Shakeology 3-Day Cleanse consists of:
I’ll send the detailed information on the cleanse, with your order.
Because of availability, you will receive a mix of all 3 flavors. The total for shakes, cleanse sheet, including shipping & handling is $55.00. It will be sent priority mail.
I have been hesitant in writing about this. However, there are so many people that suffer from it and I need to “pay it forward”, by sharing what has worked for me. Perhaps, I was feeling like since it’s been under control, why bring it up. Also, probably feeling some shame around it, by assuming people will think I’m weak if I told the world. Well, that is all nonsense, because depression is serious.
My memory of being depressed, is as far back as being in middle school. Teenage years were full of ups and downs. Not only was my family dysfunctional and going through major things, but I was dealing with extreme mood swings. PMS for me, was really bad. Looking back, I’m sure there were some serious hormonal imbalances happening too. I remember being in therapy at 21 and confessing to the therapist, that I was driving that week on the freeway and thought of just crashing my car off the road. This way nobody would know I did it. Then I realized that what if one day, my life got better and I missed out on great things it had to offer. So I told her that I had realized, that I have HOPE and that is what kept me from suicide.
When I was around 24 or so, I was in therapy once again, with all my supposed problems and thoughts. The therapist at that time, asked me for a history of times I was in therapy. He was able to show me that it was always in there during the winter months. Then he mentioned this thing called S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder). A light went off, that I was definitely “happier” in the summer time. He put me on my first anti-depressant at the time. Eventually I got off it, because not only did it keep me from feeling really down, but took away my feel good mood. So I was feeling just even and I didn’t like that.
A few years later, I got married rather quickly, to a man in the Navy. Well, he was being deployed from San Diego to Everett, WA. My mother warned me before going, that going there will be bad for me. I assured her that since I knew and understood WHY I got depressed, I should be o.k. HELLO, that was really DUMB on my part. How I thought I could control the depression, by just knowing it was lack of sun, was not smart. Needless to say, between the marriage and lack of sun, my parents literally got on a plane 8 months after moving there and removed me from the situation. As I’m driving with my mother in the car through Washington then Oregon, curled up in a ball while it rained out. Half-way through Oregon, the sun came out. Then a couple hours into the drive, I sat up and start rambling to my mother, almost non stop. She looked over at me, like she saw a strange act of God or something. Then she says, “Michelle I never really quite understood your seasonal affective disorder, until I just watched you transform in front of my eyes. You are like a butterfly coming out of a cocoon”.
Up until that point and later, I got labeled with general anxiety disorder, massive depressive disorder, seasonal affective disorder, then later bipolar 2 disorder. The bipolar 2 was given to me from a therapist, that decided because my biological father was bipolar 1 and I had this history of massive depressive, he would label me that. He put me on all kinds of drugs. I think it was 4 different kinds. My life at the time, was very stressful after having gone through a mentally almost physically abusive marriage, then divorce and joining a radical church. The church experience is a whole other blog…….! Anyway, I was under a lot of stress and my sleeping, eating and lack of boundaries in my life, had me not doing so great emotionally. I spent 5 years caught up in all that. Stomach problems developed and I ended up on medications for it. I was also helping taking care of my grandmother, through her passing.
Finally, I after my grandmother’s passing, I made some serious changes in my life. One was my diet, second was leaving that church, then I packed up and moved 3,000 miles away to Florida. Seems kinds drastic, but sometimes we need that. While away from everyone and bad memories, I was able to work on ME. I started seeing a naturopath and got off all the medications. Changed my diet and took the recommended supplements, that would heal my gut. He worked with me for several years. My gut, hormones and neurotransmitters were a mess.
Each year since making these changes, the depression and insomnia have gotten better. Getting my certification in nutrition, helped me understand more on how what we put into our bodies, severely effects our moods. I take the above recommended dosage of fish oil. Omega 3 DHA fish oil helps the brain tremendously. I also really understand the importance of SUNSHINE and will leave town on the weekends, if I have to to get some. Thankfully, my boyfriend understands that part and is supportive in getting me to sunshine. He also knows that I can’t live anywhere, from the middle of the U.S. and up. Just not happening.
Eating a mostly plant based diet, fish oil supplements, working out, sunshine, setting boundaries, good sleep habits, healthy dose of venting when needed and other supplements have really helped me. I haven’t felt the desire to go into therapy for several years. I think the therapy was my way of full-fulling the desire to talk out the depression. Now that it only lasts a few days, instead of months, makes it manageable.
