A TRUE LIFE STORY

I have known Chiquetta for eleven years. When we first met and became friends Chiquetta had only discarded her garments and left the Mormon Church two years previously. I have been her close friend during her transition from living the Mormon life and being married to a Mormon Bishop. I’ve watched this woman shift as she struggled to find herself and make the connection between spirituality and sexuality.

 I have been Chiquetta’s close friend throughout this journey and I am the author of this book. We hope it touches and inspires those who read it and we would love to hear your comments when you have read the book, “Transformative Sex”. The target  release date is May/June 2011.

 

When we first started to write Chiquetta’s personal Memoirs of “Transformative Sex” I thought I was simply tagging along.  I had absolutely no idea how profoundly this whole journey would affect me or I probably would have run as far and as fast as I could. Now that I’m on the other side though I’m so glad I hung in there. My own healing that I’ve experienced as a result of this project has been well worth the effort. Not hundreds but thousands of hours have been spent on the book, healing and trying to get a very specific message across. As we both dated and discussed men during this journey we took a very deep look at what we and most women desire and need to feel loved by a man. We also developed an understanding of how our past was keeping us from obtaining what we wanted as far as an authentic and intimate relationship with the man in our lives. We learned that we had to heal our past in order to obtain the deep connection between spirituality and sexuality with a man in our every day lives.

Chiquetta

This book has not been an easy one to write but it’s a story I’ve been prompted by many people to share.

As I would reveal small details of my past with my clients so they would better understand where I was coming from I never imagined it would turn into the “Journey of Sexual Healing” that it has.

This is not a theoretical story but my personal life experience as I have lived it and the many things I have learned as I have traveled my own path towards sexual healing. This “Journey of Sexual Healing” that I’m about to take you on is a place where I have been.

This book may be upsetting to many but hopefully more inspirational and eye opening than anything. 

My desire is for healing to occur on many levels and for men and women to more clearly see the insanity that is occurring on the planet as we have lost our connection to our sexual energy which is our life force energy.

I was born in the deep South and raised in the Mormon religion. When I married the only sex I experienced was what I called, “Straight Jacket Sex.” 

This book tells how I healed and overcame my own sexual dysfunction. I was sexually abused when I was young and both of my parents lived secret sex lives. My second marriage was to a Mormon Bishop and when I left the Mormon religion I did a complete 360. I went from wearing garments that covered me from the top of my knees to my shoulders to becoming a sexual entertainer.

I was led out of the life as a sexual entertainer by a beautiful man and Tantric healer, Shantam Nityama.  This man took me from being a little girl captured in a woman’s body to truly learning what it feels like to be a woman who is feminine, responsible for her life, tender and loving and no longer angry at men.

Becoming a ‘Tantric Sex Coach and Sexual Healer’ has allowed me to experience the depth and beauty of deep sexual intimacy in my every day life.

Chiquetta and I will be meeting with our editor in California on February 15th as we begin to complete the book. It will then go on to the copy editor and then proofreader. This journey has touched me deeply on a personal level. Although I was not raised in the Mormon religion I was however molested as a child. This takes a toll whether you’re male or female and there were more tears than laughter throughout this journey.

This book is a labor of love and healing. Our hope is even if one person can begin their healing process around their sexuality and loving themself then this has been a successful journey and well worth the grief, pain, tears and longs hours in bringing “Transformative Sex” to completion.

“Transformative Sex” is targeted for release May/June 2011.

Enjoy the Journey and enjoy the book “Transformative Sex”. We hope it allows you or someone you know to open the door to healing on a very deep level.

Chiquetta Dawn & Kara Ann

Free the Emotional Body & I Become Free of the Obese Body

Around 400 Lbs.

I can’t believe it has been almost three months since I’ve written a post for this blog.  I promised myself when I began this journey I would be brutally honest and that’s not always as easy as one may think.  This is probably why I’ve procrastinated on writing a new post because on some level I felt it was time for the brutal honesty. 

