No question about it, there are going to be people in my life who are just about going to fall over to hear that I am doing the Isagenix Presidents Pak 30 Day "Challenge" - well I am going to call it a challenge at least!
More information can be found here.
You see, I could be, what some would consider; an Anti Isagenix Crusader. Although it's nothing specific to Isagenix, just shake and meal replacement companies in general. For years I've been a firm believer in eating well. A convert to Paleo which helped me (already of a reasonably small stature) drop about 10 kilos and 3 dress sizes.
Failed attempts on meal replacement plans have made me doubtful of products that make huge promises. There is research to suggest that only 1% of dieters drop weight permanently, and in the ball park of about 85% - 90% of people fail within 12 months of embarking on a diet. Many return to weights higher than when they started. And then there are those like me that aren't wanting to give up food, because I'm looking to maintain my weight, and dare I say, enjoy life.
This is why I have loved Paleo, I love to cook! I love to eat! And as the likes of celebrity chef Pete Evans has shown us, you can cook some awesome food on a Paleo routine. And that's it, it's a routine, not a diet. Routine = success. Shakes = fail, at least to my mind. Of course, even Paleo comes with it's critics, most of which have made wide news appearances in recent times.
To date, I've been happy with my results from clean eating (white shirt = before, black = after);
But then, there is Isagenix, with it's world of promises...
You've heard of Isagenix,yes? So have I, in fact I have been hearing of Isagenix for the last couple of years. Hear ME when I say that have done everything to avoid getting sucked into the Isagenix "craze" (it's a much kinder word then cult). Because, yea, sometimes you meet "those people", the Thermomix people, the Vita Mix people, the Avon people, the Nespresso people and they seem so so converted it feels like they are trying to suck you into their vortex.
Not casting stones though, I am a Nutri Bullet person. Oh, and a Brad Armstrong (Brisbane OBGYN) person. Can't rave about these two items enough, LOVE them! Total craze follower.
However, 2015 - 2016 is going to see me embark on my own Happiness Project, as per the book The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin (great name by the way!). This project, for those who aren't familiar with it, looks at your life holistically for 12 months. During that 12 months you come up with 12 commandments to which you would like to live your life by, and below that a set of resolutions to follow. 1 commandment per moth, focus on and track your using your supporting resolutions. The end result is that you effectively train your subconscious to be happier. Or rather, respond happier as an instinct by a 12 month mind training program.
My commandment number 1. Be you.
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind. "
I've yet to establish all of my resolutions to support this goal, but resolution I have decided on is............. SAY YES! Be wiling to give things a go, so when a friend who knows about my happiness project invited me to an Isagenix workshop, I thought... what the heck, SAY YES!.
I went along, and not meaning to offend anyone that is a convert, but it's like a cult! In a cute and funny way! All of these super happy inspired people in one place, a little off putting, maybe... but also inspiring. Sharing a common passion.
The thing that got me, were the personal trainers speaking. Like me, not much benefit to be seen on the weight loss side. But what they did talk about was this fog lifted clarity.... FOG, yes! My life has a fog, I'm tired at times, fine at times, but when I crash I crash! Sometimes I get from point A to point B and wonder how I got there at all!
While sitting in this room, I realised that if I want to embark on my Happiness Project successfully, I need the energy to be a full time working mom, and side time blogging Happiness Project scientist. I can't do that with my overarching fog that is currently there. The one I have been complaining about for a few months.
I was sold.
The other thing I found interesting is the maintenance systems after the 30 day starter pack. You can choose which type of system, anti ageing, energy and performance. Again, as my main goal won't be weight loss, the idea of focusing more on energy and performance was ideal, and unique to this system.
My brain was racing with ideas and the inspiration you get from being around successful and inspired people. I thought, if I am going to embark on this journey, I am going to keep a fairly detailed blog and make it public. I am going to check a number of different criteria, 3 times a day and report on how I am feeling. Things like, clarity, energy, mood, drive, performance, HUNGER, gym sessions etc. and of course weight.
So, this is my first post. I am still waiting for my items to arrive.
The Plug: One of the things about buying the presidents pack, is that now, I can also sell Isagenix. And if it is as amazing a they say it is, well I am sure I will be doing my bit to get people I know onto it. So, if you're reading and want to give it a go with me, let me know. Otherwise, feel free to follow my journey and if any any point you'd like to test it out send me a message, I can work with friends in America and Australia I believe. So if my journey inspires you, come to me :-)
I've had it confirmed, yes - you can still eat!
Watch this space, over the next couple of days I will be posting on the contents of the pack when it arrives, setting out my my expectations for my self titled challenged, sharing my tracker document and sharing the week 1 photos which I will use to track my progress.
Once the challenge is on, it's on. So here's to success!