And Time Marches On......
I hate that periodically I get distracted by life and don't update here, but what can you do? I had a very busy summer, a few mini-trips with the family since April. I stayed busy with the yard and gardening and even got some major cleaning and organizing done around the house. Then in August school started back. My little Tasmanian devil (who BTW, is NOT so little anymore, has grown probably two feet this year) returned to homeschooling on August 13. Angel decided to go back to public high school this year for her senior year. My Issabug continued with public high school in the tenth grade this year as well. Then most recently I began keeping one of my newest nieces during the day while her parents work. Lots of changes since the beginning of the year.
Some things haven't changed. I am still working from home; still sewing, maybe a little more than before. I still sell Visalus shakes and still drink them as well. Homeschooling and keeping house are each full time jobs in themselves but somehow I am making it all work.
I have resolved to be a little more organized with homeschooling this year so that I don't have so much end of year catch up to do. So far so good; I've designed a pretty good routine for us and it seems to be working. As with anything, there are good days and there are bad, but I consider the system a success if it works 90% of the time. I use http://www.homeschoolskedtrack.com/ for my record keeping. This will be the third year that I have used it and each year I get more proficient. I have created "courses" that are not graded, but that remind my Taz to save his completed work for the day and even have him check off the attendance sheet. We opted to not use the printable schedule from the site, but instead I copy and paste the information onto a daily template that I created. We found that he does better with each task separated by spaces so that the words don't all run together. Unfortunately spacing isn't an option with homeschoolskedtrack but the template only takes me a couple minutes to fill in and print. We have also made it a habit for him to put all papers in his binder and I can grade them from there versus handing them to me. I am finding that while I check the schedule daily and have to work on laying out lesson plans a few times a week, I only get to grading a few times a month. Making him responsible for organization is preparing him for high school and makes it simple to find things when I do get around to the grading. I will elaborate a little more on my routine in later posts.
I have also been focusing on becoming more organized with my household duties. I created a weekly cleaning schedule in July that I just love. I am still tweaking it a bit so that my week flows more smoothly but I am loving how it is working so far. I don't follow the schedule to the letter, but instead treat it as my reminder. Next I plan to create monthly and yearly cleaning lists.
Over the summer I also took on some major cleaning and organizing tasks as well. I cleaned out our attic, our garage, and our storage shed. Each project took me at least one, if not two days to complete with a handful of misc things left to be completed as time or money permitted. For example, in the attic I had to purchase additional containers and go back after the initial cleaning was done to transfer items from boxes and shelves to their new homes. Also, by doing all the storage areas of our house in the same general time period it allowed me to condense and organize our belongings. I was able to remember that I had pool/spa chemicals in both the shed and the garage, so I got them all to one central location. Same thing with the camping equipment. Those three areas were sources of major stress for me, so I am so glad they are finally behind me.
I like the new organized me better and in turn I am not as overwhelmed with all my responsibilities. I am taking control of the part of my life that I actually can control and letting go of what I can't.
Monday, October 15, 2012
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Hate and Bigotry are on both sides of the Fence
I will not debate politics and since the purpose of this post is not to debate Amendment 1, I will not give my opinion either way. However the debates on Facebook are seriously getting on my nerves.
This is what I see. I see posts about "right-wing freaks" who are "ignorant" and are spreading "hate and bigotry." I see people being attacked because of their beliefs and bible verses being posted completely out of context and some of the wording has even been twisted. I see people using fear and confusion to sway people BOTH ways!
Bigotry is the state of mind of a "bigot", a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices, especially one who exhibits intolerance or animosity toward members of a group.
This means that if you are using derogatory terms to group Christians and portray them as ignorant or uncompassionate jerks...then you are exactly what you hate the most. You are contributing to the hate and bigotry. If you are spewing hatefulness from your mouth and you are a Christian then I fear that there is even deeper seeded problems at the heart level.
I recently saw a situation where a group of my daughter's friends created a group page on FB geared toward stopping bullies and they were trying to bring awareness to the issue. Unfortunately the same kids apparently didn't realize what bullying is since about a week later a group of the most active kids in the group ganged up on a friend's daughter about an unrelated issue and the cruel mean things they were saying had her in tears. She even missed school to avoid the razing. So when it suited them, the anti-bullying group bullied another child.
The point I am making is this; if you have to call people names like freaks or take Bible verses and twist them to mean what you want them to mean then you may want to look deeper in yourself then the issue you are debating. You are not swaying anyone to your beliefs. In fact you are perpetuating the exact thing you detest the most; bigotry. To make an educated decision about anything you have to be willing to see both sides and hear both opinions. Name calling and insults should have been left in school a long time ago. After all if you are old enough to vote then you are an adult the last time I checked. Right, wrong or indifferent, let's remember that we live in a country where we have the right to our beliefs, but we don't have a right to make anyone feel inferior or bullied because their beliefs are different from our own. And this goes for BOTH sides of the issue.
This is what I see. I see posts about "right-wing freaks" who are "ignorant" and are spreading "hate and bigotry." I see people being attacked because of their beliefs and bible verses being posted completely out of context and some of the wording has even been twisted. I see people using fear and confusion to sway people BOTH ways!
Bigotry is the state of mind of a "bigot", a person obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices, especially one who exhibits intolerance or animosity toward members of a group.
This means that if you are using derogatory terms to group Christians and portray them as ignorant or uncompassionate jerks...then you are exactly what you hate the most. You are contributing to the hate and bigotry. If you are spewing hatefulness from your mouth and you are a Christian then I fear that there is even deeper seeded problems at the heart level.
I recently saw a situation where a group of my daughter's friends created a group page on FB geared toward stopping bullies and they were trying to bring awareness to the issue. Unfortunately the same kids apparently didn't realize what bullying is since about a week later a group of the most active kids in the group ganged up on a friend's daughter about an unrelated issue and the cruel mean things they were saying had her in tears. She even missed school to avoid the razing. So when it suited them, the anti-bullying group bullied another child.
The point I am making is this; if you have to call people names like freaks or take Bible verses and twist them to mean what you want them to mean then you may want to look deeper in yourself then the issue you are debating. You are not swaying anyone to your beliefs. In fact you are perpetuating the exact thing you detest the most; bigotry. To make an educated decision about anything you have to be willing to see both sides and hear both opinions. Name calling and insults should have been left in school a long time ago. After all if you are old enough to vote then you are an adult the last time I checked. Right, wrong or indifferent, let's remember that we live in a country where we have the right to our beliefs, but we don't have a right to make anyone feel inferior or bullied because their beliefs are different from our own. And this goes for BOTH sides of the issue.
Monday, March 26, 2012
A few more pounds lost!
So slowly, little by little, the weight is dropping. Last week on Monday morning weigh in, I was at 196. Then after a couple days the scale dropped to 195. After sitting between 196 and 198 for a month I was ecstatic to see 195. I seem to have finally passed the plateau I had hit.
Then low and behold this morning, I had a nice surprise; 193. I wish you could have seen me jumping up and down! I had to step on the scales a few times this morning just to make sure I read it correctly. That is 15 lbs from my highest weight ever of 208 and 14 lbs lost on just Body By Vi.
I read an article the other day that talked about plateaus and Body By Vi and they recommend sticking with it. They say you could plateau for up to 5 weeks before you see a drop. In the last 5 weeks, I had only lost 2 lbs total and it was at a rate of less then half a pound a week. So 3 lbs since last Monday means I have finally broken through! It's motivation to keep working at it. I have about 3 weeks left on this challenge and I plan to really finish strong and work hard to make my goal of 20 lbs lost in 90 days.
Are you ready to join me in the challenge yet? www.teresacur.bodybyvi.com
Then low and behold this morning, I had a nice surprise; 193. I wish you could have seen me jumping up and down! I had to step on the scales a few times this morning just to make sure I read it correctly. That is 15 lbs from my highest weight ever of 208 and 14 lbs lost on just Body By Vi.
I read an article the other day that talked about plateaus and Body By Vi and they recommend sticking with it. They say you could plateau for up to 5 weeks before you see a drop. In the last 5 weeks, I had only lost 2 lbs total and it was at a rate of less then half a pound a week. So 3 lbs since last Monday means I have finally broken through! It's motivation to keep working at it. I have about 3 weeks left on this challenge and I plan to really finish strong and work hard to make my goal of 20 lbs lost in 90 days.
Are you ready to join me in the challenge yet? www.teresacur.bodybyvi.com
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
I have heard EVERY excuse in the book.
I like food.
I don't like exercise.
I want to lose weight faster then that.
... I don't have the energy to exercise.
It's expensive to eat healthy.
In fact, I have uttered most of these myself.
I love food, and the shakes taste amazing so they kill my sweet craving, my chocolate craving and I don't even want sodas or junk food 90% of the time.
I don't LIKE exercising either. I have only been working out 2-3 times a week and only 20-30 mins at a time. Anyone can do this!
Look at these pictures....this was done in less then 60 days. Is that fast enough for you? I've lost 12 lbs of fat and obviously gained leaned muscle. If you wait another 60 days to get started then you will still be where you are.....or maybe even heavier!
