Spartan Race Training with Body Beast

Spartan Race Training with Body Beast

I remember when the Body Beast Workout Program was first launched, I was very hesitant on doing the program because it was geared more towards people who were interested in Body Building and Physique Modeling. But the more I looked into the program, it was a lot more than that. It was a program that catered to weight loss, toning up, gaining lean muscle, and even gaining strength for Spartan Races. Not specific to Spartan Race, it is perfect training for any Obstacle Course Racing event which requires a lot of strength to conquer the obstacles. There are different workout schedules to follow depending on your goals, but if you are training for a Spartan Race, then you may have to change it up a little to make sure that you are using the program for not just strength, but also for athletic performance.

I'm not gonna lie, but since I've been doing Body Beast, I rank it up there as one of my favorite workouts along with P90X and Insanity Asylum Workouts, I'm totally addicted to it! What guy do you know doesn't like lifting weights? And that's the thing, it's easy to want to lift more weight with Body Beast, but if you are focused on becoming a faster OCR (obstacle course racing) athlete, then building too much mass with Body Beast will hinder your speed and ruin your PR times. So you now ask "why would I want to do Body Beast then?"

Here are some benefits to using Body Beast for Obstacle Course Race Training:

- Helps you gain strength
- Easy to follow workouts, just add some cardio conditioning (examples below)
- Workouts can be done at home or gym
- Totally customizable depending on your goals

So let's talk about each of these benefits.

Helps You Gain Strength
I think that this is the main benefit for using Body Beast for a Spartan Race or OCR. But just like any lifting program, the question is, how much is too much? Just to keep it simple, if your goal is not to become a Body Builder, then it's really not necessary to lift really heavy. The next question is, how much is too heavy? Well this all depends on you. With Body Beast, a lot of the workouts have anywhere from 3 to 5 complexes, each complex can have a set number of reps per exercise from 8-15 reps including super sets. If you cannot finish all of your reps, then you are probably lifting more than you should. I mean you should always push yourself to add more weight, but remember, we're just building strength and lean muscle, not MASS. Of course the more you continue doing Body Beast, you will soon see that your strength gains go through the roof, just be careful not to build too much mass or else it will again slow your running pace down when you are at a Spartan Race.

Easy To Follow Workouts
That's what I like about Body Beast, because just like the Daily Spartan and Crossfit WOD's, you know exactly what you need to do because it tells you what to do. The only thing about Body Beast is that it is all about lifting (most of the time), and hardly focuses on Cardio Conditioning. So what do you do? You add it in between the Body Beast sets. Here's are some examples:

Ex. 1
During Body Beast Total Body (which is a Full Body Workout) there a 4 circuit sets. The first set includes: Pull ups, Push ups, Squats, and Crunches (2 rounds). What I do is after I complete the circuit of 2 rounds, I will pick up a sand bag and run up some stairs, or if I don't have stairs, then I will just run around the block for 100-400 meters. Other things that you could do in between sets are (depending on the workout):
- Burpees
- Jump Squats
- Running without Sandbag
- Bucket Carry
- Jump Rope
- Insanity or Insanity Asylum Exercises

Ex. 2
During a Body Beast Back/Bis Workout, this workout consists of about 8 sets, each set includes 1-3 exercises with 3 to 4 rounds of lifting reps (from 8-15 reps). After each set, you could add some cardio conditioning such as running, high knees, box jumps etc. Just be careful not to work the same muscle groups every day. If you can only workout 3X per week, then I would do Full Body Workouts on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays, then maybe do some running, core focused, and even yoga in between those days. If you need help with this, message me and I would be happy to assist =).

Get the Body Beast Workout Sheets here!

From Home or Gym
I workout at both home and the gym, but I also love doing work outdoors! Body Beast is perfect because you can workout at home, then go outside to do your added cardio conditioning and athletic-based exercises to cater to your Spartan Race goals. The gym works the same way especially if you are using an outdoor gym, or gym with outdoor access.  My gym has an athletic training area, so I will go back and forth from the weight training area to the green training area.

