28 days later

I made it!

And the journey was worth it!

My beginning weight was 133.8 and my ending weight was 127.0! My husband lost 15 pounds and even quit 4 days early (lame). He was eating ice cream and hamburgers and fries in front of me and I wanted to punch him so hard!! I lost six pounds and really regret not measuring myself at the beginning because I know for a fact that I have lost inches and many! Most of my dress pants have become annoying to wear because I'm pulling them up all day long. I'm wearing size small again with room to grow! And the best part of it all- everyone tells me how great I look! It's such a boost of confidence and it makes you want to keep on the program. 

So what happens now? 

So many people have asked me what I plan on doing after 28 days of strict dieting. Well, I'm not going to lie... I will give into some of my cravings, just in huge moderation. Today was my first day off the detox technically, but I kept my morning and lunch routine the exact same. I'm actually going to have brown rice pasta and pasta sauce for dinner. But I plan on eating popcorn tonight too as I watch my nightly line up. Oh how I've missed popcorn! I plan to keep the breakfast and lunch the exact same so I can keep the weight off, but so I know that I'm treating myself right for MOST of the day. I plan on giving into little temptations throughout the day instead of feeling like I'm going to explode if I don't eat a resees (sp?) this second! I just know that I have done so many good things for my body and I feel so good when I do them that I won't be changing my habits drastically unless I want to see disgusting and drastic habits form (again).

I was amazed at how quickly the detox goes. You just start getting used to the diet and then it's over! I plan on doing it again in the summer to keep up the pace, unless I find that supplementing my two meals is enough. Now, I'm going to add in exercise, like walking, eliptical, light jogging... that kind of stuff. I can't wait to see what happens to my body now that I'm adding in exercise! Anyway- I don't have pictures to upload but I will soon!

 Thanks for all the encouragement and if you want to get summer ready- THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT!! You could start now and be ready for Memorial Day weekend lake fun!! Think about it! Also, if you purchase the 30 day feeling fit kit from Arbonne, before the end of April, you can get your name put in a drawing for $500 worth of Arbonne products and that includes the most amazing RE9 skin care line!

Come back this weekend to see what other products I used while I was on the detox that made my skin look and feel healthy!

Ok So you might want some updated pictures?

ENJOY!

My husband took these so I can't say they are from the same angle. Before they were just on a side table in the guest bedroom because I didn't have anyone to take my picture!

P.S. IT'S DAY 21! 

If you go back you can see a huge difference!

A way of LIFE

An array of items we purchased from the store this evening

I wanted to share some amazing things that are happening at the "detox" household! First of all, I have 6 new people that are very close to me that are starting the detox this week or they started it on Monday! GOOOOOD LUCK! You will do awesome and check back here for information throughout the process. I will tell you now that the detox is different for everyone but YOU will see results and that won't change from person to person at all.

So things change as you are doing the detox. You watch what others are putting in their mouths and you think, man I would feel so yucky after eating that! Or man, I'm so glad I'm eating all natural foods because my body feels amazing... SO in turn you start to change your eating choices all together. What is really cool is what we used to get from the grocery store were a lot of these same things, they are just more purposeful and healthy for my body. For example- 1% milk, chips (kettle cooked of course haha), pepsi, regular pasta, high sugar fruits and always a few extra processed foods were on the list BEFORE the detox. NOW, this is what we get: brown rice chips (so delish!), brown rice, brown rice gluten free pasta, sweet potatoes mmm, a large array of canned beans and avocados because they are so amazing but also because they are such an awesome healthy fat! I haven't really eaten any nuts but you can eat nuts, just not peanuts. One of my favorite snacks is our homemade protein bar! 

Oh yeah- totally healthy! Totally YUMMY!

Another amazing part of the "diet" is that you have these protein shakes that are out of this world! The first day it was hard for me to even drink the whole thing because it was soo much, now they are gone in less than 10 minutes (haha)! You get to have chocolate or vanilla and you can add all kinds of berries to make it taste so good. 

Our amazing new blender! And a strawberry vanilla protein shake!

This diet has been the easiest thing for me! First of all, the person that sold it to me is a text message away so when I question foods I just text her and she knows all the answers or finds them for me! No fail. Then, I feel so proud of myself when I can easily find choices on a menu that are totally healthy and that I won't feel guilty for eating. There are days when I want to emotionally eat - there have been 2 that I can remember and all I want is a pepsi and a peanut butter cup but I've pushed through! 

My most favorite moment so far was the other day I was dressing for a bridal shower (ok I just realized I have 2!) and I went to put a belt on that I usually wear really high on my waist (because that's where it fits and looks cute;) ) AND when I put it on it doesn't fit.... it fits where it is actually supposed to go, around my belt loops!!!!! WOW. And my second favorite moment- I went back to my old job to drop off one of the detoxes that I sold and I kid you not- practically every person that saw me said you look so good! I'm just doing my self-confidence a favor (not sure it needed it!), but I genuinely feel good, and when you feel good, why would you ever do something to your body that makes it not feel good?

So I guess I'm doing my job?

And I'm back!

So needless to say life has been a blur these last few days! Almost a week. You were probably getting tired of my meal schedule anyway! Instead of doing a meal schedule can I tell you the highlights and low lights of this diet?

