Pigheaded Determination

There's this really cool business guru who says the #1 thing you need to succeed when running your own business is Pigheadedness.  I might be paraphrasing, but when I heard him say this, it struck a chord.  I've been looking to gain an edge on the physiology of motivation, especially around weight loss and health, and I think I'm on to something. 

My philosophy about life is that every aspect of it is interconnected. You just can't separate one area and not effect the others. Some people like to think of their health as different from their career, or their relationships are separate from their spiritual growth.  But our lives are like chess, move one piece and the whole game changes. Sometimes life seems more like the kind of 3D chess they played in Star Trek, where no matter how long you look at it, you just become more and more confused as to what actions to take and how it could effect your outcome.

Tony Robbins says that mental "Clarity is POWER" in life, and I believe it!  When we just muddle through life with an unclear direction, we often find ourselves feeling like a piece of drift wood, being tossed around and smashed ashore by the sea.  Without direction and a plan of action, our lives are void of a sense of purpose, achievement and fulfillment. But before we can create a plan of action, we need to know what outcome we want. 

It isn't only about the outcome thought. It's about what will you have in your life when you finally achieve that outcome.  What will you now feel when you have that outcome? What will you say about yourself? What will you see in your life? What will you feel? What new possibilities will you now have, having achieved that goal, in each area of your life?  "I want to lose 200 lbs" isn't really a motivating goal. It's daunting, its scarey, it's overwhelming.  But when I ask myself the right questions to access what I will really get out of achieving that weight loss, the answers are no longer superficial. "I want to walk into any clothing store and have the freedom and ease to wear whatever I want. I want to turn heads as I walk by and feel sexy and comfortable in my own skin. I want to leap out of bed feeling, light, strong, energized and physically fit! I want to healthfully have children and build a family with my husband.  I want to have the health, energy and strength to live a long healthy life with my family. I want to be able to do anything, play any sport, doing any activity with freedom, strength and ease..." I could go on and on and on. When I think about those outcomes it lights me up and gets me excited!

Go ahead and pick a goal that you have been wanting to achieve. Maybe it's around health, career, relationships? When thinking about that goal, ask yourself what will you have in your life when you finally achieve that outcome?

What will you now feel when you have that outcome? 

What will you say about yourself? 

What will you see in your life? 

What will you feel? 

What new possibilities will you now have, having achieved that goal, in each area of your life?

Asking yourself those questions, have you noticed a shift in your state? A little excited? Noticed that your heart started racing with the thought of the new and exciting possibilities that could happen because you achieved your outcome? If you don't get excited when thinking about your goal, then you may not be looking at the big picture, but instead focusing on the "TO DO" of it all.  Doing isn't nearly as exciting as Being.

I will give you an example.  Going to the Gym.  Yes, gym is the only four letter word that only had three letters. How many people have health as their goal and dread THE GYM? Or the word DIET! It even has the word DIE in it! How obvious is that?! When you think about and break down the laundry list of "TO DO's" at the gym...get dressed, drive to the gym, find your gym pass, find an available machine that's not covered in someone's sweat, get out your MP3 player, make like a hamster for about 20-40 minutes, wipe your sweat off the machine, move to another hamster inspired torture device, rinse and repeat. To cool down make sure to embarrassingly try to stretch while maintaining your dignity and grace and then go shower and change in the gym locker room and don't get me started about gym locker rooms!

Now, if someone were to focus on those activities, those "TO DO's", their motivation to achieve fitness will soon dwindle and be replaced by resistance, conflict, frustration and maybe even sadness. If you have guilt, shame and regret when you think about a goal or a project you were working on, it's a good indications that you are doing this.

Remember when you first learned how to drive? How overwhelming that was! Everything you had to remember to do, breaks, shift, check mirrors, signal, gas, check mirrors again, change lanes, don't hit other cars! Now you just get into the car and drive. When you focused on the 1100 individual things you had to do to achieve driving it sucked!  But, with repetition and focus you relaxed into it, your unconscious mind created muscle memory and driving simply became one task...driving.  When you only focus on the TO DO list, be it around weight loss, career, being a parent, doesn't matter, whatever it is, when you only focus on the TO DO's life gets boring.  When you raise your head up and grasp the big picture of your ultimate goal, the dreaded to do list melts into the background and becomes a joy rather then a burden.

Now, what happens when you "fall off the bandwagon" is you just reconnect with your outcome and move forward. When you are focusing only on the things you need to do, you end up feeling guilty and beat yourself up for "failing".  When you focus on your outcome, and all the fantastic feelings that come with achieving your goal, then it's as simple as being reminded WHY you're jumping back into action, feeling amazing that, with each day, you are closer and closer to your goal.

Often times the right way to get to the heart of achieving a goal is to ask yourself the right question.  Asking yourself "How the crap am I going to lose all this weight when everything I do feels so hopeless?" Produces a significantly different outcome then asking yourself "What do I need to do so this fat just melts right off me?" or "How do I create a fun and exciting experience of achieving fitness that leaves me feeling motivated, pumped up an proud of myself everyday?"  the first question has the presuppositional focus of DOOM and failure, where as the last two questions presuppose success and ENJOYING it in the process! Your answers to the first question, I bet, wouldn't even get you out of bed in the morning. But your answers to the last question would have you seek inside yourself the exact motivation, focus and drive to get you on the road towards your goals.

Just like medical nutrition for the body is important to maintain and create health, nutrifying your mind and spirit by asking yourself the right questions with the focus and intent on your outcome, can help you achieve your life's goals.

When you couple PIGHEADED DETERMINATION with a clear vision of the outcome you want to achieve and stay focused asking yourself the right questions to achieve your goals, you will be an unstoppable force, a goal achieving machine!

Health Kahunas!

I am so excited to announce the upcoming launch of an online health magazine that I will be contributing to, along with other fantastic health coaches, experts and writers! Together we look to educate, inspire an transform our readers to greater health and vitality! 

