30 day results

I have officially completed my 30 day fat burn & cleansing system with Isagenix. I wanted to summarize some of the benefits of my personal experience. 

Keep in mind, my primary goal was to lose weight before our family vacation to New Jersey. I also had planned on keeping this a secret until my 30 days was up, to see what happened. After 2 days, I couldn't hold back & had to share. 

So that being said, I would have to say that the biggest & most unexpected change is my ENERGY!! Granted, prior to Isagenix I truly felt my energy, for the most part, was just fine. Of course, I had my typical "monthly" slumps, and my typical mid-day "I want a nap, I need to crash, give me more caffeine" feeling. Within 2 days, the best way to describe this change is to say my eyes felt wide open!! The word alert comes to mind. Just an overall sense of "wow, I really do feel great. And I feel great all day long". 

Next, would obviously be the added bonus & primary goal of pounds being released. And it's not just pounds. It's inches too. And it wasn't until my 3rd week in that the inches lost clicked, and realized I was already down 2 sizes & just getting started. I am typically a size 10 and have been my entire adult life, even in high school. It's my clothing size, and I'm fine with that. Well, 3 weeks in I go to grab my fave size 10 shorts, thinking in my head "these probably won't fit YET, but I am going to try them anyway". And guess what? They fit!!  My weight hasn't changed much in the last week either, but I am clearly losing inches because the weight that I am at currently is my size 12 weight. So, I grab a pair of size 12 shorts that hadn't fit 3 weeks prior. And guess what? Those fit too!! This was my ah-ha moment. And I realized my body composition was shifting. Fat was burning & I was gaining lean muscle. And this is why...

I've said before, I was already drinking daily shakes with whey protein powder. So making the change to this, where 2 of my meals are a balanced whey meal replacement shake, (instead of only whey protein), EASY. But what I didn't know is not all whey is created equal. And that most whey on the market is actually just junk (think myoplex, pure protein or muscle milk- they are cheap because they use cheap ingredients. Period.)  Now enter Isagenix whey. And mind you, I had never heard of Isagenix until now, had you?? Guess what? Awesome company!! The whey used in Isagenix products is UNdenatured. Most whey in other protein powders is denatured. But first, the milk come from grass fed cows in New Zealand. Bonus right there. No antibiotics. No growth hormones. Yay. 

So what does denatured mean?

When whey is extracted from milk-acids, salts, & heat are typically used which denatures the whey. This breaks down the protein and strips the whey of its high quality benefits. It also destroys it's bio-active compounds. Undenatured whey contains numerous amino acid pairs & triples, that specifically fit genetic locks in the body to turn on protein functions. Isagenix uses an ultrafiltration process that keeps the whey in tact (undenatured). This superior amino acid profile & high concentration of branch chain amino acids supports lean muscle growth. 

A few fun whey facts: 

* whey protein helps support your immune system by raising glutathione levels, a powerful antioxidant, helping the immune system & supporting cell integrity & reducing oxidative stress

* repairs body cells

* curbs cravings

* helps metabolism

* helps prevent age related muscle loss

* boosts fat burning, especially visceral fat

* maximizes lean muscle gain 

* stimulates production of heat in body to burn more calories

Back to my results. A few days in Bryan commented on how he thought my perioral dermatitis was improving. I didn't agree at the time. But I'm a harsh critic and have had this skin "issue" since mid-December and looked at it very closely daily. The skin around my eyes is now near perfect. You would never know how puffy & inflamed & red & flaky it once was for months. But then came the rash around my mouth a few months after my eyes. Yuck. Now I see how it has greatly improved, but isn't 100% gone. I bet it will be soon. And the rest of my face seems super smooth & dewy. 

Running. When I met Bryan in 2008, I was training for 1/2 marathon & was running 4-5 times a week to train. And I ran a 2:22 half in February 2009. Since then, I have started & stopped & started & stopped training programs on Runkeeper and just haven't stuck with it. Now, I have this CRAZY urge to run. Like, I go from going on a nice leisurely walk, to while on that walk HAVING to run. That's never happened. Ever. Hope it sticks. Not a bad problem to have. 

I'm caffeine free!!! I was a tea drinker forever, love me my earl gray. Then, drank coffee even though I never fully loved it as much as tea {until Portola Coffee Lab rocked our world with their coffe AND introduction to Strauss creamery}. I mean you have to admit coffee breath is downright nasty. Then I became an organic whole milk latte a day girl. Everyday. Sometimes I would have an americano. Or coffee & organic cream. But mostly lattes. The day I started my 30 day system, I stopped and haven't had one iota of coffe, tea or caffeine since. None. And I have had NO headaches or withdrawal symptoms. None. 

