4 Month Progress - 48 lbs Gone!

-48lbs
Rededicated myself to living a healthier and longer life on May 28 so it's been 4 months. It seems like I should have lost more weight when I look back at all the things I didn't eat (bagels, chips, donuts, muffins, brownies, pie... the list goes on and on). 

But it really is more about how my body feels and it certainly likes healthier eating. I am able to run up and down the stairs and literally jump out of bed in the morning with no stiffness :)

I did a two day Isagenix Cleanse last week and it was a huge energy boost so I need to do more of those!

2 Months - down 26lbs

Today has been 2 months since I went sugar free and wheat free. I lost 20lbs the first four weeks but only 6 the last four weeks. It seems strange to only six pounds when I am not eating any sugar (or sugar substitutes) and no wheat (except croutons on my salads). Some days I know I am not eating enough - too busy at work - but overall I think I'm eating enough. I am getting a lot of calories anyway from avocados. I eat a whole one on my salads.

IF I was just doing this to lose weight I'd be upset BUT I am really doing this to live a longer, healthier life. I need to fix the damage I've done to my body then eat healthy foods to give myself the best chance to be around a long time!

This next month I need to do a two-day cleanse so my body releases the toxins in my fat cells. I might weigh before and after the cleanse just to see what happens. I am aiming to do it this Thursday and Friday.

Headache on Isagenix Cleanse

I can count on two fingers the number of headaches I ever have in any given year so I guess I am lucky because lots of my friends/relatives complain of headaches. So when I started using Isagenix it was no different - not one headache.

Of course everyone is different but 90% of everyone I've coached through cleansing has been fine. Some have extra energy from the B vitamins (like me), some are more tired as their body is working hard to cleanse and some do have headaches during the Isagenix cleanse.

A friend of a friend is doing her first cleanse today and I heard she has a headache... so it prompted me to write this blog about Isagenix Cleanse Symptoms. The body is releasing toxins at a much quicker rate than normal and is going through withdrawal (especially if you had a diet which included caffeine, sugar). As with any addictive substance when you stop putting it in your body, your body reacts in ways that aren't always positive.  I don't think anyone has every had headaches when they stopped eating broccoli (haha).  Unfortunately, the more junk that's in your body, the worse you may feel.  The good news is that any unpleasantness should pass within a few days and your body will thank you in the long run.

Prevention Magazine - Metabolism Boosters... need to break this plateau!

So I weigh myself on Saturday mornings and I am still STUCK at 71lbs.  I am not panicked but DO want to continue the weight loss to reach my goal of 100lbs!!

I saw a TODAY SHOW segment this week with Al Roker and someone from Prevention magazine spoke about 10 Diet Blunders that Slow Metabolism (especially for us older women as our metabolism naturally slows down as we age).

There is a link to watch this segment above or here is the list and you can also find more info on each item on the magazine's web site.  I reviewed each item to see how I am faring...

These are Prevention Magazine's list that SLOWS METABOLISM:
1. You don't eat enough - not a problem with Isagenix, it is NOT an ultra-low calorie diet
2. You avoid caffeine - I do avoid caffeine (the founder John Anderson has some research on this plus coffee is highly acidic) but I have stopped taking the Accelerator and that is a natural metabolism booster with green tea - much better and does have a tiny bit of caffeine*
3. Your carbs are white - I have already eliminated most white carbs
4. Your water is room temperature - I ALWAYS drink iced water, love it
5. Your food is covered with pesticides - YES! they've recognized a MAJOR cause of stubborn fat - they explain that Canadian researchers report that dieters with the most pollutants from pesticides (which are stored in fat cells) experience a greater than normal dip in metabolism as they lose weight and that pesticides can trigger weight gain. Isagenix is WAY ahead on all this, enter their Cleanse for Life.*
6. Your meal lacks protein - got that covered with the superior whey protein in the IsaLean shakes
7. Your diet needs to pump iron - my diet has iron so I am fine with this - let's also add to that resistance training (not doing that yet)*
8. You're missing this crucial vitamin - Vit D - I am already taking 1000iu each day
9. You've had one tipple too many - don't drink alcohol so that's not an issue
10. You're not getting enough dairy - they are talking about calcium, I've been trying to incorporate IsaCal into shakes (this strawberry powder is a little too sweet for me)*

*My action steps to bust this plateau:

• start taking the Accelerators again (I did in the beginning but stopped), I already ordered them
• I am due for another 2-day cleanse so my body has the chance to really release toxins from my fat (then the fat loss follows)
• I will more consistently take the IsaCalcium
• I will "pump iron"/add the weights for my upper body
• plus, I recently spoke to Larry Fuchs Jr - the first person in the Isagenix 200lb club (he's kept it off for 6 years). I sought his advice and, too much to detail now, but is a very caring person and I appreciated the time he spent talking with me

Why Do You Need to Cleanse?

