Jarro-Dophilus Probiotic {Review}

I've spent the last 5 years since finding out our oldest daughter is severely gluten intolerant, learning about the importance of gut health. I've read and researched, and researched and read some more. We've tried various ways to improve our overall health, but I knew I specifically wanted to focus on gut health. I remember as a kid my mom giving me probiotics, and then somewhere along the way I got out of the habit. Gut health became important to me again once I knew I wanted to do whatever it was to help my daughter.

Probiotics became my number one way to be proactive in our health.

A month ago I was given a chance to review Jarro-Dophilus Women probiotics. In all my research on probiotics, I knew that Jarrow was a good company, but I wanted to see for myself if I liked it. Jarro-Dophilus is the only women's multi-strain probiotic comprised solely of vaginally-derived strains vs. intestinally derived strains. As luck (or fate) would have it, I needed a probiotic specifically for this use. After a month of consistent use taking the suggested maintenance of one capsule per day, I can honestly say that these probiotics are wonderful, and they do work!

One of the things I liked best about this particular probiotic is that it contains four strains called the Astarte strains that are found in the vaginal track of women. Sorry for any men currently reading my blog, but as women let's be honest and talk about how at certain times in our lives, we need a probiotic that specifically targets a healthy vaginal environment (yes, I really just wrote those words on my blog post).

I also really appreciated the fact that no refrigeration is necessary. Another bonus was that the capsule they are encased in is EnteroGuard which is a food-grade, ph-sensitive coating that resists stomach acid and disintegrates in the less acidic pH of the upper intestines ensuring that nearly 100% of the probiotics pass through the stomach unharmed and are released into the intestines intact and read to act.

If you are looking for a good probiotic to use, I highly suggest using Jarro-Dophilus. In addition to the women probiotics, I also received Jarro-Dophilus infant drops, Yum-Yum Dophilus Chewables, and Fem-Dophilus.

I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.

GaiaKids Bronchial Wellness Review

Recently we were given some GaiaKids Bronchial Wellness for kids from Moms Meet. It came to us in the middle of winter, which was a perfect time to get it being it is a natural support for children's throat and bronchial health.

 GaiaKids Bronchial Wellness for kids provides herbal support for the respiratory system and promotes healthy mucous membranes.* It is recommended for ages 2 to 15, has a great taste that comes from organic honey, lemon, and flavorful essential oils.

GaiaKids are formulated by pediatric natropath, Dr. Mary Bove and have a line of 10 alcohol-free herbal formulas that deliver herbal support with kid friendly tastes. Part of what I loved about GaiaKids, is that Gaia uses only organic methods on their farms, and that same organic approach continues through manufacturing. Part of their seed-to-shelf commitment is the industry's only tracibility platform, MeetYourHerbs. This means that each of their products are 100% traceable. Each product has an ID# that traces every herb in the product down to the source and quality of testing, so you can rest assured that your product is pure and safe.

Our personal experience with GaiaKids Bronchial Wellness was a positive one! We decided to use it as a way to support the girls' bodies throughout the winter by using as a means of keeping a healthy immune system. I was worried they wouldn't care for the taste of it, but found they really didn't mind and actually looked forward to getting it each day.  Because I make homemade elderberry syrup and we take lots of natural supplements on top of eating a very healthy diet, I probably would not regularly buy this for the price of $19.99 for 3 oz., but I also wouldn't mind having it on hand just in case.

If you would like to a free sample of Bronchial Wellness for kids and a $2 off GaiaKids Coupon, go directly to this link: http://www.gaiaherbs.com/consumergiveaways

Be sure to connect with their Facebook and Instagram pages for more information!


I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet Program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use the product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product.

*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

  

Nogii Review

We are a gluten free family which is actually way easier of a lifestyle to live than most people think. The only area where I sometimes struggle is trying to find easy on-the-go snack foods. Veggies and fruits are often a staple in our house. However, sometimes when I am in a hurry, I really wish I could find an easy, healthy protein bar.

Then I found NoGii and I seriously am so impressed with them that I will for sure be buying them in the future! Created by Elisabeth Hasselback, NoGii is a line of certified gluten-free protein bars, protein powders, and paleo bars. Made with sustainably sourced, premium ingredients, NoGii bars have an ideal balance of protein, fat, and carbohydrates, and do not contain any trans fat, hydrogenated oils, or high fructose corn syrup.

Moms Meet sent us a box of various flavors from Nuts About Tropical Fruit (Paleo Bar), Chocolate Mint, Nuts About Berries (Paleo Bar), Nuts About Nuts (Paleo Bar), Chocolate Peanut Butter Caramel Crisp, Whey & Quinoa Protein, and more! Our girls LOVED the Paleo Bars. I unfortunately cannot eat the Paleo bars as I am allergic to nuts, but my husband and girls said they were so good! I did try some of the other bars though and I was very impressed. In the future, I would love to see a Paleo bar without nuts (I know, probably pretty unlikely) but I would love more protein bar options without sugar that I can eat too.

