Our Journey to Optimal Health & Wellness

I LOST 5 INCHES IN 1 DAY!

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie Koesema) — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:41:00 +0000

5 INCHES IN 1DAY! Doesn't that sound remarkable? I'm dumbfounded. But it is true! A couple weeks ago I mentioned the fact that I was launching Inch Loss and Fitness Parties! So far I haven't had any takers but after reading this post, maybe some of you will decide to join the party!

I decided that in order to sell these products I better try the Cinch products exactly as they are "prescribed" by Shaklee to see if they actually worked. A noble thought, I know. So, I started Monday morning by measuring my waist, hips, thighs, bust and upper arms. Then I followed the plan to the tee!

A shake and a glass of water for breakfast with a vitamin.
A shake for lunch with a vitamin.
A cup of Cinch tea and a Cinch protein bar for an afternoon snack.
A huge salad with romaine lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, onion and salmon with light ranch dressing and a baked potato with a small pat of butter for dinner.
A large apple with a couple tablespoons of natural peanut butter for a night time snack.

I didn't get hungry except for right before I ate my meals. So, I really feel that I was sustained well throughout the day! That was GREAT! Now one thing as with any weight loss plan, they want you to exercise. They suggest walking 10,000 steps during the course of a whole day doing all your normal things you do plus an exercize routine. They even give you a pedometer in your starter kit to measure your steps for the day. Well, my daughter loves to swim so I decided to go swimming with her. So, that was my choice of exercise on Monday. I swam a few laps and did some strength training in the water as well! I had fun, didn't sweat (what a blessing) and spent time with my daughter! What a win win situation, huh?

Then just for kicks on Tuesday morning, I measured myself. I really didn't believe that anything would have happened. But I just thought I'd see. Guess what!? I actually lost an inch off of each of the areas I measured. THAT IS 5 INCHES OF FAT LOSS IN 1 DAY! I was so dumbfounded that I measured myself about 5 times just make sure it was accurate and each time the numbers came back the same! 5 INCHES OF FAT LOSS IN 1 DAY! Incredible.

Tuesday, I wasn't able to follow the plan to a tee. I had a meeting with someone from church at a coffee shop/bakery. I had a scone (definitely not in the diet plan). We had dinner at a friend's house so I had no control over the ingredients. I just ate small portions and only one plate of it and had fruit for dessert. Yes, I stayed away from the homemade triple chocolate cake! Yeah me! And I didn't get to exercise. But upon the recommendation of my Shaklee sponsor, I continued to follow the plan with the shakes and vitamins regardless of whether or not there were extras added in. I'm happy to report that I did not gain any inches and I actually lost another 1/2 inch on my hips! Go figure!

SO MY GRAND TOTAL OF INCH LOSS FOR 2 DAYS IS.....(drum roll, please).....5.5 INCHES! Wow! I never would have thought that was possible. So, it's more shakes and healthy snacks today. And today I'll be swimming and walking for exercise. Swimming with my daughter this afternoon and walking 3 miles with my husband tonight! So, hopefully I'll have more progress to report tomorrow!

Until then....consider joining my INCH LOSS JOURNEY TO WELLNESS! And of course, Here's to your health!

For more information on the products I'm using in my Inch Loss program, visit my Cinch website.

Click here to get more information on starting your own Inch Loss and Fitness Parties.

Oh, and get this...you can actually make money while you lose weight! E-mail me at its_a_cinch@sbcglobal.net for more information on that option.

An Incredible Investment Opportunity

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie Koesema) — Thu, 16 Aug 2007 15:37:00 +0000

So, in a previous post I made the proclamation that you could start a business for under $75. I'm still researching that and haven't given up on that quest. So, those of you who don't have a lot of money to get started, never fear. I will pass on some exciting information to you in the near future as well.

However, I now have an amazing investment opportunity to share with you that can jump start your health and help build an incredible business. It's called the Shaklee Gold Ambassador Program. In light of Shaklee's continued concern for the environment and the health of its inhabitants (you), they have developed a new business plan with added incentives (a Hawaiian Vacation) and added bonuses. You have got to check out this plan. It is truly a golden opportunity.

So, if you have $299 to invest, check out all you get to jump start your health and your business:

15% discount on all Shaklee products

New Distributor Welcome Kit

Free Product with Next Order (up to a $69 value)

Gold Ambassador Status (allowing you to sell anywhere in the world)

Your Own Shaklee Personal Website Free for 3 Months ($60 value)

Your Choice of 6 Different Product Action Kits ($230 Value)

The Product Action Kits have never before been included in the business builders kit. You've got to check these out! There are so many options to choose from. Kits for losing weight, cleaning your home, nourishing your body, and nourishing your skin. These kits are collections I have never before seen offered together. So, you actually get to try these incredible products as part of your welcome kit with no extra investment. Too cool! They've never offered that before so you've got to jump in on this opportunity.

And the great thing is, this Gold Ambassador Program offers you the chance to sell anywhere in the world. If you have friends or relatives across the globe, you can offer them this same opportunity for physical and financial growth! For each Gold Ambassador you sign, you get a bonus. And then for each Gold Ambassador they sign, you get another bonus. This has never been offered before either. So, the income potential is pretty astounding.

So, if you are concerned about the welfare of our planet and your family, look into this Gold Ambassador Program. It's a very exciting time to sign up with Shaklee!

Here's to your health!

Energy Beyond Compare

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie Koesema) — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 16:17:00 +0000

In my personal journey to wellness, there have been a lot of things that have really made me excited. If you're a regular reader of this blog, you've seen a bunch of them here. And just when I think I find the one thing that can't be topped, something else new comes along. Today, I want to introduce you to one of them. Something that has the power to change your life! Just like the Prayer of Jabez (see my previous post) can revitalize your life in a spiritual way, I have just found out about a pack of products that can revitalize your physical life in an incredible way! You won't believe what they can do for you. If you're looking for a healthy, natural way to boost your energy....read on! You'll get excited too and might even want to give it a chance to make your own journey more energized!

