Gratitude

I am guessing the great Bloggosphere is filled with Thanksgiving lists of gratitude... and mine won't be any different...

I am one lucky guy, most of all because of the people that surround me, friends and family alike, especially a five year old named Ava. I am so grateful I have taken the time to get to really know her, because by doing so, I have gotten to know myself.

And I am so grateful for the people at Beachbody who maintain a culture of creativity, productivity, and fun. Everyone who walks into the place seems to say how impressed they are with the spirit and energy of the office.

I am grateful that the company we created, and the products that we distribute, have attracted the type of customers we call "the MyBeachbody Community". Honestly, it would not be fun to go to work if we didn't get to share in the smiles and successes of our customers. The community is where we get to hear what our work does for people - the important stuff. Sure there's the little issues of the business model we need to iron out. But when you hear about adults getting off diabetes and cholesterol medications, young women conquering eating disorders, kids crawling out of obesity, all with programs we distribute, it makes you swell up with pride. It gives me the perspective of what these programs mean, and reinforces our discipline to stay on task.

And for all of that I am grateful and more excited than ever for what is ahead of us.

Thanks to everyone of you!

Who is buying this stuff?

Big news! Looks like you can go ahead and sell your Power 90 on ebay. Return your Turbo Jam. Drag your treadmill and other equipment out to your next yard sale. Turns out, if you want to lose fat and inches fast, there is no need to exercise or eat right according the makers of the Velform Sauna Belt, MZ Direct Response.

"Will exercise give you fast results?... Not a chance!"

"You'll immediately see results with no effort!"



And from their website: "The Amazing new Velform Sauna Belt helps you to sweat away unwanted fat, eliminate cellulite, lose weight and ease muscle pain - all while sitting in the comfort of your own home."

Who watches that guy take the Sauna Belt off and believes he got those abs with that thing? And is the couple hundred bucks the model received for this shoot worth more than his self-respect? I just don't get it. This infomercial has climbed through the ratings chart from its recent debut, up to the top 15. Their media buyers are out-bidding other infomercial marketers to place the Sauna Belt show in prime media. They are positioning themselves for an enormous rollout in 2006. And from what we have heard, there are already knock-offs in development. So not only will you see ads for this one, there will be three or four copycats on the air promising results of "one inch in one hour". Does that media agency care so much about making their commission on this client that they are willing to further tarnish the already strained perception of the infomercial medium? And do the stations that accept this kind of advertising really care that little about their viewers? This business can be remarkably productive for generating customers, but not for long if the leaders in the industry as a whole don't use professional discretion.

"But how can they afford to even market this product?" you ask. "Haven't we already learned not to buy this stuff?"

Guess not... Because people are buying it. A lot of people are buying it. People didn't learn from the hundreds of thousands of units of "Ab Stimulator" belts sold three years ago which then got yanked off the market by the FTC. People didn't learn from the "Ab Roller craze" and subsequent "Ab Roller garage sale" craze years later.

No matter how many times the morning news shows and Oprah pronounce that the only healthy solution is "exercise and portion control", there will always be consumers looking for a short-cut, even if it's insane, and there will always be a new fast-buck company willing to scorch the earth under an entire industry for a one-off hit. That's the environment Beachbody is operating in. But we will not be deterred. We will always pursue solutions that work. We will always preach a message of a healthy lifestyle.

Look at this book shelf at a nearby Barnes & Noble. That's over 25 titles, each promising THE ANSWER to your weight loss needs. Each with its own unique twist, each with a promise of being the last book you'll ever need.

Different strokes for different folks. That's why we have multiple brands and solutions at Beachbody, from ten minutes a day, to six weeks, to 90 days and more. As long as the message is clear, and based on proven healthy principles, the innovation will continue. But they are all rooted in the same basic premise that you need to both exercise, and improve your diet choices.

One of the reasons that we adopted the "Decide. Commit. Succeed" motto is that it's important to carefully "decide" when choosing the solution that's right for you. Don't just follow the latest hot one you read about in People Magazine. Choose something that makes sense for you. If it doesn't make sense to you, then it's not for you, because you'll lose faith in it quickly. It has to make sense!