I went into a two month plateau and I was busting my butt at the gym.  At the end of the two months of not shedding even one pound I said the proverbial “screw this” and began that downward spiral of self-sabotage.  As I began to indulge in extra butter and mayonnaise on select foods.  I told myself these few items wouldn’t make a difference.  Besides I would continue to work out at the gym.  Thank God I didn’t give that up completely.  Then came the sugar free ice cream sweetened with Maltitol and Sorbitol.  Mind you a half a cup only  has 4 to 5 grams of sugar versus the 20 plus grams per a half a cup of other brands but it doesn’t really count if you’re eating a huge bowl that ends up adding to a full two to three cups.

My freefall, I am grateful to say, only lasted about six weeks yet it added 12 pounds back onto my already tired body.  About the time I decided this insanity could not continue and I needed to get back on track to eating healthy I had my blood pressure taken at the doctors.  A whopping 211/141.  Needless to say this scared the living heck out of me and I made the decision to really kick things into gear.  I’m off of dairy, sugar and wheat, not even fruit for the time being.  Pretty much chicken, fish, turkey, very little beef and lots of salads, raw and steamed or grilled vegetables.  I have dropped 22 pounds in 21 days and 20.75 inches during this time.

Now to the emotional part of weight loss and I believe there are emotional components involved with morbid obesity.  I actually had the opportunity to attend an experiential workshop June 2009 called the, Braddock Body Process developed by a phenomenal woman Carolyn Braddock.  Carolyn through her 42 years of working with people has witnessed that when a person has been through abuse or trauma they develop patterns within the physical body that keep them from moving forward in life.  Not using the breath, holding one’s breath, certain walking patterns, rigidity in the joints, etc.  Obesity seems to be just one more thing that gets heaped on that pile.

I personally began to do serious work about 15 years ago around being molested as a small child by my paternal grandfather.  It wasn’t until I attended Carolyn’s workshop June last summer and then again in November of 2009 that I’ve finally been able to begin to love myself enough to take care of my body so I can let go of the excess baggage physically.  I’d come a long way over the years on the path to heal emotionally and spiritually yet I hadn’t been able to deal with and release the weight.  At 59 years old I’m finally on my way home to myself.  The self I lost at the innocent young age of three.

I’ve thought long and hard about being this honest regarding my past yet if it helps one other person or gives them the encouragement to continue on then it’s worth it.  This isn’t the kind of thing you tell most people let alone place it in a blog for who knows how many people to read yet I think this is also part of my healing process.  I just attended Carolyn’s workshop for a tune up so to speak November 4-6th of this year and was able to celebrate my 59th birthday while there.  Being with the small group of beautiful souls who I had the privelage to get to know absolutely inspired me to keep on loving myself and wanting to make a positive change so I may be part of the solution to all the grief and pain that exists in our society today and not part of the problem.  I thank them all and honor the courage they have to walk that dark path to reach the light of healing on all levels.

Most of all, thank you Carolyn, you are an awesome woman and you have changed my life.  I am eternally grateful.  The work you do is so needed on this planet.

At the age of 44 when the vivid memories surfaced of my grandfather molesting me I wrote my first poem and I would like to share it now.

WHAT GRANDFATHER TAUGHT ME

Who’s the frightened young girl in the woman I see

How can I teach her to set her soul free

Out of the darkness he always came to me

I need you, I love you, Grandfather would say

Come hold my hand and we will play

Grandfather taught me to keep secrets, play hide and seek                                 

He taught me not to reveal things that might hurt those I loved

You must not tell your parents for they’d never understand

They wouldn’t want you or love you yet I think you’re simply grand

I was his favorite he’d say stealing a kiss

Nicknamed Greta Garbo for my youthful looks and blonde hair

How could you Grandfather, I was only three

Did you ever realize how much you stole from me

I was a babe in the woods and relished for my purity

A petty thief would have had more care or concern for my sanity

Yet you taught me to take the blame and accept the responsibility

You taught me to negate myself mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually

Damn you Grandfather, you attempted to imprison me

And I promise you this I will set my soul free

My grandfather built the walls to the prison I lived in for so many decades but I’m the one who made sure they didn’t crumble or fall for fear of seeing this ugly and horrible person that I’d come to believe I was.  I now know this was a lie that I believed for way too long.  It’s mainly the beautiful strong women in my life who have supported me in my healing process.  My mother, sisters, daughter, neices and friends over the years have been my lifeline.  If you read this and are needing someone to talk to please do so.  Find a friend and it doesn’t have to be another woman as there are many wonderful kind and caring men out there who can lend a listening ear, a hand to hold, or a shoulder to cry on.  The important thing is to talk to someone.

I wish everyone a wonderful Journey to Health, Happiness, Peace, Love, Prosperity, Joy, Laughter and a Connection to the Divine.

Namaste – Kara Myers

HOW DO WE HELP OUR KIDS DEAL WITH SHEDDING THOSE EXTRA POUNDS?

I know there must be many blocks to weight loss and they are probably as varied as there are overweight people but I can only speak for myself.

I keep wondering why I feel so frustrated as I’m making good progress and doing well on my Journey to Health.  Living in a society of instant gratification and little patience I want to be thin yesterday.  Yet my main goal is not to be thin as much as it is to be healthy.  So why the frustration and inner emotional turmoil. 

I think in part it goes back to my younger years when I started my first starvation diet to please a boy I liked.  Back in those days the last thing I thought of was my health and I only wanted to be thin as a rail.  If I didn’t hate throwing up so much I know at some point I would have developed the pattern of binging and purging.

Thanksgiving-09

Although I’m committed to seeing this through because I feel better as a result of eating healthy and exercising I continue to have the recurring dread and doubt that my official goal is to create a certain type of looking body.  I also realize that this is unrealistic at my age and I am thankful that I have a little bit of wisdom and decades of life experience to keep me from getting completely off track.

I know from past experience what doesn’t work and the price I’ve paid in poor health by only focusing on being thin.  What worries me is, if I, with my life experience am struggling with the emotional dilemma of being thin when I know it is totally unrealistic then what on earth must our young men and women be going through.

April 2010

Our media still bombards us with gorgeous, fashionable, young, sexy and thin models, movie stars, etc.  It’s as though there is this underlying statement or code that states, “If you don’t look this way you will not have what these people have.  You will simply lead a dull boring life.”

When I was in my teen’s and twentie’s with not even one extra pound on my body I never felt as though I looked good enough.  I had a friend who got furious with me when I was 33 because I would only wear long baggy shorts in the summer and I was a size eight.

You will never convince me that it’s okay thing for anyone to be obese simply because it will destroy their health.  Yet there is a flaw in our society that a person feels less than whole if they were not gifted with the DNA of a super model.  This is simply wrong.

They say for the first time in recorded history our kids will not live as long as their parents due to the foods we eat.  Yet we continue to manufacture plastic food and expect our children to grow and thrive on it.  Virtually no one can stay both healthy and thin eating processed foods.  Therefore those of us who are challenged in the fat department logically say, “okay, if the foods I eat make me fat then I just won’t eat. 

What do we say to our kids to let them know what’s inside is the most important thing when at their age fitting in is everything?  Education is the key and there is very little of it out there.  Our kids need to know that there is an answer and that eating the right foods will make them feel better, look better and have more energy.  And wer’re not talking processed cardboard tasting foods.  We need to educate our kids on what raw whole foods are.

There was a program on television a few months ago where a classroom of 3rd graders was shown fresh vegetables such as, tomatoes, celery, carrots, potatoes, etc. and they were not able to name one of them.

 

I know it has helped me immensely to learn about and experience Low-Glycemic Index/Impact Eating through the Transitions Lifestyle Program.  My life and health would have been so different had I known this decades ago.  The good thing is my life already is and will continue to be healthier and happier from this point on.

