How Shakeology changed my life for the better, and why I'm no longer drinking it- Part Two

For a more complete picture, please read Part One first.

Why would I stop drinking something so great, something I loves, something that has truly changed my health for the better?  Well, that part is much harder to share.  I hope that those who don't share my same understanding will read with an open mind and respect.  I pray that hearts will be softened and non-judgmental.  I need to share what I have learned for the sake of my own integrity and because I believe that we have a duty to share light and truth within our sphere, on matter how difficult or uncomfortable.  

My reasons for discontinuing Shakeology have nothing to do with the cost or the company or some other disillusionment.  On the contrary, I have great feelings about Beachbody as a whole and the financial structure as a Beachbody coach make the cost of little concern to me.  

It has everything to do with being a Mormon.  

Now, hold up.... I know the vast majority of the Beachbody coaches in my circle are also LDS.  Yes, I also know that some chief officers in the company are Mormon.  I realize all of these people drink and swear by Shakeology.  Ok, if not all then certainly seems like all.  Why do you think this is so hard to write?  I know it will not be easily accepted by many.  I'm not going to try and tell you other members of my faith that you shouldn't drink Shakeology either.  That's your decision to make.  I do ask that you keep an open mind and heart as you read my explanation and that, if you find you are able, you pray with a sincere and humble heart to know for yourself.  Your answer may be different than mine.  It may not.  You have to be open to either possibility.  

It started a few months ago.  I was slowly coming to grips with acknowledging I had not involved my Heavenly Father in my weight loss journey as I knew I needed to and that the times I had seen the most success were the times I did involve Him.  I felt a continual push that I needed to search the Word of Wisdom for answers and clues as to how I should be feeding my body.  I had this feeling that if I would just follow the Word of Wisdom then the Lord would bless my body to function properly (and thus lose the weight it should have by now).  So I began to study talks and lessons in addition to D&C 89.  I developed an idea that I should create an eating plan based on this (more on that later) and I realized the clear emphasis to really add more fruits and vegetables and reduce overall meat consumption.  I had ideas and understandings like all these and more.  I was still struggling to cohesively put it all together and to implement it.  I felt a little like I was missing something in it.  Something I just wasn't quite catching.  I started praying for humility and guidance to know what to do.  I knew I needed to submit my will to His more anyway, but it was scary nonetheless.  

Fast forward a bit to Ward Conference.  We have a phenomenal Stake President whom I greatly admire and respect.  We had one of those amazing Sacrament meetings that just seemed to touch my soul and hit on things that had been on my mind.  In Relief Society, our Stake President held a Q&A session.  We'd had the opportunity to anonymously write him questions on a piece of paper prior to his visit.  Someone had asked a question about caffeine, such as Coca-Cola, and thus the discussion on the Word of Wisdom began.  

Now, before you get all up in arms or start debating different points of the Word of Wisdom and interpretations of it, just hear me out.  This was the first I'd heard it explained this way and the spirit was so strong in that room, there could have been a light shining directly down.  My friend who was sitting next to me is someone whom I consider a very spiritual person and even she sat agape saying "I never thought of it that way! It makes total sense!"  I couldn't agree more and there was no questioning of the authority felt in that room.  Trust me, I have tried to question and doubt it many times since as I wasn't sure I liked what it meant for me or how it felt with the beliefs I had at the time.  I simply cannot.  

I hope that I can explain this similar to how he did so that you can follow along and understand....

First the why.... 

Now this is the part that really got to me.  

Consider the very last verse of the Word of Wisdom:

"And I, the Lord, give unto them a promise, that the^adestroying angel shall ^bpass by them, as the children of Israel, and not slay them."

Now this from Exodus 12:

For the Lord will ^apass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the Lord will ^bpass over the door, and will not ^csuffer the^ddestroyer to come in unto your houses to smite you. 

 Anyone who has seen the classic movie The Ten Commandments probably has a good visual of the 'destroying angel'.  Think of this... what was significant about this?  What did they do but place a mark above their doors to differentiate themselves from the others?  They merely distinguished themselves as followers of the God that Moses was trying to preach about.

Now, consider this...
When you travel or go somewhere new or meet a new person and ask them what they know about Mormons, what answer do you get 9 times out of 10?  Something along the lines of "they don't smoke...they don't drink... they don't drink coffee...".  All these things are ways that we stand out and are identified and differentiated.  All these things are because of the Word of Wisdom.  Do you see what I'm getting at?  No, it's not like these people never die or suffer.  But they were a marked people and set apart as being choice and different, just as we.
Does this change how you view the Word of Wisdom?  Because it sure did for me.

As for the what and Shakeology...
So of course the tea question came up.  We have had it revealed and clarified that the term 'hot drink' refers to coffee and tea (you have to remember the time at which the revelation was given and the customs and verbage of the day).  In fact, I really love this quote from Elder Packer from this talk:

"I found in the Word of Wisdom a principle with a promise. The principle: Care for your body; avoid habit-forming stimulants, tea, coffee, tobacco, liquor, and drugs (see D&C 89:3–9). Such addictive things do little more than relieve a craving which they caused in the first place."

Tea is sometimes misleading because it is also a method of preparation for herbs and such.  When you steep herbs to make a tea, that is different than the tea that has been referred to in the scripture.  What we are to avoid consumption of is tea itself....as in the tea plant (as well as those other items listed above).  We are not taught to avoid them only in certain preparations or quantities.  You do not have coffee whether it is iced, an ingredient in something (I confess I love mocha ice cream but now I've got to double check those ingredients), or brewed.  The same is true of tea.... of the tea plant.

Did you know that green tea and black tea are from the exact same plant?  They are the same!  The difference is only in the preparation of the leaf.  Seriously.  Check out this wikipedia article about the plant.  I do not access the internet during church, but I confess I looked this one up right then and there because I could scarcely believe it when he said they were from the same plant.

So here's the thing.... Green tea is definitely full of many health properties.  I'm certainly not going to argue that.  I will, however, point out that the same can be said of many of those other substances we choose to avoid when we follow the Word of Wisdom.  Have you read a recent study touting the heart benefits of a daily glass of wine?  So are you going to start drinking it?  It seems to me that any statements about it being okay because of the health benefits or because of the difference in preparation would be rationalizing against something we have been taught.  That is how it feels to me anyway.  This is the battle I have waged within myself.  'But just look at all the health benefits I've received.'  'But look at how all those other people who are drinking it are being blessed.  They must be living their lives righteously.'  'Why would God have led me to this if it wasn't okay?'  Oh yah, that one was a doozy.

What I've come to the conclusion of is this...  When we know better we do better.  We learn line upon line and precept on precept.  I can accept that I needed to experience the health benefits of Shakeology (which contains green tea if you haven't figured that one out yet) so that I could see and learn for myself how food can impact my body and how I have the power to affect it for good.  Like the milk before the meat, this was how I needed to move forward in my journey.  A loving Heavenly Father saw that and led me there.  Sure, it's also possible that I talked myself into it because I was desperate for that challenge group (that He most definitely gave me answer that I needed to be a part of).  Honestly, it doesn't really matter.  What matters is that I need my Savior's help to overcome my food addiction.  I need His help to live authentically and whole.  I need to have my very nature changed, and only He can do that.  He can only do that when I am willing to submit my will to His.  I simply cannot go back on what I learned and how I felt.  Believe me, I wanted to.  When other Beachbody coaches got up in arms about not being able to be a successful coach if you aren't drinking Shakeology yourself (because you aren't being a product of the product then), I saw my dreams of financial freedom and having my husband solely working from home floating away.  At that very same instance, however, I felt that the Lord would bless me with what it was that I really needed and sufficient for the life I desired.  Maybe it won't happen in the way that I imagined and could see, but it will happen.  Thing is, I do still absolutely love Shakeology.  If they ever come out with a version that doesn't contain green tea, then you bet your dollar I'll be first in line for it.  I'm not telling you whether you should or shouldn't consume it yourself.  If you aren't LDS and don't share the beliefs that I do, then absolutely have it!  That is definitely not a choice I can and should make for you.  My job is to give information and tools so that you can decide for yourself.  For all I know, you'll be given a different answer than I.... and I do still fully support the product.  If you are LDS and do continue to use Shakeology, be assured that I most definitely won't judge you.  I, too, plan to continually be prayerful about it.
Besides, Beachbody is so much more than just Shakeology.  It is phenomenal fitness programs and a commitment to overall healthy living that I can absolutely stand by and promote.  It is also (and you probably didn't even know this) a really fabulous skin care line that I love and am so grateful to have found, since I'm not allergic to it!  So I'll be darned if someone says I can't be successful because I choose to not consume a product containing green tea.  Maybe my definition of success is different.

