YOR BEST BODY

For someone who wakes up at 4am and gets home at 8pm it was very difficult to find a healthy eating regimen that worked for me. I was always eating anything I could find, eating late, and eating all the time. Once I started this challenge I loved the fact that I felt in control of my life and body: what I ate, when I ate and my portions. I began my challenge weighing 143lbs. I was excited to do this challenge and for this particular change. That is the only reason why I'm smiling in my before pictures, because on the inside I was far from happy on how I really felt about myself and how I looked.

During my first 8 week challenge I used the chocolate and vanilla meal replacements for 2 meals a day on average (usually for breakfast with fiber and one for dinner). I was also taking the complete burn twice a day to be able to burn extra calories and the repairs twice a day to reduce aches and soreness from daily exercise. For some time I had digestive issues: bloating, pain, discomfort. So I wanted to make sure I was taking my probiotic once a day, 4-6 vitamins a day, and the digest ultra twice a day. I used the super greens with the berry blast as a snack once or twice a day which helped me boost my immune system and give me the energy I needed to get through a very long day. I have to say these products worked amazingly well together. The regimen was easy, convenient and the best part was that I never felt hungry. It really left an impression on me that all though I was consuming less calories in the day I always seemed to feel satisfied, feeling more alert, energized and overall great!

I started working out at least three times in the week doing tae boe workouts, crunches and push ups at home. As my body began to balance itself I started to feel more motivated and energetic and started working out 4-5 times in the week instead. I added planks, squats, and sit ups to my work out regimen. It felt good! And I had never felt THAT good to be THAT consistent with exercise and eating healthy. The last few weeks of my challenge I ended up hurting my back on a fall- so my exercise regimen had to be adjusted, but that did not stop me from using the products, eating healthy and finishing the challenge with a bang!

Before the challenge I would always feel tired and just overall unwell. My family would make jokes about me saying things such as, "make sure we have snacks for Krizia when going out" or "we need to feed Krizia because she is getting cranky!". Because my eating habit was unhealthy and inconsistent this was what I was known for: a cranky, hungry, irritated young girl when she wasn't fed. I guess you can say I acted like a baby. It makes me laugh now because they haven't seen that cranky big baby in 8 weeks. Good eating habits have a big impact on how you are, how you behave and even on your mentality.

I decided to do the 8 week challenge for several reasons. Many times I've said, "I'm going to exercise!" "I'm going to eat healthy!" And many times I quit. This is the time, with the support and encouragement I feel more motivate to do so. Having heart disease run in my family and having worked in a hospital has brought awareness to my life. While I worked at the hospital I saw so many ailments and illnesses that it made me think about what type of health I wanted for both my young adult life and also my elder years. Many people think that life is over once you get old, truth is- it's not over, it's just a reflection of how well you took care of your health when you were younger. I chose to not wait on a "wake up call" to decide it's time for change and that's why I choose NOW. NOW is the time, not tomorrow or next year.

I am grateful for the challenge because it has changed my life. It has helped me take control of my life and my health. It has motivated me to change my priorities; to make health a top priority forever, and doing so gives me the drive to exercise, eat healthy and make sure I stay on track. My eating portions have changed drastically. Now, when I know I've had enough to eat I can say "no" and instead of over thinking how or when I exercise, I just do so. My lifestyle has made a complete turn in change and I'm ever so greatful for the challenge which helped me get on the right track to begin to achieve my health and life goals. This is only the beginning!

I now weigh 128 which is really close to my weight goal of 123. I hope to do another challenge and continue a healthy lifestyle in order to achieve my best body!