Joints & muscles. Quite regularly, maybe even daily, I would feel a pulling/soreness at my ischial tuberosity (here comes the massage therapist in me), aka your sit bones, or the spot where your hamstrings attach to your bum. Guess what, I haven't felt it at all. Kind of crazy. This was one of those "things" that never quite went away. Also, almost daily I had tight/pulled spots in my upper left back/shoulder area. Just another spot of  very "regular" discomfort, and would go quite often, almost weekly or every 2 weeks for chiropractic adjustments. Again, noticed too, no tension going on in that spot either. Things that make you go hmmmmm. Both of these issues were always "there". Bonus! And a benefit I never would have expected at all. 

Tummy! I haven't had any "6 months pregnant" look ONCE during this entire process. My belly is mellow happy. And this is huge. I've always had tummy issues for as long as I can remember. Must be the twice daily dose of digestive enzymes in my shakes. I do take digestive enzymes regularly as it is (and probiotics too, everyone should), and have for years, but the enzymes have never been mixed in with my food, as it is in my shakes. Maybe that's the difference? Whatever the reason for happy belly, I'll take it!

Sorry boys, but this one is a nice one for us women. I've had zero cramps or discomfort this time around. Which is odd, because a month ago and most months, I certainly do. 

Drumroll please. Here are my final results:

Pounds released: 12.5!!!!!

Inches lost: 19.25!!!!!

I have certainly have taken my time to do my due diligence on Isagenix. After all, I am an avid label & ingredient expert. And I keep getting more & more excited & more & more impressed with all that the company is about. Their tag line says it all "solutions to transform lives". From safe weight loss, to performance & energy, healthy aging & wealth creation. All 4 of these are what the company prides themselves on. There are a few private Facebook groups, one in particular, Body By Design, is flooded with posts daily of inspirational stories & before + after pix. Anyone interested in being added to this group just let me know. For me, the benefit of feeling great myself. Awesome. But to be able to finally help others reach their health/weight or financial goals. Now that's a game changer for me. I'm super excited about the future... Who's coming along on this fun ride with me??

A new path

I sent out an e-mail to some friends + family last night, and figured this would make a great blog post too!

I'm always up to something, aren't I??

Well, this time, I keep telling myself I need to wait to share, but I'm so pumped up about it I can't wait!

So we all know I'm queen of ingredients + organic whole food, clean eating, etc. It's my thang. Well, we also know I've had some ups and downs with my weight and keeping it off since Layne, and even before that- trying pretty much everything. From HCG (3 times) to Weight Watchers to 21 Day Sugar Detox to Paleo, low carb- you name it! For me, and my lifestyle and the way my life is at this point in time with 3 kids, and focusing so much on feeding them clean + healthy, nutritious meals - I needed something convenient AND healthy for myself.

A few weeks ago, a good friend sent me a link to this company I knew nothing about, Isagenix. It was for their 30 day cleansing and fat burning system. I clicked away at each and every item incuded in this pack (4 cans of IsaLean shakes, 2 Cleanse for Life, 1 Ionix Supreme, Natual Accelerator, Isa Flush + Snacks, plus Want More Energy electrolyte drink mix, PLUS samples of other goodies). And I was pleasantly surprised by what I discovered. The ONLY questionable ingredient, for me personally, was maltilol because it gives me a tummy ache when I have had foods that included this in the past. And this ingredient was found in all of their bars, and a few other items. When I questioned this ingredient, I was told it came from non-GMO tapioca, so maybe this would make a difference since most comes from GMO corn. We shall see.

I took the plunge and ordered the 30 day system and received it last Tuesday (5/20/14). Today is day 7, and all I can say is I feel super awesome, have TONS of energy and have lost a few pounds (7.2 to be exact). The thing with Isagenix is they have this 30 day "kit", but also so much more. The company is all about fueling your body + healthy aging- whether you need to lose weight, GAIN weight, or want to increase your performance and build more muscle. Kind of like when I did Juice Plus- high antioxidants, reduce oxidative stress, slow the aging process. Things we can all use a little bit more of, no matter how clean we eat.

