October 1 – cleanse is over – let me just say…

Okay. So, it’s been 30 days since I started the Isagenix cleanse. I stopped posting after day 11 because I just wanted to ride it out and see what would happen; if I would lose more weight, if I would be able to maintain the 2 shakes/1 meal a day thing, and the program in general. Good call, Amber…

Here’s the reality – I only made it to day 22 before my world came crashing down and the romance period with this cleanse ended. Why, you ask? I. Got. Super. Duper. Sick. And. Also. Got. The. Worst. Period. Ever.

For reals.

First of all, let me say that I did not get sick BECAUSE of Isagenix – I just…got sick. After being surrounded by a couple of sick roomies, and a sick boyfriend, it was bound to happen, and it did. Strep throat (like really bad), and fever, and then head cold, and I was pretty much in bed and trying to keep it together for most of the week. The cleanse and exercise regime went out the window once the antibiotics came on the scene and my sleep schedule got super wonky. Oh, and then there was the reactive eating because the pendulum of discipline swung the opposite direction, so I started getting into some high calorie comfort food last week c/o of my Spanish lover/personal chef (that’s not even a joke). I put the lid on it pretty quick, but it was a slip for sure.

All of this to say, Isagenix is obviously a great product/system. I did lose 15 inches off my body and lost 7 lbs in the first couple of weeks. Five of those pounds were pounds I had gained back (from 154 to 159), minus 2 pounds after that,  so I’m at 152! That makes me happy, regardless of the fact that I wasn’t able to complete the entire 30 days of cleansing, I know that that first highly disciplined and motivated 2 weeks really got the job done of detoxing my body and getting me out of my plateau. The increased energy I felt also got me jogging again, which I am continuing to do. Just went for a 3 km jog this morning! It was tough because of having been sick and out of commission for the past while, but I know I can do it now, and that makes all of the difference.

I’ve come to the conclusion that, due to my personal makeup and just the way I live my life, any rigid system of dieting or long term cleansing is an extreme challenge for me. I am not a highly disciplined person, although I am a very hard working and persevering person. I can accomplish a lot, but it doesn’t always come through the system that makes the most sense. I’ve come to terms with that fact – I kind of dance to the beat of my own drum. Always have and always will.

Isagenix was not really my kinda beat, I don’t think. It sure did make me feel awesome though, but it is not something I could sustain for any length of time or really be passionate enough about to stand behind and sell to the masses. Just being real here!

Also, I realized something very important in this whole process – real food is important to me, and my relationship with food is important to me. I want to have a good relationship with food. I want to plan meals that are healthy, cook, create, bake, share meals with others, celebrate the beauty of food – that’s part of who I am. Doing meal replacements became so very very lackluster after 10 or so days; something was missing! Also, I felt like if I wanted to really subscribe to the Isagenix lifestyle, it would become almost a codependent relationship with the products and without them I would be lost. No offences, Isagenix, but that’s how my brain processed it.

The challenge for me still is to refine and balance my relationship with food. I continue to struggle with overeating, portion control, and impulse eating from time to time, and yet I am probably about 80% healthier and more in control than I was 2 or 3 years ago. Progress has been made – big progress – and I feel like if I keep at it I will eventually have a relationship with REAL FOOD that is REALLY HEALTHY and also satisfying on a personal, culinary and social level. That’s the goal for me. Isagenix is just not a good fit in that sense! Me and food still gots shit ta work out!

So, that is my update. I keep it real, peeps! I often fail at things or don’t complete them because I change my mind or give up. But you know what I love and appreciate about myself?????

I never ever stop growing or trying, I let my failures teach me, and I always find my way to the things that matter to me…even if it’s a bit of a windy road.

I went for a 3 km jog this morning, drank my probiotic greens, took my omega-3-6-9s, vitamin D drops, antibiotics (ew – so strange to take probiotics and antibiotics in the same day!) and I’m eating a real yummy fall apple right now! However, about 15 minutes ago, I also ate an amazingly good handmade peanut butter cup that I purchased from a chocolatier at Lonsdale Quay Market yesterday afternoon…

And that’s how I roll. If you wanna pretend like you’ve never eaten chocolate for breakfast, go right ahead. I’ll be honest for the both of us instead! Hee hee!

Ovr’N'Out!

Amber

Isagenix cleanse – day 11 update – and I DID IT!

Today I decided to challenge myself physically by going for a jog! Admittedly, I have not been doing any real strenuous exercise for quite some time, preferring to stick with walking and hiking with my dog regularly. Having lost some more weight (and inches!) I have had this light feeling that has inspired me to want to push my limits again and see what I can accomplish physically – and that’s exactly what I did this morning.

My usual morning river walk is about 3 km round trip. Here is a picture of one of my favorite spots.

