Two-week Weight-In Report

Sorry I didn't get a blog post done last week.  It's been busy, busy around my house lately.  Last weekend, we celebrated my youngest son's 1st birthday with a huge party!  I got all Pintresty with our Very Hungry Caterpillar Theme (seriously...all the cute ideas came directly from Pintrest!) - so I was busy re-creating what I found on Pintrest & ordering/shopping for the things I couldn't do myself (shirt, cake, plates, etc.).  Also, my parents came in town for the big event, so I wanted to spend as much time with them while they were here as I could!  :)  Shortly after they left, I had a 3-day all-day Practicum to attend for homeschooling.  So, while I have weighed in every Friday, I didn't have much time to blog about it until now...which may turn out for the best, because as tired as I was last week from all that was going on, if I'd tried to blog, it probably wouldn't have made much sense or been very good at all!  ;)

To be honest, my scale hasn't exactly been my best friend the last couple of weeks.  Last Friday, I had actually gained 4/10 of a pound and this past Friday, I lost 6/10 of a pound...so, the scale hasn't moved all that much lately.  And yet, my belt moved in another hole (now on the 3rd hole of the belt I couldn't even get all the way around me a few weeks ago!)...so, I know I'm losing inches, even though I'm not really losing much in the way of pounds lately.  And, to be quite honest, that's really all I care about.  I want to be healthier and to be a more "normal" size...and that's happening!  I know I'm healthier because I have far more energy than I used to.  Yes, I still get tired after a long, busy day...but I don't need sodas to get me through the day like I used to!  And I still don't even desire to drink them!  I also know I'm healthier because I'm sleeping better at night and my breathing isn't as labored as it used to be!  I also don't feel the need to snack all the time!  As I mentioned earlier, I had a 3-day Practicum for Classical Conversations (the homeschool model we use) last week and I took a ziploc baggie full of chocolate-covered raisins with me for a snack (the Practicum was 9am-4pm all three days, with an hour for lunch)...but I never actually ate them!  I was never hungry during the day except for lunchtime.  All I really wanted during the meetings was water...and I had plenty of it!  :)

So, while the scale hasn't moved much for me the last couple of weeks, there are still plenty of non-scale victories that make me happy!  And people are starting to notice!  Whenever I see someone I haven't seen in awhile, they always say, "Wow!  You look great!"  That has got to be the BEST feeling in the world!  :)

If you are interested in finding out what Plexus could do for YOU, just visit my website and check it out!  There is a 60-day money-back guarantee...so the only thing you have to lose is weight and inches!  Try it for a month...if you don't like what you see, return any unused portion for a full refund!  You won't be sorry!  Everyone I know who has tried it loves it every bit as much as I do!  If you want to get it at wholesale, email me (or contact me directly if you know me) at karaj.plexus@gmail.com and I'll answer your questions and/or tell you how to get started!  :)  If you've got a lot to lose, this is a great way to make extra money, because as others see the weight come off, they will ask you what you are doing and be interested as well!  :)

Saying Farewell To Diets FOREVER!

For as long as I can remember, I have either been on a vicious never-ending cycle of getting ready to diet, being on a diet, getting frustrated with a diet, giving up on a diet, getting frustrated with my weight, getting ready to diet...well, you get the point!  But all that is over!  I have come to the decision that I will NEVER diet again!  No more counting calories, fat grams, and/or points!  No more measuring out portions!  No more feeling deprived!  No more feeling discouraged!  I finally broke up with diets FOREVER!!!

What brought me to this decision?  Well, let's just look at my last week.  I have been working Vacation Bible School at my church this past week and part of my responsibilities was to stop by Dunkin' Donuts every morning on my way in and pick up donut holes for the workers.  A few of the mornings, I even got a donut for my son and his friend who was riding with us.  But not once did I order one for myself...it didn't even cross my mind to do so!  And what's more...I didn't have a single donut hole that sat in the resource room with me!  Not because I COULDN'T have it...but because I really didn't WANT to have it!  The first morning, I looked in the box to see if there were any left once VBS got under way and there were two little donut holes sitting in there.  For about half a second, I contemplated whether I wanted to eat them or not, but I really didn't have any desire to do so...and after that, I didn't even give them a second thought after putting them out!  To help you understand how big this is, the old me would have had at least a handful of those delicious bites of dough and sugar on the way in...and a few more once I got there and opened them up!  But I didn't even have the slightest desire to eat them.  That, my friends, is simply amazing to me!

So, after being in the resource room with all sorts of wonderful goodies (besides the donut holes, several people brought in an assortment of goodies from home to share), the old me would have been terrified to step on the scale Friday morning.  But, the new me was excited to do so...and rightfully so!  I lost 2.4 pounds last week, bringing my grand total to 14.6 pounds!  It's been eight weeks...and usually by this time on a diet, I've lost interest and just trying to hold on by my fingernails or will have totally given up!  And never have I lost that much weight this far into a diet...usually I'm doing good to lose a whole pound at this stage of the game!  I usually do really good in the beginning (when the excitement is still there), but as my interest in following the diet wanes, it also begins to show on the scale with a minimum weight loss (usually tenths of a pound) or with a weight gain.  But here I am with an average of 1.825 pounds per week and going strong!