How Shakeology changed my life for the better, and why I'm no longer drinking it- Part One

It was a year ago exactly that I first tried Shakeology.  I became interested in it after seeing friends' posts about it helping with their migraines, inflammation, mood, weight loss and more.  I was desperate for weight loss, yes, but I knew the accountability of a challenge group was what I needed for that.  Sure, the challenge group had a requirement of needing to drink the Shakeology each day so that may have nudged me a bit more toward the commitment to it.  Ultimately though, it was different reasons that really led me to try Shakeology.

Reason numero uno:  My allergies were out of control.  Seriously, it was terrible.  I park in our driveway and it isn't far from the front door to my car in the driveway.  Even still, I found myself completely unable to function during allergy season if I so much as drove my kids to school.  In that short distance to the car, I found myself gobsmacked by a roaring headache and completely wiped out for the rest of the day.  Then there were the times I couldn't see much through my watery eyes or that I found myself wheezing just standing outside.  Yah, it was BAD.  I mean, I knew that I was about as allergic as you can get to every pollen in the area (that was a fun test to take) and I'd heard that allergies generally get worse as you get older, so I guess it only stood to reason.  I reached a point that I finally broke down and asked my doctor for those allergy shots he had mentioned two years prior.  Guess what?  I was denied.  That's right.  He said NO.  Apparently, having to use Epi Pens on two separate occasions and the severity of my most recent anaphylaxis disqualified me for immunotherapy.  It was just too risky.  So I was left to my own devices, some nasal spray, and Mucinex D (because I'm allergic to all the other allergy meds).  Yah, that's real.  Point being, I was desperate.  It stood to reason (in my mind at least) that if Shakeology helped reduce inflammation and allergies were and inflammatory response, then Shakeology should help me with my allergies.
Result:  A year later I can unequivocally say that nothing has helped my allergies more than Shakeology.  I have been through two allergy seasons with barely a flinch while friends are 'dying' from their allergies.  I haven't had a sinus infection either.  Well, maybe one.  I think.  After a race it seems like.  Or maybe it was right when I started eating clean and my body was getting rid of junk.  I can't tell you how freeing it has been to live my life during my favorite weather seasons- fall and spring.

Reason numero dos:  Girl problems.  Guys, if this is TMI for you then just skip past this section.  Ladies, imagine having your period twice a month.  Cravings, mood swings, and all.  Yep.  That's what was happening to me.  It had been for about a year but I was too embarrassed by the fact that I looked pregnant when I was not to get myself to the OB/GYN.  I finally worked up the courage to as part of this new found commitment to my health.  Test results revealed multiple ovarian cysts disrupting my cycle and confusing my hormones as well as other endometrial abnormalities.  This was particularly shocking for me as prior to all this I was so regular from the day I started at 11 years old that I never even got a break after having each kid of mine.  The doctor tried to convince me to go back on birth control (never my friend) or to consider discussing hysterectomy.  We had to follow up in a couple of months anyway to see how they changed and determine what types of cysts they were as the reports gave varied guesses.  Remember, a year I'd had mid-cycle bleeding, cramping, and a crazy obsession for chocolate.
Result: By 6 weeks into drinking Shakeology I had no more irregular periods.  No more mid-cycle bleeding.  No PMS cravings at all.  It became such a back part of my mind that I even found myself completely unprepared at a theme park even though it was the right time of the month.  I just didn't even notice it approaching.  Follow-up testing after 2 months of Shakeology showed a 100% completely normal uterus.  No more ovarian cysts at all.  I thought it was just a fluke but it continued.  During the holidays and another time, I became inconsistent in drinking Shakeology- having it maybe 3x a week instead of every day.  Sure as night and day, those mid-cycle problems came right back!

Reason numero tres: Energy and weight loss.  Okay, what mom doesn't want this?  I have 4 kids close in age and I have hypothyroidism and low Vitamin D levels.  Seriously, some days it's like a miracle that I function at all!
Result: After just a week of drinking Shakeology, I had the weirdest thing happen.  It felt like a fog had been lifted from my brain.  A fog I didn't even know I was in.  Feeling that clarity gave me joy and excitement, which translated to more energy.  Did the Shakeology help with weight loss?  Well, yes and no.  It's still a huge struggle for me.  What it did help with was cravings and mood swings by giving my body such a dense dose of nutrition it desperately needed- things that could easily turn to uncontrolled and unhealthy eating.  Getting a handle on those definitely helps with weight loss.  It also provided a daily reminder of a commitment to health, which in turn led to better behaviors.  Plus, having it be so convenient and the same cost as some Lean Cuisine or fast food, meant I would regularly forego the temptation to eat that stuff in favor of the Shakeology.... with so many more nutrients, it isn't even comparable.

