Lovely Friend,I am about to let you know how I began my pH balanced diet and I want to start off with some reassurance. I am going to be sharing with you a wonderful program that I used to begin this new way of life and while I currently still supplement with some products from the program, this is not what I follow daily. I used this program as a catalyst for my healthy eating plan because it detoxed my body and got rid of toxic cravings. Now, that you know that this was my beginning point, I want to reassure you that I am in no way receiving any financial compensation for sharing these products with you. I am a preferred customer and I purchase them, just like you would! I also want to reassure you that this product recommendation is in no way a plug for a friend; although I have come to know the consultant quite well, and she's pretty great! Those that know me well would vouch for me and say that I tend to have very strong opinions about products and absolutely will not recommend something unless it is good! Now that you have your assurances that I am truly sharing this product just because I love it, here it is!
To begin my weight loss journey, I did the Arbonne Detox Diet Boot Camp. Now, I do need to back up to give you a little history about my beginning this camp. My very first time to try it was the summer of 2013 and I absolutely loved it then! However, the school grind began in August and I really didn't give it a second thought. Honestly, it was still "a diet" to me, although it worked well. Fast forward to January when I had my yearly lady check up (yep, it got that personal!). My doctor was asking general questions about my PCOS (which I've had since high school!) and I shared with her about this diet that I had done back in the summer that, for the first time ever, had gotten me regulated. This doctor is a big believer in "food is medicine", which is not the norm, so she was excited. We discussed the details further and I revealed that I wasn't on this diet any more. She looked at me shocked and asked why I would choose to change when I found something that was healing my body. [Insert Blank Stare] followed by embarrassment. I was embarrassed that I had made such an unwise decision and chose to continue harming my body. This was a big eye opener for me and really what made me begin to understand what food really was. Although I was gaining understanding, it took me another year to move.
So here I am now, a year later, with a true understanding of how food affects my body both positively and negatively. I understand what toxins are and how to avoid them. I understand what combinations of food to eat so that my body can stay oxygenated. I understand why Japanese people live so long! (Okay, maybe this wasn't part of the boot camp, but their diets are very balanced!) I know that I would not have any of this knowledge if I hadn't gone through the boot camp. The camp is a way of eating that does have restrictions, but it is so much more than that! Every day you are learning about food, toxins, and your body. You are presented with research by various different doctors on how to teach you how to a pH balanced life. You are also in a support group where you can ask questions, get suggestions, and MOST OF ALL, receive encouragement! The support and the learning combined with the eating plan is what makes this boot camp such a success. I have tried all the diets out there, and THIS is the one that starts you on a different path!
I am sure that you are wondering what this diet is really like and how it works. These would be my exact thoughts about the program! The program is a month long program that you participate in via a Facebook group. The group has only the participants that are currently going through the program as well as the coach. (Let me add a side note about the coach here, Cara is fabulous! I have never met someone that could think of so many nice things to say and encourage me so much! One week, I gained weight and she was still encouraging me and problem solving to help me get back on track! She is amazing!) While you are in the group, you will see daily posts with research about toxins, eating a balanced diet, and how your food affects your body. You will also have a place to ask questions, connect with other boot campers, and get advise about food or recipes. These are the basics of the group part of the program, but I know you are so interested in the FOOD part! (and honestly, I would be too!)