Why is this different?  Well, to be quite honest, I'm not dieting.  I'm not writing down what I eat.  I'm not measuring anything.  I'm not even avoiding any food group!  I simply eat when I'm hungry and stop when I'm full.  I eat whatever I want, when I want to eat it.  Sounds a lot like my "off diet" phase of the above vicious cycle.  The main difference between this and when I'm "off" a diet is that I'm steadily losing weight!  This happens because I'm not hungry as often, and the food I desire is very different from what it used to be.  I attribute this to the changes Plexus is making in my body.  Since it works to regulate blood sugar, cholesterol, and lipids to normal levels, it curbs the cravings for unhealthy foods.  I actually crave healthy foods and water...something I prayed for many times, but never thought I'd ever really do short of a miracle! I guess Plexus is my miracle...because it is all that has changed!  :)

I know diets work for some people...I've seen it happen.  But, they just don't work for me.  And thanks to Plexus, I can work my way to a healthy weight in a healthy manner without feeling the least bit deprived!  So, thanks to Plexus, I can say GOODBYE TO DIETS FOREVER!!!!  :)

Exercise - Part 2

No, it's not Friday yet.  Not quite time for another weigh-in update...but I do have some news to report and I just couldn't wait!  ;)  After my post on Friday about exercise, I got a little convicted.  And so...when my hubby asked if I was going to work out on Saturday, I told him I would.  Then I got up on Saturday and well...everyone else was taking it easy (it was our first lazy Saturday in weeks!), so I thought I would too.  Then my hubby made the fateful mistake of saying, "I thought you were going to workout."  Yeah...you guessed it, I didn't take it so well.  He didn't mean to, but he hit a hot button for me.

BUT...I did get up, get dressed, and headed out to the gym.  I was armed with my pink drink (I had been finishing my coffee when hubby made his statement), my book, and my phone with my tunes (and earphones).  I got on the elliptical and I worked out for 30 minutes, but I wasn't ready to stop reading, so I decided to get on the treadmill and walk for awhile...never looking at the timer.  Before I knew it, I'd finished my book and when I looked at the timer, I realized I'd been walking for over an hour!  An hour and ten minutes to be exact!  And I wasn't exactly strolling along on the treadmill, either!  I mean, I wasn't running or anything, but I was at 2.5-2.8 for my speed level.  I couldn't believe I'd been on the treadmill for over an hour...especially after spending about half that amount of time on the elliptical!  I will tell you, I have noticed on the times I have gone to workout while drinking my pink drink, I get more of a workout.  Partly because I have unlimited time, but also partly because I didn't get tired as quickly!  And with my book to keep my mind occupied, I was good to go!

I also had a non-scale victory this morning!  I'm helping with Vacation Bible School this morning, so I was up and getting dressed this morning when I realized that my shorts were loose.  So, I grabbed a belt...one that wouldn't fit me just a few weeks ago.  But today, I was able to get it buckled...and comfortably so!  YAY!  Gotta say, I was pretty happy about that!  :)

Since I'm helping out with VBS this week, I probably won't get much "official" exercise in this week.  I may be a little more active than usual, but not sure how often or if I'll even make it to the gym this week, but I do want to go more often and make it a habit.  But, I'm thankful that I don't HAVE to work out to lose weight with my Plexus!  :)  Perhaps now that it's no longer a "have to" I can some day turn it into a "want to"...maybe!  ;)

By the way, in case you are wondering, yes, I did apologize to my hubby after my workout for my bad attitude earlier that day.  ;)

OH...and another non-scale victory I had today...my "job" at VBS is to pick up doughnut holes from Dunkin Donuts every morning on my way in and then to be in the resource room to help the other workers in case they need anything (which is also where said doughnut holes and other snacks are kept).  After the mad rush of the first morning was over and everyone was in their classes, I checked the box of doughnut holes to see if they were gone.  There were TWO left.  Now, the old me would have totally snatched those two up and scarfed them down in no time flat (and probably would have snatched a few before they even made them into the resource room in the first place).  But as I looked as those two lonely little Munchkins in the box, I had absolutely NO DESIRE to eat them...and simply walked away without the least little tinge of deprivation.  What a great feeling!!!  :)

Looking forward to the scale on Friday...SERIOUSLY!  I actually look forward to my weigh-in days now! Hope you are having a fabulous week!  :)

Exercise and My Weekly Weigh-In

I cannot, for the life of me, get excited about going to the gym.  Once I'm there, and get into it, I can usually keep going.  It's the getting there that is so hard!  I am sooo not a morning person, and yet the best time to fit exercise in my day is early in the morning before my hubby leaves for work.  Last January, when my hubby got a bonus from work, I talked him into letting me get a year-long membership to the fitness centers offered by our county parks & recreation.  I promised that I would workout three mornings a week...and I did really well at first, but lately, not so much!  ;)

Why do I tell you this?  Well, because on every single other weight loss program I've ever been successful on, exercise was pivotal in my success.  If I got my workouts in,  I lost weight that week.  If I didn't, well...let's just say the scale was NOT my friend!  Yes, what I ate also played a part in how I did each week, too...but it seemed exercise was the key!  But, that has NOT been my experience on Plexus!  I am just flat out amazed at how well it works!

