Tomorrow I'm starting 2 weeks of all shake days. I'm going to do my best to hit my goal, no matter how unrealistic it seems at the moment! Christmas is only 19 days away and I'm 17 pounds away from my 100 pound goal. :( I have a strong suspicion I'm not going to make it, but I'm okay with that. It was a pretty lofty goal! We'll see where I'm at after the two weeks of shakes and go from there. I don't recommend all shake days normally, but I am making sure to have between three and five shakes a day, extra Omegas and the IsaFruits and Isagreens and cleansing nightly so that I'm keeping my body guessing and still getting the nutrients that I need.
I'm down three pounds from last Thursday! I'm pretty thrilled with that! This month, the word of the day is cardio! Cardio, cardio, cardio! I really need to find my shoes so I can get going with that. lol I don't normally wear shoes. I'm more of a flip flop or heels kind of gal (polar opposites, I know!). So, I only wear tennis shoes in the winter. The problem with that is that I can never find my shoes come winter time. I always put them in the same place, but I think certain little girls, who shall rename nameless, play with my shoes when I'm not looking, and eventually at least one tennis shoe goes missing (I'm always finding my heels in their closet!) So, lately, I've only been able to get out and walk a bit...in flip flops...in the rain. I also fall a lot. lol
So anyways, that's what's up with me in the world of Isagenix!
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Monday, November 26, 2012
Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving has come and gone. I have so much to be thankful for. I'm so very thankful for my family and the love and support they have always given me. I'm thankful for my children for all of the joy they bring to my life. I'm thankful for my husband who works so hard to provide for our family and who is my best friend, no matter how crazy I go on him.
As silly as it may seem compared to the huge blessings I have in my life, I'm thankful for Isagenix. I'm thankful for the opportunity to get my life back. I'm thankful for the ability to actively participate in my life as well as the lives of my children. I'm thankful for my health, which is so much better than it was just five months ago.
Thanksgiving, of course, means huge dinners with all things bad for me. lol I'm not about depriving myself. I want to make sure that my lifestyle is sustainable. I'm not going to not eat Thanksgiving dinner for the rest of my life, so I didn't forego it this year, either. I had two Thanksgiving meals! Yikes! I had far too much stuffing and far too much dessert. It was delicious! Granted, I gained 8 pounds!!! EEK! I'm sure it was mainly water weight due to far too much sodium. I'm cleansing tomorrow and the next day, so it will probably go away with that. If not, that's okay. It will go away the next week. I'm a little concerned about my 100 pounds by Christmas goal, but I think I can still make it if I ramp up the exercise. (You know...actually do some, rather than none. lol)
I hope you all had an amazing Thanksgiving filled with love, happiness and pumpkin pie!
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Holy cow, why has it been so long?
Oh man, I've totally been slacking on this blog! Things are still going really well! The weight loss has slowed, but that's my own fault, as I've been snacking when I shouldn't and just plain eating bad things for me at times. (Dang Halloween candy!) However, I'm still feeling great, sleeping amazingly well and have a ton more energy than ever before!
About a week and a half ago, I spoke at an Isagenix Super Saturday event. I was SO incredibly nervous. I am NOT a public speaker, that's for sure. I get nervous, I start to shake, I speak way too quickly and I forget everything I'm going to say. They say it gets easier the more you do it, but I'm just not one to put myself out there enough to do it enough for it to get easier. lol Still, as part of "finding me," I decided that it was something that I needed to do. So, I did it! It went better than expected, but not as well as I had hoped. I had hoped that I would be calm, confident, and that I would inspire the audience. I believe that I may have accomplished at least one of those. Thankfully, it was the one that I was hoping for the most. I got a really positive response from the audience. Several were in tears. I was told that it was the most moving testimonial they had ever heard. I felt really good about the things that I said and the response that I got. My biggest concern was that I wasn't going to "fit in" with the other amazing speakers of the night. We had some really big names speaking. Michael Clouse, who is an expert network marketer and incredible speaker; Dr. Ted Brooks, who helped design the nine day system and the Isagenix compensation plan; and Craig Coleman, the 2012 Isabody Challenge winner. Those were some pretty big names surrounding little insignificant me, but I think I held my own. :)
About a week and a half ago, I spoke at an Isagenix Super Saturday event. I was SO incredibly nervous. I am NOT a public speaker, that's for sure. I get nervous, I start to shake, I speak way too quickly and I forget everything I'm going to say. They say it gets easier the more you do it, but I'm just not one to put myself out there enough to do it enough for it to get easier. lol Still, as part of "finding me," I decided that it was something that I needed to do. So, I did it! It went better than expected, but not as well as I had hoped. I had hoped that I would be calm, confident, and that I would inspire the audience. I believe that I may have accomplished at least one of those. Thankfully, it was the one that I was hoping for the most. I got a really positive response from the audience. Several were in tears. I was told that it was the most moving testimonial they had ever heard. I felt really good about the things that I said and the response that I got. My biggest concern was that I wasn't going to "fit in" with the other amazing speakers of the night. We had some really big names speaking. Michael Clouse, who is an expert network marketer and incredible speaker; Dr. Ted Brooks, who helped design the nine day system and the Isagenix compensation plan; and Craig Coleman, the 2012 Isabody Challenge winner. Those were some pretty big names surrounding little insignificant me, but I think I held my own. :)
From left to right: Amber (my incredible sponsor and the person who put the event together), Michael Clouse, Dr. Ted Brooks, Joyce Brooks, Craig Coleman, Me
I have mixed feelings about this picture. I'm glad it was taken. It was a great event and it was an opportunity for me to get out of my comfort zone and grow as a person. The people in this picture are incredible and I'm so blessed to be associated with them. However, while it should be a visual of how far I have come, all I see in it is how far I have to go. It's hard to be the heaviest person in the room. It's hard to get up there and tell everyone that if they aren't using Isagenix, they should be, because it will help them get healthy, when you're still so fat. It's hard to feel so great about what you have accomplished, then see a picture of yourself, because even after losing 71 pounds (as of that picture), you still look like you're just getting started. Sadly, this picture doesn't make me think, "Wow, I've lost 71 pounds!" Instead it makes me think, "Wow, I still need to lose 90 pounds." It's really overwhelming at times. I should be thinking, "I've done this in four months! Just six more and I could be where I want to be!" Instead I'm thinking, "I still have so far to go. I don't see how this is even possible."
I know I need to change the stories in my head. I need to be more positive. I need to tell myself that I can do anything and that my weight has no power over me. I need to tell myself that I am strong and I am determined and nothing can stop me. I KNOW these things. I just can't feel them right now. I've spent the last 14 years of my life beating myself up over my weight, telling myself that I'm not good enough.
All right, stop the presses! I seriously just had my first "aha!" moment EVER! I don't usually think about what I'm going to type before I type it. I don't usually have a plan of what I want to say. As I type, the words just flow and that is what comes out on this blog. So, I was typing just before this paragraph and typed, "telling myself that people couldn't see passed my weight to the real me, when in reality, I was the one who couldn't see passed my weight to BE the real me." That may seem like an insignificant sentence to you, but it speaks volumes to me. I have blamed my weight for my lack of friends for a very long time. I make great friends online. I always assumed that was because they can't see me...that they aren't so turned off by my weight that they are able to talk to me without being distracted by the fact that I'm so big. However, if I think about it, I'm very different online than I am in person. It's not because I'm fake online, it's because I can be ME, without feeling like anyone is judging me based on my weight. I can be funny, I can be witty, I can be open, I can be ME! When I talk to people face to face, I'm so convinced that no one wants to be friends with the fat girl that I become shy, introverted and don't look people in the eye. When people talk to me, I answer with short sentences, hoping they'll stop talking to me. THAT'S why I have no friends. It isn't because I'm fat, it's because I'm so convinced that everyone else won't like me that I don't even bother to try. I'm so convinced that no one really wants to be around me that I actively push people away. I've let my size become a reason to squash my personality. Wow. Talk about a wake up call. I think 14 years of self programming is going to be pretty difficult to overcome, but I will definitely try!
Okay, so I think I'm going to end this post and marinate on my last thought for a while. It's kind of a big deal. I'M kind of a big deal. ;)
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
New Money...Just in Time for Christmas!
So, I don't talk about the business side of Isagenix very much on this blog. However, as a network marketing company, there definitely is one. When I first got started with Isagenix, I was purely interested in it for the products. I wanted to lose weight. I wanted to get healthy. I wanted to feel better about myself. I wanted more energy. I am starting to get all of those things, and so much more! Amber told me that people would notice my weight loss and naturally be curious as to how I did it, so to keep an open mind about the possibility of selling the product. At that time, I just sort of shrugged it off. How could someone, who was so overweight, possibly sell people a health and wellness program? Well, people are certainly noticing and I'm more than happy to share with them. It turns out, you don't really have to SELL anything. All I do is share and people are naturally interested. I'm still not totally sure about the whole network marketing thing. I'm naturally a fairly shy person. I don't like to put myself out there. I worry that I come off as awkward and unsocial. I worry about being pushy. However, there truly is some REALLY good money to be made with Isagenix! I've signed four people up as associates. These are just people who have noticed the change in me and wanted a change in themselves. I feel blessed that I'm able to share with them a program that I truly believe in and has changed my life. With just those four people purchasing one month of products, I've made over $740! All I did was share my story with them, listen to their goals, help them figure out which products would be best for them, then helped them get their products for well below retail! I mean, how easy is that? Most of that money was from bonuses just for getting people started on the program!
A couple of days ago, there was a corporate leadership call with promises of big news. They certainly did deliver! Their compensation program, which was already the best there is, got even better!
I can't put it as eloquently as they can, so I'll copy and paste their article from http://www.isagenixnews.com/new-money-just-in-time-for-the-holidays/:
A couple of days ago, there was a corporate leadership call with promises of big news. They certainly did deliver! Their compensation program, which was already the best there is, got even better!
I can't put it as eloquently as they can, so I'll copy and paste their article from http://www.isagenixnews.com/new-money-just-in-time-for-the-holidays/:
Who doesn't like quick, relatively easy money? I know I sure do! lol I'm still not sure if I'm someone cut out for network marketing, but Isagenix sure does make it appealing!The New Money promotion, available October 22 through August 4, 2013, says “good-bye” to the Star Consultant rank and “hello” to two new exciting ranks; Manager and Director. For every new Consultant you create, whether you’re new enrollee or not, you’ll earn a $100 Consultant bonus!Plus, our Crystal Fast Track will pile on the bonuses if you move fast while helping new Associates join Isagenix following our “You+Two and Them+2″ system for success. You could earn up to $4,650 in bonuses in 90 days!Here’s how it works:1. Get two people to join Isagenix on Autoship with 100 BV or more. (You+Two) = You Become a Consultant!2. NEW! Teach them how to do the same so they get two people each (Them+2 (two new Consultants)) = You Become a Manager! Do it by November 22 or 30 days from the time you enroll and you’ll become a Crystal Manager!3. NEW! Get a total of 6 personally enrolled Consultants on Autoship = You Become aDirector! Do it by January 21 or 90 days from the time that you enroll and you’ll become aCrystal Director!4. Get a total of 10 personally enrolled Consultants on Autoship = You Become an Executive! Do it within your first six months and you’ll become a Crystal Executive!Get all the details and discover how you can amp up your earnings and put yourself on the Crystal Fast Track; take a look at these resources:
- Flyer with details and FAQs
- Webinar with training from Co-Founders Jim and Kathy Coover and Vice President of Sales Travis Garza
- IsagenixBusiness.com for your 2-Day, 30-Day and 90-Day Plans for Success
- IsaFYI.com’s “Sales Enrollements” page for a one-stop-shop for all these resources
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Holy cow, weeks have gone by!
Life has just gotten in the way of blogging. I hate it when that happens! :)
I feel like I say the same thing every time...still chugging along. I cleansed Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. It was more difficult than usual. I'm not sure why. I just wanted to eat EVERYTHING. It doesn't help that I'm an awesome cook. ;) Everything just smells SO delicious. I was good, though! After my first day, I dreamed all night that I accidentally ate food, forgetting that I was cleansing. That never happened while I was awake, though. :D
As of this morning, I am 229 lbs, which is 4 lbs down from last week and 68 lbs down from June 28th! I'm pretty happy with those results.
I posted a facial comparison picture on Friends and Families, so I figured I would post it here as well. I look at that first photo and just cringe. How could I have let that happened? It honestly makes me want to cry. When I showed this comparison to my husband, he asked me, "Uh, so how many cameras are actually on you?" in reference to this clip from Friends:
Yeah, so he's not always the most sensitive of fellas. lol
So, here goes nothing: Before, 297 lbs. Current (Well, 4 lbs ago), 233
I feel like I say the same thing every time...still chugging along. I cleansed Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. It was more difficult than usual. I'm not sure why. I just wanted to eat EVERYTHING. It doesn't help that I'm an awesome cook. ;) Everything just smells SO delicious. I was good, though! After my first day, I dreamed all night that I accidentally ate food, forgetting that I was cleansing. That never happened while I was awake, though. :D
As of this morning, I am 229 lbs, which is 4 lbs down from last week and 68 lbs down from June 28th! I'm pretty happy with those results.