Please share with your friends.  Pass it on to anyone who you know is interested in gaining their health, vitality, energy and has unanswered health questions.  Especially pass this on to your friends who have been wanting to lose weight or have felt lost and hopeless around their health.

The experts that will contribute towards this health magazine will answer the questions that have been on all our minds and bring real tools to help us achieve our health goals. Around our energy, our weight, our fitness and our longevity.

Click HERE to sign up to Health Kahunas Weekly!

Healthkahunas.com

Drama Drama Drama

In my journeys over the years I have found a percentage of people who consistently attract and create drama in their life. While living and working in Canada and the United States I have come to realize this is a very common occurrence.  I'll bet you have also witnessed this.
At first I would give into their “story” about how they were at the effect of this drama, like someone caught in a hurricane, an innocent victim.  Then after working with them for a while I realized that if they didn't directly create the drama themselves, they found it!  They would run head on into that hurricane and once they were there they would relish in it.  They would complain to all around them how miserable they were when clearly they would, time and time again, choose these set of circumstances!  These people weren't victims of their life, they created their life!  Maybe they were victims of themselves, but not of life. 

I had to ask myself, what is the pay off?  What are they getting out of this need for drama and chaos in their life?!

As an example, I had a rich woman complain time and time again that she “only made” a certain amount of money each year.  She was really upset about it.  The economy, her life, on and on. This woman owned three homes, several cars, was never in need and yet would obsess about the drama of how much she “only made”.  She would get so worked up about it she would want to enroll everyone around her in her drama. Truth be told, she made a great deal of money, but she had a need to complain and enroll others in her limitations rather then relish in gratitude for what she had.

Complaining is the first sign that people NEED drama. 

Many years ago I learned that “complaining is a form of domination.”  Well so is drama.  By someone sucking you into their drama they are dominating you.  Just think back to all the times you have been swept up in other peoples hurricanes, becoming enrolled in their victim identity.  You want to convince them that they are powerful, that they can overcome their obstacles.  Your encouragement falls on def ears.  You soon realize, after exhausting all of the possible ways you know how to help them, that they don't want to be helped.  They want to complain.  They don't want to change things! They want to keep complaining about them!  

I knew a man who was on disability pay and welfare.  Now, I believe that everyone should be helped to get back on their feet, however, I do not believe in a system that enables capable people to sit on the couch and complain about their life while doing nothing about it for years and years.  This man was fully capable of working however, if he went back to work he would no longer be paid welfare.

  In his mind, making minimum wage to sit at home, drink beer and complain to his family about how much his life sucked was better then finding a job that could afford him all the things he wanted in life.  Many people worked hard to try to help him; their efforts in vain.  What was he getting out of this? What was the secondary gain?

I know a woman that stays in a marriage she hates.  Her husband is not abusive, they just have grown so far apart they are strangers in their own home.  Now, instead of work on the marriage or leave the marriage she stays in it and keeps hating it...hating it but unwilling to do anything about it except complain, for years and years, to everyone around her.  She will paint this picture of how she's the victim in this miserable life. 

Remembering that complaining is a form of domination, I ask myself, what do these people get out of doing this?  It very well maybe totally unconscious.  They may not know what they are doing to themselves and others. They may not even realize that they have a choice in the matter!


Now, I am not saying that by complaining you are dominating others all the time and creating drama wherever you go.  What I am saying is what do you do when you catch yourself complaining?  Do you take actions to solve the problem?  Or do you find another person to complain to? 

I know this is something that might be a bit in your face.  However, if you can become conscious of your unconscious patterns then you will become empowered to change them rather then continue to keep in your life what you don't want to have.

So, what do you want to have?  More complaining or living a life you love?  Because you can't have both at the same time. 

Thinking Like A Skinny Person

In the last 5 months I've lost (and kept off) over 35lbs. This challenge has been a wonderful adventure and a life changing experience. It's not always EASY, but it can be fun and rewarding with the right attitude.

 In exploring the difference between YO-YO diets and this permanent and healthy weight loss program, I've discovered some fundamental keys to weight loss success. My goal is to uncover the formula, the key's to success, to help both myself and others break unhealthy and out of control weight problems.  I want to isolate the cause of the yo-yo so I can share what to do (and not to do) to create permanent healthy weight loss! On all the other diets (you name it, I've DONE it!) I lost and gained, lost and gained, like a yo-yo, each time gaining more till I reached 355lbs in 2007.  I fought my way down to 346lbs with starvation and exercise before I found Dr. Glidden's teachings and Dr. Wallach's high quality vitamin/mineral supplements.  These pair-a-docs have shown me the best avenue I have ever been on to healthy, permanent, weight loss through the GOOD FOOD/BAD FOOD list and Dr. Wallach's high quality 90+nutritional supplements.

As a quick recap, Dr. Wallach has proven that weight issues are malnutrition and that in North America our diet is lacking many of the 60 essential minerals that our bodies need for optimal health. I was a bit skeptical but willing to try ANYTHING to gain my health back. When I started drinking his liquid mineral supplement (contains 77 trace minerals and elements - 60 of which our bodies need on a daily basis to maintain health) within 24 hours my insane hunger dissipated and within 5 days my blood sugar became normal for the first time in over 10 years. Feel free to go back in this blogs archives as I documented these experiences.

As I've been following the Good Food / Bad Food list, taking the 90+ essential nutrients and choosing smaller portions over the last few months the pounds are slowly, consistently, healthfully, melting away.  The benefit to losing weight in a controlled manner, you don't end up with loose skin.  As part of this high quality nutrition program, EFA's (Omega Fatty Acids) support the body to create healthy skin! I've lost so many inches, gone down several dress sizes, shrunk, and my skin has tightened with me!  I've also noticed that my hair is growing much faster and is stronger, thicker and healthier. My finger nails are growing faster and stronger as well. My nails used to break all the time, now they are noticeably less brittle...All signs that giving your body the raw nutrients it needs leads to healthier functioning cells, inside and out!

