MARCH-ing FORWARD...

Tuesday, Feb. 25th.  Down 11 lbs.  Checking in to report I continue to release weight.  I ordered some of the snacks and meal replacement bars because they are good and satisfy.  The shakes are tasting sweeter to me -- perhaps that is because my sugar intake is drastically cut.  I am not a big fan of the Cleanse Days -- it's  not that I can't do it, I just hate them.  To be honest, other than normal activity I haven't done any major workouts.  We DID finally find the Nordic treadmill and moved it so that I can walk while I entertain myself watching the shows that my husband hates...... Housewives and The Bachelor..... among others.  My guilty pleasures!  Haven't had much of an appetite -- its either because of Isagenix solely, or an RX that I take -- or combo of both.  Fact is, I don't have much more than 800-1000 calories a day.  I must say that my husband I have gone out to dinner several times in the past 3 weeks.  I try to keep it to the 600 calories or less dinner plates (having the shakes and 2 snacks during the day).  I do believe that any diet works if you stick with it --- but it is the feeling of being deprived that I hate. I don't feel deprived on this eating plan and I eat when I am hungry!  These are small meals or replacements.  In terms of results, I am down 2 pant sizes. Thought I had on the wrong slacks yesterday and had to check the label.  If you are like me you probably have 3 sizes of everything in your closet.  YO YO......  It is kind of fun exploring clothes that I put away or in the back of the closet because they made me feel bad about how much weight I put on.  Sleeping has improved.  Again, I have no clue as to if this is due to the supplements and diet.  I have trouble sleeping through the night -- that is happening less and less over the last 3 weeks.  So going forward, I will continue to drink lots of water with lemon -- I absolutely believe that diet coke and caffeine was counter productive although I love coffee and diet coke.  Now, I am used to going without it -- no cravings for it.  Lastly, the vitamin supplements and Isagenix cleanse/juice seems to help get me on my way in the a.m.  Concluding, I have nothing negative to say -- positive things to report.  Stay tuned...

SNOW GO AWAY!

Thursday, February 13, 2014.   Bottom line, I'm down 7 lbs.  Seems like with all this bad weather in the ATL and being cooped up -- about all people do is eat and drink!  I did make it to the store, got fresh fruit, veggies and yep, bought a bottle of wine..... not supposed to drink wine on the program -- but it sure was extra nice to cuddle up on a snowy night with my love. Back to Isagenix.  I had to place an additional order last week because my husband ATE all the meal replacement bars.  I ordered an assortment of bars and snacks to supplement my shakes.  One thing to note is that I have not had time to workout lately.  Very busy schedule at home and at work.  BUT, I have signed up for a kick boxing class.  New studio in Dunwoody --- it's kind of cool and I think I would prefer that to a gym.  One cool thing I found there were YOGA SOCKS!  I didn't know they exist!  I am always FREEZING and now I can do YOGA with my friend Robin.  One thing I do want to say after 2 weeks of Isagenix is that I am sleeping better than I have in two years.  Additionally, I have not had a diet coke nor do I have a craving for them at this point.  The only carbs I've had with my meal (which I save split into two 300 calorie meals) are couscous and brown rice.  I use every fresh veggie I can in combination to make some great vegetarian meals -- no added salt, just Indian herbs, curry, peppers, chilies, turnips, broccoli, carrots, etc.  Its been difficult in terms of eating out --- but I'm timing the dinners out pretty well.  Broiled and plain......  Other than the wine we had, I have had a couple Vodka Tonics (diet) so at least I feel like I am not deprived.  So, 7 lbs gone --- but inches? I've gone down a bra size and a pants size.  I no longer am having issues with digestion, heartburn or feeling nauseated after eating. Spent over a grand trying to figure out what that was all about last year......so, something is going right.  Been forcing myself to drink as much water as possible.  One last comment --- my blood pressure is down 20 points and is nearly normal.  I feel good! I'll do better into next week -- hopefully I will be able to get out of the driveway tomorrow!

