You can prevent this precursor to type 2 diabetes from developing into full-blown disease.
By Madeline Vann, MPH
Medically reviewed by Cynthia Haines, MD

By some estimates, one-third of adults in the United States have a condition called prediabetes; 13 percent have type 2 diabetes. Prediabetes may be more common in men (36 percent) than in women (23 percent).

Prediabetes means that while your blood sugar levels are higher than normal, that level isn’t high enough to warrant a diabetes diagnosis. However, a prediabetes diagnosis means it is time for action to prevent diabetes. “In simple terms, there is a gap between what we call diabetes, which is a fasting blood sugar of 126 and above, and normal, which is less than 100 fasting,” explains Vivian Fonseca, MD, a professor of medicine and pharmacology and chief of endocrinology at Tulane University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans.

“In between,” he continues, “you have impaired fasting glucose. If you do a glucose tolerance test, and you are in the gap, you have prediabetes. You are at risk for getting diabetes in the future and you are also at risk for heart disease.”

Type 2 Diabetes: Prevention

If are told your blood sugar is abnormally high, you’ve just had a red flag waved in front of you. You’re being warned that unless you make some changes in your life today, your future will probably include a diabetes diagnosis.

“Walking 30 minutes a day and reducing weight by 5 percent can decrease the risk [of getting type 2 diabetes] by 60 percent over three years,” says Dr. Fonseca. While there are medications that have the same effect, lifestyle change is less expensive and has fewer side effects, Fonseca says.

Cutting your weight is crucial. “One of the links with obesity is that fat induces a mild low-grade inflammation throughout the body that contributes to heart disease and diabetes,” Fonseca explains. Without making any changes, you could develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years of first developing prediabetes.

Type 2 Diabetes: Who Should be Tested?

Prediabetes is a “silent” condition, says Fonseca. While some people may experience symptoms of diabetes such as fatigue or increased urination, most people’s blood sugar rises without any outward signs at all. This means you might not know you need to be tested for prediabetes — and even if you are screened, your doctor might not give you all the information you need to prevent it.

For these reasons, diabetes experts developed criteria for those who should be tested. The American Diabetic Association recommends that any adult age 45 or older should be tested for diabetes and prediabetes.

The ADA also recommends that any adult under age 45 who is overweight and has at least one of the following risk factors should be tested:

* Family history (especially parent or sibling with diabetes)
* Physically inactive lifestyle
* Native American, African-American, or Hispanic heritage
* Prior gestational diabetes diagnosis
* Birth of a baby over nine pounds in weight
* High blood pressure or treatment for high blood pressure
* Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) diagnosis
* Dark, velvety rash around the armpits or neck
* History of heart disease

If your test reveals that you have prediabetes, you should be tested again in one to two years, depending on your doctor’s recommendations.

Type 2 Diabetes: Types of Tests

There are two tests used to screen for diabetes and prediabetes:

* Fasting plasma glucose: a test of your blood after you haven’t eaten for eight hours (usually overnight)
* Oral glucose tolerance test: a comparison of your blood taken first after eight hours without food (fasting) and then two hours later after you have consumed a sugary drink given to you by the lab technician.

If you fit the screening criteria listed above, make an appointment to get tested as soon as possible. It could be the first step toward preventing the development of type 2 diabetes.
Everyday Health Network

1. 1 in 8 women in the USA get Breast Cancer; 1 in 6 if overweight, and 1 in 5 if obese! Obese is defined as a BMI of 30 and above. (BMI of 30 is about 30 pounds overweight.)

2. Women who are obese when they are diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer are at a greater risk of dying from the disease than women of normal weight.