I posted a facial comparison picture on Friends and Families, so I figured I would post it here as well. I look at that first photo and just cringe. How could I have let that happened? It honestly makes me want to cry. When I showed this comparison to my husband, he asked me, "Uh, so how many cameras are actually on you?" in reference to this clip from Friends:
So, here goes nothing: Before, 297 lbs. Current (Well, 4 lbs ago), 233
I still have a LONG way to go, but I'm getting there!
I'm part of a group of people who all have the same goal: to lose at least 100 pounds by August of next year. Every Thursday, we do a group call where we check in, tell how things have gone since the last call, and ask any questions we may have of our coach. Today, our coach challenged us to do something. He challenged us to pick a date for when we would like to have lost 100 lbs, then to write out exactly how that day is going to go. So, here goes...my date is Christmas day, 2012.
It's December 25, 2012. I wake up to whispers and giggling outside of my door. I know all six of the kids are awake and probably have been for hours. They've already torn into their stockings, but are waiting, rather impatiently, for the clock to read 6:00 am because they know they can't wake us up before that time on Christmas morning. My alarm goes off at 6:00 am and they come barging through the door, "It's Christmas!" "It's 6am!" "Santa came!" "I got super cool stuff in my stocking!" I'm practically dragged downstairs. I want to check my weight because yesterday I was SO close to that 100 lb mark. However, I know that being with my family is the REASON I'm trying to lose this weight, so it will have to wait.
Christmas Eve dinner the night before was surprisingly easy to refuse, I knew I wouldn't hit my goal if I ate it, so I had a shake while everyone else filled up on turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce and the amazing chocolate truffle that I made. I just KNOW that skipping that dinner will be SO worth it this morning.
My children's moods are infectious. As they tear open their presents with HUGE goofy smiles on their faces, I find myself smiling, laughing and singing along with them. This perfect family moment has made me completely forget about my weight because THIS is what it's all about. THIS is why I'm doing what I'm doing.
The kids have finished opening all of their presents and they're off to get dressed for the day and go over to Grandma's for breakfast. I take that time to sneak off to the scale. I step on the scale and wait while the numbers bounce around, waiting for it to settle on the right number. ONE HUNDRED NINETY FIVE!!!! 102 lbs GONE FOREVER!!! I'm ECSTATIC! I've done it! In just under six months, I've released 102 pounds! I frantically call my husband into the bathroom and he comes running, thinking something is terribly wrong. I'm squealing, I'm so excited! When I've finally calmed down enough to tell him what is going on, he scoops me up in his arms, gives me a huge hug and says, "I never had any doubt you would do it. I'm so proud of you."
The whole family piles into the car and drives off to Grandma's house, where that breakfast of biscuits and gravy (my FAVORITE!) has absolutely no power over me. There is NO stopping me!
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
September is coming to an end
September is almost over and I'm nowhere near my goal of 5000 swings this month! Boo, Katie. :( I have plenty of excuses, but none of them are very good. Plain and simple, I just didn't do enough. I did 760 swings this morning. That's practically 1/5 of the way to my total goal, so obviously, I had enough time! I do have to say though, that I'm pretty proud of myself. I may not have come anywhere near my goal (although, I still have four days left and if I did the same workout I did this morning, every day, I would almost reach my goal) but, I've gotten stronger. The workout I did this morning, I did a few weeks ago as well. I only made it through half of the workout before and I was DYING. I had to sit during rest periods. This time, I made it through the entire workout and paced back and forth during rest periods. I'm ridiculously proud of how far I've come in the last couple of weeks!
The past few days, I've been suffering from ocular migraines. Usually, for me, they are just a crescent shaped visual disturbance that looks like flickering zig zags. The last few days, however, they've included a rather significant blind spot right in the middle of my vision. In the past, they've lasted up to 48 hours, but thankfully, they've only been about 30 minutes at a time the past few days. However, they do lead up to a doozy of a headache! They've always been painless in the past. So, things seem to be progressing, which isn't a good thing when it comes to pain! lol I'll probably go see an opthalmologist soon just to rule out any issues. I'm concerned that, with the frequency I've been getting them, I'll get one while I'm driving, and well...driving when you have a huge blind spot right in front of you probably isn't a very good idea.
The scale is finally moving again!!! I think my body got used to the routine I was in and just decided it didn't want to go anywhere. It's been frustrating, to say the very least. I got down to 54 pounds lost, then bounced up to 48 pounds lost and hovered right around 50 pounds lost for several weeks. This past weekend, I was bad. I don't know what it was, but I was just craving terrible things! One night, I made garlic bread for dinner. I had far too much of that. Pasta with white sauce? Had that, too! I went to my mom's home for dinner on Sunday and had TWO hamburgers (no bun, just wrapped in lettuce) and a hotdog with saurcraut. I also had a cupcake, then another cupcake on Monday! Yikes! Oddly enough, I didn't gain any weight, and in fact, my weight is finally moving back down! Back to 54 pounds released as of this morning! Woohoo! I guess my body just needed to be shaken up a bit. I don't advocate going off the deep end like I did, however, it seems to have worked for me, and now that I've had a weekend of going kinda crazy, I'm over it and ready to start back strong again. I don't usually feel deprived, so when I started to feel that way, I just allowed myself to have the things I really wanted and now I no longer want them so badly that I can taste it! lol I know that some people can't do that...one bite and it's all downhill from there, and I was honestly very concerned that would be the case for me, but it doesn't seem to have been, so I'm thrilled with that!
The past few days, I've been suffering from ocular migraines. Usually, for me, they are just a crescent shaped visual disturbance that looks like flickering zig zags. The last few days, however, they've included a rather significant blind spot right in the middle of my vision. In the past, they've lasted up to 48 hours, but thankfully, they've only been about 30 minutes at a time the past few days. However, they do lead up to a doozy of a headache! They've always been painless in the past. So, things seem to be progressing, which isn't a good thing when it comes to pain! lol I'll probably go see an opthalmologist soon just to rule out any issues. I'm concerned that, with the frequency I've been getting them, I'll get one while I'm driving, and well...driving when you have a huge blind spot right in front of you probably isn't a very good idea.
The scale is finally moving again!!! I think my body got used to the routine I was in and just decided it didn't want to go anywhere. It's been frustrating, to say the very least. I got down to 54 pounds lost, then bounced up to 48 pounds lost and hovered right around 50 pounds lost for several weeks. This past weekend, I was bad. I don't know what it was, but I was just craving terrible things! One night, I made garlic bread for dinner. I had far too much of that. Pasta with white sauce? Had that, too! I went to my mom's home for dinner on Sunday and had TWO hamburgers (no bun, just wrapped in lettuce) and a hotdog with saurcraut. I also had a cupcake, then another cupcake on Monday! Yikes! Oddly enough, I didn't gain any weight, and in fact, my weight is finally moving back down! Back to 54 pounds released as of this morning! Woohoo! I guess my body just needed to be shaken up a bit. I don't advocate going off the deep end like I did, however, it seems to have worked for me, and now that I've had a weekend of going kinda crazy, I'm over it and ready to start back strong again. I don't usually feel deprived, so when I started to feel that way, I just allowed myself to have the things I really wanted and now I no longer want them so badly that I can taste it! lol I know that some people can't do that...one bite and it's all downhill from there, and I was honestly very concerned that would be the case for me, but it doesn't seem to have been, so I'm thrilled with that!
Friday, September 21, 2012
Blargh!
Hello binge, my name is Katie.
I'm usually pretty good avoiding temptation. In fact, usually, it's pretty easy. I don't know what it was about tonight, but I totally faltered...and faltered BIG TIME! I made garlic bread for the family for dinner...then proceeded to eat THREE PIECES of it! Then, chocolate lava cakes for dessert and I had one of them. I have no idea why I did it. I can usually just not do it. Why did I do it? Can I blame it on AF being due soon? lol It's a little scary...I can see the beginning of where I usually start to fail coming on. First it's one thing, then it's another, then it's everything. I need to get this under control. I won't fail!
I'm usually pretty good avoiding temptation. In fact, usually, it's pretty easy. I don't know what it was about tonight, but I totally faltered...and faltered BIG TIME! I made garlic bread for the family for dinner...then proceeded to eat THREE PIECES of it! Then, chocolate lava cakes for dessert and I had one of them. I have no idea why I did it. I can usually just not do it. Why did I do it? Can I blame it on AF being due soon? lol It's a little scary...I can see the beginning of where I usually start to fail coming on. First it's one thing, then it's another, then it's everything. I need to get this under control. I won't fail!
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Feeling GREAT!
I haven't fallen off the face of the earth, nor have I fallen of plan! Usually, you can pretty much count on the fact that I've fallen off plan if I haven't blogged in a little while. (I start a new blog each time I seriously try to lose weight, and a couple of months in, I steadily write fewer and fewer posts until I just stop posting altogether because I've completely fallen off plan. You know, if I don't write it, it's not happening, right? WRONG! The first sign of me faltering is not blogging. That's not the case this time! I've just been busy busy busy! I knew I HAD to write today because something INCREDIBLE happened today! I'll write about that at the end, though. ;)
So, I'm still chugging along. Shake for breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, shake for dinner. I've been missing my Ionix Supreme. For some reason, I just can't wrap my head around drinking it first thing in the morning, then having my shake a little later. By the time I'm ready for my shake, I think, "Oh crap! I didn't take my Ionix Supreme!" and I don't want to wait even longer for my breakfast, so I skip it. I find it doesn't work nearly as well when I take it with my shake, so I don't want to waste what I have by not taking it at the optimal time, so I skip it entirely. I TOTALLY notice it, though! I have been stressed out a lot lately. I have reasons to be, but I really feel like I'm overreacting to everything, which wasn't happening when I was taking the Ionix Supreme regularly. I need to get better about that because I REALLY miss it!
I recently started taking the Ageless Essentials with Product B. It's Isagenix's line of vitamins with Product B, which is supposed to be absolutely amazing. I'm getting excellent nutrition from the shakes, but still really believe that supplementation is essential. They're fairly expensive, but when you think about what you're getting, they're a lot more affordable than buying all of those vitamins separately, especially for the quality you're getting!
Now we're getting to something I'm REALLY excited about! I have a pretty messed up knee. It all started when I was around 12. I was just getting over the flu and noticed that my knee was hurting. I told my mom and she thought I must just still be sore from having the flu. A few months later and my knee was still hurting. My mom took me to the doctor, who, without taking ANY x-rays, told us that since I was a 12 year old, avid soccer player, I had Osgood Schlatter disease. I was told that it should resolve itself around the time I was 16. The pain was so bad that I quit soccer. Around the age of 16, I was playing around with my friends, seeing how high we could kick. I kicked, then had an intense pain in my knee, which caused me to collapse, in tears. Back to the doctor I went. This time, x rays were done and it was found that I didn't have as much cartilage in my knee as I should have and I probably dislocated my knee. Fast forward 17 years. I'm 33 now. I've dealt with, what I've come to find out, is my patella partially dislocating about once a month. It's usually not too bad. I can feel it slip out of place, but it usually goes right back into place with minimal damage and pain. This happening so often has caused the ligament on the inside of my right knee to become very stretched out, so it happens even more regularly. Every once in a while, it completely dislocates and doesn't go right back in. This is EXTREMELY painful and leaves me in a full leg brace for two months and pretty intense pain for at least six months. I have chronic knee pain. It never doesn't at least bother me. It doesn't always "hurt," but it NEVER feels like there is nothing wrong with it. My weight gain has just exacerbated the issue. It was bad supporting 137 lbs. It's AWFUL supporting 300!
I recently started taking Ageless Joint Support by Isagenix. I have taken a lot of different joint support pills in the past. Most are helpful, but I have yet to find one that takes away the pain completely...until now! I take six pills a day, three in the morning and three at night. The first few days, I noticed a difference. My knee wasn't hurting as much when I was walking. It was AWESOME! However, it was what I DIDN'T notice in the next week or so that has me jumping for joy! Drake asked me, "How is the joint support working? Do you notice a difference?" That's when I thought about it, yes I noticed a difference. The difference was that I DIDN'T notice the pain. My knee felt "NORMAL!" Seriously, it not only doesn't hurt, it doesn't even bother me! I can sit and think about it and not feel any difference from my left knee, which has no injury. This is the first time since I was 12 years old that my knee isn't noticeably bothersome. I nearly cried when I came to that realization. I can't even begin to explain the joy of being out of chronic pain for the first time in 21 years. My knee still starts to bother me when I'm exercising or have been walking for a while, but just sitting? No pain at all!
Now, onto my most exciting news of the day! (Okay, so it might not be as exciting as being pain free for once in my life, but I was pretty dang excited and it's the reason I sat down to blog today!) Do you remember how I mentioned that I used to DRIVE to pick my daughter up from school, which is only two blocks away from my home? How when I used to walk, I would be sweating and huffing and puffing by the time I got there? How excited I was that now I can walk there and back without feeling absolutely awful? Today, when I picked my kindergartener up from school, she wanted to "race home." She often does this and I usually tell her, "I'm wearing flip flops! I can't run! You run ahead and stop at the corner and when I catch up to you, we'll cross the street." The truth is, I can't run. I'm too big to run. I run a few steps and am tired and out of breath. She, at five years old, is quite a bit faster than me and certainly has more endurance. In the past, when I've "run" on the treadmill, I feel like I'm running, but I'm honestly only moving as quickly as normal people walk. It's pathetic. Today, when she told me, "I'll race you home!" I told her, "Okay!" and took off jogging. I did it. I jogged. I was faster than my five year old. Not only that, but she told me, "STOP! I can't keep up with you! I'm tired!" I picked her up and spun her around. I haven't been that happy in a REALLY long time. It's such a tiny thing, but it was HUGE for me. I'm honestly in tears right now because I can see my life turning around. For the first time in SO many years, I feel myself changing and it's incredible!