Energy is one of the greatest perks of the shakes. I feel so much better and have so much more energy!
You can get your shakes for free after the initial order. Is FREE too expensive for you?
What are you waiting on?
teresacur.bodybyvi.comSee More
I like food.
I don't like exercise.
I want to lose weight faster then that.
... I don't have the energy to exercise.
It's expensive to eat healthy.
In fact, I have uttered most of these myself.
I love food, and the shakes taste amazing so they kill my sweet craving, my chocolate craving and I don't even want sodas or junk food 90% of the time.
I don't LIKE exercising either. I have only been working out 2-3 times a week and only 20-30 mins at a time. Anyone can do this!
Look at these pictures....this was done in less then 60 days. Is that fast enough for you? I've lost 12 lbs of fat and obviously gained leaned muscle. If you wait another 60 days to get started then you will still be where you are.....or maybe even heavier!
Energy is one of the greatest perks of the shakes. I feel so much better and have so much more energy!
You can get your shakes for free after the initial order. Is FREE too expensive for you?
What are you waiting on?
teresacur.bodybyvi.comSee More
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Sunday, March 4, 2012
Someone else's opinion of Visalus
I read this person's posting on a review forum of Visalus and the shakes in response to someone saying that the same results could be acheived through the correct nutrition and that the shakes had no fiber. It's so funny to me when someone makes a comment without doing their research to know what they are saying is true. He says this so much more eloquently then I could ever say it.
"I've went through all the motions before discovering Visalus. And I didn't just jump on board either. My "discovery" was based upon really wanting to know the truth. Hands down, the runner up product in this industry is a far away 2nd place.
Why do you need to stay on this? Where are you going to find the nutrition your body needs, especially if you don't want to gain your weight back? After my research, this product will always be a staple in my house. Besides, my kids love it. I'm happy to hear them whine for this instead of the freaking $3.00 milkshake at the nearest drive through. Talk about "affecting your health"? And expensive too.
We found a way to "eat right" before visalus. After the carb diet, the counting calories diet, the shake mix from the health store, we discovered the real answer, a nutritionist.
We drove to a real nutritionist an hour away. We paid her 150 bucks apiece to get assessed. She wrote customized diets for both of us. We spent 3 hours a day preparing the meals. We paid her 50 bucks a month (apiece) to go back every two weeks to evaluate us. And it worked. It really worked!!!
The groceries cost more, and the time spent preparing the meals made it inconvenient, but it worked. Of course I gained all my weight back because we couldn't keep up the tedious pace and the expense.
Sure it was initially cheaper to buy some protein powder and cheap it was. And, upon adding up the real cost I had to reevaluate the value. Great shoulders, arms and legs. But what to do with my mid section and face that doesn't benefit from the same muscular definition. I was swollen like a dang tick and I stayed hungry. Fill in the hunger gap with a energy drink or canned shake and the "less expensive" suddenly takes on a new, over expensive aura. For what it was costing, why not invest in a nutritionist? So we did.
Your protrusions about fiber have me wondering if you even tried the product. I've never been this regular in my life. NEVER. Regardless, there's a reason they call this a "90 day challenge."
What new thing in life do you try for 3 weeks? A new job, a new relationship, new clothes, new business. Imagine the corporate world making 10 year decisions based on 3 weeks of stats. Changing eating habits should be a life long decision. If you eat, you are spending the money anyway.
Sure it don't taste like a milkyway, but you can make it taste that way if you want to. Sometimes I just spoon it in. It's a little clumpy that way....okay a whole lot clumpy. But, I didn't do this for taste or to enjoy, I'm on this for my health. Let me iterate that it was a tasty VI shake that got my attention first.
I do believe your "probably" proves your research is just assumption based.
Few things are more belittling than bad health. Walking out of that life alone always finds you walking back into the darkness but with more excuses to stay there. A "clean and swept house" is still and empty house. You just can't clean out the old, you have to replace it with the new.
Did I get in for the money? Not at first. But, when friends saw my results from the carb diet, they all ran to it. I made zero money. When friends so my results from counting calories, they ran to that next. And some went to the nutritionist. Now we did get 50% discount per new person per month, from her. She really appreciated the business. Before all that, no one would touch the healthfood store shakes.
Look around you. The sofa you sit on, someone made money. The very computer you're looking at, someone made money off of you. Gee, someone is making money off of the under paid, hourly wage you get. You just can't escape that. I ask you, which one of those offers you an opportunity to make a real financial change? Talk about a pyramid.
Of all things pyramid, how do you escape that philosophy in the world of capitalism? Free enterprise is the cog of a capitalistic society. It brings rewards for my determination. Even communist China is beginning to understand, revenue from capitalism is the only way to feed over a billion people. Man, I'd like to throw a VI party there.
It's the rewards of freedom, available to any who want to pursue it. It's what makes the United States the most desired place to live. What is the breath of freedom without rewards for determination.
If I may "danapharse" Emma Lazarus, "give me all of your tired, give me all our your poor, give me your huddled masses yearning to breath free. Give me your rejected from overflowing shores, the homeless tossed by storms of life, light beckons at freedom's door." What would any of that mean without opportunity? Opportunity is what Visalsus is about and it's about one more thing.
In summary, there really is stuff in the VI shakes that "affect your health" but, what a marvelous affect. I feel GREAT!!!"
"I've went through all the motions before discovering Visalus. And I didn't just jump on board either. My "discovery" was based upon really wanting to know the truth. Hands down, the runner up product in this industry is a far away 2nd place.
Why do you need to stay on this? Where are you going to find the nutrition your body needs, especially if you don't want to gain your weight back? After my research, this product will always be a staple in my house. Besides, my kids love it. I'm happy to hear them whine for this instead of the freaking $3.00 milkshake at the nearest drive through. Talk about "affecting your health"? And expensive too.
We found a way to "eat right" before visalus. After the carb diet, the counting calories diet, the shake mix from the health store, we discovered the real answer, a nutritionist.
We drove to a real nutritionist an hour away. We paid her 150 bucks apiece to get assessed. She wrote customized diets for both of us. We spent 3 hours a day preparing the meals. We paid her 50 bucks a month (apiece) to go back every two weeks to evaluate us. And it worked. It really worked!!!
The groceries cost more, and the time spent preparing the meals made it inconvenient, but it worked. Of course I gained all my weight back because we couldn't keep up the tedious pace and the expense.
Sure it was initially cheaper to buy some protein powder and cheap it was. And, upon adding up the real cost I had to reevaluate the value. Great shoulders, arms and legs. But what to do with my mid section and face that doesn't benefit from the same muscular definition. I was swollen like a dang tick and I stayed hungry. Fill in the hunger gap with a energy drink or canned shake and the "less expensive" suddenly takes on a new, over expensive aura. For what it was costing, why not invest in a nutritionist? So we did.
Your protrusions about fiber have me wondering if you even tried the product. I've never been this regular in my life. NEVER. Regardless, there's a reason they call this a "90 day challenge."
What new thing in life do you try for 3 weeks? A new job, a new relationship, new clothes, new business. Imagine the corporate world making 10 year decisions based on 3 weeks of stats. Changing eating habits should be a life long decision. If you eat, you are spending the money anyway.
Sure it don't taste like a milkyway, but you can make it taste that way if you want to. Sometimes I just spoon it in. It's a little clumpy that way....okay a whole lot clumpy. But, I didn't do this for taste or to enjoy, I'm on this for my health. Let me iterate that it was a tasty VI shake that got my attention first.
I do believe your "probably" proves your research is just assumption based.
Few things are more belittling than bad health. Walking out of that life alone always finds you walking back into the darkness but with more excuses to stay there. A "clean and swept house" is still and empty house. You just can't clean out the old, you have to replace it with the new.
Did I get in for the money? Not at first. But, when friends saw my results from the carb diet, they all ran to it. I made zero money. When friends so my results from counting calories, they ran to that next. And some went to the nutritionist. Now we did get 50% discount per new person per month, from her. She really appreciated the business. Before all that, no one would touch the healthfood store shakes.
Look around you. The sofa you sit on, someone made money. The very computer you're looking at, someone made money off of you. Gee, someone is making money off of the under paid, hourly wage you get. You just can't escape that. I ask you, which one of those offers you an opportunity to make a real financial change? Talk about a pyramid.
Of all things pyramid, how do you escape that philosophy in the world of capitalism? Free enterprise is the cog of a capitalistic society. It brings rewards for my determination. Even communist China is beginning to understand, revenue from capitalism is the only way to feed over a billion people. Man, I'd like to throw a VI party there.
It's the rewards of freedom, available to any who want to pursue it. It's what makes the United States the most desired place to live. What is the breath of freedom without rewards for determination.
If I may "danapharse" Emma Lazarus, "give me all of your tired, give me all our your poor, give me your huddled masses yearning to breath free. Give me your rejected from overflowing shores, the homeless tossed by storms of life, light beckons at freedom's door." What would any of that mean without opportunity? Opportunity is what Visalsus is about and it's about one more thing.
In summary, there really is stuff in the VI shakes that "affect your health" but, what a marvelous affect. I feel GREAT!!!"
