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 The Standard American Diet (S.A.D.) is causing a multitude of health challenges. Shockingly, the United States ranks 37th in longevity behind countries such as Cuba, Chile, Costa Rica and Greece even with all of the medical technology and pharmaceutical innovations available. A major consequence of our S.A.D. is the obesity epidemic which, sadly, affects our children as well. One-third of all children born today will have shorter lives than their parents due to type 2 diabetes; 90% of which is preventable.
Our super busy lifestyles, compromises of convenience, products marked “healthy” that are filled with sugar, fat, and artificial ingredients put us at risk for many diseases linked to inflammation including heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, certain cancers and Alzheimer’s disease. Only a tiny percentage of Americans eat 7-9 servings of fruits and vegetables a day. And why are there weight challenges for those who eat a healthy diet? In the past 50 years the nutrient content of our crops has declined up to 38% causing us to eat more to get the nutrients we need.
Not very reassuring, but the good news is that we can positively influence our health daily with lifestyle changes and through the quality of our nutritional intake. To meet these challenges, several Shaklee Leaders in Hampton Roads have created Shaklee Cinch® Weight Loss Competitions. The summer competition just ended; it featured 16 people, 4 of them out of state, who joined reluctantly and/or skeptically and still managed to lose 130 pounds and 69 inches.
They achieved this with the help of their Shaklee sponsor; their team; the Shaklee Leaders’ instructions in nutrition and the philosophy behind many of our weight loss challenges; understanding the “Shaklee difference”; drinking lots more water (and lots less soda); and – groan- exercise. (There just seems to be no escaping it!) Weekly door prizes, pounds and inches lost, better health and the grand prize of a cruise for four were the benefits.
The Winning Team of four: Pat, the mom, and her three daughters, Megan, Katy, and Danielle, had the added challenge of living out of state - in two different states, no less! And their Shaklee Leader, Carol, was in another state too. Thanks to determination and modern technology, they attended the weekly sessions by web cam and conference calls and contacted and encouraged each other frequently.
 None of them had ever tried any Shaklee nutritional products before so this was a big leap of faith. Megan, a young mom, who enrolled her family on their health adventure, was frustrated with other weight loss programs plus she had the added challenge of a 2-week vacation in the middle of the competition. Pat, the mom, had always tried to lose weight without success and naturally wondered how this could possibly be any different. Pizza, which seemed to pop up everywhere, was her special challenge. Danielle wanted to lose 15 pounds and felt she could not do it without the team’s motivation. (Shaklee has found that weight loss is more achievable when a team push/pulls each other ahead-especially when there are lots of prizes as incentives.) She cold-turkeyed her 2-liter a day soda habit and discovered the benefits of water. Katy did not need to lose much but she was stuck on a plateau in spite of lots of healthy exercise; she conquered the plateau and lost the weight.
Like it, or not, exercise is a big part of the health puzzle.
For a variety of reasons we may not exercise at all, or do enough, or do exercises that actually help us target our goals. The worst-case scenario is that we may harm ourselves by doing an exercise incorrectly. Danielle said she was too lazy to exercise but discovered that she liked Zumba classes; Megan used a personal trainer twice a week and learned to balance cardio and weight lifting exercises; Pat went from intermittent to regular exercise; and Katy conquered her plateau by altering her cardio and weight routines with the help of the medical professional on the Shaklee Leaders’ team.
Every week, the team and their leader would call in to the conference number, watch on web cam and ask questions. They encouraged and motivated each other and they all said it was the team effort that led to the results. Accountability was powerful because if you ate the box of donuts, you had to answer to the team. And the final week, they doubled their daily exercise! Now their challenge is what to do with their grand prize! Congratulations-well done!
The 3rd Shaklee Cinch® Weight Loss Competition is currently in progress on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. at Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 3229 MacDonald Rd., Virginia Beach, 23464 (off Indian River Rd. near Military Hwy). This contest runs until Nov. 17, 2011. Guests are welcome to check it out in preparation for the January Competition. If you would like to speak to any members of the winning team or have any questions, please contact me.
 Who is Shaklee?
Shaklee specializes in natural health and prevention, and is proud of their heritage of 50+ years of research, leadership, and product innovation. We’ve always been in the wellness business, and Shaklee products are guaranteed to work! Shaklee offers over 300 unique, patented, and effective natural products, which are proven effective in achieving optimal health.
Shaklee’s high-profile clients include: NASA; the U.S. Olympic Teams (21 medals in Vancouver!); the Daedalus Project (72 mile human powered flight); and many more. Our environmental products have been used worldwide, (including Jacques Cousteau’s ships), and are currently used in both the White House and Vice-President’s residences. Time Magazine and Oprah Winfrey have both selected our “Get Clean” products as their “Best Products of the Year”.
Susan Martin
Shaklee Independent Distributor
Phone: 757- 467-3952
e-mail: mermaid4@cox.net
Website: www.shaklee.net/mermaid
For a healthy you, a healthy home, and a healthy planet.
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