Plateau?

I just want to write a quick post regarding plateaus.  Our bodies are amazing and the fact that they adapt to just about anything proves that.  However, it can be frustrating if you're trying to lose weight and your body adapts and stops shedding those unwanted pounds.  What do you do when that happens?  Change things up, of course:)

Like I posted a week ago, I realized that my body had adapted to the small amount of food I'd been giving it, so by eating a little more, it kicked in and began to lose weight again.  I also checked in with those in the know at Plexus, and they had a couple of suggestions as well.  First of all, I've been using Accelerator every day for this past month and my body had grown use to it.  Well, time to change it up a bit.  They suggested I take my Accelerator every other day, or even every two days since it's designed to "shock" my body into losing weight.  The other thing they suggested was to drink Plexus Slim  twice a day, since it actually targets and burns fat.

Well, guess what?  I haven't taken Accelerator for 2 days and yes, I've started to lose weight again:)  So, for the next week or so, I'll use my Accelerator on this altered schedule, then I'll go back to everyday until I see that I plateau again.  Losing weight is never easy, but with the help of Plexus Slim and Accelerator, we can enjoy success without any pain:)

Walk To Cure

I can hardly believe that we participated in our 8th JDRF Walk To Cure this past Sunday.  Wow... Where has the time gone?  I'll never forget our very first walk.  It was quite literally the day after Gracie was released from the PICU after her diagnosis with Type 1 Diabetes.  That first walk was so windy and cold, I seriously thought Gracie would blow away if I let go of her hand:)

Last year, it was at the walk that we told Gracie she was getting a Diabetic Alert Dog.  She was so excited by that news that nothing else mattered to her that day:)  What a blessing it was this year to walk in Gracie's honor with Max William leading our way:)  He was the hit of the day with lots of people asking about how he does his job and how he's improved Gracie's life with T1D.  He was amazing, I might add, in a situation that had to be really difficult for him to handle... there were probably over 200 diabetics that he had to navigate through and he managed to stay pretty well focused on his girl.  He is our champion:)

WOW!

A month ago, I was feeling my (ahem..) age.  I was feeling the extra pounds I was carrying around, I was exhausted, I'd wake up in the morning tired, dragging myself out of bed with a sore, stiff back to boot.  I had no energy and was consuming lots of soda pop and sugar just to get through my days.  My treadmill looked like a torture machine anytime I'd dare cast a short glance in it's direction.  And, poor Max couldn't figure out why Mom just didn't want to play every morning or go for a walk every day.

Well, it's amazing what a difference a month can make:)  Thanks to Plexus Slim  I'm sleeping better and waking up early; I mean EARLY... like a full 2 hours earlier than the earliest I was dragging myself out of bed before.  I have energy now; LOTS of energy:)  So much so, that I decided to start meeting my mom at 6:00 (yes, in the morning:) to use the treadmills in her workout room together.  We walked for half an hour this morning, then I hit the grocery store to get a couple things needed to make lunch for the kids.  When I got home, I made jell-o, played fetch for awhile with Max, and started a load of laundry.  All of that was finished before 7:30!  For those of you who know me well, you just dropped your jaw;)  For those of you who don't, well let me just say, this is HIGHLY UNUSUAL morning behavior for me; up until using Plexus Slim, mornings were to be avoided at all costs as far as I was concerned;)

I'm off to hit the shower and get ready for the rest of my day.  I weighed in before going over to Mom's and was down another 1/2lb this morning:)  My goal is to have lost 20 lbs by the end of this month.  Fingers crossed... I only have a couple more pounds to go to reach that goal:)  I am in total disbelief though, that thanks to Plexus Slim I actually have the desire as well as the energy to use my (or Mom's) treadmill again.  Right there is yet another minor miracle:)

My weight loss journey continues...

To be honest, I was getting a bit discouraged with myself.  I have been on a plateau for the past week or more and couldn't figure out why.  I did take my measurements and found that I had indeed lost more inches, but the scale just wasn't going down.  Having the patience of a flea, wasn't helping matters any.  So, I began to evaluate things.  What was I doing, or not doing, that was keeping that scale from moving again?

First, I learned that everyone carries yeast and bacteria in their systems.  In the right amount, it's very helpful to keep a balance in your GI tract.  However, there are times that our system can be out of balance and we end up with a yeast overgrowth.  There's a simple "spit" test to see if that's what is going on, so I took the test.  Yes, indeed that proved to be a problem.  The best way to fix this problem is to do a "cleanse" so I began taking Bio Cleanse on Friday.  It's also good to take probiotics as a preventative to keep you system balanced and working at it's optimal level.  ProBio5 is a great supplement to achieve that balance.  

Well, here we are on Monday and guess what?  I've started to lose weight again.  I've gone down a pound and a half since Friday:)  Yes, I'm very happy to see that scale moving down again:)

Here's another thing I've thought about during my plateau: am I eating enough?  Plexus Slim and Accelerator both help to surpress your appetite while Plexus Slim targets and actually burns fat in addition to lowering your blood sugar, chloresteral and lipids.  We women tend to think less is more when it comes to our weight loss efforts... less food = more weight loss.  Well, yes and no.  There is a fine line between less and too little.  I think that I had crossed the line into the "too little" zone and my body was holding onto what it was getting for the energy needed to meet the demands I was placing on it.  I'm a firm believer in only eating when you're hungry and stopping as soon as you feel satisfied.  Being a natural born snacker rather than a meal eater, I've found that just grabbing a few bites of something each time my tummy would grumble seemed to be sufficient... but was it?  Yesterday, my husband bounced me on this, noting that all I have been doing is living on "snacks" rather than eating meals.  I didn't like hearing that, but he was right.  So, yes, I have begun to eat a little more, allowing my body to kick out of "starvation" mode and into "fat burning" mode once again.  Was eating less and less intentional on my part?  Not really; I was eating, I just wasn't eating enough.  I was just addressing my natural hunger and full signals, but since I have spent years ignoring those signals, it's taking practice to get it right again:)

