Transformed! All Things New!

I love the word “transform,” don’t you? So many times in my life I’ve experienced transformation–in my body, my thoughts, my calling as a writer. A good friend of mine is prone to say “We’re on a learning curve” and that’s the truth! I’m forever and always learning–how to be a better mom, better daughter, better grandmother, better writer and better friend.

Lately I’ve been on a journey to figure out how to be a better friend. . .to myself. You see, I spent over thirty years caring for others and paying little attention to my own health/physical fitness. If you’ve been following my journey over the past two years, you know that is changing. In spite of struggles with autoimmune disease, I’ve been getting healthier and healthier. How, you ask? By losing weight. If you didn’t know me “back when” you might not know that I was once 275 pounds. It’s true. I masked the pain of that weight gain with a broad smile and funny books. Still, my struggles tormented me internally. 

Several factors went into the decision to lose weight, but the primary one had to do with health. Autoimmune disease (psoriatic arthritis), sleep apnea (CPAP), elevated blood pressure, high cholesterol, inability to do things with my kids (picture me at an amusement park, sitting on a bench while my kids rode the rides I longed to ride). Really, if I broke it down for you, you would see a lot of tears during those “missing out” years.

In January of 2011 I set out to “try” (stress TRY) to lose weight once again. I say “once again” because I’d lost and regained weight SO many times. This time I set some short term goals and didn’t really tell anyone except my mom, for fear I would fail.

Only, I didn’t fail. The weight began to come up at a steady rate. Over the first year I lost quite a few pounds. By the second year, though, I’d hit a plateau and found myself stuck and ready to give up. At that point I ran into an old friend who had lost a significant amount of weight and she told me about Advocare’s 24-day challenge. I didn’t want to do it. Didn’t want to spend the $$. Didn’t want to try supplements (envision a person who barely remembered to take one vitamin tablet a day). Only, I knew I had to do SOMETHING and God had put this friend in my path. . .so I took the plunge and bought the challenge. At the end of the 24 days I had lost weight and re-discovered my “want to” (related to the diet and exercise plan). In fact, I found several other supplements to further enhance my journey.

It’s been a year and I can honestly say that using the supplements has offered me a turn-around, not just in my weight, but my fitness level/abilities. I’d never been able to exercise, but from the moment I added the products, I hit the road running (literally).

And biking. And walking. And Zumba-ing. If you want to know more about one of my biking adventures, check out this old post. And if you want to know about my journey with Advocare, check out this post.

I’ve carried on about these products for some time (probably wearing my friends and loved ones out) for two reasons: 1). They have changed my health and made a convert out of me; 2). My daughter, Megan Kimbrough, is an advisor for Advocare and makes a living selling their products. I’m on a mission to help her spread the word so that she can provide for her family.

DRUM ROLL, PLEASE!

All of my bragging about these products might be wearying to some, but not to me. I feel like jumping up and down, especially now. You see, something VERY special just happened in my life. I just won a Houston-area “fitness” contest with a $500 price tag attached. To share a little about the contest. . .back in January I went to have a body composition test in a “bod pod.” Unusual piece of machinery, to be sure! I wasn’t looking forward to this experience, because I knew that (in spite of my weight loss to that point) the tech would tell me how much more I had to lose AND would also tell me the amount of fat vs. lean muscle mass. Ugh. No thank you.

I went anyway. Instead of coming away depressed, I left the bod pod appointment invigorated by the news that (in spite of the fact that I still had 25 pounds to lose) I had more lean muscle mass than most women my height/weight…ALL because of my supplements! (This, according to the tech, who couldn’t find anything else to attribute it to.) From January until April I worked hard at exercise and nutrition and lost seven pounds. This past week I went back to the bod pod for the follow-up. I knew (from what the tech told me) that my results were pretty good. After the increased energy and exercise I certainly hoped so! I also knew that my “secret weapon” – a product called Arginine Extreme - had surely played a role. Still, I’d totally forgotten that Advocare was doing a contest for bod pod entrants, so I left that day with results in hand, but not really focused on anything else.

Imagine my SHOCK yesterday when I got this note on my facebook wall! W-w-what? Turns out, the addition of the supplements (Catalyst, Arginine Extreme, Nighttime Recovery, Thermoplus) helped me turn the corner, not just with weight loss, but lean muscle mass vs. fat. The proof is in the puddin’ as my mama would say. (Only, pudding is probably not the smartest word choice, considering the dieting angle.)

Thank you to Mary Anne Henson for getting me started. Thank you to Megan Kimbrough, for continuing your journey with these amazing products. Thank you to my friends in the “Transform in 2013″ facebook group for your support. Thank you to my readers for allowing me to deviate from my writing-themed blogs to post about my personal journey. I know you all care about me and that brings a smile to my face, no longer a smile to mask the pain, but a genuine heart-felt smile that rises up from a happy heart.

And now, for a quick glimpse at the products I’m taking:

If you want to jump-start a diet, try the 24-day challenge.

Interested in an herbal cleanse?

Need additional energy and mental clarity? Try Spark!

If you want to burn add’l calories, take Thermoplus.

If you want to have increased energy and greater performance during workout, taking Arginine Extreme.

If you want to preserve lean muscle mass while losing fat, take Catalyst.

If you want help with digestive issues, take Digest Ease.

If you want ongoing appetite control, take Max C vitamins

No matter WHAT your goals are, take the best Omegas in the country: Omegaplex and Probiotic Restore.

I speak from personal experience about ALL of these products (and many more) but if you don’t believe me, check out the dozens and dozens of endorsers like Michael W. Smith and Drew Brees. They (and many, many other Christian athletes, performers and entertainers) are huge Advocare fans!

Put off by the prices? Do what I did and pay a small fee to become a distributor. That way you can get everything at a discounted price. For more on the business of Advocare follow the link or contact Megan Kimbrough at littlemay (at) aol.com.

Thanks for letting me share. Have a blessed day, everyone!