Tuesday, December 30, 2014

New year - and an experiment...

Those of you who know me personally, know that I am fairly vocal about things that I care about or believe in.  :)  It is the way I am made... If I love it, I let people know.  With the new year approaching quickly, and all the resolutions that are in my head... I decided it is the perfect time to try something new.  I am resolving to be healthier (not crazy, just healthier) and I am challenging myself in a way that I feel like I can really stick with it.  I don’t want to start something and then drop it two months from now.

I have seen these reviews about a product called Plexus all over my Facebook page.  I personally have no experience with Plexus, so this is not a blog about how wonderful it is.  I don’t know how wonderful it is yet.  So, I decided to simply give it a try - put it to the test...  I am officially the worst ambassador that Plexus has at this point.  Ha!  I don’t even know if I believe in the product yet. 

But, that is what this post is about.  I am about to go measure myself (yikes!) and weigh myself and post that for the whole blogging world to see.  (I can blame this craziness on the lack of sleep from my precious Cynthia!)  Each week (hopefully every Monday) I will post my inches, general information about my eating and work out habits, and my weight (I really may have lost my mind!)  I will be very consistent with the time of day I measure so that it is the most accurate.  

I am inviting you to come with me on my journey.  You can simply watch as I check (and post) weekly the changes in my body (not just inches and pounds, but if it is all it is cracked up to be, I will be feeling much healthier overall in a short period of time.)  Or, if you feel like being adventurous, you can literally join me by trying this Plexus Challenge with me.  60 days of taking Plexus and if you don’t feel better and see results that you want to see, you call the company and get your money back.  100%.  As I see it, you have nothing to lose for trying.  As a customer, you have 60 days to determine if you are benefited by Plexus - and if you don’t believe in the product, you really call and just tell the company you want your money back.   It is that simple.

I am personally trying a little different approach because I have family members who have seen significant changes in their health through using Plexus.   My dad has seen a significant decrease in his triglycerides without changing his diet or exercise routine.  My brother in law has lost 56 pounds and 5 inches (in his waist) in 5 months!   He also changed some eating habits and started exercising, so his changes were dramatic.  Here are his before and after pics...


That was enough proof for me to try it, so I went “all in”.  I became an Ambassador, and bought a 4 months supply (because overall it is cheaper to purchase it like that).  If all the hype is true, I know I won’t be sorry.  And, if not, well, it tastes really yummy anyway, and I have spent much more money on much worse things...  It costs $34.95 for the “kit” to join (it is also the annual membership fee), and they have a promotion through this Friday for $15 off any one of the packages to become an ambassador.  I purchased the kit and a 4 months supply package ($218) for a total of $232.00 after tax and shipping.  If you want to do the same, please let me know.  Or, if you simply want to try it for a month to see if you develop a Plexus story that is worth sharing, let me know that as well.  I would love some company on my journey, but I am willing to go it alone for now.  :)  

One random piece of info... I am 6 weeks postpartum... and am breastfeeding my sweet baby girl.  Plexus Slim is completely safe for me to take while I am nursing her.  If you are in the same boat, contact me and I can tell you which products are safe to take while you are nursing, and which ones you will have to wait to try!

Follow this link to my Plexus page for more information about the company, or to see the info about joining my team.        http://christylynmartinez.myplexusproducts.com/

And here are the measurements I promised.  Today is Tuesday, December 30, 2014.  I have already had my Plexus drink this morning, and now for the measurements...
 (I took measurements from the fattiest parts of all of these places so that I can make sure and get the same place each time.)
Early December 2014

Arms: 13.5”
Around my back (under my armpits): 39”
Thighs: 26.5”
Waist: 44.5”
Hips: 45”
Weight: 173.5 (I do not own a scale, this was from the Dr. Office yesterday... But I will update this when I get my scale later this week.  So, this number may change with my at home scale.)



My health related intentions:  I intend to work out at least 3 times a week (this means 30 minutes of cardio and hopefully 30 minutes of weights).  I intend to cut out soft drinks (Coke, DP) completely.  :(  Sad day.  But, I am keeping my coffee!!  I also intend to cut back (some) on my sweets.  I have been out of control over the Holidays!  So those are my intentions and next week I will let you know how successful or unsuccessful I have been on truly cutting those things out.  Wish me luck!  I am hoping to start having more energy, sleeping better (I mean as good as I can with a newborn!), and feeling great.  The product and people I know using it make great boasts about what it can do (see the picture to the left) - and I am hopeful to be able to say it’s all true.


Monday, December 15, 2014

Catching up...

In my mind I have written three posts in the past month.  Ha!  There are so many things I want to chatter about today.  But, I don't have all the time I would need to do that!   I'm gonna give it my best, though...

First of all, Michael and I have a new daughter!  Whew.  She is amazing, and beautiful... but a whole lotta work.  :)  I wouldn't trade these small days for anything though.  I just remember how much time it takes now.  Time away from my husband.  Time away from my other kiddos.  Time that I would have spent looking like a normal human - with make-up and nice hair, and clothes that actually fit.  But, again, I wouldn't trade it for anything.  Cynthia (Cindy for short) is one of the most beautiful babies I have ever seen.  She is stunning.  And we are all more than a little crazy about her.

I will be honest.  I am completely taken with this little girl.  Just as I have loved, and been enchanted with all of my children.  I absolutely LOVE being a momma.  But, I need to clarify something that is very precious to my heart.  Having a sweet new baby does not for one second lessen the pain of losing my almost grown up, man-boy, Jacob.  He was an amazing son.  If anything, there have been more tears fall from my eyes knowing what an awesome big brother he would have been to Cindy.  I can't explain what that is like.  To know his mannerisms... to know how much he would have loved her and loved on her.  To know what kind of help he would have been to me... good grief...  there are no words fit to describe that loss.

This year while decorating the tree we all felt the depth of our loss again.  It was a sweet time, but in the midst of the sweetness, there was GREAT PAIN.  Mia was grabbing ornaments out of the box... and as I watched her, she held one and got very still.  I knew instantly it was a picture of Jacob.  Tears stung my eyes as I saw the pain on my little girls face.  Jude couldn't hold back the tears.  None of us could.  We just hugged and cried.  Every ornament that had his name on it shouted to us that he was absent.  The pictures of him from the time he was little to the time he died... well, it was so HARD.   

While we celebrate new life in our home, and the Christ-child who came... we also grieve the loss of a life (here on earth), a child, a brother, a friend... we grieve that he is not here to graduate from school this year.  We grieve that he will not know Cindy on this side of heaven.  And we press forward.  Not loving our new sister (and daughter) any more or any less... but, holding her a little closer knowing that our time here is not guaranteed.  Knowing that these moments... no matter how hard, are fleeting.  Knowing that one sweet day our King will come to get us and take us HOME.  That is our hope, and there are days that the HOPE of that truth is the only motivation we have to keep going.

If you know loss - and especially if it has been recently - I pray that you too will cling to the HOPE of what is coming for those of us who love Christ.  When everything else feels like it is falling apart, when the darkness sets in around your mind and your heart... please don't forget that you are SEEN.  You are not alone.  You are understood perfectly.  Your pain, your tears and your heartache are not overlooked.  You are KNOWN.  And, you are LOVED.  Even when you don't understand... just keep believing that you are not forgotten.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours.