If you’ve ever wondered if people actually do lose weight while on the ViSalus Body by Vi 90 Day Challenge then Loretta’s story will definitely impress you!

I met Loretta approximately two weeks ago via the Internet when she contacted me for more information about ViSalus and the  Body by Vi 90 Day Challenge. Loretta was frustrated because she had not been able to lose weight and keep the weight off. She’d tried other programs and/or products but her weight loss goals always fell short. She desperately wanted to believe that she could lose weight and get healthy while using the ViSalus Body by Vi 90 Day Challenge so, even though she was skeptical, she decided to give it a try. That conversation took place only two weeks ago and today I received this voice mail from her! (click below to play). Loretta is back into one of her favorite pair of jeans and she is thrilled!

If you are viewing this post with a cell phone then the above link may not be visible. If that’ the case then please click here to hear Loretta’s voice mail as she squeals with excitement about ViSalus!

Update May 26 2011 -

Today is a few days short of six weeks since Loretta started her ViSalus Body by Vi 90 Day Challenge and she e posted this message on FaceBook this morning:

I started the ViSalus shakes on April 16 and I have lost 21 pounds and 14 inches off my waist. I have lost 4 dress sizes. I went from an 18 to a 14 and I really can fit into some 12′s.

ViSalus is the best thing that could have ever happened to me. THANKS RENEE CHASE I LOVE YOU.

I just want everyone to know that this ViSalus stuff works and you do not have to starve yourself. I eat healthy, just smaller portion. I am loving my life right about now. I just started doing Zumba yesterday but I did no exercise with the first 21 pounds. 

Renee, my friends, doctors, family and associates all all so amazed at my progress with ViSalus. I will post new picture soon. You are a life saver Renee Chase; thank you so much for introducing me to ViSalus!

I love ViSalus and the way we are changing lives!

Every day I run into Baby Boomers who seem to be obsessed with their age, with their changing bodies and with their overall physical looks. Why is it that so many of them, especially women, feel inadequate and insecure about their age? Why are they afraid and/or embarrassed to tell their real age? I believe that we should embrace who we are at all times, and that includes the number of years we’ve been blessed to live, so please bear with me as I get on my soap box!

I can understand a person’s awareness of their body changes and that they might not have the same energy levels as when they were younger but, honestly, a lot of that can be curbed with good nutrition and activity levels, which many Baby Boomers are already aware of and practicing. So where do these attitudes come from? I honestly don’t think they are physical concerns as much as they are emotional concerns. Could it be that we’ve been programmed to believe that aging is a bad thing?

I’ve always been a rebel, and programming usually bounces right off of me, so I’m taking a different approach to be an woman over 50. I’m dang proud of it and I’m happy to tell anyone that I’m a Baby Boomer woman, 54 years old, who is getting real close to her 55th birthday! I giggle every time I open a restaurant menu and realize that, in just a few short months, I’ll be able to order from the senior citizen menu. Hey, I’m cracking up right now just writing about it. I mean, how cool is that? I will get a discount! WOOT!

So let’s explore the possibility that there may be some programming going on here. It makes sense to me. The media has a tendency to portray only the young and the very thin as the sexy and desirable ones. Every once in a while you’ll see an older woman in a role where she can show her beauty and sexuality, but not near often enough. Because of this I think that way too many Baby Boomers feel that they’ve outgrown their desirability, which is definitely not true! Most of the baby boomers I meet are very nice looking people (assuming that they’ve taken good care of themselves during their first century on this earth) so their negative attitudes towards aging must come from somewhere other than what they are seeing in the mirror. Again, I believe that they’ve adopted the belief that you can only be attractive if you are young and this is a sad statement.

If you are a Baby Boomer, man or woman, who is feeling that you are past your prime, then please take a good long look in the mirror. Don’t compare your current body with your 20 – 30 year old body but instead compare your current Baby Boomer self to your 20-30 year old self in the following ways:

Wisdom and maturity levels -
I don’t know about you but I PROMISE that I would never want to go back to the mental or emotional state I was in when I was in my 20′s and 30′s. I was clueless! I’m so proud of what I’ve learned and the level of maturity and responsibility that I now have. I’m telling you, there were times that I wondered if I’d ever get here and I’m sure my poor parents thought it would never happen! LOL!

