refreshed and glowing...

I have now been using the FC5 line for about 5 days and I L-O-V-E these products! Because I have oily/combination skin, I can only use a few of the RE9 products, so I gave up alot of anti-aging benefits to use our very basic skin care. Now, I finally get some of those anti-aging benefits in skin care specifically designed for my skin type...my skin has seriously never looked better! I love that I can still use my favorite RE9 products but these products on a daily basis on making such a difference!

My absolute favorites are the Oil Absorbing Day Lotion, the night cream, and the cleanser/toner. I am so excited to be able to offer people affordable anti-aging skin care!

I've also been using the new shampoo and conditioner and the new cell scrub and body wash and lotion...and the eye cream...but I figure I can only rave about a few products at a time without sounding over the top! But this is seriously the best new product launch in the 3 1/2 years I have been with Arbonne.

WOW!

That's about all I could come up with to title this post. I'm officially blown away by Arbonne's new product line FC5....which stands for Fresh Cell technology. We are the first company to use this technology and it is truly groundbreaking. They extract whole, fresh cells from 5 key fruits and vegetables (hence the 5) and encapsulate them whole to retain maximum benefits from the phytonutrients. This line will replace our Intelligence line and this time incorporates anti-aging benefits from these phytonutrients and address the signs of aging where Intelligence did not.

I'll do several posts on my faves as I continue to use the products, which will be available starting Feb. 1. But for now....all I can say is wow! I LOVE the body wash, which is rich and foamy....and I LOVE the new night cream! RE9 was too heavy for my oily skin, and Intelligence just did not address my needs for nighttime...but this, mmmm. LOVE IT!! AND, I love love love the cleanser/toner and the day cream with SPF 20. They are specifically designed to address oily/combination skin issues and they really deliver. But above all....the smell! It lives up to it's name and is truly FRESH! It's rather addictive. I found myself constantly smelling my hands yesterday. It is just really light and refreshing without being overpowering. OH I'm going to love this! Since I mix lines, this is going to be the perfect complement for the RE9 products I DO use...and trust me, I need all the anti-aging help I can get!

Chasing away the winter skin blues

It's officially been one dry winter...not to mention crazy temperature swings here in Texas! Even though it has not been that cold, it has definitely been dry, and so has my skin. I've found an easy solution...I've been putting the 5-1 massage oil from our spa line into my bath almost daily (yes - I am addicted to baths...love em!) Sometimes I even get some extra oil and just smooth it over my skin in the tub. This oil is surprisingly not greasy and it absorbs really, really well, leaving my skin incredibly soft and smooth. I think this is the first winter in history I have not had those horrible dry patches on my elbows and knees.

On another note, my pre-launch set of FC5 products is due today. I can't wait to try them out! The innovative technology alone has my interest :-) Stay tuned for a full report!

Daily decisions

Well, I've made no secret of the fact that I wanted my Detox cleanse to usher in a New Year of a healthier me. It was the platform from which I jumped into new eating habits free of refined sugar, flour, and carbonated beverages. I am more than two weeks in and I feel great. I don't miss the sugar and bread and cokes I once craved. However, I am realizing it is not one momentous decision to give these things up....it is daily making the same choices over and over. It is deciding not to grab a handful of goldfish when I pour them out for my kids' snack. Just one handful, I would tell myself. And that one handful became 3. It is not eating that half a chicken nugget my kids did not eat. It's making those choices one at a time. But this time I really do have an arsenal on my side. I am totally fanatical, head over heels, crazy for the new Fiber booster and Pomegranate energy drink (obviously since I think my last 3 posts or so have been about them). They really and truly are making a huge difference in my ability to make those better decisions. I'm not hungry...or dehydrated...mostly because of these products. It's just a healthier cycle to be in. I will still do the cleanse probably every 3 months, but this will help me stay on a much better track in between them. So thank you Arbonne, for making my journey easier! I always say the Lord provides in mysterious ways. I truly believe He has used Arbonne as a vehicle for many changes in my life. It is nothing I have done, and it is not Arbonne itself...but just how He has used Arbonne. I bring nothing to the table.

So far, so good...

It has now been a full week since my last carbonated beverage, and that's the only one I've had in two weeks. I can honestly say that I still don't miss it! Oh I am sure there will be days when I crave that Coke Zero...when it's really hot outside. But so far, so good. We have really been trying to eat better and cut out things that aren't good for us. I won't give up my morning coffee, but just one cup and then the little bit of caffeine in my Pomegranate energy drink and I've essentially cut my caffeine intake in half. After doing the cleanse I was determined to stay on the right track. I am seriously loving the fiber booster and really just have not felt this good and this energetic in a long time. We have seriously cut the whites too...the processed sugar and flour. Amazing how such little changes can make such a big difference.

The other day I went for a massage and mani/pedi. I was looking at a fashion magazine, which I never do, but I was struck by an article of women who decided to make one small change and do it daily for an entire month. One lady wore red lipstick every day and saw that it gave her a lot more confidence. One did 10 pushups every day and saw the difference in the tone of her arms. So it motivated me...I am doing 40 crunches every day. It takes me about a minute. So I am committing to spending that 60 seconds every day for a month to see what happens. I don't expect rock hard abs or anything....maybe just a little less mushy. Hahaha. I'll post again!

Pomegranate Love

It's official...I'm in love! And I'm not talking about Sweet Hubby either (though I am MADLY in love with him!) I'm talking about the Pomegranate Splash NRG fizz drink and the new Fiber Booster. I finished my cleanse on Sunday and as I told some friends, the hardest thing is giving up the carbonated beverages. I've found a good Crystal Light type alternative - yea! But the biggest thing is drinking the new Pomegranate Drink. It's good just in water...and I can add the fiber booster, which by the way, is AWESOME! Works soooo good! This morning I did the NRG drink in my Crystal Light stuff...which is Cranberry Pomegranate anyway, and added the fiber booster. I can't believe I am getting vitamins and minerals and TONS of fiber all wrapped up in a yummy drink! This is WAY better than the old gritty orange shake we had. I can definitely get used to this!