High Lights:

Way more energy all day long until right before bed.

Skin looks amazing - like a natural glow

You don't feel guilty for eating!

I can wear almost everything in my closet now - especially my skinny jeans! reminder I'm not done with week 2 yet!!

I have a lunch to bring to work instead of eating out

I'm a better cook!

No caffeine headaches OR Pepsi withdraws!

I'M NOT STARVING.

People start to notice quickly :)

Low Lights:

You may be in the bathroom more often than usual. (2-3 x's a day)

You see your friends and family eat sweets like mom's brownies and breads and pizzas and you get a little jealous!

It's a bit harder to get out the door in the morning on time because of all the extra steps I take to get myself ready to go - tea, protein shake, lunch, etc.

Like I said at the beginning- I would be honest with you and tell you the truth about the detox.

 YOU CAN DO IT! 

Over the past few days that I haven't recorded my day-to-day life I have seen a huge difference in my skin, the way my clothes are fitting, and my over all attitude. I swear the fizz tabs have a mood enhancer in those things! I DID actually do some exercise today so I do hope that helps with my weight loss this week even though I wasn't disappointed with the 4 pounds last week. I can't even believe I have been doing this for almost 2 weeks! Awesome! I actually picked the best time too because we have started going to school for a longer amount of time to make up for all the snow and most of the teachers are just completely out of energy- NOT THE ART TEACHER!! I'm still good to go! That is such an amazing feeling. 

Thanks for following along so far!

AND THE RESULTS PLEASE!

Beginning Weight:

133

Today's Weight:

129

I couldn't be more thrilled with the results - especially since I woke up with a giant pudge from bloating - and no that's not from the detox. I am starting the 7 day cleanse today (and if you want to do JUST the 7 day cleanse you can!). My husband's results will be posted later! My husband lost 7 pounds in the first week!! A little jealous not gonna lie!

Day 7 And NEW challenges!

Day 7 -First of all I can easily keep doing this for another 21! No longer do I feel fatigue ALL DAY LONG. I am not starving in between meals OR craving that afternoon pepsi that would get me through the rest of the day. My stress is calmed with a detox tea in the morning and in the evening with a splash of citrus flavor because I simply don't like tea. The fizzy tabs create the best energy for you and there is never a let down! If I'm ever hungry I grab one of my awesome home-made protein bars or a fit chew and I'm golden! I find that I'm a much more calm and happy person because I'm not feeding myself toxic foods, but instead I'm replacing it with pure, safe, and beneficial products. I feel like a million bucks! And I can't deny that I'm starting to look the part too :)

This question if just for the ladies - how many of you can say that on the first day of your cycle you have had more energy than you normally do in your regular week?! Because this girl can!! I know T.M.I. But seriously? Who wouldn't be excited about that?

Some of my readers have wondered how I can offer such an amazing deal on these products- well as of mid-February I became an Arbonne Independent Consultant and I'm loving it. And if you want more information on that or the business let me know because this business already is changing me in a huge way!

Anyway - on to day 7!

Awesome day 7. I woke up feeling like I needed 12 more hours of sleep... thank you mother nature... and had to chug my detox tea with the fizzy energy tab in it to have enough hands free to run out the door with all my junk! And the results were well worth the chug! I immediately (in my short 10 minute commute to work) felt a difference. I was on the phone in an upbeat mood and praying with more emotion than I have had in a long time to my awesome God. Did the energy wear off in an hour? Oh no. Lunch rolls around and I'm still on this awesome energy! I felt bad for my coworkers who were already ready to go home for the day when I still have plenty of energy. I was lucky today because the cafeteria was serving fresh strawberries (how'd they know?!) and fresh carrots and broccoli. I felt stuffed with my protein shake. 

Dinner was the usual medley of green veggies, some better sweet potato fries, and chicken and brown rice. I don't know what other detoxes are like, but you would be crazy not to try this if you are at all interested!

The kitchen AFTER our dinners lately.

By the way- check back early tomorrow to see my weigh in results! And I'll be posting my husbands on here as well!

Day Six

So I "punished" myself today. 

I had a strawberry and vanilla protein shake this morning AND at lunch, instead of eating a normal lunch with proteins and veggies. I was sooo sure that when 3 o'clock rolled around I would be starving because I hadn't loaded up on the "real" food and I wasn't!! That was the best part! I had a fit chew in the morning and a fit chew after lunch and then came home and made another "Detox Chipotle" bowl with the fixin's. I added an avocado mashed up with a few tomato chunks in it to add some flavor and it really made it yummy. I also made (for the first time EVER) sweet potato fries! And you would be seeing a picture of those if they hadn't turned out completely BLACK! HAHAHAHA. I think I just need to turn down the heat next time! But they were still pretty good! So we got a few more sweet potatoes tonight and plan on trying that out again. It was like a guilty pleasure having those and knowing that I wouldn't be damaging what I was trying to do. Ok technically can I get on the scale tomorrow since it will be day 7?! My husband rejected that - nope weigh yourself on the same day... ok fine. RESULTS TO COME... aaaaaaahhhhhh!