Thursday, March 1, 2012
When at first you don't succeed, try, try again!
I didn't mean to go so long without posting, but I have had a very busy week. I had two 3-for-free parties over the weekend and several one on one's. I have been busy all week making phone calls, following up with leads and signing people up for the challenge. It's amazing how fast this business is growing. I am getting more and more excited about what is to come in the future.
I have been sitting between 196 and 197. Sometimes I have fluctuations up to 200 but it never lasts more then a day. Yes I am seriously obsessed with the scale reading. I can't help it. I have to check it every day to make sure that it's not going the other way and there is a comfort or encouragement in not seeing the higher numbers any more. I am getting anxious for the scale to drop below 197 and stay there though.
My intent with this post was just to encourage everyone who has been on the challenge and at a point of discouragement and frustration to push through. I was thinking about it last night. I think the majority of people who start a diet or life change give up by week 3 or 4. I know that I have in the past. Your body needs that long (and sometimes even longer) to adjust to your new routine and caloric intake. If you are making good lifestyle changes then the scale will have to show the results eventually. Sometimes it is just slow in coming.
I have been where you are at. I have felt the same way. Recently though every time I have considered quiting or getting discouraged something has happened to give me hope. My blood pressure goes down another point or 3 and I can decrease my BP meds again. Sometimes the scale will do a sneak peak of an upcoming weight. The other day it dipped all the way down to 195.5. It didn't stay there but it gave me hope that I was still seeing a down hill trend. In the past I have even had physical road blocks like broken bones and herniated disks. They seem impossible to overcome. I think the thing that I am learning now is that I shouldn't have given up so easily. Take a break, take care of yourself, and come back to the routine as soon as possible. Keep trying...over and over and over again! Continue with as much of you routine as is humanly possible while you do what you have to do. Just don't give up! The only way you fail is if you give up and don't try!
You can do this. If I can, then I know any of you can!
I have been sitting between 196 and 197. Sometimes I have fluctuations up to 200 but it never lasts more then a day. Yes I am seriously obsessed with the scale reading. I can't help it. I have to check it every day to make sure that it's not going the other way and there is a comfort or encouragement in not seeing the higher numbers any more. I am getting anxious for the scale to drop below 197 and stay there though.
My intent with this post was just to encourage everyone who has been on the challenge and at a point of discouragement and frustration to push through. I was thinking about it last night. I think the majority of people who start a diet or life change give up by week 3 or 4. I know that I have in the past. Your body needs that long (and sometimes even longer) to adjust to your new routine and caloric intake. If you are making good lifestyle changes then the scale will have to show the results eventually. Sometimes it is just slow in coming.
I have been where you are at. I have felt the same way. Recently though every time I have considered quiting or getting discouraged something has happened to give me hope. My blood pressure goes down another point or 3 and I can decrease my BP meds again. Sometimes the scale will do a sneak peak of an upcoming weight. The other day it dipped all the way down to 195.5. It didn't stay there but it gave me hope that I was still seeing a down hill trend. In the past I have even had physical road blocks like broken bones and herniated disks. They seem impossible to overcome. I think the thing that I am learning now is that I shouldn't have given up so easily. Take a break, take care of yourself, and come back to the routine as soon as possible. Keep trying...over and over and over again! Continue with as much of you routine as is humanly possible while you do what you have to do. Just don't give up! The only way you fail is if you give up and don't try!
You can do this. If I can, then I know any of you can!
Thursday, February 23, 2012
It's been a great week!
So this has been a pretty good week for me. I finally dropped down to the elusive 197 and have stayed there for the last 3 days. I even saw one morning where it dropped down to 195.5 but of course it didn't stay there. That is ok though. The scale is slowly but surely dropping little by little.
I have managed to get 2 hour long workouts in this week and I hope to get at least one more in. My original goal was to work out 4-5 times this week, figuring on 30 minute work outs. So 2 one-hour workouts still fits that goal, huh? As long as I am improving each time then I am not stressing at all.
Business wise this week was slow. I haven't made any phone calls so I didn't really expect much. However I plan to end out the month strong since I have 2 more 3-for-Free parties scheduled. Hopefully I will hit my first rank promotion.
How are you doing with your journey to become healthy?
I have managed to get 2 hour long workouts in this week and I hope to get at least one more in. My original goal was to work out 4-5 times this week, figuring on 30 minute work outs. So 2 one-hour workouts still fits that goal, huh? As long as I am improving each time then I am not stressing at all.
Business wise this week was slow. I haven't made any phone calls so I didn't really expect much. However I plan to end out the month strong since I have 2 more 3-for-Free parties scheduled. Hopefully I will hit my first rank promotion.
How are you doing with your journey to become healthy?
Monday, February 20, 2012
Week 6 begins!
Ok, starting the second 30 day period of my 90 day challenge. This is actually week 6. I am still holding at 198 lbs, but I just had to take up my jeans an inch on each side because throwing them in the dryer was no longer doing the trick to shrink them down to fit me. It's a great problem to have though.
I am still on the 1/2 dose of my BP meds, but have had some days where my BP dropped really low and I have skipped a dose or taken a 1/4 dose. I am keeping a really close eye on it. I am just waiting on the day when I can drop down even more for good or come off the meds completely.
I managed to work out 3 times last week. This week my goal is 4-5 times. I am surprised at how easy the walking/jogging and Tae Bo have been. In the past I could barely get through anything that raised my heart rate because of shortness of breath and just a general heaviness in my chest. I have actually had pain running down my arms and swelling in my fingers before when walking. I am having none of that now.
The inflammation in my body has decreased 100%. I am still off my diuretics. No swelling of my hands or face in the mornings. My rosacea is still 100% improved. I did have a flare up last week but it improved in just a couple days with no need for meds and I believe that it was triggered by several meals in a row that I probably shouldn't have had. In the past though, I could not distinguish between triggers because my face was ALWAYS showing symptoms of severe peeling and redness. Now I am beginning to recognize my triggers. I also had nerve pain running down my right leg that I have been living with since back surgery in 2009. That has completely went away since starting the Body By Vi Challenge. I believe that is because of the inflammation in my body causing swelling with the nerves and in joints. I do not have to live with that any more!
Less measurable then other things but noticeable to me is my energy levels. I have more energy in my day to day activities. I actually want to work out.....actually dragging family members with me. I have less cravings and want to eat healthy. It's a great place to be! I am even drinking more water and have only had a handful of sodas in the last month.
Ready to give it a try? What have you got to lose? teresacur.bodybyvi.com
Seriously, check it out or email me with questions. sewrtess@aol.com
I am still on the 1/2 dose of my BP meds, but have had some days where my BP dropped really low and I have skipped a dose or taken a 1/4 dose. I am keeping a really close eye on it. I am just waiting on the day when I can drop down even more for good or come off the meds completely.
I managed to work out 3 times last week. This week my goal is 4-5 times. I am surprised at how easy the walking/jogging and Tae Bo have been. In the past I could barely get through anything that raised my heart rate because of shortness of breath and just a general heaviness in my chest. I have actually had pain running down my arms and swelling in my fingers before when walking. I am having none of that now.
The inflammation in my body has decreased 100%. I am still off my diuretics. No swelling of my hands or face in the mornings. My rosacea is still 100% improved. I did have a flare up last week but it improved in just a couple days with no need for meds and I believe that it was triggered by several meals in a row that I probably shouldn't have had. In the past though, I could not distinguish between triggers because my face was ALWAYS showing symptoms of severe peeling and redness. Now I am beginning to recognize my triggers. I also had nerve pain running down my right leg that I have been living with since back surgery in 2009. That has completely went away since starting the Body By Vi Challenge. I believe that is because of the inflammation in my body causing swelling with the nerves and in joints. I do not have to live with that any more!
Less measurable then other things but noticeable to me is my energy levels. I have more energy in my day to day activities. I actually want to work out.....actually dragging family members with me. I have less cravings and want to eat healthy. It's a great place to be! I am even drinking more water and have only had a handful of sodas in the last month.
Ready to give it a try? What have you got to lose? teresacur.bodybyvi.com
Seriously, check it out or email me with questions. sewrtess@aol.com
Thursday, February 16, 2012
30 days on the Challenge
Today was Day 30 on the challenge. I was feeling a little discouraged earlier this week but I am feeling infinitely better today and I am getting excited again about the changes I am seeing. I think it's pretty normal to have ups and downs and get occasionally discouraged and frustrated.
I don't want to deceive anyone about my weight loss. I started this journey at 207 lbs. I rapidly (in the first 2 weeks) lost 10 lbs, then the 3rd week gained 2 lbs back. I saw the scale dropped to 197 on a few different days but it never stayed there for more then a day. However it was still hovering between 198 and 199 with occasional days where it would jump all the way to 203. I even had one day when the scale dropped as low as 194 but I am not claiming a 13 lb weight loss just yet. Unfortunately with my water retention that is just par for the course, but frustrating none the less. As long as it didn't stay there then I haven't worried about it too much. Within the last week I have finally seen it consistently staying below 200 and it's been 198 for the last 2 days. So a solid 9 lbs in 30 days is not bad at all, and actually a very healthy weight loss. I am still watching for the next drop but I am very, very excited that my higher 5-6 lb fluctuations have decreased and I now only have a 1-3 lb fluctuation from day to day.
