My “diary” – Isagenixs Days 3 + 4

/ BethonBeauty / Leave a comment

My thoughts from Isagenix Days 3 + 4:

  • Energy-wise I’ve felt pretty good throughout the day – however, when it comes to my work outs – I don’t feel like I have as much steam. I did a spin class on Day 3 in the PM and although I made it through the class I found myself pretty distracted and struggling a bit throughout it. I wasn’t able to wake up the next AM for a boxing class because I was so drained – instead I want to do a run tonight (Day 4) since the weather is so nice in Boston!
  • My mood has been good! In the morning my mood is particularly good and I’ve felt calm and positive on my morning commute – that’s a big plus! I’ve read quite a few reviews on this system and people mention a feeling of mental clarity and being more energized – I can vouch for that as well
  • The shakes…they’re pretty good. You’re supposed to mix the powder with water. I find them a bit bland but I am used to mixing my protein shakes with water, almond milk or coconut milk, strawberries and/or bananas, and typically some cinnamon. The first 2 Isagenix shakes I had I kept just mix + water. But this morning I threw a banana into the shake and it tasted much better. The shakes are pretty thick – some people don’t love that. I like it because it feels more substantial and filling – but I add extra water if I want to thin it out a little
  • The 2 shakes a day thing is do-able…I’ve been doing 1 for bfast and 1 for dinner – having the 400-600 cal meal for lunch. Pic below of my Day 3 lunch** – it was glorious. I will say – it’s kind of a bummer for me to have a shake while I watch my husband cook up and enjoy a well-rounded dinner. I found myself on Facebook the entire time he cooked/ate because I didn’t want to be tempted by what he was doing.
    • **PS: If you know me well – you know I HATE cold chicken. This program has definitely helped me be LESS PICKY when it comes to eating. I ate that nicely seasoned cold chicken yesterday like it was a plate of perfectly heated nachos
I know what you're thinking - DAMN that's a big serving...yes, yes it is...my husband put it together for me (such a sweetie!!) - for the record, I didn't eat the entire thing, esp the rice because I knew it was over the calorie count I was going for

I know what you’re thinking – DAMN that’s a big serving…yes, yes it is…my husband put it together for me (such a sweetie!!) – for the record, I didn’t eat the entire thing, esp the rice because I knew it was over the calorie count I was going for

  • I’ve decided to join Weight Watchers at the end of this 9 days. I signed up on Day 3 and entered in everything I ate just to see what the Isagenix system equates to – funny enough, my meals/snacks for the day came in at the Weight Watchers points I’d be allotted (26 a day) – nice! It made me realize – this is a good next step for me. I want to continue to do a shake everyday (most likely for bfast) but I can manage my other meals on the Weight Watchers system and not have to worry about having to have a 2nd shake everyday – it’s just not realistic for me on an ongoing basis to substitute 2 meals for 2 shakes
    • Side note, the Isagenix shakes with water-only are 6 pts on WWs. My Vega Sport protein powder with water-only (read post of it —> here) is only 3 pts. The Vega Sport protein is soy/dairy/gluten free and I’ve loved it for awhile. So I might go back to those for breakfast because they’re a lower pt value and I still find them filling for a couple hrs
  • Although I’ve been tempted at times to cave and grab some candy at work or have a beer with my husband on the couch – I’ve been able to fight temptation successfully. It wasn’t all that difficult. I think a big reason is that when I started this program I was fully ready and committed to make some changes. I really don’t want to get off track. I remind myself that 9 days isn’t a very long time and that so many people have seen amazing results from this program. I am so curious to find out if it’s as successful for me! That suspense is keeping me going. I might take my measurements midway through just to see…and I’ve been weighing myself here and there (still about 3 lbs down) – but the one thing I’ve noticed is that my clothes feel a bit roomier. It could all be ‘in my head’ because I know I’m consuming less – but either way, it’s a good feeling!
  • I’ve also found that so many friends/acquaintances when they hear about what I’m doing are very supportive. They give me words of encouragement. It’s pretty nice! The more people I tell – the more likely I am to stick to it – I really don’t want to tell everyone ‘actually, I quit after day 4 and went on a huge binge’ – feels kinda embarrassing haha. I’d rather be an inspiration that these things are totally do-able!
  • It’s good to have a tangible goal in mind other than a # on the scale / inches you want to lose. Maybe it’s feeling your best for a class reunion OR being ready for your annual family pool party OR being able to better keep up with your active kids. Mine is looking better in a bathing suit this summer! Call it vain – but whatever, I want to put it on and feel good. I also want to see if this program will help me minimize the awesome cellulite that thrives on the back of my thighs. Overall, I want to feel more solid – in my bikini and in my work out clothes…I want to look fit – lean & mean. I’m not into that uber thin look. Picturing your goal in your “minds eye” is also a good thing to do when you get discouraged at any pt during the program

 Check back tomorrow for my Days 5 + 6 thoughts!