The purpose of this blog entry today is to share my latest discovery. I am sure it's not news to you that our society is food-centric. Lately, I've felt like every activity revolves around food. You want to go our with friends? Everyone wants to meet for dinner! You want to spend time with your gramma? She takes you out to lunch! You and your friends are bored and feel like a treat? Chocolate! Ice cream! Pizza!  Personally, I've felt like every time I want to spend time with friends we always end up just going out to dinner. Restaurants are fun and easy, you don't need to cook for all of your friends or clean up the mess after they leave, you just get to eat and spend time with those who you love to spend time with.  It also takes the social pressure off of you coming up with something fun to do. Everyone knows what to do when your in a restaurants, not everyone knows what to do when playing foosball! It's also compatibility, when thinking of something to do with a friend, going to a restaurant seems to be the default choice. Going out to eat seems to always be the easiest answer so breaking this food-centric habit will take some brainstorming.  Last month, I was treated by friends and family to multiple birthday dinners, and as much fun as I had, I couldn't shake the feeling that my #1 activity of choice with friends and family should no longer be centered around EATING!!!  We really need to get out there and have fun burning calories, not consuming them!

So, I've brainstormed and have been experimenting with some great activities to do the next time you want to get together with your friends or spend time with your loved ones:

Instead of going out to eat:

Go for coffee or tea! Find a fun tea house, explore your town and find a locally owned and operated establishment. When I spend time in an independent "Mom and Pop" tea or coffee shop, I always have a great experience.  Even if you don't think you like tea, you would be surprised at how delicious some of their loose blends can be. My favorite is loose rose tea, it's intoxicating and 0 calories! ;-)

Donate Blood! Maybe you are a regular donor or a first timer, when you donate blood with your friends, it can be a really fun experience. A few years ago, the power went out in an office building I was working in. All the staff had to wait for 4 hours till we could get back to work so we decided to walk down the street and donate blood together. As strange as that sounds, don't knock it till you try it. We had so much fun together, it was a great bonding experience and we all helped save someones life with the donated blood and plasma. A great win/win situation.

Volunteer! Grab your gang and go volunteer at your local soup kitchen or food bank. Nothing get's your ego out of the way like giving to others. When you can see first hand how many people are starving, it makes your troubles about dieting seem trivial.  Stick with this program and you're going to lose the weight, those people who you are helping at the food back or soup kitchen, they don't have an exit strategy yet. Helping others, especially when you can do it with your friends, will enrich your life.  Don't have a food bank or soup kitchen near by? The Humane Society, local animal shelter, or Greyhound rescue would love your help. Some shelters need help walking their dogs and that is a great way to stay healthy and something fun to do with your friends or family. In fact, volunteering is a FANTASTIC activity to add to your families weekly calender. What a great way to spend quality time with your kids, spouse or parents while helping others.

A walk! Nothing fancy, pick a cool part of town or a pretty park and walk! If you are with a friend, all the better. The key is to pick a place with interesting things to look at. Go somewhere where you don't normally go. You and your friend can walk at your own pace, talk and enjoy each others company. Do this at sunset with your significant other and for added pleasure add hand holding, as corny as that sounds, sunset walks are something I love to share with my hubby. ;-)           

Groupon Activities! Don't think your town has fun things to do? Sign up for Groupon emails. Groupon will offer you super deals on really fun things to do around town,  solo or with friends, that you may have never thought of doing before.

Host a games night!  Board games! Card Games! Oh my! Anything from a game of Monopoly, black jack or Risk to D&D, Munchkin or Magic The Gathering. Whatever tickles your fancy, dust off those old bord games, warm up those dice and get some friends over! If you guys end up having a blast, create your own tournament and make it a regular thing!          

Tai Chi Classes: Don't knock it till you try it. Great for all ages, gentle workout and very relaxing.        

Golf or Putting! I loved mini-putting with my parents. I can't think of another fun activity to do with friends...or maybe I can!          

Frisbee! Don't own a Frisbee? Try your local dollar store or sporting store. Doesn't matter how many friends you have with you (just need one or more friends), Frisbee is fun for all ages and group sizes. Google Frisbee games and you'll find things like Tag Frisbee, Disc golf, Frisbee football and Ultimate Frisbee.

Fishing...  If you are like me, when you look at a beautiful body of water, be it river, ocean, lake or pond, you are compelled to cast your line. Your fingers itch to feel your rod jolt with the tug of an eager fish. You dream about those peaceful mornings or relaxing evenings at the waters edge, silently hunting, communing with nature, casting your line gracefully for hours. Thinking about only what's in front of you, the water, your rod and the potential fish stories you'll be telling your friends later.  You may have been fishing all of your life or are picking up a rod for the first time. However you may prefer fishing - be it from a pier, boat, dock, sandy shore, rock cliff, igloo, ice hut or float tube - fishing is a great activity to share with a close friend or just something nice to do solo. Practicing catch and release is recommended but if you should chose to catch your dinner, fish is a great source of protein!

Dancing! Weather it's alone in your living room or with friends, put on some great music and go to town!  I like to dance to music while I clean, it makes cleaning fun and I feel great afterwards. 

Darts!  My friend used to take me to the legion for darts every Friday night. When I first started I couldn't hit the board to save my life! But, had so much fun with my friend that I kept going. After a few times there I was able to rack up quite the score and even won some prizes.

Billiards!  Don't know how to play pool? I bet you have a friend that would love to teach you.  Don't knock it till you try it.

Bowling!  Grab 3 friends and just do it!

Walk a dog!  Don't have a dog? See my volunteering suggestion above or borrow your neighbors dog. You have no idea how much fun walking a dog can be, especially if you find an enclosed dog park. Playing Frisbee or catch with a K-9 is a fun pastime that is just as fun doing solo as it is with your buddies.

Play tag or touch football!  Remember how much fun playing tag was as a kid? You may not be a kid anymore, but that doesn't mean you can't act like one!  Get your friends or family together to the nearest park and play tag. If you have a football, try some touch football. Even if you think you suck at it, your with friends having a good time, so who cares?!