What am I so excited about? Shaklee's Vitalizer Wellness Packs! This is astounding! This pack is loaded with goodies never before put together into a single pack! And if purchased together in the pack, you get a savings of close to $25 as opposed to purchasing each product separately. These products literally help nourish every part of your body to get it to function properly and efficiently. Believe me, once you begin using these products together as a team, your body will almost immediately feel the difference! Check out the info below and you'll soon discover the scientific reasons why these products make such a dramatic difference in your health and well-being.

A new landmark study showed that people who took Shaklee supplements had markedly better health than both users of other multivitamins and users who took no supplements. Shaklee supplement users retained normal levels of: • Blood pressure • HDL cholesterol • Triglycerides • C-reactive protein • Homocysteine

Shaklee scientists studied and analyzed this breakthrough information and designed Vitalizer. Vitalizer provides:
• Vitamins + Minerals your body needs, in a S.M.A.R.T delivery system technology for
enhanced absorption.

• Most Powerful Antioxidant Spectrum: Superior protection against free radical damage
with full-spectrum vitamin E derived from eight natural forms and 26 antioxidants working together to augment your body’s antioxidant network.

• Anti-aging phytonutrients, including lutein and lycopene, to protect DNA and support healthy aging.

• Seven omega-3s from ultrapure pharmaceutical grade fish oil help promote heart, brain, and joint health.

• Live probiotics in a patented delivery system to ensure beneficial organisms arrive alive in intestines to support healthy digestion and immunity.

It's incredible that they were able to put all of these powerful products into one power pack! And added to Shaklee's Energizing Soy Protein or Shaklee's Cinch protein in the Vitalizer Wellness Pack....you will be amazed just how good you will feel. And now you can choose between Soy Cinch or Whey Protein Cinch as well. So, now you don't have any excuses for being tired!

So join me in my journey to revitalize my life....and make the choice to revitalize yours! And as always...HERE'S TO YOUR HEALTH!

Living Life To the Fullest

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie Koesema) — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 16:44:00 +0000

This week has been a difficult week for one of my best friends. Her mom has lost her battle with ovarian cancer. The past three years..but especially the last 6 weeks have been challenging for her family with each day bringing something new...sometimes exciting and sometimes devastating. Her family has stuck together and held strong to their faith, encouraging and inspiring those of us on the outside with their strength and peace through the storm. Through it all they never lost hope for miracles...for healing. And now, though she did not receive healing on this earth, Joyce is experiencing true healing in the arms of her Lord.

In light of these events, I just wanted to write about life and the celebration we should be making of it. We all live our lives in different ways. Some days are better than others, obviously. But I am convinced more than ever that we have to make choices everyday to live life to the fullest. Joyce lived life with gusto! She was a spunky and sassy woman who always made me smile! She loved her Chicago Bears...no matter what kind of season they had... and she loved her Lord! No matter what her cancer battle threw at her, she lived her life with expectations of milestones ahead. In her last week of life on this earth, she was determined to make it to her granddaughter's graduation celebration. Though she didn't make it physically to the party, she hung on to life until after the party was over. She was there for her family in spirit and they knew it! What a sweet testament to the strong, determined love she had for her family.

It's at moments like these, that I tend to take a look at my own life and evaluate whether I am living life to the fullest. Whether the life I live is being used to its greatest potential. As I mentioned a couple weeks ago, I've been reading more lately. Currently, I am re-reading a book I've read a few times. It is called The Prayer Of Jabez. Again, I am struck by the fact that God has so much more planned for me than what I allow Him to accomplish in my life. Because of fear, misunderstanding, or lack of faith, I often choose my own way. What kinds of blessings have been lost because of my choices? In that same post a couple weeks ago, I said, "I am choosing to live a life of difference. I am choosing not to be invisible." And now I know how to do that. How to make those choices a reality. I am praying The Prayer of Jabez everyday and waiting to see what God does. I do want my life to count for something. I've been longing for something more and little did I realize that instead of searching for it, I just need to sit back and let it happen the way in which God intends for it to take place!

It's really just a matter of faith. Faith, believing that God has something greater in store for me. So, using The Prayer of Jabez and the amazing example of faith I saw in my friend and her family in their own time of difficulty, I move on. You may wonder what any of this has to do with Shaklee and the overall content of this blog. Well, I am now understanding that it has everything to do with it. So, as Jabez prayed, I also pray, "Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil!"

So, there it is. It's all a part of my personal Journey to Wellness! I hope you continue to join me on my journey! And as always...."HERE'S TO YOUR HEALTH!"

Inch Loss and Fitness Parties!

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie Koesema) — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 17:28:00 +0000

Well, I've got something unbelievably exciting to announce! I have come up with an amazing new plan to boost my business and help people in the process!

Saturday night in the middle of the night, I had an epiphany! I couldn't sleep because my mind was going crazy with this new idea! I had been praying for wisdom about just how to make my Shaklee business get moving and it hit me. Start a party plan! That's right....my Shaklee business is going to be a party now!

So, then I got to thinking about the Shaklee products and decided just what product could lend itself to a party plan. Cinch! That is the product that has the potential to create the most buzz and excitement among a group of friends. So, the Inch Loss and Fitness Party Plan was born.

It's an amazingly easy plan...that has the potential to be amazingly successful both physically and financially. I don't want to go through all the details here, because I want you to visit my Inch Loss and Fitness Party website and see what it's all about. Read through the info there and learn just what the Party Plan is all about.