On top of the weight loss, I have completely quit using my diuretic and have seen no signs of my normal water retention (waking up with my fingers and face swelling, shortness of breath, etc). My rosacea has improved 100%, with only sporadic reactive peeling and redness, usually AFTER I have eaten a really bad meal. That I can deal with and it's not usually necessary for me to use my Metrogel on it. This week I have also been able to decrease my blood pressure meds and cut the dose in half. I am still seeing some really low blood pressure and may be able to decrease my dose even more soon. These changes are even more exciting then the weight loss and I believe this is reason enough for me to continue the Body By Vi system and challenge indefinitely.
To top off all of this, I made a decision to become a promoter of the Body By Vi challenge and I am not regretting that decision 1 ounce. My first week pay was a small check, enough for a nice new shirt or mid-priced meal for 2. This week I have already doubled my commissions and the week isn't over yet. My monthly commissions are growing each week and that will be a nice little bonus check at the end of the month. At this rate I will completely make back my investment in the first 2 months, if not sooner.
Are you ready to join me in this life change journey yet? Would you like to start a relatively inexpensive home based business venture? Message me so we can talk about your options and your goals.
teresacur.bodybyvi.com
Make the decision that will change your life today!
I don't want to deceive anyone about my weight loss. I started this journey at 207 lbs. I rapidly (in the first 2 weeks) lost 10 lbs, then the 3rd week gained 2 lbs back. I saw the scale dropped to 197 on a few different days but it never stayed there for more then a day. However it was still hovering between 198 and 199 with occasional days where it would jump all the way to 203. I even had one day when the scale dropped as low as 194 but I am not claiming a 13 lb weight loss just yet. Unfortunately with my water retention that is just par for the course, but frustrating none the less. As long as it didn't stay there then I haven't worried about it too much. Within the last week I have finally seen it consistently staying below 200 and it's been 198 for the last 2 days. So a solid 9 lbs in 30 days is not bad at all, and actually a very healthy weight loss. I am still watching for the next drop but I am very, very excited that my higher 5-6 lb fluctuations have decreased and I now only have a 1-3 lb fluctuation from day to day.
On top of the weight loss, I have completely quit using my diuretic and have seen no signs of my normal water retention (waking up with my fingers and face swelling, shortness of breath, etc). My rosacea has improved 100%, with only sporadic reactive peeling and redness, usually AFTER I have eaten a really bad meal. That I can deal with and it's not usually necessary for me to use my Metrogel on it. This week I have also been able to decrease my blood pressure meds and cut the dose in half. I am still seeing some really low blood pressure and may be able to decrease my dose even more soon. These changes are even more exciting then the weight loss and I believe this is reason enough for me to continue the Body By Vi system and challenge indefinitely.
To top off all of this, I made a decision to become a promoter of the Body By Vi challenge and I am not regretting that decision 1 ounce. My first week pay was a small check, enough for a nice new shirt or mid-priced meal for 2. This week I have already doubled my commissions and the week isn't over yet. My monthly commissions are growing each week and that will be a nice little bonus check at the end of the month. At this rate I will completely make back my investment in the first 2 months, if not sooner.
Are you ready to join me in this life change journey yet? Would you like to start a relatively inexpensive home based business venture? Message me so we can talk about your options and your goals.
teresacur.bodybyvi.com
Make the decision that will change your life today!
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Just when I was thinking of cheating on my diet......
So I haven't felt well the last couple days. Just really worn down and feeling kind of weak and fatigued. I've had a cold or maybe even allergy symptoms for several days but I hadn't felt this bad until about Sunday evening. Then this morning I happened to check my BP and it was 99/67 with a heart rate of 61. That is really low for me. Even after meds I don't usually see numbers lower then 115/79. I think that may be why I feel so bad.
I decided to skip my morning dose of meds while I wait on the doctor to call me back and I will likely be cutting my BP med dose in half. I already feel better. Lower heart rate and blood pressure can definitely make you feel tired and fatigued.
Since today is Valentine's day, my hubby and I are going out to dinner tonight. Usually our weekly date night is Wednesday nights but tomorrow we have a Challenge party scheduled. Thinking about our date tonight, the fact that we will eat out, I was contemplating on making today my cheat day instead of Wednesday. I was going to eat a microwavable breakfast biscuit this morning and then when I take my 14 year old to the orthopedist this afternoon I thought I would take her to lunch. So today would be a completely off diet day for me and I was completely OK with that. I started second guessing my plans when my BP was way down from normal.
Then I did my morning weigh in and low and behold I have dropped another pound! So I will press on and stay on the wagon and the plan. It is working! Sometimes it is easier to give in and just do what you want rather then what is best for you, but try and stick with it. After all it took me 17 years to get here.....I should expect it take more then 30 days to correct it, huh?
I decided to skip my morning dose of meds while I wait on the doctor to call me back and I will likely be cutting my BP med dose in half. I already feel better. Lower heart rate and blood pressure can definitely make you feel tired and fatigued.
Since today is Valentine's day, my hubby and I are going out to dinner tonight. Usually our weekly date night is Wednesday nights but tomorrow we have a Challenge party scheduled. Thinking about our date tonight, the fact that we will eat out, I was contemplating on making today my cheat day instead of Wednesday. I was going to eat a microwavable breakfast biscuit this morning and then when I take my 14 year old to the orthopedist this afternoon I thought I would take her to lunch. So today would be a completely off diet day for me and I was completely OK with that. I started second guessing my plans when my BP was way down from normal.
Then I did my morning weigh in and low and behold I have dropped another pound! So I will press on and stay on the wagon and the plan. It is working! Sometimes it is easier to give in and just do what you want rather then what is best for you, but try and stick with it. After all it took me 17 years to get here.....I should expect it take more then 30 days to correct it, huh?
Monday, February 13, 2012
Finishing Off My First 30 Days of My 90 Day Challenge
So this is my 5th week on the challenge, and I will be finishing up my first 30 days on the 16th. The scales are actually showing a weight gain of 2 lbs for almost a week. That makes a total weight loss of 8 lbs in a month. That averages 2 lbs a week. I'm not upset at that rate but would definitely like to see more. I am ecstatic over my measurements though so I am hoping that my weight gain is just muscle gain since I started working out this week. Or maybe even inflammation from the tearing of the muscles that comes with working ones you don't normally use. Guess we will see. Hopefully that will subside in a day or two.
I actually was able to get in a cardio workout and one jog last week. I plan to up that this week to 3 or 4 workouts this week. I was actually looking forward to jogging this morning, but I woke up this morning feeling really worn down. Now it is clear that I have come down with one of the many bugs going around so no jogging or cardio for me today. Low grade fever and body aches are reason to rest and hopefully feel better tomorrow. Still have the rest of the week though, so I am not giving up.
I decided that I seem to have the meal replacement aspect of this challenge under control. I am making pretty good choices with my snacks and really watching my portion sizes. Since the weight loss rate has slowed so much I wanted to really get an idea of my daily caloric intake. I downloaded a new app to my phone and I am using it to figure all my calories. I am using a site called MyFitnessPal.com. I think it is awesome and really helpful to see what my caloric intake is day to day.
When I started using the MyFitnessPal.com app on my phone a few days ago, it was really an eye opener. I really wasn't thinking about every little bite of food that I was putting in my mouth. I also thought that 1200 calories a day was a normal calorie range when dieting. I was really feeling hungry every morning when I got up and just famished and kind of weak at the end of the day. I found myself getting so hungry during the day that I was more tempted to reach for things that weren't so healthy to finally quiet the hunger pangs, and I was going over the 1200 calorie limit every day. So I did some research and found that 1500 calories was a much healthier limit, especially for a woman of my size and weight. At 1200 calories I may have been having an adverse affect on my weight loss by starving my body. So I am gonna try 1500 calories for the next few days and see if I feel better.
So to summarize the last week. The scale is still fluctuating but I am still claiming 8 lbs weight loss in a month. I am learning to research and adjust to my situation. Looking forward to more weight loss in the near future.
I actually was able to get in a cardio workout and one jog last week. I plan to up that this week to 3 or 4 workouts this week. I was actually looking forward to jogging this morning, but I woke up this morning feeling really worn down. Now it is clear that I have come down with one of the many bugs going around so no jogging or cardio for me today. Low grade fever and body aches are reason to rest and hopefully feel better tomorrow. Still have the rest of the week though, so I am not giving up.
I decided that I seem to have the meal replacement aspect of this challenge under control. I am making pretty good choices with my snacks and really watching my portion sizes. Since the weight loss rate has slowed so much I wanted to really get an idea of my daily caloric intake. I downloaded a new app to my phone and I am using it to figure all my calories. I am using a site called MyFitnessPal.com. I think it is awesome and really helpful to see what my caloric intake is day to day.