Go to a comedy club! Laughter is the best medicine. You burn calories, release endorphins and have a great time no matter who you are with.

Karaoke! Most will go to watch and laugh with their friends and sometimes at their friends. The key to Karaoke is there's no wrong way to do it and the more the merrier.  

Be a mall rat for a day! Remember the suggestion of going for a walk? Ok, well do that but in a Mall. Add friends and some window shopping. I know, if your a guy you may think this sounds lame, but think of all the electronics stores! I was dragged through a mall the other day by my husband as we went from the Apple Store to the Microsoft Store and got to play with the beta of Windows 8 on the new Samsung tablet. Ya sure, most malls are filled with girly clothing, but if you keep the idea of walking through the mall in mind, you will have interesting things to see while on your walkabout.

No More Yo-Yo's!

I have had an amazing month so far. This is the first time I have celebrated my Birthday (eating WHATEVER I wanted) and did NOT gain weight!

Birthday dinner: The best Risotto I have ever had!

  These last two weeks I've been celebrating my 32nd Birthday with my friends, family and wonderful husband. We've gone out to eat almost every meal at restaurants, meeting with friends and having multiple Birthday dinners.  In the last two weeks I had gluten free Italian, pasta, pizza, sushi, birthday cake, ice cream and did NOT gain weight! I decided I was going to eat whatever I wanted while out with friends and not let being on a weight loss program stop me from enjoying my Birthday.  I chose to stay GLUTEN FREE (following Dr. Wallach's good food / Bad food list) and of course taking Dr. Wallach's Youngevity liquid multi-vitamin/minerals and supplement protocol but I let myself enjoy the celebrations guilt free.

   In the past, this would have been diet suicide. Going back to "regular" eating for any length of time on any other diet would have landed me 10 pounds heavier and a quick plus size larger.  I was THRILLED to observe that while I became relaxed on watching my calories, I still maintained my weight loss.  I attribute this to Youngevity's nutritional program. Since taking these supplements my body has healed itself and reversed the issues that lead to my weight gain; I no longer have blood sugar issues, food cravings and out-of-control hunger.  Instead, I now feel FULL and satisfied with each portioned healthy meal. My blood sugar doesn't spike and crash all day long.  I don't get that 3 pm energy crash or mental fog and no more midnight crazy food cravings. 

Even thought I partied for the last two weeks, while taking Youngevity's supplements and following Dr. Wallach's "Good Food / Bad Food" list, I did not gain a pound!  It's a MIRACLE!!!

Remember that yo-yo problem people have when they diet and then go back to "regular" eating? The yo-yo that I have been on for over 10 years? Well, these last two weeks I have proven to myself that I have found the ultimate way to break that yo-yo forever.  It has got to be a combination of the 90 essential nutrients and the good food / bad food list, which is the easiest program I have ever been on!  It fills me with so much joy to know that when I have lost all this weight and reach my goal, I will NEVER gain this weight back again. I will be able to FINALLY live a healthy NORMAL life while maintaining my goal weight. I admit, this was a big concern of mine, as it is with every yo-yo dieter.  I never knew why my body yo-yo'ed until the truth was explained to me by Dr. Glidden.  He laid out all of the details in his weight loss webinar that I linked two blogs ago.  For me, it was a big eye opener.  So many people suffer needlessly from this problem, feeling betrayed by their bodies and not knowing the real reason why. 

What I did notice while "eating whatever I wanted" out at the restaurants these last two weeks was I never overate.  I never felt the need to stuff my face.  I couldn't finish my meals and took a lot of doggie bags home BY CHOICE! In the past I would scarf down a huge meal and then panic because I was still hungry even though my stomach was stuffed.  That is what Dr. Wallach calls pica or cribbing, when animals and humans are malnourished/missing trace minerals their bodies continue to have STRONG cravings for food and still feel hungry even on a full stomach which leads to chronic overeating and out of control weight gain.

I finally broke my yo-yo!

So, with all of the minerals that I'm taking from Dr. Wallach, I am left feeling satisfied and full half way through each meal. Now I just feel full and am compelled to put my fork down way before I used to.   It is so nice finally feeling in control of my body.  I was able to enjoy my Birthday, sharing in the fun and great company without freaking out about breaking some "diet". That's the difference between being on a "diet" and making a lifestyle change. I've really come to realize the reason this will work long term is that this is not a temporary fix but a lifestyle change that leads to a long and healthy life...With no more yo-yo's!

February's Results

As of November 1st, 2011, 4 months into Youngevity's Get Skinny Contest, 
I have lost a total of:

•   11 inches off my waist

•   8 inches off my hips 

•   And 31 pounds!!!

This Month has been a challenge. I caught bronchitis and was in bed for over a week. In the past, when I got sick the diet would go right out the window! Since my late teens I have been constantly diet-hopping, trying to get results, only to gain more then what I had lost. My whole adult life has been one frustrating diet after the other, so I feel my multi-diet experience has made me a bit of an expert on the subject.

I've had bronchitis a few times before and each time I actually gained weight. I've heard that people lose weight when they get sick but I've never had the privilege of this experience, otherwise I would try to find a way to always be sick! I know that sounds funny, but I'm so committed to being skinnier, and in the long run healthier, I will do almost anything.

This time was different. Even thought I was bedridden, fighting off a nasty bug, I didn't feel nearly as sick as I had in the past when I didn't supplement. And to top it all off, when I got back on my feet a week later, my health and energy levels recovered much faster then it has ever had in the past. I know Youngevity's supplements really helped me get over the bronchitis faster!

I know this GET SKINNY program isn't just about losing fat, it's about rebuilding our bodies with healthy cells, gaining health on every level, revitalizing and renewing every cell, organ and system in our bodies.  From that balance, from finally achieving health, real permanent weight loss can be achieved. I can feel this happening to me right now. Weight loss isn't a mystery to me anymore. It's not this illusive anomaly like the Loch Ness Monster or Big Foot that I've been chasing my whole life.