As far as the business goes, anyone can do this plan from anywhere there are people who feel they need to lose some inches! That's the beauty of it. This product is in demand and because we're making it fun, more people will sign up. And they will have an immediate support group to get together with each week to have fun with and celebrate with! What could be better?

And the best part is, it is possible to make money while you and your friends get fit! For those who want to make a business out of it, all that's involved is to sign up as a business associate at the introductory party. Then if the other guests at the party decide to try the products as well, you leave the introductory party with customers in your pocket. How cool is that? No searching around for customers. No cold calling. Your Inch Loss and Fitness Party guests will be your customers!

If you don't live in the Dallas area, obviously you won't be able to attend my introductory parties. But don't let that stop you. I will train you from here and send you the resources you need to get started doing your own introductory parties! Once you get a couple of these parties under your belt, you business should just snowball from there!

So, that's that plan. It's such a simple and fun plan! If you're curious about how to start your own business/Inch Loss and Fitness Party Plan, please feel free to e-mail me! I will be happy to answer any questions and get you started on your way! Like I said, you can do this from anywhere at any time!

This is a great opportunity! Take time to check out the Inch Loss and Fitness Party website! And please, don't hesitate to contact me with any questions. I'm here to help!

And of course, Here's to your health!

New and Improved...

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie Koesema) — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 15:19:00 +0000

Well, folks....I updated a few things on my blog today. As you'll notice over on the side bar you can now sign up for e-mail updates or subscribe to the blog through an online reader. So, now you have options to have the blog delivered to you whenever I write something new! How cool! So, check that out and "Join the Journey" today! It will make it much easier for you to check up on me. You won't have to remember my blog address anymore...it will be delivered right to you in whatever form you want it!

I don't have much else to cover today! Just wanted to pass on the good news about the new features. Have a great day and "HERE'S TO YOUR HEALTH!"

Making a Difference!

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie Koesema) — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 12:16:00 +0000

Well, this month has been a crazy one for our family. We started the month with a fun holiday week. We didn't do much of anything...but we had fun doing nothing together. And then as soon as the fun was over....the fun was over. My husband got sick...sinus infection. Then I got sick...flu kind of stuff. And then my daughter got an ear ache from swimming. Ugh! So, as you can tell with all of that taking place...the blog has suffered. Sorry about that.

So, here I am again with new thoughts about life and business. My dad sent me an e-mail newsletter yesterday from the Gitomer Weekly Column. In it was a quote from Charlie Tremendous Jones. It reads as follows: "The only difference between where you are now, and where you'll be next year, are the books you read and the people you meet!" How profound..but true. I have been reading a lot lately about business, marketing and the like and have learned a lot. I have also met a few new people this month. People who are passionate about what they do. Maybe a little too passionate. To be truthful...I was a little scared. Ha ha! But they are truly happy and successful people.

This morning as I was thinking over that quote and thinking about the people I met last night especially, I realized that although those people were a little out of the ordinary...they made an impression on me. A positive impression. I guess what I'm trying to say is that the people in this world who live life to the fullest and with gusto, are the ones who win. Those who sit back cynically and watch the passionate ones "making fools of themselves" are the ones who really lose out.

Then as I was thinking of this I was reminded of a passage in 1 Peter 1:13-16. This is in the Message Bible Translation because this version really hits home.
"So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that's coming when Jesus arrives. Don't lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn't know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God's life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. "

Whether you're a beliver in God or not, you can find truth in this passage. It is easy to sit back and let life happen. But I believe after reading this passage and so many other books on people who have made significant life changes, we have got to live "a life energetic and blazing with holiness." If we make the choice in our lives to do the things we should do first before we do the things we feel like doing...our lives would be so much richer and much more abundant! And if we do those things with integrity...wow! What a legacy we'd leave behind.

So here is my quest. I am choosing to live a life of difference. I am choosing to read books and meet people and make an impact on the people I meet. I choose not to be invisible anymore. In life and in business we all have to make choices. Here's to making the right ones! And, of course, HERE'S TO YOUR HEALTH!

Independence Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie Koesema) — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 15:40:00 +0000

Well, it's Independence Day. Independence means different things to different people. Thankfully, we live in a county in which we are free to determine just what it means for each of us. What does it mean for you? As we celebrate this Independence Day, it is important to take time to reflect on what that word "independence" means for you.

I am thankful that I can worship my God without being afraid of arrest or torture. You'd be surprised the number of countries in the world whose citizens are in constant fear of the being punished for their faith. Thank you, Lord, that we can worship you freely. But I'm not only thankful for being able to practice my faith freely, I'm also thankful that people of other religions can practice their religions without fear as well! What a blessing for all of us!

I am thankful that we can express ourselves on mediums such as this, sharing our opinions and thoughts without fear. We are encouraged in this country to express ourselves freely. What a privelege it is to enjoy a free exchange of thoughts and ideas with friends and family as well as perfect strangers we encounter along the way. Whether we agree with each other or not, it is a right we share and a right for which we should all be excessively thankful.

I think if we all take a good look at our lives, no matter where we find ourselves right now, we can find things to be thankful for! No matter what you think of current events, take some time today to reflect on what makes the United States of America special. What about being a citizen of this great country makes you most thankful today? Why are you proud to be an American?

And while you're taking time to ponder these thoughts of thankfulness, please make sure to remember our troops who are sacrificing their lives for these very freedoms we are considering today. Take some time to remember them as well! Remember what they've done so that you can enjoy this holiday in whatever way you choose! Thanks to all our troops past and present! You inspire us! You are the reason we celebrate!