 Just another Spartan Race Success Story using Body Beast

Body Beast helped me build my legs for those elevated hikes carrying sand bags. It also helped with the atlas carry, Hercules hoist to where I can lift heavier weight with less effort. ~Jeremy

Totally Customizable
Although Body Beast has their own workout schedules, and it's highly recommend that you follow it according to your goals, it can still be customizable. For Spartan Racers and OCR Athletes, the workouts should be more customized to your athletic goals, and cardio conditioning and athletic-based exercises should be added in between sets to get the full benefit of Body Beast for Obstacle Course Racing. If you are not skilled with creating your own workouts, then I can assist you with showing you how Body Beast can benefit your OCR strength and running game. Make me your FREE Coach now, click here!

So I hope this helps you understand some benefits of using the Body Beast Workout Program for Spartan Race and other Obstacle Course Racing events. As always, listen to your body, use proper form, and have fun!

Stay active my friends! =) Add me on facebook

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P90X Gym Workout in Luang Prabang, Laos

Gym in Luang Prabang, Laos

When I travel I try to do as many active things as possible. If I am not hiking, mountain biking, rafting, trail running etc. my butt is trying to find a local gym to get my workout in. I was lucky to find a small gym about 12-15 minute walk from the Mount Phousy Temple. I was told that it used to be located by the Dara Market but it moved to another location by the Xang Kham Hotel on Manomai Rd.

P90X Gym Workout in Luang Prabang, Laos

I have attached a map (below) to help you find the gym should you decide to get some workouts in while visiting Luang Prabang. There are other gym locations which are located at some of the fancy resorts such as Le Palais Juliana and the Kiridara Resort, both locations do offer daily, weekly, and monthly rates.

I liked this small gym that I went to because it was where a lot of the locals worked out and I noticed some people training for Muay Thai there as well. It was very basic and had everything that I needed for my P90X workout, and it was only 12,000 Kip, which is about $1.50 US.

If you enjoy Yoga, then you'll be happy to know that there are morning and evening Yoga Classes hosted on the River Deck of Utopia. For more information, go here: Luang Prabang Yoga

Yoga Classes on the Utopia Deck overlooking Nam Khan River

Hope you found this blog post useful, and as always, stay active my friends! =)

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7 Tips On How To Stay Motivated With P90X

 How To Stay Motivated With P90X

Let's face it, some people are just a lot more self-motivated than others. But even though you are the latter (need all the motivation that you can get), and you are the type of person who cannot stay on track no matter what, there are ways to help you get the motivation that you need to eventually conquer P90X!

I remember when I did P90X for the first time back in 2010 (watch my FIRST P90X Transformation Video - click here), it was my first Beachbody Fitness Program that I ever completed, and trust me, it was tough for me, and I am someone who is self-motivated! Even people who are self-motivated cannot do it on their own, but I found some awesome things that helped me through it, and after 90 days, I was a new person inside and out. So how did I do it? 

Here are some tips that I used to help me stay motivated with P90X:

1.  Connect with a Beachbody Coach - Nothing beats getting advice, personal motivation and tips from someone who has graduated from P90X, and is committed to helping you, that's what a Beachbody Coach does, and on top of that, it's absolutely FREE! Can't get that from your Personal Trainer =) 5 Ways a Coach Can Help You Reach Your Goals - Click Here!

2.  Join a Online P90X Challenge Group - Most people go to a gym or a Crossfit Box because they get motivated by people working out, it's the camaraderie! An Online P90X Challenge Group works the same way in that you are in a exclusive group with people who have similar goals as you, and everyone is committed to helping you smash your goals!

 Choose your Challenge - Get started, click here!

3.  Get an Accountability Partner - You've heard of this before "you are who you hang around with" and that is far from the truth! We all need motivation, we all need people in our lives to help us through the tough times. Starting a fitness journey has it's ups and down, so having someone who knows exactly what your goals are, and backs you 100% is a must when going through P90X!

4.  Invite your Friends - Whether you are working out at home, or at the gym, it's a lot more motivating when you have family and friends doing P90X with you. Invite your friends to do the P90X Challenge Group with you, and all of you can keep each other accountable, and also have some healthy competition =)

5.  Online Fit Clubs - Some Beachbody Coaches such as myself run Online Fit Clubs within our Challenge Groups. It's an awesome way to workout with people who are a thousand miles away! Click Here for more information on my Online Fit Clubs!

6.  Do P90X at the Gym - There is a reason why people have gym memberships. They have all the equipment they need plus more for their intense workouts, and secondly, they are motivated by the atmosphere and the accountability. P90X is not just a home fitness program! You can do P90X anywhere, including the gym, that's what I do! =) Contact me and let me teach you how to do P90X and the gym, or read my blog post on this topic here.

