Chips are worse than candy bars - say it isn't so!!

Since I quit sugar over two years ago I fell back on potato chips - the relatively "healthy" ones (in moderation) as my junk food.  Well, as the saying goes, you can't eat just one and I think those innocent handfuls of chips have been largely responsible for my weight-loss plateau :(

Well, it seems the party is over when it comes to chips... this week I learned two things:

1. I read an article from Dr Mercola there is no such thing as a healthy chip - ALL chips are bad (not because of the calories) but because when carbohydrate-rich foods like potatoes are cooked at high temperatures (including the "healthier" baked chips),  acrylamide -- a tasteless, invisible chemical byproduct -- is formed. Animal studies have shown that exposure to acrylamide increases the risk of several types of cancer, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer considers acrylamide a "probable human carcinogen."

2. The genius nutritionist Jim Rhoades (who I met through Isagenix) said tonight when counseling a diabetic person that "chips are worse than candy bars" in terms of their affect on blood sugar. While I never had any blood sugar issues (even at my highest weight), he explained that chips are converted even more quickly into sugar, which affects insulin (too much and those chips get stored as fat) and that is not something I want to do to my body.

Am I saying I will never have another chip? No. But I need to change my thinking about them for myself and my family. I already know it's one of the reasons that I've plateaued.

I Won 2nd Place In the 2010 IsaBody Challenge!

Celebration was FANTASTIC and not just because I was a finalist in the IsaBody Challenge!  I came in 2nd place (winning $2,000 cash plus the free trip to Celebration in San Diego). Here I am on stage when it was announced. Oralia won the $5,000 (I am happy for her, she lost 127lbs since she started the challenge, avoiding gastric bypass).

Nancy, my best friend from college, and her friend (now my friend Jeannine) all went and we had a blast. We met up with Dale, Dr J, Dave and lots of other friends from the Albany area. There were so many inspirational stories - here is one you HAVE TO WATCH, it is an amazing story about the transformation of a young woman, Angela Lovelace, with Down Syndrome. Angela was at Celebration and I was so impressed by her love of life.

I am already planning on attending the 2011 Celebration (again scheduled for San Diego) and am going to bring my whole family as there is so much to do out there (Legoland, SeaWorld, even Disney).

There is just too much to post here but I am even MORE excited about growing a business with this company. Lots of new products were introduced with some more blockbusters planned for the future!

Best of all, I got to meet and talk to John Anderson (I just couldn't believe I was standing next to him - the genius who formulated the first Isagenix products).  I am pictured here with Dale (my walking buddy and mentor) and Jeannine (my new friend from Long Island).  So much to tell, we actually sat with Dr Paul Anderson, the person who formulated my favorite IsaDelight dark chocolates (no relation to John Anderson). These people are my celebrity crushes because they are incredibly smart and have changed thousands of peoples' lives (including mine).

25 Days Until Celebration!

The countdown to Celebration has started -- this will be my first (of many) big events. I attended IsaU in April but that was only about 400 people. This promises to be 6,000+ (not sure of the exact number but lots of people)!  IsaBody Challenge, here I come. What a blast this will be. I am bringing Nancy, my friend from college, who is now building a business with me.

People reading this blog know my story -- well, multiply that by thousands of similar success stories and you can't help but be in awe of what this company has accomplished with its products.  It is so inspirational and rewarding to hear person after person tell of their renewed health with Isagenix. This company has improved the health (and wealth, let's not forget) of thousands of people and I will get to meet many of them next month.  

Jean Faber - a member of the Cepeda team who lives in Minnesota and is an IsaBody finalist in the age 50+ category; Larry Fuchs, Jr. from FL - the first member of the 200 pound club; Lisa from AZ, the 200th member of the 100lb club and Dana Soto - a woman from CA who weighed 800lbs and was told she was going to die (now she has lost 323lbs on Isagenix).  I really hope John Anderson (the founder and master formulator) is there, imagine how he feels to get so much love and adoration from thousands of people whose lives he has changed (like mine)!

I work with the BEST company!

HOW CAN I MAKE THAT STATEMENT???

The other day when I was walking I just starting thinking of how much I love Isagenix... the people, the products, the integrity of the company. Some people are skeptical when I tell them this and I really don't blame them.  It's a good idea to be skeptical in this day and age.  In these instances, I ask them to do their homework by listening to some Isagenix podcasts, reading the recent clinical trials, etc. and then to become an associate to see for themselves.

It recently dawned on me that my belief is not just my own experience with Isagenix but my 20+ years in working with many other brand-name companies. Here are some of the more recognizable ones...

I had to think back on all the products I marketed (either working directly for the company or being assigned the task at their ad agency).  I became intimately aware of product benefits and shortcomings as well as the business ethics of these companies (most good, some not).  The many hours, months and years I've spent with all these companies has given me keen insight into consumer product companies and this is what has helped solidify by belief that Isagenix is truly a world class company!

So if you are reading this and not sure, take my word for it and/or do the research yourself then try the products (there is a 30-day money back guarantee)! 

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

President's Panel - Chemicals Cause Cancer!!!!

Hopefully everyone reading this already knew or at least suspected that many of the cancers people are getting are from exposure to chemicals.

From today's New York Times... "the President's Cancer Panel has joined ranks with the organic food movement and declared: chemicals threaten our bodies."  Read this groundbreaking news...