600 Home Runs...Check Out Those Guns!

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie Koesema) — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 15:56:00 +0000

Well, for any of you out there that follow baseball, you understand just what an incredible achievement Sammy Sosa has accomplished. After taking a year off, Sammy came back to baseball, joined the Texas Rangers and swung his bat right into the history books! Regardless of the speculation of steroid use, none of which has been proven, the feat of hitting 600+ home runs is remarkable! It is truly something to be celebrated! Now there is a lot of talk of whether Sammy should be eligible to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. No one knows for sure how he was able to accomplish and maintain so much success in his career. What we do know is that for all the accolades he receives, the rumors swirling around him and other players like him come back ten-fold.

It didn't have to be this way. It's sad that young Little Leaguers are feeling the pressure to achieve and to build themselves up like these players have. Unfortunately, I think there is too much pressure and these youngsters turn to steroids and other unsafe drugs to try to get the bodies they think will give them success.

But the answer is not steroids. There is a safe, healthy alternative to help athletes of any kind achieve a healthy and strong body. There have been documented stories of athletes using Shaklee products to boost their performance. These amazing products will not only keep you hydrated but they will help maintain your energy level and help your muscles recover more quickly! And any athlete knows that the recovery time can be crucial.

So, all of you sports enthusiasts out there...take heed! Make sure that the products you're using to help your performance are actually helping your overall health. And the Shaklee Sports Nutrition products are just as safe for kids as they are adults. So, if you have a child that plays any kind of sports...you owe it to them to give them safe, natural supplements that will help their performance and keep them healthy as well! Let's all get healthy and stay that way!

Here's to your health!

Step Away From That Bottle!

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie Koesema) — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 15:35:00 +0000

So, now we're being told to get rid of the water bottles we all use every day. It seems just when you think you're doing something healthy for your body, you find out that that is unhealthy too. It gets frustrating. But the truth of the matter is that those water bottles are not only bad for the earth, they can be bad for you physically and financially as well.

Recently, reports have been all over the news about San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom's ban on bottled water in all city departments. Opinions on the subject are mixed because although the ban will help to curb global warming by diminishing our reliance on the oil needed to make the bottles, but it is forcing people to drink city tap water, which itself has been under fire for several years. Although municipalities have been assuring us for years that tap water is safe, how can we be sure? The chemicals used to treat the water are being consumed into our systems. Is that safe?

So, what is the answer? Do we ditch the bottles to save the planet? Or do we ditch city tap water to save our health? What if you could do both? No, I'm not suggesting we stop drinking water. But there are options. There are many water filtration devices on the market that can be used in conjunction with tap water and well water. Go ahead...step away the bottle and drink your water.... just make sure you filter it first.

It's important in this day in age to do the responsible thing and do what you can to protect your family and our planet. We all can make a difference. Take one step at a time. If the the first step you take is to follow in the example of Mayor Gavin Newsom and the City of San Francisco, then stop buying the bottled water and filter your water! You have options!

For those of us on the move, which most of us are, it's important to find a good refillable bottle. Just make sure that you wash and sterilize the bottle after each use. Yes, it's extra work but in the long run it's worth it for you and the planet! Less oil consumption, emptier landfills and fuller wallets. It's true. Even though you have to spend more money up front for the water filtration devices, you will save money in the long run because you won't have to buy water every time you go to the grocery store. Think about it. What could you do with the money you save every year by changing your water supply?

A lot to think about. At some point we all need to make a decisive decision about what we're going to do to do our part in preserving the world we live in! Here's to your health!

A Box of Clean Helps Turn the Whole World Green

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie Koesema) — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 14:04:00 +0000

That's the topic for today. I know we've covered it a couple times already on here...but it's such an important topic...we've just got to go there again!

Did you know that the cleaners that you use in your home are highly toxic? Studies have shown that many of the health issues people face today are due to the chemical toxins found in the home. Not only are we, as people, getting sick because of the chemical toxins we are exposed to everyday...but our earth is getting sick too. I know, you're probably sick of hearing about it...but it's true.

Do you feel like it's nearly impossible to change your habits enough to really make any kind of difference for your family and our world? Well, it's possible! And it's pretty easy. All you need to do is get "A BOX OF CLEAN AND HELP THE WHOLE WORLD TURN GREEN!" This is amazing stuff that has been featured a few times on TV. (Just click play on this link and watch a news segment on the power of green products!)

If all you do is make a few small changes like changing cleaners to natural, non-toxic, biodegradable products, you will be doing your family and your world a HUGE favor!

Have a great "green" day and here's to your health!

Building a Business on Less Than $75!

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie Koesema) — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 19:40:00 +0000

Well, this weekend has been one of reading and researching. I am searching for the "Holy Grail" of business building! Well, not really...but I am searching for what seemed at first like a needle in a haystack! But the more I read and discover, the more possible it seems.

My goal is to build a business on less than $75 and teach others how to do it too! If you're like me, every penny in your current budget counts and there is just no extra money to spare! So, I am searching for ways to market my business and get my message out there on less than $75. Obviously, we have to spend a little to get started but I really don't even think that it's going to take $75...but that's the limit I've given myself.

I started at the local library and got my hands on as many books about marketing and internet business as I could. I found some real gems....all for FREE! I have written down so many notes it's crazy! I've got a ton of things to try and I' m psyched! This is going to be a week of experiments and fun! Shouldn't business be fun? If it's not, what's the point?

I am going to be the guinea pig here and see where it gets me. My goal (call me crazy if you want) is to be making $2000/month within two months. Now here's the kicker! Yes, my primary business is going to be Shaklee...but I have discovered through my research that there are FREE ways to bring in multiple streams of income on the internet. That blew my mind! So, we don't have to limit ourselves to one online business, we can have serveral that all correspond with each other and work together that all bring in extra income each month! Go figure!

So, if you really need to bring in some extra cash each month and have been thinking about starting your own business but don't know where to start, and any of this excites you, please go to my contact page and click on "e-mail." Let me know of your interest in receiving newsletters about my progress and how I went about doing it. I would love to help you out in whatever way I can! We'll give these ideas a try together and see how we do!

