30 Day Detox

If you don't already know, I am an Arbonne consultant and have been for about a year now. I absolutely love the products that Arbonne offers - I even get excited when I get a box in the mail from Arbonne. From the make up to the lotions even the weight management products - I Love it all! On top of that I get spoiled by the company as well - Tiffany's, Mercedes trips and so on! If you have been following along you'll already know that I am trying to better others' physique, mental state, and over all mood.

So I bet you're now thinking How does this even relate to Arbonne?  Well, i'm getting to that part. Today I was doing a web search, as I always do to find different blogs and postings about Arbonne success stories and I came across one that I enjoyed. A woman by the name of Becki tried Arbonne's 30 Day Detox challenge and had exciting results from it. I've tried the products and fell in love so it was great to see someone else's response and results ( especially because I never take before photos only after photos) so much so that I thought I'd post her response from her blog below.

---

Back in December I started a business with Arbonne International, a health and wellness company with products including skin care, baby care, cosmetics, and nutrition products. When I started I had only tried samples of some of the products, but I loved what I had tried. I loved that the products are certified vegan and contain no artificial flavors, colors, dyes, fragrances, or sweeteners. Still, I wanted to try them out more fully to make sure I stood behind them and wanted to build this business as part of my career.

I had seen Before and After photos of people who had used the Arbonne 30 Days to Feeling Fitkit and they were really amazing. The system is designed to help people pinpoint possible food sensitivities they have and may not realize as well as helping the body to detox from addictive foods and the chemicals that are often found in the processed products so many of us eat. A lot of people lose weight on the program too because they end up shedding a lot of the toxic buildup in their bodies from overly processed foods or things the body has had difficulty digesting like gluten and dairy.

As someone who had lost 90 lbs and gained 10 back I was already looking for something to help me get over the little bump I had encountered in the road and hopefully help me blast past my previous plateau. 

I was afraid, however, that I wouldn’t have very noticeable results since I was already pretty conscious of what I was eating and had already cut virtually all processed junk. I decided to give it a go because I figured it couldn’t hurt and at least that way I would have a personal point of reference for clients who might be interested in trying it.

The program calls for you to give up alcohol, caffeine, dairy, gluten, refined sugar, and soy. I knew that giving up dairy would be great for me because I’m lactose intolerant and still feel kind of crappy even when I use lactaid to help with my symptoms, but I wasn’t sure about giving up the others. I was a big coffee drinker, but decided to give up as many of the things it suggested as possible so that I would really know how the program worked.

The one exception I made, as a vegetarian, was soy. Rather than giving up all soy (which would have eliminated both tofu and tempeh from my diet), I decided to give up processed soy and stick to organic tempeh.

I got my package in February, just a couple months ago.

It contained :: two bags of vegan protein powder (60 servings), two boxes of energy fizz sticks (40 servings), two bags of fit chews (60 servings), two boxes of detox tea (40 servings), and a bag of fiber boost (30 servings) along with a guide for completing the program.

The protein powder in the plan is used as a meal replacement for two meals per day, but because it’s in a powder rather than ready-made you can customize the shakes to your taste with lots of add-ins. The energy fizz sticks, which are packed with B vitamins are designed to take the place of coffee for giving you a boost of energy and are added to water like Crystal Light. The fit chews, which have the consistency of tootsie rolls, are used to help curb cravings between meals. The fiber boost is to help keep you full and get plenty of fiber in your diet, and the detox tea is an herbal tea that supports liver and kidney function.

On the morning of January 29 I was ready to start. I did it this way rather than the first of the month because I wanted to finish on the last day of February. I stepped on the scale to weigh in and then had Joe take my Before photos, which weren’t pretty. I didn’t suck in my gut or try to look thinner than I was. I wanted the photos to truly reflect my starting point.

Breakfast

For the next four weeks I started my morning with a vegan protein shake. My go-to was vanilla protein, unsweetened almond milk, a scoop of the fiber boost, lots of spinach, and half of a banana, but I did mix it up a bit sometimes skipping the banana, sometimes adding PB2, and trying lots of different flavor combos to keep my taste buds guessing. Most mornings I also had an energy fizz stick, which not only gave me a boost of energy, but ensured I would start hydrating first thing. Around 10am I would have a fit chew and a cup of the detox tea. If I found myself hungry before lunch, I would also have a healthy snack.