 

I started jogging as soon as I was out the front door (which my husky, Pinto, seemed to really enjoy!), and I just kept jogging and jogging and jogging until…I was back home again!

I JOGGED THE ENTIRE ROUTE! I stopped once to let Pinto do her business, but was full speed ahead the rest of the time.

I have to say, I feel very proud of myself right now for pulling that off, but more than that, I realize that I have been underestimating my strength and endurance and I am going to correct that! Being at my lowest weight in eons, I am actually able to jog for 3 km without finding it to be too much of a challenge, and this can only mean that I am probably able to do other things now that I wasn’t able to do before as well. I wonder how hot yoga will feel next week?

Bring on the physical challenges! My body is ready!

Isagenix cleanse day 11, and I’m feeling better than ever. Soon  I will measure myself again (weight and inches) and also post some pictures.

Thanks for following me on my journey!

Ovr’N'Out!

Amber

Isagenix 30 day cleanse – day 5 update

Well, I have made it through the first 2 days of regular cleansing and another 2 days of deep cleansing on the Isagenix 30 Day Fat Loss cleanse. It is now day 5 and….

I. FEEL. AMAZING.

Like really really amazing. I have had good energy levels and feel that my body is healthy and balanced, and have that extra little bounce in my step that a good cleanse always brings. What a great time to be alive. This fall will be a beautiful and enjoyable season for me, and I’m looking forward to it!

The last 2 days when I was doing the deep cleansing days (in which you don’t eat a regular shake meal or food lunch, but take the Isagenix supplements and mineral drinks and Isagenix snacks instead) I felt very light and I wasn’t even hungry. I think there is something about REPLENISHING your body while you detox with the Isagenix program that causes less hunger pangs. Brilliant!

Here is the crazy part. Well, more like the AWESOME part.

I have lost a total of 13.5 inches off my body in 4 DAYS. I kid you not.

13.5 inches…gone!

Pictures to come in the next couple of days. Honestly, I’ve just been lazy about taking them!

I am so happy with the results so far, and the fact that I feel even better than I look. This is a great system, and I am absolutely positive I will get to a whole new level of health from continuing with the full 30 day cleanse.

So that’s my update so far. Thanks for your support from near and far!

 

Ovr’N’Out!

 

Amber

cleanse day 2 check in

Just a brief check in for day 2 of my Isagenix 30-day cleanse.

I feel great this morning. I was able to wake up really early and felt energized right away – which is not always the case for me! I didn’t feel hungry at all yesterday, as I find the IsaLean shakes are actually very filling and keep hunger at bay.

So far, so good. I like the taste of the products, and the biggest and best surprise to me was the lack of sweetness in the IsaLean mix – and that’s a good thing! So many meal replacement products are LOADED with sugar, and I simply can’t stand them. The IsaLean shakes have a very low level sweetness that brings out the flavour, but nothing above and beyond that. Also, the sweetness comes from natural fruit and vegetable sugars, like beets! Amazing.

I am feeling great so far! I will check in after my 2 cleanse days on September 3 and 4. Those will inevitably be challenging, but I’ll get through them.

Thanks for reading!

Ovr’N'Out!

Amber

August update #2…let the cleanse begin!

Good morning, all.

I have gathered all of my wits about me in the past few days and am getting organized and mentally/physically prepared to start my 30-day Isagenix cleanse.  I ended up needing a few more weeks in August to place my Isagenix order, have it shipped, take some vacation time on a beautiful West Coast island , and refocus myself before diving in.

Today is the last day of August, there is a very noticeable chill in the air rushing in through the open window in my office, and I can almost see autumn walking down the road towards us, ready to relieve summer of her duties and take his place in the changing of the seasonal guard.

With each new season I make a goal for health and personal growth, and the 30-day Isagenix cleanse will be a part of my goals for this season. As I mentioned in my August Update post, I feel that I have reached a plateau in weight loss, now hovering around 154-158 (give or take, depending on water weight and what I ate that day) for a while now. But more than that, I finally feel healthy enough emotionally and physically (that combination being an important one to master!) to take on a cleanse and face it with the right attitude  from start to finish – one that will contribute to me having very good results and staying grounded in the process.

For the most part, I do not promote dietary cleansing for longer than a few days because I think there is too great a margin for error in terms of depleting your body of necessary vitamins and minerals and losing muscle mass. People can make themselves even more unhealthy from doing a cleanse – especially an unsupervised cleanse based on a the lastest fad, and one that is done SOLELY with weight loss in mind.

Weight loss, in my opinion, is the byproduct of a healthy balanced lifestyle that includes an abundance of nourishing foods and energizing activities. There are no short cuts or quick fixes. It is a steady and sometimes lengthy process that involves a deep commitment to loving yourself at every step of the journey and making healthy choices from a LOVING and WHOLE place inside of you.