All of these are just some of the reasons I have been drinking Shakeology for the past year.  I'm not kidding or exaggerating.  I really mean it when I say I love it and I noticed a real difference in how I feel with it (sidenote: my vision and thyroid have also improved over the last year).  My kids love it as well and beg me for it.  It serves as a nice bribery tool.  My kindergartner hates to eat lunch but would never complain if I offered Shakeology.  It is such a convenient meal when on the road or on vacation.  It's a great pre-race meal for me and keeps my blood sugar steady through the long triathlons.

So why would I stop drinking something so great, something I love, something that has truly changed my health for the better?  Well, that part is much harder to share and I will in Part Two.

hello Monday

Why so cheery on a Monday morning? The shake I'm having for breakfast is dang good (greenberry with Mango naked juice), I'm full on rocking the legging with cozy socks and an oversized sweater just because I can, I started my day off right with the 40 days/40 nights challenge, and I'm fairly certain that today I will finally be able to exercise again! It's a great day to recommit to everything I want in life and to start fresh. I WILL finish the year out strong instead of getting distracted by the holidays.

eat food

What are you putting into your body? Is it food or food-like? As a busy mother of four, I am all for fast, easy, and even sometimes prepackaged. However, they are far from created equal. Read those ingredient lists!! Can you pronounce it all? Do you know exactly what every ingredient is? Are the ingredients naturally occurring or chemical? This is one of the things I love about the Shakeology I drink. It isn't just a meal replacement. It isn't some vitamin. It is a powerhouse of REAL foods! That's right...freeze dried and ground. Naturally occurring sources of protein and superfoods and vitamins and minerals. It's real stuff. That's why it is the perfect complement to my clean eating lifestyle. I'm not perfect at it by any means, and I'm certainly not as strict about it as others I know. However, I know that at least once a day I'm getting a super dense dose of nutrition that is like putting the highest quality fuel in my body. I feel noticeably different, better, and my body functions more efficiently because it isn't weighed down by other junk.

shakeology

Saw this picture and thought DANG. Can you believe all these ingredients in just a single serving of Shakeology? No wonder it is so beneficial and helps so many parts of the body!

Shakeology sampler now available

If you've wanted to give Shakeology a trial run before committing to it, now you can! This new option is now available through me. It has changed my life- my health, my allergies, my energy. I began questioning if it was all just in my head because I'd done it for a few months now or if it was more the exercise etc. so I have gone without each off and on over the last few weeks. Holy cow. I don't know how I functioned without this. Oh wait- I barely did & took a LOT of naps and stayed completely indoors during allergy season.

90 Day Results

I finished ChaLean Extreme and I won the challenge group I had been participating in that just ended (I'm in another one now and doing Les Mills Combat).

My results?  Not a lot of weight lost.  A lot of inches shed.  17+ in fact.  Dropped about 5% body fat as well.

More than that?  The confidence that comes from sticking to something through the end.  The ability to see a new me in the future again.  A belief in self.  No more inflammation.  Improved allergies and reflux.  Glowing skin.  Stronger hair and nails.  I think I might be able to beat someone at arm wrestling.  A great group of wonderful, supportive women who don't judge me because they realize we are all on the same journey in one way or another.  Better habits.  WAY fewer cravings that have made it easier to make good choices and conquer an addiction because my agency is being restored and I have the support I need- emotionally and physically.  A sense of purpose and a feeling of gratitude for a way that this weakness and challenge in my life can be turned for the better.  Joy from helping others make changes as well and motivation from them as they become my supporters too.

30day progress report

Feeling pretty conflicted today. This is the 30 day progress I promised. I have SO far to go that it is discouraging. I remind myself that a number on a scale is just a number and doesn't define me. Still I feel so disheartened to only lose a couple of pounds. Yet, I am down 11 inches and 2.5% body fat using the caliper method- putting me in the average range, despite how I look. I know my fitness has improved, I can feel it when I lift heavier weights and when I run up the stairs without losing my breath or am able to push myself harder running on the treadmill. I know my energy has improved and my mind just feels so much more clear. My habits are changing as are my thoughts & attitudes toward things. I see definition that doesn't come across well in the pics and that makes me happy. Still.... That darn scale. It just leaves me depressed. Why am I posting this? Because I committed to doing so and because I know it will keep me accountable. I don't do it to fish for validation or feedback to make me feel better. I do it because I know I need to to keep myself going, to rid myself of my own self shame, and because I'm sure that out there somewhere is someone a lot like me.  I don't intend to make any excuses for myself.  It was a rough week.  I was sick or something- still trying to figure that out- and so I didn't workout half the week or eat anything but carbs and my Shakeology because my stomach just couldn't do it.  I only felt good when I had my shake so I'm so glad that I did.  Who knows how that affected things today but I didn't want to use that as an excuse.  I know I've lost more weight than that but I typically weigh on a different day and I have a feeling I've gained this week and am seeing the sad effects of that.  I am more than a number.  Still, I need that number to change so much more than it has.  I won't quit.  I can't quit..... because I told myself that I would see this all the way through the 90 days and trust the process.  I've made myself accountable to anyone reading this (which must be someone given the amount of hits this blog is getting without comments).  So I'll just keep keepin' on......

