Abby Hout, fitness model

I am posting these articles for myself and, if it helps someone else, that's great. It helps me reinforce what I need to do. Maybe if I put it out in the universe I will take responsibility for it and own it (or something like that, LOL).

Abby Hout

Abby Hout commented on my blog today and I visited her blog. She is an incredible fitness model and competitor who also has seen the benefits of the nutrition in Isagenix. More than that... her blog is about her life; dating, fitness, aspirations and sillyness. I found the post on "macros" really interesting and her lessons of 2013, check it out.

Lesson #7 hit home for me: It's easy to get nostalgic and reflect on your current position vs where you've been. But don't get caught in a habit of that. It will suck the joy right out of your life and leave you in the bottom of a well you have to climb your way out of.

November was a horrible month!!

November was a disaster because I let white flour and carbs back in my diet to the extent that it led to sugar. So I struggled the whole month trying to get back on track. 

Thankfully, I have been sugar-free for six days so today when two dozen Dunkin' Donuts came in to the office - literally the same ones as in the this photo - I didn't have any cravings and was able to sit four feet away from them all day without even thinking about it.

It would be great if I could just have a bite or 1/2 of a donut but that isn't how it works when you have an addiction to something. At this point my goal is to get back to the 48lb loss by the end of the year.

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!

Happy to run up and down the stairs again!

Maybe some people can relate to this... when I was eating a lot of junk food (sugars, bread

products) I had to hold on to the railing to go up and down the stairs to my second floor. My knees were sore, my whole body was stiff.


Now I can literally run up and down the stairs without holding on to the railing!!!  I also literally jump out of bed in the morning with no stiffness! The power of good food (vegetables, healthy fats, proteins and delicious chocolate Isagenix shakes) is magical. 

I am (unfortunately) not doing any exercising now so my new found abilities are all due to the healthier food I am feeding my body. I was going to the gym 3x/week and bike riding a lot two years ago and I miss that but a more demanding work schedule is taking its toll. I will find a way to get some exercise in to my schedule.

I am still very overweight but being able to regain my health is priceless and feels way better than a piece of cake tastes.

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.

Oct. 1st / 1 month / down 17lbs

I lost over three of these this month!

Well, it's been 1 month and my body is liking the better nutrition! My aches, pains and stiffness are disappearing. No surprise because all the foods I was eating were inflammatory (white flour, sugar, bad carbs). It is totally amazing -- so black and white -- in terms of the right thing to do for my body. 

As in the past, I have to treat my food issues like a real addiction so I did not eat any sugar and very little white flour products during the last month. Besides the Isagenix shakes, I ate lots of organic vegetables in salads (adding avocados, which I adore).

So it is going to be a long road back to where I was before (another 70lbs to go) but I have to do this. I know the way my body felt before (aging quickly) and know how I feel now. I want to be around a long time for my kids so I need to do this once and for all.

I know I am losing fat and not muscle because I am consuming the best protein. And last time I did this I got weighed periodically on an expensive body fat scale at the Dr office.  I have everything I need to succeed!

Sept. 1st, starting fresh

Time to cleanse... and cleanse... and cleanse...
It's been a long time since I last blogged and that's because I haven't been able to go more than two weeks without sugar. I tell myself I can have some in moderation but when you have an real addiction to something, that just doesn't work.

So I have been eating (lots of) really unhealthy food and have regained weight!! In the past I had seen friends gain weight back and thought that would NEVER be me. But I've always said, it's easy to lose weight but difficult to keep it off.


I "started" to eat healthy again on Sept. 1 and feel much better already. It's been only three days and I have a long way to go but I am determined to reach my goal of losing 100 pounds.

Everything I've learned is in this blog so I think I'll take the time and read it all again.
 
I am truly grateful to have the best nutrition in Isagenix and just need to eat that in conjunction with other healthy foods like I did before. And NO SUGAR, period. I also need to cleanse two days per week, I'm thinking twice a month, to get out all the junk I've accumulated.

I am going to just weigh myself once a month. So I will post back after Oct. 1 to blog results.

1 week no sugar

I am pretty much out of the woods now... we had a catered box lunch at work which included a giant chocolate chip cookie from Panera! My favorite... one that I would go out of my way to buy.  I put the cookie aside then brought two home for my kids. The cookies were in my bag on the 40 min. ride home and I didn't even remember they were there (they weren't calling out to me). So this is how easy it is when sugar is out of my system. I just can't tell myself that it's ok to have one bite because I would have eaten the whole cookie, then another, then would be looking for more sugar for the rest of the day. It's highly addictive, see my post from 11/1/10 on the book The End of Overeating.

Gave up sugar on MLK day so it's been a solid week and I've lost 10lbs (granted this was pretty easy to do coming off a week of crazy eating). Need to schedule a two-day cleanse, my friend just finished hers and was positively glowing on Facebook.