And of course, wrapping a piece of plastic and velcro around your waist doesn't make sense if you want to lose fat and inches and be healthy. Eating ONLY protein doesn't make sense. Popping a pill doesn't make sense.

I know Beachbody is not perfect. We have our own customer complaints. But never do we not get things resolved, and never do we actively set out to disrespect the customer. In case the folks at MZ Direct are reading this, as one businessman to another, wouldn't it be more rewarding to create wealth by helping people succeed and improve their lives? There's a lot of opportunity in the world. Choose the one that makes this a better experience for everyone, not the one that abuses the privilege for your own benefit.

What Am I Doing?

A few people have written to ask what my workouts consist of these days, so I figured I'd lay it out here.

With ski season approaching, my goal is to get my legs in shape BEFORE I get to the mountain, rather than to simply start skiing and wish I had gotten them in better ski shape ON the mountain.

While I have not set any specific travel plans yet, one of the best ski trips I've ever had was a boondoggle Jon Congdon, Tony Horton and I had in Aspen a couple years ago. (photo). It was a last minute trip and an absolute blast. From the small world department, we ended up running into Phil Jones and his wife Ashley from Pure Kauai who were in Aspen for the same weekend... totally random, and a lot of fun.

So - I am focusing on legs, butt, back (lower), and abs with a mix of upper body and cardio. Last night I did the new Power 90 Masters Series Plyo Legs. That's going to be a real staple to my training regimen for ski prep as I work toward getting in 50 hardcore leg workouts before I get to a mountain sometime in January.

If anyone wants to join with that motivation we could start a WOWY group. Let me know and I'll get it done!

The results are in!

As you might recall, in early October I mentioned how Thomas Haire, editor of the direct response industry's trade magazine "RESPONSE" had begun Power 90 to see if it could help him lose weight as promised in the infomercial.

Tom completed his 90 days last Saturday, and he let us know how he did:

Jon

I weighed-in Saturday morning (day 90) at 201, a total loss of 37 lbs. in 90 days. I went through the measurements the day before. I lost six inches off my waist and hips, and two inches off my chest and thighs. Toned up my arms about 1-1 1/2 inches also. The program worked wonders. You’ll see the before and after photos in the December issue Editor’s Note. My plan now is to get back into the gym, utilizing the circuit program I learned from the DVDs with free weights, while mixing in some of my own cardio with at least one day a week of the Power 90 cardio. Should continue working out about 5 days a week. As far as diet goes, I plan on splurging a little bit more than I did during the 90 days, but doing the program for those 90 days has changed how I see food and how I will approach my overall eating plan. I will definitely continue with the eating plan I learned from Power90. My goal now is to maintain my weight between 195-205. If I continue to see a loss, I could be convinced to shoot for 190, but my body type probably doesn’t allow for much more than that. It’s been an amazing, enlightening experience for me. I never would have believed I could accomplish what I did, and the program is so simple that, as long as you commit to it, you can’t help but do yourself some good. The thing I like about it the most from a marketing standpoint is that it is absolutely on the consumer to commit. The product delivers what it promises, but only if the buyer commits to the program. A buyer could never point the finger at the product and say, “This doesn’t deliver!”

Thanks so much!

Tom

Note: I happen to think Tom could get to his goal of 190 without a lot of extra effort, and I hope the word "splurge" doesn't back fire on him. According to some research, people who gain back five pounds or more are the ones who find themselves back on the slippery slope to gaining it ALL back, plus, plus.

A diet expert was in the office the other day and he said something that really nailed it: "You can do more damage in 3 minutes of eating than you can make up in three hours of exercise." While that might be an exagerration unless you're competing in a pie-eating contest, the point is clear: Weight maintenance requires lifelong eating habits that balance calories in and out. Splurging happens, but you can't let it creep into a three or four times-a-week habit. I think what's most important frankly, when considering the splurge, is that you remember how good it feels when you don't feel bloated, how good it feels when your clothes fit, how good it feels when you actually like your waistline. The splurge is much less appealing when you remember how much better "thin feels".