I understand that depression is genetic and a brain thing, so we can’t just smile our way out of it. BUT, I do believe that a healthy diet, proper supplements, support, a good attitude and the willingness to make yourself do things you don’t want to do, for the sake of feeling better, DOES help. Last week the lack of sun had me really down, but I FORCED myself to go run, take supplements and seek out sunshine. It’s not easy, but knowing those things DO work, is what makes me do them. Sitting around complaining and crying about it, has NEVER worked.
We become, what we think. So, even though this is something that has and may be a part of me, I try not to claim it with “my depression” anymore. When we label something as “my this” or “my that”, then we own it. The way to healing is to let got of those negative labels. I envision and label myself as a healthy, happy, energetic woman!!
The below picture is part of my vision board. I loved that this silver hair, older woman is so alive and vibrant. That is MY VISION for me!
I would like to end this, with simply saying that you are not alone and there IS hope and life CAN be great. It’s not easy, but anything that we fight for, is later appreciated more. I have fought a tough battle and grateful that I can help others today. My life battles were not in vain and do serve a purpose!!
~Michelle:-)
30 Day Challenge “Clean Eating” – Starting Monday 6/4/12 $40!!
We will be starting a “60 Day Challenge” on 4/30/12. Are you ready for summer? Want to be a part of a group that wants to learn healthier eating habits? Need support, encouragement and tips on fitness and nutrition??? Then sign up for the challenge! It’s $1.00 a day! The return on your investment, will far exceed the cost.
With this 60 Day Challenge, we’ll be “eating clean”. This means a diet of healthy whole FOODS. The first 3 days are optional for a detox/cleanse. The cleanse will be with Shakeology. You’ll have 3 shakes a day and a salad for dinner. The Shakeology Cleanse is calorie restrictive, but it is also extremely nutrient dense. So while you may be on reduced calories, you are getting more nutrients than you would normally get on a typical day.
What are the Benefits?
You can order here http://myshakeology.com/MichellesHealth
We’ll be using 9 servings for the cleanse. You can use the rest, as post recovery drinks or meal replacement, during the remainder of the challenge. As a nutritionist, I researched this for a few weeks and checked out the ingredients and find them to be very good. See the below comparison chart of other shakes.
If you do not want to do the cleanse or purchase the Shakeology, no problem! The idea of the “60 Day Challenge” is to help you learn to eat healthy and clean. As I mentioned, we’ll be eating clean, that means foods the way nature intended. Avoiding processed foods with white flour, sugar, sugar substitutes, saturated fats and trans-fat.
We’ll send you fitness video’s and tips, that are at no additional cost. Should you want video’s like P90X, Insanity, etc., then you can order through here http://beachbodycoach.com/MichellesHealth
Most of us want to lose weight to look good, but there are so many other benefits, to not carrying excess body fat. For each pound of fat, it’s 5 – 7 pounds of extra weight/strain on back and knees. So, if you are only 10 lbs over-weight, that can be up to 70 pounds of pressure, on joints and bones. Eating clean benefits are clearer skin, more energy, reduced sugar cravings, helps to prevent diseases such as diabetes, obesity and strokes, increased energy, healthier immune system and many more.
Besides fitting comfortably in my clothes, I’m now able to enjoy waking up without headaches from too much sugar, a lot less allergies and mucus, more stable moods, clearer skin and healthier cholesterol and triglyceride numbers!!! I’m able to eat and not worry about counting calories anymore. I used to have a very weak immune system and felt like I was always at the doctor’s and taking antibiotics. It’s been 3 1/2 years, since I had an illness, that required antibiotics. Those benefits far exceed anything else. I have been this weight before, but wasn’t as lean and definitely not as HEALTHY!!
Join us for this challenge! There is a limit to the number of people, so sign up fast. We’ll do another challenge at a later date, but it may not be the same price! I’m partnering with my friend Judy Thureson, owner at Bootcamp Barre. You will have the benefits of her great knowledge in fitness and mine in nutrition.
Sign up below!
Fear is debilitating. A lot of you have this fear, with your weight and health, not knowing how to overcome. We tend to become comfortable in our pain/fear. Sounds crazy, but it’s true. It ends up becoming who we are and what we tell people. We label our illnesses and weight, by saying “my this and my that”. Then we OWN it. No wonder it’s hard, to get past it and change!