Moving into Day 3 of the Isagenix 9 day cleanse/fat burning system

/ BethonBeauty / Leave a comment

I’m heading into day 3 of the 9 day Isagenix system…

The first 2 days were cleanse days – essentially lots of liquids and a few small Isagenix “snacks” per day (I referenced the flavored wafers in my first post). I will say those periodic wafers helped satisfy hunger a bit. Last night I had to have 6 unsalted/raw almonds to curb my hunger while I watched my husband eat a yummy meal. I felt semi guilty for a moment – but then I read that it’s ok to have a small snack like that if you really need to. All in all, I think I made it through the first 2 days successfully. I worked-out both days too.

I definitely peed more than usual – but other than that my stomach felt fine. When I’ve done juice cleanses in the past those have tended to upset my stomach. I was certainly hungry most of the last 2 days but it was tolerable…it helps that I’m doing this for the first time with a buddy (Hi Shannon!)

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There she is!!! my Isagenix + real-life buddy!!! The lil firecracker, Shannon. She did not approve this photo…I’ll prob get in trouble for this

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The whole cleanse thing is interesting – on one hand I like the ‘idea’ of cleansing your body/system and reducing your typical intake…especially to kick off a healthier eating plan. However, it’s not very realistic (for me). I was pretty much a hermit the last 2 days…I refused to go out after work. I had to distract myself a lot as not to cave into temptation. I hate watching/smelling my husband cook. And at one point I think I was tempted by my dogs chewy treats – wtf? Not sure what I’d do if I had kids and they were snacking all around me. I guess, it just makes you exercise super self control. And that’s something that certainly takes practice. But hey, if you can spend 2 days on a rigid plan – doesn’t that make you feel like you can make more moderate adjustments on an everyday bases? I think so.

According to the scale I’ve lost a couple lbs – I realize that’s water weight. I’m trying not to focus too much on the scale because I’m more interested in judging progress based on how my pants fit and the ‘after photos.’ I’ve remained relatively the same weight for the last 2 years…but since I’ve lost muscle my clothes have gotten tighter and I don’t wear certain things that I used to wear. I truly believe the scale isn’t the best measure of fitness/health.

In a nutshell – what I learned so far:

  • This is a great program to kick off before a big event or even after a vacation/holiday when you’re READY to make a change and commit
  • It’s great to have a partner in crime (at least the 1st time around) to keep you motivated and accountable
  • There is a lot of satisfactions at the end of the day when you’ve stayed on track throughout  the day – it’s a great feeling – and that feeling will keep you motivated 
  • Although I haven’t eaten much – the snacks/liquids have helped me manage the last 2 days – I feel pretty energized, surprisingly 
  • Buy some different herbal (non caffeinated or sweetened) teas – I love cinnamon tea at the end of the day. The warm liquid makes you feel fuller – I liked having a few options to choose from. I was switching up between iced and hot – it helped me feel like I was ‘tasting’ something
  • Avoid doing your cleanse days on holidays/occasions where you have something big planned…it’d be difficult to go to a restaurant or cook-out on this cleanse (at least for me). I think I’d be pretty miserable. I like the idea of starting earlier in the week (Mon or Tue) when little else other than work is on the calendar
  • If you find yourself constantly thinking about food – grab a good magazine (not a food one though!) or watch funny YouTube videos! Or, I busted out some beauty samples and gave myself a good at-home face scrub/treatment…it felt nice the next morning to wake up to glowing skin
  • I found that because I couldn’t really eat when I got home – I spent more time playing with my dogs and chatting with my husband…vs. mindlessly munching tortilla chips on the couch. I thought that was a big win!
  • My mouth tasted horrible yesterday but I avoided gum – I kept drinking water and tea but it was still a weird feeling – so yea, that was not the greatest side effect
  • Get yourself a good, travel friendly water bottle. go ahead, buy one of those fancy glass ones! you’ll need one and the novelty of a new, funky water bottle will make you more apt to drink from it!

I can’t wait until approx. 12noon when I can eat my first real meal in 2 days – grilled chicken, brown rice, and broccoli!!! ❤ ❤

 

 

Day 1: Isagenix 9 day cleansing and fat-burning system – CC&NP gives it a whirl!

