Working At Home

Is Liposuction the Answer for Cellulite

2011-11-02T23:13:00.000-04:00

Cellulite is the expression used to describe pockets of fat which are trapped and cause dimpling in the skin. This dimpling is irregular and patchy and has been identified with orange peel.

Underneath the dermis and epidermis are three specific layers of fat. Cellulite tends to develop in the subcutaneous fat layers. This layer of fat is unique in its structure compared to the other layers because its fatty parts are structured into specific chambers by strands of linked tissue around it.

Cellulite’s formation is a result of complex physiological changes that occur in the subcutaneous fat layer. Regular exercise and well balanced diets do not always reverse or prevent its formation, although an unhealthy lifestyle will make the overall appearance worse over time due to poor nutrition, weight gain and lack of sufficient water intake.
With age there is a loss in the thickness and tone of the connective tissue in the superficial fat layer and the dermis. Unfortunately noticeable, flaccid cellulite is the result.

Of course, some women prefer to use cosmetic surgery to reduce their cellulite. But why spend that kind of money? You can reduce the appearance in 45 minutes.

Cellulite Stage 1
Cellulite cannot be detected in this stage unless you pinch your skin in a special way.
Appearance- In this stage, cellulite is not visible to the naked eye. In order to see whether you have cellulite perform the following test: Press tissue between your thumb and finger, or between the palms of your two hands, and if it is “normal” fat, it will appear smooth, with no ripples or bumps. If you have ripples or bumps which look like “orange peel” – you have cellulite. When pressing the tissue together, it will be sensitive when cellulite is present.
Underneath the Skin- Blood microcirculation and lymphatic drainage of the subcutaneous level are impaired Cellulite

Cellulite Stage 2
Appearance- In this stage, cellulite can be seen when standing up. Skin may be discolored and have broken veins. There is an orange peel type of appearance to the skin, and skin may be thicker and more tender in these areas.
Underneath the Skin Capillaries and veins are weakened as circulation is lessened. This increases pressure in the tissue, and restricts circulation and fluid drainage even more.

Cellulite Stage 3
Appearance In this stage, cellulite has a cottage cheese type appearance and there are multiple visible lumps on the skin.
Underneath the Skin Much lymphatic fluid build up, and fat tissue is swollen and begins to push against the outer skin. Circulation is reduced even more, and because of lack of circulation, skin may feel cold to the touch. Further weakening of the circulation and lymphatic fluid build up can lead to Stage 4 and Stage 5. In these last stage, thick fibers, trapped fat cells, and stagnate fluids form a huge honeycomb structure, causing large lumps, and hardened bumps. The skin may be painful to the touch.

Loyal Customers get FitWorks for Free

2011-07-07T08:51:00.001-04:00

It Works! Global Ultimate Body Applicator and Nutritional Supplements
You already have a healthy lifestyle; you eat right and you exercise. But what about your body’s alkalinity and toxicity? The Ultimate Body Applicator and nutritional supplements offered by It Works! Global Marketing can help you balance your body and increase your health.
Part IV
What is FITworks?
By It Works! Global on Facebook
FITworks™ is based on the science of "thermogenics," the manner in which food converts to energy and is burned as heat. Have you ever noticed that after eating a large meal, you sometimes feel warm or even sweaty? This is due to the thermic (or heat-producing) effect of food. With this body temperature rise, you burn more calories.

There are several ways to produce this thermic effect. FITworks™ is the beginning of a process of reprogramming your body – for life. It is a way for you to understand how your body works. By understanding thermogenics, you will be able to leverage the biological process that your body uses to burn fat, rather than try to control portions or count endless calories. Once you learn how to work with your body, rather than against it, you can maintain weight loss and health for life.

The FItWorks Program is free to all It Works! Loyal Customers. Be sure to take advantage of this great program.

What are the 5 FITgroups?
The following are examples but not limited to.
FITGROUP ONE: COMPLEX CARBOHYDRATES: (FIBROUS)
1 serving = 1 cup
Asparagus                Broccoli        Okra               Cauliflower              Green beans
Brussel sprouts       Peas               Cucumber    Squash                     Collard greens
Mushrooms             Zucchini        Lettuce          Salads                       Spinach
Pepper, green or red         Tomatoes, salsa     Kale

FITGROUP TWO: NATURAL SIMPLE CARBOHYDRATES (FRUIT AND DAIRY)
1 serving = 1/2 cup or medium sized whole
Apples                       Unsweetened applesauce           Blueberries               Bananas
Oranges                    Raspberries/Berries                      Nectarines               Plums
Grapes                      Peaches                                            Cantaloupe              Milk – 1 cup
Grapefruit                 Pears             Jelly (all fruit) – 1 tbsp       Yogurt – 1 cup

FITGROUP THREE: COMPLEX CARBOHYDRATES (STARCHY)
1 serving = 1 cup cooked or 1/2 cup uncooked (unless otherwise stated)
Oatmeal, cream of rice, cream of wheat, cream of rye, oat bran, barley, multi-grain
Potatoes (white, red)         Yams, sweet potatoes, carrots               Beans, lentils,
legumes        Brown Rice
100% whole grain dry cereals                100% whole wheat or whole grain pasta
100% whole wheat bread & whole grain products

FITGROUP FOUR: LEAN PROTEINS
1 serving = 4 oz (unless otherwise stated)
Chicken breast                    Turkey breast
Fish (flounder, haddock, salmon, orange roughy, cod, tuna etc.) – 6 oz
Shellfish (lobster, shrimp, clams, etc.) – 1 cup
Lean red meat (flank steak, round steak, extra lean sirloin)
Eggs/Egg whites (one yolk for every 3 whites) – 3 eggs
Cottage cheese – 1 cup                Protein powder – 1 scoop                        Rice