7.  Don't forget that you're Human - I remember that I use to get frustrated when I missed a day, or I was too tired for a workout because of working three jobs! P90X is not just a program, it's a lifestyle. Don't worry if you miss a day, or you ate something bad because you had to eat something real quick in between jobs. We are all human! As the creator of P90X Tony Horton says "Do your best, and forget the rest".

So I hope this helps, and if you need any help, I am here for you. If you would like me to Coach you through P90X for free, you can make me your FREE Coach by clicking here! Once you have made me your Free P90X Coach, simply add me on facebook so that we can start going over some of your goals. Looking forward to your SUCCESS!

Coach Arnel

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Crossing the Border from Tachileik to Mae Sai via Mandalay, Myanmar

 Tachileik to Mae Sai - Crossing the Border

I wanted to post this blog so that it may be able to help other travelers learn from my experience. It was fairly easy, but I went in pretty nervous, and not knowing what to expect because there wasn't much information in the guidebooks, as well as the internet about crossing the border from Tachileik (Myanmar) to Mae Sai (Thailand). 

I departed Bagan on a Mini Van for Mandalay which costs 10,000 Kyat ($10), there were other bus options from $8,000 to $9,000 Kyat, but I did it last minute and had to take what I could get, not that I was complaining, $10 for a bus ticket is like a Dollar Store version of Greyhound Bus Lines back home, can't beat that with a stick! Anyways, the ride took a little over 5 hours with one stop to eat dinner (I left Bagan at 4pm). The bus ride was pretty entertaining because I was riding with about 5 young college kids from Bagan who were attending a University in Mandalay, they were singing American Pop Music with their strong accents almost the whole entire time, and they just made the trip fun. They seemed like they were from well to do Burmese families, and were quite lucky to be able to go to college, it was a pleasure hanging out with them =).

We finally arrived in Mandalay, and I stayed overnight at this place called Rich Queen Guest House. I was originally planning to stay at AD-1 Hotel which was suggested by the Goats, but they were all booked. Rich Queen Guest House had some average reviews on Trip Advisor, but from my experience, it was quite nice. I paid $18 US for a single room with A/C, and the Wi-Fi was decent so I was able to get some work done and catch up on some emails. Breakfast was also included, so that was a nice touch. I highly recommend it for Backpackers looking for a nice quiet place away from the Mandalay city life.


So I took a shared taxi from my guest house to the Mandalay International Airport which costs $6,000 Kyat ($6 bucks) and it took a little less than an hour to get there. I shared the taxi with this guy named Daniel from Singapore. He had some great stories, especially the one about how he was  mugged in Kathmandu and lived to tell about it.

Mandalay International Airport

We arrived at Mandalay International Airport and my goal was to buy a ticket for Tachileik. But let me rewind a little bit. Someone told me that I could take a bus from Mandalay to Tachileik, but that was false information. I did hear about another bus route, but they told me that something happened enroute, and they had to turn back and just fly to Tachileik. So when I arrived in Mandalay, the staff at AD-1 Hotel told me that I would have to fly....I was like darn, I was trying to save a few bucks!

So we get to the airport, and the only air ticket counter that I saw was this lady behind what looked like a food vendor both lol, but apparently she was a travel and tour employee. There were signs on the counter, but they were all in Burmese, and I definitely couldn't read it. I asked if there was a flight to Tachileik today and what time it departs. She quoted me $160 US with a $1,000 Kyat ($1) fee, not sure what it was for. I was like, that seems a bit too high.

The staff at AD-1 Hotel told me that flights to Tachileik were about $70 US, the internet said around $149, and this ticket counter lady said $160! I then said let me think about this for a minute. So as I was thinking, she started assisting these other backpackers that I just met from Belgium. As they were chatting with the ticket counter lady, one of the backpackers told me that they just bargained their fare from $105 per person to $56 US per person to Yangon, I was like what?!! You bargained your air fare?? So after that, I began to start walking around the airport to see if there were other ticket counters to get service from. I found one by the name of Sun Far Travel & Tours and they quoted me $131 US, so I said I'll take it. It wasn't $70, but it was a lot better than the internet price of $149, and a heck of a lot better than $160. Apparently it's the "Travel & Tour Companies" who sell the air tickets for the airline companies at Mandalay International. So my suggestion to you is if you are at this airport and you are not satisfied with the ticket price, I would look for another ticket counter (there are other ticket counters on the lower level where baggage claim is located), or even try bargaining lol, that's crazy! That would not happen in the US of A, only in Myanmar. But I guess it could happen anywhere else, but this was definitely a first for me.