I hope that this answers some of your questions as well as offers you some encouragement to not lose faith in your weight loss efforts.  Even when it doesn't seem to be going like you want it to, don't forget to look at the positives that are still going on, and take a moment to think about what you might do differently.  Here's looking forward to a blessed week ahead:)

www.getslimLiveWell.com

Plexus' Positive Results on Gracie

As most everyone knows, Plexus was originally developed as a treatment for Type 2 Diabetes.  It helps to lower blood sugar levels and keep them on an even keel by helping the sugar process before hitting the blood stream, allowing the T2's body to utilize the insulin that the pancreas produces in an effective way.  As the mom of a Type 1 Diabetic, my mind started rolling this information around, wondering if Gracie could benefit from Plexus too.

Gracie has always been on a roller coaster with her blood sugar.  Sky rocketing then crashing.  That's not a fun let alone healthy way for a child to live.  I wondered if Plexus could help her to be even just a little bit more stable.  I read the ingredients list... there's absolutely nothing in there that could harm her in any way.  Matter of fact, I feel better about letting her drink Plexus than I do about many of the things our kids eat in these days of processed and fast food.  So, this past week we tried it.  First off, the most important test, (at least if I hope to get her to drink it every day;) the taste test... She LOVES it!  No problem there:)  Now, how much to give her each day.  Well, I decided to see how much she would drink naturally, without me encouraging her.  I mixed it into a 16 ounce water bottle.  She drank about 3-4 oz.  We did this for 3 days, then honestly, our week got a little crazy busy and I forgot about it.  However, here's what I've noticed.  From the start, her blood sugar level has stayed just that... LEVEL.  The first day, from about 3:00 in the afternoon until 3:30 the following morning she was consistently in the 180's.  No spikes and no crashes.  180's are great for over night but are too high for the daytime, that's why at her 3:30 am check I gave her just under a unit of insulin to bring her down by the time she woke up.  By 5:30 am she was 152 and by 8:00 am when she woke up she was a perfect 98:)  Since that first day straight through yesterday, even with only drinking Plexus 2 consecutive days, skipping a day, then a third day, she has held fairly steady.  We have only had one low of 74 and the only two readings over 200 have been when we miscalculated how many carbs she'd eaten and not given her enough insulin to cover the food.

Don't get me wrong... THIS IS NOT A CURE for Type 1 Diabetes.  It is showing promise however, as a tool to help Gracie and maybe others like her, to keep within a healthy range without so many spikes and crashes.  The daily roller coaster that T1 blood sugar causes each day takes it's toll on our kids, physically, emotionally, and mentally.  When they are all over the place they get tired or don't feel good.  This can cause problems in every aspect of their lives - school, sports, friends, church, etc.  If I can help Gracie to alleviate some of this problem, than I will be thrilled.  T1 has a mind of it's own, and there is no way, sometimes, to get it to cooperate.  But if on a daily basis, most of the time anyway, I can help her to feel better, then I will be thrilled:)

So, I've started to be consistent with giving her Plexus.  At her age and size, I know she doesn't need an entire serving each day to benefit from it, so I'm playing with the schedule.  To start with, I'm trying 4 ounces every other day.  I'll keep you all posted on how it's going.  If something as simple as a yummy drink can help her to live a healthier and longer life and not have to suffer the horrible side effects of Type 1 diabetes, then I'm more than happy to give it a try:)

Hannah's excellent adventure

Only Miss Hannah Banana! That's all I can say:)

It's neighborhood garage sale weekend and my girls LOVE it. It's always amazing what they can buy for a quarter. Well, Hannah took the cake this year. The neighbors across the street gave her a whole bag of rings "for free". This morning she showed me the most special ring EVER. she proceeds to open up her little hand and laying there in the middle is a gleaming gold and diamond ring. Ummm... "Hannah honey, let mommy see that up close please". I look closely but can't tell. I see "1/2 KC" stamped inside the band. Off we head to the jewelry store as I explain that if it's real we need to give it back because surely Mrs. Weeks is frantically looking for it. In we trail through the door to our neighborhood jewelry store. "Can you do me a favor please? Can you confirm that this isn't real?"......

After a moment of suspense, nope, it's a really good fake:). I have a happy little girl wearing her new bling:)

Big sisters are THE BEST!

From the day Gracie was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, Tess stepped up alongside her dad and I to learn how to take care of her baby sister. Sounds sweet, huh? Considering that she was only 9 years old when she determined to learn everything she could to help keep Gracie alive, I'm hit with what an amazing kid she's always been:). So, what better way to spend your 7th D-aversary than by spending it with your big sister? Gracie woke up early to head to Crete today to help Tess take care of her little munchkins, Archer and Izzy. I love watching the love and compassion these two special sisters share with each other:)

Three week weigh in...

I was exactly 3 weeks ago today that I stepped onto my scale to see if I'd lost any weight after my first day using Plexus Slim and Accelerator.  I was thrilled to see that I'd lost 2 lbs that day.  Would this continue to work?  I could only hope...

