Product of the Week! - Protein Shake Mix

Since a few of my clients and I are starting our 30-Days to Fit/Summer Slim Down Challenge, I thought it was fitting to highlight The Arbonne Essentials Protein Shake Mix for this weeks Product of the Week!

Arbonne carries two flavors of the Protein Shake Mix; Vanilla and Chocolate. They also come in three forms. You can get the large 30 day supply bag, a box of 10 individually packaged servings, as well as a 12 pack of ready-to-drink shakes.

One serving of the Protein shake contains 20 grams of Vegan protein, an amazing blend of Pea and Cranberry Protein, (http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/curb-cravings-pea-protein-powder), as well as 20 essentials vitamins and minerals!

My Protein Powder Experience:

I've been drinking the Protein powder shakes on and off for about a year and a half now. I have to say, wow, are they delicious. At first, I was in love with the Vanilla because all alone, it tastes like cake batter. But the Chocolate quickly stole my heart. I generally have a shake in the morning for breakfast since I'm not a morning person and getting up early to make breakfast just seems silly. I can throw together a protein shake so fast in my handy dandy Arbonne shaker cup and not even miss an extra 5 minutes of sleep.

The shakes are so versatile, I can add milk or almond milk instead of water, toss in some fruit to my blender, add ice and voila! I have a new flavor. I've used blueberry, strawberries, banana, even a coffee packet, or peanut butter. 

I add my Fiber Boost in the morning to the shake for an extra filling breakfast. Sometimes I'll pair a shake with a small salad or serving of veggies for lunch. But it also makes a great meal for those days when I'm running around and have no time for dinner. Also, having the chocolate shake after a vigorous workout helps my body refuel and build muscle.

What's even more awesome about the Protein shakes? They are GLUTEN-FREE!!
The shakes have only 160 calories per serving, making them a great tool for weightloss and weight management.



Product of the Week! - Seasource Detox Spa Renewing Body Gelee

Everyone's favorite product is this weeks feature product!
I figured since it's summer and this is pretty much Arbonne's miracle item, it should be highlighted!

The Renewing Body Gelee comes from the Seasource Detox Spa line which is designed to detox the skin and hair from impurities that it encounters on a daily basis such as air pollution, contact with other people, animals and the environment. The Gelee is a Gel lotion that helps cool and calm the skin while keeping it hydrated. It's perfect for after a work out or spending time in the sun.

My Gelee Experience
I absolutely, without a doubt, love love love this product. I use it everyday and for just about everything. It smells amazing too. After a good work out, I like to massage my muscles and feet, which allows me to relax and not become too stiff the next day.
It's great for cooling a sunburn. Many of my friends have come to me with a sunburn and after a couple coatings of Gelee, their skin stops to hurt, cools, and it even helps prevent peeling!
I also have a couple friends who suffer from Migraines and by rubbing the Gelee on their temples and neck pressure points, they experience ease from their symptoms. I even discovered after rubbing my temples with the Gelee during a headache, that it significantly reduced the appearance of bumps on my skin. I found that as using it as a lotion on my body, it minimized the appearances of scars and scratches on my arms from my cats!
A friends husband uses the Gelee to calm his rashes he developed after he had back surgery. He and I quite often use the phrase, "Just put some Gelee on it!" 

Key Botanicals

• Bladderwrack Extract - softens skin, detoxifies and soothes
• Sea Plant Extract - antioxidant and humectant; provides hydration
• Sea Algae - naturally remineralizes and exfoliates
• Sea Fennel - skin moisterizer
• Micro-Algae - high multivitamin, protein and amino acid content for restorative effect
• Laminaria Digitata - hydrating, antioxidant; encourages efficient functioning of the body

 Stimulate, Strengthen, Support!

Summer Slim Down Challenge!

Would you like a lose a few pounds for summer?
Would you like to have more energy and feel clean on your insides?
Would you like daily encouragement on your journey to better health?
Would you like to win some prizes of FREE Arbonne products or Spa day?

As part of my new life in fitness, I'm starting a 30 Day Summer Slim Down Challenge with some of my friends and clients! The basic rules are:

1. Start date: pick either Monday June 10 or Monday June 17

2. Drink an Arbonne protein shake for one meal  per day (or two).  Drink detox tea twice daily.

3. Reduce or eliminate for 4 weeks…gluten, dairy, sugar…processed foods.  (pick at least one to eliminate, but more if you can… the cleaner you eat the better the results!)

