Mom's The Word - A Blog by Jen Maier Founder of urbanmoms.ca

New Jeans or New Bod?

I spent the day yesterday pulling out all of our summer clothes and replacing them with winter gear. I washed all of the mittens, hats, and scarves. I had my kids try things on to see what needs to be purchased (surprisingly little despite huge growth spurts...their clothes must have been ridiculously long last year). And then I moved to my own drawers.

I pulled out all of the summer clothes and decided to only store what I would actually wear next year. I have a bunch of stuff I keep year after year but never put on. So, off to the charity bin. We just don't have enough room to hold on to everything.

Then, I pulled out all of my jeans from last year. I only had 2 pairs out for the summer and 3 more stored away. I decided to try them on just to see how they looked. Not good. It would help if I could actually do them up. I ran to the scale. I did gain a few pounds but not enough to do that. However, I did stop running so now I got squishy and I can't do up my pants.

Now the dilemma, new jeans or new bod? I could go out and buy a few new pairs of jeans I suppose but the idea of that just made me feel fat and defeated. I can't run until my back is better so that's out of the question. So, I woke up this morning and started another Isagenix cleanse. I refuse to go and buy new jeans. Plus, I am going to Chicago in a few weeks and need to be able to wear them. So here I go again. Wish me luck!

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...

Two more days. Two more full on cleanse days, mind you, but still just 2 more days. I will still be doing shake days for the rest of the 30 days but my cleanse days will be done. I feel great and I have really learned a lot in this short time about how I view food and how I abuse food.

Don't get me wrong. You know that within minutes of waking up on Saturday morning I will be racing to the Starbucks down the street (sorry Steve) for my Chai Tea Latte. But, I am going to try my hardest to keep it a treat and not a daily indulgence. I am also way more conscious of actually thinking about what I put into my body. I am shocked at how often I reach for something I don't even want! Fishy crackers?  Leftover crusts? Chocolate? OK, I actually want the chocolate but certainly shouldn't eat it nearly as often.

The funny thing is that weight loss was not my objective (I haven't stood on the scale since day 1 because I didn't want to get obsessed so I'll weigh in on Saturday and let you know the results) but I realize that food is not just about staying thin or getting fat it is about fueling my body. I know, I know we've heard it all before but for some reason Isagenix really made it click for me. When you are getting all of the nutrients you need from the supplements, feeling energized and, aside from sheer calories, you don't really need food you start to have a different perspective. I am not saying I won't indulge myself sometimes but most of the time I hope to continue to see food as a way to build energy and stay healthy.

The big challenge will be how I do in the long term. If history is any indicator I might be eating my words (and lots of other junk) within a short period of time but I'm optimistic. I owe it to myself to take what I've learned and apply it to my life.

I will also have the advantage of Steve Bentley as my coach. Not only did Steve support me through the cleanse period but he is helping me with my overall health and fitness goals. Steve's motivational approach should keep me going.

The truth is though, I just ate dinner. It was a 600 calorie healthy dinner but real food none the less. So, check back in 24hrs or so and see how chipper and optimistic I am then. Just like that train from one of my fave childhood stories - I think I can, I think I can...

Confession Time...My Secret Little TV Obsession

Confession time. I am addicted to The Biggest Loser. I love this show. Hey, I'm not too proud to admit my weaknesses. I don't know what it is about this silly reality show that has me hooked but I just can't stop myself. Maybe seeing desperately obese and unhealthy people see the benefits of moderate eating and exercise? Or, maybe it is watching trainers Bob and Jillian whip their butts into shape day after day? Or watching the amazing transformation over the course of the season? Check these out:

Un-freaking-believable!

However, there are some things about the show this season that are really bugging me. The show seems to be moving farther and farther away from the whole fact that losing weight IS a challenge and more toward the faux drama of "strategy" and "game play" typical of other reality shows. It bugs me enough that they vote people out each week. Shouldn't they help everyone and then whoever sheds the highest percentage of body fat wins? But to add in all of this strategy and alliance crap takes away from the fact that these people are facing the biggest challenge of their lives - losing weight and getting healthy!