FITGROUP FIVE: ESSENTIAL FATS
1 serving = 1 tbsp (unless otherwise stated)
Nuts & seeds – 1 palm full            Olives - 6                   Avocados – 3 slices
Flaxseed oil, olive oil, canola oil, natural peanut butter
Fish fat
Why do we need to eat more often?
One of the secrets of keeping your body in fat-burning mode is to never keep your calories and/or carbohydrates low for a long period of time. To prevent this “starvation syndrome,” you are going to rotate three days on the Low Carb Plan with 1 day on the Core Plan. Eating more every fourth day keeps the metabolic rate from slowing down.
As you get to know your own body, you will be able to judge for yourself and adjust as needed. Do not stay on low carbohydrates for more than three days in a row, and do not stay on high carbohydrates for more than three days in a row. You may also have a “cheat” meal once every 7 days. This is not only psychologically effective, but it will also send the right signals to your body to keep on burning fat. Don’t forget—the cheat meal is a fantastic time for a couple tablets of Advanced Formula Fat Fighter with Carb Inhibitors!

Why supplement if we are eating all this good food?
That question is very relevant. If we lived in a perfect world and were all eating organic food grown in nutrient-rich soil, then sure, we may not need to supplement. However, not many of us have that luxury, so supplementation is necessary to meet your nutritional needs.
Why It Works supplements? These supplements are whole food, NOT synthetic – there is a difference; your body will let you know.

I have included three of my favorite It Works supplements in this plan that I know have helped my family and me. If you could take only one product, I highly recommend Greens; it blends 38 herbs and nutrient-rich "super foods" to provide vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, and enzymes in their naturally-occurring, bio-active, bio-available form. In addition to helping your body restore a healthy alkaline state, Greens also detoxifies your body and helps to balance your immune system. Greens is a delicious, orange-flavored drink powder with the nutritional value of 8+ servings of fruits and vegetables in each serving. It’s easy to take; mix it with water, juice, in a smoothie or simply just put a dab of the powder on your tongue!
It’s Vital is another must have supplement. I have taken several vitamins in my lifetime and have not yet found one comparable. Its Vital has all of your recommended daily nutrients AND an exclusive blend of nutraceutical ingredients. These nutraceutical ingredients elevate the vitamin to its level of excellence.
How does its Vital help support your weight loss and overall health?
Ingredients such as milk thistle and dandelion are known for their liver detoxifying properties. I cannot stress enough the importance of a healthy liver. Not everyone knows this, but it is in your liver that fat is metabolized. When you are trying to burn fat, a properly functioning liver is essential. There is also a broad spectrum of ingredients that support your thyroid, another key organ that helps create an efficient metabolism.
Part III
Part II
Part I

Do the Math

2011-06-27T21:20:00.000-04:00

DOLLAR$ & SEN$E

THE IT WORKS! GLOBAL WAY

Purchase Business Kit -$99
(includes 8 Ultimate Body Applicators)

Get on $80 Autoship -$80
(purchase 2 boxes of Applicators)

Sell 8 Business Kit Applicators at a party($25 ea) +$200

Sell 8 Applicators from Autoship ($25 ea) +$200

Sell those 8 Applicators ($25 ea) +$200

8 people order at your wrap parties
(avg. order is $72) +$194

Sign up one distributor and earn a fast start bonus +$100

+$715

JOIN MY TEAM AND EARN $715 IN YOUR FIRST 2-4 WEEKS!

SERIOUSLY!! DO THE MATH…

Body wrap distributorship special until July 15th

2011-06-27T20:32:00.000-04:00

Come join a winning team and begin your financial independence!

SAVE $100 when you become an

IT WORKS! Global INDEPENDENT DISTRIBUTOR

THROUGH THE 15^th of July! Only $99 gets you started.

You can double your money back with one business launch party!

Bills, mortgage payments, credit card debt...getting sick of the

same old money troubles? And where has the time gone?

What happened to your dreams?

It's time to start your new financial future and independence with the It Works! opportunity!

The earnings potential is clear. Check out the graph to see what our distributors at every rank—from brand-new beginners to seasoned, livin'-it-up leaders—make on average each

month.

What are your goals? Pick a rank that matches your price, and I’ll show you how to get there.

It all begins with one life-changing, first step, and this month you can begin your journey to financial freedom with It Works! Global for only $99!

*Earnings are based on distributor averages and are not guaranteed. Individual earnings may vary. Prices are in U.S. Dollars.

This is definitely the company for me!

2011-06-26T10:53:00.000-04:00

I just returned from the biggest Boot Camp even in It Works! Global history in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It was an incredible experience for many reasons. This is all new to me and I've never experienced anything like it. I met some wonderful, sincere people.

I was surprised that the company's mantra, "Friendship, Fun, and Freedom is the It Works way" really is true. The CEO, Mark Pentecost, Dr. Don VerHulst and other corporate people were VERY warm, friendly and sincere. There was nothing fake about these people. I was already impressed by the company leaders at It Works and how much they care and support their distributors, but the boot camp left me beyond impressed at how they are there for us!

Lowering shipping rates and having free shipping for loyal customers was a huge new announcement from the corporate office. How's that for customer service and helping out distributors! Announcing the lowering of the distributor kit price to $99 until July 15th made the crowd go wild. The $199 price was already a great deal. Now new distributors can double their money back at their first launch party or just wrapping people with the 8 Ultimate Body Applicators that come with the kit.