Three days no sugar...

It's been three days with no sugar and very little white flour (I had a little bit of rice pilaf and a few pretzels). But the key for me is not having sugar. Once I go about 5 days I'll be OK but it's getting past that point to get it out of my system so I don't have a relapse. 

I've already lost 7lbs in two days because I started drinking more water again and eliminated the bad carbs. Of course I AM able to have IsaDelight dark chocolates (about as much sugar as 1/4 of an apple or something like that) -- dark chocolate is mood enhancing, love it and these don't trigger sugar cravings.  Apparently they now have a milk chocolate version for people who don't like dark (for me the darker the better :)

ONLY 8 more pounds to go!

It is slow going but I am able to go down one size in pants so I am continuing to lose inches! Carbs continue to be - and always will be - my downfall. Tonight I broke my excellent streak of healthy eating and overate carbs. Once they are in my system I am addicted. Many people also experience the urge to eat foods with a combination of Fat + Sugar (cookies, cakes, candies) or Fat + Salt (chips, french fries) or Fat + Salt + Sugar (many restaurant foods).

"Foods high in fat, salt and sugar alter the brain's chemistry in ways that compel people to overeat."

Find out more from this best selling book written by former commissioner of the FDA, Davie Kessler. 

ONLY 9 more pounds to go!!!

The scale moves slowly but that's fine... I am getting healthier in the meantime (can't wait to get my physical - the blood work tells the story). 

Only 9 more pounds to go to reach my 100 pound goal!! Then I will lose more. If Jill Birth* can weigh less than she did in 3rd grade then I can at least get to my high school weight! (*see prior post for her amazing transformation)

Progress: One Year, 8 Months - 70lbs maintained (30 more to go)

Wow, the time has flown by since I started this journey to lose 100lbs in Oct. 2009. I know it WILL happen (I was only 10lbs away this past Jan then proceeded to just eat too much junk food on and off through the winter/spring). So now I am 20 pounds heavier and have to back-track.

If you can just eat ONE or TWO bites of this then go ahead and indulge. If after you eat this you proceed to have another piece or feel like you ruined the day and keep eating junk then you it's best you avoid it all together if you are still trying to lose weight.

Some friends and I were talking about this habit of not being able to just have "one" of something. Just having one bite of something, one cookie or one handful of chips is not going to lead to massive weight gain, it's when one leads to another which leads to another. My friend and I are of the same mindset that we can't seem to have one (of a sugar-laden item) because it's just too literally addictive. The addictive nature of salt, sugar and fat is explained in the book The End of Overeating.

Anyway, I have kept off 70lbs for over a year now and I have Isagenix to thank for that. It gives my willpower a fighting chance because it gives me the nutrition so my body isn't craving junk. I know this would be another failed diet without this nutrition. The side benefit is that I have SUPERIOR blood work on all counts - yeah.

It's all about LESS CALORIES + MORE NUTRITION + EXERCISE. Isagenix gives me the first two, I do the rest (love bike riding with my ipod).

What I'm Thankful For...

I am of course thankful for my family and loved ones, for the comforts of a warm and dry house (and grateful to my husband who was able to put a new roof on the back room when it started leaking last week).

This past year my health has improved tremendously and I feel younger now at 49 than I was 20 years ago. So a big thanks to Isagenix for that.  GOOD NEWS! I lost 90lbs as of Tuesday and weighed myself again this am (post Thanksgiving) and maintained so I am determined NOT to see that scale go up again - I need to reach my 100lb goal!

So beyond those basic things I am most grateful for... here is my top 10 list:

1. $10/month at Planet Fitness (no contract - can't beat that -- today I stayed 1 hour on the elliptical machine and skipped the weights so I could watch the lost footage of the Atlanta Housewives :-) 
2. Black Champion brand yoga pants from Target - they look good at the gym and are comfortable and stylish enough to wear around town (stretchy so still fit as I lose weight) and under $20
3. Friends who thank me (sometimes with tears in their eyes) for introducing them to Isagenix - it solidifies my decision to keep sharing this with people
4. DVRs - there are shows I really like to watch and rarely get to see them in real time so the DVR comes to the rescue and I can watch my shows later and fast forward through the commercials
5. Internet - although sometimes a big time-waster, it has allowed me to connect with old friends and make new ones across the miles. A college roommate just found me on FaceBook - she is a specialty costumer in Hollywood. Because of the Internet I got to see her resume and all the movies she has worked on - pretty cool.
6. This may sound crazy but I am really thankful for good clean filtered water to drink everyday that comes from my own well!
7. I am thankful that my kids are getting more self-sufficient and allowing me more time- freedom. It was a hard adjustment to have kids at age 38 and 40 because I had led such an independent life.
8. I know I already said I was thankful for family and loved ones but my mom deserves an extra shout-out - she is the best role model I could ask for and I am eternally grateful for her love and support!
9. My Isagenix Citibank VISA card is convenient and has come in handy to pay for things that I wouldn't necessarily be able to justify. The company loads the card each Monday as commissions are earned and an email shows up in my inbox to notify me.
10. Finally, I am grateful to have the opportunity to earn an unlimited stream of additional income while working from home at my own pace while helping other people get healthy! I can't really call it "work."