Now we're getting to something I'm REALLY excited about! I have a pretty messed up knee. It all started when I was around 12. I was just getting over the flu and noticed that my knee was hurting. I told my mom and she thought I must just still be sore from having the flu. A few months later and my knee was still hurting. My mom took me to the doctor, who, without taking ANY x-rays, told us that since I was a 12 year old, avid soccer player, I had Osgood Schlatter disease. I was told that it should resolve itself around the time I was 16. The pain was so bad that I quit soccer. Around the age of 16, I was playing around with my friends, seeing how high we could kick. I kicked, then had an intense pain in my knee, which caused me to collapse, in tears. Back to the doctor I went. This time, x rays were done and it was found that I didn't have as much cartilage in my knee as I should have and I probably dislocated my knee. Fast forward 17 years. I'm 33 now. I've dealt with, what I've come to find out, is my patella partially dislocating about once a month. It's usually not too bad. I can feel it slip out of place, but it usually goes right back into place with minimal damage and pain. This happening so often has caused the ligament on the inside of my right knee to become very stretched out, so it happens even more regularly. Every once in a while, it completely dislocates and doesn't go right back in. This is EXTREMELY painful and leaves me in a full leg brace for two months and pretty intense pain for at least six months. I have chronic knee pain. It never doesn't at least bother me. It doesn't always "hurt," but it NEVER feels like there is nothing wrong with it. My weight gain has just exacerbated the issue. It was bad supporting 137 lbs. It's AWFUL supporting 300!
I recently started taking Ageless Joint Support by Isagenix. I have taken a lot of different joint support pills in the past. Most are helpful, but I have yet to find one that takes away the pain completely...until now! I take six pills a day, three in the morning and three at night. The first few days, I noticed a difference. My knee wasn't hurting as much when I was walking. It was AWESOME! However, it was what I DIDN'T notice in the next week or so that has me jumping for joy! Drake asked me, "How is the joint support working? Do you notice a difference?" That's when I thought about it, yes I noticed a difference. The difference was that I DIDN'T notice the pain. My knee felt "NORMAL!" Seriously, it not only doesn't hurt, it doesn't even bother me! I can sit and think about it and not feel any difference from my left knee, which has no injury. This is the first time since I was 12 years old that my knee isn't noticeably bothersome. I nearly cried when I came to that realization. I can't even begin to explain the joy of being out of chronic pain for the first time in 21 years. My knee still starts to bother me when I'm exercising or have been walking for a while, but just sitting? No pain at all!
Now, onto my most exciting news of the day! (Okay, so it might not be as exciting as being pain free for once in my life, but I was pretty dang excited and it's the reason I sat down to blog today!) Do you remember how I mentioned that I used to DRIVE to pick my daughter up from school, which is only two blocks away from my home? How when I used to walk, I would be sweating and huffing and puffing by the time I got there? How excited I was that now I can walk there and back without feeling absolutely awful? Today, when I picked my kindergartener up from school, she wanted to "race home." She often does this and I usually tell her, "I'm wearing flip flops! I can't run! You run ahead and stop at the corner and when I catch up to you, we'll cross the street." The truth is, I can't run. I'm too big to run. I run a few steps and am tired and out of breath. She, at five years old, is quite a bit faster than me and certainly has more endurance. In the past, when I've "run" on the treadmill, I feel like I'm running, but I'm honestly only moving as quickly as normal people walk. It's pathetic. Today, when she told me, "I'll race you home!" I told her, "Okay!" and took off jogging. I did it. I jogged. I was faster than my five year old. Not only that, but she told me, "STOP! I can't keep up with you! I'm tired!" I picked her up and spun her around. I haven't been that happy in a REALLY long time. It's such a tiny thing, but it was HUGE for me. I'm honestly in tears right now because I can see my life turning around. For the first time in SO many years, I feel myself changing and it's incredible!
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
It's been a little while
Almost a week and no new posts? I must be off my game! lol
Things are still chugging along. I'm still drinking my shakes, having my lunch, enjoying life and losing weight! I feel great. I have an amazing amount of energy. I think my lack of posts is just because there hasn't been anything new to report. lol
Well, that's a bit of a lie. This week, I started the Bedtime Belly Buster. It's one scoop of IsaPro (protein powder) with one scoop of IsaCalcium (calcium powder, duh) mixed with about 5 ounces of water. It tastes kinda like Strawberry Quick, but with a bit of an after taste. Not the best tasting drink, but certainly not the worst. It's supposed to help you sleep and shrink your belly at the same time. Awesome!
The results were awesome...and not so awesome. I woke up in the middle of the night and ended up having to run to the bathroom. I spent the next hour or so, back and forth to the bathroom. So much for helping me sleep better. You can't exactly sleep very well when you're running to the bathroom every few minutes! Something about it just didn't agree with me. The next morning...TA DA! 1 1/2 inches off of my belly! I tried it again the next night. Again, didn't agree with my stomach, but not as bad. The next night, everything was fine and dandy! I'm not sure that I'll order these products again, but it was interesting to try. I have a month's supply, so I'll finish out the month and see how things are going from there!
Things are still chugging along. I'm still drinking my shakes, having my lunch, enjoying life and losing weight! I feel great. I have an amazing amount of energy. I think my lack of posts is just because there hasn't been anything new to report. lol
Well, that's a bit of a lie. This week, I started the Bedtime Belly Buster. It's one scoop of IsaPro (protein powder) with one scoop of IsaCalcium (calcium powder, duh) mixed with about 5 ounces of water. It tastes kinda like Strawberry Quick, but with a bit of an after taste. Not the best tasting drink, but certainly not the worst. It's supposed to help you sleep and shrink your belly at the same time. Awesome!
The results were awesome...and not so awesome. I woke up in the middle of the night and ended up having to run to the bathroom. I spent the next hour or so, back and forth to the bathroom. So much for helping me sleep better. You can't exactly sleep very well when you're running to the bathroom every few minutes! Something about it just didn't agree with me. The next morning...TA DA! 1 1/2 inches off of my belly! I tried it again the next night. Again, didn't agree with my stomach, but not as bad. The next night, everything was fine and dandy! I'm not sure that I'll order these products again, but it was interesting to try. I have a month's supply, so I'll finish out the month and see how things are going from there!
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Mental note to self...
Mental note to self: When having a salad for lunch, make sure you get your dressing on the side. I went out to lunch today with my amazing coach, Amber. We went to a really great place called Plutos. The salads were HUGE, and really good. However, I was shocked how much dressing they put on them! Lesson definitely learned. It was still delicious. lol
I'm still hovering around 247-251 right now. I would really like to get firmly into the 240's. I'm hoping the two day deep cleanse I'm starting tonight will get me there!
Amber told me today that I am one of the most disciplined clients she has. I had to remind her that you don't get to be 300 pounds by being disciplined. lol Isagenix just makes it super easy for me. Add to that, seeing the huge results and I have no desire to fail. Yes, I get hungry at times (although I'm learning how to eat and snack so I am not). Yes, I'm tempted by bacon and ice cream and salted caramel and french fries. However, seeing how far I've come makes it seem so ridiculous to sabotage myself with those things. I'd so much rather keep going than go backwards. I know that sounds simplistic and perhaps, that's because it is. However, I've dieted before and failed miserably. I've even had really good results, and still failed. So, it's not usually that easy to say, "I'm getting these amazing results, I'll never go back." In fact, before Isagenix, I've NEVER felt that way. I knew all along I would eventually give up and gain it back. I knew it was just a diet and that I would "fall off the wagon" and go back to where I was. Not for a moment, since I started getting results, have I felt that way with Isagenix. It's amazingly empowering to KNOW you're going to succeed. It makes it easier to be disciplined. Perhaps I was just sabotaging myself from the beginning with a self defeating attitude. I think the biggest difference between now and then is that now, I feel great. I don't feel deprived. I have incredible energy. Before, I was tired. I was unhappy. I was stressed out about my weight loss or lack thereof. I didn't FEEL good while losing the weight. I felt like it was a chore and an insurmountable obstacle. I'm about 1/3 of the way to my goal. How awesome is that? I feel amazing. I am exercising. I'm just happy. Happier than I have been in a REALLY long time. I believe THAT is the big difference with Isagenix. It isn't about losing the weight. It's about getting healthy and happy.
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
My husband
My husband is starting on Isagenix! I'm not sure he'd be all that thrilled to know that I'm blogging about it, but he doesn't read this. ;) (I'm kidding honey! kinda) His order should arrive next week. He has a lot less weight to lose than I do, but he's a man, so he'll probably lose it all in one month while sitting around doing nothing and eating fast food. lol I'm kidding...kinda. I don't know why it's so much easier for men to lose weight than women. I think it must have something to do with our bodies being made to carry and nourish babies, while theirs is made to hunt and fight.
My 12 year old is in cross country. She's pretty fast. However, she's always bummed that there are a few boys that she just can't beat. On her last cross country team, she was the fastest girl on her team and she beat quite a few boys, but there were always a few that she just couldn't keep up with, no matter how hard she trained. I was discussing this with my husband today, wondering out loud why girls just aren't as fast as boys. I don't think it's sexist, it's just truth. For the most part, boys are made to be faster and stronger. I've decided that girls just aren't made for fight or flight. As women, we're made to protect our children. We aren't made to stand up and fight and we aren't made to run away as quickly as possible. If something were to happen, we are made to gather our children, carry some on our hips and get out, but not made to run on our own. We can't be fast if we want to stay with our children, so our bodies weren't made to be super fast. I think men are made to hunt, fight and protect, so their bodies are faster and stronger than women's bodies. Don't get me wrong, there are AMAZING women athletes, at the top of their game, who are extremely strong and extremely fast and I'd take them fighting and protecting me over the vast majority of men, but the male athletes who are also at the top of their game are stronger and faster. It almost pains me to think of these things because deep down, I'm really a feminist who wants to say that women and men are exactly equal because I feel like I'm degrading women by saying that men are stronger and faster, but I can't ignore something that stares you in the face! lol We're created differently and I think there are definite reasons. I'm not saying that we have to conform to those reasons. I certainly don't think that just because you're made to have babies that you have to, or that because you're made to protect, you're expected to be some amazingly strong guy, but I think, when it comes to basic biology, we have evolved (or better yet, this is probably part of us that hasn't really evolved at all) into creatures that were made for certain jobs.
Anyways, enough of that. My husband is starting! Yay for him! I keep telling him that I'm going to take his measurements and take pictures and he keeps telling me there is not a chance in hell that is going to happen, but we'll see. ;)
My 12 year old is in cross country. She's pretty fast. However, she's always bummed that there are a few boys that she just can't beat. On her last cross country team, she was the fastest girl on her team and she beat quite a few boys, but there were always a few that she just couldn't keep up with, no matter how hard she trained. I was discussing this with my husband today, wondering out loud why girls just aren't as fast as boys. I don't think it's sexist, it's just truth. For the most part, boys are made to be faster and stronger. I've decided that girls just aren't made for fight or flight. As women, we're made to protect our children. We aren't made to stand up and fight and we aren't made to run away as quickly as possible. If something were to happen, we are made to gather our children, carry some on our hips and get out, but not made to run on our own. We can't be fast if we want to stay with our children, so our bodies weren't made to be super fast. I think men are made to hunt, fight and protect, so their bodies are faster and stronger than women's bodies. Don't get me wrong, there are AMAZING women athletes, at the top of their game, who are extremely strong and extremely fast and I'd take them fighting and protecting me over the vast majority of men, but the male athletes who are also at the top of their game are stronger and faster. It almost pains me to think of these things because deep down, I'm really a feminist who wants to say that women and men are exactly equal because I feel like I'm degrading women by saying that men are stronger and faster, but I can't ignore something that stares you in the face! lol We're created differently and I think there are definite reasons. I'm not saying that we have to conform to those reasons. I certainly don't think that just because you're made to have babies that you have to, or that because you're made to protect, you're expected to be some amazingly strong guy, but I think, when it comes to basic biology, we have evolved (or better yet, this is probably part of us that hasn't really evolved at all) into creatures that were made for certain jobs.
Anyways, enough of that. My husband is starting! Yay for him! I keep telling him that I'm going to take his measurements and take pictures and he keeps telling me there is not a chance in hell that is going to happen, but we'll see. ;)
Weigh Day!
So, it's Wednesday, Weigh Day on Friends and Families. Two more days and the challenge ends. My goals at the beginning of the challenge were to lose 15 pounds and to make it through my kettle bell workout. I'm happy to report that, as of today, I've lost that 15 pounds! Now, as for that kettle bell workout...well, I can make it through with modified exercises, but still can't do it the way it's supposed to be done. I'm pretty happy with that. I should have exercised more, but going from no exercise at all for years to kettle bell workouts several times a week, I'm pretty happy. Not ecstatic, but still pretty happy!
I'm on my second cleanse day in a row today. I'm doing something a little different this time around. I started my cleanse at night. So, I drank my last shake at 4 pm, then had my cleanse drink at 8 pm. I drank four cups of water between then and bed. So, tonight, being day two, I get to have a shake for dinner! The evening of day two is always the most difficult for me. My stomach is growling, I'm getting irritable...it's not pretty. I'm hoping that being able to end my day with a shake will be a good thing!