When I started using the MyFitnessPal.com app on my phone a few days ago, it was really an eye opener. I really wasn't thinking about every little bite of food that I was putting in my mouth. I also thought that 1200 calories a day was a normal calorie range when dieting. I was really feeling hungry every morning when I got up and just famished and kind of weak at the end of the day. I found myself getting so hungry during the day that I was more tempted to reach for things that weren't so healthy to finally quiet the hunger pangs, and I was going over the 1200 calorie limit every day. So I did some research and found that 1500 calories was a much healthier limit, especially for a woman of my size and weight. At 1200 calories I may have been having an adverse affect on my weight loss by starving my body. So I am gonna try 1500 calories for the next few days and see if I feel better.
So to summarize the last week. The scale is still fluctuating but I am still claiming 8 lbs weight loss in a month. I am learning to research and adjust to my situation. Looking forward to more weight loss in the near future.
Saturday, February 11, 2012
I am not believing this!
I am not believing this! So I have been watching the scales all week hoping for another drop in weight. I was starting to get a little discouraged. I even ran this week, but the scale is actually sitting a little higher the last couple days. With my hypertensive issues that isn't such a big deal. However, it still worries me. I know my daily caloric intake is much lower then it's ever been and I have definitely been more active. So any increase in the scales is frustrating.
Just to see where I am I decided to measure this morning. Same time of day that I normally weigh and measure, same clothes, etc. I cannot believe what I found! I even had to measure a few times just to make sure my eyes weren't deceiving me.
14 collective inches down between all my measurements!
That is insane!! The bulk of it is from my mid section so I guess healthier eating really does shrink belly fat!
I will take it! If the inches are melting off then the pounds will soon follow. I think I have my motivation back! I was probably wearing one size too small in clothes so the ones I have are actually fitting well and in some cases beginning to get loose. Soon it will be time to try a smaller size jeans! I can't wait!!
Just to see where I am I decided to measure this morning. Same time of day that I normally weigh and measure, same clothes, etc. I cannot believe what I found! I even had to measure a few times just to make sure my eyes weren't deceiving me.
14 collective inches down between all my measurements!
That is insane!! The bulk of it is from my mid section so I guess healthier eating really does shrink belly fat!
I will take it! If the inches are melting off then the pounds will soon follow. I think I have my motivation back! I was probably wearing one size too small in clothes so the ones I have are actually fitting well and in some cases beginning to get loose. Soon it will be time to try a smaller size jeans! I can't wait!!
Thursday, February 9, 2012
New beginnings and other stuff
So, I am loving my job at the moment. Deciding to become a promoter for Visalus was a great decision for me. It's keeping me motivated to lose weight and stick to my life changes, focused on my goals, and less stressed more excited. I love watching new people make the decision to get healthy and go on the challenge.
A friend of mine started the challenge officially today. She wrote her own blog post about her new beginnings. She is excited about this journey she is starting and her enthusiasm and excitement are contagious. Check out her blog post here: http://oliviaschallenge.blogspot.com/
Week 4 of the challenge is half over for me. The scale still hasn't moved from the second week weigh in but I have noticed more and more changes in how my clothes fit. I have also noticed that I have more energy and have been much more active around the house getting things done that I have been putting off for some time. So much so that I have been sore this week. Who knew that house work could be considered a workout too?
I even got out and walked/jogged a mile this morning! Woohoo! I have always avoided anything that makes me sweat or breathe hard so this is a milestone for me! And I feel great!
I have found a new favorite flavor for my shakes this week. The flavor of the week is Chocolate Raspberry Banana with a handful of spinach thrown in (you won't even know it's there) for good measure. So so good. Yumm! I am purposely getting healthier and it feels great! Wanna join me yet?
A friend of mine started the challenge officially today. She wrote her own blog post about her new beginnings. She is excited about this journey she is starting and her enthusiasm and excitement are contagious. Check out her blog post here: http://oliviaschallenge.blogspot.com/
Week 4 of the challenge is half over for me. The scale still hasn't moved from the second week weigh in but I have noticed more and more changes in how my clothes fit. I have also noticed that I have more energy and have been much more active around the house getting things done that I have been putting off for some time. So much so that I have been sore this week. Who knew that house work could be considered a workout too?
I even got out and walked/jogged a mile this morning! Woohoo! I have always avoided anything that makes me sweat or breathe hard so this is a milestone for me! And I feel great!
I have found a new favorite flavor for my shakes this week. The flavor of the week is Chocolate Raspberry Banana with a handful of spinach thrown in (you won't even know it's there) for good measure. So so good. Yumm! I am purposely getting healthier and it feels great! Wanna join me yet?
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Monday, February 6, 2012
I'm starting week 4 on the Challenge.
I'm starting week 4 on the Challenge. The scale didn't move this week. Still sitting at a 8-10 lb loss. I plan to add walking on the treadmill to my routine this week, at least 3 times. I am going to work even harder at sticking to the program and drinking more water, less tea. I am also working on cutting out more of the snacks like crackers and sticking to only one serving of cheese daily (cheese is one of my weaknesses.) and more raw veggies and fruits.
I haven't lost my resolve or my motivation. I still feel like I have more energy and strength then I had before the challenge. Here's two more side effects from the shakes that I hadn't noticed before.
First, I have been having night sweats for several years now. Not the kind of night sweats that come from hot flashes. I think they were from blood sugar and blood pressure imbalances. They are always worse when I've had headaches and when my BP has been higher then normal. I realized that I haven't been having them for the last week or so.
Second, due to the prediabetes I have been plagued by thrush. Thrush is a yeast overgrowth in my mouth and tends to be caused by high blood sugar. My doctor has ran tests to rule out diabetes but the thrush remains. I have taken the pills for yeast infections but the thrush returns after just a week or 2. It has been pretty persistent for about the last year and a half and sometimes causes an itch in the back of my throat that keeps me up at night. I realized today that it hasn't returned since I started the challenge and the shakes.
I want to reiterate that the shakes are NOT a magic solution or overnight pill to cure obesity. It still takes discipline and determination to stick to the routine and follow the plan. However, I believe that good nutrition is something most of us are lacking. The Visalus shakes could be the tool to help your body to start healing itself of all the damage caused by processed sugars, preservatives, etc.
Don't put it off any longer. Do yourself a favor and start getting healthy now!
http://teresacur.bodybyvi.com
I haven't lost my resolve or my motivation. I still feel like I have more energy and strength then I had before the challenge. Here's two more side effects from the shakes that I hadn't noticed before.
First, I have been having night sweats for several years now. Not the kind of night sweats that come from hot flashes. I think they were from blood sugar and blood pressure imbalances. They are always worse when I've had headaches and when my BP has been higher then normal. I realized that I haven't been having them for the last week or so.
Second, due to the prediabetes I have been plagued by thrush. Thrush is a yeast overgrowth in my mouth and tends to be caused by high blood sugar. My doctor has ran tests to rule out diabetes but the thrush remains. I have taken the pills for yeast infections but the thrush returns after just a week or 2. It has been pretty persistent for about the last year and a half and sometimes causes an itch in the back of my throat that keeps me up at night. I realized today that it hasn't returned since I started the challenge and the shakes.
I want to reiterate that the shakes are NOT a magic solution or overnight pill to cure obesity. It still takes discipline and determination to stick to the routine and follow the plan. However, I believe that good nutrition is something most of us are lacking. The Visalus shakes could be the tool to help your body to start healing itself of all the damage caused by processed sugars, preservatives, etc.
Don't put it off any longer. Do yourself a favor and start getting healthy now!
http://teresacur.bodybyvi.com
Saturday, February 4, 2012
So how am I doing on Visalus Products?
I will be finishing up my 3rd week here in a couple days. So here's my 2 1/2 week update for you.
The scale hasn't moved much this week. Fluctuating a bit but still seems to be a pretty solid 8-10 lbs lost. I measured on Monday and I had lost 5 1/2 inches total from my bust, waist and hip measurements combined. 3 inches of that was from my bust and I can definitely tell by how my clothes fit.
I have been on diuretics for more then 3 years and recently my doctor started pushing to get me off of them. When I started the Challenge I was still needing them at least 3 or 4 times a week. I haven't needed even 1 pill since starting visalus. That alone is worth staying on their products for good.
I am also completely off of rosacea meds and my complexion is completely cleared. I still see some temporary redness after I eat food I shouldn't be eating but I guess that is my motivation to stay on the shakes. Anyone who has this condition knows that it is a debilitating disease. When your face doesn't look as it should then you don't want to leave your house and you tend to stay home instead of going places with friends and family. I have my self-confidence back because of Visalus!
One other note, I have had a host of other pains and twinges in my body for the last several years, making me feel way above my calendar age. Since starting Visalus all pain has subsided. One pain, a nerve pain from my back running down own leg had recently been quite bothersome and I had began taking ibuprofen daily to deal with it. I realized this week that it wasn't bothering me anymore and I haven't taken ibuprofen since starting Visalus!
Good nutrition can make a difference no matter what ails you. Visalus may be the answer for you. It is the tool that I used. Why wait? What have you got to lose?
http://teresacur.bodybyvi.com/
The scale hasn't moved much this week. Fluctuating a bit but still seems to be a pretty solid 8-10 lbs lost. I measured on Monday and I had lost 5 1/2 inches total from my bust, waist and hip measurements combined. 3 inches of that was from my bust and I can definitely tell by how my clothes fit.