I urge everyone, no matter what your age to learn about the foods you eat and what those foods do to your body.  We’ve all heard the statistics regarding the obesity and health epidemic in our culture and there’s nothing more to do other than educate ourselves and make a lifestyle change. 

Yours in Health & Wellness

Kara A. Myers

HORMONES & WEIGHT GAIN/LOSS

Prior to Low Glycemic-Impact Eating & Exercise

I have recently heard many overweight people discuss concerns that their weight gain or difficulty with weight loss is probably due to hormonal imbalances.  Many are throwing themselves into using cremes, etc. to try and balance various hormones in their bodies.  They often do this without seeing a Dr. or being tested. 

I am not a doctor or a specialist yet I am a morbidly obese post menopausal woman and have definitely been down the road of, “If I could just get my hormones in balance then maybe I could easily discard the excess pounds.”  I think it’s a human flaw that we often want to find the easy way out and I’m plagued with it myself.  I’ve seen many doctors over the last 6 years, have had lots of blood work done to check many hormones and I have read many books.  It’s not all been in vain and I’ve learned enough to know there’s no easy way to Health, Wellness and Shedding those Excess Pounds.  I’ve also learned enough to realize that I had to suck it up, make lifestyle changes and do it the old fashioned way.  EAT HEALTHY & EXERCISE.

The following will give you an extremely brief explanation of some of the hormones in the body that affect our weight.  If you want more detailed information there are too many books to count on the subject.  Also, the internet is packed with information.  Some of the details listed below are from Wikepedia on the internet.

I would love to suggest an easy solution to the hormone saga and how it ties in with weight gain and weight loss but that would be misleading.  There are many factors and quite a few hormones that can affect our weight.

We have the basic male and female sex hormones; Estrogen, Progesterone and Testosterone. There are a few more that I’m not mentioning at this time.  As men and women age these hormone levels drop and it can lead to a slower metabolism and weight gain.

The thyroid hormones, thyroxine (T₄) and triiodothyronine (T₃), are tyrosine-based hormones produced by the thyroid gland primarily responsible for regulation of metabolism.  If these hormones are unbalanced then a person may gain excess weight or have difficulty shedding excess pounds.

The adrenals, small glands located above each kidney, produce a number of important hormones. The adrenals’ inner medulla produces epinephrine and norepinephrine (adrenaline).  Adrenals also contain an outer cortex, which produces hormones such as cortisol, aldosterone, testosterone, DHEA, DHEAS, androstenedione and estrogens. Cortisol and aldosterone are two of the most important hormones the body makes. Excesses or deficiencies of these hormones results in important clinical problems. Cortisol, a glucocorticoid, is the stress hormone and is involved in weight control.   When you are under stress Cortisol levels increase and this can lead to weight gain especially belly fat.

HCG is a hormone that occurs most notably in the bodies of pregnant women.  HCG stands for human chronic gonadotropin.  There are many promises of what HCG injections can do to accelerate weight loss.  One clinic states lose X amount a day and keep it off with a personalized diet plan.  Did you catch that last part about a personalized diet plan?  Once again, you can’t escape the healthy eating part.

I did bio-identical hormone replacement therapy and although it did improve my memory due to low Testosterone levels and my energy levels were elevated I did not shed a pound.  Other women who worked in the clinic took off between 5 to 15 pounds but it did not throw their metabolism into accelerated and continuous fat burning mode.  I plan to get bio-identical hormone therapy in the future as I feel that it will be a good adjunct and support for my body now that I am on the Low Glycemic-Index Impact Program and exercising on a regular basis.  I would like to mention at this time that the Low Glycemic-Index Impact Program is not a diet, it is a lifestyle change and one that you can easily follow for the rest of your life.  Saying this, it is a good time to mention the fact that ingesting refined sugar throws your hormones out of whack.  I believe that if your hormones are off, even a small amount then it may be enough to make it more difficult for the body to deal with weight loss yet I do not feel that it will replace or take the place of eating healthy and exercising.