I'm on my second cleanse day in a row today. I'm doing something a little different this time around. I started my cleanse at night. So, I drank my last shake at 4 pm, then had my cleanse drink at 8 pm. I drank four cups of water between then and bed. So, tonight, being day two, I get to have a shake for dinner! The evening of day two is always the most difficult for me. My stomach is growling, I'm getting irritable...it's not pretty. I'm hoping that being able to end my day with a shake will be a good thing!
Monday, August 27, 2012
Ugh...but good at the same time
Let me preface this post by saying that I'm going to be talking about...ahem...womanly things in this post, so if you would rather not read about that kind of stuff, feel free to move on to a different blog entry. :)
I've never really been very "regular" when it comes to my monthly friend. I was always someone who detested the girls who said, "Oh, mine is really light and only lasts three days." That wasn't me. Mine was always really heavy and lasted two weeks. I was never a "every 28 days" kind of gal. It would show up whenever it darn well pleased. You'd think with being so "abnormal" I might have problems getting pregnant. I don't. I've been pregnant nine times and have six children. The last time I got pregnant was in November of 2009. Unfortunately, that pregnancy ended in a miscarriage. If you've ever had a miscarriage (and I'm so sorry if you have, I know what a terribly heartbreaking experience it can be) you know that sometimes your body reacts the same as it does after it gives birth. To put it bluntly, you bleed for weeks on end. Anyways, that happened after my last miscarriage, but I haven't had a period since. Yes, that means about two and a half years of no period. Yes, I know I should have gone to the doctor. I have the lame excuse that it's kind of nice to not have your period for two and a half years. lol
Anyways, guess who's back. Ummm...thank you, Isagenix?
Thursday, August 23, 2012
I DID IT!
So, I've been working with kettlebells a bit lately. They are totally kicking my butt! Who knew that swinging a big metal ball around would be so much work. lol On the Friends and Families weight loss challenge, one of my goals at the beginning of the month was to get through Lauren Brook's first workout on her The Ultimate Body Sculpt and Conditioning with Kettlebells DVD
. The first time I tried it, less than half way through, my legs felt like jello and I literally collapsed and just felt like I couldn't move anymore. I'm happy to report that yesterday, I made it through the entire workout! Granted, I had to modify two of the exercises, but still...I'm proud of myself! For the mountain climbers, my hands were up on the couch and for the Russian twists, my feet were on the floor. I think that by the end of the month, I'm going to be able to do it without modifications!
As I was walking to pick Allie up from school today (she's my youngest and just started kindergarten!), I marveled at how far I have come in less than two months. I'm embarrassed to admit what I'm going to admit right now, but I'll do it anyways. I live about two blocks away from the elementary school. My children all walk to school in the morning and those that stay all day, walk home together. Last year, my second to youngest, Sera, was in first grade. She got out early, so had no one to walk home with, so I picked her up from school every day. Remember how I said I live about two blocks away from the school? I DROVE to pick her up every day. Seriously. Two blocks. I was so tired and so sore and so lazy that I couldn't even walk four blocks a day. A couple of times, I decided I was going to lose weight and get healthy. I decided I would walk to the school to pick her up. By the time I got there, I was sweating like a pig and out of breath. TWO BLOCKS!!! My back hurt, my lungs hurt, I probably smelled bad. It was embarrassing. Then, I still had to walk home! Needless to say, I drove to pick her up the next day. Two days ago was the first day of school. Of course, I was going to drop my kindergartener off that day. So, I had to make a choice, drive them to school, or walk them to school. I was honestly going to drive. The memories of fat, sweaty, out of breath me, waiting for Sera in first grade, were fresh in my mind. However, the thought of that parking lot on the first day of school encouraged me to walk. I'm SO glad I did. As I walked my children to school, I was shocked...it wasn't that bad. By the time we got to school, I wasn't sweating. I wasn't panting. I was snapping pictures the whole way, laughing and chatting with my children. I got to my daughter's kindergarten class and I was able to chat with the other parents, encourage my daughter to go make friends, then happily send her into the world of formal education. I left and walked home. When I got home, it hit me...I wasn't dreading the walk home the entire time I was at the school. When I walked to pick Sera up from school the year before, the thought of, "Now I have to walk HOME!" was awful and daunting. I was so tired and sore just from walking there. It wasn't even a thought in my mind as I walked home that first day of school. The walk is trivial now. Of course, you're probably thinking, "It's TWO BLOCKS...of course it's trivial." It's not trivial when you're over 300 pounds. It's not trivial when that 300 pounds is resting on a knee that, at 135 pounds, couldn't always bear your. It's not trivial when you're so heavy and tired and lazy that, at 32 year old, you have to take a nap every day. However, take that person, add just under two months of Isagenix to them and suddenly it's trivial! Not only that, but I've been working out when I get home, then go walk to pick her up and it's STILL trivial!
I realize that to most people, this isn't a big deal, but to me, it's life changing. To me, it means the difference between watching my children grow up and participating in their lives. It means the difference between sitting on a park bench, watching my children play and being in the park, pushing them on the swings. It means the difference between sitting down with them and helping with their homework and waking up just long enough to maybe answer a question they have about their homework. I wasn't living before. I was existing...and just barely at that. I'm happy to say that I'm starting to LIVE again.
. The first time I tried it, less than half way through, my legs felt like jello and I literally collapsed and just felt like I couldn't move anymore. I'm happy to report that yesterday, I made it through the entire workout! Granted, I had to modify two of the exercises, but still...I'm proud of myself! For the mountain climbers, my hands were up on the couch and for the Russian twists, my feet were on the floor. I think that by the end of the month, I'm going to be able to do it without modifications!
As I was walking to pick Allie up from school today (she's my youngest and just started kindergarten!), I marveled at how far I have come in less than two months. I'm embarrassed to admit what I'm going to admit right now, but I'll do it anyways. I live about two blocks away from the elementary school. My children all walk to school in the morning and those that stay all day, walk home together. Last year, my second to youngest, Sera, was in first grade. She got out early, so had no one to walk home with, so I picked her up from school every day. Remember how I said I live about two blocks away from the school? I DROVE to pick her up every day. Seriously. Two blocks. I was so tired and so sore and so lazy that I couldn't even walk four blocks a day. A couple of times, I decided I was going to lose weight and get healthy. I decided I would walk to the school to pick her up. By the time I got there, I was sweating like a pig and out of breath. TWO BLOCKS!!! My back hurt, my lungs hurt, I probably smelled bad. It was embarrassing. Then, I still had to walk home! Needless to say, I drove to pick her up the next day. Two days ago was the first day of school. Of course, I was going to drop my kindergartener off that day. So, I had to make a choice, drive them to school, or walk them to school. I was honestly going to drive. The memories of fat, sweaty, out of breath me, waiting for Sera in first grade, were fresh in my mind. However, the thought of that parking lot on the first day of school encouraged me to walk. I'm SO glad I did. As I walked my children to school, I was shocked...it wasn't that bad. By the time we got to school, I wasn't sweating. I wasn't panting. I was snapping pictures the whole way, laughing and chatting with my children. I got to my daughter's kindergarten class and I was able to chat with the other parents, encourage my daughter to go make friends, then happily send her into the world of formal education. I left and walked home. When I got home, it hit me...I wasn't dreading the walk home the entire time I was at the school. When I walked to pick Sera up from school the year before, the thought of, "Now I have to walk HOME!" was awful and daunting. I was so tired and sore just from walking there. It wasn't even a thought in my mind as I walked home that first day of school. The walk is trivial now. Of course, you're probably thinking, "It's TWO BLOCKS...of course it's trivial." It's not trivial when you're over 300 pounds. It's not trivial when that 300 pounds is resting on a knee that, at 135 pounds, couldn't always bear your. It's not trivial when you're so heavy and tired and lazy that, at 32 year old, you have to take a nap every day. However, take that person, add just under two months of Isagenix to them and suddenly it's trivial! Not only that, but I've been working out when I get home, then go walk to pick her up and it's STILL trivial!
I realize that to most people, this isn't a big deal, but to me, it's life changing. To me, it means the difference between watching my children grow up and participating in their lives. It means the difference between sitting on a park bench, watching my children play and being in the park, pushing them on the swings. It means the difference between sitting down with them and helping with their homework and waking up just long enough to maybe answer a question they have about their homework. I wasn't living before. I was existing...and just barely at that. I'm happy to say that I'm starting to LIVE again.
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Been a little while!
So, I'm still moving along! The weight loss has slowed considerably, which I'm not totally thrilled with, but that's okay. I feel great, I'm happier, I have more energy and I look better. A little slow down isn't terrible.
My coach, Amber, went to the Isagenix Celebration (an Isagenix conference) last weekend. She said she had a blast! During celebration, they announced that they have changed the formula of the shakes and introduced a couple of new products. The shakes now have 100% more fiber, 50% more whey and fewer carbs. I'm a little wary of the taste, but I'm pleased with the changes. I get the new shakes with my next autoship, so I'll let you know then what I think of them!
Today marks day 50 on the Isagenix program and as of this morning, I am down 40 pounds! Not too shabby! I've set a goal of 50 pounds by the end of the month. With no cleanse days left this month, I'm not sure I'm going to make that goal, but I'm aiming for it! Did I tell you my super lofty goal of 100 lbs by Christmas? My realistic goal is 100 lbs by June 28th. That will be one year on the program. My crazy goal is 100 lbs by Christmas. That will be six months on the program. I think I can do it. I just need to exercise more. Wouldn't it be awesome if I could be at goal weight by my one year mark? I don't know that that's very realistic, but it would be really cool. lol
Did I ever share my vision board on here? I don't think I did. I will now!
My coach, Amber, went to the Isagenix Celebration (an Isagenix conference) last weekend. She said she had a blast! During celebration, they announced that they have changed the formula of the shakes and introduced a couple of new products. The shakes now have 100% more fiber, 50% more whey and fewer carbs. I'm a little wary of the taste, but I'm pleased with the changes. I get the new shakes with my next autoship, so I'll let you know then what I think of them!
Today marks day 50 on the Isagenix program and as of this morning, I am down 40 pounds! Not too shabby! I've set a goal of 50 pounds by the end of the month. With no cleanse days left this month, I'm not sure I'm going to make that goal, but I'm aiming for it! Did I tell you my super lofty goal of 100 lbs by Christmas? My realistic goal is 100 lbs by June 28th. That will be one year on the program. My crazy goal is 100 lbs by Christmas. That will be six months on the program. I think I can do it. I just need to exercise more. Wouldn't it be awesome if I could be at goal weight by my one year mark? I don't know that that's very realistic, but it would be really cool. lol
Did I ever share my vision board on here? I don't think I did. I will now!
These are the things I will do:
Join the 100 lb club by losing 100 lbs by June 27, 2013
Move on to Lauren Brook's second kettlebell DVD because the first one is too easy
Love yoga and look awesome doing it
Go kayaking with my husband and not worry about whether or not I will fit in that little hole
Go zip lining in Hawaii
Play with my kids without getting tired
Take a family picture where I'm happy with the way I look
Love healthy foods
Stick to the Isagenix program
So, there is my health/wellness vision in a nutshell!
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Weigh in
So, I started a challenge on a website I help run. For the month of August, we are challenging ourselves to start whatever diet/exercise program we've been meaning to start "tomorrow." It's not a competition, just a group of ladies trying to better themselves for one whole month, with the intention of it continuing after that.
Today is our first week's weigh in. For me, my weigh in is at 261! Yay! I'm not positive of my weight from last Wednesday when we started, but I think it was 267. Six pounds in a week...not too shabby!
Today is our first week's weigh in. For me, my weigh in is at 261! Yay! I'm not positive of my weight from last Wednesday when we started, but I think it was 267. Six pounds in a week...not too shabby!
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
WOOHOOO!!!!
A couple of years ago, I bought a skirt. As with everything, I didn't try it on before I brought it home. When I got home, it didn't fit...like, couldn't even get it up over my thighs kind of didn't fit. I'm really bad about taking things back, so it has just hung in my closet for years, taunting me, making me feel bad, screaming at me that I'll always be too fat to fit into it. (It was a pretty mean skirt lol) The other day, I decided I was going to try it on. I wasn't trying it on to see if it fit, I was trying it on to see how much further I had to go before it fit. The clothes I wear to church are becoming too big (my skirt literally fell off the other day as I was getting into the car...thank goodness no one was around!), so I was hoping to not have to buy a new dress (since it's my 50 lb. weight loss reward). I figured I could continue what I have now until this skirt of mine fit. I honestly wasn't even sure if this skirt would fit before I hit my 50 lb weight loss or not, but I figured it was worth trying on.
So, I grabbed the skirt. I put my legs through it. I pulled it up. It made it passed my thighs. So far, so good. Up to my waist. I saw that I could zip it at least a little bit. I zipped it. I zipped it some more. I zipped it even more. IT FITS! IT FITS! IT FITS!!!!!!!!
So, I grabbed the skirt. I put my legs through it. I pulled it up. It made it passed my thighs. So far, so good. Up to my waist. I saw that I could zip it at least a little bit. I zipped it. I zipped it some more. I zipped it even more. IT FITS! IT FITS! IT FITS!!!!!!!!