Well, here we are, 21 days down the road.  Have I continued to lose?  Yes:)  I'm down by 17 lbs and 10.5 inches!  I am here to tell you that Plexus Slim and Accelerator really do work.  I'm not the only one experiencing this kind of success either.  There've been at least a dozen other people over the past 3 weeks who've decided to give it a try and are just as excited to step on their scales each morning and see it going down.

Have you been wondering if it's worth a try?  Getting tired of working out an hour every day, eating salad nearly every meal and not seeing as much of a result as you'd like?  Go ahead and give Plexus a try.  With a 60 day money back guarantee, you have nothing to lose, but those stubborn pounds.

A slim new body, more energy, great sleep at night and feeling rested in the morning, lower chloresteral and lipids, and better blood sugar control for those with Type 2 diabetes...  www.getslimLiveWell.c

7 years ago our world was turned upside down with the utterance of two little words... "She's diabetic".  

I had no idea what that truely meant; I didn't really understand then that it meant life support through insulin or that sugar could not only harm my child, but also serve as a life saver when she would drop low.  Drop low?  Run high?  Count carbs?  Shots?  a1C?  Medical ID?  Finger pokes?  Ketones?  DKA?  The list goes on and on.... I understood none of it at the time.  All I knew was that my precious, 14 month old daughter was in the PICU, hooked up to machines, so sick that she was unable to hold her head up on her own or even cry.  How had this happened?  Why did it happen?  Why her?  What was it that I missed that could've stopped this from happening?  There were no answers...

Exactly 3 weeks earlier, we were in the very same hospital, celebrating the birth of our youngest daughter.  Gracie was toddling around my hospital room, pacifier in her mouth, charming all the nurses and squealing with delight at her new baby.  She was tired though.  I just let her snuggle up with me in my hospital bed and rest.  That very night her daddy called saying that it looked like she's popped out with chicken pox.  Seriously?  She had just had the chicken pox vaccination 6 weeks earlier.  She's the only one of my daughters I allowed to have that vaccine.  Nearly a week later, the baby and I arrive back home.  We work hard at keeping Hannah safe from the chicken pox virus that could so easily cause her harm at the very beginning of her little life.  By the time Hannah is 2 weeks old, I take Gracie along to Hannah's 2 week well baby check.  I mention to the doctor that Gracie just doesn't seem to be bouncing back like I thought she should be.  She's just so tired still.  I'm assured that she's fine.  It's probably just her getting use to the new baby.  Over the next week I watch as my beautiful baby girl starts to decline; I know something is wrong but just can't pinpoint what.  Some things are explained away because of her age.  Things like all the water she was drinking because we thought she was just having fun with the new water bottles rather than her sippy cups.  Or the fact that we were changing her diaper every 30 minutes ... because of all the water she was drinking.  Or that she'd be playing just fine, then after half an hour or so, she would crash in the middle of the playroom floor and fall fast asleep.  In the early morning hours of September 21, 2005, I went in to check on my sweet baby and I just couldn't bring myself to let her sleep in her crib any longer.  There was a deep down instinct that said to keep her close, very close.  We layed together on the sofa; her on my chest.  I noticed that her breathing was shallow and she seemed as limp as a rag doll.  By 6:30 that morning, I just couldn't wait any longer.  I put her in her carseat and left for the doctor's office.  They opened at 7 and I was determined to be the first to be seen.  She wasn't doing well and I didn't know why.  When asked what I wanted her seen for, my answer was "I don't know, but something is very wrong."  The doctor checks her out.  Nothing.  For a lack of finding anything physically wrong, he runs some labs.  My sweet baby is too sick to fuss or cry as they draw her blood.  Then I wait.  It seems like forever.  She seems to be getting even more limp in my arms.  45 minutes later, the doctor comes back in and looks me in the eye and quietly says those two little words..."She's diabetic"

Tears start burning at my eyes and streaming down my cheeks.  Diabetic?  I don't understand.  But this much I know; I get to keep my baby girl, she's not going to die like I'd spent the last few hours fearing.  He tells me that the hospital is waiting for her and to get her there immediately.  I still don't understand fully the urgency in his voice.  I ask if I can stop at home on the way to pick up a few things for her, like her favorite blanket, a couple of bottles of her formula, and a change of clothes and diapers since she'd already soaked through the spares I'd had packed in her diaper bag there in the office.  We get to the hospital and they rush her through to get her hooked up to IV's and monitors.  She's so sick that they have to use her foot for the IV.  I hear a nurse mumble a blood sugar number... 1249.  That sounds high, but I have no idea what normal is suppose to be.  I watch as they poke, stick, and prod my baby girl.  I'm helpless to comfort her like I want to or to take her pain and fear away.  I wrap her as tightly as I can in her blankie and sit holding her hand and stroking her hair.