Now is the perfect time to join It Works! Global. We are in the middle of the "Perfect Storm"!

An MLM...Really?!

2011-06-20T17:24:00.000-04:00

Four months into the world of multilevel marketing (MLM), which I had to Google to find a definition, I still feel like somewhat of an outcast among friends and family. Maybe it's just my own perception, but I feel I have to defend my choice of giving this business everything I've got to give right now. "Oh, that's like one of those pyramid thingys." No, we actually sell products and use them ourselves. This video is actually very entertaining and says it all.

I'm really enjoying marketing for It Works! I've been using most of the products and am seeing and feeling results. I've used the wraps several times and going from being in a size 14 to a size 8 seems like pretty good results to me! Don't you think? I have more energy; I haven't been the least bit under the weather, let alone had a cold or anything all spring. I work in an elementary school office - so staying healthy isn't always easy.

I've lost 23 pounds besides slimming down 3 pant sizes and with that comes more confidence and a general sense of well being. Now it's time to get back to the gym, too. I haven't worked out on a regular basis for over a year. So is being a distributor of It Works a crazy idea for me? Not at all. I love the products; I'm having fun sharing them; and I'm on my way to increasing my income. I hope to increase it enough to quit my regular job. I guess that may be where I think people are looking at me strangely, but why not try? This company is debt-free, setting sales and commission records every month, and is a front-runner in the anti-aging and wellness industry. The Ultimate Body Applicator, It Works! body wrap is a first-to-market product. This is where it's at right now and I'm excited to be part of a multilevel marketing company that has everything to offer.

Awesome Giveaway

2011-06-12T07:35:00.000-04:00

To celebrate over 10,000 Facebook "Likes" On the IT WORKS fan page, we've decided to reward ONE of you with a package of It Works goodies to get you lookin' HOT- just in time for summer!

One lucky person will win a box of 4 Body Applicators, a box of 4 Facial Applicators, a bottle of Defining Gel, a bottle of Cleanser, AND a bottle of Toner (almost $200 value!).

And HOW do you enter to win this fabulous prize?! Leave a comment on our fan page here telling us what you "Like" about It Works Global! The winner will be chosen at random on Monday, June 13th. (And remember, please share this event with your Facebook network! You never know who the lucky winner will be!)

Thermogenics

2011-06-07T20:37:00.000-04:00

It Works! Global Ultimate Body Applicator and Nutritional Supplements

Fiber and Colon Health – Thermogenics & Ultimate Thermofit
By It Works! Global on Facebook

How can fiber help to improve my overall health?
Fiber helps regulate blood sugar levels and reduces cholesterol. Moreover, fiber-rich foods are filling, thereby contributing to weight-loss. Fibers also promote good digestion and help the body maintain a healthy intestinal flora.
How does fiber helps ensure optimal body weight?
Fiber helps ensure that food is chewed longer and more thoroughly. It also fills the stomach, prolongs digestion, and prevents blood sugar levels from spiking. In addition, fiber-rich foods help regulate blood sugar levels, reducing cravings for sweets.
How much fiber do we need each day?
RDA is 30-35g! Sounds like a lot, and that’s why it’s important to know what food has more fiber than others.
How can the Its Essential Bar help people lose weight?
Thanks to the fiber and protein in Its Essential the high-satiety attributes make it an effective weight-loss tool. Its Essential has 7g of healthy fibers to keep you FIT and full all day!
What is SolaGrain and why is it effective?
When it comes in contact with fluid in the intestinal tract, the fiber called SolaGrain expands, making you feel comfortably full- and helping you stay that way longer. That helps you consume fewer calories, which helps you lose weight! SolaGrain fibers found in the Its Essential can improve digestion and protect the body from numerous illnesses.
What is normal colon function?
A person should have a regular bowel movement everyday with optimal transit time 6-12 hours.

How can Regular help restore normal colon function?
Regular is a safe and gentle way to add extra fiber, as well as a blend of herbs that keep your colon clean. This life-changing, naturally based supplement is designed to aid in elimination and restore and support normal colon function naturally. Using Regular ensures daily removal of toxins and waste material and offers a gentle way to cleanse the colon.

What is thermogenics?
Thermogenics focus on the biological process that your body uses to burn fat, rather than trying to control portions or count endless calories. Once you learn how to work with your body rather than against it, you can maintain weight loss.
What are thermogenic foods?
Depending on which foods and combinations you choose, your body will either store excess calories as white fat, or tap into brown fat and burn the calories as heat. This is the essence of thermogenics and the core of FITworks™!
Thermogenics is the heat produced from the metabolism of food. Logically then, the more you eat the more you burn. How can this be? Certain foods have a higher thermic effect, meaning it takes more energy for your body to break down the food than it has calories to use. This makes it almost impossible for these foods to be stored as fat. Your body will actually tap into your stored fat to get the remaining needed energy. When fat loss is your goal, you should include as many of these “negative-calorie” foods as possible.
How can I incorporate thermogenic foods into my meal plan?
Incorporate these daily. As you begin to develop good habits, you will develop your own favorites and what works best for you. It’s all about choices!
Oatmeal (not instant)       Sweet Potato           Brown Rice              Cottage Cheese (low fat)
Eggs                                       Chicken                     Fish                            Apples
Berries                                   Thermogenic Soup

What foods should we avoid to prevent our metabolism from slowing down?
1) SUGAR: - Eating too much sugar overloads your body and causes your blood sugar levels to rise rapidly. This makes your body go into starvation mode! Your body will actually store extra fat and burn less calories. To make sure this does not happen you need to reduce your intake of refined sugars as much as possible. That means cutting down on the candy, chocolate, cakes and cookies as much as possible. If you still want something sweet, try eating some fruit. Unlike refined sugars, most fruits contain fructose, which does not cause your blood sugar levels to rise as quickly.