Then, on the totally grates-on-my-nerves side are the very un-subtle product placements. The latest one was for gum. Jillian, one of the trainers, tells her group "if you want to satisfy a sweet craving try this new Extra sugarfree gum!". Barf-o-rama! So contrived. Before that it was oatmeal and before that Brita water filters. It just takes away from the whole thing and I am sure I am not alone in saying that these things make it really difficult to get into the show and trust that what we are seeing is not just one big manipulation. Is this The Truman Show?? YOUR VIEWERS KNOW YOU ARE DOING THIS. And, in my opinion, it makes me actually think LESS of the brand because of how irritating and disruptive it is to the flow of the show.

Then finally, I hate to do this to you just like I HATE the fact that they do it to the contestants. NOTHING could make me strip my clothes off in front of millions of viewers each week to weigh in...especially when one has this much weight to lose. Why don't they simply subtract the weight of their t-shirt? Is it REALLY necessary to embarass these people like this? Sometimes I actually have to turn the channel. The worst are the man-boobs. And, strangely, the only picture I could find to illustrate my point has these appropriately placed blue dots to give the guy a small piece of his dignity back. Maybe they are trying to motivate through public humiliation? I don't know but it is sooooo not cool.

See what I mean?? Yet, I continue to watch because I absolutely love to see their successes. What about you? Do you watch The Biggest Loser? Any other less than stellar TV show addictions? Do tell in the comments below.

Fooooooooooooood

I look back on my posts from the last few days and hate my righteous self. The last two days have been REALLY hard. Not because I am super starving but because I just want to eat. My husband made tacos last night and the smell nearly put me over the edge. My kids had ice cream for dessert and it was torture. I actually had to leave the room. I miss the taste of food. I miss variety and texture. I miss it all!

The crazy thing is I found the cleanse days where you could eat nothing WAY easier. I think because food wasn't an option I just didn't consider it. But now I get one 400-600 calorie meal per day and I keep trying to rationalize sneaking in a little something here or a chai tea latte there. There is more wiggle room. Plus, with my hubby home cooking the smells are overwhelming. Ugh.

The good news is I haven't caved. I've been bitter and moody (just ask my family) but have not blown it. I wanted to do the Isagenix cleanse for a reason and I keep reminding myself that it is just 9 days out of my life. And, if I see the benefits I am hoping this will be well worth it. I already feel "lighter" - and I don't mean the 5lbs I have lost or the occassional head rush - I mean emotionally. I really do feel that my body is cleansing. The lesson here is that sometimes the harder it is the more worth while. I don't want to let myself down by screwing this up after already putting in 4 days so I am not going to.

Therefore, I planned my day a little differently today. Instead of a midday meal I am going to have an early dinner. That way while my family is eating pizza and watching the Super Bowl I will not be sulking in a corner with my shake. I am making stir fried veggies and chick peas on brown rice with a small amount of korma sauce. This will be about 600 calories but full of flavour. Not all "whole" foods but pretty close.

UPDATE. Here are some pics of the dinner I made. For those of you who know me you know that I DO NOT cook. Ever. So I had to share. Check it out!

Chick peas, brown rice, and veggies with Korma sauce. Yum.

The tacos that have tortured me for 2 nights now! Yummmmy...cheese, sour cream...mmmmmmmm.

Anyway, I am almost half way through the cleanse so wish me luck...I have a feeling I'm going to need it.

A little morsel of delight

Surpisingly, I finished the two cleanse days with little trouble. I got a bit peckish yesterday evening (especially because we were at our neighbour's house for pizza and wine...needless to say I had neither) but I got through it. And you know what made it actually OK? This new Isagenix product Steve gave me called IsaDelight. I know, the name is totally hokey but OMG was it AMAZING. IsaDelight is a chocolate treat (and unlike the Isagenix "snacks" it actually tastes EXACTLY like dark chocolate) with just 40 calories, amino acids, minerals, and Vitamin B it is supposed to satisfy cravings and boost energy. This was my life saver. I know it sounds ridiculous but this little morsel was so yummy that it was easy to complete the second cleanse day.