In the past, my biggest fear was something that would side track me off of my diet. Catching a cold or flu was enough to throw me well of off-course in the past so when I got sick this month, part of me was afraid I was done for. Sailing through this month like a breeze, despite being sick, as proven to me again that this is the real thing!  I would like to thank Youngevity's Killer Biotic and Colloidal Silver along with the whole mighty 90! They helped so much, I've told all my friends and family that they should be a mainstay in everyone's medicine cabinet.

This month has made me realize that I need to look at all of the things in the past, all of the diet failures that I am afraid will happen again. I have successfully come face to face with something that would throw my weight loss off course and beat it, now I need to beat all of the other things that have lead to diet failure. Youngevity can support my body to be healthier and that means I need to take responsibility for my heart and my mind. This month has had me reflect on my past failures in a positive light. I can learn from the past and create a different outcome the next time I face those challenges, especially when I'm fully nutrified.

Hey Hey! Ho Ho! These Fat Clothes Have Got To Go!

There comes a time in every dieters life when a monumental decision must be made.
Now, every small choice leading up till now has successfully allowed said dieter to shed some of his or her excess baggage and because of all those good little choices they are left with the one...very big decision...Does it stay or does it go?

When is it the right time to say sayonara to the FAT CLOTHES?!  

In my mind I'm imagining a scene in a romance comedy where the girlfriend is throwing her ex's clothes out of their downtown apartment's 5th story window onto the confused sidewalk below.  Except instead of a boyfriend, I'm breaking up with my LOST FAT!  GET OUT OF HERE! ALL 27 POUNDS OF YOU! YOU AND YOUR FAT CLOTHES ARE NO LONGER WELCOME!
I'm doing the head bob side to side and the triple finger snap waving my hand with an attitude that suggests this breakup is PERMANENT....and that's cause, it's final.  I have lost this 27 lbs for the last time. I might as well rename my blog 173 lbs to lose and everything to gain, except my old wardrobe back, 'cause THIS TIME the weight loss is PERMANENT!



And to celebrate my indelible weight loss and finally cutting the yo-yo's chord, I am selling my whole plus size wardrobe, all the clothes that are too big for me, on eBay! What I need to tell you about the 30+ other "diets" I've been on vs. Youngevity's essential nutrition based program is on the other diets I would keep my "fat" clothes around because none of the other programs worked long enough for me to get rid of my plus size clothes!

I have had everything from plus size 24 to 32 in my closet for the last 10 years and now that they don't fit, (and for the first time ever) I know I will never fit into them again! Cause I'm getting skinny! Thank you Youngevity! Halleluiah! I'm on my way down and I ain't stopping till I reach size 6!

I've Lost The Weight of Three Cats!

If you have been following my blog, you have heard me praise my Naturopathic Physician, Dr. Peter Glidden, who has mentored me over the last several months and guided me towards the right life changes and natural remedies to finally gain my health back.  For those who wish to join me, Dr. Glidden hosts weekly live health webinars. Each week he covers a different health topic. I have found all of his health webinars fascinating and informative. If you would like to become a member to his webinars, please let me know, Ashley@mighty91.com, and I will send you an invite. He does Q&A sessions after his lectures, so you can type your questions to him.

Before I started on Dr. Glidden's recommended program of supplements and guided nutrition, my physical health was a wreck. It's like being a fish in murky water. The way I felt (crappy) was my existence all the time, so I didn't know there was another way I could feel! Somedays I wished I had more energy, but I had no clue how much LIFE and VITALITY I was missing out on! Every diet I went on left me feeling worse and worse, both physically and emotionally.  Others would tell me I must be cheating or blame me for not "wanting it bad enough". It's so hard to feel betrayed by your friends, family and your own body. You know in your heart that you are following these diet programs and doing the best that you can and yet the results just are not there. You have been told you are supposed to feel better when you lose weight and yet you feel drained, frustrated and hungry!

Before Dr. Glidden's program I was hungry all the time. Within 45 min of eating a meal, my stomach would gurgle and ache, I was so frustrated, my body craved food all the time.  If I didn't eat, my hands would shake and I would feel weak from blood sugar swings.  Over 10 years ago I was told that I was hypoglycemic, one doctor told me I was border-line diabetic.  So, over the last 10 years I have avoided the "junk food" as much as possible, eating lots of veggies, choosing organic when possible, eating healthy protein, olive oil instead of butter, whole grain wheat, etc... You know, things you've heard are good for you. And yet, I still gained weight progressively and out of control, year after year, no matter what diet I was on. My energy levels decreased, mental fog set it. I felt like a prisoner in my own body.

I'VE LOST THE SIZE OF THREE CATS!

Now, only a few months after being on this health program, I wake up every morning with mental clarity, light, energized and most of all HAPPY!  It's like the sun is shinning everyday inside of me. I FEEL FREE! I know I have only lost 26lbs so far (About the size of three average cats) but to give it some perspective, I have NEVER in my life felt this healthy AND lost weight.  

Not only that but days after I started this program my blood sugar problems went away and my hunger started to dissipate. Now, I am naturally eating only 1,200 calories a day and feeling great! 100% natural. No crazy injections or cow hormones or any absurd diet pills. This is Wholistic Medicine at its finest. Give the body what it needs and it will heal itself. 

I created this art as a representation of how I now feel, free and healthy!

As Dr. Glidden says, "Healing is easy" if you give your body what it needs. The body needs 91 essential nutrients, without them, even with one missing from our body, we suffer. Eventually our bodies breakdown as a result. You can run a car with a few bolts missing and short of some fluids but it will break down faster then a car that is well maintained and topped up.

Another great example of this is to look at how we feed our animals. In their feed we put 40,50,60 vitamins, minerals, amino acids and omega fatty acids. The pet food industry has invested millions of dollars in research to come up with the exact right ratio of nutrition to ensure your pet has a long, disease free, healthy life.  If you are a pet lover you may have noticed that your cat or dog's coat will change when you switch to a different food. You select a more expensive, high quality food that has more nutrients in it. A couple of weeks go by and you notice your pets fur has become noticeably softer, healthier.