Well, that's it for today. I don't want to give away any secrets here. I just want to wet your appetite and give you the opportunity to join me in my quest!

Have a great day! Here's to your Health!

Living Green

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie Koesema) — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 16:42:00 +0000

A couple days ago I included a great testimonial from Zem Joaquin about her experience with the Get Clean products. If you didn't get a chance to listen to her interview, please click her name above and take some time to do that now. It really is very interesting.

As I close off this week of posts, one thing is clear to me. Shaklee is different. I'm not just saying that to "sell" them. It really is interesting to research what people have to say about this company. I've done a lot of searching this week and found tons of articles and web discussions about the company and its products. Did you know that Shaklee has been working for 50 years at being environmentally friendly? Long before it was the "trend" to be green, Shaklee was researching and developing products that were earth friendly and non-toxic. So living green is nothing new to Shaklee.

Their mission is the following:

"We believe a healthy life is much more than just eating vegetables. It's about making you HEALTHY ON THE INSIDE - providing the best nurtients at a cellular level to your body.

It's about making you HEALTHY ON THE OUTSIDE - making your skin young and beautiful because it is your largest organ and first line of defense.

It's about living in a HEALTHY HOME, free of toxins and chemicals, with clean air and water.

It's about living on a HEALTHY PLANET with less pollution and more trees. A healthy life starts with you and leads to a better world."

I just wanted to leave you with that. It's important to think about what each of us is doing to build a better world! It can start with one person. Let's all be difference makers!

Is Your Immune System Healthy?

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie Koesema) — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 15:26:00 +0000

I think most of us would think that our immune systems are functioning as they should. Most of us feel fine most of the time. And then out of the blue we get slammed with the flu or our bi-annual cold. No big deal, right? It's just something we have learned to expect and live through. But is it really something we have to live through? That is the question of the day. Is there a way to protect your immune system and help your body function as it was created to? Is it actually possible to treat your immune system in such a way that it will take care of you and keep you healthy all year long?

Well, I've got a couple stories to tell you about just that. First of all, my husband recently found out that he has contracted an inactive form of TB. Not something we like to shout from the mountain tops...but it's relevant here. He has come to understand that it is just a job hazzard. Working at a homeless mission, he knew that at some point he would come into contact with some sort of serious infectious disease. Thankfully, the TB is inactive and not contagious. But, they put him on a drug that will kill the germ that currenly lies dormant in his body but would damage his liver in the process. Not a nice prospect to consider. Okay, so the TB will die, but so will his liver. So, we decided to embark upon new territory in our vitamin supplementation program. We decided to do our best to feed his immune system and build it up so that it could in turn protect his liver from the ravages of the drug he now has to take for four months. Of course, we checked through our Shaklee products to see what would help. We found NutriFeron and the Liver DTX Complex and decided to give them both a try. NutriFeron helps the body produce natural interferons which in turn strenghten the immune system and help fight infection. The Liver DTX Complex supports the body's normal ability to make proteins that help regenerate liver cells. So these two supplements together should really pack a punch to keep John healthy.

He has been taking these products for almost a month now and is feeling great! It will be interesting to see how his liver fares in this process. We both believe firmly that these products will protect him from the ravages of both TB and the liver problems the TB drug is supposed to cause. We'll keep you posted on his progress.

On a less serious and more practical note....NutriFeron will help attack cold germs as well. As soon as any of us feel the least little twinge of a cold coming on, we double up on NutriFeron and Defend and Resist in the morning and the evening. More often than not, the symptoms will disappear within 24 hours. So, the question I posed at the top of this post can now be answered, "Is it actually possible to treat your immune system in such a way that it will take care of you and keep you healthy all year long?" The answer is YES!

It's never too late to boost your immune system. No matter what ails you, you can take action and help your body help itself! You owe it to yourself to help yourself! Here's to your health!

Here's to Green Living!

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie Koesema) — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 12:48:00 +0000

Here's a great testimony to Shaklee's wonderful cleaning products. Take the time to read through this. It was written by Zem Joaquin (click on this link to listen to a very informative interview with Zem discussing eco-friendly alternatives to everyday living), a board member of Global Green, certified by Builditgreen, and eco-consultant and green editor for House and Garden.

"While cleaning products don’t usually garner excitement, I was downright giddy when I got a delivery from Shaklee. I’d been eagerly waiting to try out their Get Clean Starter Kit. I’d heard that the products smell significantly better than many organic cleaners (which are well intended and all, but sometimes smell like tossed salad or the cosmetics department the before Valentine’s Day).

Verdict -

Yes, all of the products have a light, clean scent, not perfumy, really nice. My guests have professed passion for the hand wash at the kitchen counter, which smells delicious (not fruity or flowery) and has just the right viscosity and sudsing quality.

My true love is the automatic dishwash powder because it works so well, which is something I cannot say about its healthy competition. I’ve actually been very happy with all of the other products, especially the Fresh Laundry liquid concentrate.

Shaklee boasts that in third-party performance tests, it removed stains and dirt 30% better than competitors like All® and Mighty® and was better at spot stain removal than Shout® Triple Action and Spray’n Wash®. Besides pulling double duty as spot remover and detergent, it is also super-concentrated, which is good for people with storage issues and the less-is-more crowd. Thirty-two ounces cleans 32 loads, whereas Liquid Tide® takes 100 fluid ounces to clean the same amount. (Also consider this: Shaklee estimates that by using the Starter Kit instead of the usual suspects at the supermarket, 108 pounds of packaging waste have been saved from landfills.)