Accomplishments -
Oh my goodness! The Baby Boomer Renee is definitely kicking the younger Renee’s butt in this regard. That little girl didn’t know if she was coming or going! I’m sure that most Baby Boomers could say the same thing about their younger selves. For me, I’ve raised six wonderful, productive and moral children, I’ve owned multiple businesses and touched many lives, I’m surrounded by GOOD friends (not the petty, partying friends from days gone by) and I’m truly independent. WOW! Will the real Renee please stand up? I am a baby B\boomer woman and I am proud of it!

The main point I’m trying to make is that all Baby Boomers (all people no matter what their ages) need to embrace where they are today. Be proud and thankful that you’ve lived half a century. There was a time when I thought 50 was old but I was young and stupid back then and obviously my thoughts and opinions were stupid too. LOL!. I’m still the fun and silly kid I’ve always been, I’m just in an AWESOME Baby Boomer stage and I’m better than ever! I look forward to what the next half century of my life will bring. Life is good!

You want to know something funny? Even with my strong feelings about this, I too will fall into the trap of acting like I’m complimented when someone asks for my ID. It’s fun to tease about but, honestly, I shouldn’t go there. Sorry about that. Hey, even rebels trip up sometimes. Right?

OK, my Baby Boomer friends … I’m stepping off of my soap box! Go give yourself a big ‘ol hug and know that you are AWESOME!

Every once in a while you wake up just knowing that it is going to be a great day because of the events you have planned. I had one of those special days this weekend because of a scheduled road trip to Buffalo, TX to meet up with my friend and mentor, Rachel Jackson (many of you know her as R.J.) Rachel is, what I’d call, an Internet Queen. She knows what she’s doing when it comes to internet marketing and she’s built herself up to a celebrity status. I always learn a lot from her and look very forward to our visits from a business standpoint. Most importantly though, Rachel Jackson is a good friend of mine. I love this girl and I love spending time with her. I’m blessed to have her in my life.

I had great plans to film part of our visit and to make a fun video showing what R.J. and R.C. (what I’ve called myself for years believe it or not) are like together cuz we get so silly! With that in mind I filmed the beginning of my video on the trip down south. I arrived at my destination, had my flip cam snug in my purse, and then …. guess what? I completely forgot to pull it out! I got so involved in our visit that it completely slipped my mind. LOL!

So, this is one of those situations where you make lemonade out of lemons. I didn’t want to waste what I’d already done so here you have it, My Road Trip to Visit Rachel Jackson. Enjoy!

Info about the artist:
The young man who is singing this song is such a cool kid and is giving his music away right now. He’s trying to build a following. His name is Aeon, he’s a senior in high school and the name of his company is ChampAeon Enterprises .. cool huh?

You can download this song, Love Me or Hate Me, and others at http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/en/view-album/8854-11:11.

Please also like him at http://www.facebook.com/pages/ChampAeon-Enterprises/161328567247019.

You gotta love these young people who are so ambitious!

People have asked me many times over the years how I’ve kept my sanity while raising six kids, five of them boys. Sanity? Ha! Who’s fooling who?

Seriously, I make no promises about my sanity but I can tell you this, I do know how to have a good time and I’m also pretty good about not sweating the small stuff when it comes to my children. I learned a long time ago that there aren’t too many things to stress about in this life and I try very hard not to.

One activity that does stretch me to the limit though is teaching teenage boys how to drive. OMG, this can be the scariest experience ever! Riding with a teenage boy creates serious white knuckles, massive headaches plus the poor cars rarely survive unscathed. It is brutal!

My youngest, Dylan, is currently learning how to drive and I’m the appointed teacher. I survived his brothers and I WILL SURVIVE him because I am determined! This past weekend I decided to document my efforts at teaching him and this video tells the entire story.