Contestants  will be eligible to win the following prizes:

1st place: $150 Spa Finder gift card

2nd place: $100 Spa Finder gift card

3rd place:  $50 Spa Finder gift card

The winners will be determined by greatest percentage of weight loss, from the starting weight on Day 1 and final weight on Day 30 (you can keep track of this on your Once you email back, I will send you more information about the Arbonne 30 Day Clean Detox Plan!  Our team has a facebook page set up to support your efforts and will provide delicious and nutritious meal ideas.  Our mission is to help you achieve your healthiest body through eating clean, delicious food and creating healthy lifestyle habits.

 I'm super excited! 

Product of the Week! - Calm Soothing Eye Gel

As if the Calm Sensitive Skin Line wasn't awesome enough on it's own with the great Cleanser, Serum, and Moisturizer, they added this little number - the Soothing Eye Gel!

You've seen it on t.v. where ladies are getting facials and spending the day at the spa. They always have those cucumbers on their eyes. Most people are like, "what are those for?" Well, the coolness of the cucumbers help sooth and relax the eyes which helps reduce puffiness as well as adding a little bit of natural moisture.

Just like those cucumber slices, "this gentle, ophthalmologist-tested eye gel, packaged with a
convenient roller ball applicator, leaves skin feeling instantly refreshed. The lightweight formula helps
reduce the appearance of puffiness around the eyes and hydrates and smooths the eye area for
youthful, vibrant-looking skin."

My Eye Gel Experience:
This is one of my favorite parts of my morning and evening routine. While I do enjoy how my face and skin feels after washing, I can't wait to get to my eye gel roller! The coolness is so nice at the end of the day, especially if it's been a stressful one. I also notice that if I'm a little tired in the morning, the gel helps take care of my puffiness so that I look refreshed.

Key Ingredients and Benefits
 • Aloe Vera, cucumber, licorice, mallow,
chamomile and sea mayweed soothes, comforts
and moisturizes the skin.
• Japanese green tea contains antioxidants.
• Contains naturally derived and food-grade
ingredients.
• Extra-gentle formula helps soothe easily irritated,
sensitive skin by providing hydrating relief.

Clinical Results
After two days of use*
• 92% agreed it softened and helped
replenish moisture to the skin around the
eye area.
• 86% agreed it helped restore moisture to
the skin around the eyes for an improved,
youthful appearance.
• 86% agreed it helped reduce the
appearance of under-eye puffiness.
After 7 days of use*
• 94% said the product cooled, revitalized
and moisturized to help minimize the
appearance of aging around the eyes.*
*Based on clinical studies of 50 individuals.

Product of the Week! - Calm Gentle Daily Cleanser

Welcome the newest product line brought to you by Arbonne: Calm - Sensitive Skin Care.
This line has four different products specifically "formulated to help provide hydrating relief from tightness, dryness and discomfort. With 80% food grade ingredients, these extra gentle formulas help calm and soothe sensitive skin that is easily irritated. Non-comedogenic, fragrance-free, colorant-free, and allergy- and dermatologist-tested, Calm has soothing botanicals to nurture and moisturize without blocking pores."

The Calm line carries a Gentle Daily Cleanser, Soothing Facial Serum, Gentle Moisturizer, and Soothing Eye Gel.
This week we're focusing on the Cleanser:
"This extra-gentle, sulfate-free cleanser, formulated with only the most essential ingredients, gently washes away makeup, excess oil and dirt without irritating or over-drying the skin. Use day or night to leave skin feeling clean and refreshed."

The cleanser is a very mild face cleanser that if soap free, dye free, and fragance free. 50% of Americans suffer from Sensitive skin and it's hard to find products that not only clean well, but do so without stripping the skin of it's natural moisture or leaving it irritated. It's also only $24!

My Calm Line Experience:
 I have never been one to say that I have 'sensitive' skin, but I've always had problem skin. For as long as I can remember, I have had these small bumps all along my forehead and temples. Also, I have very large pores, especially on my nose. I constantly struggle with pimples, clogged pores, and the bumps on my head. It's been very frustrating.  When I started using this line though, I observed an almost overnight change to my face, within a week my skin was noticeably different! I picked up the line at the Arbonne Conference and when I returned home after a couple days, one of my coworkers even told me, "Wow, your face looks great! It's so much clearer." I gushed, "It's Arbonne!"
By using the Calm line, my skin is smoother, I have less problems with my pores, and I'm not embarrassed by it anymore.After I wash my face with the Calm Gentle Cleanser, my faces feels clean and refreshed. I never have that tight feeling.

Fragrance Free?: 
It's funny, the first time I used it, I thought to myself, "Fragrance free? Surely not. It's from Botanicals, it must have some sort of scent." However, as I pumped a little bit into my hand, I sniffed it, and truly it smelled like nothing! I couldn't believe it. Even after massaging it over my face, I still noticed no smell whatsoever!

