Preparing For Natural and Healthy Changes

Before I begin, I would like to once again thank Nature's Knockout and Lauren Holly for cheering me on with this project, and also for giving me permission to post the links to their websites on this blog. I truly believe in "paying it forward," so I am also posting links to their favorite charities. For those of you who can, please give generously in any way you can. I cannot thank these ladies enough for the courage they have given me to work on this life-changing project. Positive results definitely come from associating with positive people!

One favorite charity of Nature's Knockout is Globus Relief. Laurie Vukich tells me that this is one of those rare charities that puts every penny into changing the lives and bettering the conditions of those living in third world countries. Laurie had the privilege of seeing their work in action while she was on location in Africa. It seems fitting that I was able to catch a couple of tweets that Laurie and Tiffany posted on Twitter today talking about the people and things for which they are grateful. Laurie and Tiff, thank you so much for continually putting a smile on my face.

Lauren Holly's family began The A Fund, in memory of Lauren's little brother, Alexander, who passed away at the age of 14. This fund is set up at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York, for students studying Architecture and Archeology. This scholarship helps students with a financial need who are in good academic standing. For more information, please visit the website address listed at the left of my blog. Lauren, thank you for your time, your thoughts, and your immense energy! It is truly contagious!

Also, a very special congratulations and "break a leg" to Azer Greco, Lauren Holly's oldest son. He has landed a part in the series, Really Me, which will begin to air on the Family Channel in Canada this April. Azer is a darling young man with incredible talent. He can also be seen in the Hallmark Channel's, The Town Christmas Forgot, starring both mother and son. That was shown over the Christmas holidays a few weeks ago, so be looking for it on the Hallmark website! Azer's new Facebook Fan Page, Azer Nation, was kicked off on January 17, 2011. You can find the link to his page under Lauren's links to the left of this blog.

As you can tell, I am very excited for all three of my "heroes," and Azer, who no doubt will become another hero of mine! Please visit their websites and links. We would all appreciate it. Let them know that you linked to them through my blog!

Now for my update! Trying to write this post has been very challenging with all of my children at home as they were trying to prepare to go back to their schools after the Christmas break. My two college students just went back on January 16th. Every time I'd sit down to write this, something else would come up that needed my attention. For those of you who don't know me, God and my four children come before anything else in this world, so now you know why this post has taken so long to write!

The last couple of weeks I have been reading and re-reading the Natures Knockout website, as well as their blog, Be a knockout, naturally. I made a list of the harmful ingredients to watch out for, and began to go through my house to see what I could keep and what must go. Oh, my! There is a lot that is going to go! I am still not completely finished going through everything; however, I decided to start shopping around for products that Laurie and Tiffany recommend or have rated on their site. 

I began by shopping at Whole Foods Market to see what they had to offer in health and beauty, and consumables. My first purchase was Alba Coconut Milk Facial Wash. I absolutely love it! My face feels so soft when I am finished washing it, and it doesn't have that dry feeling I would get when I used other soaps or facial cleansers. Another thing I noticed was that I went through the entire day without an "oil slick" on my face. That has to be a record for me. I used to say that if you could take the skin on my face and wring it out like you would a washcloth or towel, the oil from my face would just pour out like extra water. So far, so good! I was also very pleased at the price. I paid $11.99 for an 8 ounce bottle. I don't need to use a lot, so this bottle will probably last me at least twice as long, if not more, than the other products I had been using. My old products were filled with toxic ingredients. I'll be very glad to throw those out!

Unfortunately, the other products I was looking for were out of stock. The associate at Whole Foods asked what exactly I was looking for. When I told her, she looked it up in their system and ordered each product for me. I was ecstatic! I have never been in a store like that where they were willing to order one item of a brand for a customer. Usually most places want a larger order placed before they special order anything. So, in about a week or so, I should be receiving Gabriel Organics Seaweed Hydrating Mask, Jason Natural Red Elements Eye Lifting Cream, and Skin Organics Lavender Silk Face and Body Scrub! We are looking at approximately $60.00 or so for all of these products together. Considering the quantity and quality of each product, I feel like I've made out like a bandit! The face and body scrub is only $19.00 for a 5 month supply. The eye lifting cream is only $20.00, and the seaweed hydrating mask is only $25.00. Oh, and I do not pay shipping or handling fees.

I then went to the grocery section of the store. Everything looked delicious. I had my list of healthy foods that I wanted for the week and began filling my basket. My 20 year old daughter went with me, so she picked out some things that interested her also. I think we walked out of the store not spending much more than $100.00 altogether. I didn't know it was possible to walk out of a supermarket without spending a lot more than that!

I have chosen to try the products that I have mentioned above for several reasons. My face is combination oily/dry, with a lot of blackheads, whiteheads, and uneven skin tone. I also have cholesterol deposits on my right eyelid which are raised and yellowish white in appearance. And, of course, I am beginning to see my wrinkles. I want to get my skin back to a healthy state before applying makeup on a regular basis. Since I am just now beginning to get wrinkles around my eyes, forehead, and mouth, I am hoping that getting into a good skin care routine will help ward off further wrinkling and reverse what has already happened. As soon as I can post the video of me that I sent to Laurie and Tiff on YouTube, you will see what I mean. I will warn you, though, it is a very raw video of me with a completely bare face that points out just about everything!

Since I've slowly been changing out the food in my house, I have noticed that I feel healthier and more satisfied eating the foods from Whole Foods Market than I had when eating regular grocery store items filled with preservatives and junk. I tried one of their yogurt parfaits and thought I was in heaven. I then tried a yogurt parfait from one of our local chain supermarkets on a different day, and I just felt like I had ingested a food filled with heavy fats. I don't know how else to describe it. The one from Whole Foods Market was definitely superior to the other. I don't feel lethargic after eating now. I feel revitalized.

Of course, along with the changes in products and consumables comes the purchase of new items like a mixer, a blender, and a replacement for my bad camera so I can continue to film these changes and let you see them on YouTube. I will let you know when that happens. Hopefully it will be soon! I would really like to make a video to follow up on the original video I will be releasing. Right now, only Laurie and Tiff have the link to see that video!

Laurie tweeted me a great creamy vegetable soup recipe that I am dying to try! Also, on their website they have a recipe for a green smoothie. I am hoping to get my new blender this week so that I can try their smoothie. It sounds yummy!

I'm sure that some of you are thinking, "That's all she's done in the last few weeks?" Well, I have to admit, once I log onto Nature's Knockout on the internet, I can sit here all day and night looking at every possible link. I have actually done just that for at least 3 days during this time. The rest of the time that I've had to work on this project, I have been using my magnifying glass to read ingredients on labels of products already in my house. No wonder the ingredient listings are so small. There is a lot of toxic junk in those products. 

In my next post, I will be talking more about the dietary changes I am making, along with my personal exercise program, how I am doing with my new products, and new product purchases. In the meantime, please feel free to comment below. Let me know what you want to hear about, or just let me know that you stopped by. And, please don't forget to check out the links for Nature's Knockout, Lauren Holly, and Azer Greco. Thanks!






Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional, nor am I a licensed cosmetologist. I am not affiliated in any way with Nature's Knockout other than being a big fan of theirs. I am also not affiliated with any hair/cosmetic manufacturer, retailer, or beauty salons, or professionals in said businesses. I hold no licenses to practice in any of these professions. I hold no affiliation with the makers of the products I mention in my posts, nor am I compensated to mention them. The opinions stated in my blog are strictly my own. Before beginning any diet or exercise program, please consult your physician.