3. Avoid sugar and refined carbohydrates. Sugar and refined carbs contribute to obesity and higher insulin levels and women with higher insulin levels have 283% higher incidence of breast cancer. (Check out PlexusSlim.com to help lower and regulate sugar and lipid levels while safely allowing you to lose pounds and inches)

5. Far too often, breast cancer is detected after it has spread and has affected other parts of the body. Regular breast self-examination is an important step to early detection, but most women really don’t know what they’re looking for! (The Breast Chek Kit, can make this much easier, see the breast self exam video at TheBreastDiva.com) Get familiar with “THE GIRLS” and don’t forget your annual Mammogram or Ultrasound, too!

6. Less than 10% of breast cancer cases are genetically inherited. Most women diagnosed with breast cancer do not have a family history of the disease, so why so many cases these days? It is believed that the breasts can store many chemicals within the fatty tissue and because the breasts are largely constrained within a bra for many hours a day, the body has no way of flushing out these toxins. It is known that the breasts can store quite high levels of chemicals from our environment. Studies of human breast milk have shown traces of household cleaning products present! It is believed that there could be a very real connection with the onset of breast disease from these toxins. The purpose of breast massage is to help flush out these toxins via the lymphatic system, and help bring nutrients to the tissues. (The Breast Cream was designed to help remove toxins from the breast tissue. Also,see the lymphatic drainage massage video at TheBreastDiva.com to help drain these toxins from breast tissue.)

7. In the Lancet Medical Journal, Nov 4, 1978, Dr John Douglas of California published an article linking bras with elevated breast temperature, and suggested that this might have a connection with breast cancer.  He studied several hundred women in a medical practice and also observed that the heavier the bra material, the hotter the breast, and that bra-free women of all sizes had cooler breasts. See more about Bras and Breast cancer at: http://www.all-natural.com/bras.html

9. Many women, who had concerns about breast cancer risk and/or breast pain, quit wearing bras and then found that their pain and cysts of fibrocystic breast disease was dramatically decreased or eliminated.  Several of these women wrote their own personal case histories, which appear on the web at: http://www.all-natural.com/fibrocys.html

10. Do you LOVE DARK CHOCOLATE? Antioxidants are substances that may protect cells from the damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals. Free radical damage may lead to cancer. Antioxidants interact with and stabilize free radicals and may prevent some of the damage free radicals might otherwise cause. Examples of antioxidants include dark chocolate, beta carotene, lycopene, vitamins C, E and A and other substances. See my healthy, sugar free, antioxidant rich, dark chocolate at: http://ChocolateFromGod.com

Share this information with your friends, family and co-workers by having your own
Lunch ‘N Learn, Pink Party or Lets Lose Weight Together Party at your
home, office or organization/group meeting.

Debbie Mormino, The Breast Diva!
Phone: 985.892.5858 Cell: 985.237.3360
Email: TheBreastDiva@Gmail.com

Get your healthy chocolate at: ChocolateFromGod.com

Heart attack survivors who eat chocolate two or more times a week cut their risk of dying from heart disease about threefold compared with those who never touch the stuff, a new study found.

Smaller quantities confer less protection but are better than none, according to the study, which appears in the September issue of the Journal of Internal Medicine.

Earlier research had established a strong link between cocoa-based confections and lowered blood pressure or improvement in blood flow.

It also had shown that chocolate cuts the rate of heart-related mortality in healthy older men, along with post-menopausal women.

But the new study is the first to demonstrate that consuming chocolate can help ward off the grim reaper if one has suffered an acute myocardial infarction — otherwise known as a heart attack.

“It was specific to chocolate — we found no benefit to sweets in general,” said Kenneth Mukamal, a researcher at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston and a co-author of the study, which Imre Janszky of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm led.

“It seems that antioxidants in cocoa are a likely candidate” in explaining the life-saving properties, he told AFP in an exchange of e-mails.

Antioxidants are compounds that protect against so-called free radicals, molecules that accumulate in the body over time and can damage cells. The free radicals are thought to play a role in heart disease, cancer and the aging process.

In the study, Janszky and colleagues tracked 1,169 non-diabetic men and women, ages 45 to 70, in Stockholm County during the early 1990s from the time they were hospitalized with their first heart attack.