Why do you need to cleanse???? Listen to this short interview on NPR from two authors of a new book entitled Slow Dealth By Rubber Duck.  LINK to audio.

The Environmental Working Group posted this link to their FaceBook  page - it is a good organization that fights for our rights to be safe from toxins and chemicals. There is a great study on their home page of cell phone radiation. LINK to this site.

Down 28lbs in 6-1/2 weeks - thank you CLEANSE FOR LIFE

I just finished a two-day deep cleanse (I didn't plan to weigh myself until Sat am - marking 7 weeks using Isagenix) but I peeked this morning. I am now down 28lbs. 

Friends ask questions about "cleanse" days... here is some information:

• On cleanse days I have four "meals" of the cleanse drink plus some approved Isagenix snacks throughout the day (to get the maximum fat burning effect) - don't want to start throwing all kinds of other foods into the digestive system when my liver is working 100% on filtering out toxins.
• Alfalfa is a key componant of the Cleanse For Life juice and one of the most nutrient-rich plants known to man. It contains a wide variety of vitamins, minerals, trace minerals, and other nutrients that are crucial to human health.
• Alfalfa has been used as an herbal medicine for over 1,500 years. Alfalfa is high in protein, calcium, plus other minerals, vitamin A, vitamins in the B group, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin E, and vitamin K.  The reason that alfalfa is so nutrient rich is that its root system can reach upwards of 60 feet into the subsoil to reach prime mineral and trace element content that is otherwise unavailable to most other plants, vegetables and fruits.
• Of course the geniuses at Isagenix use a special ionic alfalfa (some of the smartest formulators/scientists are part of the Isagenix team)

The cleanse is not a colon cleanse and I am not tired or hungry (really, seriously). I actually have more energy on cleanse days due to the B vitamins in the juice.  This is proof positive to me that when my body has the proper nutrition (and it can't get any better than Isagenix) that it will not cry out for food. I was used to always eating large portions until everything was off my plate, now I am able to eat less and feel satisfied.

Day 11, Cleansing

Today is the second day of a two-day cleanse. I had a doctor's appointment with my endocrinologist (long overdue to check the nodules on my thyroid). Anyway, I didn't have enough snacks to tide me over until I got back home (they ended up doing a sonogram and blood work on-site, which was nice*). So I felt some hunger but because I didn't have my snacks. Having something every 1-1/2 hour is what works so I don't feel hungry.

My husband made my favorite meat sauce yesterday so tonight the family had that with whole grain rotini pasta. I was really wishing it wasn't my fast day because I LOVE that but there is some left so I'll have it tomorrow.

Tomorrow I get to weigh and measure myself again!

*Aside: I hadn't had a scan on my nodules since June of 2008 and it's supposed to be scanned at least once a year (bad Debbie). They saw that one of them was 2 centimeters so they want to biopsy. It's not a big deal, I've had these for about 7 years and the Dr have always said they are not cancerous but want to check as a precaution (a first cousin had thyroid cancer so that was a consideration) - the biopsy is scheduled for Dec 22

Starting Second 2-Day Cleanse

Monday, Oct. 26 - I am starting my second cleanse (Mon & Tues last week were my first two after which I lost 8 lbs). I love cleanse days and can't wait to weigh myself on Wed. I am not getting hunger pains of any kind so it helps not miss food (the day goes by fast).

Both of my kids caught the flu at school last week - yesterday they both had fever, aches, tiredness, dry cough - they have been coughing all over me so I got extra sleep this am when they stayed home from school. I figured the extra sleep would help keep me healthy because I usually get no more than 6 hours. I don't have any symptoms so far. I have been getting so many B vitamins (plus 100 other vitamins, minerals and plant extracts) with Isagenix that I don't think I'll catch it. The key is sleep though so I have to make sure to go to bed and not fall asleep on the couch watching TV!