/ BethonBeauty / 3 Comments

Today I started the Isagenix 9-Day Deep Cleansing and Fat-Burning System (link below to Isagenix page with more detail).

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What is it: This 9 day system consists of 4 “cleanse days” (2 at the beginning, 2 at the end) and 5 “shake days.” This probably sounds worse than it is – although the first 2 cleanse day seem like the hardest because there is no (real) solid food on these days. It’s primarily liquid. Consisting of Isagenix ‘Cleanse for Life’ mix with water every couple of hrs, 2 small snacks which are essentially small wafers that you take 2 at a time up to 4x a day, 2 “natural accelerator” tablets daily, and lots more water and herbal tea if you want it. The 6 “shake days” consist of 2 shakes as meal replacements (I’m doing 1 for breakfast and 1 for dinner to start) with a ‘regular’ lunch that is no more than 400-600 calories and incorporates a lean protein, whole grain, and vegetables. There are also snacks you are able to have between meals – Isagenix has some of their own you can order or you can pull from an approved list (for example: unsalted raw almonds or grapes).

Isagenix products have to be ordered through their website or through one of their “associates.” Once you sign up/order you become an associate (they make you pay a 1x $29 ‘associate fee’) so if anyone is interested – give me a holler and I can get you started.

Cost: including tax it cost me roughly $188 (not including shipping). This includes all the cleanse-day mix, cleanse day “snack” wafers, shake mix for 9 days, an info packet, shake bottle (BPA free!), some sample bars + snacks, and measuring tape. *one bummer is they forced me to sign up for auto-ship for next month/moving forward…which I might go back and cancel – unless I want more shake packets once this is over.

Since I ordered I’ve gotten an email from one of the Isagenix representative preparing me for the system. They give you some tips on food/snacks to buy for yourself – and some general guidance on preparing. I’m diggin’ it.

Why am I doing this?:  I want to get myself into a better place physically and I want to prove to myself that I can stick to a plan. Since my wedding (over 1.5 years ago!) I’ve been inconsistent with both healthy eating and exercise. I consider myself a fit person – but I want to be fitter. I talk about it…I want it…but I haven’t put myself on a plan or stuck to anything. I want to prove to myself that I can do it. My goal is to lose a few lbs (avg. weight lost for Isagenix 9 day system is 6 lbs) and tighten up for summer.

I consider my ‘trouble zones’ my hips and bum…I’d love to feel a bit leaner and toned (not sure hips can be toned, ha) in both areas. I will be continuing to work out – which includes a mix of boxer conditioning, spin, and yoga 5x per wk during this ‘system.’

In this post I am going to share my current (Day 1) measurements, weight, and % body fat. Note – the weight and % body fat will be from my at-home scale which I think sucks – but I think it’ll be fine for these purposes. I’ll also share my Day 1 thoughts on the first cleanse day / how I’m feeling. 

Check back in for periodic updates. I’ll share before & after pictures and measurements once I’ve completed the last day of the system. Fingers crossed there are noticeable changes!

The numbers – Day 1:

–          Height: 5’7″

–          Weight: 133.2 lbs

–          % Body Fat: 18.8%

–          Waist: 29″

–          Bust: 33″

–          Rib cage: 29″

–          Abdomen/hips: 34″

–          Butt: 37.5″

–          Upper thighs: 22″

–          Upper knees: 14.5″

–          Calfs: 14.5″

–          Upper Arms: 11.5″

–          Body Mass Index: 20.8 / considered healthy/normal

*Side note – I gotta admit this isn’t a perfect science – doing my own measurements wasn’t easy…this was my first time. Hopefully they’re somewhat accurate!

Day 1 thoughts:

I got started much later than intended (which I WOULD NOT recommend) because I didn’t receive my Isagenix delivery before Monday AM.  I had to live off water and coffee (yes, some may consider coffee a cheat – but I refuse to give up my coffee…and I got a small vs. my typical medium or large. And just a splash of soy milk) until I got to work and my friend Shannon – who is also doing the 9 day system with me – ya! – was able to let me ‘borrow’ some of the Cleanse for Life mix, snack wafers, and natural accelerator tablets until I get home tonight…where I anticipate my delivery being  on the door step.

How I feel so far: I have a hungry pit in my stomach. Not a shocker there! It’s actually such a consistent pang of hunger that I don’t even have an appetite right now. Does that even make sense? I am chugging the liquids and keeping my eyes on the clock until I can pop my wafers. They are so small…chalky – but they kinda and I mean kinda do the trick to curb hunger and keep you trucking.