I invite you to experience “Driving with Dyan”, a true life experience out of my life. I can do this …. I know I can …. I am a survivor … this too shall pass ….

Click here to view the embedded video.

Daily TV watching is no longer a part of my life and hasn’t been for almost seven months now. I don’t watch the news, I don’t watch the weekly shows that used to be my favorites, I don’t watch sports and I don’t watch the weather. I rarely turn my TV on unless I’m sitting down to watch a rented movie or to stream some Netflix.

So why did I quit watching TV every day? Well, it wasn’t a resolution where I swore off of TV or anything like that. It was more a change in my lifestyle that evolved because my focus had changed. I was busy reading and listening to self improvement material, meditating, taking walks, trying to eat healthy and concentrating on the good things in life. I needed silence … the chance to think … to feel … and to not have distractions. It was a self reflective period and the TV just didn’t fit in. I don’t miss it either.

This change has been a very positive one! I now spend my evenings on the same beneficial activities that I started seven months ago plus I’m focusing on having fun and laughing too (I have a goofy dog and silly kids that help in that regard). I’m getting more sleep and feel much more refreshed and ready to hit the day when I wake up. I am more confident on a consistent basis, I feel less frustrated and I’m just generally happy. Exchanging my TV viewing time for empowering activities is paying off!

Tonight I was perusing some meditation websites and I found this video. Click on the musical note below the video and enjoy. I could enjoy a daily dose of this!

I do understand being busy (I raised six kids!) but give it a good try. Try to find just 15 minutes every day and use it to learn and grow. There is a lot of good material available; you won’t have to search for long. CDs and audio-books are great and can be listened to while driving, cooking, getting ready for work, etc. I love my Kindle for book reading and I also use the iPhone app. Some meditation and hypnosis CDs are designed to be listened to while going to sleep so they won’t take any additional time. If nothing else, get outside and take a walk. There is something very soul cleansing about being outside and breathing in the fresh air.

Please let me know if you try this and how it works out for you. Also let me know if you find some good books, CDs or if you have some tips to share. I started this transformation seven months ago and I’m still going strong. I don’t ever want to go back to my old lifestyle and I wish the same growth for you!

As I listen to the silence, I realize it will become more and more familiar to me in the years to come. My children are growing up. Eventually, each one of them will leave our home. As they leave, one by one, the noise level and activity will decrease.

I’ve heard many parents say, “I can’t wait for the kids to leave home!” Each time I hear this I wonder, “Why don’t I feel that way? Why am I different?” I honestly enjoy my children. They are fun to be with. More importantly, they honestly seem to enjoy me! I can’t remember them ever making me feel like they didn’t want me around or involved in their lives. I’m very fortunate.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not, like some parents, trying to be my kid’s best friend, nor am I ignoring my parental duties. I demand respect and obedience. My children know where the “line” is and, if they cross it, they get brought down real quick. In turn, I try to show respect towards their needs and feelings, even if I don’t always agree with them.

My relationship with my children is a good one. There are times when we sit around and talk for hours. We’ll laugh so hard that our sides hurt. We play together. I’ll chase them through the house with the water gun. They’ll throw pillows at me from upstairs. We’ll crank up the rock ‘n roll on my huge DJ speakers, turn on the strobe light, move the furniture, and dance! We have fun.

This is Brandon’s last year home and we are busy researching colleges, scholarships, career paths, etc. College baseball coaches are contacting him. We have toured one college and four more tours are scheduled within the next two months.

It is with mixed emotions that I watch my firstborn prepare to leave our home. I am so proud of what he has accomplished and excited about the bright future he has. There is no doubt that he will excel, as he always has.

I try to imagine him being gone, but can’t fathom it right now. For 18 years he’s been a part of my life on a daily basis. It is impossible to envision his absence. I know that we’ll be in constant communication after he leaves, but nothing will ever fill the empty spot he’ll leave in our home.