Friday, February 7th, 2014.  Probably shouldn't have weighed in this morning but I just felt the need to succeed...... down 5 lbs since last Tuesday.  Would have been more, but I've had to integrate this program into my everyday life.  It is getting easier, I feel very good and I have no hunger pains or cravings.  I am always thirsty, so it seems I carry a bottle of water everywhere I go.  I do miss my diet coke.... but oh well.  Had to order more Isagenix bars as my husband has discovered them and apparently has been sneaking them out of the pantry.  Looking forward to tonight --- dinner out with good friends.  I will probably do an extra cleanse day next week to mitigate my going out to dinner tonight.  I plan on taking measurements as it is obvious that inches have disappeared.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014.  Well it has been one week.  Weighed in this morning and I am 3 1/2 lbs down since last Tuesday.  I haven't had time to measure but I can tell from my clothes that I've lost from my bust and waist. I'll measure and give you an update on that.  The past week has been hectic after the snow here in the ATL that was a total disaster for so many of us. In terms of going to work out at the gym -- I didn't.  But I have plenty of work at the house to keep me active.  I must say that I was delighted at my weight loss -- but I know it could have been more.  I am a slow adopter -- it took me a few days to read all the literature, take a look at the products and try to get my daily schedule to best suit me.  in terms of the program, I can say that overall I was never starving -- but the first two days were a bit of a struggle.  I had to do away with both my morning coffee and say goodbye to diet coke which I like to have a few times a week.  I bought fresh veggies and loaded up on fish. Mahi Mahi, Salmon, Talapia, Grouper and Cod.  Other than brown rice and a few apples, raw almonds --- I was off to the races.  I have two kinds of shakes to choose from for two (2) meal replacements a day.  Chocolate and Vanilla.  Of course, I went for the chocolate the first and second days. I had a bit of a time taking all the AM and PM vitamin supplements but ultimately -- I got used to them.  I start the day with the Ionix Supreme (loaded with B vitamins); followed by the Natural Accelerator tablet to boost metabolism.  For breakfast and lunch I had the shakes supplemented throughout the day with Isagenix snacks.  The dark chocolates with green tea are satisfying, the vanilla wafers taste like cake icing to me.  On the second day, I could not drink the second shake.  I just did not have the appetite.  I was however, THIRSTY.  I got to the point that I filled up VOSS bottles and put them in the refrigerator so I could grab them COLD at any time.  The next two (2) days were CLEANSE days.  That's when I ran into a problem.  I wasn't hungry but psychologically felt deprived.  Basically, you stop the shakes and you can't indulge in the 400-600 calorie dinners on the CLEANSE days.  More about dinners later....  So I followed the Cleanse Day Planner, UNTIL late afternoon when I broke down and ate a very small spinach salad with three strawberries.  Later that night I downed about 2 oz of baked chicken (plain, no spices) and two (2) celery sticks.  A NO NO but I told you I was a slow adopter.  The second CLEANSE day wasn't so bad -- I kept to the Isagenix snacks (there are some nice options that I have not tried yet).  On the third SHAKE DAY, I tried the Vanilla Shake -- the consistency is good but it isn't as satisfying as the chocolate.  Note that you can utilize the orange Energy sticks by adding them to the vanilla --- making it taste more like a dream cycle. Again, late day I felt deprived --- so I ate a medium sized apple -- which is okay on a shake day but NOT okay on a CLEANSE day.  By this time, I didn't have any cravings.  The program was tolerable and I thought the program added a certain amount of energy to my day.  Just wasn't quite sure. One thing that I did notice is that I DID NOT FEEL BLOATED.  I've had digestive problems for which I have seen a doctor -- also had the allergy test to determine foods for which I am sensitive.  Friday and Saturday went without a hitch.  Super Bowl Sunday was just a fizzle. I was happy to speak for 30 minutes to my Isagenix coaches who set me straight on how to best utilize the program.  No be frank, I was a bit confused on how and when to use the products to my advantage.  Anyway, I was bored with the football game and went to bed early.  Monday night my husband I went out to eat dinner at Red Lobster (I followed the program). They have a 600 calorie menu.  I had the broiled platter with shrimp, lobster, scallops and 1/2 cup of rice pilaf.  NO SALT, NO SEASONINGS.  Tasted fantastic to me.  Generally in the evening both my husband and I are eating fish every night with veggies (like steamed broccoli) and mock mashed potatoes (whipped parsnips and carrots with nothing added).  Hubby thought they were sweet potatoes.  Well, this is a long BLOG -- but I'm happy with the results so far. Stay tuned....