That is the place I am operating from at this point in my weight loss journey, and that is why I am comfortable trying a cleanse program at this point. I have been wanting to do a nutritional cleanse to detox my body and start to release some areas of stored fat I have held onto for a long time. The Isagenix cleansing program is a replenishing program as well as a detox, which is why I think it is so awesome! It doesn’t just detox you and leave you depleted, it gives your body all of the essential vitamins, nutrients, and enzymes it needs to function and have increased vitality at the very same time. That is fantastic and safe and a great program for someone in my position.

I will be starting the cleanse tomorrow, September 1, and it will run for 30 days. I will use this blog as a platform to track my progress and weight loss throughout. During this cleanse I’ll also be taking up hot yoga again as of mid-September, so that will be a great added benefit to me in terms of building my muscles up again and sweating out as much grossness as possible!

Yay autumn, I am going to be my healthiest ever, come Christmas 2012!

My goal is to lose 12 to 15 lb in the next 2 months. I am assuming most of that weight will come off during the 30-day cleanse, but after that when I am maintaining and back to incorporating a regular healthy diet, I am going to really focus on the exercise part of my health routine and begin toning and cardio again. Those beautiful trails around here are just begging for me to jog them! Wahoo!

Thanks, again, for reading and supporting me. I have been the tortoise when it comes to weight loss – slowly making progress to a desired end, learning to believe in myself and gain new confidence and strength in the process. I am gaining some speed at this point, but the approach is generally the same.

Never rush yourself. Some people get to the finish line before everybody else – true – but they get there without having learned anything about themselves and fall back into old habits. In a culture that equates being thin to being successful, I go against the grain. I believe that success, if we even want to call it that, comes the moment you fully accept yourself, allow love to penetrate your life, and feel grateful for everything you are and everything you have. Whatever happens above and beyond that, weight loss included, is just the icing on the proverbial cake of life…the proof, if you will, of the goodness you are calling into your own life and the lives of those around you.

So, bring on the cleanse, dump on the icing, and let’s go!

Ovr’N'Out!

Amber

August update!

Hello again! It’s been a few months now, during which time I have been focusing on getting re-ACTIVE-ated and emotionally healthier. And the good news – I’m down another 12 lbs! Yep. Lowest weight I’ve been since starting this blog…

And the magic number is – 154 lb!!!

There is no big secret to this, really. I have been hiking, walking, yoga-ing, eating healthy, thinking positive, practicing mindfullness, journaling, art-ing, and letting go of the that which no longer serves me. All of these behaviors lead to a healthier human being in anyone who practices them. There is no magic formula or pill – it’s just about getting real and getting right with yourself; accepting that deep universal source love into your life in every area. That’s my secret, anyway.

Having said that though, I am kind of excited about a cleanse I am going to be starting in mid-August, in which I will be supported and coached all the way through by a new friend and someone I would consider a well-balanced health guru (nutritionist and realist!).

Ever heard of Isagenix?  I personally didn’t know much about it until meeting Tammra. Usually when it comes to network marketing products, I am a bit skeptical. My skepticism doesn’t come from the belief that these products are a scam (they are very much legitimate and GREAT products most of the time!), but understanding that network marketing requires a great deal of effort and passion, that often I have not had the energy to invest. However, meeting people like Tammra and my one of my bestest friends in the whole world, Desiree with Stampin’ Up!, I have been wowed and amazed at the success these beautiful ladies have had through their hard work, openness, and integrity in their business dealings. Very impressed!

So, I am going to try Isagenix and do the 30-day cleanse. It is an amazing cleansing program in that it detoxifies the body (from toxins mostly stored in the fast cells) and at the same time it REPLENISHES the body with the right mineral and vitamin balance. It is a whole foods product, above organic grade, and the success people have using it is pretty mind blowing. The results speak for themselves, and that’s what I’m interested in!

I feel ready to do a cleanse having spent the last 2 years working on the emotional aspects of weight loss. I get that part now. I get that you need to love yourself, that you need to break away from dysfunctional learned behaviors and coping mechanisms, and that you need to get active and find your way back to being excited about life! Those are the most important first steps. Now I am at a plateau having achieved those milestones of knowledge, and I’m ready to take the next step and give myself a good physical kickstart!

Enter Isagenix! My blog over August will be focusing on the cleanse once it starts and keeping you in the loop about the way I am feeling and weight I am losing in the process. I think we are all going to be pleasantly surprised.

Thanks for continuing to follow my blog!

Keep on keepin’ on!

Amber

Winter Strong – a song

Well, I told you all awhile ago that I had started to dive into music again, and here is a post to honor that part of my life. I have been writing songs since I was a kid, and music is one of my greatest passions. This song inparticular is very near and dear to my heart – a song about *knowing* that things will get better, the spring will come again.

Enjoy