The "Before" Picture? that was me AFTER I'd already lost 15 pounds! Here's my story:
I have always been a "curvy" girl and was never skinny. In high school I was in volleyball, was fairly athletic, and had a metabolism that could keep up with McDonalds meals and overall bad eating habits. I ate when I was sad, happy, at a family function: pretty much for any reason other than the fact that I was genuinely hungry. My mentality growing up had always been, "Oh you're sad? Lets get ice cream!" or "It's a family get-together! Let's celebrate with lots of baked goods and tons of food."
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| .......nom nom? |
Then came college. Thank goodness for the 30 minute walks across campus because that was my only form of exercise! Going from an active lifestyle to an inactive one took a toll on my body. Of course there were long hours sitting on my butt doing homework and the weekend recreation certainly did NOT help. I'm sure I drank my daily calories (and then some) on numerous occasions. By the time college was ending I was weighing in around 180 lbs. I knew I had to do something about it so I strapped on some running shoes, did a few sit ups and bang. I lost 15 lbs with no trouble at all.
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| Summer 2008 (dropped the weight quickly!!) |
Then I got pregnant! Over the course of my first pregnancy I gained a lot of weight. At my heaviest I was right around 210 lbs!!! (EEK!) I had Christopher (my oldest) and he was 10 lbs 3 oz. Because he was so big, the wall of my abdomen was literally separated (I was able to get 2 finger widths between!) My doctor told me I would need surgery to correct it; but it would be pointless if I planned on having more children in the future. So I decided to wait and was stuck with a mom-belly that left me less-than confident.
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| 37 weeks pregnant with christopher (3 weeks to go yet....I got HUGE!) |
I was going to school and was on my own at the time and struggled with eating healthy. I was eating pre-packaged foods that were easy to make and not really paying much attention to what I was putting in my body. I had started to exercise but wasn't pushing myself and just wasn't seeing the results that I was looking for. I didn't realize at the time that the bad food I was eating was contributing to my energy crashes and the 1/2 pot of coffee I was gulping for breakfast certainly wasn't helping! I had taken nutrition classes and complementary alternative medicine in college...both had interested me so I decided to pull my books back out and start reading again.
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| * NOT healthy ..... (deep fried pickles and pizza) |
I began to realize that the way I was living was not healthy. I was stuck in a vicious cycle! I I would carbo load to stay awake to do homework and then crash an hour later. I started to realize that if I wanted to feel better I would have to eat better and treat my body better. It was more than just doing it for myself: I wanted to do it for my little man! I cut back on coffee and began my journey towards health and wellness. I learned what foods to pair together, how to make the most of metabolism, and when to eat.
But that wasn't the end of it. Despite wanting to eat healthy I struggled. My hormones were out of whack so I was prescribed a very strong dose of birth control to try and fix it. I gained so much weight from it I could've cried! I was at a size 14/16 at my heaviest and was 212 pounds. I was so frustrated about the weight I was gaining that I didn't want to exercise. I was too embarassed to go to the gym or even to go for a run down the block, so I just stayed inside. Since I was working 2 jobs, a single mom, and going to school I felt guilty taking time for myself...I wanted to spend it with Christopher instead! I didn't realize that taking that time out for myself and getting myself to feel more confident would make me a better parent.
Things started to balance out in my life when a long-time friend and I decided to start dating and eventually got married! Christopher and I moved from Wisconsin to Kansas and I started my new role as a wife. Then one day while sitting in the doctor's office I caught a glimpse of myself in the full length mirror. I wanted to scream. I was huge. There was no more pretending that it was just a little post-baby chub. I'm talking muffin topping double chins. I decided right then and there that I needed to get healthy. I needed to get healthy for my family and so I could set a good example for Christopher.
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| Losing weight & starting to feel happier |
I started doing some research and won a Beachbody DVD for Shakeology along with some samples of the shake from a Beachbody Coach and fellow army wife from Fort Riley (the base we were stationed at in Kansas). I started doing the exercises faithfully and watched the scales start to go down; but even then...nothing seemed to help my stretch marks or loose skin. However, my energy was increasing and I was starting to feel better about my body! .....then I got pregnant. Baby #2 was on the way!