Aside for a hungry stomach – I don’t feel bad otherwise. I feel quite energized. I have to admit that yesterday I went a little bonkers – which I’m not saying is a good idea AT ALL…I ate cookies, chips…and a good dinner of sliders (from Whole Foods!). I suppose if I didn’t eat so much yesterday I might be more ravenous today.

I also did a 45 minute intense spin class this AM @ The Handlebar in South Boston. Awesome class. However, the system recommends moderate exercise on cleanse days.

For the record, I did a 1 day juice cleanse last Friday in ‘prep’ for this…I did it so that I could show myself I could handle at least 1 day of not eating solids…and I was fine. I was also coming off of 7 days in Aruba where I drank pina coladas/Miami Vices and ate French fries to my heart’s content. I also ended up having to cut a slit up the side of my bridemaids dress because it was too tight – which I wore on the tail end of the trip! It had fit FINE before I left for Aruba! Not to mention my bikini bottom felt more like a thong by the end of the trip too. So yea, another reason I wanted to do this was because I didn’t feel so hot in Aruba…but I had a great time and that’s what counts!

This was me in ARUBA – one of legit 12 dozen photos I made my hubby take…this was a good angle all around. But next time I take a bikini pic I don’t want to try so hard for a good shot!

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My plan for later tonight is to finish out the cleanse day – head to bed early. I plan to do a boxing/conditioning class in the AM (I hope I have the energy for it) and continue trucking through day 2 of the cleanse. I keep telling myself…I CAN DO IT. I keep envisioning myself at the end and the satisfaction I’ll feel…hopefully that will keep me going.

If you have any questions – feel free to ask! I didn’t want to make this post too long – but happy to answer any questions or give you more info on anything I may have left off.

Click here for more info on the 9 day system: http://www.isagenix.com/en-US/products/categories/systems-and-paks/nine-day

*New* fave: Cheek + Lip cream color for summer

/ BethonBeauty / 4 Comments

Had to share this new product I came across by Josie Maran – I love it for summer time – and bonus that it’s a ‘two in one’ product. It is a creamy cheek color that doubles as lip color. 

What is it?: Josie Maran Argan Infinity Lip and Cheek Creamy Oil

*NEW* Jose Maran lip & cheek creamy oil. Color here is Timeless Pink

*NEW* Josie Maran lip & cheek creamy oil. Color here is Timeless Pink

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was a lovely creamy texture (hence the name). It is opaque but goes on light – you can apply a small dab and pat around your cheeks for a light look or layer for a more dramatic look. It gives a nice pop of color to your lips. 

The product uses Josie’s signature organic argan oil. Argan oil is a moisturizing silky oil derived from the seeds of the argan tree – native to an area of southwestern Morocco. 

The look of this cream on your cheeks is dewy – which makes it a great summer product. It gives off that healthy sheen that isn’t too shiny but looks fresh and not matte. Comes in 6 different shades – ya!

It comes in a handy, travel-friendly tube that you can throw right in your purse. You can apply with your finger to both cheeks and lips which makes it great for on-the-go application. 

I love the Limitless Pink color for my skin tone

$32 Sephora – click here to check it out!

Sue’s Red Quinoa Breakfast Dish

/ BethonBeauty / Leave a comment

Nick and I are out in Minneapolis to meet our first niece (Sophie Sue) and see her get baptized. This morning, Nick’s Mom, Sue whipped up a delicious dish for us to snack on before church. I wanted to share the recipe because it was the first time I had quinoa as a sweet, breakfast option! could be a great alternative to oatmeal.

Below is the recipe and description of how yummy it tastes.

Ingredients/quick recipe:
~RED QUINOA (needs to be red, it is sweeter than traditional white quinoa)
~water to prepare the quinoa
~once quinoa is cooked Sue adds a dash of OLIVE OIL to keep it from sticking
~once quinoa has cooled…
~toast some SLICED ALMOND on the stove
~in a separate dish, zest an ORANGE PEEL
~Mix the quinoa, toasted almonds, and orange zest in a bowl
~grab an individual serving dish…
~drizzle HONEY on the bottom of the dish
~scoop a cup or so of the quinoa mix into the dish
~on top, add a dollop of RICOTTA and an additional drizzle of honey
~ENJOY!

I found this filling and super tasty. The crunch of the almonds and snap of the quinoa is a good mix. The orange zest adds a bit of lightness. Ricotta was some nice, added protein.YUM!

Happy Weekend, all!

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