What Is Your Relationship With Food?

Being out at our beach cottage makes me contemplative.

It's hard not to be - surrounded by water, sun and sand with no electricity.  Everything runs on solar, propane or a generator.  Each night the kids fall into bed exhausted from full days of running around in the fresh air

The nights are getting cooler now, the first wisps of fall are in the air.

I love it.

Fall is like my New Year's.  I'm academically programed, and each September along with the crisp air I start thinking about what this new year is going to bring.

The arrival of that big yellow school bus marks the beginning of the kids' new school year, and return of some structure to my life.

This morning I woke early, wrapped up in a cozy sweater and headed up to the lighthouse next to our cottage.  As the sun's rays poked up over the horizon, pushing away the night's darkness, I thought about new beginnings.

Each day is a chance for a new start.

The lack of structure during the summer can be tough. Especially for stay-at-home Moms.  All too often our needs take a back burner to the constant pace of summer.   It can be a tough time for healthy eating, even though in theory the opposite should be true, what with the abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Exercise regimes are interrupted, or put on hold.  Healthy eating is abandoned (with glee, I hope) during vacations and barbeques.

I don't know about you, but summer is typically my most challenging month in terms of self-care.

I can't wait for a fresh start in September.  I can't wait to get back to my routine - my yoga classes, my support groups.

One thing that wasn't as tough for me this summer as in years past is healthier eating.  I've talked about the Arbonne fitness plan here before. It's hard not to talk about it all the time, to be honest.

As many of you know, I hosted and participated in an Arbonne 30 day fitness challenge in the spring, losing 14 lbs and 2 inches off my waist. 

But most importantly, for me it was a jump start to a healthier lifestyle. As the fat melted off my waistline and my energy returned, I was able to flip that Internal Eating Switch from "what does it matter" to "I matter".  Losing weight and looking better is great, don't get me wrong, but this isn't meant to be a get-thin-quick fad diet.  It's an entire system of healthier eating.

It's a gateway to freedom from self-sabotaging thoughts about food, and yourself.

I used to get uncomfortable blogging about Arbonne.  I don't like feeling like I'm using this place to be salesy.  But I have witnessed this plan change lives, and so I'm not apologetic about talking about it here.

Since the spring challenge, my clients who did the 30 day fit kit and then stayed on basic maintenance and stuck with the healthier eating habits have been able to not only maintain their weight loss, but continue to build muscle and gain energy.  Their skin is clearer.  They sleep better.

By digging down and examining their eating habits, they feel back in control of their relationship to food.

Amanda - my best friend since we were ten years old - did the spring challenge.  Her goal was to get control of her sugar and dairy intake (read: ICE CREAM) and stop her late afternoon energy crash.   While she is very active, she isn't an exerciser.  She has always been naturally slim (good genes) but knew there was a healthier, toner, more energetic person waiting to come out.

She has now been on maintenance for almost three months.  I saw her yesterday for the first time in a couple of months.  She is radiant.  Sure, she's ten pounds thinner and toned, but it's more than that.  There is a lightness about her spirit, too. 

When she took those before pictures she could never, ever have imagined letting someone take her picture in a bikini.  And posting it on the INTERNET. (You are such a good sport, Amanda. Thank you)!

This summer I wasn't able to exercise like I wanted to, but being on the Arbonne fitness plan made me feel like I was in control of food, instead of the other way around.  I understand the nature of my relationship to food, now - in particular to sugar.  There isn't any "cheating", only choices.

I'm hosting another 30 Day Fitness Challenge (along with several others in my incredible Arbonne team) starting September 1st.  We chose September because it's a fantastic time for new beginnings.  The return of structure.  The crisp, clear fall days where long walks are a treat.

Put yourself back in the driver's seat when it comes to food.  This 30 day fitness challenge is great for weight loss, to be sure, but it's so much more than that.  It's your new beginning. It's your fresh start.  You are so totally worth it.

For the cost of one week's groceries for the average family of four, you can flip your "what's the point" switch to "I AM THE POINT".

This challenge is open to both existing and new clients, and in order to participate you need to purchase your kit by August 21st.  I know that isn't much time.  That is on purpose.  Don't over think this ... jump in with both feet.  I did, and it's one of the best decisions I ever made.

I won't go into all the details here - this post is long enough - but if you are interested send me an email at ellieandsteve@verizon.net and I will send you more information about the fit kit and the challenge.  To learn more you can also go to my Arbonne page by clicking HERE.

It's YOUR time.  You can do this.