To learn more about NoGii, make sure you follow their social media pages by checking out their Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet Program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product.

Organic India Review

I'm always on the look out for healthy supplements that I can include in my diet. When I recently was offered to try Organic India from Moms Meet, I decided to give them a try. Organic India's mission is to provide wellness for all by offering 100% organic, pure, and natural products. Organic India also strives to create a sustainable global environment by working with thousands of family farmers in India on tens of thousands of acres of certified organic farmland. The company actively promotes sustainable agriculture and pays these farmers premium prices for their crop. Keeping all that in mind, I was very excited to try a product like this.

I was sent Organic India's Moringa Leaf Powder, Organic India Infusion Bags, and Organic India Capsules to try.

Moringa is considered one of the most complete, nutrient-dense plants on Earth, containing over 90 nutrients, 46 antioxidants, and abundant minerals. Daily use of Moringa as a dietary supplement can help restore nutritional imbalances.

I was probably most hesitant to try the leaf powder as I don't care for tea, perhaps I just don't know how to properly prepare tea in leaf powder form. I always feel it is stronger this way and has more of a bitter taste. I tried it and still didn't care for it that much but didn't think it was awful either.

 

Next, I tried the 3 different infusion bags I received. I received Tulsi Moringa, which is Stress-Relieving & Nourishing; Tulsi Cinnamon Rose, which is Stress-Relieving & Healing; and I received Tulsi Original, which is Stress-Relieving & Energizing. While not a huge tea drinker, I do enjoy tea but prefer coffee on most days. However, I loved the Cinnamon Rose blend and felt it really uplifted me. This will be something I will regularly drink.

Finally, I decided to try the three different capsule supplements I received. I received Tumeric Formula, which is for healthy inflammation response; Moringa, which is for essential nutrition; and Joy, which lifts mood. I have done a lot of research and learning on the benefits of taking Tumeric  for inflammation each day, or using it in your food. However, I can never seem to handle it that is until I tried the capsule form. This was amazing and I can't wait to continue use of it! While I enjoyed Moringa, I didn't notice a huge difference. I did however, love the Joy one. I've been in a bit of a down slump lately and I felt it really did uplift my spirits.

You can sprinkle Moringa on anything! Soups, smoothies, over salads, etc. This is a real easy and fun way to even get your children to take it! It is also USDA Certified Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, Kosher and Halal certified, gluten free, and vegan. Overall, I was pleased with my Organic India products and feel like I could easily recommend them to other people.

To learn more go to Organic India's website, Facebook, or Twitter.

I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet Program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product.

SweetLeaf Organic Stevia® Sweetener Review

About a year ago I decided to try and start cutting sugar out of my life. I haven't always been the best about it, but I started small (well actually big for me) by cutting it out of my morning coffee. If you know me at all, you know that was a huge thing for me. I tried going to straight black coffee, but I just couldn't do it after training myself for years of drinking coffee with my sugar. So I switched to honey, and amazingly enough it has worked well for me. However, I've been doing a little reading over the past few months about how honey still affects blood sugar and I kept hearing about stevia. I've tried it a little bit here and there, but never fully tried using it.

When I was given a chance to review SweetLeaf Organic Stevia Sweetener from Moms Meet, I was excited to see if I would notice a difference at all. I liked that it is a certified organic, zero-calorie sweetener made from high-quality stevia leaves. I've done enough research in the past on stevia to know that this is not always the case. I liked that you can use it to sweeten pretty much anything, hot or cold, even roasted chicken or turkey! Being it contains no artificial ingredients, calories, carbohydrates, or glycemic response, it makes it perfect for managing blood sugar or calorie intake.

I'll admit, I wanted to use it in baking but I just don't make enough sweets and so I never got around to trying it. I did however try it in my beloved coffee. I was super nervous doing so, but was pleasantly surprised that it tasted good. It still probably would not be my first choice, as I feel that stevia has an aftertaste that I cannot seem to get around no matter what. Overall, especially if I was wanting to be more health conscious, I would definitely use it. I'm looking forward to having some time to try it in baking in the future.

Make sure you check out their website and Facebook page for more information, including some great recipes on cooking with SweetLeaf Organic Stevia Sweetener.

I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet Program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product.

March Madness Young Living Oil Special

Lately I've been using my Young Living Essential Oils for seemingly everything! I'm so excited about them because they work! I no longer have to take advil when I have a headache, sudafed when I have sinus pain, and so much more. Instead, I just grab my oil bag, apply the correct oil and within minutes, I'm feeling better and on my way to feeling normal again.


The best part of it for me is that they are also safe for the girls! Zoelle, at age 6, can easily and safely apply oils to herself and her sisters before bed, or even during the day if needed. In fact, she takes care of also filling up my diffuser and picking out what oil we are diffusing for the day! I have no fear of any of the oils hurting the girls as there are no chemicals in them!