With this 30 day system, I replace 2 meals a day with an IsaLean shake- it's a complete meal- and it's balanced. Then, I eat two 100 calorie snacks of my choice (greek yogurt + berries, rice cake + smoked salmon, hard boiled egg + some nuts), and either for lunch or dinner a balanced 400-600 calorie meal (including protein, fat, grains, veggies + fruit). You also include a tonic (Ionix Supreme) each morning that is loaded with good stuff like berries + herbs. And an accelerator capsule, to help the fat burn + boost your metabolism. THEN, you have the option of the DEEP CLEANSE where you follow a specific schedule for 4 days out of the 30 for DEEP fat burning + cleansing. OR, you can simply take the Cleanse for Life daily.

Needless to day, I completed my 2 days of DEEP cleansing yesterday and was AMAZED how I felt, and how I wasn't really hungry at all. Today, I'm back to my shake day, and feel so satisfied and ready to keep going. Keep in mind, I have had ZERO coffee or caffeine in a week- and I truly feel like my eyes are beyond wide open all day long. I have never experienced this before.

For me, I was always SO worried about what I was eating and when, that it drove me a little nuts, to be honest. This simplifies things. If I want to meet someone for lunch, then I wil shift my 2nd shake to dinner time. Or, I can enjoy nightly dinners with my family by having my shake for lunch. AFTER I get to my goal weight, then I will continue with ONE meal replacement shake a day and take it from there for the maintenance phase.

I know this kind of seems out of the norm for me, perhaps. But I'm just truly amazed at how I'm feeling so far. And Bryan even jumped on board (super supportive as always!) with the performance and energy pack , then will follow it up with the 9 day cleanse. There is so much to pick and choose from: digestive enzymes (which I take daily currently), omegas, kids vitamins, sleep aids, skin care, greens powder (similar to Juice Plus), NATURAL caffeine energy shots (bye bye red bull), electrolyte powder (bye bye gatorade), even chocolates! As much as I "think" I know about nutrition, I've learned so much more in the last week just reading up on the company and what all of the products are about. The chocolate has green tea extract, amino acids, antioxidants, b vitamins + minerals. Crazy, right?? And this sample I got of t+ chai - has adaptogens which reduce stress + calm your nerves. I hadn't heard of an adaptogen until now.

What I have also learned is that not all whey is "made" the same, and the whey in IsaLean is 99% lactose-free AND is UNdenatured keeping the protein structure intact, where most whey protein is denatured (using acids, salt + heat). What is available is IsaLean meal replacement (24 grams of protein per serving), IsaLean PRO meal replacement (with 36 grams of protein per serving), for even greater fat burn, or if you are an athlete; or IsaPro, with 18 grams of straight up whey protein, not a meal replacement. And the Isagenix whey comes from "happy grass fed cows" in New Zealand, not treated with any bad stuff. Best of all, there is a NON-dairy whey protein powder option, and Kosher as well.

If you break it down, it comes to $11/day for the 30 days-but you are also replacing 2 meals a day AND getting other tonics and supplements to help you along. Best thing of all, there is a ...
30 day money back guarantee! 

So, you have NOTHING to lose, and only a ton to gain.

I've been obsessed with the success stories- I am part of a private Facebook page of 13,000+ members, who just talk all day long about their lives and the lives of others that are changing. If you are curious, I can add you to the group to check it out. Or you can just ask me questions. For example, I literally just found out that my neighbor has a friend who has lost 200 pounds on Isagenix, has tried EVERYTHING, and only this worked, and he has a whole new life!!!

If you have 6 minutes to spare, watch the ARE YOU TOXIC? video on my site here: http://jodybarton.isagenix.com/?sc_lang=en-US

As you may or may not know, alex+von is coming to an end in a few short days after two great years, and I'm excited this fell into my lap just at the right time. The stars were aligned. YES, this is also an MLM (just like Juice Plus was), and you know what? I scream from the roof tops when I love ANY produts, and share share share- and have made many other businesses more money with my "referrals". I see nothing wrong with social selling, to people you love and care about, when I am passionate about something. And we all know how passionate about I am about nutrition and health. It's a win-win for me on so many levels. My goal is to one day be a certified holistic nutritionist, and if I can help even ONE person reach some personal health + fitness goals, then I will be SO happy!  The reality is, even though this may be "packaged" food, it's a lot better than what the majority of people eat most days, I'm guessing. It's a nice transition, and/or addition to whatever you are doing currently to lose weight, gain muscle, and slow down the aging process, which eventually leads to disease.

Thanks for listening... and I will share my 30 day results in a few weeks! I may even sign up for the IsaBody 90 day challenge, you never know! xoxo