41% of people will get cancer in their lives (almost half of us). Our liver is desinged to filter out toxins and impurities but has a difficult time with the onslaught of chemicals we are exposed to everyday (increasing dramatically over the past 50 years). 

Stop eating for a day (or two) and give your body the chance to cleanse itself (Isagenix is not a colon cleanse, and you won't be starving your body).  The Isagenix Cleanse for Life helps to support your body to rid itself of harmful impurities while nourishing it with 27 vital nutrients, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Plus, the IsaDelight dark chocolates are part of the cleanse day - can't beat that.

I told you this stuff isn't "diet" food - it's super nutrition.  Everyone should give their body the chance to cleanse! Toxins are also believed to be the reason why people have stubborn fat (see prior post on that from the Dr Oz show).  Thank you to John Anderson, the "mineral man" and true visionary, who developed this product!

Link to short video on Cleanse For Life

WOW, So Impressed with IsaU Training!

I went to IsaU (Isagenix University) this weekend and my expectations were exceeded in every way! This was a bit hard to do since I have been to many, many of these types of events - many by Fortune 500 companies - during my 20+ years in marketing.  My friend Nancy and I learned so much and had a blast with our team from upstate NY plus lots of other people we met from all over.

I was honored to be able to go on stage and tell my 5 min testimonial and was inspired by others' stories.  The trainers were stellar and so willing to share their time with attendees.  I got to have lunch with one of the companies "stars."  Kim Olson. She was awesome, she not only kept the weight off for 7 years but is losing more (now down about 170lbs). She even has run a 1/2 marathon (inspiring, to say the least).

Here I am in this photo with her.  She was one of many Isagenix "stars" and millionaires I met but, again, the newbies like me who I spoke to were just as inspiring. You hear story upon story of how Isagenix nutrition has helped people lose fat and get healthier. Some people's stories of health transformation literally bring tears to your eyes.

This company is the BEST!!

This company is the best, not only are there lots of people around to coach (I have people helping and motivating me and I am doing the same for other people) but the company has a tremendous amount of information to help people get the best results from the products.

Our own Cepeda Team has a Tuesday product call-in at 8am. Not to mention that I can pick up the phone at any time and reach Dr J, his mom (Rosemary), his Dad (Joe), Dale (the local ingredient guru), Andrea (a unbelievable woman I just met who lives in Woodstock) and too many more people to mention. What other nutritional product company or any consumer products company can say that?

Not to mention that I have messaged John Anderson (the genius who founded the company) through his FaceBook page and he has answered - unbelievable!!

Now the company is hosting daily IsaProduct Coaching calls with Dr Ina Nozek (pictured here - she has a Master's Degree in Nutrition) and specializes in weight loss. The call-in is Monday-Friday 11 a.m. EST and Monday-Thursday 9:30 p.m. EST. Ask me for the call-in number - it is free to all Isagenix associates!

This is hands down the best company I've ever been involved with and those who know me know that I've worked for/with many Fortune 500  as well as smaller privately owned companies.  I am so proud to be part of Isagenix!

Who is the Founder of Isagenix?

Who is the founder of Isagenix?

Anyone who has spoken to me about Isagenix (and the JA Way to Cleanse) has heard me talk about John Anderson - he is the genius that invented/formulated these products! I am his FaceBook friend (along with almost 5,000 other people) and enjoy reading about other people's successes and also about how he came to invent these products. He is pictured here with his daughter.

John was a successful manufacturer of supplements for 30 years and formulated thousands of products around the world (all the types of products sold in GNCs). He retired in 1998, and moved to the beach. Then he was bit by a brown recluse and had major health problems, including going blind in his left eye, organ damage, 9 foot surgeries, etc. He decided he needed to find a way to cleanse his body of the toxins, it not only worked but he lost weight as well.

This company, and where it is going, is so exciting - I've copied and pasted John Anderson's FaceBook post on Mar. 6, 2010:

It's been 30 years February 5th I have been in the Health and research industry. My crude 2,300 plus formulas are no comparison to whats coming next.  My head is full of ideas, new research, new available raw materials, and I'm ready to roll up my sleeves.

Time is only minutes, hours, days, and years. Living a healthy life is defying time itself.  Where would everyone be right now if not for their improved health?  We have all benefited from God's botanicals and minerals, I thank him every day.
We are blessed !!
John

Results: down 61 pounds in 4-1/2 months!

I am 61 pounds lighter and many less inches (I'll meaure again on Mar. 17 - marking 5 months).  Cutting calories was always a struggle but not now because my low calorie food - my IsaLean shake - is packed with so much nutrition that it satisfys my body. 

I have learned that our bodies just don't want "food" - they want nutrition.  That's why we can stuff ourselves with food and still feel hungry - that is our body telling us it still has not gotten what it wants - proper nutrition.

The Isagenix products are super foods and there is no combination of store bought foods and vitamin supplements that can equal it. Why?  One reason is that our soil doesn't have minerals anymore due to over-farming and use of chemicals and pesticides - but thanks to the "mineral man," John Anderson, we have them in Isagenix products.

An unexpected side benefit of Isagenix (besides the weight loss) is helping other people achieve their health and wellness goals.  This is something I would do anyway (how could I stop myself from telling people?) but the fact that the company compenstates me for this is unbelievable!