The detergent is free of hazardous chemicals and made from natural, sustainably sourced ingredients derived from corn and coconuts. Like other Shaklee products, Fresh Laundry contains no phosphates, nitrates, borates, or dyes and is safe for septic systems and greywater applications. Even more thrilling is receiving the refills to the starter kit - the waste factor has really been reduced.

These products are the real deal and can be purchased without becoming a member or signing up for something more than merely cleaning house."

How's that for a humdinger of a testimony? You've got to try the Get Clean products to believe it!

Have you got an inch to pinch?

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie Koesema) — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 11:52:00 +0000

Hey, if you're like the rest of us, losing weight is always on your mind. I've got a great testimonial for you today from Terri, a friend of my parents. She has tried the Shaklee Cinch Plan and had some success. As you'll see, she's a real person with real struggles and health issues but what she's doing is working. It's not a miracle cure or a quick fix. It's a real plan that takes effort, but it works. Check it out for yourself and "Here's to your health!"

"I am a diabetic and really need to lose the weight. I can tell you that there is improvement in my blood work in just the last 6 weeks of using Cinch. In October, I weighed 272 lbs and my A1C blood level was 7.4. Physicians want diabetics to have a A1C level below 7.0. I have lost 12 lbs so far, my A1C level is down to 7.2, my cholesterol is 174, my HDL is 34 (the good cholesterol...needs to be higher) and the LDL is 109 (bad cholesterol.....they want it below 100). My triglycerides are 176, which is very good for me. I was once hospitalized with acute pancreatitus because my triglyceride level was over 2,000. It is very difficult for diabetics to loose weight because of their medications (insulin, cholesterol lowering drugs, etc) that cause weight gain. I think it will come but it will take me much longer than a non-diabetic."
-Terri Ellison

If you struggle with weight loss and are looking for a good healthy alternative to the crazy weight loss drugs out there, be like Terri and give the Shaklee Cinch Plan a try. What do you have to lose but inches in places you don't want extra inches? You could have results like hers and surprise your doctor. Wouldn't that be fun? Click the link above to read more about this great plan and see if this might be something you'd like to order and try for yourself!

Time to Power Up!

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie Koesema) — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 14:39:00 +0000

As I sit here this morning and "power up" with my Shaklee Protein Shake, I also feel as if I'm "powering up" the rest of my life. My Journey to Wellness is taking a new turn today as I embark upon the unknown frontier of my own business. I have to say that there are moments that I'm completely confident, other moments when I'm slapping myself and telling myself that I'm completely nuts...but most of all I'm just completely determined. Why? Well, it is kind of a turning point for our family.

As you know if you've read my bio here, my husband works for a homeless shelter here in Dallas. We're doing okay financially, but like everyone, would like a little extra each month to sustain an interesting life. When there's no extra money left after the bills are paid, life can be a little boring. And those moments in life when the car needs brakes or we just want to go have fun and go to a Cubs game (they are in Dallas this week..and we can't go) are difficult. So, it has came down to either me getting a part time job to fill in the gaps or trying hard this summer to make this business work. And because getting a part time job is complicated with homeschooling and maintaining any kind of family life, I chose the latter.

So, here I am. forging ahead. Praying, planning, reading, and mapping out our road to financial freedom. My goal with this business is not to get rich. I know that is a rather unattainable goal with the amount of time I'm able to give this. But I just want our little family to have some freedom...some breathing room, if you will. This will be a struggle, I'm sure...but I also know it is a do-able thing.

I mentioned a couple days ago that I would be posting more testimonies of people's Journey to Wellness....well, here is the first. It is the beginning of our personal Journey to Financial Wellness. I will be posting more along the way. More of my personal thoughts and struggles...kind of a journal, I guess, of my own adventure of starting my own business. I hope you continue following my progress here. Feel free to post any questions or comments you might have. If you'd like to join us and thousands of other families just like ours in this journey to attain financial freedom for your family, we can take the journey together and help each other along the way.

Thanks for reading. See you tomorrow! Here's to your health!

I'm Back!

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie Koesema) — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 17:47:00 +0000

Hey, sorry about the year long delay here. We are still using Shaklee and now we're actually making a business out of it! We're so excited about this new venture and hope that the readers of this blog will soon join us in our Shaklee business journey to financial wellness! :)

We are going to continue posting some of our own testimonies...yes, we've got some new ones now....and some from folks we know. As we go along, if any of you decide to join our journey... whether just purchasing some products or trying out the business side of things, we'd love for you to post some of your testimonies here as well!

Well, that's it for today! Have a great day! Here's to your health! Check out our new website at http://shaklee.net/jamieandjohn to learn even more about our favorite Shaklee products! Have fun!

I Love Shaklee

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie Koesema) — Wed, 28 Jun 2006 19:37:00 +0000

Below is my daughter's story in her own words. She is 10 and is a TRUE BELIEVER in Shaklee products. Hope you enjoy her story!

"Shaklee is wonderous for me. It helps my eczema. I use Basic H for body wash for my eczema. It is awesome. I also use Basic H for my guinea pigs' baths. My family also uses Basic H for bug repellent.

I love Shaklee shakes. They give me lots of energy. I drink Energizing Soy Protein and Physique.

When I am sick, I take Shaklee Ocean Wonders Children's Vitamins, chewable Vitamin C, Defend and Resist and Herb Lax.

I love Shaklee! You should use it too!"

Eczema...Gone For Good!

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie Koesema) — Thu, 22 Jun 2006 02:45:00 +0000

I've got another great story about my daughter. Not only has she felt better since she started taking the Energizing Soy Protein/ Physique Shakes and her Shaklee Ocean Wonders Children's Vitamins, but we have discovered something to help her skin. Since the time she was born, she has had extremely sensitive skin. We've tried everything to help her with this issue and nothing has worked. It got to the point that throughout the dry winters and during the hot sticky days in the summer, she would spend those days with bright red patches on her shoulders, arms, back and legs. It was painful, itchy and very irritating for her. In the summer she was embarrased to wear her summer clothes because of the red patches. We tried slathering her in Vasoline, Eucerine, Lubriderm....and other expensive lotions and it would either burn on her skin or just sit there and do nothing.