Lunch

For lunch each day I had another protein shake, this time mixed with water because I didn’t want to bring almond milk with me to work. I have a Blender Bottle so that made it super easy to mix up the shakes on the go. Then in the afternoon I would have another fit chew and an energy fizz stick if I was feeling run down (this was usually the case on the days I had night class). If dinner was going to be late or if I was working out in the afternoon I would also have another healthy snack.

Dinner

For dinner I had something different every day. I was also doing the #plantPOWER challenge from Kasey and Heather, so that helped me decide what to eat each day. If the letter was E, I was probably having eggplant that night. On day K, I had a salad with kale and kidney beans. Never over the course of the four weeks did I feel deprived. On occasion I would have a cup of detox tea before bed and if I was craving something sweet I would make myself a gluten free, dairy free dessert. Often that meant making some protein pudding with the protein powder, but on a few occasions I actually baked something special.

My Results

After the very first day I had lost 2 lbs! I knew that some of the weight would come off quickly since I was cutting out some foods known to cause bloat, but I was surprised when the weight loss kept going. After a week I had lost 8 lbs and was blown away. Then my weight loss stopped. I didn’t gain any weight, but I wasn’t losing anymore either. This is also when the Arbonne Clear Advantage acne line stopped working for me and my face started to break out. I was still loving the way I felt (and my pants kept getting looser) so I kept up with the program. After two weeks of not losing any more weight on the scale, I made my discovery about agave nectar, which is what I had been using in some of the baked goods I had made. As soon as I realized how controversial agave nectar is and that it has more fructose than high fructose corn syrup, I cut it out of my diet.

The next week I was losing weight again and my skin started to clear up. I was still eating plenty and had adequate fuel for my workouts and marathon training. In the last week of the detox I lost 4 more pounds for a total loss of 12 pounds! 

As excited as I was about the loss, I was even more excited when I compared my Before and After photos. I hadn’t taken any measurements (it just kept slipping my mind in the early days of the detox), so I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to document a noticeable difference. Boy was I wrong!

While the weight loss was amazing, I also learned a LOT about my diet in general. Although I don’t have a gluten intolerance, it made a world of difference for my body to be gluten free. At first I attributed all of the changes to how I was feeling to being dairy free, then I had a beer and some food with gluten the other night. It didn’t sit well with me, literally. The next day I was very bloated and felt gross. Since then I’ve reduced my gluten back to almost zero and feel awesome again. I’m so glad I used this program to detox rather than cleansing with products that would flush my system of junk without giving me any idea of why I was bloated and needed to detox in the first place.

I highly recommend the Feeling Fit plan and can honestly say I would even if I didn’t work for Arbonne. If anyone is interested in trying out the plan, get in touch with me and I’d be happy to answer any more questions about my experience or the products.

http://www.creativesoulinmotion.com/2013/03/what-my-body-told-me-during-after-my-detox/

These stories motivate me, and keep me inspired. It re affirms that I joined a company that does well for the people that are a part of it! 

Whether you're interested in trying these products or looking for a healthier lifestyle feel free to email me, I'd love nothing more to help you along on your goals - whatever they may be :)

beautybalancebody@gmail.com

+stay healthy

+stay fit

+stay positive

Positive vibes 

A lot of people comment on how I don't show negative emotion, and ask what my secret is. 

My secret? There is no secret, and its simple really. Its all in the way you perceive what is in front of you. The way you feel and how you act can have a major impact on how your day turns out. I'm not afraid of the future and I'm not afraid of failure. What I do today, helps me become who I will be tomorrow. Every experience, every little miracle or obstacle helps shape me to be the best possible person that I can be. I am not saying I don't have bad days - I do. I just take from those bad and learn and grow and that's what makes me happy - growing mentally physically and spiritually. 

I have great people in my corner and some not so great. Those who are always there and those who are there when it benefits them - that's fine. They are doing the same thing as you - living and doing what makes them happy.

I ask you now, do you find yourself constantly battling stressed feelings or unhappy thoughts? Ask yourself why and find a road that will deter you away from that negative energy. Most of the time we continue feeling as we do without reflecting on why we feel the way we do, and from there it becomes a continual cycle of more stresses. Your stresses and set backs can become a view for opportunity to be challenged and motivated. If you find you are in a situation you wish to not be in and that is what is setting you back, my advice to you is change the scenario.

Here are some of my tips for you to help through those unwanted nasty days or weeks.

1. If someone close to you hurts your feelings - let them know - don't be mean about just have a rational conversation about things that bother you. Don't necessarily write people off right away either. We all have good traits and bad traits. They make us who we are, but how can change be expected if that person that has hurt you doesn't realize what they are doing?