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| me at 20 weeks! Eating healthy and exercising daily. Still in regular pants! (This was BEFORE I was a deemed a high-risk pregnancy and put on minimal activities) |
Well the 2nd time around I was determined to exercise throughout my pregnancy and eat healthy. I learned that you do not -- in fact -- have to actually eat for two. Despite my best efforts to keep my weight gain down; I had a complicated pregnancy and ended up weighing in at 216 lbs at my heaviest. (total weight gain of 35+ lbs) My 2nd baby boy was 8 lbs and my abdominal separation came back. But this time I was prepared! I purchased a cheaper version of the Belly Bandit and put that on within 30 minutes of delivery. (I HIGHLY recommend this for any ladies that had abdominal separation!) My stomach began to heal properly.
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| 39 weeks |
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| Ginormo-belly. This is the face of labor and the biggest I've ever been in my entire life. I was SOOO ready to be UNpregnant ;) |
However, after my 2nd pregnancy I was left with terrible stretchmarks and extremely saggy skin. I began searching around for all-natural remedies that would be able to tighten it up and help reduce the stretch marks. I had tried cocoa butter, Tummy Butter, Stretch Mark Cream, and the Mederma Stretch Mark Therapy...nothing helped. I purchased Jillian Michaels DVD's and started back on the Fat Flush Diet that had been recommended to me by a holistic doctor in high school (as a way to help balance my hormones). I was slowly seeing the baby weight come off.
Then a fellow Army Wife -- Brook -- called me up and told me about this "Wrap Party" she was going to be hosting. She told me the wraps could help me lose the problem areas faster and would be able to increase the effectiveness of my workouts while helping with stretch marks. I thought it was a total load of B.S. but hey...I was desperate and willing to try anything. I almost skipped the party because Ryan had colic (and was in a baby carrier between 16 and 20 hours EVERY day....for 3 months) and all I really wanted to do that night was sleep -- but I'm so glad I didn't!
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| "Don't even think about taking me out, mom. I'll scream!" |
I took a before picture and then Lisa (the woman doing the wrapping and now my upline) started to take my measurements and began writing them down and talking to me about my health habits (what did my typical meal consist of? How much water did I drink / day? Was I "regular"?) I was taken aback at how genuine and knowledgeable she was...not to mention down to earth! I stared to cross my fingers and hope to see any tiny result from the wrap. I started to feel tingling on my stomach within 5 minutes. After 45 minutes I was taken in the bathroom to reveal my results!
45 minutes went by and I had GREAT results! (The FDA does not allow inch loss claims to be made. Inch loss claims can only be made by pharmaceuticals and since It Works deals with all-natural herbal supplements it would have to go through patents, lengthy & expensive testing, and would only be available through a prescription by a doctor afterwards. So because of that reason I am not allowed to tell you that I lost any inches from the wrap)
My stretch marks went from a purple red to light pink. I was hooked. I knew I wanted to order them right then and there. I didn't care how much they cost! Then I found out they were only $59 for a box of 4. Life was good! I had just spent HUNDREDS on creams that didn't work so this was a nice change of pace : )
My husband noticed the difference in my stomach as soon as I showed him. I called all of my friends in my contacts list to tell them about the wrap. I was so excited! I couldn't believe it. I felt energized, my skin was tight, and my stretch marks...they were lightening! I was ecstatic. My husband is the one that suggested I sign up as an independent distributor. So I did! I started taking the Vitamins and Greens and fell in love. I learned the importance of a good multivitamin. I didn't realize what I was missing until I started on it! My health was improving as well as my mood and I was losing weight!
I used the FITworks community online and jumpstarted my weight loss by using Thermofit and Greens. I wrapped and from the span of June 2011 until September 2011 this was my before after:
For me. exercise and nutrition is a journey. There's no specific weight I'm aiming to reach and I will always strive to improve the quality of food that I'm eating. I'm absolutely passionate about sharing these products and the business opportunity with other people as well as teaching the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. I have started a new goal to get into INSANE shape ; ) I'm using an extreme home-workout program and -- of course -- using my trusty wraps to enhance the results! By combining the wraps with YOUR workout routine you'll help your skin keep up with weight loss so you don't get the "sagging" effect and you'll also increase the effectiveness by burning through your fat faster.
I am going back to school to become a certified nutrition consultant and fitness trainer. I am proud that I have the opportunity to share my story with other moms!
QUESTIONS? Email: livelaughwrap@gmail.com
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