So now I am back to shake days and that shake tasted mighty fine this morning. Also, I actually get one REAL MEAL today! Yes, it will be a 400-600 calorie chicken salad but hey, that's looking pretty good right about now. So, 5 days of shakes and then 2 more cleanse days and then the rest of the month on shake days. We'll see how it goes but once these 4 cleanse days are over the rest will be a breeze.

It has been great to have Kath to call and the support from Steve is awesome. I emailed him last night to say I was thinking about getting a chai tea latte in the morning and this was his response:

Walk away from the light. Don't look into the light. Of course you can have a latte, and it wouldn't devastate the cleanse. But you're doing so well and are on such a great journey it would be a shame to cave in.

Do you think I had my latte? Nope. Just what I needed. And check out how Kath and her hubby are doing at Losing It.

Enough Already! Oh, and Cleanse Days

I was thinking the cleanse days were going to get to me but they have been a breeze compared to my daughter's pneumonia scare and, then yesterday, my car "incident". Let me elaborate. Our car is relatively new and still under warranty so that's all good. A few days ago it started making a funny sound like I had driven over something but when I looked underneath there was nothing to be seen. We decided that it was bad enough that it needed to be checked so I bundled up my daughter and set off for the dealership.

However, things began to deteriorate enroute - the rattle got louder and the car started shaking. Then, within a few blocks of the shop, lights started flashing warnings about my brakes and the car started beeping. Just about a block away the brakes failed. I was literally standing on the brake as I pulled into the dealership. Phew. WHY ME?! Is that my 3 bad things yet 'cause I just wanna be done.

And now a snow day. When does that ever happen? My little one is still not well enough for school but I am off to pick up the eight year old. Nothing like a bored kid all afternoon. Let's hope we can scoop a pal to play with. Thank god my nanny returns on Monday!

Now for the latest on my Isagenix cleansing. I am half way through day 2 of the cleanse and doing surprisingly well. The hardest part has been resisting picking at things. It is not that I am overly hungry at all but that I have bad habits. I pick. A pizza crust here. A few fishy crackers there. I am so shocked at how much I must actually do this during the course of a day!

The good news is that I am finding the cleanse not only straight forward and, so far, not too hard to bear but I actually feel really good - positive and refreshed. Unlike Kath who feels better with a few veggie snacks I have not eaten anything except the optional almonds and am surprised at how OK I am. Don't get me wrong, there have been times when I have been hungry but it is almost easier to resist when food is not an option. I found the temptation stronger on the pre-cleanse days when we were eating. Maybe it's just me but I do better with hard and fast rules.

I was also thrilled yesterday to meet with Steve Bentley. Steve has been a health/wellness/fitness coach for over 17 years and is a total wealth of knowledge. I asked him endless questions, some of my own and some sent to me from you guys, about the benefits of cleansing, Isagenix, exercise, etc. Steve obviously has a passion for this because he was totally keen to share his knowledge. He will be coming back to visit me in a few weeks and take me for a run (yikes!) to help lessen the impact on my knees and improve my form to make me a more efficient runner (and maybe I'll actually be able to run with my son). Can't wait! One of the biggest benefits to doing Isagenix through Steve is...well, Steve himself. His holistic approach to health is exactly what I want. No fad diets but someone to help me put my body in a position to extend my healthy years into old age.

So here are a few answers to your questions. I'll answer a few with each new post so keep them coming. Oh yah...and tomorrow I have a shake day again. I get to eat!