Insulin is a hormone that is central to regulating the energy and glucose metabolism in the body.  Insulin causes cells in the liver, muscle, and fat tissue to take up glucose from the blood, storing it as glycogen in the liver and muscle.

Insulin stops the use of fat as an energy source.  When insulin is absent, glucose is not taken up by body cells and the body begins to use fat as an energy source.

The human body maintains blood glucose levels within relatively narrow parameters.  These parameters are 80-100 and when you go above or below these parameters you can eat broccoli and your body will turn it into fat.

I personally found this particular piece of information daunting as I’ve spent more than four decades training my body to go long periods without food via diet pills and crash dieting.  Now I discover that those long bouts without food have attributed greatly to my morbid obesity.

Also, when I was tested my thyroid was somewhat low and I did begin a RX but made the choice to discontinue it after 6 months because it made me feel so crappy.  This was against the advice of my doctor but it is my body.  I was also dealing with pretty severe adrenal exhaustion and made lifestyle changes to counteract that.  Working on stress is a big one, paying attention to the exhaustion I was feeling and allowing myself to rest when needed.  Now that I’m going to the gym on a regular basis I’ve rediscovered that it’s a wonderful way to relieve stress and raising those endorphins is a natural and healthy way to battle depression.

April 2010 - Began Low Glygemic-Impact Eating Feb. 2010 & started exercise regimen Feb. 5, 2010 - Weight Loss of 71 Lbs. as of June 23, 2010

Bottom line, you won’t and can’t escape the tried and true method of a healthy eating plan and exercise.  There is no magic bullet, pill, injection, etc.  There are supplements, hormone replacement therapies, etc. that will give your body the needed support to magnify and speed up your success rate but they cannot be used as an alternative to a healthy lifestyle.  If you feel that you have a hormonal imbalance that is keeping you from weight loss or causing you to put on extra pounds then I suggest you see your physician and have blood work done.  This will give you the most accurate picture of what your body needs.

Kara’s Weight Loss Journey

Thanksgiving 2009

Picture Taken April 2010

DOES CELLULAR MEMORY AFFECT WEIGHT LOSS

Skin tissue from Generals placed in a Petri dish and monitored with probes for pulse, heart rate, blood pressure and so on had the same reaction as the live host when shown war movies.

Our bodies regenerate new cells at various rates to different areas such as the skin, eyes, and so on.  Quantum Physics states that our old cells pass information on to the new cells.  Therefore, when trauma, emotional upset or loss has occurred this is permanently stored in the cells of the human body and continuously passed on if not released.

Therefore, if you’re fat and this fat is due to emotional unresolved issues this means that all the trillions of fat cells throughout the body will pass this information onto the new cells as they are regenerated although you may be shedding pounds at the time.  If a person does not clear the emotional baggage on a cellular level then the ‘TRIGGERS’ that got you there in the first place will assist you in sabotaging your progress.

Just watch “The Biggest Loser”, on television.  One continuous theme through each and every season is that there is a lot of emotional baggage under all that excess weight and the contestants need to let go of all the ‘OLD STUFF’ to continue on their journey.  All that trauma and emotional upset is not aligned with their new purpose and it will only interfere with their success if left unattended or ‘STUFFED DOWN’.  Oh, it may work for a while but it will not be long lasting or permanent.

The ‘EMOTIONAL BAGGAGE’ can range from rape as a child, death of a parent or you simply felt inferior to your sibling growing up.  Yet there is no doubt that there is usually a host of issues that underlie being overweight and obese.  As they learn more and more about the issues of obesity and weight loss the doctors and coaches alike are discovering that if a person does not dig deep to clear whatever is holding them back on an emotional level then the odds of reaching the ultimate goal or maintaining a lasting success is slim.

So the bottom line is you will want to take a look at letting go of the ghosts in your closet.  I’m not saying it will be easy but it is well worth the effort.  It gives a person the opportunity to take responsibility for their health and well-being.  Forgive others and forgive yourself for the big and small things.   Also, be kind and gentle with yourself.  Most important of all learn to love yourself unconditionally.  This one is an absolute must.  So many women out there, and men, want deep love and intimacy in their lives.  We have to love ourselves unconditionally first before we will attract in another person who will be able to love us on that level. 