2. WHITE BREAD: - White bread is made from wheat flour which then has the bran and germ removed. White bread is bleached to remove any yellow color, which destroys many of the vitamins contained in the wheat, and it is full of sugar. This means that it is very easily digested, has a low nutritional value and is low in dietary fiber. When processing white bread your body burns very few calories and it causes your blood sugar levels to rise. I know you have probably heard it many times before but by substituting white bread with a whole grain variety you can really boost your metabolic rate. Whole grain bread is harder to digest (so burns more calories while being processed), has a greater nutritional value and most importantly does not cause your blood sugar levels to rise in an uncontrolled way. I love Ezekiel bread!!! It’s loaded with sprouted grains and lots of fiber.
3) FRIED FOODS: - Like white bread, fried foods are very low in nutritional value and easy to digest (not good when trying to stabilize blood sugar). They are also very high in calories and full of saturated fats. Saturated fats are solid at room temperature, generally come from an animal source, make your body produce more cholesterol and slow down your metabolic rate. You really need to avoid fried foods for the sake of both your metabolism and your health. Try cooking with heart healthy oils like olive and coconut oil.
4) PROCESSED FOODS: - Processed foods include items such as lunch meat, chips and chocolate bars. These foods are very popular because they are quick and convenient but guess what; the vast majority is also lacking nutritional value, contains dangerous trans fats and is high in chemical preservatives! Again this combination of factors in processed foods means that they reduce your metabolic rate. I know that it can be very tempting to opt for processed foods when you want something to eat after a long, hard day but your body will really thank you if you take the time to cook something healthier. If time really is an issue then why not try cooking in large batches of thermogenic soup or cut up veggies with hummus or almond butter? This will mean that you will still have access to quick, convenient foods when you are in a rush BUT they will be healthy.
5) ALCOHOL: - Alcohol is full of sugar and calories which (as you probably know by now) restrict your metabolic rate. Alcohol is also known to have a dehydrating effect. If you are not fully hydrated, your metabolism does not work as effectively. Moderate consumption of alcohol is not going to have a huge effect on your hydration levels but excessive consumption will. For most of us there are going to be times when we over indulge on alcohol so I am not going to advise you to give up alcoholic beverages. However, you should make an effort to reduce the amount you are consuming. If you do have the occasional drink be sure to take your greens and drink plenty of water.

How can Ultimate ThermoFit help?
Ultimate ThermoFit is our weight loss formula that includes a thermogenic blend of peppers (capsimax) that heat up your body and help you burn more fat! It will also help to reduce your cravings and support your weight loss with Acai berry, a super antioxidant! ThermoFit will give you extra energy for your workout and heat you up- without stimulants! Take ThermoFit per instructions on the bottle.

Ultimate Body Applicator - Have you tried this?

2011-06-06T07:27:00.001-04:00

It Works! Global Ultimate Body Applicator and Nutritional Supplements

Part II

Here are a few things to consider when using the Ultimate Body Applicator...

by It Works Global on Facebook

Besides showering prior to use or washing the area with warm water, exfoliating prior to applying the applicators is helpful. Anything that may be on your skin that could interfere with absorption such as moisturizing soaps/body washes and lotions could be a problem. These products leave a film and may stop someone from seeing results. One solution is to use It Works Cleansing Gel or another natural soap prior to using the applicator. Using the Toner prior to application also opens your pores for maximum absorption.

- Be sure to wrap the same area for several applications before moving onto another area of the body! Also be sure to drink half of your body weight in ounces per day to help eliminate the toxins from your body.

- Some people don’t have as many pores or have thicker skin so it may take longer to see results, because the absorption rate is not the same.

- Tanning (Sunbathing/Tanning Beds/Sunless Tanning Products) can make skin extremely dry, thus making it harder for the ingredients in the applicator to penetrate through the pores. Using Defining Gel for a week or two prior to using the Ultimate Applicators can help.

- Smoking can cause toxin buildups. Using Regular to rid the body of toxins in the colon may help you to see better results with Ultimate Applicator.

- Sweating can interfere with the ingredients being absorbed from the Ultimate Applicator through the pores. People should not exercise or participate in any activity that causes perspiration while using the Ultimate Applicator.

- Poor bowel elimination can cause excess buildup of toxins. Regular can help detox the colon.

- Excess Toxin Exposure (i.e. Salons/Dry Cleaners/Industrial Plants/Pest Control/etc.) can cause a buildup of toxins. Using Regular and the Ultimate Applicator consistently may help to eliminate these toxins.

- Avoid carbonated beverages (both regular and diet) and Alcohol when using the Ultimate Applicator. Both are high in toxins due to the sugar content and artificial ingredients.

When you use the Ultimate Applicator, you are detoxing your body. I encourage you to continue detoxing, because for some people it may take longer to see results. You will have to be diligent about it. Remember, the Ultimate Applicator continues to work up to 72 hours following application. For optimum results, try to wrap 72 hours apart as often as possible. You may want to try utilizing the Defining Gel two times a day. Also, take note to see that your body contours may be changing, and you may not notice those results on yourself, like other people will.

Many times, people are overweight because they're eating the wrong kinds of foods that lack vitamins and minerals. Often times when people feel junk food cravings, it is actually because the body is hungry for minerals, also called a mineral-deficient state.
If you are not eating 2-3 fruit, 4-6 vegetable, and 5-11 whole grains servings 365 days a year, then it is very likely that your body is deficient in one or more major vitamins or minerals. Aside from helping control cravings, you need nutrients to maintain ideal weight and help your body function optimally. That's why I take its Vital every day.
It's Vital is a unique formula that you will not find anywhere else. First, it's highly bioavailable, which means that it is easily absorbed by the body, unlike many products that simply pass through and aren't actually absorbed.