I remember showing up at a naturopath’s office DESPERATE, feeling so overwhelmed, with yet another illness. After he checked me from head to toe, he said for my age, I was a mess. He was optimistic about my recovery and said if I did my part, then he could help me. I walked out of his office, feeling like I had hope. But I went into my car and CRIED my eyes out, because of the money it was going to cost. His visits ran at $120 for 20 minutes, not counting supplements. My fear/excuse came up, because of the money. Picked up the phone and called my MD/friend, that was now 3,000 miles away. She said it sounded like I found someone that will give me what I need and to make the investment in myself. I ended up working with that naturopath for 3 years, to heal the damage I did from poor diet, antibiotics, stress, pharmaceutical drugs, etc. I have been working on it myself since then, through what I learned with him, school and ongoing research. I’m now 3 yrs 5 mos, of no illness, that needed antibiotics. My immune system IS strong and I AM healthy. Last year my sick time balance, at work was 58 hrs. Didn’t need it!! It took hitting bottom and fighting, to not feel sick and tired anymore.
What are you willing to do, to change your life?? How sick and tired are you, of being sick and tired?? I’m now grateful for what I went through, because I can pay it forward and help others. Without a doubt, I have become stronger and wiser, through this process of healing.
Growing up in a traditional Italian family, we had pasta about 4 to 5 times a week. I was also very constipated and only going every 4 to 5 days. It took me most of my life to find out, just how bad my diet was. So, at 35 I was finding out that white flour turns to sugar and that high triglycerides comes from a diet high in sugar. My triglycerides were 285 and I to do something about it. When I changed my diet and took the heavy pasta and bread out, then my colon started working better. It’s been a process, over the past 9 years.
I originally turned to brown wheat pasta, then after learning more about gluten, decided to change to brown rice pasta. All the while having my boyfriend, join along with me on this change. He really likes my Italian gravy, called meat sauce by non Italians:-) We were not to excited with the brown rice pasta, it was too starchy and I had a hard time getting it al dante (chewy).
Quinoa pasta is good and definitely is more firm than the rice pasta. I also like, that it has a little less carbohydrates and little more protein, than brown rice.
De Boles is a good brand, made with rice and golden flax seed. The flax seed, probably makes it more firm and less starchy.
About 6 months ago, I discovered black bean spaghetti, actually made from black beans. This spaghetti is firm and packs a whopping 20 grams of protein and only 16 grams of carbohydrates, per serving. It also is about 50 calories less, per serving, compared to rice or quinoa.
I like to experiment, with all of them in my recipes. I’ll continue to look for other gluten free options.
Please feel free to share any comments or suggestions.
I was really craving some chocolate and wanted a smoothie, but still wanted my greens. Below is what I came up with. This was so delicious, that I found myself dreaming about it in my sleep, that night. I had it again this morning!!
Cacao is high in anti-oxidants. Bee pollen is good for energy and building muscles. Flax seed is high in omega 3 and good fiber.
I really felt like I was drinking something sinfully bad:-)
Try is yourself and leave comments!
This is an all over body workout, with added cardio. Take a 30 second break before starting next round. If you need a break in between then do 15 to 30 second. It’s important to try and move from one exercise to the other, keeping your heart rate up. Don’t worry about being perfect. If you need help knowing how to do an exercise, then go to www.youtube.com and search it. Remember to hydrate properly afterwards.
100 Jumping Jacks (warm up)
10 Burpees
20 Reverse lunges
15 Push ups
30 Jump Rope
20 Squat jumps
30 Bicycle crunches
15 Triceps dips
30 High knees
20 Side lunges
30 Second Plank
20 Mountain Climbers
30 Jump Rope
Repeat as many times, for a 20 minute workout
Cool down with stretching or walk
www.facebook.com/michelleshealthzone
Last week when I was jumping up and down, doing my warm up at home, I noticed nice definition on my abs in the mirror. When I just stood in front of the mirror, I had a hard time seeing it. Yes, I sucked it in, did everything I could to see the same thing when I was jumping….ugh
We all have EXCUSES or “stories”, we tell ourselves and others. Well mine is, that I have a SHORT WAIST or torso!! Blessed with nice long legs and a naturally well endowed chest, but a BELLY! No matter how thin I have been…no flat stomach or defined abs. I don’t know my biological grandmother, but my mother always said, that she remembered her with skinny legs and a pot belly. That has been in my head for 30 years. It’s what I tell people. It’s my STORY!