I have been on diuretics for more then 3 years and recently my doctor started pushing to get me off of them. When I started the Challenge I was still needing them at least 3 or 4 times a week. I haven't needed even 1 pill since starting visalus. That alone is worth staying on their products for good.
I am also completely off of rosacea meds and my complexion is completely cleared. I still see some temporary redness after I eat food I shouldn't be eating but I guess that is my motivation to stay on the shakes. Anyone who has this condition knows that it is a debilitating disease. When your face doesn't look as it should then you don't want to leave your house and you tend to stay home instead of going places with friends and family. I have my self-confidence back because of Visalus!
One other note, I have had a host of other pains and twinges in my body for the last several years, making me feel way above my calendar age. Since starting Visalus all pain has subsided. One pain, a nerve pain from my back running down own leg had recently been quite bothersome and I had began taking ibuprofen daily to deal with it. I realized this week that it wasn't bothering me anymore and I haven't taken ibuprofen since starting Visalus!
Good nutrition can make a difference no matter what ails you. Visalus may be the answer for you. It is the tool that I used. Why wait? What have you got to lose?
http://teresacur.bodybyvi.com/
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Visalus shakes are NOT weight-loss shakes!
They were not meant to be just a weight loss tool. The weight-loss is just a side effect of the lifestyle change that goes along with Visalus shakes. They are so much more then just that.
They are a nutritional supplement meant to give your body the nutrition that it isn't getting from the diet you are currently eating. It's a supplement meant to make you feel better and able to enjoy your life.
They are a supplement for young picky eaters to make sure your children get the nutrition they need to continue to grow and develop as they should.
It's a supplement that often has the side effect of reducing the need for drugs meant to treat, Rosacea, high blood pressure, diabetes, Crohns, etc.
It's a supplement for those with Celiacs who need to get more nutrition alternatives into their diet.
AND.....it's also a great way to make money, become more financially secure or you can just earn free product for referring customers to us.
Ask me how!
They are a nutritional supplement meant to give your body the nutrition that it isn't getting from the diet you are currently eating. It's a supplement meant to make you feel better and able to enjoy your life.
They are a supplement for young picky eaters to make sure your children get the nutrition they need to continue to grow and develop as they should.
It's a supplement that often has the side effect of reducing the need for drugs meant to treat, Rosacea, high blood pressure, diabetes, Crohns, etc.
It's a supplement for those with Celiacs who need to get more nutrition alternatives into their diet.
AND.....it's also a great way to make money, become more financially secure or you can just earn free product for referring customers to us.
Ask me how!
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
I am loving Visalus!: Completed Week 2
I think I have finally found my passion. I have found something in my life that I can be passionate about and it's turning out to be the answer to every prayer that I have prayed for quite a while now. For some time now I have battled my weight, worried about my health, prayed about our finances and asked God to direct me to my passion so that I could start my own business and help get us out of debt faster. Visalus and The Body By Vi Challenge is the single answer to all of those desires.
I completed my Week 2 challenge weigh-in this morning and started Week 3. I have lost a total of 8 lbs so far. I also measured and I found out that I had lost 5 1/2 inches all together from my measurements!!! That is incredible. My goal for the first 30 days was only 7 lbs and I have already hit that mark. My goal for 60 days is to hit 20 lbs lost. My goal for 90 days is to come off of my blood pressure meds completely. I think I am going to hit both of those goals and hope to surpass them.
The financial end of things is going pretty well too. It's still a little early to make assumptions but the one thing I can say is the company's 3=Free offer is awesome. We've already earned more free product with it then we thought possible in 2 weeks time. I am starting to see the potential for this as a serious business and this product seems to sell itself!!
I am having a Challenge/tasting party this Thursday, at 7 PM. Let me know if you are interested in coming to taste this awesome product and learn more about the company.
I completed my Week 2 challenge weigh-in this morning and started Week 3. I have lost a total of 8 lbs so far. I also measured and I found out that I had lost 5 1/2 inches all together from my measurements!!! That is incredible. My goal for the first 30 days was only 7 lbs and I have already hit that mark. My goal for 60 days is to hit 20 lbs lost. My goal for 90 days is to come off of my blood pressure meds completely. I think I am going to hit both of those goals and hope to surpass them.
The financial end of things is going pretty well too. It's still a little early to make assumptions but the one thing I can say is the company's 3=Free offer is awesome. We've already earned more free product with it then we thought possible in 2 weeks time. I am starting to see the potential for this as a serious business and this product seems to sell itself!!
I am having a Challenge/tasting party this Thursday, at 7 PM. Let me know if you are interested in coming to taste this awesome product and learn more about the company.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
The Cost of Health
The first question I get from someone once they decide that they might be interested in the Body By Vi Challenge is "What does it cost?" So today I am going to break down your average cost of eating week to week including supplements.
If you have a job working 9-5 every day then chances are you eat out 3-5 lunches a week. And I have noticed that alot of people even pick up breakfast through a fast food drive through every morning. If breakfast isn't in your normal routine then it should be, but I can almost bet that you drink coffee or energy drinks. Starbucks costs you about $4 a cup and I know people who should have stock in the company because they pay the employees salaries at their local store with their business.
So if you eat out 5 days a week for an average of $9 a meal (somewhere between the cost of a burger combo $6.50 and a mid-range restaurant for $12 a meal) you are spending $45 a week on lunch, or $202.50 a month. Add in breakfast 2 times a week for $4.50 on average and you are now spending $243 a month. Then add in about a dozen trips to Starbucks for $4 each and you have added $48 a month for your coffee habit and it runs your total up to $291. Add in that case of energy drinks for about $38 a case (it's been a while since I've purchased these so forgive me if I am wrong) and you are now spending $329 on incidentals and that is on top of the average cost of groceries (about $1000 a month for a family of 4). If you have any other addictions such as cigarettes you are throwing even more money out the window.
Now lets look at supplements. If you want to be healthy then you likely take at least 1 supplemental vitamin and most of us take more then that. They can cost anywhere from $5 to $25 a bottle for 30 day supply. So just for arguments sake lets say that you purchase two supplements and you pay about $10 a bottle for a 30 day supply for 2 people in your household. That is $40 a month for your supplements.
So you could be spending $369 a month on eating out, incidentals and supplements. So just to be fair, say you really watch your budget and you only eat out half that much, then you still likely spend $184.50 a month on these things. That is probably a pretty realistic cost for a couple for eating out and purchsing coffee and energy drinks and vitamins and I would be willing to bet that most of you spend a great deal more. Actually my scenario for eating out only considered the cost for one person a month, so if both of you are working and eating out then your total would be somewhere between $261 and $523.
What if I said that I know of a product that can help you get healthy, lose weight and feel better but for pretty much the same cost and you won't even want to eat out or reach for those coffees or energy drinks. Would you be interested? I have found that company in Visalus Sciences and the Body By Vi 90 Day Challenge. They have kits that range from $49 to $250 a month for all the tools including the supplements and the meal replacements depending on your goals. If that isn't enough to make you interested in this product then I will spend time with you and teach you how to coupon for your other groceries and I promise we can cut your budget in half. I cut my own family budget from $800 a month to $400 so I don't just talk the talk....I walk the walk! You can not afford to walk away from this opportunity. To sweeten the pot so to speak, this company has also made it incredibly easy for you to earn free product each month (possibly getting even the most expensive $250 kit for free) and/or make this a home-based business and earn additional income from telling people how you are changing your life.
I am telling you that this is an opportunity like none I have ever found. You need to figure out what you are willing to give up so that you can afford to do this. Your family and loved ones are worth it. Your health is worth it. Ask me how!!
If you have a job working 9-5 every day then chances are you eat out 3-5 lunches a week. And I have noticed that alot of people even pick up breakfast through a fast food drive through every morning. If breakfast isn't in your normal routine then it should be, but I can almost bet that you drink coffee or energy drinks. Starbucks costs you about $4 a cup and I know people who should have stock in the company because they pay the employees salaries at their local store with their business.
So if you eat out 5 days a week for an average of $9 a meal (somewhere between the cost of a burger combo $6.50 and a mid-range restaurant for $12 a meal) you are spending $45 a week on lunch, or $202.50 a month. Add in breakfast 2 times a week for $4.50 on average and you are now spending $243 a month. Then add in about a dozen trips to Starbucks for $4 each and you have added $48 a month for your coffee habit and it runs your total up to $291. Add in that case of energy drinks for about $38 a case (it's been a while since I've purchased these so forgive me if I am wrong) and you are now spending $329 on incidentals and that is on top of the average cost of groceries (about $1000 a month for a family of 4). If you have any other addictions such as cigarettes you are throwing even more money out the window.
Now lets look at supplements. If you want to be healthy then you likely take at least 1 supplemental vitamin and most of us take more then that. They can cost anywhere from $5 to $25 a bottle for 30 day supply. So just for arguments sake lets say that you purchase two supplements and you pay about $10 a bottle for a 30 day supply for 2 people in your household. That is $40 a month for your supplements.