You can actually put a tablet of its Vital in water and see it begin to break down as it would in your stomach. Try that with other popular multi-vitamins on the market today, and you may be surprised by how many sit there like a rock. With its Vital, we know that its patented dissolve technology helps for better absorption in the body, which means better nutrition for you and results you can feel.
So what does that have to do with weight management? With 77 different forms of vitamins, minerals, trace minerals, and antioxidants derived from premium ingredients, It's Vital can help you control junk food cravings and nourish your body to help you get and stay healthy naturally.

Plus, using its Vital can help you see better results with the Ultimate Body Applicator. The nutrients it contains will allow your body to remove toxins more efficiently, helping our detoxifying body contouring formula in the Ultimate Body Applicator produce more dramatic results.

Do you know your body's pH level? Probably not. Chances are if you eat like most people, your pH level tends to be acidic.See previous post.
Processed foods, fast foods, and packaged foods all contribute to your body's acidity level. Your body responds to acidic molecules by wrapping them in tough-to-lose fat—something we would all like to avoid.
The solution? Eat alkalizing fruits and veggies! It sounds so simple, right? But 8 full servings of fruits and vegetables are tough to fit into a day, which is why I highly recommend Greens.
Greens is a blend of 38 nutrient-rich super foods and gives your body vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, and enzymes in a naturally occurring, bio-active, bio-available form. This tasty orange-flavored powder can be mixed in either water or juice, and each serving contains the nutritional value of 8+ servings of fruit and veggies. By far, this is the simplest, most effective way I have found to get the phytonutrients and antioxidant benefits of veggies and fruits to your body each day.
Want to really amp up your Ultimate Body Applicator results? Drink Greens on the days you wear the Applicator. Because of its alkalizing and detoxifying properties, Greens can help your body be able to let go of that stubborn fat and will help amplify your body's ability to flush out toxins. Did you know that your body can store 8-10 meals in your distended colon if you aren't "going" regularly? That extra waste not only affects your waistline, it affects your health as those toxins build up in your body.
Regular contains detoxifying and pH-balancing herbs for an ongoing colon cleanse—yet another life-changing product from It Works that can also boost your Ultimate Body Applicator results by aiding in the detoxification process.

Putting it All Out There

2011-05-31T22:13:00.002-04:00

So it's time to unveil MY before and after pics so far. This is after 4 Ultimate Body Applicator wraps over
2 months. (Including an all-inclusive trip to Cozumel where I got my money's worth eating and drinking lots of pina coladas!) I lost a total of 6", mostly at my waist and navel areas. I only lost a little below the navel.
I'm down from a 14 to a 10, which is also from losing 20 pounds. The Ultimate Body Applicator tightened and toned quite a bit of it. I really haven't been exercising much, although I'm pretty active. So I'm keeping the weight off by watching what I eat and drinking lots of water AND the inches are staying off. That's the beauty of these body wraps, the inches stay off!! Part of my regimen includes using the Defining Gel and Stretch mark lotion from It Works too. The Defining Gel is half the strength of the body wrap and helps me keep on tightening and toning that pouch I call a tummy!

I also use some of the It Works supplements to keep healthy. The Greens are my favorite product next to the Ultimate Body Applicator. They have 8 servings of fruits and veggies along with 32 super foods to alkalize my body and boost the immune system. I also take Vitals, It Works' vitamin supplement, Regular for colon health, New You to help my body produce its own human growth hormone (more on this awesome product later), and Fat Fighter for when I cheat on my meals (which is almost daily)!

Toxicity and Alkalinity in Your Body

2011-05-29T23:14:00.001-04:00

It Works! Global Ultimate Body Applicator and Nutritional Supplements

By It Works! Global on Facebook

You already have a healthy lifestyle; you eat right and you exercise. But what about your body’s alkalinity and toxicity? The Ultimate Body Applicator and nutritional supplements offered by It Works! Global Marketing can help you balance your body and increase your health.

PART I of IV in a series

1. What does ‘body pH’ mean?
Your pH, which is an abbreviation for ‘power of hydrogen’, is the measuring unit of acidity and alkalinity of a solution. It is numerically equal to 7 for neutral solutions, increasing with increasing alkalinity (14 = maximum alkalinity) and decreasing with increasing acidity (0 = maximum acidity). The urine, blood, saliva, digestive juices, and the fluids inside and outside the body’s cells each have an optimum pH level.
2. What is normal blood pH of a human being?
Normal pH is slightly alkaline, measuring around 7.4 on the pH scale. Anything above that value is considered alkaline; anything below is described as acidic. Both, in their extremes, are life-threatening for the human body. If the pH value drops below 6.8 or increases above 7.8, the cells of the body cannot function properly anymore and the human will die.
3. How does pH imbalance affect our body?
The pH level, the acid-alkaline measurement of our bodies, affects every cell in our body. A constantly imbalanced pH level won’t be tolerated by our internal system as well as our entire metabolic process. Both depend on a healthy alkaline environment through pH balance.
4. What can happen if I am too acidic?
By consuming too many unhealthy, acid forming, or acidic foods, the growth of harmful bacteria, fungus, yeast, and other micro organisms is promoted within our body, which may result in obesity (we create fat cells to carry acids away from our vital organs), allergies (the absorption of undigested proteins due to an overly acidic body is a major cause of allergy conditions), fatigue (an over-acidified body produces toxins and weakens the body’s ability to produces enzymes and hormones) and many other unhealthy conditions.