Without further adieu, the food. Each week you will be supplied with both a vegan and regular meal plan complete with recipes and shopping lists. You are not required to eat every meal that is on the plan, but they were designed to get you started. Some people choose to follow it exactly as it is written, while others mix and match the meals around (and even in sub in their own!). The meal plan can be rearranged and edited as long as it follows the guidelines, but the guidelines cannot be changed. The guidelines are why this works (along with eating the right food combinations). So the dietary restrictions are as follows:
Don't Eat
- Soy
- Dairy
- Caffeine
- Corn
- Sugar, Honey, Maple Syrup
- Artificial Sweeteners
- Pork
- Gluten
- Farm Raised Fish
- All Beef, Except Grass Fed
- Nitrates
- MSG
- Vinegar
- All Fruit, Except Limes, Lemons, Green Apples, and Berries
- Non-Cage Free Eggs
- Peanuts and Peanut Butter
- Coffee
- Alcohol
- Non-Free Range Chicken
- Alcohol
Do Eat
- Almond, Flax, or Coconut Milk
- Sweet Potatoes
- Brown Rice
- Almond Butter
- Legumes
- Olive, Coconut, Flaxseed or Grapeseed Oil
- Wild Caught Cold Water Fish
- Cage Free Eggs
- Free Range Chicken and Turkey
- Raw Almonds
- Green Apples, Berries, Lemons, and Limes
- Coconut Sugar, Stevia, Xylitol
- Green and Herb Teas
- Avocados
- Grass Fed Beef
- Non-starchy Vegetables
I have given you the basis of the food dos and don'ts so that you can see that you could do this without the use of Arbonne products. The above two lists are basically just the quick and dirty view of how to eat. I am going to walk you through the Arbonne products below that I used during the boot camp, so that you will know how it fits into the equation.
Arbonne Products for Boot Camp:
- Arbonne Protein Shake- This is what I used 2x daily to cut calories and majorly oxygenate my body! I put 2 scoops of powder plus 2 big handfuls of organic spinach, a little fruit, almond or coconut milk and blend them up. They really do taste good and I switch back and forth between chocolate and vanilla, depending on my mood. Currently, I still drink 1 shake a day to get that good spinach punch (because this girl cannot eat handfuls of raw spinach!)
- Fiber Boost- I mix it into my shakes for some added fiber during the camp and after. My hubby even steals it and mixes it into whatever he is drinking too! It doesn't taste at all or stay gritty!
- Detox Tea- This tea is one huge key for getting your body to an alkaline environment! I drank these during the boot camp and have continued to drink them because they are so good for you! I have learned to drink this as my post-dinner "dessert". The tea really prevents me from eating when I am already full, but fills the desire of "I want something after dinner".
- Digestion Plus- This little supplement is not one that you think tastes amazing, well, because it doesn't. I honestly put mine in a shot glass and mix with water and down it goes. Although the taste is less than desirable, the benefits are great! Your gut will be glad you didn't listen to your mouth! I used this in the boot camp and have continued to use it daily to keep my gut in check.
- 7 Day Body Cleanse- This is the real gut buster! This supplement digs deep and eliminates all kinds of junk so that your body can really have a fresh start. You mix it with water and drink it just during one particular week of the program. A plus, this tastes way better than the Digestion Plus! This is a supplement that I just used during the boot camp and may add once or twice a year.
- Fizzies- These are my absolute favorite product and pomegranate is my flavor! My daughter loves them just much as me, too. These are my go to when I need my water to taste like something other than itself. Because I have eliminated many beverage choices, these add some variety to my routine and are super-easy to slip in my purse when out and about! I really used these in boot camp and still continue to use them!
- Fit Chews- These were my sweet tooth life saver! I had huge sugar withdrawals during the boot camp and these little bites kept me from caving. I used them a ton during boot camp and will have one occasionally now. The boot camp really kicked my sugar cravings so I don't need these as much now, as I did when I first started.
Although I am not currently doing the boot camp from beginning to end, I do still follow the plan that was laid out, because I understand it. As stated above, I've been through more than once with the same info, and the weight loss is not what made me a believer, the health improvements are. They helped me get and really want to comprehend the research. The health improvements are what have kept me tied to this new way of living!
Friend, as you begin your new adventure into a pH balanced lifestyle, I would encourage you to consider the Arbonne boot camp as a starting place to begin. I have not regretted my decision to try it out (although I was HIGHLY skeptical). I am taking the very slow road to weight loss, and I feel better than I have in a long time- both physically and mentally! I am confident that my daughter will not have battles with food, like I did, because she is being fed properly. I am convinced that each a pH balanced diet is the best choice to compliment the way that our bodies were designed!
Giving it my all,
Jess
Click here if you want information about the Arbonne Detox Boot Camp.
No comments:
Post a Comment