So you could be spending $369 a month on eating out, incidentals and supplements. So just to be fair, say you really watch your budget and you only eat out half that much, then you still likely spend $184.50 a month on these things. That is probably a pretty realistic cost for a couple for eating out and purchsing coffee and energy drinks and vitamins and I would be willing to bet that most of you spend a great deal more. Actually my scenario for eating out only considered the cost for one person a month, so if both of you are working and eating out then your total would be somewhere between $261 and $523.
What if I said that I know of a product that can help you get healthy, lose weight and feel better but for pretty much the same cost and you won't even want to eat out or reach for those coffees or energy drinks. Would you be interested? I have found that company in Visalus Sciences and the Body By Vi 90 Day Challenge. They have kits that range from $49 to $250 a month for all the tools including the supplements and the meal replacements depending on your goals. If that isn't enough to make you interested in this product then I will spend time with you and teach you how to coupon for your other groceries and I promise we can cut your budget in half. I cut my own family budget from $800 a month to $400 so I don't just talk the talk....I walk the walk! You can not afford to walk away from this opportunity. To sweeten the pot so to speak, this company has also made it incredibly easy for you to earn free product each month (possibly getting even the most expensive $250 kit for free) and/or make this a home-based business and earn additional income from telling people how you are changing your life.
I am telling you that this is an opportunity like none I have ever found. You need to figure out what you are willing to give up so that you can afford to do this. Your family and loved ones are worth it. Your health is worth it. Ask me how!!
Saturday, January 28, 2012
My Visalus Routine
Today I want to let you in on my daily routine.
First, I want to clarify that Visalus shakes are NOT the miracle pill or magic over-night answer to your weight-loss. However, their shakes are a tool that you can use to get there in the long run. If you have tons of hurdles in the form of health issues, such as I have, then Visalus may be the answer for you. I have attempted to decrease my calorie intake many, many times over the years and getting my protein/fiber intake balanced so that I'm not starving and I don't have low blood sugar spells is pretty darn near impossible. Then there's the issue with blood pressure and hypertension. When you start off with a new diet you have to adjust to the lower volume. So I have tried eating light and/or low sodium soups and low fat crackers and such to hold me over. Unfortunately even the low sodium canned soups and especially the low fat/fat free snacks are full of sodium. When they pull out the fat, they have to put something in for taste. So every attempt has been plagued by headaches, fatique and severe false hunger (caused by low blood sugar).
Today is 13 days on Visalus and I have not had one low blood sugar spell or headache during that time. These shakes work to stabalize your sugars and give you the nutrition you need while still allowing you to decrease your caloric intake! I have already documented a drop in my blood pressure and I feel great!
So moving on to my routine. I drink visalus shakes in the place of 2 meals a day and then eat one normal meal. The first week I lost 5 lbs and it was not a typical week for me. I had 2 birthday dinners, 1 child's birthday party, and 1 baby shower all in the same week. We ate at Golden Corral for one birthday dinner and Applebees the other. I tried to fill up on salad at Golden Corral and I skipped dessert. At Applebees I ate a chicken ceasar salad. The last birthday party I skipped the cake and ice cream all together. Guess I was all caked out by then. This was on top of lunch out 2 days with family members.
This last week has been more normal. The only meals out were mine and my hubby's weekly date night and lunch out with my son. I have adjusted to the shakes as meals and have not been very hungry. We switched our normal meal from dinner to lunch this week. By having a shake for breakfast, a normal lunch, and a shake for dinner it allows our bodies time to process the heavier food long before we head to bed and slow the process down.
Typical Day's Meals and Snacks:
Breakfast: Visalus Shake with the Butterfinger recipe
Snack: 1 sliced apple with the peel on, with a little lemon juice
Lunch: 3 small chicken tenderloins grilled in skillet with a little olive oil, 2 servings of broiled veggies, and small helping of real mashed potatoes
Snack: 2 squares of cheddar cheese
Snack: raw broccoli, cauliflower and carrots
Dinner: Strawberry Peach Smoothie with Visalus
Drinks:
1 large 36 oz bottle of water with 2 Neuro packets in it.
1 serving of unsweet Tea
3 glasses of filtered water
I am also taking the vi-pak supplements every day.
My husband and I have not yet added any additional workout to our routine, but this had a purpose, an experiment I guess you could say. We both wanted to see if we could lose some weight by just using the shakes. We plan to start adding some walking in the third week and build up to a regular work out routine. I will definitely let you know how that goes.
Ready to join the challenge yet? The only regret you will have is not doing it sooner. http://teresacur.myvi.net/
First, I want to clarify that Visalus shakes are NOT the miracle pill or magic over-night answer to your weight-loss. However, their shakes are a tool that you can use to get there in the long run. If you have tons of hurdles in the form of health issues, such as I have, then Visalus may be the answer for you. I have attempted to decrease my calorie intake many, many times over the years and getting my protein/fiber intake balanced so that I'm not starving and I don't have low blood sugar spells is pretty darn near impossible. Then there's the issue with blood pressure and hypertension. When you start off with a new diet you have to adjust to the lower volume. So I have tried eating light and/or low sodium soups and low fat crackers and such to hold me over. Unfortunately even the low sodium canned soups and especially the low fat/fat free snacks are full of sodium. When they pull out the fat, they have to put something in for taste. So every attempt has been plagued by headaches, fatique and severe false hunger (caused by low blood sugar).
Today is 13 days on Visalus and I have not had one low blood sugar spell or headache during that time. These shakes work to stabalize your sugars and give you the nutrition you need while still allowing you to decrease your caloric intake! I have already documented a drop in my blood pressure and I feel great!
So moving on to my routine. I drink visalus shakes in the place of 2 meals a day and then eat one normal meal. The first week I lost 5 lbs and it was not a typical week for me. I had 2 birthday dinners, 1 child's birthday party, and 1 baby shower all in the same week. We ate at Golden Corral for one birthday dinner and Applebees the other. I tried to fill up on salad at Golden Corral and I skipped dessert. At Applebees I ate a chicken ceasar salad. The last birthday party I skipped the cake and ice cream all together. Guess I was all caked out by then. This was on top of lunch out 2 days with family members.
This last week has been more normal. The only meals out were mine and my hubby's weekly date night and lunch out with my son. I have adjusted to the shakes as meals and have not been very hungry. We switched our normal meal from dinner to lunch this week. By having a shake for breakfast, a normal lunch, and a shake for dinner it allows our bodies time to process the heavier food long before we head to bed and slow the process down.
Typical Day's Meals and Snacks:
Breakfast: Visalus Shake with the Butterfinger recipe
Snack: 1 sliced apple with the peel on, with a little lemon juice
Lunch: 3 small chicken tenderloins grilled in skillet with a little olive oil, 2 servings of broiled veggies, and small helping of real mashed potatoes
Snack: 2 squares of cheddar cheese
Snack: raw broccoli, cauliflower and carrots
Dinner: Strawberry Peach Smoothie with Visalus
Drinks:
1 large 36 oz bottle of water with 2 Neuro packets in it.
1 serving of unsweet Tea
3 glasses of filtered water
I am also taking the vi-pak supplements every day.
My husband and I have not yet added any additional workout to our routine, but this had a purpose, an experiment I guess you could say. We both wanted to see if we could lose some weight by just using the shakes. We plan to start adding some walking in the third week and build up to a regular work out routine. I will definitely let you know how that goes.
Ready to join the challenge yet? The only regret you will have is not doing it sooner. http://teresacur.myvi.net/
Friday, January 27, 2012
My Health and the Battle of the Bulge
Before we get into the nitty gritty with Visalus and whether it works, how expensive it is, etc, I thought it would be good to give you a run down of my history and what I struggle with every day.
Let me start by telling you that my struggle with weight is not new. It didn't start in adulthood. I guess my self-esteem took a hit in my early high school years and I've had a not-so-healthy view of myself ever since. I have worked hard to overcome this and always try to put things in perspective. Weight gain doesn't help the matter and I have even read articles on how people seriously look down on over-weight people or that they are not as smart as thinner persons. While I know this is not true, you can't overcome peoples perceptions. While my weakness is visible for all the world to see, I would bet that each of you have your own daily struggle and demons to deal with every day.
I was never heavy as a child or even as a teen, but high school is where your perspective changes. The world teaches us that what God gave us is not enough and that we have to change to be popular or to fit in. So the desire to be thinner and have a flatter stomach began in about the 9th grade. A pattern of skipping meals and depriving myself to lose weight began that I am still trying to break out of daily. Then just after graduation I became pregnant with my first child. I was one of the lucky ones I guess, after delivery I was right back into my jeans. However, major life changes are never good for the scales. The birth of a child along with graduating from high school, getting married, starting a new life all played a role in my gaining weight. I was overwhelmed with the changes in my life, trying to find a new normal. My weight began a slow steady climb that didn't stop for several years and 2 more babies coming along during that time. By the time I realized what was happening I felt helpless to stop it. Gestational Diabetes that didn't immediately go away after my second child also complicated things.