   

Maybe even their attitude has changed, they seem happier.  I have witnessed this before first hand and can tell you that if we can see, as clear as day, the difference that vitamins, minerals, the essential nutrients makes to our pets health, then surely will will also see a remarkable difference in our health when we get all the nutrients we need into our bodies.




Click here to watch Dr. Glidden's webinar lecture on Weight Loss.

Click to play webinar

If you are interested in gaining your health and losing weight, please watch my Naturopath Physician, Dr. Peter Glidden's webinar above and get in touch with me. Ashley@mighty91.com, I can show you how to order these supplements at wholesale prices (38% or more off) as well as invite you to join Dr. Glidden's weekly webinars.  Several people have contacted me through my blog and have begun to lose weight and gain health, vitality and energy. This is really exciting! I am having so much fun sharing with them and supporting them with achieving their health goals through this program. I am happy to hear from anyone with curiosity, interest and questions about this program and look forward to helping everyone who is interested.

UPDATE: Since the end of December one of my goals  I have set out to achieve is to be in the 200's by my Birthday in early March.  I am 20.6lbs away from reaching this goal.  I am so excited, so pumped up, so motivated! I will blog soon about staying motivated, since I have found some great keys that work for achieving long term goals, so stay tuned!!!

I've Lost 25 Pounds & I Met Steve Schulz!!!

I am happy to announce that I have lost 25lbs since November 1st! I feel amazing! My old clothes are falling off! They are too loose and baggy! It feels so good to have lost 4 dress sizes! I have more and more energy since I started this program with Youngevity's amazing products! I am so excited about my results that I want to let everyone know about the incredible health benefits that this program has to offer.

Last night I attended an FDI-Youngevity training with Andre Vaughn, Senior Vice Chairman Marketing Director and Corporate VP Steve Schulz, dubbed "The 15 Million Dollar Man" for his phenomenal success in this business model.

During the training I met a man who has cured his Type 2 Diabetes because of this program, and I can believe it!  I also met a woman who, like me, has had a very difficult time with weight loss. The last diet she did left her hospitalized because her body could not handle the physical stress and toxins that result from metabolizing excess fat! We were talking about how the body needs specific nutrients, vitamins and minerals in order to healthfully process and eliminate our excess fat and the toxins that are stored in our fatty tissue as we lose weight. 

I learned from Dr. Glidden that when we are starved for specific nutrients (our bodies need 90+ essential nutrients to function healthfully and we DO NOT get it from our food anymore), our liver cannot effectively deal with the toxins as we lose weight. Toxins are stored in our fatty tissue over time, when we lose weight our liver has to deal with years and year of stored up toxins all at once! Our blood stream then becomes bombarded with toxins and carcinogenic free radicals damage our whole system! That is why every time I would diet in the past, I would lose some weight, then get sick, feel horrible and begin to gain the weight right back and then some!!! We NEED these nutrients to support our bodies to healthfully process and eliminate these toxins, free radicals and carcinogens that wreak havoc in our bodies otherwise!

It was so exciting to meet so many people last night that have these amazing health stories and healing testimonials from this advanced nutritional system.  It really is the best thing I have ever done for my health!

I think the highlight of last night was meeting Steve Schulz, FDI Youngevity's Corporate Vice President, who I have been learning from over the last few months on our training calls and videos.  He is a great inspiration and mentor to me. He leads by example and teaches how successful you can be in this industry by joining FDI-Youngevity for your health and wealth. 

My #1 goal is HEALTH! The second one is wealth because, what good is money if you're too sick to enjoy it?!  When I started taking Youngevity's supplements I had no interest in the business...I just wanted my health back!  However, five days into taking the products I felt SOOOOO good that I called up Dr. Glidden and asked him to tell me more about this company because I knew I had to tell all of my friends about it! I wanted them to feel as great as I did and still do!  Now, only a few months later, I have lost 25 lbs, my husband has lost 32 lbs, my best friend has lost 20 lbs, even my neighbor has lost over 10 lbs and she's been fighting that 10 lbs for years! My Chronic Adrenal Fatigue is GONE! My friends life long skin disease is clearing up! I have another friend who has had chronic digestion and nausea issues for years, 3 days on the supplements and her nausea is already gone!!!

I am seeing phenomenal results with everyone who is on this program and we haven't even scratched the surface! I am just so excited for you to see me in one year when I am the skinny, sexy, healthy me at a smokin' size 6!

UPDATE: I am working on creating a weekly webinar to support my friends and fellow team members who wish to join me in losing weight and gaining their health! If you are interested in this, please e-mail me! I would love to support you in achieving your health goals and set you up with this program.  Don't give up on yourself! If you have been struggling with weight loss you need to get on this program with me, as cliche as it sounds, it WILL change your life!  Ashley@mightly91.com 

When "Downsizing" Is A Good Thing!

Today we have had some fantastic snowfall in and around the Seattle area. As we went for a walk I really noticed how much easier it was for me to move around, even on the icy walkways. My hubby was so amazed at how much smaller I looked that he took the picture above and to the right.  Today he really saw a difference in my posture and how I hold myself, now that I weigh less. Now that I look at the photos, I can see it too. A few months ago with all the weight that was holding me down I was slouching and walking slowly.  My legs, hips, arms, tummy...everything is smaller now!

I am still losing pounds but I have noticed that I'm losing inches faster then I am losing weight, which to me is progress no matter what so, I'm thrilled!  All I have been doing is Youngevity's program, nutritional liquid supplements and following Drs. Wallach and Glidden's protocol...its that easy.

I have had some great responce from my Youtube videos and blog. A great deal of people have been contacting me and several have already signed up with me and joined my "Get Skinny" team in doing this program! And you can too! You can be apart of my great Get Skinny team! I have been working with them, within their budget, to get the most out of this program. I am looking into creating a weekly group coaching call / webinar for my team where we can all share in our success together and I can support those who are doing this program with me to their success, so stay tuned for that. I recognize that every great team needs fantastic coaching, so this call / webinar will be a structure that will provide us with that to keep us on the road to success!