1. Aren't cleansing and Isagenix just another diet fad?
   Steve says: Cleansing is not new. It is practiced around the world and has been throughout history. I have used cleansing systems for 20 years but nothing has been as effective as Isagenix. Isagenix is not a diet but rather a nutritious cleansing system designed to flood your entire body with nutrients. All the products are natural and very gentle on your system.  The makeup of digestive enzymes, minerals and nutrients is just what the body needs to be supported and replenished. The wave of nutrients that your body receives while on an Isagenix cleanse awakens your body, which assists in kick-starting your natural metabolism  and gives you energy. Weight loss while on the Isagenix system (if you have fat to lose) is just a wonderful side benefit. Although I work with many people who are using the Isagenix system for weight loss (women I get on the plan often lose 6 to 14 pounds in the 9 day cleanse period and guys lose 8 to 20), the majority of my performance athlete clients are using the cleanse purely for the health and performance improvement benefits.  People I coach have had some incredible results after using the Isagenix system.
2. Isn't Isagenix really expensive?
   Steve says: When it comes right down to it the Isagenix System actually costs you LESS money to do than not to do.  The 30 Day system replaces 68 meals and is actually cheaper to do the cleanse than to eat normally.  You are simply redirecting your grocery money to the nutritious and effective cleansing system that is also giving you better and more consistent energy, helping you to release unwanted body fat quickly and safely, providing better mental focus, cleansing your body of toxins and helping to improve your overall health.  If you were to actually assign a value to those benefits the cleanse would be priceless. 

This Parenting Thing is Too Freakin' Hard...and Day 2: Pre-Cleanse

We were back at Sick Kids this morning. We had a little, lethargic girl with a fever. This parenting thing is WAY too hard. This was supposed to be our hump day. She was primed to go back to school tomorrow. But instead she napped and cried and cuddled. My heart sat outside my body as I watched her. I turned to my mom with tears of my own and declared "this is just too hard." How do the parents of terminally ill children do it? I can not even imagine. Her pale face. Her skinny, weak body. It is too much. My energetic superhero is just a frail, tiny little person.

The good news is they sent us home. She is being closely monitored but did not need to be readmitted. A good night's sleep (for both of us), some Tylenol and some food and rehydration will help. She's on the mend and now it's time for me to stop obsessing over every little moan. Man, I need a stiff drink...

But, as you all know, that is not in the cards for me these days. Probably a good thing, really. I have now completed Day 2 of my Pre-Cleanse. Being at the hospital screwed things up a bit but I managed to stay on track and I am surprised at how well I am doing. I have not been nearly as hungry as I thought and I actually find that shakes quite enjoyable.

Tomorrow the real test begins - it is our first real cleanse day. No food. Just the Isagenix nutrient replacements. What really impresses me about this program is the philosophy. They don't promise the quick fix or the miracle solution. What they promote is cleansing the body and giving it the fuel it needs to perform at its optimum. Isagenix is not the miracle but your own body can be if you give it what it needs. This is a lifestyle choice for those who find results. We'll see what I think in the end but so far I am more than intrigued. I like that it is more about what you put in than what is coming off and since I don't have hefty weight loss goals this works well for me.

So, tune in tomorrow to see how I do with zero food but a body well on the way to eliminating toxins and operating at its peak! Btw, I was going to post a before picture like Kath did but then I thought that was stupid because I don't have lofty weight loss goals. What do you think? Should I do it to see if there is a difference? I was thinking of taking one up close of the bags under my eyes to illustrate fatigue and lack of energy but opted out of that...too much information even for me.

Oh, and I didn't have a chance to catch up with Steve about the fitness part of the program because I was at the hospital all day. As soon as I do I'll fill you in. But, in the meantime, if you have any questions about Steve Bentley or Bentley Coaching or Isagenix contact Steve at performancecoaching@sympatico.ca or by phone at 416.497.6361.