The participants were queried before leaving hospital on their food consumption habits during the previous year, including how much chocolate they ate on a regular basis.

They underwent a health examination three months after discharge and were monitored for eight years after that. The incidence of fatal heart attacks correlated inversely with the amount of chocolate consumed.

“Our findings support increasing evidence that chocolate is a rich source of beneficial bioactive compounds,” the researchers concluded.

The results held true for men and women across all the age groups in the study.

Copyright AFP

Debbie Mormino, in connection with Elaine Iagatta, Dr. Wallach, and Youngevity, are excited to announce the debut of Tru Chocolate™ (http://ChocolateFromGod.com) starting off in the US. This is the ALTERNATIVE SUPER SNACK, that will be an important addition to help people world wide with the increasing problem of WEIGHT ISSUES.
 
Chocolate lovers all over the world are asking, “What Is Tru Chocolate”?
 
Tru Chocolate™ is: 
*Good for you and good tasting!
*GUILT FREE, SUGAR FREE / HEALTHY WEIGHT LOSS CHOCOLATE!
*100% Natural, but still tastes great; it has been formulated to be compliant with the health requirements of the vegan communities
*Gluten free and Kosher
*Diabetics, hypoglycemic, and lactose intolerant individuals can all eat this chocolate with no worries or ill side effects!
*Helps with weight management/loss while promoting healthy blood sugar levels and helping to satiate your appetite
*Sweetened with ALL NATURAL Xylitol and loved by dentists for it dental health benefits
*Tru Chocolate™ kills harmful bacteria in the mouth, improving the health of teeth and gums
*Overflowing with powerful antioxidants and all natural ingredients
*Ridiculously high ORAC value (3040 per piece!) compare it to Goji or Noni per serving
*Only 36 calories per serving

Chocolate is the universal language and Tru Chocolate™ is the latest in the ALL NATURAL weight management system and whole food. It is engineered with entirely natural ingredients. In addition, it has been formulated to be compliant with the health requirements of the Vegetarian communities. This new product is focused on the main objectives to lower and control blood sugar, to increase lean body mass, and to establish a solid platform for the restoration of health.
 

  TRU Chocolate™ “WOW”  – The Razzle Dazzle After-Taste

Most people feel an amazing after-taste when they eat Tru Chocolate™. After consuming the chocolate wafer, immediately drink cold water.  “Wow,” your water just became chocolate milk!  It is wild!   This is an experiential, “must-try-to-believe” product!
 
The amazing chocolate after experience is like a sweet taste with a bit of spice added to it that stays in your palate for about 15 – 30 minutes after consuming Tru Chocolate™. This is the result of several of the ingredients in Tru Chocolate™  —  and indeed, it is an indication that it is working!
 
Tru Chocolate™ is a “Functional Super Food,” i.e. it has a nutraceutical function in addition to its nourishment value. The razzle dazzle after-taste arises from three ingredients:
 Bio Flavenoids (from the citrus extract)- are 2000 times sweeter than sugar. It is strong enough for a few molecules to stay in the palate to create that sweet after-taste
Bioperin – is a black pepper derivative enhances the perception of taste. Anything you eat or drink after Tru Chocolate™ will taste stronger
Fabenol – is a lentil derivative blocks the absorption of sugar and, therefore, increases the sensation of sweetness.
The after-taste is an advantage. It induces an individual to drink water, which is very important for weight loss and the body.  Because it makes water taste sweet, one can drink simple water, hydrate the body, and be satiated, instead of filling-up on soda or juice (which are generally high in calories, carbs and sugar).