8-1/2 Month Progress: 80 lbs!!

I had to post an interim progress report today because I hit the milestone of 80 pounds this morning!! Twenty pounds more to reach my goal of 100 pounds but I know I will eventually lose more than 100. It's not about vanity but I was born with a somewhat petite frame (5'3") so in order for my body and organs to operate at peak efficiency it is optimal for me to weigh between 125-145lbs (a normal size 8-10).

It is comforting to know that I have a game plan for life in terms of staying healthy. It is not even about weight and that is hard to communicate to people. The IsaLean shakes are supplying all the 90 nutrients the body needs (minerals, vitamins and essential fatty and amino acids) plus the world's best whey protein. Why would anyone NOT put that in their body every day - regardless of weight? 

Here is a photo of me on July 7th in my new bathing suit - trying out my cruise wear look for the vacation I am going on next week with my mother and sister.  I was so psyched to get something other than black!! These are Land's End separates, four or five sizes smaller than the Land's End suit I wore last summer (which I already gave away).

Does Shopping for Jeans Ever Get Fun?

I HAD to go shopping for some clothes because everything is litterally hanging off. I went to Peter Harris (at the suggestion of a friend) and loved it. They are like a TJ Max or Marshalls - brand names for less.

I tried on about 25+ pairs of pants/jeans. Most fit but it was a matter of what style/fit was best for me. I started in the Plus department trying on size 14-16 then went to the "regular" department and fit into size 16-18 depending on the style.  I am excited to shop in the regular department because the styles are nicer and sales are better.

Here is a photo of one pair I bought - a size 14P from the Plus department (petite because I am only 5'3"). I can't believe it since back in Sept.'09 when I shopped for pants I was a size 24.  I am bringing lots of my old clothes to a consignment shop tomorrow because I know with Isagenix I have the permanent solution to my future health.

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! 

Happy Birthday to ME...I am 49 years old today and 49lbs lighter!

I turned 49 years old today and feel better than ever (I can't remember the last time I was at this weight, it has to be at least 11 years ago, if not longer).  The best part is that I will never have to worry about rebounding back up because the Isagenix products have changed my body from the inside. Thank you to Dr. J., to my sister and mother, husband, kids and friends who have all been supportive.  I am now helping other people achieve their goals and that is rewarding both emotionally and financially.

My sister got me and my mother-in-law (whose birthday is tomorrow) a room at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods (she's a big roller there apparently).  She surprised us with birthday balloons in our room plus bottles of alkalized water and apples - she's the best!

My husband made me a delicious fruit tart instead of a birthday cake - blueberries, strawberries, kiwi, no sugar.  The rest of the family had a regular cake.

12 WEEKS - DOWN 41LBS !!

I am going to take my measurements again on the 17th, which will mark 90 days.  Besides the weight loss I feel great, literally am able to jump out of bed in the morning (once I've decided I can't spare any more time), I can run down the stairs without holding onto the railing (before I was stiff first thing in the morning and moved a lot more deliberately). 

I just saw that Jason Alexander (George from Seinfeld) is a spokesperson for Jenny Craig.  Thanks to Isagenix for preferring to pay everyday people (like me) to be their spokesperson instead of giving the millions to a famous celebrity.  He said they want him to be a role model to recruit more men. That's another great thing about Isagenix, since it's not diet food, it's nutritional food, men don't feel as hesitant about trying it (there are lots of testimonials from men on the site - click here)

I would love to help anyone get started on this - you won't know how much better you may feel until you try it.

7 Week Progress - down 29 lbs and 31 inches!

Results may vary... the claim we've heard thousands of times. As I meet more and more people using Isagenix and now coach several people I see that it is amazing that people using the same exact products will get different kinds of positive results.  I know a lot of people now who are using the products (some for many years) and they all lost inches and pounds in varying degrees. Some lost way more inches than pounds, some gained weight (don't worry, that last group were body builders and serious athletes).   Dr J's dad lost more weight than his mom but the mom lost more inches.

Most people say they aren't craving junk food at all or as much, many say they sleep better and have less achiness. The common denominator is that when you put top quality nutrition in your body (and there is nothing out there as complete as Isagenix!) - something good is going to happen!  

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.