Monday, August 6, 2012
Mother in Law visit and camping!
My mother in law is here visiting from Hawaii. She arrived on Thursday (today is Sunday..well, technically Monday because it's 12:32 am, but whatever). She definitely noticed my weight loss! We talked about Isagenix and she looked over my shake ingredients (she's a nurse and my father in law is really into holistic health) and said that it looks like a wonderful product and it has obviously been working for me. I then told her a bit about the cleansing and she said that she thinks it is great because she believes that fasting is really important and so good for you. I was really concerned what she would think of Isagenix because she and my father in law are SO into health and wellness. I breathed a sigh of relief to hear her say what a wonderful program it seemed to be.
We went camping this weekend. Normally, my family eats really healthy...organic, whole foods, no candy, no sugary drinks, etc. However, there are five times I let that go...Easter, your birthday, Halloween, Christmas and CAMPING. So, I loaded up on chips, Rice Crispy Treats, Goldfish, S'mores stuff, peanut butter cups, etc. I would usually be enjoying all of that right along with my kids. This time, however, I watched my children binge on things they never get and I didn't even really want it! (Okay, I'll admit to eating a peanut butter cup, but as usual, the taste wasn't even worth it...I should really stop thinking it will be. lol) While camping, I still make organic, whole foods for all three meals. I feel like I spend the majority of my time cooking, but that's okay because I know I'm doing what is best for my children. I made big, hearty breakfasts to get them through the day, of sausage, eggs, hashbrowns and lots of fruit. I had a shake. I made a proscuitto, mozzarella and basil sandwich lunch, and had chicken, mushrooms and asparagus. I made pesto chicken and pesto new potatoes with leeks, artichoke hearts and peas for dinner, and had a shake. My mother in law kept saying that she felt bad eating in front of me and having me cook these amazing meals, only to not be able to eat them myself. I assured her it was fine and it didn't bother me. Oddly enough, I was being truthful. I keep expecting to resent drinking a shake while everyone chows down on food I spent hours preparing and love to eat. However, I can watch them eat it, be happy that they're enjoying the food that I prepared, and fully enjoy drinking my shake. I don't resent not being able to eat it. I keep waiting for it to, but it doesn't.
As my family ate pizza (from my favorite local pizza place!) tonight, my mother in law asked my husband if he felt bad eating in front of me when I can't have the foods they're eating and if he felt like he should hide from me while he ate. He said, "If I had to hide while I ate, Katie would not be following this plan." I think he meant it from a purely selfish standpoint because he doesn't want to have to change the way he is with food just because I'm on a "diet." If he wants to eat ice cream, he'll buy ice cream. Then, he'll eat the ice cream in front of me. If he wants a burger, he'll get a burger, and not think twice about eating it in front of me. If he wants brownies, he'll ask me to make him brownies, then proceed to eat them in front of me. He doesn't feel as though my "diet" should impact his "diet." He may have meant what he said for selfish reasons, but in reality, he's absolutely right and it's the most helpful thing he can do. It's not "real life" for my husband to not eat the things he enjoys. It's not "real life" for me to not be around foods that I shouldn't eat. It's easy to stay away from "bad" things when they're never around you. If no one in your house ate anything but lean meats, fruits, vegetables and a few nuts all day in front of you, you'd get used to eating that way and it wouldn't be difficult. However, once you're off your "diet" and your family goes back to eating what they normally do, or at least not hiding the other stuff from you, and you go out with your friends who are ordering fast food or chowing down on a huge steak, slathered in butter and a loaded baked potatoes, it's going to suddenly get REALLY difficult to stay away from those things. If, however, it's always been around you and continues to be around you, but you find the will power to not partake of it yourself, THAT'S when it becomes a lifestyle rather than a diet. It's when you learn from the beginning to just say no to those foods and eat your 3 oz of chicken and huge salad when your husband is eating a filet mignon and lobster tail slathered in butter, that you succeed on a "diet." You can lose all of the weight in the world, but if you don't learn how to eat properly and how to be okay with not eating the things that you shouldn't be eating, you're going to gain all of the weight back after you go off of your diet. So, while he may not realize it, my husband is my biggest support and biggest enabler all at the same time and I love him for it.
We went camping this weekend. Normally, my family eats really healthy...organic, whole foods, no candy, no sugary drinks, etc. However, there are five times I let that go...Easter, your birthday, Halloween, Christmas and CAMPING. So, I loaded up on chips, Rice Crispy Treats, Goldfish, S'mores stuff, peanut butter cups, etc. I would usually be enjoying all of that right along with my kids. This time, however, I watched my children binge on things they never get and I didn't even really want it! (Okay, I'll admit to eating a peanut butter cup, but as usual, the taste wasn't even worth it...I should really stop thinking it will be. lol) While camping, I still make organic, whole foods for all three meals. I feel like I spend the majority of my time cooking, but that's okay because I know I'm doing what is best for my children. I made big, hearty breakfasts to get them through the day, of sausage, eggs, hashbrowns and lots of fruit. I had a shake. I made a proscuitto, mozzarella and basil sandwich lunch, and had chicken, mushrooms and asparagus. I made pesto chicken and pesto new potatoes with leeks, artichoke hearts and peas for dinner, and had a shake. My mother in law kept saying that she felt bad eating in front of me and having me cook these amazing meals, only to not be able to eat them myself. I assured her it was fine and it didn't bother me. Oddly enough, I was being truthful. I keep expecting to resent drinking a shake while everyone chows down on food I spent hours preparing and love to eat. However, I can watch them eat it, be happy that they're enjoying the food that I prepared, and fully enjoy drinking my shake. I don't resent not being able to eat it. I keep waiting for it to, but it doesn't.
As my family ate pizza (from my favorite local pizza place!) tonight, my mother in law asked my husband if he felt bad eating in front of me when I can't have the foods they're eating and if he felt like he should hide from me while he ate. He said, "If I had to hide while I ate, Katie would not be following this plan." I think he meant it from a purely selfish standpoint because he doesn't want to have to change the way he is with food just because I'm on a "diet." If he wants to eat ice cream, he'll buy ice cream. Then, he'll eat the ice cream in front of me. If he wants a burger, he'll get a burger, and not think twice about eating it in front of me. If he wants brownies, he'll ask me to make him brownies, then proceed to eat them in front of me. He doesn't feel as though my "diet" should impact his "diet." He may have meant what he said for selfish reasons, but in reality, he's absolutely right and it's the most helpful thing he can do. It's not "real life" for my husband to not eat the things he enjoys. It's not "real life" for me to not be around foods that I shouldn't eat. It's easy to stay away from "bad" things when they're never around you. If no one in your house ate anything but lean meats, fruits, vegetables and a few nuts all day in front of you, you'd get used to eating that way and it wouldn't be difficult. However, once you're off your "diet" and your family goes back to eating what they normally do, or at least not hiding the other stuff from you, and you go out with your friends who are ordering fast food or chowing down on a huge steak, slathered in butter and a loaded baked potatoes, it's going to suddenly get REALLY difficult to stay away from those things. If, however, it's always been around you and continues to be around you, but you find the will power to not partake of it yourself, THAT'S when it becomes a lifestyle rather than a diet. It's when you learn from the beginning to just say no to those foods and eat your 3 oz of chicken and huge salad when your husband is eating a filet mignon and lobster tail slathered in butter, that you succeed on a "diet." You can lose all of the weight in the world, but if you don't learn how to eat properly and how to be okay with not eating the things that you shouldn't be eating, you're going to gain all of the weight back after you go off of your diet. So, while he may not realize it, my husband is my biggest support and biggest enabler all at the same time and I love him for it.
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
One of the things I hate the most about me
Something that really bothers me about my body is my stomach. At 300 pounds, it stuck out further than my boobs. :( Seriously. I would look down, see boobs, then see stomach. You're not supposed to see your stomach when you look down. You're just not. Many times, I would look down and just cry. You're supposed to see your TOES when you look down, not your stomach...unless you're pregnant, of course.
Well, guess what?!?!?! Today I looked down. I didn't see my toes, but that was only because my boobs were in the way. However, can you guess what else I couldn't see?!??!? MY STOMACH! Yay! My boobs are officially bigger than my stomach. It's the little things in life, isn't it?
Well, guess what?!?!?! Today I looked down. I didn't see my toes, but that was only because my boobs were in the way. However, can you guess what else I couldn't see?!??!? MY STOMACH! Yay! My boobs are officially bigger than my stomach. It's the little things in life, isn't it?
Lunch Today
YUMMY lunch today! I usually do 3 oz. of chicken breast with goat cheese, sun dried tomatoes, pea shoots and mushrooms. I decided to mix things up a bit today and have pizza!
PIZZA?!?!?!?! Hear me out, here!
1 soft taco size whole wheat tortilla 120 calories
1 T. pesto 70 calories
3 small balls of fresh mozzarella (the kind that comes packed in water) 70 calories
3 slices of a small heirloom tomato 7 calories
3 oz. grilled chicken 132 calories
First, I pounded the chicken breast flat, then grilled it with some Himilayan salt and rosemary. Then, I baked the tortilla in a 350 degree oven for 4 minutes, flipped it and baked it for 4 more minutes. I spread 1 T. pesto on the baked tortilla, cut the balls of mozzarella into small slices and put those on top of the basil. Next came the heirloom tomato slices, cut into 1/4's, then it was all topped with the diced chicken and baked for 5 minutes. All this for 390 calories!
On the side, I had about 4 cups of raw spinach and 1/2 cup of sliced mushrooms, fried in about 1 T of pesto. This added about 100 calories to my lunch.
So, TWO plates of food for 490 calories! Not bad!
PIZZA?!?!?!?! Hear me out, here!
1 soft taco size whole wheat tortilla 120 calories
1 T. pesto 70 calories
3 small balls of fresh mozzarella (the kind that comes packed in water) 70 calories
3 slices of a small heirloom tomato 7 calories
3 oz. grilled chicken 132 calories
First, I pounded the chicken breast flat, then grilled it with some Himilayan salt and rosemary. Then, I baked the tortilla in a 350 degree oven for 4 minutes, flipped it and baked it for 4 more minutes. I spread 1 T. pesto on the baked tortilla, cut the balls of mozzarella into small slices and put those on top of the basil. Next came the heirloom tomato slices, cut into 1/4's, then it was all topped with the diced chicken and baked for 5 minutes. All this for 390 calories!
On the side, I had about 4 cups of raw spinach and 1/2 cup of sliced mushrooms, fried in about 1 T of pesto. This added about 100 calories to my lunch.
So, TWO plates of food for 490 calories! Not bad!
Water
When I first made the commitment to drink more water, I literally had to write down every ounce that I drank and what time I drank it. I kept a paper and pen on the fridge. When I filled my bottle, I would write the start time. When I finally finished it, I would write the end time, at which time I would fill my bottle again and it would be my new start time. The first day, it was a struggle to even get that first four cups down! Eventually, I could see a pattern of when I wasn't drinking that much water and forced myself to drink more water during that time.
Now, a month later, I drink my entire bottle upon first waking in the morning. So, 4 cups down! Then, I have breakfast. I try to drink another bottle full between breakfast and lunch. 8 cups down! Then, I drink my entire bottle before lunch. 12 cups! I try to drink another bottle full between lunch and dinner. 16 cups! Then, another bottle full before dinner. 20 cups! Then, between dinner and bedtime, I'll drink my last bottle full, for a total of 24 cups, or 192 ounces. I don't always get the full 4 cups between each meal, but I always make sure to start each meal by drinking the full 4 cups of water. My reason for this is two fold. First, water aids in digestion. It helps break food down, making it easier for the body to digest. Second, it makes me less hungry, making it so I don't eat too much at each meal.
Before I started drinking enough water, I had headaches EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. I was miserable. Since I started drinking enough water, I've only had one headache and I didn't need to take anything for it. I was dehydrated, plain and simple. Also, I often felt hungry, but now I realize I wasn't hungry. I was just thirsty. It's amazing how different my appetite is now that I've been drinking more water (and putting the right foods into my body
).
So, drink up, buttercup! Your body will thank you!
Now, a month later, I drink my entire bottle upon first waking in the morning. So, 4 cups down! Then, I have breakfast. I try to drink another bottle full between breakfast and lunch. 8 cups down! Then, I drink my entire bottle before lunch. 12 cups! I try to drink another bottle full between lunch and dinner. 16 cups! Then, another bottle full before dinner. 20 cups! Then, between dinner and bedtime, I'll drink my last bottle full, for a total of 24 cups, or 192 ounces. I don't always get the full 4 cups between each meal, but I always make sure to start each meal by drinking the full 4 cups of water. My reason for this is two fold. First, water aids in digestion. It helps break food down, making it easier for the body to digest. Second, it makes me less hungry, making it so I don't eat too much at each meal.
Before I started drinking enough water, I had headaches EVERY.SINGLE.DAY. I was miserable. Since I started drinking enough water, I've only had one headache and I didn't need to take anything for it. I was dehydrated, plain and simple. Also, I often felt hungry, but now I realize I wasn't hungry. I was just thirsty. It's amazing how different my appetite is now that I've been drinking more water (and putting the right foods into my body
).So, drink up, buttercup! Your body will thank you!
