6 Months Later {Shaklee 180}

Well here we are...6 months later. I can hardly believe that 6 short months ago I was nervously starting on this journey. If you are just joining in on this journey, or if you missed some of my posts, feel free to check them out here.

As a recap, here is my before photo:

When I first started Shaklee 180, my goal was to lose at least 20 lbs. I honestly was so focused on the extra weight that I didn't really care about focusing on any other goals. Weight loss was my only goal. I honestly thought it was going to be a "magic solution" and fall right off. Well, guess what?!? It didn't. In fact, for the first 2 months straight, I had my Shaklee shake or bar for at least 2 meals, and made sure my third meal was a healthy one, and yet the number on the scale never changed. With month 3, I started to cheat a bit here and there. Once summer hit, it was even more hit and miss with me always being on the go. However, that is where the bars, or even a shake on the run, came in handy.

So how much did I lose? Here is my after pic.

Yep, you read that right! 0 pounds and 2 inches overall.

So do I feel like the program failed me? Absolutely not! If anything, I failed the program by choice. It's hard to say that had I been more consistent I would have for sure lost weight and more inches. I will never know that. However, even though I didn't lose the weight I wanted to, I learned something I desperately needed to learn. I learned to value my body in the now. No matter how it looks with 20+ extra pounds, saggy skin, etc. This is my body. It has held two babies within it, and cradled three in my arms. It cooks, cleans, runs, walks, gets on the floor and plays with children, and falls into bed exhausted at night. Shaklee taught me to stop living my life in the "If only my body was 10 lbs. lighter" stage and instead, live it now. I call that a success and for that I will be forever grateful!

So what do I want you, as the reader to know about the Shaklee 180 system? If you think it's going to be easy, think again. You still have to work hard at eating right, exercising, being consistent, etc. However, also realize that if you do choose to try Shaklee 180 and find yourself not losing much in weight, realize that your thinking process about food and yourself could be changed for the better. If you are like me, you may find that alone is worth it in the end!

Thank you for joining me and cheering me on in this journey. To me, it has only just begun. If you want to know more about Shaklee, especially the Shaklee 180 system, please look here.


This is a sponsored post as part of the Shaklee Corporation blogger program. I have received free products, online support and incentives for participating. My opinions are my own.
 
People following the weight-loss portion of the Shaklee 180™ Program can expect to lose 1-2 pounds per week

The End Of The Journey {Shaklee Vlog Update}

I can hardly believe that my 6 months with Shaklee are coming to a close in less than a week. At the start of this program, I remember feeling like 6 months seemed like so far away, yet here I am. I'll be giving my final update on my results later, but today I wanted to share with you a tip I have when I'm on the go (which this summer has been seemingly non-stop). I'd also love to hear from you on any tips you have on eating healthy while traveling or on the go. Also, do you have any final questions for me that you would love for me to address specifically regarding the Shaklee 180 program?

This is a sponsored post as part of the Shaklee Corporation blogger program. I have received free products, online support and incentives for participating. My opinions are my own.
 

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

Family Picture Time {Shaklee Vlog Update}

Every year around this time of the year, I like to schedule family pictures. When I first started Shaklee, my hopes were that I would be down about 20 lbs. by the time these pictures came around. I've stayed the exact same weight the whole time on Shaklee. Thus, it was a bit disappointing to me to carry on with family pictures. Instead, I almost cancelled them. But then, I started thinking about my love of photography and capturing the moment "as is" and really, in the long run, no one is going to care about my size (not even me), but rather, those pictures will become precious for years to come for my children, grandchildren, etc. Thus, we had a great night of taking pictures together as a family! I can't lie to you and say that I wasn't fully concerned about my weight, because I was. But for the most part, I was able to put that aside and just be thankful that I am here to celebrate these moments with my family. Check out my video to hear a bit more of my thoughts and find out the "theme" of our pictures. Also, keep checking back on the blog for some of the pictures from our photo session!

This is a sponsored post as part of the Shaklee Corporation blogger program. I have received free products, online support and incentives for participating. My opinions are my own.
 

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

The Importance Of Water

Source

I know we hear it all the time, but so often it is hard to actually live out that command to make sure you drink enough water.

If there is one thing I am focusing more on since starting the Shaklee program 5 months ago, it is drinking more water. I think the reason behind that is because I want to do everything in my power to make sure I am doing what I can to aid in weight loss. So each day, my goal is to drink half my body weight in ounces.

The cool thing is that drinking water doesn't only help with weight loss, but it also helps with our overall health.