All work... is dull

In case you wondered whether we're all work over here at Beachbody, here's a copy of an email string that happened the other day when my assistant was out of the office and I needed to organize a coffee run...

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From: Carl Daikeler
To: Staff

This is dangerous, but… First person who emails me that they’re getting coffee across the street, I’ll buy if you pick me up a medium size dark roast.

Carl
===========================
From: Rick
To: Staff

I need to go for a walk.. I’d be happy to help you out in the process – kill two birds with one stone!

Rick
===========================
From: Carl Daikeler
To: Staff

Thanks Rick.

Oh, I forgot to add, “plus I’ll give you ten million dollars”

Enjoy!

===========================
From: Patty
To: Staff

Hey, for that much money I would have bought you a GRANDE...

===========================
From: Carl Daikeler
To: Staff

Big deal... unless GRANDE is French for "Harley"

===========================














From: Carl
To: Staff

Rick – This is the best cup of coffee I have ever had. Good work son.

You’ve got a bright future at this company. I am going downstairs to move Jon’s car so you can have his parking spot from now on. And see me later for a key, fluffy robe and slippers for our executive lounge and spa.

Carl

===========================
From: Rick
To: Staff

Relax everyone – Carl did give me the ten million dollars - but it was ten million dollars in “Beachbody store credit”. Anyone need a couple thousand copies of Power 90?

===========================
From: Patty
To: Staff

Carl:

Sounds to me like you have already had too much coffee, easy on the caffeine Mr......

Patty

===========================
From: Rick
To: Staff

Carl -

As per our conversation in the Executive Spa, here’s the revisions I would make to our site.

Rick

P.S. Thanks for the foot rub.

P.P.S. Who is "Staff"? I see he is on all of these correspondences. Does he have the true power around here? If so, does he need some coffee too?

Yes, we hear you... You want more!

As Turbo Jam has started to get more notice now that the infomercial is on TV and people are experiencing the "party" that these workouts represent, the demand for an even more challenging and lively set of routines has been a recurring theme of many emails I get each week. (Yes VF'ers, that means you!)

We have completed principle photography on six new, more advanced Turbo Jam LIVE! videos which we are planning to release as they are completed - probably starting in December. Cardio Remix and Turbo Jam Booty Sculpt will be the first two titles in this new set. While they are more advanced routines, they still keep the workout to around thirty mins since that is by far the most popular feature of most of the Beachbody catalog (Time matters to most customers!).

The next four videos, which we shot this week will be Fat Blaster (30 mins), Turbo Jam 3T's of Sculpting (30 mins), Cardio Party 3 (45 mins), and Punch Kick and Jam (45 mins).

In January we will take it yet another level up with more advanced hour-long workouts, and a couple other twists I have in mind for this line.

Meanwhile, for anyone looking for the Yoga Booty Ballet Masters Series, the first of the five titles, "Yoga Core" is now hidden deep within the Core/Yoga Gear section of the website.

WOWY crosses 200,000!

Today WOWY crossed over the 200,000 workouts-to-date mark for 2005! That's 200,000 times people have overcome that urge to blow off their workout.


We hit the magic number of 200,000 workouts when MyBeachbody member PWmn1973 logged in for an hour of cardio at 2:45 PM PT!

That's consistency! That's persistence!



In case you think that's nothing... I sat next to Tony Horton on the plane coming back from Hawaii Friday to learn that, he too has the struggle to stay motivated to workout. He told me that if he has plans to workout with friends or a client, and they cancel, he often will have that urge to skip it "just this once". But he pulls himself together and he gets it done. So if the king of fitness has to work at staying on track, the rest of us should be proud whenever we string together a consistent week or month... Just like the Beachbody community has demonstrated 200,000 times so far in 2005!