5. How can I achieve pH balance?
A diet that consists of a proper acid alkaline balance of foods will help to transform your body’s pH balance from dangerously acidic to healthy (slightly alkaline). Above that, you should add plenty of alkaline water to your daily diet. A proper alkaline diet suggests taking in at least 80% of alkaline foods, like green vegetables or grasses, and never more than 20% of neutral and acidic foods. Eating green foods, vegetables, and alkaline foods will help our internal fluids to achieve a natural pH balance as the acidic environment inside the body will be eliminated. That means, by eating vegetables all day long, or taking sprouted greens dietary supplements, and avoiding acid forming and acidic foods, the body’s pH level will gradually be balanced. When pH balance is achieved, your body will start to restore its overall health.
6. How can Greens help alkaline my body?
Greens blends 38 herbs and nutrient-rich "super foods" to provide vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, and enzymes in their naturally-occurring, bio-active, bio-available form. In addition to helping your body restore a healthy alkaline state, Greens also detoxifies your body and helps to balance your immune system. Greens is a delicious, orange-flavored drink powder with the nutritional value of 8+ servings of fruits and vegetables in each serving. It’s easy to take; mix it with water, juice, in a smoothie or simply just put a dab of the powder on your tongue!

Another new direction.

2011-05-29T19:43:00.000-04:00

I've headed in another new direction, really just adding something to my life. I'm still making jewelry; that relaxes me and funnels my creativity. But at my last craft show I met a couple of amazing ladies who were distributors for It Works! Global. Their enthusiasm was very contagious and after working beside them for two days, I thought "what the heck, I'm trying this." Having recently lost 20 pounds counting calories and making healthier choices, I still wasn't happy with those certain spots. You know what I'm talking about...the love handles, the belly, the lumpy thighs.

I bought the body wrap they were so excited about. What did I have to lose? (Little did I know...)
I was very skeptical, and it sounded too good to be true. Well, it wasn't! I tried the wrap on my thighs and lost over and inch on each thigh! Not only that, but the skin on my thighs was visibly toned. The texture of my skin was so improved. I just kept looking at myself in the mirror. I still couldn't believe it.

The next day at the show, I signed up to be a distributor. This was no small thing for me to do. Selling is not something that I EVER wanted to be involved in. But my upline told me, and it's proven so true, we don't sell It Works products, we SHARE.

Using all of the outstanding skin nourishing and body detoxing supplements already has me feeling healthier and looking better. Now I'm on my way to financial freedom, working from home, setting my own hours, meeting great new people, and heading toward making my dreams a reality. www.wraptodetox.com

Take a few minutes to browse through the website and the links, then go to the contact page and send me a note. I would love to hear from you and tell you more about the opportunities with It Works! and hear what you think. I'll be posting more about health and wellness in the future along with my jewelry and thrifting.

I love summer vacation

2010-07-07T09:29:00.000-04:00

I love summer vacation. Who doesn't? The hot weather is here though, and it's really up there this week. I haven't been blogging regularly and now I have no excuse. I've mainly been working on my jewelry and don't want my blog to only about that. So I've been wrestling with how to handle that. Thrifty home decor was the direction I was headed, but there is so much more that I enjoy. So I decided I can have it all and can talk about it all here.

I love to garden, work on home projects, yard projects, scrapbooking and make jewelry. Maybe I have a little attention deficit or maybe I just like to multitask. So be prepared for a wide variety of topics from now on.

So now that I'm on summer break and my son's graduation party is over and we did the college orientation thing already, I can relax and do what I want. Well, I do have another part time job, editing transcripts (thank you M!), but I have a few hours a day to play with my hobbies. Don't be jealous; it's hard work!!

Today I just want to share some great info from a presentation my son and I went to at his college orientation. Here's the link to Michael Vaughn's blogpost about internet privacy. If you use Facebook, this is a must read. His presentation is summed up in the blog post, but it's too bad he doesn't have a video of it. He was a great speaker and shared great info, even if you're not a college student.

Okay, I'm off to water my tomatoes and cukes. They are wilting terribly in this heat; at least I think (I hope) that's why. Then to make some more jewelry. I'm having an open house in a couple of weeks to hopefully make some more sales. If you haven't seen my website, pop over and check it out. ...and enjoy the summer.

New Project and Not Blogging

2010-03-22T16:47:00.001-04:00

I have been away from my blogging for way too long.
I can't help it, I've selfishly been working on a new project.

I have not been able to decide which of all the gorgeous hand stamped jewelry I want to buy for myself. So in true frugalista fashion, I decided to try it on my own!

And I already had my website up for some of my other craft projects, so it was time to add this new jewelry to it. You can take a look at the website here.
The hand stamped jewelry page in particular here.

I just had my first local order for this charm bracelet.

I'm pretty new at the web designing thing, so I'm not sure if my Paypal buttons even work. Keeping my fingers crossed.

I am going on vacation in April, so maybe this isn't the best time to blog about this (hoping for lots of orders!), but I really wanted to see what would happen. I'm ready! Besides I can't wear all this stuff all by myself!!

Let me know what you think. I'm very open to constructive criticism from you all.

Alex Leaves Me a New Room to Redo

2010-02-13T09:47:00.000-05:00

First you need to go check out Patina Soul's blog, especially all you thrifty, shabby junkers! She is having such an awesome giveaway. It ends Saturday night. Her blog is really great, so take a look around while you're there!