I’ll be going through the same thing with Aaron in two short years. He’s already made some decisions on his college choices. Aaron is a very dedicated percussionist and stays after school to practice for hours at a time. I admire his work ethic and am so proud when I see him play. I miss him when he is gone. Aaron is very witty and funny. He can make me laugh so hard that I cry. If I miss him now, what is it going to be like when he leaves home in two years?

After Aaron leaves, there will be a three year break before Jared graduates, followed by Kendall in two years and Kelsey in another two. Thank God that Dylan, my little guy, will remain underfoot for a while!

As they grow and leave home, I’ll make the necessary adjustments. I will become involved in the paths their lives are taking, anticipate their e-mail and phone calls and worry about their safety. Undoubteuly I’ll become very good at wiring money. I’ll probably find myself counting the days until summer break brings them home again.

One day they’ll all be married with children of their own. The occasions that bring them home will be cherished. My house will once again be full of life and noise and I will love every minute of it!

Until then, I am going to savor and enjoy every single minute of this year . . . the last year all of my children will be home.

© Renee Chase, October 1997

Comments about this article -

• “I just read your Notes from Renee and got choked up by “the empty house.” My two children are only 8 and 6 and I already dread the day when they leave! I guess that’s why I don’t consume myself with the business side of crafting yet, because they’re still too much fun to be with all the time! “
• “Hi. Lady, I am not going to lie. I squawled like a baby when I read your story “quiet house.” No, you are not alone. I enjoy my kids and will be crushed when they leave. We play games, dance, sing, water gun fight and lately their “new game” is wrestling. I have many bruises from that one but is SO fun! They paint their faces with clown make up and ding ding! . . . just wanted you to know how much I liked your “thoughts.” Came straight from the heart. Oh! Before I forget . . . you have 6 of the prettiest children I have seen in a while! You can tell by looking at them that they are all happy children”
• “I did want to email you to let you know how very much I enjoyed your 2 personal thought stories. I compliment you on your obvious involvement and pride in your children’s lives and their well being. I laughed when I read the part about moving the furniture and dancing. It brought back memories of when my son and his friends were practicing ‘break-dancing’ in our family room and I got out there and spun on my back and attempted to gyrate as they were doing.My only son left home several years ago and lives in another city but is close enough to come home one weekend a month. I am very proud of him. He has become a wonderfully caring and loving young man – now nearing 28 years old. He introduces me as “This is my mom and my best friend,” and I just glow. God bless you and your family.Remember, they may physically leave home, but they are always in our hearts, our minds, and our prayers. On a humorous note – they are also on our phone bills, checking accounts and emails .”
• “My five boys and one girl are now all grown up and i have 12 grandchildren and I made it out in one piece,,, Yes.. I found that when they were growing up crafts were my sanity.. Then it became my living . . . Life is good and no one lives at home . . . I wish you well with your family,, In the end all the tense days are forgotten by the love days. I sometimes miss all the good old days and then I come to myself and enjoy the peace and Quiet of today . . . I enjoyed your web page and plan on being back, I just went on line and I agree computers are great and terrible at the same time,, kinda like children can be . . . “
• “Read your article on Quiet House! It was great, you have a wonderful family. Great looking children!! Mine are all grown and know what your facing as they leave home. Keep up the good work!”
• Hi Renee,

  I have a huge lump in my throat right now. My eldest daughter will be graduating from university in May. I have a high school junior and an eighth grader still at home. Six children sounds like so much fun!

  Our home is much like yours, very lively, filled with kids, music and lots of activities. We are the “go-to” house for get-togethers. I can relate to every word and I’m so glad that you directed me to your blog. I hope you’ll friend me on Facebook so that we can get to know each other better.

  Nancy Burke Barr
  ishouldhavelistenedtomymother.com

Baseball season is gearing up with the major league teams already into spring training. Every year, at this time, I think back to all of the years I spent on a baseball field with my oldest son, Brandon. If you haven’t already, please read the article I wrote in 1997,  My Boy of Summer.  The emotions of the season were strong when I wrote it and they still stand strong.