Day 1 - Pre-Cleanse

Well today was my first day on the Isagenix program. I started a day later than Kath and was fully prepared to be absolutely starving after her admission to nearly snacking on dryer lint. But to my surprise it hasn't been bad. I mean, I'm hungrier than I would normally be but not so much that I have had to eat something outside of the plan. What I did notice was how often I reached for something. I obviously pick and snack a whole lot during the day without even noticing. I went for the crusts of my kids' sandwiches, a cookie in the cupboard, a chocolate in the fridge, a slice of cheese, chocolate milk after I poured it for my daughter...the list goes on. You notice that I didn't say that I reached for the carrot sticks and apples. Nope. Maybe this is part of the problem...yah think?!

Anyway, I also went and bought myself a scale. We don't own one 'cause I hate them. If I have one I obsess over it and end up weighing myself a zillion times a day. So I usually base my weight on the feel of my clothes. I am thinking I may have to get my husband to hide the scale somewhere and have him take it out when I am supposed to weigh myself. The big surprise was that I actually weighed less than I thought. I think the 4 Days At Sick Kids With Child With Pneumonia Diet stripped off those 10lbs I had gained over the holidays. So now I can focus on getting my energy up and feeling healthy.

I was so tired today from lack of sleep since my daughter's illness that I was actually scaring myself. I would forget what I was doing in the middle of it. Could not remember the question someone had just asked me. And when I bought the scale - which was actually the whole reason I went to the store and the ONLY thing I bought - I left it there at the cash. I didn't even realize it until I got home. I had to hold back pathetic, overtired tears. Can you say cookoo.

So, let me give you my first impression of Isagenix:
1) Don't go thinking it's easy 'cause it's not. There IS no easy way to do a cleanse. If you are looking for one, don't bother. However, after day one I can honestly say it was not as hard as I thought...BUT we haven't done the actual cleanse days yet so I'll reserve judgement.
2) The shakes taste pretty good but nothing like the yummy milkshakes you order in a restaurant so don't go fooling yourself. I did find they filled me up though.
3) The drink you have to take first thing in the morning is yucky. Not disgusting. Not totally-gag-me-I'm-going-to-barf but yucky. It is 1oz so, on Steve's advice, I drank it like a shooter...in a shot glass and everything.
4) I miss my Chai Tea Latte! Desperately! If I could have just one thing it would be my daily, warm, comforting CHAI TEA LATTE.

So, that's about it so far. One day down. I am going to be meeting with Steve tomorrow, hopefully, about my overall fitness which I am really looking forward to! I'll keep you posted. Oh! And PLEASE help me if you can. I went to 3 grocery stores today looking for almonds. Just regular almonds. I found roasted, salted, slivered and sliced but not a single plain old almond. Any ideas?

If you have any questions about Steve Bentley or Bentley Coaching or Isagenix contact Steve at performancecoaching@sympatico.ca or by phone at 416.407.6361.

When it's time for a change

Over the last 6 months or so I've had some recurring issues with my knees. In fact, it has effected most of my larger joints; knees, hips, elbows, and ongoing pain in my back. The strange thing is I have never been more fit and healthy. I had similar problems with my knees after both pregnancies but it went away after a few months and I chalked it up to hormones. Then, for the last few years it has been my back. On and off pain and stiffness. And finally this fall it was my knees again. Swollen, fluid filled, and aching.

A running injury was what I assumed but after a trip to a sports medicine doctor I found out I likely had some sort of auto-immune disease and was immediately referred to a rheumatologist for more tests. I was petrified. What did this mean? How serious was it? How bad might it get?

Well, I still don't know for sure. The initial tests indicated some auto-immune issues but the specifics are still to be determined. The pain and swelling is under control but I am still not back to where I want to be. I have just recently been able to start running again but find I have less energy and have gained about 10lbs.

During the last 6 months urbanmoms.ca has been receiving information and solicitation from a variety of companies promoting Natural Cleansing - ridding your body of toxins using natural supplements so that it runs at peak performance. We haven't paid too much attention to them because we don't do ads and don't tend to promote multi-level marketing companies. But recently I started to notice some people in my neighbourhood looking really fabulous, healthy and energetic.