That evening, someone called a diabetes educator comes in to start "teaching" me how to take care of my baby.  Huh?  I'm a mom to 4 daughters; I think I know how to take care of my baby.  She has a bag that she gives me.  It's full of books, a box that says "Freestyle Blood Glucose Meter", Glucose tablets, a package of syringes, a tube of something called "glucose gel", a carb counts book, a blood sugar log book, along with an assortment of brochures and literature that all say the word DIABETES.   She explains that we now need to learn to give our baby shots and prick her fingers to test her blood sugar.  We need to know what the numbers mean and what to do if they are too high or too low.  We need to feed her only a certain amount of food, within a certain amount of time and on a strict schedule.  This is a baby girl... A BABY.  She still eats Gerber baby food and we were just introducing other foods.  She still drinks 3 bottles of formula a day to assure that she was getting the proper nutrients.  Next, enters the diatician.  Sure, we can introduce other foods that will fill her up with fewer carbs.  Snack?  Gold Fish or Cheerios.  Too many carbs?  How about a Nutrigrain bar?  I mean, let's be real here, this child doesn't even have all her teeth yet.  Seriously?  Only half a Nutrigrain bar?  Sugar Free Jell-O... I hope she likes it; she's not been a big fan of the wiggly stuff up to that point.  String cheese?  Sure, she loves that.  YOGURT!  Yes, she loves yogurt:)  Has to be fewer than 15 grams of carbs?  OK, no problem... I think.

And, so went that week in the PICU.  My days were spent learning how to keep my baby girl alive.  As she showed improvement and started feeling better, I started adjusting too.  I could do it.  I could keep her healthy.  I could give her 5-7 shots a day, poke her fingers every 2 hours, 24 hours a day, remember when to give her sugar to bring her up and when to give her extra insulin to bring her down... couldn't I?  But at home there's no nurses station across the hall.  At home, there's no button to push when I'm uncertain what to do.  At home there is no nurse to help give her a shot.  Dear God in Heaven!  I don't know if I can do this.  I'm not strong enough; I may not even be smart enough.

5 days later, it's time to go home.  It's time to face all this on our own. It was hard to believe that just 3 weeks earlier we were leaving that very same hospital with a newborn daughter; full of joy.  We buckle Gracie into her carseat.  I check to make sure the straps are right.  She giggles because it tickled.  I look into those big, blue eyes and see joy and the promise of life.  I kiss her and we head home.  Sisters and Grandmas  and even our dog were waiting.  Gracie is happy to be home, to laugh with her sisters and play with her dog.  But she's tired.  It's time for fresh pjs, a bedtime bottle... and now two shots.  Did I do it right?  Did I use the right dose?  I check on her every few minutes and when it's time for her first night time blood sugar check, she's low.  Not dangerously low, but too low to make it through the night safely.  I wake her up and feed her a spoon full of sugar.  It goes against my instinct as a mom.  No good mom feeds her child straight table sugar:(  Two hours later, she's too high.  I tell myself it's my fault.  I must of given her too much sugar to bring her up.  Fear grips my heart and doubt clouds my thoughts.  Can I really do this?  Can I be the mom that Gracie needs me to be?  Dear God, please calm my spirit and help me learn to be a good mom for Gracie.  Please help me get the knowledge and ability I need to keep her healthy....

Fast forward 7 years.  Gracie is healthy and strong.  She wears her Omnipod pump like it's part of her.  She is learning to take ownership of her own health along with how to take care of herself.  She touches the lives of everyone who comes across her path.  God is using her, even at her very young age, through her diabetes.  I've heard from others how she served as their inspiration during their own time of hardship or health crisis.  Gracie has learned that her life has no limits just because of her diabetes; she can be exactly who God created her to be and she can live a life full of joy even in the face of hardship.  Through Gracie's diabetes, God has brought our family closer, has made us realize just how fragile life is and how precious each day is as well.  We prioritize differently, we actively look for the blessings in each day, irregardless of what the day holds.  And, we cherish that beautiful smile of the strongest little girl we've ever known.  The precious little one that we get to claim as our own.  Gracie truely is our hero

September 21st... Gracie's "D-aversary"  The day each year that I hold her closer, hug her tighter and let my gaze linger longer when I see her smile.  Not all super heros wear capes... The strongest and bravest of them all wear an insulin pump and a medical ID.  And now, Super Gracie has her very own side-kick, Super Max, to help her fight diabetes each and every day.  They are a force to be wreckened with:)

Little Miss Hannah

Last week, something highly unusual happened... we were actually half an hour early for Hannah's dance class:)  There was a reason for that miracle; Tess was already at dance, called because she was "starving" and asked if I could bring some dinner for her to eat in between classes.  Well, being a mom who will accept any moment of quiet time available, no matter the location, I figured I'd just take Hannah along and let her play before her class began rather than run back and forth between home and the studio.  Trust me, our unusual "earliness" was really just an unexpected excuse for me to procrastinate doing the dishes;)  At any rate, I took along the scarf I'm making for Gracie, so that I could put this time to good use.  Hannah has been wanting to learn to knit for some time now and as we sat there visiting about our day, she asked to try learning on this scarf.  If you know Hannah at all, you'll understand my hesitation in letting her learn on my project:)  But, I threw my OCD ways aside (only when it comes to my projects;) and let her learn to knit with a round loom.  She loved it!  We were so engrossed in her knitting and chatting away, telling me all sorts of stories about her day (which incidentally didn't sound anything like the day I'd had yet we were talking about the same day;) that we totally forgot about the time or why we were at the studio to begin with.  She really is a charming little fire cracker of a girl, but being the youngest in a family of 4 girls, sometimes she gets "lost in the crowd":)  I was so just enjoying Hannah, giggling with her, and seeing her as the precious blessing that she is.  All of a sudden, I happened to notice that the lobby had grown quiet and we were just about the only ones sitting there.  I checked my phone for the time... 5:35!!!!  Hannah's dance class had started 20 minutes earlier.  OOPS;)  So much for being early:)  Still, it was a blessed time spent with my precious baby girl, getting a glimps at the beautiful little person that she is becoming.  I wouldn't trade that for anything:)  

A couple more questions and answers...