From the time the girls were old enough to have a sippy, we only put water in it. To this day, my girls love water. I also set the example for them at home, and while out and about, by always having my water bottle close by.

The hardest part for me on drinking water is that in the summer when it is hot, it is easy for me to drink it, but come winter, I have to force myself to do so. I often will try and have a warm cup of water then, with possibly a lemon slice to add in the flavor (am I the only person who hates warm water?).

So why drink water? For me, I know it aids in weight loss, helps make my wrinkles less noticeable, and I overall feel physically healthy and better. I can totally tell if I'm not drinking enough water in a day.

Do you drink water each day? If so, how much do you drink? Do you put lemon in it? Any tips for me come winter, so that I can keep up with my water intake?


This is a sponsored post as part of the Shaklee Corporation blogger program. I have received free products, online support and incentives for participating. My opinions are my own.
 

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

Shaklee Vlog Update

I'm needing some encouragement!! That's pretty much all I can say. I'm honest in that I've been pretty bad in eating my Shaklee this month, and still not too much weight change. So, any thought and encouragement you can send my way, please do!

This is a sponsored post as part of the Shaklee Corporation blogger program. I have received free products, online support and incentives for participating. My opinions are my own.
 

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

Let's Talk About Stress!

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Today I want to talk about stress, specifically in terms of stress inhibiting weight loss. I'm 99% sure that stress is a huge factor that is keeping me from losing weight with the Shaklee program.

When most people think about stress and weight gain, they think overeating, junk food eating, emotional eating, etc. On the contrary, I am the complete opposite. I'm not a stress eater or emotional eater. In fact, during the hardest emotional times of my life, I have actually lost weight rather than gained.

So it has taken me quite a bit to figure out that stress is a major culprit in not losing weight. For one, I had to acknowledge that I am stressed. I didn't really want to admit it because somehow I felt weak, or not good enough, but in reality I'm strong in admitting I can't do it all. A wife, a mom to three young girls, trying to homeschool 2 of those girls, chickens, a dog, 2 cats, my photography business, my house, the laundry, and a whole slew of other stuff.

Is it any wonder I am stressed?

So I guess my question to all of you is if any of you have suffered from stress? If so, what did you do to help it?

I've found something that has really helped me that I'll share with you in my next Shaklee Vlog post, but in the meantime, I'd love to hear if you have any special regimens, supplements, exercises, that specifically have helped you with your stress level.

This is a sponsored post as part of the Shaklee Corporation blogger program. I have received free products, online support and incentives for participating. My opinions are my own.

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

An Interview With My Daughters {A Shaklee Vlog Post}

I was really struggling this month with my Vlog for my Shaklee 180 post! So far, I've known exactly what I wanted to do, but when I realized that 3 months in I haven't lost any weight and just a few inches, I wasn't sure what kind of information I could offer on a Vlog that would be of any benefit to either you as my readers, or Shaklee. However, after thinking about it, I decided I wanted to spontaneously ask my daughters what they like about me, and what they love about me. Basing it off of my blog post on what I like and love about me. I was curious to hear what they thought, so I took them each separately and asked and here is what they said (make sure you watch the video before you read on).

Were you surprised? I sure was! Not one of them mentioned a physical trait about me they liked. Instead, Xiomara mentioned our trees and flowers (she's been helping me garden lately so perhaps that is where that came from), green beans, and green soup (still wondering on that one). Meridian mentioned her love of holding my hand and her love of sugar snap peas (I must be doing something right if two out of three kids mention vegetables, right?). Zoelle didn't surprise me with her love of my back rubs, but I didn't realize that she loves me for taking her on dates.

I know to most, this video is just one in a million silly kid videos there are on YouTube, but hearing their answers without any prompting from me, brought me to tears. I realized, that the people I love most don't care about my physical looks, my weight, or any of the silly things I spend so much time focusing on. Instead, they just care about spending time with me, and me investing into their lives. Something I plan on doing a lot more of!

If you have children, take a moment out of your day to ask them what they like and love about you! Or ask your partner/husband! You just might be surprised at their answers! If you do, will you come back here and share with me what it was? I'd love to hear!

This is a sponsored post as part of the Shaklee Corporation blogger program. I have received free products, online support and incentives for participating. My opinions are my own.

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

Finding Beauty In The Mirror

Sometimes, we can be our worst critics, can't we? In so many areas of my life I find myself being harder on me than I should be.