My oldest son moved out a few months ago. It was his time.
But in his wake he left a huge mess - he's a boy I guess.
I've always let him do what he wanted with his room. Yikes, now I'm paying the price.

Teenage wasteland or what?!! He had wallpapered in magazine pages and thumbtacked 2 million things on top of that. Ok, I'm over it. I let him do it.

So it took me several weeks (part time) to fill all the holes, including those 2 big ones that required a mesh overlay and several layers of spackle.
I primed with tinted primer - the blue I was using was kind of darker.

Don't worry, I'm getting rid of the blue carpet. It doesn't match anyways.
Shhh, don't tell Mr. JC. Of course my picture taking skills don't allow you to see the true color. It's more of a grayish blue.

I painted all the trim. I've never been one to paint trim. I love the look of wood, but all the trim in this house is 60's boring. The whole house is hardwood though, which is great. I'm trying to figure out how to reconcile the painted trim and floors. Eventually it will all work out.

Here's the finished paint job.

This corner of the room showed up best in pictures. I had this print in the family room and I think it looks pretty good in here.

I hope to make this into a spare bedroom. For now it's just some extra space for me to do projects in, hehe.

New Finds from Goodwill

2010-02-10T10:45:00.001-05:00

I made my weekly stop at Goodwill. I drive by everyday on my way home from work, so 'weekly' is more like 3 times a week if I behave.

I found some goodies to share with you.

Of course I started to clean this before I took a pic.

Beautiful silverplate with all the great scrolls on the edges.

I decided to keep some of the tarnish in the edges. I think it adds some character.

It was $1.50!

This is how it looks now.

I'm already using it on my dresser to display my perfume bottles.

This candlestick was $9 the last time I stopped in. It was down to $4.

Still too much, but I got it anyway.

It's gonna get a couple of coats of spray paint of course.

I'm not too into brass.

This I found at TJ Maxx, but I wanted to include it.

It was in the clearance section.

Not sure where this cutie is going just yet. I wanted to put something inside of it, but there's no door! Oh well.

It's already the perfect color in all it's shabby glory.

The score of the day was this little nightstand for $10.

It's heavy duty and structurally in great shape.

Yeah, it's out in the garage. Sorry about the pics. We're in the middle of another snowstorm. But I'll take a snow day anytime!!

I'm not sure if I'm going to refinish it or paint it.

It's going to go in my spare bedroom,

which will be in an upcoming post.

It was my son's bedroom and he's moved out.

A peek at what I started with:

Any ideas out there for me on what to do with the nightstand?

I'm linking up to Frugalicious Friday at Finding Fabulous.

Turquoise Pillows and Giveaway Winner

2010-02-07T21:30:00.003-05:00

She was the last comment of the giveaway

and the winner by random draw!

Congrats Stacie@HobbitDoor.

She chose the 3rd Love wordbook

Email me Stacie so I can send it out.

I found some fun turquoise fabric to make some pillows for my family room.

You can't see how well the ribbon matches in the picture.

I got it at our Michael's that recently closed (boo) for $1 for a 10 yard roll!

I thought it would make great piping for the pillows.

It worked out pretty well, not perfect.

But I liked the look.

Here's pillow one:

For my second try I made an applique of a hibiscus

on the Cricut and added stripes.

I love the print of this fabric and it serves

it's purpose as my accent color in the family room.

THEN I found this...

...and it's reversible!

Tropical and turquoise heaven.

I want to learn how to make a quilt.

This would be a perfect start, but for now

I just hemmed the edges and it's a great throw.

Problem is it doesn't go with the pillows AT ALL.

Oh well. I can live with it for now.

Afterall, it's a work in progress.

I'm linking up at Funky Junk Interiors SNS

and Shanty2Chic

Can I Garden Yet?

2010-02-03T22:27:00.004-05:00

I am really tired of winter. I always am by February.

Why am I surprised?

So I'm posting about the new garden beds we put in last spring.

Our dear Shelby does not like to stay in the yard.

She's always dreaming up a way outta here!

So building these beds was my excuse to convince sweet Mr. JC to make more space for me to plant.

The idea was to block the bottom of the chain link fence so she would quit going under.

We used stacked timbers and large metal anchors.

I actually did a couple of them myself!

Mr. JC admiring his work (not a very flattering pose)!

We could have just replaced the chain link with privacy, but it wasn't in the budget. Keeping Shelby in and gardening space was most important for me.

Once they were built, in went the dirt and the plants.

Beans coming up and marigolds to keep the bunnies out.

The peppers are in and the tomatoes are caged.

Some strawberries and spinach.

Later in the summer: tomatoes, lots of tomatoes.

And the bottoms of the sunflowers.

Sunflowers!

Okay, back to reality: snow and freezing temps.

Reminiscing made me feel better for a while.

Are you planning your garden yet?

It's almost time to start seeds around here. I have to wait until mid March because we're in zone 5.

Some of my home decor projects will have to move over for

all those seedlings that will be in our basement.

This really isn't a craft, but Lori said any outdoor stuff, so

I'm linking up at Life as Lori Get your Craft on Thursday.

BTW, This is keeping Shelby in the yard! She's not too happy about it either.

Storybook Font Love Word Books and a GIVEAWAY

2010-02-02T07:26:00.004-05:00

I'm reposting or recycling, whichever way you want to look at it or maybe I'm just in love. With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I wanted to share these word books for the scrappers out there.

I thought the Storybook font was perfect for making a Love word book with my Cricut and the Design Studio Software. Here are three that I completed.

Let me know you stopped by to take a look. Here is the link to download the file for Design Studio.

But for those of you who might be interested in a GIVEAWAY...