As I've been sharing my weight loss journey the past few weeks, I've had numerous people ask me about the speed at which I've been dropping the extra pounds and whether or not that is what everyone will experience, along with if lossing this quickly is safe.  First, let me say that everyone is different and each person who uses Plexus Slim will have a different and unique experience from mine.  Plexus Slim actually does burn fat and Accelerator is designed to work with Plexus Slim to speed up the fat burning process.  I have a fair amount of weight to lose, therefore it makes sense that here in the beginning I would lose weight quickly.  As my body's fat continues to burn away, I will probably experience a slow down in the rate that I lose the extra pounds since there will continuely be less fat to burn.  That said, I expect to be able to consistently lose the extra weight in a speedier manner than just diet and exercise alone.  As I near my goal weight, I will stop taking Accelerator and just use Plexus Slim to maintain my new weight.  Using Plexus Slim will help me to keep healthier control of my blood sugar, chloresteral, and lipids along with keeping all my cravings for sugar and soda at bay so that I can maintain my new, healthy weight.

For those who only have a few stubborn pounds to lose, the experience will be different than mine.  Plexus Slim and Accelerator will absolutely help you lose those last few pounds.  Will they come off at a pound or two a day, like I've experienced the past couple of weeks?  Maybe, but just from a scientific view, I'd say probably not.  Those who've been exercising regularly and are only 10 pounds away from their goal weight, have a lower amount of fat to burn than someone like me who's been fairly sedetary for some time  and has more fat for Plexus Slim to target.  The combination of Plexus Slim and Accelerator along with regular exercise is an absolute WIN.  You will lose those last few pounds that haven't budged no matter how many times a week you are in that Zumba class; and they will melt away fairly quickly:)

This brings to mind another question I've been getting quite often... "Do I HAVE to exercise if I'm using Plexus Slim?"  Well, no you don't "have" to exercise; however you will experience an increased energy and as you see those pounds disappear, you may just have a desire to start getting active again.  Exercise (moving your body each day;) is vital to your long term health and allowing you to enjoy better health and mobility as you age.  Something as simple as taking a walk each day will impact your health in a positive way; you will feel energized, more alert, and even more productive due to just some simple physical activity, like walking.  It's also a great way to relieve a lot of your daily stress:)

Finally, I've been asked what to do if you feel you're losing weight too quickly.  First off, if you're taking Accelerator, consider altering the schedule you are taking it (maybe take it every other day for example)  and only enjoy Plexus Slim each day.  Plexus Slim is what helps you burn fat and will continue to work even without Accelerator.  I've heard it compared to the tortoise and the hare... Plexus Slim (tortoise) is steady, always working, and never giving up; Accelerator (hare) is the sprint runner, off to a fast start, getting way ahead.  If you've reached your goal weight and you want to maintain along with enjoying all the added benefits of Plexus Slim but you're one of the lucky people that continue to lose weight on Plexus Slim, then try drinking it only every other day to achieve your goals.

Our health and fitness goals, levels, and abilities are as individual and unique as each of us.  My journey isn't going to look like anyone elses.  But we can all ultimately enjoy the success of reaching our goal weight and increasing our health with Plexus Slim and Accelerator.  Go ahead and give it a try.  With a 60 day money back guarantee, you've got nothing to lose but those extra pounds:)
www.getslimLiveWell.com       

What if?......

It's been a long journey down the weight loss path before finding Plexus Slim.  I'm still amazed at how easy it's been to loss weight and gain my health and energy back since enjoying a Plexus Slim and taking an Accelerator capsule each day.  Not only is my scale heading down, but my clothes are getting loose and I'm able to wear clothes that I haven't been able to in a long time.  My jeans are fitting loose these days; no more struggling to get into them or feeling like I just may faint when I bend over because they're too tight :)  This is an exciting start to what is still a long journey ahead; and waiting at the end of it all is the reward of a slim and healthy me, along with a new wardrobe:)  Now that's a GREAT incentive!

As I've been sharing my journey, I've been asked a sorts of questions and thought I'd take a moment to address the most common ones here:

1~ Is this a safe way to lose weight since it seems to happen so fast?  Yes.  Plexus Slim and Accelerator are all natural and when taken as directed are safe and effective.  Plexus Slim has no caffeine or stimulants, the Accelerator however, does have a stimulant in it and I would advise you to check with your doctor if you have any cardivascular/heart issues before taking it.  Also, you do not need to take Accelerator to enjoy the weight loss benefits of Plexus Slim.  Accelerator was developed to speed up the weight loss, since many people, like myself, want to see fast results in a safe way.   

2~ Is this a meal replacement system?  No.  Plexus helps to curb your appitite and cravings, so consequently you find that you eat less without even thinking about it.  Everyone, myself included, seems to find that their desire to snack goes away from the very first day and their cravings for sugary foods and soda are gone as well.  I hear from everyone that they feel full after much smaller portions at meal times, but that they are still enjoying their regular and favorite foods.  Even when it comes to desserts, it seems that just a bite or two of a sweet treat is all that's desired; so yes, you can still enjoy the wonderful taste of cheesecake or chocolate without throwing all of your success away in one sitting;)