If you go back in my blog to the very beginning and watch the video I first made ( http://youtu.be/d1nLNEil02w ), MAN OH MAN can you see a difference. My face is so round, now I can actually see a definition in my jaw and cheeks...its really exciting!  As I have stated before, my goal is to break through into the 200's by my birthday in March (I've been over 300lbs for 10 years and now I will finally break through into the 200s!).  Well, another goal that I am doing with several of my team members, you know who you are :-) Has us all so excited. So, if you are a "PLUS SIZE" girl like me, you can join us in this goal.

It may sound impossible, but it's not...we can do it. We are going to get there...Our goal is:

Size 12 in 2012! Size 12 in 2012! SIZE 12 IN 2012!!!!

The Cause of Cystic Fibrosis Was Discovered 30 Years Ago...And Is Finally Being Recognized Today!

If you have been following my blog then you have heard me talk about Dr. Wallach and how much his protocol has vastly improved my health. This is a GREAT video of a little talk he was invited to give in Atlanta.



Youngevity founder Dr. Joel D. Wallach has finally been recognized for his discovery of the direct link between selenium deficiency and the cause of Cystic Fibrosis by being Awarded the Prestigious 2011 Klaus Schwarz Commemorative Medal.

About Dr. Wallach:

Before becoming a Naturopathic Physician in 1982, biomedical research pioneer, Dr. Joel D. Wallach, BS, DVM, ND spent two decades in the field of Veterinary Medicine, observing and researching the effects of individual nutrients on animal health. Today, Dr. Wallach is renowned for his groundbreaking research on the health benefits of selenium and other minerals. He currently dedicates his time to lecturing throughout the world on the therapeutic benefits of vitamins and minerals, and on lobbying the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on behalf of the dietary supplement industry.

"Dr. Wallach is honored for a discovery that is already benefitting many," said Dr. Gerhard N. Schrauzer, PhD, MS, FACN, CNS, and IABS Founder and President. "The broader significance of his discovery three decades ago is only now beginning to be recognized. From a historical perspective, Dr. Wallach is to be regarded as one of the first practitioners, if not founders, of epigenetics, a new scientific discipline that investigates heritable alterations in gene expression."

A detailed article on this year's award was published in the December 2011 edition of the peer-reviewed scientific journal http://www.springerlink.com/content/h692h217v1703384/

If you want to know more, or if you want to discuss this topic with me offline, please feel free to email me!
:-)

Meet Katherine Anne...

Drum Roll Please!

I don't hate my measuring tape anymore! LOL!

As of November 1st, 2011 I have lost:
8 inches off my waist
5 inches off my hips 
And a total of 23 pounds!!! 

Which means...I survived the December Holidays and still got skinnier!!!

This is the first health program I have ever been on that has helped me to so easily feel energized, happy, satisfied and allowed me to lose inches and pounds while still maintaining my everyday life! I mean, you watch these "diet" shows on TV where the people have to live on a fat farm, work themselves to death till they throw up in the gym for months and months without being able to even see their family let alone lead normal lives...sure they lose weight, but where is the focus on their nutrition? Their true health? The life skills that will allow them to continue to make healthy choices once the cameras are turned off?

I was speaking to one of my friends the other day about Youngevity's weight loss / health gain program that I'm on. She shared with me her own struggle with weight loss. She has about 35lbs to lose and was inspired by my progress.  I was shocked to hear that she has done the HCG diet TWICE. Before I had heard about Youngevity I almost did the HCG-inject-yourself-DIEt. I had a doctor pushing it on me. Luckily, the huge amount of research I did left me still on the fence. I heard a lot of horror stories of women just gaining all the weight back (and more) the moment they stopped injecting themselves with HCG. 

I was tempted to have this magic quick fix solution, but I was jaded enough from so many previous diet fails to know better.  I was shocked to hear that my friend, after losing all her excess weight on the HCG diet had gained it all back once she stopped the injections so she went on it a second time. When she stopped the injections again, it came back in 3lb increments each day! She described the feeling of her body being totally out of her control. I know that feeling very well. Feeling totally betrayed, ashamed and angry at your body for not being healthy and skinny. Wanting so bad to be able to shop in normal stores, fit into regular seats at restaurants and on airplanes, wanting so bad to be slender, feel healthy and be seen as beautiful!

And now I'm on my way!  When I started this program I was a plus size 28 W and today, two months later, I am starting to fit into my Plus size 22 W clothing!  I had set a big goal for myself to have broken through into the 200's by January first, I didn't reach that goal so I am recommitting that by my birthday in March I will be in the 200's.  When I started I was 346 pounds, today I am 323! 

The KEY is to take Youngevity's 90+ essential nutrients, increase your ORAC intake, adjust your diet with the "Good Foods / Bad Foods list" and support your body to process the fat and all the toxins and free-radicals that result from our bodies burning our fat into fuel.  

These are things they do not discuss or teach on Weight Loss TV Shows, and for good reason! Mostly, they do not really teach people how to healthfully lose and keep the weight off during these shows because they want you to buy into their marketing strategy to pay for their merchandise...if they gave you all the information, all the tools, for free on the show, they would lose out on the diet cash cow!

Back around season 5 of Biggest Loser I heard Jillian and Bob stress the importance of minerals, vitamins, omega 3s, all the essential nutrients the body needs. But since Biggest Loser has grown and developed into a diet Cash Cow of weigh loss merchandise (Books, CDs, DVDs, Weight Loss Resorts / Fat Farms, diet books, cook books, online paid diet subscription etc...) the show just doesn't cover the real KEYS to healthy weight loss and gives people unrealistic expectations of how their bodies should lose weight.

Luckily for us, Yougevity, Dr. Wallach and Dr. Glidden teaches all the keys!  

So here is to our healthy, prospers and SKINNY New Year! Bring it on 2012! We are getting skinny!
 

