A New Beginning

Did you know that most people think that FAT makes you FAT? The truth is that an excess insulin production (caused by overconsumption of sugar) is mainly responsible for adding fat to your body.

Did you know that “Fat-free” foods tend to have higher sources of sugar than their full-fat counterparts? This leads to more insulin production and eventually lead to a more plump body!

Fat helps:

1. Make food taste yummy!
2. Helps release a hormone (CCK) which tells the body, “I’m full”
3. Slows the entry rate of sugar (from carbohydrates) into the bloodstream, which gives you LONG TERM ENERGY!

Fat is a critical part of our diets, don’t SKIMP on the GOOD FATS! Good fats include:

•    Polyunsaturated fats
•    Monounsaturated fats
•     Examples: Fish, olive oils, nuts, walnuts, avocados & seeds.

We need to AVOID unhealthy fats:

• Saturated fats
• Hydrogenated fats
• Trans fats
• Examples: chips, cakes, fried foods!

MAKE SURE YOU’RE READING YOUR LABELS! Read all the ingredients in your food. Watch for hidden hydrogenated oils, and trans fats!

I love this quote from Andrew Carnegie:

     “To know how to do a job is the accomplishment of labor;

     To be available to tell others is the accomplishment of the teacher;

     To inspire others to do better work is the accomplishment of managment;

     To be able to do all three is the accomplishment of TRUE LEADERS!”

After many struggles this week, I managed to start my month of May personal challenge. My goal is to wake up at 6am every day, Monday through Friday to get my workout complete!

May 6th, 2010 began my journey to a new Michelle. I am ready to commit to getting my workouts done every day so that I can achieve my other goals in life. Today, I went to the gym and did a weight lifting class. I was so proud of myself because I increased the quantity of my weights! If there’s one thing I have learned so far its that “in order to burn fat you NEED to BUILD muscle” and “in order to BUILD muscle you NEED to lift HEAVY”! I can feel a different in my body. I am determined to be lean and not be a possible future candidate for diabetes. After my workout class, I was able to go walk with some friends in the park.

Finding accountability partners to help you through your fitness journey are a must for success. My friends have supported me this far. Knowing you can share any goal with a friend and that they will keep you committed to that goal brings a fire into your soul making you want it even more!

God created the sunrise for our enjoyment! I am so excited to bask in his glory as I continue in my journey.

I just began this wonderful journey of getting free books from this website.

All you do is:

    1.) Request a book

    2.) Read & review the book on your blog

    3.) Repeat by getting another free book!

When you’re done reading the books are yours to keep!

Premium meal replacement shake that combines many of nature’s most health-boosting ingredients, including real food sources of vitamins, minerals, fiber, antioxidants, plus protein and phytonutrients to help rebuild muscle, maximize cellular health, eliminate toxins, and keep blood sugar from spiking.

In 2007, I was diagnosed as being insulin resistant. This means that my body was not processing sugar as it should and my body was not using sugar as fuel. Rather it was trapped in my body unable just sitting their making me sick! I was experiencing heart palpitations, headaches, fatigue, very moody, and just didn’t feel well. The Dr. told me I was not Diabetic but that this metabolic disorder would mean that in the future I may be more prone to getting Diabetes. To me that was a very scary thing. Being a nursing student at the time, you learn about all the disease processes and Diabetes is a disease that affects ALL your body systems.

After getting on a medication for a short duration, my insulin levels were back to normal and I even saw a decrease in weight. I felt amazing, all my symptoms had disappeared. But I always new that I would need to keep an eye on my health.

In 2008, I became pregnant with my daughter and gained 48 lbs.! I know, I know too much weight! After I gave birth I dropped a good 15-20 lbs. but gained a few back as I began nursing. I started to feel my symptoms coming back from the insulin resistance levels!!! I knew then that I needed to change things in my life. I needed to decrease stress, eat better and exercise. I was doing all that AND STILL NOT LOSING ANY WEIGHT! Talk about frustration.

I finally decided to become a Beachbody coach in February and started Shakeology. In about 3 days after taking this shake I felt a new burst of energy! You wouldn’t believe it too but after 2 weeks I had lost 4 lbs.! After going 15 weeks of no weight loss I lost 4 lbs. just like that! I didn’t modify my diet nor did I use it as a meal replacement. I just added it to my daily caloric intake. My body was becoming regulated and I am feeling wonderfully now.

I wanted to let you know that Shakeology has Gingko, Bilberry, Blueberry powder and Cinnamon in it which are all key herbs in helping with Diabetes & Diabetic symptoms.  Check out this website for more information on what each can do!

http://www.diabetesmellitus-information.com/diabetes_herbs.htm

Not only can this help you lose weight, maintain your blood sugar, but it also increases regularity, increases immune response, give you all your vitamins & minerals, phytonutrients, antioxidants and much more!

I am living proof that Shakeology can work wonders on and in your life!

If you have any questions don’t be afraid to ask me.

If you’re interested in purchasing Shakeology:

www.myshakeology.com/smile4ever

So for my personal development I have been listening to “Extraordinary Leadership” by Robin Sharma. He has wonderful insight as to what a leader should be and who leaders are.

I love the fact that he says EVERYONE is a leader! Robin Sharma says “if you consume oxygen then you are a leader.” Leadership begins with a dream. Even though that dream might be small at first it will grow as it is nurtured every day. It is important to remember that in order for you to be successful in the things that you do, write down your goals and constantly be looking over them daily. It just takes one small improvement or one small act of kindness daily that will help you define your success and create a better future.

Many people are afraid to stretch out of their comfort zone and grow but usually people are the happiest when they do grow…so why wouldn’t we step out of our comfort zone to be happy? I think fear gets a hold of us and we lose focus of those dreams and goals that we want so badly in life. Our minds are constantly filled with negative thoughts and our direction becomes skewed away from what we were aiming for in the first place.

Robin Sharma does a great job in painting a wonderful picture about how children are the BEST leaders/teachers. I was taken aback by this theory because you think children are inexperienced and have sooo much to learn. It is us, the adults that need to learn more from the children about being a great leader.

Children are always:

• Learning
• Outgoing
• Embrace change
• Love unconditionally
• Understand the importance of building relationships
• Connect easily

These are all important qualities that a leader or each person should have. If you feel that you’re week in one area then strengthen it. Figure out a plan that meets your desires to achieve excellence.

So for me, I choose to be a “child” leader. My goal is to overcome my fear of public speaking and share my passions with others by connecting with new people every day. I will embrace the changes that have come into my life, love those whom I am building relationships with and continually learn new things to better the leader within me.

Leadership begins with you… “what would the child you once were think of the adult you have become today?” Robin Sharma.