 Monday, January 27th.  I unpacked my Isagenix box and took a look at all the different goodies before making a place for them in the kitchen pantry. Everybody starts a diet on a Monday right? Well not today --- We have dinner reservations for Monday night so I decided to begin on Tuesday.  In the interim, since my last post --- I did what was recommended -- cooked everything we had left over from my last grocery store adventure so that I could buy all fresh fish, veggies, lean meats, almonds, and other food items allowed on this program.  I also spent quite a bit of time watching informative videos on YouTube.  I want to say straight out that this program is not meant to be a flash in the pan diet.  It's about healthy living. It's understanding what supplements do make a difference and how many "nutritionally sound" supplements, powders, shakes, vitamins and other things can help our bodies work more efficiently and make us feel better.  I can tell you that I have spent time reading everything on-line and in magazines.  I have spent countless hours going to GNC, listening to Dr. Oz and being introduced to the 7000 things recommended to make a new and happier me!  I look at the ingredients in many of these products --- and I see the "WATCH OUTS" in terms of additional binders,  added sugar, gluten and more.  What if I can get all those Doctor recommended benefits from a product that is as organic, that steers away from artificial ingredients, and combines them in a way so that I am not harboring 97 bottles of stuff in my pantry?  What if I don't have to count calories, can eat my own food and use the shakes, meal replacement bars, snacks so that my body is getting what it needs vs. what it craves?  But, just how much will I have to give up?  Follow-me on my journey and we will see!

Tuesday, January 28th.  I didn't have to work today, slept in.  So I did not start the program at 7 am in the morning.  Typically, it is suggested that you begin your day early to kick start your metabolism by having an IsaLean Shake (choc or vanilla), Ionix Supreme, and the Natural Accelerator. About 10:00 am, I made my IsaLean Shake (pictured above).  My package came with a portable Isablender allowing me to easily make a Shake and then mix one "to go".  I love chocolate so I threw 2 scoops in the blender with cold filtered water and 5 ice cubes. The mix dissolved quickly and was transformed into the look and texture of a McDonald's Chocolate shake.  SO FAR SO GOOD!  It was so thick that I couldn't use a regular straw...... in my book, that is okay too!  At first taste, I thought "this is quite good" but my taste buds said "why don't you add some Splenda"?  NOPE, artificial sweeteners are not allowed! Honestly, it took me a while to drink the entire shake because it was filling and satisfying.  So after I finished the shake, I popped my AM Isagenix Product B Antioxidants and Telomere Support capsules.  At about 11:00 am I decided to mix the IONIX Supreme with filtered water and microwave it and drink it as a tea.  I thought it was fine --- I've seen posts from people that say it tastes bad but it was fine with me, warm and rather fun.  At this point, I realize that I did not take the Isagenix Accelerator in the early AM as prescribed.  Well, okay --- SO WHAT?  So I popped it and decided to go onto the grocery store because REALLY?  It is going to freaking SNOW in the ATL today?  I got to Kroger at about 12:30 --- what a damn ZOO!  Anyway, they NEVER get the weather right here so I took my time shopping.   I bought fresh caught salmon, tilapia, grouper, flounder, and cod.  I also bought parsnips, carrots, turnips, leeks, spinach, apples, almonds, cashews, celery, onion and red/green/yellow peppers.  Folks, I will grill 365 days a year SNOW OR NO!  I also have flax and chia seeds that I routinely add to dishes --- they are good for you!  And of course, I got some skinned chicken breasts (organic).  If you love potatoes and you want a "fake" but flavorful substitute then ask me about my parsnips and carrot recipe!  It's wonderful!  ALSO, you've seen it on my Facebook!  My Bok Choy with Cashews recipe!  OFF THE CHAIN! So I get to the checkout and do a double take because the parking lot is covered with snow!  What?  I check out as fast as possible and go out into the abyss!  I have to call my husband because I cannot get up our stupid driveway!