Known as the “Guilt-Free Chocolate,” Tru Chocolate was created as a healthy and tasty treat for calorie conscious people (who still have taste buds).  Today, it is a delicious treat everyone can enjoy.
All Natural, Toxin Free Ingredients: Organic Cocoa Liqueur, Organic Cocoa Butter, Xylitol, Proprietary Herbal Formula, Natural Vanilla Extract and Organic Lecitin. A proprietary blend containing Momordica Charantia, Dehydrated Noni Fruit, Bioflavonoids (Citrus Extract), Ellagic Acid (from pomegranate), Green Tea Extract, Fabanol®** and Bioperine®** (from black pepper).Note:  These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This is not intended to diagnose, cure or prevent any disease.

Scientists have developed a fast new method to identify food additives that act as “xenoestrogens” — substances with estrogen-like effects that are stirring international health concerns.

They used the method in a large-scale screening, and discovered two additives with previously unrecognized xenoestrogen effects.

Xenoestrogens have been linked to a range of human health effects, including reduced sperm counts in men and increased risk of breast cancer in women.

The scientists used the new method to search a food additive database of 1,500 substances, and verified that the method could identify xenoestrogens. In the course of that work, they identified two previous unrecognized xenoestrogens — propyl gallate, a preservative used to prevent fats and oils from spoiling, and 4-hexylresorcinol, which is used to prevent discoloration in shrimp and other shellfish.

Dr. Mercola’s Comments:

I’ve written about the dangers of endocrine disruptors such as bisphenol A, PFOA and phthalates many times. I like to consider xenoestrogens fake estrogens but their name literally means “foreign estrogens.” Either way they are synthetic chemicals that mimic natural estrogens, and have been linked to a wide range of human health effects.

There are so many of them, and they’re used in so many common consumer products that trying to avoid them may seem like a fruitless struggle.

For example, you come in contact with hormone disrupting chemicals through:

* Pasteurized dairy, which commonly contains bovine growth hormones
* Soy products, which are loaded with hormone like substances
* Plastics – many of which contain bisphenol A
* Personal care products that contain phthalates
* Cooking with Teflon-coated pots and pans

Now you can add certain food additives to the list – and some very common food additives at that.

Hormone-Mimicking Food Additives Recently Discovered

In the U.S., more than 3,000 substances can be added to foods for the purpose of preservation, coloring, texture, flavor and more. While each of these substances is legal to use, whether or not they are entirely safe for long-term consumption – by themselves or in combination – is a different story altogether.

The analysis published in the journal Chemical Research in Toxicology actually found not just two, but 31 potential estrogen-mimicking food additives during their search.

Of those, propyl gallate was found to act as an antagonist, and 4-hexylresorcinol as a potent transactivator. Antagonists block the binding of an agent at a receptor molecule, and transactivators increase the rate of gene expression. In conclusion the authors’ state:

“Some caution should be issued for the use of propyl gallate and 4-hexylresorcinol as food additives.”

However, I don’t think we’ll see any of them removed from the market any time soon. Propyl gallate, for example, has been used since 1948 as a preservative to stabilize cosmetics, food packaging materials, and foods containing oils and fats. It can also be found in:

* Hair products
* Adhesives and lubricants
* Processed meat products and potato products
* Chicken soup base
* Chewing gum and candy
* Dried milk
* Baked goods, and more

Propyl gallate is frequently used in conjunction with BHA and BHT, which come with their own set of health hazards. These two additives also keep fats and oils from going rancid and are commonly used in processed food products such as cereals and potato chips, even though some studies have found they too, cause cancer in rats.

The other food additive mentioned above, 4-hexylresorcinol, is commonly used as an anti-browning agent in shrimp and other shellfish.

But it’s also used as a starting material to produce synthetic catecholamines, which have important physiological effects as neurotransmitters and hormones (such as epinephrine, adrenaline, norepinephrine, and dopamine).