3~ Do I HAVE TO Exercise?  No.  Plexus Slim burns fat not lean muscle all by itself.  It gives you added energy and it helps you get your chloresteral, lipids, blood sugar, and blood pressure under control.  Many people truely have a desire to begin adding exercise back into their life as they enjoy these benefits and it will speed up your weight loss as well as tone your body and give you all the amazing benefits that regular exercise is known to offer.  As we all age, exercise helps us to keep our joints healthy and moving, and allows us to live in health and comfort much longer than if we stay sedatary.  Many people have health conditions that make it difficult to exercise and the extra weight they carry complicates it even more.  Personally, when I am over-weight, I experience back problems along with complications for my asthma.  As I lose the extra pounds, my asthma becomes better controlled and I don't suffer from back pain and lack of motion.  Exercise is a wonderful part of life, but keep in mind, enjoying an evening walk with your friends or family is exercise and it's good for your body as well as your spirit.  You don't need to start a workout boot camp to lose weight, unless of course you really want to:)

4~ Will I experience any plateaus?  Yes.  There will be times that your scale just won't budge and it's frustrating.  If you experience a plateau and it's continued for a week or so, I'd suggest that you get your tape measure out and take your measurements again.  You may be surprised to find that you are still losing inches even if the scale isn't going down.  Remember that muscle weighs more than fat.  Also, think about what's been going on in your life during the past week or so... were you under extra stress, travelling, not feeling well, etc.  All that can affect your physical body.  Be patient with yourself and work through any plateau you may experience and know that it's not going to last forever; you will break through it and start to see that scale go down again.

5~ Is there anything else I can do to help balance out my system to stay healthy and continue to enjoy these wonderful weight loss results?  Yes.  It's been shown that probiotics are vital to maintaining a healthy GI system.  It's very common for bacteria and yeast to build up in our small intestine and that can cause all sorts of issues: fatigue, mental fog, constipation, tummy pain, sinus infections, headaches, even weight gain.  Plexus has a couple of products that can help: Bio Cleanse and ProBio 5.  Bio Cleanes gently rids your system of any yeast and bacteria that has built up in your intestinal track. ProBio 5 is an unique blend of probiotics that, taken daily, will maintain a healthy balance of good bacteria in your GI tract and it will help with your weight loss as well.  

Finally, I want to mention healthy sleep.  Everyone who uses Plexus Slim notice that they are sleeping better and actually wake feeling rested.  Good sleep is a vital part of a healthy life and this benefit makes a huge difference in everyone's lives.  Personally, due to Gracie's diabetes and the need to have blood sugar tests throughout the night, I haven't known what "feeling rested" felt like for 7 years.  Since starting Plexus, I sleep soundly (waking for her BG checks and going right back to sleep) and I'm waking earlier and feeling totally rested each morning.  No more dragging myself out of bed and feeling so bone tired that it physically hurts.  That is truely a miracle for this Type 1 mom:)  

I hope I've answered some of your questions.  If you have any others, please don't hesitate to leave a comment or send me a message and I'll be happy to get an answer for you:)  If you haven't tried Plexus yet, give it a shot.  With a 60 day money back guarentee, you have nothing to lose but a few of those extra pounds:)   www.getslimLiveWell.com

Join the Weight Loss Challenge

Have you been thinking about trying Plexus Slim and maybe even the Accelerator?  Go ahead, order a 3 day trial pack for only $11.95 and see the success everyone is buzzing about for yourself.  Or jump in with both feet and start your 30 day challenge... Plexus offers a 60 day money back guarentee, so you have nothing to lose but your extra weight :)

www.getslimLiveWell.com

I have a long ways to go, but I'm down 16 pounds and 5 inches just since August 30,2012

Ambassador #112790

Weight Loss Update... A personal experiement:)

As you all know, I've been having really good success losing weight the past 2 weeks by using Plexus Slim and Accelerator.  It's been amazing.  But, I really want to test out this product to see just how much I can count on it.  Let's face it, life throws us curve balls all the time; can I really rely on Plexus to help me through my "stress eating" or "boredom, mindless munching" episodes?  I have to say, conclusively, yes:)

The past couple of days I decided to try eating more than my body was calling for... eating the entire hamburger even though I was satisfied after just half, eating a full meal even though I wasn't hungry at all, "binging" on chocolate, and drinking soda pop.  I was consciously making the decision to ignore the appetite surpressing effect of Plexus as well as eat the foods that have been my biggest problem over recent years, to see just how much I can rely of Plexus to kind of save me from myself.  Here's what I noticed: First off, even really trying to eat past the feeling of "full", I just really couldn't do it "big time".  What I mean by that is that, yes I was able to eat the whole burger but I still only ate very few fries because there just was no desire for them at all and I was beyond full already.  When I tried eating a meal with the kids even though I wasn't hungry at all, I ate a piece of fried chicken, but just couldn't eat beyond that because I had no interest in eating and again I was feeling very FULL.  Even at Texas Roadhouse, I was able to enjoy 1/2 my 6 oz steak and a few bites of loaded mashed potatoes, and then I was just done.  Oh, and the sweet rolls sitting in front of me with the cinnamon butter?  I had no desire to even try:)  Then came my true test... Dr Pepper:)  Since using Plexus Slim and Accelerator, I've had nearly ZERO desire for pop.  There was a day that my allergies were so bad it had made my throat feel raw and irritated.  I thought that the fizz of a pop would feel soothing so I had a Dr Pepper.  That's the only time I have really wanted a pop in the past two weeks.  For the past two days, I've added pop back into my days.  Guess what?  A few sips is all I really drink; maybe half a regular size pop with that burger and fries that I had.  There truely is NO desire anymore for pop.  I have actually been wanting water (something very unusual for me).