I'm so passionate about these oils and how beneficial they can be to any family, that from now until the end of the month, I'm offering a March madness special. All you need to do is purchase the Premium Starter Kit from me, e-mail me at essentiallyloved (at) yahoo.com giving me your name and letting me know you ordered, and once I confirm it, I will Paypal you $15 right back to your account! 

It's that easy!


Don't know me personally? No big deal! You don't need to! Don't live near me? No problem! I can still help you and answer any questions you may have about your new oil purchase! Interested in making this a business? I can help you there too! It doesn't matter where you live or even if you know me, if you want to start a business with Young Living, and/or use these oils yourself, I am here for you!


What exactly is in the kit? I'm glad you asked!  The Premium Kit contains 11 oils, a room diffuser, samples of a few essential oils, samples of Ningxia Red, and informational material. It is a fantastic deal!

If you still are confused, or have questions for me feel free to email me at essentiallyloved (at) yahoo.com

Ready to order? Great! Get started right away today by following the instructions listed in this post!

I'd love to have you be a part of my team and on your way to natural, healthy healing!

Calorease Review

Despite what you may think, I'm always very hesitant to hop on any weight loss bandwagon. For one, I don't want to be jumping from one weight loss product to another to another. For two, I'm still working on being satisfied with the way I am right now. However, I'm still a woman, and I'm human and I know that I do need to lose weight. My main goal in life is to be healthy in what I eat, drink, and also through exercise.

Recently Moms Meet offered me a chance to do a review on a product called Calorease. After doing some research on the product, I decided to give it a try.

Calorease is a stimulant-free and therefore heart-healthy diet aid to help manage weight. It has been shown to bind and eliminate up to 9 times its weight in dietary fat, reducing up to 500 calories a day from the fat in foods.

Here are some other facts on Calorease:

*It's easy to use! Simply take two tablets with a fat-containing meal three times a day.

*If taken as recommended, results can been seen in 2-3 weeks.

*It does not contain gluten, lactose, yeast, wheat, sugar, salt, eggs, soy, dairy, artificial colors, sweetners, or preservatives. It is naturally sourced from grain and is suitable for vegans.

*A 90-tablet pack retails for $29.99

*Calorease is not a license to overeat, nor is it a magic bullet for quick weight loss.

*Stay consistent for best results.

*If you are still needing more information, click here to watch this video on how exactly Calorease works.

So what was my experience with Calorease? Well, I've said it before and I'll say it again, unless I set an alarm, I am very inconsistent with taking vitamins, pills, etc. of any kind. Consistancy is one of the things stated to help further weight loss. However, for the last two weeks I have been for the most part very good about remembering to take the pills with a meal. At the end of the two weeks, I am down 1.5 lbs. To me, this is a positive experience as so far, I have really struggled to even lose 1 lb. It is also worth noting that I had no negative side effects! I will continue on taking Calorease, along with starting a new exercise routine, an in general trying to up my vegetable/protein intake.

Interested in trying Calorease out for yourself? Go here and type in coupon code: 4MOMS for a 50% discount!

To keep up to date on Calorease and to learn more about them, check out their Facebook and Twitter.

Disclaimer: I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC, or the manufacturer of the product.
 

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!

Source

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.

Sambazon Review & Giveaway

One of our favorite breakfasts to have in the morning are smoothies. We typically make our own using Kefir, Chia Seeds, fruit, and I'm slowly working on introducing kale or other green veggies to our smoothies. However, on the mornings when we have to go somewhere, it is nice to have an option that is quick and that I can grab to go.

Sambazon is just that option. Sambazon juices and smoothies are made with the finest organic Amazon Superfoods on the planet such as Acai, Acerola, and Yerba Mate. Their juices and smoothies are available in ten different delicious flavor varieties, and packed with antioxidants and healthy omega 3-6-9s. All Sambazon Superfood juices are Non-Gmo, USDA organic, vegan, and gluten free, which are all things that are very important to us.

I was sent a few coupons to try Sambazon from #momsmeet. I was also sent an adorable wooden bowl and spoon set. At our local grocery store, I could only find two of the flavors so I tried Supergreens with Kale & Ginger, and Protein with Acai Berry & Vanilla.

I love, love, love the Supergreens one! I've been trying to drink more green smoothies and on the mornings I don't have time to make my own, this is a great option. There is no doubt in my mind that I will buy this again.

The Protein smoothie was incredibly filling, smooth, and sweet. I liked it, but my girls loved it. They said it tasted like chocolate (I think that is the vanilla they are tasting)! I would buy it again, but I'm not a huge fan of soy, even if it is organic/non-gmo, so it would probably be pretty rare for me.

Overall, I was very impressed with Sambazon and I'm looking forward to trying their products again!

Want to win some of your own? Be sure to enter in the Rafflecopter below. In the mean time, to find out more about Sambazon and the ingredients, be sure to follow Sambazon on Facebook or Twitter!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms Meet blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of the product.

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.