Additionally, you can find it in common consumer products such as:

* Pharmaceutical acne treatments
* Anti-dandruff shampoo
* Sunscreen lotions
* Antiseptic mouthwashes
* Skin wound cleansers
* Throat lozenges

Potential Health Dangers of Propyl Gallate

In addition to being an endocrine disrupter based on this latest analysis, the results in a previous study by the National Toxicology Program (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) showed that propyl gallate caused various types of cancer and other health problems in rats, including:

* Thyroid tumors in male rats
* Rare brain tumors in low-dose females
* Prostate inflammation
* Mostly benign tumors of the preputial gland (glands that produce pheromones)
* Pancreatic tumors
* Adrenal gland tumors in low-dose males

As you can see, in some instances the health effect only showed up in the low-dose groups but not in the high-dose groups, and only in either males or females – a perfect example of just how little anyone really knows about how these types of chemicals might affect your body, or the body of an infant, for example.

Potential Health Hazards of Common Anti-Browning Agent

The anti-browning agent 4-Hexylresorcinol is applied to shrimp and other crustacean seafood to prevent the development of black spots which may occur naturally.

A toxicology study by the School of Biological Sciences, University of Surrey, England, discovered that 260 mg/kg was lethal to all cats used in the study. Granted, that is a very high dose; however, based on their data, the researchers also concluded that 4-Hexylresorcinol was carcinogenic in both the 13-week and 2-year studies, and also caused a high incidence of nephropathy in mice (an autoimmune disease that affects your kidneys).

A 1984 study determined the probable lethal dose for humans to be anything above 500 mg/kg.

How to Protect Your Family

If you have children xenoestrogens are clearly something you will want to avoid. Here are some measures you can take to protect you and your children from common toxic substances that could cause them to go into puberty more than a decade before they were designed to:

* Store your food in glass containers whenever possible, as it is the most inert container you can use.
* Only use natural cleaning products in your home. Most health food stores will have these available or you can search online for them.
* Buy and eat, as much as possible, organic foods, especially mik which is frequently contaminated with bovine growth hormone.
* Avoid processed foods.
* Avoid artificial food additives of all kind, including artificial sweeteners and MSG.
* Avoid all varieties of unfermented soy.
* Switch to natural brands of toiletries, including shampoo, toothpaste, antiperspirants and cosmetics. Same sources as above for these, either your local health food store or you can search online.
* Review Our Stolen Future, probably the best resource on this topic

About 6,000 middle-aged or older women in the UK develop cancer each year because they are obese or overweight, a Cancer Research UK-funded study says.

The study, which looked at 45,000 cases of cancer in 1m women over seven years, says this is about 5% of such cases.

It is published online by the British Medical Journal and blames excess fat for 50% of cases of womb cancer and a type of esophageal cancer.

Last week an international study warned of the link between cancer and weight.

‘Bigger impact’

The World Cancer Research Fund warned that carrying excess weight significantly increased the risk of cancer.

Figures indicate that about 23% of all women in England are obese and 34% are overweight.

The latest study looked at how often cancers occurred in 1.2m UK women aged 50 to 64 over a seven year period. More than 45,000 cases of cancer and 17,000 cancer deaths occurred during that time.

Lead researcher Dr Gillian Reeves, from Oxford University, said: “We estimate that being overweight or obese accounts for around 6,000 out of a total 120,000 new cases of cancer each year among middle-aged and older women in the UK.

“Our research also shows that being overweight has a much bigger impact on the risk of some cancers than others.

“Two thirds of the additional 6,000 cancers each year due to overweight or obesity would be cancers of the womb or breast.”

Age difference

The research found that the link between weight and risk of cancer depended on a woman’s stage of life.

For example, being overweight increases the risk of breast cancer only after the menopause and the risk of bowel cancer only before the menopause.

Sara Hiom, from Cancer Research UK, said: “This research adds to the evidence regarding the impact of being overweight or obese on developing cancer and dying from the disease.

“While most people readily associate carrying extra weight with being a general health risk, many do not make a specific link with cancer.”

Dr Ian Campbell, medical director of the charity Weight Concern, said: “Whereas it was once thought there was little one could do to prevent cancer, it’s now clear that lifestyle impacts greatly on overall cancer risk.