Emotional healing on a very deep level I have learned gives a person more choices in life than they had prior to releasing their issues.  You’ll have more tools in your toolbox so to speak. 

Releasing weight give you the opportunity to release emotional trauma and releasing emotional trauma gives you the opportunity to release weight.  It’s a ‘WIN-WIN SITUATION’.  So let go of that resistance and give it all you’ve got.  I am relishing in the knowing that I get to ‘RE-INVENT MYSELF’ and I am ‘ENJOYING THE JOURNEY’.

Yours in Health & Wellness – Kara Myers

FINALLY THREW MY PANTS AWAY!!!!

Well I finally threw my first pair of pants away.  They were 5X, stretched to the max and wouldn’t stay up.  I think that was the, “Last Straw”, so to speak.  When I finally got to the point that I wasn’t fitting into 5X anymore.  I just kept thinking that I was not going to wear 6X’s but kept getting larger until I barely fit into the 5X.  Everyone has their breaking point and that was mine.

I’m feeling better and better all the time.  Actually spent hours running the sweeper and mopping floors a few days ago.  You may think this is a strange thing to bring up but when a person has barely been able to do these things for years it can seem like a really big accomplishment.

It’s amazing, as a person becomes sicker, more tired, lethargic, depressed and overweight you lose sight of the myriad of simple tasks or chores you used to perform not giving it a second thought.  It’s this downward spiral that seems to take off and it picks up momentum.  Before you know it all is out of control and you find yourself in front of the mirror asking, “what the hell happened”.

That is in the past now and I am continually moving forward to the “NEW ME”.   It’s just as well that 225 + pounds doesn’t come off overnight.  A person needs time to make the many internal adjustments that will be required to fit into the new body and new life.  It’s definitely a process and I figure I might as well ‘ENJOY THE JOURNEY’.

All I can say to encourage those of you out there who are struggling with your weight or life on any level.  Please just start.  Do one small thing every single day that is beneficial and good for you.  You are absolutely worth it and you’ll be amazed on how quickly it will begin to make a difference.

Yours in health & Wellness  -  Kara A. Myers

YEAH!!!! IT ACTUALLY WORKS – I’VE LOST POUNDS, FAT & INCHES

What a concept.  I know this is how a healthy eating program is supposed to work but at the age of 58 I’ve never had this experience until utilizing the TRANSITIONS LIFESTYLE SYSTEM.  It feels so good to be making progress and I’m not starving.  I still have to pinch myself at times to make sure this isn’t just a dream.

I can honestly say that I do not, let me repeat, I DO NOT FEEL DEPRIVED OF ANYTHING while eating this way and I’m achieving wonderful results.  It doesn’t get any better than that.

When I first weighed and re-measured on April 30th I was initially disappointed with the pounds dropped.  But then I realized that 15 pounds in a 3 week period is not too bad.  Especially when my metabolism has been running slower than a snails pace for not just years but for decades.  My thyroid has been low for years, bloodwork done 2 years ago showed that I was in severe Adrenal Exhaustion, I’m carrying an extreme amount of fat, my whole body is toxic, my digestive system has been compromised and and my liver hasn’t been able to effeciently burn fat.  So considering all of these factors 15 pounds in 3 weeks is absolutely awesome.

Now we go to measure for inches lost.  The numbers there were extremely good also, yet it took a full week for it to really register.  Although I’ve dropped a couple clothing sizes it simply did not completely sink in.  Part of my challenge is I focus too much on how much weight I have left to lose rather than the progress I’ve made.  I am slowly but surely making a paradigm shift on how I think about my health, weight loss and lifestyle changes.