Cleanse Final thoughts

Well, I finished the cleanse - woo hoo! I lost a total of 4 lbs. Now the hard part begins. I have not had a coke or any other carbonated drink in 8 days. I am trying to give them up for good this time. Not caffeine....just carbonation. I still have my morning cup of coffee, and the Pomegranate Splash NRG drink has a little caffeine in it...though not much. I put the fiber booster in that this morning and it was just the thing to get me through my morning of teaching. I was not hungry or tired, and the fiber booster will hopefully keep me on track until my next cleanse in a few months. I am just really thrilled with those two new products in terms of helping me stay on track with my nutritional goals. Not so crazy about the protein shake still, but oh well.

Day 6 cleanse update

Day 6 seemed uneventful...I am sitting here about halfway through day 7 and not believing I am almost done! It really has been easier than last time. I'll give everyone the final weigh-in tomorrow. I am excited that I now have the new fiber booster to keep things running smoothly as well now that I have a fresh start this new year! It will be easy to stir in the Pomegranate Splash energy drink and take with me to work or running errands.

Day5/Day 6 cleanse

Day 5 was fine...I must admit, on the morning of Day 6, I am just not ready to start slurping away. I'd rather have that second cup of coffee. OH well. Just two more days! I actually feel great!

I tried our new protein shake yesterday. I have to say, the taste is definitely better. But, it still is a protein shake. I guess for me, mentally, if something says it is "chocolate" my mind has the expectation of Godiva or Lindt, or at least Hershey's! Other's have tried it and really like it...perhaps I'm just not meant to be a protein shake drinker.

I've started putting the fiber booster in my kids' juices. They have no idea. They can't taste it and I am thrilled, as this is a constant issue with them both. I can only imagine the tummy aches they have had because they wait to darn long and only go every 3 days or so. Yuck. I'm hoping this will make a great difference! At any rate, I'm glad I can give it to them without any grumbling!

New Products and Detox update

It's Day 4 of my cleanse....all is well and it is doing what it should. I feel great and it has not been hard at all. I've been checking in with another cleanse customer...she says it seems to be working for her as well. Will keep you updated!

I got my new products today from the revamped Figure 8 line. The new Pomegranate Splash NRG fizz drink is actually quite good. We've had this product in a different flavor, Citrus surge. And while I can attest that the drink works extremely well in boosting energy, etc. I thought the taste of the Citrus Surge was horrible. I only drank it when desperate (like a really, really long day or something) I like the new flavor MUCH, much better! Kind of like Crystal Light in my opinion. Definitely a keeper. I also added a small spoon of the new fiber booster. It is supposed to be odorless and tasteless, but I was skeptical. It really and truly has no flavor, so you really CAN add it to food or drinks. I personally did not mind the orange fiber shake we had, but many were not so keen on the taste, so this should appeal to a much larger base. Once I am good and cleaned out, I think this will be the perfect product for me to use, along with a weekly herbal colon cleanse tablet that we have. Since colon cancer is in my family, I don't want to take any chances. The fiber booster is lo-cal, no fat, and nearly all the carbs (for those who care) are fiber so the net carb is very low as well. All around a really great new product!

I am waiting to try the new protein shake tomorrow...after drinking the cleanse AND the energy drink, I am just full up!

Detox Day 3

Slurp....slurp...slurp....this is about the time that I'm sick of drinking the cleanse. I'm not even halfway through. I felt this way last time and know that tomorrow when I am on the back half I will be better. Last night was pretty uncomfortable for me...more like last time. But relatively speaking, this has been easier than last time and I know it's working. I've already lost a few pounds of holiday excess. Yea! Meanwhile, I am just trying to pamper myself with other products as much as possible. Another side benefit of the detox cleanse and other detox products is that my skin is looking sooooo much better!!

Day 2 Detox update

So far so good....I feel really good even though the cleanse is definitely doing it's thing. Not near as bad as last time! I am eating better though, so that helps. I like the fact that several people are doing the cleanse with me...I'll have to share their results as well :-) Safety in numbers I always say. Haha.

Detox Day Two

It's Day 2, and I just started slurping on my oh-so-yummy cleanse. Really, I don't think it's that bad. There is very little taste, but it's just not my fave first thing in the morning. So far, it has not been at all like my last cleanse. Last time, the first few days were pretty hard and it got easier. This time, it has not been bad at all. Just, shall we say, regular? I feel great and the cleanse is definitely doing it's thing. This time I decided to be better about what I ate. Definitely the leafy veggies is important!

Another part of my resolutions this year is to exercise. So I am going to renew my rec center membership and hopefully sign up for a ballet class (no I won't wear a leotard and tights - heaven forbid!) It's really for lengthening and strengthening muscles. I'll keep you posted!

New Year's Resolutions

Well, every year I've got resolutions to be healthier, exercise...yadda yadda yadda. This year I vow it to be different. I spent 2008 trying several of our health products and really liked the results, so I will be diligent this year. To kick start it all (and to make up for mounds of sugar I consumed during the holidays) I am doing the 7 day body cleanse again. Today is Day 1 and I will journal (or try to) each day. I probably should have weighed myself this morning for an accurate count, but will try tomorrow. So here goes!

Day1: Well, like last time, it's just a lot of trips to the bathroom. I feel fine and have not missed my diet coke today at all. It does not taste as bad as last time...maybe I am just more used to it. I've got our other new products on the way, and the spa products are only $29 this month so I stocked up to pamper myself and detox my skin as well!