“The message is clear. Invest in a healthier lifestyle today and we can reap the benefits of reduced disease risk and longer life tomorrow.”
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/7079799.stm

It is a known fact that our environment and the toxins in it affect our health. So many people with cancer today have no family history of the disease. How are so many getting sick?

We need to take better care of our health and that means changing some of our bad habits. We need to be more aware of toxins in our home and how they affect our bodies! Our cleaning products, personal products, even our clothing could be making us sick! The chemicals, pesticides, hormones and poisons in our foods contribute to toxicity, obesity and diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

To find some healthy and natural alternative products, please visit:

http://ShopToEarth.net/DebbieMormino

Not long ago, obesity was seen mainly as a cosmetic problem. The purpose of dieting was to improve your appearance, especially in time for bathing-suit season. Exercise was a way to tighten bulges around the stomach and thighs. As a last resort, there were diet doctors, although they were regarded with suspicion — even within the medical community — for popularizing fad diets and preying on people’s vanity.

In just the last few years, however, the medical view of overweight, or excess body fat, has undergone a sea change. No longer just a cosmetic problem, it is now known to be a public health problem of the same magnitude as smoking. Indeed, government statistics list overweight as the second-leading cause of preventable death in the United States, after smoking. By increasing the risk for a variety of serious diseases — for example, heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, and several forms of cancer — overweight and its more severe form, obesity, cause 280,000–325,000 deaths in this country each year. For many people, losing weight is not an act of vanity; it’s a struggle for survival.

The dangers of excess weight have come to light at a time when the rates of overweight and obesity are soaring. More than half of all adults in the United States are overweight, and 26% are obese — an increase of more than 50% in the last three decades. Obesity rates are rising dramatically among children, too, an ominous sign for the future health of our population.

Eat less and still lose weight? How is this possible?

Certain foods fill you up faster — and satisfy you longer — than others. Knowing which healthy foods are the most filling and incorporating them into your diet can help you lose weight. And remember, it’s not just what you eat, but how you eat that can make a difference in how full you feel. To help you figure out a strategy that’s going to leave you feeling satisfied while eating less, we’ve interviewed three registered dieticians about filling up while slimming down.

Foods That Help You Feel Full Faster

Fiber

Foods that are high in fiber fill you up on fewer calories, says Tanya Zuckerbrot, MS, RD, and author of The F-Factor Diet. Whole grains, such as whole wheat breads and pastas, oatmeal, and brown rice, are complex carbohydrates that have more fiber and nutrients, and, typically, fewer calories than simple carbs like those in cake, candy, and soda.

Fruits and veggies

“Many fruits and vegetables have high water and fiber contents, making them the ultimate low-calorie filler,” says Zuckerbrot. Grapefruit, apples, pears, berries, broccoli, cauliflower, and asparagus are especially filling. Additionally, says Marisa Moore, RD, National Spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, you should opt for whole fruit over fruit juice whenever possible. “Whole fruit provides all the benefits of juice with an added bonus — fiber, which can keep you feeling full longer,” she explains.

Lean protein

Research indicates that protein ranks high on the scale of foods that make you feel full and creates a greater feeling of satisfaction than other foods, according to Moore. The best choices are animal and plant proteins that are high in calories but low in fat. These include fish, white-meat poultry, fat-free dairy products, egg whites, legumes, beans, peas, and lentils.

Healthy fats

In addition to high-fiber whole grains, fruits and veggies, and lean protein, Lona Sandon, MEd, RD, LD, and a National Spokesperson for the ADA, recommends adding healthy fats to your diet. “For instance, you can use a light olive oil-based dressing,” Sandon says, “and add a spoonful of nuts or seeds to your salads,” because these also contain “good” fats.

Strategies to Help Fill You Up Faster

Start smart. Sandon, Moore, and Zuckerbrot all recommend beginning lunch or dinner with a broth-based, vegetable-filled soup or a salad. “Research suggests that including a broth-based soup or veggie salad with low-calorie dressing may help you eat fewer calories during your meal,” says Moore. Zuckerbrot adds that since these foods take longer to eat, they can also help curb your hunger and prevent you from overeating your main dish.

