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).