2 wk progress

I am totally embarrassed about this photo.  However, I committed to transparency and honesty and accountability.  I was having the whole debate tonight with the temptation to do some quick fix.  I have these pills near my nightstand for one 'cleanse' or 'accelerator' or another.  They were tempting me.  It's not even like I haven't been seeing good weight loss and measurement results either.  There is no reason for that temptation other than the damage done by past extreme dieting and the lure of trying to look better for upcoming family events and pictures...and the thought of being around people who have been known to openly critique my looks in the past.  I'm not going to cave though.  Having these thoughts doesn't mean I don't like me and don't like me now.  So I thought I would take a picture.  I have been drinking Shakeology for 2 weeks now.  I have been in this challenge & accountability group for about 2 1/2 wks now.  I have done ChaLean Extreme for 2 weeks now.  Well...technically Saturday would be 2 weeks since I started on a Saturday, but tomorrow is my rest day and Sat would technically be my start of week 3 so.....
I know 2 weeks is hardly time to see any real change.  However, I do think I see (and feel) some and I wanted to see if it was all in my head.  I hope not.  Not that that is my motivator.  Still.  I'm human.  I look at this and do the mental math imagery of what may actually be possible in the 10 more weeks to come.  This change repeating 5 more times.  Plus, I know that time is going to pass by so quickly.  Sometimes I look at these awesome transformation pictures, especially of those doing the same program as I and I feel so motivated, hopeful, and encouraged.  Then in the next split second that little voice in my head says "well, that was them.  I can't possibly have something similar."  As if I am defective or undeserving.  That Satan...he's a tricky one....
I will post 30 day progress pictures as that's pretty Beachbody standard.  2 weeks is not. Sooooo.....here goes.... please be nice.....

I promise I did not shrink in height.  DH is fired for not being consistent in where he takes the pictures from.  I  couldn't remember which shirt I was wearing or which way I was facing.
p.s. In case you are curious what ChaLean is, HERE is a preview. 

the whys and hows

Why am I doing this?
I was thinking about that yesterday as I was lying around with a stomach bug.  Getting sick with something is one of my biggest derailers from a program of any type because I feel like it just throws me off my game.  I lay around being lazy, and loving being lazy, and start to wonder why I ever bother with doing any different.  Terrible, I know.  Consistency has never been a strong point of mine and that is where it really gets me.  I'm working on that though.

• I am doing this because grasping at straws is better than not grasping at all.
• I am doing this because it is working.
• I am working the program because the program works, because I have seen real change with my very own eyes, and because I see results quickly even in myself.
• I am choosing my life, not letting my life happen to me. 
• I feel good when I eat well, when I exercise, when I read my scriptures daily, when I pray daily, and when I attend the temple regularly.
• I know all those things and have experienced their trans-formative effect and yet I still need to be reminded of it from time to time.  All I can figure is that it's a byproduct of being human.  
• I want to help people.  I feel at my best and most fulfilled when I do.  I believe people are often put in the paths of others to help them, to be someone else's answer to a prayer.  I've had so many be that for me that I can only hope I can be that for even just one other person so that I can pay it forward..... even if these things are sometimes hard to share.
• I am doing this because I love myself, not because I hate who I am.  You don't have to dislike yourself to want to be the best version of you.  
• I want to be prepared for anything that life may throw at me.  I want to know that I have done all I can to prepare my body physically and nutritiously as well as my mind/spirit emotionally and spiritually for anything that may come in life.  If I am better prepared myself then I will not only be able to weather whatever life may bring, but I will be better equipped to help those around me, including my children.  
• I am doing this because it feels like it fits best with my personal and religious beliefs about health... slow and steady, line upon line, creates lasting and real change.  Part of my test on earth is mastery of my body that was given to me as a gift from my Heavenly Father. Moderation in all things is so very important.  Balance in all areas of life is also.  Accountability keeps us focused.  There is so much in the world to distract us from what is important and Satan is out to take the things that he most desires because he cannot have- bodies and families.  
• I want to instill good habits in my children at a young age so that they have the tools and are better equipped so that they are less likely to face these same struggles when they are adults themselves.  They already make great choices, love healthy things and exercise, and are pretty balanced kids...but there is always opportunity for teaching and improvement and for leading by example.