Don’t skip meals. To avoid filling up on unhealthy options, fuel your body with healthy foods periodically throughout the day, suggests Sandon. This means no skipping meals. “Eat at regular times spaced evenly throughout the day and try to eat approximately the same amount of food at each meal.” Sticking with a schedule, adds Zuckerbrot, will help keep your metabolism working and burning more calories daily.

Use a smaller plate. “We tend to eat with our eyes, not our stomachs,” says Sandon. “For many people, the sign of fullness is an empty plate.” Consuming healthier portion sizes on a smaller plate may have the same effect. For a balanced meal, Sandon recommends loading up at least half your plate with veggies and fruit, then filling a quarter of the plate with lean protein and the other quarter with bread, pasta, or a potato.

Slow down. Because it takes about 20 minutes for the brain to realize that the stomach is full, eating more slowly may help prevent overeating, says Moore. “It allows you to get to the point of being satisfied, not stuffed.” Additionally, many people tend to ignore common signs of fullness, such as the feeling of tightness in the stomach, says Sandon. “Don’t keep eating until your fullness is uncomfortably obvious. Instead, take time out to put your fork or spoon down between bites and have a sip of water while observing the physical sensations of your stomach.”

Monday January 5th, I started my New Year’s Resolution to lose weight for this year. I’m writing this in an effort to keep myself on it, and let you know that if you have weight to lose, this is a very safe and healthy way to change your lifestyle!

I did it back in January of 2007, and lost 37 pounds that year and kept if off almost a full year. 2008 came and went and I found myself at 208 pounds on January 5th. Needless to say, I’d gained it all back plus some! I’m a big boned girl, so 175 is my ideal weight. 33 pounds is my goal for this year! (The sad thing is, I’d been taking enRgy for the whole month of December and had already lost 5 pounds, even through the holidays!)

On Monday, I weighed and measured myself and my total inches for measuring neck, bust, both upper arms, diaphragm, waist, abdomen, hips, both thighs, knees, and calves totaled 398.75 inches! Today after the 1st 2 cleanse days of Isagenix’s 9 day cleanse, I weighed 202 lbs, and my total inches measured 372.75! That’s 6 pounds and 26 inches!!! There were inches lost on every measurement, even my neck! Since I am apple shaped, most of my weight is to the front of me and around my midsection. I even lost 2 inches off my waist. Needless to say, the next 5 days will be MUCH easier, and I am so encouraged to keep going!

I won’t say the 2 cleansing days were easy, they weren’t. You’re drinking 4 oz of the liquid cleanse followed by 8 ounces of purified water 4 times a day, plus an accelerator capsule in the a.m. and after lunch. There are also little chocolate (or vanilla) wafers they call snacks that you can eat between your cleanse drinks and if you absolutely need to, you can eat a small handful of almonds, a hard boiled egg, 1/2 an organic apple or a couple of slices of Hormel all natural smoked turkey, but not all of them, just 1.

Today on day 3, and for the next 5 days, I’ll get a chocolate shake for breakfast, a nice and healthy 400-600 calorie high fiber, lunch of my choice, and then a shake for supper (much better than the last 2 days of cleansing!) then finally next Monday and Tuesday, I’ll finish it off with 2 more cleansing days.

Last time when I did this I’d lost 17 lbs during my 9 day cleanse from Isagenix, and my husband, Bart, lost 19. This time I’m doing it by myself, and I must say doing it with a buddy is much easier!

Once I do my 9 days, I’ll start on the South Beach diet and keep taking my enRgy supplement from GBG which has had me cleaning house and feeling much more energetic than I have in a long time. I think this is a great plan for me to get on track for a healthier 2009!

I’ll keep you informed of my progress again in a few days! If you have questions, call me at 985-892-5858.