhere you have an internet connection from your smartphone, tablet or computer!  

The workouts are easy to play, the only thing you have to do is click the liability waver check box each time you work out.  Then the workout starts right away!  No having to wait for all of the promos and "warning" messages.  It just gets right to it!

Another feature I really like is if you stop your workout before completing it (you know, like if your kids need you right this minute!), when you log back in, it is there waiting for you on the main screen.  Love that!

The quality of the videos is good and there don't seem to be any issues on speed or being choppy.  And my favorite thing about this is that I can use my Apple TV to stream the content right onto my TV so I don't have to always use my iPad or iPhone to view it.  Which sometimes makes it easier when you are doing a workout for the first time. 

Now for the price - you can get Beachbody On Demand for $38 for three months worth of unlimited streaming.  That comes out to about $12.66 per month!  You are billed quarterly in advance of the 3 months and then every 3 months thereafter.  AND when you get the service you also qualify for 10% off of any of your Beachbody purchases - apparel, programs, equipment, Shakeology for the entire time you subscribe to the service!  

All in all, this is THE solution that Beachbody lovers have been waiting for.  I have already used it a ton and I am so excited to add it to my fitness rotation :)

To sign up for the streaming service click here Beachbody On Demand

Back to School = Back to Routines

My kids went back to school this morning after two weeks off for winter break.  As some of you know, I am new to the work from home mommy world so I did enjoy having a break where I actually got to be HOME with my kids when they were off of school.

HOWEVER, I had established a pretty good routine while they were in school, so those two weeks really threw me off track.  So now that they are back, it is time to get back into it and get stuff done!!

I am spending my day (after getting work done) cleaning and organizing.  Man these kids can make a mess being in the house for long periods of time!  So to help you do the same, here are some more of my favorite cleaning tips and tricks!

1.  Have pets?  Have furniture?  Then you most likely have pet hair ON your furniture.  Try using a pair of rubber gloves (get them a little damp first) and gather up all of the pet hair on your furniture.  Works like a magnet!

2.  Use distilled white vinegar to clean hard water off of your sink faucets etc.  Use an old toothbrush to help with the scrubbing.

3.  Speaking of white vinegar....have you ever thrown a load of laundry in the washer and then forgot all about it until the next day??  Then you know the smell I am referring to.  For some reason, I can rewash the clothes and the smell comes out but the towels are impossible to get the smell out.  Try this trick courtesy of classyclutter.net.... Wash your load of towels on the hot cycle and add 1 cup of vinegar to the load. Do not use detergent or anything (especially bleach – that can be super dangerous!)… just hot water and the vinegar. Let the washer do it’s job. Then, if you still smell a little bit, rewash with just hot water and 1/2 cup of baking soda. I did not need to do this step but if your towels are bad, you might want to. Again, no detergent, just baking soda and hot water. Got it?

When your towels are done, throw them in the dryer with a dryer sheet. I use the Febreeze Bounce dryer sheets and now my towels come out smelling super clean and fresh!

This also works well on clothing, like stinky wet swimsuits that were left sopping wet out of the pool! Just be sure to be careful with the hot water and mixing colors. You don’t want the colors to bleed so do them separately or with very like colors.

4.  My kids seem to grow out of their clothes so fast sometimes.  Instead of going through closets and drawers once in a while, keep a cardboard box in your laundry room.  When sorting clothes after the dryer, simply watch for ones that no longer fit and toss them into the cardboard box.  When it is full, it is time for a donation!