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After I agreed to the ticket price, I paid cash to the ticket counter at Sun Far Travel & Tours. They did not give me a receipt, and I was a little worried about that. I was then escorted by a Sun Far Representative to another counter to "check in". That's where they checked my passport and then printed out my boarding pass. From there, I went to passport control and immigration (it went pretty fast) and then I was finally off to my departure gate.

Here's the thing, the process just seemed so shady to me, but I just brushed it off and was just happy to get a ticket to Tachileik. After that, things started to get better. As I was sitting down waiting for my departure, one of the Sun Far Associates gave me a free lunch consisting of Steamed Rice, Vegetables, and Chicken. They also gave me a bottled water. I noticed that they were giving it to all of their customers who bought airline tickets from Sun Far Travel & Tours. I have to admit, I was pretty impressed by that. No other airline company, or company affiliation with an airline has ever done that in my whole life I've been traveling. Also let me remind you, I didn't book First-Class, as if they would even have that =). It was pretty funny though because everyone else who didn't book their flight with Sun Far seemed to be "jelly" because they weren't getting any free food =).

Myanma Airways - Sun Far Travel & Tours

I finally boarded the plane which was via Myanma Airways. I believe that Myanma Airways and Sun Far must work together or something. My ticket had a seat number on it, but the flight attendants told me that is was "free seating" and I could sit anywhere. That was awesome! The flight attendants reminded me of the Burmese version of Cebu Pacific Airlines. They were very pretty Burmese girls with fair skin and had great smiles, which really makes a huge difference in service. I come from the Hospitality Industry, and smiling is very important and represents professionalism. I know what you're saying right now "tell me something I don't know Arnel" =). So enough about my crush on these girls =). But check this out, Myanma Airways also provided each passenger with a Snack Box and cold beverages. These days, you'll be lucky if you get a small bag of peanuts from any airline, so big props to Myanma Airways and Sun Far because their name was on the snack box.

Free Snack Box - Not very healthy, but good for a cheat meal =)

On the way to Tachileik, we had one stopover at Lashio, Myanmar where we picked up a few more passengers heading the same direction. After jetting off and finally heading towards Tachileik, the flight attendants went around AGAIN and offered another Snack Box and beverages! I was like "WOW", this is too much, you guys are going above and beyond here. In the USA, I am happy to just get my typical "tomato juice"! So if you are ever flying out of Mandalay to Tachileik, I would go with Sun Far Travel & Tours and fly with Mynama Airways, I just had the best experience with them. It's not first class, but it's better than what you get in the states hands down!

Once we touched down in Tachileik (1 1/2 hours total), I went through immigration and it went very smooth. From the Tachileik Airport to the border crossing, it takes about 20 minutes with a Tuk Tuk and cost about $3,500 Kyat ($3.50 US). As far as I know, you can also take a taxi which costs about the same price as a Tuk Tuk, but may be more comfortable. I like riding in Tuk Tuks, especially if they don't try to rip you off.

Window View - Landing in Tachileik, Myanmar

Tachileik Airport - Myanmar

Tuk Tuk to Border Crossing

 The Tuk Tuk driver will drop you off at the Golden Triangle Roundabout. From there it's only a 2 minute walk to the border crossing. You first have to go to Passport Control and Visa Check before leaving the Myanmar side. After that, you cross over to Mae Sai and do the same thing before going into Thailand. You will need to fill out an Arrival Card before going through Passport Control, and you can get the arrival cards to fill out from the Passport Control Officials. Once you're done, you're in Mae Sai, Thailand!

Mae Sai, Thailand

If you need to do a "money exchange", there is one just past the Thai Police Department a few blocks past the the border crossing. There are banks along the way, but I couldn't find one that would change my Kyats to Thai Bahts, but that's when they recommended the Money Exchange place to me just passed the Poilce Station.

How To Stay Fit While Traveling The World - Click Here!

