I participated in Arbonne’s 30 days to Healthy Living program! Here were the no no’s: dairy, gluten, soy, peanut butter, table sugar, coffee, alcohol, pork, tuna, farm raised fish, non cage-free eggs, non free-range chicken, all beef other than grass-fed, white potatoes, white rice, corn, nitrates, msg, vinegar, & canola oil. It was not easy. I drank two smoothies per day, ate two recommended snacks, and ate one recommended Arbonne meal per day. I was provided with several recipes, multiple shake options, a Facebook support group, and an amazing & super awesome coach & cheerleader!
What I gained:
Awareness. The 30 days forced me to become keenly aware of what I was eating, when I was eating, and why I was eating. My choices became deliberate and intentional, rather than convenient and impulsive. I also noticed how I felt post eating foods. At times, I felt gassy, more energized, grumpy, or uncomfortable. Awareness is invaluable.
Knowledge. Knowledge is power. I became more knowledgeable about what food labels actually said & read the ingredients more closely. I became more selective of what I placed in my shopping cart. Food is fuel.
Discipline. My husband eats chocolate a lot and often right next to me, in bed, before he goes to sleep. I had to know when to say no to my cravings. I had to focus on why I needed to stay on course & not waver. & when I went on a staycation with my girlfriends, for MY birthday celebration, I had to watch them drink wine, eat cheese & meat trays, devour pizza, and eat lots of chips, guac, and salsa. It was so hard. I had to practice mad discipline that weekend. I went as far as to making my smoothies in our hotel room, via my Ninja! Yes, I even brought my greens, protein powder, frozen berries, almond milk, and coconut oil in my carry on. I didn’t cheat. Now that, my dear friends, takes MAD discipline.
Adjustment. Eating healthy is a lifestyle change & a shift. It is not a death sentence & it can be enjoyable. I choose to eat healthy to feel good, to be healthy, and to feel as happy as I possibly can from the inside out.
Results:
DAY 1: Weight: 140, Waist: 35, Hips: 36 inches
DAY 30: Weight: 132, Waist: 32, Hips: 35 inches
- Less anxiety; less worry
- Less acne breakouts; quicker clear ups
- Sharper mind; no mind fog
- No arthritic pain in my right knee
- IBS symptoms gone
- Felt happier; less irritable
- More energy; more stamina
- Better sleep
- Wounds healed faster
- Better mood; less barky
Moving Forward:
1. Eat organic. I thought I was eating healthy because I was eating a lot of fruits & veggies, but I never checked to make sure they were organic prior to buying them. Who knew that non- organic fruits & veggies had extra pesticides & parasites on them, leading to bloat… leading to more weight gain?!
2. Only eat cagefree & grass-fed meats. I never paid attention to whether my meat was grass-fed or not! Now, I do! Whatever that animal eats, I’m eating, too! I’d rather eat meat from a plant-eating animal that has freedom to roam as he or she pleases, than meat from an animal kept in too small of a cage & shot up with hormones & other chemicals. From now on… I’ll only go for the grass-fed and cagefree variety.
3. Cut pork. Pork is dirty! Pigs eat feces. So… when I’ve eaten ham, pork chops, & bacon… I’ve essentially been eating fecal matter! No thank you! Alternative: turkey bacon from Sprout’s (gluten-free, nitrate free)
4. Cut coffee. Coffee is acidic. Coffee made my IBS worse! Coffee contains caffeine. Caffeine makes my anxiety worse. No thank you! Alternative: Arbonne’s detox tea or Arbonne’s Fizz Stick (citrus and pomegranate are my favorites)
5. Cut bread. Bread contains gluten. Gluten causes inflammation. Inflammation irritates my arthritic knee. Bread turns to sugar in the body. Not good.
6. Eat every 3 hours. 1.) Eat breakfast, 2.) Eat a snack, 3.) Eat lunch, 4.) Eat a snack, & 5.) Eat dinner. Eating too few calories puts my body into starvation mode causing me to gain weight instead of lose weight.
7. Don’t eat after 7:00 p.m. Eating after 7 isn’t necessary. Alternative: drink water or Arboone’s detox tea
8. Drink half body weight (in ounces) of water. Water is everything. Drinking water keeps me fuller longer. It curbs my cravings.