Kim Greenhouse interviewed Dr. Peter Glidden!

Kim Greenhouse

My husband and I have been listening to Kim's online radio interviews and have loved learning from all of her interviews but THIS one has to be the best interview ever! I may be a bit bias...She is interviewing one of my heroes after all!

Exploring Holistic Medicine 
by Kim Greenhouse

"Dr. Peter Glidden, a certified naturopathic doctor and the author of The MD Emperor Has No Clothes: Everybody Is Sick And I Know Why, joins us for an expansive discussion about naturopathic medicine and the claims of traditional Western medicine (or allopathy). When we consider the Western medical paradigm, images that come to mind likely include surgical or pharmaceutical crisis intervention. Allopathic doctors, or M.D.s, often assert that this is the only “evidence-based medicine” and that other fields of medicine are quackery. But are they missing something important?
Allopathic heart disease experts have claimed low cholesterol is vital for heart health; but a study released in 2009 showed that nearly 75 percent of heart attack sufferers had low or optimal cholesterol levels. In light of this startling statistic, perhaps waning public faith in Western medicine is not so surprising. A 2007 study showed that nearly 40% of Americans pay out-of-pocket for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies.
A prominent lecturer on holistic health, Dr. Glidden speaks regularly at Health Freedom Expo & Youngevity Regional Meetings and is a regular guest host on the Dead Doctors Don’t Lie Health Talk radio program. He maintains a busy private health consultation practice in Chicago, assisting people all over the world via telephone and Skype. Tune in as Dr. Peter Glidden offers a respected naturopath’s insight into holistic medicine and lays out his findings in The MD Emperor Has No Clothes."

To view and listen to this interview please visit: http://itsrainmakingtime.com/2011/exploring-holistic-medicine/

To download the interview, right click this link and "Save Link As": http://www.itsrainmakingtime.com/_radioshows/111228Glidden.mp3

Making Healthy Taste Yummy & I've Lost 5 Inches Off My Waist!

So, I am well into the second month of this amazing diet / health program. I've lost 5 inches off my waist and 4 inches off my hips in the last 7 weeks! My second pair of smaller jeans are loose again! My new mantra is "WOO HOO! My pants are falling down! My pants are falling down! Time for a smaller pair of jeans already!"

I've been having fun inventing super yummy low calorie dinners this last week. Since I usually have a delicious low cal protein shake for breakfast and lunch, dinner is where I get to have some fun with delicious healthy foods. This week I have been experimenting with veggie dishes. As I have posted before, food boredom can throw a monkey wrench into any good health program (trust me, I know from first hand experience!) so staying on track while having fun in the kitchen is key. Another key is time. WHO HAS TIME!? I know I don't have time to spend hours and hours cooking healthy and yummy foods, so really I'm figuring out how to make the fastest, healthiest, yummiest meals ever.

Ground turkey, super lean beef or chicken can be low in calories and makes for quick and easy meals. Nutritional info varies depending on the cut of meat that is used (white, dark, skin, skinless, etc...)

Ground Chicken has 453 Calories for 1/2lb (8oz) 

Ground Turkey has 388 Calories for 1/2lb (8oz)

95% Extra-lean Ground Beef has 384 Calories for 1/2lb (8oz)

As you have heard it's good to eat a variety of veggies. It's also good to make sure you get your protein from a variety of sources each week. I was very surprised to see that 95% lean ground beef is lower in calories then chicken! Dr. Wallach told me to eat protein with each meal, and follow the deck of cards (around 6oz) rule for serving size.

SPICES!!!

If you are frustrated in the kitchen, pick up some new spices! I know this sounds like common sense. A variety of flavors adds spice to your life.  Sometimes eating low-calorie foods has us miss our old fattening meals, but with good spices we can make healthy taste yummy! I feel like a 1950's spice spokes woman! HAHA! (Big sparkly smile) "Add ZEST to your life with some new spices for dinner! Your family will thank you and so will your waist!" 

I created my own sausage seasoning by combining the following dry seasonings that I picked up in the bulk section of my grocery store. Most good grocery stores or heath food markets have a bulk spice section.

Homemade Sausage seasoning:

Sage, Marjoram, Crushed red pepper flakes, Garlic & Onion powder, Thyme, Cumin or Fennel seeds, Black pepper, Basil, salt, 1 pinch ground cloves, Nutmeg & cinnamon.

Super Skinny Cabbage Rolls!

Ingredients:

Lean Ground Meat (ex. Turkey 1/2 lb - 388 Cal)

Cabbage: 22 Cal

Fresh Salsa (chopped fresh tomato, onion, lemon & cilantro): 6 Tablespoons 30 Cal

Optional:

~ 1 Tbsp Ground ginger root (I always have a root of ginger in my freezer, I learned this trick from my husband. When you want some ginger to add to your meal, take a cheese grater and your frozen root of ginger and grate it directly over the food on the stove!)

~ 1 Tbsp Wheat Free Soy Sauce

~ Mango Salsa (I bought this at Costco in the refrigerated section by the fresh salads and pizzas...its awesome!): 4 Tablespoons 50 Calories

Directions:

Mix 1 pound (16oz) of your choice of lean ground meat with a good portion of your homemade sausage seasoning. Saute on medium heat.

Steam your cabbage for a few minutes till the leaves are cooked but not mushy!
 

Add the fresh salsa and optional grated ginger and wheat-free soy sauce to the seasoned ground meat and stir.

 

  

When the cabbage has cooked place it on a cutting board to cool.  Peel the cabbage without tearing the leaves.

 

Take a spoon full of your sauteed seasoned ground beef...

...Place it in the middle of the cooked cabbage leaf. 

 Fold the sides into the middle and then roll.

STEP ONE

STEP TWO

STEP THREE!

This recipe makes a great dinner for two that is right around, or under, 500 calories. Serve with Mango Salsa, Sauerkraut, low-fat Greek yoghurt or low-fat sour cream and ENJOY!