I was so happy to cross the border from Tachileik to Mae Sai. I thought that it was going to be much more difficult, but it was all smooth sailing. If you need to get to the Mae Sai bus station like I had to, I suggest getting either a Tuk Tuk or a motorbike to take you. I took a motor bike (guys with the orange vests) and it was $50 Baht ($1.55 US). It takes about 10 minutes depending on traffic to get to the Mae Sai Bus Station. Once I got there, my plan was to go to Chiang Rai, so I found a bus for only $39 Baht ($1.21 US) and it took about 1 1/2 hours (maybe a little less) to get to Chiang Rai because of all the Security Check Points, and pick up/drop offs along the way.

 Mae Sai Bus Station

Anyways, my apologies for the long dang post, but I hope that it helps a little bit for those of you who are trying to cross the border from Myanmar to Thailand. Feel free to leave any comments, or if you have done this before, please let me know if I left anything out.

Stay active my friends, and safe travels! =)

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Top 5 Beachbody Fitness Programs for Traveling

Top 5 Beachbody Fitness Programs for Traveling

Ok let's face it, Beachbody comes out with the BEST fitness programs on the market! And I'm not just saying that just because I am a Beachbody Coach, don't forget, I did P90X before I became a Coach. Whatever your goal may be: Lose Weight, Better Athlete, Tone Up, Eat Healthier, Train for an Obstacle Course Race, Maintain Lifestyle, or even become a Pro Body Builder.....Beachbody has a fitness program for you.

Watch my Fitness Journey Video - Click Here!

Ok let's say you're about to go on vacation, or you're planning a trip around the world, it doesn't matter =) Most, if not all of the Beachbody Fitness Programs are very travel-friendly. Some more than others, but that's what this post is about. If you are like me, I love traveling! And one of the worst excuses for not working out is "going on vacation". I'm here to tell you that it is not impossible if you have the right program and the right ATTITUDE. If you go on vacation with the mind-set that you may not have time to workout (or eat healthy), then there's a good chance that you won't, but if you go on vacation with the mind-set that you are going to live a healthy and fit lifestyle no matter what, then you will have success, AND have a blast when you travel. Because fitness is a lifestyle!

So first things first, you always want to make sure that you are doing a program that is geared towards your fitness level. The best way to do that is to contact me, or fill out my FREE FITNESS ASSESSMENT, and I will give you some options on the best programs based on your fitness level and lifestyle. So after that, you're all set to have a great vacation or trip around the world!

Beachbody Fitness Programs are pretty much all travel-friendly depending on the following:

- Fitness Equipment
- Gym or Hotel Room Space

The Top 5 Beachbody Fitness Programs for Traveling are my suggestions based on having no or very limited equipment. I will specify which program requires certain equipment, and give you suggestions on how you can make it work for you.

1.  INSANITY - This is my top choice for the most effective and travel-friendly fitness program. Insanity does not use any equipment whatsoever, and you can workout in a hotel room, gym cardio room, or even outside in the park. This program is geared towards advanced fitness levels, but you can modify or go at your own pace. Insanity Options - Click Here

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2.  PIYO - This is also a program that requires no equipment. Piyo is LOW-IMPACT and is suited for all fitness levels. What I really like about Piyo is how the program incorporates yoga, pilates, strength and conditioning into the workouts. When traveling, stretching is something that can act as a relaxer. You've been hiking all day, shopping all day etc. so a nice Piyo workout would be a great way to end or even start your day. Yoga mats are recommended for some workouts, but as long as you have a soft surface, you should be fine.

3   P90X - This is my favorite program of all time! I love doing P90X at the gym or in my hotel room, or wherever I am staying. I use P90X mostly for weight training, and so if you are into that, then P90X would be my recommendation for you. The program does call for the use of dumbbells, pull up bar for most of the strength workouts, but if your hotel has a gym, you should be fine. If I stay at a place where there is no gym available, I just search for the nearest one on google, and either get a DAY PASS, or a weekly pass depending on how long I plan to stay. You can always pack some resistance bands with you to replace not having dumbbells, but from my experience, nothing beats the results that you get from actual weights. You also do not need to bring the DVD player into the gym, you can use the P90X Workout Sheets just as long as you are familiar with the proper movements.  P90X Options - Click Here! Do you prefer more weights? Click here for Body Beast Options