I really missed my regular foods and routine yesterday.  Thankfully my Shakeology settled in my system just fine or I would have been sorely missing out on any nutrients at all.  It was hard though to not get any sort of exercise. It wasn't at all that I felt guilty not doing it or that I had to.  It was just that I missed it and I was sad that my body was making it very clear that it was going to have none of it.  Thank goodness today is much better and I was able to enjoy my Burn Intervals, even getting a second wind halfway through it.  That does have to be about the fastest I have ever bounced back from food poisoning.

I'm not trying to be 'salesy' or anything... just sharing what I have seen and experienced.  I have read a lot of testimonials, even from people I personally know from my real life (don't you sometimes feel like testimonials are from 'fake' people?) about how these groups have changed their lives, how Shakeology has taken away migraines or improved ADD or inflammatory diseases (such as RA and fibromyalgia) or taken them off antidepressants entirely.  I have read much about the health benefits of various foods and believe in the power of using good food and herbs to heal and strengthen our bodies.  I was shocked when actually looking at Beachbody programs to discover how many of them were ones that friends had raved about for years and loved doing.  I never had any clue these had all been from the same company.  I knew about P90X and Insanity being 'related'.  I did not know it was also the same company behind Slim in 6 (there were a lot of Nutrisystem people doing that as their workout regime), Yoga Booty Ballet, Brazil Butt Lift, Les Mills Body Pump, Rockin Body, Turbo Jam, Turbo Fire, and more.  Did you?? Seriously, if I had known that sooner I really probably would have jumped on their products a lot sooner.  Truthfully, knowing how great the fitness programs are makes me feel a lot more confident in their other lines of products (like the Shakeology and other vitamins and skin care).  

I will say, Shakeology and the other programs are expensive.  I am a total frugal shopper.  I have even taught couponing classes for years.  I love yard sales and thrift stores.  So dropping $120 for a meal replacement shake?  I don't care if it works out to $4 a meal, that's still a lot in my book.  I have really good health insurance coverage so I wasn't going to factor in the savings in medical bills that would come from improved health or fewer medications.  I did look at it this way in the end.... a month of Nutrisystem (which I'm most inclined to compare against because of my previous success with it) is roughly $280- there's a lot of options for programs but that's about the average price.  That covers most all your meals (you do need to add in some of your own food), but in the end having all your meals prepared for you doesn't force you to make those hard daily choices of choosing and preparing good foods for yourself.  It is still too convenience based to be a full lifestyle change in the long run.  That's honestly a hard thing for me to accept.  The only other program I know to be as successful (that doesn't involve some VLCD) is Weight Watchers and that is about $30/month plus there's usually a signup fee.  Then you'll have your regular food and gym membership on top of that.  Weight Watchers I believe is successful because of the support system involved in it and its encouragement of balance and realism in your diet.  Around here, a gym membership that has any kind of childcare is about $30-$40 at minimum per month.  Sometimes you have to pay an additional $2 per kid for 2 hours of care.  We won't talk about the worrying about germs there or the child care being full or your older kids being 'too old' for it but too young to work out in the actual gym without you there by their side- leaving you to not be able to do everything you want to do because they still can only use certain areas.  Not that I've encountered this before.....Where was I?  Oh... so I kind of just figured out that it was cheaper than NS, a little more than WW but with the same benefits (because in a challenge group you've got what you'd get at a WW meeting) plus the addition of having one meal replaced during the day and health benefits of some awesome superfoods that would also take care of a lot of the nutrients your body needs.  Then as far as the exercise regime goes.... well, the Beachbody programs really vary in price a lot (we're talking from $40 to $150) but a lot of them are 60-90 day programs with the variety you need to keep you from getting bored or your body from plateauing.  Compare that to the cost of the gym membership..... To me, it really does seem cheaper, especially since I do get a decent coach discount.  I have never been a fan of workout videos, or of tripping over my children while trying to do them, but I have loved every one of these that I have tried and I'm finding I really can do them at home whether my kids are around or not.  The fact that the Shakeology has genuinely been the best tasting meal replacement of any type (except maybe those NS chocolates, those were pretty darn good), has really been a happy surprise for me.

