Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Beginning My 4th Month on Shaklee 180™

I've been on the Shaklee 180™ program a full three months now. I think it might be okay to share a progress photo here. I figured taking a photo now will either get me excited over the difference in my appearance, or frustrate me that I haven't done enough. Either way, I knew it would motivate me to work even harder this month. Plus, mid-way seems to be a good time to evaluate my progress overall, doesn't it? 


I've still got a ways to go, but not too bad, right? And now, as always, here are my numbers from the beginning of the program:

Weight: 170lbs
Bust: 41"
Waist: 36"
Hips: 43"
Arms: left: 14"
          right: 14"

And here are my current numbers:
Weight: 155lbs
Bust: 38"
Waist: 32"
Hips: 40"
Arms: left: 13"
          right: 13"

I lost 5lbs and only 2 inches this past month. You'd think it would be discouraging, but, like I said in my last vlog, I'm actually starting to see the difference for myself - which has been SUPER encouraging for me. It's one thing to see the numbers on the scale slowly eeking downward, it's apparently a whole other beast to actually see your waistline slimming down in the mirror.


Overall, I've lost about 15lbs, 12", and look at the difference in my BMI because of it!
BMI start number and 4th month
my BMI on March 1st (top) vs my BMI June 1st (bottom)

I think that's a good place to officially begin the second half of my time as a Shaklee Blogger. 

I've been thinking lately about how difficult and daunting weight loss can seem when you're first starting out (or in the thick of it, like me). You hear stories all the time about people on a weight loss roller coaster - hitting it hard for a while, making some progress, falling off and gaining it all back plus some (I'm not just talking about myself here, right?). So what puts that final nail in the coffin? What motivates a person to truly make a life change and stick with it.

My husband listens to Dave Ramsey a lot. He was talking the other day about how whenever callers share their success stories, Dave will ask what the tipping point was. Generally, they all have the same answer - they got tired of it. They were tired of the bills, the debt, the stress, the knowing they could be living their lives better. I don't think it's much different for people deciding to make a permanent lifestyle change with their health. I was tired of feeling tired, of not feeling good about the way I looked in my clothes (or out of them, for that matter), of stepping on the scale and beating myself up over the extra weight that just kept increasing. I was tired of not being the healthy person that I know I enjoy being, the person I have been in the past. But I want to be even better somehow.

I wasn't given healthy role models in my home growing up. I've shared a little of this before, but I want to be the example for my kids that I wish I would have found as a child or young adult. I wish I would have learned how those unhealthy choices would stack up and follow me around, and I wish I would have learned how simple it could be to change those habits back then. Because it would have been simpler then compared to now.

Sometimes I think my brother feels overwhelmed with the amount of changes he would have to make now. Cut out the soda, the processed foods, eat out less, and incorporate some exercise. So simple to put on paper, but so difficult when you've lived your life a certain way for decades. I'd love if it were as easy as my brother looking at the changes I've made and saying "oh, that's easy - I can do that too." Not likely. But maybe he'll look at the changes I've made and say "I want to do that." And maybe that will be enough to get something rolling for him. 
perseverence quote by marie curie

My brother is nearly 100lbs overweight, if not that. I just think of him and I think of all the people who might feel like it's beyond them to create a new and healthier lifestyle for themselves. If I am successful losing my 40lbs of extra weight making these small changes (and I'm almost half-way there), maybe my own brother or someone reading this will feel empowered or encouraged to make those small changes for themselves. That would be the best reward, I think, because losing this weight hasn't just been about getting a slimmer body. It's about feeling better and improving my quality of life, too. Exercising and eating healthier might be taking the pounds off, but it's also not weighing me down mentally the way junk food has. And I honestly believe running keeps me sane.

What has inspired you to make big life changes? What inspires you in general? Is there anyone in your life you wish you could guide along a certain path? Do you think that's just a "mom-thing" I have going on now?
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This is a sponsored post as part of the Shaklee Corporation blogger program. I have received free products, online support and incentives for participating in the Shaklee Corporation blogger program. My opinions are my own. I am also a Shaklee Independent Distributor. 

People following the weight-loss portion of the Shaklee 180™ Program can expect to lose 1-2 pounds per week.

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