Houston we have a PROBLEM!  So I get home and we tote the groceries up the driveway from hell. I get the food put away and I notice the grumbling of my stomach and intestines.  Okay, I'm a bit stressed and it's rolling on 3:30 pm.  I have a delicate digestive track --- so changes to my immediate diet can equate to IBS.   TWO trips to the bathroom (lets say that it was a royal flush).  To be honest, I AM NOT HUNGRY AT ALL!  So I don't want to do an Isagenix shake --- but I do bake skinned chicken breasts, then saute zucchini, summer squash and red pepper with onion with a side of brown rice.  Dinner was 5 oz of chicken and a bite of veggies...... took my Isagenix Product B PM supplements and went to take a long relaxing bath.  I forgot to mention that I DID pop 2 Isagenix dark chocolate snacks when I came home from the grocery store.  The dark chocolate and green tea were WONDERFUL!  30 calories each..... satisfies the love of chocolate!  

To recap, I had 1 Isagenix shake, supplements, and 2 snacks.  For dinner I ate 5 oz of chicken --- I DID cheat --- because I had 2 glasses of chardonnay as I wrote this post.  BAD GIRL!  Hey!  It's snowy and romantic having a SNOW DAY!

STAY TUNED!  Tomorrow I am going to take BEFORE pictures and log my measurements......... however, I don't know if posting those will make me feel MOTIVATED?  Maybe I should just log my PROGRESS?  Or let it ALL HANG OUT..... ?

In the WORDS of SCARLET O' HARA "Oh I can't think about this now! I'll go crazy if I do! 
I'll think about it tomorrow." But I must think about it. I must think about it. What is there to do?"...........

FOLLOW THE PLAN!

I decided it was time to start getting off the weight I have put on since 2007.  After turning 50 things seemed to go downhill in terms of how I felt --- (menopause, hormone imbalance, mood swings, aches and pains). When my knees started to hurt and I started looking at myself from the back -- I didn't know who it was! What happened?  Is my butt THAT BIG?  I quit asking "do I look fat in this" -- I already knew the answer.  But then, I tried to reason with myself -- you're just getting older and it happens to everybody..... Or, my metabolism is just SLOWER than everybody else.  How about "I'm just big boned" and lastly, at least I carry my weight in proportion.  What a bunch of BS --- I'm FAT.  Don't get me wrong, I don't hate myself, nor do I see myself in any distorted way when I look in the mirror.  I don't show many wrinkles (well that's because my face is full and round) but by GOD I have a double chin!  Well, GOD doesn't have anything to do with it --- It's me.  I lack discipline, HATE the gym (it smells), we no longer live in a subdivision with a pool or walking trails and frankly, ALL I seem to do is WORK (professionally and at home).  Being a true FOODIE, I love to cook -- and who doesn't like to pop open a cold, crisp chardonnay while mincing herbs, or sauteing sweet onions and garlic.  Well, there goes 300 extra, empty calories just from a libation!  I've never been much of a sweet eater --- but I do love chocolate! CHOCOLATE ANYTHING!  So how did I come to this decision.  The decision to try Ingenix?  I did my research, went to Facebook and contacted a good friend who sells it.  She was straight up with me.  This is not really a diet but it is about making the choice to go off foods that have a ton of additives, diet drinks, sugar and too many carbs.  I figured that I would try it for a month -- document my results and hopefully kick-start myself into a healthier lifestyle.  Not only do I want to kick the bad food habit but I also don't like shopping for plus size clothes.  I don't like having to buy wide calf boots!  Well, the shipment will be here this week. I remain hopeful and will chronicle my journey. I do not SELL Ingenix or stand to GAIN ANYTHING.  In fact, I stand to LOSE.  IN A GOOD WAY.  In the meantime, I will continue to blog and track my success (or failures).