Monday, July 30, 2012
Cleanse Day 1
I usually do my deep cleanses on Sunday and Monday. I did that mainly because we often have family dinners on Sundays and it was just easier for me to avoid overeating and eating what I shouldn't if I just wasn't eating at all. However, I think, after a month, I have a little more will power, so I've switched to Mondays and Tuesdays so I can enjoy eating with my family on Sundays.
Last night, we had dinner at my mom's house for my brother's birthday. I decided to have a shake for breakfast and lunch so that I could eat dinner with my family. That may have been a bad idea. lol There was almost nothing I could eat there! The chicken was covered in gravy. We had white rice. There was a lot of fruit, but I'm avoiding fruit for now. I had some veggies, with a little big of the chicken gravy on top. By the time I got home, I was SO hungry. :( I hardboiled some eggs and had two of them. I shouldn't have been eating that late at night, but I was SO hungry and I knew I would be starting a two day cleanse today, so I thought I would be setting myself up for failure if I started it off ravenous!
Anyways, the cleanse day is going well so far! No hunger, plenty of energy, good times!
Last night, we had dinner at my mom's house for my brother's birthday. I decided to have a shake for breakfast and lunch so that I could eat dinner with my family. That may have been a bad idea. lol There was almost nothing I could eat there! The chicken was covered in gravy. We had white rice. There was a lot of fruit, but I'm avoiding fruit for now. I had some veggies, with a little big of the chicken gravy on top. By the time I got home, I was SO hungry. :( I hardboiled some eggs and had two of them. I shouldn't have been eating that late at night, but I was SO hungry and I knew I would be starting a two day cleanse today, so I thought I would be setting myself up for failure if I started it off ravenous!
Anyways, the cleanse day is going well so far! No hunger, plenty of energy, good times!
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Love it!
Today at church, a friend of mine, who I haven't seen in a few weeks told me something to the effect of, "I don't know what it is about you, but you look different. Your hair is the same, I don't know what it is, but you just look really happy and healthy. You have a glow about you."
What a great compliment! I don't really see a change in myself. I see myself everyday, though. It's good to know that there is definitely a difference!
What a great compliment! I don't really see a change in myself. I see myself everyday, though. It's good to know that there is definitely a difference!
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Day 30 of the 30 day program
So, today is day 30 of the Isagenix 30 day pogram. I went to Amber's house on Thursday (day 28) to do measurements and take my 30 day picture, which is also going to serve as my "before" picture for the Isabody Challenge! For the life of me, however, I cannot remember where I put my paper with my measurements, so I'll tell you what they measure and the total inches lost, but I can't tell you how many inches I lost in each area.
For Isagenix, you measure:
Neck
Rright upper arm
Left upper arm
Chest
Abdomen
Waist
Hips
Right thigh
Left thigh
Right above the knee
Left above the knee
Right calf
Left calf
So, there are a lot of places to measure, which is why the number sounds so large. All total, I lost almost 30 inches! 5 of those inches were around the waist alone! 2 1/2 were in the chest, which I'm not too happy with. LOL
This morning, for my 30 day weigh in, I was at 270!!! That's 27 pounds in 30 days. AMAZING! (If I do say so myself ;) ) You may or may not remember, but I'm basing my percentage measurements on 300 lbs because it's just easier math, and I know just a few months ago, I was over 300 lbs. So, that makes a TEN PERCENT weight loss!
According to Weight Watchers, losing just 10% of your total weight can make a HUGE difference in your health.
Isagenix has a 30 day money back guarantee. You can bet I let my autoship do it's work and didn't return a single thing. I'm absolutely stoked and feel better than I have in a really, really long time.
For Isagenix, you measure:
Neck
Rright upper arm
Left upper arm
Chest
Abdomen
Waist
Hips
Right thigh
Left thigh
Right above the knee
Left above the knee
Right calf
Left calf
So, there are a lot of places to measure, which is why the number sounds so large. All total, I lost almost 30 inches! 5 of those inches were around the waist alone! 2 1/2 were in the chest, which I'm not too happy with. LOL
This morning, for my 30 day weigh in, I was at 270!!! That's 27 pounds in 30 days. AMAZING! (If I do say so myself ;) ) You may or may not remember, but I'm basing my percentage measurements on 300 lbs because it's just easier math, and I know just a few months ago, I was over 300 lbs. So, that makes a TEN PERCENT weight loss!
According to Weight Watchers, losing just 10% of your total weight can make a HUGE difference in your health.
I can absolutely say that everything said above (except the heart and diabetes thing, I really have no idea) is absolutely true. 10% makes me want to keep going. 10% is more than 1/6 of my way to goal!A Healthier HeartBy losing just 10 percent of your body weight, you can lower your cholesterol and reduce your blood pressure, says G. Ken Goodrick, PhD, psychologist and associate professor of medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. High cholesterol and elevated blood pressure are two major risk factors for heart disease.
Lower Risk of Type 2 DiabetesIf you're overweight, you're at increased risk for type 2 diabetes, which means your body can't make enough, or properly use, insulin, a hormone that helps convert food to usable energy. By losing just 10 percent of your body weight, you'll improve your body's ability to use the insulin it makes, possibly preventing the onset of the disease, Miller-Kovach says. If you already have type 2 diabetes, shedding that 10 percent may improve your symptoms and possibly prevent complications, she adds.
More Pep"Just a 10 percent weight loss increases feelings of vigor and vitality," says Miller-Kovach. "You'll feel better and have more energy."
A Mental EdgeLosing 10 percent can give you the self-confidence and motivation you need to keep going. "Success builds on success," says Miller-Kovach. But be sure you recognize it. "Losing 10 percent is a milestone in the journey," says Miller-Kovach. "Once you get there, take the time to congratulate yourself on your efforts."
Reality CheckAfter losing 10 percent, you gain a sense of what it will take to lose the rest and reach your final goal weight. "It gives you a context in terms of saying, 'Am I willing to put in that much more effort to lose even more weight?'" Miller-Kovach says. If the answer is no, that's okay. "Some people only lose 10 percent and that's it," says Goodrick. If that's you, pat yourself on the back. "Health-wise, a 10-percent weight loss is a great achievement," Goodrick says.
Isagenix has a 30 day money back guarantee. You can bet I let my autoship do it's work and didn't return a single thing. I'm absolutely stoked and feel better than I have in a really, really long time.
Friday, July 27, 2012
Lunch
I'm still struggling to consume enough calories of the right food. 1200 calories a day...480 calories worth of shakes...leaving 720 calories throughout the rest of the day.
This has been my lunch the last few days:
1/2 chicken breast (which is, apparently, actually a 1/4 because you count both pieces as a breast? I don't know why chickens are considered to only have one breast. I have two. They're getting smaller, too! Yes, I overshare.)
1 oz. goat cheese
2 cups pea shoots
2 cups spinach
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1/8 cup sun dried tomatoes (julienned)
I fry up the chicken breast (on a nonstick pan, so I don't have to use any oil).
I top it with 1 oz. crumbled goat cheese. On top of that, I put the julienned sun dried tomatoes (that I have simmered in water for a few minutes). I then fry up the mushrooms with some garlic and Himilayan sea salt, then add the pea shoots and spinach to the pan and cook them with the mushrooms until they are all wilted. I then put all of the veggies on top of the chicken with cheese and tomatoes.
It's absolutely DELICIOUS and around 350 calories. Which leaves me with 370 calories to somehow eat the rest of the day. After eating my lunch, I'm honestly just not hungry anymore the rest of the day! Do I force myself to eat? Today, I added about 1 teaspoon of pesto spread on the chicken before the goat cheese and cooked my mushrooms in about 2 tsp. of pesto. It honestly made it taste EVEN BETTER! Big surprise, as I love pesto. lol It added about 70 calories, which put me right in the calorie count I want for lunch (between 400 and 600) but still left me a calorie deficit for the day.
I'm thinking of maybe having a hard boiled egg for a snack later in the day? I don't know. It just seems silly to force myself to eat when I'm not hungry.
This has been my lunch the last few days:
1/2 chicken breast (which is, apparently, actually a 1/4 because you count both pieces as a breast? I don't know why chickens are considered to only have one breast. I have two. They're getting smaller, too! Yes, I overshare.)
1 oz. goat cheese
2 cups pea shoots
2 cups spinach
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1/8 cup sun dried tomatoes (julienned)
I fry up the chicken breast (on a nonstick pan, so I don't have to use any oil).
I top it with 1 oz. crumbled goat cheese. On top of that, I put the julienned sun dried tomatoes (that I have simmered in water for a few minutes). I then fry up the mushrooms with some garlic and Himilayan sea salt, then add the pea shoots and spinach to the pan and cook them with the mushrooms until they are all wilted. I then put all of the veggies on top of the chicken with cheese and tomatoes.
It's absolutely DELICIOUS and around 350 calories. Which leaves me with 370 calories to somehow eat the rest of the day. After eating my lunch, I'm honestly just not hungry anymore the rest of the day! Do I force myself to eat? Today, I added about 1 teaspoon of pesto spread on the chicken before the goat cheese and cooked my mushrooms in about 2 tsp. of pesto. It honestly made it taste EVEN BETTER! Big surprise, as I love pesto. lol It added about 70 calories, which put me right in the calorie count I want for lunch (between 400 and 600) but still left me a calorie deficit for the day.
I'm thinking of maybe having a hard boiled egg for a snack later in the day? I don't know. It just seems silly to force myself to eat when I'm not hungry.
Isagenix Party Last Night
Last night, I went to an Isagenix party at my friend's home. With Isagenix, you don't really have to do parties, but I think they can be helpful when you are trying to get your business started. Anyways, while at the party, my friend asked me to share my experience on Isagenix. With only 28 days on the program, do I really have a story to share? Yes, my weight loss has been incredible, but it's only been 28 days. I'm not someone who can say, "I may be 125 pounds now, but I used to weight 297 and it was all thanks to Isagenix that I am where I am now." I'm still 271 pounds (as of this morning! YAY!). Who is going to listen to me? Who is going to look at me and think, "WOW! I need to do what she is doing!" Even with losing 26 pounds, I'm still morbidly obese. I still look gross. I'm still at a point that most people can't even imagine being at.
So, for my "story," I tried to focus on how the products made me feel, rather than the weight loss. I told about how I play with my kids more, how even they are noticing a difference in the way that I act. I told them I go swimming. I told them that, in general, I just feel better and that while the weight loss is a great side benefit, it's really about how I feel. I also made sure to mention that even though I wasn't seeing the scale go down, I was amazed at how many inches I had lost, because I know that number on the scale really gets to people. It was really starting to affect me. I mean, I could maintain my weight by eating McDonalds and ice cream and candy bars and chips. Why was I drinking these shakes and only eating one a meal a day to do the same thing? What got me through the scale not budging was really how I was feeling. I'm not napping during the day anymore. I'm not asking my children to go get me something in the other room because I'm too tired and lazy to get up and get it myself. THAT was how I was feeling eating McDonalds, ice cream, candy bars and chips. I was miserable. I'm not saying that I'm bursting with energy, running around the block or anything now, but I'm up. I'm awake. I'm playing with my kids. I'm swimming with my husband. I'm living.
I guess I really do have a story to tell after only 28 days.
So, for my "story," I tried to focus on how the products made me feel, rather than the weight loss. I told about how I play with my kids more, how even they are noticing a difference in the way that I act. I told them I go swimming. I told them that, in general, I just feel better and that while the weight loss is a great side benefit, it's really about how I feel. I also made sure to mention that even though I wasn't seeing the scale go down, I was amazed at how many inches I had lost, because I know that number on the scale really gets to people. It was really starting to affect me. I mean, I could maintain my weight by eating McDonalds and ice cream and candy bars and chips. Why was I drinking these shakes and only eating one a meal a day to do the same thing? What got me through the scale not budging was really how I was feeling. I'm not napping during the day anymore. I'm not asking my children to go get me something in the other room because I'm too tired and lazy to get up and get it myself. THAT was how I was feeling eating McDonalds, ice cream, candy bars and chips. I was miserable. I'm not saying that I'm bursting with energy, running around the block or anything now, but I'm up. I'm awake. I'm playing with my kids. I'm swimming with my husband. I'm living.
I guess I really do have a story to tell after only 28 days.
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
I think I've figured it out
So, the first couple of weeks with Isagenix, I was REALLY good with my water. I made sure to write down every time I drank water, so I could keep track of how much I was drinking. Then, I slacked off. When I slacked off, my weight loss slowed. As a bit of an experiment, yesterday, I decided to force myself to drink as much water as I could. I think I had almost 200 oz of water yesterday. I was down two pounds this morning!
Drink your water! It really works!
Drink your water! It really works!
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Pinterest is EVIL
I must remember not to browse Pinterest when I'm hungry...or on a diet. Seriously. Everything there looks SO delicious. I swear that 75% of the things my friends pin are food related...very often dessert related.
For instance, I just pulled a super easy banana bread out of the oven. It's after midnight. Why am I baking? Well, because I saw it on Pinterest and thought, "I have all of those ingredients! I should make that!" So, I did. It smells delicious. I'm not eating any. It makes me a little sad. Not as sad as being fat makes me, though, so I'll continue to resist the temptation.
I'm still stuck where I was a week ago, weight wise. I know that as far as plateaus go, it's not a big deal to be at the same weight for a week, but only four weeks into my diet? I'm bummed. Granted, I haven't been following things exactly as I should. I had way too many calories when I had those meatballs, so I didn't have my dinner shake that day. Yesterday was my son's birthday party. I had a bratwurst. It had 270 calories. So again, no dinner shake. I'm fairly certain that's not the way you're supposed to do it, but the thought of putting even more calories in seems wrong. I know that Isagenix isn't about losing weight, it's about cleaning your body of toxins and becoming healthy, but right now, I'm just focused on the weight loss.