When I re-measured I wasn’t initially impressed as I was thinking that my previous measurements were taken months prior.  I finally realized I  initially had my sister take my measurements on 3-22-10.  I had signed up for a personal trainer at the gym on 3-20 and had my measurements taken prior to my first one-on-one training as I didn’t want one of the guys at the gym to take my measurements.  Thank goodness I wrote everything in my workout journal.

So here we go with the results.  I dropped 4 1/2 inches off my hips, 3 1/2 inches off my waist, 1/2 inch from the biceps and 1 1/2 inches off my bust.  I really wish I would have measured my neck and shoulders.  From the looks of my ‘Heavy Picture’  I’ve probably dropped 5 inches off my neck.  In my initial measurements we did the calves and upper thighs but I did not re-measure those areas on April 30th.  I will have those areas measured next time.  I also dropped 4% body fat and my water % based on total body weight went from 13% up to 16% which is a good thing.

So I am living proof that a person can eat, not starve themselves, feel good and shed those extra pounds.  The biggest challenge is where your mind wants to take you yet I’ve discovered the better I eat that becomes easier also.  I have more energy, I’m not as depressed and I just feel better menatally and emotionally because I’m taking care of me.

I will be eternally grateful for the information and support provided by the TRANSISIONS LIFESTYLE SYSTEM as it has already changed my life dramatically.  The most phenomenal factor is I can truly eat and live this way for the rest of my life without ever feeling that I am missing out on anything.  I didn’t think that there would ever be anything that would release me from the extreme ‘SUGAR CRAVINGS/DESIRE FOR SWEETS’ yet ‘LOW-GLYCEMIC INDEX EATING’ does exactly that.  If you’ve never had that terrible syndrome of being willing to knock over small children and old ladies to get to the sugar then I could never make you understand.  Those of you who have been there or who are currently there, no explaining is necessary.  You feel as though something takes over and you’re possessed and not even exorcism can free you of the demons.  I consider myself a fairly intelligent and for most of my life a fairly in control person but the ‘SUGAR CRAVINGS’ that took over my mind and body made me feel weak and out of control on all levels.  I literally feel like I’ve been freed from a heavy, heavy burden and it feels good.

I will continue to keep you posted on my progress and would love to hear from others who are on the health and weight loss journey, have successfully achieved their goals or are just now considering beginning their own journey to Health and Wellness.

YOURS IN HEALTH & WELLNESS – KARA

7-Day Detox Diet

This is a great idea to do a 7-Day Cleanse and Detox prior to beginning your weight loss program or if you have reached a plateau.

I am currently on Day 7 and it was much easier than I had anticipated. I am feeling energized and definitely much lighter. I have not gotten on the scales and will do that first thing upon waking tomorrow. My sister decided to do the program at the same time and she has dropped 7 pounds already.  Although I get discouraged it helps for me to look at the above picture of myself which is my 375 pound body prior to Transitions Lifestyle Program for weight loss.

As I stated in an earlier post, at the age of 58 this is the first time in my life that I am shedding pounds and inches the healthy way. And with 225 pounds to shed and some major health issures I really want to get it right this time.  I so wish that this kind of information would have been available to me when I was younger.

The 7-Day Detox is a wonderful tool of the Transitions Lifestyle System. The benefits of the Detox is to purify the body, relieve the body’s dependence on sugary foods and enhance your body’s response to carbohydrates. It can accelerate your weight-management goals and also jump start your weight-management efforts if you hit a plateau.

Below is a list of the benefits of the 7-Day Detox System as they are listed in the Daily Journal for the Transitions Lifestyle System.

*** Helps maintain digestive health.
*** Cleanses the colon
*** Promotes healthy growth of beneficial bacteria in the colon.
***Helps to cleanse and detoxify the liver.
*** Provides fuel for cells lining the small intestine.
*** Supports overall health by helping to maintin normal cholesterol levels and blood-glucose levels.
*** Promotes immune health.
*** Supports healthy nutrient absorption.

I have taken this past week off from working out at the gym to allow my body to adjust and rest during the porcess. I am looking forward to seeing my trainer and working out again feeling renewed and refreshed.