One good thing I guess, you can't really call me a yo-yo dieter. I have tried a lot of diets over the years, but none of them has ever really worked. I have this pattern of getting determined and actually making life changes only to be sidelined by injuries or illness. The first time was after the birth of my son. I was doing the Body For Life program, a very strict program for both diet and exercise. I enjoyed the exercise and I had more energy then I had even experienced in my whole life. I stuck to the program for about 2 months. Then I broke my foot, had to have surgery to have pins put in. No more Tai Bo for me. Fast forward several years, I was making permanent life changes that included walking 2 miles a day for the entire summer, cutting out sodium, making healthier choices, and then I herniated a disc in my back and had to have surgery to fix it. It seems that I hit roadblocks at every turn.
Now to the present. I definitely have the desire and the determination to lose the weight and get healthy. However, being this heavy now has it's own set of problems. I have high blood pressure and I am hypertensive. I have high cholesterol. I am deficient in Vitamin D and Potassium. That is 5 pills (all doctor ordered, 3 RX and 2 OTC supplements) I have to take every day of my life to manage my health. On top of these issues, I am prediabetic and I have rosacea and other skin issues. What this means is many low fat or light foods have too much sodium for my blood pressure. I can't do anything like the Atkins diet because the cheese, eggs and red meat are out with my cholesterol levels. I can't eat canned soups or canned vegetables with my hypertension. Spices and spicy foods make my rosacea flare up. Some dark green leafy vegetables and sea salt are advised against because of a family history of Hypothyroidism (Thank God I don't actually have that one as of yet!) With the prediabetes, I cannot skip meals or eat pastas, potatoes, rice, bread or any other carbs. These all lead to a spike in sugar and then a severe drop that makes me feel famished even though I don't really NEED to eat again. That pretty much leaves iceberg lettuce salads with no dressing or toppings for 3 meals a day.
After a while I have begun to feel like the only way to lose weight is to starve myself. There isn't much left that is safe and convenient for me that allows me to balance my diet and meals for my family at the same time. Those of you that are thin cannot imagine the helplessness that sets in after a while of telling yourself all the things you CANNOT have.
So that is where I am today. This is why I decided to try Visalus shakes. They are diabetic friendly, low sodium, low carb, gluten free and lactose free. Here is a great site to explain about the shakes http://visalusproteinshakes.com/visalus-shakes/
If you want to order go to http://teresacur.bodybyvi.com and feel free to message me at sewrtess@aol.com with additional questions.
Let me start by telling you that my struggle with weight is not new. It didn't start in adulthood. I guess my self-esteem took a hit in my early high school years and I've had a not-so-healthy view of myself ever since. I have worked hard to overcome this and always try to put things in perspective. Weight gain doesn't help the matter and I have even read articles on how people seriously look down on over-weight people or that they are not as smart as thinner persons. While I know this is not true, you can't overcome peoples perceptions. While my weakness is visible for all the world to see, I would bet that each of you have your own daily struggle and demons to deal with every day.
I was never heavy as a child or even as a teen, but high school is where your perspective changes. The world teaches us that what God gave us is not enough and that we have to change to be popular or to fit in. So the desire to be thinner and have a flatter stomach began in about the 9th grade. A pattern of skipping meals and depriving myself to lose weight began that I am still trying to break out of daily. Then just after graduation I became pregnant with my first child. I was one of the lucky ones I guess, after delivery I was right back into my jeans. However, major life changes are never good for the scales. The birth of a child along with graduating from high school, getting married, starting a new life all played a role in my gaining weight. I was overwhelmed with the changes in my life, trying to find a new normal. My weight began a slow steady climb that didn't stop for several years and 2 more babies coming along during that time. By the time I realized what was happening I felt helpless to stop it. Gestational Diabetes that didn't immediately go away after my second child also complicated things.
One good thing I guess, you can't really call me a yo-yo dieter. I have tried a lot of diets over the years, but none of them has ever really worked. I have this pattern of getting determined and actually making life changes only to be sidelined by injuries or illness. The first time was after the birth of my son. I was doing the Body For Life program, a very strict program for both diet and exercise. I enjoyed the exercise and I had more energy then I had even experienced in my whole life. I stuck to the program for about 2 months. Then I broke my foot, had to have surgery to have pins put in. No more Tai Bo for me. Fast forward several years, I was making permanent life changes that included walking 2 miles a day for the entire summer, cutting out sodium, making healthier choices, and then I herniated a disc in my back and had to have surgery to fix it. It seems that I hit roadblocks at every turn.
Now to the present. I definitely have the desire and the determination to lose the weight and get healthy. However, being this heavy now has it's own set of problems. I have high blood pressure and I am hypertensive. I have high cholesterol. I am deficient in Vitamin D and Potassium. That is 5 pills (all doctor ordered, 3 RX and 2 OTC supplements) I have to take every day of my life to manage my health. On top of these issues, I am prediabetic and I have rosacea and other skin issues. What this means is many low fat or light foods have too much sodium for my blood pressure. I can't do anything like the Atkins diet because the cheese, eggs and red meat are out with my cholesterol levels. I can't eat canned soups or canned vegetables with my hypertension. Spices and spicy foods make my rosacea flare up. Some dark green leafy vegetables and sea salt are advised against because of a family history of Hypothyroidism (Thank God I don't actually have that one as of yet!) With the prediabetes, I cannot skip meals or eat pastas, potatoes, rice, bread or any other carbs. These all lead to a spike in sugar and then a severe drop that makes me feel famished even though I don't really NEED to eat again. That pretty much leaves iceberg lettuce salads with no dressing or toppings for 3 meals a day.
After a while I have begun to feel like the only way to lose weight is to starve myself. There isn't much left that is safe and convenient for me that allows me to balance my diet and meals for my family at the same time. Those of you that are thin cannot imagine the helplessness that sets in after a while of telling yourself all the things you CANNOT have.
So that is where I am today. This is why I decided to try Visalus shakes. They are diabetic friendly, low sodium, low carb, gluten free and lactose free. Here is a great site to explain about the shakes http://visalusproteinshakes.com/visalus-shakes/
If you want to order go to http://teresacur.bodybyvi.com and feel free to message me at sewrtess@aol.com with additional questions.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Visalus Sciences and Weight Loss
Recently I began a challenge called the 90 Day Challenge by Body By Vi. In 10 days I have lost 6 pounds and 1 inch each off my chest, waist, and hips. I have decided to chronicle my weight loss journey here on my blog. I will discuss all my thought processes and what I am doing to get here. I will discuss the company and what I am finding out about the products. I will tell you what I am putting in my shakes and what snacks I am eating. I will be an open book for you to learn.
Since I mentioned the challenge and the fact that i have lost weight already my inbox has stayed full from people messaging me asking questions. Maybe this will answer some of your questions and maybe even motivate you to start your own challenge.
This is how I ended up at Visalus:
Last fall I began researching ways to be healthy. I watched the documentary called "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead". I began to research the raw foods movement. I looked into the mean green smoothies and ways to incorporate veggies and fruits into my diet. I tried it at home myself and it was a complete disaster. Even though I love veggies I could not stomach the taste of the smoothie made from kale and celery. So I kept searching for more answers. I also watched the documentary called "Forks over Knives". I knew I wanted to get healthy and lose some weight but I didn't know how to get there.
Then recently I found a company called Visalus. They have created The 90 Day Challenge to get the word out about their products. I finally went to a Challenge party a couple weeks ago and I wish that I had done it sooner. I have researched the products, the challenge and the company. Honestly, I can't find anything negative about this company. The complaints that I found are from customers who didn't do their due diligence and understand the auto ship function when you put an order into them. I have found no complaints about the products and 99% of the customers have loved the shake/protein mix. People are getting healthy, losing weight, coming off prescription drugs, building muscle etc. It is nothing short of amazing what is happening with this product.
Feel free to comment and message me with your concerns and questions. I will do my best to answer them all.
Since I mentioned the challenge and the fact that i have lost weight already my inbox has stayed full from people messaging me asking questions. Maybe this will answer some of your questions and maybe even motivate you to start your own challenge.
This is how I ended up at Visalus:
Last fall I began researching ways to be healthy. I watched the documentary called "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead". I began to research the raw foods movement. I looked into the mean green smoothies and ways to incorporate veggies and fruits into my diet. I tried it at home myself and it was a complete disaster. Even though I love veggies I could not stomach the taste of the smoothie made from kale and celery. So I kept searching for more answers. I also watched the documentary called "Forks over Knives". I knew I wanted to get healthy and lose some weight but I didn't know how to get there.
Then recently I found a company called Visalus. They have created The 90 Day Challenge to get the word out about their products. I finally went to a Challenge party a couple weeks ago and I wish that I had done it sooner. I have researched the products, the challenge and the company. Honestly, I can't find anything negative about this company. The complaints that I found are from customers who didn't do their due diligence and understand the auto ship function when you put an order into them. I have found no complaints about the products and 99% of the customers have loved the shake/protein mix. People are getting healthy, losing weight, coming off prescription drugs, building muscle etc. It is nothing short of amazing what is happening with this product.
Feel free to comment and message me with your concerns and questions. I will do my best to answer them all.
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