2. For one week write everything down that gives you hesitation, stress,makes you upset and so on. By the end of the week take a look at what bothered you and examine it. You may notice that there are patterns occurring. Sometimes we go on autopilot to get through whatever it is we need to during the week, and thats OK. However sometimes when that happens we lose our focus and become uneasy, or upset at small things.How can we change our perspective? Attitude 

Sure, I dislike having to wait for people to contact me back when I've emailed them about business related aspects, and sometimes it may feel like they take forever to respond. However, I am doing what will ultimately make me happy in the future. During that time, I am grateful that I have been able to start my own business with the education that I have and went to school for.

2. I try not to complain. I saw a post on instagram and it enlightened me. It was a post challenging you to not complain for one full day. Is it difficult? Absolutely, but its doable. It is all in the perspective. Its surprising how much we complain about things, even when we don't mean to.

"Exercising  daily is hard work"
- I am now one step closer to getting to my ideal weight, fuelling my body with energy while feeling and looking my best

" I hate how cold it is"
- I have running warm water, big blankets ( lovely duvet), and other means to keep warm, not a lot of people have what I have, so I am thankful more than disappointed or agitated.

3. Write what you are grateful for and what makes you happy. Big or small. Write it. You don't have to do this everyday, if you want, just write when something happens that put a smile on your face. Make a book of them to reflect on when you start to feel stressed about life not going where you want it to go, or when you feel like your day can't get any worse. This will be your pick me up.

I'm currently sitting here thinking about what I am grateful for; My family, the copious amount of supportive and wonderful people in my life, my yoga classes and being able to go to the gym whenever possible.
I've seen those close to me struggle through pain, torture and and triumph! Climb to the top after every battle that was given and stand at the top of that proverbial mountain. That too is my inspiration. What I need to look at to reflect on my bad days to turn them into positive, to motivate me to work harder and to push me along on my bad days. 

Like everyone else, I too get my bad days and though they may not work for everyone, these help me get over unwanted feelings almost instantly. When you find yourself feeling down, ask what can be changed to make yourself happier, accomplished and find what can help you become dedicated to something great. 

I'm not saying life is easy and won't suck from time to time and I do take into consideration that there are aspects we cannot run away from. Life can be scary or it can be rewarding it's how you choose to view it and what you choose to do with what's given to you Most importantly never give up. Everything you do leads you somewhere. Are we allowed to have bad days? Absolutely, thats what good nights with great friends are for.

Granola Bars

As promised, I am posting a recipe for Granola bars. I made these the other day, brought them to work and they were a huge hit!

Make sure you use a 13X9 pan... I used smaller which made them too thick

2 1/2 cup rolled oats ( gluten free) 

1/2 cup quinoa flour ( just get Reg quinoa, blend it till its like flour )

1/2 cup non fat non fat dry milk powder

1/2 cup unsweetened coconut

1/2 cup sliced almonds or pecans ( I did almonds this time ) 

1/2 cup raisins 

1/2 cup dried fruit ( apples berries ) 

1/2 cup all natural peanut butter / almond butter 

1 cup honey - dark 

2 teaspoons vanilla 

Directions: 

Spray pan with cooking spray and preheat oven to 325

In a large mixing bowl combine oats, quinoa flour, dry milk, coconut, almonds, raisins, dried fruit and stir until combined. 

In a small saucepan combine the honey and peanut butter on low heat stir occasionally but DONT boil. Remove from heat add vanilla. 

Add the warm mixture to the dry and mix quickly. Pour into your baking dish and press firmly with your hands. ( you want to get rid of any air pockets ) 

Bake for 25 minutes or until the edges are lightly brown. ( I needed to put them in longer just cause they were made thicker, so judge according to size ). 

Let cool for ten minutes the cut them into your desired size 

Oh! You can add a nice peanut butter " coating " by using the same peanut butter/ honey mixture ( maybe less the honey) and drizzle it on top 

I didn't cut them properly so I apologize for the appearance 

Get Fit

This February a bunch of us (my coworkers and I) are participating in a wellness challenge. For me, this means no

+ Sugar

+    Salt

+ Bread

+ Alcohol

and High Protein

You can choose whatever goal you would like to achieve, just stick to it for maximum results. Myself, I am choosing to lose 4 pounds, one pound per week. No matter what goal you choose to achieve make sure you first choose to be healthy, after all thats the purpose of the wellness challenge. 

If you are wanting to do this with me I'll be posting some recipes. Its been a week for me and I will admit it has been a bit hard ( I did have a cheat day yesterday - 1 glass of wine). 