Take for example, my house. Recently I had a few friends pick me up to go for a girls night out, and when they invited themselves in, I freaked out a bit. To me it seemed like such a mess, toys on the floor, supper being made, and all I could see were the projects that were unfinished that I still want finished. I found myself apologizing for what could be, or should be. Yet, they were going on and on about features of my house they loved, or even how clean it was! I'm my own worst critic.

The same can be said while looking at myself in the mirror. So often I have an unhealthy view of myself in the mirror. Yet, I'll have people compliment me on my looks or appearance and be surprised as that very thing is something I don't like.

One thing I am loving about Shaklee 180 is that it is giving me a healthy view of beauty. Beauty really isn't in a size or a number on the scale, but rather it's who you are on the inside. Your confidence, kindness, and love will shine through you and make you beautiful.

One of the challenges we had is to find something about our physical appearance we like and something we love. For as long as I can remember, I have always liked my eyes. They are large, pretty dark brown in color, and expressive. Plus, Chris has always loved them!!

I love my curly hair! I didn't always love it though. As a child, everyone would always ask to touch it, or play with it and I hated that! It tangled easily and I longed for straighter hair. However, my hair has only gotten curlier as I've aged. Each girl caused my hair to grow a little curlier, and finally about 2 years ago, I found out how to take care of my curls so they are healthy and easy to manage. I don't always wear it curly and I have the advantage of being able to straighten it, or just shower at night and it tends to go straight/flat as I sleep. I do love how thick my hair is and the fact that I have never colored it and it has a ton of different colors in it, from black, to red, to blonde. Basically, I just love my hair!! :)

What is something you like about yourself? What do you love about yourself? I'd love to hear!!

This is a sponsored post as part of the Shaklee Corporation blogger program. I have received free products, online support and incentives for participating. My opinions are my own.

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

On Motivation {A Shaklee 180 Post}

If you are like me, when you step on that scale and notice that the number hasn't gone up but it also hasn't gone down, you kind of just want to give up. All your hard work eating the right thing, running, doing your exercise video, drinking enough water, etc. seems worthless when the scale doesn't change. After all, it is hard work, not easy. If you are like me, it becomes hard to stay motivated and keep on doing all those things even if the scale hasn't changed.

This has been exactly where I have been at for the last few months. My weight hasn't changed at all on the Shaklee program and I've only lost a few inches. So why continue on? Why keep eating healthy? Why keep working out?

Well for me, I do it for a few reasons. The first reason is for myself. I think you are never going to be successful in health, if you don't care about being healthy. For me, I care about eating right, exercising, and the importance of drinking water. Also, I am a firm believer in setting good health habits now at a young age, so that as I age, hopefully it will be easier on my body to do so gracefully.

The second reason is for these girls. I may not be losing weight like I want to. But they don't see that. What they see is a mom who is making the right eating choices by grabbing an apple instead of candy, or re-filling my water bottle throughout the day. It already is affecting them, as the girls throughout the day go to the fridge and grab their water along with a fruit or vegetable as a snack. They see a mom who takes them for daily walks in the summer, hiking through the woods, or pushing the stroller. They see a mom who in the winter puts in another exercise video, and they come right along side me and lift their "weights".

So while the scale may not be budging, and my lack of motivation can sometimes get me down, all it takes is a glance at my daughters to realize that I can do this, that this is all worth it!

What keeps you motivated when the scale doesn't move?


This is a sponsored post as part of the Shaklee Corporation blogger program. I have received free products, online support and incentives for participating. My opinions are my own.

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

What's In A Shaklee 180 Turnaround Kit?

I've gotten the question numerous times both here on my blog and with friends and family in real life, so I thought today I would show you all in my Vlog post what exactly is in a Shaklee 180 Turnaround Kit. While I know you can just hop onto the website and see, sometimes I find it helpful to actually see it in real life (or in this case through a camera) so you can understand a little bit better on size, what everything is, etc. If you have any questions, be sure to ask! I'd love to help you if I can!

This is a sponsored post as part of the Shaklee Corporation blogger program. I have received free products, online support and incentives for participating. My opinions are my own. 

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

What I Hope My Daughters (And Myself) Learn From Shaklee 180

It's a bit different for me to share a letter to my girls within a Shaklee 180 blog post, yet I feel it is something they need to know and something I am currently learning through the Shaklee program.

Dear Girls,

Each day you notice mommy mixing up her Shaklee 180 drink and a part of me panics inside wondering if you know why I'm doing it. I worry that one day you will say, "Mom was always trying to lose weight".

I don't want you to remember me that way.

