So, been plotting this blog since last year, but I knew it would take me until around now to be able to write it with conviction, or not write it at all. Thankfully, I can write with truth and conviction, not forgetting positivity!
So.......November 26th last year, I was sat on my toilet for a few hours with yet another stomach bug. (too much information?) anyway, as one does with a long time on the 'loo' I had my phone with me, checking through Twitter to see what was going on. Then, a direct message came through for me on Facebook from Janine Eaglestone.
Obviously, I was stuck on the loo so I went into Facebook and opened up the message and started to read. I had previously posted that morning that I was, 'yet again' suffering another illness and unable to work that day, not great for someone who is self-employed.
I have known Janine for years, since the days of rock nights at The Castle and Crocks, and as with a lot of my Surrey friends I keep in touch via social media (that's why I love social media so much) anyway, I'm waffling, Janine was expressing concern for me that I seemed to always be ill or tired in my Facebook posts, she suggested that she may have a way of helping me.
Once off the toilet I had a chat with Janine, she was telling me all about this amazing product called Juice Plus, I had seen her posting about it all the time, raving about it's benefits but not really taking a lot more notice as I was busy with my own work and training.
I listened to Janine tell me about the product - that being just fruit and veg! I eat fruit and veg, I love my veggies (after all I was veggie for 18 years I should do!) but, with the time demands on me, the lack of time to cook and eat in between classes and sessions, some days I wasn't getting my 5 a day and it would explain my constant fatigue and illness.
F.I.F. (aka Fitness Instructor Fatigue)
Janine and I continued to chat and I explained a little more about my lifestyle. F.I.F. explains it all. I know many of us Instructors out there suffer the same. We work hard, burn 1000's of calories but have very little time to get the proper nutrition into our bodies during the day to allow us to recover properly. Top this with 20-30 people in a room, some carrying lovely germs, spreading them through the air, sweating them out into the room, you can see why we all get ill more than anyone else (except maybe school teachers?)
To add to this further, I know I am guilty of 'quick fixes' to get you through sessions, such as Mars Bars, caffeine, Haribo, bad things....but ultimately they keep you going through an hours class looking like you are the height of energy and fitness, even though you are slowly ruining your body from the inside, out. I appeared healthy, in reality, I was far from it.
On 27th November 2014, after watching some amazing videos on how they extract the fruit from fruit and pack it into tiny capsules, watching leading doctors tell you how it actually does improve your health, but most importantly for me, was what Janine was worried about....my IMMUNE system that was constantly failing me, I ordered all 3 types of Juice Plus for a 4 month trial period. I, at that point had nothing else to lose and it seemed that if the facts were true, I had an epic amount to gain. I was fed up with losing money from not working and fed up with being tired all the time, sometimes too tired for my own training, which is so vitally important to me.
A few people commented that I was lazy, that I should be juicing, that would benefit me more than taking capsules. Have I mentioned before how I am very busy and don't have time to prepare and consume that much fruit and veg? Juicing is great, if you are making it for more than one person, and you have someone in the house to wash up the pain in the arse juicer parts! I tried it, didn't have time and the idea of popping 6 capsules a day that would provide me with way more than my 5 a day was amazing, I wouldn't say lazy, I would say productive, saving time for more important things, such as getting other people fit and healthy.
Going to give you some 'Debbie Facts' now...not medical Juice Plus info, but 'me' stuff!
I used to nap every day at least 20 minutes, some days up to an hour in any spare time because I was so tired.
Now I don't nap (unless I've had a heavy or late night out)
My hair has got thicker and grows faster. This year it got bleach bathed and it recovered within 12 weeks!
My complexion has improved.
And here's the big one..........my illness stats from 2013 and 2014.
September 5th 2013 - Had a cold
October 27th 2013 - Stomach bug
February 4th 2014 - Had a cold
April 11th 2014 - Had a cold
June 7th 2014 - Stomach bug
July 13th 2014 - Had a cold
August 26th 2014 - Stomach bug
October 1st 2014 - Had a cold
November 26th 2014 - Stomach bug
Compare that to this year.......
January 21st - Had a cold which pretty much lasted until February 7th, mainly brought on by the stress of what happened on my Birthday and the fact that I got lost for ages in the ice with hardly any clothes on!
February 3rd - Stomach bug - during this time my Juice Plus order had been delayed by a week so I hadn't had any for nearly 10 days, that was when the bug hit me!
And recently in September I had what I would call a 'slight cold' that lasted 3 days and vanished just as soon as it had come along.
Now tell me that doesn't seem like a significant health difference, add to that, this year has been my busiest in 4 years, with 5 Insanity classes a week, as opposed to just 2 from last August to June this year.
The other thing that I have discovered is the JP shakes, they are an amazing tummy filler in between classes to keep my energy levels up, complete nutrition and energy. I first was getting them for clients as a meal replacement as they work well for fat-loss when used in that way. So, instead of a dodgy Mars Bar or energy drink, I have a shake and a piece of fruit and I'm buzzing for another couple of hours.
Now can you see why I have written this blog now? I am currently on the Go Sober October challenge, and my energy levels have increased even further, I'm bouncing off the walls more than normal.
So.......there it is, my Juice Plus journey. You don't have to do it, no one is going to make you, but I can honestly say, without a doubt, if you said to me that I only have enough funds for wine or Juice Plus, it means that much to me that I would give up wine right now, I am never going without my fruit and veg capsules...ever!
Now, here's the sell! Haha, no seriously, if you like what you read (and who wouldn't?) and you are interested in knowing more, send me an email or text and I can send you video links to learn more about the product, then you can make up your own mind. There is a 4 month sign up, and it does take around that time to really give you maximum benefit as it has to heal all those inner wounds that we create through bad diet and excess, but I noticed an increase in energy on just over 2 weeks. Now I feel that I am getting maximum benefit nearly 10 months on.
Happy Days!
debbie@fightingfitdevon.co.uk
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