Below are some high protein foods to add to your diet

1. Greek Yogurt ( my favourite kind of yogurt) - plain can contain up to 3x less sugar than flavoured greek yogurt.

Made by straining away the liquid, deliciously thick Greek-style yogurts contain about twice as much protein as regular versions. You'll also reap the rewards of gut-friendly probiotic bacteria and bone-building calcium. 

2, Cottage Cheese - can be high in sodium however if you read the nutrition labels you can find brands that contain less sodium

This curd-riddled cheese product is laced with casein protein—a slow-digesting protein that supplies your growing muscles with a steady supply of vital amino acids. Think of it as the MVP of snack time, especially before bedtime. 

3. Swiss Cheese - Great on sandwiches or salads. 

Ounce for ounce, Swiss cheese provides more protein than other commonly available varieties in the supermarket, making it a muscle-friendly option for your sandwiches and burgers. 

4. Eggs -  Keep an eye out for cartons containing eggs with beefed-up omega-3 levels to make your morning scramble work even harder for you. 

If you are like me and are not a fan of eggs, there is an alternative - vegan eggs, that you can find at vita health or other health food stores. 

These white orbs are near-perfect muscle food. That's because the biological value—a measure of how much protein from the food can be incorporated into proteins in the body—of an egg is higher than that of nearly any other item in the grocery store. The biological value is largely dictated by the amount of essential amino acids a food possesses, and the humble egg has these in spades. 

5. Milk - organic farming methods produce more nutrients including healthy omega fats. 

A source of top-notch protein with a biological value just shy of that found in an egg. But why try to chug watery, flavorless skim milk when you can still enjoy the richer taste of 2 percent without breaking the fat bank. Besides, the extra fat will help you absorb the fat-soluble nutrients like vitamin D present in the great white. 

6. Soy milk - I personally am not a fan of the taste of regular milk, so soy is a perfect alternative. To avoid high sugars opt for the unsweetened variety. 

While most non-dairy milks are light in protein, soy milk is the exception. If you're eschewing cow dairy for reasons such as lactose intolerance, consider using soy milk to float your cereal in, or for whipping up post-gym shakes. 

7. Peanut Butter - when dieting, this becomes your best friend!! (literally, BEST friend). I eat this by the spoon full. Satisfyingly good.

Though not as trendy as other nut butters like almond, ye olde peanut butter still leads the way in the protein department. 

8. Mixed Nuts -  If you're like me and watching your sodium intake, look for packages labelled "unsalted". 

Nuts like peanuts, cashews, and almonds make for a crunchy way to add more protein and healthy unsaturated fats to your diet. 

9.  Smoothie Drinks - Be sure to choose a source of protein, such as whey protein or pea protein (what I use) and not just fruit.

Homemade protein shakes are always preferred, but if you want a quick shot of protein in liquid form you can pick up bottles of premade smoothie drinks such as Bolthouse Farms.

10. Tofu - To be honest, it has taken me years to get on board with tofu (literally, YEARS - at least 8 ). Try them stir fried or on a grill which can give the tofu a smoky flavour

If you're looking to embrace Meatless Mondays, slabs of tofu can make sure your protein intake doesn't suffer too much. 

11. Edamame - To upgrade your snack time, prepare shelled frozen edamame according to package directions, then season with fresh lemon juice, smoked paprika, and a whisper of salt. or eat them with no flavour, just as good. 

While the frozen-food section of most supermarkets is a nutritional minefield, packages of these green soybeans will give your diet a boost of plant protein, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. 

12. Green Peas - Know how your parents used to tell you to eat your greens? Especially with green peas, you get the needed protein for your diet. When buying frozen green peas make sure to fondle the bag. You should be able to feel the individual peas. A giant pea ice cube means they have been thawed previously and then refrozen, which can degrade quality. 

While protein is not abundant in most vegetables, subzero green peas contain enough that you'll want to keep a bag stashed in your freezer at all times. They're also a good source of fiber to help keep cravings for junk food at bay. 

13. Quinoa - If you know me, you know my love for quinoa, everything I eat has a bit of quinoa in it. I will be posting a recipe for granola bars that contain quinoa flour ( I blended quinoa till it became a flour texture). 
Toasting quinoa in a dry skillet or saucepan before simmering it in water can enhance its natural nutty flavor. 

Among whole grains, South American quinoa is a rarity in that it contains a full arsenal of essential amino acids, meaning that it's a complete protein with muscle-making potential.