I will, however, say that my self esteem has improved dramatically in the last 3 1/2 weeks. I've been married for fourteen years. As I've said before, my husband loves me no matter what. He thinks I'm gorgeous. However, with how ashamed I've been of my body for the past 8 years, I've hidden it, even from him. I don't like him to see me change, it's lights off only during *ahem* that time, etc. Our new home (we bought it about 10 months ago) has a pool. When we purchased the home, I purchased a swim suit. Since we bought the house, I had gone swimming with Allie (my 5 year old) a few times, but would never go swimming when anyone else was home. My children have asked me many times to go swimming with them, but I always come up with some excuse or another. Really, I just don't want them to see me in a swim suit. Even my husband couldn't get me to go swimming. Me? In a swim suit? In front of him? I don't think so. I don't even wear shorts because I'm embarrassed by my fat legs and the stretch marks on the back of my knees. I just started wearing capris and short sleeves this summer. That was a HUGE step for me. It was always jeans and 3/4 sleeve shirts. So, the thought of wearing that swim suit in front of anyone, even my husband, was horrifying. Since starting Isagenix, I've gone swimming with him not once, not twice, but THREE times! Granted, they were at night, in the dark, when the kids were all in bed, but I did it! I'm even contemplating going swimming with my children soon. I may have to buy a new swim suit though, because the one I have is getting too big!
For instance, I just pulled a super easy banana bread out of the oven. It's after midnight. Why am I baking? Well, because I saw it on Pinterest and thought, "I have all of those ingredients! I should make that!" So, I did. It smells delicious. I'm not eating any. It makes me a little sad. Not as sad as being fat makes me, though, so I'll continue to resist the temptation.
I'm still stuck where I was a week ago, weight wise. I know that as far as plateaus go, it's not a big deal to be at the same weight for a week, but only four weeks into my diet? I'm bummed. Granted, I haven't been following things exactly as I should. I had way too many calories when I had those meatballs, so I didn't have my dinner shake that day. Yesterday was my son's birthday party. I had a bratwurst. It had 270 calories. So again, no dinner shake. I'm fairly certain that's not the way you're supposed to do it, but the thought of putting even more calories in seems wrong. I know that Isagenix isn't about losing weight, it's about cleaning your body of toxins and becoming healthy, but right now, I'm just focused on the weight loss.
I will, however, say that my self esteem has improved dramatically in the last 3 1/2 weeks. I've been married for fourteen years. As I've said before, my husband loves me no matter what. He thinks I'm gorgeous. However, with how ashamed I've been of my body for the past 8 years, I've hidden it, even from him. I don't like him to see me change, it's lights off only during *ahem* that time, etc. Our new home (we bought it about 10 months ago) has a pool. When we purchased the home, I purchased a swim suit. Since we bought the house, I had gone swimming with Allie (my 5 year old) a few times, but would never go swimming when anyone else was home. My children have asked me many times to go swimming with them, but I always come up with some excuse or another. Really, I just don't want them to see me in a swim suit. Even my husband couldn't get me to go swimming. Me? In a swim suit? In front of him? I don't think so. I don't even wear shorts because I'm embarrassed by my fat legs and the stretch marks on the back of my knees. I just started wearing capris and short sleeves this summer. That was a HUGE step for me. It was always jeans and 3/4 sleeve shirts. So, the thought of wearing that swim suit in front of anyone, even my husband, was horrifying. Since starting Isagenix, I've gone swimming with him not once, not twice, but THREE times! Granted, they were at night, in the dark, when the kids were all in bed, but I did it! I'm even contemplating going swimming with my children soon. I may have to buy a new swim suit though, because the one I have is getting too big!
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Milestone!
A few years ago, I bought a belt. I loved it. It had studs and sparkles and was just as cute as cute can be. I bought the biggest size they had (in a plus size store even.) I got home, went to put it on and...it didn't fit. :( It was too small. The biggest belt in a plus size store was too small. I basically fell to the floor in my closet and just sobbed. There is something very defeating about trying on something in the largest size from a plus size store and having it be too small for you. I think that was kind of a turning point in my life. You'd think it would have been a "I need to do something about this" turning point, but it wasn't. It was exactly the opposite. It was a "there is no way I can ever come back from this" turning point. I pretty much gave up on ever being thin again. How can you change when you're so big that you don't even fit in plus size accessories?
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Taking things for granted
There are things that I think that people who are not extremely overweight take for granted. Bending over to pick something up from a sitting position, sitting in a chair without wondering if it will hold your weight, fitting in a booth seat at a restaurant, crossing your legs, going on a roller coaster with your children, etc.
Today, I did something I haven't been able to do in a long time.
Today, I did something I haven't been able to do in a long time.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Day 1 of Cleanse 3
So, back on a deep cleanse! Hopefully this will kick my little plateau's butt. I'm only a couple of weeks in. There's no reason my weight loss should have stopped. I'm still exactly where I was a week ago. Frustrating. I'm just going to push through and hope the "whoosh" fair pays me a visit. I'm not sure if the "whoosh" fairy is something that my friend made up, or something she heard from someone else, but the whoosh fairy is the magical little fairy that shows up in the middle of the night and magically makes five pounds disappear. She usually comes after you haven't lost any weight in a while. "Whoosh" is the sound of all of those pounds flying away with her. Silly, I know.
Today is my son's ninth birthday. Pancakes, eggs and bacon for breakfast. Man, I love breakfast. Being a cleanse day though, actually makes it easier. Otherwise, I might be tempted to take just a little nibble of each. Not eating at all makes not making small bad choices much easier!
Today is my son's ninth birthday. Pancakes, eggs and bacon for breakfast. Man, I love breakfast. Being a cleanse day though, actually makes it easier. Otherwise, I might be tempted to take just a little nibble of each. Not eating at all makes not making small bad choices much easier!
Saturday, July 14, 2012
This is why I'm not supposed to step on the scale
I became scale obsessed again. Every time I'm in the bathroom (which is a LOT with how much water I'm drinking!) I step on the scale. That dang scale hasn't budged since Tuesday! It's SATURDAY!!! Seriously, I maintained my terrible weight eating crap that tasted DELICIOUS. Why am I doing this if the scale doesn't even budge? In fact, it even went UP a couple of times.
I do feel better. I'll give you that. I'm happier, I'm more calm, I'm less lazy. All good things. I really want that scale to move, though. :(
Granted, the cheese tortellini with pesto I had for lunch today probably didn't help. That brings me to another thing. How on earth do you get enough calories eating rabbit food? Seriously. I'm supposed to eat 1200 calories a day. The shakes are 240. So, two of those are 480. My lunch is supposed to be 400-600 calories. Do you know how many vegetables make up 600 calories? Even with chicken breast and dressing, my HUGE salads only amount to about 240 calories. What else am I supposed to eat? For a snack the other day, I had two cucumbers with some ume vinegar and sea salt on them. Do you know how many calories are in a cucumber? I think it was 18. Woohoo, 36 calories for my snack. That totally helps. So, 240 for three meals plus two snacks of 36 calories? 792 calories if my quick math is right. (If it's not, don't worry about it...it's still not 1200!) I'm not supposed to eat anything unhealthy, but I can eat rabbit food until I'm about to puke and still not hit my calorie goal. I did have a hard boiled egg today, which is supposed to be okay. Those are about 80 calories. Woohoo, 80 more calories, I'm getting up there! I can't not hit my calorie goal because if you don't eat enough, your body tells itself to store everything because it's starving.
Frustrating.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Night Owl
I hate that I'm a night owl. I hate being up at 2 in the morning. (It's almost midnight right now, but nowhere near tired) I hate that midnight is 6 hours from dinner time. I think part of my weight problem stems from being a night owl. My usual routine used to be:
8 am: Wake up
12 pm: Realize I haven't eaten and grab something quick to eat, which was usually bad for me because I didn't want to cook for just myself
6 pm: Eat dinner
9 pm: Put the kids to bed
11 pm: Eat ice cream/chips/soda/cheese/etc. because I finally have a moment to relax and food was my go to relaxer
12 am: Eat everything I can get my hands on because I didn't eat enough during the day.
3 am: Go to sleep
Now, I have a shake for breakfast. I have a snack. I have a decent lunch. I have a snack. I have a shake for dinner. The problem comes around 11pm at night when my body signals that it's time to eat. Had I gone to bed at 10, I'd be sleeping and my body wouldn't get there. However, I didn't, so now it's 11:45 and I'm SO hungry. I don't want to eat though, because I'm trying not to eat after 8 pm. It doesn't help that I'm browsing Pinterest, trying to find things I can eat for lunch. Ugh.
8 am: Wake up
12 pm: Realize I haven't eaten and grab something quick to eat, which was usually bad for me because I didn't want to cook for just myself
6 pm: Eat dinner
9 pm: Put the kids to bed
11 pm: Eat ice cream/chips/soda/cheese/etc. because I finally have a moment to relax and food was my go to relaxer
12 am: Eat everything I can get my hands on because I didn't eat enough during the day.
3 am: Go to sleep
Now, I have a shake for breakfast. I have a snack. I have a decent lunch. I have a snack. I have a shake for dinner. The problem comes around 11pm at night when my body signals that it's time to eat. Had I gone to bed at 10, I'd be sleeping and my body wouldn't get there. However, I didn't, so now it's 11:45 and I'm SO hungry. I don't want to eat though, because I'm trying not to eat after 8 pm. It doesn't help that I'm browsing Pinterest, trying to find things I can eat for lunch. Ugh.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Weigh in and measurements!
So, after my second cleanse, today was my weigh and measure day! In the past 12 days, I've lost...wait for it...16 pounds and 16 1/2 inches!!!! Woohoooo!!!!!
Monday, July 9, 2012
It's been a few days
So, I'm still going strong! Today is day 2 of my second deep cleanse (two cleanse days in a row). The cleanse days have been a lot easier than I thought they would be. I get hungry at times, but not unbearably so. I'm practically drowning myself in water, so that's probably filling my stomach up a bit as well. Amber and I decided to put off measurements until tomorrow so I can get an accurate measure of what is going on after my cleanse is over. I have a USA Today ready to go so I can join the IsaBody Challenge! Of course, I have no plans of winning because I won't be anywhere near my goal weight when I'm done, but who knows what the future may hold. 10% of your total score is based on whether or not you've joined the challenge before, so for the next challenge, I'll be 10% closer to winning! lol
I was a little "bad" on Saturday. I went out to lunch with my husband and had sushi for lunch. Sushi rice has a ton of sugar in it and I'm sure some of the sauces did as well. The scale went up a little, but is heading back in the right direction now! Yes, I know I'm not supposed to be stepping on the scale.
I was a little "bad" on Saturday. I went out to lunch with my husband and had sushi for lunch. Sushi rice has a ton of sugar in it and I'm sure some of the sauces did as well. The scale went up a little, but is heading back in the right direction now! Yes, I know I'm not supposed to be stepping on the scale.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
2nd Post in a row, I know
I didn't want to just add this to my last post because it was getting so long and is a completely different subject anyways.
Today, on the Isagenix Accountability page on Facebook, someone posted this:
So, I'm officially writing out my goal. My goal is to get a free ticket to next year's Celebration by joining the 100 Pound Club by the time of the event. So, a little over a year to lose 100 pounds. That's a really big number, but I'm starting to realize I am beginning to have more and more motivation and believe that I can do it more and more each day.
With everything that happened yesterday, I totally missed the free shipping coupon for Isagenix. However, since I have reached my first goal, I gave myself permission to go ahead and order an extra bottle of Cleanse for Life...even with the $9 shipping! Yikes!
Today, on the Isagenix Accountability page on Facebook, someone posted this:
Complimentary registration to Celebration, you say? VIP seating, you say? I'm in! This year's Celebration is next month. It's about $200/ticket right now, going up to $300/ticket soon. Celebration is Isagenix's big annual...well...celebration! I don't really have a reason to go this year. I've just started. I'm not selling the product. It sounds like fun, but I'm not a huge, "GO ISAGENIX! YAY!" kind of person at the moment. However, it does sound like a lot of fun.How do I join the Isagenix 100 Pound Club?After reaching a loss of 100 pounds or more with the use of Isagenix products the member, enrolling sponsor or up line executive may email 100poundclub@isagenixcorp.com for more details.
What are the Benefits of joining the Isagenix 100 Pound Club?Benefits include complimentary registration to Celebration (non-transferrable, upon confirming your enrollment), on-stage recognition during Celebration and an invitation for you and a guest to the Founder's Gala, VIP seating during Celebration and a special recognition reception. In addition you will be featured on the Isagenix Wall of Fame, located in our World Headquarters and have the opportunity to be featured as "Success Story" on Isagenix.com and future Isagenix events.
So, I'm officially writing out my goal. My goal is to get a free ticket to next year's Celebration by joining the 100 Pound Club by the time of the event. So, a little over a year to lose 100 pounds. That's a really big number, but I'm starting to realize I am beginning to have more and more motivation and believe that I can do it more and more each day.