Anyway, we all have our different whys and hows of doing things.  I think it is important to consider those and to frequently reconsider them.  I always wonder how often other people think about those things or how much is just the way my brain seems to be wired to consider human behavior.  If you're going to make a change in your life, of any kind, you need to have a reason.  You need to write that reason down to make it more concrete.  If you are going to make a big change, I think you need support and the more support the better.  Change starts with a decision for something different.  It doesn't come all at once.  Sometimes it is painfully slow and gradual.  Sometimes you don't see it at first.  It frequently requires sacrifice and a breaking of your heart so that it can repair and be soft and malleable to fit the better you.  Growing pains have always hurt.  But don't they make you stand a little taller?  If you think you'd like to join a fitness challenge group and have some accountability and support, I would be happy to help you.  There is another one starting June 3 like the one I'm doing now.  If you'd like support or help of any kind, please feel free to send me a message or comment.  

good day.

It was a good day.  Which I needed after last night.  I survived my workout even though I wasn't sure I would a couple of times.  I took my measurements because I forgot to yesterday.  I'm basically back to where I was when I stopped P90X at the end of February.  I'm very happy about that, especially since that's just after a week.  Also, lost a full inch off just my waist.  In a week.  I'll take it!

I noticed after my shower today that my hair didn't 'shed' when I brushed it out.  I'm sure it's just a girl problem but brushing my hair out after the shower, or after having it in a ponytail, usually means at least a clump or two of broken hair strands following suit.  For me it's often also an indicator of my thyroid medication needing to be adjusted.  Well, it was so different today that I noticed.  That and the fact that my face always looks like I just put moisturizer on lately.  Could these really be effects of the changes I've made (cleaner eating, Shakeology, daily serious exercise) in only a week's time?  That seems crazy to me.  I feel like I'm crazy noticing these things- or that I'm just wanting to see something even.  Then DH told me today that I looked healthier....that he couldn't tell why or what it was but that I did.  What a great compliment, to look healthy.

I found out today that the date for IronGirl was changed to October.  It is normally held in May so I had decided I would really shoot for doing it next year.  But October?  My heart was racing every bit as fast as it did the night before I did the Triathamom race.  I think that means I need to do it.  The idea of doing it terrifies me.  The idea of finally doing something I told myself years ago that I wanted to do excites me.  It also still terrifies me.  Then again...I have sort of tried to do at least one thing each year that really scares me.  It's part of my growing process.  I've just got to come up with the money and I'm going to register.  AAahhh!  It makes me panicky to put even that.  This is my year though and I know I will be so ready for it by then.  There is nothing quite like that race.  I bawled for women I didn't even know as I watched their triumph in crossing that finish line.  I couldn't contain it and I had no idea why.... Only that I needed to be a part of it.  I hope I can.

Oh...and I bought myself some new workout clothes tonight because I am sweating so much in what I've got and just can't keep up with the laundry.  And I needed to get a size smaller than what I'd grabbed.

scale

I hopped on the scale this morning just because I am used to weighing in on Saturdays now. Also, I am starting my ChaLean Extreme workout program/schedule today so I wanted to have a baseline for that specifically. I'm pumped.

I started in the accountability and challenge group on Monday. I started 30 minutes of exercise that day- jogging or biking because I was waiting on my program and those are what I felt like doing. I started drinking Shakeology on Wednesday when it arrived. As of today, Saturday, I am down 2.5 lbs. that's every bit that I gained in my time between P90X and now when I was struggling to get refocused after being sick and also going on vacation for a week. I can't tell you how thrilled I am about that. I know that it will fluctuate from time to time because weight does that, especially when adding muscle. However, it's awesome to be back at that benchmark for starting my neck workout phase because I feel like then I can really get a sense of the difference between the two, for me, and also see the difference Shakeology can make for me. 

work it and take your measurements!

I was looking back at previous entries of weight loss amounts and inches lost. I noticed something. When I did Ideal Protein I lost about the same amount of inches as with P90X, in half the amount of time, and with three times as much weight loss. One month was about 15" and 14 lbs. 2 months of P90X was about 12" and 5lbs. Now which would you do? Which do you think is going to have the more lasting and dramatic results? I'd say the one that sheds greater inches with fewer pounds. It's the good ol' tried and true method of hard work. In the end that is going to reap such greater benefits. It also is going to look so much better. Who would rather see flabby skin hanging than tightened and toned? Not I. I'm looking forward to seeing more changes in me as I go through the year. I am loving my Shakeology. No joke. I've tried all kinds of protein shakes (Isagenix, store brands, Vemma, Ideal Protein, Nutrisytem) and I can tell you this really is my favorite. That's a post for another time though.  In the meantime, check out this pic I keep on my phone as a reminder. 5lbs of fat versus 5lbs of muscle:

60 days P90X (without Shakeology)

gratitude and hope.