4.  FOCUS T25 - Are you really busy, but you still want to get your workout in? Well, that's what Focus T25 is all about. The workouts are only 25 minutes long, and there is minimal equipment needed. If you are just gone for a weekend, then you won't need to worry about weights or anything. Again you can pack resistance bands if you want. Depending on how long you are traveling, you can also plan your workouts ahead to make sure that you bring the proper equipment with you. I'll be honest, I do a lot of T25 in my hotel room, but when I do weights, I go for P90X. T25 Options - Click Here

5.  21 DAY FIX - Just like Focus T25, this program has 30 minute workouts. It combines everything from strength, cardio, plyometrics, and yoga. My favorite workout from this program is the 21 Day Fix - 10 Minute Fix for Abs, it's nothing but CRUNCHES! With all of that eating that you might be doing, you may want to hit some 21 Day Fix Cardio, then kill some abs too, it's one of my secret ab workouts that I do every week =).

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So there you have it, my TOP 5 picks for the best Beachbody Fitness Programs for Traveling. If you have any questions on any of these programs, or if you would like me to assist you with finding the best program for you, message me, or fill out my FREE FITNESS PROGRAM ASSESSMENT, and I look forward to chatting with you soon! Safe travels =)


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Pagoda Hopping by Bike - Bagan Myanmar

 Pagoda Hopping by Bike - Bagan, Myanmar

 Other than walking and running, I believe that the very best way to sight-see when traveling is by bike. Almost every city that I visit, that is one of the first things that I try to do. I either book a local bike tour or rent a bike, grab a map and explore. In Bagan, Myanmar I decided to rent a bike and explore the 2,000+ Pagoda's on my own with a traveler that I just met from England. Now of course I don't think it's possible to visit each Pagoda in one day, but you can actually see a plethora of them from the bigger ones (posted below). I do recommend that you at least spend 2 days of exploring the Bagan Pagodas and Temples.

So first things first, I would definitely make sure that you get a map from wherever you are staying. Most hotels, hostels and guest houses can provided FREE maps for you, if not, they cost only $1,000 Kyat which is about $1 US. Next you will of course need a bike. There are different options for bikes, and of course you can get a motor bike if you want, but that's not going to get you fit =). If you do not know, I am a Beachbody Coach, so staying active when I travel is top priority. While some people travel to relax, I mostly travel to explore, and enjoy doing adventurous things that keep me and my body active. I mean even visiting these Pagodas with a motor bike, you will still have to climb steps, and I mean a lot of steps if you plan to see a lot. The best views are from the bigger Pagodas, and there is no heli-service to take you up =). If you are on a time crunch, then a motor bike might be right up your alley. Bagan is a very spiritual place, so I recommend allowing some time to get off the beaten path and explore, but also make time to relax and enjoy the moment of just being in an ancient city.

Running up the Sunset Pagoda

*Best workout programs for traveling: Insanity, P90X, T25, and Piyo

As far as bicycle rentals, you can rent a bike for $1,000 Kyat ($1 US) for a whole day. I actually paid $1500 Kyat which isn't bad anyways, that's only $.50 cents more =). Most hotels and guesthouses have bike rentals around Bagan, but I would recommend going straight to a bike rental place to get the best deal, because the guesthouses charge more to get their commissions if they do not own their own bikes.  Motor bikes can run anywhere from $5,000 Kyat (only $5 US) and up.

There are basically 3 main places to stay in Bagan: Old Bagan, New Bagan, and Nyaung-U (where I stayed). Depending on your starting point in Bagan will determine which is the best route for you to take. Just grab a map and start exploring. There are many things to see along the way, and you will just be amazed with all the Pagodas, markets, street food etc. If you were to ask me where I would suggest to go, it would be the Monastery (the one with the broken Pagoda top, you can't miss it, there are almost always tour buses parked out front), the Shwe-san-daw Paya (which is considered the best place to watch the sunset), and some of the remote villages way past all the city life such as Min-tan-thu Village. Once you pass through Min-tan-thu Village, you will see less Pagodas and more village life.