Several readers have requested an update on Brandon, so here it is. Brandon played baseball for most of his college career. He decided to stop playing in his junior year in order to focus on his degree and to work towards marrying Marie, the girl of his dreams. I’ll never forget the day when he called me and said, “Mom, are you sitting down?” His voice was full of emotion as he continued, “I’ve decided to quit playing baseball. I want to graduate and to marry Marie. I never thought I’d say this, but my priorities have completely changed and baseball isn’t at the top of my list any longer. I’ll always love it but I need to get on with my life.”

Brandon, Marie, McKinley & Delaney

WOW, I thought. I was so proud of this mature and responsible young man who had realized that his life’s dream had to be set aside because he had grown and, with this growth, had realized new dreams, bigger dreams.

I am happy to report that Brandon, as no surprise to me, went after these new dreams with the same tenacity and resolution that had towards baseball. He became a very successful businessman who has received numerous awards and recognitions in his industry. He and Marie did marry and they are a beautiful and happy couple. In addition he has blessed me with two beautiful granddaughters; he is a FANTASTIC father.

So is baseball still a big part of his life? You bet it is!  He is, and will forever be, a HUGE Texas Rangers fan. If he misses a game it is only because he can’t control the situation and he attends as many games in person as possible.

A Special Day for Them Both!

A beautiful tradition has evolved from his love of baseball. For the last two years Brandon has taken his oldest daughter, McKinley, to opening day for the Rangers.  It’s been just the two of them going out for a special Daddy/Daughter date day and they have a great time.

Brandon & McKinley at the Ballpark

McKinley can talk baseball with the best of them and she is only four years old. This absolutely cracks me up but comes as no surprise; her Daddy loves the game and so does she.

This year I’ll be attending opening day with them and I can’t wait! The tradition continues but this time my role with be different; this time I’ll be going as Née Née and I’ll be holding McKinley’s hand instead of Brandon’s.

No doubt, this trip to the ballpark will take me back to the time when I took Brandon to his first Texas Ranger game when he was around eight years old.  I’ll never forget walking up the ramp towards our seats and seeing the field come into view for the first time. It was a beautiful sight for me but, more importantly, it literally took Brandon’s breath away. I’ll never forget hearing him gasp and watching him as his eyes opened with amazement.

Brandon and me

At that very moment his life’s dream, his total passion up to that point, became a reality right before his eyes. Almost magically all of the people … all of the noise … everything … it all disappeared … it all stood still. There was nobody but my little boy and me, his hand in mine, staring in awe at this beautiful sight.

Thank God for baseball and
Thank God for little boys!

Click here to view the embedded video.

This morning, as I was checking out FaceBook, I was so impressed with Jordan Adler’s status that I stole it (I told him I was going to) and used it for my own. The status was “Drink life like cold water on a hot day.” I loved this thought and it stayed on my mind all day. This philosophy is a great one and something that can be applied to our attitudes as we go about our daily lives.

Think about it this way, many of us have experienced times when we were so parched, so thirsty, that we thought we might die if we didn’t get a drink of water. This usually happens to me when I’ve been working outside for a long time. I’ll get so intent on what I’m doing that I don’t eat or drink and then, boom, it hits me. I need a drink of water and I need it now! I know that this isn’t a healthy thing to do but I am getting better about it!

When I do get that cold drink of water I almost feel like I’ve been rescued, like I can now sustain myself because I’ve been given this life force. My body settles and everything is good once again. I am refreshed, nourished and revitalized.

It occurred to me that this experience of dehydration is much like going through stressful times in our lives when we feel emotionally and spiritually starved, panic stricken and desperate. At times like these we need to be rescued and a paradigm shift of our attitude and thought processes is, most likely, just what the doctor ordered.

A positive, proactive (instead of reactive) approach can take us from feeling desperate to feeling at peace. A shot of positives to our spirit is much like the drink of cold water for our physical bodies. We go from feeling lost to feeling restored, strengthened, revived and fortified.