Design:
The Gentle Cleanser comes in a pump bottle. I usually hate pump bottles because I travel a lot and it's annoying to have to pack everything in plastic baggies or open up your bag to find whatever products has squished out all over your stuff. If you don't get a chance to get the travel kit, luckily, this little guy clicks closed. I can comfortably turn the head with a little kick and throw it in my purse and not worry about my purse contents getting messy.  

Key Ingredients and Benefits

• Aloe Vera, cucumber, licorice, mallow, chamomile and sea mayweed soothes, comforts and moisturizes the skin.
• Japanese green tea contains antioxidants.
• Contains naturally derived and food grade ingredients.
• Extra-gentle formula helps soothe easily irritated, sensitive 

Clinical Results
After 2 days of use*
• 100% agreed the product is a gentle daily cleanser that removed dirt and grime with no irritation.
• 96% said it calmed and soothed their skin.
• 86% said it gently lifted away impurities without leaving skin feeling tight or dry.
• 80% said it is one of the gentlest products they have ever used.
*Based on clinical studies of 50 individuals.

My first 5k

Today I ran my first 5k! It was pretty epic.

I ran in the Susan G. Komen 'Race for the Cure.'  There were a lot of people! I did not expect it to be such a large event, but it was truly awesome! There were all sorts of vendors giving out free stuff and bands, even a special tent for survivors where we got pancakes, pictures taken, and loads of free swag! (The friend I ran with is a survivor) There were girls in pink tutus and a couple caped super heros. So much pink!! Even I bought a pink shirt for the race. I had no idea what to expect, but it was so amazing to see all these people out supporting such a great cause.

We were able to squeeze our way to the front for the beginning of the race. When they fired the gun, a wave of pink poured out onto State street of Salt Lake City! I kept up with my friend for a block or so, but she soon left me in the dust. That's ok, my goal wasn't to beat anybody, I just wanted to run the whole thing and not stop. I definitely was able to accomplish my goal, even got 'pinked' and got a cool pair of pink sunglasses. It was pretty neat how fast the race went by, there were so  many people, even bamds strategicallh lined up along the path. Before ai knew it, I had made the halfway point and was getting water. Then I hit the two mile marker. I remember thinking to myself, 'does that mean I ran two miles or that I just got to the second mile?'

My friend finished before me and came back to run the rest of the way with me. It was perfect timing because I was starting to wear down and had slowed down considerably from my starting pace. But having her next to me, I had a surge of energy and with the finish line in the distance, I picked it up again and was able to complete the race in 35 minutes! I felt great! It's funny, only a month ago I was running one mile, now I had run 3.1. Amazing!

I really feel good about what I've accomplished and so glad that I did it. There were a few moments that were tough and I thought about stopping, but I didn't. There's a lesson in this; "if you have a goal, go for it. If you slow down, you'll get there, but if you stop you'll never reach it."

7-day Body Cleanse - Day 7!

Alright! Today is my last day on the cleanse!

So after running my 3.5 miles yesterday, I went out with the some of my girlfriends for girls night. We always go to Maccool's, an irish pub. I got a buffalo burger, thinking that'd be a little more healthy with a mix of Regular and Sweet Potato Fries. I didn't get a beer! Shocker, I know. Instead, I opted for a nice glass of cranberry juice. Plus, I only had one bite of an offered dessert.

Now, I woke up this morning at about 4am with unbelievable stomach pain. I was awake for a couple hours, writhing about, trying to get comfortable and cuddling the kitties. I took a couple drops of my "DigestZen" oils but it still took a couple hours before I could fall asleep. The pain was very reminiscent of my gallbladder pain (self diagnosed). In fact, as I type this, I can feel a residual ache in my side. I'm hoping it passes quickly.

So I'm finishing up my 7-day Body Cleanse. I'm still having the need to use the bathroom more frequently and gurgly tummy. I think this may actually be very normal. Therefore, I'm concluding that while using this product, in order to get the best results;

1. Do NOT go on a trip or extended excursion where you have limited access to a restroom. *
2. Do NOT eat unhealthy/fatty foods if you can help it. *
3. Do NOT drink sugary/alcoholic beverages. *
4. DO drink plenty of extra water. *
5. DO eat healthy and wholesome foods. *
6. DO continue to exercise and enjoy everyday activities. *
7. DO have a good time and enjoy the wonderful tasty drink. *

I'm happy with my results and have learned alot from this cleanse. I'm excited to see how the cleanse goes when I do it again in a month or two.

* These statesments are from me alone and not of Arbonne. Though I'm sure they'd agree with me. :)