Then finally this winter, I heard a recording of a pediatrician who is now prescribing Shaklee products to her patients with great success. She mentioned that for the children she saw with skin conditions and rashes, she would tell the parents to put the kids into a Basic H bath. I was surprised by this because I knew Basic H was a great all purpose cleaner that Shaklee created years ago, but never knew that it was good for the skin. Well, we were desperate enough this winter to give it a try. And guess what? Within a day or so of showering with just Basic H, her red patches started clearing up. She stopped itching and the redness never returned. She uses Basic H faithfully now for her regular showers and she will immediately go in the shower after swimming to wash off the chlorine. And yes, the children's soap we bought at the store went directly into the garbage. She is a true Basic H believer! She will shower with nothing else now! She has been clear of eczema symptoms for six months now. Incredible! She spent 10 years of her life struggling and suffering with this skin condition and within two days it cleared up with Basic H.

I also use it in the shower for cleansing and shaving. Yes, it's also a great shaving gel. My skin is softer and smoother. Come to think of it, in past years, I always got a kind of heat rash on my legs and elbows and that has not appeared this summer and I'm living in hot, hot Texas! What does that tell you?

The coolest thing is that Basic H is completely natural, biodegradable (so yes, it's environmentally friendly), and incredibly versitle. Versitle does not even describe what Basic H can do. If you purchase nothing else from Shaklee, just get yourself a supply of this stuff. So, if you're looking for an all natural, inexpensive wonder cleaner/shower gel/skin healer/pet shampoo that's great for the environment...Basic H is the product for you! Until next time...."Here's to your health!"

The Power of Protein and Children's Health

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie Koesema) — Wed, 21 Jun 2006 02:22:00 +0000

I'm back. Sorry! I took a couple days off from posting. There are so many stories I want to tell you about but I think I'm going to take this week to talk about my daughter. She's 10....almost 11 and absolutely LOVES Shaklee. It's amazing. She is hooked. And yes, she takes what we do. She LOVES the Energizing Soy Protein/ Physique Shakes and takes the Shaklee Ocean Wonders Children's Vitamins. She feels so good when she uses them. Believe me, you can almost notice an instant difference after she drinks her protein. She drinks the shakes for breakfast and she is set to go for the day.

And let me tell you the difference we have experienced in school. We homeschool so I'm with her all the time to notice her moods and attention span. She is a totally different person when she is using her Shaklee products than she is without. Just like me, she has energy and a clear mind when the nutrients she needs are in her system. Without them, she tends to be very tired, have a VERY short attention span, has meltdowns when she doesn't understand something right away, and it's nearly impossible to complete a subject without both of us getting completely frustrated. But with the protein and the vitamins, wow! She actually learns and she learns quickly and tends to retain things longer too. It really is amazing and I'm convinced that all children are in desperate need of nutritional help and these vitamins and Protein do the trick. I can't tell you all the scientific background to why the Shaklee Energizing Soy Protein is so good for the system. I do know that we don't do school without it...and if we do for one reason or another....we're guarenteed to have a bad day!

It's funny....my daughter has become a serious Shaklee supporter. If she was old enough to sell it, she'd probably be a millionaire because she tells everyone about it. There are other Shaklee products we have tried with her that have literally changed her life that she refuses to live without! I'll be telling you about those as we progress this week. But, if you ever wondered if it was possible to boost your child's health in a safe and natural way that they would actually enjoy...my daughter is a poster child for the benefits of the Shaklee products. I wish you could talk to her and see her face light up when she talks about Shaklee and what it's done for her. Not bad for a 10 year old kid, huh? If it can work for her, believe me, it will work for your kids! Think about it.

Well, that's all for today. Until next time...."Here's to your health!"

What a Difference a Couple Days Can Make!

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie Koesema) — Sun, 18 Jun 2006 03:37:00 +0000

I have to tell you something really cool that happened to me a couple weeks ago. We have been living in Dallas for about seven months now and up until a few weeks ago, I was enjoying an almost vacation like life. I had really grown accustomed to our laid back lifestyle when I was given the opportunity to earn a few extra dollars by going to work full time temporarily for the homeless shelter where my husband works. I was asked to fill in for a couple weeks until the permanent replacement was able to begin working. I was excited about making some extra money…but not thrilled about the new schedule. It was going to disrupt my “pool time.” But I agreed to do it anyways.

The week before I began this temporary full time job was one of those weeks that we had run out of our products and didn’t have money to order more. We got our new products the day before I started working. When I got up at 5:30 that first morning, I went right to the kitchen and made my Energizing Soy Protein and Physique shake and took my food supplements. I can’t tell you how much I enjoy those shakes and they really are energizing as the name might suggest! That’s all I had for breakfast and believe it or not, I was good to go until about 10:30am. That’s five hours of energy with just having a delicious shake for breakfast. I’d say that’s pretty good.

The job I was doing was very physically demanding. I was incredibly tired when I got home that first night. I was ready to go to bed and really crabby by about 8:30pm. I was really dragging the first couple of days, but by that third day I could completely tell a difference! My eyes weren’t tired, my muscles weren’t hurting, my head was clear and I got so much done! And believe it or not, I had the energy to keep going until about 11:00pm and was still able to maintain my house the way I like to! That was quite a realization for me that these products are truly remarkable!

So, do you see why I’ve decided to dedicate this site to the power of these products? It really is amazing what a difference a couple days can make! It’s so great to feel so good and have energy to spare! You just can’t understand it until you experience it! Shaklee has been our answer…maybe it could be yours too. Who knows! Well, folks, have a great weekend and we’ll see you back here on Monday! Until then….. “Here’s to your health!”