So, what has happened with my weight the last two days, as I've tried this little food/soda pop experiment?  I've stayed the same; I gained NO weight at all after spending two days eating more than double of what I've been eating since starting Plexus Slim and Accelerator.  Do I feel that Plexus can handle the curve balls of life that I usually crumble under?  Conclusively YES:)  

Our field trip to Memorial Stadium

What a fun time with our home school group:)

First Day of School

As a home school family we enjoy flexibility that those in traditional school systems don't and we LOVE it:)  We tend to school year round to some degree or another but this year took most of the summer off other than keeping up on reading skills.  Since we were in Rochester, MN last week for Gracie to be seen at Mayo Clinic, we didn't start back to our new school year until this week.  Monday was our first day and it was much anticipated around here.  I've changed up our normal lesson schedule a bit and so far it's working out pretty well:)  This is also a year with some transitions... Tess is no longer home schooling; she's enrolled at SCC to get her GED this quarter, then she wants to begin classes in criminal justice.  Her desire is to train law enforcement dogs.  Living with Max and helping with his training has really sparked this interest and desire in her:)  Sarah is now officially middle school age, so the expectations and lessons have stepped up as well.  I've always believed in more of an unschooling philosophy for our kids while they are younger and don't typically do much formal "schooling" until they are showing signs that they are ready for more.  It's always worked really well for us; please don't mistake "unschooling" for "no schooling":)  Well, this year we've transitioned the two little girls into formal lessons.  I knew Gracie would fly with it but wasn't so certain about Hannah, but my desire to have them on the same level for the most part out weighed my concerns about whether or not Hannah was ready.  I figured if it proves to be too much for her, I can always pull back.  Well, so far, so good:)  Gracie is very much my left brained child and learning in a traditional style comes very easy to her.  Hannah is VERY right brained, so I tweak the way I teach her, but she is doing great and has proven to me that her unschooling foundation was effective.  For those of you who know Hannah, you're smiling right now:)  They are different levels for math, spelling and reading, but for all our other subjects, teaching them together is going great!

Max, of course is part of our school days as well.  He is with us, under or next to our work table, and is doing really well.  He knows he's working and stays there without any fussing or correction needed for the most part and the only time we know he's around (other than when we have no place to put our feet:) is when he's alerting to Gracie's changing blood sugar.

Home schooling isn't just an academic choice for our family, it really is a lifestyle that allows us to fully live out our deeply held convictions that God has called us to raise our children for His Kingdom, and that includes their education as well.  I love teaching my daughters and getting to watch them grow and learn everyday.  Even on those days that they are struggling to grasp a concept and there may be melt downs and tears, I get to help them through it, understand it and celebrate with them when they finally succeed at "getting it".  I wouldn't trade these times for anything:)

Max's Problem Solving Skills:)

Max LOVES his giant bones we get from the farmer's market.  These things weigh about 10 lbs and are a good 14-16 inches long and they last forever, which is amazing for Mr. Max.  He likes to take his bone with him everywhere he goes.  Here he is trying to figure out just how to get that bone of his back into the house when the doorway isn't as wide as his bone:)

Weight Loss Update...Day 13

I can't believe how easy this is!  Seriously, over the years I've tried just about everything short of liposuction, without lasting success.  In 2009, I lost 40 lbs... gained it all back by late 2010.  Last year I lost weight here and there, but it would always come back.  With the demands of my family and life, I just can't take on a strict diet plan and major workout schedule and maintain them for any length of time.  Like most other women, my family and their needs come before my own; therefore, setting aside time for all of that is nearly impossible.  Over the past year, even when I would focus on diet and exercise, the pounds just wouldn't budge and I'd get discouraged and quit.  Then BOOM!  God just dropped this in our laps out of nowhere.

Skeptical doesn't even begin to describe my feelings and thoughts at first; but there was a seed of hope that started to sprout as we placed our order and waited 3 days for it to arrive.  I mean really... could I really lose weight ~ and not just weight but actually lose body fat, by just drinking Plexus Slim and taking the Accelerator each morning?  Day 1: Pleasantly surprised at just how good it tastes and as the day passes I realize that I'm just not hungry like normal.  No need or desire to snack and I want water, not my normal dose of soda 3-6 times a day.  Day 2: I step on the scale and it's down!  I notice the same lack of desire to snack, the same feeling of "full" at meal times after fairly small portions, and the same lack of desire for soda.  I also notice that I no longer want sugar throughout the day to give me some quick energy.  Every day since, I step on the scale and it goes down.  Some days more and some days less, but it's going down every single day:)

Now, as a mom of 4 young fire cracker daughters, home schooling them, running them to their afternoon activities, taking care of Gracie's diabetes with all that it demands, running through my days with an 80 lb labador attatched to me as well, along with the routine household chores and cooking 3 meals and a couple of snacks a day... let me tell you just how amazed I am that Plexus Slim and Accelerator have given me more energy and I'm now actually getting really good sleep at night and waking consistently around 5:30 each morning feeling rested and ready to take on the day.  THIS IS HUGE:)  For the past 7 years, I've been sleep deprived because I wake every 2 hours to do a finger poke on Gracie.  Plexus is giving me back that feeling of being well rested that I never thought I'd feel again... at least not until I moved into the rest home at 90;)

Well, here I am on day number 13... I'm down 15.4 lbs, and I'm feeling great:)  My jeans actually fit the way they are suppose too.  I didn't have to do the wiggle and jump up and down dance to get them on or lay across the bed to zip them up.  More importantly, I can actually breathe and I can bend over to pick something up without feeling like I'm going to faint because they are cutting off all circulation:)  Am I thrilled and beyond excited about my little weight loss secret?  YOU BETCHA:)  Would you like to have the same fun I am every morning when you step on your scale?  www.getslimLiveWell.com

My personal little miracle...