When we practice and learn the habit of calming ourselves throughout our day then we can drink in the life around us and sustain our spiritual hydration. We can then achieve a level of peace and contentment that can’t survive in a stressful environment. There are many different ways of calming ourselves and these include meditation, exercise, taking a walk outside alone, gently breathing through your nose and back out through your mouth, listening to calming music, etc. While you’re doing these calming activities try to concentrate on the moment. Notice the breeze, the leaves on the trees, the birds singing, and the hum of the ceiling fan.

Breathe in life one moment at a time. It is a beautiful feeling and you’ll develop a new appreciation for the little things in life, the things that many people miss because they are moving way too fast.

Click here to view the embedded video.

This book is all about finding your passion and running with it. If you have a passion in anything, even something as boring as worms, you can position yourself as the expert and build a very profitable business through social media, blogging and videos. Gary stresses the fact that passion is everything and as long as you have it you can succeed.

This book is informative, inspirational, entertaining and really funny at times. Even if you aren’t into internet marketing you will still enjoy the message that Gary delivers so well in this excellent read.

Let’s all CRUSH IT together!

Go to Amazon now and get your own copy! Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion

I’ve enjoyed a continuous loop of Jack Johnson tunes playing in the background while I worked today. I love his music; he’s a real talent as far as I’m concerned.  Sometimes I sit back, close my eyes, listen to the words, the perfect beat, the rhythm of the music and I wonder, “How the heck does he do that? Where do these songs, these words, come from? How does he come up with music that fits the words so perfectly?”  It amazes me, this song writing ability that he and others have.

I hold the same awe for painters and artists. How in the world can they take a blank canvas and create something with depth, beauty and meaning? I could stare for hours at the detail in some paintings, the facial features, the strands of hair, the hundreds of leaves on trees, the birds in the sky.  WOW, this is talent that I’ll never experience.

While I may never be the next guitar picking super star or have a gallery of paintings for sale, I do have my own talents that I am proud of and that, I feel, make me special in my own way. We all have talents and accomplishments. I believe we’re born with them but do they always grow and flourish?   I don’t think they do if they aren’t given the right environment and nourishment. A talent is much like a flower seed; it can sit, undeveloped, for years until it gets the right mixture of soil, sun and rain and then it grows into a beautiful flower; only then does it reach its maximum potential.

When my six children were young I made it a point to ALWAYS tell them that they could be whatever they wanted to be, that there was nothing holding them back from success. I was very aware of the fact that whatever I said or did could build them up or bring them down. I was also very aware of the fact that each one of them was gifted in their own unique ways and I encouraged them to embrace their individuality. I tried hard to never compare one to the other. They each needed to know that they were OK no matter what. I’m happy to say that each of my children has grown into very capable and responsible young adults with their talents shining through every day.  The seeds were planted and they bloomed beautifully!

I wonder what would have happened if  Jack Johnson, Eric Clapton, John Lennon and some of the other great song writers and performers had never been given a chance to play an instrument or to sing?  What if Picasso, Da Vinci, Rembrandt and others were never given a brush and canvas? Would their now obvious natural talents have been buried forever?  I like to think that, given the chance, they would have been the same successful people we know them to be no matter what stage in life they began. As long as they took the first step and planted that seed then the creativity would have flown.

Do you have some seeds of talent that you haven’t planted? Have you followed your spirit and purpose and allowed your talents to fully bloom? Has life’s circumstances stunted your growth in some way? Is there something you loved doing as a child that took a back burner for years because life and responsibilities got in the way? Is there any reason why you can’t now plant that seed and grow that talent today? What is holding you back?

I decided a few years ago that I was going to make a conscious effort to allow my talents to grow and to develop. I work on this every day. Some days are harder than others especially when I’m hit with negativity, but I keep on and I refuse to stop. I am planting my seeds today and every day. How about you? Let me know what you’re working on and let’s grow a beautiful garden together!