With everything that happened yesterday, I totally missed the free shipping coupon for Isagenix. However, since I have reached my first goal, I gave myself permission to go ahead and order an extra bottle of Cleanse for Life...even with the $9 shipping! Yikes!
CRAZY day yesterday!
Yesterday was the fourth of July. I was hosting my family for dinner, swimming and fireworks. Of course, that means something bad will happen!
My girls (ages 13 and 12) are house sitting for some people while they're away on vacation. They have an older lab that my girls feed and walk. Yesterday, I suggested the girls take our dog with them and walk the dogs together. This has NEVER been a problem before. Suddenly, my husband gets a phone call from my daughter, who is screaming and sobbing that our dog is bleeding and his head and face is completely covered in blood. They are running home, blood flying everywhere as the dog runs. We get him into the yard and finally get it out of them that the dog they are watching bit him and they have no idea where the blood is coming from. We cleaned him off and find about a 1cm tear on his ear. It's not a big deal at all, but man, that sucker was BLEEDING. I applied pressure for over an hour, then when it wouldn't stop bleeding, called our vet. Of course, it's the 4th of July, so they're closed. I REALLY didn't want to take him to the emergency vet...can you imagine how much an emergency vet costs on a holiday? Yeah, I wanted to avoid that. Three hours of pressure later and the bleeding hadn't let up. As long as there was pressure, it was fine. Let go, and it was flowing. Keep in mind, I'm supposed to be cooking this entire time! So, off to the emergency vet we went.
I dropped my husband and our dog off at the vet and got home to cook. I took care of my daughters, who were SO upset because they felt like it was their fault that our dog got hurt because they were in charge of the dogs and they should have noticed that something bad was going to happen. One was just sobbing because she was the one who was holding our dog on a leash when it happened. I cleaned myself up (I was absolutely covered in blood :( ) then I got started on the food. My husband got home with our dog, who was all bandaged up, and I continued with the food. About an hour after Odin (our dog) was home, he shook his head, his ear came out of his bandage, and blood went flying everywhere. Back to the emergency vet! We got him rebandaged and came back home. By the time we got home, all of our guests had arrived, but that was okay, because I had managed to get the food ready before I left! Yay!
Okay, so there really is a weight loss aspect to all of this. Yesterday, to say the least, was CRAZY. I took my Ionix Supreme in the morning before all of this had started. My original plan was a shake for breakfast, to have most of the food ready by 2 and my husband was going to cook tri tip on the bbq for lunch. With all that happened, that didn't happen. So, my plan for lunch was shot. The beauty of Isagenix is that you can choose to have your meal for lunch or dinner. Lunch is optimal, but dinner is acceptable. So, when I got back from the emergency vet, when normally I probably wouldn't have eaten lunch at all, I was able to have a shake. I decided that I was going to need to run full force to get dinner prepared in time, so I mixed some Want More Energy into my shake. It tasted like a dreamcicle! YUMMY! (Vanilla shake with a serving of orange Want More Energy)
Now, here's where I don't know who to credit for this miracle. Amber (my Isagenix coach) swears by the Ionix Supreme for controlling stress. It has adaptogens in it, which are supposed to help physiologically as well as psychologically. Now, there are two things you should know about me:
1. I don't deal well with blood. It's not that it makes me queasy, it's just that I totally freak out when I see a significant amount of blood, especially if it's coming from one of my children. I'm completely useless. Thankfully, my husband has always been around when any of our children have been severely hurt because I just cannot handle it. He usually has to yell at me to go away because I'm screaming and sobbing and making things worse. With six kids, you'd think I could handle it by now, but I can't. I become a hysterical mess.
2. I HATE being late. It is one of my biggest pet peeves. I don't mind when others are late, but I refuse to be late myself.
So, yesterday I was dealing with two of my biggest issues, a ton of blood from someone I love and running behind when I'm expecting company. When my daughters told us the dog was completely covered in blood, honestly, I was ready to be useless. I was ready for a freak out. When they got home, yes, he was completely covered in blood. However, I just went into action mode. I took him into our yard, cleaned him off, found the area that was hurt, ran to grab rags to apply pressure, looked up how to care for a bleeding dog ear, then sat there with him for hours, getting blood all over me and the yard. All this time, knowing that I needed to be cooking, but being okay with the fact that dinner was going to be late. When the decision came to take him to the emergency vet, I was prepared to be stressing out about how much it was going to cost. However, I was just okay with it.
When I came home and had to start cooking five hours later than I had planned on starting, I expected to be in a mad rush. When I left my husband at the vet, the last thing he said to me was, "Don't freak out. Just do what you need to do, don't rush so much that it causes even more problems. Dinner can be late. Everyone will understand." He knows me so well. He knows that when I'm running late, I freak out. He knows I rush. He knows that usually leads to bigger problems, like food burning, or dropping entire dishes of food. Usually, it doesn't matter, I'm so stressed that I rush anyways. This time, I got home and just calmly did everything I needed to do. Yes, I had to cut out two dishes, but not only was everything ready on time, but as usual, we had way too much food anyways!
So, do I thank the Ionix Supreme for that? I don't really know, but what I do know is that not a single part of yesterday had me stressed out, when usually, I would have been in tears several times during a day like that, and dinner wouldn't have been ready on time because I would have messed something up in my rush to get everything done. The only difference in my life right now is Isagenix. You be the judge.
Oh, and my dinner was delicious and I think I managed to stay between my 400-600 calories!
My girls (ages 13 and 12) are house sitting for some people while they're away on vacation. They have an older lab that my girls feed and walk. Yesterday, I suggested the girls take our dog with them and walk the dogs together. This has NEVER been a problem before. Suddenly, my husband gets a phone call from my daughter, who is screaming and sobbing that our dog is bleeding and his head and face is completely covered in blood. They are running home, blood flying everywhere as the dog runs. We get him into the yard and finally get it out of them that the dog they are watching bit him and they have no idea where the blood is coming from. We cleaned him off and find about a 1cm tear on his ear. It's not a big deal at all, but man, that sucker was BLEEDING. I applied pressure for over an hour, then when it wouldn't stop bleeding, called our vet. Of course, it's the 4th of July, so they're closed. I REALLY didn't want to take him to the emergency vet...can you imagine how much an emergency vet costs on a holiday? Yeah, I wanted to avoid that. Three hours of pressure later and the bleeding hadn't let up. As long as there was pressure, it was fine. Let go, and it was flowing. Keep in mind, I'm supposed to be cooking this entire time! So, off to the emergency vet we went.
I dropped my husband and our dog off at the vet and got home to cook. I took care of my daughters, who were SO upset because they felt like it was their fault that our dog got hurt because they were in charge of the dogs and they should have noticed that something bad was going to happen. One was just sobbing because she was the one who was holding our dog on a leash when it happened. I cleaned myself up (I was absolutely covered in blood :( ) then I got started on the food. My husband got home with our dog, who was all bandaged up, and I continued with the food. About an hour after Odin (our dog) was home, he shook his head, his ear came out of his bandage, and blood went flying everywhere. Back to the emergency vet! We got him rebandaged and came back home. By the time we got home, all of our guests had arrived, but that was okay, because I had managed to get the food ready before I left! Yay!
Okay, so there really is a weight loss aspect to all of this. Yesterday, to say the least, was CRAZY. I took my Ionix Supreme in the morning before all of this had started. My original plan was a shake for breakfast, to have most of the food ready by 2 and my husband was going to cook tri tip on the bbq for lunch. With all that happened, that didn't happen. So, my plan for lunch was shot. The beauty of Isagenix is that you can choose to have your meal for lunch or dinner. Lunch is optimal, but dinner is acceptable. So, when I got back from the emergency vet, when normally I probably wouldn't have eaten lunch at all, I was able to have a shake. I decided that I was going to need to run full force to get dinner prepared in time, so I mixed some Want More Energy into my shake. It tasted like a dreamcicle! YUMMY! (Vanilla shake with a serving of orange Want More Energy)
Now, here's where I don't know who to credit for this miracle. Amber (my Isagenix coach) swears by the Ionix Supreme for controlling stress. It has adaptogens in it, which are supposed to help physiologically as well as psychologically. Now, there are two things you should know about me:
1. I don't deal well with blood. It's not that it makes me queasy, it's just that I totally freak out when I see a significant amount of blood, especially if it's coming from one of my children. I'm completely useless. Thankfully, my husband has always been around when any of our children have been severely hurt because I just cannot handle it. He usually has to yell at me to go away because I'm screaming and sobbing and making things worse. With six kids, you'd think I could handle it by now, but I can't. I become a hysterical mess.
2. I HATE being late. It is one of my biggest pet peeves. I don't mind when others are late, but I refuse to be late myself.
So, yesterday I was dealing with two of my biggest issues, a ton of blood from someone I love and running behind when I'm expecting company. When my daughters told us the dog was completely covered in blood, honestly, I was ready to be useless. I was ready for a freak out. When they got home, yes, he was completely covered in blood. However, I just went into action mode. I took him into our yard, cleaned him off, found the area that was hurt, ran to grab rags to apply pressure, looked up how to care for a bleeding dog ear, then sat there with him for hours, getting blood all over me and the yard. All this time, knowing that I needed to be cooking, but being okay with the fact that dinner was going to be late. When the decision came to take him to the emergency vet, I was prepared to be stressing out about how much it was going to cost. However, I was just okay with it.
When I came home and had to start cooking five hours later than I had planned on starting, I expected to be in a mad rush. When I left my husband at the vet, the last thing he said to me was, "Don't freak out. Just do what you need to do, don't rush so much that it causes even more problems. Dinner can be late. Everyone will understand." He knows me so well. He knows that when I'm running late, I freak out. He knows I rush. He knows that usually leads to bigger problems, like food burning, or dropping entire dishes of food. Usually, it doesn't matter, I'm so stressed that I rush anyways. This time, I got home and just calmly did everything I needed to do. Yes, I had to cut out two dishes, but not only was everything ready on time, but as usual, we had way too much food anyways!
So, do I thank the Ionix Supreme for that? I don't really know, but what I do know is that not a single part of yesterday had me stressed out, when usually, I would have been in tears several times during a day like that, and dinner wouldn't have been ready on time because I would have messed something up in my rush to get everything done. The only difference in my life right now is Isagenix. You be the judge.
Oh, and my dinner was delicious and I think I managed to stay between my 400-600 calories!
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Putting Day 2 to Bed
Today was cleanse day 2! It was quite a bit easier than day 1. Neither day did I feel like it was going to be impossible to continue or that the temptation was too strong, which was nice. I do have a couple of meatballs from the party stashed away in the fridge, though. lol
I'm feeling good. No lack of energy, no terrible hunger pangs. I did have an IsaDelight (a milk chocolate one) today. It was really good! I made sure to have it at least an hour and a half after my IsaSnacks and 1/2 hour before my next cleanse drink. It felt nice to actually enjoy something today. I've decided to take the IsaDelights off of my autoship order. I just don't foresee going through thirty of them in thirty days! If that changes, I can always add it back, though. On the fourth of July, they're having free shipping, so I'm going to order my extra bottle of Cleanse for Life that day since I want to do three deep cleanses (two days cleanses) a month instead of two, which is what the 30 day system gives you supplies for.
I also changed my Ionix Supreme with my next order to the powdered version. That liquid version is hard to get down! Hopefully the powdered will be better. I've gone ahead and added the extra Cleanse for Life to my autoship so I can do the three deep cleanses every month without having to pay extra shipping for the third bottle. Instead of a third bottle, though, I'm getting 16 little bottles, just in case I'm ever out and about on a cleanse day and need to have one handy!
I'm going to see Amber on Friday. We're going to take new measurements and just go over how the week went for me. She also wants me to join the IsaBody Challenge, which means new pictures. Ugh! She has asked me not to step on the scale until Friday, which I'm going to try my hardest not to do. I'll give you a little insider information, though. When I stepped on the scale tonight (my no scale 'til Friday is starting tomorrow..I swear!) I was at 287...TEN POUNDS IN FIVE DAYS!!! Awesome!
I'm feeling good. No lack of energy, no terrible hunger pangs. I did have an IsaDelight (a milk chocolate one) today. It was really good! I made sure to have it at least an hour and a half after my IsaSnacks and 1/2 hour before my next cleanse drink. It felt nice to actually enjoy something today. I've decided to take the IsaDelights off of my autoship order. I just don't foresee going through thirty of them in thirty days! If that changes, I can always add it back, though. On the fourth of July, they're having free shipping, so I'm going to order my extra bottle of Cleanse for Life that day since I want to do three deep cleanses (two days cleanses) a month instead of two, which is what the 30 day system gives you supplies for.
I also changed my Ionix Supreme with my next order to the powdered version. That liquid version is hard to get down! Hopefully the powdered will be better. I've gone ahead and added the extra Cleanse for Life to my autoship so I can do the three deep cleanses every month without having to pay extra shipping for the third bottle. Instead of a third bottle, though, I'm getting 16 little bottles, just in case I'm ever out and about on a cleanse day and need to have one handy!
I'm going to see Amber on Friday. We're going to take new measurements and just go over how the week went for me. She also wants me to join the IsaBody Challenge, which means new pictures. Ugh! She has asked me not to step on the scale until Friday, which I'm going to try my hardest not to do. I'll give you a little insider information, though. When I stepped on the scale tonight (my no scale 'til Friday is starting tomorrow..I swear!) I was at 287...TEN POUNDS IN FIVE DAYS!!! Awesome!
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