Hhmmmm.... where to begin?  I've shared nearly every part of our family's life with you, but there's a part that I've always kept to myself... my own weight issue.  I was one of "those" girls in my younger years.  You know the ones; they are actually slim and maybe even, like in my case, have a few curves, but they still focus in on their perceived flaws.  In my case, I spent my life wearing long shirts to cover up my backside, which I now look back on and wonder why.  I was thin; beyond thin actually and I did nothing to work at it.  I ate what I wanted to eat and was active but never worried about working out.  Other than a few fleeting attempts at dieting that lasted all of a day or two, I never really gave it much thought.  I remember when I was engaged and planning our wedding; I just knew I needed to lose weight because I thought I should be 102 lbs as I walked down that aisle, so I lost the 3 1/2 lbs needed to meet that goal:)  Those were the days!

Well, as for all of us, life takes over.  We get older, have children, realize that we enjoy food, our time is spent on our family and leaves very little time left over for working out, etc. etc. etc.  Sound familiar? For me personally, add into that scenario my own health problems which make working out difficult, sleep deprivation since Gracie's diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes and getting up every couple of hours to check her blood sugar every single night since, and the resulting craving, need even, for sugar and soda to give me the fast energy kick I need to get through my days and nights.  Over the past few years it's all caught up with me and nothing seemed to work; not strict calorie control, not zero fat, not working out daily, not even giving up my beloved soda every day.  Honestly, I had totally given up on losing weight, getting into shape, and ever having any energy at all.  I mean, yes I have about 50 lbs that I want/need to lose, but I'm comfortable in my own skin and can accept my added curves; what I can't accept however, is risking my health and the possibility of not being around to raise my children and enjoy my future grand children.

As a Type 1 Mom, I am at a higher risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problems, even certain cancers because of what my life demands of me.  Add into that mixture my existing problem with severe asthma and the fact that in the past 18 months I've been flattened by pnuemonia and bronchitis twice, weakening my lungs all that much more.  What's a girl to do?  Yes, I was ready to just give up.  I gave it over to God and asked Him, begged Him actually, to please just allow me to be healthy enough to finish raising my girls so that they didn't have to navigate through their young lives without their mommy.  Does God hear our prayers, our pleas, our deepest desires?  YES!  A couple of weeks ago, we ran across Plexus Slim.  It was totally accidental since we were looking for something not even related to weight loss.  This product was originally being developed as an aide in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, showing success in both type 2 and type 1 diabetics, by allowing more even blood sugar control and even allowing insulin use to be significantly reduced in type 2 diabetics.  They noticed in all the studies however that EVERYONE was losing weight.  Not just a pound or two, but significant amounts of weight without trying to.

Fast forward to today... I have lost 7.2 lbs since trying Plexus Slim and Plexus Accelorator for the first time on August 30th.  That's over 7 lbs in 8 days people!  Have I worked out, changed what I eat or even tried to not eat at all to achieve this?  Nope.  I was skeptical.  I've tried everything over the years, miracle pills, specific diets, weight loss programs, extreme working out; you name it, I tried it.  I went into this determined to not consciously make any changes so that I could see for real if all the testimonies I was hearing really were true.  IT REALLY WORKS:)

Plexus Slim is a powder that you add to a bottle of water once a day.  ONCE A DAY:)  It's NOT a meal replacement.  OOOHHH... and it tastes yummy; no joke, I actually look forward to it every morning.  Since I'm a, (ahem) "middle aged woman" I also chose to use the Plexus Accelorator to speed things up.  Yes, I have the patience of a flea and want to see results FAST:)  I noticed right away that it surpressed my appetite.  I just really wasn't hungry all the time and when I would eat, I'd feel satisfied much sooner, therefore I automatically eat less.  Please listen though, I am not making a choice to not eat, I'm simply feeling full on less food.  I also noticed right away that I no longer have cravings for sweets and sodas.  My sugar cravings had gotten out of control over the past few years and I was "needing" several sodas a day just to make it through my day.  From day one on Plexus Slim, my cravings have totally disappeared:)  A surprise benefit that I hadn't anticipated, was that there is an ingredient in Plexus Accelorator that is helping my asthma as well, by opening my airways and keeping them from tightening up during my normal daily activities.  WOW!  I've spent my life using my rescue inhaler several times every day just to get thru normal activities.  When I actually work out, I need my inhaler several times during my exercise time.  As a matter of fact, the big reason I have gained weight and have such a hard time losing it is that I've spent most of my life on Prednisone, a steroid that is used to keep my lungs functioning.  Since using Plexus Accelorator, I've noticed that I actually have gone days without requiring my rescue inhaler at all:)

I'm so excited about this new product.  I can't believe the success I've had already.  I really think that I can be close to my weight goal in time for the holidays this year:)   Did I mention that my husband is using it as well and has lost 9 lbs in the past 8 days too?.  Seriously, I asked God for a blessing and He sent me a miracle.  If you would like to give Plexus Slim a try, you can order a 3 day trial pack.  It has 3  packettes of Plexus Slim and 3 Plexus Accelorator capsules along with an informational DVD and is only $11.95 with FREE shipping.  If you live locally and want to give it a try this weekend, let me know because I have a limited amount of these trial packettes here at home and can get it to you today:)