A Real Metamorphosis

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie Koesema) — Thu, 15 Jun 2006 15:46:00 +0000

I know you probably don’t believe me that you can notice a difference in how you feel with Shaklee, but it’s true! It’s truly unbelievable. Remember how I said yesterday that before Shaklee I couldn’t drag myself out of bed before 10:30am? Well, get this, since starting on the Shaklee Essential Foundation program, I’m now able to get up at 6:00am with my husband and accomplish so much more than I ever thought possible. My life is organized, laundry done, folded and put away, my house is clean and the dishes are done. I never thought that was possible. Just ask my husband. He’s put up with a disorganized house for many, many years. But things are different now! I love the metamorphosis that has occurred in my life. I really believe it has to do with the fact that my body is functioning as it should with the nutrients it needs! It’s really quite amazing! And believe me, when I don’t take them, my body complains. I’m back to being tired and sluggish again.

So there you have it folks. Maybe it’s time for your own “metamorphosis!” The products are not cheap….but they are worth it. But as we've all heard many times in our lives, "You get what you pay for!" Cheap is always best! So take some time to research these products and decide for yourself if they're worth investing in. It may be hard to squeeze it into your budget…but if you decide to join me in the journey, your body will be so glad you did. But if you’re still not convinced that it’s time to explore the Shaklee option, just stick with me here. Keep on coming back and reading about my journey. You may learn something you never knew before as you follow my journey or at least be somewhat entertained as we go! So, until next time…. “Here’s to your health!”

Our Lightbulb Moment!

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie Koesema) — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 02:06:00 +0000

We had a fairly traumatic year last year for several reasons that I won’t bore you with here. But because of the stress of the crazy events in our lives, my daughter and I spent a bit more time at home with my parents and they re-introduced me to Shaklee. Holy cow! What a difference it has made! All those years of being so tired and unmotivated have changed. I have energy. Remember yesterday that I mentioned how tired I had been? I used to really struggle to get out of bed in the morning. It was usually about 10:30am or so before I could drag myself out of bed. Luckily my daughter liked to sleep in too! I always felt really guilty about sleeping in but no matter how hard I tried, I just couldn’t get up! I mean, we were eating healthy and doing what we thought we should to live a healthy lifestyle but I still didn’t feel right.

Shaklee was the answer to my struggle! After listening to my parents describe how Shaklee creates and produces these food supplements and doing some research on my own, it all makes sense why Shaklee is so different than the vitamins you can get at the vitamin store! The nutrients found in these supplements will protect and heal your body at the cellular level. How cool is that? This program is unique to others because it has scientific medical data to prove that these supplements actually do what they claim. And the cool thing about these supplements is that they are indeed all natural! They are not chemically created vitamins. There’s nothing artificial in them and there are no fillers. They are created from food. It’s just that simple. All we’re doing is eating healthy food in supplement form. These food supplements are created in such a way that they absorb into our bodies just like food does. We’re not poisoning ourselves with chemicals and other things our bodies weren’t created to absorb. These products are as natural as the apple in the fruit basket. So, we are simply supplementing our healthy diet with these great Shaklee products and building up our bodies to function the way they should.

If you are like we were and have been searching for something that will give you energy and help you feel healthy, Shaklee may be the answer for you as well! After just a few days of taking the Shaklee Essential Foundation Products, you will feel better! Trust me. These products are so amazing...I just want to shout it...or type it from the mountaintops! If you want to be healthy and stay healthy...you've got to give these products a try! So, take some time to check out the link above and see for yourself, just what makes these products so special! Until we meet again…. “Here’s to your health!”

Where My Journey to Wellness Began

noreply@blogger.com (Jamie Koesema) — Tue, 13 Jun 2006 03:26:00 +0000

Now that you have a little background about what this journey is about, let’s get on with it. My personal journey with Shaklee actually began when I was a child. My parents were Shaklee distributors as far back as I can remember. They always had some Shaklee products on hand when we were growing up. I don’t remember specifically what they kept in the house but I can remember my mom taking whole handfuls of Alfalfa tablets and Vitamin C’s along with some other things too. She took them almost religiously. And come to think of it, she wasn’t sick that much. How about that? I also remember her giving us kids chewable Vitamin C’s by the handfuls when we were sick. I remember loving the taste of those. They were sweet and sour all at the same time. It was like candy to me. Since we didn’t get candy that often, I thought it was great! Who knew it was actually good for me?

All of that to say, that Shaklee has always been a part of my life. I haven’t always used it, but it was always on the shelf at my parent’s house. When I moved out and got out on my own, of course, I thought that a vitamin was a vitamin and didn’t feel the need to use Shaklee. My husband, John, and I have tried all different kinds of vitamins thinking we were doing our bodies good but never really feeling any different. John has always been much better about taking his vitamins than I have. I never got into it much because I really didn’t think they were doing anything for me. My medicine cabinet could prove that. I had bottles and bottles of semi-used and/or completely unopened bottles of various store brand vitamins. Even though we seemed to be doing all the right things…or at least John was, there were still nutrients that our bodies were craving. How do I know this? My body was telling me everyday. I was tired….boy, was I tired!

We knew we needed to make some changes, but what? What could really do the trick for us? There was a lot of hype about “all natural/ whole food” vitamins. We talked to people at vitamin stores and bought into what they “advised” us to do. But we were still tired. It seemed hopeless. But it wasn’t. There was an answer….and that answer was Shaklee. Tune in tomorrow for our “light bulb” moment! It all made sense and we decided to give it a try! So, hang in there with me on my journey to wellness…and as always, “Here’s to your health!”