Sugar, we are breaking up!

Yes, I said it.  I have set a new goal to break up with sugar.  I fully accept that it might just result in a long distance relationship.  Let's face it, sugar is in so much stuff and it makes things taste better.  The problem, it makes my backside only available in a widescreen shot.  

Overall, my diet is healthy.  We eat organic, well balanced, lots of fresh fruits and veggies.  My problem is I want to finish these healthy meal with a sweet treat.  I don't stop at a small portion though.  One bite and I become a less blue version of Cookie Monster!  One cookie is never enough.  Yum yum yum cooooooookies!!! 

This week I joined Weight Watchers.  My excuse of "I just had a baby" will only be acceptable for so long.  To be perfectly honest with you, I had to start this because I just feel so lumpy.  I fully accept that my body will need time to recover but I decided I am helping it along this road.

So how does this all relate to the oils?  What have I chosen?  

There is a lovely little blend offered by doTERRA called Slim & Sassy.    From the official doTERRA site:

SLIM & SASSY®
METABOLIC BLEND

dōTERRA’s Slim & Sassy is a proprietary formula of grapefruit, lemon, peppermint, ginger, and cinnamon essential oils. Just add 8 drops to 16 oz. of water and drink between your healthy meals throughout the day to help manage hunger, calm your stomach, and lift your mood. Slim & Sassy is 100% pure essential oils, does not contain diuretics or stimulants, and has zero calories.

There are a few ways to take this product.  You can add it to your water as suggested above.  I have chosen to add 5-7 drops to a veggie cap and  drink with a large glass of water 3 times a day.  

After one week of using the product I have noticed my craving for sugar is more controllable. I can resist as I walk by the large tray of donuts at work or the cake at work or the candy the kids bring in the house.  I do like the taste of the blend, though I have heard some do not.  It gives my mouth a tingly feeling because of the cinnamon.  For me, the veggie cap makes it easier for me to get the product in my body.  I drink water all day but my job can make it tough to add oils to the water.  

Another thing I have noticed after the first week is a large reduction in my water weight.  My ankles are back in view and I couldn't be happier.  This is due to the grapefruit in the blend.  It helps the body release retained fluid.  It is effective!  

Sugar not only can make your backside bigger it can contribute to an overgrowth of yeast.  It is called Candida.  This overgrowth of yeast can cause skin issues, thrush, and a whole list of health issues.  

Vaginal infections

Urinary tract infections

Body rashes

Acne

Oral thrush

Allergies

Cystitis

PMS

Joint pains

Asthma

Hayfever and other respiratory illness

Athlete’s foot

weight gain or weight loss

Fatigue

Taking sugar out of the equation could truly help me transform my body to a healthier, leaner and hopefully not meaner me!  Slim & Sassy will help you control that urge for sugar.  Controlling that urge can transform your body inside and out.

I will update the progress over the journey to drop the weight.  I have a large amount to lose.  Like 60 pounds, maybe more.  I am not looking to be super model skinny, just a healthy maintainable weight for long term health and happiness.  

Here is to the journey!  One pound at a time!

Nutrition matters!

For years and years I have taken a daily multivitamin.  You have seen the commercials telling you that taking their daily vitamin will help keep you healthy, full of energy and happy.  I eat a pretty balanced diet which is mostly organic.  I truly feel that we can achieve better health by eating real food in a balanced diet and avoiding processed GMO free food.  It is a shame my sweet tooth rears it's ugly head so often but I am working on that. Thank you grapefruit oil!!!!

Prior to starting doTERRA's oils, I had tried both the store bought one a day type vitamins, the vitamin store specialty vitamin packs, and a vitamin company's line of "superior nutrition".  All worked well for me and my family.

I have been with doTERRA and loving their oils since October.  During my pregnancy, I took the store bought prenatal vitamins but knew I wanted to see what the hype about the doTERRA Lifelong Vitality pack was all about.  Many women use the LLV as their prenatal but I had a BIG bottle and needed extra iron.  My baby boy was born in April so in May I decided to give them a shot.

The doTERRA description goes as follows:

LIFELONG VITALITY SUPPLEMENTS

dōTERRA’s Lifelong Vitality supplements are formulated with potent levels of essential nutrients and powerful metabolic factors for optimal health, energy, and longevity. Coupled with dōTERRA’s CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade® essential oils and a lifelong commitment to dōTERRA’s Wellness Lifestyle, they naturally support a lifetime of looking, feeling, and living younger, longer.

The dosage is 2 of each pill for a total of 6 in the morning and the same at night.  If you have never taken vitamins, you might want to start with a half dose.

So after a month of using them you are probably asking, do I notice any difference?   Do I like them?

YES! I really do.  The XEomega has a strong fishy smell but that can easily be dulled by storing the bottle in the fridge.  All are formulated with a "tummy tamer" so you don't have that vitamin taste in your mouth after taking them.  They are the first vitamins I can take before I eat breakfast without ruining my appetite.

What changes have I noticed?  I could give you the standard...more energy blah blah blah and that is true but my biggest change is in my skin, nails and hair.  I have never had exceptionally strong nails.  My hair has always grown normally.  After a month on the LLV, my hair and nails are growing exceptionally fast and remaining strong.  It kind of freaks me out to be perfectly honest.  But I have always heard, you can judge your health on the state of your hair, skin and nails.  I am less sick and have more stamina which is helpful for survival with 3 kids.

Today while getting things ready for work, I hit my thumb nail in such a way I expected to have the nail break and hurt.  Instead, it took a tiny notch out of it and the rest of the nail stayed intact and strong. I have had to cut them back weekly because they are just growing and too long to function.

I had my hair cut two weeks ago and my bangs have already needed to be trimmed.  Prior to the vitamins, it would have easily been 4 to 6 weeks before I had anything to worry about.  Being two months postpartum, I have expected to lose significant amounts of hair. So far, it isn't happening.  Fingers crossed that continues since I have never had exceptionally thick hair.  I am not asking for super thick hair but just a nice shiny head of hair.  Is that too much????

My mother has started giving the half dose to my 90+ year old grandfather.  He is a healthy guy but starting to suffer from dementia.  After a month on the vitamins, he actually came to her and told her he wasn't sure what she was giving him but he felt better than he had in years.  This from a man of very few words!

Finally a testimonial from my husband....another man of few words.  He is an oil user but just doesn't have much to say.  I know he likes things when he continues to use them and not just to be nice.  He actually started the vitamins before I did.  I would ask him, "do you feel different? better? blah blah blah"  His response was usually, "no, I don't feel bad but I can't say I see a huge difference."  And then, he ran out of them for two weeks.  He actually asked me when I was placing the next order because he needed his vitamins.  He had picked up a cold, felt tired and generally lousy in the two weeks of being off the vitamins.  He has not run out since!

So yes, I love the vitamins.  They are the best selling product offered by doTERRA and I now know why.