A Work of A.R.T.

We all have learning curves in life.  Recently I've had one in regards to my diet.  I think it's really important to pay attention to what our body tells us & respect what it says.  I am going to share a bit of my first 30 or so days on my Body by Vi Challenge w/ you to encourage you to pay attention to your bodies... listen to them & don't give up when they don't do exactly what you'd like/expect them to do! 

So far since starting my Challenge I've lost a total of 12.2 lbs!  I'm happy about this but several times in this journey I've been aggervated & disappointed because I lost over 10 of that in the 1st week or so.  Ugh, what happened, right?! 

(guys you can skip to the next paragraph lol)
Well first of all my cycle came.  I have many issues during this time of the month & my period normally lasts for more than a week... that does not include the pre-menstrual days.  I bring this up because I normally gain 6-8 lbs during this time BUT this time I only gained 2-3 lbs depending on the day.  I won't go much more into that because I've blogged about that previously but it did stand to mention as this stopped my weight loss for almost 2 weeks!  Discouraging?... yes! 

Next, I went to Florida for Visalus' Vitality training.  This was so powerful & I know the products work due to so many live testimonies, not to mention people that would come up to us & share their testimonies in the airport! (we were wearing our Body by Vi shirts)  So, what happened there, that I'm mentioning this?  First of all, I admit I wasn't eating correctly but did try to make good choices or use healthy portion control most of the time.  Secondly, the resorts' Market didn't have a milk substitute like Almond milk.  I hadn't planned for this.  Dairy really messes up my digestion, not to mention other things like my asthma & in general is not the best for anyone.  Well finally this week (got back on July 18th) my digestion is starting to work properly again.  All last week my foods kept wanting to come back up & my processes were not working as they should & normally do.

Both of these situations are upsetting, but I'm not giving up!!  Many people quit at the learning curve (just like Bob in the image to the right) when it takes bravery & courage to begin any new journey, so why not stick it out?  It will be that much harder to start over again later.  I feel better & have lost many inches even though my weight loss was slowed up, so on the days I don't lose I choose to do it for my health!  Notice I said choose... we choose even if we don't choose!... think about it, if that  doesn't make sense.  You are always making a choice even if it's passive.  Maybe not about this, but whatever challenge you are currently taking on!  Stick it out friend!  You deserve to treat yourself well & complete what you've started! 

Many on the Challenge have started new Challenges after getting home from Vitality due to Visalus upping the ante for Challenge Winners.  They have upped the prizes, trips, etc. to $10,000,000/year vs. the previous (which was already amazing!) $100,000/year.   I am starting a new Challenge as of this past Monday & am down 2.4 lbs already.  This has never felt like a diet... Andy & I were just saying the other day on our way out for a walk at the zoo that it doesn't even seem like we've been doing this for over a month.  We've been on other diets that have felt like an eternity so this is quite a pleasure!  (not to mention they didn't work)

Will you take this Challenge w/ me?  Even if you don't take a Challenge w/ Body by Vi, maybe it's something w/ your finances or marriage, etc. please share it w/ me & let's take this journey together!

ps~ More to come on our financial 90 Day Challenge! :D

A unique way that a few specific vegetables can actually stimulate the burning of abdominal fat...
article by Mike Geary, Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Nutrition Specialist

I bet you didn't know that there is a specific class of vegetables that contain very specific phytonutrients that actually help to fight against stubborn belly fat. Let me explain what these unique vegetables are and why they help to burn stomach fat...

Chemicals that force your body to hold onto belly fat

Something you may have never heard about is that certain chemicals in our food supply and our environment, such as pesticides, herbicides, and certain petrochemicals from air and water pollution, household cleaners, cosmetics, etc can react with your body and make your body store excess abdominal fat.

These chemicals are known as xenoestrogens.

Xenoestrogens are chemicals that you are exposed to (and are hard to avoid in the modern world) that have an estrogenic effect in your body.  Excess exposure to these can cause hormone balance disruptions for both men and women. So these can wreak havoc in the body for both guys and gals.

These estrogenic chemicals that we are exposed to on a daily basis can stimulate your body to store belly fat, along with many other problems (including cancer risks in the long term).

So here's where this specific class of vegetables comes in handy...

One of those cool tricks that I teach my clients that hire me for nutritional counseling is the use of cruciferous vegetables to help fight against stomach fat.

Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage, etc. contain very specific and unique phytonutrients such as indole-3-carbinol (I3C) that help to fight against these estrogenic compounds...

And by fighting against these belly fat stimulating estrogenic chemicals, this is just 1 more step in helping you to win the battle against abdominal fat!

So there you go... just another excuse to do what mom always told you and eat more broccoli!