My biggest hesitation with any 'diet' program has always been whatever cost is associated with it. Some of them are pretty pricey.  The large cost was actually part of my commitment when I did Nutrisystem.  When you can barely afford it, you'd better make it worth your while.

Well, that's how I was feeling about the Shakeology investment.  I really wanted to be a part of a group and community that would give me support as well as accountability...and that would do so without judgment.  Part of the challenge group, though, is replacing a daily meal with Shakeology.  It's a big investment.  However, I have over the years read oh so many an article about this nutrient or that supplement and their health benefits as well as benefits to weight loss.  I remember commenting to DH that 'wouldn't it be nice if there was just one of those magic drinks that had all those amazing magic foods in it'?  Seriously, I said that.  Years ago. I didn't realize that Shakeology really did have all those foods I was referring to in it.  It already existed.  Anywho....I've been drinking protein shakes for a while.  I've sampled cleanses and supplements and protein shakes from most of those major companies out there.  Honestly, I love the Isagenix Cleanse for Life and I did notice a difference daily when I took it.  I even had to fight my son to not let him drink big glasses of it every day because he loved it so much too.  But I really hate the way the company is set up and how difficult it is to just get product.  And their shakes and supplements?  Gag me with a spoon.  I am a huge fan of Chris Powell so I jumped on his Bod-e line with Vemma.  I was convinced it was going to be my missing link.  Truth be told, the shake (vanilla and chocolate) was 'okay'.  It needed something added to it and I had to drink it pretty quickly but I did enjoy it.  There's this weird aftertaste, almost like it has jalapenos in it.  I dunno.  They have a 7 day cleanse product that I did really like.  I noticed a real difference in my energy and focus when taking it (you have to go a week between each weekly course at minimum).  However, I had an awful experience with their customer service and will seriously never go back as a result.  I felt completely betrayed as a customer and don't feel I can trust them with my business.

So, here I am waiting for my Shakeology to arrive.  I got curious after reading about major success with digestion, migraine, mood, and other issues.  I want DH to try it because, let's just say, there's a long family history of digestion issues for he and his family.  It would be so wonderful to have something that completely turned things around for them.  I am anxious to try it, yes, because I want to see if it does make a difference with the weight loss...but also because I'm curious if it will help with my allergies.  It has reportedly great effects on inflammation.  So that got me to thinking that maybe it would give me some allergy relief.  Seriously, I am so desperate.  I'm allergic to everything in the air and I'm allergic to over half the allergy medications out there.  It gets so old not being able to breathe out your nose or having to hide in your house and shower twice a day on windy days.  This year has been particularly bad, leaving me wheezy and needing my rescue inhaler on really windy days.  So, that's what I'm out to investigate for myself.  I would consider it a miracle if it does provide me relief but I'm willing to give it a go.  Yes, I've tried local bee pollen.  That doesn't seem to make a dent either.

I am feeling extremely hopeful and enthusiastic about this whole challenge group and Shakeology thing.  Not just because the enthusiasm of others' is contagious.  It's because I feel really genuinely supported in it.  I worried and prayed about the cost.  I even went to the temple as I shared previously.  I thought about it for a long while.  It was like the Lord just needed me to make the decision, to show that willingness and commitment, and He began opening the Heavens to show me of His support and acknowledgment.  We received an influx of orders for our Etsy shop like never before.  That first month's investment is totally covered in just those, which is considered extra income for us because we never know how busy we will be.  I am so very grateful.  I feel like it was His way of saying "You got this."  I'm committed to it and really giving it a full effort.  What I ordered was a new workout, just for a change even though I love me some P90X, and the Shakeology.  I have enough of that for a month to see if it makes a real difference.  I already know what a difference a Beachbody program can make without it.  I am having faith, and I am full of it and hope, that it is the right thing and that the future expense of it will work itself out because I know I have the Lord on my side.  I just cannot express what a feeling that is to really feel and know it.  I've felt it before when going through a really difficult time in my life.  I'm sad, and human, to say that I let that intense feeling fade away into the shuffle of the craziness of life.  I'm immensely grateful to have it back.  It fills me with hope and gladness.