Healthy Journey Series Part Seven - Isa-scuse me?

Hi everyone! This is my seventh post in my Healthy Journey Series.

Thank you all so much for coming along on this ride with me, I really appreciate the kind comments and support <3 I will get back to blogging about some beauty related things soon, but I wanted to get this story out first as I am truly passionate about this and really want to share with you.

So the title of this post is a shout out to the person that introduced me to this new opportunity. She told me I reminded her of Anna Kendrick from Pitch Perfect, I'll take that compliment!

Isagenix. Have you heard of it? I hadn't.

(My two favorite products from Isagenix and my adorable little shaker!)

So I hopped on the internet and did some research and after much debate I decided to go for it and order some products. What the heck? If I absolutely hated the products I could get my money back so no harm in trying right?

To clarify Isagenix offers a range of products to help you have a more healthy lifestyle. They have different packages based on your goals and needs and at a variety of different price points. The kicker for me was that the shakes they offer are full meal replacements. Not a protein shake or snack to be had pre/post workout but an actual meal replacement. And you know what? It's made with real food. Real vitamins and minerals that your body needs. No weird chemicals and artificial sweeteners.

I tried it for a week and lost a pound, but I was feeling a lot better. Hard to believe given how good I felt adding exercise and making healthy eating options into my life already. But I wasn't 100% committed, so I decided I was going to return my products and just move on to something else. I called and got a return number and had everything all boxed up and ready to go.

And then it sat there for two weeks. Two weeks. Remember, everything happens for a reason. I kept seeing my friend and others post about how great the company was. How great they felt using the products long term and how supportive the company was and how great the culture was and being so supportive of one another. Not saying they are perfect here by any means, but everything was just really positive.

So I called my friend and told her I still hadn't returned my stuff and wanted to talk to her about the company and the business opportunity. In the mean time I had watched "all the videos" and read a ton of articles, blogs, etc. (I really commit to my research guys). And when we met for coffee there wasn't anything she told me that I hadn't already read or heard about something else, but she was able to explain the comp plan to me in a way that made real-life sense so that was way helpful. And seeing her passion come through as she was talking about it is what really sold me.

I have sold Mary Kay, mark., and Avon in the past so I know about network marketing and I know how hard you have to work to be successful and how rewarding it can be. But none of those companies offered a comp plan and success tools like Isagenix does.

And so here I am, staring down the awesome opportunity that awaits with this awesome company. I can't wait to see where it takes me!

A Healthy Journey Part Six - But Now What?

Hi Everyone! This is part six in my Healthy Journey Series.

I am feeling great, better than I have in a long time in fact. And I lost the weight I have been talking about losing for years. I still have some additional fitness goals I want to hit, but I want more than that. I have always had a secret love affair for the fitness industry.

(Diesel is very supportive of my fitness goals. Also, if you haven't tried PiYo, you're missing out.)

When I started college the second time (or maybe it was third, I don't know) my major was Exercise Science and Sports Nutrition. As I mentioned in a previous post I worked out like crazy in college and I liked how I was feeling. So when I was picking out a major I thought why not do this for a living? And then, I had to take Anatomy. Did you know there are roughly 900 gagillion bones and shizz in the human body?! And did you know that in order to pass that class you have to have it all memorized. Yeah...that didn't work out so I went back to my other passion, psychology. [In case you are wondering 9 years later I finally graduated with a double major in Psych. and Marketing. Yes nine years. No I don't have a PhD, I just like to take my time.]

But I have still always secretly envied those in the fitness world and have always wanted to be part of that. But I felt like I didn't fit in. As I said, I didn't play sports, I wasn't a naturally fit person so I just never felt right trying to insert myself somewhere I wasn't sure I belonged.

Now that I have started on this journey I feel that pull stronger than ever. I want to help other people, I want them to see that they can accomplish their goals and live a healthier life. If I can do this, anyone can do this.

I was offered the Beachbody Coaching opportunity and thought it made since to get a discount on Shakeology. I liked Shakeology, it tasted good, it was semi-filling and made me feel good about putting all kinds of good nutrients in my body at least once a day. But in terms of weight loss, it didn't really do much for me. Eating "clean" and incorporating more veggies and fruits with protein, healthy fats and carbs along with literally moving my ass each day is what did it for me. I know this product helps a lot of people curb their cravings for sweets but I am not a sweet eater (damn you potato chips!) so that didn't really matter to me. It's a great product, don't get me wrong, but it wasn't the key for me.

The key for me is the feeling. I love how I feel. That's what I want to share with people.

You may have read my post a few weeks ago about not believing in coincidence and that everything happens for a reason. (Go read it quick, it's short.) And I believe I am on this path for a reason. I believe that this theme in my life has never really gone away because I am truly meant to do something with it.

A couple of months ago I had the opportunity to participate in a local artist show and I got to meet some of the most amazing women (and a couple men) and one of them introduced me to a new opportunity. Something I had never even heard of and was really pretty skeptical about, but then I did some research (and by some I mean I watched an inappropriate amount of YouTube videos, read a shit ton of blogs, articles and went to A LOT of websites to find out more.) I basically was consumed trying to get all the information I could because I am certain this is something I am passionate about and want to share with everyone.

(Me and the amazing women from the fashion show I was in in August. If you like the fashions pictured, check out my friend's site here.)