Yours in Health & Wellness – Kara Myers

OPC’s – This is when the really big shift happened!!

OPC’S or Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins.  OPC’s are a class of flavonoid complexes and they act as antioxidants (free radical scavengers)  in the human body.

The following is From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. – An antioxidant is a molecule capable of slowing or preventing the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that transfers electrons from a substance to an oxidizing agent. Oxidation reactions can produce free radicals, which start chain reactions that damage cells. Antioxidants terminate these chain reactions by removing free radical intermediates, and inhibit other oxidation reactions by being oxidized themselves.

There is an immense amount of information available regarding free radical damage, antioxidants and OPC’s. 

 A particularly powerful antioxidant is Pycnogenol (pic-naj-en-all).  This is a direct quote from the website http://www.pycnogenol.com/consumer/.   ”A natural plant extract from the bark of the french maritime pine tree which grows exclusively along the coast of southwest France in Les Landes de Gascogne.

This unspoiled and natural forest environment is the unique source of Pycnogenol®. Pycnogenol® represents a natural combination of genetically programmed constant proportions of procyanidins, bioflavonoids and organic acids.

The extract has four basic properties – it’s a powerful antioxidant, acts as a natural anti-inflammatory, selectively binds to collagen and elastin, and finally, it aids in the production of endothelial nitric oxide which helps to dilate blood vessels.”

Why am I telling you about OPC’s?  Because after 3 years and thousands of dollars spent out of pocket (pic-naj-en-all) made the greatest single shift in my health and wellbeing.  I began taking a product containing Pycnogenol and within 3 weeks I knew something had dramatically changed in my body. 

My energy level skyrocketed from where it had been and it has taken me a long time to begin to accept that this wasn’t going to go away.  The muscle spasms in my legs had worsened over a six month period prior to taking the OPC’s and I was beginning to fear that I might have to start taking drugs.  The pain and spasms would have me up 3 to 6 times a night for 20 to 30 minutes each time.  Within 3 weeks of taking OPC’s the spasms were gone and it has been 2 years, 9 months and they have not returned.

Don’t get me wrong,  many of the other modalities that I had used or was using at the time did help.  But none of them to the level and magnitude of the OPC’s.  I am not a doctor or scientist but after researching how damaging free radicals can be to the human body it made perfect sense to me that I responded the way I did.  Irregardless, I can’t ignore what has happened to my energy level and the complete disappearance of the night pain and spasms in my legs. 

Remember, I was still morbidly obese and far from reaching my goals of achieving an extremely healthy body but at least now I had a chance.  There are many factors that influence our health and this was a huge one for me and it has given me a second chance. 

So OPC’s in Isotonix form is what helped place me back on the path to total health and wellbeing. 

If you go to the site below;   http://www.marketamerica.com/karamyers/categories-415/antioxidants.htm  then Click on the picture of the Isotonix OPC-3.  Then Click on View All Details.  Below you can view Benefits, Ingredients, Science, Uniqueness, and below that is, view product demo.  This gives you a 1-2 minugd video for those who want a quick glimpse of information.

Isotonic, which means “same pressure,” bears the same chemical resemblance of the body’s blood, plasma and tears. All fluids in the body have a certain concentration, referred to as osmotic pressure. The body’s common osmotic pressure, which is isotonic, allows a consistent maintenance of body tissues. In order for a substance to be absorbed and used in the body’s metabolism, it must be transported in an isotonic state.

Isotonix® dietary supplements are delivered in an isotonic solution. This means that the body has less work to do to in obtaining maximum absorption. The isotonic state of the suspension allows nutrients to pass directly into the small intestine and be rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream. With Isotonix products, little nutritive value is lost, making the absorption of nutrients highly efficient while delivering maximum results.

So OPC’s jump started ‘Kara’s Journey To Health’ and it’s far from over.  Hope you glean some helpful information from this blog and I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours in Health & Wellness – Kara Myers