On top of the Sunset Pagoda (Shwe-san-daw)

 Other tips:
- Request a bicycle with gears =)
- Bring a day pack with you and include snacks and water. There are places to buy snacks, but it's always good to have some handy.
- Bring sunscreen and some sunglasses
- Be respectful and wear conservative clothing such as longer shorts, shirts with sleeves etc
- If you want to enter the Pagodas and Temples, be prepared to take off your shoes and socks.
- You might get hassled by a lot of street vendors at the Pagodas, don't let that turn you off. Everyone has to make a living, and you don't have to buy anything if you don't want to.
- Ask before you take pictures in the temples. Some allow you to take photos, some do not, so always ask and do not assume it's ok.
- If you plan to see the sunset at the Shwe-san-daw, make sure to get there at least one hour early to get a good spot. It fills up fast up there!
- Don't fall off a temple! =)

Myanmar is beginning to have more and more travelers every year. I would make plans to visit this gem before it gets over-populated with packaged tourists and get's more commercialized. If you've always wanted to visit Myanmar, then the time is now.

CLICK HERE FOR A GREAT LIST OF PAGODAS TO VISIT!

As always, stay active my friends!

Pann Cherry Guest House - Bagan, Myanmar

I stayed at the Pann Cherry Guest House in Nyaung-Oo. The guesthouse is located on the Main Road near the Shwezigon Pagoda Nyaung-Oo (Bagan), Mandalay Division, Myanmar. They have rooms from $7 US for a single room (fan) up to $30 US for a double room with A/C, TV, Hot Water (they have more options). I stayed in both types of rooms and they were all great. The staff was very helpful and provided information on onward travel, bus tickets, tours, volcano treks, and bike rentals. I highly recommend it especially for adventure seekers, budget travelers and/or backpackers. Free Wi-Fi is available, but just like anywhere in Myanmar, it's not that great.

Pann Cherry Guest House
Phone: +(95)-61-60075 or +(95)-61122
Main Road near Shwezigon Pagoda
Nyaung-Oo (Bagan), Mandalay Division, Myanmar 

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Related Links:
- More travel posts
- What is Beachbody Coaching?
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- Working Out While Traveling


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100 Wonders of the World Burpee Challenge - Emerald Buddha Temple, Bangkok Thailand

 Grand Palace - Emerald Buddha Temple, Bangkok Thailand

If this is your first time visiting my blog, welcome! =) This blog is about my fitness and travel journey. You can find out more about me by clicking here =). So I decided in the beginning of 2014 that I was going to start a challenge which consisted of both my fitness and travel passions. I somehow talked myself into visiting 100 Wonders of the World, and also doing 30 burpees at each of them. My goal is to film each set of 30 burpees at each WOW (Wonder of the World) and then finally put together a compilation video of each video. I'm not sure how long it will take me, but my goal is less than 5 years =). I am calling this the "100 Wonders of the World Burpee Challenge".

Check out my 100 Wonders of the World Videos on Youtube - Click Here!

The question that I get all the time is....WHY? Why are you doing this? It's pretty simple, I am doing this for a couple of reasons:

- To take advantage of the FREEDOM that my Beachbody Coaching Business has given to me!
- To share health and fitness along with travel education around the world.
- To inspire my daughter to live her BEST life now!

Combining my two passions and sharing it with the world is something that I never planned on doing, it just happened. If it wasn't for the support of my family and very close friends (my coach team), this lifestyle would not have been possible for me. I am truly blessed to be able to travel the world with all of my expenses fully funded by me thanks to my Beachbody Coaching Business which allows me to not be location dependent, I despise office cubicles and bosses telling me what to do =). As long as I have internet, I can still work my business. It's not a bad gig working from a bamboo hut overlooking the world's finest beaches and mountains! Are you doing what you really love? Maybe I can help you with that =).

Grand Palace Pagoda - Bangkok, Thailand

So I landed in Bangkok Thailand on October 17th (2014), and all I could think about was doing my burpees at the Emerald Buddha Temple, which according the Hillman's List (the WOW list that I am going by), it is the only Wonder of the World (100) in Thailand. The place was absolutely amazing! The staff would not allow me to do my 30 burpees within the temple walls, so I had to go outside to do them, here's my video:




Thanks again for visiting my blog, stay tuned for more fitness and travel posts, and I look forward to meeting you somewhere around the world! =)


Related Links:
- More Travel Blog Posts
- My 100 Wonders of the World Video Play List (follow me on Youtube)
- Become a Beachbody Coach on my team! (Serious Only Please)


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