Thus, I haven't been telling you it's a weight loss thing. Instead, I'm telling you that it is something for mommy to review on her blog. You are well familiar with mommy's blog and know that sometimes I get products to review.

But the real truth is, it hasn't been a weight loss thing. At least not for me. For I haven't really lost anything. Sure a pound or two one day, only a few days later to hop on that scale and find that I gained it back. I haven't measured inches, and my clothes don't really feel that different.

But here is what I'm learning through Shaklee 180: That my worth isn't in a number on a scale!

Sometimes I stare at the three of you playing and it's hard for me to think that one day, you may not like the size of your body that God has given you. That you may hate those perfect pink lips, or blonde ringlet curled hair, or eyes so blue/green that they look like the ocean, or even your nose that scrunches up just perfectly when you smile. It's kind of hard and silly to imagine isn't it? That I look at you and see you as beautiful and always will no matter what you look like, just as my mom looks at me that same way today.

So this is what I'm learning through all of this: I am more beautiful than I think I am.

And so are you, precious teenage girl who believes she isn't skinny enough.
And so are you, 30 something mom with stretch marks scarring your once flat tummy.
And so are you, 60 year old Grandma whose body is truly no longer young.

And so are you, Zoelle, Meridian, and Xiomara. Wherever you may be. Whatever you have become. Whichever voices tell you otherwise.

You are more beautiful than you think you are!

So if I go through this whole Shaklee program and never lose a single pound or an inch, I will still find it a success because I have learned (and am still learning) that beauty isn't in a number or a size.

It's in my heart.

I feel stronger and more beautiful because of it. I hope that one day girls you can learn the same thing and look to your mom who was a shining example of beauty despite her weight, because beauty is on the inside of all of us.

Love,

Mama

This is a sponsored post as part of the Shaklee Corporation blogger program. I have received free products, online support and incentives for participating. My opinions are my own.

 

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

How To Easily Make A Shaklee 180 Shake In Less Than 5 Minutes

As a mom to three girls, my time is limited. On any given day I am trying to get the girls fed, myself fed, and the laundry started all at the same time. Thus, making a Shaklee 180 shake quickly became very important to me. It also was important to me that the shake be healthy, and used with ingredients that I have on hand. If you are curious about how to make a Shaklee shake that tastes good and in less than 5 minutes, check out the video below!

I'll be updating soon on my weight/inch loss so keep checking back. In the meantime, please keep cheering me on with encouraging words or stories of your own weight loss success!


This is a sponsored post as part of the Shaklee Corporation blogger program. I have received free products, online support and incentives for participating. My opinions are my own.

 

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

Becoming A Shaklee 180 Blogger

I've quite possibly never been more scared to post a blog post on my blog before than this one. But when it comes to weight loss, it is down right scary and extremely personal.

Last year, I followed a blogger who shared her weight loss journey with Shaklee. When she ended the 6 month program and posted about Shaklee looking for a new set of bloggers to apply for the Shaklee 180 program, I decided to go for it. I've been aware of Shaklee for years and knew that they are a company who promote more natural products. After checking to make sure they are gluten and dairy free, I decided to go ahead and apply. I fully expected not to be picked, so imagine my surprise in February when I got an email saying that I was one of the 90 bloggers (out of around 500 who applied) chosen to take this journey in the Shaklee 180 program. If you want to follow the journeys of the other bloggers, check them out here.

I feel blessed, excited, nervous, and scared, all rolled into one to do this journey. If you remember, weight loss has not exactly been successful for me since shortly after we adopted Xiomara. I'm very worried this will be the same. However, I'm also working on my mind at the same time while I work on my body. I'm trying very hard to accept that the number on the scale is just that: a number. It does not necessarily reflect my health, especially if I am exercising and eating a healthy diet.

Speaking of exercising, even though the Shaklee program focuses on what you eat, I am working hard on exercising. I don't take this program lightly. I want to be successful. I have been exercising 6 out of 7 days a week since November (missing only and few days here and there) and I will continue on throughout this whole program and beyond.

At this point, I am not comfortable sharing my starting stats, but I will share a before picture (it's not the best as it's dark, but it will do for now). Again, this is personal for me and so instead I ask that you all encourage me, cheer me on, share inspiring weight loss ideas, or even share with me your favorite health snack or exercise!

I look forward to sharing with you as you journey along with me these next 6 months of my life!

This is a sponsored post as part of the Shaklee Corporation blogger program. I have received free products, online support and incentives for participating. My opinions are my own.

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