I've really learned to like brussells sprouts in the last year too... Melt a little grass-fed cheese on them and some garlic and they're great!
~~~~~~~~~~
Goal:  To add more of these veggies into my daily diet :)

The Total Health System, Vi-Pak:
Coupling innovative science and research with a natural approach to proactive wellness, the ViSalus Vi-PAK is a revolutionary new breakthrough in supplementation.

Dr. Michael Seidman developed the Vi-PAK with the vision of helping you lead a longer, healthier, and more fulfilled life.

With the Vi-PAK, you can conveniently fuel your body with the highest quality resources for just a few dollars a day.  One great thing that I really enjoy about the Vi-Pak is the convenience of having your pills already sorted into AM & PM packets (Yellow for AM, Blue for PM)

I invite you to discover the many health benefits of taking the ViSalus Vi-PAK daily to support your nutritional needs:

*Naturally helps increase your bodies production of energy, endurance and performance.
*Minimizes stress and tension as you know you are getting good nutrition.
*Supports healthy range of motion and may help reduce joint pain.
*Enhances moodsand emotional balance.
*Supports healthy blood fat and blood sugar levels.
*Promotes focus and may reduce hyperactivity symptoms.
*Promotes weight loss and may help reduce cravings.
*May assist in feelings of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) and menopausal-like symptoms.
*Support speedy recovery times from workouts or injuries.
*Enhances overall immune system function.

On a personal note, I want to say that I normally gain 6-8lbs of water weight during my menstrual cycle & as you can imagine this doesn't feel good!!!  This is my first cycle using my Vi-Shape shakes & Vi-Pak supplements & I only gained 2-3lbs (depending on the day of the cycle) & felt a whole lot better!  If you suffer from any of the symptoms above, why not give this a try?  You truly have nothing to lose as there is a 30-day money-back guarantee!  Contact me & let's get you started!

One thing I'm really enjoying about my ViShape shakes is the variety that I am able to have.  My favorite way to have my shake is over cereal... yum!  I don't use all of it of course, so I drink the rest.  It's so delicious... like I'm eating some sugary kids cereal :D 

Andy's favorite is Chocolate Peanut Butter but he hasn't yet tried Root Beer Float!  We made that one at our Challenge Party yesterday & it was a HUGE hit!  Strawberry Cheesecake made w/ just strawberries & cheesecake pudding mix is sooooo good too.  I think almost everyone wanted seconds of that one at the 1st party I went to!  If you're on the shakes, what's your favorite? 

For a list of just SOME of the recipes that you are able to have w/ our ViShape Shakes see my note on Facebook... https://www.facebook.com/messages/509806321#!/note.php?note_id=10150223562986630 

If you are not yet enjoying them, find out how you can at www.aliciatodd.myvi.net  I'd love for you to join us in this Challenge, where you lose lbs & inches OR bulk up for those desiring/needing that & win some great prizes while you're at it too!!

                                                                                                        Picture used from http://vishape.blogspot.com/

I've only dreamed of actually experiencing the title of this post, UNTIL NOW!  I can't believe it.  I'm finally doing what I love... HELPING PEOPLE!  I get to do that w/ coaching & speaking as well, but it takes a lot of time to build a coaching practice & get your name out there as a speaker.  Visalus has brought both of these opportunities to me on a daily basis now.  It's only been a short time but I cannot even sleep because of my excitement... the kind of excitement that doesn't wear off because there's a purpose in it.

I've had many jobs/types of jobs & my favorite two were working as a Loan Officer & as a Weight Loss Consultant at L.A. Weight Loss.  I loved the stress & fast pace as a L.O. & realy enjoyed helping & encouraging others in their w.l. journey as a consultant.  There were downsides to both of these positions though & shortly after I quit both, they went out of business.  God took care of me by allowing me out of both places of employment before that happened, whew.  Since then, I've sought the same type of work & come up short each time. 

My calling in life, is speaking & helping others through this journey of life, however it hasn't been until recently that I've put my confidence fully in the Lord & started stepping out in this.  Visalus is giving me another path to add to this journey & I love it.  I'm helping myself by losing weight & get healthy & am blessed to share it with others.  There's NO SELLING either (can we say LOOOOVE?!?!).  When you're losing weight & getting healthier, have a sense of purpose, etc. others then want to jump on board w/ you.  That's what happened when my mom, Andy & I all joined forces w/ my cousin!!  I tell you this today in case you are looking for a great opportunity to bless your family physically & financially then take a look at this http://aliciatodd.myvi.net/freebmw   My mission through Body by Vi is to help everyone I know to get their Wellness Kit for FREE... what an awesome opportunity & pupose... help all the people I know to become healthier, yay! 

Our biggest dream is that Andy will be able to "retire" from Tile, I'll be able to go on speaking engagements w/out worrying about finances, help w/ missions, etc.  We're excited & headed there.  Wanna go w/ us?! 

If so, see ya at the Top, Driving a FREE BMW!  

It's been a great week on the Challenge. (For more info on what I'm referring to, go to my links page)  It's day 8 & so far I've lost 6.8 lbs... reaching my first goal to be under 200lbs! 

I never in my wildest dreams thought I'd get that heavy.  I used to say if I got over 155lbs I'd hurt myself (boy, wasn't that a smart thing to do).  I didn't realize then that yes, that's exactly what I'd do as any unhealthy cycle goes.

I began having problems w/ my thyroid & adrenals back in 2007 during a very difficult time but didn't figure out what was going on until about 2 yrs ago.  At that time, I didn't care much about myself so I didn't take good care of my body when it actually needed a lot of rest, in order to properly manage the stress I was going through.  So for the last couple of years God has brought me on a journey (which I'm sure I'll share more about later) of learning how to care for myself in more ways than one.  During that journey I decided to become a Health Coach/Wholistic Consultant & help others improve their health just the same. 

It wasn't until this month though that I came across Visalus (well actually about 5 yrs ago I did but I didn't care about myself too much then so I wasn't interested lol).  I actually tried their products this time & got hooked!  I've tried many weight loss products/shakes & none taste like these!  They honestly taste like cake mix all on their own!  Not to mention, the 100's of other recipes there are to try!  So I started the Challenge last Wed & so far I've lost 6.8 lbs!!... can I get whoot whoot?!  lol  I'm sleeping better & waking up easier!  Anyone that knows me, knows that both of those amazing for me!! 

I would rarely recommend an actual product as a coach, but these products are so different that it would be selfish of me to keep this to myself!  If you want a FREE SAMPLE or to come to a Challenge Party w/ me, email me & I'll send you one!  Support makes all the difference so let's do this together!

Here's to fat loss & muscle gained!!