My Weight Loss Adventure Enhanced with Young Living Essential Oils

This is admittedly one of the hardest posts I have ever written. While I like to think of myself as a strong person that puts little stock in vanity and what others think of how I look, I am still a woman and I do still care, at least a little. Even more than my fears of publicly posting pictures, weight, and measurements, I want to be healthy again. I'm not really sure exactly where healthy is at this point in my life. I know it is not the 135 lbs I weighed when my husband and I met. Five pregnancies with three of my children weighing over 9 lbs at birth made sure of that. I also know it is not where I am right now. I am tired much of the day and my motivation level is almost nonexistent.

One of my core beliefs about getting healthy is that a diet or fad will not produce healthy results. Since I became pregnant with my first, my weight has been a in a constant state of motion. From 135 lbs to 195 lbs with my first. I managed to get back to 165 lbs before my second helped me go right back up to 185 lbs. My low weight since my oldest daughter's birth in 2006 was 151 lbs, and I didn't stay there long. Weight is not the only factor in health. I was still not exercising and was trying to stick to a 'diet' that fully cut out some foods I really enjoyed. I was still too tired to play with my kids like I want to be able to.

As of right now, this is me. My goal is to lose that double chin I have started and to replace some of my 'jiggles' with muscle. I will work on not only looking good (in my opinion; my husband already tells me I look good daily), but also on feeling good and being able to play with my family. My current weight is 172.5 lbs. I know this is not where I am meant to be. My goal is to continue to lose inches and gain fitness until I am at a place I am happy with. I want that smile to be real, not something my husband has to tell me to do for pictures.


This time I am tackling my health with a plan that involves more than the food I am eating. I will also be supported and accountable. My husband is wonderful and supportive, but he also loves to treat me to whatever I ask for on a whim, be it chips or a way out of working out. My Young Living family (and hopefully you, as well) will be helping me to keep my goals in sight and my willpower in check. This is not a challenge for me alone. It is a team challenge!

My first change is one of my morning rituals. When I first wake up, I typically reach for my cup of coffee sweetened with a creamer I know is not good for me. I will be cutting that cup of coffee out. Instead, I will be reaching for a tube of NingXia NITRO. I look forward to figuring out fun and exciting ways of enjoying it, but at least to start I will be ingesting NingXia NITRO directly out of the tube. NingXia NITRO is formulated to give that pick-me-up boost, as well as the mental boost I crave in the morning. It will also be a great immune system support for me.

Like most Americans, I have issues with getting enough water in my system during the day. I will be using a glass water bottle and adding a drop of whichever of the pictured oils I feel like at the time. I am aiming for filling my 'large' water bottle and drinking the entire thing four times a day.

I will also be taking Slique Slim Caps. One of the problems I currently have is often feeling hungry. When I do eat, I eat more than I really should. The Slique Slim Caps are meant to help with satiation, which means I should be less hungry throughout the day. As my weight melts away, I am satisfied with more appropriate portions, and my energy and stamina increase, I will look into using Slique Slim Caps less. For now, I feel they are an important part of my goals.

Finally, I will be setting aside time each day to exercise. While I do not plan to walk 10+ hours a day carrying extra weight like I did when my husband and I first met, I will be working on strengthening my core. I will be starting with three sets of 10 sit-ups, 10 push-ups, and 30 second planks. I will slowly work my way back up to three sets of 50 sit-ups, 50 push-ups, and 60+ second planks. I will also be alternating between cardio and yoga throughout the week.

I truly hope you will join my journey and even gain the courage and motivation to make a lifestyle change of your own. I would love to hear about a lifestyle change you are making.

I would be thrilled to welcome you to my team! You can go to https://www.youngliving.com/signup/?sponsorid=1540218&enrollerid=1540218 to sign up. As always, I am always happy to answer questions you have, and I love to read your comments!

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. They are not meant to treat, diagnose, prescribe, or cure.       

Diffusing on the Go

I will admit to always having a set of oils in my purse. I never leave the house without EndoFlex for me, RC for my six year old, Lavender for everybody, Valor for when my children need more mental strength or my back feels 'off', Deep Relief for the headaches I can't prevent, and Purification for any boo boos that happen. How do I deal with a car full of tired, cranky kids and three rambunctious dogs outside our house, though? What about oils I want to inhale all day, but can't always access, like during jury duty or while wrangling children in the checkout line? There are travel diffusers for that, and I would love to show you a couple of options.