9. Don’t eat emotions. Eat when hungry. Don’t eat when sad, mad, or upset. Food is fuel. Food is not to be used as a therapist or a numbing tool. Talk your feelings out to a trusted friend instead.
10. Cut sugar. Sugar heightens my anxiety. I feel bloated post sugar. Just skip it. Alternative: Arbonne’s Fizz Stick or unsweeetened green tea from Starbuck’s
11. White Carbs. White carbs increase anxiety. Alternative: Wrap your protein in organic lettuce
12. Get a coach & cheerleader. Diana, my Arbonne coach, kept me informed, motivated, driven, & helped me stay the course. I love my coach!
13. Gut health is key. Probiotics are essential for a healthy body, clear skin, & a level-headed mind. Health starts in the gut. I recommend Arbonne’s Digestion Plus every morning to keep the belly in check
14. Eat greens. Baby spinach, kale, & leafy veggies are packed full of vitamins much-needed for a healthy body. Along with other ingredients, I recommend adding a handful of organic baby spinach to Arbonne’s vanilla, or chocolate, protein powder for a delicious smoothie
15. Ditch packaged anything. Shop on the outskirts of the grocery store. Avoid packaged foods.
16. Eat good fats. Coconut oil, almond butter, & avocados are great & sustain hunger for longer.
17. Ditch the deli meats. Deli meat is packed full of added nitrates. These aren’t healthy. Alternative: go for the no nitrates added variety @ Sprouts
18. Sleep. Sleep 8 hours per night.
19. Cut alcohol. Don’t drink your calories! Beer gut and bloat are no bueno.
20. Exercise. Lift weights to lose weight. Limit cardio to 45 minutes per week. Diversify workouts. No pain, no gain! If a muscle group is sore, I work a different muscle group the next day. I push myself, but I don’t hurt myself!
21. Portions matter. I had little portion control before trying Arbonne’s 30 Days To Healthy Living. I’d eat a whole bag of chips or a whole sandwich. I am now more aware of how I am feeling. I stop when I am satisfied, not when I am full.
22. Take snacks on the go. I carry snacks when I go places. I am less likely to make poor choices if I have my healthy snacks with me! Snack suggestions: hummus with carrots & celery, raw almonds, & green apple with a tablespoon of almond butter
23. Ditch the corn chips. Corn is no bueno. Added starch = added weight. Alternative: Buy Beanitos (chips made solely of beans) @ Sprout’s Note: Eat too many & you’ll get gassy
24. Fiber. I add 1/4 scoop of Arbonne’s Daily Fiber Boost to my smoothie every day to help me feel fuller longer & aid in digestion. Note: Add too much and you’ll get gassy
Conclusions:
Had I not completed Arbonne’s 30 Days to Healthy Living, I would not have gained the benefits, weight loss, awareness, discipline, knowledge, and power that I have now. Most programs do work if the participant fulfills the obligations from beginning to end, but the knowledge I’ve gained by participating in this particular program is invaluable and I’ll take it with me for the rest of my life.
Thankful to Diana for introducing me to Arbonne, as it has taught me so much on how to live my best life and how to be truly healthy, from the inside out, day in and day out, for the rest of my life.
Today:
I’m still eating clean & healthy, using & loving Arbonne products, working out regularly, & continuing to stay off the do not eat list! The results continue to amaze me! I’m still losing weight and feeling great all because I took a leap of faith & hopped on the 30 days to Healthy Living train. I’m so thankful to have done this for my body, as I feel way healthier @ 40, than I ever did in my 30’s! Thanks be to my beloved friend, Diana, for helping me achieve my goals and keeping me plugged in and motivated! Thanks, friend!
Your Turn:
Interested in participating in Arbonne’s 30 Days to Healthy Living challenge?! Please contact Diana Suyyagh, Arbonne Coach Extraordinaire, @ 602-315-2119 for best deals, free gifts, & support!
Feel free to peruse her website: www.dianasuyyah.arbonne.com
Cheers to good health!
just another mama next door 
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