Nice work to everyone who logged in their workouts. I'm guessing we could get close to 300,000 by the end of the year, but it will be difficult to actually hit that number. We'll see.

Erick and his team are working on some new features which will bring more people to the WOWY party. But that's slated for the end of the year.

In the meantime, congrats to everyone who has won the $100 so far, and keep logging in your workouts with the last week of the October WOWYfest ahead of us! (Can I finally take the dress off?)

The Last Hawaii Hurrah of 2005

Well, what a week. What a group. What a night. As I said at tonight's dinner, I am grateful for this group, while Beachbody deals with the firestorm of misunderstanding resulting from its offer set and custiomer service track record for 2005 -- yes, we have a lot to improve... but the attitude, success, and joy on the faces of these folks fills the entire team with hope.. Beachbody will help more people, and we will continue to improve, because every single customer is worth it!

Now - here's the crazy night - -karaoke, photos, and dancing... Looking forward to next year already!

A Few Photos from Dinner

It was a great dinner put on by our hosts Pure Kauai.

The group seems very relieved to have the interviews behind them. Everyone seems to be having a great time, and as usual making strong relationships with the other guests that will carry on throghout the year on the Beachbody message boards and to fitness gatherings throughout the country.

I think we are all getting a little restless!

With the big workout behind us, with hardly a complaint from anyone, it was time for just a quick lunch, showers, then the group interview. I think the gang and the crew is starting to think ahead to the beach day planned for Thursday. I'm hearing murmurs of vodka/pineapple shots and chocolate cake!

The Lawn Shoot

It was a non-stop grueling three hours of shooting, including the new Power 90 Fat Burning workout with plenty of new inspiration from the 2005 Success Stories.

That is an Upside Down Dawn

"Wow" is all I could think as I took this 5:45AM photo. Storm clouds are threatening our shoot today. But it's almost worth it with a dawn like this.

Muscle... at Dusk

Cort, Bernie and the crew oversee shots of Aaron - 107 pounds lighter thanks to Power 90, and Jack who was crossing to get in position for his shots to show off his results -- 63 pounds lighter.


Aaron responded with a sprint and a leap to finish off the shoot, after being asked to "Frolick more".

Back to the Beach

The end of the day got a little overcast, but it was still warm enough to capture beach shots of Dawn, who has lost over 46 pounds, and Melanie who has lost 34 pounds with Power 90.

Fred's Turn!

Message Board hero Fred, who has lost over 105 pounds since starting with Power 90, gave a great commentary about the value of the community to help you succeed.

Heather and I were hanging on every word

Beautiful Way To Start The Morning

Melanie doesn't know I caught her stretching at 5:45 AM, but I understand why she was inspired. It was an amazing dawn.

Speaking of Dawn - here is Dawn following Tony for the morning workout. We're refining the moves for a new workout to add to Tony's line-up -- a major fat burning routine we hope to shoot Wednesday, if the weather holds.

Today would have been ideal. It was a spectacular morning in Kauai.

The last moments of sun

In the last moments of light the photo and video crew worked together to get the proof that these Beachbody success stories were for real; Laurie, Ralph and Cindy.

Good stuff. I am heading over to dinner to find out how the group that went on the hike today did!

Then to the beach for Video

Jon and the crew oversaw beach photos and video during that "Golden Moment" where you have around 20 minutes to get that perfect light before the sun sets.










Here's Tom who lost 37 pounds doing with Power 90 along with his wife Lisa (seen doing push ups with Tony yesterday). Tom used his new found discipline to also quit smoking - cold turkey - on day 45!

The After Shots - THOSE pants!

We started the day with interviews and after shots. Here's Laurie V, who lost 30 pounds with Power 90, and Ralph H who lost 76 pounds! Inspiring stories on that basis alone, but when you hear the real story behind the stats, they are truly remarkable success stories that will no doubt inspire another wave of success.

Late -Sunday Workout

Before dinner, Tony decided to get another workout in. Here Lisa is getting some tips on close-hands push-ups, and Tony drew a crowd as he lifted the stack in a bullish set of pull downs.