My favorite 'travel diffuser' for just me is a diffuser necklace. I have two, which are pictured above. They're simple and stylish, they add to whatever your look is, and nobody will even know you're diffusing! I will add a drop to mine at the start of the day, and I can normally still smell the oil at the end of the day, so it is long lasting. My heart locket opens to reveal a piece of fabric, which is where the oil goes. The second is a necklace directly from Young Living. One drop goes in the top of the ceramic bottle, which has a cotton ball to absorb and slowly release the oil.

Another option is Young Living's USB diffuser. Plug it in anywhere you have a USB port, and you get to choose how long each diffusing interval is. (10 seconds, 30 seconds, or a minute each interval.) This is a great option to discretely freshen the air in your office or refresh yourself while you work. There are several colors to pick from, so you can go with fun, bright colors like the purple above, or you can blend your diffuser with your laptop by choosing black or white.

Finally is the travel diffuser. This one works very much like commercial air fresheners, except without toxins. Pick the oil of your choice, add it to the insert, push the button, and relax.  This diffuser even comes with a small bottle of Lavender. It can be used pretty much anywhere. The inserts do need to be replaced from time to time or when changing oils, but this diffuser works great when you need the benefits of oils for more than one person or would prefer the look of store air fresheners.

I would be thrilled to welcome you to my team! You can go to https://www.youngliving.com/signup/?sponsorid=1540218&enrollerid=1540218 to sign up. As always, I am always happy to answer questions you have, and I love to read your comments!

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. They are not meant to treat, diagnose, prescribe, or cure.           

Taking Massages to a Whole New Level

My husband's job is quite stressful, and we do make his monthly massage a priority, but that isn't always enough. By the time his appointment rolls around, his shoulders and back are knotted, and he is experiencing a decent amount of discomfort. His discomfort has largely led me to the decision that I would like to become a massage therapist, but while we figure out how to put me through college, I looked for essential oils to better the few basic massage techniques I do know.

 The two oils we currently use are Ortho Ease and Relaxation. My plan was to use the Ortho Ease on my husband the days he came home with minor aches and pains, and the Relaxation would be for days I wanted to give him a massage 'just because.' When we tried them, we found out those plans wouldn't work quite as we had planned. My husband has very sensitive skin, and OrthoEase has enough Wintergreen to irritate it. Instead, he will use Ortho Ease on my back days I do more work or exercise more than I am used to. I find the warmth and kneading softens my tense muscles, as the tenderness melts away. Relaxation is perfect for my husband, though. The smell of the Lavender and the combined properties of all of the oils relax him while I knead his sore and tired muscles.

The Raindrop Technique Kit will be my next massage purchase.

Combining Aromatherapy, VitaFlex points, and massage, the

Raindrop Technique has helped many find mental, physical, and

emotional balance. The kit contains seven individual oils, 

Ortho Ease, and a bottle of V-6 Vegetable Oil Complex. There is

also a DVD to show you how to properly do the Raindrop

Technique, because like any massage, technique is important to 

be sure you are helping the body find balance and harmony.

With Valentines Day fast approaching,           Ortho Sport is a wonderful

an oil to think about is Sensation. Not            massage oil for athletes or

only does this oil promote healthy,                 those with physically

smooth skin, but it may also encourage          demanding work or play

feelings of romance. This would be a             lives. It's phenol content is

great oil to transition from a great dinner       higher than Ortho Sport, 

to a sensual massage with the love of            which may bring a warming

your life.                                                        sensation to gently relieve                                                                           sore and tired muscles.

Cel-Lite Massage Oil boasts of many wonderful properties to help support the skin. There is grapefruit to help with texture, juniper to clean and detoxify, and others to help with nourishing 

and toning. This oil is an amazing gift for anybody looking to support their skin health.

Dragon Time is one of those oils that would be a truly wonderful gift for the important women in your life. Whether you are looking for a massage oil that may help to calm and uplift during those rough times during the month, give an oil that can also be added to warm baths, or find something that helps to balance, sooth, and stabilize during a massage, this is the oil you are looking for. 

       

I would be thrilled to welcome you to my team! You can go to https://www.youngliving.com/signup/?sponsorid=1540218&enrollerid=1540218 to sign up, and I am always happy to answer questions you have!

These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. They are not meant to treat, diagnose, prescribe, or cure.