This morning, I got on the scale and discovered another 2 pounds gone!  That makes a total of 12.2 pounds in the last seven weeks - an average of 1.74 pounds per week!  In those seven weeks, I think I've met my goal of exercising three days per week all of ONCE!  I've gotten in a day or two on some other weeks, but only once did I hit all 3 days...and this past week, I have yet to find my way to the gym!  And yet, because I have more energy, I'm probably more active in my everyday life than I was before I started taking Plexus...so, I may be getting in more exercise than I realize!  ;)

For weight loss to truly be successful, you need to find something you can do consistently and that you can stick with.  I cannot avoid carbs and sweets forever...I still enjoy them from time to time.  I cannot make myself exercise every day...no matter how hard I try, there's always a reason (read: excuse) why I can't (usually followed by a promise to do it later that rarely gets fulfilled).  But, I can take my accelerator every morning with breakfast and I can enjoy my Plexus Slim drink every morning after I finish my coffee.  And...I can make the choices I've known all along are the right choices to make because my body no longer fights me on those choices and I no longer feel deprived!  I stay motivated because (A) it's easy to do, and (B) I keep losing weight!  I actually look forward to stepping on the scale for the first time in my entire life!

I'm so thankful for the friend who introduced me to Plexus!  If you would like for me to do you the same favor, just let me know!  You won't be sorry!  And while I'm very vocal about Plexus and what it's doing for me (I can't help myself!), if you want to try it on the "down-low"...your secret is safe with me!  :)

Just Keep Going!

Yes, I weighed in on Friday.  Was it what I wanted to see?  No, not really.  I lost half a pound.  Not the best loss I've ever seen on the scale, but at least the scale is moving in the right direction!  And, if you have been following my blog, you'll remember that about this time last month, I GAINED a pound...so to LOSE even half a pound around this time of the month (especially considering how bloated I feel...ladies, I KNOW you understand!), really is bigger than it seems!  :)

And as the picture above says, let's be honest here!  I did NOT gain this weight overnight and, consequently, I'm not going to lose it that fast, either!  And if I'm really honest with myself, I don't really want to, either.  I've done more than my fair share of fad diets and have lost weight really quickly only to see it come back on just as fast.  If I really want this weight loss to last, I need to take it off in the same manner it came on...little by little!  :)

One of the times when I was doing Weight Watchers, a leader once told the group that a healthy weight loss is anywhere between a half a pound and two pounds, with the average being 1-2 pounds per week.  In the last 6 weeks, I've lost 10.2 pounds.  While that may not be Biggest Loser type results, it IS real-world results and I'm thankful for it.

If you have been following my blog, you know I can never say enough good things about Plexus!  Others have started noticing a difference as well, and have started asking me about this new-found "miracle."  But, Plexus isn't magic.  Yes, it makes losing weight easier - but it doesn't make it magically disappear.  In order for it to really work for me, I had to make some choices.  Plexus helped me feel full on less food, but I have to make the choice to stop eating when I'm full.  Plexus has removed the intense cravings for carbs, sweets, and soda...but I have to choose to eat/drink them in moderation.  Plexus gives me more energy, but it is my choice how I use that energy.  It is true, I haven't followed a diet plan and I haven't even exercised that much since starting Plexus and my results have been at least equal to, if not better, than the times I was following a strict diet plan and trying to exercise.  But, I am making choices to eat healthier, which is so much easier without the cravings.  And the more I choose to eat healthy, the more I actually WANT to eat healthy.  And I know that if I were more consistent in my exercise, I would probably have even better results.  But, I am thankful for the results I am getting and, even more importantly, I'm thankful for the way I feel!  I love having the energy to do things with my boys and that food no longer controls my life!

If you have struggled to lose weight like I have, perhaps you would like to give Plexus a try and see how it will work for you.  You don't have to commit to a whole month.  There are 3-day and 7-day trial kits you can order from my website to see how you like it.  If you find that it's something that will work for you and you would like to use it regularly, there are several options for how to order.  You can place an order each month and pay the full retail price, you can sign up as a preferred customer and get it at a discount, or you can sign up to become an Ambassador (like I did) and get it at wholesale!  If you are interested, let me know and I'll be happy to help you decide what's best for you without any pressure to do anything you don't want to do!  :)