I am giving one of these scrapbooks away this week.

Your choice of the first or the third one. (I am using the middle one) Just leave a comment and I will pick one winner this weekend the old fashioned way out of a hat! Good luck!!

This giveaway is now closed.

I'm linking up to
DIY Day at A Soft Place to Land
The DIY Show Off Show & Tell Surprise Party
Just Something I Whipped Up Monday

Driftwood collecting and a frozen Lake Erie beach

2010-01-22T10:01:00.001-05:00

Thank you President Obama.

He is visiting our city today and so I get a paid day off from School.

Yes!!

Traffic is going to be a problem with closed roads due to his visit,

so the powers that be decided to close school today. We live off of one of the roads he will travel and will not be allowed to leave our street during certain hours.

A bummer for some people...

Extra time for me to work on my projects.

Last night my fab Mr. JC took me to the Lake (Erie) to hunt for driftwood.

It's only a quick 10 minute drive.

Boy was it cold and windy, but we hit paydirt!

It was very pretty, but being the sort who really can't stand the winter

we didn't stay too long.

Chalk this up to my ~~obsession~~ need to complete the decorating in our coastal family room.

Mr. JC thought the driftwood was for the landscaping this spring.

He just shrugged it off when I told him it would be going IN the house.

So now to decide exactly what to do with this wood.

Any great ideas for me?

Striped walls

2010-01-20T07:27:00.002-05:00

I've painted all the rooms in this house at least twice in 7 years, some 3 or 4 times.

This is my favorite.

Our living/dining room is 23 feet long and not very wide.

I almost didn't buy the house because of this room.

I still don't like how it's arranged, but I love my striped wall.

I read many instructions online on how to measure it out.

I don't remember which I used, but I spent way too much time on that part.

There are better ways than I used, so I won't bother with those details.

(yeah, that humongous plant - it used to sit on an endtable!)

The stripes are eggshell for one color and satin for the other in just a little bit different tint.

It's kind of a light gold color.

But I love to just look at it.

This large gilded frame was my mom's. I think she got it at a garage sale.

I've been hauling it around for 20 years.

Finally I decided to just hang it as is. No picture. Nothing.

It works for me.

See that lamp in the back left? That's next on the list of makeovers.

It was also my mom's.

Burlap shade maybe?

I'm linking up at the Power of Paint Party at Domestically Speaking.

Where did this dresser go?

2010-01-18T10:07:00.000-05:00

Try to ignore the girl in the picture. Yes, that's me in probably 1969 or so. Haha, I was off to get pictures taken.

But this dresser!! Boy do I wish I still had this.

I have no idea what my mom did with it and sadly she is not

still here to ask.

I really, really wish she had kept it for me.

I actually used to have bad dreams about this dresser, recurring dreams.

It used to turn into a ghost and carry me upside down

around the house!!

Maybe that's why she got rid of it.

Too much information, I know.

But kinda funny to me now that I remember that so well.

Lots of new projects are getting finished up this long weekend.

A new pillow with ribbon piping.

Cleaning up my son's room now that he has moved out.

Organizing, throwing things out. Four bags went to Goodwill!

My striped living room wall.

Stay tuned.

Salvation Army Chair and a Slipcover

2010-01-08T08:33:00.003-05:00

I'm back to work, boohoo, and not getting things done as quickly

or posting as I would like. But I have to support

these crafty/thrifty projects of mine.

I was looking for a 2nd chair for our family room

that I could buy for next to nothing and make a slipcover for.

I passed this up, not sure if it was able to be cleaned up.

It was $15, great price. So I went back to get it a week later.

It was still there AND...

was 25% off!!

So I purchased my first thrifted chair for 12 whole dollars.

It was cleaned up and I started the slipcover.

Thanks to Traci and her chair slipcover post here at Beneath My Heart I decided to try the dropcloth slipcover.

I had never made one before and the dropcloth was $10, not a huge investment in case I became frustrated and quit!

I did end up buying 2 dropcloths because I couldn't utilize the fabric as efficiently as I should have.

Here it is finished. (Sorry, I need to start taking "during" pics!)

This is the back. I used velcro to finish this off. And I followed the lines of the original upholstery. It's not perfect, but it'll do for now.

I love the fabric of the dropcloth. It "goes" in this room.

BUT...

Our darling cats love the new chair more than we do.

The cat hair is worse here than on any other piece of furniture.

It's the price we pay.

Well, thanks again Traci for giving me the tools to try my hand at a slipcover!

I really think I can do the sofa now. It will take longer, but I really think it will be easier than this curved chair. We'll see.

I'm linking up at Finding Fabulous for Frugalicious Friday

and The DIY Showoff for Show and Tell Week .

Check em out.

Is Spring in the Air?

2009-12-30T10:18:00.002-05:00

We've just had our first snowfall a couple of days ago.

It's kinda late for these parts, but I'm happy about it.

I don't like winter at all.

So to brighten up my day, and hopefully yours...

here are some bright and colorful reminders of summer

from my garden and a surprise at the end

(well it was for me anyways!)

The most exciting thing to happen in winter, for me, so far

is that our plumeria has been on the verge

of blooming for a month or two. It's my oldest plumie.

I bought it on my first trip to Hawaii.

The first bloom just fell off, so we sighed and gave up.

So now on the coldest and snowiest days so far this season

It is BLOOMING!

Oh I wish you all could smell this delicate little bloom.

There are two more that might open up. Lucky us.

I hope this brightens up someone's bleak cold day!

The DIY Show Off: Holiday Highlights

2009-12-28T00:24:00.000-05:00

The DIY Show Off: Holiday Highlights