Let’s get back to my seeing my ab definition, while jumping up and down. I got a couple things from it. First, when I jumped up, it stretched out my stomach and the other that my workouts/eating are working:-) This enabled me to see them, which at first was encouraging. I also got a negative thought, that if my torso was longer, then I would see that 6 pack developing. Dang, that short waist of mine… Then I started thinking, maybe I’m looking for something possibly not there, in my desperation to have nice ABS. UGH, can I have this, PLEASE????
Last night, while doing jump squats, in front of my boyfriend, he exclaims “Hey, I can see your AB muscles!”……..OMG, can this be?? He asked me to walk over and started poking at my stomach. “Wow, that thing is hard!” Oh, can you imagine the JOY?!?!?! He is always pulling on my belly, because he likes the roll………..now it’s going away:-D
Today during my workout, I had a thought…..yes while doing a new workout video. What if I got rid of my excuse, by pretending it wasn’t there? Instead, I replace my story, with a new positive one. One that comes from others that have the same body type, yet have visibly defined abs. Change my thoughts and demeanor, to that of one, with a long torso. That, along with hard work! My EXCUSE, gave me the excuse to not work as hard, with the belief that it won’t work. I have been standing in the way of myself. Don’t we all do that?
What is your big excuse, for something you find impossible to overcome? Let’s turn that around. What harm can be done? Maybe I find out that I won’t have a killer defined 8 pack (best case scenario)!! Or perhaps I end up with some definition, that can be seen, without stretching out my torso (worst case scenario)? I’ll take either and in between.
If I can make this much progress, with my EXCUSE, how much further can I go by smashing my EXCUSE out the door? Holding onto that excuse (story), hinders us from succeeding. FEAR is behind the excuse/story! What if I fail, what if I’m right……? What if, WHAT IF……I’m WRONG? I will only know, by working hard, to push through those fears and get rid of that EXCUSE.
Change your story, to a positive one! Smash that excuse and get working!
Michelle
There are many different variations of the vegetarian diet. Below is a brief explanation of them.
Vegetarianism: The practice of subsisting on a diet composed primarily or wholly of vegetables, grains, fruits, nuts, and seeds, with or without eggs and dairy products. A Vegetarian is a person who does not eat meat, poultry or fish/seafood. (Nothing with a face)
Lacto-Vegetarian: A person who does not eat eggs, meat, poultry or fish/seafood of any kind, but does consume dairy (lacto) products.
Ovo-Vegetarian: A person who does not eat dairy products, meat, poultry or fish/seafood of any kind, but does consume eggs (ovo).
Lacto-Ovo Vegetarian: A person who does not eat meat, poultry or fish/seafood of any kind, but does consume eggs (ovo) and dairy (lacto) products.
Vegan: A person who does not eat meat, poultry or fish/seafood, eggs or dairy products of any kind. Also refrains from honey, leather, silk, wool, down, pearls or using candles (tallow from animal fat). No eating or using “anything that had a mother”.
Flexi-tarian: A vegetarian who eats steak once a week or a “vegetarian” who eats only poultry and fish, or a vegan who occasionally eats cheese.
Demi/Semi Vegetarian: A person who doesn’t eat meat/beef, but does eat poultry and/or seafood. Not a true vegetarian.
Pesca Vegetarian/Pesca Vegan: A person who only eats fish and not poultry or beef and/or not dairy or eggs. Not a true vegetarian.
Veg-macro: Macrobiotics evolved from Asian cuisine; involves a diet consisting mostly of whole grains and beans and is spiritually-based. Not all people on a macrobiotic diet are vegetarian, but some are.
Raw Foodists: Eat only foods in the raw state, with enzymes intact. These foods still contain life force. Food of the raw food culture are all vegetables, all fruits, all nuts, all seeds, sprouted grains, sprouted legumes and all sprouts. Nothing it heated over 104 degrees. There are variations of raw food, like vegetarian. Some eat meat/fish, that is raw.
Plant-based diet is a general term that refers to an eating pattern dominated by fresh or minimally processed plant foods and decreased consumption of meat, eggs and dairy products. The term has become popular recently, with the movie “Forks Over Knives”.
Whichever category you fall under, following a mostly vegetarian or plant-based diet, is healthiest. Consuming minimal meat and choosing organic/grass fed, will lower risk of heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes to name a few.
