Wade sleepily opened his eyes this morning to find me staring at him wide-eyed, “I feel great,” I said. “Here we go,” he said and rolled over to catch some more Z’s.

This is day five on the Isagenix program and I have not felt this good in a long time. Admittedly, my second day of cleansing was a bit harsh but thanks to my coach, which comes free when you purchase the thirty day cleansing  program, Ellen Ganus walked me through it. When Ellen first called me I had been researching the Isagenix website and had just landed on a video of Ellen’s husband proudly introducing her to a crowd of 10,000. None of the other videos had affected me as this one had. Ellen was clearly passionate about the product not to mention, beautiful, vivacious and highly energetic. But even after speaking with Ellen I still wasn’t buying into it. The Network Marketing aspect of the company scared me, it felt too contrived, too polished plus I didn’t have the money to buy the product.

When I found out that the company was eight years old I began to gain more interest but still was very skeptical.  Diets have always scared me and so I began my own program by purchasing a two week cleansing kit from Vitamin Cottage, cutting out all processed and refined foods and lowering my alcohol intake. In a few months I lost five pounds and was feeling great but I was having difficulties keeping up with this regime. Wanting more structure and a nutritional program to adapt to I began to further research the Isagenix products and found that Isagenix is not a diet but a lifestyle. I was impressed with the concept that Isagenix products are designed to feed the body with natural ingredients to get to a healthier place, instead of starving the body. It seemed like a manageable program that a person on the go, like me, could handle and so I bought the Thirty Day Cleanse and Nutritional Program knowing that if I ended up happy with the results I could help coach others to reach their goals and  the product would therefore pay for itself. After all, why wouldn’t I want to help my friends to go on an all natural, organic, nutritional, full body cleansing program that  works on a cellular level to increase their energy and stamina as well as produce lean muscle mass and mental clarity?

As for the negative connotation of network marketing, Ellen has given me a completely different perspective and you can find details of our conversation on my new Nutrition page of my website.

I will be off to Nantucket soon and will be taking Isagenix with me, in the meantime if you are interested in joining my team, I would love to have you on board, so visit the Isagenix website here to do your own research and when you are ready to take the leap to that place where you have always seen yourself but never had the tools to get you there, contact me at isdisnormal@gmail.com and we can call Ellen together for coaching and purchasing cuz:

I’m not afraid,
To take a stand
Everybody
Come take my hand
We’ll walk this world together through the storm
Whatever weather, cold or warm
Just lettin’ you know that you’re not alone
Holla if you feel like you’ve been down the same road
Just follow me, I’ll get you there. Let’s do this together – Eminem, “I’m Not Afraid”

(working out as the sun comes up)

In the past month, I have likened myself to Jim Carrey’s character, Carl Allen, in the movie, “Yes Man”.  As soon as I made a conscious decision to open myself more to my spirituality and physicality, opportunities have been knocking on my door and I have been saying yes to everything that comes my way. In just two weeks I have attended a four hour seminar on The Anatomy Of A Yogi, I have observed the opening ceremony of visiting Tibetan Buddhist Monks from the Drepung Loseling Monastery and watched as they meticulously began their mandala sand painting and I have experienced almost two weeks of Boot Camp.

In my first week of boot camp, my trainer Eric, did my body composition report. It was slightly unnerving to get my rolls measured but I walked out of his office impressed by his passion for strength and conditioning and excited to begin his training sessions. He also enlightened me on the dangers of dieting and how diets negatively affect our metabolism helping me to understand the dangers of not eating right.

When I joined boot camp I had no idea where it would take me. I only knew that I was ready for a change in my body and in my life. In a short period of time I already feel more vibrant and fit. It was not so easy to adjust to a 5:30am work out and I am still struggling with it. I do feel more energetic during the day but by the time the afternoon kicks in I am exhausted.  Taking cat naps at red traffic lights is not the safest way to rest but it does the trick.

The most noticeable change, since I started the camp, is my mood elevation. The kids are very happy that I am more tolerant and fun with them. As for my physical change, my body seems to be adjusting to the training as I no longer scream when Wade touches my aching muscles. My new strength appears in the strangest places like when I threw Tucker while we were playing in the pool. We were both shocked at how far he flung into the air. I had to apologize to him and explain that I didn’t know my own strength anymore. Brevitt and Axel, eyes wide open, were on me like white on rice. Mommy was a super hero and they were all over it.

I actually have grown to enjoy working out under the stars with Eric calling out the exercises. I figure I can handle any pain for thirty to forty five seconds. As I burn my muscles into exhaustion I repeat the names of the thousands of squats that we have to painfully endure and make comments to myself:

PRISON SQUATS: Maybe we should put Eric behind bars so we don’t have to do these anymore

BULGARIAN SQUATS: Those Bulgarians must have nice glutes

WHITE OUTS AND GATE SWINGS:  Squat and sink, squat and sink, squat and sink.

When he calls out the names of my least favorite exercises, such as the Jump and Stick and the Scissors Kick, I mentally retreat thinking negative thoughts filled with explicit obscenities directed toward Eric. I eventually come to my senses and remind myself that I am not getting up early in the morning for nothing and that I had bloody well better stick to the program and change my attitude.

The addition of calisthenics and strength conditioning into my daily life is changing me in more ways then I ever could have imagined. I feel good that I am being proactive about my health and I am determined to make it through the month.

Eric, I promise that I will try not to get there later and later every day. It is difficult to get up in the morning for a normal person and especially difficult for a chronically late dolt like myself.

Perhaps tomorrow I will bring my boon box and play the cadence songs that my father use to sing to keep his daughters moving as we hiked in the mountains.

JODY CHANT (SOUND OFF 2):

Am I right or wrong?

You right!

Am I right or wrong?

You right!

Am I right?

You know I’m right

So tell me!

You right!

Health Benefits of Exercise and Physical Activity: Brought to you by the Department of Kinesiology and Health at Georgia State University:

• Reduce the risk of premature death

• Reduce the risk of developing and/or dying from heart disease

• Reduce high blood pressure or the risk of developing high blood pressure

• Reduce high cholesterol or the risk of developing high cholesterol

• Reduce the risk of developing colon cancer and breast cancer

• Reduce the risk of developing diabetes • Reduce or maintain body weight or body fat

• Build and maintain healthy muscles, bones, and joints

• Reduce depression and anxiety

• Improve psychological well-being

• Enhanced work, recreation, and sport performance

(sun hitting Mt. Sopris)