So, I asked them what they'd been up to. And they started telling me about how they were using a natural cleansing product called Isagenix. They had lost weight and they felt amazing! Sounded good but I wasn't interested. Supplements and starving myself was not my thing. I wasn't going to fall for that scam. But then someone I really respect, an athlete and a mom, told me how cleansing works and how it had helped her to finish 1st in her age group in one of Toronto's major marathons. I admit I was intrigued but still not convinced to give it a try.

It wasn't until I hooked up with Steve Bentley, a Performance Coach helping regular people as well as competitive athletes improve their overall health and fitness to reach their individual goals, that I seriously started to consider this. Steve has a holisitic approach to health which really interests me and he incorporates Isagenix into an overall health strategy.

I did a ton of research, checked with my doctor and found out that cleansing has been practiced throughout history and it has only been in recent modern society that some form of cleansing is not standard. I also read about theories that toxins can cause or trigger certain health issues...including auto-immune diseases. This has not been proven but it is supported by many.

Get where I'm going with this? Yup, I'm going to try it. I am going to try Isagenix for 30 days. I am also going to meet with Steve Bentley and get some advice from a professional on how to approach my physical fitness. And I'm going to blog about it. Every detail good and bad.

Kath and her husband are also going to give it a try to kick start their weight loss again. We figure we have a better chance of getting through it if we are in it together. She will write about their experiences. I will write about mine. The good. The bad. And the ugly.

To make things very clear, we are not endorsing this product. Isagenix is not paying us. We may not be successful or we may love it. We'll just have to see. I am doing this for myself and I'm going to share my experiences with you for your information and, possibly, entertainment. That's it.

So, I'm starting on Monday with the pre-cleanse. Getting my body ready for the cleanse days. And you have to know that I am freaking out about missing my daily Chai Tea Latte! Any encouragement helps. So if you have your own experiences or questions or just think I'm nuts please share in the comments below or send me an email. If you have any questions about Steve Bentley or Bentley Coaching or Isagenix contact Steve at performancecoaching@sympatico.ca or by phone at 416.407.6361.

10 pounds...again.

Summer 2003 - Kath and I both looking a little plump...

Summer 2007 - Fit and at my ideal weight. Feeling great.

How many times do I have to do this to myself? I have been up and down with my weight my whole life. I've never been "obese" by definition but have gone up and down as much as 50lbs (not including pregnancy...we won't even go there.) However, for the last few years I've been in a groove and since I started running a year and a half ago I have maintained my lowest weight since practically starving myself in grade 11 (NOT recommended for long-term weight loss, btw.) Until now. My knees have been bugging me so I haven't been running much. We went to Mexico where the food and drink and relaxation flowed freely. And then it was Christmas with all the yummy treats the season has to offer.

I don't own a scale (this IS a weight loss tip I would recommend). That way I can't obsess over the numbers. However I do know when I am putting on weight and this holiday season the signs were all there. My ski pants were uncomfortably snug. I was reverting to my Lululemon yoga pants or unbuttoning the top button on my normally comfortable jeans. And I was considering pulling out my long retired Spanx to try and smooth out the lumps. NOT good.

How did this happen? I am so tired of learning this lesson over and over. When will I just get it and figure out that the extra piece of cake or the stuff-myself-silly fondue dinner or the 6 chocolates in one sitting are just not worth it? I delude myslef into thinking that this time it will be different, that I am a "thin person" now and "thin people" don't get fat because then they would be "fat people". The truth is, I am not a "thin person" even at my ideal weight. I will always be tempted. I will always be at risk of gorging myself and gaining back that 10lbs...or more.

So, what to do? Well, what I always do I guess. Get back on that old, tired bandwagon. I've been getting inspired by Kath's Losing It blog and watching X-Weighted, The Last 10 Pounds Boot Camp, and The Biggest Loser to keep me motivated. Plus, I am trying to make smarter, healthier meal choices. I finished off all of the chocolate (barf) so there is no more to eat and I have gone running twice this week. In other words, the cycle starts again. Maybe this time I will learn my lesson once and for all?